Ruben made his screenwriting debut bringing his OBIE award-winning play Lackawanna Blues to the small screen for HBO receiving many awards and accolades including the Humanitas Prize, National Board of Reviews honors, the Christopher Award, and an NAACP Image award.
Lackawanna Blues Scene (I’m a MAN!)
Freddy (Ruben Santiago Hudson)
“I was blessed to have a whole lot of different areas that I can go into and do well and do justice to. Whatever I’m doing at that time I’m the happiest doing. I loved directing because I get an opportunity to hire other people that are sitting home looking for jobs that I know are extremely talented and should be working all the time. When I’m in the position of Director or Producer I can reach out to those people and say come on, let’s play. When I’m an actor I’m really just taking care of my own ass in the project that I’m in but I belong to somebody else.“
Ruben Santiago Hudson made his directorial debut with August Wilson’s Gem Of The Ocean and has gone on to direct many off-Broadway shows. Most recent productions include The Happiest Song Plays Last by Quiara Hudes at The 2nd Stage Theater and August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson at The Signature Theater which brought Ruben an Obie, Lucille Lortel, Audelco and Joe Callaway honors for his direction.
“As a Director, Producer I’m the person ensuring that some of the finest actors and artists that I know are working. I enjoy that a lot in directing and writing as well. I create opportunities. It gives me, in my writing, a place to celebrate my culture, my African American Culture, my Boriqua Culture. It gives me a chance to say look how whole, complete, and wonderful, beautiful, and sustainable these people are. We’re just beautiful people. We just don’t get an opportunity to show that a lot. When I’m the Writer or Director I take every opportunity to celebrate my culture.“
