Court Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, is proud to present East Texas Hot Links. Court kicks off the 2024/25 season with Eugene Lee’s suspenseful and remarkable work of lyricism, directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. This production will run September 6 – September 29, 2024 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. The press opening is Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 7:30pm.
The cast of East Texas Hot Links includes Willie B. (Adolph); David Dowd (Delmus Green); Juwan Lockett (XL Dancer); Kelvin Roston Jr. (Roy Moore); A.C. Smith (Boochie Reed); Geno Walker (Buckshot); AnJi White (Charlesetta Simpkins); and Alfred H. Wilson (Columbus Frye).
The creative team includes Jack Magaw (scenic design); Christine Pascual and Janice Pytel (costume design); Jason Lynch (lighting design); Andre Pleuss (sound design); Kamesha Khan (production dramaturg); Becca McCracken (casting director); Jaclynn Joslin (production stage manager); and Kate Ocker (assistant stage manager).
Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, East Texas Hot Links is simultaneously a gripping character study, a lyrical masterpiece, and a juggernaut of suspense. It is 1955 in the piney woods of East Texas and racial tensions are high, yet the Top O’ the Hill Café remains a haven. There, regulars share stories, joke, unwind, and trade friendly barbs. The café is a refuge that keeps the outside world at bay, until a mysterious omen forces the outside in.
Court’s 2024/25 season opener is a tribute to Resident Artist and Director Ron OJ Parson’s (Two Trains Running) first production in Chicago, his deep collaboration with playwright Eugene Lee, and the founding of Onyx Theatre Ensemble, the storied theatre company that first produced East Texas Hot Links in Chicago thirty years ago. By returning to Top O’ the Hill Café decades later, Parson asserts East Texas’s place in the modern theatrical canon and honors the legacy of Onyx.
“East Texas Hot Links was my inaugural production in Chicago upon my arrival from the Big Apple,” shares Director and Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. “It was also the first production of Onyx Theatre Ensemble, co-founded by myself and actor Alfred H. Wilson in 1994. Even though 30 years have passed since that Onyx production, this play has everlasting relevance. Filled with love, humor, passion, and suspense – with the rhythm, timing, and lyricism reminiscent of the poetry of August Wilson – East Texas Hot Links will have you on the edge of your seat."
Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre shares, “We could not be prouder for Ron to open the 2024/25 season with East Texas Hot Links. This play first resonated with him as a young artist with Onyx Theatre Ensemble, when he was building a creative home. Thirty years later, he’s since established that home at Court and gone on to become one of the most celebrated directors in the city. That richness of experience is unmatched, and the chance to return to East Texas thirty years later - to see it with new eyes - is particularly special. We can’t wait to share this homecoming with our audiences."
Single tickets and subscription packages including this production are on sale now. Tickets and subscriptions can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (773) 753-4472 or online at CourtTheatre.org.
East Texas Hot Links is sponsored by Allstate Insurance Company and Ron OJ Parson’s residency is made possible by the Joyce Foundation. East Texas Hot Links is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com.
About the Artists
EUGENE LEE (Playwright) has appeared in over 200 television movies and series, including The Women of Brewster Place with Oprah Winfrey; Dallas; Good Times; NYPD Blue; MacGyver; and most recently, in episodes of Homeland, among many others. In 2019, Lee appeared in the Broadway production of American Son. Also, in 2019, he won the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play (Two Trains Running, Arena Stage). Mr. Lee’s plays include East Texas Hot Links, Fear Itself, Somebody Called: A Tale of Two Preachers, Killingsworth, Lyin’ Ass, and the musical Twist. Lee is Artist-in-Residence and Artistic Director of the Black and Latino Playwrights Celebration at Texas State University, where he is also a designated Distinguished Alumnus. An anthology, Truth Be Told: The Collected Plays by Eugene Lee, is forthcoming from BTIT Publishing in the fall of 2024 and will be available for purchase on Amazon.com and several sites. Seeking literary rep. www.eugeneleeonline.com.
