INVISIBLE, a new play by Douglas Lyons. Directed by Christopher Betts. After decompressing over a tainted blunt, best friends Eemani and Jade are thrust into a wild hallucination where they are granted superpowers at a time when Black women were voiceless.



INVISIBLE

Directed by Bianca LaVerne Jones

Written by Douglas Lyons

Stage manager Rose Tablizo*

CAST

Paige Gilbert* - EEMANI / "HAROLD RABBIT"

Jerrie Johnson* - JADE / "ANGALEEN"

Stacie Bono* - SUSAN / ISABELLA

Ben Crawford* - HAROLD / THEODORE

Matrell Smith - ALICK / KING

BIANCA LAVERNE JONES. BROADWAY: CHICKEN AND BISCUITS; REGIONAL: GLORIOUS WORLD OF CROWNS, KINKS AND CURLS (Baltimore Center Stage); THE GIFT OF THE MAD GUYS (Pittsburgh Public Theater/Pittsburgh); OTHELLO (Opera): 5 Aspects for Bass and Chamber Orchestra (Newark Veterans Park/Newark,NJ). NEW MEDIA: FOR WHICH IT STANDS (NYTW); PROCLAMATION (FLUGELMAN/Australia); DARE TO DREAM (FLUGELMAN/Australia); COVERED (NYCSEEING2020/New York); OH, THIS IS RICH (Miles Square Theater/Hoboken,NJ); SPUNK (Hedgepig and Classical Theater of Harlem,NYC); CHOICES (BOLD/NYC), SERMON I WISH I’D HEARD (BOLD/NYC), OLDEST TOWN IN TEXAS (BOLD/NYC); OFF BROADWAY: FEAST: A Yoruba Tale (HERE Arts, Dream Center Harlem), ARMED (Amoralist Theater Company Teatro LATEA), London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts showcase (Playwrights Horizon) ASSOCIATE/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: THOUGHTS OF A COLORED MAN (Syracuse Stages; Baltimore Center Stage); A SMALL OAK TREE RUNS RED (Billie Holiday Theater/Brooklyn); BLKS (MCC/NYC); THE FIRST NOEL (Classical Theater of Harlem, Apollo Theater/NYC). Unions: SDC, AEA, SAG-AFTRA. Biancalavernejones.com

DOUGLAS LYONS is a multi-hyphenate artist. His Broadway acting credits include the recent Tony award-winning revival of Parade, the Book of Mormon and the Original Cast of Beautiful. His touring credits include: Rent, Dreamgirls and Book of Mormon. As a writer, he earned a GLAAD nomination for his Broadway playwriting debut, Chicken and Biscuits, which was the 2nd most produced play in America in 2022-23. Douglas served as a writer on both seasons of Apple TV's Fraggle Rock. As a composer-lyricist, his music and lyrics have been featured on Nickelodeon, BET Plus, Apple TV, CBS's Sunday Morning Show, and more. His musicals include Polkadots (Off Broadway Alliance Winner Best Family Show, Atlantic Theater Company), Beau (Adirondack Theatre Festival), The Moon and The Sea (Constellation Stage) and the world premiere of Five Points (Theater Latté Da.) With composing partner Ethan D. Pakchar, Douglas is a 2020 Jonathan Larson Grant finalist.

ROSE TABLIZO (they/them) is an AEA Stage Manager born in Texas and based in Brooklyn, NY and is overjoyed to be returning to the Miracle of the Forest. Since graduating from NYU Tisch in 2021, Rose has worked in Production Management and Stage Management throughout New York City. Their work in the past year includes: Mike Birbiglia's The Old Man and the Pool (Lincoln Center Theatre) , Ain't No Mo' (Belasco Theatre), and Titanique (Asylum NYC, Daryl Roth Theatre). Many thanks to my given and chosen family for shaping me into the person I am today.

PAIGE GILBERT Broadway: The Skin of Our Teeth, The Rose Tattoo. Off-Broadway: Demons (The Bushwick Starr) A Raisin In The Sun (The Public) School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play, BLKS (MCC); demons (Bushwick Starr) Street Children (New Ohio Theatre);Film: Late Night, Adam (independent). Choices. TV: "Russian Doll," "High Maintenance,' "The Deuce”. Education: BFA, SUNY Purchase.

JERRIE JOHNSON (She/They) is an Actress, Poet, Host, and Joy specialist from Philadelphia, PA. Johnson is a 2019 MFA graduate from the American Conservatory Theater. They played Titania in A Midsummer Nights Dream at CalShakes and starred in her self-written solo show The Crooked Room during the National Queer Arts Festival in Oakland. They have appeared on Good Trouble and is currently starring in Amazon Prime series called Harlem. They are also an advocate for fresh food accessibility in underserved neighborhoods, a spiritual advisor, and a wellness advocate. Follow their journey @theJerrieJohnson

STACIE BONO is honored to be creating art among such phenomenal talents. Most recently, Stacie originated the role of Sally Slaton in the Tony Award winning Broadway revival of Parade. Off Broadway: Pirelli & the Beggar Woman in the award-winnning, immersive production of Sweeney Todd; Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut in Avenue Q. 1st National Tour: original Ellen in the Miss Saigon revival. Some favorite regional credits: Marian in The Music Man at the Guthrie Theater; originated the role of Lucy in the world premiere of Sense & Sensibility the Musical at Denver Center; Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady at Flat Rock Playhouse, and Fantine in Les Miserables at Tuacahn. Stacie received her Masters in Acting from Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, and BFA from NYU (Tisch). Film/TV: Billions, Flight Attendant, When a Man Falls. Thank you Douglas Lyons for this opportunity.

Website: https://www.staciebono.com Instagram:@stacie_bono

BEN CRAWFORD is excited and grateful to be a part of INVISIBLE at the In The Woods Festival! Credits include Phantom of the Opera, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, On the Twentieth Century, Big Fish, Shrek the Musical, & Les Miserables. Ben-Crawford.com, @crawdady21

MATRELL SMITH is an actor from Birmingham, AL. He was standout basketball player in the state of Alabama before shifting to an acting career. He graduate from Stillman College with a B.A. in Journalism as well as obtaining his A.A. & A.S. from Wallace-Selma Community College. Upcoming: “The Piano Lesson” directed by Malcolm Washington, produced by Denzel Washington and Todd Black (Netflix). Smith's most recent work includes "The Equalizer" opposite of Queen Latifah, "MindReader" and Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) official selected short film, "Why Tomorrow Never Comes."