GoKash Productions Presents TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, 5/26-6/17

Topdog / Underdog is the story of two brothers, abandoned by their parents as adolescents, Lincoln and Booth. Both feeling powerless, they find themselves competing for the topdog position. Lincoln, the older brother, is now divorced, and living with Booth in a seedy, dilapidated room in a boarding house. They have no running water, but they have plenty of liquor. The room is furnished without comforts and with minimal furniture, including milk crates and a sheet of cardboard that serves as the card table for Booth to practice his 3-card monte hustle.

Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize winning drama has been called a physical, fun, emotionally draining masterpiece about two brothers in a power struggle for their lives, press notes state.  "Topdog / Underdog" represents GoKash Productions' first presentation of a non-original theatre work.

Philadelphia actors, Kash Goins and Roderick Slocum will portray the brothers, Lincoln and Booth. Directing is a young and rising Philadelphia director, Ms. Malika Oyetimein, assisted by Donja R. Love.  Preview shows are Thursday, May 24^th and Friday, May 25^th.  The official opening is Saturday, May 26^th.  All corresponding shows will run Wednesdays thru Saturdays at 7:30PM and Sundays at 3:00PM thru June 17^th.  All Shows will be presented at The Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5, 825 Walnut St. Philadelphia, PA 19107.

Kash Goins is an actor and a playwright, and created and produces the Philly Urban Theater Festival (PUTF) through his company, GoKash Productions. His plays, "VI Degrees" (2009 Best Play) and the sequel, "VII Deadly Sins" (2010 Audience Award) took home honors at the NYC Downtown Urban Theatre Festival. He was a member of Freedom Theater Rep, and has since been mentored by legendary director, Walter Dallas. Some theatre credits include: "Sparkle, The Musical", "Lazarus, Unstoned", "The Bluest Eye", "The Life of John Henry", "The Emperor Jones", and "Joe Turner's Come and Gone".

Roderick Slocum has been seen in various productions within and beyond the tri-state area. He recently returned from a stint in the U.S. Virgin Islands where he and the cast of the multi-media production, "Real Men Talking" played to packed arenas on both St. Thomas and St. Croix. Some other stage credits include: "Desire Under The Elms", "A Few Good Men", "Survival Strategies", "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", "Zooman and the Sign", and " The Exonerated".

MALIKA OYETIMEIN (DIRECTOR)' s most recent Directing credits include:  "The Dressing Room" featured in The Philadelphia Live Arts Festival, "Roost" Philly Urban Theatre Festival (2010 Best Play honoree), and "Passing Strange" with Bootless Artworks. As an Assistant Director: "Three Penny Opera", "The Blue Door" Arden Theatre Co. "Piano Lesson" Delaware Theatre Company, "A View from the Bridge" Oregon Shakespeare Festival, as well as "The Island", and "Exits and Entrances" Contemporary Stage Company.

Donja R. Love (Assistant Director) is a writer, director, and the Associate Artistic Director at Ademide Theatre Ensemble. His writing/directing credits include: "The Nigga Files" and "How to Kill a Child and a Demon". His directing credits include: "Love, Queens Who Suffer From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder", "VI Degrees", and he served as Assistant Director on "Voices of Domestic Violence": Music and Monologues: Starring Sheryl Lee Ralph. An advocate of arts education, he's a teaching artist for Philadelphia Theatre Company, Philadelphia Young Playwrights, and The Centre Theatre. He attended Temple University majoring in Theatre.