January 15th, 2015 | 24 hours before the debut in Orlando, FL | Rehearsal Location | Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
For the Rise cast, this day is finally here. They have been working long days developing their characters for a chance to perform a completely original production in front of their local friends and family at the Walt Disney Theater. Rise playwright/director Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons has just flown into town from Norman, OK, just coming off of coaching the nation’s best men’s college gymnastics program, the Oklahoma Sooners. Taqiy accepted the assistant coaching position at Oklahoma 4 months prior. The cast is feeling at ease since Taqiy is back on stage as the director for the debut.
