BSLB Playbill
Big Sister, Little Brother
by mike kenny
Based on the story “The Emperor’s New Clothes” by Hans Christian Andersen
Director
LaShanna R. Tripp
Cast
Rita……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Lacey Alayna Alexander
Archie…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….Shalisha Sheridan
Costume Design
Matthew Torbett
Lighting Design
Alex Ungerman
Tour Manager
Colin O’Brien
Scenic Design
Shea Glenn
Properties Design
Nerissa Newsome
Rehearsal Stage Manager
Charlsi McNiese
Big Sister, Little Brother runs approximately 50 minutes with no intermission.
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A Note from the Director
When offered the opportunity to direct this show, the artistic directors desired to have it set in America. This presented a challenge, until I discovered an incredible, historic decree that would make a believable backstory for the actors and the creative team. As every director does, I aimed to discover “the why” when approaching this work. The world of the actors, for me, even in a comedy, had to connect to reality, somehow. Although a simple story, this one turns out to be rooted in so much more for the characters, as you will find when everything finally, um… “unravels.”
When Rita, the big sister, says “Back there, at the other end of the road, there is an emperor. He is very, very vain,” I believe she is referencing the non-existent Joseph Norton II, my imaginative son of the late, and very real, Joseph Norton I, who is documented in American history as putting forth a decree that he was “Emperor of the United States” circa post-Civil-War America.
Formerly a self-made millionaire who resided in San Francisco, California, Emperor Norton ended up squandering his fortune in a scheme to corner the San Francisco market during the 1853 rice shortage. After losing everything, Norton disappeared, before returning in 1859, penniless, and seemingly crazed, walking the streets dressed in royal attire, still claiming to be Emperor. The citizens of San Francisco began to play into Emperor Norton’s delusion (likely feeling sorry for him), and made vast donations to him, which they noted as “paying taxes.” This was a perfect background for my story! I am sure you are now Googling this to see if it’s true, as did I. Enjoy the read – it’s true!
Though Big Sister, Little Brother is a comedic farce, there are realistic elements we each may have hidden behind our own facades – rejection, misunderstanding, anger, sadness, a desire to be accepted for who and what we are, and our own ideologies of ourselves as being right, no matter how wrong we may be, at times.
Although the actors are young adults, the characters they play here are clearly children, sent on a quest by their mother. They have been packed up with lunches, treats and personal belongings they do not like to share, all the while threatening to tattle on the other, as they find creative ways to support their family following WWI, as they’ve “never had any money.” In doing so, teenage Rita comes up with various ideas, but her latest one seems to miss her younger brother, Archie, whom I believe goes along with it to be clever in her eyes, and thereby finally accepted and liked by her.
I encourage you to follow the story carefully, and listen to each character’s appeal, then decide whether these two characters, who are in fact children, knew what they were doing, and are therefore responsible for the ultimate outcome. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy my take on an amazing journey of siblinghood, which is a fun, heartwarming journey, from beginning to end! I am incredibly pleased to present to you my direction of Mike Kenny’s, Big Sister, Little Brother. Enjoy!
~LaShanna R. Tripp
Who’s Who
LaShanna R. Tripp (Director) A Spoken Word Artist, Writer, Director, and Actress, LaShanna R. Tripp has appeared onstage in regional theaters across the North- and Southeast in plays such as Encore Birmingham's For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf, Down the Yellow Brick Road with UAB/ArtPlay, Umdabu Dance Company’s Jikela Umboso (A Royal Betrayal), and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s Crowns, to name a few. LaShanna was a Theatre Director with Jefferson County Schools and has taught acting workshops and directed stage productions with the Make It Happen Theatre Company, UAB/ArtPlay, and Birmingham Children's Theatre. LaShanna has also been a consultant to various artists and organizations, including Constantine the Emcee, Yogi Dada, Ravizee Nation, The Nick Bell Foundation, and Khairi and Little Angels Memorial, offering limited media writing services and support to both non-profit and for-profit entities. Originally from New Rochelle, NY, LaShanna currently resides in Birmingham, AL with her husband and their three children. She is enjoying spending more invaluable time with family while completing her first book.
Lacey Alayna Alexander (Rita) is a Birmingham-based actress and playwright. A proud alumna of Troy University, her most recent acting credits include Lucy in A Charlie Brown Christmas at the West Virginia Public Theatre and the role of Rabbit in a touring production of Rapunzel & the Rabbit here at BCT. Her award-winning plays have been read at the Queens Theatre in New York City and on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C. She lovingly dedicates this performance to her sweet aunt, Patti Cheatwood, who passed away due to complications related to COVID-19 this past December.
Shalisha Sheridan (Archie) is from Birmingham Alabama and began acting when she was 7 years old. Shalisha has appeared on stage and in film, and has a great passion for both. Favorite stage performances include For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf portraying Lady In Purple, and Umoja, written by Ladarrion Williams, as Nikki. Her favorite part of working onstage is connecting with the audience - “I love feeling their energy when so emotionally involved with the play.”
It fills Shalisha with joy to make people laugh - and all together story telling. Connecting with the audience whether it be on stage or through a film is a beautiful feeling.
Shea Glenn (Scenic Designer) is a scenic designer, lighting designer, and technical director based out of Birmingham, Alabama. Shea holds a BA in Musical Theatre from Birmingham-Southern College and is currently a MFA candidate in Technical Direction at The University of Alabama. She would like to thank her trusty co-designer: her beagle "Roo" for all the creative input. She is thrilled to be joining BCT for this fun adventure. sheaglenndesign.com
Charlsi McNiese (Rehearsal Stage Manager) is a 21 year old, local, freelance stage manager. She is a student at UAB pursuing a degree in early-childhood development/elementary education with a minor in theatre. She has collegiate theatre management experience at Troy University; along with local teaching experience in the field. She plans to be a full-time theatre educator in the future and strives to eventually create her own youth theatre program some day. Charlsi has thoroughly enjoyed her experience with Big Sister, Little Brother at BCT and couldn't have asked for a better first show here.
Colin O’Brien (Tour Manager) is very excited to be working with BCT for his first touring production! Recently relocated to Birmingham from Florida, he is an Auburn Grad with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. A self-professed Sound Engineer and Musician, Colin has a passion for the stage as a way to tell stories. He believes that art and technology can go hand-in-hand to express oneself in an infinite number of ways.
If you love the show and want to support more theatre at BCT, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today!
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