ABOUT THE PLAY
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2 0 2 0 / 2 0 2 1 D I GI T A L S E A S O N
THE OFFICIAL STATE THEATRE OF ARIZONA
ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY A SEAN DANIELS A
A GERI WRIGHT A
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
MANAGING DIRECTOR
PRESENTS
ALMA BY
BENJAMIN BENNE DANAYA ESPERANZA*
AMANDLA JAHAVA
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
GLENN BRUNER* A
MARIA AMOROCHO* A
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
IDO LEVRAN
SOUND SUPERVISOR
MATHEW DEVORE A
DIRECTED BY
CATHERINE MARÍA RODRÍGUEZ Alma (formerly titled #nowall) was developed during a residency at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Playwrights Conference in 2018. Preston Whiteway Executive Director, Wendy C. Goldberg Artistic Director Alma (formerly titled #nowall) was also developed with support from Denver Center for the Performing Arts 2020 Colorado New Play Summit, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and The Playwrights’ Center’s 2016-17 Many Voices Fellowship. Alma was the winner of the 2019 Blue Ink Playwriting Award from American Blues Theater, Chicago, IL. Dramaturgy and Spanish translations by Cat Rodriguez with additional contributions from Elena Araoz, Cynthia Bastidas, Ana Maria Campoy, and Marcela Lorca.
2020 / 2021 DIGITAL SPONSOR:
LAVIDGE
with support from GAMMAGE & BURNHAM
2020 / 2021 SEASON SPONSORS:
I. MICHAEL AND BETH KASSER 2
2 0 2 0 / 2 0 2 1 D I GI T A L S E A S O N
THE OFFICIAL STATE THEATRE OF ARIZONA
CAST (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE) ALMA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DANAYA ESPERANZA* ÁNGEL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AMANDLA JAHAVA STAGE DIRECTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MARIA AMOROCHO A* *Denotes members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
SPECIAL THANKS MANDELA JAHAVA
JEREMIAH WEISBROD
We wish to express our gratitude to the performers’ unions: Actors’ Equity Association American Guild of Musical Artists American Guild of Variety Artists SAG-AFTRA Through Theatre Authority, Inc. for their cooperation in permitting the artists to appear on this program.
THERE WILL BE NO INTERMISSION.
A
Denotes artists included in ATC’s Arizona Artists Initiative.
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AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
WINNER OF ATC’S 2019 NATIONAL LATINX P L AY W R I T I N G AWA R D SEMI-FINALIST Headwaters New Play Festival, Creede Repertory Theatre, 2019
SEMI-FINALIST P73 Playwriting Fellowship, Page 73, 2018
WINNER Blue Ink Playwriting Award, American Blues Theater, 2019
FINALIST Bay Area Playwrights Festival, Playwrights Foundation, 2018
SELECTION Best Unproduced Latinx Plays List, 50 Playwrights Project, 2019
SELECTION National Playwrights Conference Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, 2018
SEMI-FINALIST Premiere Play Festival, Premiere Stages at Kean University, 2019
SEMI-FINALIST Princess Grace Playwriting Fellowship, New Dramatists, 2017
SEMI-FINALIST PlayFest, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, 2019
FINALIST Playwrights Unit, Goodman Theatre, 2017 4
EVENTS & COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
EV ENTS & C O M M U N I T Y C O N V E RS AT I ONS See video interviews with the playwright and director and other videos at arizonatheatre.org/show/alma. You can Like and Follow ATC’s Facebook page for automatic notification of when we go live for the following events: FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 4 PM ATC’s Hang & Focus Live with the Playwright Benjamin Benne and Director Catherine María Rodríguez TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 5 PM Opening Night Live Stream THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 5 PM Town Hall: Migration, Liberation, and Belonging: A Conversation on Black Immigrant Freedom Struggles FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 4 PM ATC’s Hang & Focus Live announcing the 2020 National Latinx Playwriting Award winner SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 1 PM Facebook Watch Party followed by Live Talkback with the actors at 3 PM *All Episodes will be available on our Hang & Focus Live Podcast arizonatheatre.org/hangfocus/ 5
BIOS
Benjamin Benne (Playwright) Benjamin Benne (he/him) is ATC’s 2019 National Latinx Playwriting Award Winner, as well as the 2019 Blue Ink Playwriting Award Winner and a 2019 KCACTF Latinx Playwriting Award Recipient. He is an MFA Playwriting Candidate at the Yale School of Drama, a Playwrights’ Center Affiliated Writer, and represented by Paradigm Talent Agency. www.benjaminbenne.com.
