EIGHT NIGHTS by Jennifer Maisel Program @ DPT

PLAYWRIGHT’S RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

FROM DPT EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC PRODUCER DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU

You are allowed to laugh audibly.

You are allowed to have audible moments of reaction and response.

This work requires a few “um hmmms” and “uhm uhnnns” should you need to use them. Just maybe in moderation. Only when you really need to vocalize.

This can be church for some of us, and testifying is allowed.

This is also live theater and the actors need you to engage with them, not distract them or thwart their performance.

Please be an audience member that joins with others and allows a bit of breathing room. Exhale together. Laugh together. Say “amen” should you need to.

This is community. Let’s go.

peaceandlovedominique :)

EIGHT NIGHTS

A Play by Jennifer Maisel

Produced by Detroit Public Theatre

Run Time

100 mins with no intermission

Creative Team

Directed by Marya Mazor

Sarah Pearline // Scenic Design

Matt Taylor** // Lighting Design

Christopher Vergara** // Costume Design

Cornell Jermaine // Make-Up & Hair Design

Matthew Eggers // Assistant Costume Designer

Kate Hopgood // Sound Design

Laurence Vance // Props Design

Doran Konja* // Stage Manager

Badriyyah Wazeerud-Din // Assistant Stage Manager

Jen Pan // Intimacy Coordinator

Chris Corporandy // Dialect Designer & Coach

Jeremy Sortore // Additional Dialect Coach

Will McClelland // Dramaturg

Cast

Rivka Borek* // Younger Rebecca, Amy, Nina

Eric Gutman* // Erich, Joram

Sarah Winkler* // Anna, Older Rebecca

Michael Lopetrone* // Aaron

Henrí Franklin // Benjamin, Matt

Janai Lashon* // Arlene, Lacey

Kurt Kanazawa* // Steven, Inge

Tech Crew

Stefan Mantyk // Assistant Production Manager

Sarah Johnson // Technical Director

Jalise Little // Sound Board Operator

Owen Zabor // Light Board Operator

Malik Alston, Oliver Pookrum, Ryanne Tracey, David Johnson, Joy Green, Sarah Ackerman, Macayla Ramsey // Build and Load Crew

Detroit Public Theatre is supported in part by the Michigan Arts & Culture Council + National Endowment for the Arts

Actors’ Equity Association (“Equity”), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional Actors and Stage Managers. Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. #EquityWorks

*The noted Actors & Stage Manager are members of the Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

**Indicates a member of the United Scenic Artists

The director is a Member of The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

DPT LEADERSHIP & STAFF

Courtney Burkett // Founder & Producing Artistic Director

Sarah Clare Corporandy // Founder & Producing Artistic Director

Dominique Morisseau // Executive Artistic Producer

Sarah Winkler // Founder & Producing Artistic Director

Patrick Hanley // Production & General Manager

Frannie Shepherd-Bates // Director of Shakespeare in Prison

Lorraine Dunn and Lesa Tally-Moore // House Managers

Eugene Starks and Desiree Leslie // Security

Kyle Fisher-Grant // Associate Director of Shakespeare in Prison

Joy Green // Ticket Services Agent

Leah Hill // Marketing Manager

Melissa Johnson // Business Manager

Ronita Kipp // Facilities & Events Manager

Will McClelland // Ticket Services Agent

Madelyn Porter // Connectivity & Engagement Manager

Kyle Stefek // Associate Director of Development

Carl Bentley & Michael Kennedy // Atwater Bar Management, LLC. // Bar Operations

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

David Jaffe // Chair

Susan Gordon // Vice Chair, Treasurer

Peter Van Dyke // Secretary

Wendy Batiste-Johnson

Debbie Erb

Nina Essman

Noah Haidle

Sonya Mays

Felicia Eisenberg Molnar

Christie Peck

Angelique Power

Sarah Prues

Allan Rothfeder

Jamie Kaye Walters

Boyd White, III

ADVISORY BOARD

Zak Berkman

Christopher Burney

Kathleen Chalfant

Aaron P. Dworkin

Nicole Eisenberg

Celia Keenan-Bolger

James Kuhl

Ashley Lucas

Maureen S. Martin

Marsha Miro

Erik Rönmark

Lisa Rothe

Ron Russell

Rachel Sussman

Heather Ann Thompson

Curt Tofteland

SPACE COMMITTEE

Wendy Batiste-Johnson

Jill Brack

Courtney Burkett

Sarah Clare Corporandy

Scott Eisenberg

Debbie Erb

DPT NEXT STAGE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

Andrew Camden

Debbie Erb

David Jaffe

Celia Keenan-Bolger

Anessa Kramer

David Kramer

Zina Kramer

Maureen Martin

Rebecca McNaughton

Felicia Eisenberg Molnar

Christie Peck

Sarah Prues

Sarah Winkler

Mary Ann Gorlin

Robert Gorlin

David Jaffe

Sue Mosey

Allan Rothfeder

Todd Sykes

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Detroit Public Theatre is situated on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe— the homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires including the Ojibwe, Potawatomi and Odawa. We acknowledge them as the past, present and future caretakers of this land, which has been stewarded by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years before the arrival of colonial settlers. We welcome you to learn more with us about the land we are on by visiting nativeland.ca.

ABOUT DETROIT PUBLIC THEATRE

Detroit Public Theatre produces nationally recognized plays and programs with world-class writers, directors, actors, and designers in the heart of Detroit’s cultural district. We create bold, relevant work that illuminates the thrills, joys, and challenges of our shared humanity.

Eight Nights Historical Context

Eight Nights by Jennifer Maisel contains many references to historical events, from the 1939 voyage of the St. Louis to Donald Trump’s “Muslim Ban” in January 2017. You may have learned some of the history explored in this play in school or even lived through some of it yourself; some of this history may be new information to you. You can learn more about the events touched on in the play by using the below QR code. It can help contextualize what you see on stage, and you can also access resources that will help you continue to learn even after you leave the theater by visiting www.detroitpublictheatre.org/the-history-of-eight-nights!

Note: While no explicit or violent images will be shown, please be aware that the information you access through this QR link may be distressing to read.

Sarah Clare Corporandy, Sarah Winkler, Dominique Morisseau, and Courtney Burkett

A Message From The Director, Marya Mazor

The title Eight Nights evokes the eight nights of Chanukah in which the story unfolds. While we journey with Rebecca, a Holocaust survivor, through her life in a New York City apartment, her journey intersects with others’ stories of survival, loss, and healing.

Whatever our cultural background, loss is a universal human experience; we will all go through it, if we live long enough. And traumas have occurred in almost every culture and family.

We now know via epigenetics that the scars of suffering are inflicted not only on the survivors, but on the generations to come. What right do these generations have to demand to know their family histories? What if the survivors of the trauma feel scarred in the telling?

The popular psychology in the United States is that unburdening heals; but perhaps that is not always true for all survivors? For some, reliving trauma in the telling of the tale is its own torment.

Today younger generations demand to know and own the history that has shaped them, and older generations often remain wary of sharing the pain of a past which remains all too present for them.

Who owns the story?

As a Jewish American mother, I have been asking these questions of myself and my own family. And, in the wake of the resurgence of anti-Semitism in the United States, I also recently found myself asking not only “Could it happen again? Here?” but “Will it?”

“Hasn’t it happened here, already, to other communities, in ways that are different but also similar?”

Jews have a dual experience in America, benefiting from white privilege structurally, economically, and socially, while also facing persecution and bias — as neo-Nazi’s march and shout “Jews will not replace us.”.

And yet that privilege still operates in most circumstances. Black and Asian American parents do not have the choice to avoid similar conversations with their own children.

Eight Nights explores these questions with such bravery, warmth, and generosity to all involved. It is expansive in its reach. When I read it, I knew I needed to wrestle with it.

The play offers up hope for the future in our shared attempt to understand each other’s imperfect viewpoint.

Thank you for offering yourselves this time and space to share in the journey.

CAST & CREW BIOS

Rivka Borek* // Younger Rebecca, Amy, Nina

Rivka is honored to be at DPT working on this play with this company. She was most recently seen in Indecent at San Francisco Playhouse. Other credit highlights include: American Conservatory Theater, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Alabama Shakespeare, The O’Neill, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Ars Nova, Clubbed Thumb, Hudson Valley Shakespeare (tour) and the Edinburgh Fringe. MFA: ACT.

