New African Theater brings stage drama "'night, Mother" to Shore Cultural Centre

Lynna Metrisin and Tamicka Scruggs star in the drama "'night, Mother" at Shore Cultural Centre this month. 

As Thelma settles into an evening of needlepoint, her adult daughter Jessie Cates announces and prepares for her own death. Such is the plotline for Marsha Norman’s stage play and film, “‘night, Mother,” being directed with a twist by the acclaimed and accomplished director and playwright, Michael Oatman. In this adaptation, the mother, Thelma, is Caucasian, played by Lynna Metrisin, and the daughter, Jessie, is of mixed race, played by Tamicka Scruggs. This complex, emotional, thought provoking and intense play confronts suicide, along with other serious topics related to mental health and family issues. "‘night, Mother" will be on stage September 20-22, 2018 at Shore Cultural Centre, 291 E 222nd St., Euclid, OH 44123.  7pm each day, and a 3pm matinee on the 22nd. Room 152 – Tickets $20 advance and $25 at the door.

Metrisin is no stranger to Cleveland stages, having performed, produced and directed productions at theaters including Cleveland Public Theater, French Creek Theater in Sheffield Lake, Ohio, Clague Playhouse in Westlake, Ohio and Marilyn Bianchi’s Kid’s Playwriting Festival at Dobama Theater.  Metrisin has recently performed in the “The Mint" at Cleveland Public Theater’s Entry Point play festival, played Jenny in “Death of a Salesman” and played Mrs. Gibbs in “Our Town.” 

Scruggs has been seen most recently in the Lifetime movie "With this Ring" on Showtime and in the documentary "Murder in the Park." She has graced many stages around Northeast Ohio including the Dobama Theatre, Near West Theatre, Weathervane Playhouse and Karamu House Theater, Blank Canvas Theatre.  She has also been featured in the television show "Crime Stoppers." Theatre and acting is Scruggs’ passion.

Oatman is the former Playwright-In-Residence at Karamu House Theater. He is only the second person to hold this honor, the first being the prolific writer Langston Hughes.  Oatman won the 2011 CPAC Workforce Fellowship, the Cleveland Art Prize in 2010 for Best Emerging Artist and the 2010 Lantern Award for Best Play His productions include Nativity, Warpaint, Eclipse: The War Between Pac and B.I.G., Course of Action, My Africa, and A Solitary Voice. He earned an English Degree from Cleveland State University in 2004 and completed his MFA in theater from the Northeastern Ohio Master of Fine Arts Consortium (Cleveland State, Akron University, Youngstown University and Kent State) in 2008. 

The innovative New African Theater serves as an incubator for playwrights, directors, and actors, uncovering talented gems and shining them to a high polish. New African Theater launches creative work and develops talent at the same time, and was founded by Oatman in 2013. 

For Tickets go to Eventbrite or use the Link below https://tinyurl.com/NightMotherPlayhttps://tinyurl.com/NightMotherPlay  Shore Cultural Centre is located at 291 E. 222nd , Euclid. For more information call (216) 289-8578.