Artistic Director’s Welcome
WELCOME TO THE HALF-GOD OF RAINFALL
And welcome to the 2023/24 Season at A.R.T. I am very excited about the incredible artists who have created this year’s programming—a roster of must-see theatrical events. The season, which includes premieres of two musicals and two plays, explores themes of immigration, the American dream, and what it means to feel welcome in our country.
To begin, we welcome The Half-God of Rainfall, a return to the A.R.T. for Barber Shop Chronicles playwright Inua Ellams. The piece began as a book-length poem (published by Fourth Estate in 2020), before being adapted by Inua for the stage. Now, the work is making its North American premiere in a co-production by A.R.T. and New York Theatre Workshop.
This production is directed by Taibi Magar—her fourth A.R.T. production in five years (following We Live in Cairo, Macbeth in Stride, and last season’s Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992). To bring the cosmic scope of Half-God to life on stage, Taibi has assembled a creative team including several artists who have worked on past A.R.T. productions: Scenic Designer Riccardo Hernández (Jagged Little Pill, The White Card, among many others), Costume Designer Linda Cho (Endlings), and Projection Design by Tal Yarden (Ocean Filibuster). We also welcome Sound Designer/Composer Mikaal Sulaiman, Lighting Designer Stacey Derosier, and Movement Director Orlando Pabotoy, who are working at the A.R.T. for the first time. Don’t miss articles below detailing the show’s creative process, as well as a glossary of the mythic figures invoked throughout the play.
Thank you for joining us. See you at the theater!
Diane Paulus
Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director
American Repertory Theater
and New York Theatre Workshop
present
THE HALF-GOD OF RAINFALL
Creative Team
By
Inua Ellams
By
Inua Ellams
A.R.T.: Barber Shop Chronicles. Born in Nigeria, Inua Ellams is a poet, playwright & performer, graphic artist & designer and founder of: The Midnight Run (an arts-filled, night-time, urban walking experience.), The Rhythm and Poetry Party (The R.A.P Party) which celebrates poetry & hip hop, and Poetry + Film / Hack (P+F/H) which celebrates Poetry and Film. Identity, Displacement & Destiny are reoccurring themes in his work, where he tries to mix the old with the new: traditional African oral storytelling with contemporary poetics, paint with pixel, texture with vector. His books are published by Flipped Eye, Akashic, Nine Arches, Penned in the Margins, Oberon & Methuen.
Directed by
Taibi Magar
Directed by
Taibi Magar
A.R.T.: The Half-God of Rainfall; Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 (Lortel Award), Signature Theatre; Macbeth In Stride; We Live in Cairo. Co-Artistic Director, Philadelphia Theatre Company. Off-Broadway: Help, The Shed; Capsule, Under the Radar Festival/The Public Theater; Blue Ridge, The Great Leap, Atlantic Theater Company; Is God Is (2018 Obie Award), Soho Rep; Master, The Foundry; Underground Railroad Game(2017 Obie Award), Ars Nova. International: Hamburg Festival, Edinburgh Festival, Malthouse Theatre (Melbourne), and Soho Theatre (London). MFA, Brown University.
Movement Direction by
Orlando Pabotoy
Movement Direction by
Orlando Pabotoy
A.R.T.: Debut. Theatre: The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, NYTW; HVSF 2022 Season; Acting Company 2017/2018 Season; The Cherry Orchard (directed by the late Andrei Belgrader), CSC. Collaborations: Henry VI, Parts 1-3, NAATCO; Holoscenes (Lars Jan); Advanced Beginner Group (David Neumann). Direction (Selected): Serpent Woman, The World in the Moon, Scapin, Chalk Circle, Pericles, The Frogs, The Juilliard School; That Beautiful Laugh, La Mama. Film: KS20, Star Wars: Rogue One (Alan Tudyk). Performance: The Public, Yale Rep, Met Opera, Kirk Douglas, Guthrie. Ma-Yi Theater, American Airlines Theater, Salzburg Festpieler (Austria). Film/TV: Comedy Central, WB, NBC, ABC. Awards: Obie, TCG Fox Fellow.
Scenic Design
Riccardo Hernández
Scenic Design
Riccardo Hernández
A.R.T.: Over twenty productions, including most recently, Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, Jagged Little Pill, The White Card, Arrabal, Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, Prometheus Bound, Best of Both Worlds, The Seagull, Julius Caesar, Britannicus, and Marat/Sade. Broadway: Indecent, The Gin Game; The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess; The People in the Picture; Caroline, or Change, National Theatre London; Elaine Stritch: At Liberty, Old Vic; Topdog/Underdog, Royal Court; Bells Are Ringing; Parade (directed by Hal Prince, Tony, Drama Desk nominations); Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk, The Tempest. Recent productions include: Dreaming Zenzile, Light Shining…, NYTW; The Skin of Our Teeth, TFANA; The Invisible Hand (Henry Hewes Design Award); Red Speedo (Drama Desk Nomination); Grounded (directed by Julie Taymor). International: Théâtre du Châtelet, Avignon (Cour d’honneur Palais des Papes); Oslo, National Theatre; Abbey Theatre. Recipient, Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Design. Hernández is an Associate Professor and Co-Chair of the Yale School of Drama.
