"Her Portmanteau" Playbill

From the Artistic Director

Dear Theatregoers,

I am thrilled to welcome the extraordinarily talented Laiona Michelle as Artistic Associate to our theatre!

After working with Laiona on American Hero , Tiny Beautiful Things and the award-winning Little Girl Blue, which originated here at GSP and went on to a NYC run, I couldn’t wait to see her work as a director!

Laiona brought me this beautiful play by Mfoniso Udofia, whom The NY Times called “Extraordinary” to direct on our stage. I can’t wait to share it with you!

Laiona has assembled a great design team and a superb cast to create this fascinating, culturally rich and moving story.

I feel it’s in some ways like an Arthur Miller play…a powerful examination of the wounds often inflicted in a family and the passionate need to heal them as we define our “home.”

I hope this is the first of many shows featuring Laiona’s vision which we shall share, and I know that you will be impressed!

Sincerely, David Saint Artistic Director

David Saint, Artistic Director

Acting Studio at

GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION VALUES STATEMENT

We are an organization fully committed to:

• Being open to and receptive of new ideas

• Being an advocate of diverse populations within our communities

• Being collaborative within our organization by giving everyone a voice

• Being authentic in our curiosity and seeking opportunities to develop our own lives through learning and celebrating others

The values of George Street Playhouse embody and celebrate the identities, backgrounds and diverse experiences of our communities.

Board of Trustees

Chairman: James N. Heston*

President: Penelope Lattimer, Ph.D.*

Vice President: Philip L. Kirstein*

Secretary: Sharon Karmazin*

Treasurer: Ronald L. Bleich, CPA*

Wanda J. Blanchett, Ph.D.

Camara Epps

Lucy Hughes

Adele T. Macula, Ed.D.

Dina M. Mastellone, Esq.

C. Sharon Parker

Al D’Augusta

Cody P. Eckert

Kenneth M. Fisher

Kimberlee S. Phelan, CPA

Norman Politziner

David Saint*

Jocelyn Schwartzman

Nonny Stahlin

Janice G. Stolar

Lora Tremayne

the Executive

Trustees Emeritus

Peter Goldberg William Hagaman Clarence E. Lockett

Honorary Board of Trustees

Anthony L. Marchetta

Alan W. Voorhees George Wolansky

James Cahill Thomas H. Kean Eric Krebs, Founder

Honorary Memoriam

Maurice Aaron∆

Dr. Edward Bloustein∆

Robert L. Bramson∆∆

Dora Center∆∆

Fairbanks,

Goldman∆

Hila

Betty Wold Johnson∆

Laurents∆

Sellars∆

Voorhees∆∆

Edward K. Zuckerman∆

M. Zagoren

George Street Playhouse is pleased to spotlight two members of our Board of Trustees, Ronald L. Bleich and Janice G. Stolar. Their leadership and the leadership of the entire board enables us to remain committed to our mission of enriching lives through world-class theater.

Ronald L. Bleich (Treasurer) Ron and his wife Lois have been married (to each other) for 58 years, with 2 married children, three grandchildren and one great grandchild. Ron is a Partner Emeritus with WithumSmith+Brown. Ron is a CPA, a Tax Attorney (LL.M Tax from NYU), a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). Ron was a former Associate Professor at Pace University and co-authored a tax textbook for Warren, Gorham & Lamont. Currently, Ron is Treasurer of the George Street Playhouse Board of Trustees, and has been on the board for 36 years.

Janice G. Stolar (Trustee) As an experienced grants consultant and fundraiser, Janice is responsible for the strategic growth of the Foundation’s program priorities. Janice presently works as the Director of Grants for the Sephardic Foundation on Aging. Its mission is to fund projects and programs to help the Jewish elderly worldwide. Janice has worked as a Television Producer with the advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernbach, and brings experience in nonprofit organization, planned giving, event planning, and strategic management and planning. She also served as Executive Director for the Israel Scholarship Education Foundation; National Development Director for The American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem; Chief Advancement Officer and Interim COO for ORT America; National Women’s Philanthropy Director for the Jewish Federations of North America. Janice’s love of theatre and the quality of the plays presented by the George Street Playhouse in particular is what brought Janice to serve as a Board Trustee. She received her Bachelors from Syracuse University. When she’s not at the office, Janice enjoys travel, fine wine and dining, playing tennis, exercising, reading, spending time with family and friends, and following sports and theatre. Janice and her husband Lewis’s greatest pride are their children Sherry, Landon, daughter in law Meaghan and granddaughter Maura Josephine.

at The Heldrich

GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE

David Saint, Artistic Director Jamie Grant, Interim Managing Director

Present Her Portmanteau

By Mfoniso Udofia Directed by Laiona Michelle

Scenic Design by Shoko Kambara Lighting Design by Cheyenne Sykes Costume Design by Gregory J. Horton Sound Design by Karin Graybash Original Music by Inza Bamba Language Consultant Ebbe Bassey Dialect Coach Maggie Surovell Production Manager Christopher J. Bailey Production Stage Manager Samantha Flint * Casting by McCorkle Casting

Developed and created as part of I Am Soul - Playwright Residency Program at Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theatre in Harlem, NYC

Her Portmanteau was developed, in part, at SPACE on Ryder Farm.

