Face Off Theatre's New Play Shows How Laughter, Pain Coexists in Families

By Face Off Theatre Company

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – A dramatic comedy of laughter, love, joy, pain – and secrets – is Face Off Theatre Company’s next production. “Jar the Floor” by Cheryl West follows the dysfunction that ensues when four generations of Black women celebrate the 90th birthday of their matriarch. Anyone who’s had to navigate family life will relate to this heart-warming play. It runs July 15-17.

“Cheryl West shows us a comedic and dramatic slice of life into this family’s story, and each woman’s individual journey in navigating the truths and histories about what it means to be a mother, daughter and Black woman in society,” says Artistic Director Marissa Harrington, who also stars in the piece. “This play will resonate with anyone who has ever been someone’s parent, child, sibling or spouse.”

“Jar the Floor” is the third of our four plays this year. Our 2022 season started in February. 

We’re excited that three of Face Off Theatre Company’s eight members will be performing in the show: Marissa Harrington (“Lola”), Khadijah Brown (“Maydee”) and Zaynee Hobdy (“MaDear”). The trio are experienced actresses.

“We hope audiences resonate with the play’s humanness, and reflect on how we belong to each other just as much as we belong to ourselves," Harrington says.

Also starring are Mikaela Johnson (“Vennie”) and Brooklyn Hebert (“Raisa”). Johnson appeared in our hit play of last summer, Dominique Morriseau’s “Pipeline,” about the school-to-prison pipeline. Both Johnson and Hebert are studying theatre at Western Michigan University. Ryan Singleton directs.

You may remember Singleton, an actor and choreographer from Kalamazoo, from his lead role in our popular season opener in February 2019, "Mahalia: A Gospel Musical," for which he served as assistant director.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. July 15-16 and 2 p.m. July 16-17 at Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., Kalamazoo, located at the corner Lake and Portage streets. Admission is Pay-What-You-Can. BONUS: A talkback with the audience follows every performance. 

​For tickets, visit faceofftheatre.com.

NOTE: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination must be shown at the door, or a negative COVID test within 48 hours. Also, masks are required. 

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About Face Off Theatre Company
Face Off Theatre Company was founded in 2015 in Kalamazoo by six African-American women with theater and playwriting degrees from Western Michigan University. It is devoted to thought-provoking Black theater and the development of playwrights, actors and directors of color, drawing audiences from throughout Southwest Michigan to its performances. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for show updates.
For more: faceofftheatre.com

About the Playwright
Cheryl L. West’s other plays include “FANNIE: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou
Hamer,” “Last Stop on Market Street,” “Shout Sister Shout,” “Akeelah and the Bee”
and “Pullman Porter Blues.” Her plays have been produced in England, off-Broadway, and Broadway, as well as in numerous regional theaters around the country.  She has written TV and film projects at Disney, Paramount, MTV Films, Showtime, TNT, HBO, CBS, BET and is the Webby-nominated writer for the original web series “Diary of a Single Mom.” (Source: cheryllwest.com)