Too Heavy For Your Pocket by Mansa Ra

Starring Rob Demery, Eboni Flowers, Markita Prescott, and Stephen Ruffin

Scenic Design by Reid Thompson
Lighting Design by Liz Lee
Costume Design by Sydney Roberts                                             Sound Design by Elisheba Ittoop

All photos taken by Greg Mooney for the Alliance Theatre 2017 production.

P R E S S: 

“This young ensemble cast delivers dynamic performances under Margot Bordelon’s impeccable direction, keeping the tension high throughout the play but also allowing for moments of comic relief…

Holder and this dynamic cast and creative team deliver a production that resonates, keeping the characters empowered even though they are poor. He allows his characters to tell their stories in their words, and two things come to the forefront: the advancement of colored people did not necessarily include the advancement of Black women, and it has been too hard to be Black for too long.”

          - Kelundra Smith, ARTSATL

“Directed by Margot Bordelon, Holder’s play, winner of the 2016-2017 Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition, begins with a delicate and luminous touch. Holder has a lovely ear for the patois and texture of this milieu, and designers Sydney Roberts (costumes), Reid Thompson (set) and Liz Lee (lighting) evoke the world handsomely.”

          - Wendell Brock, Atlantic Journal-Constitution

“The world premiere of "Too Heavy For Your Pocket" on the Alliance Theatre Hertz Stage brings us a masterfully presented story about the fight against racial injustice and its impacts...

Too Heavy For Your Pocket reflects an important moment politically -- and thus, in theatre -- as more nuanced conversations about race become commonplace. Playwright Jiréh Beron Holder addresses realities that are sometimes left out in our typical education about the Civil Rights Movement, while weaving a stirring narrative about four people in the most pivotal times of their lives.”

          - TK Hadman, EDGE Media Network

“Too Heavy” is excellent… “Too Heavy for Your Pocket” is powerful stuff and merits your attention. Kudos to Ms. Bordelon’s seamless direction”

          - Manning Harris, Atlanta INtown