Azuka Theatre presents

Young Money

By ERLINA ORTIZ
Starring ANGELA BEY and *JOHANNA TOLENTINO
Scenic Design MARIE LASTER
Lighting Design J. DOMINIC CHACON
Costume Design NATALIA DE LA TORRE
Sound Design ANTHONY MARTINEZ-BRIGGS
Properties AVISTA CUSTOM THEATRICAL, LLC
Production Manager LAUREN TRACY
Production Stage Manager LESLIE ANN BOYDEN

Directed by BRIANA GAUSE

On Stage NOVEMBER 3 - 21, 2021

CAST

Angela Bey……………………..Kila-T
*Johanna Tolentino…………Gardenia

Location & Time: Backstage, the second night of a sold-out concert.
There will be NO intermission.
Please turn OFF all electronic devices prior to the performance. Photography or recording of this production, including cell phones, is strictly prohibited.
This production contains the following: Strobe light effects, Simulated gun shots, Vape use

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Azuka Theatre respectfully acknowledges that our work places are situated on land that is not ours - Lenapehoking, the ancestral and spiritual homeland of the Lenni Lenape. We pay respect and honor to the caretakers of this land, past to present, and into the future. Furthermore, we acknowledge the legacy of slavery in Philadelphia and that we benefit from systems and structures funded by the sale of and built by the hands of enslaved people.

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Howdy All!

I’m so glad and grateful to be here and share this experience with you all! Just like Kila-T, I too was 23 and trapped in my room when I first directed this play in the mighty land of Zoom. WAP had just been released and upon my initial listen, I wasn’t a fan. But then I heard Erlina talk about how much she loved that song! It was fun, and powerful, and said f*ck people's expectations and opinions around women's bodies and pleasure. And so I listened again, and again, and then it clicked. I fell in love with WAP, with Cardi, and with embracing my own inner Bad B*tch through working on this play. So when the opportunity arose to direct the world premiere of this show, you know I was ready to be on my most bad b*tch behavior.

Now let's get one thing straight. I’m here for a good time, and you should be too. Tap your toes, giggle until you snort, and move as the spirit so moves you. Concurrently, notice the folks giggling and snorting along with you. Notice the folks who are just quietly observing and minding their business. Notice the toddlers who are probably going to be the real show stoppers. Just notice all the folks who are gathered here with you, all on the same mission. We're all here for a good time, and whatever happens in this room, just know we got to experience it together, and you made it through, together.

When we meet folks, we tend to find something about them that's familiar to us. Whether good or bad we see ourselves in others and make quick assumptions. I judged Cardi B faster than I should’ve. I judge strangers quicker than I should.  But I’m working on it. As I hope most of us are. First step is to stop and listen. Then, listen a little closer, and maybe you’ll get it.

To be a Bad B*tch is to live as authentically to yourself as possible without care of judgement. To revel in the pleasures that you yourself exude. Our streets are full of dormant Bad B*tches.  Hopefully this play will illuminate your inner Bad B*tch and make it shine so bright, it sparks another Bad B*tch into existence!

-Briana Gause

CAST

Click on the headshots to read artist bios

CREATIVE TEAM

STAFF & CREDITS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2021-2022

Lee Porter - President
Dustin Dove - Vice-President
Rosie McNamara-Jones - Treasurer
Larry D. Fowler, Jr. - Secretary
Kimberly Engel
Kevin Glaccum
Steven Wright

We’re looking to grow our Board! Want to know more?

AZUKA THEATRE COMPANY MEMBERS

Producing Director - Kevin Glaccum
Artistic Director - Rebecca May Flowers
Artistic Director - Reva Stover
Marketing Director - Mark H. Andrews
Resident Dramaturg - Quinn D. Eli
PR Representation - Kory Aversa / Aversa PR & Events, LLC

FRONT OF HOUSE

House Manager - Jessica Merkins
Box Office Managers - Kassidy Carlese & Abby Toll
Box Office Staff - Robert Charles Avigdor; Victoria Crenshaw; Sydney K. Holts; Marc D. Johnson, Jr.; Caroline Juelke; Liz Oakley; Katie Pelensky & Talia Speak

