Lia Chang: Harlem Nights with Lorey Hayes, Actress, Director and Award-Winning Playwright of Power Play and Massinissa

Conductor and percussionist Bobby Sanabria, Lorey Hayes and Mercedes Ellington at the Manhattan School of Music’s Harlem Hothouses Concert celebrating the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce in New York on October 26, 2012. Photo by Lia Chang

On the final Friday in October, I met up with Lorey Hayes, a Broadway, film and television actress, who is also a director and an award-winning playwright, in Harlem at the Manhattan School of Music, for a spectacular concert tribute featuring MSM’s Grammy®-nominated Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, led by the renowned percussionist Bobby Sanabria, and featuring the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award Honoree, the legendary Cuban-born conguero, Candido.

On October 26, 2012, the legendary conguero Candido (now 91-years-young) performed with The Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra now in its twelfth year under the direction of internationally renowned percussionist Bobby Sanabria. The Orchestra kicked off a year-long “Harlem Nights” Concert Series with “Harlem Hothouses,” a tribute to The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, in The Manhattan School of Music’s Borden Auditorium in New York. Photo by Lia Chang

The evening was a celebration of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, with The Orchestra kicking off a year-long “Harlem Nights” Concert Series with “Harlem Hothouses” saluting the venues such as the Apollo and the Savoy where Jazz flourished, and we were all dancing in the aisles during the encore.

On October 26, 2012, the legendary conguero Candido (now 91-years-young) performed with The Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra now in its twelfth year under the direction of internationally renowned percussionist Bobby Sanabria. The Orchestra kicked off a year-long “Harlem Nights” Concert Series with “Harlem Hothouses,” a tribute to The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, in The Manhattan School of Music’s Borden Auditorium in New York. Photo by Lia Chang

“On October 26, 2012, the legendary conguero Candido (now 91-years-young) performed with The Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra now in its twelfth year under the direction of internationally renowned percussionist Bobby Sanabria. The Orchestra kicked off a year-long “Harlem Nights” Concert Series with “Harlem Hothouses,” a tribute to The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, in The Manhattan School of Music’s Borden Auditorium in New York. Photo by Lia Chang

It’s been a little over a week since Hayes and I shared the stage at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, appearing in a Celebrity stage reading of Hayes’ Power Play, alongside Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney and Jeff Wallner, under the direction of Darlene Gidney of Be Rich Entertainment. The Schomburg was abuzz with excitement. Ruby Dee, Denise Burse, Penwah Phynjuar, Micki Grant, Garland Lee Thompson, George Faison, Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun, André Robinson, Jeff Burns Jr., Constance C.R. White, Essence Editor-in-Chief, costume designer Karen Perry, Lawrence Evans and more, were among the standing room only audience.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Photo by Will Chang

Pauletta Pearson Washington, Ruby Dee and Roscoe Orman at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York after the reading of Lorey Hayes’ Power Play on October 18, 2012. Photo by Will Chang. Photo by Lia Chang

The stage reading, produced by dynamic producing duo Executive Producer, Mr. Voza Rivers’ New Heritage Theater and Ms. Debra Ann Byrd’s Take Wing and Soar Productions, Inc. was a prelude to the 2013 revival production of Hayes’ Power Play, a story about politics, passion and the power of God. The pair teamed up last year for the overwhelmingly successful New York showcase production of Hayes’ Massinissa and The Tragedy of The House of Thunder, which received 3 AUDELCO nods, including Costume, Lighting and Sound Design.

Lorey Hayes (Photo by Will Chang)

Lorey Hayes is a 2011 Princess Grace Playwright Finalist for Haiti’s Children of God, her play with music that enjoyed a critically acclaimed 2011 run in New York as a co- production between Mr. Voza River’s New Heritage Theatre Group (Broadway’s Sarafina and Asinamali) and Mr. Rudy Shaw’s Caribbean Arts Repertory. Hayes is also the proud recipient of a 2011 Harlem Arts Alliance Community Arts Fund Award to create a new historic play. The play created under this grant is Hell in a Hand Basket, the Unofficial Story of Condolezza Rice, recently read at Harlem’s Dwyer Cultural Center sponsored by Frank Silvera Writer’s Workshop. The Dragonfly Tale, co-written with Robert Crear was the winner of the 2007 Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s Southern Writer’s Project and a finalist for the Eugene O’Neill 2006 Playwright’s Conference from more than 800 entries. Several plays have enjoyed acclaimed productions. As an actress, Hayes (an original cast member of For Colored Girls) starred on Broadway with Melba Moore in the late A. Marcus Hemphill’s Inacent Black as well as in the Negro Ensemble Company’s production of Home. She starred in London, England at the Royal Shakespeare festival as Eunice Evans in Miss Ever’s Boys. A regular face on TV commercials, Hayes is featured in the film Dream Girls and has guest starred in numerous television shows; including “Judging Amy,” “Family Law,” “Sister, Sister” and “All My Children.”

