Exit Strategy |
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| The Jolliffe Theatre @ The Epic Center | ||
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SADIE: portrayed by SheaLin Shobowale-Benson |
RICKY: portrayed by Drew Gorzen PAM: portrayed by |
DONNIE: portrayed by Xavier Bolden |
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Director's Statement
In today's society, the condition of our public school system in relation to black and brown students is a pressing concern that cannot be ignored. Systemic inequalities and injustices have created an educational landscape where these students often face significant barriers to success. Limited access to quality resources, underfunded schools, and a lack of representation in curriculum and leadership positions all contribute to an unjust disparity. Our production aims to shed light on these issues, giving voice to the experiences of black and brown students who navigate an educational system that fails to provide equal opportunities AND the teachers/administrators that care about them. Through the lens of our characters' stories, we explore the deep-rooted challenges they encounter, the resilience they embody, and the urgent need for reform. By confronting these realities head-on, we hope to spark conversations, challenge assumptions, and inspire collective action towards creating a more equitable and inclusive educational system for all.
Marissa Harrington
Co-Founder/Managing Artistic Director
Face Off Theatre Company
Content Warning
Age Recommendation: 14+
At the beginning of Act 1, this production indicates acts of self-harm that may be triggering to some. We welcome audience members sensitive to this topic to join the show after the first 10 minutes of the show has ended.
If you or someone you know is in crisis or thinking about self-harm or suicide, there is help available. Call or text 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Click here for resources on mental health support and suicide prevention from our friends at Gryphon Place.
Cast
Creative Team
Marissa Harrington
Khadijah Brown
Kennedi Wheeler
Milan Levy
Sam Snow
SheaLin Shobowale-Benson
Kayde Moore
Face Off Theatre Company's Board of Directors
Anne Hensley
Frances Vicioso
Angela Anderson
Brandon Newson
Shannon Hill
Quincy Thomas
Kendra Flournoy
Joan Herrington
Rashidi Shobowale-Benson
Harold Harrington
About Face Off Theatre Company
Face Off Theatre Company is a West-Michigan ensemble-based theater founded in 2015 by six graduates of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Today, FOTC seeks to both ENGAGE and EMPOWER the communities we represent.
Special Thanks
Angela Anderson, Reginald Edmond, Kendra Flournoy, Anne Hensley, Harold Harrington, Joan Herrington, Shannon Hill, Brandon Newson, Dr. Quincy Thomas, Rashidi Shobowale, Frances Viscioso
And
Angela Anderson and Speak On It
Julie Nemitz
JR Sherriff Photography
Kandace Lavendar
Angelita Aguilar
Meet the Company
Erica Soto
Erica Soto is a Music Teacher at two middle schools within the inner city of the Grand Rapids Public Schools District. She is also a Music Director at Girls Choral Academy, for girls in 1st-5th grade. Erica is a lead vocalist for Bluewater Kings Band and sings professionally throughout the state of Michigan. Her passion for music, acting, and performance is widely demonstrated throughout several productions within the West Michigan theater community, including opening for Grammy Award winning artist, NE-YO and Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton) & La Sinfonía Navideña with the Grand Rapids Symphony, Little Shop of Horrors (Ronnette), Cabaret (Sally Bowles), Chicago (Betka-Pope Productions), A Streetcar Named Desire, and various concert series.Erica is excited to join the cast of Exit Strategy and perform in her first production with Face Off Theatre Company.
SheaLin Shobowale-Benson
DR. SHEA-LIN SHOBOWALE-BENSON has been performing since the age of three, over the years expressing herself through singing, tap, jazz, ballet, gymnastics, acting, playwriting and more. The Sharon, Penn., native is proud to have acted in shows at her father’s church, as well as in high school and, later, college. Shea-Lin was a member of The VUU Players at her alma mater, Virginia Union University in Richmond, Va., earning multiple lead roles and minoring in drama and speech; her major was psychology. While in Virginia, she was also with the Nivlaco theatre company in Norfolk. She has penned several productions: "Bittersweet Blue” was performed in Youngstown, Ohio, and Southern Pines, N.C. Her most recent work is a short play about actors of color struggling in Hollywood entitled “Is Black Enough?” It was staged virtually by Face Off Theatre Company, where Shea-Lin's been the Season Dramaturg since 2022. She considers her husband, Rashidi, known to all as “Sho,” to be her biggest supporter and refers to her 3-year-old twins as her reaSONS. She is a practicing Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Psychologist. Dr. Shea (as she has come to be known), believes there is healing power found in "The Arts".
David Noyes
David has performed in many different theaters in and around Kalamazoo. Most recently in the Kalamazoo Civic production of Newsies as Teddy Roosevelt . Other Civic productions include Matilda as Mr. Wormwood, Elf as Santa, and Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird. His favorite roles at the Civic include Mr. Smee in Peter Pan, and George in Of Mice and Men. David has also performed at Farmers Alley Theatre, 1776 (Ceaser Rodney), Peter and the Starcatcher(u/s), Fun Home (uncredited), and the regional award winning production of the Diary of Anne Frank(Mr.Kraler). David hopes to put more time into acting since retiring after teaching for 25 years at Otsego High School.
Drew Gorzen
Drew Gorzen recently returned to the stage after a twelve year hiatus when he appeared in two productions at Kalamazoo's Dormouse Theatre: the play "The Boys In The Band" (July 2022) and "One In Three", a sketch comedy show exploring the themes of women's rights and reproductive rights (November 2022). Before that, he appeared in a wide variety of productions in high school, community theatre, and college, including "It's A Wonderful Life" (St. Clair County Community College, 2006), "Escanaba In Da Moonlight" (St. Clair County Community College, 2007), and "Bud, Not Buddy" (University of Michigan-Flint, 2010). Drew's hobbies outside of theatre include watching horror movies, taking walks in the neighborhoods and nature trails of Kalamazoo, and making any pasta recipes that are recommended to him by his friends.
Diego Zambrana
Diego Zambrana was born and raised in Pasadena, California. He is a recent graduate from Kalamazoo College, earning his degree in psychology. He loves to be surrounded by creative people, listening to music, and dancing.
Xavier Bolden
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 a part of such an amazing project, working with talented artists.
Gayle Beach
Gayle Beach is excited to be in her first production with Face Off Theater. Gayle's theater journey began back in Junior High School including Annie (Pepper) and You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (Patty) at the Grand Rapids Civic Theater. Life got busy with education and raising her three children; who are off on their own educational journey now. Trying her hand once again at acting over the past year has included Sweat (Tracey) and Juneteenth (Nellie Thompson). She is enjoying learning and growing in theater.
Marissa Harrington
Khadijah Brown
Kennedi Wheeler
Milan Levy
Sam Snow
SheaLin Shobowale-Benson
Kayde Moore
Photos
Exit Strategy Cast Photo!
Thank you to all of our sponsors!
Post Show Survey
Thank you for seeing "Exception to the Rule"! We hope you enjoyed it and share your experience with your loved ones. We ask that you please click the link below to fill out this short survey from us for audience engagement. Again, thank you for coming and we hope to see you at our next show!