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TITLE PAGE
THE 2025-26 SEASON
NEXT UP!
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
NOTE FROM THE PLAYWRIGHT/DIRECTOR
MEET THE CAST
CREATIVE TEAM
STAFF & BOARD LISTING
OUR SUPPORTERS
Image © Wikipedia / Bessie Coleman in 1923
BESSIE COLEMAN: FEARLESS
& FREE
Written by Keetha B.
Developed in collaboration with Rahsheem Shabazz
Nov 15-16, 2025 I Wells Fargo Playhouse
DIRECTOR
Keetha B.
PRODUCTION DESIGN Sigmon Theatrical
FOR THIS PRODUCTION
Stage Manager Kiana Pieters
RUN TIME 60 MINUTES
Videotaping, photography and other recording of this production is prohibited.
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is supported, in part, by the City of Charlotte and its generous donors, and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. Additional support is provided by the Shubert Foundation.
THE 2025-26 SEASON
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JOURNEY WITH US
Playwright/Director’s
When I first began writing about Bessie Coleman, I was struck not only by her courage to fly, but by the extraordinary persistence it took for her to even be allowed to learn. At a time when both her race and gender stood as obstacles to nearly every opportunity, Bessie refused to let society define her limits. She dreamed of the skies, and even when America closed its aviation schools to her, she looked beyond the borders of this country to find a way. Traveling to France to earn her pilot’s license was more than an act of ambition—it was a declaration of self-worth and a refusal to let history silence her dreams.
What inspired me most about Bessie Coleman was her unshakable belief that her success could lift others. She didn’t want to be the only one flying—she wanted to open the skies for those who would come after her. That spirit of collective empowerment resonated deeply with me as a writer and director. I wanted this play to honor not only her personal achievements, but also the movement she represented: a call for dignity, pride, and freedom for people who had been told they were not allowed to soar.
Writing and directing this story became both a creative and emotional journey. I sought to reveal the woman behind the wings—the laughter, the doubts, the determination, the heart that made her human, and the
Playwright/Director’s
childlike spirit that never left her. Bessie’s story is one of resilience, but it is also one of imagination. She dared to dream something that had never been seen before, and that act of dreaming remains revolutionary.
Directing this production has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career. Working with the three remarkable actors who brought this story to life has been a true gift. Each performer brought depth, warmth, and creativity to the process, shaping their roles with both precision and heart. In rehearsal, we explored not just lines and movements, but meaning—the emotional truth behind every choice. Together, we found ways to bring Bessie’s courage and charisma to the stage in ways that felt alive and immediate.
What we created together is more than a retelling of history; it is a celebration of the human will to rise above fear and circumstance. Every time the lights come up, I am honored to introduce Bessie’s legacy—a legacy that tells all of us to keep dreaming, to keep daring, and to keep flying higher than anyone expects.
Keetha B. Playwright/Director
Hear more about the inspiration behind the play.
MEET THE CAST
Lydia, a proud native of Anson County, North Carolina, was last seen being swept away in a cyclone as one of many Dorothys in JOURNEY TO OZ. Now she invites you to buckle up and throw caution to the wind as she soars to new heights in BESSIE COLEMAN: FEARLESS AND FREE!
LYDIA DANIELLE Bessie
MEET THE CAST
RAHSHEEM SHABAZZ
John Nilus Coleman and Others
Performing Nov 13-16, 2025
Rahsheem is an actor, dancer, choreographer, and director. Previous acting roles include Player in JOURNEY TO OZ, Jace’s Dad in LIARS, Dr. Bird in BOB MARLEY’S THREE LITTLE BIRDS, King Julian in MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE, Sunjata in SUNJATA KAMALENYA, CJ in LAST STOP IN MARKET STREET, Eddie in AND IN THIS CORNER: CASSIUS CLAY. He has appeared on CBS’s Under The Dome, various national commercials, in numerous productions at the Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte and Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, and was a Charlotte Hornets hip hop dancer with the Hive Hip Hop Crew for three seasons. Rahsheem is currently developing ONCE UPON A RHYME: GRIMMZ HIP HOP FAIRY TALES II with The Experiential Theatre and choreographing at the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte.
MEET THE CAST
JEREMY DECARLOS
John Nilus Coleman and Others
Performing Nov 18-21 and Nov 25, 2025
Jeremy is an actor, activist, writer and musician with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Performance. Though born in Florence, South Carolina in the early 1980’s, he was raised across the state, in the rural areas of Florence and Marion County as well as Myrtle Beach and the capitol city, Columbia. After earning his BA from Winthrop University, he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where he has been frequently involved with Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte. He has become a notable figure in the artistic community, having earned the honor of Charlotte Magazine’s Best Actor in Charlotte Award in 2012, 2013 and 2015.
