Page 15 - STA Studio Sessions Playbill 031121FINAL

WHO’S WHO

JASMINNE MENDEZ (Performer/Writer/ DARIEN GRANT (Writer/Performer) known
Director) is a Dominican-American poet, as Pajama Sam (born May 13th 1953)
performer, playwright and award winning is an American entrepreneur, producer,
author. Mendez has had poetry and actor, musician, zoologist and Sonic the
essays published by or forthcoming in Hedgehog connoisseur. He’s best known
numerous journals and anthologies. She for his contributions to SegaWorld Africa,
is the author of two multi-genre collections a once functional amusement park based
Island of Dreams (Floricanto Press, 2013) around the lovable Sega characters. He
which won an International Latino Book speaks three languages: English, Ebonics
Award, and Night-Blooming Jasmin(n)e: and Pig Latin.
Personal Essays and Poetry (Arte Publico
Press, 2018). Her play City Without Altar Raised in the rough streets of San
was a part of the 2019 Sin Muros Latinx Austintnio Texas, Darien had to indulge in
Playwright Festival. Most recently, in questionable activities to make ends meet.
collaboration with Teatro Luna West (L.A.), It was there where he taught himself how
Teatro Milagro (Dallas, TX) and Urban to create music and play 6 instruments,
Theatre Company (Chicago, IL) her play which includes the glockenspiel, the oboe,
City Without Altar received a new play the harpsichord, the theremin, and ...some
development grant from National New other ones. He says “Miraculously I was
Play Network Bridge Program. Her debut never robbed. That’s a blessing.”
poetry collection Machete will be released
in 2022(Noemi Press) and her debut He used those funds from hustling to move
picture book Josefina’s Habichuelas (Arte to Houston in the 70s to begin his music
Público Press) will be released in 2021. career. When he’d preform, Darien usually
She is an MFA graduate of the creative wore his father’s hand me down pajamas
writing program at the Rainier Writing with his name, Sam, stitched along the
Workshop at Pacific Lutheran University chest as a “good luck charm” which
and a University of Houston alumni. coined him the name “Pajama Sam”.
On his first days here, Darien met Houston
legend Archie Bell in a local sandwich
shop that he worked at. Archie was so
impressed with Darien’s skills it inspired
them to form the group “Archie Bell,
Darien Grant and the Drells”. Darien
would later leave due to conflicting interest.