Name: William H Graham
Birth Date: July 1, 1935
Birth Place: Bronx, New York City, New York
Source: Ancestry.com
1940 United States Federal Census
255 West 144th Street, New York, New York
Name / Age
Ernest Graham, 43 [born in North Carolina; barber]
Irene Graham, 40 [born in North Carolina]
William Graham, 4 [born in New York]
Source: Ancestry.com
(In the 1940 census there were several young boys named William Graham but only one was black; he and his parents are listed above.)
Source: Ancestry.com
New York City
Class of 1953
Further Reading
Grand Comics Database
The New York Times
Who’s Who of American Comic Books, 1929–1999
An Incomplete List of Billy Graham in the New York Amsterdam News
November 12, 1977
page D14: 21 Brands, Inc. Congratulates the Nominees for the 5th Annual Audelco Recognition Awards [Audience Development Committee]
Nominees for Scenic Designer
Billy Graham “Sweet Talk”
Nominees for Scenic Designer
Billy Graham “Sweet Talk”
October 7, 1978
page D12: Arts Calendar
Readings/Talk
LET’S STOP AND HAVE A HAMBURGER—Reading of a play for film by Billy Graham. Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop, 317 W 125 St, NYC. 662-8463. Mon Oct 9, 7:30 pm. (Contrib)
March 3, 1979
page 45: Arts Listings
Let’s Stop and Have a Hamburger—Reading of a play by Billy Graham. Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop, 317 W 125 St, NYC. 662-8463-69. Sat Mar 3, 3 pm. (Donation)
July 26, 1980
page 27: About The Arts: ‘Street Magician’ Special reading at N.Y. Public
By Mel Tapley
Billy Graham—the artist and playwright, not the evangelist—is excited about the special reading of his play, “The Street Magician,” which will be held July 28, 7:30 p.m., at the N,Y. Shakespeare Festival Public Theatre, 425 Lafayette St. Not only is the The Public Theatre’s Playwrights Workshop, which is coordinated and directed by winning playwright Ed Bullins, sponsoring the reading, but some of theatre’s topnotch actors, Richard Gant, Elaine Graham, Clebert Ford, Rosanna Carter, Dianne Kirksey and Janice Jenkins will be participating.
August 16, 1980
page 48: Janice Jenkins, spellbinding in ‘Street Magician’
There was a reading recently at the New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater, arranged by playwright Ed Bullins, director/coordinator of the Writers’ Workshop, for the {day, “The Street Magician,” written by Billy Graham. “The Street Magician (‘Let’s Stop And Have A Hamburger’)”—such an innocent tag, is a tale of “mystery and the macabre.” The story focusses [sic] on a modern day Black family whose mother, ‘Gwen’, is the great granddaughter of the famed voodoo queen, Marie Laveau (who, according to Graham, may still be living in New Or leans). The play is about a magic war that’s been going on since the 1860’s between Marie Laveau and her nemesis/successor, Rosalee Douglass.
The pace of the play is interesting indeed and the business is fast and smooth but gets a little slower indicating you’re in “another time.” As soon as you realize it, the pace quickens again.
The dialog is humorous, fast-paced and a bit in the comic book style which comes from Mr. Graham’s long-term association with Marvel Comic books. You see, Billy created the first Black super hero “Luke Cage (Powerman) Hero For Hire.” His writing style comes through in the play with exaggerated exclamations, actors cutting off one another’s lines with excitements, realizations and confusions. It works! It also gives the play bits of needed humor and lightens the thick air of “mystique” created in the writing.
...Playwright/actor/artist Billy Graham, selected some of New York’s top Black (and white) actors who were excellent in their creation of his characters. “The Street Magician” (‘Let’s Stop And Have A Hamburger’) is presently being looked at by several Off Broadway producers and chances are it will undoubtedly be produced, probably by this fall. It will definitely be something to experience and not to be missed.
March 7, 1981
page 40: Movies beckon Billy Graham
Playwright/Actor/Artist, Billy Graham is taking a break from working on his soon-to-be produced stage play “The Stage Magician.”
Since the play’s special re-reading in January for theatrical producers Woodie King, Jr., and Steve Tennen of Henry Street Settlement. Graham, busy sketching and designing the special sets and ironing out technical details, has been approached by several motion picture companies to write screenplays. One of them the Raft Theatre Ltd. Co., has offered Graham a play script to read prior to the possibility of his re-scripting it for the screen.
