Open Door - Train Is Comin

PRESENTS

Producer/Artistic Director Mary Pat Sieck

Director/Choreographer McKinley Johnson

Music Director/Arranger George Cooper

Technical Director/Sound Design Stevan Saliny

Stage Manager Sharlet Webb

Lighting Design Paul Kerwin

Costumer Design Kristen Ahern

Scenic Design/Construction John Prisching

Assistant Technical Director Ethan Kwas

Props Master Toby Niederman

TIME: 1870’s PLACE: sparse countryside Open Door Repertory Company is partially funded by the Oak Park Area Arts Council, in partnership with the Villages of Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest, and the Illinois Arts council, a state agency.

Open Door Repertory Company is a member of the League of Chicago Theatres and the Oak Park Convention and Visitors Bureau

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CAST DAVID DAVIS.......................................................................................................... ISAAC SHEPARD TONI LYNICE FOUNTAIN....................................................................................... ELLA SHEPARD DALE GLANZMAN.........................................................................................MR. GEORGE WHITE ERIC A. LEWIS.............................................................................................................. GREEN EVANS BERNELL LASSAI.................................................................................................BENJAMIN HOLES QIANA MC NARY...................................................................................................JENNIE JORDAN JAZELLE MORRISS.......................................................................................................MINNIE TATE DOMINIQUE REID................................................................................................MAGGIE PORTER WILLIE CHARLES ROLLINS III........................................................................ THOMAS RUTLING TIERRA WHETSTONE............................................................................................... ELIZA WALKER

P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F BOX OFFICE/FRONT OF HOUSE........................Lynn Kirsch, Mary Lipari, Mary Pat Sieck GRAPHIC ARTIST............................................................................................................ Tracy Matz PRODUCTION PHOTOS...................................................................................................Pete Byer

O P E N D O O R B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R S Lynn Kirsch, President Leo Zinanni, Treasurer Richard White, Member at Large Stevan Saliny, Technical Director/Facilities Manager Mary Pat Sieck, Artistic/Managing Director

F R O M T H E B OA R D Welcome to OPEN DOOR THEATRE. We are delighted to have you in the audience.

If you are an “old time” visitor, we hope our new home will delight you as much as it does us. And, if you are brand new to Open Door, we believe that you are in for a real treat.

We have been absolutely amazed at the support we have received while we built our new home. Thank you everyone.

Warm Regards.

Lynn Kirsch, Board President

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A R T I S T I C D I R E C TO R ’ S N O T E S - T H E E A R L B I TO Y S E R I E S

About two years ago I was approached by a friend who wanted to do something to help Open Door and also wanted to honor the memory of Earl Bitoy. Earl Bitoy taught in the Oak Park schools from the early 1970’s through the mid 1980’s before moving to the Oak Brook school system. Earl was one of those teachers every parent hoped their child would get. And that every student knew would be one of the best they would ever have. He taught from his heart. He believed to his core that every child could and would learn and, in his classroom, they did. In the early 1990’s Earl won the Illinois State Lottery. This windfall was not about his personal financial security but became a way for him to give even more. He established a fund with the Chicago Community Trust. He opened a Tutoring/Mentoring center where any student who needed help could come free of charge. He paid college tuitions for former students when they fell on hard times, only asking that they “pay it forward.” He gave fully of himself and his resources until the day he died. Knowing this made it easy to say “Of course,” to my friend. And so, the Earl Bitoy Series was created.

Last Spring several friends of Earl’s gathered at my dining room table and told stories about him. Each story was better than the last. Each story made me laugh more or cry more for the loss of this wonderful man. But when I heard the following story, I knew which play would be the first in the series bearing his name. Earl was born and raised in Chicago. When he was 18, the marches in Selma and Montgomery were taking place and being a young, African-American man Earl felt he should join the marches – to demonstrate his support and to stand up for what he believed. When he arrived in Selma he was terrified about what awaited him outside the safety of the bus station.

