David Geffen School Of Drama At Yale Graduate Named The 2024-2025 Alliance Theatre National Vision, Inc. Bipoc Stage Management Fellow
Xiaonan (Chloe) Liu Is A Graduate Of The Stage Management Program At Geffen School Of Drama And Holds A B.A. From Shangai Theatre Academy
The Alliance Theatre is pleased to announce that Xiaonan “Chloe” Liu (she/her) has been chosen as the National Vision, Inc. BIPOC Stage Management Fellow for the 2024-2025 season. Liu moved to Atlanta and began her fellowship in July.
Liu, who identifies herself as a Chinese Stage Manager, recently graduated from the Stage Management Program at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale where her credits include Next to Normal, Green Suga Bloos, The Cherry Orchard, The Alley, and Twelfth Night, as well as Choir Boy and Escaped Alone at Yale Rep. She obtained a B.A. from Shanghai Theatre Academy and worked on productions in China which include the Shanghai Disney production of Beauty and The Beast, The Lion King, and the national tour of Man of La Mancha and The Sound of Music.
“As a young stage manager, the BIPOC Stage Management Fellowship has given me diverse opportunities for skill development across productions,” said Liu. “The Alliance has offered me a supportive platform to establish myself as an inclusive leader, providing a safe environment to learn from mistakes and infuse my cultural heritage and values. This experience is crucial in laying a strong foundation for my future career, imparting not only effective stage management skills but also nurturing collaborative expertise with empathy and care.”
As the National Vision, Inc. BIPOC Stage Management Fellow, Liu will work as a contributing member of the stage management department at the Alliance Theatre. They will work as the stage manager or assistant stage manager, primarily on the Coca-Cola Stage, for productions including the holiday favorite A Christmas Carol, as well as this season’s co-production of BUST with the Goodman Theater in Chicago, and Millions, the enhanced world premiere musical with a Broadway-experienced creative team. Additionally, she will be afforded the opportunity to develop a network of mentors inside and outside the Alliance while building a resume of top-of-field work experience.
Since arriving in Atlanta, Liu has served as a production assistant on Pearl Cleage’s Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard and stage manager for The Chinese Lady. Both shows were produced on the Hertz Stage.
“Moving to Atlanta for the Alliance Theater BIPOC Stage Management Fellowship has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Participating in the inaugural production of Pearl Cleage’s Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard has allowed me to feel a strong sense of belonging within the Alliance community,” added Liu. “As an international individual of Asian descent, I’ve been welcomed with inclusivity and support, helping me grow both as a professional stage manager and as an independent team leader. With this robust experience at the Alliance, I’m looking forward to being involved in more amazing regional and Broadway productions in the future.”
ABOUT THE NATIONAL VISION, INC. BIPOC STAGE MANAGEMENT FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
The stage manager is the actor’s advocate, show’s guardian, and production’s liaison for all aspects of the production. They ensure the director’s vision is realized while creating a safe working environment for all. Too often, the stage manager is a white person even on a production where most of the cast and creative team are Black, Indigenous, or persons of color (BIPOC). After a year of intentionally listening to the needs of our BIPOC artist community, a through line surfaced: “I wish there were more stage managers sitting at the table who looked like me.” We must correct this imbalance not only at the Alliance Theatre but as an industry if we want our productions and staff to reflect the communities we serve. The Alliance is linking arms with stage management graduate programs, creating a pipeline of full-time work for emerging BIPOC stage managers to diversify the field through the BIPOC Stage Management Fellowship Program.
To apply, candidates must 1) identify as a BIPOC theatre maker, 2) be an MFA in Stage Management student in their final year or have graduated from an MFA in Stage Management program in the past 3 years, and 3) be willing to relocate to Atlanta, Georgia for the fellowship. A diverse panel of professional stage managers and theatre leaders select the final candidate, and the panelists also serve as a resource to the Fellow during their time in residence.
Learn more about the National Vision, Inc. BIPOC Stage Management Fellowship Program.
It is with broken hearts that the Alliance shares the news that beloved Atlanta actor Chris Kayser passed away earlier today. Chris was a regular on our stages for four decades, including roles in A Christmas Carol for 22 years, 16 times as Ebenezer Scrooge. How fitting that a show so focused on the virtues of generosity & community is the show he performed the most. For those were the exact gifts he freely gave this Atlanta theatre community. In addition to his work at the Alliance, he was a company member of the seminal Academy Theater for nine years and a resident artist with Georgia Shakespeare for 25 years. Chris also helped found Théâtre Du Rêve, a French language theater. With Théâtre Du Rêve, he was able to tour theater in France six times. He was cited with the Lexus Leader in the Arts award by the city of Atlanta. He has been named Best Actor by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Creative Loafing, and the Suzi Awards.
