Pittsburgh Public Theater Presents
The Coffin Maker
Billing Credits
Artistic Director: Marya Sea Kaminski
Managing Director: Shaunda McDill
Written by Mark Clayton Southers
Directed by Monteze Freeland*
Starring
Garbie Dukes*, Randy Kovitz*, Connor McCanlus*, Robin R. McGee*, Brandon St. Clair*
Scenic Designer: Tony Ferrieri
Costume Designer: Venise St. Piere
Lighting Designer: Latrice Lovett
Sound Design: Bill Toles
Hair & Wig Design: Tenel Dorsey
Special Effects Coordinator: Steve Tolin
Fight & Intimacy Coordinator: José Pérez IV
Dialect Coach: Sheila McKenna
Assistant Stage Manager: Michelle K. Engleman*
Stage Manager: Lisa R. Stafford*
Assistant Director: Dominique Briggs*
*Denotes Actors' Equity Association membership
The O'Reilly Theater is a project of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.
Letter from the Artistic Director
Hello Friends,
Welcome to one of the most exciting premieres in Pittsburgh Public Theater's history. Today we invite Pittsburgh icon Mark Clayton Southers’ work onto our stage for the first time with The Coffin Maker.
Playwrights are at the very heart of a robust theater community. Great ones exalt actors, challenge directors, and inspire audiences. Their stories reflect our values, amplify our goodness, and shine through our fears. They save us from loneliness and self-obsession by binding us together with stories that connect us to one another, to our history, and to our collective future.
Mark Clayton Southers lives these virtues in Pittsburgh. He has crafted dozens of deeply researched and beautifully structured plays over the last two decades, all while dedicating himself to lifting other playwrights in our midst. In the spirit of his mentor August Wilson and Pittsburgh’s legacy of great Black theater companies, he founded Pittsburgh Playwrights to give regional playwrights a home and to more deeply examine the Black experience in America. Mark created a home where local playwrights' work matters, in a time when most major theaters dismissed local writers as inferior to New York- or Chicago-based artists. Artists like Eugene Lee, Kim El, and Lissa Brennan are just a few of the writers whose work Mark has elevated.
Mark himself holds all the promise of the great regional playwrights who have come before him — Adrienne Kennedy, George S. Kaufman, and yes, August Wilson. The Coffin Maker, part of his cycle of 19th-century Black American histories, unites his sophisticated command of genre, undeniable humor, and profound gift for plot structure. At once a Western, a comedy, and a treatise on reclaiming dignity in the face of monstrous injustice, this story transports us back in time to give us a clear, compelling perspective of who we are in this current moment — Americans held captive to a complicated past.
Two years ago we produced a reading of this play during Mark’s time as our Playwright-in-Residence, and the workshop was met with an overwhelming response from the few hundred people in attendance. This season, we invite thousands more to experience the breathtaking promise of this bright new play, from one of the extraordinary living playwrights working right here, in the beating heart of Pittsburgh.
Onward,
Playwright's Note
I've always been intrigued by the "what if?" questions in life. As a storyteller I try to come up with ideas that seem far-fetched, and then challenge myself to find ways to support their existence.
Making art in this city is hard — but I believe the adversity here can make one stronger. This opportunity not only validates my choice to stay and grind it out, but it also feels like a reward for that decision. In my lifetime so many African Americans have been promoted to the highest levels of their chosen profession, whether it's of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Steelers, Board of Education, Police and Fire Departments, multiple Cultural institutions and now our very first black Mayor. Staying in our city of champions has been a gratifying and rewarding experience.
I can't begin to tell you just how appreciative I am of Artistic Director Marya Sea Kaminski for this opportunity to have my work showcased on the biggest producing stage in Pittsburgh, and for her efforts to guide this institution towards becoming a true public theater — not just in her artistic execution, but also in her selection of staff who represent all of Pittsburgh. Her efforts are a huge part of this amazing ongoing arts renaissance in Pittsburgh.
I witnessed the christening of the O’Reilly Theater’s stage with the world premiere of Mr. Wilson's "King Hedley II", a play in whose very first reading I participated in Valdez, Alaska, in 1998.
August Wilson has no doubt influenced my writing, mostly by capturing the joys, triumphs, tribulations, and mere existence of African Americans in their journey through these United States. Inspired by his momentous accomplishment of creating his 10-play epic 20th-century American Century Cycle, I've set out to create, capture and dramatize the lives and stories of 19th-century African Americans in my own collection of plays.
The Coffin Maker marks the eighth play in this effort. I hope you find this story intriguing, entertaining and worthy of your time.
