Firahs B Productions

Growing up on the mean streets of the inner city of Chicago, young African-American men and women learn early about life's lessons as images of various aspects of the African-American community are visible to the naked eye. What one chooses to do with these images and how one utilizes the lessons learned, plays a major part in their survival. Do you let the circumstances take control of you or do you take control of the circumstances?

This is exactly what Brian Stanley did.  Brian Stanley is a Chicago area native who grew up on the Westside of Chicago. He witness all of the negative influences that lurked in the inner city, ready to pounce upon inner city youths dooming them to a life of limited possibilities. Even after becoming a father at the tender age of 15, Brian did not let these mean streets take control over him.  He refused to be a statistic; instead he was determined and persevered.  The seventh born of a large family, Brian is the only one in his family who has received a college degree.  He attended Robert Morris College earning a B.A. Degree in Business and a degree in Psychology from Loyola University.  He is currently working towards a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Governors State University and is interested in obtaining a degree in Education Administration.

As the CEO of Firahs B Productions, LLC, an independent production company with a focus on strengthening, uplifting and guiding the African American community, Brian wears many hats. He's a prolific writer, a playwright, producer and director.  Through Firahs B Productions, Brian brings to the stage live performances that focus on the challenges and success of African Americans as they evolve from inner city youths to becoming urban professionals.  He performs all duties with flair, imagination, and success. Every fiber of his being can be found in his writings and how he is able to bring his stories to stage. Truly the ultimate artistic professional, under the leadership of Brian Stanley, Firahs B Productions brings "The Black Experience in Theatre at its Best".

Firahs B Productions' stage performances focus on the challenges and successes and life changing decisions that many inner city youth and urban professionals are faced with. Each of the plays depict the comic and tragic aspects of the African-American experience. Brian's authentic sounding characters bring a new understanding of the black experience to audiences in a series of plays, each one addressing people of color in their struggles and challenges. Brian wants his plays to be informative, inspirational and entertaining. Every story has some aspect of his life as part of them. Brian feel that "Sometimes we have to sit down and take the time to understand who we are with, forgive people that let us down and change the person that we are." These thoughts are prevalent throughout his plays.

According to Brian, "Firahs B Productions stage plays focus on inner city youth bringing to life the reality of living in the "hood" and also bring out the good nature of all people.  The genre focuses on peer pressure, teenage pregnancy, stagnation, crime, gang activity, racism, racial profiling, poor academic standards, the holiday season, family, friends and spirituality.  The stage plays focus on how urban professionals deal with the challenges and successes of dating, relationships, life changing decisions, spirituality, friends, family, stereotypes, entrepreneurship, career choices and mediocrity".

Firahs is Brian Stanley's middle name spelled backgrounds.  The company was started on July 23, 2006 when Brian decided that he wanted to do something in the entertainment field. He wanted to do something creative. His first thought was to become an actor; however he later ruled that idea out after learning the progression of the positions available. Actors report to directors and directors report to producers. So, why not become a producer.

Brian felt that his background working as a Student Advocate with the Chicago Public Schools coordinating after school and summer recreational activities, gave him the management and coordination experience necessary to "bring things together" as producers do. He loves his day job and never has a boring day, however writing, directing and producing plays puts the icing on the cake. 

In order to learn how to write screenplays, Brian enrolled in writing classes at the ETA Theatre's Playwright Workshop "Playwright Speaks". He was one of eight students in the class. Brian found his passion, his love for writing. His classmates were not as ambitious as he was and as he so eloquently put it, "His writing class quickly became the Brian Stanley Show".  He took the ball and ran with it producing the majority of the plays.

• Always believe in your craft, your profession
• Stay determined
• Treat people with honesty and integrity
• Work hard
• Don't do things to jeopardized your success
• Always make it so people have great things to say
• Get sound business advice
• Get people into your circle that are successful in their own right
• Choose people who can enhance your business
• Have fun with what you do
• Have passion
• Be on a person's short list so that they think about you first
• and above all...Trust God