Justice in the Embers
Kansas City
Directed by Jennifer Welch
“Justice in the Embers,” created in collaboration with KCPT and The Living Room Theatre is the sixth StoryWorks iteration and our first exploration of our criminal justice system. Inspired by Mike McGraw’s years of reporting for The Kansas City Star and KCPT, StoryWorks KC explores the long-term incarceration of youth in America and the recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that will change the lives of thousands of juvenile offenders.
KCPT is a nonprofit, community-owned television station serving the greater Kansas City area that provides programming and services—on air and off —that entertain, educate and enrich the community.
CAST
Fire Fighter..............................................................................Tim Ahlenius
Bryan Sheppard...............................................................Moses Brings Plenty
Michael “Collar” Parks............................................................ Frank Oakley III
Aaron Wilkes.............................................................................Chris Roady
Cyndy Short.............................................................................Amy Attaway
Virgie Sheppard.......................................................................Nancy Marcy*
*appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association
PRODUCTION TEAM
Director................................................................................Jennifer Welch
Playwright.......................................................................Michelle T. Johnson
Assistant Director.........................................................................Chip Miller
Stage Manager.......................................................................Lacey Pacheco
Sound Design.............................................................................David Kiehl
Poster Design..........................................................................Brian Paulette
Light Design............................................................................Shane Rowse
Properties..............................................................................Regina Weller
Journalist...............................................................................Mike McGraw
Co-Producer...............................................................................Janet Saidi
Co-Producer............................................................................Rusty Sneary
Co-Producer..........................................................................Jennifer Welch
Video Production
Angee Simmons
Randy Mason
Dave Burkhardt
Dave Simmons
John McGrath
Don Mayberger
Engagement
Amanda Krenos
Lindsey Foat
Sandy Woodson
Kathy VanLieshout
Karen Rankin
DIGITAL
Hilary Becker
Karen Mell
Kirstin McCudden
Development
Kliff Kuehl, President & CEO
Ted Place, Chief Development Officer
Polly Howard
Journalist
MIKE MCGRAW (KCPT) In his more than 30 years at The Star, McGraw has covered a wide range of topics: food safety and agribusiness, the business of college sports, art world fraud. His last major series, an investigation of the U.S. beef industry, was produced in conjunction with The Star and Harvest Public Media, based at KCUR. McGraw was part of a 3-person team that produced a 5-part series on human trafficking published in The Star in December 2009. Their investigation found serious flaws in U.S. efforts to lead the international fight against modern-day slavery. The series won the 2010 Robert F. Kennedy journalism award which recognizes coverage of injustice against the underprivileged; the series also received a 2010 Investigative Reporters and Editors award. McGraw won a Pulitzer Prize in 1992 for a series on the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He is also the recipient of two George Polk awards. McGraw has been a reporter since 1972, when he graduated from the University Of Missouri School Of Journalism. He has taught investigative reporting at the University of Missouri, the University of Kansas and as a Ferris Professor in residence last year at Princeton University. He is a former member of the board of Investigative Reporters and Editors, and contributor to IRE’s “The Reporter’s Handbook.”
Playwright
MICHELLE T. JOHNSON is a former journalist and attorney. Currently, she is a local and national diversity and inclusion consultant, as well as Kansas City Star writer and freelance columnist “Diversity Diva.” Johnson has had plays in playwriting festivals locally and nationally, including Houston, Tx, Medford Con, and Louisville, Ky as well as in four NYC festivals for her plays “Wiccans in the Hood,” “The Negro Whisperer,” and “Echoes of Octavia.” In 2014, the award winning production “Trading Races” and “Wiccans in the Hood” we’re produced by Philadelphia’s BrainSpunk Theater, where Johnson is the playwright in residence. She will have the World Premier of her play “Final Arrangements” in May of 2016. “Echoes of Octavia” will be performed by the Rhymes over Beats Theater company as part of their 2016-2017 season.