404.607.SHOW(7469)

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404.607.SHOW(7469)

TICKETS
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TICKETS
DONATE

404.607.SHOW(7469)

Intimate Apparel

PLAYWRIGHT
Lynn Nottage

DIRECTOR
Ibi owolabi

SPONSOR
Terry hildebrand

march 24- April 17, 2022

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SYNOPSIS

In 1905 New York, an independent woman named Esther creates beautiful lingerie for clients that range from white society mavens on the Upper East Side to prostitutes in the Tenderloin district. As she works toward her dream of opening a beauty salon for Black women, she earns the trust, respect and friendship of her diverse customers. And when she enters into a romantic correspondence with a mysterious pen pal, her quest for empowerment and self-actualization takes unexpected turns. A landmark play from MacArthur Genius Grant recipient and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage.

“ONE OF THE VERY BEST AMERICAN PLAYS OF THE PAST QUARTER-CENTURY.”

– THE Wall Street Journal

“A MASTERPIECE.”

– The New York Times

Cast & Creative Team

vallea e. woodbury

esther

valeka jessica

mayme

corey finley

U/S george

marcus hopkins-turner

george

terry henry

mrs. dickinson

aliya kraar

U/S mrs. van buren

ross benjamin

mr. marks

candi vandizandi

mrs. van buren

marita mckee

u/s mayme and mrs. dickinson

whitney nelson

u/s esther

jesse smith

u/s mr. marks

DIRECTOR

ibi owolabi

SCENIC DESIGNERS

jennifer rose ivey

LIGHTING DESIGNER

toni sterling

COSTUME DESIGNER

kendra johnson

intimacy choreographer

amanda washington

Properties Designer/set decorator

nick battaglia

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

d connor mcvey

STAGE MANAGER

lexie mckay

wig designer

dr. l nyrobi moss

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

tyshawn gooden

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

maya hodges

dialect coach

jacqueline springfield

CHARGE SCENIC ARTIST

AMANDA NERBY

PRODUCTION MANAGER

SEAMUS BOURNE

PRODUCTION ELECTRICIAN

NEIL ANDERSON

COMPOSERS

VALEKA JESSICA, CHRIS LANE

CASTING DIRECTOR

SHEILA OLIVER

ASSISTANT SOUND DESIGNER

KATE HOANG

ASSOCIATE SCENIC DESIGNER

STEPHANIE POLHEMUS

CARPENTERS

ENGLISH BRACKETT, DEVIN FOURQUREAN

RUNNING TIME

Two hours with one intermission

CONTENT ADVISORY

Audience Advisory: This production contains full nudity, strong adult language and descriptions and depictions of sensitive and intense issues and situations. For more detailed information about potential trigger warnings, please click HERE

SEATING

There is open seating for this production.

PERFORMANCES

Previews

May 12 & 13 at 8 pm

Opening Night

May 14 at 8 pm

Regular Performances

May 14 – June 12, 2022
Wednesdays – Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 2 pm

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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Biography

Atlanta: Alliance Theatre, Center for Puppetry Arts, OnStage Atlanta, Red Phoenix Theatre Company, School Street Playhouse. Regional: Argyle Theatre, John W. Engeman Theatre, HERE Arts Center, CM Performing Arts Center, College Light Opera Company. Education: BFA in Musical Theatre and BA in Technical Theatre, Manhattanville University. Kevin is excited to begin his journey with Actor’s Express with Girl from the North Country. He would like to thank his family and friends for always being in his corner. 

Biography

Mace is a Georgia born and raised theatre artist with a passion for daring and unconventional theatre. In 2024, Mace graduated from Kennesaw State University where they studied scenic design, carpentry, prop making, technical direction, and a variety of other production skills. At Actors Express, they participated in the production processes of “Cabaret,” “Mercury,” and “Topdog/Underdog.” Their local credits include work with Aurora Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Horizon Theatre Company, and Stage Door Theatre. When not in a black box, Mace enjoys cooking for their friends, learning about social liberation, and wading in creeks in the North GA mountains. 

Biography

Actor’s Express: Blues for an Alabama Sky, Mercury, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Cullud Wattah, Sunset Baby, Desire Under the Elms, Lizzie, Bootycandy, Intimate Apparel, Heathers the Musical, Fun Home, Head Over Heels.  Upcoming with Actor’s Express: The rest of Season 36!  Atlanta: Alliance Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Horizon, Pinch N Ouch, Out Front Theatre. Outside of that, Nick is a vintage seller when not decorating shows – check out the goods at www.thatvintageguy.com

Biography

Ramey Ward currently serves as the Technical Director at Actor’s Express. Her recent technical direction credits include A Third Way and Topdog/Underdog. Additionally, Ramey was a Scenic Apprentice during the 2023-2024 season, contributing to the productions of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Mercury, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Cabaret (Asst. Scenic Designer), and The Cycle Breakers (Scenic Designer).

Looking ahead, Ramey will take on the roles of both Scenic Designer and Technical Director for The Thin Place by Lucas Hnath, which will close out Season 37 at Actor’s Express.

Ramey holds a BFA in Theatre Design and Technology from the University of West Georgia.

