Obba Babatunde and Loretta Devine to Headline HBFF Storyteller Competition Live Staged Reading

Directed by Don B. Welch

Obba Babatunde ("Miss Evers' Boys") and Loretta Devine ("This Christmas") are among the actors who will headline the Hollywood Black FIlm Festival's 2009 Storyteller Competition Live Staged Reading.

Director-writer-producer Don B. Welch ("The Bachelor Party" and "The Bachelorette Party") will direct the actors in a live reading of scenes from the 3 finalist scripts in the festival's storyteller competition -- "Good Mother" by Cassie Henderson, "Born to Pitch" by Robyn Hatcher and "Far From Here" by Dapo Adeshiyan. Stephen Slates, Tarina Pouncy, Terryl Daluz, Vivian Vanderwerd, Carl Gilliard and Kathryn J. Taylor round out the cast of talented actors.

Welch is the writer and director of over 18 stage productions, most notably "The Bachelorette Party", "The Divorce", "My Brother's Keeper" and "Hallelujah Mahalia". In 2007 Welch penned the hit novel, "The Bachelorette Party" after signing a 2 book deal with Randonm House Publishers. In addition Will Smith optioned the film rights to the stage play and book.

Alexia Ryan is the director of the festival's storyteller competition and will produce the reading alongside Welch.

The HBFF 2009 Storyteller Competition Live Staged Reading is FREE and open to the public on Friday, June 5, 7:00 pm, in the Del Rey Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza Beverly Hills, 1150 So. Beverly Drive (between Pico and Olympic Blvds.). Parking is $12 with validation.