Native Guard

Atlanta History Center
Approximately two hours, including one 15-minute intermission and our "Act II" programming
Recommended for ages 12+
author
Natasha Trethewey
Directed by
Susan V. Booth
 
"...challenges the way the broader story of the Civil War has been told and memorialized."

Native Guard, the Pulitzer Prize winning collection of poetry by former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey, will be staged this season amidst the Atlanta History Center’s extraordinary Civil War collection. First adapted for the stage by the Alliance in 2014 to sold-out audiences, Native Guard juxtaposes the deeply personal experiences of Trethewey, a child of a then-illegal marriage between her African-American mother and Caucasian father living in 1960s Mississippi, with the experience of a soldier in the Native Guard, the first African-American Union troop in the Civil War who was charged with guarding white Confederate captives. Years after her mother’s tragic death, Trethewey reclaims her memory, just as she reclaims the voices of the black soldiers whose service has been all but forgotten.

For the second act of each performance, you're invited to join a discussion about the play. Each night will be hosted by a different community leader, who will share their thoughts on the show before opening the discussion. Hosts include Sheffield Hale (President & CEO, Atlanta History Center); Dr. Paul Wolpe (Director, Emory Center for Ethics); Pellom McDaniels III (Curator, African American Collections, Rose Library); Doug Hooker (Executive Director, Atlanta Regional Commission); Doug Shipman (President and CEO, Woodruff Arts Center); and more.  See the full list of hosts here.

Hear Natasha Trethewey read from Native Guard

"An invigorating theatrical experience." —AJC

At the Atlanta History Center

Atlanta History Center

Atlanta History Center, exterior photo

130 West Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta, GA 30305 Directions

Located in Buckhead, the Atlanta History Center was founded in 1926 to preserve and present significant pieces of Atlanta history.  It features 33 acres of destinations, exhibitions, programming, events and interactive activities for all ages. Its approach to storytelling creates a space for dialogue, discovery, and a shared understanding of our city. 

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"We are honored for the opportunity to partner with the Alliance Theatre. We hope the experience of combining Trethewey's work and the talent of the actors in Native Guard with the powerful objects and stories in our Turning Point: The American Civil War exhibition will connect audiences with history in a way that they may not have experienced before."
Sheffield Hale, President & CEO, Atlanta History Center

Director

Susan V. Booth
Susan V. Booth
Director

Cast

Nicole is elated to return to the Alliance for yet another incredible experience. Regional credits: Native Guard (2014) as The Vocalist, Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL as Mary Magdalene (Alliance Theatre); GloATL on-site at the High Museum as Vocalist (Alliance Theatre partnership with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra). Music credits: The Servant as lead female vocalist (Rod McGaha’s Album); Lionel Hampton’s Orchestra as Female Vocalist (Lionel Hampton Tour). Nicole spends her days working in corporate America and is blessed with an adoring husband, Stan Sr., and loving son, Stan Jr., both of whom are the center of her universe.

Nicole Banks Long
Nicole Banks Long
Vocalist

Nicole is elated to return to the Alliance for yet another incredible experience. Regional credits: Native Guard (2014) as The Vocalist, Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL as Mary Magdalene (Alliance Theatre); GloATL on-site at the High Museum as Vocalist (Alliance Theatre partnership with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra). Music credits: The Servant as lead female vocalist (Rod McGaha’s Album); Lionel Hampton’s Orchestra as Female Vocalist (Lionel Hampton Tour). Nicole spends her days working in corporate America and is blessed with an adoring husband, Stan Sr., and loving son, Stan Jr., both of whom are the center of her universe.

It’s truly humbling to once again be on the Alliance stage in what could only be called a night of thoughtful words, insights, discussion, and hopefully a little education thrown into the mix. What an opportunity! I hope you are given as much freedom as I have been given with Natasha’s book, to explore tough questions about how we interact and perceive one another. How, because of our shared history, our future is truly linked and is whatever we make it. It’s been a pleasure; a pleasure that I hope you and I can share again sometime.