Her Portmanteau had its world premiere at New York Theatre Workshop (Jim Nicola, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) in 2017 in association with The Playwrights Realm

Her Portmanteau is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

In accordance with Actors’ Equity Association regulations, we remind you that all electronic devices, including cellular phones, watches, and anything else that lights up or makes noise must be turned off during the performance.

Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. Made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

George Street Playhouse is a constituent of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and a member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance. The theatre operates under an agreement between LORT and Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States, and is a member of the New Brunswick Cultural Center.

CAST in order of appearance

for performers unless a specific

For Abasiama, Adiaha, & Iniabasi: Jackquelyn Graham*

SETTING

January 2014. Polar vortex, one of the coldest days of the year. JFK International Airport and an Inwood Apartment.

Her Portmanteau is performed without an intermission.

actors

The director is a member of The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Inc., an independent national labor union.

Equity

the United States.

The stage technicians of George Street Playhouse are proud members of IATSE Local 21.

Jennean Farmer (Adiaha Ufot) NYC Theater: Cullud Wattah, Ain’t No Mo’ (The Public Theater), Toni Stone (Roundabout Theatre). Regional: Mlima’s Tale (Westport Country Playhouse). Film: The Secret Art of Human Flight (co-star), A Thousand and One (co-star), The Good Nurse (co-star), How the Light Gets In (co-star). TV: Dead Ringers (recurring), WuTang: An American Saga (guest star), Evil (guest star), That Damn Michael Che (co-star), New Amsterdam (co-star), FBI (co-star). MFA in Acting from The New School for Drama. US Army Veteran.

Shannon Harris (Iniabasi Ekpeyong)

GSP debut. Shannon wrote, produced, directed, and played lead roles in short films THREE birds and grist, which won multiple awards as official selections at (combined, to date) 20 local, national, and international film festivals. Other screen credits include The Blacklist, Happy!, Ray Donovan, and Marvel’s Luke Cage. Stage credits range from lady in red in for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf in LA to The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) in the Hamptons. Training: Barnard College (BA, English), AADA-LA, The Royal CSSD (MA, Classical ActingDistinction). TheShannonHarris.com IG: @shannon_harrisig. For Grandma Marsha.

Mattilyn Rochester

Kravitz (Abasiama Ufot) recently appeared on the NBPAC stage in Crossroads Theater’s Freedom Rider. In her career, she has performed across four continents, including fifteen countries in Africa. Her numerous theater credits include productions at Lincoln Center and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival as well as several acclaimed solo shows, her stage work nominated for various honors including an NAACP Theatre Award, the Philadelphia Barrymore Award, and the Otto Haas Emerging Artist Award. Her film career began with Oprah Winfrey’s Beloved and her TV credits include Law and Order: SVU, Boardwalk Empire, and an upcoming appearance on Starz’s Black Mafia Family. Mattilyn’s latest solo show, The Long Goodbye, details how caring for her Alzheimer’s-stricken mother helped heal their fractured relationship.

Jackquelyn Graham (U/s Abasiama, Adiaha, Iniabasi) was most recently seen on Broadway in Rocktopia but made her New York debut in the Negro Ensemble Company of Martin the musical. She received rave reviews in The New York Times for her role of (Sally) in Winner Take All, directed by John Carrafa. Graham’s previous credits include Walt Disney World’s Festival of The Lion King (Zawadi), Tartuffe (Mme Parnelle), and Spunk (Blues Speak Woman) directed by Marion J. Caffey. Graham also appeared in the film Black Nativity

Graham earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Alabama State University, and a Master of Fine Arts, from the University of Florida.

Mfoniso Udofia (Playwright)’s plays, Sojourners, runboyrun, Her Portmanteau, and In Old Age have been seen at the American Conservatory Theater [A.C.T.], New York Theatre Workshop [NYTW], The Playwrights Realm, Magic Theater, National Black Theatre, Strand Theater Company, and Boston Court. She’s the recipient of the 2017 Helen Merrill Playwright Award, the 2017-18 McKnight National Residency and Commission at The Playwrights’ Center and is a member of the New Dramatists class of 2023. Mfoniso is currently commissioned by A.C.T., Hartford Stage, Denver Center, A.C.T., Roundhouse, and South Coast Repertory. Her plays have been developed by Manhattan Theatre Club, A.C.T., NYTW, The Playwrights Realm, McCarter Theatre, OSF, New Dramatists, PCS’s JAW Festival, Berkeley Rep’s Ground Floor, The OCC, Hedgebrook, Sundance Theatre Lab, Space on Ryder Farm, Page 73, New Black Fest, Rising Circle and more. She has worked as a television writer on the third season of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why and the first seasons of both Apple TV’s Little America and Pachinko. She’s also working on Amazon’s A League of Their Own. As an actress, she recently appeared off-Broadway in Ngozi Anyanwu’s, The Homecoming Queen. She’s also appeared in the feature film, Fred Won’t Move Out.

