The 10th Annual Juneteenth Jamboree of New Plays

Jamboree Wrap-up (images below)

Congratulations to the Jamboree Marathon Award Winners!

BRYAN GUESS: Bang! Bang! Bang! Again and Again, Me Who Could Be, The Kings

MARY AUDREY HOLT: Ethel Waters: His Eye Is on the Sparrow, Liar! Liar!: A Moral Musical for Children, In My Mother’s House

GREG KING: Bang! Bang! Bang! Again and Again, Me Who Could Be, The Kings

SUE LAWLESS: Bang! Bang! Bang! Again and Again, Diana Sands, Black Musicals on Broadway

GORDON THOMAS: Ethel Waters: His Eye Is on the Sparrow, Me Who Could Be, Black Musicals on Broadway, Liar! Liar!: A Moral Musical for Children, Habeus Corpus

And the Jamboree Company of Artists!

Playwrights: James V. Hatch, Samuel L. Kelley, Lorna Littleway, Elizabeth Orndorff, Larry Parr, Charlene Spalding, Brian Walker, Steve Willis, Muriel Wharton, Gertrude Eena Woods

Actors: Maya Berkley Jeffery T. Birt, Jackie Booker, Jacqueline Breckinridge, Jahne Kobi Brown, Mike Burmester, Brad Castleberry, Olga-Maria Cruz, Cameron Curry, Lamont Curry, Ian Ellis, Cook Farmer, Tierra Faulkner, Aletha Fields Latossha  Ford, Grenoldo Frazier, Bryan Guess, Briana  Harlan, DuAnne Cooper-Hawkins, Mary Audrey Holt, Alfred D. Jones Jr., Kat D. Joyner, Douglas Kelly Jr., Darlene King, Greg King, Corey Macon Long, Carolyn Lowery, Lisette Markham, O. Hunter Mayfield, Dontay Miller, Chloe Motley, Keith McGill, Jeffrey Orr, Rosella Pearl Kristi Papailler, Mackenzie Pendleton, Kimberly Taylor-Peterson, Graham Pilotte, Sam J. Pilotte, Becky Poschinger, Pierre Priest Jr., Victoria Priest, Helen Starr, Gordon Thomas, Briana Wade, Elessa  Walker, Kieran Walker, DeAldon Watson, Mariam Williams

Directors: Megan Burnett Kathi E. B. Ellis, Bert Harris, Karen Edwards-Hunter, Sue Lawless, Jeff Rodgers, Bill Walsh

Musicians: Austin J. Clark, Phillip Morgan, Sam Raphling

Jamboree Testimonials From the Artists

• “Hey Kristi,
  
  I just wanted to send a note to say that it was such a joy and honor to be a part of Juneteenth today and last Friday.  Thanks for all you do to keep Juneteenth alive and well.  It's so important to have this voice in our community.  Anyway, thanks again and I really hope to be able to work with you again in the future!” Kat

• “JLT's Jamboree has been such an important experience for myself as a playwright and for my new script.  The cast & director's input was invaluable in transforming the script into a better play.  Juneteenth has offered me a unique opportunity to see my work produced in front of an audience who later offered critique of what worked and what did not.  I've been able to take what I've learned about my play and make it stronger and in doing so increasing it's chances of being performed on other stages in cities around the country (or heck...even the world!).  My discipline is blessed to have an organization like Juneteenth Legacy Theatre to give my voice and message a platform from which to be heard and for that I am eternally grateful.” Brian Walker

• “(The Jamboree) Provided an excellent forum to reach a variety of people (age, gender, race, etc) and share invaluable/educational information about the disease that no one is comfortable talking about.  (Me, Who Could Be) Staged and read in a play format, while entertaining and somewhat lightened, still accomplished my mission of getting the word out about the impact of HIV/AIDS on women of color.    
  
  (The Jamboree) Encourages new playwrights to showcase their work, recognize needed changes/alterations or additions, which will enhance future efforts.  Hearing my play read and participating in the after-(performance) discussion, increased my insight and extended my thought process for editing and enhancing my work.
  
