STOKELY
Written by NAMBI E. KELLEY
Directed by KENT GASH
STOKELY is an exploration of the life and legacy of Stokely Carmichael—later known as Kwame Ture—the architect of the Black Power movement. Set in 1998, two years after his diagnosis with prostate cancer, the play unfolds as Stokely records his memories with his mother, May Charles in Guinea, Africa. Through a non-linear structure, the piece interweaves historic moments with intimate reflections, revealing the deep personal relationships—especially with his mother—that shaped the man behind the movement. As his life drives towards its end, the question looms: will May Charles take up the mantle and carry forward his vision by building an institute in his name, preserving his writings, speeches, and spirit? Stokely asks what it truly means to leave a legacy—not just in the headlines of history, but in the hearts and hands of those left behind.
Supported in partnership with Judith Manocherian.
Friday, July 25 at 7pm
Marist University, Poughkeepsie NY
NAMBI E. KELLEY (Playwright) Most recently, Nambi served as a writer/co-producer on Peacock’s BEL-AIR. Previous television credits include: LADY IN THE LAKE (Apple, Black Reel Episode Nomination), OUR KIND OF PEOPLE (FOX), and THE CHI(Showtime). Nambi is also in development for television with multiple projects, including one executive produced by award-winning rapper Nas and MacArthur Genius Tarell McCraney (TBA). Nambi’s production company, First Woman, recently produced a film version and two in-person national tours of her young audiences’ play, JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM, winning the Black Panther International Film Festival in India and the IBDFF International Film Festival in Toronto (Best Kids Film). Also an accomplished playwright, Nambi is developing multiple projects for Broadway, including collaborations with Laurence Fishburne, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, and Ken Davenport (TBA). She received the Prince Prize to develop a play based on the life of Stokely Carmichael/Kwame Ture, which premiered at Court Theatre in Chicago. Her play RE-MEMORI was presented at WP’s Pipeline Festival in New York City and recently celebrated a world premiere at Penumbra Theatre Company in St. Paul. Nambi was chosen by Toni Morrison to adapt her novel JAZZ, currently in consideration for a commercial run (TBD). Her adaptation of Richard Wright’s NATIVE SON (Sam French, Concord Theatricals) has been produced nationwide and premiered in New York at The Duke on 42nd Street (Drama League Nomination, AUDELCO Award Winner, produced by The Acting Company). Also an award-winning actress, her recent stage credits include: JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE (Goodman Theatre), PIPELINE (City Theatre), COURT MARTIAL AT FORT DEVENS (New Federal Theatre), SEVEN GUITARS (TheatreWorks Colorado Springs), GEES BEND (Arkansas Repertory Theatre), HARRIET JACOBS(Steppenwolf, Kansas City Rep), THE GOOD NEGRO (Goodman Theatre), THE GLASS MENAGERIE(Steppenwolf Theatre), THE BALLAD OF EMMETT TILL (Goodman Theatre), CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY (Goodman Theatre), DROWNING CROW (Goodman Theatre), NIKKI GIOVANNI: NEW SONGS FOR A NEW DAY (Steppenwolf), JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE (Fountain Theatre), ANTIGONE (South Coast Repertory). Select television credits: CHICAGO MED (NBC), CHICAGO JUSTICE (NBC), MADAM SECRETARY (CBS), ELEMENTARY (CBS), PERSON OF INTEREST (CBS), THE BEAST (A&E), and CITY OF ANGELS (CBS, recurring). Nambi holds a B.F.A. from The Theatre School at DePaul University and an M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College.
www.nambikelley.com
KENT GASH (Director) Most recently directed the acclaimed Arena Stage premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney's WE ARE GATHERED and the Pasadena Playhouse production of JELLY’S LAST JAM. Co-author and director of SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR at Pittsburgh Public (BroadwayWorld Best New Musical), THE THREE MUSKETEERS at Oregon Shakespeare Festival and The Acting Company, and Tarell Alvin McCraney's CHOIR BOYat Steppenwolf and Studio Theatre (Jeff Award & Bay Area Critics Award).
