Take Wing And Soar Productions' PECONG Closes 3/28

Take Wing And Soar Productions presents Steve Carter's PECONG starring Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, directed by Arthur French, for a Limited Engagement at the National Black Theatre thru March 28th

On a mythical Caribbean island, circa 1890, PECONG -- based on the classic Greek play, Medea -- tells a poignant tale of music, magic, laughter, betrayal, sex, power and revenge!

Steve Carter's Mediyah is a high priestess of exceptional magical power. She can give, and she can take away...that is until she falls in love with Jason, reducing her to a mere mortal, ultimately forcing her to choose between love and revenge. Join the TWAS Classical Actors of Color as they share the stage with celebrated film, television and stage actress Phyllis Yvonne Stickney* as she takes on the role of the Great Granny Root, in this riveting adaptation of a classic tale. Joining Ms. Stickney in starring roles are Joyce Sylvester*, Kim Weston Moran* & David Heron*.

Featured in the cast are Natalie Clarke, Warren Jackson*, Daralyn Jay, Aixa Kendrick*, Paul Pryce, Lily Robinson, RodeRick Warner, Karl O'BrIan Williams and introducing Lorna Haughton* as Mediyah.

Sound Design & Original live music composed and performed by David D. Wright, with Scenic Design by Palvo Bosyy, Lighting Design by James Carter, Costume Design by David Withrow.

Producer & Artistic Director of PECONG is Debra Ann Byrd. Associate Artistic Director is Timothy D. Stickney. Producer is Jackie Jeffries, Producing Assistant is Flora Gillard & Production Stage Manager is Triple 5*.

Phyllis Yvonne Stickney [Granny Root] returns to the stage in TWAS' mainstage production of PECONG. It was the stage that gave birth to her talent & allowed her to discover breath, depth & versatility as an artist. Phyllis worked at the Henry Street Settlement in a Woodie King production of Dreams Deferred early in her stage career. Ms. Stickney has graced many stages in her career making her presence as an artist worthy of note. Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater's production of Wole Soyinka"s Death and the King's Horseman was her last stage work that prepared her for the cameras of Hollywood. Ms. Stickney is a chameleon artist more widely recognized for her film roles, including New Jack City, Jungle Fever, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, What's Love Got to Do With It?, The Ink Well & How Stella Got Her Groove Back.

Steve Carter [Playwright] is the recipient of many awards & honors for his plays including an Outer Critics Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award, the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award & the 2001 National Black Theatre Festival - Living Legend Award. His professional career as a playwright began in 1965. Some of his works include, Terraced Apartment, One Last Look, Eden, Nevis Mountain Dew, Dame Lorraine & PECONG. In 1968, he joined the staff of the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) where he would become director of the NEC Playwrights Workshop. In 1981, Carter left NEC to become the first playwright-in-residence at the Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago. During his illustrious career, Mr. Carter has received recognition from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation & the New York State Council on the Arts.

Arthur French [Director] is a director & actor who has appeared regularly on & off Broadway & in movies & television for more than forty years. During his career, French has performed in plays by Lonne Elder III, Ron Milner & August Wilson; a list which, including Ward, encompasses many contemporary African American Playwrights. While French's broad body of work in theatre includes acting in everything from Death of a Salesman with George C. Scott & Shakespeare's King Lear to Melvin Van Peebles' Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death, he has also appeared in films including Malcolm X, Crooklyn, Car Wash, Round Midnight, Kinsey & on television in "Law and Order," as well as in commercials. He has directed, among others, the South African playwright Lungelo Mvusi's Just Won't; Marjorie Elliott's Branches from the Same Tree; Clifford Mason's Two Bourgeois Blacks; George Bernard Shaw's The Village Wooing; Steve Carter's One Last Look; Rudy Gray's Chameleon; Estelle Ritchie's Love You to Pieces & Wole Soyinka's Strong Breed for which he garnered two Audience Development Committee (AUDELCO) nominations. Along with the AUDELCO nominations & much critical acclaim, French won the Obie for "Sustained Excellence of Performance" in 1997. His directing credits include productions at New Federal Theatre, La Mama ETC & Theatre Studios Inc. among others. He received a Best Director AUDELCO Award for his Classical Theatre of Harlem production of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

Timothy D. Stickney [Associate Artistic Director] has been a theater professional for more than twenty years; working with Take Wing And Soar Productions since its inaugural season. Timothy has led award-nominated productions of Richard III, Hamlet & directed this season's Macbeth and last year's King Lear for TWAS, as well as directing gender bending workshops of Julius Caesar & Othello & taking on the position of Associate Artistic Director for the company.

Take Wing And Soar Productions, Inc., founded in 1999 by classically trained actress Debra Ann Byrd, is a women-led, New York State, 501(c) 3 Professional Theatre Arts Corporation, dedicated to supporting women, youth & especially classically trained actors of color. In its brief history, Take Wing And Soar Productions has enjoyed many successes including the creation of The TWAS Theatre Project, The TWAS Classical Lab Reading Series, The Take Wing And Soar "Spirit of Excellence Awards" & the Hackney Harlem International Youth Project. The theatre company is the 2009-2010 recipient of the LPTW Lucille Lortel Award, presented in recognition of the theatre's body of work in the community, audience development in Harlem - and in celebration of the "International Exchange Program" between Take Wing And Soar Productions & London's Hackney Empire Theatre. Other honors include 14 AUDELCO Award nominations for its mainstage productions of Richard III, The Darker Face Of The Earth, Hamlet, Medea & King Lear. PECONG is TWAS' twenty-fifth production & seventh main stage project. Thanks to the generosity & support of Dr. Barbara Ann Teer, TWAS Inc. has been a professional theatre company in residence at the National Black Theatre for the past six years. For more information about TWAS Inc., visit us online at www.takewingandsoar.org

*Denotes Member AEA

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