AUGUST WILSON'S GEM OF THE OCEAN ILLINOIS THEATRE - Krannert ...
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AUGUST WILSON’S GEM OF THE OCEAN
ILLINOIS THEATRE
Chuck Smith, director
Thursday-Saturday, October 17-19, 2019, at 7:30pm
Thursday-Saturday, October 24-26, 2019, at 7:30pm
Sunday, October 27, 2019, at 3pm
Colwell PlayhouseWELCOME TO THE or a new piece never seen before, the same is
2019-2020 ILLINOIS true. The material is ever renewed and always
THEATRE SEASON! embedded in a history of work on the stage.
It is a true pleasure to
share our work with The season also reflects our commitment to a
you. Students, faculty, diverse, inclusive, accessible theatre. Whether
and guests have come on stage or behind the scenes, we strive to
together to produce make work that reflects and makes space for
a year of exploration, our whole community. From the planning and
of reflection, and of design to the work you experience on stage,
illumination. We are we believe theatre has the capacity to engage
proud to be in our second half-century as a the world as it is in all its complex challenges and
theatre department, offering drama at the to envision and enact the world as it might be.
highest level. Illinois Theatre is a leading We are so pleased you have chosen to share
program with more than 200 students and this with us. We hope you enjoy it and look
nearly 40 faculty members. Housed in forward to seeing you again.
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts,
we are fortunate to have the resources of a Gabriel Solis
world-class environment for dramatic art and Professor and Head, Department of Theatre
the commitment of hours beyond measure
from a truly remarkable staff. HELLO AGAIN, ANEW!
Theatre is a call to your senses and your spirit. As the “newly minted”
As a call, it welcomes your response. Our work Producer for Illinois
is meant to touch you deeply, to surprise, Theatre, I echo the
at times to unsettle, and always to offer sentiments of Professor
you an opportunity for thought and further Gabriel Solis in warmly
engagement. welcoming you to the
2019-20 Illinois Theatre
This year’s season reflects our commitment as season. This year will
a department and as individual artists, scholars, see many new, exciting
and makers to wrestle with the enduring changes at Illinois
mysteries of the human condition and with Theatre as we continue to strive to bring you
the critical questions of our times. Whether quality theatrical experiences even as we
you are seeing a work from classical antiquity, continue to grow as artists and creators
performed thousands upon thousands of times, ourselves.
2Illinois Theatre has long been recognized as
a wonderfully fertile space where students,
faculty, staff, guest artists—and sometimes
even unsuspecting audience members—
have come together to communicate with
each other through the medium of theatre,
often times creating ephemeral yet enduring
encounters that affect hearts, minds, bodies,
and souls. Is that a bit “dramatic?” Ah, well,
forgive my hyperbole, but the desire for
connection that infuses our work colors all that
we do. From the classroom to the scene shop
to the stage, we at Illinois Theatre seek to
connect—with each other and with you.
Pursuant to that, we are indeed continuing to
focus our efforts on not just committing to
but actually creating physical, aural, and visual
spaces that are welcoming to human beings of
all varieties. This is an ongoing journey, and to
succeed, we need your support and your voice.
What you will see on our stages tonight is the
product of every department head, faculty
and staff member, and students past and
present who have passionately worked to
bring us all to this moment. If we have made
you think, feel, ponder, or wonder, it is our
honor to do so.
Welcome, and enjoy.
Lisa Gaye Dixon
Producer, Department of Theatre
3THE ACT OF GIVING
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Tonight’s performance of August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean
is sponsored in part by the following generous donors:
SUSAN & MICHAEL HANEY
4PROGRAM
AUGUST WILSON’S GEM OF THE OCEAN
ILLINOIS THEATRE
Chuck Smith, director
Kemal Nance and Endalyn Taylor, choreographers
Thursday-Saturday, October 17-19, 2019, at 7:30pm
Thursday-Saturday, October 24-26, 2019, at 7:30pm
Sunday, October 27, 2019, at 3pm
Colwell Playhouse
TIME: 1904
PLACE: The Hill District, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the parlor of Eli, Aunt Ester, and Black Mary’s
home at 1839 Wylie Avenue
ACT I
20-minute intermission
ACT II
This production includes the smoking of tobacco products, smog effects, and adult language and is
intended for mature audiences only.
