Topically Yours - Producer Rome Neal

Deardra Shuler talks to producer Rome Neal, the Artistic Theatre Director of the Nuyorican Poets Café theatre program.  Over the years he has received five Audelco Awards for his direction of Pepe Carril’s "SHANGO de IMA" and Samuel Harp’s "DON”T EXPLAIN." Mr. Neal also received two Audelcos for his acting: one for Lead Actor in Gabrielle N. Lane's "SIGNS," and one for Solo Performance in his critically acclaimed "MONK," by Laurence Holder.  

Neal also received the National Black Theatre Festival's coveted Lloyd Richards Director’s Award.  His directorial credits includes his adaptation of William Shakespeare's "JULIUS CAESAR SET IN AFRICA," Sekou Sundiata's "THE CIRCLE UNBROKEN IS A HARD BOP" Amiri Baraka's "MEETING LILLIE," "SHANGO de IMA," "Prism," Ishmael Reed's "THE C ABOVE C ABOVE HIGH C" and Amiri Baraka's "PRIMITIVE WORLD: AN ANTI- NUCLEAR JAZZ MUSICAL," all performed at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and National Black Theatre Festival in Winston Salem North Carolina.  His film acting credits include Michael Almereyda’s "HAMLET" Spike Lee’s "SUMMER OF SAM" and Leon Ichaso’s "PINERO."

 Mr. Neal has a CD entitled: "A Brighter Crooner", and now his live concert "All in The Puddin'" recently released on DVD along with his "Rome Neal's Banana Puddin' Jazz Jam... A Night To Remember."

His daughter Lia Neal is a member of the Stamford Women's Gold Medal Olympics Swimming Team.