Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning actor, playwright and director all about his many current and upcoming endeavors, the charismatic and versatile Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Besides working on both sides of the footlights as an actor and director, Hudson also has several film and television projects in the ether and recently released - among them, 2015 Academy Award-winning film SELMA, a new TNT TV series executive produced by Stephen Spielberg titled PUBLIC MORALS, a brand new follow-up to his acclaimed multi-award-winning play LACKAWANNA BLUES, new directing gigs and more. Most importantly, Hudson shares details about presenting a special award to Phylicia Rashad at the Global Concepts Charter High School's Ruben Santiago-Hudson Fine Arts Center later this week and what the first-ever Legacy Award signifies. Furthermore, Hudson reflects on his iconic collaborations with legendary playwright August Wilson and his ongoing work in keeping the legacy of Wilson's plays alive through star-studded live performances of his many notable properties, including 2013's unprecedented presentation of all 10 plays in Wilson's canonical century cycle, all of which are currently scheduled for airings on NPR and soon available online in full. All of that and much, much more in this chat with a highly respected multimedia notable!
More information on the Global Concepts Charter High School's gala event at the Ruben Santiago-Hudson Fine Arts Center honoring Phylicia Rashad with the Legacy Award on May 8 is available at the official site here. Recounting the first time he worked with Phylicia Rashad and his relationship with the Broadway and Hollywood icon, Hudson remembers, "I can't quite remember the first time that I actually met Phylicia, but the first time that we worked together was in GEM OF THE OCEAN on Broadway. We are giving her the very first Legacy Award this year at the Ruben Santiago-Hudson Fine Arts Center and that bears my name as well as my passion and compassion for the arts in teaching and introducing kids to the transformative power of the arts - I wanted to give them a safe place to go and express themselves away from the violence, police cross-hairs, gang-banging and crime of the streets. I want them to have a place to express themselves as loudly and violently and passionately and joyously as they possibly can, so when the Global Concepts Charter High School approached me because they wanted to introduce the arts into their curriculum and they wanted somebody that had enough influence who could give them a name and help them raise the money to do it, we met and they courted me for a while and I really loved their mission and the people behind it - they had extraordinary integrity and passion, I thought. So, I joined them and we joined forces to start this arts center that is connected to the high school. It is so beautiful - a 122-seat state of the art theater, dance studio, editing lab, arts gallery; it's a gorgeous little place and I am so proud of it. So, when I told Phylicia about it, she said, 'If I can ever do anything, just let me know,' and, so, I said, 'I'm going to honor you this year with my first Legacy Award.' Each year I plan to give an award to somebody who, by their example and their integrity, sets the bar for all of us. So, Phylicia is the first to receive the Legacy Award and I am absolutely delighted that she will be the very first."Photo Credits: Walter McBride, TNT, etc.
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