Meet the Writers
Harold Hodge Jr is a New York-based Director and Playwright of politically charged theater. As an African American that was raised in Japan, in a bi-racial/military family, he uses his unique multicultural lens to explore the stories of marginalized voices with a particular interest in the stories of people of color. He does this by focusing on how oppression can affect the most innate human desires and relationships. Harold brings his passion for activism into his work, often with the goal that his productions will contribute to today's conversation and movement on topical issues. As a writer, Harold's body of work ranges from musical comedies, living room dramas, magic realism plays, and period dramas. Harold is a founding member and Artistic Director of The Rose Grew Here, a production company focused on producing original works of minorities (people of color, women, and LGBT).
To learn more about Harold, please visit haroldhodgejr.com
Charlie Romano is a Latin American Composer/Lyricist from the Chicago area. As a member of a rather large immediate and extended family, he is used to sharing everything and spending time with many different kinds of people. As a result, Charlie is passionate about telling people’s untold stories. In addition to CALL ME FROM THE GRAVE (2021 O’Neill Finalist, 2021 NAMT Semi-finalist, 2023 ASCAP Workshop), Charlie’s work includes ONWARD AND UPWARD, a musical adaptation of Bridget Carpenter’s “Up (The Man in the Flying Chair)”, VIDEO RENTAL STORE, a “micro-musical” about a video rental store that experiences unexpected business one day, and THE BALLAD OF ELISA LAM, a short musical telling the tragic story of the titular character. He is also currently working on TITA, a new musical about his Panamanian-immigrant grandmother (an extraordinarily energetic polyglot whose life touched countless others around the world). Charlie is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild, the advanced BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, and the Latiné Musical Theatre Lab.
To learn more about Charlie, please visit charlieromano.com
