The first thing anybody does in Dominique Morisseau’s drama Detroit ’67 is put the Temptation’s “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” on a record player. It's 1967 in Detroit, Motown’s music capital, but the turbulent Civil Rights Movement is what’s playing in the background. Directed by Aaron Brown, Detroit ’67 will be presented by Sam Houston State University’s Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre March 3-5, 2022 in the Erica Starr Theatre with 7:30 p.m. showings each evening as well as a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee option.
Detroit ‘67 tells the story of conflicting siblings against a backdrop of the race riots that shook Detroit, Michigan, in the summer of 1967. Chelle and her brother Lank are making ends meet by turning their basement into an after-hours club. But when a mysterious woman finds her way into their lives, the siblings clash over much more than the family business. As their pent-up feelings erupt, so does their city, and they find themselves caught in the middle of the '67 riots.
The play offers a thought-provoking perspective on the Detroit riots of 1967, an exploration that earned the play the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History. As the riots develop from the background to the foreground in the play, the characters scoff at the depiction of the violence as a race riot; they see it as a manifestation of police brutality and corruption.
After Lank and his buddy Sly find a badly beaten white woman on their way home one night, their situation becomes further complicated. Chelle reluctantly agrees to let Caroline (the mystery lady) stay if she pulls her weight by working in the basement--a decision she comes to quickly regret when she notices the chemistry between Caroline and her brother.
When asked how he hopes the audience will respond to the play, director Aaron Brown said, “This play reminds us that our history is not simply left in the past. The eerie similarities between the summers of 1967 and 2020 reminds us all that we haven’t progressed as far as we think, but there still lies power in the hope for a better future.”
Johanna is a junior theatre major from Huntsville, Texas. SHSU audiences may remember her as Bradley in Men on Boats, Tilly in She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms, Lily in Dust, and the assistant stage manager for Constellations. on graduation, Johanna plans to pursue a career in acting and directing.
Jalen Tinsley
Lank
Jalen is a freshman musical theatre major from Tyler, Texas. SHSU audiences may remember him as a Pit Singer/ UnderstudyGreg/Don/Frank fromHands on a Hardbody. At other institutions, he has appeared as Willard in Footloose, A-rab in West Side Story, and Amos inChicago.Upon graduation, Jalen plans to pursue a career in acting.
Rayevin Johnson
Bunny
Rayevin is a junior musical theatre major from Sugarland, Texas. SHSU audiences may remember her as Fay in Jump, Papa Ge in Once On This Island and as a member of the ensemble in Sonnets for an Old Century. At other institutions, she has appeared as Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, and was the assistant stage manager for Heathers. Upon graduation, Rayevin lans to pursue a career in musical theatre
Brandon Collins
Sly
Brandon is a junior musical theatre major from Tyler, Texas. SHSU audiences may remember him as the Dad in Jump,a member of the ensemble in Once On This Island and Sonnets for an Old Century. At other institutions, he has appeared as Mouth piece in West Side Story, JoJo in Newsies,and Rodney inThoroughly Modern Millie.Upon graduation, Brandon plans to pursue a career in musical theatre and screen acting.
Taylor Orsak
Caroline
Taylor is a senior theatre major from Victoria, Texas. SHSU audiences may remember her as Adrienne in Cry it Out, and as an ensemble member in Sonnets for an Old Century.Other SHSU credits include assistant stage manager fo rOnce on this Island, costume run crew for Actually and The Wolves. At other institutions, she has appeared as Frenchy inGrease, Marian Paroo inThe Music Man, and Gloria inBoeing Boeing. Upon graduation, Taylor plans to pursue a career in acting and directing
Erisha Jones
Understudy Chelle
Erisha is a sophomore theatre major from Port Arthur, Texas. This is her debut to the SHSU stage. At other institutions, she has appeared as Lorrell in Dreamgirls, Pauline inThe Color Purple, and as Yamba & Captain Jensen inShipwrecked. Upon graduation, Erisha plans to pursue a career in acting
Sharif Goodlette
Understufy Lank
Sharif is a junior theatre major from Katy, Texas. SHSU audiences may remember them as a member of the ensemble in All in the Timing, Peter inThe Pavilion, a member of the ensemble in Sonnets for an Old Century and Love’s Labour’s Lost. Upon graduation, Sharif plans to pursue a career in performance.
Mickey Pellum
Understudy Bunny
Makayla is a junior theatre major from Spring, Texas. SHSU audiences may remember her as Powell in Men on Boats, one of the Storytellers in Once on This Island, and as Lilith Morningstar/Lilly in She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms. At other Institutions, she has appeared as Vanessa inIn the Heights and as Lady Larkin in Once Upon a Mattress.Upon graduation, Mickey plans to pursue a career in acting.
