CreativeTeam
ANotefromtheArtisticDirector
WelcometoSmallMouthSounds,thethirdshowofourFall2024 CalREPSeason!
SmallMouthSoundspresentsuswithsixstrangerssettingoutto achieveserenityatasilentmeditationretreat.Whattheyfindis silly,profound,awkward,andentirelyunexpected.This“silent” comedyprovidesadeparturefromtheeverydayinmoreways thanone,placingfocusonphysicalityandcharacter,andshines alightonthesmallthingsthatmakeabigdifference.
WearedelightedtowelcomebackCalREPregularBethLopesto direct.Bethpreviouslyhelmedfavorites‘RomeoandJuliet:Hard WayHome’&‘EndDays.’
Thethemeforthe2024-25CalREPseasonis“LaughingTogether,” celebratingdiversevoicesthroughcomedy.Inaworldthatoften feelsdivided,webelievethattheatreprovidesanopportunityto cometogether,andwhatbetterwaytocometogetherthan throughlaughter.Comedyhasthepowertoconnectus,tobreak downbarriers,andtoremindusofoursharedhumanity.We inviteyoutojoinusinthiscelebrationofhumor.
ForanyquestionsaboutourProgramGuideinfopleaseemail: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.
ANotefromtheArtisticDirector (cont.)
Thisproductionisthethirdoffourshowsthisfall.Wehope youwilljoinusforonemoreoutstandingcomedywith “Clyde’s”inNovember.Thankyouforbeingapartofthis CalREPseason.
Nowgetcomfortableandturnoffyourphonesoyoucan enjoythemagicoflivetheatre,andwelcometoSmallMouth Sounds.
WarmRegards, EzraLeBank
DepartmentChair
TheatreArts&CalREP
ForanyquestionsaboutourProgramGuideinfopleaseemail: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.
ANotefromtheDirector
Agroupofpeopleinagonyarriveata5-daysilentretreatand thetrajectoryoftheirlivesischanged.Withoutknowing histories,jobs,orevennames,thesestrangersfindwaysto alterthefabricofeachother’slives.
SmallMouthSoundsallowsusthechancetoseewhatkindof connectionispossiblewhenyoueliminatethenoiseofour differences.Ihopeyoutaketheopportunitytoopenyourselfto thewarmth,humor,andpoignancyofthisplay,and,mostof all,Ihopeyoufindyourmiraclesinthesilence.
Thankyouforjoiningus!
BethLopes Director
ForanyquestionsaboutourProgramGuideinfopleaseemail: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.
ANotefromtheDirector (cont.)
SuchSilencebyMaryOliver
AsdeepasIeverwentintotheforest Icameuponanoldstonebench,very,veryold, andarounditaclearing,andbeyondthat treestallerandolderthanIhadeverseen. Suchsilence!
Itreallywasn’tsofarfromatown,butit seemed alltheclocksintheworldhadstopped counting.
Soitwashardtosupposetheusualrules applied. Sometimesthere’sonlyahint,apossibility. What’smagical,sometimes,hasdeeperroots thanreason Ihopeeveryoneknowsthat. Isatonthebench,waitingforsomething. Anangel,perhaps. Ordancerswiththelegsofgoats. No,Ididn’tseeeither.Butonly,Ithink,because Ididn’tstaylongenough.
ForanyquestionsaboutourProgramGuideinfopleaseemail: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.
JaneU’Ren as“Joan”
AmeliaPriestley(Judy)isa theatreperformancemajorin herfinalyearasatransfer studenttoCSULB.Sheisthrilled tobemakingherdebutonthe MainStageandwantstothank thecast,crew,andartistic teamforbringingthisplayto life.Shewouldalsoliketo thankherfamilyandfriendsfor theircontinuedsupport.
JaneU’Ren(Joan)isasenior TheaterArtsPerformanceMajor atCSULB.HerpastCalRepcredits includeForTheLoveof,or,The RollerDerbyPlay,andDryLand. Janehasalsobeenanactive memberofTheaterThresholdas anactorandplaywright throughouthertimeatCSULB.
