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Actors
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ROLANDO
BOYCE (Lyons)
is a Chicago native proud to make his Court Theatre debut. Other
theatrical credits include Topdog/Underdog (Madison Rep),
Lobby Hero (Goodman Theatre/BTAAnomination Best Featured
Actor), The Meeting (Life’s a Hustle), Soldiers Play
(Congo Square), Jackie Wilson (Jeff & BTAA award Best
Musical) and Nat King Cole Stories (BTA), 2
(Eclipse Theatre/ Jeff nomination Best Play), When the Water
Turns Clear, In the Wine Time, Dreamers (BTAAaward Best Play),
Fortunes of the Moor & Last Apple (ETA), and A Raisin
in the Sun (Hidden Stages). TV and film credits include Prison
Break, Came Here Whole, Journey of the Heart, and Under
the City. Mr. Boyce also portrays Rufus in R. Kelly’s mini
movie Trapped in the Closet. Rolando would like to thank
his family and friends for their huge support. Leshay, “Baby I’m
so glad we found each other.” Rollie & Tori, “everything I do
is always for you.” This play is dedicated to the men who helped
mold me, Rick Boyce, Sr. and Rick Boyce, Jr.
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TORI
CHAMBREY BOYCE (Raynell)
is thrilled to make her Court Theatre debut, especially with August
Wilson’s Fences. Tori grew up in the theatre with her
father and has had training since the age of 5 (ETA and BET).
Other theatrical credits include The Other Cinderella, The
Wiz, A Raisin in the Sun, and What Shall I Tell My Children.
Miss Boyce is a 6th Grader at McKinley Jr. High where she also
enjoys playing the clarinet for the band. Tori feels this is a
dream fulfilled and “would like to thank God for the opportunities
you gave me.” She would also like to thank her friends and family
for their love and support. Special thanks to: my dad (Rolando,
Sr.), my mom (Latona), Rolando II, Grandma Delia and LeShay. Thank
you all, hugs and kisses, love you. |
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VICTOR
J. COLE (Gabrial)
has worked in film, television and radio. He has acted with such
theaters as Victory Gardens, Steppenwolf (in association with City
Lit Theater) and Onyx Theater. His play, Life Before Def,
showcasing early African American humor, ran during Black Ensemble
Theater’s 2000 season. Several years ago, he assisted comedian Aaron
Freeman with the adaptation of The Comedians for Court
Theatre. Anative south-sider, he is grateful for an opportunity
to perform here on home turf. |
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AMADI
S. COUTARD-DUNFORD (Raynell)
is 10 years old and in the 5th grade at Oscar
Mayer Elementary School. She studies dance
at Joel Hall Dance Center and theatre at Black
Ensemble Theater’s New Direction under Rolando
Boyce, Sr. She enjoys reading, jumping rope,
dancing, bike riding, singing and acting. |
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JOHN
STEVEN CROWLEY
(Jim Bono) is making his first appearance at Court Theatre.
Most recently, John played Coach Dunbar in Marriott Lincolnshire
Theatre’s production of Footloose. John also played Man
in Regina Taylor’s production of Crowns, a collaborative
effort with the Alliance Theatre (Atlanta, GA), Arena Stage (Washington,
DC), Hartford Stage (Hartford, CT) and the Goodman Theatre (Chicago,
IL). John was nominated for a Helen Hayes award for his performance
in that production in Washington, DC. Locally, John has performed
with Black Ensemble Theatre, Chicago Theatre Co., ETA, Victory Gardens
Theatre, Drury Lane South, and the Goodman Theatre. Regional: Heartland
Theatre (Kansas City, MO), Alhambra Theatre (Jacksonville, FL) and
the Huntington Theatre (Boston, MA), to name a few. Here in Chicago,
John received Jeff awards for his performances in Jackie Taylor’s
Doo Whop Shoo Bop as Tony Williams of the Platters and
Elvis Presley was a Black Man as Fats Domino (Black Ensemble
Theatre), and Marc Robins’ Ain’t Misbehavin’ as Ken at
Drury Lane South. John is honored to once again be a part of this
August Wilson experience. Thanking God for this venue of creative
expression and always grateful to family and friends for love and
support. Selah! |
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ANTHONY
FLEMING, III (Cory)
last appeared in Manuscript Found in Saragossa at Lookingglass.
