Spooky Action Theater

CAST ANNOUNCEMENT: the Devil, his retinue, and the rebellious lovers in “Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show” will be played by Fran Tapia, Jordyn Taylor, Camilo Linares, Jeremy Crawford, Stephen Russell Murray, Danny Santiago AND Marika Countouris, who will also be the music director for the show. Tickets are on sale, so buy them early to ensure you can see this excellent cast of actor-musicians in this brand new work. Concept art by Andrea Pemberton.

“Cracking Zeus” closed this Sunday after a final week of sold-out houses and audience accolades. Thanks to this incredible cast, production team, and our donors and patrons for making this the best-selling show, and our first world premiere, since pandemic reopening! Photo by DJ Corey Photography.

Here’s what audience are saying about “Cracking Zeus!” There are only a few tickets left per performance, so don’t miss your chance to grab them for the final week of this world premiere. Photo by DJ Corey Photography, quotes by audience members from post-show surveys. crackingzeus

We’re gearing up for the final week of “Cracking Zeus”! You have four more chances to see the world premiere production of this new play before it closes, and ticket availability is dwindling, so don’t wait to grab yours!

The last week of the run for “Cracking Zeus” starts with a captioned performance! If you’d like to enjoy the benefits of closed captioning, hurry up and grab tickets for our Thursday show. Limited tickets remain for the rest of the performances; don’t miss your chance to catch this tale of gods and drugs before it closes.

Don’t miss today’s post-show discussion on faith, service, and community impact with Reverend Bresean Jenkins and 2010 Prince George’s County Foster Parent of the Year Odessa Hollins.

“EMINENTLY WATCHABLE…” “Cracking Zeus” is in its second to last week, so don’t miss your chance to see this unique melding of contemporary themes and mythic influences. Photo by DJ Corey Photography, review in

This week, our post-show discussions invite fascinating panelists who have devoted their lives and careers to community service to speak about the intersection between art, faith, and social impact. “Cracking Zeus” starts performances again tonight, followed by a discussion with Dr. Kevin Theodore Hart, Sr., and continues on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with another meaningful discussion with Odessa Hollins and Reverend Bresean Jenkins after the Sunday matinee.

“Cracking Zeus” is Helen Hayes Awards Recommended! Performances return this Thursday through Sunday. Don’t miss your chance to experience this phenomenon in the second-to-last week of its run.

Since the plot of” Cracking Zeus” revolves around the son of a pastor of a storefront Black church, this week, we continue our post-show discussion series with a focus on the role of churches as community hubs. Our first guest, Dr. Kevin Theodore Hart, is passionate about infusing hope to those the world has deemed unusable. In addition to his service as Senior Pastor at the Christian Tabernacle Church of God, Dr. Hart is the president of “Pick Up the Pieces,” a nonprofit organisation that partners proven programs in social services with the people who need them. Dr. Hart also serves on the Board of Project Bridges, an organisation aiming to strengthen and expand the capacity of churches to combat social and spiritual problems. You can hear Dr. Harts insights on the play and its real-world reverberations after the performance on Thursday, Oct 3.

We are enormously grateful to journalists Ruben Castaneda (right) and Harry Jaffe (center) for a deeply enlightening talkback about DC’s startling history during the crack epidemic, moderated by artistic director Elizabeth Dinkova (left). These post-show conversations explore the real-world reverberations of our plays’ themes, and Harry and Ruben’s lived experience and in-depth reporting from the era offered our audiences glimpses into the torment and resilience of DC neighborhoods. If you’d like to follow their work further, we encourage you to read Ruben’s book “S Street Rising: Crack, Murder, and Redemption in DC,” and Harry’s book “Dream City: Race, Power, and the Decline of Washington DC.”

We can’t wait to welcome acclaimed journalists Ruben Castaneda and Harry Jaffe today for a special post show discussion on DC’s morbid and fascinating history with crack co***ne. Ruben and Harry will offer invaluable context on the impact of the drug on neighborhoods in DC at the intersection of addiction, crime, law enforcement, race, and politics. Even if you’ve already seen the performance, you’re welcome to join us for the discussion at 3:30 this afternoon.

