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News Item One:
Von's Sabbatical Leave--Right after completing a four state tour of Rosa Parks, Von headed for New York City on sabbatical leave from WMU. While there, he worked closely with Woodie King and the members of the New Federal Theatre. In addition, he worked closely with Garland Thompson and the writers of the Frank Silvera Writers workshop. Von was fortunate to have four of his plays read by professional actors who not only provided their talent to help him shape his creations but in addition provided feed back. Conspracy, at the time entitled Who Taught Socrates, was also read by actors from the Lorraine Hannsberry Theatre, in San Francisco, CA. This was very helpful to Von and upon returning to Kalamazoo, he made adjustments on Conspracy and Remnants from Senegal. He also reworked two of his older plays, The Black American Dream, now Brain Storming, and a new one act play, Fighting Fires. As a result, Conpiracy is currently being read at the Shenandoah International Playwrighting Festival. This reading will be be followed by a workshop production in the spring at the Whole Art Theatre of Kalamazoo. In addition, Fighting Fires was a finalist in the Strawberry Festival at the Riant Theatre in New York City. Fran and Von traveled to New York for the awards ceremony. Remnants from Senegal received it's world premier at WMU in October and then traveled to the 2007 National Black Theatre Festival, in Winston-Salem, NC.
News Item Two:
New Storytheatre creations--In order to give fans an opportunity to sample the action and music of the play Rosa Parks: More Than a bus Story, WPI created a storytheatre version based on the full play. Like the full length play, it chronicles Rosa Parks’ life from childhood to adulthood. Once again, playing the leading role is Fran Washington with Von Washington as narrator. A singer performs vocal selections. Von stated, "Since the show closed we have had many fans ask if we would be doing it again. Well, here it is and it has been a joy putting it together. We are convinced that we have captured the magic, once again." If your organization is interested, contact us at 269-342-7301. We would love to bring this exciting story to your group. And remember, this production is wrapped in music as it tells the story of the Civil Rights Movement in America at it's highest point. In addition, we have been commissioned by the Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Agency to create a new piece based on the life and poetry of Langston Hughes. Intitled, Langston's Dream, this storytheatre piece will premier this season and it will be featured with the Jacob Lawrence exhbit at the Kalamazoo Art Institute and then travel to areas schools. This program is also available to other organizations. WPI now has nine different storytheatre presentations available to your organization.
News Item Three:
Available Scripts--Just a reminder that all of the scripts written by Von and Fran are available for purchase. All storytheatre scripts are written for classroom and home reading and can also be performed for entertainment events. This season, The Path to Everywhere, was done for the all Ears Theatre in Kalamazoo and then for the First Baptist Churck in Three Rivers, MI. In addition, it was produced by the summer learning program in Albion Michigan. Please check our products message to get more information on our storytheatre scripts and our full stage scripts. WPI will offer six different presentations this season: Mystery in the Bottom, African American Folktales I and II, The Long Ride Home, The Path to Everywhere, and Langston's Dream.
News Item Four:
New York and the Strawberry On-Act Festival -- Von entered his one-act play, Fighting Fires into the Riant Theatre's Strawberry One-Act Festival in July and August. This festival is a competition that last for one month and at the end of the competition the finalist are produced at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre at Symphony Space on Broadway and 95th in New York City. Fighting Fires, directed by Kim Weston-Moran, one of New York's most reveared theatre personalities, made the finals of the competition and Von and the WPI family were there for the final awards ceremony. As a play, Fighting Fires, is dear to Von because it deals with the challenges our present-day society faces when dealing with young men who do not stay in place to raise their children.
In addition, Fran and Von were kept busy last year as they performed no less than 46 productions for schools in southwest Michigan. In addition, they performed for 25 more for organizations throughout the state. The shows African American Folk Tales I & II, When Freedom Came, Mystery in the Bottom, Seven Stops to Freedom, and The Dancing Computer were offered form January through March. Plans for this season include Langston's Dream (New this season), Seven Stops to Freedom (performed in South Africa by University of Louisville), The Children of Herero, Mystery in the Bottom, When Freedom Came, The Long Ride Home, and The Path to Everywhere. Seems as if they'll be busy again taking story theatre to students and adults around the state. Hope we get booked by your organization. Remember, these productions are booked by schools, churches, faternal organizations, private companies, and social clubs, among others. Don't miss out.
News Item Five:
Seven Stops to Freedom--is one of Von's most popular shows. It was created by funding from the W.K.Kellogg Foundation. (See touring shows) Just recently, The African American Theatre Program of the University of Louisville’s Theatre Arts Department received an invitation from Xiamen University in the Fuijan Province of the People’s Republic of China to perform on campus and to engage in a series of lectures and workshops in the cities of Beijing and Xiamen at universities, schools, and other community institutions beginning the second week of December. The main purpose of the venture is to foster cultural exchange and understanding among the Chinese and American cultures. Our multi-cultural delegation of twelve students, eight faculty, staff and university administrators, as well as two city and state officials will engage in dialogue on African American history, culture, law and traditions. Lundeana Thomas, head of the program said, "We have selected to perform three pieces covering three periods of African American culture and history to present to the public a face of Americans most of them have not yet seen. "One of those pieces will be Seven Stops to Freedom."