Monday, September 29, 2008

Dallas native playwright returns home with new play

By Rick A. Elina of North Dallas Gazette

Playwright Donnie Wilson is home. His newest play, If By Chance, will have its world premiere at the Art Centre Theatre early next year. Sarah VC Henderson, Artistic Director for Teatro delle Muse, the theatre’s resident company, announced the selection earlier this week. “This is an exciting piece and we are proud to be part of it. We announced at The Muse Awards last spring that we’d be doing a play that would reach out to the African American community, like Glass Menagerie did earlier this year.”

Mr. Wilson, originally from Dallas, graduated from Skyline High School and went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas in Radio, TV and Film. After graduating, Donnie went to work for the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), working to find bone marrow donors for leukemia patients who were in need of a bone marrow transplant. “That experience changed my life,” he recalls. He learned that he would never be completely fulfilled in life if he were not actively participating in work that benefited the lives others.

Although his job with the NMDP was rewarding, the lure of film and television was too much to ignore. So in the summer of 1995 he packed his bags and moved to Los Angeles. He immediately began to pursue opportunities with studios and production houses. He took short-term assignments with USA Networks and Hanna-Barbera/Cartoon Network, performing less than glamorous detail before joining Rogers and Cowen, Hollywood’s biggest name in entertainment public relations.

Mr. Wilson subsequently landed a job with basketball superstar Shaquille O’Neal. “I never intended to make a career of this employment. In fact, I was certain that my tenure would not exceed two years.” However, Mr. Wilson had a change of heart when opportunities opened for him to work closely with Mr. O’Neal creating, writing and directing shows for Nickelodeon, ABC, IMAX, etc.

“My biggest break came when I was asked to produce a televised event for the NBA All-Star weekend resulting in two popular shows; the Platinum Comedy Series: Roasting Shaquille O'Neal and Shaq's All Star Comedy Roast 2. I had the opportunity to work with some big names from both the big and small screen: Jamie Foxx, Queen Latifah, Mo'Nique and Jimmy Kimmel.” At the same time, Mr. Wilson was still able to make a difference in the lives of others by planning and directing Shaquille O’Neal’s community outreach and charitable initiatives.

Mr. Wilson has always been an aficionado and avid supporter of the performing arts. “My first love has always been theatre. So I decided to combine my experience, talent and connections and merge them with my passion for the arts and the higher purpose of ministering to the needs of others.” The xNihilo Project is the result of Mr. Wilson’s efforts.

The xNihilo Project is an intervention program for inner-city youth with a mission to help at-risk young people channel their energies into positives outlets using creativity as the vehicle. “I have chosen to use performing arts as the platform because of its intrinsic ability to powerfully impact people.” Mr. Wilson adds, “The xNihilo Project’s core values are integrity, dedication to excellence, respect and service to others.”

For updates on this exciting project visit TeatrodelleMuse.us.

Rick A. Elina is a playwright based in Plano, Texas and is the Theatre Critic for The North Dallas Gazette.

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