Port Chicago 50
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PORT CHICAGO 50 PROGRAM
Act I
Prologue
Freddie Meeks & Cast
I
Mel & Betty’s Home
Mel & Betty
Sailors: Joe, Bennie, Spencer, Robert, Rutherford
II
Port Chicago Navy Base
Loading Munitions
Lieutenants Frye, Wilson,
Sailors: Robert, Spencer, Rutherford, Joe
III
Barracks
Sailors: Robert, Bennie, Freddie, Joe
IV
Captain’s Office
Captain Harvey, Lieutenants Wilson & Frye
V
Port Chicago Street
Betty, Bennie, Pam
VI
Barracks
Sailors: Spencer and Freddie
VII
Navy Base Pier
Rutherford, Freddie (Younger & Older), Wilson
VIII
Navy Work Area
Sailors: Robert, Bennie, Joe, Rutherford
Mel & Betty’s Home
Mel, Betty & Freddie
Dock
Captain Harvey & Lieutenant Frye
Work Area
Sailors: Bennie, Robert
Lieutenant Wilson
Various Locations
Intermission
Act II
I
Reflections
Older Freddie Meeks, Joe, Betty, Mel, Harvey
Mel & Betty’s Home
Sailor Freddie, Betty, Mel
II
Base
Lieutenant Frye, Sailors: Joe, Robert, Wife: Grace
III
Barracks
Sailors: Joe, Freddie, Spencer, Rutherford
IV
Barracks
Captain Harvey, Lieutenant Frye
Sailors: Joe, Freddie, Spencer
V
Navy Dock
Lieutenant Frye, Sailor Joe
VI
Court Marshaled
Captain Harvey
VII
Port Chicago Navy Holding Hall
Sailors: Rutherford, Joe, Spencer, Freddie, Robert
VIII
Mel & Betty’s Home
Mel, Betty, Rutherford, Freddie (Older)
IX
Treasure Island Prison
Sailors: Joe, Spencer, Robert, Freddie,
Epilogue
Freddie Meeks
The End
Mr. Cooksey (Older Freddie) is a veteran actor/singer, that hails originally from the “Buckeye” state of Ohio. He thanks God for all his many blessings thus far. His credits include: Broadway: The Ritz, Off-Broadway: The Importance of Being Ernest, Much Ado About Nothing, To Kill a Mockingbird. Film/TV: The Secret World of the Very Young (Hosted by John Ritter), Mo Better Blues, Regional Theater: One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest at Playhouse on Park in West Hartford, Conn. andrewcooksey61@gmail.com
Dennis Brito (Captain Harvey) Dennis is a NY based actor who is thrilled to be back on the boards in “Port Chicago 50.” Theater credits include: “Chasing Jack” at the Jerry Orbach Theater; “Poisoned” at the Mint Theater; “Last Jew in Europe” at the Triad; “Balm in Gilead” at T. Schreiber Studios; “La Nina Que Moria a Cada Rato” at Repertorio Espanol; and “Stage Kiss” at the Cider Mill Playhouse. Film credits include the lead role in the indie thriller “The Ideal” and supporting roles in “Before the Snow”, “Urban”, “Reunion 108”, “1971,” and “Into the Limelight.” TV appearances include “The Food That Built America,” “A Crime to Remember,” “The Perfect Murder,” and “A Good Cop.” More info @ www.dennisbrito.com
Conor Timmis (Frye) makes his NYC stage debut in “Port Chicago 50”. He is best known for his portrayal of Horror legend Boris Karloff in the film “Kreating Karloff” and as the director/producer of the award-winning Korean War documentary “Finnigan’s War” narrated by Mark Hamill (Star Wars). He starred opposite actor John Savage in the sci fi film “Sensory Perception”.
Tom Koch (Wilson) Between martial arts and improv classes as a child, Tom always had high Energy! At the age of 17, he left for London to pursue acting. At 20, Tom entered The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. His credits include Orpheus in Eurydice. Last summer, Tom studied directing at Yale and wrote his first full-length screenplay. He graduated from the Academy's Company in March 2022 and made his Off-Broadway debut in a new play called Science by Tom Attea. He is extremely grateful to be working with the cast of Port Chicago 50. Tom will be seen in October in the SoHo Shakespeare Company’s production of Richard III. You can find out more at kochtom.com
Kassime (Joe) is a New York native. He has just come off performing, the Buffalo Solider Of World War 1, at The American Theatre Of Actors. Performed Spilled Milk at the 2020 Hudson Guild New York Winter Theatre Festival, which has been named finalist for Best Play. He has done a production last summer at the Players Theatre, called “Somewhere I Can Scream”. In 2018 he always apart of Jesus Hoped The A Train and Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre Workshop/Showcase and several short films.
