The Front Porch Speaker Series presented by Grinder, Taber & Grinder - Becoming Zora Neale Hurston on Stage

The Front Porch Speaker Series presented by Grinder, Taber & Grinder 

5:00 pm - Mix and Mingle & enjoy beverages from Second Helpings Cafe 

5:30 pm - Presentation Begins 

Becoming Zora Neale Hurston on Stage

What does it take to bring one of America’s most vibrant literary voices to life? In this engaging talk, playwright and performer Ann Perry Wallace shares the creative process behind her one-woman portrayal of Zora Neale Hurston. Through stories from the rehearsal room, insights into Hurston’s work, and reflections on voice, language, and character, Wallace reveals how literature can leap from the page to the stage.

Bio

Ann C. Perry Wallace is an award-winning playwright, performer, producer, and teaching artist whose work transforms historical narratives into modern cultural movements. Her acclaimed one-woman show Live Rich Die Poor, which won the 2023 Ostrander for Outstanding Original Script, was inspired by the life and legacy of Zora Neale Hurston, has captivated audiences with its powerful storytelling, embodying more than a dozen characters while exploring themes of resilience, artistic freedom, and cultural inheritance.

Based in Memphis, Wallace creates theatrical works that blend folklore, history, and contemporary voice. Her writing often centers Black cultural memory, Southern storytelling traditions, and the transformative power of art. She is the creator of Zora the Brave, a children’s theatrical work that introduces young audiences to imagination, identity, and heritage through magical realism and storytelling inspired by Hurston’s folklore.

As a multi-hyphenate artist—playwright, actor, producer, and educator—Wallace develops work across stage, literary, and educational spaces. She leads storytelling workshops and creative programs that help communities reclaim their voices through narrative, performance, and oral tradition.

Through her work, Wallace continues to expand the legacy of storytelling in the spirit of Hurston—creating art that invites audiences not only to remember history, but to live richly through the stories they carry.