Bio

Soul-stirring, interdisciplinary work has garnered Al Letson national recognition, critical acclaim and devoted fans. Early in his career, Letson established himself as a heavyweight in the Poetry Slam Movement, which reaped artistic credibility and renown. He has performed on a number of national, regional and local stages, including such venues as HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, CBS’s Final Four PreGame Show and commercial projects for Sony, the Florida Times Union, Adobe Software and the Doorpost Film Project.
In 2008, Letson was one of three finalists out of more than 1,500 applicants to win the Public Radio Talent Quest. The Talent Quest is an effort by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to find new voices and innovative programming to launch nationally on public radio. Letson’s program “State of the Re:Union” will launch nationally in 2010.
In addition to his upcoming radio show, Letson works as a professional playwright, actor and director. Drawing on his background as a performance poet, Letson seamlessly weaves spoken word into the fabric of his theatre work. The Baltimore Sun said, “Letson is a powerful performer who tells his story by moving fluidly from one role to the next.” Letson’s plays have been performed across the country to critical acclaim.
Letson has directed several stage productions and three movie shorts, one of which (Sign Language) was a semi-finalist for the Fox filmmaking reality show “On the Lot.” While his many interests are diverse, the common theme in Letson’s work is his effort to bring people together. By examining difficult topics and influential historical themes, Letson strives to focus on our common humanity—and always present a production with consummate artistry.

Biography