"THE HONORABLE HERBERT PEABODY" RECEIVES GRANT

Huge congratulations to Peabody" writer and performer Kirk McGee! The Café Royal Cultural Foundation NYC has awarded Kirk a 2021 Spring Performance Grant for his solo theatrical show “The Honorable Herbert Peabody.”

Kirk and I have been developing this solo show since 2018, and this grant ensures the show will be back on stage in NYC next year!

The play follows Joe, a well-intentioned tour guide on opening day of the Honorable Herbert Peabody Library and Legacy Center. As he launches into his presentation, Joe finds it increasingly difficult to celebrate his personal hero’s historical achievements in light of recent revelations about the Senator’s decades of sexual misconduct. As the tour unravels, Joe is forced to wrestle with the ways in which he has inadvertently enabled a culture of misogyny and abuse, and must decide if he’s going to continue to stand idly by or finally stand on the right side of history.

Visit www.ThePeabodyPlay.com for more information!

The Zoom Room Where it Happened

L to R: John Jiler (playwrigh), Corey Atkins(Director), Gloria Reuben, Nathan Salisbury (Editor), Russell Jordan, Mike Keller, Tim Blake Nelson, Christa Kimliko Jones.

What a pleasure to work with this ridiculously talented group of people to record John Jiler’s UNDER BIG PINEY today. I’m excited to begin editing their zoom box-shattering performances into a final product, and to share it with the world. Presented by Seattle’s Intiman Theatre, proceeds will benefit the Southern Poverty Law Center. Check out the team below, and don’t miss their work streaming online starting June 24th.

TIM BLAKE NELSON - Jacob
GLORIA REUBEN - Deanna
MIKE KELLER - Bobby/Lloyd
RUSSELL JORDAN - Remington/Isaiah
CHRISTA KIMLIKO JONES - Sue Ann/Heather

ABOUT THE PLAY:

Racial and sexual politics collide when an idealistic white man from New York travels to the south to petition for the removal of a Confederate statue. The only problem is, he soon falls in love with the town's conservative Black mayor. The ensuing courtship is chaotic and forces everyone - Black and white - to confront their shared history. Will demolishing the statue heal the town or further divide it?

Directing UNDER BIG PINEY, starring Tim Blake Nelson and Gloria Reuben

It’s always wonderful to work on a new play, but even more so when it’s to raise money for an amazing cause like the Southern Poverty Law Center!

I’ll be directing an online reading of John Jiler’s UNDER BIG PINEY, with a phenomenal cast lead by Tim Blake Nelson (HBO’s WATCHMEN; OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU) and Gloria Reuben (E.R., LINCOLN), presented by Seattle’s Intiman Theatre. Available to stream from June 24th - 27th.

For full details visit the Intiman Theatre website HERE.

About Under Big Piney: When a grieving white activist from New York City arrives in a small town in the mountains of North Carolina, the town’s complex racial history, conservative African American mayor, and its diverse (and divided) residents challenge his assumptions, as they all set out on a journey that will lead them to new parts of the forest.

Accepted to Sundance Co//ab "Crafting Your Pilot" program

I’m really excited to have been accepted to further develop my TV pilot, ZONE OF SILENCE, through Sundance’s on-line learning platform, Co//ab. I’ve been told only about 1/3 of applicants are accepted to each ”Crafting Your Pilot” program session, so I’m really looking forward to working with instructor Alana Sanko and a group of other writers from across the country to strengthen the skills I gained when I was invited to be a part of the “TV Writing: Core Elements” course beta-test group for the last fall!

LOGLINE:

A mysterious vision causes timelines and truths to collide, forcing two branches of one unusual Mormon family--one in 19th century Mexico, the other in modern-day Utah--to reconcile their extraordinary realities with their beliefs. Inspired by historical events, ZONE OF SILENCE is a one-hour ensemble drama, with supernatural and historical elements..

Script Consultant for The Playwrights Realm's newest program

One of my greatest pandemic joys was being able to connect with playwrights as a part of the ‘beta test’ phase of The Playwrights Realm’s newest program, Script Share. The program has now launched officially and is open for submissions, through 3/14!

Script Share is an opportunity for aspiring writers to engage in a one hour discussion with a theatre professional about a particular script. These conversations are driven by what the writer is hoping to explore, and aim to provide an initial response, perspective, guidance around the craft of playwriting, and further questions, rather than critical feedback. Script Share is an opportunity for aspiring writers to engage in a one hour discussion with a theatre professional about a particular script. These conversations are driven by what the writer is hoping to explore, and aim to provide an initial response, perspective, guidance around the craft of playwriting, and further questions, rather than critical feedback.

For more info, and to submit, visit The Realm’s WEBSITE!