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| Life is an Act Playwright Larry Hunter uses gift to motivate area youngsters |
| You can never predict the future. This is
the case of Native Houstonian, play- wright, and poet, Larry Hunter. Hunter grew
up in Houston's Historic Fifth Ward on Bringhurst St., near the railroad tracks
before Liberty Road. He played basketball for E.O. Smith and Phillis Wheatley
High Schools. He excelled in the sport of baseball, becoming the star pitcher
for Wheatley's team where one year they won the Co-City Championship. His
achievements in sports at Phillis Wheatley awarded him a four-year scholarship
to Wiley College in 1957. Back then Black colleges were the main focus for
African Americans. At Wiley, the Wheatley spirit was still there because Wiley's
school colors were purple and white as well. Hunter felt at home. After his
first year at Wiley, he led them to the Southwestern Conference Championship
game against Lou Brock and Southern University. Even though quite a few
Wheatleyites were attending Southern University at the time, they cheered their
homeboy, to victory, albeit quietly. It was an exciting moment for a Fifth Ward
prospect. Years later, after all the creativity he possessed in sports, his
focus and desires changed. He believed that what he created in sports could be
taken to another level, since creativity came by using his God-given talents in
many different ways. Since his concept of curving a baseball or driving to the
basketball goal is theater and poetry in motion, he decided to put those
concepts in writing and play production. Writing began many years after
settling down from his travels along the coast of West Africa, Paris and the
Islands. He migrated to Monterey, California, one of the most beautiful and
breath taking places in the world a writer's paradise. He lived on the peninsula
for seven years. There he told his stories to other writers. While they were
trying to find something to write about, he was ahead of the game. He had all
these stories in his head to share and they in turn encouraged him to write.
"You have something to share," they expressed. A newspaper editor of Carmel on the Peninsula heard about him and took him under his wings and taught him the creative side of writing. Again he excelled. His first book published in Monterey, was "The Whispering Call," one man's travel along the coast of West Africa. After seven years in Monterey and as he became older, he had an itch to come back home to Houston, a place he had never forgotten. He was eager to write about the time, "back in the day." So he packed up his possessions and returned to his roots. There were so many memories he wanted to capture with the stroke of the pen. "The Whispering Call" was just the beginning of his achievements in writing. Coming back home was the writing adventure of his life. He had this picture painted in his head about Fifth Ward and he wanted to bring those inspiring days back to his school and home where he used to live. After returning home, Larry met a Jewish author and ex T.S.U. Professor Beatrice Levin. Just like in Monterey, Levin took him under her wings and taught him an advance study of creative writing. She encouraged him to pursue his God-given talent. Hunter was not satisfied with just writing books. His desires led him to writing for the theater. He believed that the past he was trying to capture could bring fun and excitement to the unforgettable moments he remembered about Fifth Ward and Phillis Wheatley. He wanted his peers to experience a quote from a teacher that ignited their memories with joy and laughter. When he wrote "The Elder Comes To Town," he captured that old divine healer who wondered into Fifth Ward and gave a scare that people never forgot. The second staging of the play was sponsored by University of Houston. After thinking back, Hunter remembered, " The Jazz Crusaders, right out of Fifth Ward". He created a storyline centered around the saxophonist for The Crusaders, Wilton Felder. Felder practiced every day for hours on his front porch on Rawley Street. Hunter called the play, "The Rawley Street Whistler." This play was again sponsored by University of Houston along with The Menil Collection and Felder came in from Los Angeles to play his horn with the HSPA Jazz Group. It was an exciting evening for the home audience. In between writing plays, Hunter took time out to write a book of poetry. "My Reflection," is a collection of poems centered around the Turkey Day Classic, Wheatley High School and Fifth Ward. Hunter believes his success is due to his being like the Energizer bunny. His batteries stay charged while waiting for him to create another story somewhere or somehow. This led him into area schools where he works with fourth grade kids on play writing and the performing arts. He is well received by teachers, principals and of course, children. They can hardly wait for him to come to their classes. They receive self-confidence and self-esteem when they are performing or creating something on their own. Working as a writer-in-the school gives Hunter the opportunity to share some valuable information to young kids about the magic of the art from. Writer-In-The Schools is an organization that places over 60 authors in HISD schools and other facilities. Hunter is one of 10 African Americans in the organization. After observing kids for two years, Hunter saw a need to create an atmosphere for the art form outside the classroom. He started a summer program five years ago where 22 kids from different schools could participate. The setting was in Herman Park and they wrote poetry and plays under the trees, near the duck pond and everywhere else they could walk. After the 10 day program, an event was held for the public in the Rose Garden where kids performed and read their poetry. CACHH has provided grants for the program, Young Writers in the Park, every year. He then saw a need for a more permanent non-profit organization and founded Colourwhirl Inc. Youth. It is a year round program that introduces inner-city kids to the magic of fine arts. Hunter is the president and Wheatleyite, Florence Meyers-Coleman serves as vice-president of the board. Others are Tosha Hunter (treasurer) Jan Haegy (secretary) Eric Hixon (attorney) Mary Ann Lyons (consultant) Duanne Shankle (accountant). Colourwhirl Inc. has an in house cast of 12 young children, ranging in age from 11-17. They have performed throughout HISD schools, Park & Recreation Department and Texas A&M. The up-coming play, "Passing Times" is a play that Hunter wrote as a fundraiser for Colourwhirl. All proceeds will go to support the organization. According to insiders, "If you have seen any of Larry Hunter's plays, this one is one of his best." Hunter believes "Life is nothing but an act with different scenes. Lights are up and sometimes down. Support the kids to get through the first act of their lives by preparing them with confidence that you are in their corner for Act 2!" |
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