Lia Chang and Lorey Hayes at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York after the reading of Lorey Hayes’ Power Play on October 18, 2012. Photo by Will Chang

We chatted during the reception before the concert. Below are excerpts from our conversation.

Lia: It’s been quite a whirlwind for you since you flew in from LA at the beginning of October, to act in the Celebrity Stage Reading of your play Power Play, which we first did in 1991 at the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C.. The reading on October 18th at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture was a teaser to the 2013 revival production. What was your experience seeing your characters come to life again?
Lorey: The experience was a humbling one. I must tell you that I am forever grateful to God for using me as a vessel. I tell everybody, I did not write this play. He chose me to have the words flow through. I listen to it and I am always amazed that it’s always fresh and new. I think, “Where did I come up with that?” It’s like it came from the ether. There’s no denying there is a higher power. Someone has put their hands on me and said, “I need to use you for my work.” When I saw those Power Play characters come to life, I realized that writing is like birthing children. I birthed this baby and in ’91, the baby was a newborn. And you were there; you were one of the newborns. And we went through the diaper changing stages and now these Power Play characters are getting ready to graduate from college and go out into the world. I’m just asking God to keep guiding me to make the right decisions as my Power Play Baby goes out into the world. This means for me the rewrites, and what I am going to focus on currently to keep it fresh and new, and to make it accessible on a global market. It’s not just New York, it’s not just local, and it’s definitely not just African American, it’s for all people. Pauletta said something really wonderful to me. She said, “The reason she decided to do this play when she came out of hiatus was not just because she wanted plays that had integrity, strong roles for women of color and all nationalities, but something to make young people, young teens, young adults that are developing, to understand the importance of moral integrity so they can make the right choices.” So I am very proud that I have been used by God in this way to bring Power Play’s story and characters to life.

Pauletta Pearson Washington, Lia Chang and Lorey Hayes at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York after the reading of Lorey Hayes’ Power Play on October 18, 2012. Photo by Will Chang.

Lia: There were a lot of people in the audience, a lot of people that you know personally. Who of the audience members excited you the most?
Lorey: The people who are going to be the paying patrons/supporters for the production are the ones that I was most excited about. The people who came from my doctor’s office and the people that I met on the street. A young lady that came up to me and thanked me because I gave her some words of encouragement that changed her life and helped her to grow. Part of my mission is to inspire, to elevate and to motivate. Those are the people that I was most excited about being in our audience because those truly are the real celebrities. If the people who make up our daily world are not there, then we have no one to perform to, and then what is our work about? Those are the people that I am most proud of being in that audience.

October 18, 2012. Power Players backstage: Jeff Wallner, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, Roscoe Orman, Pauletta Pearson Washington, Lia Chang, Lorey Hayes and stage manager Sean C. Turner at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York. Photo by Will Chang

Lia: It was exciting to have the reading at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, it’s such an institution. What is your connection?
Lorey: Not only is the Schomburg an institution, the Schomburg is where I did my major research for Massinissa and The Tragedy of The House of Thunder. It is also where I had the send-off celebration for my friend and partner Walter Thomas, with whom I spent 15 glorious years together in Harlem renovating a brownstone. I was able to send him off from his human transition there at the Schomburg’s American Negro Theater downstairs. I felt like Walter was in the house for our Power Play reading. The spirits of my mother Edna and grandmother Janie, our Elders and Ancestors, those people that have really paved the way for all of us, having carried the weight of slavery on their backs. I felt there were a lot of ancestors there because the Schomburg is full of history; not just for African Americans, but people of all races, of all nationalities, all cultures that have come to this country. I think it is really important that we recognize and pay homage, to not just the Schomburg, but to the ancestors who brought us where we are today.

Lia Chang, Micki Grant, Lorey Hayes and Denise Burse at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York after the reading of Lorey Hayes’ Power Play on October 18, 2012. Photo by Will Chang

Lia: What is Voza Rivers’ history with Power Play?
Lorey: Voza Rivers produced early readings of Power Play at New York’s B. Smith’s Restaurant with Hattie Winston, Dean Irby, Iris Little and Denise Burse. He went on to produce the play for the National Black Theater Festival’s Premiere Midnight Reading Series stage reading in Winston-Salem in 1991 (brainchild of Frank Silvera Writer’s Workshop’s Mr. Garland Thompson in collaboration with then Festival head the late Mr. Larry Leon Hamlin). Voza is the one that hired the van that took us all to North Carolina. I’m sure he and the festival may have been influenced by the fact that Phyllis Yvonne Stickney had the tenacity and the perseverance to put together her own show, find her own venue in North Carolina during the festival, and put up her one-woman show. I’m so proud of her for that. Women have to do it for themselves. We can’t sit back and wait. Phyllis is a pioneer and as someone reminded me “a real power player”.

