User:Gswan3/Satori Theatre Company
Satori Theatre Company of Detroit.
Before there was “Fame,” there was Satori Theatre (1971-1977)!
Satori Theatre Company of Detroit, Michigan (Seeking a Theatre of Realistic Involvement) was established in 1971 by Michael Dinwiddie and Kathryn Ervin, Detroit Public High School students concluding that they could write, direct and produce quality works similar to what they had seen in local repertory performances. Using the Fellowship Hall of the Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ located at 7301 Curtis, the two gathered friends and peers—all of who were of high school age—to organize, rehearse and prepare a series of original one-act plays that were first performed at the Church in July of 1971. Members of the company were initially recruited from two public high schools—Lewis Cass Technical and Samuel C. Mumford —as participants in this youth-led initiative. Membership in the company was expanded to persons attending private and parochial schools with the requirement that management, direction and production by the company would be by the teens and not adults. Known as the “kid’s theatre,” Satori produced works through the contributions of members under the direction of Michael Dinwiddie, Kathryn Ervin, and George Swan III.
In February, 1973, Satori was invited to participate in the Mort Furay Theatre Festival, a juried series of performances organized by the City of Detroit Recreation Department at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The company featured “The First Day” as its selection in the competition.Detroit Free Press Critic John Weisman in an article dated Sunday, March 4, 1973 wrote, “ Each theatre—with one exception—performed out of its roots. Only the high school kid’s theatre, Satori, wrote a show that could be called universal in theme. …Only the youngest group present sensed whether by instinct or art is indeterminable—that theater is a universal, not a specialized experience.
Earning recognition among the 20 community theatre companies competing in the event, the company was asked to serve as the resident company in 1973 for the Detroit Parks and Recreation Summerstock performances held throughout the parks and community centers across the city. The invitation was extended for an additional two years under contract with the Detroit Parks and Recreation Department. The company performed for the Cobo Convention Center Christmas Carnivals from 1972 through 1975, and featured on local television programs including the Don Haney Show (December 1972), the local ABC affiliate, WGPR Channel 62, and special performances highlighted on WWJ (now WDIV) television. University theatre programs at Wayne State University, the General Motors Institute (now Kettering University), faith-based and community organizations requested performances by the “kids theatre.” The company toured public schools in southeast Michigan and statewide with emphasis on its “Black History” shows and the musical “Montana Young” written by Dinwiddie. Satori Theatre Company was unique for its time in the organization, governance, direction and ability to sustain operations without adult supervision or intervention. As the “kids’ theatre,” the cooperation of local vendors, institutions and faith-based organizations allowed the members of the group to develop entrepreneurial skills, technical production skills, and support the aspirations of “satorians” to pursue careers in the performing arts, design, business and the media.
Members of the company was asked to participate on the local host committee for the International Theatre Olympiad held in Detroit in 1975 with company director George Swan III appointed to serve by Michigan Governor William Milliken on the Michigan Council of the Arts Theatre Advisory Panel. During the six years that Satori Theatre Company flourished, nearly 40 productions including full-length productions, musicals and one-acts were produced. Ninety-seven persons were accepted into full-membership into the company. While the impetus for the company was a theater operated by young people, as members matured, the national economy declined, funding for independent theaters and community theaters diminished, Satori Theatre Company formally closed at the conclusion of the musical production “Brown-Eyed Momma” in 1977 after six seasons of performances.
The following provides a summary of the performance history of Satori Theatre of Detroit:
July 1971 “Script” by Michael Dinwiddie Cast: Thomas Coote, Lee Donaldson, Stephen Rambo, Michael Dinwiddie, Kathryn Ervin, and Michelle Dinwiddie
“You Must Leave Now” by Kathryn Ervin Cast: Kathryn Ervin, Debra Walton, Michael Dinwiddie Robin Parks, Ferdinand Penn
