Cast

• Kadahj Bennett
  Br'Er Rabbit/Ratts
  
• Elle Borders
  Minnie
  
• Harsh Gagoomal
  Assistant/Pete/Paul
  
• Brandon Green
  BJJ
  
• Bridgette Hayes
  Dora
  
• Shawna M James
  Zoe
  
• Obehi Janice
  Dido
  
• Amelia Lumpkin
  Grace
  
• Brooks Reeves
  Playwright/Wahnotee/LaFouche
  

PLAYWRIGHT & PRODUCTION STAFF

• Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
  Playwright
• Summer L. Williams
  Director
• Ramona Ostrowski
  Dramaturg
• Christopher Brusberg
  Lighting Designer
• Amanda Mujica
  Costume Design
• Christopher & Justin Swader
  Scenic Design
• David Wilson
  Sound Design
• Anita Shriver
  Properties Design
• Johnathan Carr
  Projection Designer
• Kevin Parker
  Technical Director
• Karen Kopryanski
  Vocal & Dialect Coach
• Lynn Wilcott
  Special Effects Designer
• Andrew Kenneth Moss
  Fight Choreographer
• Julie Langevin
  Stage Manager
• Lindsey Anderson
  Assistant Stage Manager
• Emily Brown
  Assistant Stage Manager
• Tehya Saylor
  Assistant Stage Management Intern
• Mike Kilduff
  Board Operator
• Kathryn Ballinger
  Wardrobe Supervisor

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  Kadahj Bennett
  Kadahj is delighted to be returning to the C1 stage. Recent credits include Tyler from THE HALLS (web series, Beyond Measure Productions), and Hank from HOW WE GOT ON (Company One). Kadahj is a Posse Scholar, graduate of Hamilton College and Boston Arts Academy alum. Currently a teaching artist in the Boston area, Kadahj moonlights as a lyricist/vocalist for two bands, Danceluja (Boston) & the Downbeat Keys (Brooklyn).

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  Elle Borders
  Elle is happy to be back working with her Company One family. Recent roles include Bianca/ Montana in OTHELLO (Actor's Shakespeare Project), Finn in TURTLES (Boston Public Works), She in 27 TIPS FOR BANISHING THE BLUES (Sleeping Weazel), and Actor 6/ Black Woman WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT A PRESENTATION... (Company One). BFA- Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. ILYGG!

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  Harsh Gagoomal
  Harsh is so grateful to be joining Company One and ArtsEmerson to help bring to life this special play. Previous acting credits include SALOMÉ (Bridge Rep), QUIXOTE IN KABUL (Instituto Cervantes/BU), and A DISAPPEARING NUMBER (URT). Harsh is a graduate of Emerson College’s program in Theatre Studies (‘13). He will next appear in The Nora Theatre Company’s ARCADIA. Much love to Prashina, Anuja, Mom and Dad.

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  Brandon Green
  Brandon G. Green is an actor/poet/playwright from Selma, AL, currently residing in Boston. Brandon made his Boston debut with Company One & Arts Emerson's production of WE ARE PROUD...He has also worked with Cape Rep, Nora/Underground Railway,Lyric Stage, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Huntington Theatre Company, Mad Dash, Boston Theatre Marathon, and 3050 Music Group. Alabama State University - BA. Brandeis University - MFA. ILYLG

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  Bridgette Hayes
  Bridgette Hayes is a Boston-based theatre artist and an Artistic Associate of Bridge Repertory Theater of Boston. Recent credits: THE LOVE OF THE NIGHTINGALE (Hub Theatre), RADIUM GIRLS (Flat Earth Theatre), JULIUS CAESAR (Bridge Rep), HEDDA GABLER (Longwood), FROM DENMARK WITH LOVE (Vaquero Playground), AND NEITHER HAVE I WINGS TO FLY (Bad Habit). She holds a BFA in Acting from Boston University, a Certificate of Classical Acting from LAMDA, and is finishing a Masters in Dramatic Arts at Harvard. www.thebridgettehayes.com

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  Shawna M James
  Shawna Michelle James is thrilled to be making her Company One debut with this stunning piece of theatre. Recent credits include EVERY FIVE MINUTES (Magic Theatre SF), 44 PLAYS FOR 44 PRESIDENTS (Interlochen Rep), Ken Ludwig’s MIDSUMMER/JERSEY (Interlochen Rep). She is a two time recipient of the Maddy Summer Artist Award for Theatre at Interlochen Arts Camp. She is a BFA Theatre Arts candidate at Boston University’s School of Theatre. Thank you to Mom, Dad, Brandon, and her BU SOT family for their unwavering love and support.

