May 1–5, 2024
In This Program
Artistic Director JENNIFER ZEYL
Managing Director WESLEY FRUGÉ
PRESENTS
THE LION TELLS HIS TALE
By Vida Oliphant Sneed
Directed by Steve Sneed
Featuring Delbert Richardson’s American History Traveling Museum: The “Unspoken” Truths
May 1 – 5, 2024
Broadway Performance Hall
on the campus of Seattle Central College
Featuring
Alvedo
Dancer
Faith Bennett Russell*
Joetta/Ensemble
Deejay Brown
Young Storyteller
Erwin E. A. Thomas*
The Storyteller
Rajnii Eddins
Justin/Imhotep/Ensemble
Kearia Keke Duncan
Dancer
Tracy Michelle Hughes*
Khadija/Queen Hatshepsut/Vocalist/Ensemble
Antonio Mitchell*
Miles/Ensemble
Delbert Richardson
as Himself
Hazel Rose Gibson*
Grace/Tiye/Ensemble
Seyvon West
Malik/Ensemble
Creative Team
Reco Stone Bembry
Composer & Music Director
Vania C . Bynum
Choreographer
Jennifer Zeyl†
Scenic Designer
Doris Black
Costume Designer
Robert Aguilar†
Lighting Designer
Matt Starritt†
Sound Designer
Michael B. Maine
Projection Designer
Madelyn Salvucci*
Stage Manager
Max Zamorano*
Assistant Stage Manager
Lily McLeod
Assistant Lighting Designer
Musicians
Reco Stone Bembry
Keyboards, Drums, Percussion
Elias Bullock
Keyboard
Joshua Richardson
Keyboards
Beezie
Drums, Percussion
Charlie Cash
Guest Artist
Songs
Go Down Moses - Traditional African American Spritual
Sung by Tracy Hughes and Antonio Mitchell
Cold Piece
Writer/Composer Reco Bembry, Lyrics/Performed by Charlie Cash
Forbidden Truth
Writer/Composer Reco Bembry, Lyrics by Vida Oliphant Sneed
Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round - Standard version.
Sung by Antonio Mitchell and Faith Bennett Russell
Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody (remix)
Composer/Writer, “Vitamin D”
There will be one 15-minute intermission.
Poster design by Cade Roach. Photo by Joe Moore.
*Appearing through an Agreement between The Seagull Project and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
† Member of United Scenic Artists USA 829, IATSE
Welcome to Intiman Theatre
Thank you for joining us and, welcome to the World Premiere of The Lion Tells His Tale. We are so happy to have you here!
It is an honor to be trusted to breathe life into Delbert’s American History Traveling Museum: The “Unspoken” Truths. Learning from and getting to know this team of creatives over the past several years has been a highlight of my time with Intiman. I can think of no better enactment of our mission to use the power of story and education to activate dialogue, confront inequity, and build collective joy.
As we watch the rapid whitewashing of US history, The Lion Tell His Tale offers a firm and loving push back. We choose the power of story and our history to unite us, rather than divide us.
—Jennifer Zeyl, Artistic Director
A Note from the Director
George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, launching a much-needed racial reckoning in America. His murder forced America to look at herself in the mirror revealing the need for change. The time for change is now. The time to explore new avenues of change is NOW!
Enter The Lion Tells His Tale. This is a play about Delbert Richardson’s traveling museum that tells a more accurate and complete story of African people in America. The play brings the museum to life on stage. We get a glimpse into Delbert’s zest for knowing his heritage and sharing the untold American stories.
Lion began with Zoom meetings in 2020 exploring the thought, “What would it look like to bring the museum to the stage?” Vida began framing the play from these conversations. By 2021 we were planning our first public reading to be held at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute. In 2022 we had an agreement with Intiman to include the production in their 2024 50th anniversary season. A new avenue for change is born.
America has a story of many great accomplishments that routinely exclude Black people. Some people believe Black history and the resistance to racism should not be taught at all. An African proverb says, “Until the lion tells his tale the hunt will always glorify the hunter.” Today the lion is speaking.
