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Home , Jitney (play), Maria Dizzia, Metamorphoses (play), Raisin (musical), Reed Birney, Stuff Happens

About the Artists

Paul Crewes Rachel Fine Artistic Director Managing Director

AND John Legend, Get Lifted Film , Mike Jackson, Jackie Judd, The Private Theatre, Eric Falkenstein, SimonSays Entertainment, Beth Hubbard, Jamie Cesa, David Guç present JOE MORTON IN Turn Me Loose Photo by: Monique Carboni A PLAY ABOUT COMIC GENIUS DICK GREGORY CAST OF CHARACTERS JOE MORTON...... DICK GREGORY WRITTEN BY JOHN CARLIN...... COMEDIAN, HECKLER, TAXI DRIVER, INTERVIEWER, OTHERS Gretchen Law MUSIC CREDIT: FEATURING “MARCHING IN THE DARK” Performed by John Legend John Carlin Written by John Stephens, Blake Mills, & Tobias Jesso Jr. Produced by Blake Mills SCENIC DESIGN COSTUME DESIGN LIGHTING DESIGN SOUND DESIGN Engineered by Shawn Everett Chris Barreca Stephen Strawbridge Leon Rothenberg

JOE MORTON (Dick Gregory) JOHN CARLIN (Comedian/ GRETCHEN LAW (Playwright) is the author of The Adventures Of A Black Girl NY GENERAL MANAGER CASTING DRAMATURG is an Emmy® Award and Heckler/Taxi Driver/Interviewer/ five full-length plays. multiple NAACP Image Award- Others). Off-Broadway: Turn Me In Search Of Her God was adapted from a Bernard Cheryl Dennis Jack Doulin + Sharky Morgan Jenness winning film, television and Loose (Westside Theatre), Uncle Shaw story of the same title and has been approved stage veteran. Most recently, Vanya (Pearl Theatre Co.), for production by The Society of Authors. Al Sharpton PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER Morton received the Lucille America Is Hard To See (Here for President was a semi-finalist in the Eugene O’Neill Lortel Award and the Off- Arts, Jan 2018); Regional: National Playwright’s Conference, 2006. Turn Me Erin Cass Broadway Alliance Award for outstanding lead actor Oklahoma! (Bard Summerscape), Dead Accounts, Loose was workshopped by the Atlantic Theater in play, for his portrayal of Dick Gregory in New York. Time Stands Still (Hampton Theatre Co.); Film: See Company in November 2013, at New York Stage and DIRECTED BY Morton made his Broadway debut in Tony award- You Around (funnyordie.com); TV: “A Crime To Film in the summer of 2014, at New winning Hair and garnered a Tony nomination for his Remember” (Investigation Discovery). A former Workshop in September of 2014, and ran Off- John Gould Rubin performance in Raisin. He also performed in on RCA recording artist and independent solo artist Broadway at the Westside Theatre in the summer of Broadway (and in London’s West End) with Judd (“one of NYC’s better-kept secrets” - Time Out NY), 2017. Additionally, her plays, including History Hirsch and George Wendt, as well as ’s John is also a member of Reverend Billy & The Lessons and Loving Charley Pride, have been read at Stuff Happens at the National Theatre in London as Stop Shopping Gospel Choir, an activist The National Black Theater Festival, The Players, The OCTOBER 9 - NOVEMBER 12, 2017 ‘’. Morton is widely known in film for performance collective that has toured the US and National Arts Club, the Harlem Theater Company, the The Brother Lovelace Studio Theater playing the title character in the sci-fi film Europe, most recently with Joan Baez and Neil LAByrinth Theater Company and The Dramatist Guild, From Another Planet, the ill-fated scientist ‘Miles Young, and travelled to Ferguson, MO, Standing of which she is a member. She is a longtime member Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission. Dyson’ in and ‘Captain Rock, ND, and the headquarters of the EPA and of the Frank Silvera Writers Workshop. McMahon’ in Speed. The Broadway trained, FERC in Washington, DC. decorated actor has over 40 years of experience in theater, television and film, and is best known for his WARNING: This production contains strong language and the use of theatrical haze. dynamic Emmy-winning role as 'Rowan/Eli Pope' in Turn Me Loose premiered at The Westside Theatre on May 19, 2016. the groundbreaking series “Scandal” on ABC.

This production is made possible in part by generous support from The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation.

