Njinga the Queen King (Folger Theatre, 1996)

The Folger Theatre and the Pauline Oliveros Foundation Inc. performed their production of Njina the Queen King from February 8 to 18, 1996 by loan. Janet Alexander Griffin was the Folger Director of Museums and Public Programs. The Co-Artistic Directors were Pauline Oliveros and Ione.

Cast

Mabib Baegne: Njinga Spirit Drummer/Njinga
Amma Wilson: Jinny/Child Njinga
Assane Knote: Ngola Kiluanji Mbandi (The King)/Ndambi Ngola (Ancestor)
Cynthia L. Webb: Old Woman Whose Name is Never Spoken
Mare Guinier: Old Woman Kilunda
Patrick Bannon: Father Cavazzi/CIA #1
Nego Gata: Prince Mbandi/Nzundu ria Ngola (Ancestor)
Titos Sompa: Village Musician/Ngola Kiluanji/Patrice Lumumba
Seku Tonge: Spirit Drummer
Malonga Casquelourd: Village Musician/Ngoa Mbumba Mbola (Ancestor)
Carol Chappell: Village Spirit Musician
Tom Bickle: Ensemble
Andras Goldinger: Ensemble
Trudy Morse: Ensemble

Production team

Ione: Director
Denise Paschall: Scenic Designer
Ayun Fedorcha: Lighting Designer
Valerie Maynard: Costume Designer
Pauline Oliveros: Original Music and Sound Designer
Mabiba Baegne: Dance and Movement
Carol Chappell: Dance and Movement
Nego Gato: Dance and Movement
Titos Sompa: Dance and Movement and Traditional Congolese Music Arrangements
Nego Gato – Fight Choreographer and Traditional Brazilian Music Arrangements
Bob Bielecki: Electro-Acoustical Design
David Meschter: Electro-Acoustical Design
Bern Gautier: Stage Manager
Brette Goldstein: Casting Director

Production, direction and management

Bill Fecke: Technical Director
Toby Stover: Stage Manager
Nico Bovoso: Sound Team
Bob Bielecki: Sound Team
Panaiotis: Sound Team
David Dunn: Sound Team
Connie Kieltyka: Sound Team
Marcia Mikulak: Sound Team
Ned Sublette: Sound Team
Lisa MacDonald: Light Board Operator
Anna Flye: Administrative Coordinator
Natalie Holbrook: House Manager
Dr. Linda Heywood: Njinga Scholars
Dr. John Thornton: Njinga Scholars
Mr. Celestine J. Gabriel: Kimbundu Translations
Barbara Pollitt: Additional Masks
John Bromberg: Ngana Inene Puppet
Trudy Gerlach: Ngana Inene Puppet