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May 19, 2018 , Allen Theatre

Reading of a New Musical

The Nolan Williams Project

Original Story, Music, and Lyrics by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Book by Nikkole Salter
Special Thanks to NEWorks Productions

An up-and-coming Philadelphia real estate developer attempts to buy out a beloved family-owned soul food establishment. Past and present entwine as he’s taken through the restaurant’s incredible 100-year history and the tale of the escaped southern migrants who risked everything to build a new life through cooking.

Artists

Mariah Burks

Mariah Burks

(Terry/Ensemble) is a native Clevelander, and for the past 20 years has had a blossoming bond with the Cleveland theatre scene. Recent works include Dobama Theatre: Airness; CPH: Blackademics, Clue: A New Comedy (Cook), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Logainne), Marie and Rosetta (understudy for Sister Rosetta more(Terry/Ensemble) is a native Clevelander, and for the past 20 years has had a blossoming bond with the Cleveland theatre scene. Recent works include Dobama Theatre: Airness; CPH: Blackademics, Clue: A New Comedy (Cook), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Logainne), Marie and Rosetta (understudy for Sister Rosetta Tharpe/Marie Knight) and Shakespeare in Love. Mariah is an alum of the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program Class of 2018, with credits that include Macbeth, Clybourne Park, She Stoops to Conquer and others. A graduate of Bowling Green State University’s musical theatre program, Mariah received the Regional and National Irene Ryan Scholarship Acting Award at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Regional/local work includes Caroline, or Change (Tantrum Theatre) and Ragtime (Cain Park). Love and gratitude toward my Burks sisters and family, and the entire Cleveland community for your genuine love and support. Mom, thank you for being my ultimate Wonder Woman. Ky, you stay my inspiration ALWAYS and Robert thank you for being in my corner. Instagram: @magical_mariahb

Warren Egypt Franklin

Warren Egypt Franklin

(Skylar) hailing from Cleveland, Ohio this is his CPH debut! Some of his favorite most recent credits include: Hud in Hair at The Beck Center for the Arts, Jesus in Godspell at Cain Park, George in Stop Kiss at Festival 56, Bernardo in West Side Story at Baldwin Wallace more(Skylar) hailing from Cleveland, Ohio this is his CPH debut! Some of his favorite most recent credits include: Hud in Hair at The Beck Center for the Arts, Jesus in Godspell at Cain Park, George in Stop Kiss at Festival 56, Bernardo in West Side Story at Baldwin Wallace University, Tom Collins in Rent and Anthony in The Theory of Relativity at PlayhouseSquare. Warren Egypt is a rising senior at Baldwin Wallace University where he is obtaining a BM in Music Theater. This summer you can catch him playing Pepper in Mamma Mia and Captain Carter in Pride & Prejudice at The Idaho Shakespeare Festival, in the fall the show will transfer to Cleveland at the Hanna Theater for a three-month stint. Without the love and support of Anthony, CoCo, Granny, Jake, David and his mentor Vicky he would not have come this far. Jeremiah 17: 7-8 Instagram: @warrenegypt

Tre Frazier

Tre Frazier

(Cedric/Clyde/Ensemble) is a freshly graduated music theatre major from Baldwin Wallace University. Tré is originally from Bloomfield, CT, and graduated from the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in 2014. Recent credits include Tick, Tick...BOOM! (Michael) at Playhouse Square; Angels in America (Belize) at Baldwin Wallace University; Violet (Flick), more(Cedric/Clyde/Ensemble) is a freshly graduated music theatre major from Baldwin Wallace University. Tré is originally from Bloomfield, CT, and graduated from the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in 2014. Recent credits include Tick, Tick...BOOM! (Michael) at Playhouse Square; Angels in America (Belize) at Baldwin Wallace University; Violet (Flick), The Winter's Tale (Leontes), and Guys and Dolls (Benny Southstreet) at Festival 56 in Princeton, IL. Tré will be appearing at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival this summer in Mamma Mia! and Pride and Prejudice.

Angela Gillespie Winborn

Angela Gillespie Winborn

(Miss Minnie) was last seen at Cleveland Play House in the production of Crowns as Velma. Since then she has been in several productions throughout Northeast Ohio, such as Ma Rainey at The Beck Center, A Song for Coretta at Ensemble Theatre, Once on This Island at Porthouse Theatre, more(Miss Minnie) was last seen at Cleveland Play House in the production of Crowns as Velma. Since then she has been in several productions throughout Northeast Ohio, such as Ma Rainey at The Beck Center, A Song for Coretta at Ensemble Theatre, Once on This Island at Porthouse Theatre, and many more. Angela is also a longtime Karamu veteran actress who performed in over 30 productions in the late 80s and 90s. Film credits include the upcoming film White Boy Rick, The Antwone Fisher Story (Woman in White) directed by Academy Award Winning actor Denzel Washington, and Spider-Man 2. She has also done several local commercials in the Cleveland and Pittsburgh area. Angela is also the director and manager of the City of Cleveland summer arts program Showagon.

