Miss Evers' Boys
By David Feldshuh
Directed by Melanie Moyer Williams

Featuring Jason Donnell Bush*, Evander Duck*, Alex C. Ferrill*, Garrett Lee Hendricks, Marty Austin Lamar, Nedra McClyde*, and David Pendleton*

*Actors Appear Courtesy of Actors Equity Association.  Equity Approved Showcase.

Set during the 1932 Tuskegee Syphilis Study, one of the most notorious medical secrets in American history, a nurse wrestles with her loyalty to the institute’s doctors while her band of patients finds the will to live through the power of music.

Miss Evers' Boys was performed March 19 – April 5, 2009, at the Shell Theater located in the Times Square Arts Building at 300 West 43rd Street @ Eighth Avenue.

Thursday, March 19 @ 8pm
Friday, March 20 @ 8pm
Saturday, March 21 @ 8pm
Sunday, March 22 @ 3pm

Thursday, March 26 @ 8pm
Friday, March 27 @ 8pm
Saturday, March 28 @ 8pm
Sunday, March 29 @ 3pm

Thursday, April 2 @ 8pm
Friday, April 3 @ 8pm
Saturday, April 4 @ 8pm
Sunday, April 5 @ 3pm
Sunday, April 5 @ 8pm **ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE ADDED**

Critical Praise for Miss Evers' Boys:

Miss Evers’ Boys is that once in a blue moon type of play that, not only should be seen, but NEEDS to be seen….The cast of Miss Evers’ Boys is extraordinary. This was a true ensemble piece from the word go…Entertainment aside (and you will be entertained,) this is an important, and deeply moving work. And I certainly hope that it will have a long, and successful run.
          ~ Ashley Griffin, Theater Online

Based on this and previous efforts, we think the Red Fern Theatre Company is a force to be reckoned with in New York City’s innovative theater. What else can we say; this is Black Box theatre at its very best.
          ~ Retrovision Media

The stars seem to have aligned for this production: excellent actors perfectly cast, with a director who knows just how to seize on the strengths of Feldshuh's scenecraft…. This Miss Evers' Boys is a triumph.
          ~ Jon Sobel, Blog Critics (3/27/09)

The cast of Miss Evers' Boys is outstanding… Miss Evers' Boys is a powerful play about a terrible event. Like the best art, it both teaches and entertains. The Red Fern Theatre Company has done a marvelous job with this production.
          ~ Byrne Harrison, Stagebuzz.com

Miss Evers' Boys is registered with the New York Innovative Theatre Awards, new awards specifically for Off-Off-Broadway theatre, and your vote will make a difference.  Vote for us at www.nyitawards.org!

We participate in the TDF voucher program.

Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Foundation

For this production, the RFTC has chosen to partner with the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Foundation. It is the sole supporter of the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy at New York University, which provides music therapy services for children and adults on the autistic spectrum and a wide variety of other disabilities. The Center treats its clients in one-on-one sessions or in groups, depending on the individual needs of the client.

http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/nordoff/

Cast Bios:

Jason Donnell Bush*, Willie Johnson

Jason is a graduated from The American Musical & Dramatic Academy here in New York City. He is happy to be making his Off-Off-Broadway debut in Miss Evers' Boys.  Jason was last seen in the National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar starring Ted Neeley playing the role of Simon u/s Judas.   NY credits include:  Dance Bojangles Dance (Cookie), Five Guys Named Moe (No Moe), Sophisticated Ladies (Ensemble).  Regional credits include: Five Guys Names Moe (Eat Moe), West Side Story(Indio), Charlotte's Web (Templeton) The Producer (Ensemble).   Film/Television credits include: Ford Commercial, Cupid, Law and Order: Criminal Intent.  Jason considers it a blessing to be a part of such a wonderful production, cast, and crew.  He gives thanks to God, his family, and his wonderful friends for their over flowing support.  God Bless...

