Michael Sommers- HEART in the HOOD a true story one man play!!

“Riveting! Funny! Deeply touching!" The true story one-man play in 16 characters of a small town Vermonter who bought a house in a notorious neighborHOOD... and came to love it!! “San Francisco’s finest character actor!” An ex-con, the good beggar, funeral sermon and refrigerator, but where is Party Jesus of 22nd Street? Sommers plays all 16 beloved characters who run the gamut from poignant to hilarious. Through Mike and his harmonica, we hear their words, laugh with their optimism and begin to understand the misunderstood and beautiful people of 22nd Street! “A superb storyteller! Sommers characters are riveting!” Sommers received standing ovations at his sold out shows at The Marsh in San Francisco and on his Vermont Tour! “Endearing! Spiritual! Deeply touching! Funny!" Michael X Sommers has appeared in over 60 films (including a recurring role as Bug in Sense8 on Netflix presently). His favorite stage credit was replacing Jeremy Irons in the title role of "Chopin and George Sand..." by New York's Ensemble for the Romantic Century. HEART in the HOOD is Sommers second true story one-man play. The first play, the acclaimed HICK in the HOOD, has appeared all over Northern California and in Vermont What the reviewers said - Jim Lowe, the Arts Editor of the Montpelier Times Argus (Vermont) said... "Narrated, acted out and even sung, Sommers' gritty tale was convincingly hilarious, sad, dramatic and deeply touching... Sommers show is highly entertaining storytelling, effectively delivered by narration, acting out and even occasionally a song, with harmonica licks interjected here and there.... Delivery was what one might expect of a veteran professional actor. Sommers performance was varied and very physical. His characterizations were well delineated and he had a direct rapport with Friday's responsive audience. What made "Hick in the Hood" so intriguing was how Sommers rural Vermont human skills proved so effective in a seemingly hostile world. The show also proved to be an evening of delightful entertainment." HEART in the HOOD audience responses - From Heather Rogers – Audience member, magician I wanted to tell you how BLOWN AWAY I was by your play reading!!!! Wow. You’re a fine writer and eloquent witness to the human condition, especially where the heart resides in people. The harmonica really really works for me in this play. It deepens the context, the down-home feeling and gives us time to process the gifts that keep coming. Every scene is so strong, they can stand alone as their own short one acts. I was thinking of a quote for the play that I could offer… “Sommers is a superb storyteller and one of the finest actors on the stage today. His characters are riveting, endearing and sweetly haunting.” Ava Amarasingham age 9 - “That was AMAZING! Are you kidding me?” Maria Mikheyenko, soprano, actress, "A poignant, entertaining, and unforgettable show! As a consummate character actor and storyteller, Mike draws you immediately into the story, and you feel as though you are meeting these folks face to face, sharing in their history and culture, moved by their suffering, laughing out loud at their colorful eccentricities, that always ring true." …………………………….. Good morning, Mike! Congratulations on last night’s performance! As usual, you were stunning and brilliant. Jen told you her favorite part but I didn’t get to tell you mine… My favorite part of BOTH shows, is when you very poignantly state the whole point of each work. In the first, you say that racism is about fear, and in the second one, you say that people can be healed by inclusion. Your writing and acting skills are on display for audiences to marvel at throughout each performance, but to me, it’s these poignant words, that display the breadth of your intelligence, that makes you truly special. Congratulations again!!! Velia Amarasingham, director, producer