The Cast
Garbie Dukes* LAWRENCE EBITT
Professional stage credits include productions at City Theatre, the August Wilson Center, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, and numerous other companies and venues. Television appearances include Unsolved Mysteries, Outsiders, A League of Their Own, and national/regional commercials, including the Pennsylvania Lottery. Performed in jazz and cabaret shows locally and as musician and choir director at several local churches.
Randy Kovitz* EVAN WAINWRIGHT HOLLISTER
Past roles at The Public include Otto Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank and Charlie in Death of a Salesman. Randy has also staged fights for over a dozen productions at The Public and for hundreds of other film, TV and stage productions around the country. Other acting credits include numerous roles on and off Broadway and regional theaters and nearly 100 film and television roles. randykovitz.com
Connor McCanlus* BUCHANNON
This is Connor’s first indoor performance at The Public, previously playing Harry Pepper in Barefoot in the Park - in the Park! directed by Marya Sea Kaminski. Pittsburgh credits include barebones (Rules of Seconds, American Falls), Bricolage (SCarrie, Yinzer Scrooged), Kinetic (The Hound of the Baskervilles), Quantum (King Lear, The Current War) and CLO Cabaret (Boeing Boeing, First Date, Judge Jackie Justice).
Robin R. McGee* EULA EBITT
Robin is excited to be making her second visit to Pittsburgh! Robin was last seen as Fannie in The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer. She began the role at Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre in Atlanta and won the 2022 Suzi Bass Award for the role. She later closed the three theatre tour in Pittsburgh, PA with City Theatre performing at the August Wilson's African American Culture Center.
Brandon St. Clair* THE DEAD MAN
This is Brandon's first time at The Public and he's excited to be here. His recent credits include FBI on Peacock and Vacation Friends 2 on Hulu. Regional works include: Leland in Blues for an Alabama Sky with McCarter Theatre. Recently awarded for Best Supporting Actor at The Blue Whiskey Independant Film Festival and many more! brandonsaintclair.com
*Denotes members of the Actors' Equity Association
The Creative Team
Monteze Freeland* DIRECTOR
Monteze Freeland is thrilled to make his Pittsburgh Public Theater directorial debut after spending many years on The O’Reilly stage. Monteze serves as Co-Artistic Director of City Theatre Company where he most recently directed Fat Ham. He is the recipient of the Post Gazette’s Pittsburgh Performer of the Year and Pittsburgh City Paper’s Person of the Year. For Tracey D. Turner.
Dominique Briggs* ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Dominique Briggs returns to The Public as the Assistant Director for The Coffin Maker. When not directing, Dominique serves as a project manager, actor, children’s author, playwright, and voiceover artist. She has appeared in numerous theatrical productions including Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Kalopsia the Musical, King Hedley II, and Savior Samuel. She also served as the assistant director of The Public’s 2022 production of A Raisin in the Sun.
Mark Clayton Southers* PLAYWRIGHT
Mark Clayton Southers has written more than 23 plays. He and his family reside in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. Southers is the founder and producing Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company. Inspired by his mentor August Wilson, he is currently writing a cycle of 10 plays set in the 1800s. He's completed eight, including The Bluegrass Mile, which premiered in October 2023. markclaytonsouthers.com
Lisa R. Stafford* STAGE MANAGER
NYC: Finding Helena, Yellow Rose, Belva, The Chekhov Dreams, The Astonishing Times of Timothy Crachit, Through the Darkness, Composure, Mesquite, NV. Regional: Almost Heaven, Million Dollar Quartet, Rock of Ages, Berta, Berta, Matilda the Musical, Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike. Lisa also serves as the Production Coordinator for the Broadway Stage Management Symposium.
Michelle K. Engleman* ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Michelle K. Engleman has a multidisciplinary career in theater, opera, and dance. Most recently, Michelle was stage manager for La Traviata at Opera Tampa & Merry We Roll Along at Front Porch Theatricals. Memorable credits include Night of the Living Dead, a world premiere; Candide; The Task, The Collaborators, Inside Passage, a world premiere; SWAN Day Pittsburgh, & Bricolage Urban Scrawl.
Tony Ferrieri SCENIC DESIGNER
Recent designs include: The Skeleton Crew (barebones Theatre), Southside Stories Revisited (City Theatre), The Bluegrass Mile (Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre), Hamlet (Quantum Theatre), Anything Goes (CLO), Carousel (Lincoln Park), The Book of Mormon (CLO Cabaret), Smart Blonde (59E59 Theatre NY), Feeding the Dragon (Hartford Stage, Primary Stages), Uncle Tom's Cabin (Pittsburgh Playhouse).
