THE MOUNTAINTOP
By
Katori Hall
THE MOUNTAINTOP is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.
We would like to begin
by acknowledging that the land
on which we gather is the unceded territory
of the Yuchi and Cherokee People.
We offer our gratitude for the land itself,
and the Indigenous people that
stewarded it for generations.
About The Play
The Mountaintop
By
Katori Hall
Original Broadway production produced by
Jean Doumanian, Sonia Friedman Productions, Ambassador Theatre Group,
Raise the Roof 7, Ted Snowdon, Alhadeff Productions/Lauren Doll,
B Square + 4 Productions/Broadway Across America, Jacki Barlia Florin/Cooper Federman, Ronnie Planalp/Moellenberg
Taylor and Marla Rubin Productions/Blumenthal Performing Arts, in association with Scott Delman.
THE MOUNTAINTOP was developed at the Lark Play Development Center,
New York City, and was first produced by Theatre 503 in June 2009
and further produced at Trafalgar Studio One in July 2009
by Sonia Friedman Productions and Jean Doumanian,
Tali Pelman for Ambassador Theatre Group, Bob Bartner, Freddy DeMann,
Jerry Frankel, Ted Snowdon and Marla Rubin Productions Ltd.
THE MOUNTAINTOP was developed at the 2008 Bay Area Playwrights Festival,
a program of the Playwrights Foundation (Amy L. Mueller, Artistic Director).
CHARACTERS
DR. KING
CAMAE
NOTES:
** THE MOUNTAINTOP will be performed without an intermission. The show runs approximately 90 minutes.
** This production contains the use of herbal cigarettes. Patrons are advised to sit further back if this is a concern.
Cast
DR. KING — Jamal Sterling
CAMAE — Jaquai Wade Pearson
Creative Team
Director — Rico Bruce Wade
Stage Manager — Jessica Klus
Assistant Stage Manager/Properties Designer — Rachel Winenger
Scenic Designer/Technical Director — Scott Baron
Lighting Designer — Jordan Vera
Sound/Projections Designer — Lucas Swinehart
Costumes Designer — Keeley Wade
Intimacy Choreographer — Amelia Peterson
Marketing Coordinator — Deidra Cade Harper
Photography — David A. Johnson
House Manager — Wymon Anderson
Artistic Director and Producer — Joshua Peterson
Assoc. Artistic Director and Marketing Co-Lead — Emily Ernst
Managing Director and Producer — Kenneth Herring
Production Assistant — Tamsin Keh
Season Sponsors
Show Sponsors
A Special Thanks
The Chairs at the Old City PAC were donated to River & Rail by the Angel Capital Group in memory of Sam McCamy.
Who's Who
Jamal Sterling (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Jamal Sterling is an actor, director, voice over artist, educator and acting coach based out of Dallas, Texas. A native of Detroit, Michigan he graduated from Southern Methodist University’s MFA Acting Program in 2002. After years working on projects in Los Angeles and New Orleans, Jamal permanently relocated to Dallas where he continues to perform in a variety of productions on stage and screen. Most notable among Jamal’s screen work (which includes a host of films, television shows and commercials) are his performances in the television series 10-8 and AMERICAN DREAMS as well as multiple Dallas-based television series such as PRISON BREAK, CHASE and DALLAS.Mr. Sterling has appeared on stage in several productions in the city including OUR LADY OF 121ST STREET, A SOLDIER’S PLAY, TITUS ANDRONICUS, DIAMOND DICK: THE TULSA RACE RIOTS OF 1921, FENCES, THE WINTER’S TALE, RACE, MISSISSIPPI GODDAMN, FIRESTORM, NUESTRA PASTORELA, THE ROYALE, OTHELLO, LONELY PLANET, PENNY CANDY and OUR TOWN. Jamal reside with his wife Nicole and daughter India in Plano, Texas, and is also a proud company member of Kitchen Dog Theater.
Jaquai Wade Pearson (Camae)
Jaquai Wade Pearson hails from Detroit where she discover her passion for fine arts. Jaquai studied Theatre at Southern Methodist University and performed professionally in Dallas while teaching Theatre as a certified teacher. Her love for performance has been groundbreaking in her personal and professional liberation and she is determined to share it with young artists. Jaquai is also an emerging Comedienne who has been featured in shows at the Haha Comedy Club and Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. She is excited to share the creative journey of bringing “Mountain Top” to life for the community of Knoxville, TN.