A message from our artistic leaders:
The Atlanta theater community gathers in shared sorrow and remembrance, as we say goodbye to our beloved friend, colleague, and eternal light of this theater, Chris Kayser. It is a loss that cuts deep, not only because of his immense talent but because of the boundless love and generosity of spirit he brought to every rehearsal, every performance, and every quiet conversation backstage.
Chris was more than an actor; he was a storyteller in the truest sense. With every role, he reminded us that the stage is not just a place for words, but a sacred ground for truth, courage, and connection. He gave his heart to his craft, but more importantly, he gave his heart to the people around him—to every castmate, every crew member, every person who walked through our doors. He saw us, truly, in ways that left us better for it. Chris’s legacy is etched into every corner of this theater and on every one of our hearts.
For the entirety of his career, Chris poured his heart & soul into his work, encouraging young actors along the way and providing a role model for what a life in the theatre could look like. And in Chris’ case, that life looked luminous.
Let us honor him by carrying forward his fierce passion for truth, his gentle wisdom, and his unyielding belief in the transformative power of human connection. Chris was, and always will be, a part of the soul of this theater. We will miss him deeply, but his light will guide us to live every moment to the fullest.
– Tinashe, Christopher, and Mike
Cast Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Aretta Baumgartner, Ernaisja Curry, Shelli Delgado, Sarah Beth “EssBee” Hester, Bethany Anne Lind, Shaun MacLean, Kala Ross
Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre Is Pleased To Announce The Cast And Creative Team Of Its Upcoming World Premiere
Adapted For The Stage From The Beloved, Newbery Award-Winning Picture Bookby William Steig
WRITTEN BY IDRIS GOODWIN
DIRECTED BY MARK VALDEZ
Rehearsals are underway for the Alliance Theatre’s world premiere DOCTOR DE SOTO, produced in partnership with Seattle Children’s Theatre. Written by award-winning playwright Idris Goodwin, Artistic Director of Seattle Children’s Theatre, and brought to life under the masterful direction of Mark Valdez, Artistic Director of Mix Blood Theatre in Minneapolis, DOCTOR DE SOTO will have its world premiere on the Hertz Stage at Alliance Theatre, January 18 – March 2, 2025.
Goodwin and Valdez bring William Steig’s tale of wit, wisdom, and whimsy to the stage with an eye-popping blend of live-action, puppetry, music, and rhyme. Despite the sign outside stating that they do not treat predators, Doctor De Soto and Mrs. De Soto (at the persistent urging of Young De Soto), take pity on a suffering fox with a rotten tooth. But once he opens his jaws and they must step inside, they begin to rethink their decision. Full of excitement and laughter, this modern-day fable proves that even the smallest creatures can make a big difference with kindness and a little quick thinking.
“The book was published when I was around three years old and it quickly became a favorite,” said Goodwin. “Now that I’m a parent, I’ve had the joy of sharing it with my own kids, who also love it. The simplicity of the narrative, paired with its humor and cleverness translates beautifully to the stage and resonate deeply with audiences.”
The DOCTOR DE SOTO cast will feature Shelli Delgado (Alliance Theatre: Into the Burrow) as Young DeSoto, Bethany Anne Lind (Netflix: Ozark) as Fox, Shaun MacLean (Disney+: Wandavision) as Doctor De Soto, and Kala Ross (Broadway: For Colored Girls Revival; Alliance Theatre: Hands Up) as Mrs. De Soto. Aretta Baumgartner and Sarah Beth Hester join Lind, MacLean, and Ross as Patients. Production understudies include Hayden Rowe, Chris McKnight, Erin North, Maia Sanaa, and Brie Wolfe.
The creative team of DOCTOR DE SOTO includes Director Mark Valdez, Assistant Director Sam Provenzano, Composer Brandon Bush, Scenic Designer Kat Conley, Costume Designer Garry Lennon, Lighting Designer Ben Rawson, Sound Designer Bahar Royaee, and Puppet Designer Lynn Jeffries.
Additional production support includes Stage Manager Barbara Gantt O’Haley, Stage Management Production Assistant Samantha Honeycutt, and Production Management Lead Haylee Scott.
“I want young audiences to reflect on what they would do in De Soto’s situation. The narrative presents complex, layered choices – not just right or wrong answers,” added Goodwin. “I hope kids leave considering the consequences of their actions and the nuances of making tough decisions. It’s about understanding that every choice has both benefits and drawbacks.”
Performances of Doctor De Soto will run on the Hertz Stage January 18 to March 2, 2025 – learn more.
