Pulling It All Into The Current at United Solo @ Theatre Row

Letta Neely

Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Letta is a Black lesbian playwright, performer, poet, mother, teacher and community activist who has been involved in progressive, anti-racist and queer liberation movements all her adult life. Her work focuses on the connections and intersections of queerness, Blackness, and awareness. Letta’s first play, Hamartia Blues, was produced by The Theater Offensive at the Boston Center for the Arts in 2002 and received two IRNE [Independent Reviewers of New England] award nominations. Her plays "Last Rites" and "Shackles & Sugar" have been produced in Boston, Philly, and Los Angeles. In addition to the chapbooks gawd and alluh huh sistahs and When We Were Mud, Letta has written two books of poetry, Juba and Here (Wildheart Press), both finalists for the Lambda Literary Awards. Her literary work has been included in numerous anthologies, scholarly journals, and magazines, including Through the Cracks, Sinister Wisdom; Common Lives, Lesbian Lives, Rag Shock, African Voices, Rap Pages, Catch the Fire, Does Your Mama Know, and Roll Call—a Generational Anthology of Social and Political Black Literature & Art. As a Traces/ Remain Ensemble member with Deen Rawlins-Harris, she collaborated with Toshi Reagon’s Emerson College residency, Parable Path Boston, to develop the Seed to Harvest Book Project. Letta is also a co-artistic director for Fort Point Theatre Channel. She is the editor and scriptwriter of Ife Franklin's "The Slave Narratives of Willie Mae" (book and film). Letta hosts FireWater Poetics (a hybrid open mic w/ feature) at Emerson College each month. She directed Renita Martin's play, "Unmasked," for Revolution of Values, produced by Greg Allen. She is an NEFA grant recipient of both Collective Imagination for Spatial Justice and Public Art for Spatial Justice funding. Letta recently took on the role of Makayla in Lyralyn Kaye's AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth), an award-winning web series. Finally, Letta is the Associate Director of Programs at Apprentice Learning. She collaborated with Greg Allen on her first solo play, which she wrote and performed. Currently, “Pulling It All Into The Current” is touring various cities throughout the United States. Letta is the Co-Artistic Director of A Revolution Of Values Theatre Project.

Greg Allen

Greg Allen is a director, educator, and producer based in Boston, MA. He holds the position of Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Theatre at Northeastern University, Boston, and is actively engaged as a stage director, contributing significantly to the theater community. Throughout his extensive career, Greg has overseen a multitude of college, university, and professional productions, showcasing his diverse range of talents. Noteworthy among Greg's directorial achievements is his work on Letta Neely's solo spoken word play, 'Pulling It All Into The Current,' which achieved success in Boston, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and the United Solo Theatre Festival in New York City for which it was awarded 'Best Drama' and 'Best Direction.' This production is presently embarking on a tour across several cities in the United States. He has also directed 'Mommy Are We Poor?' by Richard Ravosa and 'Polaroid Stories' by Naomi Iizuka at Northeastern University. Additionally, Greg is the creative force behind 'Thunder - A Musical Memoir,' a one-person show featuring acclaimed Broadway tap dancer Jimmy Tate. This production graced the stage at the New York International Fringe Festival and earned the Outstanding Choreography award. Greg's work has found its place in respected venues like the Francis Anne Cannon Workshop Theater, Ensemble Studio Theater, and Bleeker Street Theater in New York City. His productions have been presented in Boston at the Strand Theater, Mosesian Center for the Arts, Boston Center for the Arts, and the Garde Arts Center in Connecticut. Greg's educational background is marked by a theater degree from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.F.A. in Theater Directing from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He also holds an M.Ed. from Cambridge College. Beyond his impressive credentials, Greg has contributed to the education sector, having taught at institutions such as the Boston Public Schools, Umass Amherst, and Mass Bay Community College.At present, Greg serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Northeastern University Department of Theatre. He also assumes the role of Co-Artistic Director of the A Revolution of Values Theatre Project and holds an Artistic Director position at Fort Point Theatre Channel in Boston. His dedication to the arts and education continues to shape and enrich the theatrical landscape.