THE GOSPEL WOMAN

ABOUT

THE Gospel WomAn

Workshop Production
By TyLie Shider
Directed by Adrienne D. Williams
Co-production with Chelsea Factory

Soon, Orpah, the award winning Soul singer, will arrive to record her live Gospel album in the church. In the interim, there is a boycott, the threat of a foreclosure, and a sororal feud over whose voice is on the demo that launched her career.

NOVEMBER 9-13, 2022

THE CHELSEA FACTORY
547 West 26th St
New York, NY 10001

Photo: Hollis King

TyLie Shider, Playwright

Tylie Shider is a 2019-20 Playwrights' Center Jerome Fellow. His plays include PARABLE OF THE BACKYARD ROOTS (2019 Bay Area Playwrights Festival, Finalist), BASTARD and TALK. His work has been developed by Liberation Theatre Company, Dixon Place, La MaMa, Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop, SPACE on Ryder Farm, Harlem 9, Homebase Theatre Collective, 3:5 Creative[s], Yendor Arts, The Classical Theatre of Harlem, Luna Stage, Joust Theatre co., New York New Works Theater Festival and The Theater Project. Awards: Drama Desk from Delaware State University and The Theater Project’s One-Act competition 2015 Best Play and Audience Favorite. Member: Dramatist Guild of America. Education: He holds a BA in journalism from Delaware State University and an MFA in playwriting from New York University and has studied the Fornésian Method with playwright Migdalia Cruz.

Adrienne D. Williams, Director

Adrienne D. Williams is Harlem born storyteller. She is an Artistic Associate at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, and holds an MFA in Acting from Binghamton University.  She is a member of The Honor Roll, The Bechdel Group, the Rattlestick Theatre Community, and NCTC.  Her directing credits include SHE KILLS MONSTERS, DREAM OF THE BURNING BOY, THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, ELECTRA, BUS STOP, TROUBLE IN MIND, NORA, WHAT NOW?, UNCLE VANYA, ANGELS’S MIXTAPE, PIPELINE, CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY, A LIMBO LARGE AND BROAD, LUCK OF THE IRISH, JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE, ANTIGONE, INTIMATE APPAREL, IPHIGENIA AT AULIS, ZOOMAN AND THE SIGN, THE COLORED MUSEUM, BEFORE IT HITS HOME, JUST PASSIN’ THROUGH, and (opera) THE TALES OF HOFFMAN. As an educator, she has taught and directed on the faculties of The David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, Juilliard Drama Division, Tisch Graduate Acting Program, Hunter College, City College of New York, Syracuse University, Brooklyn College, NYU Gallatin School, Marymount Manhattan College, and the American Academy of Dramatic Art.  She would like to thank NBT for this beautiful collaboration. http://www.adriennedwilliams.com     

Aaron Marcellus, Musical Director

Singer songwriter, vocal coach, musician, dancer, actor Aaron Marcellus was born and raised in Atlanta and has been entertaining crowds around the world for 25 plus years. He got his start in Gospel music with his first major record deal with the Warner label Word Records. After placing Top 24 on “American Idol” he was sent on a world tour sponsored by the US Armed Forces, where he performed for thousands in England, Italy, Holland, Germany, France, Korea, Kuwait and Japan. Aaron has been featured in a Chapstick commercial, NBC’s “Next Caller” and is a veteran member of New York City’s Off-Broadway hit “Stomp” also supporting lead in National Black Theatre’s production of “Dreaming Zenzile”. Marcellus can be found hosting weekly at a local Burlesque and live music restaurant “Duane Park” Amongst singing all New York City, directing showcases, tap dancing, acting, and serving as a vocal coach, Aaron is Founder and Creative Director of The Marcellus Collective and CEO of “Surrender To Love” LLC; a foundation that finically supports music & arts programs and feeds hungry bellies.

