Featuring: Kellie Dantzler, George W. Corbin, Paula Neiman, and Nui Brown.

The fearless social consciousness and command Paul Robeson had is what inspired the Robey Theatre Company to launch its first Paul Robeson Theatre Festival, to be held at the Los Angeles Theatre Center July 18-19, 2014. 

Paul Robeson

On Saturday, July 19th, 15 short one-act plays written by both emerging and established playwrights will be performed.

This blog is written to celebrate these writers.  

All of the plays accepted were inspired by Robeson’s principles, his dignity and intelligence.  Each play reminds us of the extraordinary scholarship, talents, suffering, and the triumphs in one man’s lifetime which forged the legacy we know as Paul Robeson.  His fight for social justice and human rights is the making of dramatic tension, joy, and celebration. The festival serves not just as a homage to Robeson, but also provides a space for artists at various skill levels an opportunity to display and cultivate their craft.  

Attendees will leave inspired by Paul Robeson's legacy.

The playwrights were asked to submit their original play or a scene from a body of work (no more than 20 pages long), that addressed and/or reflected Paul Robeson’s principles concerning social consciousness.  The plays submitted did not have to be about Mr. Robeson per se, only to have been inspired by his values.

This week we are featuring the following writers:

• Kellie Dantzler
• George W. Corbin
• Paula Neiman
• Nui Brown

Kellie Dantzler

Title of Play - The Rhythm Keepers

Directed by Adleane Hunter

This work is a scene from a full length play called The Rhythm Keepers.

I submitted a scene from my new play, The Rhythm Keepers, developed through the Robey Theatre Company's Playwrights' Lab.  It addresses Paul Robeson’s charge that the white patriarchal society in which we live has designed a system which fails the majority of its citizens.  
The scene explores the complexities of this “game” and its psychological “super trick” designed for people to fail; people of color in particular.  The scene touches on the topic of healing, community, and suggests using the

Kellie Dantzler

rhythmic healing-medicine, under the custodianship of Black women, to heal ourselves and our communities for a healthier us.  And, until we, all people, do the healing work within our own personal framework and families, can any of our communities ever really be free?  What is the cost when we refuse to confront and embrace the "darker" aspects of our lives.

Kellie Dantzler's skills as a writer comes from her bones, from a grandfather she never knew.  Her grandfather was George Wylie Henderson, a little known Harlem Renaissance writer who wrote two novels, Ollie Miss, and Jule; and several short stories.  Although Kellie minored in Journalism at Eastern Michigan University, it was her work as a teaching artist for Hospital Audiences Inc. (HAI) in New York City where her work as a writer began.  While working for HAI, she teamed up with other teaching artists and created Shelter: Refugees of the American Dream, which debuted at New Perspectives Theatre in NYC. 
In the summer of 2010, the Robey Theatre Company in conjunction with The Los Angeles Theatre Center, produced Kellie Dantzler’s play, Transitions: A Trilogy of One-Act Plays.  Since then Transitions has been remounted at two very prestigious theatre festivals: The 2010 NAACP Theatre Festival, and the 2011 National Black Theatre Festival.  Transitions also received five NAACP Theatre nominations, winning the 2011 NAACP Theatre Award for Best Playwright Local and the 2011 NAACP Theatre Award for Best Ensemble.  Her short play Evolutionary was featured in the 2011 SCV Space Theatre Festival in Santa Clarita, California; more recently featured in a Black Women State of the Union (BWSOTU) production in Los Angeles.  
Kellie rejoices in having a place like the Robey Theatre Company to give her voice, helping her to develop the talent given by God.  She wants to give a special thanks to Samuel Davis III for all his love, encouragement, and support.

George W. Corbin

Title of Play - Plantin

Directed by Robert Clements

This play is a short one-act play.

George W. Corbin

Paul Robeson rejected any slight to his dignity, was attuned to the suffering of others and exhibited compassion for all of his "brothers".  He was especially supportive of those of those of a low station in life.

"...and my ancestors in the time of George Washington baked bread for his troops when they crossed the Delaware, and my father was born a slave."

