[NEohioPAL]THE COLORED MUSEUM at Firestone High School

Wed Nov 8 11:04:25 PST 2006

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Biting satire takes no prisoners when Firestone High School presents THE 
COLORED MUSEUM by George C. Wolfe for three performances this month. 

Under the direction of guest artist Sherrie Marina, the fast and furious 
comedy takes the FHS stage on Thursday, November 16, Friday, November 17, and 
Saturday November 18, 2006. All curtain times are 7:30 p.m. Seats are general 
admission and can be purchased pre-sale for $5.00 and at-the-door for $7.00. 
Pre-sale tickets will be available in the school's commons from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 
p.m. starting no later than Monday, November 13, 2006. The school is located 
at 333 Rampart Avenue in Akron, Ohio.

THE COLORED MUSEUM originally appeared in New York in 1985 and has since 
become a vital part of theatre literature. It is a sophisticated, satirical, 
seriously funny show that spoofs white and black America alike.  Each scene of The 
Colored Museum is an exhibit in which contemporary blacks are torn between the 
cultural legacy of oppression and revolt and the exigencies of living in the 
present. Frank Rich wrote in the New York Times that the play percolates with 
one particular issue: How do American black men and women at once honor and 
escape the legacy of suffering that is the baggage of their past?

Guest Director Sherri Marina thinks that the play provides a cultural 
relevance that is hard to measure.

"Working on The Colored Museum has helped some of these students discover 
their cultural identity," says Marina, a graduate of East High School in Akron. 
"They have the same questions and are struggling with the same identity issues 
I had as a high school student almost twenty years ago."

The cast of THE COLORED MUSEUM is lead by seniors Shauna James, Briana Rawls, 
Danea Rhodes, and Ashley Shaw. They are supported by juniors Harry Crawford, 
Aisha Hicks, and Michael Marina, as well as freshman Caleb Meredith. Junior 
Michael Pistrui serves as the stage manager and he is assisted by fellow junior 
Leah Magnus.  Juniors Caitlin Noah and Rivka Friedlander are props designers. 
Junior Robert Keith is the sound designer. Costumes are designed by FHS 
faculty member Donna Curfman; lights are designed by FHS theatre director Mark A. 
Zimmerman and sophomore Joe Levack.

THE COLORED MUSEM is the latest play in a series of Firestone Theatre 
productions written and performed by African-Americans. Past productions have 
included collaborations with Weathervane Playhouse on THE WIZ as well as a 
collaboration with local artist Miller Horns on an original dance play called JUST 
PASSING THRU. Students at Firestone High School have presented other iconic plays 
such as A RAISIN IN THE SUN by Lorraine Hansberry, THE AMEN CORNER by James 
Baldwin, and the choreo-poem . . . for girls who have considered suicide / when 
the rainbow is enuf . . .  by Ntzoke Shange.

"It is important that our productions represent the students who walk our 
halls," says theatre director Mark A. Zimmerman. "I am proud to add THE COLORED 
MUSEUM to the long list of excellent plays produced here."

Guest director Sherri Marina has worked as a professional actress for almost 
20 years. Her stage credits include JAR THE FLOOR, PINK COLLAR CRIME, 
GODSPELL, JOE TURNERS COME AND GONE, CLOUD NINE, and many others. Marina has appeared 
in numerous commercials, and her film credits include "Home of Phobia", 
"Carolina Tryst", and "Deal." She holds a BFA in Acting from Kent State University 
and an MFA in Acting from the University of Iowa. Marina is a certified Fight 
Coordinator by Society of American Fight Directors, and a member of Actors 
Equity and Screen Actors Guild. She is currently serving as the Chair of The 
Department of Theatre at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Firestone Theatre is the play-producing component of the high school visual 
and performing arts program for the Akron Public Schools. The magnet arts 
theatre program, which is housed at Firestone High School, is open via audition and 
open enrollment to any incoming ninth grade student.  The International 
Network of Visual and Performing Arts Schools designated Firestone High School in 
2001 as a "Star School."

Mark A. Zimmerman,
Theatre Director
Firestone High School
330.873.3408
www.FirestoneTheatre.com

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<HTML><HTML>Biting satire takes no prisoners wh=
en Firestone High School presents THE COLORED MUSEUM by George C. Wolfe for=20=
three performances this month. 
 