However, the playwright is being careful in his selections, although he is considering acquiring the right to a popular novel for adaptation to the screen on the life of an internationally known celebrity.
"I am very much aware,” says Graham, “that if this project is launched and proves successful, it’ll provide many much needed jobs in|the coming video revolution. Videotaping is in vogue now and many sources of its use has yet to be tapped.”
May 23, 1981
page 34: Richard Pryor is ‘Bustin’ Loose’ with laughs
(Billy Graham movie review)
June 13, 1981
page 30: Mad Mel Brooks dishes out corn ill-bred
(Billy Graham movie review of “History of the World—Part 1”)
page 31: ‘Fan’: Gory, suspense thriller
(Billy Graham movie review of “The Fan”)
June 20, 1981
page 32: Paramount gets ‘Evita’ world wide film rights
August 22, 1981
page 28: Flick on U.S. nine wise men
(Billy Graham movie review of “First Monday in October”)
October 3, 1981
page 37: ‘Carbon Copy’: Denzel Washington imprint
(Billy Graham movie review)
October 17, 1981
page 38: Silvera Writers Workshop opens season
By Billy Graham
October 24, 1981
page 30: Billy Graham scripts the Adam
On Monday evening, October 26th, at 7:30 p.m., the Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop will be presenting the first public reading of the new drama, “The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.” by playwright/actor/artist/movie reviewer Billy Graham.
The play deals with the 1967 special elect committee of the House of Representatives and their investigations on the matter of denying Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. his seat in the 90th Congress as well as denial of his right to represent the people of his New York and Harlem district. Powell had been charged with misappropriating the funds of his committee on Education and Labor and retaining his estranged wife Yvette Diago Powell on the Congressional payroll while she was in Puerto Rico instead of performing her duties in Washington, D.C.
Powell’s problems exploded through the headlines when he called a Harlem widow a “bag lady” and she sued him.
The play is based on official Congressional records and articles published in various national and world-wide magazines as well as information gathered from the book “The Powell Affair, Freedom Minus One” by Andy Jacobs.
The reading of this play with an outstanding cast will be directed by Charles Turner. Admission is free at the workshop’s 3rd floor loft, 317 West 125th St.
For further information, call 662-8463/9.
November 21, 1981
page 28: The Pepsi Community Bulletin Board.
Nov. 22
B. G. Enterprises presents the cabarette comedy, “Don’t Step On My Foots,” by Billy Graham, 1 W. 125th St.
page 31: photograph
Nefretete Rasheed may be smiling because she’s the only girl in Billy Graham’s cabarette comedy, “Don’t Step On Mah Foots,” Sun, Nov. 22 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., at One West 125th St. (Poppa Charles’), in the Cabarette Disco Theatre. Starring with the singer-actress are Charles Kashi and Allen Taylor.
December 12, 1981
page 34: ‘Reds’: Colorful, passionate story about American communism
(Billy Graham movie review)
December 25, 1981
page 27: ‘Pennies From Heaven’ is pure gold entertainment
(Billy Graham movie review)
March 27, 1982
page 26: Chuck Norris battles in ‘Silent Rage’
(Billy Graham movie review)
August 14, 1982
page 41: Chemical Bank Applauds Audelco
Nominees for the 10th Annual Recognition Awards 1981–82 Season
Nominees for Scenic Designer
Billy Graham/Yasmin Dixon/Hermon Futrell for Tut-Ankh-Amen, the Boy King
Audience Development Committee
November 27, 1982
page 29: AUDELCO: Ten years of applauding Black Theatre
When the first Audelco Awards for Excellence in Black Theatre were presented back in 1973 in the small space of the Afro-American Studio for Acting and Speech before an audience of less than 100 people, the purpose was two-fold—to pay tribute to those theatre a artists who had informed, entertained, motivated, provoked and wowed audiences during the 1972–73 theatre season and to provide an opportunity for the gathering of the black theatre clan in an atmosphere of family reunion-like fellowship. Though the attendance at the 18982 Audelco Awards celebration was over 700 people and the space is now the much more spacious Aaron Davis Hall at City College, that purpose has remained the same over the past ten years.
