The Bluest Eye | ||
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CAST (click photos for larger images) | ||
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RODNESHA GREEN
(Pecola Breedlove)
is proud to be able to honor the work of the late Toni Morrison by being able to to portray such a complex character as Pecola Breedlove. A proud Texas native (“Hook ‘Em Horns!”) Rodnesha is now happy to claim SoCal as her 2nd home! Credits within the LA theater scene include: HomewardLA (The Broadwater), For Colored Girls (Nate Holden), Anansi and the Demons (Wicked Lit) and LIVE! From the Last Night of My Life (Sacred Fools). When not on stage, Rodnesha is actively pursuing a career in TV and Film and excited to make her network TV debut in February on ABC! Rodnesha also enjoys writing and producing comedy sketches and photography. @RoddyG
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BRIANA PRICE
(Claudia)
was born and raised in Pasadena, California. She studied at Columbia University in the City of New York, where she was preparing to be a doctor. However, her love for the arts took over, and steered her in the direction of professional performance. Briana has toured with Nicki Minaj, performed on Glee, The Neighbors, Shameless, and 13 Reasons Why. Her Theatre credits include Tempest Redux as Ariel, All My Distances are Far as Ruby, Lysistrata Unbound as a Female Chorus Member, and most recently starred in For The Love Of (or,The Roller Derby Play) as Joy Ride. @briananprice
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RESHEDA R. TERRY
(Frieda)
"A southern belle" by nature, but an all around girl with an affinity for the world. ReSheda is a native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Being introduced to the performing arts at an early age, she developed a strong appreciation for artistic expression. ReSheda trained at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City, and furthered her training at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. She has since worked on a number of different on-screen and theatre productions. Although on camera work has become the main focus, she remains excited about the opportunity to sharpen her skills in the theatre, and is thrilled to make her Hudson debut. @reshedadterry
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MARCUS CLARK-OLIVER
(Daddy/Cholly Breedlove)
was born in Richmond, CA. He began feeding his passion for the craft of acting and storytelling by studying in various schools, classes, and theaters across the San Francisco Bay Area. He eventually relocated to Los Angeles where he continues to train and work in the arts. Most recently seen in The Robey Theater's production of Birdland Blue. Marcus is also a new father to twin daughters Zoie and Zahara, and dedicates his work on this production to his "Miracle Babies".
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NICOLE WATTS
(Mrs. Breedlove)
is known for her work in My Little Girl, The Cleaning Lady, The Girl With No Brain, Be(Lie)f, and F8TH . She was trained at The University of Maryland at College Park and The New Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nicole has also starred in such stage plays and musicals as Little Shop of Horrors, The Wiz, and Chicago. As she embraces the beauty of West Coast living, she is perfecting skills that have been birthed from decades of unique and inspiring adventures as a Washington, DC and Charlotte, NC Theatrical Artist. Nicole would like to thank our illustrious Director for one of the most unique and transformational journeys in this lifetime. @nicoledaniellewatts
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SCHANTELLE CASON
(Darlene/Woman 2)
holds an MFA from Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts. She is Texas born and a proud alumnus of Booker T. Washington School for the Performing & Visual Arts in Dallas. Her theater and TV credits include Homeward LA, The Exonerated, Archer, Bronzeville S2, Lincoln Heights, The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, Strong Medicine, All My Children &One Life to Live. You might even recognize her voice as Joan Winslow in the video game Prey:Mooncrash. As a certified Unlimited Acting Instructor, Schantelle also enjoys mentoring talent and assisting them along their creative journey. In her spare time, find her exhaling in AfroFunk or watching her tween Lana ride western. Projects in the works: producer on her web-series BlknGdl, Sandbranch documentary and consulting on a film about the late jazz legend Roy Hargrove. Schantelle is grateful to Richard Lawson for the reminder that “dreams don’t have expiration dates.” @schantellecason
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YOLANDA ROSS
(Mama/Woman 1)
is an award winning multi-hyphenate, and socially driven storytelling Actress, Writer, Producer, and Filmmaker. Helming from the deep southern state of Mississippi, she knows how to use expression and control to bring the audience along on the journey with her from the beginning of the story to the end. She made her film debut in 2007 in a lead role in the independent short, Switch, starred in her own award-winning written and produced works titled The Last Day and Victus, and has landed a recurring role in the CW hit TV Show Black Lightning. You can also see her gracing the big screen in the upcoming films Trangress and Hopeless Romantic.
