Celeste Bedford Walker
I have a canon of over forty plays including comedies, dramas, musicals, mysteries, historical dramas and plays about social injustice/justice issues. What drives and inspires my writing is a passion to present American Blacks in a wholistic light, as joyful, loving, courageous human beings with dignity and an unconquerable will to not only survive but to thrive.
I’ve been fortunate to be the recipient of several awards and honors, including The National Black Theatre Festival’s August Wilson Best Playwright’s Award, the NAACP Theatre Award for Best Play and Best Playwright for my play Camp Logan; the AUDELCO Award for Best Play Revival for Reunion in Bartersville; Broadwayworld.com’s Best Play Award for Sassy Mamas, which also just won the 48th Annual AUDELCO Award for Best Ensemble with the Black Spectrum Theatre; Women’s Theatre Festival of Memphis’ Gyneka Award for contributions to the world of theatre; the Ensemble Theatre’s Salute to Texas Playwrights and a BOLD New Play Commission for that theatre, as well as 2000 finalist in the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for Distant Voices. I’m always mindful to write history plays for our youth, I, Barbara Jordan originally commissioned by the Alley Theatre, tours schools every year. My play The Red Blood of War was finalist in 38th Samuel French OOB Festival and has been selected for the May 2020 Wm. Inge New Play Lab Festival. Greenwood: An American Dream Destroyed was recently workshopped at the Black and Latino Playwright’s Celebration at Texas State University and is slated for a production in Tulsa Oklahoma in
WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA
http://celestebedfordwalker.com
FB: Celeste Walker
TW:@CelesteWalker47
MORE ABOUT ME
My most gratifying moment in theater was my recent participation in the Honor Roll! and Repro Freedom Arts' sponsored “Say Their Name Plays and Monologues about women killed by police brutality. My monologue, called NeNe, was also included in the Breath Project. I want artistic directors to think outside of the box when it comes to playwrights who aren't as well known. I keep doing theater for the people.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON
Right now I'm working on a mini musical for a wonderful class I'm taking in Black Theatre Girl Magic. The piece is, called "Where My Girls At" about the hopes, dreams, and fears of at-risk teenage girls between 15-17.
KEYWORDS
American Blacks, Historical, Political
