Playwright: Krystle Dellihue
Directed By:
Production Snapshot
February 29, 1940: Hattie McDaniel is on the verge of making history as the first Black performer to win an Academy Award. But as she prepares for the biggest night of her life, a shocking phone call reveals the bitter reality of a segregated Hollywood—she won’t be allowed to sit with her own cast. Set against the backdrop of racial tension and personal sacrifice, this powerful play explores the woman behind the “Mammy” apron. Witness Hattie’s private struggle for dignity and the weight of representing a race while fighting for her own seat at the table.
WORLD PREMIERE OF THIS PLAY BY LOCAL PLAYWRIGHT KRYSTLE DELLIHUE
Cast
Carman Cooper
Hattie McDaniel
Carman Cooper is a Detroit-born actress and vocalist whose dynamic stage presence and deeply grounded performances have made her a captivating presence on stages across the city. Known for bringing honesty, emotional depth, humor, and a commanding presence to her characters, her theatrical credits include "Mud Row" and "Marie and Rosetta" with Detroit Public Theatre, "The Light" with Tipping Point Theatre, and "Black Santa" as part of the Obsidian Theatre Festival.
Kelli Williams
Ruby Goodwin
Kelli Williams is excited to return to Open Book Theatre for another world premiere! You may remember her from the Season 11 world premiere of “Breaking Laws to Gain Freedom: Liberating Stories from Detroit.” Some of her favorite past roles include LuLu in “Cabaret,” Tillie in “Guess Who's Coming to Dinner,” understudying the role of Berniece in “The Piano Lesson” by August Wilson at the Detroit Repertory Theatre, and more recently, Vera in “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark” by Lynn Nottage. Offstage, Kelli loves playing softball, riding horses, burying her feet on sandy beaches, and taking long road trips. She is grateful to her tribe for their unwavering love and support.
Darius Franklin
FP
Bio coming soon
Jordan Climie
William Meiklejohn
Jordan Climie returns to Open Book Theatre for this stellar new work, after appearing previously on this stage as Mr. Green in "CLUE" and Derek in "RIPCORD." Other recent theatre credits include "GOD OF CARNAGE" (Alan - Inspired Acting Company), "THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA" (Launce - Wishing Well Theatre), "AS YOU LIKE IT" (Touchstone - Shakespeare Royal Oak), and "BOEING BOEING" (Robert - Thumbcoast Theatres). Jordan would like to thank Casaundra and Krystle for creating this world to play in, and is humbled to tell this story among a great group of creatives on and off stage. These stories are important.
Vicki Morgan
Fay Bainter
Vicki Morgan could not be more honored to be a part of this production of "Hattie: A Seat at the Table." She was previously seen on the Open Book "stage," (driveways), as Dana in "Driveway Dating." She was also the Intimacy Choreographer for "The Children" and "How I Learned to Drive." Vicki is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University's Theatre Arts program, and was a participant of University of Detroit Mercy's Classical Theatre Study Abroad Program in Greece, where she toured in a production of "The Bacchae." Favorite roles include Ophelia in "Hamlet" (Shakespeare in Detroit), Brodie in "Precious Little" (The Penny Seats), and Toinette in "Imaginary Invalid" (EMU Theatre). Love to Gary, Mom & Dad, Sprinkles & Roby, and friends & family who believe in me. Extra special shout-out and gratitude to Krystle.
Crew
Casaundra Freeman
Director
Casaundra Freeman has been a resident actor, director and sound designer for companies all across the United States for the past 30 years. She has directed "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom", "The Safe House", "Williston" and many other productions, won the Wilde Award for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Director multiple times and now splits her time between Michigan and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico worldschooling her two incredible children Ian and Sloane. She is thrilled to return to the theatre to direct "Hattie" and thanks Open Book, the cast, design teams and everyone who has worked so hard to bring this production to life. She is especially thankful to the playwright, for asking and entrusting her to go on this journey and guide this work. Lastly, she wishes to thank her parents, Ron and Sandy Freeman for their daily guidance from above and you for supporting live theatre!
Harley Miah
Lighting Designer
Harley Miah is a freelance artist designing and programming for theatres, nightclubs, concerts and festivals across the country with IKO Global Productions. As the resident Lighting Designer for Open Book Theatre. Harley has earned Wilde Awards for Best Design – Lights for “Red” in 2014, and “This Random World” in 2022. Harley's work can also be seen this season at Tipping Point Theatre, The Inspired Acting Company, and at The Williamston Theatre. Harley spends his spare time with his loving partner Reyna spoiling their cats, traveling, and seeing as many shows as they can in this great theatre community we have in Southeast Michigan. He hopes you do the same.
Eric Niece
Scenic Designer and Builder
Eric Niece absolutely loves getting to work with Open Book. He was most recently seen on stage in the theatre's production of "Clue". Some of his notable Open Book designs include his Wilde Award nominated set for "Ada and the Engine" and his Wilde Award winning set for "How I learned to Drive". When not working at Open Book, Eric serves as an instructor and technical director for Rochester Christian University as well as picking up whatever freelance work he can in the metro Detroit area. As always, a gigantic thank you to his incredible wife, Hannah, and their two perfect children, Daphne and Miles. He couldn't do what he does without their continued love and support.
Samantha Silva
Properties Designer
Samantha Silva is once again delighted to join the team at Open Book Theatre Company! She has served here as a stage manager and a props designer since 2021. She is eternally grateful for the doors Open Book has opened and the love and community she finds here year after year. She would like to thank her family, friends, and partner for pushing her to chase creative dreams and helping to keep all the plates spinning. Thank you to her son, Xander, for lending Mama all your art supplies and inspiring me every day. And thank you to the actors, artists, and audiences who keep theatre alive Downriver! Art is community and community is the only thing that can save the world.
Meet the Playwright(s)
Krystle Dellihue
Krystle Dellihue is a Detroit-based playwright and actor. She found her voice as a playwright during the 2020 uprisings, compelled to write in response to a moment of national reckoning. Through her work, she seeks to uplift untold stories, interrogate history, and create space for complex, deeply human portrayals on stage. Krystle is a member of the Detroit Playwrights Lab and Extra Mile Playwrights Theatre, where she continues developing new work. Her plays have been produced across the United States, and she is honored to bring the world premiere of “HATTIE” to Open Book Theatre. She extends heartfelt thanks to Krista, everyone at Open Book Theatre, Casaundra, this extraordinary cast and crew for believing in Hattie and saying yes to this journey, and everyone who read, workshopped, and helped shape “HATTIE.” Thank you to the audience for supporting new work and live theatre. She hopes she’s made Hattie McDaniel proud.
