"Hate
is too great a burden to bear. I have decided to love." - Dr. Martin Luther King
Written by Katori Hall Produced by April Bridgeman Directed by Scott J. StrasbaughOriginal Broadway production produced by Jean Doumanian, Sonia Friedman Productions, Ambassador Theatre Group, Raise the Roof 7, Ted Snowdon, Alhadeff Productions/Lauren Doll, B Square + 4 Productions/Broadway Across America, Jacki Barlia Florin/Cooper Federman, Ronnie Planalp/Moellenberg Taylor and Marla Rubin Productions/Blumenthal Performing Arts, in association with Sco Delman.
THE MOUNTAINTOP was developed at the Lark Play Development Center, New York City, and was first produced by Theatre 503 in June 2009 and further produced at Trafalgar Studio One in July 2009 by Sonia Friedman Productions and Jean Doumanian, Tali Pelman for Ambassador Theatre Group, Bob Bartner, Freddy DeMann, Jerry Frankel, Ted Snowdon and Marla Rubin Productions Ltd.
THE MOUNTAINTOP was developed at the 2008 Bay Area Playwrights Festival, a program of the Playwrights Foundation (Amy L. Mueller, Artistic Director).
THE MOUNTAINTOP is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)
Owned and Managed by Jerri Wiseman, Terry Smith, and April Bridgeman
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StageCoach Theatre 2024 Season
May
∙ The Mountaintop - Drama
∙ Mary Poppins Jr. - Musical Theatre
June - August Summer Camp Productions
∙ The Phantom of the Opera
∙ Puffs
∙ Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical
June - August
∙ Murder on the British Express - Murder
Mystery Dinner Theatre
September - November
∙ Death Comes to Dinner - Murder
Mystery Dinner Theatre
October
∙ The Woman in Black - Haunting Drama
December
∙ Holidays Can Be Murder - Murder
Mystery Dinner Theatre
∙ A Christmas Story - Classic Family Holiday Show
Ongoing monthly StageCoach Bandits Improv and Magic Shows, plus special events and variety shows
StageCoach Theatre Company 20937 Ashburn Road Suites 115 & 120
Ashburn, VA 20147
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Director’s Notes:
Through this story of “The Mountaintop”, we are able to delve into the heart and mind of the Civil Rights Leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose dream of equality and justice was cut short by a killer’s bullet. As I read and reread the script and sat during numerous rehearsals with two unbelievably talented Actors, I wondered daily, what would he see if he was here today? He’d see a promised land obscured with darkness and hate. A world still needing to see his dream become a reality. A continued struggle for equality and justice for all. My hope is that our production affects your hearts, and helps us reach inside our souls to love one another and find some peace within. Thank you so much for seeing our show, and paying forward kindness and love for everyone.
I personally want to thank my technical team for pu ing this show on in time, giving the hills they had to climb to get it done. April, I will only do shows this powerful with you, because we get each other, and I love you for that. Terry, you can’t pick a driver to ever beat me in Nascar, but you are an amazing talent and a highly skilled Tech director and I am so happy to call you my closest friend. Kat, your photography skills tell a story before we even get it to a stage. Torie, thank you for lighting our world, and even be er, teaching tomorrow’s big time Actors today. Saarung, thank you for your hard work and bringing sound to our stage and the constant backstage fist bumps. Heather, you have no idea how much it means to me for you to come back for this production and dress our actors. Love you dearly! And last but never least, I want to thank Tony, who has been my ride or die during this entire process. Tony, the world needs more, you. I hope you know how much I appreciate our talks, your teachings about what it’s like, you challenging me to be be er, and your laughter that will forever be embedded in my head. You are a champion and I will follow you to the moon and back to see what amazing things you will do next. Thank you, my friend.
Sco J. Strasbaugh
Producer’s Notes:
Producers don’t usually put their notes in the program, but this production means a lot to me. I was born in 1954 and lived the first 9 years of my life in a home at 8 Mile and Southfield in Detroit. My mother had tendencies to use the TV as a babysi er, so every morning I was plopped in front of the TV while she cooked breakfast, packed lunches, and did whatever 1950/1960’s housewives did in the kitchen. One of my most vivid memories of childhood happened during one of those TV mornings. Instead of the usual Howdy Doody or Captain Kangaroo, the news was on. They were reporting and showing video of police turning fire hoses on civil rights protesters. The force of the water knocked people off their feet. They were crying, screaming, and trying to stand up and get away from it, but the police were relentless. To say I was horrified is an understatement. I screamed, ran into the kitchen crying, MOM! MOM! Why are they doing that?!? She came out to see what was happening, turned off the TV, went back into the kitchen without answering me. I was relentless. Why are people being hurt by other people? What was going on? How could this be happening? “Well some people think that Negroes commit more crimes.” Do they? “No.” Then why are they doing that to them? I don’t understand, Mom, then why?
Here we are all these decades later, and I still don’t understand. The memories of seeing that inhumanity have stayed with me all these years. It’s ugly, it’s shameful and it’s still in existence today. What I do understand now that I didn’t as a child is the trauma I felt watching that cruelty on TV is nothing compared to the trauma they and their families experienced.
