Ireon Roach

Definition Theatre has revealed the finalists of the Amplify Series Three New Play Commissioning Program. 

'A Real One' a compelling drama about testing the bonds of friendship, will compete at this year's Dances With Films (DWF) Festival, June 22-July 2, 2023 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood.

Victory Gardens Theater preesents the final show in its 2021/22 Mainstage Season, the regional premiere of cullud wattah, written by Erika Dickerson-Despenza and directed by Lili-Anne Brown. 

On June 19, 2022, Victory Gardens Theater opened the regional premiere of cullud wattah, written by Erika Dickerson-Despenza and directed by Lili-Anne Brown. 

In cullud wattah, Erika Dickerson-Despenza compellingly weaves the personal and political. The play is ultimately a narrative of resilience as the women in the play struggle with environmental racism and to econcile with the tension between their desire for justice (especially in ainee’s case) and the will to survive and make enough money to pay their bills.

Victory Gardens Theater has announced the cast for the final show in its 2021/22 Mainstage Season, the regional premiere of cullud wattah, written by Erika Dickerson-Despenza and directed by Lili-Anne Brown. cullud wattah runs June 11 – July 17, 2022 at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Jackalope Theatre Company has announced details for their 2021/2022 season featuring the world premiere of Enough to Let the Light In by Paloma Nozicka, directed by Kimberly Senior, in spring of 2022. This production will be the first indoor event to welcome audiences back to the company's Broadway Armory stage in over two years.

Definition Theatre announces the recipients of its Amplify new play commissions. Chosen from feedback from the Definition Theatre ensemble and showcase audience, the commission recipients include Lot 110 by Nora Carroll, Corazones by Luna Dragon Mac-Williams, What a Time to be Alive (You Say That Every Time) by Paul Michael Thomson, and are you ready to smash white things? by Ireon Roach.

American Repertory Theater has announced today the Steering Committee members of Creating Equal. Committee members include Janice Amaya (they/them); Erin Genia (she/her); Elizabeth James-Perry (she/her); Timothy Patrick McCarthy (he/him); Brisa Areli Muñoz (she/her); Brenna Nicely (she/they); Alessandra Panares (she/her); Moe Pope (he/him) & more.

Definition Theatre announces Amplify, A New Play Commission, showcasing scenes from eight semi-finalist plays over two nights, February 24 and 25 at 7pm.

Two dozen nominations of outstanding actors, directors, designers and ensembles were announced today by The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA) for the 38th Annual Elliot Norton Awards.

SpeakEasy Stage Company presents the New England premiere of the 2018 Lucille Lortel Award-winner for Outstanding Play (tie), Jocelyn Bioh's SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MAN GIRLS PLAY, directed by Summer L. Williams. A Ghanaian-American playwright, Bioh sets the play in 1986 at a top boarding school in Ghana. The action centers on self-anointed queen bee Paulina (Ireon Roach) who aspires to win the Miss Ghana Beauty Pageant in order to represent her country in the coveted Miss Global Universe Pageant. When Headmistress Francis (Crystin Gilmore) introduces Ericka (Victoria Byrd), a new student from Ohio, just before the audition, Paulina is unexpectedly faced with a formidable challenger, not just for the competition, but also for the attentions and loyalty of her crew.

From May 3 - 25, 2019, SpeakEasy Stage Company will present the New England Premiere of the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway comedy, SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY by Jocelyn Bioh.

Victory Gardens Theater presents Town Hall: Reunite!, an event where Chicago artists will respond to the current immigration policies of the United States. Town Hall: Reunite! will be held at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue on Wednesday, July 18 at 7 pm. This event is FREE and open to the public.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the lineup for the 2017 IGNITION Festival of New Plays, including Tuvalu, or The Saddest Song by Antoinette Nwandu; This Land Was Made by Tori Sampson; Spin Moves by Ken Weitzman; Tell Them I'm Still Young by Julia Doolittle; Wolf Play by Hansol Jung; and Suspension by Kristiana Rae Colon.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the lineup for the 2017 IGNITION Festival of New Plays, including Tuvalu, or The Saddest Song by Antoinette Nwandu; This Land Was Made by Tori Sampson; Spin Moves by Ken Weitzman; Tell Them I'm Still Young by Julia Doolittle; Wolf Play by Hansol Jung; and Suspension by Kristiana Rae Colon.

American Theater Company's (ATC) Youth Ensemble presents a 50-minute abridgement by Jess McLeod and Sarah Slight of the critically acclaimed The Project(s)-a documentary play on Chicago's public housing conceived, co-written and originally directed by ATC's late Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and co-written by Joshua Jaeger-July 14 - 23, 2017. Directed by Monty Cole, the production features Youth Ensemble members Latrel Crawford, Danielle Jean-Baptiste, Alex King, Li Luzietti, Jenna Makkawy, Liliana Mastroianni, Azalia Resendiz, Keenya Riley, Ireon Roach, Leah Schiffman, Leojae Steward, and Ervin Tobar. The Youth Ensemble is meeting with Chicago public housing residents originally interviewed for the play, in order to learn more about the documentary theater-making process and help with character development prior to performing the piece.

American Theater Company's (ATC) Youth Ensemble presents a 50-minute abridgement by Jess McLeod and Sarah Slight of the critically acclaimed The Project(s)-a documentary play on Chicago's public housing conceived, co-written and originally directed by ATC's late Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and co-written by Joshua Jaeger-July 14 - 23, 2017. Directed by Monty Cole, the production features Youth Ensemble members Latrel Crawford, Danielle Jean-Baptiste, Alex King, Li Luzietti, Jenna Makkawy, Liliana Mastroianni, Azalia Resendiz, Keenya Riley, Ireon Roach, Leah Schiffman, Leojae Steward, and Ervin Tobar. The Youth Ensemble is meeting with Chicago public housing residents originally interviewed for the play, in order to learn more about the documentary theater-making process and help with character development prior to performing the piece.

Twenty Chicago high school students will once again compete in the finals of the August Wilson Monologue Competition for a chance to represent Chicago in the National Competition at the August Wilson Theatre in New York City.  Hundreds of students competed across the city in preliminary rounds. The finals will be held at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St on Monday, March 6, 2017 at6:00 pm. The August Wilson Monologue Competition is free and open to the public.

Jackalope Theatre Company and The Yard are pleased to announce the cast and production team for Blood at the Root, a continuation of their artistic partnership. The play, written by Dominique Morisseau, is co-directed by The Yard's co-Artistic Director Joel Ewing^ and Jackalope Theatre Company Member and The Yard Resident Artist and Mentor Will Kiley^*.