ALLIANCE THEATRE
PUBLISHER Brantley Manderson brantley@encoremagazine.com
SENIOR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR NASHVILLE Kelli Dill kelli@encoremagazine.com
SENIOR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR CHARLOTTE Hila Johnson hila@encoremagazine.com
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Robert Viagas robert@encoremagazine.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Tamara Hooks tamara@encoremagazine.com
DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Jennifer Nelson jennifer@encoremagazine.com
PROGRAM PRODUCER
Ashley Elliott ashley.elliott@alliancetheatre.org
Welcome to the world premiere of BUST, a bold new work by the remarkable Zora Howard. The moment we read this script, we knew we had to share it with Atlanta audiences. Atlanta, with its rich legacy of transformation and cultural reinvention, is the perfect home for this story. Our city, like Zora’s storytelling, is defined by its willingness to confront its history, while reaching boldly for what lies ahead. Zora’s words ignite the stage, calling us to examine who we are and who we might yet become. She crafts stories that sit in the tension between beauty and discomfort, resilience and rupture. And in this space, she dares us to dream beyond what we know, to lean into possibility, and to meet the world — and ourselves — with honesty and grace.
When this singular voice is paired with one of our field’s most visionary directors, you get theater at its most vital: urgent, daring, and profoundly alive. Under Lileana BlainCruz’s masterful direction, this play defies expectations, balancing on the edge of the real and the sublime, the joyful and the harrowing.
As you settle into your seats, we invite you to lean into this moment. The rhythms of the language, the boldness of the imagery, and the depth of the performances. This is the gift of live theater — the ability to gather in shared space, to be moved and to imagine something new. Together.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your presence fuels the artistry on this stage, supports the risks we take, and reaffirms the importance of storytelling as a force that provokes, transforms, and holds the potential to inspire us all.
Tinashe Kajese-Bolden Jennings Hertz Artistic Director & Christopher Moses
Jennings Hertz Artistic Director
HUMANITY, HUMOR, AND AUTHENTICITY MAKE UP ALLIANCE’S WORLD PREMIERE, BUST
STORY BY Mashaun D. Simon
For Lileana Blain-Cruz, one of the big joys of being a director is the practice of transformation. Take for instance the Alliance Theatre’s world-premiere production, BUST. In the show there are spaces that, for most audiences, may seem familiar — a living room, a balcony, a school.
Blain-Cruz is fascinated by the challenge of making these spaces feel real while also imbuing them with heightened theatrical magic when the show takes an unexpected turn. The show’s creative team has worked intentionally to bring these seemingly regular locations to heightened life through design.
“One of the joys of this project is figuring out how we move between these spaces in surprising ways,” Blain-Cruz shares. “In doing so, the spaces create a meta-theatrical metaphor of how we move through our world as humans.” She goes on to say, “In BUST, we have the important experience of recognizing ourselves in these characters. We get to live inside their humanity, and the absurdity of what it means to be alive.”
The premiere of BUST runs February 13 through March 16 on the Alliance’s CocaCola Stage before going to the Goodman’s Albert Theatre in Chicago.
What’s it about?
Playwright Zora Howard and Blain-Cruz are cautious to reveal too many details about the plot of the play. The show opens with Retta. A mature woman of a certain age, she is sitting on the porch of the modest apartment she shares with her husband and grandson. Retta is partaking in one of her favorite pastimes — minding the business of everyone in the neighborhood from the safety of her porch. She has a glass of wine, a smoke, and the activities of the neighborhood to keep her occupied.
That isn’t saying too
much about what the play is about. What the description does, however, is provide some idea of who, or better yet, the kind of people we see in the play. While Retta, along with the other characters in the show are fictitious in nature, they are still quite real.
“They are composites,” she said. “They are pieces of characters in my own life.”
Growing up, Howard remembers listening to her mother, aunts, and other elders tell stories.
“[They] would come home with whatever mess they dealt with throughout their day, and they would talk about it,” she remembers. “The way they told their stories — sparing no ugly detail and still, somehow, cracking jokes throughout; it was a healing practice I learned early on.”
Director Lileana Blain-Cruz
BUST is a meditation on and an homage to those moments.
“There is some real ugly stuff that Black people have to navigate living in this country,” said Howard. “And yet there is an artfulness to how we move through it all — with humor, with deftness, with style.”
Humor is present throughout the play. In some respects, it’s a character within itself. And it’s not just for entertainment purposes. In the same way the examples of her childhood utilized humor to navigate their realities, the same is true in this play.
“Humor, how it is able to cut through the muck of even the most dispiriting human experiences, has always been my way into the world,” said Howard. “Confronting my own rage and grief through its vehicle terrifies me, but the notion that others may be able to do the same in the spaces that I write fuels me.”
Howard admits there were times when writing the play when the characters fought for their authenticity. It was her job, she said, to get to know them. This became especially important for the characters who say “some of the harder things to swallow in the play.”
Nine times out of 10, said Howard, the character would say, “I wouldn’t say that. It didn’t sit right with them.”
While Howard and BlainCruz are both hesitant to prescribe their hopes for the audiences who experience BUST, BlainCruz does admit that she hopes audiences walk out of the theater examining and recognizing.
Playwright Zora Howard
“What I love about theater is knowing that there are a million individual stories existing inside the audience. What’s beautiful is when those whose lives may be very different understand something more, and the people whose lives may be similar find themselves being seen,” she said. “There’s a real invitation at the center of the play to experience something new. There’s this kind of really amazing, thrilling, complicated emotional journey that happens at the center of this play, and I hope audiences are on the ride to encounter something that they had never considered before.”
Howard wants the play to meet people where they are.
“For those audience members who relate to the subject matter, I want them to feel seen. And for those who maybe don’t see themselves to have something stirred in them; maybe even move them a bit and push them some.”
Playwright Zora Howard, Director Lileana Blain-Cruz, Jennings Hertz Artistic Director Tinashe KajeseBolden, and Jennings Hertz Artistic Director Christopher Moses at the first rehearsal for BUST
LISTEN TO THE WORLD OF BUST
BY Ashley Elliott
FROM DIRECTOR LILEANA BLAIN-CRUZ:
When we were developing BUST, we knew that sound would be a crucial component of the play. Sound — music — transports us, moves us, harkens back to our histories, while also imagining our futures. It has the potential to transform. So, in addition to our collaboration with the incredible sound designer Mikaal Sulaiman, we wanted to invite a kind of “sonic dramaturg” to the play, someone who could offer another way to think about music. DJ Reborn is a phenomenal artist, and, as a DJ, holds a wealth of knowledge about musical lineage and the interconnection between tracks across time. We were excited to invite her into the process as we were dreaming of the soundscape for this play.
Holding You, Loving You .
. . .Don Blackman
Journey In Satchidananda Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders
Astral Traveling .
. Pharoah Sanders
Skin I’m In Sly & The Family Stone Take A Little Trip .
EXPERIENCE THE REST OF THE PLAYLIST HERE
Jason Palmer
Sonic Dramaturg DJ Reborn.
Photo by Ralston Smith.
Southern charm is simply unmatched. It withholds unconventional truths behind parables of style, survival, and mystique. These were some of the truths the director, Lileana Blain-Cruz, and I knew we not only wanted but needed to hold on to for this show. I have had the pleasure of working on several projects with the playwright Zora Howard, and each story geniusly allows for the audience to ascend with their fingertips still touching the blades of grass.
All in all, the costume world of BUST is lyrical — a suspended kaleidoscope dream-world of bespoke truth that is glazed with magic, culture, and testimony.
Dominique Fawn Hill, Costume Designer
MAR 29–MAY 4 2025
Served
Written by JAKE BRASCH
Directed by SHELLEY BUTLER
In Partnership with Denver Center for the Performing Arts & Geffen Playhouse
Book by BOB MARTIN
Music & Lyrics by ADAM GUETTEL
Based on the novel and screenplay by FRANK COTTRELL BOYCE
Directed by BARTLETT SHER
Produced by arrangement with Sonia Friedman Productions and Franco Productions
ALLIANCE THEATRE
TINASHE KAJESE-BOLDEN
Jennings Hertz Artistic Director
MIKE
CHRISTOPHER MOSES
Jennings Hertz Artistic Director
SCHLEIFER Managing Director
In association with Goodman Theatre
BY ZORA HOWARD
DIRECTED BY LILEANA BLAIN-CRUZ
In association with Sonia Friedman Productions,
Neal and Thomas Swayne
| programnotes
CAST
*MARK BEDARD Tomlin/Jack
*CECIL BLUTCHER Trent
*CAROLINE STEFANIE CLAY Retta
*BERNARD GILBERT Zeke
*CAITLIN HARGRAVES Ms. Pinto/Newscaster
*JORGE LUNA
*VICTORIA OMOREGIE
*KEITH RANDOLPH SMITH
*RAY ANTHONY THOMAS
*IVAN CECIL WALKS
Ramirez
. Paige
Mr. Woods
Reggie
Boobie
*RENIKA WILLIAMS-BLUTCHER Krystal
UNDERSTUDIES
HANNAH ROSE BROOM
Ms. Pinto/Newscaster
ROBERT JOHN CONNOR Reggie/Mr. Woods
JACOB ALEXANDER CRAIG Trent
WARREN LEVI HANEY Tomlin/Jack
ANJIL JETER Retta
BRAIAN RIVERA JIMÉNEZ
TALORIA MERRICKS
Ramirez
Krystal/Paige TY RAVENEL
STAGE MANAGERS
Boobie/Zeke
*shiku thuo Stage Manager
*XIAONAN (CHLOE) LIU Assistant Stage Manager
MARSHALL LEE SMITH, JR Stage Management Production Assistant
PRODUCTION AND DESIGN ASSISTANCE
BRITT BERKE Assistant to Lileana Blain-Cruz
JONAH BOBILIN Associate Lighting Designer
KELLEN VOSS Associate Sound Designer
GABBY IRVING
KATIA CARMICHAEL
JACQUELINE SPRINGFIELD
BRANT ADAMS
Assistant Special Effects Designer
. Design Manager, J&M Special Effects
Dialect & Vocal Coach
Casting Assistant
FOR THIS PRODUCTION
AARON VOCKLEY Production Audio Engineer
TAMIR EPLAN-FRANKEL Mixing Engineer
JOSH CAMPBELL Deck Audio
HAUZIA CONYERS Wardrobe Supervisor
RODNEY WILLIAMS Wardrobe
ALANA SPACH Hair, Wigs, and Makeup
JOY DIAZ SFX Programmer & Light Board Operator
NEIL ANDERSON Lighting Programmer
VICTOR MOULEDOUX
NIC STEPHENSON
ROY SOCKWELL
NATE PETERS, ERIK NILSON
SPECIAL THANKS
Jon Carr — Dad’s Garage
Mark Kendall
David Perdue
Scotty Crowe
Automation Stagehand
Properties Stagehand
Crew Chief
Stage Crew
*Denotes a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers 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, 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.