 

 

CAST

  • KALA ROSS (Ruth)


    Ross recently made her Broadway debut in the Tony nominated revival of For Colored Girls. Her latest performances were with Harlem9 and 54 Below. She received her M.F.A from the University of Louisville and her bachelor's in theatre from Tennessee State University. Kala believes that if you match your hard work with your faith, any dream is possible. She would like to extend her gratitude to Tylie Shider, the NBT production team and cast, Sujotta Pace, and Hudson Artists Agency. For more information, please visit www.kalaross.com IG: @kalaross

  • CARLA R. STEWART (Orpah)


    Carla R Stewart is elated to make her National Black Theatre debut as Orpah. Stewart is an AMDA alumni with Broadway credits including: The Color Purple revival, Tina the Tina Turner Musical. Off Broadway: If Pretty Hurts… National tours: Ghost (Oda Mae Brown) and The Color Purple revival (Shug Avery). Many thanks to agents at HCKR IG:@mzzzruth @Nutchocheese James 1:17

  • CHARLES E. WALLACE (Fowler)


    Charles E. Wallace, is excited to, finally, be working at The National Black Theatre after being neighbors for over twenty years. He is a veteran of the Stage and TV, and has been seen on Broadway in: Amazing Grace, Miss Saigon (John), Smokey Joe's Café, and Jekyll & Hyde. His Off-Broadway performances include: Dinah Was, Harlem Song and The Headmaster in Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Choir Boy, to name a few. Charles appeared as Daddy Warbucks, in Annie, at The Alabama Shakespeare Festival and performed Ntozake Shange’s “From Okra to Greens at The National Black Theatre Festival in North Carolina. Additionally, Mr. Wallace was honored to play Roy Wilkins in All the Way at The Denver Theatre Center and Cleveland Playhouse and the role of Davenport in The Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s production of A Soldier's Play. In Leon, France, at The Ancient Theatre of Fourvière, Charles performed in Robert Wilson’s, internationally acclaimed chamber opera, Zinnias: The Life of Clementine Hunter. God Bless. IG @mrwallacecharles

  • RONALD EMILE (Wino)

    Ronald Emile is a classically trained actor and native New Yorker. Broadway: Macbeth. Regional: Hop tha A, Feeding Beatrice, Actually. TV: Inventing Anna (Netflix). MFA: NYU.

  • WENDELL JORDAN (Benjamin/Bidder)


    Wendell Jordan has a BFA from Howard University & has been an active member of SAG/ AFTRA for 20+ years. Working on such shows as HBO’s “The Wire, NBC’s “Homicide,” ABC’s Golden Boy,” & CBS’s “Person of Interest,” & “Blue Bloods.” Most recent Theatre credits include the role of “Mister,” from “The Color Purple,” at the Riverside Center For the Performing Arts, “Amonasro,” from “Aida,” at the Source Theatre “Constellation Theatre Company,” In addition to “Ton Ton Julian,” from “Once On This Island,” at Olney Theatre Center.” Wendell would like to dedicate his performance to his sun Fate Jordan.

VIEW OUR EXHIBITION

Within each of our productions we are uplifting the healing power of Love, the strength in vulnerability, the self respect in drawing a boundary, and the deliverance in the truth, because love is a verb. We invite you to journey beyond the stage and view our Dramaturgical Exhibition entitled, Love, A Ritual of Repair!

PARTNER

Chelsea Factory is a nonprofit incubation and presentation space for artists and community groups focused on performing and visual arts, food, fashion, spoken word, audio/podcasts, civic services and tech. 

Over an initial five-year timeline, Chelsea Factory will occupy a 14,000 sf industrial landmarked building in downtown Manhattan, and for the first time since its construction in 1914, we will turn the space over to artists of New York. 

With two possible performance venues including a 160-seat black box theater and an adaptable space for rehearsals, concerts, gatherings, and more, Chelsea Factory will host residencies, classes, performances, workshops, and community events throughout the year.