The Hangar’s opening performance of The REALNESS: another break beat play by Idris Goodwin will begin June 18th at 7:30 PM, kicking off the Hangar’s 2021 Outdoor Mainstage season! A preview performance will precede opening, on June 17 at 7:30 P.M. Matinee and evening performances will run through Saturday, June 26.
Playwright Idris Goodwin (he/his) and Director Kyle Haden (he/his) were working together on a virtual project earlier this year, when Haden coincidentally got the invitation to direct the Hangar production. Haden shared, “I now know why people had been telling Idris and I that we needed to meet for so long. I feel like Idris wrote this for me; I could have been T.O.! When I was T.O.’s age, music and finding love was the most important thing in my life.”
Damon J. Gillespie (he/his) will star as T.O. in The REALNESS. Haden was one of Gillespie’s college acting teachers, which is one of the reasons Gillespie was drawn to audition. “His was the last acting class that I took for theater,” Gillespie said. “So this was a very, very incredible reunion.” Gillespie entered the spotlight in 2018 with a major role as Robbie on NBC’s Rise. He then went on to two major roles in Netflix originals The Society, and Tiny Pretty Things in 2018 and 2019. His additional TV credits include appearances on Empire on Fox, and Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer. He is a Member of Actors’ Equity Association, and his theatre credits include Broadway productions of Newsies and Aladdin. He stated, “I am so thankful, and couldn’t be happier to join this cast. This show goes out to every person who fell in love with hip-hop. With such craziness in the world, why not strive for some realness?” Haden adds, “This story is woven in and around hip hop, so if you know that world, you’ll be excited to revisit it, but those new to hip-hop will enjoy it as well”.
This unique play, by nationally recognized playwright Idris Goodwin, tackles history and class collisions in a humorous and authentic story set to a distinct beat. “It’s like rhythmic storytelling,” Gillespie said. “You know, in Shakespeare we have what’s called iambic pentameter, where they basically speak in rhythm, and the way I understand it is that it is a modern version of iambic pentameter, which would be spoken word, poetry or rap.” T.O. graduates from high school in 1996 and moves from the suburbs to the city, stepping into the hip-hop scene. He soon meets Prima, a dazzling MC with Lauryn Hill vibes, who takes his breath away. T.O. poses as a music journalist to get close to her, but his story quickly catches up to him.
In addition to Gillespie and Santiago, cast members include Rasell Holt as Lord Style, Ithaca College alum Nicholas Caycedo as Roy et al., and Kiziana Jean-Louis as Professor Brown et al. With direction by Haden, the production team also includes Sound Designer Shammy Dee, Scenic & Lighting Designer Steve TenEyck (who designed the Hangar’s entire outdoor venue in addition to the set), Costume Designer Danielle Preston, AEA Production Stage Manager Bailey Saxe, and Assistant Director Jasmine Mitchell.
A virtual Hip Hop Panel featuring guest speakers Ernie Paniccioli and DJ Cut Chemist will follow opening week, on Monday June 21st at 7 PM. The panel will be a collaboration between the Hangar Theatre and the Cornell Hip Hop Collective, and will be facilitated by Ben Ortiz. For more information, visit hangartheatre.org/hip.
The Hangar’s 47th Mainstage season will include five live, in-person outdoor productions including The Realness, Once, Sweeney Todd, Queens Girl in the World, and An Odyssey. Artistic Director Shirley Serotsky states, “In preparing for this season, celebrating joy, art, and life was at the top of our list and The REALNESS does all of those things. I feel grateful and lucky to be here with everyone, having the chance to create art. It is overwhelming to have these amazing artists working together to create this remarkable story about making music and art, and celebrating life.”
The Hangar thanks Premier Performance Partner Tompkins Financial, Mainstage Media Sponsor Cayuga Radio Group, Partner In The Arts Ithaca College, Partner In Health Be Sure Testing, Premier show sponsor The Shackell-Dowell Family, and show Media Sponsor WICB 91.7 FM. Additional show information can be found online at hangartheatre.org/realness
Ticket Information
The REALNESS runs from June 17-26. Seats are limited, and available while supplies last. All tickets must be purchased in advance. Student discounts and Pay What You Will tickets are available at every performance in 2021. Buy now at hangartheatre.org/realness
For tickets or more information about the rest of the Hangar’s 2021 Outdoor Summer Mainstage Season, please call 607.273.2787, or visit hangartheatre.org
Performance Schedule
Thursday 6/17 at 7:30 p.m. Preview performance
Friday 6/18 at 7:30 p.m. Opening Night
Saturday 6/19 at 3 p.m.
Saturday 6/19 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday 6/20 at 3 p.m.
Tuesday 6/22 at 7:30 p.m. Virtual Tuesday Talkback*
Wednesday 6/23 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday 6/24 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday 6/25 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 6/26 at 3 p.m.
Saturday 6/26 at 7:30 p.m.
*Special Event Performances
Virtual Tuesday Talkbacks: Members of the creative team will host an online event to share information about the performance before the show on the first Tuesday of each run, at 5 P.M. Register online at hangartheatre.org/realness.
Pay What You Will tickets are available for every performance in 2021! This program gives patrons the option to choose a ticket price within their means. The goal in this program is to give everyone in our community the opportunity to enjoy our exciting outdoor theatre this year. Seats must be reserved in advance. To learn more or reserve visit hangartheatre.org/ways
Cast List:
Nicholas G. Caycedo*...........................Lord Style
Damon J. Gillespie*...............................Thomas AKA T.O.
Rasell Holt.............................................Roy/Camo Carl/DJ Matrix/Gallery of MCs
Kiziana Jean-Louis*...............................Prof Brown/Francine/Ecko Ella/DJ Blast Off
Angelica Santiago*.................................Prima
*Member of the Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
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About the Hangar Theatre
The Hangar Theatre is located at 801 Taughannock Blvd., north of Ithaca on Route 89 on the shores of Cayuga Lake. Originally opened as a summer theatre in 1975, the Hangar is home to the Hangar Theatre Company and serves as a venue for a variety of performing artists and community organizations. The Hangar Theatre Company offers professional theatrical productions throughout the year and a renowned education program.
About the Hangar Theatre Company
Now in its 47th season, the Hangar Theatre Company offers professional theatrical productions throughout the year and a renowned education program.
Hangar Mission
The Hangar Theatre creates and presents performances of exceptional quality in New York’s Finger Lakes region while training the next generation of theatre artists. We inspire our community with work and classes that enrich, entertain, and enlighten. We believe in the power of theatre to transform lives.
