Kamal Symonette-Dixon Comedian/Writer

I am a comedian/writer.  When it comes to creativity, for me, it's all about comedy whether for the page, the stage, or film/video.  And whether my creative/artistic writing is poetry, monologues, sketches, stage plays, television, films, pranks, or stand-up comedy my overall focus regarding my creative/artistic writing is comedy (particularly satire) and yes, poems can be funny!  Mine are!  And I give very funny standup comedy performances.  Feel free to review the work I've made and stay tuned for the work I will be making.

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe (NYC), The Yin Yang Cafe (Atlanta, GA), The Crescent Room (Atlanta, GA), The Atrium (Atlanta, GA), CBGB's CB's Gallery (NYC), Bowery Poetry Club (NYC), The Brooklyn Moon (NYC), Bar 13 (NYC), S.O.B.'s (NYC), Bogies Night Club (NJ), The Sugar Shack (NYC), Londell's (NYC), Justin's (NYC), Mo' Better (NYC), The Super Club (NYC), Uptown Jimmy's (NYC), Le Bar Bat (NYC), Brooklyn Tea Party at the Brooklyn YMCA (NYC), The Apollo Theater (NYC), Nell's Night Club (NYC), New York Comedy (NYC), Boston Comedy Club (NYC), The Creek and The Cave (NYC), Q.E.D. (NYC), The Stand NYC (NYC), The PIT (NYC), Broadway Comedy Club (NYC), Takadanobaba's Ben's Cafe (Tokyo, Japan), Loft/Plus One- Hayashi (Tokyo, Japan), Orpheum Theater (Minneapolis, MN), Busboys and Poets (Washington, DC), and various other venues throughout New York City, Atlanta, Boston, Connecticut (in Hartford CT doing comedic poetry, opened for world-famous standup comedian Dick Gregory), New Jersey, Minneapolis, Detroit, Tokyo, as well as colleges and universities throughout the U.S.

ORIGINAL TELEVISION:

Television Pilot- Wrote, acted in, and directed a TV sketch comedy show entitled, “KSD’s Chicken & Waffles” co-produced in collaboration with the 20-Emmy-Award-winning Red Line Films.  (With Wall Street VP/ poet Julian Curry assisting negotiations as one of the producers, Red Line Films put up 6 figures of their own money for this TV pilot.)  This production was taped as a television pilot at CBS Studios in Los Angeles, California.

ICM Agency- represented "KSD's Chicken & Waffles" as it was pitched to television networks (BET had about a 50/50 split on whether they should pick up the show or not)

Marcus King- offered a writing job for a show he and Jamie Foxx were attempting to create at the time after watching the "KSD's Chicken & Waffles" pilot.

Television Network- Created the internet television network, Sophisticated People of Color Television Network - SPOCTV.com, a subsidiary of DIALEKTIC PRODUCTIONS, INC., a comedy television network that broadcasted via the internet and that garnered well over 1 million hits.

TELEVISION FEATURES:

Featured on CNN’s “Full Circle” performing original spoken word poetry (monologue/sketch comedy)

Was filmed performing original spoken word poetry (monologue/sketch comedy) for second season of HBO’s Russell Simmons’ “Def Poetry Jam”

Featured on BET’s “Teen Summit” performing original spoken word poetry (monologue/sketch comedy)

Featured on the AMC Channel performing an original monologue

Cast member extra on the television show “Law and Order”

ORIGINAL STAGE SHOWS:

Third Rail Hobo- Wrote, directed, produced, and performed in comedic one man show entitled, "Third Rail Hobo"- at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City. 

KSD's Chicken & Waffles- Wrote, acted in, directed, and produced a live sketch comedy show entitled "KSD's Chicken & Waffles" featured at the Friars of Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, CA, along with an ensemble of handpicked actors, to audiences ranging from 100-300 people per show (debut show had over 300 people) and it was featured at LA's BB Kings as well Miyagi's in LA. The filmmaker Stan Lathan as well as the filmmakers Pete and Al of Emmy award winning Red Line Films attended the debut show and were impressed.  Red Line Films decided to film the television pilot for KSD's Chicken & Waffles.

I Love My Wife So I Will Not Cheat- Wrote, directed, and produced the comedic stage play entitled, “I Love My Wife So I Will Not Cheat”- at Symphony Space in New York City.  Managed this entire theatrical production.  Negotiated the theatre booking; managed the budget; coordinated with the technical crew, stage crew, and sound and lighting technicians; chose musical selections; and coordinated videotaping and rehearsals.  Was a principal actor in addition to selecting supporting actors and ancillary staff.  Designed stage presentation, including stage blocking and props.  Planned promotional advertisement; assisted the creation of the playbill; and managed the grass roots marketing of the play via internet releases, radio advertisements, and promotional material.

THEATER FEATURES:

Performed theater (performance art style) for Compagnie Faim de Siecle (directed by Ibrahim Quraishi) in NYC's Downtown Arts Festival

Performed in Heiner Muller's play "Abandoned Shores" (ala "performance art") for Compagnie Faim de Siecle (directed by Ibrahim Quraishi) in Paris, France at the Batofar and in Nantez, France at Lieu Unique

ORIGINAL FILMS:

"Craving"- (a comedy) wrote, directed, produced, performed in

"The Mirror Doesn't Lie"- (a comedy) wrote, directed, produced

"A Mother's Love"- (drama) wrote, directed, produced, performed in

"Soul Mate"- (a comedy) wrote, directed, produced, performed in

"Timeless Pain"- (drama) wrote, directed, produced

"Butterfoot"- (drama) directed this film and wrote contributing comedic scenes for this William Miller 15 minute short film

FILM FEATURES:

Comedic feature role in made for Blockbuster film "Gold Digger Killer"

PERFORMANCE WRITING:

Compilation of twelve poems and sketches into a self-published book entitled, “Dialectic’s UNCONCIOUS POETRY” 

Numerous monologue, sketch, standup, and teleplay manuscripts - Registered Copyrights

PUBLISHED PERIODICAL WORK:

Original comedic spoken word poetry featured in Blu Magazine’s Issue #5

Original comedic spoken word poetry featured in Morehouse College’s “The Catalyst”

Writer of original comic strip for B E Magazine

AWARDS:

Spoken Word- Sony Music Spoken Word Poetry Contest First Place Winner    

Page Poetry- Morehouse Catalyst Poetry Contest First Place Winner

Film- Second Place Winner in Nationwide Clark Atlanta Film Festival- (wrote & directed film)

Spoken Word- New York City Grand Slam Poetry Finalist @ The Nuyorican Poets Cafe

Spoken Word- Third Place Winner in The National Poetry Slam (PSI)