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What to Send Up When it Goes Down |
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Presented by: Face Off Theatre Company |
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The Jolliffe Theatre @ Epic Center April 13th - April 15th @ 7:30 April 16th @ 2:00
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Brie Bradley Brittany Reed-Allen Khadijah Brown Kelsi Beverly Michael Davis Arnold Xavier D. Bolden Zaynee Miller |
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What To Send Up When It Goes Down was developed at Automata Residency Project in Los Angeles, California in November 2015 and received its world premiere at Los Angeles' Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice on November 13, 2015. The director was Alesha Harris. It's received its New York Premier at the Movement Theatre Company (Producing Artistic Leadership Team: Erick Lockley, Deadria Harrington, David Mendizabal, Taylor Reynolds) at A.R.T./New York Theatres in New York City on November 11, 2018. The director was Whitney White.
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Cast
Creative Team
Director's Note
Meet the Company
This is Zaynee's 7th production with Face Off Theatre. Zaynee has been in six Face Off Theatre productions, including "Jar the Floor", "Smoldering Fires", "I am Grace", "Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine", "Crowns", and "eLLe: This Lane Open". She has also performed "The Princess and the Pea", and "Caught Up In The Circle Of Life" with All Ears Theatre. Zaynee had her first starring role as Henrietta Lacks in "A HeLa Story: Mother of Modern Medicine" written by Buddy Hannah and Jermaine Jackson; directed by Buddy Hannah. She is also a company member of Face Off Theatre. Born and raised in Battle Creek, Zaynee has been a part of the Kalamazoo community for over 14 years. She has always been a part of the theatre since her sophomore year of Battle Creek Central High School. Zaynee currently works as a Senior Office Specialist for Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and she is also a part-time karaoke DJ at The Back Alley Saloon. TikTok: @zayneezee
 @zayneeyvette |
Xavier D. Bolden A.K.A Zack Bolden is an actor, rapper, content creator and curator; a true performing artist. The former student of WMU’s Theatre Program applied the knowledge gained from their curriculum and experience of 10+ years of theatrical stage performance, amongst other skills and built Reivax Noved Productions. Native to Kalamazoo, Mi, Xavier’s known for winning the National Race to the Top Commencement Challenge (2010), bringing the 44th President, Barack Obama to Kalamazoo. Winning The Price as Right (2011), and being seen on various ABC/Disney television shows such as No Ordinary Family. Most recently his stage credits include: Lymon in The Piano Lesson by August Wilson, Ogun in Marcus, or the Secret of Sweet by Tarell Alvin McCraney, as Othello in Othello by William Shakespeare, and Walter Lee Younger in A Raisin in the Sun. Xavier is delighted to be apart of such an amazing project, working with talented artists.
Brittany Reed-Allen* (she/her) Brittany Allen, 28, from Benton Harbor, MI has a true passion for performing arts. Some of her favorite roles include Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray, Taylor in High School Musical, and as Mama Euralie in Once on this Island. For professional training, she graduated at Kalamazoo Valley College in the arts program, attended Interlochen Center for the Arts, and sings in church. In her free time, Brittany enjoys writing and making her own music, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Brittany wishes to thank her family, friends and hometown community for the continued support and love that's always shown.
I would like to give thanks to my director Shea and my stage manager Treasure for helping me throughout this process. I’d also like to show appreciation to my mom for always being by my side when I needed her.
| Briezy_wrld |
Michael (Five/Man/Driver) is excited to be back with Face Off Theatre Company for another production. He has performed in various theatres in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Muskegon. His favorite credits include Once On This Island (Asaka) at GRCT, Sister Act (Eddie Souther) at Muskegon Civic Theatre, Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds (Ziggy) at Farmers Alley Theatre, and Pipeline (Dun) at Face Off Theatre. Aside from performing on stage, he has participated in a few film projects and wishes to continue pursuing his career in acting. He thanks God, his family, friends, and coaches for their continued support and guidance in his artistry.
Kelsi Beverly was born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI where she now resides with her husband and 3 children. Kelsi fell in love with singing, dancing and theater at a very young age. After recently rediscovering her passion for theater, Kelsi is proud to be appearing in her first play in 20 years. Currently Kelsi is a fitness trainer, holistic nutritionist and is currently training to be a trauma-informed yoga teacher and yoga mindset coach. Kelsi has used her passion for health and wellness to promote generational wellness in her community. She is particularly committed to helping women of color cultivate mental wellness through holistic nutrition, fitness, and yoga.
Rooted in Benton Harbor, MI has always had the dream of creating magic on the stage. She has her Associates Degree in Arts & Communication and works as a Program Director at Read & Write Kalamazoo. She is a published author and a Certified Life Coach. Khadijah’s journey with FaceOff Theatre started with Mahalia in 2017 as her “Be A Doer” decree to go after her dreams not only think about them. She’s since then been in more than five productions and now being on the other side of Face Off Theatre is looking forward to creating space and gaining experience to learn and grow!
