A Conversation With Writer Omar Tyree
Q: After more than a decade of writing popular and successful novels, why did you now decide to write a stageplay?
A: Well, I've also written several screenplays for feature film production at this point, but that process is tremendously long, expensive and taxing, particularly on your first big project. So while my partners and I continue to move along in the film production stages, I asked myself, "Why not write a stageplay that you can produce and stay active with in the meantime?" And the decision was helped along when I read a marketing e-mail that announced Tyler Perry going back out on the road with a new "Madea" play.
Q: And that information influenced your decision?
A: Oh, definitely. I mean, here's a man who took the black stageplays to another level, and it's obvious that there is an audience out there for the medium. You just have to come up with an idea to execute that will bring outa steady crowd of supporters. And since I'm no longer writing 400-page books, I figured that writing an 85-page stageplay would be a breeze.
Q: And was it?
A: Oh yeah. I wrote it over the 2-week Christmas and New Year's holiday break and took it to the Library of Congress to secure the copyrightalready. That was the easy part. But now the hard part begins; casting, producing, directing, finding promotional partners, and taking the play out there onthe road.
Q: Now the subject of your play - Broke & Sexy - seems to be extremely timely.
A: If you know about my career as a novel writer, I've always been one to write timely material about our community. And for my final novel Pecking Order, published in September 2008, I wrote about the state of American entrepreneurship because we all need to think about creating new economicsfor ourselves. I followed that up with The Equation, a non-fiction book onbusiness. So, for my first stageplay, while we are still in hard economic times, I wanted to speak about the difficulties of dating in this depressed economy.I see that as a very valid and serious topic that you can make fun of and learn from at the same time.
Q: But will people want to watch a stageplay about those economic truths, or find something that allows them to get away?
A: Well, I've never been the "get-away-from-my-problems" kind of writer. I've always written about the hard truths in my work. However, with a stageplay, I'm able to be more humorous with those truths. So it's a veryfunny play that couples will indeed have a ball with. Then you have actors whowill have a ball depicting the well-rounded characters that I came up with. So, have no fear, the entertainment element is all there. I just base the playon a subject that is definitely valuable to us right now.
Q: What is your target audience?
A: You know, I have always had a pause when it comes to target audiences for my work, because you never really know who will eventually come out to support you. You always hope for the largest audience possible, but realistically, you have to review the content and the delivery of yourmaterial, as well as the audience who have been a part of the natural marketplace thatyou fall into with your project. And with that being said, I would expect to attract the African-American working class who typically support stageplays.At the same time, I would also hope to attract a few college-aged supporters, and possibly crossover to non-blacks, who may be interested in the contemporary economic content that is involved.
Q: In light of the economic issues highlighted within the play, how do we as African Americans prepare our youth in college, so that they are better prepared for corporate America?
A: You can prepare all college students for corporate America by telling them, or demanding them, to do internships in their freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years. The best way to learn is to be there. And corporateAmerica is always open to free young labor, especially now. So when thoselazy college students wait until the last minute to intern in their field ofwork, or don't make the sacrifices that are needed to do so, then they hurt themselves by not providing their own early opportunity to learn before graduation. I even bring up internships and putting in your dues within theplay. So there are no excuses for not starting early.
Q: What is success for our community? How do we define it as individuals, so we are not compelled to keep up with the Joneses?
A: I'm sorry to tell you the truth and keep it real here, but keeping up with the Joneses is a part of the American way. And the only way you can maintain your focus is by choosing to live in economic arenas that fit whereyou are financially. In other words, don't choose to live around people who you feel you can't compete with. It's a battle that many of us Americans end up punishing ourselves and our loved ones to be involved with. Nevertheless, as long as we can dream the American dream and go after what we want, wewill all find ourselves in competition with the next man and woman and family, whether we like it or not.
Q: How do we get educated, 30-somethings to date and enjoy the moment, without making it a job interview or audition for a potential husband orwife?
A: Now, that all depends on the person. If you're into casual dating, then you will find a way to do it. But if not, and you're ready to get serious about what you're doing, then you start to take the people around you more seriously. But in these economic times, dating can get to be frivolous and expensive, which again, I allude to within the stageplay. But ultimately,it's all up to you and what you're after. So folks who want more fun find ways toplace themselves around the fun people, who may be younger than them, or older people who are just looking for fun themselves.
Q: Are "Alvin Williams" and those people out there who share his way of thinking, male gold diggers, or are they simply trying to beat women attheir own game?
A: Alvin is a creative character that I wrote to make a point and to make sure we get to all of the issues at hand dramatically as well as comically. So even though guys who prey on women economically exist, I realistically don't hang out or know too many if those guys. So I would have to havepeople who are closer to the "Alvin Williams" types to explain what's going on there. I was always raised on men that took care of their own business andhad enough left over to take care of their women and families when needed. So although I can write about a guy like "Alvin", trying to explain that dudeis something totally out of my league. So you just have to enjoy his role and come up with your own ideas to explain him.
Stay tuned for more information regarding the Broke & Sexy stageplay coming soon @ www.OmarTyree.com
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