“Heroes of the Night” An oral history play honoring the Written by Lesley Currier Directed by Johanna Parker Felecia Gaston & Mike Langford We are now pleased to present to you a play called “Heroes of the Night.” The play features 13 talented performers ages 7 through 14 who have practiced for the past month and half. For these young people to portray these heroes, they had to learn about their history and imagine what it would feel like to have had their experiences. We hope you enjoy “Heroes of the Night.” Performing Stars Cast List

Paperboy #1– Amaari McCoy and Selena Maldono Soldier #1- Selena Maldono and Amaari McCoy Paperboy#2 – Malaika Smith Soldier #2- Zavien Wade Paperboy #3- Wanya Williams Soldier #3- Wanya Williams President Roosevelt – Dan Nackerman Howard Williams – Daniel Vaughn – Malaika Smith Reynold D. Pruitt – Zavien Wade General Ely – Alex Hoff – Malik Smith General Marshall – Tyler Hoff Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. – Devin Burch Spann Watson- Malik Smith John J. Suggs – Adrian Shavers Man With Megaphone - Alex Hoff – Wanya Williams C. Alfred Anderson (Chief) – Wanya Williams Maury Reid - Jhanna Parker General Arnold - Tyler Hoff Captain Gwynne W. Peirson – Cordell Coleman General Weaver - Alex Hoff First Lt. Maurice V. Esters – Adrian Shavers Flight Instructor - Tyler Hoff First Lt. Lee Rayford – Malaika Smith Colonel Noel F. Parrish - Alex Hoff Louis Purnell – Zavien Wade Reporter #1– Cordell Coleman Captain Rodney Custis – Desireé Vaughn and Cordell Reporter #2 and #3- Malaika Smith Coleman Art Carter – Daniel Vaughn Captain Lemuel Custis- Amaari McCoy White Bomber - Alex Hoff Lt. Eagleson – Adrian Shavers Major Cannon – Tyler Hoff Lt. Clarence Allen – Malik Smith Lt. Lewis C. Smith - Adrian Shavers Captain Charles Hall - Cordell Coleman AUTHOR’S NOTES Charles Bailey – Desireé Vaughn

Almost all of the words in this script are quotes from real people and publications, with very minor changes. The excerpted poem “Dear Mom, This Place is a Hell of a Hole” was written by Agatha Davis, wife of Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. “Straighten Up and Fly Right” was written by Nat King Cole and Irving Mills in 1944. Musical stars of the day sang at Tuskegee for the Airmen, in U.S.O. concerts arranged by Colonel Noel F. Parrish.

Lesley Currier has been the Managing Director of Marin Shakespeare Company for the past 21 years. The company produces a main stage season of plays at the Forest Meadows Amphitheatre on the campus of Dominican University of California in San Rafael each July through September, and offers an array of educational and outreach programs year-round which serve over 4,000 students. Johanna Parker is an actor, director, teacher, audiobook narrator, and voiceover artist. A member of SAG, AFTRA, and AEA, she received her BFA in Acting from Boston University, and studied Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Performing Stars of Marin, is a non-profit organization founded in 1990, who serves underserved youth in Marin County working with local art organizations who provide professional training in the performing, visual and literary arts. www.performingstars.org

Bibliography Davis, Jr., Benjamin O. American: An Autobiography. Washington, DC: Press, 1991. Homan, Lynnn M. and Thomas Reilly. Black Knights: The Story of . Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing Company, Inc., 2001. website. http://www.tuskegee.edu/global/story.asp?s=1127695 With Colonel Davis’ Flyers in Italy by Art Carter. http://www.demovisions.com/afro2/OurWar/carter.html Marin Celebrates the Tuskegee Airmen http://www.marinij.com/ci_7430989?source=most_emailed