Category: Music

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.

It Begins 

  The cast made it down after a long haul 4hrs drive in a van and Nic in a car but they made it. I really wanted to get them settled in but because of time we had to get ready for the show. Everyone flipped around flopped around but changed into characters as fast as they got here and it was showtime.

  
The crowd was thin but this was with the right people to get more out. With journalist, photographs,vlogers and blogers on hand all this meant was Friday was going to be the turn up show. In the end all that came enjoyed and event shed tears. Last words said I can’t wait to see this again. Let’s get ready people more to come..

  

A Womans Rythm 

In a place that was once the Women’s Kensington Hospital the ancestry of women speak. Drum like a lady Latrice and Jamillah allowed the sounds of the drum to bring in the spirits as the crowd couldn’t help but participate as the heard the drum of the mothers like it was the heart beat of our beginning of rhythm. Showing us rhythm through beat boxing bring the people together through life of rhythm.  

But song can be created through woven rhythm as well as Lynda Grace shows in her she utilizes fiber woven vessels to create a medium ancestry speaking from a past life of mothers wombs to life’s moments of meeting individuals from scrap metal collectors to the black lives matters experience. Beginning from the grandmother showing her and watching her knit, her knitting was a form of community seeing that words can build a shield.
 
Although they have meet in conjunction with this project the art that speaks through Lynda’s has has extended into the photography of Sheenas.

Sheena Garcia speaks through pictures with stories ranging from single mothers protecting their sons and seeing the need to hold on to a sons life with a black and white imagery that leaves you understanding why these lives matter. 
  
The owner of this building Betsey Casanas maybe short in stature but her calling as an artist speaks to a higher level as she opens the doorway into her culture with demential artistry that looks as alive as the the cock story tale that began the piece.  Engulfed in enjoyment roots energy and culture the people came in the building getting a story fluid with diversity but in the end containing a wholeness that only these women could spin.

The Dancer soars 

  In every moment we often have to take steps that speak to us years to the day of actual doing. The stage was set black light no sound no movement but we stood in a booth awaiting words to begin the tunes. Jody and I looked at each other then she said play it. The track came on and a voice spoke. Out from the darkness walked a young lady tall thin but strong in stance. 

 
The story had begun with a journey of engagement streaming between childhood to adulthood. She spoke of her times wanting to be free and in those moments the freedom was noticeable through leaps and bounds of a younger version in a tutu prancing with fun bringing life to the eyes that watched until they found moments within the story to tear. 

  
In the mist of this we began to feel our own spiritual movement understand that this story has more than one meaning. In the end many say this as a gospel of not just a dancers life but all as the music and dim lights came outpouring cheers filled the room and three generations of one took a bow Justine understood that this wasn’t the dancers last dance…

Sisters United

If you didn’t know runboyrunprod is involved in everything. Last night was about the stage play #mysisterskeeper part of the #thinkcreateinspire festival with director writer Jody ‘Tru Story’ Austin assistant directors Tiffani Dean and Antoine K D Stroman. With an all woman cast covering powerful and emotional subjects, these women proved that #poetictheater is here to stay.
  
For Jody this was a dream come true as she took the moments of pain noticed in all women’s lives and made it a journey of sisterhood that could not be denied. 

  
 
Covering matters of mental, physical and emotional abuse, self perseverance, body images, social awareness, equal rights and many more this play has answered the called that women have been waiting for and is the beginning of a journey that will go beyond the stage. 

  
Take a bow ladies for the night is yours and the road has just begun.

Rehearsal in a new year


We start the new year off the right way. Rehearsal is a scorcher and the UE actors showed that they came prepared with words as there weapons each members held their own. We also introduced new members to the core that showed this opportunity was one they could stand.

Actors Grind 

Week two was a good one as the UE cast began exploring the characters a little more. Beginning the session as usual,we had a discussion concerning how each person felt towards the character they would be portraying. For many they already saw the relation of how these characters can be someone in their lives. From utilizing life events many saw themselves as a mother loosing her child or a trash man or teacher talking to kids trying to help them onto a straight path. With the vision of stepping in these shoes life was able to be brought to these characters.

 
For the vets reprising roles was both easy and hard as it becomes a moment of generating that emotional felling back up but first it needed to be summoned through the memory of words to cast life once again.  

In some cases it became more of a call to stepping up that would prove to be the challenge as it would be more so about them being able to lead and getting others to follow. However as the path is laid out seeing the emotion of all will prove to be the tops of the actors grind. 

Love of the Arts

  
Sometimes spending time with my mom is a delight. She raised me to love the arts do it was only right that we go see Complexion together. She watched in awe as the dancers glide across the stage with movement that made her remember when I us to want to dance. She loved the interaction the sequence of movements and she had her eyes open for the entire show. How can I forget where my love for arts come from when she still loves them the same. 

Me and My Momma: Watching “Empire”

  
I am not a fan of Empire so I’m not going to be here taking shots at the show just give an insight to me and my momma Wednesday’s. 

Mom: Allen turn my show is on!
Me: Mom it’s not on yet.
Mom; Yes it is you don’t know. 
Me: what time does it come on? 
Mom: 9.
Me: And what time is it? 
Mom: 8!?
Me: See.

(Hour later)

Me: Mom your show is on.

(Mom rolls into the living room)

Mom: ohhh!! I can’t wait for my Cookie. 

(Show is on mom is glued on show. Cookie makes a comment concerning her being arrested mom begins laughing)

Mom: Ha ha ha!! That girl is a mess!! 

Me: This is stupid writing mom.

Mom: You don’t know what your talking about. Look at this one of the top shows on tv is a black cast show. It’s entertaining and filled with drama be happy for them. 

Me: But the writing sucks mom lame jokes, one line zingers, simple stuff. 

Mom: And its equivalent to Dynasty, a family in chaos among each other. That’s called good tv. So give it props!

Me: Ok mom your right but it still sucks…😜

The Wait 

  
Tick tock 

Tick tock 

Slowly the time paces 

People move 

But motion of slow 

All just looking up 

At a board filled with destinations

Slowly moving up in a shuffle 

Heads and eyed follow 

For some 

these moments are about rest

For the travel holds content 

Books, ink , phones, and thought 

Tick tock 

Tick tock 

We grab our belongings 

Shuffle towards stairs 

Leading down a narrow path

Many push forward to gain a seat 

Close eyes to find more time to 

Tick tock….