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Article Archive/July 2013
Updated July 1, 2013
National Black Theatre Festival 2013!cont'd
Pg. 2 of 2
A Winston-Salem, NC, Tradition!
 By Jay Whipple/Trend Magazine Online™
Ms. Morgan also starred in one of my favorite movie dramas that dared to address a very touchy subject in the Black community – incest. She so eloquently played the role of Mozelle Batiste Delacroix, the sister of Louis Batiste (Samuel L. Jackson) and the Sister-In-Law of Roz Batiste (Lynn Whitfield). She is also the aunt of Eve (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), Ciscely (Meagan Good) and Poe Batiste (Jake Smollett). She is somewhat of a psychic in this independent film who aids people in need with her premonitions and voodoo magic. Some of you soap opera ‘fan’atics (I used to be) may remember her recurring role (1982 – 2011) as Dr. Angela "Angie" Hubbard (née Baxter) on ABC's "All My Children" (1970 – 2011), where she won the 1989 Daytime Emmy in the category of "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series." Ms. Morgan will be available for one performance of THE MONKEY on MY BACK! (An Intimate Evening with Debbi Morgan) on Tuesday July 30th, @ 8PM. This one is also on my wish list to attend and review. She has the cutest set of dimples I have ever seen on any person.
Also scheduled to be in the house once again will be 2011’s co-chairs Ms. T’Keyah Crystal Keymah (In Living Color, 1990) and Mr. Lanman Rucker (Meet The Browns, 2009 - 2011), and my man Ted Lange (Isaac from the Love Boat [1977 – 1987]). I could swear that Ms. Keymah blew me a kiss at the 2011 festival; maybe it was just my imagination? Now if it happens again this year? Mr. Lange also seemed pretty cool and approachable in 2011, but did not blow me a kiss -- thankfully. These are just a handful of celebrities that will be on hand for this year’s National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, NC, for six fun-filled, educational, and entertaining days/nights, that will also include a Collegiate Play Reading Marathon, an International Colloquium, International Vendors Market, Larry Leon Hamlin Solo Performance Series, and many more activities for the old, older, young, and young at heart.
This year’s Special Recognition Award will be presented to Ms. S. (Sharon) Epatha Merkerson who will be forever linked with her memorable roll as the hard-nosed -- but sometimes sensitive -- Lt. Anita Van Buren (1991 – 2010) on the hit Law and Order TV series (1990 – 2010). I am one of those die-hard fans of the show that is still in denial that it has actually been canceled. I keep waiting for the studio big wigs to announce that they indeed made a terrible mistake in terminating this brilliantly filmatic fabric of our society -- as we know it today. She also has a somewhat cameo role in the 2012 Lincoln movie which was nominated for an Academy Award (2013); directed by Steven Spielberg, and starring Daniel Day Lewis (My Left Foot, 1989) and Sally Field (The Flying Nun, 1967 - 1970). Ms. Merkerson played the role of Lydia Smith, companion of Thaddeus Stevens played by Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive, 1993). The very short – yet powerful -- scene came at the movie’s end as Mr. Stevens insists on taking the originally signed 13th Amendment -- which freed enslaved Africans -- home to show his companion Lydia; who herself was African. She did not say much but her expression was like – kool! Smile!
 I caught a very different, more sensitive, character portrayal by her in a little-known film called Lackawanna Blues (2005) where she plays the role of a kind-hearted boarding house proprietor named Rachel Nanny Crosby. The story is set in Lackawanna, New York, in the 1950’s and 1960’s and is based on the true life of Ruben "Junior" Santiago, a part-Black, part-Hispanic child who grew up witnessing the world of soul and blues music via characters associated with her boarding house. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be granted the honor and privilege of interviewing her as I did two years ago with Mr. Glynn "Cooley High" Turman; another one of my favorite actors.
 Executive Director Gerry Patton says that “Since assuming this responsibility in 2007, I have made many contributions to the ongoing success of this organization. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with and for the late founder, Larry Leon Hamlin. Mr. Hamlin demanded that we go ‘beyond excellence.’ I have not settled because the nature of the business is such that you have to be flexible. Theatre is very competitive.”
I plan to compete for the absolute best seats in each of the many area theatre venues that will play host to this year’s much anticipated and exciting National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, NC.
If you plan to attend this year’s festival as an individual, advance tickets may be purchased online here. If you would like to attend as part of a group from outside Winston-Salem, click here for a group package with transportation.
Note: NBTF Logo Courtesy of NBTF
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