For a complete list of public performances, visit asolorep.org/ithaca
Developed with and directed by GABY RODRIGUEZOriginal
Written by Jess Shoemaker
Developed with and Directed by Gaby Rodriguez
Original Compositions by Lizzie Hagstedt
Asolo Repertory Theatre (Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards, Managing Director Linda DiGabriele)
Rep FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training (Conservatory Director Andrei Malaev-Babel)
Scenic/Property Design
Frank J. Paul
Michelle Hart
Hsiao-Wei Chen
Lighting Design Ethan Vail Sound Design Matthew Parker
Dramaturg & Associate Producer Elizabeth Guilbert Stage Manager Matthew Rohan Music Director Lizzie Hagstedt
Producer Sara Brunow
Producer & Casting Director Celine Rosenthal
IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Dreaa Kay Baudy
Chaparro
Martin
Sydney Story
Wheat
Imani Lee Williams
Producer Nia Sciarretta
Shepherd/Menelaus
Understudies: Erin O’Connor, Evan Stevens, Peter Raimondo
Looking for Ithaca: An Odyssey will be performed without an intermission. The video and/or audio recording of this performance by any means whatsoever is strictly prohibited.
Theatre is for Everyone.
Presented by Asolo Rep and the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, Asolo Rep On Tour creates innovative and accessible 45-minute adaptations of classic literature that travel into communities and schools throughout the state of Florida. We develop theatrical experiences and supporting materials that are exciting and responsive to audiences.
Asolo Rep On Tour holds surprises for all! These performances serve as an introduction to live theatre for firsttime audiences, while offering a new perspective of a story for seasoned theatregoers. Join us as we connect with communities and celebrate modern magic in classic stories.
The FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, ranked as one of the top 10 actor training programs in the country, has been Asolo Repertory Theatre’s partner for over 45 years. Twelve students a year are chosen to take part in the intense three-year training program, which combines high-caliber classroom work, guest artist workshops, and professional production experiences. In the third year of training, before joining Asolo Rep’s mainstage company as full-time members, Conservatory students take part in a touring production performed throughout the state for school groups and the general public. The program is not only an invaluable part of the sophisticated training offered by the FSU/Asolo Conservatory, but it also represents the ongoing and ever-developing partnership between Asolo Rep and Florida State University.
GABY RODRIGUEZ
Jess is a freelance director, playwright, and educator who has spent the last decade working in classical theatre and new play development. Jess recently served as curriculum consultant and contributor for the Hadestown National Tour Education Initiative. She also spent five years at the helm of the GRSF Apprentice Actor Training Program, where she developed her own curriculum for training skilled, authentic voices in the performance of classical and heightened texts. Directing credits include Seedfolks (upcoming, Metro Theatre Company), Sueño (upcoming, Webster University), Little Women and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Grandstreet Theatre), Loverboy, Flora Circular, 12 Ophelias, and Tjipeter (University of Texas). Her plays include Looking for Ithaca: An Odyssey, The Book of Orpah, (& Medea), and 50 Shades of Shakespeare. Jess holds her BFA in acting from Webster University and her MFA in directing from the University of Texas at Austin. When not in rehearsals, Jess can often be found playing endless games of fetch with her dog, Obe Mayhem.
Gaby is a director, dramaturg, teacher, and storyteller from Houston, TX and Santiago de Cuba. Directing credits include Fefu and Her Friends at Theatre Nuevo, Suffer the Children at The Center of Creative Arts (COCA), Miss You Like Hell and her devised piece Mi Don Quijote at the Webster Conservatory, and SHAKE38: The War of the Roses with Shakespeare Festival STL. New work development includes Dear Kitty… Querida Ana with In the Margin Theatre Company, Ni Aquí Ni Allá with Great River Shakespeare Festival, and Refuge with Campfire Theatre Festival. As an Assistant Director, she worked at Great River Shakespeare Festival for two years (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Venus in Fur, The Merchant of Venice, Henry VI: The Rise of Richard, The Comedy of Errors) and at The Repertory Theatre of STL (The Wolves, A Christmas Story, The Play That Goes Wrong). She was also the Assistant Director for Theatre Under The Stars’ Public Works Houston (Seussical). As a teaching artist she has worked with COCA and Metro Theatre Company, where she just finished puppeteering and Spanish coaching The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show. As an artist, Gaby works to use theatre as a way of giving representation and voices to those that are often forgotten. Pa’lante mi gente!