October 1971 “Script” by Michael Dinwiddie “You Must Leave Now” by Kathryn Ervin “Fragile Barrier” by Lee Donaldson Cast Members: Treva Bass, Thomas Coote, Michael Dinwiddie, Michelle Dinwiddie, Lee Donaldson, Rodney Groves, Stephen Rambo, Robin Parks, Kathryn Ervin, Stephanie Segue, Ferdinand Penn and Debra Walton. March 1972 “Negro history Week Tour,” Detroit Public Schools, Oakland County Youth Assistance Advisory Council July 1972 Four Plays “You Must Leave Now” by Kathryn Ervin Cast: Kathryn Ervin, Debra Walton, Michael Dinwiddie, Robin Parks, Stephen Rambo “A Fine Day for War” by Michael Towns Cast: Robin Parks, Michael Dinwiddie, Thomas Cooste, Jr., Stephen Rambo “Interlude” by Kathryn Ervin Cast: Barbara Houston and Rodd Groves “The First Day” by Michael Dinwiddie Cast: Taylor Segue IV, Michelle Dinwiddie, Stephanie Segue, Dan Settles and Michael McGee September 1972 “The Last Testament” June-August 1973 Summer Theatre in the Parks “Improvisations on the Black Experience for Children” July 1973 “Thou Shalt Not Kill (Unless They Deserve It)” Cast: Thomas Cummings, Kathryn Ervin, George Swan III, Michael Dinwiddie, Patricia Banks, Leslie Dunnell, Clayton Fox, III, Lisa Leace, Michael Mcgee, Robin Parks, Taylor Segue, Patricia Harris, William Hogg, Dan Settles, Gregory Freeman, Patricia Coote, Kenneth Hylton, Jr., Cynthia Ross, and Nilda Glenn November 1973 A Night of One-Acts “You People” by Dan Settles Cast: Larry Burton, Kathryn Ervin, Francine Jones, Cynthia Ross, Robert Pitts, Joseph Butler, Cheryl McClenic, Thomas Cummings, Devona Eubanks and Michelle Taylor “A Matter of Opinion” by George W. Swan III Cast: Margaret King, George Swan III, Michelle Dinwiddie, William Hogg and Francine Jones “Creation: The Diversion” by George W. Swan III Cast: George Swan III, Michelle Taylor, Cheryl McClenic, Michael Dinwiddie and Patricia Banks “I’ll Be Back in the Morning” by Kenneth Hylton, Jr. Cast: Robert Pitts, Michael Dinwiddie, Kathryn Ervin, Joseph Butler, Patricia Banks, Larry Burton and Cynthia Ross “Elevator” by William F. Hogg Cast: Joseph Butler, Thomas Cummings, Nilda Glenn and Devona Eubanks
March 1974 “Montana Young,” Book and Music by Michael Dinwiddie Cast: Joske Thompson, Ronald Young, Joseph Hayden III, Kathryn Ervin, Patricia Banks, Karen Clermont, Michelle Taylor, Joseph Butlet, Jr., William Hogg, Richard Cullens, Gregory Freeman, Karen Blakely, Cheryl McClenic, George Swan III, Thomas Cummings, Keith Hylton, Kevin Hylton, Cynthia Ross, Leslie Dunnell, Devona Eubanks, Francine Jones, Crystal Kelly, Margaret King, Vincent Chishom. Nilda Glenn and Joshua Williams
April 1974 WXYZ (Channel 7) Collage Television Program “Street Sense” October 1974 “Martians Don’t Speak English” by Michael Dinwiddie Cast: Gregory Freeman, William Hogg, Steven Lockhart, Howard Soneclar, Thomas Cummings, Clayton Fox, III, Constance Jones, Sam Weisman, Gregory Bowman, Michelle Dinwiddie, Rochelle Mullins, Apryl Thomas, Mellisa Hepburn, Valerie Robinson, Francine Jones and Renne Wilks November 1974 “Godmachine” Season 5 “I90H” by George Swan III “Elevator” by William F. Hogg “Love” by Kathryn Ervin “Encounter” by William F. Hogg “Interlude” by Kathryn Ervin “Godmachine” by George Swan III Cast: Gregory Bowman, Thomas Cummings, Jennifer Davis, Robbie Davis, Terrie Ellery, Kathryn Ervin, Virgil Flynn, Argenia Ford, Clayton Fox, III, Melissa Hepburn, William Hogg, Sheryl King, Cheryl McClenic, Frank McDonnell, Duane McKee, Gayle Palmieri, and George Swan III
December 1974 Two One-Acts
“Orientation” by George Swan III
“A Street Named DSR” by William Hogg
August 1975
May 1976 Five One-Acts “Godmachine” by Geoge Swan III “The Rehearsal” by George Swan III “Matter of Opinion” by George Swan III “The Applicant” by George Swan III “Shelia’s Wallet” by Melissa Hepburn Cast: Kathryn Ervin, Melissa Hepburn. Cynthia Cox. Cynthia Fishburn, George Swan, Patrice Walden, Elizabeth Taylor, Benita Mixon, Thomas Salusberry, Patricia Swan, Terrence Werldow, Jenai Gardner, Toni Hampton, Candace Woodall and Yvette Blackwell.
June –August 1976 “Return to the Way,” Book and Music by George Swan III Cast: Clayton Fox, III, Cynthia Fishburn, Duane McKee, Rosalind Andrews, Cynthia Cox, Eric Duncan, Kathy Wilson, Valorie McCune, Earl Wilson, Beverly Coleman, Kenneth Robinson, Vicky Spring, Kimberly Edmonson, Linda Barrington, Linda Weeks, Candance Woodall, Robert Boone, L. Melissa Hepburn, Thomas Cummings, Carla Woodall, Lawrence Smith, Ramona Sparger, Lisa Robinson, Bridget Davis, Patricia Swan,. Benita Mixon, Patrica Walden. Elizabeth Taylor and Argenia Ford.
November 1976 “Carole, Dear Carole” by George Swan III Cast: Terence Werdlow, Sheryl King, Lawrence Smith, Denise James, Patricia Swan, George Swan, Chris Cosey, Lisa Robinson, Robert Boone, Eric Duncan, Toni Hampton, Glade Koehler, Cynthia Cox, Kimberyl Edmonson, Cynthia Fishburn, Argenia Ford, Aleta Hamilton, Melissa Hepburn, Viky Spring, Pat Porter, Valorie Smith, Ramona Sparger, Regina Turner and Candace Woodall
December 1976 “Christmas at Cobo” by Argenia Ford
February 1977 “Black History Tour” Directed by Kathryn Ervin
March 1977 “Brown-Eyed Momma” Book and Music by George Swan III Cast: Brian Heath, Denise James, Patricia Porter, Ramona Sparger, Thomas Reese, Valorie Smith, Eric Duncan, Terence Werdlow, Robert Boone, Susan Hall, Ruth Jarrett, Glade Koehler, Anita Nelson, Regina Turner, Lisa Woods, Margo Heath, Patricia Swan, Aleta Hamilton, Steve Bland, Derrick Dillard, Jessica Hamilton, Cynthia Cox, Cynthis Fishburn, Candace Woodall, Sheryl King, Kathy Wilson and Melissa Hepburn.