War Bonds at North Florida Community College



NFCC Artist Series presents War Bonds: The Songs Letters of WWII Nov.5

Submitted  October 28, 2015

The North Florida Community CollegeArtist Series presents War Bonds: The Songs & Letters of WWII on Thursday, Nov. 5 at Van H. Priest Auditorium. The performance begins at 7 p.m. and includes a special tribute to area veterans as well as delicious desserts and refreshments at intermission. Tickets are on sale now at the NFCC College Advancement Office (Bldg. 32, NFCC campus).

All veterans and any WWII veteran who attends will be admitted at no charge. “This is the perfect show and time to honor and say ‘thank you’ to our veterans,” said Kim Scarboro, NFCC Artist Series Coordinator. “We have a special night planned that will highlight some of our local WWII veterans and history. It’s also going to be a great night of live music, singing and time spent with our friends and community.”

Award winning artists David zum Brunnen and Serena Ebhardt and their live band fill the stage with wartime memories and tunes in this musical journey through a war that redefined the world. This multimedia, living history cabaret is interspersed with personal letters from the front and headline news of the period, providing a warm reminiscence and a harrowing reminder of a time when the whole world seemed upside down. This family show allows the greatest generation to celebrate, as the next greatest generation contemplates.

For more information about the performance or to purchase tickets, contact NFCC College Advancement at (850) 973-1653, email ArtistSeries@nfcc.eduor visit NFCC.EDU. Tickets are $15 for reserved seating. Discounted tickets are $8; this price is extended to NFCC students with ID, children ages 17 and under, and for the Nov. 5 performance to all veterans. Any WWII veteran will be admitted at no charge.

Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended for this performance. This performance is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs.



Long Story Short features small plays by UNC students

Long Story Short features small plays by UNC students 

ZIYAD HABASH 

For the fifth year in a row, the writing for the screen and stage minor will give aspiring screenwriters and playwrights an experience ordinarily reserved for the most successful professionals in entertainment.  The Long Story Shorts festival is a two-night event at Kenan Theatre that will put on eight one-act plays written by seniors. The original works will be put to the stage by a team of four directors. Each production will run for approximately 10 minutes.  Professor Dana Coen, director of the writing for the screen and stage minor, handpicked the winning scripts for the festival. Coen said the festival's philosophy is typified by a Don Delillo quote: “I think a playwright realizes after he finishes working on the script that this is only the beginning. What will happen when it moves into three dimensions?” 

To begin the process of moving each script to the Kenan Theatre stage, writers and actors are taken through readings, and collaborate on important creative decisions.   Senior Schyler Martin, who is on the Board of Directors for The Daily Tar Heel, went through this experience with her play, “Death and Dignity."  “It was phenomenal," she said. "I almost cried while watching my own mediocre play because the actors are so good.” Senior Jessica Zambrano, a former Daily Tar Heel staff writer, wrote the play “Comedy and Error,” and was challenged by discussing her ideas and characters with the directors and actors, some of whom were total strangers.  “I saw what other people can bring to the table," Zambrano said. "I listened to how they read the lines, and then we saw what we needed to rework, and sometimes the actors come up with something better than what I wrote. It has helped me learn to work with everyone’s contributions.” 

Guest professor Serena Ebhardt is one of the four directors involved with Long Story Shorts and is in charge of two of the short plays.  “For me, the most rewarding part was seeing both the writers and some of the actors getting their feet wet,” she said. “I loved seeing them find their voice — find their confidence.” 

The festival does not only benefit those who want to be playwrights in the future. Senior Charlie Kelsey wants to become a talent manager and producer in the film industry, yet he said he found the small-scale theatrical project to be a valuable experience. His play is called "Snowmen."  “I got to deal with actors and directors, and when you are the guy with the idea and people are asking you for creative direction, it gives you an idea of what it would be like to be a producer," he said. Coen said the idea for the festival came when he realized that he did not want the compelling and unique stories of his students to just disappear into a filing cabinet. “The first year that we had the minor, I read the plays that were turned in, and I thought, 'These are good. These should be produced.'” 

arts@dailytarheel.com 

Read more: http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2015/10/long-story-short-features-small-plays-by-unc-students
Quoted from The Daily Tar Heel