Venise St. Piere COSTUME DESIGNER
I have been thoroughly enchanted, designing costumes for A Christmas Story for the past two years and watching the excitement of our young actors. I’ve also kept busy, working in the costume shop on the productions this past season. This New England transplant is excited to be venturing into the mid-19th century Wild West expansion, with its no frills way of life — someday I’ll get there in person.
Latrice Lovett LIGHTING DESIGNER
Latrice Lovett (M.F.A. UMKC, B.A. NCCU), specializes in lighting design for theatre, dance, and concerts. With teaching experience at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, she now educates through her project L.I.T. (Lighting in Theatre) and operates Lovett Lighting LLC. Other Credits: Stick Fly (The Playmakers Repertory); Rememori (Penumbra Theater); Dear Jack Dear Louise (Heritage Theatre Festival).
Bill Toles SOUND DESIGNER
His work across specialties includes Urban Bush Women’s SCAT!, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Dutchman, Knock Me A Kiss (Audelco Award), Lewberger, Ayodele Casel’s Chasing Magic, TheatreSquared’s The Mountaintop and Detroit ’67, Shimon Attie’s Light Under Night, Carrie Mae Weems and Nona Hendryx’s Refrigerated Dreams, Paul Robeson: Here I Stand (American Masters), Precious Lovell’s Ex-Domestication and Meshell Ndegeocello’s Grammy-nominated debut.
Tenel Dorsey HAIR & WIG DESIGNER
Tenel Dorsey is the owner and operator of Dreamz Hair Salon in Homestead. The salon has a staff of 13 professionals and offers a wide range of services including coloring, cutting, styling, extensions, and more. Tenel specializes in wigs and hair replacement, and she obtained her NPI to accept health insurance for clients battling hair loss.
Steve Tolin SPECIAL EFFECTS COORDINATOR
Steve is the owner and operator of Tolin FX, a Pittsburgh-based special effects design and fabrication studio. Steve works primarily in Film/TV, but has worked in theatre, including Chicago Shakespeare, Berkeley Rep, St Louis Opera, and won a Jeffery Award for his work with Northlight Theatre. Pittsburgh credits include: The Public, Pittsburgh Playwrights, Barebones, City Theatre, CMU, PICT.
José Pérez IV FIGHT & INTIMACY COORDINATOR
José Pérez IV is the Resident Fight & Intimacy Director of The Public. Recent Public Theater credits: A Christmas Story, Billy Strayhorn, A Midsummer Night’s Dream In Harlem, Robin Hood. National credits: Dracula (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Frankenstein (Cleveland Play House), Breakfalls (Vermont Stages). MFA Performance Pedagogy Pitt, BFA Drama NYU.
Sheila McKenna* DIALECT COACH
Sheila is delighted to collaborate with this esteemed artistic team. She has regularly coached dialects for local theatre companies over the course of her theatre career here in Pittsburgh, most recently City Theatre Company’s South Side Stories. Sheila is an expert in our beloved “Pittsburghese” dialect and is a Professor in Theatre at Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts.
*Denotes members of the Actors' Equity Association
Staff List
Artistic Director
Marya Sea Kaminski
Managing Director
Shaunda McDill
Artistic
Brian Pope, Casting & Literary Director
Justin Emeka, Resident Director
Demeatria Boccella, Artist-in-Residence
José Pérez IV, Resident Fight & Intimacy Director
Mora V. Harris, Resident Playwright
Brian Pope, Resident Playwright
Kelly Trumbull, Resident Playwright
Alec Silberblatt, Resident Playwright
TJ Young, Resident Playwright
Administrative & Finance
Stewart Urist, Director of Finance & Administration
Lisha Logan, Director of Human Resources
Morgan Overton, Worforce Director
Adam List, Controller
Jim Overton, Finance Manager
Lindsay Barr, Executive Assistant & Board Liaison
Meleana Felton, Talent & Equity Manager
Anna Skeels, AP and AR Associate
Fred Noel, Systems Coordinator
Development
Associate Director of Development: Devan Mercurio
Development Associate: Milton Melendez
Education & Engagement
Parag S. Gohel, Director of Education & Engagement
Jalina McClarin, Engagement Manager
Jenny Malarkey, Education Manager
Dominique Briggs, Summer Camp Education Consultant
House Management
Jamie Dawson, House Manager
Shawn Israel, Assistant House Manager
Jay Chapman, Accessibility Concierge
Alana Moye, Accessibility Concierge
Marketing & Communications
Aja Jones, Director of Marketing & Communications
Lucy Chen, Graphic Designer
Ben Geibel, Digital Content Manager
Christie Jay Snyder, Marketing & Communication Manager
Patron Services
Associate Director of Patron Services: Fred Frances