Co-hosts Susan Taylor, editor-in-chief of Essence Magazine and Glynn Turman, a former Audelco Award winner who’s now starring in the drama, “Do Lord Remember Me”, at the American Place Theatre, led the packed house of theatre artists and supporters from the communications, corporate and club world in applauding this year’s winners.. Among those making the excited run to the stage to receive their coveted awards were…Billy Graham, Yasmin Dixon, Hermon Futrell and Wynn Thomas (Tie/Scenic Designer for “Tut-Ankh-Amen, the Boy King” and “Abercrombie Apocalupse” respectively)
National Scene Magazine Supplement
January 1983
(insert; New York Amsterdam News, January 22, 1983)
page 22: AUDELCO Celebrates 10th Year
...Billy Graham/Yasmin Dixon/Hermon Futrell won for scenic design in “Tut-Ankh-Amen, The Boy King.”
January 22, 1983
page 23: 2-column advertisement
“The Breaking by Jacqui Singleton”
set designer, Billy Graham, 1982
January 29, 1983
page 26: 2-column advertisement
“The Breaking by Jacqui Singleton”
set designer, Billy Graham, 1982
February 5, 1983
page 28: 2-column advertisement
“The Breaking by Jacqui Singleton”
set designer, Billy Graham, 1982
March 5, 1983
page 34: May–December tale told on a splendid set
review of “The Breaking by Jacqui Singleton”
…A special salute to set designer Billy Graham, winner of an AUDELCO award last season for his work on Tutankhamon…
March 12, 1983
page 35: 3-column advertisement
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
By Billy Graham
March 19, 1983
page 11: 2-column advertisement
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
By Billy Graham
March 26, 1983
page 26: 2-column advertisement
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
By Billy Graham
April 2, 1983
page 29: 2-column advertisement
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
By Billy Graham
April 9, 1983
page 29: 2-column advertisement
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
By Billy Graham
September 10, 1983
page 25: Silvera’s Open House
The Frank Silvera Writers Workshop announces their eleventh annual open house to start off their fall season. Workshop members, poets, writers, artists and friends are welcomed to 317 West 125th Street, Monday Sept. 12th at 7:30.
…As further part of the AUDELCO Black Theatre Festival, last seasons “The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell Jr.” will be performed at City College. It will open Sept. 30th, Oct. 1st and 2nd at the Aranow Theatre 138th St. and Convent Ave.
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell Jr.” written by Billy Graham, focuses on the explosive political events of the 1967 House-select committee censure of Harlem’s most famous Congressman, the play nominated for five AUDELCO Awards for best lead actor, best supporting actor, best production, best playwright and best sound design. For more info, call FSWW at 662-8463….
September 17, 1983
page 24: AUDELCO’s 2nd annual Black Theatre Festival
The 2nd Annual Audelco Black Theatre Festival will take place for four consecutive weekends starting Friday, September 23 and closing Sunday, October 16th at CCNY’s Aronow Hall (136th St. & Convent Ave.). According to Vivian Robinson, AUDELCO executive director, it will be a month-long tribute to Black wit, imagery and the Black form expression and will serve as a showcase for outstanding productions of the season.
…“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.” by Billy Graham, opens Friday, September 30 and is scheduled for Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, Oct. 2. “TRIAL,” directed by Dianne Kirksey, features Timothy Simonson as the legendary Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
September 24, 1983
page 20: 2-column advertisement
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
By Billy Graham
October 1, 1983
page 28: photograph caption
ADAM AND MRS. — At AUDELCO Festival, opening Sept. 30, will be Mizan Nunes as Mrs. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and Timothy Simonson as Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. in ‘The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., by Billy Graham. (Bert Andrews Photo)
page 32: Audelco Festival
The award-winning “The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.” by Billy Graham, a Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop production presented as part of the Audelco 2nd Annual Black Theatre Festival, will open on Friday, September 30th and run through Sunday, October 2nd at the newly-built 418-seat Aronow Theatre on the City College Campus at 136th Street and Convent Ave. Performances are scheduled Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
October 22, 1983
page 23: two photographs of cast members
DYNAMIC DEFENSE: Christine Campbell appears as Adam Clayton Powell’s attorney while Timothy Simonson has the title role in “The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.” by Billy Graham, who also designed the sets, Woodie King, Jr. is presenting the Frank Silvera Writers Workshop production for a limited engagement which plays Thursday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m., with matinee performances on Sundays at 3 p.m. (Bert Andrews Photos)
AFFECTIONATE ADAM: Eldon Bullock, Mizan Nunes, and Timothy Simonson in a scene from “The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.” which opened a limited engagement at the Henry Street Settlement’s New Federal Theatre, 466 Grand Street, on Thursday evening, October 20, at 7:30 p.m. Written by Billy Graham and directed by Dianne Kirksey, the play focuses on the 1967 Special Select Committee’s investigation into Congressman Powell’s affairs. The setting is being designed by the playwright; the lighting is by Zebedee Collins and the costumes are by Karen Perry.