RON OJ PARSON (Director) hails from Buffalo, New York and is a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Professional Theatre Program. He is a resident artist at the Tony Award-winning Court Theatre, and co-founder and former Artistic Director of Onyx Theatre Ensemble. Recent directing credits include The Lion in Winter, Arsenic and Old Lace, and Two Trains Running at Court Theatre; Toni Stone at Goodman; Trouble in Mind at TimeLine; Relentless, with both TimeLine and Goodman; and The Reclamation of Madison Hemings at Indiana Repertory Theatre. In Canada, Ron directed the world premiere of Palmer Park, by Joanna McClelland Glass, at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Ron received a 3Arts Make a Wave grant in 2021, the 2022 Zelda Fichandler Award, a University of Chicago Diversity Award, many Jeff Awards and Black Theatre Alliance Awards, the LA NAACP Award for Jitney, he is a Joyce Foundation grantee, and he was named Chicagoan of the Year for Theater by the Chicago Tribune. Ron is a proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA, and SDC. www.ronojparson.net.
WILLIE B. (Adolph) is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, where he started his acting career at the Karamu House Theatre. Credits include: Jitney, Elmina’s Kitchen, Before It Hits Home, and A Soldier’s Story (Congo Square Theatre Company); Wendall Greene, The Horn, and “Master Harold” …and the Boys (Steppenwolf Theatre); East Texas Hot Links and Sty of the Blind Pig (Onyx Theatre Ensemble); The State of Mississippi vs. Emmett Till (Pegasus Theatre); The Little Tommy Parker Celebrated Colored Minstrel Show (Chicago Theatre Company); East Texas Hot Links (Writers Theatre). TV credits include Angel Street, Early Edition, and Playboy Club. Films include Light It Up, Barbershop, and Dark.
DAVID DOWD (Delmus Green) is thrilled to return to Court Theatre for East Texas Hot Links. Recent theater credits include: Two Trains Running (u/s), The Lion in Winter (u/s) (Court Theatre); How Blood Go (Congo Square Theatre Company); and Phoebe in Winter (Facility Theatre). TV credits: Fargo, The Chi, and Chicago Fire. A visual artist and animator, his recent animation credits include: God’s Mouth (Walkabout Theater) and a host of still and animated works shared to his Instagram, @sockhead_the_ raptor.
JUWAN LOCKETT (XL Dancer) is excited to return to Court Theatre for this production of East Texas Hot Links! Previous theater credits include: Antigone (Court Theatre); Not About Nightingales (Raven Theatre); Black and Blue (MPAACT). TV credits include: The Bear, South Side, and Fargo. A Kansas City, MO native, Juwan is a multi-faceted artist who makes music under the moniker ANAMLI (pronounced “anomaly”). Juwan is currently represented by Lily’s Talent Agency. Enjoy the show and remember to #StealJoyOften (Instagram:@juwantheactor / @anamlimusic). James 1:2-4.
KELVIN ROSTON JR. (Roy Moore) is excited to be back at Court! Court credits: Stokely: The Unfinished Revolution (Adolphus Carmichael/Ensemble), The Gospel at Colonus (Oedipus), Oedipus Rex (Oedipus), King Hedley II (King Hedley), Five Guys Named Moe (Four-Eyed Moe), and many others. Recent credits include: August Wilson’s Fences (Trinity Repertory Company); Clue (Mercury Theater); The Color Purple (MSMT); The Wiz (Fulton Theatre). Chicagoland: Congo Square, Paramount, Marriott, Goodman, ITC, eta, Writers, Black Ensemble, TimeLine, Northlight, Steppenwolf. International: Orb (Tokyo, Japan); Festival Hall (Osaka, Japan). Television: Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., South Side. Film: Get a Job, Princess Cyd, Breathing Room. Awards: Jeff Award, three BTAA Awards, two Black Excellence Awards, NAMI Award. AEA, represented by Paonessa Talent (CHI) and Michael Moore Agency (NY).
A.C. SMITH (Boochie Reed) was last seen at Court in Arsenic and Old Lace. Also at Court: Two Trains Running, King Hedley II (Jeff Award—Performer in a Supporting Role), Harvey, Gem of the Ocean, Waiting for Godot, The Misanthrope, Tartuffe, Jitney, Invisible Man, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, and Fences (Jeff Award—Performer in a Principal Role). A native of Chicago, Smith has performed at Victory Gardens, TimeLine, Writers, Steppenwolf, Goodman, Second City, and Chicago Shakespeare. Regional: Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Portland Stage, Geva Theatre Center, Milwaukee Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and The Black Rep, where he has been a company member for 18 years (nine-time Woodie King, Jr. Award-winner). In addition, A.C. has done film, television, radio, commercials, and voice-overs, and he has appeared in Ebony and Jet magazines. He is represented by Paonessa Talent Agency.
