|
 Lincoln
College is proud to present a dramatization of true historical
events when The African Company Presents Richard III, opens
Thursday, Feb. 15 at the Johnston Center for Performing Arts at
Lincoln College.
The play is set in New York in 1821, forty years before Lincoln
ended slavery, and fifty years before black Americans earned the
right to vote, and follows two competing theatre companies
performing Shakespeare’s Richard III.
The African Company, the first black theatrical group in the
country, was founded by William Henry Brown. The theatrical group
opened the African Grove Theatre, which only lasted only a few years
before it was burned down under suspicious circumstances.
This play was written by Carlyle Brown and is an imaginative
incorporation of the historical events of The African Company’s
presentation of Richard III along with some fictional characters
from Brown’s imagination. The true story behind this play is an
important stepping stone for African-American theater. Both black
and white audiences flocked to the company’s Manhattan theatre and
the drama of this progressive group reached further than their
stage.
The African Company Presents Richard III premiered at The Public
Theater in New York City in 1994.
The Lincoln College production will be performed at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15-17 and on Sunday, Feb. 18 at
2:30 p.m. The play will continue the following Thursday through
Saturday, Feb. 22-24 at 7:30 p.m.
Director is Doug Rosson, lead faculty for the Lincoln College
Theatre Department. Katie Eickhoff is the technical director, while
Jessica Sutton is in charge of lights and Jacqueline Ishmael is the
stage manager. Tickets can be reserved by calling the Johnston
Center box office at 217-735-7280.
[to top of second column] |
Brian Kolosvary as Stephen Price
Calia Cole as Sarah
Sky Ford as "Papa Shakespeare
Mia Avila as Constable with Brian Kolosvary as Stephen Price
Brian Kolsavary, Calia Cole, Naaila Barnette, Sky Ford, Sylas Kimble, and Roland
Williams
[Mark Gordon
Public Relations and Media Manager
Lincoln College] |
