Pipeline - Playbill

BY DOMiNiQUE MORiSSEAU

OCTOBER 20 - NOVEMBER 7, 2021 DiRECTED BY TERESA LEGGARD

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STAFF

President

Producing Artistic Director Cynthia Levin Director of Finance Jason Kralicek Associate Artistic Director Ian R. Crawford Director of Marketing Nathan Gwartney Production Manager Taylor Jene Sullivan Technical Director Andy Peveler Literary Manager Hannah Taylor Box Office Manager Sarah Cooper Social Media Coordinator Anna Sell Production Stage Manager Tanya Brown Photography Cynthia Levin

Kevin Gabriel

Vice President

Carol Gee

Treasurer

Sally Everhardt Secretary

Kirsty Melville Winnie Dunn Cynthia Levin Paul Milakovich Michael Nonbello Kimberly Stern Annie Swartz Meredith Webster Shannon Wooten Amy Wright

UNICORN THEATRE’S MISSION Unicorn Theatre enhances the Kansas City community by developing and producing high-quality, thought-provoking plays that have never been seen in the region. We illuminate social issues by shining a light on diversity and inclusive stories which include race, religion and gender identity. Unicorn creates opportunities for the advancement of emerging and established actors, directors, playwrights, designers, technicians and administrative staff.

VISION STATEMENT By producing provocative new plays Unicorn Theatre fosters the next generation of great American writers and artists, creating innovative and intimate theatrical experiences that transcend the ordinary. We inspire the community to think and feel deeply; to see the world in new and different ways. Unicorn strives to be one of the preeminent homes for new plays in the country.

Opening Night October 20th, 2021

UNICORN THEATRE PRESENTS

by

Dominique Morisseau

Directed by Teresa Leggard THE CAST Nya Omari Jasmine Xavier Laurie Dun

Chioma Anyanwu* Raheem Fielder-Bey Jackie Price Keenan Ramos Cathy Barnett* Yorke Fryer*

PRODUCTION TEAM Stage Manager Scenic Designer Lighting Designer Projection & Sound Designer Costume Designer Props Designer Dramaturg Scenic Painter Master Electrician Production Assistants

Tanya Brown* Kelli Harrod Sean Glass David Kiehl Ian R. Crawford Eric Palmquist Sheriece Veazey-McNally Kelli Harrod Taylor Sullivan Jaden Manherz, Anna Sell

* Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association

PIPELINE was originally produced by Lincoln Center Theater in 2017, New York City PIPELINE was commissioned by Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago; Martha Lavey, Artistic Director, David Hawkaosoo, Executive Director.

“We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks. Used by Consent of Brooks Permissions PIPELINE is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

3828 MAIN STREET | KANSAS CITY, MO 64111 | (816) 531-7529 | UNICORNTHEATRE.ORG

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dominique Morisseau (PLAYWRIGHT) is the author of The Detroit Project (A 3-Play Cycle), which includes the following plays: Skeleton Crew (Atlantic Theater Company), Paradise Blue (Signature Theatre), and Detroit ’67 (Public Theater, Classical Theatre of Harlem and NBT). Additional plays include: Pipeline (Lincoln Center Theatre), Sunset Baby (LAByrinth Theatre); Blood at the Root (National Black Theatre) and Follow Me To Nellie’s (Premiere Stages). She is also the Tonynominated book writer on the new Broadway musical Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations (Imperial Theatre). Dominique is alumna of The Public Theater Emerging Writer’s Group, Women’s Project Lab and Lark Playwrights Workshop, and has developed work at Sundance Lab, Williamstown Theatre Festival and Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference. She most recently served as Co-Producer on the Showtime series Shameless (3 seasons). Additional awards include: Spirit of Detroit Award, PoNY Fellowship, Sky-Cooper Prize, TEER Trailblazer Award, Steinberg Playwright Award, Audelco Awards, NBFT August Wilson Playwriting Award, Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama, Obie Award (2), Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellowship, Variety’s Women of Impact for 2017-18, and a recent MacArthur Genius Grant Fellow.

