CREATIVE TEAM

August Wilson Playwright

(April 27, 1945 - October 2, 2005) authored Gem of the Ocean, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, Seven Guitars, Fences, Two Trains Running, Jitney, King Hedley II and Radio Golf. These works explore the heritage and experience of the descendants of African-Americans, decade by decade, over the course of the twentieth century. His plays have been produced at regional theaters across the country and all over the world, as wells as on Broadway. In 2003, Mr. Wilson made his professional stage debut in his one-man show, How I Learned What I Learned. Mr. Wilson’s works garnered many awards including Pulitzer Prizes for Fences (1987); and for The Piano Lesson (1990); a Tony Award for Fences; Great Britain’s Olivier Award for Jitney; as well as eight New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Fences, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Running, Seven Guitars, Jitney and Radio Golf. Additionally, the cast recording of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom received a 1985 Grammy Award, and Mr. Wilson received a 1995 Emmy Award nomination for his screenplay adaptation of The Piano Lesson Mr. Wilson’s early works included the one-act plays The Janitor, Recycle, The Coldest Day of the Year, Malcolm X, The Homecoming and the musical satire Black Bart and the Sacred Hills. Mr. Wilson received many fellowships and awards, including the Rockefeller and Guggenheim Fellowships in Playwriting, the Whiting Writers Award, 2003 Heinz Award, was awarded a 1999 National Humanities Medal by the President of The United States and received numerous honorary degrees from colleges and universities, as well as the only high school diploma ever issued by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. He was an alumnus of New Dramatists, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a 1995 inductee into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and on October 16, 2005, Broadway renamed the theater located at 245 West 52nd Street-The August Wilson Theatre. Additionally, Mr. Wilson was posthumously inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 2007. Mr. Wilson was born and raised in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and lived in Seattle, Washington at the time of his death. He is immediately survived by his two daughters, Sakina Ansari and Azula Carmen Wilson, and his wife, costume designer Constanza Romero.

Ron OJ Parson Director

Ron OJ Parson is a director and actor based in Chicago, Illinois. He hails from Buffalo, New York, and is a graduate of the University of Michigan’s professional theatre program. He is a resident artist at Chicago’s Court Theatre, and a company member at TimeLine Theatre. Some Chicago credits include the Chicago Theatre Company, Victory Gardens, American Blues Theater, American Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Court Theatre, Black Ensemble Theater, Congo Square Theatre, Northlight Theatre, UrbanTheatre Company, City Lit Theatre, and Writers Theatre. Regional credits include Studio Arena Theatre, Alliance, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Milwaukee Rep, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, American Players Theatre, South Coast Rep, Pasadena Playhouse, Geva Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, Roundabout Theatre, Studio Theatre, Center Stage, St. Louis Black Repertory, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, Signature Theatre (New York), Kansas City Rep, Portland Stage Company, Paul Robeson Theatre (Buffalo) Ujima Theatre Company, and Indiana Repertory Theatre, and Stratford Theatre Festival in Ontario, Canada among others. Ron would like to dedicate this production to the memory of Terry Bellamy. Ron is a member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA and SDC.

www.ronojparson.com

Shaun Motley

Scenic Designer

Shaun is thrilled to be making his debut at Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Some of his theater productions includes: Reclamation of Madison Hemings, Indiana Rep: The Rivals and Fences, American Players Theater; Red Riding Hood, Jitney, Top Dog Under Dog, and Fences: South Coast Rep; Pipeline, Alabama Shakes Festival; Three Sisters, Lower Depth Theater; Po Boy Tango, East West Players; Home, Zooman and The Sign, Signature Theatre; Lady day and Cuttin’ Up, Arena Stage. Some of his TV/Film productions includes: The Wall, College Bowl, Little Big Shots (NBC), Card Sharks, Press Your Luck, Family Food Fight, and Weakest Link (ABC), Spin The Wheel (FOX), Love Is Blind and Pressure Cooker (Netflix), Real Husbands of Hollywood (BET), Let’s Make A Deal and Superfan (CBS).

