Mad at Miles: A Black Woman's Guide to Truth
By Pearl Cleage
Directed by Lundeana Thomas
Scenic Design – Charles Nasby
Costume & Makeup Design – Daryl Harris
Lighting Design – Rebekkah Meixner-Hanks
Sound Design – Tommy Neville
Stage Manager – Justin Collins
Produced by special arrangement with Abrams Artists Agency, 275 Seventh Avenue/26th Floor, New York, NY 10001
CAST
Triza Cox
Renea S. Brown
Jody Ann Henry
Tamara Kamara
Jocelyn Matsuo
Kristi Papailler
There will be no intermission
Dr. Lundeana M. Thomas (Director) is a Full Professor of Theatre Arts and Director of the African American Theatre Program at the University of Louisville. She directs plays, coordinates creative performances for local, national, and international touring, and teaches African American Theatre courses which serve two minors and a Graduate Certificate in African American Theatre. She received her BS from Youngstown State University. After studying at the University of London, she received her MA and PhD in Theatre Studies from the University of Michigan and taught at Spelman College and Bowling Green State University before coming to Louisville in 1996. Dr. Thomas recently received the Louisville Defender’s Professional Achievement Award and the Distinguished Faculty for National and International Service Award from the College of Arts & Sciences. She has also received the Women of Spunk Award from Actors Theatre of Louisville and the New York Theatre Museum Educator of the year Award as well, she has written a book called, Barbara Ann Teer & the National Black Theatre: Transformational Forces in Harlem published by Routledge. She has directed three plays performed at the National Black Theatre Festival and three plays performed in Beijing and Xiamen, China. She has just adapted and directed The Orphan of Chao at the University, for the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival and the National Black Theatre Festival. Dr. Thomas is a Past President of the Black Theatre Network and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Charles A. Nasby (Scenic Design) is the Scenery Technician for the Theatre Arts Department. He earned his BFA Theatre Arts at UofL in 2005. He has worked as a scenic designer, lighting designer, properties designer, technical director, and production manager for numerous productions.
Dr. Daryl Harris (Costume Design) is a professor of Theatre Arts at Northern Kentucky University. He is a 40-year veteran of traditional, experimental, applied and educational theatre. He has studied and worked as a producer, writer, director, actor, costume designer, professor and lecturer throughout the United States, Canada, Scandinavia, West Africa and China. In addition to teaching diverse interdisciplinary theatre courses, Harris' work involves multicultural programming and projects that link the Underground Railroad Movement to the fields of theatre and dance, connecting themes emerging from the Movement to current social problems in ways that promote understanding and greater social harmony.
Rebekkah Meixner-Hanks (Lighting Design) is an Associate Professor and Theatre Department Chair for Indiana University Southeast where she is also the resident scenic and lighting designer. Recently she designed the scenery and lighting for Lee Meriwether’s world premiere of her one woman show The Women of Spoon River. Prior to joining the IUS theatre department in fall 2005, Rebekkah worked as a successful Properties Master for numerous regional theatres throughout the Northeast. She earned her MFA in theatre design and production from the University of Louisville and her BA from the State University of New York at Oswego. Memorable design credits include; My Name is Tracy, Bust Stop, Proof, Sweet Bird of Youth, The Women of Spoon River, Godspell, House of Blue Leaves, Noises Off, and many others.
Tommy Neville (Sound Design) Atlanta, GA, is a senior Theater Arts Major. He recently served as the Soundboard Operator for The Laramie Project and The Flu Season and Sound Designer for such productions as Richard III, Measure for Measure, and A Perfect Wedding at UofL, and appeared as Heath Ledger in Hell's Awesome and Donny in Lambs (Studio Theatre). Past credits elsewhere include the role of Lord Chamberlain with the Ballard Madrigals of 2007 and 2008. He is also the Sound Engineer for the Theater Arts Department.
Renea Brown, Lexington, KY is a sophomore Theatre Arts major. Past productions at UofL include Juliet in Measure for Measure, Martha in Lift Every Voice, Ashley in Don’t Call Her Bitch (Studio Theatre), and Gabriella in Sausage Eaters (Studio Theatre). Past credits elsewhere include Juror #10 in Twelve Angry Women, Fran in The Heidi Chronicles, McCavity in Cats, and Widow Benton in Pollyanna, all at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts at Lafayette High School.
