The Puppeteer
Carolyn L. Seymour delivered a standout, multi-generational performance as Constance/Connie in Desiree York’s powerful and timely racial drama “The Puppeteer” - Russell Florence Jr.
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"THE PUPPETEER, an excellently sweeping, gripping and relevant account of identity and struggle within the African-American experience from the glories of the Harlem Renaissance to the angst of the Trump Era by Desiree’ York." - Dayton Most Metro
http://www.mostmetro.com/the-featured-articles/magnificent-hubba-hubba-wins-dayton-playhouse-futurefest.html
Synopsis
When Constance, a 1920's jazz singer, chooses to stand on her own, not only is her name carried on through multiple generations, but so is her determination to find an identity in an ever changing world. Spanning five generations, starting in the Harlem Renaissance and ending in present day, the women from one African-American family struggle to overcome the roles assigned to them by society in order to find their way home.
Time & Place
Traveling through time to 1920 - jazz club in Harlem; 1942 - kitchen in southern California; 1969 - office in Maryland; 1993 -kitchen in northern Virginia; present day -kitchen in southeast Pennsylvania.
Character Breakdown
(3 females, 1 male)
CONSTANCE/CONNIE (played by the same actress): 20’s-mid 30’s, African-American woman
ROBERT/CHRISTOPHER/ERNIE/MR. HOTCHKISS (played by the same actor): Role spans 20’s-late 40’s, Caucasian man
MISS DUNSTON/MRS. COVINGTON/MS. JENKINS (played by the same actress): Role spans Early 20’s to Mid 30’s, Caucasian woman
MS. EVANS: Role spans early 50’s – early 70’s, Caucasian woman.
Development History
http://www.mostmetro.com/the-featured-articles/magnificent-hubba-hubba-wins-dayton-playhouse-futurefest.html
Synopsis
When Constance, a 1920's jazz singer, chooses to stand on her own, not only is her name carried on through multiple generations, but so is her determination to find an identity in an ever changing world. Spanning five generations, starting in the Harlem Renaissance and ending in present day, the women from one African-American family struggle to overcome the roles assigned to them by society in order to find their way home.
Time & Place
Traveling through time to 1920 - jazz club in Harlem; 1942 - kitchen in southern California; 1969 - office in Maryland; 1993 -kitchen in northern Virginia; present day -kitchen in southeast Pennsylvania.
Character Breakdown
(3 females, 1 male)
CONSTANCE/CONNIE (played by the same actress): 20’s-mid 30’s, African-American woman
ROBERT/CHRISTOPHER/ERNIE/MR. HOTCHKISS (played by the same actor): Role spans 20’s-late 40’s, Caucasian man
MISS DUNSTON/MRS. COVINGTON/MS. JENKINS (played by the same actress): Role spans Early 20’s to Mid 30’s, Caucasian woman
MS. EVANS: Role spans early 50’s – early 70’s, Caucasian woman.
Development History
- The Garry Marshall Theatre New Works Festival
- Futurefest New Play Festival
- Summer Reading Series at Ophelia’s Jump Productions
- Kennedy Center’s Rosa Parks Playwriting Award for the most outstanding play on the subject of social justice
- Finalist Ashland New Plays Festival (top 3% of 400 submissions)
- Semi-finalist (top 23% of over 1200 submissions) for the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference
- Semi-finalist (21% of 234 submissions) for the CTG/Humanitas Playwriting Prize for a play attesting to the human experience
- Finalist for FutureFest.
- Finalist for the Henley Rose Playwright Competition
- Finalist for the Theatricum Botanicum Seedlings Development Series
- Semi-finalist for the Trustus Playwrights Festival