By Idris Goodwin
Directed by Weyni Mengesha
A National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere
Two brothers, both musicians. The classical pianist is Christian. The jazz bassist is Muslim. When Bilal is accused of being a terrorist and jailed awaiting trial, Eric tries to stay connected by pushing aside his own classical aspirations in order to learn big brother’s jazz style. Separated by prison bars and religious convictions, the brothers scat and be- bop through their shared language of music. As his brother’s trial progresses, Eric becomes disillusioned and struggles to decide if he believes the charges levied against his beloved older brother, or if false accusations make him a beleaguered martyr to a prejudiced, paranoid nation.
cast
Donathan Walters
Matt Orduna
Brian Abraham
Zehra Fazal
production team
Music Director/Composer – Noah Agruss
Scenic Design – Francois-Pierre Couture
Lighting Design – Tom Ontiveros
Sound Design – John Nobori
Costume Design – Leah Piehl
Properties Design – Bethany Tucker
Casting Director – Michael Donovan
Assistant Director – June Carryl
Production Stage Manager – Molly McGraw
Production Photography – Ed Krieger
Idris Goodwin is a playwright, rapper and essayist. He is the recipient of Oregon Shakespeare’s American History Cycle Commission, InterAct Theater’s 20/20 Award and a finalist for the Lanford Wilson Award. Goodwin has been a writer in residence at The Eugene O’Neil Playwrights Center, Berkeley Rep’s Ground Floor Program, The Lark Playwriting Center and New Harmony Project. He teaches performance writing and Hip Hop aesthetics at Colorado College.
Weyni Mengesha is an acclaimed theatre director and educator. She directed and composed the score for Da Kink in My Hair by Trey Anthony about the lives and identities of black women. Her work has received multiple nominations for best direction, best actor/actress, original music score, best production, and best new play by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts. Mengesha co-founded Sound the Horn, with a mission to train Ethiopian and Eritrean youth to find their identities and voices through the performing arts.
