BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD LIVE

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THE ALLIANCE THEATRE

Susan V. Booth, Jennings Hertz Artistic Director & Mike Schleifer, Managing Director present

INSPIRED BY THE NEWBERY MEDAL-WINNING BOOK BY

ASHLEY BRYAN AND BY THE BERNHARDT THEATRE FOR THE VERY YOUNG PRODUCTION BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD BY THEROUN PATTERSON & DONYA WASHINGTON

MUSIC AND MUSIC DIRECTION BY

EUGENE H. RUSSELL, IV

COSTUME DESIGNER

LEX LIANG

SOUND DESIGNER CLAY BENNING

STAGE MANAGER R. LAMAR WILLIAMS*

TENT SERIES SPONSORED BY

THE CHARLES E. LORIDANS FOUNDATION

This production is supported in part by the BOLD Theater Women’s Leadership Circle.

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CAST *EUGENE H. RUSSELL, IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lovebird *ALEXANDRIA JOY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fly Bird ALI BARR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Blackbird DENIS COFER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Low Bird BRANDON A. THOMAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . High Bird

FOR THIS PRODUCTION AMANDA PEREZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stage Management Production Assistant NIKI TRAXLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wardrobe HAYLEE SCOTT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COVID Coordinator WILLIE PARKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stagehand STEVE JORDAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lighting Programmer GRAHAM SCHWARTZ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mixer

*Denotes a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and StageManagers in the United States.

The Alliance Theatre operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, an independent national labor union. The Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, and is a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young Audiences (ASSITEJ/USA), The Atlanta Coalition of Theatres, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Midtown Alliance.

Photos may be taken in the theater before the performance, during intermission, and following the performance. If you share your photos, please credit the designers.

Photos, videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited, is a violation of United States Copyright Law, and is an actionable Federal Offense.

Synopsis: Atlanta's favorite feathered funk band is back! Featuring original music composed by Eugene H. Russell IV and inspired by Ashley Bryan's children's book BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD, this family friendly concert will have you on your feet celebrating the uniqueness of each and every one of us. Shake your tailfeathers and dance to the music!

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EUGENE H. RUSSELL IV* (Lovebird) is excited to have the Blackbird band back together! Born and raised in Southwest Atlanta, he’s a multi-talented vocalist, musician, songwriter, and awardwinning actor. As a saxophonist, he’s played in bands opening for the likes of George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Boyz II Men, KC & the Sunshine Brand, Brand New Heavies, and Mother’s Finest. Having recently composed the music for the Alliance’s acclaimed animated short Sit-In, Eugene also had the honor of producing the Beautiful Blackbird original cast recording. He has decades of stage performance credits, one of which garnered him the prestigious Woodie King, Jr. Award, and onscreen credits that include the TV series MacGyver, Star, and Tyler Perry’s The Oval. A recording artist with roots in soul, gospel, jazz and hip-hop, you can find Eugene IV’s latest single, “Brand New Day,” on all streaming platforms.

ALEXANDRIA JOY* (Fly Bird) is proud and honored to return to the Alliance Theatre after Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience. Recent credits: Ella Enchanted (Synchronicity Theatre), Jekyll and Hyde (Atlanta Lyric), HAIR (Serenbe Playhouse), Ragtime (Serenbe Playhouse). TV/Film: “Lovecraft Country.” Graduate of the Serenbe Playhouse Apprenticeship. B.F.A. Theatre, Emphasis Musical Theatre at Valdosta State University. Special thanks to my family and my adoring fiancé for always believing in me and supporting my dreams.

ALI BARR (Blackbird) was born in Philadelphia and raised primarily in New York City. He began playing music when he was eight years old.

He received his first instruction on the trumpet under the tutelage of Jerry Gonzales, leader of the Fort Apache Band. He attended Temple University in Philadelphia and began serious study of the trumpet with Robert "Boysie" Lowery and Johnny Coles. While in Botswana, he studied briefly with Hugh Masekela, a close family friend. Along with Masekela, Ali has played with bassist Milt Hinton, Jerry Gonzales, Jamaledeen Tacuma, Zhane, Duane Eubanks, Julie Dexter, Brian Hogans, Orrin Evans, Wadud, The Common Ground Collective, Dionne Farris, and a host of jazz greats. He has recorded and performed extensively with Grammy nominated Russell Gunn, Roy Ayers, Jamaledeen Tacuma, the Ogya World Music Band, and with the Common Ground Collective. He recently performed with the Ogya World Music Band at the Bonnaroo Festival. Lately, Ali has tried his hand at acting as the lead in Blackbird at Alliance Theatre, as well as being apart of the Black Nativity play by the Dominion Group. Ali continues to be a calledupon trumpeter and percussionist locally in Atlanta as well as a performer for major music festivals worldwide.

DENIS COFER (Low Bird) is thrilled to be making music at the Alliance Theatre!

