August Wilson Century Project

Image: Logo for the August Wilson project. A Dark brown background with the face of August Wilson sketched in light brown relief to the right. The words The August Wilson project are printed in light brown to the left.February is project month at Live Arts! This year, we are featuring the work of the members of our Directing Intensive, with the August Wilson Century Project.

Join us for staged readings of nine of August Wilson’s “Century Plays.” We will be reading each play on a different evening in February 2018, followed by a talkback session focusing on black history in Atlanta during the decade covered by the play. More details to follow as the project develops.

There is a 10th “Century Play.” It is “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.” The rights for this show are currently unavailable. In order to present a full picture of Mr. Wilson’s vision, we will be summarizing “Joe Turner” on two nights, February 8 & 9. The summary will take place at the end of “Gem of the Ocean” on the 8th, and prior to “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” on the 9th. Thank you for your understanding.

Gem of the Ocean-  Thursday 2/8 at 8pm
Directed by: D Norris*

Eli- Garrison Douglas
Citizen Barlow- Marshall Mabry
Aunt Esther Tyler- Janean Hightower
Black Mary- Ashaunti Samms
Rutherford Selig- Asante Williams
Solly Two Kings- D Norris*
Caesar Wicks- Andre Eaton Jr.*

Black and white headshot for Janean Hightower. Black female with short hair.Black and white headshot for Ashaunti Samms. Black female with shoulder length straight hair. Black and white headshot for Asante Williams. Black male with very short hair.Black and white headshot for D Norris. Black male wearing a baseball cap.Black and white headshot for Andre Eaton Jr. Black male with short curly black hair and a mustache.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom-  Friday 2/9 at 8pm
Directed by Andre Eaton Jr.* and Ed Thompson

Ma Rainey- Celeste Campbell
Sylvester- Marsall Mabry
Cutler- Andre Eaton Jr*
Slow Drag- Donte Jenkins
Levee- Horace Ceasar
Toledo- Darrell Grant
Dussie Mae- Ashaunti Samms
Sturdyvant- Dan O’Brien
Irving- Lee Jones
Police Officer- Dan O’Brien

Black and white headshot for Celeste Campbell. Black female with black hair braided.Black and white headshot for Andre Eaton Jr. Black male with short curly black hair and a mustache.Black and white headshot for Donte Jenkins. Black male bald.Black and white headshot for Darrell Grant. Black male with short curly black hair and a mustache.Black and white headshot for Ashaunti Samms. Black female with shoulder length straight hair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Piano Lesson-  Saturday 2/10 8pm
Directed by D Norris*

Doaker- Darrell Grant
Boy Willie- Andre Eaton Jr*
Lymon- Horace Ceasar
Maretha- Jordan Hermitt
Bernice- Felicia Jackson
Wining Boy- Candace Whitfield
Avery- Nicholas Newton
Grace- Markia Chappelle

Black and white headshot for Darrell Grant. Black male with short curly black hair and a mustache.Black and white headshot for Andre Eaton Jr. Black male with short curly black hair and a mustache.

Black and white headshot for Nicholas Newton. Black male with short curly black hair a beard and a mustache.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seven Guitars-  Sunday 2/11 2:30pm
Directed by Andre Eaton Jr*

Floyd Barton- Nicholas Newton
Hedley- Andre Eaton Jr*
Louise- Alveta Jackson
Vera- Victoria Wilson
Red Carter- Ron English
Ruby- Jordan Hermitt
Canewell- Evan Long

Black and white headshot for Nicholas Newton. Black male with short curly black hair a beard and a mustache.Black and white headshot for Andre Eaton Jr. Black male with short curly black hair and a mustache.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fences-  Thursday 2/15 8pm
Directed by D Norris*

Troy Maxson- Darrell Grant
Jim Bono- Timothy Hampton
Rose- Alveta Jackson
Lyons- Horace Ceasar
Cory- Marshall Mabry
Gabriel- Nicholas Newton
Raynell- Jordan Hermitt

Black and white headshot for Darrell Grant. Black male with short curly black hair and a mustache.Black and white headshot for Nicholas Newton. Black male with short curly black hair a beard and a mustache.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Trains Running in the Same Direction- Friday 2/16 8pm
Directed by Andre Eaton Jr*