Evander Duck*, Dr. Eugene Brodus

Macbeth (Folger Theatre/Two River Theatre), Apostasy (New Jersey Repertory Company),
As You Like It (Mint Theatre/Alibi Group), Fences (African Globe Theatre), Julius Caesar (American Globe Theatre), A Christmas Carol (North Carolina Shakespeare Festival), The Exonerated (Charlotte Repertory Theatre), Anything But Black (American Theatre For Actors/Riant), others. Film/TV, All My Children, Indie films, Commercials. MFA acting George Washington University. So pleased to be a part of this storytelling, thank you Red Fern. Love to June and the ducklings.

Alex C. Ferrill*, Dr. John Douglas

Alex was recently seen in Red Fernʼs production An Ideal Husband (Arthur Goring) and is excited to be working with them again.  His numerous credits include (NYC): Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio), Wall of Water (Gig), Macbeth (Banquo), Henry VI Pt. III (Edward). (Regional): Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Picasso), Taming of the Shrew (Lucentio), Cowboy Mouth (Slim). Film: An Englishman In New York, Hey Diddle Diddle, Up the Hill. Alex is a proud member of Actors Equity Association.  Website: www.alexcferrill.com.

Garrett Lee Hendricks, Caleb Humphries

Garrett has recently been seen on Law and Order in the season opener as Dennis; he also recently finished principal work on the season ender of Nurse Jackie, the new Showtime show starring Edie Falco (as Technician #1 - hey..it's number 1! and there's possibility of return so stay tuned). He has studied at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, the BADA program in Oxford, and at Penny Templeton Studio and William Esper studio in New York City. He is so glad to be back onstage in such a good role in such a great play with such a fantastic cast and crew.

Marty Austin Lamar, Hodman Bryan

Marty is thrilled to be making his Off-Broadway debut with the Red Fern Theater Company.  He received his MFA from the University of Florida. Credits include: The regional theatre premier of College: The Musical, Big River, the world premiere of The Cornbread Man, Crumbs from the Table of Joy, Hamlet, Dreamgirls.  To my supportive family and friends, I love you. To God be the glory!

Nedra McClyde*, Eunice Evers

Nedra McClyde holds an MFA in Acting from the Actors Studio Drama School. New York: workshops of The Actors Rap at Playwrights Horizons and Runway 69 at New Dramatists, Screen Play (Flea Theatre), Macbeth (Classical Theatre of Harlem), Victor Woo (321 Theatrical Mgmt), Liberty (Workshop Theatre), Happy Birthday Madam Alberta (Cherry Lane),  lead in "I Am Legend" webisode directed by Jada Pinkett-Smith, recurring roles on "As the World Turns" and "One Life to Live". Recently played Alice McClendon in ESPN film, "The Secret Game." Please visit nedramcclyde.com.

David Pendleton*, Ben Washington

David has performed in most areas of show business.  He appeared in contract roles on All My Children, The Guiding Light and The Edge Of Night, as well as running roles on others.  Other TV appearances included the TV movies Luke Was There as Luke, with Scott Baio (EMMY nomination) and Relentless, and the series’ Police Story, Starsky And Hutch, The Jeffersons and What’s Happening.  Movie roles included Youngblood and Abduction.  David appeared on Broadway in Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope and No Place To Be Somebody.  His Lort productions included The King And I as The King of Siam and Same Time Next Year opposite Diahanne Carroll.  He has performed in several Shakespeare productions as well, and performed with the vocal group Tony Williams and The Platters for 2 years.

Production Bios:

Laura Anderson, Pianist

Laura is thrilled to be returning to the Red Fern Theatre Company for Miss Evers' Boys. She has previously been seen acting with RFTC in The Long Christmas Ride Home and Who Will Carry the Word. Laura has been playing piano since she was 7-years-old and was recently seen playing for the Desipina Company's Seven.11. Convenience Theatre. She also plays saxophone and flute. She would like to thank Mom, Dad, Alysia, and Nick for their support and love.

