"What a powerful performance! From the moment Cooper took the stage, I was hooked. Weaving a story seamlessly from character to character, moment to moment, Cooper invites the audience to journey with him. Though the journey is interlaced with trauma and tragedy, a palpable sense of hope and resiliency remains. You do not want to miss this!
Mars Hill University was honored to welcome Cooper to Owen Theater, and we hope he returns soon! Cooper is a dynamic storyteller and teacher. I highly recommend his show to any college community!"

"Cooper did a marvelous one person show of mutiple characters.  He played each character exquisitly real using his entire body language to bring the different persona to life.  I felt like he made his entire cast appear to me on stage.  He was superb in drawing out my feelings of toughness and tenderness and everything inbetween.  It was a heart opening portrayal of the dark side of human nature and how one can survive and rise from the adversities of life.  thank you"

"Very powerful performance. Raw, emotional, believable and very relevant to life in the US today even though the events took place 40 plus years ago!"

"Very engaging actor playing various roles that kept my attention. Very gutsy in subjects such as S.A. and using racial language to get his point across. This show must win an award at the Fringe Awards"

"The second part of Cooper Bates’ story of growing up black and finding his way in the world. In this performance we find Bates, a young adult, moving to the city of Dallas to pursue an acting career. Managing to get into a prestigious acting conservatory, he is soon confronted by the stereotyped casting of black actors. He makes friends, tries his hand at romance, begins to gain traction and confidence as an actor, and eventually catches the attention of Mr. Pope, a man with an eye for up-and-coming talent.
Unfortunately, things do not go as planned. Bates encounters a series of hardships, one after another, culminating in a moment of violence and ultimate disillusionment that leaves him traumatized and questioning everything.
As in Part 1, Mr. Bates displays ample skill in portraying the various characters in his life. The story is well paced, never lagging, and his gift for vivid description keeps us in the moment from the beginning to the veryend. It should be noted that there are depictions of sexual assault and suicide, so viewers are encouraged to bear that in mind."

"Mr. Bates is an excellent storyteller and brings the various characters to life with ease. The story is by turns humorous, harrowing, infuriating, and uplifting. There are scenes of racial violence in the performance but given the subject matter this is sadly inevitable.
As an aside, as this reviewer was composing this review, she kept thinking back to the climax (in which Bates finds himself in a sundown town) and the current controversy around a certain country song. As someone who grew up an outsider in small-town America herself, she naturally has a lot to say on the subject, but Mr. Bates’ performance is probably as good a rebuttal of that song and the sentiments behind it as one is likely to find. Recommended."

"A well performed show for such a a heavy topic. I’m glad Cooper shared his story because it is so easy to forget the racism and discrimination heaped upon innocent children. This show is a must see!"

"A few technical quirks to work out, but I never blame the performer for that. Some performance jitters at the start, maybe? But by the second segment Cooper seemed to break through and fully embody the various characters he talks about. Altogether good show, and looking forward to hearing Part II tomorrow!"

"Great Show!"

"A very well written and well performed show with both laugh out loud and touching moments. It’s a show that EVERYONE should see to get a glimpse into what it is like growing up as a black man in a white America. Five stars!!!"

"Growing up in Hill City, I was aware that some people were racist, but I never thought about how this affected kids. It was delightfully funny and devastatingly sad to see what our friend went through. I have food for thought for a while to come."

"So amazing and heartbreaking to know “Frankie” went thru this. As a classmate I had no idea. You were always one of my favorite people. This show is amazing! Must see"

"Cooper is a great actor and wonderful storyteller. Great story. Leaves me wanting to hear more."

"Coopers performance is stellar and kept us at the edge of our seat, wondering if he’ll do a part three? His story is personal, and performed in such a palatable way that as the audience, it leaves you with a bit more empathy for others. This is an encore piece."

"Having seen Part I the day before and Part II now, I can say it’s *helpful* to have seen Part I but not required. Yesterday the house was packed and the show was good. Today’s setting was more intimate, and the show was EXCELLENT. Cooper flowed right from introductions into the show itself so smoothly you couldn’t even see a seam. Engaging, heartbreaking, stories of hopes (real and false), anger (inward and outward), perceptions (by others and within self), great work!"

"Very engaging actor playing various roles that kept my attention. Very gutsy in subjects such as S.A. and using racial language to get his point across. This show must win an award at the Fringe Awards Sunday!"

