3 Frames / By Me

 

PRODUCTION

Tom Minter — Playwright
Tom Minter  is a playwright, librettist and author, whose work specializes in issues of diversity, and the tapestry of identity in creating community. He has had commissions and productions of his work in London, Berlin, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and, in 2018, New Zealand.

Stanford in Washington commissioned Tom’s play BLUES FOR A ROYAL FLUSH in 2013, a work resonant of the experience of jazz music history & performance, through differing routes of segregation and challenge, by Ethel Waters, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Strayhorn and Lena Horne, all while in an orbit of DC native son Duke Ellington. The work had its premiere at the Duke Ellington School for Arts in February 2014, and was given permission, by the Henderson Estate, to utilize Luther Henderson’s music charts as the basis for the musical performances. BLUES was also presented (in a condensed version) on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center in November 2017.

Washington National Opera/Kennedy Honors commissioned Tom to create a work on the lives, legacy and artistry of two singing icons, women of color, Marian Anderson and Leontyne Price. The resulting work, entitled THE ME I WANT TO SING, was premiered on the Millennium Stage.  It has subsequently been presented in the Family Theatre at the Kennedy Center in April 2019, and was mounted again in September 2019, as part of the programming of The March On Washington Film Festival (MOWFF), at The National Portrait Gallery, in Washington, DC.

At the outset of this journey towards realizing the dimensions of  BY ME YOU’LL NEVER KNOW, Brendan Bradley gave immeasurable time, experience, and texture to the curated 3 FRAMES / BY ME.  In a window of pandemic hiatus, 3 FRAMES allowed for visibility, and initial workshop, investigating visual technology in the palette of this work.

The current work in progress, 3 FRAMES / BY ME, is curated from the full play By Me You’ll Never Know, and seeks unique ways of viewing the intersection of memory, colorism, ‘otherness’, social/family history, and the arts. Tom is grateful to have the continuing support of Makeba Clay, Horning Chair for Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion, and support of The Phillips Collection for this workshop and presentation. Thank you Gail Prensky & Mark Haney for The Jüdische Kulturbund Project sponsorship of this process.  Thank you for The Gathering, Derek Goldman, the establishment of which continues the knitting of an astonishing coalition of Creative artists, experimenting in works of social justice, arts-mesh exploration, and intentionality in threads of culture discourse…a foundational thank you to the beau; and to family, friends, supporters, and Theatre Angels who have embraced the results of my journey, in continuing support to onwards!

Jasmine Mitchell — Director
Jasmine Mitchell is a multi-disciplinary artist, most notably as a writer, director, and performer. She is a proud daughter of immigrants, from the beautiful island of Dominica. Jasmine is a recipient of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) Stage Directors and Choreographers competition Honorable mention. University of Maryland; B.A. in Theatre. Her work centers faith-based, Christian stories that highlight the experience of Black women, Black families, and marginalized groups at large. Jasmine firmly believes that theatre and film can be a tool for creating social change outside of the political arena. You can find more of Jasmine’s work at here.

Adam C. Easterling — Scenic Designer
Adam C. Easterling is a visual artist based in Brooklyn, NY. His work has appeared in campaigns run by Nike, Spotify, Major League Soccer and more. Adam’s career in motion graphics began at Complex Magazine in 2015. He later went on to work closely with conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas, where he helped design large public art displays that were seen all over the country. He attended the School of Visual Arts, double-majoring in Advertising/Graphic Design. He currently works as the Creative Lead of a gaming company called “Players’ Lounge”, where his artwork can be found bringing life to their mobile app and website.

Brendan Andolsek Bradley — Co-Scenic Designer
Brendan Andolsek Bradley is a multi-award winning actor, writer, director and producer known internationally as “America’s Scrappy Storyteller” (AR Post) with 100+ IMDb credits, 50M+ views online and a leader in the virtual theater movement leveraging groundbreaking XR/VR tools for live performance. He established The Integrative Technology Lab at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts to foster the next generation of multi-disciplinary live storytellers. During the pandemic, he released case-studies of ubiquitous streaming tools for live performance, including a customizable virtual theater in your web browser that allows anyone to get “on” stage for free. More at brendanabradley.com/futurestages.

Corey Emerson — Stage Manager
Corey Emerson (M.M.), has performed professionally on bass, brass, and vocals for nearly twenty years as a performing/recording artist across many genres including Jazz, Musical Theatre, Country, Funk, and more. Corey has a decade of experience in education as well, having led band programs in NYC, Arkansas, and Missouri, with ensembles ranging from beginning to collegiate level.  Corey is excited about exploring this online experience with the audience in a newer medium, and hopes you enjoy the performance.

