By August Wilson
Directed by Ashley Renee Southers
August 15th – 24th 2025
Madison Arts Center cabaret space
Set during a single afternoon in the recording studio of the famous blues singer Ma Rainey, this classic is the first of Wilson’s ten-play American Century Cycle, now considered a staple of American theater. Presented in our new ground-floor Madison Arts Center cabaret space.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom will be presented as part of August Wilson’s American Century Cycle Experience, three August Wilson classics, all running in August 2025 at Madison Arts Center and August Wilson House.
Cast
| Sturdyvant | John Gresh |
| Irvin | Chris Olshefski |
| Cutler | Charles Timbers |
| Slow Drag | Rich Dickson |
| Toledo | David Minniefield |
| Levee | Dionysius Akeem |
| Ma Rainey | Willa “Katy” Cotten |
| Dussie Mae | Bianca Dixon / Tajionna Clinton |
| Sylvester | Matt Southers Jr / Emir Hardy |
| Police officer | Bill Crean |
Swing: Amon Youngblood
Setting
Chicago, a bandroom and a recording studio, early 1927.
Director’s Notes
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is more than a production to me, it’s an experience to remember. It’s a full-circle moment.
When I was six years old I had the honor of meeting August Wilson through my dad, Mark. In 2003, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom launched the inaugural season at Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company.
That spark has never left me. Over the years, I’ve explored many paths in theater—stage management, writing, directing—but they all lead back to that first experience. Now, I have the immense honor of directing Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom in its third production at Pittsburgh Playwrights.
This is my first full-length directorial project, and my first August Wilson production. This moment is deeply personal and this is where it feels like home.
This production is also a tribute. We lost a true Pittsburgh treasure and icon with the passing of Teri Bridgett, who brought so much brilliance, spirit, and love to our original staging. Her presence is woven into every part of this process, and I hope this work honors her memory with the love, support and respect she deserves.
Theater has always been where I discover who I am. It’s where I heal, grow, and connect. Every step I’ve taken in this world brought me here.
To everyone who’s supported me—thank you. Your belief in me made this possible. I hope this show speaks to you the way it once spoke to me—as a call to listen deeply, feel fully, love completely, and the fight never stops; it’s just the beginning.
Welcome—and enjoy the show.
Ashley Southers
August Wilson’s American Century Cycle
With our production of Two Trains Running, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre becomes the first theatre company in the world to produce all ten plays of August Wilson’s American Century Cycle twice!
| Title (premiered) | Set In | Broadway | PPTCO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gem of the Ocean (2003) | 1904 | 2004 | 2012, 2019 |
| Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (1986) | 1911 | 1988, 2009 | 2005, 2023 |
| Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (1984) | 1927 | 1984, 2003 | 2003, 2018, 2025 |
| The Piano Lesson (1987) | 1936 | 1990, 2022 | 2006, 2015 |
| Seven Guitars (1995) | 1948 | 1996 | 2009, 2016 |
| Fences (1985) | 1957 | 1987, 2010 | 2004, 2015, 2025 |
| Two Trains Running (1990) | 1968 | 1992 | 2008, 2025 |
| Jitney (1982) | 1977 | 2017 | 2010, 2022 |
| King Hedley II (1999) | 1985 | 2001 | 2011, 2018 |
| Radio Golf (2005) | 1997 | 2007 | 2013, 2024 |
About the Cast
Dionysius Akeem (Levee) Bringing the dynamic character of Levee to life in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Dionysius Akeem is excited to be part of this production. A true admirer of the legendary August Wilson, Dionysius counts Gem of the Ocean and The Piano Lesson among his favorites. His past stage credits include Jitney and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone with the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, and he even had the incredible opportunity to understudy Russell Hornsby for the Fences movie. Offstage, Dionysius has a unique passion for collecting miniature monkeys. He extends immense gratitude to his family, his biggest fans, and dedicates his performance tonight to the memory of his beloved uncle, Charles Irwin Westbrooks.