Eric Gutman* // Erich, Joram

Eric is delighted to be returning home to Detroit Public Theatre in this remarkable show. Previous DPT credits include Murder Ballad, Hedwig..., and both the staged and PBS broadcast versions of his hit one man show, From Broadway to Obscurity. Broadway/National Tour: Jersey Boys. Performer/Vocal Arranger with Under the Streetlamp (3 PBS specials). 15-year company member with Forbidden Broadway/Hollywood. For Grandpa Dave Gutman and Bubie Goldie Topper, whose memories are never forgotten, especially through stories like this.

Sarah Winkler* // Anna, Older Rebecca

With DPT: The Harassment of Iris Malloy, and Cry it Out. Select Off-Broadway and Regional productions: The Last Seder (Rosalind Productions and Organic Theatre); Dispatches from A(mended) America; A Hard Heart; Einstein’s Gift; (Epic Theatre Ensemble), Inherit the Wind (Fulton Opera House); Radium Girls (world premiere at Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey); A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur (Tipping Point Theatre); Hamlet (Shakespeare Royal Oak). Select Film: Milk & Money ; Trifling with Fate; and Je Suis Venu te Dire. Great gratitude to both family and colleagues at DPT and family who made so much space and picked up so much slack to make playing in EIGHT NIGHTS possible!

Michael Lopetrone* // Aaron

Michael Lopetrone is a Brooklyn-based actor, and he’s so thrilled to be back home performing in Detroit! Theatre: The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Detroit Public Theatre), Hidden (Chain Theatre), Death of A Salesman, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, The Glass Menagerie (Flint Repertory Theatre), Anatomy of a Hug (Tipping Point Theatre), Silent Sky (Williamston Theatre). Film: The Birthday Gift, Famous In Michigan, Thick Air. Associate Artist: Flint Repertory Theatre. Western Michigan University: BA Theatre. Much love to Lynn and my family! www. michaellopetrone.com @MichaelLopetrone

Henrí Franklin // Benjamin, Matt

Henrí Franklin is an award winning SAG-AFTRA actor based out of Detroit, MI. After obtaining his Bachelors Degree from Wayne State Universityʼs Theater Program, he went on to work professionally in the fields of stage, film, television, commercials and voice over. Some of his notable career accomplishments include Days of Our Lives and Chicago P.D. on NBC, Detroiters on Comedy Central, Low Winter Sun on AMC, Batman Vs Superman for Warner Bros., commercial and voice work for Ford, Chevrolet, G.U.M., T. Rowe Price and many others plus productions of Dominique Morisseauʼs Pipeline, Detroit’ 67 and

Paradise Blue. You can see him as Ahmed in Richard Wesley’s Black Terror (produced by Tina Knowles - Lawson and directed by Richard Lawson) coming soon. Henrí is honored to have been able to work with Detroit Public Theatre for several years now and looks forward to continuing to do work that continues to change people’s lives for the better! You can follow his journey at www. henrifranklin.com and @henrifranklin on social media platforms.

Janai Lashon* // Arlene, Lacey

Janai Lashon (she/her) is an artivist (artist and activist) from Kalamazoo, MI making her acting debut here at Detroit Public Theatre. She truly enjoys telling stories and creating artistry especially when Black experiences are centered and celebrated. Janai is a proud alumni of Western Michigan University’s BA Theatre Performance program (2010) and Ohio University’s MFA Acting program (2021). Her recent stage credits include Fairview as (JASMINE) produced at Detroit Repertory Theatre, Mrs. Harrison as (AISHA) at Williamston Theatre, and her last performance at Tipping Point Theatre’s World Premiere of Tracy Spada’s Game. Set Match (ENSEMBLE).

Additional acting credits consist of Chain as ROSA, Holly Down In Heaven (Mia), Ruined as (SELMA), As You Like It (PHOEBE), Stick Fly as (TAYLOR), Detroit ‘67 (BONITA), Rhinoceros as (DAISY). Please continue to follow and support Janai’s on Instagram @jlashon. Next show: Joe Turner at Detroit Rep as Molly Cunningham.

Kurt Kanazawa* // Steven, Inge

Kurt Kanazawa (he/him) is an actor, opera singer, and writer based in Los Angeles. He most recently starred in No No Girl alongside Academy Award winner Chris Tashima, as well as Amazon Studio’s Bosch: Legacy opposite Madison Lintz and Denise G. Sanchez and Grey’s Anatomy. He is a Juilliard graduate opera singer fluent in Italian, French, and Japanese, and his many award-winning audiobook, voiceover, & P-cap titles include Tribeca Festival world premiere A Life in Pieces: The Diary & Letters of Stanley Hayami, National Book Award finalist We Are Not Free, #1 New York Times bestseller To Paradise, and bestseller If I See You Again Tomorrow. Thank you to Phinny, Jeanne, Tramayne, Detroit Public Theatre, and my family and friends who keep me going. EDUCATION: The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Columbia University. REGIONAL: IAMA Theatre + LA LGBT Center, Boston Court, Ojai Playwrights Conference, Artists at Play, LATW, EST/LA, East West Players, Japanese American National Museum, Lincoln Center @ Alice Tully Hall, The Industry LA, Chautauqua Institution. INTERNATIONAL: Edinburgh Fringe, NCPA-Beijing, Teatro Colón-Buenos Aires. @kurtkanazawa | www.kurtkanazawa.com

Jennifer Maisel // Playwright

Jennifer Maisel grew up in a picture-perfect Long Island suburb where she once found a dead man in her driveway. She writes plays that leave audiences’ senses quickened — plays that magnify humanity’s fragility and resilience through humor, irony and the magic of theatricality. Maisel’s THE LAST SEDER premiered Off-Broadway with Gaby Hoffmann, Greg Mullavey and Sarah Winkler after productions around the country and abroad. Her EIGHT NIGHTS premiered at Antaeus Theatre, garnering 9 Ovation nominations and winning for Best

Playwriting and Best Actress. Her Sundance-developed OUT OF ORBIT was awarded an EST/Alfred P. Sloan rewrite commission for plays about Science and Technology, made the Kilroy List, and won both the Stanley Award and the Woodward Newman Award for Drama before its premiere. THERE OR HERE (NYC, London premieres) and @thespeedofJake (L.A.) were named PEN West Literary Award finalists. Jennifer developed her new play, BETTER, in the prestigious Humanitas PlayLA workshop and YELLOW WALLPAPER 2.0 2020 as a Travis Bogard fellow at Tao House. She also writes for film and television.

Marya Mazor // Director

Marya Mazor is a Los Angeles based director of theatre, film, and immersive experiences. Her stage productions have received multiple Los Angeles Times Critic’s Pick designations, Ovation and Stage Raw Awards; her 2020 production of Fun Home won the Ovation Award for Best Production of a Musical and the Orange County Theatre Guild Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical. She has directed for New York Stage & Film Company, The Alley Theatre, Geva Theatre, The Geffen Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, Berkeley Repertory Theater, The Long Wharf Theater, and many other venues. She was honored as a National Endowment for the Arts TCG Fellow and an AFI DWW fellow. She directed the digital series, Sophie in Hollywood, now airing on Asian American Movies. Her AFI Directing Workshop for Women film was lauded at festivals worldwide including ComiCon. She also directed the Broadway scale Aladdin for Disney Cruise Lines. Mazor was co-founding Artistic Director of Voice & Vision, a theater developing the voices of women and girls, in NYC; she ran that company for ten years. She holds an MFA from Yale and has taught theatre and film at Chapman University, University of California Irvine and elsewhere. She is grateful to be a part of the Detroit Public Theatre community and honored to collaborate on this play.

