Two sisters are forced to reckon with their shared heritage when one of them inherits their grandmother’s house. Mud Row weaves a compelling and hopeful story of sisterhood, love, forgiveness and intergenerational healing. DPT is thrilled to share this Michigan premiere by Dominique Morisseau, the multiple TONY Award-nominated, MacArthur Genius Award-winning native Detroit playwright of international acclaim—and DPT’s Executive Artistic Producer.
MUD ROW
Two sisters are forced to reckon with their shared heritage when one of them inherits their grandmother’s house.
Mud Row weaves a compelling and hopeful story of sisterhood, love, forgiveness and intergenerational healing.
Meet The Cast
Stori Ayers
Regine
Stori Ayers is a Storyteller. She’s a New York–based Actor, Director and co-founder of [RARE] Lotus Productions. Originally from Washington, DC., she has a passion for stories that challenge social norms, ignite a spirit of activism and inspire future generations. Stori is an original cast member and producer of Dominique Morisseau’s Blood at the Root, winner of the Graham F. Smith Peace Foundation Prize for its promotion of human rights. She played Regina, childhood best friend of Tiffany Haddish, on the TBS hit series The Last O.G. starring Tracey Morgan. Other acting credits include: Travisville (Ensemble Studio Theatre, NYC); Detroit ’67 (Signature Theatre, DC); The Glorious World of Crowns Kinks and Curls (Baltimore Centre Stage); A Raisin in the Sun (Indiana Repertory Theatre & Syracuse Stage); Jitney (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park); The Christians; Detroit ’67 (Chautauqua Theater Company); Gem of the Ocean; Father Comes Home From the Wars Parts 1, 2 and 3 (Round House Theatre); Doubt; Barbecue; Love’s Labours Lost; In the Red and Brown Water (Pennsylvania Centre Stage); Foster Mom (Premiere Stages); Yellowman (Anacostia Playhouse); Blood at the Root (National Black Theatre, Pennsylvania Centre Stage, Grahamstown Fringe Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival) and An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein; Voodoo, Sex, & Magic (Horizon Theatre).
Adrienne S. Wells
Elsie
Adrienne S. Wells, a Detroit native, is excited to be making her debut in her hometown! Credits include Black Monday (Showtime); Skin of Our Teeth (Broadway/Lincoln Center Theatre); A Cakewalk (Garage Magazine); GIRLS (Yale Rep. Theatre); and at Yale School Drama: Seven Spots on The Sun; Marty and The Hands That Could; and School Girls: or The African Mean Girls Play. Temple University (BA) and Yale School of Drama (MFA). Adrienne would like to dedicate this show to her Mother, Father, and brother.
Carman Cooper
Frances
Carman is an actress and singer born and raised in Detroit. She has been in productions such as Sister Act the Musical, Ain’t Misbehavin’, and Dreamgirls. Most recently, you may have seen her in Obsidian Theater Festival’s production of We Own Everything and Shakespeare Royal Oak’s production of Romeo and Juliet. Carman made her professional debut playing Sister Rosetta Tharpe in Detroit Public Theatre’s production of Marie and Rosetta and is excited to return to be part of the cast of Mud Row. Carman has trained with the Black Arts Institute at the Billie Holiday Theatre in partnership with Stella Adler Studio of Acting NY , under the instruction of Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Sonia Sanchez, as well as private acting instruction with acting coach Kenshaka Ali. Carman is currently pursuing a degree in Administration & Instructional Design at Central Michigan University.
Henrí Franklin
Tyriek
HENRÍ FRANKLIN is an award winning SAG-AFTRA actor based out of Detroit, MI. After obtaining his Bachelors Degree from Wayne State Universityʼs Theater Program, he went on to work professionally in the fields of stage, film, television, commercials and voice over. Some of his notable career accomplishments include Days of Our Lives and Chicago P.D. on NBC, Detroiters on Comedy Central, Low Winter Sun on AMC, Batman Vs Superman for Warner Bros., commercial and voice work for Ford, Chevrolet, G.U.M., T. Rowe Price and many others plus productions of Dominique Morisseauʼs Pipeline, Detroit’ 67 and Paradise Blue. You can see him as Ahmed in Richard Wesley’s Black Terror (produced by Tina Knowles – Lawson and directed by Richard Lawson) coming soon. Henrí is honored to have been able to work with Detroit Public Theatre for several years now and looks forward to continuing to do work that continues to change people’s lives for the better! You can follow his journey at www.henrifranklin.com and @henrifranklin on social media platforms.