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  Obehi Janice
  www.obehijanice.com​
  Obehi is an actress, writer, and comedian from Lowell, Massachusetts, and is the TCG Fox Foundation Resident Actor at Company One Theatre. Recent credits include MR G (Underground Railway Theater), her solo play FUFU & OREOS (Bridge Rep), ARABIAN NIGHTS (Central Square Theater), IT FELT EMPTY (Theatre on Fire), and SPLENDOR (Company One). She is a graduate of Georgetown University. The Improper Bostonian named her “Boston’s Best Actress” in 2014. Upcoming projects include WE’RE GONNA DIE (Company One & A.R.T).

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  Amelia Lumpkin
  Amelia is honored to return to Company One’s stage after SHOCKHEADED PETER and SHELTER OF LAST RESORT. She was seen most recently in Jacqui Parker’s A CRACK IN THE BLUE WALL, HENRIETTA, THE WILDS and Urban Bush Women’s Summer Leadership Institute in New Orleans. Stage credits include title roles in Apollinaire Theater’s BOCÓN and Open Theatre Project’s HENRY AND VANESSA: UNBOUND. Thanks to BJJ, this brave cast & crew, and those who support me from near and far!

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  Brooks Reeves
  Brooks Reeves previously performed in Company One's SHOCKHEADED PETER and won the 2015 IRNE award for Best Supporting Actor (small company). Recent credits include ARABIAN NIGHTS (Central Square), BOYS IN THE BAND (Zeitgeist), JULIUS CAESAR (Bridge Rep), NEVILLE'S ISLAND (Stoneham Theatre), MIDSUMMER (Apollinaire), BENT (Zeitgeist), STUPID FUCKING BIRD (Apollinaire), TWO WRONGS (Brown Box), THE LIBERTINE (Bridge Rep), BLACK COMEDY (Happy Medium), and CLOSER (Bad Habit). His play THE CITY THAT CRIED WOLF will be revived in New York in 2016.

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  Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
  Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' plays include Neighbors (The Public Theater), Appropriate (Actors Theatre of Louisville, Victory Gardens Theater, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, and Signature Theatre in New York, Spring 2014), An Octoroon (Soho Rep, Spring 2014), and War. He is currently a Residency Five playwright at Signature Theatre and a Lila Acheson Wallace Fellow at The Juilliard School. Additionally, his work has been or will be seen at the Vineyard Theatre, The Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles, Company One in Boston, and the HighTide Festival in the United Kingdom. He has taught at New York University and Queens University of Charlotte, and his honors include a Paula Vogel Award, a Helen Merrill Award, and the inaugural Tennessee Williams Award. He holds an M.A. in Performance Studies.

• Summer L. Williams
  Please visit the Company One Theatre Staff page to view bio.

• Ramona Ostrowski
  Please visit the Company One Theatre Staff page to view bio.

• Christopher Brusberg
  Christopher has worked regionally with the following Boston area companies: New Repertory Theatre, Lyric Stage Company, Central Square Theater, Guerilla Opera, A.R.T. Institute, Boston Midsummer Opera, Boston Center for American Performance, and Boston Opera Collaborative. Chris has also designed with the following educational institutions: Vassar College, Cal Lutheran University, The Boston Conservatory, Northeastern University, and Worcester State College. In addition to designing Chris has assisted designers at Opera Boston, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, and The Huntington Theater Company.

