Playwright: Ann Eskridge, Gail Parrish, Forest Hudson, Maureen Paraventi, and Shawntai Brown
Directed By: Ashley M Lyle
Production Snapshot
Breaking Laws to Gain Freedom: Liberating Stories of Detroit is a devised theatrical piece penned by Extra Mile Playwrights Theatre retelling of true local events that had an impact on the civil rights and liberties of Black people nationwide. Spanning 1833-1959, these stories offer glimpses into the narratives of fugitives who escaped to Canada, soldiers who took up arms, and neighbors who fought for their rightful places in the city. The writers of this show include Ann Eskridge, Gail Parrish, Forest Hudson, Maureen Paraventi, and Shawntai Brown. The Extra Mile Playwrights Theatre is a group of Detroit-area playwrights, actors, directors and producers dedicated to showcasing local theatre. The mission of EMPT is to build community by creating and developing transformative stories through the written word, storytelling and performance.
Cast
Cassius Merriweather
TRICKSTER #1, PERSON IN CROWD, & REVEREND
From straight plays to short films, Cassius is ecstatic to tell the city’s countless stories in Extra Mile Theatre’s Breaking Laws to Gain Freedom: Liberating Stories from Detroit. Studying under Henri Franklin, Jan Blixt, and Kelli Crump they’ve appeared in numerous productions throughout Metro-Detroit.
Filonna Thomas
TABITHA, SOJOURNER
Filonna Thomas is excited to be a part of the cast of Breaking Laws to Gain Freedom: Liberating Stories from Detroit. She is a resident of Lansing and most recently performed the role of Benita in the Riverwalk Theatre production of Moonglow. When Filonna’s not on stage, she’s probably traveling locally, looking for a great restaurant!
Grace Jolliffe
HECKLER, ANNA
Grace Jolliffe (she/her) is excited to work with Open Book Theatre and Extra Mile for the first time. She recently graduated from Kenyon College with a B.A. in Drama, and is excited to work in the Michigan theatre community again. Liberation for all, Free Palestine!
Joe Gaskill
SHERIFF, WHITE MAN 1, WHITE MAN 2
Joe Gaskill is a 2019 graduate of Wayne State University with a BA in Theatre Performance and has remained active in the performing arts ever since. Recent theatre roles include Reuben Soady (Escanaba in da Moonlight), multiple roles in Office Hours, Hal (Proof), Ricky (Nooner), Sandy (Duck Hunter Shoots Angel), and Des (You Talk White and Dance With Me), along with numerous sketch comedy shows at Planet Ant Theatre. Outside of theatre, Joe also works as a voice actor and playwright, and is currently attending grad school with a focus on library science.
Joseph Sfair
HENRY BARNES, BENJAMIN
Joseph is excited to be partnering with Extra Mile for the first time AND returning to Open Book for this project! He's been seen on stages around metro-Detroit, recently in "Private Lives" (Inspired Acting Company), "Photograph 51" (University of Detroit Mercy Theatre Company), and "Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley" at Open Book. He'd like to send his thanks to Jessica, his friends & family for their support, and you in the audience for coming out to support live theatre.
Kelli Williams
RUTHIE, EMMA, MINNIE
Kelli Williams is a Detroit based actor who is making her professional debut with Open Book Theatre's production of Breaking Laws to Gain Freedom. Kelli has been seen most recently in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? (Clarkston Village), Richard III (Brevity Shakespeare), and Miracle on 34th Street (Avon Players). She is very excited to tell real stories about real people.
Mike Sandusky
THORNTON, VAUGHN, ISSAC, THURGOOD, BM 1
Mike Sandusky is a Michigan based actor and is ready to take on this incredibly powerful script and story. His philosophy on life is to always be unapologetically great at everything you do. Special thanks to his family and partner for their continued support. FMOI-@sandusky.mike
Shardai R. Davis
TRICKTER #2, CAROLINE, BETTY MARTIN, LIZ HASKELL
Shardai R. Davis is a classically trained actor, dancer, singer, and musician. Some of her performances include: Polonius (Hamlet), Calpurnia (To Kill A Mockingbird), Kitty Duvall (The Time of Your Life), Athena (The Odyssey), Mrs. Walker (Tommy), and as a special appearance vocalist in The People’s Temple. Davis has a high level of proficiency in piano, martial arts, and scenic design, and other skills and techniques. She would like to give a shout out to her Mom & Dad for always supporting her and inspiring her to live her dreams!
