Homegrown urban gospel theatre June 18 & 19
By Bill Beene
Of the St. Louis American
On Tuesday, St. Louisan Marty Casey thought had one day left to imagine her name in lights across the Fox Theatre marquee.
Starting yesterday, Casey no longer had to use her imagination to see “Casey Ent.’s A House Divided, this weekend.”
It’s reality. And just the thought of it silenced the usually verbose Casey.
“It’s truly an honor to come home and play the most prestigious venue in St. Louis,” Casey said.
“I played there as an actress and thought that was the best thing that ever happened to me, but to see my name on the marquee is amazing.”
That amazing grace for which Casey gives God the glory makes for something of a full circle for her.
Casey’s first experience with urban gospel theatre played out in a role she landed in St. Louis native’s Lisa Reynolds’ play, Be Careful What You Pray 4.
Casey toured nationally with the play, picking up enough savoir-faire to eventually write, direct and produce her own production, Lord Knows I’ve Tried, staged in six cities.
Before fitting into writing, directing and producing hats, Casey toured with the national play, Looking for Mr. Do Right. After acting in that production, she found herself courting entrepreneurial theatre.
The road has been scenic, but not easy or without conflict.
At times, A House Divided family was divided, but it has long since been bonded.
“It’s very difficult,” Casey said of taking a play on the road.
“You’re taking on the personality of 15 people and trying to blend them to match your vision. But any playwright who imagines and keeps coming up with the creative thoughts that can capture a wide range of audience members is one step away from a straightjacket.”
Things may get a little crazy, but Casey swears by three ingredients to her success: “prayer (that God sends you the right people to make it happen), fate (to hold on and endure) and consistency (after you have prayed and been faithful you remain with the same things that work).”
As for practical ingredients for successful urban gospel theatre, Casey is high on music and comedy.
“Comedy and music is what has helped us as people get through hard times,” Casey said. “If you can reach someone’s heart through those two things, you have captured them.”
In A House Divided (which debuted at the Scottish Rite Theatre in St. Louis last Easter weekend), Casey also has one heck of a plot to go along with the singing and laughter. The play is based on a true story from the pages of St. Louisan Gwendolyn Jackson.
Jackson, who followed her boyfriend into a street life that left her divided with her family, chronicled her seamy past in the book, Thy Maker Is Thy Husband.
After seeing Casey’s play, Lord Knows I’ve Tried, Jackson, now an ordained evangelist and pastoral assistant at Believers Temple Word Fellowship Church, was moved to ask Casey to adapt her book into a play.
Casey obliged, opting to name the play after one of the chapters in the book – hence, A House Divided, a more attractive title.
Like those for other urban gospel stage plays, A House Divided’s cast includes national acts such Ali “Ollie” Woodson, formerly of the Temptations, gospel great Vanessa Bell-Armstrong and St. Louis-born comedian Arvin Mitchell.
The remainder of the cast is home-grown, which Casey takes pride in. Joseph George and Willena “Mz. N.V.” Vaughn, two of St. Louis’ most talented singers, play mother and father respectively.
While Vaughn can “sang,” she hadn’t acted on stage before and credits Casey (and God) with bringing out her acting skills.
“Marty came to my house and rehearsed the play with me personally, then I felt the message, not only as an actor but to minister it to people,” Vaughn said.
“I’ve learned from it myself, and I’ll be able to tell my family that we don’t have nothing if our house is divided.”
The producers, crew and cast of A House Divided are together and ready to take on the infamous St. Louis audience.
“I’ve been to New York and sung on stage and everywhere, but it’s a privilege to have a grand, 4,000-plus theatre and do your thing in front of the best critics,” Vaughn said.
Casey said she’s dedicating the St. Louis performance to her mother, Linda Washington, whose birthday is Friday, June 17.
Four fathers will be honored for fatherhood and work in the St. Louis community at the show on Father’s Day.
The play is produced through Casey’s Casey Entertainment, LLC. Performances are 8 p.m. Saturday, June 18 and 4 p.m. Sunday, June 19, Father’s Day.
