Still do. I liked the way it sometimes gave me a view of situations and experience that were not just mine. But, of course MINE was the right one! (I wish). For the longest time, I thought my first foray into play and script writing was in my twenties but Noooooo!
A few years ago, I was going through things in my families basement and happened upon a folder that contained a play I had written in my early teens. It was called, MURDER BY DEATH. Yes, I had a sense of humor even back then. Up until discovering that and other writings, I would have said that my venture into writing came from my attempt to EXORCISE an incident I had with a few policemen in Chicago. (CLICK TO READ ARTICLE)
In any case, I began to experience writing as another form to express myself as well as create the worlds and characters that I’d like to see depicted. One of my challenges as am actor was I kept finding myself auditioning for black parts that had a very limited range and more often depicted one segment of our culture: that involving drugs, crime and jail. That had not been my experience or those of my friends and neighbors so the frustration was in not seeing myself, my family and a larger aspect of my community and culture represented.
And it was fun. Creating the world and not only interpreting someone else’s.
AWARDS
The LA DRAMA CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD
The BACKSTAGE WEST GARLAND AWARD
The NAACP AWARD
The LA WEEKLY AWARD
The GLADD AWARD (twice)
The OVATION AWARD
Plays nominated for a total of 8 Ovation Awards in 4 different categories. They have been performed in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Minneapolis. Feature on NPR’s ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. The following plays that I’ve DIRECTED or co/directed have an *
TITLES
STAY * ALL ABOUT ESTHER * CAUSE STAGE DIRECTIONS WORD IN QUESTION SOMETHING HAPPENED * THE JUDGING JONES TURN THREE PART DISHARMONY * DAY OF….WHAT HIDE AND SEEK * NEW AND NOT SO THOSE WORDS AUGUST ( A collection of 31 short pieces)
L. Trey Wilson 