The Hippodrome Theatre proudly presents it 4th Annual New Works Festival

The Hippodrome Theatre proudly presents

4th Annual New Works Festival

The Art of Floating

by Jennifer A. Kokai

Friday, October 13 at 7:30 pm

Slaymaker

by Bethany Dickens Assaf

Saturday, October 14 at 7:30 pm HIPPODROME THEATRE

THEHIPP.ORG |352 375 4477

Hippodrome productions are supported in part by: the National Endowment for the Arts, the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council of Arts and Culture and the State of Florida, Visit Gainesville Alachua County, and by the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department.

Producer’s Note In 2019, Stephanie Lynge and I began a conversation on a dream project –how to support the development of new work by Florida playwrights in an engaging and warm environment. In 2020, we started the New Works Festival online in the middle of the Covid pandemic and by 2001, we realized that there was a hunger for new plays in North Central Florida and that we were on to something special. Being in a rehearsal room with a playwright, while they listen to their words being brought to life by actors for the first time, is a magical experience. Watching them respond with new writing – refining the details of their art and conferring with directors in real time – is a privilege for us. Now in our fourth year, the opportunity to continue supporting emerging Floridian voices is central to the reason why I believe theatre is still relevant and important to understand, contribute, and support the myriad ways we experience being human.

-Michelle Bellaver, Producer

Artistic Director - Stephanie Lynge Stephanie is an accomplished actor, director, producer, teacher and coach. Acting credits include performances in New York City on Broadway and Off Broadway at Lincoln Center, BAM, Jean Cocteau Rep, and the York Theater Workshop. Directing credits include the Hippodrome’s Revolutionists, The Legend of Georgia McBride, Blameless, and Lone Star Spirits. Stephanie holds a Master of Fine Arts in acting from University of Florida and is a proud member of Actors Equity Association since 1996.

Producer - Michelle Bellaver Michelle Bellaver is an acting company member of The Hippodrome Theatre and currently a Visiting Assistant Professor in Performance at the University of Florida. She loves supporting the development of new plays! Her playwriting has been in development at The Tank NYC, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, and Dixon Place. Her acting has been seen at The Hippodrome, La Mama NYC, Word for Word/Z Space, and some of her film acting has streamed on Amazon Prime and Apple TV. She is a member of SAGAFTRA, AEA, and a Certification Candidate with the Lessac Research and Training Institute.

The Hippodrome Theatre proudly presents

4th Annual New Works Festival

The Art of Floating

by Jennifer A. Kokai

Friday, October 13 at 7:30 pm

Playwright - Jennifer A. Kokai Jennifer A. Kokai is a playwright who currently lives in Tampa, FL where she serves as the Director of the School of Theatre and Dance at the University of South Florida. Her plays have been performed by Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Riverside: The National Theatre of Parramatta (Sydney, Australia), Plan-B, Montana Rep, Moxie Theatre (NYC), Theatre Synesthesia, Wasatch Theatre Company, Building Better People Productions, Off-Key Anthem Collective (reading), and a variety of educational institutions as well as twice being supported with NEA grants. She was included in the Lark Play Development Center’s 2014 Playwrights Week. She has been a semi-finalist with the O’Neill’s play and National Musical Theatre Conference divisions, Bay Area Playwrights’ Festival, B-Street Theatre, and Seven Devils.

Director - Rhonda Wilson Rhonda Wilson is the Founding Executive Director of the Star Center Theatre in Gainesville, Fl. She founded the Star Center without any funding, just passion, vision and hope of bringing culturally diverse theater to her community. Rhonda is a graduate of the University of Florida and a Middle School Educator. For the past 22 years, she has given her time, energy and resources to the community by using the arts to educate and empower. She understands the need for making space, not only as a Producer/Director/Educator but as a performer who didn’t find many spaces on her journey as an artist. Rhonda has been honored and recognized nationally, statewide, regionally, locally for her work and even invited to do a TEDx Talk. Rhonda was recently featured in USA Today and recognized on the United States Capitol Floor for her contributions to community, theater and “making space” for ALL voices. Other recognitions include Excellence In Theatre Education Finalist from The Tony Award And Carnegie Mellon, National Youth Director of the Year (AATE), Allstate National Champion For Good, Sara Spencer Child Drama Award (SETC), ... State Distinguished Career Award, Diversity and Inclusion Award, Governor’s Award For Community Investment and more. Rhonda hopes to continue to provide space, where ALL voices take CENTER STAGE by taking her seat at the table.

