Oceanside Theatre Company Announces Cast and Creative Team  for March 8-24 Production of Douglas Lyon’s Chicken & Biscuits

Voted “Best Supporting Performer in a Play” for Broadway World San Diego Awards,  Michael Amira Temple Returns to OTC

(Oceanside) January 29, 2023 – Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC) has selected a talented cast and creative team for the Southern California Premiere of Douglas Lyon’s Chicken & Biscuits running March 8 to March 24 at the Sunshine Brooks Theater in Oceanside’s cultural district. Directed by Kevin “Blax” Burroughs, Chicken & Biscuits is a feel-good comedy centered around the complex dynamics of a modern family that comes together to honor the passing of the family patriarch.

“Chicken & Biscuits is unapologetically black,” said Burroughs. “As I read the script, I found myself laughing uncontrollably while seeing my own family dynamics within this show. Anyone can relate to these characters in some way or another with this wonderful cast of actors and talented creative team guiding the way. You’ll be left with a smile on your face and a renewed sense of acceptance.”

Cast members include Marley Bauer, Allyce Calloway, Taylor Renee Henderson, Jacob James, Kiara Hudlin, Kimberly King, Durwood Murray, and Michael Amira Temple. Temple was recently voted “Best Supporting Performer in a Play” by San Diego Regional Broadway World Awards for their role in OTC’s Good People in 2023.

In addition to Burroughs as Director, the Chicken & Biscuits Creative Team includes Andre Buck, Jr., Emily Carter, Reiko Huffman, Tori Jones, and Mashun Tucker.

“Family is a loaded word,” writes Lyon in Chicken & Biscuits, encapsulating the theme of the play, which reveals the complicated dynamics when family members come together to pay their respects for their beloved father and grandfather. Between Beverly’s flaunting of her “blessings” at the chapel, Baneatta’s disapproval of her son Kenny’s neurotic Jewish boyfriend Logan, Beverly’s aspiring rapper daughter La’Trice seeking the limelight, and the entire family pestering Simone about her absent ex-fiance – the family is not so sure they can make it through the day without killing one another! Baneatta’s pastor husband, Reginald, tries to mediate the family drama while attempting to give a sermon worthy of his late-father-in-law for whom he is taking over. However, when a shocking secret is revealed during the ceremony, the family’s decision whether or not to face the truth could either heal or break them.

Chicken & Biscuits, which ran on Broadway in 2020 before the pandemic shutdown, received rave reviews with Variety describing it as, “…a brilliant script that’s fresh, relatable and laugh-out-loud funny… a much-needed therapy session, a portrait of Black joy, love and laughter…”

SHOW DETAILS

Chicken & Biscuits 

Written by Douglas Lyons; Directed by Kevin “Blax” Burroughs

March 8-24

Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm

Brooks Theater, 217 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside

760-433-8900

OceansideTheatre.org

Tickets: $20-45

 

SPECIAL EVENTS

Preview Night – Friday, March 8 ($20 tickets)

Opening Night with Champagne Reception – Saturday, March 9 ($45 tickets)

Military Matinee – Sunday, March 10 (2 free tickets for Military & Veterans with ID)

Artist Talkback – Sunday, March 17 (Q & A after the show)

Industry Night – Monday, March 18 ($20 tickets)

MEET THE CAST

(In Alphabetical Order by Last Name)

LINK TO HEADSHOTS

 

Marley Bauer (He/Him) as Logan

Bauer is making his debut at Oceanside Theatre Company. He has been seen onstage most recently as Richard Hannay in Scripps Ranch Theatre’s production of The 39 Steps. He has also performed in San Diego at Trinity Theatre, and as Lenny in Lamplighters’ Community Theatre’s production of Rumors. Other previous credits include Mal in The Addams Family, and Clifford Anderson in Deathtrap. He graduated from CSU Long Beach in 2021 after studying Theatre with an emphasis in Performance. He also enjoys reading and writing.

