The 2019 Bridge PHL Theatre Festival!
Thursday November 7th through Sunday November 10th
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday Evenings @ 7:30pm
Saturday & Sunday Matinees @ 2:00pm
at The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia
To find which artists are performing on which days,
please scroll down for the full FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE!
Tickets available for cash at the door or by clicking the PURCHASE TICKETS button below.
*GENERAL ADMISSION ADULT TICKETS*
(Enjoy all the shows being performed during the matinee or evening you select)
$15
*GENERAL ADMISSION KIDS UNDER 18*
(Cash at the door only)
$5
*GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE*
(Cash at the door only)
$10 per person
*ALL FESTIVAL PASS*
(Attend any and all matinee and evening performances throughout the entire run of the festival)
$40
Thursday November 7th through Sunday November 10th
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday Evenings @ 7:30pm
Saturday & Sunday Matinees @ 2:00pm
at The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia
To find which artists are performing on which days,
please scroll down for the full FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE!
Tickets available for cash at the door or by clicking the PURCHASE TICKETS button below.
*GENERAL ADMISSION ADULT TICKETS*
(Enjoy all the shows being performed during the matinee or evening you select)
$15
*GENERAL ADMISSION KIDS UNDER 18*
(Cash at the door only)
$5
*GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE*
(Cash at the door only)
$10 per person
*ALL FESTIVAL PASS*
(Attend any and all matinee and evening performances throughout the entire run of the festival)
$40
The 2019 Bridge PHL Theatre Festival Plays and Performances!
#SuiteReality
Written by: TS Hawkins Director: Lois Moses Synopsis: #SuiteReality, by TS Hawkins, is a choreopoem experience that touches upon Women's Rights, Black Lives Matter, and #SayHerName; a campaign that highlights womyn who have been killed by the fragility of masculinity and police brutality. Cast: Betsy Vivar, Katrina Hall, Maria Genao Beltre, Cynda Purnell www.tspoetics.com |
Snake Meets the Dragon Dance
Choreographers: Rhashea Lynn Harmon and Chik Mason Synopsis: Dragon/Tiger Danzing is a dance form that has been combined using ancient forms of Shao Lin Temple Gong fu that evolved into a highly advanced and sophisticated form of art that is used in both dance as well as combat. Dancers: Rhashea Lynn Harmon, Chik Mason |
Wade N Da Water
Written by: Monique A. Robinson Director: Kalif Troy Synopsis: When accidentally summoned to Obatala's Celestial Court, an unlikely witness must face her past by testifying on behalf of Oya: The Goddess of Hurricanes and The Graveyard; also known to some as Hurricane Katrina. Cast: Monique A. Robinson |
It's Not My Fault
Written & Directed by: Tiffani Dean Assistant Director: Shanice Brooks Synopsis: Standing up against blame culture... Cast: Sterling Calhoun, Robert Dobson, Bri’Yanna Vaighn, Monica Ayinde Robinson, Kristina Allison, Alisha Willis, Kim England, Tiffani Dean Adam Watson, Greg Austin |
FILLER: Between Two Artists
Written, Directed, & Performed by: Craig Liggeons Synopsis: "One artist will perform before me, one artist will perform after me; I'm the one in the middle." |
Not Without Her Stories
Written & Directed by: Jody Austin Assistant Director: Shanice Brooks Synopsis: Her service comes with a price too... Cast: Mary May, Kim “Skye” Yates-England, RacQuel Sasha Colòn, Monica Ayinde Robinson, Mellitta McKethan, Kish Bolden, JodyAnn McIntosh, Ian Thomas, Sterling Calhoun, Aquilah Lewis, Qudsiyya Ross, Daarinah Saafir, Neveah Corbett-Davis, Alisha Willis |
I'm a Motherfucking Superstar: So Where Are My Babies?
Written, Directed & Performed by: Valeka J. Holt Synopsis: An ambitious DC stage actress with dreams to take over Hollywood and Broadway is finally starting to see her Superstar life come to fruition, but with a tickn’ Pussy and the urgency to birth her children; Valeka begins to make impulsive decisions that will advance or weaken her life and career. |
Blue Bossa
Performed by: Marcia Lorraine - Vocals Jim Holton - Keys Dylan Taylor - Bass Gregg Moorw - Congos / Percussion Synopsis: A medley of bossa nova and salsa songs that have a message of love and peace. |
Just for the Weekend
Written by: Christine Emmert Director: Renee Lucas Wayne Synopsis: An encounter with an ageless sage teaches a young woman the real meaning of protest. Cast: Marcia Hinton, Olivia Wayne |
No Country for Black Men
Written by Lisa Amos Director: Elijah Pringle Synopsis: Where in the world is a black man welcomed? Where in the world is the color of his skin not looked upon like a threat or a weapon? This heart wrenching play spotlights the injustice black men face every day. Cast: Hafiza Moore, Anthony Williams, Terrill Kevyn Johnson, Lisa Amos, Jonathan Murray, Resean Montez, Jason Anthony Patrick, Dymeire Hughes |
The Trojan Women
Written by: Euripides Adapted & Directed by: Hannah Tsapatoris MacLeod Synopsis: Troy is burning and the women are enslaved; an ancient mirror of our modern horrors. Cast: Meryl Lynn Brown, Tasha Holmes, Ian Thomas, Amir Worrell, Pratima Agrawal, Dionne McCray, Shelli Thomas, Sterling Calhoun, Thomas Lopez |
The Waiting Room
Written, Directed & Performed by: Susan Chase and Janelle T. Harvey Synopsis: An exploration of the momentous choices women make throughout their lives. |