At New Federal
Billy Graham pens powerful drama on Adam Powell
review of “The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
…The production has been skillfully researched and written by a young Black playwright, Billy Graham…
page 28: 2-column advertisement
Red Ant Way presents a Benefit Party
Sunday, Oct. 23rd—7 p.m. to 12 Midnight
at Jazzmania
Featuring…& playwright Billy Graham…
page 29: 2-column advertisement
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
October 29, 1983
page 27: Theatre briefs
…“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.” on stage at the Henry Dejur Theater at the Henry Street Playhouse in the Village. It was written by Billy Graham…
November 26, 1983
page 27: Billy Graham has new drama-mystery
Prolific playwright/artist Billy Graham presents a new mystery drama, “Waiting for Joyce Miller,” a work-in-progress reading, featuring Dianne Kirksey and Jerome Preston Bates with Betty Vaughn and Mark Kaplan, at PSW Studios, 243 W. 55th St., Mon., Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m. There’s a $3 admission.
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell Jr.,” Graham’s powerful drama on Harlem’s dynamic congressman/preacher leaves the New Federal Theatre for a nationwide tour. Its first stop will be Washington, D.C.
page 31: Jazzmania special
Red-Ant-Way Cabaret will feature Peter J. Fernandez, S. Epatha Merkerson, Ruddy Garner, Harbert Rawlings, Billy Graham, Timothy Graphenreed, staged by Susan Watson, at Jazzmania, 40 W. 27th St., on Sun., Dec. 4, 6 p.m. to 12. Info: 857-1539.
December 3, 1983
page 28: 2-column advertisement
Red Ant Way presents a Benefit Party
Sunday, Oct. 23rd—7 p.m. to 12 Midnight
at Jazzmania
Featuring…& playwright Billy Graham…
January 14, 1984
January 1983
(insert; New York Amsterdam News, January 22, 1983)
page 22: AUDELCO Celebrates 10th Year
...Billy Graham/Yasmin Dixon/Hermon Futrell won for scenic design in “Tut-Ankh-Amen, The Boy King.”
January 22, 1983
page 23: 2-column advertisement
“The Breaking by Jacqui Singleton”
set designer, Billy Graham, 1982
January 29, 1983
page 26: 2-column advertisement
“The Breaking by Jacqui Singleton”
set designer, Billy Graham, 1982
February 5, 1983
page 28: 2-column advertisement
“The Breaking by Jacqui Singleton”
set designer, Billy Graham, 1982
March 5, 1983
page 34: May–December tale told on a splendid set
review of “The Breaking by Jacqui Singleton”
…A special salute to set designer Billy Graham, winner of an AUDELCO award last season for his work on Tutankhamon…
March 12, 1983
page 35: 3-column advertisement
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
By Billy Graham
March 19, 1983
page 11: 2-column advertisement
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
By Billy Graham
March 26, 1983
page 26: 2-column advertisement
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
By Billy Graham
April 2, 1983
page 29: 2-column advertisement
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
By Billy Graham
April 9, 1983
page 29: 2-column advertisement
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
By Billy Graham
September 10, 1983
page 25: Silvera’s Open House
The Frank Silvera Writers Workshop announces their eleventh annual open house to start off their fall season. Workshop members, poets, writers, artists and friends are welcomed to 317 West 125th Street, Monday Sept. 12th at 7:30.
…As further part of the AUDELCO Black Theatre Festival, last seasons “The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell Jr.” will be performed at City College. It will open Sept. 30th, Oct. 1st and 2nd at the Aranow Theatre 138th St. and Convent Ave.
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell Jr.” written by Billy Graham, focuses on the explosive political events of the 1967 House-select committee censure of Harlem’s most famous Congressman, the play nominated for five AUDELCO Awards for best lead actor, best supporting actor, best production, best playwright and best sound design. For more info, call FSWW at 662-8463….
