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Straight Outta Compton: Performing Arts Center by Dr. Dre

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In a Rolling Stone article posted last week, Andre Romelle Young, better known as Dr. Dre (@drdre) kept it 1,000 (100 is nothing for a rap-tivist/CEO/entrepreneur – the man keeps it 100 while daydreaming…). Mr. Young also kept it simple. Stating he was “gonna keep it all-the-way 1,000,” Dre states he simply “didn’t like” Detox, the album that wasn’t, despite a high profile Grammy (@TheGRAMMYs) performance of an allegedly lead single, I Need a Doctor (with Rihanna, protégé Eminem and Skylar Grey). The video for the single had two guest spots of note, Em and Dre’s physique, illustrating that the 50 year old might just be a real doctor to get results like that.

Flash forward to the filming of Straight Outta Compton, which tells the story of N.W.A. and Dre says he was “so inspired by the movie that I started recording an album.” That album would become Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre, intended both as a complement to the movie and to serve as Dre’s “grand finale.”

Although Compton the album is done, Dre isn’t quite done with the City of Compton. The powerhouse will now produce, with bricks and mortar, a gift funded by the artists’ royalties he will earn on the album, Compton. The finished product will be an artistic and cultural touch point for the city: a new performing arts and entertainment center on which he is partnering with Compton mayor, Aja Brown (@AjaLBrown). The major music mogul equally successful at “show” and “business,” understates his goal and its phenomenal impact: “I’ve been really trying to do something special for Compton” [and] “I feel it’s the right thing to do.”

NBC News reports that the Dr. had been in talks with Ms. Brown for many months looking to give back. This was coupled with Dre’s wish to do “something to make this album really special.” The mayor responded joyfully via Twitter and Facebook, respectively, with #ComptonUP and the following thoughts: “Our community should be proud and honored for Compton’s son Dr. Dre to come back to Compton and lift our community in a huge way.”

On Vulture.com, Dr. Dre confirms that the center is for “the kids in Compton.” Seems as if no one has forgotten about Dre as this move has garnered much positive praise and the Dr. has been lauded for the philanthropic future he is literally laying the ground work for in his hometown. Vanyaland.com declares the move ‘effing’ “awesome” and proclaims it is now “Dre Day, everyday.”

Call me a square, but I loved the now defunct Detox’s “I Need a Doctor.” Dre seems intent on giving his city and its children exactly what they need – a positive shot in the arm and a chance to find their path in life through the opportunity to create and be exposed to art and performance, just like five other young men, straight outta, you know.

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Events and Happenings

Erika Dickerson-Despenza Addresses Flint Water Crisis with Cullud Wattah

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Playwright Erika Dickerson-Despenza

There is limited seating left for Erika Dickerson-Despenza’s new play CULLUD WATTAH at The Public Theater. Opening today, Thursday, March 7th and running until Sunday, March 10th in the Public Studio is about three generations of Black women living through the current water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

“It’s been 936 days since Marion’s family has had clean water. When local activists file a class action lawsuit against the city, Marion—a third-generation employee at General Motors—must decide how best to support her two daughters, sister, and mother while lead seeps into the community, their home, and their bodies. As corrosive memories and secrets rise among them, the family wonders if they’ll ever be able to filter out the truth.”

2018 Relentless Award Semifinalist and poet-playwright makes her Public Theater debut with CULLUD WATTAH directed by Lilly Award winner Candis C. Jones; the cast includes Deonna Bouye (Marion), Alana Raquel Bowers (Reesee), Caroline Stefanie Clay (Big Ma), Nikiya Mathis (Ainee), and Kara Young (Plum).

The creative team includes Production Stage Manager Gregory Fletcher, Stage Manager Priscilla Villanueva, and Movement Director Adesola Osakalumi. Along with scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado, Costume Design by Ntokozo Fuzunina Kunene, lighting Design by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, and sound design by Megan Culley

We believe in this work so much we’re giving away 4 tickets to the performances on March 10th. 2 tickets to the matinee and two the evening performance thanks to our founder Drew Shade and actress/playwright Jocelyn Bioh. Go to our Instagram to find out how!

Also, find out more about how you can help the Flint Water Crisis and support this show HERE.

Listen to Erika talk about her work on an episode of Off Book Podcast below

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Events and Happenings

Surely Goodness and Mercy by Chisa Hutchinson Begins Off-Broadway

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Performances begin today, Tuesday February 26th, for the New York premiere of  Surely Goodness and Mercy, presented by Keen Company. A story about an exceptional boy living a troubled life in Newark, NJ who does a good deed for an often unnoticed person.   Sarita Covington, Jay Mazyck, Brenda Pressley, Courtney Thomas, and Cezar Williams star under Jessi D. Hill’s direction.

Set in an under-funded public school in Newark, Surely Goodness and Mercy by rising playwright Chisa Hutchinson, tells the story of a bible-toting boy with a photographic memory who befriends the cantankerous old lunch lady. Against all odds, Tino and Bernadette help each other through the mess of growing up and growing old.  

Surely Goodness and Mercy has spent the last year charming audiences across the country: “Notably absent from Hutchinson’s frank and sobering story: cynicism” – Chicago Reader; “(Surely Goodness and Mercy has) a soul-stirring quality, touching audiences with its sincerity” – Daily Utah Chronicle; “it’s impossible not to like it” – The Salt Lake Tribune. Now, Keen is honored to bring this big-hearted new play to New York for the first time.

Performances for this limited Off-Broadway engagement of Surely Goodness and Mercy will continue through Saturday, April 13th only, with opening night set for Wednesday, March 13th.

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