CCM Acting students share 'The Good Trouble Project' monologues
Performances share student perceptions and experiences of what it's like to be Black in America
The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music shares performance excerpts from The Good Trouble Project, which are written and performed by CCM Acting students. Directed by CCM alumna Torie Wiggins (BFA Acting, ’02), The Good Trouble Project explores identity, perception, relationships and the highs, lows and in-betweens of what it's like to be Black in today's America.
The two excerpts feature monologues written and performed by students Leonard Peterson III and Neuma Cohen-Denson. Peterson's "Full Bloom" is autobiographical in nature, and shares his experience and perceptions of how society sees young Black men, while Cohen-Denson's "Flight of a New Bird" is a metaphor for her experience navigating society's expectations of her as a young Black woman.
The Good Trouble Project was inspired by a quote from late U.S. Representative John Lewis, who passed away on July 17, 2020. Lewis served in the House of Representatives since 1987 and devoted his life to racial justice and equality.
“Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
U.S. Representative John Lewis A tweet from June 2018
Originally performed and recorded in CCM's Patricia Corbett Theater Oct. 6-7, 2020, The Good Trouble Project features the work of CCM's Acting, Theatre Design and Production and Media Production programs. View the full creative team and learn more about guest artist Torie Wiggins below.
Torie Wiggins is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a BFA in Acting, and has been performing professionally for over 15 years. She has co-adapted and performed a one woman show, Your Negro Tour Guide, at various venues across the country. Her voice-over work includes spots for Burger King, the Home Depot, Estee Lauder, Boeing, the Women's Entertainment Channel, and most recently, President Elect Joe Biden's campaign. Her film work includes A Christmas Melody, starring and directed by Mariah Carey; The Old Man and the Gun with Robert Redford and Danny Glover and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile starring Zac Efron. Cincinnati credits include Collapse, Afghan Women Writer’s Project, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Pluto, Harry and the Thief (Know Theatre of Cincinnati); The Mountaintop, Cinderella, Violet and His Eye is on The Sparrow (Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati); Twilight: Los Angeles 1992 by Anna Deveare Smith (Diogenes Theatre Co); Mame, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike and Crowns (Human Race Theatre Co.) and Oliver Twist, A Raisin in the Sun and Fences (Cincinnati Shakespeare Co.) She appeared in To Kill a Mockingbird with both Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Her directing credits include We Are Proud to Present…and Good Kids at Miami University Department of Theatre, Dreamgirls and Proof at the Carnegie Theater, and Blues for an Alabama Sky at Falcon Theatre. Learn more on her professional website.
- Torie Wiggins, Director
- "Full Bloom" written and performed by Leonard Peterson III
- "Flight of a New Bird" written and performed by Neuma Cohen-Denson
- Madison Stone, Assistant Stage Manager
- Nia Burns, Production Stage Manager
- Hunter Lee, Production Assistant
- Matthew Tibbs, Sound Designer
- Chris Berger, House PSE
- Hannah Gruneisen, Lighting Designer
- Andrew Stewart, Projection Designer
- Dionte Mercado, Assistant Projection
- Vishal Sharma, Media Server
- Samuel Wilson, Master Electrician
- Sharon Huizinga, Lighting Advisor
- Maria Ortiz Lopez, Costume Designer
- Myrrh Sewel, Prop Design
- Clark Comstock, Jessica Engele and Tyler Parker, Film Production
- Carlee Coulehan, video editor
There's more to explore!
Access additional videos on CCM's official YouTube channel
Looking for CCM's School, Stage & Screen podcast? Tune in here
Featured image at the top: Neuma Cohen-Denson in The Good Trouble Project: Flight of a New Bird.
Additional Contacts
Curt Whitacre | Director of Marketing/Communications | UC College-Conservatory of Music
whitaccp@ucmail.uc.edu | 513-556-2683
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