In light of national controversy over the lack of ethnicity in award-winning roles, the University brings a play to the stage that highlights the struggle black people faced at the dawn of the film industry.
“By the way, Meet Vera Stark” opened Feb. 17 at the Reilly Theatre and will run through Feb. 28. The show is one of five plays the University is offering in its 2015-2016 season.
Lynn Nottage’s “Vera Stark” follows a young black woman in the ‘30s by the same name who navigates her way through the Hollywood system in hopes of becoming a big name actress at a time when big ticket roles for minorities were almost nonexistent.
Director Pirronne Yousefzadeh resides in New York but came to the University to work on “Vera Stark” after a directing colleague from Milwaukee recommended her for the gig, Yousefzadeh said she realized the piece is incredibly significant and could not be more timely in terms of discussing diversity.
“‘Vera Stark’ holds a mirror up to the contemporary discussion about race and representation,” she said. “Hopefully it provides the audience context.”
The play was inspired by Theresa Harris’ performance in the 1933 film “Baby Face.” Harris was one of the first black women to make a large impression in Hollywood. Vera Stark is slightly drawn from Harris’ experiences.
“Watching Harris was quite an inspiration for my performance,” film and television junior Breon Cobb, who plays Stark, said. “I also looked at films of the ‘30s to see the mannerisms of people in those times.”
Cobb said she initially removed her name from the audition list in fear of not having a monologue ready in time.
“I had a friend who forced me to get in there and get it done,” she said. “I memorized my monologue the night before.”
Yousefzadeh said she was impressed by Cobb’s ability to embody the spirit of perseverance, determination and humor that Stark’s character required.
Several sequences in the play required a film to show on stage for Stark’s moments on the silver screen. Yousefzadeh said the University rendered its film department for the portions of the play that required a ‘30s motion picture production.
“The filmmaking was done very early in the process which made it difficult because it happened very close to the casting time, but the LSU students were extremely committed,” Yousefzadeh said.
Yousefzadeh told her actors to keep in mind the events taking place around the Oscar controversy, and the play’s opening day could not be more relevant.
Yousefzadeh was affected by Viola Davis’ recent acceptance speech at the Emmy Awards where she talked about the scarcity of roles black people face in the industry. She said Davis said “actors of color can’t be nominated for roles that simply are not there” and the comment struck her. 
However, it was key that the team not let current events be a filter for their performance, but instead be a context in the back of their minds.
Tickets for “Vera Stark” are $12 for students and $20 for the general public.

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Courtesy of  Jason Lockhart