Clark Arts is proud to present “The American of Wisconsin and the Story of Two Lovers by a Bridge,” a new play from Boston playwright — and Company One Theatre (founded by Clarkies) board member — John ADEkoje. The play centers around Gebnga, a Nigerian stand up comedian trying to find his way in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. Tackling themes of love, gentrification, identity, and race, “The American of Wisconsin” asks audience the primal question of who we are, and how we are affected by our surroundings.
“The American of Wisconsin” is directed by Danny Balel ’08, who teaches theatre arts at Clark.
Every other year, Clark commissions the work of a playwright of color for a play to be produced in the Little Center Theatre. This commission is made possible through Clark’s Goldie Michelson Fund. Learn more about Goldie Michelson, M.A. ’36, here.
John Oluwole ADEkoje is a graduate of Humboldt State University with a M.F.A. in dramatic writing and an M.A. in film production. He is national award winner of the Kennedy Center: ACTF-Lorraine Hansberry playwriting award for the play “Streethawker,” as well as the 2006 Roxbury Film Festival’s Award for Emerging Local Filmmaker for the documentary “Street Soldiers,” which shown at Le Festival du Film Panafricain (Cannes) and Festival des Films du Monde (Montréal).
Most recently, ADEkoje was the winner of the National Tri Annual New Play Competition for Professional Writers and has received the Brother Thomas Fellowship Award for “Streethawker.” His short play “Love Jones” was produced at the Boston Fringe Festival — Company One, Boston Theatre Marathon, and was the winner of the Strawberry One Act Festival in Hollywood. Company One has also produced a full-length mounting of his play, 6 Rounds/6 Lessons at the Boston Center For The Arts; he most recently made his acting debut in Company One’s production of The Overwhelming by, J.T. Rogers. John is a Playwright-In-Residence at Company One, an Artist in Residence at UMASS Boston, and an Affiliate Artist at the Providence Black Repertory Company.
