02-15 She a Gem.qxp_WPAS 2/7/19 3:35 PM Page 1

FAMILY THEATER February 15 –24, 2019 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents A World Premiere Kennedy Center Commission She A Gem Written by Josh Wilder Directed by Paige Hernandez With Moriamo Temidayo Akibu, Aakhu TuahNera Freeman, Heather Gibson, Alicia Grace, and Kashayna Johnson Choreographer Double-Dutch Coach Scenic Designer Jocelyn Isaac Ebony Ingram Debra Kim Sivigny

Costume Designer Lighting and Projections Sound Designer Sarah Woodham Designer Kenny Neal Rob Siler Assistant Scenic Designer Production Stage Emily Lotz Assistant Director Manager Michael Mobley Rachael Danielle Albert Casting Director Michelle Kozlak General Manager Harry Poster Executive Director Mario Rossero Producing Director David Kilpatrick

Part of The Human Journey Exploration . Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by Bank of America. Additional support for She A Gem is provided by Adobe Foundation, The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Macy’s Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; Washington Gas; and by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. Major support for the Kennedy Center’s educational programs is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program . The contents of this document do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Patrons are requested to turn off cell phones and other electronic devices during performances. The taking of photographs and the use of recording equipment are not allowed in this auditorium. 02-15 She a Gem.qxp_WPAS 2/7/19 3:35 PM Page 2

PROGRAM NOTE

Welcome to the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences’s production of She A Gem. Jump into our story about three teenagers in Philadelphia on a double-dutch team whose worlds are changed when a pregnant teen from North Philly comes to town.

This world premiere Kennedy Center commission from playwright Joshua Wilder, in collaboration with artful director Paige Hernandez, is the first production to result from a commissioning project based on the 2018–2019 season theme, The Human Journey. The Human Journey, a collaboration between the Kennedy Center, National Geographic Society, and National Gallery of Art, invites audiences to investigate the powerful experiences of migration, exploration, identity, and resilience through the lenses of the performing arts, science, and visual art. Wilder’s powerful piece draws on all aspects of the human journey to explore the lives of four young black women poised between their past and their future. This story asks the important question, what does it mean to be a part of a family and a community, and who will become the Gem?

We encourage you to stay for our post-show Deep Dive to help better unpack the themes of She A Gem.

If you have comments or questions about the show or would like to share feedback, please contact Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information on our season!

@KenCenTYA SYNOPSIS

Three teenagers—Krystin, Jaleesa, and Amber—form a double-dutch team in inner city Philadelphia to compete in their neighborhood pageant.

Then they meet a smart, pregnant teen from North Philly who can jump double- dutch almost better than any of them. Just as the girls anticipate learning about their futures, they’ll learn something important about her past that affects them all. 02-15 She a Gem.qxp_WPAS 2/7/19 3:35 PM Page 3

CAST

(in order of appearance) Kashayna Johnson ...... Krystin Heather Gibson ...... Jaleesa Alicia Grace ...... Amber Aakhu TuahNera Freeman ...... Topaz Moriamo Temidayo Akibu ...... Symone Alicia Grace ...... Amber Whitney Geohagan ...... Understudy Tamieka Chavis ...... Understudy

She A Gem is a professional pro - UNITED SCENIC ARTISTS duction employing members represents the designers and of Actors’ Equity Association. scenic painters for the American Theatre.

Please check houseboards for any program changes.

MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM

Josh Wilder (Playwright) is a play - for its 50th season. M.F.A.: Yale School wright from Philadelphia. His work has of Drama. been developed and produced at various regional theaters and festivals across Paige Hernandez (Director) is a multi - the country including The Fire This disciplinary artist who is critically Time Festival; New York Theatre Work - acclaimed as a performer, director, cho - shop; Great Plains Theatre Conference; reographer, and playwright. As an AEA the Kennedy Center; Oregon Shakespeare equity actress, Hernandez has per - Festival; 2015 O’Neill National Playwrights formed on many stages throughout the Conference; Milwaukee Rep; Company country. She has collaborated with the One; and InterAct Theatre Company. Lincoln Center and has been commis - Recent commissions include, Love’s sioned by several companies including Labour’s Lost for Play On! at Oregon the National New Play Network, the Shakespeare Festival and She A Gem for Smithsonian, the Kennedy Center, and the Kennedy Center. He is the recipient the Glimmerglass Festival. She is the of the Holland New Voices Award, The recipient of an Individual Artist Award Lorraine Hansberry Award, and an from the Maryland State Arts Council as ASCAP Cole Porter Prize. Wilder is a well as two Helen Hayes nominations former 2014 Jerome Fellow and the first for choreography and performance. national recipient of the Jerome Many Hernandez has also been named a Voices Fellowship at The Playwrights’ “classroom hero” by The Huffington Post , Center. Wilder has been in residence at a Citizen Artist Fellow with the Kennedy The Royal Court Theatre in London; Center, 40 under 40 by The Washington Sundance at UCross; and served as co- Post , and one of Six Theatre Workers artistic director at The Yale Cabaret You Should Know by American Theatre 02-15 She a Gem.qxp_WPAS 2/7/19 3:35 PM Page 4

MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM

Magazine . With her company B-FLY she majored in dance. While at the ENTERTAINMENT, Hernandez con - Academy, she was afforded opportuni - tinues to develop and tour original work ties to be trained by internationally internationally. paigehernandez.com acclaimed dancers and choreographers including Randy Duncan, Anna Paskevska, Jocelyn Isaac (Choreographer) is a lec - Nick Pupillo, and many others. In 2009 turer at Howard University, and holds Ingram moved to Washington, D.C., to an M.F.A. in dance from SUNY Purchase attend Howard University where she College Conservatory of Dance and a majored in history with a focus on Africa B.F.A. in dance from Temple University and the diaspora. She continued her in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where dance training independently and devel - she trained with the second company of oped her voice as a choreographer Philadanco!, Danco2. Her dance train - through the many opportunities afforded ing includes: Ballet Theatre of Maryland, to her including choreographing for the Mark Morris Dance Group, Alvin Ailey DC Hip Hop Theater Festival as well as American Dance Theater, and the Con - dancing for DC Jazz Festival. Most temporary Dance Company of Cuba. recently she was awarded The Miya Performance credits: The Chocolate Hisaka Choreographers Incubator grant Nutcracker at the Lincoln Theatre, D.C.; for her work Altar . All Shook Up , Annie , and South Pacific at the Jenny Wiley Theatre, Kentucky Debra Kim Sivigny (Scenic Designer) is (dance captain); The Christmas Spectacular a costume and scenic designer, company at La Comedia Theatre, Ohio; FAME at member at Rorschach Theatre, and a the Surflight Theatre, New Jersey; producing playwright with the Welders Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Minnesota; Playwrights Collective. Recent D.C. Tiger Lily in Jenny Wiley Theatre’s Peter design credits include costumes for Sing Pan ; June in Chicago at the Media to Me Now at Rorschach Theatre, Small Theatre, Pennsylvania; Dynamite and Mouth Sounds at Round House Theatre, Lil Inez understudy in Hairspray aboard Swimming With Whales at 1st Stage, John Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas; at Signature Theatre, Every Brilliant Guys and Dolls at the Olney Theater Thing at Olney Theatre Center, and sce - Center, Maryland; and The Wiz at Ford’s nic designs for Big River at Adventure Theatre, D.C. (dance captain). Isaac Theatre and Twilight LA: 1992 at Rep choreographed UP! Dance Project , D.C.; Stage. In fall 2017 she wrote and set DeRail the Underground Truth , at the designed Hello, My Name Is... a critically Atlas Performing Arts Center, D.C.; and acclaimed immersive event about for performances at Hershey Park, Korean adoptees. Her fabrication work Montgomery College’s Summer Din- has also been experienced at Drink ner Theatre, and The International Company’s Game of Thrones Pub and the Association of Blacks in Dance Con - Royal Wedding Pub. She received the ference, Louisiana. Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Set Design for Forgotten Kingdoms at Ebony Ingram (Double-Dutch Coach) Rorschach Theatre. She is a new faculty was born and raised on the south side of member of George Mason University’s Chicago, Illinois. She began her dance School of Theater. Debsivigny.com training at Studio One at the age of 13. At 14 she auditioned and was accepted into Sarah Woodham (Costume Designer) the Chicago Academy for the Arts where Behind the sheet at Ensemble Studio 02-15 She a Gem.qxp_WPAS 2/7/19 3:35 PM Page 5

MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM

Theater . She is also a recent graduate of Repertory Theatre); and Les Misérables Yale School of Drama, where her credits and Red (Riverside Theatre). Assistant: include Field Guide , The Hour of Great A Delicate Balance, The Front Page Mercy , ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore , and Amy (Broadway); Broadway Center Stage: In and the Orphans . Other credits include the Heights (the Kennedy Center); The Styx Songs (Yale Cabaret), Phaedra’s Prince of Egypt (Tuacahn Ampitheatre); Love , and Adam Geist (Yale Summer The Invisible Hand , In the Heights, Carousel Cabaret). She holds a B.F.A. in fashion (Olney Theatre Center); and Three and design from The University of Sisters (Studio Theatre, DC). B.F.A. from Trinidad and Tobago (Caribbean Academy Shenandoah University, M.F.A. from of Fashion and Design), where she University of Maryland. Love and designed An Echo in the Bone for The thanks to Colleen. www.silerlights.com Trinidad Theatre Workshop. Emily Lotz (Assistant Scenic Designer) is Kenny Neal (Sound Designer). The a freelance designer based in Wash- Kennedy Center: Digging Up Dessa ; ington, D.C., and a current instructor at Constellation: The Master and Margarita ; the University of Maryland, College Signature: Heisenberg , John , and The Park. Credits include She Stoops to Gulf ; Theater J: Becoming Dr. Ruth ; Conquer at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Studio: Straight White Men, Jumpers for Company, Peter & the Starcatcher at The Goalposts , and Choir Boy ; 1st Stage: Jesus Redhouse, Always... Patsy Cline at Mil - Hopped the ‘A’ Train , Well , Floyd Collins, waukee Repertory Theater, Princess & Old Wicked Songs* , and Bat Boy; Taffety the Pauper: A Bollywood Tale at Imagination Punk: Pramkicker and Mom Baby God ; Stage, as well as Love and Information NextStop Theatre: Eurydice; Flying V: and The Wild Party at the University of Brother Mario ; Pinky Swear: Lizzie! ; Maryland, College Park. Recent credits Adventure Theatre MTC: Frosty the include Three Sister/No Sisters at Studio Snowman , Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook*, Theater, Macbeth at Chicago Shakespeare Aladdin & The Wonderful Lamp, The Lion, Theater, Cinderella at Imagination Stage, The Witch & The Wardrobe, Jumanji , and and Born Yesterday at Ford’s Theatre. For The Emperor’s Nightingale. *Helen Hayes more information on Lotz’s work please Award nomination for sound design . visit her website at emilylotzdesign.com.

Rob Siler (Lighting and Projections Michael Mobley (Assistant Director) is Designer). Kennedy Center: Night Train excited to continue working with the 57 (Family Theater) and Bhoomi (Mil - Theater for Young Audiences depart - lennium Stage). Off-Broadway: Occupied ment at the Kennedy Center. He is so Territories (59E59). Regional (select grateful to be a part of an important credits): Damascus, Becoming Dr. Ruth, piece of theater that puts a spotlight on Disgraced , and Outside Mullingar (Florida lives we barely see on the stage. His one- Repertory Theatre); Erminia/The En - act play, Caroline’s Bakery , was a 2018 chanted Forest (Opera Lafayette); Brook - regional finalist for the John Cauble lyn , Bonnie & Clyde , and Urinetown Award for Outstanding Short Play. His (Monu mental Theatre Company); Orfeo other one-act, Freedom , was read at the ed Euridice and Orphée aux enfers KCACTF Region 2 festival. His full- (Maryland Opera Studio); Floyd Collins length play, Modern-Day Saints, or The and Into the Woods (Weathervane Sanctified Ones , was developed at Frostburg 02-15 She a Gem.qxp_WPAS 2/7/19 3:35 PM Page 6

MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM

State University. Recently Mobley was director and founder of Arts on the awarded a residency at the Atlantic Horizon, a nonprofit theater company Center for the Arts. specifically designed for children ages 0-6 in Alexandria, Virginia. Michele Kozlak (Casting Director) , in her 12th season as casting director, is Rachael Danielle Albert (Stage Mana - responsible for casting the Kennedy ger) is thrilled to be making her Kennedy Center’s Theater for Young Audiences Center TYA debut with She a Gem . Other in-house and touring productions, as Kennedy Center credits: Bright Star . well as the New Visions/New Voices new Regional credits: Botticelli in the Fire play festival. In addition to her work (Woolly Mammoth); The Wolves (Studio with the Kennedy Center, she has also Theater); Native Gardens , A Raisin in the served as the casting director for the Sun , Watch on the Rhine , Erma Bombeck: VSA Playwrights Discovery Program At Wit’s End , and The City of Conversation productions (2008–2011), and a casting (Arena Stage); Seize the King , Up Here , consultant for the NSO Pops Showboat Ether Dome , and Peer Gynt (La Jolla Concert, and the National Gallery of Playhouse); Rich Girl (The Old Globe); Art’s productions of Color’s Garden, Sylvia and Souvenir (New London Barn Forward, 54th! , and Who’s in the Hopper. Playhouse); and The Last Days of Judas Prior to her work as a casting director, Iscariot (Stage 773). New York credits she was the national touring coordina - include: The Roads to Home (Primary tor for the Kennedy Center’s Theater for Stages); Maize & Blue on Broadway; and Young Audiences program and then the The Last Word (NYMF). Founding mem - manager of theater programming. Kozlak ber: Ubuntu Theater Project (Oakland, is currently working as a freelance cast - California). M.F.A.: University of Cali- ing director in the Washington, D.C., fornia, San Diego. B.F.A.: University of area and is the producing artistic Michigan. Proud AEA member.

