We recently connected with Andre Richardson Hogan Ii and have shared our conversation below.

Andre Richardson , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The story behind my mission, my journey as a writer, an artist, as a human being, is books.

If books do not have an.impact on our culture — if the artist’s job, whether if she is a novelist, or a poet, or even a playwright — is to take you places where you could not even begin to imagine, to turn you back into a child, who has just learned to read, and learned how to imagine what the words on a page, or a stage, is saying, then books not only have an impact, and as substantial, on me, but of my thinking, my creativity, my spirituality, my gesticulations, complications, my life.

I have never liked going outside when I was growing up. Much to my parents’ — mainly my father’s — dissatisfaction and bafflement, I was always a homebody. Okay, so you have to score a touchdown, hit a home run, slam a dunk.
Is there anything else we could play with, I would wonder. Something else that would expand our creativity, our energy, our fun? And no matter how risky it is?

Again, books, for me, for as long as I remember, was that thing, that outlet, that magic, to where its sentences, every single one, would be filled with depths of meaning and logic and information.

With my Lion-O’s and Mum-Ra’s and, shh, my sister’s Barbie dolls, I would create locations, characters, situations. (Which I later discovered were the key elements of storytelling, especially playwrighting.) And I would enjoy this so much, and being SO LOUD, to where my family asked the what the hell was wrong me, not mention Dad protesting of his only son playing with some damn dolls!

Andre Richardson , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a published poet and produced playwright and screenwriter. I’m also a visual artist and, sometimes, an actor and theater critic.

My plays have received numerous stage readings and (few) productions which include American Theater Company, Blackboard Reading Series, Black Ensemble Theater, Black Lives/Black Words International Project, Chicago Dramatists, Echo Theater Collective, MPAACT, Negro Ensemble Theater, Red Harlem Readers, Prop Thtr, South Side Stage, Perceptions Theater, and Three Cat Productions.

If anything, I am always proud to have my works presented, though I’d love to have more of my plays done on stage. However, readings is the mother of development. So there IS a process if one wants to witness a successful production!

I am just as proud to work with actors and directors who are connected to my work. And that is very important. Vocalist Yolanda Adams says this best: “Though it’s simple, your idea, it won’t make sense to everybody. You need courage now, if you’re going to persevere.” For the playwright, his job is to structure the vision. For the director, her job is to clarify the vision. For the actors, their job is to interpret the vision. Nonetheless, between the playwright, the director and the actor, there MUST be a connection as well as an understanding of that vision.

It’s a gamble, yes. Oftentimes a frustration. But, that’s the game. Either you play it, or leave it for others to win.

Script submissions and networking is a plus and a MUST if you want your work to be noticed. And that’s exactly the case with me. I’d get rejection letters out the booty-butt!! Sometimes I’d feel like it’s personal, as most writers would feel, but it’s not.

Janet Neipris in her book TO BE A PLAYWRIGHT (get it!) says this best: “It is always a matter of someone wanting what you have to sell. It takes one producer to like your work and others to turn it down, the same as falling in love.”
Amen?

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Oh, God, yes!

As I WAS getting tired of sending and waiting … sending and waiting … I independently produced a production of my play SUGAR FOR COFFEE. Yep. Out of my own pocket. The venue was Gorilla Tango Theater. I was not going to sit around and wait for someone to do something that I know I could do myself. As long as I had trusted and dedicated people on my corner.

SUGAR FOR COFFEE tells the story of four family members achieving their financial status and secrecy. It’s semi-autobiographical. Hell, James Baldwin said, “one writes out of one thing only: one’s own experience.” So there you go.

Anyway, again, I was determined (as well as my colleagues) to put this play up.

But, here’s the thing: did we love this play enough to commit to a very long period of planning, writing, rewriting and hopefully production with all its attendant angst and satisfaction? The road may be predictably treacherous. Did we want to make the journey with this play?

There was planning. There was writing. Then the rewriting. Then the angst. And more angst.

Result? First night we made $165. Second night was $255. Third and final? $300.

I signed a contract where the theater gets half of my ticket sales. I think it’s called a 50/50 contract. Mind you, I paid the actors, the understudies, the stage manager as well as the venue! But we only going to get half of our hard earned ticket sales!!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

That I have the freedom, the space, to be what I want to be, where I’m not allowed to do what somebody wants or asks or needs. Where I could be myself, without feeling confused, shamed, uncertain, any type of discomfort.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: andrerichardsonhoganii
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1A7CxA5s4G/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@echotheatercollective9964?si=-biqngXdPI82Szpm
• Other: https://youtu.be/Uw-Z38j7KTM?si=f4iRVqeKuec6G06E

Image Credits

Two collages by ARH II: “US” and “Son’s House”