September 17, 1983
page 24: AUDELCO’s 2nd annual Black Theatre Festival
The 2nd Annual Audelco Black Theatre Festival will take place for four consecutive weekends starting Friday, September 23 and closing Sunday, October 16th at CCNY’s Aronow Hall (136th St. & Convent Ave.). According to Vivian Robinson, AUDELCO executive director, it will be a month-long tribute to Black wit, imagery and the Black form expression and will serve as a showcase for outstanding productions of the season.
…“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.” by Billy Graham, opens Friday, September 30 and is scheduled for Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, Oct. 2. “TRIAL,” directed by Dianne Kirksey, features Timothy Simonson as the legendary Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
September 24, 1983
page 20: 2-column advertisement
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
By Billy Graham
October 1, 1983
page 28: photograph caption
ADAM AND MRS. — At AUDELCO Festival, opening Sept. 30, will be Mizan Nunes as Mrs. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and Timothy Simonson as Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. in ‘The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., by Billy Graham. (Bert Andrews Photo)
page 32: Audelco Festival
The award-winning “The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.” by Billy Graham, a Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop production presented as part of the Audelco 2nd Annual Black Theatre Festival, will open on Friday, September 30th and run through Sunday, October 2nd at the newly-built 418-seat Aronow Theatre on the City College Campus at 136th Street and Convent Ave. Performances are scheduled Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
October 22, 1983
page 23: two photographs of cast members
DYNAMIC DEFENSE: Christine Campbell appears as Adam Clayton Powell’s attorney while Timothy Simonson has the title role in “The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.” by Billy Graham, who also designed the sets, Woodie King, Jr. is presenting the Frank Silvera Writers Workshop production for a limited engagement which plays Thursday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m., with matinee performances on Sundays at 3 p.m. (Bert Andrews Photos)
AFFECTIONATE ADAM: Eldon Bullock, Mizan Nunes, and Timothy Simonson in a scene from “The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.” which opened a limited engagement at the Henry Street Settlement’s New Federal Theatre, 466 Grand Street, on Thursday evening, October 20, at 7:30 p.m. Written by Billy Graham and directed by Dianne Kirksey, the play focuses on the 1967 Special Select Committee’s investigation into Congressman Powell’s affairs. The setting is being designed by the playwright; the lighting is by Zebedee Collins and the costumes are by Karen Perry.
At New Federal
Billy Graham pens powerful drama on Adam Powell
review of “The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
…The production has been skillfully researched and written by a young Black playwright, Billy Graham…
page 28: 2-column advertisement
Red Ant Way presents a Benefit Party
Sunday, Oct. 23rd—7 p.m. to 12 Midnight
at Jazzmania
Featuring…& playwright Billy Graham…
page 29: 2-column advertisement
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.”
October 29, 1983
page 27: Theatre briefs
…“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.” on stage at the Henry Dejur Theater at the Henry Street Playhouse in the Village. It was written by Billy Graham…
November 26, 1983
page 27: Billy Graham has new drama-mystery
Prolific playwright/artist Billy Graham presents a new mystery drama, “Waiting for Joyce Miller,” a work-in-progress reading, featuring Dianne Kirksey and Jerome Preston Bates with Betty Vaughn and Mark Kaplan, at PSW Studios, 243 W. 55th St., Mon., Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m. There’s a $3 admission.
“The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell Jr.,” Graham’s powerful drama on Harlem’s dynamic congressman/preacher leaves the New Federal Theatre for a nationwide tour. Its first stop will be Washington, D.C.
page 31: Jazzmania special
Red-Ant-Way Cabaret will feature Peter J. Fernandez, S. Epatha Merkerson, Ruddy Garner, Harbert Rawlings, Billy Graham, Timothy Graphenreed, staged by Susan Watson, at Jazzmania, 40 W. 27th St., on Sun., Dec. 4, 6 p.m. to 12. Info: 857-1539.
December 3, 1983
page 28: 2-column advertisement
Red Ant Way presents a Benefit Party
Sunday, Oct. 23rd—7 p.m. to 12 Midnight
at Jazzmania
Featuring…& playwright Billy Graham…
January 14, 1984
page 26: photograph
PARTY SCENE—Playwright/artist Billy Graham was the guest of Essence Magazine’s charming Health Guide editor, Jean Perry, at the Magazine’s New Year’s Eve party at JoAnna’s disco/supper club. Graham is currently researching for a project on the upcoming celebration of Martin Luther King’s birthday. (Bert Andrews Photo)
January 12, 1985
page 24: advertisement
Theatre in Progress presents
The Dreams of Dr. King and the Memphis Mission
May 4, 1985
page 32: Fire destroys current home of Theatre In Progress
By Billy Graham
page 47: Billy Graham honored in two cities
Harlem playwright/actor/director Billy Graham has been busy working on a new stage play entitled, “King Spats and the Gorilla Brothers,” a musical comedy which will soon have its first public reading.
