Garland Lee Thompson (r) and his son.
By Christine Melton
Winston Salem—Everything was all a glitter with the regalia of its 20th biennial National Black Theater Festival here recently. This festival occurs the first week in August every odd year, brings in upwards of $13 million, and is brimful of Hollywood and Broadway celebrities. This beautiful little college town is where Dr. Maya Angelou resides and teaches at Wake Forest University.
The NBTF was officially launched with a Press Conference held at noon on Monday, August 3 in the Lobby of the Marriott Hotel, and open to the public. This is a standing tradition to have a daily public press conference hosted by a panel of stars. They talk about their projects for the festival and announce the roster of plays, celebrity guests, living legends, honorees, highlights, events, etc. The celebrities are always gracious with their time mingling among the crowd to sign autographs and to take pictures.
Co-chairs at this year’s festival are Ted Lange (best Known as Isaac Washington in ‘Love Boat’) and Wendy Raquel Robinson (‘Steve Harvey Show’ and ‘The Game’). The Keynote Speaker at the press conference was Ella Joyce (‘Rock’). The recurring themes from the press panel were; history, family, Barack Obama, remembering the man that started it all, Larry Leon Hamlin, and thanking him for his vision.
Ella Joyce, the only one of the entire panel who had a prepared speech, was the first to mention President Obama. She said because of Larry Leon Hamlin, Winston-Salem “doesn’t need any economic stimulus package.” She talked about how grateful she was for the many doors opened for her and gave a special thanks to panelist, Woodie King, Jr. (Founding Director of the New Federal Theater, NY and NBTF recipient of this year’s Sidney Poitier Lifelong Achievement Award.) for helping to launch her career. She and others thanked Larry Leon’s widow, Sylvia Hamlin for continuing the festival and carrying on its traditions.
Perri Gaffney (‘The Resurrection of Alice’) said that, “the NBTF is one the most powerful networking tools that Black Actors have. It has launched careers for some; most notably, Chester Gregory, who went from an unknown portraying Jackie Wilson to Broadway appearing in ‘Shrek’ and ‘Hairspray’ (opening in ‘Dreamgirls in September). And Daniel Beatty whose awesome work ‘Emergence-See’ was transported from the Festival to New York’s Public Theater and introduced to New York audiences by Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis.
Wendy Raquel Robinson and others credited L.L. Hamlin’s mother affectionately called, “Mother Marvtastic” for giving this creative genius and she said how happy she was that Larry convinced her to participate in the Festival. Her first was back in 2005.
Ted Lange said the by-product of the Festival is money into this small city. “Because of Larry Leon, Winston-Salem doesn’t have to trade in their cars for $4500.”
Vanessa L. Williams (‘Soulfood’) said, “I’m grateful to come on home even though I had to go by way of Los Angeles to get here.”
Starletta Dupois (‘Lost’ in Theaters soon co-starring with Louis Gossett, Jr. in ‘The Least Among You’) brought the press conference to a rousing ovation with her rendition of Langston Hughes’ poem, “Life Ain’t Been No Crystal Stair.”
Lou Myers (‘A Different World’) topped that by saying, “The older we get the better we get. We can get buck naked and let it all hang out.” Raucous laughter ensued.
And finally Andre De Shields (Broadway star, most recently finishing in ‘The Supreme Archbishop Tartuffe’ with the Harlem Classical Theater and currently in Shakespeare in the Park) was called to close out the conference. He said, “It’s Holy Ground. Let’s consecrate it. He started us off in singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The crowd rose to their feet to sing along.
At dusk Celebrities were whisked a half block away in black and white stretch limos under spotlights to the Benton Convention Center for the Opening Night Black Tie Gala, from their digs at the Marriott Marquis and Embassy Suites. They filed into the grand ballroom past a procession of African drummers, a marching band and enormous bouquets of purple balloons. This was all conceived by the late Larry Leon Hamlin who died in 2007. His signature color was purple, the color of royalty. His signature phrase was “It’s gonna be Marvtastic!” And this was indeed a resplendent opening to the event, family reunion, magic town of 24/7 theater. Actors are loving each other, their work and are being replenished by carrying on Larry Leon’s great tradition. With Larry Leon it was all about ritual and splendor.
Maya Angelou said when Larry first came to her about the idea of having a festival he told her he wanted to put on Black Theater that would unite Artists throughout the country and the Diaspora. He wanted Black people to come from all over and see plays about themselves written by Black Writers. She said that she told him, “‘If you have the audacity to want to put on this magnificent event, well, if you’re gonna do it, I want to be a part of it. You’re gonna need celebrities to get it started.’ I called on my good friend Oprah Winfrey.” Oprah along with Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, and Joe Seneca were the firsts to appear to kick off the Festival back in 1989.
When the Gala finished at 9:30PM, complete with a visit from Juanita Moore (‘Imitation of Life’) and a song sung by Melba Moore everyone adjourned to the theater to see a revised version of Mickey Grant’s 1970’s musical, “Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope.”
Link to the National Black Theater Festival at www.nbtf.org being held in Winston Salem North Carolina August 3rd through 8th.
