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GRIOT THEATRE
presents
THE ARCHER FROM
MALIS
PHILOCTETES by Sophocles
ADAPTED AND DIRECTED BY MALIK B. EL-AMIN
FROM
STARRING
(in alphabetical order)
ROSEMARY BROWNLOW REGINALD JAMES* REGAN LINTON*
LESTER PURRY* ELMIRA RAHIM LEILANI SMITH*
*Member of Actors' Equity Association
The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
MALIK B. EL-AMIN
RACQUEL LEHRMAN
VICTORIA WATSON
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER ANDY WAGNER
PRODUCED BY
CONSULTING PRODUCERS
SET DESIGNER NIKKI
EVA KENTOR
LIGHTING DESIGNER DONNY JACKSON
COSTUME DESIGNER KATHERINE DEHOMBRE
SOUND DESIGNER JULIO HANSON
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER RITA COFIELD
PUBLIC RELATIONS JIM MARTYKA
GRAPHIC DESIGNER MARY RAPPAZZO
Griot Theatre of the West Valley is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER MALIK B. EL-AMIN
WWW.GRIOTTHEATRE.ORG
CAST
(in alphabetical order)
Rosemary Brownlow ……………………….Merchant Captain/Soldier
Reginald James *……………………………………Hercules
Regan Linton*…………………………………….…Neoptolema
Lester Purry * …………………………………….. Philoctetes
Elmira Rahim ……………………………………… Zeus/Sergeant
Leilani Smith*………………………………………. Odyssea
*Member of Actors' Equity Association
The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
Time: A dystopian future
This show runs approximately 90 minutes.
There will be no intermission
This play was first workshopped
at the Getty Villa Lab in April, 2016
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S NOTE
I first worked on Philoctetes in graduate school at Brandeis University. The Head of Acting at that time, Janet Morrison, had been training my class in Greek theatre and had assigned me a speech by Philoctetes for a classroom project. I remember it vividly because
of the sheer scope of Philoctetes’ need. His need for his bow, his need to believe in and
call upon a god who had abandoned him, his need to believe that goodness and loyalty
really did exist - and his need for revenge. One of my most important breakthrough’s as
an actor occurred working on this project; because I was finally able to let my work approach the depth of the material.
So, it was no surprise when, many years later, I called my former teacher, Janet Morrison, telling her that I was looking to direct a Greek play and the first thing she said was,
“What about Philoctetes?” Of course. She knew the play was very powerful itself, and
that I felt a special connection to the text. But what else was there to offer others who
would share this journey with me?
The archer imagery was very strong and reminded me of The Hunger Games. As I pursued that imagery, I found many parallels between Philoctetes and The Hunger Games.
Both existed in worlds where the elite prospered at the expense of a lower class. In Greek
mythology, the gods prospered and received entertainment at the expense of mortals. In
the Hunger Games the citizens of the Capitol gained both wealth and entertainment at the
expense of the residents of the poorer districts. This seemed to be a way in; a way to
freshen to story for those who have seen it many times before, but also a way to gain entry into the world for new audiences who may not have thought they had interest in Greek
theatre.
From there, we let the mission of Griot Theatre guide us. With our focus on creating opportunities for artists from underrepresented groups to interpret theatre in new ways, of
course we explored where we might cast women in roles normally played by men. Of
course, we called for actors of color to audition for significant roles. And of course, the
show stars a woman in a wheelchair and is directed by a man who wears a cochlear implant. That’s what we do at Griot Theatre.
I hope you find some portion of the thrill I experienced when I first discovered the work.
I do this for Janet - my teacher.
Malik B. El-Amin
Artistic Director and Co-founder
Griot Theatre
CAST DIRECTORY
ROSEMARY BROWNLOW (Merchant Captain/Soldier)
hails from Portland, Oregon and is a proud graduate of Whitman
College and, more recently, of UC Irvine’s MFA Acting program.
