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CENTERSTAGE announces its electrifying, one-of-a-kind artistic initiative, My America-50 new monologues by 50 of America's leading and emerging playwrights, all filmed by award-winning filmmaker Hal Hartley. The films will debut at the theater on September 28, and begin a staggered release online at www.centerstage.org/MyAmerica, culminating on Election Day, November 6.
An exploration of the state of the country through the eyes of its playwrights, My America writers were asked to explore the question "What is my America?" With responses ranging from the political to the personal, this collection of monologues captures a snapshot of the nation, the people and communities that make it what it is today. A key piece of Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah's mission at CENTERSTAGE is to open the theater to the development of new works and new voices. Himself a playwright, this project seeks to introduce Kwame-and Baltimore-to the breadth of voices in American Theater through artistic conversation.
"Part of my vision as Artistic Director is to make CENTERSTAGE a catalyst for engaging artistic and civic conversations," says Kwei-Armah, an international playwright himself. "My America lends a voice and a platform to the current voices in American Theater and allows them explore who we are as a country. We are thrilled to debut this new project, which will undoubtedly help bring CENTERSTAGE into the national spotlight." Filmed by Possible Films, led by award-winning director Hal Hartley, this collection of original monologues includes writers ranging from Christopher Durang, Marcus Gardley, and Quiara Alegría Hudes to Neil LaBute, Anna Deavere Smith, and Lynn Nottage. Among the actors filming the monologues are Tracie Thoms (Rent), Carrie Preston (True Blood), Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn (Lost), Bobby Cannavale (Nurse Jackie), and theater favorites Kathleen Chalfant, Jefferson Mays and Kristine Nielsen.