PRODUCTION CREW & CREDITS

Assistant Director - Faye Telemaco-Beane
Assistant Stage Manager - Nick Hatcher
Technical Director - Joe Daniels
Master Electrician - Kevin McCann
Audio Engineer - John Kolbinski
Set Construction - Flannel & Hammer
Scenic Painter - Annemarie Branco
Carpenters - Dyan Bickhart, Dom Decicolo, AJ Garrigus & Peter Smith
Electricians - Rob Butler & Andrew Cowles
Stitcher - Chloe Swidler
Hair-Braiding Stylist for Kila-T - Hair by Haddi at Hair Studio XXV
Nail Technician for Kila-T - Carmen at Lotus Philadelphia Esthetic Center
Wig Maintenance - Emmie Parker
Production Photographer - Johanna Austin / Austinart.org
Graphic Design - Mark H. Andrews & Derek Carnegie
IT Support - Andrew Nelson
Website Design - PIC Designs
Printing - Quaker Printing

SPECIAL THANKS
Lantern Theater Company, Asaki Kuruma at the Drexel Costume Shop

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

William Penn Foundation • The Wyncote Foundation • Free 2 Be Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation • Independence Foundation • MKM Foundation • The Shubert Foundation • PA Council on the Arts • Philadelphia Cultural Fund • June & Steve Wolfson Family Foundation • PIDC Community Capital Corp • Lida Foundation • Virginia Brown Martin Fund • Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation • Lindback Foundation

CORPORATE SUPPORT

Harmelin Media

Thank you to our individual supporters, many of whom supported us during the shut-down:
This list represents gifts made since March 1, 2020.
∞ indicates RAD, Recurring Azuka Donors

PRODUCERS CIRCLE

HONORARY PRODUCERS ($5,000+)
Dr. & Mrs. Joel & Bobbie Porter
Anonymous

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS ($2,500 - $4,999)
∞Andi Sheaffer

PRODUCERS ($1,000 - $2,499)
Karl Carter • ∞Kimberly Engel • David Fedor • ∞Kevin Glaccum • David & Karen Jones • Marta Nolan-Alley • Michael Norris & Matt Varrato • Gayle & David Smith • Lee & Chris van de Velde • Jean Weaver • ∞David J. Wierz

ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS ($500 - $999)
Dr. Marie Antionette Bey • Martin Bodtmann • David Bushnell & Kimberly Pelkey • John & Fern Culhane • Zach Dilks • Dustin Dove • Annie Goldenberg • Tom Korman & Ann Kirshner • ∞Lisa & Chris McLean • Lee Porter

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT

IDEALIST ($100 - $499)
∞Patreshettarlini Adams • Marilyn Anthony • Judith & Philip Benedict • John Benson • ∞Jay & Nancy Berkowitz • Tony Braithwaite • Antionette Brown • Thomas Carragher & Brian Dittmar • Donato D’Albis • Chris Deephouse & Donna Hunt • ∞Heather E. Evans • Michael Feighan • Gil Feinberg • ∞Ellen Foley • Larry & Maureen Mullin-Fowler • Dan Gannon • Flo Gardner • Patricia & Narinder Garg • Ann Lee Morgan & C. W. Gear • Elizabeth Gemmill • Bryan & Kathy Glaccum • Maureen Glaccum & David Speers • Marie Gottschalk • Grace Grillet • Shannon Zura & Meghan Brodie • Paul & Terry Guerin • Margaret Harris • Jenn Hayden • Patricia Haynam • Betsy & Ted Hershberg • Liza Herzog • David Ingram & Melanye Finister • ∞Bobby Iovine • Anne & Craig Jorgensen • Drs. Ken & Julie Kendall • Lois Kitz • Ben Levan • Eli Lynn • The Marcus Family • Tom Mendocino & Nick Ifft • ∞Andrea Nardello • ∞Charlotte Northeast • Thomas K. O’Leary • Eileen M. O’Brien • Gwen Ottinger • Laura Pattillo • Kathryn Petersen • ∞Nora, Sam & Willa Quinn • Kevin Riordan • ∞Heather Smalley • Margaret R. Spencer • Noreen & Eric Tarr • Ed & Lyn Tettemer • Patricia Toy • Nick Urban • Deborah Volkmer • Mark Wade • ∞John Walber & Julie Slavet • Bob Weinberg & Eleanor Wilner • Wendy White • Tom Woodward • Wayne Zukin • Anonymous (3)