GENO WALKER (Buckshot) made his Court Theatre debut in Blues for an Alabama Sky. Raised on the South Side of Chicago, Geno attended Kenwood Academy. A graduate of Oberlin College and a Bob Curry Fellow with Second City Chicago, Geno is represented by Gray Talent Group.
ANJI WHITE (Charlesetta Simpkins) hails from the South Side of Chicago. AnJi gives all praise to God for constantly guiding her throughout her career. White is beyond grateful to be welcomed back to Court Theatre working alongside an amazing cast, crew, and the wonderful director Ron OJ. She last appeared in For Colored Girls at Court Theatre, which won the Jeff Award for Best Ensemble. Other Chicago credits include Sunset Baby (Black Theatre Alliance Award—Best Actress, TimeLine Theatre), Skeleton Crew (Northlight Theatre), American Theater Company’s docudrama of the world premiere of The Project(s), and more. Selected TV/film credits include Chicago Med, The Chi, 61st Street, Fargo, and more. White will appear as a series regular in Marvel’s Ironheart, premiering in 2025. Matthew 6:33. Represented by Paonessa Talent.
ALFRED H. WILSON (Columbus Frye) is excited to return to Court Theatre. Previous roles at Court include Holloway (Two Trains Running), Chorus (Agamemnon), Solly Two Kings (Gem of the Ocean), Estrogon (Waiting for Godot), Fielding (Jitney), Toledo (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), and Wining Boy (The Piano Lesson). Directing credits include Mister James & Mister Jeff. Other select roles include Cutler (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), Columbus (East Texas Hot Links) at Writers Theatre; Oldest Old Man (Father Comes Home from the Wars, Parts 1, 2, & 3) at Goodman; Becker (Jitney) at Westcoast Black Theatre; Travis (The Etiquette of Vigilance) at Steppenwolf; Holloway (Two Trains Running) at Geva Theatre; Sam (“Master Harold”…and the Boys) at TimeLine; Memphis Lee (Two Trains Running) at Pegasus Theatre (Jeff Award—Actor in a Principal Role). He is a co-founder of Onyx Theatre Ensemble and was formerly on staff at Goodman Theatre and Victory Gardens Theater.
Fact Sheet / East Texas Hot Links
Title: East Texas Hot Links
By: Eugene Lee
Directed by: Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson
Featuring: Willie B. (Adolph); David Dowd (Delmus Green); Juwan Lockett (XL Dancer); Kelvin Roston Jr. (Roy Moore); A.C. Smith (Boochie Reed); Geno Walker (Buckshot); AnJi White (Charlesetta Simpkins); and Alfred H. Wilson (Columbus Frye).
Creatives: Jack Magaw (scenic design); Christine Pascual and Janice Pytel (costume design); Jason Lynch (lighting design); Andre Pleuss (sound design); Kamesha Khan (production dramaturg); Becca McCracken (casting director); Jaclynn Joslin (production stage manager); and Kate Ocker (assistant stage manager).
Dates:
Previews: September 6 – 13, 2024
Press Opening: September 14, 2024 at 7:30pm
Regular Run: September 15 – 29, 2024
Schedule:
Wed/Thurs/Fri: 7:30 p.m.
Sat/Sun: 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Accessible Performances:
Touch Tour on September 28, 2024 at 12:30pm
Audio Description and ASL Interpretation on September 28, 2024 at 2:00pm
Open Captioning on September 29, 2024 at 2:00pm
Location: Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.
Tickets:
$42.00 – $72.00 Previews
$58.00 –$90.00 Regular Run
Student, group, and military discounts available
Box Office: Located at 5535 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago; (773) 753-4472 or www.CourtTheatre.org.
Winner of the 2022 Regional Theatre Tony Award, Court Theatre reimagines classic theatre to illuminate our current times. In residence at the University of Chicago and on Chicago’s historic South Side, we engage our audiences with intimate and provocative experiences that inspire deeper exploration of the enduring questions that confront humanity and connect us as people.