I Just Stopped By to See the Man

On the Hertz Stage 3/9/2012 to 4/8/2012

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"...it allows us to witness a rare and delicious moment when a singular performer ["Mississippi" Charles Bevel] inhabits a fictional character as naturally as he lives in his own skin."

—Wendell Brock for the AJC

"...it's the small cast of three fantastic, perfectly-cast actors that makes for an incredibly engaging, tightly focused evening at the theater."

—Andrew Alexander for ArtsATL.com

Deep in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, a man at the crossroads has put down his guitar and forsaken the blues. Rumors of his death only heighten his legend – for everyone except his adult daughter, who has some secrets of her own. But when the temptation of fame in the form of a young musician strides in from the night, everyone’s secrets are on the table. These three lost souls collide with a musical landscape choked with the loss and beauty of the Delta Blues – wrestling with the tension between where you come from and where you want to go.

credits

Written by Stephen Jeffreys
Directed by Ron OJ Parson

Recommended for 7th grade and up; adult language and thematic elements.

For Teachers and Parents:
I Just Stopped By to See the Man Study Guide
written by Alliance Theatre Junior Dramaturgy Program
    Tri-Cities High School Advance Acting Class
    Robert John Connor, Drama Teacher
    Barry Stewart Mann, Alliance Theatre Teaching Artist

events photos cast & crew audience feedback

Mississippi Charles Bevel (Jesse)

AEA, Broadway: It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues(Vivian Beaumont Theatre), Regional theatre: Let Me Live (Goodman Theatre); I Am a Man and Thunder Knocking at the Door (Meadow Brook Theatre); Famous Orpheus (Geva Theatre); Polk County, (Berkeley Repertory Theatre); Fire on the Mountain (Denver Center Theatre Company); Hank Williams: Lost Highway (Alabama Shakespeare Festival). Regional: The Piano Lesson (Karamu Performing Arts Theatre); Ma’ Rainey’s Black Bottom (Plowshares Theatre Company); Stories About the Old Days (St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre Company). Awards: Jeff Award (Chicago), Best Actor in a Revue (2005 and 2007); Woodie Award (St. Louis) Outstanding Lead Actor (2005). Nominations: Tony Award, Best Book for It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues (1999); Helen Hayes Award, Best Actor in a Revue (2001).

Danielle Deadwyler (US Della)

Danielle makes her return to the Alliance in I Just Stopped By To See the Man. She recently debuted as August March in the Real Tweenagers of Atlanta. She has also been seen in the Kendeda Reading series in this year's Shoe Story and 2011's Olympic Village. Atlanta credits: Normal Jean/Kid/LaWanda in The Colored Museum (True Colors), Fannie Mae in Shakin' the Mess Outta Misery (Horizons), Lady in Yellow in for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf (True Colors). Her TV film debut in A Cross to Bear recently premiered on the GMC channel. Danielle is ever grateful to Reggie, Ezra, and the

Dieterich Gray (Karl)

Dieterich is a proud memberof Actors’ Equity and makes his Alliancedebut with I Just Stopped By to See the Man.Regional theatre: Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play (Yale Repertory); Naomi Iizuka’s Ghostwritten and Robert Falls’ productions of The Seagull and King Lear starring StacyKeach (Goodman Theatre); Mother Courage and Her Children and I Just Stopped By to See the Man (Steppenwolf); Dracula (Indiana Repertory & Geva Theatre); The Miser (Northlight); SS! Taming of the Shrew (Chicago Shakespeare); Disney’s Aladdin (Marriott Theatre); The Buddy Holly Story (Drury Lane). Film: Frida’s Rocketship; Dog Jack with Louis Gossett Jr. and 8 of Diamonds opposite Eric Roberts.

Geoffrey M. Brown (US Karl)

Geoffrey has worked in Atlanta theatre for more than twenty years. Credits include: Guys & Dolls, Lucky Stiff, The Rocky Horror Show, Li'l Abner, Sweeney Todd in Concert, Della's Diner #4 and myriad technical credits as he fills more roles offstage than on. Geoffrey tours the U.S. performing with bands like The Dregs, The Brogues and The Lost Boys. This is his Alliance Theatre debut and he thanks the staff, crew and cast for this invaluable experience. Geoffrey is a father and would like to demonstrate to his daughter that we do not avoid tasks because they are difficult, we seek these opportunities out to strengthen us

Bakesta King (Della)

Bakesta is excited to be making her Alliance Theatre debut working once again with Ron OJ Parson and Kathy Perkins. Acclaim Award for Best Actress and Best Ensemble for Sadie in Gee’s Bend at Cincinnati Playhouse. Member, Chicago’s, Congo Square Theatre: Deep Azure, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, The Talented Tenth and The Colored Museum. Regional: Tour of A Raisin in the Sun, Kansas City Repertory

Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, Arizona Theatre Company and the Guthrie Theater in conjunction with Penumbra Theatre. Goodman, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, Arena Stage,the Apollo, the Shakespeare Theatre,Warehouse Theatre (DC) and Centerstage Theatre, (Baltimore). BFA graduate of Howard University, MFA graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, attended the British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England. Bakesta is producing her first short film, “Sunday Kinda Love.” Proud member of AEA & SAG.

