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Event
DETROIT BLUES SHOWCASE PRODUCTION
WILDEMERE PRODS., LLC presents:
DETROIT BLUES
a play by Patrice Cassedy
with original music by Mike Cassedy
Directed by Zoya Kachadurian
Costume Design by Jennifer Raskopf, Set Design by Daniel Geggatt,
Lighting Design by Kia Rogers, Sound Design by Liz Nielsen.
DETROIT BLUES premiered at the DC BLACK THEATRE FESTIVAL on June 27, 2014.
"....a new perspective on the Detroit race riots ...a success" theeagleonline.com
"... high drama laced with moments of beautiful humanity." examiner.com
DETROIT BLUES is the deeply personal story of Claudia, a fictional black teenager, who rises above the pain of racial hatred past and present during the historically violent summer of 1967. Rooted in the history of America's racial struggles from the 1920s to the 1960s, the drama with original music portrays middle class blacks who play by the rules but who still struggle to enjoy the American dream. With its humor, heart-warming dialogue and moving musical underscore, the play challenges us to consider the past consequences of racial prejudice and to ask ourselves, especially in light of today's events: Are we different now than we were in 1967?
More about the plot ...
In 1967, things were supposed to be different. At least in Detroit. Middle class blacks and whites were supposed to live in the same neighborhoods and send their kids to the same schools. A talented black girl named Claudia Barbara Childs was supposed to go places, just because she was good at something. And Claudia's educated Momma was supposed to be able to walk the same path as her white friends. DETROIT BLUES recounts the journey of Claudia and her family from supposed-to-be to hard-to be. Although Claudia learns that the blues is more than a song, she's determined to stand up tall. With the unlikely help of a proud blind boy, a poor white girl, and an iconic lady disc jockey, Claudia finds hope in the pain of an unexpected summer.
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The Cast
CHRISTINA REDD'S (ROSE) credits include: Regional theatre: Hackmatack Theatre: Tintypes (Susannah). Off- Broadway: Gia (One Dream Theater), A Very Varla Christmas (Carnegie Hall). Staged readings: Mother's Day (Columbia University); Horror Show (SDCF-CAP21-NYU). Most recently she was seen in Richard Greenberg's The Violet Hour (Jessie Brewster), Pearl Cleage's Flyin' West (Miss Leah) and Tracey Scott Wilson's The Story (Pat Johnson), all at the New World Theatre (Brooklyn). Television: Law and Order: SVU, All my Children, One Life to Live, and As the World Turns. Christina received her MFA in Acting from CUNY Brooklyn College. She is a member of Actors' Equity Association.
http://christinaredd7.weebly.com
JASMINE SAUNISE (LILLY) attended the University of Kentucky as a Theatre major. There she performed in 'for colored girls' as Lady in Red, Trifles as Mrs. Hale, and As It Is in Heaven as Rachel. In New York City she has appeared in: Searching for Willie Lynch at the National Black Theatre Festival, 'broken motherhood museum' with the NuAFrikan Theatre, The Gift at Cape May Stages, Correction in the Midtown International Theatre Festival, Clover at the Paul Robeson Theatre.
www.jasminesaunise.com
JEVONNAH MAYO (CLAUDIA) received her Bachelor in Fine Arts degree from Rutgers University. Her credits include, Ain't Gonna Let Nobody (Francine) at Crossroads Theater; Big Excellent 20th Reunion (Erica Klein) at Theater 80 in NYC; The Firsts (Leila) at Access Theater in NYC; Pilgrims (Marcia) at Rutgers University; and Smokey Joe's Cafe (Brenda) at Cicely Tyson School.
CHRISTOPHER L. MCALLISTER'S (DR. CHILDS) recent performance repertoire includes jazz dance, lead and principal roles in over a dozen films, over two dozen national and international television commercials, and regular appearances on Comedy Central, FX, NBC, and CBS. He also has appeared in various stage productions off Broadway as well as in many theater festivals including New York's Strawberry Festival, American Theater Festival, Turkish American Repertory Theater Festival (TARTE), and the Fringe Festival.
ANNA DALE ROBINSON (AMELIA) is a junior at Communications High School in Wall, NJ. Her NYC credits include Kim in The Road Trip (Access Theatre) and Jones in Productivity Tools (Roy Arias Theatre). She has appeared in many student and short films; most recently, she was in Break Down (Lead) and Run (Featured). This past summer she attended the AMDA Conservatory for film and screen acting. www.annadalerobinson.com
PATRICIA DEARCY (ESSIE MAE) started her career "singing for the detained" in prisons and jails. As an actress she has performed on stage and in film. In 1992 she began writing and directing when she discovered the perfect forum to express her personal beliefs, interests and curiosities through documentary filmmaking. She is now in post-production for her current film, The Harlem Cultural Council.
JUDE CARL VINCENT (THOMAS) attended Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. While in Georgia, his performances included: Outcry (Emmett Till), Rev. Joseph E. Lowery's 92nd Birthday Celebration "In The Board Room," Kingdom of Wishes, and Color Me Black. Jude also has performed at the New York City Opera.
Photos top to bottom: Jevonnah Mayo (credit: Matt Simpkins), Jasmine Saunise (credit: Theik Smith), Jude Carl Vincent (Anna Ritch), Christina Redd (credit: Paul Gregory), Anna Dale Robinson (credit: Mithu Sankar), Christopher L. McAllister
The Creative Team
PATRICE CASSEDY (PLAYWRIGHT) developed Detroit Blues in Washington, DC at the DC Black Theatre Festival and in Los Angeles at EST/LA's Sunday Best. A graduate of the Academy for New Musical Theatre, she wrote the book for Bank Shot, which was performed at Burbank's Colony Theatre and UCIrvine. Her work has also been read in San Diego and at national conferences. Other work completed or in progress: War, She Said; Future Sludge; Not a Care in the World; and The Way to School. Patrice was a 2013 finalist for a San Diego Foundation Creative Catalyst Fellowship.
MIKE CASSEDY (COMPOSER) is a Brooklyn-based composer, pianist/keyboardist whose sound and composition credits include Daredevil (The Brick, NY); Him (Walkerspace, NY); Scientific Americans (The Vital on 42nd, NY); Trip's Cinch (Massman Theater (LA); A Wagner Matinee (Oh Dear Dance Theater, Red Cloud, Nebraska). Mike performs internationally with The Sensational Francis Dunnery Electric Band. He is a founding member and one of the primary composers for the East West Quintet, heard on NPR and at BAMcafe Live, Joe's Pub, Blue Note and Rockwood Music Hall.
ZOYA KACHADURIAN (DIRECTOR) most recently directed Stick Fly at the Majestic Theatre in West Springfield, MA, where she also directed the world premier of The Ride, an original musical, The 39 Steps, King O' the Moon, The Graduate, and The Miracle Worker. Also in Massachusetts, she directed The Cocktail Hour at New Century Theatre, and a critically acclaimed Stones in His Pockets at Stoneham and Gloucester. In NYC, she has directed six new plays for Manhattan Theatre Source's Estrogenius Festival and for EST's Octoberfest. Georgia and Me by Sarah Ford, for which she was Dramaturge and Director, won the Best Solo Show at the 2011 Midtown International Festival. Zoya is a member of the Lincoln Center and EST Directors' Labs, and LaMama's International Directors' Symposium, and is a proud member of AEA, DGA and SDC.
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LocationTheatre 54 @ Shetler Studios (View)
244 West 54th St. - 12th Floor
New York, NY 10019
United States
Categories
| Minimum Age: 12 |
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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