For Release: Aug. 25, 2003
Companion documentary looks at black women playwrights
American Shorts presents Lynn Nottage's "Poof!," the second in a series of dramas adapted from new plays from American regional theaters. Starring Academy Award-nominee Rosie Perez and Tony Award-winner Viola Davis, "Poof!" deals with a serious problem--domestic violence--in a compellingly comic way.
Perez plays Loureen, an abused wife who lives in fear until the day she finds the unexpected courage to voice her anger. The result is a pile of ashes where her husband had been standing. Has she literally condemned him to hell? With the help of her best friend, Florence, played by Davis, she tries to understand what happened to her husband.
"We've seen stories about domestic violence," said Perez, "and they're very heavy handed. Usually the woman is crying from start to finish, and you don't really get a sense of who she is." With "Poof!," though, Perez sensed her character's life outside the abuse--her humor and strength, her personal highs and lows.
African-American playwright Nottage adapted her award winning short play for television. The program has a companion documentary, A Voice to Be Reckoned With, which explores the emerging voice of contemporary African-American female playwrights. Among those interviewed are Nottage, Regina Taylor, Dael Orlandersmith, Kirsten Childs and Kia Corthron.
Created by Kentucky Educational Television (KET), American Shorts is an anthology drama series of one-hour programs featuring adaptations of new short plays premiered by regional theaters. The first prime-time drama project to originate from outside New York or Los Angeles, the series links drama to the needs and social problems that inspire it. It is also the first drama project for public television to be taped in high definition video format.
The series Web site, www.ket.org/americanshorts/, contains information on programs in the series, as well as teacher resources and links to regional stages for students, theater-goers and aspiring playwrights.
"Poof!" is directed by Fred Barzyk (The Lathe of Heaven) and produced by Guy Mendes of KET. The program is nationally distributed by American Public Television (APT) and made possible by the support of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
For 42 years, American Public Television (APT) has been a major source of programming for the nation's public television stations. APT has more than 10,000 hours of available programming, including: Discovering the Real World of Harry Potter; Globe Trekker; Muhammad Ali: Through the Eyes of the World; Nightly Business Report; Rick Steve's Europe; Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home; Ballykissangel; Brian Jacques' Redwall; and The Three Tenors Christmas. APT is known for identifying innovative programs and developing creative distribution techniques for producers. In four decades, it has established a tradition of providing public television stations nationwide with program choices that enable them to strengthen and customize their schedules. Press should contact Donna Hardwick at (617) 338-4455, ext. 129, or via email to donna_hardwick@aptonline.org. For more information about APT's programs and services, log on to www.aptonline.org.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967 develops educational public radio, television and online services for the American people. The Corporation is the industry's largest single source of funds for national public television and radio program development and production. A grant making organization, CPB funds more than 1,000 public radio and television stations.
Editor's Note: A complete press kit is available at www.ket.org/pressroom/special/poof.