Thomas Neal Antwon Ghant
Thomas Neal Antwon Ghant
The Native Guard

It’s truly humbling to once again be on the Alliance stage in what could only be called a night of thoughtful words, insights, discussion, and hopefully a little education thrown into the mix. What an opportunity! I hope you are given as much freedom as I have been given with Natasha’s book, to explore tough questions about how we interact and perceive one another. How, because of our shared history, our future is truly linked and is whatever we make it. It’s been a pleasure; a pleasure that I hope you and I can share again sometime.

January is honored to return to the Alliance, where she was previously seen in Pearl Cleage's What I Learned in Paris. Broadway: Enron. Off-Broadway: Wakey, Wakey; Funnyhouse of a Negro; Two Trains Running; Home; Measure for Measure; Wings; Coraline. Regional: Benny & Joon (Old Globe), Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (Mark Taper Forum), Good People (Pittsburgh Public), A Streetcar Named Desire, Lobby Hero, The Merchant of Venice (Denver Center). TV: “Blue Bloods,” “Law & Order,” Noelle Ortiz on “One Life to Live.” VO: 150+ audiobooks, multiple Audie Awards. Thanks to DBA and Innovative. For KC and GT. 

January LaVoy
January LaVoy
The Poet

January is honored to return to the Alliance, where she was previously seen in Pearl Cleage's What I Learned in Paris. Broadway: Enron. Off-Broadway: Wakey, Wakey; Funnyhouse of a Negro; Two Trains Running; Home; Measure for Measure; Wings; Coraline. Regional: Benny & Joon (Old Globe), Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (Mark Taper Forum), Good People (Pittsburgh Public), A Streetcar Named Desire, Lobby Hero, The Merchant of Venice (Denver Center). TV: “Blue Bloods,” “Law & Order,” Noelle Ortiz on “One Life to Live.” VO: 150+ audiobooks, multiple Audie Awards. Thanks to DBA and Innovative. For KC and GT. 

Understudies

Jarryn is excited to make his Alliance Theatre debut. Fairly new to the acting world, he has trained throughout Atlanta and has performed in several community theatres throughout the metro area. Recent credits: King Hedley II (New African Grove Theatre), Indigo (Yellow Dream Productions), Suzette’s Saga (Atlanta Black Theatre Festival), Love’s Last Episode (Porter Sanford). My love is forever extended to my family.

Jarryn M. Bingham
Jarryn M. Bingham
Understudy for The Native Guard

Jarryn is excited to make his Alliance Theatre debut. Fairly new to the acting world, he has trained throughout Atlanta and has performed in several community theatres throughout the metro area. Recent credits: King Hedley II (New African Grove Theatre), Indigo (Yellow Dream Productions), Suzette’s Saga (Atlanta Black Theatre Festival), Love’s Last Episode (Porter Sanford). My love is forever extended to my family.

Jasmyne is delighted make her Alliance Theatre debut. Recent theater credits: The First Noel (True Colors) and The Life (FSU Theater Association). TV: "Greenleaf" (OWN). She has toured with numerous artists as professional background vocalist for the past 11 years. She holds her Bachelor of Science in theater performance from Florida A&M University and a Master of entertainment business from Full Sail University. Jasmyne dedicates this performance to her grandmother Catherine Hawkins, the first person who enrolled her into performing arts school at the age of four.

Jasmyne Hinson
Jasmyne Hinson
Understudy for Vocalist

Jasmyne is delighted make her Alliance Theatre debut. Recent theater credits: The First Noel (True Colors) and The Life (FSU Theater Association). TV: "Greenleaf" (OWN). She has toured with numerous artists as professional background vocalist for the past 11 years. She holds her Bachelor of Science in theater performance from Florida A&M University and a Master of entertainment business from Full Sail University. Jasmyne dedicates this performance to her grandmother Catherine Hawkins, the first person who enrolled her into performing arts school at the age of four.

Maythinee is delighted to understudy her first role at the Alliance Theatre. Recent credits include Macbeth (Serenbe Playhouse); Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 (Nevada Conservatory Theatre); Constellations (Cockroach Theatre). M.A. The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Love and gratitude to friends and family.

