BIOGRAPHY: (a little unconventional, I know… but roll with me…) My biography? Huh. Where to start? A quote: “A battle lost or won is easily described, understood and appreciated, but the moral growth of a great nation requires reflection, as well as observation…” – Frederick Douglass I could start by telling you why …
I love Community Nights! I get butterflies in my stomach, wondering who might walk through the door and what work might be shown. Monday, March 14th was no different! 3 New playwrights! New Actors and 1hour and a half of reading and discussing new work! If that’s not successful, I don’t know what is! …
Book, Concept, Lyrics by Ano Okera Music by Billy White Billy White is a composer, pianist, educator, producer and Ethnomusicologist. Born in San Francisco, he concentrated in jazz studies as UCLA with Kenny Burrell. While winning several awards and scholarships, such as the David A. Abell Piano Award and the Duke Ellington Award, he took advantage …
Name, Theatre Background… My name is Ano Okera. I am a Playwright and Performance Artist who grew up as child performer in Jamaica recording music, acting, dancing and doing theater since I was 8 years old. After moving to New York I landed the role of ‘Angel’ in the hit Broadway Show RENT, as well as roles in Dreamgirls, …
Jill Knox loves claiming that she was born in New York City because growing up in the suburbs of Connecticut wasn’t very exciting. Luckily for her, being exposed to the arts was not a choice but a requirement in the house she grew up in. Having a mother who sits on the board of the …
Finding Harlem Dawn: With Harlem as its core, Finding Harlem Dawn is an exploration of intrigue, misfortune and love in a night’s journey. Textured in lyrical poetry, this modern day Shakespearean type story explores parallels from the past and present through dance and experimental jazz music. Finding Harlem Dawn centers on four artists struggling to …
This is Garlia This is Almeria We curate Blackboard We are both Black Females We do not agree about discussions on Black Theatre. But we respect where each other is coming from.
January always seems to be an inspiring month! Last year, there was the community discussion about the state of Black Theatre – completely impromptu and this year – another discussion about MOVING FORWARD! This from Blackboard attendee, Owa and another Black Playwright we have featured, Aurin Squire. I offered January’s Community Night as a way …
…sometimes what one says things they do not think and they hope that people are not offended but then sometimes one has to say that they are just saying what is brought up … for instance with Amina’s play… watching these rehearsals, I think about how awkward it would feel – or be watching Obama …
I am really looking forward to Monday’s Blackboard… I’ve been around for the rehearsals of this fully staged reading and I feel as if Monday’s audience is definitely in for a wonderful presentation! A white family has a black slave. Not during the civil war… Now… and we have a black president… should that …