Charles Reese Takes Europe

    LOS ANGELES, CA, July 10, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Shaping the world view of iconic African-American author and civil rights activist, James Baldwin has not only been Charles Reese' passion, but his destiny. A sought-after lecturer and cultural architect, Reese is a special guest artist and lecturer this summer at Kasteel Well (The Netherlands) home to Emerson College's premier Education Abroad Program. Invited by Dr. Anthony Pinder, Emerson Vice President of International Programs to help launch the inaugural James Baldwin Writer's Colony, Reese will perform select excerpts from the acclaimed off-Broadway play, James Baldwin: A Soul On Fire by Howard B. Simon and also give a lecture. Dr. Pinder had this vision of a Baldwin Colony for new writers to spend time overseas working on their craft inspired by Baldwin. The curriculum was designed by Jabari Asim, noted author and professor at Emerson College. Reese states, "I am one of many muses who keep the fire of Baldwin burning via cultural programs. I am honored to be invited (by Dr. Pinder) to bear witness (as James Baldwin would say) by lecturing and presenting my literary performance salon series. I applaud the college's eclectic approach to the writing process by utilizing all forms of art and culture as a tool to enhance the overall experience." The immersive 5-week program which includes a week in Paris runs through August 2, 2018 (James Baldwin's 94th Birthday). Charles Reese and The James Baldwin Performance & Conversation Salon will take place on Saturday, July 14th at 3pm, Kasteel Well. Kasteellaan 20, 5855 AE WELL. A meet and greet with a wine reception immediately follows. The event is free and open to the public.

On Sunday, July 22nd, in Paris, France Reese will present his spoken word/poetry salon series, Baldwin & Langston: Souls Afire! at Patricia's Paris Expat Soirées & Dinners from 7pm – 9 pm. Paris Soirées Evenings feature Literary, Art, New Age, Business, African- American and Black Paris themes. The intimate salon atmosphere brings together Americans in Paris together with expatriates, French and the international community in a global meetup. Patricia Laplante-Collins is also the founder of African American Literary Soirees. To RSVP email [email protected].

About Charles Reese: A thespian and performance artist for more than 25 years, Reese is an AUDELCO Awards nominee (aka the Viv Awards). Reese literally ran into James Baldwin while a co-ed at Morehouse. He recalls, I met Mr. Baldwin when I was a freshman student. It was a brief encounter. I was coming across the campus at Morehouse, and I ran into him. He looked at me; I looked at him." He said, "My, you have eyes like mine." I said, "Thank you, Sir," and I ran. Let me explain why I ran. I knew who Baldwin was, but I ran because at the time I was trying to make my curfew." Reese is known in the theatrical circles for his critically-acclaimed Off-Broadway performance in Howard Simon's production of James Baldwin: A Soul on Fire. Critic David DeWitt of The New York Times called the play, "...funny, thrilling and wise, buoyed by the passionate performance of Charles Reese in the title role." Additional Off-Broadway and regional theatre credits include: In Dahomey (New Federal Theatre); Freedom Fighters & Friends (Arena Stage); Julie Hebert's St. Joan and the Dancing Sickness (Open Fist Theatre); and Myla Churchill's Griot Trio (Aaron Davis Hall). Television credits include: Co-starring as Jalil Baldwin on the sitcom Beauty and the Baller, (BET Her fka BET-Centric TV). The show is based on the web series, Who... created by Emmy winning writer-producer, Michael Ajakwe Jr. He was also in Law & Order, Between the Lines, Grapevine, In the Heat of the Night(episodes): 40, On the Low, and Road Lawyers and Other Briefs. As a writer, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of James Baldwin Reese co-authored the book adaption of James Baldwin: A Soul On Fire, which includes the play version and commentary to pay homage to Baldwin's legacy as an author and civil rights activist. He also contributed an essay titled James Baldwin: Artist as Activist and the Baldwin /Kennedy Secret Summit of 1963 to the volume, James Baldwin: Challenging Authors, edited by Paul L. Thomas & A. Scott Henderson. He was a guest speaker at the 2016 International James Baldwin Conference at the American University of Paris in France. For more information about booking Charles Reese email [email protected].

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