Story and Pictures by Dr. Yvonne D. Nelson MaryAnn Washington, a Booker T. Washington and Southwest Tennessee Community College Associate of Arts graduate, is currently seeking a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Entrepreneurship from the University of Memphis’s, University College. Washington has a passion for theatrical performances and dramatic entertainment and is currently preparing to embark upon her fifth theatrical production (in 2020). The Memphis native and founder of “The Actors Renaissance Theatre” just finished a three-day run of her self-financed production “SHADDY,” at the Evergreen Theatre. “SHADDY is a live drama production that reveals patterns of toxic dysfunctional family relationships mixed with destructive and deceitful behaviors that are exposed when private detectives go undercover to investigate the owner of an illegal massage parlor neatly disguised as an art gallery,” said Washington an aspiring playwright, actress, independent producer, and director. “SHADDY is the third production we performed under “The Actors Renaissance Theatre,” the theatre company I founded in 2017.” Scenes from Part II of SHADDY, the play written and produced by Performing Arts Manager and Actress, MaryAnn Washington A. A. Part II kicks off with James Alfred, CII Agent, played by Justin Pugh, and Natalie Bloomfield, secret service agency owner, played by Tamiko Rhodes. Rhodes had to have several alcoholic drinks upon learning James had violated every rule in the book by sleeping with the person he was assigned to watch. Here, James confesses to Natalie that he and his assignment spent a hot and seductive night of romance in a suite at the Peabody Hotel. B. B. Meanwhile, in another part of town, Alonzo Foster, Eva (Sharina Shaw) Foster’s uncle who is played by Craig Joiner, tries to seduce Kelly Crawford, a want-to-be artist who is played by Laquita Zeek, by telling her Eva’s husband Price Kelly is not good enough for her to be spending time with while trying to seduce her into going out with him on a date with him. Kelly knows Eva wouldn’t approve and tells Alonzo she C. Alonzo leaves, but not before extending his invitation for Kelly to reconsider his offer and commending her on some artwork he knows she did not paint. His niece, Eva comes in asking Kelly if she had just seen her uncle leaving. The two begin to argue. “I need to talk to you, Kelly,” begins Eva. “About what?,” replies Kelly. “Price,” Eva replies. “Stay the —- away from my husband.” “What you gonna do about it Eva? Gloat? Tell your husband to stay away from me,” replied Kelly. D. “Oh, I see what this is,” said Eva implying that Kelly was using her ‘lighter skin tone’ to portray a person being victimized. “You better check yourself before you wreck yourself.” 18
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