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| Johnny Lee Davenport, Michael E. Myers, Pat Bowie, and
Synthia Hardy in the 1987 Great Chicago Playwrights Exposition
production of Takunda. |
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Takunda
The original version of Takunda, titled Tales of
South Africa,
was commissioned and produced by the Repertory Theatre of St.
Louis’ Imaginary Theatre Company, Tony Kushner, artistic
director, Russell Vandenbroucke, associate producing director.
Under the title Takunda, it has been produced by several regional
theatres including statewide tours by Seattle Repertory Theatre
and Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
Sixteen-year-old Takunda’s world is turned upside down
when her father is arrested for his political activities in the
turbulent Rhodesia of 1973. A coming of age story for our complex
times, Takunda carries a message of hope and courage. The play
employs authentic African folk tales and songs, an ensemble of
four black actors, and the lively art of storytelling.
“…a winning blend of folktale and political fable that uses the most
basic – and the most magical – elements of theater to weave its spell,
a blend of storytelling, song, and pure theatrical imagination.” -Hedy
Weiss,
Chicago Sun Times
Takunda is available in Multicultural Theater II: Contemporary
Hispanic, Asian and African-American Plays, edited by Roger Ellis, Meriwether
Publishing, Ltd., 1998.
Takunda was also published by Plays In Process, Theatre Communications Group,
New York, 1988.
Scenes from Takunda can be found in Multicultural Scenes for Young
Actors, edited
by Craig Slaight and Jack Sharrar, Smith and Kraus, Inc., 1995.
Original first drafts, intermediate drafts, final and/or published drafts of
this play are part of the DePaul University Library’s Special Collections
Archives Division, 2000.
Production Requirements:
Cast requirements: 2 men, 2 women
Set Requirements: Takunda was written to tour into middle schools and high schools
with little to no set requirements.
Running time: 50 minutes.
Production History:
• Seattle Repertory Theatre, TYA contract, statewide tour, 1989, 1990
• Berkeley Repertory Theatre, TYA contract, statewide tour, 1989, 1990
• Kevin Shine Productions, Chicago, 1990
• St. Louis Black Repertory Company, 1989
• The Coterie, Kansas City, 1989
• The Great Chicago Playwrights Exposition, Victory Gardens and Body Politic Theaters,
1987
• Victory Gardens Theater, TYA contract, 1987-1988
• Under the title Tales of South Africa: The Repertory Theater
of St. Louis' Imaginary
Theater Company, 1987 |
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