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Lemon Andersen tells his story in ‘County of Kings’
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Lemon Andersen talks about growing up in the "County of Kings."
Lemon Andersen’s biographical one-man play “County of Kings” has been getting positive reviews for his storytelling, performance and corazon.
Ely Rosa Zamona in a blog entry at Hispanic New York Project writes: “Lemon Andersen's new show County of Kings: The Beautiful Struggle is an articulate recounting of the author's upbringing in Brooklyn (the county of reference in the play's title), where he was born and raised in a dysfunctional Puerto Rican family…His use of the fundamentals of a dramatic structure with the language and rhythms of hip hop create a piece that is a well crafted delight. To read Ely’s full entry, go to www.hispanicnewyorkproject.blogspot.com.
The New York Times says: “Mr. Andersen has a distinctive talent that makes words sing in ways that insist you listen. But it’s the drive that makes him glow. ‘Watch me,’ he demands, in the first sentence of “County of Kings.” He guarantees that you do.”
These are just two examples of the attention Lemon has been receiving for his solo show with a Latino urban flavor. If you haven’t seen “County of Kings” yet, you still have a few more days to catch it at The Public Theater in Manhattan.
Here is a a short description of “County of Kings” and the man behind it as posted at www.countyofkingstheplay.com:
Featured earlier this year as part of The Public Theater's Under The Radar Festival, Lemon Andersen's County of Kings gives a tough, yet poignant biographical account of a good kid growing up in an unforgiving environment. Lemon, whose parents met at a methadone clinic and passed away from AIDS, served two prison sentences before he was 21 and won a Tony before he turned 30. His on-stage memoir touches on young love, the birth of hip hop, slinging crack, ballet, stealing car parts, prison, and poetry as he takes the audience on an astonishing and surprising one-man journey toward self-discovery. Weaving hard-edged drama with urban poetry, the Brooklyn born and bred performer tells his coming-of-age story with profound honesty, compassion and humor. A true story of finding passion in the arts and finding one's way, Lemon paints a vivid portrait of his own life and the lives of countless other Brooklynites during the 1980s and 1990s.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Lemon Andersen has been featured as a regular on HBO's "Def Poetry" presented by Russell Simmons and was also an original cast member and writer of Russell Simmons' Tony Award winning Def Poetry Jam on Broadway. On screen Lemon has appeared opposite Denzel Washington in Spike Lee's Inside Man and The Soloist starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.
Lemon hopes to see audiences of all types at his one-man play, but he is especially interested in seeing Latino faces there, especially of those who survived the tough NYC streets of back in the day.
He dedicates his “County of Kings” to his mom and hopes to share his story with as many people possible. As he says, “he grew up poor, not ghetto.” His life experiences and his love of reading led him to where he is today. He is an inspiring boricua from the “County of Kings.”
Listen to a recent interview I did with Lemon Andersen for my PRSUN Radio show at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio. PRSUN Radio is a half-hour talk show focusing on Puerto Ricans. Listen to Lemon in his own words.
“County of Kings” is a one-man show written and performed by Lemon Andersen and developed and directed by Elise Thoron. At the Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street, East Village. It runs until Nov. 8. For more information, visit www.countyofkingstheplay.com.
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