The Origins of OwaFest and the African American Playwrights Exchange

THE ORIGINS OF OWAFEST AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHT EXCHANGE

by Roweena Mackay

Jaz Dorsey started the African American Playwright Exchange (AAPEX) on January 1st, 2007. His initial call for scripts was for "any plays by African American playwrights or scripts by any playwright that addressed African American history, culture or issues, or which provided significant, dignified roles for black actors within the context of said historical, social & issue related themes."

He didn't know what to expect - maybe, that within a year, he would have heard from 20 writers …By the end of the first week he had heard from 30 writers. By the end of January it was up to around 60. By the middle of February, it was around 90. Owa was about number 90, but he was the first to use the word "absurdist" in conjunction with his work.

OWAFEST: Owa (the playwright) Fest (A gathering or occasion characterized by a specified activity) was born from the idea that significant, dignified roles for African Americans are missing from American Theatre because … plays by and for African Americans are missing from American Theatre. Out of this, almost naturally, comes the idea of the Absurd and then we come back to America herself, or Absurd America or perhaps even America the Absurd? OWAFEST is about changing the landscape of American Theatre.

The playwrights that Jaz selected to represent this new landscape are Owa, Henry Miller, George Brome, Bob Ost and Mark Clayton Southers.

Tonight you will experience two works, GHOSTSPELL by Owa and THAT WORD by Henry Miller.

Welcome to a Taste of OWAFEST!

7 pm

Trisha Brown Dance Company, 625 W. 55th Street, New York City.