Thursday, May 19, 2005

Author! Author!

Hey Soul Mates,
I got to Atlanta in one piece.

What fun to be first-nighters. The world premiere of my Dad's play Street Rhythm was a success. Opening night jitters aside, the actors & musicians were all solid. Special kudos for Eugene Russell and
Charles Black who played the tragi-comic characters of doomed be-boppin' Luther and the older, but not always wiser Buster, respectively.

Dad seemed very pleased with the show. We sat right up front and occasionally he would comment to me how well a scene worked or what songs the duo were playing. Jazz musicians Syl Spann & Rick Denton were particularly tastefully. The theater itself is a nice space that seats about 100 and the play was well attended. Quite good for a brand new production opening on a Thursday night. The cast and crew are all energetic and eager thespians. They are all genuinely warm people and they are pleasure to know. Bravo.

Tomorrow morning, Dad has a radio interview on a local NPR station at 8. That's a bit early for yours-jet-lagged-truly, but I'll be up. I wouldn't miss any of this for the world. I'm very proud of my Dad for getting the play produced. Street Rhythm is a well-written character study and slice of life of Harlem in the '50's: an age underrepresented in popular culture. It ain't easy to mount a 2 act play on any level and director Carol Mitchell-Leon has done commendably. We'll be back at the Push Push Theatre tomorrow for performance 2.


l-r: Me, Eugene (E.H.) Russell, actress Tia Reece, Dad, Charles Black.


Playwright & Son.


Playwright & Different Son.


Syl Spann & Rick Denton


The Kelseys at the Theatre.

Love, Power, Peace from Atlanta

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Street Rhythm

Hey Soul Mates,
I'm going to Hotlanta this week for the premiere of my Dad's (Herb Kelsey) play "Street Rhythm." It's being put on by a theatre company called the New Jomandi. I'm pretty excited; and I'm sure my Dad is, too. We've been waiting for the debut since they announced that it would be part of the schedule back in December. It's being put on at a space called Push Push and is directed by Carol Mitchell-Leon. If you are in the Atlanta area this weekend, May 19-21, come check it out. The drama is set in Harlem in the 1950's and features a live jazz combo. Dad is already an accomplished stage and film actor, & radio personality, so it will be neat to see him officially add produced playwright to his C.V.

I spent the better part of last night requesting reviews and inviting media to our upcoming show. If you have any connections with print or TV media you are comfortable sharing, please pass along any info. It will be greatly appreciated. One aspect of our promotion that we have yet to really get cooking is our notices. It helps putting together presskits to have some reviews and comments from substantial sources.

Have a good Wednesday.

Love, Power, Peace.