404.607.SHOW(7469)

TICKETS
DONATE
Facebook Youtube Instagram

404.607.SHOW(7469)

TICKETS
DONATE
Facebook Youtube Instagram
TICKETS
DONATE

404.607.SHOW(7469)

Copy of THE LEGACY SOCIETY (11)

by tarell alvin mccraney

directed by amanda washington

ENTIRE RUN OF SHOW August 6 – 30

PREVIEW PERFORMANCES: august 6 & 7
OPENING NIGHT: august 8
TALKBACKS: August 9, August 16, & August 22

WINNER! 1999 PULITZER PRIZE FOR DRAMA

BUY TICKETS
VIRTUAL PROGRAM
SUBSCRIBE TO SEASON 38

SPONSORED BY CHICORY WEALTH, THE COUNTER NARRATIVE PROJECT, & Viiv Healthcare

ARTS ATL REVIEW
BWW ATL REVIEW

Video by Ari Isenberg

899A4811
899A4834
899A4838
899A4893
899A4894
899A4922
899A4976
899A4996
899A5033
899A5080
899A5174
899A5359

Photos by Casey Garnder Ford

IN A CHORUS OF TRADITION, ONE VOICE DARES TO SOAR FREE.

SYNOPSIS

Pharus struggles to find his place at The Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys, an esteemed institution committed to shaping the future of young Black men. This year, however, his talent has earned him the honor of leading the school’s renowned choir—an opportunity that calls upon him to be a leader to his peers, and earn the respect he so craves. Tarell Alvin McCraney, the Oscar-winning writer of Moonlight, weaves together joyous gospel music with a coming-of-age story unlike any that you’ve witnessed before.

THE WHY

“Atlanta loves the work of Tarell Alvin McCraney, and Choir Boy is among his most trenchant plays. With glorious music and tenderly observed writing, it transcends the coming-of-age trope as a paean to the heroism of self-discovery.” – Freddie

CAST

Brandon L. Smith HS

BRANDON L. SMITH

PHARUS

Screenshot 2026-07-07 at 1.21.25 PM

MATTHEW LOLAR

AJ

Barry Westmoreland HS

BARRY WESTMORELAND

DAVID

Andrew Goodall HS

ANDREW GOODALL

JUNIOR

Screenshot 2026-07-07 at 1.27.15 PM

JONTAVIOUS JOHNSON*

BOBBY

Clinton Harris HS

CLINTON HARRIS*

HEADMASTER

Bill Murphey HS

WILLIAM S. MURPHEY*

PENDLETON

Deshawn Williams HS

DESHAWN WILLIAMS

ENSEMBLE

Kendall Williams HS

KENDALL MEKHI WILLIAMS

ENSEMBLE

James Patrick HS

JAMES PATRICK

ENSEMBLE

Thomas Boyce HS

THOMAS BOYCE

ENSMEBLE

12. Junior U_S - Austin Richardson

AUSTIN RICHARDSON

UNDERSTUDY

Kendall Williams HS

KENDALL MEKHI WILLIAMS

ENSEMBLE

12. Junior U_S - Austin Richardson

AUSTIN RICHARDSON

UNDERSTUDY

Mac Chambers

MAC CHAMBERS

UNDERSTUDY

12. Junior U_S - Austin Richardson

AUSTIN RICHARDSON

UNDERSTUDY

CREATIVE TEAM

DIRECTOR

amanda washington

MUSIC DIRECTOR

Javar La’Trail Parker

CHOREOGRAPHER

Aliciona Strothers

SCENIC DESIGNERS

Alexander Whittenberg
& Gavin Mosier

COSTUME DESIGNER

Jarrod Barnes

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Rachael N. Blackwell

SOUND DESIGNER

Mikaela Fraser

PROP DESIGNER/ SET DECORATOR

Nick Battaglia

INTIMACY/FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER

Kristin Storla

STAGE MANAGER

Brea Walker*

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Kevin Dyson

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Ramey Ward

CASTING DIRECTOR

Justin Kalin

LEAD ELECTRICIAN

Mitchell Patterson

LEAD CARPENTER

Mace Gallagher

LEAD SOUND TECHNICIAN

Timothy Trumpet Jr.

CHARGE SCENIC ARTIST

Jess Ford

ASST. DIRECTOR

La’Sianna

ASST. CHOREOGRAPHER

Desiree Oliver

ASST. PROPS DESIGNER

Katelyn Adams

ASST. COSTUME/ BOARD OPERATOR

Eileen Moyo

ASST. STAGE MANAGER

Ellie Hicks

SCENIC ARTIST

Anna Becknell

ASSOCIATE COSTUME DESIGNER

Dr. Nyrobi L. Moss

Stitcher

Katelyn Adams

^ denotes USA829 member

* DenoteS AEA member

ATLANTA'S DESTINATION FOR PASSIONATE THEATRE

“FOUR STARS. An extraordinary coming-of-age tale.” – Chicago Sun-Times

“Believe the buzz. Choir Boy deserves its kudos.” – Variety

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

"*" indicates required fields

What's On

Tickets

Visit

Support

Get Involved

About

Contact

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.