Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company announce our annual spring play reading series.  This is an exciting opportunity to join us for a live reading by professional actors and directors.  The Series is free to the public starting week of June 6th through June 9th starting at 7PM at Fulton County’s Southwest Arts Center’s Performance Theater.

Tuesday      June 6 @ 7 PM: Shoe by Marisela Orta | Directed by Anthony Rodriguez

Wednesday June 7 @ 7 PM: Noms de Guerre by Jacqueline E. Lawton | Directed by David de Vries

Thursday     June 8 @ 7 PM: Sender by Ike Holter | Directed by  Melissa Foulger

Friday          June 9 @ 7 PM: The First Noel by Lelund Thompson and Jason Michael Webb

| Directed by Jasmine Guy and Musical Direction by Keith Williams

 

Shoe

Directed by Anthony Rodriguez

Marta had given up on life and future beyond her rural Texas mobile home in order to take care and provide for her family, mainly her manipulative mother.  No one in her family ever left their home town or their mother’s reach.  An unexpected gift of a computer opens a new world for Marta and the outside world, including a relationship.  To complicate matters, Lleane her younger sister will do anything to escape their mother’s grasp -even at the cost of her relationship with her sister.

Marisela Treviño Orta is an accidental playwright who became involved in social issues as resident poet for a theatre company while in college.  A 2012 O’Neill Playwrights Conference Semi-Finalist and 2009 PEN Center USA Literary Award in Drama

 

Noms de Guerre

Directed by David de Vries

Noms de Guerre is a haunting, lyrical and passionate story of friendship, love, war, and politics Within Noms de Guerre we find a socio-political drama that addresses the ever-changing role of women and the damaging impact of PTSD on veterans and their family.  Mira is a rising star political star, but her campaign puts her at odds with her best friend, Jude, an award-winning journalist. At home, Mira struggles to run a campaign for Governor and help her war hero husband, Douglas, adjust to civilian life.  With a whirlwind of political intrigue Mira must decide whether to hold on to her career or save her husband.

Jacqueline E. Lawton was named one of the top 30 national leading black playwrights by Arena Stage’s American Voices New Play Institute. She received her MFA in Playwriting from the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a James A. Michener Fellow. She participated in the Kennedy Center’s Playwrights’ Intensive (2002) and World Interplay (2003).

David de Vries (Director)

David performed on Broadway and on several National Tours as Lumiere in “Beauty and the Beast”—an association that lasted 11 years, along with three different companies of “Wicked” as Dr. Dillamond. Numerous regional appearances include “Carapace” (Alliance Theater), “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” (The Acting Company), and “A Tuna Christmas” (Actor’s Theatre of Louisville).  David most recently was the Artist in Residence and Visiting Professor at Brenau University. He holds degrees from American University and Gonzaga University and is the proud father of his son Willem.

 

Sender

Directed by  Melissa Foulger

It’s summertime in Chicago.  A year after the supposed death, a man returns to his former life: alive, well and new perspective on what went wrong.  An upfront miracle turns into everyone’s life upside down including former his former girlfriend.  A new perspective on growing up and what it means or if it’s even desired in this day and age?

Ike Holder’s work has been produced at various theaters such as The Steppenwolf Garage, The Lily Tomlin Theater and The Inconvenience, where he is a founding member. He’s received fellowships and commissions from Goodman Theater, Studio Theater, The Kennedy Center, Writers Theater, Teatro Vista, and Playwrights Center.   He was named the “Chicagoan of the Year in Theater 2014” by Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune.  Holter was recently named one of Victory Gardens newest ensemble playwrights

 

The First Noel

Directed by Jasmine Guy

Set in 1980’s Harlem, The First Noel is a musical that follows three generations of a family forever changed by the tragic loss of a loved one, when an unexpected visit reveals some long-absent Christmas joy. It is a story about how a community is healed, one family at a time, as everyday people do extraordinary things to help one another receive the gift of love at Christmas time. Music includes a reimaging of the traditional holiday favorites in both Gospel and Pop styles

Lelund Durond Thompson received his BFA from North Carolina A&T State University, where he was recognized with several Paul Robeson Awards for acting. Thompson received his MFA from the CASE/Cleveland Play House Actor Training Program, where he was the first African American to graduate the program. After graduation, Thompson moved to New York City where he has continued to work professionally as an actor, writer, photographer, and coach.

Jason Michael Webb is a Two-time Stellar Award® nominee and Dove Award® winner who at the age of four he began his musical training, studying primarily classical piano. Webb completed his advanced study with Paul Hoffman at Rutgers University (earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Piano Performance).  Over the past few years, Mr. Webb has been commissioned by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ Carols for a Cure.

Jasmine Guy (Director) Actress-dancer-director Jasmine Guy has enjoyed a diverse career in television, theatre and film. She began her professional career at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. Jasmine starred on Broadway in the original productions of Beehive and Leader of the Pack, and reprised hit productions of ‘Grease’, ‘The Wiz’ and ‘Chicago’ (as Velma Kelly).  Jasmine landed the role of Whitley Gilbert on the Cosby Show spin-off ‘A Different World’. She won six consecutive N.A.A.C.P. Image Awards for her portrayal of the pretentious but funny southern belle. Her most recent role as Grams on the popular series ‘Vampire Diaries’ can be seen on the C.W. Network. She has starred in or directed many productions, including: ‘For Colored Girls Who have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf; ‘Miss Evers’ Boys’; ‘Blues for an Alabama Sky’; ‘The Colored Museum’; ‘The Fourposter’; ‘The Nacirema Society’; ‘Broke-ology’; ‘Fool For Love’, and most recently, ‘God of Carnage’ at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, where she also directed the world premiere of the opera ‘I Dream’, celebrating the life and journey of Martin Luther King, Jr. Her continuing desire to blend balance and discipline with ambition and service continues to fuel her passion for the arts.