Actor Roger Guenveur Smith Kicks Off PASA Popups at Baranco
LAFAYETTE, La (press release) – Actor Roger Guenveur Smith returns to Lafayette with a new solo performance: “In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat.” The play is a tribute to the acclaimed neo-expressionist painter whose career skyrocketed in the 1980’s, and whose life ended at the age of 27. The performance is set for 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 at the Theater at Baranco, the first performance in the Popups at Baranco series offered by Performing Arts Serving Acadiana (PASA). Tickets $25 and are available at pasaonline.org and through the Heymann Center Box Office.
“Everyone who attended Roger’s performance of ‘Otto Frank’ last year can attest to his captivating stage presence and unique acting style,” said Jackie Lyle, PASA’s executive director, in a release about the show. “This is one actor who can fill a theater with a remarkable presence that combines with his creative playwriting skill. As the performance unfolds, it is easy to become enraptured by the character, almost forgetting that it is Roger on stage.”
Roger and Jean-Michel befriended each other in Los Angeles, with Basquiat painting in a Venice studio and Smith rapping in the fertile 1980’s club scene as “Hollywatts.” Throughout the decade, Smith’s politically charged soliloquies frequently found their way onto Basquiat’s canvas, and Smith eventually created “Smiley,” a Basquiat-inspired character for Lee’s classic Do the Right Thing, currently streaming on Netflix.
“I hope it’s a reconsideration of who the artist was,” said Smith. “That folks will walk out not mourning the tremendous loss or admiring my performance, but go on to seek out his work and be inspired to pursue kindness, love, joy, and happiness.”
“He was a friend of mine,” continued Smith. “It’s called ‘In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat’ because I continuously feel the need to pay tribute to him, investigate his work and life, and present his work to new generations of art lovers. Basquiat’s life was an exemplary tribute to the art world and revolutionary consciousness.”
“In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat” is scripted by Smith and scored by Marc Anthony Thompson. Their frequent collaborations include “A Huey P.Newton Story,” adapted from the Obie Award-winning stage play into a Peabody Award-winning telefilm, as well as the Bessie Award-winning “Rodney King.” Both Newton and King were directed for the screen by Smith’s longtime colleague Spike Lee.
PASA’s Pop-Up at Baranco Series takes place in the 400-seat theater of the historic Baranco Elementary. Baranco is an accessible venue, and American Sign Language is offered on request. Tickets are available at pasaonline.org and at the Heymann Center box office.
The performance of “In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat” is approximately one hour long, with no intermission. Parking is plentiful on the Baranco Elementary Campus.
In addition to the performance, PASA will offer special sessions for people wanting to learn more about Jean-Michel Basquiat and Roger Guenveur Smith’s unique technique.
On Nov. 10, UL Visual Arts Capstone senior students will offer diverse perspectives on the paradigm of Jean-Michel Basquiat as a genius. The discussion will examine Basquiat’s historical and cultural impact in relation to the students’ own creative practices and aspirations as emerging public artists.
In addition to the performance, Roger Guenveur Smith will lead an acting workshop on Nov. 13 at Cité des Arts. The workshop is free and open to the public. Actors should prepare to actively participate in this session. Cité des Arts is located at in downtown Lafayette.
For more information, visit pasaonline.org or follow PASA on social media at @pasacadiana. To contact PASA, call 337-769-3231 or email jackie@pasaonline.org.
