The Fountain Theatre presents the West Coast Premiere of
FREIGHT: The Five Incarnations of Abel Green
written by Howard L. Craft
directed by Joseph Megel
starring J. Alphonse Nicholson
OVER A DOZEN RAVE REVIEWS!
RAVE! - Stage Raw - “STAGE RAW TOP 10… RECOMMENDED… Howard L. Craft’s script is as eloquent as it is powerful and expressive, filled with strong truths about being a Black man in America at many points in time, and across many decades… Director Joseph Megel pulls the best out of Nicholson… EVERY ASPECT OF THIS PRODUCTION IS SUPERB, taking the audience on a 90-minute journey that proves to be truthful and timeless.” — Julyza Commodore
RAVE! - Hollywood Progressive - “Critic’s Pick - SUPERLATIVE… among the best one-man shows I’ve ever experienced… should be seen by theatergoers interested in the dramatizing of racism, stage and screen stereotypes, African American issues and history, as well as by anyone who’s simply a fan of TOP NOTCH ACTING… Director Joseph Megel seamlessly helms the show… the highly recommended Freight and J. Alphonse Nicholson will be vividly remembered come award time. BRAVO!” — Ed Rampell
RAVE! - Splash Magazines - “POWERFUL, MOVING, HUMOROUS, AND GRITTY… seamlessly helmed by director [Joseph] Megel from [Howard L.] Craft’s excellent script. But the star of the evening is J. Alphonse Nicholson… FREIGHT becomes A MASTER CLASS FOR ACTORS of all colors and persuasions. It is no wonder that the New York Times termed his performance brilliant and the show a “Critic’s Pick”… HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as an entertaining, compelling, timely, and thought-provoking production.” — Elaine Mura
RAVE! - WFMU Radio - “WONDERFULLY WRITTEN, DEFTLY ACTED, EXQUISITELY DIRECTED… J. Alphonse Nicholson is endlessly watchable. He is magnetic, warm, thoughtful, smart and he connects with the audience constantly… a remarkable piece of work… A HIGH, HIGH, HIGH RECOMMENDATION.” — Bob Barth
RAVE! - Discover Hollywood - “AN INCREDIBLE TRAIN RIDE… masterfully delivered by director Joseph Megel and performed to perfection by the true, passionate, fully committed actor J. Alphonse Nicholson… A MUST-SEE PRODUCTION!” — Amalisha HuEck
RAVE! - On Stage Los Angeles - “SIMPLY EXCELLENT… the ease with which Nicholson melds his 'Abel' into the other characters prominent in each segment is fluid and confident… Director Joseph Megel's deft touch allows Nicholson the latitude to "kick out the jams" so to speak to bring to life the soul of a Brother whose adventures include brushes with the history and culture of a Black American's American scenario... I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE SHOW.” - Michael Sheehan
RAVE! - Angeles Stage - “A much more successful mostly-one-man show is currently at the Fountain Theatre… Actor J. Alphonse Nicholson displays REMARKABLE VIRTUOSITY… in tandem with a group of terrific designers.” — Don Shirley
RAVE! - Los Angeles Collegian - “PIERCING CHARACTERS WITH VIVID STORIES… [actor J. Alphonse Nicholson’s] emotional instrument flows through streams, riveting emotions from the audience, whether laughter or tears and everything in between.” — Tia Shipman
RAVE! - Hollywood Progressive (2nd Review) - NONSTOP EXHILARATING… it’s remarkable stuff. But what is truly breathtaking, almost magical, is the way Nicholson portrays each very different incarnation… [a] marvelous bit of theatre magic.” — Dick Price, Sharon Kyle & Linnea Friberg-Price
RAVE! - 2 Urban Girls - “POWERFUL… AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER… Nicholson’s performance puts you in a trance as you follow his every word and movement across the stage. He is comfortable, confident, endearing and engaging in this MUST SEE PERFORMANCE… a remarkable performance fit for a Black King!” — Emilie St. John
RAVE! - Larchmont Buzz - “A GEM OF A SCRIPT… The REMARKABLE J. Alphonse Nicholson reprises his off-Broadway triumph… Nicholson’s BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE captures all of the many details and nuances of Craft’s script.” — Laura Foti Cohen
RAVE! - Culver City News - “A TOUR-DE-FORCE PERFORMANCE… timely and timeless… I was mesmerized… magnificent storytelling and characterizations.” — Shari Barrett