Costume Design
Linda Cho
Costume Design
Linda Cho
A.R.T.: Endlings. Broadway: Doubt; Harmony; Summer, 1976; Take Me Out; Grand Horizons; Anastasia (Tony nomination); The Great Society; A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder (Tony & Henry Hewes Awards, OCC nomination); The Lifespan of a Fact; Velocity of Autumn. New York Theatre Workshop: Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord; Endlings. Her extensive body of work includes productions at acclaimed theaters and opera companies across the country and around the world. Advisory Committee, American Theatre Wing. Education: MFA, Yale School of Drama.
Lighting Design
Stacey Derosier
Lighting Design
Stacey Derosier
A.R.T.: Debut. NYC: How To Defend Yourself, NYTW; Uncle Vanya, OHenry; The Cotillion, New Georges & The Movement Theatre Company; Regretfully, So the Birds Are, Playwrights Horizons; Cornelia Street, Atlantic Theater Company; Where the Mountain Meets the Sea, Manhattan Theatre Club; This Beautiful Future, Cherry Lane; Fat Ham, Public Theater & National Black Theatre; Wedding Band, Theatre for a New Audience. 2018 Lilly Award Daryl Roth Prize recipient.
Sound Design
Mikaal Sulaiman
Sound Design
Mikaal Sulaiman
A.R.T.: Ocean Filibuster (original sound design concept co-developer). Broadway: Thanksgiving Play, Fat Ham, Death of a Salesman,Cost of Living, Macbeth, Thoughts of a Colored Man. Off-Broadway: On Sugarland, Sanctuary City, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, NYTW; Primary Trust, Roundabout; Fairview, Soho Rep; Rags Parkland, Underground Railroad Game, Ars Nova. Recipient: Obie Award, Creative Capital Award and Henry Hewes Award.
Projection Design
Tal Yarden
Projection Design
Tal Yarden
A.R.T.: Ocean Filibuster. Broadway: Network, The Waverly Gallery, Indecent, Sunday in the Park with George, The Crucible. Off-Broadway: Lazarus, Little Foxes, Liberty City, The Misanthrope, Beast, Kaos, NYTW; Hamlet; Antigone; The Damned; Kings of War.London: Get Up, Stand Up; Anna X. Opera: Exterminating Angel, Salome, Macbeth. Awards & Nominations: Lucille Lortel, Tony.
Orisha Movement Consulting/Choreography
Beatrice Capote
Orisha Movement Consulting/Choreography
Beatrice Capote
A.R.T.: Debut. Performance Credits: Camille A. Brown & Dancers company. Recent Choreography Credits: Angelique Kidjo’s Yemandja!, The Public; It’s Fine, I’m Fine and Citrus, Regional Theatre; The Wedding Band, Montclair State University; International Dance Company, TWU. Recent Choreographic Concerts: Jazz at Lincoln Center, 40th Anniversary Battery Dance Festival. Education: BA/MFA, Montclair State University. Recent Teaching Credits: Associate Professor, Indiana University Contemporary Dance.
Casting
The Telsey Office / Destiny Lilly, CSA
With offices in both New York and Los Angeles, The Telsey Office casts for theatre, film, television, and commercials. The Telsey Office is dedicated to creating safe, equitable, and anti-racist spaces through collaboration artistry, heart, accountability and advocacy.
Intimacy Director
Ann James
Intimacy Director
Ann James
A.R.T.: Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992. Broadway: Pass Over, Sweeney Todd, Parade, White Girl in Danger. Off-Broadway: How to Defend Yourself, NYTW; Parade, NYCC; Twilight: Los Angeles 1992, Confederates, My Broken Language, Evanston Salt Costs Climbing, Amani. Regional: Lempicka, The Outsiders, Trading Places. Sensitivity Facilitator: Columbia University, Harvard University, Brown University.
Voice & Dialect Director
Dawn-Elin Fraser
Voice & Dialect Director
Dawn-Elin Fraser
A.R.T.: 1776, Waitress, Crossing, Finding Neverland. North American Dialect Coach: Hamilton. Broadway: Parade, 1776, Macbeth, Slave Play, What the Constitution Means to Me, Once on this Island, Waitress. Off-Broadway: Sojourners, Her Portmanteau, An Ordinary Muslim, The House That Will Not Stand, american (tele)visions, How to Defend Yourself, NYTW; Richard III, Merry Wives, The Public Theater. MFA, American Conservatory Theater. NYTW Usual Suspect.
