The Play

“Come Down Burning,” by Kia Corthron, opens the fall season for University of Louisville’s Department of Theatre Arts.

Presented by the department and its African American Theatre Program, the play will be performed Sept. 30 - Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. nightly plus a 3 p.m. matinee on Oct. 4. All performances will take place at the The Playhouse at 1911 S. 3rd Street.

Kia Corthron’s drama tells the story of two sisters who grapple with the effects of poverty, ignorance and disability in order to provide for their children. Directed by Nefertiti Burton, associate professor and associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences for International, Diversity and Outreach Programs, the play explores the challenges faced each day as the characters attempt to overcome obstacles in their Appalachian home.

“Sometimes conditions force good people to make decisions that society may condemn,” Burton said. “Scraping by to feed your children and attempting to make a living put people in positions most of us can relate to.”

Burton said that the explosive topics in the play, such as abortion, will engage the audiences. Talkback discussion between audience, cast and guests are scheduled for most performances.

The Players

Time:  Now

Setting:  An Appalachian Mountain Region of Kentucky

There will be no intermission

Cast of Characters

Skoolie………………………………………………………..………..Tiffany Gist

Tee………………………………………………………………….Melony Tisdale

Bink…………………………………………………………………Ebony Jordan

Evie…………………………………………………………………Haley Brents

Will-Joe…………………………………………………………….Elijah Lasley

Cast

Haley Brents (Evie), Louisville, KY, is nine years old and in fourth grade at Greathouse Shryock Traditional Elementary.  She has previously performed as Casey in Caged Rhythm at UofL.  Past credits elsewhere include Girl #3 in The Completely Untrue Story of How I Lost the Race at Walden Theatre and Lead Cook in The Nutcracker with the Louisville Ballet.

Tiffany Gist (Skoolie), St. Louis, MO, is a third-year MFA student in Performance and a member of the UofL Repertory Company.  Past credits at UofL include Abbie Pickett in Soldiers’ Circle, Pat in The Story, Rainey in The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God, and TJ in Cage Rhythm.  Past credits elsewhere include Ruth in A Raisin in the Sun and Emilia in Othello at Alabama State University.  This is her thesis performance.

Ebony Jordan (Bink), Gainesville, GA, is a second-year MFA student in Performance.  Past credits at UofL include Elizabeth/Chloe/Emmeline in Abe Lincoln and Uncle Tom in the White House and Gertrude in Hamlet. Past credits elsewhere include Olympia in A Flea in Her Ear, Empress in The Emperor’s New Clothes, various roles in Metamorphoses, and the one-woman show Beauty’s Daughter at the Gainesville Theatre Alliance. She earned her BA in Theatre from Brenau University and her AA in Speech & Drama from Gainesville State College.

 Elijah Lasley (Will-Joe), Louisville, KY, is five years old and in first grade at Rutherford Elementary.  This is his debut performance.  

Melony A. Tisdale (Tee), Kingstree, SC, is a third-year MFA student in Performance and a member of the UofL Repertory Company.  Past credits at UofL include Drill Sergeant in Soldiers’ Circle, Rhea in The Magenta Shift (Studio Theatre), Darese in The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God, and Turtle in The Dancing Turtle.  Past credits elsewhere include Gilmer in Godspell, Lutibelle Jenkins in Purlie Victorious, and Tasha in Home for Christmas at Fayettville State University.  She was the Master Electrician for Waiting for Godot and the Props Master for Anasi and Friends, both at Fayettville State University. This is her thesis performance.

The Director

Nefertiti Burton is an Associate Professor of Theatre and an Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences at UofL. She has produced and directed for professional, university, and community theatre. As an actor, she has performed in regional theatre, film, and television. Ms. Burton holds an MFA in Directing from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She has traveled throughout the world and teaches a variety of graduate and undergraduate theatre courses.

Designers /Production Team

Michael F. Hottois (Scenic Design) has recently designed scenery for Soldiers’ Circle, Abe Lincoln and Uncle Tom in the Whitehouse, Hamlet, The Story, The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God, Titus Andronicus, Angels in America, Part I “Millennium Approaches,” Cage Rhythm, Interrogating the Nude, and many others.  Over the past few summers he designed Always, Patsy Cline, All Shook Up, The Producers, Ain’t Misbehavin’, and No, No, Nanette for the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in New York. His credits as a scenic artist include the films Boris and Natasha and Closetland, as well as Soul of the Game for HBO. Michael is also a member of United Scenic Artists Union, Local 829.

Zhanna Goldentul (Costume Design) is the resident Costume Designer for the Theatre Arts department.  Her recent designs for the department include Titus Andronicus, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Angels in America, Part 1 “Millennium Approaches”, Cage Rhythm, Romeo and Juliet, Blithe Spirit, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and In the Blood. She is a graduate of the Theatrical Art College in Moscow. Goldentul has designed costumes at The Louisville Children’s Theatre Stage One.  From 2000 - 2005 she worked as the Designer Consultant, KY Opera, “Music, Words, Opera” Showcase. Zhanna has been a member of the United Scenic Artists' Union since 1993. She earned her MA in Fine Arts in Spring 2009.

