Constellations & Crossroads

ARENA PLAYERS & BALTIMORE ROCK OPERA SOCIETY PRESENT about the showThe ability to adapt and collaborate with others is crucial in today’s rapidly evolvingclimate. The arts must be reactive to the world around them, and our work as performingartists must reflect not only the city of Baltimore today, but the city we hope it becomes.We stand now at the crossroads with our eyes set on the shining constellations of thefuture.Although these shows were originally created as BROS productions, these two verydifferent musical theater pieces now sing together under the banner of both BROS andArena Players. They represent a collective desire to reach out of each of our comfortzones and a small step towards desegregating the arts in our city, where entrenchedsystems often keep white and black patrons and artists in separate lanes. We hopethese shows help defeat ingrained stereotypes and cliches that we all carry around withus. What are typical subjects of African-American theater? Who listens to rock and rollthese days? Who are the heroes of American music history? Who deserves credit forwinning the Space Race of the 1950s and 60s?These shows represent our best answers to those questions. Thanks to everyadministrator who fought for this collaboration and thanks to you for supporting usin this uphill effort. Special thanks to Baltimore Office of Promotion and Arts for theirfinancial support of this project and Debra Lenik who has been its tireless steward sinceit was first conceived. FISCAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY

RODNEY ORANGE teamCATHERINE ORANGE DONALD OWENS MANAGING DIRECTORDAVID D. MITCHELL YOUTHEATER DIRECTORCHARLENE WILLIAMSON COREYTHIA ARRINGTON ARTISTIC DIRECTORFELICIA D. CHAPPLE ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTORVICTORIA V. JACKSON ASSISTANT YOUTHEATER DIRECTORANTHONY FLUDD TRACEY ORANGE HOUSE MANAGER HOUSE STAGE MANAGER HOUSE COSTUMER FACILITY MANAGER TECHNICAL SUPPORTProduction teamARAN KEATING EXECUTIVE DIRECTORSHANNON LIGHT HADLEY MANAGING DIRECTORDEBRA LENIK PRODUCTION DIRECTORKRISTINA GREEN VOLUNTEER DIRECTORTYLER MERCHANT MARKETING DIRECTORNAOMI DAVIDOFF INTERIM DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORMATTHEW CASELLA PROMOTIONS CAPTAIN special thanksCHARLES R ARMSTRONG III FOR HIS VOCAL COACHING FOR BOTH SHOWS!ALEX FINE FOR HIS BEAUTIFUL CONSTELLATIONS & CROSSROADS POSTER! SAM SHANK OF ODD BRAIN CREATIVE FOR OUR AWESOME PROMO VIDEO! SEAN J MCCORMICK FOR HIS PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES! JOHN DE CAMPOS FOR THE ORIGINAL SHOW ILLUSTRATIONS!

determination of azimuth

Cast VALERIE LEWIS CAELYN SOMMERVILLEPRESENT KATHERINE JOHNSON PAST KATHERINE JOHNSON CHARITY JONESFLORENCE ALO SEDADOROTHY AMA TAYLOR J WASHINGTONGUIDO MICHAEL STEVENSONFIDO ROBERT HARRISCHARLIE CHRIS ASHWORTHASTRONAUT VOICES REX ANDERSON, PHIL DOCCOLO BandMUSIC DIRECTOR / GUITAR NICK JEWETTKEYS JULIUS VERZOSADRUMS CELLO SAM BALCOMBASS CHANEL WHITEHEAD CYNTHIA SCHATOFFCreative & production TeamCO-DIRECTORS LOLA B PIERSON HEATHER V GRAHAMCO-CREATORS HEATHER V GRAHAM ERIC CHURCHSTAGE MANAGER LIZ RICHARDSONCHOREOGRAPHER MARI TRAVISDRAMATURG AMA BROWNSCIENCE DRAMATURG HEATHER V GRAHAMCOMPOSERS ZACK BRANCH, JOHN ALEXANDER ROMANVOCAL COACH CHARLES R ARMSTRONGSETS DESIGNER ERIC CHURCHPROPS DESIGNER KATE SMITH-MORSECOSTUME DESIGNER JACOB DILLOWHAIR & MAKEUP DESIGNER ANNA PLATISTEAM AZIMUTH ERIK BARR, MICHAEL V BULL, TINA CROSBY, JESSIE DELAPLAINE, DARCY ELLIOTT KAMAU FAHIE, ALAN SCHNITTMAN MAX SOBOLIK, MEL TILLERYLIGHTING DESIGN CHRIS ALLENLEAD AUDIO DESIGNER BRENT TOMCHIKAUDIO CONSULT & MIXING SUPPORT CARLOS GUILLENVIDEO ANIMATION ERIC CHURCH, ANNA PLATISVIDEOGRAPHER BOB ROSEPROJECTIONIST MATTHEW “HACHI” REIDPUPPET SETS MICHAEL HARKERPUPPETS MAURA DWYERRUNNING CREW JIM STOLZENBACH, KATELYNN ZIMMERMAN