Say Their Names
Aaron Bailey
Adrian Medearis
Akai Gurley
Alberta Spruill
Alteria Woods
Amanda Milan
Andrew Wright
Anthony Hill
Antronie Sco
Arthur McDuffie
Abner Louima
Ahmaud Arbery
Albert Joseph Davis
Alexia Christian
Alton Sterling
Amber Monroe
Anthony Anderson
Anthony Lamar Smith
Antwon Rose Jr.
Ashanti Carmon
Asshams Pharoah Manley Atatiana Jefferson
Abram Smith
Aiyana Stanley-Jones
Albert Woodfox
Alonzo Smith
Amadou Diallo
Anarcha (last name unknown)
Anthony Ashford
Antron McCray
Arminta Cobb
Ashton O’Hara
Benjamin Chavis
Bennie Lee Tignor
Billy Ray Davis
Brendon Glenn
Betsey (last name unknown) Be ie Jones
Bobby Hu on
Brian Keith Day
Brooklyn Lindsey Calin Roquemore
Carter Howard
Charles Bruce
Charles Lang
Christian Cooper
Christopher Davis
Claire Legato
Claude Reese
Connie Tindall
Cynthia Hurd
Chanelle Picke
Charles Greenlee
Charles Weems
Christian Taylor
Christopher McCorvey
Clarence Norris
Botham Jean
Breonna Taylor
Cariol Horne
Charleena Lyles
Charles Kinsey
Charlie Pollard
Christopher S. Brown
Christopher Whitfield
Claude Neal
Clementa Pinckney Clifford Glover
Corey Jones
Dana Martin
Danny Ray Thomas Danroy “DJ” Henry Jr.
Danye Jones
David Joseph
Decynthia Clements
Delrawn Small
Darius Robinson
David McAtee
DeeNiquia Dodds
Demarcus Semer
DePayne Middleton-Doctor Derrick Sco
Dominic Hutchinson
Donald Ivy
Dreasjon Reed
Edmund Perry
Elisha Walker
Eric Courtney Harris
Ernest Hendon
Eugene Williams
Fannie Lou Hamer
Frank Smart
Fred Simmons
Freddie Lee Tyson
George Floyd
George Stinney Jr.
Dominique Fells
Dontre Hamilton
Duane Wight
Eleanor Bumpurs
Emme Till
Eric Reason
Ernest Thomas
Eugene Williams
Felix Kumi
Frankie Perkins
Freddie Blue
Frederick Moss
George Key
Gregory Riley
Harvey E. Clark Jr. Hayes Turner
Henrie a Lacks
Iesha Harper
Jacob Blake
Jamal Williams
Herman Wallace
India Kager
Jacqueline Craig
Jamar Clark
Cornelius Fredericks
Daniel Simmons
Dante Parker
Darrius Stewart
Deborah Danner
Dejuan Hall
Demetrius Bryan Hollins
Diamond Bradley
Dominique Clayton
Dravon Ames
Dyzhawn Perkins
Elijah McClain
Eric Garner
Ernest Green
Ethel Lee Lance
Ezell Ford
Floyd Dent
Fred Hampton
Freddie Gray
Frederick Ta
George Mann
George Robinson
Haywood Pa erson
Herman Shaw
Isadore Banks
Jaisha Akins
Jamel Floyd
James Cobb, Sr.
James Cameron
James Powell
Javier Ambler
Jerame Reid
John Crawford III
Jonathan Sanders
Joseph Mann
Junior Prosper
Kalief Browder
Keith Childress Jr.
Kendrec McDade
Kevin Hicks
James "Bun" McKoy
James Chaney
Janet Wilson
Jazzaline Ware
Jerry Dwight Brown
Johnnie Jermaine Rush
Jordan Davis
Joyce Curnell
Justus Howell
Kathryn Johnston
Keith Harrison McLeod
Kendrick Johnson
Kevin Ma hews
Kisha Michael Kiwi Herring
Korryn Gaines
Laquan McDonald
Lateisha Green
Leroy Wright
Malaika Brooks
Manuel Ellis
Mark Clark
Mary Truxillo
Ma hew Ajibade
Michael Brown
Michael Lorenzo Dean
Michael Stewart
Michelle Washington
Monika Diamond
Myra Thompson
Nathaniel Harris Picke
Nizah Morris
Otis “Titi” Gulley
Pamela Turner
Pearlie Golden
Phillip White
Raheim Brown
Ramona Africa
Raymond Santana
La’Vante Biggs
LaTanya Haggerty
LaVena Johnson
Lionel Morris
Malcolm Harsch
Marco Loud
Marshall H. Dunbar
James Byrd Jr.
James Mincey Jr.
Janine Africa
Jemel Roberson
Jerry Jacobs
Jonathan Ferrell
Jordan Edwards
Julian Edward Roosevelt Lewis
Kaia Rolle
Kayla Moore
Keith Sco
Kenne McFadden
Kevin Richardson
Korey Wise
Lamontez Jones
Latasha Harlins
Lennon Lacy
Lucy (last name unknown)
Malissa Williams
Mario Woods
Marvin "Chili" Patrick
Mary Turner and her unborn child Matilda Heslip
Maurice Gordon
Michael George Smith, Jr.
