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The World Premiere of: "LIMELIGHT,Its Time We Faced The Music”
Written, directed and performed byFelatio “BJ” Browne| Co-Produced by MCVF & SOB Productions March 18-20 and March 25-27 2010 - 8pm pre-show 9pm show time Supported in part by MCVF D.I.Y. Residency Program
San Francisco, CA -Mama Calizo Voice Factory, San Francisco’s premier location for original queer performance, in conjunction with S.O.B. Productions, a local Cabaret entertainment outfit, presentsCabaret singer Felatio BJ Browne’s original piece"LIMELIGHT,Its Time We Faced The Music”
The Controversy: Some months ago, Felatio "B.J." Browne, Artist Malcolm Drake, and George 'N' Roses, while performing at the Hubba Hubba Revue presented a neo-minstrel performance of the Black Bottom dance to the early 1900’s dixieland jazz player Kid Ory's "Savoy Blues". While skillfully achieved this performance did not go over well with everyone. An open letter was penned objecting to performers use of black-face in the number. "Our goal was to illustrate that the concept of minstrelsy is still relevant today, especially with regard to those images that are considered palattable to consumers of pop culture and entertainment. It was a disidentification piece. A piece in which an offended group takes back its own power, in this case using the same performance method that had previously perpetuated archetypes of American racism world wide. Blackface was performed into the 1980's in Europe and can still be seen depicted in product advertisements in some countries. Its sad that our artistic integrity was questioned and that people were so afraid. Especially on a Burlesque platform where Burlesque by definition lends itself to parody and grotesque exaggeration." Until now, Mr. Browne has been publicly quiet about the controversy. It is with LIMELIGHT this new piece that he has devised an answer that will surely create a new stir.
The Show:Felatio "B.J." Browne brings audiences into his musical world with an original show."LIMELIGHT," celebrates blues, folk, jazz, soul, and standards, and features some of the best queer performers in San Francisco, including Alotta Boutté, Artist Malcolm Drake, George 'N' Roses, Chad Behavior, and a live jam band."I am both Queer and African American. I am a part of two very distinct minorities that have been oppressed, scrutinized, and exploited for hundreds of years. This is why I was inspired to write this show, to give a voice not only to myself but to other artists who identify both as Queer and as a person of color.
In LIMELIGHT, F. "B.J." Browne embarks upon a journey into his subconscious to uncover the answers to some of our most relevant and pressing issues.
With the help of his conscience (Played by two minstrels) his journey will take him through space and time, infinite fiction and unfortunate reality as he uncovers answers to some of our most pressing issues with his signature cabaret musical vamp and banter. And, yes, thatfateful scandalous number, conceived by piano man Felatio BJ Browne, closes the show.
For more information about"LIMELIGHT, ITS TIME WE FACED THE MUSIC”contact us at917.684.6963 or email us atstephfonbartee@gmail.com
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Felatio "B.J." Browne (Stephfon Bartée-Smith)learned to play the piano at the age of fiveby listening to the radio and replicating the music that he heard. The son of singer Lula Bartée,a lounge singer and background vocalist known for her work with blues, gospel, and jazz recording artists, Stephfon began playing alongside his mother at live music venues at the age of nine.At 13, he was recruited to perform with the "Ragtime Musical Revue" at Lincoln Center, NYC after performing with his mother at the Toronto Jazz Festival.
He attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia School of the Arts, focusing on vocal performance with an emphasis in Jazz; and performed with the European tour of "The Sound of America" before being accepted to both the Juliard School at the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts and the Tisch Schoolof the Arts at NYU. After graduating from the DePaul University School of Music, Stephfon touredthe United States and Canada with "Smokey Joe's Café," and later, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."
Since relocating to San Francisco, Stephfon has become an active member of the arts community, performing with Theater Works, SFBoylesque, and Dark Porch Theater; and is a pianist in residency at Martuni's and the Sheba Lounge.
S.O.B. Productions –Is a grass roots Cabaret entertainment outfit that strives to persuade the renaissance of the old " cabaret artistique" and its sultry, low brow, yet glamorous appeal into todays contemporary aesthetic.