Sarah Pearline // Scenic Design

Sarah Pearline (Scenic Designer) is an Associate Professor in the Theatre and Dance Department at Wayne State University in Detroit. Previous work includes set and projection design for Circus Flora, St. Louis Symphony, Experimental Theatre Wing, Titan Theatre Company, Prospect Theatre Company, SoHo Think Tank, Nickelodeon Networks, and NY Stage and Film. Locally, she has had a wonderful time working with The Purple Rose Theatre, Hope Summer Rep, Carrie Morris Arts Production and PuppetArt Theatre, Satori Circus and the DIA. Sarah is thrilled to be designing scenery for Eight Nights and grateful to collaborate with everyone here at Detroit Public Theatre!

Matt Taylor** // Lighting Design

Matt Taylor is a professional lighting designer for live entertainment and professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI where he leads the MFA program in Lighting Design for Theatre and Dance. He’s thrilled to join the team at Detroit Public Theatre to create the world of Eight Nights with this wonderful creative team. His professional work covers a wide range of genres and styles of live entertainment from concerts and cruise ships to traditional theatre and dance productions. He has worked extensively in New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta and other major cultural hubs on Broadway, Off

Broadway, as well as throughout regional houses. His work can regularly be seen at the Old Globe in San Diego, Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC; Centro de Convenciones Figali in Panamá City, Panamá; Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and many others. Matt is a proud member of the professional designer’s union, United Scenic Artists Local 829. To see more of Matt’s work, visit www.matttaylordesign.com

Christopher Vergara** // Costume Design

Christopher Vergara [he/him/él] is a NYC-based queer Latino costume designer rooted in culturally responsive design, education, and social justice. Select credits include American Mariachi (Alley Theatre); Espejos:Clean (Studio Theatre); Party People (Actors Theatre); How to MELT ICE (Boundless Theatre Company); Living and Breathing (Two River Theater); Sugar Skull: Dia de los Muertos Musical Adventure (Rhythm of the Arts); El Otro Oz (TheatreWorksUSA); Anna in the Tropics and Elian (Miami New Drama); Detroit ‘67 (Detroit Public Theatre); Anna in the Tropics (Barrington Stage Company); Windfall (Bay Street Theater); A Survivor’s Odyssey: The Journey of Penelope and Circe (White Snake Projects), Bodas de Sangre (Phoenix Theater); Once (VinWonders, Vietnam); Macbeth (McCarter Theatre); In the Heights (Orlando Shakes); The Golem of Havana (La Mama and Miami New Drama); Madame Butterfly, La traviata (Brevard Music); and Walpurgisnacht, and Majisimas (Les Ballets

Trockadero de Monte Carlo). He is a member of IATSE-USA 829, Wingspace, Design Action, La Gente: The Latiné Theatre Network, and Gotham Knights Rugby. christophervergara.com @cavergaradesign

Matthew Eggers // Assistant Costume Designer

Matthew Eggers is a theater designer currently working as a BFA candidate at the University of Michigan for theater design and production. U-M: Rent (CD), Moscow X6(CD), Animal Farm (CD); Broadway: The Kite Runner (CDA), Here Lies Love (CDA); Regional: Anna in the Tropics (ACD – Barrington Stage Co.) Living & Breathing (ACD – Two River Theater). They are thrilled to work with Christopher again. mattheweggers.com

Cornell Jermaine // Make-Up & Hair Design

With a passion for enhancing beauty, Cornell Jermaine specializes in making people look good and, more importantly, feel beautiful. His commitment to professionalism is second to none, and his dedication is unwavering. Over the years, Cornell has worked with diverse talent in the entertainment and fashion industries. His commitment to excellence and eye for detail continue to leave an indelible mark on the world of hair design.

Cornell is proud to have contributed his expertise to numerous Broadway productions, including but not limited to Anastasia the Musical, Kinky Boots the Musical, Beautiful: The Carole King Story, Jersey Boys the Musical, Pretty Woman the Musical, The Grinch, August Wilson’s “Jitney,” Finding Neverland, and The Lion King. With a proven track record in the entertainment world and a passion for creating stunning and unforgettable styles, Cornell is an accomplished Wig Designer and an artist dedicated to helping individuals shine on and off the stage.

Kate Hopgood // Sound Design

Kate Hopgood is thrilled to be returning to the Detroit Public Theatre. Credits: Broadway: Birthday Candles (Roundabout’s American Airlines Theater). Regional credits include: Mrs. Harrison (Williamston Theatre), Nora (Detroit Public Theatre), Julius Caesar (PlayMaker’s Repertory Company), The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Detroit Public Theatre), The Tempest, Richard III, Twelfth Night, Hamlet, Loves Labour’s Lost... (Michigan Shakespeare Festival). Chicago: Love’s Labour’s Lost (Lifeline Theatre), Titus Andronicus (Babes with Blades), The Electric Baby, Wrens (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble).

Laurence Vance // Props Design

Laurence Vance (he/him) is a recent graduate from the University of Michigan where he received his BFA in Theater Design & Production; concentrating in Set Design. He’s designed sets and props for multiple student productions and worked in the UofM’s Prop Shop all 4 years. This is his first non-University production and first time working with DPT and he would like to thank this team for this wonderful opportunity to tell this touching story through props in his hometown.

Jen Pan // Intimacy Coordinator

Jen Pan (INTIMACY CHOREOGRAPHER) (she/they) is a Ypsilanti-based fight and intimacy director, actor, and stunt performer. Her work has recently been seen at Detroit Public Theatre (Mud Row, Passing Strange), Croswell Opera House (The Play That Goes Wrong, Beautiful, The Prom), Detroit Repertory Theatre (Life on the Moon), PTD Productions (Perfect Arrangement), and Livonia Shakespeare in the Park (Henry V ). In addition to their training with the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD), Dueling Arts International (DAI), and Intimacy Directors & Coordinators (IDC), they are also a co-founder and lead instructor at Theatrica Gladiatoria, a year-round academy in SE Michigan for stage and film combat (www.fightglad.com).

Chris Corporandy // Dialect Designer & Coach

Christopher Corporandy has trained, worked, and taught as an actor and dialect coach in San Francisco, NYC, Dublin, Moscow, Buffalo, Atlanta, and of course the greatest of all, Detroit. Voice/Speech/Dialects (selected credits): American Hero, Murder Ballad, Dot, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Noura (DPT); Blood at the Root, One Man Two Guv’nors, Airness, Noises Off, One Arm, The Taming of the Shrew (Chautauqua Theatre Co.); The Letts Fest (Alliance Theater); Venus, Angels in America Parts 1 & 2, The Colored Museum, King Lear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It (Hilberry Rep). Acting (selected): Dot, Birthday Candles 16 (DPT); Dan Cody’s Yacht, Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Romeo & Juliet Project (Chautauqua); The Brown Bull (Cherry Lane); Film: Savannah, The Wolf of Wall Street; TV: Hidden City. MFA: Hilberry Rep; BFA: Acting, NYU Tisch. Christopher is certified in Knight-Thompson Speech Work and currently teaches acting at The College for Creative Studies, where he is also international admissions counselor and hears a zillion accents each week.

Jeremy Sortore // Additional Dialect Coach

Jeremy Sortore, MM, MFA (he/him/his) has over two decades of experience offering collaborative instruction to actors and other performing artists who seek to connect to a sense of embodied artistry and communicate with others through movement, breath, and sound. As an educator/clinician with international teaching experience and a coach for Tony Award-winning regional theaters, Jeremy is focused on actor-centered processes that emphasize agency, consent, curiosity, and discovery. Jeremy holds a terminal degree from the Moscow Art Theater, two degrees in classical singing from the University of Colorado, and a post-bacc in communication disorders and speech science. He is a member of the National Alliance of Acting Teachers, Associate Faculty with Theatrical Intimacy Education, an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework® and Certified Teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork, on the editorial board of the Journal of Consent-Based Performance, and an Associate Editor of the Voice and Speech Review. Jeremy is currently based in Ann Arbor, Michigan and is Assistant Professor of Theatre & Drama in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at the University of Michigan. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. www.JeremySortore.com

Will McClelland // Dramaturg

Will McClelland (he/him) is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan, where he received his B.A. in Classical Civilization. He spent a great deal of time in the theater during his years at the university, and has directed, acted, produced, and worked as dramaturg for a number of shows, including Bakkhai and Much Ado About Nothing. He primarily works as DPT’s Box Office manager, but he is delighted to exercise his research skills as the dramaturg for Eight Nights, his first professional production!

