A L L I A N C E T H E AT R E
FEB 10–27, 2022
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F R O M T H E D I R E C TO R Between Us. .
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F E AT U R E A Story That Must Be Told. . . . . . . . . . . 6 Award-winning playwright Lydia R. Diamond recalls how she came to shed light on an icon of professional baseball
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Story by Sally Henry Fuller Program Highlight.
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Onstage & Off. .
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Program Notes.
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Your Story, Your Stage. Synopsis. .
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About the Alliance Theatre. Board of Directors. . Sponsors.
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Alliance Theatre Staff.
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E N C O R E AT L A N TA .C O M P U B L I S H E R
Brantley Manderson brantley@encoreatlanta.com S E N I O R
AC C O U N T
D I R E C TO R
Donna Choate donna@encoreatlanta.com — CREATIVE — E D I TO R
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C H I E F
Robert Viagas robert@encoreatlanta.com G R A P H I C
D E S I G N E R
Tamara Hooks tamara@encoreatlanta.com D I G I TA L
M E D I A
D I R E C TO R
Allie Johnson allie@encoreatlanta.com P R O G R A M
P R O D U C E R
Ashley Elliott ashley.elliott@alliancetheatre.org C O N T R I B U T I N G
W R I T E R
Sally Henry Fuller
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“I want you to see the beauty of Blackness rather than the curse of Blackness...” — Jasmine Arbery I had directed a play about Black track runners, GHOST, when a few months later the nation learned of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. My thoughts immediately went to his family and then to all the young athletes of color who train in public parks, makeshift courts, and on the open road. I was consumed with the paradox of physical power and grace in Black form that can so easily be seen as a threat. And in those weeks that turned into months, then years of a global pandemic, I knew that I needed to respond to this attack through my art. Toni Stone tells the story of the first Black woman to play professional baseball in the Negro Leagues. She played ball during one of the most dangerous times to be a free Black person in our nation’s history — the period of Jim Crow. In the years she trained and pursued her dream to “play with the big boys,” this single Black woman would often travel by herself in search of pick-up games, barnstorming on poorly-maintained fields, and working out in public parks. This, too, was the reach of so many aspiring Black athletes dreaming to take part in America’s pastime. Facing not only verbal assaults and humiliation from white players or fans during exhibition games they had to play, but the threat of harm, even death, from local townspeople who thought they didn’t belong in “their neighborhood.” My response to the fear of Black bodies is a celebration of them. A celebration of our endurance, our power, our wit, physical excellence, and cultural joy. I hope you relish in the visual poetry captured in Black form, whose power and grace conjure up our Nation’s buried narratives. Tinashe Kajese-Bolden Director of Toni Stone, BOLD Artistic Director Fellow
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A STORY THAT MUST BE TOLD Award-winning playwright Lydia R. Diamond recalls how she came to shed light on an icon of professional baseball STORY BY
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Sally Henry Fuller
f there’s one avenue that can link the often polar opposite worlds of sports and the arts, it’s theatre. Playwright Lydia R. Diamond (Stick Fly, The Bluest Eye) would say herself that she does not have “the sports gene” — the undying love that sports fans have for their sports. And yet, Diamond still found herself diving into the world of baseball research for Toni Stone. The journey began when theatre producer Samantha Barrie and director Pam MacKinnon wanted to bring Toni Stone’s story to the stage after learning about her in Martha Ackmann’s book, Curveball. Barrie and MacKinnon then picked out Lydia R. Diamond specifically as the playwright for the job.
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encoreatlanta.com “They had seen my play Stick Fly on Broadway and wanted to commission me to write [Toni Stone],” Diamond recalls. “I was over-commissioned, and I’m a slow writer. And I said, ‘I can’t do it. I can’t do it. I have an agent who’s being really good about helping me say no. And if I say yes, you will hate me, and everyone who’s commissioned me will hate me.’”
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“I did all of that homework. And then I wrote. I put all of that aside, and I trusted that it was in there, and I told a story.” – Lydia R. Diamond
Whatever extra time it might take Diamond to write the piece did not seem to bother Barrie and MacKinnon, and they asked again. “Samantha said, ‘Just read [Curveball].’ And I read the book, and I was like, ‘How do I not know who this woman is? How would I not know her name the way I know Babe Ruth’s name and Jackie Robinson’s name? That’s ridiculous!’” So with assurance from Barrie and MacKinnon that Diamond’s pace would work for them, she added Toni Stone to her plate. The writer spent almost a year researching Toni Stone, the Negro leagues, and beyond, beginning with the book that inspired the play in the first place. “Thank God I had [Curveball]! So, not only did I have all of Martha’s wonderful research — and she had spoken to family members and other Negro Leagues players — but I also had to look at the history of the 1940s segregated South, the rules of baseball, the history of the Negro Leagues,” she describes. “I did all of that homework. And then I wrote. I put all of that aside, and I trusted that it was in there, and I told a story.” Diamond says that though the play is not strictly based on Curveball, author Martha Ackmann proved to be a tremendous support to the playwright’s process. “Martha Ackmann was just the most generous, kind, supportive kind of writer to have the inspiration and source material from,” she expresses. “She told me, ‘You do your thing, and I’m here for you.’ And that’s what a writer wants.
8 | encore The wealth of knowledge Diamond had accumulated from her research was a double-edged sword, as she could only fit in two hours-ish of story into her piece. “In my process of writing, there were two things that were kind of tricky,” shares Diamond. “One was finding the story because there were a lot of really beautiful facts, anecdotes, and historical, noteworthy things, but I didn’t know quite what the story I wanted to tell was.” And then there was the fact that she was not in love with baseball or any sport, for that matter. “I had played baseball in grade school as a child, but I don’t have the ‘sports gene,’” she acknowledges. She makes the comparison that while there is something in theatre people that moves us to tears when watching certain performances, there is something in sports fans that can move them to tears in certain games. “It’s deep in their soul. And I felt sort of like a poser. I thought, ‘How can I fall in love with the sport enough to be worthy to write about it?’” The word “love” really was the connection she needed to find her answers. “Those two challenges were solved with the same thing, and that was thinking about Toni Stone’s singular vision. There was one thing that she wanted, and the world wanted to keep it from her, and she pursued it at all costs. And to me, that was like pursuing a love. It was like unrequited love. So there was my metaphor, and there was my window into the emotional landscape of loving something that much. And so I just let Toni guide me.” Throughout the process, she may not have become a die-hard baseball fan, but she came to understand the fans more deeply. “I have respect for [sports] now that I might not have had before,” the playwright says. “I certainly understand the journey of a Black woman who has a passion for a thing, and the world says she can’t do that thing, and she does the thing. That, I can understand.”
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“It was like unrequited love. So there was my metaphor, and there was my window into the emotional landscape of loving something that much. And so I just let Toni guide me.” – Lydia R. Diamond T oni Stone playwright Lydia R. Diamond
In the end, Diamond has been gratified to get to bring Toni Stone’s name to light, as evidenced at a glance by her choice to name the play after her entirely. “I really wanted to honor Toni Stone,” she explains, in reference to how she chose the play’s title. It has not only enjoyed an Off-Broadway run with the Roundabout Theatre Company, but it also had regional productions in Washington, DC and San Francisco (though the latter was cut short by COVID-19). “I’m proud because there is now a street named after Toni Stone [in San Francisco]. And I do feel like we kind of put Toni a little bit on the map, to whatever degree. I say that humbly, but it is exciting to think that we — some talented actors, an incredible director, an innovative producer, and I — gave her a little bit of her due. That makes me feel good.”
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IN CONVERSATION WITH BOB HOPE STORY BY
Raiyon Hunter and Christina James
In this interview, Spelman Leadership Fellow Raiyon Hunter speaks with former Atlanta Braves Vice President Bob Hope about his career, connection to Toni Stone, and long-lasting friendship with Hank Aaron. Hope reflects on the evolution of women in baseball, Toni Stone’s revolutionary accomplishments, and life lessons gathered throughout his career and friendship with Hank Aaron. Mr. Hope, can you talk a bit about your thoughts on Toni Stone? Toni was in a very awkward position, you know? She was an excellent baseball player growing up, and she wanted to play [professionally]. They had the All-American Girls Baseball League during World War II, which was segregated, so she wasn’t allowed to play there, and she couldn’t play in the minor leagues because women couldn’t play. Her only real option was to play in the Negro Leagues. She was an excellent second baseman and fielder. Hank [Aaron] used to say fairly frequently that, given a chance, women can be excellent baseball players. The first enlightenment I had was when I was Vice President of the Braves and I would go to meetings when the scouts would talk about players. I remember one particular scout saying he went to a small town in Indiana to see this guy play on a high school team, but that the guy wasn’t all that good, so he went over to watch the women play softball. There were a couple of the softball players about whom he said, “If they were men, they’d be great baseball players. But why should that be the dividing line?” I had two daughters and my youngest daughter really enjoyed playing softball, but she wanted to play the real thing. She’d ask me, “Why can’t girls play baseball?” I empathize with Toni, because she was having to prove she had the skills but also confronting a tradition and an attitude of “You don’t belong” that so many people had in baseball. And she proved herself.