Actors Nell Page Rainsberger (Mirian)

Nell’s first foray with the Hippodrome was in the 1974 production of Marat Sade. Forty-nine years ago and over 70 productions later Nell is still acting at the Hippodrome with her history placing her at all three locations. She was last seen on the Hippodrome mainstage as Virginia in Native Gardens, Clara in Miracle on South Division Street. Her past favorite productions include: Ripcord, Vanya Sonia Marsha and Spike, Good People, Sirens, Smell of the Kill, As Bees in Honey Drown, Dinner With Friends, Life X Three, Sylvia, To Kill A Mockingbird, Les Liasison Dangereuses, Steel Magnolias, Suddenly Last Summer, A Christmas Carol, Vanities, and The Pursuit of Happiness. Nell appeared off-Broadway at New World Stages for E.P. Productions in Elvis People, and is the co-author of Coquina, a play that opened in New York City at the Harold Clurman Theatre.

Nell has been a member of the Actors’ Equity Association for over 36 years and a proud member of the Hippodrome Acting Company. When Nell is not acting, she helps people buy and sell homes as a Realtor for Campus To Coast Realty.

Susan Schuld (Fran)

Susan Schuld has been acting, vocal coaching, and teaching nationally for over 25 years. Currently she is an Associate Professor of Voice, Speech, Accents and Dialects here at UF’s School of Theatre and Dance. Regional acting and vocal/dialect coaching credits include: The Hippodrome Theatre, American Players Theatre, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, Henley Street/Richmond Shakespeare, Playwrights Horizon’s NYC, Mile Square Theater NJ, Amphibian Productions TX, Berkshire Theatre Festival MA; and Childsplay AZ. Previous teaching faculties include: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Virginia Commonwealth University, Rutgers University, NYU Tisch School of the Arts CAP21, The Actor's Studio at Pace University, Circle in the Square, Maggie Flanigan Acting Studio, The Linklater Center, University of Northern Iowa, and Director in Residence at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, UK for Mason Gross School of the Arts. She holds an M.F.A in Acting from Rutgers University, is a Designated Kristin Linklater Voice Teacher, Certified Teacher of the Knight-Thompson Speechwork, and is a National Michael Chekov Association Acting Teacher.

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Jacqueline St. Pierre (Mackenzie)

Jacqueline St. Pierre is a fourth-year BA Theatre major at the University of Florida from Winter Springs, Florida. She is incredibly excited to rejoin the New Works Festival-this year, on stage! She is always grateful to her friends, family, and mentors for their support. Recent performances: Dust (University of Florida), Medea (OYL Theatre Co.), Fahrenheit 451 (Hippodrome Theatre). @jacqueline.st.pierre

Noah Yager (Chase)

Noah Yager (Chase) Is excited to join the hippodrome for his first New Works show, especially with this star studded cast! Noah is a BFA Musical Theatre Senior at UF. You may have seen Noah previously at the Hipp in “A Gentlemen’s Guide” this summer! Noah hopes you enjoy the show, and this inventive, lovely and NEW work! You can find him @yagerboi59 on Instagram!

THE HIPPODROME PRESENTS:

Two 10-minute plays will be written, rehearsed, and performed in only 24 hours!

This uniquely innovative event challenges all the artists involved to produce in one day what normally takes 6-8 weeks.

