Four Local Children Cast in Berkeley Rep's 'Come and Gone'

At Berkeley Repertory Theatre, acclaimed actor Delroy Lindo is returning to the powerful play that earned him a Tony nomination – Joe Turner's Come and Gone by August Wilson – and, as the show's director, he has chosen four local children to perform with a cast of accomplished professionals.

"The children in this show represent the future," Delroy remarks. "They are the next generation in the evolution of people of African decent on this continent. They have critical scenes in this story and I look forward to exploring them with these talented young actors."

Each of these four lucky kids already has some experience as a performer:

* An eighth-grader at Oakland School for the Arts, 12-year-old Keanu Beausier of Oakland appeared in a film for Cinema Sports and has performed with the Akat Dance Troupe for several seasons.
* A sixth-grader at Pleasanton Middle School, 10-year-old Inglish Amore Hills of Pleasanton won third place in both the singing and hip-hop competitions at last summer's Alameda County Fair.
* An eighth-grader at Berkley Maynard Academy, 11-year-old Victor McElhaney of Oakland is a percussionist who performs with African Roots of Jazz and Sdouae. He has been the solo opening act at venues such as Oakland's Art & Soul Festival and Yoshi's Jazz Club.
* A fifth-grader at Montclair Elementary School, 10-year-old Nia Reneé Warren of Oakland recently played the lead in High School Musical 2 with Moonlight Productions. She is also the lead singer for the band One Hour Parking.

 Inglish and Nia share the role of Zonia Loomis, the daughter of the protagonist, while Keanu and Victor alternate as Zonia's friend, Reuben Mercer. They are acting alongside – and learning from – experienced actors including Teagle F. Bougere, Kenya Broome, Don Guillory, Dan Hiatt, Barry Shabaka Henley, Brent Jennings, Erica Peeples, and Kim Staunton.

"Joe Turner's Come and Gone is an intoxicatingly hopeful blend of history, mystery, myth, ribald humor, music, dance, and enduring faith," raves the Chicago Reader. Haunted by seven years on a chain gang, Herald Loomis appears in Pittsburgh to reunite his family. Surrounded by the vibrant tenants of a black boarding house, he fights for his soul and his song in the dawning days of a century without slavery. "Wilson gives haunting voice to the souls of the American dispossessed," declares the New York Times. "The clash between the American and the African shakes white and black theatergoers as violently as it has shaken the history we've all shared."

See Joe Turner before it's gone. Tickets start at only $27, thanks to exciting new prices that let more people experience the best theatre in the Bay Area. Additional savings are available for groups, seniors, students, and anyone under 30 years of age – meaning discounted seats can be obtained for as little as $13.50. Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre is located at 2015 Addison Street, near bus lines, bike routes, and parking lots – and only half a block from BART. For tickets or information, call 510.647.2949 or toll-free at 888-4-BRT-Tix – or simply click berkeleyrep.org.

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