Fallen

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF THEATER AND THE MASON PLAYERS

present

fallen Text, Lyrics, and Direction

by Theresa Marie Ohanian Music by Brett Womack

November 16, 17*, 18 at 8 p.m.

November 18, 19** at 2 p.m. in TheaterSpace

*ASL interpreted and Talkback to follow ** Audio Described Recordings and photography of any kind are strictly prohibited.

DIRECTOR'S NOTE Why this story, now? When Euripides was writing The Trojan Women in 415 BC, he found himself trying to comprehend a world of conflict and strife. His Athenians were warring with Sparta, devastating plague had hit his city hard, and the Golden Age of Athens was on the decline. I like to imagine that, searching for meaning in a confusing and violent time, Euripides looked to a fourhundred-year-old collection of twenty-four books for understanding; The Odyssey by Homer. What came from his investigation was one of the most powerful anti-war plays ever written: The Trojan Women.

When I was first writing fallen in 2016, the pre-pandemic world was a much different place. Today, there are thirty-two countries at war globally. In May of 2023, the UN announced more than 110 million individuals were forcibly displaced worldwide, the largest number since UNHCR recording began. Most of the forcibly displaced peoples around the world are women and children. ad.ap.ta.tion: a change by which an organism becomes better suited to its environment. fallen is simply this; an adaptation of The Trojan Women better suited to its environment. fallen is the story of the past, present, and future. fallen is the story of all of us who have watched as our world has been forever changed and ripped from our control. fallen is the story of the human desire to survive, free from oppression and subjugation. fallen is the story of universal humanity.

We are so proud to share this story with you…though you may already know it by heart.

DRAMATURG'S NOTE The mythological, decade-long Trojan War has long been written about in literature. In mythos, the war began when Helen of Sparta was taken from her husband, the Spartan king Menelaus, by a Trojan prince by the name of Paris—or that she eloped with him, after Aphrodite made her fall in love with him. At the heart of both of these interpretations, Helen is always a prize and never a person. Either she is abducted from her home and her marriage (a union that was already a product of Menelaus winning a competition for her hand), or the gods themselves use her as a bribe, a plaything. This lack of agency forms the core of fallen’s narrative, and runs deep for all of its women characters. fallen is an adaptation of The Trojan Women, written by Greek tragedian Euripides in 415 BCE. In the text, after Troy was left devastated by the Greek army, Poseidon and Athena intended to punish the Greek soldiers because the Trojan priestess Cassandra was raped within Athena’s temple. Athena was a symbol of protection for many city-states, and the act of Ajax the Lesser tearing Cassandra away from the Palladium (a statue of a warlike Athena) to assault her is representative of the violent removal of safety and agency for all of the city’s women. While the Greek soldiers are set to be punished by stormy seas, The Trojan Women focusses on the women who survived the war: Queen Hecuba, Cassandra, Helen, and Andromache (Hecuba’s daughter-in-law, and the widow of a Trojan soldier). It is their suffering, not the soldiers’, that the narrative highlights. The four women and the chorus, begin the narrative of The Trojan Women. Treated as spoils of war, they are forced from their homes and given to Greek men. Cassandra sees the future of her own death by her enslaver’s wife and, knowing she is cursed to never be believed, goes willingly. Neoptolemus enslaved Andromache who’s infant son is taken, before her eyes, to be killed. She would go on to mother multiple children of rape. Hecuba is granted permission by Talthybius to perform funeral rites for the infant’s body. As she buries him beneath his father’s shield, she mourns the casualties of the war and the destruction of the city, knowing she will be forced to leave. As the Greek ships begin departing, the soldiers set fire to what remains of Troy. Burning the women’s home represents a final attack on their agency and autonomy, a reminder that the Greek men have the power to destroy their country. fallen responds to this suffering with resistance, which comes with violence and sacrifice. The solidarity between the women changes their lives in an occupied Troy and allows them to fight back against their captors. Especially in the current era, the ongoing fight against state-sanctioned violence and oppression is vital—and calls for help from subjugated people cannot be met with silence.

