UKIMWI by Tom Coash
LOCATION
The Road on Lankershim – GALLERY
5108 Lankershim Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
(Street parking or paid lot parking at 5125 Lankershim Blvd)
UKIMWI
By Tom Coash
Directed by Rob Brownstein
CAST
UKIMWI- Selina Scott Benin
JOHN- Alex Smith
STAGE DIRECTION-Wali Habib
*Appears courtesy of Actor’s Equity Association
SYNOPSIS
This encounter between an American oil worker and a young Kenyan prostitute in a Cairo bar offers a glimpse into the miasma of ignorance and superstition that haunt Africa’s struggle with their devastating HIV epidemic.
TICKETS
No reservations or advance tickets. Admission is by donation ($15 suggested).
MEET YOUR PLAYWRIGHT
TOM COASH is a New Haven, Ct. playwright and director. His play VEILS was in Road’s previous SPF7. Coash spent several years in Egypt, teaching playwriting at The American University in Cairo. He has won numerous awards, including the Osborn Award (National Theatre Critics Association), the Clauder Competition, and an Edgerton Foundation National New Play Award. His plays have been produced worldwide. Coash currently teaches playwriting at the Stonecoast MFA Creative Writing Program.
MEET YOUR DIRECTOR
ROB BROWNSTEIN recently directed Mark Rylance’s acclaimed NICE FISH at Interact Theater Co. and earlier this year the reading of THE SISTERS here at The Road. He has also directed MY FUNNY VALENTINE at The Skylight Theater, THE VALENTINE TRIAGE at The Court Theatre, PEER GYNT at The Hudson, KING OF THE CLOUDS at Triangle Opera in North Carolina, SWEENEY TODD at Yale, LOOK BACK IN ANGER at The Medicine Show (NY), MAN OF LA MANCHA at North Carolina Theater, BODY SNATCHERS (The Musical) at Opera Cafe, THE CONCRETE CHRIST at The Colony Theater (NY), MISS JULIE at Riverside Shakespeare (NY) and others. Rob teaches at his studios An Actor’s Space and The Commercials Gym, and coaches privately. Also at The Commercial Class at 200 South LaBrea. He has also taught at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, The Circle Rep School of Theatre in N.Y., UNC/Chapel Hill among others and has been a guest director/instructor at Yale, USC, UCLA. He has two remarkable children, Will and Finney.
An Interview with Playwright Tom Coash
1: What is the name of your play?
Ukimwi
2: What was your first job in the theatre?
Playwright
3: Do you ever model characters after real life people?
Yes
4: As an artist, what subjects tend to draw your interest?
Communication, multi-cultural subjects, people who are passionate about something
5: Do you have other passions aside from playwriting?
Travel, other cultures, fencing
6: Are you currently working on any new projects?
Yes, a musical set in Egypt and an American Civil War story set in Bermuda
7: Here’s a fun question! What is your favorite dessert?
Berry pudding cake!
8: Any acknowledgements or words of encouragement?
Thanks to my lovely, talented wife for sharing my travels and passions.
9: Describe your play in 3 words!
AIDS in Africa