www.playingwithcrayons.com

@PLAYINGwithCRAYONS @PLAYINGwithCRAYONS @PWCProductions

Founded by Shaka Licorish and Darren Anthony, PLAYINGwithCRAYONS is a creative platform that

develops immersive content intent on capturing the inspirations of diverse and shared human

experiences. With an innate passion for storytelling, the accomplished duo aim to produce a range of

scripted and unscripted, culturally relevant creative content for film, television, digital media, and the

stage. Using a variety of art and culture muses layered with their own defining lived experiences, their

work is directed at a dynamic audience of creative thinkers, innovators, influencers, and thought

leaders alike - engaging them with a high level of authenticity, grit, and compassion.

PLAYINGwithCRAYONS is honoured to be a Guest Company Series

feature of Theatre Passe Muraille’s 2016.17 season.

ABOUT i PLAYINGwithCRAYONS

In 2007, when I was first asked to work on Secrets of a Black Boy, I was handed a ten

page script that had a lot of potential but wanted to grow. Working with Darren, we built

a world that highlighted the lived experiences of black men. We mounted our first

production with a crew of actors new to theatre and many high expectations following a

successful run of the extremely popular ‘Da Kink in My Hair. While we were nervous, we

knew we had a piece of art that spoke from the heart and shone a spotlight on the

displacement of our communities. We also had the audacity to put six black men on stage

and have them bare their souls sharing intimate, personal stories.

Ten years later, I’m grateful to continue to work with this exceptional team of artists -

many of whom have been there from the beginning. As we revisit Secrets after several

tours, Darren’s work is more urgent than ever, particularly in light of the many challenges

we continue to experience in our society today. And so, we use the power of the theatre

to continue speaking out and taking a stand in the face of injustice, bringing our

narratives forward and letting our voices be heard.

— Kimahli Powell

The past year has been extremely alarming for the black community, not only in the US

but right here in Toronto. The many unwarranted attacks on black bodies have become

an increased topic of discussion and our collective response is too often distorted by the

major media news cycles. So rather than allow frequent misrepresentations of our

experiences to persist, we take this opportunity to give you our narratives. I want Secrets

of a Black Boy to spark uncomfortable, healthy dialogue that can inspire a conscious shift

and contribute to making our society a better one for future generations.

As a writer, I aim to shed light on subjects often considered taboo within the black

community. I place emphasis on the nuances of my world as I have come to understand

them, through honest narratives that reflect our collective growth and evolution. Secrets

is just that - a representation of the many facets of black men that extend beyond the

headlines, and I wrote it because we are more than the one-dimensional stereotypes so

often presented in the mainstream and pop culture. It has now grown into something

much bigger - bigger than just me.

— Darren Anthony

Playwright’s Note

director’s note

In 2007, when I was first asked to work on Secrets of a Black Boy, I was handed a ten

page script that had a lot of potential but wanted to grow. Working with Darren, we built

a world that highlighted the lived experiences of black men. We mounted our first

production with a crew of actors new to theatre and many high expectations following a

successful run of the extremely popular ‘Da Kink in My Hair. While we were nervous, we

knew we had a piece of art that spoke from the heart and shone a spotlight on the

displacement of our communities. We also had the audacity to put six black men on stage

and have them bare their souls sharing intimate, personal stories.

Ten years later, I’m grateful to continue to work with this exceptional team of artists -

many of whom have been there from the beginning. As we revisit Secrets after several

tours, Darren’s work is more urgent than ever, particularly in light of the many challenges

we continue to experience in our society today. And so, we use the power of the theatre

to continue speaking out and taking a stand in the face of injustice, bringing our

narratives forward and letting our voices be heard.

