Armature
Roles: Producer & Director
About the Show
Candidate Blythe Ames prepares - with a voice as smooth and strong as a song - for the upcoming governor's election. Her husband Denson should be happier for her political success. Her daughter Monica should stop dyeing her hair. Across town, pop-culture blogger Evan meets sexy stranger Shod at the dark and sordid Armature Bar where Mama serves the drinks - if he's able to avoid the reporters. The lives of these very different people collide as a roaring fire erupts with biblical wrath and passion, devouring everything in its path.
*This play contains strong sexual language and adult content.
Production History
This political, sexual thriller was originally developed under the Emerging Writer's Group at The Public Theatre, NYC, and featured in The Spotlight Series, directed by Liesl Tommy.
Sexy Dirt Productions produced a one night only benefit reading in October 2018 with all proceeds donated to New Georgia Project, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people of color register to vote, founded with the help of Stacey Abrams, the democratic candidate for governor of Georgia. If elected, she would be the first African-American woman to serve as governor in that state, and also in the history of The United States of America.
WRITTEN BY
ANDREW KRAMER
DIRECTED BY
CHRIS ROE
CASTING BY
MATTHEW GLASNER
TAMARA TUNIE: Obie Award Familiar. Berkshire Theatre Award American Son. Broadway: Julius Caesar, Dreamgirls, Oh, Kay!, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music. Off-Broadway: BUILDING THE WALL, The Library (Public Theater), Troilus and Cressida (Delacourt), Sheba, Loose Knit. Regional: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Les Liaisons Dangereuse, Tartuffe, Antony and Cleopatra, All's Well That Ends Well, Two Gents. Film: Flight, Snake Eyes, The Devil’s Advocate, Wall Street, City Hall, Eve’s Bayou, Caveman’s Valentine, Fall to Rise, Bad Vegan. Television: “DIETLAND”, Black Earth Rising”, “Law & Order: SVU,” “The Red Road”, “Better Call Saul”, “ Blue Bloods”, “Elementary,” “Billions,” “24,” “Alpha House,” “The Good Wife,” “Zoo”, “Survivor’s Remorse”, “As the World Turns,” etc. Producer: Spring Awakening (Tony Award), Radio Golf (Tony nom.), Magic/Bird, and Frog Kiss (VSC). The Dutchman (Cherry Lane Theater). Director: SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER, JAZZLAND.
CHAD L. COLEMAN: Critically acclaimed television, film and stage actor Chad L. Coleman is best known for his role as fan-favorite ‘Tyreese’ in one of the most popular cable series of all time, the Golden Globe® nominated series “The Walking Dead” ‘and as the reformed criminal “Dennis ‘Cutty’ Wise” in Emmy® award nominated HBO drama series “The Wire.” Coleman currently stars in the hour-long, FOX comedy-drama series “The Orville” playing the role of ‘Klyden,’ a Moclan civilian living aboard the USS Orville with his mate Second Officer Bortus (Peter Macon) and their son Topa. Created, executive produced, and starring Seth MacFarlane (“Family Guy”), the comedic science fiction series set 300 years in the future and follows the adventures of the U.S.S. Orville, a not-so-top-of-the-line exploratory ship in Earth’s interstellar fleet. Season 2 is set to premiere Sunday, December 30th.
NATHAN LEE GRAHAM: can currently be seen as Bernard in the Fox TV comedy hit “LA to Vegas” on Hulu. Film credits include: Zoolander, Zoolander 2, Sweet Home Alabama and Hitch. On the small screen, he has been seen in “The Comeback,” and had guest starring roles on “Scrubs,” “Absolutely Fabulous” and “Law & Order: SVU.” His stage appearances include the original Broadway casts of The Wild Party and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Mr. Graham recently received a 2017 Lucille Lortel Award nomination for “Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical” for The View UpStairs. In 2016, he received the IRNE Award for “Best Supporting Actor in a Play” for The Colored Museum. Graham also received a Drama League nomination for the role of Rey-Rey in the Off-Broadway production of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Wig Out! In 2005, he earned the “Best Classical Album” Grammy Award for Songs of Innocence and of Experience as a soloist. Nathan has recently left his stamp on the iconic title role of The Wiz at The Muny’s 100th anniversary season. Graham is a graduate of Webster University Conservatory in St. Louis.
RYAN COOPER: Ryan was born in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea to an Australian missionary family. Ryan fought competitively in Tae kwon do and won 2 tournaments. He worked as a Carpenter for six years but was brought to New York in 2008 to featured in the DKNY Jeans campaign with Bahati Prinsloo. His rugged good looks landing him in campaigns for Armani Exchange with Izabel Goulart, Hugo Boss underwear, Trussardi Jeans and Esprit underwear with Gisele Bundchen and Erin Wasson. He's been seen in TV commercials around the globe for brands such as Paramount pictures, Rock Port, Garnier, Macy’s and Just Jeans. From fashion, Ryan continued to extend his reach into film and television playing Jake Bolin the “Flirtual Killer” on MTV’s EYE CANDY. Bruce Hunter on the Emmy Nominated soap opera ONE LIFE TO LIVE. And will be seen in “ROUGH NIGHT” alongside Scarlett Johansson and Kate McKinnon. Ryan continues to build his body of work spending time writing, directing and developing skills in all areas of the film world. His short film "Left Behind", is about the confrontation between a mother struggling with her depression and a son's use of unorthodox methods to help her see reason. It was inspired by the lose of loved ones and in a effort to raise awareness for those suffering with mental illnesses and depression. Ryan continues to work alongside Susan Batson as he explores characters in his writings and grows as an artist. (Bio by: Michael Rex Hooker) TV- Eye Candy, One life to live, John Oliver’s ‘Last week tonight’, Deleted, Day 5, Confess, Heirloom, Living in Exile, FILMS: Rough Night, Julia
KARA YOUNG: Harlem Born and raised. Theater: Syncing Ink (dir. Niegel Smith, Alley Theatre, The Flea), Pretty Hunger (dir. Martha Banta, The Public), Queen Latina and Her Power Posse (Cherry Lane), & Gutting (National Black Theater, Zoey Martinson). LAByrinth Theater Company Member and Original member of Thania All-Stars. Retreats/intensives: Sundance Theater Lab, New Dramatists' Playtime retreat, LAByrinth Theater co. Intensive Ensemble 2012.Film/TV: The lead in Hair Wolf, winner of Sundance 2018 Short film Jury Award: US fiction, Random Acts of Flyness (hbo), The Punisher (netflix) & MTV's Girl Code (4 seasons). @karaakter
DAVID MERTEN: Recently made his Off-Broadway debut with a seven-month run of Afterglow at The Davenport Theatre. Regional Theatre credits include The Two Gentlemen Of Verona (Scranton Shakespeare Fest.), And Then There Were None (Judson Theatre Company), and the Williamstown Theatre Festival Acting Apprentice program. Catch him in the new series Queen's English, streaming online now. David is a proud member of AEA and a graduate of Ball State University's BFA Acting program.