EP 8 "Changing Direction" ft Charles Randolph Wright, Warren Adams, and Zhailon Levingston.

This episode features Matthew Johnson Harris, Charles Randolph Wright, Warren Adams, and Zhailon Levingston. 4 Different black directors from 4 different generations. In this conversation the candidly discuss their individual journeys navigating their careers. Nothing is off the table from DEI, deliberate storytelling, and the obstacles marginalized communities face in this industry.

EPISODE CREDITS
Creator, Host, & Executive Producer: Matthew Johnson Harris
Producer, DP, & Editor: Peter Olsen
Director: Josh Apter
Camera Op/Lighting: Mateusz Broughton
Audio Recordist: Richard Gin
Stage Management: Valerie Mark
Scenic Design & Technical Support: Joshua Heller
Production Assistant: Jessica Luster
Producer: Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis
Producer: Rabbi Joshua Stanton

Special thanks to Fellowship in Prayer for the grant to create this programming, and Middle Church for being the inspiration and home for this project.

Charles Randolph-Wright was born in South Carolina, graduated from Duke University, and began his career as a performer. He made his Broadway debut in the original cast of Dreamgirls in 1981. His many directing credits include Motown: The Musical on Broadway and the West End. He is also a playwright, directs and produces for television and film, and serves on Roundabout’s Board of Directors.

Matthew Johnson Harris is a director, choreographer, developer, and performer. His favorite credits include choreographing the Broadway Bound The Preacher's Wife Musical and Take Me To The World - A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim at Carnegie Hall. He previously served on the directing teams for the Tony Nominated Play Hangmen, Tony Winning Musical Revival of Parade, and The Broadway Bound Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical. He is a core instructor at the prestigious Alvin Ailey Extension. In 2016, Matthew founded The Mosaic Project in collaboration with Middle Church, which raises money for different nonprofits that support marginalized groups and promotes interfaith through concerts and productions starring broadway performers. Under his direction there have been 13 productions, featuring 100+ Broadway Performers, and over $100,000 raised. Matthew also is the creator and host of The Art & Soul Podcast that explores the intersection of making art and spirituality. He aspires to tell stories that celebrate individual identity while simultaneously creating more intersectionality.

Warren Adams is an Award Winning, South African born Artist living in New York City. He is the Co-Founder of Artistic Director of the B Theatre Coalition. Past projects include: MOTOWN THE MUSICAL (Broadway, US Tours, West End), Brandon Victor Dixon’s AMERICAN SONG BOOK at LINCOLN CENTER (Director), AFRICA STRAIGHT UP (Director), and Off-Broadway play ALL THE NATALIE PORTMANS, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, OROONOKO and RUINED (Choreographer). Other notable credits include the opera MAGDALENA in Paris at the Theatre Du Chatelet, Disney’s TOY STORY THE MUSICAL and Nora Ephron’s last film JULIE AND JULIA. Warren co-founded the production company WalkRunFly and co-produced HEDWIG and OF MICE AND MEN on Broadway. Adams has served as an Adjunct Professor at both Princeton University and NYU in the drama departments. 

Zhailon Levingston is a Louisiana-raised storyteller, director, and activist. He is a Board Member for the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, which 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. His directing credits include: Neptune (Dixon Place, Brooklyn Museum), The Years That Went Wrong (Lark, MCC), The Exonerated (Columbia Law School), Chariot Part 2 (Soho Rep., for The Movement Theatre Company), Mother of Pearl (LaGuardia Performing Arts Center). He is the associate director of Primer for a Failed Superpower with Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin, and Runaways at The Public Theater with Sam Pinkleton. Most recently, he directed Cats - The Jellicle Ball at PAC. In 2021, he directed Chicken & Biscuits which premiered on Broadway and Patience which premiered at Second Stage UPTOWN Summer of 2022. Zhailon is also the former resident director at Tina: The Tina Turner Musical on Broadway and the associate director of Hadestown in South Korea.