Al Jarreau performs 'You Don't See Me'Program focuses on three different African American theater productions. Host Barbara Barrow introduces the topic of Black theater and stage works Raisin (the Tony-Award-winning musical for 1974), The Black Dyad (about Black male and female relationships) and 'Theatre in Reverse,' a Say Brother theater piece with an in-studio vocal performance by Al Jarreau with dance performances (with the intent of drawing the audience's attention to sound and light, rather than to the performers). Program contains excerpts from each production, and an in-studio discussion with writers/directors Evelyn and Melvin Moore about the excerpt 'The Date' from The Black Dyad, which was the only segment of the three aired on the program. Produced by Marita Muhammad Rivero. Directed by Conrad White.

'Blast from the Past' with vocalist Miriam Makeba. Program is divided into two halves: the first consisting of three segments related to African American theater in Boston, the second of newsmagazine-style segments. Harold Stuart, Director of the Boston Black Repertory Company and company actors Mattye 'Mama' Long and Frederick Tyson discuss the differences between 'theater' and 'Black theater,' how Black theater affects members of the community, how talented individuals find the time to act, problems financially supporting Black theater, and why there is so little Black theater in Boston. Following the discussion is an eleven minute excerpt from the Company's latest production, A Raisin in the Sun, and a short interview with two Emerson students who helped film the production (Stephen Farrier and Jacquie Gales, both members of the Emerson student group EBONI Productions). Additional program segments include 'Access' (about the Sav-Mor government-funded security program), 'Blast from the Past' (with an excerpt from a 1971 interview with vocalist Miriam Makeba on how her marriage to Stokely Carmichael affected her singing career and her opinion on Guinea's response to a recent invasion attempt by the Portuguese), 'Information' (on minority recruitment for the Peace Corps' Vista program), the 'Community Calendar,' 'Commentary' by Marita Rivero (who reads a reworked version of 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff'), and three 'Philosophy of Life' segments with musician Herbie Hancock. Produced by Marita Rivero. Directed by Conrad White.

'Blast from the Past' features an excerpt from the 1969 interview with actor Julian Mayfield who talks about the breadth of artistic creativity and ability in the African American community, and the need to avoid straight jacketing this artistic ability into proscribed narrow disciplines.

From the Say Brother Studio, E.L. Jones performs an excerpt from The Face of Love, a one-man musical theatre piece written by Vantile Whitfield and E.L. Jones, with music and lyrics by Payton-James-Payton and Glaude.

Gregory Spence comments on new testing criteria for students. Host Barbara Barrow discusses the lack of communication between educators and students in the Boston school district, with community members Gregory Spence (an attorney for the City of Boston), Kenya Clemens (of the Youth Activities Commission), Jeannette Bolt (playwright and author of A Minority Child's Day), and Dr. Alvin Pouissant (noted psychiatrist and Harvard professor). Issues addressed include the different social backgrounds of educators and students, Black English in the classroom, the role of standardized achievement tests in student evaluations, and the need for more humanity in the classroom. Also included in the program are 'man on the street' interviews conducted by Associate Producer Vickie Jones (in which she asks people their opinion of African American schools with white educators and whether or not Black children should be taught by Black teachers), an interview with Barbara Sizemore conducted by Jon Brim (on the problems of the Washington, DC school system and Sizemore's experiences as a former Superintendent of Schools there), an excerpt from a filmed performance of Bolt's play A Minority Child's Day; and the 'Community Calendar.' Produced by Marita Muhammad Rivero. Directed by Conrad White.

E.L. Jones performs Othello. Program consists of a special presentation of The Face of Love, a one-man musical theater piece starring E.L. James. The Face of Love reflects on the various kinds of love individuals can feel whether for people, material goods, countries, or ideas. Performance consists of short scenes (mostly) punctuated by vocal pieces, and include a construction worker's reading of Othello, the story of a homeless man, a man reflecting on the death of his aunt, a gambler talking about his love for a Spanish woman, a soldier away from home whose girlfriend breaks up with him via mail, an overzealous patriot, an immigrant in the United States to study, and an elderly man reflecting on heaven. Written by Vantile Whitfield and E.L. James with music and lyrics by Payton-James-Payton and Glaude, all of the Face of Love Company, Washington, DC. Program made possible in part by the Communications Institute of New England. Produced by Barbara Barrow-Murray. Directed by David Atwood.

Clip is available from the link at the bottom of the page. http://main.wgbh.org/saybrother/programs/sb_0821

As part of the for-stage trilogy The Black Dyad, directed by playwrights Evelyn and Melvin Moore. Nia Anderson performs an excerpt from the play 'The Commitment' about whether or not people should be compelled to share feelings of devotion with one another.

Cast members discuss the The Wiz, based on L. Frank Baum's Wizard of OzProgram focuses on African American theater, with an emphasis on the national tour of the Broadway musical The Wiz. Host Barbara Barrow-Murray speaks with members of Wiz cast Ken Prymus (the Lion), Peggy Blue (Aunty Em), and Kamal (a former member of the National Center of Afro-American Artists who plays the 'Wiz') about their professional careers prior to their engagement with the touring company, their professional goals, whether or not The Wiz is a new adaptation of Baum's text, and what they have enjoyed about working on The Wiz. Program includes musical performances by 'Wiz' guests and previously aired studio performances by Chip Garnett (Duke Ellington's song 'Sophisticated Lady,' which he performed in the Broadway production of 'Bubbling Brown Sugar'), and Barbara Alston and Paula Larke (who both performed in For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Not Enuf by Ntozake Shange). Produced by Barbara Barrow-Murray.

'Blast from the Past' with actor Julian Mayfield. Program features a discussion of the theater and the role of African Americans in the theater. Host Barbara Barrow and guests Fred Johnson (mime), Charles Turner (actor/director), and Susan Batson Ford (actor) discuss working in the theater, the pros and cons of theater work, the importance of the audience in theater, the verbal and nonverbal communication of actors, performance vs. the technical aspects of the theater, African American mime artists, and the politics of the theater. Additional segments include a performances by Fred Johnson, 'Blast From the Past' (with a 1969 interview with actor Julian Mayfield), 'Information' (with a description of homemaker services narrated by a member of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union), 'Access' (with a description of the services of the Charles Drew Family Life Center), the 'Community Calendar,' and 'Commentary' with Producer Marita Rivero. Directed by Conrad White.

Excerpt from the studio performance of Something About the Blues, a play by Fred Johnson, in which the actors choose to revise the play's subject matter, using 'real life' situations to illustrate the 'singing of the blues.'. Clifton Powell performs a vignette about the struggle to find employment.