About the Artists
Founded in 1998, Company One Theatre was recently named "Boston's Best Theater Company" by The Improper Bostonian and "One of the most inspiring and innovative theatre companies on our national landscape” by the American Theatre Wing. Company One Theatre’s mission is to change the face of Boston theatre by uniting the city’s diverse communities through socially provocative performance and the development of civically engaged artists. The award-winning company has been instrumental in bringing younger and more diverse audiences to see and participate in socially and politically relevant theatre.
Artist Biographies
Kadahj Bennett
Kadahj is delighted to be returning to the C1 stage. Recent credits include Tyler from THE HALLS (web series, Beyond Measure Productions), and Hank from HOW WE GOT ON (Company One). Kadahj is a Posse Scholar, graduate of Hamilton College and Boston Arts Academy alum. Currently a teaching artist in the Boston area, Kadahj moonlights as a lyricist/vocalist for two bands, Danceluja (Boston) & the Downbeat Keys (Brooklyn).
Elle Borders
Elle is happy to be back working with her Company One family. Recent roles include Bianca/ Montana in OTHELLO (Actor's Shakespeare Project), Finn in TURTLES (Boston Public Works), She in 27 TIPS FOR BANISHING THE BLUES (Sleeping Weazel), and Actor 6/ Black Woman WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT A PRESENTATION... (Company One). BFA- Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. ILYGG!
Harsh Gagoomal
Harsh is so grateful to be joining Company One and ArtsEmerson to help bring to life this special play. Previous acting credits include SALOMÉ (Bridge Rep), QUIXOTE IN KABUL (Instituto Cervantes/BU), and A DISAPPEARING NUMBER (URT). Harsh is a graduate of Emerson College’s program in Theatre Studies (‘13). He will next appear in The Nora Theatre Company’s ARCADIA. Much love to Prashina, Anuja, Mom and Dad.
Brandon Green
Brandon G. Green is an actor/poet/playwright from Selma, AL, currently residing in Boston. Brandon made his Boston debut with Company One & Arts Emerson's production of WE ARE PROUD...He has also worked with Cape Rep, Nora/Underground Railway,Lyric Stage, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Huntington Theatre Company, Mad Dash, Boston Theatre Marathon, and 3050 Music Group. Alabama State University - BA. Brandeis University - MFA. ILYLG
Bridgette Hayes
Bridgette Hayes is a Boston-based theatre artist and an Artistic Associate of Bridge Repertory Theater of Boston. Recent credits: THE LOVE OF THE NIGHTINGALE (Hub Theatre), RADIUM GIRLS (Flat Earth Theatre), JULIUS CAESAR (Bridge Rep), HEDDA GABLER (Longwood), FROM DENMARK WITH LOVE (Vaquero Playground), AND NEITHER HAVE I WINGS TO FLY (Bad Habit). She holds a BFA in Acting from Boston University, a Certificate of Classical Acting from LAMDA, and is finishing a Masters in Dramatic Arts at Harvard. www.thebridgettehayes.com
Shawna M James
Shawna Michelle James is thrilled to be making her Company One debut with this stunning piece of theatre. Recent credits include EVERY FIVE MINUTES (Magic Theatre SF), 44 PLAYS FOR 44 PRESIDENTS (Interlochen Rep), Ken Ludwig’s MIDSUMMER/JERSEY (Interlochen Rep). She is a two time recipient of the Maddy Summer Artist Award for Theatre at Interlochen Arts Camp. She is a BFA Theatre Arts candidate at Boston University’s School of Theatre. Thank you to Mom, Dad, Brandon, and her BU SOT family for their unwavering love and support.