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She did. She was a blueprint in a path for specifically black women to be in sports, to excel in sports, and for people to realize that they are meant to be there. I mean, look at Serena and Venus — two of the best tennis players of all time. And Billie Jean King — the first time she won Wimbledon, she didn’t have enough money to pay the customs to get her trophy into the U.S. because the guys were making all the money. Billie Jean’s brother, Randy, was a pitcher who played for the San Francisco Giants and was an excellent relief pitcher in Big League Baseball. Billie Jean wanted to play baseball, too, but played tennis because that was the only sport open to her to play. Her dream was to play baseball, but there was no opportunity for her to play. Let’s go back to someone you mentioned before — Hank Aaron. What was your relationship with him? I was working my way through college. I worked all night in a manufacturing plant and it may have been the worst job anyone could possibly have. So I just showed up at the Braves office one day on a Saturday, and a guy named Jim Hay was there and I said, “Look, I’m looking for a job to work my way through school.” And he said, “What do you want?” I said, “Well, let me tell you what I’m doing. Anything you have that’s better than that, I’ll take.” Eventually he called me back and they hired me. I became the head of public relations and promotions for the Braves when I was 24, which was a remarkable opportunity. Then, immediately after that, Hank went through the Home Run Chase, so I traveled with Hank during that time. We remained friends for the rest of his life. People talk about his acts of kindness towards other people. What is one of your most memorable moments with him? There are several, but the most memorable was during the Home Run Chase. Somebody from the Little League called and said, “We have this youngster on our team who has leukemia and probably doesn’t have a long time to live. Is there any way you get his picture made with Hank Aaron?” And I said, “Sure! Bring him on the field, we’ll get a photographer to take his picture.” I didn’t realize it was going to be in the paper the next day, and suddenly our phones start ringing every day with parents who have a youngster who’s desperately ill and want to meet Hank Aaron. It got out of hand; there were four to six every night. And I was really getting disgusted with it because most of them weren’t really sick, it was just the parents trying to figure out
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how they can meet Hank Aaron. I went to a National League meeting and they said, “One of our new rules is no youngsters in the dugout before the game.” And I thought, “This is great!” So I called Hank and I said, “Hank, I can get you like 20 minutes freed up before every game because it’s against the rules to take youngsters to the dugout.” And he said, “But I don’t mind meeting those youngsters. They’re sick. I’d like to continue to do it.” And I said, “But Hank, you know, most of them aren’t sick.” And he said, “But Bob, some of them are sick.” We continued to do it and Hank was always nice but I always thought it was just a pain. Several years later, I was walking through the airport in Los Angeles when a man walked up to me. He said, “You’re Bob Hope, aren’t you?” And I said, “Yeah.” He said, “I called you years ago because my son was twelve and he was going to have open-heart surgery. I asked you if there was any way he could meet Hank Aaron. You took us to meet Hank, and he signed a baseball and had his picture made with my son. That was really the best day of his entire life. The next Thursday, he died on the operating table, and we buried him with that baseball that Hank Aaron signed.” I mean, that’s typical Hank. Nobody saw him doing that. He certainly wasn’t in the limelight, you know? Other than me, who even knew? That’s just the way Hank was. Would you say that was a life lesson that he left you with? Yes — to treat everyone the same, with the same degree of kindness, the same degree of thoughtfulness. I’ve been with him when he was with presidents, and I’ve been with him when he was with children on an elevator. And you would never know the difference. I mean, humanity. Don’t get impressed with yourself and feel like you have to cozy up to one person more than you do somebody else. Treat everybody with equal respect.
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onstage&off
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FROM INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS TO HOUSEHOLD NAMES By Raiyon Hunter
“As a Black woman, we just have to be greater, because even when we break records and stuff, they almost dim it down, as if it’s just normal.” — Simone Biles
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hether intentionally or unintentionally, the sports industry consistently fails to recognize the humanity of Black women. When women were allowed to compete in Olympic sports beginning in the 1900s, Black women were still relegated to the sidelines. As Jim Crow Laws and racism polluted the streets of the United States, Black women struggled to be taken seriously in an industry that privileged respectability politics and white people and were not given the same opportunities to train and perfect their craft. In spite of these obstacles, Black women proved their tenacity yet again, progressing into young athletes who are making monumental moves still today. In afro puffs and colored sew-ins, with red lips and long nails, Black women have consistently triumphed within the sports industry, in style. They continue to set powerful records, maintaining a persistent spirit that would never indicate the assortment of oppression they endured on their paths to greatness. When we think of trailblazers like Florence “Flo Jo” Joyner, Alice Coachmen, Serena and Venus Williams, Wilma Rudolph, and Toni Stone, it is impossible not to consider how clearly they paved the way for the young Black women we see dominating the modern sports industry, such as Naomi Osaka, Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, and Sha’Carri Richardson. These women faced a double oppression in an industry that is already incredibly difficult to break into. Their status as not just women but Black women in a male-dominated industry could have suppressed them but they overcame.
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During the Olympics, we saw the world comment on Gabby Douglas’ hair, Flo Jo’s nails, Sha’Carri Richardson’s beautiful locs, and Serena Williams’ behavior when expressing her anger during a match. Black women athletes have always been under a watchful, hypercritical eye from the public, the impact of which has seeped into their quality of life and career success. These women, like Toni Stone, conquer all opposition with grace, and excel. Simone is currently the most decorated United States gymnast. Flo-Jo earned a reputation as the fastest woman in the world. Serena and Venus Williams are two of the most accomplished and awarded tennis players in the world. They created household names for themselves through what seemed to most to be insurmountable odds.
Florence ‘Flo Jo’ Joyner (Photo Credit: dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images) and Sha’Carri Richardson (Photo Credit: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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THE ALLIANCE THEATRE Susan V. Booth, Jennings Hertz Artistic Director & Mike Schleifer, Managing Director Co-Produced with Milwaukee Repertory Theatre Mark Clements, Artistic Director; Chad Bauman, Executive Director present
An Original Play BY
LYDIA R. DIAMOND SCENIC DESIGN
COSTUME DESIGN
ORIGINAL MUSIC & COMPOSITION
CHOREOGRAPHY
TONY CISEK
DEREK A. GRAHAM
KARA HARMON
DELL HOWLETT
LIGHTING DESIGN
SOUND DESIGN
THOM WEAVER
SHARATH PATEL
CASTING
STAGE MANAGER
JODY FELDMAN BASS/VALLE CASTING
SHAINA PIERCE*
DIRECTED BY
TINASHE KAJESE-BOLDEN SPONSORED BY
Commissioned by Roundabout Theatre Company and Samantha Barrie Originally Produced by Roundabout Theatre Company, New York, NY in Association with Samantha Barrie “Toni Stone” received development support from the Resident Artists Program at Arena Stage, Washington, D.C.
“Toni Stone” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Based on “Curveball, The Remarkable Story of Toni Stone” by Martha Ackmann This production is supported in part by the BOLD Theater Women’s Leadership Circle.
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CAST *AMAR ATKINS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elzie/Ensemble *DIMONTE HENNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woody/Ensemble *ENOCH KING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Millie/Ensemble *ERIC J. LITTLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . King/Ensemble * SEKOU LAIDLOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alberga/Ensemble *LAU’RIE ROACH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jimmy/Ensemble *KEDREN SPENCER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Toni Stone *DANE TROY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stretch/Ensemble *GEOFFREY D. WILLIAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spec/Ensemble UNDERSTUDIES CHRIS BLOUNT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stretch/Spec/Ensemble BRIAN JOSEPH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . King/Elzie/Ensemble PAIGE MAYES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Toni Stone DAVID RUCKER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Millie/Alberga/Ensemble MIKE SALLEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jimmy/Woody/Ensemble STAGE MANAGERS * SHAINA PIERCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stage Manager *R. LAMAR WILLIAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Stage Manager LEXI MCKAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stage Management Production Assistant PRODUCTION AND DESIGN ASSISTANCE JODY FELDMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line Producer LAURA MORSE MS, LPC, CPCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mental Health Consultant HAYLEE SCOTT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COVID Coordinator SKYLAR BURKS & RAIYON HUNTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Casting Assistants FOR THIS PRODUCTION SHADANA PATTERSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dialect Coach SASHA NICOLE SMITH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intimacy Director D. CONNOR MCVEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Lighting Designer AMAR ATKINS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dance/Fight/Movement Captain NIKIYA MATHIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wig Designer HOLLY O’REAGAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sound Mixer GRAHAM SCHWARTZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deck Sound HAUZIA CONYERS, ZACHARY MORRISON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wardrobe LAURA HACKMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intimacy Consultant THOM WEAVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baseball Consultant BRYAN PEREZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crew Chief/Props Runner WILLIE PARKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stagehand SPECIAL THANKS Lisa Fulton
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* Denotes a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States The Alliance Theatre operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, an independent national labor union. The Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, and is a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young Audiences (ASSITEJ/USA), The Atlanta Coalition of Theatres, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Midtown Alliance. Photos may be taken in the theater before the performance, during intermission, and following the performance. If you share your photos, please credit the designers. Photos, videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited, is a violation of United States Copyright Law, and is an actionable Federal Offense. THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’ RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW, FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists
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18 | encore AMAR ATKINS (Elzie/ Ensemble/Fight,Dance & Movement Captain) Look What God Has Done! Amar is elated to make his Alliance Theatre Debut after portraying Elzie in Milwaukee Rep’s production of Toni Stone. Broadway Tour: The Color Purple revival (Mister/Harpo U/S). Off-Broadway: King Lear (Edmund). Select Regional: The Color Purple revival (Paper Mill Playhouse), Rent (Gateway Playhouse), Sophisticated Ladies (New Venture), Clybourne Park (Swine Palace). Select TV/Film: “Annie Live!,” “America’s Got Talent,” “City on a Hill,” “Blue Bloods,” “Bull,” “Wu-Tang: An American Saga.” Numerous national/worldwide commercials. MFA in Acting from LSU and BA in Theatre from Albany State University. All my love to my tribe and DGRW! @amaratkins_ CHRIS BLOUNT (US Stretch/Spec/Ensemble) Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Chris Blount attended Pebblebrook High School’s Magnet program. He also graduated from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a B.F.A. in Acting in 2021. You may have seen him in “American Rust” on Showtime or “Queens” on ABC. He is beyond excited to be making his Alliance debut and for this to be his entrance into the Atlanta Theatre scene. He thanks his family for the never-ending support. But most importantly he would like to thank God for all the blessings he has been given and that are to come. DIMONTE HENNING (Woody/Ensemble) is excited to be making his Alliance Theatre debut. Dimonte is a Milwaukee native and serves as Artistic Director serves as Artistic Director for Lights! Camera! Soul!