Katori Hall (Author)
Katori Hall is a playwright and performer hailing from Memphis, Tennessee. Her award-winning play HOODOO LOVE premiered at the Cherry Lane Theatre in 2007. It was developed under Lynn Nottage as part of the theatre’s 2006 Mentor Project. HOODOO LOVE received three AUDELCO nominations (Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, August Wilson Playwright Award). Her other plays include: REMEMBRANCE, HURT VILLAGE, SATURDAY NIGHT/SUNDAY MORNING, THE MOUNTAINTOP, ON THE CHITLIN’ CIRCUIT, and FREEDOM TRAIN (KCACTF ten minute play national finalist). Her work has been developed and presented at the following venues: the American Repertory Theatre, Kennedy Center, Cherry Lane Theatre, Classical Theatre of Harlem, Schomburg Center, BRICLab, Women’s Project, World Financial Center, Lark Play Development Center, New Professional Theatre, The O’Neill, the Juilliard School, Stanford University, and Columbia University. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Lecompte du Nouy Prize, North Manhattan Arts Alliance Fellowship, New York State Council on the Arts Commission Grant, New Professional Theatre’s Writers’ Festival award, Fellowship of Southern Writers Bryan Family Award in Drama, New York Foundation of the Arts Fellowship in Playwriting and Screenwriting, Royal Court Theatre Residency, and the Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award. She has also been a Kennedy Center Playwriting Fellow. As an actor, her credits include “Law & Order: SVU,” THE PRESIDENT’S PUPPETS (The Public), GROWING UP A SLAVE (American Place Theatre), INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL (American Place Theatre), the world premiere of AMERIKA (Theatre de la Jeune Lune/American Repertory Theatre), SPRING AWAKENING (Moscow Art Theatre School), AIN’T SUPPOSED TO DIE A NATURAL DEATH (Classical Theatre of Harlem), SCHOOLED (WOW Café Theatre), and BLACK GIRL (Sande Shurin Theatre). As a journalist, her work has been published in "The Boston Globe," "Essence," "Newsweek," and "The Commercial Appeal." She graduated from Columbia University in 2003 with a major in African-American Studies and Creative Writing. She was awarded top departmental honors from the university’s Institute for Research in African-American Studies (IRAAS). In 2005, she graduated from the American Repertory Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University, receiving a Master of Fine Arts in Acting. She is now a student in the Juilliard School’s Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program. She is a proud member of the Women’s Project Playwrights’ Lab, the Lark Playwrights’ Workshop, and the Dramatists Guild. www.katorihall.com www.katorihall.com
Creative Team
Rico Bruce Wade (Director)
While directing The Mountaintop at River and Rail Theatre, Rico Bruce Wade is also rehearsing Trouble in Mind at The Clarence Brown Theatre where he has appeared in several previous productions. Mr. Wade is an associate artist with the Flint Repertory Theater, where he has appeared in multiple productions including Death of a Salesman, The Boatman and Into The Woods. Other credits include Ixion Ensemble’s production of Broke-ology, the Riverwalk /CAP production of Jitney, and Williamston Theatre’s production of Blue Door. He worked extensively with the Second City-Detroit, collaborating on over a dozen revues. His film work includes Ken Nelson’s Sincerely, Brenda, Scot Magie’s FOUR-NINETY and Jeff Wray’s Songs for My Right Side. In 2022, he was the recipient of an Ohio Valley Regional Emmy award for his performance in Learning Through Art – A Black Anthology of Music. Rico is also an instructor at Wayne State University and has been a teaching artist with the Detroit Creativity Project, Planet Ant Theatre, and the Michigan Actors Studio.
Jessica Klus (Stage Manager)
Jessica Klus is so incredibly excited and grateful to be working on her third production with River and Rail Theatre Co! As a recent graduate of The University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Theatre department, Jess has had the privilege of working on productions with The Clarence Brown Theatre such as A Christmas Carol (2018 & 2021), The Madwoman of Chaillot, the world premiere of People Where They Are, and She Kills Monsters to name a few. She recently had a blast working on The Little Prince, The Wolves, and A Special Concert Performance of Mary and Joseph’s Baby with River and Rail this past fall. In her free time Jess enjoys reading, writing, board games, trivia, coffee, and spending time with her adorable orange tabby, Kenobi. She would like to thank her parents and friends for supporting her passion for the arts, all of her professors from UTK’s Department of Theatre, and Patrick Lanczki for taking the time and effort to help her grow as a stage manager. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Rachel Winenger (ASM/Properties Designer/Scenic Painter)
Rachel Winenger has been a part of 18 theatrical productions since she moved to the Knoxville area from Indiana in 2014. She’s a Pellissippi State graduate, and will be continuing her studies of the arts and theatre in the coming years. Rachel is thrilled to be working again with River and Rail. Previously she has been a part of two other River and Rail productions (Sweat and The Little Prince), along with shows produced by the Oak Ridge Playhouse, and other local schools and universities. She is incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of the amazing team for The Mountaintop!
