Playwriting and Songwriting

This winter, I tried on a new hat for my most recent theatre project "Six impossible Things" (produced by Filament Theatre Ensemble). We all tried something we've never done before, and mine was songwriting. Dressed as the Scarecrow or Good Witch of the North, I played the guitar thru a mansion on the Chicago Shoreline as we shared the tales of Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan all in one golden afternoon. The most rewarding part of the process was the process itself, where we were all able to explore our favorite ways to tell a story and join together: mine being hip-hop, yoga and music.

I also taught an after school class for Writers Theatre Company in Glencoe, IL where the students were taught the basics of creating a play from scratch: whether it be writing, performing or backstage business. With the help of two glorious writers we came up with a piece for them to perform entitled: ANANSI the Spider. The Musical. by Ballah Mahla, Dot the I and M.H.UNE.

Check out the Lyrics to We B the Daughters of Anansi:

THE DAUGHTERS OF ANANSI

ANANSI
HOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLA!

CHORUS
WE BE
THE DAUGHTERS
OF ANANZI
OUR SPECIAL
SKILLS
MAKE THE GRASS GROW GREEN
DAY AND NIGHT
WE TRY TO MAKE ENDS MEET
ALL FOR OUR WONDERFUL MOTHER
ANANZI

ANANSI
THAT’S ME!

C-TROUBLE
I’m SEE-TROUBLE!
With the power of sight
I’ll catch you creeping up on me be it day or night
Must protect my mommy keep her safe from harm
But be chill everybody cause my eyes are my charm!

ROAD BUILDER
I am ROAD BUILDER!
Check out my muscles
My two strong arms
Got the town new buses
I’ll do anything for Mama/Prima Donna/Wait and see
Just WA-WA-WAatch me do it, ANANZI!

RIVER DRINKER
OOOH I’M SO THIRSTY
I CAN DRINK ME A WHOLE LAKE!
WELL MY NAME’S RIVER DRINKER
THIS’LL BE A PIECE OF CAKE!
(((((GLUG-GLUG-AHHH!!!)))))
THAT WAS SO DELICOUS!
(((EEEH-EEEH-EHHH!)))))
ANYBODY WANT SOME FISHES!

CHORUS

G-SKINNER
I’M G SKINNER

STONE-T
AND I’M STONE T!

G-SKINNER
OUR SKILL IS TO KILL

STONE-T
BUT WE AIN’T MEAN

G-SKINNER
WE ONLY BUST A MOVE

STONE-T
WHEN THE TIME IS EXTREME!

G-SKINNER and STONE-T
BECAUSE

CHORUS

CUSHION
I AM THE BABY
QUIET AND MEEK
THEY ALL CALL ME CUSHION
CAUSE I’M SO SWEET
But don’t get me wrong
I am still twice as strong
Twice as hard to to beat
CAUSE

CHORUS
We are the daughters
We are the daughters
We are the
We are the
We are the
We be the daughters of ANANZI!
ANANAZI
HOLLA AT ME!