This production is approximately two hours and fifteen minutes long and has one fifteen-minute intermission.
MARK BEDARD (Tomlin/ Jack) OFF-BROADWAY: Promenade (City Center); Julius Caesar (TFANA); Pride & Prejudice (Primary Stages); Midsummer Night’s Dream (Pearl Theater); Fashions for Men (Mint Theater). SELECT REGIONAL: Oregon Shakespeare Festival — 9 Seasons; Hudson Valley Shakespeare — 4 seasons; Christmas Carol (Goodman); Into the Woods, Midsummer Night’s Dream (Idaho Shakes); Little Shop of Horrors (Idaho & Tahoe Shakes); Richard III, All’s Well That Ends Well (Chicago Shakes); The Cocoanuts (Guthrie); Roe (Arena Stage, Berkeley Rep); Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Geva Theatre); Cymbeline (Shakespeare Theatre Company); Boeing Boeing (Seattle Repertory); Waiting for Godot (Marin Theatre). TV/FILM: Gilded Age; Evil; Madam Secretary; The Good Fight; Instinct; The Knick. markbedard.com
CECIL BLUTCHER (Trent)
[he/him/they] is thrilled to join the cast of BUST at Alliance Theatre! As an Actor, he has worked across the mediums (Film, TV, and Theater), but his most important credit is Child of God. He holds an MFA from Penn State and is also an avid Writer and Musician. Find him online: @cecilcreates and Cecilblutchercreates.com. His participation in this production is dedicated to the memory of his Father: David Blutcher. Rest in Supreme Power.
HANNAH ROSE BROOM
(u/s Ms. Pinto, Newscaster) is an actor, artist, filmmaker, and yoga teacher. She has been involved in works with the Alliance Theatre, Synchronicity Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Outfront Theatre, 7 Stages. When Hannah-Rose is not acting, she can be found producing and casting indie film projects or working in her art studio. Hannah-Rose has exhibited artwork throughout Atlanta - Mint Gallery, The Bakery, IDEA Gallery, and The B Complex. She has sculptural and mural works at Black Art in America and Dunwoody Skatepark. Hannah-Rose uses her yoga practice to keep her ground amidst her creative pursuits and has been teaching trauma-informed public and private classes for 12 years. When Hannah-Rose is not bouncing from one activity to the next,
she enjoys quiet time in nature (or being curled up on the couch) with her fiance, Sidarth, and her rescue mutt, Oskar. Find her on social media: @hannahrosebroom.
CAROLINE STEFANIE
CLAY (Retta) [she/her]
Caroline is a veteran of stage, film, and television and serves as an Assistant Professor of Acting at the University of Iowa, Department of Theatre Arts. She is thrilled to be joining the cast & creative teams of BUST here at the Alliance Theatre. (Broadway) The Little Foxes, Doubt, Doubt - the national tour, The Royal Family, Drowning Crow, Come Back Little Sheba. (Television) “Law & Order SVU,” “All My Children,” “East New York,” “House of Cards,” “The Knick,” “Shameless,” and “Grey’s Anatomy” as CeCe the Matchmaker, Season 15. Film work includes Everybody’s Fine, Sherry Baby, and Morning Glory. She has worked Off-Broadway and regionally at Signature Theatre, The Public Theatre, Yale Rep, McCarter, Arena Stage, Shakespeare Theatre, Ford’s Theatre, LaJolla Playhouse, and The Geffen Playhouse, where she was awarded the 2018 NAACP, Los Angeles Award for Best Performance by an Actor in Skeleton Crew. A voice & dialect coach for theatre & film (the upcoming The Fire Inside, starring Ryan Destiny & Brian Tyree Henry), she will complete certification to become a Designated Linklater Voice Teacher this summer. Clay is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and dedicates her performance to the memory of her beloved mother.
ROBERT JOHN CONNOR (u/s Reggie, Mr. Woods), a multi-talented actor, singer, writer, director, and producer, is a graduate of Morehouse College (BA) and the University of Georgia (MFA). His theatre credits include 110 in the Shade (Theatrical Outfit), Camelot (Aurora Theatre), Crowns (P-G Entertainment), Urinetown (Fabrefaction Theatre), and Tyler Perry’s I Know I’ve Been Changed. Film and TV appearances include “Greenleaf,” “A Different World,” “The Cosby Show,” the film Glory, and Showtime at the Apollo. As a vocalist, Robert has performed with Michael Bublé, Gladys Knight, Barry Manilow, Byron Cage, and Cassi Davis. He has directed acclaimed productions such as A Raisin in the Sun, Dreamgirls, The Amen Corner, Black Nativity, Hairspray, Miss Saigon, and the amateur world premiere of
The Color Purple. With decades of experience, Robert continues to make an indelible impact on the arts and entertainment industry. He dedicates this experience to his loves, Ryan and Andrea.
JACOB ALEXANDER
CRAIG (u/s Trent) [he/him] is thrilled to join the cast of BUST at the Alliance Theatre! Some recent credits include: KID in Midnight with the Mockingbird at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Hans/Rudy in Cabaret, u/s for SAM in Blues for an Alabama Sky, u/s for Nick in Mercury, and Levi in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Actors Express. He holds a B.A. in Theatre and Performance Studies from Kennesaw State University and recently completed an acting apprenticeship with Actors Express! He would love to thank God, his family, and his friends for their support. “All it takes is a leap of faith.” IG: @Jacdoesitagain
BERNARD GILBERT (Zeke) [he/his] is exhilarated to join the cast of BUST at the Alliance Theatre! Bernard is an Atlanta-raised actor celebrated for his compelling performances on stage and screen. A proud Morehouse College graduate with a Business degree, he also holds an MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. His television credits include recurring roles on “The Chi” (SHOWTIME), “Empire” (FOX), and “Utopia” (Amazon), alongside guest appearances on “Law & Order” (NBC), “Chicago P.D.” (NBC), and “The Big Leap” (FOX). On stage, Bernard has performed with renowned theaters such as The Goodman Theatre, A Red Orchid Theatre, and Northlight Theatre. His standout roles include Hero in Father Comes Home from the Wars, Dez in Skeleton Crew, Fish in The Royale, and Herald Loomis in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. A recipient of the Princess Grace Award for Acting and the Ossie Davis Jr. Award for Best Featured Actor, Bernard feels deeply blessed to share this journey with his loving wife, Alicia, and grateful for the unwavering support of his amazing friends and family.
WARREN LEVI HANEY (u/s Tomlin, Jack) is honored & humbled to do his part in telling this powerful story and begin his journey with the Alliance! Favorite theatre credits include
Little Charles in August: Osage County (Greenlight Acting Live!), Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet (Seattle Shakespeare Company), Duke Orsino & Andrew Aguecheek in 12th Night (Seattle Shakespeare Company), Cloten in Cymbeline (Greenstage), and Frederic in Pirates of Penzance (The Core Ensemble). Favorite film credits include Kicks in KICKS (post-production), Nancy Adams in Nancy (post-production), Francis in The Little Theatre Story (post-production), and Cash Lucas in Chasing Fame. Warren received his B.F.A. from Cornish College of the Arts (Seattle, WA) and moved to Atlanta to do high-caliber work with equally high-caliber people. You can find him most times at Greenlight Acting Studios where he is both student & coach, teaching Shakespeare for professional actors. Warren would like to thank his wonderfully galvanizing Atlanta community for always pushing him to be the best he can be. May we all rise together! IG: warrenlevihaney
CAITLIN HARGRAVES (Mrs. Pinto/Newscaster) is an Atlanta based American/Chilean actor, producer, and educator. She is grateful to return to the Alliance, where she has performed in or directed A Christmas Carol since 2021. Caitlin has also performed regionally with Theatrical Outfit, the Hippodrome Theater, and Texas Shakespeare Festival. Caitlin also acts, directs, and produces short films with her collaborator Erika Miranda and their company Cafecito Productions. You can watch their award winning debut film “Mi Casa” on HBO, “Give Me an A” on any VOD platform, and, starting this summer, her bones my body at a film festival near you! When she’s not performing, Caitlin’s teaching acting as a professor at Emory University where she is also the Artistic Director of Theater Emory. Training: BFA from NYU-Tisch and MA in classical performance from LAMDA. You can find her on socials @caitlinjhargraves.