His last play, “The Dreams of Dr. King” had a successful four-month extended run at Theatre In Progress, N.Y.C. and is now slated for an Off-Broadway theatre. Meanwhile, his Audelco Award-winning play, “The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.” is presently being performed at The Bushfire Theatre, 2285 52nd Street, in Philadelphia, PA.
On Saturday, May 11th, Graham will be honored for his outstanding achievements in the arts by “Hun-E” Enterprises, which will be celebrating its 19th anniversary and holding its Gold en Star Awards ceremony.
An award will be presented to Graham by Rita Hunter, president of “Hun-E” Enterprises, in conjunction with the opening of her new off-off Broadway play, “Reach For The Stars”.
May 25, 1985
page 29: advertisement
Chemical Bank Salutes…Winners All!
A Cabaret Celebration
Featuring
A Galaxy of AUDELCO Award winners in a Spectacular Evening of Entertainment
Billy Graham
June 1, 1985
page 23: advertisement
Chemical Bank Salutes…Winners All!
A Cabaret Celebration
Featuring
A Galaxy of AUDELCO Award winners in a Spectacular Evening of Entertainment
Billy Graham
May 17, 1986
page 28: Billy Graham play re-opens Silvera
Billy Graham playwright/actor/director, is producing again. This time his three-act, four-character mystery drama “Waiting for Joyce Miller” is currently being considered for production. It was first read Mon., Mar. 12th at the Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop.
Graham’s mood-melding theme of the play is based on the Grammy-award winning song “This Masquerade” (by George Benson) on infidelity, greed and mistrust between best friends and lovers. The play also touches on the Supreme Court’s ruling on abortion and asks the question, “is it a woman’s right or is it murder?”
The reading cast consisted of Carol Mitchell Smith as Joyce Miller with Randy Frazier as her boyfriend and Cyrus Lee Simmons as the vagabond best friend. Betty Vaughn played the staunch mother with Gail Tishchoff as the narrator. Dianne Kirksey skillfully directed the piece before the packed audience....
October 10, 1986
page 29: Graham’s anti-Crack play
Playwright-artist Billy Graham’s latest “Crack, the Ultimate High,” was applauded at PS 28, Tremont and Anthony Aves., Bronx, when it was read by a group of schoolchildren.
Presented by Elvira Lebron, former candidate in the 77th A.D., the 30-minute drama tells about a mother and father whose son is on Crack.
The surprise ending makes this a short play that is tailor-made for churches and community groups fighting the current threat by Crack to our community. For info., call 862-9095.
July 4, 1987
page 26: advertisement for Billy Graham’s “Don’t Step on Mah Foots”
April 9, 1988
page 23 c4: Billy Graham’s ’Just Say No’ wins award
The name Billy Graham on television may mean Rev. Billy Graham, but in New York it is the name of a creative artist whose talents are unlimited, playwright-actor-artist Billy Graham.
The latest product of his fertile imagination, “Just Say No” (to “Crack, the Ultimate High”) a play, has recently received a sizable cash award and a grant from the N.Y. State Division of Substance Abuse Services to tour throughout the N.Y. Board of Education’s Junior High Schools in the Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens area.
Graham, a member of the Negro Ensemble Company’s writers’ workshop (1975–82) and a 1983 Audelco Award-nominated playwright for his “The Trial of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.,” wrote “Just Say No” specifically “to be aimed at school children, but I missed having it picked up for a touring grant by the N.Y.C. Dept. of Cultural Affairs’ Arts Connection last year,” says Billy.
But Graham, a writing student of Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, Charles Fuller (“A Soldier’s Play”), was fortunate this year when he re-wrote a few lines then changed the title from “Crack; the Ultimate High,” to “Just Say No,” and was ultimately contacted through the networking of Karen Baxter and Pat White of the Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop (of which Graham is a long-time member) by Ms. Toni Greene and Priscilla Chatman, of Diamond Cut Productions. They submitted Graham’s play, “Just Say No,” to the New York State Division of Substance Abuse.
