Keenan Scott II: Poetry, Passion, and Broadway Dreams

Unglossy

Bun B, Tom Frank, Jeffrey Sledge

Entrepreneurship, Business, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.9 • 917 Ratings

🗓️ 21 March 2025

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this week's episode of Unglossy, Tom and Jeffrey sit down with Keenan Scott II, a prolific playwright, poet, actor, director, and producer from Queens, New York. Keenan delves into his artistic journey, beginning with his early passion for visual arts and comic books, and transitioning into poetry and performance as he navigated his formative years in Maryland. His experiences at open mic nights in D.C. were pivotal, shaping his creative expression and laying the groundwork for his future in theater. Keenan also discusses the genesis of his renowned play, "Thoughts of a Colored Man," which started as college monologues aimed at authentically representing Black experiences absent from mainstream theater. The conversation further explores the complexities and challenges of bringing a play to Broadway. Keenan sheds light on the logistical and financial hurdles, including navigating the influential theater families that control Broadway venues. Despite these challenges and the abrupt end to his play's run due to COVID-19, Keenan's work continues to make a significant impact. Looking ahead, he shares his excitement for future projects through his company, Project Toy Entertainment, aiming to fuse various artistic mediums and empower new creative voices. His advice to emerging artists—to believe in themselves and embrace perseverance—is a testament to his journey and dedication to the arts. "Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Merrick Chief Creative Officer, Tom Frank, hip hop artist and founder of Pendulum Ink, Mickey Factz, and music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/ Send a text Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This week on Unglossy.
0:02.1	We had Mac Wilds.
0:03.5	You know,
0:03.7	Mac Wilde,
0:04.3	legendary,
0:05.9	you know what I mean?
0:06.7	You know,
0:07.0	from the wire to 90210,
0:09.2	210, red tails,
0:10.7	you know,
0:11.6	the list goes on.
0:12.7	So in my mind,
0:13.9	we had an all-star cast.
0:15.1	I think we had
0:15.6	the greatest ensembles
0:17.0	ever assembled on Broadway.
0:19.2	From the top.
0:21.6	Yeah. ensembles have assembled on Broadway. From the top. Good. I'm Tom Frank.
0:22.6	I'm Mickey Fax.
0:24.6	And I'm Jeffrey Sledge.
0:26.6	Welcome to Unglossy to Coning Brand and Culture.
0:29.6	I'm Tom Frank, partner and chief creative officer at Merrick Creative.
	...

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