PROGRAM 1ST HALF
WELCOME
Master of Ceremonies
Mr. Roderick Emanuel, Former Superintendent Bastrop ISD
Vice Chairman, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors
Bastrop Community Singers and Sister Moses Choral Ensemble
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing (Black National Anthem)
Lyrics: James Weldon Johnson
Music Composition: J. Rosamond Johnson
Music Director: Deborah Malone Sargeant
Accompanist: Barbara Clemons
Performers:
Desert Dance Theatre
Strange Fruit (2016)
Choreography and Costume: Lisa R. Chow
Poem: Abel Meeropol a.k.a. Lewis Allan
Music Composition: Abel Meeropol, Anne Shaffer, Laura Duncan
Singer: Billie Holiday
Dancer: Renee Davis
“Strange Fruit” was written as a protest march poem/song by Abel Meeropol under the pen name Lewis Allan, published in 1937. It was recorded and made famous by Billie Holiday in 1939.
Poetry Tribute to Harriet Tubman
Farewell
Poem: “No Stuff” written by Eloise Greenfield
Performer: Cynee' McIntyre
Ballet East Dance Theatre
Freedom Calling
Choreography and Costume: Juan Pablo Flores
Music Composition: “Stand Up” from HARRIET movie soundtrack. Performed & Co-written by Cynthia Erivo & Joshuah Brian Campbell with production by Will Wells. Released by Back Lot Music in 2019.
Dancer: Candis Harris
“Freedom Calling” was created in 2024 for Texas debut of the “Harriet Tubman: Journey to Freedom” traveling sculpture exhibition in Bastrop.
Bastrop Community Singers and Sister Moses Choral Ensemble
Songs of Freedom
Music Selections and Arrangements by Deborah Malone Sargeant: (List songs?)
Music Director: Deborah Malone Sargeant
Accompanist: Barbara Clemons
Performers:
Master of Ceremonies
Mr. Roderick Emanuel, Former Superintendent Bastrop ISD
Vice Chairman, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors
Bastrop Community Singers and Sister Moses Choral Ensemble
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing (Black National Anthem)
Lyrics: James Weldon Johnson
Music Composition: J. Rosamond Johnson
Music Director: Deborah Malone Sargeant
Accompanist: Barbara Clemons
Performers:
Desert Dance Theatre
Strange Fruit (2016)
Choreography and Costume: Lisa R. Chow
Poem: Abel Meeropol a.k.a. Lewis Allan
Music Composition: Abel Meeropol, Anne Shaffer, Laura Duncan
Singer: Billie Holiday
Dancer: Renee Davis
“Strange Fruit” was written as a protest march poem/song by Abel Meeropol under the pen name Lewis Allan, published in 1937. It was recorded and made famous by Billie Holiday in 1939.
Poetry Tribute to Harriet Tubman
Farewell
Poem: “No Stuff” written by Eloise Greenfield
Performer: Cynee' McIntyre
Ballet East Dance Theatre
Freedom Calling
Choreography and Costume: Juan Pablo Flores
Music Composition: “Stand Up” from HARRIET movie soundtrack. Performed & Co-written by Cynthia Erivo & Joshuah Brian Campbell with production by Will Wells. Released by Back Lot Music in 2019.
Dancer: Candis Harris
“Freedom Calling” was created in 2024 for Texas debut of the “Harriet Tubman: Journey to Freedom” traveling sculpture exhibition in Bastrop.
Bastrop Community Singers and Sister Moses Choral Ensemble
Songs of Freedom
Music Selections and Arrangements by Deborah Malone Sargeant: (List songs?)
Music Director: Deborah Malone Sargeant
Accompanist: Barbara Clemons
Performers:
INTERMISSION
PROGRAM 2ND HALF
SISTER MOSES: THE STORY OF HARRIET TUBMAN
Desert Dance Theatre’s artistic directors, Marion Kirk Jones, Renee Davis and Lisa R. Chow created Sister Moses, along with music director, John D. Anthony. The concept and much of the work was researched collaboratively with the help of Susan Smith, director of String Sounds (quartet). The script is embellished with traditional spirituals, slave songs and other music of that time around the Civil War Era.
Since the production’s premiere at the Herberger Theater Center in January of 1993, Sister Moses has been performed in various sold out venues throughout the Phoenix area including: Chandler Center for the Arts, ASU Gammage Auditorium, Paradise Valley Community College, Scottsdale Center for the Arts, South Mountain Community College. and at several high schools. The company’s out of state performances include venues in Las Vegas, Nevada; Austin, Texas; Brattleboro, Vermont; and Havana, Cuba. Over 100,000 audience members of all ages have enjoyed the experience of Sister Moses.
