An Octoroon
By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
(Regional Premiere)
Directed by Benchmark Theatre Resident Guest Director donnie l. betts

Judge Peyton is dead and his plantation Terrebonne is in financial ruins. Peyton’s handsome nephew George arrives as heir apparent and quickly falls in love with Zoe, a beautiful octoroon. But the evil overseer M’Closky has other plans—for both Terrebonne and Zoe. In 1859, a famous Irishman wrote this play about slavery in America. Now an American tries to write his own.

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon is a whirlwind of images and dialogue that leaves no one out of the conversation and makes no apologies for asking the hard questions.

June 10 - July 9, 2022
Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm with additional Sunday matinees at 2pm.

Industry Night Performance - Monday, June 27th at 8pm
(No performance on Friday, July 1st due to the First Friday Art Celebration in 40West Arts District)

An Octoroon

By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

CAST

BJJ/GEORGE/M’CLOSKY - Mykai Eastman

Mykai Eastman is a director, playwright, and actor. He dedicates his career to giving a voice to the voiceless. With a B.A in Theatre, and an M.A in Professional Communication, Mykai takes a multi-disciplinary approach to theatre that pushes the boundaries of what is expected onstage. He would like to thank God, his fiancee Sydney, donnie, the cast, crew, and The Benchmark Team for all they do!

PLAYWRIGHT/LAFOUCHE/WAHNOTEE - Josh Levy

Josh is thrilled to be working with Benchmark for the first time. It has been a few years (thanks Covid) since Josh was able to play on stage, so this experience has been one that he will never forget. You might have last seen him jumping around a large tree as Scurios in the Aurora Fox’s production of Squirrels. Josh would like to thank Benchmark, and the amazing donnie l betts for the trust and opportunity to perform in this truly significant play. He also would like to thank his fellow actors and crew for the loving and supportive environment to play in. Lastly, Josh wants to give his special thanks to his wife Zarah and children, Sophia and Miles, for their endless support of his theatrical passion.

DORA/RATTS - Colleen Lee

Colleen Lee is a photographer, actress, and youth theater director. She is honored to be a part of this production and is continually inspired by donnie l. betts and the fantastic members of this cast. Recent roles include: Laura in Meteor Shower (Benchmark Theatre) and Ann Putnam in The Crucible (Miners Alley). Colleen is passionate about the positive effects of youth involvement in the arts and has recently performed as Mama Bear (Goldilocks and the Three Bears) and The Witch (Hansel and Gretel) with Miners Alley Children's Theatre. Colleen lives in Evergreen with her husband, Patrick, and two daughters, Stella and Alice.

ZOE - Samantha Piel

Samantha Piel is super excited to make her Benchmark debut. She was recently in The Crucible (Mary Warren) as well as Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Baby Bear) at Miners Alley Playhouse. After graduating from CU Boulder with a BFA in Acting and BA in Humanities, she is so excited to be a part of the incredible Colorado theatre community. She hopes you enjoy the show and it leaves you with a lot to think about!

MINNIE - Kenya Mahogany Fashaw

Kenya Mahogany Fashaw is a spoken word artist, educator, actress, producer, singer and Playwright. Her recent work was in FLYIN' WEST, written by Pearl Cleage produced by Firehouse Theater Company and 5280 Artist Co-Op. Kenya has written and directed the Henry Award winning play “Colorism, Breaking The Chains of Complexion,” produced by 5280 Artist Co-Op. Kenya is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of 5280 Artist Co-Op. Kenya was Honored as a Colorado Creative in the Westword and has recently performed her first Tedx Talk. Kenya creates stories to normalize people of color, changing their narratives to prominent roles.