Josiah Watts (US Jesse)

Josiah holds BAs in Theatre & Speech Communication from the University of Georgia. He has performed in
Othello, The African Company Presents Richard III, Boys Next Door, The Wiz, A Raisin in the Sun, Fences, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Josiah also performed with Theatre Emory Brave New Works 2011 in the screenplay readings of David Garrett’s Holy Oak and Donzaleigh Abernathy’s Partners to History. He was an emcee/cinematographer for actor Irone Singleton’s highly acclaimed autobiographical one man show; Irone..the Resurrected at 14th Street Playhouse. He looks forward to working with the Alliance Theatre. He is a Sapelo Descendant.

Ron OJ Parson (Director)

Ron a native of Buffalo, N.Y., and a graduate of the University of Michigan's professional theatre program. Co-founder and former artistic director of the Onyx Theatre Ensemble of Chicago, co-founder and co-director of Ripe Mango Productions, resident artist at Chicago’s Court Theatre. Ron has worked as both actor and director. Chicago credits: the Chicago Theatre Company, Victory Gardens, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Chicago Dramatists, Northlight, Court, Black Ensemble Theatre, ETA Creative Arts Foundation, Writers Theatre, Urban Theatre Company and Congo Square Theatre. Regional credits: Virginia Stage Company, Portland Stage Company, Studio Arena Theatre, Studio Theatre, Roundabout Theatre, Wilshire Theatre, The Mechanic,

Jack Magaw (Scenic Designer)

Jack most recently designed Broke at the Alliance Theatre. Chicago/regional: World Premiere of Disgraced (American Theatre Company), Circle Mirror Transformation (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis), Gee’s Bend (Cincinnati Playhouse), Samuel J & K (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), Sizwe Banzi Is Dead and Home (Court Theatre), Black Pearl Sings and Eclipsed (Northlight Theatre), A Few Good Men (Peninsula Players), In the Next Room… (Victory Gardens Theater), She Loves Me and The Caretaker (Writers Theatre), Radio Golf (Pittsburgh Public Theatre), Cabaret and A Flea in Her Ear (Kansas City Repertory). Joseph Jefferson Award nominations for Picnic and Bus Stop (Writers’ Theatre), Fences (Court Theatre) and Seven Guitars (Congo Square Theatre). Jack lives in Evanston with director Kimberly Senior and teaches design at both DePaul and Northwestern

Sydney Roberts (Costume Designer)

Sydney designed Spoon Lake Blues for the Hertz Stage in 2011 and has done 11 shows with Rosemary Newcott at the Alliance Theatre since 2001. She is an Associate Artist at Georgia Shakespeare, a member of USA 829, and holds a position in the Department of Theatre and Speech at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Atlanta: True Colors Theatre Company, Georgia Shakespeare, Actor’s Express, Synchronicity Theatre, Horizon Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, and Theatre in the Square. She is currently designing Night of the Iguana with Theatre Emory. Regional: Portland Center Stage (OR), Red Mountain Theatre Company (AL), Swallowtale Dance Company (TN). Film: Ruthie. Sydney holds a BFA from the University of Texas. Awards: Drammie for Best Costume Design, The Devils (Portland, 2001). web.me.com/sydneylenoir

Kendall Simpson (Sound Designer)

Kendall has designed and composed original scores for several Atlanta-theaters including Georgia Shakespeare, Alliance Theatre, Theatre in the Square, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Horizon Theatre, Theatrical Outfit and Theater Emory. Working in film, Simpson recently scored The Promotion (2011). Other independent films include the The Etiquette Man which has received top honors at several film festivals. Television credits include scores for "Sesame Street" and Elmo DVDs. Simpson’s most recent work for dance is a video, disrepair, which premiered at the 2009 American Dance Festival. Other works include Papillon, premiered by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with Lee Harper and Dancers. Simpson is also honored to have won two Suzi Bass awards.

Kathy A. Perkins (Lighting Designer)

Alliance Theatre: Jar the Floor, The Ties That Bind, A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Manhattan Theatre Club, New Federal Theatre, Negro Ensemble Company, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Carnegie Hall. Regional: Mark Taper Forum, Steppenwolf Theatre, Congo Square, Court Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Berkeley Repertory, American Conservatory Theatre, St. Louis Black Repertory, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Geva Theatre Company, Victory Gardens, Indiana Repertory Theatre, eta Creative Arts, Arena Theatre, A Contemporary Theatre, Playmakers Repertory Company, Missouri Repertory, About Face Theatre. South Africa: Windybrow Theatre, KwaZulu Natal National Theatre, Grahamstown Festival. Kathy is a professor of theatre at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a member of USAA. kathyaperkins.com

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