by Joe Buffaloe
Daily Lobo
Idris Goodwin compares his upcoming one-man show, "I Have an Agenda," to something Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack might have done.
"Like when they'd have a relaxed evening of songs and anecdotes," he said.
Of course, his performance will be more cutting-edge than tired renditions of "Come Fly with Me."
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Goodwin is a rapper, playwright, poet, writing instructor and spoken word artist from Chicago. In his performance, he will present some of his short work, as well as poems from his book, The Agenda, and hip-hop from his self-titled CD.
"There will be some indictments and some tributes," he said, on a number of topics, including the president, Bill Cosby, and his students. He draws material from the world around him as well as his personal life.
"I used to run away a lot, and I think that comes out in the performance," he said.
The show will include a lot of humor and interaction with the audience.
"I want to entertain and to have fun," he said.
Goodwin said he has always done hip-hop, but has been more drawn to writing and poetry the past four years. Before going solo, his hip-hop group Farm Crew performed in Chicago at a number of large venues such as the Metro, the Tweeter Center alongside Outkast and the Roots, and the grand opening of Millennium Park.
Since then, he has become a noted solo performer, being named one of the most influential people in Chicago under 30 by the publication UR Chicago and working creatively with the Hermit Arts Theatre, writing and directing almost a dozen plays in the Chicago area.
It was a performance in Chicago by Albuquerque's Tricklock Theatre company that sparked Goodwin's interest in the Duke City.
"I felt an immediate kinship with them," Goodwin said. "It reminded me of what we're doing in Chicago."
He said he admires openness and acceptance of unconventional forms, two strong characteristics of the Tricklock company.
In addition to the performance, he will also be selling copies of The Agenda, and his hip-hop CD.
