This JAM is a look-back at my experiences growing up in the South, encounters with friends, family, and police, and recognizing positive role models in television programming, all while navigating through predominantly white environments. These memories propel me to continue the conversation that began with the flash mob. This JAM ain’t sweet!

A play-on-words, THE JAM pays homage to his great-grandmother, who after making jam from scratch would share with others what she was unable to consume herself.  THE JAM is Watts’continuation of that legacy, featuring his original spoken word sometimes set to music and/or dance.

https://youtu.be/bf9L5PiKWBQ

Watts is not alone in this production that features Gilbert L. Bailey, II (Book of Mormon) as music director and keyboardist, Derrick Baskin (Whorl Inside A Loop, Hulu’s Difficult People) as featured vocalist, Preston Dugger, III aka DJ Duggz (Motown, Memphis), Ephraim Sykes (Hamilton, HBO’s “Vinyl”) on drums, Taharqa Patterson (Lights Out On Broadway) on guitar, and Voltaire Wade-Greene (Hamilton) on bass.

Check out video of a previous performance of The Jam at the Clark Studio Theatre at Lincoln Center.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Broadway Black stars is their capacity to use their gifts not only as expressions of their craft, but to shape the narrative around issues that impact the community at large. Beautiful things often come from adversity. We are grateful that artists are using their platforms to make beautiful things out of the adversity we face. Daniel J. Watts’ THE JAM: Spoken Word Preserves will take place Monday, November 16 at 8pm at The Studio at Webster Hall. For more information click here.

The post Daniel J. Watts Presents THE JAM: Spoken Word Preserves appeared first on Broadway Black.

After filming a pilot presentation of “Difficult People” for USA Network and not getting picked up, streaming service Hulu picked up the comedy with a straight-to-series order. The comedy hails from Universal Cable Productions and marks the primarily cable-focused studio’s first series order at Hulu.

Created by comedian Julie Klausner, the show follows the lives of fictional Julie and pal Billy (Billy Eichner), two sarcastic and slightly bitter 30-somethings with a love for comedy. Their humor — and, by their own judgment, immense talents — were never fully recognized, for which they blame all of New York City.

Julie works as a TV recap writer, while Billy waits tables at a diner owned by their friends Denise (Gabourey Sidibe) and Nate (one of our favorite Broadway Black stars, Derrick Baskin). Throughout the season, the audience gets to watch how their relationships with each other develop. Special attention is given to the Nate/Billy relationship as we see they are more than co-workers; they are essentially a family. Moments between Baskin and Eichner allow us to see the characters’ vulnerability, and Baskin’s scenes with Sidibe show us how hilarious and off the wall the show can get. Through the season, viewers can delve even deeper into the backstories, and really explore those characters.

The show recently got picked up for a second season. “We have been big fans of ‘Difficult People’ from Day One and are so happy to have Julie and Billy be part of the Hulu family,” said Craig Erwich, senior VP and head of content for Hulu. “I cannot wait to see what a whole new season will bring and am pleased to bring more of their hilarious brand of comedy to fans.”

In its first season, the show has brought on some of the biggest names in TV, film and, of course, Broadway. With all the shows coming to the Great White Way this year, I can’t wait to see what Broadway Black stars will hit the show next.

“Difficult People” premiered Season One on Aug. 5 with the first two episodes and will release subsequent episodes weekly each Wednesday. This is completely defying its competitor’s binge-drop strategy, making the show seem like a cable show, by keeping the audience members waiting to see what will happen every week. Trust us, you’ll be in for a hoot.

Check out this interview of Baskin below, talking about his experience working on the set of “Difficult People” in NYC.

The post Derrick Baskin Shines on Difficult People + Season 2 Pickup appeared first on Broadway Black.

Photos by Joan Marcus.

Ryan Quinn, Nicholas Christopher, Derrick Baskin, Donald Webber Jr., Daniel J. Watts, Sherie Rene Scott

Ryan Quinn, Nicholas Christopher, Donald Webber Jr.,Chris Myers, Derrick Baskin

Daniel J. Watts and Chris Myers

Daniel J. Watts, Derrick Baskin, and Ryan Quinn.

Donald Webber Jr., Chris Myers, Derrick Baskin, Daniel J. Watts, Nicholas Christopher, and Ryan Quinn.