Tajionna Clinton (Dussie Mae) is thrilled to be working with Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company. You may have seen her before in New Horizon’s productions Front Porch Society (2019), Detroit 67 (2018), The Green Book (2022), American Menu (2023), Chicken and Biscuits (2023), and Nacirema Society (2024). She graduated from Slippery Rock University, majoring in theatre, where she was the first student to win the Irene Ryan acting award in 2018. With winning the award she made it to nationals where she won the Classical Play Award by playing Cleopatra. This granted her a chance to tour Canada while taking classes at the Shaw Festival. In 2019, she decided to dive into local cinematic theatre in Pittsburgh by joining Long Knuckles Studios for the film Love You To Death which won Best Overall Film, Audience Favorite, Best LOL Moment, and two other awards at the 4k Film Festival. In 2023, Tajionna worked once again with Long Knuckles Studio on the film Mallory which won the RuleBreaker Award at the 4k Film Festival that year. In 2021, Tajionna decided to try something new and join the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival where she played a Benin princess and educated about African Renaissance royalty. Tajionna would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her passion and coming to the show, and would like to dedicate her performance to her late grandmother Shelia Clinton and her late uncle Darrin Clinton.
Willa “Katy” Cotten (Ma Rainey) Willa Catherine Cotten, affectionately called “Katy”, is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From 2003 to 2008/2015 she was cast in several small roles in the Langston Hughes play Black Nativity, directed by Oronde Sharif, and in 2006 was nominated by the AACTA (African American Council for The Arts) Onyx Awards as best supporting actress in a musical or revue. As a part of the Kuntu Repertory Theatre under the direction of Dr. Vernell Lillie, Katy was cast as Sarah Vaughn in a Rob Penny production entitled Clean Drums (2009) and was also cast as the wife of the great Negro Baseball League pitcher Satchel Paige in Among the Best (2009). Katy was cast in several roles in Raisin, the musical based on Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun (2010); her roles included an understudy for Beneatha, Althea the bar proprietor, and several dance numbers. She was cast as an ex-wife in the play entitled I Gotcha, The Story of Joe Tex and the Soul Clan (2010), a New Horizon Theatre production. Katy also experienced her first Pittsburgh Playwrights Black and White festival in a lead role in 2014. In 2018, as a part of the Washington Community Theater production Hairspray, she was cast as Motormouth Maybelle. In 2024, with Pittsburgh Playwrights, she was cast as Dinah Washington’s mother and a background vocalist in Dinah, a musical about the life of Dinah Washington. Her most recent musical was Sanctified, written and directed by Javon Johnson of Tyler Perry’s Oval, where she was cast as an elder of the church named Sarah. Katy has also been assistant costumer on several plays with Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company. She’s currently playing “Roberta” in the off-Broadway play of Sistas: The Musical, a New Horizon production. Katy is grateful for every opportunity given to her by God to use her gifts.
Bill Crean (Policeman) is a local stage & commercial actor and voice talent who has worked in many local theaters. Bill is no stranger to The Playwrights. He appeared in Ray Werner’s A Christmas Star, produced by Mark C. Southers and the Playwrights. He also was cast in several of Mark’s Theater in Black and White programs, winning Best Actor and Audience Favorite for A Life’s Work, by John Carosella. A big round of applause to Mark C. Southers for never losing sight of his dream. And here we are in this new space being added to the Pittsburgh theater and cultural scene. Congratulations!
Rich Dickson (Slow Drag) is excited to return to the stage with Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. As a Pittsburgh native, he’s honored to be part of another August Wilson production that speaks to the heart of the community. Rich is grateful to work alongside such a talented team and looks forward to bringing this story to life.
Bianca Dixon (Dussie Mae) is a sophomore acting major from Grayson, Georgia. This will be her first professional performance and she is ecstatic to create art with so many talented performers! Bianca enjoys watching movie reactions and Broadway deep dives on YouTube, and she loves cows! She would like to thank everyone back home who supported her journey and facilitated the growth of her art.
John Gresh (Sturdyvant) thought he was finished with acting in plays. Thanks to Mark Clayton Southers, he was wrong. John thought his teaching career was over. Point Park University brought him back to teach Fitzmaurice Voicework to the Senior Class. Twenty years or so ago, John acted in PPTCO’s three productions of Dorothy 6 (as Steamboat), and directed Corps Values, The Music Lesson, and was a director for the Festival in Black and White. John still sings and plays piano around the city with his band John Gresh’s Gris-Gris. Never say never!
