WHAT'S NEW IN 2022
WHAT'S NEW IN 2022
THE GORGEOUS NOTHINGS by Travis Russ, is a groundbreaking new musical that dramatizes the true story behind the "Fag Ward" at NYC’s Men’s Penitentiary during the 1930s. Blending archival research with forgotten songs from the Great American Songbook, this musical exposes an overlooked and shocking chapter of American LGBTQ+ history.
in the rehearsal room nyc 2022. from l to r: Arnie Burton, Tony Award nominee John Cariani, Rodney Hicks, Ken Barnett, Allan K. Washington, Jake Swain, Thomas Hodges (on piano) photos: Roberto Arau photography
Life Jacket Theater Company, Tectonic Theater Group, Matt Joslyn present a sneak peak preview on Monday, December 12, 2022, 7:00 PM at Lincoln Center NY Public Library for the Performing Arts
CAST: Arnie Burton (The 39 Steps; Peter & The Starcatcher), Tony Award nominee John Cariani (A Band's Visit; Caroline, or Change), Rodney Hicks (Come From Away; Rent), Ken Barnett (Fun Home; Mozart in the Jungle), Allan K. Washington (Once on this Island; SpongeBob), Jake Swain (Mean Girls).
PRODUCTION TEAM: Travis Russ (Playwright/Director), Thomas Hodges (Music Consultant), Matt Joslyn (Producer).
PRODUCERS: Life Jacket Theatre Company, Tectonic Theater Project, Matt Joslyn.
grateful.
11/2022, pictured l to r- Musical director: Chris Ranney. Cast: Anthony Rollins-Mullens, Gary Martinez, Marina Pires, Rodney Hicks, Gizel Jiménez, Shadia Fairuz, Adam Saucedo, Ryan Thurman, Kimber Sprawl
HART ISLAND
Book and Lyrics by Michelle Elliott
Music and Lyrics by Danny Haengil Larsen
Co-directed by Tim Bond and Marcela Lorca
Musical Direction by Chris Ranney
November 6 @ 7pm
November 10 @ 7pm
November 13 @ 7pm
“Over 1 million bodies are buried on Hart Island in New York City’s East River. The poor, the unclaimed, and the unknown are laid to rest in rudimentary pine boxes and unmarked graves. In this inspiring and hauntingly beautiful new musical, an immigrant woman looking for her child discovers the unexpected compassion of a disillusioned inmate on the burial crew. These two people on the edge of society change each other’s lives forever as they begin to grieve and learn to appreciate each other’s humanity.”
Montalvo Arts Center for TheatreWorks -Silicon Valley 19th New Works Festival!
I am excited and grateful to be back in the Bay Area again stepping back into the role of Riders Island inmate ‘Charles’ for this year’s New Works Festival with this fabulous team of Artists!
I am grateful to be in Atlanta through the end of October filming a movie for DISNEY+ called, “The Slumber Party,” based on the well-known YA novel “The Sleepover” by Jen Malone. Academy Award winners Brian Grazer and Ron Howard serve as executive producers of the film. “The Slumber Party” is directed by NAACP Image Award nominee Veronica Rodriguez (“Let’s Get Married,” Disney’s “Gabby Duran & the Unsittables”), and Eydie Faye (“Fuller House”) is the writer. I am in the supporting role of Dr. Conrad Brookman, he and his husband are the dad’s of Megan Brookman (Darby Camp). The movie is scheduled to be released on DISNEY+ sometime next year.
“‘The Slumber Party’ is a hilarious ride that looks at female friendship and self-discovery through a sophisticated, cinematic lens. The film aims to deliver humor, surprise and delight to viewers with a movie that will be relatable to audiences of all ages.”
peace and love
1 9 6 8. NYC reading cast. 6/10/2022 l. to r. Kurt Uy, Sasha Diamond, Kelsey Bentz, Pearl Sun, Sydney Cole Alexander, Alexis Sims, Jerome Preston Bates, Robin Walker, Yassmin Alers, Derrick Cobey, James Seol, J.D. Mollison, Harry Waller, Eric Berryman, Astrid Van Wieren, Brian Charles Rooney, Lou Liberatore, Leigh Ann Larkin, Sofia Vilches, Nasia Thomas, Esteban Suero, Marisel Lopez, Jonathan Burke and Christopher Hanke. I am deeply grateful to the people who helped to make this possible, along with these fabulous Artists and beautiful human beings, and the other Artists who took part in previous readings over the past year and a half of this ever evolving project. I look forward to the next steps in the process of creating this new work of Art for today. photo by: DQ
I believe in love, peace, and kindness
* 1968 an American Love Story has been significantly re-written and developed since its June 2022 reading. The musical now features a cast size of 18. 7 Principal roles, 3 Supporting featured roles, and 8 Ensemble (dancer-singers-actors) in this new two act musical about the power of love and chosen family during one of the most tumultuous year’s in America.
peace
THE GORGEOUS NOTHINGS 6/8/2022 NYC reading company: r to l front row -Travis Russ (Playwright), Thomas Hodges (Musical director), Eric Berryman, Rodney Hicks, Arnie Burton, Ken Barnett, Rodney Jackson (reader), John Cariani
Being in the company of these beautifully queer human beings and brilliant Artists has been such a gift and JOY. I so look forward to future audiences seeing what’s being created. I am quite fortunate to have been with this project for over the past year. Much love.
