Charles David Brooks, III is Director of Theatre Ensemble at Benedict College, Columbia, South Carolina. In addition to teaching theater, he has either acted in, written, directed, produced, staged or in some other capacity, been involved in theater most of his life. Our Lives Our Voices Our Music is a compilation of five dramatic theatrical pieces. Four of the plays were written by Brooks, himself., while the last work, The Brothers, was written by ancient playwright, Terence (Publius Terentius Afer - 195/185-159 BC). Terence, was from the Roman Republic, and of North African descent. His comedies were performed for the first time around 170-160 BC. Terentius Lucanus, a Roman senator, brought Terence to Rome as a slave, educated him, and later on, impressed by his abilities, freed him. Terence apparently died young, probably in Greece or on his way back to Rome. All of the six plays Terence wrote have survived. Our Lives Our Voices Our Music is a dramatization that reveals ancient ancestral characters emerging from within the spirit world to enlighten the world about man's misdeeds on humanity. Affairs of Our Ancestors depicts an ancient spiritual council assembling in order to communicate with the present generation with a much needed message about spiritual and cultural awareness to this world. HELP! A play about bondage, oppression and of refugees. It includes "Slave Narratives" as prepared by the Federal Writers' Project. SHELTER is an important piece that characterizes different quandaries of mankind that lead to homelessness and the need for camaraderie, in spite of.
About the Author: About The Author Charles David Brooks, III is Assistant Professor of Theater and the Director of the Theatre Ensemble at Benedict College. His studies include a Master's in Fine Arts (Directing) from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a Master's in Educational Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York. He's done extensive field research study, which allowed him to eloquently pen this book of plays. In 2007, Professor Brooks journeyed to Egypt, and in 2009, to Ethiopia with the Kemet Nu "Know Thyself" Educational Tours, a part of the African-Centered Lectures sponsored by Ashra and Merira Kwesi, lecturers on African history, civilization, religion, and culture. In 2010, he participated in the Benedict College Office of International Programs Summer Research Fellow / Fundación Curduvaré that took him to Venezuela. He also conducted field research in 2011 on his Sankofa Journey to Ghana to study the Ashanti history and religion. He is a member of the Actors' Equity, an American labor union representing the world of live theater. As an actor, he has performed in movies, television, and on stage. As a card-carrying member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, he has directed in theaters from the renowned Lincoln Center in New York to stages in Los Angeles, California.