ARTHUR THEODORE WILSON
( July 2, 1945 – June 6, 2024 )
Born in New Jersey
to Elmer and Dorothy Wilson.
“What color is a friend when you need one?”
by Dale Ricardo Shields
Published Poet; Playwright; Teacher; and Co-Editor/Publisher of over thirty years of Attitude Magazine. Mr. Wilson was born in Newark, New Jersey at the end of World War II. His early fascination and interest in theater, poetry, gospel music, and the fine arts was guided by his mother, the late Evangelist Dorothy M. Outlaw-Sloan Wilson, who was a singer, member of The Church of God and Saints of Christ, and hosted a popular Radio Program for WNJR Newark Radio in the ’50s. Wilson’s credits the exposure and experience he gained at his mother’s side for motivating him to embrace a career in the arts leading to community outreach, theater, and Arts Education over forty years.
College-bound, Mr. Wilson trained with The Men’s Experimental Dance Theater for Athletes by members of the Alvin Nickolas Dance Company at Illinois State University, while enrolled as a scholarship student in the Drama Department at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois. Mr. Wilson received his B.A. in The Humanities from the New School College at the New School for Social Research in New York and completed the M.A. Program in Philosophy of Mind, Spinoza, Descartes, Leibniz, & Aesthetics at the University of London at Bedford College. While in London, Mr. Wilson worked with the legendary Hollywood Film Star, Ava Gardner, in the installation of The Minority Artist Wing of British Equity; was a member of The Tyrcon Theatre Company; performed Shakespeare at The Old Vic Theatre; was part of the Theatre Staff at The Kings Row Theatre for the original production of The Rocky Horror Show, starring actor Tim Curry; and was a dedicated student at numerous London Dance Studios.
- Literary Work: He served for over 30 years as the co-editor and publisher of Attitude Magazine, an important publication showcasing diverse artistic voices. His poetry was featured in notable collections, including the anthology Here to Dare: 10 Gay Black Poets.
- Theater and Dance: Wilson wrote and performed in numerous stage productions. He was highly regarded for his essays and deep documentation of modern dance figures, including his notable analysis of dancer and choreographer Eleo Pomare.
Motto: “Let it Go – Let it Flow.”
EDUCATION & CAREER SUMMARY
“As the writer of a play, you just can’t tell the audience what’s going on. You must show them,” Arthur Wilson said.
“How you do that is up to each individual writer — but that’s the trick.”
Arthur Theodore Wilson is a Published Poet; Playwright; Teacher; and Co-Editor/Publisher of over thirty years of Attitude Magazine. Mr. Wilson was born in Newark, New Jersey at the end of World War II. His early fascination and interest in theater, poetry, gospel music, and the fine arts was guided by his mother, the late Evangelist Dorothy M. Outlaw-Sloan Wilson, who was a singer, member of The Church of God and Saints of Christ, and hosted a popular Radio Program for WNJR Newark Radio in the ’50s. Mr. Wilson credits the exposure and experience he gained at his mother’s side for motivating him to embrace a career in the arts leading to community outreach, theater, and Arts Education over forty years.
College-bound, Mr. Wilson trained with The Men’s Experimental Dance Theater for Athletes by members of the Alvin Nickolas Dance Company at Illinois State University, while enrolled as a scholarship student in the Drama Department at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois. Mr. Wilson received his B.A. in The Humanities from the New School College at the New School for Social Research in New York and completed the M.A. Program in Philosophy of Mind, Spinoza, Descartes, Leibniz, & Aesthetics at the University of London at Bedford College. While in London, Mr. Wilson worked with the legendary Hollywood Film Star, Ava Gardner, in the installation of The Minority Artist Wing of British Equity; was a member of The Tyrcon Theatre Company; performed Shakespeare at The Old Vic Theatre; was part of the Theatre Staff at The Kings Row Theatre for the original production of The Rocky Horror Show, starring actor Tim Curry; and was a dedicated student at numerous London Dance Studios.