Patron Services Data Associate: Ali Mohammed Srour
Production
Monica Bowin, Director of Production & Operations
Trent Wolfred, Associate Director of Operations
Savannah Merrill, Company Manager/COVID Safety Manager
Emma Antenen, Scenic Design Assistant
Rob McLeod, Technical Director
Lisa Harshbarger, Scene Shop Manager
Drew Palajsa, Head Shop Carpenter
Sean DeKonty, Shop Carpenter
Joe Paski, Shop Carpenter
Shannon Seibel, Shop Carpenter
Celeste Parrendo, Charge Scenic Artist
Adalgisa Bosonetto-Schwerin, Assistant Charge Artist
Gay Kahkonen, Properties Head
Kelly Yann, Properties Coordinator
Venise St. Pierre, Costume Shop Head
Christyann Trbovich, Costume Shop Coordinator
Kyle Huber, Costume Shop Associate
Derek St. Pierre, First Hand
Erin Prokopchak, First Hand
Joe Herr, Stitcher
Toni Frazier, Hair Stylist/Makeup Artist
Joe Borsch, Lighting Design Assistant
Joshua Beumer, Head Electrician
Zach Moore, Head Sound Engineer
Johanna Cahill, Interim Wardrobe Head
Mikey Abate, Head Stage Carpenter
Philip Cassidy, Production Key/A-2
Christina Dragen-Dima, Production Key
Special Thanks
Jerome Preston Bates
Pam Brusoski
City Theatre
Mason Dowd, Fight Assistant
Malic Maat
Richard McBride
Jason McCune
Ralph Scott
T D Patrinos Painting & Contracting Company
Tribute to Tracey Turner
As a frequent collaborator for over twenty plus years, Tracey Turner has left an indelible mark on the Pittsburgh theatre scene. Her trademark rich voice and theatrical skills took her characters to a much higher level. The role of Eula in this play was written specifically for her. The fact that Tracey is originally from Oklahoma only adds to the beauty of this connection. I'm really appreciative of the work she put in to help shape this character and play during our 2022 workshop. She is missed but her spirit lives on.
— Mark Clayton Southers
This performance of THE COFFIN MAKER runs approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.
Please note: this production makes use of strobe lights and theatrical haze/fog.
THE COFFIN MAKER is rated MA (Mature Audiences) and is suitable for guests 18 and older, with parental guidance strongly suggested for anyone 17 and under. THE COFFIN MAKER dramatizes circumstances, characters, and themes inspired by true events from American history. As a result, this play contains adult situations, explicit language, racial slurs, depiction of death, violence, the use of prop guns, and depiction of blood on stage.
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Stacey White
Malcolm Williams
TJ Young
The Supporting Cast
National Endowment of the Arts
THE COFFIN MAKER is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
Land Acknowledgement
The ground on which we stand, at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers, is home to the Seneca People. They called this area Jaödeogë’ (Jaonh day ō gent’), Between Two Rivers, the crossroads of the Seneca, Lenni Lenape, Shawnee, and numerous nations who lived before, with and after them.
These Peoples, along with other nations in the Haudenosaunee (Hoe-dee-no-SHOW-nee) Confederacy, stewarded the land of this greater region; and like other First Nations across North America, their spiritual roots are buried deep within Mother Earth. We acknowledge this land and their continued spiritual connection to it as sacred.
We must also recognize the painful destruction of this connection and the injustices perpetrated on Native Communities through broken treaties and colonial occupation, resulting in enslavement, cultural genocide, forced assimilation, and dissolution of their right to independent self-governance.
Through awareness and action, we can write a new history that honors First Peoples’ spiritual connection to the land and combats Indigenous erasure, systemic racism and continued marginalization. We invite you to join us in action. Insightful information can be found at https://americanindian.si.edu and our website: https://ppt.org
This statement was crafted in collaboration with Dr. Joe Stahlman (Ska:ru:re), Ja:no’s Bowen (Onöndowa’ga:’), and Jamie Jacobs (Onöndowa’ga:’).
Commitment to Racial Justice
Health and Safety
Union Information
The Actors and Stage Manager employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
The scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT Theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE.
This Theatre operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
The Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and The National Theatrical Labor Union.