I celebrated the opening night of Roundabout Theatre Company’s new Broadway production of HOME by Samm-Art Williams at the Todd Haimes Theatre with my frequent collaborator, Project1Voice’s Erich McMillan-McCall on June 5, 2024. Scroll down for photos from the opening night party of HOME at Hard Rock Cafe.
Helmed by Kenny Leon, the cast features Tory Kittles as “Cephus Miles,” Brittany Inge as “Woman One / Pattie Mae Wells,” and Stori Ayers as “Woman Two”—all in their Roundabout Theatre Company debuts.
Brittany Inge, Tory Kittles and Stori Ayers. Photo by Lia Chang
“Cephus Miles had a girl that he loved…” HOME is a powerfully uplifting coming-of-age story. Reeling from the loss of both his North Carolina farm and his childhood sweetheart, Cephus heads to the big city to find something new to give his life meaning. Featuring transformative performances by Tory Kittles (“The Equalizer”), Brittany Inge, and Stori Ayers, playing over 40 unforgettable characters in 90 thrilling minutes, HOME gives a lyrical voice to the unbreakable spirit of all Americans who have been searching for a place to belong.
The design team includes Arnulfo Maldonado (Set), Dede Ayite (Costumes), Allen Lee Hughes (Lighting), and Justin Ellington (Sound).
Michele Shay, L. Scott Caldwell. Photo by Lia Chang
These ladies were 2/3’s of the trio of HOME. The late Charles Brown was the third. Tonight we celebrated the continuum of Black excellence.
Elain Graham, Brittany Inge, L. Scott Caldwell, Tory Kittles, Michele Shay, Stori Ayers. Photo by Lia Chang
The current cast of HOME – Tory Kittles, Brittany Inge and Stori Ayers – met Michele Shay, L. Scott Caldwell and Elain Graham.
Elain Graham, Brittany Inge, L. Scott Caldwell, Tory Kittles, Michele Shay, Stori Ayers. Photo by Lia Chang
These women were in the Negro Ensemble Company produced productions of HOME. What an honor to work with the Roundabout Theatre Company to celebrate the legacy of Samm-Art Williams and the Negro Ensemble Company Classic.Tonight we honored the source. We honored our legacy in the American theatre. Tonight we honored us, the continuum we call Black Theatre and its narratives.”
Erich McMillan-McCall, Terria Joseph, L. Scott Caldwell, Dean Irby, Elain Graham, Count Stovall, Michele Shay, Kenny Leon, Patrice Johnson Chevannes. Photo by Lia Chang
Thank you to the Roundabout Theatre Company for your many kindnesses and for embracing another one of the dreams that so many said could not happen. What is life without faith and believing things are possible even when people tell you it is not possible. I have come this far by faith and nothing will deter my pathway forward, because we are part of something way bigger. If we don’t believe it nobody else will.”
Joe James, Jr., Terria Joseph, Dean Irby, Elain Graham, Allen Lee Hughes, L. Scott Caldwell, Jay O. Sanders, Heather Alicia Simms, Michele Shay, Tory Kittles, LaChanze, Erich McMillan-McCall and LaKisha May. Photo by Lia Chang
Samm-Art Williams’s play Home was originally produced by the Negro Ensemble Company at St. Mark’s Playhouse in 1979. The production, directed by Douglas Turner Ward—one of the Negro Ensemble Company’s founders—was a great success and transferred to Broadway in 1980 for an extended run at the Cort Theatre. Home was nominated for a Tony for Best Play, a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play, an Outer Critics Circle Award, an NAACP Image Award, and the North Carolina Governor’s Award.
Almost 30 years later, Signature Theatre Company in New York featured the play as part of the Negro Ensemble Company’s residency at the theatre in the 2008-2009 season. This revival was directed by Ron OJ Parsons, who also mounted a production of the play at Chicago’s Court Theatre in 2010. Since 2010, the play has also been seen at regional theatres across the country.
Ken Downing, Erich McMillan-McCall, L. Scott Caldwell and Dean Irby. Photo by Lia Chang
HOME is playing a limited engagement through July 21, 2024. For tickets and more information, click here.