Elle Emerson — Stage Manager
Elle Emerson is an actor who also enjoys working behind the scenes as a stage manager, producer, writer and production stills photographer. She is originally from Southeast Missouri and holds a B.F.A. in acting from Arkansas State University. She has been acting professionally since 2011 and has worked in film, television and on stage. Some of her more notable projects include an Off-Broadway production of THE LARAMIE PROJECT; A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM with NYC’s New Light Theatre Project and COLD RAIN, which won “Best Drama” at the 2018 D.C. Fringe Festival. You can view her website at: elleemerson.com.

Michael Feldman — Creative Producer and Head Consultant for Education and Learning
As the Theater and Policy Salon’s founder and a consultant in cultural diplomacy, Michael serves as a creative producer, dramaturg, and advisor for scripts and theater projects dealing with policy, cross-cultural, and global issues. Through the Theater and Policy Salon, Michael has partnered with the BY ME project as a creative producer and the education lead. Michael’s involvement in the Project originated with his participation in the “Gathering” theater summit at the inaugural CrossCurrents Festival organized by the Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics at Georgetown University.

Awarded a D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities Fellowship, Michael works with Washington, DC area theaters, communities, and Embassies to organize theater and policy events that inspire action on local and global real world issues. The Theater and Policy Salon partnered with Mosaic and Shakespeare theaters for virtual Salon events in 2020-2021, following collaborations with Ford’s, Arena, Shakespeare, Studio, and Mosaic theaters for its 2019-2020 in-person season. The Salon’s inaugural “Who Gets To Feel Safe?” season featured Salons at Woolly Mammoth, Ford’s, New Music Theatre, and New York University Washington DC.  Earlier, Michael launched the Talk Tank series for Forum Theater’s 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons. Michael served as an Editorial Team Member at Createquity – a virtual think tank and online publication – through its sunset in 2017. Michael served as a director at PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as well as professional staff on the Budget Committee of the U.S. Senate as part of a fellowship with the American Political Science Association. As a U.S. diplomat and cultural attaché, Michael served in Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, and the DRC as well as working on Africa, Balkans, and European Union issues. Michael graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, USA and speaks German, Czech, French and Italian.

CAST

Neil Pritchard (Ken Jr.)
Neil Pritchard is a New York-based Actor/Singer/Teaching Artist . His most recent Acting Credits include: HALFWAY BITCHES GO STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN (LAByrinth Theater Company/Atlantic Theater Company), THERE’S ALWAYS THE HUDSON (The Goodman Theatre) THE BERLIN ELECTRIC (Park Ave Armory/Trusty Sidekick) , THE PRIZEFIGHTER OF P.S. 217 (New Victory LabWorks),  THE MENDELSSOHN ELECTRIC (Park Ave Armory/Trusty Sidekick), THE STOWAWAY (Classic Stage Company/Trusty Sidekick), CLOVER (La Mama), QUEEN LATINA AND HER POWER POSSE (Cherry Lane Theater), AT BUFFALO (NYMF) . He has been a part of workshops and concerts  at Sundance TheaterLAB, Manhattan Theater Club, Dorset Theater festival, Joe’s Pub, Bowery Poetry Club, Lincoln Center Theater,  and Primary Stages. He is currently on staff at the Park Avenue Armory where he brings Arts Education to public schools throughout the five boroughs. Neil is A Member of LAByrinth Theater Company and Actors Equity.  

Natalie Graves Tucker (Rea)
Natalie Green Tucker is an actor, voiceover artist and communications professional based between DC and New York. Some of her past roles were PASSING STRANGE, FUCKING A (Studio Theatre), FOR COLORED GIRLS…(Theater Alliance), THE OLD SETTLER (African Continuum Theatre), THE TROJAN WOMEN (The Hegira) and THE VIOLET HOUR (1st Stage). She made her off-off Broadway debut in FACE DIVIDED (Theatre Under the Stairs), her film debut in NOCTURNAL AGONY  and is in the short film, HOPE WELL. She can be seen in many training videos including AARP, AETNA and the US Postal Service plus commercials for Pillpack, NFL Shop and America’s Best Eyewear. Natalie is the Executive Director for Artomatic, DC’s largest unjuried arts festival. She has a B.A. in Speech Communications from University of Maryland at College Park and a Master’s degree in Social Work/Social Service Administration from Howard University.