We bring you this play to help change the American narrative that says, Black people don’t matter. We do matter and we have contributed to the world in many, many ways. We need to share and celebrate this history so all people, and especially our young people, can take pride in our heritage and we can all walk in dignity in this country. I invite you to celebrate with us in this journey of healing through this Black theatre experience. In the Black theater, the audience is a part of the show. We expect you to shout when you feel it and cry when it hurts. Don’t be shy, you are in Black space! In the words of my favorite philosopher, James Brown…
Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m proud!
Peace and Unity,
Steve Sneed, Director
About the Museum
The American History Traveling Museum: The Unspoken Truths chronicles the rich history of Africans in Africa prior to American Chattel Slavery, the experiences and impact of American Chattel Slavery and of the Jim Crow Era, while also detailing the many contributions African Americans have had on scientific, cultural, and technological inventions/innovations in the U.S., and the world. This is done through the four sections of the museum: Mother Africa, Chattel Slavery, Jim Crow, and Still We Rise.
The museum’s mission is to re-educate learners of all ages, in a manner that leads to self-restoration and community healing, with the eventual goal of implementing its teachings into school curricula, institutions, and organizations committed to cultural competence and social justice.
The museum was founded and is curated by Mr. Delbert Richardson. It has won countless awards traveling the country and striving to educate individuals, communities, educators, organizations & students on the unspoken truths of American history.
Key Principles of the national award-winning American History Traveling Museum: The “Unspoken” Truths
UNSPOKEN HISTORY
It’s called the American History Traveling Museum intentionally because, as Delbert says, “he who tells the story controls the narrative,” and the majority of our history has been told through the white male lens. Most of us assume that Athens and Rome dominated the classical world and set Western culture or North America on its present course, but there was a third city, Alexandria, Egypt, that at its height dwarfed both Athens and Rome in scientific and artistic achievements. American history as it is currently taught in schools is inaccurate. Our purpose is to tell the unspoken truths of not only American history but the history of the world.
SELF-ACTUALIZATION
We are still suffering from the residuals of American Chattel slavery. I’m carrying over 200 years of trauma in my DNA. Now I know why I don’t have anger; I have rage. Now I know why I have low self esteem. Now I’m fully understanding. Now I’m in the process of self discovery and healing. Our goals are to create awareness, curiosity, critical inquiry which leads to self discovery and build the self-esteem of African American people, who have long suffered from the traumas of American Chattel slavery.
IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT
What if there was a world where all children could learn how to self-identify and more importantly be more than happy with how they see themselves versus how the world sees them? All children and adults deserve to know and love who they are. Our work is deeply personal with the goal to make the world a better place for all.
OUR FUTURE
Not only did African Americans create amazing things, they are responsible for creating what we call now as S.T.E.M. So many uncredited Black inventors have contributed to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. From a pencil sharpener and gas mask to the lightbulb, all of the displayed items in our American History Traveling Museum were either invented, patented, or improved by African Americans. This shows the courage, resilience, and intentional fortitude of my ancestors. People were being lynched at the same time that they were changing the world. African Americans are still changing the world today.
About Delbert Richardson
Mr. Richardson’s achievements include the 2013 National Campus Compact Newman Fellows Award, the 2017 National Education Association (NEA) Carter G. Woodson Memorial Human & Civil Rights Award, the 2019 City of Seattle Mayor Arts Award, the 2019 Crosscut Courage in Culture Award, the 2020 Association of King County Historical Organizations (AKCHO) Heritage Education Award, the 2020 National Marquis Who’s Who Award, the 2021 Museum of History and Industry History (MOHAI) Educator of the Year Award, the 2021 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Spotlight Award, the 2021 Kwanzaa Award, and the 2022 Seattle Public Schools Department of Racial Equity Advancement Outstanding Educator Award.