This powerful dance drama features Desert Dance Theatre with Renee Davis as Harriet Tubman, dramatic narration by Renee Morgan Brooks, African drumming and music direction by Step Raptis, and traditional spirituals sung by the Sister Moses Choral Ensemble, featuring bass soloist, Greg Dansby. The unique blend of this multidisciplinary presentation highlights the most important episodes of Harriet Tubman’s life with the goal of bringing inspiration to all.
PROGRAM ORDER OF SCENES & SONGS
PRELUDE
“Go Down Moses”
THE WAY IT WAS
“I Want Jesus To Walk With Me”
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart “Eine Kleine Nacht Musik”
Slave Rhymes: “Who’s Goin’ to th’ Ball?” “Massa Sleeps on a Featha Bed”
COTTON PICKIN’
“Oh Lordy, Pick A Bale of Cotton” “Another Man Done Gone”
THE AUCTION
“Bid ‘em Up!”
DREAMS OF FREEDOM & THE VISION
“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” “No More Auction Block”
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
“Behold That Star” “Oh, Freedom” “Can’t You Hear?”
CROSSING THE LINE
“Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child”
SECRET GATHERINGS
“Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray” “Guide My Feet”
ESCAPE
“Steal Away” “Oh, Freedom” “Can’t You Hear?”
FINALE
“Ain’t Got Time To Die”
CREDITS
Concept: Susan Smith
Script: Renee Davis, Marion Kirk Jones and John D. Anthony
Choreographers: Lisa R. Chow, Renee Davis, Marion Kirk Jones
Music Concept/Design: John D. Anthony
Music Director/Singer/Percussionist: Step Raptis
Artistic Director/Production Coordinator/Rehearsal Director: Lisa R. Chow
Austin-Bastrop Cast Rehearsal Assistant Director: Renee Davis
Production Assistant/Consultant: Deborah Malone Sargeant
Costumes: Lisa R. Chow, Renee Davis, Pam “Gazelle” Robertson
Technical Director/Lighting Designer/Stage Manager: Stacey Walston
JFW PAC Theater Staff, Technicians & Crew:
Performing Arts Center Manager - Jacob Layton
Assistant Performing Arts Center Manager - Bradley Wilbourn
PAC Administrative Assistant - Andrea Ramirez
Technical Assistant - Sarah Cadena
Student Production Staff graciously provided by Colorado River Collegiate Academy, Bastrop High School, and Cedar Creek High School.
THE CAST
Harriet Tubman: Renee Davis Understudy: Daniele Spivey-Sorrells*
Narrator, Voice of Harriet & Vocalist: Renee Morgan Brooks
Adult Slave Cast: Lisa R. Chow, Aquil Joel Hameed, Candis N. Harris*, Danielle McNeal-Strabala, Daniele Spivey-Sorrells*
Overseer: Matthew Nathaniel Mendez
Plantation/Ballroom: Angela Benz*, Bridgette Caron Borzillo, Katie Mae Hebert*, Gracie Larson, Matthew Nathaniel Mendez, Brandon Strabala, Michael Allan Tarver
Townspeople: Angela Benz*, Bridgette Caron Borzillo, Katie Mae Hebert*, Gracie Larson, Matthew Nathaniel Mendez, Brandon Strabala, Michael Allan Tarver, Teresa A Gonzalez*, Ziva Anjolie Munoz*
Youth Slave Cast: Jeremiah Brumley*, Cyneé McIntyre*, Mary Robinson*, Alay’iah Sudds*
Ladies in White: Angela Benz*, Bridgette Caron Borzillo, Katie Mae Hebert*, Gracie Larson, Teresa A Gonzalez*, Ziva Anjolie Munoz*
Quakers: Angela Benz*, Bridgette Caron Borzillo, Katie Mae Hebert*, Gracie Larson, Matthew Nathaniel Mendez, Michael Allan Tarver
Slave Hunters: Matthew Nathaniel Mendez, Brandon Strabala, Michael Allan Tarver
MUSICIANS & VOCALISTS
Percussion & Drums: Step Raptis
Sister Moses Choral Ensemble: Gloria Harrison Quinlan* (Soprano), Tazia L. Kennedy (Alto), Step Raptis (Tenor), Greg Dansby (Bass)
Bastrop Community Singers*: Yolanda Jeffries, Lia Elizabeth McEachron, Dianne Mills, Kay Revetta
* Austin-Bastrop Cast
Since the production’s premiere at the Herberger Theater Center in January of 1993, Sister Moses has been performed in various sold out venues throughout the Phoenix area including: Chandler Center for the Arts, ASU Gammage Auditorium, Paradise Valley Community College, Scottsdale Center for the Arts, South Mountain Community College. and at several high schools. The company’s out of state performances include venues in Las Vegas, Nevada; Austin, Texas; Brattleboro, Vermont; and Havana, Cuba. Over 100,000 audience members of all ages have enjoyed the experience of Sister Moses.