August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
Originally produced on Broadway by Carole Shorenstein Hays, Jujamcyn Theaters.
Originally presented at National Playwright’s Conference of The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center.
This production of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean is made possible with support from The Anda
New Works Theatre Production Endowment Fund.
5DIRECTOR’S NOTE When being interviewed, Black directors are In 1997, I directed my first August Wilson play, usually asked, “What is your favorite August Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, at my artistic home, Wilson play?” My stock answer to the question the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. The Goodman is, “The one you are working on.” Most directors enjoys the luxury of a 10-show preview period I know who have worked on Mr. Wilson’s plays covering two weekends. August Wilson came in don’t think it is a fair question any more than the first weekend of previews and stayed through asking a parent which of your children do you like the opening to help me polish the show. The the most. I’ve discovered that, with me, those production set a Goodman box office record and things I consider my favorites are connected to was seen by the Vice President, Chicago’s mayor, pleasant memories attached to the event itself. and a host of celebrities, including basketball Two favorite films I cannot pass over are an old great Michael Jordan and a state representative John Wayne western called Red River—and while named Barack Obama. It was a good show, but it is a good movie, what makes it special to me is what makes it special to me is that for a whole that it is the only film I can remember enjoying in week I had August Wilson all to myself. the company of both my parents—and Godfather II, first seen with the sweetheart who got away. —Chuck Smith, director 6
AUGUST WILSON'S GEM OF THE OCEAN
PLAYWRIGHT LIGHTING DESIGNER
August Wilson Robert Perry+
DIRECTOR SOUND DESIGNER
Chuck Smith^ Hayat Dominguez
CO-CHOREOGRAPHER VOCAL COACH
Kemal Nance Allison Moody
CO-CHOREOGRAPHER FIGHT COORDINATOR
Endalyn Taylor Vincent Carlson
COMPOSER MUSIC COORDINATOR
William Kilgore Gabriel Solis
SCENIC DESIGNER STAGE MANAGER
Linda Buchanan+ Shea Hittman
COSTUME DESIGNER
Natalie Loveland+
^The director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical
labor union.
+Appears as a member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829 of the IATSE, the union representing
professional scenic, costume, lighting, sound, and projection designers.
7CAST
AUNT ESTER CAESAR WILKS
Lisa Gaye Dixon* Brandon Burditt
ELI RUTHERFORD SELIG
Latrel Crawford Danny Yoerges*
SOLLY TWO KINGS CITY OF BONES DANCERS
Nathan Ramsey Angel Anderson
Faith Brown
BLACK MARY Kennedy Cowan
Charence Higgins Alexandria Kinard
Mya McClellan
CITIZEN BARLOW Ibrahim Sabbi
J’Laney Jenkins Jeremy Taylor
*Appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the union for professional actors and stage
managers.
8PROFILES
Brandon Burditt (Caesar Lisa Gaye Dixon (Aunt Ester)
Wilks) is pursuing an MFA has worked professionally
in acting at the University across the country and around
of Illinois. Originally from the globe. She began her
Redmond, Washington, professional career with the
Burditt attended Morehouse Steppenwolf Theatre
College, one of the highest- Company of Chicago in a
ranked historically Black revival of For Colored Girls
colleges in the country. This Who Have Considered Suicide
is his second production with Illinois Theatre. When The Rainbow is Enuf. She has performed on
Past credits include Seven Guitars (Canewell), the stages of the Royal Shakespeare Company
The Colored Museum (The Soldier), Hoodoo Love and the New Globe Theatre in London and
(Jib), and Hit the Wall (Carson). Lastly, he wants to regionally in the United States at the Goodman
extend his sincerest thanks to his mother, father, Theatre (Chicago), The Attic Theatre (Detroit),
and sister for their unending support. Lost Nation Theatre (Montpelier, Vermont),
Kitchen Theatre and Geva Theatre Center (New
Latrel Crawford (Eli) is York), and others. Dixon has written and
currently a junior pursuing a premiered a one-person piece entitled My Case Is
BFA in acting at the University Altered: Tales of a 21st Century Roaring Girl.
of Illinois. His Illinois Theatre Professional directing credits include King Lear at
credits include Marat/Sade by Optimist Theatre (Milwaukee), Detroit ’67 for
Peter Weiss and Hit the Wall Clarence Brown Theatre (University of Tennessee),
by Ike Holter. Gem of The and Ladyish at Illinois Wesleyan. Film credits
Ocean marks his third include The Trouble with Men and Women BBC/
production with Illinois IFC), Leading Ladies, and USING.