Crew
Ashley M. Lyle
Director
Ashley M. Lyle is thrilled to be the director of this deeply fascinating piece of art created by the Extra Mile playwrights. Some of her credits, as an actor, include Who Will Sing for Lena (Matrix Theatre, Detroit); Ain't Misbehavin’: A Fats Waller Musical (Jewish Ensemble Theatre, Walled Lake); Mom's Boyfriend is an Ass (Obsidian Theatre Festival, Detroit); and Nollywood Dreams (Open Book) where she won Best Actor in a Play (comedy) by EncoreMichigan.com. Ashley previously directed Dance with Me, one OBTC's 2022 Driveway Theatre shows. As an anti-racism activist within the Michigan theater community, it is truly an honor and a privilege to help bring to life Detroit's own Black history. #FreeCongo #FreeSudan #FreePalestine.
Kiah Manthei
Stage Manager
Kiah Manthei (she/her) most recently co-directed Catch Me If You Can for the Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center (DYPAC). She stage managed Open Book’s productions of Dontrell Who Kissed the Sean, How I Learned to Drive and Nollywood Dreams. She has also assistant directed Legally Blonde: The Musical (DYPAC), and has stage managed various other plays and musicals in the Metro Detroit area, including My Dad Was Fifteen Feet Tall (Outvisible Theatre Company), Princess Whatsername (DYPAC), The Turn of the Screw (Outvisible Theatre Company), and Xanadu (DYPAC). Kiah graduated from Wayne State University in 2019 with a Master of Social Work. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her cat, going to concerts, reading, and spending time with loved ones!
Meet the Playwright(s)
Ann Eskridge, Gail Parrish, Forest Hudson, Maureen Paraventi, and Shawntai Brown
Ann E. Eskridge is a 2021 Kresge Fellow in playwriting, a 2013 Black Metropolitan Research Consortium Fellow and a Fulbright Hays Group Project Abroad participant in Brazil. She has written on subjects like the Underground Railroad, all-black towns in Oklahoma, New Orleans’ free people of color, the Gullah community on the Sea Islands, and Chicago’s black Tin Pan Alley. She is a founder of Extra Mile Playwrights Theatre.
Maureen Paraventi writes plays, novels, nonfiction and songs. When she’s not writing, she acts in local theatrical productions, sings in a pop/rock/Irish band (McLaughlinsAlley.com) and spends way too much time on Facebook. Maureen’s full-length and one act plays have been produced in Michigan, Florida and New York, and one, “The Bucket List of Booze Club,” was produced by the Freshwater Theatre in Minneapolis in May 2020.
Gail Parrish is an award-winning playwright whose works have been staged nationally, internationally and on network television. Her plays include Leavings, Bringing Back Josephine (Saving Grace), Elevator, Blood Red Summer and others. Some of Parrish’s awards include semifinalist in Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference, semifinalist in the American Blues Theatre’s Blue Ink Award, co-winner of Polarity Ensemble Theatre’s Dionysus Festival, an Emmy nomination from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences- Midwest.
Forest Hudson began his acting journey as a student at the Detroit Repertory Theatre, Actors Workshop. Acting and Theatre started out as a hobby, now they are his passions. His credits include Preying Wolves Pray, The Devils Funeral, Satin Doll The Musical, Broadz on Broadway, Matrix X Detroit/Gentrification Nation, Beating All Odds/A Miracle of Enchantment, and Love and Justice.
Shawntai Brown is a Detroit writer, media commentator, literacy coordinator and teaching artist. Her work centers on empowering communities through experiences that educate, challenge and entertain. She co-hosts a web show “Woman Crush Everyday” reviewing Black woman-centered queer media and interviewing content producers, and co-founded Black LGBT+ Plays, a creative development network for film and theatre creatives. She is a 2020 Krege Live Arts Fellow. You can find more about her at sbscribes.com.