Emir Hardy (Sylvester) is a rising singer & songwriter from the Hill District portion of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a 2020 graduate of Pittsburgh CAPA and a recent 2024 graduate of Norfolk State University where he has obtained a Bachelor of Music degree in Media & Vocal Performance. Emir has had the honor and privilege of being a member of the NSU Concert Choir, NSU Gospel Choir, NSU Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and the NSU Theatre Company. He is also a Spring 2022 initiate of the “Ruthless” Rho Mu Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America Inc. Emir wishes to thank the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company for their consistent support and guidance throughout the years. He would also like to thank his loving family and friends for their never ending love and encouragement as he advances in his career aspirations.
David Minniefield (Sylvester) is an actor, director and teaching artist for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Best plays of 1994: Job Under The Gavel, Post-Gazette. Director/actor, best plays of 2000: Zooman and the Sign, Post-Gazette. Director, best staged reading, Living East Liberty, 2001. Supporting actor nomination: The Black and White Festival of 2004, Tigger’s Tat. Director, Charlie Grey Award 2017, Best In-School Performing Arts Education Program, Pittsburgh Urban Christian School. Toured with CLO in Play to Win, the Jackie Robinson story, and ¡Arriba! ¡Arriba!, the Roberto Clemente story, as Luis. He created Ecclesiastes LIVE. He is honored to bring Sylvester to life.
Chris Olshefski (Irvin) is a high school English teacher and theater director at Winchester Thurston School. Prior to this role, Chris played M.C. in last year’s Dinah: A Musical Revue. He is grateful to his wife Caitlin and his two children Judah and Jael for their ongoing love and support.
Matt Southers Jr (Sylvester) An eager kid from Pittsburgh PA, who acquired a love for acting early on by helping out at his uncle’s theater. This interest led to Matt auditioning and landing his first principal role on Netflix’s Mindhunter Season 2. He has since attended acting classes, performed in several plays, learned hip hop & ballroom dancing while also becoming a deejay.
Charles Timbers (Cutler) has been a performer for more than 35 years; appearing in over 30+ plays in Pittsburgh, and across the country, and he is an active member of SAG/AFTRA. When he is not acting, Mr. Timbers is a full-time Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner with greater than 40 years’ experience. Chuck is a collective member and board member of the Demaskus Theater Collective. Mr. Timbers has been seen in multiple productions with Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater Co., most recently in Sanctified and The Bluegrass Mile, which was also selected and performed at the International Black Theater Festival this past summer 2024 in Winston-Salem N.C. Charles also played the role of Cutler in the production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at the Short North Stage Theater in Columbus, Ohio where he received the Excellence in Acting Award 2016 from the Theater Roundtable of Columbus. He has performed with New Horizon Theater Co. and Kuntu Repertory Theater Co. He was seen in The Summer King with the Pittsburgh Opera. He has also appeared with the Mendelssohn Choir in the production of Let My People Go: A Spiritual Journey Along the Underground Railroad as the narrator. Charles was also executive producer and narrator for the short film documentary Black Mary. His film credits include several local and national TV commercials, industrial and student films, Rehabilitation of the Hill, and Dead and Alive. He played the role of Dr. Hayes in the ABC TV movie The Jacksons: An American Dream. Charles also was seen in the award-winning tribute to Martin Luther King Spirit Everlasting with the August Wilson Center here in Pittsburgh. Charles also performed in The Bold and the Sanctified in Chicago with Sherri Lynn.
Creative Team & Staff
| Playwright | August Wilson |
| Director | Ashley Renee Southers |
| Assistant Director | Jamie Ziegler |
| Stage Manager | Renee Sorrell |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Ashley Renee Southers |
| 2nd Assistant Stage Manager | Teriana Turner |
| Costume Designer | Cheryl El-Walker |
| Assistant Costume Designer | Jameelah Platt |
| Sound Designer | Mark Whitehead |
| Lighting Designer | Latrice Lovett |
| Asst. Lighting Designer, Master Electrician | Ava Allyn Bosley |
| Prop Master | Sarah “Gracie” Jackson |
| Props | Austin Sills, Ashley Southers |
| Scenic Designer | Mark Clayton Southers |
| Choreographer | Mils James |
| Fight Choreography | Samuel GC Muñoz |
| Scenic Construction | Marcus Carl Southers, Darnell Chambers & Matt Southers |
| Scenic Painters | Ernest Bey, Darnell Chambers |
| Scenic Painters (flooring) | Tim Englehardt, Heather Heitzenreiter |
| Hair & Makeup | Cheryl El-Walker |
| Intimacy Coach | Samuel GC Muñoz |
| Set Dressing | Austin Sills |
About the Creative Team
August Wilson (Playwright, April 27, 1945 – October 2, 2005) authored Gem of the Ocean, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, Seven Guitars, Fences, Two Trains Running, Jitney, King Hedley II, and Radio Golf. These works explore the heritage and experience of the descendants of Africans brought to North America, decade by decade, over the course of the twentieth century.