Other Lookingglass credits, along with being an Artistic Associate,
include Lookingglass Alice, 1984 and Race. Mr. Fleming
has performed at Victory Gardens (Hambone, Free Man of Color),
Steppenwolf (Take Me Out, Division St.), Piven Theater
(Orlando), Chicago Theater Co. (Journal, Cut Flowers),
Pegasus Players (Dead of Night), and Famous Door (Cider
House Rules). He is honored to make his debut at this magnificent
theater with such a brilliant and moving story. |
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A.C.
SMITH (Troy)
makes his debut at Court Theatre in this production of Fences.
He is a native of Chicago and has acted in many major theatres here
including his home theater, Victory Gardens, where he has been a
part of many productions over twenty years. Other Chicago credits
include work at the Steppenwolf and Goodman Theatres, Chicago Center
for the Performing Arts, Illinois Theatre Center, Second City and
Chicago Shakespeare Theater, to name a few. When not in Chicago,
Smith can be seen performing at his second home, the St. Louis Black
Repertory Co., where he has worked for over ten years (and in which
time he has won eight Woodie King, Jr. awards). Smith has performed
in the Broadway national tour of The Piano Lesson by the
late August Wilson, directed by Lloyd Richards. He also played the
title role in the New Federal Theatre’s production of Jelly
Belly off-Broadway (Adelco award nomination). He has appeared
in many independent films and a handful of feature films; also radio,
voice-overs, television, print (Ebony and Jet magazines), and commercials.
Smith has two lovely children, Lauren and Charles, who he loves
very much. A.C. dedicates his performance to the Late Great August
Wilson and his beloved family, may God bless you all. |
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JACQUELINE
WILLIAMS
(Rose) last appeared at Court in Electra. She was
most recently seen in the recurring role of Secret Service Agent
Tangren on the Fox series Prison Break. Goodman Theatre:
The Story, Crowns, The Amen Corner, Oo-blah-dee, Blues for an
Alabama Sky, Each One As She May, Richard II, I Am a Man, The Skin
of Our Teeth, among many others. Victory Gardens: Shoes,
Waiting to be Invited, The Colored Museum. Yellowman
at Next, No Place Like Home at Steppenwolf, The Vagina
Monologues at the Apollo, Mom’s the Word at Royal
George. Tours: Crowns, Market Theatre of Johannesburg;
Born in the R.S.A., Jonathan Wilson’s internationally acclaimed
production of From the Mississippi Delta. Regional credits:
Arena Stage, Hartford Stage, La Jolla Playhouse, Huntington Playhouse,
Berkeley Rep., ACTSeattle. Broadway: The Young Man from Atlanta.
Off-Broadway: From the Mississippi Delta, The Talented Tenth,
Mill Fire. TV: cast of Turks for CBS, miniseries A
Will of Their Own, among others. Film: Hardball, White
Boyz, 2006 releases of The Lake House with Sandra
Bullock and The Breakup with Vince Vaughn. Awards and nominations:
Joseph Jefferson, Helen Hayes, Black Theatre Alliance, African American
Arts Alliance, Connecticut Critics Circle, American Arts Council,
Theatre School (alumnus) Career Achievement, Drama Desk, among others.
Greatest blessing: daughter, Kara. |
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STAGE
MANAGEMENT
DEYA
FRIEDMAN
(Production Stage Manager) Recent credits include Man
of La Mancha (Court Theatre); Red Herring, The Good War,
Lady Windermere’s Fan and At Wit’s End (Northlight Theatre);
Into the Woods, Uneasy Chair, and Red Herring
(Peninsula Players); and Marriage Play (Goodman Theatre).
Other Chicago credits include: Waiting for Godot, Wings
and Spico- Rama (Goodman Theatre); The Bomb-itty
of Errors and The Gin Game (Royal George Theater);
and the Auditorium Theater Council’s Ovations! series. Deya teaches
Stage Management at Loyola University Chicago
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MARGARET
CANGELOSI (Assistant
Stage Manager) is happy to be working with Court Theatre for
the first time. Margaret has stage managed for many theatre companies
in Chicago, including The Subject Was Roses, Benefactors, A
Christmas Carol, and Rough Crossing at Writers’Theatre;
Disgruntled Employee Handbook with Second City; By
the Music of the Spheres, Box, The Sandbox, and Finding
the Sun at the Goodman Theatre; and Anna in the Tropics
at the Victory Gardens Theatre. Regional theatre credits include
Long Wharf Theatre’s Going Native, Gary Grinkle’s Battles
with Wrinkles, An Infinite Ache, and My Red Hand, My Black
Hand, Westport Country Playhouse’s The Voice of the Turtle
and Outward Bound, the Polka Dot Playhouse’s My Way,
and Northlight Theatre’s At Wit's End. |
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