POWER PLAYERS: playwright Lorey Hayes, executive producer Voza Rivers, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, Roscoe Orman, Lia Chang, Pauletta Pearson Washington and Jeff Wallner outside the Schomburg Center in New York on October 18, 2012. Photo by Will Chang

Voza Rivers and Lorey Hayes at the Manhattan School of Music’s “Harlem Hothouses” Concert celebrating the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, in New York on October 26, 2012. Photo by Lia Chang.

Voza Rivers has a rare kind of energy that is not only inviting, he embraces people and culture with great integrity; He is responsible for unifying so many cultures and artists and is instrumental for bringing them together for their mutual good. That’s one of the many things I love about him. Voza produces HARLEM Week. He was the producer who brought Sarafina to Broadway and is responsible for launching and nurturing the careers of so many artists. He has earned a tremendous respect, not just in Harlem and New York, but around the world. Possibly the fact that he started in this business as a music producer taught him to work well with so many different personalities. He does it with a calm and grace that is so inspiring. I learn so much from Voza Rivers and I am just so grateful.

Lorey Hayes’ Massinissa and The Tragedy of the House of Thunder Pre- Production photo. From left to right: Tino Christopher (Hasdrubal), Elijah Black (Hamilcar Barca), Lawrence Winslow (Tyre Barca), Debra Ann Byrd (Dido Barca), Lodric Collins (Hannibal Barca), Dayo Olatokun (Massinissa) and kneeling Anja Lee (Sophonisba Barca) – the woman whose love changed the color of power of the world. Debra Ann Byrd originated the role of Dido Barca, Diane Dixon later appeared in the production. Photo credit: Carmen de Jesus

Lia: During our brief rehearsal for Power Play, you learned that Massinissa, the epic that you wrote and directed, (also produced by Debra Ann Byrd’s Take Wing and Soar Productions in association Voza Rivers’ New Heritage Theater- the same team that produced Power Play) garnered 3 AUDELCO nominations, for Costume Design, Lighting Design and Sound Design. What is you experience with Debra Ann Byrd and Massinissa?
Lorey: I love Debra Ann. If I had six babies to birth, Massinissa was all six babies at one time. I started working on Massinissa when I was 17 years old. I learned the story of this man Hannibal who crossed the Alps on elephants. I was fascinated and had to tell the story. It was my mission. It was the most beautiful showcase production I have every witnessed in my life. It rivaled any Broadway play. It was so stunning. The reason for that is because of the team Debra Ann pulled together. Gail Cooper-Hecht, the costume designer was nominated for an Audelco. Her husband is from Lebanon. The Carthaginians are originally from Lebanon (Tyre). The play is set 200 years before the birth of Christ and the Carthaginians, who were from Tyre (modern day Lebanon) fled their country and came to Carthage (modern day Tunisia) Gail Cooper Hecht created the most incredible costumes you’ve ever witnessed. It was the same for the rest of the crew.

Dayo Olatokun as Massinissa and Anja Lee as Sophonisba Barca in Lorey Hayes’ Massinissa and The Tragedy of the House of Thunder. Photo by Hubert Williams

We also got AUDELCOs nods for Lighting (James “Prez” Carter) and Sound (David D. Wright). One of our creative team who did not receive a mention but definitely deserved was Chris Cumberbatch whose set was outstanding. Ironically, Chris also designed the Power Play set for the 2005 New York National Black Theater production co-directed by the renowned late Dr. Barbara Ann Teer and Adunni Shirley Faison. In creating these projects, I do a dream book and I put in pictures, feelings and moods. All of the creative team are then able to see on paper what my vision of the play as a writer is. They then take that vision and they elevate it. The Massinissa and The Tragedy of the House of Thunder’s creative team took my imagination higher than I ever believed possible. Then the actors stepped into the world and created Carthage, Africa (that had been burned to the ground by the Romans; the earth plowed with salt so that nothing would grow). Carthage came back to life on stage before our very eyes. That is true team work and the ultimate collaboration.

Michael Raimondi as Cornelius Scipio and Dayo Olatokun as Massinssa in Lorey Hayes’ Massinissa and The Tragedy of the House of Thunder. Photo by Hubert Williams

Lia: Not only did you write Massinissa, but you also directed it. Was this your directorial debut?
Lorey: No, I’ve directed many things before. In Fort Worth Texas, I directed 100 high school students in a musical called, Easin’ Down Broadway. I co-directed it because the project was so huge, and the task so monumental that we had to have two people on the directing team. It was an amazing experience. I actually got to direct For Colored Girls at the Jubilee Theatre (a play in which I was an original cast member). The For Colored Girls project – spearheaded by then Artistic Director Mr. Ed Smith was another spiritual awakening. I realized how powerful Ntozake Shange’s words still are today and how they changed the lives of so many people – women and men – for the better. I have directed many shows, full length readings for the stage and many readings. One of my greatest pleasures was directing a showcase production of works by writers I had taught in Dallas, Texas in my “Mind Gym” writing workshops for the Best Southwest Book Festival. Seeing my students (adults and teens) works come to life before their eyes and seeing the joy on their faces will live with me forever. I would always tell them, “just get out of the way and let God write through you”. When they witnessed their characters being birthed on stage you could almost feel them levitate.

