A Refugee in Detroit

By Keith Josef Adkins
Directed by Michael Kachingwe

When a mysterious box is delivered to a newly opened cafe, the stakes instantly change and become indistinguishable between paranoia and naivety for the new refugees in Detroit.

Read the Director's Note

Playwright | KEITH JOSEF ADKINS

Keith Josef Adkins’s Great Migration play, The West End, is scheduled to premiere in 2021 at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. His play, The People Before the Park, is scheduled for 2021 production at the University of Iowa. Some of Keith’s other plays include Pitbulls (Rattlestick NYC), Safe House (St. Louis Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Aurora), The Last Saint on Sugar Hill (National Black Theater, MPAACT). He was recently commissioned by the Apollo Theater in New York City to help curate their inaugural season at their new Victoria Theater. Keith’s the recipient of the Helen Merrill Playwriting Award, Samuel French's Award for Impact and Activism in the Theater Community, as well as National Black Theater's Teer Spirit Award. He is also the artistic director of The New Black Fest, a 10-year-old theater organization committed to fostering insurgent voices from the African Diaspora. His TV credits include P-Valley on Starz, Netflix's Outer Banks, ABC's For The People, The Good Fight on CBS, and he's currently developing TV projects with JJ Abrams' Bad Robot and Regina King’s Royal Ties with Netflix. Photo by Jessica Fallon Gordon Photography.

Director | MICHAEL KACHINGWE

Michael T. Kachingwe is pleased to be directing such a talented cast. As a member of SAG/AFTRA and AEA, he has appeared in The Tempest as “Prospero,” as well as in Richard III as “Queen Margaret.” He has performed in over 40 productions including theatrical engagements at the Kennedy Center (Washington, DC), La Mama (off Broadway), Steppenwolf (Chicago), Goodman (Chicago), Victory Gardens (Chicago), Shubert (Boston), Southern California Shakespeare Festival, Hayworth (LA), Robey (LA), and Unicorn (Kansas City). Theatre roles include ”Claudius” in Hamlet, “Caius” in Merry Wives of Windsor, “Michael Cassio” in Othello, “Claudius” in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, “Charlie” in Bourbon at the Border, ”Wil” in Flyin’ West, “Slow Drag” in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, “Bynum” in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, and “Keo” in Nomathemba (featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo). He can currently be seen in the Web Series Just Jackie in the role of “Marcus.” In addition to his theatrical performing credits, Michael has appeared in film and television including roles in The West Wing, The Bold and the Beautiful, and several national commercials. Michael has also directed over 50 theatrical productions, vocal coached over 40 productions, and fight choreographed over 30 productions.

Cast of A Refugee in Detroit
Terri \| BRITNY J. HORTON Britny J. Horton is an art-ivist from Rochester, NY. Her most recent credits include Breath Behind the Mask, Hit the Wall, and Sweat (University of Iowa), Men on Boats (Riverside Theatre), Too Heavy for Your Pocket (Pyramid Theatre), short films Incensed and Lights On. She recently completed production for her short film YesToday, for which she received a grant from the University of Iowa. In 2019, Britny won the Best Actress in a Play Award from Broadway World Des Moines.
Stephanie \| LIANA S. SULEIMAN Liana S. Suleiman is a recent University of Iowa alum with undergraduate degrees in mechanical engineering and computer and electrical engineering. Though a more technical background, her focus was centered around international development - the design, testing, and sustainable implementation of products for the social, political, and economic growth of the developing world. Finding her footing as she navigates away from the limitations of engineering, she is exploring the methodology to best create socio-political change.
Michael \| STEVEN WILLIS Twenty-seven-year-old Steven Antoine Willis uses poetry and theatre to embark on the daunting task of articulating African American culture. Willis is a contributing writer to the Breakbeat Poets Anthology, NYU’s National Council for Teacher of English Journal, and is a three-time individual world poetry slam finalist. Willis is currently an MFA acting candidate at the University of Iowa where his acting credits include Lynn Nottage’s Sweat and Ike Holter’s Hit the Wall.

Cast of A Refugee in Detroit

Terri | BRITNY J. HORTON

Britny J. Horton is an art-ivist from Rochester, NY. Her most recent credits include Breath Behind the Mask, Hit the Wall, and Sweat (University of Iowa), Men on Boats (Riverside Theatre), Too Heavy for Your Pocket (Pyramid Theatre), short films Incensed and Lights On. She recently completed production for her short film YesToday, for which she received a grant from the University of Iowa. In 2019, Britny won the Best Actress in a Play Award from Broadway World Des Moines.

Stephanie | LIANA S. SULEIMAN

Liana S. Suleiman is a recent University of Iowa alum with undergraduate degrees in mechanical engineering and computer and electrical engineering. Though a more technical background, her focus was centered around international development - the design, testing, and sustainable implementation of products for the social, political, and economic growth of the developing world. Finding her footing as she navigates away from the limitations of engineering, she is exploring the methodology to best create socio-political change.

Michael | STEVEN WILLIS

Twenty-seven-year-old Steven Antoine Willis uses poetry and theatre to embark on the daunting task of articulating African American culture. Willis is a contributing writer to the Breakbeat Poets Anthology, NYU’s National Council for Teacher of English Journal, and is a three-time individual world poetry slam finalist. Willis is currently an MFA acting candidate at the University of Iowa where his acting credits include Lynn Nottage’s Sweat and Ike Holter’s Hit the Wall.

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