Mr. Richardson’s work primarily targets K–12th grade students and offers professional development training for white female teachers, who make up over 79% of the national teaching force. He also provides DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) training. His services are in increasing demand by corporations, faith-based organizations, and municipal government agencies across the state of Washington, specifically in Seattle and King County. His offerings include professional development, community and student exhibits, extended workshop training for junior storytellers, and corporate DEI training.
Tell Me Again
by Noni Ervin
Tell me again
About my melanin skin
And how my story began
On the soil, rich with minerals and precious stones
Hot dirt, clay, and sand.
Tell me again
About my intricate hair
Markings and symbols that speak of my kin
Shells, gold and silver, red-yellow and orange.
Tell me again
About my amazing skill
Mapping the stars and ocean currents
Drawing and documenting the times
Preserved on walls and held by our griots.
Tell me again
About architecture and Kemetstry
Healing practices and metallurgy
Exquisite tapestries and geometric precision
Monuments and pyramids that nearly touch the sky.
Tell me again
About my glorious imagination
Inventing traffic lights and the ice cream scoop
Patents upon patents and engineering sketches
Problems noted and solved with my creative genius.
Tell me again
About my melanin skin
Never start with ships or chains or shackles.
Go back to the Continent, in the garden
Mother Africa is where we all begin.
(Inspired by Mr. Delbert Richardson’s American History Traveling Museum: The “Unspoken” Truths)
Cast & Creative
Cast
Delbert Richardson
as Himself
Mr. Delbert Richardson (he/him) is a Community Scholar, Ethnomuseumologist, and Second Generation Storyteller, of the national award-winning American History Traveling Museum: The “Unspoken” Truths. Utilizing authentic artifacts, storyboards, and the ancient art of “storytelling”, Mr. Richardson presents “American History” through an Afrocentric lens. His work is divided into four sections: Mother Africa, which highlights the numerous contributions by Africans in STEM fields; American Chattel Slavery, which delves into the brutal treatment and psychological impacts on African Americans of the Diaspora; The Jim Crow era, which examines the racial caste system and the creation and enforcement of legalized segregation; and Still We Rise, which focuses on the myriad contributions in the Americas by Black inventors and inventions.
Deejay Brown
Young Storyteller
Deejay Brown (he/him) is a thirteen-year-old 7th-grade student at South Shore K-8 with a passion for dancing, playing the piano, drawing, and various forms of computer animation. As the second youngest of 5 siblings, Deejay enjoys discussing current events, community, and spirituality, and indulging in his love for video games. Notable achievements include his debut in amateur acting with Stone Soup Theater’s production of Hamilton in 2022, as well as a performance at an on-stage reading of The Lion Tells His Tale at Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center. This experience, coupled with a positive reception, ignited Deejay’s deep interest in acting, a form of artistry that allows him to express himself creatively.
Rajnii Eddins
Justin, Imhotep, Ensemble
Originally from Seattle Washington, Spoken Word Poet/Emcee and Teaching Artist Rajnii Eddins (he/him) has been engaging diverse community audiences for over 30 years. He was the youngest member of the Afrikan American Writers Alliance at age 11 and has been actively sharing with youth and community in Vermont where he now resides since 2010. Rajnii’s diverse talents and passions allow him to offer a wide variety of powerful experiences that foster connection, learning, and mutual growth. He thrives at creating spaces that are educational, explorative, and celebratory, whether in a classroom, a conference hall, a community center, or online.
Hazel Rose Gibson
Grace/Queen Tiye/Ensemble
Hazel (she/her) is proud to be making her on-stage debut at Intiman with this show and this powerful cast. It is not often she gets to tell POC-centered stories and she hopes her ancestors are proud. Hazel last worked at Intiman Theatre as the stage manager for The Niceties. Previous credits include: A Christmas Carol (ACT), OR, (Theatre 22), Pipeline (SPT), Oedipus the King (Play Your* Part), American Junkie (Book-It Rep), The Good Woman of Setzuan (ACTLab),A New Hope in the Park (Hello Earth Productions), and A Civil War Christmas (Taproot Theatre). She would like to thank the Sneeds for giving her an opportunity to connect with her other half. Hazel sends big love to her phenomenal parents, her late sister, and her spectacular partner.
