One-woman show to appear tonight

That's what Monique E. Porter does throughout her one-woman show "If Only the Strong Survive What Happens to the Weak?" which she will perform at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center.

"If Only the Strong Survive What Happens to the Weak?" began as Porter's thesis project as a theater student at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

Since her graduation, Porter has been touring the country with her portrayal of a character named Hope, an inner-city black woman struggling to find self-love, inner strength and a purpose in life.

According to La'Shawn Brown, senior staff assistant at the center, Porter will speak about her own experiences, as well as self-motivation and "really putting yourself out there," at a seminar that will precede the play.

The seminar begins at 5:30 p.m. in the center, and is titled "Creating Your Own Opportunities."

Dissatisfied with the opportunities and roles made available to African-American actors at Wright State, Porter produced, directed and performed the first black play at the university.

Porter currently lives in New York City, where she has performed three off-Broadway shows. She is also in the HBO feature Angel of Harlem, starring Forest Whittaker, James Earl Jones and Eriq LaSalle.

--by Jaimee Abbott