Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Amber Glass Reaches For 'Rap Goddess' Throne



Oklahoma City - When rapper Eminem made his 1999 debut with the ground breaking hit "My Name Is" from his "The Slim Shady LP" project, he turned the music scene upside down and positioned himself as the "Rap God" he is today. Fifteen years later, female rapper Amber Glass is vying for the "Rap Goddess" throne. Spitting fierce lyrical fury with feminine flow, the new artist, from Power Moves Media, pays tribute to the rap legend with a bold, unapologetic remake of his "My Name Is" single via a vibrantly viscious video release. With a brilliant display of in-your-face imagery, twisted flavor and seductive finesse, the video and the song mimic the original track but with a wild woman twist !

An Oklahoma native, Amber Glass is the discovery of Power Moves Media CEO Nitro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN4CzjNWVOg#t=70 ). A potent mix of sass, sex and sizzle, Glass spews unrepentant verses that roll raw and punch with dominion. Take female rapper Iggy Azalea, add steroids, and Amber Glass emerges !

Influenced by Eminem, Tupac and Nas, Amber started rapping at the age of 17. Working her way around the local hip hop scene in Oklohoma City, Power Moves Media artist Young Star initially took note of her skills and convinced Nitro to sign her.

"Amber Glass is indicative of what Power Moves Media is all about. She shatters your perceptions of her when she opens her mouth to rhyme. Her verses knock out the competition. She is spearheading our roster of releases, paving the path for the power moves we have planned," notes Nitro. 

"My Name Is" was shot in Phoenix, Arizona and directed by Carlos Berber. The video is a scene by scene reenactment of the original "My Name Is" video, with Amber swapping out Eminem's moniker for her own and tweaking the lyrics with her own risqué rants. "My Name Is" pops with the same zany antics as the original release but resonates with 2014 sensibility.

"For me as a white girl, Eminem was a powerful reflection growing up. He showed me what I had the potential to do.  He kicked down walls and built up new ones.  I'm not trying to be a female Eminem though, I just wanted to pay homage to him for making a way for artists like me. If is sees "My Name Is," project I hope it makes him proud because he was a great inspiration to me." 

Check out Power Moves Media at powermovesweb.com .

Peep the "My Name Is" remake video and take note:   her name is, her name is, her name is .... Amber Glass ! 

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Charles Wright Music Set For 'Fifty Shades Of Grey'



The highly anticipated erotic romance movie, Fifty Shades of Grey, will feature CharlesWright’s mega hit, “Express Yourself.”  The film is based on the international bestselling trilogy, written by British novelist E. L. James. Her novels have sold over 90 million copies in 52 languages.  Universal Pictures will release the film nationwide on Valentine’s Day, February 2015.  Dakota Johnson (the daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith) will star as Anastasia Steele, along with Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey.

Following the success of the Chevrolet Super Bowl commercial featuring Wright’s, “Express Yourself,” the ABC hit series Scandal used the classic tune in its February 27, 2014 episode. The scene included a performance by Olivia Pope, played by Kerry Washington.

The City of Long Beach will use the Charles Wright song in their campaign aimed at bringing voting awareness to the Long Beach community.  With low voter turnout for city elections, the City of Long Beach will use the 1970’s hit, “Express Yourself,” as the theme to encourage the community to vote on Election Day.

About Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Charles Wright headed the 1960’s and early 1970’s eight member R&B and Funk band.  Originally from Watts, Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band recorded hits like “Do Your Thing,” “Till You Get Enough,”  “Express Yourself,” and “Loveland.”

Charles Wright is currently working on his autobiography tentatively entitled, Express Yourself (Up from the Cotton Patch to the Record Fields)!

Monday, March 3, 2014

Warner Bros. Records Announces Vinyl Releases

March 3, 2014 - (Burbank, CA.) - Warner Bros. Records, an official sponsor of Record Store Day, has announced its annual participation featuring a series of vinyl albums and singles exclusively available on Saturday, April 19th in honor of everyone's favorite holiday: a celebration of the unique culture surrounding over 1,000 independently owned record stores in the U.S. and hundreds of similar stores internationally.

