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Formerly a convent, the Prescott-Joseph Center for Community Enhancement is bringing art back to West Oaklanders. Bringing Up Lower Bottom The Prescott-Joseph Center endeavors to resuscitate the Harlem of the West By Gabriel Serpa "Shakespeare in the Hood" is the pet name for the Prescott-Joseph Center for Community Enhancement's performance of Shakespeare in the Yard: Romeo and Juliet. The supplementary name is appropriate considering West Oakland has been known to encompass some of the roughest neighborhoods in the Bay Area. Residents refer to this part of town as the Lower Bottom; driving through is an education in the lifestyle of families on these rough streets. It is a different world than most Bay Area residents live in, filled with hunger, substandard housing, unemployment, and violence. My first impression of the new Sister Thea Bowman Memorial Theater did not match what I had just seen walking in off the street; it's a quaint and wonderful venue for audiences. The 99-seat amphitheater is located in the backyard of the Victorian that houses the Prescott-Joseph Center. Several local wood carvers donated their skills to build the stage, which has a balcony and is surrounded by looming trees that create a canopy of foliage. Though sirens blared in the distance, they didn't take away from Shakespeare in the Yard, the stage's debut performance. Produced in classical form as well as a hip-hop interpretation, the cast embraced the play; the love and commitment onstage could be felt from the audience. I watched the classical version, which was performed confidently. The actors were a combination of children and artist residents at the Prescott-Joseph Center. The residents, whose talents include hip-hop producers, comedians, fashion designers, and classically trained Shakespearians, created a strong structure for the play. Jahlil Cash (playing Tybalt) is a wonderful actor and only 14 years old. Cash's booming voice was perfect for his character because it carried the fight scenes. In the midst of battle with Benvolio, Tybalt lost his sword, which flew in the crowd. He didn't hesitate to do a little improvising here, and the crowd was amused by his folly. While I'm no Shakespeare scholar, I can vouch for the entertainment and passion of the evening's performance. With what the kids are up against in these streets, the inspiring performance the Prescott-Joseph Center put together was amazing. After the play I met the show's director and resident literary artist, Ayodele Nzinga. The list of Nzinga's accomplishments goes on and on, but whether it's performing with the Black Dot Collective or directing In the Name of Love by Marvin X, her focus continually returns to the community -- and for good reason. "Our youth are feeding on themselves," Nzinga explains. "Neither they nor we can afford the mounting casualties." The plague of violence in this community is just one reason they chose to perform Romeo and Juliet. Whether it's the Montagues and Capulets fighting onstage or gang banging down the street, Nzinga's students can relate to the play's universal truths. While most people don't think of West Oakland as either the home or training ground for classical or innovative artists, the Prescott-Joseph Center is dedicated to changing that view. The future of the new outdoor theater includes a performance written by African-American playwright August Wilson, poetry readings, and musical performances. Center supporters hope that restoring the arts in this community will bring back the lively history of the Lower Bottom. Once known as the Harlem of the West Coast for its wealth of musical talent, the Lincoln Theater on 7th Street hosted legendary performers such as singer Paul Robeson, Esther's Orbit Room was a regular stop for touring musicians, and whether the Continental Club or Slim Jenkin's joint deserved the title of Apollo West was an ongoing debate. The Prescott-Joseph Center, also know as "the convent," once housed nuns who were active in supporting the com-munity with outreach programs and an onsite school. The nuns were so on top of it that in the early '90s they had Internet access wired to the house. So earlier this year when the Prescott-Joseph Center moved in, all they had to do was hook their computers up to the already existing connections. The center has followed the tradition of community support established by the nunnery by housing senior activities, a computer certification-training program for Cal-Works recipients, a wellness clinic, and a number of art workshops and classes. "We are bringing art and culture into the community for the people, especially the children, who might not be able to go outside the community," says Dr. Washington Burns, the center's director. While nurturing the community's artistic talents, the ultimate goal of the community center is to give Lower Bottom residents transferable skills to use in the world outside their West Oakland streets. The Prescott-Joseph Center for Community Enhancement is located at 920 Peralta St., Oakl. For more information on the center call 208.5651 or look on the Web at www.wordslanger.homestead.com/shakespeare.html. [ East Bay | Metroactive | Archives ]