Theatre, and he is excited to bring August
Wilson’s character Eli to life after being a finalist
in Chicago’s 2017 August Wilson Monologue
Competition. Past productions and projects
include Orfeo Ed Euridice (Armory Free Theatre),
Impulse 24/7 (Armory Free Theatre), Director’s
Workshop (Armory Free Theatre), among others.
Other theatre credits include Jeff Award-
nominated truth and reconciliation (Sideshow
Theatre Company); The Project(s), This Beautiful
City (American Theatre Company); and Zora
Neale Hurston’s one-acts (Illinois High School
Theatre Festival).
9Charence Higgins (Black Nathan M. Ramsey (Solly Two
Mary) is a Mississippi native Kings) is a second-year MFA
with degrees in psychology acting student at the
and theatre from Jackson University of Illinois. A Bronx
State University and is native and United States Air
continuing her education at Force veteran, Nathan
the University of Illinois in her received his BS in exercise
second year of the MFA acting science from Lehman College
program. A few previous roles and trained at the American
include Judy in The Curious Incident of the Dog in Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Past
the Night-Time at Illinois Theatre, Shelby in Steel productions include King Henry IV, Part I and The
Magnolias at Madison Center Players, Lorraine in Merry Wives of Windsor (Montana Shakespeare in
Hairspray at New Stage Theatre, Miss Evers in the Parks), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the
Miss Evers’ Boys at Jackson State University, Night-Time (Illinois Theatre), Tame That
along with an exciting stint in several historic roles B!#@H (Illinois Theatre), Rent (The Duplex
at the Smithsonian Institute’s American History Cabaret, New York City), Waiting for
Museum and African American History and Lefty (Lehman College), The Passion of Antígona
Culture Museum in Washington, DC. With this Pérez (Lehman College), Waif & Stray (New York
being only the second production of an August University), and numerous independent films. He
Wilson play at Illinois Theatre, Higgins is is thrilled to return to the KCPA stage. www.
completely overjoyed to be seen in her first play nathanmramsey.com Instagram/Twitter: @
by this incredible American playwright. nathanmramsey
J’Laney Jenkins (Citizen Danny Yoerges (Rutherford
Barlow) is a second-year MFA Selig) is a second-year MFA
acting student from North student. He comes to Urbana
Carolina. He received his from New York where he often
undergraduate degree from collaborated on performance
North Carolina A&T State projects with his wife, Rachel,
University as a theatre and who is pursuing her MFA in
journalism student. He dance at the University of
performed in multiple shows Illinois. His credits include Hit
at A&T including In the Red and Brown Water, the Wall, Illinois Theatre; War Horse (Joey/
Topdog/Underdog, Black Nativity, and The Topthorn), Broadway National Tour; Illusionarium,
Colored Museum. He was also a national award Norwegian Cruise Line; Farragut North (Stephen
winner at the Kennedy Center American College Bellamy) and The Sound of Music (Rolf), Olney
Theatre Festival in Washington, DC. This is Theatre Center; All’s Well That Ends Well (Young
Jenkins’ second performance with Illinois Theatre; Dumaine), Shakespeare Theatre Company;
he was last seen in Hit the Wall as Mika. Saturday Night and I Capture the Castle
10(readings), Signature Theatre; Henry V (Henry) and Kennedy Cowan (City of
Never in my Lifetime, New York City. Yoerges Bones Dancer) hails from
received a BFA from the University of North Vallejo, California, where she
Carolina School of the Arts. studied dance at the Oakland
www.dannyyoerges.com School for the Arts under the
direction of Reginald Ray-
Angel Anderson (City of Savage and Alison Hurley.
Bones Dancer) is a fourth-year Through the Oakland School
student at the University of and subsequent summer
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign intensives at Joffrey in New York City, Cowan has
pursuing a dual degree in worked with several notable artists including
psychology and dance. Some Endalyn Taylor (Dance Theatre of Harlem), Corrine
of her recent performance Nagata (LINES, The Ailey School), and Jalen
credits include Endalyn Taylor Preston (commercial dancer with Janet Jackson,
and Raheim White’s Ariana Grande, and Jason Derulo). Currently, she
“Kueendom of the Shade,” Ell Emadian’s “Back is a sophomore in the BFA dance program at the
Quarter Time Turn,” and Rennie Harris’ “LIFTED,” University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where
which premiered at the Museum of Contemporary she received the Talent Student Scholarship.