Keith E. Irby (Kenneth Sr.)
Keith E. Irby is enthused to work with Tom Minter again, in his new work, 3 Frames/ By Me. He looks forward to performing with the cast of 3 Frames/By Me.  A native Washingtonian, Keith works regionally on film, theatre, commercial and voice projects.  Local credits include Ally Theatre Company: #POOLPARTY; Creative Cauldron: Tinner Hill: PORTRAITS IN BLACK & WHITE; African Continuum Theatre Company: BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY;  Constellation Theatre Company:  THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE, METAMORPHOSES, RAMAYANA, WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN, A FLEA IN HER EAR, CRAZYFACE, THE ORESTEIA, THE GOOD WOMAN OF SETZUAN, THE ARABIAN NIGHTS, A DREAM PLAY;  Imagination Stage: MULAN; Chesapeake Shakespeare Company: THE COUNTRY WIFE; Folger Theatre: HENRY IV PART I; The Shakespeare Theatre Company Company: RICHARD III; Winterslane Production Company: DREAMGIRLS.

Jeri Marshall (Greer/Celia)
Jeri Marshall is excited to be making her performing debut with the Phillips Collection and returning to the D.C. Theatre community. The Baltimore native spent seven years as a Chicago based actress, where she earned her MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul.  Favorite Chicago credits include: Jane Fairfax/Mrs. Elton in EMMA (Lifeline Theatre), The Ghost of Christmas Present in A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Children’s Theatre of Madison), Mrs. Kirby IN YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Helena in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) and Darla in the TIN WOMAN (Theatre At the Center). TV Credits include: CHICAGO MED (NBC). Jeri has also appeared in commercial spots for The Onion and several voiceovers. She is a Henry Award Nominee for Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role, in the World Premiere of HAZARDOUS MATERIALS (Creede Repertory Theatre). Jeri is blessed to be home with family and returning to her D.C. theatre roots. She is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA.

Marjorie Johnson (Jerri/Annie)
Marjorie has created and recreated a wide range of characters. Some of her favorite roles include: Sojourner Truth & Zora Neale Hurston in The Pen & The Podium (Edinburg Festival, Scotland);  Rose in Joe DePietro’s The Last Romance (New Theatre, Overland Park, Kansas); Mrs. Antrobus in The Skin of Our Teeth (Delaware Theatre Co. Wilmington) – Best Supporting Actress Philadelphia Critics Award Nomination); Dotty in Colman Domingo’s DOT (NYC – Best Lead Actress AUDELCO Award); and the Candy Lady in Katori Hall’s HOODOO LOVE (NYC – Best Supporting Actress AUDELCO Award).  Some TV and film roles include Bull, Modern Love, Sneaky Pete, Mozart in the Jungle, Nurse Jackie, The Leftovers, Law & Order: SVU, and American Gangster.

Laree “Ree” Simon (Sara)
Laree “Ree” Simon, soprano, has been honored to perform on the stages of Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Austria’s historic Congress Stefaniensaal, and to also participate in commissioned works here in Washington, DC as well as abroad. She is excited to lend her voice as Sara in this production of BY ME / THREE FRAMES.

Operatic and theater highlights include roles ranging from Konstanza (DIE ENTFURÜNG AUS DEM SERAIL), Violetta (LA TRAVIATA)  and Manon (MANON) to portraying Ethel Waters, as created for her in the jazz-inspired work BLUES FOR A ROYAL FLUSH, by Tom Minter.

Ree’s orchestral experience includes works by Debussy, Berg, Mozart, Schubert, Bizet, J. Strauss, von Weber and Verdi.

Committed to artistic outreach and education, Ree has engaged audiences through public programs for the NEA Honors, at the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum and the DC Public Library through repeated performances of two Washington National Opera commissioned works, JUST OUT THE WINDOW, and THE ME I WANT TO SING.

Under the auspices of Stanford in Washington (SIW), Ree was very proud to be part of their continued public presentation of ON THE PORCH AT CEDAR HILL, an immersive experience in song, reflections, and narrative that has always employed the words of Frederick Douglass, on social justice and civil liberty.

Ree also has found full range for her artistry through collaboration with the Vocal Arts Society, the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAPPA) and as a guest soprano for the historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, the oldest African-American church in DC.

When not singing Ree works with a DC-based association, and enjoys the artistry and leadership of Mr. Simon, her husband, in the creativity of their catering business that specializes in barbecue, or in her own artisan baking of sweets and savories.

