The Racial Baptism Series (2020) | Perceptions Theatre

The Racial Baptism Series

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This series features actors (from left to right): Jennifer Glasse, Sheldon D.Brown, Donovan Session, Casey Morris, Julian “Joolz” Stroop, Marcus D. Moore, Myesha-Tiara, Jerluane “Jay” Jenkins

Introducing the cast of the Racial Baptism Series! We found it pressing to use our platform to incite conversation on the infamous killings of black people in this country. The Series takes you on 7 different journeys as the characters share their coming of age stories, mental breakthroughs or breakdowns, frustrations and fears—all due to the running theme of racism.

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This series is “Pay What You Can” and donation/based. Half of the proceeds will be going to the Chicago Community Bond Fund (@chibondfund). __________________________________

All monologues written by Asha R. McAllister (@blackgirlshavejoy )

Stream the Series on our website (perceptionstheatre.org)

When: Monday 6/22 - Sunday 6/28, one monologue a day.

Stream the entire series on 6/29 at 5 PM CST.

Talkback: We will hold a talkback on Facebook Live, at the end of the series, to open the conversation to viewers and the artists. Find us at Perceptions Theatre.

THE CAST

JENNIFER GLASSE

Jennifer Glasse is an Ensemble Member at The Gift Theatre where her credits include: Wolf Play, Doubt, Hang Man, and A Life Extra Ordinary. Some of her other Chicago credits include: Oedipus Rex (Court Theatre), Breath, Boom (Eclipse Theatre), The Mutilated (a Red Orchid Theatre). Television credits include Chicago Fire and The Chi. She has been a teaching artist at the Court Theatre with the August Wilson Monologue Competition since 2013.Jennifer received her degree in Musical Theatre from North Central College. She is also a graduate from The School at Steppenwolf of 2010. She is proudly represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent. www.jenniferglasseactor.com.

SHELDON BROWN

Sheldon Brown is a graduate of Emerson College. His previous credits include This Bitter Earth and Time Is On Our Side at About Face Theatre, A Wonder In My Soul at Victory Gardens Theatre. Oedipus Rex and Man In The Ring by Pulitzer Prize playwright Michael Cristofer at Court Theatre and more. He also has numerous credits in Boston including The Grand Inquisitor, directed by Peter Brook through ArtsEmerson. His film credits include Cicada ( SFFILM Rainin Grant, Tribeca Film Institute, BFI Flare Festival, Framlibe Film Festival), The Canyonlands, and My Name is Alex.

DONOVAN SESSION

Donovan Session is more than honored to participate in the Racial Baptism Monologue Series. As a former resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Donovan is no stranger to the racial injustices that have plagued this country for centuries. He is open and ready to fight with his brothers, sisters and everyone in between because ALL Black Lives Matter. He would like to thank Asha and Perceptions Theatre for creating this moment and hopes that as time progresses, we will come to a new and brighter understanding of each other and the bodies that we inhabit. Feel free to follow him on Instagram @slaysession.

CASEY MORRIS

Casey is excited and honored to be a part of Perceptions Theatre's The Racial Baptism. You may have seen Casey recently in Jane Anderson's Mother of the Maid at Northlight Theatre, in Skokie. Other Chicago theatre credits include: The Undeniable Sound of Right Now (Raven Theatre), Hooded or Being Black for Dummies (First Floor Theater), Ah, Wilderness! (Goodman Theatre), What of the Night? (Stage Left & Cor Theatre), Hand to God (Victory Gardens), Hamlet, The Grapes of Wrath (The Gift Theatre), #Newslaves, EOM (Ignition Festival Victory Gardens), Voyage (Cock and Bull), The Revel (The House Theatre of Chicago), Post Apocalypto (Sketchbook ’15, Collaboraction), In a Little World of Our Own (Irish Theatre of Chicago), and Charlotte’s Web (Emerald City Theatre). Casey received his MFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University and is represented by Gray Talent Group. Visit him at www.caseymorris.info

JULIAN "JOOLZ" STROOP

Ah, stranger, thanks for stopping by! Quick, come in from the cold… have you met Joolz? Joolz makes art. Sometimes Joolz makes other things. Strange, terrible, unspeakable things. You may have seen them recently in the Passage Theatre’s ALL-ONE! The Dr. Bronner’s Play, in This is a Chair as part of Haven Theater’s Directors Haven, in Masque Macabre with Strawdog Theater Company, or even more recently twisted and screaming silently in your own nightmares. When they aren’t polymorphing into other creatures/things, you may find them doodling monsters, writing stories, or playing D&D. If you’re feeling brave, follow them on Instagram @itsjoolz. The reward or bravery is endless selfies.

MARCUS D. MOORE

MARCUS D. MOORE is very excited to be a part of Perceptions Theatre’s The Racial Baptism Monologue Series. His theatre credits include HIS SHADOW (16th Street Theatre), THE SHIPMENT (Red Tape Theatre), FRANKLINLAND (Jackalope Theatre), THE TOILET (Haven Theatre), CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (Drury Lane; understudy performed), TimeLine Theatre and Chicago Children’s Theatre. His TV/Commercial credits include co-starring roles on NBC’s CHICAGO FIRE, Fox Networks’ APB and an online commercial with THE ONION LABS. Marcus is represented by Gray Talent Group

MYESHA-TIARA

Myesha-Tiara is the Founder and Artistic Director of Perceptions Theatre and hails from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She received her Bachelor of Science in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Performance and Directing from Northwestern State University. Myesha received her first acting role in the Oscar winning film "12 Years a Slave". In Chicago she has been seen in For Colored Girls… as Lady In Brown and Lady In Blue u/s (Court Theatre/ Jeff Recommended); Swamp Baby as Swamp Baby/Iriana (MPAACT). Steel Magnolias as Annelle (Theatre at the Center); The Wedding Band (The Artistic Home/ Jeff Recommended) and Hamlet (The Gift Theatre) She has directed in numerous festivals as well as Citadel Theatre in Illinois and New Venture Theatre in Baton Rouge. Most recently she has created a YouTube Channel dedicated to actors, especially black women and people of color called MT's Corner with Myesha-Tiara. For more of her work (myesha-tiara.com)

JERLUANE 'JAE' JENKINS

Jerluane (Jae) Jenkins is a local actor in Chicago and recent graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. While pursuing her Bachelor's in Theatre and Performance it became clear that opportunities in theatre were scarce for students of color. With this information and years of living in Chicago im mind Jerluane makes a conscious effort tell the stories of people who are often unheard. Her goal is to build up her community from the inside.