Obehi Janice
Obehi Janice is an actor, writer, and comedian from Lowell, Massachusetts. Recent credits include MR G (Underground Railway Theater), her solo play FUFU & OREOS (Bridge Rep), ARABIAN NIGHTS (Central Square Theater), IT FELT EMPTY (Theatre on Fire), and SPLENDOR (Company One). Obehi is a graduate of Georgetown University. She is a member of the 2013-2014 XX PLAYLAB and a recipient of the David J. Wheeler Award. The Improper Bostonian named her “Boston’s Best Actress” in 2014. www.obehijanice.com
Amelia Lumpkin
Amelia is honored to return to Company One’s stage after SHOCKHEADED PETER and SHELTER OF LAST RESORT. She was seen most recently in Jacqui Parker’s A CRACK IN THE BLUE WALL, HENRIETTA, THE WILDS and Urban Bush Women’s Summer Leadership Institute in New Orleans. Stage credits include title roles in Apollinaire Theater’s BOCÓN and Open Theatre Project’s HENRY AND VANESSA: UNBOUND. Thanks to BJJ, this brave cast & crew, and those who support me from near and far!
Brooks Reeves
Brooks Reeves previously performed in Company One's SHOCKHEADED PETER and won the 2015 IRNE award for Best Supporting Actor (small company). Recent credits include ARABIAN NIGHTS (Central Square), BOYS IN THE BAND (Zeitgeist), JULIUS CAESAR (Bridge Rep), NEVILLE'S ISLAND (Stoneham Theatre), MIDSUMMER (Apollinaire), BENT (Zeitgeist), STUPID FUCKING BIRD (Apollinaire), TWO WRONGS (Brown Box), THE LIBERTINE (Bridge Rep), BLACK COMEDY (Happy Medium), and CLOSER (Bad Habit). His play THE CITY THAT CRIED WOLF will be revived in New York in 2016.
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' plays include Neighbors (The Public Theater), Appropriate (Actors Theatre of Louisville, Victory Gardens Theater, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, and Signature Theatre in New York, Spring 2014), An Octoroon (Soho Rep, Spring 2014), and War. He is currently a Residency Five playwright at Signature Theatre and a Lila Acheson Wallace Fellow at The Juilliard School. Additionally, his work has been or will be seen at the Vineyard Theatre, The Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles, Company One in Boston, and the HighTide Festival in the United Kingdom. He has taught at New York University and Queens University of Charlotte, and his honors include a Paula Vogel Award, a Helen Merrill Award, and the inaugural Tennessee Williams Award. He holds an M.A. in Performance Studies.
Summer L. Williams
Ms. Williams has been with Company One since its inception in 1998. An active member of the Board of Directors, Summer is a producer, director and educator for Company One. Her most recent directing credits include SHELTER OF LAST RESORT by Miranda Craigwell as a part of XX PlayLab 2014, the New England Premiere of Jackie Sibblies Drury’s WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE HERERO OF NAMIBIA, FORMERLY KNOWN AS SOUTHWEST AFRICA FROM THE GERMAN SUDWESTAFRIKA BETWEEN THE YEARS 1884-1915, Idris Goodwin's HOW WE GOT ON and Lynn Nottage’s BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston. Regional credits: THE BROTHERS SIZE and MARCUS; OR THE SECRET OF SWEET as part of the THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS (2012 Elliot Norton Award nominated for Outstanding Production and winner of the 2012 IRNE Award for Best Play), NEIGHBORS, GRIMM, THE GOOD NEGRO, VOYEURS DE VENUS (Winner of 2009 Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Director), THE BLUEST EYE (IRNE and Elliot Norton Award nominated), THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, SPELL #7 (IRNE nominated), JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN (2004 Elliot Norton Award for Best Fringe Production) TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES 1992 (IRNE nominated). Ms. Williams has also directed for the Boston Playwrights' Theatre, Clark University, Brandeis University, The Theatre Offensive and Huntington Theatre Company. She is a teacher of drama and director at Brookline High School and holds a BA in Theatre, as well as a MA Ed. in Theatre and Urban Education. Ms. Williams serves as a member of the Board of Directors of both Stage Source and The Coolidge Corner Theatre.
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SHOW INFO
- Location: Emerson/Jackie Liebergott Black Box
- Run time: 3 hours with one intermission
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#AnOctoroon
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- A co-production with Company One Theatre
- Written by: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
- Directed by: Summer L. Williams
- Cast: Kadahj Bennett, Elle Borders, Harsh Gagoomal, Brandon Green, Bridgette Hayes, Shawna M James, Obehi Janice, Amelia Lumpkin, Brooks Reeves
