Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

The Department of Performing Arts and Humanities
of the School of Liberal Arts at CCBC
presents

JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE

BY AUGUST WILSON

Director
Donald Owens

Set & Lighting Designer
Technical Director
G. Maurice “Moe” Conn

Costumer
James J. Fasching

Stage Manager
Carli White

November 1 at 11:10am
November 2, 3 at 7pm
November 4 at 3pm
November 5 at 10 am

THE COMPANY

JA’MIN WILLIAMS (Seth Holly) a declared theatre major, has acted in five previous CCBC productions, including A Raisin in the Sun (Joseph Asagai) and Choir Boy (Bobby Marrow). Other notable roles include Romeo (Romeo and Juliet), Laertes (Hamlet: Lost/Found), and Steve (Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom). This is an interesting and admittedly hard role for Ja’min, but he enjoys the challenge. He would like to thank and send his love to his family and friends for their continued support, and his cast for the fun times shared both on and off stage.

SHATERRA HATCHETT (Bertha Holly) started going to theatre when she was in her freshman year of high school. Her first performance was for an assignment where she played Ms. Claus in a monologue. Since then, she has continued performing, and this is her first play at CCBC. Shaterra has been in The Great Gatsby, Revolutionary Roots and Antigone.

ISAIAH EVANS (Harold Loomis) Baltimore native, made his acting debut in Tracey Letts’ play Superior Donuts in 2016 as Franco Wicks. Since then he has appeared in over 10 film, theatre, and television productions, including TV ONE’s For My Woman and the indie films The Runaways and The In Between. Currently a student at CCBC, Isaiah is a certified Auto Mechanic with ASE certifications in Electrical Systems and Braking. Presently, Isaiah is working on becoming a Certified Professional Photographer. Though a “jack of all trades,” Isaiah’s passion will always be acting, and he is “looking forward to one day working opposite Bryan Cranston and walking across the Red Carpet.”

JAMAYA SADDLER (Zonia Loomis) first started performing in school productions at Winand Elementary school in 3^rd grade. Jamaya loves singing and dancing in and out of school. She’s currently studying dance and theatre at Deer Park Magnet Middle school. Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is her first major play. She is extremely excited to converse and gain experience from her older castmates. It’s an honor for her to be a part of this acting family.

BRYCE WILLIAMS (Jeremy Furlow) is in his first production at CCBC. It is his fourth semester, and he will be transferring soon. This is a different ball game for Bryce, but he’s excited to tackle it. Bryce would like to shout out to his family, cast and crew, for supporting him in his first CCBC production.

DEVIN GITHARA-PIPKIN (Bynum Walker) is in his last semester at CCBC. He’s transferring to Towson University as an Electronic Media and Film major. He started acting last semester and thought it was interesting. Devin always loved reading plays and literature in general. He also loves writing short stories, scripts, and even poetry, but has always been curious about acting.

DANIEL POLETYNSKI (Rutherford Selig) is making his CCBC debut. Dan has also played Jud Fry in Oklahoma and an Oompah Loompa in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Dan finds Selig’s reserved motions and rugged demeanor very easy to adopt. He would like to send thanks to his family and friends for their support, and to the cast for all of their hard work and dedication.

ERIN JOHNSON (Mattie Campbell) is in her last semester attending CCBC. This is her 2^nd year being in a production at CCBC. Last fall Erin was an Ensemble Member in Everyman. She plans to attend UMBC in the Fall of 2019 and major in Theatre.

CAIDEN SCRUGGS (Reuben Mercer) is a nine-year old fourth grader, who has a love for music and theatre. Caiden attends Holy Angels Catholic School and is an A student. Caiden loves anime, trucks and video games. He wants to be an actor and gymnast when he grows up.

TESEY JOHNSON (Molly Cunningham) is a wife, mother, entrepreneur, and writer. Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is Tesey’s first onstage performance. She’s an aspiring actress and model. Tesey is in her first year of school at CCBC and is majoring in Performing Arts/Theatre and hopes this play will land her future gigs. She loved working with director Donald Owens and her fellow cast members. This is only the beginning.

DENEEN WALKER (Martha Loomis Pentecost) started acting at Arena Players from the ages of 5-16. She has been in almost ten plays so far in her acting career. She started as a Performing Arts Major at CCBC in Spring 2017. Deneen helped build the Fall 2017 production of Choir Boy, and worked backstage for that production. This is her first time appearing in a play at CCBC. She is very excited and cannot wait for everyone to see the finished product of their hard work.

