Harlem & Moscow theGrio

In this true story of the Harlem Renaissance in the Soviet Union, we are introduced to the young writer and actress Dorothy West and her mother, Rachel West, who wants to hear all about her daughter’s year in Moscow making a film.    Rachel is especially curious about the famous poet Langston Hughes.   Dorothy promises to tell all that and more, starting with the invitation for the trip that she received from her sweetheart and local reporter, Henry Lee Moon. After failing to convince her cousin, Helene Johnson, to accompany her, Dorothy sets sail with Henry Lee and 20 other Harlemites to the other side of the world, with no idea what this new world has in store for her. 

 

CASTJ. IVY AS LANGSTON HUGHES EVAN FRAZIER AS DOROTHY WESTNANCY GILLIAM AS RACHEL WESTKYLA LACY AS HELENE JOHNSONBRODERICK CLAVERY  AS HENRY LEEBASIL RODERICKS AS COUNTEE CULLENSYDNEY APOLONIO AS THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR JON KELLY AS THE NEWS REPORTERHARLEM AND MOSCOW  WAS WRITTEN BY ALLE MIMSDIRECTED BY ARES HARPER AND REGINA GRIFFIN.PRODUCER  AND SOUND DESIGNER SAM RIDDELLAUDIO ENGINEERS AARON REPPERT AND CAREY DURHAM MUSIC BY TRANSITIONS AND THE  URSS SOVIET CHORUS
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Dorothy West anxiously awaits the arrival of Langston Hughes on their voyage from Harlem to  Moscow to make a movie.  Dorothy gets to know some of the other  Harlem Renaissance artists and activists, including Louise Thompson, the organizer, and Mildred Jones, an artist she will be rooming with. On the train, Dorothy and Henry Lee Moon get into a spat about sexual expectations abroad. Could their romantic getaway be over before it begins? 

 

CASTJ. IVY AS LANGSTON HUGHES EVAN FRAZIER AS DOROTHY WESTNANCY GILLIAM AS RACHEL WESTBRODERICK CLAVERY AS   HENRY LEE AND THE MESCHRAPBOM OFFICIAL SUSAYE LAWSON AS LOUISE THOMPSONBREANNA COSETTE AS MILDRED JONESJARED ALEXANDER AS  THE NARRATORSAM RIDDELL AS THE TRAIN CONDUCTORHARLEM AND MOSCOW  WAS WRITTEN BY ALLE MIMSDIRECTED BY ARES HARPER AND REGINA GRIFFIN PRODUCER  AND SOUND DESIGNER SAM RIDDELLAUDIO ENGINEERS AARON REPPERT AND CAREY DURHAM MUSIC BY TRANSITIONS
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Dorothy West and the Harlem  Renaissance artists and activists get settled into the Grand Hotel and enjoy the lavish luxuries the Soviets have to offer.  Caviar anyone? 

While exploring Moscow, Mildred  Jones and Langston Hughes push the prim and proper  Dorothy out of her comfort zone.  While partying,   the group finally meets the director of the film, Carl Jungans but the all-Black cast sees red flags as the filmmaker reveals himself to be quite ignorant when it comes to race.

 

CastJ Ivy As Langston HughesEvan Frazier As Dorothy WestNancy Gilliam As Rachel WestBreanna Cosette As Mildred JonesSusaye Lawson As Louise ThompsonStephan Rumphorst As Carl Junghans And Broderick Clavery As  James The Translator 

Harlem And Moscow  Was Written By Alle MimsDirected By Ares Harper And Regina Griffin Producer  And Sound Designer Sam RiddellAudio Engineers Aaron Reppert And Carey Durham Music By Transitions
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The production of the film “Black And White”  gets underway IN Moscow with a less than stellar first rehearsal that is only saved by the star of the Harlem Renaissance performers, Sylvia Garner.    Langston  Hughes reveals his doubts on the script. Dorothy West receives devastating news from home and then struggles to understand the comfort she finds in Mildred Jones. As the group becomes more comfortable in Moscow,  they are surprised with a trip to Odessa, only to learn that the film is in even bigger trouble than they thought. 

