THE WAITING PERIOD
This show is an unrelenting look at a ten-day period in Copeland’s life—the mandatory ten-day waiting period before he could lay his hands on the newly purchased gun with which he planned to take his own life. Even in the midst of this tragedy, however, his wonderful sense of the comedy of life does not desert him (how much should he spend on the gun?), indeed serves him insidiously well as a buffer against the grim reality of his intention. Copeland hopes this very personal, and ultimately redemptive, story will reach people who struggle with depression—often called the last stigmatized disease—as well as their families and loved ones.
THE JEWELRY BOX
A holiday memoir about hope, faith and Christmas miracles. It’s December of 1970 in East Oakland and six-year-old Brian Copeland wants to make his mother smile with a brand new jewelry box for Christmas. How can he possibly raise the needed $11.97 by Christmas Eve? Follow the hilarious, poignant journey of a determined child as he navigates the winos, mean landlords and shady used car salesmen of his rough urban neighborhood, as well as his abusive father, to discover the true meaning of the season.