DRAMATURG'S NOTE

CAST

Hecuba Talthybius (understudy) Rose Cassandra Talthybius Andomache Helen Marina/Cassandra (understudy) Helen (understudy) /Movement Captain Swing

Asia Cooper Martin Desjardins Laila Gallant Dyllan Hutchison Aadith Iyer Valerie Pesot Michelle Rizzo Jalen Whitmore Olivia Wilson Zoe B Winter

DRAMATURG'S NOTE

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director Theresa Marie Ohanian Assistant Director Aurora Powell Composer/Music Director Brett Womack Fight/Intimacy/Movement Choreographer Lorraine Slone Dramaturg Jay Martinez Costume Designer Scenic Designer Properties Designer Lighting Designer Sound Designer Assistant Sound Designer

Eli Nguyen Ben Counts Megan Ayers Mary Clare Bernier Jordan Patnett Jace Tate

Production Manager Stage Manager Assistant Stage Managers

Lena Salins Bree Nosrat Adia Spezza Paris Devlin Caleb McMurtry Sydney Schepisi

Technical Director Scenic Paint Charge

CAST BIOS Asia Cooper she/her (Hecuba) is a senior at George Mason University, focusing on completing her BA in Theater concentrating in Performance, double minoring in Film and Media Arts and Event Production. Recent George Mason’s productions include The Mason Players Originals!- Recitation, Are You There, Love’s Labors, 1,001 Plays- Addiction, as well as Mason’s 2021 Commercial Rewind. Outside of school, she teaches theater and acting around Fairfax with AFYP. Asia is excited to perform!

Martin Desjardins he/him (Talthybius US / Fight Captain) is in his fifth and final year, ready to go out with a bang. It was a pleasure to help facilitate the devising process for fallen, and getting the chance to tackle a challenging role was lovely as well. You may have seen him in The Night Knights last semester.

Enjoy the show!

Laila Gallant she/her (Rose) is a performance major and dance minor excited to be a part of her first cast at George Mason University. She would like to thank her family and partner for their love and support!

Dyllan Hutchison she/her (Cassandra) is a senior this year at George Mason pursuing a BFA in performing arts. Some notable credits from her time here at Mason include the role of Sir Captain Snoozealot in The Night Knights, playwright of Seven Years Time and So, Two Spies Walk into a Restaurant… for The Mason Players Originals!

2022/2023, and the president of the Mason Improv Association.

CAST BIOS Aadith Iyer he/him (Talthybius) is a junior studying theatre with a concentration in performance!

Aadith was in The Road To The End last semester, a show that made it's way to DC Capital Fringe over the summer! He is excited to be a part of fallen, and looks forward to playing something new in this incredible story!

Valerie Pesot she/her (Andromache) is a transfer student at Mason majoring in Theatre Education with a minor in Performance. She previously went to North Carolina School of the Arts for Vocal Performance and UNC Greensboro for Theatre.

She is so excited for her first production at Mason, and she wishes all the best to the rest of the cast and crew of fallen.

Michelle Rizzo she/her (Helen) is in her last year at George Mason. She is graduating with a Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) with a concentration in Performance. Michelle has worked on many student films at Mason and will be going into film in the future in Atlanta, Georgia. Michelle is incredibly proud to be apart of such a talented and loving cast. She hopes the story sends out an empowering message to all who witness it.

Jalen Whitmore she/her (Marina / Cassandra US) is a first year at George Mason pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre. She recently graduated from Salem High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Academy in Virginia Beach. She’s very excited to make her collegiate theatrical debut and would like to thank everyone involved for making this production happen!

CAST BIOS Olivia Wilson she/her (Helen US/Movement Captain) is in her first year at Mason and is studying political communications. fallen is her first show with the Mason Players, and she is beyond grateful to be a part of it. Her favorite roles with her school in the past are Emily in Our Town, Snoopy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Zoe B Winter she/they (Swing) is a senior Theater Performance major with a minor in Social Justice and Human Rights. She is a Players4Change Equity and Empowerment Manager and an Advocacy Lead with UBU, a student organization for Mason students with disabilities. They previously played Brit, 4, and Lillian in the Mason Players production Are You There? Thank you to Theresa for the opportunity to be part of this incredible cast!

