A Documentary Drama curated by UK Faculty Artists & Scholars

Based on Four Hundred Souls: a Community History of African America, 1619-2019 , edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain

Project Conceived by: Herman Daniel Farrell III 

PLAYWRIGHTS
Herman Daniel Farrell III (head writer/dramaturg)
Jeremy I. Gillett (associate writer/dramaturg)
Tony Hardin, DaMaris B. Hill, Destin I. Mizelle (writers/dramaturgs)

DIRECTOR
Jeremy I. Gillett

We would like to thank the Contributing Authors from Four Hundred Souls: 

Ibram X. Kendi 
Nikole Hannah-Jones 
DaMaris B. Hill 
Jennifer L. Morgan 
Corey D.B. Walker 
Dorothy E. Roberts 
Martha S. Jones 
Kiese Laymon 
Robert Jones, Jr. 
Crystal N. Feimster 
Blair M. Kelley 
Farah Jasmine Griffin 
Imani Perry 
James Forman, Jr. 
Keisha N. Blain 

CAST

Asantewaa: NAJIYA CLAYBORN
Michelle: TRISTEN BOYER
Dexter: QUENTIN BRYSON
Jill: ALAYNA JOHNSON
E: SABRINA JACKSON
George: MAXXWEL MEGIBBEN
Ace: MANNY THURMAN
Professor Hansberry: ALICIONA STROTHERS
Step Team: NOAH NGANDU, CHIKA OKAFOR, JALEN STONE, ORLANDO WILLIAMS
George Understudy: CHARLES R. HUNTER
Asantewaa & Jill Understudy: KENNEDI FAITH BROOKINS
Dexter Understudy: MICHAEL DANIELS
Ancestors: KRISSALYN LOVE, COLE CAMPBELL, RON WILBUR, RAE'SHAWNA CAMPBELL

A special thank you to Anne Fischer and everyone at the Kentucky Tobacco and Research Development Center for the donation of tobacco leaves for this production.

Please be aware there will be fog, explicit images, mature language and mature content in this production.

The journey of this production began in the intellects, spirits, and minds of the brilliant scholars and writers who endeavored to capture the stories of Africans in America in the groundbreaking text “Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019,” edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain. The text provided the source material for our production and inspired the imaginations of playwrights, set designers, lighting technicians, actors, and vocalists culminating in the production “Black Lives Matter: 1619 to Now”.

Our goal is to illuminate for the audience the reality that the Black Lives Matters movement is anchored in the historic struggle for justice and freedom for Africans brought to America as slaves.  The simple fact is Black Lives have always mattered and the struggle this represents became evermore pressing following the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

This show is an invitation to collaborate with us in bringing history alive. It is an invitation to examine and struggle with history. Through dramatic expression we welcome our audiences, critics, and supporters to embark on a journey surrounding Black life. I challenge you to experience this show at a deep level and identify yourself in the actors on stage, the material and/or setting. Imagine yourself having real conversations surrounding the content. Ask yourself: what do I hope to gain within that conversation? Lastly, while viewing this show, digest the themes of the show through the lens of humanity. Meaning, our humanity as people is linked to our treatment of and compassion towards one another. My challenge to you: is to see the humanity of those who say Black Lives Matter.

A WORD OF THANKS

The theatre is a place of deep collaboration between artists with different gifts and talents. Honest thoughtful collaboration is essential in the theatre. To all of those who worked tirelessly to make this production a success, I say thank you. It has been an honor to work with the curatorial team of Tony Hardin, chair of the UK Department of Theatre and Dance, Herman Daniel Farrell III, University Research Professor in the College of Fine Arts, DaMaris Hill, associate professor of creative writing in the UK College of Arts and Sciences; and Destin Lamontae Mizelle, a Ph.D. candidate in counseling psychology in the UK College of Education.

To our students, we are here because of you. I am inspired by your creativity and dedication to embody the material as artists. I appreciate your above and beyond commitment and celebrate our journey on this production.

Thank all of you for your creative voices, extraordinary patience, and courage.