In Los Angeles: August Wilson's GEM OF THE OCEAN at South Coast Repertory; HARRIET’S RETURN at Geffen Playhouse. In New York City: BARBECUE at The Public Theater; LOCKDOWN at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater; and the NYC premiere of MISS EEVER’S BOYS at Melting Pot Theatre. Select from over 100 award-winning regional productions: GUYS AND DOLLS at the Guthrie Theater; THE WIZ at Ford’s Theatre; “MASTER HAROLD”…AND THE BOYS at Arizona Theatre Company; Tarell Alvin McCraney’s WIG OUT! at Studio Theatre DC and Sundance; JCROWNS, PURE CONFIDENCE, and GEE’S BEND at Denver Center. Also: JELLY’S LAST JAM, PACIFIC OVERTURES, TOPDOG/UNDERDOG (Norton Award), GOD OF CARNAGE, FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE, Quiara Alegría Hudes’ ELLIOT, A SOLDIER’S FUGUE, and 26 MILES as Associate Artistic Director at Alliance Theatre (2001–2009); TROILUS AND CRESSIDA, GODSPELL, TWELFTH NIGHT, GUYS AND DOLLS, and BEEHIVE as Associate Artistic Director at Alabama Shakespeare Festival (1999–2001). Kent is the Artistic Director of The Acting Company (2021–present) and Founding Director of New Studio on Broadway at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University. He holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University and an MFA from the University of California, Los Angeles. Future productions include the new musical DELTA BLUE and the Guthrie Theater production of COME FROM AWAY.
lark hackshaw (Stage Manager)* Broadway: THE COTTAGE, FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF, CHICKEN & BISCUITS, A SOLDIER’S PLAY, STICK FLY
Off-Broadway: DOROTHY DANDRIDGE! THE MUSICAL, THE BEST WE COULD, SIMON SAYS, CORK, MAMA, I WANT TO SING
Tours: Anne & Emmett, Bring in the Noise, Bring in the Funk with Savion Glover, Dreamgirls with Jennifer Holiday
Regional: Alliance Theatre (30 plus years), Delaware Theatre Company, Hartford Stage, Pasadena Playhouse, Dallas Theater Company, Indiana Rep, Arena Stage, Cleveland Playhouse, San Jose Rep, Arizona Theatre Co., Trinity Rep, MUNY, N.C Black Repertory Company
lark is a long time Line Producer/Executive Assistant/Gala Director for Winston-Salem’s National Black Theatre Festival.
Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Stage Managing (NBTF), Outstanding Achievement for a Howard Alumni (Howard University)
KEN CERNIGLIA (Dramaturg) is a veteran dramaturg, writer, creative executive, and organizational leader. His dramaturgy is currently represented on Broadway in REDWOOD (2025), HADESTOWN (2019, 8 Tony Awards), and ALADDIN (2013). During 16 years as dramaturg and literary manager at Disney Theatrical, he developed over 70 titles for Broadway, touring, international, and licensed productions, including PETER AND THE STARCATCHER (5 Tony Awards), THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, FREAKY FRIDAY, NEWSIES (two 2012 Tony Awards), THE LITTLE MERMAID, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, and TARZAN. He adapted several Disney librettos for young performers and developed a new series of Marvel plays for teens. Regional dramaturgy credits include ROMEO Y JULIET (CalShakes); BLOOD MOON (2020 PROTOTYPE Festival, NYC); THE NEW MUSICAL BRIDGES (Berkeley Playhouse); and OLIVERIO: A TWIST ON DICKENS (Kennedy Center). He is current board co-chair and a past president of Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA) and is a graduate of UC San Diego, Catholic University, and the University of Washington, where he earned a Ph.D. in theatre history and criticism. www.kencerniglia.com
CAST
JASON BOWEN (Adolphus Carmichael)*’s previous credits include Broadway: THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG. Off-Broadway: GODDESS (The Public Theater), HALF-GOD OF RAINFALL (NYTW/A.R.T.), CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY (Keen Company), LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT (Audible Theater), NATIVE SON (The Acting Co.), IF PRETTY HURTS (Playwrights Horizons). TV/Film: LAW & ORDER:SVU, CHICAGO P.D. (NBC), BLUE BLOODS, MADAM SECRETARY, ELEMENTARY (CBS), THE GOOD FIGHT(Paramount Plus), MOTHER/ ANDROID, THE UPSIDE, WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER?
