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His second Poetical, Julius X (2005), Letson “Remixed” Shakespeare’s’ The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, with the last days of Malcolm X, to create something entirely new and engaging. The City Paper said, “In true mix-em’ up fashion, Al Letson Jr. has taken the violence, politics, and otherworldliness of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and smashed it into the history and mythology of Malcolm X”
Letson gives audiences a genuine glimpse inside the world of abject poverty with his solo show, Summer in Sanctuary (2008). Employing storytelling, poetry and multimedia, he chronicles his eye-opening experience working at a summer camp for disadvantaged children. The Baltimore Sun said “Letson is a powerful performer who tells his story by moving fluidly from one role to the next. He is at his comedic best when playing both himself - overly sincere and eager - and the sassy kids who badger him”
.com
Soul-stirring, interdisciplinary work has garnered Al Letson national recognition. Letson established himself as a heavyweight in the Poetry Slam Movement early in his career and has performed on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, CBS’s Final Four PreGame Show (2004) and commercial projects for Sony, the Florida Times Union, Adobe Software and the Doorpost Film Project.
Drawing on his background as a performance poet, Letson weaves spoken word into the fabric of his theatre work. Griot: He who Speaks the Sweet Word (2004),a genre mixing choreopoem was commissioned by the Baltimore Theatre Project and written and performed by Letson with poets/actors Larry Knight Jr. and David Girard. "Griot" follows the tradition of storytelling from the ancient Mali Empire to current Hip-Hop America. NYTheatre.com commented, “Letson's own poetry is moving and powerful, with thrilling, aching imagery. He does not suffer in comparison to the giants he includes in his choreopoem.”
Letson’s teen drama Chalk (2004), features young actors and explores the reality of teenage aggression. With Chalk, Letson created a new genre of theatre he calls "The Poetical." The format of a Poetical is similar to a Musical but instead of the dialogue leading into musical numbers, characters engage in performance poetry.
In 2007 Letson was one of the three finalists out of 1,400 applicants to win the Public Radio Talent Quest. The Talent Quest is an effort by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to find new hosts and shows. The pilot “State of the Re:Union” created from the contest is to be presented to The Corporation for Public Broadcasting for possible funding.
Letson continues to tour with his shows and push the boundaries of performance art, never accepting his craft as a static medium. Audiences can look forward to significant themes seamlessly blended with innovative methods in his future projects.
