SOAPM Meet the Cast: Eric Banks as "Reverend Barnes"

Eric Banks was born and raised in North Philly and caught the acting bug while performing in the gospel play, "Focus on Glory." Other productions include, "A Soldiers Play," "Another Bank Robbery," "If it ain't got that swing","Nursing Home," "Domestic Relations"  and "Four Sides to Every Story." His passion for acting landed him roles on the cable network, True TV. Forensic Files, as well as a commercial for Monday Night Football for ESPN.  Keep your eyes and ears open for this up and coming actor! 

The preacher man of which the title refers to, Reverend Barnes has a huge impact on his son's life. While Junior is young he wishes to be just like his father, but as he grows older, he learns some things that change his opinion of this shepherd. 

Son Of A Preacher Man follows the relationship between a preacher’s son with a not so conventional lifestyle and a preacher who allows the secular to take over his spirituality.This play will make you laugh out loud, shout, cry and most of all think about the consequences of super-human expectations and ridiculous judgements. 


Show dates/times:
Friday November 25, 7:30PM
Saturday November 26, 3PM and 7:30PM
Sunday November 27, 4PM
Friday December 2, 7:30PM
Saturday December 3, 3PM and 7:30pm
Sunday December 4, 4PM

Tickets: 
$15 in advance / $20 at the door
Students/Seniors $10

Purchase tickets online: http://brownpapertickets.com/event/208148

Location: 
Christ Church Neighborhood House - 20 N. American st. Philadelphia, PA, 19106

SOAPM Meet the Cast: Cathy Simpson as "Stella Barnes"

CATHY SIMPSON, has been a company member of the People’s Light  Theatre Co. since 1994.  She is also a member of the “Freedom Rising” Company at the National Constitution Center, and the American Historical Theatre Company, Philadelphia. Her work in local theatres include InterAct Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Philly Shakes, Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Hedgerow Theatre, Theatre Catalyst, the Arden and the Wilma. Regional theater credits include, Arena Stage, The Kennedy Center, The National Theatre, Studio Theatre, Source Theatre, Wooly Mammoth, Olney Theatre Center, St. Louis Black Rep, St. Louis Rep., Indiana Rep., Big Arts.\Fla. and Florida Rep.

Film and TV credits include the award winning PBS, Maple Ave. Outreach Film, “PS I Love you”, numerous industrials and commercials for local Fox TV. A three, time Barrymore nominee and a winner for the Freedom Theatre production of The Old Settler, and a Kevin Kline Award winner for St. Louis Black Rep’s production of, A Song for Coretta.  She has also been nominated twice for the Helen Hayes Awards in Washington D.C. and won the Best Performer Award in Toyama, Japan.

"Stella Barnes" is Junior's mother, and while she means well, she is a source of confusion for our main character. The matriarch of the family, she seams to be the last to know about two very important things in the play.

Son Of A Preacher Man follows the relationship between a preacher’s son with a not so conventional lifestyle and a preacher who allows the secular to take over his spirituality.This play will make you laugh out loud, shout, cry and most of all think about the consequences of super-human expectations and ridiculous judgements.


Show dates/times:
Friday November 25, 7:30PM
Saturday November 26, 3PM and 7:30PM
Sunday November 27, 4PM
Friday December 2, 7:30PM
Saturday December 3, 3PM and 7:30pm
Sunday December 4, 4PM

Tickets:
$15 in advance / $20 at the door
Students/Seniors $10

Purchase tickets online: http://brownpapertickets.com/event/208148

Location:
Christ Church Neighborhood House - 20 N. American st. Philadelphia, PA, 19106

SOAPM Meet the Cast: Walter DeShields as "Dr. Bundt"

Walter  DeShields has performed as Rich in VI Degrees and Tracy in More than one Way to Skin A Dog. Walter has performed in the greater Philadelphia and New York City areas on stage most recently as Walter Lee in “Raisin in the Sun” ;  as Trent In Bryana Cannon’s “Gentle Cycle of Dirty Laundry” and as Guy Pearl Cleage’s in “Blues for an Alabama Sky”. Walter is starring in several released and upcoming film projects including “Cant Judge a Book”, "Coochie Wars" “The Playstation Killed the Puppet”; and  “Happy Holidaze”; Walter is a proud Penn State graduate with a BA in English and Theater. Walter acknowledges and thanks his company and cast mates for their support and encouragement. 

Walter plays the character of "Dr. Bundt." As "Junior's" psychiatrist, "Dr. Bundt" is the sounding board for all that is swirling around in "Junior's" mind, both real, and imagined.