• Amanda Mujica
  Amanda is making her Company One debut. She is delighted to be working with Summer Williams again, having designed costumes for Lyric Stage’s INTIMATE APPAREL. Most recently, Amanda has been designing for Boston’s newest opera company-- Odyssey Opera; her work includes POWDER HER FACE, THE ZOO, MISS HAVISHAM’S WEDDING, and WATER BIRD TALK. She is a Boston-based designer and seamstress creating pieces for dance, special events and film. She earned a B.S. History, Carnegie Mellon University. www.amandamujicadesign.com

• Christopher & Justin Swader
  Christopher & Justin are New York-based scenic designers and thrilled to be returning to Boston. Company One: THE DISPLACED HINDU GODS TRILOGY. Recent NY designs include: THE TALL GIRLS (Luna Stage), THE TEMPEST (Classical Theatre of Harlem), A FOREIGN BODY (The Orchard Project), CLYBOURNE PARK (Shadowland Theatre), A PERFECT GANESH (Luna Stage), THE 7 1/2 MYSTERIES OF TOULOUSE MCLANE (Park Avenue Armory / Trusty Sidekick), DUTCHMAN (Classical Theatre of Harlem). Graduates of Ball State University. www.cjswaderdesign.com

• David Wilson
  David Wilson has designed lighting or sound for over 350 productions of opera, theater, concert and dance. Company One designs include NEIGHBORS and BOOK OF GRACE. Other designs include Actors' Shakespeare Project, Boston Playwrights, Central City Opera, Commonwealth Shakespeare Co, Company One, Dibble Dance, Gloucester Stage, Lyric Stage, Merrimack Rep, Moonbox, New Rep, Nora, North Shore Music Theater, Reagle Music Theater, Stoneham, Shakespeare and Co and Wheelock Family Theater. He has been nominated multiple times for IRNE, Norton and other awards, and received the Norton Award for Outstanding Design, Large Company for CSC's COMEDY OF ERRORS. DW-Design.com

• Anita Shriver
  Anita Shriver previously worked with Company One on THE FLICK (Elliot Norton Award: Outstanding Design). Previous properties design credits include: Guerilla Opera’s GALLO (ArtsImpulse Theatre Award: Best Opera), GIVER OF LIGHT, BOVINUS REX. Previous set design credits include: Bridge Rep Theatre’s SIXTY MILES TO SILVER LAKE, FUFU & OREOS; Fresh Ink Theatre’s 123. In addition to various theatre design projects, Anita also works with Koo de Kir Interior Architecture providing high-end interior design to residential and commercial clientele.

• Johnathan Carr
  This is Johnathan Carr's first show with Company One. Credits include: PIPPIN (American Repertory Theater), BY THE WAY MEET VERA STARK, INTO THE WOODS, RED HOT PATRIOT, CITY OF ANGELS (Lyric Stage Company); H4 (Resonance Ensemble, NYC); SAME RIVER (Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble, NYC); THE MAN WHO MISTOOK HIS WIFE FOR A HAT (Harvard); THE HOME FRONT, A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS (Wellesley College). He also organizes the Boston chapter of StoryCode.

• Kevin Parker
  Kevin is glad to be returning to Company One Theatre, having worked in technical direction (SHOCKHEADED PETER, THE FLICK), production management (WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT…, SPLENDOR, HOW WE GOT ON), and stage management (EDITH CAN SHOOT THINGS AND HIT THEM) with C1 in the past. Last summer, Kevin was the Technical Director for Gloucester Stage Company. He has also worked with SpeakEasy Stage, Boston Children’s Theatre, and Bad Habit Productions, among many other Boston companies and schools. Kevin is the Student Activities Coordinator at Concord Academy, and holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Northeastern University. www.kevindeaneparker.com

• Karen Kopryanski
  Karen is thrilled to be coaching for Company One for the first time. She has served on the voice and speech faculty at The Boston Conservatory for ten years, teaching voice, dialects, devising theatre, and Shakespeare in the BFA and MFA programs. She has coached for Actor’s Shakespeare Project, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Boston College, Tufts University, and the Moscow Art Theatre; and has taught at the American Repertory Theatre, Harvard Extension School, Brandeis University, Suffolk University, Teachers as Scholars, the Museum School for the Fine Arts, and Indiana University. Karen received her MFA from the American Repertory Theatre/Moscow Art Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre Training, is an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework, and a member of AEA and VASTA.