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P13 About the Artists About the Artists

JOHN GOULD RUBIN (Director) Artistic Director Nelson, Pepe, Rothman, Sher, Sullivan, Taichman, Manager for Pilobolus Dance Theater’s international of new projects, as well as worked as a dramaturg, THE PRIVATE THEATRE (Producer) founded in to be one of the producing partners for this of The Private Theater, noted for radical site-specific Woodruff, Doug Wright and the late Garland Wright. tour of Shadowland and PSM for the International workshop director, and/or artistic consultant at 1979, is dedicated to raw, intimate, radical and extraordinary production. The production fits productions, and former co-Artistic/Executive Director Forty productions with South African playwright WOW Company’s tour of Solutions:Grassroots. Erin theaters and new play programs across the country. confrontational work. History: Heiner Müller’s US squarely in our wheelhouse of content that celebrates of LAByrinth Theater Company with John Ortiz and Athol Fugard (set/costume designer and co-director). has stage managed extensively throughout the US She is currently on the adjunct faculty at Fordham premiere Philoctetes (1983,) The Maids (site-specific under-represented communities through stories of Philip Seymour Hoffman, for which he directed 7 plays Hilferty designs for opera, film, dance, circus and Europe. She has also worked in film and University. In 1998, Jenness joined Helen Merrill Ltd. 4th fl walkup, NYC for 12 aud/perf,1985,) An Unseen the highest artistic integrity. including premieres by John Patrick Shanley and Erin (Ringling Brothers) and concerts (Taylor Swift). She television production in NY and LA. She holds her BA as Creative Director and subsequently held a position Energy Swallows Space (1985,) Our Father by Simonsaysentertainment.com Cressida Wilson. His production in August of American chairs Graduate Design NYU/Tisch. in Theater from Louisiana State University (1998) and in the Literary Department at Abrams Artists Agency. Michael Stephens (NY, London, Edinburgh, 1982- Buffalo with Treat Williams and Stephen Adly Guirgis Susanhilferty.com her MFA in Producing and Stage Management from In 2003, Jenness was presented with an 6), The Last American in Paris (devised, 1987 Ann BETH HUBBARD (Producer) TV/Film Producer sold out at The Dorset Theater Festival, where he CalArts (2002). Special Citation for Longtime Support of Playwrights Arbor, MI and NY,) Jesus Hopped The ‘A’ Train (2000, Beth Hubbard’s career began at The Mount Company directed Outside Mullingar with equal success two STEPHEN STRAWBRIDGE (Lighting Design) and is a current recipient of the Duke Impact Award. original LAByrinth production, Edinburgh), The in production on Bull Durham and Tequila Sunrise. seasons ago. He’s directed throughout NYC and has designed over 200 productions on and off CHERYL DENNIS (New York General Manager) Fartiste (2006, NYFringe, “Outstanding She supervised Sean Penn’s directorial debut, Indian Europe at Rattlestick, Ma-Yi, Soho Theatre in London Broadway and at most major regional theater and has worked as a general, company and theatre JOHN LEGEND (Producer) Ohio-born John Musical,”) Hedda Gabler (2010, site-specific Runner starring Vigo Mortensen and Patricia and The Public among others, notably Peer Gynt at The opera companies across the US. Internationally his manager for the past 15 years on over 30 Legend is a critically acclaimed, multi-award winning, townhouse, NYC) Strindberg’s Playing With Arquette. As an independent producer she International Ibsen Festival in , Norway, Playing work has been seen in Bergen, , The distinguished and award winning productions. As platinum-selling singer-songwriter. His work has Fire (deconstructed/multi-media, 1012, The produced RITUAL starring Clarence Williams and With Fire (a deconstruction of Strindberg’s one-act Hague, Hong Kong, Linz, Lisbon, Munich, Naples, Sao General Manager - White Rabbit Rabbit, A garnered him ten Grammy® Awards, an Academy BoxNYC,) Turning Page (Angelica Page, about her Denise Nicholas (Ventura Films), Woo starring Jada about wife swapping, voyeurism and exhibitionism at Paulo, Stratford-upon-Avon (RSC), Stockholm, Vienna Queen for a Day, Consent, Reading Under The Award, a Golden Globe Award and the special mother, Geraldine,) Cherry Lane Theater, Pinkett (New Line Cinema) and Runteldat starring The Box, the notorious sex ,) Queen For A Day and Wroclaw. Recent: American Buffalo, with Treat Influence, Treasure Island, In The Daylight, Stain. As Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, 2012. Present plans: Rocco, Chelsea, Adriana, Sean, Martin Lawrence (MTV/Paramount). Hubbard with David Proval and Vincent Pastore at St. Clements Williams; Hamlet and Richard