ANJIL JETER (u/s Retta) is thrilled to join the cast of BUST at the Alliance Theatre! Favorite credits include: Alea in Split Second with Impact Theatre, Bernice in The Piano Lesson with New African Grove Theatre, and Vera in Smoke on the Mountain with Marietta New Theatre in the Square. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from The University of Alabama. A fun fact is that she enjoys watching Big City Greens. Anjil
would love to thank her friends and family for always supporting her. Find her on social media: IG @anjilrenee
BRAIAN RIVERA JIMÉNEZ
(u/s Ramirez) [he/him] is thrilled to join the cast of BUST at the Alliance Theatre! Favorite credits include “NICO” in Lee Osorio’s A Third Way at Actors Express, “PABLO” in Native Gardens at The Stage Door, and “Green” on The Walking Dead AMC. He studied four years of Meisner at “Ruskin School of Acting” in California. Represented by Alexander White Agency. Braian would love to thank his friends and family for always supporting him. Find him on social media: @braianriverajimenez
JORGE LUNA (Ramirez) [he/him] is an actor, director, writer, and photographer born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Off-Broadway and NYC theatre — Breaking The Story (2nd Stage); Deathwatch (Drama League/New Ohio); FLORIDITA, my Love, Barceloneta, de noche (IATI Theatre); Hamlet (Jersey City Theater Center); by wing, fin, hoof or foot (The Ume Group); Cymbeline (Chashama); Starry Messenger (Theater for the New City); Confesión en el barrio chino (Puerto Rican Traveling Theater); El médico de su honra (Repertorio Español); Iphigenia at Aulis (Tiyatro Global). Regional — Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors (Irish Classical Theatre), Baipás (George Street Playhouse); Constellations (George Lindsey Theatre); Shinka (DC Capital Fringe); The Death of Kings (George Bernard Shaw Theatre, London); La promesa (Centro de Bellas Artes, Puerto Rico). Film — The Week Of (Netflix); planet b234 (Vail), winner - Best Male Performance (MidWest WeirdFest); All the Beautiful Things (Sundance); Macho (New York Latino Film Festival). Television — “Zero Day” (Netflix); “Law & Order” (NBC); “Elementary” (CBS); “The Blacklist” (NBC); “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC); “Lisey’s Story” (Apple TV+); “The Code” (CBS); “One Life to Live” (ABC). Universidad de Puerto Rico — BA Theatre; RADA — Shakespeare; Brooklyn College — MFA, Acting. Keelie, Otto, Mami, Noris, Monchi, Arturo, Alina, Franchute, Marcos; los amo. @jorgelunadj
TALORIA MERRICKS (u/s Krystal, Paige) [they/them] is thrilled to join the cast of BUST at the Alliance Theatre! Favorite credits include US AMY in The Lonely Few at MCC Theater NYC, Sophie/ Maya in A New Musical: King Of Pangea at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, and Dorothy in The Wiz at Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre. Trained at Aurora Theater Co. and Chadwick Boseman College. August Wilson Monologue Competition Nationalist. Taloria continues to pursue their passion in all forms of the performing arts with the help of God and family support. Their social media handles include: Instagram @itsjusttaloria // Youtube @Taloria
VICTORIA OMOREGIE (Paige) [she/her] is ecstatic to join the cast of BUST at The Alliance Theatre! Her selected credits include: “Opal” in Fat Ham (The Alliance Theatre); “Nell Shaw” in John Proctor is the Villain, “Opal” in Fat Ham (The Huntington Theatre); “Faith” in acts of faith (American Stage); “Keisha” (Elliot Norton Award Nominated) in Fairview (SpeakEasy Stage Company); “Antipholus of Ephesus/Adriana” in The Bomb-Itty of Errors, “Perdita” in The Winter’s Tale (Actors’ Shakespeare Project); “MEDEA” in Lorena: A Tabloid Epic (Boston Playwrights Theatre). She holds a BFA in Acting from Boston University School of Theatre. Victoria forever thanks God and honors her mother (her real life Wonder Woman), father (her fuel that keeps her going), and loved ones for their unending encouragement. Find her on social media: @victoriaosaku
TY RAVENEL (u/s Boobie, Zeke) [he/him] is thrilled to join the cast of BUST at the Alliance Theatre! He holds a degree in film & television performance from The New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts (NYCDA), and has also studied Meisner Technique for nine years. Ty would love to thank his Dad for being his number-one fan, his mother, Nana, Best Friends & his Community for always supporting his creative endeavors. Find him on social media: @TyRavenelOfficial
KEITH RANDOLPH SMITH
(Mr. Woods) is elated to be back at the Alliance, after being part of the casts of Blues for an Alabama Sky, King Hedley II, God of Carnage, The C. A. Lyons Project, and The Whipping Man. He has appeared on Broadway in Jitney, King Hedley II, Fences, The Piano Lesson, American Psycho, Come Back Little Sheba, and Salome. Favorite recents credits include …what the end will be at the Roundabout Theater; Paradise Blue at the Signature Theater; Wine in the Wilderness at Two River Theater. Film and television favorites have been Malcolm X and Girl Six, both by Spike Lee, “The Good Fight,” and the video games Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft: The Lost and Damned. Keith was awarded the TCG/Fox Fellowship in Acting, with the Alliance being his host theater, to work on a solo piece dealing with sons and fathers, and he is also a member of Quicksilver Theater Company (QSTC) and the Actors Center, both in New York. Keith trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
RAYMOND ANTHONY
THOMAS (Reggie) Recent Credits - Broadway: I Need That (starring Danny DeVito); American Buffalo (starring Sam Rockwell and Darren Criss); Trouble in Mind (starring La Chanze); Jitney. Other Theater includes Jitney (National Tour), Pride and Prejudice (Chautauqua Theatre), and Off-Broadway productions of The Trees (Playwrights Horizons) and Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow (MTC). Film and Television: American Fiction, The Harbinger, Isn’t It Romantic, Trouble with the Curve, Shutter Island, ‘Flatbush Misdemeanors” and “High Maintenance” (HBO), “Law and Order” and “New Amsterdam” (NBC), “The Last O.G.” (TBS).
IVAN CECIL WALKS (Boobie) [he/him] is honored and blessed to join the cast of BUST at the Alliance Theatre! Most recent credits of his include: an award winning performance as “Albert” in K-I-S-S-I-N-G (The Huntington Theatre), “Youth”(Elliot Norton Award Nominated) in Passing Strange (Moonbox Productions),
“Florizel” in Winter’s Tale (Actors’ Shakespeare Project), “Curly” in Oklahoma! (Act Two @ Levine). He also made his film debut this year as “Kevin” in the Hallmark Original movie A Very Vermont Christmas! He holds a BFA in Acting from Boston University’s School of Theatre. He also creates original music videos, that he stars in and choreographs, under the artist name I.V.A.N.! As always he would like to thank GOD, his family, and whomever may read this for being a part of his journey and supporting his dreams. Find him on Instagram: @cecil23_
RENIKA WILLIAMSBLUTCHER (Krystal) [she/ her] is very excited to be joining the cast of BUST in her Alliance Theatre debut! Select Regional Theatre credits include: Pipeline (Actors Theatre of Louisville & Indiana Repertory Theatre), A Raisin in the Sun (Cincinnati Shakespeare Co.), and The Bluest Eye (The Arden Theatre). Off-Broadway Credits: All The Natalie Portmans (MCC Theater) and The Climb (The Cherry Lane Theatre). TV/Film: “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” “New Amsterdam,” “P Valley,” & ”The Fabulous Four.” She earned her BFA in Acting from Wright State University in her hometown Dayton, OH. “To Cecil: My forever favorite role is being your wife.” All Glory to God.
ZORA HOWARD (Playwright) is a Harlembred writer and director. Plays include STEW (2021 Pulitzer Prize Finalist; P73 Productions), THE MASTER’S TOOLS (Wiener Festwochen; WTF), HANG TIME (The Flea), THE MOTIONS, and GOOD FAITH. Her work has been developed at Ojai Playwrights Conference, Stillwright, Mercury Store, and Cape Cod Theatre Project, among others. In 2020, her feature film Premature, which she co-wrote with director Rashaad Ernesto Green, opened in theaters following its world premiere at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. Zora is a Lilly Award and Helen Merrill Award recipient, a former MTC Judith Champion Fellow and Lark Van Lier New Voices Fellow and alumna of the P73 I-73 Writers Group. She is currently under commission from Seattle Rep and Chautauqua Theatre Company. zoramakes.com. For Julie Renee Butler, my mama; you are my Elsewhere.
LILEANA BLAIN-CRUZ (Director) is a director from New York City and Miami. Recent projects include: El Niño (Metropolitan Opera); The Skin of Our Teeth (Tony nomination), The Blood Quilt, Flex, and Pipeline (Lincoln Center Theater); Marys Seacole (Obie Award, LCT3); Stranger Love (LA Philharmonic); Create Dangerously (Miami New Drama); White Girl in Danger (Vineyard / Second Stage); The Listeners (Opera Norway / Opera Philadelphia); Dreaming Zenzile (NYTW / National Black Theatre); Wayne Shorter and esperanza spalding’s …(Iphigenia) (MASS MoCA / The Kennedy Center); Hansel and Gretel (a film for Houston Grand Opera); Anatomy of a Suicide (Atlantic Theater Company); Fefu and Her Friends (TFANA); War (LCT 3 / Yale Rep); Girls (Yale Rep); Faust (Opera Omaha); Fabulation (Signature Theatre); Thunderbodies and Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. (Soho Rep); The House That Will Not Stand and Red Speedo (New York Theatre Workshop); The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World (Obie Award, Signature Theater); Henry IV, Part One and Much Ado About Nothing (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); The Bluest Eye (The Guthrie). She is currently the resident director of Lincoln Center Theater and is the recipient of the Drama League’s 2022 Founders Award for Excellence in Directing, Lileana was named a 2021 Doris Duke Artist, a 2020 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist, and a 2018 United States Artists Fellow. Upcoming: Purple Rain.
MATT SAUNDERS (Scenic Design) [he/ him] is delighted to make his Alliance debut. Recent Off Broadway work: Walden (Second Stage), Jordans (Public), FLEX (Lincoln Center), Catch As Catch Can (Playwright’s Horizons), Daddy (New Group & Vineyard), Pipeline (Lincoln Center), Venus (Signature), Good Person of Szechwan (Foundry & Public), Thunderbodies (Soho Rep), Over 100 regional credits including: Guthrie, Mark Taper Forum, Berkeley Rep, Yale Rep, Huntington, Long Wharf, Woolly Mammoth, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Wilma Theater, and Kennedy Center. Saunders’ opera credits include: The Apollo, NY Philharmonic, LA Philharmonic, Spoleto, Opera Philadelphia, Glimmerglass. Internationally, Saunders’ has designed operas and plays in London, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Bruges, Barcelona, and Malmö. Saunders’ design
work has been featured at the Prague Quadrennial, and he has received a Barrymore Award (Philadelphia), Audelco Award for Excellence in Black Theater (NYC) as well as a Drama Desk Award for Best Set Design (NYC). Training: MFA, Yale School of Drama. Saunders is a Pew Fellow and a Hodder Fellow at Princeton Univeristy. Associate Professor of Design at Swarthmore College. mattsaundersdesign.net
DOMINIQUE FAWN HILL
(Costume Design) [she/her]’s designs include Broadway: Fat Ham (Tony Award nomination), Off-Broadway: Tambo & Bones (Playwrights Horizons-Lucille Lortel nomination), Fat Ham (Public Theatre-Obie Award), Where the Mountain Meets the Sea (Manhattan Theatre Club), Hang Time (The Flea), The Dark Girl Chronicles (The Shed), and 125th & FREEdom (National Black Theatre). Her regional theatre credits range from Derecho (The La Jolla Playhouse), Primary Trust (Alley Theatre), Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Choir Boy, and Rent (Portland Center Stage). Dominique is currently designing across the nation while being an adjunct lecturer at The University of California, Berkeley. You can find her work at DominiqueFHill.com
YI ZHAO (Lighting Design) creates story-driven lighting designs for the stage, often at the intersection of theater and music, and collaborates frequently with Lileana Blain-Cruz. He is pleased to make his Alliance debut with BUST BROADWAY: Purple Rain (upcoming), I Need That, The Skin of Our Teeth (Tony Award nomination). NEW YORK: Lincoln Center Theater; Signature Theatre; NYTW; Soho Rep; Manhattan Theatre Club. REGIONAL: Guthrie Theater, Yale Repertory Theatre; Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Shakespeare Theatre (DC); Mark Taper Forum; Dallas Theater Center; Wilma Theater; A.C.T.; Berkeley Rep; Shakespeare Theatre Company. OPERA: Metropolitan Opera; Norwegian National Opera; Chicago Lyric Opera; Opera Philadelphia; Opera Colorado; Detroit Opera; Opera Omaha. DANCE: Sasha Waltz & Guests (Germany); Ballet de Lorraine (France). He is a recipient of the 2016 Vilcek Foundation Prize for Creative Promise in Theatre. www.yi-zhao.com
JEREMY CHERNICK (Special Effects Design) has worked on over 50 Broadway productions. Highlights include Sweeney Todd, The Outsiders, Beetlejuice, and
Hadestown. Jeremy has worked with the Disney Theatrical Group creating effects for Hercules, Frozen, Aladdin, Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Tarzan. In London’s West End, Jeremy designed Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Let the Right One In. Jeremy’s work has been featured in prominent performing and visual arts institutions across the United States and the globe. BUST is his Alliance Theatre debut! Jeremy serves as head designer for J&M Special Effects in Brooklyn. www.jmfx.net / www.jeremychernickdesigns.com
MIKAAL SULAIMAN (Sound Design) is a Tony award-nominated multi-disciplinary artist working in film, TV, and theatre as a writer, director, sound designer, and composer. As a writer, he spent two seasons in the writer’s room for A24/ Amazon’s “#1 Happy Family USA” created by Ramy Youssef. His original project residencies include Ground Floor, Mercury Store, Space on Ryder Farm, and UCross Foundation. Notable sound design projects include Broadway productions of The Roommate, Enemy of the People, Doubt, Death of a Salesman, and The Thanksgiving Play, among others. Other acclaimed works he was the original Sound Designer include Primary Trust (Pulitzer Prize for Drama), Fairview (Pulitzer Prize for Drama), and Underground Railroad Game. Sulaiman has received numerous nominations, including Tony, Drama Desk, and Lucille Lortel Awards. He’s won Obie Awards, a Theatre Bay Area Award, Creative Capital Award, Henry Hewes Design Awards, an Audelco Award, and the CTG Sherwood Award. www.mikaal.com.
