mandrake society radio » The Cotillion

Freedom Train Productions’ video on their process of new play creation

JW Richard — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:45:15 +0000

As you had a chance to hear the panel discussion of New York-based Freedom Train Productions during the series of Fire & Ink III: The Cotillion podcasts I presented here, now you can watch more of the organization’s unique approach to play development.

The Story of Freedom Train Productions from Freedom Train Productions on Vimeo.

You can also keep up with them by being fan of Freedom Train Productions at Facebook.

Podcast: Freedom Train Productions panel at Fire & Ink III: The Cotillion

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Podcast: Freedom Train Productions panel at Fire & Ink III: The Cotillion

JW Richard — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:00:09 +0000

I hope you’ve enjoyed the special podcasts from Fire & Ink III: The Cotillion as just a taste what was experienced there. However, you’re making plans now to attend the next one, and including in those plans are to help now to secure the financial ability to hold the writers; festival again. Please click here to support Fire & Ink, Inc.

As the last of our Fire & Ink podcasts, the Freedom Train Productions panel, “Canaries in a Mine: Black Queer Protagonists Save The World (and You Too!), featured playwright and author, Sharon Bridgforth, playwright and Freedom Train’s director of new work development, Aurin Squire, founder and president of Chimpanzee Productions, Thomas Allen Harris, & director of the John L. Warfield Center for African & African-American Studies at UT Austin, Omi Osun Joni L. Jones, Ph.D. The panel was moderated by Artistic & Managing Director of Freedom Train Productions, Andre Lancaster.

Note: due to poor sound quality, the sections containing the audio from Thomas Allen Harris’ film, “Through A Lens Darkly”, and Aurin Squire’s play excerpt from “Submerge”, are not included in this recording.

Grab the music featured in the show!

Castlebed
“Get Up On It” (mp3)
from “Get Up On It”
(Dustpan Recordings)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at mTraks
More On This Album

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Podcast: Heterosexism and Homo-hop panel from Fire & Ink 2009 in Austin, TX

JW Richard — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:00:58 +0000

A lively discussion recorded in Austin, TX, at The Fire & ink III: The Cotillion on Saturday, October 10th on contemporary hip-hop, the double edged sword of image of hyper-masculinity in hip-hop by gay artists, and the musical double standard by gay clubs and Pride event planners in our communities. The panel includes hip-hop/soul artists, Avery Young, Tim’m T. West, and Mami Watu. The beginning montage of music is designed to provide a quick glimpse of hip-hop’s evolution.

Remember to visit my October podcast sponsor, The Dallas Blue Network. With networking opportunities, job leads, and executive consulting, Dallas Blue Network is North Texas’ premier source for moving your career and business forward. Find out more at www.dallasblue.com. Want to be a podcast sponsor in November? Write me at mandrakesociety[at]gmail.com.

Also visit our regular blog partners to support the work of Mandrake Society Radio.com and the podcasts.

Music for the soul – Over half a million products in digital downloads, sheet music and more. Music Forte has what you’re looking for.

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Fire & Ink III: The Cotillion photos and personal recap

JW Richard — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:26:59 +0000

The third Fire & Ink conference in Austin this past weekend was so affirming and enriching that these few following pictures can’t even do it justice, however I want to share a glimpse of what I experienced this weekend. I had the opportunity to personally meet authors that encouraged me and influenced me as I came out and continue to live and work for visibility and celebration of our community. I’m also charged with expanding the conversation so that as a Dallasite and a Texan, I don’t forget to consider my connection to the black queer community outside of Texas and outside of the U.S. The fact that the conference ended on October 11, which, in our community, is National Coming Day, made me that much more proud to be both Black and queer.

Some outsiders may have looked at this Black queer writers festival and felt it was of less importance in light of the National Equality March in Washington D.C. this weekend. To them, I say that parallel work is crucial to progress so we can all understand, strategize, and achieve our goals of equality in healthcare, the workplace, and citizenship (including marriage). Authors, poets, and performers are the visionaries that remind us all to reach for our goals and believe in our cause and who, in any struggle for human diginity, doesn’t need that motivation? And communities of color, queer or not, should definitely understand that without further explanation.

Kudos to the Fire & Ink board of directors, workshop presenters, authors, artists, content producers, and everyone else who helped make this event happen! I also have selected recordings of various panels that you’ll hear throughout the next two weeks in the podcast stream, along with the regularly scheduled weekly shows. Click any picture to enlarge and advance through the photo set.

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