II, with Robert Sean Company Manager - Broadway: Barefoot In The among others. Legend is a principal at Get Lifted Film Claudia, Gianna, Alex (devised, about the political produced a series of reality specials entitled "Almost and The Cherry Orchard with Ellen Burstyn at The Leonard, at The Old Globe; Happy Days, with Dianne Park, Steel Magnolias, Frozen, Golda’s Balcony, Co., an entertainment production company based in polarization of America,) a radical re-conception Famous" for TV 1 and Executive Produced the APT Actors Studio. Current projects: Rocco, Chelsea, etc. a Wiest, at Theatre for a New Audience; Athol Fugard’s ‘night Mother, , True West, Russell . of Ibsen’s A Doll House and Erotica 2.0. In the animated series, "The Zula Patrol". She recently devised project about the consciousness of conflict Master Harold and the Boys for Signature Theatre Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam; Off-Broadway: tick, tick, coming year, The Private Theatre will be creating a completed production on the documentary entitled and the American Political Divide and an Afro- (Drama Desk nomination); and ’s Scenes boom!, Altar Boyz, Jesus Hopped the A Train, Our GET LIFTED FILM CO. (Producer) is an theater and activist residential retreat in both upstate The Rape of Recy Taylor which just debuted at the German production of Hedda Gabler in . Mr. from Court Life at . Dance: Lady of 121st Street, Play and The Last Five entertainment production company based in Los NY and midtown . theprivatetheatre.org Venice and New York Film Festivals. Hubbard is Rubin is honored to have worked on developing and Pilobolus Dance Theatre, Alison Chase performance Years. Cheryl currently house manages Circle in the Angeles that has sold projects to networks including currently shooting the definitive documentary on producing as well as directing Turn Me Loose since and others. Nominations and awards: American Square Theatre and has previously served on the ABC, FOX, HBO, Showtime, MTV, and WGN America. ERIC FALKENSTEIN (Producer) develops and Arthur Ashe and producing The Wallis' production of first approaching Dick Gregory in 2009 and for which Theatre Wing, Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, board of the Fordham University Theatre Department. Get Lifted is dedicated to developing material for produces issue-driven theater, film and events Turn Me Loose starring Joe Morton. he was nominated by fellow directors of the SDC for Connecticut Critics Circle, Dallas-Fort Worth Theater television, film, and theatre that lifts awareness and relating to human rights, civil rights and the the Joe Calloway Award as best Director, 2016. Critics Forum, Drama Desk, Helen Hayes, Henry JACK DOULIN + SHARKY (Casting) Jack has inspires change across all audiences. They are environment. He is currently working with ADDITIONAL STAFF Hewes Design and Lucille Lortel. He is Co-chair of the been the Casting Director at New York Theatre Executive Producers on WGN’s critically acclaimed associates of Martin King, Jr. on a play ASSOCIATE COSTUME DESIGNER: Sarita Fellows CHRIS BARRECA (Scenic Design) Broadway; Design Department at Yale School of Drama and Workshop since 2000. Productions include: Love and drama series “Underground”. about the Movement and developing Dotson PROPERTIES SUPERVISOR: Zach Istrin Rocky (2014 Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics resident lighting designer at Yale Repertory Theatre. Information, Peter and the Starcatcher, Homebody/ Rader’s God Looked Away with and WARDROBE SUPERVISOR: Taylor Moten Circle),Search and Destroy, Our Country’s Good, Kabul, Far Away, A Number, Hedda Gabler, The MIKE JACKSON (Producer) A native of Judith Light. Eric is the recipient of seven PRODUCTION ASST/ASM: Claire Mazzeo Marie Christine, The Violet Hour, Marquez’s LEON ROTHENBERG (Sound Designer) Recent Misanthrope and The Little Foxes. Other NYC Philadelphia, Jackson began his career in advertising Tony© Awards and was honored by The Harlem Chronicle of a Death Foretold (American Theatre LA: Our Town at Pasadena Playhouse. Select highlights include two notable productions of Uncle in New York and worked on several Broadway Arts Alliance for producing Sarah Jones’s Bridge & NEW YORK CREDITS Wing). Off-Broadway: Painted Rocks, The Train Broadway: A Doll’s House Part 2, Violet, The Realistic Vanya: Andre Gregory’s production with Julianne campaigns including : The Musical. Jackson Tunnel. Broadway and London include: All My CASTING: Jack Doulin + Sharky Driver, Blood Knot, Three Days of Rain (Drama Joneses, The Nance (Tony Award), , Joe Moore and Wallace Shawn (filmed by Louis Malle as founded Cojax Entertainment Group, an Sons; Bridge & Tunnel; ;The Color MARKETING: Walk Tall Girl Desk nomination), Everett Beekin, Bernarda