"I’m an urban-raised white woman/actress; to be invited into the experience of a rural-raised black man/actor is a privilege even as it is harrowing. We were acting students at around the same time in very different places — so many of the feelings/experiences are similar and SO many are quite different. Theatre should take you places you’ve never been and cannot go as yourself. This certainly did that for me. Brave, important, personal and specific. I’m in awe of Cooper Bates, the writer/performer of this work."

"An intimate tale woven around the life story of Cooper Bates.. You are immediately drawn in by the vivacious characters that help drive a very powerful story of a small town kid realizing his dreams.. Captivating and Full of genuine Laughs.. a Must see!"

"A couple of things stood out for me:
The way Cooper shifts his body language and speech intonation to mimic the character he plays was masterful.
The writing, especially during the hardcore and wrenching moments, was a perfect blend of earthy description and ethereal ambiance.
Bravo!"

"Wow! Wow! Wow! My heart was cracked open. This was a standing ovation performance. Grateful for this kind of vulnerable storytelling. Thank you for your courage, and capacity to tell your story fueled by so much love."

"I am completely blown away and in love at the same time. Triumphant achievement, can’t wait for more!!"

"It's a story of a common black man that is a story that you have never heard and will change the way you see black men and humans forever."

"It was an exceptional show. His storytelling was amazing. I could visualize every word."

"An odyssey to make the unbelievable believable.  Great show!"

"Beautifully crafted. Superbly executed."

"I saw part 1 of this series and really felt the depth of Cooper’s arc. However, this current piece dove deeper and brought forth a treasure trove of emotions. This is a poignant story, honestly delivered."

"This was an unbelievable performance, and experience that I will never never forget. I am very grateful to experience this evening’s one of a kind show, and very grateful that I was able to meet Cooper.  I’m not sure what I did in life to deserve this, but thank you Cooper, but I am sure I saw a masterpiece.  God bless you!"

"Loved it! Keeps you engaged from beginning to end. I felt like I was a part of the journey. Loved how he held on to his faith through all of the adversity. I admired his strong conviction and spiritual connection."

"A powerful and deeply honest show. It was brave of Cooper to talk about his experiences as a young man in a difficult subject. I hope everyone gets a chance to see it."

"Deep appreciation for Cooper's courage and grace in the telling of a painful and moving story. A door to the heart was opened."

"It’s astonishing how a show I’ve seen so many times can continue to surprise me. The depth, humor, eloquence, and vulnerability of Black’d Out is unique. The content is deep but delivery incredibly entertaining. Amazing show from start to finish."

"Both the performance and story were so well presented.The acting brought you right into the story. I was laughing, nodding, and sad all in one. The writing was so descriptive and well portrayed that you actually saw the characters and felt for some of them. It was amazing"

"It was our absolute pleasure to see Cooper LIVE & on stage doing what you can tell is his passion. We’ve witnessed all the dedication & effort he's put into all his shows! We are officially Cooper fans. We LOVED it. Cannot wait to see it again in Kansas City in July, 2023!!!"

"Cooper Bates, As always, wows with his ability to bring characters to life, populating the stage with vivid characters ranging from mentors to destroyers – but all with a lesson for him.He left us on the edge of our seats. Cooper  tears at our hearts as he weaves a tale of an innocence seared by the hot flames of adult depredation."

"The characters, the story, the vulnerability. It all really resonated and gave me new perspectives on identity. A lot happened in a small space. Made for a deeply satisfying night."

"Highly recommend this powerful performance by Cooper Bates. He invited us in and carried us so completely through his world, fully embodying each character in this one man show with vulnerability and sincerity. This is a piece that will stay with me a long time, remembering and feeling deeply all that was shared this evening. Cheers!"

"Entertaining, vulnerable, personal and relatable.  Cooper Bates is fearless going into territory where we would least want to find ourselves."

"After experiencing many of Cooper Bates’ performances, I can confidently say that he is a master storyteller. Smooth yet earnest, confident yet vulnerable, and full of grounded charisma.
“Black When I Was a Boy” Parts I & II presents significant insight of American culture rarely shared so delicately.
I found myself desperately wanting more story at the end of each Part and looking forward to what happens next in future chapters."

"This was a terrific evening experience that transforms you to Dallas and multiple characters all of whom are played brilliantly by Cooper Bates. He manages to transform the stage that has few props into an imaginary scene where you visualize theater performances, farm life, mechanic garages, and casting offices. Often with just the twirl of a chair. His performance allows you to relax and enjoy the narrative while you cheer for certain of his characters and loathe others. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance. Don’t miss it."

