Small Mouth Sounds Program Guide

Creative Team Director

Beth Lopes Scenic Design Emily MacDonald

Costume Design Violet Fernandez Mel Mencos

Sound Design Eden Doss-Fillmore

Lighting Design Ryan Meissner

Properties Design Kaitlyn Allen Niko Flores

Hair & Makeup Design Tianti Birks Stage Manager Josh van Veggel

SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com) World Premiere Developed and Originally Produced by Ars Nova Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Renee Blinkwolt, Managing Director For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

A Note from the Artistic Director Welcome to Small Mouth Sounds, the third show of our Fall 2024 CalREP Season!

Small Mouth Sounds presents us with six strangers setting out to achieve serenity at a silent meditation retreat. What they find is silly, profound, awkward, and entirely unexpected. This “silent” comedy provides a departure from the every day in more ways than one, placing focus on physicality and character, and shines a light on the small things that make a big difference.

We are delighted to welcome back CalREP regular Beth Lopes to direct. Beth previously helmed favorites ‘Romeo and Juliet: Hard Way Home’ & ‘End Days.’

The theme for the 2024-25 CalREP season is “Laughing Together,” celebrating diverse voices through comedy. In a world that often feels divided, we believe that theatre provides an opportunity to come together, and what better way to come together than through laughter. Comedy has the power to connect us, to break down barriers, and to remind us of our shared humanity. We invite you to join us in this celebration of humor.

For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

A Note from the Artistic Director (cont.)

This production is the third of four shows this fall. We hope you will join us for one more outstanding comedy with “Clyde’s” in November. Thank you for being a part of this CalREP season.

Now get comfortable and turn off your phone so you can enjoy the magic of live theatre, and welcome to Small Mouth Sounds.

Warm Regards, Ezra LeBank Department Chair Theatre Arts & CalREP

For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

A Note from the Director A group of people in agony arrive at a 5-day silent retreat and the trajectory of their lives is changed. Without knowing histories, jobs, or even names, these strangers find ways to alter the fabric of each other’s lives.

Small Mouth Sounds allows us the chance to see what kind of connection is possible when you eliminate the noise of our differences. I hope you take the opportunity to open yourself to the warmth, humor, and poignancy of this play, and, most of all, I hope you find your miracles in the silence.

Thank you for joining us!

Beth Lopes Director

For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

A Note from the Director (cont.)

Such Silence by Mary Oliver As deep as I ever went into the forest I came upon an old stone bench, very, very old, and around it a clearing, and beyond that trees taller and older than I had ever seen.

Such silence!

It really wasn’t so far from a town, but it seemed all the clocks in the world had stopped counting.

So it was hard to suppose the usual rules applied.

Sometimes there’s only a hint, a possibility.

What’s magical, sometimes, has deeper roots than reason.

I hope everyone knows that.

I sat on the bench, waiting for something.

An angel, perhaps.

Or dancers with the legs of goats.

No, I didn’t see either. But only, I think, because I didn’t stay long enough.

For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

Cast Jane U’Ren (Joan) is a senior Theater Arts Performance Major at CSULB. Her past Cal Rep credits include For The Love of, or, The Roller Derby Play, and Dry Land.

Jane has also been an active member of Theater Threshold as an actor and playwright throughout her time at CSULB. Jane U’Ren as “Joan”

Amelia Priestley (Judy) is a theatre performance major in her final year as a transfer student to CSULB. She is thrilled to be making her debut on the Main Stage and wants to thank the cast, crew, and artistic team for bringing this play to life. She would also like to thank her family and friends for their continued support.

Amelia Priestley as “Judy”

For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

Cast Dana Sandoval (Alicia) is a 3rd year Theater Performance Major and is excited for her debut on the Mainstage! She will be playing the role of Alicia and her past credits include No. (Sure Thing), and The Phantom Tollbooth. She is also a dancer who loves to perform on stage and can't wait to showcase her passion for acting.

Aryan Chhabra as “Ned”

Dana Sandoval as “Alicia”

Aryan Chhabra (Ned) is a fourthyear Computer Science major at CSULB and is beyond excited to be participating in a CalRep production.

His past work includes productions with Theater Threshold and Diablo Valley College, such as Witness for the Prosecution and Little Women.

Aryan wants to thank the entire team behind this show for their time and effort, and wishes to thank his family/ friends for their support.

For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

Cast Devin Stone (Rodney) is a 3rd year Theatre Arts Major, and this is his first production at CSULB. His past credits include: Dinosaurs (Hayden) and Almost, Maine (Phil). He would like to thank his fellow cast members, the directors, and all of the crew for their hard work and sacrifice.

