A Star is Born

by Gwyn McAllister

Teaser

The story of Tyrone Davis skyrocketing to super-stardom begins with his
knockout performance at the Vineyard Playhouse. Read more about how a
21-year old actor won his first leading role with a little luck, a lot
of ability and good dose of "Pure Confidence"

Tyrone Davis is a man with a great attitude, the enthusiasm of youth and a big talent. A Miami native, he recently graduated from Florida's New World School of the Arts with hopes of building a career in the theater. We're predicting big things for Tyrone after seeing his winning portrayal of jockey Simon Cato in the Vineyard Playhouse's Pure Confidence. We've written a script chronicling the big break that will eventually lead to what, we are sure, will be a successful career for the talented young actor.

ACT I (Time; last Fall; Place: Miami and NYC)
Although Tyrone, a musical theater major, has appeared in a number of school productions, he has never won a lead role. When the Classical Theater of Harlem bring their production of King Lear to Miami, Tyrone auditions and is cast in bit parts. The actor playing Edmond - John Thompson - is very impressed and later he becomes reaquainted with the young aspiring actor when Tyrone comes to see a play that Thompson is performing in Off-Broadway. Tyrone has decided to move to New York to pursue his dream and has taken a one month sublet while he arranges auditions.

ACT II (TIme: June 2007; Place: Martha's Vineyard)
Meanwhile, MJ Bruder-Munafo of the Vineyard Playhouse is in a bind. The final show of the summer Playhouse season has been set, but no lead has been cast, and the time to begin rehearsals is fast approaching. She has placed ads in various media outlets seeking an "African American actor, 5'7" or under" to play the brash young pre-Civil war jockey in Carlyle Brown's Pure Confidence. So far, no luck, and time is running out.

ACT III (TIme: July and Aug 2007; Place: MV)
Thompson, who is friends with MJ and had previously performed in a play at the Vineyard Playhouse, gets a frantic call from MJ. When she explains that she is in desperate need of a jockey-sized actor, Thompson mentions the kid he met in Miami. MJ trusts the talented Thompson and hires Tyrone without an audition.

Tyrone exceeds everyone's expectations, steals the show and ... A STAR IS BORN.

To be continued.

(By the way, Pure Confidence is a moving, exciting play as well - with a similarly uplifting conclusion. Check it out - through Saturday)