The Story and the Teller

by Calley N. Anderson

Program

The University of Memphis has commissioned native Memphian and current New Yorker Calley N. Anderson to write a new play with and for our students. Set in the present moment, The Story and the Teller will follow the resident acting company of a local Memphis theatre, tasked with devising a play about the impact of the 1878 Yellow Fever epidemic on African Americans and immigrants. Challenging enough on its own, the process is marred by questions and disagreements about history, race, gender, and storytelling, issues that played out in both 1878 and 2020 in dizzying ways.

Zoom reading Sunday, November 15 at 2 pm

Director: HOLLY L. DERR
Dramaturg/Script Coordinator: TRISTIN HICKS

CAST

Christine Bauer: HALEIGH JOHNSON
Raven Harris: RAINA WILLIAMS
Corey Caldwell, plays Robert R. Church: JATAVIUS HAYNES
Daniel Keller, plays J.M. Keating: AUSTIN CLOYD
Eric Jacobs, plays Dr. Robert Mitchell: ELIJAH BIENZ
Hannah Martin, plays Annie Cook: ALY MILAN
Holly Lamb, plays Sister Frances: LAUREN MATTHEWS
Jayda Webster, plays Sarah Jackson: TIFFANY BONDS
Jess Pearson, plays Kezia De Pelchin: FELICIA KIMBRELL
Madison Walker, plays a grave digger and woman 1: JADA FARMER
Matt Lara, plays Jack Walsh or William Warren: OSCAR GARCIA
Meghan Garza, plays Kate Bionda and Womam 2: NIKKI MONSON
Neisha Lloyd, plays a house servant: MACKENZIE WHITE
Richard “Rich” Phillips, plays an Irish Immigrant: JUSTIN WILLS
Xavier McFadden, plays R.H. Tate: NICHOLAS DAVIS

Summer Workshop

May 30 at 7:30 PM

As part of the process of creating new work, the University of Memphis Department of Theatre & Dance is producing a summer workshop production of The Story and the Teller in collaboration with New York playwright, Calley N. Anderson. The cast will be working with Calley in person this summer and performing the piece live on stage under strict safety measures. Due to those safety measures, we will only be able to allow forty people in the audience the night of the performance.

Director: HOLLY L. DERR
Assistant Director: MOY HINOJOS
Dramaturg/Script Coordinator: MICHAEL MEITZLER
Light and Projection Design:  ANTHONY PELLECCHIA
Costume Design:  HALEY GRANNON
Set Design:  EMILY ROARK
Sound Design:  IAN EASTERWOOD
Electricians and Technicians:  NAT DEFUSCO, MATTHEW RUSSELL, ANDREW BOONE and MIKKI MCCORMACK
Acting Coach: JAZMYN BOONE
Assistant Stage Manager: KAYLYN N. NICHOLS-OZMENT
Assistant Stage Manager:  ZOË PERROCK
Technical Director: MIKE O'NELE

CAST

Christine Bauer: ANGELA SHULTZ
Raven Harris: RAINA WILLIAMS
Corey Caldwell, plays Lillian’s father: BLAKE CURRIE
Daniel Keller, plays J.M. Keating: BENNETT MCCLUSKEY
Eric Jacobs, plays Dr. Robert Mitchell: MATTHEW HAWKINS
Hannah Martin, plays Annie Cook: ALY MILAN
Holly Lamb, plays Sister Frances: CAMILLE LONG
Jayda Webster, plays Sarah Jackson: NIKE JOHAN FARMER
Jess Pearson, plays Kezia De Pelchin: FELICIA KIMBRELL
Madison Walker, plays a grave digger and woman 1: MARRISSA CHERRY
Matt Lara, plays Jack Walsh or William Warren: JESSE GOMEZ
Meghan Garza, plays Kate Bionda and Womam 2: NIKKI MONSON
Neisha Lloyd, plays a house servant: MACKENZIE WHITE
Richard “Rich” Phillips, plays an Irish Immigrant: JUSTIN WILLS
Xavier McFadden, plays R.H. Tate: NICHOLAS DAVIS