HAITIAN AMERICAN ACTRESS. WRITER. PRODUCER. DIRECTOR. COACH.
I am a first-generation Haitian American multi-hyphenate artist (actress/director/writer/producer/teacher/mentor). I received my B.A. from Columbia University, MBA from Binghamton University, and MFA in Acting from Yale School of Drama. My acting credits include Blue Bloods, Law & Order SVU, Law & Order Criminal Intent, Guiding Light; Sex and the City; regional and Off-Broadway theatre; short films, and national commercials.
I write screenplays and plays from a viewpoint heavily influenced by the stories my family members have shared about the complexities and wonders of Haitian culture and history, as well as my experiences as a born-and-bred New Yorker. As the Founder/Producing Artistic Director of Conch Shell Productions my company’s mission is to develop/workshop/produce new works by Caribbean Diaspora & Caribbean screenwriters and playwrights who have a passion for innovative story telling that inspires social change.
I had the pleasure of playing a Haitian mother "Antoinette Pierre" in Netflix Original Series “Grand Army,” "Ruth Lockhart" (1999-2001) on "The Guiding Light," "CSU Tech Kallman" (2002-2010) on "Law & Order Criminal Intent" as well a number of other fantastic television, film and theatre roles. My journey continues to be filled with life altering and purpose affirming creative experiences both on camera and behind the camera.
MEMBERSHIPS: The Actors Center; JCAL Building Equity Advisory Council; Dramatist Guild; The Actors Studio PDU; SAG/AFTRA. Black Theatre Network. Craft Institute.
TEACHER/COACH: On-Camera Acting Instructor at HB Studio; Private Coach
I founded Conch Shell Productions in 2018, and since then I have had the pleasure of creating a space for Caribbean and Caribbean Diaspora playwrights and screenwriters to infuse American theatre and film with their unique voices.
Click on the link below to learn more about my company.
As a part of JCAL's Building Equity for BIIPOC Artists initiative, I curated CS New Works Reading Series. The play reading series will feature 3 new one-act works written by members of Conch Shell Productions’ Artist Collective - myself, Tanya Perez, and Gretchen Suárez-Peña. Our plays explore a number of themes that inspire social change (including self-empowerment, identity, sexism, trauma, and sexuality).
This event is also made possible with the support of Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning Building Equity for BIIPOC Artist - an initiative sponsored by New York Community Trust
ICEBREAKER is loosely based on personal pandemic stories shared by audience members who attended 2022 community screenings of Conch Shell Productions’ smartphone film AFTERSHOCKS: A TETRALOGY OF OUR TIMES.
Cast members include: Brittney Akpobiyeri, Amy Finkbeiner, Joshua Josey, Sarah Marable, and Natasha Mehra.
Play summary:
When three financially strapped strangers come together to take part in a paid focus group, their coronavirus pandemic-influenced anxieties turn the session into a battle ground as they struggle with the challenges of redefining social interaction and identity. Can they overcome their pandemic traumas in order to “go back to normal” and form new human connections?
Flushing Town Hall awarded me with an Individual Artist grant to screen Aftershocks: A Tetralogy of Our Times and create a space for audiences to share their pandemic stories in a healing community forum. These community stories were loosely referenced in ICEBREAKER.
ABOUT FUNDERS
This program is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts, Statewide Community Regrants Program (formerly the Decentralization program) with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
Thanks to a generous Individual Artist Grant that I received from Flushing Town Hall, Aftershocks: A Tetralogy of Our Times will be screening and uplifting & healing community story sharing in Queens starting June 10th 2022 at www.JCAL.org and ending with a staged reading of the collected community stories at JCAL in October 2022. Stay tuned for announcements.
I had the pleasure of making "theatre history" when I directed virtually readings of 3 never before produced together plays written by Marita Bonner (works published between 1927-1928). Special thanks to New Perspective Theatre's artistic director, Melody Brooks for inviting me to direct.
Special thanks to Samuel Archer of Muzilog.com for inviting me to guest host this inspiring conversation with the film artists commemorating the work of Mr. Paul DeSilva.
I learned that Mr. DeSilva was an #artivist. A #communitybuilder.
A man to be remembered and honored.
Paul DeSilva's film, "Crackdown: Big City Blues" is now streaming on www.Fandor.com
First generation Caribbean America (her parents were from Nevis) Cecily Tyson's impact on my life started when I saw "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" on television. Her transformational portrayals of complex, multi-layered women continue to inspire me. Ms. Tyson's decades long commitment to her craft set an example that keeps my faith and creative flame blazing.
Bahamian American Sidney Poitier made a huge impression on me as a child. So elegant. So confident. Favorite movie: IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT. The fire in his eyes. His presence....powerful. His contributions as an actor, director, activist...well let's just say when I am directing, producing my own plays/screenplays...when I am producing works by Caribbean Diaspora artists who are "artivists" like me... I thank Mr. Poitier for demonstrating "yes I can be someone better."
Do you have more questions? Are you interested in collaborating on a project? Send me a message, and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Copyright © 2022 Magaly Colimon - All Rights Reserved.