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Having Our Say

November 28 — December 17, 2023

November 28 — December 17, 2023

Director
Laiona Michelle

Laiona Michelle

Director
Laiona is the creator and star of Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical. She is also the book writer for Mandela -The Musical based on Nelson Mandela’s life, from his days as a leading activist against Apartheid to his imprisonment and eventual release. Mandela debuted at the Young Vic in London in the Winter of 2022. Laiona Michelle made her Broadway debut in 2015 in the musical, Amazing Grace, which opened at the Nederlander. Cast in the principal role of Nanna, a woman stolen away from her family in Sierra Leone by slave traders. Laiona is the recipient of the Broadway Alliance Award and Lilly Award (2022); the Barrymore and Carbonell Awards (2004);  and the NAACP Hollywood award (2005). Laiona was also nominated for numerous awards, including the Lucille Lortel and  Antonyo Awards (2022); and the Helen Hayes Award (2005). Some of her TV/Film credits include Lift, All My Children, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Blacklist, Crashing, Amazon’s Sneaky Pete, and Blue Bloods.
 

 

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Sadie
Inga Ballard

Inga Ballard

Sadie

Recent credits include Baneatta in Chicken & Biscuits at Crossroads Theatre Company, Marvelous in Familiar at the Wooly Mammoth Theatre. Additional credits include the 1st and 2nd National Tour of Ragtime as Sarah’s Friend. Inga has performed regionally in multiple productions of Hairspray as Motormouth Maybelle. Those theatres include, Sacramento Music Circus, Norths Shore Music Theatre, Houston’s TUTS, The Cape Playhouse, The Lyric Theatre, The New Theatre, Westchester Broadway and the Argyle Theatre. Inga has also performed at The Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Syracuse Stage, The Pittsburgh Public Theatre, City Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, The Weston Playhouse and Goodspeed Opera House. TV credits: Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, HBO’s Love Life 2, Starz Power, NBC’s 30 Rock, Law & Order Criminal Intent and ABC’s All My Children. Numerous commercials and voice overs. Inga received her B.A in Drama from UC Davis and her M.F.A in Acting from USC. Inga is a member of Quick Silver Theatre Company, Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA.

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Bessie
Rosalyn Coleman

Rosalyn Coleman

Bessie

George Street Playhouse: Doubt. Broadway: To Kill A Mockingbird, Travesties, The Mountaintop, Radio Golf, Seven Guitars, The Piano Lesson, Mule Bone. Film: (upcoming) Rob Peace, Game Nite, Miss Virginia, The Immortal Jellyfish, Frankie and Alice, Brooklyn’s Finest, Our Song, Brown Sugar, Music of the Heart. TV: Terror Lake Drive, Bull, Jessica Jones, Blue Bloods, Madam Secretary, Law & Order. Off-Broadway: Wedding Band, The Woman’s Party, Native Son, Breakfast with Mugabe. Solo play The Master’s Tools at Williamstown Theatre Festival. Next feature film: Pulpit Players, director. Proud mom & wife. Love you. Instagram @irozapp

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By Emily Mann 

Adapted from the book by Sarah L. Delany and A. Elizabeth Delany, with Amy Hill Hearth

Directed by Laiona Michelle

Adapted for the stage by Emily Mann, Having Our Say is an enthralling full-length play based on the bestselling book by Sarah (Sadie) Delany and Elizabeth (Bessie) Delany. This powerful production revolves around the remarkable lives of African-American sisters, Sadie and Bessie Delany, who both surpass the age of 100. Their extraordinary journey unfolds as they share their personal experiences, which include growing up as the daughters of a former slave who became a respected professor, establishing successful careers, and integrating a New York suburb. 

During its celebrated run on Broadway, Having Our Say captivated audiences and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Play. Through this powerful adaptation of the Delany sisters' book, audiences are invited to witness a compelling tale that transcends race and gender, offering a profound reflection on American history as seen through the eyes of two unforgettable women.

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Content Advisory: This performance tells the story of The Delany Sisters who, in telling the audience about their lives, use words that contain sensitive content, including the use of the n-word and discussions of lynching. We understand that this subject matter may be distressing and trigger emotional responses.

The performance runs about 2 hours and 20 minutes, including one intermission.

Latecomers are seated at the discretion of NBPAC House Management.

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Sponsored by:

The Karma Foundation |

Supported by:
Philip Kirstein & Melinda Raso Kirstein

Sponsor of Laiona Michelle as Director of Having Our Say:
"The Formers" Marie Adair, Joanne Kerekes, Penelope Lattimer, Ph.D., Adele Macula, Ed.D., and Mary Reece, Ed.D.