Solve for X

by Andre Jones

2015. The 50th anniversary year of the assassination of Malcolm X. Nicholas, an artist from southwest Asia, comes to visit an American painter, Roland Sheppherd, one of the few living contemporaries of the slain human rights leader. Growing up Nicholas was exposed to speeches of Malcolm X but he has his own complicated reasons for wanting to know Malcolm, the man. Roland gives Nicholas access to his photographic research of Malcolm and instructs him how to see as a painter sees. Trapped in Roland’s studio due to a horrible storm, Nicholas paints throughout the night, opening portals into life events that teach us about Malcolm, the man. All of who he was. All of what he carried on his shoulders. And, all of the love he had for a people- his people, is explored as Nicholas excavates the personal and public life of brother Malcolm. Solve for X.

• Cast Size: 6M 1W
• Running Time: 90+ minutes
• Royalty Rate: $75 per performance

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About the Playwright

Andre N. Jones is a native of Philadelphia. He has been writing poetry since he was in Jr. High School in 1982. He was turned on to poetry through his exposure to Hip-Hop. His poetic interests soon multiplied as he started to correlate Bible metaphors and Shakespeare as similar. From eighth grade on he sought to increase his vocabulary and use his pen to make word paintings on paper. Andre served as the 2013 Emerging Artist in Playwriting for the Delaware Division of the Arts in Wilmington, DE, where he now lives. He has produced/ directed/ and acted in plays all over the Delaware valley and beyond. To his credit he has numerous nominations and awards, including The 2016 Temple University Dean’s Grant for Creative Development and Research. Andre has also been a semi finalist in the Princess Grace Awards for Playwriting, published in Obsidian Journal Vol. 43.1, and received a reading of his play entitled: Solve for X at the National Black Theatre (Harlem, NYC) in January of 2018.

A lifelong visual artist, Andre has always attempted to make subjects have, an immediacy about them. So it is with his pen. Andre seeks to expand the minds of those who read his works with intelligent wordplay and vivid imagery, verbal color with highlight shadow and texture that feels alive and yet freezes the reader/audience in the moment. That is Mr. Jones’ trademark.

Having over seventeen years experience in various areas of theater, including Acting, Scene Design, Lighting, Directing and Stage Management, He decided to challenge himself with writing. Andre has written several plays yet to be discovered that explore the question of what it is to be human and yet rendered invisible.