Detroit '67 Program

CAST Chelle (Michelle).......................................................................................................Amarae’ Robinson Lank (Langston)................................................................................................................David Stokes Bunny (Bonita)..............................................................................................................Destiny Benson Sly (Sylvester).................................................................................................................Derrick Rollins Caroline...........................................................................................................................Haliey Hughes

SETTING

Detroit, Michigan July, 1967

THERE WILL BE ONE TEN-MINUTE INTERMISSION DURING THE PLAY

CREATIVE TEAM Director..........................................................................................................................Rayanna Bibbs Scenic Designer...........................................................................................................Michael Jackson Lighting Designer.........................................................................................................Michael Jackson Sound Designer................................................................................................................. Angie Casile Video Designer/Networking.............................................................................................Chris Berchild Costume Designer.............................................................................................................. Kate Mathis Assistant Costume Designer................................................................................................Ciara Davis Properties Master.........................................................................................................Michael Jackson

PRODUCTION TEAM Production Manager...........................................................................................................Michael Jackson Technical Director and Scene Shop Supervisor........................................................................ David Vogel Costume Shop Supervisor.......................................................................................................Grace Muñoz Stage Manager.................................................................................................................... Alexis Pritchard Assistant Stage Managers..........................................................................................................Josie Smith Lighting Supervisor and Operator.......................................................................................Michael Jackson Control Technician............................................................................................................... Claire Garbison Wardrobe Head.................................................................................................................. Carsyn Wayland Wardrobe Crew.....................................................................................................................Alexia Mangual Costume Build Crew.....................................................................................Carsyn Wayland and Gil Avery Directing Facculty Advisor...........................................................................................................Julie Dixon Poster Designer................................................................................................................... Greg Newcomb Program......................................................................................................................................... Alicia Jay

PRODUCTION CREDITS Detroit ’67 was developed with the assistance of the Public Theater, Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director and Patrick Willingham, Executive Director and received its World Premiere there on March 12, 2013. The World Premiere was co-produced by The Classical Theater of Harlem, Ty Jones, Producing Artistic Director. Developed at The Lark Play Development Center, New York City.

DIRECTOR’S NOTE Detroit ’67 is a stunning reminder of the bonds of family and the resilience of a city to rise up in the face of injustices. Using the soulful tunes of Motown and the comradery they create, Morisseau bridges the gap between two groups of people: blacks and whites. However, the tension between these two groups was reaching a boiling point, especially through the police department in Detroit. The brutality and excessive force shown to blacks by the Detroit police department is a stark comparison to what is currently happening in America in 2020. The resemblance between these two periods is striking. We like to think America has come a long way in the treatment of black Americans by police, but a closer look at history shows the opposite. Morisseau closes the space between the two groups using the story of Lank and Chelle. Chelle is a world-weary soul who struggles to forgive or accept dangerous realities. Lank is a free spirit who longs to make his mark on the world. By the end of this piece, we see a freedom in Chelle that is both refreshing and accepting and a maturity in Lank that is touching. If by the end of this piece, the audience can firmly state the events in Detroit 1967 were a rebellion, we have succeeded.

—Rayanna Bibbs

CAST BIOS AMARAE’ ROBINSON (Chelle). This is Amarae’s (she/her/hers) first time onstage in an Indiana State University Department of Theater production. She has previously worked as an assistant stage manager for two productions and a crew member/light board operator for another. Amarae’ is a theater and music double major with a combined focus in acting, tech, and voice. Prior to Indiana State, she worked in various parts of the theater all throughout her high school career at Avondale High School (Nurse and Assistant Stage Manager, Romeo and Juliet; Don Poccolino, Bamboozled; Vocal Director and Cast; The Wizard of Oz.) DAVID STOKES (Lank). This will be David’s (he/him/his) third production with the Indiana State University Department of Theater (Young Siward, Macbeth; Ballasted, The Lady from the Sea and Lank, Detroit ‘67). David is a senior theater major, is the President of the Black Theater Association, and is from Indianapolis, IN. DERRICK ROLLINS (Sly). Derrick (he/him/his) is new to theater; his major is Sports Management. Since his freshman year, he has wanted to take an acting class and this year, he finally did! His hobbies include working out and watching movies (mostly action). Derrick is excited to be a part of play and make his acting debut.

DESTINY BENSON (Bunny). Destiny (she/her) is making her Indiana State University Department of Theater debut in Detroit ‘67. Destiny is a senior Theater major with an African American Studies minor. Destiny is from Fort Wayne, IN; she is the secretary of Black Theatre Association.