We are excited to reveal our very special, limited-edition, exclusive releases for Record Store Day. In addition to our usual menu of great music, we are thrilled to expand our product line to include new, limited T-shirt designs to celebrate April 19, 2014 in style.  Descriptions of items as follows:

Green Day: Demolicious - Colored double vinyl, CD, Cassette
This special edition release features 18 unreleased demo recordings from the Green Day ¡Uno!, Green Day ¡Dos! and Green Day ¡Tré! sessions at Jingletown Studios in Oakland. Demolicious includes one previously unreleased song "State of Shock" and an acoustic version of "Stay the Night." Now for the 1st time, own this special edition compilation on red or clear vinyl, CD, or cassette.

The Flaming Lips: 7 SKIES H3 - Single-pocket jacket, regular-weight clear vinyl 12" - Limited to 7.500 copies
On vinyl for the first time ever. A 50 minute distillation across 10 tracks of the remarkable 24-hour song recorded at Tarbox Road Studios in 2011. Includes digital download card.

The Flaming Lips: Gates Of Steel - Single-pocket jacket, regular-weight silver vinyl 7" - Limited to 7,500 copies
Part of the WMG's Side By Side series. Includes Devo's "Gates of Steel" from the original
DEV-O Live EP and a previously unreleased cover by The Flaming Lips all on gorgeous silver vinyl! R.I.P. Bob 2. This is for you, wherever you are.

The Flaming Lips: Reprint of Vintage T-shirt Design by Wayne Coyne - Record Store Day Exclusive. Click here to view.

FoalsLive at the Royal Albert Hall- Single-pocket jacket, regular-weight vinyl 12" - Limited to 3,000 copies
8 tracks recorded from Foals' sold out performance at The Royal Albert Hall in London, UK. Side A includes "Blue Blood," "Providence," "Spanish Sahara," and "Red Socks Pugie." Side B includes "Milk & Black Spiders," "Late Night," "Inhaler," "Two Steps, Twice."
Additionally, this package includes digital download card with 2 exclusive bonus tracks: "My Number" (DZM Remix) and "Late Night" (Chad Valley Remix).

Jay Z / Linkin Park: Collision Course - Colored Transparent Blue vinyl
Originally released on November 30th, 2004, this is a reissue of the extremely powerful collaborative studio recordings between Linkin Park and hip-hop legend Jay-Z. This special edition blue vinyl pressing includes a DVD of a once in a lifetime concert featuring both of these music giants.

LCD Soundsystem: The Long Goodbye: LCD Soundsystem "Live at Madison Square Garden" - 5 LP Set with download card - Limited to 3,000 units
The Long Goodbye is the complete, unabridged recording of LCD Soundsystem's near-four-hour April 2, 2011 farewell show at New York's Madison Square Garden. Produced and mixed by LCD founder and frontman, James Murphy. The Long Goodbye is the ultimate audio document of LCD Soundsystem's now legendary final show. The album's exclusive mix brings new life to every note of music played during the epic MSG show- including of course the performances featured in the acclaimed film, Shut Up and Play The Hits, which chronicled the concert by painting an intimate portrait of Murphy navigating its lead-up and aftermath. This special box set will be released exclusively on Record Store Day 2014 over a month before it is available anywhere else.

Mastodon: Live At Brixton - 2 -LP, 180 gram vinyl w/ DVD Limited to 2,000 units
On February 11th, 2012, Mastodon took the stage at London's O2 Academy in Brixton, capping off the Atlanta-based band's world tour in support of their critically acclaimed album The Hunter. This sold-out performance was Mastodon's first show at the legendary Brixton venue. It won't be their last, as the London audience positively erupted from the opening chords until the final, frenzied encore. This special 180-gram vinyl pressing is the only physical version of this special show and includes a DVD of the entire performance.  

My Chemical Romance: My Chemical Romance New Jersey T-shirt 2001 - 2013 - Record Store Day Exclusive. Click here to view.

Neil Young: Official Release Series Discs 5-8 Vinyl Box Set; 4-LP, 180-gram black vinyl in reproduction jackets housed in telescoping box.Limited to 3,500 units
This limited edition box set includes the classic albums:  Time Fades Away, On The Beach, Tonight's The Night and Zuma, each remastered from the original analog studio recordings at Bernie Grundman Mastering. The artwork is a historically accurate reproduction by Young's long-time art director, Gary Burden. These classics are being reissued on 180-gram audiophile vinyl for the first time and pressed at the world's premiere pressing plant, Pallas MFG Germany.