Favorite roles include Lady Capulet in Romeo and
Juliet, Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing (Great River Shakespeare Festival); Belle/Mrs. Cratchit in A Christmas Carol (Sierra
Repertory Theatre); Mina in Dracula, Harriet Smith in the World
Premiere of Jon Jory’s Emma (Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble);
Rosalind in As You Like It, Rachel in My Name is Rachel Corrie (UC
Irvine); and Viola in Twelfth Night (New Swan Shakespeare Festival). If you drive a couple hours up the coast this summer, you can
catch her as Charlotte Palmer in Sense and Sensibility at PCPA Theaterfest! This one goes
out to Phil and Richard for teaching her to be the sense and experience the story, respectively. www.rosemarybrownlow.com
REGINALD JAMES (Hercules) … is The Commish, host
of The Fantasy Commissioner Show. Listen to every episode
online at Rabble.TV. Reginald is pleased to finally return to the
stage since his last appearance in Medal of Honor Rag (D.J.)
back home in New York. Comic fanboys may know him as
Blaze from the comic book C.O.W.L. and short film The
League. Watch for the upcoming web series “Right Hand
Man” (Leezo), Television appearances: “Heroes (Agent Nick
Harper),” “Scorpion,” “Extant,” “NCIS,” “Law and Order:
SVU,” “Melrose Place.” Much love to Kathryn, Landis, and
Saxon for their love and support. ReginaldJames.com
REGAN LINTON (Neoptolema) Regional Theatre: Don John in Much Ado About Nothing, The
Mysterious Woman in Secret Love in Peach
Blossom Land (Oregon Shakespeare Festival);
Bully/Welfare in In the Blood (The Arson, MN);
Barbara Birch in Blood and Gifts (La Jolla Playhouse); Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Little
Becky Two Shoes in Urinetown, Violet Hilton in
Side Show, Lefou in Beauty and the Beast
(Phamaly Theatre Company, Denver). Regan has also worked with Pasadena Playhouse,
Apothetae Theatre (NY), Boston Court Theatre (Pasadena, CA), Circle X Theatre Company, Ashland New Plays Festival, and Big-I International Communications Center (Osaka, Japan). Playwrighting: Gimplecapped: A Journey of Inspiration (Hollywood
Fringe); Safety (Chalk Rep, Los Angeles). When she’s not onstage, Regan enjoys writing, teaching, adventuring, advocating for people with diverse physicalities, and exploring the delights of food and humanity. MFA in Acting (University of California, San
Diego); MSW (University of Denver); BA (University of Southern California). www.reganlinton.com
LESTER PURRY (Philoctetes) has performed in numerous regional theatres around the country. He has performed at the prestigious Guthrie Theatre founded by Sir
Tyrone Guthrie. Roles there include Othello (Othello), Lester
Mason(The Big White Fog), Augustus Newcastle (The Darker Face of the Earth) .He is a company member at Penumbra
Theatre Company and has enjoyed performing in roles such
as King Hedley (King Hedley II),
Cory (Fences), Hambone (Two Trains Running), Lymon (The
Piano Lesson). A few of his other roles include Oberon in
Midsummers Night Dream, Floyd Barton in Seven Guitars,
Scarus in Antony and Cleopatra, Aslan in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Lester's
favorite role is Marvell Thunder in the blue musical The Knocking on the Door where he
met his wife. Film: "Bookie" "Trauma" "A Very Good Man” "The Sea of Dreams” “Surrender" "Non Reactive” TV: "His Secret Family” "Picture of Health” "Boston Legal”
"The Reveal"
ELMIRA RAHIM (Zeus/Sergeant) started acting in
her home country Iran when she was a teenager, with
some of the most prominent theatre companies, including
Ayeneh and Jam. In 2004, she performed in Flying Shams
at UNESCO Hall in Paris with Ayeneh ensemble and director, Pari Saberi, who was awarded Knight of the French
Order of Arts and Letters by French President Jacques
Chirac for her direction of the production. Elmira moved
to the United States six years ago to pursue her acting career more internationally. In 2012 she joined the MFA Acting program at the University of Southern California and
got the opportunity to work with some of her most inspiring mentors. After graduating from USC in 2015, she
shared the stage with the San Diego Symphony in the
powerful production of Defiant Requiem as narrator. This is her first collaboration with
Griot Theatre Company. www.elmirarahim.com & www.facebook.com/elmira.rahim
LEILANI SMITH (Odyssea) Born in Osan City, Korea
and a black belt in Karate. Winner of "Best Ensemble" in the
2016 NAACP Theatre Awards for "Flyin' West" as Fannie
Mae Dove at ICT, Long Beach. Played Mayme in "Intimate
Apparel" at ETC, Santa Barbara, Rose/Actor 12 in "When
Stars Align" at the Odyssey, L.A. and Eve in "Mark Twain's
Diaries of Adam & Eve" at Fremont Centre Theatre, Pasadena
recently. Currently on screen, in a scene with Sally Field and
Tyne Daly in "Hello My Name is Doris" and the lead in the
short "JANE" - winner of the Bronze Award at the FIFF this
year, as well as being the creator, producer and co-writer.
