PLAYWRIGHT PROCESS - Six triple eight w/ Mary McCallum
About the Play
Set during World War II as the first African-American female battalion arrives in Europe, this historical fiction play follows members of the 6888 Central Postal Battalion. Among them are Sammy, a young woman seeking adventure and romance; Cleopatra, a famous actress; Paige, a single mother trying to create a better life for her son; and Sadie, a woman with “second-sight”, who can see the future of others but keeps secrets of her own. Under the direction of Major Clarissa Dixon, they are faced with a seemingly impossible task to distribute 7 million pieces of undelivered mail to the soldiers in three months. Past productions and awards include: World Premiere - Darkhorse Theatre, Nashville; Verge Theatre, Nashville; Tampa Bay Theatre Festival: Best Play, 2014- Atlanta Black Theatre Festival: Best Play, Venus Adonis Festival- New York City, Radium Girls Festival- New York City
About the Talk
Mary McCallum will discuss her writing process for the award-winning historical fiction drama SIX TRIPLE EIGHT. Access to virtual reading available as part of talk or prior to/after talk. Q&A Session to follow. Suggested audiences: College/University Departments (Theatre, Creative Writing, English, History, Black Studies, Women Studies, ROTC and more); Corporate Events; Veterans Groups; Social, Sororal, and Fraternal Organizations; Writing Groups; Family Reunions
About the Playwright
Mary McCallum (Founder/Artistic Director/Executive Producer - SistaStyle Productions)
Mary received her B.S. and M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University. Her theatre acting credits include The Mountaintop, Fly, Girl!, The Face of Emmett Till, Never Been Home, Waitin’ 2 End Hell, A Raisin in the Sun, The Story, Lysistrata, The Desire, Pretty Fire, Long Time Since Yesterday, Louie and Ophelia, Hunger in Paradise and The Dance on Widow’s Row. She has also appeared in several films & T.V. One’s Fatal Attraction. Writing highlights: Her play SingleVille was a winner of the D.C. Black Theatre Festival One Act Battle and was a mainstage selection for the National Black Theatre Festival. Her play Six Triple Eight took top prize at the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival and Tampa Bay Theatre Festival. The movie version of SingleVille (writer, co-director, actress) won several awards in 2018 including Best Feature at the Twin Cities Black Film festival and the International Black Film Festival. Chasing Jeremy was a screenplay winner at the British Urban Film Festival and a finalist at the Urban World Film Festival. In 2019, she was a winner of the “Women Who Rock Nashville” award for the arts. In 2020, she was selected as librettist for Nashville Opera’s first mainstage commission One Vote Won.
Book a Virtual Page to Stage Talk - SIX TRIPLE EIGHT
Email us with your date preferences and budget, and we will contact you to discuss/confirm. Suggested fee is $250. We can work with budgets for HCBUs or programs with limited resources/special circumstances.
Book a Live Page to Stage Talk - SIX TRIPLE EIGHT
Email us with your date preferences and budget, and we will contact you to discuss/confirm. Suggested fee $400/day plus travel expenses.
Bring a full production of SIX TRIPLE EIGHT to your organization/institution
Email us and we will connect you with Mary McCallum to discuss arrangements/budget.