EVERYBODY, spring 2025 (program)

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT As a step toward honoring the truth and achieving healing and reconciliation, we are opening our program with an acknowledgement that we are on the traditional territory of the Wampanoag.

We practice this acknowledgement to recognize and respect the Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards and owners of this land. They existed before colonization and are still here. Indigenous peoples continue to experience forced removal, genocide, theft of their ancestral lands, and other atrocities connected to colonization. Our acknowledgement is one action we can take to correct the stories and practices that erase Indigenous people’s history and culture. It is a step towards being more equitable and inclusive on our campus.

Content advisory This production contains scenes with partial nudity.

This production is not intended for young audiences.

Performance notes This production runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

Please refrain from leaving the theatre for the duration of the show.

Strobe light effects will be used during this production.

Kresge Theatre Company presents

written by

BRANDEN JACOBS-JENKINS

World Premiere produced by Signature Theatre, New York City (Paige Evans, Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director; James Houghton, Founder)

directed by

Colin bourget ’26 produced by

Joey del santo ’25 technical direction and lighting & scenic design by

Eli cowie ’26 costume & make-up design by

original music & sound design by

Emma zhou ’27

Rob bevacqua ’25 props & stage management by

Jill brown ’27 This production is made possible in large part through the mentorship & support provided by the Wheaton College Theatre & Dance Program.

Kresge Theatre Company would like to thank the Theatre Program and Theatre Faculty for their continued support of our artistic endeavors.

The video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

EVERYBODY is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatist.com)

Producer / Artistic Director’s note Throughout the thirty year shared history of Kresge Theatre Company and Café Theatre, this group has been a space on campus for theatre students to gain practical, hands-on experience in directing, producing, acting, design, management and technical theatre. Guided by our newly adopted commitments to equity, inclusivity and accessibility, artistic development, collaboration and responsibility, this production of Everybody has managed to become our most artistically successful production, while at its heart building a community that each of its members can rely on and cherish.

Last spring when crafting KTC’s 2024-2025 season, I knew that there was one artist who deserved his moment at the helm of a show more than any other I know. Over the past three years, Colin Bourget has become an indispensable member of the Wheaton theatre community and a creative partner whom I sincerely trust, respect and admire. Colin creates a rehearsal space that is collaborative, fun and energetic. In the rehearsal room and production meetings, he encourages others to challenge him and in turn he challenges them to be their best self. He is adept at telling stories and creating worlds through physicality, voice and design.

What better script to put Colin’s principles into practice than Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Everybody, a show that challenges its creative team and cast beyond any other I have seen. (Believe me, they have risen to the occasion!)

When we began preparing for this production, I handed Colin a script in which I had written some of Jacobs-Jenkins’ parting words from the show: “lead with understanding and bring love”. Colin has brought both and so much more to this production. To him, our friendship, and the community that we have built together, I am eternally grateful.

Joey Del Santo ’25 President & Artistic Director, Kresge Theatre Company Producer, Everybody

Director’s Note Hello and welcome to Everybody!

The genesis for doing this show at Wheaton happened for me over a year ago after watching one of the scenes performed for competition.

The humor and language immediately took me and I knew that this was a show that I was interested in directing. After looking deeper into the script, I discovered the lottery system. All five of the main actors in this show are intended to memorize eighty percent of the script, blocking, and need to be ready to play one of five tracks every single night with no prior knowledge of which track they may get. Let me make this very clear, this is an insane challenge. I cannot say enough about how large of an undertaking this is for an actor as well as for myself as a director, I had never directed a whole show before much less something so unorthodox.

Needless to say, I was very daunted and for quite a while I was seriously considering choosing another play. However, as has been the case for me throughout the entirety of my Wheaton career, it was my friends who inspired me to continue with Everybody. As students in this department, we have been working for the past three years towards the creation of a piece like this. We have pushed each other to do the work, to want more for ourselves, and most importantly to show that we as a student-run organization and student-driven department are operating at a professional and highly-skilled level.

Yes this show has been a challenge, it’s been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it was these people with all of their passion, drive, and talent that got me through. All of the actors that you will see on this stage tonight are my people, they make me want to be a better human and work harder every single day. This show is for us. And I cannot say thank you enough to all of you for coming out to see us.

Colin Bourget ’26 Director, Everybody

PRODUCTION TEAM Director ………………………………………………………………… Colin Bourget ’26 Producer ……………………………………………………………… Joey Del Santo ‘25 Technical Director / Lighting & Scenic Designer …………… Eli Cowie ’26 Costume & Make-Up Designer …………………………………. Emma Zhou ’27 Composer / Sound Designer …………………………………. Rob Bevacqua ’25 Stage Manager / Props Designer …………………………………. Jill Brown ’27 Production Assistant ……………………………………………… Ella Summers ’28 Production Assistant ……………………………………………… Angel Garcia ’28 Production Assistant ………………………………………………. Lili Summers ’28 Lighting & Electrics Assistant ………………………….. Kassandra Munoz ’27

Mentors Directing Mentor ……………………….. Stephanie Burlington Daniels ’97 * Tech, Design & Management Mentor ………………………. Max Ponticelli * * indicates Wheaton College Faculty

