Theatre Performances
- Baby Shower Katie
- Refuse It: A Black Woman’s Guide to 21st Century Rage
- Motherloss
- One Acts: Dirty Martini + Nerve Endings
- Season Announcement 2025-26
Refuse It: A Black Woman’s Guide to 21st Century Rage
Theodore and Adele Shank Theatre | May 6-17
Written by Phanésia Pharel | Directed by Delicia Turner Sonnenburg
About the Show
Refuse to Mammy. Refuse Shame. Refuse to Explain. REFUSE IT: A BLACK WOMAN’S GUIDE TO 21ST CENTURY RAGE explores the lives of Black women who reject the status quo. Through a kaleidoscope of vignettes, these women confront the costs and benefits of living radically under the persistent weight of the past. Darkly comedic and unapologetically defiant, REFUSE IT asks: If society has truly progressed and living conditions are undeniably better, why don’t we feel better?
Content Warning
Sexual Content, Postpartum Depression, and Strong Language.
Dr. Bowenski: Mysia Anderson
Track 1: Ruva Chigwedere
Track 2: Kennedy Tolson
Track 3: Griffin Hanson
Track 4: Olivia Picazo
Track 5: Kenneth J. Ray
Understudies
Track 3: Michael Lakind
Track 4: Grayce Britton
Track 5: Griffin Hanson
Creative and Stage Management Team
Director: Delicia Turner Sonnenberg
Playwright: Phanésia Pharel
Assistant Director: Annais Scott
Scenic Designer: Lin Zhao
Scenic Designer: Lin Zhao
Costume Designer: Anabel Olguin
Assistant Costume Designer: Ero Rodriguez
Assistant Costume Designer: Ero Rodriguez
Assistant Costume Designer: Natalia Darwish
Lighting Designer: Jake Olson
Sound Designer: Nataly Ceniceros
Accent Coach: Andrea Caban
Production Stage Manager: Juhi Sabharwal
Assistant Stage Manager: Karina Sapkota
Assistant Stage Manager: Ziyi Fang
Sound Designer: Nataly Ceniceros
Accent Coach: Andrea Caban
Production Stage Manager: Juhi Sabharwal
Assistant Stage Manager: Karina Sapkota
Assistant Stage Manager: Ziyi Fang
Production Assistant: Katelin Shum
Production Assistant: Yareli Garcia
Production Assistant: Yareli Garcia
About the Playwright
Phanésia Pharel is a Haitian-American playwright from a Dragon Fruit farm in Miami. Daughter of an immigrant teacher and farmer, she writes to honor people.
Phanésia is a member of the Obie award-winning EST/ Youngblood group. Commissions include Hero Theatre, City Theatre Miami, the Latinx Playwrights Circle & Pregones/PRTT Greater Good Commission and Thrown Stone Theatre. Her work has been developed with the Old Globe, New York Stage and Film, Shattered Globe, Echo Theater Company of Los Angeles, and the Playwrights Center.
Full lengths; THE WATERFALL (O'neill Finalist, Kennedy Center Lorraine Hansberry Award, Workshop, Old Globe Theatre, EST Bloodworks reading), R&B (Bay Area Playwrights Festival Finalist/Honorable Mention, Playwrights Realm Finalist), LUCKY (New York Stage and Film, Kennedy Center Latinx Playwriting Award, Kennedy Center Rosa Parks Playwriting Award). BLACK GIRL JOY (Kilroys 2023, Bay Area Playwrights Festival Finalist/Honorable Mention, Jane Chambers Finalist, Frank Moffett Mosier Fellowship for Works in Heightened Finalist Prize). Other Honors include New Harmony 2023 Finalist and City Theatre National Short Playwriting Finalist.
Publishing: Concord Theatricals, Smith and Kraus Best Plays of 2020, Reset Coalition 2020 Anthology and the City Theatre Anthology.
About the Director
Delicia Turner Sonnenberg is a director, artistic leader, teacher, and mother. She is a founder and the former Artistic Director of MOXIE Theatre, which she helmed for twelve acclaimed seasons. Her directorial work has been celebrated for its boldness, creativity, and commitment to diverse storytelling.
Delicia has directed plays for the Old Globe Theatre, San Diego REP, La Jolla Playhouse, Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival, Cygnet Theatre, New Village Arts, and Diversionary Theatre, among others.
More Info: deliciaturnersonnenberg.com