Introduce Yourself : Hello! by Garland Thompson Jr.

Hi everyone! I'm an actor, poet and playwright living in Monterey, CA. I'm also a filmmaker, former stagehand, and video designer for theatre. I've run a staged reading series at the National Black Theatre Festival (nbtf.org) since the '90's, a poetry slam and open mic in Monterey for almost 12 years, and work for the Salinas Public Library. I grew up in LA and NYC, with a stop in Austin, Texas. I just finished a great production of THE THREEPENNY OPERA at the San Jose Stage Company (I was "Crookfinger Jake"), and am currently doing video design for the west coast regional premiere of BONNIE & CLYDE, THE MUSICAL at the same theatre. Plus I'm mentoring Salinas' first Youth Poet Laureate, and helping him to publish his first book of poetry this fall, as well as working on my own manuscript, and memoir.