Paul Robeson's  father escaped from his plantation as a teenager and later in life, as an educated Black man he lost his job as a preacher and as a result had to take a menial job.  I have attempted to weave together all of the above mentioned elements in my play Plantin and have them inform the story of three Black men, who two years after the end of the Civil War, confront a unique legacy of slavery.

George is a member of the Robey Theatre Company’s Playwrights’ Lab and had three plays performed in the NAACP’S Ten Minute Play Festivals – Hi Lo LA, Phone Booth, and The Robe.  This past year his play, Galveston, was performed in the Towne Street Theatre’s Ten Minute Play Festival.  The Towne Street Theatre also had a public reading last November of George’s The Daughters of the Kush, developed at the Robey.


Paula Neiman

Title of Play - We Wear The Mask

Directed by Ben Guillory

This work is a short based off her full length play, Grande Central.

Paula Neiman

“Shuffle, hump, strut, play, step, bump...Central Avenue, it swangs like none other!”  It’s 1929 and caught up in the excitement of the times, Lauren finds herself in the epicenter of the Los Angeles’ Harlem Renaissance.  Here she meets Russell, the publisher of the underground advocacy newsletter, Two Strikes.  We Wear The Mask unfolds the story of love, passion, and pain between a young dancer racially passing, and a brilliant political activist/poet unaware of her secret.

Paula has served in various aspects of entertainment, primarily as a writer.  She's written and/or created over two dozen screenplay/TV projects, music videos, along with an AUDIES award winning audio book.  Some of her other distributed works include the feature STRAIGHT OUT, and her directorial debut, the multiple award-winning short film Within The Wall (both of which she wrote/produced).  Writing for the stage commenced with GRANDE CENTRAL, followed by NAT TURNER: FOLLOWING FAITH, and the musical THE RIDE (co-written with Frank Underwood).  This lead to producing two one-person shows, both directed by Michael P. Edwards: BURN starring Ingez Rameau,and I AM NOT SAM starring Tony Award winning actor Tom Sizemore.


Nui Brown

Title of Play - Eslanda Unplugged

Directed by Robert Clements

This work is a one-act play.

Behind every great man, there is truly an amazing woman.  There can only be one Paul Robeson. But in the making of the man, there is an even more fabulous piece to Paul’s intricate and amazing life…his wife Eslanda Cardozo Goode Robeson.
Eslanda Unplugged is the story of a marriage and partnership that had its complications with Paul’s infidelity but ultimately endured. The marriage between Paul and Essie survived because there were ties between them more enduring than sexual attraction.  It is the story of two people who could not live with each other but could not survive without one another.  I wanted to write this play to bring to the forefront this Unsung hero in Paul’s life.  Many people know about the great Paul Robeson, but his wife affectionately known as “Essie” was more than just a wife. She was more than just Paul’s manager and acting coach.  Eslanda was an independent and accomplished trailblazer in her own right.  She was an anthropologist and the first Black woman chemist to work in pathology at Colombian Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, and the first Black female to lead such a unit.  Eslanda traveled all over the globe with and without her husband, journeying several times to Africa.  She wrote and published several books and was present at the founding meeting of the United Nations.  She was a journalist, advocate for women’s rights, ally for the oppressed and disenfranchised, fought against racism and was a sought after speaker.  While Essie led such an amazing life, being Mrs. Paul Robeson was very important to her.  She loved her husband very much as he was her first love, but she was a wife and mother hidden in the shadow of her famous husband. And in the shadows, Essie had to deal with the infidelity of her husband all while standing her ground as being the fierce and strong woman, the driving force behind such a great man.

Nui Brown was born in Cleveland, OH and raised in Southern California.  She is the youngest of

Nui Brown

four with two oldest sisters and an older brother.  Nui has two degrees in Health and has earned a Certificate in Feature Film Writing at UCLA Writers Program.  For the last few year's, Nui has been a participant in the Robey Theatre Playwright’s Lab.  She also writes poetry and has formerly worked in television production at Viacom Productions.

Please join us for the inaugural opening event for the Paul Robeson Theatre Festival, a reading of Paul Robeson in Berlin by Robert Coles and Bartley McSwine, on Friday, July 18th.  Reception to follow the reading.

