FROM HORIZON THEATRE COMPANY’S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

If you don’t remember nothing else your Big Mamas tell you, you remember this: if you got a dance or dream or anything at all, don’t let nothing or nobody get in your way. We ain’t saying it’s gonna be easy, but we all got a dance to do. You remember this, you hear?

— Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery

When a young African-American woman sent me her play, typewritten, double-spaced on onion skin paper. and persistently followed up with friendly phone calls and visits until I finally found time on a long car trip to read it, I never dreamed I would still be tied to her and her play over 20 years later. But Shay Youngblood’s captivating stories of a community of strong, colorful women raising up a young girl grabbed my heart and wouldn’t let go. I was a young producer looking for voices that reflected my community – and here was one that was vibrant and fresh. It wasn’t really a play yet, still more a collection of stories, but there was raw material, boundless energy and mutual determination to get it ready for the stage. That, combined with theatrical expertise of dramaturg Gayle Austin and director Glenda Dickerson, gave birth to a play that was a huge hit for Horizon Theatre and which has been performed all over the country – then and now.

It was Horizon Theatre’s first world premiere, our first Equity (actor’s union) cast, our first all African-American production, and our first guest director. All huge risks that paid off for us and helped launch the career of a wonderful Georgia born and bred writer who has now published plays, novels and articles, and traveled the world.

Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery has become a much-loved contemporary classic, and now we’re bringing it back for a new generation to discover. And we are celebrating this wonderful writer by also performing her popular children’s play, Amazing Grace, based on the book of the same name, which will be performed in rotating repertory with Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery. So whether you are 4 or 94, there is a Shay Youngblood story on stage at Horizon Theatre for you this summer!

We also celebrate an amazing community of Atlanta theatre artists with this production – a nurturing community that mirrors the tight knit circle of funny, wise women you’ll see on stage tonight. In 1988, we had one little extra “cast” member, 18-month old Amber, the daughter of Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery actress Margo Moorer. Amber was in the aisles and seats at every rehearsal and show, mouthing all the lines (which she knew by heart), eating Horizon Theatre cookies and telling charmed audience members “That’s my mama.” Now she’s all grown up and she’s back home to storm the stage as Daughter in this production. Opposite her is her real life Mama, Margo, who has now moved up to play bold Aunt Mae. Marguerite Hannah originated the role of Daughter at Horizon Theatre and played the same role at The Players Theatre in Ohio; now she’s grown into a big mama, too, playing Miss Corine tonight. Tonia Jackson also played Daughter two decades ago, but in the play’s Minneapolis debut. Now, she takes up the roles that the beloved, late, great Carol Mitchell-Leon created. Andrea Frye helmed our second production of Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery in 1989 as the director and recently directed Black Pearl Sings! at Horizon. Now she’s onstage as Big Mama under the direction of Tom Jones, who she directed in his play A Cool Drink A Water last summer. In 1988, Tom was across town as the co-artistic director extraordinaire at Jomandi Productions; now he’s one of Horizon Theatre’s regular collaborators, teaming up here with artists that live and work in Atlanta, enriching our community in so many ways.

So, you can see, it’s truly a family affair, onstage and off. And you are part of it. Whether you have been with us for all 26 years or you’re new to us tonight, you are part of the Horizon family. Welcome. In this home, we share stories and tonight’s are from “some of the wisest women to ever see the light of day.” Keep their gifts in your heart and “know to pass them on.”

Lisa Adler
Co-Artistic Director

Back to show information.