The 2020 Bridge PHL Theatre Festival!
Thursday October 22nd through Sunday October 25th
Admission is Free w/ RSVP. Donations gratefully accepted.
Please scroll down to the bottom of this page to RSVP.
Festival Performance Schedule
Thursday October 22nd @ 7:15 PM ET
The Test
Written by: Paula J. Caplan Directed by: Renee Lucas Wayne Cast: Jerrick Medrano, Roderick Slocum Synopses: As teacher and student, Cleveland and Bradley have bonded through literacy - despite being on Death Row. As Bradley’s execution day looms, Cleveland devises a strategy to help him beat The Test, an I.Q. assessment that will determine if Bradley lives or dies. 
Letters From The Ancestors
Written & Directed by: Lois Moses Synopsis: Letters from the Ancestors is an ongoing series produced and edited by Lois Moses which depicts historical letters written by her ancestors. As such, it seeks unabashedly to celebrate and honor cultural heroes and sheroes that often go "unremembered". |
Tierra De Las Flores
Written by: G. Kadigan Directed by: Tonya Pinkins Cast: Antonia Marrero, Lina Sarrello Synopses: Two women both wives , one has the wealth of material possessions, the other the wealth of wisdom. What can they give to one another and who can benefit from the other's gift? Tierra De Las Flores was presented as part of Tonya Pinkins' Truth and Reconciliation: Womyn Working it Out! theatre collective series at The Tank NYC in October 2019. |
The Dancer
Written & Directed by: Tiffani Dean Cast: Tiffani Dean, Michelle Seigler, Diamond, Desiree Bush Synopsis: The Dancer is a universal story narrated by an older woman. The narrator tells this story through blended poetry performance about a little girl named Shelly who dreams of being a dancer. 
A Year of Blue Jays
Written by: Christine Emmert Directed by: Alexander Emmert Videographer: CFA Weiss Cast: Christine Emmert, Richard Emmert Synopsis: After family tragedies a couple trades the city for the country. They find many lessons from the birds that invade their garden. |
Friday October 23rd @ 7:15 PM ET
Vital Records
Written and Directed by: Alex Dilks Pandola DP: Roman Paik Produced by: Green Light Productions Cast: Gayla Johnson and Kate Torri Synopses: When Patricia visits the virtual Department of VITAL RECORDS, she encounters three curious employees who lead her to a new awareness. 
Love & Light (& Other Lies)
Written by: Gabrielle Corsaro Directed & Performed by: Gabrielle Corsaro, Maribeth Rubenstein Produced by AngelPirate Productions Synopsis: A compassionate calling in of some of the violent, flowery deceptions white women employ in our quest to be "allies". www.angelpirate.org |
They'll Neglect to Tell You
Written by: TS Hawkins Directed by: Lois Moses Cast: Betsy Vivar-Cortes, Cynda Purnell Synopsis: Grace is a burgeoning therapist. Merci dangles for freedom at the bottom of a bourbon glass. College sweethearts and newlyweds, they elope to Philadelphia for a fresh beginning. Stumbling into polarizing landscapes, they struggle in the margins of heart and home. • Originally, devised as a five minute vignette, in 2015, for the Painted Bride Arts Center's Souls of Black Folk Project. • Curated as a solo work during 1812 Productions Jilline Ringle Solo Residency in 2019. • They'll Neglect to Tell You appears as a Workshop Reading during the 5th Annual Bridge PHL Theatre Festival. www.tspoetics.com 
I Will Breathe
Written, Directed & Performed by: Nichole M. Palmer Synopsis: Poet determines to breathe as she recounts racial atrocities in America while believing for change. |
Till Hell Freezes Over
Written & Directed by: Tonya Pinkins Cast: Tonya Pinkins and Mary Theresa Archbold Synopsis: Two women meet between Heaven and Hell and what transpires between then will determine their destination. Till Hell Freezes Over was presented as part of Tonya Pinkins' Truth and Reconciliation: Womyn Working it Out! theatre collective series at The Tank NYC in October 2019. Poster Artwork by Kim Sykes. 
The Cry
Written, Directed & Performed by: Janelle T. Harvey and Susan Chase Original Music by: Justin Solonynka Synopsis: A shocking act of brutality propels two friends down the tangled paths of love and loss. |
Saturday October 24th @ 7:15 PM ET
Karen's Anonymous
Written & Performed by: Hannah Tsapatoris MacLeod Directed by: Shelli Pentimall Synopsis: In an online world, 7 entitled white women grapple with their intolerance, privilege and innate racism. A Comedy! 
Song From My Childhood
Created and Performed by Sista Scribe Synopsis: Childhood memory meets the reality... |
Other (Parts 1 & 2)
Written by: Jasmine McLeish Directed by: Tonya Pinkins Cast: Lili Stiefel, Mary Theresa Archbold Synopsis: The invention of "race" is a relatively young concept in the history of man. Who decides your 'race" when you contain multitudes? Other was presented as part of Tonya Pinkins' Truth and Reconciliation: Womyn Working it Out! theatre collective series at The Tank NYC in October 2019. 