The Paul Robeson Theatre Festival will be performed July 18th - July 19th 

At:

The Los Angeles Theatre Center

514 South Spring Street

Los Angeles, CA 90013

Schedule of events

• Friday, July 18, 2014 at 6pm – Reception and reading for Paul Robeson in Berlin, by Robert Coles and Bartley McSwine.
• Saturday, July 19, 2014 1pm – 6pm – One Act Plays.  (Details of the order of plays TBA).

For tickets and pricing information:
Friday, July 18 – $25
Saturday, July 19 – $35
Festival Pass (Friday and Saturday) – $50
Online at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/936974
Or, call (866) 811-4111

A little Introduction to Paul Robeson

During the McCarthy era, a selected group of people were called before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), where they were asked to answer whether they were a communist or not, and if so, to give the names of other communists.  Paul Robeson was one of these persons called and he refused to answer, stating as an American it was within his right not to answer such a question.  He was then asked about a recent trip he took to the Soviet Union.  He replied:

"In Russia, I felt for the first time like a full human being…no color prejudice like in Mississippi, no color prejudice like in Washington.''

1956 Paul Robeson before the HUAC

When the committee asked if he liked Russia so much, why didn’t he stay there, he answered:

"Because my father was a slave and my people died to build this country and I am going to stay here and have a part in it just like you.  And no fascist-minded people will drive me from it. Is that clear?''

For further information about the festival contact The Robey Theatre Company:
Office: 213-489-7402
Website: http://www.robeytheatrecompany.org/
Email: info@robeytheatrecompany.org



Writing content contributor: Kellie Dantzler

Featuring: La'Chris Jordan, Mohammed Ali Ojarigi, Dominique Miller, and Kurt Maxey.

The fearless social consciousness and command Paul Robeson had is what inspired the Robey Theatre Company to launch its first Paul Robeson Theatre Festival, to be held at the Los Angeles Theatre Center July 18-19, 2014. 

Paul Robeson

On Saturday, July 19th, 15 short one-act plays written by both emerging and established playwrights will be performed, this blog is written to celebrate these writers by featuring a few writers each week until the festival begins.  All of the plays accepted were inspired by Robeson’s principles, his dignity and intelligence.  Each play reminds us of the extraordinary scholarship, talents, suffering, and the triumphs in one man’s lifetime which forged the legacy we know as Paul Robeson.  His fight for social justice and human rights is the making of dramatic tension, joy, and celebration. The festival serves not just as homage to Robeson, but also provides a space for artists at various skill levels an opportunity to display and cultivate their craft.  Attendees will leave inspired by Paul Robeson's legacy.

The playwrights were asked to submit their original play or a scene from a body of work (no more than 20 pages long), that addressed and/or reflected Paul Robeson’s principles concerning social consciousness.  The plays submitted did not have to be about Mr. Robeson per se, only to have been inspired by his values.

This week we are featuring the following writers:

• La'Chris Jordan
• Mohammed Ali Ojarigi
• Dominique Miller
• Kurt Maxey

La’Chris Jordan

Title of Play – Deep Rivers 

Directed by Dwain A. Perry

The work is a short one-act play.

La'Chris Jordan

Deep Rivers is a short play I wrote specifically for the Festival.  I love history, so I went back in time and explored the various milestones of Robeson’s life, particularly the role he played during the civil rights movement.  In reading Paul Robeson Jr.’s The Undiscovered Paul Robeson: Quest for Freedom and James Farmer’s Lay Bare the Heart, I noticed some glaring contradictions in the recounting of a key conversation the civil rights leader had with Robeson. This intrigued me and so I began exploring the dynamics of who these men were at the time and why their accounts of that moment were so different. What was being left out and why?  Had their memories of that meeting truly failed them or were they simply controlling their own narratives? And what were the external and internal forces pulling them apart? 

I wanted Robeson’s voice to come alive in this piece, and to show how his lifelong struggle and fight for social justice came at a great cost. Yet, I also wanted Farmer (who was depicted in the film The Great Debaters by Denzel Whitaker) to have his say as he was probably one of the few who could truly hold his own with Robeson.  Essentially, this play explores what happens when two men with great minds challenge each other’s political ideologies, even when those ideologies, at the core, have striking similarities.