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM Cynthia Levin (PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR) is in her 42st season with the Unicorn. Over the years she has served as a director, actor, designer or producer for over 300 productions. At the Unicorn, she recently directed Bernhardt/Hamlet, Bond, Vietgone, Chesapeake, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert: The Musical (co-directed with Missy Koonce), Eclipsed, Hand to God, Heathers: The Musical (again, with Missy), The Oldest Boy, Women Playing Hamlet (world premiere), Bad Jews, Grounded, Venus in Fur, My Name is Asher Lev, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, The Soul Collector (world premiere), Hungry (world premiere), Red, Two Jews Walk Into A War…, Distracted, Green Whales (world premiere), Miss Witherspoon, My First Time, The Clean House, Mauritius, 9 Parts of Desire, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Bat Boy: The Musical and additionally the world premieres of rightnextto me (both at the Unicorn and Geva Theatre Center, Rochester, NY), How His Bride Came to Abraham, Light:Damage, Mercy Killing, Innocent Thoughts and Jack and Jill. At Coterie Theatre, she has directed Number the Stars, And Then They Came for Me, Frankenstein, Gatherings in Graveyards (I and II), Valley Song and To Kill A Mockingbird. At the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., she directed readings of Occupants, In The Belly Of The Whale, The Friendship Of Her Thighs, The Last Pair Of Earlies, Tigers Be Still and White Devil and Loving Mother for the MFA Playwright’s Workshop. Cynthia is a graduate of Park University which also awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in 2002. She is a founding board member of the National New Play Network, an organization dedicated to the development and production of new works. She has been honored with the Pinnacle Award

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM for Excellence in the Arts, the Human Rights Campaign Equality Award and most recently the Kathryn V. Lamkey Award from the Actors’ Equity Association for her ongoing commitment to inclusion and diversity. She shares her home with Zia (the beagle), Dodger (the cat) and the spirit of the big red dog, Sylvia.

Teresa M. Leggard (DIRECTOR) is a Brooklyn-born, Jerseyraised, Midwest transplant. She’s a poet, editor, teacher, director, and creative collaborator, currently teaching English composition at Metropolitan Community College.

She earned her BA from Spelman College and her MFA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her most recent-ish project was a 3-part performance series, Reckoncile, with the performance outlet RubiX (2019). Recent publications include “The Private Life of Flowers” (Auburn Avenue, 2020), “Life Sentences” and “I never really knew someone could hate you so much just by looking at you” (Aunt Chloe, 2020). Her dramatic writing includes the following short plays: Power Play (Rising Tide Productions); The Silent Party (Fishtank Theatre); The Grace Period (DC Black Theatre Festival, runner-up in the festival’s One-Act Slam); Left Hanging (InTENsity Playwrights Showcase, Craig G. Workman Award for Writing for Performance).

Directing credits include Honky (The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City, assistant director); Pass Over (Olathe Civic Theatre); The Green Book Wine Club Train Trip and Single Black Female (KC Melting Pot Theatre); Every 28 Hours (Fishtank Theatre); Gumbo House (Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, independent production); as well as staged readings for Unicorn Theatre, Midwest Dramatist Center, Westport Center for the Arts, Olathe Civic Theatre, and Johnson County Heritage Center. Teresa sees all her work—across genres and disciplines—as an opportunity to help people say what they mean. She is grateful to all her loved ones and to Allah, who is the best of all planners.

Chioma Anyanwu (NYA) is thrilled to be back at Unicorn Theatre to work with this team on Pipeline. Some of her previous Unicorn productions include Red Bike, The Revolutionists, The Wolves, Men on Boats, Heathers, BlackTop Sky, The Mountaintop, Ruined, and Hungry. Thank you to the Unicorn Theatre and this creative team for the massive support and extraordinary measures taken to keep us all safe and keep us playing!

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM Raheem Fielder-Bey (OMARI) is excited to be making his Unicorn debut! Ever since tearing up in the audience of Stupid Fucking Bird, he’s been longing for the day to be in a Unicorn show. Pervious credits include, Tinker’s Toy Factory (Cedar Fair Live Entertainment/Worlds of Fun), City of Angels (MET), and Something Rotten (The White Theatre).

He thanks his family, friends and Karson for the support!