Michael Raimondi as Cornelius Scipio, kneels over his dead father Dennis Jordon as Publius Scipio in Lorey Hayes’ Massinissa and The Tragedy of the House of Thunder. Photo by Hubert Williams

The 40th Annual AUDELCO “Viv” Awards, A Ruby Jubilee will take place on Monday, November 19, 2012, in the Peter J. Sharpe Theatre at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street in New York. Click here for the AUDELCO website and here for tickets.

Lia: The reading of Power Play was very successful, standing room only, and a standing ovation. What are your plans for the show going forward?
Lorey: Again, I am just going to step aside and let God take the wheel. My plan is to go after the global market. Young, tenacious filmmakers have taught us the value of internet marketing, self-producing and alternative ways to provide content for a world hungry for inspirational works. Hollywood is not the only answer. “It’s a new world and a new day”. President Barack Obama’s historical re-election taught us that lesson. There are major backdoor opportunities that will make Hollywood come to us and my job is to keep working and fine tuning to make those opportunities into possibilities. Now that I understand a Higher Power is in charge, I will just let Spirit lead me, do what I am told to do, step out of the way and let God’s magic happen.

Check out the Lorey Hayes’ Power Play website, Facebook page and twitter @TweetPowerPlay.

For more information about Manhattan School of Music and a full roster of performances, including the year-long “Harlem Nights” concert series, please visit http://www.msmnyc.edu.

Percussionist and conductor Bobby Sanabria, Lia Chang and musician Patrick Bartley at at the Manhattan School of Music's Harlem Hothouses Concert celebrating the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce in New York on October 26, 2012. Photo by Lorey Hayes

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. She recently appeared in Lorey Hayes’ POWER PLAY.

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Photos: Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, Ruby Dee, Denise Burse, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, Micki Grant, George Faison, Constance C.R. White, Will Calhoun and More at Lorey Hayes’ POWER PLAY
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Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.
All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2012 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com

Denise Burse as Claretha Jenkins in House of Payne’s “Payneful Visit”

Photo by Lia Chang

Denise Burse is most familiar to television audiences as Claretha Jenkins on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, the 2011 NAACP Award recipient for Outstanding Comedy Series. In the current season of House of Payne, Claretha reveals she has leukemia.

Ms. Burse can be seen in Bruce Beresford’s Peace, Love, and Misunderstanding, a new film starring Jane Fonda, Elizabeth Olsen, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Catherine Keener, Chase Crawford and Kyle MacLachlan, scheduled for release this year.

Production still of Charles Randolph Wright's Preaching to the Choir (l-r) Kia (Janine Green), Miss Nettie (Eartha Kitt), Butter (Roger Robinson), Willie (Jonathan Lopez), Sister Marcie (Denise Burse), Sister Emma (Adriane Lenox) Photo by Robert Barocci/Preaching to the Choir

Her favorite film roles include her co-starring turns as Martin Luther King, Jr.’s mother opposite Howard Rollins in The Boy King (WSB); as Buster Marshall, Thurgood Marshall’s wife in Simple Justice (PBS American Experience); as Sister Marcie in Preaching to the Choir, directed by Charles Randolph Wright, as Sergeant Martin in A Time to Triumph (CBS) starring Patty Duke; and as Eleanor Clark in Resting Place (CBS, Hallmark Hall of Fame), starring John Lithgow and Morgan Freeman. Other film and TV credits include the BET/STARZ movie Funny Valentines, with Alfre Woodard and Loretta Devine, Angel, Basquiat, The Juror, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Third Watch, 100 Centre Street, The Sopranos, The Cosby Show, New York Undercover and One Life to Live.

Denise Burse as Harriet Tubman in Harriet's Return. Photo by Lia Chang

Ms. Burse appeared on Broadway in Wendy Wasserstein’s An American Daughter, directed by Daniel Sullivan. Her Off-Broadway credits include Eisa Davis’ Angela’s Mixtape (Ohio Theatre), Don Juan of Seville (Classical Stage Company), Ground People (American Place Theatre), Harriet’s Return (Cherry Lane Theatre), Hannah Davis (Negro Ensemble Company) and Bill Harris’ Robert Johnson: Trick the Devil (New Federal Theatre). Her regional credits include Pearl Cleage’s Flyin’ West with Ruby Dee at The Kennedy Center; Charles Randolph Wright’s Blue (Cincinnati Playhouse, Geva); Miss Evers’ Boys (Illusion Theater); African Company Presents Richard III (Cleveland Playhouse); Fences (CENTERSTAGE); The Piano Lesson (Seattle Repertory Theatre, director Lloyd Richards) and James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner (True Colors Theatre Company/Alliance Theatre). Helmer Kenny Leon has directed her in August Wilson’s Fences (Alliance Theatre), Radio Golf (CENTERSTAGE, Mark Taper Forum, Seattle Repertory Theatre), The Piano Lesson and Seven Guitars (Alliance Theatre). Ms. Burse garnered a Theatre World Award for her Off-Broadway debut in Ground People and an AUDELCO Award for Robert Johnson: Trick The Devil.

