The Wind and the Breeze
By Nathan Alan Davis
Directed by Rob Lutfy
Low-priced Previews May 16 - May 19, 2018
World Premiere
Sam, the legendary, undisputed, greatest emcee in Rockford, IL, plans to rest on his laurels all winter and, if possible, stake out an early spot to watch the Independence Day fireworks -but his closest mentees and their outsized dreams challenge him to a battle he can’t win. The Wind and the Breeze explores the politics of place, the unspoken expectations of friendship and what happens when we choose to stand our ground on shifting sands.
“Because ultimately what makes it soar is Davis’ uniquely lyrical script, and its thematic veracity and original authorial voice floats us past fleeting new-play issues.” – LA Times
Running Time: Two hours with a 15 minute intermission.
Advisory: Contains strong language, simulated gun shots, theatrical haze and smoking of herbal cigarettes.
Cast
Demetrius ClaytonDemetrius Clayton
ShantellDemetrius is ecstatic to be working at his first professional theatre show and also to work with the amazing artists and staff at Cygnet. Recent productions include Long John Silver in Treasure Island; Grossmont College Hortensio in Taming of the shrew; Man #1 in A Piece of my Heart. Special thanks to Brian Rickel, Luke Benning, and all my good friends from Grossmont College! Thank you all for making the dream real. Demetrius is currently studying theatre arts at Grossmont College.
Monique GaffneyMonique Gaffney
RondaMonique Gaffney was last seen as Connie in Red Velvet at the Old Globe Theatre. San Diego credits: The Tragedy of the Commons, The Piano Lesson, Man from Nebraska, Las Meninas, Yellowman (Craig Noel Award) (Cygnet), Disgraced, Clybourne Park, In the Next Room, or the vibrator play, Doubt (SD REP), Much Ado About Nothing, All’s Well That Ends Well (Globe For All- Old Globe Theatre), Cell, Hoodoo Love (Mo’olelo), Heddatron, A Streetcar Named Desire, A Raisin in the Sun (ion theatre), Brownie Points (Lamb’s Players), Medea and I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me By a Young Lady from Rwanda (Patté Award) (6th @ Penn Theatre), Trouble in Mind, Gibson Girl, Blue Bonnet Court (MOXIE), and Gee’s Bend, The African Company Presents Richard III (North Coast Rep). New York credits: Mamba’s Daughters and American Silents. UCSD (BA), Columbia University (MFA). AEA, SAG-AFTRA.
Nadia GuevaraNadia Guevara
AnaCredits include: The Winter’s Tale (Old Globe), Tiger Style!, The Car Plays (La Jolla Playhouse), Lydia, Passion (ion), In The Heights, Miss Saigon (Moonlight), Cloud Tectonics, The Clean House, Summer and Smoke (New Village Arts). Concert Reading: HAIR (Cygnet). Choreographer: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, The Secret Garden (New Village Arts). Director: Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans: A Salsa Fairy Tale (New Village Arts/Teatro Pueblo Nuevo). Nadia serves as Associate Artistic Director at New Village Arts and producer of its new initiative Teatro Pueblo Nuevo. Thanks to the NVA staff for their continued support, to the Cygnet team, and to my dear friend Robby, a cherished creative partner.
Demetrius Clayton
Demetrius is ecstatic to be working at his first professional theatre show and also to work with the amazing artists and staff at Cygnet. Recent productions include Long John Silver in Treasure Island; Grossmont College Hortensio in Taming of the shrew; Man #1 in A Piece of my Heart. Special thanks to Brian Rickel, Luke Benning, and all my good friends from Grossmont College! Thank you all for making the dream real. Demetrius is currently studying theatre arts at Grossmont College.
Monique Gaffney
Monique Gaffney was last seen as Connie in Red Velvet at the Old Globe Theatre. San Diego credits: The Tragedy of the Commons, The Piano Lesson, Man from Nebraska, Las Meninas, Yellowman (Craig Noel Award) (Cygnet), Disgraced, Clybourne Park, In the Next Room, or the vibrator play, Doubt (SD REP), Much Ado About Nothing, All’s Well That Ends Well (Globe For All- Old Globe Theatre), Cell, Hoodoo Love (Mo’olelo), Heddatron, A Streetcar Named Desire, A Raisin in the Sun (ion theatre), Brownie Points (Lamb’s Players), Medea and I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me By a Young Lady from Rwanda (Patté Award) (6th @ Penn Theatre), Trouble in Mind, Gibson Girl, Blue Bonnet Court (MOXIE), and Gee’s Bend, The African Company Presents Richard III (North Coast Rep). New York credits: Mamba’s Daughters and American Silents. UCSD (BA), Columbia University (MFA). AEA, SAG-AFTRA.