MAnagement & publicity Production Manager ……………………………………………. Joey Del Santo ’25 Finance Coordinator ……………………………………………… Sydney Esper ’28 House Manager ………………………………………………… Kristina Kalogeras ⍅ Poster & Cover Art Designer ………………………………………… Shaye Ko ’27 Production Photographer …………………………………………... Mandi Zhu ’26 Social Media Content ……………... Joey Del Santo ‘25, John O’Meara ’26 ⍅

indicates Wheaton College Staff

Representation & Accountability Cast Deputy …………………………………………………………………. Tess O’Brien ’25 Production Deputy …………………………………………………………... Jill Brown ’27

Cast (In Order of Appearance)

Usher/God/Understanding …………………………………………. Jane Leamon ’27 Death ………………………………………………………………………………… Elin Mica ’26 Somebodies Ka-Niesa Anderson-Blackshear ’26, Reagan Jensen ’26, Tess O’Brien ’25, John O’Meara ’26, Jacob Packard ’27 Little Girl/ Time …………………………………………………………….. Lucas Caron ’28 Love …………………………………………………………………… Serafina Velazquez ’28 All the Shitty Evil Things ……………………………………………... Xan Rutledge ’25

CREW Light Board Operator …………………………………………... Kassandra Munoz ’27 Sound Board Operator ……………………………………………….. Sydney Esper ’28 Run Crew ………………………………………… Angel Garcia ’28, Ella Summers ’28 Build Crew Rob Bevacqua ’25, Noah Boudreau-Faria ’26, Colin Bourget ’26, Jill Brown ’27, Eli Cowie ’26, Joey Del Santo ’25, Cam Desharnais ’27, Angel Garcia ’28, Sarah Leavitt ’26, Elin Mica ’26, Tess O’Brien ’25, John O’Meara ’26, Max Ponticelli, Ella Summers ’28 Paint Crew & Set Dressing Team Eli Cowie ’26, Joey Del Santo ’25 Electrics Crew Eli Cowie ’26, Atlas Curran Baker ’27, Joey Del Santo ’25, Kassandra Munoz ’27 Master Electrician ………………………………………………………….. Max Ponticelli

Kresge Theatre Company Executive board President & Artistic Director ……………………………………. Joey Del Santo ’25 Associate Artistic Director ………………………………………… John O’Meara ’26 Vice President …………………………………………………………… Jacob Packard ’27 Secretary …………………………………………………………………….. Jane Leamon ’27 Director of Marketing & Communications ………………………… Eli Jarsky ’27 Company Manager …………………………………………………………… Jill Brown ’27 Business & Development Manager …………………………….. Sydney Esper ’28 Member-at-Large ………………………………………………………… Lucas Caron ’28 Faculty Advisor ……………………………………………………………….. Max Ponticelli

Arts@Wheaton Staff Associate Director, Arts Events & Publicity …………………….. Jessica Kuszaj Assistant, Arts Events & Publicity …………………………………. Kristi Mahoney Technical Coordinator ………………………………………………. Kristina Kalogeras Box Office Ivy Love ’25, Emelia Pettit ’25, Maggie Gould ’26, Aslan Gustafson ’27, Rose Gifford ’28

Want to Get Involved with Kresge Theatre Company?

Wheaton students curious about theatre are encouraged to get involved on stage or behind the scenes. KTC produces theatrical events both large and small to provide opportunities for the artistic development of the Wheaton community through peer, faculty and alumni mentorship.

Monologue Slam - April 18th @ 8:00 PM Sign-Up Online to Perform!

Auditions for Julius Caesar - April 1st & 2nd @ 7:00 PM Sign-Up Online to Audition!

For more information visit: www.kresgetheatrecompany.com/get-involved To inquire about joining the production team for one of our events or shows, please email Joey Del Santo, Artistic Director, at delsanto_joey@wheatoncollege.edu

Special THANKS The creative team, cast and crew of Everybody would like to extend a special thank you to the following individuals, institutions and organizations.

Arts@Wheaton Staff Megan, Keith and Kevin Bourget & Nana Benjamin Campbell ’24 Stephanie Burlington Daniels ’97 Jackie Davis LisaMarie, TJ, Andy, Marina & Summer Del Santo The Facilities Department Ben Galosi Nell Hamilton Hannah Leamon Teddy Lytle Jennifer Madden Sara Milesi ’27 The National Theatre Institute The Norton Cultural Council Clinton O’Dell Max Ponticelli Liam Sibbers Patrick B. Summers ’94 Joe Wilson, Jr.

Upcoming Arts events 5 Minute Play Festival Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 9:00 PM Kresge Experimental Theatre, Watson Fine Arts Wheaton College Dance Company Thursday, April 10 - Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 7:30 PM Weber Theatre, Watson Fine Arts Monologue Slam Friday, April 18, 2025 at 8:00 PM The Lyons Den, Balfour Hood Fauré Requiem: A Theatrical Choral Event Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM Cole Memorial Chapel Julius Caesar Thursday, May 1 - Friday, May 2, 2025 at 8:00 PM Wallace Library Steps Ensemble Experiments Thursday May 8 - Friday, May 9, 2025 at 7:30 PM Kresge Experimental Theatre, Watson Fine Arts