Generic Theater Presents Flyin' West

NORFOLK, Va. - Aug. 25, 2023 - PRLog -- Generic Theater inaugurates its 43^rd season with Flyin' West, written by award-winning playwright and New York Times bestselling author Pearl Cleage. Terrance Afer-Anderson directs this production, running weekends September 8^th – October 1^st at Generic Theater, Norfolk's underground theater located in the basement of Chrysler Hall.

Following the end of the Civil War, many former slaves took advantage of The Homestead Act and went West to build new lives for themselves and their families. Many of these homesteaders were Black women who overcame tremendous odds to work their own land and make a place for themselves in an often harsh and forbidding environment. Set in 1898, Pearl Cleage's Flyin' West is the story of some of these African-American female pioneers who settled together in the all-Black town of Nicodemus, Kansas, facing problems ranging from the inevitability of long, cold winters to the possibility of domestic violence to the continuing spectra of racial conflict.

Director Terrance Afer-Anderson approaches Flyin' West as "a unique opportunity to showcase the often-overlooked history of African-American pioneers." Although the play is fiction, it's set within the historical context of the "Great Exodus" of the late 1800s and the real town of Nicodemus, Kansas. Additionally, Cleage's play focuses on a household of women, giving voice to this powerful community. "Flyin' West is an anthem to Black sisterhood," observes Afer-Anderson, "and is a masterpiece of theatre literature."

Generic Theater's production of Flyin' West features two casts. "I wanted to share the remarkably gifted pool of acting talent we have locally, expressly focusing on African American artists" declared Afer-Anderson. The Nicodemus Cast features Jennifer Kelly-Cooper as Sophie Washington and Acquanetta Spencer as Miss Leah, with KaJohnna Johnson as Fannie Dove, Billie D. Wilbert as Wil Parish, Ashlee Rey as Minnie Dove Charles, and Kiyante Smith as Frank Charles. The N. Kansas cast features Jennifer Kelly-Cooper as Sophie Washington and Cynthia Tademy as Miss Leah, with Rosaye Suprius as Fannie Dove, Jeff Phillips as Wil Parish, Ashlee Rey as Minnie Dove Charles, and Ethan Marten as Frank Charles.

As one of the founders of Norfolk's Generic Theater, Terrance Afer-Anderson considers this directing experience to be especially personal and believes that the audience will be similarly moved by the production. "Our actors are going to electrify the stage, filling the room with their own extraordinary energy."

Flyin' West runs weekends from September 8^th – October 1^st. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.generictheater.org

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About Generic Theater

Generic Theater is located beneath Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, Virginia. Learn more at https://www.GenericTheater.org or @GenericTheater on Facebook and Instagram.