ANTHONY IRONS (STOKELY)* is thrilled to make his debut with New York Stage and Film. He lives in Chicago, where he is a member of Lookingglass Theatre and Congo Square Ensemble Theatre, He has performed in or directed over 20 productions with these companies, including THE STEADFAST TIN SOLDIER, TREASURE ISLAND, KING HEDLEY II, WHAT TO SEND UP WHEN IT GOES DOWN, DAY OF ABSENCE(dir.) and THE COLORED MUSEUM(dir.). Other credits include THE DAVINCI CODE (Drury Lane Theatre); A CHRISTMAS CAROL and TWO TRAINS RUNNING (Goodman Theatre); STOKELY: THE UNFINISHED REVOLUTION and WAITING FOR GODOT (Court Theatre). Television and film credits include IRONHEART, SOUTHSIDE, EMPIRE, CHICAGO MED, GHOSTLIGHT and LET’S GO TO PRISON. Anthony is the creator and co-director of The BLACKSiDE, Congo Square's Youtube comedy series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OOQNdJJukU
He is proud to be represented by Stewart Talent.
BIANCA LAVERNE JONES (Cecilia Carmichael)* is a director, actor, and educator whose artistic voice blends classical training with spiritual depth. Hailing from North Carolina and based in Queens, NY, she holds a diploma from the North Carolina School of the Arts, a BFA from SUNY Purchase Acting Conservatory, last seen in THE WASH at New Federal Theatre. Acting in productions from New Federal Theater, Williamstown, CATF, NBTF, Oregon Shakespeare Festival and more. She refined her directing at LAMDA, becoming the first African American woman to earn a Master's there. Her work spans theater and television, including Broadway’s CHICKEN AND BISCUITS as Associate Director. She teaches Acting Alchemy, her signature spiritual approach to crafting text. A passionate storyteller, Bianca champions narratives centering women that explore historical memory through layered, mixed media forms. Learn more at biancalavernejones.com.
JENNIFER MOGBOCK (Tante Elaine)* was born in Nigeria and raised in Argentina, Texas, and Canada. Being the daughter of a Diplomat mother, Jennifer moved all around the world but always seemed to find “home” on the stage. She’s performed on some of the biggest stages in North America and most recently starred in Apple TV+’s limited series LADY IN THE LAKE opposite Moses Ingram and Natalie Portman. She has appeared in guest roles on hit shows like EVIL, THE GOOD FIGHT, and DESIGNATED SURVIVOR. Her stage credits include MERRY WIVES (Shakespeare in the Park), YEMANDJA (Kennedy Center), off-Broadway's THE HALF GOD OF RAINFALL (New York Theatre Workshop) ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA (Stratford Festival) and TONI STONE (Huntington Theatre). Jennifer holds an MFA from the NYU Graduate Acting Program.
PORTIA (May Charles)* Theater: A MOTHER (Baryshnikov Arts Center) ANOTHER SHOT (Pershing Square) REDWOOD (Ensemble Studio Theatre) TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (Broadway), STEW (Walkerspace, World Premiere,Pulitzer Finalist), THE ROSE TATTOO (Broadway), RINSE, REPEAT (Pershing Square Linney Theatre), RUINED (MTC/Geffen Playhouse), MCREELE (Roundabout Theatre Company), Regional/International: THE MASTER’S TOOLS (Wien Festwochen, Vienna Austria) A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM IN HARLEM (Pittsburgh Public Theater) Film: THIS WILL NEVER WORK, LAPSIS, ALL THE LITTLE THINGS WE KILL, SKIN, FROM NOWHERE, ST. VINCENT,THE GREATEST, THE MESSENGER, PLEASE GIVE. Television: DIARRA FROM DETROIT, NEW AMSTERDAM, BIG DOGS, MADAM SECRETARY, BULL, SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT, THE BLACKLIST.