Scott Baron (Scenic Designer/Technical Director)
Originally from Nashville, Scott Baron is a graduate of Samford University where he graduated with a B.A in theatre with a concentration in directing. He joined River and Rail for the first time as the technical director for The Little Prince, and has since joined the staff as R&R’s technical director. Some of his previous technical credits include The Little Prince, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde a devised piece, Good Christian Girls, and Vanities. He is honored and privileged to work with this cast and crew and to be a part of telling this story.
Jordan Vera (Lighting Designer)
Originally from Miami, Florida, Jordan Vera resides in Knoxville after completing his MFA in Lighting Design at the University of Tennessee. He has had the opportunity to work for the Miami Summer Opera Festival, the Clarence Brown Theatre, Oak Ridge Playhouse, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Cincinnati playhouse at the park, Flying Anvil Theatre, and North Carolina stage Co. Some of his design work includes Detroit 67 (Clarence brown theatre) I and You (Flying Anvil Theatre) Stones in his pockets (North Carolina Stage Co.) Urine Town (Clarence brown theatre) and The Marriage of Figaro (Miami Opera Festival). To see more of Jordan’s work, please visit his online theatre portfolio www.JveraDesigns.com.
Lucas Swinehart (Sound/Projections Designer)
Lucas Swinehart is currently studying Theatre Technology and Design at the University of Tennessee. He has sound designed for and worked with many theatres locally and across the country, and is excited to be working with River and Rail on this incredible production of The Mountaintop.
Keeley Wade (Costume Designer)
Keeley Wade is studying history and theatre at the University of Tennessee. She is passionate about the intersections between the arts and history and was thrilled to join The Mountaintop’s creative team. This is her sixth show at River & Rail.
Amelia Peterson (Intimacy Choreographer)
Amelia Peterson is a Knoxville native and a graduate of Bearden High School. She earned her BFA in Theatre Studies from Southern Methodist University where she studied directing under Stan Wojewodski, Jr. (former Artistic Director of Yale Repertory Theatre). She has spent much of her career working with budding playwrights on new works. In New York, she co-directed the world premier of MORBID POETRY at the Incubator Arts Project and a folktale adaptation series LONG, LONG AGO with Firebone Theatre Company. She has also directed new works for the CalArts Arts in the One World conference (Valencia, CA), the Kennedy Center’s Page to Stage Festival (Washington, DC), and the Inkwell Theatre’s Showcase Reading Series (Washington, DC). She is a mother, a teacher, and a writer.
Deidra Cade Harper (Marketing Coordinator)
Deidra Cade Harper is the Executive Director of The Women Foundation and Owner of CADE., Creative Art Design Enterprises. As a creative artist and community advocate, Deidra believes the power is with the people and access to capital is a way to elevate the Black entrepreneurship and create generational wealth.
David A Johnson (Photography)
David Johnson is Director of Photography for River & Rail Theatre Company. David has a degree in photojournalism from the University of Texas, and has worked in photography for more than 40 years. David loves creating photographic expressions of River & Rail’s productions which communicate the beauty and passion of theatre.
Wymon Anderson (House Manager)
Joshua Peterson (River & Rail Artistic Director)
Joshua Peterson is a Texas transplant via Paris and New York but is now proud to claim Knoxville as his home. Prior to moving to Knoxville, Joshua served as the Artistic Director of Firebone Theatre Company in New York City. Joshua received his MFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He also holds a BA in Theatre from Oklahoma Baptist University. Between pursuing his degrees Joshua spent two years living and working for a humanitarian aid organization outside of Paris, France. He made his Knoxville acting debut in Clarence Brown Theatre’s A Christmas Carol. Other Selected Regional Acting credits include Measure for Measure and Much Ado About Nothing (Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival), Barry Love in House and Garden (Theatre Three), Gail in Our Lady of 121st Street (Kitchen Dog Theatre), and Jon in Tape (Dallas Theatre Center.)
