BLOOD AT THE ROOT
by Dominique Morisseau
Blood at the Root was commissioned by the Penn State School of Theatre, and was first produced by Penn State Centre Stage, Dan Carter, Producing Artistic Director. The New York Premiere of Blood at the Root was produced by Penn State Centre Stage and presented by Hi-ARTS and the National Black Theatre, Inc.
"Blood at the Root" is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc., www.concordtheatricals.com
THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists
Content Warning: Blood at the Root employs strong language, racial and homophobic slurs, and symbols of violence to accurately depict the story of the Jena Six.
Setting/Year: Jena, Louisiana, 2006
There will be a 15-minute intermission
As a recent graduate of this program, returning to the College of Fine Arts to direct Blood at the Root has been a surreal experience. The Department of Theatre and Dance played such an essential role in fostering my passion for storytelling. Being able to relate to the students in this production as they continue to hone and develop their craft, while also continuing to receive support and guidance from the faculty has encouraged my evolution as a theatre professional.
As the fourth of my siblings to graduate from the University of Kentucky, my family is familiar with the often polarizing nature of being a student on this campus. It can be challenging for both students and faculty to openly acknowledge and address the many uncomfortable themes playwright Dominique Morisseau tackles. Blood at the Root not only continues to give a voice to the Jena 6, but shines a light on the real-life implications of bigotry, hate crime, and allyship. It is my hope that this production helps facilitate future sensitive discussions by providing a platform for those whose pain has been silenced or overlooked. It is vital to the future of this community that we continue courageously calling out acts of injustice.
Thank you to the students and faculty of CFA’s Department of Theatre and Dance for granting me the opportunity to grow with you in art and activism.
Meredith Crutcher, director
BA Theatre '21
RAYLYNN
Demi Handley
TORIA
Ayana Roit
ASHA
Zoie Albrecht
JUSTIN
Michael Daniels
COLIN
Ren Powers
DE’ANDRE
Nate Neal
PRINCIPAL MILLER
Charles R Hunter
DA
Maxxwel Megibben
ENSEMBLE
Gabrielle Copeland
CREATIVE
DIRECTOR
Meredith Frankie Crutcher
SCENIC DESIGNER
Kate Field
COSTUME DESIGNER
Emily Morgan
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Heather Brown
SOUND DESIGNER
Heather Brown
STAGE MANAGER
Marilyn J. Hosey
PROP DIRECTOR
Sadie Lawrence
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Aliciona Strothers
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS
Joslyn Baumgardner, Sydney A Willis
ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNER
Danitza Piper
ASSISTANT SOUND DESIGNER
Najiya Clayborn
SCENIC CHARGE ARTIST
Maddie Bavely
SCENIC ARTISTS
Aden Amburgey, Anna Beno, Hayley Faught, Adeline Fish, Makenna Hampton, Caitlin Herndon, Kourtney Laudick, Sadie Lawrence, Rebekah New, Eli Vann, Lydia Yates
SCENIC CONSTRUCTION
Caroline Beyers, Autrey Brown, Sarah Graves, Makenna Hampton, Hunter Grace Hayes, Chloe Huettman, Andrew Hunt, Lusiam Kamara, Carmen Klapheke, Madeline Lowbridge and Max Maxwell
FIBER ARTISTS
Autrey Brown
Nate Neal
SCENE SHOP ASSISTANTS
Maddie Bavely
Elizabeth Croghan
Michael Daniels
Sadie Lawrence
STITCHERS
Ivory Besse, Meg Boden, Megan Dyer, Emma Farrand, Megan Payton, Logan Stivers
SCENIC SCALE MODEL
Maddie Bavely, Hunter Grace Hayes
COSTUME DIRECTOR
Tracy Barber-Ward
LEAD DRAPER
Natalie Maynard
COSTUME STOCK SUPERVISOR
Andrea Richardson
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR & PRODUCTION MANAGER
Zak Stribling
PRODUCER
Stephen Wrentmore
PHOTOGRAPHY
Mark Cornelison, UK Photo
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Shaan Azeem
PROGRAM DESIGN
Jennifer Sciantarelli
MEDIA COORDINATOR
Mark Mozingo
SOCIAL MEDIA CREATOR
Melanie L. Turner
CREW
RUN CREW
Aden Amburgey, Autrey Brown, Aaliyah Buchanan, Karley Keen
WARDROBE CREW
Sarah Graves, Michelle Haynes, Carol Steinle, Riley Ramsay, Grace Lyon, Alayna Johnson
HOUSE MANAGER
Melanie L. Turner
Dean, College of Fine Arts
MARK SHANDA
Acting Chair, Department of Theatre & Dance
BEN ARNOLD
FULL-TIME FACULTY
Tracy Barber
Senior Lecturer/Costume Shop Director
Heather Brown
Visiting Lecturer, Lighting & Sound
Herman Farrell III
Professor, Playwriting
Co-Director Certificate in Filmmaking: Production & Dramatic Writing
Kate Field
Visiting Assistant Professor, Scenic Design
Jeremy Gillett
Assistant Professor, Acting
Nancy Jones
Professor, History, Practice & Performance/Director of Musical Theatre Certificate
Laura Neese
Lecturer, Dance
Christina Ritter
Senior Lecturer, Theatre
Peter Stone
Assistant Professor, Theatre
Zak Stribling
Senior Lecturer, Theatre/Technical Director/Production Manager
Susie Thiel
Associate Professor, Dance/Director of Dance
Stephen Wrentmore
Lecturer, Theatre/Season Producer/Studio Season Director
ADJUNCT FACULTY
Theresa Bautista
Dance
Danielle Dunmire
Dance
Mary Joy Nelson
Musical Theatre Voice
Anna Wilson
Dance
STAFF
Natalie Maynard
Costume Cutter/Draper
Andrea Richardson
Costume Inventory Specialist
Melanie L. Turner
Administrative Assistant
EMERITUS FACULTY
Nelson Fields
Robert Haven
John Holloway
Geraldine Maschio
Rhoda-Gale Pollock
James W. Rodgers