This powerful dance drama features Desert Dance Theatre with Renee Davis as Harriet Tubman, dramatic narration by Renee Morgan Brooks, African drumming and music direction by Step Raptis, and traditional spirituals sung by the Sister Moses Choral Ensemble, featuring bass soloist, Greg Dansby. The unique blend of this multidisciplinary presentation highlights the most important episodes of Harriet Tubman’s life with the goal of bringing inspiration to all.
PROGRAM ORDER OF SCENES & SONGS
PRELUDE
“Go Down Moses”
THE WAY IT WAS
“I Want Jesus To Walk With Me”
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart “Eine Kleine Nacht Musik”
Slave Rhymes: “Who’s Goin’ to th’ Ball?” “Massa Sleeps on a Featha Bed”
COTTON PICKIN’
“Oh Lordy, Pick A Bale of Cotton” “Another Man Done Gone”
THE AUCTION
“Bid ‘em Up!”
DREAMS OF FREEDOM & THE VISION
“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” “No More Auction Block”
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
“Behold That Star” “Oh, Freedom” “Can’t You Hear?”
CROSSING THE LINE
“Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child”
SECRET GATHERINGS
“Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray” “Guide My Feet”
ESCAPE
“Steal Away” “Oh, Freedom” “Can’t You Hear?”
FINALE
“Ain’t Got Time To Die”
CREDITS
Concept: Susan Smith
Script: Renee Davis, Marion Kirk Jones and John D. Anthony
Choreographers: Lisa R. Chow, Renee Davis, Marion Kirk Jones
Music Concept/Design: John D. Anthony
Music Director/Singer/Percussionist: Step Raptis
Artistic Director/Production Coordinator/Rehearsal Director: Lisa R. Chow
Austin-Bastrop Cast Rehearsal Assistant Director: Renee Davis
Production Assistant/Consultant: Deborah Malone Sargeant
Costumes: Lisa R. Chow, Renee Davis, Pam “Gazelle” Robertson
Technical Director/Lighting Designer/Stage Manager: Stacey Walston
JFW PAC Theater Staff, Technicians & Crew:
Performing Arts Center Manager - Jacob Layton
Assistant Performing Arts Center Manager - Bradley Wilbourn
PAC Administrative Assistant - Andrea Ramirez
Technical Assistant - Sarah Cadena
Student Production Staff graciously provided by Colorado River Collegiate Academy, Bastrop High School, and Cedar Creek High School.
THE CAST
Harriet Tubman: Renee Davis Understudy: Daniele Spivey-Sorrells*
Narrator, Voice of Harriet & Vocalist: Renee Morgan Brooks
Adult Slave Cast: Lisa R. Chow, Aquil Joel Hameed, Candis N. Harris*, Danielle McNeal-Strabala, Daniele Spivey-Sorrells*
Overseer: Matthew Nathaniel Mendez
Plantation/Ballroom: Angela Benz*, Bridgette Caron Borzillo, Katie Mae Hebert*, Gracie Larson, Matthew Nathaniel Mendez, Brandon Strabala, Michael Allan Tarver
Townspeople: Angela Benz*, Bridgette Caron Borzillo, Katie Mae Hebert*, Gracie Larson, Matthew Nathaniel Mendez, Brandon Strabala, Michael Allan Tarver, Teresa A Gonzalez*, Ziva Anjolie Munoz*
Youth Slave Cast: Jeremiah Brumley*, Cyneé McIntyre*, Mary Robinson*, Alay’iah Sudds*
Ladies in White: Angela Benz*, Bridgette Caron Borzillo, Katie Mae Hebert*, Gracie Larson, Teresa A Gonzalez*, Ziva Anjolie Munoz*
Quakers: Angela Benz*, Bridgette Caron Borzillo, Katie Mae Hebert*, Gracie Larson, Matthew Nathaniel Mendez, Michael Allan Tarver
Slave Hunters: Matthew Nathaniel Mendez, Brandon Strabala, Michael Allan Tarver
MUSICIANS & VOCALISTS
Percussion & Drums: Step Raptis
Sister Moses Choral Ensemble: Gloria Harrison Quinlan* (Soprano), Tazia L. Kennedy (Alto), Step Raptis (Tenor), Greg Dansby (Bass)
Bastrop Community Singers*: Yolanda Jeffries, Lia Elizabeth McEachron, Dianne Mills, Kay Revetta
* Austin-Bastrop Cast
