Darryl Van Leer
SPEAKING CLIENT
Actor and Performer
Program Title: Power On Earth (and Other One-Man Shows)
Recently seen as a contestant on TLC's The Messengers, Darryl Van Leer is one of the most versatile performers and inspirational speakers in America. When he performs, he not only brings history's most towering figures to life (including MLK, Malcolm X, Thurgood Marshall and a host of others), but he embodies the power of the spoken word.
Van Leer's acclaimed one-man show, Power on Earth has earned high praise from critics and audiences alike. Termed "emotionally riveting," by Daily Variety, the show features vivid portrayals of some of history's most important and influential African American figures, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, and Malcolm X, Nat Turner, Marcus Garvey, Frederick Douglass and blues greats Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters. He was nominated for an NAACP Theatre Award; was recognized by the National Association of Campus Activities as "Best Performance"; and has been recognized as "Performer of the Year" by Campus Activities Today.
A versatile performer, Van Leer began his television acting career by working regularly on BET's Bobby Jones Gospel Show as a background vocalist, writer and staff photographer. Today, he enjoys a successful and varied career in film and television as a featured performer. Van Leer has performed extensively in local stage productions, and his theatrical repertoire also includes stand-up comedy. He has traveled the comedy circuit, appearing in such hot spots as The Comic Strip and Catch a Rising Star in New York. Born and raised in Madisonville, Kentucky, Van Leer received his B.S. degree in industrial technology from Western Kentucky University.
Suggested Performances:
Power on Earth: In this program, Van Leer transforms into eight characters, beginning with former slave Nat Turner and eventually evolving into former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
The Norm of Greatness: Van Leer presents a riveting re-enactment of a few of Martin Luther King's most breathtaking speeches.
Bread for the Soul: Black innovators and inventors, such as George Washington Carver, spring to life, as Van Leer highlights the persistence, creativity and curiosity that these inspiring men brought to bear as they made their mark on history.
Rated: Malcolm X: A high-acceleration performance of Malcolm X's Message to the Grass Roots and Ballot to the Bullet speeches, this presentation guarantees a standing ovation.
My Life in Bondage: In this presentation, Van Leer delivers a heart-warming, heart wrenching performance of the true story of Frederick Douglass.
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