Mo Beasley

Trained as an actor, yet varied in his abilities, Mo Beasley is immersed in the art and entertainment world. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts/Acting from Howard University. During his formative years at college, Beasley uncovered the full scope of the Black arts and entertainment world. Driven by a passion to produce works that reveal the total Black experience in America (and to do so for those who don't normally go to theater), Mo further informed his understanding of the arts by working "behind the scenes." For a time, he was an accomplished company manager, production coordinator, and a stagehand in lights, sound, props, and set production. Most extensively, Mo was a Stage Manager for over a decade with a variety of Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, including Blue Man Group, Joseph Papp Public Theatre, and Tony Award winning Bring In Da Noise Bring In Da Funk. He also stage managed for The Kennedy Center, Crossroads Theater Company, Freedom Theatre, The Boys Choir of Harlem, and The Monte Carlo Sporting Club, among other organizations. Now living a performer's life, Mo has not totally abandoned production. Since 2003, he has directed the Telly Award-winning King Holiday Observance for the New York Governor’s office.In 1997, Beasley began to make a mark on the spoken word scene in New York. Though he respectfully by-passed the slam poetry world where writing was a competitive sport, he developed his skills in other forums. He has been featured or has performed at the legendary Nuyorican Poets Café, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Joe’s Pub, Aaron Davis Hall, American Museum of Natural History (with Sonia Sanchez) and The Kennedy Center, among other known stages. A nation-builder at heart, Mo is also a frequent supporter, performer, and host at various grassroots arts and social justice events.In 2004, Beasley created The LoveStorm Entertainment Group, LLC. The production company, which also doubles as a networking hub for artists of all genres and background, produces live performance arts pieces (UrbanErotikaSM, No Good Nigga Bluez, and LoveSuites), conducts arts education workshops, and actively supports progressive social and political projects.When not on or near a stage, Beasley is in the classroom. He is a revered and heavily sought after poetry workshop leader and conducts Family Life and Sexuality Education classes to students and adults throughout New York City. Beasley’s current and past clients include Community Works, Medgar Evers College, Blackberry Productions, Children’s Aid Society, New York City Department of Education, New School University, Global Kids’ National Youth Conference, Planned Parenthood, Kaiser Permanente, SCO/Family Dynamics, and Harlem Children’s Zone, among others.In the lecture hall, Mo has presented at institutions such as Howard University, Medgar Evers College, Penn State, Pace University, Drexel University, Coppin State, and others. His dynamic topics range from fatherhood issues (Beasley became a father at 17, a grandfather at 36, and a new father at 39), to the state of Black art and theater, to new perspectives about human sexuality for the 21st century.The relevance of Mo’s work has not been lost on the media. He has been interviewed by both Rev. Al Sharpton and Chuck D on their radio programs; featured nationally on My Two Cents (BETJ); and was recently selected by The New York Daily News as one of “50 Unsung Heroes of New York.” He has also be quoted, profiled, or featured in New York Newsday, Amsterdam News, rolling out UrbanStyle Weekly, Our Time Press, NRG, Caribbean Life, crème magazine; on KISS FM Radio (NYC), XM Radio; on the local television news program New York 1 News, and several other local and national outlets. Most recently, Mo Beasley was selected as one of “50 Unsung New York Heroes” by The Daily News.Currently, the co-author of No Good Nigga Bluez - a collection of “anti-nigga creative writings,” is preparing for his one-man show (by the same title), editing “UrbanErotika: The Anthology” (due 2007), and producing a host of other related arts and community topics.