— Kimahli Powell

PROGRAM PRINTING SPONSOR

CreditS

Samson Brown

Troy Crossfield

Julien Hyacinthe

DJ O¯nonymous

Mark Sparks

Al St. Louis

Production Designer

Glenn DavidsonLighting Designer

Bonnie BeecherCostume Designer

Rachel Forbes

Contributing Writer

Trey AnthonyDramaturgy by

Kimahli Powell

Music Composer & Sound Designer

Gavin BradleyMarketing Direction

WolF J McFarlane

Production Manager & Projection Designer

Laura Warren

Stage Manager

Kimberly Miller¯Pryce

Directed by

Kimahli PowellCreated & Written by

Darren Anthony

Executive Producer

Shaka Licorish

Theatre Passe Muraille stands on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the New Credit, the

Anishinabek peoples, the Huron-Wendat, the Metis, and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. We

acknowledge these peoples as the past, present, and future keepers of this land.

DAIS Art Exhibit i 1196 Queen St. WEST i Nov. 10TH ¯ 18TH

GALLERY HOURS 12PM – 5PM | CLOSED NOVEMBER 13 & 17

ART EXHIBIT

CaSt

Julien Hyacinthe i Sean

Raised in the streets of Parkdale, Julien Lamar Hyacinthe

began acting at the age of 15. His first appearance on stage

saw him play a lead role in The Ultimate Sacrifice (EMG) at

Toronto’s historic Panasonic Theatre. No stranger to film

and television, Julien’s work to date includes appearances

in Private Eyes, Incorporated, Recall, The Girlfriend

Experience, and ABC’s new fall series Conviction. This is

Julien’s first appearance in Secrets.

Samson Brown i Biscuit

Samson Brown is a Toronto born actor, hoofer, playwright, and

stage manager. An alumnus of The Watah Theatre Company's

Kente Season, he continues to study under the guidance of

d'bi.young anitafrika and her acclaimed Sorplusi Methodology.

Most recently, Samson worked on "Master Harold and the

Boys," as an Apprentice Production Manager with Obsidian

Theatre. His monodrama, “11:11 A Monodrama in 7D” will be

published in Black Solo 2 through Sorplusi Institute Press.

Troy Crossfield i Jakes

A native of Pickering, Ontario, Troy Crossfield has been

featured in numerous productions as a principal actor.

His most recent credits include the Fringe Festival’s

Dario Et La Diablesse (Bellemoune Productions) and

It’s My Turn (TKJ Productions). He previously appeared

in My Brother’s Keeper, A Gift for Mom (EMG), and

Robin Givens’ Joy in the Morning. While Troy’s acting

career is on the rise, he is also an accomplished

songwriter, currently signed to Sony/ATV/DTP.

Mark Sparks i Jerome

Originating from Toronto, Mark Sparks is a former Calvin

Klein Man of Steel and Mr. Caribbean International.

Making a career for himself in film and television, he has

most recently appeared in Pixels (Sony Pictures) and

Killjoys (NBC Universal). His past projects include

Defiance (NBC Universal), Flashpoint (CBS), Nikita

(Warner Brothers), and his own Youtube show, Men's

Room, which has over 4.3 million viewers. This is Mark’s

debut as a Secrets cast member.

Al St. Louis i Sheldon

A natural storyteller and one of Toronto’s foremost spoken

word artists today, Al St. Louis has been using the art of

performance poetry to develop his craft and fuel a passion

for acting since 1998. Inspired by a need for change and a

hunger to share his gift, he has performed on numerous

stages and his talents have led to collaborative projects

with the likes of John Singleton, Spike Lee, James Brown,

Roy Ayers, and Andre 3000 amongst several others.

DJ O¯nonymous i Dwayne

After years of quiet anonymity, DJ O-nonymous, has taken

his love for performing to concert stages, cross country

tours, club appearances, and broadcasting on radio air

waves. Known locally and nationally, he stays true to his

moniker, preferring to be the backdrop to your soundscape

versus standing front and centre. Constantly seeking

innovative ways to diversify the culture and lifestyle, the

Dora nominated DJ has taken to theatre to explore merging

a more recent art form with a traditional one.