Native Daughter Serena Ebhardt Entertains, Educates & Enlightens



http://www.chathamartscouncil.org/meet-this-artist-native-daughter-serena-ebhardt-entertains-educates-enlightens/

Native Daughter Serena Ebhardt Entertains, Educates & Enlightens

serena1600x500
It’s not so much that you wouldn’t recognize Serena. It’s just that when you ask people if they know Serena Ebhardt, you’re likely to get so many different descriptions, you’d think they can’t possibly all be talking about the same woman.
WarBonds“She’s the petite, blond powerhouse—you know, the triple threat actor, singer, dancer, right? I saw her in War Bonds—that look back at WWII where she goes from Rosie the Riveter to Marlene Dietrich and sings all those great songs.”
johnny-johnson“No—she’s the UNC alum (B. A. in Dramatic Art, Paul & Elizabeth Green Scholar), who directed the UNC revival of Paul Green’s Johnny Johnson last year and two plays for the Long Story Shorts next week. She also tackled complex historical themes, directing Tim Tyson’s Blood Done Sign My Name, and Mike Wiley’s’ Dar He: The Lynching of Emmet Till. And she’s taught at UNC, Peace, St. Mary’s, Sanderson, and Raleigh Charter High Schools.”
“Are you talking about the writer? I know the North Carolina Association of Educators commissioned Serena to write and direct The Wrights of Passage. I read it’s been seen by more than 100,000 students across the country.”
Residency at Columbia High School“Oh, you mean the teaching artist. Since 1998, the artistic director of EbzB Productions with her husband, David zum Brunnen? Trained at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Lincoln Center Institute, and the National Center for Creative Aging? They are leading a pilot residency over at Virginia Cross Elementary School this year.”
“Serena…isn’t she the mother of that charming and brilliant child, Carlton?”
Voiceover Artist…Business Coach…Publicist…Theatre Manager…Webmaster…
Yes, they’re all Serena!
Serena Ebhardt

From the Artist

Originally from: Raleigh, North Carolina.
Your childhood in a nutshell: It was lovely. My parents facilitated my dreams. At age two, my performer’s personality emerged – I would dance in the living room while commanding everyone to pay attention. At age 6, I was diagnosed with type one diabetes, and I also auditioned for my very first play. By the age of 7, I had my first professional job and began touring.
Most influential teachers: I’ve had so many amazing teachers, both in school and in life. I am particularly thankful to Newell Tarrant, the former artistic director of Raleigh Little Theater; To Rose Schulman, the grand doyenne master acting teacher at Hedgerow Theatre; To friend and mentor Susan Raab who taught me about publicity and marketing; and to my husband David zum Brunnen who teaches me integrity and fidelity.
How did you and David meet: As students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We were cast together in a production of Lysistrata.
WarBondsMost challenging/gratifying aspects of working with your spouse: The challenge is that I take it for granted that he knows my love is unconditional and that I think he’s very handsome, smart and talented. When working with David, I have often gone straight into the analytical criticism rather than softening it with encouragements. However because we work and live together, our personal and professional lives are integrated and sometimes magnified by each other. I love and trust David. He brings joy and laughter to my intense focus. We have fun onstage and off. The two greatest joys of my life are dancing with him onstage in War Bonds, and raising our son.
On being a parent: Our son is this amazing configuration of all the souls in both families that have gone before him. He is very much his own person with a very strong and unique view of how life should be. It is my privilege to be his parent. We beam with pride over his achievements and talents. I use everything I have to try to prepare him for his journey.
In One EraFavorite professional hat [writer, researcher, director, publicist, teaching artist, performer, etc.]:My favorite is Actress/Singer—I love exploring life through another’s viewpoint. I love the attention, the makeup, the costumes, the music, the adrenaline, the warmth of the lights, and the ensemble. I love the feedback from audience members who have found the work meaningful. I love knowing that as an artist I can contribute to the shaping of this world. I have many second favorite hats, I especially like wearing the director and teaching artist hats at the same time.
Currently reading: The Borzoi College Reader Essays. I just finished reading Colette’s Cheri. I perpetually read the Bible, classics, BBC News Online, and any resource that might pertain to work that I’m doing. It’s an eclectic list.
In One EraCurrently working on or developing: Myself; My son; Long Story Shorts at UNC; ‘69 Seasons, Nativeand touring performances for EbzB Productions; Arts-In-Education residency for Virginia Cross Elementary via NC Arts Council and Chatham Arts Council. Also, as an ordained minister, I will be officiating a wedding in November.
5 Words that describe me: I dislike this question because I know myself too well and the first words that come to mind do not have positive connotations in our society. I’d prefer you ask others to describe me. Perhaps the one word that best describes me is “human.”
Most people don’t know: Now really? If most people don’t know, it’s because they haven’t asked. Oh alright. Here goes…
  • I was originally a Pharmacy major.
  • I had to turn down an audition for the original Broadway production of Anniewhen I was 14.
  • I can cook, if I have to.
  • I love and could survive on peanut butter.
Three favorite spots in Chatham: 
  • The view of Jordan Lake from the corner of Beaver Dam Rd. and Pea Ridge Rd.
  • The Pittsboro Soda Shop
  • My house
Chatham Artists that inspire me: 
Ten years from now: I’d like to see evidence that the contributions, investments, and work of my generation has made the universe a better place for our children.

