 The young idealistic college graduate “John” who aspires to be the best at his craft, in PAC’s virtual reading: TROUBLE IN MIND.
Davon Johnson is a Philadelphia based actor and a senior at Temple University, he will be graduating next spring with his B.A. in Theatre Arts with a Concentration in Acting. Davon’s most recent credits are Revolution Shakespeare's 154 Revisited, The Arden's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Montgomery County Community College's We Are Proud to Present. Davon is excited to work on such a timely piece of work during this troubling time. “John” is a novice actor but is more educated than Wiletta. He usually feels superior to her and questions most of the advice she gives him about how to act around white people in show business. Though “John” and “Wiletta” come from the same town; growing conflict between “Wiletta” and the director, causes John’s loyalty to shift. PAC's Virtual Reading of Alice Childress's TROUBLE IN MIND Saturday, October 24th @ 7pm FREE to attend; ALL donations benefit BLM Philly
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 Dan portrays the uncomfortably charming and problematic director, “Al Manners“ for PAC’s virtual reading. Dan Hodge (Co-founding Artistic Director) is a Philadelphia-based actor and director with a strong foundation in the classics, who has worked with many classical theatres across the country as an actor, director, and text/vocal coach. As a director for the PAC: Duchess of Malfi, Timon of Athens, Mary Stuart, and The Rape of Lucrece, his one-man adaptation of Shakespeare's epic poem. As an actor: Changes of Heart, Creditors, Fair Maid of the West. Dan holds an MFA in Acting from The Old Globe in San DIego, and his BFA in Acting from the University of Evansville. Barrymore awards: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play (Fair Maid of the West, 2015); Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play (Around the World in 80 Days, 2011); Best Ensemble in a Play (Glengarry Glen Ross, 2007). James Whitmore Award for Excellence: Peterborough Players, 2002. Craig Noel Award for Professional Promise: Old Globe Theatre, 2005. “Al Manners” is the director of Chaos in Belleville (the play within a play in TROUBLE IN MIND). Al wants to remain in control of the production at all times but his energy and confidence often come off as patronizing and insensitive despite his liberal declarations. When Manners’s self-assuredness is shaken several times, tensions come to a boiling point and expose some truths & biases the production may not be able to withstand PAC's Virtual Reading of Alice Childress's TROUBLE IN MIND Saturday, October 24th @ 7pm FREE to attend; ALL donations benefit BLM Philly  The chastising character actor “Sheldon“ for PAC’s virtual reading of Alice Childress’s TROUBLE IN MIND. Monroe is making his third appearance with PAC. Prior performances include Maria Marten or The Murder in the Red Barn and All’s Well That Ends Well. A Philadelphia based actor, he has appeared at numerous venues in the region. Some past productions include V to X, 12 Angry Men, The African Company Presents Richard III, Radio Golf and Our Town. Much love to the production team, my family, and those who support live theatre. “Sheldon” is a veteran actor. An elderly, poorly educated black man, he embodies the Uncle Tom stereotype. He fawns on the director and reprimands Wiletta for disrupting rehearsals with her racial complaints. Though, Sheldon may be more than he appears; When the horrifying events of Sheldon’s childhood are revealed, is it enough to end the group’s fighting or heighten the tension? PAC's Virtual Reading of Alice Childress's TROUBLE IN MIND Saturday, October 24th @ 7pm FREE to attend; ALL donations benefit BLM Philly B.j Tindal is in constant conversation with the director and cast/crew of TROUBLE IN MIND, and their role includes researching extensive of historical information such as the time period, lifestyle, the play's structure, its language, its themes, etc. to make Alice Childress's play and the presented interpretation as authentic as possible.  