Executive Director Ann Joseph Douglas
Artistic Director Daniel Bryant
PRESENTS
The Fall of Heaven Based on “The Tempest Tales” By: Walter Mosley
Director* Daniel Bryant
Projectionist Liviu Pasare
Stage Manager * Razor Wintercastle
Sound Design Rick Sims
Scenic Design Andrei Onegin
Properties Design Liz Panneton
Lighting Design Richard Norwood
Production Manager Dre Robinson
Costume Coordinator Samantha Jones
Dramaturg John Frazier
*Actor’s Equity Association Congo Square Ensemble Member Congo Square Theatre Company (Administrative Offices) 2936 N. Southport Suite 210 Chicago IL 60657 Office: 773 296-1108 Fax: 773 472-6637 www.congosquaretheatre.org In cooperation with: Pegasus Players 4520 N. Beacon, Chicago, IL 60640 (Pegasus logo here)
ALBERT PICK FOUNDATION
The 2012-2013 Season is graciously funded in part by People’s Gas, Albert Pick Foundation and The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. Congo Square Theater
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S U P P O R T S TA F F Assistant Stage Manager Sharlet Webb PR, Social Media and Marketing Consultant Tanya Ward Interns Nicole Cobb Oliver
SPECIAL THANKS Walter Mosley Annie Tully and The Chicago Public Library Commissioner Michelle Boone and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Public Square: A Program of the Illinois Humanities Council Bruce Miller and Washington Square Films
Sylvia Ewing Tom and Madeleine Burrell Perika Sampson Chalkboard Restaurant St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Logan Square Actor’s Equity Association League of Chicago Theatres Black Alumni Network
FRIENDS OF CONGO Robin Beaman Sylvia Ewing Torri Johnson
Vanessa Lanier Kirk Townsend
CAST LIST *◊ Anthony Irons...................................................................................................................................................... Tempest *Boise Holmes..............................................................................................................................................................Joshua Krenee A. Tolson.........................................................................................................................................Alfreda/Darlene Jessica Dean Turner................................................................................................................................................Branwyn Jordan Brown......................................................................................................................................................................Bob Melanie Loren..................................................................................................................................... Female Understudy Charles Gardner...............................................................................................................Tempest/Joshua Understudy *Member of Actor’s Equity Association ◊ Congo Square Ensemble
C O N G O S Q UA R E E N S E M B L E M E M B E R S *Will Sims II * Ann Joseph *Monifa Sims * Aaron Todd Douglas * TaRon Patton *Aimee K. Bryant * Javon Johnson Derrick Sanders *Anthony Irons *Bakesta King *Daniel Bryant *Ericka Ratcliff 2
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*Ron Conner *Alexis J. Rogers *Tracey Bonner *Allan Gilmore *Samuel Roberson ARTISTIC ASSOCIATES *Chad Boseman *Malkia Stampley *Member of Actor’s Equity Association
C O N G O S Q UA R E B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R S Ron DeNard Amina Dickerson Tony Glen Suzanne Griffith Perika Sampson
Veronica Thigpen Dr. Jesse Wardlow Michelle Washington Hugh Williams James Wooten
WALTER MOSLEY (Author) With over two decades of diverse and prolific literary achievement, Walter Mosley has become the preeminent AfricanAmerican man of letters. Refusing to be pigeonholed or limited by genre, he is the critically hailed, awardwinning, New York Times-bestselling author of some thirty-eight books to date in genres ranging from the crime novel to literary fiction, nonfiction, political essay, science fiction, young adult, and erotica. Published around the world, his work has been translated into twenty-three languages. Mosley is a recipient of PEN USA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. His short fiction has appeared in a wide array of publications, including The New Yorker, GQ, Esquire, Los Angeles Times Magazine, and Playboy, and his nonfiction has been published in The New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, and The Nation. Mosley initiated a new feature for The Nation in 2009 entitled “Ten Things” as a way to make political and social action more accessible. The feature invites a guest expert to tackle an issue and offer a brief list of recommendations for accomplishing a desired political or social end.