PRODUCTION BIOS Megan Ayers (Props Designer) is a current fourthyear Theater major with a concentration in Theatre Studies and a minor in Film & Media Studies. fallen is her first experience as a Props Designer, but she enjoyed getting to design the various props and working with fellow designers and related mentors. Their other endeavors have been seen on the stage and on the page for other productions and they are excited to continue to explore.

Mary Clare Bernier she/they (Lighting Designer) is a junior BA Theater (DTT) major, minoring in Medieval Studies and LGBTQ+ studies. They recently worked as the Lighting Designer for WHS' 2023 Summer Stage production of Footloose, Poster Designer/Artist for The Road to The End (Capital Fringe 2023), and Lighting Designer for You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, and Master Electrician for 9 to 5 the musical.

Ben Counts - Scenic Designer Paris Devlin she/they (Assistant Stage Manager).

This is Paris’s first time assistant stage managing, she’s very excited to be a part of the Mason theater community.

Jay Martinez he/him (Dramaturg) is a senior Theater major who is thrilled to return for another production with The Mason Players! You may have previously seen his dramaturgical work at Mason in Love's Labors, The Mason Players Originals! 2022, and The Hunchback of Seville.

PRODUCTION BIOS Caleb McMurtry he/him (Technical Director) is ecstatic to be the Technical Director on this show! He has previously worked as the Technical Director on The Road to the End and Assistant Technical Director on The Hunchback of Seville. He would like to thank his family for their continued support in his theatrical journey, as well as the ASU Technical Director, Carrie Cox, for her guidance and support throughout this show.

Eli Nguyen he/her (Costume Designer). Majoring in Design and Technical Theater, Eli Nguyen is a jack of all trades whose experience covers everything from watercolor illustration to 3D printing. When he's not working on a show, you can find Eli teaching sewing and machine embroidery at the Mason Innovation Exchange. Her previous work with the Mason Players includes scenic design for The Night Knights and Eurydice.

Bree Nosrat she/her (Stage Manager) is a first year Theatrical Education major with a minor in Technical Theater. Her favorite high school shows to stage manage were Anastasia and Tuck Everlasting. Bree has been a stage manager since her freshman year of high school and hopes to continue to SM throughout her college years as well. Bree would love to give a special thanks to Theresa for believing in her and taking a chance on a newbie.

PRODUCTION BIOS Theresa Marie Ohanian she/her (Director/ Playwright) is a writer, director, actor, and adjunct professor, and is absolutely thrilled that you have joined us here tonight! After graduating from West Springfield High School, Mrs. Ohanian has received two BAs from Emerson College in Boston MA, and a hybrid MFA from York University in Toronto, CA. In her seventh year teaching at George Mason University, she is honored that the Mason Players have supported her project, fallen, in its second iteration. She thanks her friends and family for their love and support, especially her new husband, Jon, and their dogter Smokey.

Jordan Patnett - Sound Designer Aurora Powell they/she (Assistant Director) is a second-year Musical Theater student and CoHistorian on the board of Mason Players. Last year at Mason you may have seen them as Pythio in Head Over Heels or Infanta Juana in The Hunchback of Seville. They enjoy participating in many aspects of theatre including but not limited to performing, directing, costuming, and makeup & wig design.

They want to send a big thanks to Theresa for a wonderful first college directing experience and to the audience for being a part of fallen in its totality!

IG: aurorajpowell Lorraine Slone - Choreographer

PRODUCTION BIOS Adia Spezza she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is a first-year performance theatre student. Prior to Mason she Stage Managed a production of Almost, Maine as well as performed in productions of Clue, Romeo and Juliet, and others. At Mason she has performed in productions of So, Two Spies Walk Into A Restaurant… both in The Mason Players Originals! 2023 and at Arts By George. She is incredibly thankful to have gotten to work with the amazing people involved in this show!

