Same Difference

I was blown away last night by a excellent performance of Sam Roberson's "Same Difference" at the Illusion Theater downtown. Thanks to my work as a high school arts program coordinator in recent years, I still get offers like comp tickets to great local plays. :)

Same Difference is about what it means to be young and black in America - how two different young black men see, interpret, and battle the stereotypes that create great pressure on them. It focuses on two college freshmen and how they are choosing to interact with the world around them - a fascinating addition to the courageous conversations educators have been engaged with around race in recent years.

I loved this show - and THEN I found out in chatting with them afterward that one of the stars, Darien Johnson, is the brother of a former student of mine and a graduate of Mpls North HS - fun connections. The other, Jermaine Small, was a college friend of the playwright and recruited from New York to come play this role when the play was picked up by Illusion. I suspect that the life experiences of both young men have influenced their abilities to embrace these roles.

It's being staged locally through the end of the month - here's the schedule - GO SEE IT!