Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience Reviews
Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience
Stage and Cinema- Highly Recommended
"...June Jordan was a seminal feminist poet and essayist who—beyond gender—tackled issues of race, sexual identity, and political activism. She believed that the truest means of understanding the challenges these forces posed to American society, and of devising solutions to them, could be found in poetry."
Showmag- Highly Recommended
"...Can you tell how impressed I was to finally learn about such an artistic giant? I’ll leave the actual music and poetry to your ears as you travel from the 50s to 20th century’s end. And I hope your own poetry that you create, demonstrating Jordan’s innovative “Poetry for the People” process in several artful interludes, will inspire you even more!"
Stage Raw- Somewhat Recommended
"...At one moment in this piece, we see a list of questions on a screen (media design by Deja Collins) June Jordan used in her poetry classes to criticize poems. Some of them include: Is this a poem? Is it coherent? What are its strengths? What are its weaknesses? I'll ask these questions too."
Larchmont Buzz- Highly Recommended
"...While fame is often credited with bestowing immortality, recognition is not the same as eternal life. A living legacy requires devoted archivists, passionate scholars, and generations of converts to the cause. In keeping with this reverential tradition, Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience provides breath and action to the still-living words of a generationally talented poet."
Nerds Of Color- Recommended
"...Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience is very much part of that same world and for such a world to function well, it requires an ensemble cast that not only can stand well on their own but to move cohesively as one. America Covarrubias, Mackenzie Mondag, Savannah Schoenecker, Kita Grayson, Janet Song, and Naseem Etemad work absolutely beautiful together under the graceful direction of Raymond O. Caldwell."
Broadway World- Highly Recommended
"...Whatever the context, Jordan’s poetry is forceful, hugely angry and still very timely whether delivered (or sung) collectively by the performers or by Jordan herself whose recitation - at least in the sampling we are given - is decidedly lower-key than the actors."