Performance: “Solitary Man: A Visit to Pelican Bay State Prison”

Categories:

When:
April 21, 2018 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
2018-04-21T15:00:00-07:00
2018-04-21T17:00:00-07:00
Where:
Black Repertory Group Theater
3201 Adeline St
Berkeley, CA 94703
USA
Cost:
$10-20

Solitary Man: A Visit to Pelican Bay State Prison
A Benefit for the San Francisco Bay View Newspaper
Performed by Charlie Hinton & Fred Johnson
Written by Charlie Hinton
Music by Fred Johnson
Directed by Mark Kenward

*****
In Solitary Man, Charlie travels to Crescent City to visit a lifer named Otis Washington (played by Fred), a 64 year old native of New York City, whos been imprisoned since 1975 and at Pelican Bay since it opened in 1989. During the visit, Otis explains some of what he has learned and experienced.

*****

Following the performance – a Panel Discussion with:
José Villarreal – formerly incarcerated in solitary confinement at Pelican Bay SHU; published artist and author; prisoner advocate
Marie Levin – sister of “Brutha Sitawa,” one of the four “main reps” who helped organize the 2011 & 2013 hunger strikes; co-founder of The Prisoner Advocacy Network/PAN, member of CA Families Against Solitary Confinement/CFASC
Anne Weills – co-counsel with the Center for Constitutional Rights on Ashker v. Brown, the case that ended indefinite solitary confinement in California. She continues to fight for enforcement of the settlement.

About Fred and Charlie:

Fred Johnson is a formerly incarcerated person that has gone on to address the human rights issues of drug users and formerly incarcerated persons, as well as the wider community, guided by harm reduction principles. He has worked in a variety of settings, including policy analysis and syringe access programs throughout the US. He plays trumpet, mostly in the New York City area, and has recorded a CD, History Speaking (A Tribute to my Mentors).

Charlie grew up in Joplin, MO and spent 3 years in the Peace Corps in Bolivia. He attended the founding meeting of Bay Area Gay Liberation in 1975, and through BAGL, began his prison work. He worked for 19 years at Inkworks Press, a collectively owned and managed printing company in Berkeley, CA that closed its doors in 2015, leaving him retired. Besides writing and visiting prisoners, Charlie works with Haiti Action Committee and the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Committee to End Sleep Deprivation. Solitary Man is Charlie’s second theatrical endeavor, after his solo show Life Wish. He is the author of Life Wish: Essays, Letters, Songs, Solo Performance, Haiku written over time.

Responses to Solitary Man:

I/WE want to Thank Mr. Charles Hinton for the wonderful work he is doing on our (Prisoners in California) behalf. We need for the world to see a glimpse of our daily suffering through this play, Solitary Man!!! 
Brutha Sitawa
Pelican Bay Hunger Striker
Signer, Agreement to End Hostilities, 2012

i/WE applaud Charlie Hinton for using his time, talent and creativity to help our tortured Class get the true story of our ordeal out to the World. A Solidarity Power Salute To You Charlie for your Solitary Man play.
Brutha Baridi
Pelican Bay Hunger Striker
Signer, Agreement to End Hostilities, 2012

Im a mother of a son that been in the prison system now 10 years. To hear Charlie put a voice to my silent pain lifted me. It gave me hope and strength that I need to finish this journey with my son. 
–Denise Jones

You should definitely not miss this show.  Very important, very appropriate, right on time.
–Kiilu Nyasha

64541

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.