CaSt

Kimahli has directed and served as dramaturge for each

production of Secrets of a Black Boy to date (DC Black Theatre

Festival, Washington DC, Single Carrot Theatre, Baltimore,

2015; National Black Theatre Festival, North Carolina/Daniel

Spectrum Theatre, Toronto, 2013; Danforth Music Hall, Toronto,

2009, Enwave Theatre Toronto, 2007). Additionally, he has

worked on How Black Mothers Say I Love you (Technical

Director, Factory Theatre, Toronto, 2016) and ‘Da Kink in My

Hair (Technical Director, National Black Theatre Festival, North

Carolina/Enwave Theatre, Toronto, 2011).

Born in London, England, Darren’s unique voice has been honed

through the colourful lense that reflects his experiences

growing up in the cultural mosaic of Toronto. In addition to

being a playwright, actor, and producer, he recently launched

PLAYINGwithCRAYONS - his biggest creative endeavour to

date. His previous projects include ‘Da Kink In My Hair (Global),

Grimy (Serious), and Murdoch Mysteries (CBC).

A producer and creative catalyst driven by original thinking

and impactful collaborations, Shaka is intrigued by the

intersections of art and culture. His most recent work

includes programming international film selections at Hot

Docs and he has worked with other internationally recog-

nized festival organizations in various capacities including

the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), The Regent

Park Film Festival, The Reel World Film Festival, and

Manifesto. He is currently Board Chair of New Leaf Founda-

tion, and co-founder of PLAYINGwithCRAYONS.

Darren AnthonyCREATOR / WRITER / PRODUCER

Shaka LicorishEXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Kimahli PowellDIRECTOR / DRAMATURGE

Crew

Laura WarrenPRODUCTION MANAGER & PROJECTION DESIGNER

Raised in Saskatchewan and based in Toronto, Laura is a well-versed

designer and production manager. Her recent work includes a number

of productions, most notably Love’s Labour’s Lost, Guys and Dolls

(Nightwood Theatre), No Strings (Attached) (Pink Pluto, Eventual

Ashes, Buddies in Bad Times), and Situational Anarchy (Pressgang

Theatre/Pandemic Theatre), amongst several others. She has worked on

additional projects with Pandemic Theatre/Cahoots and Ghost River

Theatre’s Devised Production Intensive, and is a graduate of the

National Theatre School of Canada’s production program.

Glenn DavidsonPRODUCTION DESIGNER

Glenn is an accomplished designer, having worked for over 450

productions across Canada and abroad. His recent credits include

Tales of Two Cities, Circle of Creation, the Australian and US tours

of House of Dreams, and The Galileo Project (all for Tafelmusik

Baroque Orchestra). To date, Glenn�s work has received two

Dora awards, a Harold award, and the Pauline McGibbon award.

Rachel ForbesCOSTUME DESIGNER

A graduate of Ryerson Theatre School, Rachel is a Toronto based set

and costume designer. She has had the pleasure of working with many

companies in the city including Obsidian Theatre, Buddies in Bad

Times, VideoCabaret, Nightwood Theatre, and Acting Upstage. Her

recent work includes Bleeders (Watah Theatre), How Black Mothers Say

I Love You (Trey Anthony Productions), Black Boys (Saga Collectif).

Crew

Bonnie BeecherLIGHTING DESIGNER

An award-winning designer, Bonnie has worked with over 300

productions in theatre, opera, and dance across Canada and

internationally. Her range of work has been featured at most major

Canadian theatres and recent titles include The Nutcracker (Royal

Flanders Ballet), Grey Gardens (Acting Up Stage), Naked (Kevin

O’Day Ballet, Mannheim, Germany), to name a few. Bonnie has

received 15 Dora nominations and has won the award twice.

Kimberley Miller-Pryce is a Toronto born award-winning

filmmaker. Her work has been featured in various local

and international film festivals, including Montreal Du

Monde, BET’s Urbanworld, Cannes Short Corner, the NSI

Film Festival, and the Reel World Film Festival, where

she won best short for her directorial debut, Baby Half

Lie (Temple Street Productions).