La’Chris is an actress, novelist and award-winning playwright who was named one of the “50 to Watch” by the Dramatists Guild of America. Her plays have been produced and developed in theatres across the country including Urban Stages, ACT Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Ashland New Play Festival, and the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.  La’Chris’ debut historical fiction novel The Memories of Bellevue was recently released on Amazon.com.

La'Chris Jordan. Named one of the '50 to Watch' by the Dramatists Guild of America.

Links for La'Chris: http://www.lachrisjordan.com

Mohammed Ali Ojarigi

Mohammed Ali Ojarigi

Title of the play - GREENWOOD 1964

Directed by Mohammed Ali Ojarigi

This is a full one-act play.

GREENWOOD 1964 made its official debut run April 12th 2014 to rave reviews.  When asked to participate in the Paul Robeson Theatre Festival it was not only an honor but also fitting. The giant Paul Robeson served as a mentor and moral compass to many people; his most recognizable mentees are none other than Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier. The play Greenwood 1964 takes us into an actual trip made by Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte.  Two very great friends and once industry's most successful sought after duo. Sidney Poitier the first Black to win an Academy Award for best actor and Harry Belafonte, activist and first music artist ever to sell a million copies in the US & England. The show takes place in Greenwood Mississippi 1964, a time in which Dr. King called it "The year of promise" due to the rise of racial tension versus the quest for social equality. This brilliantly crafted fictional debate between Mr. Poitier and Mr. Belfafonte eloquently explores the individual approaches on how to achieve liberation for people of color; as well as illuminating some of the core systematic struggles which still exist today even with more Black Star Power than ever before.  The action takes place inside of an attic "safe-house" in the racially charged segregated deep south of Mississippi.  Both men have traveled down to drop a bundle of cash for relief funds and show moral support for the civil rights workers who have been killed trying to register black voters.

Mohammed Ali Ojarigi is a Nigerian American Actor / Writer / Director / Producer born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Theater Performing Arts at UNLV.  Has landed work in several National Commercial ads & currently has a reoccurring role on General Hospital as Officer Fleet Adams.  Displeased with the level of opportunity and depth in roles for people of color in Film and Television.  He started his own production company Inner Child Artistry Productions that also provides private coaching sessions for key acting and writing techniques.  Mohammed’s current passion project is adapting his very first stage play; the highly acclaimed Guardin’ Roots into a film. This robust story follows the life cycle of a recently released ex-con who attempts to re-enter his community. Struggling with surviving in a society as a convicted felon, he finds understanding through the power of Urban Gardening.  Please visit the site below to view the promo video and much more.

Link for Mohammed Ali Ojarigi: www.innerchildartistry.com

Dominique Miller

Dominique Miller

Title of the play - Say Something

Directed by Tommy Hicks

The work submitted is part two of a trilogy of one-act plays.

Say Something is about the balance between moral obligation and mainstream success. This piece follows a successful writer and former activist who lost his faith in humanity and change.  He is torn between following a path similar to Paul Robeson’s or a commercially successful life.  Paul Robeson was a world renowned performance artist demeaned, ostracized, and black listed by his country and fellow African Americans because of his outspoken commitment to global equality.  He chose to use his status and talent to support the notion of true freedom instead of solely to become wealthy.  I was inspired by Paul’s relentless pursuit of equality during a time period where consequences could be financial ruin or even death. 

Dominique is an emerging playwright whose interests in social justice and underrepresented perspectives come through in her work.  Her first play, Say Something, has the privilege of being part of The Robey Theatre Company’s 1st Annual Paul Robeson Theatre Festival.  After years of academic writing and completing her Master’s degree in Arts Management, she looks forward to participating in the Playwright’s lab at The Robey to further develop her skills as a writer and explore her creative side.


Kurt Maxey

Title of the play - The Agreement

Directed by Dylan Southard

This work is a short play.

