ABOUT THE PRODUCER / FOUNDER

A.     AYINDE HURREY was born in Manhattan, New York and raised in Goldsboro, North Carolina.  At an early age, he began his career on the stage as a drummer/musician with The Cultural Movement, Inc., a company founded by his father, Raymond “Nilaja” Hurrey, the original percussionist for The Last Poets.    Ayinde’s background in African dance and percussion has provided him with the opportunity to perform as a guest artist with various dance companies all over the country and abroad.

Eventually, Ayinde decided to develop his talents as an actor, writer, and director.  He studied at North Carolina Central University in Durham, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and pursued his graduate training at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he received his Masters of Fine Arts in Acting.  As an actor, he has played numerous roles throughout the east coast at universities as well as regional theatres.  As a director, he has produced numerous West African dance concerts, West African percussion compositions as well as stage plays.  Ayinde’s most recent works have been directing Hurrey-UP Stage & FilmWorks’ productions of The Soul Plays; a repertoire of various plays written by African-American playwrights, and performing in the role of Conrade in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.

As an educator, Ayinde has trained elementary to university level students, teaching the various aspects of the working theatre.  He has conducted workshops in acting performance to youth and young adults in various communities as well as workshops in movement.  Ayinde has worked as a teacher for the New York City Board of Education, Wayne County Public Schools in North Carolina, and Escambia County School District in Pensacola, Florida. 

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