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NEW VOICES FEST 2022: The Secret Life of Avatars

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THE ENSEMBLE THEATRE PROUDLY PRESENTS

The Secret Life
Of Avatars

Written by BRITANY RICKETT
Directed by EILEEN J. MORRIS

The Secret Life of Avatars is the interconnected story of three sisters, a tumultuous relationship between two beings, and one woman who are all the same yet not. Time is a peculiar character reflecting both past and present, while the future unfolds throughout three acts. This play seeks to provide a discourse on Black womanhood and the ramifications of having to exist as strong without the ability to exist as broken. It also represents the sisterhood of the diaspora and the beauty of representing functional, loving relationships between Black women as well as highlighting issues that are exacerbated with a Black female presenting identity such as domestic violence, date rape, Black girls having independence and agency, as well as reproductive issues that impact women of color at higher rates than their White counterparts.

About the Playwright

BRITANY ELISE RICKETT

Britany (she/they) is best described as a particular and peculiar polymath. The Houston, Texas native is a storyteller by purpose and an advocate for the arts by blessing. While attending Booker T. Washington and the High School for Engineering Professions, Britany was exposed to August Wilson and fellow BTW alum (and forever Dreamgirl) Jennifer Holliday. With a passion for both art and science, Britany pursued a B.A. in Film Production at Howard University, graduating Cum Laude. Living by the motto, “service is a mandate of success,” this mantra is instilled into the work by Britany’s efforts to dismantle harm and harmful bias in marketing and developing the next generation of talent through mentorship and partnership with community-based organizations. Currently, Britany is the Vice President, Director of Inclusive Marketing at Starcom, a Chicago-based media agency. While in Chicago, Britany studied improv at Second City’s Training Center and once opened for a mainstage touring company and performed a multi-week run co-written show for SCTC’s Sketchcast. When not working with global brands or arts centered non-profits such as the DC-based Words, Beats, & Life, Britany continues to write for stage, page, and screen.

About the Director

EILEEN J. MORRIS

As Artistic Director of The Ensemble Theatre, Eileen has produced over 87 productions which include eight world premieres and over 70 regional premieres. She was named the 2021 Director of the Decade for Fences by Broadway World Houston and awarded the 2020 USITT Thomas DeGaetani Award for her contributions to the performing arts community in Texas. Her most recent Ensemble Theatre directing credits include Love & Southern D!scomfort, Single Black Female, The Lawsons: A Civil Rights Love Story, I, Too, Am America, More Than Christmas, School Girls; Or the African Mean Girls Play and Freeda Peoples to name a few. Last year she was the associate director for Sweat with Alley Theatre- Houston. Eileen currently serves as Vice President on the Board for the Theatre Communications Group and as consultant for the Black Theatre Network. A proud member of SDC (Stage Directors and Choreographers), Eileen holds the distinction of being the ONLY woman in the world to direct eight of the August Wilson Ten Play Cycle.

About the Dramaturg

DR. JOHN SHEVIN FOSTER

Dr. Foster (playwright/director/educator) is an August Wilson scholar who works in both academic and professional theater. Artistically, his work focuses on accurate portrayals of contemporary African American life and creates opportunities for artists of color that allow them to stretch beyond the typical roles and subjects that are afforded by non-Black theatres. His award-winning play Flip-in: a hip-hop folk tale, debuted at the DUAF/Downtown Urban Arts Festival in New York City and most recently (2022) as a reading at the BTN national conference in Detroit, MI. His company InnerAct Productions: Quality Theatre of Color! Premiered the workshop performance of the Tony award-winning Bridge and Tunnel by Sarah Jones. He has served as president of the Black Theatre Network (BTN), and for ten years he was the Education Manager and Producer of the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), one of the world’s most prestigious theatre organizations. He has served as faculty and the Artistic Director at Shaw University and Virginia State University, and as a visiting professor and playwright mentor and director for New York University. Foster’s play Plenty of Time has received multiple productions, including a New York premiere produced by Woodie King, Jr., at New Federal/Castillo Theatre, The Ensemble Theatre (Houston, TX), the National Black Theatre Festival and is currently running at Jubilee Theatre in Ft. Worth, TX. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

About the Cast

ANDREA BARONELL-HUNTER (DR. TIFFANY SANGOMA/SIREN) production credits include: Sacramento Theatre Company’s The Tempest, Little Shop Of Horrors, Hello Dolly, and Cabin In The Sky; Houston’s Main Street Theater’s Men On Boats and The Book of Magdalene; The Ensemble Theatre’s Satchel Paige, Kansas City Swing, Sarah Sings A Love Story, and two productions of The Nacirema Society. Education: BA in Drama from California State Univ., Sacramento: MA in Communication from Texas Southern University: EdD in Ethical Leadership from the University of St. Thomas, Houston. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

