Parties & Events
Join us for a Theatre night Saturday, March 3rd at 7:30PM; tickets only $10. All proceeds from this night support Seattle
Black Pride 2007. We want a full house, so make sure to tell your friends!
Brownbox Theatre presents a new production of Before It Hits Home by Cheryl West, as conceived and directed
by Artistic Director Tyrone Brown. The production opens Saturday, March 3, and runs through March 25, 2007 at the Rainier
Valley Cultural Center in Southeast Seattle; proceed from the opening night will go to Seattle Black Pride 2007.
Before It Hits Home follows the last few months in the life of Wendal Bailey, an African-American man in his
early 30's. After nearly dying of AIDS, he comes home to his extended family—his mother, father, "aunt", brother
and 12-year-old son—for a festive evening that turns into a disaster. Shortly after this debacle, the only support
and love he finds comes from an unexpected source—his previously stern, disapproving and homophobic father.
"Before It Hits Home is not a play about victimization... It is instead an authentic, at times almost hysterical
make-up call to the Black community, sounded from within." The New York Times.
Before It Hits Home was originally workshopped by the Seattle Group Theatre in conjunction with its Multicultural
Playwright's Festival in 1989.
Before It Hits Home author Cheryl West is an award winning playwright and Seattle resident. Playwriting credits include
Jar The Floor, Puddin 'n Pete, Rejoice, and Holiday Heart (the film version of Holiday Heart starred Ving Rhames and
Alfre Woodard). Awards include the National Endowment for the Arts Playwriting Award, the Multicultural Playwright's
Festival Award and Helen Hayes-Charles McArthur Award.
Before It Hits Home director Tyrone Brown is the Founder and Artistic Director of Brownbox. Directing credits include
the original production of Black To My Roots, Wreck The Airline Barrier by Adriano Shaplin, The Vagina
Monologues by Eve Ensler, and Hamlet X: The Tragedy of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. He holds a Bachelors of Arts
in Theatre from Western Washington University.
Before It Hits Home features the talents of 10 local Seattle actors and actresses. The creative team includes costume
design by Avianca Walker, lighting design by Brendon Orth-Sheridan, set design by Awet Beraki, and an original soundtrack by
Stuart McLeod.