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Black Ensemble Theater Founder and Executive Director Jackie Taylor announced the Third Annual Black Playwrights Festival, presented by the Black Ensemble Theater of Chicago, November 15-18, 2007. The Black Playwrights Festival, produced by Ms. Taylor and award-winning actor and writer David Barr III, presents a weekend of new works by both up-and-coming as well as established African American writers. The Black Playwrights Festival opens with a reception and presentation honoring the work of Gloria Bond Clunie. The Festival continues with the presentation of one work commissioned as part of the Black Ensemble Theater’s Black Playwright’s Initiative (BPI), as well as new offerings from established artists in the city. Each staged reading of a play-in-progress will be followed by a moderated audience discussion.
The 2007 Black Playwrights Festival is as follows:
Thursday, November 15, 2007; 7:00pm
Opening reception honoring the work of Gloria Bond Clunie
The Playwright
Gloria Bond Clunie is a playwright, director and creative drama specialist. Her play North Star won the 1995 Joseph Jefferson Chicago Theatre Award for Best New Work/Adaptation and the 1994 Theodore Ward African-American Playwriting Award.
Friday, November 16, 2007; 8:30pm
A reading of Wendell Etherly’s play, Mr. Welfare
The Playwright
Wendell Etherly, born in Chicago in 1979, started writing at the age of twelve and attended Columbia College in the Fall of 1999. Prior works include Let No Man Put Asunder, Grace’s New Year’s Resolution, and The Inheritance; the latter was produced as a playhouse production at the Nathan Manilow Theater in Park Forest earlier this year.
The Play
Mr. Welfare is a story about a tavern owner who agrees to help the alderman by providing shelter for a group of homeless citizens in the community.
Saturday, November 17, 2007; 3:00pm
A reading of Magellan Watts play, Make A Move
The Playwright
Magellan Watts is an accomplished actor having performed in over two dozen plays in Michigan, Los Angeles, Chicago and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. He was a part of the BTAA award winning musical, Memphis Soul. He is also in the current production, Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holla, at the Black Ensemble Theater.
The Play
Make A Move revolves around Tre Wilson who is a poet and doesn’t know it, searching to find love, happiness, a career and passion. He is hampered in his endeavors by two and a half unwanted house guests who happen to be his brother’s best friend Freddie and his brother’s cousin Benji who always has a different girl over to the house. Their temporary living arrangements have gone on much too long. With his work life crumbling, the love of his life dating someone else, and his home life in shambles, only a gun could make things worse.
Saturday, November 17, 2007; 11:00pm
Writers are invited to bring a 2-3 minute scene and actors are invited to read from the scenes
Sunday, November 18, 2007; 7:00pm
Closing night reception with Joe Plummer’s I Gotcha: The Joe Tex Story
The Playwright
Joe Plummer is a multi-talented actor, writer, songwriter, and sound technician. Joe has been seen in a myriad of stage productions across the country during his lengthy career. He has received numerous awards and accolades including two prestigious Joseph Jefferson nominations.
The Play
I Gotcha: The Joe Tex Story centers around popular soul singer Joe Tex. Joe enjoys his premature retirement from show business as he quietly celebrates a birthday. But it is a bittersweet celebration. He is still mourning the death of his religious mentor and spiritual advisor when several of Joe’s musical ‘friends’ join the party for the sole purpose of trying to coax Joe out of retirement for a reunion concert of their old group…the legendary ‘Soul Clan’.
All Black Playwrights Festival events will take place at the Black Ensemble Theater, 4520 N. Beacon, in Chicago. Tickets for all events are $5.00 per event. Tickets are available by calling 773-769-4451 or by visiting the Black Ensemble Box Office at 4520 N. Beacon.