BIRD OF PREY
written by Darrel Alejandro Holnes
directed by Phillip Christian Smith
musical guest Justice LaBrave
FEATURING
Jem............................................................................................Taylor A. Blackman|
Shaquille.................................................................................................Cole Gilder
Radio/God..............................................................................Nathan Onaje Tolliver
The Vultures/Stage Directions...........................................................Garrett Turner
Darrel Alejandro Holnes (he/they) | is an Afro-Panamanian American writer. He is a member of the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab, Civilians R&D Group, Page 73’s Interstate 73 Writers Workshop, and other groups. Several of his plays have been finalists for the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Playwrights Conference and the Princess Grace Award. His play, Black Feminist Video Game, was produced by The Civilians for 59E59, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Center Theater Group and other theaters, and won an inaugural Anthem Award. He is the founder of the Greater Good Theater Initiative, and the Candela Playwrights Summer Fellowship aka the Playwrights Summer Jam. www.darrelholnes.com
Phillip Christian Smith (he/him) | is a member of New Dramatists 2023-2030, The Fire This Time Playwright, Sewanee Scholar, Playwrights Realm and Lambda Literary Fellow. O’Neill, PlayPenn, and BAPF Finalist. Adjunct Pace and Hunter. MFA Yale School of Drama. MFA Hunter College. He is currently working on a Roe Green Commission with The Cleveland Playhouse. www.phillipchristiansmith.com
Justice LaBrave (they/them) | is a Queer Puerto Rican Rock N’ Roller hailing from Brooklyn. Delivering Powerful Vocals, Soulful Serenades and Funk-Dance Anthems. Currently, Justice has two EPs HEAT and HEALING and is producing their third Studio Ep and fundraising for their Full Length studio Album. Following up on the singles “JOY,” “Smoke with Me,” and “Always Love You.” https://linktr.ee/labrave
Taylor A. Blackman (he/him) | is a multi hyphenate based in New York City. TV/FILM: Raising Kanan (STARZ); ALTERNATINO (Comedy Central); FBI (CBS). BROADWAY/NATIONAL TOUR: Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. THEATRE: The Salvagers (Yale Rep); What The End Will Be… (Roundabout Theatre Company); Sweet Chariot (The Public/UTR); I Have No Confidence (Ensemble Studio Theatre); Till (Signature Theatre); Loophole (Playwrights Horizon). PLAYWRITING: To Infinity, (Alfred P. Sloan/EST Commission); It's Karen, B**** (Fire This Time Festival 2024); Riverside Drive (Hi-ARTS Residency); Silicone Valley (In Development). Adjunct faculty at The New School.
Cole Gilder (he/they) | is currently studying BFA Acting at the SANDS College of Performing Arts at Pace University. He is originally from Burlington, VT and has studied theater there for years. Some notable credits include: An original reading of "I'm the First" by Phillip Gregory Burke at the Off-off Broadway Samuel French Festival at the Vineyard Theater, pumpernickel by Keelay Gipson (SANDS College of Performing Arts), and Urinetown: The Musical (SANDS College of Performing Arts).
Nathan Onaje Tolliver (he/him) | is a singer, actor and writer based in Harlem. He has performed Off-Broadway and in various regional theatre productions. Nathan was nominated for best actor in a leading role for the play Am I Blue in the New York Theatre Festival’s 2019 season.
Garrett Turner (he/him) | is a Jesus-loving free Black man who believes in the power of both joy and righteous indignation as tools for liberation. Broadway: Thoughts Of A Colored Man. Tour: TINA - The Tina Turner Musical (First National). Off-Broadway: Bayano (National Black Theatre). Regional: Thoughts Of A Colored Man (Syracuse/Baltimore; World Premiere), The Royale (Theatrical Outfit), Chad Deity (Asolo Rep). TV: “Law & Order: SVU,” “Madam Secretary.” Emory/RCSSD Grad. Marshall Scholar. Psalm 115:1 @garrettmturner
Bird of Prey is the eighth episode recording of Season Six of The Parsnip Ship. Season Six features an exciting offering of one-night only live podcast recordings of new plays by a dynamic lineup of Queer playwrights. In addition to featuring new plays on the platform, The Parsnip Ship features interviews with the playwrights as well as live music from independent musicians, culminating in a uniquely curated theatrical event.
The Parsnip Ship is a play development company that amplifies bold stories and storytellers. Our theatrical experiences are eclectic, intentional and personal. The Parsnip Ship serves writers and the artistic community by producing and promoting transformative, accessible work created by marginalized voices. Our podcast episodes are recorded in front of a live audience every month in Brooklyn and produced with Business Lunch Productions. The Parsnip Ship is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Broadway Podcast Network, and Stitcher.
THE PARSNIP SHIP CREW
Artistic Director + Host Iyvon E. (she/her)
Associate Artistic Director Al Parker (they/them)
Associate Producer SkittLeZ Ortiz (he/she/they)
Digital Operations Director Todd Kirkland (he/him)
Special Projects Director Jesse Manning (he/him)
Sound Engineer Fernando Castillo (he/him)
Sound Editor Luke DiCola (he/him)
The Parsnip Ship is produced with Business Lunch Productions.
Thank you to JACK, Bryan Joseph Lee, Jesse Manning, Todd Kirkland, Abby Armstrong, JJ El-Far, our subscribers, our collaborators, and our audience! A special thank you to Al Parker, SkittLeZ, and Katy Donnelly. This recording was supported by the Cultural Development Fund from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA). We thank them for their support.
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