Big Roles, Bigger Laughs, and Zero Apologies

Above: (L-R) Michele Shay as Betty Samson, Olivia Washington as Precious "Pete" Watson, Deborah Joy Winans as Kate Hughes and Charlayne Woodard as Anna Campbell.

In Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous, legendary (and gloriously opinionated) performance artist Anna Campbell storms back to the U.S. after decades in Europe, fully expecting a triumphant, spotlight-stealing return. Accompanied by her sharp-witted manager and best friend Betty, Anna arrives in Atlanta ready to once again bare it all—literally—in her infamous protest piece Naked Wilson, a bold feminist takedown of August Wilson.

There’s just one small problem: she’s not actually performing.

Instead, Anna is being “honored” (her least favorite word), while a young, unapologetically modern artist named Pete has been cast to perform Naked Wilson in her place. What follows is a deliciously messy collision of egos, generations, and artistic philosophies. Anna spirals. Betty strategizes. Kate panics. And Pete? Pete is not intimidated in the slightest.

When Anna and Pete finally face off, sparks fly. Anna clings to the idea of artistic legacy and authority, while Pete gleefully pokes holes in it; questioning whether Anna’s groundbreaking piece actually centered women the way it intended. Their showdown is equal parts intellectual debate and verbal smackdown, with plenty of laughs (and a few existential crises) along the way.

As if things weren’t chaotic enough, Pete’s bold reinterpretation of the piece starts gaining buzz… fast. Suddenly, Anna isn’t just fighting for a performance; she’s fighting for relevance in a world that may have already moved on without her.

At Geffen Playhouse, that energy comes to life through an extraordinary ensemble cast. Michele Shay brings commanding presence and emotional precision, grounding the production with warmth and authority. Olivia Washington delivers a vibrant, contemporary spark, balancing humor with striking emotional intelligence. Deborah Joy Winans infuses the stage with soulful resonance and expressive depth, moving effortlessly between comedy and heartfelt vulnerability. And Charlayne Woodard brings her signature brilliance, humor, and lyrical clarity to every moment she inhabits.

Smart, biting, and full of heart, the play is a wildly entertaining exploration of aging, ambition, artistic ownership, and what happens when the next generation grabs the mic and refuses to give it back.

Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous will make its Los Angeles premiere this June. Tickets available at geffenplayhouse.org.

Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous

JUN 10 – JUL 12, 2026
GIL CATES THEATER

Written by Pearl Cleage
Directed by LaTanya Richardson Jackson
Produced in Association with Black Rebirth Collective
Featuring Michele Shay, Olivia Washington, Deborah Joy Winans & Charlayne Woodard

Anna Campbell is a trailblazing actress flush with accolades but short on cash. After returning to the U.S. to stage a career-defining comeback, she collides with a new generation that challenges her past, her politics, and her place in the movement. Award-winning playwright Pearl Cleage (Blues for an Alabama Sky) teams up with Tony Award nominee LaTanya Richardson Jackson (The Piano Lesson) to deliver a sharp-witted and soulful new comedy about art, activism, and aging on your own terms.

This production is made possible, in part, by support from Cast Iron Entertainment and the David Lee Foundation.

LEARN MORE