Nadia Guevara
Credits include: The Winter’s Tale (Old Globe), Tiger Style!, The Car Plays (La Jolla Playhouse), Lydia, Passion (ion), In The Heights, Miss Saigon (Moonlight), Cloud Tectonics, The Clean House, Summer and Smoke (New Village Arts). Concert Reading: HAIR (Cygnet). Choreographer: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, The Secret Garden (New Village Arts). Director: Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans: A Salsa Fairy Tale (New Village Arts/Teatro Pueblo Nuevo). Nadia serves as Associate Artistic Director at New Village Arts and producer of its new initiative Teatro Pueblo Nuevo. Thanks to the NVA staff for their continued support, to the Cygnet team, and to my dear friend Robby, a cherished creative partner.
Cortez L. JohnsonCortez L. Johnson
TeaJohnson is the grateful recipient of the 2017 Craig Noel: Actor of the Year Award. Capturing the award for his portrayal of Emmett Till, Johnson is glad to make his debut on another awesome San Diego stage. Johnson is from Chicago, Illinois where he studied Theatre Performance at Southern Illinois University of Carbondale and Columbia College of Chicago. Johnson was last seen as Homer in the SD premier of ‘Father Comes Home From The Wars’ at Intrepid Theatre. When not on stage Johnson’s a social media influencer sharing the successful #actorlife of a former foster child as a way to help youth focus positively. Johnson can be found on social media sites as Tezmanic. Johnson’s theatre credits stretch from the Caribbean to Europe to various parts Africa and Asia. Johnson’s favorite theatre productions include: The Ballad of Emmett Till, Blue Door, Honky (PBS), Brownsville Song (B-Side for Tray) A Raisin in The Sun, Antigone, Seven, Preemptive and The Bombity of Errors. Johnson thanks his cast and the forever committed community of San Diego for rockin the mic with with him tonight.
Chaz ShermilChaz Shermil
NiaChaz Shermil, a Southside Chicago native, received her Masters of Fine Arts from UCSD in San Diego. La Jolla Playhouse: In the Red and Brown Water (Oya), A Lie of the Mind (Beth), Little Children Dream of God (Madison). She performed with The Ubuntu Theatre Project: Dance of the Holy Ghost (Viola) and Hurt Village (Cookie) which landed her a TBA Award nomination as best actress in a leading role. She’s also performed at The New Harmony Playwriting Festival, Theatre Works Palo Alto New Play Festival, The Ojai New Play Festival, The Denver Center New Play Festival, and her own original pilot script, ‘Angry Black B*@&%$!’ at The Guthrie Theatre New Griots Festival. Film include: Lifetime’s My Crazy Ex (Tamara) and BET’s Reflections (Holly). She just finished an extensive run of Marie and Rosetta as Marie at The Cleveland Playhouse and Cincinnati Playhouse directed by Neil Pepe. She is very excited to now be making art by the beach
Terrell Donnell SledgeTerrell Donnell Sledge
SamTerrell Donnell Sledge is excited to be making his Cygnet Theatre debut. New York: Prospect (Boundless Theatre Co.); Dakota Atoll (Lark Theatre); Dunkfest ’88 (P73); And If You Lose Your Way… (New Georges); Find and Sign (Naked Angels). Regional: The Realness, 45 Plays/45 Presidents (Merrimack Repertory Theatre); FLY (Cincinnati Playhouse, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis); How We Got On (B Street Theatre, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival); By The Way, Meet Vera Stark (Lyric Stage Co.); Running on Fire, Cardboard Piano, Imaginary Music Critic Who Doesn’t Exist, The Solid Sand Below, Alligator (The Eugene O’Neill Memorial Theatre); Find and Sign, Much Ado About Nothing (Pioneer Theatre Co.); The Crucible (Trinity Rep Co.); Othello (Commonwealth Shakespeare Co.). TV/Film: Elementary; How To Win; New Millennium Studios: Blues in The Night, Troop 491. Other Selected Credits: The Threepenny Opera, Vieux Carre, The Lady From Dubuque, Blood Knot, The Duchess of Malfi, We Are Proud to Present…, Much Ado About Nothing, The Piano Lesson, Sally’s Rape (Director), Betrayal (Director). Education: M.F.A. from Brown University/Trinity Rep; Yale University graduate. Terrell thanks God and his loving family for their support and commitment. @thetdsledge
Cortez L. Johnson
Johnson is the grateful recipient of the 2017 Craig Noel: Actor of the Year Award. Capturing the award for his portrayal of Emmett Till, Johnson is glad to make his debut on another awesome San Diego stage. Johnson is from Chicago, Illinois where he studied Theatre Performance at Southern Illinois University of Carbondale and Columbia College of Chicago. Johnson was last seen as Homer in the SD premier of ‘Father Comes Home From The Wars’ at Intrepid Theatre. When not on stage Johnson’s a social media influencer sharing the successful #actorlife of a former foster child as a way to help youth focus positively. Johnson can be found on social media sites as Tezmanic. Johnson’s theatre credits stretch from the Caribbean to Europe to various parts Africa and Asia. Johnson’s favorite theatre productions include: The Ballad of Emmett Till, Blue Door, Honky (PBS), Brownsville Song (B-Side for Tray) A Raisin in The Sun, Antigone, Seven, Preemptive and The Bombity of Errors. Johnson thanks his cast and the forever committed community of San Diego for rockin the mic with with him tonight.