Doran Konja* // Stage Manager

Doran Konja (he/him) - Doran is a Theatre Artist and Grant Writer that is more than excited to be back for DPT’s 9th Season. As a local Chaldean artist, he deeply appreciates DPT’s efforts to reflect the unique and diverse communities in Detroit through the work we produce. Some of his most memorable credits outside of DPT were with Shakespeare in Detroit (Detroit), The In[HEIR]itance Project (Detroit), The Agency (Chicago), and The New Coordinates (Chicago).

Badriyyah Wazeerud-Din // Assistant Stage Manager

Badriyyah is delighted to be a part of the DPT family. She has worked on DPT productions Mud Row, Noura, Peculiar Patriot (build crew/light board), and Detroit ’67 On Tour; Passing Strange (ASM). She has been a stage manager and production assistant for the African World Festival, and a stage manager for the Obsidian Theatre Festival. As a resident of Detroit, DPT’s creative space in the community resonates deeply with her, where diverse and powerful stories come to life. She loves the performing arts and has appeared in musical theatre productions and has performed as an instrumentalist. Badriyyah is a captivating singer-songwriter, recording, and voiceover artist who enjoys performing and telling stories through music. She has performed and recorded

with many artists including Painted Pictures, Malik Alston; The Linwood Ensemble, Sean Blackman, and Veronique. Her current well-received vinyl EP project is “You Are The One” (Truth Manifest Records). Family and friends bring her the greatest blessings and joy. IG: @badriyyahthesinger

Stefan Mantyk // Assistant Production Manager

Stefan is a grizzled veteran of the stage. He has performed for the Michigan Renaissance Festival for 25 years, and has worked with many Southeast Michigan theaters including Detroit Public Theatre, Planet Ant, and Meadowbrook Theatre. He can and will juggle three of anything, including anything on fire. Look for him on TikTok @lestertjester. Much love to his partner Frannie Shepherd-Bates who is worth more than anyone can quantify.

Sarah Johnson // Technical Director

Sarah is from Oklahoma City and graduated from Harding University in 2022 with a degree in Theatre Design and Production with an emphasis in Set Design. She made her Technical Directorial debut at Jean’s Playhouse in Lincoln, NH for their summer season with the shows Cabaret, Mamma Mia, and The 39 Steps. She later helped facilitate and plan the build for turning the theatre into a haunted house. Sarah then became a Deck Technician at Sight and Sound Theatre in Branson, MO. She was part of a 22 person crew and learned how to drive a life size animatronic elephant! This is Sarah’s first season with Detroit Public Theatre and she is thrilled to be here and to be building again!

Jalise Little // Sound Board Operator

Jalise is an up and coming sound engineer/designer from Detroit. She is a graduate of Mosaic Youth Theatre’s Backstage Tech program and is under apprenticeship with Studio Lumumba. She is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Audio Engineering Technology. Jalise has done live sound engineering and post-production audio for the Gathering Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble with the Carr Center, the African World Festival, and various dance schools around the Metro Detroit area.

Owen Zabor // Light Board Operator

Owen is an apprentice lighting technician who has recently begun work on local film and theatre productions. He would like to thank Detroit Public Theatre for involving him in their productions of Noura and The Peculiar Patriot. He would also like to thank the grip and electric company Courtesy Flag for giving him his start in the world of lighting.

Malik Alston // Build and Load Crew

Malik enjoys being part of the DPT family. He has worked on DPT’s 8th season on the build/load team, as a sound/light board operator, and assisted on the security team. Malik is one of Detroit’s premier music producers, keyboardists and vocalists. He produces and spins without boundaries, often fusing a multitude of styles to create innovations in sound. He currently performs original works on keys/vocals with his band, Malik Alston & The Linwood Ensemble. The band

has had well-received appearances at the Movement Festival, House of Blues (Chicago) as the opening act for Les Nubians, African World Festival, Allied Media Conference, Jazz Café, Spot Lite, and Karl’s. Malik releases new and exciting music on his label, Truth Manifest Records. Recent successful EP releases on his label include Malik Alston presents: Outside Of The Box and Badriyyah Wazeerud-Din’s You Are The One. IG: @malikalstonmusic7

Oliver Pookrum // Build and Load Crew

Oliver Pookrum is a multidisciplinary theater artist who appreciates the opportunity that DPT has provided to expand his theater knowledge in “set construction”. Pookrum will be directing “Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea” at the Open Book Theater in May 2024.

David Johnson // Build and Load Crew

How wonderful it is to create. I have so much reverence for theater, and the collective contribution to create art. Thank you DTP for the opportunity to be a part of the storytelling process.

DPT LEADERSHIP AND STAFF BIOS

Courtney Burkett // Founder & Producing Artistic Director

[she/her] is a member of the artistic leadership team at Detroit Public Theatre, where she regularly directs productions. In her role as Producing Artistic Director, she oversees production and marketing at DPT. Prior to founding DPT, Courtney was Director of Theatre Programs with Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, directing the internationally-acclaimed Mosaic Acting Company. Burkett was a founding artistic partner with Breathe Art Theatre Project. She also served as Managing Director of the CRLT Players at the University of Michigan and Business Manager for the University of Detroit Mercy Theatre Company. Courtney is a fourth generation native Detroiter and holds a BFA from Webster Conservatory of Theatre Arts in St. Louis, and her MFA from Wayne State’s Hilberry Theatre program.

Sarah Clare Corporandy // Founder & Producing Artistic Director

(she/her): An original founding member of DPT in 2015, Sarah Clare is a Michigan (Ypsilanti) native, and after moving about the country to find the best places and ways to create live theater, she found herself called back home to Detroit. She trained in both theater and voice at Hope College and received an MFA in arts administration from Wayne State University’s Hilberry Theatre program. During that time, she worked with companies such as Breathe Art Theatre Project, Barrington Stage Co., and New York Stage and Film. Sarah Clare acted as Managing Director of Philadelphia’s Pig Iron Theatre Co., and for 13 years she worked first as Company Manager and then as Managing Director (10 years)

of Chautauqua Theatre Company. From 2009-2021, she served on the faculty at Savannah College of Art and Design and has also taught at University of Kentucky, Wayne State University and the University of Michigan. Sarah Clare served as the lead producer on the televised remounts of From Broadway to Obscurity (Eric Gutman) and No Child… (Nilaja Sun), in collaboration with PBS stations in Buffalo, NY, and Detroit, MI, and with Chautauqua Theater Co. In her role at DPT, she headed up the move to DPT’s new building, leads strategic planning for the company, and shares artistic leadership with Sarah, Courtney, and Dominique. She made a return to performing in DPT’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane, a project close to her heart.

Dominique Morisseau // Executive Artistic Producer

[she/her] is the author of The Detroit Project (A 3-Play Cycle): Skeleton Crew (Atlantic Theater Company), Paradise Blue (Signature Theatre), and Detroit ’67 (Public Theater, Classical Theatre of Harlem and NBT). Additional plays include: Confederates (Signature Theatre), Pipeline (Lincoln Center Theatre), Sunset Baby (LAByrinth Theatre), Blood at the Root (National Black Theatre), and Follow Me To Nellie’s (Premiere Stages). Her Broadway production of Skeleton Crew (Manhattan Theatre Club) is TONY-nominated for best play, and she is also the TONY-nominated book writer on the Broadway musical Ain’t Too Proud –The Life and Times of the Temptations (Imperial Theatre). TV/Film projects: She has served as Co-Producer on the Showtime series “Shameless”. She’s currently developing projects with Netflix and HBO, and wrote the film adaptation of the documentary STEP for Fox Searchlight. Awards include: Spirit of Detroit Award, PoNY Fellowship, Sky-Cooper Prize, TEER Trailblazer Award, Steinberg Playwright Award, Audelco Awards, NBFT August Wilson Playwriting Award, Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama, OBIE Award (2), and the Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellowship, named one of Variety’s Women of Impact for 2017-18 and recipient of the 2018 MacArthur Genius Grant.

