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Article: Stew cooks up 'Passing Strange' for Berkeley Rep
- Article from:
- Oakland Tribune
- Article date:
- October 20, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2006 Oakland Tribune. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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DON'T call Stew a playwright.
"There are people who have trained and dedicated their lives to
writing plays. They're playwrights," Stew says. "I'm a musician. I'm
creating a show that is like a big song to me. I'm making music with
words. I have no urge to be called a playwright. I'm creating this
show using the same approach I take when creating an album. This just
takes longer."
Born Mark Stewart in Los Angeles 45 years ago, Stew is probably
best known as the motor behind the Negro Problem. These days, you'll
find him at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, where his musical "Passing
Strange" is in previews this weekend and opens next week on the
Thrust Stage.
The leap into theater is a natural ...