(l-r) Denise Burse, Navaina Rhodes, Margo Moorer and Chandra Currelley in True Colors Theatre's production of The Amen Corner by James Baldwin at The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. Photo by Tom Meyer

A native of Atlanta, Ms. Burse honed her craft performing at the Just Us Theatre, The Alliance Theatre and The Atlanta Children’s Theater.

Here is the link – http://wp.me/pla1d-3hJ – to post this article on Facebook.

On October 16, 2005, fourteen days after American playwright August Wilson's death, the theatre was renamed in his honor. (l-r) August Wilson's niece Kimberly Ellis with Radio Golf castmembers Denise Burse, John Earl Jelks and Anthony Chisholm in front of the August Wilson Theatre on October 16, 2005. Photos by Lia Chang

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Lia Chang, Peter Jay Fernandez, Denise Burse and Marva Hicks after the concert presentation of Pat Holley's Me and Caesar Lee at The Triad Theatre in New York on April 3, 2011.

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden. Lia currently plays Nurse Lia on “One Life to Live”. She has appeared in Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and “New York Undercover”.

Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are now in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

Lia Chang: Costume Designer Karen Perry Receives Audelco Nod for The Public Theatre’s Brother/Sister Trilogy by Tarell Alvin McCraney

Karen Perry Photo by Lia Chang

A big shout out to my friend and colleague costume designer extraordinaire Karen Perry for her latest Audelco nomination, for The Public Theatre’s “Brother/Sister Trilogy by Tarell Alvin McCraney, a Pulitzer nominee, directed by Tina Landau and Robert O’Hara. The show has received a whopping 15 nominations.

AUDELCO (Audience Development Committee, Inc.) was established and incorporated in 1973 by the late Vivian Robinson, to stimulate interest in, and support of performing arts in black communities.

The 38th Annual Vivian Robinson/AUDELCO Recognition Awards for Excellence in Black Theatre, “The VIV”, will be handed out on Monday, November 15, at the Harlem Stage/Aaron Davis Hall, Inc., Marian Anderson Theatre, 133rd Street & Convent Avenue in Harlem, New York. We Are Family is this year’s theme and the awards presentation, which begins at 6:30pm will be co-hosted by Melba Moore and Ron Lucas, followed by a gala reception from 10pm-11pm. For more information, check out www.audelco.net.

Ms. Perry’s current projects include Regina Taylor’s “Trinity River Trilogy” plays, Walter Mosely’s “Fall of Heaven”, directed by Tony nominee Marion McClinton at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and “The Last Fall” by Stephanie Berry directed by Lynda Gravatt. Ms Perry’s awards and nominations include the Lucille Lortel for “Brother/Sister Trilogy”; 2008 Audelco for NY Signature Theatre’s NEC “First Breeze of Summer” and “Seven Guitars”; a 2007 Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Costume Design and 2006 Audelco Award for August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running” directed by Seret Scott at the Old Globe Theatre; 2006 “Woodie” Award, and the 2005 National Black Theatre Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Costume Design for Excellence in American and Black Stage, Film and Television.

Long considered a master in her profession, Ms. Perry has built an incredible body of work on Stage and Screen over a period of three decades, garnering a winning reputation as both a tremendous talent and sheer “joy to work with.” (for which I can personally vouch)

The native New Yorker began designing for the stage in the 1980′s. Her earlier film and stage works includes “The Brother from Another Planet”, directed by John Sayles, “Just Looking”, directed by Jason Alexander, the celebrated Public Theatre hit musical “Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk”, as well as NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”, UPN series “Abby” with Sydney Poitier and CBS’s acclaimed original movie “One Day In Montgomery: The Rosa Park Story”, directed by Julie Dash and HBO’s “Strapped”, directed by Forrest Whittaker, both of which Ms. Perry’s received a Costume Designer Guild Award and Cable Ace Award nominations. In addition, Ms. Perry worked as the personal stylist for many premier artists, including the late great Gregory Hines. Over a 13 year period, their collaborations included the films “Bleeding Heart”, directed by Mr. Hines and “The Tic Code” directed by Gary Winick; CBS’s TV series “The Gregory Hines Show”, and the Showtime original film “Bojangles”: The Bill ‘Bojangle’ Robinson Story. Ms Perry’s theatre design highlights include NFT’s “Paul Robeson”, “The Taking of Miss Janie”, “It Hasn’t Always Been This Way”, “Three Travelers” and “Salaam Huey P Newton”; “Crumbs for the Table of Joy”, “Raisin in the Sun”, “Dancing on Moonlight”, ”Breathe Boom”, “Resurrection” by Daniel Beaty, directed by Oz Scott, the McCarter Theatre’s “The Brother/Sister Trilogy”, by Tarell Alvin McCraney, and NYTW “Things of Dry Hours” by Naomi Wallace, directed Ruben Santiago Hudson. Regionally, she has created the costumes for six August Wilson productions including “Gem of the Ocean”, “Piano Lesson”, “King Hedley II”, “Radio Golf”, “Two Trains Running” and “Seven Guitars”.