Laiona Michelle (Director) created the critical and box-office smash Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical,

which won the Broadway Alliance Award for Best Solo Show and the Lilly Award (2022). Now, she takes on the mantle of book writer, for a new project, Mandela -- a musical based on Nelson Mandela’s life, from his days as a leading activist against Apartheid, to his imprisonment and eventual release to become the nation’s President. Mandela debuts at the Young Vic in London in the Winter of 2022. Laiona Michelle began to gain national notoriety when she made her Broadway debut in 2015 in the musical, Amazing Grace, which opened at the Nederlander. Cast in the principal role of Nanna, a woman stolen away from her family by slave traders, she delivers one of the standout musical moments of the play. Laiona Michelle has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Lucille Lortel (2022), Antonyo Awards (2022); and she is the recipient of the Barrymore and Carbonell Awards (2004); The NAACP Hollywood award (2005), and she was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award (2005). Some of her TV/Film credits include Lift, All My Children, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Blacklist, and Crashing, as well as Amazon’s Sneaky Pete.

Shoko Kambara (Scenic Design)

Previous work at GSP: Little Girl Blue, Midwives. Recent Theater Work: Little Girl Blue (New World Stages), Fairycakes (Greenwich House), Ring of Fire (Geva Theatre), Native Gardens (Syracuse Stage/Geva Theatre/ Portland Stage) Opera work: The Prince of Players (Houston Grand Opera-world premiere), The Barber of Seville (Opera Philadelphia, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Opera Omaha,

Virginia Opera-and continues to be performed around the US). Film work: The Trial of the Chicago 7, Cavan, Summer Fridays and many more coming soon to your television set. Display work: In America (Costume Institute, Metropolitan Museum), Smith College Math Department. MFA NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Cheyenne Sykes (Lighting Design) is originally from the Coast Salish region of Canada, she works on a wide range of projects including dance, performance art, music festivals, and theatre. Select Recent Design Credits: This Is Our Youth (Area Stage Company), Be More Chill (Area Stage Company), Polylogues (Colt Coeur), The Softstream (Digital Concert from Softee), Performance Artist Miles Greenberg’s FOUNTAIN I, PNEUMOTHERAPY (II), and HAEMOTHERAPY (1), Black Exhibition (The Bushwick Starr), The Slow Room (PSNY), AGNES (59E59, Lesser America), PROTOTYPES (Susan Marshall & Company). Select Assistant/Associate Credits: Bonnaroo Site Lighting (David Weiner Design), Sanctuary City (NYTW), Mary (Kanye West at Lincoln Center), Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Playwrights Horizons), White Noise (The Public Theater), “Daddy” (New Group/Vineyard).

Gregory J. Horton (Costume Design) is an Associate Professor and Interim Director of Theatre and Executive Director of the Paul Robeson Theater, whose areas of concentration are Costume Design and Directing. Horton is on faculty a North Carolina A&T State University in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts/

Theatre. Before his position at NCAT he was tenured and taught at Saint Louis University for seven years. He has designed productions as Simply Simone, Respect, Trav’lin, Gee’s Bend, Sweet Charity, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, The Visit, A Woman from the Town, Something’s Afoot, A Mid Summer Night’s Dream, A Company of Wayward Saints, The Crucible, The Heiress, The Glass Menagerie, The Wiz, The Colored Museum, Fences, Tartuffe, and My Fair Lady, Macbeth, Seven Guitars, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Gem of the Ocean, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Radio Golf. Mr. Horton has directed The Soul Of Christmas, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Crowns, Pretty Fire, Dreamgirls, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Nunsense, Ain’t Misbehavin’. BS in Home Economics, Minor in Theatre North Carolina Central University. MFA in Theatre concentration, Costume Design, Michigan State University

Karin Graybash (Sound Design) has created numerous sound designs for Regional Theater and Off Broadway, including: Hartford Stage, Long Wharf, Berkeley Repertory, Dallas Theater Center, Yale Repertory, McCarter, Arena Stage, Portland Stage, Folger Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre, People’s Light, and the Alliance, among others. Her conceptual sound design for Popsicle’s Departure was also produced internationally. Her work has been nominated for a variety of awards and she is a recipient of the Bay Area Theatre Critics Award for her sound design of Polk County at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Karin is the original live sound consultant for the multimedia production Freedom Rising at the

National Constitution Center. Many of her soundscapes can be heard at The Franklin Institute’s exhibit entitled Your Brain. Karin also holds the position of Sound Supervisor for the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.

