WHERE HAVE THEY GONE
Reading of a new play in development
Post performance Q&A with the creative team follows the reading.
Written by: Tiffany Oglesby
Directed by: Kila Kitu
Skylight LIVE Producer: Tyree Marshall - Skylight Artistic Associate
THE STORY: For the past five years, seventeen year old Norelle and her mother Gwendolyn have found refuge in a land created for black women that seek to escape the trauma of tragically losing the men in their lives. As her eighteen birthday approaches, Norelle must decide whether to permanently stay or leave the only family she has left and create a new life of her own..
Actors: Austin Jaye, Kila Kitu, Tamika Simpkins, Jelesia Smith, Danielle Young
Stage Directions: Taylor Hawthorne
Tuesday, July 27, 8:00pm PT
Free
Advance Reservations required
RESERVE YOUR EVENT(S)
- Post performance Q&A with the creative team follows the live reading
Recording remains available through Aug 3 with viewing reservation.
Please consider supporting Skylight's Outreach and Artistic Programs with a donation.
Tiffany Oglesby (Playwright) is an actor and writer originally from Atlanta, Georgia and is currently living in Los Angeles. She received her BFA in Performing Arts from The Savannah College of Art and Design and an MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. Tiffany's writing has been featured in places and events including: The Athena Festival (Idle Muse Theatre), New Colony Theatre, The Black Monologues (Victory Gardens Theatre), The Quarantine Diaries, Support Black Theatre, and Towne Street Theatre where she recently became a new company member. Recent Theatre credits include: Byhalia, Mississippi (B Street Theatre), Flyin' West(American Blues Theatre), and The Light (New Colony Theatre). TV credits include: Empire, The Chi, Chicago Med.
Kila Kitu (director / actor) is a critically-acclaimed actor as well as a director, author, producer and audiobook narrator dedicated to bringing to life stories reflecting our global spectrum. Kila has created multi-cultural/multi-language productions of Shakespeare, the NAACP-nominated Black Women: State of the Union and the Kids of Color series for young readers. As well as a fervent believer in dance breaks, Kila is an aspiring Daughter of Octavia.
Austen Jaye (actor). His previous credits includes the Stella Adler Theater west coast premiere of The Good Negro and Milton Katselas Theater in Black Women State of the Union. Austen’s numerous television credits include CBS’s Bold & the Beautiful, Back in the Game (ABC), Angie Tribeca (TBS), RoomieLoverFriends and Hello Cupid (BET). Austen is currently living in Los Angeles.
Tamika Simpkins (actor) is Philadelphia-born and has shared her acting talents in front of the camera on hit TV shows such as Southland, Shameless, The Wire, and The Shield. She holds a double major Bachelor of Science degree in Computer and Information Science, and African-American Studies. Her recent credits/projects include NCIS, AMC’s Dispatches From Elsewhere and several upcoming video game titles. Honing her craft working in front of the camera, Tamika has also worked behind the camera as she has written, produced, and edited several independent film projects.
Jelesia "Jiggy" Smith (actor) performed at the 2019 International Short Film Festival, appeared in short Film “Help me” with The Acting Club of Atlanta, and theater productions of Home, For Colored Girls, and The Gospel at Colonus. Jelesia has Bachelor of Arts in Communications, minor in Theater from Savannah State University. A native of Atlanta, GA Jelesia now lives in Los Angeles, CA to further pursue her acting career. She states “I am elated for this opportunity to work with Skylight Theater!"
Danielle Young (actor) is a Detroit born artist in search of truth in all of its forms. Inquisitive and energetic since birth, Danielle began performing publicly with Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and is soon to graduate with a BA in theatre from Pomona College. Recent credits include: Rey in "Daphne's Dive" (Pomona College) and Frances Leonard in "Maternal Negligence" (UCI). Danielle loves being silly and playing characters that frequent emotional extremes. When not entrenched in the arts, Danielle can be found brewing kombucha, growing vegetables, and biking through a city near you.
Live Stream Director: Seth Dorcey
Skylight Live Music by: Michael Teoli
Skylight Live – Spotlight on Change 2021 offers entertainment that invites understanding, fresh beginnings, and opportunities to grow while helping others.
