Founded by playwrights Ian Drife, Kristine Biadaszkiewicz, Steve Schultz, Ann Eskridge and Edward J. Thomas in June 2009, The Extra Mile is a group of Detroit-area playwrights, actors, directors & producers dedicated to getting new work to the public
Information
- Birthday:
- June 8, 2009
Photos
2 albumsSee All
Wall PhotosCreated about a month ago
November 2009 Staged ReadingCreated about 2 months ago
Events
1 upcoming eventSee All
- January 2010 Staged Reading
AJ's Music Cafe
Saturday, January 23 at 3:30pm
The Extra Mile Playwrights Group
Award-winning playwright, member of the Extra Mile Playwrights group,
and author, Ann Eskridge needs actors to participate in a staged
reading of a new musical, "Satin Doll." The reading will take place on
the afternoon of Saturday, January 23, 2010 at AJ's Cafe in Ferndale,
MI. This work-in-development is an African Amer......ican take on Pygmalion.
In the musical Satin Doll, hip hop collides with African American
middle class mores and changing to be accepted doesn’t necessarily mean
changing for the best when a conservative black television
commentatormakes a bet with his liberal friend that he can remake,
remodel, and remold a street urchin into a "lady" of substance who can
easily pass as the creme de la creme of the black bourgeoisie. And
suppose this bet hinges on a philosophical argument that being black
and poor is no excuse for not entering mainstream America. Liberal
friend, Robert Joyner, challenges conservative Edward Hollingsworth, to
take into his home one Black Booty aka Malika aka Eula Jean Johnson to
transform her into a lady of breeding, intellect, and manners. A woman
any man would long for. A perfect woman. This play is a variation of
Pygmalion. Conservative views clash withliberal ones. Middle class
black values, mores, and affectations clash with those of the street.
And one man's idea of the perfect woman maybe just as denigrating as
calling her a “nappy headed hoe”. Ann is a scholar, a writer and a
professor at U-D, Mercy, where she currently serves as Director of
African American Studies. If you are interested in learning more about
this project (and/orparticipating!), please contact Ann directly at
annesk@ameritech.net.www.anneskridge.com
Satin Doll, by Ann Eskridge
Time:3:30PM Saturday, January 23rd
Location:AJ's Music Cafe
The Extra Mile Playwrights Group
Satin Doll Cast
of Characters
The
main characters are black except the reporter, camera man, and the chorus of
chanters who can be any ethnicity
Malika aka Black Booty aka Eula Jean Johnson a: A street hustler and member of the booty
crew. She’s rough mannered, rough talking and tough. But underneath all that
black leather,... hip hop attire, and streetwise veneer is a simple girl who wants
most of all to be her own woman. Mid 20’s (strong voice that has a wide range
of singing styles)
Edward Hollingsworth: a sharp-tongued, arrogant black conservative
TV commentator who believes that African Americans perpetuate their
victimization by not conforming to the mainstream. He should know, he’s running
from his past. Mid to late 30’s.
Robert Joyner: A sometimes co-host for Edward’s show “The Middle
Passage” and a friend since childhood. As a liberal African American, he serves
as Hollingsworth’s conscience and sometime whipping boy. Mid to late 30’s.
Moonbeam Johnson: Malika’s wise grandfather. A homespun
philosopher. Mid to late 60’s.
Mrs. Pearce: A likeable, nosey, and attractive much put upon
housekeeper. She plays den mother to Hollingsworth and Joyner.
Mrs. Harris aka Mother: The guardian of African American middle
class morality. A woman who has a death grip on her daughter, Tina. Late 50’s
LaFreak: Yes, its “La”—like he knows French. A menacing, streetwise
misogynist. What Hollingsworth might have been had he not gone 360 degrees in
the opposite direction. Mid to late 20’s. (Raps more than sings)
Incidental Characters
Tina: A simple girl who doesn’t have the guts to defy her mother.
Mid 20’s.
BSweet: Also in mid 20’s, a follower not a leader. Same problem as
Tina; she doesn’t speak up for herself.
Ghetto Thug : Just like his name says (monologue)
Harold and Neketa: a couple can be anywhere between 20’s to 40’s.
Reporter: Woman
indeterminate age
Camera Man: Man indeterminate age ( no lines)
A chorus: about six people who can chant and sing and hum
(can’t get any easier than that)
The Extra Mile Playwrights Group
Award-winning playwright, member of the Extra Mile Playwrights group,
and author, Ann Eskridge needs actors to participate in a staged
reading of a new musical, "Satin Doll." The reading will take place on
the afternoon of Saturday, January 23, 2010at AJ's Cafe in Ferndale,
MI. This work-in-development is an African Amer...ican take on Pygmalion.