Emily Ernst (Associate Artistic Director/Marketing)
Emily Ernst is a Lecoq-trained actor, director, movement director, and co-founder and Artistic Director of the Dallas-based ensemble theatre company, Fair Assembly. She served as the Associate Director of Flatwater Shakespeare Company and taught acting and directing at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Emily currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director of Teatro Dallas and teaches Advanced Acting at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She has previously held staff positions at the Lincoln Playhouse in Nebraska, Cry Havoc Theater Company in Dallas and Theatre for a New Audience in New York City. She studied movement at L’École internationale de théâtre in Paris from 2017-2018, and received her BFA in Acting from SMU in 2008. www.fairassembly.com
Kenneth Herring (River & Rail Managing Director)
Kenneth Herring grew up in Oak Ridge, TN, just 25 miles from downtown Knoxville. Kenneth holds a BA in Communications for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a Masters in Business Administration from Bethel University. Kenneth has a non-traditional theatre background, having spent 10 years working in Information Technology sales. Kenneth is a former member of the Hammer Ensemble, which performed at Knoxville’s Flying Anvil Theatre. River & Rail patrons may have previously seen Kenneth on stage as Dick Daldry in THE VIBRATOR PLAY by Sarah Ruhl. Kenneth is passionate about content creation and creating inclusive environments. Kenneth enjoys basketball and spending time with his son, Rayne.
Tamsin Keh (River & Rail Administrative/Production Assistant)
Tamsin Keh is a recent University of Tennessee Knoxville graduate, having studied Theatre and Religious Studies. Previous theatre experiences include wardrobe at the Clarence Brown Theatre for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Murder on the Orient Express. Tamsin is very excited to be on the River & Rail Theatre Co. team, first as an Operations Intern and now an Administrative Assistant. When not engaged with theatre, Tamsin enjoys creative writing, illustration, and planning D&D sessions. They would like to thank their family and friends for their support on this winding, artistic journey.
WHAT'S NEXT AT RIVER AND RAIL THEATRE CO.?
WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT
Written by NASSIM SOLEIMANPOUR
Join us April 13-23 to see this production in action!
No director. No set. No rehearsal. This one-person show is written to be handed to its performer on the night of their performance in front of a live audience…to be performed cold turkey. And it is absolutely stunning to watch. Every. Single. Time.
Forbidden to leave his country, playwright Nassim Soleimanpour distilled the experience of an entire generation in a wild, utterly original play. WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT is a work about contemporary Iran and of Nassim’s generation. A generation born amidst the hardship of the Iran-Iraq war. A generation of computer-literate, well-informed young people who have never known an Iran other than the Islamic Republic.
Since its joint premier in 2011 in Edinburgh and Summerworks festival WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT has been translated into more than 25 different languages and been performed over 2000 times by some of the biggest names in theatre and film including actors John Hurt, Whoopi Goldberg, Nathan Lane, Stephen Rea, Sinead Cusack, Marcus Brigstocke, Dominic West and film director Ken Loach.
River & Rail Board of Directors
David Brown
Tyler Hays
Logan Mahan
Tommy Nguyen
Joshua Peterson
Deaver Shattuck
Katy Wolfe, President
River & Rail Staff
Founding Artistic Director — Joshua Peterson
Assoc. Artistic Director — Emily Ernst
Managing Director — Kenneth Herring
Technical Director — Scott Baron
Director of Photography — David A. Johnson
Administrative Assistant — Tamsin Keh
Operations & Marketing Intern — Rachel Winenger
Support River & Rail
When you look at the demographics of Knoxville, the people that live on the river and the people that live near the railroad experience Knoxville from vastly different perspectives. Our neighborhoods, churches, community groups, and social circles seem deeply divided along various lines. Some are the literal lines of the Tennessee River or the tracks of the railroad, and some are metaphorical, like the lines between races, religions, and ethnic groups or the cultural lines between east, west, north, and south Knoxville. The goal of River & Rail Theatre is to not just create professional theatre accessible to all Knoxvillians, but to create theatre true to the stories of Knoxville, shared collectively by those on every side of every line.
If you share this vision of Knoxville with us, if you can see it too – a packed house at the Old City Performing Arts Center, full of people who don’t look, smell, hear, see, walk, and talk the same way yet who share in the same deep, beautiful humanity; then we invite you to help us make that happen. Your contributions enable us to pay our staff, artists and team members living, professional wages; they allow us to offer pay-what-you-wish tickets, so that people can attend our performances for as little as three dollars; they cover the cost of professional lighting and sound equipment, costumes and sets, because we want to make work that holds itself to a national professional standard, that pushes the limits of what Knoxville can do. Every dollar is tax-deductible, and every penny makes a difference. Consider making your mark on this city with us.
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River & Rail Theatre Company is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.