Theatre SPARKS: #Matter

Mad Cow Theatre in partnership with Black Theatre Girl Magic presents

#Matter

by Idris Goodwin

Plays and Conversations for an Antiracist Tomorrow “Theatre is where we see ourselves and wrestle with our beliefs. Through the stories of others we reflect on our own.

Since racism lives at the intersection of misinformation, ego and unchecked power, the arts must counteract by cultivating personal reflection, learning, conversation and compassion.”

— Idris Goodwin IDRIS GOODWIN is a multidisciplinary arts leader and creative community builder. Across two decades he’s forged a multi-faceted career as an award-winning script writer for stage and screen, Break Beat poet, director, educator, and organizer. He is the new Director of The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College. The author of Free Plays: open source scripts for an antiracist tomorrow, Goodwin is committed to using the arts to spark meaningful conversation.

MAD COW THEATRE, in partnership with BLACK THEATRE GIRL MAGIC, presents digital readings of five short plays by award-winning playwright, poet and changemaker Idris Goodwin to spark conversation about race in America for multi-generational audiences. With the support of Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA/USA), Goodwin has offered these plays to serve as a catalyst for action. Each of these short works, written to be read across the multi-generational spectrum, offer different insights about disconnects in racial conversation and the Black experience in America. Scripts and more can be found here: shttp://www.tyausa.org/freeplay/

CAST & CREW Director..........................................................................................Mandi Jo John Stage Manager..........................................................................MaRah Williams Dramaturg...................................................................Lynne Streeter Childress Kim...........................................................................................Elisabeth Christie Cole.............................................................................................Max Herskovitz ELISABETH CHRISTIE (Kim) is a versatile performance artist who strives to promote thought, joy, and awareness through her craft. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and minor in Dance from University of Central Florida. Past credits include: Hairspray, A Raisin In The Sun, Flashdance, Singin’ In The Rain, and Almost, Maine. She has performed at Universal Orlando Resort, Macy’s Holiday Parade, Main State Music Theatre, Garden Theatre, and Orlando Shakes.

MAX HERSKOVITZ (Cole) is really thrilled to be joining Mad Cow Theatre and Black Theatre Girl Magic for the first production in their Theatre Sparks: Idris Goodwin play series. In the before times, he could be found at Uni-

versal Studios, Walt Disney World, and on various cruise ships. These days, he can usually be found shuffling back and forth between his bedroom and the kitchen.

He will be donating his paycheck from the show to a collection of organizations fighting for equality, and he urges you to do the same if you’re able!

MANDI JO JOHN (Director) is a Florida native and graduate of the University of Central Florida Conservatory of Theatre, Mandi Jo has traveled the world performing theatre and opera.

Now a new mom and an artist advocate, Mandi Jo is now focused on amplifying the voices of black women in entertainment through her organization Black Theatre Girl Magic. Past credits include Urinetown, Guys and Dolls, and Doubt.

ABOUT THE COMPANIES MAD COW THEATRE is a 501(c)(3) arts organization funded by the State of Florida, Division of Cultural Affairs; the Downtown Development Board; the Florida Theatrical Association; Orange County government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs program, and members of the Central Florida community like you. Mad Cow’s mission is to produce highly entertaining works of theatre to an ever-widening audience – promoting, enhancing, and celebrating the human condition through art. We celebrate the word and the actor through a combination of passionate, skillful acting and compelling, insightful writing, all nurtured by an attentive and ever-changing process. www.madcowtheatre.com BLACK THEATRE GIRL MAGIC is a community of Brown and Black identifying women with a mission to create a racially just, equitable, and accessible entertainment industry for Black and Brown women. They work to drive a cultural shift in theatre institutions to create safer spaces for the BIPOC community through public discourse and national legislation. BTGM aims to eliminate racist and ableist barriers of entry into all sectors of the entertainment industry. In addition, they elevate the valuable anti-racism work of other Black Woman-run organizations by sharing their resources and platform. BTGM is in the process of becoming a recognized non-profit organization and can be found at www.blacktheatregirlmagic.org.

Saturday, Sept. 5, 1:00 p.m. (EST) — The Water Gun Song Saturday, Sept. 19, 1:00 p.m.­­(EST) — Nothing Rhymes with Juneteenth Saturday, Oct. 3, 1:00 p.m.­(EST) — Black Flag Saturday, Oct. 17, 1:00 p.m.­(EST) ­— Act Free