In the ethnic resurgence known as the Harlem Renaissance, an educated man takes on the challenge of turning a lowly girl from the city streets into a New York socialite. With modern interpretations of social class and gender, infused with the jazz and the energy of the age, Higgins in Harlem promises to be a fresh and entertaining reinvention of a theatrical masterpiece.

Schedule

SUN	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT
MAR 2014			5 7:30pm (Preview)	6 7:30pm (Preview)	7 8:00pm (Opening Nite)	8 8:00pm
9 2:00pm Talk Back with the cast	10	11	12 7:30pm	13 7:30pm	14 8:00pm	15 8:00pm
16 2:00pm Talk Back with the cast	17	18	19 7:30pm	20 7:30pm	21 8:00pm	22 8:00pm
23 2:00pm Talk Back with the cast

Artists

KEVYN MORROW* (Henry Higgins) Playhouse on Park debut! Mr. Morrow's Broadway credits include the original casts of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, DREAM, SMOKEY JOE'S CAFÉ, LEADER OF THE PACK as well as DREAMGIRLS (1987 revival) and A CHORUS LINE (1990 closing company). His London West End credits include: Georgie Blues (125TH STREET) - world premiere, and Coalhouse Walker Jr. (RAGTIME) - 2004 Olivier Award Nominee for Best Actor in a Musical. Off-Broadway he appeared as Bernard (THE BOYS IN THE BAND) – 40th Anniversary Production, and Blue Williams (BLUE). Regional credits include: Simon (THE WHIPPING MAN), Clarence the Angel (IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE -LIVE RADIO PLAY), Solly Two Kings (GEM OF THE OCEAN), Billy Strayhorn (STORMY WEATHER), 1st Husband Bill (THE FIRST WIVES CLUB)- NAACP Best actor Nom., Henry (David Mamet's RACE), Harmond Wilks (RADIO GOLF), Javert (LES MISERABLES), King Triton (THE LITTLE MERMAID), Danny/Zeus (XANADU), Sid (THE PAJAMA GAME), Aramis (THE THREE MUSKETEERS), Nomax/Four-Eyed (FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE), Jaguar (THUNDER KNOCKIN' ON THE DOOR), Dr. Gibbs (OUR TOWN), Othello (STONE MY HEART) and Buddy Lomax (TAMBOURINES TO GLORY) - 2005 Helen Hayes Award Nominee for Best Actor. Film credits include "Dark Light", "The Trade" and "Stayin' Alive". Television credits include, most recently, "Hostages" (guest), "Person of Interest" (recurring), "The Good Wife" (guest), "Elementary" (guest), Kennedy Center Honors (featured) and "Half-Share"- pilot (series regular), as well as "Hope and Faith" (recurring), "Ed" (recurring), "Law and Order" (guest), "Coach" (guest), "Murphy Brown" (guest), "L.A. Law" (guest), "One Life To Live" (recurring), as well as Host of "Kidsworld."

GERI-NIKOLE LOVE (Eliza Doolittle) Playhouse on Park Debut! La Mama: Maura (CARLISLE: THE OTHER THREE SISTERS), Harlem School of the Arts: the Woman (BLACK BOY & THE WAR), The Red Room: Little Blood Button (I STAND BEFORE YOU NAKED). Film & TV: Maya Drake "Redrum", Claire "Gasp", Grace "Purpose Built". Geri-Nikole holds a BFA in Theater from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.




BOB JOHNSON* (Pickering) Playhouse on Park debut. His previous work includes commercials for IBM, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Johnson & Johnson. Theater credits include: Pulse Theatre Ensemble: Ben Jordan (BLACK STAR RISING); Richmond Theatre Collection: Andre (AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'); Tour: ESCAPE TO FREEDOM by Ozzie Davis; George Street Theatre: created the role of MC and Hot Stuff (Judd Waldon's musical LITTLE HAM). Film: Jamal in David Bollag's "Identical". Mr. Johnson will also appear as Dr. Oliver in the coming new season of the TV series "Orange is the New Black". A Langston Hughes and Harlem Renaissance enthusiast, Mr. Johnson has been waiting for someone to write a black version of "Pygmalion".

JOSHUA RAMOS (Freddie) Playhouse on Park debut! Josh is very excited to be working with this very talented cast. Josh has several years of experience as a teaching assistant at the Oddfellow's Playhouse and as a counselor for the advanced circus program of the children's circus, which have revealed his exceptional skills as a teacher. Credits include: Father, Boyfriend (AN END TO VIOLETS); Grandfather (SEM-PA BRIDGE); Brian (THIS PRESENT SON); Prince the Parrot (DYLAN AND THE FLASH).



