• Grace Illuminates 'Midnight Weary'

    (Los Angeles Times - June 17, 2005) "Sunshine for a Midnight Weary," presented by EMBODI
    Entertainment at the Inglewood Playhouse, is a fine opportunity to see a dedicated acting ensemble ply
    its craft. Director Angela Matemotja and her fellow performers infuse November Dawn's fiercely poetical
    drama with affecting grace and candor.


    Largely made up of loosely linked monologues, the play looks at the travails women of color confront in
    their daily lives. Their yearning for light and meaning is a blatant connecting theme (a bit ironic, considering
    that the gloomy lighting keeps the actresses in near-darkness for much of the time).
    The subject matter is freewheeling, to say the least. Among the characters, we meet a lesbian confronting
    the raw hatred of the "hetero world," a junkie trapped in the downward spiral of her addiction, and several
    abused women whose anger has reached critical mass.


    There's rage aplenty to be found in this desultory mix, but there's also humor, pathos and robust sensuality.
    Unfortunately, Dawn's writing is occasionally overwrought and hackneyed. However, at its best, it takes
    on the raw urgency of a Beat era poet, with the same sweeping, stream-of-consciousness tone.
    Besides Matemotja, the consistently high-quality cast includes Tasia Sherel, Brandy Maddox, Tammi
    Rashonda, Renee McSwain, Erica Pitts, Shannon Shepherd, Brianna Brown, and Baadja. The play's
    emphasis on female bonding is appropriate. Indeed, these performers are so closely bonded in style and
    commitment, they often seem to function as one organism.

  • Theater Reviews: “Sunshine for a Midnight Weary”

    by Neal Weaver
    (LA Weekly - June 9, 2005) Sunshine dominates the title, but it’s the darkness that prevails till almost the
    end of November Dawn’s choreoplay, which eloquently celebrates the strength of black women and
    anatomizes their miseries and travails. Written in verse and rhythmic prose, it takes a sharp look at
    poverty, dead-end jobs, drugs, male violence, and homophobia, judgmental church ladies, black men
    obsessed with white women, and AIDS. The Chopin Funeral March provides a grim prelude, followed by the
    nine women chanting in the darkness, "Give me some light so I can see!"

    Light and darkness provide the central metaphors, in subtle as well as obvious ways: Though light
    illuminates, it also reveals unwelcome truths. One sometimes sympathizes with the character who says,
    "I get tired of all the sob stories," but at its best, the play generates real power — particularly in the tale
    of a mother (director-choreographer Angela Matemotja) who discovers her man has seduced her retarded
    daughter while she was out working to support them. Matemotja leads her cast (including Tasia Sherel,
    Tammi Rashonda, Brandy Maddox, Renee McSwain, Erica Pitts, Shannon Shepherd, Baadja and the
    one Caucasian, Brianna Brown) in a deeply committed, highly charged performance.

  • “Sunshine for a Midnight Weary” Receives Nomination And Encore Run

    (January 14, 2005 – Los Angeles) The NAACP and the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office named Angela
    Matemotja as a nominee for its coveted Theatre Award. The director is recognized for her choreography
    in EMBODI Entertainment’s staging of november dawn’s “Sunshine for a Midnight Weary”. The riveting
    piece, executive produced by Tasia Sherel, was featured in the repertory’s 2003-04 season. It will return
    on April 7 - May 1 to the Complex Theatre (www. complexhollywood.com) for an encore run.

    “Sunshine for a Midnight Weary” has been described as “chaotic soul searching with the grace and
    simplicity of a sublime ballet.” Especially tailored from its coed format for EMBODI’S all-female company,
    robust characters grope through their past and present grasping for one last attempt at a life in the light.
    On the way, the audience is reminded of bitter realities such as: dreams deferred, domestic violence,
    racism, poverty and suicide. Onlookers witness, “planets colliding in a desperate attempt to find the
    sun.” This collision of raw energy between dissimilar characters proves to be a fusion of jubilee and
    lamentations in the portrayal of issues that plague this colorful sector of mankind.

