LAFPI

“From a Yardie to a Yankee” by Sardia Robinson.

Proceeds from this special performance will benefit a family of ten who were deeply affected by the Eaton Fire. Your support will help them rebuild and recover during this challenging time.

Sardia Robinson is originally from Jamaica. Wikipedia defines “yardie,” : ‘In the  most innocuous sense, “yardie” can simply refer to a Jamaican national; as “yard” can mean “home” in Jamaican Patois, Jamaican expatriates who moved abroad to countries such as the U.K. and U.S. would often refer to themselves and other Jamaicans as “yardies”.’

Born into a poverty-stricken Jamaican neighborhood where crime, gangs and political revolution were the norm, Sardia had to step over corpses in the street on her way to school. Then an unplanned pregnancy led to yet more hurdles. Sardia’s engaging and unique storytelling style takes audience members on an emotional rollercoaster ride fraught with peril, pain, suffering, but also filled with humor, endearing characters, and the undeterred spirit to survive.

This vivid presentation portrays writer and performer Sardia Robinson’s epic struggles from the murderous streets of Kingston, Jamaica to the deadly consequences of Chicago’s drug wars. The one-woman show starring Robinson is full of colorful characters (she portrays eleven different roles), powerful portrayals, obstacles overcome, and heartwarming humor. This show will grip your heart and imagination.

From a Yardie to a Yankee has won awards across the country, among them the Best in Show Award at the TAG Studio Solo Festival,  the Innovative Women in Theatre Award (Hollywood Fringe Festival), and Best Solo Production Award (Broadway World),  It was listed as one of the Top Ten Shows to see in Los Angeles by Broadway World. The show recently toured New York, London, Jamaica and the Bahamas. A graduate of Columbia College Chicago, Sardia received the Great Black Women Alumni Award in recognition of her contributions to young performers from Chicago’s Mahogany Scholarship Heritage Foundation. Her stage credits include A Raisin in the Sun, Black Caesar, Lady M, For Colored Girls, and T3 Trojan. Her film credits include Justice Delayed, in which she stars as Amy Jacques Garvey, wife of activist Marcus Garvey; Neighbors Who Kill, and  on TV, the hit sitcom  airing in the Caribbean, House Out of Order, Double Cross, and Murder in the Thirst.

A few words about Altadena: Altadena is a haven of hope and inspiration, particularly for its middle-class Black residents. Nestled just north of Pasadena and less than 15 miles from downtown Los Angeles, this unincorporated suburb offers a unique blend of history, resilience, and natural beauty. (Unincorporated areas operate without city governments, relying instead on county services and resources.)

Surrounded by lush forests, diverse wildlife, and rolling hills, Altadena holds a special place in California’s history. It was one of the first areas in the state where middle-class Black families could own homes and thrive—at a time when restrictive housing policies barred many African Americans from property ownership. Though the Eaton Fire devastated parts of the community, erasing some of its rich legacy, Altadena remains a symbol of perseverance.

The area has also been home to many prominent Black and Caribbean figures, including the legendary Bahamian American entertainer, the late Sidney Poitier.

Here’s another way you can donate to assist Eaton fire survivors. Go to

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-restore-our-haitian-legacy?attribution_id=sl:0948b0d9-6e55-48af-a4cc-a9d4a3da5808&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

Sardia explains why she is doing this performance: “My grandmother always said that we are here to be of service, and that wisdom has stayed with me throughout my life. Whenever I see people in crisis, in any way that I can help, I always jump at the opportunity. Being of service is what we are here to do, and to me, it always feels better to give than to receive.”

Directed and performed by Sardia Robinson.

Saturday at 8 p.m.

http://theatrewest.org

facebook.com/theatrewest