'Frat House' African American College Life 2007/07/19

Stage Aurora Theatrical Company, Inc.

Presents

Darryl Reuben Hall's

FRAT HOUSE

'Where Boys become Men'

Celebrating the richness of African �American college life and the traditions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, this raucous comedy explores the bond between brothers �their joys, triumphs, pain, and sorrow �all under one roof, Darryl Reuben Hall's FRAT HOUSE.

Thomas,�the son of a pastor, leaves home to attend HBCU College. He decides to pledge a college fraternity, Phi Phi Phi, against his father's advice. Throughout his pledge process, Thomas learns the meaning of brotherhood as he wastes his college inheritance on bling-bling, partying, high-fashion, all triggered by an attitude of arrogance. He sets out on a journey filled with� love, laughter, despair, and oh yeah steppin! FRAT HOUSE�features an array of soulful music including traditional Gospel, soulful chants, and a zany costumed 1970's House Party complete with afros, platform shoes, and stylish knickerbockers. After meeting Kathy, the girl of his dreams, and dissing his best friend M. C., Thomas finds his way back to the Father. Meanwhile, the city values the property that FRAT HOUSE is located on and tries to shut down the historic landmark.

The cast includes such standouts as Desmond Demps as Thomas Waller (Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.), Jessica Chatman as Kathy, Tracy Johnson as Sharvon (Fighting Temptations), Sherene Phillips (The Wiz), La 'Farrah Davis (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority), Lorenza Word as Dev, Nekeyma Martin (DJ WCGL), Ryan Sinclair (Dean Upton), Alease Kelly (Mrs. Greene), Joshua Scarver (M. C.), and Lindsey Willis (The Wiz).

FRAT HOUSE will feature 'step' as popularized by fraternities and sororities. "Steppin' is a high energy, percussive, syncopated, synchronized, competitive performance art that originated with African American university Greek letter fraternities and sororities in the late 1960s-early 1970s.

Darryl Reuben Hall's FRAT HOUSE is the first original comedy produced by playwright and Executive Director Darryl Reuben Hall, a Jacksonville native. He aims to produce 'theatre that enlightens' through Stage Aurora Theatrical Company, Inc. Darryl has worked with such legends as Eartha Kitt, Phylicia Rashad, Aretha Franklin, and Leslie Uggams. Stage Aurora Theatrical Company, Inc., theatre that enlightens, was founded to bring the Arts to underserved communities of the City of Jacksonville. Their Main Stage productions have brought critical acclaim with productions of MISS EVERS' BOYS starring That So Raven and In Living Color star T 'Keyah Crystal Keymah, MAMA, I WANT TO SING, CROWNS, and THE WIZ.�Now, he brings FRAT HOUSE to you!

FRAT HOUSE performs:

Friday, AUGUST 17, 2007 @ 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, August 18, 2007 @ 8:00 p.m.

Florida Theatre 128 East Forsyth Street,�Jacksonville,�FL �32202

Tickets (In advance) $25.00/Adults �$15/ Seniors�$13.50 Students

For tickets and more information, please call Stage Aurora at (904) 765 -7372

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Currently spending his time between New York and Florida, Beau was born to a theatrical family in Brooklyn. He studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute and at HB Studios. He studied theater singing with Julia Sperratore and Helen Gallagher. Beau later taught drama at the Lincoln Center Square for the Arts. It was at this time Beau began working with the Theater Development Fund and helped found New York's famed HALF PRICE TICKET BOOTH. Early in his career, Beau was screen tested and contracted for Warner Brothers. He co-hosted, an early cable variety series on Manhattan's Teleprompter channel. At this time he directed the Johnny Specca musical, SEX IS..? at the Lincoln Center Library Theater. Beau has performed Off-Broadway in FAT FELL DOWN, The Comic Strip Theater's LITTLE LULU AND THE INVISIBLE INK and WILL THE REAL ZOOPERMAN PLEASE STAND UP. Around the country he has delighted audiences with his performances in ANYTHING GOES, THE APPLE TREE, GUYS & DOLLS, and HELLZAPOPPIN! He sang for New York audiences at such cabarets as The Duplex and Upstairs at the Downstairs. He has had numerous television appearances but is most proud to have been a winning contestant on the game shows JACKPOT and THE $20,000 PYRAMID.

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