freelance artist, she considers herself a nomad but always names New Orleans and Nicaragua home. www.catlikemeow.com Twitter: @latinadramaturg Danaya Esperanza (Alma) Off-Broadway: National Black Theatre: Bayano (Yemaya). The Public Theatre For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ When the Rainbow is Enuf (lady in orange), Tempest Mobile Unit (Ariel), Twelfth Night Mobile Unit (Viola), CSC/OSF: Play On! Shakespeare (Various). Esperance: Breitwisch Farm (Zainabu); New York Theatre Workshop [NYTW]: Mary Jane (Amelia/ Kat), Othello (Emilia u/s). Playwrights Horizons/ Clubbed Thumb: Men on Boats (Seneca Howland/ The Bishop). Soho Rep: Washeteria (Lucy/Consuela). Signature Theatre: Our Lady of Kibeho (Schoolgirl). Regional: Denver Center [DCPA]: Alma (Alma). New York Stage and Film-Powerhouse [NYSF]: Annie Salem: an American Tale (Gaby/77ilith). Seattle Rep: Joe Turner Vino y Se Fue (Molly Cunningham). Shakespeare Theatre Company: Romeo and Juliet. McCarter Theatre: Protect the Beautiful Place (Symphony); The Goodman Theatre: Another Word for Beauty (Luzmery). Film: After Party. Television: The Blacklist, Elementary. Proud AEA Member. Training: The Juilliard School (Raúl Juliá Memorial Scholarship in Drama).
Catherine María Rodríguez (Director) A story shaper, performance maker, and culture shaker, Catherine María “Cat” Rodríguez serves collaboration, community, and lqqks wherever the art takes her and whatever stage it’s in. Cat’s craft entails bringing discernment to decision-making and joy to the process. Experiences as a performer, dramaturg, and organizer guide both her theater making and critical writing. In this, she’s attentive to not only what’s being made, but also how, as well as through whose bodies and eyes. Cat works from a structural analysis and draws on her skills as a trained facilitator to do so. Black / Latinx feminisms as well as collectivist organizing methods fundamentally inform her arts practice and pathways through the world. She’s a “people person” with a politic and a love for the ridiculous. She has worked with The Public, DCPA’s New Play Summit, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, O’Neill National Playwrights’ Conference, NYTW Next Door, Ars Nova ANT Fest, Yale Rep, Baltimore Center Stage, El Círculo Teatral (México), Borderlands, and Steppenwolf, among others. She has organized alongside Unidad Latina en Acción (New Haven, CT), New Sanctuary Coalition (NYC), and Education-Based Latino Outreach (Baltimore). Cat works in English and Spanish, talks with her hands, y anda con ganas. A
Amandla Jahava (Ángel) is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, where her credits include shakespeare’s as u like it, The Girl Is Chained, and If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhfucka. Other credits include In the Red and Brown Water, the feels… (KMS), The Red Tent (Yale Cabaret); Mies Julie, Lear (Yale Summer Cabaret); and The Colored Museum at CalArts, where she
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earned a B.F.A. in acting. She has also been seen on the stages of Denver Theater Center, Roundabout Theatre, The Classical Theatre of Harlem. Amandla was a Los Angeles County Arts Grant recipient in 2015, and is an affiliate member of the Antaeus Company. She was assistant director to LisaGay Hamilton on Sleep Deprivation Chamber (CalArts School of Theater) and to Jason Alexander for Broadway Bound (Odyssey Theatre Ensemble). TV: Showtime’s How to Make Love to a Black Woman. HBO’s DMZ. @_amandla
Region of Actors’ Equity Association. Mr. Bruner has been a member of AEA since 1981. Mathew DeVore (Sound Supervisor) Mathew DeVore began his career working with ATC as resident Sound Op at the Herberger Theater Center for three seasons. He has since served as Production Sound Engineer for ATC the past 9 seasons in Tucson and became Sound Supervisor in January 2020. Notable shows he mixed and operated include Next to Normal, Clybourne Park, Murder For Two, Around the World in 80 Days, Xanadu, and American Mariachi. Prior to his move to Tucson and current tenure, he served as Sound and Lighting Supervisor at Phoenix Theatre, Sound Designer for Phoenix Theatre’s Cookie Company and several main stage productions at Phoenix Theatre, and Sound Designer for Black Theatre Troupe. This is his first season without the guiding hand of his mentor, Brian Jerome Peterson.
Maria Amorocho (Stage Directions) Maria Amorocho is a frequent participant in Phoenix Theatre Company’s Festival of New Plays and Musicals, including the 2020 premiere of Americano. New Carpa Theater: Voices of Valor; My Beloved World; director, Miranda’s Curse. Other credits: Billy Elliot, Our Town, NINE, Picnic (Phoenix Theatre Company); BAUER (BLK BOX PHX); The Glass Menagerie (Guest Artist, GCC); Good People, Body Awareness, Sight Unseen (Actors Theatre of Phoenix); BIG: The Musical (Theater Works). Film: Scare Me Vol.1, My Sekret War, A Life Connected, Jolene. Maria is represented by The Leighton Agency and is a proud member of Actors Equity Association.
