Renaissance Man

Although he isn't a physical match for the late Paul Robeson — the powerful African-American singer, actor, civil-rights activist, McCarthy-era blacklistee and All-American athlete — local performer Russell Costen found plenty of ways to embody the big man's energy when Shadow Theatre Company first staged Philip Hayes Dean's biographical one-man show two years ago. Lauded in these pages and elsewhere (Westword handed Costen a Best of Denver award in 2005 for his performance), Costen just keeps rollin' along: He's now back in Robeson's shoes for a new staging under the auspices of the Mercury Motley Players.

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More About

• Paul Robeson
• Russell Costen
• Philip Hayes Dean
• Theater
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media

Paul Robeson is just the thing to raise awareness for 2007's Black History Month. If you haven't already seen it, tonight's performance, 7:30 p.m. at the Mercury Cafe, 2199 California Street, is the last, and well worth the $18 admission fee. For details, call 303-294-9258 or go to www.mercurycafe.com.
Fri., Jan. 5, 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, 3 p.m.; Fri., Jan. 12, 7:30 p.m. Starts: Jan. 5. Continues through Jan. 21