• Lynn Wilcott
  Lynn is thrilled to be back with C1! She previously designed the special effects for GREEN EYES, HOOKMAN, and most recently, DRY LAND. Other effects credits include MOJO, BLACKADDER II: LIVE, BLACKADDER GOES FOURTH: LIVE and ACT A LADY (Theatre on Fire), GOREFEST VII, VIII, IX, and X (Improv Boston); and several short films for the Boston 48 Hour Film Project. She would like to thank her gorgeous family and hilarious friends for their continued support and inspiration.

• Andrew Kenneth Moss
  Andrew is pleased to make his Company One debut with AN OCTOROON. Previous Boston Credits: A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (The Huntington Theatre Company), DON GIOVANNI (Boston Lyric Opera), I PURITANI (BLO). International Credits: PORGY & BESS (75th Anniversary International Tour), ARMIDA (The Metropolitan Opera), WEST SIDE STORY (Agder Teater Norway). Regional Credits: FOREVER DUSTY (New World Stages), DEAD MAN WALKING (Central City Opera), CARMEN (CCO), SHOW BOAT (Denver Center). Often found walking his two dogs with his amazing wife.

• Julie Langevin
  Julie Marie Langevin (Production Stage Manager): Julie is psyched to be back at C1, where she made her professional Boston stage management debut. Past C1 shows include: SHE KILLS MONSTERS, BENGAL TIGER…, AND HOOKMAN. Other favorite productions include: APPROPRIATE, MOTHERS AND SONS, & NECESSARY MONSTERS (SpeakEasy Stage), PLAYHOUSE CREATURES (Maiden Phoenix), THE UNBLEACHED AMERICAN & THE SECRET GARDEN (Stoneham Theatre), A CHORUS LINE & ANNIE (Interlakes Summer Theatre). Julie is currently the Associate Production Manager for SpeakEasy Stage in Boston.

• Lindsey Anderson
  Lindsey is thrilled to be working on her first show with Company One. Past credits include DISTANT NEIGHBORS (Sound Designer) SHIVER (Sound Designer) CLYBOURNE PARK (Sound Designer) and CHALK (Assistant Stage Manager). When she's not assistant stage managing or sound designing, she can be found at a concert, eating pizza and/or suggesting new music for people. She’s beyond thankful to her friends and family for their support, and to Company One for this rad opportunity!

• Emily Brown
  Emily is a recent graduate from McGill University, where she majored in English Drama. During her time in Montreal she studied and worked in theatres in a variety of capacities, including stage management, production management, technical design, directing, collaborative development, and performance. Emily moved to Boston as a theatre practitioner who pursues shows that inspire community dialogue and engagement. She is thrilled to be an assistant stage manager for Company One's production of An Octoroon!

• Tehya Saylor
  Tehya is a senior at Boston University. She is trilled to have the opportunity to work on AN OCTOROON, her first show with Company One. During Tehya’s time at BU she has worked on many productions with Stage Troupe and BU On Broadway. Most recently she worked as a technical director for SEUSSICAL, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS and WHO’S AFRIAD OF VIRGINIA WOOLF and as a stage manager for YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN.

• Mike Kilduff
  Mike Kilduff Is a Local Artist working in the Boston and South Shore area. Mike has BFA in Theatre Technology and Design from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. During the 2014 and 2015 seasons Mike has worked as the resident sound designer and engineer at Riverside Theatre Works in Hyde park, where notably he worked on Le Mis and Scrooge The Musical. Mike loves the history, culture and art present throughout Boston.

• Kathryn Ballinger
  Kathryn is a freelance seamstress and costumer in the Boston area. She is thrilled to return to Company One after working with them on COLOSSAL this summer (Costume Assistant). She is a graduate of McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.

>>DRAMATURGY BLOG 

Want a peak into the rehearsal room? Click here to check out our dramaturgy blog for insight into the play and production process. Don’t see what your looking for? Ask a dramaturg!

>>POST SHOW PANELS

Following the Sunday, February 14th performance: Dramaturg Ramona Ostrowski and guests Lynne Layton from the Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis and Professor Sunil Swaroop of Emerson College will explore the ways that depictions of race and nationality can inform American perceptions of identity and belonging.

Stay tuned for information on special events!

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