BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK By Lynn Nottage This play traces the life of an African American actress, Vera Stark, and her struggles in 19th c. Hollywood. The play opens in the 1930s, where Vera and her friends (those who cannot "pass") vie for the limited roles afforded them. In the style of a drawing-room comedy, we watch our actresses compete for rolls of Romanticized-slave characters in the antebellum epic, The Belle of New Orleans. Act II opens with a screening of a scene from The Belle of New Orleans, a black and white film created for the theatrical production in which our actors appear. This film and Vera's break-out performance as the slave, Tilly, is then discussed by a "distinguished" contemporary academic panel along with her appearance on a 1970's talk show. In a desire to make Vera as real as possible, Nottage created a website of this fictitious actress's life. It was our intention to honor Nottage with a production that stylistically reflected the collective imagination of a romantic Hollywood setting. Directed by Robert Smith Set Design by John Raley Lighting Design by Micheal Cunningham Sound Design by Grace Fitzpatrick

BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK

By Lynn Nottage

This play traces the life of an African American actress, Vera Stark, and her struggles in 19th c. Hollywood. The play opens in the 1930s, where Vera and her friends (those who cannot "pass") vie for the limited roles afforded them. In the style of a drawing-room comedy, we watch our actresses compete for rolls of Romanticized-slave characters in the antebellum epic, The Belle of New Orleans.

Act II opens with a screening of a scene from The Belle of New Orleans, a black and white film created for the theatrical production in which our actors appear. This film and Vera's break-out performance as the slave, Tilly, is then discussed by a "distinguished" contemporary academic panel along with her appearance on a 1970's talk show.

In a desire to make Vera as real as possible, Nottage created a website of this fictitious actress's life. It was our intention to honor Nottage with a production that stylistically reflected the collective imagination of a romantic Hollywood setting.

Directed by Robert Smith

Set Design by John Raley

Lighting Design by Micheal Cunningham

Sound Design by Grace Fitzpatrick