On January 24th, Youth Radio hosted its first play at our 1719 Arts Center. We were happy to welcome Oakland born-and-raised actor and comedian Don Reed as he performed East 14th, his critically acclaimed one man show.
In East 14th, Don Reed uses comedic storytelling to depict his growing up in Oakland. Having not performed East 14th in its entirety in over 2 years, Don Reed revived his show for a special performance just for Youth Radio.
Our 1719 Arts Center was packed with Youth Radio students, family and friends, and community members. The performance was a hit and provided opportunity for audience engagement, entertainment and laughter. The performance resonated with the audience so much, and Don was given a standing ovation at the end of the show. He mentioned that this was the best youth audience he has ever performed for.
After the performance, Don Reed stayed for a meet and greet with Youth Radio students. Many young people engaged in conversation with Don about growing up in Oakland and careers in the arts. One attendee mentioned that he “got some great advice about making it” in the industry. Youth Radio Project Associate Shyra Gums classified the show as “classic comedic quality, and said that it was “cool to see a performance from someone who could easily connect with us.”
Youth Radio will be hosting more live performances, youth arts workshops, and other community events at its 1719 Arts Center. Stay tuned for upcoming event updates!