The Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
A Chautauqua Performance by Preston Love Jr.
Abstract
Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Jr was born 1908 and passed 1972, after 24 years in the US Congress and a distinguish career as a tireless fighter for the rights of the Negro. Arrogant, confident, brash but the most dominant and effective Civil Right advocate of his time.
The performance is set in 1968 at a time where Rev. Powell faced many personal and political challenges. The setting is a mock rally in Harlem. Rev Powell is there to have a Town Hall meeting and plans to share his thoughts on the current issues facing the community at the time. As he begins to talk he begins to digress and recalls his life for the audience. In describing his life and struggles he vacillates from calm to fiery throughout the meeting. He concludes with a typical Powell speech (actually a compilation of some of his best speech quotes).
The audience will be given the opportunity to ask questions all “in character”
Preston Love Jr.
Presents
“Stories and Experiences: From Cotton Bowl to Cotton Candy”
Preston Love Jr. turns 70 years old next year (2012) and as such has been reflecting on the very unique life experiences he has had. After his highly acclaimed one man performance (as Adam Clayton Powell) that he researched, wrote and performs, Preston has again written a captivating one man performance. This performance will chronicle his interaction and involvement with many historical events, celebrity and historic individuals, and his life’s highs and lows. The stories will entertain you, make you laugh, make you cry, make you think and make you say wow!!! The performance will include music by keyboard. The performance will conclude with audience Q&A regarding stories from the vast list of personalities below.
This is not a verbal resume, this performance will tell incredible behind the scene stories from his experiences including; Bob Devaney (NU Football Coach); IBM’s first experiment with Black professionals; the Atlanta civil rights families including Coretta King; his organization, management and daily interaction with Presidential candidate Jesse Jackson Sr.; his miracle near death experiences with a horse and with drugs.
If you think you know Preston you don’t, if you think you know your neighbor you don’t there is more; “the rest of the story”. Personalities Preston has known personally and has stories, include:
Harold Washington
Count Basie
Jesse Jackson Sr.
Jesse Jackson Jr.
Ara Parseghian
Bob Devaney
Tom Osborne
Maya Angelou
John Lewis
Julian Bond
Johnny Otis
Andrew Young
Bill Cosby
James Baldwin
Maynard Jackson
Charlie Rose
Shirley Franklin
Bill Cambell
Johnny Crochran
Coleman Young
Smokey Robinson
Dr J
Jimmy Carter
Robert Johnson
Coretta King
Gayle Sayers
Bob Boozer
Ernie Chambers
Bob Gibson
Johnny Rodgers
Lynn Moody
Hugh Hefner
Alexis Herman
Charlayne Hunter-Gault
John Beasley
Anatoly Dobrynin,
Soviet Ambassador to the United Nations
Preston Love Sr
Minister Louis Farrakhan
Ron Brown
Walter Fauntroy
Marla Gibbs
Calvin Keys
Mildred Brown
Marion Barry