Does humanity deserve another chance? A fable from the great Lorraine Hansberry about a hermit and some children at the end of the world--or the beginning.

 

To contact Make-Believe, email us at [email protected]

 

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What Use Are Flowers?: A Fable

By Lorraine Hansberry

Music by Mikhail Fiksel

Sound by Erisa Apantaku and Mikhail Fiksel

Directed by Daniel Kyri

Executive produced by Jeremy McCarter

 

Performed and recorded live at the Harold Washington Library, Chicago

 

CAST

Hermit - Billy Branch

Charlie - Daniel Kyri

Lily - Khloe Janel

William - Tevion Lanier

Narration read by Kiayla Ryann

 

SOUND TEAM

Recording engineer - Joe Palermo

Additional recording - Scott Tallarida at Trigger

 

PRODUCTION STAFF

Production manager - Madeleine Borg

Stage manager - JC Widman

Community manager - LaRob Payton

 

POST-PRODUCTION

Editing and mixing by Erisa Apantaku and Mikhail Fiksel

Sound design by Mikhail Fiksel

Final mixing and mastering by Joe Palermo

 

Permission from Joi Gresham and the Lorraine Hansberry Literary Trust

 

Graphic design by Carly Pearlman

 

Equipment provided by TechMagic Designs

 

Make-Believe theme music by Mikhail Fiksel

 

“Greensleeves” - traditional English folk melody

 

Ludwig van Beethoven

Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 - 4. Finale (Ode to Joy)

 

Ludwig van Beethoven

Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 - 3. Adagio molto e cantabile; Andante moderato

Performed by Skidmore College Orchestra, via Musopen

 

SPECIAL THANKS

Joi Gresham, Julie McGarvie, and the Lorraine Hansberry Literary Trust; Brian Bannon and the staff of Chicago Public Library; Carolyn Casselman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton, and Garrison; Robert Hornbostel; Nancy García Loza; Nate Marshall; SAG-AFTRA.

 

PRODUCTION SPONSORS

The Chauncey and Marion Deering McCormick Family Foundation, for an essential launch grant

The Poetry Foundation, our lead season sponsor

Joyce Chelberg, whose generosity supports the work of Make-Believe’s actors

All our donors and supporters

 

To support Make-Believe with a tax-deductible contribution, please visit:

https://makebelieve.fm/support-us/