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and is a founding member of the Milwaukee Black Theater Festival. Dimonte’s regional theater credits include: The Island and Deathtrap (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre), Stick Fly (Writers Theatre), Skeleton Crew (Forward Theater), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theatre LILA), Our Town, A Christmas Carol, and Dreamgirls (Milwaukee Rep), The Wiz (First Stage), Black Nativity (Black Arts MKE). TV and commercial credits include: Guest starring roles on NBC’s “Chicago PD” (seasons four and six), Disney’s “Encore!,” UBER, Inpro Designs, and Harley-Davidson. BRIAN JOSEPH (US King/ Elzie/Ensemble) A theatre graduate from Georgia Southern University, Brian has appeared in various film and theatre productions including NBC’s “The Blacklist,” The Wizard of Oz, and August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. Training under several New York acting companies such as The Producers Club, Actors Connection, and The Barrow Group, Brian has recently relocated to Georgia where he continues to build his craft and experience the amazing talent and creativity Atlanta has to offer. ENOCH A. KING (Millie/ Ensemble) Recent credits include: The Bluest Eye (Synchronicity Theatre), It’s a Wonderful Life, Skeleton Crew, Between Riverside and Crazy, A Raisin in the Sun (American Stage), Paradise Blue, Skeleton Crew (True Colors Theatre), Hands of Color (Synchronicity Theatre – Suzi Bass Award for Best World Premiere), A Christmas Carol (Shakespeare Tavern), The Mountaintop (Heritage Theatre Festival), Anne and Emmett (Amsterdam, VA, NY, NC), The Christians (Actor’s Express – Suzi Bass Award for Best Supporting Actor). Be safe, smile hard and love free!
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SEKOUS LAIDLOW (Alberga/Ensemble) Sekous craftsmanship can be seen in his recurring guest star role as Leon Payne in NBC’s “Ordinary Joe.” He is a recurring guest star in ABC’s “Women of the Movement” and plays Harrison Carter in the BET+ episodic “Kingdom Business.” He will appear in the Warner Brothers feature Black Adam. Some of his theater credits include two Broadway appearances in Airline Highway and Boys in the Band. Regional credits include Skeleton Crew, A Doll’s House, Father Comes Home from the Wars, The Mountaintop, Civil War Christmas, and Of Mice and Men. Sekou is an alumnus of The Juilliard School of Drama. ERIC J. LITTLE (King/ Ensemble) Eric is elated to be making his Alliance debut. Eric is a proud graduate of Alabama A&M University and Louisiana State University. He has worked as an actor and director with Theatrical Outfit, Actor’s Express, True Colors, Aurora Theatre, Horizon Theatre, North Carolina Black Rep and others. Eric is a tenured tracked professor at Clark Atlanta University. Eric has won three Suzi Bass Awards (the professional theatre awards in Atlanta). Follow him on IG: iamejlittle PAIGE MAYES (US Toni Stone) is a positive & energetic spirit from Aurora, CO. She works professionally as an actress, choreographer, dancer, model, singer, and yoga instructor. Paige is a graduate of Arizona State University in the performing arts and dance department. She is grateful to be a part of this production. LAU’RIE ROACH (Jimmy/ Ensemble; Luh-Ree) is originally from Atlanta and graduated from
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AMDA in NYC. Re has had the opportunity to work with Alliance Theatre and True Colors Theatre Company in Atlanta. Regional credits include North Carolina Black Repertory Company, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, and Milwaukee Rep! Film credits include “Rules to Rule,” “Po’ Psi Broke” (YouTube) and “This World Alone” (Apple TV, Amazon Prime and now Hulu), where he won an award for Best Actor in Italy! @Iamreanthony DAVID RUCKER (US Millie/Alberga/ Ensemble) is an actor, writer, and teaching artist who has been privileged to work in film, television, and theatre. David has enjoyed success on film, with roles on BET’s “The Quad,” and the TV One film Downsized. His most recent film credits include The Good Things Devils Do, Here Comes The Sun (starring Terri J. Vaughn), and Homestead. David’s theatre credits include multiple performances at the Atlanta, Washington, and National Black Arts Festivals, and various theatres throughout Atlanta. Currently he appears in Javon Johnson’s (The Oval), Sanctified, and When Love Calls, and is preparing for the 2022 production of Much Ado About Nothing at The Shakespeare Tavern. Having the opportunity to work on the Atlanta run of Toni Stone at the Alliance is a dream come true, and David thanks Jody Feldman, Tinashe Kajese-Bolden, and the production team for this time. MIKE SALLEE, JR (US Jimmy/Woody/Ensemble) has been seen in such roles as Jack Kelly in Disney’s Newsies (Circle Players), Jesus in Godspell (Actors Pointe), Flick/Ensemble in A Christmas Story (Nashville Rep), Chris in Lynn Nottage’s Sweat (Street Theatre Company), Lucas in If/Then (Circle Players), Robbie the Stockfish/Ensemble in Urinetown The Musical (Nashville Rep), Benny in Rent (YA4ever), Antipholus of Ephesus in The Bomb-Itty of Errors (ACT1), Frederick
20 | encore Douglas in Civil War The Musical (Street Theatre Company), Simon Zealotes in Jesus Christ Superstar (Camarillo Skyway Playhouse). Sallee Jr has also been cast in Disney’s Mary Poppins (Nashville Rep), Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (McCoy Rigby), Disney’s Newsies (Audience of One). Sallee Jr is blessed and excited to have this debut opportunity with the Alliance. Thank you to Maria and my team! Instagram: @mikesalleejr KEDREN SPENCER (Toni Stone) MFA, FSU/Asolo Conservatory. Select Regional: The Tempest (Shakespeare Theatre Co), Richard III, Twelfth Night, Dial ‘M’ for Murder (Monmouth), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (FSU/Asolo Conservatory), Evita (Asolo Rep), Little Shop of Horrors (Trinity Rep). TV: “New Amsterdam,” “Manifest,” “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC), “Search Party” (HBO), “Bull” (CBS). Film: “Half Day” (short), “Reopening” (short). Kedren is also currently in postproduction for her first film and directorial debut, Last Call. Grateful doesn’t begin to cover it. For my family. For the Forgotten. For Toni. DANE TROY (Stretch/ Ensemble) dane hails from Atlanta and is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s professional theatre program. He has performed professionally in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, North Carolina, Milwaukee and the Bay Area. dane is grateful to Milwaukee Rep for this opportunity. He sends lots of love to his family and his wife Paige Mayes. GEOFFREY D. WILLIAMS (Spec/Ensemble) Regional theatre credits include Theatrical Outfit, Alliance Theatre, True Colors Theatre Company, Horizon Theatre Company, Theatre in the
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Square, Huntington Theatre, Geva Theatre Center, Indiana Rep, Burt Reynolds Theatre, Jomandi Productions, Mill Mountain Theatre, among others. He has also acted in more than a dozen film or television productions for Marvel, Showtime, Millennium Filmworks, Twentieth Century Fox, FX, CBS and HBO. Geoffrey trained at Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of Fine Art in Dallas, Texas, the Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theatre in Florida and Northside School of Performing Arts in Atlanta, Georgia. Geoffrey dedicates this show to his sister, who wore a tutu in the dugout! TINASHE KAJESEBOLDEN (Director) is an award-winning director, actor and producer. She is the BOLD Artistic Director Fellow at Alliance Theatre and driven to create stories that celebrate our differences while building community. Tinashe is a Princess Grace 2019 Award Winner for Directing, and Map Fund Award recipient to develop her devised new work All Smiles for Theater for the Very Young, centering the experience of children on the autism spectrum. Recent theatre directing credits include School Girls (Or the African Mean Girls Play) (True Colors Theatre), Ghost (Alliance Theatre), Native Gardens (Virginia Stage Company), Pipeline (Horizon Theatre), Nick’s Flamingo Grill (World Premiere at Alliance Theatre), Eclipsed (Synchronicity Theatre, Best Director Suzi Bass Award). Up next: Candrice Jone’s FLEX at Theatrical Outfit. As a director and actor, she has worked On and Off Broadway, including Imperial Theatre, Primary Stages, 59E59 Theaters, Classical Theatre of Harlem, and regionally at Yale Rep, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse, Geva Theatre, CTG’s Kirk Douglas Theatre, among others, as well as recurring roles on TV/Film (Suicide Squad, Marvel’s “Hawkeye,” CW’s “Valor,”