Art in Chicago, Illinois. Cowan plans to pursue a career in the arts, dance,
Faith Brown (City of Bones and fashion full-time after graduation.
Dancer), a graduate of the Alexandria Kinard (City of
Youth Performing Arts School Bones Dancer), a native of
in Louisville, Kentucky, is Louisville, Kentucky, is a
pursuing a BFA in dance with a sophomore at the University
minor in business from the of Illinois at Urbana-
University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign where she is
Champaign. Some of her pursuing a BFA in Dance. She
professional experiences is the Department of Dance’s
include interning at the Gibney Center and the first recipient of the Aaron R.
José Limón Dance Foundation in New York City. White Scholarship. Before attending the
Brown currently interns in the Department of university, Kinard attended the Governor’s School
Dance and serves as the junior class for the Arts in Kentucky, The Alvin Ailey Summer
representative for the Student Board. At the U of Dance Intensive, and the Mark Morris Summer
I, she has choreographed several works for the Dance Intensive. Her Illinois performance credits
2018 and 2019 Studiodance II productions. include November Dance (Linda Lehovec),
February Dance (Endalyn Taylor and Raheim
White), Senior Thesis concert (LaTosha Pointer),
and the Project 500 Gala (Endalyn Taylor).
11Mya McClellan (City of Bones professional debut in Rennie Harris’ “LIFTED” at
Dancer) is a performing artist the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago,
studying dance at the Illinois. Taylor is a member of the Black male
University of Illinois at Urbana- dance initiative, A Nance Dance Collective (www.
Champaign. Originally from blackmendance.com) and will perform with the
Joliet, Illinois, McClellan has company in his first international venue at the
trained in several dance styles, Little Theatre in Kingston, Jamaica, for the Stella
but especially enjoys ballet Maris Dance Ensemble’s 26th Season of Dance
and modern dance. While at immediately following August Wilson’s Gem of
the U of I, she has performed in works the Ocean.
choreographed by Endalyn Taylor, Sara Hook, and
Renata Sheppard. Chuck Smith (Director) is a member of
Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees and is
Ibrahim Sabbi (City of Bones one of Goodman Theatre’s resident directors.
Dancer) is a working He is also a resident director at the Westcoast
choreographer, dancer, and Black Theatre Troupe in Sarasota, Florida and a
visual artist. A native of member of the American Blues Theatre Company
Chicago, he is a BFA student in Chicago. At Krannert Center, he has directed
in the Department of Dance at Barbecue and a staged reading of Inheritance.
the University of Illinois at Goodman’s credits include the Chicago premieres
Urbana-Champaign. Sabbi has of Pullman Porter Blues, By the Way, Meet Vera
performed leading roles in Stark, Race, The Good Negro, Proof, and The
works choreographed by Melanie Bales, C. Kemal Story; the world premieres of By the Music of
Nance, Rebecca Nettl-Fiol, and Endalyn Taylor. the Spheres and The Gift Horse; James Baldwin’s
Ibrahim Sabbi has had experience in hip hop The Amen Corner, which transferred to Boston’s
choreography and the battle scene in Chicago, Huntington Theatre Company where it won the
Los Angeles, and Champaign-Urbana. Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE)
Award for Best Direction; A Raisin in the Sun;
Jeremy Taylor (City of Bones Blues for an Alabama Sky; August Wilson’s Two
Dancer), a native of Chicago, is Trains Running; Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom; Ain’t
a graduating senior in the Misbehavin’; the 1993 to 1995 productions of A
Department of Dance at the Christmas Carol; Crumbs From the Table of Joy;
University of Illinois at Urbana- Vivisections from a Blown Mind; Having Our Say;
Champaign. Throughout his and The Meeting. Smith served as dramaturg for
time at the U of I, he has the Goodman’s world-premiere production of
performed in choreographies August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. He directed
by Melanie Bales, Rebecca the New York premieres of Knock Me a Kiss and
Nettl-Fiol, Kemal Nance, Endalyn Taylor, Danzel The Hooch for the New Federal Theatre and the
Thompson-Stout, and Israeli artist Omri world premiere of Knock Me a Kiss at Chicago’s
Drumlevich. In May of 2018, Taylor won the Lisa Victory Gardens Theater, where his other directing
Carducci Award for overall excellence in credits include Master Harold . . . and the Boys,
choreography and performance in the BFA dance Home, Dame Lorraine and Eden, for which he
program and later in August, he made his
12received a Jeff Award nomination. Regionally, Linda Buchanan (Scenic Designer) has designed
Smith directed Death and the King’s Horseman at theatres throughout the country and abroad.
(Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Birdie Blue Her work has been seen in Chicago at the
(Seattle Repertory Theatre), The Story (Milwaukee Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Court Theatre,
Repertory Theater), Blues for an Alabama Sky the Paramount, and regionally at Arena Stage,
(Alabama Shakespeare Festival), and The Last the Alley Theatre, Indiana Rep, Cleveland
Season (Robey Theatre Company). At Columbia Playhouse, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Kansas
College, he was facilitator of the Theodore Ward City Repertory Theatre, Idaho Shakespeare
Prize playwriting contest for 20 years and editor Festival, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Seattle
of the contest anthologies Seven Black Plays Repertory Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival,
and Best Black Plays. He won a Chicago Emmy Syracuse Stage, Yale Repertory Theatre, Resident
Award as associate producer/theatrical director Ensemble Theatre, and many others. Buchanan’s
for the NBC teleplay Crime of Innocence and work has been published in American Theatre,
was theatrical director for the Emmy-winning Stage Directions, Entertainment Design (now Live
Fast Break to Glory and the Emmy-nominated Design), TCI (now Live Design), Interior Design,
The Martin Luther King Suite. He was a founding and Contract. Buchanan was included in in two
member of the Chicago Theatre Company where USITT design exhibits (Women in Design, 1997,
he served as artistic director for four seasons and Evolution of a Designer, 2010). Recent work
and directed the Jeff-nominated Suspenders includes Having Our Say (Goodman Theatre,
and the Jeff-winning musical Po’. His directing Chicago), Inherit the Wind (Resident Ensemble
credits include productions at Fisk University, Players, Delaware), Pride and Prejudice (Idaho
Roosevelt University, Eclipse Theatre, ETA, Black Shakespeare Festival/Great Lakes Theatre),
Ensemble Theater, Northlight Theatre, MPAACT, You Can’t Take It With You (Indiana Repertory
Congo Square Theatre Company, The New Regal Theatre), and the premiere of Quack (Alley
Theater, Kuumba Theatre Company, Fleetwood- Theatre, Houston.) Notable past projects
Jourdain Theatre, Pegasus Players, the Timber include the premiere production of Marvin’s
Lake Playhouse in Mt. Carroll, Illinois, and the Room (10 regional productions and commercial
University of Wisconsin in Madison. He is a productions in New York and London), the
2003 inductee into the Chicago State University musical Wings (Goodman Theatre and The Public
Gwendolyn Brooks Center’s Literary Hall of Theatre, New York), and the American premiere
Fame and a 2001 Chicago Tribune Chicagoan of of House and Garden (Goodman Theatre).
the Year. He is the proud recipient of the 1982 Buchanan has received the Merritt Award for
Paul Robeson Award and the 1997 Award of Design and Collaboration, Jefferson Awards
Merit presented by the Black Theater Alliance of for House (Goodman Theatre), Black Snow
Chicago. Smith recently received an Honorary (Goodman Theatre), and I Hate Hamlet (Royal
PhD from his alma mater Governors State George Theatre, Chicago), and a Helen Hayes
University. Award for Dancing At Lughnasa (Arena Stage,
Washington, DC). Buchanan is the former Head
of Scene Design at The Theatre School at DePaul
University.