@yolandat.ross Contact:
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VICTORIA ELIZABETH NEWMAN
(Maureen Peal/Girl)
is a 15 (Legal 18) year-old actress. She discovered her love for acting after landing the role of 'Rose' in the Northwest Children’s Theatre production of "Annie" at the age of five. Victoria-Elizabeth most recently wrapped lead roles in the films “See You Next Summer” and “Prey,” both earning nominations for best picture and premiering in various film festivals around the globe. She was also seen opposite Tiffany Coty and Sabrina Purcell in Kimba Henderson’s production of Women on the Verge and in the role of Joetta Watson in the Hudson’s production of Watsons Go to Birmingham, also directed by Bernadette Speakes. As a young leader, she continues her pursuit to end bullying, stomp out gun violence in schools, and creating a voice for endangered species. Victoria-Elizabeth is also a classical trained ballerina as well as a pianist. @victoriactress
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VICTORIA ALLEN
(Woman 3/Dancer/Violinist)
was born and raised in Houston, Texas and earned her Bachelors degree in Fine Arts (BFA) in Acting at The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago, IL. Allen's background in dance and violin inspired her interest in acting and has fueled her journey as an artist. After her impactful professional debut in MPAACT Theatre's production of Feral and joining SAG-AFTRA, Allen relocated to Los Angeles. Some of Allen’s recent credits include Sown and Mary Tyler, Millennial. Allen has experienced the pleasure of acting for major networks and can be seen in shows such as Chicago P.D., Empire, and Easy. @mowgli.me
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KEN IVY
(Soaphead Church)
was born in Menomonee Falls, WI. Ken headed to Los Angeles soon after graduating from college to pursue his dream to work in film, television and theatre. His recent credits include An Enemy of The People at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, The Wrong Kind Of People at The Robey Theatre Company, and VEEP on HBO. This is Ken’s second All The Way West Production, Inc. performance, both directed by Bernadette Speakes. Ken would like to thank the entire creative team as well as Lydia R. Diamond and Toni Morrison for bringing us The Bluest Eye. @Kenivyofficial
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PRODUCTION STAFF (click photos for larger images) | ||
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HARRY JONES, JR.
(Executive Producer)
All The Way West Productions, Inc.: Founded in 1998 by Tennessee native Harry V. Jones Jr., All The Way West Productions is the first theatre company devoted to produce plays for Black History month. Mr. Jones wants to produce passionate and provocative plays that celebrate the multiplicity of the African American perspectives and identities. He wishes to create a treasured cultural experience for audiences of all ages and backgrounds allowing all to immerse into someone else's journey. His hope, the connection made on stage will engage conversation and knowledge beyond the fourth wall. Mr. Jones past productions include: The Watsons Go To Birmingham, 1963. Periphery, Shaking The Mess Out of Misery, Fences, I Ain't Yo Uncle, Inns and Outs, Talking Bones, Southern Girls and A Woman Called Truth
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BERNADETTE SPEAKES
(Director)
Bernadette Speakes has spent years as an actor on the stage and screen. She’s now paving her way as a director! She made her directorial debut with staging the West Coast Premiere of The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963, at the Hudson Backstage Theater. In 2018’s Hollywood Fringe Festival, she directed a relevant piece, Villain. Bernadette also had the privilege of directing several staged readings; Stacy Amma Osei-Kuffour’s, newest play CUT, for the Humanitas Play Festival, and most recently, The Queen of Los Angeles, for the Robey’s 25th Anniversary Gala, which was received with a standing ovation. Now Bernadette is taking her talents behind the camera. Due to her extensive theater background, she’s been able to transition her visual eye from stage to screen, directing scripted comedy shorts, to a sensitive drama short called Emerald King, about an emotionally wounded woman who has dealt with her pain through alcohol, written by upcoming actor/writer Chantel Deniese. Bernadette has also appeared in several acclaimed shows, such as, Tituba, in The Crucible during the 2013 Hollywood Fringe Festival. The Elephant Theater’s, North Plan, In Arabia We’d Be Kings, and The Fountain Theater’s West Coast Production of Direct from Death Row…The Scottsboro Boys. She’s performed at the Steppenwolf Theater, Goodman, Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, and the Matrix’s LA Premier of An Evening with Shakespeare featuring Taraji P. Henson. Awards include an Emmy Nomination for A Stage of Our Own, with James Earl Jones, and the 1997 Sundance Festival Winner, Love Jones, which was also honored in 2017 at the ABFF AWARDS for its contribution as a cinematic classic in African-American films. Other Film & TV Credits include…All American, Seal Team, Heroes, Parenthood, and To Sir with Love II with Mr. Sidney Poitier.
