Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre will stage Anna Deavere Smith's award-winning one-woman play Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 on Sept. 11-26 at Evanston's Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St.
"Twilight" will run Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. only.
Chicago actress Jazzma Pryor will portray nearly four-dozen people who were connected either directly or indirectly to the 1992 Los Angeles riots that erupted after the trial and acquittal of the police officers accused of assaulting Rodney King. Fleetwood-Jourdain Artistic Director Tim Rhoze will direct the production.
The production takes Smith's interviews with more than 300 people about their reactions to the events related to the riots, and weaves them into a series of monologues and real-life "characters." Her script depicts such public officials as LAPD chief Daryl Gates and Congresswoman Maxine Waters; a nameless juror on the police trial; victims and instigators of violence in South Central; and residents of greater Los Angeles with their own views of the events, including opera singer Jessye Norman and actor Charlton Heston.
A feature film version, with Smith reprising her performance, was released in 2000, and the play will be revived this fall in New York City by the non-profit Signature Theatre Company.
Notes: There will be no late seating. Also, to ensure the safety of audiences and performers, all patrons must be vaccinated against COVID and will have to wear masks during the performance.
Tickets are $25 each; visit www.fjtheatre.com .