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Hotel Berry
Synopsis:
As the only Black business owners in the booming town of Athens, Edward and Mattie Berry have established one of the finest hotels in all of Ohio. People from all over the country stop in to dine on Edward's famous fried oysters and Mattie's homemade pies. So, it is no surprise when Theodore Roosevelt decides to stay at the Berry Hotel on his whistle stop tour through Ohio. The former president quickly finds himself at odds with the city's most prominent Black citizens, and so will the Berrys if they choose to let him stay the night. This presidential visit unleashes scandal, political upheaval, and a menu to rival that of the finest of restaurants in all of Europe!
Edward “Ed” Cornelius Berry (Black Man 40s) – hotelier and chef, known for his steaks, oyster stew, and fried chicken, married to Mattie.
Martha Jane “Mattie” Berry (Black Woman, 40s) – hotelier and baker, member of the Athenian Jubilee Singers, married to Edward.
Andrew Jackson Davison (Black Man, 50s) – janitor and lawyer, married to Eliza.
Eliza Brown Davison (Black Woman, 40s) – former housekeeper of George and Elizabeth Custer, married to Andrew
Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt (White Man, 50s) Former President of the United States, of the Oyster Bay Roosevelts
Carl Bell (Black Man, 20s) – no-nonsense, hardworking, going places, Barber at the hotel.
Ada Woodson (Black woman, late teens) – determined, bold, and ambitious, a hotel maid at the hotel, student, member of the Athenian Jubilee Singers
Trevy Ford (Black woman, late teens) – focused, bold, and ambitious, a hotel maid at the hotel, student, member of the Athenian Jubilee Singers
Minnie Bell (Black Woman, late teens) – kind, a bit cautious, a milliner apprentice, hotel maid at the hotel, member of the Athenian Jubilee Singers, sweet on Owen.
Henry “Harry” Thomas (White Man, late teens) – romantic, hardworking, a daytime desk clerk at the hotel, sweet on Ada.
Owen Jenkins (Black Man, late teens) – practical, hardworking, a nighttime desk clerk at the hotel, shoeshine boy, sweet on Trevy.
Ensemble: 6 to 8 actors to play hotel guests, hotel workers, singers, and community members.
Cast Breakdown:
5 W/6M
Time:
May 1912
Place:
Athens, Ohio
Development History
As the only Black business owners in the booming town of Athens, Edward and Mattie Berry have established one of the finest hotels in all of Ohio. People from all over the country stop in to dine on Edward's famous fried oysters and Mattie's homemade pies. So, it is no surprise when Theodore Roosevelt decides to stay at the Berry Hotel on his whistle stop tour through Ohio. The former president quickly finds himself at odds with the city's most prominent Black citizens, and so will the Berrys if they choose to let him stay the night. This presidential visit unleashes scandal, political upheaval, and a menu to rival that of the finest of restaurants in all of Europe!
Edward “Ed” Cornelius Berry (Black Man 40s) – hotelier and chef, known for his steaks, oyster stew, and fried chicken, married to Mattie.
Martha Jane “Mattie” Berry (Black Woman, 40s) – hotelier and baker, member of the Athenian Jubilee Singers, married to Edward.
Andrew Jackson Davison (Black Man, 50s) – janitor and lawyer, married to Eliza.
Eliza Brown Davison (Black Woman, 40s) – former housekeeper of George and Elizabeth Custer, married to Andrew
Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt (White Man, 50s) Former President of the United States, of the Oyster Bay Roosevelts
Carl Bell (Black Man, 20s) – no-nonsense, hardworking, going places, Barber at the hotel.
Ada Woodson (Black woman, late teens) – determined, bold, and ambitious, a hotel maid at the hotel, student, member of the Athenian Jubilee Singers
Trevy Ford (Black woman, late teens) – focused, bold, and ambitious, a hotel maid at the hotel, student, member of the Athenian Jubilee Singers
Minnie Bell (Black Woman, late teens) – kind, a bit cautious, a milliner apprentice, hotel maid at the hotel, member of the Athenian Jubilee Singers, sweet on Owen.
Henry “Harry” Thomas (White Man, late teens) – romantic, hardworking, a daytime desk clerk at the hotel, sweet on Ada.
Owen Jenkins (Black Man, late teens) – practical, hardworking, a nighttime desk clerk at the hotel, shoeshine boy, sweet on Trevy.
Ensemble: 6 to 8 actors to play hotel guests, hotel workers, singers, and community members.
Cast Breakdown:
5 W/6M
Time:
May 1912
Place:
Athens, Ohio
Development History
- Workshop Production at Tantrum Theatre and Ohio University - November 2022
- New Play Development Workshop at Tantrum Theatre and Ohio University - February 2022
- New Play Development Workshop at PlayMakers Repertory and UNC's Department of Dramatic Art - November 2021