Be encouraged Black Lives Matter.

Jeremy Gillett
Visiting Assistant Professor
Member of Curatorial Team  

15 minutes

Project Conceived by:
HERMAN DANIEL FARRELL III

Director
JEREMY L. GILLETT

Stage Manager
MARILYN J. HOSEY

Assistant Stage Managers
SADIE LAWRENCE, KARLEY KEEN

Playwrights
HERMAN DANIEL FARRELL III (HEAD WRITER/DRAMATURG); JEREMY L. GILLETT (ASSOCIATE WRITER/DRAMATURG); TONY HARDIN, DAMARIS B. HILL, DESTIN L. MIZELLE (WRITER/DRAMATURGS) 

Choreographer
NATASHA DAVIS

Scene Designer
TONY HARDIN

Costume Designer
TONY HARDIN

Assistant Costume Designer
TRACY BARBER-WARD

Lighting Designer
HEATHER BROWN

Sound Designer
ADAM SCHOEDINGER

Prop Master
JULIA KOENING

Prop Assistants
ADDI FISH, DANICA HAK, CHRISTIAN HELTON, CAITLIN HERNDON, KANGHAO SUN, MICHAEL DANIELS, CAMRYN CROWDUS, JADIN GAZO, ALEX REAUGH

Projection Designer
TONY HARDIN

Projection Assistants
JULIA KOENING, SYDNEY WILLIS

Costume Director
TRACY BARBER-WARD 

Lead Draper
TEKA ENGLAND 

Costume Stock Supervisor
ANDREA RICHARDSON 

Stitchers
IVORY BESSE, NAJIYA CLAYBORN, SAVANNAH FISHER, CHRISTIAN HELTON, SR, NOELLE LAISURE, ALAYNA JOHNSON, NADINE JOHNSON, ANNA LATEK, SOO AH LEE, KOURTNEY LAUDICK 

Wardrobe Crew
ALEXANDRA BROWN, HUNTER GRACE HAYES, KOURTNEY LAUDICK, EMMA REYNOLDS, IRELAND WOLF 
 
Run Crew
NOELLE LAISURE, QUIN'TANAY SMITH, ZOIE ALBRECHT, DANITZA PIPER, SELENA LOPEZ 

Producer
TONY HARDIN 

Technical Director & Production Manager
ZAK STRIBLING 
 
House Manager and Social Media Coordinator
MELANIE L. TURNER 
 
Marketing Assistant
MACY LAINE BROCKMAN 
 
Photography
MARK CORNELISON, UK PHOTO 

Graphic Designer
SHAAN AZEEM 
 
Program Designer
JENNIFER SCIANTARELLI 
 
Media Coordinator
MARK MOZINGO

Dean, College of Fine Arts
MARK SHANDA  

Chair, Department of Theatre & Dance
TONY HARDIN  

FULL-TIME FACULTY  

Yoon Bae, Scenic Design 
Tracy Barber-Ward, Costume Director 
Heather Brown, Lighting Design, Sound Design 
Herman Daniel Farrell, III, Playwriting, Co-Director Certificate of Filmmaking: Production & Dramatic Writing 
Nelson Fields, Costume Design 
Jeremy Gillett, Acting 
Stephanie Harris, Dance 
Nancy C. Jones, Director of the Musical Theatre Certificate, Acting, Movement, and Directing 
Christina Ritter, Theatre History, Intro to Theatre 
Peter Allen Stone, Head of Acting 
Zachary Stribling, Technical Director, Production Manager 
Susie Thiel, Director of Dance  
Stephen Wrentmore, Directing, Play Analysis 

PART-TIME FACULTY  

Theresa Bautista  
Laura Neese 
Holly Marcin 
Mary Joy Nelson  
Anna Wilson 

STAFF  

Teka England  
Andrea Richardson  
Melanie L. Turner  

EMERITUS FACULTY  
Robert Haven  
Russell Henderson  
John Holloway  
Geraldine Maschio  
James W. Rodgers  
Rhoda-Gale Pollack