Jackie Price (JASMINE) This is Jackie’s first production with Unicorn Theatre! Past productions she has been cast in include Puffs with The Coterie, Caroline or Change with Spinning Tree Theatre and Memphis with Black Repertory Theatre KC. She received her BFA Musical Theatre degree from the University of Central Missouri and continued her acting training with Tasha Smith Acting Studio. Jackie is excited to be performing in Pipeline at the Unicorn Theatre!

Keenan Ramos (Xavier) is humbled and honored to be back on the boards at the Unicorn. Right out of Kansas State University, Cynthia cast him in the amazing (and revealing) production of Take Me Out. Since then he has worked on stages all across the country, including the Kennedy Center and the Huntington Stage. Of course, home is where the heart is and he has proudly worked at The Coterie, KC Rep, The MET, Heart Of America Shakespeare Festival, MTH, and the all-important Unicorn Theatre. Keenan would like to thank his beautiful family for all their support. Most importantly, GO CHIEFS! Cathy Barnett (LAURIE) Theater is back! And Cathy couldn’t be happier to jump back in with this talented cast!

Prior Unicorn projects include The Humans, How to Steal a Picasso, Hands on a Hard Body, Inspecting Carol, and Grey Gardens. Other appearances around town include The Wizard of Oz, Hairspray, Grease and The Producers at The Starlight Theater and Church Basement Ladies, Sister Act and Always, Patsy Cline at the New Theatre. Cathy portrays the Hallmark greeting card character, “Maxine,” in live performances, talking cards and on Hallmark’s website.

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM Yorke G. Fryer (Dun) was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. After graduation he attended Southern Methodist University where he received a BFA in playwriting and directing. He has worked on some of the best stages in the country, including the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Oregon Shakespeare Festival. His film work includes: Accepted, Things Never Said and A Walk With Grace. Yorke has been a guest star on TV shows like, NCIS, How to Get Away With Murder, Heart of Dixie, and he was a seires lead in Extinct (BYU-TV). Not long ago he took a tour of Unicorn Theatre and said, “You know, it would be fun to do a show here.” Be careful what you say out loud, because now Yorke is making his home town stage debut!

Tanya Brown (STAGE MANAGER) is in her fifteenth season with Unicorn Theatre.

Some of her all-time favorites have been The Revolutionists, Venus in Fur, Hand to God, Cock, Stupid F##king Bird, and Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Kelli Harrod (SCENIC DESIGNER) is delighted to be back designing at Unicorn Theatre! Some of her past designs at the Unicorn include American Son, A Doll’s House, Part 2, Bond, Men on Boats, and Informed Consent. Other recent shows include Peter Pan (White Theatre at the J); A Doll’s House, Dracula: A Song of Love and Death, and Blithe Spirit (KCAT); and PUFFS and Secret Soldiers (Coterie Theatre). Check out her other current scenic designs in SpongeBob the Musical (Coterie Theatre) and Something Rotten (White Theatre at the J). @ setdeskel www.kelliharrod.com Sean Glass (LIGHTING DESIGNER) is excited to be continuing live theatre in KC with the Unicorn Theatre. As a KC native, Sean has collaborated with several other area organizations including KC Starlight Theatre, New Theatre & Restaurant, Heartland Men’s Chorus, Spinning Tree Theatre, and Harvest Productions. As a consultant, he has collaborated on several area renovations and installations, including the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection’s cathedral sanctuary where he is also the long-time resident lighting designer of the annual Christmas at Resurrection. Additionally, he has taught and mentored many up and coming professionals at institutions including JCCC, Avila University, and Stephens College in Columbia, MO. Outside of the theatre, Sean serves as Principal Production Designer and Lead Lighting Consultant with EDGE Productions, an internationally recognized corporate production company.

David Kiehl (SOUND & PROJECTION DESIGNER) is excited to be back at the Unicorn where he has worked as sound designer for over 50 productions. Previous Unicorn productions date back to 1997 and include Sylvia, The Laramie Project, and Proof; more recently they include American Son, A Doll’s House, Part 2, Who’s Your Baghdaddy, The Revolutionists. You may have heard his work around town at KCAT

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM (‘night, Mother, A Doll’s House), the Living Room (Milking Christmas, The Ballad of Lefty and Crabbe) and over 100 productions at the Coterie (Electric Poe, Puffs, Elephant and Piggy).