B.J Tindal (they/them) is a Black queer playwright, teaching artist, and sour candy enthusiast. They recently moved back to their hometown of Philadelphia after completing their MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage at Northwestern University. Since moving back to the city, BJ has been working with a number of organizations devoted to arts-Education, including Philly Young Playwrights and After-School Activities Partnerships as well as creating their own workshops designed to encourage writing-confidence for elementary school students. BJ’s play Goodnight, Tyler received its world premiere in February 2019 at the Alliance Theater and has been published by Samuel French/Concord Theatricals in Fall 2020. Their other play, What We Look Like, had its inaugural production at Oberlin College’s new Irene and Alan Wurtzel Theater also in February 2019. BJ is honored to move forward in this new way of collaborating with Philadelphia artists at the Philly Artist’ Collective B.J has been vital in helping the actors familiarize themselves and understand Alice Childress's TROUBLE IN MIND world set in 1950s' New York! PAC's Virtual Reading of Alice Childress's TROUBLE IN MIND Saturday, October 24th @ 7pm FREE to attend; ALL donations benefit BLM Philly And also what it was like for black actors & actresses on stage and in film during that time period!  Welcome to the 50's Join us on Saturday, October 24th @ 7pm!FREE to attend; ALL donations benefit BLM Philly Alice Childress's TROUBLE IN MIND is brought to life through Amina's visionary direction!  INTRODUCING: Amina Robinson
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Amina Robinson is a professional actor, director, and currently a Professor of Acting and Musical Theater at Temple University. Amina's directing credits include Sunset Baby at Azuka Theatre, Dauphin Island at Passage Theater, The Color Purple at Theatre Horizon, Seventy Four Seconds to Judgment at The Arden Theatre, Godspell, and the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Temple University, and Seventy IV Seconds to Judgement as presented with Go Kash Onstage in Residence at the Arden. Amina is also the first Black woman to win a Barrymore Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for The Color Purple. Trouble in Mind follows an experienced Black stage actress through rehearsals of a major Broadway production of an anti-lynching play written by a white man. It's a wry and moving look at racism, identity and ego in not only the world of theater, but in American society. Regarding Trouble in Mind, Amina says: “The world of Trouble in Mind, for me, is very similar to the world we live in today. We find ourselves unable to break the chains of racism and white supremacy, even today. Our now moment is the now moment of my mother, my mom mom and my nana, each time taking slightly different shape. In the arts, this moment has led and leads us to the exact same place that many of these characters find themselves in, in this play. We oftentimes hide our truths for fear of losing our livelihoods, whitewash stories and narratives for white comfort and consumption, abide by the notion that we should be grateful for crumbs from the American Theater’s table of plenty. Some shuck and some jive, others fight against hope, and every other way of survival found in between. This is Trouble in Mind. For me the “trouble” is actually that Wiletta has reached a place where she is saying 'NO, I will not abide in it any longer… even if that means my own destruction and the death of my life’s dreams.' She is torn, and the sad reality is, this trouble only holds value in her mind because the world that she lives in couldn’t care less." Experience Amina’s vision for the world of Alice Childress’s TROUBLE IN MIND in the virtual reading on Saturday, October 24th @ 7pm Introducing Joilet F. Harris as leading lady "Wiletta" in PAC's virtual reading of Alice Childress’s TROUBLE IN MIND.  Joilet Harris is a Philadelphia treasure. Throughout her 30 year career, Joilet consistently proves that she is a powerful and dynamic presence on stage as well as on television, with roles on The Wire, Do No Harm and Law & Order: SVU. Joilet has also toured the world as a vocalist, most recently playing Ella Fitzgerald in Ella, The Ella Fitzgerald Story. She has appeared on many Philadelphia stages including the Walnut Street Theatre, Act 2 Playhouse, People’s Light and Theatre Company and Delaware Theatre Company. She most recently starred as Gloria in the Broadway-bound Because of Winn Dixie and has also appeared as Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray, Miss Jones in How to Succeed in Business… and in Ain’t Misbehavin’ and It Ain’t Nothin But the Blues. In addition to her many talents, Harris is a founding and former board member of The Philadelphia Black Theatre Festival, and is an active member of the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church where she serves as a soloist choir member and assistant choir director.
