Northlight Theatre presents the Midwest Premiere of Detroit '67
Oct 23, 2013
Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, presents the Midwest Premiere of Detroit '67 by Dominique Morisseau, directed by Ron OJ Parson. The production will run at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, from November 8-December 15, 2013.
It's 1967 and the world is changing around Chelle and Lank, who run an after-hours club in the basement of their late parents' house. Tensions mount as the siblings clash over the future of the family trade, their tight-knit community is threatened by the arrival of an outsider, and the city around them erupts in violence. The music of Motown fuels this riveting new play set in America's Motor City.
The Northlight production marks the Midwest premiere of Detroit '67, which recently completed an acclaimed run in New York with the Public Theater in conjunction with the Classical Theatre of Harlem and the National Black Theatre. Ron OJ Parson will make his Northlight directing debut with this powerful and Motown-infused production.
BJ Jones comments, "Dominique Morisseau's searing and personal retelling of the Detroit race riots in 1967 offers us a compassionate and insightful glimpse at the collateral damage to very real people in the national tragedy that is our continuing racial struggle. Drawn from family history, Dominique has reframed the story in close up around one family's dreams and aspirations, thwarted by hatred and violence. It is a heart-rending story set against huge historical events and underscored by Motown's greatest music."
The cast includes: Tyla Abercrumbie (Chelle), Cassandra Bissell (Caroline), Kamal Angelo Bolden (Lank), Coco Elysses (Bunny) and Kelvin Roston, Jr. (Sly).
The creative team for Detroit '67 includes: Jack Magaw (scenic), Nan Cibula-Jenkins (costumes), JR Lederle (lighting), Nick Keenan (sound), and Penny Lane Studios (wigs/makeup). The Stage Manager for Detroit '67 is Malcolm Ewen.