Son Of A Preacher Man follows the relationship between a preacher’s son with a not so conventional lifestyle and a preacher who allows the secular to take over his spirituality.This play will make you laugh out loud, shout, cry and most of all think about the consequences of super-human expectations and ridiculous judgements.


Show dates/times:
Friday November 25, 7:30PM
Saturday November 26, 3PM and 7:30PM
Sunday November 27, 4PM
Friday December 2, 7:30PM
Saturday December 3, 3PM and 7:30pm
Sunday December 4, 4PM

Tickets:
$15 in advance / $20 at the door
Students/Seniors $10

Purchase tickets online: http://brownpapertickets.com/event/208148

Location:
Christ Church Neighborhood House - 20 N. American st. Philadelphia, PA, 19106

SOAPM Meet the Cast: Aaron C. Thornton - "Christian"

Aaron C. Thornton is a member of the acting company GoKash Productions. He started acting in middle school and immediately fell in love with it. He has been in shows including Baltimo Jawja,  My Son My Brother My Friend, His Child Too, Six Degrees, and Girl He Loves me. He is best known for his role in The Nigga Files that placed 2^nd in The Philadelphia Urban Theatre Festival in 2009 and his role in Ambie Dickerson that tied for 1^st place in the festival in 2010. He lives by the quote “If I never existed, have I given something, that if taken away you’d miss it.”

Aaron plays "Christian" in Son of a Preacher Man. Though a well meaning friend of character "Junior," "Christian" adds to the mayhem in our lead's mind, and contributes to what is a powerful climax in the play.

Son Of A Preacher Man follows the relationship between a preacher’s son with a not so conventional lifestyle and a preacher who allows the secular to take over his spirituality.This play will make you laugh out loud, shout, cry and most of all think about the consequences of super-human expectations and ridiculous judgements.


Show dates/times:
Friday November 25, 7:30PM
Saturday November 26, 3PM and 7:30PM
Sunday November 27, 4PM
Friday December 2, 7:30PM
Saturday December 3, 3PM and 7:30pm
Sunday December 4, 4PM

Tickets:
$15 in advance / $20 at the door
Students/Seniors $10

Purchase tickets online: http://brownpapertickets.com/event/208148

Location:
Christ Church Neighborhood House - 20 N. American st. Philadelphia, PA, 19106

SOAPM Meet the Cast: Andre Brown "Junior Barnes"

Co-Founder of ...AND Company Theatre and a proud high school drama teacher, Andre Brown has been performing for several years. Some of his favorite roles include, Man in "Crowns", Jackie Robinson in "Play to Win", Papa Ge in "Once on This Island", The Wiz in "The Wiz", and Andre in "Ain't Misbehavin'" to name a few. Andre has studied theatre professionally at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles, CA and Film & Broadcasting at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. It his ultimate desire to present the "truth" of the human experience on stage both professionally and artistically.

Andre plays the character of "Junior Barnes." The lead character in Son of a Preacher Man, audiences can expect to see "Junior" go on a turbulent ride from beginning to end as he navigates the expectations and judgements of his family, as well as the congregation at large.

Son Of A Preacher Man follows the relationship between a preacher’s son with a not so conventional lifestyle and a preacher who allows the secular to take over his spirituality.This play will make you laugh out loud, shout, cry and most of all think about the consequences of super-human expectations and ridiculous judgements.


Show dates/times:
Friday November 25, 7:30PM
Saturday November 26, 3PM and 7:30PM
Sunday November 27, 4PM
Friday December 2, 7:30PM
Saturday December 3, 3PM and 7:30pm
Sunday December 4, 4PM

Tickets:
$15 in advance / $20 at the door
Students/Seniors $10

Purchase tickets online: http://brownpapertickets.com/event/208148

Location:
Christ Church Neighborhood House - 20 N. American st. Philadelphia, PA, 19106

Son of a Preacher Man: Official Press Release

Press Contact:
LaNeshe Miller-White
fortheloveoftheater@gmail.com



 For immediate release: 

…AND Company Theatre tackles the destructive nature of judgment in the premiere of a new stage play -  SON OF A PREACHER MAN

Philadelphia, PA -  Philadelphia based theater company …AND Company Theatre presents its sophomore production, Son of a Preacher Man. Written  by Vascola Stoney, musically directed by Kellie Turner, and directed by Dominique Denman, Son of a Preacher Man follows the relationship between a preacher’s son with a not so conventional lifestyle and a preacher who allows the secular to take over his spirituality. An ensemble driven play, Son of a Preacher Man runs November 25 through November 27, and December 2 through December 4 at Christ Church Neighborhood House Theatre located at 20 N American Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

Topics that church congregations around the country are tight-lipped about – homosexuality, and infidelity in the pulpit- are brought to light in a play that will have audiences laughing out loud, shouting, crying, and thinking critically about judgment and the expectations society places on everyone’s lives. Company founder/ Artistic Director and lead actor Andre Brown stated “Having been a son of a preacher man/pastor myself - I get it. Having people stare at you Sunday after Sunday - expecting you to be perfect and live up to an unbelievably high standard of holiness or righteousness is beyond burdensome, it’s impossible. I think Vascola Stoney has done a tremendous job of highlighting the real life struggles of what preacher’s children, and people at large, go through. This play will speak not only to Christian believers but to all people who yearn to be free, all of us who desire to live authentically in this world.” 

