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CAST
John Steven Crowley(Macon)
Charlette Speigner (Sadie)
Penelope Walker (Alice/Asia)
Jacqueline Williams (Nella)
PRODUCTION
Chuck Smith (Director)
Richard & Jacqueline Penrod (Scenic Design)
Keith Parham (Lighting Design)
Frances Maggio (Costume Design)
Josh Horvath & Ray Nardelli (Sound Design)
Rita Vreeland (Production Stage Manager) |
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 John Steven Crowley (Macon) is honored to be working with Northlight and with Chuck Smith once again. Chuck directed John in James Baldwin’s Amen Corner (Goodman Theatre and Huntington Theatre, Boston) and Lynn Nottage’s Crumbs from the Table of Joy (Goodman). Recent credits: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (San Diego Repertory Theatre), Honus and Me and Dandelion Wine (Chicago Children’s Theatre). John was bitten by the theatre bug in the 1970s at the Old Loop College in Of Mice and Men, directed by Ricardo Gutierrez. He has received three Jeff Awards for Elvis Presley was a Black Man and Doo Wop Shoo Bop (Black Ensemble Theatre) and Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Drury Lane South). He received a Black Theatre Alliance Award for Doo Wop Shoo Bop and a Helen Hayes nomination for Regina Taylor’s Crowns (Arena Stage). John is grateful to God for life and to his family and friends for their love and support. “Selah.”
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 Charlette Speigner (Sadie) makes her Northlight Theatre debut. Chicago credits include Mirror of the Invisible World at Goodman Theatre, A Midsummer Night's Dream at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Bluest Eye at Steppenwolf, Risa in Two Trains Running with Pegasus Players and Delia in Blues for an Alabama Sky with Eclipse Theatre. She is a graduate of the Theatre School at DePaul University.
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 Penelope Walker (Alice/Asia) is glad to return to Northlight, where she last appeared in bee-luther-hatchee (Black Theatre Alliance Award nomination). She recently celebrated the 30th anniversary production of A Christmas Carol with Goodman Theatre (her third season). Goodman credits include The Story, Crowns and Wit. Other Chicago credits are J. Nicole Brooks’ world premiere Black Diamond: The Years the Locusts Have Eaten (Lookingglass); Don deLillo's Love Lies Bleeding (Steppenwolf); Lydia R. Diamond's world premiere Voyeurs de Venus (Chicago Dramatists, BTA Award nomination); Omnium Gatherum (Next, After Dark Award); Chris T (Ma'at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre); The Clink (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble); Shakin' the Mess Outta Misery (Chicago Theatre Company, BTA Award nomination). She appeared in a year-long regional tour with the critically acclaimed Crowns, written and directed by Regina Taylor. Regional credits include Alliance Theatre, Arena Stage, Hartford Stage and Alley Theatre. Film credits are Severed Ties and the film short Flowers.
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 Jacqueline Williams (Nella) was last seen in The Miser. Other Northlight credits: Born in the R.S.A. (also toured), From the Mississippi Delta, Interplay reading of Po’ Boy Tango. Tours: From the Mississippi Delta, Regina Taylor's Crowns. Goodman credits (almost 20 years) include The Story, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Amen Corner, Oo-Bla Dee. Her many Chicago credits include: Fences, Electra (Court); Shoes, Waiting to be Invited (Victory Gardens); Fabulation, Yellowman (Next); plus appearances at Steppenwolf, Congo Square, Apollo, Chicago Childrens Theatre, and Chicago Shakespeare, among others. Regional: LaJolla, Arena Stage, Hartford Stage, Portland Stage, Berkeley Rep. Broadway: Young Man from Atlanta. Off-Broadway: From the Mississippi Delta, The Talented Tenth, Mill Fire. TV/Film: "Turks", "Prison Break", The Break up, The Lake House and the upcoming Merry Gentleman (with Michael Keaton), Cache, and Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns. Awards/nominations: Jeff, After Dark, Black Theatre Alliance, American Arts Council, the prestigious Theatre School Excellence in the Arts Award, Helen Hayes. Greatest Blessing: daughter Kara.
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Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder (Playwright) was raised on a houseboat on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. In the fall of 2004, her play, Fresh Kills, received its world premiere at the Royal Court Theatre in London, directed by Tony nominee Wilson Milam. Her plays have been workshopped/produced at the Ensemble Studio Theatre (NY), Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Denver Center, KC Rep, Cleveland Playhouse, and the Barter Theatre (VA). Gee's Bend was originally commissioned by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival where it premiered in February 2007. She is currently working on two new play commissions: The Furniture of Home for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and The Bone Orchard for the Denver Center Theatre. Elyzabeth is a graduate of the Dramatic Writing program at New York University and an alumnus of Youngblood at the Ensemble Studio Theatre. For Pat Wilder, who told great stories.
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Allison Blakely and the