Shelly Garrett Tickets

Shelly Garrett was a renowned playwright, producer and director in the theatre business. He is known to have revolutionized African American theatre by creating, writing and producing plays that highlighted contemporary social issues.

Born in 1939, in Bastrop, Louisiana, Garrett was raised in a family that had a deep passion for the arts. He grew up watching his mother perform in local theatre productions and often participated in plays during his youth. After graduating from high school, he worked as a disc jockey and traveled extensively across the US. His travels introduced him to different cultures and provided him with the inspiration to write plays that catered to African American audiences.

Garrett wrote several plays, including ‘Beauty Shop,' ‘The State of Mississippi versus Emmett Till,’ and ‘Madea Goes to Jail.' However, his most significant contribution to African American theatre was his play ‘Beauty Shop.’ This production was unique because it centered around women. The play portrayed the interactions between customers and employees at a beauty salon and focussed on life experiences that were relevant to the black community.

‘Beauty Shop’ proved to be incredibly successful and propelled Garrett’s career to new heights. It travelled across the United States and was performed in several theaters in New York, including the Apollo Theatre. The play achieved notable success due to its relatability to everyday concerns and universal themes such as race, gender, class, and relationships.

Garrett gained recognition from prominent theatre figures such as Tyler Perry, who was inspired by his works and how they resonated with their audiences. Additionally, Eddie Murphy, a Hollywood legend, and comedian, was an ardent fan of Garrett's work and even mentioned him during interviews.

In conclusion, Shelly Garrett was a visionary with an unparalleled talent in storytelling through plays. He broke through traditional biases surrounding African American theatre and created plays that explored topics on love, family, and social issues. His contributions to the theatre industry were enormous, and his impact lives on to this day.