Based on true events when the Communist Party courted African Americans in 1932 by championing their civil rights and opposing racist injustices, four Harlemites fleeing racial injustice and the economic fallout of the great depression, win roles in a blockbuster film financed by Joseph Stalin. Once in the Soviet Union, they pursue the dreams denied them in the US, but when they discover the country is hiding a devastating secret, they’ll be forced to escape it with their lives. Company of Angels presents the premiere of Red Harlem, written by playwright Kimba Henderson. Directed by Bernadette Speakes, Red Harlem opens February 14 at Boyle Heights’ Company of Angels, with performances continuing through March 15. 

Based on true events, Red Harlem takes place during the historic time in history when the Communist Party’s campaign attracted thousands of new Black members during the great depression, presenting itself as a more radical alternative to organizations like the NAACP. For many African Americans facing extreme discrimination during the Great Depression, the Communist Party’s outspoken solidarity was a powerful draw.

Henderson’s latest play reflects her skill for telling complex multi-character drama with humanity and humor to boot. RED HARLEM, developed with the Company of Angels’ professional playwriting group, highlights the true story of the Communist Party’s recruitment efforts in the 1930s by casting a propagandist film with Black performers from Harlem that was written by Langston Hughes and shot in the Soviet Union. The intersectionality of race, class, nationality, and politics are seamlessly woven into a fascinating tapestry that depicts a virtually unknown bit of history.

Henderson reflects on her writing life during the pandemic. Despite all the madness of COVID and amidst the murder of George Floyd, she used the forced quarantine to hunker down and generate. She says “Crazy doesn’t shut me down. Crazy makes me curious”.

According to Henderson, “After one of my play performances, I was approached by an elderly gentleman in the audience who said it was imperative he speak with me. One never knows how such an interaction will go, but after he casually mentioned he used to be the manager for Sly & the Family Stone, I was all in. “Did you know in 1932, the Communist Party was courting African Americans, so the Party’s Black US Vice Presidential candidate convinced Joseph Stalin to bring a group of Harlemites to the Soviet Union to make a propaganda film written by Langston Hughes?,” he asked. After all that swirled around my head, the obvious answer was, “No,” but I was deeply intrigued. I found glimpses of this event in literature about Hughes, the V.P. candidate, Ford, the Communist Party, 1930s filmmaking, and the African American presence in Russia. As a lover of historical fiction, there was just enough information about this event that I knew it had happened, but not so much that it was too well known. I have long had a fascination with Harlem and its inhabitants, having spent some time there. Pulling all of the pieces together with Harlem’s spirit as the driving emotional force has made writing Red Harlem a one-of-a-kind labor of love.”

The Red Harlem cast includes Christopher Cassarino (Deckhand, Othello) as David; Dennis Gersten (Lear Redux, Henry IV) plays Hugh Cooper; Micah Johnson as James Ford and Ralph Bunche; Dylan Jones (4.48 Psychosis, Three Sisters) is Velma; Luis Kelly-Duarte (Twelfth Night, As You Like it) plays Shifty; Rama Orleans-Lindsay (MAS-CO-GOS, U/S Ghost Waltz) is Lenore; Claudio Parrone Jr. (The Odyssey, Cabaret) plays Misha; Fana Minea Tesfagiorgis (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, My Fair Lady) plays Selena (understudy is Rune ValBlaine); and Ahkei Togun (The Serpent, Picnic, Kill Move Paradise) plays Will.

The creative team includes set and light designer Justin Huen; projection designer Emmanuel Munda; sound designer Jose Medrano Velazquez; costume designer Mylette Nora; and prop master Dana Schwartz. The production stage manager is Kallisto Teng. Dramaturg is Jennie Webb; Choreographer is Kenya Clay; Artwork Designer Ana Lucia Tucci; and Intimacy Coordinator is Joy DeMichelle. Produced by Armando Molina, Lui Sanchez, and Nakasha Norwood from Company of Angels.

Kimba Henderson, Red Harlem playwright, was born in Detroit into a Navy family and raised in San Diego. She was fascinated by crime at a young age, constantly overhearing her court reporter mom dictate cases in the home. Regaled by these tales of “The Young & The About To Be Incarcerated,” Kimba’s love of storytelling was born. After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Kimba moved to Los Angeles where she began her writing career penning docuseries and true crime shows. She loves telling stories about people in unexpected places doing unexpected things whether on TV, stage, or the big screen. As of 2023, she is a TV Drama fellow in Fox Entertainment’s Writers Incubator Program, was selected for The Black List x Women in Film Residency, and her play RISE about the multicultural neighborhood of Boyle Heights was produced at Company of Angels in the Fall.

With a career spanning over three decades, Red Harlem director Bernadette Speakes has made significant contributions to the film industry as an award-winning filmmaker, acclaimed director, and accomplished actor. Her collaborations with industry legends such as Sidney Poitier, Robert Downey Jr., William Shatner, and Taye Diggs have left a lasting impact. Bernadette’s directorial portfolio is diverse, encompassing compelling dramas, psychological thrillers, and gripping horror films. Her psychological thriller, “Imaginist” (2022), won the ‘Best Production’ award at the Black August Film Festival, garnering international acclaim at festivals in Berlin and Nepal. Her horror short film, “PRIVOKE,” secured the ‘Audience Choice Award’ at the WOCU/JTC & Entertwine’s 48-Hour Horror Film Festival. Additionally, her drama film, “Emerald King,” earned a ‘Best Director’ nomination at Queen City’s Film Festival.

In theater, Bernadette has directed acclaimed productions, including “The Bluest Eye,” “The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963,” and “CUT” (written by Emmy Award winner Stacy Amma Osei-Kuffour). “The Bluest Eye” achieved a sold-out six-week run. As Guest Director for Antaeus Theater’s Radio Plays (Seasons 1 & 2, 2020-2021), her work was widely praised by the Los Angeles Times, which described it as “delightful, quick, fun, and surprising, with exceptional production quality.” LA Weekly also lauded the series for its “enchanting and original” performances. In 2018, Bernadette received a nomination for ‘Female Director of Distinction’ at the Hollywood Fringe Festival for her film “Villain: An American Story.”

Bernadette’s stage performances have taken her to prestigious venues like Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, Chicago’s Goodman and Steppenwolf Theaters, and Los Angeles’ Fountain and Hudson Theaters. In 2017, her ensemble cast in Love Jones earned the Cinematic Classic Award at the ABFF Awards. Bernadette has also made significant strides in television, appearing in shows like Bel Air (Peacock), Tiny Beautiful Things (Hulu), First Kill (Netflix), and a recurring role in CW’s All American. Committed to supporting visionary storytellers, she continues to leave an indelible mark on the entertainment landscape.

As the oldest non-profit professional theater in Los Angeles, Company of Angels produces theater that reflects and responds to the richness, diversity, and complexity that is our city. A Company of diverse theater artists fostering mutual learning partnerships with the residents of Los Angeles through artistic development opportunities, community building enterprises, and life experiences. Company of Angels develops emerging artists, creates new work, and re-envisions theater to entertain new audiences and serve the City of Angels.