RAVE! - BroadwayWorld - “A CHALLENGING PIECE OF DRAMA… Nicholson nails each Green ably, in every possible way… From a box car to a subway car to a craft that suggests a rocket ship, Nicholson, [director] Mengel and the design team take us on a journey.” — Evan Henerson
RAVE! - People’s World - “MUST-SEE THEATER… A master has spoken. The words are by Howard L. Craft, and his instrument is J. Alphonse Nicholson. I’ve rarely been so taken by a piece of theater, nor so impressed by a solo act… J. Alphonse Nicholson is ONE AMAZING ACTOR not to be missed.” — Eric Gordon
RAVE! - StageSceneLA - “WOW!... Audiences are flocking to the Fountain Theatre and with good reason. J. Alphonse Nicholson’s TOUR-DE-FORCE STAR TURN as a man with five lives in Howard L. Craft’s off-Broadway-to-L.A. hit… Freight is the stuff awards are made for… a heady concept, thrillingly executed by charismatic leading man Nicholson, ace director Joseph Megel, and a primarily L.A. based design team, who bring Craft’s personalized Black History lesson to stunning, conversation-provoking life on the Fountain Theatre stage… With J. Alphonse Nicholson now more than halfway through Freight’s limited one-month run at the Fountain, haste is of the essence to catch The Five Incarnations Of Abel Green before it leaves L.A. for good. I guarantee you’ll be grateful you did.”— Steven Stanley
RAVE! - Stage and Cinema - “TERRIFIC… the strong, passionate, vulnerable, committed actor J. Alphonse Nicholson inhabits the fictional character of Abel, a sort of Everyman Zelig who has five time-historical “incarnations” that elucidate parts of the African-American experience… The show is relatable for all audiences because playwright Howard L. Craft examines through five monologues the promises of the American Dream, the pursuit of which we all know can lead to the selling of our soul. EACH SEGMENT IS TERRIFIC in and of itself, but the concept of stringing eras together as characters morph through time adds another dimension entirely.” — Tony Frankel
BroadwayWorld Interview with J. Alphonse Nicholson
Los Angeles Wave Newspapers Interview with J. Alphonse Nicholson
BroadwayWorld Press Release and Photos
Actor’s Choice Interview with J. Alphonse Nicholson
2nd Los Angeles Wave Newspapers Interview with J. Alphonse Nicholson
LIMITED RUN
Box Office:
323-663-1525
Show Days: 1 1 - Curtain
Dark Days: 11 - 6
Closed Tues
Previews Nov 9 - 11 8pm
Opens Sun Nov 12 @ 7pm
Close Dec 16
Fridays & Saturdays 8pm
Sundays 2pm
Pay What You Want Mondays 8pm
NY TIMES CRITIC'S PICK - "Rich and thoughtful"
In the West Coast Premiere of this acclaimed solo play, J. Alphonse Nicholson (P-Valley, They Cloned Tyrone, Broadway's A Soldier's Play) embodies five incarnations of Abel Green, an African American "Everyman," as he travels through time as many selves, from a 19th Century minstrel to a fallen 21st Century securities trader. In each life, Abel is guided, distracted, helped, or hindered by a handful of characters with whom his destiny is forever intertwined.
"Expertly performed" The Village Voice
"A tour de force performance" Theatre is Easy
"J. Alphonse Nicholson captivates the soul ... intensely written and stunningly performed." Amsterdam News
"Don't miss this brilliant performance in a provocative, moving, and often funny play." Berkshire Fine Arts
"A fascinating journey brilliantly played by J. Alphonse Nicholson." Routes Magazine
J. Alphonse Nicholson is an American born actor/percussionist. Notable TV/Film credits include: series regular on “P-Valley” (STARZ), Just Mercy (Warner Bros. Pictures), “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker” (Netflix), “Blue Bloods” (CBS), “Mr. Robot” (USA), “Shots Fired” (FOX), Marvel's “Luke Cage” (Netflix), “Tales” (BET), “The Blacklist” (NBC), and “Chicago PD” (NBC). Notable Theater credits include: Tony award for Best Revival - “A Soldier's Play” on Broadway(Roundabout), Signature Theatre’s off-Broadway production “Paradise Blue”, “FREIGHT” (NFT) ,and “Days of Rage” (2nd stage). Next up for J. Alphonse are “The Sterling Affairs” (FX), Black Spartans (Buffalo 8 Productions),and “Albany Road”. Recently seen in the remake of White Men Can’t Jump (Disney/20th Century Studios) and They Cloned Tyrone (Macro/Netflix). Love to my boy, my girl and my Nafeesha.