DJ REBORN (Sonic Dramaturg) is a trailblazing international DJ, sound collage artist, and arts educator. Born in Chicago and based in New York, Reborn’s diverse career spans decades of electrifying audiences across continents. This soughtafter phenom has opened shows for artists ranging from The Roots, Erykah Badu and John Legend, to Jack White. Her dynamic style has been embraced across mediums by artists like Kara Walker, Wangechi Mutu, Carrie Mae Weems, Julie Mehretu and Sanford Biggers. She has rocked the decks on BET, the NAACP Image Awards, prestigious stages and festivals including Carnegie Hall, The Sydney Opera House, Glastonbury, Camp Flog Gnaw, The Kennedy Center, and The Apollo. She is the resident DJ for the iconic Ms. Lauryn Hill’s world tour. Most recently, Reborn dazzled at the historic 2022 Academy Awards Governor’s Ball
alongside the incomparable DJ D Nice. Reborn is an active arts educator and mentor, partnering with Urban Word NYC, Sadie Nash Leadership Project, Lower Eastside Girls Club and more. She is also the founder of DJs for Justice, a coalition of DJs using their platforms in service of racial, social and economic justice. She is currently developing an international performance piece centered around archiving the stories of women in the DJ world. DJ Reborn’s uncanny ability to impact crowds from festivals to galas to weddings sets her apart in her field. Her love for music is palpable.
JULIAN DAVIS REID (Composer of Intermission Tracks) is a pianist and composer who lives in Chicago with his family. His ensemble, CIRCLE OF TRUST, blends jazz, gospel, and soul to foster joy, hope, resilience, contemplation protest, and faith in the world. The group comprises Tramaine Parker, Lenard Simpson, Micah Collier, and James Russell Sims, and was joined for this recording by Rev. Dr. Nick Peterson. Julian draws from the sonic worlds of Herbie Hancock, Richard Smallwood, Andraé Crouch, Ahmad Jamal, McCoy Tyner, Robert Glasper, and the Taize community. Outside of Circle, Julian creates with his other jazz group The JuJu Exchange and ministers through his musical-contemplative experience Notes of Rest. He has performed and/or recorded with Jennifer Hudson, Andrew Bird, Chance the Rapper, Tank and the Bangas, Jamila Woods, Keyon Harrold, and Isaiah Collier. Julian studied philosophy at Yale (B.A.) and theology and the arts at Candler School of Theology at Emory (M.Div.).
ROCIO MENDEZ (Fight Choreography) was recently nominated for two Drama Desk Awards and is the resident Intimacy Director at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Credits include: Broadway: POTUS, Ain’t No Mo, Merrily We Roll Along, The Great Gatsby Off-Broadway / Regional Theater: Gatsby (A.R.T), How To Defend Yourself, On Sugarland (NYTW), The Bandaged Place (Roundabout), The Harder They Come, Merry Wives, Romeo y Julieta (Public Theater), NIOR (The Alley Theater), Vietgone, The Royale (Geva Theater Center). www.rociomendez.com
MALKIA STAMPLEY (Associate Director) [she/her] Alliance debut. Select directing credits: Primary Trust (Goodman); Nina Simone: Four Women (Milwaukee Rep, Kansas City Rep); STEW (Milwaukee Chamber, Shattered Globe); No Such Thing
(Rivendell); Girls on Sand (Northern Sky); Five Guys Named Moe (Skylight Music); The October Storm (Raven); Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grille (Farmers Alley); Boulevard of Bold Dreams (TimeLine). She is Goodman Theatre’s BOLD Artistic Producer and a BOLD theater artist. Malkia co-founded Bronzeville Arts Ensemble in 2013 to address the lack of diversity in Wisconsin theater and served three years as Producing Artistic Director. Malkia co-founded the Milwaukee Black Theater Festival in 2020. Malkia is also an actor and voiceover artist. TV and film credits include “61st Street,” “Shameless,” “Work in Progress,” “The Chi,” “Chicago PD,” “Chicago Med.” Films include Native Son, Beats, Small Town Wisconsin, Killing Eleanor, Christmas on the Ranch. Find Malkia on social media @malkiastampley
shiku thuo (Stage Manager) is a stage Manager, actor and director hailing from Southern California, but taking residency in New York. Their most recent works include: Table 17 (MCC), Sunset Baby (Signature Theater), Fabulation or the RE-Education of Undine (Billie Holiday), The Whitney Album (Soho Rep), ‘Bov Water (Northern Stage), On that Day in Amsterdam (Primary Stages). A vivid daydreamer, lover of Kindle Unlimited, and really REALLY good food. They are excited to be making their debut at Alliance Theatre alongside this beautiful company. For Mama Bui, always, and for the liberation of all oppressed people.
XIAONAN (CHLOE) LIU (Assistant Stage Manager) [she/her] is the Stage Management Fellow at the Alliance Theatre, originally from China. She is so grateful to work in BUST with such a wonderful team! Chloe has worked on A Christmas Carol, The Chinese Lady, and Pearl Cleage’s Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard at the Alliance. She graduated from the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale where her credits include Next to Normal, Green Suga Bloos, The Cherry Orchard, The Alley, and Twelfth Night, as well as Choir Boy and Escaped Alone at Yale Rep. She holds a B.A. from Shanghai Theatre Academy. Her working experience in China included Shanghai Disney productions Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King; and the national tour of Man of La Mancha and The Sound of Music.
MARSHALL LEE SMITH, JR (Stage Management Production Assistant) was recently appointed the Atlanta Regional Representative for the Stage Manager’s
Association! Select Credits: A Christmas Carol (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), The Preacher’s Wife: World Premiere, Fat Ham, Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol, The Wondrous Realities of Jasmine StarrKidd (Alliance Theatre); Papa Didn’t Take No Mess: James Brown Musical, World Premiere; After Before: World Premiere (Cenotaph Productions); Cats, West Side Story (City Springs Theatre Company); The Color Purple, Cinderella (Aurora Theatre Company); Dreamgirls, Black Nativity (Dominion Entertainment Group). Marshall would like to thank God, his fiancee, family & friends for supporting the arts.
@PSM_Marshall | MarshallSmithSM.com
JODY FELDMAN (Casting) began her theater career as an actress in Atlanta before moving into administration as the Assistant General Manager at Frank Wittow’s Academy Theatre. It was at the Academy that Jody realized the importance of theatre to a city’s cultural values and identity. Feldman started her career at the Alliance as casting director in 1991 and added producer to her title and responsibilities in 2001. She has cast and produced more than 250 productions at the Alliance, encompassing a range of world premieres that include The Last Night of Ballyhoo by Alfred Uhry, Blues for An Alabama Sky by Pearl Cleage, The Geller Girls by Janece Shaffer, In the Red and Brown Water by Tarell Alvin McCraney, more than 20 years of Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition-winning plays, such world and regional premiere musicals as Aida; The Color Purple; Sister Act: The Musical; Bring It On: The Musical; Tuck Everlasting; Ghost Brothers of Darkland County; Harmony, A New Musical; The Prom; Trading Places, and, finally, exciting new plays developed specifically for children and families, which is integral to the expansion of audience and mission for the Alliance. Jody is most proud of the thriving Alliance community engagement and partnerships that recognize theatrical work as a catalyst for civic conversation and connection.
LAUREN PORT, CSA (Casting) has been the Casting Director at The Goodman Theatre since the fall of 2019. Broadway highlights: Junk; Meteor Shower; A Doll’s House Part 2; The Front Page; It’s Only a Play; Disgraced; Fish in the Dark; The Trip to Bountiful; Grace; Death of a Salesman; Seminar; Stick Fly; Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo; Lend Me a Tenor; and Fences. Television/
Film includes: New Amsterdam (NBC); American Odyssey (NBC); and Steel Magnolias (Sony for Lifetime). Lauren is a five-time Artios Award winner, a recipient of the 40th Annual Media Access Awards and a proud member of the Casting Society of America.
Established in 1925, GOODMAN THEATRE (Artistic Director Susan V. Booth, Executive Director John Collins, Board Chair Julie Danis) is Chicago’s largest not-for-profit theater distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and community engagement. Committed to the values of equity, diversity and inclusion, the Goodman makes inclusion the fabric of the organization through its artistic priorities — including new play development, large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics. The Goodman also serves as a production partner with local, national and international companies. Our nationally recognized Education and Engagement programs use the tools of our profession to inspire youth, lifelong learners and audiences to find and/or enhance their voices and stories. The Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement (est. 2016) is the home of such programming, most offered free of charge, and has vastly expanded the theater’s ability to serve our city (with 85% of youth participants from underserved communities). Works premiering at the Goodman have received two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and nearly 200 Jeff Awards.
TINASHE KAJESE-BOLDEN (Jennings Hertz Artistic Director) began her tenure at the Alliance in 2016 as the BOLD Associate Artistic Director, assuming her current role in 2023. Originally from Zimbabwe, Kajese-Bolden combines her commitment to great art, deep education and community empowerment with an agile enthusiasm and unflappable, calm energy to inspire new possibilities. Kajese-Bolden honed her directing and producing skills as a freelance director working in regional houses across the country and on set. As a director and actor, she fosters deep ongoing collaborations with playwrights and has mounted innovative and critically acclaimed productions that merge elegant, theatrical designs with complicated human stories. A Princess Grace Award 2019 Winner for Directing, and Map Fund Award recipient as a
director and actor, she has worked on and Off-Broadway as well as recurring roles in the Marvel universe “Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special,” Suicide Squad, “Hawkeye,” and CW’s “Valor,” “Dynasty,” HBO’s “Henrietta Lacks,” Ava Duverney’s “Cherish the Day,” among others. Up next, she is developing a new Opera, Forsythe is Flooding: The Joy of Lake Lanier, and proudly serves on the ARTS-ATL Artist Advisory Council. “My mission is the pursuit of what connects our different communities and how we create art that liberates us to imagine a more inclusive future.”