Inza Bamba (Original Music) Film Composer, Creative Director and Editor, Inza Bamba has writing credits on several Emmy nominated Films: Betsy and Irv received the 2022 Hollywood Critics Best Short Form Live-Action Series nomination. 2017 Sports Emmy Nomination - Gift From the Groves - Best Short Sports Documentary. 2013 Emmy Nomination

The Announcement - Outstanding Sports Documentary. He has 14 years experience working in the music for advertising industry where he won several national campaign ads and awards, including 2011 Silver ADDY® Award Winner for Save Your Passion & Kiss. This year he composed the score for ESPN Films Betsy and Irv, and is currently finishing an orchestral album and a Synthwave 80s ep. Originally from Cote D’ivoire, he has a huge passion for creating music that moves people as much as it moves him. vimeo.com/user15333696 www.linkedin.com/in/inzabamba

Ebbe Bassey (Language Consultant) studied the Meisner technique at the William Esper Studio. Having appeared on many television shows, short and feature films; Ebbe wrote, executive produced and served as the lead in the short films Siri Oko Fo (Mending Fences), which explores the themes of same sex love, parenting and female gender mutilation in Nigeria, and

Saving Father which addressed the issue of HIV and senior citizens. Both films have been presented at national and international film festivals. Ebbe is also a dialect coach, event MC and a proud member of SAG-AFTRA.

Maggie Surovell (Dialect Coach) is a dialect and voice coach for theater and film. More recently she coached an Angolan Portuguese accent for the 2020 Sundance Film Festival selection Farewell Amor, starring Ntare Mwine, Zalnab Jah and Jayme Lawson. She also coached a Dominican accent for Xavier Scott Evans who played the character of Manny in Bottom of the Ninth, starring Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara. She is a certified teacher in Fitzmaurice Voicework®, with an MFA in acting from University of Georgia and a BA in theater from Temple University. When Maggie isn’t coaching she teaches voice and speech in the SUNY Purchase BFA Acting program, and Fordham University.

Samantha Flint (Production Stage Manager) Previously at George Street Playhouse: A Walk on the Moon, It’s Only A Play, Bad Dates, Conscience, Midwives, The Immigrant. Broadway: Venus in Fur (MTC). Off Broadway: Final Follies, HIM (Primary Stages); Measure for Measure, In the Wake, The Winter’s Tale, The Brother/ Sister Plays  (The Public). Selected Regional: Twelfth Night (Shakespeare on the Sound); Murder on the Orient Express, Disgraced, The Winter’s Tale, The Brother/Sister Plays, Herringbone (McCarter Theatre Center); Murder on the Orient Express, Somewhere (Hartford Stage); Camelot (Two River Theater); June Moon, The

Visit (Williamstown); Kinky Boots, Spelling Bee, Barefoot in the Park (Bucks County Playhouse); And A Nightingale Sang (Westport Country Playhouse). Education: The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Pat McCorkle, CSA; McCorkle Casting

LTD (Casting) Pat McCorkle and McCorkle Casting continue to strive for inclusivity and social awareness during it’s 35 year history in casting. She has cast for George Street Playhouse for over 25 years. Broadway: Over 50 productions including, On The Town, Amazing Grace, End of the Rainbow, A Few Good Men. etc. Off-Broadway: Over 60 productions: Highlights; Tribes, Our Town, Driving Miss Daisy Regional Theatre: Guthrie, Barrington Stage, CATF and hundreds of regional theatres throughout the country. Feature films: Currently casting six films for theatrical release. Previous projects: Premium Rush, Ghost Town, The Thomas Crown Affair, Die Hard with a Vengeance, etc. Television: 2 new films for Hallmark, Twisted, Humans for Sesame Street, Californication(Emmy Nomination), Chappelle’s Show, Strangers with Candy etc. (mccorklecasting.com)

Christopher J. Bailey (GSP Production Manager) This season marks Mr. Bailey’s 24th at George Street Playhouse and 18th as its Production Manager, having previously served the Playhouse as Technical Coordinator and Sound and Lighting Manager. Recently for GSP he was Lighting Designer for The Immigrant. Was also Lighting Designer for GSP’s production of Clever Little Lies, which moved to the Guild Hall Theatre in East Hampton

and then off-Broadway to the Westside Theatre. His other designs for GSP includes 6 scenic designs and 9 sound designs for GSP’s Educational Touring productions, 28 lighting designs and 40 sound designs for GSP’s mainstage productions. Also, has designed for: Pearl Theatre, Barrington Stage, Premiere Stages, Bickford Theatre, Abingdon Theatre, Strand Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Two River Theater, Ashlawn Highland Opera, LKB Dance, Randy James Dance, Rand Theater, The Irish Repertory Theatre, Westport Country Playhouse, Long Wharf, Delaware Theatre Company, Jacob’s Pillow, and more. Mr. Bailey also teaches Stagecraft and Play Production at Middlesex County College.

