USC Department of Theatre and Dance
presents
dael orlandersmith
Directed by Patt i walker
a play by
October 10-13, 2013
Lab Theatre
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Yellowman contains adult themes and language
and is not suitable for younger audiences.
Written by Dael Orlandersmith
cast
Alma...............................................................................Raven Massey
Eugene.........................................................................Brandon Byrd
Odelia..............................................................................Jalissa Fulton
Robert.......................................................................Olander Wilson
Alton/Conductor.......................................................John Floyd
Wyce...............................................................Jon Whit McClinton
Mrs. White........................................................................Tiera Smith
Thelma...........................................................Natasha Kanunaido
John/Grandaddy.....................................................Eldren Keys
Young Girl...................................................................Tiffany Failey
production team
Director.............................................................................Patti Walker
Stage Manager..................................................Amanda Alston
Asst. Stage Manager....................................Vanessa Evans
Lighting Designer.............................................Ashley Pittman
Projections Designer..........................................Baxter Engle
Master Electrician.....................................................Jack Wood
Lab Theatre Assistants.......................................Aaron Isgett
......................................................................................................Jim Frazier
Publicity...............................................................................Kevin Bush
•••There will be one ten-minute intermission.•••
Yellowman is presented by special arrangement with
Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.
Yellowman was originally commissioned and developed by McCarter Theatre
and produced by McCarter Theatre, Wilma Theater and Long Wharf Theatre
and developed in part with the support of the Sundance Theatre.
Originally produced in New York City by the Manhattan Theatre Club
on October 22, 2002.
Director's notes
In an interview for Women in Theatre on CUNY TV,
playwright Dael Orlandersmith said that, while the
audience response to her play Yellowman was largely
positive, there were some who criticized her for “airing
dirty laundry.” Colorism is a form of prejudice that falsely
groups individuals and places a preference on one skin
tone over another. While the particulars of this play occur
within an African-American community, the general
themes of bias and discrimination are universal. The play
explores the corrosive effects of arbitrary preferences,
in this case toward light skin, keen features, and long
hair. In “airing dirty laundry”, Yellowman bravely exposes
everyone’s culpability in prejudice and bias. This is not to
say that since all are guilty, all are excused, but that all are
responsible – those who create the systems of power,
thereby setting the standards for beauty and worth, and
those who internalize them.
It is our hope that this play sparks rigorous, passionate, and
compassionate debate about how we define ourselves,
our communities, and everyone else.
- Patti Walker
Director
special thanks
Beth Bilderback
USC Library Digital Collections
David Britt
Peter Duffy
Jim Hunter
Dr. Rhonda Jeffries
Ray Jones
Lisa Martin-Stuart
Andy Mills
Robert Richmond
UP NEXT ON STAGE
A N TO N C H E K O V ’ S
DIRECTED BY STEVEN PEARSON
LO N G S T R E E T T H E AT R E
NOVEMBER 15-23
b
Two unique evenings of original short plays,
all created in under a week!
LAB THEATRE
NOVEMBER 22 & 24
Interested in being part of the festival?
Contact David Britt at
[email protected].