The Ways of White Folks
From the short stories of Langston Hughes
January 2023
The mansion at Glen Foerd
A promenade experience through the halls of Glen Foerd.
This world premiere staging of Langston Hughes' 1934 classic depicted race relations in America with unparalleled candor. In EgoPo's immersive promenade staging, audiences attended a New Age retreat at an historic estate on the Delaware River, where they were welcomed into each character's room to witness their intimate and private lives.
Developed with Rowan University’s College of Performing Arts
Sponsored by Dr. Joel and Mrs. Bobbie Porter
Opening Night sponsored by Gail Ehrlich
Creative Team
Ontaria Kim Wilson & Dane Eissler … Directors
Lane Savadove … Concept
Dirk Durossette … Production Designer
Rita Squitiere … Costume Designer
Andrew Robinson … Associate Production Designer
Jamel Baker … Stage Manager
Cheyenne Parks … Assistant Director
Dane Eissler … Production Manager
Jon Bradley … Production Photos
Special Thanks to the Rowan University Cast
Jackson Brown, Angelina Canavan, Jabari Davis, Eliazah-Imari Dixon, Colin Dyce, Nathan Fitch, Aniyah Gandy, Jack Gibney, Rachel Grodek, Ethan Hammett, Taye Hopkins, Janea Hundley, Ciarra Ingram, Alec Lacher, Meghan Lawson, Skye Maldonado, Dave Martinek, Olivia Ralbovksy, Jeszenee Turner, Gian Verderose, Cheyenne Parks, & Asia Todd
Cast
Taylor Harlow … Eugene Lesch
Evan Sleppy … Sol Blum
Ontaria Kim Wilson … Cora
Paul McElwee … Michael Carraway/Baron Langstrund
Annette Kaplafka … Anne Carraway/Mrs. Willis
Ethan Hammett … Luther
Cianna Castro … Mattie
Kyson Martin … Roy 1
Eric Carter … Roy 2
Joseph Xavier-Mack … Roy 3
Tyrone Nathaniel … Narrator
Tim Morris … Mr. Lloyd/Valkumer Jones
Cheyenne Parks … Pauline
Nick Erholm … Clarence/Yale Man
Danielle “Danni” Shaw … Auntie
Lynn Shirley … Betsy
Dawn McCall … Jack
Faye O. Wooten … Woman 1
Christina Foye … Woman 2
Ayo Moore … Woman 3
Rachel Grodek … Mrs. Althouse
About Langston Hughes
James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1901 - May 22, 1967) was born in Joplin, Missouri.
His first book of poetry in 1924, The Weary Blues, debuted his writing career to varying criticism, but after he finished his college education at Lincoln University, at the age of 29, he published his first novel, Noth Without Laughter, which won the Harmon gold medal for literature, thus opening the floodgates for his legendary career, including the discovering a new form of poetry called “jazz poetry.” While his style is known for pushing boundaries of subject, he was also known for pushing form, by mixing raw honestly with biting satire, often writing scathing criticisms of the white patriarchy coating in a thick layer of humor. This earned him not only praise, but intense criticism from both white AND Black critics and audiences.
Langston Hughes died of complications from prostate cancer in 1967 in NYC.