HALIEY HUGHES (Caroline). Haliey (she/her/hers) is making her Indiana State University Department of Theatre debut in Detroit ’67. Recently, she has played Little Becky Two-shoes in Urinetown and Dormouse in Alice in Wonderland, among many other roles when in high school. Haliey is a first-year theatre major from Jeffersonville, IN and has been preforming since the age of 9. She is excited to make her college acting debut!

CREATIVE TEAM BIOS RAYANNA BIBBS (Director). Rayanna (she/her) is excited to be working with the ISU Theatre Department once again; this time as a director. A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Rayanna is a 2015 ISU graduate. Since graduating, she has worked on various projects including, Little Shop of Horrors, Dreamgirls, Hairspray, and The Watsons Go to Birmingham. She is humbled by the opportunity to direct Detroit ’67 for her directorial debut.

This show speaks to the current political and social climate of 2020. The similarities between the July rebellion of 1967 and the various protests of 2020 are striking; the arts has always been an outlet for Rayanna to speak on various issues and that couldn’t be more true now. Although the fight for justice is far from ove , she hopes you all will take the message of hope, justice, and love with you long after this show. Rayanna would like to thank her sister and parents for their constant support. She’d also like to thank the patrons for continuing to support the arts; you all are a big part of why artists can continue their work. Say her name…Breonna Taylor.

MICHAEL JACKSON (Scenic, Lighting, and Properties Designer). Michael (he/him/his) teaches in the Indiana State University Department of Theater, where he serves as an associate professor and resident lighting and scenic Designer. An Indiana native, he earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Evansville, and his MFA in lighting design from NYU. Regional theatre credits include ten productions for Cardinal Stage Company, including Next to Normal, August: Osage County, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. He has also designed for the Phoenix Theatre, the Florida Studio Theatre, and the Crossroads Repertory Theatre. New York credits include productions at the Wild Project, Here Arts Center, Dixon Place, and P.S. 122.

KATE MATHIS (Costume Designer). Kate (she/her/hers) is a faculty member in the Indiana State University Department of Theater where she teaches theatrical design, costume design and costume construction. She earned her BA in Costume Design from the University of Northern Colorado in 2008 and her MFA in Costume Design and Technology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2014. Kate’s designs include, Love’s Labour’s Lost, directed by Edward Stern, Fiddler on the Roof with Spinning Tree Theatre, Merrily We Roll Along and Boeing, Boeing at the Summer Repertory Theatre Festival, Three Sisters with UMKC Theatre, and Arsenic and Old Lace at Creede Repertory Theatre. Detroit ’67 is Kate’s third costume design at the ISU Department of Theater.

ANGIE CASILE (Sound Designer). Angie (any pronouns) is a soon-to-be theater major graduate of Indiana State University. She has also worked on sound for the 2019 Crossroads Reperatory Theater summer season, Wings of Rain at Indiana State University, and Can’t Breathe, a student-written and directed play for the Indiana State University Student Theater Association.

ALEXIS PRITCHARD (Stage Manager). Alexis (she/her/hers) is stage managing her first show for the ISU Department of Theater. She has previously assistant stage managed for Crossroads Repertory Theatre (Steel Magnolias; War of the Worlds; Hairspray) and for the Department of Theater (Piece of My Heart; Urinetown). She has also acted at ISU (Soothsayer/Fight Chorus, J. Caesar; Captain/Seyton/Murderer, Macbeth) and in shows produced by ISU’s Student Theater Association (Tamara Weird, The Weird Ones; Various roles, Fright Fest). Alexis is a senior and will graduate in December. She majors in Theater and minors in Art and Art History.

SPECIAL THANKS Bryan Schroeder, Julie Dixon, Alicia Jay, and the ISU Department of Theater faculty

AUDITION NOTICE

COMING UP NEXT

DEPARTMENT OF THEATER FACULTY & STAFF Chris Berchild.............................................. Department Chair, Projection & Sound, Theater Theory Julie Dixon.............................................................................................................. Acting, Movement Arthur Feinsod.........................................................................Playwriting, Theater History, Directing Alicia Jay.............................................................................Theater Administration and Management Michael Jackson................................................. Lighting Design, Scenic Design, Stage Technology David Vogel....................................................................Technical Direction, Scene Shop Supervisor Kate Mathis................................................................................... Costume Design and Construction Grace Muñoz.............................................................................................Costume Shop Supervisor Toni Roloff.................................................................Administrative Assistant, Ticket Office Manage Tresa Makosky...................................................................... Adjunct Faculty, Introduction to Theater