Below is the full list of “THE VIV” Nominees:

LIGHTING DESIGN
James Carter (Pecong)
Peter Kaczorowski (The Brother/Sister Plays)
Brian Nason (The Emperor Jones)
Ben Stanton (A Cool Dip in the Barren Saharan Crick)
Justin Townsend (On the Levee)

SET DESIGN
Patrice Davidson (What Would Jesus Do?)
Jaime Durant (Grandmothers, Incorporated)
Peter Ksander (On the Levee)
Kris Stone (A Cool Dip in the Barren Saharan Crick)
Donyale Werle (Broke-ology)

COSTUME DESIGN
Antonia Ford-Roberts (The Emperor Jones)
Karen Perry (The Brother/Sister Plays)
Helen L. Simmons (What Would Jesus Do?)
Ali Turns (August Wilson’s Women)
David Withrow (Pecong)

SOUND DESIGN
Ryan Rumery/Christian Frederickson (The Emperor Jones)
Lindsay Jones (The Brother/Sister Plays)
Leon Rothenberg (On the Levee)
David D. Wright (Oshun)

DIRECTOR/DRAMATIC PRODUCTION
Lear deBessonet (On the Levee)
Imani (Dr. May Edward Chinn)
Thomas Kail (Broke-ology)
Tina Landau (Brother/Sister Plays: In the Red and Brown Water)
Robert O’Hara (Brother/Sister Plays: The Brother Size & Marcus)

DIRECTOR/MUSICAL PRODUCTION
Akin Babatunde (Blind Lemon Blues)
Kent Gash (Langston in Harlem)
Susan Stroman (The Scottsboro Boys)

CHOREOGRAPHER
Akin Babatunde (Blind Lemon Blues)
Byron Easley (Langton in Harlem)
Barry McNabb (The Emperor Jones)
Susan Stroman (The Scottsboro Boys)

PLAYWRIGHT
Marcus Gardley (On the Levee)
Yvette Heyliger (What Would Jesus Do?)
Nathan Louis Jackson (Broke-ology)
Tarell Alvin McCraney (The Brother/Sister Plays)
Charles Smith (Freed)

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Francois Battiste (Broke-ology)
Damon Gupton (Clybourne Park)
David Heron (Pecong)
Jamil A.C. Mangan (What Would Jesus Do?)
Willie Teacher (Bintou)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Colette Bryce (Broke-ology)
Crystal A. Dickinson (Clybourne Park)
Harriett D. Foy (On the Levee)
Zainab Jah (Bintou)
Johnnie Mae (What Would Jesus Do?)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/FEMALE
Bambi Jones (Nunsense)
Kenita Miller (Langston in Harlem)
C. Kelly Wright (Langston in Harlem)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/MALE
Brandon Victor Dixon (The Scottsboro Boys)
Josh Tower (Langston in Harlem)
Glenn Turner (Langston in Harlem)

MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
Blind Lemon Blues (York Theatre Company)
Langston in Harlem (Urban Stages)
The Scottsboro Boys (Vineyard Theatre)

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
August Wilson’s Women-Jannie Jones, Thursday Farrar,Kimberley Dalton Mitchell, Michael Jones, Jamil A.C. Mangan (Juneteenth Legacy Theatre)
Blind Lemon Blues-Akin Babatunde, Inda Ballard, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Timothy Parham, Cain Yarbrough, Alisa Peoples Yarbrough (York Theatre Company)
Neighbors-Jocelyn Bioh, Danielle Davenport, Brandon Gill, Birgit Huppuch, Chris McKinney, Okieriete Onaodowan, Tonye Patano, Eric Jordan Young (The Public Theatre)
The Brother/Sister Plays-Sterling K. Brown, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Brian Tyree Henry, Andre Holland, Marc Damon Johnson, Sean Allan Krill, Nikiya Mathis, Kianne Muschett, Heather Alicia Simms (The Public Theatre)
The Domestic Crusaders-Abbas Zaidi, Adeel Ahmed, Kamran Khan, Imran Javais, Monisha Shiva, Nidhi Singh
(Nuyorican Poets Cafe)

