Poetry for the People:

The June Jordan Experience

A theatrical celebration of the life, poetry, music, and activism of African-American poet, essayist and teacher June Jordan.

Co-devised by Raymond O. Caldwell and Adrienne Torf and directed by Raymond O. Caldwell, the show fuses spoken word, music, movement, audience participation, media projections and photo collages to create an immersive experience.

Jordan’s belief is that poetry is a tool for social justice and communal engagement.

Fountain Theatre Cast (2026) L-R: América Covarrubias (partially hidden), Mackenzie Mondag,
Kita Grayson, Savannah Schoenecker, Janet Song, Naseem Etemad – Photo by Areon Mobasher

The ninety-minute, one-act show is performed by six multi-cultural women actors and Adrienne Torf on piano, blending biography, poetry readings, writing exercises, and songs with lyrics by Jordan, including many for which Torf composed the music during their nineteen-year artistic collaboration.

Fountain Theatre cast (2026) (L to R) Naseem Etemad, Kita Grayson, América Covarrubias,
Adrienne Torf, Mackenzie Mondag, Savannah Schoenecker, Janet Song

Productions

Washington DC – Mar 2022 – Theatre Alliance | Washington DC – June 2024 – Theatre Alliance
Los Angeles, CA – Jan 2026 – Fountain Theatre | Berkeley, CA – February 2026 – The Freight