Biography

Claire Quinn received her BFA in Acting from CCPA at Roosevelt University in Chicago and her MA in Business of Creative Enterprises from Emerson College in Boston. Her recent credits include Rooted at Horizon Theatre and Flame and Filament at the Atlanta Fringe Festival. Claire is thrilled to be a part of the Actor’s Express team! 

Biography

Amanda Washington currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director at Actor’s Express. She joined Actor’s Express as the National New Play Network Producer in Residence from 2020 to 2022. Her AE directing credits include, Crossroads, Sunset Baby, cullud wattah, and Blues for an Alabama Sky. Amanda guides the apprentice company during their one-year sojourn with AE. Other areas of her work include Community Engagement and assisting the playwrights for the AE Playwrighting Commission Program. Amanda received her MFA in directing from the University of Southern Mississippi and her BA from Brenau University. To learn more about Amanda, visit her website at www.washingtonamanda.com.

Biography

Marysa Sutton joined Actor’s Express in July of 2021. She has previously worked in the world of campaign finance and public service. Her theatre credits begin and end with Switzer Elementary School’s production of Santa, You’ve Got Mail where she starred as Ms. Walker.

Biography

Seamus M. Bourne (Director of Production) has worked in production management for over ten years, the last several with Actor’s Express. He has designed scenery at AE for a number of productions including:  Topdog/Underdog, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Urinetown, Red Speedo, Skintight, Wolves, Next Fall and Spring Awakening. He has designed scenery or worked in other production capacities throughout Atlanta, including The Alliance Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, Aurora Theatre, Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Georgia Shakespeare and Theatre in the Square. Seamus is a four time Suzi Bass Award nominee. When not working, Seamus is Dad to Maddie & Holden, a home chef, and is a player/manager on an amateur baseball team in Atlanta. www.smbourne.com

Biography

Freddie Ashley has been Artistic Director of Actor’s Express since 2007. He has directed around 50 AE productions, including Doubt, Fun Home, The Crucible and Prayer for the French Republic. Locally, his work has been seen at Dad’s Garage, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Jewish Theatre of the South, Theatre Gael and numerous projects with Aurora Theatre. Regional credits include The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee at Connecticut Repertory Theatre, as well as many new play projects with the Playwrights’ Center, Kennedy Center, New Group, Page 73 and the Alliance Theatre, where he was Literary Manager and served as dramaturg for some 30 productions.

Ashley has worked on new play projects with some of the most compelling and important writers working in the American theatre today, including John Patrick Shanley, Joshua Harmon, Lindsey Ferrentino, Jen Silverman, Kenneth Lin, Janine Nabers, Marco Ramirez and Michael Lew.

He has been a frequent guest artist or lecturer at such universities as Virginia Commonwealth University, Hendrix College, University of Georgia, Austin Peay State University, South Carolina School of the Arts, Savannah College of Art and Design, and Oglethorpe University. He served on faculty at Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University, where he taught for 21 years.

He is a four-time Suzi Bass Award winner for acting and directing, and he has been named Best Director in Atlanta three times by Creative Loafing. Other awards include the Elliott Hayes Award for Dramaturgy from the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Medallion of Excellence. He has been profiled in American Theatre magazine in 2016, 2018 and 2025. He has served on the Board of Directors of the National New Play Network and on advisory boards for Emigrant Theatre and Working Title Playwrights.

 

He holds an MFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi.

www.freddieashley.com

Biography

Ebony L. Jerry is a former 2017-2018 Actor’s Express Intern. She received her BFA in Performing Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design. Her credits include Suzi Award Winning for Best Ensemble The Wolves playing #8 at Horizon Theater, and Synchronicity Theater’s The Bluest Eye as the swing. She is very excited to be back at Actors Express, where it all began.

Biography

Actor’s Express: 2016-2017 Intern Company. Stage Manager: Blackpool and Parrish (Out of Box Theatre). Director: Shadow Cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Next Fall (Georgia College). Irene Ryan and SDI nominations from KCACTF Region 4. BA in Theatre from Georgia College and State University. So thankful and excited for the opportunity to work with the artists and fellow interns at AE!

Biography

Actor’s Express: Sheila has been involved with Actor’s Express off and on since 1992 serving as Casting Assistant, Assistant Director, Props, Stage Manager, House Manager, Dramaturg and Fund Raising Coordinator. Other: She has served in many capacities at many theatres in Atlanta as well as Directing. She joined Chris Coleman at Portland Center Stage where she was Manager of Corporate Giving. Education: Sheila majored in theatre at the University of Texas. Email Sheila at [email protected].

Biography

Alex Scollon received his BFA from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama with a concentration in Production and Technical Management, and in 2005 received his Master of Arts Management degree from the Heinz School of Public Policy also at Carnegie Mellon. During the early phase of his career Alex has specialized in leading small theatres and multidisciplinary arts organizations to grow into important cultural centers in their communities while maximizing earned revenue, developing strong boards of directors, and creating partnerships with local government and community organizations. Passionate about community development and engaging the next generation of leaders, Alex has been involved in numerous boards and committees including, downtown associations, chambers of commerce and NEA sponsored emerging arts leadership networks. He is thrilled to join the team at Actor’s Express and looks forward to building on the theatre’s already amazing reputation. When not at the theatre you will likely find him trying a newly opened restaurant, at a terrible movie, or reading about space exploration.