“The 60 or so seats are not enough to accommodate all those who should see this play. GET IN WHILE YOU CAN” (D. R. Lewis, Washington City Paper). “Cracking Zeus” runs tonight through Sunday, with a special post-show discussion with journalists Ruben Castaneda and Harry Jaffe on Sunday. Grab your tickets while they last! Read the full review at https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/750435/this-spooky-action-world-premiere-takes-a-crack-at-divine-intervention/

CAST
Charles Franklin IV….Baniaha
Lo**ta Marie….Momma Jo
Nicole Ruthmarie….Hera
DeJeanette Horne… Rufus
Destiny Jennings….Girl 1/Chorus
Jacobie Thornton…. Boy 1/Chorus
Christina Daniels….Girl 2/Chorus
Dupre Isaiah…. Boy 2/Chorus
Ezinelia Baba, Tre’mon Mills, Jordyn Taylor…Understudies
PRODUCTION
Elizabeth Dinkova….Dramaturgy
Barrett Doyle….Scenic Design
Malory Hartman….Lighting Design
Cidney Forkpah….Costume Design
Navi….Sound Design & Composer
Liz Long….Properties Design
Siani Nicole….Movement Director/Choreographer
Jared Shamberger….Production Stage Manager
Zoe Tompkins….Technical Director
Gillian Drake….Associate Producer
Troy C. Johnson….Assistant Stage Manager
Photos by DJ Corey Photography

The electric reviews continue to pour in for “Cracking Zeus,” which resumes performances tonight! “Spooky Action prides itself on tapping into the shared human condition through risk-taking programming. CRACKING ZEUS nail these tenets faithfully and starts the season of mythogenesis with A RESOUNDING BANG” (Jackson Malmgren, BroadwayWorld).

CAST
Charles Franklin IV….Baniaha
Lo**ta Marie….Momma Jo
Nicole Ruthmarie….Hera
DeJeanette Horne… Rufus
Destiny Jennings….Girl 1/Chorus
Jacobie Thornton…. Boy 1/Chorus
Christina Daniels….Girl 2/Chorus
Dupre Isaiah…. Boy 2/Chorus
Ezinelia Baba, Tre’mon Mills, Jordyn Taylor…Understudies
PRODUCTION
Elizabeth Dinkova….Dramaturgy
Barrett Doyle….Scenic Design
Malory Hartman….Lighting Design
Cidney Forkpah….Costume Design
Navi….Sound Design & Composer
Liz Long….Properties Design
Siani Nicole….Movement Director/Choreographer
Jared Shamberger….Production Stage Manager
Zoe Tompkins….Technical Director
Gillian Drake….Associate Producer
Troy C. Johnson….Assistant Stage Manager

This coming Sunday, we continue our series of post-show discussions with two incredible journalists with a lot to say about the crack epidemic’s impact on DC. Come hear the insights of Ruben Castaneda, author of “S Street Rising: Crack, Murder, and Redemption in DC,” and Harry Jaffe, co-author of “Dream City: Race, Power, and the Decline of Washington DC.”

“Chi-Raq,” filmmaker Spike Lee’s 2015 retelling of “Lysistrata” set in present-day Chicago, might be the closest recent analog to “Cracking Zeus…” (Chris Klimek, the Washington Post). Don’t wait until the last minute to see this “IMAGINATIVE AND AMBITIOUS” modern myth. Photos by DJ Corey Photography.

CAST
Charles Franklin IV….Baniaha
Lo**ta Marie….Momma Jo
Nicole Ruthmarie….Hera
DeJeanette Horne… Rufus
Destiny Jennings….Girl 1/Chorus
Jacobie Thornton…. Boy 1/Chorus
Christina Daniels….Girl 2/Chorus
Dupre Isaiah…. Boy 2/Chorus
Ezinelia Baba, Tre’mon Mills, Jordyn Taylor…Understudies
PRODUCTION
Elizabeth Dinkova….Dramaturgy
Barrett Doyle….Scenic Design
Malory Hartman….Lighting Design
Cidney Forkpah….Costume Design
Navi….Sound Design & Composer
Liz Long….Properties Design
Siani Nicole….Movement Director/Choreographer
Jared Shamberger….Production Stage Manager
Zoe Tompkins….Technical Director
Gillian Drake….Associate Producer
Troy C. Johnson….Assistant Stage Manager

The first review of our world premiere production of “Cracking Zeus” is out! “There is indeed MYTHMAKING MAGIC in ‘Cracking Zeus,’ and it’s a THEATER LOVER’S HIGH” (John Stoltenberg, DC Theater Arts). Performances return Thursday through Sunday this week. To read the full review, visit https://dctheaterarts.org/2024/09/23/mythmaking-magic-in-cracking-zeus-at-spooky-action-theater/ . Photos by DJ Corey Photography.

Congratulations to this gorgeous company for a thrilling first week of sold-out previews and official opening! “Cracking Zeus” by Christopher T. Hampton, directed by Reginald L. Douglas, returns Thursday through Sunday this week. Don’t wait to get your tickets!

