Blooming In Dry Season, The Author Eljon Wardally

Inspired by the melodies of steel drums and the dynamics of a family in conflict, playwright Eljon Wardally has written a drama that transports audiences to a small family rum shop in Grenada. “Blooming in Dry Season,” a poignant tale about a family, is presented by Woodie King, Jr.’s New Federal Theatre in partnership with the North Carolina Black Repertory Company through June 28 at WP Theater, 2162 Broadway at 76th Street. 

“It’s set in a shop in Grenada and tells a story of Fritz, a failed calypsonian who faces losing everything when he and his wife Rose, butt heads over their 16-year-old daughter Garland, a gifted steel player,” explained Wardally.  “Garland has been offered the opportunity to tour with the most famous calypsonian group in the Caribbean. Fritz fears the outcome will impede his own disappointments in life. The daughter is set to surpass him in fame and success. Her mom supports her, but her father does not. Tensions grow and secrets are revealed.”

Born and raised in New York City, Wardally’s mother is Italian-American and her father is from Grenada. From infancy to 16-years-old, Wardally lived in Grenada each summer with relatives and continues to visit the island. “My father would show me where he grew up in Grenada. He would teach me about parts of the island and family history. It was important to have that connection to our history,” she said. “I can see my father and my cousins, my aunts and uncles in the characters that I’ve written. I feel that I’m also honoring them.”

There is also a storyline about dementia. Wardally has dedicated the play to her aunt who suffered with Alzheimer’s. “My aunt was the person that used to braid my hair. She was the person whose house I went to so much when I was a child,” she said. “She had tremendous impact on my life.”

When Wardally was 29, she had a stroke. It was a life changing event. At that time, she had a career in television as a broadcast associate for the “CBS Early Show” and an associate producer for MTV’s Caribbean channel. “It was this freak thing. But I will always say it was the best, and the worst thing that ever happened to me,” she said.  “Because if I didn’t have that stroke, I would not be writing right now. It took the stroke to really wake me up in terms of following my passion.” 

While recovering, she was inspired to become a playwright and script writer. She was encouraged by Emmy winning director Randy Wilkins, now her husband, to pursue a career in playwriting.  She obtained an MFA from Fordham University’s first playwrighting program and has written several plays, including “Big Black Balloon,,” “Bishop,” “By A Thread” and “I Am…a Shepherdess.” In addition, she’s penned a documentary on Jackie Robinson for Major League Baseball narrated by Leslie Odom, Jr and an award-winning web drama series “Docket 32357,” still available online. 

“Blooming in Dry Season” stars Nikyla Boxley as Garland, Melanie Matthews as Rose and Brian Richardson as Fitz.  The director is Audelco winner Jackie Alexander, former Artistic Director of The Billie Holiday Theatre and currently Producing Artistic Director of The North Carolina Black Repertory Company and Executive Producer of the International Black Theatre Festival. The original calypso music is by award-winning Trinidadian musician Etienne Charles, a renowned jazz artist, and a Guggenheim Fellow and Creative Capital Awardee recipient. 

During July and August, “Blooming in Dry Season” will be staged at the International Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem. “Grenada is the most beautiful place that I’ve ever been to. It is a small island with a big heart,” said Wardally. “It had a tremendous impact on the person that I’ve become. It is a second home.”

For ticket information, contact the Woodie King Jr. New Federal Theatre at 

www.newfederaltheatre.com