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Show inspired by report on black men
Daniel Beaty said his goal with his latest one-man show was “to tell the story of an extraordinary black boy who believed his life and the lives of the people in his community could be better.”
The Dayton-born and nationally known writer, singer and actor will present “Through the Night,” as part of the third annual Blue Moon Affair at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 5.
The fundraiser for the Community Action Partnership’s Youth Empowerment Center will be at the Schuster Performing Arts Center, Second and Main streets.
“Through the Night,” which blends music, poetry, comedy and drama, is the story of six black males ages 10 to 60. Beaty portrays them all as an unexpected event changes each of their lives on the same night. Issues including education, addiction, finances and health are confronted.
When Beaty performed it in New York for three weeks in May, others including Bill Cosby, Ruby Dee, Hill Harper, Donny McClurkin and Tonex joined him for post-show discussions with the audience.
Beaty attended Lincoln Elementary School and Stivers Junior High before going on to the Miami Valley School.
Daniel Beaty
He won an Obie (Off-Broadway) Award for his first one-man drama, “Emergence-SEE,” about what happens when a slave ship rises from the depths of the Hudson River and moors beside the Statue of Liberty.
That one included 44 characters.
“I was inspired to write ‘Through the Night’ by the 2007 Urban League State of Black America Report, ‘Portrait of the Black Male.’ The report predicated that one in three black boys born in 2010 would spend time in prison,” Beaty said.
He said “many aspects of solo performance are thrilling to me. Finding the characters’ bodies, voices and emotional lives allow for distinctive and rich human beings to come to life in front of the audience’s eyes.”
He described his work as “highly poetic and inspirational,” drawing upon “my roots as a motivational speaker and poet. And because I am a singer, I often use music as transitions.”
Beaty has performed on television, in theaters and concert halls in the U.S. Europe and Africa.
The Blue Moon Affair will also include a cocktail hour, dinner, musical entertainment and a presentation by the Youth Empowerment Center. Guests are encouraged to wear a blue dress, suit, tie or accessories to the “blue-collar” event.
Tickets are $60 per person or $400 for a table for eight. For more information, call (937) 341-5000, extension 153.
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