Today, on Juneteenth, we celebrate the life and works of a great poet, playwright, champion of Black consciousness and resistance. Robert Earl Price worked with 7 Stages since the 1980’s alongside founders Del Hamilton and Faye Allen. His plays, like HUSH: Composing Blind Tom Wiggins and All Blues graced our stages with beautiful and challenging art. 

In 2020, 7 Stages produced a film inspired by Robert’s book Blood Flow, which was devised and directed by Ashley James, and edited by Robby Miles. Featuring community members Yeye Olori Loriyomi (Mama Yeye), Dorothy Victoria Bell & Family, Jaden Gustin & Family, Chantiane Smith & Family, Abigail Richards & Family, Destiny Renee, Tyra Watkins, Parris Sarter, Efrem Whitaker, Darrell Grant, Danny Simmons, Kat Newton, Charles Swint, and Dr. L. Nyrobi Moss. Selected poems and original music composed and performed by Dorothy Victoria Bell, Eugene H. Russell IV, and Robert Earl Price.

“Our goal is to create a multimedia artwork that reflects the continuous role of art as a force of resistance to crimes against humanity past, present and future. We offer, in the times of pandemic, a racial strife and economic exploitation and oppression. A war dance, a battle cry, a chant that challenges times in all tenses. And inspiring vision of our world that we cannot turn away from.” – Robert Earl Price on the production of the 2020 Film Blood Flow

In celebration of Juneteenth and Robert Earl Price’s life, the film Blood Flow is available to view all Summer.

In Robert’s memory, the people he knew and worked with have kind words:

“Before I’d met Mr. Price, I’d heard his name in my living room as a teenager as I explained the newest venture I was about to embark on with 7 Stages with my parents. ‘Robert Earl Price is a legend!’ they exclaimed and the more I thought about it the more I realized that he’d been a topic of discussion in that same living room for years. As an impressionable young black actor, I was in awe being in his presence during our first meeting, to only be greeted with such a kind, bold, and caring soul. I will always cherish the few moments we shared.” – Kai Anwuzia, 7 Stages Programs Manager

“It is possible Robert is among the writers of his generation that holds hands with persons of great spirit, and that his healing words are significant poems for our times.  Surely his various readings and public performances, especially in the American South, are part of the healing processes being employed by others who share his poetic visions.” – Del Hamilton, 7 Stages Founder

“I remember sitting with Robert and Del for hours in the evening while on tour for HUSH. We would drink a night cap of whisky while they told story after story after story. I listened with my full heart. Maybe intentionally, or not, together with Del, Robert was teaching me how to live …to dream …to create …to see the world of possibility through the power of art, despite the dark times. His lessons will continue to fuel my courage to tell the hard stories with love, rhythm, and beauty. Thank you Robert. Rest in power my dear friend and mentor. “ – Heidi S Howard, 7 Stages Artistic Director

Rest in Power 

Beloved poet & friend

Robert Earl Price  

4/4/42 – 4/16/25

Obituary – Robert Earl Price – Kent County News

Remembrance: Poet and playwright Robert Earl Price blended words, music, memory – ArtsATL

Archive of Robert Earl Price’s Productions at 7 Stages – GSU

Black Cat Bones for Seven Sons, 1988

Canes Theme, 1988 

Yarbird’s Vamp, 1990 

Blue Monk, 1996 

HUSH: Composing Blind Tom Wiggins, 2002 

HUSH: Composing Tom Wiggins, 2003- 2004 tour

Come on in My Kitchen, 2006 

All Blues, 2011 

Blood Flow – a film as part of Home Brew at Home 2020 

Meredith Gordon (he/him) was raised in Cleveland, Tennessee by African-American parents in a traditional Southern Christian environment. As a child, he often faced questions about his identity, including whether he was “black enough.” 

He now performs professionally as an actor and hospital clown and works with Clowns Without Borders, USA.  He performed in the previous versions of “What Are You”, a film version in 2020 during Covid and in 2022 on the Atlanta beltline.

Meredith is a 2019 recipient of the Tanne Award, which recognizes outstanding achievements by artists. In 2023, he was selected to be an artist in  Emory’s Arts and Social Justice Fellows Program.

“Too much of my existence is based on what you thought of me.”

Website and Blog at SqueezeTheClown.com

Instagram – @meredithcgordon, Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/meredith.gordon.33

Jacquelyn (Jacque) Pritz is a dance artist and project manager. She recently launched Catching Mangoes Dance Company with the goal to share and uplift hyphenated American stories by creating meaningful artistic experiences with audiences. Her choreography is autoethnographic, often examining her personal identity and life experiences as a Filipino-American woman, embodying her research on themes surrounding culture and identity, and connecting with people through the spirit of kapwa.

Currently, Jacque is a Sr. Program Coordinator at Emory College of Arts & Sciences and freelances as a project manager around the city. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion in the arts is underscored by her recognition as a 2022 South Arts National Leader of Color fellow. This Fall, Jacque is participating in the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Culture and Community Design Program.

