Interview with Antu Yacob: NYNP Playwright of THE FIRSTS
Posted by MB - February 22, 2013
We sat down with playwright, Antu Yacob, whose moving play, THE FIRSTS, was featured in the New York New Playwright Festival in February 2013. THE FIRSTS is an educational play that highlights and celebrates prominent African American Women who were “the firsts” at something, and their place in American History. A couple weeks after NYNP, Antu (AY) reflects on the Festival.
PY: Where did you get the idea for THE FIRSTS?
AY: I got the inspiration to write THE FIRSTS from my work with (Project Y co-Artistic Director) Michole Biancosino at an event called Rutgers Day where I was playing the lawyer and Rutgers alum, Julia Baxter Bates. As I performed that monologue, many educators would talk to me afterwards about how they wished the piece was longer. After RU Day, Michole and I spoke about the possibility of creating a piece and performing tours for junior high/high school students to educate them on specific African American female figures that achieved greatness within the course of American history.
PY: What was your experience of rehearsing/performing for the NYNP Festival?
AY: It was exciting, as this was my first time working with the festival. I also found it really inspiring to know that there were several other playwrights being given the opportunity to have their stories pro
duced on a New York stage for the first time. The whole Project Y Company was extremely professional, flexible and warm to me and the other artists I brought in to work on the piece.
PY: What is the future for THE FIRSTS?
AY: I think that the piece will continue to grow and evolve in terms of meaning and depth to reach our target audience. The positive feedback we received from adults who watched the show during the festival made performing the piece for college students an option. The next step - and this is the part we are in the process of working through now - is to get this piece into schools within the tri-state area.
PY: Any final thoughts?
AY: It was such a pleasure working with Michole Biancosino who is a visionary. I am grateful to have been a part of this theatrical collaboration that allows new voices to be heard.