PEOPLE OF NOTE: Jacqueline Hankins -- A Lady With 'A Weapon Most Unusual'
By Deardra Shuler
March 8, 2005
A wonderful way to spend a weekend afternoon with friends is at the Playwright Tavern &
Restaurant located at 732 Eighth Avenue (at 46th Street) where one can enjoy an
inexpensive brunch while being theatrically entertained. Currently, an amusing hip-hop
murder mystery “A Weapon Most Unusual!” is being featured. It is the brainchild of
thespian, musician and playwright, Jacqueline Hankins, who’s Hip Hop Musical Mysteries
also include: “A Murder At the Church” and “Cooking The Books: A Recipe for Murder.”
Ms. Hankins was raised in the small town of Silverdale, North Carolina. “Like most Black
people, I started in the Church. I was the church pianist from the age of 10 and later
became an organist. I eventually got a scholarship to Livingstone College and then
transferred to the Boston Conservatory of Music where I graduated with a degree in
piano. I was always taking courses and therefore, I eventually became a good dancer. I
trained in classical voice as well. I’ve never earned a living at anything other than show
business” claimed the attractive and talented entertainer.
Jacqueline traveled to Europe as a singer/dancer working with an orchestra. She ended
up living there for 18 years. “I lived in Munich for 10 years and 8 years in Frankfurt.
However, I worked everywhere including: Iceland, Russia, the Caribbean and Kenya. I am
very fluent in German and French but also sing in Italian and Yiddish” explained Hankins
who has also mastered improvisation, arrangement and orchestration. “I was drawn to
Cabaret while in Europe and became involved in it. I regaled myself in dazzling outfits
somewhat like a female Liberace and created a style that worked for me. Cabaret isn’t
easy. In fact, it is one of the hardest things to do because you have to memorize a lot of
songs, have stage presence, personality and style; while at the same time, deal with all
the hustle and bustle that is going on around you. I started to realize in order to make the
big money I would have to play the big galas. That is where the real show business is in
Europe. They have these big, grand halls in Europe where about 2,500 people show up
to be entertained. Banks, corporations, etc., pay artists big fees to entertain for their
banquets and galas. This is wonderful because generally an artist only has to perform on
stage for about 45 minutes” remarked Hankins.
Hankins learned in order to succeed she would have to learn songs in the language of
the country where she performed. “Most Americans don’t learn foreign songs. They don’
t attempt to learn the language. But I saw if the people don’t understand the words, no
matter how good you sing, it’s like a curtain between you and the audience. You never
truly win the hearts of the people. So, when I was in Italy, I learned Italian songs. A lot of
songs are international so I tried to pick songs that were famous everywhere but had a
German, French or Italian version, etc. A song, for example, like “The Summer Wind”
that Frank Sinatra sang here in America, is really a German song and “My Way” is also a
very famous French song. Paul Anka merely wrote the American words to it. Eartha Kitt
is very well known in Europe. Her command of the German and French language is
excellent. They have recordings of her in Europe singing in German and French. The
European people love Ms. Kitt. It took me about 5 years to become a good linguistic
singer. I wish I could say differently, but I would never have been able to do the type of
entertainment in the U.S.A., that I did when I lived in Europe. In Europe, I could do what I
wanted to do. When I came back to the USA in 1994, it was the first time I really knew
black rage. I became very angry. Although, anger, is not necessarily a bad thing if you
funnel it into positive things. If you are just sitting on anger its nothing. Then anger
merely constipates you and keeps you from doing anything worthwhile. If you take the
anger and use it as a fire to motivate you to fight and to be resourceful and not quit, then
you can survive. That is what I know how to do. I am a survivalist artist.”
Jacqueline had an advantage as a child because her parents were very authoritative.
Her father was a principal of a school and her mother a school supervisor. “There is a
big difference when you have parents who show you how to lead. My parents were
intellectuals and taught me how to discuss things that I was passionate about. I am not
talking about the type of passion where one becomes overly emotional and can’t
verbalize their feelings or what their needs and expectations are. I am talking about
learning control so that you are in command of yourself and can articulate your needs
and desires succinctly to the world at large.”
Hankins is very much the controlling force in her productions. She writes the plays and
the music as well as does the arrangements. She also hires the actors on her
productions. “The people I am working with are wonderful. My present cast is Marri J.
Wright, Laurence Alexander, Margaret Wheeler, Anna Hill, Ann Estill, Larry Antonio,
Candice A. Hassell and Corry Brookshire. Jury members are: Vincenzo Vaccaro, Carmen
Mathis, Leroy Hankins, Crystal Roman, Cecelia Hankins, Giovanni Trosa, Chris Johnson,
Francesca Bellenis, Amir Levi, Thomas Blake and Christine Bardes. I believe in
motivating people. I never raise my voice at the performers. I don’t demean them. You
can’t demean somebody and expect them to get up on stage and give you a great show.
They might give you a great performance but it’s not because of you, it’s in spite of you.
This is my business. This is my livelihood so I try to run it as smoothly as possible.”
Hankins has learned through experience it’s best to keep a certain sang-froid when
dealing with people in her employ so the artists understand what she needs from them.
“When I first started out trying to get my plays produced, no matter how I tried, I couldn’t
get anyone to touch me, neither black theatre nor white theatre. I am not sure why.
Perhaps, they didn’t like me or the murder mystery genre I write. I enjoy writing murder
mysteries because they are challenging. Writing a murder mystery requires a brain
tease. There has to be a brain teaser but at the same time you can’t make it so
complicated that the audience doesn’t understand the play. I find the murder mystery
style of writing very exciting. In my plays however, I compose the music too” laughed
Jacqueline.
“Writing a murder mystery compels me to think about stuff like -- how to murder
somebody. Think about it. Do you know how to murder someone? The average person
hasn’t any idea how to go about murdering, let alone get away with it. So, I have a lot to
think about when crafting a murder mystery,” states the playwright.
Hankins plans to write another murder mystery in the near future. Most of her ideas she
rips from newspaper headlines. “There was a recent tragedy in the news I plan to write
about and put my special little twist on.”
“Usually, my play, starts at 2:30 p.m., but we encourage folks to come 20 minutes or so
earlier, so they can get settled and order their food before the play starts. I love what I do
and really this is a good time in my life. Through the Playwright Tavern venue, I am
sitting on 46th Street and 8th Avenue, close enough to Broadway for people to be aware
of my plays.” I have to agree with Ms. Hankins. The play “A Weapon Most Unusual!” is
entertaining and is a wonderful thing to do on a weekend afternoon. If you get the
chance, go see it!
Interested parties can learn more about “A Weapon Most Unusual!” and other Jacqueline
Hankins’ plays via her website at http://www.hiphopmusicalmysteries.com.
Deardra Shuler is a journalist in the New York City area. She serves as the
Entertainment Editor of the Black Star News and free-lances for several minority print and
Internet papers. She has a background in concert promotion, theatre, radio and
television and is the host of her own talk show, "Topically Yours," on the BlakeRadio
Network.
