The Harlem Dramaturgy Project

We are approaching the 100th anniversary of The Harlem Renaissance and AAPEX is going to celebrate by starting

The Harlem Dramaturgy Project.

The Harlem Dramaturgy Project owes it's inspiration to our man in Miami, Mr. Dave Copeland, whom many of you know as the creator and editor of the AAPEX blog. Dave's award winning play ONCE UPON A TIME IN HARLEM:A JITTERBUG ROMANCE received a reading recently at The National Black Theatre in Harlem, thanks to the blessed hand of Petronia Paley and her colleagues.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HARLEM: A Jitterbug Romance is a play about people and music as seen through the dances of the era - an era where music became a driving force in the shaping of American society - and Harlem was where you went to hear that music.

In researching his play, Dave has discovered many fascinating tales and folks whose stories are still waiting to be told. In other words, he has done his dramaturgy. Now he has his own personal "Playwrights Guide to Harlem."

And following his dramaturgical instincts, he has now created an educational version ONCE UPON A TIME IN HARLEM: A Jitterbug Romance - with annotations! - and we are getting ready to make a big deal about it on June 17th.

After Dave has his say, I'm inviting the rest of you to jump in to the fray and give us your take on Harlem and it's importance and impact on our history and culture - as you see it.

Those of you who follow the blog will appreciate Dave's astounding contribution and the assets he has brought (voluntarily) to the AAPEX cause over the past 6 years - including 18 years as Director of Marketing, Publicity and Promotions for Warner Brothers Studios in Florida. He has developed an e-cyclopedia of over 250 African American Playwrights and a directory of African American Theatres on this blog. There is no more comprehensive resource on the subject in cyberspace.

Every dramaturgical adventure begins with sharing research, so while we are sitting around waiting for our plays to be produced, let's enjoy sharing what we have learned from our research over the years via this mind blowing forum we call cyberspace.

Also on the agenda for The Harlem Dramaturgy Project is the October reading of the Nathan Ross Freeman/ Johnnie Blue Gardner collaboration HANNAH ELIAS, starring Helen "Olaketi" Shute-Pettaway in the title role. Here's a tale from the Upper West Side that is going to rock history.

The reading of HANNAH ELIAS will also celebrate the one year anniversary of the Metro Nashville Parks Theatre Department's New Play Reading Series, started in September, 2011 by Artistic Director Carolyn German.

Jaz Dorsey

Dramaturgy at Work!

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