SHADOW BOAT

by Malick Ceesay

SHADOW BOAT explores the story of three young friends amid growing their philanthropic business: the Gambian American Association. As they continue to seek better resources and support for their Gambian community, the movement comes to a holt when learning that their brick and mortar is in the heart of a soon-to-be massive redevelopment plan in the northeast - backed by the Governor himself. As they are given an...

SHADOW BOAT explores the story of three young friends amid growing their philanthropic business: the Gambian American Association. As they continue to seek better resources and support for their Gambian community, the movement comes to a holt when learning that their brick and mortar is in the heart of a soon-to-be massive redevelopment plan in the northeast - backed by the Governor himself. As they are given an ultimatum for their beloved community center, the true realities of the "American Dream" for these young innovators become questionable; testing their true desire to protect what they worked so hard to build.

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SHADOW BOAT

Recommended by

  • Charlotte Hukvari: SHADOW BOAT by Malick Ceesay
    “

    I would love to see this on stage. The language alone gives it warmth from the beginning.

    I would love to see this on stage. The language alone gives it warmth from the beginning.

    ”
  • Daniel Hirsch: SHADOW BOAT by Malick Ceesay
    “

    This play bubbles over with so much heart, tenderness, and specificity in its thoughtful depiction of Minneapolis's Gambian community. By the end of the play you feel as if personally you know these funny, complicated characters—- as if they are you own extended family of cousins, aunts, and uncles whose company you are delighted to spend time in.

    This play bubbles over with so much heart, tenderness, and specificity in its thoughtful depiction of Minneapolis's Gambian community. By the end of the play you feel as if personally you know these funny, complicated characters—- as if they are you own extended family of cousins, aunts, and uncles whose company you are delighted to spend time in.

    ”

Character Information

  • Alajie Jobe
    co-founder of GAA, but board president. Earned a degree in Dakar before moving to the states. Forward-driven, stubborn, productive
    28
    African -- Gambian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Amie Cisse
    co-founder of GAA, board treasurer, no degree but a lover of math and finances (passed down from mathematician father), trying to get into school but citizenship is getting in the way. Sarcastic, free-spirited, unpredictable
    26
    African -- Gambian
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Mamina Jobe
    new to GAA, board community outreach, Imam. English is not fully there but can be handy as needed. Misses his wife in Banjul. mystique, unorthodox
    35
    African -- Gambian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Jama Cisse
    Amie’s daughter, the first of the first-generation children born from Gambia, heavy reader, always in the books, reclusive, brilliant, youthful
    10
    African -- Gambian
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Sabrina Yusuf
    immigration lawyer, assists GAA with green card/passport concerns for families. quick, ambitious, calculated
    25
    African -- Somali Bantu
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Jonathan "Joni" Rodriguez
    electrician/carpenter, overall handyman that works for Xcel. Helps secure a
    home for the GAA. humble, optimist, problem-solver
    30
    Latino -- Mexican
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Bah Sanneh
    a politician, has citizenship in America, plays an important role in housing & business zones. Pragmatist, secretive, decisive
    31
    African -- Gambian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Logan Skinner
    big real estate titan from inheritance, runs 60% of apartment housing in the Twin Cities. There are some holes in his game though, due to shortcutting to make profit. Blunt, complacent, impatient
    23
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • The Shadow
    an effigy, representing salat (prayer), painted/wearing black the entire time. remains on stage the entire time - assists with the shadow puppetry story
    Ageless
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American