Kurt Maxey

In 1946 Paul Robeson initiated the American Crusade Against Lynching, which was officially launched September 23 in Washington D.C.  The Agreement depicts a secret meeting between Paul Robeson and Harry S. Truman, underneath the West Wing of the White House.

Kurt Maxey received his BA in History from USC, and Master’s Degree in Communication Arts from Loyola University.  2011 brought the world premiere of his play Pity The Proud Ones; produced by the  Robey Theater Company; winner of two NAACP Theater Awards.  He has been associated with the Mark Taper  Forum (Blacksmyths), East-West Players, LATC , and South Coast Repertory.  Kurt extends his  appreciation to Mr. Ben Guillory and the Robey family. 

Please join us for the inaugural opening event for the Paul Robeson Theatre Festival, a reading of Paul Robeson in Berlin by Robert Coles and Bartley McSwine, on Friday, July 18th.  Reception to follow the reading.

The Paul Robeson Theatre Festival will be performed July 18th - July 19th 

At:

The Los Angeles Theatre Center

514 South Spring Street

Los Angeles, CA 90013

Schedule of events

• Friday, July 18, 2014 at 7pm – Reception and reading for Paul Robeson in Berlin, by Robert Coles and Bartley McSwine.
• Saturday, July 19, 2014 1pm – 6pm – One Act Plays.  (Details of the order of plays TBA).

For tickets and pricing information:
Friday, July 18 – $25
Saturday, July 19 – $35
Festival Pass (Friday and Saturday) – $50
Online at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/936974
Or, call (866) 811-4111

A little Introduction into Paul Robeson

During the McCarthy era, a selected group of people were called before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), where they were asked to answer whether they were a communist or not, and if so, to give the names of other communists.  Paul Robeson was one of these persons called and he refused to answer, stating as an American it was within his right not to answer such a question.  He was then asked about a recent trip he took to the Soviet Union.  He replied:

"In Russia, I felt for the first time like a full human being…no color prejudice like in Mississippi, no color prejudice like in Washington.''

1956 Paul Robeson before the HUAC

When the committee asked if he liked Russia so much, why didn’t he stay there, he answered:

"Because my father was a slave and my people died to build this country and I am going to stay here and have a part in it just like you.  And no fascist-minded people will drive me from it. Is that clear?''

For further information about the festival contact The Robey Theatre Company:
Office: 213-489-7402
Website: http://www.robeytheatrecompany.org/
Email: info@robeytheatrecompany.org



Writing content contributor: Kellie Dantzler

Featuring: Levy Lee, Sophia Washam, Ryan Anderson, and Dr. Alicia Tycer.

The Robey Theatre Company proudly presents its inaugural Paul Robeson Theatre Festival

During the McCarthy era, a selected group of people were called before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), where they were asked to answer whether they were a communist or not, and if so, to give the names of other communists.  Paul Robeson was one of these persons called and he refused to answer, stating as an American it was within his right not to answer such a question.  He was then asked about a recent trip he took to the Soviet Union.  He replied:

"In Russia, I felt for the first time like a full human being…no color prejudice like in Mississippi, no color prejudice like in Washington.''

1956 Paul Robeson before the HUAC

When the committee asked if he liked Russia so much, why didn’t he stay there, he answered:

"Because my father was a slave and my people died to build this country and I am going to stay here and have a part in it just like you.  And no fascist-minded people will drive me from it. Is that clear?''

This fearless social consciousness and command Paul Robeson had is what inspired the Robey Theatre Company to launch its first Paul Robeson Theatre Festival, to be held at the Los Angeles Theatre Center July 18-19, 2014. 
This blog will serve as an outlet to feature the 15 playwrights of this year’s festival, featuring a few writers each week until the festival begins.

The playwrights were asked to submit their original play or a scene from a body of work (no more than 20 pages long), that addressed and/or reflected Paul Robeson’s principles concerning social consciousness.  The plays submitted did not have to be about Mr. Robeson per se, only to have been inspired by his values.

This week we are featuring the following writers:

• Levy Lee
• Sophia Washam
• Ryan Anderson
• Dr. Alicia Tycer

Levy Lee

Title of the play - I SHOT the Sheriff

Directed by Ben Guillory

This work is a short play from a collection of short plays written by Levy Lee, based on popular songs.

