Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 September 2000 — Page 3
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22,2000
THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER
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Don Burrus acts up
' By ANARti V. HOLMES Recorder Editor Don Burras recalls his first stage acting debut as if it were yesterday. “I was 10 years old and I played the devil in ‘Pandora’s Box,’ says Burras, 38, a graduate of Cardinal Ritter High School who is now starring in the David Marshall Grant play “Snakebit” at the Phoenix Theatre. “I just have always been an actor.” Well, not quite always. It was several years ago when Burrus decided to listen to the voice within his soul and ditch a well- ‘ paying engineering job to pursue acting professionally. “One day I just counted the number of acting jobs I had to turn down because of my work schedule, and it clicked that I could make a living acting,” he says. “While I don’t make as much money, I am following my dreams and that’s what life is about.” The path has not been an easy journey for Burrus, but rather a l^bor of love. On his pathway to theatrical bliss, he has developed a well-rounded set of skills within regional theater — serving as director, producer, set designer and arts administrator at one time or another. , He credits Bryan Fonseca, producing director at the Phoenix Theatre, for the numerous professional
Don Burrus opportunities he’s landed, but recognizes Renee Thomas for getting it all started. Once he made the decision to go back to Purdue University to obtain a master of fine arts degree, it was Thomas who helped him secure a fellowship and convinced him to come on board as artist-in-residence for the university’s Black Cultural Center. With a strong work ethic, tremendous drive and a cup of courage, Burrus has directed more than 21 plays, including this year’s “Joumi of Ordinary Thought,” which made its Indianapolis debut at the Phoenix Theatre, “The Old Settler” and “Three Ways Home.” He has most recently acted in “Angel in America, Robert Johnson,”
‘Trick the Devil,” and “Five Guys Named Moe.” “He has an infectious outlook on life, always upbeat and the kind of person you want to work with and have on your team," says Fonseca. “As an actor, he has the tremendous ability to be in the moment and as a director he always comes prepared and ready to give his all.” Inspired by the work of South African actor Zakes Mohkae and Danny Glover, Burras says he feels more comfortable in dramatic roles and says his goal in any performance is to create another person who is believable to the audience. In addition to acting, producing and directing, his goal is to one day open a hotel with a cabaret style multi-functional space for entertaining. Right now, he is concentrating on his role as Jonathan in “Snakebit”—an ambitious movie actor whose marriage may be faltering. After “Snakebit,” Burrus plans to head out West to San Francisco and work on a couple of theater projects and an independent film. “I feel like I’m ready to run with the big dogs now,” he says. “But I know I am a product of Indianapolis and I will return one day to start some projects and give back to the place that has given so much to me.
Hiring Pair Wednesday, September 27 10:00 am to 3:00 pm RITZ CHARLES 12156 North Meridian, Carmel Please Join us. If you are Interested In meeting with companies 'Ready to Hire', please plan to participate In our Central Indiana Hiring Fair. • This Hiring ffclr represents A Wide variety Of Openb^s Including Entry Level Management Ttectmkal, and Skflled.
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SL Frands Hospital 8 Healthcare Centers
TMs Hiring Fair Is A Joint Effort Of: Circle Seven Training Council, Business and Professional Exchange and Indiana Department of Woridorce Oevetopment The hiring fair sponsors operate may programs, Including WIA Title 1 funded programs/adtvities, and are equal opportunity employers. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to people with disabilities. If you have questions about the hiring fair, please can Prisdlla Knapp at 317*462-7711, ext BOO.
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National News
Former NNPA columnist publishes revealing selfhelp book WASHINGTON (NNPA) — Dr. Michael Grant, a former selfhelp columnist with the National Newspaper Publishers Association has published a new, informative book. Your Marvelous Mind: Motivational Power for Meaningful Living, a 112-page paperback aimed at teaching readers how to think and gain success. In Your Marvelous Mind: Motivational Power for Meaningful Living, Grant encourages his readers .tpbe determined to live life to the iflillest and to not settle for just {satisfactory. He addresses certain [emotions and behaviors that counter ;the self-actualization process. I “This book is an attempt to motivate individuals to live in the ^present, to conquer debilitating {emotions like anger and fear, to set [and achieve realistic goals, and to Move and accept themselves for who •they are,” Grant says. “Once you jean love yourself completely, personal success is just around the joiner.” • Grant, who discontinued his column with the NNPA to complete .the book, is considering returning Ito the nation’s only national Black tnews service in the near future. J The book is published by ProviIdence House Publishers. ♦ IFarrakhan, Black activists ^attend Mathaba •Conference in Libya { SIRTE, Libya — Nation of IsJlam leader Louis Farrakhan and a delegation of Black activists from tthe United States, including Native •Americans, were among several fhundred activists and 11 heads of Istate participating in the 3rd ConJgress of the World Mathaba here at {the end of last month. ! The World Mathaba is a Libyanjbased organization that dedicated jitself in the 1980s to supporting liberation movements in Africa and {throughout the world who were Attempting to overthrow oppres- « ve regimes. Oft-times, these revoItutionaries were engaged in armed •fcniggle, causing the West to classify many of them as terrorists. Efforts of the organization were (pampered during the last decade f^hen U.N. sanctions were leveled ^gainst the Muslim country. !; .But today, as noted by host head :<;1. state Col. Muammar Gadhafi, iijumy of the activists “receive red!<Jarpet treatment" from world lead;.4rs because the activists actually \iip in niling parties in their counJtijes — proving the legitimacy of {iieir movements. Jr.The discussion during the conifefence focused on how would tyCathaba (meaning “center”) in light of a new worid where the armed struggle s won by many of the revolutionary groups, and globalism has now become the dominant challenge.
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