The Old Globe recently closed a splendid, well-attended production of August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running.”
Meanwhile, San Diego Black Ensemble Theatre (BET) presented a weeklong reprise of its sellout staged-readings series of Wilson plays. Featuring San Diego and Southern California actors, the readings were directed by the likes of Antonio “TJ” Johnson of BET, UCSD Prof. Emeritus Floyd Gaffney of Common Ground Theatre, Calvin Manson of Ira Aldridge Repertory Players and Delicia Turner Sonnenberg of MOXIE Theatre.
To kick off the series, Johnson performed a one-man show titled “In the Shadow of August Wilson.” Don’t close the book on that one: Expect to hear more about the piece in the near future.
The late Wilson’s popularity continues to rise in San Diego, where three of his ten plays, “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” “The Piano Lesson” and “Two Trains Running,” were produced by the Old Globe in 1988, 1989 and 1991, respectively.
Cygnet Theatre, where the June BET readings were held, will produce Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Fences” Jan. 17 to Feb. 24, staged by Sonnenberg, recipient of the 2006 San Diego Critics Circle Des McAnuff New Vision Award.

Jazz lovers’ alert

Currently through July 1 at Caesar’s Café, 801 C St., Ira Aldridge Repertory Players presents the West Coast premiere of “Sassy Sarah Vaughan: the Divine One,” a piece created and directed by Manson and starring Ayanna Hobson. The work itself is not bogged down in the biography of the Newark, New Jersey-born Vaughan, who made her breakthrough at New York’s Apollo Theatre, where singer Billy Eckstine heard her, recommending her to bandleader Earl “Fatha” Hines. She became a bona fide jazz legend, renowned for scat.
Though few will ever equal Vaughan’s vocal style, Hobson certainly emulates it. Possessor of a lush middle and low voice, the singer looks divine in a white chiffon pantsuit shot with metallic ribbon. By the time she settles down ” with “Misty,” “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” and “All of Me” (great intro by bass player Janette Greene) “” onlookers settle down, too. Other standards include “Tenderly,” “Lullaby of Birdland” and “Teach Me Tonight.”
The rest of the musicians in “Sarah’s” quartet “” drummer Al Torre, delicious tenor sax Earl Vault and musical director/pianist Vick Kemp ” are absolutely tops. The room has its difficulties acoustically, so take it from one who knows and request a table against the far wall. Sightlines are excellent and sound is superior.
The second act opens with one of the show’s best moments, a sassy, unamplified argument between Vaughan and the Mr. Kelly’s Nightclub Manager (the excellent Anthony Bell). Dean Sawan, co-owner of Caesars, plays the tacit Bartender. The other indelible moment is Miss Sarah Vaughan’s condemnation of the racist New York critic who maligned her buckteeth, her black hair and her overall appearance. The woman knew how to deliver sass.
Performances take place at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday (dinner at 7), and 3 p.m. Sunday (dinner at 2 p.m.). Dinner and show are $40; show only, $27.50.
For tickets and information, call (619) 283-4574.