August Wilson’s "How I Learned What I Learned" and a Community Discussion on the Arts with Terrence Spivey to be at Shore in March

Terrence Spivey, new Artistic Associate at Shore Cultural Centre and director of August Wilson's How I Learned What I Learned on March 25th.  

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The arts will take center stage this month at Shore Cultural Centre beginning with a Community Engagement Panel on the Arts with Terrence Spivey, hosted by WEWS Channel 5 anchor Leon Bibb, which will take place on Wednesday, March 15th at 7:00pm. Then, on Saturday, March 25th a readers theater performance directed by Terrence Spivey, new Artistic Associate at Shore, of August Wilson’s autobiographical one person play How I Learned What I Learned, presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC., will grace the Shore stage.

The open to the public panel discussion is being held to introduce Terrence Spivey to the Euclid community, as well as discuss Shore and the value of the arts in a community. Also joining the panel will be Kirsten Holzheimer Gail, City of Euclid Mayor; Laura Kidder, Shore Cultural Centre Executive Director; Chris Cipriani, Shore Cultural Centre Director of Programming; Taneika Hill, Euclid City Council, Daryl Langman, Euclid City Council; Rich Lea, Shore Cultural Centre Board President and Peter Lawson Jones, who will be portraying August Wilson in How I Learned What I Learned.

August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned is a one-man show that chronicles his life as a black artist in the Hill District in Pittsburgh. From stories about his first jobs to his first loves and his experiences with racism, the Pulitzer Prize winning playwright recants his life from his roots to the completion of the Century Cycle, ten plays which chronicle the African American experience in the 20th century. How I Learned What I Learned gives an inside look into one of the most celebrated playwrights of the 20th century. Terrence Spivey will make his Shore Cultural Centre directorial debut working with actor Peter Lawson Jones in a readers theater format of this poignant and humorous one act monologue. Peter Lawson Jones is an actor (member of both SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity), playwright ("The Bloodless Jungle" and "The Family Line"), attorney, business consultant and former elected official.

The readers theater event on March 25th is being held to raise funds to grow performing arts offerings at Shore. There will be a special “Play Your pART” all-inclusive package price for How I Learned What I Learned. For $40.00 you will receive priority seating, an invitation to a pre-show reception beginning at 6pm with Terrence Spivey which includes appetizers and refreshments, and an after-show coffee and snack which you may enjoy while listening to the talk-back discussion which will take place on stage with Terrence Spivey and Peter Lawson Jones. Regular general admission seating is $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for seniors over 62, or youth under 18. The performance will begin at 7:30pm. If you have questions or to reserve, call 216-289-8578 or visit www.shoreculturalcentre.com . Reservations for the “Play Your pART” package deadline is March 20th.

“I am truly looking forward to participating in the Shore Cultural Center's March fundraising event”, states Peter Lawson Jones. “To have the opportunity to simultaneously work with my good friend, Terrence Spivey, tell the personal story of one of America's greatest dramatists and help raise funds for an arts organization that is clearly on the rise - well, that's the trifecta.”

Terrence Spivey added, "I'm very excited in bringing one of the 20th century's most respected voices with Peter Lawson Jones to the Shore stage. Not just for the purpose of raising funds, but to also bring awareness to the community on how relevant and universal his work is to all races.”

Shore Cultural Centre is locacted at 291 E. 222nd Street, Euclid, Ohio.