Michael Blevins, Choreographer

Michael, originally from East Tennessee, attended UNC, majoring in Acting and Dance and continued his studies at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Broadway Credits: Bring Back Birdie, Neil Simon's Little Me, and the Tony Winning Tap Dance Kid (Originating the role of "Winslow"). Blevins feels fortunate having worked for many Tony and Academy Award winning Directors and Choreographers including Sir Richard Attenborough, Joe Layton, Woody Allen, Vivian Matalon, Peter Gennaro, Danny Daniels and Bob Fosse. He has been featured on "Good Morning America" for ABC-TV and on the covers of "Dance Magazine" and "USA Today".

Mr. Blevins is also an accomplished Director/Choreographer having choreographed the Off-Broadway production of "The Mad Forest" (Manhattan Theatre Club) and several national TV commercials for "Days Inn", plus music videos for recording artists Melba Moore and Amy Grant. He has lent his choreographic assistance to a long list of network television specials including "How To Be A Man" with Scott Baio for CBS and "The Country Music Awards" with Charlie Daniels and Barbara Mandrell for NBC. He has Directed and Choreographed the National Tours of "Babes In Toyland", "Aladdin", and "Tom Sawyer" for the American Family Theatre. Most recently he was commissioned to create "American Sampler: 100 Years of Musical Theatre Dance" for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center as part of their state-wide Theatre Academy for public school children. Michael Blevins is a highly respected and experienced teacher having sustained an International teaching career for over twenty years. Presently he spends his weekends as Artistic Director for the noted Centenary Young Performers Workshop, a professional musical theatre training program for young people. Blevins is also the Artistic Director for the Group Theatre Too a New York based theatre collective. www.michaelblevins.com

Stephen Anthony Elkins, Musical Director

Stephen is a composer/musician/performer thrilled to be making his NYC debut. As a composer, Stephen has written music/lyrics for five world-premiere musicals. Stephen has also composed original music and served as musical director for several productions and cabarets. He is currently working on Acceptance for the Shortened-Attention Span festival in March. Special thanks to his wife and family for their constant support, and to Melanie for this opportunity. www.freewebs.com/selkins.

Adrienne Kapalko, Scenic Designer

Miss Evers Boys is Adrienne's fifth time working with the Red Fern Theatre Company. Favorite design credits include: The House of Yes (The Neighborhood Playhouse), The Marriage of Figaro (Purchase College), Bat Boy: The Musical (St. John's University), The Jungle Book (HHC Theatre, Maine), Once Upon a Mattress (HHC Theatre, Maine), and Found a Peanut (78th Street Theater Lab). Current assistant design work includes the production of West Side Story which is coming to Broadway in 2009. Adrienne graduated with a BFA in scenic design from SUNY Purchase.

Laura Luciano, Stage Manager

Laura is thrilled to be a part of another Red Fern Theatre production! For the last year and a half Laura has acted as stage manager for the Red Fern Theatre Company. Other credits include: Polaroid Stories (director/SUNY New Paltz), Striking Chords (playwright/Creative Place Theatre), Dust (production assistant/Soho Think Tank), Henry Kissinger (stage manager/NY Fringe Festival), Kate Smith: The Original American Idol (stage manager/dir. Vincent Scarza), Who Will Carry The Word? (Madeleine/Red Fern Theatre) and Stars in a Dark Sky (stage manager/NY Fringe Festival). Laura received a BA in both performance and design technology from SUNY New Paltz.

Ryan Metzler, Lighting Designer

Ryan is a freelance light designer based in New York City.  His work has been featured in dozens of productions, both in the city and regionally.  Formerly the Lighting Designer in Residence at the Looking Glass Theatre, Ryan has also designed at Theatre Row, the WorkShop Theatre, Altered Spaces, Shetler Studios, chashama, and in numerous festivals.  Selected New York credits include: La Boheme (Inwood Shakespeare Festival); shapeshifter (Barrow Group); Serenading Louie (Stella Adler Studios); Stone Cold Dead Serious (Clurman Theater); Season’s Greetings (2econd Stage Uptown); and So She Said (Dorothy Strelsin Theater at the Abingdon).