Zachary Gilbert (Lighting Design), Louisville, KY, is a senior Theatre Arts major.  Past credits at UofL include Lighting Design for Metamorphoses, Hamlet, and Titus Andronicus, Assistant Lighting Designer for Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Assistant Stage Manager for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Master Electrician for Caged Rhythm, Interrogating the Nude, and Urinetown.  He is also the Undergraduate Studio Theatre Coordinator at UofL.  He has worked for The Santa Fe Opera (Electrics Apprentice), Kentucky Opera (Assistant Lighting Designer), and Music Theatre Louisville (Lighting Designer/Master Electrician).

Maigan Wallace (Sound Design), Marion, IN, is a senior Theatre Arts major.  Past credits at UofL include Stage Manager for Abe Lincoln and Uncle Tom in the White House and The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God. Currently, she works as Production Stage Manager and Producing Intern at Bunbury Theatre.  She is also the Props Master for the Scene Shop.

Ashley Beck (Stage Manager), Louisville, KY is a senior double majoring in Theatre Arts and Humanities.  Past credits at UofL include Stage Manager for None of the Above (Studio Theatre) and Metamorphoses, Assistant Stage Manager for Titus Andronicus, and Sylvia in My Secret Language of Wishes.  Credits elsewhere include Stage Manager for Jan Street Dance Theater and Elevator Plays III, produced by Specific Gravity Ensemble, Assistant Stage Manager for Elevator Plays II, produced by Specific Gravity Ensemble, and Follow Spot Operator for A Year in the Death of Eddie Jester, produced by Jan Street Dance Theater.

Catherine Baines (Assistant Stage Manager), Louisville, KY, is a senior Theatre Arts major.  Past credits at UofL include costume crew for Metamorphoses, Properties Crew for Soldier’s Circle, Mae in Fool for Love (Studio Theatre), and Elizabeth in Laundry and Bourbon (Studio Theatre).

Christine Leidner, Louisville, KY, is a senior Theatre Arts major. Past productions at UofL include Assistant Designer for Hamlet and Soldiers’ Circle, Mrs. Murdock/Sissy Jupe in Refractions, Violet in Blithe Spirit and Jumper in Playwriting 101: A Rooftop Lesson (Studio Theatre).  She is also the costume production buyer.

Technical Director: Garry Brown

Associate Technical Director/ Scene Shop Foreman: Charles A. Nasby

Scenic Construction: Maria Allgeier, Patrick Bayne, Katie Blackburn,

Kelly Bunch, Drew Cash, Justin Collins, Zachary Gilbert, Eric

Goldschmidt, Otis Harrison, Magnolia Hensley, Danielle Zachery, TA 240

Stagecraft I

Production Buyer: Amy Cotterill

Costume Shop Manager: Melissa Shepherd

Costume Construction: Kelly Bunch, Kate Foley, Magnolia Hensley, Ebony Jordan, Christine Leidner, Frances Lewis, Kendra Potts

Wardrobe Master: Frances Lewis

Costume Buyer: Christine Leidner

Wardrobe Crew: Brandon Muncy, Shannon Spears

Properties Manager: Maigan Wallace

Properties Crew: Maria Allgeier, Stephanie Fitzsimon

Master Electricians: Ashley Beck, Nick Potter

Lighting Operators: Aaron Dickerson, Holly Sullivan

Lighting Crew: TA 349 Intro to Stage Lighting

 Sound Engineer: James Isaac

Sound Crew: Corey Music

Box Office Manager: Melanie Henry

House Manager: Magnolia Hensley

Acknowledgments: Frank X Walker, Marlisa Austin, Diane Pecknold, Shannon Garth Rhodes, Coach Gerry Edwards, Toma Lynn Smith, William H. Turner, TA 240 Stagecraft I (Costume Shop)

The Stage

The UofL Playhouse

1911 S. 3rd Street

Louisville , KY 40208  

Built in 1874, the current Playhouse originally served as a small, interdenominational chapel for a local orphanage. In 1923, the University of Louisville acquired the land on which the chapel stood, converted the structure into a theatre, and designated it a "temporary building" for use until a permanent theatre could be erected.

In 1977, the Playhouse was dismantled to make room for the construction of the William F. Ekstrom Library and Learning Resources Center. The building was systematically taken apart and safely put into storage. Rebuilt in 1980 on the traffic island between 2nd and 3rd streets at Cardinal Ave., the Playhouse was expanded to include a basement and full-working scene shop. It is also the location of the offices of the Technical Director and Scene Shop Foreman.

The Playhouse is located on the corner of Cardinal Blvd. & 3rd Street. Metered street parking is available along 3rd Street and Cardinal Blvd. Free parking in the university parking lots located on 3rd St. is free after 7:30 p.m. weekdays and all day on weekends.

The Ticket

Box Office

HPES / Studio Arts Building

Corner of Floyd and Warnock Streets

Office Hours

Monday - Friday

10am - 3pm

(502) 852-6814

Ticket Prices

General Public - $12

UofL Faculty/Staff - $10

Students/Senior Citizens - $8

Season Tickets - $35.00-$50.00 (Order Form) [DOC]

Additional Information

To make ticket reservations, please contact the Box Office Manager, Melanie Henry, at 852-6814. Accepted methods of payment include Visa and Mastercard.