Alba, Turner’s Come and Gone (Tony Nom). Vanya on ), and Baker’s adaptation entertainment and management company that Purple; Coram Boy; The Country Girl; ; ADVERTISING: The Pekoe Group Roberto Zucco, Neon Psalms (American Theater Regional: Spoleto Festival, Huntington, A.C.T., with Reed Birney, Maria Dizzia and , represented Oscar and Grammy® award-winning Democracy; ; ; Long Day’s PUBLIC RELATIONS: Richard Kornberg & Associates Wing nomination), Opera: Matsukaze (Lincoln Portland Center Stage, , Seattle Rep, La directed by Sam Gold. For SoHo Rep: Blasted, A artist John Legend. After CEG, he returned to filmed Journey Into Night; The Miracle Worker; The Center/Spoleto), Peach Blossom Fan, Soyinka’s Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe, Folger Shakespeare Public Reading...Disney, Marie Antoinette. Film: New entertainment and became partner at Get Lifted Film Norman Conquests; Ragtime; Thurgood; Whoopi. Follow the play on Scourge of Hyacinths (BMW Award Nomination). Library, Long Wharf, McCarter, Williamstown Theater Orleans, Mon Amour directed by Michael Almereyda based in Los Angeles. Film: The Butler; On Coal River; Tadaima; The , & Instagram: Regional: Culture Clash’s The Birds, Charles Festival, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, and Jonathan Demme’s A Master Builder. Sharky, Jingoist; The Inevitable Defeat. @TURNMELOOSEPLAY Hedda Gabler, Twilight: Los JACKIE JUDD Ludlum’s Smith’s Merrimack Repertory, Delaware Theater Company, also known as Taylor Williams, serves as the Casting (Producer) is a producer, dramaturg TURNMELOOSEPLAY.COM Angeles. Internationally: King Lear (Dijon Festival), New York Stage and Film, Two River Theater, Associate at New York Theatre Workshop. Together and investor. She has served on the Boards of the SIIMONSAYS ENTERTAINMENT (Producer) Stephen Dillane’s Solo Macbeth (Almeida, North Shore Music Theater, Theatre By The Sea. they recently cast: Oklahoma! (Bard SummerScape), LAByrinth Theater Company, The Edge and The Private develops theater, film and web-based content. London). Directing: Dachniki, (Золотой Софит Select New York/Off-Broadway: Second Stage, New Scenes from a Marriage (NYTW); You Got Older (P73); Theatre. With her partner, director John Ferraro, she Broadway: Hughie, Gin Game, A Gentleman’s Guide Nomination, Russia). York City Center, , Public City of Conversation (Arena Stage); An Octoroon has developed, commissioned and/or produced more to Love & Murder (Tony© Award), Porgy & Bess (Tony© Theater, Culture Project, Tectonic. Tours/ (Soho Rep and TFANA); Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again than a half-dozen plays for both commercial Off Award), Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike (Tony© SUSAN HILFERTY (Costume Design) Over 300 International: Dirty Dancing, Cirque du Soleil. (Soho Rep); Red Speedo (NTYW); and the upcoming -Broadway and some of New York’s most esteemed Award, Drama Desk, New Drama Critics and Outer productions across the globe. Wicked earned her the Faculty, CalArts. klaxson.net (NYTW). not-for-profit theaters. Jackie has also invested in Critics Circle Awards), Jitney (Tony© Award) and A triple crown- Tony, OCC and Drama Desk awards. Her several Broadway shows including , Catch Me Streetcar Named Desire (AEA Diversity Award). Off- many other awards include 2017 Tony nomination, ERIN CASS (Stage Manager) has proudly been a MORGAN JENNESS (Dramaturg) Over a decade If You Can, Legally Blonde, Cinderella, The Heiress, Broadway: Bedlam’s Hamlet and Joan of Arc (Off- 2017 Lucille Lortel Award and OBIE (Sustained part of the the Turn Me Loose team from the at the New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe and Disgraced. Special Broadway Alliance Award – Best Revival). Film Excellence in Design). Directorial beginning, most recently as the PSM for the Turn Me with both Joseph Papp and George C. Wolfe, in thanks to Armondo Acosta. projects include critically acclaimed films “Night include Akalaitis, Alágic, Laurie Anderson, Arbus, Loose Off Broadway run at the Westside Theater in various capacities including Director of Play Catches Us,” “Gun Hill Road,” “Blue Caprice” and Ashley, Bobbie, Bogart, Eustis, Edelstein, Elliot, Ellis, NY. Other credits include PSM for the Off- Broadway Development and Associate Producer. She also “Mother of George” (all Sundance premiers), as well Falls, Farber, Galati, Hynes, Kushner, Lamos, Lapine, premiere of Queen For A Day, directed by John served Associate Artistic Director at the NY Theater as “25 to Life” (American Black Film Fest - Best Doc), Mann, Mantello, Mayer, McAnuff, McClinton, Richard Gould Rubin; Production Manager and Stage Workshop, Associate Director at the LA Theater Center “King Cobra” and “Live Cargo.” SimonSays is proud