Garfield Hammonds

Garfield Hammonds

(EJ) was recently seen at Cleveland Play House in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Mitch Mahoney). Broadway/National Tours: Motown The Musical; Kiss Me, Kate. Select Regional: Ragtime (Coalhouse), Big River (Jim), Smokey Joe’s Café, and A Christmas Carol (Jacob Marley). Hammonds holds a master’s degree from University more(EJ) was recently seen at Cleveland Play House in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Mitch Mahoney). Broadway/National Tours: Motown The Musical; Kiss Me, Kate. Select Regional: Ragtime (Coalhouse), Big River (Jim), Smokey Joe’s Café, and A Christmas Carol (Jacob Marley). Hammonds holds a master’s degree from University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he was awarded the Liberace Scholarship for music and academic achievement. A regional winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council competition, Hammonds’ Operatic credits include La Traviata, L’Elisir d’Amor, Così Fan Tutte, La Cenerentola, and Porgy & Bess.

Peter Lawson Jones

Peter Lawson Jones

(Councilman Rogers/Undercover Tourist/Ensemble) last performed at CPH in A Carol for Cleveland, and is a member of Actors’ Equity and SAG-AFTRA. He has appeared in over twenty films (White Boy Rick, Alex Cross, Assassin’s Code, Starve), on network television (ABC’s Detroit 1-8-7) and on stages throughout Northeast Ohio. He more(Councilman Rogers/Undercover Tourist/Ensemble) last performed at CPH in A Carol for Cleveland, and is a member of Actors’ Equity and SAG-AFTRA. He has appeared in over twenty films (White Boy Rick, Alex Cross, Assassin’s Code, Starve), on network television (ABC’s Detroit 1-8-7) and on stages throughout Northeast Ohio. He has also performed in staged readings off-Broadway. His play, The Bloodless Jungle, has twice been fully staged at Ensemble Theatre (Cleveland Heights) and has received readings at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Dallas Convention Center, National Black Theatre Festival, and in Harlem. Land of Cleve ranked the most recent production among the best in Northeast Ohio last year. His earlier play, The Family Line, was produced at Karamu House, Ohio University, and Harvard University, where he earned his bachelor’s and law degrees. Peter received the 2016 Indie Gathering International Film Festival Best Ohio Supporting Actor Award.

Nova Payton

Nova Payton

(Ruthie) Silver Belles (Gloria); Jelly's Last Jam (Hunny/Mamie), La Cage aux Folles (Jacqueline); Diner (Party Singer/Stripper); Elmer Gantry (Mary Washington); Crossing (Unknown Woman), Defying Gravity: Making of a SuperNOVA, Dreamgirls (Effie, Helen Hayes nomination), The Best Little Whorehouse... (Jewel), Xanadu (Melpomene/Medusa), Hairspray (Motormouth, Helen Hayes Award). Tour: 3 Mo’ more(Ruthie) Silver Belles (Gloria); Jelly's Last Jam (Hunny/Mamie), La Cage aux Folles (Jacqueline); Diner (Party Singer/Stripper); Elmer Gantry (Mary Washington); Crossing (Unknown Woman), Defying Gravity: Making of a SuperNOVA, Dreamgirls (Effie, Helen Hayes nomination), The Best Little Whorehouse... (Jewel), Xanadu (Melpomene/Medusa), Hairspray (Motormouth, Helen Hayes Award). Tour: 3 Mo’ Divas, Smokey Joe’s Café (BJ). DC Area: Round House: Caroline, or Change (Caroline); Shakespeare Theatre: Kiss Me, Kate (Hattie); Imagination Stage: A Year with Frog and Toad; Ford's Theatre: Ragtime (Sarah), Freedom's Song (Free Woman), Violet (Ensemble); Olney Theatre: Godspell (Ensemble); Arena Stage: Smokey Joe's Cafe; Kennedy Center: Spring Gala My Fair Lady (Ensemble). Regional: The 5th: Man of La Mancha (Aldonzo), A Night with Janis Joplin (Blues Singer/Blues Woman); Milwaukee Rep: Dreamgirls (Effie); Prince Music Theatre: Dreamgirls (Effie, Barrymore nomination). simply-nova.com.

