Wednesday, January 30, 2008

New permanent AAPEX Archives link to Ohio State University's Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute

AAPEX is making archiving your plays easier
with a permanent click-through on the right side thanks to
Alan Woods
at
Ohio State University's
African American Playwrights' Exchange Archives.
Your plays will be housed for reference
and possibly used in readings and productions at
The Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
Theatre Research Institute
1400 Lincoln Tower
1800 Cannon Drive
Columbus, OH 43210-1230
614/292-6614 vox 614/688-8417 FAX
woods.1@osu.edu

Sunday, January 27, 2008

"...Another Man's Poison" reading 2/4 (NYC)

You are invited to be our guest at the Equity Stage Reading of the play "...Another Man's Poison" by George O. Brome, directed by Connie Norwood, on Monday, February 4th, at
The Sage Theatre,
711 Seventh Avenue
(Between 47th and 48th Streets)
2nd FLoor
NYC
Readings at 2:30pm and 6:30pm. RSVP is required.
Admission Free

About the Play.
"...Another Man's Poison." reveals the irony of the sweet revenge of success set in the fascinating backdrop of primetime television.

When the struggling comedian, Frankie Masters, finally gets his shot at his own network television show in 1970, his imminent success exposes the hidden conflict and mounting turmoil of his personal life. This play takes place at a time before celebrity gossip and tabloid exposés were the norm. It takes a close look at lives intertwined -- where each character has a price to pay and a very personal life dilemma that will forever impact the other. It is a pivotal time in our history, where the Vietnam War, exposing the racial divide, and the politicizing of sexual identity all conspire to add depth and texture to the drama.

This potent play is a quintessential Hollywood story with a distinct New York bite. "...Another Man's Poison." is full of pointed humor, straightforward drama, and feeds our incessant desire to peer into the "making of a celebrity." It is a story of family, reaching for goals, and the choices that are made along the way.

The versatile cast lends a tense, but humorous hand in telling Frankie's story of how "ONE MAN'S FEAST IS ... ANOTHER MAN'S POISON."

The Cast.
Albert Johnson Christmas*, Penelope Darcel*, Neville Braithwaite,
Alex Emanuel*, Toni Stanton, Dennis Hearn*, Chuck Baron*

* Actors appearing Courtesy of Actors' Equity Association

To attend RSVP at
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/26861
or call: Brown Paper Tickets 24/7 Ticket Hotline
1-800-838-3006

Discussion of the play after each Reading.

Orielle Productions and Broliver Productions, Producers

Orielle Creative Company, LLC
419 Lafayette Street
New York, New York 10003

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Calling All Actors (Atlanta)

CALLING ALL ACTORS
AUDITIONS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

IKAM Productions, Inc. presents live on stage

El Hajj Malik: The Story of Malcolm X
By N.R. Davidson, Jr.

Directed by Michael Simanga

AUDITION INFORMATION

When: Saturday, January 26, 2008

Where: Southwest Arts Center
915 New Hope Rd
Atlanta, GA 30331
3 pm

What: Auditions will last until 4:30 pm with callbacks immediately following at 5 pm. We are having a table reading at 6:30 pm for selected actors. Please be prepared to stay until 8 pm if you are chosen to participate!

This is a paid non-equity production.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • We are casting for 6 roles: 3 males and 3 females.
  • The rehearsal schedule for this show will be as follows:
  • Sunday, February 10, Tuesday, February 12,
  • Friday, February 15, Saturday, February 16
  • Monday, February 18 (tech), and Tuesday, February 19 (dress)
  • Please audition only if you will be able to meet the rehearsal schedule.
  • Please arrive on time for your audition and be prepared to perform a 1-2 minute dramatic monologue.
  • The show will be presented Wednesday, February 20 (one show), Thursday, February 21 (2 shows), Friday, February 29 (one show), and Saturday, March 1 (2 shows). Please audition only if you will be available to perform on the days and times stated.

Thank you for your interest. Break a leg!-- February 20 - 21, 29 and March 1

El Hajj Malik: The Life and Times of Malcolm X by NR Davidson

March 1: Women of Wisdom: Young Voices with Power

May 3-5: Body & Sold by Deborah Fortson

August: The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe

www.ikamproductions.com

Call for Women Playwrights (2/1 Deadline)

We are happy to announce the 3rd Annual POTPOURR! Festival of Staged Readings - WORLD WOMEN WORKS, focusing on women playwrights from the international community. This year we will feature full-length, one-acts, cabaret / solo works, 10 – 15 min plays and a piece for young people. These works will be presented in Manhattan [uptown and downtown], Brooklyn, and the Bronx, during the last two weeks of Women’s History Month in March 2008.

