In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Renea S. Brown!
About Renea S. Brown: Lexington, Kentucky-born multi-award-winning classical actress and Shakespearean specialist based in the DMV. A storyteller since childhood, Renea began her theatrical journey at nine years old, training at the School of the Creative and Performing Arts before building a career that spans the region's leading stages — from Folger Theater to Roundhouse Theater to Shakespeare Theater Company. She has earned three Helen Hayes Awards, co-founded the Black-led Eminent Theatre Company, and has appeared on screen in Godfather of Harlem and Law & Order.
In our conversation, Renea breaks down Folger Theater's production of Measure for Measure — a Shakespeare play set in Vienna where a Duke quietly watches from the shadows as his appointed deputy, Angelo, abuses his power in the name of law and order. She walks through the play's central characters, the moral complexity at the heart of the story, and why themes of power, corruption, justice, and the silencing of women land just as hard today as they did centuries ago.
She gets into what it means to perform this particular story within walking distance of Capitol Hill, why the Folger is the ideal space for it, and why live performance — people telling stories to people in real time — still matters in a world dominated by screens.
Be sure to follow Renea S. Brown on Instagram and TikTok at @therealdarkLady and on Instagram at @ImminentTheatreCompany. For more visit https://imminenttc.org/
Measure For Measure, runs at Folger Theater from September 22nd through November 1st. Tickets start at $20 — go get yours.
The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:
- Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
- Edited by Daniel Alexis
- Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor
Photos:
- Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
- Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.
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