La Diva Noirr Speaks
Written, Directed & Performed by: Tiffani Dean |
White Script
Written & Directed by: Gabrielle Corsaro Synopsis: "White Script" is a dialogue on the path from colorblind-racism to anti-racism, as two white women friends grapple with their black friend's comment that "White liberal women do racist stuff all the time." Cast: Shelli Pentimall Bookler, Jen Newby, Shelli Thomas |
Bridge PHL Music & Soundscape
Vocals: Jai T. Lynne Composition & Keys: Arthur Lafrentz Bacon |
Festival Performance Schedule
All performances will be at The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia
Thursday November 7th
@ 7:30pm La Diva Noirr Speaks WaDe N Da WaTer Blue Bossa #SuiteReality I Can See Clearly Now Just for the Weekend The Waiting Room No Country for Black Men |
Friday November 8th
@ 7:30pm ** Talk Back session after show.** Snake Meets the Dragon Dance Not Without Her Stories White Script #SuiteReality FILLER: Between Two Artists I'm a Motherfucking Superstar: So Where are My Babies? It's Not My Fault The Trojan Women |
Saturday November 9th
@ 2:00pm La Diva Noirr Speaks Not Without Her Stories White Script Blue Bossa It's Not My Fault No Country for Black Men Just for the Weekend |
Saturday November 9th
@ 7:30pm I'm a Motherfucking Superstar: So Where are My Babies? White Script WaDe N Da WaTer #SuiteReality Snake Meets the Dragon Dance FILLER: Between Two Artists The Waiting Room The Trojan Women |
Sunday November 10th
@ 2:00pm ** Talk Back Session after show.** La Diva Noirr Speaks WaDe N Da WaTer White Script #SuiteReality It's Not My Fault Not Without Her Stories The Trojan Women |
Sunday November 10th
@ 7:30pm La Diva Noirr Speaks The Waiting Room It's Not My Fault No Country for Black Men Just for the Weekend Not Without Her Stories |
Production Team
Gabrielle Corsaro - Co-Founding Artistic Director
Hannah Tsapatoris MacLeod - Co-Founding Artistic Director Meryl Lynn Brown - Co-Founding Manager Lori Walsh - Operations Director, Stage Manager Autumn Meeshka - Assistant Stage Manager Arthur Lafrentz Bacon - Composer, Musical Director |
Ada Adhiyatma - Technical Director
Angus Macdonald - Technical Director TS Hawkins - Playbill Designer, Talkback Session Facilitator Peter MacLeod - Set Builder Carla H. Ezell - Festival Poster Designer & Photo Jennifer Levitt - Festival Photographer |
About The Festival
The Bridge PHL is a production company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2015 by Gabrielle Corsaro, Hannah Tsapatoris MacLeod, Meryl Lynn Brown, and Kathy Harmer, we set out to inspire a dialogue confronting systemic racism and to highlight the work of local black and brown theatre and performance artists.
Since 2015, our team has grown into a power-packed group of performers, writers, directors, and designers. It is our mission to foster healing connections between our rich and diverse communities by encouraging openness and dialogue about racial prejudice, privilege, inclusion, intersectionality and bias. Our annual theatre festival each autumn welcomes both experienced and emerging artists wishing to engage in this mission and to further our endeavor to Build The Bridge PHL!
This year our 4th Annual Bridge PHL Theatre Festival features 17 exciting new pieces, including works of drama, comedy, dance, song, poetry, and more! We hope you will join us November 7th through 10th at The Rotunda!
Since 2015, our team has grown into a power-packed group of performers, writers, directors, and designers. It is our mission to foster healing connections between our rich and diverse communities by encouraging openness and dialogue about racial prejudice, privilege, inclusion, intersectionality and bias. Our annual theatre festival each autumn welcomes both experienced and emerging artists wishing to engage in this mission and to further our endeavor to Build The Bridge PHL!
This year our 4th Annual Bridge PHL Theatre Festival features 17 exciting new pieces, including works of drama, comedy, dance, song, poetry, and more! We hope you will join us November 7th through 10th at The Rotunda!
Special Thanks
The Rotunda, Gina Renzi, TS Hawkins, Carla Ezell, Monica Fleurette, The Collective Mic, Arthur Lafrentz Bacon, Autumn Meeshka, Ada Adhiyatma, Angus Macdonald, The BOK Building, Strickland Row Condominiums, Danni Morinich / Landed Gentress, Rebecca Nurick, Jennifer Levitt, Maribeth Rubenstein, Jai T. Lynne, Michael Young, Steel River Playhouse, Darnelle Radford and Rep Radio, The Community Education Center, Acclaim Rehearsal Space, Peter MacLeod, Nakia Dillard.

The Bridge PHL Theatre Festival is a fiscally-sponsored project of Fractured Atlas. To make a tax-deductible donation please click here.
The 2019 Bridge PHL Theatre Festival Playbill. Designed by TS Hawkins. Powered by flipsnack.
This year on August 24th Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas, leaving many families homeless and in need of support. Natural disasters disproportionately impact low-income communities of people of color. In collaboration with Abaconian Reunite, we kept a donation box in our lobby throughout the festival for collection of items such as: school and cleaning supplies, toiletries, non-perishable items, and children and adult clothing. If you would like to make a donation, please contact Gladys Joseph at the contact info noted on this flier. |