L. Scott Caldwell, Tovah Feldshuh, Dean Irby. Photo by Lia Chang
Glenn Davis and Kenny Leon. Photo by Lia Chang
Penny Daulton and Thom Sesma. Photo by Lia Chang
Erich McMillan-McCall, Patrice Johnson Chevannes, Jay O. Sanders, L. Scott Caldwell, Dean Irby, Terria Joseph, Elain Graham, Michele Shay, Count Stovall. Photo by Lia Chang
Patrice Johnson Chevannes, Elain Graham, Michele Shay. Photo by Lia Chang
Patrice Johnson Chevannes. Photo by Lia Chang
L. Scott Caldwell, Dean Irby and Michele Shay. Photo by Lia Chang
Elain Graham, Terria Joseph. Photo by Lia Chang
Count Stovall. Photo by Lia Chang
Patrice Johnson Chevannes. Photo by Lia Chang
Jared Grimes, Tovah Feldshuh. Photo by Lia Chang
Tory Kittles, Allen Lee Hughes. Photo by Lia Chang
Dean Irby, Andrea Patterson and L. Scott Caldwell. Photo by Lia Chang
Karen Hartman and Todd London. Photo by Lia Chang
Jamie deRoy and Christen James. Photo by Lia Chang
Abigail Katz and Patrice Johnson Chevannes. Photo by Lia Chang
Lileana Blain – Cruz. Photo by Lia Chang
L. Scott Caldwell, Tory Kittles, Michele Shay. Photo by Lia Chang
Dean Irby, Tory Kittles. Photo by Lia Chang
Todd London, Tamar Climan, Kenny Leon, Karen Hartman. Photo by Lia Chang
L. Scott Caldwell and Ken Downing. Photo by Lia Chang
LaChanze and Debra Martin Chase. Photo by Lia Chang
LaChanze, a guest and Debra Martin Chase. Photo by Lia Chang
Kenny Leon, Tory Kittles and guests. Photo by Lia Chang
Erich McMillan-McCall, Chloé Wang and Janik Aleksander. Photo by Lia Chang
LaChanze and Jared Grimes. Photo by Lia Chang
Tory Kittles, LaChanze. Photo by Lia Chang
L. Scott Caldwell and Marcus Middleton. Photo by Lia Chang
Heather Alicia Simms, Danny Johnson. Photo by Lia Chang
Autumn Angelettie and Jaucqir LaFond. Photo by Lia Chang
Kenny Leon, Patrice Johnson Chevannes, Dean Irby, LaChanze, Erich McMillan-McCall and LaKisha May. Photo by Lia Chang
LaChanze, Lia Chang, Patrice Johnson Chevannes, LaKisha May. Photo by Erich McMillan-McCall.
LaChanze, Lia Chang and Patrice Johnson Chevannes. Photo by Erich McMillan-McCall.
LaKisha May, Stori Ayers, Brittany Inge and LaChanze. Photo by Lia Chang
LaChanze, Denée Benton, Kenny Leon, Kimber Elayne Sprawl, Patrice Johnson Chevannes and LaKisha May. Photo by Lia Chang
Stori Ayers. Photo by Lia Chang
Stori Ayers. Photo by Lia Chang
Stori Ayers and Kimber Elayne Sprawl. Photo by Lia Chang
Stori Ayers and Kimber Elayne Sprawl. Photo by Lia Chang
Stori Ayers and Andrea Patterson. Photo by Lia Chang
Brittany Inge, Stori Ayers and Kimber Elayne Sprawl. Photo by Lia Chang
Brittany Inge, Stori Ayers and Kimber Elayne Sprawl. Photo by Lia Chang
Brittany Inge, Stori Ayers. Photo by Lia Chang
Brittany Inge, Stori Ayers. Photo by Lia Chang
Brittany Inge. Photo by Lia Chang
Brittany Inge. Photo by Lia Chang
Stori Ayers, Tory Kittles and Tory Kittles. Photo by Lia Chang
Brittany Inge, Tory Kittles and Stori Ayers. Photo by Lia Chang
Brittany Inge, Tory Kittles and Stori Ayers. Photo by Lia Chang
Tory Kittles. Photo by Lia Chang
Tory Kittles. Photo by Lia Chang
Tory Kittles. Photo by Lia Chang
L. Scott Caldwell, Brittany Inge and Michele Shay. Photo by Lia Chang
Michele Shay and Stori Ayers. Photo by Lia Chang
Michele Shay, Erich McMillan-McCall and L. Scott Caldwell. Photo by Lia Chang
Broadway.com: Digging Up the Roots of Samm-Art Williams’ Home as It Sprouts a Broadway Revival
Lia Chang. Photo by Kalin Ivanov
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer, activist, documentarian and an Award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Lia is also the host and Executive Producer of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, an Arts and Entertainment and Lifestyle program that airs on Sundays at 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996 and streams on MNN2. Lia was recently profiled on Asian American Life. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. www.liachang.com www.liachangphotography.com
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