Nikkole Salter

Nikkole Salter

(Book) is an Obie Award-winning actress and writer who arrived onto the professional scene with her co-authorship and co-performance (with Danai Gurira) of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated play In the Continuum, for which she received Obie and Outer Critics Circle Awards, among others. It was pronounced by New York Times, more(Book) is an Obie Award-winning actress and writer who arrived onto the professional scene with her co-authorship and co-performance (with Danai Gurira) of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated play In the Continuum, for which she received Obie and Outer Critics Circle Awards, among others. It was pronounced by New York Times, Newsday, and New York Magazine as one of the best plays of 2005, and was featured in numerous esteemed media outlets including Essence Magazine, American Theatre Magazine, the LA Times, and NPR. Ms. Salter has written six full-length plays, been commissioned for full-length work by six institutions, been produced on three continents in five countries, and been published in 12 international publications. Her work has appeared in over 20 Off-Broadway, regional, and international theatres, and the Crossroads Theatre production of her play Repairing a Nation (directed by Marshall Jones III) was regionally aired on TV in New York. The National Black Theatre production of her play Carnaval was nominated for seven Audelco Awards and won for Best Ensemble Performance. Ms. Salter is a 2014 MAP Fund Grant recipient, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center National Playwrights Conference semi-finalist, USA Fellowship nominee, and two-time Playwrights of New York Fellowship nominee. She is currently working on commissions from Woolly Mammoth and the National New Play Network/Cleveland Public Theatre, and was selected to write the television adaptation of Claude Brown's New York Times Bestselling novel, Manchild in the Promised Land. Ms. Salter can currently be seen onstage in Cleveland Play House’s production of The Royale.

Easton Sumlin

Easton Sumlin

(JR/Ensemble) is excited to return to CPH after being seen as Schwartz in the 2016 production of A Christmas Story! Easton is twelve years old and in the seventh grade. He can most often be found singing, dancing, reading, building with Legos, or crafting comics. He was most recently more(JR/Ensemble) is excited to return to CPH after being seen as Schwartz in the 2016 production of A Christmas Story! Easton is twelve years old and in the seventh grade. He can most often be found singing, dancing, reading, building with Legos, or crafting comics. He was most recently seen as Young Abel/Storyteller in Children of Eden at French Creek Theatre and Chen in Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars at Dobama Theatre. Other credits include: Jackie Thibodeaux in Caroline, or Change at Tantrum Theater; Boris Tumbleweed in The Battle of the Cockroach and the Rhinoceros Beetle at Dobama Theatre; The Dauphin in Marie Antoinette at Dobama Theatre; Rerun Van Pelt in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown; and The Three Princes in Aladdin, Jr. at Heights Youth Theatre.

August Sumlin

August Sumlin

(Mary/Ensemble) is ecstatic to return to CPH in A Christmas Story. She was last seen as Mary in Minton's Place during New Ground Theatre Festival in the spring of 2018. Favorite roles include: Storyteller in Children of Eden (French Creek), Reporter in James and the Giant Peach (Heights Youth more(Mary/Ensemble) is ecstatic to return to CPH in A Christmas Story. She was last seen as Mary in Minton's Place during New Ground Theatre Festival in the spring of 2018. Favorite roles include: Storyteller in Children of Eden (French Creek), Reporter in James and the Giant Peach (Heights Youth Theatre), Lillian in The Music Man (Cain Park), Child in I Spy (Dobama Theatre), Lead Spy Carrot in Veggie Mayhem (Dobama Theatre), and Mally in Trouble for Four (Dobama Theatre). August has been taking ballet for six years and she loves to write original songs on the piano, sing, and read. She enjoys all things pink. August loves spending time with babies and wants to be an obstetrician when she's older.

Eugene Sumlin

Eugene Sumlin

(Jesse/Ensemble) CPH debut. Recent credits: Children of Eden (Adam/Noah) at French Creek Theatre, Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Ken) at Porthouse Theatre, Parade (Jim Conley) at French Creek Theatre, The Little Mermaid (King Triton) at Mercury Theatre, and in Songs for the Asking at Playhouse Square. Also seen at Dobama Theatre, Cain more(Jesse/Ensemble) CPH debut. Recent credits: Children of Eden (Adam/Noah) at French Creek Theatre, Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Ken) at Porthouse Theatre, Parade (Jim Conley) at French Creek Theatre, The Little Mermaid (King Triton) at Mercury Theatre, and in Songs for the Asking at Playhouse Square. Also seen at Dobama Theatre, Cain Park, Lakeland Civic Theatre, The Fine Arts Association, and the historic Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA. Eugene is also a teaching artist for CARE here at the Cleveland Play House. All glory goes to God; love to Nicole, Easton, and August.