MEET THE CAST

Moriamo Temidayo Akibu (Symone ). do You Spell Femaphobic? (Gesel Mason), Hello, you! Future Productions: Woolly and A Curious Invasion: Governor’s Mammoth Theatre Company: Describe Island . B.A. theater: University of the Night . Past productions: Kennedy Maryland. IG: @xo_temidayo. Thank Center: How to Catch a Star ; Ping Chong you for reading! and Company: Coffeehouse Chronicles #124 (La MaMa ETC); Shakespeare Tamieka Chavis (Ms. T Understudy ) is Theatre Company: The Ruby Sunrise ; delighted to be working on her first The Keegan Theatre: Now Casting show with the Kennedy Center TYA in (director); Mosaic Theatre Company: She A Gem ! Select regional credits Isms: A Tragicomedy ; Forum Theatre: include performances with Mosaic Love and Information ; Longacre Lea: The Theatre Company: CHARM ; Constellation Interstellar Ghost Hour ; and Smithsonian’s Theatre Company: Caucasian Chalk Discovery Theater: African Roots Latino Circle ; Chesapeake Shakespeare Company: Soul . Dance credits: Spring Awakening, The Tempest, Macbeth, Henry IV 1 & 2, A Wake Up! (MK Abadoo), Temidayo, How Christmas Carol , and Romeo and Juliet ; 02-15 She a Gem.qxp_WPAS 2/7/19 3:35 PM Page 7

MEET THE CAST

Ally Theatre Company: Rabbit Summer in 2018 New Play Festival (Young and Clover ; The Hub Theatre: The Late Playwrights Theater). Her film credits Wedding ; NextStop Theatre: Middletown, include: Eve in Space in Between (252 Eurydice , and Love, Loss, and What I Productions), Student in Citizen Science Wore ; Smithsonian Discovery Theater: Project (Cortina Productions), and Mother Earth and Me and Lions of Chaina Brooks in For My Man (TV One). Industry-Women of Invention ; and Atlas Gibson is beyond excited to work with TYA: Stay Awake . Select television/film the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts credits include Anacostia (2015, 2017, and be a part of such an amazing cast. and 2018 Emmy–nominated Daytime heatheragibson.com Digital Drama Series, and numerous Indie Series Awards and nominations Whitney Geohagan (Understudy ) is including Best Lead Actress); HBO’s excited to be working on She A Gem with The Wire ; and Torn . She is a resident act - so many other talented black women. ing company member and teaching She is a recent graduate of the University artist with Chesapeake Shakespeare of Maryland’s Theatre, Dance, and Company and Ally Theatre Company. Performance Studies Program. While Chavis is a faculty member and graduate there, she was a part of several shows. of The National Conservatory of Dramati c Her credits include: Tartuffe, Baltimore, Arts in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. The Wild Party, Melancholy Play, Swirl (A Staged Reading), and Love and Infor- Aakhu TuahNera Freeman (Ms. T/Ms. mation . She also has had several of her Mary ) is pleased to return to the plays read both at UMD and at the Kennedy Center once again. Previous Kennedy Center. She is humbled by the Kennedy Center productions include opportunity the Kennedy Center has Color Me Dark: A Story of the Great given her to hone her craft. “Thank you Migration North, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Mom and Dad for all you’ve done to The Great Quillow, Lilly’s Purple Plastic make this possible.” Purse , and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing . Some of her more recent work Alicia Grace (Amber) is a D.C. actor and includes Proof at Olney Theatre Center University of Maryland alumna. Grace and Death of a Salesman at the Ford’s has performed in university pro duc - Theatre. Freeman has also appeared in tions such as The Call , The Importance of productions at Arena Stage, Woolly Being Earnest , Love and Information , and Mammoth, Theatre Alliance, and Every - Eurydice . In addition to her work at man Theatre. Maryland, Grace has had the pleasure to participate in various professional proj - Heather Gibson (Jaleesa) is making ects in the D.C. area. This is her first pro - her Kennedy Center debut with She A fessional production. Gem . She is a DMV native who received her bachelor’s in theater from University Kashayna Johnson (Krystin) , a Helen of Maryland, College Park. Her theater Hayes nominee, is a graduate from the credits include Smart Girl in Judy Moody Theater Lab’s Honors Conservatory. & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad She also studied abroad in England Treasure Hunt (Adventure Theatre); where she received classical training Abigail in Silent Cries of the Good Woman with BADA (British American Dramatic (Bleu Royalty Productions); and Actor Academy) in their Midsummer’s Program 02-15 She a Gem.qxp_WPAS 2/7/19 3:35 PM Page 8