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“Dynasty,” HBO’s “Henrietta Lacks” and currently filming Season 2 of Ava Duverney’s “Cherish the Day”). She proudly serves on the ARTS-ATL Artist Advisory Council. “My mission is the pursuit of what connects our different communities and how we create art that serves that.” LYDIA DIAMOND (Playwright) is an award-winning playwright whose work includes Toni Stone (2019 premiere at Roundabout Theatre Company), Smart People, Stick Fly (Broadway run at Cort Theatre), Voyeurs de Venus, Harriet Jacobs, and The Bluest Eye. Her work has been performed at Arena Stage, Arden Theatre Company, Second Stage Theater, The New Vic Theatre, Company One, Goodman Theatre, The Guthrie Theater, Hartford Stage, Huntington Theatre Company, Long Wharf Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre and McCarter Theatre Center. Diamond has been a W. E. B. DuBois Institute Fellow at Harvard, a Sundance Playwright Lab Creative Advisor, a Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellow, a Sally B. Goodman Fellow, a Huntington Playwright Fellow and a National Endowment for the Arts/Theatre Communications Group playwright. She is the 2020 recipient of The Horton Foote Prize, sits on the Dramatists Guild Legal Defense Fund board and is on faculty at University of Illinois at Chicago. TONY CISEK (Scenic Designer) has designed the Alliance productions of Hospice/Pointing at the Moon, Disgraced, and the premiere of Edward Foote. Recent and upcoming productions include the premiere of Show Way for the Kennedy Center, The Great Leap at Round House Theatre, Choir Boy at Denver Center, The Color Purple for Signature Theatre, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Folger Theatre at the National Building Museum. Tony’s work has also been seen at Roundabout Theatre, Arena Stage, Guthrie Theatre, Goodman Theatre, South Coast Rep, Portland Center Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Ford’s Theatre, Actors Theatre of
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Louisville, Baltimore Center Stage, Indiana Rep, Syracuse Stage, New York Theatre Workshop, Cleveland Play House, Pioneer Theatre, Peoples Light, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, and Studio Theatre. He has received numerous awards and citations for outstanding design and was the principal theatre consultant for the Atlas Performing Arts Center in Northeast Washington, DC. www.tonycisek.com THOM WEAVER (Lighting Designer) Previously for Milwaukee Rep: Junk, The History of Invulnerability, The Royale, A Christmas Carol. His work has been seen at NYSF/Public Theater, Roundabout Theatre, Primary Stages, Signature Theatre (NY), Wilma, Arden, PTC, New Paradise Laboratories, Walnut, CenterStage, Huntington Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, Syracuse Stage, Shakespeare Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Williamstown, Cleveland Play House, Round House Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse, Spoleto Festival, Pittsburgh Public Theater and Yale Rep, among others. 6 Barrymore Awards, 2 Jeff Awards and 2 AUDELCO Awards. Co-Founder of Die-Cast with Brenna Geffers, founding board member of Theatre Philadelphia and a member of Wingspace. Education: Carnegie-Mellon and Yale. He/him. Black Lives Matter. SHARATH PATEL (Sound Designer) is an Oregon-based designer who works internationally focusing on experimental, commercial, academic, political and socially conscious theatre. Recent designs: Portland Center Stage, Indiana Rep, ACT Theatre, American Rep, Artists Rep, Seattle Rep, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cal Shakes, Alabama Shakes, Arena Stage. Affiliations: USA 829 IATSE, Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association, Department of State Arts Envoy, National Respondent for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, Resident Artist at Artists Rep. BFA: Ohio University. MFA: Yale School of Drama. www.sharathpatel.com
22 | encore DEREK A. GRAHAM (Original Music & Composition) is a composer based in North Carolina. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Derek holds an MFA in Sound Design from Ohio University and a BA in Music from Elizabeth City State University. Recent composer credits include The Chinese Lady (Artists Repertory Theatre) and Protocol and Redwood (Portland Center Stage). Derek is invested in using sound and music to encapsulate emotion in storytelling and is excited to collaborate with Milwaukee Rep for the first time. KARA HARMON (Costume Designer) Select Regional credits include: Hometown to the World (Santa Fe Opera); The Shutter Sisters (Old Globe); Darlin’ Cory (The Alliance Theater), Guys & Dolls, Steel Magnolias (Guthrie Theatre); Eclipsed (Milwaukee Rep); The Color Purple (Portland Center Stage); The Wiz! (Ford’s Theatre — Helen Hayes Award); A Raisin in the Sun (Indiana Rep); Nina Simone: Four Women (Arena Stage); The Purists (Huntington Theatre); In the Heights (Geva); Barbecue (Geffen Playhouse — NAACP Award); The Rape of Lucretia (Wolf Trap Opera); Much Ado About Nothing (Oregon Shakespeare Festival). Off-Broadway: Cullud Wattah (Public Theater); Lockdown (Rattlestick Playwrights); The Niceties (Manhattan Theater Club); Dot (Vineyard Theater). Assistant Costume Design TV: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Season 2, Amazon; “Daredevil,” Season 2, Netflix; “Boardwalk Empire,” Season 5, HBO. Training: NYU Tisch School of the Arts. KaraHarmonDesign.com DELL HOWLETT(Choreographer) is a New York-based, Virginia-born choreographer/director. Select credits include: Stick Fly (Plays in the House), R&H Cinderella (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Guys and Dolls (Ford’s Theatre), Paradise Square (Associate to Bill T. Jones, Berkeley Rep), Guys and Dolls (Guthrie Theater), The Wiz (Ford’s Theatre, Helen Hayes Nom.), Wig Out! (Studio Theatre, Helen Hayes Nom.), The C.A.
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Lyons Project (Alliance Theatre, Suzi Bass Award Winner), The Legend of Georgia McBride (Marin Theatre Company, BATCCA Nom.), YoungArts Presidential Scholars Show (Kennedy Center), A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (The Acting Company), Broadway Inspirational Voices (Foxwoods Theater), Is Anybody Listening? (Sheen Center). Dell is a full-time professor and Associate Head of Dance at NYU/Tisch School of the Arts in the Department of Drama’s New Studio on Broadway. He dedicates this work and every work to his muse, his husband Aaron. SHAINA PIERCE (Stage Manager) Shaina hails from Atlanta, Georgia where she worked as an ASM on the world premiere musical Darlin’ Cory and A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre. Shaina is also the inaugural recipient of the Stage Management Fellowship at Alliance Theatre. Shaina has worked on Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Other credits include Intimate Apparel, Legally Blonde: The Musical, and The Last Five Years. She is extremely proud to have earned her MFA at The University of Alabama. She thanks her family and loved ones for their continued support. R. LAMAR WILLIAMS (Assistant Stage Manager) is an Atlanta native who studied theatre at Florida A&M University’s Essential Theatre. His 20-year tenure at the Alliance has included stage managing Hospice/Pointing at the Moon, The Temple Bombing, Choir Boy, Bike America, The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls, 18 years of The Palefsky Collision Project and assistant stage managing a slew of great shows. Rodney is opening a new frontier in his career with dramaturgy and directing. For Sensei, JDawn, Chelsea & Solari and all humanity — “changing the world 1 play @ a time!” ALEXIS MCKAY (Stage Managment Production Assistant, she/her) is a
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biracial woman whose main focus is as a stage manager around Atlanta. She also loves to teach technical theater to kids whenever she can, is an administrator for Atlanta Theatre Artists for Justice, and on the board of SheNYC Arts. Her most recent theater accomplishment is getting to work on the Hamilton stage management team while they were in town. When she’s not working, she is finding a quiet corner to curl up with her dogs and try to get her next play written or going back to school to enhance her tool belt. ROUNDABOUT THEATRE COMPANY (Commissioning Producer) Todd Haimes, Artistic Director/CEO – Founded in 1965, New York’s not-for-profit Roundabout Theatre Company celebrates the power of theater by spotlighting classics from the past, cultivating new works of the present, and educating minds for the future. Roundabout produces a mix of revivals and world premieres on and off Broadway, winning eight Best Revival Tony Awards and debuting such new playwrights as Stephen Karam, Lindsey Ferrentino, Steven Levenson, Ming Peiffer, and Jireh Breon Holder. Its educational initiatives impact 15,000 students and over 1,000 teachers annually. Roundabouttheatre.org. SAMANTHA BARRIE (Commissioning Producer) Prior to commissioning and developing Toni Stone, Samantha was the Casting Director for The Old Globe and worked in the artistic departments of The Public Theater and Roundabout Theatre Company. In addition to producing, she designs educationally-focused tours around the world for some of the country’s most prestigious media outlets and nonprofit institutions. She feels immense pride that because of this project, her son Isaac knows Toni Stone’s story. MILWAUKEE REPERTORY THEATER (Co-Producer) is the largest performing arts organization in Wisconsin with three unique performance venues in the Patty