He sat in the station for hours before he was convinced it would be all right for him to leave and join up with the others. He told friends when he returned to Chicago that he brought two lasting memories with him: the first was of the hospitality of the many people who opened their homes and hearts to the marchers, and the second, was the music of the spirituals which were sung around camp fires at the end of some very long and trying days. He said this music was forever embedded in his heart.

What better way to honor the teacher and the man than with the story of the first Fisk Jubilee Singers. This penniless group of a fearless, faith-filled teacher and his nine courageous students, so believed in the value of education that they gave four years of their lives to save their school. And, in doing so, brought to the world the incredible music that had been created out of the pain and faith of an enslaved people.

Open Door is privileged to honor Earl Bitoy and to tell the story of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Thank you, McKinley, for your wonderful script, and thank you to the amazing cast and crew who worked tirelessly to bring it to life. And thank you, members of our audience, for your presence here – without you there is no show. We hope you leave inspired and with this music forever embedded in your hearts.

MARY PAT SIECK Open Door Repertory Company 3

D I R E C TO R ’ S / P L A Y W R I G H T N O T E S Nearly twenty years ago while thumbing through a library book I was researching for my first musical, I came across a picture of a small band of very well dressed young black ladies and gentlemen in the 1870s. My curiosity was aroused only because in this era, my image of blacks was of squalor and degradation. I scanned the caption below and discovered that this was a picture of The Fisk Jubilee Singers, a group of former slaves who had saved their fledging new school with their song right after Reconstruction. I purposed in my mind at that very moment to write a musical about the Fisk Jubilee Singers. “Train” opened in 1996 to glowing reviews under the wonderful direction of Delia Jolly Grey at Chicago Theatre Company. It became my first professionally produced musical and it was my heart. Stripped of pretense, sound effect, set changes and so forth we are left with this story of astounding and touching faith. Train makes us see what is possible when we believe. There is a purity in this story…it’s in their voice…it is sung pitch perfect in their melody…a melody that stays sweet and piercing as centuries pass…so get on board little children there’s room for many a more. I want to give special thanks to the memory of Doug Mann, Artistic Director of CTC. It was Doug who gave “Train” it’s first opportunity and for that I am so very grateful.

Also, to Luther Goings former Managing Director of CTC, thanks for all of your support at my beginning. To Open Door and Artistic Director Mary Pat Sieck, you have filled the void and given my creativity a home…thanks.

MCKINLEY JOHNSON

CAST BIOS DAVID DAVIS (Isaac Shepard) is an eighteen old year freshmen studying Musical Theatre Performance and Fashion Buisness at Columbia College Chicago, He is from Detroit, MIchigan and loves this city. He also dances for Intrigue Dance Studio’s Company “Framework” and this is his very first Chicago play! He is absolutely thrilled to be here in a great city doing what he loves with wonderful people, This show has been an amazing experience for him and the beginning of his journey through the world of theatre. He plans to graduate Columbia with my BFA in Musical Theatre Performance and further my career in theatre, dance, fashion and film.

TONI LYNICE FOUNTAIN (Ella Shepard) is thrilled to be working with Open Door Theater for the first time. Toni trained at Acting Studio Chicago.

Theater credits include, The Women (Circle Theatre) The Wedding Singer (Circle), A Perfect Wedding (Circle), Best Little Whorehouse In Texas (Circle), Dreams Deferred (McCormick IIT), Toni also has film and voice-over credits. Find out more at http://toni-lynicefountain.blogspot. com Toni would like to thank her family, friends, daughters- Lakeisha, Brianna & 4 Train Is Comin’

Halaina and her sweetheart J.B. for love and support. Toni gives special thanks to Open Door Theater and such a talented & fun cast for the amazing journey in preparing for this phenomenal production.

DALE GLANZMAN (Mr. George White) is thrilled to be a part of this incredible cast, and to have worked with McKinley and Sharlet.

