Playwright/Author Q. Allen King
"Can A Woman Raise A Man?"
By Rodney Wayne Branche
Copa Style Magazine Publisher/CEO
Copa: How did you get the original idea to write “How Can a Woman Raise a Man?”
Q: The whole concept came from a lot of pain in my life. I tell people when you are homeless there are not many options for you. At the time I was homeless and sleeping under a tree, I believe it was a divine act of God that set this whole thing up for me so I could get this book out and spread this message. The message is really about me and my father getting back together to heal the inner wounds that happened with his absence, it speaks to everyone, men, women and children.
Copa: Please give us a rundown or synopsis of the book as it pertains to the play.
Q: The book really started this whole movement, I took the principles of the book and built characterizations that developed this crazy story line and added a bit of music as well. When you come to the play you see more of an entertaining and powerful story.
Q: The book really started this whole movement, I took the principles of the book and built characterizations that developed this crazy story line and added a bit of music as well. When you come to the play you see more of an entertaining and powerful story.
Copa: Let’s get deeper with the story behind the stage production?
Q: It’s actually centered on our male character Bishop Michael Cedar. So he’s raised up after leaving the Penitentiary and becomes a Pastor but he still has open wounds in his life with 3 daughters, all of them have different mothers. One Sunday morning in Church another daughter shows up from one of his nights in the street or whatever happened. So he has to sort of heal their relationship in some way. Things are exposed about his father and mother and his father comes back in the end. He tries to balance his marriage, ministry and life. The first 2 scenes we cover the issues of rape, incest and molestation, the kind of things that are part of reality that you don’t usually see in a traditional urban play
Q: It’s actually centered on our male character Bishop Michael Cedar. So he’s raised up after leaving the Penitentiary and becomes a Pastor but he still has open wounds in his life with 3 daughters, all of them have different mothers. One Sunday morning in Church another daughter shows up from one of his nights in the street or whatever happened. So he has to sort of heal their relationship in some way. Things are exposed about his father and mother and his father comes back in the end. He tries to balance his marriage, ministry and life. The first 2 scenes we cover the issues of rape, incest and molestation, the kind of things that are part of reality that you don’t usually see in a traditional urban play
Copa: How long is the play?
Q: Showtime runs about 2 hours without intermission so you definitely get your money’s worth.
Q: Showtime runs about 2 hours without intermission so you definitely get your money’s worth.
Copa: What do you think about having you premiere in DC at our historical Lincoln Theater?
Q: We are just coming out of Las Vegas where we were the first African American play on the Las Vegas strip and made history. So it makes a lot of sense to move on to the East Coast, and what better historical venue to open here that the Lincoln Theater? During times of segregation this was one of the only theaters in DC where African Americans would be able to enjoy themselves in their communities outside of their homes. It’s always been a hub for Black entertainment.
Q: We are just coming out of Las Vegas where we were the first African American play on the Las Vegas strip and made history. So it makes a lot of sense to move on to the East Coast, and what better historical venue to open here that the Lincoln Theater? During times of segregation this was one of the only theaters in DC where African Americans would be able to enjoy themselves in their communities outside of their homes. It’s always been a hub for Black entertainment.
Copa: Where are you from?
Q: I come from the Las Vegas but I’m indigenous to the DC area, I have family there and the're island immigrants who settled here in the DC area.
Q: I come from the Las Vegas but I’m indigenous to the DC area, I have family there and the're island immigrants who settled here in the DC area.
Copa: Have you always been a writer or has this been a result of your life experiences?
Q: I was looking for a way to deal with the pain and wanted to get some things out so the best therapy for me was to just write everything down.
Some started as poems; some started as raps and before I knew it things evolved into a long story.
Q: I was looking for a way to deal with the pain and wanted to get some things out so the best therapy for me was to just write everything down.
Some started as poems; some started as raps and before I knew it things evolved into a long story.
Copa: Fantastic! Where’s the next show going to be after Washington, DC?
Q: Baltimore, Chicago, Richmond, Atlanta, New York and different areas of the South. We are just excited to take this show on the road!
~Copa