Welcome to Wray's Plays
If you love theater, the way it makes you laugh and cry, gives you chills, makes you shudder, hold your breath, scratch your head and say -
"Wow, I didn't know that, never looked at things that way before . . . hmm, maybe I should _________"
That's why P. A. Wray loves theater, why she writes these plays.
A Virginia Playwright
Hello, I'm P. A. Wray
I've been learning the craft and writing plays
for over 20 years
Some are complete, published, been produced multiple times
Most are historically-based works in progress
All address the human condition -
personal flaws and strengths
societal failures and triumphs
the way we
harm, heal, move forward
WRAY'S NAT TURNER STRUGGLE PLAYS, A RESEARCH PAPER AT ASALH
FEARFUL SYMMETRY: TURNING TURNER'S INSURRECTION INTO ART
THE SUBMISSION
THE ACCEPTANCE NOTICE
dr. margaret bernice smith bristow, RESEARCHER
Dr. Margaret Bernice Smith Bristow was born in Newport News, Virginia on February 20, 1950 and has remained in the area her entire life. She attended Dunbar-Erwin Elementary School from 1956 to 1963, before enrolling at Huntington High School, where she graduated in 1968. She went on to receive her B.S. (1972) and her M.S. (1974) in English Education from Hampton University. In 1990, she earned her Ed.D. from the University of Virginia. Dr. Bristow taught English at many high schools and universities in the Hampton Roads area. Community activism is very important to Dr. Bristow. She started a community business called BERNICE, Better Education Resources Needed in Community Education. Dr. Bristow also volunteers at local elementary schools to help children with reading.
Nat Turner's Last Stuggle Hits NYC November 2024
THE 2ND INTERATION OF NAT TURNER'S STORY
This interation introduces the Great Mother archetype - She comes from our common source, and when a destined one complete's their work - she's there to take them home, showing the universality of our comon humanity. We are honored to have Calliope Creative Foundation produce this play in The Riverside Theater (TRT) inside the iconic and social justice seeking Riverside Church in Morningside Heights, NYC.
PRODUCED BY THIS 20 + YEAR OLD COMPANY
Calliope Creative Foundation was founded in the year of 2001 for the purpose of introducing and exposing young aspiring artists to the various disciplines of theater, and to prepare them for the professional theater, television, and film industries--as well as prepare them for the highly competitive world that they will inherit.
The mission of Calliope Creative Foundation is to inspire and support a reinvigorated Black Theatre through arts education and professional stage productions.
LEAD BY CURTIS STEWART AND TAMAYLIA SAMMS
Mr. Curt Stewart, Producer/Director, has 52 years of professional experience in the various disciplines of theater, twenty-six years--producing some of the nation’s most accomplished artists; has a master's degree in writing and Advanced Studies in Philosophy
Ms. Tamaylia Samms, Director of Operations and Programs, has twenty-five years of experience in running youth service programs; an educator, non-profit administrator, and a professional counselor, with an undying love of the arts. Ms. Samms is a graduate of Columbia University.
PICTURE OF A ZOOM MEETING WITH PUBLISHER, WRITER AND PRODUCER AND DOO
WHO WILL TAKE THEIR PRODUCTION TO THIS BEAUTIFUL, SIGNIFICANT CHURCH. Founded on the belief that the arts can be a transforming power in peoples’ lives, TRT has presented and provided access to performing artists from all over the world including historic ties to Alvin Ailey, Joseph Papp’s Shakespeare in the Park, and recent prominent guests from The Moth to Columbia University. An institution where the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela have brought political action and civil rights to the stage, all events are welcome at TRT.
oTHER NEWS: A Rave Review in Oregon
Nat Turner's Last Struggle
Very Little Theater - one of the oldest Commuity Theaters in this country, produced this piece as Readers Theater and garnered a rave review. "
"Without divulging too much of the meat of the play, I found myself entirely on Nat’s side as he wrapped up his self-defense. The story of Nat Turner has always struck a chord with me, even as a dry academic matter. Seeing it smartly dramatized was a singular experience in my American life."
"It’s a remarkable work, one I would unhesitatingly watch again, and one I am sad to say, you have missed for the moment.." - by Kelly Oristano, Eugene Scene, Nov 14, 2022
RIVER OF STRUGGLE PLAYS at Proteus Festivals
Featured in the Proteus New Plays Festival at Zieders American Dream Theater Oct 1 & 7, 2022
Responses:
"It was breathtaking and beautiful." - Jackie Grace
"I thought I was going to have a heart attack it was so powerful." - M. Clements
"This whole section of the play [vision quest] made me weep . . . so sad, hopeful, all the feelings."
Robi
Featured in the Proteus New Plays Festival at Zieders American Dream Theater Oct 1 & 7, 2022
Responses:
"It was breathtaking and beautiful." - Jackie Grace
"I thought I was going to have a heart attack it was so powerful." - M. Clements
"This whole section of the play [vision quest] made me weep . . . so sad, hopeful, all the feelings."