Memphis Lee- Darrell Grant
Wolf- Marshall Mabry
Holloway- Horace Ceasar
Risa- Celeste Campbell
Hambone- Kevin Tucker
West- Nicholas Newton
Sterling- Ron English

Black and white headshot for Darrell Grant. Black male with short curly black hair and a mustache. Black and white headshot for Nicholas Newton. Black male with short curly black hair a beard and a mustache.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jitney- Saturday 2/17 8pm
Directed by Andrea Hermitt and Becca Parker*

Youngblood- Andre Eaton Jr*
Booster- Darrell Grant
Rena- Kimberly Webb
Shealey- Horace Ceasar
Doub- Asante Williams
Fielding- Donte Jenkins
Turnbo- Timothy Hampton
Becker- Evan Long
Philmore: Marshall Mabry

Black and white headshot for Andre Eaton Jr. Black male with short curly black hair and a mustache. Black and white headshot for Darrell Grant. Black male with short curly black hair and a mustache. Black and white headshot for Asante Williams. Black male with very short hair. Black and white headshot for Donte Jenkins. Black male bald.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

King Headley II- Sunday 2/18  2:30pm
Directed by Andre Eaton Jr*

Headley- Timothy Hampton
Ruby- Felicia Jackson
Mister- Asante Williams
Elmore- Evan Long
Tonya- Kimberly Webb
Stool Pigeon- Joe Simpson

Black and white headshot for Asante Williams. Black male with very short hair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radio Golf- Sunday 2/25 2:30pm
Directed by: D Norris* and Becca Parker*

Harmond- Andre Eaton Jr*
Mame- Alveta Jackson
Roosevelt- Asante Williams
Sterling- Nicholas Newton
Old Joe- Evan Long

Black and white headshot for Andre Eaton Jr. Black male with short curly black hair and a mustache. Black and white headshot for Asante Williams. Black male with very short hair. Black and white headshot for Nicholas Newton. Black male with short curly black hair a beard and a mustache.

 

 

 

Project Leadership

Black and white headshot for Andrea Hermitt. Black female with long hair braided.
andrea hermitt
producer/Director

Andrea Hermitt is an Artist, a Writer, and an Education Advocate. She has blogged professionally for homeschooling and other informational websites for over a decade. She has also educated her own children in a way that heavily incorporated the arts. She found Live Arts Theatre through her love for costuming and set work, which is a wonderful application of artistic talents. Andrea also serves on the Live Arts board of directors.

Black and white headshot for Becca Parker. White female with long straight hair wearing glasses.
becca parker
artistic director

Becca Parker is the Founding Artistic Director of Live Arts Theatre. Becca is a teaching artist who is active at the local, state, and national level. Becca leads the Directing, Stage Management, and Dramaturgy Intensives.She founded Live Arts as a place for all, and is excited to be working with such an awesome team to bring this project to life.

Black and white headshot for Andre Eaton Jr. Black male with short curly black hair and a mustache.
andre eaton jr
DIRECTing intensive artist and member of LAT Pro Company

Andre Eaton Jr is a graduate of Georgia State University. He received a taste of directing in the required directing classes for theatre majors where he directed scenes from Doubt, and Harlem Duet.  The majority of his experience with directing comes from acting in various show with a variety of different kinds of directors each with their own ways of working. Through this apprenticeship he hopes to  discover a new skill set that will help hone his skills as an Actor and as a newfound director.

Black and white headshot for D Norris. Black male wearing a baseball cap.
D norris
DIRECTING INTENSIVE ARTIST and member of LAT pro company

D Norris has been involved with performing, directing, and choreographing locally for a number of years. You may remember D as Cecil in Stealing Home, or as Dracula. When not at the theatre, you can find D teaching salsa dance. D is looking forward to honing his skills as a director in the Live Arts Intensive program.

Black and white headshot for Ed Thompson. White male with short hair wearing glasses.
ed thompson
DIRECTING INTENSIVE ARTIST

Edward Thompson is a native of Gwinnett County who has a Bachelor’s degree in political science. He has long been a supporter of Live Arts Theatre, and began attending shows in 2013. After a few seasons of supporting the organization as an audience member, he began acting which eventually lead to him becoming a board member for the theatre. He is excited to be broadening his horizons as a director in the LAT Intensive program.