as the editor of and a contributor to the book Black Genius. He was also the guest editor for The Best American Short Stories of 2003. In addition, he has written for television, film, and the stage, and two major films – Devil in a Blue Dress and Always Outnumbered – have been made from his work. In January 2010, “The Fall of Heaven,” Mosley first play based on his The Tempest Tales, debuted in Cincinnati in 2010 and ran in St. Louis in 2011. A new series based on Mosley’s The Long Fall, the debut novel in his Leonid McGill detective series, is in development at HBO.
AU T H O R
In his acclaimed fiction, Mosley has explored the black experience in America over the past seven decades, beginning with the migration of African-Americans from the Deep South to his native Los Angeles in the post-World War II era and through the post-Obama electionera New York City. As David Ulin wrote in The Atlantic Monthly of Mosley’s celebrated Easy Rawlins books, “Mosley has never been a traditional crime novelist; rather, he writes to serve a cultural agenda, and for him the mystery is less a whodunit than a vehicle for exploring a way of life. . . . Read together, the Rawlins books compose a sprawling novel of manners about twentieth-century AfricanAmerican Los Angeles that owes as much to authors like Dickens and Zola as it does to the aesthetics of noir.”
He was the founder of the Black Genius lecture series at New York University, as well Congo Square Theater
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D I R E C TO R DANIEL BRYANT Daniel Bryant is thrilled to be returning as director of The Fall of Heaven at his artistic home, Congo Square Theatre Company, where he is Artistic Director and Ensemble member. He made his Chicago directorial debut with the award-winning production of Brothers of the Dust at Congo Square and has producer credits that include: The Colored Museum (Center for the Performing Arts) and The Nativity (Goodman Theater, Kennedy King College Theater). He has produced and directed numerous staged readings for Congo Square’s Summer Reading Series, Legacy Festival, Festival on the Square and most recently, Mosley on the Square celebrating the works of Walter Mosley. Daniel was the assistant director for Congo Square’s 2007 and 2008 productions of Black Nativity.
He served as an associate artist at Chicago Dramatists, where he directed for their Saturday Series as well as their festival/ showcase of new work, and the Young Playwrights Festival at Pegasus Players and American Theatre Company. In Los Angeles, Daniel was a founder of the African American Theatrical Ensemble, where he directed Samm Art Williams’ HOME, Spunk (Zora Neal Hurston) and an original work, A Blossom in the Whirlwind. Other directing credits include: The Dutchman and August Wilson’s Fences at James Madison University in Virginia. In addition, Daniel has a successful acting career spanning more than 15 years. His most recent performances were in Master Harold and the Boys at Timeline Theater, and the amazing TRUE/WEST, TOPDOG/UNDERDOG collaboration between American Theater Company and Congo Square Theatre Company.