To Learn More

Serena Ebhardt Directs Two Plays for Long Story Shorts at UNC

COME AND JOIN US!

The UNC Writing for the Screen and Stage Program is presenting its annual"Long Story Shorts" One Act Play Festival on Friday, October 23rd and Saturday, October 24th at 8PM in the Kenan Theatre at The UNC Center for Dramatic Art, 150 Country Club Rd., Chapel Hill, NC.

This year marks the festival’s fifth anniversary! 

Eight short plays written by members of the Writing for the Screen and Stage Minor’s senior class will be presented as staged readings.  A staple of the program, the festival allows the playwrights an opportunity see their work performed as well as participate in a process rarely experienced on their level; a developmental and collaborative environment led by experienced faculty and working professionals. 

Admission is free!  No reservations necessary.   



Compliment: From the Principal!

"Thank you so much!  This synopsis is well-beyond anything I could have provided.  This is very thorough and easy to understand.  Thank you so much for making this process and simple as possible for our school staff.  And I LOVE the way you have blended the 7 Habits into the project!  Bravo!

Allison Buckner
Principal
Virginia Cross Elementary
Siler City, NC

Pilot Year of the Chatham Artists-in-Schools Initiative

Chatham County Commissioners’ Meeting
21 September 2015  |  6:00PM
Historic Courthouse, Pittsboro
Public Input Remarks

My name is Cheryl Chamblee, and I'm the Executive Director of the Chatham Arts Council.  In June, you made an investment in educational impact through the arts.  

Chatham County dollars will be helping fund our Pilot Year of the Chatham Artists-in-Schools Initiative.  In this pilot year, we plan to work with North Chatham Elementary in Pittsboro and Virginia Cross Elementary in Siler City to bring theatre artists into fourth and fifth grade classrooms to create new pathways to learning history, writing, and language.

I’m here tonight to say thank you--and to let you know how it’s going so far.  A quick quarterly report on your investment.

First, some awesome news:  You have already doubled your investment.  We got word two weeks ago that the North Carolina Arts Council is granting us $29,489.  To get those State dollars, a match is required.  Thanks to you, we have the match.  Funding competition was intense this year with 40% more applicants than in previous years, but the panel was impressed with our organization, our partnerships, and what we could bring to the table.

And that’s not even what’s had me walking on air for the past two weeks.  I wish you all could have been with us recently at Virginia Cross Elementary to hear the first planning session between Principal Allison Buckner and nationally known theatre artists David zum Brunnen and Serena Ebhardt.  We’re talking about a student population that is 70% Hispanic, 90% on free or reduced lunch, and struggling to perform at grade level.  This residency can be a new way in to history and language learning for these kids.  Principal Buckner is so very excited for these kids to get this opportunity--one that is otherwise out of reach for most of them.

This Friday, I get to be part of a similar kick-off meeting at North Chatham Elementary, and I expect to leave just as uplifted.