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& Jay Baker Theater Complex. For over six decades, Milwaukee Rep has been a centerpiece of Milwaukee’s vibrant arts and cultural scene with productions ranging from Broadway musicals to Shakespeare to American Classics and New Works that are entertaining, inclusive and impactful. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Executive Director Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Rep ignites positive change in the cultural, social and economic vitality of its community by creating worldclass theater experiences that entertain, provoke and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee’s rich diversity. JODY FELDMAN (Line Producer) began her theater career as an actress in Atlanta before moving into administration as the Assistant General Manager at Frank Wittow’s Academy Theatre. Feldman started her career at the Alliance as casting director in 1991 and added producer to her title and responsibilities in 2001. She has cast and produced more than 200 productions at the Alliance, encompassing a range of world premieres that includes The Last Night of Ballyhoo, What I Learned in Paris, Broke, Troubadour, In the Red and Brown Water, and more than 10 years of Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition-winning plays plus such world and regional premiere musicals as Tuck Everlasting; Aida; The Color Purple; Sister Act: The Musical; Bring It On: The Musical; Ghost Brothers of Darkland County; Harmony, A New Musical and The Prom. Jody is most proud of the thriving Alliance engagement activities and partnerships that recognize theatrical work as a catalyst for community conversation and connection. SUSAN V. BOOTH (Jennings Hertz Artistic Director) joined the Alliance Theatre in 2001 and has initiated the Palefsky Collision Project, the Kendeda Playwriting Competition, the Reiser Atlanta Artists Lab, and commercial partnerships on such projects as The Prom; Tuck Everlasting;
24 | encore Ghost Brothers of Darkland County; The Color Purple; Bring It On: The Musical; Twyla Tharp’s Come Fly Away; Sister Act: The Musical; Bring in ’da Noise, Bring in ’da Funk; and Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL. She has directed nationally at the Goodman Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, New York Stage and Film, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and many others. She holds degrees from Denison and Northwestern Universities and was a fellow of the National Critics Institute and the Kemper Foundation. Booth’s leadership is underwritten by the BOLD Theater Women’s Leadership Circle, an initiative to support and promote women’s theater leadership funded by The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation. She is married to Max Leventhal and is the proud mother of Moira Rose Leventhal. MIKE SCHLEIFER (Managing Director) joined the Alliance Theatre in 2014 as General Manager, and in 2016 became Managing Director. Schleifer has led the administrative team on more than 50 productions and was one of the architects of the “On the Road” season, in which the Alliance produced 12 shows at 12 venues. He started the Alliance’s Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Committee and serves on the League of Resident Theatre’s Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Initiative. Previously, he spent 13 years at Baltimore’s Center Stage, working as Associate Producer, Production Manager and Resident Stage Manager. While in Baltimore, he spent seven years as an adjunct faculty member at Towson University and guest lectured all over the East Coast. He began his career as a Stage Manager and has dozens of stage-management credits in New York and regionally. He is married to theater director and educator Laura Hackman and is the proud father of two boys, Jack and Ben. ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional Actors and Stage Managers. Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and
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advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. #EquityWorks
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yourstoryyourstage encoreatlanta.com
Fans Favorite Fan was created because at the time there was no one doing what I envisioned in the sports industry. Yes there were women who were sports reporters and writers, but to be a fan of a sport and a credentialed journalist there wasn’t a space for people who looked like me. I realized that my fandom was a huge part of my media experience. So, I created a sports blog that shared fan experiences, game analysis and league updates with other fans. I began traveling to games I selected from ESPN’s College Gameday schedule, I would live tweet either at the College Gameday sites or at home and I would travel to college football games outside of Atlanta. After one season, I was asked to host college football game watch parties with Power 5 conference schools whose alumni groups were located in Atlanta. From hosting events, I was able to hire writers and college students who wanted to work in the sports industry. My sports blog turned into a sports media company in year two and I was able to manage interns, mentees and a staff digitally for another 6 years. More importantly, Fans Favorite Fan showed other Black women that they can create their own lane in the sports industry and thrive. Today there are credentialed Black-owned, Black woman-led media outlets covering various sports leagues independently. This year, Fans Favorite Fan will turn 10 years old. For the last two years, FFF has been in a sabbatical due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and lack of funding. Fans Favorite Fan was able to demonstrate that WE deserve to be in these spaces, even if we have to be there alone.
Dawn Montgomery Founder Fans Favorite Fan
26 | synopsis SYNOPSIS Considered a pioneer, Toni Stone is the first woman to play baseball in the Negro Leagues, also making her the first woman to play professionally in a men’s league. Against all odds, Toni blazes a path in the male-dominated sports world, breaking through the limitations others placed on her, and creating her own set of rules. Follow Toni’s journey as she fights for love, equality and a chance to do what she wants the most — play some world class baseball. Declared the “Best New Play of 2019” by The Wall Street Journal, Toni Stone is a funny and fascinating story of race, gender, and raw ambition… and an unheralded superstar you’ll never forget.
GET SOCIAL Connect with us and other audience members on your Alliance experience. Share your comments and photos on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with hashtags #ToniStone and #AllianceTheatre. Plus, search your social media platforms with those hashtags for fun, behind-the-scenes photos from our cast, crew and creative team. alliancetheatre.org alliancetheatre alliancetheatre alliancetheatre alliancetheatre Do you appreciate live theatre, enjoy meeting new people and trying new things? If so, then get involved with one of the largest volunteer forces in the arts. The Alliance Theatre volunteer STARS program offers a wide range of opportunities, which includes advocating for live theatre, ushering for Alliance productions, participating in and staffing fundraising & hospitality events, and assisting Alliance staff members with daily office tasks. STARS is composed of three committees working together on fund-saving and fundraising projects to benefit the theatre. The three committees are the Theatre Advocates, the Theatre Educators, and the Theatre Ushers. For more information on becoming a volunteer, please contact ATushers@alliancetheatre.org.
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aboutthealliance
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ABOUT THE ALLIANCE THEATRE Founded in 1968, the Alliance Theatre is the leading producing theatre in the Southeast, reaching more than 165,000 patrons annually. Under the leadership of Susan V. Booth, Jennings Hertz Artistic Director, the Alliance received the Regional Theatre Tony Award® for sustained excellence in programming, education, and community engagement. In January 2019, the Alliance opened its new, state-of-the-art performance space, The Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre. Known for its high artistic standards and national role in creating significant theatrical works, the Alliance has premiered more than 116 productions including nine that have transferred to Broadway. The Alliance education department reaches 90,000 students annually through performances, classes, camps, and in-school initiatives designed to support teachers and enhance student learning. The Alliance Theatre values community, curiosity, collaboration, and excellence, and is dedicated to representing Atlanta’s diverse community with the stories we tell, the artists, staff, and leadership we employ, and audiences we serve. www.alliancetheatre.org. OUR MISSION To expand hearts and minds onstage and off. OUR VISION Making Atlanta more connected, curious, and compassionate through theatre and arts education. LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT In the sincerest efforts to gain further understanding of the history that has brought us to reside on this land and to accept the knowledge that colonialism is a current and ongoing process under which we need to build our mindfulness of our present participation, we hereby acknowledge this native land of the Muscogee Creek Nation.