Robin Martineau
"We enjoyed how you transformed colonial black female history into a play that artistically and -- social conscience-shakingly-- addresses our present day racial and identity issues! . . . Your talent as a social justice with artful alchemy playwright stands out! We need u! Art needs u! Elizabeth Key needed u! Now psychology in individuation needs u! -
Dr. Maragret Bristow, Historian for
Hampton Roads ASALAH
(Association for the Study of African American Life and History)
Featured in the Proteus New Plays Festival at Zieders American Dream Theater Sept 30 & Oct 1, 2023
Responses:
"I didn't know a staged reading could be so powerful. But this one captured me and wouldn't let go. The script, the acting, the history - it all worked."
Mike Zeiders
"Congratultions on the new play. I thought the relationship be
Featured in the Proteus New Plays Festival at Zieders American Dream Theater Sept 30 & Oct 1, 2023
Responses:
"I didn't know a staged reading could be so powerful. But this one captured me and wouldn't let go. The script, the acting, the history - it all worked."
Mike Zeiders
"Congratultions on the new play. I thought the relationship between the husband and wife was solid and I was complety blown away by the unexpected mystical elements! Keep up the great work."
Chip Fortier
"I loved it. Excellent readers, the emotions, too - extremely high kudos to you for fitting them in with abundance through mixing careful, societal correct for the time period, word choice dialog with subtle gestures. Not just the husband and wife interactions, but Macon and both of them, as well as the meaning of the general to the southern freed folk. Very nicely done."
C.j. X Pression
Photo Gallery
2022: A BLOG POST ABOUT US
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READ ALL ABOUT IT!!
Twists And Turns Hidden: Stories Of American Racial Intersection
A Blog in Publishing Company,
Have Scripts Blue Moon Plays by Jean Hughes Klein
"These stories of intersectionality are what define us, tell us who we were, and suggest who we should be. With that in mind, I am looking to find those stories that have the touch of legend, of the extraordinary, of the memorable but most importantly, of the commonplace, in re-defining the American Dream." Klein https://havescripts.com/twists-and-turns/ for the entire blog
The Story Of The White Convertible
"The story of Wray’s search for Nat Turner had its origins in her youth. When she was sixteen, her grandmother, whose maiden name was Turner, asked Wray to drive her to Southampton County for a Turner family event. Wray immediately said yes, partly because her grandmother had just purchased a cool new white Impala Convertible with a baby-blue interior. The two reportedly tied on bandanas, put their sunglasses on, and headed for the country with the radio blaring." Klein
The Legacy Of Missy Whitehead
As Wray explored her past, she discovered that Missie Whitehead was her third-great aunt. " I may not share Nat’s blood, but the blood of my family members was spilled in his rebellion, as was Nat’s after he was caught — and both are still in the soil there . . . the bodies of my family were mishandled, as was Nat’s by some of the same people — and their bones are still buried in the ground somewhere there . . . What a painful legacy we two share." Wray
2022: our First college production
Nat Turner's Last Struggle: Finding His Way Home
Metropolitan Community College Longview’s
Black History Month's Show Feb 24-26, 2022
in the MCC Longview Cultural Arts Center Theatre
The Amazing Set and Young Cast
Words from the Director of Theater at MCC
Words from the Director of Theater at MCC
"Opening night of NAT TURNER'S LAST STRUGGLE, went great. With the snow, I thought we would have few attend, but I was pleasantly surprised. We were just at 80% capacity and the show received a great reception from the audience. Come out and see this powerful production. Keith Townsend, Director, Feb 24, 2022
Words from the Director of Theater at MCC
Words from the Director of Theater at MCC
Words from the Director of Theater at MCC
"The audience response was awesome. This was a great production opportunity for our students. It was such a great experience for our program. The audience loved it. Second night audiences had the same positive response to the show. The script is a winner." Keith Townsend, Director, Feb 25, 2022.
2021 Recap: Wray's plays went national
Virginia Stage Company
We Went International with Nat's Last Struggle
Conejo Players Theatre
"Fantastic, a new perspective on Nat Turner, so appropriate, and dynamic – I applaud the writer and performance, I think it needs a wider audience"
Bruce Williams, African American Cultural Center, Virginia Beach, Va.
"So moving. I am undone. It needs to be seen in Germany.
"Suzanne Dowaliby, performing artist in Saarbrucken, Germany
Conejo Players Theatre
We Went International with Nat's Last Struggle
Conejo Players Theatre
"The play was awesome and very informative. The schools don't teach or teach enough about Nat Turner and I wish that there was or can be a dvd on the play. Just in case you missed something while you were watching the play, to have on hand to watch or just to start a discussion on the play. The crew did an excellent job!!!!"
Stacie Torrence
We Went International with Nat's Last Struggle
We Went International with Nat's Last Struggle
We Went International with Nat's Last Struggle
This full length, one act-play about Nat Turner, leader of the Slave Rebellion in Southampton, County, Va., went international and professional with virtual productions by Virginia Stage Company in Norfolk, Virginia in 2020. In 2021 two theaters in California live-streamed productions - all bringing accolades and new fans from across the country and beyond!!