Alice Childress (Playwright) (1916–1994) was an American playwright, novelist, and actress. Throughout her career, she examined the true meaning of being Black, and especially of being Black and female, in America. Childress grew up in Harlem, where she acted with the American Negro Theatre in the 1940s. There she wrote, directed, and starred in her first play, Florence (1949), about a Black woman who, after meeting an insensitive White actress, comes to respect her daughter’s attempts to pursue an acting career. Trouble in Mind (1955), Wedding Band (1966), String (1969), and Wine in the Wilderness (1969) all examine racial and social issues. Among Childress’s plays with music are Just a Little Simple (1950), Gold Through the Trees (1952), The African Garden (1971), Gullah (1984; based on her 1977 play Sea Island Song), and Moms (1987). Childress also wrote children’s literature. A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ but a Sandwich (1973; film 1978) is a novel for adolescents about a teenage drug addict. Similarly, the novel Rainbow Jordan (1981) concerns the struggles of poor Black urban youth. Also written for juveniles were the plays When the Rattlesnake Sounds (1975) and Let’s Hear It for the Queen (1976). Her other novels include A Short Walk (1979), Many Closets (1987), and Those Other People (1989).

Lawrence E. Moten III (Scenic Design) (he/him/his) Broadway: Chicken & Biscuits (Circle in the Square), What the Constitution Means to Me (also on tour; as associate). Regional: The West End (Cincinnati Playhouse), The Sound Inside (TheaterWorks Hartford), Hype Man (ART, Company One), Gloria (ACT), STEW (Page 73), Hi, Are You Single? (Woolly Mammoth), Feeding Beatrice (Rep St. Louis), The White Chip (59E59), Native Son (Playmakers Rep), House of Joy (CalShakes), A Human Being, of a Sort (Williamstown), The Royale (Capital Rep), Behind the Sheet (Ensemble Studio Theatre). Lecturer: Princeton University. Member: USA 829, Wingspace Theatrical Design. Education: B.F.A. from Ithaca College. Motendesigns.com.

Sherrice Mojgani (Lighting Design) The Old Globe: What You Are, Skeleton Crew. Regional: The Heiress, Two Trains Running (Arena Stage), Spunk, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Scottsboro Boys (Signature Theatre), A Few Good Men, Sweat (Pittsburgh Public Theater), Roz and Ray, Black Pearl Sings, Outside Mullingar (San Diego Repertory Theatre), Blue Door, Trouble in Mind, Mud Blue Sky (MOXIE Theatre). Other: assistant professor at George Mason University. Education: B.A. in Theater Arts from UC Santa Cruz, M.F.A. in Lighting Design from UC San Diego. smojgani.com.

Kelly Gillespie, CSA (Casting) Manhattan Theatre Club: Casting Director; Skeleton Crew, Prayer for the French Republic, Ink, Choir Boy, more. WP Theater: Our Dear Dead Drug Lord, What We’re Up Against, Sundown Yellow Moon, Ironbound. 13P: Melancholy Play, A Map of Virtue, The Zero Hour, Monstrosity. Foundry and Public Theater: Good Person of Szechwan. Ensemble Studio Theatre: Photograph 51. Actors Theatre of Louisville: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Angels in America, Residence, Seven Guitars, 4000 Miles, Dot, The Roommate, Eat Your Heart Out. Others: TACT and Keen Company. B.A. University of Michigan.

Kendra Stockton (Assistant Stage Manager) The Old Globe: Hair, Almost Famous, As You Like It, Ken Ludwig’s The Gods of Comedy, Familiar, Clint Black’s Looking for Christmas, Much Ado About Nothing, Benny & Joon, October Sky, Bright Star, Dog and Pony, Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (as production assistant). Regional: House of Joy (San Diego Rep), Home of the Brave, #SuperShinySara, Guards at the Taj, The Orphan of Zhao, The Who & The What (La Jolla Playhouse), The Loneliest Girl in the World (Diversionary Theatre), miXtape (Lamb’s Players Theatre), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (San Diego Musical Theatre).