Our mission is to nurture and showcase new works by Women Playwrights.

We are currently accepting submissions. .

The submission fees for each playwright per submission are:
Full Length & Cabaret w/music $25 One Acts & Solo pieces - $20
10 – 15 mins plays $15

Submission Deadline February 1, 2008

Make check/money order to: New Heritage Theatre Group, Inc
Mail Scripts and Money Orders to: RHYTHMCOLOR Associates
2001 Creston Avenue
Bronx, NY 10453
General Info
§ We will present 8 –10 pieces. All playwright selections, venues and dates will be announced –mid February.
§ All readings are free to the public. We suggest a $5 donation.
§ Success Stories:
2006 - 2 plays were produced as showcase productions
2007 – Solo piece was developed and presented through the summer.

Thank you for taking time to read this request. For more information, contact us at 718.901.0480. I look forward to seeing you at POTPOURRI!

Affiliations: Harlem Arts Alliance, Inc. National Black Touring Circuit, Inc
Harlem Chamber of Commerce Negro Ensemble Company
The WorkShop, Inc Department of Education

Thank you,
Kim Weston-Moran
Producing Artistic Director
rhythmcolor21@verizon.net

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Work Sucks by Adrienne Dawes 2/8, 10, 13, 16, 17th (NYC)

Directions: 24 Bond Street, NYC 10012 (btwn Lafayette & Bowery) 6 subway to "Bleecker"F or V to "Broadway/Lafayette" 1 block NE from Bleecker Street

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

AAPEX Rewards: Atlanta

I am delighted to share the email below with everyone. It comes from two young ladies, recent college graduates, Tangela Harris and Sherryland Neal of Atlanta, who chose to kick off their new theater company with an evening of short works by AAPEX writers Ben Marshall, Benard Cummings and Fernando Manon.

The event took place last night, Friday, January 18 and was free to the public.

Below is Tangela's report on the evening.

Jaz

The following is an email:

Hello All!

Ok, so here is the 411 you have all probably been waiting on...

"A 10 Minute Night!" was a blast! We held the performance in a room at a recreation center and kept it very simple. We told the audience a little about each play and how we chose each play. We explained to them that as starters of producing and working together in this manner, we wanted to get an idea of what audience and theatre goers like to see. Well needless to say, we got a lot of great reviews!!!!!!!!

I was extremely pleased by the feedback and they are looking forward to more plays to see.
To start with "My Brother, Are you too Heavy?"/Benard Cummings, they loved the the relationship between the two characters, they felt the situation was real and some could relate to something similar as african americans. They also stated the play raised questions and pushed somewhat of political, economical, and cultural issues. As a director, I picked the play for the same reasons and it has a lot of substance. The actors really dug into this play and had a lot of questions in regards to character choices. I told the audience a little about your one act play "Here Am I, Send me" and they cant wait to see it!

For "You're Gettin' Me Hot"/ Fernandon Manon, the audience response was that it was fun, enjoyable, and funny, the sarcasm had a few questioning (probably themselves). The male actor had a lot of questions about Ray but he was able to dig into the kind of person Ray is and sort of relate it to some people of today. Please send me more plays to read if you have any to share.

Lastly, for "A Wrong Funeral" /Ben Marshall, all I can say is the audience cried! It actually was a few people that could literally relate, they said it felt real to them. I asked them the one question in which you brought to my attention, which was who did they think was the victim, which you said actors can be confused between Janice and the Mother. The audience response was they felt both were but Janice was one at one time but not now, she was able to overcome her struggles in which mother was still in denial or still blaming Janice for her bad choices. This one play Sheryland and I when first sitting down to read the plays caught our eye first. And it proved its self to the stage. We did a reading of a play from one of the actors which was an excerpt from a full length play she is in the middle of writing, the audience loved that one too.

I greatly appreciate your submissions and support, please dont hesitate to send other plays. We are looking forward to moving forward in our adventure as director/stage manager (Sheryland and I) so we will need all of the plays we can get. Thanks again, Jaz for the support, and network of playwrights, and AAPEX. If you all have any questions dont hesitate to ask. If you would like a copy of the program please send me an address or I can email it to you (send me what what your choice is).

Tangela Harris
tangibleacts@yahoo.com

Friday, January 18, 2008

NBC looking for "Ethnically Diverse Writers"

NBC is accepting writing submissions from ethnically diverse writers for all scripted NBC primetime series. The company provides funding for minority staff writer positions which are selected and hired by the showrunner/producers of each show, with the guidance of the network and studio(s).