Ido Levran (Technical Director) Ido Levran is excited to work with ATC on their digital season! He has been designing and programming video on & off Broadway and around the country. And for the digital realm adapted and implemented structures to produce and stream multiple theatrical performances of different kinds. Some credits include – Broadway: Jagged Little Pill, Be More Chill, All My Sons, Lifespan Of a Fact, The Band’s Visit (Programmer); The Columnist (Asst. Designer). Off-Broadway: All the President’s Men (The Public Theater); Troilus & Cressida (Shakespeare in the Park); Second Chance (Asst. Proj. Designer, The Public Theater); Completeness (Asst. Proj. Designer, Playwrights Horizons); Shen Wei Dance Arts (Projections Director). Regional & Tours: Blue Man group National Tour (Programmer), I Dream (Asst. Proj. Designer, Opera Carolina); 45 Plays for 45 Presidents (MRT), Frankenstein (Dallas T.C.), Among others.
Glenn Bruner (Production Stage Manager) is in his 23rd season at ATC where he has stage managed over 60 productions, most recently including Master Harold, Silent Sky, August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End, The Diary of Anne Frank, Outside Mullingar, Chapter Two, La Esquinita USA, An Act of God, and Of Mice and Men. He has been the voice for many radio and television commercials, and worked on-air for Texas Public Radio in his hometown of San Antonio. For the past 19 summers Mr. Bruner has been a member of the entertainment production staff for Major League Baseball’s All Star FanFest. He was the 2012 recipient of the Lucy Jordan Recognition Award, presented annually by the Western
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EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP Sean Daniels A (Artistic Director) is honored to be in his second season at ATC, where he first fell in love with theatre.
Sean has directed at Manhatta n Theatre Club (The Lion, Drama Desk Award & Theatre World Award, nominated for Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle), 59e59 (NYC, I and You, nominated for Outer Critics Circle), Lynn Redgrave (NYC), The Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), St. James (West End, London - The Lion, winner of Best New Musical), Arena Stage, A.C.T. (San Francisco), Milwaukee Rep, Old Globe, Geffen (L.A.), Actors Theatre of Louisville, Portland Center Stage, Geva Theatre, Playmakers Rep, Cleveland Play House, Alliance Theatre, California Shakespeare, Dad’s Garage Theatre Company, City Theatre, Swine Palace, Neo-Futurists, Aurora Theatre, Crowded Fire and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Sean has been named “one of the top fifteen up & coming artists in the U.S., whose work will be transforming America’s stages for decades to come” & “One Of 7 People Reshaping And Revitalizing The American Musical” by American Theatre magazine. His direction and shows have won “Best Play” and “Best Director” in London, Bay Area, Boston, Portland, Rochester and Atlanta. He was previously the Artistic Director of Merrimack Repertory Theatre, where he received national attention for his multiple artistic engagement programs that brought the community inside the organization. He’s also served as the Artist-At-Large for Geva Theatre Center and spent four years at the Tony Award®-winning Actors Theatre of Louisville as the theatre’s Associate Artistic Director (where he directed 17 productions including five Humana Festivals). Mr. Daniels is the former Associate Artistic Director/Resident Director of the California Shakespeare Theater and before that spent a decade as the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Dad’s Garage Theater Company in Atlanta. He has developed new work with the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, Ars Nova, PlayPenn, Lark, PlayLabs, New York Stage and Film, Asolo Rep, Goodspeed Opera, Weston Playhouse, Bay Area Playwrights, Magic Theatre and was the first American director asked to attend the Baltic American Playwrights Conference in Hiiumaa, Estonia. As a playwright, his work has been produced at Actors Theatre of Louisville, City Theatre, Merrimack Repertory Theatre and Dad’s Garage. He was the first ever playwright authorized by the Jack Kerouac Estate to adapt his work for the stage. His play The White Chip made its Off-Broadway debut this Fall produced by five time Tony Award® nominee Tom Kirdahy. He’d love to hear from you. sdaniels@arizonatheatre.org twitter: @seandaniels.
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EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP Geri Wright A (Managing Director) returned to Arizona Theatre Company in January 2020. Her love of theatre started at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on a school field trip and has grown into a passion for the arts today. Having served in leadership roles at the Heard Museum, American Red Cross, Arizona Theatre Company and most recently as CEO of Act One, Geri has been a passionate advocate for the importance that the arts play in creating healthy and prosperous communities. With more than 25 years in nonprofit management and fundraising experience, she is thrilled to be able to put those skills to use in serving our state theatre. In 2019 Geri was recognized as one of the Outstanding Women in Business by the Phoenix Business Journal and has been honored with an assortment of acknowledgments for her work in the charitable community. Geri and her family, along with two horses and an Australian cattle dog, reside at the base of the McDowell Mountains.