Jade Radford
Toshi
Jade Radford is excited to be making her Detroit Public Theatre debut in Mud Row. Jade was recently seen in Flint Repertory’s Wrong River by Josh Wilder, other credits include Orange is the New Black (NETFLIX), Hightown (STARZ),Chicago P.D. (NBC),Pipeline (Cleveland Playhouse), The Red and the Blacks by Keelay Gipson (The Olde Globe).
Jade would like to give a special thanks to our fierce leader Lamar Perry.
To Dominique Morriseau for her endless gift of story telling. “Thank you for being a truth seeker, being apart of anything you write is such an honor and gift to me. I consistently find myself finding myself in your work and for that I am full with gratitude to you. Thank you.
To my sister, Jasmine… I see you, I hear you, and I love you, you got this.
To my Maw-Maw, Mommy, and my nephew Zane, you all are my anchor. Thank you for loving me and supporting me. Everything I do is for you.”
Brian Marable
Davin
Detroit Public Theatre: Detroit ‘67, Skeleton Crew, Pipeline; Baltimore Center Stage: Detroit ‘67; The Old Globe and People’s Light Theater: Skeleton Crew; Performance Network: The Mountaintop (Martin Luther King, Jr.), The Piano Lesson (Boy Willie); Purple Rose Theatre Company: Superior Donuts (Franco). Film/ TV—Have a Little Faith (Hallmark Movie), The Citizen (2012, Monterey Media), Low Winter Sun (AMC), Standing in the Shadows of Motown (James Jamerson). Education— Howard University, Wayne State University.
Meet The Creative Team
Lamar Perry
Director
Nicholas Ponting
Scenic Design
Aharon Thomas
Costume Design
Jarrett Thomas
Lighting Design
Lumumba Reynolds
Sound Design
Lumumba Leon Reynolds II was educated in Detroit Public Schools. During the summers of his youth, he studied stagecraft and public speaking under renowned entertainer, Motown artist Kim Weston’s Festival For The Performing Arts. In his teens, Lumumba was a DJ for house parties, cabarets and various hall parties including the Boblo Boat. After graduating from Cooley High School, Lumumba went on to earn a degree from Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts. Lumumba has a passion for sound design, has been a practitioner since the 80’s, teaches sound design and engineering at Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, and is honored to contribute to the storytelling excellence that is always on display at Detroit Public Theatre.
Pegi Marshall
Properties Design
is a Detroit Native, Cass Tech graduate, scenic designer and advocate for sustainable theatre practices who currently resides in Grosse Pointe Farms. She holds an MFA in Scenic Design from University of Maryland College Park, is a member of United Scenic Artist Union USA 829, mother of twins and licensed massage therapist. Her diverse portfolio encompasses theatre, performance installations, and parades, with works showcased in New Zealand, Serbia, Prague, and various locations in the U.S. previously. as a professor, Pegi inspired students at institutions as Baltimore School for the Arts, Morgan State University, Wayne State University, University of North Carolina, and California Polytechnic State University. Now, she balances professional pursuits with family life, cherishing every moment. and is thrilled her children witness her journey using her hands for creative and healing endeavors.
Jen Pan
Fight Choreography
Jen Pan (she/they) is a Ypsilanti-based fight and intimacy director, stage combat instructor, and stunt performer. Their work was recently seen at Detroit Public Theatre, Croswell Opera House, Detroit Repertory Theatre, Obsidian Theatre Festival, PTD Productions, Livonia Shakespeare in the Park, and more. They are a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD), co-founder and lead instructor at Theatrica Gladiatoria (a year-round academy in Ypsilanti, MI for stage and film combat – www.fightglad.com), and co-coordinator of the Mitten Mayhem Stage Combat Workshop (www.mittenmayhem.com).
Cornell Jermaine
Wig & Makeup Consultant
With a passion for enhancing beauty, Cornell Jermaine specializes in making people look good and, more importantly, feel beautiful. His commitment to professionalism is second to none, and his dedication is unwavering. Over the years, Cornell has worked with diverse talent in the entertainment and fashion industries. His commitment to excellence and eye for detail continue to leave an indelible mark on the world of hair design.
Cornell is proud to have contributed his expertise to numerous Broadway productions, including but not limited to Anastasia the Musical, Kinky Boots the Musical, Beautiful: The Carole King Story, Jersey Boys the Musical, Pretty Woman the Musical, The Grinch, August Wilson’s “Jitney,” Finding Neverland, and The Lion King. With a proven track record in the entertainment world and a passion for creating stunning and unforgettable styles, Cornell is an accomplished Wig Designer and an artist dedicated to helping individuals shine on and off the stage.