Currently training at Lifebook with Allen Levin. Humbled to
be making my first appearance with Griot Theatre and thankful
for the opportunity given by Malik B. El-Amin and Andy Wagner. IMDB: http://
www.imdb.me/leilanismith
PRODUCTION DIRECTORY
MALIK B. EL-AMIN (Producer, Director, Artistic Director). Initially an actor, Malik
has appeared in commercials and television and numerous plays at regional theatres including Indiana Repertory Theatre, Penumbra Theatre, Colorado Shakespeare Festival,
Commonwealth Shakespeare Festival, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, and Organic Theatre Company, among others. Directing credits include the short films, The Week and Socialist Poker and the plays A Woman Called Truth, Julius Caesar, Voices, and is the Director of Griot Theatre's New Voices Play Festival. Malik holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Oklahoma and an MFA in Theatre Arts from Brandeis
University. He is also a certified actor/combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors and a member of Actors Equity Association (AEA) and the Screen Actors Guild
(SAG-AFTRA).
ANDY WAGNER (Associate Producer) Andy is an actor, teacher, and producer here in
Los Angeles. Originally from Long Island, NY, he graduated with a BA from Yale University in Theatre and went on to study classical theater at the London Academy of Music
and Dramatic Arts. He has appeared in multiple national commercials for Applebee’s,
Hyundai, Fox Sports, and Lays and has also had recurring roles on HBO’s “The Newsroom” and the long running soap “All My Children.” In 2013, he produced a feature film
We Had This Band, which is currently running the film festival circuit. He’d like to congratulate the cast and crew on their hard work and say thank you to Malik for bringing
him on board.
NIKKI EVA KENTOR (Set Designer) Nikki graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts
from the Theater School at California Institute of the Arts with a focus in Scenic Design
in 2015, and received her Certificate in Technical Theater from LA Pierce College in
2013. She co-founded and rigged the Ciara Dance Aerial Program, and has been the
Lighting Consultant for Ciara Dance Studio’s annual June recitals since 2013. Some of
her most recent projects include the scenic design for the short film, “Battle Deadline”
and the premier of Somewhere… at the Meta Theatre on Melrose. www.nikkievaartistry.com
DONNY JACKSON (Lighting Designer) Design highlights include Father, Son & Holy
Coach (Odyssey Theatre), Fat Pig (Hudson Theatre), Closely Related Keys (Lounge Theatre), the West Coast premiere of In the Heights (Casa 0101 Theatre), Blood, written and
directed by Robert Allan Ackerman (The Complex Theatres), Spring Awakening (Long
Beach Playhouse), and the NY premiere of Four Clowns (La Mama Experimental Theatre). Recent productions include A Singular They (The Blank Theatre) and Weapons
(Lounge Theatre). Other work includes Cock (Creative Works Theatre), Café Society
(Odyssey Theatre), RENT (Hudson Theatre), Phenomenal, written and directed by Macy
Gray (Ramon Cortines Performing Arts), A Chorus Line (Freud Playhouse), Sublimity
(Lyric-Hyperion Theatre), Bat Boy, The Glass Menagerie, Fiddler on the Roof, Raisin in
the Sun and Death of a Salesman (Long Beach Playhouse). He is Resident Lighting Designer for Four Clowns Theatre Co, a theatre instructor at Cypress College and holds an
MFA in Lighting from UCLA. www.DonnyJackson.com
KATIE DEHOMBRE (Costume Designer) Katie is a designer and artisan living and
working in Los Angeles. Her work can be seen on screens and stages, big and small.