She Speaks Not
Written & Directed by: Jody Austin Cast: Shanice Brooks, Ian Thomas, Shaenna Bradley Produced by 5 Shorts Project & The Collective Mic Productions Synopsis: She Speaks Not is an interactive poetic film short that attempts to break the culture of silence that surrounds the issues of Domestic Violence in our communities. It includes music, movement, and poetry that engages all of the senses to involve the audience. |
Finding Help
Written by: Marj O'Neill-Butler Directed by: Lenny Daniels Cast: Diane Susan Leslie, Ashley Gregg, Vancouier Barrett Site Lead Camera: Kamal Bostic-Smith Cell Camera: Nakia Dillard Still Camera: Geno Esler Editing: Kamal Bostic-Smith Synopses: Daphne and her mother are at loggerheads concerning assisted living or a caregiver. When Daphne tries to solve the problem, she is surprised by her mother's attitude. |
Sunday October 25th @ 2:15 PM ET
Snake Meets Dragon
Choreographed by: Chik Mason, inspired by the ancient masters. Performed by: Rhashea Lynn Harmon and Chik Mason Synopsis: Dragon/Snake 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.
She Speaks Not
Written & Directed by: Jody Austin Cast: Shanice Brooks, Ian Thomas, Shaenna Bradley Produced by 5 Shorts Project & The Collective Mic Productions Synopsis: She Speaks Not is an interactive poetic film short that attempts to break the culture of silence that surrounds the issues of Domestic Violence in our communities. It includes music, movement, and poetry that engages all of the senses to involve the audience. |
Woodwind
Written by: Written by Edgar Lee Faucett, Tiffani Dean and Jody Austin Directed by: Max Fields Co produced by R-rated productions and The Collective Mic Productions Cast: Desiree Bush, Edgar Lee Faucett, Ian Thomas, Shanice Brooks Synopsis: Wendy Shatternick’s family heirloom was stolen and she’s determined to find it, on her own terms. 
Dismantle the White Privilege
Written & Performed by: Stephan Tsapatoris Synopsis: "Dismantle the white privilege" is a song acknowledging historical wrongdoings and voicing the need to change the current racist mentality, particularly among the Caucasian population. |
I Am Sorry
Written by: Shaina Taub & Amanda Green Cast: Tatyana Aravena, Lina Sarrello, Akiko Hiroshima, Lili Stiefel, Antonia Marrero, Siho Ellsmore, Mary Theresa Archbold, June Ballinger. Synopses: A long overdue apology song with humor of course. Sorry was presented as part of Tonya Pinkins' Truth and Reconciliation: Womyn Working it Out! theatre collective series at The Tank NYC in October 2019. Poster Artwork by Kim Sykes.
The Test
Written by: Paula J. Caplan Directed by: Renee Lucas Wayne Cast: Jerrick Medrano, Roderick Slocum Synopses: As teacher and student, Cleveland and Bradley have bonded through literacy - despite being on Death Row. As Bradley’s execution day looms, Cleveland devises a strategy to help him beat The Test, an I.Q. assessment that will determine if Bradley lives or dies. |
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Bridge PHL Music & Soundscape
Vocals: Jai T. Lynne Composition & Keys: Arthur Lafrentz Bacon |
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The Bridge PHL Theatre Festival is proud to be a fiscally-sponsored project of Fractured Atlas.
Click here to make a tax-deductible donation.
Click here to make a tax-deductible donation.
Production Team
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Gabrielle Corsaro - Co-Founding Director
Hannah Tsapatoris MacLeod - Co-Founding Director Meryl Lynn Brown - Co-Founding Director Lori Walsh - Operations Director TS Hawkins - Artistic Advisor Renee Lucas Wayne - Artistic Advisor, Media & Communications Jody Austin - Artistic Advisor Tiffani Dean - Artistic Advisor Lois Moses - Artistic Advisor |
Gina Renzi - Technical Director
Dean Myers - Technical Director Alex Smith - Technical Staff Angus Macdonald - Technical Staff Arthur Lafrentz Bacon - Composer, Musical Director |
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. In 2020, our leadership was expanded by Artistic Advisors TS Hawkins, Jody Austin, Tiffani Dean, Renee Lucas Wayne, and Lois Moses.
Over the past 5 years, our Bridge PHL 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 on 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 5th Annual Bridge PHL Theatre Festival - and 1st virtual festival! - features over 20 exciting new pieces, including works of drama, comedy, dance, song, poetry, and more!
Over the past 5 years, our Bridge PHL 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 on 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 5th Annual Bridge PHL Theatre Festival - and 1st virtual festival! - features over 20 exciting new pieces, including works of drama, comedy, dance, song, poetry, and more!
Special Thanks
The Rotunda, Gina Renzi, Dean Myers, Renee Lucas Wayne, TS Hawkins, Lois Moses, Jody Austin, Tiffani Dean, Arthur Lafrentz Bacon, Angus Macdonald, Alex Smith, Danni Morinich / Landed Gentress, Maribeth Rubenstein.