Whorl Inside a Loop is a new play by Dick Scanlan and Sherie Rene Scott and co-directed by Michael Mayer and Scanlan. After Scott and Scanlan went to Woodbourne Correctional Facility in New York to lead a one-day workshop on personal narratives, some of the inmates asked if they would come back and transform these monologues into a show. That’s exactly what they did. The play offers credit for additional material and a percentage of the profits to five of the men from the prison. Their monologues were woven into the script, and their names and nicknames were assigned to many of the characters.

A well-regarded actress agrees to teach six inmates how to tell their stories behind the bars of a men’s maximum security prison. Sharing intimate and sometimes hilarious details of their former lives, this unlikely group forms a bond — even as the actress’ life outside spins out of control. And when what happens in prison doesn’t stay there, no one is sure who to trust. From the team that brought you Everyday Rapture, this new play features Sherie Rene Scott and six men playing two dozen characters in a constant shifting of scenes, ages, genders and races. Whorl Inside a Loop explores the fine line between convicted felons and the criminal inside each of us, the viability of forgiveness and the unreliability of redemption.

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased here.

Dont have your tckts to #WhorlInsideALoop yet? @donaldwebber & @DWattsWords tell you how! @2STNYC #WeAreBroadwayBlack pic.twitter.com/386JXQbL6g

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) August 6, 2015

The post A Look Inside: Whorl Inside A Loop At Second Stage Theatre appeared first on Broadway Black.

Whorl Inside a Loop is an Off Broadway production that tells the story of an actress who volunteers at a maximum security prison and agrees to teach six inmates how to tell their stories. Sharing intimate and sometimes hilarious details of their former lives, this unlikely group forms a bond – even as the actress’ life spins out of control. And when what happens in prison doesn’t stay there, no one is sure who to trust.

(l-r top row: Sherie Renee Scott, Derrick Baskin, Nicholas Christopher bottom row: Chris Myers, Ryan Quinn, Daniel J. Watts, Donald Webber, Jr.

The play, co-authored by Scott and writer Dick Scanlan, features Scott and six men playing two dozen characters in a constant shifting of scenes, ages, genders, and races. Other cast members include Derrick Baskin, who received a 2005 Drama Desk award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance for his role as “Mitch Mahoney” in the Off-Broadway production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; Nicholas Christopher, who recently appeared as “Smokey Robinson” in Broadway’s blockbuster hit Motown: The Musical’s 1st National tour; Obie Award winner Chris Myers, who appeared in Soho Rep’s An Octoroon; Ryan Quinn, who’s appeared in several Off Broadway productions; Daniel J. Watts, who has been in After Midnight, In The Heights, Memphis, Motown, and others; and Donald Webber, Jr., who was in the original Broadway cast of Motown: The Musical and appeared in Holler If Ya Hear Me.

Whorl Inside A Loop is running at Second Stage Theatre from August 4-30. For tickets and show times, visit www.2st.com.

The post Previews Begin For Whorl Inside A Loop At 2econd Stage appeared first on Broadway Black.

Previously announced star Sherie Rene Scott will be joined by Derrick Baskin (…Spelling Bee), Nicholas Christopher (Motown), Chris Myers (An Octoroon), Ryan Quinn (King Lear), Daniel J. Watts (In the Heights), and Donald Webber, Jr. (Motown).

Performances are set to begin August 4, 2015 at 2econd Stage Theatre’s Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd street). Season subscriptions are currently available through 2st.com or by calling the box office at 212-246-4422.

Here’s how 2econd Stage is billing the production:

“A well-regarded actress agrees to teach six inmates how to tell their stories behind the bars of a men’s maximum security prison. Sharing intimate and sometimes hilarious details of their former lives, this unlikely group forms a bond — even as the actress’ life outside spins out of control. And when what happens in prison doesn’t stay there, no one is sure who to trust. From the team that brought you Everyday Rapture, this new play features Sherie Rene Scott and six men playing two dozen characters in a constant shifting of scenes, ages, genders and races. Whorl Inside A Loop explores the fine line between convicted felons and the criminal inside each of us, the viability of forgiveness and the unreliability of redemption.”

The post Whorl Inside A Loop Will World Premiere At 2econd Stage appeared first on Broadway Black.