Arts
Award winning comedian, Donald Lacy Jr. talks with Holly about the craft, his daughter's tragic death, and the wisdom of his mentors. Come watch Don Lacy in action, headlining live on the Oakland waterfront at the Comedy Edge, July 3rd. Click here for tickets and information.More info about Love Life FoundationAbout the Guest:Donald E. Lacy, Jr. is a writer, director, actor, comedian, radio talk show host, and activist. In 2018 Steve Sturla and The Studio City Film Festival created the Donald E. Lacy, Jr. Social Justice Award, given to filmmakers whose films address social issues. On May 19th 2019, CNN aired The Redemption Project with Van Jones documenting Donald’s anti violence activism in Oakland and his journey to forgive the 1 man convicted of his daughter’s murder. In 2017 he received Legacy award from Theater Bay Area for his art and activism. As a comedian he was inducted into the Bay Area Blues society Hall of Fame in 2013. He also appeared on BET’S Comic View and HBO’S Def Jam. A San Francisco State alumnus, with B. A. Degrees in Theater Arts, (with a film minor), and Black Studies. His T.V./Film acting credits include: About Cherry with James Franco, The Other Barrio, NBC show Trauma, "Jack", "Blood In, Blood Out", "L.A. Heat", "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper" on ABC, and "Wolf" on CBS. Stage Credits include: ColorStruck at Theater for the New City in New York that premiered in 2019 and returned by popular demand in 2020. ColorStruck the last live theater show during the pandemic on March 15, 2020. In 2019 the World Premiere of Candlestick at ACT’s Costume Shop. Casa De Spirits written and directed by Roger Guenveur Smith in 2018. Donald portrayed Wynton in The Royale at the Aurora Theater in 2017. In 2016 he appeared as Gabriel in August Wilson’s Fences at California Shakespeare Theater. A 25 city tour with The Miles Davis Experience for Columbia Records which he wrote. Follow Don on Instagram>Your Host:Before becoming a comedian, Holly Shaw spent a lifetime on stage, T.V. and film as an actor, professional dancer and later as a speaker, coach and hypnotherapist. She's authored two books: the Amazon bestseller, The Creative Formula, as well as the newly released book, Making Art In the Middle of Madness and she was a regular teacher at SAG/AFTRA's conservatories in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles. Her podcast, Performers & Creators Lab, was named One of the Most Outstanding Podcasts of 2019 by Databird Research. Through all of her offerings she has helped thousands of performing artists, some of them Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, overcome stage fright, impostor syndrome, and creative blocks so that they can create the work they were born to make and become undeniably magnetic performers. Currently she lives with her son in Oakland, CA where she runs and performs in the live weekly comedy showcase on the waterfront, the Comedy Edge. To learn more, please visit www.performersandcreatorslab.comComposer:Dan Cantrell is an Emmy award winning composer and multi-instrumentalist known for his innovative film scoring approach, and his virtuosic abilities on the accordion, piano and musical saw. “Hauntingly beautiful…quirky and energetic” says the San Francisco Bay Guardian. His extensive scoring catalogue spans a wide range of emotion and style. Dan’s compositions for film and television have earned him numerous awards including an Emmy Award for KQED’s Home-Front,a Golden Gate award for the soundtrack to the documentary Divided Loyalties, and an Annie nomination for his work on thre