BRANDON A. THOMAS (High Bird) is from Atlanta, Georgia. He's currently on tour with Leon Bridges, but in the past has worked with artists such as Angie Stone, Ginuwine, Danny Boy, Chantae Cann, Tony Terry, and Kindred and the Family Soul. He has produced for artists such as Justice League, Rico Love, Manny Fresh/T.I., Parker Rehgile, and Childish Major. His handle on all accounts is @ BrandonAThomas

R. LAMAR WILLIAMS* (Stage Manager) is an Atlanta native who

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studied theatre at Florida A&M University’s Essential Theatre. His 20 year tenure at the Alliance has included stage managing Hospice/ Pointing at the Moon, The Temple Bombing, Choir Boy, Bike America, The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls, 18 years of The Palefsky Collision Project and assistant stage managing a slew of great shows. Rodney is opening a new frontier in his career with Dramaturgy and Directing. For Sensei, JDawn, Chelsea & Solari and all humanity — “changing the world 1 play @ a time!”

LEX LIANG (Costume Designer) Lex is ecstatic to be back at the Alliance, where he previously designed clothes for Candide, Troubadour, What I Learned in Paris, In Love and Warcraft, Into the Woods, and many others. NYC/Off-Broadway: 50+ productions—recent work includes Antigone, Nine Circles, and The Bacchae. Regional: Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Asolo, Cleveland Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Dallas Theatre Center, Denver Center, Geva Theatre, The Guthrie, La Jolla Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Portland Center Stage, Syracuse Stage, Woolly Mammoth, and others. He is the founder and owner of LDC Design Associates, an experiential event design and production company in NYC. Recent projects include Ubuntu Pathways: Fight For Good, Operation Smile’s 35th Anniversary Gala, The Tony Awards Gala, and BCBG’s 30 Year Retrospective, NYFW 2019. Member, United Scenic Artists-829. www.LexLiang.com

CLAY BENNING (Sound Design) Resident Sound Designer for the Alliance Theatre and has designed more than 150 productions in his career, with over 100 for the Alliance. Recent works include Candide, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, Small

Mouth Sounds, and Max Makes A Million. Other design work has included Georgia Shakespeare, Atlanta Ballet, Cincinnati Playhouse, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Theatrical Outfit, Geva Theatre, Synchronicity Theatre, and the Georgia Aquarium. Awards: Seven Suzi Bass awards for outstanding sound design with 16 nominations. He is a graduate of Presbyterian College (BA), North Carolina School of the Arts (MFA) and a member of IATSE/USA829 and TSDCA.

CHRISTOPHER MOSES (Dan Reardon Director of Education & Associate Artistic Director) Chris has been working in professional theatre education for over 15 years. In January of 2011, Chris took on the position of Director of Education at the Alliance Theatre, overseeing the Alliance Theatre Institute (twice recognized as an Arts Model by the Federal Department of Education), Theatre for Youth & Families, and the Acting Program. Under his leadership, the Alliance launched its Theatre for the Very Young program, which provides fully interactive professional theatre experiences for children of all abilities from ages 18 months to 5 years old, the Alliance Teen Ensemble, which performs world premier plays commissioned for and about teens, and Alliance@ work, a professional development program designed for the business sector—the latest offering of which uses theatre practice to create a culture of civility in the workplace. In 2014, Chris added the title Associate Artistic Director, and has continued to expand the Alliance’s education offerings. Chris serves as a board member for TYA/USA, the national service organization for Theatre for Youth, and Working Title Playwrights and is on the Board of Advisors for the Atlanta Speech School, and the Atlanta Public School’s Partners for Education.

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SUSAN V. BOOTH (Jennings Hertz Artistic Director) joined the Alliance Theatre in 2001 and has initiated the Palefsky Collision Project for teens, the Alliance/ Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition, the Reiser Atlanta Artists Lab and commercial partnerships on such projects as The Prom; Tuck Everlasting; Ghost Brothers of Darkland County; The Color Purple; Bring It On: The Musical; Twyla Tharp’s Come Fly Away; Sister Act: The Musical; Bring in ’da Noise, Bring in ’da Funk; and Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL. She has directed nationally at the Goodman Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, New York Stage and Film, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Northlight Theatre, Victory Gardens, Court Theatre and many others. She holds degrees from Denison and Northwestern universities and was a fellow of the National Critics Institute and the Kemper Foundation. She has held teaching positions at Northwestern, DePaul and Emory universities and is a past President of the board of directors for the Theatre Communications Group, the national service organization for the field. Booth’s leadership is underwritten by the BOLD Theater Women’s Leadership Circle, an initiative to support and promote women’s theater leadership funded by The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation. She is married to Max Leventhal and is the proud mother of Moira Rose Leventhal.

Inclusion Committee and to serve on the League of Resident Theatre’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative. Previously, he spent 13 years at Baltimore’s Center Stage, working as Associate Producer, Production Manager and Resident Stage Manager. While in Baltimore, he spent seven years as an adjunct faculty member at Towson University and guest lectured all over the East Coast. Schleifer began his career as a Stage Manager and has dozens of stage-management credits in New York and regionally. He is married to theater director and educator Laura Hackman and is the proud father of two boys, Jack and Ben.

MIKE SCHLEIFER (Managing Director) joined the Alliance Theatre in 2014 as General Manager, and in 2016 became Managing Director. While at the Alliance, Schleifer has led the administrative team on more than 50 productions and was one of the architects of the “On the Road” season, in which the Alliance produced 12 shows at 12 venues. He is proud to have started the Alliance’s Equity, Diversity and

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