Purlie Victorious

PURLIE VICTORIOUS • Oct. 9 - 27, 2024 • MainStage Series at The Historic Dock Street Theatre

By Ossie Davis
Direction by Henry Clay Middleton

About the Show

TITLE SPONSOR:
JOHN AND CAROLYN PETERSON CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

Kennedy Center honoree Ossie Davis delivers a comedic triumph in Purlie Victorious, the Tony Award-winning production recently headlined by Leslie Odom Jr. on Broadway. Taglined as “A non-Confederate romp through the cotton patch,” this uproarious narrative follows the charismatic traveling preacher, Purlie Victorious Judson, navigating the challenges of the Jim Crow era as he returns to his Georgia hometown on a mission to reclaim his inheritance from a tyrannical plantation owner. Teaming up with the lively Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins, Purlie hatches an outrageous plan to use his wealth for the emancipation of enslaved workers and the salvation of his church. This inspirational and joyous comedic gem, the genesis of the beloved musical Purlie, embodies the collective aspiration of freedom and justice. The New York Times called it, "Marvelously exhilarating" and it is sure to leave a lasting grin on your face.

Purlie Victorious is recommended for ages 12 and up. For guidance on whether a show is appropriate for your party we urge you to consult our Content Guide, available here.

About the Playwright

OSSIE DAVIS

Ossie Davis (1917-2005) was born in Cogdell, Georgia. He graduated high school in Waycross, Georgia, and attended Howard University. In 1939, he began his career as a writer and actor with the Rose McClendon Players in Harlem. In 1946, Mr. Davis made his Broadway debut in Jeb, and went on to perform in many Broadway productions, including Anna Lucasta, The Wisteria Trees, Green Pastures, Jamaica, Ballad for Bimshire (which he co-produced), The Zulu and the Zayda and I’m Not Rappaport (which he later reprised on film with Walter Matthau).

In 1961, Mr. Davis wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed Purlie Victorious. He was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 1994.

After making his film debut in No Way Out (1950, with Sidney Poitier), Mr. Davis appeared in such films as The Cardinal, The Hill, The Scalphunters, Let’s Do It Again, Do The Right Thing, Jungle Fever, Grumpy Old Men, Get on the Bus, Doctor Dolittle, Bubba Ho-Tep and Baadassss. In 1970, Mr. Davis directed his first feature film, Cotton Comes to Harlem. He went on to direct four others: Gordon’s War, Kongi’s Harvest, Black Girl and Countdown at Kusini, which he also co-produced with his wife, Ruby Dee.

Mr. Davis’ small screen debut was in the 1955 production of The Emperor Jones, in the title role. He received Emmy Award nominations for his work in Teacher, Teacher, King and Miss Evers Boys; in 2001, Mr. Davis was awarded a Daytime Emmy for playing the title role in the children’s special Finding Buck McHenry. He was a regular or recurring player in the series The Defenders, With Ossie & Ruby, B.L. Stryker, Evening Shade, The Client, Promised Land and The L Word. Additional television credits include Night Gallery, The Sheriff, Bonanza, Roots: The Next Generation, Alex Haley’s Queen, The Stand, Showtime’s 12 Angry Men, Touched By An Angel, Third Watch, City of Angels and Deacons for Defense.

His television writing credits include episodes of East Side/West Side and the teleplay For Us, The Living, for which he received the Neil Simon Jury Award. With his wife, Mr. Davis produced several television specials, including Today is Ours, Martin Luther King: The Dream & The Drum and two segments of A Walk Through the 20th Century with Bill Moyers. They also co-produced the television series With Ossie & Ruby, which aired for three seasons. In 1980, Mr. Davis and Ms. Dee founded their own production company, Emmalyn II Productions Company, Inc.

Mr. Davis was the author of three children’s books: Escape to Freedom (honored by the American Library Association and the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award), Langston and Just Like Martin. In 1998, he and Ruby Dee marked their 50th wedding anniversary with the publication of their joint autobiography, With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together, the audio version of which won a Grammy.

Mr. Davis received many honors and citations, including the N.Y. Urban League Frederick Douglass Award, the NAACP Image Award, the National Medal of Arts, and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. In December 2004, Mr. Davis and Ms. Dee were recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors. Mr. Davis died on February 4, 2005 at the age of 87.

meet the director

HENRY CLAY MIDDLETON

Clay debuted with Charleston Stage as Tom Robinson in Charleston Stage's 1999 production of To Kill a Mockingbird. He’s been seen in both productions of The Seat of Justice as Thurgood Marshall, the Prince of Darkness himself in Dracula, Walter Lee in A Raisin in the Sun, Denmark Vesey in Denmark Vesey: Insurrection, Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, and Rev. Reginald Mabry in Chicken & Biscuits. His directing credits include Black Pearl Sings! with Charleston Stage, Porgy and Bess, A Raisin in the Sun, and the gospel musical Crowns with Footlight Players, Of Mice and Men with Flowertown Players, and Fences with Art Forms & Theatre Concepts.