Neil Young: Four Different Classic Album Cover T-shirts
To coincide with this highly anticipated set of vinyl reissues, we have printed a special run of T-shirts designs featuring the cover art from Time Fades Away, On The Beach,Tonight's The Night, and Zuma.

Regina Spektor: You've Got Time - Colored Orange 7inch Vinyl - Limited to 3,000 units
"You've Got Time" is the theme song for the Netflix original series, Orange Is The New Black. Produced by Rob Cavallo, "You've Got Time" was nominated for a 2014 Grammy Award. Side B of this limited edition 7inch includes "Call Them Brothers," featuring Only Son. This record will be pressed on orange vinyl and is limited to 3,000 copies.

Tegan And Sara: New T-shirt design - "They Love They Say" - Record Store Day Exclusive.
Click here to view.   

The Wild Feathers: - "Got It Wrong" (Clearmountain Mix) / "Marie" 7 inch single Limited to 2,000 units
This special vinyl pressing features 2 singles by The Wild Feathers. Side A features current radio single "Got It Wrong" off of the band's self-titled debut album. Side B features a previously unreleased song called, "Marie." Both songs were produced and recorded by Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Cage the Elephant, Amos Lee) at his studio in Nashville, TN.

The Wild Feathers: New T-shirt design. Click here to view. 

Eric Clapton: - New T-Shirt Design - EC Red Square August 3, 2006 - Record Store Day Exclusive.
On August 2, 2006, Clapton was scheduled to perform for a massive audience in Moscow's Red Square. At the last moment, the show was cancelled. Click here to view.

Vinyl Is Forever T-Shirt: New T-Shirt Design - Vinyl Is Forever - Record Store Day Exclusive.
Click here to view.

Vinyl Love T-Shirt: New T-Shirt Design - Vinyl Love - Record Store Day Exclusive.
Click here to view.


About Record Store Day:
Record Store Day is managed by the Department of Record Stores and organized in partnership with the Alliance of Independent Media Stores (AIMS), the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), celebrating the culture of independent record stores by playing host to in-store events/performances, signings and special product releases on a global scale.

For more about Record Store Day, please visit www.recordstoreday.com.

R&B Stars Tapped For San Diego Jazz Festival

BRIAN CULBERTSON

Phoenix, Arizona (28 February 2014): With much of the nation presently suffering through the worst winter in decades, perhaps planning to party in luxury Memorial Day Weekend with a stellar slate of jazz and R&B favorites will help make the snow, ice and frigid temperatures a bit more bearable. The second edition of the Payne Pest Management San Diego Jazz Festival returns to the posh Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in sun-soaked Carlsbad, North San Diego County May 23-25, 2014 for a memorable three-day weekend of live music, dancing and warm weather fun with thousands of festival goers from all over the U.S. Tickets are on sale now and available online at www.SanDiegoJazzFest.com or by calling 602.244.8444

Grammy-winning soul balladeer Maxwell headlines opening night crooning a seductive set from his hit-filled R&B-pop songbook, a favorite mood-setter for the ladies and Lotharios. Energetic contemporary jazz-R&B multi-instrumentalist hitmaker Brian Culbertson bodes to make it “Another Long Night Out” when he performs cuts culled from his similarly titled new album. Emerging saxophonist Dominic Amato warms up the crowd.

Day two gets underway with jazz, R&B and hip hop mixologist Robert Glasper who is touring in support of “Black Radio 2,” the follow-up to his Grammy-winning disc. Up next, Mint Condition serves a refreshing taste of Saint Paul, Minnesota that incorporates the best of old school and new school R&B, funk and soul with tinges of jazz, Latin and Jamaican rhythms dynamically performed by a skintight band. Out promoting her forthcoming album, “The Truth,” 8-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Ledisi offers a smooth blend of sophisticated soul seasoned with jazz nuances. “Uncle” Charlie Wilson will show them how it’s done old school-style when the 2013 BET Lifetime Achievement Award winner and 7-time Grammy nominee turns it out during his headline set featuring a dazzling cast of musicians and dancers along with nearly as many costume changes as Beyoncé.