Monica Martelly – Born in Haiti, Monica is a vibrant and passionate purple-haired performer. They’ve been dancing since the age of 6 and haven’t stopped since! They specialize in aerial hoop, dance trapeze, and a variety of dance styles. Combining their breadth of knowledge and expertise, Monica has created some truly unique and unprecedented aerial acts that combine their love of aerial arts with their treasured Haitian culture and heritage. Some of their other recent accomplishments include performing professionally with The Crux Collective in Atlanta, competing at VIVA Fest in Las Vegas, training at Aloft’s JOLT Summer Intensive in Chicago, and most recently participating in the 2024 Minnesota Fringe Festival! They are plant-based in Atlanta with their two cats and loving partner.

Arthur McDonald – I am a martial artist, fashion designer, and musician that loves to make art and creativity is my expression. I’m the son of a Jamaican father of African, Chinese, and Indian ancestry, and of a mother of African, Native American, and Scottish ancestry.  Our short-form answer to “what are we” has always been maintained as being black. Though when one wants details, I usually ask them to sit down first. I have some experience with acting on camera (The Gift, 2000), fight choreography, and acting for stage (Dante’s Inferno, 7 Stages, 2015).

Kai Lewis is a multifaceted performance artist with specialities in dance/theatre/voice, educator, and collaborator from Atlanta. She is an alum of 7 Stages’ Youth Creates program, Moving in the Spirit, and obtained her degree in Vocal Performance from Columbia College Chicago. As a performance artist, she always enjoys being back in the space and is honored to support this amazing cast as stage manager.

Alisha Simmons is a Caribbean-American theatremaker, arts administrator, and educator from Atlanta, Georgia. Their work prioritizes Black queer imagination as praxis and the power of community-based devised performance. Alisha received a B.A in Theater and Feminist, Gender, & Sexuality Studies from Wesleyan University. Recent credits include 7 Stages, The Tank NYC, The Public Theater, Oddfellows Playhouse, Olin Memorial Library, and the Wesleyan University Center for the Arts. 

Instagram: @alishaasimmons

Lexi McKay is a biracial woman whose main focus is as a stage manager around Atlanta. She has her B.F.A in production design from Savannah College of Art and Design and is working on her M.F.A in stage management from The University of Alabama. She has worked on the last two renditions of this production and is excited to be back in a dramaturgical role. Previous work: Hamilton (Broadway Tour), Toni Stone (The Alliance Theater), The Odyssey (Dallas Theater Center).

Gryffin Thomas is an upcoming English major at Georgia State University who self-identifies as a poet, photographer, singer/songwriter, and absolute drama queen who keeps finding himself coming back to the stage. He’s been involved in numerous high school plays and the Youth Creates productions “Dream Theory” and “The Glitter Effect” as an actor, a composer, and a general standby techie. He is honored to be a part of this production and would like to thank his Mom, Dad, and brother for their everlasting support and his boyfriend for always being willing to hear him rant about his current projects.

Aubrey Salm is a Tennessee native who recently moved to Georgia to pursue the arts. Adopted by two women, the concept of identity, culture, and humanity has always affected her as an African-American woman raised in a white family. Growing up exposed to movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood and the oldies radio station, she is inspired by the classics in her works as a visual artist. She earned her B.A. in video and film production from Middle Tennessee State University and is enthusiastic to delve into the Atlanta theater scene with her first-ever production in the great state of Georgia!

Aileen Loy – Atlanta-based multi-disciplinary artist and performer Aileen Loy’s activism has always informed her work. Her art assemblages, with showings in galleries in Atlanta, Prague, and The Mutter Museum, and custom pieces for shows like Doom Patrol and The Originals, challenge the majority culture view of normalcy. Her gravelly low voice and earnest performances as lead singer of bands in Europe and the US, have likewise surprised and challenged the audience’s complacent views of gender and live performance. Her productions of Katherine Dunne’s Geek Love in New York and Unidentified Human Remains in Nashville with their unsettling subjects and high production values insist on the right for non-traditional voices to be part of public conversation.

Josef “Wuzii” Anwuzia is a Nigerian-American saxophonist, music producer, and photographer with a deep passion for sound and a commitment to artistic integrity. Hailing from Chicago and having lived in Maryland, Wuzii brings a unique perspective to every creative endeavor. A graduate of Columbia College Chicago, Wuzii has spent the past nine years establishing a reputation as a skilled music producer and recording engineer in the Chicago scene. Known for a meticulous approach to crafting soundscapes, Wuzii holds both the art and the artist to the highest standard, believing in the power of authentic and meaningful creation. Beyond music, Wuzii is a dedicated photographer and has experience in videography, using these visual arts to further explore and express the world through a different lens. Whether capturing a perfect frame or composing a soulful track, Wuzii seeks to leave a lasting impression by honoring the art form in every project.

Dr. L. Nyrobi N. Moss is an award-winning costume designer with more than 30 years of experience in theatre and entertainment. In addition to serving as the Chair on the Board of Directors, Nyrobi has been a collaborating teaching artist with 7 Stages for more than 20 years.

