CAST
Ethan Jack McMahon
John Jake Samojla
Dennis Carlos Alba Gregory Joseph Brown, Jr.
UNDERSTUDIES: Dennis/Gregory William Lee Bush
Ethan/John Michael Mingus
*THIS SHOW CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE AND REFERENCES TO SUICIDE.*
SETTING
New York City, one week in 2013.
Locations: Apartments of 4 different men, a sports bar, a subway, a TV studio green room, the street.
[There is no intermission]
The show runs approximately 90 minutes.
“And it's not because I’m holding onto it. It’s because it is holding onto me. And it’s not holding onto you. And that's not fair. It's not fair.”
FROM WHITE PLAINS is a balanced look at the consequences of bullying: on those who were bullies and those who were victims. And of course, on the people who love them both. It speaks about the problem of righting a wrong without becoming consumed by vengeance. It demonstrates how consequences from our past actions can often times create unforeseen, unwanted outcomes.
FROM WHITE PLAINS brings up questions about how, or even if, we can atone for past actions, and accept responsibility for what we’ve done that has hurt people. Is it possible to take responsibility today for something you did as a kid? How do the people who have been hurt find the strength to move forward, to get on with their lives? Why do some victims find the ability to let it go, and others can never get the bully’s voice out of their head and can’t live anymore? Is it possible to be forgiven, truly forgiven? Can we ever outgrow the person we were in high school? The playwright, Michael Perlman asks, “Can we truly become adults without facing what we’ve done to others?”
The use of social media in this play to have a very public “war” heightens the difficult situation. We have all seen public figures whose lives or careers have been trashed because of something they did years ago being brought to light for the world to see. The public reacts, sides are taken. Hurt causes hurt. Who is right? Should apologies be accepted? Can a wrong ever be righted without vengeance? Who is the bully now?
There are no heroes and no villains in this play. Each of the four men have likeable and unlikeable sides to them. Each of them faces this dilemma differently, but all of them are affected by it. We understand, even if we don’t agree with them, why they do what they do, even when their choices seem foolish or unreasonable. There are no black or white answers. When asked why he wrote the play, Michael Perlman answered, “I’m interested in exploring how we, as a country, seem more and more afraid of the gray areas between good and bad. Everyone coming [to a show] would believe they know that “Gay bullying is bad.” I wanted to choose a topic that explores how to make that [illusion] complex: What happens when it’s in our past? How do we hold on to it and honor our past? Can we truly become adults without facing what we’ve done to others? Can we move beyond what we’ve had done to us? And how do we move on?”
I hope you will find words these characters say to each other that resonate with you, or, even better, that let you see a different side to this story. FROM WHITE PLAINS poses hard questions about responsibility, maturity, and forgiveness that you’ll likely be contemplating long after the lights come up.
A NOTE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Welcome to our 2022 23 season that we’ve entitled EXPECTATIONS. Welcome also to our second Second Stage Series and to seating you might not have expected! This year we are pleased to present this series as originally envisioned, with intimate seating that helps put the focus squarely on the acting. While we take pride in the beautiful sets and costumes that we regularly display, we feel it is just as important for our students to experience the kind of theatre that relies primarily on the actor’s abilities to create the magic of theatre. We hope that you enjoy this unique experience as well.
The other component of our Second Stage Series is the second show. Rehearsing and presenting two shows simultaneously is another great challenge for our department and a great opportunity for audiences. We hope you will take advantage of seeing both shows in this dynamic series.
Thank you as always for sharing your time with us and for contributing to our program by purchasing your ticket. Any additional donations you might care to give are truly appreciated and will go to our Marquette Theatre Support Fund. This fund will help us sustain the high quality and entertaining performances that you have come to expect!
Carlos Alba (Dennis Sullivan)
Carlos Alba (Dennis) is excited to take on his second mainstage role, following his role of Mike in Theory of Relativity. Carlos, a senior from the College of Education, is about to enter his student teaching semester in January. He is excited to conclude his time with Marquette Theatre with this amazing role; and is looking forward for everyone to love the show and characters just as much as he does. He is also grateful for all his friends and family – for their love and support they have given him and for all the individuals it took to put this show together!