To
with Gaby & Jess.
HSIAO-WEI CHEN (Costume Designer) is an Austin, TX, and Taiwan based costume and scenic designer. She enjoys visual storytelling, using her diverse skill and broad aesthetic in design to create both environment and character. Her works include theatre, opera, musicals, dance, film, and music videos, and she is eager to explore more storytelling formats. Hsiao-Wei received an MFA from the University of Texas at Austin. hsiaoweichen.com
ELIZABETH GUILBERT (Dramaturg) is a director, dramaturg, teaching artist, and arts administrator who has had the opportunity to work with artists of all ages, focusing on technique and creative work in scene study, playwriting, devised work, theatre for social change, and creative drama. Elizabeth spent several years at Goodspeed Musicals, where she managed and taught classes for the Goodspeed Kids Company, in addition to creating and facilitating new educational programs for students and professionals alike. Previous work includes Goodspeed Musicals, McCarter Theatre Center, and the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education. Elizabeth is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago and is currently the Education & Engagement Coordinator at Asolo Repertory Theatre.
LIZZIE HAGSTEDT (Composer/Music Director) is an actor/singer/musician/composer from Sayville, NY. With Asolo Rep: composer for four years of educational tours, as well as Lifespan of a Fact and Our Town; performer in The Music Man; and music director and performer in three new musicals with the Ground Floor series including her own, Sophie Blanchard’s High-Flyin’ Rock’n’Roll Extravaganza. Up next: performing in the The Tempest at Round House Theatre (directed by Aaron Posner and Teller) and a reading of her musical Oneida at the Tank in NYC. lizziehagstedt.com
MICHELLE HART (Hair/Wig & Make-up Designer) designs for Asolo Repertory Theatre and FSU/Asolo Conservatory. Other credits: Sarasota Ballet, Palm Beach Drama Works, freeFall Theatre, Urbanite Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, West Coast Black Theatre Troupe, Banyan Theatre, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Venice Theatre, Dorset Theatre, Barrington Stage, and Open Stage Theatre. She has also done hair and/or make-up for Joan Rivers, Doris Roberts, Martin Short, Jane Russell, Arlene Dahl, Soledad Villamil, Jane Pauley, Richard Dreyfuss, Castille Langdon, Christopher Higgins, Mary Mara, Heather Robb, Lauren Sweetser, Justin Long, Paul Downs, Douglas Sills, and Nia Hills; Music videos: “Second Chance” by Shinedown, “Reverse Cowgirl” by T-Pain; Film and television: Lady of the Manor; Paradise, FL; and The Real Stephen Blatt.
FRANK J. PAUL (Senior Props Master/Scenic Designer) is a proud member of I.A.T.S.E. and Actors’ Equity. Frank received his BFA in Theatre from The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in ’04. Frank held the position of master carpenter for three years in NYC, building Christmas windows for Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord and Taylor, Tiffany’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Bergdorf Goodman. Frank has performed on stage regionally in Chicago, Pennsylvania, New York, and St. Louis, and worked carpentry and stage management for shows in Chicago and New York for the past 18 years. Locally, Frank spent a year as the head of props at the Sarasota Opera and held various positions with the Sarasota Ballet. Much love to his wife, India, and their beautiful puppy Charlie-Bear.
MATTHEW PARKER (Sound Designer) received his BFA in Theatre Production Design and Technology from Ohio University. He was the resident sound designer at Monomoy Theatre in 1990. He has worked sound and special effects at Flat Rock Playhouse in North Carolina on such shows as I Hate Hamlet, the world premiere of Gilligan’s Island: The Musical, and others in the 1992 season. Since 1993, Matt has designed sound for many of Asolo Rep’s productions. In addition, he wrote and performed the musical scores for The Count of Monte Cristo and Nicholas Nickleby. Outside the theatre world, he has designed and programed the show control system for Livingston’s Amusements Bazooka Ball arena and produced Livestream expositions for the National Watercolor Society.
