The Power of the Asian Connection in Lorey Hayes' Power Play

Lorey Hayes' "Power Play" celebrates the celebrates the spirit and integrity of African-American men.

The revival of Lorey Hayes' award-winning play, "Power Play" at The Billie Holiday Theatre re-examines prayer, politics and the power of the Asian connection.

The ensemble cast of "Power Play" features Peggy Alston, Lia Chang, E.L. Janie, Dianne Kirksey and J. Preston under the direction of Marjorie Moon, who is also the producer and the executive director of the AUDELCO and OBIE award-winning Billie Holiday Theatre. The design team includes sets by Patrice Andrew Davidson, costumes by Helen L. Simmons, and lighting by Avan.

Propelled to political stardom by an Asian American female campaign manager, Senator Franklin Wright stands on the threshold of making history; becoming Californias first African-American governor. Three days before the election, he suddenly finds himself thrust in the midst of a scandal that threatens to destroy the election, his career and forces him to make a life and death decision. "Power Play" is about the women behind this powerful man who find themselves caught up in a whirlwind that threatens to destroy them all.

Celebrating the spirit and integrity of African American men, the play is a provocative, funny look at the residual effects of political scandal. "Power Play" examines friendship, love integrity, public scrutiny and the question we all face today "What are we voting for, a candidate's private life or the record of his accomplishments and the depths of his commitment?"

Hayes is a Wallace, North Carolina native who honed her writing skills in New York at The Negro Ensemble Company, Frank Silveras Writers Workshop, Roger Furman Theater, The Frederick Douglas Creative Arts Center and Los Angeles Mark Taper Forum. For two consecutive years, Ms. Hayes' plays have been chosen for the Skirball Celebrity Reading Gala to benefit Danny Glover's Robey Theater. Excerpts from several plays are currently being featured in the CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox Diversity Showcases.

Exploding onto the New York theater scene as a playwright with "Power Play", the writer/actress is a graduate of North Carolina A & T with honors majoring in theater, and ended up in Cincinnati in the early 1970's as hostess of a monthly television special for WCPO-TV. Her extensive stage credits include her theatrical debut in "for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf' by Ntozake Shange, and starring on Broadway in the Tony-nominated production of "Home" and in "Inacent Black" with Melba Moore. She recently returned from London, England where she starred as Eunice Evers in "Miss Evers' Boys" at the Royal Shakespeare Festival.

Hayes says very few changes were needed to update the script from its original production almost ten years ago. In 1996, "Power Play" played to enthusiastic audiences in an award-winning production at the National Black Theater Company directed by Tunde Samuel creatively developed by NBT founder Dr. Barbara Ann Teer.

Tickets are $15-$20, $10-$12 children and seniors and can be purchased by calling the Billie Holiday Theatre Box Office (718) 636-0918. Performances are Thurs.-Sat. at 8pm, Sun. matinee @ 4pm.

Billie Holiday Theatre
1368 Fulton St., Brooklyn, NY
Fulton at Marcy Ave or (A) train to Nostrand Ave.
(718) 636-0918
Through Jun. 26th