Congo Square Theatre Company is an ensemble dedicated to producing transformative work rooted in the African Diaspora. We are a haven for artists of color to challenge and redefine the theatrical canon by amplifying and creating stories that reflect the reach and complexities of Black Culture.

Transformative, African-Diaspora, amplifying, complexities, Black Culture are all words that anchor the artistic mission of Congo Square Theatre Company. At a time when anti-black violence continues to rise and the denial of the right to ‘BE’ as Black people is under attack, there was no question. We had to produce Aleshea Harris’s, What to Send Up When It Goes Down.

Too many of us have been taken–murdered by the violent actions of racist police practices and white supremacist ideas. We are continually bombarded by the hashtags of our loved ones senseless deaths, without ever having an intentional moment to mourn our collective loss.

We matter–in life and in death.

What to Send Up When It Goes Down celebrates this fact by forging a space for Black folk to come together as community to mourn, heal and celebrate our love and our strength.

We are living in unique times. The recent pandemic has shaken the foundation of this country, revealing the deep inequities among its citizens that we as African- Americans already knew existed. Social unrest around police violence on Black bodies and the conversation of institutionalized racism and white privilege are all flashpoints in the mainstream news.

We must not let these conversations fade. We must insist on action.

The clarion call is inevitably for peace, equity and freedom for us all, but not by sacrificing our right and responsibility to speak truth to power, by standing in our own. This theatrical ritual home-going celebration is our offering to the Chicago community written,created and produced specifically for Black people to remember our power, our love and our light.

Víctor Hugo is a freelance theatre collaborator who has worked with companies like Chicago Opera Theater, and The Lyric Repertory in Logan Utah. Earlier this year, he had the pleasure of stage managing a production of Hit the Wall by Ike Holter at his alma mater Northern Illinois University. His previous roles have ranged from properties designer, assistant scenic designer, scenic painter and assistant director. He is grateful he gets to be a part of this powerful production, and work with this group of talented artists.

Estrellita Beatriz, who uses the pronouns starr, e, bea, or anything non-gendered offered gingerly, is a poly-disciplinary artistic facilitator, doula, educator, and change shaper. E started stage managing storefront theatres in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as a junior in high school. Twelve years later, starr has facilitated over 200 theatrical productions as production manager, stage manager, designer, educator, producer, and fellow at theatres across the nation, including The Kennedy Center, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, New Orleans Shakespeare Company, and Tricklock Theatre Company. bea’s work as an artistic facilitator mixed with starr’s ancestral healing practice lead e to become a death doula and ritual writer. Working at the praxis of grief, ritual, and theatre, starr hopes to help guide folks back to their bodies through boundaries, intentional conversations, and plant medicine.

IG: @twinkle_twinkle_estrellita

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Sarah Goldman is a playwright, screenwriter, and actor. Sarah grew up in the theater, performing her first play in the 2nd and attending The Alabama School of Fine Arts from 7th grade to her senior year of high school. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota/Guthrie BFA Actor Training Program Company of 2021 and is a current MFA student in Northwestern University’s Writing for the Screen + Stage Program. Sarah’s writing touches on subjects of blackness through the lens of beauty, black femininity, and family. Her ultimate goal is to diversify the cannon bringing a new definition to “black stories.” Sarah is honored to return to Congo Square as the dramaturg. Previously, she was the Young Playwright winner of the 10 minute Play Festival.

IG: @sarahgracegoldman

Yaw Agyeman is an interdisciplinary performing artist born in Chicago. He works primarily as a musician/sound designer but also has an extensive theater background (actor) and makes photos. He’s currently a lead vocalist of the band, The Black Monks, headed up by the internationally acclaimed artist Theaster Gates.

IG: @thursdayboy // Facebook: Yaw Agyeman // Twitter: yawagyemanmusic

Alexis Carrie is a LA based theater and film costume designer and social justice warrior. Some of her credits include Sorority of the Damned (A Blood Brothers Film), Mrs. Harrison (Indiana Repertory Theater), Hoodoo Love (Raven Theater), Good Grief (Point Park University), Man of God (East West Players), Yen (Raven Theater), Curve of Departure (Northlight Theater). She has a MFA in Costume Design from Carnegie Mellon University and is a proud founding member of First Floor Theater in Chicago. You can find her work at alexiscarrie.com

IG: @notalexus

Bio coming soon

Born and raised on the southwest side of Chicago, Lighting Designer, Levi J. Wilkins has been a member of the Chicago Theater community since the age of 6. Spending 4 years in the After School Matters Advanced Arts apprenticeship program at Gallery 37 in Chicago’s downtown. After high school, Levi Studied Theatre and Production at Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois. Since college, Levi has had the privilege of being the resident lighting designer for multiple churches and event Venues in Chicago. Currently the lighting director at The Faith Community of St. Sabina. In addition, Levi is the go-to for many of Chicago’s gospel music artist for stage lighting and stage design. Levi is excited to be returning to Congo Square for his second production with the company. His other past theater credits include A Raisin In The Sun with Indiana University Northwest, The Real Life Adventures Of Jimmy De Las Rosas and Good Grief with Free Street Theater, The Encounter Festival (2018, 2019 and 2020) and the Peacebook Festival (2018 & 2019) with Collaboraction Social Justice Theater, White with Definition Theater, The Mountaintop at Cardinal Stage. Along with many other concert and dance performance design credits. In addition Levi also owns and operates a luxury event design and decor company. For more on Levi visit www.fresherlight.com

IG: @leviwilkins_lighting

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