We’re excited that we’re working with schools in both the east and west of the County, that we’re funding these residencies without placing an additional burden on classroom teachers to come up with dollars, that we’re getting huge enthusiasm from all our partners--Chatham County Schools, Chatham Park, individuals, and small businesses.
I can’t wait to see this unfold and grow.  Thank you for being a part of this team to help fill a gap for Chatham County students.

Cheryl Chamblee
Executive Director
Chatham Arts Council
919.542.0394 office . 919.280.9040 mobile

Bringing Performing Artists into Chatham County Elementary Schools

September 15, 201
Bringing Performing Artists into Chatham County Elementary Schools
 
PITTSBORO, NC -- Imagine if Jackie Robinson, the all-star African-American baseball player, were still alive and able to share his first-hand account of how he pushed the color barrier in America. Would we see the courage in his gait? Hear the lilt of frustration in his voice?  
 
Some Chatham County students will have the opportunity to experience what life might have been like for the record-setting player when acclaimed actor and playwright Mike Wiley springs to life as Jackie Robinson at North Chatham Elementary School in his one-man production of Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart. 
“My work finds its heart in the stories that have shaped American history and cultures,” said Wiley, also a Chatham County resident. “I’m proud to play, live and finally work here where my roots can take hold and make a difference.” 
 
This performance is part of two artist-in-residence pilot programs at Chatham County Schools in partnership with the Chatham Arts Council. Wiley will also provide active hands-on introduction to the world of creative writing, storytelling, and dramatic interpretation that directly tie to academic goals. He will offer a professional development teacher workshop, two matinee student performances, and four days of student workshops.
 
The second residency will occur at Virginia Cross Elementary School this Fall when professional performing artists Serena Ebhardt and David zum Brunnen, also Chatham County residents, lead a program with fifth graders that bolsters core curriculum. Through journalistic interviews, students will create a script they will produce into a school-wide theatrical production complete with music, art and technology.  
 
“As Chatham County citizens for over twenty years, David and I are thrilled to be contributing to Chatham Arts Council’s Pilot Year Artists-in-Schools Initiative,” Ebhardt said. “We hope that the work we do with students reaches beyond the classroom and creates connections between younger and older generations. It is not just about Arts-In-Education. It is about promoting integrity, self-discovery and the positive transformation of communities through our schools.”
The two artist-in-residence programs were funded by grants from the North Carolina Arts Council with matching funds provided by the Chatham County Commissioners, and managed by the Chatham Arts Council. Chatham County School teachers and administration collaborated with the Chatham Arts Council on the grant proposals to apply for the NCAC school residencies. The intent is to extend residencies like these to different Chatham County Schools each year.
 
“Chatham County Schools are incredibly fortunate to have such a resource in Chatham Arts Council,” said Lori Carlin, Chatham County Schools Public Information Officer and Arts Coordinator. “Having a community partner organization that lists ‘educating kids through the arts’ as a guiding principle serves to enrich our students and community alike. The artist-in-residence opportunities will support and enhance instruction in a new and exciting way for the teachers and students involved.”
 
These residencies buttress teachers and curricula across Chatham County. The initiative is designed to assist with the arts integration and arts exposure components of North Carolina’s Comprehensive Arts Education Plan which includes three parts: (1) Arts Education where the arts are taught as  core, academic subjects. (2) Arts Integration where the arts are used as a catalyst for learning across the curriculum. (3) Arts Exposure where arts experiences are presented by professional artists.

_______________________
 
Virginia Cross Elementary School Artist-In-Residence Program with Performing Artists Serena Ebhardt and David zum Brunnen.

EbzB Productions’ Serena Ebhardt and David zum Brunnen’s mission is to develop theatrical works that promote integrity, self-discovery and positive transformation of individuals, artists, audiences and communities.  
 
The residency with 5th graders at Virginia Cross Elementary School begins by teaching students journalistic interview skills where students will interview an adult two generations older. The primary interview question is determined by school faculty to integrate with core curriculum lesson plans. Responses to this interview will be transcribed by students and edited into a script. Students will then rehearse and produce a theatrical performance using the script they created. Music, art, and technology will be integrated into a school-wide community performance, with the assistance of the Virginia Cross Elementary School faculty. 
 