Son  of a Preacher Man is the second show of four in …And Company Theatre’s 2011-2012 season  and is  produced by …AND Company's Managing Director, Israel Atkins.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and $10 for students and seniors with valid I.D.  Tickets can be purchased online at brownpapertickets.com/event/208148 and over the phone at 609-891-7555. 

Run dates/times:

·         Friday, November 25 at 7:30PM

·         Saturday, November 26 at 3PM

·         Saturday, November 26 at  7:30PM

·         Sunday, November 27 at 4PM

·         Friday, December 2 at 7:30PM

·         Saturday, December 3 at 3PM

·         Saturday, December 3 at 7:30pm

·         Sunday, December 4 at 4PM.

Full cast:

Andre G. Brown, Eric Banks, Brett Gray, Cathy Simpson, Carlene Pochette, Tanya O'Neill, Liz Priestly, Kiyanna Cox-Jones, Kenyon Wicks, Daniel Armella, Walter DeShields, LaNeshe Miller-White, Franklin M. Scurry, Aaron Thornton, Nicole Lockley, and Kyle Paul Dandridge.

ABOUT…AND COMPANY THEATRE

…AND Company Theatre was founded by Equity Actor Andre G. Brown in late 2010. Boasting the tagline “Ensemble theater at its best,”   it was founded on the premise of creating strong ensemble work.   Often, stage shows are marketed as being performed by a big name talent, “and company.”  Yet, “the company” works just as hard as the lead actor.  …AND Company Theatre seeks to showcase the work of all actors in a production, which spawned the name “…AND Company Theatre.”

…AND Company Theatre offers audiences the opportunity to experience new theatre and new stories.  Their shows highlight the work of new playwrights, and present them with an innovative format, employing multi-media techniques and exploring  the fusion of the world of television and the world of theatre.

"Son of a Preacher Man" Early Bird Special!

***Early Bird Special***

The early bird gets the worm, and in this case, the early bird gets "Son of a Preacher Man" tickets at just $10! Purchase your tickets between Monday, October 31st and Sunday, November 6th and SAVE! Don't miss your chance to see the show that will have you laugh, cry, shout and think - for only $10! CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets before this offer is over!

***
Show Dates/Times:
Friday November 25, 7:30PM
Saturday November 26, 3PM and 7:30PM
Sunday November 27, 4PM
Friday December 2, 7:30PM
Saturday December 3, 3PM and 7:30pm
Sunday December 4, 4PM

Tickets:
$15 in advance / $20 at the door
Students/Seniors $10

Purchase tickets online: http://brownpapertickets.com/event/208148
Group sales/questions: 609-891-7555

Son Of A Preacher Man tells the story of what judgments and expectations can do in the life and mind of a Preacher's son with a loaded past and destructive future. The crossroads of sacred and secular hang in the balance of a love story between a father and son.

This play will make you laugh out loud, shout, cry and most of all think about the consequences of super-human expectations and ridiculous judgements.

Son Of A Preacher Man by Vascola Stoney
Directed by Dominique Denman

Cast:
Andre G. Brown
Eric Barnes
Brett Gray
Cathy Simpson
Carlene Pochette
Tanya O'Neill
Liz Priestly
Kiyanna Cox-Jones
Kenyon Wicks
Daniel Armella
Walter DeShields
LaNeshe Miller-White
Franklin M. Scurry
Aaron Thornton
Nicole Lockley
Kyle Paul Dandridge

Advanced Tickets on sale for Son of a Preacher Man

Tickets for ...AND Company Theatre's production of Son of a Preacher Man are available online now.

Son of A Preacher Man tells the story of what judgments and expectations can do in the life and mind of a Preacher's son with a loaded past and destructive future. The crossroads of sacred and secular hang in the balance of a love story between a father and son. This play will make you laugh out loud, shout, cry and most of all think about the consequences of super-human expectations and ridiculous judgments. Written by Vascola Stoney with Kellie Turner & Dominique Denman.

Tickets are $15 each. Performances will be held at Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 North American Street, Philadelphia PA 19106.

Shows are scheduled for the following dates and times:
Friday, November 25th at 7:30pm
Saturday, November 26th at 3:00pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, November 27th at 4:00 pm
Friday, December 2nd at 7:30pm
Saturday, December 3rd at 3:00pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, December 4th at 4:00 pm

Advanced tickets are available to purchase online now from brownpapertickets.com. Credit cards accepted (convenience fee may apply). Group discounts available by calling the box office at 609-891-7555.

Stage Crew Needed for Son of a Preacher Man

The next production for ...AND Company Theatre is Son of a Preacher Man. Rehearsals start the week of October 10th. Performances are on November 25 & 26th in Old City Philadelphia.

Needed are STAGE MANAGER(S), PROP MASTER, COSTUME DESIGNER, AND STAGE CREW. E-mail resume and contact info to casting@andcompanytheatre.org prior to Saturday, October 8th to be considered.

Son Of A Preacher Man tells the story of the sometimes actual, sometimes elaborated life and mind of a Preacher's son with a loaded past and destructive future. The crossroad of sacred and secular hang in the balance of a love story between father and son.

Casting Call for Son Of A Preacher Man

...AND Company Theatre will be holding auditions for our next production, Son Of A Preacher Man on Saturday, October 8th in Philadelphia. E-mail headshot and resume to casting@andcompanytheatre.org for an audition appointment.

The production will go up on November 25th and 26th in Old City, Philadelphia.

Son Of A Preacher Man tells the story of the sometimes actual, sometimes elaborated life and mind of a Preacher's son with a loaded past and destructive future. The crossroad of sacred and secular hang in the balance of a love story between father and son.

Open roles include:
JUNIOR - 30's African - American Male - handsome conflicted baptist preachers kid (good singing voice helpful not necessary)
PREACHER - Late 50's African - American Male with powerfully daunting presence YOUNG JUNIOR - 12-14 yr old young African - American boy with tough childhood (good singing helpful not necessary)
CLAMEESHA YOUNG - Birthing Nurse, 40's, Any race (good singing voice helpful not necessary)
ALLISON - Junior's Sister (Plays young teens to late 20's)
DARNELL - Junior's brother (Plays young teens to late 20's)
SIS SUE - Flirtatious Church member, African - American Early - Mid 40's
STELLA - Junior's Mother, Strong African - American woman, play various ages 30's - 50's
PSYCHIATRIST - Junior's Doctor, Astute very attentive, witty - Male/female, Any Race, 20's - Older
DIRECTOR - Junior's Theater teacher, any race
CHRISTIAN - African - American, 20's Handsome college student type - Junior's love interest
OTHER YOUNG ACTOR - Young Junior's classmate (Plays 12 - 14 can be older/ Any Race)
CHURCH SECRETARY - Very beautiful 20's something African - American woman

Auditions will be on Saturday, October 8, 2011 in Philadelphia. E-mail headshot and resume to casting@andcompanytheatre.org for an audition appointment.

...AND Company Theatre's 2011-2012 Season

...AND Company Theatre

Ensemble Theatre at its Best

E-MAIL: 9/12
by Midge Guerrera, Directed by Andre Brown
September 24, 2011 3pm Matinee, and 7pm Evening
9/11/2011 marks the 10th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks on NYC and around the nation. Join us as we remember and celebrate heroes, loved ones, and our fallen. Embrace the compassion and resilience of the human spirit through cyberspace.

SON OF A PREACHER MAN
by Vascola Stoney with Kellie Turner & Dominique Denman
November 25, 2011 7:30pm
November 26, 2011 3pm & 7:30pm
November 27, 2001 4pm
December 2, 2001 7:30pm
December 3, 3pm & 7:30pm
December 4, 2001 4pm
Son Of A Preacher Man tells the story of the sometimes actual, sometimes elaborated life and mind of a Preacher's son with a loaded past and destructive future. The crossroad of sacred and secular hang in the balance of a love story between father and son.

To Be Young Gifted and Black: Lorraine Hansberry In Her Own Words
Adapted by Robert Nemiroff
Directed by Andre Brown
February 23, 2012 8pm
February 24, 2012 8pm
February 25, 2012 3pm & 8pm
February 26, 2012 3pm
Best known as the author of the book A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry's ex-husband adapted many of her writings into this play after her death.  Get to know the amazing woman and author through her works in this captivating play. 

NEW PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
June 5 - 9, 2012
7:30pm Each Night
...AND Company Theatre presents a festival of New Plays by up and coming playwrights. Each night will feature one new play representing the gamut of genres from drama to comedy, experimental to downright funky. Come and experience a fresh, new level of premiere theatre and artistic awareness!

To purchase tickets, visit www.andcompanytheatre.org or call 609-891-7555