 In addition to work around New York, Ryan has been active in designing benefit productions in the tri-state area to serve worthy charitable foundations.  Last year, he lighted Hear Our Song in Nyack and Scarsdale, two engagements that benefited the Children’s Brain Tumour Foundation (http://www.cbtf.org) and the Rett’s Syndrome Foundation (http://www.rettsyndrome.org).  This past November, he worked with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (http://www.bcefa.org) on One Night Only at the Loews Theater Jersey City.

Ryan J. Moller, Costume Designer

This marks Ryan's return to Red Fern having designed An Ideal Husband earlier this season.  Recent credits include Jonah! (New Horizons), Boleros and Blues (GALA Hispanic), Madison (Premiere Stages), The Tempest (National Theatre of Bermuda), James Joyce's The Dead (NCSA), and the premier of Our Town, the opera, by Ned Rorem (Fletcher Opera at NCSA). He has also toured with 42nd Street (Asian Tour) and with The Acting Company. Training NCSA, MFA Costume Design. Thanks Charles!

Kristen Lee Rosenfeld, Composer

Kristen previously scored Red Fern's production of The Long Christmas Ride Home, and her compositions have also been commissioned by Franklin & Marshall College, Youth Theatre Northwest and the Atlantic Acting School, among others.  Her one-act musical, The Nightingale, was premiered at Sprouts! Children's Theatre, and her full-length musical version of The Merry Wives of Windsor was premiered at Wooden O Theatre.  She also has worked as a music director both regionally (Barn Theatre, Cortland Rep, SecondStory Rep) and in New York City (Atlantic Acting School, Prospect Theatre Co, NYMF).  Ms. Rosenfeld currently serves as the Associate Conductor for the 1st National Tour of the Tony-award winning musical Spring Awakening.

Caroline von Kuhn, Assistant Director

Caroline is thrilled to be a part of her first production at The Red Fern Theatre Company, assisting Melanie on this play. Caroline is a graduate of the University of Virginia and holds an MFA from Sotheby's in London. This past year she worked at The Film Society of Lincoln Center and recently assisted director Kristin Marting on HERE Arts Center's production of SOUNDING, beginning her exploration into New York's world of theatre and independent film as a relative newcomer to this city and an aspiring actor/director.

Melanie Moyer Williams, Director

Melanie, a cum laude graduate of Duke University, is also Co-founder and Executive Artistic Director of the Red Fern Theatre Company.  Her credits for the company include An Ideal Husband, A Piece of My Heart, Who Will Carry the Word?, The Exonerated, The Long Christmas Ride Home, Found a Peanut, Two Rooms, and Patient A.  Melanie was thrilled to work with Shirley Lauro on a reading of her new play, What Cost the Moon: Madame Curie's Private Life at Ensemble Studio Theatre.For Woodframe Productions, Melanie directed a reading of Memorial Days by John Attanas and the World Premiere of Henry Kissinger in FringeNYC where they received rave reviews.  She has also directed A Tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber with the Youth Symphony Orchestra of El Salvador in El Salvador with Wanderlust Theatre Company. She directed That is the Question in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival which was named one of the Best in the Festival.  Other New York credits include Medea excerpts for CYPRECO and the New York Public Library; Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, When the World Was Green and Icarus’s Mother for the Michael Chekhov Theatre Company.   Prior to moving to New York, Melanie was also a founder and Managing Director of the Camden Shakespeare Company in Camden, Maine. 

Ashley Yaraghi, Image Artist

Ashley Yaraghi is a senior at Friends Academy High School. Growing up in Long Island, Ashley has had a love for art though out her life. She studies art in school and out of school at The Long Island Academy of Fine Arts (LIAFA). Although she studies drawing and painting, she is interested in learning graphic design and photography. Ashley plans to later study art in college.