P14 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P15 About the Production

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Reg e Cathey, Rebecca Adelsheim, Jason Baruch, Daniel Beaty, Len Berkman, Christian Cummings, André de Shields, Livia Di Paolis, Julia Drachman, Danny Feldman, Tom Fontana, Luke Forbes, Liz Frankel, Maxine Gordon, David Guc, Chris Holland, Laura Hughes and Samuel Rubin, Russell Jones, Becca Kahane, Ellen Krass, Joe Levy, Julia Miller, Theodore Myles, Jim Nicola, Richard O’Brien, Mimi O’Donnell, John Papanek, Chris Parker, Neil Pepe, Cree Quaker, Johanna Pfaelzer, Kristina Poe, Travis Preston, Mark Sendroff, Marc Shaiman, Mikki Shephard, Arleen Sorkin and Christopher Lloyd, Sarah Ellen Stephens, Charles Turner, Scott Wittman, Charles Randolph Wright, The Theater, The Atlantic Theater ABOUT DICK GREGORY Company, California Institute of the DICK GREGORY was born October 12, 1932, in St. Louis, Mo. He Arts, LAByrinth Theater Company, was one of America’s most brilliant comedians and civil rights Los Angeles LGBT Center, New York Stage & Film, and New York Theater activists whose social satire changed the way whites perceived Workshop, Elliott Osagie, Czekaj Black comedians. He was so successful when the Club Artistic Productions, Peter Askin, Jamie booked him to replace a white comedian that the Club offered DeRoy, Mike Fine, Ken Wirth, Susan & him a contract for 3 years afterwards. His biography wouldn’t be Elinor Tatum, Richard Winkler, Marcia complete without saying that his wife, Lil, and he had 10 children. Pendelton, Lawrence Ballard, Keith Randall-Smith, Russell Jordan, Harriet His style was detached, ironic, satirical and drew on current D. Foy, Erin Cherry, Clifton Jeffrey events for much of his material. He always demonstrated a Dunn, April Thompson, Nenman Walbe strong sense of social justice, and took part in the Civil Rights Movement, using his celebrity status to draw attention to The actors and stage injustice. His autobiography, Nigger, became a #1 best-selling managers employed in this book. His choice for the title was explained as “Whenever you production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, hear the word ‘Nigger’, you’ll know they’re advertising my book.” the union of professional In 2015, he received his Hollywood Star. actors and stage managers in the United States. Gregory died on August 19, 2017. That morning, in the hospital room in which he died, a hospital orderly took it upon himself to alter the caregivers’ white board. The Designers at this Theatre are Represented by Under the heading ‘What I would like you to know about me,’ he United Scenic Artists • Local USA 829 wrote a profound but simple and perfectly accurate statement: of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees

• HEALTH GURU we are proud to support the • COMEDIAN Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts • CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST and the 2017 - 2018 season

• LEGEND GEORGIE | SPA MONTAGE | £10 | THE ROOFTOP GRILL | THE GARDEN BAR

P16 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE MONTAGEHOTELS.COM