Music, Lyrics, and Book by:
Kennen Butler
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Artistically Developed by:
American Legacy Theatre
Playwrights for Change is a program made possible in part through the support of the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation and Greater Cincinnati Nonprofit News.
Thank you!
A Note from the Director and Producer
Welcome to American Legacy Theatre (ALT) where we empower voices for equity! We believe theatre is the best way to engage all voices authentically to build collective empathy so that we can activate audiences to improve our communities.
All that to say, Bridge City by Kennen Butler and developed by ALT is the embodiment of a key path towards a stronger community. We live in a current period that is filled with polarization, perpetuating divisiveness, and people losing trust in many good-hearted and amazing people right outside of their home. This fear can be traumatizing. Bridge City celebrates joy, hope, and the power of community coming together.
We are proud to partner with Kennen in developing this story from idea into this full piece you are experiencing today. It is still worth noting two things:
While Kennen brings to life a story that places a truthful Black voice into the spotlight, Kennen is one voice; there are so many more stories to engage in.
You are experiencing Bridge City in a critical developmental phase in our Playwrights for Change program.
As we empower voices for equity, we, too, hope to amplify your voice through this experience today. I encourage you to genuinely share your thoughts and feelings as you live in the world of Bridge City. Your feedback directly informs and aids in the next phase of redrafting what Kennen and I will explore over the next eight months.
Thank you again for being here today and being part of this journey. Thank you for being a part of positive change. The next step begins with you!
This is theatre for social change. This is #YourNationalTheatre.
Matthew
A Note from the Playwright
First of all, I’d like to lift up Nikko and Ariel. They are so missed from this production and this piece would not be what it is without them, their gifts, their light, and their joy.
A thing you should know is that, selfishly, Bridge City is an outcome I want to see happen in this life. The people on stage. The language. The rhythm. The invitation for everyone to participate and take something with you. Seeing faces that I see myself in lead a musical. But its community and the roots that are everything I’ve understood about this life. Regardless of where I’ve been. From Cincinnati, to Flint, to Osaka, to New York City.
My hope, prayer, and goal is to get you to enjoy yourself. For a moment, reflect on joy. And after that, when the lights come on and you are on your trip to wherever life takes you. That you are moved to do something. Mentor. Volunteer. Be kind. Invest in empathy. Laugh, smile, cry, love, and be a participant in your community. In your family regardless to how that may look. Love is an act of service and a big laugh can sometimes be the thing you need to see clearer.
Finally, I want to dedicate this piece to my Grandmother, Linda. My root in every way. The woman who embodied love as an act of service, who encouraged and poured into me, taught me, and who I know is so proud of all that I am.
Ya’ll, I hope Bridge City brings you whatever it is that you are needing when you see it.
Kennen
Song List
ACT I
Welcome In
Boom Pop Part 1
Boom Pop Part 2
Post Funeral/What’s Up Bookie?
Boom Pop Part 3
Bang Yo Beat Part 1
Bang Yo Beat Part 2
Morning Huddle I
What’s Up Bookie (Reprise)
Play Cousin
Before The Party
Boom Pop Part 4
Groove
My Prayer For You
Go Off
ACT II
Welcome In (Reprise)
All For What?
Morning Huddle II
What’s Not To Love
Monolith
Boom Pop Finale
Lead Creative Artists
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Kennen Butler
PLAYWRIGHT, COMPOSER, LYRICIST
Kennen is a NYC-based performer-composer, director, choreographer, and storyteller born in Flint, MI, but raised in Newburgh, NY. Their cross-genre career spans musical theatre and commercial music. A proud member of Actors Equity, their diverse theatre credits include the revival of Seussical the Musical Off-Broadway/Tour (Wickersham), Hairspray (u/s Seaweed), Tommy (u/s Acid Queen), Diary of a Payphone (Original Cast Recording), Aida (Mereb), Urinetown (Senator Fipp), Legally Blonde (Emmett), Knock Down Drag Out (Zonna), and Songs for a New World (Man 1) among others. They spent time as a background vocalist for acts like Toby Beau. Abroad, they served as a Creative Consultant for Universal Studios Osaka as well as being a swing for the company. They would also serve as director/choreographer for a Japanese production company called Team Utsubo where they mounted revue musicals in both English and Japanese.
While their love for harmony and stories would be their entry point into music and musical theatre, it would be their experiences navigating being black in environments that undervalue you and being nonbinary in a time were there wasn’t a word or place for you that sparked their interest in adding their voice to the current musical climate. Under the name “Kennen Jakhan & the Story” they performed their original English and Japanese commercial music around Osaka and the south of Japan before making the transition back to the United States. They are currently a playwright and composer for American Legacy Theatre’s In Home program to write, compose, and perform one person shows in a week’s time. They graduated magna cum laude from Berklee College of Music in Boston where they studied Contemporary Writing and Production with a double minor in Musical Theatre Writing and Vocal Pedagogy. They have returned to NYC to pursue their masters in Musical Theatre Writing at NYU Tisch.
“ALT has been an incredibly safe space for me. I was given room to grow and stretch as myself. Often in this life, others will mold me into the voice they wish me to use. At ALT, I have been able to use my own voice and through that give back to the communities I’m apart of and beyond.”
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Matthew David Gellin
PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, DESIGNER
Matthew has successfully acted and directed across the country, in Europe, and in Asia.