Yvonne L. Miranda Costume Designer

Yvonne (she/her) is excited to make her debut at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. A USMC war veteran she traded in her combat boots for a career in theatre artistry after returning to her hometown of Dallas, Texas where she pursued degrees in Fashion and Stage Design. Her passion for visual storytelling has led to a diverse array of work and accolades that include work in film/television and opera. She currently resides in the Chicago, IL area and has recently been nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Best Costume Design for her work on Woolly Mammoth Theatre and Baltimore Center Stage’s co-production of Ain’t No Mo. www.yvonnemirandadesigns.com

Jason Fassl

Lighting Designer

This production marks Jason’s 31st Milwaukee Rep production including, Every Brilliant Thing, Hedwig and The Angry Inch, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol and most recently Titanic. Over the last decade, Mr. Fassl has consumed mass quantities of electricity at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, The Milwaukee Ballet, American Players Theatre, First

Stage Children’s Theatre, Peninsula Players, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, Next Act Theatre, Forward Theatre Company, and many others. Jason is a member of United Scenic Artists Local#829, the Milwaukee IA Local#18 and an UW-Stevens Point Alumnus.

Andre

Pluess

Sound Designer

Broadway credits include The Minutes (Cort/ Studio 54); 33 Variations (Eugene O’Neill Theatre); I Am My Own Wife (Lyceum Theatre) and Metamorphoses (Circle in the Square). Off-Broadway credits include The Clean House (Lincoln Center); Milk Like Sugar and BFE (Playwrights Horizons). Regional credits include multiple productions with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, McCarter Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Yale Repertory, Arena Stage, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare, Court Theatre, Berkeley Repertory, Williamstown Theatre Festival, La Jolla Playhouse, The Huntington and South Coast Repertory. He’s received multiple Joseph Jefferson Awards, an Ovation Award, Drama Critics Circle Award, Barrymore Award, Helen Hayes Award, Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel nominations for composition and design. He is an ensemble member of Lookingglass Theatre Company.

Cristin Carole Movement and Intimacy Consultant

Cristin (she/her) is excited to work with Milwaukee Rep for the first time. She most recently created movement and intimacy designs for the Goodman Theater’s production of Toni Stone. Cristin has worked as a movement designer at Steppenwolf Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, American Blues Theater, and Writers Theater in Chicago. At Chicago’s Tony award-winning, Court Theatre, she was the movement consultant for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Seven Guitars, Home, Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, and the Jeff Award-winning production of Blues for an Alabama Sky. As director of the Shirley Hall Bass Foundation, she advocates for performing arts education in the Bahamas.

Jonathan Hetler Casting Director

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Jonathan is Milwaukee Rep’s Artistic Producer and oversees all casting and special events. Directing highlights include: Romeo and Juliet, Venus in Fur, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Glengarry Glen Ross, Pippin, Legally Blonde, Guys and Dolls, and the world premiere of La Mujer Barbuda. At the Rep, he has served as the Associate Director of Titanic and the annual production of A Christmas Carol. He also worked as the Assistant Director on West Side Story, The Nerd, and The Legend of Georgia McBride. He holds an MFA in Directing from Ohio University and MBA and MA in Theatre from Regent University. Jonathan is a member of SDC. @ hetlerj www.hetlerj.com

Amy M. Bertacini

Stage Manager Thru March 19

Amy is ecstatic to make her Milwaukee Rep debut for Seven Guitars. An avid reader, she spends much of her free time reading and going for long walks. Some favorite places Amy has worked at include Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Goodman Theatre, The Kennedy Center, OperaDelaware, Fulton Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, and Riverside Theatre. Some favorite shows: The Color Purple, The Wiz, 42nd Street, Elizabeth Rex, and Sweat. Many thanks to Kimberly & the Milwaukee Rep Team for such an amazing welcome. Much love to Mark & Ari for all their support.

Terence Orleans Alexander

Stage Manager March 21 - April 2

Past Milwaukee Rep Productions: Mary Stuart, Richard III, The Story. Broadway: Mary Poppins, Wicked, Newsies. Regional: Utah Shakespeare Festival (twenty seasons), Washington National Opera (seven seasons), Arizona Theatre Company, Triad Stage, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Asolo Theater. Graduate of the Professional Theatre Training Program at the University of Delaware. Proud member of Actors Equity Association.

Rebecca Lindsey Assistant Stage Manager

Becca is honored to return to the Powerhouse for this production. Other highlights from her past 15 seasons at Milwaukee Rep include last season’s As You Like It and 2020’s Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, as well as ten seasons on A Christmas Carol. Becca lives in St. Francis, and in addition to her time here and 15 summers at American Players Theatre, she’s also enjoyed working on shows at Utah Shakespeare Festival, Arkansas Rep, and Forward Theater Company.

