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West Coast Premiere

By the Way, Meet Vera Stark

09.18 – 10.28.2012

Written By
Lynn Nottage
Directed By
Jo Bonney
Featuring
Kevin T. Carroll, Merle Dandridge, Amanda Detmer, Spencer Garrett, Kimberly Hébert Gregory, Sanaa Lathan & Mather Zickel

OVERVIEW

It’s Hollywood’s heyday and the streets of Los Angeles are filled with glitz, glamour and the chance at stardom—that is as long as you have the “right” look. But when former maid Vera Stark lands a groundbreaking role in a new Southern epic, she turns Hollywood on its head and paves the way for future generations of black actresses. More than five decades later, Vera’s influence on race, film and feminism has seeped its way into pop-culture. But who is the real Vera Stark? Part comedy and part commentary, Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage’s West Coast premiere uses today’s fascination with celebrity and controversy to get to the truth behind the legend.

Recipient of the Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award.

Performance Information

Runtime
2 hours and 15 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission.
Warnings

This production contains strobe effects and the smoking of herbal cigarettes.

Gil Cates Theater
View Seating Chart

Cast

Leroy Barksdale / Herb Forrester
Actor

Kevin T. Carroll

Leroy Barksdale / Herb Forrester

Anna Mae / Afua Assata Ejobo
Actor

Merle Dandridge

Anna Mae / Afua Assata Ejobo

Gloria Mitchell
Actor

Amanda Detmer

Gloria Mitchell

Fredrick Slasvick / Brad Donovan
Actor

Spencer Garrett

Fredrick Slasvick / Brad Donovan

Lottie / Carmen Levy-Green
Actor

Kimberly Hébert Gregory

Lottie / Carmen Levy-Green

Vera Stark
Actor

Sanaa Lathan

Vera Stark

Maximillian Von Oster / Peter Rhys-Davies
Actor

Mather Zickel

Maximillian Von Oster / Peter Rhys-Davies

Credits

Gallery

News

By the Way, Meet Vera Stark Playbill

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