These plays form a compilation entitled The American Century Cycle. Mr. Wilson’s plays have been produced on Broadway, at regional theaters across the country and all over the world. In 2003, he made his professional stage debut in his one-man show, How I Learned What I Learned. His works garnered many awards including Pulitzer Prizes for Fences (1987) and for The Piano Lesson (1990); a Tony Award for Fences; Great Britain’s Olivier Award for Jitney and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, as well as seven New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Fences, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Running, Seven Guitars, and Jitney. Additionally, the cast recording of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom received a 1985 Grammy Award, and Mr. Wilson received a 1995 Emmy Award nomination for his screenplay adaptation of The Piano Lesson. Mr. Wilson’s early works included the one-act plays The Janitor, Recycle, The Coldest Day of the Year, Malcolm X, The Homecoming, and the musical satire Black Bart and the Sacred Hills. Mr. Wilson received many fellowships and awards, including the Rockefeller and Guggenheim Fellowships in Playwriting, the Whiting Writers Award, 2003 Heinz Award, was awarded the 1999 National Humanities Medal by President Bill Clinton, and received numerous honorary degrees from colleges and universities, as well as the only high school diploma ever issued by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. He was an alumnus of New Dramatists, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a 1995 inductee into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and on October 16, 2005, Broadway renamed the theater located at 245 West 52nd Street – The August Wilson Theatre. Today, he is considered one of America’s finest playwrights. New York Public Radio recorded all ten plays in The American Century Cycle at the Greene Space, casting many of the actors that worked on the original productions. PBS aired a documentary on Mr. Wilson entitled The Ground On Which I Stand, as part of the American Masters series. A feature film adaptation of Fences released in 2016 was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar and received many more awards. Mr. Wilson was born and raised in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and lived in Seattle, Washington at the time of his death in 2005. He is immediately survived by his two daughters, Sakina Ansari and Azula Carmen Wilson, and his wife, costume designer Constanza Romero, who is the executor of his estate.
Ashley Renee Southers (Director, Assistant Stage Manager) has always had a deep passion for the arts. She loves working alongside her family at Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company and proudly considers herself a D-I-A-P—a “Do-It-All-Person.”
Ashley graduated from Point Park University in 2018 with a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Creative Writing. Her creativity extends across many disciplines, from directing and writing to stage management and production. She recently co-directed with her father, Mark Southers, on the Alumni Theater Company’s production of Love Is…, a one-act play written by Michael Curry (Love Is, Love Ain’t). She also directed a staged reading for TyLie Shider on behalf of the Pedantic Arts Residency, in conjunction with the August Wilson Archive, titled Primary Sources at August Wilson House.
Ashley finds joy in challenging herself artistically and continuing to grow as a multi-faceted creative. In her free time, she loves writing, watching movies, and spending time with her family, close friends, and her two beloved dogs, Mama Cocoa and Bentley.
She would like to thank her father, Mark Southers, for being a lifelong source of inspiration, guidance, and support in her journey.
Ashley is honored to share her love for storytelling through the work she creates and brings to life on stage.
Ernest Bey (Scenic Painter) has been a fixture on the art scene in Pittsburgh for well over 40 years, and in that time he has won many awards, most notable the Trailblazer award in 2010. He was inducted into the Westinghouse Wall of Fame in 2018, and most recently, received a commendation by councilman Khari Mosley, designating February 22, 2024 as Ernest Bey Day in the city of Pittsburgh. Ernest is a multitalented artist working in watercolor, jewelry making, and wood carving. Ernest credits his father’s words for his belief in himself. “My father told me to ‘let the ancestors speak through you’.”