Production Stage Manager
Caroline Englander
Production Stage Manager
Caroline Englander
A.R.T.: Debut. Broadway: King Lear. Off-Broadway: The Half-God of Rainfall, runboyrun, In Old Age, NYTW; The Jungle, St. Ann’s Warehouse, STC; Becky Nurse of Salem, LCT; Hamlet & Oresteia, Park Avenue Armory; The Vagrant Trilogy, The Outer Space, The Apple Family Plays, Public/NYSF; sandblasted, Vineyard; The Courtroom, Hamlet, Waterwell; Sense & Sensibility, Bedlam. BA: Barnard College.
Actors’ Equity Association member
First performance at the Loeb Drama Center on September 8, 2023.
The United States Premiere of The Half-God of Rainfall was co-produced by American Repertory Theater at Harvard University and New York Theatre Workshop.
The Half-God of Rainfall was first presented as a Fuel and Kiln co-production in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
This production is supported, in part, by the Robert Brustein Endowment Fund for New Works.
A.R.T. Season support is provided by Harvard University, The Barr Foundation, The Bob and Alison Murchison New Work Development Fund, The Shubert Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Barton & Guestier, and Meyer Sound.
The A.R.T. 2023/24 Season is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which receives support from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Media Support is provided by WBUR.
Runtime: One hour and 30 minutes
This performance stages sexual and physical violence, and contains haze, fog, flashing lights, and loud sounds.
Company & Staff
Cast (in Alphabetical Order)
Sàngó
Jason Bowen
Sàngó
Jason Bowen
(he/him) A.R.T.: The Half-God of Rainfall. Broadway: The Play That Goes Wrong. Off-Broadway: The Half-God of Rainfall, NYTW/A.R.T.; Crumbs from the Table of Joy, Keen Company; Long Day’s Journey into Night, Audible Theater; Native Son, The Acting Co.; If Pretty Hurts…, Playwrights Horizons. Regional: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (IRNE Award for Best Actor, Drama), Huntington Theatre. TV/
Actors’ Equity Association member
Hera
Kelley Curran
Hera
Kelley Curran
A.R.T.: Debut. Broadway: Present Laughter. Off-Broadway: Mother of the Maid, The Public; Dracula, CSC; The Winter’s Tale, TFANA; Sense & Sensibility, Bedlam; Angels In America, Signature; work with Red Bull, LAByrinth, The Acting Company. World Premiere Adaptation: The Oresteia, Shakespeare Theatre of DC. Film/TV: The Man Who Killed Hitler… “The Blacklist,” and currently HBO’s “The Gilded Age.” Awards: Emery Battis Award, Joe Callaway Award, NTC Emerging Professional Award, Drama League and Princess Grace Award nominations.
Actors’ Equity Association member
Demi
Mister Fitzgerald
Demi
Mister Fitzgerald
A.R.T.: Debut. Broadway: Ohio State Murders, James Earl Jones Theater. Off-Broadway: On Sugarland, NYTW; A Raisin in the Sun, Public Theater; Exception to the Rule, Roundabout. Film: The Last Deal, Boogie, 30 Weeks. TV: “Power,” “FBI,” “The Blacklist,” “Godfather of Harlem.” Awards: Best Duo Performance (DTLAFF). BFA, FSC. Hails from Baltimore, MD.
Actors’ Equity Association member
Osún
Patrice Johnson Chevannes
A.R.T.: Debut. Broadway: Racing Demon; The Crucible. Off-Broadway/Regional: runboyrun/In Old Age (Drama Desk nomination), NYTW; Endgame (Lortel nomination), Irish Rep; Othello (Desdemona); Pericles, Tamburlaine, TFANA; I’m Revolting, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven, Atlantic Theater Company; Good Grief, Vineyard. TV: “Chambers,” “Pose,” “Shrill,” “Evil,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The First Lady,” “The Good Fight.”
Actors’ Equity Association member
Elegba
Russell G. Jones
Elegba
Russell G. Jones
A.R.T.: Debut. Russell G. Jones is an Audelco, Obie, and SAG Award-winning actor, as well as director, producer, facilitator, moderator, and teaching artist. Theater: a fixture on New York City stages since the mid-1990s, he is proud to have originated roles in plays by Lynn Nottage, Suzan-Lori Parks, Tanya Barfield, Fernanda Coppel, Kirk Wood Bromley, and Stephen Adly Guirgis. Film/TV: Steven Soderbergh’s “Full Circle” (recurring), HBO; “Tommy” (series regular opposite Edie Falco), CBS; “Only Murders in the Building” (recurring), Hulu. He is also the founder and Chief of Pedagogy at BLIND SPOT EXPERIENCE, a campaign that facilitates cross-cultural dialogue and critical thinking by providing context and tools for perceiving racial inequity.
