White
by James Ijames*
directed by Ericka Ratcliff
March 10 — April 10, 2022 | Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre
WHITE was presented at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theater as part of Steppenwolf’s 2022 LOOKOUT Series.
About
Gus is a painter expecting his big break with a prestigious contemporary art museum in 'The New America' exhibition. When he's told by the museum's new curator that "white dudes" aren't a part of New America, he enlists the help of Vanessa, a black actress, and together they create Balkonae Townsend, a bold, young radical artist to serve as the face of his work. But when things start to spiral out of control, Gus is left to deal with the mess he created and Vanessa must come to terms with her own agency as an artist. Audacious and bitingly funny, WHITE, explores white privilege, racial politics and the fine line between appropriation and opportunity.
Artists
Vanessa/St. Diana/Balkonae — Kierra Bunch
Gus — Niko Kourtis
Jane — Carley Cornelius*
Tanner — Jonathan Allsop
Vanessa/St. Diana/Balkonae — Kierra Bunch
Gus — Niko Kourtis
Jane — Carley Cornelius*
Tanner — Jonathan Allsop
Assoc. Director — Joey Stone
Scenic & Projections Designer — Yeaji Kim
Costume Designer — Rea Brown
Lighting Designer — Levi Wilkins
Asst. Lighting Designer/Scenic Artist — Emmy Weldon
Sound Designer — Willow James
Original Composition — JQ
Props Designer — Lonnae Hickman
Dramaturg — Jared Bellot*
Intimacy Director — Gaby Labotka
Asst. Intimacy Director — Kayla Menz
Production Manager — Jennifer Aparicio
Stage Manager — Julie Jachym
Floor Manager — Ariel Beller
Assistant Stage Manager: Kristina Heiden-Lundberg
Technical Director — Evan Sposato
Master Electrician: Alon Stotter
Lighting Overhire: Louis Lothan
Painting Support — Brianna Consalvo
1700 Tech Coord. — Matthew Chapman
Casting — AJ Links
U/S Vanessa/St. Diana/Balkonae — Arielle Leverett
U/S Gus — Andrew Lund
U/S Jane — Brie McClellan
U/S Tanner — Grant Kennedy Lewis
*Denotes Definition Theatre Ensemble Member
Photos by Joe Mazza | Brave Lux.
Sounds Like: WHITE 🎧
Explore the sounds that inspired our production.
Supported by
Nancy Jaffe-Faloona & Dave Faloona
Mary Pat Studdert
Paul M Angell Family Foundation
Special Thanks
Museum of Contemporary Art
Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Credits
WHITE was developed at the PlayPenn New Play Conference. The development of this play was supported by Philadelphia Theatre Company through the Terrence McNally New Play Award.