Sarah Winkler // Founder & Producing Artistic Director

[she/her] A proud co-founder of Detroit Public Theatre, Sarah has more than 30 years’ experience as a theatre and film producer, performer, and teaching artist. Prior to her work with DPT, Sarah was a producing artist with the Obie, Drama Desk, and Lucille Lortel award-winning Off-Broadway Epic Theatre Ensemble. While at Epic, she oversaw the company’s development department during a period of rapid growth as the budget nearly quadrupled in size, and was also a member of Epic’s acting ensemble, where she performed in more than a dozen Off-Broadway productions, workshops, readings, and Shakespeare Remix productions, and she was a Teaching Artist in Epic’s programs in the New York City Public Schools. In 2013, Sarah relocated to Metro Detroit and worked as an actor with a number of Michigan theatres while developing Detroit Public Theatre alongside DPT’s artistic leadership team and founding board. It was her great honor to have worked as a facilitator in the Shakespeare in Prison program at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and to have played a role in the program’s choosing DPT as its home. Sarah has produced and performed in numerous critically-acclaimed films and plays in New York City and around the country, and was a founder of Step Up Women’s Network

in New York City, where she developed the organization’s arts education programming. Sarah earned her Bachelor of Science in Theatre from Skidmore College.

Patrick Hanley // Production & General Manager

[he/him] This is Patrick’s fifth season as Production Manager with Detroit Public Theatre. He previously worked with DPT as a stage manager (Skeleton Crew) and house manager, and continues to be involved with DPT’s Shakespeare in Prison program as a facilitator and fight choreographer. He previously served as the Education Director for Water Works Theatre Company, directing both the Teen Ensemble and KidsAct! programs. Patrick holds a BFA in Acting from Wayne State University. His selective performance and stage management credits include productions with Matrix Theatre Company, Shakespeare in Detroit, the Elizabeth Theatre at the Park Bar, and numerous shows with Planet Ant Theatre.

Frannie Shepherd-Bates // Director of Shakespeare in Prison

[she/her] Frannie is the founder and director of Shakespeare in Prison, Detroit Public Theatre’s signature community program. She has also served as DPT’s Director of Programs, and as Director of Education and Development for Water Works Theatre Company. Frannie has directed and/or designed many productions at Metro Detroit theatres, including Detroit Public Theatre, Open Book Theatre, Tipping Point Theatre, Williamston Theatre, Shakespeare in Detroit, Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company (which she co-founded), and Planet Ant Theatre, among others. Frannie has been recognized for her work as an artist and arts advocate by the Wilde Awards (Critics’ Choice 2013; Best of the Bard 2015; Best Play nomination 2016), the Pulsar Awards (Best Play 2017), and CBS Detroit, and she accepted an Arts Achievement Award on behalf of MGT from WSU’s Department of Theatre and Dance. She is the recipient of CultureSources’ Creators of Culture grant (2020) and several Michigan Arts & Culture Council minigrants, and she has spoken about prison theatre at conferences such as Shakespeare Association of America (2023), Shakespeare in Prisons (2013, 2021), Shakespearean Theatre Conference (2022), Northeast Modern Language Association (2022), Shakespeare Beyond Borders Alliance (2021), Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed (2017), Art X Detroit (2015), as well as the 2019 Theater of War reading of Promethea Bound at Michigan State University. She has been featured numerous times in books about prison theatre, as well as local, regional, national, and international media for her work in prisons and as an artist, including the Folger Shakespeare Library’s “Shakespeare Unlimited” podcast; she co-authored a chapter for the upcoming book Shakespeare and Social Engagement (Berghahn Books, 2023).

Kyle Fisher-Grant // Associate Director of Shakespeare in Prison

Kyle Fisher-Grant graduated from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in Liverpool, England, where he holds a BA (Honors) in Acting. He then moved to NYC, where he directed with the Red Door Theatre and Playlab NYC. Since moving back to Michigan, he has worked as an actor and director with

Waterworks Theatre in Royal Oak, Shakespeare in Detroit, Shakespeare in Prison with DPT, and he started Livonia Shakespeare in the Park. He additionally holds a Masters in Urban Education from the University of Michigan Flint, and has worked as a high school mathematics teacher in Detroit and Ypsilanti.

Leah Hill // Marketing Manager

As the Marketing Manager at Detroit Public Theatre, Leah brings a strategic and creative approach to how we share the messaging behind DPT and the work that we produce. Leah is a native Detroiter with strong ties to the arts and culture community. After graduating from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, she decided to return to her hometown, where she aimed to make a meaningful impact on the Detroit ecosystem. In this role, Leah is excited to not only increase the brand awareness of Detroit Public Theatre but also to introduce people to the profound beauty of live theatre.

Melissa Johnson // Business Manager

Melissa is delighted to be a part of the DPT family for her 6th season as Business Manager. After graduating from Eastern Michigan University with a BBA in Finance and moving with her family all over the USA, she is excited to be back living in Metro Detroit. Outside of her professional career, Melissa is devoted to her family, loved ones, and seeing as much of the world as possible.

Ronita Kipp // Facilities & Events Manager

Ronita served as Event Operations Manager for Ilitch Sports and Entertainment for 20 years, where she was responsible for managing the operations of the Fox Theatre and assisting and planning events such as 2006 Super Bowl XL, 2015 TedxDetroit, High Profile Weddings, 2014 Republican Presidential Debate, the 2019 Democratic Presidential Debate, and many concerts. Ronita strives to bring the best out of her team by developing a culture built on mutual respect, collaboration, and empowerment. In addition to her professional passions, Ronita is devoted to her faith, her family and loved ones, and finding ways to enjoy the beauty in the world.

Will McClelland // Ticket Services Agent

Will McClelland (he/him) is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan, where he received his B.A. in Classical Civilization. He spent a great deal of time in the theater during his years at the university, and has directed, acted, produced, and worked as dramaturg for a number of shows, including Bakkhai and Much Ado About Nothing. He primarily works as DPT’s Box Office manager, but he is delighted to exercise his research skills as the dramaturg for Eight Nights, his first professional production!

Madelyn Porter // Connectivity & Engagement Manager

Madelyn Porter has worked as a professional storyteller/actor for the past 40 years, and is a member of Actor’s Equity Association. She recently performed in Flint Repertory Theatre’s WRONG RIVER, Detroit Repertory Theate’s GEM OF THE OCEAN, and previously performed with DPT in Dot and the Harlem9 - 48Hours

in…Detroit Festival. She is a recipient of the 2019 Kresge Arts in Detroit - Creative Non-Fiction - Literary Arts Award. Madelyn works as performer and advisory board member for Detroit Puppet Company, performs historical reenactments and storyliving at the Detroit Historical Museum, The Henry Ford/Greenfield Village, Troy Historical Village, and provides Cultural Awareness through the Arts programs for school districts, and organizations. Porter also writes and creates stories on commission.

Kyle Stefek // Associate Director of Development

Kyle is currently serving in his fifth season on staff with Detroit Public Theatre as Grants & Individual Giving Manager and is a facilitator with DPT’s signature community program, Shakespeare in Prison. Previously, he worked with the Ann Arbor Film Festival as the Operations & Community Programs Manager and in project development with Millennium Media. Outside of the arts, Kyle works with queer youth to develop self-advocacy skills and affirming tools for navigating consent, relationships, and sexual health.

SUPPORT FOR DPT Annual Support

Detroit Public Theatre’s work is made possible by you! In Detroit Public Theatre’s ninth season, your gift of any size will grow and sustain our artistic and community programs.

DPT is deeply committed to community engagement — both through our bold, relevant, critically acclaimed productions, and through our impactful programs. Our education programs launched in our first season with a pilot that brought our artists to Detroit Public Schools, and 600 Detroit Public Schools students to matinees of Dominique Morisseau’s acclaimed play, Detroit ‘67. Since that first season, we have connected with thousands more Detroit Public Schools students in their classrooms and at the theatre, and we have toured Detroit ‘67 to schools and parks and community centers across the city and state. We continue to build our partnerships with the schools through Detroit ‘67 and with new productions that connect to the high school history curriculum (including with a new curriculum designed around our current production of Eight Nights). In addition to our education programs, DPT engages our community with: a facilitated post show dialogue series, accessible tickets through our Pick Your Price Performance program, our TAG subsidized artists’ residency program which makes our space and marketing and production resources accessible to peer arts organizations, and our Shakespeare in Prison (SIP) program (for more details on SIP, see below). Please take a donation envelope or come speak with us in the lobby to make a tax-deductible donation to the DPT annual fund today, and join with us in building and sustaining Detroit Public Theatre. You can also donate online at www. detroitpublictheatre.org/support/.