13Hayat Dominguez (Sound Designer) is a third- Mark Kennedy (Properties Master) is a second-
year MFA sound design student, and this is their year MFA student at the University of Illinois.
fifth design while being here. They’ve had the He received a BA in theatre (performance and
pleasure of working on [title of show], February technical design) and psychology from Edgewood
Dance 2018, and The Rape of Lucretia as well as College in Madison, Wisconsin. Prior to attending
designing for Marat/Sade. Dominguez was also a the U of I, he was the Assistant Technical Director
part of the Jessica Lang Dance Residency in early and Props Master for First Act Children’s Theatre
August of last year. Previous to their time here, in Madison, Wisconsin, for five years. Most
they obtained their BFA in theatre technology recently, he was the Props Master for Heritage
from the University of South Dakota and have Theatre Festival’s 45th Anniversary season in
worked for companies such as the Santa Fe Opera Charlottesville, Virginia.
and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.
Natalie Loveland (Costume Designer) is an
Shea Hittman (Stage Manager) is a third-year MFA graduate of the University of Illinois, now
MFA student in stage management at the based in New York. She is pleased to return as a
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. guest artist to design this production of August
Most recently, Hittman worked at Utah Festival Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. Last year, she had
Opera & Musical Theatre where she worked as the pleasure of returning to design Barbecue. In
the production stage manager on productions New York, her designs have been seen at Classic
of Bravo, Caruso!, and Master Class. Her Stage Company, Lincoln Center Education, Park
University of Illinois credits include stage Avenue Armory, Theatre Row, New York Theatre
manager for productions of The Curious Incident Workshop’s Fourth Street Theatre, and The Flea
of the Dog in the Night-Time (Illinois Theatre) Theatre, among others. Outside the city, Natalie
and La Bohème (Lyric Theatre @ Illinois); production has designed at The Shakespeare Theatre of New
stage manager for Studiodance I (2018, Dance at Jersey, Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken, Arkansas
Illinois); and calling stage manager for February Shakespeare Theatre, and has served as a guest
Dance (2018, Dance at Illinois). Hittman is an artist at several universities. Most recently, she
ensemble member at Theatre B in Moorhead, designed for Broadway Backwards 2019 at the
Minnesota, where she stage-managed New Amsterdam Theatre, Phillip Howze’s Self
productions of Equivocation, 33 Variations, Portraits at BRIC-Arts Media, and Pipeline at
and Gruesome Playground Injuries. Mile Square Theatre. As an assistant, Natalie
has worked on the National Tours of NETworks’
Dirty Dancing and Elf The Musical, Irish Repertory
Theatre, and regionally at American Players
Theatre, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and The
Ohio Light Opera. Natalie is a proud member
of USA Local 829. To view her work, please visit:
www.nataliemarieloveland.com
14C. Kemal Nance, “Kibon” (Co-Choreographer) a Jamaica and will be featured in his forthcoming
native of Chester, Pennsylvania, is a performer, dance film Deez Nuts!: Black Bodies Dancing
choreographer, and scholar of African Diasporan Defiance. To stay abreast of Nance’s evolving
Dance. He is an assistant professor in the creative and scholarly work, log on to www.
departments of Dance at Illinois and African blackmendance.com.
American Studies at the University of Illinois.
Attendees at the Colloquium of Black Arts in Robert Perry (Lighting Designer) marks his
Bahia, Salvador, knighted him with the nickname fifth collaboration with the Illinois Department
“Kibon”—the name of a Brazilian ice cream to of Theatre with August Wilson’s Gem of the
reflect the “delicious time“ they experienced Ocean, having previously designed Lost Lake and
in his movement class. He is a master teacher Long Lost directed by Daniel Sullivan, Assassins
of the Umfundalai technique of contemporary directed by JW Morrissette, and Much Ado
African dance and has danced principle roles in About Nothing directed by Kathleen Conlin.
the Umfundalai-based, professional company Off-Broadway designs include the New York
Kariamu & Company: Traditions (Philadelphia). premieres of David Mamet’s Boston Marriage
Throughout his career, Nance has had a recurring (The Public Theatre) and Reefer Madness
performing presence with the late Chuck Davis’ (Variety Arts Theatre), Lost Lake (Manhattan
African American Dance Ensemble (Durham, Theatre Club), Iphigeneia at Aulis (Pearl Theatre
North Carolina). His writings about Chuck Company), and Kingdom of Earth (The Drama
Davis will appear in two book chapters in the Dept.). Perry has also had a long-standing
forthcoming anthology of essays, African Dance relationship with David Mamet and William
in America: Perpetual Motion and Hot Feet, H. Macy’s Atlantic Theater Company in New
this fall. Nance has danced with several neo- York City, having designed 18 shows for them
traditional and contemporary African dance including Sexual Perversity in Chicago (starring
companies including Ibeji, The Children of Clark Gregg), Harold Pinter’s The Hothouse,
Shango, Dunya, and the Seventh Principle of and David Mamet’s The Water Engine for
which he was a founding member. He, with dance which he received a Drama Desk Nomination.