Shea Lin has been performing onstage since the age of three as a dancer, singer and actress; she is also a writer. She was a member of The VUU Players at her alma mater, Virginia Union University in Richmond, Va., performing in several stage plays and impromptu nights. She honed her dance skills as a member of Expressions Liturgical Dance Troupe and Unique Image Dance Troop, and on the dance line as a Dancing Diva with the VUU Marching Band. She has been with FOTC for the past 2 ½ years with the past 2 years being the Season Stage Manager working backstage on several FOTC productions. She even wrote a play “Is Black Enough” as part of FOTC’s New Play Series during the summer of 2020. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Virginia Union University, a master’s degree in Psychology from Fayetteville State University, she is currently a Doctoral Candidate at Capella University. She currently resides in Kalamazoo, MI with her husband of 5 years, Rashidi, II and their very handsome fraternal twin boys Rashidi, III and Rashod.
Ynika Pocopio Yuag is a Queer director, production manager, and intimacy choreographer based in Kalamazoo. Their focus includes consent-based practices and empowering those in the margins–she is most inspired by Queer and Indigenous storytelling and is honored to uphold a lineage of storytellers from her native lands of Banaue and Siquijor in the Philippines. She is a proud member of Face Off Theatre Company in Kalamazoo, MI where she serves as the production manager. Favorite directing credits include Kokoro (True Heart) (Festival Playhouse of Kalamazoo College), Dance Again (Queer Theatre Kalamazoo), and Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine (Face Off Theatre Company). Select intimacy choreography credits include Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea (WMU) and Yellowman (FOTC). In 2021, she received her B.A. magna cum laude in Psychology and Theatre Arts from Kalamazoo College. They currently reside in Kalamazoo. More information on their work is available at ynikayuag.com.
Dakota Fontes hails from Waterloo, Iowa, and is currently a student at WMU. He is majoring in Acting/Directing/Lighting Design. He was previously the Lighting Designer for Bring it On: The Musical at CFCT in Iowa. His next adventure will be lighting Intimate Apparel at WMU. He is extremely excited to continue working professionally as a lighting designer with FOTC and is humbled to be able to bring this story to light.
Hal Hobson-Morse (he/him) Hal is a graduate from WMU’s theatre department, and he is an active performer, accompanist and music director for the Civic Theatre, Farmer’s Alley Theatre, and All Ears Theatre. He directs Blendings Vocal Ensemble here in Kalamazoo, and works as a music specialist for the Montessori School. Hal is honored to work with Face Off Theatre.
About Face Off Theatre Company
Face Off Theatre Company's Board of Directors
Donors
Face Off Theatre Company is deeply grateful for the support of our donors.
| Da'Ron | Allen |
| Lukia | Artemakis |
| Audrey | Asiedu |
| Sharon | Biliti |
| Sean | Bogue |
| Xavier | Bolden |
| Anthony | Bradley |
| Amy | Brandt |
| Lauren | Carney |
| Lisa | Carpenter |
| Gay | Deering |
| Kiara | Durbin |
| Mark | Durbin |
| Alyssa | Embry |
| Beatrice | Fields |
| Adriana | Figueroa |
| Shannon | Fleckenstein |
| Kendra | Flournoy-Ware |
| Delanti | Hall |
| Vickie | Hampton |
| Buddy | Hannah |
| Jalysa | Harris |
| Katherine | Harte-DeCoux |
| Anne | Hensley |
| Joan | Herrington |
| Zanita | Hobdy |
| Alysia | Homminga |
| Eleanor | Hughes |
| Jeremy and Denene | Koch |
| Connar | Klock |
| Jeremy | Koch |
| Carolyn | Kulawiak |
| Tetiana | Lilly |
| Lindsey and Eric | Oliphant |
| Mikhail | Love |
| Marissa | Harrington |
| Earlene | McMichael |
| Melissa and Chris | Ludwa |
| Katerina | Mikhailova |
| Greg | Miller |
| Kayde | Moore |
| Jay | Moss |
| Yasir | Muhammad |
| Janet | Muller |
| Charleston | Owensby |
| Christy | Prahl |
| Dawn | Richberg |
| Arise | Rock |
| Charles Curtis | Sanders |
| Scott and Sandy | Davis |
| Shea-Lin | Shobowale-Benson |
| Kris | Stahl |
| Tariq | Topey |
| Michelle | Vorndran |
| Tinasha | Williams |
| Katelyn | Yockey |
| Chelsea | Yordy |
| Henry Crown And Company | |
| Irving S. Gilmore Foundation | |
| Ludus Inc. | |
| Network for Good | |
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People's Food Co-Op Of Kalamazoo |
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| Stryker Corporation | |
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Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Southwest MI |