How do we represent ourselves and share our stories? This joyous journey of discovery tells the story of four African American women in their 20s, 40s, and 60s who each have a unique perspective on feminism, art, and activism.
ABOUT THE STORY:
In Angry, Raucous & Shamelessly Gorgeous, pioneering and imperious actor Anna Campbell returns to the U.S. after being in a self-imposed exile for 25 years. Her groundbreaking Black feminist theatre piece — a controversial collection of monologues performed in the nude — is set to be revived as the centerpiece of a performance art festival in Atlanta. What promises to be both a triumphant homecoming and a much-needed career resuscitation turns sour when the diva discovers that Pete, an inexperienced younger woman and an adult entertainer, is set to recreate Anna’s legendary performance. Angry, Raucous & Shamelessly Gorgeous is a bold and funny story by one of America’s preeminent Black female playwrights that explores ambition, post-feminism, the generational divide, activism, and who has a right to tell our stories.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT:
Pearl Cleage is an Atlanta-based writer whose works include three novels, What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day (Avon Books, 1997), I Wish I Had A Red Dress (Morrow/Avon, 2001), and Some Things I Never Thought I’d Do, (Ballantine/One World, August, 2003); a dozen plays, including Flyin’ West, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Hospice and Bourbon at the Border; two books of essays, Mad at Miles: A Blackwoman’s Guide to Truth and Deals With the Devil and Other Reasons to Riot; and a book of short fiction, The Brass Bed and Other Stories (Third World Press). She is also a performance artist, collaborating frequently with her husband, Zaron W. Burnett, Jr., under the title Live at Club Zebra. The two have performed sold out shows at both the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and The National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, Georgia.
She is a frequent contributor to anthologies and has been featured recently in Proverbs for the People, Contemporary African American Fiction , edited by Tracy Price-Thompson and TaRessa Stovall and in Mending theWorld, Stories of Family by Contemporary Black Writers, edited by Rosemarie Robotham. She is a Contributing Writer to Essence Magazine, and in 1998, her novel, What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day was an Oprah Book Club pick and spent nine weeks on The New York Times bestseller list.