With a mix of pointed comedy, excruciating puns, and thoughtful politics, THAT DON’T MAKE NO CENSUS has stories for both the census aficionado and the census-curious. These developmental readings include narratives that range from edgy political satire to a lyrical sci-fi fantasy featuring firebrand political author James Baldwin, returning from exile to discover he requires the travel-agent resourcefulness of Harriet Tubman herself! In another, a soccer match triggers an important political realization. A census question gets answered by a pet name, then a real pet threatens to remake a family—permanently.
THAT DON’T MAKE NO CENSUS is presented as 2 separate programs. Part 1 featuring THE REAL JAMES BALDWIN will be in a free program August 3 at New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad. Part 2 is a one-hour show titled THAT DON’T MAKE NO CENSUS, with short comic scenes from multiple writers in a free public performance Saturday, August 10 at Community Actor’s Theatre, 2957 54th St, San Diego. Seating for each program is limited so we suggest you RESERVE YOUR SEATS NOW.
June 22, Old Globe Theatre, in association with the Black Artists Collective (performance completed)
Saturday, August 3, New Village Arts (performance completed)
Saturday, August 10, Community Actors’ Theater (use the link above)
Part 1 was written by Bil Wright, read by Anthony Hamm, Portia Gregory-Burnette, Milena Phillips, Bil Wright, Joey Molina, and Sarah Leclair. Part 2 playwrights include Kimberly King, Earl Hamilton, Herbert Siguenza, and Gill Sotu, performed by Omar Hassan, Gingerlily Lowe, Joey Molina, Anthony Hamm, Evanis Hart, Portia Gregory-Burnette, Kimberly King, Christian Clark, and Charles Grant, Jr.
THAT DON’T MAKE NO CENSUS was developed through a partnership between Umoja Theater (formerly San Diego Black Ensemble) and Asian Story Theater, as a community development component of our multicultural THE LAST CENSUS project—with financial support by the Prebys Foundation and a City of San Diego IMPACT grant.
Here’s the cast list used at the theater (except in color!): https://indd.adobe.com/view/d5d9e0b4-c37a-440f-a004-d46c34934f38
Note that cast and company bios will be added here, or emailed on request.