Chaz Shermil
Chaz Shermil, a Southside Chicago native, received her Masters of Fine Arts from UCSD in San Diego. La Jolla Playhouse: In the Red and Brown Water (Oya), A Lie of the Mind (Beth), Little Children Dream of God (Madison). She performed with The Ubuntu Theatre Project: Dance of the Holy Ghost (Viola) and Hurt Village (Cookie) which landed her a TBA Award nomination as best actress in a leading role. She’s also performed at The New Harmony Playwriting Festival, Theatre Works Palo Alto New Play Festival, The Ojai New Play Festival, The Denver Center New Play Festival, and her own original pilot script, ‘Angry Black B*@&%$!’ at The Guthrie Theatre New Griots Festival. Film include: Lifetime’s My Crazy Ex (Tamara) and BET’s Reflections (Holly). She just finished an extensive run of Marie and Rosetta as Marie at The Cleveland Playhouse and Cincinnati Playhouse directed by Neil Pepe. She is very excited to now be making art by the beach
Terrell Donnell Sledge
Terrell Donnell Sledge is excited to be making his Cygnet Theatre debut. New York: Prospect (Boundless Theatre Co.); Dakota Atoll (Lark Theatre); Dunkfest ’88 (P73); And If You Lose Your Way… (New Georges); Find and Sign (Naked Angels). Regional: The Realness, 45 Plays/45 Presidents (Merrimack Repertory Theatre); FLY (Cincinnati Playhouse, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis); How We Got On (B Street Theatre, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival); By The Way, Meet Vera Stark (Lyric Stage Co.); Running on Fire, Cardboard Piano, Imaginary Music Critic Who Doesn’t Exist, The Solid Sand Below, Alligator (The Eugene O’Neill Memorial Theatre); Find and Sign, Much Ado About Nothing (Pioneer Theatre Co.); The Crucible (Trinity Rep Co.); Othello (Commonwealth Shakespeare Co.). TV/Film: Elementary; How To Win; New Millennium Studios: Blues in The Night, Troop 491. Other Selected Credits: The Threepenny Opera, Vieux Carre, The Lady From Dubuque, Blood Knot, The Duchess of Malfi, We Are Proud to Present…, Much Ado About Nothing, The Piano Lesson, Sally’s Rape (Director), Betrayal (Director). Education: M.F.A. from Brown University/Trinity Rep; Yale University graduate. Terrell thanks God and his loving family for their support and commitment. @thetdsledge
Creative Team
Bonnie Durben
Cygnet Theatre: A Little Night Music, Animal Crackers, On The Twentieth Century and 57 other productions; Moonlight Theatre Productions: Aida, Little Mermaid, Sunset Blvd, In the Heights, Sister Act, Peter Pan, Titanic, The Addams Family, The Music Man, Shrek, All Shook Up, Big Fish; Scripps Ranch: Skin Deep, Good People; Diversionary Theatre: 2.5 Minute Ride, Well, Ballast, Mystery of Love and Sex, The Boy Who Danced on Air, Now or Later, She-Rantulas, Baby with the Bathwater, A New Brain, Amazons and Their Men; Mira Costa Theatre: Waiting For Lefty, Oklahoma, These Shining Lights, Romeo and Juliet, Seven, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Urinetown. Member of the Society of Property Artisans and Managers.
Sean Fanning
Sean is a Southern California based scenic designer and Resident Artist of Cygnet, where he has designed over twenty productions including A Little Night Music, The Last Wife, The Legend of Georgia McBride, Animal Crackers, Shockheaded Peter, On the 20th Century, Seven Guitars, King Hedley II, Gypsy, Dogfight, Hay Fever, The Vortex, The Whale, Sons of the Prophet, Pageant, Maple & Vine, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Parade, and many more. Elsewhere: Full Gallop (Craig Noel Award Nomination), A Doll’s House, Plaid Tidings, Kingdom (The Old Globe); Manifest Destinitis, The Oldest Boy, Honky, In the Heights, (San Diego Repertory Theatre); My Mañana Comes (Marin Theatre Company); Brownsville Song (Moxie Theatre); Now or Later, the World Premiere of The Boy Who Danced on Air (Diversionary Theatre); West Side Story (San Diego Musical Theatre); The Improv at Harrah’s and Menopause The Musical (Harrah’s Las Vegas). He holds an M.F.A. in Scenic Design from San Diego State University. See more of his work at www.seanfanningdesigns.com.