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SHARI WASHINGTON RHONE
(Choreographer)
performance career began as a soloist with the Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre. In addition to dancing for the company for 6 years, she traveled internationally with them and served as the Assistant Artistic Director for 3 years. After moving to Los Angeles, Shari joined Lula Washington Dance Theatre (LWDT). She’s traveled and taught throughout the United States as a soloist with this group. Mrs. Rhone was an original cast member of the Los Angeles company of The Lion King. Shari has performed throughout the world singing and dancing in various shows and groups, including the opening cast of Snow White an Enchanting New Musical at Disneyland. Mrs. Rhone has done numerous musical productions and has been a featured soloist with Proud Mary, a tribute to Tina Turner, and Bella Donna, a tribute to Stevie Nicks, Soulicious, and Pam Darden’s Marvelettes Revue. She is excited to be working once again with director Bernadette Speakes on The Bluest Eye.
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ASHPHORD JACOWAY
(Costume Designer)
enjoys sharing her connection to the Earth through her designs and is inspired by nature and the colors around us. She is honored to be creating costume designs with this production of The Bluest Eye. Her credits include Paradise Lost with Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Company, Return to Oz with the Culver City Theatre, and the Jewish Women’s Repertory Company’s production of The Music Man at the Nate Holden Theatre. Jacoway’s next project is the show Five Dollar Shakespeare Company, with the 6th Act Production. She is also an East West Player’s wardrobe supervisor year around and as a Cosplay artist; Jacoway is the Founding Sister of Chocolate Covered Cosplay. A group dedicated to diversity in the Cosplay community through open dialogue by hosting panels across the country. Jacoway looks forward to a year of creating fantastical designs and improving her craft as an artist.
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R. SCOTT THURE
(Set Designer)
is a native Californian who has spent most of his creative years living, producing and exhibiting his work from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. He views himself as an artist and designer, creating both interior and exterior compositions. Scott’s multi-faceted construction background allows him versatility in various mediums, such as woods, metals, mosaic tile, and random scarp yard treasures. He has a passion for three dimensional compositions where he blends different materials, textures and depths to produce a dynamic excitement to the finished product. Scott’s body of work includes fine art wall pieces, furniture design, set design and architectural construction.
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MATT RICHTER
(Lighting & Sound Designer)
is an award-winning designer based in Los Angeles. He is the resident designer for the Los Angeles LGBT Center, where he also works full time. Recent designs include Hit The Wall (LADCC Award and Ovation Nomination), and The Search For Signs Of Intelligent Life in the Universe Revisited (Ovation Nomination), Astroboy and the God of Comics (Stage Raw nomination) and Plasticity at the Hudson. Matt also serves as half of the experimental ambient folk duo Lanfair Field. For more information, please go to www.mattrichter.net.
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PAM NOLES
(Stage Manager)
is a former cop reporter and features columnist whose work has appeared in outlets ranging from the Los Angeles Times to tiny independent press outlets you’ve never heard of. She now hustles up work as a stage manager, costume designer, admin and events specialist. Chances are she’s the one who stopped you from scamming your way into “Hall H” that one time, and that other time.
She is the host of the Turbine Arts Collective’s Montage, and often performs on storytelling stages throughout Los Angeles. She debuted her longform story show! Death 40-Feet Tall at the first Hollywood Fringe Festival. A graduate of the Clarion Writer’s Workshop, her fiction has appeared in anthologies from Warner Books and Dark Horse Comics, among others. Do not ever ask her why Grendel should have kicked Batman’s ass during that crossover unless you have a lot of time on your hands. She lives on Twitter @BGFCentral, and is available for hire. Contact:
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