Al Letson

Soul-stirring, multi-genre creativity 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, reaping artistic credibility and becoming renowned for his dynamic works. He has performed on a number of national, regional and local stages, including such venues as HBO's Def Poetry Jam and CBS's 2004 Final Four Pregame Show.

Letson was one of three finalists out of more than 1,500 applicants to win the 2008 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 launched this past February on NPR, with a robust multimedia campaign that coincided with Black History Month. State of the Re:Union travels to an American city or town to discover the interesting things that people are doing to create a community atmosphere and transcend their circumstances, while placing focus on the vital cultural narratives.

Along with his radio show, Letson works as a professional playwright, and actor. Drawing on his background as a performance poet, he seamlessly weaves spoken word into the fabric of his theatre work. His solo play, Summer in Sanctuary, will be produced Off Broadway by The Abingdon Theatre Company at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre. The Baltimore Sun has stated, "Letson is a powerful performer who tells his story by moving fluidly from one role to the next."

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, he strives to focus on our common humanity and always presents with consummate artistry.