CHRISTOPHER MOSES (Jennings Hertz Artistic Director) has been working in professional theatre for twenty years and in 2022 was given the Governor’s Award for Arts in Humanities for his body of work. 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. Since taking over this position, Chris has expanded the reach and impact by making the Alliance Theatre Education department a vital resource for advancing the civic agenda of Atlanta. This work is accomplished through deep and sustained partnerships with social service organizations throughout the city. Under his leadership, the Alliance launched its Kathy & Ken Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young program, which provides fully interactive professional theater experiences for children of all abilities from ages newborn through five years old; the Alliance Teen Ensemble, which performs world premiere plays commissioned for and about teens; the Palefsky Collision Project, where teens produce a new work after colliding with a classic text; expanded the Alliance’s summer camp program to include over 3,000 children in multiple locations across Atlanta; 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. During his tenure in this position, the Alliance has produced over a dozen world premiere plays for young audiences, including Pancakes, Pancakes! by Ken Lin, The Dancing Granny by Jireh Breon Holder, Max Makes a Million by Liz Diamond,
and The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Madhuri Shekar. Currently, the Alliance serves over 100,000 students pre-k—12 each season, as well as over 4,000 adults through its extensive education offerings. In 2023, he was named Artistic Director of the Alliance Theatre.
MIKE SCHLEIFER (Managing Director)
joined the Alliance Theatre in 2014 as the General Manager and in 2016, assumed the role of Managing Director. During his time at the Alliance, Mike has led the administrative and producing team on over 100 productions including bringing Tuck Everlasting and The Prom to Broadway. He was one of the architects of the “On the Road” season while a multi-million dollar renovation of the Coca-Cola Stage was underway. Mike is excited to have started the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee at the Alliance and to serve on the board of the League of Resident Theatres and True Colors Theatre Company. Prior to Atlanta, he spent 13 years at Baltimore’s Center Stage working in several roles including Associate Producer, Production Manager and Resident Stage
Manager. While in Baltimore, Mike was an adjunct faculty member at Towson University and has guest-lectured all over the country. Mike began as a Stage Manager and has dozens of stage management credits between his time in New York and working regionally. Mike is married to theater director and educator Laura Hackman and the proud father of two boys, Jack and Ben.
ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA)
Founded in 1913, AEA is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional Actors and Stage Managers. Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. www.actorsequity.org
At Dad’s Garage, we teach improv classes, and one of the biggest misconceptions is that we’re teaching people to be funny. We’re not. We’re teaching people to be true. In everyday life, random thoughts pop into your head, but before they can escape, they pass through a maze of filters: Is this appropriate for work? Offensive? Will it make people like me more — or less? By the time a thought makes it out, it’s been sanitized, trimmed, and packaged to meet some unspoken standard.
The problem? We judge ourselves by this filtered version of our thoughts — not the raw, original ones. So, when someone walks into class and says, “I’m not funny” or “I’m not creative,” I always think: How do you know? More importantly, how don’t you know?
The fear is real. What if your unfiltered thought is bad? But after two decades of improv, I can tell you: Nine times out of ten, it’s not. That first thought — the raw, unpolished one — is often the most creative, insightful, and, yes, funny version of you.
Yelling and screaming are some of the most basic human expressions (trust me, I have a two-year-old to prove it). And yet, as adults, we resist letting go. We bottle up our screams, shove down our anger, and carry around a quiet rage we don’t even realize we’re holding. But when we finally let it out — when we scream, yell, and truly tap into those feelings, we find something incredible: Power. An ability that they’ve had this whole time. But it wasn’t until they were in a situation that forced them to remove the filter that they could finally see it.
This is a play about Black people and for Black people, but I hope you can also see the universal message for us all. It makes me wonder — what are you truly capable of?
Jon Carr Executive Producer Dad’s Garage Theatre
Retta and Reggie are enjoying their usual evening on the porch when a longtime neighbor is pulled over by the police just before turning into his driveway. Everything goes as expected — until the unexpected happens. Humor, spectacle, and surrealism converge in this gripping interrogation of what it costs to be Black and free.
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Commit to 20 hours of ushering at the Alliance and receive:
• Alliance Theatre swag!
• 15% off current ticket prices for all Alliance Theatre productions
• 20% off Alliance Theatre Acting Classes
• ONE complimentary ticket for ANY production in the current season
Ever wanted to be a part of the Alliance team? Here’s your chance! Join our volunteer ushers! Visit alliancetheatre.org/usher for details.
Alliance Theatre Sets Wonder Free.
And what delights during performances ignites a brighter future. You can invest in better tomorrows by supporting access for youth to experience world-class theatre on a stage that’s all their own. Now is the time.
Introducing The Goizueta Stage For Youth And Families,
a transformative new space designed to inspire young audiences year-round. Research shows that early access to live theater can significantly combat critical issues like low literacy rates and the urgent youth mental health crisis. To fulfill this promise, the Alliance Theatre is launching a $10 million Imagine Endowment to expand our capacity to serve more young people and sustain these enriching experiences in perpetuity. With this endowment, the Goizueta Stage will be a beacon of accessibility, welcoming children from all backgrounds and removing economic, geographic, and physical barriers to ensure that every child can engage with the magic of theatre for generations to come.
Support The Imagine Endowment
For more information about the Alliance’s Imagine Campaign or to make an endowment contribution, please contact: Trent Anderson, Director of Development trent.anderson@alliancetheatre.org (404) 733-4710
Scan here to learn more, contribute, or view our full donor listing alliancetheatre.org/imagine
Thank You To Our Leadership Donors
Kenny Blank, Campaign Chair
Ms. Kristin Adams
James Anderson
Liz Armstrong
Ms. Evelyn Ashley & Mr. Alan B. McKeon
The Bailey Family
Alba C. Baylin
Ken Bernhardt
Lisa Bigazzi Tilt
Brian & Jennifer Boutté
Roxanne & Jeffrey Cashdan
LeighAnn & Chad Costley
Ann & Jeff Cramer
The Dozen Dimes Foundation
Dean DuBose & Bronson Smith
The Robert S. Elster Foundation
Katie & Reade Fahs
Ellen & Howard Feinsand
Jennifer & Quill Healey II
The Hertz Family Foundation, Inc.
Jocelyn J. Hunter
Tad & Janin Hutcheson
West and Katie Johnson
Jane Jordan Casavant
John Keller
Jesse Killings
Phil & Caroline Moïse
Starr Moore & James Starr Moore
Memorial Foundation
The Naserian Foundation
Allison & Shane O’Kelly
Cindy & Gary Reedy
Patty & Doug Reid
Bob & Margaret Reiser
Jane E. Shivers
The SKK Foundation
Rosemarie & David Thurston
Ramona & Ben White
Suzy Wilner
Amy & Todd Zeldin
Anonymous
ListingiscurrentasofJanuary15,2025. PleasescantheQRcodeforafulllistofour generouscampaigndonors.
ABOUT THE ALLIANCE THEATRE
Founded in 1968, the Alliance Theatre is the leading producing theatre in the Southeast, reaching more than 165,000 patrons annually. The Alliance is led by Jennings Hertz Artistic Directors Tinashe Kajese-Bolden and Christopher Moses, and Managing Director Mike Schleifer. The Alliance is a recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award® for sustained excellence in programming, education, and community engagement. In January 2019, the Alliance opened its new, stateof-the-art performance space, The Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre. Known for its high artistic standards and national role in creating significant theatrical works, the Alliance has premiered more than 135 productions including eleven that have transferred to Broadway. The Alliance education department reaches 90,000 students annually through performances, classes, camps, and in-school initiatives designed to support teachers and enhance student learning. The Alliance Theatre values community, curiosity, collaboration, and excellence, and is dedicated to representing Atlanta’s diverse community with the stories we tell, the artists, staff, and leadership we employ, and audiences we serve.
OUR MISSION
To expand hearts and minds onstage and off.
OUR VISION
Making Atlanta more connected, curious, and compassionate through theatre and arts education.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
In the sincerest efforts to gain further understanding of the history that has brought us to reside on this land and to accept the knowledge that colonialism is a current and ongoing process under which we need to build our mindfulness of our present participation, we hereby acknowledge this native land of the Muscogee Creek Nation.
OFFICERS
Chair
E. Kendrick Smith
Vice Chair
Allison O’Kelly
Treasurer
Glenn Weiss
Secretary
Jennifer Boutté
Immediate Past Chair
Jocelyn Hunter
Ex-Officio
Hala Moddelmog
LIFETIME
DIRECTORS
Rita Anderson
Ken Bernhardt
Frank Chew
Ann Cramer
Linda Davidson
Laura Hardman
Hays Mershon
Richard S. Myrick
Helen Smith Price
Bob Reiser
Jane Shivers
H. Bronson Smith
Ben White
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kristin Adams
Norman Adkins
Kimberly Ajy
James Anderson
Farideh Azadi
Marc Balizer
Deisha Barnett
Alba Baylin
Maggie Blake Bailey
Bridget Blake
Kenny Blank
Terri Bonoff
Jennifer Boutté
Traci Bransford
Kristen Burke
Jeff Cashdan
Madeline Chadwick
Bruce Cohen
Miles Cook
LeighAnn Costley
Joe Crowley
Kelly Estrella
Katie Fahs
Reade Fahs
Howard Feinsand
Rick Gestring
Richard Goerss
Claire Gotham
Lila Hertz
Jocelyn Hunter
Malvika Jhangiani
Alexander Johnson
Jane Jordan Casavant
Anne Kaiser
John Keller
Matthew Kent
Andjela Kessler
Jim Kilberg
Jesse Killings
Carrie Kurlander
Allegra Lawrence-Hardy
Jean Ann McCarthy
Alan McKeon
Dori Miller
Jeffrey Miller
Hala Moddelmog
Phil Moïse
Allison O’Kelly
Victoria Palefsky
Jackie Parker
Paul Pendergrass
Anne Rambaud Herren
Stephanie Ray
Patty Reid
Margaret Reiser
Matthew Richburg
Robyn Roberts
Maurice Rosenbaum
Steve Selig
Kim Sewell
Mital Shah
Bill Sleeper
E. Kendrick Smith
Chandra Stephens-Albright
Charlita Stephens
Mark Swinton
Julie Teer
Lisa Bigazzi Tilt
Richard Valladares
Benny Varzi
Rebekah Wasserman
Glenn Weiss
Cristel Williams
Wai Wong
Todd Zeldin
boardofdirectors
ADVISORY BOARD
Advisory Board Co-Chair
Laura Hardman
Advisory Board Co-Chair
Phil H. Moïse
Luis Andino
Andrew Barrow
Chris Brodnan
Johanna (Toni) Brookner
Maranie Brown
Carol Caines
La’Keitha Carlos
Mamie Dayan-Vogel
Candice Dixon
Malaika Dowdell
Brandon Fleming
Les Flynn
Allen Fox
Natalia Garzón Martínez
Lydia Glaize
Emmanuel Glaze
Caroline Gold
Meghan Gordon
Tevin Goss
Jeff Graham
Aulona Graham-Simms
Dr. Eve Graves, Ph.D.