Levy Lee

Synopsis –“ Sheriff John Brown always hated me, for what, I don't know; Every time I plant a seed, he said kill it before it grow.”  --- Bob Marley --In this two-character play, a father confronts Sheriff John Brown about Brown’s attempt to arrest his only surviving son, knowing that his other sons were killed by Sheriff John Brown.

Multiple award winning playwright, actor and director, Levy Lee Simon is originally from Harlem USA, and a graduate of the prestigious University of Iowa Playwright’s Workshop. He is the author of twenty plus plays which have received productions and readings in the US and Caribbean.  He is best known for his, For the Love of Freedom trilogy, produced by the Robey Theatre Company, collective of several awards, including  three best playwright nominations, The Bow Wow Club, winner of the Kennedy Center, “Lorraine Hansberry Award,”  the cult hits, Same Train, and God the Crackhouse and the Devil, plus The Guest at Central Park West , winner of NYC’s, “Audelco Theatre Award,” for “Best Dramatic Production” and “Best Playwright.”   His latest plays include; Pitbulls and Daffodills, Smell the Power, and The Last Revolutionary. An actor too, Levy Lee has performed On Broadway, Off Broadway, in Regional Theatres, England, and the Caribbean.  Levy Lee is also a teacher of acting, screenwriting and playwriting, with his Lion’s Den Workshop, in LA and NYC. He was a recent “Guest Artist” at the 2014 Great Plains Theatre Conference in Omaha, Nebraska.

Sophia Washam

Title of play - La Loteria

Directed by Josiah Davis

This work is part of a full length play in development entitled La Loteria.

Sophia Washam

Paul Robeson took his stand for justice not just in word but in deed.  His exceptional willingness to sacrifice financial gain and self-interest for the sake of moral principles renders him a courageous example of someone who was willing to do the right thing, regardless of the cost.  La Loteria is a dramatic exploration of the economic decisions and rationalizations we make when our principles and our checkbooks square off.

Sophia Washam received her BA in philosophy from Columbia University in New York. After a stint at Columbia Law School, she decided to move to Paris and become a writer, following in the footsteps of James Baldwin. She has lived in Los Angeles and worked in the entertainment business for nearly 20 years and has written several screenplays and a novel in her spare time. La Loteria is her first foray into playwriting.


Ryan Vincent Anderson

The Title of the play - out:side 

Directed by Ryan Anderson

This work is a short play.

I chose to write a piece specifically for this festival. After learning about Paul Robeson's life as both an artist and activist, I decided to write a piece that explored the struggle of standing your ground based on your identity and uniqueness, through the eyes of a teenager.  I was mostly inspired by a famous picture of Paul Robeson as Othello, and by a story he told first hand of how he was discriminated against at Rutgers University by his football teammates.  Although Paul Robeson was a grand man with grand influence, his struggles were universal, and can be related to even in the smallest of scales.

Ryan Anderson

A native New Yorker residing in LA, Ryan received his MFA from Calarts. Regional theater acting credits: Much Ado About Nothing (African-American Shakespeare Company), In The Red And Brown Water (Marin Theater Company), Queenie Pie (Long Beach Opera), Clybourne Park (PCPA), Eurydice (A Noise Within), You Can't Take It With You (Antaeus), Hamlet (Independent Shakespeare Company), The Old Settler (International City Theater), Death and the King's Horseman (Oregon Shakespeare Festival). 

Link to Ryan Anderson: http://www.ryanvanderson.com/

Alicia Tycer

Dr. Alicia Tycer

Title of play - H.U.A.C

Directed by Dylan Southard

This work is a short play.