Jaiden (Betty) a rising senior at Roosevelt University and is pursing a BFA in Acting. She would like to thank her friends and family for always supporting her. Interesting things: Won the Youth Debt Award given by the Omaha community playhouse. Was chosen for TAG scholarship.
Shaquila Angela Griszell (Pam/Grace)makes her off-Broadway debut in Port Chicago 50. Shaquila is an American-Guyanese actress and model known for her supporting role as (Princess) in the Fox feature film called Goldie (2019) directed by Sam De Jong. She has gained professional acting training at HB Studios and Identity Drama School. When she isn’t in front the camera, Shaquila, works with children as a substitute teacher. Shaquila wants to thank all those who are supporting her acting journey.
Carl Ellis Grant (Rutherford) Homicide City (Investigation Discovery), Deadline Crime w/ Tamron Hall (NBC), Murder Made Me famous (REELZ), Tony's Auto Repair (Omeleto), Verzet Amsterdam (Theater for the New City), Martin's T.R.U.T.H (NY Winterfest), Romeo + Juliet (Firebird Youth Theater), @CarlEllisGrant (www.linktr.ee/grantce1).
Cedric Darius (Spencer) is making his return to the stage in nearly three years. Off-Broadway: Esther, The Musical (King Xerxes), Solitary Confinement (Mason Michaels); Regional Theatre: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Brick Pollitt), Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Select film credits: Witness For The Defense: A Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff Story, 6 Train To Parkchester, and Forever Yours (film festival award winner). Select commercial credits: Rockport Shoes, Keeps, Citibank, and NYC Quit Today: Smoking Ad Campaign. Cedric was born and raised in Queens, and is a graduate of George Mason University. All praise, all honor, and all glory to God! @cedricdarius
Ryan Christian (Robert) has enjoyed a career in TV, Film & Theatre. In Film/TV he did Deadzone, He Was Awful and Six Degrees Of Murder. In Theatre he performed in Teach It Right, Cherish Every Precious Moment and Les Boites Noires. He is grateful to be a part of the PC 50 family.
Marc D. Johnson, Jr. (Bennie) is an actor/writer/spoken word poet based in Philadelphia, PA., and has been involved in the performing arts for more than half of his life. Since graduating from Muhlenberg College (with honors) in 2019, Johnson, Jr. has been blessed to work on projects in Florida, Maryland, Kentucky, NYC, and, of course, Philadelphia. Some of his most recent credits would include: Tarell Alvin McCraney’s "Wig Out!"; Dave Harris’s “Incendiary”; Meg Gilbert’s “Historically Speaking”; Melody Baha’s “Stoner Dungeon”; & Butler Entertainment’s “Spades.” Johnson, Jr. would, like to thank God, this talented cast and crew, his family and close friends for their love and support!
Steven Sparrow (Mel) hails from Oakland, California and came to NYC in 2017 to do one thing but wound up... doing more or less that thing, actually, which is a change for him and a pretty big win. So reward his rare brush with consistency with fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.
David Shackelford (Younger Freddie) is a native of Houston, Texas. His acting credits include such films as “Giving Worth”, “Conceal”, “If not for His Grace” and his own created short film “When”. He also studied under famed acting coach, Andrew Benne and has numerous musicals and plays in which he has performed in, “Kiss Me Kate”, Hello Dolly” and “A Few Good Men” to name a few. Not only is David an accomplished actor, but also an accomplished poet and Co-Writer of “Port Chicago 50.”
(Understudy)
Born and raised all throughout New Jersey , Al-Akhir Fletcher has always possessed an indestructible passion for performing. He began his training at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, and will earn his BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts in the spring. At heart, Al-Akhir intends to build and expand a space that uplifts and nourishes underrepresented narratives. "
Jacob (Jake) Shipley
Port Chicago Production Staff
Anthony (AC) Harris: Production Stage Manager Ronald Johnson: Producer/Wardrobe
Brittany Heyward: Social Media
David Shackelford: Producer/Co-Writer Cedric Darius: Associate Producer Veronica Akhtar: Co-Producer
Dennis Rowe: Executive Producer/Co-Writer/Director