  (The Jamboree) Fosters and strengthens the arts community and people who are devoted to cultural and artistic expression.  Creates that proverbial "bridge" among playwrights, directors, actors, tech staff, etc.
  
  (The Jamboree) Offers afternoons and evenings of family entertainment, which is so extremely needed in our community.  At the same time, it exposes our youth to this unique cultural side of our city's offerings and many of the plays are centered around topics which are "real" and relevant to our ethnicity and time.” Muriel Wharton

• “This is the second time I have participated in the Juneteeth Legacy Theatre’s  . . . festival. The staged readings have given me a chance to look at my plays in a theater space and see their possibilities.   This last time has meant a lot to me. It is the first scene of an entire play dedicated to my mother. As she is very ill it means a lot that she is coming and going to see the first scene of this piece. I strongly believe Juneteeth Legacy Theatre provides a forum to explore and nurture artistic talent.” Gertrude Eena Woods

• “I think JLT encourages playwrights and actors who might not otherwise have an opportunity to use their talents.  JLT provides an opportunity to see your work, refine it and enhance future productions.  It is beneficial to have a professional, diverse theatre group like JLT in our community.”  Charlene Spalding

• “My children's musical, LIAR LIAR (now renamed RED BEARD THE PREVARICATOR) had received several productions by adults for children. The Juneteenth Legacy production that used elementary school actors, was a delight!  When I first learned that the actors would all be youngsters, I had some doubts, but after the performance, I had none whatsoever. As a playwright for children, I came away with a new awareness and respect for acting and performance of young children in the role of adults.” James V. Hatch, Theatre Professor Emeritus, City Unversity of New York.

• “The reading at the 10th Annual Jamboree of my new play, DIANA SANDS, gave me many new insights into my script. The director, Sue Lawless, was extremely supportive of my writing, and at the same time candid and willing to dialogue openly with me about what she felt was working or not working within my play. Sue's depth of knowledge and experience made her an excellent resource. Also, the actress who played "Diana" gave me many valuable thoughts about the play and gave a fully-nuanced performance. 
  
  The reading itself gave me a chance to see the play with an audience, observe their reactions, and talk with them after the performance ended. Although I had attended a public reading of this play a year ago, the performance at Juneteenth was much more of a true staged reading. There were set pieces, etc., which truly gave the feel of an actual performance. This helped me understand my play more deeply.
  
  Since returning from the Jamboree I have already made several revisions to portions of the play and I expect to make several more. The Jamboree is an extraordinary benefit to playwrights, especially those who are seeking to write about African-American culture and share historical information that is both relevant and vital to our continuing development as a strong, diverse nation.” Steve Willis

• “I'm so grateful to the Juneteenth Jamboree and Lorna Littleway for including my play, ETHEL WATERS:  HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW, in this year's Jamboree.  Most writers write to be read.  Playwrights write to be seen and heard.  Consequently, it's very difficult for a playwright to know what she or he has on the printed page without actually seeing and hearing the material "on its feet."
  
  Juneteenth Jamboree is invaluable in presenting playwrights the opportunity to see and hear their works, as part of the developmental phase.  It's the only way we can know what we have, to find out what needs work, to see and feel audience reaction to the work, so we can hone our plays to go on to full productions across the country. 
  
  Many thanks to the Juneteenth Jamboree for including me in this invaluable experience.” Larry Parr 

Jamboree Testimonials From the Audiences

• “Dance group (Grace Divine Liturgical Dancer) superb!  Standing Ovation!! Habeus Corpus superb!”

• “Superb Liar Liar!  Standing Ovation!!”

• “The performances today for both Lifted and In My Mother’s House were both enjoyable and inspirational.  The woman who was the daughter/main character (Mary Audrey Holt) in In My Mother’s House gave us a spectacular performance.”

• “Great shows!  Writing and acting were super.”

• “Take it on the road!”

• “Fantastic and important play (Diana Sands).  Beautiful acting (Kristi Papailler) and directing (Sue Lawless). Joan of Arc wonderful connection.”

Click on the festival photos and relive the fun!