PROFILES ANTHONY IRONS (TEMPEST) Anthony Irons is a Congo Square Theatre ensemble member, where his credits include t, with American Theatre Company. Regional credits include Penumbra Theatre; and the Georgia, North Carolina and Illinois Shakespeare Festivals. Anthony directed , for Congo Square; and for The Second City’s Outreach & Diversity. He has performed with The Second City in Chicago, Atlanta, Louisville, Denver and Montreal. Anthony is about to embark in new territory and produce his first music album this fall, but for now, he is ultraexcited to share this ride with this amazingly talented cast and crew and most prolific writer. Thanks Di and the 2 Kings! BOISE HOLMES (Joshua) Boise Holmes recently arrived in Chicago directly from Hamburg, Germany where he spent 2 years playing the role of “Mufasa” in the German 4
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Company of Disney’s stage spectacle “The Lion King” (performed and sung 8 times a week completely in German). He was selected to return to Germany and portray the King Mufasa for their 10yr anniversary of the show. He has also played the role of the evil uncle “Scar” in Festival of the Lion King in Hong Kong. Boise also spent a year in Osaka, Japan as a featured vocalist in a classic Motown review. He is the first place winner of the National Shakespeare Competition at Lincoln Center for his portrayal of Othello, and was awarded a full-scholarship for an extensive study at the Oxford School of Drama in Oxford, England, where he was cast as MacBeth. Boise is ecstatic at the opportunity to bring these of Mr. Mosley’s classic pages to life w/such a great team of people at The Congo Square Theatre. Boise also enjoys writing/performing his own original dramatic shorts/poetry and music. Other roles include: Walter Lee in A Raisin in the Sun, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Purlie in Purlie and Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. Boise has also done numerous commercials and VoiceOvers...TV/FILM: Law and Order SVU, CSI: Miami, 30 Rock, Days of Our Lives, Kiss the Girls... Facebook...Mark 11:22
PROFILES
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KRENEE A. TOLSON (Alfreda/Darlene) Krenee A. Tolson was born and raised in the heart of Baltimore City where she discovered her passion for acting. She began her training at the Baltimore School for the Arts and continued on and received her BFA at DePaul University’s Theatre School. She feels blessed to perform with Congo Square theatre for the first time.” JESSICA DEAN TURNER (Branwyn) Jessica Dean Turner (Branwyn) is elated to be joining the cast of The Fall of Heaven and to make her Congo Square debut. Her previous credits include Letters Home (Sgt. Sharon Allen) with the Griffin Theatre Company, and Fabulation: or the Re-Education of Undine (Undine) with Definition Theatre Company, of which she is a founding member. She holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, and has performed regionally with Riverside Theatre in the Park in Iowa City, and with the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, MN. Divine Order. JORDAN BROWN (Bob) makes his Congo Square debut. Other Chicago credits include A Christmas Carol at The Goodman Theatre, The Pitmen Painters at Timeline Theatre Company, and Sense and Sensibility at Northlight Theatre. Mr. Brown appeared off-Broadway in Much Ado About Nothing at Theatre Roe. Regional Credits include A Skull in Connemara at Centerstage in Baltimore and The Light in the Piazza at River Valley Rep in Poughkeepsie, New York. Television credits include an episode of As the World Turns for CBS studios. Mr. Brown recently played the role of Gabriel in the SAG short film The Liar, written and directed by the Atassi brothers.
MELANIE LOREN (Female/Understudy) Melanie Loren is pleased to join the cast of The Fall of Heaven. She brings with her diverse credits on stage and on camera. Melanie toured the Chicago area starring in Historical Perspectives for Children’s one-person production Mary, a show about the life of African-American education pioneer Mary McCleod Bethune. Melanie’s background also includes appearances in the satirical comedy Blagojevich, Blagojevich! She has performed in cities across the United States, including the Los Angeles production of Treat Her Like A Lady, portraying Dorothy in a production of The Wiz, and taking on featured roles in theatrical favorites like Little Shop of Horrors, Once On This Island, and My Fair Lady. Her oncamera credits consist of television and film, including Don’t Bite the Apple, which was screened at film festivals nationwide. Melanie also sings and is an accomplished dancer with a memorable experience of performing at the Kennedy Center in Washington. Melanie would like to thank God and everyone involved with The Fall of Heaven for the opportunity to share her gift and love of acting. CHARLES GARDNER (Tempest/Joshua Understudy) Charles Gardner excited to be working with Congo Square for the first time. Previous theater credits include: Macbeth, Othello (Suitcase Shakespeare), My Kind of Town (Timeline Theatre), The Great Fire (Lookingglass Theatre) and Spectacle Lunatique (Redmoon). Recent commercial credits include: Perkins, Disney, McDonalds, AT&T, Western Union, Coors, and Dunkin Donuts. Charles was nominated for Best Actor by the BTAA for his role in My Kind of Town, and was featured in the Chicago Tribune as one of the Hot New Faces to Watch in 2012. You can also See Charles at Steppenwolf in the production How Long Will I Cry.
