Ihsan Bracy (1957–2009)

A graduate of Bennington College in Vermont, a former member of the New York State Council on the Arts & Chair of the Theater Department of Talent Unlimited, the second largest performing arts High School in NYC, ishan's major teaching credits include training five Manhattan, three NYC & one third show more place National Shakespeare Champion as well as an Arts national finalist in theater. Artistic Director & Founder of the Tribe Ensemble, a multi-ethnic theater repertory company based out of the Jamaica Arts Center for thirteen years, ishan's major writing & directing credits include the original production of Against the Sun, the Southampton Slave Revolt of 1831, which depicted the pivotal days leading to the revolt led by Nat Turner. Against the Sun represents four years of research which unearthed the character Cherry Turner, wife of Nat & mother to their three children. Member of The Family, Inc. (La Familia) for eight years, ihsan's major theater credits include teaching prolonged workshops at the Bayview Correctional Facility for Women, the Spofford Home for Juveniles & at Riker's Island which culminated in a forty prison inner city tour. ihsan directed Benpires by Shamsul Alam which received the Pulitzer Price Nomination in Theater. Since his first work of fiction, ibo landing, an offering of short stories was released November 25, 1998 by Cool Grove Press, the author has been on tour doing readings/performances, sometimes with musicians & at smaller venues accompanied by prerecorded audio tape of original music. ihsan also performs spoken word regularly with musician composer Michael Raye & the Soul Raye Experience at the Triad's Darkstar Lounge in New York City. There his collaboration with Michael Raye & Besseye Scott has evolved into a moving musical state experience of ibo landings ancestral tales based on encounters of at least six generations of his Gullah & Blue Ridge ancestors & preparations are in the making for an upcoming spoken word CD project. Author of two volumes of poetry, cadre & the ubangi files, ihsan has recently been elected to the New Renaissance Writers Guild. He is recently at work on a full length magical realism novel entitled sanctuary. (Bowker Author Biography) show less