The Sunday program begins with a riveting show from R&B-soul singer-songwriter Leela James, a force of nature new school performer cut from the same cloth as such classic vocalists as Aretha, Stevie, Chaka and Marvin. After, soul-jazz saxman Boney James will set “The Beat,” his Grammy-nominated disc that spent seven weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Jazz Albums chart. Grammy-winning gritty-voiced R&B-soul singer Anthony Hamilton is the festival’s closer.

Phoenix, Arizona-based festival producer BTWconcerts.com will soon announce additional artists.     

Tickets for the Payne Pest Management San Diego Jazz Festival start at $50.00 for a single-day seat and go up to $750.00 for a three-day Skybox ticket. Hotel and ticket packages are also available through the San Diego Jazz Festival website. 

In addition to the lifestyle expo providing a myriad of food, clothing, arts and culture choices adjacent to the concert grounds, weekend events include a Friday Night After Party (free for those with ticket stubs for that evening), a Saturday Night All-Star Jam ($25.00) including some of the festival’s performers and a Sunday morning Gospel Brunch ($55.00). 

The Payne Pest Management San Diego Jazz Festival is a music and lifestyle experience attracting a diverse adult audience with many coming for the entire weekend in order to enjoy the extensive array of activities and amenities offered at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa that cater to mind, body & sport. Guests relax and play on the internationally renowned golf course and tennis courts, sparkling pools and adventurous slides, state of the art fitness facilities and the No. 1 Wellness Spa in the nation according to Spa Magazine.   
                       
About BTWconcerts.com

Phoenix, Arizona-based BTWconcerts.com is one of the premier concert producers in the Southwest. Among the star-studded jazz and R&B concerts and multiday music and lifestyle festivals that the company promotes at first-class resorts are the Arizona Jazz Festival (http://ArizonaJazzFestival.com), San Diego Jazz Festival (http://www.SanDiegoJazzFest.com) and the Las Vegas Jazz Festival (http://www.LVJazzFestival.com). BTWconcerts.com’s sister company for at sea events, BTWatsea.com, will launch the maiden voyage of the Maxwell + The 7 Seas Cruise (http://www.maxwellatsea.com) in 2015.

About Payne Pest Management

One of the 100 largest pest control companies in the United States with over 35 years of experience, the family owned and operated Payne Pest Management is a full service termite and pest control company servicing residential and commercial properties in San Diego, Irvine and Los Angeles. For more information, please visit http://www.paynepestmgmt.com

McQueen and Pitt Make History At 86th Oscars®


 STEVE McQUEEN and BRAD PITT

Last night at the 86th Annual Academy Awards, history was made. For the first time, a film directed by a black filmmaker, Steve McQueen of 12 Years A Slave, won Best Picture. 12 Years A Slave Producer Brad Pitt won his first Oscar®.

Both McQueen and Pitt were ecstatic about winning the night’s biggest award.

“Thank you all, thank you for this incredible honor you bestowed on our film tonight,” said Brad Pitt. “I know I speak for everyone standing behind me that it has been an absolute privilege to work on Solomon’s story. And we all get to stand up here tonight because of one man who brought us all together to tell that story. And that is the indomitable Mr. Steve McQueen.”

“Oh wow,” said McQueen. “I’m sorry, I apologize for the paper but otherwise I’ll just bore you all. Well, maybe I’ll do the same now but I’ll try not to. I’d first like to thank the Academy. Thank you so much. There are a lot of people for me to thank so I’ll just push on. My wonderful cast and crew, Plan B, Brad Pitt, who without him this film would just not have been made. Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Anthony Katagas. River Road, Bill Pohlad, New Regency, Arnon Milchan and Brad Weston. Film4, to the great Tessa Ross. And Fox Searchlight, Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley, and their fantastic team.”



McQueen apologized for having such a long list of thank yous. 

“My publicist Paula Woods, I’m sorry about this, for her hard work,” said McQueen. “April Lamb, and my magnificent agents. I have to say this to all these women, I have all the women in my life and they’re all the most powerful. And my mother, obviously. Maha Dakhil – I can’t even pronounce it. Maha, I’m nervous, I can’t pronounce your name, you know who you are – Beth Swofford, Jenne Casarotto and Jodi Shields. Just give me one more minute. I’d like to thank this amazing historian, Sue Eakin, whose life, she gave her life’s work to preserving Solomon’s book. I’d like to thank my partner, Bianca Stigter, for unearthing this treasure for me. Finally, I thank my mother. My mum’s up there. Thank you for your hard-headedness, Mum, thank you. And my children, Alex and Dexter. And my father, thank you. The last word: everyone deserves not just to survive, but to live. This is the most important legacy of Solomon Northup. I dedicate this award to all the people who have endured slavery. And the 21 million people who still suffer slavery today. Thank you very much. Thank you.”