REYNA DEESE (DESIRE) is a multi-faceted actress from Houston who fell in love with the performing arts at a young age. She graduated from University of Oklahoma with a BS in Industrial Engineering and Drexel College of Medicine with an M.S. with plans of becoming a physician. However, she changed career paths and began to pursue acting professionally after the passing of her mother to colon cancer. She made her debut in 2019, and since then, she has appeared in numerous commercial, film, television, and theatrical productions. She now adds producer to her many titles and hopes to begin directing soon. Reyna is also an educator, fitness enthusiast, dancer, and trains in stunts. She desires a lifetime career of storytelling and humanizing every role she undertakes.

KRYSTIE LIGGINS (PATIENCE)is Meisner Technique Trained at the Meisner Technique Studio in San Francisco with Jim Jarrett and Melissa Thompson-Esaia at Empowerhouse Acting Studio. She has played roles from Shakespeare to Lynn Nottage’s, Intimate Apparel and has worked off Broadway, as well as in film and television, in San Francisco, CA and Houston,TX. She is currently performing at Department of Wonder’s immersive experience as the principal characters Noria and Curio in Sugarland, TX. At the start of the new year, she will perform in The Ensemble Theatre’s production of Clyde’s. Krystle is looking forward to working in an Academy Award winning feature film, an Emmy Award USA series and in any feature opposite Viola Davis, Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep.

JAYLA McDONALD (VIRTUE) is a Junior Musical Theater student at Kinder High School for Performing and Visual Arts. She made her theatre debut at seven years old in A Soulful Christmas at The Ensemble Theatre. Since that time, she has been cast in several theatre productions. She was also featured in the film Tales from the Hood II. She enjoys her time at HSPVA and is very involved in all aspects of productions, including stage managing and tech crew. She aspires to grace the stages of Broadway someday. She credits her love for theater to The Ensemble Theatre’s Young Performers Program.

LaSHANNA MOORE (KALI) is a proud alumna of the University of Houston. She holds a double degree in dance and theatre and is a classically trained flutist. LaShanna has worked with the legendary Debbie Allen and has toured the US and Canada in several award-winning productions such as Dreamgirls and A Raisin in the Sun. She is the owner of Wholistically Well LLC and serves as nutritionist and holistic practitioner. LaShanna is married to Motown Gospel artist Grammy-nominated Gene Moore and enjoys traveling, food and spending time with family. Adding the title filmmaker to her life’s work, she debuted her documentary, Black Boddess, at a Houston film screening. She credits her career in arts to her mother, Dorothy Ellis-Leonard, the impetus of her involvement. You can connect with her online at lashannaleonardmoore.com

LAURYN NEALY (HOPE) is an aspiring storyteller, whose love of the arts began at a very early age. She plans to attend the illustrious Howard University in the fall of 2024 and earn her BFA in Theatre Arts. She is extremely grateful for the talented and supportive cast and crew of this production, and is honored to be entrusted with the beautiful character Hope. This Young Performer cannot wait for what’s to come!

PRODUCTION TEAM

  • BRITANY RICKETT
    Playwright
  • EILEEN J. MORRIS
    Director
  • JOHN SHEVIN FOSTER
    Dramaturg
  • CURMIRA A. BILL
    Stage Manager

NEW VOICES FEST TEAM

  • PHILIP GRASCHEL
    Festival Technical Coordinator
  • JESSICA JAE JOHNSON
    Festival Assistant
  • TEACAKE FERGUSON
    Assistant Festival Coordinator

EXECUTIVE STAFF

  • EILEEN J. MORRIS
    BOLD Artistic Director
  • SHARON SAMUEL
    Managing Director

STAFF

  • WILLIAM BERRY
    Box Office Coordinator
  • SARAH BROWN
    Fund Development Director
  • STEPHANIE R. BROWN
    Audience Development Director
  • RACHEL H. DICKSON
    BOLD Associate Artistic Director
  • DAVID W. HALL
    Facilities Maintenance
  • WILDA JACKSON
    Event Coordinator
  • MICHELLE OGLETREE
    BOLD Artistic Fellow
  • DENISE PURDIE
    Box Office Administrator
  • STEVEN J. SCOTT
    Youth Education & Community
    Outreach Director
  • DWAIN SMITH
    Facilities Maintenance
  • KRYSTAL UCHEM
    BOLD Production Fellow
  • CAROLYN VIGNE
    Operations Administrative Assistant
  • NATHAN WERNIG
    Technical Director
  • TERESA WHITE
    Accounting Analyst
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