March 02, 2006
Queens, N.Y. -
Appearance Highlights Classic Caribbean
Stage & Screen Series, March 22
St. John’s University, partnering with the Caribbean Cultural
Theatre welcomes noted Jamaican writer, producer, director and
actor Trevor Rhone to its Queens campus on March 22 to present his
autobiographical play “Bellas Gate Boy” at 7:00 p.m. in
Marillac Auditorium. The performance is free to the public.
The play, a compelling and witty account of his path from a
rural community to the heights of being the preeminent Jamaican
dramatist in a generation, highlights the Classic Caribbean Stage
& Screen Series this month.
The event is presented by the President’s Multicultural Advisory
Committee, the Office of the Provost, the Committee on Latin American and
Caribbean Studies (CLACS), the Office of Student Life and
Haraya, the Pan African Students’ Coalition.
In a career spanning over forty years, Rhone’s contribution to
Jamaica’s cultural development has been instrumental in the
development of an indigenous Jamaican film and theater industry.
His work is reflective of the beauty and contradictions found
within Caribbean societies emerging from colonialism and fashioning
their own identities.
Rhone is one of the founders of the Caribbean island’s first
professional theatre company. With scores of scripts for stage
and screen to his credit, he is best known in the United States for
his involvement with the cult classic film – “The Harder They
Come.”
His work has won him international critical acclaim, as well as
numerous professional and civic accolades including a Toronto Film
Festival Genie® Award; a Living Legend Award from the National
Black Theatre Festival; and the Commander of the Order of
Distinction from the Government of Jamaica.
In addition to the performance at St. John's University, the
2006 Classic Caribbean Stage and Screen Series will include a
Trevor Rhone film fest at Long Island University on March 18 and a
panel discussion on Caribbean writing at the Brooklyn Public
Library on March 21. Please direct inquiries regarding the Classic
Caribbean Stage & Screen Series to the Caribbean Cultural
Theatre at (718) 783-8345.
For more information on the event contact Ericka Levy at (718)
990-1869.
For media inquiries contact Dominic Scianna, Director of Media
Relations at (718) 990-6185 or e-mail requests to sciannad@stjohns.edu.