Coming Home

The beauty of these flowers depicts the beautiful and rich experiences that the City of Philadelphia and its residents bestowed upon me this week during my spontaneous visit. Thank you Philadelphia and all my helpers along the way!Thank you to my spirit of imagination that pushed me past my comfort zone where everything did not have to be all planned out before proceeding. Had that been the case I would have missed all the great people and experiences!

Coming Home
My title for this post is taken from South African playwright, Athol Fugard. I first met Fugard and saw my first Fugard play back in the late 80s/early 90s. Those many years ago I was honored to facilitate a discussion with young teens in Atlanta and Fugard after they had viewed his play through the Settlement Institute.

He is a prolific playwright and his repetoire includes: No-Good Friday, Non-Gogo, Blood Knot, Hello and Goodbye, People are Living There, Boesman and Lena, Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act (I know it was not this one because it includes nudity and I would remember that!); Siswe Banzi is Dead, Dimetos, The Island,A Lesson from Aloes, "Master Harold"...and the boys, The Road to Mecca, A Place with the Pigs, My Children! My Africa!; Playland, Valley Song, The Captains Tiger, Sorrows & Rejoicings, Exits and Entrances and Victory.

Kenny Leon was the Artistic Director of the Atlanta Theatre at the time. He is remembered for reaching out to audiences that would usually not have the opportunity or exposure to theatre. As a result more poor folks from historically marginalized groups were showing up at the theatre. He has gone on to bigger and better things (as they say!). It was also wonderful to see his chocolate face in the upper echelon of the theatre scene in Atlanta.

Coming Home
Last night I had the honor of viewing Coming Home at the Wilma Theater in Philly.(www.wilmatheater.org). I was able to get $45 tickets for $25. Students are subsidized and can receive "rush" tickets 30 minutes before opening.

Coming Home featured Patrice Johnson as Veronica, Lou ferguson as Oupa, and Nyambi Nyambi as Alfred Witbooi. The two child actors were Elijah Felder who played Mannetjie at age 5 and Antonia J. Dandridge who played the same character at an older age. It was a great two and a half hour play! It rounded out my trip to Philadelphia.

This is one of those posts on the run as I prepare to head to the airport to return to Atlanta. Watch this blog for more follow-up.

Question: How are you stifling your creativity? Where do you need to let go and experience the messiness of life?

Question: What is the difference between being in the moment - letting it happen? and simply needing to have some organization in your life?

Blessings! Rev. Qiyamah