AT C ’ S N AT I O N A L L AT I N X P L AY W R I T I N G AWA R D The award is open to all Latino playwrights currently residing in the United States, its territories, or Mexico.
duced, and not currently under option at the time of submission. Full-length and one-act plays (minimum length: 50 pages) on any subject will be accepted.
Scripts may be in English, English and Spanish, or solely in Spanish. (Spanish-language and bilingual scripts must be accompanied by an English translation.)
The 2020 Winner announcement will take place on August 19, 2020. Check the ATC website for information on submitting to the 2021 Awards.
Plays must be unpublished, professionally unpro-
arizonatheatre.org/national-latino-playwriting-award/
A RIZONA ARTISTS INITIATIVE ATC is committed to Arizona artists. From our staff that lives in Arizona to create
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the productions you see, to the artists that help create readings and other productions - Arizonans take a leading role in everything we do. In addition to everyone on the staff page, we note individual artists on shows who are from Arizona.
Arizona Theatre Company operates under agreements between the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States; Stage Directors and Choreographers, an independent national labor union; and United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE. The Actors and Stage Managers employed in these productions are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
The Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, an independent national labor union.
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The Scenic, Costume, Lighting and Sound Designers in LORT Theatres are represented by Union Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE.
ABOUT ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY
2020/2021 BOARD OF TRUSTEES BOARD OFFICERS Char Augenstein, Chair Pat Engels, Chair Elect Joanie Flatt, Secretary Nora Hannah, Treasurer
BO A R D O F T RUSTEES Kelly Barr Gary Jackson Sean Daniels, Artistic Director Adam James Michael Deanna Evenchik-Brav Kay Oliver Mary Jo Ghory Karen Peters Jeff Guldner Erica Stutman Stephen Heitz Geri Wright, Managing Director
EMER ITU S TR U STEES Paul Baker, Katie Dusenberry, Darryl Dobras, Carol DuVal Whiteman, Shirley Estes, I. Michael Kasser, Dr. John Schaefer, F. William Sheppard, Lynne Wood Dusenberry
H O N OR A RY TR U STEES Betsy Bolding, Jack Davis, Slivy Edmonds, Norma Feldman, Catherine (Rusty) Foley, Joe Gootter, Carol Kraemer, Jessica Lazarus, Sally Lehmann, Gerry Murphy, Emily Rosenberg Pollock, Nina Trasoff, Janos Wilder, Ruth A. Zales
The staff, volunteers, artists and board of Arizona Theatre Company would like to take a moment to thank Michael Flatt for all he did for this theater and for the arts in the Greater Phoenix area.
Michael Flatt and Joanie Flatt
Michael Flatt and Joanie Flatt
He was a board member, donor, loud champion of the arts and a firm believer that the Valley deserves great culture - accessible and for all ages. Today, Greater Phoenix has a growing arts scene because of people like Michael Flatt, and we are eternally grateful for his vision. As you laugh out loud tonight, please know that Michael is thrilled you are here - in fact laugh a little louder for him - and know that the work of growing this community isn’t done, but because of special souls like his, we are on our way. 10
YOUR SUPPORT AT THIS TIME IS VITAL. PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING AT
ARIZONATHEATRE.ORG
ATC STAFF
Sean Daniels - Artistic Director Geri Wright - Managing Director Chanel Bragg - Associate Artistic Director christopher oscar peĂąa - Artistic Associate China Young - Artistic Manager Elaine Romero - Playwright-in-Residence Jasmine Roth - Director of Learning & Education Cat Tries - Company Manager / Management Associate Becky Merold - Production Manager Tajh Oates - Assistant Production Manager Nils Emerson - Technical Director Mathew DeVore - Sound Supervisor Paula Taylor - Chief Development Officer Carley Elizabeth Preston - Development Operations Manager Julie Huffman - Grant Writer Gretchen Pace - Grants Manager Juliet Martin - Chief Marketing Officer Ron May - Patron Data Services Manager Remington Trewern - Digital Marketing Associate Will Rogers - Director of Artistic Programs Bitty Rosenberg - Marketing Manager Richard Giuliani - Graphic Design Steve Carr - Public Relations Consultant Sara Kavitch - Box Office Manager Linda Schwartz - Box Office Manager Keith LeSpaluto - Assistant Box Office Manager Carrie Luker - Assistant Box Office Manager Bob Jennens - Accounting Manager Maria Moreno - Accounting Associate, Accounts Payable Stephanie Cianciotto - Accounting Associate, Payroll Jodie Peltz - Director of Human Resources Horace Ashley - Facilities Manager Dean Morgan - Maintenance Supervisor