The house lights went off and Sarah Jones appeared when the stage lights came on. In her British accent she addressed the audience as if they were a class in the distant future. So starts Jones’ one-woman show Sell/Buy/Date, a chronicling of sex trafficking and sex work stories written by Jones that are told through her interpretation of various characters. Sunday night October 14th was opening for the show at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre.
After a successful run at the Geffen Playhouse, Jones shared with audience members that she wanted to bring the show to a diverse community, similar to what is reflected in the characters she perfectly portrays. The evening was a sold-out, star-studded opening which included the attendance of Lily Tomlin, Laverne Cox, Rashida Jones, Debra Messing, Rosario Dawson, Jenifer Lewis, Briggitte Nielsen, and more.
Sell/Buy/Date is the manifestation of real-life experiences enshrined in comic relief by the Tony Award-winning actress. Jones takes the audience on captivating journeys through her masterful characterizations. As a stage chameleon, Jones transforms before your very eyes into male and female characters that transcend generations, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, and leave you speechless–sometimes heart-broken through their vignettes.
Directed by Carolyn Cantor, Sell/Buy/Date is a performance that could not have existed in a better time. It is Jones’ scrutiny of hyper masculinity and open dialogue about a woman’s right to control over her own body that resonates with the audience, now more than ever. Diving into taboo topics such as pornography, exotic dancing, and futuristic forms of sexual exploitation Jones inspires and makes you realize that hers is a work far from fiction.
Sell/Buy/Date is playing at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre through November 3rd. BUY YOUR TICKETS before time runs out and experience Sarah Jones’ genius for yourself.
For more information on the fantastic work being done by the Los Angeles LGBT Center, visit lalgbtcenter.org
