The Colored Museum
By George C. Wolfe
November 2 - November 27, 2022
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"Mr. Wolfe is the kind of satirist, almost unheard of in today's timid theater, who takes no prisoners" - New Yorker
Redefining our ideas of what it means to be African American in contemporary America. “The Colored Museum,” a satire, takes us on a journey through eleven “exhibits” that illuminate African American stereotypes old and new and return to the powerful soul and spirit of what it means to be African American citizens.
1988 NAACP Image Award
Meet The Team
Patrick is an actor, teaching artist and creative with a passion for cultivating community through the art of storytelling. He is an alumnus of Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. Regional Credits: It’s A Wonderful Life (American Stage), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Jobsite Theatre), Gloria (Mad Cow Theatre), A Raisin In The Sun (American Stage), White Rabbit/Red Rabbit (Urbanite), Alice With A Twist (Florida Studio Theatre). Off-stage, Patrick is an Associate Artistic Producer at American Stage. He is the host of The Black Hand Side Podcast and Director of Multimedia for Today’s Church Tampa Bay. He is also a proud member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Actor’s Equity. Patrick is a proud son of Cynthia and Patrick D. Jackson and thankful to return to in person storytelling. May it continue to inspire thought, conversation and change across the local and global community. www.patrickajackson.com
Keith Arthur Bolden native of Los Angeles, California, earned his MFA in Acting from the University of Illinois and is currently an associate professor of Theatre and Performance at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. He considers himself a tri-coastal actor and it is demonstrated in his work, and in his ability to transform and embody a variety of characters based on his travels, life experiences and observation of the human condition. Directing Credits include: Hands Up! (Alliance Theatre, Fall 2021),The Colored Museum (American Stage), Pipeline (Horizon Theatre), Two Trains Running (Triad Stage), Topdog/Underdog (NC Black Rep), Hands Up (Hattiloo Theatre), and more. Theatre Acting Credits include: Paradise Blue (True Colors Theatre), Fetch Clay Make Man (Dallas Theatre Center),Between Riverside and Crazy (True Colors Theatre), Dreamgirls (DOMA Theatre) and more. Recent Film/TV credits: the upcoming film TILL, Sacrifice, Terror Lake Drive, Genius: Aretha Franklin, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and many more.
Chloe Dipaola has been involved with American Stage since 2018, and is happy to share she’s returning for her second show as Production Stage Manager for The Colored Museum, and feels immensely grateful for the opportunity. Chloe is a local dedicated SM around the areas of Tampa, St.Pete, Sarasota, and Clearwater. She has also graduated with her BA in Theater Arts with the focus of Stage Management. She would like to thank her remarkable cast and team of this production, as well as her friends, family, and everyone who has mentored and helped her along the way! She hopes you sit back and enjoy the exhibits.
Harlan Penn is a graduate of Florida A & M University (BS Theatre) and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (MFA Scenic Design). Companies Penn has designed for include the Birmingham Children's Theatre, Black Spectrum Theatre, St. Louis Black Rep, Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Paul Robeson Theatre, Anacostia Playhouse, American Stage., ForestBurgh Playhouse, Classical Theatre of Harlem, Theatre Alliance of Washington D.C., Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Kennesaw State University of Theatre, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Howard University department of Theatre Arts, and many more. Favorite Scenic design credits include: Gem of the Ocean, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Jar the Floor, The Piano Lesson, Jitney, Nicholas Nickleby, Flyin' West, Dreamgirls, For Colored Girls, King Hedley, Chicago, Ain't Misbehavin and Extremities to name a few. Mr. Penn is also a proud member of United Scenic Artist Local 829 where he works currently as an assistant art director and Scenic artist on major films and network television shows.
McKenna Ebert is a NYC based Lighting Designer with a BFA in Lighting Design from Boston University. Previous design credits include: All my Sons (Berkeley Preparatory School); Lizzie (Boston University); and The Infinite Energy of Ada Lovelace (Boston University).
Saidah's long association with the NY Shakespeare Festival/Joseph Papp Public Theater gave her the opportunity to work with Vanessa Redgrave, Jimmy Smits, Sam Waterston, Don Cheadle, Patrick Stewart, Rosario Dawson, Liev Schreiber, Peter Dinklage and other fine actors. Costuming the August Wilson Century Circle and African Mean Girls for American stage and numerous productions for The Studio@ 620 was special! Saidah recently costumed Crowns for the Straz Center. She has also supervised and designed for NY Shakespeare Festival's Summers @ The Delacorte and American Stage's Demen’s Landing productions of The Wiz and In the Heights. Film projects include directors Gregory Hines, Ted Demme and Howard Rollins.