Nicole Sumlin

Nicole Sumlin

(Josephine/Ensemble) is an actor, singer, director, and arts educator based in Cleveland. NYC: Medusa (Medusa), Zu (Project Tiresias), Judge Jill Joyce (How to Be a Winner), and Columbiner (ReB+VoDkA+Me). Regional: Children of Eden at French Creek Theatre (Eve/Mama Noah); The Music Man at Cain Park (Marian Paroo); Caroline, or more(Josephine/Ensemble) is an actor, singer, director, and arts educator based in Cleveland. NYC: Medusa (Medusa), Zu (Project Tiresias), Judge Jill Joyce (How to Be a Winner), and Columbiner (ReB+VoDkA+Me). Regional: Children of Eden at French Creek Theatre (Eve/Mama Noah); The Music Man at Cain Park (Marian Paroo); Caroline, or Change at Tantrum Theater (The Washing Machine); The Nolan Williams Project (2017) at CPH; Lines in the Dust at Cleveland Public Theater (Denitra Morgan); Bourbon on the Border at The Maltz Museum (May); Songs for the Asking at Playhouse Square; Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play at Cleveland Public Theatre (Jenny/Bart); Violet at Lakeland Civic Theatre (Lula Buffington); Elizabeth Keckley in A Civil War Christmas at Dobama Theatre. She has also been seen at The Fine Arts Association, Orchard Arts Project, Near West Theater, Mercury Theatre Company, MOCA-CLE, Bop Stop, Nighttown, and Severance Hall. Vocal training: Wheaton College Conservatory of Music. Proud AEA member. Praise to God for His faithfulness, and for Eugene, Easton, and August

Mariama Whyte

Mariama Whyte

(Diane/Ensemble) is excited to return to live theatre on the Cleveland Play House stage in the world premiere of Light it Up! Her CPH credits include Light It Up! (Workshop), Inspiring Resolutions (Virtual Production), The Amen Corner, The Nolan Williams Project, and In The Groove and Over The Top. more(Diane/Ensemble) is excited to return to live theatre on the Cleveland Play House stage in the world premiere of Light it Up! Her CPH credits include Light It Up! (Workshop), Inspiring Resolutions (Virtual Production), The Amen Corner, The Nolan Williams Project, and In The Groove and Over The Top. She has performed in the Broadway National Tours of The Color Purple (Nettie; Celie u/s), The Lion King (Shenzi and Rafiki u/s) and in Cleveland at Karamu House, Dobama Theatre, and Cleveland Public Theatre. As a vocalist, Mariama has headlined her own shows, performed with famed composer/producer David Foster, and has opened for acclaimed artists including Stephanie Mills, Lisa Fischer and Rahsaan Patterson. Awards: Room in the House Artist Residency (Karamu House 2020), Verge Fellowship (Cleveland Arts Prize 2019). A recording artist as well, Mariama will release her new album, Hey You It’s Me, in 2022. Proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. www.mariamawhyte.com IG: @mariamawhyte

Robert Barry Fleming

Robert Barry Fleming

(Director) formerly the Director of Artistic Programming at Arena Stage, currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director at Cleveland Play House and has been named the incoming Artistic Director of Actors Theatre of Louisville (June 1, 2019). Some of his most recent directing/choreography credits include: Ken Ludwig's Sherwood: The more(Director) formerly the Director of Artistic Programming at Arena Stage, currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director at Cleveland Play House and has been named the incoming Artistic Director of Actors Theatre of Louisville (June 1, 2019). Some of his most recent directing/choreography credits include: Ken Ludwig's Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Royale, Between Riverside and Crazy (CPH); Next to Normal and Caroline, or Change (Tantrum Theater); and Destiny of Desire (OSF). Arena Stage world-premieres commissioned, developed, and/or championed under his watch include the 2017 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Dear Evan Hansen; Mary Kathryn Nagle’s Sovereignty; John Strand’s The Originalist; Katori Hall’s Blood Quilt; Karen Zacarías’ Destiny of Desire; 2017 Pulitzer Prize winner, Sweat by Lynn Nottage; and the upcoming Roundabout production of Toni Stone by Lydia Diamond. He directed the 2018 CPH New Ground Theatre Festival reading of the new musical, Minton's Place, by acclaimed contemporary music composer, Nolan Williams, Jr. with libretto by Pulitzer-Prize-nominated playwright, Nikkole Salter. Robert was an Associate Producer for the Off-Broadway premiere of The Two Character Play by Tennessee Williams. He was also an Associate Professor (tenured) and Chair of the University of San Diego Theatre Arts and Performance Studies Department. Select acting credits include Broadway: Ragtime directed by Frank Galati, Stand-up Tragedy directed by the late Ron Link; Off-Broadway: Insurrection: Holding History by Robert O'Hara at The Public, and joining AEA with the national tour of Cats (Original Bus and Truck and German companies). Regional: The Old Globe, The Guthrie, A Contemporary Theater, The Mark Taper Forum with the world premiere of George C. Wolfe's Jelly's Last Jam. TV: The Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel series Adventures in Wonderland, Family Matters, The George Carlin Show. Film: The Oscar Award-winning L.A. Confidential and Twilight of the Golds. robertbarryfleming.com