Matthew is proud to have served as a U.S. representative at the UNESCO
International Theatre Institute Research Lab in Romania. He was named a Promising Artist of the 21st Century by the International Arts and Cultural Exchange, and he has published papers on directorial theory in international peer-reviewed journals. He has also been recognized as one of Cincinnati Business Courier’s Forty Under 40.His financial background includes serving as U.S. delegate to the People’s Republic of China for foreign business affairs and and serving on the Association of Fundraising Professionals Foundation for Philanthropy USA Board of Directors.
Now, he looks to lift American theatre back to the top of the world’s stage.
“The power of theatre that has not yet been leveraged completely. It’s the idea of how can we get to a point where wars can be stopped and people can be brought together into a world of true equity because of the power of theatre. How do we truly make an impact in positive way for ALL voices and ALL people? We, at A.L.T. give them a voice and bring that voice to the forefront to be heard.”
THE ALT FOUNDER’S CIRCLE
Melissa & Chris Bauer
Slade & Marcia Gellin
MC & Tom Brennan
John Kirchgraber
Samantha & Matthew Gellin
Founder's Circle members commit at least $10,000 cumulatively over the course of four consecutive years.
To learn more about joining the Founder's Circle please contact donate@americanlegacytheatre.org
THE ROOTS
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Vee Gibson
JERICA
“I am deeply honored to join American Legacy Theater, an institution dedicated to using the power of storytelling to create safe spaces where audiences can confront realities, embrace diverse narratives, and spark vital conversations. I look forward to being a part of this movement—one that doesn’t just entertain but transforms hearts, minds, and communities.”
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Burgandie Roshjai
LYNN
“This is my second time working with ALT. And I must say it is without fail that I walk away learning something new about myself as an individual and as an actor every time. ALT allows for a safe space to fail… but encourages you to get back up and continue growing. And that’s what I love about ALT.”
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Dominique Owen
BOOKIE
“ALT is keeping the arts alive and I’m honored to be a part of that legacy.”
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Anna Ashburn
MINDI
“ALT elevates voices that need to be heard, promises greater empathy and understanding, and truly feels like family by creating a safe space to play and tell stories that are relevant and powerful.”
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Kayla Vogel
VALERIE
“The mission of ALT makes it an exciting organization to work with. Theatre is an incredible way to showcase under told stories and experiences, and "Bridge City" is definitely a story that needs to be shared.”
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Kammeron Frost
DEJA
“I deeply believe in music as one of the greatest forms to communicate emotions, conversation, actions, and reflections from anywhere to anyone in terms of life. I enjoy that ALT uses art to outreach communities about topics regarding our current world and social situations.”
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Garrett H.T. Steagall
IGGY, ARTIST #2, JOHN
“ALT believes in me, engages me with diverse opportunities, and creates impactful art that enriches lives and connects our community."
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Robert Carlton Stimmel
CEO, MICHAEL
“ALT is a place where artists and community members of all different walks of life can come together and feel like they are being seen and heard. The work that ALT does for this city and this area are unlike any other places I’ve worked and I love being a part of sharing these stories with the community I love so much.”
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Tangie Wyatt
MOM
“I appreciate ALT's commitment to impactful work and its collaborative spirit with not only we the actors; but with the community as well.”
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Avery Hammonds
DAD, BUSINESS PERSON #2, EMCEE
“I’m working with ALT because it aligns with a deeper purpose: using the arts not as an escape, but as a lens through which we see ourselves more clearly and take action. ALT brings forward voices that are often unheard, histories that are often ignored, and perspectives that challenge complacency. ALT proves that theatre isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. In a time when meaningful dialogue can feel rare and disconnected, ALT builds spaces where empathy thrives and change begins. It’s not just about entertainment—it’s about legacy, justice, and community. That’s why ALT.”
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Constance Kavensky
REMY, BUSINESS PERSON #2
“Why ALT? Because we need to talk about real sh*t!”
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Colin Waters
JAMES, LAWYER, SCOTT
"ALT strives to produce new works and theatre for social change at a time when our country needs it now more than ever."
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Anita Anderson
SWANKY GUEST #1, ARTIST #1
“Working with ALT has been an experience that expands my world and even some of my viewpoints. I love the talented people I work with and bringing to life sometimes overlooked problems. I hope to continue to move the needle forward.”
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Allison Rogers
SWANKY GUEST #2, RECEPTIONIST
“ALT uses art to enrich lives, build empathy, and bring us together as a community. Every show is important and meaningful.“
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Elijah Webster
STAGE MANAGER
“When I needed to feel empowered the most, American Legacy Theatre came to me and lifted me up as a student. Now, I strive to do everything in my power to bring that same life-altering experience to as many people as possible. I am so lucky to get to be a part of a team of people that are all so passionate about making theatre and art accessible, empowering, and as effective as possible.”
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Sherry McCamley
PIANO
“Why ALT? I enjoy the challenge of doing new works!”
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Stan Ginn
PERCUSSION
“My experiences with ALT have all left me feeling a little bit better than I did before. “
Special Thanks
Family and Friends Supporters
Terri England
Amber Gallagher
Scott Joseph
Cheryl Kreindler
Jane Page-Steiner
Rachel Rasmussen
Carmen Wynn
American Legacy Theatre's work is made possible in part through continuing operating support from the Ohio Arts Council, and by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the region’s primary source for arts funding.