28 | boardofdirectors OFFICERS Chair Jocelyn J. Hunter Immediate Past Chair Lila Hertz Secretary E. Kendrick Smith Treasurer LeighAnn Costley Ex-Officio Hala Moddelmog LIFETIME DIRECTORS Rita Anderson Ken Bernhardt Frank Chew Ann Cramer Linda Davidson Laura Hardman Hays Mershon Richard S. Myrick Helen Smith Price Helen Regenstein Bob Reiser Jane Shivers Ben White BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kristin Adams Kimberly Ajy James Anderson Alba Baylin Kenny Blank Brittany Boals Moeller Terri Bonoff Matthew Bower Laura Brightwell Jeff Cashdan Steve Chaddick Miles Cook LeighAnn Costley Joe Crowley Alison Danaceau Fred Ehlers Reade Fahs Howard Feinsand Andrea Freeman Richard Goerss Lila Hertz Jocelyn Hunter Malvika Jhangiani Anne Kaiser
John Keller Andjela Kessler Lauren Kiefer Jim Kilberg Jesse Killings Mary Jane Kirkpatrick Carrie Kurlander Allegra Lawrence-Hardy Robert Masucci Jean Ann McCarthy Alan McKeon Alan McKnight Dori Miller Hala Moddelmog Phil Moïse Maureen Morrison Allison O’Kelly Victoria Palefsky Paul Pendergrass Jamal Powell Asif Ramji Danielle Reardon Patty Reid Margaret Reiser Matthew Richburg Robyn Roberts Maurice Rosenbaum Kerri Sauer Steve Selig Mital Shah Bill Sleeper H. Bronson Smith E. Kendrick Smith Chandra Stephens-Albright Charlita Stephens Rosemarie Thurston Benny Varzi Rebekah Wasserman Dana Weeks Ugwonali Glenn Weiss Cynthia Widner Wall Todd Zeldin ADVISORY BOARD Advisory Board Co-Chair Laura Hardman Advisory Board Co-Chair Phil H. Moïse Chris Ahrenkiel Rene Alegria Charmaine Alexander Joe Alterman
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Jonathan Arogeti Carrie Ashbee Farideh Azadi Kelli Bennett Jericho Brown Merry Hunter Caudle Farah Clerveau Elizabeth Cooper Gail Crowder Tallia Deljou Anjali Enjeti Jason Feldman Rev. Everett Flanigan Nathan Flint Mary Beth Flournoy Jennifer Foster Karen Foster Lula Gilliam Shauna Grovell Laura Hardman Wendy Heckelman Jason Hoch Elizabeth Hollister Zenith Houston Jim Issa Debby Kelly Robin Kendric Triplett Helen Kim Ho Quinn Leoni Joyce Gist Lewis Andra London Indira Londono Theo Lowe Monica McLary Jaime McQuilkin Jenna Measroch Nishant Mehta Phil H. Moïse Victoria Necessary Andisheh Nouraee Ade Oguntoye Aixa Pascual Shirley Powell Nancy C. Prager Shannon Price Alexis Rainey Kristin Ray Kat Reynolds Kirk Rich Ryan Roemerman Fred Roselli Kyle Rossilli Amanda Shailendra
Pastor Beverly Brown Shaw Dan Moss Silverboard Christie Sithiphone Charles Stephens Brian Stoltz Maria Storts Velma C. Tilley Kathy Gillespie Tomajko Ronald J. Tomajko Hilda Tompkins Roxanne Varzi Stuart Wilkinson VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP President, STARS Andjela Kessler Chairman, Theater Advocates Judy Feldstein Susan Stiefel Chairman, Theater Educators Myra Medlin Faye Windham Chairman, Theater Ushers Edwina Sellan Chairman, Hospitality Susan Stiefel
sponsors
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Alliance Sponsors are businesses, corporations, and institutions that have supported the work of the Alliance Theatre. We thank them for their generosity and support. $1 Million+
$50,000+
The Coca-Cola Company
R. Howard Dobbs, Jr. Foundation Edgerton Foundation Fulton County Board of Commissioners Georgia Power Foundation, Inc. King & Spalding National Vision Northside Hospital WestRock
$500,000+ Chick-fil-A Foundation Rhonda and Dan Cathy Lettie Pate Evans Foundation
$250,000+ Anonymous The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation WarnerMedia & AT&T Foundation The Goizueta Foundation Helen Gurley Brown Foundation The Home Depot Foundation
$100,000+ The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation The Molly Blank Fund of the Arthur M. Blank Foundation Charles Loridans Foundation Delta Air Lines, Inc. Georgia Natural Gas Invesco QQQ The Kendeda Fund PNC Shubert Foundation The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust The David, Helen, and Marian Woodward Fund The Rich Foundation The Zeist Foundation
$25,000+ Alston & Bird Camp-Younts Foundation City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs Georgia Council for the Arts Georgia-Pacific The Imlay Foundation National Endowment for the Arts Northern Trust The Princess Grace Foundation, USA Rotary Education Foundation of Atlanta United Distributors William Randolph Hearst Foundations
CNP Disney Publishing Do a Good Day Foundation Eversheds Sutherland Frances Wood Wilson Foundation George M. Brown Trust of Atlanta John and Mary Franklin Foundation Jones Day Kile’s Beautiful Mind Foundation The Johnny Mercer Foundation Macy’s Osiason Educational Foundation South Arts Theatre Forward Worldpay US, Inc.
$5,000+ Anonymous Augustine Foundation Lexus Mary Wilmer Covey Charitable Trust
$10,000+ AEC Trust Anonymous Aon Cancer Treatment Centers of America Thalia & Michael C. Carlos Foundation Cartoon Network
By attending our theater, you have made a powerful statement about how important the arts are to you. Make another statement of support louder than any standing ovation. Visit alliancetheatre.org and click on Donate.
30 | encore Alliance Series Sponsor
Official Hotel
Official Research Partner
government
Major funding for this organization is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners
This program is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. GCA also receives support from its partner agency the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Major support is provided by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
annualfund
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Individual, foundation, and corporate donors contribute more than $8 million to the Alliance Theatre so that we are able to present exceptional theater and educational programming to our community. We are deeply grateful for your support. To find out more about the benefits of giving or to make your gift, visit us at alliancetheatre.org/ donate or call 404-733-4710. Listed below are pledges and gifts to the Alliance Theatre Annual Fund from June 1, 2020 – January 13, 2022.
PREMIERE SUPPORT Spotlight $100,000+ The SKK Foundation Spotlight $50,000+ The Antinori Foundation Kathy* & Ken Bernhardt Ms. Stephanie Blank & Mr. David Williams David & Carolyn Gould Doug & Lila Hertz Starr Moore & the James Starr Moore Memorial Foundation The Naserian Foundation Dean DuBose & Bronson Smith Artistic Director’s Circle $35,000+ Barbara & Steve Chaddick Brian & Carrie Kurlander Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Ivester Bob & Margaret Reiser Mr. & Mrs. E. Kendrick Smith Chairman’s Circle $25,000+ Roxanne & Jeffrey Cashdan Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Catalfano Ann & Jeff Cramer Katie & Reade Fahs Jocelyn J. Hunter David & Mary Jane Kirkpatrick
Jane & J. Hicks Lanier Phil & Caroline Moïse Allison and Shane O’Kelly Victoria & Howard Palefsky Mr. & Mrs. Asif Ramji Patty & Doug Reid Patricia & Maurice Rosenbaum Ms. Mital Shah Tim & Maria Tassopoulos Rosemarie & David Thurston Amy & Todd Zeldin
Mr. & Mrs. Barry McCarthy Ms. Evelyn Ashley & Mr. Alan B. McKeon Mr. & Mrs. Angus Morrison Mr. & Mrs. Sean Reardon Matt Richburg Linda & Steve Selig William & Margarita Sleeper Dr. & Mrs. Dennis Lee Spangler Mr. & Mrs. Art Waldrop Ramona & Ben White
Leadership Circle $15,000+
Director’s Circle $10,000+
James Anderson Farideh & Al Azadi Foundation The Balloun Family Terri Bonoff & Matthew Knopf Susan Booth & Max Leventhal Miles & Nicole Cook LeighAnn & Chad Costley Ms. Alison Danaceau & Mr. Tim McKinley Marcia & John Donnell Diane Durgin Mr. Fredric M. Ehlers & Mr. David Lile Ellen & Howard Feinsand Heidi & David Geller Doris & Matthew Geller Marsha & Richard Goerss Mr. Wayne S. Hyatt Mr. & Mrs. David E. Kiefer Jesse Killings
Ms. Kristin Adams Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Asher Deborah L. Bannworth & Joy Lynn Fields Alba C. Baylin Natalie & Matthew Bernstein Judge JoAnn Bowens Martha & Toby Brooks Franklin & Dorothy Chandler Ezra Cohen Charitable Fund Eve Joy Eckardt Dr. Cynthia J. Fordyce & Sharon Hulette Kim & Ted Greene Malvika Jhangiani John C. Keller James & Lori Kilberg Dori & Jack Miller Paul Pendergrass & Margaret Baldwin Jamal & Tiffany Powell
32 | encore Wade Rakes & Nicholas Miller Robyn Roberts & Kevin Greiner Mark & Linda Silberman Lynne & Steve Steindel Carol & Ramon Tomé Family Fund Dana & Obi Ugwonali Benny & Roxanne Varzi Waffle House Mark & Rebekah Wasserman Suzy Wilner Benefactors $5,000+ Anonymous Ellen Arnovitz Lisa & Joe Bankoff Mr. & Mrs. Roland L. Bates Brian & Jennifer Boutte Mrs. Lucinda W. Bunnen Mr. & Mrs. W. Kent Canipe Ann & Jim Curry Linda & Gene Davidson The Robert S. Elster Foundation Andrea and Jerry Freeman Mr. David F. Golden Dr. & Mrs. Marvin Goldstein Dr. & Mrs. John B. Hardman Ariana L. Hargrave Henry & Etta Raye Hirsch Heritage Foundation Tad & Janin Hutcheson Boland & Andrea Lea Jones Mr. James Kieffer Mr. Charles R. Kowal Dr. & Mrs. John Lee Lubo Fund Kristie L. Madara Daniel Marks & Keri Powell Melanie & S. Alan McKnight, Jr. Burrelle Meeks Mr. & Mrs. Nathan Metzger Hala & Steve Moddelmog Debbie & Lon Neese John & Helen Parker Steve & Tonya Paro
