Performance and Discussion: Radiant Child
May 27 @ 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Get ready for an unforgettable experience! As part of our upcoming special exhibition Outside In: New Murals Inspired by Dalí, we invite you to immerse yourself in the mesmerizing solo performance of Radiant Child. Following the performance, join us for an engaging discussion with members of American Stage Theatre and Museum staff as they delve into the crucial topic of preserving artistic legacies for future generations. Don’t miss this captivating blend of performance and insightful conversation!
Radiant Child is a solo performance that explores the life, work, and legacy of Keith Haring. Through art, music, and thought provoking reflections, it chronicles his journey from childhood in rural Pennsylvania, his rise to fame as a street artist, muralist, and activist in 1980s New York City, and his own existential struggles with mortality after being diagnosed with AIDS.
The play was originally performed by the playwright, St. Petersburg’s Jeff Norton, who tragically died in 2010. This special performance features Chad Jacobs in the role of Keith Haring. After the performance, please join us during the discuss and the opportunity to engage in an insightful Q & A.
American Stage will donate a portion of proceeds to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Location: The Dalí Museum’s Will Raymund Theater
Tickets: $15
Admission to the galleries is not included.
CHAD JACOBS (Keith Haring) is honored to revisit RADIANT CHILD and continue to uplift the legacy of both Keith Haring and the playwright Jeff Norton! Recent theatre credits include: Calvin in TALES BY TWILIGHT–DON’T FEED THE ANIMALS (American Stage), Ben Silverman in THE SUNSHINE BOYS and Horatio in HAMLET (The Studio@620), and a variety of roles as an ensemble member of the St. Petersburg Shakespeare Festival in Williams Park; highlights include: Don John in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Mercutio in ROMEO & JULIET, and Puck in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. Offstage, Chad is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer and has worked with local organizations such as FloridaRAMA, The Palladium at St. Petersburg College, The Studio@620, and The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art. He has also had artwork featured in exhibits at the Morean Arts Center, The Factory, and MIZE Gallery. To his family & friends: THANK YOU for your support. Visit chadjacobsart.com or @chaddjacobs on Instagram to stay connected!
ANTHONY GERVAIS (Director) is an actor, director, writer, and St. Petersburg native who serves as Associate Artistic Director at American Stage. Most recently, you may have seen his play DON’T FEED THE ANIMALS, performed outdoors on the trail at Boyd Hill. His directing credits for American Stage include WEIRD IN ST. PETE at FloridaRAMA and 10 WAYS TO SURVIVE THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE as a part of the Tales by Twilight series. As an actor, he has performed with American Stage, Tampa Repertory Theatre, The Studio@620, and The Off-Central Players. Anthony is an Artist in Residence at The Studio@620, where he is developing new work as a playwright. He proudly holds a BFA from The Boston Conservatory. Anthony has been deeply impacted by the life and works of Keith Haring, and is honored to bring Jeff Norton’s timely and spirited play to audience’s today.
JEFF NORTON (Playwright) was raised in Tampa, studied at USF and Southern Methodist University, and went on to serve as faculty at both USF and Shorecrest Preparatory School. A respected actor, writer, and stage combatant, Norton’s legacy includes memorable performances at nearly every professional theatre in the greater Tampa Bay Area. Norton himself originally performed RADIANT CHILD, which was first produced by Stageworks Theatre and American Stage in 1992. In 2010, Norton was tragically killed, and the inaugural Theatre Tampa Bay Awards were named in his honor. This performance is dedicated to his enduring legacy and impact on the Tampa Bay theatre community.
