MARGARET: THE NATIONAL BLACK
THEATER FESTIVAL CONTINUES IN
WINSTON-SALEM.
YOU'RE LISTENING TO THE PARADE
THAT WEAVED THROUGH THE CITY
THIS MORNING.
HERE TO TELL US HOW HE IS
INVOLVED IN THE FESTIVAL IS
PETRI HAWKINS-BYRD, WHO YOU MAY
RECOGNIZE AS THE BALIFF FR
"JUDGE JUDY."
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
HOW ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH THE
NATIONAL BLACK THEATER FESTIVAL?
>> HURRICANE.
WE STARTED THE GALA YESTERDAY
WITH A WAY.
-- WITH A PLAY.
A FANTASTIC NIGHT.
MARGARET: TELL US ABOUT YOUR
INVOLVEMENT.
>> I HAVE BEEN COMING TO THE
FESTIVAL SINCE 1999.
THAT IS OVER 30 YEARS
BIANNUALLY.
EVERY TWO YEARS, THEY HAVE THE
FESTIVAL HERE IN WINSTON-SALEM.
EVER SINCE I FIRST CAME HERE, AT
THE BEHEST OF A FRIEND, I HAVE
BEEN HOOKED ON IT.
THERE IS NO PLACE THAT YOU CAN
SEE A MORE CONCENTRATED ECLECTIC
GROUP OF BLACK PLAYS THAN IN
WINSTON-SALEM EVERY OTHER YEAR.
IT'S INCREDIBLE.
WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME WHERE I GOT
TO SEE GREAT BLACK THEATER,
WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA.
MARGARET: DO YOU HAVE ANY
PARTICULAR TIES TO THE AREA?
>> I DO NOT.
COMING HERE IN 1999, THAT WAS MY
FIRST TIME COMING.
THERE IS A FAMILY OF BYRDS --
MARGARET: YEAH, I KNOW THEM.
[LAUGHTER]
>> THEY ARE RELATED TO A
DIRECTORY CALIFORNIA, JEFF BYRD.
I MET THE PARENTS HERE AND THEN
MET THEIR PARENTS IN CALIFORNIA
-- THEIR KIDS IN CALIFORNIA.
THEY WERE ORIGINALLY FROM
BROOKLYN.
THAT CONNECTION CAME ALL THE WAY
AROUND BECAUSE I AM FROM
BROOKLYN MYSELF.
MARGARET: THAT PHASE, EVERYBODY
RECOGNIZES IT FROM "JUDGE JUDY."
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START?
>> I WAS A COURT OFFICER IN HAND
FAMILY COURT BACK IN THE 1980'S
-- HATTON FAMILY CAR BACK IN THE
1980'S.
ONE OF THE -- HATTON FAMILY
COURT BACK IN THE 1980'S.
THEY WERE DEVELOPING A A
CHAUFFEUR JUDY.
I SAID, IF YOU STILL NEED A
BAILIFF,.
I STILL LOOK GOOD IN UNIFORM
MARGARET: YOU DO WHAT CAN PEOPLE
LOOK FORWARD THE REST OF THE
WEEK?
>> WE HAVE 40 PLAYS, AT LEAST 40
OF, EVERYWHERE FROM SOUTH AFRICA
TO THE CARIBBEAN TO CHICAGO, NEW
YORK, L.A.
WE HAVE THIS ECLECTIC GROUP OF
PLAYS GOING ON.
WE ALSO HAVE THE MIDNIGHT POETRY
JAM, WHICH I WILL BE HOSTING.
WE HAVE AGE OF -- WHAT TIME DOES
THE MIDNIGHT POETRY JAM START?
11:59.
[LAUGHTER]
WE HAVE THE THOMPSON READING
WORKSHOPS.
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF READING
OF NEW PLAYS THAT HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO BECOME ACTUAL PLAYS
AND BE MOUNTED AS PLAYS IN THE
FUTURE.
I ALSO THROW THE END OF THE
FESTIVAL PARTY.
IT IS NOTORIOUS.
MARGARET:.
>> YOU GOT IT.