Tyrese Pope while having a background in performing, is happy to express his creativity through the sound design of this beautiful show. Most recently, he was in the ensemble of The Color Purple at Stageworks in Tampa, but he has also done some shows here at American Stage. He would like to thank his family and friends for the continued support.
Dean Wick recently also created props for Footloose (American Stage Theater Company) and has been engaged to provide scenic design, properties or scenic painting for local theater organizations such as St Petersburg Opera, Early Bird Dinner Theater, St Pete City Theater, and Gulfport Community Players.
Meet The Cast
Jemier Jenkins was most recently seen as Blanche Dubois in African-American Shakespeare Company's (AASC) production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Other regional credits include: Molly in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (American Stage); Rena in Jitney (AASC). New York Credits include: Sonnet #128 The Sonnet Project presented by Shakespeare Exchange, Wonder Woman in Sex, Relantionships & Sometimes Love (The Producers Club). Jemier serves as the Executive Director of Tampa Bay Black Theatre Ensemble. Her play, AKIMBO, has been selected to compete in Winterfest - New York Theatre Festival this fall in the full length category. She's also an alumna of Lakewood High School's Center for Advanced Technology, Florida State University (Bright Future Scholar), and William Esper Studio. She is grateful to be a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Alicia Thomas is a Detroit native but calls NYC home too. She’s overjoyed to return to the stage for her first full production since March 2020! Select Regional Theatre: Dreamgirls (Mill Mountain Theatre), A Lion and Winter and Crumbs from the Table of Joy (freeFall Theatre), The Producers (American Stage), A Raisin in the Sun (The Barn), Raisin (Astoria Performing Arts Center), Off Broadway: Heist! National Tour Junie B. Jones. Select Workshops and Readings: Mile Square Theatre, American Stage, Prospect Theatre Company, The Directors Company, Project Shaw, Corkscrew Festival. So much love and gratitude to her wise and full-of-joy tribe of loved ones.
Yewande Odetoyinbo a Detroit is excited to be making her American Stage Company debut in The Colored Museum. Credits include: Lyric Stage: The Light , Breath & Imagination with Front Porch Arts Collective (IRNE Award Winner), The Wiz, Little Shop of Horrors. SpeakEasy Stage Company: Once on This Island, The View Upstairs. Moonbox Productions: Passing Strange, Caroline, or Change (Elliot Norton Nomination), Parade. American Repertory Theatre: Macbeth in Stride. New Repertory Theater: Hair. Reagle Music Theatre and Fiddlehead Theatre: Show Boat. Boston Theatre Company: Finish Line, The Gay Agenda. Wheelock Family Theatre: In the Heights, Seussical, Ragtime. Merrimack Repertory Theater: Fannie Lou Hamer: Speak On It!. Barnstormers Theatre: Waitress. Choreography: Wheelock Family Theatre: Once on this Island Jr. Moonbox Productions: Caroline, or Change. SpeakEasy Stage Company: Choir Boy (Elliot Norton Nomination). Education: BFA, Musical Theater, Howard University; MFA, Musical Theater, Boston Conservatory at Berklee. A huge thank you to the American Stage Company and this amazing cast and crew. Also thanks to Mom, Dad, Yemisi, and her best friends for being her biggest supporters.
Brandon Burditt is excited to join American Stage for the first time! Burditt is a proud alumni of Morehouse College (‘18). He was most recently seen at the Alliance Theatre in Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Past credits include Much Ado About Nothing, King Lear (Illinois Shakespeare Festival); Hands Up (Alliance Theatre); A Midsummer's Night Dream, Cymbeline (Montana Shakespeare in the Parks); Gem of the Ocean (Illinois Theatre); Seven Guitars and Hoodoo Love (Spelman College). He has written a one-act play honoring survivors of sexual assault titled Interviews which awarded him a grant from Morehouse. The play has been performed at both Morehouse and Tougaloo College in Mississippi.
Jermaine Robinson Jr.* was last seen in the pilot episode of the FOX series, The Big Leap. His other regional credits include understudy in The First Deep Breath (Victory Gardens Theater), Killing Game (A Red Orchid Theater), and Trouble in Mind (Goodman Theater). Jermaine currently serves as a script writer for Youth Voices Rising: which provides digital audio content for youth audiences to promote healing and wellness. He also serves on the mentorship committee board for the Broadway Black Men Collective. Thank you God, thank you mom, thank you family, thank you friends. This is full circle: Thank you Erica Sutherlin for believing in me. It takes just one teacher to "see" you. Then, it's your job to take off running & live on purpose, even if it scares you at times.
