In This Moment
Produced by Illusion Theater
Curated by Carlyle Brown, Bonnie Morris,
Michael Robins & T Mychael Rambo
Videography by Fred N. Cheng
Produced by Illusion Theater
August 2020
Minneapolis Mn
Selections
Beginning
Words, Imagery & Narration Peter Macon
Videography Jackie Macon
Make Them Hear You
Sung by T Mychael Rambo
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Video by Regina Marie Williams
Stock Footage Wikimedia Commons
I’m Your Fairy God-Auntie
Written and Performed by Katie Robinson
Some Days
Written By James Baldwin
Sung by T Mychael Rambo
Arranged by Roberta Carlson
Piano Dennis Curley
Music Steven Mazullo
Stock Footage Wikimedia Commons
Still
Performed by Kimberly Elise
Written by Brittany Delaney
Nurtured by Nature
Told with Photographs by Regina Marie Williams
Video by Thomas Wallace
Southern Heritage
Told by Lester Purry
Children Will Listen/You Have To Be Taught
Sung by T Mychael Rambo
Arrangement by Roberta Carlson
Children Lyrics and Music by Stephen Sondheim
Taught Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Taught Music by Richard Rodgers
Thirteen Made Today
Written and Performed by Brittany Delaney
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing
Traditional Arrangement & Soundscape by Michael Keck
Sung by Aimee K. Bryant and T Mychael Rambo
Lyrics by James Weldon Johnson
Music by John Rosamund Johnson
Photographs/Video of Street Art by Regina Marie Williams
With gratitude to be able to share the powerful, beautiful inspiring George Floyd Art found on the streets of Minneapolis
About the Artists
Peter Macon https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0534167/
T Mychael Rambo is an award-winning actor, vocalist, arts educator and community organizer; T Mychael is a beloved member of our Twin Cities arts community .he has performed on every professional theater stage it the Cities. He has also toured nationally and internationally including at the Carnegie Hall and in Africa, Europe and South America. T Mychael has originated many roles at Illusion including Ben in Miss Evers Boys, Durius Do -Wright n Always and Forever and most recently in his one -man show Present where he tells how he has learned to be present in his life, and how his songs and stories are a gift he offers to audiences.
Katie Robinson is a Poet and a Community Health Educator providing sex-positive sex education for youth and adults in corrections and in community. Katie performed in Illusion’s Keepin’It Real .She has taught Intro to Poetry Course at Minnesota Correctional Facility at Shakopee. She was honored to be chosen to be a fellow in The Givens Foundation's Emerging Writer Mentorship Program. Currently Katie is a graduate student in clinical psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute .
Kimberly Elise https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0253708/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
Regina Marie Williams has performed on every stage in the Twin Cities including Illusion, Guthrie Theater, Pillsbury House, Chanhassen and Ordway Center among others. Regina originated the role of Nina Simone in Christina Ham’s Nina Simone: Four Women . She is a 2007 McKnightTheater Artist Fellow and received an Ivey Award for her role as Mama Nadi in Mixed Blood Theater’s Ruined. She is City Pages’ Best Actress 2016 and the Minneapolis Star Tribune “Artist of the Year Honorable Mention.” Regina has recorded three solo albums.
Lester Purry https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0700948/
Brittany Delaney is an activist and spoken word artist who was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. Brittany has been writing since she was 8 years old and traveling/performing since she was 13. She has participated in various spoken word groups including the MN Spoken Word Association, Mama Mosaic, Quest for the Voice, Brave New Voices, Teens Rock the Mic. She has been published in several anthologies (including the Saint Paul Almanac and My Weapon of Choice: My Voice). Brittany is currently working as an Arts Literacy Facilitator for the Saint Paul Public School District and continues to lead residencies, workshops, and tours. Her focus is on promoting literacy and safe space learning environments.
Aimee K. Bryant is an actor, singer, and teaching artist who has appeared on many stages throughout the Twin Cities and across the nation since graduating from Howard University. She has appeared numerous times on Illusion’s stage. City Pages named Aimee Best Actress of 2015 and Aimee K. Bryant is a 2015-16 McKnight Theater Artist Fellow at the Playwright’s Center. Her debut album Becoming is available online.
Michael G Keck is a composer, playwright, and performer whose music has been featured at the Kennedy Center, Mark Taper Forum, Arena Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Alliance Theater, Milwaukee Repertory, Indiana Repertory, Portland Center Stage, and many other American theaters.He has a long history with Illusion, composing Miss Evers’ Boys, Voices in the Rain, Dancing with Giants among others.
Fred N. Cheng is a videographer, a teacher, an improv artist. He has also performed in the mainstage troupe of Stevie Ray’s Comedy Cabaret at the Chanhassen DinnerTtheater and taught improv at the Brave New Workshop and Stevie Ray’s.
Illusion Theater was founded in 1974 and presents its season in the Cowles Center in downtown Minneapolis. Since the beginning, Producing Directors Michael Robins and Bonnie Morris have led Illusion Theater in illuminating the illusions, myths, and realities of our times and in using the power of theater to catalyze personal and social change. Illusion has generated over 500 plays, developed thousands of artists, and created ground-breaking educational works. Plays developed at Illusion have been produced in theaters throughout the world. Illusion’s work has catalyzed conversations in living rooms, kitchens, coffee houses, and boardrooms, and has led to transformations in policy, in organizations, in students, and in individuals.