[NEohioPAL] World Premiere - "Crazy Man"

[Janis Harcar via NEohioPAL]

Weathervane Playhouse Presents

World Premiere of New Play “Crazy Man”

Frank, Gritty Drama Examining American Racial and Class Divisions

Is Staged in Weathervane’s Intimate Dietz Theater

Weathervane Playhouse’s 80th season continues with the world-premiere production of a gritty and uncompromisingly frank new play entitled Crazy Man — which takes the form of “an urban fable” to examine the tenuous racial bonds that both bind and divide the United States.

Set in a so-called “post-racial” America, Crazy Man depicts the incredible journey of John, an upper-middle-class black professional accused of beating a white bicycle messenger to death.

Into this stew of race and class is added a neighborhood pest in the form of a mentally ill homeless man, who is despised by John for his mere existence. In Crazy Man, audiences will witness what makes one man erupt.

Weathervane Playhouse’s world-premiere production of Crazy Man is directed by Jennifer Kay Jeter and is presented with the generous sponsorship support of Margaret J. Dietz.

Crazy Man Performance and Ticket Information

Crazy Man plays for 10 performances in Weathervane Playhouse’s John L. Dietz Theater between Jan. 14 and 24, 2015. (The Dietz Theater is Weathervane Playhouse’s intimate, 48-seat “second stage” within its Weathervane Lane facility.)

 Performance days and times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 18 at 2:30 p.m. Additionally, there will be one Saturday matinee on Jan. 24 at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets for all performances of the play are $21 each. Tickets for college students are $5 each. The 48-seat Dietz Theater features general-admission seating only. Due to its strong, adult language and mature themes, the play is not suitable for children.

For tickets, call the Weathervane Box Office at 330-836-2626 or connect online at www.WeathervanePlayhouse.com.

 The Crazy Man Cast

TYSON SEBREE -- John

DANEA RHODES -- Regina

JASEN J. SMITH -- Peter

NICOLAS WALKER -- Crazy Man / Elam

NICHOLE STRONG -- Ms. Lewis

AIMEE LAMBES -- Sara

JERMAINE HARRIS -- Akil / Skills

DEANDRE HAIRSTON-KARIM -- Twon

EULA "BILL" ROBERTS -- Frederick / Black Business Man / Cowlings

JIM HAGAN -- Guard / White Business Man

TYLER PERREN -- Spencer

The Crazy Man Creative Team

JENNIFER KAY JETER -- Director, Sound Designer

ALEX BRISKI -- Stage Manager

ARMANI WHITING -- Assistant Stage Manager

ERIN KATZ FORD  -- Lighting Designer

HANNAH VINOGRAD  -- Properties Designer

JENNIFER KAY JETER  -- Sound Co-Designer

JASEN J. SMITH  -- Costume Designer

ALAN SCOTT FERRALL  -- Scenic Designer

KATHY KOHL -- Assistant Technical Director

JONATHON HUNTER -- Assistant Technical Director

About the Show’s Director: Trained as a performance artist, JENNIFER KAY JETER will often collaborate with traditional artists or with non-traditional partners including social-service organizations to create curriculum, programming, and theatrical works in order to spotlight societal concerns such as homelessness, addiction and sexual abuse. This Ohio native is an advocate of the arts. Jeter works in educational, community and professional theater. Her thesis, entitled "The Rites of Being: An Analytical Review of Performance Art," was an attempt to legitimize the abstract art form of performance art. As a Social Artist, she continues to develop art constructions that address the changing needs of the community. Jeter creates commentary through her photography, writing, directing, painting and/or a combination of select media. Concentrating primarily on African American theatre, Jeter’s past directing credits include Black Girl, The Amen Corner, for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf, On Striver’s Row, Crowns and The Piano Lesson. At Weathervane Playhouse, she directed Race in 2014, Flyin’ West in 2013 and Yellowman in 2012. She serves on the Playhouse staff as its Community Engagement Coordinator.

 About the Playwright: MICHAEL OATMAN — a Cleveland-born playwright, actor and director — held the honor of being only the second playwright in residence in Karamu House’s storied, nearly 100-year history in Cleveland. (The first was Langston Hughes.) In 2011, The Cleveland Arts Prize awarded Oatman the Emerging Artist Award in Literature. Oatman’s short play Warpaint was the 2009 Finalist for the Kennedy Center Best Short Play, and his play The Chittlin’ Thief was named Best Comedy of 2008 by The African American Playwrights Exchange. Northeast Ohio audiences have seen Oatman's work at Cleveland Play House FusionFest, Cleveland Public Theatre, Karamu House, Cleveland State University and the Ingenuity Festival. Profiles of Oatman and his work — which includes Eclipse: The War Between Pac and B.I.G., My Africa, A Solitary Voice and Drowning the Flame — have been featured in both The New York Times and American Theatre. He holds an M.F.A. in playwriting from Cleveland State University.

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Weathervane Playhouse and its dedicated volunteers offer vital performing arts resources for the people of Northeastern Ohio. We create exciting and thought-provoking shows with impressive production values. Through educational programs and volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds, Weathervane serves the theater community, our patrons and our volunteers.

The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, education excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

Weathervane Playhouse’s 2014-2015 Season Support Provided by:

Akron Community Foundation

Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation

Kenneth L. Calhoun Charitable Trust (KeyBank, Trustee)

OMNOVA Solutions Foundation

Mary S. and David C. Corbin Foundation

Sisler McFawn Foundation

Ohio Arts Council







Janis Harcar

330-836-2626 X16

jharcar at weathervaneplayhouse.com




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