My play, H.U.A.C focuses on the House of Un-American Activities committee and the ethical questions that the “Red Scare” raised regarding free speech and civil liberties in America.  I have often wondered what I would do if I was called before such a committee and how far I would be willing to go to stand up for my principles. Paul Robeson sacrificed his career and popularity for his political beliefs, but he remained true to his own conscience.  My character the Accused echoes Robeson, referring to his life story and quoting from his brave response to the committee.  Robeson called out the kangaroo court, inspiring me to re-imagine the committee as an absurdist courtroom.  I chose to make the Accused an every man character to emphasize that the struggle for political, economic, and racial justice remains ongoing. Although McCarthyism can be seen as a thing of the past, Robeson’s story reminds us to remain vigilant. As Gregory Peck warned in 1947, “There is more than one way to lose your liberty. It can be torn out of your hands by a tyrant- but it can also slip away, day by day, while you’re too busy to notice, or too confused, or too scared.” 

Alicia Tycer received her PH.D in Drama and Theatre from U.C. Irvine and M.F.A from Cal State L.A. in Television, Film, and Theatre.  Her works include: The Wall: A Musical Misdeed (CSULA); The Civil War: A Tragi-Comedy (John Lion New Plays Festival); Lysistrata: A Re-Imagining (Unknown Artists, Grove Theatre Center); Dreaming of Women (Moving Arts); and Space: The Final Frontier (with Opera Del Espacio at Son of Semele, South Coast Repertory).  Dr. Tycer teaches at CSULA.

The Paul Robeson Theatre Festival will be performed July 18th - July 19th 

At:

The Los Angeles Theatre Center

514 South Spring Street

Los Angeles, CA 90013

Schedule of events

• Friday, July 18, 2014 at 7pm – Reception and reading for Paul Robeson in Berlin, by Robert Coles and Bartley McSwine.
• Saturday, July 19, 2014 1pm – 6pm – One Act Plays.

For tickets and pricing information:
Friday, July 18 – $25
Saturday, July 19 – $35
Festival Pass (Friday and Saturday) – $50
Online at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/936974
Or, call (866) 811-4111

For further information about the festival contact The Robey Theatre Company:
Office: 213-489-7402
Website: http://www.robeytheatrecompany.org/
Email: info@robeytheatrecompany.org



Writing content contributor: Kellie Dantzler

Featuring , Julie Taiwo Oni, Cornell Hubert Calhoun III, and Inda Craig-Galván.

The Robey Theatre Company proudly presents its inaugural Paul Robeson Theatre Festival

During the McCarthy era, a selected group of people were called before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), where they were asked to answer whether they were a communist or not, and if so, to give the names of other communists.  Paul Robeson was one of these persons called and he refused to answer, stating as an American it was within his right not to answer such a question.  He was then asked about a recent trip he took to the Soviet Union.  He replied:

"In Russia, I felt for the first time like a full human being…no color prejudice like in Mississippi, no color prejudice like in Washington.''

1956 Paul Robeson before the HUAC

When the committee asked if he liked Russia so much, why didn’t he stay there, he answered:

"Because my father was a slave and my people died to build this country and I am going to stay here and have a part in it just like you.  And no fascist-minded people will drive me from it. Is that clear?''

This fearless social consciousness and command Paul Robeson had is what inspired the Robey Theatre Company to launch its first Paul Robeson Theatre Festival, to be held at the Los Angeles Theatre Center July 18-19, 2014. 
This blog will serve as an outlet to feature the 15 playwrights of this year’s festival, featuring a few writers each week for the next three weeks until the festival begins.

The playwrights were asked to submit their original play or a scene from a body of work (no more than 20 pages long), that addressed and/or reflected Paul Robeson’s principles concerning social consciousness.  The plays submitted did not have to be about Mr. Robeson per se, only to have been inspired by his values.

This week we are featuring the following writers:

• Julie Taiwo Oni
• Cornell Hubert Calhoun, III
• Inda Craig-Galván

Julie Taiwo Oni

Title of Play - ETHIOP-ICA 

Directed by Adleane Hunter

The work is a short one-act play.

