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 First
Charter Bank and Pride Communications Present
GEM
OF THE OCEAN
by August Wilson
(Tony
Nominated Best Play of 2004
and winner of multiple Tony’s)
Feb 8-March 1, 2008 |
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ABOUT THE PLAY
Gem of the Ocean (Tony
Nominated Best Play of 2004 and winner of multiple Tony’s) by two-time
Pulitzer Prize –winning playwright August Wilson is chronologically the
first installment in Wilson's distinguished series. Set in 1904, Gem of the
Ocean offers the first glimpse of Aunt Ester, a 285-year-old wise woman
referred to in several Wilson plays. The drama follows Citizen Barlow, a
young man in spiritual turmoil, who comes to Aunt Ester seeking true
freedom. Ester, the community's healer, sends Barlow on a soaring magical
journey across history and time to the City of Bones to discover his own
spiritual link to his culture and humanity. Opens February 13-March 1. |
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MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT
 August
Wilson—born Frederick August Kittel on April 27, 1945, in the
Hill District of Pittsburgh, the son of a white German baker and a black
cleaning woman named Daisy Wilson—was one formidable and complex man.
In the two decades since MA RAINEY’S
BLACK BOTTOM brought him national attention and breakaway success in October
1984, Wilson emerged as one of American theatre's heavyweight champions.
That play, his crowning debut, launched him into a major career: He became
the first black playwright to achieve commercial success on Broadway since
Lorraine Hansberry in 1959. The nine-play odyssey he undertook—with (in the
order the plays were written) JITNEY (set in 1970s), MA RAINEY’S BLACK
BOTTOM (set in 1920s), FENCES (set in 1950s), JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE
(set in 1910s), THE PIANO LESSON (set in 1930s), TWO TRAINS RUNNING (set in
1960s), SEVEN GUITARS (set in 1940s), KING HEDLEY II (set in 1990s), and GEM
OF THE OCEAN (set in 1900s)—is visionary in size, ambition and scope.
Wilson's fame and stature rose
meteorically as the poet-dramatist assumed the various mantles of producer,
leader, public speaker and intellectual, cultural nationalist,
self-described "race man," critics' darling, provocateur, trickster-like
figure, African griot, blues artificer, inspiration, folk hero and American
icon. |
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MEET THE DIRECTOR
 Dr.
John Rogers Harris, a Persian Gulf War veteran, earned
baccalaureate and master’s degree in Performance Studies from the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his doctorate in Theatre History,
Literature and Criticism, from The Ohio State University. John produced the
world premier of JOSIAH! in Owensboro, KY, concerning abolitionist leader,
Reverend Josiah Henson. In North Carolina, he has performed in the Raleigh
Little Theatre productions of THE KING AND I, THE BOYS NEXT DOOR and A FEW
GOOD MEN, and served as dramaturg for Cape Regional Theatre’s A RAISIN IN
THE SUN. Other performances include THE MOVING OF LILA BARTON and GNAT! (The
Temple Theatre, Sanford) and A SOLDIER’S PLAY (The Contemporary American
Theatre Company, Columbus, OH). John's directing credits include DRIVING
MISS DAISY (Theatre Workshop of Owensboro), PATHWAY TO FREEDOM (Snow Camp
Historical Society), MASTER HAROLD…AND THE BOYS (RLT) and THE OHIO STATE
MURDERS (OSU Theatre). John is currently an assistant professor of Dramatic
Art at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He wishes to thank
his sons, Jack and Anderson, for their support. He especially wishes to
thank Johnson C. Smith University and the Charlotte community for bringing
his parents to Charlotte area in the early 1950s.
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MEET THE CAST
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Karen
Abercrombie
(Aunt Ester) is an award winning actress/singer/songwriter and a
Parents' Choice Award winning storyteller. Originally from
Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Karen attended the University of
Pittsburgh, where she actually had the pleasure of meeting August
Wilson the playwright of Gem of the Ocean. She later moved to New
York to study acting and is a graduate of the Academy of Dramatic
Arts in New York City.
She has performed in countless
stage productions including Off-Broadway and touring. Karen has
starred and guest starred on such T.V. shows as “Strong Medicine”,
“Ally McBeal”, “Days of Our Lives”, “Kid's Book Club”, and “Saved by
the Bell” to name a few. She also has a list of film and commercial
credits to her name. She feels extremely blessed to be a part of
such a wonderful project. |
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Kim Watson
Brooks
(Black Mary) was last seen at Actor’s Theatre as Yolanda in CROWNS.
