A Gift From a Stranger, presented by Chanticleer Productions

A Gift From a Stranger, presented by Chanticleer Productions

By Christopher T. “Amunubenheh” Brown

Directed by Almeta Whitis

Thu, Aug 17 - 7:30pm⁣ - Donations only, pay what you wish (Dress rehearsal)⁣

 Fri, Aug 18 - 7:30pm⁣ - Advance sales: $17 adults, $12 students/seniors* ⁣ - At the Door: $20 adults, $15 students/seniors ⁣

 Sat, Aug 19 - 2:00pm - Advance sales: $12 all tickets ⁣ - At the Door: $15 all tickets ⁣

 Sat, Aug 19 - 7:30pm⁣ - Advance sales: $17 adults, $12 students/seniors ⁣ - At the Door: $20 adults, $15 students/seniors ⁣

 Sun, Aug 20 - 2:00pm - Advance sales: $12 all tickets ⁣ - At the Door: $15 all tickets ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ *Seniors = 55+⁣

 *ASL interpretation TBD

An encounter at a local sweet shop reveals a tale of ancestral healing that traces its roots back to Ancient Egypt.

In 2020, Rochester Playwrights & Actors tasked local artists to write a 30-minute short play that included three prompts: a jukebox, a popsicle and the phrase “That's as good as it gets!”. Embracing the opportunity, storyteller Almeta Whitis turned to her elder son, Amunubenheh Brown, requesting that he write a script that she could direct. Little did they know that this short play would evolve into a captivating full-length production, blending contemporary and Ancient Egyptian themes.⁣ ⁣ 

“A Gift From A Stranger” draws inspiration from Ancient Egypt's core concept of the 42 Neters—a belief system passed down through the ages in the form of “initiate story theater.” Delving into an engaging backstory rooted in Ancient Egyptian (Kemeten) mythology, the narrative unveils the consequences of humankind's rebellion against the aging sun god RE. The result: RE birthed his lion-headed, born-to-kill daughter, SEKHMET, thereby unleashing her immense destructive power upon humankind.⁣ ⁣ 

While the play’s three seemingly ordinary characters appear as everyday neighborhood individuals, there is much more to them than meets the eye. Reginald Franklin, the owner of the “sweet shoppe,” symbolically represents the sun god RE/ATUM. Adrian Numenius Curlew, a curious teenager fascinated by African cultures, embodies HERU or HORUS—an embodiment of RE's reason and compassion. Sirena Domino, a visually-striking homeless woman living out of her car, unknowingly embodies SEKHMET herself, the all-powerful Goddess of Fire sent to Earth to punish humanity for their wickedness and disregard of the sacred principles of the 42 Neteru.⁣ ⁣ 

As the story unfolds, Sirena finds herself lost in Rochester's 19th Ward while en route to California. She is on a mission to carry out something destructive, although the exact reason eludes her memory. However, it is evident that her actions will have dire consequences.⁣ ⁣ What unfolds on stage differs with each performance, as a fourth character is introduced—the Audience. Following the tradition of Jerzy Grotowski's “Poor Theater,” audience members are invited to participate during each show, adding a unique and interactive element. 

A Q&A session will follow each performance.

About the Company

“A Gift from A Stranger” continues a 30-year-creative partnership between 19th Ward Rochester-born and raised playwright, screenwriter, award-winning poet, and “Blazing Concepts LLC” founder, Christopher T. “Amunubenheh” Brown, and his “Mom”, renowned master storyteller, multiple award-winning actor, performing arts master teaching artist, and published writer, Queen Mother Almeta Whitis. ⁣ ⁣ 

Her first commissioned full-length stage play “I Give You The Dawn”, produced in partnership with RMSC, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and RCSD extols the beauty, strength, diverse character qualities, and fortitude of the Black Woman, shown through personas of five Great Queens of Africa, which debuted for five sold-out performances on Nazareth Arts Center Main Stage. ⁣ ⁣ 

In 1998, Brown's “Spotlight On Jonah Wade”, presented from the perspective of a sensitive and “aware” Black youth with potential, reveals a seldom-seen side of the Black Man's inner psyche, while offering a foray into the social stigma of mental illness, and something we all experience - “feeling left out.” Its full-length staging debut at RMSC's Eisenhart Auditorium to three sold-out performances was the inaugural pairing with Whitis' Inner Voice Theatre Company, whose works were “a celebration and exploration of cultural diversity in our community.” ⁣ ⁣ 

This 2023 staging partners Brown's West Coast Blazing Concepts Productions LLC with Whitis' reprise of Chanticleer Productions, which embraces and expands on their original concept view, which now includes film and interactive video shorts.

The cast includes 

Gregory Glasper as Reginald Franklin (RE/ATUM), both Aisha DaCosta and Dove Green as Sirena Domino (SEKHMET), and William Jones as Adrian Numenius Curlew (HERU/HORUS).

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of The Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts.

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