Cheryl West facts for kids

Cheryl L. West, born on October 23, 1965, in Chicago, is a talented American writer who creates plays for the stage. She is known for telling powerful stories that often explore important social topics.

About Cheryl L. West's Life

Cheryl L. West studied at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Before becoming a playwright, she worked as a social worker. She also spent time teaching.

Early Career and First Plays

In 1990, Cheryl West visited Seattle for a special festival. It was called The Group Theatre's Multicultural Playwrights Festival. There, she got the chance to develop her play, Before It Hits Home. This play was later shown at Arena Stage.

On June 12, 1991, her play Jar the Floor was performed for the first time. This happened at The Empty Space Theater in Seattle. Cheryl West moved to Seattle in 1999.

Awards and Film Work

Cheryl West received a National Endowment for the Arts Playwriting Award. This award was for her work in 1995 and 1996.

Her play Before It Hits Home was chosen by famous director Spike Lee for a movie. She also wrote a film version for Home Box Office. She created an original movie script for Paramount Studios. She was asked to adapt the 1940 novel Native Son by Richard Wright into a play.

In 2000, a movie based on her play Holiday Heart was released. It starred actors Ving Rhames and Alfre Woodard.

Recent Stage Productions

In 2012, the Seattle Repertory Theatre presented her play Pullman Porter Blues. Later, in 2017, the Pasadena Playhouse premiered her play Shout Sister Shout!.

Cheryl L. West's Achievements

Cheryl L. West has won several awards for her amazing plays.

• Before It Hits Home
  • Co-winner of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, 1990
  • AUDELCO Award for Outstanding Play, 1991
  • Helen Hayes Charles McArthur Award Winner for Outstanding New Play, 1992
• Jar the Floor
  • Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Best Play, 1995

Cheryl L. West's Creative Works

Cheryl L. West has written many plays for the stage and scripts for television.

Plays for the Stage

• Puddin 'n Pete – 1993
• Holiday Heart – 1994
• Play On! – 1997
• Birdie Blue – 2005
• Rejoice
• Addy: An American Girl Story
• Blues to the Bone
• Elocutia Does Pygmalion
• Pullman Porter Blues – 2012
• Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
• Squeeze, Hold Release
• Basketcases
• Mwindo
• Akeelah and the Bee
• Shout Sister Shout! – 2017
• Lady Jazz
• Last Stop on Market Street
• The Watsons Go to Birmingham
• Fannie – 2019
• Something Happened in Our Town – 2022

Television Scripts

• Diary of a Single Mom (one episode, 2009)
• Life Raft (TV episode, 2009)
• Glitter (story, 2001)
• Holiday Heart (TV movie, 2000)
• Play On! (TV show, 2000)