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

In August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Bertha says “Leave the boy alone, Seth. You know the police do that. Figure there’s too many people out on the street they take some of them off. You know that.” As relevant to 2018 as it was in 1911, today we deal with a society of unrest due to violence, economics, poor or no education and a lack of fundamental respect for ourselves. Nothing has changed, so let us stop binding ourselves to the negative and instead let us move forward. This play is a cry to free ourselves and move forward both mentally and spiritually. It also shows how remembrance of your past (heritage) is the key to freeing yourself without forgetting who you are.

I want to thank CCBC Catonsville for this opportunity to direct Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, and to have this lovely experience of working with such great and eager students who journeyed with me to the past.

Love, Faith and Life Always

-Donald Owens

PRODUCTION STAFF

Director | Donald Owens
Scenic/Lighting Designer | G. Maurice “Moe” Conn
Costumer | James J. Fasching
Technical Director | G. Maurice “Moe” Conn
Stage Manager | Carli White
Assistant Stage Manager | Ahmad Lake
Sound Designer | Everett Simkins
Light Board Operator | Alex Ager
Sound Board Operator | Quante Prioleau
Stage Crew | Galen Shivor, Ephriam Schlessinger
Costume Assistants | Tina Ferguson, Lauren Talbott
Set Construction and Lighting | Students of THTR 131: Stagecraft
Ja’min Williams, Donita McCullough, Erin Johnson
Box Office Manager | Lisa L. Boeren
Box Office Staff | Eva Grove, Thom Purdy
Production Photographers | Katie Simmons-Barth
www.katiesimmonsbarth.com
Production Manager | Brad Norris
Communications Assistant | Cathy Kratovil
Production Coordinator | Julie Lewis

PRODUCTION STAFF BIOS

DONALD OWENS (Director) is the Artistic Director of Arena Players, Inc., the longest continuously operating African American theater which is in its 65th season. This position has been held by Mr. Owens for 15 years. He also teaches acting and directs both stage and sometimes film. Mr. Owens has been involved in the creative arts for over 40 years. He has directed such plays as Fences, Macbeth, East Texas Hot Links, Vanities, Julius Caesar, Wit and Valley Song. Among his acting roles are Claudius in Hamlet, Lucky in The Mighty Gents, Edmund in Long Days Journey Into Night and Jimmy in The Gingerbread Lady. Mostly he enjoys directing and teaching. He is a charter member of the Ohio Theatre Alliance and past president of the Baltimore Theatre Alliance. Mr. Owens favorite past-time is listening to classical music and operas.

G. MAURICE “MOE” CONN (Scenic Designer, Lighting Designer, and Technical Director) is in his eighth year as full-time Technical Director and Designer at CCBC Catonsville Center for the Arts Theatre. He has an MFA in Scene Design and Technical Theatre. Moe has been doing technical theatre since 1993, as a Designer, Technician, Technical Director, and Educator. Moe has also served as the Technical Director and Designer for Cockpit in Court Theatre, Maryland’s Oldest Summer theatre, for 4 summers. Moe has received multiple nominations for Best Scene Design from Broadway World.com and Received Best Scenic Design from the MD Theatre Guide’s Readers’ Choice Awards. When not backstage, Moe volunteers with “Behind the Scenes” which help Theeatre Technicians in crisis. He also helps coordinate the Long Reach Long Riders charity motorcycle ride, (www.LRLR.org ) to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity fights AIDS and Behind the Scenes, two theatre based charities.

JAMES J. FASCHING (Costumer) is the resident costumer in the Performing Arts and Humanities Department at CCBC. His career in design has taken him from designing for the Miss America Pageant, to having his own television spot on KDKA-TV for interior design tips, to designing hundreds of productions for Cockpit-in-Court Summer Theatre, Dundalk Community Theatre, Peabody Opera Company, Theatre Hopkins, and The School for the Arts in Philadelphia, to name a few. Mr. Fasching teaches Makeup Design for the Theatre program.

CARLI WHITE (Stage Manager)

Special Thanks

Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis | President, CCBC
Mr. Jack McLaughlin | Interim Vice President of Instruction
Dr. Rich Lilley | Vice President of Enrollment & Student Services
Dr. William Watson | Dean of Liberal Arts
Professor Patti Crossman, Chair | Performing Arts & Humanities
Dr. Anne M. Lefter | Director, Performing Arts
Dr. Kim Jensen | Community Book Connection
Dr. Rebecca Ocampo | Arts Pathways Coordinator
Terri Charles | Media Relations Coordinator
Jackie McTear | Graphic Designer
A.T. Jones and Sons | Costumers