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS!

ARCHITECTS OF THE DPT NEXT STAGE CAMPAIGN

We recognize with profound gratitude the generosity, leadership, and vision of the supporters of Detroit Public Theatre’s Next Stage Campaign. The campaign’s donors made possible the creation of our new home here at 3960 Third Avenue—a state-of-the-art theatre designed as a warm and welcoming hub for artists and audiences—and invested in expanded community programming, accessibility initiatives, and artistic excellence.

$250,000 - $500,000

William Davidson Foundation

Debbie & John Erb

Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation

The Walters Family

$100,000 - $249,999

Mona & Dick Alonzo

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

Nicole & Stephen Eisenberg

The Forbes Company/Somerset Collection & The Detroit Shoppe

Levy-Dresner Foundation

Michigan Arts & Culture Council

National Endowment for the Arts

Christie Peck & Buck Baker

Erica Peresman & David Jaffe

Sarah Winkler & Simon Leopold

$50,000 - $99,999

A. Alfred Taubman Foundation

Gayle Shaw Camden & Andrew L.

Camden

Michelle & David Carroll

Gretchen & Ethan Davidson

Mary Ann & Robert Gorlin

Annmarie & Neil Hawkins

Huntington

Arlene & John Lewis

Nain Rouge Brewery, North Peak Brewing Company, and Smith & Co

Marcie & Rob Orley

Christine & David Provost

Martie & Bob Sachs

$25,000 - $49,999

Nina Essman & Jon Freeman

Emily & Henry Ford III

Marjorie & Maxwell Jospey Foundation

Celia Keenan-Bolger & John Ellison

Conlee

Anessa & David Kramer

Rebecca & Jack McNaughton

Maeva & Xavier Mosquet

Stephanie & Tim Nicholson

Barbara & Lou Prues

Nancy & Allan Rothfeder

Brian C. Young

$10,000 - $24,999

Anonymous

Lisa Bouchard

Courtney & Adam Burkett

Sarah Clare & Chris Corporandy

Dorothy & Larry Fobes

Elyse & David Foltyn

Ann & Alan Frank

Susan & Robert Gordon

Kristen & Carl Gross

Maureen Martin & Mike Penskar

Cindy Hecht & Michael Meredith

Niki & Bobby Johnson

Julia A. Keim

Patricia Keros & Todd Tesen

The John S. and James L. Knight

Foundation

Zina & Michael Kramer

Bonnie Larson

Lois & Gene Miller

Ann & Jim Nicholson

Bobbi & Stephen Polk

Anna & Chris Rea

Trott Family Foundation

Peter Van Dyke

$2,500 - $9,999

Lisa Applebaum

Artspace Projects, Inc.

Denita Banks-Sims & Glenn Sims

Wendy Batiste-Johnson & Rodney

Johnson

BDC Consulting

Carolyn & Jim Bellinson

Judith Belknap & Walter Juterbock, III

Jill & Reginald Brack

Katherine Bradford & Gregory Leopold

Fiona Carter & Steve Zaroff

CultureSource

Mike DelBene

Scott Eisenberg

Sally & Michael Feder

Teri Fenner

Rochelle & Randy Forester

Sylvia & Marvin Gordon

Kristen & Carl Gross

Judith Jones

Lisette & Richard Keil

Joyce Keller & Michael Walch

Kristine & Jeff Kidorf

Mary Kramer

Jocelyn Lee & Brian Urquhart

Felicia Eisenberg Molnar

Dominique Morisseau & Jimmy Keys

Carol Treat Morton & David Robinson

Joy & Allan Nachman

Terry Naini

Sandra Osip

Sarah Prues

Libby Robinson

Mary Schakel

Roseanne & Rudy Simons

Teen HYPE

Eva Von Voss

Jamie Kaye Walters

Dr. Toni S. Walters

Neal Zalenko

Gifts up to $2,499

Jane & Thomas Becker

Brian Demkowicz

Marla Donovan

Maria & Dave Duey

Kathy & Jef Fisk

Paula Gribbs

Mickey Guisewite & John DiCerchio

Noah Haidle

Jim Kelly

Gerald Lieberman

Lisa & Hannan Lis

Rebecca Marcus

Caroline & Mike Marks

Lisa Nederlander

Sonia & Tom Pastore

Brandy Joe Plambeck

Angelique Power

Allen Salyer

David Shevrin

Jeffrey Tick

Matthew Weaver

Susan Whitlock & Earl Lewis

FOUNDING DONORS

We are profoundly grateful for the visionary support of the DPT Founding Donors, who pledged multi-year gifts of $10,000 - $25,000 annually in our earliest seasons. The leadership, advocacy, and extraordinary generosity of these donors helped bring Detroit Public Theatre to life.

Robert A. and Maggie Allesee

Julie and Peter Cummings

Nicole and Stephen Eisenberg

Debbie and John Erb

Lauren and Phillip Fisher

Catherine and Nathan Forbes

Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman

Danialle and Peter Karmanos, Jr.