partner and long-time friend, Stafford C. Berry, Regionally, Perry has designed for numerous
Jr., has choreographed for and performed with theatres including the Goodman Theatre,
the African American male dance initiative, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Arena Stage,
Berry & Nance Dance Project, and produced La Jolla Playhouse, McCarter Theatre Center,
choreographies about Black manhood at national Hartford Stage, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre,
and international venues. Nance holds a BA in Shakespeare Theatre Company, Intiman Theatre,
sociology/anthropology with the concentration Triad Stage, Philadelphia Theatre Company, and
in Black studies from Swarthmore College and Yale Repertory Theatre. He holds an MFA from the
MEd and PhD degrees in dance from Temple Yale School of Drama and a BFA from the North
University. Dancers from his newly formed Carolina School of the Arts. Perry is a member of
Nance Dance Collective will perform his latest United Scenic Artists local #829 and is currently
work, Red, with Stella Maris Dance Ensemble in the Chair of the Lighting Design and Technology
Kingston, Jamaica, right after August Wilson’s program and Co-Director of Level 21 at the
Gem of the Ocean closes. They will also perform University of Illinois. He is represented by APA—
in the Kingston-based television show Smile Agency for the Performing Arts, New York City.
15Endalyn Taylor (Co-choreographer ) joined Naomie Winch (Technical Director) is in her third Dance Theatre of Harlem’s company in 1984, year as an MFA candidate in scenic technology becoming a principal in 1993. Broadway credits at the University of Illinois by way of Southern include original casts of Carousel, The Lion California. She is thrilled to be a part of Austin King, and Aida. Taylor participated in the Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. Winch’s most recent recording of the Grammy-nominated cast albums credit was as the assistant technical director for and performed for the 1993 and 1997 Tony the New Harmony Theatre’s 2019 summer season. Awards. Taylor ran a performing arts institute in She holds another MFA in lighting design and Cambridge, Massachusetts. She served as the technology and actively tries to integrate the Director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem School imperceptible world of lighting design with the and brought students to the White House to tangible world of scenic design and intermix both participate in an arts initiative of the Obamas and into global construction and renovation projects. to perform for the First Lady and the spouses of the Heads of State’s Luncheon. Choreographic commissions include productions for The Dance Theatre of Harlem, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Judas International Dance Company, and Collage Dance Collective. Taylor performed the co-choreographed “Chalk Lines” at the American Dance Festival in New York and most recently premiered a collaborative work entitled The Counterpoint Project in New York. Taylor serves as a national spokesman for Black ballerinas and has presented lectures and panels at Coventry University in England, Collegium for African Diasporic Dance, and National Association Schools of Dance and served as Keynote Speaker at the Black Women Rock, Empower Me Award Ceremony, Champaign Illinois. Film credits include Center Stage and Spike Lee's Malcolm X. Taylor is the subject of the recently Mid-America Emmy-nominated, Big Ten Network-featured segment Illinois Artist—Endalyn Taylor. 16
PRODUCTION STAFF
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNER
Monique Arabie Stephen Moderhock
Tina Hermosillo*
ASSISTANT SOUND DESIGNER
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Daniel Massey
Jaira Stanley
ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Jordan Ratliff
Naomie Winch
SCENIC ARTIST
PROPERTIES MASTER Christina Rainwater
Mark Kennedy
STAGE CARPENTER
HAIR/MAKEUP SUPERVISOR Eric Swabey-Keith
Courtney Horry
MASTER ELECTRICIAN
HAIR/MAKEUP COORDINATOR Konrad Ciolkosz
Melissa Hall
AUDIO ENGINEER
ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Zia Fox
Patrick Storey
WARDROBE HEAD/COSTUME TECHNICIAN
ASSISTANT SCENIC DESIGNER A’lura Celeste-Stewart
Yvonne Tessman
ASSISTANT COSTUME DESIGNER
Samantha Padillo
*Appears as a member of the Actors' Equity Association (AEA), the union for professional actors and
stage managers.
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