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 ROBEY THEATRE COMPANY AND GREENWAY ARTS ALLIANCE
PRESENT “DESSALINES,” EPIC ADVENTURE OF BLACK HISTORY, AT GREENWAY COURT
THEATRE
The complete title of the new show being produced by Robey Theatre
Company in association with Greenway Arts Alliance is “Dessalines (The
Heart) Blood And Liberation: For The Love Of Freedom, Part II.” In a
compact running time of two hours and five minutes, playwright Levy Lee
Simon tells the story of how black slaves rose up and overthrew their
cruel masters from France and other European countries in the emerging
free nation of Haiti in 1802-1806. Independence was accomplished through
the leadership of one dynamic General, Jean Jacques Dessalines, The
Tiger.
The first great leader of the Haitian revolution, Toussaint L’Ouverture,
has been captured by the French and sent away to rot in a French prison
for the rest of his days. It falls on Dessalines, a warrior of legendary
ferocity, to lead his people to freedom from the French. Dessalines
becomes Emperor and absolute ruler of the liberated Haiti but, as the
old adage says, absolute power corrupts absolutely. His violent temper,
coupled with a chilling drive for vengeance, creates new challenges for
the newly freed populace. His megalomania will accomplish what nothing
else could….draw the blacks and mulattoes closer together as they unite
in the resolution of the new problem that is Dessalines, and the masses
will be moved to revolt once more.
Dessalines is depicted much like one of Shakespeare’s tragic heroes, a
brave and noble warrior whose tragic flaws plant the seeds of his
downfall. But Dessalines was real, and the 200th anniversary of Haitian
Independence makes it a timely occasion to recall and relive the
exciting adventure that is freedom.
“Dessalines” is the second play in a projected trilogy by Levy Lee Simon
concerning the liberation of Haiti. The first play in the cycle, “For
The Love Of Freedom: Toussaint,” was produced by Robey and Greenway to
critical and audience acclaim. Simon is a graduate of the University Of
Iowa Playwrights Workshop. His play “The Bow Wow Club” won the Lorraine
Hansberry Award from the Kennedy Center in Washington in 1999, and a
film of that play is anticipated from Forrest Whitaker’s Ghost Dance
Productions and Fox Searchlight. Other works include “God, The
Crackhouse, And The Devil,” and “Utopia,” both of which were produced in
New York.
Award-winning director Bennet Guillory helms “Dessalines.” He co-founded
Robey Theatre Company (named after Paul Robeson) with Danny Glover.
Guillory directed :”For The Love Of Freedom: Toussaint” and co-starred
in Robey’s saga of the Negro Baseball Leagues, “The Last Season.” Ben is
familiar to national audiences from his continuing television characters
on “Charmed” and “The Young And The Restless.”
Ben Guillory and Cynthia Stillwell produce “Dessalines” for Robey
Theatre Company. Pierson Blaetz and Whitney Weston produce for Greenway
Arts Alliance.
The cast, led by Abner Genece as Dessalines, includes Erin-Lee Adamson,
Rico Anderson, Tina Tena Ansah, Ayana Cahrr, Karl Calhoun, Robert
Clements, Erica Clare,
Gary Lynn Collier, Olivia D. Dawson, Angela Duckett, Stephan Early,
Roderick Emil, Elsa Fisher, Omari Hardwick, Royce Herron, Douglas
Howington, Steve Humphreys, Lanre’ Idewu, Amad Jackson, Ben Jurand,
Sylvester Kamara, Tamara Lynch, Nafeesa Monroe, Kiersten Morgan, Staci
Mitchell N’Kosi, Aaron Norvell, Darrell Philip, Derf Reklaw, Annette
Remmington, Kem Saunders, Doug Sinclair, Annika Smith, Malik Sow
Erica Sullivan, Tegan Summer, Vivian Watkins, and Erica M. Zuniga.
Production stage manager: John Freeland, Jr.. Assistant stage manager:
Erica Roddy. Choreography: Ayana Cahrr. Costume design: Naila
Aladdin-Sanders. Masks and prosthetics: April Chapman. Lighting design:
Doc Ballard and Marianne Schneller. Set design: Marco DeLeon. Sound
design: Tony Carr. Musical direction: Leon Mobley.
The production is made possible in part through the generous
contributions of American Express, HBO, California Arts Council, Los
Angeles County Arts Commission, and the California Community Foundation.
Although some scenes may be too intense for very small children, the
show is appropriate for students and in fact will inform them of
significant events in the history of this hemisphere. It’s a show for
young and old of any race, a thrilling drama that transcends ordinary
demographic boundaries. It is a story that should be told. Beyond being
informative and entertaining, “Dessalines” is dynamic theatre, performed
and presented by people who have already demonstrated that they can make
historical depictions of this nature come to vivid life on stage.
* * * * * *
WHAT: “Dessalines.” (Full title: “Dessalines (The Heart) Blood And
Liberation: For The Love Of Freedom, Part II”). World Premiere engagement of a new play.
WHO: Written by Levy Lee Simon. Directed by Bennet Guillory. Presented
by Robey
Theatre Company in association with Greenway Arts Alliance. Produced by
Ben Guillory, Cynthia Stillwell, Pierson Blaetz, and Whitney Weston.
WHERE: Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. FREE
adjacent parking.
WHEN: September 6- October 20, 2002.
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