Devin Stone as “Rodney”

Gideon Amick (Jan) is a 4th year Theater student. He is happy to be returning for another show with CSULB after getting to be a part of Mr. Burns: a Post Electric Play (Gibson) last fall. Gideon is very grateful to those who helped make the play what it is and to those who get to see it!

For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

Gideon Amick as “Jan”

Cast Astrid Agreda (Teacher) is a 3rd year Theatre Arts Major.

She’s so excited to be a part of this amazing show with such talented people. Thank you to the cast and crew.

Astrid Agreda as “Teacher”

For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

Crew Assistant Director Art Alvarez

Production Assistant Jessica Burwell

Assistant Lighting Designer Aiden Vice

Programmer Candice Huang

Soundboard Operator Nicholas Mayer

Intimacy Coordinator Carly Bones

Hair & Make-Up Crew Victoria Martins Aidan McGuinness Guadalupe Lopez Jayden Lopez Alisha Sweeting Branden Zepeda

Assistant Stage Manager Chris Osborne Assistant Hair & Makeup Designer Ella McDonald

Lightboard Operator Zoey Martin

Vocal Coach Jessica Woollen

Costume Crew Isabella Gamble Bibydiana Gozalez Melisa Odabas Celeste Ontiveros David Padiall Emily Quintero Rudy Sanchez Ella Smith Brianna Wongsuphakphan

For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

Scenic Crew Evan Oukrop Matthew Quady Emma Shults Daijon Turner Xzavier Urzua Alexander Young

Study Guide “The sound of silence onstage has rarely made such sweet music… a play that leaves you moved, refreshed and, yes, maybe even a little enlightened.”

— Charles Isherwood, The New York Times

For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

What Small Mouth Sounds?

“Small Mouth Sounds” is a play that explores the power of human connection, mindfulness, and self-discovery through few words. Set in a silent meditation retreat over the span of five days, the play follows six strangers as they discover the transformative power of silence.

The play begins with the characters arriving at the retreat center, as they are greeted by the retreat leader who remains unseen for the entirety of the play. The characters are left to their own devices, forced to rely on nonverbal communication to confront their innermost feelings and desires.

Characters slowly begin to open up to each other, revealing what brought them to the retreat. They begin to find support, and healing, leading to surprising revelations and unexpected connections.

The play is a powerful testament to the human capacity for resilience, empathy and transformation. It explores universal themes of love, loss and the ability to transform. It inspires the audience to think about how everyone is going through their own personal struggles despite what is shown, and that we have more in common than we are led to believe.

Despite the serious themes explored in “Small Mouth Sounds,” the play also contains a good amount of humor. The awkwardness and discomfort that the characters experience in their attempts to communicate nonverbally lead to several comedic moments. The characters’ inner thoughts are also revealed through brief, humorous monologues that provide a lighthearted break from the intensity of the silent retreat.

For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

Character List Reference Joan- A driven woman seeking solace and clarity, she struggles with feelings of inadequacy and the pressure of societal expectations.

Judy- Joan's partner, Judy is more introverted and dealing with a serious illness. Her struggle with her health and its toll on their relationship is a central theme.

Alicia- A young woman dealing with heartbreak, Alicia feels lost and disconnected. She tends to be more emotional and struggles with the silence of the retreat.

Ned- A soft-spoken man dealing with grief and the weight of unresolved issues in his life, often expressing his thoughts through body language rather than words.

Rodney- A spiritual teacher and yoga enthusiast, Rodney projects an air of calm and enlightenment but is revealed to be more flawed than he seems.

Jan- A European man who is mourning the death of a loved one, Jan carries deep sadness and is seeking solace at the retreat. He often expresses this through subtle actions and silence.

Teacher- A guiding figure who facilitates the retreat, offering wisdom and encouraging the participants to confront their inner turmoil.

For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

Food for Thought What happens in Small Mouth Sounds?

In what non-verbal ways do actors express their feelings?

Where specifically does it take place?

How did the characters express the themes of this play?

Why do you think Bess Wohl wrote a play that happens in near silence?

For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

Who is the Playwright?

Bess Wohl

Bess Wohl is a playwright and filmmaker. Her plays have been produced on and off Broadway, regionally, and internationally and her feature film debut, BABY RUBY, starring Noémie Merlant and Kit Harington, premiered at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival and was released by Magnolia Pictures. She also wrote for the Apple TV+ series, “Extrapolations,” created by Scott Z. Burns.