David Saint (Artistic Director) is in his 24th season as Artistic Director of George Street Playhouse. He has directed 43 mainstage productions at GSP, having most recently helmed Ken Ludwig’s Dear Jack, Dear Louise. Additional productions include Fully Committed and Tiny Beautiful Things for the GSP virtual season, Midwives, and Conscience, in addition to The Trial of Donna Caine, American Hero, American Son, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and An Act of God starring the legendary Kathleen Turner in the 2017-18 season. His time here has been marked by collaborations with such artists as Keith Carradine, Tyne Daly, Rachel Dratch, Sandy Duncan, Boyd Gaines, A.R. Gurney, Uta Hagen, Harriet Harris, Jack Klugman, Dan Lauria, Kathleen Marshall, Elaine May, Anne Meara, David Hyde Pierce, Chita Rivera, Paul Rudd, Stephen Sondheim, Marlo Thomas, Eli Wallach, and

many others including a remarkable partnership with Arthur Laurents. In addition, many new award-winning works have begun their life here during his tenure such as The Toxic Avenger, Proof, The Spitfire Grill, Joe DiPietro’s Clever Little Lies, and It Shoulda Been You. He has directed Final Follies at Primary Stages, Clever Little Lies at Guild Hall in East Hampton, NY and off-Broadway at West Side Theatre, as well as the National tour of West Side Story. In July 2016, he directed West Side Story at the legendary Hollywood Bowl starring Jeremy Jordan and Solea Pfeiffer. In Summer 2019, he directed a revolutionary new production of West Side Story for IHI Stage Around in Tokyo and served as Associate Producer for the Academy Award-nominated film version of West Side Story directed by Steven Spielberg. He also has directed on Broadway, off-Broadway and regionally at Playwrights Horizons, Manhattan Theatre Club, Primary Stages, McCarter, Williamstown, Seattle Rep, Pasadena Playhouse, Pittsburg Public, Long Wharf and many others by such writers as Aaron Sorkin, Wendy Wasserstein, Peter Parnell, Jonathan Marc Sherman, Joe DiPietro and Jonathan Larson. He is the recipient of the Alan Schneider Award, Helen Hayes Award, L.A., Drama Critics Award, several Drama-Logue Awards and is the President of The Laurents/ Hatcher Foundation.

Jamie Grant (Interim Managing Director) has been a leader and innovator in performing arts for more than three decades. The former President and CEO of the Ordway Center (Saint Paul, MN), Long Center

(Austin, TX) and McCallum Theatre (Palm Springs, CA) has worked in both the United States and Canada. Under Jamie’s leadership, for the first time ever a production went directly from the Ordway to Broadway when SIX opened. For 13 years Jamie was the general manager of the Centre in the Square in Kitchener, Ontario, an awardwinning multi-purpose performing arts center with a main hall of 2000 seats, plus an art gallery and studio theatre. Jamie has accomplished the rare feat of opening many new performing arts centers: Imperial Theatre in Saint John, New Brunswick, Heritage Theatre in Brampton, Ontario, Skylight Theatre Amphitheatre in Toronto and was the founder and Producer of Theatre Malton. An adjunct lecturer at the University of Waterloo, Jamie taught for almost a decade for the Centre for Cultural Management and is a regular lecturer, panelist and guest speaker for other universities, colleges, and professional conferences. A sought-after part-time consultant for many years, Jamie has done strategic planning work for dozens of arts, entertainment and non-profit organizations in the United States and Canada for over 25 years. He has recently decided to grow Grant Management Group and currently serving as Interim Managing Director at George Street Playhouse.

LEGACY & IDENTITY

THE UFOT FAMILY CYCLE

UDOFIA

wondering for the longest time if I would get it, is incredible for me.” Disheartened by auditioning for roles in New York City, where she often felt she was not African enough or skinny enough, Udofia pushed forward and pursued writing.

Out of the challenge to tell nuanced stories that would disrupt the thoughts people have about Africans, came Udofia’s nine-play series, called The Ufot Family Cycle.

The Ufot Family Cycle are deeply personal multi-generational plays about the history of Nigerian immigration to the United States. Each play feeds the other, melding Udofia’s penchant for rigorous academic questioning with the expression

of the artistic body. The cycle of plays embraces the politics of language. “You cannot write about Nigeria without tackling language,” Udofia asserts. After all, Nigeria is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, with over 520 languages spoken. Ibibio and Pidgin are among them. Udofia has written six of the nine plays so far: Sojourners, The Grove, runboyrun, Her Portmanteau, In Old Age and Adia and Clora Snatch Joy. The cycle focuses on Abasiama, the matriarch and the lynchpin governing how they, as a family, will build a legacy.

There are three untitled plays left in The Ufot Family Cycle that are still being written and developed.