Andresia Moseley is a classically trained and award-winning actress. Moseley was recently seen in the sold out productions of the Starz Center for the Performing Arts musical, Crowns and Stageworks Theatre’s The Color Purple. Moseley toured nationally as the lead character in Speed Killed my Cousin with the Carpetbag Theatre Inc. Her performance in Anna Deavere Smith’s Twilight Los Angeles was named “the best performance of 2020” by Broadway World. Her performance as Kendra in Stageworks Theatre production of American Son was declared: “A masterclass performance by an actress” Broadway World (2021). She also received an honorable mention in The Wall Street Journal for her performance as Ms. Muller in Jobsite Theatre’s Doubt: A Parable (2021). She is currently an ASU Gammage artist in residence for the development of her one woman show Five Black Women nationally touring and premiering 2024.
Clay Christopher is happy to be making his American Stage debut especially with such an important piece of theatre. Clay graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) LA campus. Since Graduating, Clay has performed at Disneyland, Universal Studios and worked as Cruise Director for Norwegian Cruise Line. Clay starred in the horror/comedy film The Complex (2011). Clay is also a professional Voice over actor. Clay is grateful to American Stage, his agents at level talent group, and most importantly his family. including his wife and daughter.
* Appearing through an Agreement between this theatre, and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
“Actors’ Equity Association (“Equity”), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 actors and stage managers, Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an International organization of performing arts unions. www.actorsequity.org
What happens if it rains?
A little rain certainly won’t stop us, but should weather conditions look serious enough to cancel or abruptly discontinue a performance, ticket-holders will be able to exchange their tickets for another performance. If a call to cancel a performance is made prior to the show starting we will make the announcement on our facebook page. If you have any questions you can call the Box Office at 727.823.7529 or email boxoffice@americanstage.org
Will there be food & drink available for purchase?
Need something to eat, stop by the concessions or drinkery. We will have charcuterie boards (vegan options available), snacks, popcorn with a commemorative Ragtime bucket for purchase. As well as a selection of beers and wines from local vendors.
Where can I park?
Demens Landing Park is located on the waterfront right in the heart of Downtown St. Pete. Below are the two closest parking options: Southcore Garage 101 1st Avenue South St Petersburg, FL 33701. Al Lang parking Lot # 1 230 1st Street South St Petersburg, FL 33701. For more downtown St. Pete parking visit DiscoverDowntown.
Can I bring a chair?
Chairs with no legs will be allowed in the Premium or General Blanket area. All other chairs will be sat in the General Chair section.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES
October 23, 2022 at 1pm
Take a peek behind the curtain before the opening of each production with a presentation by American Stage staff. They provide insight into the history and central themes of the play, as well as a discussion with members of the creative team who provide an insider’s perspective on their process.
Free for the public, click here to save a seat.
BEYOND THE FOOTLIGHTS: TALKBACK
Nov 6, 10, 17 (Directly following select performances)
After experiencing the performance, join American Stage, for a conversation exploring and reflecting on the themes, connections, and ideas that ignite us. Guest panelists include relevant voices from the St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay community and beyond.
Free for performance ticket holders.
BENEATH THE SURFACE
Join American Stage and partner organizations for our free Beneath the Surface conversations to discuss the impact of The Colored Museum and the real-world impact and inspiration it has on Pinellas County today.
Stereotypes, Satire, & Black Theatre: The Director's Chat
Date: Oct. 18, 2022
Time: 7:00PM Meet and Greet, 7:30PM Conversation
Location: Studio@620, located at 620 - 1st Avenue South in downtown St. Pete
Description - an intimate conversation with Keith Arthur Bolden, the director of The Colored Museum, and other theatre professionals.
Free for the public, click here to save a seat.
How long is the trail?
The trail is just under a mile. The trail is not paved but is wheelchair accessible; expect bumps in the path.
How long is the show?
Each adventure will last for approximately 60–70 minutes.
Dos and Don'ts
Do bring bug spray, a reusable water bottle, extra layers (a jacket will do!), a poncho, comfortable walking shoes, and a headlamp with a red light setting (if you don’t have one, we will provide it).
Don’t smoke or vape on the trial, feed wildlife, or bring your own flashlight.
Can I bring food and drinks?
Boyd Hill is a nature preserve; we are not allowed to bring food or drinks on the trail. There will also be no concessions for sale.
Can I bring my pet?
Pets are not allowed.
Where are the restrooms?
Patrons can find restrooms at the park next door to Boyd Hill, which is still located within the parking lot.
Where should I park?
The parking lot and trail entrance are located at 1101 Country Club Way S, St. Petersburg, FL 33705. As you walk toward the visitor center, there will be a gate to your right with American Stage signage and staff. You will enter through this gate.
Will I see snakes, alligators, and other live animals?
Since the performance is at the nature preserve, it is possible to see animals in their natural habitat. But there will be staff with you at all times.