Her plays include GRAND HORIZONS (Tony Nominations for Best Play & Best Featured Actress, Outer Critics Circle Honor, Drama League Award nom); MAKE BELIEVE (NYTimes Critic Pick, Best of 2019,Outer Critics Circle Honor); CONTINUITY; SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS (John Gassner Outer Critics Circle Award, top ten lists in The New York Times, The New York Post, The Guardian); AMERICAN HERO; BARCELONA; TOUCHED; IN; CATS TALK BACK and the musical PRETTY FILTHY with composer/lyricist Michael Friedman and The Civilians (Lucille Lortel and Drama Desk nominations for Outstanding Musical).

Wohl’s plays have been produced or developed at theaters including Manhattan Theater Club, Goodman Theater, The Geffen Playhouse, Ojai Playwright's Conference, and PlayPenn. Awards and honors include the Sam Norkin special Drama Desk Award for “establishing herself as an important voice in New York theater,” multiple Outer Critics Circle honors, the Athena Award for her screenplay VIRGINIA.

For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

Rock The Vote We encourage you to fulfill your civic duty if you are 18 years or over by voting this year in the 2024 election. Stay informed and understand what you are voting for. Register to vote using the link below!

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For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

Land Acknowledgement CSULB is located on the sacred site of Puvungna. We acknowledge that we are on the land of the Tongva/Gabrieleño and the Acjachemen/Juaneño Nations who have lived and continue to live here.

We recognize the Tongva and Acjachemen Nations and their spiritual connection as the first stewards and the traditional caretakers of this land.

We thank them for their strength, perserverance, and resistance. We pay our respects to the Ancestors, Elders, and our relatives, past, present, and emerging.

To learn how you can help, please visit: www.csulb.edu/puvungna

About CalREP CalREP is the producing arm of the Theatre Arts Department at CSULB. Over the past three decades, CalREP has a history of creating new work, devised theatre and adaptations of classics.

For any questions about our Program Guide info please email: cota-calrep@csulb.edu.

Department Chair Ezra LeBank

CALREP TEAM

MFA Theatre Management Faculty Jeff Janisheski Megan Wanlass Managing Director Meg Imamoto

Lighting Student Assistants (cont.)

Management Candice Huang Graduate Students Douglas Lam Melissa Mejia-Rodriguez (cont.)

Deshawn Mims Chaunsa Oyos Quinn O'Kelly Claire Pearson Esmeralda Ruiz Bob Williamson Anthony Sanchez Aiden Vice Faculty Mike Zavala

Production Manager Ashley Boehne Ehlers

Media & Sound Engineer David Goyette

Technical Director Robert Waltz

Box Office Manager Kate Byrne

Master Carpenter Mitchell Domingo

Box Office Student Assistants Ashley Holguin William Runnels Charli Southall Katie Tran Vincent Monastrial

Scenic Student Assistants Saul Diaz Bledar Gashi Tori Morones Taryn Wyss Costume Shop Manager Lalena Hutton

Fiscal and Personnel Analyst Katie Speer

Costume Shop Cutter/Draper Denise Barry

Safety Technical Supervisor Tony Martinez

Costume First Hand Mika Dyo Costume Shop Student Assistants Kelsi Havercroft Vivian Mullvihill Saba Nabaeighahroudi Kai Reyes Kyle Matsuda Master Electrician Jasmine Flores Lighting SAs/Hang & Focus Crew Aaliyah Artry Kayci Baylon Christian Blandin Saul Diaz Sonia Giansiracusa

Theatre Arts Graduate Advisor Josh Nathan Theatre Arts Academic Advisor Adriane Howze Videographer Nick Neira Production Photographer Cynthia Price Graduate General Manager Claire Pearson Management Graduate Students Amanda Anderson Perla Barajas Paula Eagleman Drew Olvey

Gayle Baizer Chris Bange Jody Berger Trevor Biship-Gillespie Ashley Boehne Ehlers Josh Breeding Erin Caron Andrea Caban Martha Carter Adrian Centeno Bonnie Dolan Alana Dietze Ramy Electreby Michelle Gibbs Rebecca Guzzi Rich Hutchman Michelle Huynh Jeff Janisheski Nipper Knapp Ezra LeBank Bradley Lock Patricia Loughrey Emily MacDonald Josh Nathan Hugh O'Gorman Robert Prior Jen Richardson Tyler Seiple Medina Senghore Anna Steers Desean Terry Tom Trudgeon Sarah Underwood Megan Wanlass David Ward Jessica Woollen

Small Mouth Sounds BY Bess Wohl

SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)

World Premiere Developed and Originally Produced by Ars Nova Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Renee Blinkwolt, Managing Director

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