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PRODUCTION TEA M RAZOR WINTERCASTLE (Stage Manager) Razor has worked in the Chicago area for quite some time with various theatre, dance, and production companies. Razor has also worked in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America, Central America, Canada and all over the place doing everything from theatre, film dance, concerts, bands, you name it. It is a pleasure to work with Congo Square. Stay Sharp SHARLET WEBB (Assistant Stage Manager) Sharlet Webb is delighted to return to her extended family for this production of The Fall of Heaven. Other Congo Square credits are: Bulrusher (Pegagus Players), Brothers of The Dust (CCPA), The Nativity (Goodman Theatre/Kennedy King College Theatre), and Colored Museum (CCPA). Ms. Webb is an Artistic Associate with MPAACT (Maa’t Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theater). Ms. Webb has worked as a stage manager with City Lit Theater, Absolute Shakespeare, The Theatre Building of Chicago, eta Creative Arts foundation, Pegagus Players, Live Bait Theater, Metamorphosis Theater, DuSable Museum Ivanhoe Theater, Reflections Theater and many other nonequity theaters in the Chicago land area for over two decades. She has also stage managed Train Is Coming at Open Door Theater in Oak Park, IL. Ms. Webb holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College, Chicago in technical theater. Ms. Webb is also a member of the tech team for the National Black Theater Festival in Winston Salem North Carolina. To my daughter Jennifer, my son Dale II and grandchildren Tymon II and Kaliyah continue to dream big and pursue your passion. DRE ROBINSON (Production Manager) Dre Robinson is very happy to work with Congo Square again. “It’s like visiting old friends”, the native Chicagoan says. A veteran of theatre, Dre has been blessed to have worked all over the world, doing what he loves to do. He has toured with Second City and Black Ensemble Theatre and has worked with some of the top theatrical companies in Chicago, including, The Goodman Theater. In his spare time he is busy writing, directing, and producing with his company Studio One Productions. 6
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ANDREI ONEGIN (Set Design) Andrei is happy to be back and design the set for The Fall of Heaven. Andrei recently received critical acclaim for his set design skills for the production of Bulrusher, and has designed the set for August Wilson’s Radio Golf at Raven Theater. In previous seasons, he designed Brothers of the Dust, The Nativity, and Colored Museum at the Congo Square. His other work in Chicago has included designing sets for Death of a Salesman and Hedda Gabler (Raven), Cat’s Cradle (Lifeline), Princess Club, The Balloon Man and The Golden Truffle (Redmoon), Unsung Stars (Moving Dock), The Day of Knowledge (Stage Left), Hamlet (Yamaworks), Flood and Rosmersholm (Alchimia). During the last 30 years of Andrei’s theater career he has participated in and accomplished more than 110 productions, and worked for such legendary companies as Moscow Art Theater, Kabuky and Comédie-Française. He received his MFA in 1992 from The Moscow Art Theater School. LIVIU PASARE (Projectionist) Liviu is a Chicago based artist who focuses on new media and technology and interactive installations. He works as a video designer, cinematographer, editor, animator and has produced, directed and performed for live multimedia experiences. He has been affiliated with theaters and artists such as Collaboraction, Redmoon, Fusion Theater, Blue Man Group and Luftwerk among many others. SAMANTHA JONES (Costume Design) is delighted to be back at Congo Square Theatre where she previously