DIDO - Latifah Johnson

Latifah is fairly new to the Denver acting community, and has so far enjoyed the warm welcome.  She most recently appeared in Flyin’ West with 5280 Artist Co-Op and Firehouse Theatre. Some of her favorite theatre credits include Waiting to Be invited, Stop Kiss, Talking With, Darker Face of the Earth, One Night Six Plays, A Tribute to August Wilson, The Vagina Monologues, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide… and To Kill A Mocking Bird. She is happy to be performing in her first  production with Benchmark and is grateful to work with such talented folks and for every acting opportunity she is blessed with. A big Shout Out Thanks to those who have consistently supported her acting endeavors. You know who you are.

ASSISTANT/PETE/PAUL - Teej Morgan

Teej Morgan-Arzola is a Junior Film and Television Major at University of Colorado Denver (UCD). Teej is an independent film and theater actor from Denver. Most of his acting training started at The Studio School (TSS) in Northglenn, Colorado. Soon after, he spent several years as a theater major at Denver School of the Arts (DSA). DSA CREDITS: Chicago (Fred Casely), Letters to Sala (Harry), In The Heights (Sonny), The Bourgeois Gentleman (Fencing Master), The Producers (Policeman/Ensemble), Oliver! (Fagin Boy/Orphan). Film acting CREDITS: La Loba (Cyrus), Crooked Night (Antonio Marquez), The Night of the Many Jaxes (Trent), Cinderblock (Randy). UCD CREDITS: The Victim (Writer, Producer, Director, Editor, Sound Mix and Design), Love At First Sign (Writer, Producer, Director, Editor), The Eggs of Baphomet (Writer and Director). It's been nearly 3 years since his last Theatre show and he is excited to return to where it all began.

GRACE/BR’ER RABBIT - Marie-Antoniette Banks

Marie-Antoinette Banks is in the process of earning her BFA in Acting from the University of Colorado Boulder. A few of her previous credits include: Speck (co-writer and director), Dry Land (director), The Normal Heart (Dr. Emma Brookner), Men on Boats (Seneca/Just Jim), In the Red and Brown Water (Nia), Much Ado About Nothing (Friar Francis), Airness (ensemble/swing). She is very grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such an outstanding cast and crew and would like to thank her professor, Dr. Erin, for cultivating her admiration of “epic theatre.”

CREATIVE TEAM

Director - donnie l. betts

Assistant Director - Linda Dixon

Scenic Design - Tina Anderson

Light Design - Brett Maughan

Projection & Sound Design - El Armstrong

Costume Design - Elizabeth Woods

Prop Design - Andy Bakehouse

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Playwright):

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is an American playwright. He won the 2014 Obie Award for Best New American Play for his plays Appropriate and An Octoroon. His plays Gloria and Everybody were finalists for the 2016 and 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Drama respectively. He was named a MacArthur Fellow for 2016.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Stage Manager - Andrew Horn

Scenic Carpenters - Christian Edris & Biz Schaugaard

Rehearsal Photography - Colleen Lee Photography

Production Photography - McLeod9 Creative

Program Design - Marc Stith

Front of House Volunteers - Abby Apple Boes, Heidi Markley,

Cody Nunno, Linda Quartner & Pat Salas

Producer & Front of House Management - Haley Johnson

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President: Joseph Black

Secretary: Abby Apple Boes

Treasurer: Gloria Shanstrom

Board Member: Melanie Mayner

Member At Large: Rachel Clark

Executive Director: Haley Johnson

BENCHMARK EXECUTIVE TEAM

Executive Director - Haley Johnson

Artistic Director - Neil Truglio

Strategic & Marketing Director - Marc Stith

SPECIAL THANKS

40West Arts, Chicano Humanities & Arts Council, Colorado Creative Industries, Colorado Theatre Guild, The E Project Board of Directors, Firehouse Theatre Company, Lakewood BID, Redline Contemporary Art Center, Theater Company of Lafayette, The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District, Vintage Theatre; Beck, Brit & Chantelle, Brenda Gurule, Helen Hand, Diana & Mike Kinsey, Marcus & Mason, Bill Marino, Louise Martorano, Madge Montgomery, Joseph & Mary Pirozzoli, Biz Schaugaard