Udofia’s plays are primarily about West African, Nigerian, and Ibibio immigrants and their migration to the United States. With that comes the exploration of identity, duty, and legacy. The duality of immigrant life is explored. “…I have one foot in one world and one foot in another,” says Udofia. “Many questions are posed in her plays. Udofia asserts that she attaches a question to each play. The main question is, how do we move forward, as immigrants, when this place, historically, is not ours? She hopes to have the audience walk away with a nuanced view of immigrant bodies on American soil. What does it cost? What are the motivations and struggles that fuel the American dream? In the middle of these dual worlds are women. Women are the provocateurs, navigating and reconciling attitudes and relationships. They lead while reimagining their memories, dreams and hopes.

Udofia’s plays are about family and lineage. They illustrate the collectivist and compound cultures where you know and live with the history of your grandparents, great grandparents, and greatgreat-grandparents. In her stories, characters recount their histories and grapple with what they need to keep and how. How do we make lineage in a land different than the home we left behind and, possibly, no going back?

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Brenda J. Overcash and Thomas West Marcus Peter Porcelli Bethany and Jonathan Rabinowitz Rita Seplowitz Saltz Karen Satterthwaite

Victoria and Michael Shernicoff Sheldon Singer

Joanne Stern Bonnie and David Sudol Patrice Sullivan

Pannie Trifillis-Kiledjian Stephen M. and Gabriella Vajtay Carol Volkland

Bonnie and Allan Warton Lynne Weiss

Caroline Willard

FRIENDS $100 – $249 Carol Adelman Eric Allender Beth and Marc Alterman Mary Jo Altom Valerie Anderson Thomas F. Arnold Janet and Alan Arnowitz Mona Asher Peggy Barbella Anne Berry Gail and Barry Bertiger Stacey and Dennis Borden Elizabeth and Bill Braden Jennifer and Richard Bullock Joanna Burger Joan and Gary Busman Cricket and Janette Cardozo Marilyn and Charles Carroll Premala Chandra Linda Choplick Carol Ciorciari Carol U. and Lewis B. Coe Lorraine and Harvey Cohen Margaret Cohen Fay Colligan Donald B. Cook Sheila Cooper Ellen and Cliff Cramer James Crimmins Anne and James Dalin Natalie Darwin Nancy and Jeff Davis Anthony DeMarco Joanna and James Demaria Norman J. Diamond Dr. Paul and Mrs. Betty Dicker Dane Dickler Tammy Dorff Jennifer and John Dowd Diane and Philip Dumont Roy Eismann Richard Engel Rick Engler and Brad Caswell Maureen Farrell Paula and Irwin Feifer Joseph Filep Helen Fine Rosemary Fiorillo Barbara Fisk Marie Foucher and Daniel Hyman Bonnie and William Fox Robert Gannon Judith E. Gardner Stacey and David Garfield Eric Garfunkel Pat and Diana Gatti Alan Godber Fred Goepel Susan and Eric Goldman

THANK YOU for your annual support

Elizabeth and Roy Gotta

Robert Grant

William Hagaman

Brenda and Roland Hagan

Margaret Hanlon

Robert Harris

Robert Hartmann

Patricia M. Hastings

Lucille Heller

Deborah Henry Karen Hochman Diane and Barnett Hoffman Pamela Imbimbo

Kevin Janis and George Kupczak Elizabeth and John Jaskowiak

Alexander Jodidio Joyce F. Jonat

Lynn and Ed Josell Susan and Samuel Kamens

Seth Kane

Sunny Kordower Maxine Kasdin Liz and Murray Katz Barbara and Arthur Ketterer Nancy and Lee Kevin

Dr. and Mrs. Gregory M. LaGana Michael Lane Paul Leath Ann and John Lech Karen and David Levinsky Debra Levinson

Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Lind Rose and Anthony LoCastro Kathleen Love and Glenn Bell Barbara and Robert Lowry Anna Lustenberg Evelyn Maloney Susan Mansfield and John Byrne Leslie and Richard Marcus Ruth Margolin

Josefina Mark Linda Massa Richard McAdams William McBride Ellen and Tom Measday Beth and Mark Mehler Barbara and Donald Meltz Donna and Stanley Messer Marion Mezzetti

Frani and Ferenc Mike-Mayer in memory of Noah Raines Jane and Steven Miller Jonathan C. Mills Karol and Wayne Morrison Bruce Moskovitz and John Fellin Anne and Martin Mozer Suzanne S. Nacson Barbara and Kurt Nathan Henry Newman