Jace Tate - Assistant Sound Designer

Brett Womack he/him (Composer / Music Director) is a junior at George Mason pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre and a BA in Mathematics. Previous composing credits include The Road to the End, two original musicals for The Mason Players Originals! 2022/2023, and a full-length musical called Jolly Street. Besides composing, Brett enjoys playwriting, performing, teaching with AFYP, and spending time with friends. Brett will also be directing next semester's Twelve Ophelias!

UNIT SUPPORT Arts Support Umbrella ASU Production Manager Technical Director Assistant Technical Director Costume Shop Supervisor Scene Shop Supervisor Scenic Painter Lead Carpenter Venue Tech Director

Micah Stromberg Carrie Cox Stephan Starling Laurel Dunayer Ethan Osborne Chloe Scheel Maddie Southard Tom Terlecki

Crew Deck Crew Wardrobe Crew Light Board Operator Sound Board Operator

Evan Zimmerman Hana Tawil Charlotte Langford Kyle Crowne

Scene Shop Interns Production Intern

Paint Intern Scene Shop Artisan

Bertem Demirtas Gabriel Embry Anna Jungkeit Caleb McMurtry Sydney Schepis Em Chong Anthony Flora Zatch Valenzuela

UNIT SUPPORT Alpha Psi Omega Officers President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Associate Member Coordinators Historian Community Service Chair Education Deputy

Erin Birchfield (she/her) Elisabeth Dupuy (she/her) Dyllan Hutchison (she/her) Peter Dasher (he/they) Jay Dews (he/him) Kamy Satterfield Lorcan Von Slomski Megan Ayers (she/they) Martin Desjardins

Mason Players Staff Company Manager Associate Company Manager Company Secretary Development Manager Marketing Manager Co-Company Historian Co-Company Historian

Nathan Tilley (he/him) Lexi Carter (she/her) Peter Dasher (he/they) Erin Birchfield (she/her) Brett Womack (he/him) Aurora Powell (she/they) Mery Estrella (she/her)

Players4Change Staff Equity and Empowerment Managers

Megan Ayers (she/they) Mary Clare Bernier (she/they) Jaylen "Jay" Dews (he/him) Emma Harris (she/her) Zoe Winter (she/they)

SCHOOL OF THEATER FACULTY & STAFF Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts Director, School of Theater Assistant Director

Rick Davis Djola Branner

Nick Kfoury Horner

Production Manager

Lena Salins

Academic Advisor

Sara Simanski

Office Manager

Mary Burgess

Marketing Assistant

Nafisa Ferdous

Faculty Elizabeth Alman Kelly Armstrong Djola Branner April Brassard Carrie Cox Jonathan Dahm Robertson Rick Davis Kevin Dunayer Laurel Dunayer Leighann Enos David Gaines Erin Gardiner James Gardiner Edward Gero David Goldstein Nicholas Kfoury Horner

Mimsi Janis Kristin Johnsen-Neshati Mary Lechter Billy Kessinger Kaiulani Lee Bryce Lenon Ahmad Maaty Heather McDonald Sherrice Mojgani Theresa Ohanian Yaritza Pacheco Franklin Robinson Jr. Shaila Schmidt Stefan Sittig Debra Sivigny Joseph Walsh

DRAMATURG'S NOTE DONOR SUPPORT The School of Theater wishes to thank the following donors for their generous support

Professional Artist Residency in Theater (PART) Legacy Donors Kenneth and Carol Adelman

Eileen Mandell

Anonymous

Dr. Alan Merten and

John and Deborah Blacksten

Mrs. Sally Merten

Doris Bloch and Bill Hunt

Mack and Paulette Miller

Boeing Company

Merle L. Mulvaney

Rev. Dr. Elizabeth P. Braxton

Diane and Tim Naughton

Mary Brescia

Warner and Cheryl North

Jane and Chris Brewster

Mr. Ronald Page

Ms. Lois Brown

Robert and Ida Portland

Byrd International, L.L.C.

