Raven Theatre's cast and creative team for Direct from Death Row The Scottsboro Boys (An Evening of Vaudeville and Sorrow) has been announced by Michael Menendian, Co Founding Artistic Director. Playwright Mark Stein's play with music and dance, a satirical retelling of the true story of nine African-American teenagers falsely accused in 1931 of raping two white women on a train in Alabama, will be performed by an all-African-American cast of nine actors. Menendian will direct, with Frederick Harris providing musical direction for the score by Harley White Jr. Kathleen Dennis will be choreographer. Previews will be Wednesday, September 16 - Monday, September 21, 2015 with the press opening Tuesday, September 22. The regular run will be September 25 - November 14, 2015. Tickets are on sale now at www.raventheatre.com or by calling 773-338-2177.
The cast of six men and three women boasts extensive credits from companies throughout the Chicago theatre community and all but one of the performers will play multiple roles. Eric Walker, last seen at Raven in 2013's A Soldier's Play will be the defendant Haywood Patterson. Robert Howard, recently seen in Four by Jackalope Theatre Company, will play the defendant Charlie Weems as well as the attorney Sam Liebowitz. Breon Arzell, who's in The Hypocrites' All Our Tragic this summer, will play the accused Willie Roberson and also attorney Joe Brodsky. Semaj Miller, producing director of Dream Fierce Productions, will be both the "Scottsboro Boy" Olen Montgomery and General Knight. Brandon Greenhouse, an actor with credits at American Players Theatre who also appeared in Eclipse Theatre Company's Intimate Apparel, will be Andy Wright and NAACP leader Walter White. Tamarus Harvell, who performed in 2014's The Trials of Moses Fleetwod Walker at Black Ensemble Theatre and was also seen in Raven's A Soldier's Play, will play the accused Clarence Norris as well as Judge Horton and the Prosecutor.Videos