Maeva and Xavier Mosquet

Ann V. and James B. Nicholson

Lisa A. Payne

Martie and Bob Sachs

Jeffrey Seller

Julie and Bobby Taubman

Sarah Winkler and Simon Leopold

LEADERSHIP DONOR LEVELS

Leading Player - $25,000

Debbie and John Erb

Nina Essman & Jon Freeman

Carol and Peter Walters

Sarah Winkler and Simon Leopold

Best Supporting Player - $15,000

Mary Ann and Robert Gorlin

Maeva and Xavier Mosquet

The Peck Foundation

Erica Peresman and David Jaffe

Ensemble Player - $10,000

Anonymous

Nicole and Stephen Eisenberg

Strum Allesee Family Foundation

SUSTAINER DONOR LEVELS

$5,000-9,999

Ann Walsh

Mona and Richard Alonzo

Catherine Baldwin

Katharine J. Burns

Fiona Carter & Steve Zaroff

Gretchen and Ethan Davidson

Annmarie and Neil Hawkins

Rebecca and John McNaughton

Terry Naini

Sarah Prues

Carol Treat Morton & David Robinson

Dr. Brian Young

$1,000-2,499

Anonymous

Denita Banks-Sims and Glenn Sims

Daniel Bates

Courtney and Adam Burkett

Sarah Clare and Chris Corporandy

Mike DelBene

Emily & Henry Ford III

Lucia Geglio

Mickey Guisewite and John DeCerchio

Brian Demkowicz

Mary Ellen Hoy & Jim Keller

Jean W. Hudson

Niki and Bobby Johnson

Julia A. Keim

Patricia Keros and Todd

Tesen

Paulette & Bob Koffron

Bonnie Larson

Arlene and John Lewis

Leslie Magy

Maureen Martin

Maralee & Thomas Meyer

Felicia E. Molnar

Lisa Nederlander

Joyce and Dan Pariser

Barbara and Lou Prues

Nancy & Allan Rothfeder

Tricia Ruby

Mary Schakel

Devin & Corey Scillian

Katherine O. See & Michael Kamrin

Judith and Howard Sims

Melissa Smiley

Ann Stevenson and Curt

Catallo

Ann and Steve Templeton

Elizabeth Tintinalli

$2,500-4,999

Elizabeth Barnes

Wendy Batiste-Johnson & Rod Johnson

Katherine Bradford & Greg Leopold

Andrew L. & Gayle Shaw Camden

Michelle & David Carroll

Lisa Corey

Susan & Bobby Gordon

Anessa & David Kramer

Christie Peck & Buck Baker

Angelique Power

Martie & Bob Sachs

Peter Van Dyke

Neal Zalenko

$500-999

Anonymous

Marcia & Martin Baum

Jessica Bauman & Ben Posel

Judith Belknap

Laura Berick

Paul Butcher

Beth & Jeff Davidson

Donald Dietz

Sally & Michael Feder

Elyse & David Foltyn

Sylvia & Marvin Gordon

Fay Herman

Joel Howell

Adeena Karsseboom

Martin & Helen Katz

James Keller

Elizabeth and James Klein

Lois & Gene Miller

Patricia Mooradian

Stephanie & Tim Nicholson

Sonia & Tom Pastore

Linda Rexer

Dr. Wendy Soubel and Dr. John Arnold

Lisa and Scott Stern

Susan Whitlock & Earl Lewis

Sharon Zimmerman

$250-499

Meg & John Alli

Liz & Eliot Bank

Emily Camiener & Marc

Schwartz

Kathleen Chalfant

Denise and David Currin

Beth & Jeff Davidson

Rick Ehrstin

Elizabeth Ellis

Dorothy and Larry Fobes

Karl Foord

Charlene Firestone

Ann & Alan Frank

Melissa & Jeffrey Holland

Crystal Hoskins

Gerald Klein

Mary Kramer

Eric Linder

Jessica Litman and Jonathan Weinberg

Ashley Lowe and Robert Shaya

Caroline & Mike Marks

Tonya Matthews

Ronald Northrup

Clyde Olivero

Marcie & Rob Orley

Sandra Osip

Eli Rarey

Victoria Roberts

Julie Robertson

Robert Schostak

Jane & Ed Schulak

Edward Vaughan

Eva Von Voss

Jamie Kaye Walters

Jamie Warrow

Marcy & Eric Weisberg

Dr. Barbara Weldon

$1-249

Nancy Abdul-Sater

Dominique Abram

Lorenza Acker

Joanne Adams

Erica Addison

Aubrey Agee

Steve Aiello

Valerie Aljajawi

Sara Alosaimy

Juan Alvarez

Diane Alvin

Amjad Aman

Stefania Antonescu

Diane Akers

Anonymous

Gloria Armstead

Sherrine Azab

Jessica Azar

Penelope Bailer

Joe Bailey

Richard Baks

Edward Baldwin

Alan Ball

Nina Barlow Glover

Marian Barnes

Shannon Bass

Ellen Bates-Brackett

Erica Battle

LaVerne Beard

Ilene Beninson

Ilana & Kevin Beltz

Anita Berges

Isha Bhatt

Sherry Bierkle

Dennis Bierlein

Stacy Bird

Toree Bitson

Carlotta Blanton

Tommye Blount

Kathleen Blumer

Sabrina Bonner

John Boris

Marie Boyle Reinman

Toria Bradley

Helene Brody

Kathleen Brooks

Genevieve Brown

Kimberly Brown

Tamar-kali Brown

Gerri & Mike Buckles

Bradley Budrow

Eileen Burns

Rhona Butler

Amy Butters

Ava and Walter Butzu

Judith Buycks

Leatat Caldwell

Stephen Calkins

Ebony Calwise

Alano Camiener

Jean Casey

Elaine Chalom

Marsha Chamberlin

Ellen Carter

Chanti Carter

Cheryl Carter

Kevin Chrisney

Jessica Christopher

Carol Cholmakjian

Erik Chubb

Michael Clark

Jo Ann Cline

Paula Cole

Christopher Collins

Kathy Conlon

Lynne Cookson

Holly & Bryan Conroy

Connie & Richard Cowper

Joy Crawford

Debora Cullen

Dale Dallaire

Angelina Danial

Matteo David

Kalisha Davis

Elizabeth DeBetta

David Debono

Armando Delicato

Becky Dennis-Hulway

Lynn Dils

Colleen Dolan-Greene & Trey Greene

Adrienne Douglas

Kenneth Dozier

Maureen Dritsan

Mary Jo Durivage

Arjuna Durrant

Syma Echeandia

Weslia Echols

Nancy & William Edmunds

Daniel T. Edwards

Erin Einhorn

Mikel Ellcessor

Irelyn Ellis

Judith Elson

Anne E. Eskridge

Crystal Estell-Clayton

Douglas Fahle

Lynn Farr

Ernestine Favors

Rachel Fawaz

Alberta Fenn-Vandiver

Daniel H. Ferrier

Robert Fink

James Finkelstein

Elissa Firestone

Jef and Kathy Fisk

Margaret Flannery

Mabel Flowers

Arnetta C. Ford

Mark Fossee

Dawn Foster

Melvin Foster

Theresa Franklin

Kathy Friedrichs

Olivia Furlow

Heba Gad

Carolyn Gamble

Theresa Garza

Nancy Gingrich

Linda and James Gobeski

Neshele Godfrey

Cheryl Goin

Elizabeth Goldstein

Zipora Golenberg

Kathleen Grabruck

Susan Greenfield

Justin Greenlaw

Allo Greer

Dominic Greimel

Mary Griffin

Eric Gutman

Jerry Gutman

Elizabeth Guz

Philip Hadley

Jo-Ann Hale

Dierk Hall

Jody Hall

Taylor Hall

Karen Hamer

Carolyn Hampton

Wendy Handler

Thomas Haneline

Deborah Hansen

Kate Harris

Chad Harrison

Kala Harrison

Sharonlyn Harrison

Lavinia Hart

James Hassett

Richard Herbst

Laura E. HernandezRomine

Tracey Hicks

Akua Hill

Jason Hill

Wendy Hiller

Lauren Hood

Dylan Hoover

Jeromy Hopgood

Mary Ellen Howard

Phyllis Hurks

Arif Icke

Nicki Inman

Carolyn Iwrey

Barbara Jackson-Dickie

Darius Jackson

Monica Jackson

Shirley A. Jackson

Abigail Jacobs

Teresa Jacobson

Susan Jarvis-Noetzel

Janet Jennings

Willie Johnson

Brittany Jones

Edmund Alyn Jones

J. Allen Jones II

Judith Jones

Maria Jones

Victor Jones

Tracy Karbel

Marina Karpova-Erdahl

Barbara Kay

Cynthia Kenety

Kate Kenney

Ada Kerwin

Thamreen Khan

Kristine & Jeff Kidorf

Angela G. King

Joyce Kornbluh

Kelly Kozlowski

Michael Krystyniak

Natalie LaCroix

Christin Lee

Kimberly Lennex

Morgan Listenbee

Teresa Lloyd

Alvin Lockett

Sheralyn Love

Schannon Love-Johnson

Sharon Luckerman

Charlotte Lusby

Dr. Carol Levin

Carol Lewis

Nancy Liebler

Susan Linn

Rosemary Little

Katy Locker

Gary MacDonald

Katie MacDonald

Michael Malloch

Vivienne Manwaring

Linda Martin

Clarke Mason

Phillip Mayor & Megan Thibos

Glenn Maxwell

Cynthia McEvoy

Terrisena McCants

Diane McCormack

Brenda McGadney

Jacqueline McIntyre

Regina McIver

Gabrielle McKee

Kathleen McMahon

Nicole Mehelich

Mark Meier

Tamina Mencin

Degan Mercado Leopold

Cornelius Mickels

Karen Minard

Steven Monet

Jenn Rae Moore

Sharon Moore

Amanda Moran

J. Morris

Cathy Muha

Marcia Mumbrue

Reuben Munday

Mary Murphy

Anita Murray

Adwoa Muwzea

Gloria Myers

Ban Nacy Clark

Edward Nahhat

Jennifer Najor

Lisa Nederlander

Shaun Nethercott

Kayla Niemann

Phares Noel

Patrice Nolan

Monica Nona

Sandra Novacek

Jen Pan

Maureen Paraventi

Sean Paraventi

Tina Paraventi

Carolyn Parker

Neleita Patterson

Maggie Patton

Heidi Penix

Laura Peppler-Maloney

James Pembroke

Cathleen & Steve Perrin

Cynthia Person

Helen Peters

Sonja Plack

Deborah Pfliegel

Audra Polk

Richard Polk

Tom Pollack

Cheryl Poloni

Scott Preston

Renee Prewitt

Awo Quaison-Sackey

Sherry Quinn

Susan Randall

Linda Rankin

Lynneisha Ray

Rahme Rayes

Natalie Redmond

Suzanne Regan

Pamela Reid

Lynn Renkert

Ethel Revels

Lisa Rich

David Riddell

Paul Riser

Colleen & Dan Robar

Minnie Roberts

Julie Robertson

Jainelle Robinson

Lee Robinson

Lesli Robinson

Ronald Robinson

Sheba Rogers

Janice & Michael Rolnick

Sharon & Ron Rose

Marya Rosenthal

Jessica Ross

Karol Ross

Lisa Rothe

Marla Rowe Gorosh

Phyllis Rubin

Gail Ruby

Jennifer Rusciano

Debbie Saag

Jessica Salem

Harriet and Alvin Saperstein

Ericka Savage Whitley

Krista Schafer Ewbank

Roslyn Schindler

Paul Schmid

Susan Schmidt

David Schon

Anne Seaman

Carla Shalaby

Iven Sharrak

Cynthia Shaw

Terry Shea

Sabra Shekter

Ben Shephard

Wendy Shepherd and Ken Hershenson

Patricia Sherrod

Josette Silver

Wendy Silverman

Aviva Simonte

William E. Sims, Jr.