Previous 7 Stages’ productions designed by Nyrobi include Angry Fags, Waiting for Godot, REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN, White Woman in Progress, The Doctor, The Devil & My Dad, HAIR, My Left Breast, and The Little Prince. Nyrobi’s costume design work has appeared in theatres regionally and nationally across Atlanta, DC, Orlando, New York, Virginia, Las Vegas, and Dallas, as well as internationally in Holland, West Africa, South Africa, and Dubai. In addition to costume design, Nyrobi is a Certified Relationship Specialist, and Business Consultant for non-profit organizations, entrepreneurs, artists, start-ups, and small businesses.

Olubajo Sonubi is a 13 year veteran of the performance arts, director, producer, former actor and casting director primarily in T.V./Film. He loves storytelling in almost every form, his favorite genre is Sci-fi, and he has long held a desire to play a random witness on the show Law and Order. Olubajo Sonubi has served as an instructor in the Film, Media & Theatre Department at GSU for the past 4 years.

What Are You? is an exploration of what it means to be multi-racial in America. Created by Nicolette Emanuelle, who has roots in the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina, this original production delves into the complexities of racial identity through a blend of movement, music, and personal testimonies.

As a devised piece, What Are You? wouldn’t exist without the voices and personal stories that shaped it. The ensemble’s experiences and perspectives are the heart of this work. This collaboration makes the show a living, dynamic exploration of identity, constantly transforming as we continue to explore the unique experiences that multiracial and multicultural people in America face today

Ensemble

Creator, Performer, Composer – Nicolette Emanuelle

Ensemble – Meredith Gordon

Ensemble – Monica Martelly

Ensemble – Jacquelyn “Jacque” Pritz

Ensemble, Composer – Arthur McDonald

 

Crew

Production Fabricator, Designer & Co-manager – Aileen Loy

Stage Manager – Kai Lewis*

Costume Designer / Board Chair – Dr. L. Nyrobi N. Moss

Video Designer – Olubajo “Bajo” Sonubi

Lighting Designer, Fabricator, Co-manager – Ari Shah Conkright*

Sound Design and AV Tech – Josef “Wuzii” Anwuzia

Dramaturg – Alexis ‘Lexi’ McKay

Production Assistant, Performer, Composer – Gryffin Thomas*

Production Assistant – Alisha Simmons

Production Assistant – Aubrey Salm

Carpenter, Electrics & Build – George Kotler-Wallace, Gabi Collard*, Tom Priester

ASL Interpreter on Friday Nov 22 – Nitzia Ramos

 

Read CAST AND CREW BIOS by clicking here

 

Interview Personnel 

Jaylyn Amya Haywood 

Kai Addae

Vivian Selles

Nicole Marie Spisak

Lexi McKay

Dawn Smith

Mary Fox

and cast

 

Visual Artists

Violet Lauren

Johnny Diacon 

Yellowbird

Jaden Gustin*

* denotes alum of our Youth Creates ensemble.

 

Additional Music / Sound

Meredith’s selections – This Joy by Florence Gordon, Troubled Man by Marvin Gay, Yo Yo by Rose Royce 

Monica’s selections – Danza # 4  written by Haitian composer Ludovic Lamothe

Jacque’s selections – Cariñosa by Florante Aguilar

Narration for Blood Quantum – Dennis Hafford 

7 Stages Staff

Artistic Director – Heidi S Howard

Managing Director – Mack Headrick

Facilities Manager – Ari Shah Conkright*

Marketing Coordinator – Devi Wells

Artistic Education Associate / Big Read Coordinator- Dorothy Victoria Bell

Box Office / FOH – Jahi Trotter

Facilities Assistant – George Kotler-Wallace

Special Thanks

Madison Klimas 

Deedee Chmielewski 

Karin & Jaques Mebius

Turtle Island Trading 

Mike Katinsky 

Lauren Vogelbaum 

Ezra Stene

Karuna Shah

Michael Haverty 

Tia Davis

Robby Myles

Jesse Peterman

Jackie Douglas

Lucy Eden 

AnnMarie Spexet

Challenge Aerial

Sadie Hawkins 

Java Lords 

Karine Margron 

Scraplanta

Emma Yarborough 

Wesley Carter

Gretchen Meister

Cade Nabors

Lucinda Armbrust-Kohler*

The Ancestors of our ensemble 

* denotes alumni of 7 Stages Youth Creates ensemble

What Are You? Is Part of the third annual First Voices Festival

Located in Atlanta, Georgia on Muscogee (Creek) land, 7 Stages joins forces with Turtle Island Trading, Zintkala Zi PowWow, the L5P Business Association and Plaza Theatre in producing the third annual First Voices Festival, A Celebration of Indigenous Cultures. November 2024 activities will include the world premiere of What Are You? by Nicolette Emanuelle, an outdoor PowWow with Native American performers and vendors, story sharing with Muscogee (Creek) elder William Harjo, and a special screening of the documentary Bad River at Plaza Theatre. Click here to learn more about First Voices Festival.

All tickets sold for 7 Stages productions include an Indigenous land use fee that is donated back to Indigenous communities annually.