SOLO PERFORMANCE
Daniel Beaty (Through the Night)
Colman Domingo (A Boy and His Soul)
Perri Gaffney ( The Resurrection of Alice)
Anna Deavere Smith (Let Me Down Easy)
Charlayne Woodard (The Night Watcher)

LEAD ACTOR
Jerome Preston Bates (What Would Jesus Do?)
Sheldon Best (Freed)
Amari Chetom (The Book of Grace)
Sean Phillips (In the Heat of the Night)
Wendell Pierce (Broke-ology)
John Douglas Thompson (The Emperor Jones)

LEAD ACTRESSYvonne Farrow ( What Would Jesus Do?)
Ciera Payton (Savannah Black & Blue)
Phyllis Yvonne Stickney (Pecong)
Valarie Tekosky (Gladys’ Dilemma)
Adenike Thomas (Bintou)
Kim Yancey-Moore (Dr. May Edward Chinn)

BEST REVIVALGladys’ Dilemma (The H.A.D.L.E.Y. Players)
Pecong (Take Wing and Soar)
The Emperor Jones (Irish Repertory Theatre)

DRAMATIC PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
Broke-ology ( Lincoln Center Theatre)
Freed (Penguin Rep Theatre)
On the Levee ( Lincoln Center Theatre)
The Brother/Sister Plays (The Public Theatre)
What Would Jesus Do? (Billie Holiday Theatre)

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Andre Dé Shields is having a Devilishly Good Time in Damn Yankees at The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport
Photos of André De Shields in Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance
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Woodie King, Jr.’s New Federal Theatre Presents Month Long Reading Series of Great Black Plays and Playwrights
Photo Call: BD Wong and the Cast of Heading East at the Asia Society
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Achieving the American Dream, Professional Charmer Andre De Shields Sees Theater is a Way to Life
Living Colour NYC Concert Photos
The River Crosses Rivers Opening Night Photos
New Federal Theatre founder and director Woodie King receives award for community service in communications arts from Howard University’s John H. Johnson School of Communications
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Multimedia: Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe
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All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2010 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachang@hotmail.com.

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.

This year, selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space will become part of newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, VIBE, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

Lia Chang: André De Shields Celebrates Black History Month starring in The Working Theater’s Production of Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory at The Abingdon in February 2010

André De Shields in Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance. © Lia Chang

In celebration of Black History Month 2010, two-time Tony nominee André De Shields will perform his solo work-in-progress, entitled Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance , for 12 performances only from Thursday, February 4 through Sunday February 14 at the Abingdon Theater, 312 West 36 St. in New York.

Presented by The Working Theater, Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance was created, researched and written by Mr. De Shields, and will be directed by Alfred Preisser.

André De Shields in David Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre at the Alliance in Altanta. © Lia Chang

Mr. De Shields notes that the months of January and February 2010 host the following historic events: Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday (Jan 19); the first anniversary of the inauguration of our first African-American President, Barack Obama (Jan 20); Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (Feb 12) and the anniversary of Frederick Douglass’ birth (Feb/1818). “In my performance, I explore the life and achievements of the Great Emancipator, Frederick Douglass. Douglass began his life as a slave, through heroic efforts, became one of America’s most important and historically influential African American leaders.”

De Shields just returned to New York from Atlanta, where he was starring in the Alliance Theatre’s production of David Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre opposite Ariel Shaffir, to attend the 37th Annual Audelco Awards ceremony at Aaron Davis Hall on November 16. His turn as the title character in the Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production of ARCHBISHOP SUPREME TARTUFFE, garnered him his 6th Audelco, “The Viv” award for Outstanding Performance in a Musical, Male.

AUDELCO (Audience Development Committee, Inc.) was established and incorporated in 1973 by the late Vivian Robinson, to stimulate interest in, and support of performing arts in black communities. The annual Vivian Robinson/AUDELCO Recognition, “The VIV”Awards are the only formally established awards presented to the black theatre community.

AUDELCO winner André De Shields (center) flanked by Tyrone Davis, Charletta Rozzell and Reji Woods in the Classical Theatre of Harlem's ARCHBISHOP SUPREME TARTUFFE at The Clurman in July, 2009. © Lia Chang

ARCHBISHOP SUPREME TARTUFFE, co-written by Alfred Preisser and Randy Weiner, received three other Audelcos, including Musical Production of the Year, Outstanding Performance in a Musical, Female (Kim Brockington) and Outstanding Musical Director (Kelvyn Bell).

Six time Audelco award winner André De Shields (Outstanding Performance in Musical, Male) and Julia Breanetta Simpson at the 37th Annual Audelco Awards at Aaron Davis Hall in New York on Monday, November 16.

Loosely based on Moliere’s classic work Tartuffe, and inspired by the fabulously unorthodox ministries of Daddy Grace, Reverend Ike and Rasputin, ARCHBISHOP SUPREME TARTUFFE enjoyed a successful sold out run at The Harold Clurman on 42nd Street in the Summer of 2009. The musical is set to reopen later this season for an open commercial run.

