Search Results for: Sam Williams

Cast and Crew

Alli Bostedt (Company whatever; it’s not readily apparent; she/her) took her first foray into theatre at the age of four and has always looked back since. Regularly seen backstage – e.g. props, costumes, office manager, actor wrangler, contracts, tour manager. Native of Las Vegas and until recently a resident of California, she took the peculiar step to move to the UK and have a family instead of washing men’s tights for a living. Alli doesn’t go on the road anymore, she leaves that to others, instead she works behind the scenes pulling the strings. Much like actors, small children are demanding, temperamental and keep strange hours. She could have just stuck to touring really.

domcontiDominic Conti (Performer/Additional Material Hollywood; he/him) was discovered by RSC talent scouts in Chicago, performing America (abridged) with The Noble Fool Theater. He workshopped Hollywood (abridged) in Rohnert Park and St. Louis, premiered it at Pittsburgh Public Theatre, and tours it along with Comedy (abridged), Sports (abridged), Books (abridged), Bible (abridged) and America (abridged). Other regional theaters he’s worked with include: Plasticene, Steppenwolf, Second City, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Goodman, Westport Country Playhouse, Beaver Creek Theatre Festival, Madison Repertory, Chicago Shakespeare, Next, A Red Orchid, Apple Tree TYA, Mary-Arrchie, Griffin, Raven, Prop, Defiant, First Folio Shakespeare Festival, Lost Angeles Theatre and Odyssey Theatre Ensemble. Film/TV credits include: Martian American (Best Actor — Glendale International Film Festival, Best Actor in a Short — Los Angeles Comedy Festival), Stealth, I Am He, Nothing in Los Angeles, A Voodoo Possession, Another Stupid Day, The Interview (Best Actor in a Short — Chicago Comedy Film Festival, also co-writer/producer), April, Saturday, Shades of Hope, Fiona’s Fortune, The Roaring Twenties, Zombie Holocaust and You! and Fiasco. Web series: Broken Dreams Boulevard, The Family Curse, Red Scare and The Best Friend (also co-wrote three episodes; Won LAWebfest Award — “Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series” and nominated for IAWTV Award — “Best Writing in a Comedy”).

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Episode 637. History Of Blackface

Director and teaching artist Jerrell L. Henderson discusses the history of Blackface, the troubling and racist practice of white people “blacking up” to portray demeaning African-American stereotypes (which was, incredibly, the most popular form of entertainment in America for over 100 years). Jerrell discusses its roots in minstrelsy, almost-Shakespearean levels of layers and multiple identities; shout-outs to great performers like Daddy Rice, J. Rosamund Johnson, Bob Cole, Ernest Hogan, George Walker, Bert Williams (above); genuine love being the butt of the joke; how some entertainers are responding to issues of yellow- and brown face better than others; a legacy of trauma and historical objections; and how greater onstage and onscreen representation in entertainment matters. (Length 21:45)