AmeliaPriestley as“Judy”
ForanyquestionsaboutourProgramGuideinfopleaseemail: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.
DanaSandoval(Alicia)isa3rdyear TheaterPerformanceMajorandis excitedforherdebutonthe Mainstage!Shewillbeplayingthe roleofAliciaandherpastcredits includeNo.(SureThing),andThe PhantomTollbooth.Sheisalsoa dancerwholovestoperformon stageandcan'twaittoshowcase herpassionforacting.
DanaSandoval as“Alicia”
AryanChhabra as“Ned”
AryanChhabra(Ned)isafourthyearComputerSciencemajorat CSULBandisbeyondexcitedtobe participatinginaCalRepproduction. Hispastworkincludesproductions withTheaterThresholdandDiablo ValleyCollege,suchasWitnessfor theProsecutionandLittleWomen. Aryanwantstothanktheentireteam behindthisshowfortheirtimeand effort,andwishestothankhisfamily/ friendsfortheirsupport.
ForanyquestionsaboutourProgramGuideinfopleaseemail: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.
DevinStone as“Rodney”
DevinStone(Rodney)isa3rdyear TheatreArtsMajor,andthisishisfirst productionatCSULB.Hispastcredits include:Dinosaurs(Hayden)and Almost,Maine(Phil).Hewouldliketo thankhisfellowcastmembers,the directors,andallofthecrewfortheir hardworkandsacrifice.
GideonAmick(Jan)isa4thyear Theaterstudent.Heishappyto bereturningforanothershow withCSULBaftergettingtobea partofMr.Burns:aPostElectric Play(Gibson)lastfall.Gideonis verygratefultothosewhohelped maketheplaywhatitisandto thosewhogettoseeit!
GideonAmick as“Jan”
ForanyquestionsaboutourProgramGuideinfopleaseemail: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.
AstridAgreda as“Teacher”
AstridAgreda(Teacher)isa 3rdyearTheatreArtsMajor. She’ssoexcitedtobeapartof thisamazingshowwithsuch talentedpeople.Thankyouto thecastandcrew.
ForanyquestionsaboutourProgramGuideinfopleaseemail: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.
AssistantDirector
ArtAlvarez
ProductionAssistant
JessicaBurwell
Crew
AssistantLightingDesigner
AidenVice
AssistantStageManager
ChrisOsborne
Programmer
CandiceHuang
SoundboardOperator
NicholasMayer
IntimacyCoordinator
CarlyBones
Hair&Make-UpCrew
VictoriaMartins
AidanMcGuinness
GuadalupeLopez
JaydenLopez
AlishaSweeting
BrandenZepeda
AssistantHair&
MakeupDesigner
EllaMcDonald
LightboardOperator
ZoeyMartin
VocalCoach
JessicaWoollen
CostumeCrew
IsabellaGamble
BibydianaGozalez
MelisaOdabas
CelesteOntiveros
DavidPadiall
EmilyQuintero
RudySanchez
EllaSmith
BriannaWongsuphakphan
ScenicCrew
EvanOukrop
MatthewQuady
EmmaShults
DaijonTurner
XzavierUrzua
AlexanderYoung
ForanyquestionsaboutourProgramGuideinfopleaseemail: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.
WhatSmallMouth Sounds?
“SmallMouthSounds”isaplaythatexploresthepowerofhuman connection,mindfulness,andself-discoverythroughfewwords.Set inasilentmeditationretreatoverthespanoffivedays,theplay followssixstrangersastheydiscoverthetransformativepower ofsilence.
Theplaybeginswiththecharactersarrivingattheretreatcenter,as theyaregreetedbytheretreatleaderwhoremainsunseenforthe entiretyoftheplay.Thecharactersarelefttotheirowndevices, forcedtorelyonnonverbalcommunicationtoconfronttheir innermostfeelingsanddesires.