REALIST (up to $99)
Cassandra Alexander • Phil & Karen Allmen • Mark H. Andrews & Derek Carnegie • Rob & Stephanie Andrews • Peter Appelbaum • Johanna Austin • Harry Bambrick • Lena Barnard • Christopher Baughman • Benjamin Behrend • Kerry Berkowitz • BA Bigham • ∞Ivy Brock • Jeff Burger • Keyonna Butler • Jake Buttery • Gail Byrne • Patricia Callahan & Bill Double • Timothy P. Carey • J. Dominic Chacon • Eve Chamberlain • Peilin Chen • John Paul Christy • Phyllis Cohen • Katherine Coleby • Christopher Colucci • Harley Cooper • ∞Anthony Copa • ∞Kenneth Cruz-Dillard • Jess DeStefano • ∞Danielle Dilks • ∞Edward Dilks • Karen DiLossi & Josh Schulman • Stefanie Matsinger Dockery • Rebekah Doyle • Michael Drzik • Jennifer Enslen • Leesha Fagan • Tony & Sue Faillace • Julie Fialkow • ∞Robin Fieler • M.J. Fine • ∞Rebecca May Flowers • Krissy Fraelich • Donald Friedman • Vincent Fumo & Amanda Jensen • Linda Dubin Garfield • Robyn & Bill George • Scott & Nancy Geryk • Emma Gibson • Nan Gilbert & Lou Grimaldi • ∞Austin Ginsberg • Lavelle Glenn • Leigh Goldenberg & Aaron Bauman • Johanna Goode • Barbara Grabias • Danie Greenwell • Caitlin G. • Catherine Hagele • James & Jenna Harris • Jean Haskell • Amanda & Pete • Kate Heaney • Tom Helmer • Josh Herren • Brenda Hillegas • Peter Hoefler • Esther & Bob Hornik • Caren Hosansky • Sean Huber • Fred Jackes • M. Jackson • Karl Janowitz • Cyndi Janzen • Elizabeth Johnson • Lisa Johnson • Ira Josephs • Karin & Mark Kaplan • Elizabeth Kean • Patrice Kelly • James Kern • James Kirby • Sharon Kling • Andrea Kocerha • Cindi Landmesser • Annette LareauFreeman • Margarete Larese-ortiz • David Lathrop • Andrew & Kissy • Felicia Leicht • Kelsey Leljedal • Margaret Lonzetta • Gianna Lozzi • MaryAnne Lyons • Michael MacGowan • Cirel & Howard Magen • Stephen Mandato • Gene Mannelli • Noah Mannix • Tim Martin • Sabina Mauro & Gerald Roche • Christopher McCarrick • Kathleen McCauley • Toitimeblog • Patricia McGovern Gorchov • Liam McLean • Shawna McMenamin • Lily Meier • Byron Merrick • Marnie Mielke • Scott & McKenna • Frances Miller • Lori Mudd • Michele & Leah Murray • Barbara Nardi • Charlene Nolten • Marie O’Donnell • Lorraine Osinski • Michael Osinski • Kasual Owens-Fields • Rosemary Parrillo • Cybele & Paul • Sonya Peterson & John Samas • Anthony Pires, Jr. • Stephen Platt & Robin Schaufler • Lee Porter for Lee Porter • Steven Porter • Madison P. • Olive Prince • Gary Rantz • Catalina Read • Veronica Redd • ∞Kathleen • ∞Brittany Schmitke • Tattooed Love Boy • Lee & Linda-Jean Schneider • Megan Schumacher • Jonathan Silver • Dana Smith • Stephanie Smith • Talia Speak • Caitlin Speers • William Stuart • Arin Sullivan • Diana Swidler • Miriam Szapiro • Anne Taylor • Thomas Taylor • R. Eric Thomas • Phaedra Tinder • Maureen Torsney-Weir • John • Dan Van Wert & Alethia Calbeck • Hannah Vaughn • Michele Volansky • Russ Walsh • Renee Lucas Wayne • Noris Weiss Malvey • Douglas Williams • Shirley Young • Anonymous (7)