ETHAN VAIL (Lighting Designer) is pleased to join the team on this adventure. Credits include Asolo Repertory Theatre: Grand Horizons, Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer, Camelot; The Players Centre for the Performing Arts (Sarasota, FL): Head Over Heels, All Shook Up; Millbrook Playhouse (Mill Hall, PA): 65 productions, including the regional premiere of Fun Home; Compass Rose Theatre (Annapolis, MD): Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Manatee Players: Anne of Green Gables. He was the recipient of the 2013 USITT YD&T Award, sponsored by Barbizon Lighting Company, for A Midsummer Night’s Dream that he designed at Purdue University. He is also the master electrician at Asolo Repertory Theatre.
DREAA KAY BAUDY (Nestor) is a New Orleans native, but currently resides in Sarasota. She graduated with her BA in Philosophy from Tulane University and is currently an MFA candidate for a Master’s in Acting at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. Some of her credits include Esther in Intimate Apparel, Somebody in Everybody, Ophelia in Hamlet, and Maria in Twelfth Night. Besides her passion for acting, Dreaa Kay loves to travel, is a plant enthusiast, and a cat mom.
MACARIA CHAPARRO MARTINEZ (Telly) went to a play for the first time when they were 13 and has dreamed of telling stories ever since! Favorite people to have played include: Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Lord of the Underworld/Interesting Man in Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice, and Belise in The Learned Ladies here in Florida and with the very classmates they share the stage with today. Favorite stories: Romeo & Juliet, Shrek, The Alchemist, Shrek 2 Special thanks to educators, community, art, choir directors, parents, aunts, uncles, nana, na; for teaching me, for loving me.
ZOYA MARTIN (Penelope) is a third year in the FSU/Asolo Conservatory, and this is her first season with Asolo Rep. She graduated with her BFA from Azusa Pacific University in Pasadena, CA. Some credits include Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Henrietta in The Learned Ladies, and Abby in Belleville by Amy Herzog. She is grateful to be participating in this educational tour and thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this impactful story to the community.
“Stranger, you are welcome here. What I haveis yours and I give it with a glad heart.”
ERIN O’CONNOR (u/s Penelope, u/s Athena) is very excited to be a part of the touring company of Looking for Ithaca! She is in her third year at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory. You can see her onstage in the upcoming season at Asolo Rep. Past roles include Viola in Twelfth Night, Armande in The Learned Ladies, Everybody/As Cast in Everybody (FSU/Asolo Conservatory), Coco in The Cocoanuts and Cassius/Portia/ Mark Antony in Julius Caesar in a School Visit Program (Oregon Shakespeare Festival) that toured through middle/ high schools and colleges on the West Coast. Erin is very passionate about theatre education, stage combat, and dogs.
PETER S. RAIMONDO (u/s Telly, u/s Old Shepherd) is a third-year student with the FSU/Asolo Conservatory. He is from Buffalo, NY, and holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from Niagara University. Conservatory credits: Belleville (Zack), The Learned Ladies (Clitandre), Twelfth Night (Antonio), and Asolo Rep’s BardWired: Much Ado About Nothing (u/s perf., Claudio). Other favorite credits: The Outsiders (Ponyboy), Hamlet (Rosencrantz), The Tempest (Ferdinand), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Chip Tolentino). Peter is thrilled to be working with his cohort members and Asolo Repertory Theatre this season and is grateful for the love and support of his family and friends.
EVAN STEVENS (u/s Odysseus) is an actor from Boise, ID. He began acting professionally after graduating from Boise State University, where he majored in theatre with a minor in dance. Some of his favorite roles have included Fabrizio in The Light in the Piazza, and most recently, Sebastian in Twelfth Night. In addition to acting, Evan enjoys nature, dancing, and spending time with his dog Otis. He is grateful and proud to be working and acting alongside this amazing ensemble.
SYDNEY STORY (Old Shepherd/Menelaus) is excited to embark on the final leg of her MFA journey with Asolo Rep and with the education team. Her favorite roles include Olive in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Miss Dorothy Brown in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jan in Grease, and Maria in Love’s Labour’s Lost. She was fortunate enough to sing backup for Kristin Chenoweth and work on a new work with Richard Oberacker during her undergraduate training and would like to thank her parents for their support.
