AfroSolo Arts Festival 31, March 28, 29, 30: Let Freedom Ring!

by Lawrence Helman

Now in its 31^st year, the AfroSolo Arts Festival presents Let Freedom Ring! Part 2, featuring African American solo performers including Douglass Haynes, vocalist; Augustene Phillips, writer; Libah Sheppard, writer; Thomas Robert Simpson, writer; Hugh Leeman, filmmaker; and Dr. Carl Blake, piano accompanist for Douglass Haynes.

The three-day festival dates are Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29, at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, March 30, at 3:00 p.m. at Potrero Stage, 1695 18^th St. in San Francisco (where the venue and restrooms are ADA-accessible. In person and live streaming options are available. General admission seating is $0 – $35, Pay what you can. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Tickets are available at https://tickets.playground-sf.org/TheatreManager/1/online?event=391. For more information, visit https://afrosolo.org or call 415-771-2376.

For the past 17 years, Thomas Robert Simpson, founder and artistic director of AfroSolo, has produced the award-winning and critically acclaimed AfroSolo Arts Festival in San Francisco, presenting over 75 artists. He has also showcased celebrity artists such as award-winning actor Ruby Dee, comedian and political activist Dick Gregory, beloved teacher, poet and social activist June Jordan, sensational Black gospel singer Emmit Powell and many others.

Thomas Robert Simpson, founder and artistic director of AfroSolo, says: “We are very excited to continue our performance series with inspiring performers showcasing the diversity and talent of our artists. Each performance will include theatre, music, dance, storytelling, a post-performance on surviving police stops and, for 2025, an AI-driven story. The performances continue to provide us the opportunity to celebrate our history, uplift our culture, and through our experiences, explore the bonds all people have in common.”

Douglass Haynes, vocalist, will perform “Songs That Feed My Soul,” a mini-concert of Black Gospel Hymns and Negro Spirituals. He was influenced by his mother, Charlie Mae Haynes, who sang with the Sallie Martin Singers. Martin was referred to as the “Mother of Gospel” music.

Augustene Phillips will read her short story, “Please Don’t Let That America Be America Again.” Using the story of her father, Phillips writes a cautionary story about what life will be like for many people if the attack on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs (DEI), the erasure of or a sanitized version of Black History in education, the banning of books, etc., is a success.

Growing up in rural Arkansas, Phillips witnessed how the lack of opportunity and the power to control limited her father’s destiny. Phillips explores what the impact of the diminished rights gained over the last 60 years would mean to her generation and those to come. She provides a “canary in the coal mine” view of what America could become. She cautions, “Don’t let that American become America again.”

Augustene Phillips is enjoying life as a senior citizen. She is a widow, mother and grandmother and she attends church regularly and sings in two choirs. Her upcoming book is an anthology of stories focused on her life and her family’s history. The book will be titled “The Life and Times of Augustene Phillips.” 

Libah Sheppard will read from her story, “I Do Love You,” the story of a young Black girl’s love for her older brother. Despite his faults, he could do no wrong. The result of her brother’s encounter with a policeman sent Sheppard spiraling out of control, which led to almost a decade of drug addiction. “I Do Love You” is a story of personal redemption over adversity. She only recently has been able to talk or write about the incident. The story is a reclamation of her life as she recently completed a Bachelor’s Degree and is presently working on a Master’s Degree, both at SF State University. 

Libah is actively involved in community platforms which have addressed housing discrimination, economic disparities and the displacement of children. She has performed many years with the Madea Project Theater for Incarcerated Women and is passionate about helping people heal from various traumas in life. She dreams of opening a welcoming Group Home for Teen Moms and their children. She honors the work of the generations who have gone before her, never forgetting the injustices that are still here to fight.

Thomas Robert Simpson will premiere “Little Jimmy Finally Reaches the Promised Land.” This will be an AI generated film, and it will be AfroSolo’s first venture into presenting a film. “Little Jimmy, Finally Reaches the Promised Land” explores the youthful vision of urban renewal and the promise he envisions from the project. Thomas Robert Simpson is a writer, director, performer and producer of AfroSolo. The film will be created by Hugh Leeman via Artificial Intelligence Storytelling, a creative framework that pairs the ancient art of storytelling with artificial intelligence to bring stories to life and communities together.

Since 1999 Mr. Simpson has also used the AfroSolo Arts Festival to focus on the health of African Americans. He has been collaborating with the medical community to present health fairs as well as serving on committees charged with decreasing the health disparity in the African American community.

AfroSolo Theatre Company’s mission is to nurture, promote and present African American and African Diasporan art and culture through solo performances and the visual and literary arts. Since 1994, we have presented the annual AfroSolo Arts Festival, a forum for African Americans and the larger African Diaspora as a way to give voice to the unique experience of being Black. Through art, we bring people of all ethnicities together to explore and share the human spirit that binds us all. To learn more, visit https://afrosolo.org.

Lawrence Helman can be reached at [email protected].

For reference only:

FOR PRESS MATERIALS, HI-RES COLOR PRESS PHOTOS, VISIT: 

https://afrosolo.org/march2025

TICKETS: In Person & Live Streaming options available.

https://tickets.playground-sf.org/TheatreManager/1/online?event=391

General Admission Seating. $0 – $35, Pay what you can.
No one turned away due to lack of funds.

WEB SITE: https://afrosolo.org

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100044743644987

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/afrosolotheatrecompany/

AfroSolo Theatre Company presents…

AfroSolo ARTS FESTIVAL 31 – LET FREEDOM RING! PART 2

Fri., and Sat., March 28, 29, 2025 at 7:00 pm;
Sun., March 30, 2025 at 3:00 pm – Limited Engagement – 3 Performances Only!

Potrero Stage* 1695 18^th St., San Francisco, CA 94107

In Person & Live Streaming options available.

Show Dates & Performers: (3 shows) – Same performers – all 3 shows
– Fri. March 28, 2025 – 7:00 pm

– Sat. March 29, 2025 – 7:00 pm

– Sun. March 30, 2025 – 3:00 pm

Performers:

Douglass Haynes – vocalist

Augustene Phillips – writer

Libah Sheppard – writer

Thomas Robert Simpson, – writer

Hugh Leeman – filmmaker

Dr. Carl Blake (piano for Douglass Haynes)

FOR PRESS MATERIALS AND HI-RES COLOR PRESS PHOTOS, VISIT:

https://afrosolo.org/march2025

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Source: https://sfbayview.com/2025/03/afrosolo-arts-festival-31-march-28-29-30-let-freedom-ring/