designed costumes for A Colored Museum, for which she received a BTAA nomination for Costume Design. Around town her work has been seen at American Blues Theatre (Rantoul and Die, It’s a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph!) 16th Street Theatre (Menorca, Fires in the Mirror, Unveiled, and The End of the Tour), Remy Bumppo Theatre Co. (American Ethnic, Heroes, Night and Day), Peninsula Players Theatre (A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, Wait Until Dark, Around the World in 80 Days, Heroes, Over the Tavern), and Florida Studio Theatre (Playmakers). Her work can be seen this fall in the Mourning Becomes Electra with Remy Bumppo Theatre Co. and in Waiting for Lefty
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with American Blues Theatre, where she is a proud ensemble member. RICK SIMS (Sound Designer) Rick has composed and designed sound for numerous Lookingglass productions and many other Chicago area theatres such as Steppenwolf, Congo Square, Writers Theatre, Lifeline, Griffin, The House, Court, ATC, Victory Gardens, The Raven, Steep and About Face. Out of town credits include Icarus at the Getty in L.A. with Lookingglass, and Gary at Boston Playwrights. Rick won a Jeff Award for lyrics in Hepheastus and was nominated for another for musical direction for the Shaggs both at Lookingglass. Rick also has two BTAA award nominations. Rick is an artistic associate of Lookingglass Theatre Company and an associate designer with Aria Music Designs (Ray Nardelli and Josh Horvath). Rick also wrote the book, music and lyrics for Lookingglass’ Hillbilly Antigone. RICHARD NORWOOD (Lighting Design) An award-winning designer, some of Richard’s designs include Beethoven As I Knew Him at The Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, staring Hershey Felder and directed by Joel Zwick. Other recent designs include Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story for Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook IL. Bronte for Remy Bumppo, A Passage to India, for Vitalist Theatre, and The Beastly Bombing for
Trap Door Theatre. Richard holds the position of Performance Coordinator at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Recent designs include Vitalist Theatre’s Presents pool (no water), and Ruth Margraff›s ANGER/FLY. LIZ PANNETON (Prop Design) Liz has been a props artisan and master over the last few years at a myriad of theaters across the country. Most recently she has spent time with the Utah Opera Festival and Indiana Repertory Theater as a props artisan. She is very excited to work in Chicago with the Congo Square Theater for the first time! JOHN FRAZIER (Dramaturge) John Frazier is an accomplished actor and theatre scholar. He decided to extend has theatrical experiences by acting as dramaturge for The Fall of Heaven. He has received an MFA in stage acting from the Chicago College for the Performing Arts and, most recently, an MA in Theatre Literature & Criticism from Miami University of Ohio. He is the 2011 recipient of the Black Theatre Network’s Emerging Young Scholars Award. He has produced content for the stage, curriculum for classrooms, and radio vignettes for broadcast. He is especially honored to work with such a distinguished group of artists as writer Walter Mosley and the Congo Square Ensemble.
2 012 - 2 013 D O N O R S Legacy Supporters $1-$74 Alice Wheeler Alisa Singletary Alexis J. Rogers Amos Ellis Andrien Willis Angela Foster Anthony Cregler Arch Bryant Asha Eapen B. Edwards Barbara Brown Barbara J. Kelly Belinda Smith Beth Weiss Beti Grenengoea Betty Ivy Betty Palmore Bruce Bonecutter Camille Hollett Carol Rice