Actor, producer, director, David zum Brunnen has appeared in roles on stage, in films, commercials and videos—coast to coast—in the US and Canada.  His portrayal of Charles Dickens in The Night Before Christmas Carol has now been seen by millions on public television. Additionally, public television audiences have seen him in the national broadcast of EbzB’s War Bonds: The Songs & Letters of WWII, and as a frequent spokesperson with UNC-TV in North Carolina. 
 
Serena Ebhardt is an award-winning actress, director, playwright and teaching artist. She holds her B.A. in Dramatic Art from the University of North Carolina and received training as a teaching artist from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Lincoln Center Institute, and The National Center for Creative Aging. Ebhardt’s direction includes world premieres and national tours including Nnenna Freelon’s The Clothesline Muse, Tim Tyson’s Blood Done Sign My Name, EbzB Productions’ Brown v. Board of EducationLife Is So Good by George Dawson, and Mike Wiley Productions’ Dar He: The Lynching of Emmet Till
 
North Chatham Elementary School Artist-In-Residence Program with Acclaimed Actor and Playwright Mike Wiley.
 
Mike Wiley has spent more than a decade fulfilling his mission to bring educational, documentary theater to young audiences and communities across the country. Through his work, countless students have been introduced to the stories and legacies of Emmett Till, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, Henry “Box” Brown, The Freedom Riders and more. As part of NC Art Council’s “cARTwheels” program, Mike Wiley will present his acclaimed one-man production of Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart at North Chatham Elementary School. This residency is an active hands-on introduction to the world of creative writing, storytelling, and dramatic interpretation. The residency features a teachers’ professional development workshop, two matinee student performances and four days of student workshops.
 
Beginning with Mr. Wiley’s live performance of the play Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart, audiences will experience a powerful lesson of courage through the dedication and leadership of African-American athletes who pushed the color barrier to its breaking point. The play provides a glimpse of Robinson’s life during a bygone era of separate and unequal locker rooms, of whites-only hotels, and of restaurants with only a back door for “colored” athletes to enter. Students witness the hopeless humiliation of a star player who was showered with adulation on the field and became a second-hand citizen when he walked off the the diamond. They meet Jackie’s compatriots fighting the same battles between the end zones, inside the ring and around the track. Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart is a powerful lesson of courage through dedication, perseverance and leadership. The play intrigues, educates and sets one’s thirst for success on fire. Robinson: A Game Apart is a powerful lesson of courage through dedication, perseverance and leadership. The play intrigues, educates and sets one’s thirst for success on fire. 
During the residency following the performance, Mr. Wiley will guide students through various aspects of creative writing, storytelling and poetry. Film footage, oral histories, newspapers, diaries, letters and other archival sources will furnish raw materials for writing that speaks to histories larger than ourselves. The goal is to give students the tools to improve their writing skills, engage audiences with social commentary, rich civil rights history and diversity awareness. 
Mike Wiley is the 2010/2014 Lehman Brady Visiting Joint Chair Professor in Documentary Studies and American Studies at Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies and UNC-Chapel Hill. Wiley has been named the News and Observer’s “Tar Heel of the Week,” profiled in Our State magazine, spotlighted on UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Now” and North Carolina Public Radio’s “The State of Things.” He was named the 2012 Indie Artist of the Year by the Independent Weekly.
###

Contact: Cheryl Chamblee, Executive Director of the Chatham Arts Council, cheryl@chathamartscouncil.orgwww.chathamartscouncil.org919.542.0394

Don’t miss War Bonds in the 2015-2016 NFCC Artist Series

North Florida Community College is pleased to announce its 2015-2016 North Florida Community College Artist Series season featuring seven highly entertaining shows. The season begins Sunday, Sept. 20 and continues through March 2016. All performances are held at Van H. Priest Auditorium, located on the NFCC campus in Madison, Fla.

November 2015
War Bonds: The Songs & Letters of WWII on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. Award winning artists David zum Brunnen and Serena Ebhardt fill the stage with wartime memories and tunes in this musical journey through a war that redefined the world. Their multi-media living history cabaret is interspersed with personal letters from the front and headline news of the period, providing a warm reminiscence and a harrowing reminder of a time when the whole world seemed upside down. This performance is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs.

Serena Ebhardt honored by North Carolina Presenters Consortium


June 16, 2015

"I served when called and will gladly do it again."

