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Children's Theatre Company's World Premiere

Akeelah and the Bee

  • Credits

    By Cheryl L. West
    Based on the original screenplay by Doug Atchison
    Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright

  • Location

    Kreeger Theatr

Cheryl L. West is "A Theatrical Daredevil."

- The New York Times

Based on the beloved film, Akeelah and the Bee tells the story of an independent 11-year-old girl whose razor-sharp mind just might take her all the way from the Chicago projects to the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Johannah Easley, in her Arena Stage debut, “triumphs [portraying] all of the young word-lover’s fears and hopes as she fights for her dreams” (Star Tribune). Playwright Cheryl L. West (Pullman Porter Blues) and director Charles Randolph-Wright (Ruined) bring this spirited adaptation to life this holiday season in a production hailed by City Pages as “E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-T.”

Cast

NATHAN BARLOW

Reggie Anderson

AIMEE K. BRYANT

Gail Anderson

DARIUS DOTCH

JT / Judge / TV Announcer

JOHANNAH EASLEY

Akeelah Anderson

ANA CHRISTINE EVANS

Trish / Horse Girl / Mohawk Girl

ZARIA GRAHAM

Georgia

SHAVUNDA HORSLEY

Rhonda / Fay-Fay Foxy / Pronouncer

LEO JAMES

Javier / Chucky

TONY NAM

Dylan's Dad / Pronouncer

MILTON CRAIG NEALY

Drunk Willie / Principal

GRETA OGLESBY

Batty Ruth

SEAN PHINNEY

Dylan

JAMES A. WILLIAMS

Dr. Larabee

MOLLY YESELSON

Izzy / Snorting Girl / Air-Speller Girl

Understudies

BRU AJUEYITSI

Reggie Anderson / JT / TV Announcer

KARIM ANGULO

Javier Mendez / Chucky

TAYLOR CHUNN

Georgia / Rhonda / Fay-Fay Foxy

LAUREN DAVIS

Gail / Batty Ruth

BUS HOWARD

Dr. Joshua Larabee / Drunk Willie / Principal Welch

EMMA SOPHIE MOORE

Trish / Horse Girl / Mohawk Girl

VIVIENNE RIOUX-BAILEY

Izzy / Snorting Girl / Air-Speller Girl

MICHAEL ROSEGRANT

Dylan Chu

RAFAEL UNTALAN

Mr. Chiu / Pronouncer / Judge

NICOLE WILDY

Akeelah Anderson

Creative

CHERYL L. WEST

Playwright

CHARLES RANDOLPH-WRIGHT

Director

ALEXANDER V. NICHOLS

Scenic Designer

JESSICA JAHN

Costume Designer

MICHAEL GILLIAM

Lighting Designer

STEN SEVERSON

Sound Designer

VICTOR ZUPANC

Composer

ELISSA ADAMS

Dramaturg

SARAH BAHR

Assistant Costume Designer

CHRIS SCHWEIGER

Stage Manager

JENNY BRASS

Assistant Stage Manager

CHILDREN'S THEATER COMPANY

CTC

Multimedia

Photo of Johannah Easley by Dan Norman.
Photo of Johannah Easley and James A. Williams by Dan Norman.
Photo of Johannah Easley and Zaria Graham by Dan Norman.
Photo of Johannah Easley by Dan Norman.
Photo of James A. Williams and Johannah Easley by Dan Norman.
Photo of Zaria Graham, Johannah Easley, Ana Christine Evans, Sean Phinney and Leo James by Dan Norman.
Photo of Johannah Easley, Sean Phinney, Leo James, Molly Yeselson and Ana Christine Evans by Dan Norman.
Photo of Johannah Easley and Aimee K. Bryant by Dan Norman.
Photo of Zaria Graham, Nathan Barlow, Aimee K. Bryant and James A. Williams by Dan Norman.
Photo of Leo James, Johannah Easley and Shavunda Horsley by Dan Norman.