A few stage acting credits include Fences (Troy), The Piano Lesson (Boy Willie), God’s Trombones, A Raisin in the Sun (Walter Lee) for Art Forms & Theatre Concepts, Citizen: An American Lyric (Citizen 5), Choir Boy (Headmaster Morrow) and Sweat (Brucie) with Pure Theatre, and King Lear (Edmund). He’s done numerous television commercials including national spots for Bud Lite Seltzer and Medicare Insurance. Television credits include a recurring role on Lifetime’s Army Wives and as Sheriff Thompson on the TVOne series Fatal Attraction. Clay will be seen in the co-starring role of Leonard in an upcoming episode of the NBC series Found. Clay has also performed as a featured concert narrator for Low Country Voices during this year’s Martin Luther King Holiday celebration. He also performed with the prestigious Colour of Music Orchestra during concerts in Nashville, TN, Columbia, SC, and Sacramento, CA. He’s also performed in the same capacity with the Charleston Gospel Choir and the Spiritual Ensemble in productions throughout the Lowcountry.

Cast

CHARACTER ACTOR

(In Order of Appearance)
Purlie Victorious Judson..........................................................FREDERICK WEBB JR.
Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins.......................................................................FACIA LEE**
Missy Judson...............................................................................................SHANNA HASTIE
Gitlow Judson...............................................................................................EDDIE WEAVER**
Charlie Cotchipee............................................................................................SAM MAJORS**
Idella Landy........................................................................................................LETTY RICHEY
Ol' Cap'n Cotchipee............................................................................THOMAS KEATING*
The Sheriff...............................................................................................J. ROGER SIMPSON
The Deputy / Charlie Cover.................................................CONNOR DAUGHERTY
Lutiebelle / Missy Understudy.......................................................ARRIONE MAGEE**

*Appearing Courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
** A Member of Charleston Stage's Resident Acting Company

Cast Biographies

CONNOR DAUGHERTY (The Deputy / Charlie Cover)
Connor is excited to perform in his first production with Charleston Stage! Graduating from Ohio University with his B.F.A. in Acting back in 2019, he's been working professionally between Ohio and the Palmetto State. You may have seen him recently on the Footlight Stage as John Utterson (Jekyll & Hyde), Mr. McQueen (Urinetown) or the Narrator (Rocky Horror Picture Experience). He would like to thank his loving girlfriend, Laura Bilson, for all her patience and support, and hopes you laugh until your sides split!

SHANNA HASTIE (Missy Judson)
Shanna, a native of Sumter, South Carolina is an actor, writer, singer and consummate lover of stage and film. She is extremely proud to be a part of the legendary storytelling of Purlie Victorious. Most recently, Shanna had the esteemed honor of being a debut cast member of the award-winning theatrical production of Finding Freedom: The Journey of Robert Smalls, performed at the historic Charleston Gaillard Center. Other stage performances include the University of South Carolina's Black Box production of A Raisin in the Sun, and an original one woman monologue, entitled "Parents just don't understand", that addressed the stigma of HIV/AIDS. The latter won first place in a collegiate scholarship pageant at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Shanna is also a Social Worker with over 20 years experience in building sustainable partnerships to increase health equity across the continuum of care for vulnerable populations. Shanna also utilizes her platform to bridge the gaps between social work and the arts to provide a safe space to have difficult conversations. A huge thank you goes out to the entire production team of Purlie Victorious. Another round of applause for all my family and friends who continue to support my artistic endeavors. Thank God and a special thank you to my late father Woodrow Hastie Jr. My first cheerleader!

THOMAS KEATING* (Ol' Cap'n Cotchipee)
After 17 years of acting and directing in the Charleston area, Thomas is thrilled to be making his Charleston Stage debut! Some favorite roles through the years include Pippin (Charlemagne) directed by Sheri Grace Wenger, Lend Me a Tenor (Max) at The Highlands Playhouse, The Who’s Tommy (Captain Walker) at Stoneham Theatre in MA, West Side Story (Riff) at The Colonial Theatre in RI, to name a few. Thomas has appeared as a guest artist with the Shakespeare Project at CofC and at The Public Theater’s Under the Radar Festival in New York City in This Place is a Desert directed by Jay Scheib. Thomas holds an M.F.A. in Acting from Columbia University (NYC) and a B.A. in Drama from The University of Georgia. He teaches acting and directing at Charleston Southern University where he is a Professor of Theatre.