Kim is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
and a Charlotte native. Kim has played such roles as the shaven and
pierced Vennie Lakeland in Charlotte Rep's, JAR THE FLOOR, as well
as the slithering Kaa in Children's Theatre's JUNGALBOOK. She also
played Esther in the ATC production of INTIMATE APPAREL, as well as
Vivian in the acclaimed production of A LESSON BEFORE DYING. She
loves performing for children and recently completed a four-month
tour with Lexington Children's Theatre's premiere of WHY MOSQUITOS
BUZZ. She would like to send a special thank you to her husband for
being a constant source of inspiration, support and love. |
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Joe Copley
(Rutherford Selig) is delighted make his Actor's Theatre debt at
last! He is an award-winning actor and a veteran of Charlotte
theatre, appearing in a wide range of dramatic, comedic and musical
roles including DN’T DRESS FOR DINNER, PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE,
KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, AN EMPTY PLATE AT THE CAFÉ DU
GRANDE BOEUF, and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM.
Most recently he directed
THE SUBLET EXPERIMENT for Collaborative Arts Theatre and
appeared in its production of FICTION. Joe runs Copley
Internet Systems, a Charlotte Web development firm that provides
service for many local theatre companies. "Thanks Dixie, for
everything." |
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Jeremy
DeCarlos
(Citizen Barlow) was born in Florence, SC, raised in
Columbia, SC, and now resides in Rock Hill, where he is a Theatre
major at Winthrop University. At Winthrop, Jeremy created memorable
roles in AMERICAN BUFFALO and TOP DOG/UNDER DOG.
Jeremy appeared in the
Actor’s Theatre productions of JOHNNY GUITAR, CROWNS, TAKE ME OUT,
NATURAL SELECTION, and most recently in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH.
Jeremy has been acting since the age of 13 and has appeared in a few
minor film roles. |
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Sidney
Horton
(Solly Two Kings) was last seen on stage playing Hoke in
DRIVING MISS DAISY for the Davidson Community Players. Prior to
that, Sidney played George in INTIMATE APPAREL and directed CROWNS
and A LESSON BEFORE DYING for Actor’s Theatre, winning an MTA Award
for each. Sidney works full-time at the Children’s Theatre of
Charlotte as Community Involvement and Scholarship Coordinator and
serves on the Board of Directors for the Afro-American Cultural
Center and for NCTC (North Carolina Theatre Conference). Sidney is
happy to be working with the Actor’s Theatre again and is looking
forward to working with John and this outstanding cast. Sidney is a
proud Pirate from East Carolina University. |
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Marcus
Minnard Sherman
(Caesar Wilkes) is a native of Charleston, South Carolina. He
matriculated at South Carolina State University and received a
Bachelor of Science in Professional Dramatic Arts and Musical
Theatre. His resume boasts numerous professional affiliations
throughout the United States. He has performed and toured with
several renowned companies: The Houston Grand Opera, Michigan Opera
Theatre Company, Opera Omaha, Cairo Egypt Opera House, Opera
Carolina, The Ensemble Theatre (Houston, Texas) and Theatre Under
the Stars (Houston, Texas). Gem of the Ocean marks his debut with
Actors Theatre of Charlotte. A few of his credits include: LA
CLEMENZA DE TITO, PARSIFAL, SHOWBOAT, PORGY AND BESS, THE MARRIAGE
OF FIGARO, THE PASSION OF JONATHAN WADE, STREAMERS, THE WIZARD OF
OZ, AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’, A CHORUS LINE, THE BOYS NEXT DOOR, A RAISIN
IN THE SUN, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, ANDROCLES AND THE LION, WILY
AND THE HARRY MAN, and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS to name a few. Marcus
is also on staff with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte as a Teaching
Artist, a resident Choreographer and a House Manager. He is Founding
Artistic Director of Vision Theatre, a multidiscipline performance
company. He dedicates his performance to all the women who have
guided, directed and nurtured him. Since “every good and perfect
gift comes from above,” Marcus is most grateful to God for this
tremendous opportunity to share the gift of theatre with you
tonight. |
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Douglas A.
Welton
(Eli) has been a part of the Charlotte theatre community
as an actor, writer and director for more than 20 years. He is
excited about re-uniting with director John Harris. The two worked
together in 1999 on MASTER HAROLD…AND THE BOYS at Raleigh Little
Theatre. Douglas is currently developing a monologist project to be
produced later this year with the writer's collaborative Three
Moons. By day, Douglas is president of Einstein's Legacy, a
Macintosh software development firm, creating new solutions for the mediagenic generation. |
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