February 1999 (original) (raw)

Ed Shockley was born in South Philadelphia, the son of a registered nurse and an ex-con. After a youth spent as a student and athlete, he decided to "attempt reshaping the world with words." Mr. Shockley has worked with blues great Little Brother Montgomery, jazz trombonist Bobby Irving, saxophonist Bobby Zankel, and composer and novelist James McBride. Their second creation, Bobos, was awarded the Richard Rodgers Award and the Stephen Sondheim award for Outstanding Contributions to American Musical Theatre. Mr. Shockley has helped in the design and founding of the Rainbow Company, the Philadelphia Young Playwrights' Festival, Reality Crew, the Philadelphia Dramatists Center, and the American Concert Theatre. Mr. Shockley has a long list of published and produced plays, and books of poetry and prose. Current projects include Outlaw, a film directed by Joe Morton, starring Ruby Dee, Benjamin Bratt, and Charles Dutton; and Notes from a Practicing Writer, essays on the craft and art of playwrighting.

The above picture is from a production of Mr. Shockley's play Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, adapted from the novel by M.D. Taylor.