Azuka Theatre presents
a hit dog will holler
By INDA CRAIG-GALVÁN
Starring *JESSICA JOHNSON, ADAEZE NWOKO
Scenic Designer STEPHEN WISELEY
Lighting Designer HARBOUR EDNEY
Costume Designer ANG(ELA) BEY
Sound Designers LARRY D. FOWLER, JR. (MR. CISUM) & ADIAH D. HICKS
Projections Designer DAMIEN FIGUERAS
Props Designer SARIA ROSENHAJ
Production Manager LAUREN TRACY
Production Stage Manager HUNTER SMITH
Directed by REVA STOVER
Philadelphia Premiere NOVEMBER 2 - 20, 2022
A Hit Dog Will Holler is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by TRW Plays 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY 10036. www.trwplays.com
CAST
*Jessica Johnson.……………………..Gina
Adaeze Nwoko…….……………………Dru
Location & Time: A quiet street in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, February 2020.
There will be NO intermission.
We are unable to re-seat patrons who leave the theater during the performance.
Please turn OFF all electronic devices prior to the performance.
Photography or recording of this production, including cell phones, is strictly prohibited.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The land upon which we gather is part of the traditional territory of the Lenni-Lenape, called “Lenapehoking.” The Lenape People lived in harmony with one another upon this territory for thousands of years. During the colonial era and early federal period, many were removed west and north, but some also remain among the continuing historical tribal communities of the region: The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation; the Ramapough Lenape Nation; and the Powhatan Renape Nation, The Nanticoke of Millsboro Delaware, and the Lenape of Cheswold Delaware. We acknowledge the Lenni-Lenape as the original people of this land and their continuing relationship with their territory. In our acknowledgment of the continued presence of Lenape people in their homeland, we affirm the aspiration of the great Lenape Chief Tamanend, that there be harmony between the indigenous people of this land and the descendants of the immigrants to this land, “as long as the rivers and creeks flow, and the sun, moon, and stars shine.”
– We thank the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation for sharing this statement.
The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape are still here! Get to know them and show your support at www.nlltribe.com.
OUR NAME
Azuka Theatre Founder, Raelle Myrick-Hodges named the company after her niece, Jane Azuka, and to honor the strong community in which she was raised. The name Azuka is from the Nigerian word meaning “strength of foundation.”
FROM THE DIRECTOR
The phrase “A Hit Dog Will Holler” refers to the idea that the person who, when accused, is the most defensive or loudest in the room is likely the guilty party. In the context of this play, set in early 2020, a more accurate statement could not exist. We’ve seen how politicians jab and loudly shift blame, how the system abandons Black people, how individuals will make excuses for their bigotry, and how far the police are willing to go to protect White Supremacy. Late Stage Capitalism, Homophobia, Ableism, and the powerlessness of losing the ones we love - we have all faced some version of the monster on the other side of the door.
Inda Craig-Galván’s timeless play invites us into the mind of the organizers, specifically the Black women at the forefront, risking their lives to fight oppression. Where can they find safety in a world constantly trying to eradicate them?
As you watch this personification of the idiom, I implore you to sit with your impulses, your biases, and your discomfort. I encourage you to channel your compassion, empathy, and drive. I pray that you leave this theatre ready to fight, phone and fist, for a world without monsters. Oh, and try not to holler too loud if you get hit.
For my Black mother, now past, all those who came before, and the warriors yet to come. May they know peace. May the war end with us.
Reva Stover
CAST
Click on the headshots to read artist bios
CREATIVE TEAM
STAFF & CREDITS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lee Porter - President
Dustin Dove - Vice-President
Rosie McNamara-Jones - Treasurer
Larry D. Fowler, Jr. - Secretary
Jonathan V. Edmondson
Kimberly Engel
Kate Meredith Esposito
Kevin Glaccum
Gianluca Savenije
Steven Wright
We’re looking to grow our Board! Want to know more?
AZUKA THEATRE COMPANY MEMBERS
Artistic Director - Rebecca May Flowers
Artistic Director - Reva Stover
Executive Director - Kevin Glaccum
Marketing & Patron Services Director - Mark H. Andrews
Resident Dramaturg for New Pages - Quinn D. Eli
PR Representation - Kory Aversa / Aversa PR & Events, LLC
FRONT OF HOUSE
House Manager - Jessica Merkins
Box Office Managers - Kassidy Carlese, Caroline Juelke, Lucas McLean
Box Office Staff - Margaux Cattelona; Marc D. Johnson, Jr.; Talia Speak; Joey Tabasco
PRODUCTION CREW & CREDITS
Assistant Stage Manager - Victoria Crenshaw
Technical Director - Joe Daniels
Assistant Production Manager - Jackie Tracy-Cowles
Scenic Design Mentor - Dirk Durossette
Lighting Design Mentor - J. Dominic Chacon
Costume Design Mentor - Tiffany Bacon
Original Artwork - Elliot Waters-Fleming
Master Electrician - Andrew Cowles
Audio Engineer - John Kolbinski
Carpenters - AJ Garrigus, Peter Nicholls, Noah Mannix, Zoe Seida, Reilly Walker
Scenic Painters - Annemarie Branco, Fen Jeeters, Anastassia Vertjanova
Electrician - Josh Samors
Audio Technician - Josh Samors
Media Relations - Aversa PR & Events
Production Photographer - Johanna Austin, AustinArt.org
Graphic Design - Mark H. Andrews & Derek Carnegie
Website Design - PIC Designs
Printing - Quaker Printing
THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS!