John Godbout

(Stage Manager) was Cleveland Play House's resident stage manager from 2001 to 2008 and returned to CPH in the fall of 2011. John has also stage managed at North Shore Music Theatre, Capital Repertory Theatre, The Weston Playhouse, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Northern Stage, Seaside Music Theatre, more(Stage Manager) was Cleveland Play House's resident stage manager from 2001 to 2008 and returned to CPH in the fall of 2011. John has also stage managed at North Shore Music Theatre, Capital Repertory Theatre, The Weston Playhouse, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Northern Stage, Seaside Music Theatre, and Porthouse Theatre.

Rachel Lerner-Ley

(Dramaturg) is in her ninth season at Cleveland Play House, where she is the literary manager and resident dramaturg. Dramaturgy at CPH includes Light It Up!, Clue, Our Dad is in Atlantis, Christina, The Hat Box, Egress, Cicada, Tiny Houses, Minton’s Place, Ghost Party, The Chinese Lady, The Nolan more(Dramaturg) is in her ninth season at Cleveland Play House, where she is the literary manager and resident dramaturg. Dramaturgy at CPH includes Light It Up!, Clue, Our Dad is in Atlantis, Christina, The Hat Box, Egress, Cicada, Tiny Houses, Minton’s Place, Ghost Party, The Chinese Lady, The Nolan Williams Project, CARE monologues, The Good Peaches, FEED, Little Row Boat, Ken Ludwig’s A Comedy of Tenors, and the Violins of Hope concert with the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program and the Cleveland Orchestra. Additional dramaturgy credits include Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Civilians, Actors Theatre of Louisville, WildWind Performance Lab at Texas Tech University and Girl Be Heard. She is a graduate of Smith College. Member LMDA.

Nolan Williams, Jr.

Nolan Williams, Jr.

(Music and Lyrics) is an American songwriter whose impressive catalog includes choral and orchestral works premiered by The Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Charleston Symphony Orchestra and Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra; music for television (including the standout TV-One documentary, STAND); numerous commissioned works by Georgetown University; songwriting contributions to more(Music and Lyrics) is an American songwriter whose impressive catalog includes choral and orchestral works premiered by The Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Charleston Symphony Orchestra and Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra; music for television (including the standout TV-One documentary, STAND); numerous commissioned works by Georgetown University; songwriting contributions to Grammy-nominated projects (Regina Belle, Richard Smallwood); and two regional holiday musicals: Christmas Gift! (The Clarice) and Go, Tell It (The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture). As CEO of NEWorks Productions, he is also one of the country’s foremost producers of inspirational lively arts programming. The list of artists with whom Williams has worked reads like a roster of Who’s Who in American Music: Aretha Franklin, James Taylor, Patti LaBelle, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Denyce Graves, India.Arie, Bobby McFerrin, and Take 6. His work has spanned from producing major festivals to overseeing music for major concert and national events, including standout projects like artistic direction of Firebird: Spirit Rising and the Philadelphia Freedom Festival, six-month curatorial festivals presented in partnership with the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, music direction of the internationally-televised Dedication Ceremony of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, and artistic direction of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts festival Joyful Sounds: Gospel Across America. Williams is an alumnus of Oberlin College, with a B.A. in music (piano performance).

Meet The Playwrights: Introducing Vichet Chum

Meet The Playwrights: Introducing Vichet Chum

CPH Roe Green Fund for New American Plays Meet The Playwrights! Introducing Vichet Chum Vichet Chum is a Cambodian-American playwright and theater m...

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Our Theatres

Allen Theatre

Allen Theatre

Helen Theatre

Helen Theatre

Outcalt Theatre

Outcalt Theatre

The Allen, Helen and Outcalt theatres are located at Playhouse Square
1407 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44115

Administrative Offices and Education Center
1901 E. 13th Street, Suite 200 Cleveland, OH 44114 (216) 400-7000

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7401 Detour Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103

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