Kyle Kindle
Understudy Sly
Kyle is a freshman theatre major from Cypress, Texas. This is hisdebut to the SHSU stage! At other institutions he has appeared insuch productions as,Revenge of the Space Pandas,Blood Wedding,andAsylum. Upon graduation, Kyle plans to pursue a career infilm acting.
Emily Smith
Understudy Caroline
Emily is a sophomore musical theatre major from Houston, Texas.This is her debut to the SHSU stage! At other institutions, shehas appeared as Ariel inFootloose,Audrey inLittle Shop of Horrors,and as a member of the ensemble inFrozen Jr.Upon graduation,Emily plans to pursue a career in acting, directing and voice.
Joan Alexander
Assistant Director
Joan is a senior theatre major from San Antonio, Texas. SHSUaudiences may remember her as Judy inJump,the assistant stagemanager forShe Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms, #8 inThe Wolves,and as Wendy inDust.At other institutions, she has appeared asTitania inA Midsummer Night’s Dream.Upon graduation, Joanplans to pursue a career in directing for children’s programming.
Javon Rougely
SM
Javon is a senior theatre major from Texas City, Texas. SHSUaudiences may remember him as the assistant director for Handson a Hardbody. He was also the stage manager for Once on ThisIsland and Cry It Out and the assistant stage manager forVioletandSweat. Upon graduation, Javon plans to pursue a career indirecting and education.
Elizebeth Georges
ASM
TeslaElizabeth is a senior theatre major from Houston, Texas. Thisis her first production to participate in at SHSU. At otherinstitutions, she has appeared as Harper inStill Life No.9,WomaninIce Cream in the Gallery,a Latecomer inVenti Chatter Platter,and Girl inBlooming into a New Day.Upon graduation, Elizabethplans to pursue a career in acting.
Carolina Ornelas
ASM
Carolina is a sophomore musical theatre major from Katy, Texas.Her SHSU credits include run crew forHands on a Hardbody. Atother institutions she has appeared as the Dew Drop Fairy inTheNutcracker,Sophie inMamma Mia, and was the Choreographerfor bothMoana&Frozen. Upon graduation, Carolina plans topursue a career in acting and directing.
Ellie King
ASM
Ellie is a freshman theatre major from Tomball, Texas. This is herfirst production to participate in at SHSU. At other institutions,she has worked as a run crew member forSister Act,a scenicpainter forGreater Tuna,and the stage manager forSleepyHollow.Upon graduation, Ellie plans to pursue a career in stagemanagemen
Drew Ritch
Assistant Stage Manager
Drew is a junior musical theatre major from Cypress, Texas. SHSUaudiences may remember him as Mike inHands on a Hardbody,Rivers inRichard III,Virgil/Billy Dean/Ensemble inViolet,and asBoy/Peter inDust.At other institutions, he has appeared as LordFarquaad inShrek,and as Ren McCormack inFootloose. Upongraduation, Drew plans to pursue a career in musical theatre
Sara is a senior theatre major from Alvin, Texas. While at SHSUshe was the sound board operator forRichard III.At otherinstitutions she was the assistant stage manager & carpenter forShe Kills Monsters,the carpenter forThe Night Thoreau Spentin Jail,and a costume constructor forBlood Wedding.Upongraduation, Sara plans to pursue a career in carpentry andtechnical theatre
Gypsy Fe Quimbo
Assistnat Sound and Lighting Design
Gypsy is a senior theatre major from Odessa, Texas. While atSHSU Gypsy was the assistant stage manager forMen on Boats.At other institutions she has appeared as Honey Raye inDearlyBeloved, the Little Stone inEurydice, and as Mulan inGame ofTiaras.Upon graduation, Gypsy plans to pursue a career in acting,directing, education and costume design
Danielle Schoellkpf
Dramaturgy
Danielle is a senior theatre major from Santa Fe, Texas. Herprevious SHSU credits include assistant stage manager forCry itOut,costume designer forLet Me Down Easyand costume crewforShe Kills Monsters.Upon graduation, Danielle plans to pursue acareer in costume design and teaching.
Chelle
Lank
Sly
Caroline
Understudy Chelle
Understudy Lank
Understudy Bunny
Understudy Sly
Understudy Caroline
Assistant Director
Stage Manager
ASM
ASM
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ASM
Assistant Scenic Designer.JPG)
Assistant Sound and Lighting Designer
