FRIDAY 5 (+1): Actors Bridge Ensemble's CITIZEN: AN AMERICAN LYRIC
By: Jeffrey Ellis Mar. 22, 2019
Opening tonight at Actors Bridge Ensemble's Darkhorse Chapel is Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine, adapted for the stage by Stephen Sachs and directed by Jon Royal, running through March 31.
As a play, Citizen: An American Lyric is described as "a searing, poetic riff on race in America, fusing prose, poetry, movement, music, and the visual image. Snapshots, vignettes, on the acts of everyday racism. Some of these encounters are slights, seeming slips of the tongue, and some are intentional offensives in the classroom, at the supermarket, at home, on the tennis court with Serena Williams, online, on TV-everywhere, all the time. Those "did-that-really-just-happen-did-they-really-just-say-that" slurs that happen every day and enrage in the moment and later steep poisonously in the mind. And, of course, those larger incidents that become national or international firestorms. As Rankine writes, 'This is how you are a citizen.'"
Four members of Royal's ensemble of actors - Breanna Booker, Alicia Haymer, DéYonté Jenkins and Shawn Whitsell - made time this week, amid the hustle and bustle and general bedlam of technical rehearsals to give us some insight into the factors and events that led them to the theater and to share with readers the reasons why they think you should see Citizen: An American Lyric.
Read more about the actors and their production in the return of Friday 5 (+1):
Breanna Booker
What was your first "live, onstage" taste of theater? The first professional production I remember seeing was The Lion King in 2006. I'd seen community shows and other local theatrical performances before, but that show really captured me. I realized there were people out there who made a career of creating art and telling stories, and that's something I've always loved to do. At that moment I became fully aware that theatre could be more than a hobby if I wanted it to be. It was a legitimate career path, just like a doctor, or lawyer.
What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I enjoy loosening up with music before shows, it helps me get out of my head.
What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? I was a Dynamite in a production of Hairspray. For the number "Welcome to 60's," the Dynamites enter the scene via turning platform. The platform is shaped like a life-sized Barbie box. When it's time for our entrance, the platform gets stuck mid-turn! We ended up just stepping over the platform and walking out, but we had a hard time keeping it together from laughing. On another night, a fellow Dynamite let out a mean fart while in the box. She decided to do so minutes before we were supposed to sing. That was intense.
What's your dream role? Since I can't decide my dream role, you get to hear all three: Sharon Graham in Master Class, Deena Jones in Dreamgirls and/or Evilene from The Wiz. You're welcome.
Who's your theatrical crush? Norm Lewis and Daveed Diggs look mighty fine to me.
Why should people come see Citizen: An American Lyric? Citizen offers viewers an opportunity to explore racism through the American lens. The show takes an interesting perspective on how racial biases impact the daily lives of minorities on a micro level. Citizen can open up the conversation and allow audiences to reflect on how each of us, white or black, participate in or perpetuate a system that oppresses so many.
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What was your first "live, onstage" taste of theater? I wrote my first one woman show at 16, and performed it right upstairs on the Darkhorse stage, as part of a variety show.
What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I always dance right before I step on stage. It releases the last minute jitters!
What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? I once spilled an entire tray of filled champagne flutes all over myself, and the stage. I yelled an expletive in character, and kept going. The next night, the tray was pre-set!
What's your dream role? A Raisin in the Sun is one of my absolute favorite pieces of work. When I was younger, it was Benetha, but now, it's Ruth.
Who's your theatrical crush? Me. I am my theatrical crush.
Why should people come see Citizen: An American Lyric? Because of its relevance, it's truthfulness, it's beauty and it's pain. Everyone will leave changed, if they come with an open mind.
DéYonté Jenkins
What was your first "live, onstage" taste of theater? The Wizard of Oz.
What is your favorite pre-show ritual? Listening to music and doing 25 push-ups.
What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? Popping in a CD of Queen's Greatest Hits 2 and skipping to track 16!
What's your dream role? I really want to be a Bond villian or the killer in a horror movie.
Who's your theatrical crush? Kristen McCalley-Landiss.
Why should people come see Citizen: An American Lyric? To get a chance to explore new depths of the human experience.
Shawn Whitsell
What was your first "live, onstage" taste of theater? This wasn't my first taste of live, onstage theatre but I remember doing a play in the third or fourth grade. I was one of the supporting characters. The male lead was sick or hurt and the teachers didn't know if he'd return to school in time to do the show. I remember overhearing the teachers discussing how I was the best person to take over the lead role. I ended up not having to do it because my classmate returned but I will never forget the confidence my teachers instilled in me, simply by believing I could do it.
What is your favorite pre-show ritual? Gathering with the cast to pray or spread positive energy or laugh or whatever we decide to do that will center and connect us, and help carry us through our performance.
What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? I have a few. I directed a play and we had a great run. We decided to stage it again, but the male lead had moved out of town. He was going to fly in for it but at the last minute, he wasn't able to make it. I had about three days to step in. It helped that I had directed the show, but it was still hard to learn all those lines in such a short time frame. My character is blindfolded for most of the play so not being able to see made things even more difficult. It made me realize how much we rely on being able to facial expressions or where someone is standing. My hearing went up several notches because I was subconsciously relying on sounds to help guide me. It was a challenge that turned out well.
What's your dream role? I want to play a musical icon. I love biopics like The Jacksons: American Dream, The Temptations, The New Edition Story.
