Early Bird price for Brian Copeland's solo show "Not A Genuine Black Man" in San Jose
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Rebecca Wallace
Nov 28, 2025, 2:09:37 PMNov 28
to Bay Area Theatre Bums
Brian Copeland is bringing his solo show Not A Genuine Black Man back to San Jose for a rare one-night South Bay engagement! Join us at City Lights Theater on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, at 7 p.m. Buy tickets before Dec. 1 to get the Early Bird price, because everyone likes an early bird.
Here's the scoop on the show:
In 1971, Fair Housing advocates considered San Leandro one of the most racist suburbs in America. The next year, eight-year-old Brian Copeland and his African-American family moved in. In an evening of laughter, tears and sociology, Copeland’s acclaimed solo show Not a Genuine Black Man is a hilarious and insightful look at Bay Area history, and at the ways in which our upbringings make us who we are.
The longest-running solo show in Bay Area history, Not a Genuine Black Man celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. Copeland is thrilled to bring it back to City Lights — but finds it bittersweet that today the show is more relevant than ever. With the current administration’s actions against DEI, and books about the Black experience newly banned in schools, Copeland calls his show “my pushback on the war on diversity.” He says, “I’m not going to allow them to erase my story.”
Copeland has published a book based on the show, and will be signing and selling copies after the Jan. 25 performance. He and director Rob Reiner are also developing the show for TV. “In a region where solo stage shows are performed with regularity, Black Man is the production by which all others must be judged. It’s that good, and that deeply ingrained in the theater scene.” –The Mercury News
The longest-running solo show in Bay Area history, Not a Genuine Black Man celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. Copeland is thrilled to bring it back to City Lights — but finds it bittersweet that today the show is more relevant than ever. With the current administration’s actions against DEI, and books about the Black experience newly banned in schools, Copeland calls his show “my pushback on the war on diversity.” He says, “I’m not going to allow them to erase my story.”
Copeland has published a book based on the show, and will be signing and selling copies after the Jan. 25 performance. He and director Rob Reiner are also developing the show for TV. “In a region where solo stage shows are performed with regularity, Black Man is the production by which all others must be judged. It’s that good, and that deeply ingrained in the theater scene.” –The Mercury News
Buy tickets by December 1, and you’ll pay $35 general and $30 for seniors, educators and students. On December 1, ticket prices go up to $40 / $35. Tickets and details: cltc.org/genuine.
Rebecca Wallace
Marketing Director
Pronouns: she/her
City Lights Theater Company
529 S. Second St., San Jose
Warmth, wit and pasta! Share the delightful Joe DiPietro play Over the River and Through the Woods with your loved ones this holiday season. Runs November 20-December 21. Tickets & info: cltc.org/over-the-river
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