Joseph Brown, Jr. (Gregory)
Joseph Brown, Jr. is a senior at Marquette University and thrilled to be closing the fall semester as Gregory in From White Plains. Having just made his professional debut as Tiny in Next Act Theater’s production of Kill Move Paradise, he is excited to bring all that he has learned to the Marquette community.
William Lee Bush (understudy Dennis/Gregory)
William is a senior in Theatre Arts at Marquette University. Will has played a multitude of characters in his years on stage. Some of his favorite roles include Brinsley in Black Comedy, Ed Carmichael in You Can’t Take It With You, and Roderigo in Othello. He recently played Bill North in the MUPS production of The Amish Project. You have also likely seen William in our lobby, serving as our house manager. He is excited to be a part of this production.
Jack McMahon (Ethan
Rice)
Jack is a junior from Oak Lawn, Illinois majoring in Theatre Arts and minoring in Political Science. You may recognize him from his most recent role at Marquette as Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia! Jack would like to thank his family for their endless love and support as well as the cast and crew for all of their amazing hard work. He hopes you enjoy the show, and greatly appreciates you being here!
Michael Robert Mingus (understudy Ethan/John)
Michael hails from New Albany, Indiana. He is a freshman theatre arts major and is very excited to be a part of his first Main Stage Production at Marquette University. Some notable previous roles include Gaston in Beauty and the Beast and Harold Hill in The Music Man. Michael would like to thank his family, friends, and High School director Amy Miller to help him along this journey. He wishes for all of this wonderful cast, crew, and team to BREAK ALL THE LEGS!!
Jake Samojla (John)
Jake is a sophomore at Marquette University, from Itasca, Illinois. He is majoring in Corporate Communications and Minoring in Theatre Arts. Jake’s previous theatre experience includes Sky in Mamma Mia! Chad in Almost Maine, Wadsworth In Clue! and more! He is beyond excited to be a part of MU Theatre, which he says is a big and loving family that he loves spending his days with! He would like to thank his mom, dad, brother, nani, and friends for always supporting him. He is beyond excited for you to all see From White Plains and cannot express the love he has for the cast, crew and director!!
Jamie Cheatham (Artistic Director)
Jamie is a professional actor, director, fight director, and theatre educator. He spent 17 years working professionally in New York City and has been teaching for over 30 years. He is the Head of Acting at Marquette Theatre Arts and a nationally recognized fight director with the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD). Professional work includes such theatres as: Alley Theatre (TX), Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Arena Stage (DC), Shakespeare Theatre (DC), The Cort Theatre (Broadway), and the Georgia, Illinois, and NY (Delacorte) Shakespeare Festivals. Locally, Jamie’s work has been seen at the Milwaukee Rep, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Fireside Theatre and recently the Skylight Music Theatre. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity (AEA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG AFTRA).
Christopher Elst (Intimacy Director)
A prominent member of several national theater organizations and an advocate for new and safer practices for theaters nationwide, Christopher Elst has performed, directed, and designed violence, movement, and intimacy for professional theaters across the country, including Ogunquit Playhouse, First Stage Children’s Theatre, Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, Next Act Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Renaissance Theatre Works, and The Milwaukee Rep. He thanks his wife, Marcee, for late nights and joint locks.
Stephen Hudson Mairet (Professor, Prod. Manager, Tech. Director, Properties Coordinator)
This season marks Stephen’s 23rd at Marquette. Thank you so much for your support of Marquette Theatre and Marquette’s theatre arts students and your support of the arts across our community live performances help keep Milwaukee and Marquette amazing places to live and work. Thank you as well to student body for their artistry and energy in bringing the stories to life. Stephen lives quite happily in a very old house in Wauwatosa with his wife Heidi.
Miranda Hunt (Lighting Designer)
Miranda is from Colorado and a senior majoring in Theatre Arts and History with a dance minor. Her Master Electrician credits at MU include Spelling Bee, Mamma Mia!, Silent Sky, and Theory of Relativity. This will be her first show as Lighting Designer at Marquette Theatre! She would like to thank her family and friends for all their support, especially Nat, the world’s best little sister! Enjoy the show!!
