Philadelphia's Off-Broadway Experience

Iron Age Theatre
and The Norristown NAACP Youth Council.
Present
Walter DeShields (Martin Luther King) Walter has been performing in the theater for most of his life. He started out in traditional venues at church and school and moved into community and collegiate theater groups. Walter DeShields graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Theatre from Penn State University in 2004. As a vibrant theater actor his theater experience has always been anchored by a responsibility to address issues important to his history and community. In college, Walter honed his acting skills in several productions including To Kill a Mockingbird as Tom Robinson; Master Harold and the Boys as Sam; The Lesson: A Hip Hopera as Jamal and Fires In the Mirror as Minister Conrad Mohammed. Walter has performed in the greater Philadelphia and New York City areas as Black in Brittani William’s “Black Diamond” as well as George Murchison in Lorraine Hansberry’s “Raisin in the Sun”, Robert E. Hayes in The Exonerated, as Devonte in Cheril Clark's Intimate Chaos, as a host of characters in Paul Rudnick's "Jeffrey”, and as Sean in Michelle Harper’s “4 Sides to Every Story”. Walter is starring in the upcoming independent feature “Child Support” directed by Ngozi Thomas and co-starring in “The Playstation Killed the Puppet” directed by Charles Mosley Jr. as well as “Happy Holidays” directed by Darrell Lawrence. Walter has also completed a number of other film projects including Minor Thing, Johnny, Talk Show Two, Common Bond, Knock Em' Dead, Mac the Charm, In Retrospect, One Last Dream of America, The Stuff and Cover directed by Bill Duke.
Tiffany Joyner (Poet) has returned to the Philadelphia area after a one-year teaching opportunity in North Carolina where she had the opportunity to teach her second love: the Japanese language. She was also blessed to lead eleven of her American students on an excursion to Japan in April 2009. During her time in North Carolina, she appeared on the Kernersville Little Theatre's Stage as Babe in The Queen of Bingo. She has also done work in several theatres throughout the Philadephia Metropolitan area: Allens Lane (The Colored Musuem) The Drama Group (For Colored Girls..., Home) and she first made her debut at the Iron Age Theatre in her role as Kazara in Coming of the Hurricane.She feels honored at the opportunity to once again work with individuals who take theatre and its message seriously. She is also thankful to God for the many talents and gifts he has blessed her with throughout the years.
Richard Stevens Bradford (Crixus) If it wasn't for finding Johnny Hobbs at Freedom theatre and pushing myself to grow in other productions such as: DEATH OF THE BLACK JESUS, STREAMERS, TWELFTH NIGHT, RAISIN IN THE SUN, FENCES, A.B.R, ANNA IN THE TROPICS and WIT and many others, I would not be here tonight. rich has apeared in A SOLDIER'S PLAY, THE COLORED MUSEUM and THE LIFE OF JOH HENRY. Thanks to my FB family for the support and love And to God, with whom I have a special relationship that only he and I can understand and Peace and Toy to my Brighteyed Fans who has always seen the best in me
Maurice Tucker (Frederick Douglass) Philly born and bred, Maurice found himself at Freedom Theatre one day and grew an interest and appreciation for theatre from there. Some of his previous work included playing as Zooman and Emmett Tate in Charles Fuller’s ZOOMAN AND THE SIGN; also as Diab in an earlier Kash Goins production titled WHO YOU WITH. After time away from the theatre and all of the life experiences that go with it, he embraced the opportunity to play “Rich” in the recent Kash Goins production titled VI DEGREES – and was part of the cast in the award winning performance in the Downturn Urban Theatre Festival in New York City. Maurice feels privileged to be cast in a production that touches on one of the greatest folktales in American History – touching on the concept of man vs. machine and his anxiety with obsolescence.
Bob Weick (Abolitionist) is a veteran Stage performer in the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia area working with such companies as Philadelphia Theatre Company, ESP, Triangle Theatre, The Phila. Fringe Festival, Prior Circumstances, Theatre Outlet, and Civic Theatre, and with Iron Age Theatre where Bob's portrayal of Antarctic explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott earned him a Barrymore Nomination, Best Ensemble,2003. A few favorite regional productions, include: A Skull in Connemara, Proof, Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune, The Laramie Project, Gross Indecency, The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, The Scarlet Letter, Boys of Autumn, The Lonesome West, and Waiting for the Ship from Delos, The Last Day of Socrates, Grace and the art of Climbing to name a few. Bob has also appeared on TV and been featured in the Independent films Berenice, Conspiracized, The Ticking Man and Devils Half Acre. Bob is also the National Touring Actor of Howard Zinn's, “MARX IN SOHO”, having presented over 160 performances of Zinn's play from Maine to California. In the aftermath of the 2000 election, the attacks on 9/11, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Bob hopes to use his talent to contribute to the education and engagement of students and citizens. When not onstage or in front of the camera Bob serves the equine community of Bucks County Pa. as a Farrier.
Michael Way (John Henry )Mike last appeared with Iron Age Theatre as Cayman in THE COMMING OF THE HURRICANE. Michael's largest role in local theatre was the role of Ham in acclaimed playwright Ntzake Shange's stage adaptation of the 70's hit Warner Brothers' film "Sparkle." "Sparkle The Musical" ran at Freedom Repertory Theatre and was directed by Walter Dallas. Michael has also appeared in the lead role in Ekklessia Theatre Company's original stage play "Split Decision" directed by Garfield Randalman.
Seidah (Hill) Durante (Harriet Tubman) was born and raised in Norristown, PA. She developed a love for the stage as a teenager, performing spoken word in talent shows and capturing prizes in oratory contests. Most recently, she portrayed Harriet Tubman in a tribute to the Underground Railroad at the Norristown NAACP's Black History Month celebration. Seidah is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and currently practices as a Certified Public Accountant at Milligan & Company.


Iron Age Theatre and The Centre Theater has been nominated for the 2002-2003
Barrymore Award for
Best Ensemble in a Play for Terra Nova

Iron Age Theatre is deidcated to intense, passionate, creative, theatre focused on the human condition and social justice and created organically and collaborativly. Iron Age Theatre is A Non-profit 501(c)3 organization.