Click on pic to enlarge.
Rodney Hicks (Caesar Wilks, *Wig Design by Cherelle Guyton), Porscha Shaw (Black Mary) and Edward Ewell (Citizen Barlow) in the TheatreWorks Silicon Valley production of August Wilson’s ‘GEM OF THE OCEAN’ directed by Tim Bond.
Jerome Preston Bates (Eli), Kim Sullivan (Sally Two Kings), Dan Hiatt (Selig), and Porscha Shaw (Black Mary) in the TheatreWorks Silicon Valley production of August Wilson’s ‘GEM OF THE OCEAN’ directed by Tim Bond.
Greta Oglesby (Aunt Esther), Edward Sewell (Citizen Barlow), Porscha Shaw (Black Mary), and Jerome Preston Bates (Eli) in the TheatreWorks Silicon Valley production of August Wilson’s ‘GEM OF THE OCEAN’ directed by Tim Bond.
This production was an extraordinary journey to be on with such wonderful human beings and brilliant Artists. It was an honor to share the stage with everyone and to work with our beautifully fierce director, cast, creative team, stage management, and crew. I am so incredibly grateful to be here now doing what I love. Being an Artist and meditation peace practitioner in our world of today. Much love, peace, and compassion to us all. - Blessings and joy, Rodney Hicks (Monday May 2, 2022)
August Wilson’s GEM OF THE OCEAN directed by Tim Bond for TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
April 6, 2022 - May 1, 2022
Mountain View Center for Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View, CA 94041
“Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner August Wilson’s American Century Cycle begins with this inspirational tale of transformation. Slavery is a living memory in 1904 when Citizen Barlow, a young man desperate for redemption and wracked with guilt, arrives at Aunt Ester’s doorstep. A 285-year-old prophet and renowned “washer of souls,” Aunt Ester sends him on a mystical journey of justice and freedom that is as urgent and as expansive as the soul of America.
A close friend of Wilson and long-time interpreter of his work, Artistic Director Tim Bond brings spiritual music and vibrant theatricality to the TheatreWorks stage.”
For more info and tickets please visit www.theatreworks.org
Click the Newspaper titles to read the full articles about the show and everyone.
“Go and bear witness to world-class performers at the height of their powers. Watch as Hicks carries Caesar as if his chest is connected directly to the ceiling, as if he’s the prow of a battleship slicing through thick, unyielding water, spewing hate and self-importance and bootstraps mythology nonsense like a spigot with no off handle.”
Mercury News - "Prophetic Gem of the Ocean shines at TheatreWorks."
“Hicks taps into a well of ignorance and rage as Caesar enforces the letter of the law without mercy.”
Theatrius - "A Mighty cruise to African Epiphany."
“Solly confronts Caesar Wilks (imperious Rodney Hicks), the brutal Black sheriff who runs the town. Caesar cares more about the local corporate mill than his own people. Hicks makes Caesar a thrilling renegade lawman—a violent, hypocritical narcissist.”
Curtain Up - "Gem of the Ocean challenges audience with painful perspective of the past."
“This entire cast is superb in their field and carry this heavy, dark production to the highest level.”
Greeley Tribune - Prophecy of the Glow in the Gem of the Ocean"
“Hicks enters a well of ignorance and anger as Caesar invokes the letter of the law without mercy.”
Talkin' Broadway
“If the current sensitive, soaring, and in every respect sensational staging of August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean is any indication of what is to come, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley and the entire Bay Area have a spectacular future of Broadway-quality theatre under Tim Bond's leadership.”
On January 26, 2022 Rodney portrayed the role(s) of Augustus Granville & Others in a NYC private workshop of
THE GORGEOUS NOTHINGS by Travis Russ. Rodney has been fortunate to be a part of this extraordinarily beautiful new work of Art since 2021. He will be taking part in another private reading of the piece this June in New York City. I am grateful.
January 11 - 16, 2022 Rodney took part in a week long workshop of the new musical HART ISLAND by Michelle Elliott & Daniel Larsen portraying the role of ‘Charles’ at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Directed by Tim Bond