Mrs. Lauren W. Rabb

Gordon and Judy Canyock

Diane and Robert Rafuse

Ms. Grace Chae

Captain Marsha

Chevy Chase Trust Council on American-Islamic Relations

and Robert Rease Ted and Anne K. Rosenblum Ms. Ann Steers

Ms. Chris Downey

Daniel and Ann Toohey

Charles and Eileen DugganKen

Mikki Van Wyk

and Molly Elston and

Verizon Foundation

The Greater Manassas

Edward and Wava Vigen

Christmas Parade Committee Linda Evans

1,001 Plays Supporters

Dr. and Mrs. William H. Gilcher

Anonymous (2)

Irwin and Fay Gold

Ms. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati

Vernon W. Gras, Ph.D.

& Mr. Amin Neshati

Mr. Carl Hemmer

Nicholas Kfoury Horner

Emmett L. Holman, Ph.D.

Phyllis Krochmal

IBM International Foundation

Literary Managers and

Ms. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati

Dramaturgs of

and Mr. Amin Neshati Marilyn Jones

the Americas Vafa Mostaghim

FRIENDS DRAMATURG'S OF THEATER NOTE SUPPORT from July 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023

angel ($5,000+) Edward Jones Diane and Tim Naughton Virginia Foundation for the Humanities

sponsor ($2,500-$4,999) Judy Canyock Mack and Paulette Miller Norma Jean Reck

performer ($200 - $499) cont.

Anonymous Brian and Laurie Lindberg Patricia and Evans Mandes Mitchell J. Martin Lene Mcvoy Mary and John Tuohy Verizon Foundation

patron ($1,000 - $2,499)

friend (up to $199)

Anonymous Dianne and Gerard Blais Charles and Eileen Duggan Dr. Joy R. Hughes and Mr. Kenneth Lee Dr. Peter N. Stearns and Ms. Donna L. Kidd

April Brassard Carol Burbage James and Sue Christensen Roland and Victoria Fabia Dr. and Mrs. Robert Gerbracht Linda and Shelly Gersten Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Gholz Zayd A. Hamid Linda and Harlan Harber Catie and Mark Hubbard Shirley A. Joyce David and Barbara Kilpatrick Michael and Linda Kostrzewa Christine Lange Stanley Lichtman and Paulette Lichtman-Panzer Alice and Matt Magelssen-Green Erica M. Nantais Emily Roudebush Terry Sarley Dana D. Semmes Bob and Pat Warakomsky Christopher M. Ward Joan R. White Sheila Woods

producer ($500 - $999) Helen and Bill Ackerman Mr. Rick Davis and Ms. Julie Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hamerschlag Ms. Mary Lechter and Mr. Kevin Murray Don and Sonja Palomaki Robert and Ida Portland William Schneider Mr. and Mrs. Kosmo Tatalias

performer ($200 - $499) John and Toni Acton Susan J. Aitel and Jonathan Goldman

INTERVIEW Professor Theresa Ohanian recently appeared as a guest speaker in two class sessions of Theater 150: Global Theater Histories I to discuss her artistic inspirations and processes for adapting, devising and directing this production of fallen. The following article is an edited compilation

of

Professor

Ohanian’s

answers

to

questions posed during her class visits, and as recorded by students in the class. Professor Ohanian’s answers have been edited and arranged by Professor Elizabeth Alman, instructor of THR 150. Thanks

to Professor

Ohanian for her generously giving her time to the class visits and also to the students in THR 150, whose note taking prowess helped to make this article possible.

Please click this link to read the interview.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

School of Theater would like to thank the Friends of Theater for their ongoing support of our programs, especially their support of scholarships for our students. Please consider becoming a Friend and giving by logging onto our website https://theater.gmu.edu/give

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT At the place George Mason University occupies, we give greetings and thanksgivings to these Potomac River life sources, to the Doeg ancestors, who Virginia annihilated in violent campaigns while ripping their lands apart with the brutal system of African American enslavement, to the recognized Virginia tribes who have lovingly stewarded these lands for millennia including, the Rappahannock, Pamunkey, Upper Mattaponi, Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Nansemond, Monacan, Mattaponi, Patawomeck, and Nottaway, past, present, and future, and to the Piscataway tribes, who have lived on both sides of the river from time immemorial.

THE MASON PLAYERS Fall 2023 performance season

Staged Reading: La Belle Indifference December 1, 2023

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@THEMASONPLAYERS

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