Maythinee Washington
Maythinee Washington
Understudy for The Poet

Maythinee is delighted to understudy her first role at the Alliance Theatre. Recent credits include Macbeth (Serenbe Playhouse); Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 (Nevada Conservatory Theatre); Constellations (Cockroach Theatre). M.A. The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Love and gratitude to friends and family.

Creative

Bret is honored to be working with the cast and creative team of Native Guard at the Atlanta History Center. Previous Alliance credits include Hand to God, Shakespeare in Love, The Magic Negro, Troubadour, Courtenay’s Cabaret, Born for This, Disgraced, A Steady Rain, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Blues for An Alabama Sky. As a regional theater stage manager for more than 25 years, he has worked all over the country, but is now enjoying exploring Atlanta. While based in Seattle, he was a guest faculty member at the University of Washington for five years.

Bret is honored to be working with the cast and creative team of Native Guard at the Atlanta History Center. Previous Alliance credits include Hand to God, Shakespeare in Love, The Magic Negro, Troubadour, Courtenay’s Cabaret, Born for This, Disgraced, A Steady Rain, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Blues for An Alabama Sky. As a regional theater stage manager for more than 25 years, he has worked all over the country, but is now enjoying exploring Atlanta. While based in Seattle, he was a guest faculty member at the University of Washington for five years.

Clay has been the resident sound designer at the Alliance Theatre for 17 years, designing more than 95 productions, including 27 world premieres, 30 musicals and 25 Theater for Young Audiences productions. Recent works include Disgraced; Pancakes, Pancakes!; Cinderella and Fella; and Troubadour. He also designed at Georgia Shakespeare, Atlanta Ballet, Cincinnati Playhouse, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Theatrical Outfit, Geva Theatre, Synchronicity Theatre and the Georgia Aquarium. Awards: seven Suzi Bass awards for outstanding sound design with 14 nominations. He is a graduate of Presbyterian College (B.A.), the North Carolina School of the Arts (M.F.A.) and a member of IATSE/USA829 and TSDCA.

Clay Benning
Clay Benning
Sound Designer

Clay has been the resident sound designer at the Alliance Theatre for 17 years, designing more than 95 productions, including 27 world premieres, 30 musicals and 25 Theater for Young Audiences productions. Recent works include Disgraced; Pancakes, Pancakes!; Cinderella and Fella; and Troubadour. He also designed at Georgia Shakespeare, Atlanta Ballet, Cincinnati Playhouse, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Theatrical Outfit, Geva Theatre, Synchronicity Theatre and the Georgia Aquarium. Awards: seven Suzi Bass awards for outstanding sound design with 14 nominations. He is a graduate of Presbyterian College (B.A.), the North Carolina School of the Arts (M.F.A.) and a member of IATSE/USA829 and TSDCA.

Born in New Orleans’ cradle of jazz, Jackson embodies the spirit of the Crescent City but has made his home in Atlanta. He has performed with Earl Klugh, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Jennifer Holliday and Marcus Miller. Professor of music at Kennesaw State University where he teaches applied jazz piano, group piano (jazz), jazz improvisation II & III, and the blues. Lecturer and clinician with the Rialto for Youth Jazz Ensemble. Three CDs of original works: Dedicated, Another Voyage and Melody in Nede: Suite for Jazz Quartet. Jackson has written and arranged countless works for a litany of artists and performers.

Tyrone Jackson
Tyrone Jackson
Composer, Music Director, Keyboard

Born in New Orleans’ cradle of jazz, Jackson embodies the spirit of the Crescent City but has made his home in Atlanta. He has performed with Earl Klugh, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Jennifer Holliday and Marcus Miller. Professor of music at Kennesaw State University where he teaches applied jazz piano, group piano (jazz), jazz improvisation II & III, and the blues. Lecturer and clinician with the Rialto for Youth Jazz Ensemble. Three CDs of original works: Dedicated, Another Voyage and Melody in Nede: Suite for Jazz Quartet. Jackson has written and arranged countless works for a litany of artists and performers.

