Gregory Towler Jr.
(Rube Foster/Playwright)
GREGORY TOWLER JR. is a graduating Senior Theatre Arts Major and Entrepreneurship Minor from Annapolis, MD. As an incoming transfer student , Gregory would join Theatre Morgan in the Fall 2022 semester, and would make his stage debut performing in Antigone, followed by 20/02, and then his most cherished performance, For Blacks Boys who have Considered Homicide when the Streets were too much. His other stage credits include Mrs. Richardson (stage reading), The Last To Know, Still Rising, and has appeared in various short films in the DMV area.
Gregory recently became an alumni of the 2025 Stella Adler Summer Conservatory Program in New York. Since a child, Gregory has always challenged and explored art in various forms and will continue to use his creativity to impact, influence, and inspire people. After graduation, Gregory plans to earn his Masters in Fine Arts and write more stories.
Playwright’s Message
If I didn’t focus on growing as a performer during my time at Morgan State, I would have probably studied writing because of how much I value storytelling and human life. To me, it takes a distinct gift to be able to conscientiously discover a human’s world that is unfamiliar to me, like Rube Foster’s, and still be their guided voice, and that was my intentions when writing Rube. The Negro Baseball League always intrigued me as kid, in spite of not knowing much about it at the time. To know that we unapologetically had our own sports league in the midst of an era of Discrimination and Pigmentocracy throughout all social institutions, truly influenced me to explore the story of a man who dared to step to the plate with the world pitching anything it could to strikeout the vision of “Black Independence, and economic freedom.” Only God could eliminate a vision as strong as Rube’s, and it was my job as the playwright to inform or even remind people about Mr. Foster. Throughout this script, I wanted to challenge my theory that the establishment (1920) and disbandment (1951) of the Negro League foreshadowed social Integration and the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. I also believe the American power structure didn’t condone that Rube Foster found the clue to social advancement for Blacks through the Negro league, which might be the reason Black players were finally admitted into the Major League Baseball (1947), as it would “unintentionally” destroy the Negro community’s success that Foster built, and force players, like Jackie Robinson to be reminded of the active racial hierarchy, in disguise of a “historical moment”. I want attending audience members to know that it is vital that we follow our Personal Legend, which are dreams and desires that won’t leave our head’s until we make it a living experience. We as Blacks must come together if we want to advance our people in all aspects of life, and not wait for people outside of our community to “care enough” for us. We have more power now than we did in 1920, but it is up to us to truly wake up and use it for the better of our quality of living, just as Rube Foster did.
Cast & Production Team
GREGORY TOWLER JR.
KRISTN MICHELLE YOUNG
XAVIER BOWEN
EVAN CARRINGTON
JAREN PARTMAN
TRENT MOORE
EMMANUEL STRANN
RYAN THOMAS
AMANI COSEY
BRAYLEN LAWSON
Rube Foster
Director/Narrator
Ball player/Evil Voice
Ball player/Announcer
Interviewer
SKYE LAWRENCE
Stage Manager
Lighting Designer
Set Designer
Lead Wardobe Consultant
Asst. Wardobe Consultant / Stage Crew
Cover Artist
Thank You
GJoseph and Marcus Towler (Brothers), Nicole Rivera and Kalei Haynes (Sisters) Triston Irvin (R.I.P), and the Be U Ministry, Naomi and Joy B. (Godsisters)
Entire Theater Morgan Family, Morgan State, Janice Short, Deletta Gillespie, Tylar Hinton, Dwight R.B. Cook, Rube Creatives, Kristin MichelleYoung, Trent Moore, Amani Cosey, Braylen Lawson, Emmanuel Strann, Ryan Thomas, and rest of the team, Mari Travis (First Director), AngelaWilson (R.I.P.) and the AngelWing Project,
Karys Hylton, Akilah Jefferson (Auntie A), my D.C.,Virginia, New Jersey, and California family, Tiffany L (God-Mom), Dr. Jonathan Queen (Rev!), and Unashamed/Merge, Ms. Maddie (R.I.P), The Carringtons, Gabrielle Hall, Taylor Bennett, Donnitta A.
All of my film and stage directors, Delores Harvey (Doc), the Harvey’s, FBCG, Aunt Sharon, Josh Omobhude, Norlian Lambe, My Line Brothers and Fraternity,
Imani Akil, Christina Tiglman, Lynda Brown, GlenardenWoods andWest Annapolis, Stella Adler Acting Studio, Eastern and Riverdale Baptist High, Jalen Scott and Darry Moss (Accountability bros), Heaven Hayward, my Cabin Kids, Keyana Lang, Lauren Highsmith), ISI Sweethearts, Blake T., Judith A., Sierra Peyton, Foster’s Legacy Foundation, Ms. Katrina and Ms. Debbie, Grandma Robinson (R.I.P), Amina Banks, Faith Olutu, Nina Larkins, Zelia Rose, Elijah Rashad (saw the vision,), Arianna Ninn, Nicolette & Lazell Brown, Fiona K.,Tyrone Stanley, Lawrence Evans, Danielle Frisby and rest of EDAC, La’Monica and Lorenzo Moore, McKinnon Acting Studio, Brielle Redd, Prince Bajon, Tracey Farrar, Michael Changewe, Jarren Partman, Jordan Boyd, Brian Jefferson,Ysabel Cardona, Kamil Sosin, SofiaVega, JD12, Joseph Ristch & Everyman Theatre, Dr. Edwin Johnson, Kayah Calhoun, Danielle Logan, od, Mom, Dad, Ma-Angela (step-mom), Grandparents (especially Maria Bradley),
