Encore Viewings of Who Will Sing for Lena?
NCT audiences were moved by our April viewing of Who Will Sing for Lena?, the Lexington Players’ winning production at the American Association of Community Theaters' national festival. At the request of members who were unable to see our viewing, we are offering additional viewings in May and June.
All generated funds will support costs incurred by the Lexington Players, who will bring a live performance to compete at the Mondial du Theatre 2021 Competition in Monaco in August. Mondial is the premier festival in the world celebrating amateur and community theatre, and the Lexington Players’ production has been selected to represent the United States, competing against productions from 14 other countries. NCT’s Nadine Sa is the production’s stage manager and will travel to Monaco!
Directed by Sal Jones and featuring Jes Washington, Janice Liddell’s Who Will Sing for Lena? is based on the true story of Lena Mae Baker, a Black maid in Cuthbert, Georgia who, in 1944, was convicted of the capital murder of her white employer, who held her as a slave. This powerful, one-woman production was professionally filmed on the Arlington Friends of the Drama stage, and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to invite you to stream it at home.
This is a remarkable story and a performance you will not want to miss!
Please note that it is intended for adult audiences.
The show will only be available On Demand through ShowTix4U through June 15th, so buy your access today: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/50021
To support the Lexington Players with their travel and production expenses for this incredible opportunity and to raise the visibility of our community, our art and of creators of color in the United States, please click here: http://bit.ly/LenaDonation
Cast and Production Staff:
Jessica Washington
(Lena Baker)
Jessica Washington (Lena Baker) Jessica has been mesmerizing audiences since she was a child. A Memphis, TN native, she grew up loving music, dance, theatre, and all things performing arts. She has graced the stages of Memphis Orpheum theatre, Playhouse on the Square, Longwood Players, Open Theatre Productions, and many others. She has performed in a wide range of productions; on and off stage, including Umoja, Young Souls Cry, Bates College Modern Dance Company, and being a co- founder and performer in an organization called SANKOFA, that uses performing arts as a means to spread awareness of the different cultures within the African Diaspora.
She has filmed and produced documentaries and has the drive to achieve so much more. Now, she has expanded her reach to audiences by participating in her first one-woman show, Who Will Sing For Lena?.
Dr. Janice Liddell
(Playwright)
retired as Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and Coordinator of Faculty Development at Atlanta Metropolitan College after serving in several capacities at Clark Atlanta University for nearly 35 years, including professor of English, department of English chairperson and director of faculty development. She is the author of a children’s book and coeditor of a collection of literary criticism; as well, she is author of several published articles, poems and has had several plays produced nationally and internationally. Some of her produced plays includes Hairpeace (in Jamaica, Barbados and several theatres in the US); Who Will Sing for Lena? (in Jamaica, Belize, England, Scotland as well as Atlanta, Denver, Tulsa, Charlotte, Hickory (N.C.), NYC and other cities in the US.)--it earned Best Play of Festival at the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival (2016) and the Best Documentary of the United Solo Theatre Festival (2016). Dr. Liddell is a wife, mother and grandmother and resides in Atlanta GA.
Douglas Cooper (Scenic Designer/Artistic Director) has contributed to the Massachusetts schools and community theater fabric for 40 years as a producer, director, designer and administrator. Doug served as a founding member twice in nonconsecutive two year terms as president of the Massachusetts theater umbrella organization EMACT as well as various board positions. Doug’s association with the Lexington Players goes back over 25 years. He is the Artistic Director of the Nashoba Players an amateur theater in Westford MA. Doug has won numerous honors for his scenery designs from the U.S. Army and the EMACT Festivals and DASH awards.
He will be directing next February the Sarah Ruhl comedy, Kiss.
Michael McTeague (Sound Designer and Lighting Designer) has worked light and sound for the past 20 years for many local groups. Michael has worked on many shows locally in the Greater Boston area, New York, and Chicago. Internationally Mike has done shows in the Ukraine. In addition he has “run” lights for the national figure skating competitions in Boston.
Sal Jones (Director/Producer) is the Artistic Director of The Lexington Players and the YouthStage drama program. He is one of the original founders of TLP and the creator of YouthStage. Sal holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater and Communication from Monmouth University in New Jersey. With over thirty years of community theater experience, he has directed and produced numerous productions such as Godspell, Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf, School House Rock, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Forever Plaid, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (producer), Little Shop of Horrors, A Christmas Story, The Graduate, Good Boys, Ain’t Misbehaven, 25th Annual Spelling Bee and 13, The Musical. Sal is looking forward to producing Lena in a New York City theater in August of 2017. He wishes to thank Jessica and Susan, Doug, Mike and the Jones family for their support.
Susan Harrington (Co- Producer) Susan is a member of the board for the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theaters (EMACT). She serves as liaison, for EMACT, to the American Association of Community Theater (AACT). It was during AACT fest ‘07’, in North Carolina, where she first “met” Lena. It has been ten years getting “Lena” produced on a Boston stage. Susan is grateful to Jessica for accept the role and finally bringing Lena to Boston.