Poetry is a political act in Fountain Theatre’s West Coast
premiere of ‘Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience’
LOS ANGELES (September 16, 2025) — What does resistance sound like? The Fountain Theatre ignites its stage with the West Coast premiere of Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience, a bold, joyous theatrical celebration of one of America’s most fearless writers and human rights activists. Devised by Fountain Theatre artistic director Raymond O. Caldwell together with Jordan’s longtime collaborator and life partner, composer Adrienne Torf, this award-winning production runs November 1 through December 14 with Caldwell at the helm.
Part performance, part concert, part revolution, Poetry for the People weaves together Jordan’s electric poetry with live music and movement to illuminate the life and legacy of a woman who believed that poetry is a political act. Six dynamic performers (XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX and XXXX) bring Jordan’s searing, joyful words to life, joined by Torf on piano. The production also draws from Jordan’s collaboration with composer John Adams (she was the lyricist for his opera about the 1994 Northridge earthquake, I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky) and features soaring renditions by Sweet Honey in the Rock, the iconic a cappella ensemble that set Jordan’s poems to song.
Born in Harlem in 1936, Jordan shattered boundaries as a poet, essayist, teacher and activist. Fiercely committed to civil rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ visibility and freedom from oppression in all its forms, she authored 27 volumes across genres and contributed to The Progressive, The Village Voice, The New York Times, Ms., Essence and The Nation. With language that embraced both the lyrical and the vernacular, Jordan insisted that poetry belong to the people. In 2019, her legacy was honored with induction on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor within the Stonewall National Monument. She died from breast cancer in 2002.
“June reminds us that love must be at the center of every revolution,” says Caldwell. “In today’s fractured political climate, her voice is more urgent than ever. We’re not just staging her work—we’re channeling her joy, her rage and her uncompromising vision.”
Caldwell and Torf, who was Jordan’s artistic collaborator for 19 years until her passing in 2002, worked together to develop the show from artifacts, writings, testimonials, songs and more.
“This work carries all of whom June was, capturing not just her artistry but her presence,” says Torf. “It allows audiences to feel like they’ve spent an evening with her—inspired, challenged, and embraced.”
Poetry for the People originally premiered in Washington, DC, where it was the recipient of the 2023 Helen Hayes Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play. Following its six-week run in Los Angeles, the Fountain production will transfer to community arts organization The Freight in February, fittingly returning to the Bay Area, where Jordan founded her groundbreaking “Poetry for the People” program at UC Berkeley.
The Poetry for the People creative team includes scenic designer XXXXXX; lighting designer XXXXXX; sound designer XXXXXX projections designer XXXXXX; and costume designer XXXXXX; The production stage manager is XXXXXX.
Jordan once declared: “Poetry is a political act because it involves telling the truth.” With this thrilling stage experience, the Fountain invites Los Angeles audiences into Jordan’s revolutionary truth—and the dialogue she sparked that still burns today.
The Fountain Theatre creates, develops, and produces new plays that bring to life the urgent social, political, and cultural issues of our time, reflecting the vibrant diversity of Los Angeles and the nation. Its educational outreach programs inspire young people to become engaged citizens and leaders of tomorrow. The L.A. City Council commended the Fountain for “achieving a position of leadership in the Los Angeles theatre community… producing meaningful new plays of social and political importance that enrich the lives of the citizens of Los Angeles.” The Fountain is the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama Critic Circle’s Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in theater, presented for “outstanding productions of meaningful new plays and first-class performances spanning three decades.” Los Angeles Times theater critic Charles McNulty hailed the Fountain, stating, “No L.A. theater has done a better job of asking us to reexamine our lives through the lens of acute contemporary drama.” Poetry for the People continues to mark a new chapter for the Fountain under Caldwell, who joined as artistic director earlier this year. A nationally recognized director and activist, Caldwell brings a history of socially conscious, globally minded theatermaking, earning acclaim for work addressing human rights, LGBTQIA+ equality, disability advocacy, and peacebuilding.
Poetry for the People opens on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 8 p.m., with performances thereafter on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through December 14 (dark Monday, Nov. 3). Three preview performances take place on Wednesday, Oct. 29; Thursday, Oct. 30; and Friday, Oct. 31, each at 8 p.m. The performance on Friday, Nov. 7 is Black Out Affinity Night, an opportunity for an audience self-identifying as Black to experience the performance together in a safe and inclusive space.
Tickets range from $25–$45; Pay–What–You–Want seating is available every Monday night in addition to regular seating (subject to availability); all previews are Pay-What-You-Want.
The Fountain Theatre is located at 5060 Fountain Avenue (at Normandie) in Los Angeles. Patrons are invited upstairs to relax before and after the show at the Fountain’s café. For reservations and information, call (323) 663–1525 or go to FountainTheatre.com.
Details for Calendar Listings
‘Poetry for the People:The June Jordan Experience’
WHAT:
Words become revolution in the Los Angeles premiere of Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience, a jubilant fusion of poetry, music and movement. Six performers bring the searing, joyful words of the acclaimed poet and human rights activist to life, joined on piano by composer and longtime Jordan collaborator Adrienne Torf. The evening also features music from the John Adams opera I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky (for which Jordan wrote the lyrics) and beloved a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock, who set Jordan’s poetry to song. Winner of the 2023 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding New Play, the production is devised and directed by Fountain Theatre artistic director Raymond O. Caldwell with Torf.
WHO:
• Devised by Raymond O. Caldwell and Adrienne Torf
• Directed by Raymond O. Caldwell
• Starring XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX
• Presented by The Fountain Theatre
WHEN:
Previews:
• Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 31 at 8 p.m.
Performances:
• Nov. 1 – Dec. 14: Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.
• Dark: Monday, Nov. 3
• Black Out Affinity Night: Friday, Nov. 7
WHERE:
The Fountain Theatre
5060 Fountain Ave.
Los Angeles CA 90029
(Fountain at Normandie)
TICKET PRICES:
$25 – $45:
• Premium Seating: $45
• Regular Seating: $40
• Seniors 65 or older: $35 (regular seating only)
• Students: $25 (valid ID required)
• Monday nights: Regular seating ($40) and Pay–What–You–Want (subject to availability)
• Previews: Pay–What–You–Want
PARKING:
• Secure, on-site parking: $5
• Street parking available in the neighborhood north of Fountain Ave.
• No parking after 6 p.m. on Mariposa or Alexandria Avenues south of Fountain Ave.
• Allow extra time to find street parking; make sure to read all parking signs
HOW:
FountainTheatre.com
(323) 663-1525
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