Panther Women: An Army for the Liberation
Written & Directed by India Nicole Burton.
February 04, 2022 - February 26, 2022
7:30pm, Thu/Fri/Sat/Mon and 3:00pm Sun, Feb 13, Gordon Square Theatre.Previews February 4, 5 & 10. Opening Night is Feb 11. No show Mon, Feb 14.
EVERY TICKET is “Choose What You Pay” and will be offered online, over the phone, and at the Box Office.
For groups larger than 4, please call the box office at 216.631.2727 x501 or email boxoffice@cptonline.org.
Click here for COVID-19 Safety Protocols.
Panther Women: An Army for the Liberation follows one woman’s journey to self-discovery through the stories of three prominent women who were members of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Movement. This high-energy movement piece with poetry, monologues, dance, and song explores the dilemmas, obstacles, and joy of African American Women, chronicling the lifelong pursuit of justice by some of the founding women of the Civil Rights Movement. A choreopoem built upon extensive research and collaboration with a cohort of Black artists, Panther Women: An Army for the Liberation, touches on the core of the human condition and celebrates Black women. NNPN Rolling World Premiere.
Featuring: Dayshawnda Ash, Raven Mone't Bryant, Hayley Johnson, Zyrece Montgomery, Maya Nicholson, Shannon Sharkey, Sydney Smith
Content Warning: Panther Women: An Army for the Liberation includes explicit language, as well as some words people may find offensive, sexual content or innuendo, and discussion of racism and violence against women. For details or additional content, please contact the Box Office at 216.631.2727 x501 or by emailing boxoffice@cptonline.org.
The Gordon Square Theatre is ADA-compliant featuring a ramped entrance and an all-gender, wheelchair accessible restroom.
The Creative Production Team Includes:
Producer - Raymond Bobgan
Line Producer, Director, & Playwright - India Nicole Burton
Stage Manager - Paula S. Washington
Assistant Stage Manager - Eli B. Fuentes Aguirre
Choreographer - Munirah Bomani
Assistant Choreographer - Inali Pichardo
Music Director - Dayshawnda Ash
Costume Designer - Marti Coles
Scenic Designer - Nina Castillo-D’Angier
Wardrobe Assistant - Brielle McGrew
Understudy - Azizah Muhammad
Fight Choreographer - Maya Nicholson
Lighting Designer - Moneé Stamp
Sound Designer - Amy Weaver
About the playright & Director: India Nicole Burton
India Nicole Burton is an actress, director, playwright, devisor, and producer. She is a native of Akron, OH, and graduated from The University of Akron in 2011 with a BA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis on performance. Upon graduating, India founded Ma’Sue Productions, an African American theatre company located in Akron. She has directed, produced, and performed in several of Ma’Sue’s plays and was co-artistic director until 2015. India recently ended a virtual national tour of American Dreams by Leila Buck in 2020, where she played the role of Briana Coffman. She originated this character when it had its world premiere at Cleveland Public Theatre in 2018. India’s directing credits include for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf (Heads Up Productions), The Laramie Project (Heads Up Productions), Daybreak’s Children (Ma’Sue Productions), A Happening on Imperial (Ma’Sue Productions), Fire on the Water (Cleveland Public Theatre, co-directed); Panther Women: An Army for the Liberation (in development at Cleveland Public Theatre), “inside out” by Francisca Da Silveira (Company One, as part of their C1: Inauguration project), Welcome to the Taj Mahal (Motel) by Riti Sachdeva at The Playwrights Center (Workshop). India’s assistant directing credits include the 2014 production of The Color Purple at Karamu House, A brownsville song (b-side for tray) at Dobama Theatre, and Cleveland Public Theatre’s Barbecue and Good at Heart, featured in BorderLight International Theatre + Fringe Festival. India is a board member for New World Performance Lab, a two-year recipient of the NNPN Producer in Residence program for Cleveland Public Theatre, and a 2021 recipient of the NNPN Bridge Program grant. She was also a cast member of American Dreams, which was nominated for a Drama League Award in 2021. India is currently receiving her MFA in playwriting from The University of Nebraska’s Creative writing program.
NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK ROLLING WORLD PREMIERE
In partnership with the National New Play Network (NNPN), Panther Women: An Amy for the Liberation is produced at Cleveland Public Theatre as part of a NNPN Rolling World Premiere. Other partnering theatres are Prop Thtr and Perception Theatre (Chicago), and Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis). For more information, please visit www.nnpn.org.
NNPN is an alliance of professional theatres that collaborate in innovative ways to develop, produce, and extend the life of new plays. NNPN’s Rolling World Premiere Program supports three or more theatres that choose to mount the same new play within a 12-month period, allowing the playwright to develop a new work with multiple creative teams in multiple communities. The playwright is part of the process, working on the script and making adjustments based on what is learned from each production. Click here for more information.