Sherrilynn Novack

Dennis O’Dea Eugene O’Neill Anita and Harry Paborsky C. Parella & D. Tomasso Timothy Peitz Margaret and Harry Perrin The Pichinson Family Donna Pincavage Sylvia Psuty Louise Rapkin Ellen Rebarber Barbara S. Reed Zizi Reinhart Elliot Reiter Kim and Chris Riemann Alberto Rivas Susan Rivkind and Richard Zucker Edwin Robinson Naomi Rose Alan Rothschild Laurence Rothstein Marianne Ruby David Saint Marcia Santucci Cory and Stanley Schneider John and Lynn Semmlow Michele Senko Marjorie Shakun Robert Spencer Marianne Sheridan Anita J. Siegel Ben Sifuentes-Jáuegui and Mark Trautman Rachel Silverstein Valerie Slade Christine Sohn Eliot Spack Marcella Ann Stapor Naomi Stark Natalie and Ernest Stein Susan Stern Marjorie and Jeffrey Stevens Jill M. Stone Mary and Donald Thomas Michael Triebe Cecelia Tyler Bob Warwick Elaine and Evan Wasserman Debbie and and Bart Weinstein Shelby Wells and Deborah Herman Barbara Williams Jon Winer Gail Wovna

Includes annual support received through September 15, 2022. If you notice an error here, please do not hesitate to contact us at development@georgestplayhouse.org so that we may correct it for our next printing.

We gratefully acknowledge the following for their support of our 2022 GALA BENEFIT

PRODUCING SPONSORS

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

PLAYWRIGHT SPONSORS

Joan and Bob Campbell

James N. Heston

Lucy Hughes and Sean Devlin

Sharon Karmazin & The Karma Foundation

Philip Kirstein & Melinda Raso Kirstein

WithumSmith+Brown

DIRECTOR SPONSORS

Ruth and Steve Hendel

Parker Health Group, Inc David Saint

PARTNERS

Meg and Tom Gorrie

The Hon. Thomas H. Kean Penelope E. Lattimer, Ph.D. Nancy and Duncan MacMillan Kimberlee Phelan

RWJBarnabas Health Lexine and Cuyler Tremayne

FRIENDS

Eisner Amper

Flemington Car & Truck Country Fox Rothschild Betsy and Lou Garlatti Genova Burns, LLC Laurie Kahmi / LCK Wealth Management

The Merrill G. & Emita E. Hastings Foundation Merrill Lynch / The Erdmann Group Northfield Bank Sharon and Jonathan Parker Rutgers University, Graduate School of Education

BACKERS

Nan and Joseph P. Benincasa Lois and Ron Bleich Bloomberg

Paula and Jack Gentempo Adele Macula, Ed.D. New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO) Dorothy and Norm Politziner Jocelyn Schwartzman

Nonny and Paul Stahlin Janice G. and Lewis Stolar Lora Tremayne

DONORS

Lisa Goldstein and Ira Novak Flemington Car & Truck Country Anne Hayden Kathleen Hayes

Amy and Michael Moorby James and Barbara Petrosini Primepoint QuickChek

Carole & Dr. Stephen Schneider Patricia Shiffner Somerset Health Care Foundation Dee and Herb Williams

SPECIAL APPEAL DONORS

Marie M. Adair Edward Atwater Carol Auerbach and Al Berger Ashley and David Bednash Jo Ann and Rich Bednash Nancy and Joseph P. Benincasa Jacqueline Brendel Merissa Buczny John M. Burns Jr Donna Castronovo Ellen and Ted Cohen Corveleyn Law Firm Christopher Costa James Decker Brenda and Jerry Deener Lucy Hughes and Sean Devlin Nadiyah Dorsey Jelani Dukes William V. Engel Camara Epps Lilly M. and Eilan Ezrachie Flemington Car and Truck Country Margaret Fourounjian Genova Burns Amy Gianficaro Margaret and Thomas Gorrie Bill Hagaman Judith and James Hancock Julie Hench Tom Heston

The Karma Foundation Governor Thomas Kean

Jeremy and Lucy Kessous

Mindy Raso Kirstein and Phil Kirstein

Steven Klein

Sheri and Tim Konz

Rachana and Anand Kulkarni Penelope E. Lattimer, Ph.D Howard Lenn

Adele T. Macula, Ed.D Anthony Marchetta Charlene and Thomas Martino Elizabeth Mattison Felicia E. McGinty

Paula and Larry Metz

Mark McMahon and Roberto Silva Moreira Maria and Abel Moreyra John Mortenson Christopher Paladino Laura and Joseph Perez Kimberlee S. Phelan Michael Pintabone Robert Polak Josh Prince Matthew Pulomena Muriel Grimmett and Louis Ray Mary and Gary Reece Marissa Reibstein and Moin Hydari

Philip Rinaldi

Natalie Rodan and Neil Burns Simona and Ovid Romanoschi Kelly Ryman

Lynn and Barry Sherman

Ben Sifuentes-Jáuregui

Nonny and Paul Stahlin Susan and Frank Teneyck

Hal R. Terr Lindsey and Whitney Tisch

Lexine and Cuyler Tremayne Lisa and Carter Tremayne Kathleen Ventrella

Martha M. Weisgerber

BJ Welsh

Irene Wolff

Michael Yarrow

SPECIAL THANKS TO BAM Desserts

Kenneth M. Fisher, Jr./ Nassau Communications The Palace at Somerset Park

For Your Information

George Street Playhouse is located at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

GeorgeStreetPlayhouse.org • Patron Services: 732-246-7717

AUDIO-DESCRIBED PERFORMANCES

We offer audio-described performances for patrons with visual impairment.

