L.A.'s Actors' Gang to Present "I am not a racist, but..." Workshop

By Adam Hetrick
03 Oct 2008

The Actors' Gang will present a series of public workshops of their latest collaborative work, "I am not a racist, but...", beginning Oct. 18.

Conceived and directed by Actors' Gang founding member Cynthia Ettinger, "I am not a racist, but…" will offer members of the public the opportunity to catch the timely work-in-progress through an ongoing series of 17 workshop presentations running through Nov. 15.

Members of the Actors' Gang are collaborating on the work, which "takes a bold, funny, sad and incendiary look at what it takes to bring America's history of racism out of the shadows and shine a light on how it still envelops us today," according to press notes.

"There's a conspiracy of silence in 'white' America that makes voicing our secret, inner prejudices taboo," Ettinger said in a statement. "With this new work, we attempt to dismantle our silence - which is, I think, a form of racism in itself - and deconstruct our collective sense of isolation. The action in the piece is immediate and overwhelming, leaving no time to judge, only to experience. We hope it will unhinge some, enlighten others."

Performances will take place Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM. Tickets, priced $20, are available by phoning (310) 838-4264 or by visiting TheActorsGang.com.

The Actors' Gang is located in the Ivy Substation at 9070 Venice Boulevard in Culver City, CA.