PROGRAM

Classix Presents

The Celebration:

A Preview of the Forthcoming Bill Gunn Retrospective

September 9, 2024

at The Public Theater Studios

Featuring excerpts from Bill Gunn’s plays The Celebration (circa 1964), Black Picture Show (1974), and The Forbidden City (1989)

The Forbidden City

Directed by Seret Scott

Nick Jr - Danté Crichlow

Molly - Kara Young*

Black Picture Show

Directed by Awoye Timpo

J.D. - Jon Michael Hill*

Alexander - Ray Anthony Thomas*

The Celebration

Directed by Awoye Timpo

Kelly Alexander - Brittany Bradford*

Geist Alexander - Leland Fowler*

Composer/Trumpet - Alphonso Horne

Keyboard - Conun Papas

Stage Manager - Sydneii Colter*

Dramaturgs - A.J. Muhammad and Arminda Thomas

Production Assistant - Sarah Matthews

*Actors and stage manager are members of Actor’s Equity Association

Bill Gunn (1934-1989) was born and raised in Philadelphia. Gunn began his career as an actor, appearing on Broadway in the 1954 production of “The Immoralist” starring James Dean. He also appeared onstage in Louis Peterson’s “Take a Giant Step” by Louis Peterson and Errol John’s “Moon on A Rainbow Shawl.” By the 1960s, Gunn had guest roles on popular TV series including “Route 66,” “Dr Kildare,” and “The Defenders.” Frustrated by the lack of creative control as an actor, Gunn turned his attention to prose and dramatic writing. His first play, “Marcus in the High Grass” was produced at the Westport Playhouse in 1959 and in New York City’s Greenwich Mews Theatre in 1960. Gunn’s first novel “All the Rest Have Died” was published in 1964. His play “The Celebration” received a developmental reading at the Mark Taper Forum in 1967 and was slated for Broadway, but was ultimately never produced. In 1975, however, his play “Black Picture Show” was produced on Broadway by The New York Shakespeare Festival (The Public Theater) at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater. Gunn’s other plays include “Johnnas,” “Rhinestone” (adapted from his novel “Rhinestone Sharecroppers”), “Renaissance,” “The Owlight,” “Family Employment,” and “The Forbidden City.” In 1970, Gunn wrote the screenplay for the film “The Landlord” directed by Hal Ashby. That same year, he wrote and directed the controversial film “Stop!” which was shelved by Warner Bros due to its X rating. Gunn’s 1973 film “Ganja & Hess” was likewise shelved for years, but has since become a cult classic. In 1980, Gunn directed “Personal Problems,” an experimental soap opera written by Ishmael Reed. Originally intended for television, the film received a theatrical release in 2018 by Kino Lorber. Bill Gunn’s papers are held at the Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture.

Find more information about Bill Gunn at his page on the Classix catalog.

Classix is a collective comprised of Brittany Bradford, A.J. Muhammad, Dominique Rider, Arminda Thomas and Awoye Timpo.

PROGRAM

To learn more about being a part of the Bill Gunn Retrospective please contact us here!