“Wiletta” is a veteran black actress who made a career out of playing stereotypical black roles but aspires to be cast in parts more deserving of her rich talents; as antics from her white director and scenes from a stereotypical script intensify will Wiletta be able to sustain the “act”? Watch Joilet’s magnetic portrayal on Saturday, October 24th @ 7pm FREE to attend; ALL donations benefit BLM Philly Welcome back Victoria Goins as our Assistant Director for the PAC's virtual reading of Alice Childress's TROUBLE IN MIND!  Meet Victoria:
Victoria Aaliyah Goins is an emerging director who has a desire to utilize storytelling to reveal the depths of humanity. She is currently directing a devised piece at Arcadia University entitled, "Who Are You?". Recently she has directed virtual plays for the "Going Viral Festival" and Jouska Playworks. She is also a member of Director's Gathering and her work has been featured at the 2019 DG 'Wonder Womxn' JAM. Victoria has also worked as an Assistant Director at The Arden alongside Terry Nolen and Amina Robinson as well as at InterAct Theatre alongside KC MacMillan. Victoria is also a Philadelphia based actor. Recent Credits Include: Nina (Sunset Baby), Squeak (The Color Purple), and Maria Marten (Maria Marten or The Murder in the Red Barn). For more info visit victoriaagoins.com . We surely can't wait to share this special project with Victoria and with all of you on Saturday, October 24th @ 7pm! FREE to attend; ALL donations benefit BLM Philly! Written by: Natajia Sconiers  On September 10th at 7pm, Philadelphia Shakespeare and theatre lovers rejoiced when the Revolution Shakespeare team uploaded the filmed adaptation of Shakespeare’s sonnets, written by, filmed and produced by a broad spectrum of artists in the Philadelphia community. This impressive project spearheaded by Revolution Shakespeare’s Artistic Director Tai Verley, brings a complicated and often over simplified universal theme to this year’s philly fringe: love. With a project this huge, one is sure to find at least one Philadelphia Artist they recognize, know or have seen perform, and if you are reading this blog...you can now say you know two! The Philadelphia Artists’ Collective is proud to say that two of our own Artistic Associates (Charlotte Northeast and myself: Natajia Sconiers) were a part of such a unique and impacting project.
Below you’ll find a short interview in which Charlotte and I discuss our unique experiences as writer (Charlotte) and actor (myself) and our process and bringing Shakespeare’s classic words and their powerful adaptation to your screens! What sonnets did you work on and in what capacity? Charlotte: I was a writer for Sonnets 65, 96 and 150 Tay: I performed in sonnet 82, adapted by Erlina Ortiz Had you had any experience adapting classical work before? Charlotte: I have had experience taking classical work and creating a streamlined script for production. The most intense piece I ever did was taking Fair Maid of the West, parts 1 and 2 and making them into one script for the PAC production in 2015. That took me AGES. Basically, almost every script that PAC produces has gone through some sort of process. Classical work is like bread - gotta knead the dough to make good bread. That might be a silly metaphor but that's what I got. Tay: Never! This was my 1st time working on a piece that was directly adapted from Shakespeare’s works, and I was really excited to discover and also curious to learn more about the process and Tai was super gracious and more than willing to sit down and discuss with me all the work that went into this project and the entire process What is your experience with Revolution Shakespeare as a company? Charlotte: I have been a part of 2 of the all-women readings and have directed one. I love what Tai is doing and can't wait to see what she does next. Tay: I’d seen a couple productions and worked with Tai Verley during my time at Del Shakes but this is my first (and hopefully not the last) project with Revolution Shakespeare. What resonated with you the most in your sonnets? Charlotte: Maybe it's just my cynicism speaking but I definitely heard some snarky voices in my head when I was working on these pieces. The sonnets are pretty raw in terms of the emotion that threads throughout them. The raw love and passion and self-flagellation at times can be overwhelming, appealing and repulsing all at once for me. Definitely speaks to the passion of love in perhaps a younger Shakespeare. Yeah, I feel like an old lady when I read some of them - they are just so private in public, you know? Tay: What was so endearing to me about the sonnet I performed in is that the writer is expressing or acknowledging that this person they admire makes an effort to get attention/validation from others online and they are good at it. They are acknowledging “hey, you are gorgeous and other people/strangers you don’t even know think so too… but I see you without all the makeup and the show of social media, and I think you are beautiful in public and private”. It’s not shaming or belittling the person for “performing” for others ( because who are we kidding? I think we all do that/seek validation to some degree) but it is accepting all parts of the person. Saying i see all parts of you and i think they are all equally beautiful. What is similar in the sonnets (or) how would one identify the sonnet as coming from you? What about your sonnets are essentially "you"? Charlotte: Sonnet 150 spoke to me the most. As an immigrant, the thought of loving something so flawed and yet wanting to put all you have into it made me examine my own relationship with the United States. People often ask me, "Why do you live here?" "Why don't you go back to Canada - especially now?" And I really struggle with the answer because most of my adult life has been spent in the US and I have a deep love/hate relationship with it. And the US I moved to in the late 90's isn't the same place as it is now. So, Sonnet 150 somehow speaks to that - I'm not sure I achieved that but that's what I was going for… Tay: I've always been super into visuals and cinematography, mood achieved through colors and lighting and effects. I’ve always been super aware of aesthetics in television and film and how are they affecting/manipulating my emotions and experience as an audience member overtly or subtly? I tried to achieve that in the way I filmed my sonnet. What was the most fun about working on this project? What was the most challenging? Charlotte: Fun was trusting myself and actually putting pen on paper. Challenging was actually trusting myself and putting pen on paper. Tay: The most fun was actually filming the things outside and seeing how things came together when editing. The most challenging was trying to figure out how i would physically achieve the things i wanted to do in my head...and the sound quality! I hope everything I did matched what the playwright wanted or they were at least interested/intrigued by my take on their words.