Kimberly Miller¯PryceSTAGE MANAGER

Gavin Bradley is an award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter

and producer based in Toronto. His recent work includes

music composition and sound design for How Black Mothers

Say I Love You (Trey Anthony Productions/Girls in Bow Ties)

at Factory Theatre. Recognized by the Junos, Socan, and

Billboard for his work, he previously earned a Dora

nomination for Outstanding Composition & Sound Design in

relation to the original production of Secrets of a Black Boy

(Trey Anthony Productions).

Gavin BradleyMUSIC COMPOSER & SOUND DESIGNER

A Toronto native, WolF J is a talented graphic artist,

creative designer, songwriter, and performer, whose

vibrant work recalls a mind full of colour and sound

execution. Existing in the midst of an artistic revolution,

his artistry stands out and has landed him on some of the

biggest platforms platforms in the city and beyond.

Whether it’s his visual work or his music, WolF J is poised

to reflect a world within the world we live in.

WolF J McFarlaneMARKETING DIRECTION

Crew

Original Music Composed by Gavin Bradley | Vocals by D.Shon Henderson, Steve

Foster and Troy Crossfield | Cello by Kevin Fox | Violin by Karen Graves |

Scratching by DJ O-nonymous | Voiceovers by Richard Collier

˝It Could Have Been Me˝

CONCEIVED BY

Darren Anthony & Kimahli Powell

WRITTEN BY

Gavin Bradley, Kimahli Powell, Troy Crossfield,

Quinn Marie, Mark Ruglass, Sammy Tezbta, and David Nichols

SCOre

POST SHOW TALKBACKS

In this evolved remount of Secrets, we delve into issues - some sensitive - around

which we believe there needs to be greater, healthier, discussions. Following

many of our scheduled performances, we will be featuring talkback sessions with

our cast & crew in an e�ort to create further dialogue with the audience relating

back to some of the themes, issues, and concerns covered within the piece.

Rather than allowing our guests to leave following the show without any chance

to process its content, ask questions, and share their opinions, we are using this

platform to spark curiosity and interaction. Collectively, we feel there is added

value in facilitating a safe forum where these issues can be levelled, and in that

spirit, we recognize the importance and power of leveraging this opportunity and

space to speak honestly and have our voices heard. Our talkback hosts include,

Amanda Parris, Shad Kabango, Tyrone ‘T-Rexxx’ Edwards, Mykel Hall (aka DJ

Black Cat), Randell Adjei, Donisha Prendergast, Tariq Toure, Garvia Bailey,

Dwayne Morgan, Kike Ojo, and Theatre Passe Muraille’s own Jiv Parasram.

secrets of a black boy special events

TOWN HALL i November 15th

Unpacking The Politics of Gender and Blackness in the Greater Toronto Area

Featuring notable guest panelists, this discussion will explore the lived

experiences of Black Canadians across the gender identity and sexual orientation

spectrum. We hope to spark an engaging and informative dialogue amongst

audience and community members in light of the timeless and timely content

that is explored within the production and connected to various issues

concerning the identity of Black men. In partnership with The Black Daddies

Club, York University’s Black Love Matters Un-Conference course, and the Urban

Alliance on Race Relations, the town hall will be taking place on Tuesday,

November 16th, 2016 immediately following the performance.

EGG ROLLS WITH ANDY FEATURING SOL GUY i November 16th

In this evolved remount of Secrets, we delve into issues - some sensitive - around which we

believe there needs to be greater, healthier, discussions. Following many of our scheduled

performances, we will be featuring talkback sessions with our cast & crew in an e�ort to

create further dialogue with the audience relating back to some of the themes, issues, and

concerns covered within the piece. Rather than allowing our guests to leave following the

show without any chance to process its content, ask questions, and share their opinions, we

are using this platform to spark

curiosity and interaction. Collectively,

we feel there is added value in facilitat-

ing a safe forum where these issues can

be levelled, and in that spirit, we

recognize the importance and power of

leveraging this opportunity and space to

speak honestly and have our voices heard.

