By Dominique Morisseau YESTERDAY's Stories. TODAY's
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Yesterday’S STORIES. Today’S TOPICS. artistic director PJ Powers | managing director Elizabeth K. Auman MIDWEST PREMIERE by Dominique Morisseau directed by Ron OJ Parson+, SDC original music composed by Orbert Davis scenic and lighting design by Brian Sidney Bembridge^, U.S.A. costume design by Christine Pascual, U.S.A. sound design by Christopher A. Kriz, U.S.A. properties design by Mary O’Dowd dramaturgy by Jared Bellot stage management by Richard Lundy* featuring Tyla Abercrumbie*^, Ronald L. Conner*, Charles Andrew Gardner*^, Kristin E. Ellis and Al’Jaleel McGhee May 4 - July 23, 2017 (previews 4/26 - 5/3) TimeLine’s Midwest premiere of Paradise Blue is supported in part by Additional support is provided by The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation. Paradise Blue is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. The World Premiere of Paradise Blue was produced by the Williamstown Theatre Festival in July, 2015. Mandy Greenfield, Artistic Director; Stephen M. Kaus, Producer. * Member of Actors’ Those designers and scenic Equity Association, the artists identified by U.S.A. are union of professional actors members of United Scenic Artists, and stage managers IATSE Local 829, AFL-CIO + TimeLine Company Member ^ TimeLine Associate Artist TimeLine Theatre Company | 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago, IL 60657 773.281.TIME (8463) phone | timelinetheatre.com TimeLine is a member of the League of Chicago Theatres, Choose Chicago, the Belmont Theatre District, and Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre. cast Tyla Abercrumbie*^.................................................................................................... Silver Ronald L. Conner* ........................................................................................................ Corn Charles Andrew Gardner*^ ...................................................................................... P-Sam Kristin E. Ellis ......................................................................................................... Pumpkin Al’Jaleel McGhee ......................................................................................................... Blue * Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers ^ TimeLine Associate Artist Understudies: Taylor Barfield (Corn), Ti Nicole Danridge (Silver), Bernard Gilbert (Blue, P-Sam), and India Gurley (Pumpkin). Understudies will never substitute for a listed player unless an announcement is posted at the performance. Original music performed by Orbert Davis and members of Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, featuring Rajiv Halim; recorded and mixed by Roger Heiss at Tone Zone Studio, Chicago. TIME AND SETTING: Detroit, Michigan, in a small Black community formerly known as Black Bottom, on the downtown strip known as Paradise Valley. Paradise Club. 1949. WARNING: Peanuts will be consumed onstage during this production. ADVISORY: This production includes scenes of violence, multiple gunshots and strong language, as well as the use of e-cigarettes and haze. production staff Assistant Director .................................................................................. Taylor Barfield Fight Choreographer ...................................................................................... Joe Foust Lobby Display Designer ............................................................................... Dina Spoerl Production Assistant ...............................................................................Sara Thornton Wardrobe Supervisor ............................................................................Taylor Lumpkin Assistant Dramaturg..................................................................................Fatima Sowe Assistant Production Manager ...................................................................Gabby Welsh Technical Director ....................................................................................Tom Chandler Assistant Technical Director ......................................................................... Dylan Jost Scenic Artist ...................................................................................... Steph Charaska Costume Shop Supervisor ......................................................................... Emily Arnold Master Electrician ............................................................................... Neal Javenkoski Assistant Master Electrician ...................................................................... Cedar Larson Sound Engineer ......................................................................................... Ben Zeman The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production