Now that you’ve got an insiders peek at our process, see how our sonnets and the sonnets of even more talented artists came out!
You only have until October 4th, so better start binging! https://www.revolutionshakespeare.org/154-revisited Written By: Jamie Hafner  On the sidewalks of Fishtown, Harriet’s Bookshop owner Jeannine Cook can be found bringing the store’s shelves of books and other goods outside on the weekends. The Coronavirus outbreak has not stopped Cook’s mission; To celebrate female writers, activists, and artists while creating a space for dialogue and discussion. “Our mission is slightly different now” Cook noted when discussing the adjustments her bookshop made to continue to serve customers, adding that, “We [Harriet’s Bookshop] took some lemons and made lemonade”. Harriet’s Bookshop continues to serve the community every Thursday through Saturday, creating socially distant spaces for conversation and book-sharing in a Coronavirus-safe manner. The bookshop’s collection of books changes monthly, thanks to Cook’s monthly collaborations with different female artists who curate the shop’s book selection. “This is the right thing for me, celebrating women,” Cook said, detailing that “For the most part, [I had] never been to a bookstore that celebrated women and black people. There was a void”.  Harriet's Bookshop is located on: 258 E Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125 www.harriettsbookshop.com/  Fellow Philadelphia bookstore owner, Lynn Washington, also noticed a void when serving as Design Studio Supervisor at the Free Library of Philadelphia in 2001. “My job put me in the position to be acutely aware of the abysmal numbers of African-American children who were not able to read by third grade,” Washington remembers. “My daughter learned to read by kindergarten, and I knew that that happened because I and her father talked, read and sang to her since she was a baby”. Once Washington discovered that she could create her own bookselling business, she knew that she could make a difference in the lives of Philadelphia African-American children. “My main objective was to get quality books and other educational items, such as puzzles, quiz cards, into the hands and homes of low-income parents, for themselves and their children”. Now, Washington houses Philadelphia’s largest selection of Afrocentric Children’s Books at her bookshop, Books & Stuff. Even though the pandemic has temporarily shut Books & Stuff’s doors, interested customers can still purchase books and merchandise online, including by purchasing new SURPRISE! packages. “My daughter prompted the idea of "surprise" packages. Soon after I had to close, because of COVID-19, I began thinking about closing the shop for good. She encouraged me to refocus my efforts towards my website shop. My daughter suggested selling packages of books/gifts for children to have something to do, as summer was approaching” Washington stated. Shoppers can select a price point and age range, allowing Books & Stuff to tailor the perfect package for each customer.   Across the city, Hakim’s Bookstore & Gift Shop continues to sell books online and has been able to safely open its doors to the public once more. Opened in the mid-1950s by prominent black scholar, publisher, and speaker Dakum Hakim, Hakim’s Bookstore was one of the first bookstores in Philadelphia to carry books on African American history and culture as well as Islamic history and culture. Hakim was also one of the first to ship books to prison inmates. Now operated by Hakim’s daughter, Yvonne Blake, the store continues to have an impact on the community. “[Hakim’s Bookstore] is an institution. [The community] knew my dad. He did not have just a bookstore, it was a gathering place in the community. He was a force in the community” Blake described, adding that “My father left a great legacy. He was ahead of his time. Now more than ever I wish he was still alive”. Since Hakim’s passing in 1997, the bookstore continues to thrive as it adapts to internet sales, social media, and even a global pandemic. “We had 30 Online orders after the murder of George Floyd. Everyone wanted the same books” Blake said, citing “lots of orders from Portland, Oregon, Guam, including International Orders from London and Ireland”. Readers from around the world can purchase books from Hakim’s online, and lucky Philadelphians can stop by the West Philadelphia location, even as people stay isolated during the Coronavirus outbreak.  Hakim's Bookstore & Gift Shop is located on: 210 S 52nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19139 hakimsbookstore.com/ No matter the obstacle, these Black-Owned Philadelphia bookstores continue to find ways to reach customers in times of uncertainty. Such inspiration comes from people like Dakum Hakim and the namesake of Harriet Bookshop’s, Harriet Tubman.