Mr. & Mrs. Norman J. Radow Ms. Kristin L. Ray Mr. George Russell, Jr. & Mrs. Faye SampsonRussell Henry N. & Margaret P. Staats Charlita Stephens & Delores Stephens In honor of Carol Jones Maria-Ruth Storts Chuck & Lisa CannonTaylor Leslie Taylor & David Pratt
Chandra Stephens-Albright & Warren Albright Susan & Alan* Stiefel Judith & Mark Taylor G. Scott Thompson & Caitlin Way Stan & Velma Tilley Kathy & Ron Tomajko Ms. Kathy Waller & Mr. Kenny Goggins Ms. Cathy Weil Kim Boldthen & Carolyn Wheeler William & Nancy Yang The Zaban Foundation
$2,500+
$1,500+
Anonymous Dr. & Mrs. Raymond Allen Ron & Lisa Brill Charitable Trust Dr. Aubrey Bush & Dr. Carol Bush Rita & Ralph Connell Joe Crowley & Phil Mack Brad & Sally Currey Karen & Andrew Ghertner Mr. & Mrs. J. Michael Hostinsky Linda & Richard Hubert Jason & Laurie Jeffay Allegra J. Lawrence-Hardy & Valerie Haughton Raymond & Penelope McPhee Stacia Minton Clair & Thomas Muller Joan Netzel & John Gronwall Sam & Barbara Pettway Dr. Denise Raynor Mr. Ronald Russell & Mr. Tommy Russell Jane & Rein Saral Sharon & David Schachter Alan & Cyndy* Schreihofer Sam Schwartz & Lynn Goldowski Mr. & Mrs.* Charles B. Shelton III Jane E. Shivers
Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. George Ajy Mark & Pam Bell Candace Carson Andrew Childers Melodie H. Clayton Susan & Ed Croft Gail Crowder Mr. & Mrs. Erik Curns Kathy & Jason Evans Tina & Tim Eyerly Jody & Michael Feldman Mr. & Mrs. David Felfoldi Andrew & Wendie Fisher Mr. & Mrs. Paul A. Flexner Debbie Frank & Sandy McDonald Marla Jane Franks, MD Sandeep Goyal & Taylor England Louise S. Gunn Mrs. Elaine L. Hentschel Randy & Connie Jones Mr. & Mrs. Peter G. Kessenich Dr. William A. Kiser David L. Kuniansky Sheri & Steve Labovitz Judith Lyon & Ron Bloom Jennifer Manning Ann Starr & Kent Nelson Lynn & Galen Oelkers Mr. & Mrs. Armond Perkins Peg Petersen
alliancetheatre.org | @alliancetheatre
encoreatlanta.com
Helen M. Regenstein Dr. & Mrs. Fredric Rosenberg Mr. & Mrs. Mark Rosenberg Ms. Donna Schwartz Kashi Sehgal Rochelle Shinn Jim & Janie Stratigos Jenny Streeter Dr. & Mrs. Harry Strothers Ms. Avril Vignos Penn & Sally Wells Adrienne Whitehead Kiki Wilson Lynne Winship
$1,000+ John & Lynn Ayers Mr. George T. Baker David Cofrin & Christine Tryba-Cofrin Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Giornelli Drs. Cathie & Hugh Hudson Ashley James Dennis & Debby Kelly Thomas & Constance Kinnear Paul & Marcia Meis Anna & Hays Mershon Amsi Morales-Owens
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Lois & Don Reitzes Deborah W. Royer Mr. & Mrs. Chris Rozell Mr. & Mrs. David W. Scheible Eric C. Tiegel Wayne & Lee Vason Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Weiss
Ever wanted to be a part of the Alliance team? Now’s your chance! Join our volunteer ushers! Commit to 20 hours of ushering at the Alliance and receive: • Alliance Theatre swag! • 15% off current ticket prices for all Alliance Theatre productions • 20% off Alliance Theatre Acting Classes • ONE complimentary ticket for ANY production in the current season
Email atushers@alliancetheatre.org or visit alliancetheatre.org/usher for details.
34 | encore ALLIANCE THEATRE MONTHLY SUSTAINER SOCIETY We would like to thank our donors who have committed to giving us a recurring monthly donation to the Alliance Theatre Annual Fund. Join today: www.alliancetheatre.org/sustainer Anonymous Dr. & Mrs. Marshall Abes Mr. Faraz Ahmed Mr. E. Scott Arnold Gaytra D. Arnold Dr. Evelyn R. Babey Mr. & Mrs. John Bauer Ms. Aparna Bhattacharyya & Mr. Paul Nilsson Dr. Deloris Bryant-Booker Jeff Burnham Mr. Brandon Bush Henry Cabaniss Mr. W. Imara Canady Karen & Harold Carney Mr. William Carroll David Cashman Ms. Jacquel Chambers Ms. Sarah K. Chester Ms. Mishelle Cirillo & Ms. Bryan Suttles Mr. Kevin Clift & Mr. Michael Yochelson Ouida Collins Mr. & Mrs. Joe Colonna Elizabeth Corrie Mr. Lawrence R. Cowart Mr. & Mr. Christopher Cox Marge & Gray Crouse Nash Ditmetaroj Derrick Doose Christina Dunn Whitney Fahner Edward Feldstein Martha Fineman Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Fineman Eric Fisher Brenda Fleming
Mr. Ken H. Foskett Christine & Andrew Fry Ms. & Ms. Katie S. Goodman Mr. Bryant D. Gresham & Mr. Alexander Bossert Shauna Grovell Lauren & Jonathan Grunberg Mrs. Jo Ann Haden-Miller & Mr. William Miller Ms. Joy Hambrick Ms. Wynette Hammons Penn Hansa Ms. Lindsey E. Hardegree Ms. Linda L. Hare & Mr. Gerald A. Barth Nancy A. Hatfield Dr. & Mrs. David M. Hill Ms. Becca Hogue Jim Johnson Karen Jones Kelley J. Jordan-Monne Mr. & Mrs. Stephen J. Kalista Mr. Barnabas Kane Ms. Ruth Kanfer Amy & Jeremy King Ms. Lynne Kuhn Sarah Latif Dr. Andrea Lawrence Mr. Darryl E. Lesure & Mrs. Candice Simon-Lesure Ms. Joyce R. Lewis Ms. Karen Lightfoot Ms. Barbara Lincoln & Mr. Gary Rosenshein Ms. Alison Main Ms. Jaime McQuilkin Mr. & Mrs. James Michael Ms. Jeanette M. Morgan
Scan to Give! Scan the QR code to make a one-time or monthly contribution.
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Victoria Necessary Ms. Ronita Pace Mr. Steve M. Peck Chris J. Peterson Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan K. Peterson Ms. Kendrick Phillips Mr. & Mrs. Marc B. Pickard Jacqueline Powe Ms. Shannon L. Price Mrs. Brenda Pruitt Alexis Rainey M. Corwin Robison Mrs. Peggy Rogers Garey C. Rozier Mr. & Mrs. Peter S. Savitz Barbara Schreiber Eric Schwartz Mr. Tom Slovak & Mr. Jeffery Jones Ms. Carol Smith Chaundra Smith Ms. Janet F. Smith Jennifer Smith Ms. Lynn Stallings Laura Stordy Mrs. Jill Strickland Charles Thompson Ben Warshaw Ms. Caitlin Way Mr. & Mrs. David D. Whitley Mr. & Mrs. Napoleon A. Williams Ms. Janice A. Wolf & Mr. M. Barry Etra Chandra C. Wright Michelle Zinney
matchinggifts&legacysociety
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MATCHING GIFT COMPANIES Many companies offer a matching gifts program for employees and retirees. You can double, or even triple, your gift at no additional cost to you simply by asking your employer! Think of how much further your donation can go. We would like to thank the following companies who have matched contributions to the Alliance Theatre Annual Fund. To find out more about matching gifts, contact Caitlin Way (caitlin.way@alliancetheatre.org). AIG Corporation American Express Aon Risk Solutions The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation AT&T Bank of America/Merrill Bryan Cave-Powell Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Chubb Charitable Foundation The Coca-Cola Company Deloitte Equifax Inc. Foundation
GE Energy Georgia Power Goldstein Home Depot Foundation Honda Motor Co. IBM JPMorgan Chase Kimberly-Clark Lynch Macy’s Foundation McDonald’s Corporation McMaster-Carr Supply Microsoft Corporation Norfolk Southern
Corporation Prudential Financial Publix Super Markets Salesforce.com, Inc. Sprint SunTrust Foundation Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Verizon Corporation Wells Fargo Yahoo!
LEGACY SOCIETY Celebrating our supporters who have made a legacy gift to the Alliance Theatre. The Legacy Society celebrates individuals who have made a planned gift to the Alliance Theatre. Making a planned gift is a wonderful way to show your support and appreciation for the Alliance Theatre and its mission, while accommodating your financial, estate planning and philanthropic goals. With smart planning, you may increase the size of your estate and/or reduce the tax burden on your heirs. Just as important, you will know that you have made a meaningful and lasting contribution to the Alliance Theatre. To learn more about the Legacy Society, please contact Caitlin Way at 404-733-4757 or caitlin.way@alliancetheatre.org. Anonymous Rita M. Anderson Roland & Linda Bates Anne & Jim Breedlove Ezra Cohen Ann & Jeffrey Cramer Susan & Edward Croft Sallie Adams Daniel Linda & Gene Davidson Terry and Stacy Dietzler Diane Durgin Elizabeth Etoll Ellen & Howard Feinsand Laura & John Hardman Nancy & Glen Hesler P.J. Younglove Hovey
Lauren & David Kiefer David Kuniansky Virginia Vann* & Ken Large Edith Love* Lauren & John McColskey Anna & Hays Mershon Caroline & Phil Moïse Winifred B. & Richard S. Myrick Victoria & Howard L. Palefsky Armond & Sharon Perkins Jan Pomerantz Helen Regenstein Margaret & Robert Reiser Betty Blondeau-Russell*
Tricia & Neal Schachtel Debbie* & Charles B. Shelton III Jane E. Shivers Roger Smith & Christopher Jones* Lee Harper & Wayne Vason Terri & Rick Western Ramona & Ben White * deceased
THE WOODRUFF CIRCLE Woodruff Circle members have contributed more than $250,000 annually to support the arts and education work of the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and High Museum of Art. We are deeply grateful to these partners who lead our efforts to help create opportunities for enhanced access to the work.