-Serena Ebhardt


We had the pleasure of recognizing Serena Ebhardt for her 10+ years of hard work and dedication to the NCPC website including 123 Signup and Listserv.  She, with the support of stars like Perry Mixter were part of the foundation that shaped us!  We appreciate YOU!   

- Sherry Archibald, Sherry Archibald
Paramount Theatre Director
City of Goldsboro
NCPC President 2015

Memorial Day Compliment: War Bonds

Thank you for War Bonds and Songs.  I'm crying and smiling while cooking dinner.  Flooded with memories of my Mother's stories of the war years, her in Chicago and Dad overseas.  I tuned in late.  Darn, you only ran it once on our public tv station here in Medford Oregon.

Thank you, Thank you.
Patricia Barger

Resident Artists visiting Clarkton School of Discovery

Resident Artists visiting Clarkton School of Discovery



In a continued effort to offer the students at Clarkton School of Discovery an A+ education through opportunities in the Arts, we are pleased to welcome EbzB Productions to our campus.

Friday,April 17th, CSD students ​present​ed​ The Wisdom Givers. This production was completely created, researched, written, publicized, produced, and performed by the sixth graders ​at Clarkton School of Discovery. A grassroots grant, made possible by the North Carolina Arts Council, allowed us to bring in professional teaching artists, Serena Ebhardt and David zum Brunnen from E.B.Z.B. Productions to facilitate.
Inspired by an idea from a book on our 6th grade reading list, The​ ​Giver, Serena and David asked our students to interview and request the wisdom of older Bladen County citizens. The students documented the answers to these three questions…
1) What is wrong with our world?
2) What would you recommend we do to fix it?
3) What is right with our world?
The answers were compiled to create a script for today’s performance.
Popular music​ ​was​ ​incorporated into the production and it was fun to see the audience join​ ​in singing​ ​and dancing​ ​through the final song. There​ ​was a brief post-show discussion with the​ ​students and teaching artists.
​In addition to the performance, students created a blog to document the three week process. Photos, student work, audio projects and personal thoughts and comments can be found at ​http://wisdomgivers.blogspot.com
​This opportunity was made possible through a grant with the NC Arts Council. ​
David zum Brunnen and Serena Ebhardt, with EbzB Productions’ Teaching Artists asked us to share the following:
We just completed an Arts in Education residency at the Clarkton School of Discovery and while we shared our gratitude for the experience with the teachers specifically, we thought our letter to them worth sharing with the Bladen County community at large. As I’m sure many of you know, there are a lot of great things happening in Bladen County, and the Clarkton School of Discovery is certainly a shining example. Thanks so much for allowing us to visit there.
From our letter to the teachers at CSD…..
“Thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your 2015 winter and spring semester with The Wisdom Givers residency. We simply fell in love with your students, the Clarkton School of Discovery, and the people of Clarkton.
In case it’s not obvious to you in your everyday work, it’s apparent to us that you’ve got a great school, great faculty & great staff there. And even though many of the students were unable to complete the interview process, we were humbled by every single student’s initiative in any and all of the aspects of the residency in which they found a way to participate. They are all to be congratulated, particularly in light of the some of the discoveries made in the residency’s process that several of the students noted on Friday. We hope they will share more in the blog, and we hope their lives have been enriched at least in some small way. Ours certainly have been in our brief experience there.
Many, many thanks to Jennifer Marlowe for arranging our time there, and much gratitude to each of you for your support during our visits.”
All good wishes, 
David zum Brunnen and Serena Ebhardt
EbzB Productions’ Teaching Artists
www.ebzb.org
Tags : 

Compliment: In One Era - History lesson combines music, photos, and dancing.

David, Serena, and Julie,

We can't thank you enough for being here in Wadesboro and the great performance on Sunday. We will stay in touch and hopefully have you back soon.

Thank you.

Leslie Capell
Anson County Arts Council
Wadesboro, NC

Paul Green Foundation Newsletter Highlights "Native"

 Paul Green Foundation     
NEWS – February 2015



“Native” by Ian Finley
Deep Dish New Play Workshop 2015

Deep Dish Theater presented a developmental workshop of EbzB Productions'  “Native,” a new play by Triangle playwright and former Piedmont Laureate Ian Finley, January 14-18.  Directed by Serena Ebhardt, the workshop continued the company's 14th season at University Mall. 