Debra Krajec (Director)
Deb has had a positive and very meaningful experience working with the cast of FROM WHITE PLAINS. Much love and support to the 2 seniors, Carlos and Joseph, as they leave MU soon to start their professional careers. Deb serves as a faculty member, a Stage Director, and a Costume Designer at Marquette. She received her MFA from Texas Christian University, and has worked professionally as a costume designer, a director, and an actress. In Milwaukee, Deb has designed costumes for Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, First Stage, Renaissance Theaterworks, and Next Act Theatre. She is very active in the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, where she is a Fellow of the Institute, and is a member of Actor’s Equity Association. She lives happily in Menomonee Falls with her patient husband David, 2 Shetland Sheepdogs and 2 calico cats.
Connie L. Petersen (Costumer/ Costume Shop Manager)
Connie begins her 21st year with her family here at Marquette University. She received her B.S. degree in theatre from Northwest MO State University and M.F.A. degree in Costume and Scenic Design from SIU in Carbondale, IL. She has designed for Next Act Theatre, Des Moines Metro Opera, Denver Center Theatre Company, Door Shakespeare and Playmakers Repertory Company at UNC Chapel Hill. Connie is enjoying her spare time in Elm Grove with her daughters, Emma and Olivia.
Sophia Stockhausen (Stage Manager)
Sophia is a sophomore majoring in Digital Media and minoring in Theatre Arts. In freshman year, they were the female understudy for Taming of the Shrew. This year, Sophia is exploring theatre on stage (MUPS show, The Amish Project) and as a member of the management team. Sophia can be found behind a camera as well as behind the curtain. Over the summer, she was the Boom Operator for Diffraction, an indie film produced on campus. She’s excited to continue her work with amazing people!
Sami Woldt (Assistant Stage Manager)
Sami is a senior from Cross Plains, Wisconsin, majoring in Criminology & Law Studies and Digital Media, and minoring in Psychology and Theatre Arts. This is her second main stage production at Marquette, having served on crew for Theory of Relativity. She has created and acted in several of her own short films and documentaries in her free time and classes. Sami has also starred in three short films throughout her time at Marquette that you may have seen. She would like to thank her amazing cast and crew for their hard work and talent. She hopes you enjoy the show and learn something from it.
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES (in alphabetical order) • Shawn Woldt • Jill Moss SPECIAL THANKS TO:PRODUCTION STAFF
Production Manager/ Technical Director Stephen Hudson Mairet
Asst. TD/Shop Supervisor Lilliana Gonzalez
Costumer/Costume
Shop Manager Connie Petersen
Asst. Costume Shop Supervisor/Cutter/Draper Amelia Strahan
Stage Manager Sophia Stockhausen
Assistant Stage Manager Sami Woldt
Intimacy Director Christopher Elst
Assistant Intimacy Director Victoria Hudziak
Props Coordinator Stephen Hudson-Mairet
Light Board Operator Matthew Torkilsen
Sound Board Operator Kynkade McLachlan
Deck Crew Samantha Casey, Erin Cavendar, Jackson Sheerin
Wardrobe Supervisor Jay Roche
Wardrobe Crew Ellie Burger
Costume Shop Assistants Giorgia Cozzo, Lily Haugen, Eva Hesse, Michael Mingus, Lizzie Porter, Matthew Read, Nate Rodriguez, Sophie Stockhausen
Scene Shop Assistants
Maaz Ahmed, William Bush, Miranda Hunt, Ethan Jacoby Henrickson, Kelsie Kasky, Josh Mains, Jack McMahon, Will Reames, Joshua Soape
Scenic Shop Build Crew Joseph Brown Jr., Ellie Burger, Michelle Cecchin, James Jett, Kynkade McLachlan, Lauryn Middleton, Michael Mingus, Natalie Murray, Jay Roche, Jake Samojla
Costume Shop Build Crew Erin Cavender, Erin Fricker, Eva Hesse, Caleb Kwasigroch, Naomi Kriege, Alex Merkel, Cassidy O’Neil, Nate Rodriguez, Jackson Sheerin
Administrative Assistants Carlos Alba, Cassidy O’Neil
Box Office Staff Cara Strauss, Cynthia Medina
House Manager William Bush
THE WOLVES
By Sarah DeLappe
Nov. 18, Dec. 1, 3 @7:30 pm Nov. 19, Dec. 4 @ 2:30 pm
An all-female cast of high school soccer players explore adolescence and identity.
The Importance of Being Earnest
By Oscar Wilde February 17 26, 2023 Detroit `67
By Dominique Morriseau {Our next VIP Theatre production} April 14 23, 2023