What Lies Underneath: Otis' Epiphany, a powerful drama from emerging
playwright Francine D. Miller, brings the struggles of 1970s Harlem to
2015 Philadelphia.

CAST
Ian Grant
Nastalgia "The poet"Jenkins
Keith Henley
Coby Jack
Robert Mansell
Francine D. Miller
Theodore Ingram

Coming to us from Philadelphia playwright
Francine D. Miller, author of My Husband Didn't Teach Me French and  My
Man Stripped Me Down to the Ground, What Lies Underneath: Otis' Epiphany
is the story of a dignified, discontent, yet ambitious OTIS HENRY, a 36
year old man who has endured a life of setbacks, false starts and
limitations that have kept him and his family in poverty. The son of
parents who were part of the Great Migration, OTIS' overwhelming love
and adoration for his wife ODESSA and their teenage son OTIS JR.
motivates him to continue cooking up schemes to improve their lives and
become their super-hero. Strangely, OTIS' deceased uncle BYRON HENRY,
whom he has never met, suddenly creeps in from the dead, offering OTIS
help through some old-fashioned witchcraft. Little does OTIS know that
his ghostly uncle is seeking revenge against the Henry family, OTIS' now
deceased relatives, who had abandoned BYRON decades ago. BYRON HENRY'S
ghost is out to destroy, and this is when hell enters the Henry family,
in Harlem, New York, 1974.

WHY NOW?
In the early 1900s,
Harlem, New York was the epicenter of amazing African American arts and
creative production, as well as the rise of entrepreneurs. However,
after the Great Depression and the eventual death of industry in New
York City, many African Americans resorted to a life of crime. Poverty
was rampant due to job loss and racial discrimination. Some hopelessly
resorted to dark, otherworldly, or forbidden sources in an attempt to
rid themselves of poverty. THIS is where the story of OTIS HENRY begins.


What Lies Underneath: Otis' Epiphany is set in 1970s Harlem,
New York. President Gerald Ford was in office and the nation was crying
for jobs, particularly in the African American community. Instead of
jobs, pride, and empowerment, government assistance in the form of
welfare was forced upon many Harlem residents, which led to riots and
protests. Once a booming, thriving dream place for African American,
many of whom were transplants from the South, Harlem in the 1970s was
filled with economic hardship. Consequently, scores of African American
family men were left without any dignity, creating broken homes for
their children.

Says playwright Francine D. Miller, "As I have
been taught in the past, and even find myself occasionally reflecting
on, a period called the Harlem Renaissance--synonymous with African
American culture during the early 20th century--- and my love and
curiosity of this significant era, inspired me to write a play that has
roots in this time."

In 2015, we still see economic hardship in
Harlem and other urban minority communities across the country. We can
look to outsourcing, eminent domain, racism, cycles of abuse, poverty,
addiction, and dis-empowerment. These issues put people in desperate
situations--- ultimately triggering individuals to choose the wrong path
in order to gain so-called success and comfort. Of course, this story
is relevant to not only Harlem residents, but to all communities in the
U.S that have fallen victim to such circumstances.

SHOWTIMES:
Wednesday January 28 at 7pm
Friday January 30 at 7pm
Saturday January 31 at 4pm and 8pm

Tickets are $8 General and $5 for Students with valid photo I.D. Advance tickets are recommended. Purchase HERE