Mine Eyes Have Seen & War Brides
The third installment of For Your (Re)Consideration is two one act plays dealing with the subject of wars and the battles families are forced to fight amongst themselves when someone is called to “serve.”
Written in the final years of World War I, Mine Eyes Have Seen is the story of a Black family who have fled the South after the father’s lynching. His wife dies of heartbreak leaving their three children to fend for themselves. The children are now young adults, but Lucy, the youngest, and Dan, the oldest, are reliant on their brother, Chris, to support them. When Chris is drafted, he is forced to wrestle with the idea of serving a country that has not served his family. The play is an examination on the nature of patriotism, citizenship, sacrifice and what those mean for people who have been betrayed by their own country.
Published in 1915, War Brides examines the role of women in supporting war at the home front, and the expectations that they willingly send their husbands and sons to die in wars. It highlights one woman’s determination, after her loss of a husband and brothers to war, to no longer become a tool for war. The play also demands that if women are expected to work and sacrifice for war, they should be given full voice in the decisions to go to war.
Mine Eyes Have Seen was written by Alice Dunbar Nelson and War Brides by Marion Craig Wentworth. Both are directed by Angelisa Gillyard.
Tickets are available via the link below.
CAST
Mine Eyes Have Seen
Dan: Marcus John
Chris: Charles Franklin
Mrs. O’Neill: Lindsay Williams
Jake: Ben Lauer
Julia: Sydney Johnson
Cornelia Lewis: Bryanda Minix
Lucy: Deidre Staples
Stage Directions: Ivana Alexander
War Brides
Hoffman: Marcus John
Hertz: Charles Franklin
Mother: Lindsay Williams
Arno: Ben Lauer
Hedwig: Bryanda Minix
Amelia: Deidre Staples
Minna: Sydney Johnson
Stage Directions: Ivana Alexander
Biographies
ALICE DUNBAR NELSON
Alice Dunbar Nelson (Playwright) was an American poet, journalist and political activist. Among the first generation born free in the South after the Civil War, she was one of the prominent African Americans involved in the artistic flourishing of the Harlem Renaissance. Her first book, Violets and Other Tales (1895), was published when she was just 20. Her second collection, The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories (1899) explored the lives of creole and anglicized characters. A writer of short stories, essays and poems, Dunbar Nelson was comfortable in many genres but was best known for her prose. One of the few female African American diarists of the early 20th century, she portrays the complicated reality of African American women and intellectuals, addressing topics such as racism, oppression, family, work, and sexuality.
Marion Craig Wentworth
Marion Craig Wentworth (Playwright) was an American playwright, poet and suffragist. She is best known for her feminist anti-war play, War Brides, which was made into a silent film in 1916. She is also known for her play, A Flower Shop, which dealt with women's suffrage and for a collection of poems titled, Iridescent Days. Before World War I, she toured the country doing dramatic readings to raise support for suffrage and lectured for the Boston Equal Suffrage Association for Good Government. A Socialist, she was featured on the cover of the magazine, The Socialist Woman, in 1908.
Angelisa gillyard
Angelisa Gillyard (Director) is a director, choreographer and photographer based out of Washington, D.C. She co-directed the Helen Hayes nominated Day of Absence with Raymond O. Caldwell at Theater Alliance. Angelisa also directed the world premieres of Welcome to Sis’ and #poolparty (Ally Theatre Company), which was recognized as a Staff Favorite by D.C. Metro Theatre Arts and Outstanding Production by Broadway World. She has directed productions and readings for Young Playwrights’ Theater, Arena Stage, In Series, Studio Theatre, Freshh Theatre Inc., University of Maryland and Montgomery College. In addition, Angelisa has choreographed musicals, plays and operas for In Series, Ally Theatre Company, and D.C. metro area high schools and colleges. Angelisa currently serves as the Director of Education and Outreach for Mosaic Theater Company. For more information visit www.angelisa.net.
Ivana Alexander
Ivana “Tai” Alexander (Stage Directions) is grateful to participate in Ghostlight's For Your (Re)Consideration reading series. She is a D.C. area theatre artist. Credits include: Welcome to Sis’s (Sis, Ally Theatre Company); The Wedding Singer (Tina Turner/Ensemble, NextStop Theatre Company); #poolparty (Regina, Ally Theatre Company); The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington (Doll, Ally Theatre Company); Man of La Mancha (Governor, The Arlington Players); Caroline, Or Change (Radio, Elden Street Players); Coming Home (Veronica, Port City Players); Little Shop of Horrors (Ronette, The Arlington Players); All Shook Up (Sylvia, Rockville Musical Theatre); Hoodoo Love (Toulou, Hard Bargain Players); Chicago (June, St. Mark’s Players); The Wiz (Dorothy, St. Mark’s Players). She thanks her family and friends for their love and encouragement.