Lupita Nyong'o Wins Big At Academy Awards

The 86th annual Academy Awards, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, were held last night at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.  Following is a full list of winners and nominees from the show.

Best picture
WINNER: 12 Years a Slave
Nominees: American Hustle; Captain Phillips; Dallas Buyers Club; Gravity; Her; Nebraska; Philomena; The Wolf of Wall Street; 12 Years a Slave

Best actor
WINNER: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Nominees: Christian Bale, American Hustle; Bruce Dern, Nebraska; Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street; Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club; Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave

Best actress
WINNER: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Nominees: Amy Adams, American Hustle; Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine; Sandra Bullock, Gravity; Judi Dench, Philomena; Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

Best supporting actor
WINNER: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Nominees: Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips; Bradley Cooper, American Hustle; Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave; Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street; Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club


 LUPITA NYONG'O

Best supporting actress
WINNER: Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Nominees: Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine; Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle; Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave; Julia Roberts, August: Osage County; June Squibb, Nebraska

ALFONSO CUARON

Best director
WINNER: Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
Nominees: Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity; Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave; Alexander Payne, Nebraska; David O. Russell, American Hustle; Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street

Best animated feature film
WINNER: Frozen
Nominees: The Croods; Despicable Me 2; Ernest & Celestine; Frozen; The Wind Rises

Best foreign film
WINNER: The Great Beauty
Nominees: The Broken Circle Breakdown, Belgium; The Great Beauty, Italy; The Hunt, Denmark; The Missing Picture, Cambodia; Omar, Palestine

Best original screenplay
WINNER: Her, Spike Jonze
Nominees: American Hustle, Eric Singer and David O. Russell; Blue Jasmine, Woody Allen; Dallas Buyers Club, Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack; Her, Spike Jonze; Nebraska, Bob Nelson

Best adapted screenplay
WINNER: 12 Years a Slave, John Ridley
Nominees: Before Midnight, Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke; Captain Phillips, Billy Ray; Philomena, Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope; 12 Years a Slave, John Ridley; The Wolf of Wall Street, Terence Winter

Best original score
WINNER: Gravity
Nominees: The Book Thief; Gravity; Her; Philomena; Saving Mr. Banks

Best original song
WINNER: Let It Go, from Frozen
Nominees: Alone Yet Not Alone, from Alone Yet Not Alone; Happy, from Despicable Me 2; Let It Go, from Frozen; The Moon Song, from Her; Ordinary Love, from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Best cinematography
WINNER: Gravity
Nominees: The Grandmaster; Gravity; Inside Llewyn Davis; Nebraska; Prisoners

Best costume design
WINNER: The Great Gatsby
Nominees: American Hustle; The Grandmaster; The Great Gatsby; The Invisible Woman; 12 Years a Slave

Best documentary feature
WINNER: 20 Feet From Stardom
Nominees: The Act of Killing; Cutie and the Boxer; Dirty Wars; The Square; 20 Feet From Stardom

Best documentary short subject
WINNER: The Lady in Number 6
Nominees: CaveDigger; Facing Fear; Karama Has No Walls; The Lady in Number 6; Music Saved My Life; Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall

Best film editing
WINNER: Gravity
Nominees: American Hustle; Captain Phillips; Dallas Buyers Club; Gravity; 12 Years a Slave

Best makeup and hairstyling
WINNER: Dallas Buyers Club
Nominees: Dallas Buyers Club; Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa; The Lone Ranger

Best production design
WINNER: The Great Gatsby
Nominees: American Hustle; Gravity; The Great Gatsby; Her; 12 Years a Slave

Best animated short film
WINNER: Mr. Hublot
Nominees: Feral; Get a Horse!; Mr. Hublot; Possessions; Room on the Broom

Best live-action short film
WINNER: Helium
Nominees: Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn't Me); Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything); Helium; Pitaako Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?); The Voorman Problem