Adam is a documentary filmmaker and designer for live performance. Designs include Hal Prince’s LoveMusik (Broadway), The Gospel at Colonus (Athens, Edinburgh and Spoleto Festivals), The Wind Up Bird Chronicle (Singapore and Edinburgh Festival), The Women of Brewster Place (Alliance/Arena Stage), Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, 23 Miles, Native Guard (Alliance Theatre), Breaking the Waves (Opera Philadelphia and Prototype Festival), From the House of the Dead (Canadian Opera), Brief Encounters, My Fair Lady (Shaw Festival), Agrippina, A Flowering Tree (Opera Omaha), Flight (Juilliard), Semele (Pacific Musicworks), Maa (Atlanta Symphony), The Pelleas Trilogy (Cincinnati Symphony), Siren Song, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Tales of Hoffmann (Hawaii Opera eatre), Phorion (New World Symphony), Peer Gynt, Peter Grimes, On the Town, SoundBox (San Francisco Symphony). Adam’s documentary about autism, Neurotypical, aired on the PBS series “POV”. 

Adam Larsen
Adam Larsen
Media Designer

Adam is a documentary filmmaker and designer for live performance. Designs include Hal Prince’s LoveMusik (Broadway), The Gospel at Colonus (Athens, Edinburgh and Spoleto Festivals), The Wind Up Bird Chronicle (Singapore and Edinburgh Festival), The Women of Brewster Place (Alliance/Arena Stage), Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, 23 Miles, Native Guard (Alliance Theatre), Breaking the Waves (Opera Philadelphia and Prototype Festival), From the House of the Dead (Canadian Opera), Brief Encounters, My Fair Lady (Shaw Festival), Agrippina, A Flowering Tree (Opera Omaha), Flight (Juilliard), Semele (Pacific Musicworks), Maa (Atlanta Symphony), The Pelleas Trilogy (Cincinnati Symphony), Siren Song, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Tales of Hoffmann (Hawaii Opera eatre), Phorion (New World Symphony), Peer Gynt, Peter Grimes, On the Town, SoundBox (San Francisco Symphony). Adam’s documentary about autism, Neurotypical, aired on the PBS series “POV”. 

Anne has created incredibly varied works from technologically advanced performances such as Mercury Soul at New World Symphony, to designs for musicals and operas, to large-scale art installations. Her theatrical and symphonic partnerships have included major venues across the United States: Avery Fisher Hall, Arena Stage, The Wilma Theater, The Kennedy Center, Alliance Theater and prestigious symphonies throughout the country (San Francisco, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago). Her large-scale installations can be seen at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, Christ Church Cathedral in Cincinnati, The Ringling Museum in Sarasota, The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, and 125 High Street in Boston. 

Anne Patterson
Anne Patterson
Set Designer

Anne has created incredibly varied works from technologically advanced performances such as Mercury Soul at New World Symphony, to designs for musicals and operas, to large-scale art installations. Her theatrical and symphonic partnerships have included major venues across the United States: Avery Fisher Hall, Arena Stage, The Wilma Theater, The Kennedy Center, Alliance Theater and prestigious symphonies throughout the country (San Francisco, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago). Her large-scale installations can be seen at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, Christ Church Cathedral in Cincinnati, The Ringling Museum in Sarasota, The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, and 125 High Street in Boston. 

Alliance Theatre: Native Guard (costumes); August Osage County; Jacque Brel…; Glen Gary, Glen Ross; Other People’s Money (sets). Theatrical Outfit: Blood Knot, Ah Wilderness (sets); Cotton Patch Gospel (costumes). Actor’s Express: Legend of Georgia McBride, Stupid F**king Bird, End of the Rainbow, Dark Play,I Am My Own Wife, Tom Pain (sets). Regional: Georgia Shakespeare, Center for Puppetry Arts, Georgia Ensemble Theater, Theater Emory. National: Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Geva Theatre, Merrimack Theatre, Portland Stage Company, Indiana Repertory Theater, and Off-Broadway. Broadway: Tony Award-winning K-2 (Associate Designer with Ming Cho Lee; Maharam Award). Suzi Bass award for August, Osage County, nomination for The Legend of Georgia McBride. Leslie served for ten years as Chair of the Department of Theater and Dance at Emory University and currently serves as Executive Director for the Emory College Center for Creativity & Arts. 