Actors’ Equity Association member
Zeus
Michael Laurence
Zeus
Michael Laurence
A.R.T.: Debut. Broadway: Talk Radio, Desire Under the Elms. Off-Broadway: Coal Country, Public Theater; Appropriate, Signature Theater; Hamlet in Bed (playwright-performer), The Few, Horsedreams, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater; Krapp, 39 (Drama Desk nomination) Soho Playhouse & Tristan Bates Theater/London, Opus, Morini Strad, Discord, Primary Stages; Splendid’s, LaColline/Paris. Film/TV: “Shades of Blue (recurring),” “Blacklist,” “Damages (recurring),” “The Heartshe Holler” (series regular), “Prodigal Son,” “Evil,” “The Good Wife,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Hit & Run,” “Elementary,” “Person of Interest,” “Dexter: New Blood.”
Actors’ Equity Association member
Modúpé
Jennifer Mogbock
Modúpé
Jennifer Mogbock
A.R.T.: Debut. Theatre: Merry Wives, The Public Theater; Yemandja, Kennedy Center; BDOTJ, Society Theatre; King John, Antony & Cleopatra, Hamlet, Stratford Festival. TV: “The Good Fight,” Paramount+; “Evil,” CBS; “Designated Survivor,” Netflix; “Golden City,” Marvel/ Disney +. Upcoming: “Lady In The Lake” (starring Natalie Portman), Apple TV. BFA, SUNY Purchase; MFA, NYU Grad Acting.
Actors’ Equity Association member
Fight Captain
Jason Bowen
Fight Captain
Jason Bowen
(he/him) A.R.T.: The Half-God of Rainfall. Broadway: The Play That Goes Wrong. Off-Broadway: The Half-God of Rainfall, NYTW/A.R.T.; Crumbs from the Table of Joy, Keen Company; Long Day’s Journey into Night, Audible Theater; Native Son, The Acting Co.; If Pretty Hurts…, Playwrights Horizons. Regional: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (IRNE Award for Best Actor, Drama), Huntington Theatre. TV/
Actors’ Equity Association member
Additional Staff
Dramaturg
Iyvon E.
Associate Director
Malika Oyetimein
Assistant Stage Manager
Thea McRae
Assistant Stage Manager
Thea McRae
A.R.T.: Debut. Broadway: A Beautiful Noise. Off-Broadway: The Half-God of Rainfall, New York Theatre Workshop; Cornelia Street, Shhhh, Atlantic Theater Company. Regional: It’s Only a Play, George Street Playhouse; West Side Story, Paper Mill Playhouse; The Royal Family, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Stage Management MFA Candidate at Columbia University and BFA: Emerson College.
Actors’ Equity Association member
Associate Scenic Design
Jungah Han
Associate Costume Design
Herin Kaputkin
Associate Lighting Design
Tyler Dubuc
Associate Sound Design
Kellen Voss
William Koch
Brandon Bulls
Associate Projection Design
Deja Collins
Projections Programmer
Andrew Gusciora
Assistant Choreographer
Julian Robertson
Assistant Voice & Dialect Coach
Elena Schlax
Casting Associate
Alex Cortinas
Production Assistants
Blake Berggren
Julia Grullon
Elise Tuckwood
Physical Therapy
Artistic Athlete Health Collective
A.R.T. Staff
Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director: Diane Paulus
Executive Director: Kelvin Dinkins, Jr.
Managing Director: Anna Fitzloff
Director of Finance: Julia Goldmacher
Artistic Producer: Mark Lunsford
Director of Production: Krystin Matsumoto
Director of Artistic Programs & Dramaturg: Ryan McKittrick
Associate Artistic Director: Dayron J. Miles
Interim Director of Development: Scott Nichols
Director of Marketing and Communications: Jennifer Weissman
Editor & Associate Dramaturg: Robert Duffley Line Producer: Emma Watt Assistant to the Senior Advisor: Madison Baker Public Relations Director: Rebecca Curtiss Associate Director, Advancement & Development Engagement: Michael Winn Director, Capital Projects: Peter Atkinson Interim General Manager: Ted DeLong Controller: Toufiq Aitelfqih Head of Patron Services: Emma Putnam |
Interim Technical Director: Ross Wick Charge Scenic Artist: Gerard Vogt Production Manager: Skip Curtiss Stage Operations Manager: Kevin Belcher Costume Manager: Muriel Mangual-Bennett Wardrobe Manager: Alycia Marucci Sound Manager: Camilo Atehortua Lighting and Projections Supervisor: Matthew Adelman Properties Manager: Erin Kehr Production Overhire |