October 9th,10th,11th,2025
ByYoungJeanLee.DirectedbyLynnMasakoCheng
Synopsis
WhenEdandhisthreeadultsonscometogethertocelebrateChristmas,theyenjoy cheerfultrash-talking,pranks,andtakeoutChinese.Thentheyconfrontaproblem thatevenbeingahappyfamilycan’tsolve:Whenidentitymatters,andprivilegeis problematic,whatisthevalueofbeingastraightwhiteman?
CONTENTWARNING:
Re-enactmentofKKK,Nazisalute
Director’s note
In the summer of 2024, I was on the hunt for a play that talked about race and found “Straight White Men”. Immediately, I was hooked. What I found was not a cheap satire. It was a deeply empathetic exploration of four men trying to figure out how to take up space in the world. In 2024, a record number of young, male, white voters helped pave the way for Trump to the White House. While Straight White Men was written in 2017, its themes of masculinity and social justice are still relevant today. How can we come together as a community to talk about privilege? How can we acknowledge our OWN privileges in playing characters that are painfully aware of their own? How can we empathize with those who are different from us? Through casting people of color in “Straight White Men”, I want to disorient straight white men ’ s status as the dominant group in society. By having bodies of color take up time and space, I want this disorientation to present a new relationship between the characters to the world. When you leave the theater, I hope that it will inspire you all to talk to your own family members. I hope that you will talk to each other about your privilege. I hope that you’ll see a straight white man on the street and wonder what they’re going through right now. Enjoy Straight White Men!
Cast
CRISTIANORTEGAMEDEIROS-ED
CristianisaSophomoreintheFordhamTheatreProgramandissoexcitedtobeapart ofLynn’ssoulfulworkshopproduction.HemadehisFordhamStudiodebutlast SpringasBillyBulletsinthepirateextravaganzaOrangeSkyatNight,ASailor’s Delight,andissogratefulforthisopportunitytotransformbeforehemakeshis MainstagedebutnextsemesterasOrpheusinSaraRuhl’sEurydice.Heissograteful toLynn,JillandMichiforguidingthecastalongthefinelinethatisthisshowwith suchgrace,opennessandhonesty.Threecheerstofather’s,brothers,andthe womenwhomakethempossible.Muchlove!
BIJANNAVAB-MATT
Bijanissohappytobereturningtoactingsincehighschoolinhisfirstroleat FordhamTheatre!HismostrecentroleswereCharlieBrownin“You’reaGoodMan, CharlieBrown”andKingArthurin“MonthPython’sSPAMALOT”athishighschool’s theatreprogram.I’dliketothankmymom,uncle,andBabaforalwayscomingto everyoneofmyshowsinhighschoolandsupportingmeineverywayaparental figureshould,andI’dliketoespeciallythankmyYiaYiaforbeingmybestbudand supporter.IloveyouallsomuchandanythinggoodI’vedoneorwilldobeganwith you!
EDRICDUFFY-JAKE
EdricDuffyisaFreshmanfromMinneapolis,MNandisexcitedtomakehisstage debutatFordham!Recentcreditsinclude:TheThreeMusketeersasDartagnan’;A PickfortheHairofBlackKidzasMalcolm;BeautyandtheBeastastheBeast;Grease asDannyZuko;TwoGentlemenofVeronaasProteus;manymoreproductionsacross Minnesota.
Cast
SAMUELGUZMAN-ALMONTE-DREW
Samuelissothrilledandhonoredtobeapartofthismeaningfulproduction.AJunior Film&TVmajorwithminorsinTheaterandPsychology,he’salsoamultiinstrumentalistandcomposer.AsaWriter-Director,he’screatedshortfilmslike "Sound"andwrittenforvarioustheatershowcases.FordhamTheatercreditsinclude LegendofSleepyHollow(Musician),Marisol(Asst.SetDesigner),andOrangeSky atNight(AlbumViolinist).WithFordham'sSplinterGroup:SpringAwakening (MusicDirector),TuckEverlasting(Co-MusicDirector),Godspell(Asst.Music Director),andIntotheWoods(theBaker).PastrolesincludeBeastinBeautyand theBeastandCassioinOthello.HealsoplaysviolinwithFordhamOrchestrasand hasperformedatCarnegieHallwithgroupsNYYSandISO.Heissuperproudofthe castandcreativeteamandthankshisfamilyfortheirexternalsupportandlove,as muchasthisnewfamilycreatedwiththeSWMteam.Thankyou!
KRYSTLE JAZMINE-PERSONINCHARGE2
KrystleJazmineisanactor,dancer,andsingerfromAtlanta,GA,signedwithDDO ArtistAgency.ShetrainedatTri-CitiesHighSchool’sEducationalMagnetTheater Program,appearinginSisterAct(MaryLazarus),Clue(Ms.White)Fences(Rose) andRaisimginthesun(Beneatha).HerperformanceinClueearnedherOneAct AtlantaRegionalsAll-StarActressandOneActGeorgiaStateAll-StarActress honors.SherecentlystarredintheshortfilmOneNightOnly,featuredinafilm festival.KrystlehasstudiedTV/Film,improv,andvoiceoverwithinstructors includingDannyLoftusGeorge,DwayneBoyd,andRyanAndes.Withaplayingageof 14–19,shebringsversatility,energy,andauthenticitytoherwork.Beyondacting, sheisskilledinhip-hopdance,harmonizing,improv,andaccents,withadditional talentsinathleticsandcreativewriting.