Ava Allyn Bosley (Assistant Lighting Designer, Master Electrician) is a Junior at North Carolina A&T State University, pursuing a BFA in Professional Theatre with a concentration in Theatre Technology and a minor in Electronics Technology. With a focus on Lighting Design, Ava is actively honing her craft through hands-on experience and specialized training. Her dedication and skill have earned her competitive positions including Light Board Operator, Electrician, Lighting Programmer, Assistant Lighting Designer, and Master Electrician with esteemed organizations such as the American Dance Festival and Virginia Theatre Festival. Beyond the tech table, Ava brings over a decade of movement training to her artistic perspective, having spent 13 years as a pre-professional dancer.
Cheryl El-Walker (Costumes, Makeup & Special Effects) is an award-winning costume designer and makeup artist who is also a veteran stage actor from Pittsburgh. She is the resident costume/makeup artist for the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company. Her creative work in various venues has earned her several Onyx awards from the African American Council of the Arts (AACTA): Best Make-up Artist (2007); Best Costume for a Musical for Christmas Is Coming Uptown (2008); Best Leading Actress for Freeman (New Horizon Theatre, 2008); Best Costume Design for a Play (Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012) and the PPTCO 2012 Legacy Award. In 2013, Cheryl debuted another one of her skills and received PPTCO’s Theater Festival in Black and White Award for Best Director. Most recently, Cheryl handled costumes, makeup and hair for Sanctified, Dinah and Radio Golf in PPTCO’s 2024 and 2025 seasons, while also performing in the first two, and appeared in The Nacirema Society for New Horizon. Cheryl is an alumna of Point Park University and is pleased to announce that she has done costume, makeup and special effects for all ten August Wilson plays.
Mils “M. J.” James (Choreographer), an actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, instructor and director, is a product of Point Park College and Pittsburgh High School for Creative and Performing Arts. He is founding artistic director of Reflections Theatre CO-OP in NYC. He has performed all over the world in such productions as For All My Girls (Tyron / Joe) directed by Marishka S. Phillips, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Sylvester), Once on this Island (Papa Ge), and Do Lord Remember Me, and danced for the Jacobs Campbell company and Forces of Nature in New York. He has also worked alongside Sherman Hemsley, Reggie Kelley, Eileen J. Morris, Renn Woods, Walter Rutledge, Vivian Reed, and Tony award winners George Faison, Hinton Battle, and Billy Porter, to name a few. He has most recently appeared in PPTCO’s Sanctified as Bobby, and Fishy Woo Woo as Cordero. Mils is elated to be performing at the August Wilson House especially after having the honor and privilege to have experienced him personally. It is an honor and a privilege to be black and working as an artist in America. Let’s make black art great again!
Latrice Lovett (Lighting Designer) is a native of Washington, DC who currently resides in High Point, NC. She has done lighting in several different genres of the performing arts including dance, theatre, musical theatre, live concerts and opera. She completed her bachelor’s degree at North Carolina Central University in Technical Theatre. She has also received her MFA in Design & Technology from University of Missouri-Kansas City where she studied Lighting Design. She is currently creating lighting designs and working on other lighting projects under her company Lovett Lighting LLC.
Samuel GC Muñoz (Fight Director, Intimacy Coordinator) Career highlights include Marvel’s feature film THOR (Asst. Motion Capture Stunt Coord.), and 2Households 2Assholes: Shakespeare’s R&J (Off Broadway). His craft has been seen at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Defiant Theatre, Virginia Shakespeare Fest., Ravenna Nightmare Film Fest-Italy, Queens World Film Fest., Amazon Prime, Hulu, The Pittsburgh Symphony, City Theatre & Pittsburgh Playwrights. He is Co-Creator of RADMOON, an Associate Professor of Movement, Stage Combat & Acting at Point Park University, Fight Director-Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors, and a member of SDC, AEA, SAG-AFTRA.
Jameelah Platt (Assistant Costume Designer) is an interdisciplinary artist with a background in Fine Art, Cinema History, and Archival Studies. She holds a BFA from Point Park University, where she focused on cinema production design and visual storytelling. Her creative practice is rooted in cultural ornamentation, historical research, and the preservation of Black narratives through visual art and design.
