No Blue Memories
THE LIFE OF GWENDOLYN BROOKS
No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks brings to life the story of one of Chicago’s most beloved figures. She was an icon, a poet laureate, and a Pulitzer Prize winner—but she was also a treasured educator and mentor to the countless writers and children who knew her as their very own “Miss Brooks.” Weaving together poetry, storytelling, sound design, original music, and striking visuals, No Blue Memories is an exploration of Brooks’s beloved city and a story of how she navigated identity, craft, and politics over the course of one of the most remarkable careers in American literary history. The performance combines intricate paper puppetry, live actors working in shadow, and an original score for an unforgettable multi-media experience.
No Blue Memories was commissioned by the Poetry Foundation for the Brooks Centenary and premiered in Chicago in November, 2017.
Written by Eve L. Ewing and Nate Marshall
Directed by Sarah Fornace
Music Composed by Jamila Woods and Ayanna Woods
Photo by Julia Miller
Photo by Lindsey Warren
Photo by Julia Miller
Photo by Julia Miller
Photo by Paul Joseph
Photo by Julia Miller
Produced by
Credits
Commissioned by the Poetry Foundation
Written by Eve L. Ewing and Nate Marshall
Directed by Sarah Fornace
Music Composed by Jamila Woods and Ayanna Woods
Production
Music Direction by Ayanna Woods
Storyboards by Drew Dir
Puppet Design by Drew Dir and Lizi Breit
Sound Design by Ben Kauffman
Lighting Design by Claire Chrzan
Costume and Wig Design by Mieka van der Ploeg
Sound Engineered by Mike Usrey and Kim Kozak
Puppeteers
N. LaQuis Harkins (Gwendolyn Brooks/Puppeteer)
Rasaan Booker (Haki R. Madhubuti/Puppeteer)
Felix Mayes (Puppeteer)
Jyreika Guest (Puppeteer)
Eunice Woods (Puppeteer)
Musicians
Kai Black (Drums)
Alexis Lombre (Piano, Vocals)
Ryan Nyther (Trumpet)
Randle Watson (Trumpet)
Ayanna Woods (Bass, Vocals)
Jamila Woods (Vocals, Guitar)
Ben Kauffman (Live Sound Effects)
Understudies
Charlee Cotton (Puppeteer)
Sharaina L. Turnage (Puppeteer)
Jeffrey Paschal (Puppeteer)
Ami Burton (Piano, Vocals)
Isaiah Oby (Piano, Vocals)
Aaron Washington (Trumpet)
Kamaria Woods (Vocals, Sound Effects)