Charactersslowlybegintoopenuptoeachother,revealingwhat broughtthemtotheretreat.Theybegintofindsupport,andhealing, leadingtosurprisingrevelationsandunexpectedconnections. Theplayisapowerfultestamenttothehumancapacityfor resilience,empathyandtransformation.Itexploresuniversal themesoflove,lossandtheabilitytotransform.Itinspiresthe audiencetothinkabouthoweveryoneisgoingthroughtheirown personalstrugglesdespitewhatisshown,andthatwehavemorein commonthanweareledtobelieve.
Despitetheseriousthemesexploredin“SmallMouthSounds,”the playalsocontainsagoodamountofhumor.Theawkwardnessand discomfortthatthecharactersexperienceintheirattemptsto communicatenonverballyleadtoseveralcomedicmoments.The characters’innerthoughtsarealsorevealedthroughbrief, humorousmonologuesthatprovidealightheartedbreakfromthe intensityofthesilentretreat.
ForanyquestionsaboutourProgramGuideinfopleaseemail: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.
CharacterListReference
Joan-Adrivenwomanseekingsolaceandclarity,shestruggles withfeelingsofinadequacyandthepressureofsocietal expectations.
Judy-Joan'spartner,Judyismoreintrovertedanddealingwith aseriousillness.Herstrugglewithherhealthanditstollontheir relationshipisacentraltheme.
Alicia-Ayoungwomandealingwithheartbreak,Aliciafeelslost anddisconnected.Shetendstobemoreemotionaland struggleswiththesilenceoftheretreat.
Ned-Asoft-spokenmandealingwithgriefandtheweightof unresolvedissuesinhislife,oftenexpressinghisthoughts throughbodylanguageratherthanwords.
Rodney-Aspiritualteacherandyogaenthusiast,Rodney projectsanairofcalmandenlightenmentbutisrevealedtobe moreflawedthanheseems.
Jan- AEuropeanmanwhoismourningthedeathofalovedone, Jancarriesdeepsadnessandisseekingsolaceattheretreat.He oftenexpressesthisthroughsubtleactionsandsilence.
Teacher-Aguidingfigurewhofacilitatestheretreat,offering wisdomandencouragingtheparticipantstoconfronttheirinner turmoil.
ForanyquestionsaboutourProgramGuideinfopleaseemail: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.
WhathappensinSmallMouthSounds?
Inwhatnon-verbalwaysdoactorsexpresstheirfeelings?
Wherespecificallydoesit takeplace?
Howdidthecharactersexpressthe themesofthisplay?
WhydoyouthinkBessWohlwroteaplaythathappens innearsilence?
ForanyquestionsaboutourProgramGuideinfopleaseemail: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.
WhoisthePlaywright?
BessWohl
BessWohlisaplaywrightand filmmaker.Herplayshavebeen producedonandoffBroadway, regionally,andinternationallyandher featurefilmdebut,BABYRUBY,starring NoémieMerlantandKitHarington, premieredatthe2022TorontoFilm Festivalandwasreleasedby MagnoliaPictures.Shealsowrotefor theAppleTV+series,“Extrapolations,” createdbyScottZ Burns HerplaysincludeGRANDHORIZONS(TonyNominationsforBestPlay& BestFeaturedActress,OuterCriticsCircleHonor,DramaLeagueAward nom);MAKEBELIEVE(NYTimesCriticPick,Bestof2019,OuterCriticsCircle Honor);CONTINUITY;SMALLMOUTHSOUNDS(JohnGassnerOuterCritics CircleAward,toptenlistsinTheNewYorkTimes,TheNewYorkPost,The Guardian);AMERICANHERO;BARCELONA;TOUCHED;IN;CATSTALKBACK andthemusicalPRETTYFILTHYwithcomposer/lyricistMichaelFriedman andTheCivilians(LucilleLortelandDramaDesknominationsfor OutstandingMusical).