Leslie Taylor
Leslie Taylor
Costume Designer

Alliance Theatre: Native Guard (costumes); August Osage County; Jacque Brel…; Glen Gary, Glen Ross; Other People’s Money (sets). Theatrical Outfit: Blood Knot, Ah Wilderness (sets); Cotton Patch Gospel (costumes). Actor’s Express: Legend of Georgia McBride, Stupid F**king Bird, End of the Rainbow, Dark Play,I Am My Own Wife, Tom Pain (sets). Regional: Georgia Shakespeare, Center for Puppetry Arts, Georgia Ensemble Theater, Theater Emory. National: Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Geva Theatre, Merrimack Theatre, Portland Stage Company, Indiana Repertory Theater, and Off-Broadway. Broadway: Tony Award-winning K-2 (Associate Designer with Ming Cho Lee; Maharam Award). Suzi Bass award for August, Osage County, nomination for The Legend of Georgia McBride. Leslie served for ten years as Chair of the Department of Theater and Dance at Emory University and currently serves as Executive Director for the Emory College Center for Creativity & Arts. 

Jayson is proud to return to the Alliance Theatre for his eighth season. At the Alliance, he’s worked on such productions as Crossing Delancey, Troubadour, Moby Dick, Born for This, Tuck Everlasting, The Geller Girls, A Christmas Carol, Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, Broke, Sex and the Second City, Next to Normal, Holidays With the Chalks and Bike America. At Atlanta Lyric Theatre: Jesus Christ Superstar, The Full Monty and Young Frankenstein. At the Illinois Shakespeare Festival: I <3 Juliet, Hamlet, Q Gents, Antony & Cleopatra, Macbeth, As You Like It, Twelfth Night and A Winter’s Tale. Jayson graduated from the Gainesville Theatre Alliance and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Jayson T. Waddell
Jayson T. Waddell
Stage Manager (January 18–February 4

Jayson is proud to return to the Alliance Theatre for his eighth season. At the Alliance, he’s worked on such productions as Crossing Delancey, Troubadour, Moby Dick, Born for This, Tuck Everlasting, The Geller Girls, A Christmas Carol, Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, Broke, Sex and the Second City, Next to Normal, Holidays With the Chalks and Bike America. At Atlanta Lyric Theatre: Jesus Christ Superstar, The Full Monty and Young Frankenstein. At the Illinois Shakespeare Festival: I <3 Juliet, Hamlet, Q Gents, Antony & Cleopatra, Macbeth, As You Like It, Twelfth Night and A Winter’s Tale. Jayson graduated from the Gainesville Theatre Alliance and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Ken is the resident lighting designer at Sarasota Opera. Alliance credits: Troubadour; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Tiger Style!; Native Guard; The Geller Girls; By the Way, Meet Vera Stark; Good People; What I Learned in Paris; Into the Woods; August: Osage County; The Underpants; Mrs. Warren’s Profession. National credits: Florida Grand Opera, Utah Shakespeare, Atlanta Opera, Bermuda Arts Festival, McCarter Theatre, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Utah Opera. Atlanta awards: Suzis for Pancakes, Pancakes!, The Geller Girls and Avenue X, with four other nominations; Abbey artist of the year nomination; featured in Creative Loafing’s Best of Atlanta.

Ken Yunker
Ken Yunker
Lighting Designer

Ken is the resident lighting designer at Sarasota Opera. Alliance credits: Troubadour; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Tiger Style!; Native Guard; The Geller Girls; By the Way, Meet Vera Stark; Good People; What I Learned in Paris; Into the Woods; August: Osage County; The Underpants; Mrs. Warren’s Profession. National credits: Florida Grand Opera, Utah Shakespeare, Atlanta Opera, Bermuda Arts Festival, McCarter Theatre, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Utah Opera. Atlanta awards: Suzis for Pancakes, Pancakes!, The Geller Girls and Avenue X, with four other nominations; Abbey artist of the year nomination; featured in Creative Loafing’s Best of Atlanta.

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