Cast Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Mark Bedard, Cecil Blutcher, Caroline Stefanie Clay, Bernard Gilbert, Caitlin Hargraves, Jorge Luna, Victoria Omoregie, Keith Randolph Smith, Raymond Anthony Thomas, Ivan Cecil Walks, and Renika Williams (Blutcher)
Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre And Chicago’s Goodman Theatre Are Pleased To Announce The Cast And Creative Team Of BUST
Humor, Suspense, And Surrealism Converge In This Revelatory, Groundbreaking World Premiere
Written By Zora Howard
Directed By Lileana Blain-Cruz
Produced In Association With Sonia Friedman Productions, Khaliah Neal, And Thomas Swayne
Alliance Theatre and Goodman Theatre today announce the cast and creative team of their upcoming world-premiere co-production, BUST. Written by Pulitzer Prize-finalist Zora Howard (STEW), BUST is a riveting and genre-defying exploration of community, conflict, and the far-reaching impacts of historical racism, brought to life under the masterful direction of Tony Award nominee Lileana Blain-Cruz (The Skin of Our Teeth). BUST will have its world premiere on The Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre, February 13 – March 16, 2025, and in the Goodman’s Albert Theatre, April 19 – May 18, 2025.
It’s not only hell that breaks loose in this groundbreaking, laugh-out-loud new drama. Retta and Reggie are enjoying their usual evening on the porch when a longtime neighbor is pulled over by the police just before turning into his driveway. Everything goes as expected — until the unexpected happens. Humor, suspense, and surrealism converge in this gripping interrogation of what it costs to be Black and free.
“Growing up, my mother, my aunties, or whomever, would come home with whatever mess they dealt with throughout their day, and they would talk about it. The way they told their stories – sparing no ugly detail and still, somehow, cracking jokes throughout; it was a healing practice I learned early on,” said Playwright Zora Howard. “It takes a lot to be Black and walk this life. There is some real ugly stuff that we have to navigate. And yet there is an artfulness to how we move through it – with humor, with deftness, with style. BUST is a meditation on and an homage to that movement.”
The BUST cast will feature Mark Bedard (TV/HBO Max: The Gilded Age) as Tomlin/Jack, Cecil Blutcher (TV/Paramount+: The Game, Signature Theatre Co.: The Hot Wing King) as Trent, Renika Williams (Blutcher) (TV/HBO Max: Sex Lives of College Girls) as Krystal, Caroline Stefanie Clay (Broadway: The Little Foxes and Doubt) as Retta, Bernard Gilbert (TV/Showtime: The Chi, Goodman Theatre: How to Catch Creation) as Zeke, Caitlin Hargraves (Alliance Theatre: A Christmas Carol, TV/HBO Max: Mi Casa) as Ms. Pinto, Jorge Luna (TV/Netflix: Zero Day) as Ramirez, Victoria Omoregie (Alliance Theatre: Fat Ham, The Huntington Theatre: John Proctor is the Villain) as Paige, Keith Randolph Smith (Film: Malcolm X, Alliance Theatre: God of Carnage, National Theatre, London: Jitney) as Mr. Woods, Ray Anthony Thomas (Film: American Fiction, The Harbinger and Pariah) as Reggie, and Ivan Cecil Walks (The Huntington Theatre: K-I-S-S-I-N-G) as Boobie. Production understudies include Hannah Rose Broom, Robert John Connor, Jacob Alexander Craig, Warren Levi Haney, Anjil Jeter; Braian Rivera Jimémez, Taloria Merricks, and Ty Ravenel.
The creative team of BUST includes Director Lileana Blain-Cruz, Associate Director Malkia Stampley, Set Designer Matt Saunders, Costume Designer Dominique Fawn Hill, Lighting Designer Yi Zhao, Associate Lighting Designer Jonah Bobilin, Sound Designer Mikaal Sulaiman, Associate Sound Designer Kellen Voss, Special Effects Designer Jeremy Chernick, Dialect Coach Jacqueline Springfield, Sonic Dramaturg DJ Reborn, and Fight Choreographer Rocio Alexis Mendez.
Additional production support includes Stage Manager shiku thuo, Assistant Stage Manager Xiaonan Chloe Liu, Stage Management Production Assistant Marshall Lee Smith, Jr., and Production Management Lead Lawrence Bennett.
“There’s a real invitation at the center of the play to experience something new. There’s this kind of really amazing, thrilling, complicated emotional journey that happens at the center of this play, and I hope audiences are on the ride to encounter something that they had never considered before,” said Director Lileana Blain-Cruz. “What I love about theater is knowing that there are a million individual stories existing inside the audience. What’s beautiful is when those whose lives may be very different understand something more, and the people whose lives may be similar find themselves being seen.”
Performances of BUST will run on the Coca-Cola Stage February 13 to March 16, 2025 – learn more.