PROJECT Playwrights

Esteban Alvarez ✤ Morgan Vanderlaan

Directors

Calypso Haddad ✤ Gregg Jones

Actors

Alexmary Fayiga ✤ Elaina Rodriguez ✤ Mel Campos ✤ Gabriel Phillipe-Fisher ✤ Jake Chaves ✤ Paulina Machado ✤ Shamrock McShane

10/14 at 7:30 pm Kick Off

10/15 at 7:30 pm Performance

The Hippodrome Theatre proudly presents

4th Annual New Works Festival

Slaymaker

by Bethany Dickens Assaf

Saturday, October 14 at 7:30 pm

Playwright - Bethany Dickens Assaf Bethany Dickens Assaf is a freelance playwright and the cofounder of Whiskey Theatre Factory, a theatre collective based in Orlando, Florida. Almost 100 of her plays have been performed across the country including her twisty sci-fi play, The Consciousness, which was performed at 10 fringe festivals and won “Best Play” at the Tampa Bay Theatre Festival. Her most recent play, The Vast of Darkness, won the Critics’ Choice for “Best Play – Drama” at the 2023 Orlando International Fringe Festival.

You can learn more through Bethany’s website: www.BethanyDickens.com

Director - Nick Bublitz Nick is an Actor, Director, Producer and Educator who specializes in New Play Development and currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director at Orlando Shakes. Nick also has his MFA in Acting from the University of Florida, and has trained at other prestigious institutions like South Coast Repertory, Upright Citizens Brigade in LA, and Black Box Acting in Chicago. Most notable theatrical productions include Unnecessary Farce (The Studio at Tierra Del Sol), Henry VI Pt 1, Comedy of Errors, Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing (Orlando Shakes) Hills on Fire, The Magnificent Revengers (Tilted Windmill Theatricals), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Hippodrome Theatre), and A Christmas Karen (Gamiotics Studios).

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Actors Jack McKinney (Jay)

Jack McKinney is a senior in UF's BFA Acting program. He has previously appeared in the Hippodrome’s production of Fahrenheit 451 and UF’s Solo Performance Festival. He is extremely excited to be working in the New Works Festival, and would like to thank his friends, family, and mentors for their constant support.

Sean Cunningham (Cory)

Sean Cunningham is thrilled to be taking part in his second NWF at the Hippodrome. He last took to the Hipp stage in the 3rd annual NWF, as well as in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. Sean wishes to shoutout his family and friends for their constant love, and wants to thank YOU for supporting new works and live theatre. Let's do this thing! seancunningham.net

Emily Nadine Smith (Meghan)

This is Emily's Hippodrome debut! She's earning her BFA Acting degree this year at the UF (2024). Previous roles include Housewife in Rhinoceros, Jean in August: Osage County and Lily in Dust. She would like to thank her family/friends for supporting her, from Tampa, Florida to (her hometown) Harpswell, Maine!

Krishangi Allin (Ori)

Krishangi Allin is a senior BFA actor at UF’s School of Theatre and Dance. She is so excited to be participating in the New Works Festival again. She would like to thank her parents and boyfriend Max for their endless support.

Production Team Artistic Director

Stephanie Lynge

NWF Producer

Michelle Bellaver

Technical Director/Scenic & Props Sound Designer

Erin Jester

Lighting Designer Jay Mathey

Development Associate Amie Thompson

24-Hour Project Coordinator Olivia Pedigo

Nichole Hamilton

Costume Designer/Shop Supervisor

Warren Goodwin

Amanda Yanes

AEA Stage Manager

First Hand

Kayla Evans

New Works Festival Artistic Interns Shydeenha Bruno Lindsey Davis Isabela Estrada

The Hippodrome Theatre recognizes and acknowledges that it resides on the historic territories of the Timucua and Seminole peoples who long inhabited this land.

Actors’ Equity Association Actors’ Equity Association (“Equity”), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 50,000 actors and stage managers. Equity seeks to foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, 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

Hippodrome programs are sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts & Culture; Visit Gainesville Alachua County, and by the City of Gainesville, Dept. of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs. Playbill by Franziska Raeber.

Please do not use the entrances and exits during the performance.

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

THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists

HIPPODROME THEATRE THEHIPP.ORG |352 375 4477