First, since we don't really consider Puerto Rico a part
of the United States, view it as a foreign nation.
 
Second, since the inhabitants of this foreign
nation don't really speak English anyway and since
their skin is fairly brown, see it as an enemy nation.
 
Third, mobilize the army, navy, marines, and air
force for combat.
 
Fourth, declare war on Puerto Rico.
 
Five, instead of bullets and bombs, load up our planes
with bundles of food and medicine to be dropped
all over the enemy.
 
Six, send in thousands of troops who carry food
and medicine, instead of munitions, and have these
supplies distributed.
 
Seven, send in tractors and trucks and cranes and
anything else needed to immediately rebuild roads,
bridges, schools, hospitals, and senior citizens centers.
 
Eight, "kill" this new enemy with love and kindness,
which will be much cheaper than literally killing them
and destroying their homeland.
 
Nine, residual benefits include American troops coming
home with smiles and healthy hearts and souls.
 
Ten, makes sure the world media witnesses our attack
on this defenseless island so they see what America
can do when a foreign nation has starving and homeless
people.
 
That'll teach'm not to mess with Uncle Sam.
 
 
Rich Quatrone
Oct 18 2017

I'm a white man doing a play about the lives of black people.  What else needs to be said?
So the best way to handle this play is to simply invite black people to speak about their lives.
And this is the way this play is being created.  There are no frills.  There will be few if any props. We will be performing at a new theater- NJ Rep West End Arts Center in Long Branch.  We do not yet know which space we'll be using at this new theater.  So there are these challenges.  And then there is the challenge of the work itself.  Many of the black folks I invited to write for us have not responded. I have thought perhaps it is because I am white. I would understand this.  We are creating this play in a most divisive time.  Still, we as a theater company plow forward.  We are far, far from perfect. But our intentions are close to it.

​ 
BLACK LIVES
 
the new play from
-The American Poetry Theater-
 
New Jersey Repertory
West End Arts Center
in Long Branch
 
Follow us on Facebook or at
www.theamericanpoetrytheater.com
for updates and details.
 
SUPPORT PROGRESSIVE THEATER!!
 
Info: 732 822 4338 or [email protected]
 
 

Last night was our first rehearsal, which I always conduct in my apartment here in Spring Lake (aka Sprung Leak).  We cram in, all the talent, hopes, fatigue, curiosity, genius of the cast.  Working on BLACK LIVES is a very emotional experience for me personally. At times I weep as I work on the script. So many of the monologues, the things said, are so very moving.  Bits of the lives of American blacks are laying bare before me as I type, arrange, consider, assign roles, all of this.  And last night during rehearsal it happened again. As I read a monologue I just started crying.  And it wasn't only me. One of the cast members, as he read a piece, his voice was breaking up. Oh, let me add, outside in the street, the cast and I laughed our asses off in the middle of the stone-dead silence.  So-- you do not want to miss the catharsis BLACK LIVES will offer-- the tears and the laughter and the respect this play hopes to offer in appreciation for all the gifts Africans living in America have given us.

Stay tuned for updates. Big news about to come out.