Tracy Michelle Hughes
Khadija/Queen Hatshepsut/Vocalist/Ensemble
Tracy (she/her) is happy to be working with Intiman Theatre again. The last time was in Wedding Band in 2016, and in 2013 Tracy was part of Intiman’s Theatre Festival where she performed in Trouble in Mind, We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay!and Stu for Silverton. So yes, it’s been awhile, but it’s nice to be back as Khadijah/Queen Hatshepsut in The Lion Tells His Tale. Most recently you may have seen her as Prospero in Tempest (Seattle Shakespeare’s Wooden O); History of Theatreand SWEAT (ACT); Billie Mae in Sound Theatre’s Reparations at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center; Georgia Bailey with 14/48 Theatre Anonymous in It’s a Wonderful; Capulet in Seattle Shakespeare’s all femme Romeo & Juliet; Skeleton Crew at ArtsWest; Crowns and Pretty Fire at Taproot, Bright Half Life at 12th Ave Arts. Tracy’s excited to share her art and gifts with you! Thanks, Jennifer Z.
Antonio Mitchell
Miles/Ensemble
Antonio (he/him) is excited to be returning to Intiman for the premier of this new work having recently appeared as The Baron in The Lower Depths (co-produced with The Seagull Project)! Select credits: Rapunzel’s Prince, Into the Woods(The 5th Avenue Theatre); Pirate King, Pirates of Penzance (Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society): Lady Bracknell, The Importance of Being Earnest (University of Washington); Ensemble, Hello, Dolly! (Village Theatre). MFA: University of Washington (PATP); BFA: University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). antoniomitchell.com / Instagram: @antonio.d.mitchell
Faith Bennett Russell
Joetta/Ensemble
Faith Bennett Russell (she/her) is an actor, director, teaching artist, playwright, and choreographer in the greater Seattle area for the past 40 plus years, and is thrilled to be back on the boards, making her Intiman Theatre debut with this beautiful and essential story. Past favorite stage credits include: My Heart Is The Drum and Once On This Island (Village Theater): Annie (The 5th Avenue Theater); Doubt, Jane Eyre The Musical, A Night With The Russells: The Legacy of Us(Taproot Theater); Grand Concourse and Slip/Shot (Seattle Public Theater) Picnic (Re’Act Theater). Big love and thank you to the creative team for believing I still have stories in me to share, and big love to my backbone, my family, who keeps me straight, reminds me to continue to dream, and fills my life with their love.
Erwin E. A. Thomas
The Storyteller
Erwin Thomas (he/him) is honored to be returning to the Intiman stage where he was previously seen in Our Town. He is a University of Washington School of Drama graduate, PATP class of 2002. Previous roles have included the characters of Ephram, Moon on a Rainbow Shall (New Federal Theater); Benjamin, Southern Promises (PS 122); Featured Prisoner, House of the Dead (Met Opera/Paris Opera); and Jackie, Jackie and Me (Seattle Children’s Theatre). May we always tell stories that honor the sacrifices of our ancestors and amplify the healing power of the human spirit.
Seyvon West
Malik/Ensemble
Seyvon West (he/him) is an aspiring fashion designer and the owner and CEO of B.R.O.S., an emerging fashion company. Seyvon was born in Seattle, Washington and spent his early years in Baltimore, Maryland. Since receiving his acting certification in 2018 with Intiman, he has performed in three productions, most recently starring in Trouble In Mind as Sheldon Forrester. Along with gracing the stage, Seyvon has also done commercials and other films during his acting journey.
