The C.A. Lyons Project

Full Length Play, Drama / 4m, 5f

"[The C.A. Lyons Project] can take your breath away." - Atlanta In Town

Cast Size
4m, 5f
Duration
75 Minutes
Subgenre
Biography
Accolades
Kendeda
Target Audience
- Adult

Additional Info

Set during Winter in the early 1980’s Winter on Chicago’s South Side, The C. A. Lyons Project tells the story of Amnadla Sister Afrika, a traditional Afrikan dancer; Bethlehem, a classically trained ballerina; and Chaos Unit/Chris Cross, a "space cadet" who does “her own thing”. They are muses to popular choreographer C. A. Lyons, who is dying.

C. A. abruptly leaves the company to fulfill a promise to Clyde "Pretty Boy" Wylie, his lover. Months later, he returns from Paris with signs of Karposi’s Sarcoma, and with Clyde’s ashes. Unable to hide either his sexual identity or GRID any longer, Lyons must face his mortality. If his fledgling company and his fragile muses are to survive, each must face her destiny.

Accolades

WINNER! 2014-2015 Alliance/Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Award

Reviews

REVIEWS

"[The C.A. Lyons Project] can take your breath away." - Atlanta In Town, Read More

Videos

Alliance Theatre Director of New Projetcs, Celise Kalke, discusses The C.A. Lyons Project

Keywords

Black issues, Death, Friendship, Illness/Health, LGBT issues, Love, Memory, Economic/Financial Issues, Disability, Theatre/Entertainment Industry

Considerations

Performing Groups

College Theatre / Student
Professional Theatre

Cautions

Alcohol
Strong Language
Mild Adult Themes

License details

Minimum Fee: $90 per performance

Production

Details

Time Period: 1980s
Duration: 75 Minutes
Setting: Chicago, winter in the early 1980s
Additional Features: No intermission, Play w/ Music
Features / Contains: Period Costumes

Casting

4m, 5f

AMANDLA SISTER AFRIKA né AMY KENT – Dancing role Afrocentric dancer who leads the company in CA's absence. Mid to late 30s
BETHLEHEM "BETH" DUNNING – Dancing/signing role Classically trained ballerina. Mid to late 20s
CHAOS UNIT né CHRISTINE CROSS – Dancing role Tattooed and pierced, gender neutral. 15 - 18 years old
ROSETTA “ROSE” KENT – Non-dancing role/movement Amy "Amandla/Sister Afrika" Kent’s adoptive mother. Mid 50s
GRACIOUS DUNNING – Non-dancing role/movement Bethlehem's mother, deaf. Early 40s
C. A. (CAL) LYONS JR – Dancing role, Black male Founder, artistic director, choreographer, The New Black Dance Company late 30s
CLYDE "PRETTY BOY" WYLIE – Dancing role, Black male 20s CA's lover
ATTY. RICHARD KENT* – Non-dancing role/movement. Black male, mid 50s Sister Afrika's adoptive father.
STAN CROSS* – Non-dancing role/movement. Black male, mid 50s Chaos Unit's father
COMPANY MEMBER** – Dancing role. Male or female. 20+ Proficient in ASL or signed English
GRACIOUS DOCTOR/ CLINIC ADMINISTRATOR – Non-dancing/movement VO/OS

See all +

Cast Attributes

Role(s) for Black Actor(s)
Non-Traditional casting
Reduced casting (Doubling Possible)

Casting Notes

An actress who is deaf plays the role of GRACIOUS DUNNING.
A working knowledge of or interpreter trained actor who is adept in American Sign Language or signed English a PLUS and may eliminate need for COMPANY MEMBER.
All actors have dance/movement skills.

Resources

Scripts

Authors

Tsehaye Geralyn Hebert

A Northwestern University graduate, TSEHAYE GERALYN HEBERT is the 2015 Kendeda Alliance National Graduate Playwriting awardee for her play, The C. A. Lyons Project, which held its world premiere at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre. Hébert studied with Barbara Ann Teer (National Black Theatre in Harlem) and earned the M.F.A. ...

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The C. A Lyons Project premiered at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA in February 2015 under the direction of Kent Gash.

The C.A. Lyons Project

The C.A. Lyons Project