Under the direction of guest artist Sherrie Marina, the fast and furious com=
edy takes the FHS stage on Thursday, November 16, Friday, November 17, and S=
aturday November 18, 2006. All curtain times are 7:30 p.m. Seats are general=
 admission and can be purchased pre-sale for $5.00 and at-the-door for $7.00=
. Pre-sale tickets will be available in the school's commons from 11:00 a.m.=
 to 1:00 p.m. starting no later than Monday, November 13, 2006. The school i=
s located at 333 Rampart Avenue in Akron, Ohio. 
 
THE COLORED MUSEUM originally appeared in New York in 1985 and has since bec=
ome a vital part of theatre literature. It is a sophisticated, satirical, se=
riously funny show that spoofs white and black America alike.  Each sce=
ne of The Colored Museum is an exhibit in which contemporary blacks are torn=
 between the cultural legacy of oppression and revolt and the exigencies of=20=
living in the present. Frank Rich wrote in the New York Times that the play=20=
percolates with one particular issue: How do American black men and women at=
 once honor and escape the legacy of suffering that is the baggage of their=20=
past? 
 
Guest Director Sherri Marina thinks that the play provides a cultural releva=
nce that is hard to measure. 
 
"Working on The Colored Museum has helped some of these students discover th=
eir cultural identity," says Marina, a graduate of East High School in Akron=
. "They have the same questions and are struggling with the same identity is=
sues I had as a high school student almost twenty years ago." 
 
The cast of THE COLORED MUSEUM is lead by seniors Shauna James, Briana Rawls=
, Danea Rhodes, and Ashley Shaw. They are supported by juniors Harry Crawfor=
d, Aisha Hicks, and Michael Marina, as well as freshman Caleb Meredith. Juni=
or Michael Pistrui serves as the stage manager and he is assisted by fellow=20=
junior Leah Magnus.  Juniors Caitlin Noah and Rivka Friedlander are pro=
ps designers. Junior Robert Keith is the sound designer. Costumes are design=
ed by FHS faculty member Donna Curfman; lights are designed by FHS theatre d=
irector Mark A. Zimmerman and sophomore Joe Levack. 
 
THE COLORED MUSEM is the latest play in a series of Firestone Theatre produc=
tions written and performed by African-Americans. Past productions have incl=
uded collaborations with Weathervane Playhouse on THE WIZ as well as a colla=
boration with local artist Miller Horns on an original dance play called JUS=
T PASSING THRU. Students at Firestone High School have presented other iconi=
c plays such as A RAISIN IN THE SUN by Lorraine Hansberry, THE AMEN CORNER b=
y James Baldwin, and the choreo-poem . . . for girls who have considered=20=
suicide / when the rainbow is enuf . . .  by Ntzoke Shange. 
 
"It is important that our productions represent the students who walk our ha=
lls," says theatre director Mark A. Zimmerman. "I am proud to add THE COLORE=
D MUSEUM to the long list of excellent plays produced here." 
 
Guest director Sherri Marina has worked as a professional actress for almost=
 20 years. Her stage credits include JAR THE FLOOR, PINK COLLAR CRIME, GODSP=
ELL, JOE TURNERS COME AND GONE, CLOUD NINE, and many others. Marina has appe=
ared in numerous commercials, and her film credits include "Home of Phobia",=
 "Carolina Tryst", and "Deal." She holds a BFA in Acting from Kent State Uni=
versity and an MFA in Acting from the University of Iowa. Marina is a certif=
ied Fight Coordinator by Society of American Fight Directors, and a member o=
f Actors Equity and Screen Actors Guild. She is currently serving as the Cha=
ir of The Department of Theatre at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisi=
ana. 
 
Firestone Theatre is the play-producing component of the high school visual=20=
and performing arts program for the Akron Public Schools. The magnet arts th=
eatre program, which is housed at Firestone High School, is open via auditio=
n and open enrollment to any incoming ninth grade student.  The Interna=
tional Network of Visual and Performing Arts Schools designated Firestone Hi=
gh School in 2001 as a "Star School." 
 
 
Mark A. Zimmerman, 
Theatre Director 
Firestone High School 
330.873.3408 
www.FirestoneTheatre.com</HTML>

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