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.
NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN
In 1971, Fair Housing advocates considered San Leandro one of the most racist suburbs in America. CBS aired a special in the situation. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights conducted hearings. The next year, eight-year-old Copeland and his African-American family moved in. In an evening of laughter, tears and sociology, “Not a Genuine Black Man” is a hilarious and insightful look at Bay Area history, and at the ways in which our upbringings make us who we are.
“Not a Genuine Black Man” broke records as the longest-running solo show in San Francisco history and brought Copeland critical acclaim as one of the city’s most talented and engaging solo performers.
THE GREAT AMERICAN SHIT SHOW
Brian Copeland presents monologues on life in the Age of Trump in “The Great American Sh*t Show.” Join Brian for an evening of laughing… but more importantly, for an evening of THINKING as he explores how to deal with a family member who’s all in for the Donald when you’re not, when America was last “great,” #MeToo and more. If you love Trump, you’ll hate this show!
“Smart, funny, provocative… this is theater as a welcome dash of hope in dark times and a much needed call to arms. GASS packs a lot of bracing punch… This may be the perfect piece of theater for our times.”
—Rob Hurwitt, former San Francisco Chronicle theater critic
THE JEWELRY BOX
In this hilarious and heartwarming prequel to his hit show “Not a Genuine Black Man,” beloved actor-playwright Brian Copeland recounts two memorable weeks in his youth when he took to the “mean streets” of Oakland to buy his mom the perfect Christmas gift. Rife with references to 1970s Oakland, “The Jewelry Box” follows six-year-old Brian’s adventures as he scours the help-wanted ads, applies for jobs and collects bottles, inching his way toward the coveted present, a jewelry box at the Hegenberger White Front store.
“Destined to be a holiday classic!”
—SF Examiner