Alvedo
Dancer
In the year of 2000, Alvedo was discovered by the late Kabby Mitchell (mentor and teacher to many) who was the first black dancer with the Pacific Northwest Ballet. In that year, Alvedo made his professional debut in Black Nativity. At the age of 19 Alvedo was selected to co-choreograph The Wiz at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre. Alvedo attended Howard University, minoring in dance and theatre arts, where he received a B.A degree. Alvedo then furthered his career as a professional dancer in Los Angeles, working with legendary hip-hop choreographers such as Fatima Robinson, the Talauega Brothers, and performed with Usher, John Legend, and Lady Gaga, to name a few, and has danced for Haitian and Congolese companies Fua Dia Congo and Ra-Ra Toulimen. Alvedo is thrilled to have another opportunity to give back to the Seattle black arts community that poured into his development as a performer in The Lion Tells His Tale.
Kearia Keke Duncan
Dancer
Kearia KeKe Duncan (she/her) is a Seattle native who has danced for Kutt’N’Up Entertainment for 10 years. While in college at Central Washington University, she was the captain of her dance team for two years. During her college experience and since graduating, she has been a hip-hop dance instructor of all levels at N The Kutt dance studio as well as D&G Dance Company. Her choreography has been seen on stages such as Monsters, No Flex Zone, Wa Na Wari, Kutt’N’Up Massacre, and more. She is also a member of The Garden Dance Company.
Creative Team
Vida Oliphant Sneed
Playwright
Vida Oliphant Sneed (she/her) is a Seattle-based writer and educator. Vida has a strong history with Intiman Theatre that dates back to her experiences with the Family Theater Series. The Lion Tells His Tale launches Vida’s debut as a professional playwright. She earned a BA in English from the University of Southern California and K-8 Teaching Credentials from the University of Washington. While raising and homeschooling six children, Vida has been perfecting her skills behind the scenes in church-based productions. Vida expresses gratitude to the love of her life, Steve Sneed; her children, grandchildren, family, and friends; Lorna Arnold, Jahon Brown, and Holly Arsenault for being first reviewers of the script and Don and Zinda Foster for providing a sanctuary to write. As she begins this new journey, she remembers her mother’s words, “It’s not what you are, or who you are, but who you are to become.”
Steve Sneed
Director
Steve (he/him) began his career at the age of 15 as leader of the African drum and dance group the OGUNDA’S. For seven years, the group performed at festivals, prisons, colleges and various special events in the State of Washington including CTI Jazz at the Paramount Theatre. He later studied theater arts, music and advertising at the University of Washington, worked as an Equity actor in Seattle, and produced and directed plays in Seattle. As an actor he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role in the KCTS 9 Drama “Cellar George,” of which he played the title character. Steve served as Director of the Langston Hughes Center for 11 years and 20 years as the Managing Artistic Director at Seattle Center, including managing Festal, a series of Cultural Festivals. In 2001 Steve was the recipient of the Corporate Council for the Arts (now Artsfund) “Unsung Hero Award.” He was selected as “Man of the Year” by the Fifth District First AME Church of the Pacific Northwest and in 2019 he was given the City of Seattle Leadership in Management award and the Cultural Custodian Award from the Central District reunion committee. Currently he teaches acting at Alan T. Sugiyama High School.
Steve directed the Community Black History production, Can I Get a Witness, which involved over 50 cast and crew members and performed to capacity crowds at the Langston Hughes Arts Institute. Steve is the proud dad of 6 children, and 6 grandchildren and is madly in love with his wife, Vida, his childhood sweetheart. They will celebrate 43 years of marriage this year.
Reco Stone Bembry
Composer & Music Director
Reco Bembry (he/him) is a graduate of the Community Fellows Program from the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and studied music performance and composition at Cornish Institute. Reco served as musical director of the Platters Review Canadian Tour and as a composer and musical director for several local and regional productions such as Three Wishes, Street Life, Peer Pressure, The Playground, Boys Will be Boys A Hip-Hop Musical, The Colored Museum, It’s Entertainment Live, and has performed as a studio musician and live performances with Onyx, Phantasy, KATZ, and many local and regional bands and entertainment reviews. Reco’s love for music composition, arrangements, and performance provides a tapestry of experience, passion, and expertise in presenting unique percussive rhythmic tapestries with a flavor of melodic and harmonic textures to warm the heart and soul. “Music is the soul of humanity.”
