In a tale of love and greed, Anna, expelled from the Lucasta home by her self-righteous father, Joe, leaves to lead what the family considers to be a \"life of shame\" in Brooklyn. When the family finds out that Rudolph, a southern gentleman with money is coming to town, they devise a plan to marry Anna off and make some money in the process. Anna shocks them all by finding true love with this wealthy young suitor. Her unforgiving father sets a vengeful plan in motion to remind his daughter of her squalid past... and destroy her future forever!

Jerry Cleveland is the director of Wayne State University\'s Black Theatre Program and director of Anna Lucasta. Cleveland directed Dream on Monkey Mountain last year at WSU\'s historic Bonstelle Theatre.

Anna Lucasta opened on Broadway at the Mansfield Theatre in 1944 and ran for 957 performances before closing in 1946. The play was then revived in 1947 for a month at the National Theatre. The play was written by Philip Yordan, a Polish playwright, about a Polish family; however, the original Broadway production was cast with an all black company creating a poignant and dramatic impact. Since then it has typically been produced with all black casts.

Cast members include: Anton Asuquo (Detroit) as Papa Joe, Samuel A. Brice (Detroit) as Frank, Jasmine Cherry (Detroit) as Theresa, Jonathan Davidson (Dearborn) as the Policeman, Alaina Flemming (Detroit) as Katie, Henrí D. Franklin (Detroit) as Stanley, Beth Ann Gibaud (Garden City) as Blanche, Thomas Leonard Harris (Phoenix, AZ) as George, Trono Hudgins (Detroit) as Noah, Damon Moore (Wale) as Lester, Frank Sawa (Warren) as Danny, Mark Trotter (Birmingham) as Rudolph, Justin Vespers (Howell) as Eddy, Toni V. Walker (Detroit) as Stella, and Deborah Joy Winans (Detroit) as Anna. Anna Lucasta also features scenic design by David Court (Windsor, ON), costume design by WSU faculty member Mary Copenhagen, lighting design by Elizabeth Cooper (Grosse Pointe Woods), and sound design by Neil Koivu (Ferndale).

Anna Lucasta plays at the historic Bonstelle Theatre located at 3424 Woodward Avenue, one block south of Mack Avenue at Eliot. Performances are March 4, 5, 11, and 12 at 8 p.m. and March 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. The box office at the Bonstelle Theatre is open ONLY one hour prior to each performance. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Hilberry Theatre box office at 4743 Cass Avenue. Tickets are $12 Regular; $9 for students, senior citizens, WSU Faculty and Staff, and Alumni Association Members. For more information or to order tickets to Anna Lucasta, call the Bonstelle Theatre box office at (313) 577-2960.