Luke Edward Smith — (Allan)
Luke Edward Smith is an Australian actor and director based in New York City. He has appeared in film, tv and on stage in numerous lead roles, including HAMLET, THE PRIVATE EAR, and A CITY OF REFUGE, both in Australia and the U.S. He is co-artistic director of Primitive Grace Theater Ensemble in New York City.

MANAGEMENT


Bob Jaffe — Executive Producer
Bob Jaffe currently makes his career as an actor based in New York City. In past lives he has worked as a theatrical Stage Manager, Director, Artistic Director as well as having had careers in both large and small businesses and non-profit management.

He was co-founder of the Berkshire Playwrights Lab, a new-play development theater in the Berkshires, and currently serves as Board Chair at the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City, which has been creating new work for the American theater since 1968.

As an actor, Bob works in theater, film and television. On Stage: performer/adapter of …AND THE YOU GO ON. AN ANTHOLOGY OF THE WORKS OF SAMUEL BECKETT (WHAT, Off-Broadway and other venues); IBEW PLAYS for The Working Theatre; HUNTER JOHN & JANE by Amina Henry at JACK; MEMORY RETROGRADE by harunalee at Under the Radar Festival/Public Theatre; HONORS STUDENTS at Ensemble Studio Theatre. Other Theaters: Ensemble Studio Theatre; Queens Theater; Ars Nova; Berkshire Theatre Festival; the cell; HERE; Theater for a New City; La MaMa E.T.C.; The Brick; Amios; FringeNYC; Trinity Rep; Providence Black Rep; Perishable Theatre; others. Film/TV: “Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (viral video with Brad Pitt & Jimmy Fallon);” Showtime’s “Brotherhood;” “Law & Order: SVU;” “Time After Time;” STARZ’ “Sweetbitter;” many films, including CHAPPAQUIDDICK; IMAGINE I’M BEAUTIFUL; CRAZY FAMOUS; BITE ME; INEZ & DOUG & KIRA.

Bob is an Ensemble Artist at Ensemble Studio Theatre and Artist-in-Residence at the cell. Agents: U-Shin Kim and Chiara Licciardello at UGA Talent.

He has also been playing blues harmonica, both personally and professionally, since the age of 14.

Gail Prensky — Creator, Executive Producer, and Director
As creator and director of The Jüdische Kulturbund Project, Gail brings to this project a deep and first-hand understanding of the Kulturbund’s spirit and recognizes the issues of living under oppression that continue with artists around the world today. Her interviews with the Kulturbund survivors and current-day artists form the basis of her passion and vision for this project, which is rooted in the Kulturbund’s strong regard for music and the performing arts.  In 2001 Gail started researching and gathering material about the Kulturbund. Several years later she brought together select talent, partners, and like-minded supporters to make this project possible and then interviewed artists living under oppression in various countries. Her hope and dream is that the project will serve as a beacon of inspiration to all people.

Her career includes writing, producing, and directing,  produced, and directed a broad range of media projects in film, multimedia, books, and exhibitions. Through her Meteopa Productions, Gail produces independent projects focusing on advocacy, art, human rights, music themes, and cultural exchange.

Gail is a recipient of the Mandela Washington Fellowship American Impact Award; an Awardee of the Reciprocal Exchange component of the Mandela Washington Fellowship (2019 and 2022); and U.S. State Department Arts Envoy Program Awardee (2019).  She is also honored to be an ongoing participant in the Mandela Washington Reciprocal Exchange Alumni Ambassadors Initiative.

Mark Haney — Project Manager
Mark brings organizational, financial, and administrative expertise to our project’s team. He is an international trade economist with over 25 years of experience advising companies, foreign governments, and trade associations on issues relating to international trade and economic and business trends. Among other things, Mark served as senior executive for a number of companies, including as President and CEO of the International Business and Economic Research Corporation (IBERC).

In the course of his work and life, Mark developed a strong interest in global issues focused on human economic rights, art, and music. Among other endeavors, he created a vision for, and served as the executive director of the Cheick Hamala Foundation, which is dedicated to building an institute for performing arts in Mali and strengthening cultural ties between Mali and the Western world through education, interaction, and art. Mark is also an avid craftsman and sailor and amateur musician and filmmaker.

PARTNERS

Derek Goldman, The Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics
Sam Giarratani, Negative Space
Adrienne Jamieson, Stanford in Washington (SIW)
Theater and Policy Salon