"The gods stopped smiling."
Is an intelligent, provocative, story about love and friendship. Between friends who've become wealthy NBA stars. "Kendaji Lorde" and "Mickey O' Reilly" a tough Irish-Italian point guard. This 1990's story exposes the hypocrisy of fame, wealth, and shame; when a young man's talent, takes him someplace, his character can't keep him. Society worships athletes because the "Gods" have smiled on them. Well one spring morning in the hills of Bel-Aire; for about 60 seconds the gods stopped smiling. They embraced the beauty in the struggle, but weren't prepared for the ugliness in the success. Their friendship, which had once been their salvation, would now be their curse.
It's been described as; emotionally intimate, brutally honest, funny, violent, sexy, profane, profound, inspiring and romantic. It breaks your heart, then puts it back together again. It succeeds on many levels, champions the wisdom of women, and a hopeful way of dealing with grief and loss. At its core; it's a beautiful, faith-based love story, between Kendaji's college sweetheart and his loving, yet sometime toxic brotherhood, with his teammate. Educationally entertaining and spiritually uplifting. By the end; you're emotionally exhausted, but enlightened, happy and a better person to have taken the journey with them.
Kenyatta, Stogie: - "
About the Author
Jamaican born and Brooklyn bred; Stogie Kenyatta was classically trained at the Afro American Studio in Harlem, Henry St. Settlement, and The Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble. A finalist in the N.Y. State Theatre competition with Artistic Director, John Houseman. He came West to College on a basketball scholarship where he studied Political Science and Screenwriting at the U of California. Over 30 television credits from Sit-coms, Film to Soap Operas. Written and directed music videos and short films. Written seven screenplays, some of which has been optioned and is producing his directorial debut of his passion-piece; a multicultural Dark Escape Comedy, "Promise of Paradise."
As a Stand-up Comedian; he's appeared in Comedy Clubs around the Country and co-headlined USO Comedy Tours in Tokyo, Japan and Okinawa. The Writer/Artist of the acclaimed One Man Show; "The World is my Home - The Life of Paul Robeson". The winner of the Hollywood- Bev. Hills NAACP Best Solo Show. The play has been performed at over 100 Universities in over a dozen countries. He is one of the top Pan African Teaching Artists in the world; with a Master-Class; on how Arts & Culture forced the globe to recognize our shared humanity.
Married 24 years to his soul-mate Meechi Kenyatta, proud father to son; Kahaari Shakoor and daughter; Tunisia Aminah.
Kenyatta's mission is to use the Arts as a vehicle for social change, to uplift inspire and make an impact before Heaven calls.
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