Pat's House Jovelyn Richards with Stephanie Johnson

(Stephanie Johnson, director and light design). Occupied by a small orchestra of blues and jazz, Mrs. Pat's House jumps with dance. This safe haven known as "A Brothel" brings life and magic to the neighborhood and the occupants. Set in a African-American neighborhood in the mid 1930s, Mrs. Pat's House is testimony to the economical and social alienation of woman and people of color. The play performed by Jovelyn Richards, along with a live band, will make you laugh and cry. Mrs. Pat’s House is the third of Jovelyn’s Nappy Headed Love Stories. Writer and solo performance artist Jovelyn Richards, MFA, is also a stand-up comedian, professional storyteller, and guest lecturer. She was a co-producer for KPFA 94.1 Women’s Magazine where she hosted a weekly commentary on mainstream media, called Welcome to Jovelyn’s World. She is co-author of the novel The Onion that won the Digest Merit Award; author of Raising Autumn Colored Babies; Beyond Vanity; and various other published works. Her written and stage performances include, The Diaries of Aunt Jemima; Harlem Nights; Flowers Cut in a vase and Dying; and Pussy Will Sell a Lot Longer than Cotton Any Day. She received the Playwright Center of Minnesota’s, Many Voices Award in 1993 and 1997, and the Intermediate Arts’ Artist of Color Award in 1995 and 1998, awarded funding from the Zellerbach foundation for her recent work ‘ Come Home’ which premiered at The Marsh and ran for 5 weeks this year. “Jovelyn Richards is the kind of mesmerizing storyteller that can draw an audience’s senses into the palm of her hand moments after she steps onstage.” –Megan Ma, San Francisco Bay Guardian Tickets: $12 advance; $15 at door