Charles Franklin IV
Charles Franklin IV (Chris/Hertz) is from Washington, D.C., and proud to work with Ghostlight. Recent credits include Helen Hayes winner of Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Production, Blood at the Root at Theatre Alliance, Day of Absence, at Theatre Alliance, Klecksography at Rorschach Theatre, Snow Queen at Imagination Stage. Charles currently holds a bachelor’s in theatre arts - acting & directing from Bowie State University and has also trained at Duke Ellington School of the Arts.
Marcus John
Marcus John [he/him] (Dan/Hoffman) is a Mid-Atlantic- based, multi-hyphenate artist and teacher. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and has worked professionally in various facets of the theatre/TV industry for over a decade. Prior to Quarantimes and following the reopen of theaters Marcus can be seen as a Principal Swing, in the Philip tour of Hamilton: An American Musical. Previous credits include; RENT 20th Anniversary Tour (Benny), Mamma Mia! Farewell Tour, and various plays and readings in D.C., Philadelphia and New York. He is proudly represented by DGRW. Follow him @BroadwyBriddell “Pray Often, Worry Not!”
Sydney Johnson
Sydney Johnson [she/her] (Julia/ Minna) is based in D.C. currently, receiving her Bachelor of Music in musical theatre from The Catholic University of America. Most recently, she has performed with Catholic University in Hamlet (Ophelia), Scuttlebutt Confirmed (Kate), The Ties That Bind (Tara), Ca Ira: Des Chanson Populaires and Measure for Measure (Secretary). Sydney is excited to be performing with Ghostlight and sends thanks to her family and friends who provide endless support. She can be found on Instagram at @sydneyjohnsond.
Ben Lauer
Ben Lauer [he/him/his] (Jake/Arno) is excited to be joining Ghostlight Ensemble's For Your (Re)Consideration series from his home in Washington, D.C. Credits include: The Great Commedia Hotel Murder Mystery, Henry V, The Merchant of Venice (Faction of Fools Theatre Company); The Master and Margarita, The Skin of Our Teeth (Constellation Theatre Company); Pride and Prejudice, Richard III (NextStop Theatre Company); Wander (Goethe-Institut); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet (Prince George’s County Shakespeare in the Parks); Clover (Ally Theatre Company); Sense-Able (dog&pony dc); a love story (Source Festival); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Two Noble Kinsmen (Brave Spirits Theatre); and others.
Bryanda Minix
Bryanda Minix (Cornelia Lewis/Hedwig) is delighted to take the virtual stage with Ghostlight Ensemble for the first time. She is an actor, director, playwright and teaching artist based out of Washington, D.C. She has worked most recently with Anacostia Playhouse, Mosaic Theater Company, Keegan Theatre, Theater Resources Unlimited (New York) and for Honor Roll! in association with the African American Policy Forum’s #SayHerName campaign. Bryanda is also a professional conversation starter and connector, cultivator of hope and fierce advocate towards removing barriers to opportunity.
Deidre Staples
Deidre Staples [she/her](Lucy/Minna) is a D.C.-based actor and playwright who mostly recently wrote and performed her solo show, White-ish, at the Atlas Intersections Festival and Nu Sass Productions. REGIONAL: The Welders: LadyM: National Players: Twelfth Night (Maria), Around The World In 80 Days (Ms. Aouda), The Crucible (Mary Warren, Rebecca Nurse); Studio Theatre: The Wolves (u/s #8); Pointless Theatre Co.: Rites of Spring (The Child.) Howard University: Eclipsed (The Girl); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Flute) African Americans (The Nagged Girl) Insurrection: Holding History (Ensemble). EDUCATION: BFA in Acting from Howard University. Upcoming: Folger Theatre: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia u/s)
Lindsay WilLiams
Lindsay Williams [she/her] (Mrs. O’Neill/Mother) is a Washington, D.C.-based actress and woodwind musician (clarinet/ flute/ saxophone/ oboe), and is thrilled to be working with Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre Co. for the first time. Regional credits include Yentl (Theater J), As You Like It (Prince George’s Shakespeare in the Parks), The Betty & Veronica Plays, Long Island Sound (Rainbow Theatre Project), Three Cheers to Grace, Discovering Alex (Young Playwright’s Theatre), Physics of Now, Amenities (Source Festival) and Law Theatre Project: Justice Disordered, Myra Bradwell: American Portia, Epiphany (the Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival). Lindsay is active as a musical theatre pit musician, maintains a private clarinet/saxophone studio, and works extensively as an actor in medical and criminal justice simulations and training. She holds a Bachelor of Music in clarinet performance from the Eastman School of Music, a Master of Arts in performing arts administration from New York University, and is currently in her third year of studies at the Studio Acting Conservatory in D.C.