Together starring Lillias White and Chuck Cooper), Freedom Theatre (Walk Through Time – World Premier by Pulitzer Prize Recipient, Lynn Nottage), Actors Theatre of Louisville (Nightswim and Classyass), St. Louis Black Rep (Damn Yankees), Arkansas Repertory Theatre (Dreamgirls, Intimate Apparel, Little Rock, A Raisin in the Sun), Crossroads Theatre (History of the Word, The Colored Museum), Alabama Shakespeare Festival (Sanctified), Prince Musical Theatre (From the Hip), Theatre of the Stars (Dreamgirls: The 25th Anniversary Production starring Tony Award Winner Jennifer Holliday), The Goodman Theatre (The Black Nativity) and Portland Stage Company (Master Harold and the Boys).
He has held artistic residencies with Freedom Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Kennedy Center, Crossroads Theatre, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Amas Musical Theatre and Nuyorican Poets Cafe. He is also the recipient of The State of New Jersey, the Senate and General Assembly Joint Legislative Resolution and Mercer County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders Certificate of Honor. He is also the recipient of the Woodie King Jr. Award and four Vivian Robinson AUDELCO awards. Maharaj is an alumni of Lincoln Center Directors Lab and TCG Young Leaders of Color in the American Theater.
Maharaj has authored several plays, including Little Rock - a historical drama about the Little Rock Nine, Daisy, inspired by the life and legacy of the indomitable Daisy Lee Bates, Grey and Twenty-Five, Hansberry/Baldwin (Semi-Finalist for the Eugene O'Neil Playwright Festival.) Other Commissioned work includes: Diss Diss and Dis Dat, a new hip hop musical inspired by the music of the Funkie Natives; Grey and Twenty-Five; Black Footnotes (Sloan Grant/Ensemble Studio Theater); Children of the Dream. Co. Written and Co. Conceived work: The Ballad of Trayvon Martin (Co-Authored by Thomas J. Soto), Mother Emanuel (Co-Authored by Adam Mace and Christian Lee Branch), History of the Word, a new spoken word play with music; Exposures, an urban spoken word choreopoem. Adapted work: Othello: The Panther (Adapted from Othello: The Moore); Abortion by O’Neill “Mississippi Night”; Black Nativity by Langston Hughes “Darfur Nativity”; Straight Outta Denmark (Adapted from Hamlet). www.RajendraMaharaj.com
Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj (Playwright/Director) is an Indo-Caribbean American artist, educator and activist. He was hailed in the New York Times as “one of the most talented directors in New York these days”. He is the Guest Artistic Director of New Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia.
New York City selected Directing/Choreography credits include: The Public Theatre (365 Days, Memphis Minnie workshop), Classical Theatre of Harlem (Marat Sade), Lark Play Development Center (Man Measures Man, Breathe), New Federal Theatre (Diss Diss and Diss Dat), Rebel Theater (Othello: The Panther, Black Footnotes, Ghosts, Salome: Da Voodoo Princess of Nawlins, Trail of Tears, R+J: An Uncivil Tale - Choreographer), Making Books Sing (Band of Angels, Shelter in my Car, Chachajis Cup), Amas Musical Theatre (Bubbling Brown Sugar, Damn Yankees, Mamma I Want to Sing, Magpie).
Regional selected Directing/Choreography credits include: Passage Theatre (Little Rock – 2015 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Play), New Freedom Theatre (The Ballad of Trayvon Martin), TheatreWorks (Little Rock), Signature Stage (Sweet Tea), Syracuse Stage (Godspell, Putting It
Adam Mace (Playwright) is a Director and Playwright from Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He is currently the Artistic Associate at New Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia as well as the Associate Producing Artistic Director of Rebel Theater in New York.
New York Directing Credits include: B E T W E E N (World Premiere by Tony Winner, John Guare), R+J: An Uncivil Tale (World Premiere with Rebel Theater), The Australia Cure (World Premiere at Theatre Row), Jesus Christ Superstar (Mount Carmel Theatre Company), and The Laramie Cycle (The Laramie Project and The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later (Mount Carmel Theatre Company).
Regional Directing Credits include: Exit: An Illusion (Staged Reading at New Freedom Theatre), Little Rock (Assistant Director at Passage Theatre), The Ballad of Trayvon Martin (Assistant Director at New Freedom Theatre).
As a playwright, Adam has authored: R+J: An Uncivil Tale, Mother Emanuel (Co-Authored with Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj and Christian Lee Branch), Ism Isms, Fights, Phobias, & Frappucinos: A Series of One Acts, and Love & Stuff Like
Christian Lee Branch (Playwright) is an Actor, Playwright and Musical Director. He wrote Mother Emanuel (Co-written with Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj and Adam Mace.) He has served as Musical Director for Little Rock (Passage Theatre, NJPAC), R+J: An Uncivil Tale (Rebel Theater), Black Footnotes (Rebel Theater), and Salome: Da Voodoo Princess of Nawlins (Rebel Theater). As an actor he has been featured in R+J: An Uncivil Tale (Rev. Lawrence – Rebel Theater), Othello: The Panther (Brother Biggs – Rebel Theater), Salome: Da Voodoo Princess of Nawlins (Noah – Rebel Theater), Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas – Mount Carmel Theatre Company).
That. He is also the Producer and Head Writer of the web-based sketch comedy company, ¡Rockamole Productions!
Adam is the founder of Mount Carmel Theatre Company (MCTC) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn where he has worked with emerging artists from all over the country. And, he is an accomplished Teaching Artist who has had residencies throughout NYC.
Adam graduated from New York University with his Master’s Degree in Educational Theatre. He is a proud Associate Member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society and Member of Dramatist Guild of America. www.AdamMace.com
CREATIVE TEAM
NewsFeed
June 2017
BARRYMORE RECOMMENDED
Mother Emanuel was named Barrymore Recommended by Theatre Philadelphia.
May 2016
FRINGE BOUND
Mother Emanuel has been selected to be presented at the 2016 New York International Fringe Festival!
Rebel Theater will be the producing company.
August 2016
FRINGE AWARDS
Mother Emanuel has won the 2016 NY FRINGE AWARD for OVERALL EXCELLENCE FOR A MUSICAL
February 2017
STAGED READING
Mother Emanuel will be presenting a staged reading of the play at Bethel AME Ardmore Church in PA on February 12, 2017.
May 2017
REGIONAL PREMIERE
Mother Emanuel will make it's Regional Premiere at New Freedom Theatre from June 14-June 25.
March 2018
HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL
Mother Emanuel was selected to be a part of the 2018 Human Rights Festival in Birmingham, Alabama. The Festival is produce by Red Mountain Theatre Company.