*Appearing Courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

FACIA LEE (Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins)
Facia is back at Charleston Stage like she never left! She is from the Jacksonville area of Florida and has been performing since she was about six years old. Her favorite credits include Once on This Island (Ti Moune and Erzulie), The Scottish Play (Macduff) and Fat Ham (Opal). She graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a Bachelor’s in Theatre with Concentration in Music. You can catch her in some great shows this season including A Year with Frog and Toad. She would like to thank all of her loved ones for their support.

ARRIONE MAGEE (Lutiebelle / Missy Understudy)
Arrione is thrilled to join Charleston Stage as a Resident Actor for Season 47! She was previously seen in Fiddler on the Roof (Chava) and A Year With Frog and Toad (Mouse/Young Frog/ Mole) here at Charleston Stage. Other recent credits include Legally Blonde (Serena), Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville (Tammy), The Crucible (Tituba), and She Kills Monsters (Vera/Evil Gabbi). She would like to thank her friends and family for all of their support throughout the years! Instagram: @arrione.magee

SAM MAJORS (Charlie Cotchipee)
Sam is so excited to join Charleston Stage! He is a proud Portlandian hailing from Oregon. Sam was just seen in Fiddler on the Roof as Motel and A Year with Frog and Toad at Charleston Stage. Previous credits include Bonnie and Clyde (Ted), Once Upon A Mattress (Minstrel), In Pieces (Charlie), and Jesus Christ Superstar (King Herod). He just received his B.F.A. in Musical Theatre and B.A. in Math from Texas Christian University. Sam is so grateful for his time at TCU and would like to thank Joseph, his family, and Twyla for all of their help getting here. @officially_samm

LETTY RICHEY (Idella Landy)
Letty was born and raised for the 1st half of her life in Southern California but has come to call beautiful Charleston, SC, home for the last 25+ years. She holds a B.S. Degree from Southern Wesleyan University and a M.S. from Charleston Southern University. She has previously appeared on stage at the Dock Street in many wonderful Charleston Stage productions and has been blessed to perform as both ensemble and a principle cast member. Letty credits her introduction to the Charleston Theatre community to the invite she received to be a part of the ensemble cast of the 2012 performance of Porgy and Bess, performed for the first time ever at the Historic Dock Street Theatre, depicting a well-known local Charleston Rainbow Row Native. Some of her hobbies and interests include traveling, watching movies, laughing, enjoying life and spending time with her Handsome Husband, Anthony, their blended family of 5 (to include Charleston native & WAHS 2015 Alum, daughter Zariah), extended family, close friends, and her growing theatre family. Letty most recently appeared in Once on this Island, as Mama Euralie; the Ensemble of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, as Voice Six: Mrs. Alexandria/Posh Woman in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and as Professor Williard and Ensemble in Our Town.

J. ROGER SIMPSON (The Sheriff)
Roger is very excited to make his acting debut in Charleston Stage’s production of Purlie Victorious. A graduate of Indiana University and Wall Street veteran of 30+ years, he’s more or less always been on stage, juggling the full and colorful scope of both client and colleague personalities. From NY, he found his way like many to the magical Lowcountry where he currently enjoys gratifying work with our senior citizen community. He is the proud father of 2 sets of twin girls to whom he sends all his love!

EDDIE WEAVER (Gitlow Judson)
Eddie is thrilled to be returning for Season 47 with the Charleston Stage family! An Atlanta native, Eddie graduated from Columbus State University with his B.A. in Theatre Performance. Previous credits include: Fiddler on the Roof (Constable), Chicken & Biscuits (Kenny Mabry), A Christmas Carol (Young Scrooge), Once on This Island (Agwe), 70's: More Than a Decade (Lead Vocalist). Eddie would like to send his appreciation and gratitude to his family, friends, teachers and professors who have poured so much into him over the years. If you'd like to keep up with Eddie's journey give him a follow on instagram: @eddiejihad

FREDERICK WEBB JR. (Purlie Victorious Judson)
Frederick is overjoyed to be back at Charleston Stage! He was last seen on the stage of the Historic Dock Street Theatre in Charleston Stage’s production of Once on this Island. Regional: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Arvada Center, Casa Mañana); State Fair (Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre); Footloose, Guys and Dolls, Into the Woods, Chicago (Arkansas Repertory Theatre); The Color Purple (Revival Theatre Company). Concerts: Hello, Dolly! (Arkansas Repertory Theatre / Arkansas Symphony Orchestra) - starring 2024 Tony Award-nominee, Amber Iman; Ragtime (The Link Theatre Company / Delta Symphony Orchestra). Frederick is the recipient of the 2021 Broadway World (Arkansas) Award for Best Performer in a Musical for his portrayal of “Leading Player” in Pippin at Argenta Contemporary Theatre. Frederick would like to thank his family and friends for their love and continuous support. Dedicated to Ossie & Ruby. TGBTG! Isaiah 60:22! #JUMP @fivefourfred