Best sound editing
WINNER: Gravity
Nominees: All Is Lost; Captain Phillips; Gravity; The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug; Lone Survivor

Best sound mixing
WINNER: Gravity
Nominees: Captain Phillips; Gravity; The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug; Inside Llewyn Davis; Lone Survivor

Best visual effects
WINNER: Gravity
Nominees: Gravity; The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug; Iron Man 3; The Lone Ranger; Star Trek Into Darkness

Sunday, March 2, 2014

'Closely Related Keys' Looks At Culture Clash



by darlene donloe


Closely Related Keys is described as a hard-hitting drama about family conflict and clashing cultures and that’s exactly what it is.  The title is taken from a musical expression meaning ‘to share many common tones.’

Julia (LA Weekly and NAACP Award-winner Diarra Kilpatrick) is an upwardly mobile single professional living her life as a corporate lawyer on the rise in New York.  She has a boyfriend (Ted Mattison), a small, but stylish apartment and life is good – for the moment.


Suddenly her world is turned upside down when Charlie, her father (Brent Jennings) announces that she has a half-sister (Yvonne Huff) named Neyla who happens to be Iraqi.  For good measure he adds that she’s coming to America to study music and, with nowhere else to go, needs to stay with Julia until other arrangements can be made.

None too happy with any of her father’s familial pronouncements, Julia, who already has a salty relationship with him, has her doubts about her half-sister’s intentions and wants nothing to do with her. When the half-sister arrives, unexpectedly, at Julia’s apartment, the plot thickens.

What’s especially appetizing about the show is how award-winning playwright Wendy Graf has written it as a post 9-11 drama that addresses America’s continuing suspicions about everything Iraqi.  It looks at old familial and racial wounds, the ones that are open and the ones that have developed scabs.  

With her newest play Graf has created and developed some rich, complicated characters with real issues.  This show, which is having its world premiere at the Lounge Theatre in Hollywood through March 30, rings authentic emotionally with all of the actors delivering valid performances.


Kudos to Yvonne Huff, who stepped into the role of Neyla only six days prior to opening after Simone Missick, who was originally tapped to play the role had to bow out due to personal reasons.  Huff didn't disappoint turning in an impressive performance coupled with an Iraqi accent. 

Kilpatrick displays a variety of emotions that range from joy, disdain, hurt, skepticism, vulnerability, anger, disgust, confusion and sadness. She and Brent Jennings have a chemistry on stage that helps to move the story forward.


All families have secrets, some have lies, but all, for the most part, have love at its core.  While Graf writes about this family’s issues, she never loses sight of what makes a family a family. She has crafted an uncomfortable, yet thought-provoking play.

“It’s about love and loyalty, secrets and lies, and how the past, never being dead, just hovers around waitin to smack us upside the head,” says Graf in describing her work. “It’s about picking up the broken pieces to imperfectly assemble a new family and future.”

Award-winning Director Shirley Jo Finney (Ovation, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, Garland, LA Weekly and NAACP awards) effectively uses every bit of the limited space. Her vision for depicting a busy, New York life is strong and whimsical. Her veteran judgment for stage movement is on target. She helms a gritty, occasionally humorous piece that features a seamless cast.


“What I love about this piece is that it puts a fresh spin on racial relations that’s  very different from what we usually see in plays about the African American experience,” says Finney.  “Each of the five characters has a unique voice with a very distinctive point of view. These people, like all of us, are trying to navigate a world that has become interconnected and multicultural on every level.”

Hana Kim’s set design is unique and efficient. The use of New York images splashed against the wall to depict the city that never sleeps, works well, as do the twin towers that obviously pays homage to 9-11 and doubles as an entrance, an exit and occasionally a source of light.

Closely Related Keys, written by Wendy Graf and directed by Shirley Jo Finney, stars Yvonne Huff, Brent Jennings, Diarra Kilpatrick, Ted Mattison and Adam Meir.


The show, presented by Hatikva Productions, is produced by Racquel Lehrman and Theatre Planners.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (Oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (OK) and E (excellent), Closely Related Keys gets an O (OK).

Closely Related Keys, Lounge Theatre, 6201 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood; 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 4 p.m. Sun. (dark March 2 and March 20), through March 30; $25-$30; 323 960-7774 or www.plays411.com/relatedkeys.