|
Panther Productions is a theater company dedicated to creating entertaining, awareness-raising and community-building theatre that reflects the diversity of the world. Our major goals are three-fold: 1) to reflect diversity, 2) to encourage dialogue, and 4) to entertain.
ADVISORY BOARD
| Kila Kitu, Chair |
View Bio
|
|
Kila began her professional career with the award-winning Washington Shakespeare Company as actor, director and instructor. Since arriving in L.A. (after leaving D.C. for a one year tour with the Shenandoah Shakespeare Express), she has been seen on screen and on the stages of several L.A.-based theater companies, including ShakespeareLA and Company of Angels. Directing credits include: The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Playing Juliet/Casting Othello, As You Like It , Pericles, Measure for Measure, The Colored Museum. Acting credits include: Julia (The Two Gentlemen of Verona), Georgia (Playing Juliet/Casting Othello) Electra (Colored Contradictions), Halie (Twilight Zone: Live On Stage), Maria (Twelfth Night).
CLOSE
|
| Ayana Cahrr | View Bio |
Ayana Cahrr is a director, actress, dancer, choreographer and artist instructor. Nationally, she has directed extensively on such prominent equity stages as the Robey Theater Company, The Greenway Court Theatre, First Stage, The Lankershim Arts Center, Ensemble Theatre Company, George Street Playhouse, The Public Theater, One Dream Theater, Henry Street Playhouse. On the West Coast, some of Ayana's directing/choreography credits include: How Kintu Became A Man by Nambi E. Kelley, where Ayana received an LA Ovation award nomination for Best Director (2002); the Robey Theatre Company’s production of Dessalines by Lee Levy Simon directed by Ben Guillory; Kick Me When I'm Down, I'm Dead, the Performing Arts Studio West. Also Ms. Cahrr is a member of the Lincoln Center Director's Lab 2003. Recently, Coleman & Smith Theater Co. nominated Ayana Best Choreographer for the COLSAC Awards 2003 for their production of The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe.
On the East Coast, Ms. Cahrr has received critical acclaim for the productions Roads To The Mountaintop by Ron Milner, a play based on the last years of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr; Sizwe Bansi is Dead, a South African play by Athol Fugard; The Meeting by Jeff Stetson, a play based on the imaginary meeting between Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and She Who Weeps, an award winning play conceived, acted and directed by Ayana Cahrr. She Who Weeps is a theatrical piece, which celebrates the emotional and historical lives of African-American women from ancient Egypt to present day America. She Who Weeps has toured nationally through the Carter G. Woodson Foundation's national renowned tour Black Culture on Tour.
For 11 years, Ayana Cahrr had been Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Ensemble Theater Company, a small professional Theater Company in Newark, New Jersey. Additionally, she was the Founder and Director of the Spirits Arise Program, an educational outreach theater program for youth. Presently, Ayana was chosen as a director to participate in the TheaterCram Festival 2004.
CLOSE
|
| Henry Ong
|
View Bio
|
Henry Ong is the author of Madame Mao’s Memories, a play based on the life of Chairman Mao’s widow. Madame Mao's Memories has been produced internationally (England, Singapore and Canada) and nationally, including a production at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California. Sweet Karma, a play based on the life of Haing S. Ngor, the Cambodian Oscar-winning actor of The Killing Fields, is scheduled for production in the fall of 2009 by the Obie-award winning Immigrant Theatre Project, New York. Pacific Resident Theatre in Los Angeles, is planning a workshop production of Rachel Ray, Ong’s stage adaptation of Anthony Trollope’s 19th century English classic, next year. Other credits include: People Like Me, Fabric; The Legend of the White Snake, Dream of the Red Chamber, an adaptation of the famous 17th century Chinese classic novel; and The Silworm Scientist,. People Like Me, - which he also directed at Playwrights’ Arena - won a Drama-Logue award for writing and has been published by Big Dogs Publication.
Ong is an eleven-time recipient of the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department grants. The latest is a 2008-09 Artist-in-residence grant collect the oral histories of Korean Americans. He completed two similar projects involving Filipino Americans and Chinese Americans. He has also a number of children’s Asian folktales: The Wedding of Bolak Sonday, (Filipino), Lady White Snake, (Chinese), Golden Flower Princess, (Thai), and The Fire Boy, (Japanese). Marlton School has staged all of the Asian folktales.
Ong is an active member of the Dramatist Guild; a member of the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights and Playwrights Ink; and a board of director of Mezclao. He is an Artistic Associate of Playwrights’ Arena.
CLOSE
|
| Sierra Smith
|
View Bio
|
Sierra earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from California State University, Northridge in 1995, with an emphasis in Acting and Directing. After completing two years of graduate studies at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts - Professional Actor Training Program, she relocated to Chicago to pursue acting and directing career. Soon after moving to Chicago, Sierra began volunteering for the Furry Friends Foundation, a Chicago animal shelter, where she first encountered dogs that had been injured in staged fights. Through her experience at the animal shelter, Sierra began to learn about the effects that dog fighting has on both animals and communities. It was a year later that she came up with the idea of making a documentary about dog fighting. A few short months later, fate brought Butch, Julie & Sienna together to form the dynamic trio which embarked on the monumental task of bringing dog fighting into the light!
Sierra has acted with a number of Chicago theater companies including ShawChicago, The Free Associates, M’PAACT Theatre, greasy joan & co., and Borealis Theatre Company. She has also toured the east coast with Shenandoah Shakespeare. She is currently a company member of TinFish Theatre where she has acted and directed.
Sierra is the Community Project Coordinator for The Anti-Cruelty Society where she continues to educate the public about dog fighting as well as other animal issues.
CLOSE
|
| Renny Temple |
Bio Forthcoming
|
|
Bio coming soon
CLOSE
| |
|
AUDITIONS
Panther Productions is not currently casting, but will shortly be holding auditions for Othello.
|