Vania C. Bynum
Choreographer
Vania C. Bynum (she/her), founder of VC Bynum Arts & Education, is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer whose calling is to enhance the life of others through her artistic gifts. A graduate of Cornish College of the Arts, Vania has performed at the Paramount and Moore Theaters, Intiman Theatre, Benaroya Hall, Meydenbauer, Langston Hughes, and local churches, leading the Liturgical Dance Ministry at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship for 11 years. In addition to self-producing performances, she has choreographed works for the Seattle Peace Chorus, Dr. Maxine Mimms Presents, Sound of the Northwest, Northwest Tap Connection, Broadway Bound Children’s Theater, and more. Recently, Vania danced the role of Clara in Spectrum Dance Theater’s Harlem Nutcracker (2022) and choreographed for both the return of Seattle’s beloved Black Nativity (2023) at Intiman Theatre, and I Will Live Until I Die (2024) about the life of Thea Bowman. Vania is thankful and thrilled to uplift the history of our culture by working on The Lion Tells His Tale. Visit her at www.weinspirehumanity.org
Jennifer Zeyl
Scenic Designer
Jennifer (she/they) is a Seattle-based scenic designer, stage director and producer, and is honored to serve Intiman Theatre as Artistic Director. She is a Founding Co-Artistic Director of Washington Ensemble Theatre, winner of The Stranger Genius Award in Theatre and four-time Gregory Falls Best Scenic Design recipient. Previous Intiman designs include: The Lower Depths, Black Nativity (2023), The Niceties, Angels in America, Dragon Lady, Heartbreak House, Trouble in Mind, Stu for Silverton, and Bulrusher among others. Locally, Jen has designed many shows for ACT Theatre, Seattle Rep, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, On the Boards, and more. Nationally, their scenic designs have been seen at: NY Public Theatre, Guthrie Theatre, Two RiverTheater, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Rose Theatre, Duke Arts Presents, REDCAT, The Clarice Center and more. Jennifer is grateful to receive funding for their original and touring work from: the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, Theatre Communications Group, Map Fund, Creative Capital, Artist Trust, 4Culture, and The National Endowment for the Arts. Since 2019, JZ has served on the board of directors for Red Eagle Soaring, Seattle’s Native Youth Theatre. Jennifer is a proud member of USA 829. BFA Directing, BFA Theatre Design - University of Rhode Island 1996, MFA Scenic Design - University of Washington, 2003.
Doris Black
Costume Designer
Doris (she/her) designed the 1st generation of Black Nativity at Intiman from 1998-2012, and is thrilled to return to Intiman to be part of the team for The Lion Tells His Tale. A few recent designs include Donald Byrd’s Love and Loss(Pacific Northwest Ballet); Greenwood (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater); Autocorrect Thinks I’m Dead (Sound Theatre Company); The Pirates of Penzance (Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society) Grief (Spectrum Dance Theater’s Insidious Trilogy); The Rivals (Seattle Shakespeare Company); and Measure for Measure (Freehold’s Engaged Theatre). She is the company costume designer for Spectrum Dance Theater and for the Seattle Men’s Chorus/Seattle Women’s Chorus. Her film work includes Police Beat, The Dark Horse, and Cthulhu. She teaches Costume Design at Inglemoor High School as part of their technical theater program. She also works for Period Corsets, which produces period understructures. She received her MFA in Costume Design from the University of Washington.
