aftcinc.com

A Word From the Artistic Director

Arthur L. Gilliard

Founder and Artistic Director
Art Forms and Theatre Concepts, Inc.

Dear Patrons, Friends and Benefactors:
First, let me wholeheartedly thank you for the support and encouragement you have given Art Forms and Theatre Concepts (AFTC) and to me personally over these extraordinarily successful past fifteen years.

It is through your unwavering support and generosity that we have been able to become the premier African-American Theatre Company in South Carolina performing before local and international audiences. With your invaluable assistance Art Forms and Theatre Concepts continues to accomplish its goal of providing high quality theatre by respected playwrights highlighting local and national talent.

During the past fifteen years, AFTC has proudly presented over thirty different plays including three world premiers before more than 20,000 local and international audience members. Over 5,000 youngsters have been involved in our outreach programs as we provide in-school workshops to adolescents and teenagers interested in theatre and we have provided internships to more than 30 young men and women in our main stage productions. In addition, we continue our outreach to special needs organizations and we serve as a launching ground for many local artists interested in theatre as a career.

AFTC also continues its involvement in coordinating Youth Anti – Violence Programs using art as therapy and we serve as City Appointed Ambassadors to visiting dignitaries. AFTC’s long term goal is to remain a unique experience and to be a vehicle with diversity and expansion beyond what we have so far accomplished; the off-shoots that we will generate are just being realized; the social issues we will reflect are just budding; and the cultural revolutions we are fomenting by touching lives are immeasurable.

Your continuing contributions to Art Forms and Theatre Concepts will insure that we remain the premier African-American Theatre Company in our region and continue to be a sparkling jewel in Charleston’s International Arts Community. Please encourage your family and friends to become an integral part of the history-making Art Forms and Theatre Concepts experience by contributing to our efforts.

Yours for the arts,

Sincerely,

Arthur
 
Arthur Gilliard

Art GilliardArt Forms and Theatre Concepts, Inc.

Actor, director and playwright, Art Gilliard has been involved in the arts almost all of his life from elementary school through college.  Eventually he landed in New York City performing in numerous Off-Broadway productions at the Nat Horne Theatre.  The part of Winston Ramsbottom in the television pilot, “THE ROYAL FAMILY” took him to Los Angeles, California where he continued to develop as a stage actor while doing film projects for the American Film Institute.


A Public Relations Specialist working with the Los Angeles branch of the American Heart Association, he was soon invited by the Texan Arts Commission to spearhead a program designed to offer youngsters in the Houston area an alternative to hanging on the fringes of society, by using writing, performing and directing.  He eventually became President of a Houston based community theater company called. The Ensemble.

A featured role in the film, “NORTH AND SOUTH” brought him back to his native Charleston, where he immediately became involved in the MOJA Arts Festival.  After three years as Chairman of the festival, he again began to focus on helping youngsters deal with the traumas and crisis confronting them in today’s society.  This led to his involvement with the historic Jenkins Orphanage, where he served as Program Director.
Art, who serves on a number of boards and commissions that focus on children and the arts, worked with the City of Charleston’s Office of Cultural Affairs to establish a community based theater company in the Charleston area.  The theater company, Art Forms and Theatre Concepts, Inc., a non profit 501 (c) (3) organization. Art Gilliard, acting as Artistic Director, has produced several stage productions:
"ONE MONKEY DON'T STOP NO SHOW" by Don Evans
"LIVIN' FAT" by Judi Ann Mason
The world premier of "HUSH DAT GULLAH" by Eleanor Kinlaw Ross
"227" by Christine Houston
"GOD'S TROMBONES by James Weldon Johnson
"THE HONEYMOON" by Thomas Becket
The world premier of "DEBUTANTE OF THE SEASON" 1997 MOJA Arts Festival
"THE PIANO LESSON" by August Wilson
"RAISIN IN THE SUN" by Lorraine Hansbury (A collaboration with the Charleston Stage Company)
"Morning, Noon and Night" by Ted Shine
"SEVEN GUITARS" by August Wilson
"The AMEN CORNER" By James Baldwin
"AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’'" The Fats Waller Musical
"DREAMGIRLS" Book and Lyrics by TOM EYEN Music by HENRY KRIEGER
“GOD’S TROMBONES” Reprised By James Weldon Johnson
“BUBBLING BROWN SUGAR” By Lofton Mitchell
“Debutante of the Season” 2003 Piccolo Spoleto Festival
“Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope” – By Vinnette Carroll and Micki Grant
“I Sing From My Soul” – By Art Gilliard
“One Mo Time” – Vernel Bagneris
"A Star Ain't Nothin' But A Hole In Heaven" By Judi Ann Mason
"Hambone" By Javon Johnson
"Little Ham" By Langston Hughes
“JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE” By August Wilson
“IT AIN’T NOTHIN BUT THE BLUES” By Bevel, Githers, Myler, Taylor and Wheetman
“TAMBOURINES TO GLORY” By Langston Hughes
“GOD’S TROMBONES” By James Weldon Johnson
“EUBIE!” By Eubie Blake
“ONE MONKEY DON’T STOP NO SHOW” By Don Evans
 


 
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