MEET THE CAST

at Oxford University. She is more than fierce director, mentor, and sister friend. thrilled to be making her official pro - And KC-TYA, thank you for this oppor - duction debut with this beautiful cast of tunity. Credits include: Milk Like Sugar , women in the world premiere of She A Mosaic Theater; For Colored Girls , Gem by the amazing Josh Wilder. Josh, Theater Alliance; Romeo and Juliet , thank you for writing this piece and for Prince George’s Shakespeare Theater creating a space for those hidden gems Festival; Stick Fly , Port City Playhouse; in our communities to be seen and How We Got On , Forum Theatre; and heard. Paige, thank you for being such a Dark House , Capital Fringe.

EDUCATION AT THE KENNEDY CENTER

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is the national champion for arts learning and creativity. Committed to increasing opportunities for all people to participate in, learn about, and understand the arts, the Center offers programs and events that strive to reflect the nation and its communities, and that are accessible and inclusive for all. From the Center’s stages to classrooms and communities across the country, to online resources accessible nearly anywhere, the Center serves the burgeoning artist, the curious explorer, the student (of any age), the teacher and teaching artist,—any person interested in arts learning and utilizing the arts for positive change.

As an essential component of the living memorial to President Kennedy, the Center’s Education programs utilize the arts to embrace the ideals of service, jus - tice, freedom, courage, and gratitude, and cultivate the Citizen Artists in all the peo - ple we serve. For more information, please visit kennedy-center.org/education/.

Upcoming Performances for Young Audiences

March 15 –24, 2019 The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963 Eisenhower Theater Ages 9+

March 29 –31 Voyagers: A Dance Among the Planets Family Theater Ages 5+

April 13, 2019 The Me I Want to Sing Family Theater Ages 12+ 02-15 She a Gem.qxp_WPAS 2/7/19 3:35 PM Page 9

ABOUT THE HUMAN JOURNEY

The Human Journey is a collaboration between the Kennedy Center, National Geographic Society, and the National Gallery of Art, which invites audiences to investigate the powerful experiences of migration, exploration, identity, and resilience through the lenses of the performing arts, science, and visual art.

STAFF

Education Staff for She A Gem Senior Vice President of Education ...... Mario R. Rossero Director of Education Operations ...... Jordan LaSalle Director of Education Programs and Productions ...... David Kilpatrick Director of Education Activation and Engagement ...... Vanessa Thomas Program Assistant, Education Programs and Productions ...... Kaitlyn Burke Artistic Associate, Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences (KCTYA) Artistic Director, Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) ...... Gregg Henry Manager, Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences (KCTYA) and Theater Education ...... Harry Poster Manager, Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) and Theater Education ...... Kelsey Mesa Program Coordinator, Theater Education ...... Liz Schildkret Program Assistant, Theater Education ...... Jackie Mass Artistic Advisor ...... Kim Peter Kovac Senior Press Representative for Theater and Education ...... Brendan Padgett Manager, Marketing ...... Steven Dawson Public Relations Coordinator, Non-Classical ...... Lauren Holland

STAFF FOR THE FAMILY THEATER The technicians at the Kennedy Center *Timothy Guillot ...... Theater Manager are represented by Local #22, Local #772, 772 Jane A. Smith ...... Box Office Treasurer and Local #798 I.A.T.S.E. 22 Anne Contee ...... Head Usher AFL-CIO-CLC, the professional Ruth Herman, Anita Martin, union of theatrical technicians. William Taylor, Johanna Wilder ...... Assistant Head Ushers Owen Burke ...... Production Manager The box office at the Kennedy Center is 798 Greg Goldsmith, Robert Humphrey, represented by IATSE #868. Michael T. Berra, Garrett Brown, Sean McNally ....Production Stagehands Steinway Piano Gallery is the exclusive area *Represented by ATPAM, the Association of representative of Steinway & Sons and Boston pianos, the official pianos Theatrical Press Agents and Managers of the Kennedy Center.