If your name has been omitted or misprinted, please accept our apologies and kindly notify us by contacting Kevin Glaccum at 215.563.1100
Thanks to the following funders for their generous organizational and programmatic support:
FOUNDATION SUPPORT
National Endowment for the Arts • William Penn Foundation • The Wyncote Foundation • Independence Foundation • MKM Foundation • The Shubert Foundation • PA Council on the Arts • Philadelphia Cultural Fund • Lida Foundation • Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation • Lindback Foundation • National Philanthropic Trust • CHG Foundation
CORPORATE SUPPORT
Harmelin Media • National Philanthropic Trust • Lord Abbett
PRODUCERS CIRCLE
NEW PLAY PRODUCTION HONORARY PRODUCER ($5,000+)
Dr. & Mrs. Joel & Bobbie Porter • Pat & Robin Tracy • David & Linda Glickstein • Anonymous (1)
NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT HONORARY PRODUCER ($2,500 - $4,999)
David & Gayle Smith
ARTISTIC PRODUCER ($1,000 - $2,499)
David Fedor • Karen & David Jones • Marta Nolan-Alley • Michael Norris & Matt Varrato • David Schlessinger • Andi Sheaffer • Paulette Singleton • Lee van de Velde • Jean Weaver
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS ($500 - $999)
Dr. Marie Antionette Bey • Martin Bodtmann • Thomas Carragher • James Crawford • Fern & John Culhane • Kimberly Eccngel • Kevin Glaum • Michael Glaccum • Drs. Ken & Julie Kendall • Kevin M. Lyons • Rosie McNamara-Jones • Lee Porter • Ed & Lyn Tettemer • Anonymous (1)
INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT
IDEALIST ($100 - $499)
∞Patreshettarlini Adams • Wally Andersen • Marilyn & John Anthony • Harry Bambrick • Jay & Nancy Berkowitz • Ian & Ryane Bertler • Matt Birringer • Nancy Boykin & Dan Kern • Ivy Brock • Monika Burke • David Bushnell • Rebekah Doyle • Alethia Calbeck & Dan Van Wert • Karl Carter • J. Dominic Chacon • John Paul Christy • Phyllis Cohen • Chris Deephouse & Donna Hunt • ∞Danielle Dilks • ∞Edward Dilks • Dustin Dove • Jonathan V. Edmondson • Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity • ∞Heather E. Evans • ∞Rebecca May Flowers • ∞Ellen Foley • Patricia & Narinder Garg • Elizabeth Gemmill • Kathy & Bryan Glaccum • Maureen Glaccum & David Speers • Hannah Gold • Annie Goldenberg • Paul & Terry Guerin • Laura R. Hamilton • Patricia Haynam • Betsy & Ted Hershberg • Craig Jorgensen • Tom Korman & Ann Kirschner • Kissy Lazo & Andrew Guyon • Tim Martin • Lisa & Chris McLean • Tom Mendicino & Nick Ifft • Charlotte Morse • Larry & Maureen Mullin-Fowler • ∞Andrea Nardello • ∞Charlotte Northeast • Brian Papendick • Stephen Platt & Robin Schaufler • Sabrina Profitt • Lisa Semeraro • ∞Heather Smalley • Noreen & Eric Tarr • Stephen Van Horn • Mark Wade • ∞John Walber & Julie Slavet • Russ Walsh • Noris Weiss Malvey • Robert Wickline • Thomas Woodward • Peter Wool • Anonymous (10)
REALIST (up to $99)
Robin Admana • Natalie Arost • Johanna Austin • Anna & Fyodor Badkhen • Lena Barnard • Susan & Henry Barth • Judith Benedict • Bruce Billow • Meg Blocker • Meghan Brodie & Shannon Zura • Marie Conti • Anthony Copa • Michael Dees • Dorrie Dillalogue • Emily Enger • Justin Ennis • Kate Esposito • Morgan Everitt • Tony & Sue Faillace • ∞Robin Fieler • Damien Figueras • The Fussersons • Sasha Geist • William Georgov • Karen Getz • Emma Gibson • ∞Austin Ginsberg • Grace Grillet • Catherine Hagele • Kate Hanley • Natalie Harris • Tom Helmer • Megan Hoffman • Sean Huber • Gilda Jackson • M. Jackson • ∞Lisa Johnson • Elizabeth Kean • Patrice Kelly • Julia King • James Kirby • Sharon Kling • Julie Kropp • David Lathrop • Kelsey Leljedal • Margaret Lonzetta • MaryAnne Lyons • Cirel & Howard Magen • Sabina Mauro & Gerald Roche • Christopher McCarrick • Lyndsey & Kevin McCormick • Daniel & Janelle McGovern • Suzy McKeaney • Kat McLellan • Shawna McMenamin • Patrick McParland • Robert Mikita • Dash Miller • LaNeshe Miller-White in honor of Ollie Miller • Michele & Leah Murray • KC & Eric MacMillan • Barbara Nardi • Genevieve Perrier • Mary Quick (Stewart) • Sam, Nora & Willa Quinn • Gary Rantz • Keisha M. Richburg • ∞Kathleen R. • Ivan Roddenn • Margarita Saona • ∞Brittany Schmitke • Tattooed Love Boy • Andy Scott & Bryna Silver • Shirley Smith • The Smiths • Caitlin Speers • Arin Sullivan & Taylor Lawrence • Danielle & Nate Tinder • Mary Ann & Carey Toner • Patricia Toy • Agnieszka Tuszynska • Lucinda Underwood • Deborah Volkmer • Joy Wadleigh & Richard Hudson • Bob Weinberg & Eleanor Wilner • Travis Whitaker • Douglas Williams • Sally Wojcik • Anonymous (5)
*The noted Actors in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.