Carolyn Wilson Cathy O. Taylor Cecilia Haasis Charles Dumas Charles Redding Charlotte Blackman Charlotte Williams Cheryl Monroe Christopher Hurns Coretta Jackson Dan Hoyt Dana R. Turner David Gill David Watkins Denise Hudson DeVondra Barrett Diana Martin DL Morriss Doc Wheeler Donna Poole Doris J. Newton Dr. Bob Wright
Dr. Judith Wright Eleanor Powell Emily L. Norris Eric Ford Eugenia Pauling F. D. McNeal Frank Osse Fred Floreth Freda Scott Giles George Alexander Geri Dunham Gloria Cangelosi Helen Breems Imani Amos Jackie Moore James D. Anderson Janice Rzycki Jean Reese Jennifer Hodges Jodie McGuire Jolie Saunders-Franklin John Knox Congo Square Theater
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2 012 - 2 013 D O N O R S Joyce Hughes Kamal Angelo Bolden Karen Eason Karen Hudalla Kay Robinson Keesha Roach Kenyon Harris L. De Roo Lacey Harris Lance Hahn Landis Johnson Lanise Antoine Shelly Lauren Wright Lavina Branch Lazlo Koszeghy Leatrice Cooper LeDuyna Evans Leslie Yurek Lillian Howard Linda Adamczewski Linda Liddle Linda Mellis Linda Strothman Lolly Bowean Loretta Honore Mallari Peace Margo V. Brooks-Pugh Mari Lynn Loggins Maria Kendall Marilyn A. Jackson Mertis Walker Michelle Beaulieux Mike Jenkins Mike Rogers Missy Lavender Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Moss Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Pompey Ms. Karen Page Nadine A. Petties Nancy Nyheim Nicole Thompson Oliver A. Ruff P. McPhearson Davis Pat Finnegan Pat Smith Pellou Choud Penelope Walker Randall Van Schepea Reginald McKamie Rena Neighbors Rhonda Wilson-Veal Robbie Coleman Robert Biekman Roy McKay Rueben Echoles Sara Karp Shalanda Greene Shanna Gill Sharnita Johnson Shirley Rich Susan Ward Sylvia Hopkins Harris Sylvia Maxwell Tai Davis 8
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Tamberla Perry Theodore Davis Tracey Bonner Vanessa Lanier Velma Austin-Massey Vera Katz Verett Mims Wayne Keels Yolanda Dudley Yvonne Singley Kathleen Bethel Demetria Thomas Deonne Wright Andrew White Janelle Jones Gloria Clunie Christine Ferriter Jeremy Mattson Legacy Member $75 - $149 Adria Dawn Tarleton Aimee Bryant Barbara Bowles Bertram Bryant Clyde Wilson Dana Rice Ericka Ratcliff Gloria A. Bond (Clunie) Judy Dozier Karen Page Katie Seeman Lorraine C. Shoto Lydia Diamond Mr. and Mrs. Greg Lewis Mr. and Mrs. Joy Mr. and Mrs. Martin P. Greene Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Pompey Ms. Karen Page September Gray Stanley Kincaid Sylvia Ewing Trudi Gentry Velma Moman Tina Turner Angela Ashley Brenda Russell Legacy Builders $150 - $249 Alice Hamilton Derek Bryant September Gray Samuel and Ashley Roberson Becky Tousey Steven Tousey
Legacy Maker $250 and above Alan Hinds Alice Mullen Allen Gilmore Ami McReynolds Amina Dickerson Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Charles James Daniel Bryant Douglas R. Brown Dr. Jesse Wardlow Dwain Doty Hugh K. Williams Jackie Taylor James and Mary Bell Mr. and Mrs. James Wooten Kathy Perkins Kevann Cooke Lamont & Paulette Change Les Coney Lyle Logan Michael Alter Michael Pitt Michael Widell Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ford Mr. and Mrs. Akari Muhisani Mr. and Mrs. Steven Tousey Mr. Bruce Sagan Patricia O. Cox Paul Stephens Philip Gant Quinton E. Primo III Rachel E. Kraft Rachel Mangoubi Ron DeNard SCUPE Foundation Stephanie R. Gaines Suzanne Griffith Teena Davis TG Vanzandth, Inc Vanessa Weathersby Veronica Anderson-Thigpen Yolanda Daniel Melisa Perrett Cook Alisa Starks Maria Green Wilfred and Donna Lucas Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Jones Alma Buckner Dorsey Norman III Franz & McGhee Osse Michael Greenwald Dietrich Klevorn Emilie Hall Darrell & Allison Williams Barbara Bowels Deborah Phillips Verett Mimms Lawrence Hollins William Lowry