Triza Cox, Marion, SC is a third-year MFA student in Performance. She received her BS in Biology from Coastal Carolina University. Previous productions at UofL include Meridee in A Perfect Wedding, various roles in The Colored Museum, various roles in The Laramie Project, and Mary Mae in God in the Midst of it All. Past credits elsewhere include Mary in Journey: A Tale of the Underground Railroad at Walden Theatre, Mattie in Nothing New for Easter with the Kentucky Historical Society, Brianna in Bullies with the Blue Apple Players, and First Witch in Macbeth at Josephine Sculpture Park in Frankfort, KY. This is her thesis performance.
Jody-Ann P. Henry, St. Catherine, Jamaica is a first-year MFA student in Performance. She earned her BA in Theatre from Nova Southeastern University. This is her debut performance at UofL. Past credits elsewhere include Feste in Twelfth Night, Lois in Wonder of the World, Ms. Prism in The Importance of Being Earnest, and Doctor in Baby! The Musical, all at Nova Southeastern University Theatre.
Tamara Kamara, Free-Town, Sierra Leone, is a junior majoring in Theatre Arts and French. This is her debut performance at UofL. Past credits elsewhere include The Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol at University of the Cumberlands, Haggy in Mmmbeth and Tituba in The Crucible, both at John Hardin High School, and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Governor’s School for the Arts. She is a 2008 graduate of Governor’s School for the Performing Arts and is a Hip-Hop instructor at The Dance Centre.
Jocelyn Matsuo, Salt Lake City, UT, is a second-year MFA student in Performance. She earned her post graduate diploma from LAMDA. Past productions at UofL include various roles in How Orisanmi Chose His Head, Mariana in Measure for Measure, and various roles in A/S/L (Studio Theatre). Past credits elsewhere include Hope in This Hope Box with The Poorhouse Theatre Company in Los Angeles, Allison in Look Back in Anger at the Georgia Court Theater in Los Angeles, CA, Estelle in No Exit, and various roles in The Saturday Mash-up at the Sidewalk Theatre in Burbank, CA. She has certificates in Ballroom Dancing and Corporeal Mime and is trained in stage combat for four weapons.
Kristi Papailler, Louisville, KY, is a first-year MFA student in Performance. Previous productions at UofL include The Wizard in The Wiz, Dussie Mae in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Ensemble in Salute to the Black Family, and Elvira in Twilight: Los Angeles. Past credits elsewhere include Rhonda Lynn in Christmas Belles, Lucy in Dracula, and Calpurnia in To Kill a Mockingbird, all at the Kentucky Repertory Theatre, and Eulalie in Hunting the Basalisk with Looking for Lilith. She trained in Suzuki and Viewpoints with the Siti Company in New York, NY.
Justin Collins (Stage Manager), Paducah, KY, is a senior Theatre Arts major. This is his debut production.
Stage Manager Justin Collins
Assistant Stage Managers John Radeke
Technical Director/Shop Foreman/
Scenic Construction Charles Nasby
Production Buyer Billy Flood
Costume Shop Manager Melissa K. Shepherd
Wardrobe Masters James Coomer, Amanda Hinds, Meredith Johnson
Wardrobe Crew Josh Browning, Logan Dorne
Properties Manager Kelly Bunch
Master Electricians Lauren Camargo, Nick Potter
Lighting Crew/Lighting Operator John Radeke
Sound Engineer Tommy Neville
Sound Operator Rebekah Roberts
Box Office Manager Melanie Henry
Box Office Staff David Galloway, Will Salmons, Lauren Street, Ashley Smith
House Manager Grace Bors
Poster Design Ashli State
Special Thanks: Clyde Tyrone Harper, Theresa Schmidt & Sue Schonberger from Baptist East/Milestone Wellness Center, Marta Miranda & Team at Center for Women & Families, UofL Costume Shop
This production is dedicated to: Laura Richardson, Natalie Farmer, Rosalind Jones, Katherine Murphy& Tasha Sykes