Hannah Steele Stage Management Fellow

Hannah is ecstatic to be returning to Milwaukee Rep for another season! Some of her favorite Milwaukee Rep credits include Dad’s Season Tickets, As You Like It and Wife of a Salesman. Other credits include Every Brilliant Thing, Macbeth and Love’s Labour’s Lost (Great River Shakespeare Festival). Much love to her to friends, family, and to her cat, Korra.

William Freeman III Assistant Director

Will is proud to be working with Milwaukee Rep as a 2022/23 Season Emerging Professional Resident. From Detroit, Michigan, Will received his degree in directing from Ball State University. Favorite projects include Fun Home, workshopping new works - like Colvin by Ciara Diane and his directorial debut with Rachel Bublitz’s Burst. Will dedicates this production to his late mother, Kimette: “I’ll miss you forever and ever, and I’ll love you forever and always”

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Co-Producer

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is committed to bringing diverse, engaging works of great artistry to the community and to putting Cincinnati’s artistic excellence in the national spotlight. Founded in 1960 and a recipient of two Tony Awards — the 2004 Regional Theatre Tony Award and the 2007 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical for Company — the Playhouse is nationally known for its excellence and commitment to new works and as an artistic home for America’s best actors, directors and designers. For more than 30 years, the Playhouse has produced at least one world premiere each season. Osborn Family Producing Artistic Director Blake Robison and Managing Director Abby Marcus oversee a full-time staff of 80. In spring 2023, the Playhouse is celebrating the grand opening of its $50 million theatre complex, featuring an all-new mainstage: Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre. Visit cincyplay.com.

Mark Clements

Artistic Director

Mark is an awardwinning international theater director whose work has appeared in over 100 major theaters throughout Europe and the United States. He began his tenure as Artistic Director with the 2010/11 Season by bringing musicals to the mainstage, starting a tradition that is now the highlight of every season. Milwaukee Rep directing credits include the world premieres of One House Over, his own adaptation of the current A Christmas Carol, Five Presidents and American Song. Also directed for Milwaukee Rep: Titanic The Musical, West Side Story, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Things I Know To Be True (American Premiere), Junk, The Glass Menagerie, Of Mice and Men, Othello, Death of a Salesman, The History of Invulnerability, End of the Rainbow, Clybourne Park and Bombshells. Some of his New York and international work includes Speaking in Tongues, The Milliner and Blunt Speaking, in addition to creating and directing the West End and UK National Tour of Soul Train. Prior to joining Milwaukee Rep, Mark served as an Associate Artistic Director for several UK theater companies, most notably, Artistic Director for the award-winning Derby Playhouse in the UK from 1992-2002, where he directed over 40 productions. He has been nominated for an Olivier Award and several UK Theatre Awards, and has won three Barrymore Awards from his time at Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Mark is currently working with Ayad Akhtar on adapting his critically acclaimed novel American Dervish for the stage to make its world premiere at Milwaukee Rep in an upcoming season.

Chad Bauman Executive Director

Now in his tenth season at Milwaukee Rep, under Chad’s guidance the theater has grown significantly from a $9M to $14M organization. He’s completed two capital campaigns, one to remodel and expand the Stackner Cabaret and the other to build the endowment, launch the John (Jack) D. Lewis New Play Development Program, create a new A Christmas Carol and deepen the theater’s community engagement programs. Through his efforts, the theater has been awarded UPAF’s Good Steward Award six times and became the only performing arts organization in Wisconsin with a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Previously he was the Associate Executive Director at Arena Stage in Washington, DC, where he was instrumental in opening the Mead Center for American Theater, a 200,000 square feet, performing arts complex dedicated to American voices and playwrights. While at Arena Stage, he worked on the Broadway transfers of Next to Normal (Pulitzer Prize; Tony Award), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Tony Award), Wishful Drinking starring Carrie Fisher, in addition to the world premieres of Marcus Gardley’s Every Tongue Confess starring Phylicia Rashad and Red Hot Patriot starring Kathleen Turner. He has been named to Milwaukee Business Journal’s Top 40 under 40 and a “Friend of the Hispanic Community” by the United Community Center. He currently serves as the President of the Milwaukee Arts Partners, Vice President of the Board of Pathways High School, Treasurer of Imagine MKE and Coordinator for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion for AFS Student Exchange Programs. Bauman is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management program with a Master of Fine Arts in producing from the CalArts. He and his husband Justin live in Whitefish Bay.