ETHIOP-ICA is a short play that I have devised specifically for the Paul Robeson Festival, inspired by a ten-minute piece I created a few years back with some developments.  It is the story of a couple-LILY, an African American, and NOÉ, a black South American-and their conflict with cultural acceptance while on a date at an Ethiopian restaurant in L.A.  As a Nigerian-American, I am fascinated by the intersection of cultures and the language and stereotyping that go along with it.  My research on Paul Robeson in preparation for the festival led me to background about his passion for his African roots.  I think that the conflict of having a desire to connect with Africa yet simultaneously feeling no connection to the cultures from which slaves were imported so long ago is an ongoing struggle for Black culture.  I feel a similar tension myself, even as somebody who knows my African ancestry but is entirely American-

Julie Taiwo Oni

raised. I also wanted to play with the idea of the U.S. as a culture of immigrants.  I have traveled to South America and have a lot of friends and students from there, and I am often envious of the patriotism from all members of society-no matter their social status or the current struggles that may exist.  That is something you don’t find a lot of here.  I wish residency were enough to join us, but it actually seems to segregate: we are inhabitants of our own social/cultural groups, but we separate/name/critique/fear/misunderstand each other, and even sometimes ourselves.  For how long?

Julie Taiwo Oni is a Nigerian-American playwright and teacher. Her research and writing focuses on inter/intra-cultural intersections and their surrounding language and relationships, particularly within the context of colonial, African-American and mixed-race cultures. She has an MFA in Dramatic Writing from USC and teaches English, Literature and Culture at the New York Film Academy. Recent productions include BUNK for Son of Semele Ensemble’s Company Creation Festival and nat&EM for Company of Angels.

Link for Julie Taiwo Oni: http://julieoni.wix.com/julietaiwooni

Cornell Hubert Calhoun III

Cornell Hubert Calhoun III

Title of the play - Miss Pauline

Directed by Dwain A. Perry

The work is a One Act Play.

In my short play, Miss Pauline is a relative of Paul Robeson. She is a colored girl selected to integrate all-White Talladega High School.  Miss Pauline is an intelligent, resilient young sixteen year old growing up in the racist small town of Talladega, Alabama. Talladega, Alabama is a well-known hot bed Klu Klux Klan activity.  Miss Pauline is also an aspiring actress.  The play takes place on the day of the historic March on Washington on August 28, 1963.  Like Mr. Robeson, Miss Pauline illuminates the stage with strength and determination.   Miss Pauline embodies Mr. Robeson’s principles of striving for excellence, leading by example, and visioning a world of justice and peace. 

Cornell Calhoun III, is a three-time semi-finalist (2006, 2007 and 2013) at the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrighting Conference.  His plays Bloooz, and Any Man & Five Cents were selected at the National Black Theater Festival in Winston-Salem, NC.  He is a three time nominee (2010, 2013, 2014) for the Cleveland Art Prize for Literature.  He credits much of his success to Cleveland, Ohio theatre legends, Reuben Silver PhD, and Dorothy Silver, his long-time mentors. 

Inda Craig-Galván

Title of the play - Rules of the Debate

Directed by Adleane Hunter

Inda Craig-Galván

The work is a short one-act play.

The work submitted is written specifically for the call of this festival. This is a modern-day story inspired by Paul Robeson’s brilliant academics and his often-tested courageous acts of social consciousness. I wanted to echo Robeson’s triumphs in scholastic excellence, and placed my characters, Paul and Lance, in a powder-keg situation within their high school debate team. What happens when school violence is met head-on with courage, conviction and compassion?
The play explores the themes of brotherhood and what it means to stand with someone you consider a brother throughout the good times as well as during the dark and trying times.

A Chicago native, Inda is an artistic associate of MPAACT Theatre Company where she co-wrote Blaxploitation: The Remix, and Blaxploitation 2: You Know How We Deux (Black Theater Alliance Nominations – Best Playwriting). She’s half of the sketch writing/performing duo kevINda (HBO US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, NBC Sketch Showcase in Los Angeles, Steppenwolf Theatre Traffic series in Chicago). Inda begins the MFA program in Dramatic Writing at USC’s School of Dramatic Arts this Fall.

Link for Inda Craig-Galván: www.indacraig-galvan.com

The Paul Robeson Theatre Festival will be performed July 18th - July 19th 

At:

The Los Angeles Theatre Center

514 South Spring Street

Los Angeles, CA 90013

For tickets and pricing information:
Email: info@robeytheatrecompany.org

Or, call: 213-489-7402

Writing content contributor: Kellie Dantzler