    The Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP founded the Annual Theatre Awards to honor trailblazers who continue
    to recreate and invigorate theatre. The NAACP’s illustrious 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award will be
    presented to Laurence Fishburne (Matrix Trilogies, Mystic River). The Gala will award its 2005 Trailblazer
    Award to the Negro Ensemble Company. Matemotja will vie for the honor alongside fellow nominees
    Debbie Allen and Madonna Grimes. The 15th annual gala will be held on Monday, February 21 at the
    historic Vision Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

    About Angela Matemotja
    Born in the former Soviet Union, Angela Matemotja came to America at the tender age of eight and
    discovered a passion for acting. This passion led Angela to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, British American
    Drama Academy, and American Academy of Dramatic Arts of which she is a graduate. Her rich training
    and productive partnership with her husband Alan Mulhall is apparent in every production.

    About EMBODI Entertainment & Tasia Sherel
    EMBODI Entertainment is Los Angeles’ first African-American female theatre repertory. The company,
    founded by Tasia Sherel, strives to provide a venue to exalt diversity through the arts. To learn more
    about their commitment to producing though-provoking art, visit EMBODI online at www.embodi.org.

    About november dawn
    After the publication of “Cries of a Young Girl” and her sophomore book, “the dawning”, november
    dawn triumphantly returns with her haunting choreoplay “Sunshine for a Midnight Weary”. She is a
    tireless advocate of human decency and respect…no matter how she gets it across. For more
    information on november dawn, visit www.novemberdawn.com.

  • Embodi Entertainment Presents November Dawn’s “Sunshine For A Midnight Weary”

    (November 15, 2003 – Los Angeles) EMBODI Entertainment closes out its groundbreaking, inaugural
    season with the haunting choreoplay, “Sunshine for a Midnight Weary”. The latest offering from two-time
    published author and filmmaker, november dawn, the riveting piece is the third installment in the season
    of Los Angeles’ first Black female repertory company. The production also signals the company’s return
    to The Split.Id Theater in the Complex, home to EMBODI’S first theatrical production, “Voices of the
    Black Woman”.


    “Sunshine for a Midnight Weary” has been described as a “chaotic soul searching with the grace and
    simplicity of a sublime ballet.” Tailored from its coed format for EMBODI’S all-female company, nine
    robust characters grope through their past and present grasping for one last attempt at a life in the light.
    On the way the audience is reminded of bitter realities such as: dreams deferred, domestic violence,
    racism, poverty and suicide. Onlookers witness, “planets colliding in a desperate attempt to find the
    sun.” This collision of raw energy between dissimilar characters proves to be a fusion of jubilee and
    lamentations in the portrayal of issues that plague the colorful sector of mankind.

    EMBODI Entertainment’s founder, Tasia Sherel, stands at the helm as the executive producer. EMBODI
    resident, Angela Matemotja brings her rich training from Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre & the British
    American Drama Academy to direct. Sound design is by the husband and wife team, Angela and Alan
    Mulhall. Light & Set design is by EMBODI resident, Michelle Merring-Hayes and husband Jason Hayes.
    The show will open Thursday, December 4 at 8:00 pm and run through Saturday, December 13, which
    is a matinee show at 4:00 pm.

    About november dawn
    After the publication of “Cries of a Young Girl” and her sophomore book, “the dawning”, november dawn
    triumphantly returns with her haunting choreoplay “Sunshine for a Midnight Weary”. She has also
    committed her talents to the film arena creating such works as “Poor Man’s Blues”, “Light” and “Like
    Grown Folks Do”. She is a tireless advocate of human decency and respect…no matter how she gets it
    across. For more information on november dawn, visit www.novemberdawn.com.

    About EMBODI entertainment
    EMBODI Entertainment, L.A.’s exclusive African-American and female-owned entertainment group, is a
    non-profit organization founded by Tasia Sherel. The company’s strives to provide a venue to exalt diversity
    thru the arts. The company produces three theatrical productions annually, while providing workshops in
    Acting, Dancing, Directing and Writing. To learn more about their commitment to producing thoughtprovoking
    material, visit EMBODI online at www.embodi.org.