Click here for a full list of AUDELCO winners.

De Shields has appeared in numerous Broadway, Off Broadway and regional productions as well as television and film. This summer, in addition to the wildly successful Off-Broadway production of The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s ARCHBISHOP SUPREME TARTUFFE, he appeared in The Public Theatre’s production of Euripides’ The Bacchae in Central Park. On Broadway, he appeared in Impressionism as well as the original Broadway casts of The Wiz, Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Emmy Award), Play On!, The Full Monty and Prymate, among many others. He also conceived, co-wrote, directed, and starred in Haarlem Nocturne.

André De Shields in Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance. © Lia Chang

In August, he was presented with The National Black Theatre Festival’s “Living Legend” Award. He won the coveted OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence of Performance in 2007. His television credits include Cosby, Sex and the City, Law & Order, Lipstick Jungle and Life on Mars.

André De Shields’ Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance will run from February 4 through 14, 2010 at the Abingdon Theater, 312 West 36 St. in New York. The performance schedule for Mine Eyes is Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm with matinees on Wednesday, February 10th at 2pm, Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm. All tickets are $25 and can be ordered online at www.smarttix.com or by calling (212) 868-4444. For special group discounts call (212) 244-3300. www.theworkingtheater.org.

André De Shields as Frederick Douglass (Photo by Lia Chang)

Founded in 1985, The Working Theater’s mission is to produce plays for and about working people. “We believe that theater should not be a privilege or a luxury, but a staple,” says Mark Plesent. “We want working people who may not be able to afford commercial theater or who feel that it does not resonate with their lives and experience, to make play-going a regular part of their cultural activities.” Over the years, the company has commissioned and produced more than 70 world premieres of culturally diverse new plays; garnered widespread recognition and critical acclaim for writing, acting, directing as well as their pioneering efforts in audience development.
www.theworkingtheater.org
Click on the arrow below for an excerpt of André as Frederick Douglass.



All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com.

Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.

Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are now in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog. Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

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Lia Chang: Classical Theatre of Harlem scores 12 AUDELCO Nods for Archibishop Supreme Tartuffe and The Three Sisters

AUDELCO nominee André De Shields (center) flanked by Tyrone Davis, Charletta Rozzell and Reji Woods in the Classical Theatre of Harlem's Archibishop Supreme Tartuffe at The Clurman in July, 2009. Photo by Lia Chang

Audelco nominees Kim Brockington and Ted Lange (with Jennifer Akabue, Gina Marie Rivera, Kisa Willis and Charletta Rozzell) © Lia Chang

Congratulations to the cast and creative team of the Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe, on their seven Audelco nods. André De Shields and Ted Lange are vying for Outstanding Performance in a Musical/Male, Kim Brockington for Outstanding Performance in a Musical/Female, and the entire company of Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe has been nominated for Best Musical Production of the Year. Musical director Kelvyn Bell, choreographer Tracy Jack and director Alfred Preisser, who co-wrote the play with Randy Weiner, have received nominations as well.

AUDELCO nominees Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe musical director Kelvyn Bell, choreographer Tracy Jack and director Alfred Preisser. © Lia Chang

The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s production of THE THREE SISTERS is nominated for Best Revival, Chris McElroen is nominated for Best Director/Dramatic Production, and the design team garnered nominations for Aaron Black (Best Lighting Design) Troy Hourie (Best Scenic Design) and Kimberly Glennon (Best Costume Design).

The AUDELCO nominated company of Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe on their opening night at The Clurman in New York on June 25, 2009. Photo by Lia Chang

Click here for the full list of this year’s nominees.
AUDELCO (Audience Development Committee, Inc.) was established and incorporated in 1973 by the late Vivian Robinson, to stimulate interest in, and support of performing arts in black communities. The annual Vivian Robinson/AUDELCO Recognition, “The VIV”Awards are the only formally established awards presented to the black theatre community. This year’s award ceremony will be conducted Monday November 16 at 7pm, at Aaron Davis Hall.

For information and tickets to the 2009 AUDELCO Award Ceremony at Aaron Davis Hall, contact: AUDELCO@aol.com or call 212-368-6906

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and a multimedia journalist. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. As a photographer and videographer, Lia is frequently tapped to collaborate with artists, organizations and companies in building their brand and establishing their documentary photo archive. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.

Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe Reviews
NY Times Weekend Listing
Broadwayworld.com
Show Business Weekly
FT.com
TimeOut.com
Curtainup.com
VillageVoice.com
New York Times
Theatremania.com
Backstage.com
Lightandsoundamerica.com
NYPost.com
Variety.com
Playbill.com: Deshields, Lange and Brockington Star in Gospel Filled Archibishop Supreme Tartuffe Opening in NYC

Classical Theatre of Harlem Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe Website

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