Anne-Marie Smith

Mandisa Smith

Don Snipes

Jeremy Sortore

Eloise Sparks

Cassandra Spratling

Odetoyinbo

Sherise Steele

Beverly Stein

Susan Stepek

Jennifer Stevenson

Victoria Stott

Lance Sumpter

Kathryn Sussman

Erin Tabor

Loida Tapia

Kelly Theisen

Cynthia Thomas

Elizabeth Thompson

Harry Thompson

Margaret Thorp

Brandon Tillery

Ruth Tobias

Paula Tritely

Rosalinda Turner

Tisha Tyson

Nancy Uffner-Elliott

Maria Urquidi

Margarita Valbuena

Lana Valentine

Laurence Ralph Van Meter

Irma Virden

Dinah Waldsmith

Dittman

Laura Walker

Stephanie Walker

Deborah Wallace

Patrice & Kevin Walsh

Michelle Walters

Lorraine Wangler

Kevin Ward

Charles Warpehoski

Kathleen Watchorn

Betty Weinberg

Amy Weinstein

Madeline Weldon

Lynn West

Michelle West

Steven West

Bonnie White

Helene White

Anthony Whitfield

Michele Whitmore

Barbara Widener

Pamela Williams

Anne Williamson

Helen Wilson

Emily Wilson-Tobin

Amelia B. Winkler

Danielle Wright

Gail Young

Morin Yousif

CORPORATE, FOUNDATION, AND GOVERNMENT FUNDERS

Detroit Public Theatre is also deeply grateful to our past and current Corporate, Foundation, and Government funders for their generous support of our programs and productions.

A Beautiful World Fund of the Maine Arts Midwest

Awesome Foundation-Ann Arbor Chapter

Comerica Charitable Giving

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

Corewell Health

CultureSource

The Detroit Shoppe at Somerset Collection

Doner Advertising

Downtown Detroit Partnership

Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation

The DTE Energy Foundation

Eileen Fisher

The Emily List Fund for Performing Arts Therapy

The Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation

Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation

Flagstar Bank

The Forbes Company

The Ford Motor Company Fund

Greenleaf Trust

Honigman

Hudson-Webber Foundation

Huntington

The Marjorie and Maxwell Jospey Foundation

Kenwal Steel

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Kresge Foundation

Levy-Dresner Foundation

Mercantile Bank

MGM Grand Detroit

Michigan Arts and Cultural Council

Michigan Humanities Council

Midtown Detroit, Inc.

MSU Federal Credit Union Desk

Drawer Fund

National Endowment for the Arts

The Peck Foundation

PNC Foundation

Quicken Loans

The Shubert Foundation

The Skillman Foundation

Somerset Collection

St. John Providence

Union Joints

Venturous Theater Fund of the Tides Foundation

WeWork

SHAKESPEARE IN PRISON // DPT’S SIGNATURE COMMUNITY PROGRAM

Shakespeare in Prison empowers incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people to reconnect with their humanity and that of others; to reflect on their past, present, and future; and to gain the confidence, self-esteem, and crucial skills they need to heal and positively impact their communities.

Through a combination of working on the play and collaborating with each other, SIP ensemble members discover new ways of defining themselves and moving through the world, as well as goals—personal and professional—that they previously would not have dreamed of.

The core of SIP’s programming is its work with incarcerated women; at times, it has also included programs with youth and incarcerated men. In 2018, SIP extended its mission beyond prison walls with Shakespeare Reclaimed, a postrelease program that offers SIP alumni ongoing mentoring for personal and professional development, as well as opportunities for creative projects with SIP and DPT.

Throughout the pandemic, SIP sent incarcerated ensemble members Shakespeare-based activity packs every two weeks. Each pack consists of a piece of Shakespeare’s text and prompts for intellectual stimulation, creative expression, and self-reflection.

For more information about Shakespeare in Prison, please visit www.detroitpublictheatre.org/shakespeareinprison.

Shakespeare in Prison is made possible in part by a grant from Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or Michigan Humanities Council.

“ Shakespeare seems like the impossible for some people. And once you conquer the impossible, you know that anything is possible.”

— SIP Ensemble Member

DPT exists because a small army of committed people and companies have given countless hours of their time and energy to bring it to life! A special thank you to all of you who have advised, advocated, introduced, created, and collaborated with us, including:

Benjamin Bailey

Christopher Ballard

Neil A. Barclay

Joe Benghauser

Adam Burkett

Michael Carnahan

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Curt Catallo and Ann Stevenson

Chris Corporandy

Patty Cosgrove

The Detroit Shoppe

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Doner Advertising

Monika Essen

Nate Forbes

Anne Gahagan

Mandy Hackett

Chris Heaphy

Bob Hoida

Nicki Inman

Yolanda Jack

Niki Johnson

Helen and Marty Katz

James Kuhl

Eric Larson

Simon Leopold

Mary Littell

Jenny Locricchio

Leslie Luciani

Juston Markell

Linda McIntosh

Eric McClellan

Scott Meyer

Jim Miller

Marsha Miro

Sue Mosey

Maeva and Xavier Mosquet

Scott Myers

Geoffrey Nathan

Maggie Patton

Lisa Payne

Purple Rose Theatre Company

Bina Reid

Erik Rönmark

Jennifer Scott

Julie Gaus Smith

The Somerset Collection

Bobby Taubman

Ann Heath Templeton

Tipping Point Theatre

Monica Tysell

Peter Van Dyke

Union Joints

Union Adworks

Cari and Joe Vaughn

Martin and Erika Vecchio

Wayne State Department of Theatre

Linda Weir

Eric Weisberg

Lindsey Wendland

Shawn Wilson

Margaret Winters

SEASON 9 2023-2024

EIGHT NIGHTS

by Jennifer Maisel

A HOLIDAY CABARET

by Detroit Public Theatre

BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY

by Pearl Cleage

CLYDE’S

by Lynn Nottage

SUBSCRIBE TO SEASON 9

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

3-Show Peel Down Subscription — On Sale Now

Includes 3 DPT Productions and All DPT Subscriber Benefits

Any performance date or time: $114 There is a $8 administrative fee for each subscription sold.

DPT SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS INCLUDE:

Discounted Pricing:

Subscribers receive special discounted rates on their tickets. Save money while immersing yourself in top-quality productions that are sure to captivate and inspire.

Reserved Seating: There is reserved seating for subscribers during each show. Be assured of an optimal viewing experience at every performance.

Ticket Flexibility:

As a subscriber, you have flexibility to adjust your 3 tickets across the season as you please. For example, you can allocate one ticket per show or you can choose to use two tickets for one show to bring a friend and your remaining ticket for the show of your choosing. Whatever works best for you and your schedule!

NEW THIS SEASON!

Exclusive Events: Gain access to exclusive events and behind-the-scenes experiences throughout the season. From meet-and-greets with the cast and crew to special postshow discussions, these events provide a deeper connection to the artistry on our stage

BUY YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TODAY

To inquire about special rates for groups of 10 or more, please email madelyn@detroitpublictheatre.org. The DPT Theatre & Box Office 3960 Third Avenue, Detroit MI 48201