Please call the Patron Services, 732-246-7717, for further information. Large print and Braille programs are available upon request. Audiodescribed performances are made possible by support from Fund for the New Jersey Blind, Inc.

CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES

We offer captioned performances for patrons with hearing impairment.

George Street Playhouse’s accessible pro gramming is made possible in part by Fund for the New Jersey Blind, Inc.

ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM

For patrons who have a hearing impairment, light-weight, comfortable receivers are avail able from the NBPAC Concierge desk. If any individual requires special assistance or as sistive technology, please contact the Patron Services Manager at 732-246-7717 as far in advance of the program as possible.

COVID-19 SAFETY

All patrons are welcome and highly encour aged to wear masks at all times while inside the venue.

FIRE NOTICE

The exit indicated by the red light and sign nearest to the seat you occupy is the shortest route to the street. In the event of a fire or other emergency, please do not run, WALK TO THE EXIT.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

George Street Playhouse maintains a policy of not cancelling performances due to inclement weather. Please call Patron Services, 732-246-7717, if you have any questions.

LATE SEATING POLICY

The theatre is open to the public one halfhour prior to the performance. In consider ation of all patrons, latecomers will be seated at the discretion of House Management.

RECORDING EQUIPMENT

Due to copyright and union regulations and restrictions, still cameras, video cameras or any type of recording equipment is not permitted at any time in the theatre and will be confiscated.

SMOKING

The NBPAC is a smoke-free environment. There is no smoking or vaping in the building.

David Saint, Artistic Director • Jamie Grant, Interim Managing Director

ARTISTIC

General Manager Scott Goldman

Artistic Associate Laiona Michelle

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Chief of Staff Megan Cherry

Director of Finance Karen Price

Data and Special Projects Manager Shakera Blakney

Business Assistant Lynne Holton

DEVELOPMENT

Director of Development Jacqueline Brendel

EDUCATION

Director of Education Nadiyah S. Dorsey

Administrative Associate Daniella Saldaña

MARKETING & PR

Director of Marketing & Public Relations Jason Paddock

Interim Director of Marketing Sara Waugh

Director of Digital Strategy & Communications Matthew Holowienka

Press Representative Holly Garman, HMG Public Relations

Photographer T. Charles Erickson

Videographer Michael Boylan

Production Key Art Graphic Design Dominic Grijalva

REALEMN Productions, LLC

Diversity Marketing & Communications Consultants

Toni Israel; Theresa O’Neal Redd; Christopher McDonald; Amanda Haynes

PATRON SERVICES

Assistant Patron Services Manager Gary Frangione

Patron Services Associates Susan Blumert Allen Neuner

PRODUCTION

Production Manager Christopher J. Bailey Company Manager Samkit Siyal

COVID Safety Manager Athena Nakrosis

SETS

Technical Director Mohamed Haddara Shop Foreman Nick Skiba

Scenic Charge

Painters

PROPERTIES

Jeanette Mieses

Camyron Chauffe Jimmy Hancocks

Properties Supervisor Robert Lavagno

Assistant Properties Supervisor James Warren

COSTUMES

Costume Shop Manager Joleen Addleman Loyd

Assistant Costume Shop Manager Becky Erlitz

Draper Grace Wylie

Wardrobe and Hair Supervisor Rachel Pollard Dresser/Hair Assistant Ariana Papin

FOR THIS PRODUCTION

Assistant Director Samkit Siyal

Assistant Set Designer Adam Crinson

Assistant Lighting Designer David Shocket

Assistant Stage Manager Lauren Goldman Production Assistant Caitlyn Ostrowski

Sound Supervisor Ted Crimy Supertitle Programmer Garrett Thompson

NEW BRUNSWICK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Executive Director Merissa Buczny

Director of Operations Mark C. Sharp Marketing Manager Eric Greenberg

NBPAC Patron Services Manager Victoria Muscio House Manager/

Assistant Box Office Manager Keelin Higgins Box Office Associates Alexander Boates Jess Jasionowski

Joy Lynn Pringle-Bato

Assistant House Manager Emani Simpson

Production Manager & Lighting Supervisor Thomas Williamson Sound and Video Supervisor Joshua Maywood

Deck Supervisor

Andre Penn

Assistant Lighting Supervisor Brian Lenahan Assistant Sound & Video Supervisor

Joe Parisi

Head Carpenter

Dori Lichter Carpenters Bryana Belling Henry Leger

James McMenamin Michael Dranos Nimon Ibranimaj

A1 Joe Parisi

A2 Tom Ullman

Light Board Operator Brian Lenahan Deck Hand/Flyman Chris Nielsen