 “Native” is based on the true story of the collaboration between North Carolina playwright icon, Paul Green, and the celebrated novelist Richard Wright, the author most famously of Native Son.  The two men were brought together to adapt Wright's novel for Orson Welles' 1941 Broadway production, and the play explores the battle of wills that ensued.

The very successful workshop was presented with script in hand, and the text continued to evolve over the five-day run. Audience members had the opportunity – which they took enthusiastically – to share their helpful reactions to the play in post-performance conversations.  Actors were David zum Brunnen as Paul Green and Gil Faison (most performances) as Richard Wright.


Deep Dish Theater provides EbzB with opportunity to workshop new play "Native" by Ian Finley.


Deep Dish Theater provides EbzB with opportunity to workshop
new play "Native" by Ian Finley.


Richard Wright and Paul Green adapting "Native Son" for the stage. Photo by Alexander M. Rivera

New Play Workshop 2015 - Native

Playwright Ian Finley
Native, written by Ian Finley, is based on the true story of the collaboration between celebrated playwright and North Carolina icon, Paul Green, and the celebrated novelist Richard Wright, the author most famously of Native Son. The two men were brought together to adapt Wright's novel for Orson Welles' Broadway production, and the play explores the battle of wills that ensued.

The workshop will be presented with minimal production values and script in hand, as the text continues to evolve. Audience members will have the opportunity to share their thoughts on the play in post-performance conversations, and rewrites will go on throughout the 5-performance run.

Performances begin Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday (matinee) at 2 p.m. Deep Dish is located in Chapel Hill's University Mall, on Estes Drive and US 15-501. The performance on Saturday evening, Jan. 17, will coincide with the theater's annual fundraising gala.

Tickets are $16. Tickets for the Saturday evening fundraiser are $60, or $110 per couple. Call (919) 968-1515 for reservations.

Dates: January 14 - January 18, 2015



News about New Play Workshop 2015 - Native

December 10th, 2014
New Play Workshop 2015 Announced!
Deep Dish Theater will present a developmental workshop of Native, a new play by Triangle playwright and former Piedmont Laureate Ian Finley, January 14-18. Directed by Serena Ebhardt, the workshop continues the company's 14th season at University Mall. 

Native is based on the true story of the collaboration between celebrated playwright and North Carolina icon, Paul Green, and the celebrated novelist Richard Wright, the author most famously of Native Son. The two men were brought together to adapt Wright's novel for Orson Welles' Broadway production, and the play explores the battle of wills that ensued.

Ian Finley is an area playwright and educator who served as the NC Piedmont Laureate in 2012. He received the Harry Kondoleon Award for playwriting while earning his MFA at New York University's Tisch School of Performing Arts. His plays include a 2-part musical adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure for Burning Coal Theatre Company in Raleigh, Up from the Ground for the Piedmont Laureate program, and two ten-minute plays for the Ackland Art Museum. He also serves as Head of Drama at Research Triangle High School.

The play is written for two actors who portray the principals and occasionally other supporting characters. Gil Faison, whose Deep Dish appearances include Jitney and the title role in Othello, will play Richard Wright. Opposite him will be David zum Brunnen, a long-time Deep Dish collaborator who appeared in Via Dolorosa and State of the Union. Director Serena Ebhardt's work includes staging the premiere production of Dar He at Deep Dish, and most recently, directing a revival of the Paul Green musical, Johnny Johnson, at UNC.

The workshop will be presented with minimal production values and script in hand, as the text continues to evolve. Audience members will have the opportunity to share their thoughts on the play in post-performance conversations, and rewrites will go on throughout the 5-performance run.

Performances begin Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday (matinee) at 2 p.m. Deep Dish is located in Chapel Hill's University Mall, on Estes Drive and US 15-501. The performance on Saturday evening, Jan. 17, will coincide with the theater's annual fundraising gala.

Tickets are $16. Tickets for the Saturday evening fundraiser are $65, or $110 per couple. Call (919) 968-1515 for reservations and visit www.deepdishtheater.org for information.

@newhopefilm April 2024: The Problem of the Hero at New Hope Film Festival, New Hope, PA.

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