San Francisco- August 22, 2012 -
Across the Bay, Jinho "The Piper" Ferreira of Oakland's internationally
acclaimed Flipsyde goes solo with his most recent creative work, a
one-man play, "Cops and Robbers" 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 8 at Malonga Casquelourd Center, 1428 Alice Street, Oakland, CA 94612.
Ferreira's credits leading into this performance are quite unique as he is a rapper,
actor, screenwriter, 2010 graduate of a Bay Area law enforcement
academy and now a playwright. He has toured internationally with The
Black-eyed Peas, Snoop Dogg, The Game, Busta Rhymes, and other great
names as one-third of the alternative Hip-Hop band, "Flipsyde."
The play is a must see according to reviewer, filmmaker, educator Beli Sullivan: "'Cops
& Robbers' is a new one-man show written and performed by Piper (of
Flipsyde) whose performance was so honest and real and the story was so
tight and cleverly woven, that watching this stage piece was more like
watching a film. Each chapter or character cut effortlessly to the next
while interlacing information and detail that built a story so
gut-wrenching and shockingly vivid that when it was over some men and
women in the audience broke into tears.
We
watched an African warrior go and in came a female television news
reporter each with a distinct voice and accents that were solid and
sustained. Then came a spot on Rush Limbaugh-type radio talk show host, a
police captain, a sagging inmate, and many other main and crucial
supporting characters." Click Here to Read Entire Review.
Tickets are available via: Brown Paper Tickets 1 (800) 838-3006
http://copsandrobbers.brownpapertickets.com/ .The
performance is from 7-9 p.m. for mature audiences, parental discretion
advised. An onstage discussion with Piper follows the performance.
 |
|
"There are two sides to every story, and then there is the truth."
Piper speaks from cops, robbers and media perspective in new play."
Photo by Doniphan Blair.
|
"There are two sides to every story, and then there is the truth." -Piper
"Cops
and Robbers," a revolutionary look at the relationship between law
enforcement, the media and the Black community, begins with the
truth-telling "slice of life" police shooting of a Black man. The usual
players' call and response playbooks on race, class, and politics have
to be put down as the shocking details of the case emerge and Piper
leads the audience to the truth.
"Cops
and Robbers" is co-directed by Ami Zins and Lew Levinson. Zins is the
former director of the Oakland Film Office. Instrumental in bringing
such films as "Pursuit of Happyness", "Matrix Reloaded", "Matrix Revolutions" and many indie films to the Bay Area, Zins currently teaches at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, is the
marketing director for Reel Directory and is a consultant with 32Ten Studios in San Rafael.
Zins'
co-director, Levinson, Chairman of the Laney College Theater Arts
Department for more than 30 years, has produced and directed over 40
full-length college, community, and professional plays. "A Soldiers
Story", "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow
is Enuf" and "Colored Museum" as well as "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's
Nest", "Homeland and The Dutchman" are just a few titles from his
expansive creative career that includes acting. Most recently, Levinson
starred in the award-winning feature "Less," one of seven films he has
appeared in along with many local theater productions.
I have no idea whether Piper, Zin and Levinson considered it,
but this writer notes that it's sacredly significant that the work of
this versatile performer's "Cops and Robbers" will be held just steps
away from where editor, reporter and screenwriter
Chauncey Bailey was gunned down August 2, 2007. At the time of Bailey's murder, he was writing for "
The Oakland Post"
about law enforcement misconduct, the lack of government transparency
and a rogue business that was a cover for crime. Hopefully, this unique
work of Piper will be yet another olive branch that can be placed on
the altar of peace to bring solace for Bailey and the too many men
gunned down in Oakland and all of us impacted by this tragic loss of
life.
 |
|
Piper is incredibly talented, and the response to the play has
been tremendous even though it's hardly had any exposure, says Ami Zins
co-director of "Cops and Robbers" with Lew Levinson..
|
May "Cops and Robbers" be inspiration for young men to "put the gun down" and find a better way.
May "Cops and Robbers" be more than just "sound and fury."
Let's see what it's all about. Tickets are available via: Brown Paper Tickets 1 (800) 838-3006 http://copsandrobbers.brownpapertickets.com/ .
For promotional photos, press passes and interviews, please contact Ami Zins by email at info@amizins.com, or 510-517-4298
###
Music by Flipsyde:
