The Woman in Black
Adapted by Stephen Mallatratt From the Novel by Susan Hill
Directed by Alexandra Anglim
CAST Kipps……………………........….......…......Anna Rae Eppard Actor…………………………............................Claire Hickey
*There will be one 15 minute intermission*
Trigger & Content Warning This show contains morbid imagery as well as mentions of death and trauma. This performance will use strobes, loud sudden noises, and fog/haze. Actors may interact with the audience. Please speak to a Front of House worker if you have concerns. If you believe you may need to leave the theatre midperformance, please sit in the aisles closest to the exit.
Production Team Director: Alexandra Anglim Stage Manger Sydney Tripp
Scenic Design Paul Gatrell
Lighting Design Rainey Fellows
Sound Technician Jesse McIntyre
Costume Design Emily Miller
Assistant Costume Design Claire Hickey
Props Facilitator Jillian Burman
Hair & Makeup Design Charlie Swan
Programmer Emily Anderson
Technical Director Jerry Stratton
Director’s Note The Woman in Black began as a 1983 Gothic horror novel by English author Susan Hill. The stage play premiered in 1987 as a Christmas ghost story at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, England. It was first conceived as a low-budget Christmas attraction meant to run only a few weeks, but due to overwhelming local acclaim, London’s Lyric Hammersmith bought the production in January 1989. It was later moved to the West End, establishing a legendary 33-year run at the Fortune Theatre as the second-longestrunning, non-musical play in West End history. The story begins in London just prior to World War II. A lawyer named Kipps hires an actor to portray him in an autobiographical play that centers on events that transpired when he attended the funeral of an elderly recluse who lived near the Nine Lives Causeway decades ago. The story has long troubled him, and it is time to tell the truth. The lawyer plans to invite friends and acquaintances to watch as he and the actor recreate the unnatural events of that dark and stormy night, but first, they must practice. This play within a play explores the extreme lengths people will go to to regain control of their lives. Initially, my goal for this show was to create an immersive experience for the audience that engages their five senses: a true phenomenological production. Phenomenology is a theatre theory that is interested in how an audience experiences a play through their five senses. To that end, my concept is “unnatural.” Nothing in this show is straightforward, and my goal was to guide the actors in creating characters that embody the play's extreme nature. My collaboration with designers was also vital to achieve my directorial ambitions. Shadows create depth on stage and offer the audience multiple focal points to engage with, while music defines the atmosphere. The set recreates a disused historic stage, and the costume elements evoke Kipp’s past. The Woman in Black challenges the senses and human perception, forcing patrons to reconsider how they understand the world around them. Pay attention to the details; something that may not seem important in the moment may be essential to the play’s pivotal conclusion. We hope those details and our work create a memorable theatrical experience for you that engages your senses and fears. Enjoy the show!
Meet the Cast!
Anna Rae Eppard
Claire Hickey
Meet the Production Team!
Alexandra Anglim
Sydney Tripp
Rainey Fellows
Paul Gatrell
Jesse McIntyre
Jillian Burman
Emily Miller
Charlie Swan
Cast Bios ANNA RAE EPPARD (Kipps) is a senior pursuing a double-major in Theatre & Drama and Media & Entertainment Industries. At Belmont, she previously played Clown 2 in The 39 Steps, The Ghost in Hamlet: Hold Off The Earth Awhile, Mr. Squirrel in Belmont Repertory Company, and Snoopy in A Charlie Brown Christmas. She is also on the leadership teams for the APO Theatre Honor Society and the Belmont Copyright Society. As she looks towards graduation this December, Anna Rae is grateful for her mentors, family, and friends. CLAIRE HICKEY (Actor/Asst. Costume Designer) is a junior Theatre Education major with a minor in Social Work. This is her fourth production at Belmont University, following A Year with Frog and Toad, A Small Part of the Interesting Story, and Billy the Kid Makes It Big. She also served as choreographer for Curtains Up’s Mean Girls: The Musical. She thanks her director, Ally, her castmates, and shoes for believing in her and making this experience so special.
Production Team Bios ALEXANDRA ANGLIM (Director) is a senior BFA student with a double emphasis in performance and directing at Belmont University. Some of Alexandra's credits include the Prince (Romeo & Juliet), Madge Geisel (The Game’s Afoot), and Ensemble (Hamlet: Hold off the Earth Awhile). She has also directed Are You Watching Me? at Belmont University as well as stage managed The 39 Steps. SYDNEY TRIPP (Stage Manager) is a junior Theatre Production Design major with an emphasis in costume design. Recent design credits include: 1984, Costume Designer (Belmont University); Romeo and Juliet, Costume Designer (Belmont University); The 39 Steps, Sound Designer (BU Senior Capstone); Proof, Sound Designer (BU Senior Capstone). Next, she will be costume designing Lost Girl here at Belmont. She would like to thank her family, roommates & boyfriend for their constant support. RAINEY FELLOWS (Lighting Designer) is a sophomore Technical Theater Major from Franklin, Tennessee. This is her fifth production at Belmont University and second time working as the lighting designer. She is so grateful to be part of such an amazing production and hopes you enjoy the show!! JESSE MCINTYRE (Sound Designer) is a sophomore Audio Engineering Major with a minor in Theatre. This is his second sound position for the Department of Theatre and Dance, and he's excited for you to hear the show!
Production Team Bios EMILY MILLER (Costume Designer) is a senior theatre education major, and this is her first time costume designing! Last year she was assistant costume designer for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and is grateful to have held this position for Ally’s wonderful show. Enjoy! JILLIAN BURMAN (Props Facilitator) is a junior theater education major from Bakersfield, California. She is very excited to be working on The Woman in Black this semester. Her previous work includes Assistant Props Designer (Pride and Prejudice) as well as Stage Manager and Costume Coordinator (Jr. Short Plays). She has also played Mrs.Proutt in (The Stepmother) and Emma Perkins (The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals). Jillian would like to thank her family and friends for all the support! CHARLIE SWAN (Hair & Makeup Designer) is honored to have the opportunity to be the Hair and Makeup Designer for Belmont University’s production of The Women in Black. This is the eighth project she has done hair and makeup for, and her twenty-second project overall. Charlie continues her cosmetology education by working at Sephora and serving as Vice President of FEMME Fashion Magazine. She thanks everyone who trusted her to work on this production and hopes you enjoy!
Production Crew House Manager............................................................................Joshua Becker Assistant House Manager..........................................................Sadie Jensen Run Crew..............................................................Morgan Hatfield, Hazel Roy Costume Shop Manager.........................................................Jessica Mueller Light Board Op..............................................................................Sylvia Ardon Sound Board Op.........................................................................Jesse McIntyre Pre-Production Crew......................................Jenna Bishop, Sam Coleman, Bella Gikovate, Rachel Henson, Clara Melin, Lili Meschi, Bekah Young
Special Thanks DR. STEPHEN EAVES, DEAN COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS BRENT MADDOX, CHAIR DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE TRACI LEDFORD ERIN-GRACE BAILEY BELMONT’S PROP MASTER GENERALS
Upcoming Events
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DIRECTED BY: NICOLETTE MANRIQUE SEPTEMBER 25-27 TROUTT BLACK BOX
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING WRITTEN BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
DIRECTED BY: DR. JIM AL-SHAMMA SEPTEMBER 29-30, OCTOBER 1-4 TROUTT THEATRE