"We absolutely loved this show. Cooper Bates’ vulnerability and immense talent in sharing his story was such a gift to receive. It was a somatic experience, hard to put into words, transforming our felt sense of how people of color experience the world. We have new eyes and a new understanding."

"Loved the shows. Well done. Interesting narrative, and characters you wanted to see more of. Both are well developed pieces. Congrats."

"Thought provoking, soul searching, critical two hours of awe. See it. You won't regret it!"

"Heartfelt, personal, heartbreaking, hilarious - and ultimately a reminder both of how easy ugliness is to access, teach and learn, and also the redemption available in our common humanity. Cooper’s storytelling was open, sincere, simple, and true; his characterizations specific; his study of his characters’ behavior nuanced and delicate and deeply compassionate. It was a delight to watch his story come to life..."

"These are the stories people need to be telling and hearing! It was good, like, "this guy should get an HBO special" good."

"Cooper Bates has woven a story that’s at times hilarious and charming, but that in its often disarming humor opens a window that suddenly leaves us staring at a much bleaker landscape. It makes for theatre that is poignant, gripping and thoughtful."

"Though the show takes a little while to hit its stride, possibly because the chronology of events at times feels too comprehensive, Bates’s energy and toothy smile are endearing. And as the ‘cuts’ he experiences begin to mount, we increasingly feel the pain he carries with him. - RECOMMENDED"

"Black When I Was a Boy" is a piece so fully embodied, so alive and beautifully told. It was a solid, unabashed 90-minute performance par excellence... His strong medicine helped me, too!!! Thanks for sharing this with our community. What a tremendous gift! I hope you can bring it back to Asheville - More people need to hear your story."

"BLACK WHEN I WAS A BOY is raw, riveting, brave, funny, smart, and universal in its theme and depiction of claiming one's own identity with pride and determination. See it--you'll be blown away."

"Cooper Bates' one man show, Black When I Was a Boy is a truly heartfelt tale of that banishment from paradise so many of us experience when we first come to learn the sinful truth."

"As hard as it was to watch these moments and empathize with the pain and rage he felt, the overall feel of the piece was hopeful...this is a solid #SeeItLA."

"This is a creative gift for anyone fortunate enough to share their heart, mind and time with Cooper and the stellar cast of his “one man” show, “Black When I Was a Boy.”

"What is so arresting and moving about this piece is the ethos of compassion, honesty, bravery and ethereal light that the artist maintains in response to such dehumanization. His perspective is so unique and yet the wisdom he offers through his actions are universal and grounding. And he does it all with such joy and humor."

"Black When I Was a Boy is gripping, unsettling, and transformative in the most positive and generative ways. Both Cooper Bates and his story telling ability is both entertaining and inviting."

 "Last night we had the honor and privilege of attending last night's show by Cooper Bates and to be a part of the debriefing panel afterwards. There are absolutely no words to describe what it means to hear Cooper's story and to be in the room as he shares it. We could use the words awe inspiring, breathtaking, passionate, heart stopping, and magnificent and it still would somehow not be enough to really capture the experience"  
www.ourvoice.org

"Story and message are powerful but I enjoyed Coopers acting the most.  Morphing from character to character seamlessly, connecting on every beat.  This may be a one man show but it feels like a film with rich dialogue, action, inner exploration and character development. Highly recommend!"

"What a totally mesmerizing experience! Such incisive writing, such powerful acting in which his mellifluous voice and his physicality run the gamut of emotions from hearty laughter to near-uncontrolled rage! Both of Cooper Bate's stories, "Black When I Was a Child" and "Black'd Out", is a beautifully realistic portrayal of a young Black man growing up in a heavily white community. As an old white man I need to be often reminded of the racism, conscious and otherwise, that permeates our society and I was. But I also identified with  the peer pressure, the desire to fit in, and the naivete of all young men, regardless of color, experience in their late teens and early twenties. I was on the edge of my seat and totally locked-in the whole two hours."

"BLACKED OUT left me devastated and uplifted in equal parts. From the moment Cooper took the stage, I was totally engaged. He was able to transform the black box theatre into so many different places and himself into so many different characters that I really left the play with vivid images of these scenes in my mind. I experienced SO MANY different emotions throughout this play. It really will make you laugh, cry, rejoice, despair and reflect on the experience of what it means to pursue your dreams as a black American. Everyone should see this play!!!"