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by Doug Jones
Kosmond Russell’s Theater foundation was laid and formulated at Bowling Green State University in 1972 while performing in his first play, Ceremonies in Dark old Men. While attending BGSU he teamed up with James Pickens, Jr., (‘The Chief’, Grey’s Anatomy) and won several national collegiate acting awards. As a result he discovered that he had a passionate love affair with the art of acting and decided to pursue a career in theater.
He moved to Los Angeles in the Summer of 1978 and Joined Several Theater Groups: The Watts Players, The Working Stage Theater Company, Thousand Oaks Playhouse, Estelle Harman’s Actors Institute, The Stella Adler Theater Company, The Inglewood Playhouse and The Beverly Hills Playhouse.
After working for several years as a Stage Actor and Standup comic he decided to follow the advice of his mentor Sally Marr; the mother of renaissance comedian Lenny Bruce and “write for the stage.”
Kosmond produced and wrote his first play in 1997, entitled The Visit. THE VISIT is based on a true story about Kosmond’s younger brother and the Russell family. The play won eleven, combined Drama Logue/Backstage West and NAACP Theater Image Awards. Including Best Produced Play and Best Playwright. In 2000 THE VISIT became a feature film which Starred, Billy Dee Williams, Marla Gibbs, Hill Harper, Obba Babatunde’, Rae Dawn Chong, Phylicia Rashad, Glynn Turman and Talia Shire. Kosmond Co-Executive Produced the Film which was nominated for NAACP Image Awards and 4 Independent Spirit Awards in 2001 while winning several Awards for National Film Festivals: Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Actor (Hill Harper), Best Supporting Actor (Billy Dee Williams) and Best Supporting Actress (Marla Gibbs). It also was showcased at the 2000 NAACP NATIONAL CONVENTION. It also boasted a 36 consecutive month run on HBO.
His Next Play THE MARRIAGE Starring Dawnn Lewis’ (A Different World) was nominated for eight NAACP Theater Image Awards. He won Best Playwright and Dawnn Lewis won best lead Actress. Since then Kosmond has become producer/playwright extraordinaire, producing over thirty plays in the Los Angles Area (garnering over twenty five additional awards) and writing a total of Thirteen Plays plays. Including THE CUBICLE PEOPLE, CHILD SUPPORT, LOVE TKO, Heavyn’s Song, The Sermon, Let them Eat Cake, The Star Maker, The Home going, The Dealership and The Unsung Song.
Kosmond established Kosmond Russell Productions in 1997 and produced several plays in Los Angles, Hollywood and throughout the United States. Kosmond was the Artistic Director for the Famed STAGE 52 in Los Angeles where he produced over 35 plays from 1999 to 2005 (which garnered numerous Theater Nominations and Awards). He Founded and produced Kosmond Russell’s 1st annual Hollywood Summer Theater Festival in July of 2011 at the Historic Barnsdall Gallery Theater in Hollywood where he showcased five of his original plays to high praise and critical acclaim while working with some of Hollywood’s top Talent Including, Antonio Fargas, LaVan Davis, Ted Lange, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Dawnn Lewis, Hawthorne James, Marla Gibbs, James Pickens, Jr. and Obba Babatunde.
Kosmond’s impeccable eye for talent, charismatic management style and” impossible is nothing” philosophy has made him one of the most sought after and respected Theater Producers in the Nation.
Most recently Kosmond has created a Web Series Entitled “The Cubicle People” Starring : Aloma Wright, Hugh Dane, Robb Skyler, Byron Nora and Camila Banus which will debut at the World’s Largest Web Festival(LAWEBFEST…..LAWEBFEST.COM) this year April 2nd thru April 5th 2015, at the Universal Hilton in Universal City. The Web Series has been nominated for 4 awards, Best Writer (Kosmond Russell), Best Lead Actress (Aloma Wright), Best Lead Actor, (Byron Nora), Best Theme Song (Reedius Maximus).
Kosmond Russell will be taking two of his critically acclaimed plays THE HOMEGOING and THE DEALERSHIP to this year’s National Black Theater Festival www.NBTF.org, a bi-annual Theater Festival since 1989 which takes place in Winston-Salem, N.C. The largest and most respected in the Nation.
The Dealership will Star: Dorien Wilson, Tommy Ford, Aloma Wright, Baadja Lynn and Dan Leech and THE HOMEGOING will star Hawthorne James ( “Big Red” of The Five Heartbeats Movie) and Tiffany Adams.
Kosmond Will also Start “Second Saturday’s Theater Matinee” At the Barbara Morrison Performing Art Center in Leimert Park Starting May 9th, 2015. Second Saturdays will feature Staged readings of new Kosmond Russell Plays.
KRP will start 1st Sunday Theater Brunch at THE SPICE FACTORY RESTAURANT, June 7, 2015 @ 4pm, Featuring” THE SERMON” and “THE MEDIATION”. This will be a Sunday Dinner Theater with a Gospel Brunch feel every first Sunday of the Month.
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