Interview: Playwright Rory Sheriff, 'Be A Lion'

MULTI-TALENTED PLAYWRIGHT RORY SHERIFF

It is with great pleasure that I highlight the accomplishments of a fellow playwright and Charlotte resident, multi-talented Rory Sheriff, who was inspired to write a spinoff of the Broadway musical and film, The Wiz, entitled "Be A Lion". Not only is he a playwright/director/producer extraordinai re...he is an author, a radio personality, poet and entrepreneur as well.

Rory, where are you from originally?

I am originally from Reading, Pennsylvania. I graduated from Reading High School. After graduation, I joined and served four years in the military. I am a Desert Storm Army veteran. Once I finished my military assignment, I returned to Reading. Then, I moved to Philadelphia, PA and attended Temple University with a major in Mass Communication and a minor in Journalism.

What career path did you choose after you graduated from Temple University?

For two years, I worked part-time as a radio personality at Power 99, a local station in Philadelphia, PA. Then, I interviewed and was hired for a full-time position as a radio personality at Hot 92.7, here in Charlotte. I worked there for three years. In 2003, I was promoted and accepted a position as assistant program director at radio station Power 94.3, in Charleston, SC. Two years later, I returned back to Charlotte, NC and accepted a radio personality position at Power 98.

When did you develop a love for writing?

Initially, I wrote poems during my adolescent and teenage years. English Literature was my favorite subject in school. Overnight, I would write 12-page essays that others toiled over for weeks which I received A's. I was very creative and my imagination was quite active. Thoughts and illustrations constantly came to my mind faster than I could jot them down. My illustrations added clarity to my writing.

You are also an author, correct? Give me a brief description of the books you have written.

I have written three novels (sequels) and contributed to two anthologies. My first novel in the series is entitled, "Get N Serious (Dontae's Inferno)". It is about the erotic life of Dontae "Serious" Mosley, a radio personality who lives in Los Angeles. He has everything...career, money and plenty of women. However, he longs for a true love. What he discovers (after being fatally shot in a bar fight and lying in a coma for several months) is that the true love (Socca Mitchell) he has been longing for was right in front of his face. The second book in the series is entitled, "Get N Serious (My Addiction)" and the third is "Get N Serious (Yadira's Sky)".

Tell me why you chose the art of playwriting?

Originally, my passion was screenwriting. I have written 15 screenplays. An agent friend of mine set up a meeting between some film producers at a major studio to sell "Be A Lion". I was so excited - I had dollar signs in my eyes. They loved the concept of "Be A Lion" but thought that it would be too costly to produce. However, they did purchase another one of my films, "Yadira's Sky", a romantic comedy about a daughter of a football player, who wanted to be an actress, and her tumultuous marriage. At the conclusion of the meeting, an assistant producer, who had no clue or knowledge of The Wiz, approached me and asked if I had ever thought about putting "Be A Lion" on stage as a play. Through her encouragement, the idea to develop "Be A Lion" into a live theatrical production was born.

What inspired you to write, "Be A Lion"?

I wrote "Be A Lion", two and a half years ago. Initially, I was working on a re-make of the 1975 romantic drama, "Mahogany" (directed by Berry Gordy and starring Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams) about a fashion designer faced with a choice between following her dream or following her love. In the midst of writing the re-make, The Wiz, the movie, (starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson) was shown on TV. My mind began to wonder what happened to the other characters after Dorothy clicked her heels and returned to Kansas. Who would take the Wizard's place? I began to imagine and write about what may have happened to the Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Man. The play focuses primarily on the Lion as he discovers who he is and who he is called to be. I became so engrossed in the storyline, I began to feel like I was in the Land of Oz. I lost track of time and spent countless hours at a local "all night" bakery writing from sun up to sun down. I was so intrigued...this became the most interesting, yet challenging work I have ever written. How would I preserve the old characterization, yet develop the new? How would I take the foundation that had already been laid in the original script, yet fast forward it to "the now"? How would I incorporate the new characters that I had developed into the original storyline? How would I take "the familiar", yet make it "new"? I tried the traditional style of writing that I had been taught in college - writing from an outline - but my thoughts came faster than I could outline them. I saw images in my head and wrote what I saw. I spent nine months submerged in intense writing. Once the script was complete, I sat on it for a while.

When and where was "Be A Lion" first produced?

The first running of "Be A Lion" was September 5-6, 2014, at the Duke Energy Theater, in Charlotte, NC. We had three shows, one was sold-out. Prior to production, we conducted several workshops and readings. We also did a 20-minute act of the play in Columbia, SC, Charleston, SC and Chicago, IL. We received positive feedback from our audience.

What are your future plans for "Be A Lion"?

Our next performance will be on June 20th at Miller Center for the Arts, in Reading, Pennsylvania. Our ultimate goal is Broadway, of course.

Are you working on any future projects?

I will complete a new play entitled, "Boys to Bagdad (From Home To War)", which pays homage to my experience as an army combat veteran, in approximately a month.

**Rory, thank you for bringing your creative writing skills to Charlotte, NC. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Please Contact Rory on Facebook on "Be A Lion" Community Page and via e-mail at: gettingserious2@gmail.com