Seeking—Ethnically Diverse Writers For Primetime Programming: male and female, any ethnicity except Caucasian. To receive a copy of NBC's Diversity Initiative submission release form, email your name and address to diversityinitiative@nbcuni.com. Complete, sign, and return the submission release form to the NBC law department at the address provided to you. Once the release has been approved by the NBC law department, you will be contacted and informed of the proper procedure for submitting your material. If you have an agent and/or manager, your material must be submitted through them. Your submission will be kept on file for up to six months. For more info on this and other opportunities, visit NBC Career Opportunities. Professional pay provided.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

hotINK 2008 An International Festival of FREE Play Readings starts 1/26 (NYC)

NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Mary Schmidt Cambell, Dean
Department of Drama
Kevin Kuhlke, Chair
PRESENTS
hotINK 2008
An International Festival of FREE Play Readings
Catherine Coray, NYU Head Curator
Lorca Peress, NYU-Strasberg Curator

The NYU-Strasberg Studio Presents
Four Powerful Plays

Saturday, January 26th 4:00pm - NYU Loewe Theater
WomanBomb/Sade
Written by Allan Graubard/Caroline McGee ( USA )
Directed by Naum Panovsky
NYU Assistant: Erin McGuff

Guest Artists: Jelena Stupljanin, Tony Naumovsky
Guest Audio Artist - Will Swofford
Guest Video Artist - Sam Bassett

NYU Students: Lillian Solange Beaudoin, Amelia Brain, Rosalie Burke, Kelsey Danielson, Meredith Doyle, Laura Dulic, Karen Eilbacher, Nina Hausner, Mallory Jenkins, Rebecca Lesser, Erin McGuff, Rachel McKeon, Allie Nelson, Julia Peterson, Mayra Reyes, Kris Roberts, Amanda Sterling
A woman walks into a public place and detonates a bomb. But what of words, the words we use to describe the act for those who weren't there, including the writer? The bombing falls to the background, the description to the foreground - and the act becomes a shadow stalking the words that describe it. It is this shadow, this stalking, that we offer you here in the rise of murderous suicide as a political weapon.
Please join us for a post-reading Conversation with the Playwrights and Director, moderated by Lorca Peress.

Sunday, January 27th 4:00pm - NYU Loewe Theater
We Were Sitting On The Shores Of The World
Written by José Pliya (Guadaloupe)
Translated by Philippa Wehle
Directed by Robert Lyons
NYU Assistant: Lindsey Ferrentino

Guest Artists: TBA
NYU Student: Stephanie LaVardera
A chance meeting on an island beach leads to devastating circumstances. Who "owns" the beach, the man who currently lives there, or the woman who has returned to her native land for a visit? The man insists she leave because she is a stranger who has forfeited her right to stay. Her protests do nothing but elevate the conflict on the shores of the world.
Please join us for a post-reading Conversation with the Playwright and Translator, moderated by Judith Miller

Saturday, February 2nd 7:30pm - NYU Loewe Theater
Boomerang
Written by Bernard Da Costa ( France )
Translated by Kathleen Huber
Directed by Michael SextonNYU Assistant: Julian Giat

Guest Artists: Kathleen Chalfant and NYU Alum Brendan Bradley
NYU Student: Devon Talbot
A second-rate actress who teaches to make ends meet, reveals to one of her prize students that he lacks ability, charisma, and everything else he needs to “make it.” The tables turn, when the student launches his own shocking and venomous attack. Find out what happens when unleashed forces set off a Boomerang!

Please join us for a post-reading Conversation with the Playwright and Translator, moderated by Judith Miller.

Sunday, Febuary 3rd 7:30pm - NYU Burrows Theater
Scorched
Written by Wajdi Mauawad (Lebanon/Quebec)
Translated by Linda Gaboriau
Directed by Isis Saratial Misdary
NYU Assistant: Theresa Burns

Guest Artists: Piter Marek, Lena Rizkallah, Jeanine Serralles, Others TBA
NYU Students: Norberto Briceño, Terence Cesarine, Erin McGuff, Steven Northrup, Melissa Veronica (Ruiz), Joyceisa Zagarra
Scorched is the story of Janine and her twin brother Simon, and their arduous journey into the mystery of their mother Nawal’s life. Like most children, they want to understand their origins. Witnesses of their bitter story assist in the investigation, and the discovery of the truth forces them to reconsider who and what they are.