CREATIVE TEAM
Keetha B. (Playwright/Director) is an actress, playwright, director, and author from Concord North Carolina. She received her BA in Theatre and African American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her MA in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. Her debut children’s book Princess Fearless, adapted into a stage of the same name made its debut this past 2022 at Matthews Playhouse and then on to Illinois State University. Her debut script, SWEET JENN won Best Original Script at the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival. Keetha B. has been truly inspired by her collaboration with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Sigmond Theatrical and Rahsheem Shabazz. Keetha B. is delighted to continue her long history with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte by sharing the story of Bessie Coleman.
Keetha sends special thanks to:
Paula Grant for your never ending love and support.
Glynis Rodgers for always asking the tough questions.
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte for giving me the opportunity and support to bring this story to life.
Listen to a message from Keetha B. about the play.
CREATIVE TEAM CONT’D
Sigmon Theatrical (Production Design) Led by husband-and-wife team Caleb and Katy Sigmon, Sigmon Theatrical has become a regional leader in interactive and immersive theatrical entertainment. Projects include touring shows (DRAGON QUEST, DINOSAURS ALIVE!), immersive productions (THE WONDERLAND EXPERIENCE, THE SLEEPY HOLLOW ADVENTURE, DREAMWORKS ADVENTURE TO SANTA), and festivals (CAROLINA PUMPKIN SPELLTACULAR, WINTERFEST), along with dozens of educational touring productions. Sigmon Theatrical designs and produces bespoke stage shows and live entertainment for large-scale festivals, parades, and events across the Southeast, including the Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade. The company’s work in projection mapping, illusion design, physical theatre, and puppetry have been featured on stages far and wide, with dozens of workshops and master classes presented each year, including a puppetry series presented in conjunction with the North American Tour of Disney’s THE LION KING. They also host and produce episodes for Life in the Carolinas, an Emmy nominated and award winning syndicated TV show that features the great people and places of the Carolinas. www.SigmonTheatrical.com | @sigmontheatrical
STAFF & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHILDREN’S THEATRE OF CHARLOTTE
LEADERSHIP
Artistic Director - Adam Burke
Managing Director - Nao Tsurumaki
Administration
Human Resources Manager - Carolyn Lugo-Allred
Business Manager - Alex Doxey
Senior Accountant - Crystal Johnson
ImaginOn Partnership Coordinator - Maryann O’Keeffe
ImaginOn Administrative Support - Casey Kaufmann
Artistic & Production
Director of Production - Steven Levine
Costume Shop Manager - Anna Klinger
Cutter-Draper - Emily Heilig
Crafts Specialist - Elizabeth Swanson
Technical Director - Shane Burgett
Resident Stage Manager - Steven James
Charge Scenic Artist - Tim Parati
Master Carpenter - John Slechta
Head Electrician - Lawrence Csernik
AV Supervisor - Michael Russo
Assistant Technical Director - Sterling Lett
Assistant Electrician - Amber Bidwell
Scenic Carpenter - Maddie Anthony
Sound Assistant - Maddi Penn
Properties Master - Bekah Achuff
Seasonal Properties Assistant - Rebecca Xhajanka
Production Assistant/Associate Artist - Claire Hilton
Education
Director of Education - EG Engle
Camps & Community Programs Manager - Mary Katherine Smith
Education Program Manager - Morgan Southard
Resident Teaching Artists - Karen Steele
Administrative Assistant - Katie Kinser
Development
Director of Development – Courtney Hurd
Grants and Partnership Manager - Jean Edwards
Donor Relations Specialist - Emily Swanzy
Operations Coordinator - Ava Jessup
Marketing and Communications
Director of Marketing & Communications - Cindy Taylor
Associate Director of Marketing - Rob Odum
Assistant Director, Audience Growth & Retention - Ashley Hughes
PR & Social Media Mananger – Alex Aguilar
Touring Performance Coordinator - Margot Parrott
School Group Sales & Performance Coordinator - Chris Stonnell
Data & IT Manager - Claire Whitworth-Helm
Audience Service Coordinator - Louise Lawson
Marketing Assistant - Aaron Bunzey
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lisa Miller - Chair
Charlitta Hatch - Chair-Elect
Mike Burgess - Treasurer
Stephanie Isham - Secretary
Sallie Beason - Past Chair
Matt Andress
Cynthia Banks
Dr. Veronica Bell
Stephanie Couch
Shawn Garrett
Leigh Hickman
Ben Hume
Tim James
Mitzi Lynch
Jennifer Madara
Scott Manning
Rosemary Morgan
Jonathan Ocampo
Katie Ramseur
Eric Ritz
Christina Russ
Tanya Taylor
Daniel Terry, Ed.D
Kristin Tokić
April Whitlock
Honorary Lifetime Members
Robin Branstrom
Carla DuPuy
Peter Flur
Cynthia Lank
Linda Lockman-Brooks
Advisory Board
Robin Branstrom
Tom Eiselt
Jami Farris
Peter Flur
Gina Lawrence
OUR SUPPORTERS
EXECUTIVE PRODUCING PARTNERS
($50,000 and more)
City of Charlotte
North Carolina Arts Council
C.D. Spangler Foundation, Inc.
