Based on the novel The Gilda Stories, by Jewelle Gomez.

Conceived, directed, and choreographed by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar in collaboration with Jewelle Gomez.

Composer, Lyricist, and Musical Director Toshi Reagon
Co-Director and Acting Coach Steven Kent
Set Production Design Douglas D. Smith
Lighting Design Kristabelle Munson
Costume Design Stefani Mar
Sound Score Michael Keck
Performers Natalie Carter**, Irene Datcher**, Michelle Dorant*, Pat L. Hall, Dionne Kamara*, Christine King*, Stephanie McKay, Emerald Trinket Monsod, Treva Yvonne Offutt, Kwame Azalius, Carl Hancock Rux, Amara Tabor-Smith
  *Member of the Urban Bush Women.
  ** The actor appears courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

The Urban Bush Women would like to extend special thanks to the following original cast members of Bones and Ash: A Gilda Story for their creative contribution: Gacirah Diagne, Maia Claire Garrison, Beverley Prentice, Deborah Thomas, Junior "Gabu" Wedderburn, Valeries Winborne, and Christalyn Wright.

A portion of Bones and Ash is adapted from the book Oral Tradition, by Jewelle Gomez (Firebrand Books) and is used by permission of the author and publisher. Copyright by Jewelle Gomez.

Bones and Ash was originally co-commissioned by Jacob's Pillow (Lee, MA) and the Walker Art Center (Minneapolis). Other commissioners include Penn State University; On the Boards (Seattle, WA); Hancher Auditorium (Iowa City, IA); Northrop Auditorium (Minneapolis); the University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ); Wexner Center for the Arts (Columbus, OH); and the Center for the Arts at Yerba Buena (San Francisco). Residency support is being provided by the Colorado (Boulder) and Bates (Lewiston, ME) Dance Festivals and by Yellow Springs Institute (Chester, PA).

Major support for Bones and Ash has come from the AT&T Foundation. Additional support has been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts' Artists Projects (through UBW), Partnerships in Presenting and Commissioning (through Jacob's Pillow), and Opera-Musical Theater (Development and Phase I through the Walker Art Center). The Urban Bush Women also have received support from ASTRAEA National Lesbian Action Foundation, the American Festival Project's New Works Fund, the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, the Jerome Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation's Multi-Arts Production Fund, and the Sister Fund.

 

Girl Christine King
Irissas Michelle Dorant, Dionne Kamara, Amara Tabor-Smith
Gilda Pat L. Hall
Theodora Treva Yvonne Offutt
Fox Kwame Azalius Ross
High Priestess Irene Datcher
  - Intermission -
Girl Christine King
Irissas Michelle Dorant, Dionne Kamara, Amara Tabor-Smith
Savannah Natalie Carter
Skip Carl Hancock Rux
Toya Stephanie McKay
Fox Kwame Azalius Ross
Theodora

Treva Yvonne Offutt
  Some cast members double as characters in the bordello, on the road, and in the beauty parlor.

 

Character Descriptions
The Irissas From "iris," meaning rainbow. In the vampire community they are the oldest, the teachers, guiding their family.
Gilda Born in Bravel several hundred years before this story takes place. In this life she is the madam of Woodard's, a bordello in New Orleans. She is the partner and lover of Bird.
Bird Born in the Philippines, she was brought to the United States with her mother when she was young and was left with a Lakota Indian tribe after her mother's death.
GildaGirl Escaped (at age 12) from slavery in Mississippi when her mother died. She was taken in and educated by Gilda and Bird at Woodard's.
Theodora Two years older than GildaGirl, she is a free black whose fair-skinned mother used to work in the bordello. She works as a domestic servant and lives at Woodard's.
Fox An ex-slave who appears to be in his 20s but is closer to 100.
Savannah Originally from the South and in her mid-30s, she is a hairdresser at Gilda Nite Styles.
Skip A musician who is a couple of years younger than Savannah.
Toya A young prostitute from New Orleans who came north to make money.