Erica Greenblatt
Della Guidry
Dr. Lindsey Hardegree
Campbell Hastings
Mallika Kallingal
Jodi Kalson
Dr. Laura Kelly
January LaVoy
Jennifer Lee
JoJasmin “Jo” Lopez
Carlton Mackey
Nelly Mauta
Tre’Von McKay
Robbie Medwed
Juan Mejia
Aprille Moore
Jane Morgan
Zach Nikonovich Kahn
Amy Norton King
Susan Sim Oh
Kathy Palumbo
Kisan Patel
Pedro Pavón
Marion Phillips
Daniel Regenstein
Michelle Robinson
Daniella Sandino
Wendy Schmitt
Dr. Shenara Sexton
Sarah Anne Smith
Alicia Thompson
Ana Urrego
Christopher Walker
Emily Washburn
Melinda Weekes-Laidlow
Angie Weiss
Joni Williams
ALLIANCE SPONSORS
Alliance Sponsors are businesses, corporations, and institutions that have supported the work of the Alliance Theatre. We thank them for their generosity and support.
$500,000+
Chick-fil-A Foundation | Rhonda & Dan Cathy
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Lettie Pate Evans Foundation
Robert W. Woodruff Foundation
$250,000+ Anonymous
The Coca-Cola Company
Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
Shubert Foundation
WestRock
$100,000+ Accenture
Chestnut Foundation
Helen Gurley Brown Foundation
Georgia Power
The Home Depot Foundation
Invesco QQQ
John H. and Wilhelmina D. Harland Charitable Fund
King & Spalding
Norfolk Southern
PNC
The Rich’s Foundation
Truist
Warner Bros. Discovery
Zeist Foundation
$50,000+
AT&T Foundation
Bank of America
Cadence Bank
City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs
Edgerton Foundation
Georgia Council for the Arts
Georgia Natural Gas
Jones Day
Kendeda Fund
Liz Blake Giving Fund
Molly Blank Fund of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts
National Vision
Wellstar Foundation
$25,000+
Anthem
Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition, powered by AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Comcast
Fulton County Board of Commissioners
Graphic Packaging
The Imlay Foundation, Inc.
Johnny Mercer Foundation
Kaiser Permanente
Northside Hospital
Peach State Health Plan
Southwire
$10,000+
AEC Trust
Alexander Babbage
Alston & Bird
Thalia & Michael C. Carlos Foundation
Do a Good Day Foundation
Eversheds Sutherland
George M. Brown Trust of Atlanta
Georgia-Pacific
John & Mary Franklin Foundation
SCANA Energy
South Arts
The Harold & Mimi
Steinberg Charitable Trust
$5,000+
American Institutes for Research
Anonymous
Frances Wood Wilson Foundation
Osiason Educational Foundation
Perkins&Will
Publix Super Market Charities
By attending our theater, you have made a powerful statement about how important the arts are to you. Make another statement of support louder than any standing ovation. Visit alliancetheatre.org and click on Donate.
Individual, foundation, and corporate donors contribute more than $10 million to the Alliance Theatre so that we are able to present exceptional theater and educational programming to our community. We are deeply grateful for your support. To find out more about the benefits of giving or to make your gift, visit us at alliancetheatre.org/waystogive or call 404-733-5157.
Listed below are pledges and gifts to the Alliance Theatre Annual Fund.
PREMIERE SUPPORT
Spotlight $100,000+
Mr. James E. Gay*
Dan & Garnet Reardon
The SKK Foundation
Artistic Director’s Circle
$50,000+
Starr Moore & the James Starr Moore Memorial Foundation
Chairman’s Circle
$25,000+
The Antinori Foundation Around the Table Foundation
Ms. Stephanie Blank
Ann & Jeff Cramer
Heidi & David Geller
David & Carolyn Gould
Jocelyn J. Hunter
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Ivester
Jesse Killings
Daniel Marks & Keri Powell
Rosemarie & David Thurston
Leadership Circle
$15,000+
Ali and Farideh Azadi
Maggie Blake Bailey & Andrew Bailey
Brian & Jennifer Boutté
Jane Jordan Casavant
Roxanne & Jeffrey Cashdan
Barbara & Steve Chaddick
Katie & Reade Fahs
Ellen & Howard Feinsand
Doris & Matthew Geller
Anne & Scott Herren
Mr. Matthew D. Kent & Mr.
Joseph C. Miller
Jane & J. Hicks Lanier
Kristie L. Madara
Barry & Jean Ann McCarthy
Phil & Caroline Moïse
Allison & Shane O’Kelly
Victoria & Howard Palefsky
Patty & Doug Reid
Bob & Margaret Reiser
Patricia & Maurice Rosenbaum
Linda & Steve Selig
Ms. Mital Shah
William & Margarita Sleeper
Dean DuBose & Bronson
Smith
Dr. & Mrs. Dennis Lee
Spangler
Mark Swinton
Tim & Maria Tassopoulos
Richard & Melissa Valladares
Benny & Roxanne Varzi
Mr. & Mrs. Art Waldrop
Ramona & Ben White
Amy & Todd Zeldin
Director’s Circle
$10,000+
Ms. Kristin Adams
Mr. & Mrs. Norman Adkins
Mr. & Mrs. George Ajy
James Anderson
Deborah L. Bannworth & Joy Lynn Fields
Deisha Barnett
Alba C. Baylin
Brian & Bridget Blake
Terri Bonoff & Matthew Knopf
Judge JoAnn Bowens
Martha & Toby Brooks
Mr. Adam Burke & Mrs. Kristen Wood Burke
Madeline Chadwick
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas C. Chubb III
Mr. Bruce R. Cohen
Ezra Cohen Charitable Fund
Miles & Nicole Cook
LeighAnn & Chad Costley
Joe Crowley & Phil Mack
Rick Gestring
Marsha & Richard Goerss
Claire Gotham
Timothy Hardy & Allegra Lawrence-Hardy
Doug & Lila Hertz
Malvika Jhangiani
Anne & Mark Kaiser
John C. Keller
Mr. James Kieffer
James & Lori Kilberg
Brian & Carrie Kurlander
Ms. Evelyn Ashley & Mr. Alan B. McKeon
Dori & Jack Miller
Jeffrey Miller
Paul Pendergrass & Margaret Baldwin
Diane & Mark Perlberg
Wade Rakes & Nicholas Miller
Matt Richburg
Robyn Roberts & Kevin Greiner
Mr. George Russell, Jr. & Mrs. Faye Sampson-Russell
Mr. & Mrs. E. Kendrick Smith
Lynne & Steve Steindel
Lisa Tilt
Carol & Ramon Tomé Family Fund
Waffle House
Ms. Kathy Waller & Mr. Kenny Goggins
Mark & Rebekah Wasserman
Ms. Cathy Weil
Suzy Wilner
R. Wai Wong
BENEFACTORS
$5,000+
Anonymous
Mr. & Mrs. Hugh S. Asher
Mr. & Mrs. Marc Balizer
Lisa & Joe* Bankoff
Mr. & Mrs. Roland L. Bates
Ken Bernhardt & Cynthia Currence
Natalie & Matthew Bernstein
Traci Bransford
Franklin & Dorothy Chandler
Ann & Jim Curry
Diane Durgin
Kathy & Jason Evans
Dr. Cynthia J. Fordyce & Sharon Hulette
Dr. & Mrs. Marvin Goldstein
Janin & Tad Hutcheson
Jason & Laurie Jeffay
Mr. Charles R. Kowal
Dr. & Mrs. John Lee
Burrelle Meeks
Alan & Cyndy* Schreihofer
Charlita Stephens & Delores
Stephens
Susan & Alan* Stiefel
Russ & Cam Still
Maria-Ruth Storts
Chuck Taylor & Lisa CannonTaylor
Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Weiss
Bryan & Carrie Williams
$2,500+
Anonymous (2)
Dr. & Mrs. Raymond Allen
Mr. Andrew Benator
Ms. Raluca Bighiu
Ron & Lisa Brill Charitable Trust
Mr. & Mrs. W. Kent Canipe
Candace Carson
Melodie H. Clayton
Rita & Ralph* Connell
Linda & Gene* Davidson
Marcia & John Donnell
The Robert S. Elster Foundation
Mrs. Anuja Gagoomal & Dr. John Stites
Karen & Andrew Ghertner
Mr. David F. Golden
Shauna Grovell
Jeff Hancoc
Dr. & Mrs. John B. Hardman
Ariana Hargrave
Henry & Etta Raye Hirsch
Heritage Foundation
Monique & Justin Honaman
Linda & Richard Hubert
Mr. & Mrs. Wyatt T. Johnson
Lloyd & Mary* McCreary
Hala & Steve Moddelmog
Clair & Thomas Muller
Joan Netzel & John Gronwall
Sam & Barbara Pettway
Don & Rosalinda Ratajczak
Ms. Kristin L. Ray
Dana Rice
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Rosenberg
Jane & Rein Saral
Ms. Donna Schwartz
Kashi Sehgal
Mr. & Mrs. S. Albert Sherrod
Mr. David C. Shih
Brian Shively & Jim Jinhong
Henry N. & Margaret P. Staats
Chandra Stephens-Albright & Warren Albright
Julie Teer
Kathy Gillespie Tomajko
Dana Weeks Ugwonali & Obi Ugwonali
Kim Boldthen & Carolyn Wheeler
Ms. Karen E. Willenken
The Zaban Foundation
$1,500+
Anonymous
Judge Gregory A. Adams & Wanda C. Adams
Mr. E. Scott Arnold
Ellen Arnovitz
Ms. Johanna Brookner
Aubrey & Carol Bush
Susan & Edward Croft
Eve Joy Eckardt
Mr. Fredric M. Ehlers & Mr.
