He puts his personal yearning, turmoil, revelations on stage: Trailblazers & Trendsetters

For a second year, PennLive marks Black History Month by recognizing “trailblazers and trendsetters”: leaders and advocates in central Pa. working to uplift their communities through their work, businesses, arts, ministries and mentorships.

In the coming weeks, we’ll publish more than 35 profiles of doctors, nurses, gardeners, ministers, educators, entrepreneurs, athletes, philanthropists, restauranteurs, authors, actors and others. They were nominated by readers and, for the most part, are people who have rarely been in the spotlight. More people were nominated than we were able to include; we’ll keep the names of those people for future profiles.

We hope you enjoy reading about these trailblazers. If you missed last year’s, you can find links to them here.

Paul Hood

Community: Harrisburg

Age: 50

His story:

Hood was 11 when his mother moved his family from Birmingham, Ala., to Harrisburg. Living in Allison Hill, he experienced dysfunction at home and in the community. He struggled with a learning disorder and social anxiety. During his early years in Harrisburg, he spent a lot of time alone, immersed in TV and movies.

He didn’t know it at the time, but all the while he was absorbing lessons about plot, scene and dialog. Later, after writing became like “eating, breathing” for him, he channeled those lessons and life experiences into stories and plays.

Today, he lists his occupation as playwright/author/director/photographer and actor. He’s known for his plays which have been performed in the Harrisburg area. He’s presently the artist in residence for Narcisse Theatre Company in Harrisburg.

Hood’s plays deal with serious, sometimes dark subjects, such as an alcoholic’s impact on a family, mental health, internet addiction and questions of religious faith. He also finds plenty of humor in life, and is often pleased at how a good director can bring it into sharp relief. Aside from the plays, Hood writes reviews and articles about social issues, is involved with the area’s Black professionals, and with a series of short films being made by local filmmaker Wallace McKelvey.

Following a long-ago, difficult breakup, Hood spent a string of years writing daily at the Midtown Scholar Book Store. Much of what he wrote eventually became plays. At the time, he wasn’t sure if it would ever amount to more than helping him understand and come to grips with life. Today, he’s amazed to have seen so many of his stories performed or read live, and by the reactions from audiences.

It makes him grateful he lives in an urban community such as Harrisburg, where a substantial local theater scene provides a creative and professional outlet. “I feel like I’ve hit this streak that is almost unreal to me,” he says. “I feel lucky because there’s somebody out there in the country writing plays who will never see their work or hear about it or anything.”

In his words:

“When someone says to me, ‘Hey, I really understand that character, or I kind of relate to that situation you have going on on stage, that makes me feel like I’m doing something worthwhile … If I can shed light on those elements of life, and entertain in the process, and help somebody, that means a lot to me.”