Creative Team
Creative Team
LYNNMASAKOCHENG-DIRECTOR/PERSONINCHARGE1
LynnisthrilledtobemakingherstudiodirectingdebutwithStraightWhiteMen! Credits:Horoscopedir.MayAdrales(AD),ThisHouseisHaunteddir.Narushi Fukuda(AD),OwlintheDaylightbyRookeLewis(Director),TheEffectbyLucy Prebble(PagetoStage),CollabFest(Producer).Acting:Kentuckydir.KatYen (Hiro),TheMedeaThingdir.CoraTherber(Glauce/Syrta),Resettlement:Chicago Storydir.ReinaHigashitani(Mary),ABabysitter’sGuidetoMonsterHuntingdir. RachelTalalay(Cassie).Shoutouttomyamazingteachersandfamilyforalways supportingme!IG:@lynnmasako
JILLIYNACOSTA-ASSISTANTDIRECTOR
Jilliyn(she/her)isasophomoreatFordhamUniversity,studyingTheatre Performance.She’sthrilledtohavetheopportunitytoassistantdirectsuchan amazingshowandcast!FavoritepastcreditsincludeChrisinCarrie,Cinderellain IntotheWoods,andBrookeAshtoninNoisesOffatSt.IgnatiusCollegePreparatory. Sheisincrediblygratefultothecast,crew,formakingthisexperiencesospecial. Mostofall,shewantstothankhermentorsandfriendsfortheirendlesssupport thiswouldn’tbethesamewithoutyou!
MICHIHOSHIMASAKI-PRODUCTIONSTAGEMANAGER
MichihoShimasakiisasophomorestagemanager,lightingdesigner,andproducerin thetheatreprogramfromTokyo,Japan.Shewouldliketogiveabigshout-outtothe entireproductionteam,especiallyLynnandJill,fortheiramazingleadershipand creativity.PreviousFordhamcreditsinclude:Horoscope(ASM),Thoughtson Girlcock(Assc.LD),TheAmethystandThePeridot(Asst.LD),TheTreasurer(PA). Previousprofessionalcreditsinclude:JapanNightatEdisonBallroom(ASM),Why AmIHere?atAsylumNYC(Asst.Producer),AstronautsWantedatTheTankNYC (PA),TheNutcrackerandMarieatNYDanceArtistly(RunCrew).Upcoming projects:TheNutcrackerandMarieatNYDanceArtistly(ProductionManager), LunarRhapsodyatFordhamMainstage(ASM).
Creative Team
LUCIAALVARADO-PRODUCTIONASSISTANT
Lucia AlvaradoisaFreshmanStageManageratFordhamTheatreandisbeyond thrilledtobemakingherstudioshowdebutbehindthescenesastheProduction Assistant.LuciaisgratefulfortheStraightWhiteMencastforbeingsuchafunand collaborativegrouptoworkwith,andshegivesaspecialthankstoLynnandMichi forgiving herthechancetoworkalongsidetheirtalentedcollective. Consider callingyoursiblingsafterthisone,andenjoytheshow!
CADEPARKER-CO-FIGHTCHOREOGRAPHER
CadeParkerisaseniorperformancemajor,whojustsohappenstoknowhowto choreographsomeprettysickstagecombat.Cadehasbeeninseveralproductions withfightchoreography,havingdoneitintvshowsandtheatre,aswellastrainedin itinLondonatLAMDA.IfyouwannaseehimplayabusinessbrowhohasatalkingA.I fridgeinhissmallNYCapartment,checkouttheothershowthatisrunninginrep withthisone,Birdwatching.Doeshefightthefridge?????Idk,you'llhavetocome andsee...
BRIANTONG-CO-FIGHTCHOREOGRAPHER
BrianTong(he/him)isanactor,producer,dancerandpresently,afight choreographerdedicatedtoamplifyingAAPIandotherunderrepresentedvoiceson stage.HehasalsoreceivedtrainingatLAMDAandInterlochen.Growingupin Queens,NewYork,asafirst-generationChineseAmerican,heoftengrappledwith theintersectionofculturalheritageandcontemporaryissuesinhisartistic journey.Theater,anindustrythathashistoricallymarginalizedAsianperformers, becamebothachallengeandacalling onethatfueledhispassionforcreating spaceswhereAsianAmericanstoriesarenotonlyrepresentedbutcelebrated.Fight Choreography:SheKillsMonstersPerformacne:ThursdaysComeatMornings (HoughtonHallArtsCommunity)StuyorDie(FlushingTownHall),ThreePenny Opera(Fordham).Upcoming:TheTempest(Fordham).Hehasalsocollaboratedwith NAATCO/TransportGroup/ClassicStage(BusStop),(Isabel),andinternedatThe Tank,Theaterlab,andNewPerspectivesTheaterCompany.
Special Thanks
Faculty:
MayAdrales
TerrenceMoseleyI
ChristopherBurney
KennyOlguin
BirdwatchingTeam:
JessicaStekloff
JohnStengel
EvaVila
EdvinaElfase
CadeParker
StudioProductionManagers:
MarianaMiranda
IanRios
DPW:
SophiaNordling
JoshHightower
AdelineBlue
ExploratoryReadings:
BrianMuñozReyes
TobiasForeman
WilliamButlerIII
ImaniCARR
GiaSood
LeahJohn
OliviaMcCarthy
BenMiller
RohdeCostello
PericlesNavab
TheGuzman-Almontefamily
KendallMulligan
GigiPerlaza
CarrieJohnson
SorayaRastegar
JyonnahWare
DeanChung
CatherineOtero
JohnGarza
EliasBernstein
SophiaRodriguez
DeshuneHeard-Watkins
SlyvanniaWatkins
NataliaMendoza
Issabelle Diaz