 

CastJ Ivy As Langston HughesEvan Frazier As Dorothy WestTarrey Torae As Sylvia GarnerKyla Lacey As Helen JohnsonNancy Gilliam As Rachel WestBreanna Cosette As Mildred JonesSusaye Lawson As Louise ThompsonBroderick Clavery As Henry Lee Stephan Rumphurst, As Carl Junghans and Boris, the Russian sergeant

Harlem And Moscow  Was Written By Alle MimsDirected By Ares Harper And Regina Griffin Producer And Sound Designer Sam RiddellAudio Engineers Aaron Reppert And Carey Durham Music By Transitions
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The group of Harlem Renaissance actors and artists return to Moscow moving from the Grand Hotel to a small hostel.    Henry Lee Moon tells Langston Hughes that he thinks the film has been sabotaged by Americans. In a heartfelt moment, Louise Thompson speaks to Dorothy West and Mildred Jones about another woman on the trip who is heartbroken over a breakup and attempts to take her own life. The three women discuss the freedoms, or lack thereof, for women at this time, each coming to their own conclusion about what the future holds for them as single women.  Mildred entertains a Russian man while Langston is seen with Soviet Sweetheart, Sylvie Chen, leaving Dorothy feeling more alone and uncertain about her future than ever. 

 

CastJ Ivy As Langston HughesEvan Frazier As Dorothy WestKyla Lacey As Helen Johnson Nancy Gilliam As Rachel WestSusaye Lawson As Louise ThompsonBreanna Cosette As Mildred JonesBroderick Clavery  As Henry Lee and James The Translator 

Harlem And Moscow   Written By Alle MimsDirected By Ares Harper And Regina Griffin Producer And Sound Designer Sam RiddellAudio Engineers Aaron Reppert And Carey Durham Music By Transitions
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In a desperate attempt to get to Langston Hughes, Dorothy West decides to propose marriage. Louise Thompson tries to talk her out of it and shares the reality of what it means to be in love with a man like Langston.  Louise also reveals a secret behind her own failed marriage.  As plans for life after Moscow remain unclear, Mildred Jones offers to stay with Dorothy in the Soviet Union for another season. But what type of relationship is Mildred looking for?  Dorothy shares her unconventional plans for the future.

Executive Producers:Byron AllenCarolyn FolksJennifer LucasGeraldine MoribaRegina Griffin

Cast:J Ivy As Langston HughesEvan Frazier As Dorothy WestNancy Gilliam As Rachel WestKyla Lacey As Helene JohnsonAnd Tarrey Torae As Sylvia GarnerBroderick Clavery as Henry Lee, James The Translator and The Meschrapbom Official. Breanna Cosette As Mildred JonesSusaye Lawson As Louise ThompsonBasil Rodericks  As Countee Cullen Stephan Rumphorst as  Carl Junghans and Boris The Russian Sergeant Sidney Apolonio as The Volunteer CoordinatorSam Riddell as The Train ConductorJon Kelly as The News Reporter

Written By Alle MimsDirected By Ares Harper and Regina Griffin Producer and Sound Design Sam RiddellAudio Engineers  Aaron Reppert and Carey Durham.Technical Support Craig Ross and Sabua Samandu.Booking Producer And Logistics Coordinator  Taji SeniorAudio Podcast Editor Justin SloanDramaturg   Alexis WilliamsArt Design By Trevor IrmlerMusic By: Transitions And URSS Soviet Chorus Audio Recording Smash StudiosVideographer Templeton Wright 

Research for Harlem And Moscow was facilitated by The Schomburg Center,  Project Muse,  The Schlesinger  Library On The History Of Women In America At The Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Cherene Sherrard-Johnson’s Book “Dorothy West’s Paradise,”  as well as  Literary Sisters by  Verner D. Mitchell And Cynthia Davis. 

Sincere thanks go to The Dramatist  Guild,  The Dramatist Guild Foundation,  Dr. Jennifer Wilson,  Dr. Saidiya Hartman, Dr. Brent Hayes-Edwards, and Dr. Lauren Brik-Elmore.And theGrio gives a special thanks to Gabrielle Holder,  Genia Nooks and the Gill Talent Group team.
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