Allyce Calloway (She/Her) as La’Trice 

Calloway is making her Oceanside Theatre Company debut in Chicken & Biscuits. Previous highlights include: Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Danielle in Bring it On!, and Ti Moune in Once on This Island. While not onstage, she enjoys doing yoga, reading, and, much like her character, she loves being on that damn phone. Calloway works as a content creator on TikTok and Instagram with a growing community of makeup lovers, fashionistas, and theatre enthusiasts.

Taylor Renee Henderson (She/Her) as Beverly

Henderson is making her OTC debut in Chicken & Biscuits! Henderson is a multi-hyphenate artist and performer that has been working professionally on and offstage for an upwards of 10 years; this past year alone you may have seen her in the world premiere of BottleShock! The Musical (CCAE), The Savoyard Murders (Roustabouts Theatre Co), Xanadu (SDMT) and the American premiere of The High Table (Diversionary). Audiences will be able to see her again onstage this spring and summer in the regional premiere of The Color Purple (NVA). In her downtime, she enjoys singing karaoke and playing Dungeons & Dragons.

Jacob James (He/Him) as Kenny

James is acting with Oceanside Theatre Company for the first time! Previous credits include The Ferryman and 1222 Oceanfront (New Village Arts), Don’t Dress For Dinner, Boeing Boeing (CSUSM), On Her Shoulders (La Jolla Playhouse WOW Festival), and What Goes Unsaid (Playwrights Project). James is also a proud co-host of Harping on the Past: A Theatre Kid Podcast. His passion for creating theatre extends to acting and directing various projects and motivates him to continually learn from colleagues and fellow cast members. 

Kiara Hudlin (She/Her) as Simone 

Chicken & Biscuits is Hudlin’s first production at Oceanside Theatre Company. Pre-COVID, she studied Theatres Arts at [then] Humboldt State University and went on to earn Irene Ryan Nominations for her performances as Annie Knowby in Evil Dead: The Musical (Humboldt State University) and Heather Chandler in Heathers: The Musical (Humboldt State University). Other credits include R.F. Simpson in Singin’ in the Rain (New Village Arts), Aadya in 1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas (New Village Arts), Medium Alison in Fun Home (Ferndale Repertory Theatre) and Brenda/BJ in Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Ferndale Repertory Theatre).

Kimberly King (She/Her) as Baneatta 

This is King’s first performance with Oceanside Theatre Company. She recently understudied as Mrs. Muller in Doubt: A Parable (New Village Arts). Other credits include Clea in A Sense of Love (Common Ground Theatre), Mama/Woman 3 in The Bluest Eye (Moxie Theatre/Mo’olelo); Chorus in African Medea, and Magi in Harlem Duets (San Diego Black Ensemble Theatre). King can also be seen in Red Blooded as Superintendent Carol Constantine. As a writer, her first feature-length script, based on her father’s Spur Award-winning book Dark Trail, is under consideration at the Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards Festival. 

Durwood Murray (He/Him) as Reginald

Murray is debuting with Oceanside Theatre Company. Originally from Fairfax Co, VA, select credits include The Savoyard Murders (Roustabout Theater), Handbagged and Our Lady of Kibeho (Moxie Theatre), The Servant of Two Masters and 1222 Oceanfront (New Village Arts), The High Table, Well and One in Two (Diversionary Theatre), and Father Comes Home from the Wars Parts I, II, and III (Intrepid Theatre Company). Murray  would like to thank The Usual Suspects, Wondrous Strange, and “The Corporation” for their love and support.

Michael Amira Temple (She/They) as Brianna

Temple is a theater practitioner and teacher interested in using the arts as a tool for discovery, connection, healing, and self- actualization. Her work balances honoring the past while heading towards the future, and has a strong focus on community, self-advocacy, and joy. Temple was recently voted “Best Supporting Performer in a Play” by Broadway World’s San Diego Regional Awards for her role in Oceanside Theatre Company’s Good People. Additionally, Temple has worked with Diversionary, Backyard Renaissance, Loud Fridge, Prague Shakespeare Company, and more as an actor, director, writer, and teaching artists. She loves this Kumeyaay land, the people it provides for, and everything that springs forth from that relationship.

MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM

(In alphabetical order by last name)

LINK TO HEADSHOTS

 

Andre Buck, Jr. (He/Him) – Sound Designer

Buck is a sound designer for theater arts and is proud to be debuting with the Oceanside Theatre Company. He loves to work in the San Diego community and has designed sound for The Bonitafest Melodrama for years. He has previously worked with Teatro Máscara Mágica, La Jolla Playhouse and Lambs Players Theatre. He was also recently worked as Assistant Technical Director for The Cradle Will Rock and Sound Designer for Southwestern College’s, Psycho Beach Party.

Kevin “Blax” Burroughs (He/Him) – Director

OTC’s Artistic Director, Burroughs is described as a “Theatrical Swiss Army Knife” for his roles as performer, director, choreographer and lighting designer. Select Director credits include First Date, Songs For A New World, Next To Normal, Carrie: The Musical, and James & The Giant Peach. He is the 2022 Craig Noel recipient of the Outstanding Specialty Award, a Craig Noel nominated director, multi-nominee and winner of the Broadway World Regional Award and National Youth Arts, and Co-Founder and Artistic Director for Teatro San Diego. Credits include Moonlight Stage Productions, CCAE Theatricals, New Village Arts, SDRep, OnStage Playhouse, Cygnet Theatre, Legoland California Resort, SDMT, Coronado Playhouse, Common Ground Theatre, and Loud Fridge Theatre Group, among others. IG: @blaxparadise

Emily Carter (She/Her) – Costume Designer

Carter is a professional costumer and designer in Southern California, specializing in costuming commercial and concert dance. Her recent credits include Costume Designer for West Side Story (Teatro San Diego) and Ripped  (Loud Fridge Theatre Group), Head Costume Designer of the original Wizarding World Ballet First Year, Costumer in Residence for The Wiz (Teatro San Diego) and Costumer in Residence for The Nutcracker, Costume Mistress of The Magic Mirror, and Costume Assistant for Swan Lake and Paquita (New West Ballet). Emily received her M.S. in Environmental Policy and is passionate about sustainable fashion. She is combatting the detrimental environmental and social effects of fast fashion with her own business @embelinaa – creator of custom, bespoke sustainable crafts.

Reiko Huffman (She/Her) – Scenic Designer

Tori Jones (They/She) – Stage Manager/Props & Set Dressing

Jones graduated from California State Fullerton with a BA in Theatre with a Stage Management Emphasis. They recently stage managed in Houston for Houston’s Black Theatre Week. Jones is returning to OTC after stage managing Seasons and Blitzen’s Ball.

Mashun Tucker (He/Him) – Lighting Designer

Tucker is an artist based in San Diego. Chicken & Biscuits marks his third design in the Sunshine Brooks Theater and second with the company. Recent credits include 1222 Oceanfront (New Village Arts), The Colored Museum (Common Ground) and An Evening of Dance (San Diego City College).

About Oceanside Theatre Company

Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC), the resident professional theater company operating the historic Sunshine Brooks Theater in downtown Oceanside, is a focal point of the Oceanside California Cultural District (OCCD). OTC’s mission is to produce professional theatrical, visual art, and musical productions for the entertainment and enrichment of the community, present educational opportunities in the arts for children and adults, and provide a safe, state-of-the-art public venue for expansion of artistic endeavors in North San Diego County and greater Southern California. OTC produces a four-show mainstage theater season in the 198-seat venue, as well as a Music Series, play readings and various other events in the adjacent black box theater, Studio 219. An important part of OTC’s mission is inspiring and sharing the arts with local youth through the Youth Theater Arts Program, which includes Summer Theater Camps, a Fall Youth Theater Arts Outreach Program, and onsite After School Theatre Classes at local elementary schools. To learn more visit www.oceansidetheatre.org.