2018/2019 Season
Salt Pepper Ketchup
A World Premiere
Co-Production with Passage Theatre
by Josh Wilder
directed by Jerrell L. Henderson
Cast
Fenton Li
John Wu
Chuja Seo
Linda Wu
Miriam White
Megan
Richard Bradford
Boodah
Jay Battle
Raheem
Mark Christie
Tommy
Justin Pietropaolo
Paul
Kendra Holloway
Cece
Production Team
Playwright Josh Wilder
Director Jerrell L. Henderson
Arielle Brown Dramaturg
Colin McIlvainie Set Designer
Marie Laster Asst Set Designer
Robin Stamey Lighting Designer
Larry Fowler Sound Designer
Tyler Tooker Props Designer
An-Lin Dauber Costume Designer
Tom Helmer Stage Manager
Jess DeStefano Production Manager
Lauren Tetlow Asst. Stage Manager
A layer of bulletproof glass won’t protect Superstar Chinese Take-Out owners from the gentrification consuming the Point Breeze neighborhood in South Philly. When a trendy food co-op opens nearby, the Wu’s and their customers initially see it as a hipster annoyance, but as tensions mount they begin to recognize the intrusion as an act of war. Tinged with genuine humor and pathos, Wilder’s play examines the very human consequences of neighborhood redevelopment -- who benefits and who gets chewed up and spit out?
Hype Man: A Break Beat Play
by Idris Goodwin
directed by Ozzie Jones
Cast
Carlo Campbell
Verb
Kyle Glenn
Pinnacle
Bianca Sanchez
Peep One
Production Team
Idris Goodwin Playwright
Larry Fowler Composer
Ozzie Jones Director
Apollo Weaver Set Designer
Angela Myers Lighting Designer
Natalia de la Torre Costume Designer
Melissa Dunphy Sound Designer
Emily Schuman Properties Designer
Tom Helmer Stage Manager
Jess DeStefano Production Manager
Kate Henderson Asst. Stage Manager
John Kolbinski Audio Technician
Elliot Konstant Master Electrician
Hype man Verb has been backing up front-man rapper Pinnacle since they were kids. Adding beatmaker Peep One to their group sparked a flame and now the interracial trio is flexing serious Hip-Hop muscle. But when an unarmed black teenager is shot by police, it forces the group to navigate issues of friendship and race. The latest from break beat poet and playwright Idris Goodwin (HOW WE GOT ON), HYPE MAN asks: what does it mean to be an ally, and who has the responsibility to speak up in the face of social injustice?
Heartland
Dr. Harold Banks, an aging professor of Afghan studies in Nebraska, is reeling after his adopted daughter Getee is killed by the Taliban while delivering foreign aid. When Afghan refugee Nazrullah arrives at his door with an incredible story and carrying Getee's prized books, the two men form an unlikely bond. Each is searching for his own brand of forgiveness, but as their friendship develops, Naz accidentally exposes an unexpected source of Dr. Banks’ guilt. How might a CIA propaganda operation over 30 years ago have contributed to Getee’s death? Inspired by true events, HEARTLAND is a story of healing, connection, and the devastating unintentional consequences of our actions.
An InterAct Commission & NNPN Rolling World Premiere
by Gabriel Jason Dean
directed by Evren Odcikin
Cast
Tim Moyer*
Harold
Nazli Sarpkaya*
Getee
Yousof Sultani*
Nazrullah
Production Team
Gabriel Jason Dean Playwright
Evren Odcikin Director
Humaira Ghilzai Cultural Consultant
Dirk Durosette Set Designer
Maria Shaplin Lighting Designer
Katherine Fritz Costume Designer
Michael Kiley Sound Designer
Kat Wheary Props Designer
Tom Helmer Stage Manager
Jess DeStefano Production Manager
Sam Volosky Asst. Stage Manager
John Allerheiligen Master Electrician
John Kolbinski Audio Engineer
The Great Leap
It's 1989 and Manford Lum, renowned for his basketball hustle in Chinatown, tries to talk his way on to a college team destined for a "friendship" game in China. Coach Saul blocks him hard, but Manford rebounds and launches himself on a journey to a homeland he's never known. Bouncing between Beijing and San Francisco, between 1989 and 1971, this clever and theatrical play looks at America’s arms-length relationship with Communist China and the post-Cultural Revolution through a story about two generations of basketball players. Smart, funny and heart-pumping, Lauren Yee's THE GREAT LEAP will have you on your feet for the final buzzer.
by Lauren Yee
directed by Seth Rozin
Cast
Richard Chan
Manford Lum
Scott Greer*
Saul
Justin Jain*
Wen Chang
Bi Jean Ngo*
Connie
Production Team
Lauren Yee Playwright
Seth Rozin Director
Mellie Katakalos Set Designer
Peter Whinnery Lighting Designer
Natalia de la Torre Costume Designer
Emily Schuman Properties Designer
Daniel Ison Sound Designer
Tom Helmer* Stage Manager
Jess DeStefano* Production Manager
John Allerheiligen Master Electrician
John Kolbinski Audio Technician
Claris Park Asst. Director
Kate Henderson Production Asst.