CAST
Charles Franklin IV….Baniaha
Lo**ta Marie….Momma Jo
Nicole Ruthmarie….Hera
DeJeanette Horne… Rufus
Destiny Jennings….Girl 1/Chorus
Jacobie Thornton…. Boy 1/Chorus
Christina Daniels….Girl 2/Chorus
Dupre Isaiah…. Boy 2/Chorus
Ezinelia Baba, Tre’mon Mills, Jordyn Taylor…Understudies
PRODUCTION
Elizabeth Dinkova….Dramaturgy
Barrett Doyle….Scenic Design
Malory Hartman….Lighting Design
Cidney Forkpah….Costume Design
Navi….Sound Design & Composer
Liz Long….Properties Design
Siani Nicole….Movement Director/Choreographer
Jared Shamberger….Production Stage Manager
Zoe Tompkins….Technical Director
Gillian Drake….Associate Producer
Troy C. Johnson….Assistant Stage Manager

After today’s matinee of “Cracking Zeus,” we begin our series of post-show discussions that provide context about the themes of the play and the artistic process. You’ll get a special chance to hear directly from playwright Christopher T. Hampton about the process of developing this brand new play and how the script has changed over the rehearsal process.

A second sold-out preview, and a second rapt audience! Don’t miss your chance to become a part of “Cracking Zeus”’s mythology and be among the first people ever to experience this world premiere play, directed by Reginald L. Douglas. Our last PWYC performance on Sunday includes a post-show conversation with playwright Christopher T. Hampton.

CAST
Charles Franklin IV….Baniaha
Lo**ta Marie….Momma Jo
Nicole Ruthmarie….Hera
DeJeanette Horne… Rufus
Destiny Jennings….Girl 1/Chorus
Jacobie Thornton…. Boy 1/Chorus
Christina Daniels….Girl 2/Chorus
Dupre Isaiah…. Boy 2/Chorus
Ezinelia Baba, Tre’mon Mills, Jordyn Taylor…Understudies
PRODUCTION
Elizabeth Dinkova….Dramaturgy
Barrett Doyle….Scenic Design
Malory Hartman….Lighting Design
Cidney Forkpah….Costume Design
Navi….Sound Design & Composer
Liz Long….Properties Design
Siani Nicole….Movement Director/Choreographer
Jared Shamberger….Production Stage Manager
Zoe Tompkins….Technical Director
Gillian Drake….Associate Producer
Troy C. Johnson….Assistant Stage Manager

With one sold-out preview under our belt and a standing ovation, “Cracking Zeus” is officially in performance! Don’t miss your chance to be among the first audiences to see this contemporary epic with Ancient Greek roots. There are still tickets for our Sunday matinee preview, which will be followed by a chance to meet playwright Christopher Hampton in a post-show conversation.

“Cracking Zeus” by Christopher T. Hampton
Directed by Reginald L. Douglas
CAST
Charles Franklin IV….Baniaha
Lo**ta Marie….Momma Jo
Nicole Ruthmarie….Hera
DeJeanette Horne… Rufus
Destiny Jennings….Girl 1/Chorus*
Jacobie Thornton…. Boy 1/Chorus+
Christina Daniels….Girl 2/Chorus*
Dupre Isaiah…. Boy 2/Chorus*
Ezinelia Baba, Tre’mon Mills, Jordyn Taylor…Understudies
PRODUCTION
Elizabeth Dinkova….Dramaturgy
Barrett Doyle….Scenic Design
Malory Hartman….Lighting Design
Cidney Forkpah….Costume Design
Navi….Sound Design & Composer
Liz Long….Properties Design
Siani Nicole….Movement Director/Choreographer
Jared Shamberger….Production Stage Manager
Zoe Tompkins….Technical Director
Gillian Drake….Associate Producer
Troy C. Johnson….Assistant Stage Manager
Nafis Garrett………Conceptual Visual Designer, posters

Tech rehearsals are the time when magic really emerges; when the work of actors and designer melds seamlessly to tell a powerful and visually striking story. Don’t miss your chance to be the first to see “Cracking Zeus” this week! The Friday preview is sold out, but there are still a few tickets left for Thursday and Sunday.

As “Cracking Zeus” starts performances this week, don’t miss our PWYC previews on Sept 19, 20 and 22. In order to make tickets affordable, during the rest of the run, we’re offering ten $15 economy tickets to each performance. Our mask-required performance is on Oct 3, and our first captioned performance ever is on Oct 10. Follow our website for updates on some exciting post-show discussions, starting with a chance to meet the playwright on Sept 22.