Wohl’splayshavebeenproducedordevelopedattheaters includingManhattanTheaterClub,GoodmanTheater,TheGeffen Playhouse,OjaiPlaywright'sConference,andPlayPenn.Awardsand honorsincludetheSamNorkinspecialDramaDeskAwardfor “establishingherselfasanimportantvoiceinNewYorktheater,” multipleOuterCriticsCirclehonors,theAthenaAwardforher screenplayVIRGINIA.
ForanyquestionsaboutourProgramGuideinfopleaseemail: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.
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LandAcknowledgement
CSULBislocatedonthesacredsiteofPuvungna.We acknowledgethatweareonthelandofthe Tongva/GabrieleñoandtheAcjachemen/JuaneñoNations whohavelivedandcontinuetolivehere.
WerecognizetheTongvaandAcjachemenNationsand theirspiritualconnectionasthefirststewardsandthe traditionalcaretakersofthisland.
Wethankthemfortheirstrength,perserverance,and resistance.WepayourrespectstotheAncestors,Elders, andourrelatives,past,present,andemerging.
CalREPistheproducingarmoftheTheatreArts DepartmentatCSULB.Overthepastthreedecades, CalREPhasahistoryofcreatingnewwork,devised theatreandadaptationsofclassics.
CALREPTEAM
DepartmentChair
EzraLeBank
MFATheatre
ManagementFaculty
JeffJanisheski
MeganWanlass
ManagingDirector
MegImamoto
ProductionManager
AshleyBoehneEhlers
TechnicalDirector
RobertWaltz
MasterCarpenter
MitchellDomingo
ScenicStudentAssistants
SaulDiaz
BledarGashi
ToriMorones
TarynWyss
CostumeShopManager
LalenaHutton
CostumeShop Cutter/Draper
DeniseBarry
Costume FirstHand
MikaDyo
CostumeShop
StudentAssistants
KelsiHavercroft
VivianMullvihill
SabaNabaeighahroudi
KaiReyes
KyleMatsuda
MasterElectrician
JasmineFlores
LightingSAs/Hang&Focus
Crew
AaliyahArtry
KayciBaylon
ChristianBlandin
SaulDiaz
SoniaGiansiracusa
LightingStudentAssistants(cont)
CandiceHuang
DouglasLam
MelissaMejia-Rodriguez
DeshawnMims
QuinnO'Kelly
EsmeraldaRuiz
AnthonySanchez
AidenVice
MikeZavala
Media&SoundEngineer
DavidGoyette
BoxOfficeManager
KateByrne
BoxOffice StudentAssistants
AshleyHolguin
WilliamRunnels
CharliSouthall
KatieTran
VincentMonastrial
Fiscaland
PersonnelAnalyst
KatieSpeer
SafetyTechnicalSupervisor
TonyMartinez
TheatreArts
GraduateAdvisor
JoshNathan
TheatreArts
AcademicAdvisor
AdrianeHowze
Videographer
NickNeira
ProductionPhotographer
CynthiaPrice
Graduate
GeneralManager
ClairePearson
Management
GraduateStudents
AmandaAnderson
PerlaBarajas
PaulaEagleman
DrewOlvey
Management
GraduateStudents (cont.)
ChaunsaOyos
ClairePearson
BobWilliamson
Faculty
GayleBaizer
ChrisBange
JodyBerger
TrevorBiship-Gillespie
AshleyBoehneEhlers
JoshBreeding
ErinCaron
AndreaCaban
MarthaCarter
AdrianCenteno
BonnieDolan
AlanaDietze
RamyElectreby
MichelleGibbs
RebeccaGuzzi
RichHutchman
MichelleHuynh
JeffJanisheski
NipperKnapp
EzraLeBank
BradleyLock
PatriciaLoughrey
EmilyMacDonald
JoshNathan
HughO'Gorman
RobertPrior
JenRichardson
TylerSeiple
MedinaSenghore
AnnaSteers
DeseanTerry
TomTrudgeon
SarahUnderwood
MeganWanlass
DavidWard
JessicaWoollen
Small Mouth Sounds