Ruff! Playbill
RUFF!
by Jenifer Nii
Director
Najah Ali
Lighting Design
Shea Glenn
Sound Design
Anna Angeles
Production Manager
Kim Davenport
Scenic Design
Najah Ali & Ashley Ann Woods
Costume Design
Cameron Wasner
Stage Manager
Tyler Stidham
CAST
Axel……………………………………………………………Rebecca Yeager
Buddy………………………..……………………………………..Nate Blakley
RUFF! runs approximately 35 minutes with no intermission.
Produced by special arrangement with Leicester Bay Theatricals, Newport, Maine
If you or your child needs a break throughout the performance, please feel free to check out our Quiet Room outside the theatre and to the right. We have a nursing area and diapers, as well as snacks, coloring sheets, and some toys for anyone who just needs a quick break from the show.
It’s the Day of the Show, Y’all!
Welcome to BCT and our production of RUFF! We’ve missed you all dearly in the past 18 months and are so thrilled to be back doing what we love: telling stories for and with our young audiences!
In one of the seemingly hundreds of webinars I attended last year someone said “really great theatre acts as a window and a mirror.” I think this show is a wonderful example of that idea. Through Axel & Buddy’s story we offer kids a window into the lives of shelter animals, and as a by-product perhaps an understanding of someone who’s life does not look like their own. But there is also a mirror - how does bullying affect me? how can I be kind and compassionate with someone I don’t understand? what individual strengths do I have that I can use?
Of course our young audiences may not immediately recognize that mirror in front of them, but wrap those lessons in playful puppies and include a dance break in the middle and you’ve got a great children’s theatre show. This is what drew me to Jenifer Nii’s script initially, and I am so proud of Najah and the whole team for how they have brought this story to life.
Enjoy the show!
~Ashley
BCT’s Executive Artistic Director
Who’s Who
Najah Ali (Director) grew up in Philadelphia, PA and moved to Atlanta, GA shortly after graduating from her undergraduate BA program in theatre and math. She is always delighted to take part in Birmingham Children’s Theatre’s productions on the creative team or as an actor. She has previously directed the 2019 iteration of The City Mouse and the Country Mouse and has been seen in The Hundred Dresses (Peggy) and The Snowy Day (Peter). Najah’s works as a creative and/or project manager with Artists Thrive, Behavioral Health Solutions, Emily Tremaine Hall Foundation, Americans for the Arts, Badie Designs, and others. She dedicated this show to the love of her parents who are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this year on her birthday.
Nate Blakley (Buddy) is thrilled to be making his Birmingham Children’s Theatre debut. He is a recent graduate of the University of Montevallo, with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Recent credits include Kinky Boots (Angel), Hello, Dolly! (Ambrose), and American Idiot (Will). Nate sends love to God, family, and friends for their support.
Rebecca Yeager (Axel) is thrilled return to the BCT stage in Ruff! She is an actor, teacher, director, and choreographer who specializes in integrated movement and vocal technique, and classical theatre. Rebecca received her Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi and graduated Cum Laude from Birmingham-Southern College with a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre. Thank you to BCT’s amazing staff of artists and administrators for their tireless work keeping theatre alive in the past year and to Charles and the Yeagerlings for their love, encouragement, and creative spirits.
Kim Dean Davenport (Production Stage Manager) has worked more than 15 years with several theatres in the Birmingham area including BCT, Red Mountain Theatre, TNT, and Virginia Samford Theatre. While stage Managing has been her main focus, she also directs, builds props, and has been known to construct a scenic piece every now and then. Much love to her beautiful daughter and puppy, and wonderful husband.
