South Bend Civic Theatre to Open 2012 Season with BLUE, 1/20

South Bend Civic Theatre opens its 2012 season on a high note with the Midwest premiere of Blue, directed by special guest Ron OJ Parson, running January 20th – February 6th. Written by Charles Randolph-Wright with original music by Grammy winner Nona Hendryx, Blue tells the story of the well-to-do Clark family in all their dysfunctional glory. A clan whose success is built on a thriving funeral home business, the Clark family is a bundle of contradictions: diligent hard-working Samuel maintaining the family business; his mother Tillie, as downhome and brutally honest as they come; his sons, Sam and Reuben, trying to find their own way out of the mess; and ruling the roost is his wife Peggy, whose aspirations for class and style push the family bonds to the breaking point. Her only refuge in the turmoil is the music of her idol Blue Williams, who haunts the play with his voice and presence, turning music into memory and who holds the key to the problems of the family.

Portraying the unique individuals of the Clark family is a fine ensemble cast featuring Paul Bertha as Samuel Clark Jr., Ian Coates as young Reuben/Blue Jr., Diane Gammage as Tillie, Laurisa LeSure as LaTonya Dinkins, Ben Little as Blue Williams, Gilbert Michel as adult Reuben, Natalie Davis Miller as Peggy Clark, and Shaylon Wright as Samuel Clark III.

Ron OJ Parson is a native of Buffalo, New York and a graduate of the University of Michigan's
professional theatre program. He is the co-founder and former Artistic Director of the Onyx
Theatre Ensemble of Chicago, and a co-founder and co-director of Ripe ManGo Productions
Film and Television Production Company. Since moving to Chicago, Illinois from New York in
1994, Ron has worked as both actor and director. Some of the theatres Ron has worked with in
Chicago include The Chicago Theatre Company, Victory Gardens, Goodman Theatre, #
Steppenwolf, Chicago Dramatists, Northlight, Court, Black Ensemble Theatre, ETA Creative
Arts Foundation and Writers Theatre. Some of the regional theatres include Virginia Stage
Company, Portland Stage Company, Studio Arena Theatre, Studio Theatre, Roundabout
Theatre, Wilshire Theatre, The Mechanic, Center Stage and, most recently, The Actors Theatre
of Louisville. An accomplished actor, some of Ron's TV and film credits include "ER", "Early
Edition", "Turks", "American Playhouse", "Vamping", "Ali", "Barbershop 2", "Primal Fear"
and "Drop Squad."

Director Parson describes his desire to work with South Bend Civic Theatre as an opportunity
to "give back" and embrace "the innocence of theatre." Parson stresses the importance for him
to "go back to the roots of theatre, working with people who do shows that are all about the
love of doing theatre. Community theatre is all about making theatre by the community, for the
community." He hopes his background and experience will "add another element" to local
actors and give them "positive theatre experiences that will live with them."

Parson's attraction for Blue grew out of "the natural and real humor" of the script "without
seeming fake or stereotypical." For Parson, "every play is a love story" and his approach to the
dysfunction of the Clark family is grounded in that sensibility. He likes how the play "shows
another side, a different angle to African-American life" than is normally presented. As an
African-American, he feels he can bring out cultural nuances and feelings from the cast that
serve to enhance the "tone of the time, while at the same time stressing the universal appeal of
the play and characters."

While not a musical, the role of Blue Williams and the songs he performs in the play are an
integral part of the story and "pull us into the mind of the central character, Peggy." "Blue is
Peggy's drug, her escape" from the problems of her life and serve her desire to ennoble herself.

Blue runs January 20th– February 6th in the Wilson Mainstage Auditorium at South Bend Civic
Theatre, 403 N Main St South Bend. The play contains adult situations and some mature
language, parental discretion is advised. Tickets are $18 Friday (8 PM), Saturday (8 PM), and
Sunday (3 PM), and $15 for Wednesday (7:30 PM). A special gala fundraiser will be held
Thursday January 19th - please call for details. Tickets can be purchased at the box office 574-
234-1112 or online at www.sbct.org.

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