"A Soldier's Play" at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre -- April 24 through April 3
Friday, April 24, through Sunday, May 3
Playcrafters Barn Theatre, 4950 35th Avenue, Moline IL
Hailed by Newsweek as "a work of great resonance and integrity," Charles Fuller's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning military drama A Soldier's Play will make its area debut at Moline's Playcrafters Barn Theatre April 24 through May 3, this thoughtful and nerve-racking drama also praised by the New York Times for its "authentic and exciting pulse."
In a segregated Louisiana army camp in 1944, Vernon C. Waters, the sergeant of a Black company, has been murdered. Captain Taylor, the white C.O., worries the murderer may be a white officer or local Klan members, and consequently, Captain Richard Davenport is assigned to investigate. Taylor, fearing the assignment of a Black investigator means the case is to be swept under the rug, attempts to discourage Davenport. But Davenport perseveres, discovering deep-seated hatred and corruption within the ranks, and with every soldier appearing to have a motive for the killing, a truth is ultimately revealed in A Soldier's Play that proves even more shocking than the murder itself.
Directing A Soldier's Play is Playcrafters veteran and area favorite Renaud Haymon, who has performed in the Barn Theatre's Fences, The Piano Lesson, and Proposals, and whose other recent Quad Cities credits include roles in the Mockingbird on Main's To Kill a Mockingbird and Genesius Guild's Othello. Jacque Cohoon serves as the drama's producer and poster designer, and additional members of Haymon's creative team include: stage manager Jim Strauss; lighting designer Giovanni Macias; sound designer Wayne Allen; set designer Elle Winchester; props designer Julie Hummel; and costume designer JJ Mooney.
Captain Richard Davenport is played by fellow Playcrafters talent Ashley Harris (A Raisin in the Sun), with Jim Driscoll portraying Captain Taylor and Antonio Stone as Sergeant Waters. Completing A Soldier's Play's ensemble cast are: Jeramie Coleman; Jerrel Elam; Don Faust; Scot Gerhet; Ashley Harris; Dwayne Hodges; Joseph Oberton; Josue Ramos Jr.; Aaron Shivers; and Kermit Thomas;
A Soldier's Play runs at the Moline Barn Theatre from April 24 through May 3, with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Admission is $18-20, and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)762-0330 and visiting Playcrafters.com.
