And The Times Have Changed….

If we had to look at the year of 2020 there so many things that we could say happen that are stressful as well as moments of positive reinforcementIf we had to look at the year of 2020 there’s so many things that we could say happen that are stressful as well as moments of positive reinforcement. However as a person of color it’s kind of hard to find the positive when so much negative has been spewed over the past four years.

We can’t say this all started when trump got into office but we can say is it hasn’t stopped from more black males and females being killed by not only police officers but regular people on the streets on a regular and all this by the hands of those they look at us as an inferior yes I’m speaking to you on white privilege and racism. as this all started when trumps got into office but we can say is it hasn’t stopped from more black males and females being killed by not only police officers but regular people on the streets on a regular and all this by the hands of those they look at us as an inferior yes I’m speaking to you on white privilege and racism. It’s amazing how far we have come to still be in a place where we’re speaking on racism and fighting for a right just to be who we are as A race of people. George Floyd Breonna Taylor and countless others that have passed within the past couple of months have been a wake up call that no one ever thought would happen. The the echoes a Black Lives Matter as taking America and the world by storm. Truthfully it was the end of a Band-Aid that had been placed over 400 years and finally had its time of being ripped off and showing the wound for what it is. Racism in America has been and always was a major problem. Truthfully it was the end of a Band-Aid that had been placed over 400 years ago and finally had its time of being ripped off and showing the wound for what it is. Racism in America has been and always was a major problem. But the real issue is how so many people have decided that it should be swept under the rug that it should not be noticed that we as a people should just get over it. Get over it a statement

2nd Phase Done…

Well people we finally finished the second stage of our musical by doing a reading of selected songs from the play. It’s been work and more too come. We have been in the studio working on the music too release some time this year and are not far from finishing that as well. The goal next is for stage 3 and 4 where we do a conversation with individuals that can tell stories of experiences dealing with the criminal justice system and the other present all the songs at the next philly theatre week in

February. Working on a musical has been a journey but we have learned so much and just too think our final stage will be August/September where the full production will be going up. Stay tuned.

Tic Tock

2020 has been a year of change. For many reasons it has been filled with its points that make time worth looking at. At the beginning of the year we were looking forward too a major production then (tictok)COVID19 hit us.. Now I don’t know about you but this was the first major pandemic in my life as I watched new flash of this go from one nation too the next. When it finally hit the states what probably could have been dealt with everyone on quarantine for a few months turned into points of chaos as people couldn’t take the act of just staying home. I can not tell a lie I was hoping to be one of those that could do just that. However I got to be one of the essential and nothing about this has been easy.

I remember when this all came to ahead for me. I was at sams house and we were talking about clients and also how she was feeling about things concerning corona. Some of the conversations was about fear and being around people not knowing who has what and who may or may not have the virus. It was then that I began realizing my surroundings and the fact that by my travels on bus and trains daily and the countless number of people I was coming into contact with that I too could be with corona.

Pulling off the Punchline…

“If you get a chance to act in a room that somebody else has paid rent for, then you’re given a free chance to practice your craft.”

#phillipseymourhoffman

I have the privilege of watching some of Philadelphia and it’s surrounding areas talents and for me it’s always a treat.
Watching someone work to become a character is an amazing thing. No matter how small or large the part in the end it’s about putting in the work and showing the audience you are that character.

Just imagine if we never got the chance to see #chadwickboseman pull off one of his most iconic rolls as #blackpanther would we had felt the joy that the billions felt around the world or experience his acting accomplishment and be able to say when we all walked out the thwarted “can’t wait for the next one.” The believe ability like in this scene here with @quinteromoore and @pap.l1 it takes a lot to be a psychopath and a criminal. Watching them was a treat as Luis was there from the beginning working on his part and in the last two weeks of rehearsal Terry came onboard and they had too not only create a circumstance of believability but build chemistry and trust that would make a scene not just believable but memorable for the audience and they did just that 👍🏾
We need to all remember how these moments mean so much for so many reasons and people for writers and directors it’s a treat to see his, her or there work coming to life and for the actor pulling it off is magical in its own right.

So take a bow you pulled off a great feat..

*Let us know what you think.

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AWOKE: The Musical through the stages…

So if you didn’t know we are in the middle of preproduction of Awoke the musical and it’s been a great journey. We have been diligent in creating this too be one that many will enjoy. Over the weekend myself, photographer Lina Baker and makeup artist Melissa Mosqueda along with actor,comedian Jamaal White got together at one of my favorite spots in the city Germantown Espresso Bar for the Awoke: The Musical covet shoot. It was fun just watching the process. Makes it even more curious as to seeing the final look of this when it all said and done.

Check the rest of the story on (Awokethemusical Instagram page)

Our choices of music for the production has been the challenge that I felt would be the thing that would bring the story together. For me that was a no brainer but to bring onboard creatives such as Vince Brown and Rugrat Nam to create the sounds and songs we felt would not only be direct in pulling together the story but holding on to the crowds attention as well.

With music it often becomes the life journey of a play and or film. As Karen’s work we all felt the need to make sure each piece represented not just the characters being portrayed but the ones that most likely would relate to them as well. We only have two more songs to go before we are done with the soundtrack but boy what a collaborative journey this one is for us all. Our casting went well and for the next blog we will talk about the cast.

2018 to Infinity

Happy times are here and yes it’s been a minute but let me catch you up to speed. We got very busy in 2018 and our first goal was to take the show on the road. Unfortunately we got stuck at my place due to a snow storm and instead had a Karaoke party. Yea it’s not what we wanted but as you can see it was enjoyed.

The whole cast was there and there’s nothing like a pizza party with a bunch of lit folks. Need I say more..

Once the storm passes it was time to get ready for the next project and that was Frozen by Isis Productions. For myself and Drew it was truly about putting in the work as we hustle to rehearsal to get the understanding of the script, the lighting and the lighting and the sounds for it.

This was a day in and out process but in the end resulted in a great production and the end to a great 3wk Run.

She’s Thinking of Masterplan

Good morning peeps it’s been a minute since I’ve written anything in the blog but I got some good news for you. We have been busy as one we were in production for some time and things of been changing in that same process. Yesterday I met up with actress, podcast host Dionne McCray at CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia to start working on her next project. Dionne is an actress in the city of Philadelphia and has been making her rounds with companies such as Run Boy Run Productions , Freedom Productions and Collective Mic Productions.

With pen in hand, Dionne knew that she wanted to take on a more personal approach with her next project. Just sitting there we had laughs, talked about moments in our lives, changes in our lives and then she said being over 40 for her has a lot of ups and downs but in the mist of it a lot of it is just funny stuff. For both of us we found being over 40 and dating is a place everyone can relate to nowadays.

The struggle is real, and dating for men and women in our 40’s is a story worth telling. Welcome to the next phase of your career..

October awareness

October was a month to remember as Run Boy Run Productions of CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia had projects running in not one but two parts of Pennsylvania but also how both projects stand tall to be about social issues within communities of today and that is domestic violence and abuse.

Starting off with Boomerang as it previewed works from the performance piece at the Koresh Dance Showcase. With a story that has never been told, Boomerang is one to bring focus to how children are affected by abuse of in a family specifically African American male as it can often be something that molds them in belief that these actions are how you are suppose to be or want to treat someone even into adulthood. Truth is this story is not limiting and is real in many communities and whit every piece as they unfold many will watch and see someone in this maybe even themselves and understand the need of raising a family under a positive roof can be the true focus for a positive youth.

Our other play Mississippi Smiles has been making a move since its birth from paper a year ago. With a focus on domestic violence and abuse as it effects women that transition from heterosexual to the lgbtq community it brings a big focus as to how it’s often about what baggage we choose to keep in our lives then recognizing how to heal first.

With an all star cast and director to match, Mississippi Smiles was a sold out show and had many wanting more. The understanding of domestic violence and abuse awareness is to see that it’s effects can be felt in many ways, shapes and forms and for us we are glad to bring stories to life that generate not just thought but conversation.

It’s okay….

Last week I had a reminder that what I was doing was ok. As I was having a bad day and feeling down about the direction I was taking. I was at a gathering when someone said to me “man you are busy Run Boy Run Productions is everywhere!” I paused Smiled and said thank you. The funny part is that when I walked into the building I had been in my feelings and felt like I was doing things wrong and that looking out for others was setting myself up for failure. It was in that moment when she said those words it helped me to understand what I was doing was ok and looking out for others was ok too. I felt so good about that moment then other things started popping up on my time line that also leaned into helping me to understand what I was doing was ok. After awhile I made sure I got on my messenger and let the UE family know about this as I look at the moments as a reflection of them and what we all have made. In my mind I am no more then a person that allows others to bring strength and life into a creation and when they do it is noticed. With that being said I told them how proud I am of them and all they have done throughout the years. For me so many deserve the praise that comes with this and through the years many and I’m not talking about just the actors but the collaborators, the team members, and the volunteers without any this feeling of strength is because of them. And with that moment I sat down to understand and feel ok.

Underground 2017

Over the weekend we wrapped up underground episode. This was a test on how to run a show for two weeks and I must say there was a lot to be learned but it is definitely worth it. First things first, the cast compose of both veterans and newbies with a short timeframe of two months to learn probably one of the most challenging work that some of them have been a part of. For many including myself it was jumping from one production to another that was a challenge however for others it was just coming in and beginning the task at hand.

This time around we utilized collaborating with makeup artist Andrea Blassingame to create the looks, set up radio time for interviews, bloggers, and paid advertising in the metro Philly to get the word out on the production. We also utilized the site which the facility used instead of going the eventbrite way.

It was scary but I had to see what we could do and the end result turned out to be what we wanted. Now we are gearing up for next year to actually take advantage of all we learned.

The beauty of it all was swing how no matter what RunBoyRunProduction still continues to grow as a family and in the end this makes for good business.