Harlem World Talks To “Haiti’s Children of God” Playwright Lorey Hayes

HW's Jamie L. Hodges with Playwright Lorey Hayes

HW’s Media Strategist Jamie L. Hodges speaks with playwright Lorey Hayes about her play “Haiti’s Children of God” which ran at Harlem’s Dwyer Cultural Center.

“HAITI’S CHILDREN OF GOD” (title inspired by the Bible ‘Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called The Children of God’)… …follows the story of a young pregnant Haitian woman  on a desperate mission to restore her country which forces her to choose between the life of the brother she loves and the salvation of her nation. Loosely based on the biblical story of Jonah, the play is infused with hope, celebration and recognition of the rich cultural heritage and voices of Haiti’s disenfranchised “human capital”. It is an explosive, drama with an exciting mix of allegory, music, art and dance.

Lorey says, “Haiti’s Children of God” promises to have a powerful, meaningful impact on our community and culture – investing in the creative campaign to bring to light and keep focus on Haiti’s fight to resurrect its country and its affairs and to regain its rightful place as a country of honor with the distinction of being the first Black Nation to win its independence.”

Lorey, who was an original cast member of Ntozake Shange’s ground breaking play “For Colored Girls” adds, “I am once again proud to be part of an important message of hope and redemption, paying honor to our heroes and to the celebration of performance as a power that can change the world.  I wholeheartedly believe that art and performance can have a tremendous impact on how we view the world and our places in it: bring focus to challenges, help abolish prejudices and eradicate oppression of all kind.”

Actress Marie Eusebe and Actor Winryck Ford

So profound was the impact of the April 2010 showcase production on the lead actress – Marie Eusebe – (a Haitian who speaks Creole and recreates her role in the Dwyer production) that she resigned her position at American Express and has embarked on a mission to help restore order and bring much needed water supplies to the earthquake stricken countryside of her father’s hometown (Petit Goave). Moreover, she has committed herself – with great success – to establishing Comunity2Community, a non-profit service organization.

Lorey Hayes, a native of Wallace, North Carolina, is an award-winning Broadway & Television actress/writer. Actress, turned writer, original cast member of “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide”, Ms. Hayes is a 2007 Bill Cosby Screenwriting Fellow for the Guy Hanks /Marvin Miller Program at USC.

Playwright Lorey Hayes and Actor Winryck Ford

An accomplished actress, Ms. Hayes has starred on and off Broadway, in England and numerous regional theaters throughout the country. Some of her television credits include: “Family Law”, “Judging Amy”, “Chicago Hope”, “Sister, Sister”, “All My Children” and “The Bill Cosby Show. She is currently starring in John Long’s new film “The Night We Died” directed by Ron Gonzalez.

Get more information about Ms. Hayes here.