Exciting New Play Opportunity
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Posted By: Carey Williams on January 29, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2014 Contact: Carey Williams Office: 502.883.0848 Cell: 502.548.3877 Email: careywilliamspublicrelations@gmail.com Web: http://careywilliamspublicr.wix.com/cwpr ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE AND ACCLAIMED PLAYWRIGHT OFFER A UNIQUE AND HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO COLLEGE THEATRES ACROSS AMERICA NATIONWIDE – It was on May 31st, 1921 when the Tulsa, Oklahoma “Race Riot” began, and for some 16 hours whites motivated by racial hatred, attacked and assaulted residents of the black community of Greenwood. The Oklahoma Department of Vital Statistics reported 36 official deaths during the violence (10 whites and 26 blacks), but the number of unofficial deaths reported by a Red Cross social worker gave estimates of nearly 300 deaths. Property and personal losses were estimated to have been in excess of $1.5 million. Overall the ensuing carnage continued through June 1st, and left in its wake a path of destruction that included 10, 000 homeless blacks, 6, 000 black residents whom were locked up supposedly for their own safety, over 1, 200 residences covering some 35 City blocks destroyed by fire, as well as the burning down of two black hospitals. When it was all over, roughly 800 people, the majority of whom were white, had incurred a number of injuries. The historic destruction of “The Greenwood District” known as America’s “Negro Wall Street” or “Black Wall Street,” has left a stain on American history. The late writer and activist James Baldwin perhaps summed it up best with this quote “I want American history taught. Unless I’m in the book, you’re not in it either. History is not a procession of illustrious people. It’s about what happens to a people. Millions of anonymous people is what history is about.” Academy Award nominated songwriter (“Raise it Up”) Tevin Thomas, while growing up in Tulsa, had heard of the story. He along with his friend, Award-winning playwright John Lisbon Wood believed the story and history of the 1921 Tulsa riot had to be told. "We are currently reviewing and looking for collaborative partners and financial opportunities to take the production to mainstream universities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s), this is a really well done artistic endeavor that will truly enlighten the audience,” said Thomas. About The Play Creators: Tevin Thomas, over the course of his career, has acted in theatre and worked with or performed with entertainment greats like Jay-Z, Babyface, Roberta Flack, Nile Rodgers, Ashford and Simpson, Mary J. Blidge and others. John Lisbon Wood,started out as an actor, and appeared in dozens of TV and movie roles including “Magnum P.I., Darkman, Beverly Hills Cop II, Hawaii 5-0, to name a few. As a playwright, Wood wrote the one-man Off Broadway show, “The Rarest Bird,” which was based on the life of Actor Montgomery Clift. In addition, Wood and has been associated with numerous productions, which have received various awards and recognition by film festivals and critics. The Production Dreamland Burning: Thomas and Woods earlier debut of “Dreamland Burning” with the help of Corya Kennedy Channing, Continuing Lecturer and Director, Purdue Theatre Company (Calumet Branch) Indiana, Dreamland Burning made a successful 2011 debut to a cheering audience. Since then their efforts have resulted in a number of ongoing discussions with theatre departments at other major universities. Both men see the production as a unique opportunity for students and campuses to participate and be a part of history in the making. News Article Links: o http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1057219 http://beenetworknews.com/2013/11/06/dream... http://www.examiner.com/article/dreamland-... http://beenetwork.wix.com/beenetworknews#!... http://www.pucchronicle.com/web-stories/fl... FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON BOOKING THIS PRODUCTION OR SCHEDULING INTERVIEWS: Contact: Carey Williams - Office: 502.883.0848 - Cell: 502.548.3877. Email: careywilliamspublicrelations@gmail.com If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Carey Williams
Owner, Carey Williams Public Relations Agency Member Since January 2014 |
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