JERALD WHEAT (Odysseus) is humbled and excited to be a part of this original touring production. He is in his third year at the FSU/ Asolo Conservatory. He was last seen at Asolo Rep on the Cook Theatre stage, performing in all four of the Conservatory’s 2022 season productions. Jerald would like to thank the excellent stage managers, the Asolo Rep Education department, Gaby Rodriguez for being such an inspiring director, Jess Shoemaker for writing this beautiful adaptation, his fellow ensemble members who are always a joy to work with, and his supportive family.
MATTHEW ROHAN (Stage Manager) is excited to be working at Asolo Rep this season and to be embarking on a theatrical odyssey across Florida with Looking for Ithaca: An Odyssey. Matthew is a proud graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Favorite past professional credits include Carmen, The Tender Land (Utah Festival Opera), and Elizabeth Rex (Oak Park Festival). Past university credits include The Marriage of Figaro, Native Gardens, A Little Night Music, and Songs for a New World (University of Illinois).
IMANI LEE WILLIAMS (Athena) has found theatre to be both a place that people follow and a movement that follows people - she is proud to be a part of it. Imani graduated from FSU with her BFA in Theatre and toured Atlanta, performing original works with the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta for five years. Credits include The Laboratory Theater: Jo in The Legend of Georgia McBride; June in Good, Bad People; and Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible (2019 SWFL Broadway World’s Regional Award for Best Actress-nonprofessional). She will be seen next in Asolo Rep’s 2022-23 season. In her final year as an FSU/Asolo Conservatory student, Imani is overjoyed to help tell a healing story with such a dedicated cast and creative team. She thanks Gaby and Jess for their ever-welcoming craftsmanship. Enjoy the show!
Contributors to Asolo Rep’s school-based Access to the Arts programs further our commitment to making live theatre part of our children’s education today and their lives tomorrow. These outstanding programs reach youth and families in our community and across the state of Florida.
For more information, contact Sarah Johnson at sarah_johnson@asolo.org or 941.351.9010 ext. 4707. Gifts are current as of August 1, 2022.
Anonymous • Ali and Gloria Bahaj • Betty-Jean and David* Bavar • Gerald and Sondra Biller • Travis and Kathy Brown • Elizabeth Butler and the Gary Butler Family Foundation • Tom and Ann Charters • Carole Crosby, Ruby E. and Carole Crosby Family Foundation • Bill and Elaine Crouse • Richard Ferrell, Andrew R. Ferrell Foundation • Charlie Huisking, Huisking Foundation • Melanie and Sean Natarajan • Jim and Susan Travers • Trivisonno Foundation • Leon and Marysue Wechsler • Gina and Thomas Winter • Geri and Ron Yonover • Stephen and Cheri Ziegler
Jo Ann Allen • Shari and Steve Ashman
Richard and Eve Biller
Martin and Barbara Bowling • Nancy Boxill-Thompson • Terry O. Brackett • Susan Brennan
Don and Jo Ann Burhart • Denise Campbell and Sean Altice • Don and Ann Casto
Vaughan Curtis • Designing Women Boutique • L’Tanya Evans
Wendy and Jerry Feinstein
Sandy and Jim Goldman
George and Judith Hofmann
B.J. Jones
David Gallagher
Barbara Gardner • Ronald Giarrusso
George and Mary Dee Hicks
Barbara Jacob
Susan and Pavel Hillel
Dr. Randell Johnson and Bobby Jensen
Ronald Kendall and Michael Ballantyne
Enid Marshall
Terrence McKee
Susan Palmer
Michael and Jean Martin
Betty Menell • Nancy Mina
Rebecca and Barry Preston
Steven and Carolyn Roskamp
Mike and Madelyn Tetmeyer
Benjamin and James Luczak
Jan McClure
Deborah McIlrevey
Luis Montes and Kara Altice-Montes
Maurice Richards* and Jack Kesler*
Jeff and Nikki Sedacca
Gayle Timmerman
Lee Shapiro
Dawn Spencer
Pamela and Mark Weinstein
Susan and Charles Wilson
memoriam
*in
Lead
Koski Family Foundation
Linnie E. Dalbeck Memorial Foundation Trust Charles Henry Leach II Fund
Cordelia Lee Beattie Foundation
Asolo Rep’s Education & Engagement Director is sponsored by the Muriel O’Neil Fund for the Performing Arts of Community Foundation of Sarasota County