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In his works "Black Man Rising" and
"Our Young Black Men Are Dying And
Nobody Seems To Care," Playwright
James Chapmyn entertains while educating
and enligntening audiences about the
everyday struggles, joys and pains of
African-American males. But the sistas
aren't off-limits for this creative genius.
In "Womyn With Wings," Chapmyn tells
of grief and growth, hurt and healing. Like all
of his work, "Womyn" is a choreopoem - a
work in which music, movement and the
spoken word work in collusion. Ntozake
Snange's "For Colored Girls" is perhaps the
most famous work of this genre.
Chapmyn's works have been staged by
playhouses around the world. The Flow
Theater, a Columbus, Ohio-based based
company with which Chapmyn is affiliated,
will present "Womyn With Wings" at this
year's NBTF.
The show celebrates the power of the
female spirit by telling the stories of women
who have endured the kind of trails and
tribulations that could break people. But
these women have survived, developed
Flow Theater Photo
The Players.
wings and flown on to better days.
Chapmyn makes it a point to stress that nis
play doesn't focus on prominent women,
but everyday ladies who have endured rape,
breast cancer, mutilation and other
unimaginable abuses.
- The Chronicle
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The Players .
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At the 2007 National Black Theatre Festival, "Black Man Rising"
quickly became an audience favorite. The cast of good-looking, well-built
actors undoubtedly drew many to the play, but they left the snow know
ing that these brothers were more than handsome faces.
Chapmyn's acclaimed choreopoem uses poetry, monologues, danc
ing, gospel music and hip hop to show how many black men are rising
above expectations. StaqeFace Productions, in
association with Obsidian Media Group, have ,
rtJLeiveu uriiiLdi dLUdirn lur ineir pruuuciion
of the play. The AUDELCO Awards, which
recognizes the best in black theater, has /
embraced the show, honoring it with four /
awards: Best Director (Patricia R. Floyd),
Outstanding Ensemble Performance, Best
Choreographer (Juson Williams) and \
Dramatic Production of the Year. \
The show has been updated in recent \
months to reflect the changing dynamic in
Aug. 6 at $ p.m. \
Aug. 7 at S p.m.
Aug. Sat 3 S0 p.m.
at the Anderson
Center
Ticket Price: *37
includes both shows
\
oiacK America ana among Diacx men, in panic- N
uiarly, since the election of President Barack
Obama.
I ne cast is neavy on talent. Performers include Neil Dawson, whose
theater credits include "Intimate Apparel" and "The Blacks;"
Playwright/actor Larry Floyd, Lawrence Saint-Victor, who plays Remy
Boudreau on "The Guiding Light;" well-respected stage actor Melvin
Shambry; and actor/dancer/choreographer Juson Williams.
Director Patricia Floyd is also an actress who has had roles on "The
Chris Rock Show," "Rescue Me" and "Reading Rainbow." Playwright
Chapmyn is also a minister, activist, poet and motivational speaker. Vie
has written more than a dozen plays, including "Our Young Black Men Are
Dying and Nobody Seems To Care."
-The Chronicle