Are you a teen looking to explore your love for theater and the arts? The Alliance Theatre has some awesome opportunities for you this spring. Check out the Palefsky Collision Project and the Teen Ensemble – both are incredible programs designed just for you. Joining these groups is not only about learning and growing as an artist but also about making new friends who share your interests. Get involved in workshops, collaborate with professionals, and even perform on stage.
Teen Ensemble Auditions
What: The Teen Ensemble is a group of 18-20 high school juniors and seniors engaged in a year-long journey within the Alliance, attending every production, meeting cast and crew, and writing reviews. Teen Ensemble members participate in monthly workshops led by Alliance teaching artists and guest artists, honing their skills in acting, auditioning, dancing, singing, and playwriting. With a focus on creating both traditional and experimental theater pieces, the program aims to offer a comprehensive and immersive experience into the world of theater at no cost to the participants.
Audition Dates: March 19-20, 24, 31 and May 7-9, 2024, on Zoom
Details: Prepare a monologue and/or song no longer than 3 minutes total. (You can do one or the other or both! Just keep it all under 3 minutes.) Be prepared to talk about yourself as an artist/creative and why you hope to join the Teen Ensemble. There will also be a short creating portion with a current Teen Ensemble member.
Learn More: For more information, contact Teen Programs Manager, Samantha Provenzano at samantha.provenzano@alliancetheatre.org.
Palefsky Collision Project Interviews
What: Explore bold, relevant stories through theater. For more than 20 years the Palefsky Collision Project has empowered teens to create theater, for and about themselves, as collaborative, creative, and confident young artists.
Interview Dates: March 22-23 & April 13-14, 2024
Program Dates: July 8-27, 2024
Details: Students entering the 11th grade, 12th grade, and post-secondary education are welcome. Each summer, the Alliance Theatre brings together a diverse group of teenagers for this three-week program. Guided by professional playwrights and directors, ensemble members delve into a chosen source text, participate in theatre workshops with guest artists, interact with experts and express their reflections through daily creative writing exercises.
Learn More: For more information, email collision.project@alliancetheatre.org.
Whether you’re dreaming of the spotlight or eager to dive into meaningful storytelling, Alliance Theatre has something special waiting for you. Mark your calendars, prepare your monologues, and get ready to shine on stage!
The Alliance Theatre is pleased to announce the cast and creative team of its world premiere musical, THE PREACHER’S WIFE. Inspired by the beloved film, THE PREACHER’S WIFE is a stirring celebration of community, family, and the power of faith. Featuring an original score by award nominated actor, musician, and writer Tituss Burgess (TV: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) and a book by actress, producer, and writer Azie Dungey (TV: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Harlem, Girls5eva), THE PREACHER’S WIFE will run on The Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre from May 11 – June 16, 2024. Opening night is Friday, May 24, 8:00pm.
The cast of THE PREACHER’S WIFE includes Rebecca E. Covington as Beverly; NAACP Image Award and Emmy Award winner Loretta Devine (Film: Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher’s Wife; TV: Boston Public, Grey’s Anatomy; Broadway: Dreamgirls) as Marguerite Coleman; Alan H. Green (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as Joe Hamilton; Jahi Kearse (Ain’t Too Proud) as Deacon Lewis; Davis Matthews as Hakeem; Cameron McCrae as Jeremiah; Wayne Pretlow as Ol’ Mac; Brad Raymond (Film: The Color Purple) as Deacon Johnson; Screen Actors Guild Award and Laurence Olivier Award winner Amber Riley (TV: Glee, Single Black Female, Dancing with the Stars, The Masked Singer, The Wiz Live!; West End: Dreamgirls) as Julia Biggs; Akron Lanier Watson (The Play That Goes Wrong) as Henry Biggs, and Donald Webber, Jr (Hamilton) as Dudley.
The ensemble includes Wesley J. Barnes, Brianna Bellamy, Angela Birchett, Laila Bollar, Melessie Clark, Cedrick Ekra, Cyniah Elise, Darius Harper, Toneisha Harris, Shaq Hester, Brianna Javis, Harper Miles, Amma Osei, Kala Ross, Drew Shade, Michael Stiggers, Alicia Thomas, Damani Van Rensalier, and Helen Marla White. Ashley Jenkins serves as the Understudy for the role of Julia Biggs.
“I am blown away by the wealth of talent, diversity of style and breadth of experience overflowing in this cast!” said Director Tinashe Kajese-Bolden. “From our talented Atlanta actors to Broadway vets and Hollywood royalty, they each bring a unique sense of purpose and connection to the material that is magnetic and powerful! The stars aligned in our favor bringing Amber Riley and Akron Watson together as our dynamic leads, with the legendary talent of Loretta Devine and the fantastically debonair Donald Webber, Jr as our Angel. But what I believe will make this story unforgettable is the joy that radiates from each one of these inspired artists which will undoubtedly give us all a little more faith in the world!”
THE PREACHER’S WIFE creative team is led by Tony Award-winning Director Michael Arden (Broadway: Parade; Alliance Theatre: Maybe Happy Ending) and award-winning Director and Alliance Theatre’s Jennings Hertz Artistic Director, Tinashe Kajese-Bolden (Regional: Toni Stone, Alliance Theatre: Furlough’s Paradise). The musical’s book is by writer & producer Azie Dungey (TV: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Harlem, Girls5eva), with an original score by Georgia native and six-time Emmy Award nominee Tituss Burgess (TV: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; Theater: Moulin Rouge!).
THE PREACHER’S WIFE creative team includes Choreographer Matthew Johnson Harris (Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical); Tony nominated Scenic Designer Dane Laffrey (Parade); Scenic Designer Teresa L. Williams (Jaja’s African Hair Braiding); Tony nominated Costume Designer Sarafina Bush (The Who’s Tommy); Tony nominated Lighting Designer Jennifer Schriever (A Strange Loop); Tony nominated Sound Designer Joshua D. Reid (A Christmas Carol); Wig Designer Cookie Jordan (Merrily We Roll Along); and Illusionist Skylar Fox (Fat Ham). James Sampliner (Legally Blonde) serves as the production’s Music Supervisor, Music Director, Orchestrator, and Arranger.
Additional production support is provided by Associate Director Emilio Ramos; Associate Choreographer Jōvan Dansberry; Associate Music Director John Gentry Tennyson; Stage Manager Julie DeVore, with casting by Tara Rubin Casting and Jody Feldman.
“I am beyond thrilled to be back at the Alliance Theatre after a record-breaking run of MAYBE HAPPY ENDING in 2019, co-directing this inspiring and magical new musical alongside the Alliance’s own brilliant Tinashe Kajese-Bolden, an artist who I have admired for a long time,” said Director Michael Arden. “Tituss Burgess’ soaring and thrilling score and Azie Dungey’s heartfelt and hysterical book are certain to transport and transform audiences to new heights. Led by this superb cast, featuring Matthew Johnson Harris’ clever and exuberant choreography, gorgeous arrangements by the genius James Sampliner, and a production by this stellar design team, THE PREACHER’S WIFE is certain to blow the roof off The Coca-Cola Stage and crack your hearts open wide.”
“I’ve been waiting a long time to give this to the world,” said Composer Tituss Burgess. “I hope it brings audiences as much joy as writing it has brought me!”
Learn more about The Preacher’s Wife.