Shattered Globe Theatre Presents
Rasheeda Speaking
By Joel Drake Johnson
Directed by Associate Artistic Director AmBer D. Montgomery
April 22 – June 4, 2022, at Theater Wit
Whether it’s her boss’s inability to remember her name, or the toxic fumes radiating from the Xerox machine and lab next door, Dr. Williams’ office is not made for Jaclyn. As the only Black woman in her workplace, Jaclyn is determined to keep her job. But when Dr. Williams promotes her White co-worker, Ileen, and asks her to spy on their only Black co-worker, Jaclyn has her work cut out for her. Fueled by a fear of difference and looming racial uprising, how far will Jaclyn, Ileen and Dr. Williams go? SGT Associate Artistic Director, AmBer D. Montgomery, directs Chicago writer Joel Drake Johnson’s comedy-turned-social thriller about workplace racism. Watch the trailer.
The play is in one act and runs approximately 90 minutes.
Performances take place at Theater Wit (1229 W Belmont) where Shattered Globe Theatre is a resident company. Visit this page for information on public transportation to the theater and parking.
For group discounts, please contact Shattered Globe at groupsales@shatteredglobe.org or by phone at 773-770-0333.
Shattered Globe understands that ticket prices can pose a financial burden and, at times, an obstacle for theatregoers. A number of free and sliding scale tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis for students and community members experiencing access barriers to theatre. If you would like to be added to SGT’s Waived Ticket Waitlist, please e-mail lswanson@shatteredglobe.org. Please note: all requests must be completed by 12 pm the Friday before the performance you would like to attend. This e-mail will not be monitored at all on weekends or after 5 pm on weekdays.
Safety
Your safety is of utmost importance to us. Theater Wit has upgraded its HVAC systems to meet the stringent regulations of Actors Equity. The entire company of Rasheeda Speaking is fully vaccinated, tested multiple times per week, and held accountable with multiple COVID Compliance Officers responsible for safety protocols for the cast and crew. All patrons at Theater Wit will be required to show proof of full vaccination before they even enter the lobby. Negative PCR and rapid test results are not valid for admittance. Patrons with medical or religious exemptions may be admitted but must contact the box office a minimum of 48 hours before the performance for additional review and guidance. While the bar is open and Theater Wit is no longer requiring patrons to wear masks in their lobby, masks will be mandatory for all Shattered Globe, TimeLine and Remy Bumppo patrons in our respective theatres and for the entire duration of all performances.
Content Warning
Please note that Rasheeda Speaking depicts sensitive content including but not limited to racial slurs, microaggressions, gaslighting, and respectability politics in the workplace. There is language that might suggest disordered eating and a brief mention of suicide, not depicted. There will additionally be the presence of an unfired prop gun onstage.
Please reach out to edurbin@shatteredglobe.org during regular office hours Monday-Friday to learn more about potentially triggering and stressful content.
Accessibility
Theater Wit is wheelchair accessible, and all patrons with mobility needs are invited to purchase access tickets with the code “ACCESS20” at Theater Wit’s checkout page.
Assisted Listening Devices are available for all performances. Unfortunately we are not able to offer closed captioning at this time.
Audio Description and Touch Tour is Friday, May 6. The Touch Tour begins at 6:45 pm, and the show will be at 8:00. Use the code “ACCESS20” for $20 tickets if you plan to take advantage of these accessibility offerings!
Please call our office 773-770-0333 or email groupsales@shatteredglobe.org if you are part of a group that would like to request Audio Description for any other performance dates.
Special Events & Global Perspectives
The theater community had planned to celebrate Joel’s rich artistic and personal life in April 2020. Now, two years later, we will gather. Joel was a close friend, an extremely generous teacher and a gifted playwright with razor-sharp insight. He loved the theater. With great compassion, Joel created characters who revealed their hearts and their flawed humanity so that we could better understand each other and ourselves.
RSVP to celebrate Joel with us at 4:00 pm on April 30 at Theater Wit
“Full disclosure: I am a 64 year old white gay man writing about a middle aged Black woman. Originally the play was going to be about a 64 year old white gay man and his negative encounter with a middle aged Black woman who would figure only peripherally in the story. Then I read a New York Times interview with Viola Davis who was performing in a Broadway production of August Wilson’s “Fences” and was experiencing great joy in doing so because she said it was rare for a play (or movie or tv show) to focus on the story of a Black woman. I took this as my cue, cut the 64 year old white gay man and put at the center of the play, a middle aged Black woman whose name is Jaclyn.”
Cast & Crew
CAST
Daria Harper* (Ileen Van Meter)
Deanna Reed-Foster* (Jaclyn Spaulding)
Barbara Roeder Harris (Rose Saunders)
Drew Schad* (Dr. David Williams)
UNDERSTUDIES
Cindy Henkin (u/s Ileen Van Meter and Rose Saunders)
Jazzma Pryor (u/s Jaclyn Spaulding)
Adam Schulmerich (u/s Dr. Williams)
Production Team
Joel Drake Johnson (Playwright)
AmBer D. Montgomery (Director)
Scott Penner (Scenic Design)
Rea Brown (Costume Design)
Jackie Fox (Lighting Design)
Mitchell Patterson (Master Electrician)
Christopher Kriz + (Sound Designer)
Persephone Lawrence-Wescott (Props Design)
Judy Anderson* (Executive Production Manager)
Richie Vavrina (Production Manager)
Alan Weusthoff (Technical Director)
Tina M. Jach (Production Stage Manager)
Becca Smith (Assistant Stage Manager)
*Shattered Globe Ensemble Member
+Shattered Globe Artistic Associate