the battle at blue apple crossing From the CreatorThe Battle of Blue Apple Crossing is the black, spiritual struggle. It occurs ata crossroads next to what had been a lynching tree that sometime before borea strange fruit from a different, forgotten place. Legba arrives following theroots of the tree from Africa to the Americas with the intention of cutting thetree down and setting his people free to return home. The Devil comes to statehis case for the people to remain. His belief is that freedom, no matter the painit brings, creates all manner of art and love and is worth the suffering. Jesusarrives to clean the slate believing that all things in God’s eyes have gone wrongand should be burned down. This is the struggle of the black soul: does onereach for his roots back home, develop new roots and branch out wide, or reachupwards towards heaven? –Nairobi R Collins

CastPAPA LEGBA JAMES WATSONDEVIL CHARENCE HIGGINSJESUS VALERIE LEWIS BandGUITAR 1 ALEX FINEGUITAR 2 / DOBRO NICK JEWETTKEYS JULIUS VERZOSADRUMS SAM BALCOMBASS CYNTHIA SCHATOFFCreative & production TeamCREATOR NAIROBI R COLLINSDIRECTOR ARAN KEATINGCOMPOSER ALEX FINESTAGE MANAGER CHOREOGRAPHY LIZ RICHARDSON CHARENCE HIGGINSVOCAL DIRECTOR SET DESIGNER JAMES WATSONLEGBA’S AXE CHARLES R ARMSTRONGCOSTUME DESIGNER HAIR & MAKEUP DESIGNER ANNA PLATISTEAM CROSSROADS ANNA PLATISLIGHTING DESIGN JACOB DILLOWLEAD AUDIO DESIGNER ANNA PLATISAUDIO CONSULT & MIXING SUPPORT MICHAEL V BULLRUNNING CREW CHRIS ALLEN BRENT TOMCHIK CARLOS GUILLEN JIM STOLZENBACH KATELYNN ZIMMERMANSPECIAL THANKS TO OUR STREET TEAM, CRAFT SERVICE CHAMPIONS, LOAD IN CREW, TECH SUPPORT AND FRONT OF HOUSE!

Upcoming eventsPRAISE THE LORD AND RAISE THE ROOF: A GOSPEL COMEDY MUSICALFRIDAY MARCH 16 – SUNDAY APRIL 1The plays is a lighthearted comedy wirtten by celeste bedford walker. The play is setin a church so you know there is gospel music. The head pastor seeks to find out if theleadership of the church is ready to accept change.HOODOO LOVE: FRIDAY APRIL 13 – SUNDAY APRIL 29A tale of love, magic , jealousy and secrets in the 1930s Mississippi and Memphis.It is a blues story about having your dreams realized. Written in vivid language thatcaptures the blues.WHITE GLOVES: FRIDAY MAY 11 – SUNDAY MAY 27Granny loves to read mysteries and often falls asleep as she reads. What is in thelocked room and what about the three large trunks her nephew delivers. Upcoming eventsTHE BROS SWANKTACULAR: ANNUAL GALASATURDAY APRIL 7 @ ZION LUTHERAN CHURCHJoin the Baltimore Rock Opera Society as we host our 4th Annual Gala! Come getswanky and party for the greatest cause: the quest for True Rock!INCREDIBLY DEAD! FRIDAY MAY 11 – SUNDAY JUNE 3ZION LUTHERAN CHURCHIncredibly Dead! tells the story of Reggie and Silas Cryptz, two moronic, unscrupulousmorticians who are down on their luck. When they come across a secret chemicalcreated by a nefarious madman, they throw caution to the wind to try and save theirown skins. This is a classic B-horror romp with bad people doing bad things, and badthings happening to them!