LIMELIGHT, ITS TIME WE FACED THE MUSIC
The World Premiere of:
"LIMELIGHT, Its Time We Faced The Music”
Written, directed and performed by Felatio “BJ” Browne | Co-Produced by MCVF & SOB Productions
March 18-20 and March 25-27 2010 - 8pm pre-show 9pm show time
Supported in part by MCVF D.I.Y. Residency Program
Get your tickets at Brown Paper Tickets now!
San Francisco, CA - Mama Calizo Voice Factory, San Francisco’s premier location for original queer performance, in conjunction with S.O.B. Productions, a local Cabaret entertainment outfit, presents Cabaret singer Felatio BJ Browne’s original piece "LIMELIGHT, Its Time We Faced The Music”
The Controversy: Some months ago, Felatio "B.J." Browne, Artist Malcolm Drake, and George 'N' Roses, while performing at the Hubba Hubba Revue presented a neo-minstrel performance of the Black Bottom dance to the early 1900’s dixieland jazz player Kid Ory's "Savoy Blues". While skillfully achieved this performance did not go over well with everyone. An open letter was penned objecting to performers use of black-face in the number. "Our goal was to illustrate that the concept of minstrelsy is still relevant today, especially with regard to those images that are considered palattable to consumers of pop culture and entertainment. It was a disidentification piece. A piece in which an offended group takes back its own power, in this case using the same performance method that had previously perpetuated archetypes of American racism world wide. Blackface was performed into the 1980's in Europe and can still be seen depicted in product advertisements in some countries. Its sad that our artistic integrity was questioned and that people were so afraid. Especially on a Burlesque platform where Burlesque by definition lends itself to parody and grotesque exaggeration." Until now, Mr. Browne has been publicly quiet about the controversy. It is with LIMELIGHT this new piece that he has devised an answer that will surely create a new stir.
The Show: Felatio "B.J." Browne brings audiences into his musical world with an original show."LIMELIGHT," celebrates blues, folk, jazz, soul, and standards, and features some of the best queer performers in San Francisco, including Alotta Boutté, Artist Malcolm Drake, George 'N' Roses, Chad Behavior, and a live jam band."I am both Queer and African American. I am a part of two very distinct minorities that have been oppressed, scrutinized, and exploited for hundreds of years. This is why I was inspired to write this show, to give a voice not only to myself but to other artists who identify both as Queer and as a person of color.
In LIMELIGHT, F. "B.J." Browne embarks upon a journey into his subconscious to uncover the answers to some of our most relevant and pressing issues.
With the help of his conscience (Played by two minstrels) his journey will take him through space and time, infinite fiction and unfortunate reality as he uncovers answers to some of our most pressing issues with his signature cabaret musical vamp and banter. And, yes, that fateful scandalous number, conceived by piano man Felatio BJ Browne, closes the show.
For more information about "LIMELIGHT, ITS TIME WE FACED THE MUSIC” contact us at 917.684.6963 or email us at stephfonbartee@gmail.com
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Felatio "B.J." Browne (Stephfon Bartée-Smith) learned to play the piano at the age of five by listening to the radio and replicating the music that he heard. The son of singer Lula Bartée, a lounge singer and background vocalist known for her work with blues, gospel, and jazz recording artists, Stephfon began playing alongside his mother at live music venues at the age of nine. At 13, he was recruited to perform with the "Ragtime Musical Revue" at Lincoln Center, NYC after performing with his mother at the Toronto Jazz Festival.
He attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia School of the Arts, focusing on vocal performance with an emphasis in Jazz; and performed with the European tour of "The Sound of America" before being accepted to both the Juliard School at the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts and the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. After graduating from the DePaul University School of Music, Stephfon toured the United States and Canada with "Smokey Joe's Café," and later, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."
Since relocating to San Francisco, Stephfon has become an active member of the arts community, performing with Theater Works, SFBoylesque, and Dark Porch Theater; and is a pianist in residency at Martuni's and the Sheba Lounge.
S.O.B. Productions – Is a grass roots Cabaret entertainment outfit that strives to persuade the renaissance of the old " cabaret artistique" and its sultry, low brow, yet glamorous appeal into todays contemporary aesthetic.