From the Archives
Written, Performed, and Directed by Don Reed
Through March 1, 2014 | Berkeley
March 31 – June 16, 2018 | San Francisco
June 23-September 2018, Berkeley
Show Description
Hot on the heels of the hilarious and critically acclaimed East 14th and The Kipling Hotel, Don Reed returns with the next installment of his wonderfully wild and awkward autobiographical journey. Can You Dig It?
The 60’s Back Down East 14th, rewinds to the 60’s – a prequel-plus – going back to young Don’s formative “Stand By Me” years in Oakland grammar school when the family was “whole.” Before his father became a pimp – before his mother reluctantly became a Jehovah’s Witness – a lot of wonderful, scary, amazing, unnecessary, cool, moving, unbelievably true stories unfolded. From the Beatles to the Black Panthers, James Brown to the Jerk, MLK to JFK to the KKK – come and see the 60’s through the blinking eyes of an awkward kid who’s just trying to fit in.
Artist Biography
Don Reed, a San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Nominee and NAACP Double Nominee for Best Actor & Best Playwright has performed, written and directed for film, television, and theater. His work on an HBO Partners and Crime Special of up-and-coming comedians years ago caught the attention of the right people and led to many recurring and guest-starring roles on television. He has performed all over the country and opened for Tony Award winner Tommy Tune. You may have heard his voice on Spiderman, The Flintstones, ER, Frasier, Friends, Scrubs, Will & Grace, Law & Order or SNL. Reed has written promos for The Golden Globes, The Academy Awards, and the Olympics. Additionally, he has written and developed screenplays for Spike Lee’s 40 Acres and a Mule and Maverick Filmworks. Reed is currently the opening act/warm-up comedian for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and is a board member of the thriving 51Oaklandfoundation, keeping music and the arts alive in Oakland Public Schools.
“Flat-Out Hilarious…electrifying performer” –KQED
“Reed streches his elastic features and voice to inhabit people of every race, age and gender” –San Francisco Chronicle
“Not since John Leguizamo morphed from character to character in his now-famous early solo shows about his youth has there been an actor quite as accomplished in such theatrical daring-do as Don Reed.” –Theatermania