$1MILLION+
A Friend of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
$500,000+ A Friend of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra A Friend of the Woodruff Arts Center Bank of America The John W. and Rosemary K. Brown Family Foundation Chick-fil-A Foundation | Rhonda & Dan Cathy The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Georgia Power Foundation, Inc. The Douglas J. Hertz Family The Home Depot Foundation Sarah and Jim Kennedy SunTrust Trusteed Foundations: Walter H. and Marjory M. Rich Memorial Fund Thomas Guy Woolford Charitable Trust
alliancetheatre.org | @alliancetheatre
$250,000+ A Friend of the Woodruff Arts Center Farideh & Al Azadi Foundation The Molly Blank Fund Helen Gurley Brown Foundation Cathy Cousins Foundation The Estate of Catherine Warren Dukehart The Estate of Dr. John W. Gamwell The Goizueta Foundation Estate of Burton M. Gold Mr. and Mrs. James S. Grien Invesco The Marcus Foundation, Inc. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation PNC The Rich Foundation, Inc. UPS WarnerMedia and AT&T Foundation The Zeist Foundation, Inc.
staff encoreatlanta.com ARTISTIC Jennings Hertz Artistic Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan V. Booth Producer & Casting Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jody Feldman Director of Diversity, Equity, & Engagement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daviorr Snipes Distinguished Artist in Residence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pearl Cleage BOLD Artistic Director Fellow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tinashe Kajese-Bolden Associate Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amanda Watkins BOLD Producing Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kay Nilest Spelman Leadership Fellows . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raiyon Hunter, Alexis Woodard Spelman Interns . . . . . . . . . . Christina James, A’Shiah N Rachel, Karen Douyon Kenny Leon Intern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vincent Pendarvis II Resident Artist & Allyship Program Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maya Lawrence Director of Community Partnerships & Engagement . . . . . Rita Kompelmakher Reiser Lab Artists Round 6 . . . . . . . . . . Jake Krakovsky, Jane Foley, Ibi Owolabi, Hannah Church, Julia Appleton, Sarah Newby Halicks, Jaclyn Hoffman, Lee Osorio, Angela Farr Schiller, Rachel Parish Round 7 . . . . . .Skye Passmore, Michelle Pokopac, Amee Vyas, Denise Arribas, Michael Haverty, Jeffrey Zwartjes Production Management Director of Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lawrence Bennett Associate Production Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . Phil Baranski, Courtney O’Neill COVID Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Haylee Scott Costumes Director of Costume Shop and Wardrobe . . . . . . . . . . . . Spencer Henderson Assistant Costume Shop Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Laury Conley Design Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kayli Warner Drapers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tonja Petersen, Cindy Lou Who Craftsmaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diana L. Thomas 1st Hands/Stitchers . . . . . . . . Lyudmila Fesenko, Brett Parker, Mary Cruz Torres Wardrobe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hauzia Conyers, Zachary Morrison Wig Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lindsey Ewing Electrics Associate Director of Lighting and Projection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joy Diaz Lighting Design Consultant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ernesto Gomez Staff Electricians . . . . . . . . Steve Jordan, Gabrielle Drum, Benjamin Strickland Interim Staff Electrician .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neil Anderson Properties Director of Theatrical Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suzanne Cooper Morris Props Artisan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bruce Butkovich Props Artisan/Buyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kimberly Townsend Props Artisan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kathryn Andries Scenery Technical Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ruth Richardson Shop Supervisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patrick Conley Buyer/Lead Welder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rigel Powell Auto Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Seifert Carpenters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amy Jackson, Marlon Wilson, Charles Bedell Charge Scenic Artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kat Conley Scenic Artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brianna Bass Sound Resident Sound Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Clay Benning Production Sound Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michelle Jarvis Sound Engineers . . . . . . Emma Mouledoux, Holly O’Reagan, Graham Schwartz Stage Management Resident Stage Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liz Campbell Stage Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jayson T. Waddell, Rodney Williams Stage Management Fellow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shaina Pierce Stage Management Production Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amanda Perez Stage Operations Stage Operations Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scott Bowne Assistant Stage Operations Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kate Lucibella Flyman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Willie Palmer Parks Automation Stagehand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Victor Mouledoux Jr. Crew Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bryan Perez
EDUCATION Dan Reardon Director of Education & Associate Artistic Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christopher Moses Naserian Foundation Head of Early Childhood Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hallie Angelella Head of Youth & Family Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olivia Aston Bosworth Administration & Education Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elecia Crowley Head of Secondary Curriculum & Partnerships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liz Davis
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Education Administration & Finance Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dacey Geary Administrative & Adult Program Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Hindsman Head of Strategic Initiatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aierelle Jacob Alliance@Work Creative Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Noble Head of Elementary School Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rebecca Pogue Artist in Residence & Teen Programs Manager . . . . . . . . . . . Sam Provenzano Head of Education Advancement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kristen Silton Youth Programs Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jasmine Thomas Teaching Artists Jae Ahn, Jimez Alexander, Will Amato, Chase Anderson, Jasmine Anthony, Ricardo Aponte, Imani Banks, Kim Bowers-Rheay Baran, Olivia Aston Bosworth, Jared Brodie, Chelsea Brown, Lon Bumgarner, Sara Burris, Dan Caffrey, April Andrew Carswell, Katie Causey, Lina Chambers, Hannah Lake Chatham, Hannah Church, Megan Cramer, Kelly Criss, Nakeisha Daniel, Peyton McDaniel Davis, Theresa Davis, Shelli Delgado, Sarah Donnell, John Doyle, Laurin Dunleavy, Suehyla El-Attar, Amitria Fanae, Shelby Folks, Sharon Foote, Spencer Ford, Daryl Funn, Allison Gardner, Neeley Gossett, Ilasiea Gray, Meg Grey, Amber Hamilton, Meg Harkins, Robert Hindsman, Julissa Sabino Hobbs, Deja Holmes, Renita James, Meg Johns, Kendra Johnson, Carole Kaboya, Ashe Kazanjian, Chris Lane, Maya Lawrence, Antonia LeChe, Anja Lee, Kathleen Link, Amy Lucas, Ansley Lynn, Christian Magby, Barry Stewart Mann, Cara Mantella, Gloria Martin, Mari Martinez, Dalyla McGee, Candy McLellan, Karin Mervis, Erika Miranda, Mary Moccia, Courtney Moors-Hornick, Amanda Wansa Morgan, Jenna Jackson Morris, Kevin Moxley, Audrey Myers, JD Myers, Patrick Myers, Amor Owens, Mary Michael Patterson, Tafee Patterson, Sydney Patton, Zuri Petteway, Rebecca Pogue, Michelle Pokopac, Samantha Provenzano, V Reibel, Morgan Rysdon, Daniela Santiago, Riley Schatz, Erin Schaut, Avery Sharpe, Caitlin Slotnick, Alexandria Joy Smith, Lucy Smith, Taryn Spires, Destiny Stancil, Autumn Stephens, LeeAnna Lambert Sweatt, Megan Tabaque, Jasmine Thomas, Callie Timme, Sariel Toribio, Ebony Tucker, Julia VanderVeen, Jeremy Varner, José Miguel Vasquez, Rachel Wansker, Megan Wartell, Andrea Washington, Davia Weatherill, Ayana Williams, Jay Williams, Vallea Woodbury, Melissa Word Teen Ensemble Members Zariyah Allen, Ugo Anyanwutaku, Nathan Bell, Caroline Brown, Isabella Cavienss, Da’Quan Cooney, Nicole Cortes, Xavier Doyle, Nick Fargar, Emma Kate Farlow, Khala Flemister, Zariya Hargett, Jude Harris, Kai Hornbeck, Samyukta Iyer, Varun Kashyap, LaNiyah Kelly, Abigail Kirk, Chloe Lomax, Alexander Lopez, Naia Morgan, Cady Wells
MANAGEMENT Managing Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Schleifer Company Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Thruston Assistant Company Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thomas D. Powell Administration & Finance Director of Finance & Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Shively Accounting Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julie Hall Accounts Payable Specialist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kenterill Boden Senior Data Analyst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christina Dresser Management Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Savannah Cathers Management Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessica Charlton Development Director of Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trent Anderson Associate Director of Development, Individual Giving . . . . . . . . . . Caitlin Way Associate Director, Strategic Institutional Advancement . . . . . Collins Desselle Manager, Annual Fund & Donor Relations . . . . . . . . . Lindsay Ridgeway-Baierl Manager, Donor Experience & Community Engagement . . . . . . . . . . Jo Lopez Development Coordinator for Board Relations & Special Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kailan Daugherty Sales Director of Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danielle Hicks Membership Services Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corey L. Smith Box Office Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Donny Codden Hertz Stage Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James G. Smith Box Office Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Posada Season Ticket Concierge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ken McNeil Season Tickets Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ethan Padgett Membership Sales Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Quintara Johnson Group Sales Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jocelyn Rick Marketing Director of Marketing & Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathleen Covington Associate Creative Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Talia Bromstad Marketing Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ashley Elliott Social Media Manager & Content Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aniska Tonge Marketing & Public Relations Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mashaun D. Simon Lead Front of House Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brittany Mangham House Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robyn E. Sutton-Fernandez Part Time House Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barbara O’Haley