Nathan Alan Davis
Nathan Alan Davis is a playwright from Rockford, Illinois, now living in New York. His plays include Nat Turner in Jerusalem (New York Theatre Workshop), Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea (NNPN Rolling World Premiere) and The Wind and the Breeze (Cygnet Theatre). He is a 2018 Whiting Award Winner. Other awards include the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Citation, the Stavis Playwright Award, the Blue Ink Award and the Lorraine Hansberry Award. His work has recently been commissioned and developed by The Public Theater, McCarter Theatre, Arena Stage, Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Lark and the New Harmony Project. Nathan is a Usual Suspect at NYTW and a Lecturer in Theater at Princeton University. He is a graduate of Juilliard’s Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program with an MFA from Indiana University and BFA from the University of Illinois.
Steven Leffue
Steven Leffue creates live performances of theater, dance, music, and performance art. He is a co-founder and board member of the OBIE award winning non-profit performing arts organization JACK, Brooklyn (jackny.org), and a lecturer of sound design the University of California San Diego Department of Theater and Dance. He is also a member of Voices of Our City Choir, a local non-profit organization which provides a social and performative platform for people experiencing homelessness (voicesofourcity.org). For more information visit stevenleffue.com.
Rob Lutfy
Rob is the Associate Artistic Director at Cygnet Theatre. Cygnet Theatre: The Last Wife, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, Shockheaded Peter, Bad Jews, Stupid F***ing Bird, When the Rain Stops Falling, Hay Fever, Sons of the Prophet, The Motherf**ker with the Hat. Elsewhere: Clown Play, NYC International Fringe Festival; The Gin Game, Anacostia Playhouse; The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Threshold Repertory; The Sunset Limited, 3M Productions; Time Stands Still, Collaborative Arts, Bodas de sangre, Grossmont College. He has worked on plays in development at The Kennedy Center, The O’Neill Theatre Center, Burning Coal Theatre, The Hub Theatre and The Rensing Center. He has assisted directors at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Folger Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Arena Stage, The Kennedy Center and Marin Theatre Company. He was the 2014-2015 National New Play Network Producer-in-Residence at Marin Theatre Company, and the 2012-2013 William R. Kenan, Jr. Directing Fellow at The John F. Kennedy Center. Rob is a graduate of the directing program under Gerald Freedman at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Shirley Pierson
For Cygnet: Shockheaded Peter, Pageant, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Assassins, WCYG A Christmas Carol (’12, ’13), Parade (Craig Noel Outstanding Costume Design Award), Spring Awakening, Mistakes Were Made, The Glass Menagerie, Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, Private Lives, It’s a Wonderful Life (‘09, ‘10, ‘11), The History Boys, A Christmas Carol (’09). Selected Regional and San Diego Theatre: The Pasadena Playhouse: The Fantasticks; The Old Globe: Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville, Rich Girl; Diversionary Theatre: The Boy Who Danced on Air, Now or Later, Marry Me A Little, The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabbler, When Last We Flew, Pippin, Harmony Kansas, Next Fall; New Village Arts; Seascape, Into the Woods. Shirley received her MFA in Theatrical Design from San Diego State University. View her work at: shirleypiersondesigns.com.
Dean Remington
Dean is thrilled to return to Cygnet, having completed successful runs of When the Rain Stops Falling, Stupid F***ing Bird, and the Finish Line Commission Readings of The Wind and the Breeze and Death of a Late Summer Songbird. National Tours include The Lion King and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. In the UK he was delighted to work with Cameron Mackintosh on his musical, Hey, Mr. Producer! Other highlights include Outside Mullingar and the world premiere of Manifest Destinitis at San Diego Repertory Theatre, as well as international productions of Grease, 42nd Street, Anything Goes, A Chorus Line, Dreamgirls, and Meet Me in St. Louis. He has also enjoyed working in Film and Television on numerous projects as Production Coordinator. Dean is grateful to come home to Cygnet to join the team for Shockheaded Peter!
R. Craig Wolf
R. Craig Wolf has taught and designed lighting nationwide for both theatre and dance. Credits include designs for New York’s Dance Theatre Workshop, Theatre Artaud in San Francisco, Japan America Center in Los Angeles, SRT in Santa Rosa, and the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. In addition, Craig is resident designer for Native Voices at the Autry (Los Angeles). Former Head of the Design Area and Professor Emeritus of Stage Design at San Diego State University, Mr. Wolf is the co-author of Scene Design and Stage Lighting, now in its tenth edition. Craig is pleased to be designing for Cygnet Theatre again this season.
May 2018