FIRST LOOK @ Art All Night

Friday, Sept 29th @ 7:00 PM
Life Isn’t Fair By Playwright: Sanjit Sengupta

SYNOPSIS – James Callahan travels to New York to write a horror novel. However, his Airbnb host, Deisha Drummond, finds it difficult to deal with his arrogance. After completing his stay in New York, James heads to Washington DC to accept an award and begin working on his next horror novel. Unfortunately, a strange encounter in his hotel room severely impacts his career and personal life.

PLAYWRIGHT – Sanjit Sengupta is a playwright whose work involves contemporary and historical social themes. Born and raised in Mumbai, India, he now lives in Walnut Creek, CA. Sanjit’s had a 30+year career in U.S. higher education
before he became a playwright. His 10-minute and one-act plays have had readings and workshops at numerous
competitive festivals. Sanjit is a member of the Dramatists Guild, New Play Exchange, Play Café, Berkeley, Pear
Theatre Playwrights Guild, and The Playwrights’ Center of San Francisco.

Saturday, Sept 30th @ 8:00 PM
A Dream Deferred By Playwright: Celeste A. Frazier

SYNOPSIS – On a peaceful afternoon, Edgar, a middle-aged white man with racist views, walks into Savannah Bill’s restaurant, which is owned by a Black guy named Bill. Edgar initially harasses Bill, then starts insulting Jenny, a Black waitress. However, Edgar’s conversation takes an unexpected turn as he recounts a strange incident that occurred on his way to the restaurant, leaving all three of them in a surreal situation.

PLAYWRIGHT – After graduating from USC’s BFA program as a drama major, Celeste wrote her first play, “Tragedy’s Blossom” in 1979 produced in 1980. Since that time, she went on to write over a dozen scripts for the stage, television and film. Celeste worked with the Los Angeles Black Playwrights and theatrical company, West Coast Ensemble to develop her early career dramatic writing. Her scripts have been produced in several Los Angeles theaters. A third of her scripts have been directed by Ms. Frazier herself. Celeste has also directed works by established playwrights and early career playwrights such as Marie Kellier and Gregory Tate. Her video of “A Dream Deferred” garnered an award from the Black American Cinema Society and is available in the Special Collections of the Los Angeles Public Library. Celeste is the screenwriter for four films, including the AFI-produced “VOWS”, based on her play, “Empathy”. Celeste’s acting theater credits include productions at Inner City Cultural Center (“Empathy”), West Coast Ensemble (“Comedy of Errors”), The Raven (“Ape”), Celebration Theatre (“Dream a Little Dream of Me”), L.A. Theatre Works (“Operation Missing Pudding”), the Massman Theatre (“Long Time Since Yesterday”), The Rose Alley Theatre (“He Was Here”) the Pasadena Theatre Co. (“For Colored Girls…”), and more!