Changing Oil

by: Georgia S. McDade

As part of Transformations :the African American Writers' Alliance Play Festival

Stream Changing Oil on Youtube!

Jewell, a single, educated woman, has set aside time on her Saturday to change the oil in her car. She's interrupted by a phone call from Amos, a fellow church member, who has certain ideas about how things work in the world. This leads to an interesting exchange.

Playwright: Georgia S. McDade

A charter member of the African-American Writers' Alliance, began reading her stories in public in 1991 and credits the group with making her write poetry. Many poems are inspired by artists. Georgia writes for South Seattle Emerald and The Leschi News. With Jim Cantu she co-hosts "Hearts and Soul" on KVRU 105.7. Outside the Cave is the name of four volumes of her poetry; Observation and Revelations: Stories, Sketches, and Essays is the name of her volume of prose. Completion of two biographies, a pamphlet, and journals from her six-month solo trip around the world keep the playwriting busy. Georgia was inspired to write Changing Oil after reading 365 Plays/365 Days by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, Susan Lori-Parks.

Director: Lydia K. Valentine

A playwright & poet, director & dramaturg, editor & educator who seeks to amplify the voices of those often stifled, ignored, and marginalized in what has been the accepted narrative of the United States. While this is her first collaboration with The Mahogany Project, she has ongoing partnerships with Empathos Company, Pork Filled Productions, and Toy Boat Theatre. Lydia thoroughly enjoyed working with the playwrights and Merri Ann Osborne as dramaturg for Transformations and director for Changing Oil and Troubled Waters.

Jewell: Elizabeth Payne

Elizabeth was an on-air personality on XHRM 92.5 in San Diego for two years in the 90s. She played a receptionist in the 1997 movie Plan B with actor Jon Cryer. Now retired from 34 years of Nursing, she started a new teddy bear company, Godda Hug, in 2018 and her Godda Hug Bears can be purchased on Etsy.

Amos: Tee Denard

Tee is an original founding member of The Group Theatre and former Artistic Director of Black Arts West Theatre in Seattle. Tee has worked at most of the theaters in the Seattle area, as well as in Denver and Atlanta, and he is honored to be a part of this project with Merri Ann and The Mahogany Project. In addition to having numerous theatre productions, he has appeared in several film and television ventures and can be seen in Bao Tran's soon to be released film Paper Tigers and Megan Griffith's Sadie. The most notable films he has appeared in were An Officer and a Gentleman, Black Widow, and Seven Hours to Judgement. Tee would like to thank Jaqueline (Jaye) Ware for thinking of him to be a part of this great project.