Ian R. Crawford (COSTUME DESIGNER) is proud to be the Associate Artistic Director at Unicorn Theatre. At the Unicorn, Ian has designed costumes for Kill Move Paradise, Death of a Driver, Red Bike, Bond, The Humans, Chesapeake, The Way We Get By, Application Pending, Buyer & Cellar, The Oldest Boy, Bad Jews, Water by the Spoonful, and the set for Chesapeake & Women Playing Hamlet. Thank you to Vince and to Conor.

Eric Palmquist (PROPS DESIGNER) is a graduate of the University of Kansas theatre program and a founding member of Terra Femina Collective. Recent work includes The Lifespan of a Fact, American Son, Babel, Bernhardt/Hamlet, Baghdaddy, The Revolutionists, The Humans (Unicorn), Caroline, or Change, Every Brilliant Thing, Billy Elliot (Spinning Tree), and A Moon for the Misbegotten (KCAT). An AEA member, he was last seen in Viper (Terra Femina) and Nomad Motel (Unicorn), and has performed with the Coterie, the Living Room, Equity Actors Reader Theatre, the MET, and the Buffalo Room.

Sheriece Veazey-McNally (DRAMATURG) is delighted to be a Dramaturg for Pipeline and is thankful she was selected for this opportunity by Unicorn Theatre.

She received her M.M. in voice from UMKC Conservatory and her B.A. in integrative arts from Penn State Altoona. She received her Master of Arts Leadership and Cultural Management from Colorado State University. She is the Development & Events Coordinator at KCYA and a Teaching Assistant at UMKC Conservatory Academy. While at UMKC, she performed the roles of Nancy (Albert Herring) and the Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas). During an internship with the Varna International Music Academy, she performed Paquette (Candide) and the Monitor (Suor Angelica).

She performed with Landlocked Opera as the Usher (Trial by Jury) and in Béatrice et Bénédict. Sheriece has enjoyed performing with The Black Repertory Theatre and MTKC in Big River. Additional experiences include Les Huguenots, Carmina Burana, and La chanson d’Eve.

A NOTE FROM THE DRAMATURG There is a disturbing national trend in which children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Dominique Morisseau’s Pipeline explores the school-to-prison pipeline that has plagued Black and Hispanic students’ experiences for over 40 years. Morisseau’s inspiration pulled from Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow and, most importantly, her mother, a master educator and proud public-school teacher for 40 years in Highland Park, Michigan.

The school-to-prison pipeline is traced back to the beginning of zero-tolerance policies instituted in the 1980s. President Ronald Reagan’s War on Drugs and First Lady Nancy Reagan’s Just Say No campaign led to an increase in public concern and mass incarceration for nonviolent crimes. Zero-tolerance, three-strikes, and similar pushout policies widespread in schools have transformed simple disciplinary issues into grounds for arrest, expulsion, and incarceration. These tactics remove “difficult” students from schools, of which minorities face higher suspension and expulsion rates, and as adults, are disproportionately represented in the country’s prison system.

Stemming from the nation’s issues with educational inequality, the school-toprison pipeline has thrived in public schools with high minority populations and low resources. Americans often forget that as late as the 1960s, most Black, Hispanic, and Native American students were educated in wholly segregated schools funded at rates many times lower than those serving the majority. Many of these students were excluded from higher education institutions entirely.

Pipeline stresses the function of education, government, and social institutions in our lives, many of which are steeped in racism. Throughout this country’s history, America has prided itself on opportunity, freedom, and prosperity, primarily reserved for the majority through the intentional exclusion and oppression of people of color. As a result, the deep racial and ethnic inequities that exist today directly result from structural racism that keeps the school-to-prison pipeline pumping.

Sheriece Veazey-McNally October 2021

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR UNICORN THEATRE THIS SEASON HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY:

AFFILIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

Unicorn Theatre is a constituent of Actors’ Equity Association; Theatre Communications Group, Inc.; The National New Play Network; Missouri Citizens for the Arts; The Downtown Council; Main Street Development Corporation; Nonprofit Connect; Urban Core Group; and The Kansas City Convention and Visitors Bureau.