“Harriet exemplifies what is possible when you think about it. How was it possible for her to do all these things” Cook explained, adding that Tubman’s mission to better the lives of Black people helped her accomplish so much. “That’s the power of a mission. Harriet has a north star and we have our mission. Harriet is our north star”. Written by: Jamie Hafner PAC has taken a deep dive into the influential works of Black authors and playwrights to compile an extensive list of literary resources for our audience, including poems, short stories, and contemporary and classical plays. This week’s blog highlights four of many, providing a short summary of the plays and ways to enjoy them for free! The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window - Lorraine Hansberry (1964)
As the final staged work of the legendary Black female playwright, Lorraine Hansberry, this comedy-drama tells the story of a struggling writer and artist in 1960s New York City. themes of race, suicide, and even homosexuality in an age where presenting these topics on stage was taboo. The three-act play follows Sidney, who must face corrupt politics, societal conformity, and the dreams of his actress wife, Iris, as she pursues a career on television and he begins printing an artistic underground newspaper for the Greenwich Village. Hansberry’s play brings to life the vibrant world of the underground New York City press and explores the Bohemian Culture that changed communities and inspired new movements. Read Hansberry’s play here: https://www.southshoreinternational.org/ourpages/auto/2016/5/18/59134211/Lorraine%20Hansberry%20The%20Sign%20in%20Sidney%20Brusteins%20Window.pdf Ceremonies in Dark Old Men - Lonne Elder III (1969)
This play-turned-movie from Pulitzer Prize nominee Lonne Elder III focuses on former vaudeville dancer Russell B Parker and his struggling barbershop in Harlem. Russell and his two sons can barely keep their barbershop alive, while Russell’s daughter, Adele, works endlessly to keep the family afloat. Russell’s wife works herself to death to provide for the family, due to Russell’s lack of ambition since his departure from vaudeville. When the Parkers become divided over illegal activity that brings riches to the family, Russell must confront his past and the racist society he lives in to save himself and the Parker family. While the barbershop protects the family from the racism they face in the world, the games that Russell and his family play with society and with the economy. From the temptations of illegal activity to wealth, Elder’s play shines a light on what threatens Black families in 1960s America and the need to break these societal and economic cycles. Read Elder’s Play here: https://archive.org/details/ceremoniesindark00elde Listen to the Audio Version here: Audio: https://beta.prx.org/stories/73326 In Splendid Error - William B. Branch (1954)
William B. Branch’s drama, (produced in February by PAC and Theatre in the X for our Venture Reading Series), follows the highs and lows of the friendship of Fredrick Douglass and John Brown in the years prior to the Civil War. As Brown plans what becomes the notorious 1859 Raid on Harpers Ferry, Douglass struggles to support it. Branch guides audiences through Douglass’s internal conflict while accounting for the historic details of the Raid of Harpers Ferry. Such playwriting gives the stories we read in history books a personal narrative, driven by personal gain, ego, humanity, and the need to create a better future. Read Branch’s Play here: https://www.philartistscollective.org/uploads/4/3/3/2/4332324/insplendiderrorscript.pdf Rachel - by Angela Grimke (1916)
The oldest play on this list, Angela Grimke’s female-driven play follows Rachel, a recent high-school graduate whose family lives in the North during the early 20th century. Not only does Rachel face systematic and societal racism head-on, but also sacrifices her dream of having children in order to save others from the harsh realities of racism in America. Even though Grimke’s play was first developed and performed over 100 years ago, the themes of the play still highly relevant today. By reading more books and plays by Black Authors and Playwrights, readers can not only gain new perspectives on the experiences of others but will become more educated on the Black experience in America and beyond! |
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