Long active in the Oak Park theater community, Dale’s roles have included Dr. Thomas Stockmann in Enemy of the People, Mike in Memory of Water, James Thurber in Thurber’s Carnival, Ross in Spinning into Butter, George Aaranow in Glengarry Glen Ross, Sean Leonard in Bee-Luther-Hatchee, the Navigator in Little Prince, and Stringer Twain in Posthumorous ERIC A. LEWIS (Green Evans) hails from Chicago where he sang his first solo at the age of four; that was the beginning of his performance/ministry career. Eric sang with choirs & groups including The Soul Children of Chicago. His melodious tenor voice is chosen to the lead songs in a variety of genres. Learning gymnastics at a young age led to formal dance training. Eric dances with Wave of Glory, Endure Productions,

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Studio One Dance Theater, and Deeply Rooted performing around the U.S. He teaches dance, and is know for choreographing electrifying and inspirational performances.

Eric performed in the Congo Square’s production of The Nativity at the Goodman Theater in Chicago. He danced with Acodramance, the international arts ministry..

BERNELL LASSAI (Benjamin Holmes) This is Bernell’s first time working with Open Door Repertory and is very excited to be a part of “Train is Comin”. Previous credits include “Reverend Lee” Black Ensemble Theatre, “A Hip Hop Aesop” ETA Creative Arts Foundation, “®evolution: Unplugged” The Goodman Theatre, “Cats”,“The Wiz”,“Bye Bye Birdie”,“The Amen Corner” , and many more.

Bernell is currently a freshman at Columbia College Chicago studying Musical Theatre Performance. He gives thanks to God and his family for their constant love and support.

QIANA MC NARY (Jennie Jackson) is a graduate of Roosevelt University: Chicago College of Performing Arts where she finished a Master of Music Degree in Voice Performance. She began her vocal studies and graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University where she received her Bachelor of Music Degree. In the summer of 2007, Qiana furthered her vocal studies at The Italian Operatic Experience in Urbania, Italy.

She has performed in numerous opera theater productions in and out of the country, and premiered a hip-hop opera at the DuSable Museum – Chicago. In the spring of 2009, she was a featured singer on the Chicago WGN Morning News for the Opera Idol presentation for young opera singers in the Chicago area. Ms. McNary was not only a National semi-finalist in the Emerging Young Artist competition, but won first place in the district and local rounds of the competition sponsored by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs. She is a proud member of Mu Phi Epsilon music honorary and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Currently Ms. McNary is the soprano soloist at Hyde Park Union Church. She would like

to give special recognition to her PU’s (parental units) Fred and Minnie!

JAZELLE MORISS (Mimmie Tate) is excited to be joining the cast of Train Is Coming. Following her love for theater, she has been a part of performance in Germany and Norway with Free Street Theater as well as local productions. Favorite credits include include: Pinocchio (Blue Fairy), All Shook Up (Lorraine), The Wiz (Dorothy), and most recently The Nativity (Athaliah) with Congo Square Theatre.

Jazelle would like to thank God and her family for their love and support.

DOMINIQUE REID (Maggie Porter) is a native of North Carolina and a recent graduate from Bradley University.

This is her first show with Open Door Theatre, and in the Chicago Area. She is very honored to have the opportunity to work with such a talented cast and creative team. Get on board, y’all, cause “Train is Comin!”You all are more than welcome to have fun and to enjoy this show as much as we do, and remember: Life is Too Short to Be Anything But Happy.

WILLIE CHARLES ROLLINS (Thomas Rutling) is a freshmen at Columbia College of Chicago and also very new to Chicago. He is very glad to have his debut in the production of Train Is Comin’ at the Open Door Theatre.

He thanks the wonderful cast and crew for teaching him a lot about the Chicago theatre scene.

TIERRA WHETSTONE (Eliza Walker) Tierra Whetstone is a junior at Malcom X College where her major is Music Education. She plans to attend Fisk University and is very elated to be with Open Door.

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PRODUCTION CREW BIOS KRISTEN AHERN (Costumes) Kristen is really excited to be working on her first production with Open Door Rep. She can also be found working as the shop manager at Dominican University where she has recently designed costumes for The Art of Dining. Kristen also enjoys working in film and television including continued work as the stylist on upcoming series Prince of Thieves, the recently wrapped Fate Accompli and many other projects. Previous design credits include As You Like It at WMU, The Fever Chart with Eclipse Theatre Company and the inaugural production of Strange Bedfellows Theatre: Fire Island. For more information go to www.behance.net/kristenp.

