Shaker Arts Council Presents Reading of “The Bloodless Jungle”

On Saturday, March 12, 2016, the Shaker Arts Council (“SHAC”) will present the world premiere staged reading of “The Bloodless Jungle,” written by Peter Lawson Jones. The event, a benefit for SHAC, will be held at the Karamu House 89th St. in Cleveland.

The afternoon begins at 2p.m. with the staged reading followed by a talk back Q & A. As an audience member you will have a unique opportunity to help shape the ultimate play by providing valuable feedback to the playwright and cast.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.shakerartscouncil.org or by calling SHAC at 216.916.9360 or Karamu at 216.795.7070. General admission tickets are $35 and include light refreshments and a reception with a cash bar to support Karamu. Patron tickets for $75, which also include reserved seating and program recognition, are available only through SHAC.

The play tells the story of Ethan St. John, a rising political star who is running for a pivotal seat in Congress. When - during the campaign - his best friend from high school is accused of a serious crime, St. John is faced with a daunting choice: does he abandon his friend and focus on winning the election, or risk jeopardizing the campaign by supporting his friend? The drama turns on the decision Ethan makes and its consequences.

Save your ticket stub after the show to enjoy something special at Shaker Square restaurants. Details and a list of participating vendors will be posted on the SHAC website. For more information, call 216.916.9360.

Jones, a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actor’s Equity, has appeared in nearly twenty films, in numerous stage productions as well as on network television. His drama, “The Family Line,” has been successfully produced at Karamu as well as at Harvard College and Ohio University. In his capacity as a business consultant, he works in the areas of government relations, community engagement, event planning, fundraising and fatherhood programming. In a career as an elected official that spanned 22 years, Jones served as a Cuyahoga County Commissioner, a member of the Ohio House of Representatives and as the vice mayor and a councilman in the City of Shaker Heights. He is currently on the board of the Shaker Arts Council.

Terrence Spivey, Karamu’s highly regarded artistic director, will direct the staged reading. Among the actors participating in the project are Leon Bibb and Rhonda Khan. Bibb is a veteran Channel 5 anchor and reporter. Khan is a New York City- based actress who has been seen in various productions across the country, including “A Civil War Christmas,” “Vagina Monologues,” “For Colored Girls,” and “Big River.”