Shea Glenn (Lighting Designer) is a lighting designer, scenic designer, and technical director based out of Birmingham, AL. She is currently a Master’s candidate in Theatre Design and Technology at The University of Alabama. Shea had the pleasure of designing the set for Big Sister, Little Brother at Birmingham Children’s Theatre earlier this year and is thrilled to be joining them once again for their fall season. Other credits include: Lizzie (Birmingham-Southern College), Something Rotten (Alabama Center for the Arts), and Mary Poppins (Dreamweavers Children’s Theatre). sheaglenndesign.com
Tyler Stidham (Stage Manager) is a Stage Manager and Director who recently graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This is his first production with Birmingham Children’s Theatre and he is excited to be a part of Ruff! Some of his stage management credits include Hair (UAB), Choir Boy, and One in Two (Birmingham Black Repertory Theatre)
Cameron Wasner (Costume Design) is a costume designer and fabricator. Cameron is ecstatic to work with the Birmingham Children’s Theatre on this production! She’s from Prattville, AL and has been designing costumes since she was in high school. Cameron has a BFA in Costume Design from the University of Montevallo where she served Montevallo’s Theatre Department as Costume Designer for Company, Associate Costume Designer for The Weir and Assistant Costume Designer for Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Seminar, Carrie: The Musical, and The Wolves. https://camwasner.wixsite.com/cameronwasner
Ashley Ann Woods (Scenic Design) is a scenic designer, costume designer, painter and arts administrator. She is currently the Executive Artistic Director of BCT and has previously designed Alice in Wonderland, Goodnight Moon and Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott among others. Some of her favorite design credits include: La Havana Madrid (Teatro Vista), Miss Holmes (Lifeline Theatre, Joseph Jefferson Award nominee), Posh (Steep Theatre), Peter and the Starcatcher (Metropolis), Bonnie & Clyde (Kokandy Productions), Parade (Harper Performing Arts Center), A Streetcar Named Desire (Polarity Ensemble Theatre), and Choir Boy (Birmingham Black Repertory Theatre). www.ashleyannwoods.com
UP NEXT AT BCT!
We are in a video game. It is also life.
Sam and Pig are avatars in the video game Zombie Thoughts. Armed with just a book, a rubber chicken, and the help of the audience, they try to overcome Sam’s anxiety and defeat the monsters the evil Machine throws at them. The only path to victory is if students make a series of choices that help Sam and Pig learn empathy for each other.
Directed by Carlton V. Bell II.
Featuring Nate Blakley and Rebecca Yeager
Saturday Public Performances at 2:30pm:
October 23rd & 30th, November 6th
Zombie Thoughts is great for ages 8 and older. Performances will take place at the Magic City Acceptance Center.
If you love the show and want to support more theatre at BCT, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today!
BCT is grateful to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society for their support and partnership in RUFF! A member of the GBHS education team is attending each performance to talk to kids about responsible pet ownership and care for all animals. We love our community partners!
Since 1883 the mission of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society has been to “promote the humane treatment of people and animals through education, advocacy, and services”
You can find more information on their work, donations, and how to adopt animals at https://gbhs.org/ or follow them on Facebook.
Birmingham Children’s Theatre
Celebrating 74 years of educating, enriching, and entertaining
through the magic of professional theatre.
STAFF
Executive Artistic Director
Ashley Woods
Director of Education
Jessie Kisor
Production Stage Manager
Kim Dean Davenport
Audience Services & Sales Manager
Alexandrina Williams
Office & Booking Manager
Stephen Pierce
Board of Trustees
President
Mr. Robert Cole
Vice President
Ms. Takeria N. Stephens
Vice President, Personnel/Secretary
Ms. Anne Sanders Rand
Treasurer
Mr. Ricky Stricklin
Past President
Mr. Paul P. Bolus
Vice President, Development
Ms. Katherine Beshear
Mr. Paul P. Bolus; Bradley, Dr. Terrence Brown; Dr. Larry J. Contri; Ms. Catherine Crosby; Ms. Carolyn Featheringill; Ms. Traci N. Jones; Ms. Leah Luker; Ms. Robin Beardsley Mark; Ms. Julia Gibbs Matson; Dr. Debora J. Carter Mayes; Mr. Steven McClinton; Ms. Adrienne Keel Mitchell; Ms. Glenda E. Nagrodzki; Dr. Bates Redwine; Mr. Jason K. Reynolds; Mr. Tad Snider; Mr. Dax Swatek; Ms. Stacy Watts
