Kadeem Hardison, Robert Ray Manning, Jr. Set for Pasadena Playhouse's BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY; Sheldon Epps to Direct

The Pasadena Playhouse has announced the full cast and creative team for BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY at The Pasadena Playhouse. BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY, by Pearl Cleage, which begins rehearsals this week will be directed by Artistic Director Sheldon Epps and performs November 1 - 27, with the official press opening on November 6, 2011.

"I am very excited about the tremendous aesthetic prospects for this production based on the cast and creative team that we have assembled," said Artistic Director Sheldon Epps. "It is a thrilling acting ensemble that will bring life, energy, passion, and humor to Pearl's beautiful play. And the designers involved have already exhibited a flair for this material which will, I am sure, provide an exquisite physical ambiance for the work of these fine actors. It is my pleasure and honor to work with them all on this beautiful and moving play."

"BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY showcases a period of American history that still resonates with themes in today's headlines and is a testament to the universality of human emotion," stated Robin Givens. "I'm honored to work with Sheldon Epps, an exceptional director and human being as well as this extraordinary cast."

The cast for BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY features: Robin Givens as "Angel Allen", Kevin T. Carroll as "Guy Jacobs", Kadeem Hardison as "Sam Thomas", Robert Ray Manning, Jr. as "Leland Cunningham", Tessa Thompson as "Delia Patterson."

In addition to direction by Sheldon Epps, the creative team for BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY includes scenic design by John Iacovelli (Camelot, national tour; Emmy Award for A&E's "Peter Pan - Starring Cathy Rigby"; "Ed"; "Babylon 5"; UC Davis Design Faculty, Department of Theatre & Dance), lighting design by Jared Sayeg (associate lighting designer for The Playhouse's current production of South Street) and costume design by Karen Perry (John Grisham's A Time To Kill, Arena Stage; ReGina Taylor's Trinity River Trilogy, DTC and Goodman Theatre).

BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY unfolds in the summer of 1930 in Harlem, NY, just as the harsh realities of the Great Depression have devastated an ebullient decade of the Harlem renaissance. Disease and poverty have overshadowed the creative euphoria that permeated and fueled a surge of African American artists, writers and luminaries. BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY introduces a rich cast of characters, scrambling to survive and make some sense of their overlapping personalities, politics and love lives: Angel (Givens) is a struggling blues singer and nightclub performer who cannot find a job. Her friend Guy (Carroll), a costume designer, is also out of work but dreams of being hired to design dresses for the famous African-American singer and dancer Josephine Baker. Their neighbor Delia (Thompson), a social worker, is trying to organize a family planning clinic in Harlem. Their friend Sam (Hardison), a doctor, works long hours delivering babies at the Harlem Hospital. And Leland (Manning), having recently moved to New York from Tuskegee sees in Angel a memory of lost love and a reminder of those "Alabama skies where the stars are so thick it's bright as day."

Robin Givens landed her breakthrough role on the hit ABC series "Head of the Class" (1986-1991). She co-starred with Oprah Winfrey in the miniseries "The Women of Brewster Place" (1989). Givens starred in several back-to-back films including: A Rage In Harlem (1991) with Forest Whitaker, Danny Glover & Gregory Hines; Boomerang opposite Eddie Murphy in 1992; Foreign Student (1992); Blankman with Damon Wayans and David Alan Grier (1994). Givens worked with Tyler Perry on The Family That Preys Together (1998) with Kathy Bates and "Tyler Perry's House of Payne," as well as a recurring role on "Burn Notice." Last season, Givens starred in recurring guest star role on the hit series "Chuck" as well as guest star roles on the series "Nikita," "Drop Dead Diva" and "Reed Between the Lines" and starred in the Fox pilot "Tagged." She has worked extensively on stage including a successful stint on Broadway in the leading role of Roxie Hart in Chicago (2006) and in the Off-Broadway production of The Vagina Monologues (2006). In 2007 she published her first book Grace Will Lead Me Home. She is Co-Chair of "Women Who Care."

Kevin T. Carrol ("Guy") was seen in the Broadway productions of Angels In America, Take Me Out and 45 Seconds From Broadway. He is an Obie Award-winner for Sustained Excellence and film and TV credits include: Paid In Full, Being John Malkovich, The Object of My Affection, "Law & Order: SVU" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."

Kadeem Hardison ("Sam") was last seen on The Playhouse stage as "Lyons" in Fences, starring Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett. He has also been featured in the films Made of Honor and White Men Can't Jump as well as his breakthrough role as Dwayne Cleophus Wayne in the series "A Different World" (1987 - 1993).

Robert Ray Manning, Jr. ("Leland") received an NAACP Theatre Award nomination for his performance in The Pasadena Playhouse 2008 production of Defiance and a 2010 nomination for his performance in the play Battle Hymn. He has also been featured in the series "Southland," "South of Nowhere," "The Unit," "Criminal Minds" and "NCIS."

Tessa Thompson ("Delia") made her professional debut as Juliet in The Theatre at Boston Court production of Romeo and Juliet for which she received an NAACP Image Award nomination. She also appeared alongside Frances Conroy and Tom Irwin in the American premiere of Pyrenees (Kirk Douglas Theatre/CTG). She has been a series regular on "Veronica Mars," "Grey's Anatomy," "Private Practice," "Heroes," "Off the Map," "Detroit 1-8-7" and "Rizzoli and Isles" as well as Nyla/Purple in the acclaimed Tyler Perry film For Colored Girls.

BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY will play at The Pasadena Playhouse from November 1 - 27, 2011, with the official press opening on November 6, 2011. The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Regular ticket price range is from $29.00 - $59.00, with Premium Seating available for $100.00. All preview performances are $10 off the regular ticket price (except Premium Seating). Rush tickets are available for $20.00 one hour prior to the performance time and are subject to availability. Rush tickets must be purchased at The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office. Tickets are available by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Monday from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday - Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates and Tuesday - Sunday from 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on performance dates. The box office is closed on holidays. Tickets are available 24 hours online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org. Group Sales (8 or more) are available by calling 626-921-1161 . For additional information visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos