2023 Theatre In Chicago, all rights reserved. She was a founding member of the American Negro Theatre. Decker delivers these lines without flinching. Nobody can hear her. The Life and Work of Alice Childress - Roundabout Theatre Company Through Dec. 18 $42-$57 773-281-8463, timelinetheatre.com ", Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended, "Trouble in Mind, by Alice Childress is troubling and difficult to watch. While Manners might insist that he doesnt see color, the thousands of lynching victims who died in the United States because of their color dont have that privilege. The cast featuresShariba Rivers(she/her) as Wiletta Mayer,Tim Decker(he/him) as Al Manners,Charles Stransky(he/him) as Henry,Guy Van Swearingen(he/him) as Bill OWray,Tarina J. Bradshaw(she/her) as Millie Davis,Kenneth D. Johnson(he/him) as Sheldon Forrester,Jordan Ashley Grier(she/her) as Judy Sears,Vincent Jordan(he/him) as John Nevins, andAdam Shalzi(he/him) as Eddie Fenton. Director Ron OJ Parson helms TimeLIne's production of Childress's play about racial and gender dynamics on the Great White Way. Clearly, the trouble is not just in someones mind. ", "In Ron OJ Parsons scintillating production of this important play about race and sexism, we examine these problems head-on, as seen within the microcosm of the backstage theatre world. In dealing with what he calls explosive material, Manners bullies the actors into performing their roles as the broadest of stereotypes, a whisker away from minstrelsy. He doesnt have the wherewithal to process any of that or understand her point of view.. 2023 - Copyright Wisdom Digital Media, all rights reserved. Parson is a Resident Artist at Court Theatre, an Associate Artist with Teatro Vista, and an Associate Artist at Writers Theatre. For tickets, visit TimeLine or call (773) 281-8463 x6. Theres no shortage of conflict in Trouble between Wiletta and Al, but its a sterile conflict, leading nowhere other than a muffled resignation, as the status quo is reconfirmed and the characters drift away, apparently unchanged by what theyve seen. Visittimelinetheatre.com/timeline-theatrefor details and available discounts. Scenic Design by Caitlin McLeod, Lighting Design by Brandon Wardell, Costume Design by Christine Pascual, Wig & Hair Design by Megan E. Pirtle, Properties Design by Jennifer Wernau, Original Music & Sound Design by Christopher A. Kriz, Dramaturgy by Martine Kei Green-Rogers, Stage Management by Miranda Anderson. In the fall of 2021, Alice Childress play Trouble in Mind finally made its Broadway debut, which would have happened more than six decades earlier if not for the Black playwrights decision to keep her vision for the insightful work intact. Al Manners (Tim Decker), Wiletta Mayer (Shariba Rivers) and cast in "Trouble in Mind," directed by Ron OJ Parson at TimeLine Theatre. After several years of rewrites and attempts to appease producers, Childress walked away, and negotiations for the Broadway transfer broke down. Black people particularly are still fighting this battle over identity, over being able to name themselves, and speak for themselves, and define themselves without interference or without commentary. At a Broadway theater in New York City in the mid-1950s, a group of actors has gathered for their first day rehearsing a new play called Chaos in Belleville, an anti-lynching Southern drama. Whether that workplace has truly, substantially changed is the unspoken question at the heart of Parsons production. Scenic designer Caitlin McLeod has the cast (which also includes Charles Stransky as Henry, a veteran stage manager, and Adam Shalzi as Eddie Fenton, Manners mini-me assistant) on a meticulously detailed backstage. Its not the kind Manners is expecting. Coarse, clueless Hollywood director Al Manners (an ironic name, since the man lacks any idea of polite social behavior) has been tasked with the job of bringing this play to life. Alice Childress(Playwright, 19161994)was raised during the Harlem Renaissance under the watchful eye of her beloved maternal grandmother and grew up to become first an actress and then a playwright and novelist. Where: TimeLine Theatre Company, 615 W. Wellington, Tickets: $49-$57; $25 veterans, first responders. Childress creates a familiar rehearsal room dynamic between the characters, and TimeLine's ensemble gives off the rapport of those looking to quickly bond but also unsure exactly how to relate to one another at moments. The power sometimes lies in the ways in which Wiletta feels forced to constrain herself even when she has more to say, and Rivers finds just the right moments to let it all out. Sunday Scholars Panel Discussion:A one-hour panel discussion featuring experts on the themes and issues of the play alongside a member of the production team in a moderated discussion, following the performance on Sunday, December 11. 2022-23 SEASON FINALE: THE WORLD PREMIERE OFBOULEVARD OF BOLD DREAMS. Trouble bears comparison to August Wilsons Ma Raineys Black Bottom, another backstage play about the pressures and dilemmas facing Black artists under white supremacy. For details, visittimelinetheatre.com. The dialogue is crisp, agile and snaps with a wry wit. But there is such a thing as a writer sticking too closely to her own experience. Depending on your ethnic group, the overall perspective, good or bad, regarding this play is endless nevertheless, you will walk out contemplating who speaks the loudest on your shoulder the Devil or the Angel. 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She proved him wrong, andFlorencewas produced Off-Broadway in 1950. Visittimelinetheatre.com/discountsfor more about available discounts. Shariba Rivers, who stars as Wiletta and is making her TimeLine debut, says It feels like Wiletta and I are walking in lockstep even though this is 2022. As we watch him push the cast to increasingly exploitative antics, it becomes clear an explosion is in the offing. Tim Decker, who plays the domineering white director, has to watch that: when he keeps the needle in the middle of the dial, he is devastatingly effective. Grier gives the character a solid arc; she's not just ignorant, but we see how Judy's eyes are opened to the deeply problematic situation in the rehearsal room over the course of the play. Student discount is 35% off regular price with valid ID. TimeLines new Chicago production is an explosive conversation about equality, power, and how race is portrayed in the American theatre. Wiletta puts this face on until she cant do it anymore, and shes, like, hell no, absolutely not, Rivers says. Catch the buzz, critical praise, and reactions from the audience. (Liz Lauren / HANDOUT). Jordan Donica and Awa Sal Secka Join RENT at the Kennedy Center, Photos & Video: First Look at CHESS at The Muny, Video: Inside Special VIP Preview of ROGERS: THE MUSICAL, Video: Cast of INTO THE WOODS Talks Opening Night in Los Angeles, Photos: First Look At THE 39 STEPS At The Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough, Miss Emily Takes New York By Storm With Debut. TimeLine is served by multiple CTA trains and buses. Join fellow MyLine Members on Thursday, December 1 at 6:30pm, before the 7:30pm performance of Trouble in Mind, in TimeLine's rehearsal room for pizza, drinks and a special pre-show discussion with TimeLine artistic staff. Three people entered a business in the 1900 block of North Milwaukee Avenue about 10:50 p.m. and demanded peoples belongings at gunpoint, Chicago police said. Posted December 2, 2022 1:39 PM. But Childress, who wrote more than a dozen plays and five novels, will be remembered for fighting stereotypes and writing plays that continued to honor true portrayals of Black people. Were excited and confident in his ability to lead the team. TROUBLE IN MIND is a blistering portrait of racial and gender politics on Broadway. Henry (Charles Stransky, from left), Sheldon Forrester (Kenneth D. Johnson), Judy Sears (Jordan Ashley Grier), Al Manners (Tim Decker), John Nevins (Vincent Jordan), Eddie Fenton (Adam Shalzi), Wiletta Mayer (Shariba Rivers) and Millie Davis (Tarina J. Bradshaw) in "Trouble in Mind," directed by Ron OJ Parson at TimeLine Theatre. Major corporate, government and foundation donors providing season support via TimeLines Annual Fund include Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation, Bayless Family Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, Forum Fund, Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation, John A. Like Dorothy Parker, the humor comes embedded with barbs aimed at societys most noxious mores, racism and sexism predominant among them. TimeLines 2022-23 subscription season concludes with the world premiere ofBoulevard of Bold DreamsbyLaDarrion Williams, a Los Angeles-based playwright new to Chicago audiences, directed byMalkia Stampley. ", "In this writers view, Alice Childress nuanced script is an enduring primer on Whiteness, as searingly insightful today as in the 1950s, when it was first produced. Her playTrouble in Minddebuted in 1955 at the Greenwich Mews Theatre, received a well-reviewed Off-Broadway revival in 1998 by the Negro Ensemble Company and has since been produced by a multitude of prestigious theaters such as Yale Repertory Theatre, Centerstage, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Arena Stage, and Roundabout Theatres Tony Award-nominated revival in 2021. MyLine Preview Pizza Party: TROUBLE IN MIND - TimeLine Theatre ", "TROUBLE IN MIND is a blistering portrait of racial and gender politics on Broadway. We cant wait to see the play shine under the direction of TimeLine Company MemberRon OJ Parson, one of our citys indispensable artistic voices.. Though the characters in "Relentless" are educated and well-to-do, they are far from reserved in world viewtheir rage seethes, hidden only by the comfort of their surroundings and the decorum of their lives. Review: Timeline Theatre Company Gives New Life to Trouble in Mind, a Parsons ensemble creates a world of relationships and emotions, layering skein upon skein. Timeline Theatre TROUBLE IN MIND, November 2 - December 18, 2022, TimeLine Theatre615 W. Wellington Ave. Chicago, $42+ . Trouble in Mind TimeLine Theatre Company 615 W. Wellington Ave Chicago On stage at a Broadway theater in New York City in the mid-1950s, a group of actors has gathered for their first day rehearsing a new play called Chaos in Belleville, an anti-lynching Southern drama. Trouble In Mind Home Shows & Tickets Upstage Playgoer's Guides The Life and Work of Alice Childress Jump to: EARLY YEARS EARLY CAREER PLAYWRIGHT & ACTIVIST DIVORCE & REMARRIAGE LATER CAREER MAJOR PLAYS REFERENCES Early Years Alice Childress was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1916. On stage at a Broadway theater in New York City in the mid-1950s, a group of actors has gathered for their first day rehearsing a new play called Chaos in Belleville, an anti-lynching Southern drama. Director Ron OJ Parson helms TimeLIne's production of Childress's play about racial and gender dynamics on the Great White Way. Written by Alice Childressthe first Black woman to have a play professionally produced in New York CityTrouble in Mind recently enjoyed an acclaimed Broadway production nominated for four 2022 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Play. Parsons funny but wrenching production places us up close to these characters as they wrestle with their consciences and each other. Literally. Were excited and confident in his ability to lead the team. Heidi Schrecks play showcases our narrator regaling us with her complicated love story. TimeLine Theatre is located at 615 W. Wellington Ave., in Chicago's Lakeview East neighborhood, near the corner of Wellington and Broadway, inside the former . Podcast - Listen to the Trailer Now! directed by Ron OJ Parson, ACCLAIMED BYTHE NEW YORK TIMESas a rich, unsettling play that lives up to its title [and] lingers in ones memory long after its conclusion.. Theyre well-served by Christine Pascuals period-perfect costumes, Brandon Wardells sensitive lighting and Christopher Krizs subtly modulated sound design and jazz-inflected musical choices. For current information about TimeLines COVID-19 safety protocols, visittimelinetheatre.com/health-and-safety. ", "How can you achieve collaboration with people who tell you they want to help you, but turn on you the moment their own authority is questioned? This is especially true when he advises Wiletta not to think and goes so far as to suggest that her performance would be better if she weren't thinking but rather "justifying" her character's actions. What swings arent the politics but the states of mind. Company Member Discussion:A post-show discussion with the collaborative team of artists who choose TimeLines programming and guide the companys mission on Sunday, December 4. Two tornadoes were reported near OHare. Review: TROUBLE IN MIND at TimeLine Theatre Company Opening Night is Thursday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m. As her frustrations grows, she clashes with the director. The soft-spoken Sheldon Forrester (a beautifully nuanced Kenneth D. Johnson) wants to help keep the peace in the rehearsal room, but he reveals in a stunning Act Two monologue that he's borne witness to a real-life lynching-and the play doesn't get the details right. Set in 1957, TROUBLE IN MIND opens on the first day of rehearsal for CHAOS IN BELLEVILLE, introducing us to Wiletta (Shariba Rivers) and her castmates. While the play does meander through the first act and part way into the second to really get at the heart of it, Childress's immense character study also provides a fascinating and all too timely glimpse into the dynamics of commercial theater. View Videos Photo Gallery Check out our collection of images from the show. Childress refused to compromise, and the play never opened on Broadway, ending her chance of being the first African American woman playwright to have a play on Broadway. Director Al Manners (Tim Decker, center) is a dominating presence in the rehearsal room, witnessed by stage manager Eddie Fenton (Adam Shalzi, left) and cast member Millie Davis (Tarina J. Bradshaw, right). But as the cast rehearses, tensions flare between Wiletta, the Black actress in the starring role, and her white director about his interpretation of the play. Childress creates a familiar rehearsal room dynamic between the characters, and TimeLine's ensemble gives off the rapport of those looking to quickly bond but also unsure exactly how to relate to one another at moments. Trouble in Mind runs through through December 18, 2022, at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington St., Chicago IL. It didnt debut on Broadway until 2021. directed by Ron OJ Parson November 2 - December 18, 2022 at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave. Chicago, IL 60657 Critics praise TROUBLE IN MIND A cutting yet humorous behind-the-curtain drama that examines pervasive racial dynamics within the American theatre and the tolls of superficial representation on stage. For more information, visittimelinetheatre.comorFacebook,Twitter, orInstagram(@TimeLineTheatre). For tickets and information, please visit timelinetheatre.com. The first play by a Black woman ever to make it to Broadway was A Raisin in the Sun by Chicagos own Lorraine Hansberry in 1959. 'Trouble in Mind' puts backstage drama center stage Regionally, Parson has directed shows at Studio Arena Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Milwaukee Repertory, South Coast Repertory, Pasadena Playhouse, Geva Theatre, Virginia Stage, Roundabout Theatre, Wilshire Theatre, The Mechanic Theatre, CenterStage, St. Louis Black Repertory, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, Signature Theatre (New York), Kansas City Rep, and Portland Stage, among others. It is the raw nature of the subject matter and themes of the play that rips the band-aid off a less than pleasant time in our history, a time that sadly, resonates today. Its the time of the Little Rock, Arkansas public school integration showdown, which ended only after National Guard troops were called, sparking something close to a second civil war. Lacking reflective distance, the play fails to dig deeply into Wiletta. That pretty much sums up Alice Childress Trouble in Mind, her 1955 off-Broadway play, which is presented at TimeLine in a polished and thought-provoking but dramatically inert production directed by Ron OJ Parson. While the play does meander through the first act and part way into the second to really get at the heart of. Under Ron OJ Parsons direction, what emerges is an explosive investigation of interracial politics and the need for a cultural shift in theatre and America. Defending the script against Wilettas attack, Al explains that The American public doesnt want to see you the way you want to be seen. His audience is willing to sympathize with poor, helpless African Americans, but only as long as they refuse to fight back. Get the best news & discounts for Chicago Shows & beyond. Regular performances continue through December 18: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. Decker is disquieting and entirely convincing as Al; he's immensely believable in his unlikeability. Previews start February 1, 2023. Manage Settings Director Al Manners (Tim Decker, left) instructs Wiletta Mayer (Shariba Rivers) about what he seeks from her performance. Explore and Learn TROUBLE IN MIND - TimeLine Theatre Not because it isnt an amazing production with incredible performances, because that it isYou will most certainly be discussing the play with those who watch with you as you leave the theatera story we must watch, with words we must hearMs. Intimate, literate theater aimed at those with serious, curious minds., The more I see of Chicagos TimeLine Theatre Company, the more impressed I am TimeLine takes care to choose interesting plays, then mounts them with a combination of panache and physical dynamism that I find altogether irresistible., We celebrate the past to awaken the future., One of the classiest and most consistently talented ensembles on the Off-Loop theatre scene., We learn from history that we learn nothing from history.. An EF1 twister tore through Burr Ridge with winds up to 110 mph. For more information about Trouble in Mind at TimeLine Theatre Company in Chicago visit https://www.theatreinchicago.com/trouble-in-mind/11694/In the mid-195. The Wisconsin here is the Dairy State, not fighting, but ruminating. 'Trouble in Mind' Still Resonates Even After Nearly 70 Years Parsons funny but wrenching production places us up close to these characters as they wrestle with their consciences and each other., TimeLine Theatre, with their strong company, long experience, broad resources and culture of excellence, presents us with a superlative production of this incredible play. Opening Night is November 10. Join us for an informal sneak peek into this production with members of the production team. TROUBLE IN MIND focuses on Broadway actor Wiletta Mayer, a middle-aged Black woman cast in the "anti-lynching" play CHAOS IN BELLEVILLE. There was no easy answer in 1955 and there is no easy answer now, just as most all actors find themselves caught between wanting to please a large audience, which brings financial reward, and being irritated at what said audiences want to see. But whereas Ma Rainey is tragic in its depiction of a white promoter turning Black musicians against each other and themselves, Trouble in Mind remains more of a high-level melodrama, its impact blunted by a weak ending, which is neither happy nor unhappy, but simply flat. Neither a visionary artist nor a pure showbiz huckster, Al inhabits an uncomfortable middle ground, teasing the audience with edgy subject matter (in this case, lynching in the Jim Crow South), but not taking them to genuinely uncomfortable places (like the thought of Black self-defense against white violence). But in pushing his Black actors toward greater truthfulness, while forbidding them from openly expressing the anger they actually feel, Al brings out their latent rage. Jordan Ashley Grier makes nice work of Yale drama graduate Judy Sears, who's well-intentioned but also blind to her privilege. Tarina J. Bradshaw plays Millie Davis, high-glam in full-length fur offstage, sick and tired of always being put in a bandana and a dumpy house dress on stage. Trouble in Mind - TimeLine Theatre Henry (Charles Stransky, from left), Sheldon Forrester (Kenneth D. Johnson), Judy Sears (Jordan Ashley Grier), Al Manners (Tim Decker), John Nevins (Vincent Jordan), Eddie Fenton (Adam Shalzi), Wiletta Mayer (Shariba Rivers) and Millie Davis (Tarina J. Bradshaw) in "Trouble in Mind," directed by Ron OJ Parson at TimeLine Theatre. For the most updated information about TimeLines Health & Safety policies, click here . The megalomaniac hides his bias and aggression toward everyone he considers to be lower on the creative ladder, especially toward his leading lady, by showering them with insincere flattery and flirtation. They want to work in anything to pay the rent and keep themselves relevant as a commodity. Al Manners (Tim Decker), Wiletta Mayer (Shariba Rivers) and cast in "Trouble in Mind," directed by Ron OJ Parson at TimeLine Theatre. Trouble in Mindwill take place at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., in Chicagos Lakeview East neighborhood, near the corner of Wellington and Broadway, inside the former Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ building, now Chabad East Lakeview. In TimeLine Theatre Companys cant-look-away staging, director Ron OJ Parson shapes a production that is both period-perfect and urgently of the moment. Wednesday, November 16 Sunday, November 20 Thursday, December 1 Wednesday, December 7 For Rivers, Childress message in Trouble in Mind remains vital. Press Night is Wednesday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m. That is just the air that he breathes, and he cannot understand what shes talking about or where her anger and frustration are coming from, Decker says. Jordan Ashley Grier makes nice work of Yale drama graduate Judy Sears, who's well-intentioned but also blind to her privilege. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Movements like Black Lives Matter are created because were still saying: Stop seeing us this way, and understand we are deserving of respect and dignity just like everybody else.. His TimeLine credits includeRelentless(also at Goodman Theatre),Too Heavy for Your Pocket,To Catch a Fish,Paradise Blue,Sunset Baby, andA Raisin in the Sun. TimeLine is also a member of TCGs Blue Star Theatre Program and is offering $25 tickets to U.S. military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their spouses and family. And it was part of the impulse in that era for the creation of the nonprofit theater movement. Trouble in Mind | MP - Portfolio We never learn what motivates her switch from the opportunist philosophy she shares with a younger colleague at the beginning of the play (Remember, white folks cant stand an unhappy Negro) to her later defiance of Al, which could potentially end her career. The Chicago Sun-Times Mary Houlihan spoke with director Ron OJ Parson and cast members Shariba Rivers and Tim Decker about how Alice Childress drama about the Black experience in the theatre world is as powerful today as it was when it was written in the mid-1950s. This one-hour post-show panel discussion features experts on the themes of the play. Press Night is Wednesday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m. She is called Afong Moy by the white men who presented her in a museum beginning in the mid-nineteenth century. Grier gives the character a solid arc; she's not just ignorant, but we see how Judy's eyes are opened to the deeply problematic situation in the rehearsal room over the course of the play. But as the cast rehearses, tensions flair between Wiletta, the Black actress in the starring role, and her white director about his interpretation of the play. Wiletta, who seems to be the authors stand-in, conveys all the frustration of an artist thrust into parts beneath her talents and dignity. This Uncle Tomming, she says, will keep him out of trouble and enhance his chances of making it. He is a native of Buffalo, New York, and a graduate of the University of Michigans professional theater program. TimeLine Theatre Companys 2022-23 season continues this fall with the landmark classicTrouble in MindbyAlice Childress, directed by TimeLine Company MemberRon OJ Parson, running November 2 December 18, 2022. While the show has a predominantly Black cast, Wiletta soon discovers that the play's white male director has little concept that CHAOS IN BELLEVILLE is a deeply problematic and misrepresentative play. Review: In 'Trouble in Mind' at TimeLine Theatre, a powerful play about It's true that great progress has been . While Decker shows slivers of Al's darkness and prejudice in the first act, it all comes to a head in the second act. Wiletta is quick to tell Broadway newcomer John Nevins (Vincent Jordan) that he should laugh at everything the director says and that he should never reveal how he truly feels about the play if he wants to make it on Broadway. This is an important play in theater history because Childress was the first Black woman to have a non-musical produced off-Broadway. This production may have been delayed nearly two years due to the pandemic, but some things are worth the wait, including this remarkable play by Alice Childress. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Trouble in Mind radiates around Rivers Wiletta, a leading lady whose star quality is matched by her agile, elegant ability in navigating the endemic racism of a Jim Crow-era workplace. State of Mind: A Review of Swing State at the Goodman Theatre. We feel good about him in this role for now.. Though it took Alice Childress's 1955 play TROUBLE IN MIND nearly 70 years to make its Broadway debut at Roundabout Theatre Company last year, the play is remarkably prescient. Where: TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave. Now considered a classic of Black theater, the once rarely produced Trouble in Mind is being staged at theaters around the country, including TimeLine Theatre, under the direction of Ron OJ Parson, who last season helmed a critically acclaimed TimeLine production of Tyla Abercrombies new play Relentless., I came up during the Black theater movement, and I was interested in plays by the Black playwrights, says Parson, who directed a 2014 student production of the Trouble in Mind at Northwestern University. The girl was grazed in the elbow and refused medical attention at the scene, Chicago police said. Trouble in Mind (play) Privacy Policy. Thats the least of the indignities and outright dehumanization Wiletta endures during the troubled, 1957-set backstage play-within-the-play plot of Alice Childress scorching Trouble in Mind, which unfolds during rehearsals for Chaos in Belleville.. I saw Trouble in Mind on Broadway last season and was deeply disappointed in the production, frankly. Ticket buyers ages 18-35 may join TimeLines free MyLine program to obtain access to discounted tickets, special events and more.