TICKETS FREE - RESERVATIONS 212.998.1860
http://hotink.org/
All Readings At:
NYU Tisch School of the Arts
721 Broadway
NY, NY

Lorca Peress, NYU-Strasberg Curator
Brian Miskell, Curator's Assistant

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

HARLEM ARTS ALLIANCE needs your support TOMMORROW, Wednesday, JAN 9th (NYC)

Dear Members,

As announced at today’s Harlem Arts Alliance monthly meeting and as part of its ongoing advocacy efforts, The Cultural Equity Group (CEG) is a coalition of cultural arts organizations and artists working for the equitable distribution of funds and resources to assure that under resourced and underserved emerging and mid-sized organizations grounded in the culture and arts of their communities are fairly funded.

On Wednesday, January 9 at 3pm, the CEG will make a presentation before the Black, Latino, Asian Caucus at City Hall. It is important that we have a strong showing and ask that you join us. As our time before the caucus is limited, members of the CEG will make the formal presentation. Please be prepared to arrive at 2:00 pm and bring photo identification.

Please call 212-410-0030 xt 212 to confirm your attendance.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Ten-Year-Old Playwright needs your help

I just want to share with y'all an email from the newest writer to link in to the AAPEX network, Mary-Pat Hector-Nesbit of Atlanta, Georgia, is just 10-years-old but her 90 minute play EASY STREET AIN'T SO EASY will be produced in Atlanta on January 12.

The back story to this play is really kind of profound: some time ago, Mary-Pat went to her mother and asked what she should do if she knew that one of her friends was in trouble. She would not reveal what the problem was, but her mom told her to go on the Internet and see what she could learn about the issue. As a result of her action, one of her peers who was being molested was removed to a safe house and then Mary-Pat sat down and wrote this play about a variety of serious issues affecting her peers.

Somehow the script came to the attention of an Atlanta film maker, Bobby Peoples, whose production company has supported this young author in bringing her work to the stage. You can watch the trailer here:



This is Mary-Pat's email to me after my conversation with her mother:

Hi ,

My name is Mary-Pat and I was so happy when my mommy asked me to read her email . I would be so happy to be apart of your group. It has been so hard for me, being ten and trying to do something for my community and to not have so many adults not listen to me. My mommy taught me to never give up and that is why my play is so important because it teaches kids you do not have to wait to be great. The reason I wrote my play was my best friend was cutting herself because she could not trust anyone to listen to her-- if only you could have seen her arm and legs. If you could help me spread the word about my play then maybe I could do this project in other towns. I know kids will listen to other kids .Well it is well past my bed time but my mommy said I could email you before I went to sleep. She said she was calling you tomorrow.
Bye. Keep reaching for the stars as I am.

MP

Welcome to AAPEX, Mary-Pat. I hope those reading this post will want to get involved in one way or another by bringing your important work to their communities. If you would like to be a part of this wonderful project in any way please call 678-508-7163.
Jaz Dorsey

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Happy New Year!

It was a year ago yesterday that I sat down and sent out the initial email establishing the African American Playwrights Exchange. They say that what you do on New Year's Day you will do for the rest of the year, and in this case that has certainly been true. By January 7, 2007 I had already been contacted by 30 writers, By the end of February that number was up to 70 and today it is over 150, including not only playwrights but also producers, directors, actors,dramaturgs and film makers.

AAPEX has presented readings of 11 scripts in 5 cities (Cincinnati, Atlanta, Nashville, Washington DC and New York City) since June 23, 2007 and generated over $3,000.00 in donations and sales through program ads. Special thanks to all of the amazing directors and actors who have been there for us for these projects.

We have a brilliant web presence in the AAPEX blog, which was designed and is administered by D.C. Copeland in Miami.

We have non-profit status in New York thanks to Bob Ost and his incredible organization, Theater Resources Unlimited.

There is an archive for AAPEX writers at Ohio State University thanks to Alan Woods, which so far only a handful of writers have taken advantage of, but which I hope all will keep in mind as we move into the new year. (Note - when archiving your scripts you might also consider including your copyright information. That way, should you ever loose track of those pesky little documents, they will be on file - something which could prove invaluable not only to you but to the heirs of your literary estate).

Thanks to the suggestion of NYC playwright/producer Yvette Heyliger, we are becoming a member organization of The Harlem Arts Alliance (http://www.harlemaa.org/)

Two young ladies in Atlanta - Tangela Harris and Sherryland Neal - will present an evening of 5 10 minute plays on January 18th, including pieces by three AAPEX writers - Ben Marshall, Fernando Manon and Benard Cummings.

I can't even begin to list the individuals to whom special gratitude is due for fear of leaving someone out, but the degree to which folks have stepped forward to contribute to the growth and energy of this network is truly astounding and indicative of the need for an organization dedicated to the work of African American playwrights and plays about the African American experience at this moment in history, one from which I hope all will prosper and benefit in 2008.

So Happy New Year to everyone.

Onward and upward in 2008.

Jaz