David Lile
Tim & Tina Eyerly
Marie and Brad Foster
Sandeep Goyal & Taylor
England
Della & Theo Guidry
Warren M. Gump
Louise S. Gunn
Mrs. Elaine L. Hentschel
Mr. & Mrs. J. Michael
Hostinsky
Ashley & Elton James
Alexander Johnson & Susan Somersille Johnson
Boland & Andrea Lea Jones
Mark Keiser
Andjela & Michael Kessler
David Long & Starane
Shepherd
Ms. Addie P. Mathes & Mr. Richard Knittel
Greg & Gillian Matteson
Burt & Ruth Mirsky
Fabienne Moore
Dennis & Debra Murphy
Denis Ng & Mary Jane Panzeri
John & Helen Parker
Mr. & Mrs. Armond Perkins
Peg Petersen
Dr. Denise Raynor
Daniel Regenstein
Dr. & Mrs. Fredric Rosenberg
Ms. Tiffany Rosetti
Mr. & Mrs.* Charles B. Shelton III
Ms. Amy Speas
Dr. & Mrs. Harry Strothers
Judith & Mark Taylor
Valerie & Anthony Thomas
Stan & Velma Tilley
Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Vazquez
Ms. Avril Vignos
Mamie Dayan-Vogel & Steven Vogel
John T. & Patricia Walsh
Gail Crowder & Claude Wegscheider
Adrienne Whitehead
William & Nancy Yang
Noam Zelman & Susan Hirsch
PATRONS
$1,000+
Anonymous (2)
Mr. George T. Baker
Dr.* & Mrs. S. Wright Caughman
David Cofrin & Christine Tryba-Cofrin
Richard & Grecia Cox
Celeste Davis-Lane
Drs. Bryan & Norma
Edwards
Howard & Ellen Eisenberg
Dr. Marla Franks & Rev. Susan Zoller
Drs. Cathie & Hugh Hudson
Veronica Kessenich
Ivory D. Kimbrough
Amy & Jeremy King
Christina Kramer
Judith Lyon & Ron Bloom
Anna & Hays Mershon
Debbie & Lon Neese
Deborah W. Royer
Mike Schleifer & Laura Hackman
Jane E. Shivers
Mr. and Mrs. Alex Taylor
Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth G. Taylor
Lynne Winship
Mr. and Mrs. Brent Yamaato
ALLIANCE THEATRE MONTHLY SUSTAINER SOCIETY
We would like to thank our donors who have committed to giving us a recurring monthly donation to the Alliance Theatre Annual Fund. Join today: www.alliancetheatre.org/sustainer
Dr. & Mrs. Marshall Abes
Mr. Faraz Ahmed
Mr. E. Scott Arnold
Dr. Evelyn Babey
Christine Brodnan
Maranie Brown
Dr. Deloris Bryant-Booker
Dean Jordan & Lee Burson
Karen & Harold Carney
Mr. Quentin David Cashman
Elizabeth Corrie
Christopher Cox & Draco Bohannon
Gray & Marge Crouse
Nash Ditmetaroj
Malaika Dowdell
Les Flynn
Christine & Andrew Fry
Emmanuel Glaze
Caroline Gold
Erica Greenblatt
Bryant Gresham & Alexander Bossert
Ms. Jo Ann Haden-Miller & Mr. William Miller
Lindsey E. Hardegree
Ms. Linda Hare & Mr.
Gerald Barth
Becca Hogue
Steven & Kimberly Hoovestol
Karen Jones
Kelley J. Jordan-Monné
Amy & Jeremy King
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Kraft
Dr. Andrea W. Lawrence
January LaVoy
Joyce Lewis
Ms. Lauren Linder & Mr. Jonathan Grunberg
Christian & JoJasmin Lopez
Stephen Lynch
Alison Main
Heather & Jim Michael
Tracy Moore
Lori & Jonathan Peterson
Ms. Kendrick Phillips
Marion Phillips
Marc & Jean Pickard
Deborah G. Robinson
Mr. Howard Rowe
Barbara Schreiber
Tom Slovak & Jeffery Jones
Sarah Anne Smith
Charles Thompson
Ms. Stephanie Van Parys & Mr. Robert A. Cleveland
Ben Warshaw
Caitlin Way
Mr. & Mrs. Napoleon A. Williams
THE WOODRUFF CIRCLE
We are grateful to our dedicated Annual Fund donors for ensuring that everyone in Atlanta can experience the power of the arts. Their gifts support the arts and education work of the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and High Museum of Art.
$1,000,000+
A Friend of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
$500,000 - $999,999
A Friend of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Anonymous
$250,000 - $499,999
Accenture
Art Bridges Foundation
Farideh and Al Azadi Foundation
Mr. Joseph H. Boland, Jr.
Thalia and Michael C. Carlos
Advised Fund
Chick-fil-A Foundation |
Rhonda and Dan Cathy
Sheila Lee Davies and Jon Davies
$100,000 - $249,999
1180 Peachtree
A Friend of the High Museum of Art
Alston and Bird
AT&T Foundation
Atlantic Station
Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Helen Gurley Brown Foundation
Cadence Bank Foundation
City of Atlanta Mayor’s
Office of Cultural Affairs
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
Cousins Foundation
Forward Arts Foundation
Art Bridges
Emerald Gate Charitable Trust
Georgia Power Foundation
Sara Giles Moore Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation
The Halle Foundation
Invesco QQQ
Sarah and Jim Kennedy
Ms. Anne H. Morgan and Mr. James F. Kelley
Norfolk Southern Foundation
Novelis, Inc.
The Rich’s Foundation
The Shubert Foundation
Alfred A Thornton Venable Trust
Truist Trusteed Foundations: The Greene-Sawtell Foundation, Guy Woolford Charitable Trust, and Walter H. and Majory M. Rich Memorial Fund
UPS
Smurfit Westrock
Barney M. Franklin and Hugh W. Burke Charitable Fund
Fulton County Board of Commissioners
Dick and Anne Game
Georgia Council for the Arts
Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
Georgia-Pacific
Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
John H. and Wilhelmina D. Harland
Charitable Foundation
The Hertz Family Foundation, Inc.
Karen and Jeb Hughes
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Abraham J. & Phyllis Katz Foundation
King and Spalding, Partners & Employees
KPMG LLP, Partners & Employees
Charles Loridans Foundation, Inc
The Marcus Foundation, Inc.
Northside Hospital
PNC
Patty and Doug Reid
Southern Company Gas
Carol and Ramon Tomé Family Fund
Warner Bros. Discovery
Kelly and Rod Westmoreland
wish Foundation
The Woodruff Arts Center’s unprecedented $67 million capital campaign will bring new life to our campus, expand access to our proven educational programming, and secure our place as Atlanta’s center for the arts. Scan the QR code to learn more about Experience Atlanta, Experience Woodruff.
$1,000,000+
Anonymous Delta Air Lines
James M. Cox Foundation
Norfolk Southern Foundation
Patricia and Douglas Reid* PNC
Robert W. Woodruff Foundation
The Goizueta Foundation
$500,000 - $999,999
Acuity Brands Anonymous
The Hertz Family Foundation, Inc.*
The Home Depot Foundation
The Imlay Foundation
Georgia Power Foundation J. Bulow Campbell Foundation
$250,000 - $499,999
Abraham J. & Phyllis Katz Foundation
Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Chick-fil-A Foundation | Rhonda & Dan Cathy Fraser-Parker Foundation
$100,000 - $249,999
A friend of the Woodruff Arts Center
Ann & Jeff Cramer* Courts Foundation
Emerald Gate Charitable Trust
$10,000 - $99,999
Alfredo Martin
Annie Adams
Barry & Jean Ann McCarthy*
Candace Steele Flippin
Chuck and Kathie Palmer
Cousins Properties
D. Richard Williams & Janet Lavine
Dave Stockert & Cammie Ives
David, Helen, and Marian Woodward Fund
Edelman Public Relations
Worldwide
Galen & Lynn Oelkers
John H. and Wilhelmina D. Harland Foundation
Joia Johnson
Kathy Waller & Kenny Goggins*
Phil and Jenny Jacobs
Robert & Margaret Reiser*
The Marcus Foundation
The Tomé Foundation
The Zeist Foundation
Stephanie Blank*
The Hearst Foundations, Inc.
The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation, Inc.
Kelin Foundation
The Fay S. & W. Barrett Howell Family Foundation
Thomas & Aimee Chubb
Truist Charitable Fund
H. Ross & Claire Arnold
Hala & Steve Moddelmog*
John F. McMullan
John Scott
Kavita & Ashish Mistry
Kenneth Neighbors & Valdoreas May
Kent & Talena Moegerle
KPMG
Janine Brown & Alex Simmons
John & Ellen Yates
John F. McMullan
John Scott
Julia Houston
Lauren & Andrew Schlossberg
Mark & Jennifer Pighini
Michael & Mindy Egan
Patrick & Susan Viguerie
Patrick Gunning & Elizabeth Pelypenko
Philip Harrison & Susan Stainback
Rand & Seth Hagen
Richard & Wimberly McPhail
Robin & Hilton Howell
Rockdale Foundation
Sally Westmoreland
Experience Atlanta, Experience Woodruff is supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts through appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly and support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Sara Giles Moore Foundation
Southface Energy Institute
Terrance Hahn
The Dennis Lockhart and Mary Rose Taylor
Memorial Fund
The Mark & Evelyn Trammell Foundation
Tony Conway, Legendary Events
Tull Charitable Foundation
Vasser Woolley Foundation
Vicki Escarra
Warren Culpepper
*Denotes additional support for the Alliance Theatre’s Imagine Campaign
| matchinggifts&legacysociety
MATCHING GIFT COMPANIES
Many companies offer a matching gifts program for employees and retirees. You can double, or even triple, your gift at no additional cost to you simply by asking your employer! Think of how much further your donation can go.
We would like to thank the following companies who have matched contributions to the Alliance Theatre Annual Fund. To find out more about matching gifts, contact Emma Seif at emma.seif@alliancetheatre.org.
AIG Corporation
American Express
Aon Risk Solutions
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
AT&T
Bank of America/Merrill
BlackRock
Bryan Cave-Powell
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Chubb Charitable Foundation
The Coca-Cola Company
Deloitte
Equifax Inc. Foundation
John and Mary Franklin Foundation
LEGACY SOCIETY
GE Energy
Georgia Power
Goldman Sachs Matching Gift
Goldstein
Google Hearst Foundations
Home Depot Foundation
Honda Motor Co.
IAC, Inc
IBM
JPMorgan Chase
Kimberly-Clark
Lynch
MacArthur Foundation
Macy’s Foundation
McDonald’s Corporation
McMaster-Carr Supply
Microsoft Corporation
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Principal Financial Group Foundation
Prudential Financial
Publix Super Markets
Salesforce.com, Inc.
Sprint
Truist
Thrivent Financial for Lutherns
Veritiv Corporation
Verizon Corporation
The Walt Disney Company
Wells Fargo
Yahoo!
Celebrating our supporters who have made a legacy gift to the Alliance Theatre.
The Legacy Society celebrates individuals who have made a planned gift to the Alliance Theatre. Making a planned gift is a wonderful way to show your support and appreciation for the Alliance Theatre and its mission, while accommodating your financial, estate planning and philanthropic goals. With smart planning, you may increase the size of your estate and/or reduce the tax burden on your heirs. Just as important, you will know that you have made a meaningful and lasting contribution to the Alliance Theatre.
To learn more about the Legacy Society, please contact Lindsay Ridgeway-Baierl at lindsay.ridgeway-baierl@alliancetheatre.org.
