The first installment in the Consequences series, Asè examines racial sensitivity in the workplace during the Trump era, in the midst of the 2020 election. It focuses on the tension that builds between a white executive and her black assistant, and how "diversity trainings" are being used as a cure-all fix rather than to address deeper systemic challenges and racial injustices.
WAYS TO WATCH:
YouTube
Written by York Walker
Directed by Zhailon Levingston
Cast (in order of appearance):
Terri - Karen Obilom
Karen - Wendy Rosoff
Bonnie - Jenny Mercein
Clint - Justin Sams
Dr. Amethyst Wright - Chandra Lee Breslow
Videography and Editing: Neville Braithwaite
Sound Design: Gabby Henderson
York Walker
York Walker is an award-winning writer based in Harlem, New York. He is the inaugural recipient of the Vineyard Theatre's Colman Domingo Award where he is currently an artist in residence. He is also a member of Marcus Gardley's New Wave Writer's Workshop. His work includes The Séance (Winner of the John Singleton Short Film Competition, 48 Hours… in Harlem), Covenant (Fire This Time Festival, Access Theatre’s 4 Flights Up Festival), White Shoes (Fire This Time Festival), Summer Of ’63 (The Actors Company Theatre’s New TACTics Festival, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville’s Apprentice Reading Series) and Of Dreams To Come (American Conservatory Theatre’s New Work Series). York received his MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.
Zhailon Levingston
Zhailon Levingston is a Louisiana raised storyteller director and activist. He is a Board Member and Creative Director for the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, where he co created and teaches the Theatre of Change course at Columbia University. He is a Music Mentor Fellow and has done work with Idina Menzel’s A Broader Way Foundation.
DIRECTING CREDITS INCLUDE: ”NEPTUNE” AT DIXON PLACE AND THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM,“THE YEARS THAT WENT WRONG” AT THE LARK AND MCC. THE EXONERATED" AT COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL. “CHARIOT PART 2” AT SOHO REP FOR THE MOVEMENT THEATRE COMPANY. “MOTHER OF PEARL” AT LAGUARDIA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. HE IS THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR "PRIMER FOR A FAILED SUPER POWER" WITH TONY AWARD WINNER RACHEL CHAVKIN AND “RUNAWAYS” AT THE PUBLIC WITH SAM PINKLETON. MOST RECENTLY HE DIRECTED “CHICKEN AND BISCUITS” AT QUEENS THEATRE. ZHAILON IS THE RESIDENT DIRECTOR AT TINA:THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL ON BROADWAY.
Karen Obilom
Karen Obilom was born in Austin, Texas to Nigerian immigrants. She has five brothers and sisters. She got her start in acting in the first grade, but didn't gain confidence in it until highschool, where she booked her first lead role in A Mid-Summer Night's Dream. After that, she hit the ground running. After highschool, she received a Fine Arts conservatory certificate in Los Angeles. She slowly found her footing in the industry, and finally she booked a series regular in Games People Play, on BET, along with many other shows. She recently booked her first film. It is currently untitled ("Untitled Alicia Keyes Project'') and will be premiering on Netflix, later this year.
Wendy Rosoff
Wendy Rosoff: Broadway/NYC: Tony Award winning revival of 42nd St, A Christmas Carol, My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies at Carnegie Hall. Other select favorites: White Christmas at The Orpheum in San Fran, Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Mrs. Claus), Falsettos (Cordelia) at Third St. Theatre, Disenchanted (Belle) at the El Portal Theatre, Best of The Fest at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with 30 Minute Musicals, and four seasons as a guest artist at the multi-award winning Transcendence Theatre Company in Sonoma, CA. Favorite TV credits include: Rutherford Falls (Peacock), Fresh Off The Boat (ABC), VEEP (HBO), The Good Place, Criminal Minds (CBS), Shameless (Showtime), Scorpion (CBS), Castle (ABC), and the ill-fated pilot, Good Behavior (ABC). Proud member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA, AGVA and the Musical Theatre Guild in LA. www.wendyrosoff.com.
Jenny Mercein
Jenny Mercein is an actor, teacher, director, producer and writer currently living in New Orleans, where she an Assistant Professor and Head of Undergraduate Acting at Tulane University. Most recently, Jenny produced REFRAMED 2020: A Festival of Short Plays on Social Justice for Tulane. She is a proud producer of Roleplay, a live theatre performance and documentary film project exploring student perspectives on love, sex, power, and consent. Acting credits include “Your Honor,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” "30 Rock," "Blue Bloods," "Unforgettable," "Law & Order" and extensive theater credits spanning the country. For more information, visit www.jennymercein.com.
Justin Sams
Justin Sams initially established himself as a drag performer at iconic downtown New York venues like Joe’s Pub, Webster Hall, and The Box, before transitioning into film and television. Favorite credits include: When We Rise (ABC) Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger (Freeform), The Last OG (TBS) The Deuce (HBO), Deadman’s Barstool (Amazon Prime), King of Knives (Amazon Prime).
Chandra Lee Schwartz (Breslow)
Chandra Lee Schwartz (Breslow) is a stage actress and singer known for her role as Glinda in the Broadway and National Touring productions of the musical Wicked. She also appeared on the National Tour and Broadway productions of Hairspray and in the 2003 Broadway revival of Gypsy. She has appeared in many theatre productions, TV spots, and commercials in New York City and around the country. Chandra taught theatre for many years and is currently working toward her degree in psychology.