LAFPI

Santa Monica based scriptwriter and songwriter Charise Sowells shares the story of a biracial man torn between two worlds as an employee of his plantation owning father and a son to his enslaved mother, exploring the complicated existence of interracial overseers during slavery and how their unique position in society ripples throughout a family unit. It parallels the realities of the social construct of race in today’s times. The context is different, but the issues remain the same. Nothing is truly black and white in this country or the world beyond. “There is a universalism in the oversimplified matters of life,” says Sowells. “A reminder I think we all need in today’s political environment.”

FEATURING:

Joslyn Beard (Da Poetry Lounge – host; Plan-A Radio; Dear Patience, Dead Weight – Safe Space Productions)
Jeremiah Benjamin (Horny, the Musical – Hollywood Fringe Festival; Theatre Macabre – Grand-Guignol immersive experience; Midsummer Night’s Dream – Downtown Repertory Theatre)
Disraeli Ellison (The Coleman & Smith Artistic Company – co-founder)
Vincent J. Isaac (In The Cut, Cagney and Lacey, The Fall Guy; Vice Squad, Twilight Zone-The Movie, Dr. Detroit; Distant Fires – Drama Critics Circle Award)
Janelle Poirier (Buried in the Backyard, Grit, The Weathered Underground)
Gilbert Roy (King Lear, Salome, August Wilson’s Seven Guitars)

Charise Sowells (writer/producer/composer) is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts . Her thesis play was accepted into the DC Black Theater Festival and adapted into a feature film. Charise also writes songs which have been featured by SF Weekly, Ukulele Magazine, NPR, and on radio stations both regionally and internationally. She has performed around the country, on television shows, at festivals, and abroad. Her single, “Mr. Fantasy”, won Song of the Year on a Berlin based radio show. Additionally, Charise acts, practices sound meditation, and directs music videos. She is thrilled An Ocean In My Soul is back at Santa Monica Playhouse for three nights only after its world premiere for the BFF 2019 Binge Fringe Festival of Free Theatre and incredibly grateful to everyone who has made this possible on the 400th anniversary of slavery in the United States.

Mary Schaugh (director) has directed, musical directed, and performed throughout the U.S. and abroad. Using her varied artistic experiences, Mary loves bringing new and classic works to audiences focusing on keeping art alive and giving audiences a chance to connect to whatever is happening on stage. Most recently directing in Hollywood and in the Hollywood Fringe Festival, Mary is excited to be a part of the Benefit Series and bringing the work of Charise Sowells to its audience.

Wardrobe provided by Valentino’s Costumes.

Sunday, 11/24/19 – 7pm
Monday, 11/25/19 – 8pm
Tuesday, 11/26/19 – 8pm

Website: https://www.charisesowells.com/scriptwriter
Tickets: https://www.santamonicaplayhouse.com/oceansoul.html

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#AnOceanInMySoul #AOIMS #UNABASHT #SMPlayhouse #SantaMonica