Robert Aguilar
Lighting Designer
Robert (he/him) is a Seattle-based designer for live performance and film. His work has been seen at Intiman, Seattle Repertory Theatre, 5th Avenue Theatre, The Old Globe, ACT, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Arizona Theater Company, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Village Theatre and Portland Center Stage among others. Robert is the Lighting Director at Seattle Repertory Theatre and a member of USA829. www.robertjaguilar.com
Matt Starritt
Sound Designer
Matt (he/him) is a Seattle-based, freelance sound designer for theatre and dance. In Seattle, he has designed for ACT, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Strawberry Theatre Workshop, Book-It Repertory Theatre, ArtsWest, Cherdonna, Kitten and Lou, New Century Theatre Company, and Intiman Theatre. Nationally, he has designed for Alley Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Old Globe, South Coast Repertory, and the Under the Radar Festival at the Public Theatre. He is the sound supervisor for the University of Washington’s Meany Center for the Performing Arts and was a founding member of Washington Ensemble Theatre.
Michael B. Maine
Projection Designer
Michael B. Maine (he/him) creates various forms of art in and with community to increase awareness about and encourage conversation and action, around issues of social justice and equity. He describes himself as a socially engaged creative whose art practice serves as a meditation to better understand the world in which we live and the systems we’ve constructed. Most of Michael’s projects focus on identity, power and privilege, deviance, and social movements. He often creates and chooses projects based on the ability to work with those who hold respect for the work, collaborators, communities, audiences, and anyone/anything that will ultimately be impacted.
Lily McLeod
Assistant Lighting Designer
Madelyn Salvucci
Stage Manager
Madelyn (she/her) is excited to be working on her second show with Intiman! Her deepest passion is building spaces where people can believe in magic again (even if just for a short while). She has recently stage managed for Seattle Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Cymbeline, and assistant stage managed Macbeth and Intiman’s Black Nativity. She has also worked on Youth Theatre Northwest’s productions of Into The Woods, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The 39 Steps. She is ever grateful for her partner and dog, and their love and support.
Max Zamorano
Assistant Stage Manager
Max Zamorano (he/they) is delighted to be making his debut at Intiman Theatre. Previous credits include: Something’s Afoot (5th Avenue Theatre); The Nutcracker (Pacific Northwest Ballet); Cambodian Rock Band, Every Brilliant Thing (ACT); King Lear, The Tempest (Santa Cruz Shakespeare); Lydia and The Troll, Metamorphoses, and Mr. Dickens and His Carol (Seattle Rep). Much love to all who make this crazy life possible!
Wesley Frugé
Managing Director
Wesley (he/him) is the Managing Director at Tony-award-winning Intiman Theatre in Seattle, WA. Previously, he was the Founder and Artistic Director of Forward Flux Productions, the Founding Artistic Advisor of The Grief Dialogues, and the Co-founder & Executive Director of BeautyBoiz Queer Collective. As lead producer, Wesley has directed and/or presented ten new plays; eight cycles of the collaborate create artist residency series (120+ artists); 20 editions of The Flux Salon new works series (featuring Chisa Hutchinson, Lauren Yee, Benjamin Benne, Jeremy O. Harris, more). He conceived, wrote and directed the FringeNYC 2012 hit play FriendAndy.com (HERE Arts Center), and he was the co-curator of Intiman’s HOMECOMING Performing Arts Festival in 2021.
Working in nightlife, Wesley has created experiences that center the Queer community with multi-year residences at Fred Wildlife Refuge and Supernova Seattle. He has produced countless drag shows including for PrideFest and Seattle Pride, themed experiences and dance parties, and the Black Pride Celebration music video anthology. During his time at social impact strategy firm williamsworks, he produced fundraising events for clients ranging from Eastern Congo Initiative (with Ben Affleck), the Schultz Family Foundation, Hillary Clinton, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and more. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Sam Houston State University.
Jennifer Zeyl
Artistic Director
See bio above.
The Underground Railroad quilts used in the production were created by four Seattle artists: Claudia Webb (North Star), LueRachelle Brim-Atkins (Drunkards Path), Michelle “Mo” Moore (Log Cabin)—members of the Pacific Northwest African American Quilters—and Alfreda Lanier (Bow Tie). Works by these artists have been exhibited at numerous local and international venues, galleries, and museums.
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