Anonymous
Rita M. Anderson
Roland & Linda Bates
Kathy* & Ken Bernhardt
Anne & Jim Breedlove
Ezra Cohen
Ann & Jeff Cramer
Susan & Edward Croft
Sallie Adams Daniel
Linda & Gene Davidson
Terry & Stacy Dietzler
Diane Durgin
Elizabeth Etoll
Ellen & Howard Feinsand
Dorie Gallagher
James Edward Gay*
Laura & John Hardman
Nancy & Glen Hesler
P.J. Younglove Hovey
David A. Howell*
Lauren & David Kiefer
David Kuniansky
Virginia Vann* & Ken Large
Edith Love*
Lauren & John McColskey
Anna & Hays Mershon
Caroline & Phil Moïse
Winifred & Richard Myrick
Victoria & Howard Palefsky
Armond & Sharon Perkins
Jam Pomerantz
Helen M. Regenstein*
Margaret & Robert Reiser
Betty Blondeau-Russell*
Tricia & Neal Schachtel
Debbie* & Charles Shelton III
Jane E. Shivers
Roger Smith & Christopher Jones*
Ron* & Kathy Tomajko
Lee Harper & Wayne Vason
Terri & Rick Western
Ramona & Ben White
* deceased
ARTISTIC
Jennings Hertz Artistic Directors Tinashe Kajese-Bolden, Christopher Moses
Producer & Casting Director
Producing & Casting Assistant
Distinguished Artist in Residence
BOLD Associate Artistic Director
Director of New Work
BOLD Producing Associate
Director of Community Engagement, Partnership, & IDEA
Jody Feldman
Brant Adams
Pearl Cleage
Marie Cisco
Amanda Watkins
Abrianna Belvedere
Daviorr Snipes
Spelman Leadership Fellows Jayla Dyas, Kerrington Griffin
Spelman Leadership Interns Zara Thornton, SaRee Grimes, K’lah Morgan
Reiser Lab Artists Round 10 Emma Yarbrough, Cait Greenamyre, Melissa Word, Dalyla Nicole, Amanda Washington, Vynnie Meli, Jimmica Collins, and Cedwan Hooks
Production Management
Director of Production
Lawrence Bennett
Associate Directors of Production Courtney O’Neill, Haylee Scott
Costume and Wardrobe Director
Costumes
Associate Costume Shop & Wardrobe Director
Design Assistant
Drapers
Laury Conley
Melanie Green
Summer Barnes
Tonja Petersen, Cindy Lou Who
Crafts Master Diana L. Thomas
1st Hands/Stitchers
Wardrobe Supervisor
Wardrobe
Wig Master
Director of Lighting & Projections
Brett Parker, Tae Lingle, Fae Riemann-Royer
Hauzia Conyers
Monica Speaker
Lindsey Ewing
Electrics
Associate Director of Lighting & Projection
Rachael N. Blackwell
Steve Jordan
Staff Electricians Joy Diaz, Rochelle Riley, Neil Anderson
Properties
Props Department Director
Suzanne Cooper Morris
Props Artisans Parker Ossmann, Bruce Butkovich
Props Artisan/Buyer
Technical Director
Associate Technical Director
Shop Supervisor
Lead Welder
Carpenters
Scenery
Teaching Artists
Abigail Bowers, Abigail Kincheloe, Addison Peacock, Alexandria Walker, Allison Gardner, Andi Stanesic, Andrea Washington, Angel Fabian Rivera, Ann Marie Meeker, Anna McCarthy, Anna Oakley, April Andrew Carswell, Aria Armstead, Audrey Myers, Autumn Stephens, Avery Sharpe, Barry Mann, Brad Raymond, Brandon L. Smith, Brantley Waller, Brie Wolfe, Brittani Minnieweather, Brittany Loffert, Caitlin Slotnick, Caleb Vaughn, Calyria Jyvonne Reynolds, Cara Mantella, Caroline Donica, Casey Navarro, Chanel Davis, Chase Anderson, Chelcy Cutwright, Chelsea Brown, Cece Campbell, Chloe Lomax, Christopher Nastasi, Clayton Landey, Coriana Raynor, Courtney Moors-Hornick, Da’Quan Cooney, Cody Benfield, Dan Triandiflou, Daniel Caffrey, Daniela Santiago, Danielle Montgomery, Davia Weatherill, David DeVries, David Kote, Deja Holmes, Dru Sky Berrian, E Haeberlin, Ebony Golden, Ebony Tucker, Elaina Walton, Ethan Davis, Eugene Russell, Gloria Martin, Hananya Allen, Hannah Chatham, Hannah Church, Harriet Bass, Hayden Weiss, Hollie Rivers, Imani Quinones, Isaac Breiding, Issa Solis, Ja’Siah Young, Jada Gorgor, James Patrick, James Williams, Javaron Conyers, Jeremiah Hobbs, Jessenia Ingram, Jetta Whitehurst, Jimez Alexander, John Doyle, Joseph Quintana, Josh Price, Julia Walters, Julie Woods Robinson, Julissa Sabino, Karen Aguirre, Kate Varner, Katherine Taylor, Katie Causey, Katie Wickline, Kierra Edwards, Kim Baran, Kira Rockwell, Kristian Martinez, Lamar Hardy, Lauren Alexandra, Laurin Dunleavy, Leah Thomas, Lee Osorio, Lilly Heidari, Lon Bumgarner, Lydia Rice, Maddy Roberts, Madeleine Noe, Madison Junod, Madison VandenOever, Marc Collins, Marcia Faith Harper, Marcia Harvey, Marielle Martinez, Marissa Kovach, Marquelle Young, Mary Claire Page, Mary Michael Patterson, Matt Baum, Matthew Caleb Brown, Maxwell H. Breaux, Maya Lawrence, Megan Cramer, Megan Wartell, Melissa “Mel” Ottaviano, Monteze Sutton, Morayo Otujo, Morgan Rysdon-Moulitsas, Myah Harper, Natalie Brown, Nicole Price, Nicolette Emanuelle, Patricia de la Garza, Patrick McColery, Phillia Prior, Rachel Da Silva, Razaria Denae Copeland, Riley Schatz, Rimothy Miracle Bennett, Robyn Sutton-Fernandez, Rodney Williams, Ryan Dinning, Sarah Mack Price, Sarah Oguntomilade, Sarah Wallis, Sariel Toribio, Shane Simmons, Shaniya Horton, Sharon Foote, Sierra Christensen, Stephen Ruffin, Tafee Patterson, Terence Lee, Theresa Davis, Tiffany Hobbs, Tramaine Jones, Tylia De’Armond, Vallea Woodbury, William Amato, Wynne Kelly, Zuri Petteway
Teen Ensemble Members
Alyssa Carr, Joshua Byrom, Saheim Patrick, Abigail May Watson, Jackson Millarker, Caleb Thomas, CJ Perkins, Adiya Stubblefield, Vanathi Parthiban, Ja’Kyah Jackson, Daniel McCall, Abigail Dougherty, Anshula Phadke, Eliana Leaks, Elliott Elliott, Kennedy O’Neil, Chloe Jarrett, Syrenity Hall, Helena Denton, Malaysia West-Lewis, Ella Dameron, Aja Najib, Taliyaah Muhammad, Rahul Daswani, Jeronimo Dye, Laila Drew, Chelsea Smith, Haley Smith
MANAGEMENT
Managing Director
Company Manager
Kimberly Townsend
Rigel Powell
Luke Robinson
Patrick Conley
Chris Seifert
Kevin Dyson, Paige Bergen, Marlon Wilson
Charge Scenic Artist Kat Conley
Scenic Artist
Director of Audio
Associate Director of Audio
Amanda Nerby
Sound
Michael Carrico
Aaron Vockley
Sound Engineers Tamir Eplan-Frankel, Emma Mouledoux, Graham Schwartz
Stage Management
Stage Managers
Liz Campbell, R. Lamar Williams, Barbara Gantt O’Haley
Stage Management Production Assistants Samantha Honeycutt, Myah Harper, Marshall Lee Smith, Jr.
National Vision Stage Management Fellow Xiaonan “Chloe” Liu
Stage Operations
Stage Operations Manager
Assistant Stage Operations Manager
Scott Bowne
Mike Schleifer
Laura Thruston
Assistant Company Manager Sara Cook
Administration & Finance
Director of Finance
Controller & Head of Administration
Staff Accountant
Valerie Thomas
Elecia Crowley
Jasmine Burton
Accounting Coordinator Julie Hall
Accounts Payable Lead
Associate Director, Data Operations & Strategy
Management Assistant
Director of Development
Development
Sharette Driver
Christina Dresser
Joseph Quintana
Trent Anderson
Associate Director, Corporate Partnerships Natalie Adams
Manager, Board Relations & Special Events Kailan Daugherty
Associate Director, Strategic Institutional Advancement Collins Desselle
Manager, Development Operations & Institutional Giving Tanesha Ferguson
Director of Individual Giving Edward McCreary
Manager, Individual Giving Lindsay Ridgeway-Baierl
Manager of Annual Fund & Donor Relations Emma Seif
Marketing & Patron Services
Director of Marketing & Communications Kathleen Covington
Manager of Web & Digital Communications Anna Birtles
Marketing & Promotions Coordinator
Ashley Elliott
Graphic Designer Felicity Massa
Willie Palmer Parks
Kate Lucibella Flyman
Automation Stagehand
John Victor Mouledoux Jr.
Properties Stagehand Nic Stephenson
EDUCATION
Dan Reardon Director of Youth & Families
Naserian Foundation Head of Early Childhood Programs
Head of Secondary Curriculum & Partnerships
Education Accounting Assistant
Administrative & Adult Program Manager
Camp Administrative Manager
Head of Strategic Initiatives
Olivia Aston Bosworth
Hallie Angelella
Liz Davis
Isabella Aguilar Irias
Robert Hindsman
Jayson T. Waddell
Aierelle Jacob
Alliance@Work Creative Director J. Noble
Head of Elementary School Programs
Out of School Program Manager
Artist in Residence & Teen Program Manager
Resident Artist & Allyship Program Director
Head of Education Advancement
Education Production Coordinator
Teaching Artist Liaison
Institute Program Coordinator
Rebecca Pogue Fields
Robyn A. Rogers
Sam Provenzano
Maya Lawrence
Kristen Silton
Jay Williams
Blake Fountain
Katie Wolff
Marketing & Public Relations Manager Mashaun D. Simon
Associate Director, Data Operations & Strategy
Danielle Hicks
Patron Services Manager Genesis Gates
Patron Services Coordinators Andi Stanesic, Maiya Moran, Sydney Michelle, Malaika Ricks
Patron Services Associates Zuri Petteway, Thelma Mitchell, VonDerrick Taylor
Season Ticket Concierge Ken McNeil
Education Sales Coordinator Quintara Johnson
Group Sales & Student Matinee Manager Jocelyn Rick
Group Sales & Student Matinee Coordinator Chelsea Street
Lead Front of House Managers Robyn E. Sutton-Fernandez, Johnathan Bottisti
House Managers
Barbara O’Haley, Brittany Mangham
