About me:
"When you take what the average person does not know about literary heavy James Baldwin and his true friendship with famous photographer Richard Avedon based on their professional work on their high school paper and set that against the beginning of their respective careers via a meeting at an eatery in New York City, you have the dynamic captivating work by playwright Arthur Alleyne. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy."
~Brook Stephenson (literary editor www.natcreole.com)
"Up-and-coming writer-director Arthvr Alleyne's play about the real life friendship between writer James Baldwin and photographer Richard Avedon is a provocative conversation between this odd couple about race, sex and the New York Art scene."
~Tracy E. Hopkins (The Village Voice)
"Thought-provoking & insightful...Scribblin at the Automat confronts timeless issues that are still relevant today."
~Danny Simmons (Co-Founder Rush Philanthropic Arts)
"Scribblin’ at the Automat is a moving and telling portrait of James Baldwin and Richard Avedon at the early stages of their fame and creative geniuses. Though a fictionalized meeting, the play nonetheless captures the arc of their respective lives, right before our nation, and the world, began to implode in the 1960s. So Scribblin' is not merely a depiction of a friendship between two giants, but, just as important, it is a brutally honest tale of the America that was, and still is."
~Kevin Powell (Writer/activist)
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Who I'd like to meet:
THE PLAY
In the spring of 1955 two high school friends meet at an Automat (a streamlined eatery frequented by many in its day) on 42nd street in New York to catch up on ole times. They have some pie, a soda pop and talk about what they have planned for the future. What is so remarkable about this you ask? When the friends in question are James Baldwin and Richard Avedon I believe one would want to hear what they might have to say. America in the mid 50’s, the politics, McCarthyism, Civil rights and existing in a post war nuclear age. The culture of Americana; striving for the perfect family. Man as the breadwinner, two-car garage, the wife who cooks, cleans raises 2.3 kids and still finds the time to be glamorous for her husband. Music: jazz has gone mainstream but everything has taken a back seat to Rock and Roll (the arts, television and film). They have more than enough to chat about.
Scribblin’ at the Automat, a fictional account based on actual characters, takes a look at two icons in their respective fields right at the point where everything was going to take off for them. Baldwin’s Go Tell it on the Mountain introduced him to the literary world and the public at large and a follow-up work was eagerly anticipated. Avedon was already successful as a photographer and editor for Harper’s Bazaar.
Filtered through the writers pen, we get to know the points of view of these life long friends, get a glimpse inside their lives and see ourselves. Mr. Alleyne expertly weaves the narratives of comedies, dramas, action-adventures and thrillers. Alleyne's love for the stage is instantly apparent, grabbing your attention the moment the curtain goes up, keeping you riveted until the end.
THE PLAYWRIGHT
Arthvr Alleyne's theatre credits include Scribblin'at the Automat a play about the friendship between James Baldwin and Richard Avedon, that addresses celebrity, race, the arts, sex and social issues of the 1950's. Also the multi-layered and topical social drama Tragedy Tonite, a piece that grabs your attention the moment the curtain goes up and keeps you riveted to your seat until the very end of each scene. And the comedy In A Min. which was featured at The Wonderland One Act Festival in June 2007.
The one thing each of his narratives has in common is the need to delve into the essence of each character and to explore the human condition.
From screenplays to short stories, to plays, Arthvr Alleyne is a storyteller first and foremost. Rendering each medium with bold visuals and rich dialogue, expertly weaving the narratives of comedies, dramas, action-adventures and thrillers.
Mr. Alleyne is 99.9% sure there was no second gunman on the grassy knoll in Texas, and resides in Brooklyn USA. He has recently completed his first novel entitled Gas.
THE PRODUCERS
idegosuperego media
IES media is the result of the collaborative efforts and the joining of artistic forces of Arthvr Alleyne and Eternal Polk. In the Summer of 2006, idegosuperego media along with Adler Bernard, developed and showcased Scribblin' at the Automat , transforming Grand 275, a local bar/café, into a set unveiling a performance on unsuspecting patrons. After a brief yet successful run in Bedstuy/Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, and with calls for more performances from members of the greater New York City theatrical community, Arthvr and I believe that now is the time to bring our vision, creative energy and this piece to a larger audience.
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