Who's your theatrical crush? I don't have a crush per se, but I love Jeffrey Wright. He's brilliant. I'd go see him onstage any day.
Why should people come see Citizen: An American Lyric? Because it turns a mirror to society. I think "Citizen" is going to enlighten so many minds. I think it will inspire people to make changes in their thinking and interactions.
About Citizen: An American Lyric
Actors Bridge Ensemble presents the Nashville premiere of Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine, adapted for the stage by Stephen Sachs and directed by Jon Royal, March 22-31, at the Actors Bridge Studio at Darkhorse Chapel.
Published in 2014 as a book of poetry and prose, Citizen: An American Lyric won numerous awards including the National Book Critics Circle Award in Poetry, Los Angeles Times Book Prize, NAACP Image Award, the PEN Open Book Award and was listed as one of the best books of the year by The New Yorker, Boston Globe, The Atlantic, BuzzFeed, NPR. Los Angeles Times, Publishers Weekly, Slate, Time Out New York and many others.
As a play, Citizen: An American Lyric is described as "a searing, poetic riff on race in America, fusing prose, poetry, movement, music, and the visual image. Snapshots, vignettes, on the acts of everyday racism. Some of these encounters are slights, seeming slips of the tongue, and some are intentional offensives in the classroom, at the supermarket, at home, on the tennis court with Serena Williams, online, on TV-everywhere, all the time. Those "did-that-really-just-happen-did-they-really-just-say-that" slurs that happen every day and enrage in the moment and later steep poisonously in the mind. And, of course, those larger incidents that become national or international firestorms. As Rankine writes, 'This is how you are a citizen.'"
"For me, Citizen: An American Lyric is a collective reflection," says director Jon Royal. "It's what happens when you take the time and remember the accumulated, seemingly small ways you have been dehumanized, or othered over the course of your life. You simultaneously question your sanity while questioning why you didn't behave differently in every single moment. I think everyone needs insight into this because we are all sharing space together."
Royal's cast includes Briana Booker, Jack Chambers, Alicia Haymer, DéYonté Jenkins, and Shawn Whitsell. Citizen: An American Lyric is produced by Cynthia Harris and Vali Forrister. Jon Ryal directs, with stage Management by Kat Tierney-Smith, lighting design by Richard Davis of Ardee Design Group, projection design by Alex Drinnen, sound design by Jack Chambers and costume Design by Colleen Garatoni. Videography is by Eden Gerlock and Evan Mattingly, and photography by Rick Malkin
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, MARCH 22 at 7:30 P.M.; SATURDAY, MARCH 23 at 7:30 P.M.; SUNDAY, MARCH 24 at 6 P.M.; WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 at 7:30 P.M.; THURSDAY, MARCH 28 at 7:30 P.M.; FRIDAY, MARCH 29 at T 7:30 P.M.; SATURDAY, MARCH 30 at 7:30 P.M.; and SUNDAY, MARCH 31 at 6 P.M. Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 at the door; and students with a valid ID are $20. For tickets, go to https://citizen-nashville.eventbrite.com/
Free parking is available on 47th Avenue, in the lower lot behind McDonald's at 47th and Alabama Avenue, in the SunTrust lot at 46th and Charlotte Avenue and in Richland Park.
Actors Bridge Ensemble strives to make our performances and facilities accessible to all our patrons. Due to the intimate size of our venues, we have a limited number of accessible seats; please indicate any special needs when purchasing tickets. You can reach us by phone at 615-498-4077 or email at vali@actorsbridge.org
ABOUT Claudia Rankine Recipient of the 2016 MacArthur Fellowship, Claudia Rankine is the author of five collections of poetry including Citizen: An American Lyric and Don't Let Me Be Lonely; two plays including Provenance of Beauty: A South Bronx Travelogue; and is the editor of several anthologies including The Racial Imaginary: Writers on Race in the Life of the Mind. Her first published play, The White Card, is forthcoming with Graywolf Press in 2019. She also co-produces a video series, "The Situation," alongside John Lucas, and is the founder of the Open Letter Project: Race and the Creative Imagination. Among her numerous awards and honors, Rankine is the recipient of the Poets & Writers' Jackson Poetry Prize and fellowships from the Lannan Foundation and the National Endowment of the Arts.
ABOUT Stephen Sachs Stephen Sachs is an award-winning playwright and director and the co-Artistic Director of the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles, which he co-founded in 1990. He is the author of fourteen produced plays, including his Deaf/Hearing love story, Arrival & Departure (Critic's Choice, Los Angeles Times), his stage adaptation of William Goldman's screenplay for All the President's Men, his stage adaptation of Claudia Rankine's Citizen: An American Lyric, and Bakersfield Mist (2012 Elliot Norton Award, Best New Play).
ABOUT ACTORS BRIDGE ENSEMBLE For 24 years, Actors Bridge has been telling stories Nashville needs to hear as we produce socially conscious plays, create new work, train theater artists, and expand what counts as theater in our community. We are locally born and bred with a deep commitment to reflecting our city back to herself. We offer a home for emerging artists to develop their voice and for established artists to take new risks. We have produced over 100 plays, including 14 world premieres and 80 Nashville premieres. Actors Bridge is the home of Act Like a GRRRL. The company is led by co-founder Vali Forrister. For more information, go to www.actorsbridge.org.
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