RITA COFIELD (Production Stage Manager) Rita is a native of Los Angeles. She
graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture but gave the drafting table a rest over 15 years
ago to pursue more hands on experiences, beginning with volunteering to help paint theatrical sets. She went on to assistant stage managing, then to stage managing. She has
stage managed with Actor’s Coop, the Inkwell Theater Company, A Noise Within, Theatre 40, Academy of New Musical Theater, The Fountain Theatre, and frequently collaborates with Theatre Planners. She directed her first play, the world premiere of Madame
President over at the historic El Portal. She frequently gives her time and energy to helping out with the Watts Village Theater Company in the roles of stage manager, artistic
curator, and production and special projects manager. She gained a passion for maintaining the integrity of historic structures from her time maintaining the integrity of theatrical
productions that has led to a Master of Heritage Conservation from USC. She thanks the
Griot Theater for this opportunity to participate in the revival of this historic production
with such a unique approach.
JULIO HANSON (Sound Designer) Julio is an actor, singer, songwriter, and dancer. A
native of Inglewood, California, Julio was nominated for Best Musical Director at the
NAACP awards for the play, “Hattie McDaniels”, was the sound designer of a Los Angeles production of Once on this Island, as well as, the critically acclaimed play, “No Place
to be Somebody,” with the Robey Theatre Company. Julio performed on stage in
“Paquito's Christmas”, a musical directed by Luis Avalos (Electric Company), and portrayed Paul Laurence Dunbar in the play “The Magnificent Dunbar Hotel”, written by
Levy Lee which was selected for the National Black Theatre Festival. Julio has appeared
in the feature films, “American Carol”, and “Angels and Demons” as well as, a recurring
role on the hit bilingual television show, RPM Miami, on Mun2.
Julio is African-American/Panamanian and speaks English and Spanish fluently and studied 5 other languages including ASL. As a vocalist, Julio has toured and performed with
Toni Braxton, Keith Washington, Mint Condition, Chante Moore, Shanice Wilson,
Howard Hewett, Yolanda Adams, La Ley, Kelis, and many others.
MARY RAPPAZZO (Graphic Designer) is a Freelance Graphic Designer and Digital
Illustrator. Mary does design and layout of logo, brochure, poster, postcard, website, banners, t-shirt art, CD art, DVD art and book cover. She can do everything else: digital illustration, digital painting, photo editing and retouching. She can bring your concept to a
beautiful and expressive reality. For contact, her email address is [email protected]
and her online portfolio is www.rappazzodesign.com
SPECIAL THANKS
Peppur Chambers, Vicky Bennet, Amy Solomon, Ralph Fores, Anna Woo, Shelby Brown,
Mary Louise Hart, and Julie Carlson
ABOUT GRIOT THEATRE OF THE WEST VALLEY
Founded in 2011 as a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) organization to create a live,
professional, resident theatre for Greater Los Angeles County.
Griot (pronounced GREE-oh) is of French origin and is a term used
throughout West Africa to describe a story teller who preserves the history and culture of a village or community.
MISSION: To create a forum for professional theatre artists from underrepresented groups - including women, artists of color and artists with
physical disabilities - to interpret theatre in new ways.
Specifically, Griot Theatre will produce the following types of plays: ➢ Classics: Make the classics accessible to present-day audiences
by re-imagining Shakespeare, the Greeks and other classics via
non-traditional casting, inventive interpretation and evocative
staging.
➢ New Plays: Contribute to the future of American Theatre by developing and producing new works by playwrights from underrepresented groups.
GRIOT THEATRE’S VALUES: In order to achieve the best possible theatre
experience we will offer the following:
➢ Quality: Focus on collaborating with the finest directors, actors
and other theatre artists available.
➢ Opportunity: Create opportunities for artists from underrepresented groups - including women, ethnic minorities, and artists with
physical disabilities.
➢ Accessibility: Make productions accessible to all audience needs,
including captioning, sign language interpretation, accessible
seating, and audio description.
For more information and to join our mailing list please visit us at online
at www.GriotTheatre.org, Facebook.com/GriotTheatre or follow us at
on Twitter @GriotTheatre.
Griot Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.
For inquiries please contact us at [email protected]