Michael Noel
Michelle Cusseaux
Miguel Espinal
Muhlaysia Booker
Nania Cain Jr.
Nia Wilson
Oluwatoyin Salau
Otis Byrd
Paterson Brown
Peter Gaines
Prince C. Jones, Jr.
Ralkina Jones
Randolph Evans
Rayshard Brooks
MeShon Cooper
Michael Lee Marshall
Michael Sabbie
Michelle Shirley
Miriam Carey
Mya Hall
Natasha McKenna
Nina Pop
Oscar Grant
Ozie Powell
Paul O’Neal
Philando Castile
Quintonio LeGrier
Ramarley Graham
Randy Nelson
Recy Taylor
Reginald Epps
Riah Milton
Rita Hester
Robert Russ
Rumain Brisbon
Salecia Johnson
Samuel DuBose
Sean Bell
Sheffield Collins
Stephon Clark
Sylville Smith
Tanisha Anderson
Terrance Franklin
Timothy Coggins
Rekia Boyd
Richard Collins III
Robert Fuller
Rodney King
Safiya Satchell
Salvado Ellswood
Samuel Shepherd
Renisha McBride
Richard Perkins
Robert King
Ronell Foster
Saheed Vassell
Sam Doner
Sandra Bland
Secoriea Turner Sharonda Coleman-Singleton
Shereese Francis
Sterling Higgins
Taemon Blair
Tarika Wilson
Terrill Thomas
Tionda Bradley
Tony Terrell Robinson Jr. Torrey Robinson
Troy Robinson
Tyrone West
Victor Manuel Larosa
Walter Sco
Willa Bruce
Willie Earl Vereen
Willie Tillman
Yusef Salaam
Zella Ziona
Tyre King
Tyshawn Lee
Walter Irvin
Wayne Moore
William "Joe" Wright, Jr.
Willie Jones Jr.
Williemae Mack
Yve e Smith
Steven Taylor
Susie Jackson
Tamir Rice
Terence Crutcher
Thomas Shipp
Tony McDade
Trayvon Martin
Tyree Crawford
Tywanza Sanders
Walter McMillian
Wendell Celestine
William Chapman II
Willie Roberson
Winfred Rembert
Yvonne Smallwood
Executive Producer Jerri Wiseman
Producer April Bridgeman
Director Sco J Strasbaugh
Assistant Director/Stage Manager Tony Marshak
Technical Director/Master Builder Terry Smith
Lighting Design Terry Smith
Lighting Technician Torie Dunlap
Sound Design and Technician Saarung Soomro
“Pass the Baton” Music Arrangement Fred Muller
Costumes Heather Levan Love
Props and Set Dressings
April Bridgeman
Set Building and Painting Terry Smith, Torie Dunlap, Tony Marshak, April Bridgeman, Augusto Quiachon, and the cast and crew of The Insanity of Mary Girard
Photography Kat Brais
Program Jerri Wiseman
Front of House April Bridgeman, Mark Gatanas, Jerri Wiseman
Robert Fremon as Martin Luther King Jr. Robert began his professional acting career upon his return from his first deployment to Iraq in 2009. He went on to participate in several theatre festivals, training classes, and theatrical tours with a variety of production companies such as RQL Productions where he played both George Murchinson in A Raisin in the Sun and Thomas Jones in Fighting God. Robert is also known for his charismatic role as Willie Norful in the hit stage play Saul's Juke Joint, and for his role as Ethan in an independent film called Pawnz. Robert has won "Best Actor" for his role as Dr. Sco during Northern Virginia's Theater Alliance, One Act competitions. Robert also played Turner Davis in Tears of the Soul which won best stage play in 2019 at the DC Black Theater Festival. Robert is an avid reader, musician, and stand-up comedian. He remains dedicated to furthering his skillsets as he continues to study at Studio Acting Conservatory. He's excited to play Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his debut at StageCoach Theatre. He is grateful to all his directors, and teachers both current and former as well as his supporters.
Lauren Baker as Camae
Lauren is excited to make her debut with StageCoach Theatre in The Mountaintop! Originally from Baltimore, MD, she currently resides in Leesburg, VA. Lauren is a proud alumni of Shenandoah University where she studied voice classically, and received her Masters in Music Therapy. Lauren is a member of Sterling Playmakers (SP), where she serves as an active board member. Within SP, Lauren has shown her talents both on stage and behind stage in various roles such as Assistant Director, Director, and Producer. Some of her favorite roles include: Miss Jones, (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying)~SP, Uzo/LB, (Godspell)~ SP, Ensemble (Sister Act)~PWLT, Assistant Director (Ragtime)~SP, Director (Raisin in the Sun)~SP, Music Director (Shakespeare in Love)~SP, and Producer (Complete Works of William Shakespeare abridged)~ SP. (PWLT: Prince William Li le Theatre)
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