Our talkback hosts include, Amanda Parris,

Shad Kabango, Tyrone ‘T-Rexxx’ Edwards,

Mykel Hall (aka DJ Black Cat), Randell Adjei,

Donisha Prendergast, Tariq Toure, Garvia

Bailey, Dwayne Morgan, Kike Ojo, and

Theatre Passe Muraille’s own Jiv Parasram.

secrets of a black boy special events

ART EXHIBIT AND INSTALLATION

Informed by Yoruba mythology and geometry, visual artist Oluseye fuses human, mask,

and sculptural elements to imbue his portraits with a physical-spiritual identity. The

ambiguity of their form is deliberate – a symbol of lives lived on the peripherals of the

mainstream. He combines acrylic, charcoal, and photo transfer in his intersectional

exploration of black male identity, existentialism, sexuality, and outsider cultures.

Theatre Passe Muraille Installation i Nov. 10TH ¯ 20TH

DAIS Art Exhibit i 1196 Queen St. WEST i Nov. 10TH ¯ 18TH

GALLERY HOURS 12PM – 5PM | CLOSED NOVEMBER 13 & 17

WWW.OLUSEYE.BIGCARTEL.COM @LAVISHBAT

SECRETS OF A BLACK BOY

Thank you to everyone who supported making this production a success. If you bought a

ticket, recommended that someone else buy a ticket, shared a post or flyer, brought your

partner, a friends, or someone else you care about... THANK YOU. We would like to

acknowledge Theatre Passe Muraille’s Artistic Director Andy McKim and General Manager

Regine Cadet for seeing value in our work, as well as Alan Convery and TD Canada Trust

for your gracious support of this production and the meaningful work attached to it. To our

partners the Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council, DAIS

and The Remix Project, your belief and support of this production has allowed us to raise

the bar and present this renewed work in a manner we are most proud of.

To our incredibly talented cast members, Al St. Louis, Samson Brown, Troy Crossfield, DJ

O-nonymous, Julien Hyacinthe, and Mark Sparks, along with our esteemed director Kimahli

Powell, we give thanks to each of you for embarking on this journey with us. To our

outstanding production team - Laura Warren, Kimberly Miller-Pryce, Glenn Davidson,

Bonnie Beecher, Rachel Forbes, and Gavin Bradley - and Marketing Director, WolF J, we

are in such awe of each of your respective contributions and the work that has gone into

making this production its best yet.

We are both honoured and humbled by everything you all have given to this and recognize

we would not be here in this moment without each and everyone of you. Additionally, we

would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the following individuals:

Sol Guy

Gavin Sheppard

Chris Penrose

Trung Hoang

Chelsea Takalo

Seye Ogunlesi

Brandon Hay

Wade Hudson

Brian Gregory

Joven Haye

Yasin Osman

Simon Fon

Jiv Parasram

Hallie Seline

Megan Poole

Jenn Sartor

Jason Golinsky

Amanda Parris

Shad Kabango

Tyrone Edwards

Mykel Hall

Randell Adjei

Donisha Prendergast

Tariq Toure

Garvia Bailey

Dwayne Morgan

Kike Ojo

Shomari Downer

Leighton Williams

Eli Goree

Marc Lostracco

Nayani Thiyagarajah

Noora Sagarwala

Leah Simone-Brown

Keith Barker

Cynthia Sparks

Florence McFarlene

Maria Nikolajev

Dale Samms

Ramon Hylton

Ronnie Rowe

Liam Card

Gregg Parris

Wayne Stanley

Arthur & Kelly Edwards

Angela Senior

Hortnell Dennie

Kandyce Anthony

Trey Anthony

Renee Brady

Roxanne DeNobrega

David Rumley

Lynette Licorish

Harold Licorish

Chlorine Licorish

Charisse Licorish

Quacy & LaToya February

Boris February

Sharon February

Jackie February

Dexter Barrow

Kenita Barrow

Erin Plenert

Ron & Linda Plenert

Kim Plenert

Jen Plenert

Brianna Murray & Luke Pollard

Marc & Asha Hyman

with gratitude...

A

P R O D U C T I O N