From the KPBS weekend arts preview: The Old Globe collaborated with SoulKiss Theater to bring two one-act plays to the stage, written by local hip-hop artists and playwrights Miki Vale and Queen Kandi Cole. Vale's play "And We Danced" is the story of 1940s LGBTQ+ activist Ruth Ellis. Cole's "Game Night" is a story of friendship and differences during a board game night. Both plays are directed by Kimberly King. Details: Oct. 17-27. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. The Chrysalis: Monarch Center for the Arts, 1805 Main St., Barrio Logan. $23.18+. —Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS From the organizers: Two Hip Hop Powerhouses Bring an Unforgettable Theatre Experience to Barrio Logan in "2 RAPPERS 2 PLAYS." Get ready for a theatrical takeover as two hip hop artists, Miki Vale and Queen Kandi Cole, bring their respective stage plays, “And We Danced” and “Game Night,” to the Chrysalis: Monarch Center for the Arts this fall. The production titled “2 RAPPERS 2 PLAYS,” features two one-act plays back to back as part of The Old Globe’s Arts Engagement CoLAB program, in collaboration with SoulKiss Theater. Queen Kandi Cole’s "GAME NIGHT," directed by Kimberly King, follows a group of friends who gather for a night of games but wind up digging into the complexities of their diverse backgrounds and belief structures post-pandemic during a chaotic and hilarious evening of libations and truth-telling. It features a dynamic cast, including Eboni Harvey, Kendrick Dial, Julia Giolzetti, Geoffrey Geissinger, Maria Boncza and Winnie Beasley. Miki Vale’s "AND WE DANCED," also directed by Kimberly King, is an exploration of the life and impact of Ruth Ellis, a Black, openly queer woman and LGBTQIA activist from the 1940s who created a safe haven and sustained advocacy for the Queer Black community of Detroit. This production features a talented cast, including Winnie Beasley, Rev. Alyce Smith Cooper, Zakiyyah Saleem, Casj Young, Kevane La’Marr Coleman and Brittany Allen. Opening Night Friday, October 18 @ 7 p.m. When: October 17-October 27 Where: The Chrysalis: Monarch Center for the Arts Cost: Tickets starting at $20 Miki Vale on Facebook / Instagram Queen Kandi Cole on Facebook / Instagram