The online series is designed to bring people together and create connection while we're living lives distanced and apart. Please visit our partner organization's websites to learn more about who they are and what they do.
Skylight Theatre's Artistic Development Programs are supported in part by grants from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.
We thank them for their unwavering support for the performing arts and artists.
Tuesday, July 27, 8:00pm PT
Free
Advance Reservations required
RESERVE YOUR EVENT(S)
- Post performance Q&A with the creative team follows the live reading
Recording remains available through Aug 3 with viewing reservation.
Please consider supporting Skylight's Outreach and Artistic Programs with a donation.
Tiffany Oglesby (Playwright) is an actor and writer originally from Atlanta, Georgia and is currently living in Los Angeles. She received her BFA in Performing Arts from The Savannah College of Art and Design and an MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. Tiffany's writing has been featured in places and events including: The Athena Festival (Idle Muse Theatre), New Colony Theatre, The Black Monologues (Victory Gardens Theatre), The Quarantine Diaries, Support Black Theatre, and Towne Street Theatre where she recently became a new company member. Recent Theatre credits include: Byhalia, Mississippi (B Street Theatre), Flyin' West(American Blues Theatre), and The Light (New Colony Theatre). TV credits include: Empire, The Chi, Chicago Med.
Kila Kitu (director / actor) is a critically-acclaimed actor as well as a director, author, producer and audiobook narrator dedicated to bringing to life stories reflecting our global spectrum. Kila has created multi-cultural/multi-language productions of Shakespeare, the NAACP-nominated Black Women: State of the Union and the Kids of Color series for young readers. As well as a fervent believer in dance breaks, Kila is an aspiring Daughter of Octavia.
Austen Jaye (actor). His previous credits includes the Stella Adler Theater west coast premiere of The Good Negro and Milton Katselas Theater in Black Women State of the Union. Austen’s numerous television credits include CBS’s Bold & the Beautiful, Back in the Game (ABC), Angie Tribeca (TBS), RoomieLoverFriends and Hello Cupid (BET). Austen is currently living in Los Angeles.
Tamika Simpkins (actor) is Philadelphia-born and has shared her acting talents in front of the camera on hit TV shows such as Southland, Shameless, The Wire, and The Shield. She holds a double major Bachelor of Science degree in Computer and Information Science, and African-American Studies. Her recent credits/projects include NCIS, AMC’s Dispatches From Elsewhere and several upcoming video game titles. Honing her craft working in front of the camera, Tamika has also worked behind the camera as she has written, produced, and edited several independent film projects.
Jelesia "Jiggy" Smith (actor) performed at the 2019 International Short Film Festival, appeared in short Film “Help me” with The Acting Club of Atlanta, and theater productions of Home, For Colored Girls, and The Gospel at Colonus. Jelesia has Bachelor of Arts in Communications, minor in Theater from Savannah State University. A native of Atlanta, GA Jelesia now lives in Los Angeles, CA to further pursue her acting career. She states “I am elated for this opportunity to work with Skylight Theater!"
Danielle Young (actor) is a Detroit born artist in search of truth in all of its forms. Inquisitive and energetic since birth, Danielle began performing publicly with Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and is soon to graduate with a BA in theatre from Pomona College. Recent credits include: Rey in "Daphne's Dive" (Pomona College) and Frances Leonard in "Maternal Negligence" (UCI). Danielle loves being silly and playing characters that frequent emotional extremes. When not entrenched in the arts, Danielle can be found brewing kombucha, growing vegetables, and biking through a city near you.
Live Stream Director: Seth Dorcey
Skylight Live Music by: Michael Teoli
Skylight Live – Spotlight on Change 2021 offers entertainment that invites understanding, fresh beginnings, and opportunities to grow while helping others.
The online series is designed to bring people together and create connection while we're living lives distanced and apart. Please visit our partner organization's websites to learn more about who they are and what they do.
Skylight Theatre's Artistic Development Programs are supported in part by grants from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.
We thank them for their unwavering support for the performing arts and artists.