In the musical Satin Doll, hip hop collides with African American
middle class mores and changing to be accepted doesn’t necessarily mean
changing for the best when a conservative black television
commentatormakes a bet with his liberal friend that he can remake,
remodel, and remold a street urchin into a "lady" of substance who can
easily pass as the creme de la creme of the black bourgeoisie. And
suppose this bet hinges on a philosophical argument that being black
and poor is no excuse for not entering mainstream America. Liberal
friend, Robert Joyner, challenges conservative Edward Hollingsworth, to
take into his home one Black Booty aka Malika aka Eula Jean Johnson to
transform her into a lady of breeding, intellect, and manners. A woman
any man would long for. A perfect woman. This play is a variation of
Pygmalion. Conservative views clash withliberal ones. Middle class
black values, mores, and affectations clash with those of the street.
And one man's idea of the perfect woman maybe just as denigrating as
calling her a “nappy headed hoe”. Ann is a scholar, a writer and a
professor at U-D, Mercy, where she currently serves as Director of
African American Studies. If you are interested in learning more about
this project (and/orparticipating!), please contact Ann directly at
annesk@ameritech.net.www.anneskridge.com
www.anneskridge.com
The Extra Mile Playwrights Group No staged reading in December, due to the holidays. Be sure to be there for our January reading!
The Extra Mile Playwrights Group Shots from our "Pre-Thanksgiving Sampler"
The Extra Mile Playwrights Group We would like to thank everyone who came out to see the staged reading, and of course everyone who read! Tell your friends about us and keep the crowd growing for our next staged reading, which will be in January.
The Extra Mile Playwrights Group Be sure to be at AJ's Music Cafe today at 4:00 for this month's staged reading! (Readers please be there by 3:30)
The Extra Mile Playwrights Group Don't forget, scripts for this Saturday's staged reading will be available tonight at AJ's!
The Extra Mile Playwrights Group Our monthly group meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 9 (just a few days before the readings) at AJ's. If you're interested in seeing a script being used at the readings, come by between 7-9 PM!
The Extra Mile Playwrights Group
The Extra Mile Playwrights Group presents their second staged reading: Four short plays by four not-necessarily-short playwrights.
We are looking for actors to read for us, and of course an audience for the event! There are a number of roles, which are listed below, so let us know if you're interested in reading (many o...f these roles can be doubled). And even if you're not, be sure to come and watch!
Please note: Some of these plays involve adult themes and language. No one under 18 please.
Plays to be read and their characters:
MILKMAN
by Ian Drife
GRANT: Just drafted, dressed in dress pants and shirt, unsure of his new place in world, 20’s
DOCTOR: Drafted, prefers subjects to people, wears glasses on his head that he takes down when making examinations, holds on to clipboard and takes notes, 30’s
MAJOR: Career Army man, now a pencil pusher instead of on front lines, 50’s
PRIVATE: Earnest, eager to please those he considers his betters, runs almost everywhere, 18
SCREWING THE SECOND
by K. Biadaszkiewicz
PART I: XMAS IN AMERICA
INA LIBERTY - A girl
PAUL LIBERTY - Her brother
MIKE LIBERTY - Their father
SUSAN LIBERTY - Their mother
DONNA CADENZA - A play-by-number organist
GUESTS - Adult choir members
PART II: DUDE INDIGO
Ertia - A concerned mother
Indigo - A man who knows the ropes
TWO DAYS AT THE PARK
by Steve Schultz
BOBBIE -a 7 year old boy from the 1970’s
JULES -a 5 year old girl from the 1970’s (can be doubled with JULIE)
MOM -an off stage voice (can be doubled with IRRATATED WOMAN)
ROBERT -a man in his late 30’s
IRRITATED WOMAN -an off stage voice
JULIE -a 5 year old girl from today
LIFE AND DEATH ON A PARK BENCH
by Edward J. Thomas
LIFE – ageless, sexless – the embodiment of Life. Impatient and a workaholic.
DEATH – ageless, sexless – the embodiment of Death. Tries to have fun with the job to keep from going crazy.
Time:4:00PM Saturday, November 14th
Location:AJ's Music Cafe
The Extra Mile Playwrights Group Saturday, November 14 is our next staged reading, with four short plays from four playwrights. We still need actors to help read, so let us know if you're interested!
The Extra Mile Playwrights Group We are scheduling our next staged reading for Saturday, November 14 from 4:00 to 7:00. It will feature short works from four of our playwrights! As usual, we invite you all to come, and if you're interested in reading just let us know! An official event invite is forthcoming.
The Extra Mile Playwrights Group Our first read-thru was a success! Thanks to AJ and everyone else involved. There will be another next month, so stay tuned!
The Extra Mile Playwrights Group We're off to AJ's Music Cafe this afternoon for the reading of ...a conscious choice! Hope to see you there!
