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Mr. James Chapmyn & Chapmyn Spoken Word
James H. Chapmyn is an expert in dialogue. With training from Bethel College, Trinity Lutheran Seminary and Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Mr. Chapmyn has developed a technique of using theater as an entry point to self-discovery, dialogue and understanding that is simply amazing. His passion, professionalism and creativity combine to engage youth, empower professionals, or mobilize communities.
James H. Chapmyn
Nationally known as a mesmerizing public speaker, while his topics vary based on the situation, he always uses humor, life experiences and a touch of the unexpected to make his speeches memorable. Having been featured on Fresh Air with Terry Gross, CNN and in the New Yorker Magazine and in many other publications, James Chapmyn has sparked the passions of thousands.
Chapmyn Spoken Word was founded as Living the Dream inc.
in 1988 by James H. Chapman, Lorraine Hemphill, Norma Jones and
Elizabeth Ellison as a theater company, producing plays about impact of HIV and
AIDS on the black community. The first play B.r.AIDS (Black Response to AIDS) was written by
Geneva Chapman. The next production A Real Peace was James
Chapman's first produced work. (March 1990)
After receiving a grant in
1989 from The US Conference Of Mayors, Living the Dream Inc. was able to produce high quality
theater that cut to the core of root issues in what was thearly war against AIDS.
In 1990 James was offered a
commission to present an original work for the Greater Mount Nebo
Cultural Arts Center in Dayton, Ohio. And on June 9, 1990, OUR YOUNG BLACK MEN ARE
DYING AND NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE premiered to standing ovations and rave
reviews. Following this amazing experience, series of miracles resulted in the
play opening in New York City Off-Broadway at the Castillo theater for a successful one
year run. (February-December 1991) The success of Young Black Men catapulted James H.
Chapman and Living the Dream into the national spotlight.
After years of success of
Young Black Men on the and other plays written by
James H. Chapman and produced by Living The Dream, tragedy shook the company.
Liz died due to breast cancer and shortly after, Lorraine and Norma retired due to
serious illness, leaving the
administrative and creative work to James Chapman. In honor of these women
who inspired him, James wrote Womyn with Wings and changed the spelling
of his name to Chapmyn in 1996. Womyn With Wings was a huge success
The company became Chapmyn
Spoken word in 1999 and changed its mission and diversified its reach
by adding workshops and diversity consulting services to its offerings.
Today, many plays,
choreopoems, workshops, conferences, lectures and poems later, Chapmyn Spoken Word is
constantly redefining itself based on the rapidly changing world it
serves.
From Crisis to Challenge to Change
it's our mission and our motto.
Illness, adversity and loss
have sometimes slowed us down, but James Chapmyn and Chapmyn Spoken Word are a
consistent and powerful part of the American dialogue about change.
The fine print:
Living the Dream Inc is a not for profit 501c3
Theater company doing business as Chapmyn Spoken Word
Federal tax Identification number 31-1235974
1-800-783-4226
President/chair James H. Chapmyn
Directors:
Deborah B. Chapman
d'Ebrar Chapman
Joseph H. Chapman
John H. Flourloy
Arnold Smotherman
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