XENIA GRAY (Mrs. Pearce) is ecstatic for her Playhouse on Park debut. Multiple Productions: Renee (THE PERFECT MATCH), Mona (SOUL SEARCHERS), Vicky (SET FOR LIFE), Homeless Female (SINCERELY YOUR SISTER), African Queen (TAPPIN' TO HIS LOVE), Mrs. VanWinkle (I NEED AN ANGEL), Clarissa (RHO KAPPA EPSILON), Ms. Beulah Daniels (STEAL AWAY), The Lady in Green (FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF). Xenia would like to thank her family and friends for their support. Thank you to the Playhouse on Park for this exciting opportunity. Enjoy the Show!


AURELIA CLUNIE (Mrs. Hill) Playhouse on Park: THEATRE UNCUT. ARTfarm: Don John (MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING); Victory Gardens Biograph Theater: Carol (LIVING GREEN); Writers' Theatre: Alaya u/s (THE MLK PROJECT: THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS); Collaboraction: Saphroina (SKETCHBOOK 12: [FOR] WOMEN), 18 (SKETCHBOOK 9: WHAT I AM SUPPOSED TO BE); For Youth Inquiry: Audre (PROJECT US), Keri (CAN I HIT IT); Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble: Ensemble (MIRRORS) Education: B.S. Theatre (Northwestern University), Summer Training Institute (Shakespeare & Company). When not onstage, Aurelia works as a theatre educator at Hartford Stage.

VANESSA BUTLER (Clara Hill) Playhouse on Park: Multiple Roles (THEATER UNCUT 2013); Multiple Roles (THEATER UNCUT 2012); Collective Conscious Theater: Sierra (KHALAS). Vanessa holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University and a MFA in acting from California Institute of the Arts.






JANELLE ROBINSON* (Mrs. Higgins) is thrilled to be making her debut at Playhouse on Park as West Hartford has been a second home to her. Most recently, she had the pleasure of originating the role of Mrs. Corry in Disney/ Cameron Mackintosh's Broadway production of MARY POPPINS. Other Broadway credits include: OKLAHOMA and the revival of SHOWBOAT. 1st Nat'l s: Flannery (THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE) and Queenie (SHOWBOAT). Off Broadway: Cherry Lane Theater, ENCORES. Her regional work includes Papermill Playhouse, North Shore Music Theater, Maine State Music Theater, Cleveland Playhouse and Summer Theater of New Canaan. You can catch her this fall in the film, "A Little Game", starring F. Murray Abraham and Ralph Macchio. Janelle is a proud member of Actor's Equity and would like to thank The Mine, family and friends especially Alita, for all their support and love.

JEFFREY COUSAR (Doolittle) Playhouse on Park Debut! Avery (THE PIANO LESSON) in Pottstown, PA and played a pharmacy clerk, in a scene with Richard Gere, for the upcoming movie "Franny". He received his seminal training in theatre at Freedom Theatre, Pennsylvania's oldest black theatre. The honey bee is disappearing in vast numbers; I dedicate my performance to you. Stay strong!




LAWRENCE THELEN (Author/Director) is very happy to be presenting the premiere of HIGGINS IN HARLEM at Playhouse on Park. Larry served as Artistic Director for both the Cherry County Playhouse and the Thunder Bay Theatre where he produced and/or directed, among others, BYE BYE BIRDIE (with Priscilla Lopez), JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, THE WIZARD OF OZ, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, MAN OF LA MANCHA, INTO THE WOODS, and EVITA. Nowadays his work can most often be seen at the Ivoryton Playhouse where he has directed DREAMGIRLS, THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH, THE GRADUATE, HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES, DRIVING MISS DAISY, THE ODD COUPLE and GODSPELL. As a writer and playwright, his book The Show Makers: Great Directors of the American Musical Theatre (Routledge) is currently available in paperback, and his latest play, ICHABOD CRANE TELLS ALL, is featured in the anthology Best American Short Plays, 2011-2012 (Applause Theatre Books). His other plays include the comic opera PYRAMUS AND THISBE which premiered at the 92nd Street Y, and the musical THE THIRD WAVE for which he received the Jackie White Memorial Playwriting Award. For seven years Larry was the Producing Associate and Literary Manager for Goodspeed Musicals. Originally from Palos Verdes, California, he currently resides in Haddam with his wife Irene, and their two daughters, Julia and Johanna, to whom this play is dedicated.

*Appears through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.