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,