or distributing recordings on any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author’s rights and actionable under United States copyright law. 2 PROGRAM special thanks This production owes special thanks to numerous individuals and organizations for their time, talents and support, including: Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, 4529 Prop Shop, Miranda Anderson, Mathias Blake, Billy Borst, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, Nicholas Coso, Orbert Davis and the band, Cory Drewry, Jake Engram, Meghan Erxleben, Nate Flemming, Mara Franzen, Samantha Gee, Andrew Glasenhardt, Berit Godo, The Green Mill, Roger Heiss, Stan Hicks, John Kelly & Strawdog Theatre, Joe and Kathleen Kusper, Leo & Keys 4/4 Kids, David Moreland, Lara Musard, Cameron Petti, Joseph Pilka, Jim Prohaska, Rainbo Club, Johnnie Schleyer, Matt Schoeff & North- West Drapery, Chris Scholtens, Tyler Skafgaard, Birdie Soti, The Theatre of Western Springs, Jennifer Thompson, Tone Zone Studio, David Trudeau, and Henri Watkins. TimeLine would also like to acknowledge the following for their contributions: Jay Kelly, L.C. Williams & Associates ..................................... Public Relations Consultant Mann Weitz and Associates LLC ................................................................ Audit Services The Saints ..................................................................................................... Ushering Sterling Strategies .................................................... Strategic Management Consultants conversation TimeLine Theatre’s mission is about exploring history and generating discussion about its connection to today’s social and political issues. We share historical information and provide inspiration for conversation through this Backstory program book, the interactive theatre lobby experience, discussion events, our blog Behind the ‘Line, and more. Explore all the resources available at timelinetheatre.com/paradise-blue. FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA TimeLine Theatre is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube at the handle TimeLineTheatre. Don’t forget to tag us and use the hashtag #ParadiseBlue. Download our FREE app Visit your Apple or Android store and search “TimeLine Theatre” to extend our immersive and interactive theatrical experience to your mobile device! With access anytime and anywhere, you’ll be able to get updates and tickets for current productions, ben- efit from exclusive deals and offers, watch our latest videos, learn about special programs and events, enjoy behind-the-scenes features, and much more! PLUS you can explore our custom “At the Event” section, specially designed to enhance your experience seeing TimeLine productions. PROGRAM 3 biographies TYLA ABERCRUMBIE (Silver) CHARLES ANDREW GARD- is an Associate Artist and NER (P-Sam) is a TimeLine member of the Playwrights Associate Artist and Living Collective at TimeLine, where History teaching artist who she was last seen in IN previously appeared at Time- DARFUR and also assistant Line in MY KIND OF TOWN directed A RAISIN IN THE SUN (Black Theatre Alliance Award and directed the TimePieces nomination for Best Actor), for play reading of REPAIRING which he was named one of A NATION. Regional credits include work at Writers, the Chicago Tribune’s 2012 “Hot New Faces to Watch.” Asolo Repertory, Court, Next, Northlight, Actors Theatre Other theatre credits include OBJECTS IN THE MIRROR, of Louisville, Milwaukee Repertory, AWCCT, Goodman, STOP. RESET. (u/s) and BUZZER (u/s, Goodman); Chicago Shakespeare, Portland Theatre Company, HOW LONG WILL I CRY (Steppenwolf); MACBETH and Coronet, St. Louis Black Repertory, Studio Arena, Onyx OTHELLO (The Suitcase Shakespeare Company); and Theatre Ensemble, and many more. Television credits THE GREAT FIRE (u/s, Lookingglass). On-camera cred- include SHRINK (Seeso TV), EMPIRE (FOX), EASY (Net- its include CHICAGO P.D. (NBC); films OLYMPIA, THE flix), CRISIS, MOB DOCTOR, DETROIT 187, CHICAGO DEFILED, and HOLDING ON; and multiple national com- CODE, SHAMELESS and PRIVATE PRACTICE. Tyla holds mercials. Charles is Vice President of Creative Cypher a BA degree in Theatre from Columbia College Chicago. and a Chicago Local SAG-AFTRA board member. He received his BFA degree in Acting from Northern RONALD L. CONNER (Corn) Illinois University. Charles is signed with NV Talent. is making his TimeLine debut. Visit @CharlesAndrewGardner. Ron is a proud ensemble member of Congo Square KRISTIN E. ELLIS (Pump- Theatre, where he was most kin) is making her TimeLine recently seen in A SMALL OAK debut. Past credits include TREE RUNS RED and KING WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS HEDLEY II. Other Chicago (Black Theatre Alliance Award credits include SS! TWELFTH nomination for Best Featured NIGHT and