Staged Reading Of A New Script in Chicago

Steven Long wrote a script called GANGSTAS, which is about a corporate street gang in Chicago and the importance of youth making right choices in bad neighborhoods. Part of his outreach has been with staffs of youth social service agencies, two of which are solidly behind supporting the script. One is GRIP Outreach for Youth and the other, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. It is important to note that both organizations said they see the benefits of the script to help at-risk youth. Mercy Home for Boys and Girls has agreed to host the reading in as the Gangstas script has been read and affirmed by key staff members who see it's accuracy and relevancy. Mentors from GRIP will be reading characters in the script such as Dr. Ulysses Burley who travels the world with the Lutheran Church on HIV/Social Justice issues, and Babatunde Oshinowo, a former Chicago Bear who is an active mentor at GRIP Youth Services. Alongside a host of young talented artists including Booker Vance, Kenwood Academy Senior and National Finalist in the August Wilson Monologue Competition. The reading will be at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, 1140 W Jackson, on the evening of Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 7pm. For more information regarding the script, please contact Steven Long at gangstas2010@gmail.com

Watch Nathan James as Brutus TONIGHT in Shakespeare's JULIUS CAESAR (Online live broadcast)

Marcus Brutus, played by Nathan James, argues with Cassius,
played by Vaughn Davis, in Penn State School of Theatre’s
outdoor production of William Shakespeare’s 'Julius Caesar.'
Please click image to enlarge.

Hello friend and supporter, 

Tonight, I will portray Brutus in Julius Caesar at Penn State University. Can't make it? No problem!!! It will be broadcasting live online at 7:30 from the link below.  

Thank you so much in advance for your support, and ENJOY THE SHOW! 

Sincerely, 

Nathan James

Exploring the cause... the words of Pinero

Mwalim DaPhunkeeProfessor includes the issues of today in his spoken word course, WORD! at UMass Dartmouth.

Flash Mob celebrates Gil Scott-Heron for Poetry Month

My WORD! Class Did a Flash Mob reading of three works by Gil Scott-Heron in honor of Poetry Month and the late bard's birthday (April 1).

Mwalim DaPhunkeeProfessor

 

Shaun Neblett's "Homage5: Life After Death" reading April 13th (NYC)

ABOUT THE PLAY

"Homage 5: Life After Death" is the latest play that writer Shaun Neblett is finishing in his "7 Homages for 7 MCs" play cycle. The play pays homage to the second and final studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G. Shaun is very excited to return to The Blackboard Reading Series for the debut reading of this play.

Please click here to buy tickets.

New art for D.C. Copeland's JITTERBUG!

New art for D.C. Copeland's Jitterbug! puts the "emphasis on the positive:" use of music in the dancical from the Great American Songbook by songwriters like Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, Sammy Cahn, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, George & Ira Gershwin, and Chick Webb. Besides drawing attention to the music, it touches on the uniquely American collaboration of black and white creatives. To learn more, please visit the website. This is only a test.

Please click image to enlarge.

TodayTix: App for buying last minute Broadway theatre tickets at the best prices

Direct from Broadway.

Created by Broadway producers, TodayTix is an app for buying last-minute theater tickets at the best prices. Get tickets to any show in two taps, and we'll deliver them personally.

One stop shop.

Browse trailers and photos for the hottest Broadway and Off-Broadway shows this season. Take a peek at what's playing by clicking the text link above.

Clare Coss Book Signing Tuesday, March 31st (NYC)

In honor of the publication of the Clare Coss play 

DR. DUBOIS AND MISS OVINGTON 

Clare Coss and Woodie King Jr.

Please click to enlarge.
Kathleen Chalfant and Peter Jay Fernandez
in a 2013 staged reading presented by
Woodie King Jr.’s National Black Touring Circuit
at Castillo Theatre, NYC.

What time? 5:00 – 7:00 PM 

Where? The Drama Book Shop, Inc. 

250 West 40th Street 

(btw 7th & 8th Avenues) 

New York, NY 10018 

212-944-0595 

RSVP by calling or emailing New Federal Theatre! 

Newfederal@aol.com 

(212) 353-1176 

Visit our Facebook page for more information!

Call for Plays by playwrights of color (March 31st deadline)

Theatre Nova deadline: March 31st 

Website: http://www.theatrenova.org/ 

Theatre Nova in Ann Arbor, Michigan is a brand new, 501C3 nonprofit theatre launching its first season this year. We focus on new works and most of our season is filled, but another part of our mission is to produce playwrights of color that write stories for actors of color in non-stereotypical roles. This means we do not want to read another play about segregation in the 1960's or another play about Cesar Chavez or another play about 911. We do NOT want actors of color playing drug dealers, criminals, terrorists or slaves. Consider ways in which we can present the experiences of people of color in a way that is universal and speaks about the human condition more than stereotypes or historical conflicts. LGBT characters are greatly appreciated as well.

For this particular submission, we are accepting full-length plays from writers of color (male or female) with strong, three dimensional roles for actors of color (though there can be white characters in the play as well). Think of Gina Rodriguez's golden globe speech "This award represents a culture that wants to see themselves as heroes." Because we are a new theatre, we can have no more than 5 characters in the cast. 

Please include in the body of the email: 

 -A Synopsis 

 -A Character Breakdown (include races and ages of characters) 

 -Set Requirements 

 -Brief Description of how this play promotes actors of color in a non-stereotypical manner. As an attachment 

 -20 page sample of script (any section that shows the best work) 

 -Full Script (both as separate attachments. 

Any submissions that do not follow the requirements above will be discarded. We will only respond if we are interested in pursuing your script. Please do not ask if we received your submission or send any other unsolicited follow through. Email all requirements to RomanTeachesDrama@gmail.com

Thanks to Aurin Squire for this info.

Call for plays from African American playwrights (April 1st deadline)

FADE TO BLACK Festival

Deadline: April 1st 

Website: www.FadeToBlackFest.com

The theme and subject matters of the work is open to the playwright's imagination. Scripts are open to African American playwrights across the U.S. Selected playwright finalists will be contacted no later than Friday, May 1, 2015. There is no fee to submit. 

Grand prize winner is chosen by audience vote and will be awarded a cash prize of $100.00. All selected plays will be performed in front of a live theater audience. 

To qualify for consideration, the scripts must conform to the following guidelines: Must be an original, unproduced, unpublished work written by an African American playwright. Must be at least 10 minutes long, but no longer than 10 minutes. (Generally 9-11 pages. | Industry standard - 1 page = 1 minute) Should accommodate a “bare-stage” set requiring only a minimum of removable stage props and require basic lighting and sound cues. 

To submit: Complete the script submissions form on website Email pdf of original work to: submissions@wmgellc.com. Email header should read: Submission: Fade to Black. Include your name and the name of the play. 

On the front page of your script include your name, contact information, title of the play as well as any character descriptions. Only three (3) scripts are allowed per playwright. 

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age.

Thanks to Aurin Squirer for this info.