GEORGE COOPER JR. (Music Director/ Arranger) is a world-class pianist and composer. Originally from Chicago, IL, Mr. Cooper has performed worldwide, both as a soloist, and as an ensemble member.

Mr. Cooper received the Bachelor of Music degree from Fisk University in Nashville, TN, where he studied piano with legendary pedagogue Matthew M. Kennedy and sang with the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Mr. Cooper went on to garner several awards including the UNCF’s Student Star of the Year and the 2nd prize at the DeBose piano competition. After graduation, Mr. Cooper co-founded “AUTUMN”, a band which recorded for both the Polygram and Capitol record labels. AUTUMN toured and /or performed with such artists as Midnight Star, The S.O.S. Band, Little Richard, The Isley Brothers, Peabo Bryson, Natalie Cole, and Chaka Kahn. Highlights of this period include performances in Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan, Singapore, Milan, Italy, Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Cannes, France. Now back in his native Chicago, Mr. Cooper continues to teach, perform, and compose music. His present activities are many. He serves as a trustee for St. Mark AMEZ Church, is Minister of Music at The Congregational Church of Park Manor UCC, is the new director of the John Work Chorale, and, in 2009, he founded the Ella Sheppard School of Music where he serves as the school’s director. Finally, as of this past year, he was bestowed with the title “Composer in Residence” by the Chicago Music Association, the nation’s oldest branch of NANM.

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MCKINLEY JOHNSON (Director/ Choreographer) McKinley is a Playwright in Residence at Open Door as well as an Artistic Associate. His recent credits include: The Nativity written for Congo Square Theatre, 2011 production at The Goodman Theatre; a commission from Steppenwolf Theatre as a composer for Harriet Jacobs for The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and as the Music Director for its Chicago production. He is a Jeff Award nominee for Being Beautiful (outstanding new work). His play Georgia Tom at the Bailiwick Theater received a Jeff Recommendation. He has received Black Theater Alliance Awards for Train Is Comin’(Best Musical), and Being Beautiful (Best Performance and Best Play). Both were produced at The Chicago Theatre Company. He is the recipient of an After Dark Award for Best Performance in a Musical for his performance in Being Beautiful and he was a playwright-inresidence at Chicago Dramatist for many years. He is full-time faculty at Dominican University, adjunct faculty at the International Academy of Design and Technology, and Columbia College of Chicago.

PAUL KERWIN (Lighting Designer/Light Board Op) This is Paul’s 9th season with Open Door. He came to the company to do the lighting for Just So and has stayed to do nearly 20 shows since then. He is a computer specialist at Triton College during the day.

ETHAN KWAS (Assistant Technical Director) is employed full time outside the theater but theater is where he likes to spend his time. He started his h-tech career in high school and has been at it ever since. With a background in electrical rigging and construction he has worked on various municipal festivals, rigging lights and sound and has been with Open Door for the past ten years.

JOSH PRISCHING (Scenic Design/ Construction) is pleased to be working again with Open Door Rep in their new space. Past credits with Open Door have been Bleacher Bums, Daddy’s Home, and Crowns. When not working with open door his home is the CAST company at PJMS as technical director. A few favorites include Peter Pan, The Wiz, Thoroughly Modern Millie

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and Into the Woods. A few other favorites have been Momenta dance troup lighting designer, Proviso high school set and lighting designer for Little Shop of Horrors, plus Peter Paul and the Land of Nod with Chicago Folks Operetta. I would also like to thank Kim Blaurock for her assistants on building and painting this wonderful set with me. You’re the best.

STEVAN SALINY (Technical Director) is a founding member of Open Door. As Company Technical Director he over-sees sound, lights, set designs, construction and decoration, along with his incredible staff of two, Paul and Ethan. Before becoming the company TD he acted in: To Kill a Mockingbird, Into the Woods, Peter Pan, The Music Man, Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story, Newsies and three original Open Door music revues. His favorite musical performance was as a member of the doo-wop quartet in Smokey Joe’s Café. Favorite sets include: The Memory of Water, Spinning Into Butter, A View From The Bridge, The Sisters Rosensweig, Bleacher

Bums, Crowns and Daddy’s Home! Thanks are extended to his Open Door family and, most importantly, to his wife and family for all the years of support.

MARY PAT SIECK (Producer/Artistic Director) is a founding member of the company and is the company’s Artistic and Managing Director. She has directed 15 productions for Open Door during this time. Among her favorites are: Good, The Laramie Project, Of Thee I Sing, A View From The Bridge and Daddy’s Home!. She loves working with the amazing people she meets through Open Door and would like to thank her wonderful family, especially Bill, for always being there.

SHARLET WEBB (Stage Manager) is delighted to work again with McKinley Johnson and Open Door on this project.

Other Credits include, Crowns for Open door and for MPAACT at the Greenhouse: Zulu Fits, Tad in 5th City, Last Saint on Sugar Hill and Ghosts of Atwood.

T H A N K YO U ’ S Open Door would like to acknowledge the extraordinary contributions of our landlord and major supporter, Jerome Bloom – without him this would not have happened.

Thank You to the following people, whose significant donations or personal loans, built Open Door’s new home.

George and Linda Bailey Marguerite Bloch Peter and Nancy Clark Community Bank Oak Park River Forest Forest Park National Bank & Trust Eric and Angela Gershenson Paul Kerwin Richard and Cheryl King Errol and Lynn Kirsch Ethan Kwas Roberta Raymond Larson Robert Lee & Sons Concrete Anthony and Deidre Millard Michele Moore

Martin and Mary Lou Noll Teresa Powell Stevan and Susan Saliny Mary Jo Schuler John and Ann Secker James and Lisa Sieck William and Jieney Sieck William and Mary Pat Sieck Carl Spight Frances Sullivan Noah and Julie Sullivan Howard and Jeanne Visteen Richard and Susan Beach White Leo and Claudia Zinanni

Open Door would like to thank the Village of Oak Park’s Board of Trustees and the Office of the Village Manager for the Performing Arts Capital Improvements Grant of $15,000.00 Thank you to our wonderful neighbors, Scheck & Siress, who allow our patrons to use their parking lot.

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DONORS Thank you to following people whose donations helped support this production: Deb Abrahamson Doris Angell Julie Archibald Charlene Baloun Teddy Bax Marguerit Bloch Rita Brady Joyce Carey Maxine Carter Virginia Cassin Helene Clarke Judith Compton Diane S. Cummings Christine and Stan Davis Eden and Al Degenova Cathy Laskey Gale Liebman Michael and Donna McConnell Bonnie McDonald Bill McGlynn and Andrea McGregor Sue Merz Miriam Morris Kathy Morrissey

Carolyn Newberry Schwartz and David Schwartz Kathleen Ogundipe Ed and Pam Dischbourg Jan Novak Dressel Stu Edwards Gloria Engstrom Galen and Marge Gockel Mike and Peggy Goodman David Grayson Lorraine Guerino John and Julia Haley Irene Hansen Dr. Carole Hillman Gertrude Johnson Patricial Johnson Mary Ann D. Jurgus Peggy and Kevin Kell Yolanda Kulick Tom O’Loughlin Lorraine Owles and Phil Wagerich Ella Pappademos

Lauren and Robert Peterson Diane Pingle Bobbie Raymond Rev. Donald and Dolores Register Darlene Reig Lauren Saliny Julie and Bruce Samuels Lynette Sandors Mary Schneider Georgiann Schulte Gerry Sczygiel Neil and Jean Sheehan Jean Stevenson Cal Stob Christian Stob Kay Subaitis Jarvia Thomas Lois Tyson Howie and Jeanne Visteen Jenna White Richard and Susan Beach White Christine Worley

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