Hipp Unplugged: Fireflies

The Hipp unplugged:

A Staged Reading Series

Fireflies by Donja R. Love Directed by Ryan Hope Travis Jan.13 - 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Developed in part with the support of Rising Circle Theater Collective at theINKtank Play Development Lab for Emerging Artists of Color.

World premiere presented by Atlantic Theater Company New York City, 2018

Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)

The Hipp unplugged:

A Staged Reading Series

Fireflies by Donja R. Love Directed by Ryan Hope Travis Jan. 13 - 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Karina Ortega -------Stage Manager

^ Member of the Hippodrome Theatre’s company of actors.

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.

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.

Fireflies by Donja R. Love Directed by Ryan Hope Travis Jan. 13 - 14 at 7:30 p.m.

The cast Haley Johnson----------------------Olivia Wildlin Pierrevil----------------------Charles Allie Beltran----------------------------Narrator

Developed in part with the support of Rising Circle Theater Collective at the INKtank Play Development Lab for Emerging Artists of Color.

World premiere presented by Atlantic Theater Company New York City, 2018

Production duration is approximately 90 minutes.

There will be no Intermission.

WHO’S WHO AT THE HIPP Stephanie Lynge (Artistic Director) is an accomplished

actor, director, producer, teacher and coach. Stephanie has enjoyed a career of more than 27 years in professional theater and education. Since 2013 she has worked on more than 40 productions at the Hippodrome either as an actor, director, choreographer, or dramaturg. She was seen on stage this season in The Wolves and Let The Right One In. Her other 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. Regional theaters include Freefall, Goodspeed Opera House, Sacramento Music Circus, Pasadena Playhouse, Rep Theater of St. Louis, Flat Rock Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Seaside Music Theater, as well as several National Tours. Directing credits include the Hippodrome’s Every Christmas Story Ever Told, The Legend of Georgia McBride, and The Ultimate Christmas Show as well as plays at the 45th Street Theater (NYC), New York Musical Theater Festival, and the University of Florida. Stephanie has served as a Visiting professor at Indiana University, and an Adjunct professor at New Jersey City University and University of Florida. After receiving her BA in Musical Theater from Indiana University, Stephanie lived and worked as an actor in New York City for over 20 years. Stephanie holds a Master of Fine Arts in acting from University of Florida and is a proud member of Actors Equity Association since 1996.

Nicole Daenzer (Managing Director) is excited to be leading the Hippodrome’s administrative team, after spending six years as the director of finance and operations. Prior to her time at the Hippodrome, she lived in San Francisco, where she worked in financial planning and earned her degree in classical languages and literatures. aut inveniam viam aut faciam.

Want more Unplugged?

Now you can get a FLEX PASS good for any or all of the shows in our spring season.

3 tickets for $25 OR 6 tickets for $50 Available online at thehipp.org or through the box office at 352-375-4477.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Donja R. Love is an Afro-Queer playwright,

poet, and filmmaker from Philadelphia. He writes specifically about Black and Queer folx, for Black and Queer folx. He’s the recipient of the 2018 Laurents/ Hatcher Foundation Award, the 2017 Princess Grace Playwriting Award. He’s the Lark’s 2016 Van Lier New Voices Playwriting Fellow, The Playwrights Realm’s 2016/2017 Writing Fellow, and the 2011 Philadelphia Adult Grand Slam Poetry Champion.

His work has been developed at Manhattan Theatre Club, Rising Circle Theatre, The Lark, and The Playwrights Realm. He’s the cohost of OffBook, theater’s only Black podcast; and he’s the co-founder of The Each-Other Project, an organization that helps build community and provide visibility, through art and advocacy, for LGBTQ People of Color.

Select stage plays include: The Love* Plays, and soft.

Director’s Note

As far back as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the ingenuity of Black people. When I was in the 11th grade, I competed in a statewide competition with a speech I had written about George Washington Carver, the black scientist and inventor who famously devised over 300 uses and 100 products, including plastic and gasoline, from one crop – the peanut. That African Americans have overcome and flourished despite such bitter and intense barriers leaves me awe-struck. That my people created full, complex lives and communities with so little inspires me in profound ways. Needless to say, my favorite subject was history, more specifically, US chattel slavery and the Civil Rights Movement.

Donja R. Love’s portrait of a prominent family set in the civil rights era is fresh and striking. His use of “fireflies” and what they represent is genius and absolutely poetic. Yet, what makes the metaphor more arresting is that it rings true – then and now.

The playwright asks us to revisit our closely held assumptions about love, and what it takes (out of us) to forgive. He insists that we examine our history, and see with naked eyes the impact racial injustice had/has on our collective community.

One week from today, we will celebrate the life and legacy of an actual leader from the civil rights era, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In the spirit of King’s message, may we use this week to reflect and devise a plan. As George Washington Carver did with the peanut, so must we vigorously work to re-imagine a better world.

-Ryan Hope Travis

WHO’S WHO IN FIREFLIES Ryan Hope Travis (Director) is an actor, director, and filmmaker. As an actor, he recently guest starred in HBO’s The Watchmen and has guest starred in Swamp Murders and Dead Silent on Investigation ID. For his onstage work, Ryan was nominated “Best Actor in a Play” by Broadway World CNY, 2018. He has 10 short films to his credit as a multi-hyphenate filmmaker (e.g. writer/director/cinematographer), with several having their world premieres at film festivals in New York City, NJ, Los Angeles, and most recently at the Academy Award-qualifying, Atlanta Film Festival. Ryan currently serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor in the School of Theatre and Dance at the University of Florida.

Haley Johnson (Olivia) is a first-year Master of Fine Arts student at the University of Florida.

Before coming to UF, Johnson earned her Bachelor’s degree at Graceland University where she participated and won first place in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship. From there, Johnson received the opportunity to participate in the New Play Exchange internship held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. During her time at Graceland University, Johnson participated in roles such as Diwata in Speech and Debate, Maria in Lend Me A Tenor and Oda Mae Brown in Ghost: The Musical. Johnson is excited to be receiving exceptional training and education and can’t wait to continue. She would also like to thank her family for their love and endless support.

WHO’S WHO IN FIREFLIES Wildlin Pierrevil (Charles) is a passionate artist and activist using theatre work to unite and shed light. He is excited to be working with The Hipp after his company debut in A Christmas Carol as Fred this past holiday season. Wildlin is also glad to be back under the direction of Ryan Hope Travis after the premiere production of Tilted Windmills’ Hills on Fire. Be sure to catch Wildlin in his return to the Hipp stage this summer in Rock of Ages- a ROCKIN 80’s musical directed by Stephanie Lynge.

Also, be sure to look into more works by playwright prolific Donja R. Love. You won’t be disappointed. See more at NotWildlin.com.

IG: @NotWildlin

Allie Beltran (Narrator) , a freshman Theatre BA at UF, is delighted to be working on this project!

Some of her favorite regional credits include: Billy Elliot, Our Town, and Brundibar. Special thanks to family, friends, and teachers for all the love and support. Love you, Betty.

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Photo featuring Lauren Nordvig