Deletta Gillespie

MobileMe Gallery - Deletta Document - 09

2009-01-12T21:17:00.000-08:00

MobileMe Gallery - Deletta Document - 09

2009-01-09T10:39:00.000-08:00

Nineteen Days and counting...

Happy New Year! And unbelievably, there are nineteen days until the opening of the Magic City Massacre, the documentary retelling of the 1921 Race Riot of Tulsa, Oklahoma. My director Dwight R.B. Cook and I have weathered ongoing casting issues, holidays, illnesses, and incessant editing, yet, we're still moving forward. Mounting this show has been one hell of a roller coaster ride, rife with tight, corkscrew twists, turns, and rollovers. There have even been a few sudden stops. Some were expected, some not. But that's what so exhilarating about creating art. As my favorite cat, Sylvester of Looney Toons fame sings, "You never know where you're going 'til you get there!" It's one thing to create a work of art, it's another thing to share it with the public. Premiering a show with an original script and a cast of 20 and with virtually no budget is either absolutely crazy, or an absolute act of faith. Actually, I think it's both. I've learned some great, character building lessons along the way, and I'm grateful for them.

Of course, theatre is a collaborative effort, I couldn't do it without a great production team and cast. Check in next week, and you'll get to meet them all, but I want to take this moment to recognize the #1 benefactor to date, Mr. Howard J. Hrobak. The set would not be possible without his financial contributions and expertise. I also want to thank H. Henry Hayward of Bermuda, Lorrie Schoettler of Baltimore, and Emma Hale Burnett Burnett of Mexico for their financial contributions to this show. Also, I thank Reggie Turner of Mportant Films for allowing me the use of the documentary movie about the Tulsa Race Riot, Before They Die. This important film chronicles the journey of the riot victims and their descendants through the court system. The trailer alone moved me to tears. Please go the the website, www.beforetheydiemovie.com, and purchase a DVD. Mr. Turner tells me that the money raised from the DVD sales helps the survivors. Last month, they prevented someone from being evicted, and assisted with providing surgery for another victim. I also want to thank Marie-Audrey Desy for an incredible set design, and Tony Rosas, Justin VanHassel, and the entire Towson University set construction crew for putting this puppy up in record time. And of course I want to thank my director and partner in crime, Dwight R.B. Cook. I have given him a very complex piece of work, and he's completely embraced both the work and my vision.

Until next time, peace and blessings...
Deletta

PS...shout out to KT Peterson and the cast of 7:32 (of which I'm proud to be a part of). The cast of 7:32 will deliver the closing performance at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival regionals in Philadelphia on Saturday, January 17.

Temporary Relief

2008-10-05T19:50:00.000-07:00

Hi all,
In the midst of all this election craziness, I hope you're all taking time to just breathe, and to remember that at the end of the day, believe it or not, we're all on the same side!

A year ago this week I gave my first staged reading of The Magic City Massacre. It was truly a work in progress, as I had only written three scenes. This week, I finished the first complete draft of the play, and I am so relieved that this phase of the project is done. I've lived with this project for 20 months, and I completed it two months later than originally planned, but it's as my committee chair said, "It's done when it's done." Of course I know that there will be many rounds of edits, but for me, that's the easiest part. I'm waiting to hear my director, (Dwight R.B. Cook of Morgan State University) yell at me for having so x$#*& many people in the damn show. Sorry Dwight! Next up? Production meetings and FUNDRAISERS. Yep. My favorite thing in the world to do...ask for money. For the production.

So, if you're in the Baltimore area, PLEEZE come join me and about twelve other performers at the Java Coffee Cafe in Ellicott City, Maryland on Saturday, October 25 as I raise money for my project. Entitled "Songs of Protest, Songs of Peace", the 90 minute performance will include instrumental and vocal music, spoken word, and dramatic readings around the themes of protest and peace featuring Towson University theatre MFA students, friends from the Spiritual Empowerment Center in Baltimore, and other Baltimore based performers. The cost is $20 for adults, $14 for students, and includes one drink. For more information, please check the upcoming events page on my website.

And if you're not in the area, but still want to donate to the production , please log onto my website (delettagillespie.net) and click on the donate link. That will take you to the Fractured Atlas website where you'll be able to donate to The Magic City Massacre. All gifts are tax deductible. Speaking of Fractured Atlas, I want to thank them for doing such a wonderful job supporting individual artists and small arts organizations not only in New York, but throughout the US. I also want to thank my Aunt Phyllis for checking out a book I needed from the Tulsa City County Library. That book enabled me to complete the research for the show. I'm so blessed to have such supportive family and friends.

Until next time, I wish you all the blessings your heart and hands can hold...
Deletta

Warning: Due Dates are Closer Than They Appear

2008-09-12T09:41:00.000-07:00

Hey folks!

The above-listed title has become my mantra, as the premier of my new baby, The Magic City Massacre inches closer. It's truly crazy season as I'm completing the latest edit of the play, securing the rights, finalizing the fundraisers, and getting contracts signed for people who will be participating in the talkbacks scheduled after each show. In between all that, I'm attending classes, teaching classes, and following the pre-election madness. And it is indeed madness. I tend to keep my religious and political views to myself, but having lived overseas for nearly fifteen years, I've had the opportunity to see the workings of our country from a somewhat detached perspective, and I have to tell you, most of what I've seen isn't pretty. I urge all of you to dig deep into the backgrounds of all the candidates. Don't rely solely on the network news, the metropolitan dailies, or blogs or email articles. You're going to have to go the alternative press and media. You might have to spend some time in the library. Go to a few different websites to truly grasp the scope of what's at stake here. For six of the last eight years, I had the opportunity to see firsthand what the US news and media outlets reported. More importantly, I noticed what WASN'T REPORTED. I compared the news coverage from the US against many other nations (Canada, the UK, India, South Africa, and Brazil), and it was frightening. It still is. Do we really have a free press? Hardly. So please, do your homework - dig a little deeper before you go to the polls. There's so much at stake. I promise you. And now, back to the show!

The Magic City Massacre runs January 28 - February 1 at Towson University's Center for the Arts in the Ruth Marder Theatre. I'll provide more details within a few weeks.

The first fundraiser, entitled Songs of Protest, Songs of Peace will be at The Java Grande Cafe in Ellicott City, MD on Saturday, October 18. Please come out and enjoy some fabulous songs, readings, spoken word, and more on the topics of peace and protest from some fabulous Baltimore based performing artists.

Oh yeah! I want to give a ginormous thanks to Paul McKeown at CelticLight for finally getting my website mess straightened out. Boys and girls, take it from me...some things are better left in the hands of the professionals!

Wishing you light, love, and peace!

DG

Artistic Journeys

2008-02-29T20:47:00.000-08:00

"The best art is political and you ought to be able to make it unquestionably political and irrevocably beautiful at the same time." Toni Morrison

After being a performing artist in this 'show business' industry for so many years, I am finally coming full circle. I have always taken my art seriously, and have worked extremely hard to train well, get certified, and to let the hard work show...onstage. And it has, but moving countries and starting out all over again and experiencing the 'little fish in a huge pond' syndrome has made me face the reality that promoting myself is at least as important. After all, what good is it to have kick-ass shows that no one sees? I have have never applied the same energy to promoting myself as I have to performing. My presence on this blog marks a new beginning. Feels great. Feel free to check in...regularly.
hugs and blessings,
Deletta Gillespie