Jameelah has collaborated on student film productions including LEECH, Next Time Around, and Breakdown Boogie, and contributed to Joe Turner’s Come and Gone with the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company. She is also a member of Women of Visions, Inc., the longest-running collective of Black women visual artists in the United States. Through the collective, she has exhibited work at Red Dot Miami 2024, a curated contemporary art fair held during Art Basel Miami, as well as the Carnegie Museum of Art in 2022.
Reneé B. Sorrell (Stage Manager) is please to stage manage her first show with Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company. She has worked in many technical positions in theater for about 30 years. Most of her training was with Kuntu Repertory Theatre. And over the last 11 years she has primarily served as the stage manager for New Horizon Theater. Renee would like to give thanks to her mentor, the late Dr. Vernell Audrey Watson Lillie, for all of the opportunities to work with directors from all over the world. But most importantly she would like to thank Doc for becoming a second mother for me as I became a mother.
Mark Clayton Southers (Scenic Designer, Producing Artistic Director) and his family reside in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District. He is an award-winning playwright, stage director, scenic designer, photographer and theatrical producer. He is the founder and producing artistic director of the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company where he has produced well over 175 full-length and one-act plays, including August Wilson’s complete 10 play Pittsburgh Century Cycle. Favorite directing credits include Paul Robeson for the Griot Ensemble Theatre Company, Pill Hill for New Horizon Theatre, Dutchman for Bricolage Theater Company, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and The Piano Lesson for American Stage Theatre, Gem of the Ocean for Human Race Theatre, Angry Black Man Poetry for Theatre Śląski, Passing Strange for Short North Theatre, Papa Doc for Trilogy Opera Company, Sty of The Blind Pig for The Banyan Theatre Company, A Soldier’s Play for Phoenix Black Theatre Troupe, and Dorothy Six, Seven Guitars, VALU-MART, The Battle of Homestead and Jitney for The Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company. He’s also the resident August Wilson Cycle director at Pittsburgh’s CAPA. For more info please visit www.markclaytonsouthers.com
Teri(ana) Turner (2nd ASM) is a young psychology major at Point Park University and aspiring crew member. Having always loved the practical and technological aspects of theatre as well as theatre and live performances as a whole, Teri has been a part of several productions as a set builder, designer, and on lights: Little Shop of Horrors, Mamma Mia, Shrek the Musical, Blues is the Roots, and now Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Teri also has skills in singing, flag work, baton twirling, sewing, painting and several other mediums of art.
Mark Whitehead (Sound Designer) is the founder of Saints & Poets Theater, for which he produced and directed the world premiere of Christiane D’s Saffronia, and the local premieres of Sam Shepard’s The Late Henry Moss and Donald Freed’s Secret Honor: The Last Testament of Richard M. Nixon. Other directing credits include 4-H Club, Insignificance, Comfort Zone, The Revenants, Cry Havoc, Taking Sides, and Fool for Love. Mark has served as Resident Sound Designer for The Unseam’d Shakespeare Company, The Jewish Theatre of Pittsburgh and currently PPTCO. Mark’s sound traveled to the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe in PPTCO’s production of Miss Julie, Clarissa and John. Mark was a founding producer of The Dark Night Cabaret performance series and has produced and directed music videos for several local bands. He portrayed Sturdyvant in PPTCO’s 2018 production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, as well as designing sound for the show.
Jamie Ziegler (Assistant Director) just graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School with the class of 2025, and will be attending Oberlin College in the fall to study Film and Journalism, with hopes of becoming a film director.
PPTCO Staff and Board
See our staff and board members here.
Special Thanks
Rob Long, Clear Story
Bruce Yoch
Josh Shoemaker
Momar Milliones
Jalill Curges
Mark Nelson
Andre Joseph Clayton Southers
Kyren Munnerlyn
Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company thanks the following for supporting our season of plays and special projects:
We also thank our donors! Click for a complete list, and learn how to become a PPTCO donor.
Printed program design and editing by Michelle Belan.
Online program design and editing by Steven Doerfler.
“August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Originally produced by Yale Repertory Theatre (Lloyd Richards, Artistic Director; Benjamin Mordecai, Managing Director).
Initially presented at the 1982 National Playwrights’ Conference by The Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center.