The Shubert Foundation
DIRECTING PARTNERS
($10,000 to $24,999)
Clear Blue Insurance Group
The Hartford
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated
Cornwell Foundation
Paige Johnston Thomas Giving Tree
STANDING OVATION PARTNERS
($5,000 to $9,999)
Carolina Panthers
The Dickson Foundation, Inc.
Parker Poe
CENTER STAGE PARTNERS
($3,000 to $4,999)
The Daniel, Edward, Cora & Strickland Foundation
LEADING ROLE PARTNER
($1,000 to $2,999)
Deloitte & Touche LLP
OUR SUPPORTERS CONT’D
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY DONORS
We recognize and thank our generous Donors who gave as of October 20, 2025. Our annual Donors are recognized at the most current giving level.
LEADING PLAYERS SOCIETY
($10,000 - $24,999)
Dorlisa & Peter Flur
Mitchell Kelling
Tammy Stringer & Richard Viola
Derek & Iris Wang
($5,000 - $9,999)
Omid & Julie Ahdieh
Mike & Katie Burgess
Stephanie Couch
Dr. Daniel Donner
Andrew & Stephanie Fulford
Lise Hain
David Holland
Bruce & Anita LaRowe
Ann & Scott Manning
Arrington Mixon
Brian & Laura Murdock
Sarah Pollock
Sandy & Greg Vlahos
($3,000 - $4,999)
Herb & Gina Clegg
Rob & Caryn Craige
Ben and Christy Hume
Brian Litwak
Jennifer & Eric Madara
Pat Burgess & Joan Martin
Ken & Lisa Miller
Stephen & Stephanie Sorenson
Tanya M. Taylor
Nichelle & Sasha Weintraub
($1,000 - $2,999)
Stephen Allred & Carolyn Lugo-Allred
Matt Andress
Cynthia Banks
Sallie & Gary Beason
Veronica Bell
Robin & Bill Branstrom
Julie & Stoke Caldwell
Amy & Alfred Dawson
Tom & Julie Eiselt
Beth & Gaston Gage
Pam and Bill Giono
Mr. & Mrs. Greg Gonzalez
Watts & Carol Hamrick
Charlitta Hatch
Scott & Claire Helm
Ryan & Danielle Hutcheson
Stephanie Isham
Timothy James
Laurie Johnston
Ashley & Matthew Joseph
Craig & Mitzi Lynch
Michael & Leslie Marsicano
Valecia McDowell
Gary Monie
Rosemary Morgan & Fielding Huseth
Maddie & Brian Myers
Anna & Tom Nelson
Sarah Peck
Katie Ramseur
Linda Reynolds
Eric Ritz
Andrew and Christina Russ
Emily and Greg Skidmore
Jay Thomas
Kristin Tokic
Patrick & Elizabeth Vaughn
Rosa Maria Vega
April & Thomas Whitlock
John & Carrie Woolley
SUPPORTING PLAYERS SOCIETY
($500 - $999)
Craig & Mary Bunzey
Susan Butler-Staub
Brian & Jean Edwards
John & Mara Gose
Brad & Karen Harris
Leigh Hickman
Soli Kennerly
OUR SUPPORTERS CONT’D
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY DONORS
We recognize and thank our generous Donors who gave as of October 20, 2025. Our annual Donors are recognized at the most current giving level.
Caroline Knight
Mrs. Catherine Lecompte
Lynn Manock
Saumya Mehta
Amy Merino
Daniel Merlin
Ron & Janet Meyer
John & Suzy Nurkin
Eileen Manlove O’Brien
Michael and Denise Shields
Cindy & Rob Taylor
Ina Whitley-DeRochi
ESCENA CIRCLE ($500)
The Saavedra Family