As a result, Diamond Cut Productions are now the executive producers of Billy Graham’s play and are currently scheduling performances in junior high schools while the actors are in rehearsals at the Drew Hamil ton Senior Citizens Community Center at 220 W. 143rd St.
July 9, 1988
page 26: Graham’s anti-drug play ‘Crack down on Crack’ for schools
The Billy Graham Ensemble Company is forming a second touring troupe for another anti-drug play. Thus far, Graham’s first anti-drug play, entitles, “JUSt SAY NO,” has performed before over three-thousand school kids throughout N.Y. City.
…Meanwhile, Graham is busily writing a screenplay entitled “LUCKY ACE,” a tongue-in- cheek action yarn concerning the fictional escapades of a high-living, Black, wealthy Vietnam veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor winner who has cliffhanging adventures after he’s recruited by the C.I.A. to help the U.S. government retrieve the world’s newest ‘Star Wars’ type hand-phaser-pistol before several subversive countries do.
Graham has spoken to his friend Robert Townsend who expressed interest in the script which was originally planned to be sent to Eddie Murphy through Graham’s agents, Diamond Cut Production.
For further information about auditioning for the playwright’s production company (B.G. Enterprises), and auditioning for “CRACK DOWN ON CRACK,” call (212) 907-4599, or 979-0808, or 862-9055.
September 24, 1988
page 30: Billy Graham’s anti-drug reading at NEC
On Mon., Oct. 3rd, at the Negro Ensemble Company’s Theatre Four, at 424 W. 55th St., there will be a reading of playwright/Director Billy Graham’s latest stage play on drugs, “Crack Down on Crack.” There will also be a special reading of a “rappers” play on teenage pregnancy, “Pretty Special and the D.J.’s Rap,” a one-act dramatic musical-comedy.
Both plays were written specifically to be performed before pre-teens and teenagers as well as adults and were designed—dramatically, through theater—to educate children in elementary, junior high and high schools about the perils of unsafe sex, drugs, and certain precautions to take against contracting AIDS.
“Crack Down on Crack” and “Pretty Special and the D.J.’s Rap” will be presented by the playwright as an incentive to State Agencies in New York and Albany, such as the N.Y. State Division of Substance Abuse Services, the N.Y. State Department of Health, and Corporate Services, to sponsor and fund these “made-for-schools” dramas which will serve as educational training and teaching guides.
Graham has also entered “Pretty Special and the D.J.’s Rap” into the N.Y. Board of Health’s request for the “AIDS Educational Program” which is offering $50,000 to any non-profit community organization willing to reach out and provide basic information about AIDS to individuals (specifically ethnics, Blacks, Hispanics, Haitians) in high risk neighborhoods.
The Dept. of Health has been soliciting proposals with the intent of selecting NPO’s with his educational dramas for community schools.
For auditions for the Billy Graham Ensemble Acting Company, send photos and resumes to B.G. Enterprises, Theatrical & Film Productions, 115 W. 143rd St., NYC 10030.
November 5, 1988
page 29: Billy Graham’s 'Telebrain’ has Los Angeles buzzing
Los Angeles, CA—Billy Graham, playwright/director/actor, with his entourage of actors, Billy Mitchell and Denise DuMaine, all from New York, breezed into Los Angeles, on October 22, like a tornado and captured everyone they came in contact with and virtually swept the town up in their effervescent wake.
...Graham’s “Telebrain,” was selected for the second annual competition held, by the Inner City Cultural Center, in Los Angeles. From the first moment the script for the play arrived at ICCC and was received by the competition’s coordinator, Barbara Barnes, it, as well as its creator, caused excited speculation when it was discovered that Graham’s play was one of the most unusual pieces included in this year’s competition.
From over 2,000 pieces submitted, “Telebrain” not only made it into the first round of the judges decision, it also was selected to be re-performed in the second round of the competitive one-act plays—which are usually selected after several “weeks” of judging nearly a hundred other plays until only 25 have been chosen for the finals.
Well, Graham’s “Telebrain” was selected for the 2nd round “before” the 1st round even began. By virtue of the writing and the story idea, this play is a hands down contender for the finals—which could earn the winning playwright a contract, as a writer, with Warner Brothers motion, pictures. Second prize is $1,000 and third prize is $500....
(Next post on Monday: Edgar Allan Poe on Autography, Part 2)
Very big blog but it's helpful
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