In his show A Deeper Shade of Blues opening this weekend at The Space, actor/producer/playwright/teacher and entrepreneur Joel P.E. King wears many hats.
“I go through seven different transitional characters,” King said of the piece, which was first presented at the Missouri History Museum in 2006. “Each one goes through a shade of life as an African-American male and the issues we have faced.”
Although still in his twenties, the East St. Louis native has been a familiar face on the local theatre scene for nearly 10 years. He was a featured actor in popular productions for the Black Rep, including Damn Yankees and Bubblin’ Brown Sugar.
But since 2006, King has been working to carve out his own black theatre empire in the city through JPEK Creations as a producer, writer and director of theatre.
King’s drive is admirable in a genre that has seen better days. But he is pressing forward as he moves forward with his dream of offering quality art with a sense of reality to the masses.
“God bless Tyler Perry, but what I think I do is different,” King said.
“I don’t work to stretch the truth. I want to give it to people the way I see it and how I’ve seen it over the years.”
After experiencing a lack of venues for his productions, King did what any visionary would do in his position – he created his own: The Space, which has become a popular, intimate venue for King’s work and other performance art events since last year.
Although he is confident in his abilities and gifts as a performer and producer, King’s personality is completely absent of arrogance. A spirit of humility is laced in his words.
“It’s been good,” King said of his efforts. “It’s been slow, but it’s been good.”
He counts his blessings but offers a dose of reality as he discusses what would exhaust some as he pursues his dreams and works his 9 to 5 – or, in his case, 8 to 3 – as a teacher at Herzog Elementary in the SLPS.
“It’s a lot of work,” King said. “But I’m good with it because it’s my vision, and I am more responsible than anyone else to make it happen.”
King has produced several plays via JPEK Creations, including Meeting at the Elder’s Circle, Don, The Psychiatrist and Me and A Deeper Shade of Blues, which King brings to The Space for the first time this weekend as a stripped-down, one-man show.
A full ensemble has been shaved down to accommodate the venue, but also to drive home the message of the black male experience in America.
A compilation of monologues and a capella musical numbers, A Deeper Shade of Blues helps tell the story of the patriarch of a race of people whose trademark has been the ability to overcome adversity. Through the spiritual melodies, contemporary songs (some familiar, others penned by King) and dramatic interludes, he hopes to show how the behaviors of black men threaten the future of the entire race.
“It points out the tragedies and goes into how they are still connected to how we are living today,” King said.
A graduate of SIUE’s visual arts program, King also used JPEK Creations to offer visual and performing arts education to youth as a part of the Gear Up program last year. Next, he is looking forward to bringing his play Meeting at the Elder’s Circle to The Space in the next few months.
“It took a big leap of faith to do it on my own like this,” King said. “But if I can’t do it right, I don’t want to do it.”
JPEK Creative Works will present Deeper Shade of Blues this weekend at The Space (320-324 N. Vandeventer). Performance dates are April 24-27, with Thursday-Saturday shows at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. doors) and 6 p.m. show on Sunday. Complimentary wine and refreshments will be provided and visual art will be available for purchase. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/jpeksthespace, call (618) 567-0237 or email jpekcreations@gmail.com.
