Ryan Travis participated in a talk-back segment at Art Rage earlier this year.
We got word that two artistic figures will be departing: Ryan Hope Travis and Tim Bond. It’s always hard to see good people leave,but we were glad we got to meet them and experience the fruits of their artistic labor.
We wish them both good luck and continued success.
Timothy Bond (right) interviewed Brian Dennehy for Orange Central in 2013.
Thanks to The Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company (PRPAC) for choosing one of our photos for their most recent production. The PRPAC is producing “Mama Said There Would Be Days Like This” with Omanii Abdullah at Jazz Central. We saw a similar production when it was staged at CFAC. The shows were directed by Ryan Johnson-Travis.
A Shout in Salty Water is a one man/one act play that serves up some answers to single fatherhood. But it also raises some questions as well.
The name of the play, which was conceived and performed by Ryan Johnson-Travis (directed by Joseph Trevino), was derived in part by the definition of Salina (as in Salina Street…think Landmark Theater, Rite Aid and the old Centro hub). Salina is defined as a salt pit or salt marsh. Many of the brothers portrayed in the show seem trapped in what seems like pockets of despair and closets of hopelessness.
Are the men dead-beats or just dead broke? Why are some voluntarily absent from their children? Why do they feel their pie in the sky has been reduced to crumbs?
These are some of the serious issues Johnson-Travis tackles on stage (and in the question and answer session). The performance takes you on an emotional roller coaster.
Maybe the most creative parts of the play are the actor/director vignettes (are they real or imagined) and the hilarious re-enactment of a dialogue with a Syracuse Post Standard reporter. But this is not about fun and games, which is evident when on opening night, Johnson-Travis fights through tears to sing about a slain 6-month old.
This complex experience is like being inside the head of a single father, yet inside the head of someone studying them/interviewing them as well.
The show concludes tonight. We look forward to a second act in the future.
Kudos again to CFAC and Johnson-Travis for collaborating on this must-see stage endeavor.
Corcoran, Obeng and Jordan: Three of the seven ladies who took the stage to discuss race and gender at CFAC tonight.
Bravo to director and actor Ryan Johnson-Travis. The theater man continues to write, direct and produce some creative stage work along the Connective Corridor Arts District. His latest conception, “When We Were Wanderers” closed tonight to a packed house at the Community Folk Art Center’s Black Box Theater. The play touched on a plethora of emotions, and honestly explored race and gender from a female perspective.
Later this weekend brothers will grace the stage at CFAC for the CNY Mocha Men production by Me’Shae Brooks Rolling. The Mocha Men event will focus on financial literacy.
PRPACs Ryan Johnson-Travis and the Connective Corridor’s Linda Dickerson Hartsock take a break from their booths during Urban Cinematheque at the Everson Plaza on Friday night. This year were fortunate to meet and interview these two guiding lights in our city.
Here is a conversation with social entrepreneur Ryan Johnson-Travis, who aims to reposition, rebrand, and resurrect the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company.
CNS senior Kierrah Titus took her skills to the CFAC stage during the Cabaret & Conversation program last week. Titus sang a Beyonce song.
A rejuvenated Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company (PRPAC) took theater back to its roots when they collaborated with high school students and parents in the area to produce “Cabaret & Conversation” at The Community Folk Art Gallery (CFAC) last week. The show was developed with PRPAC following a controversy at CNS High when the school cast an all-white ensemble for “The Wiz.”
In the clip above, Dionna Owens and Justin Tanksley interpreted a duet by Rhianna and Mikkey Ekko.
Actress Karin Franklin King and PRPAC Artistic Director Ryan Johnson-Travis present artist Cheryl Wilkins-Mitchell with an award.
Performance poet Omanii Abdullah presented a one man show called New Shoes... at the Community Folk Art Center tonight. The performances continue through the weekend with new work such as "8:02 am" and classics like " I wanna be the kinda father my mother was." The show is directed by Ryan Johnson-Travis.