Middlebury College Department of Theatre presents
The Virtuous Fall of the Girls from Our Lady of Sorrows
By Gina Femia
Directed by Sheila
Bandyopadhyay
Scene and Video Designer Todd P. Canedy
Costume Designer Sophia Lidz
Lighting Designer Mark Evancho
Sound Designer Dan Ribaudo
Choreographer Miguel Alejandro Castillo
Stage Manager Cole Newman
Assistant Stage Manager Eleanor Roth
CAST
Minnie Virginia Frau
Imogene Payton Rice
Jenny Ella Juhl
Dove Sarah Caire Fong-Yan Mathilda Nonna Madoyan
Maxx Yoyo Zhang
Sisters Ignatius, Rose, Lucy and Mrs. O’Donell Victoria Fischer Luksch
RUN TIME
Two hours with one intermission
Content Warning
References to explicit sexual activity and the 9/11 attacks in New York City.
Patrons are requested to turn off cell phones prior to the performance. Photography and the use of audio and video equipment are prohibited.
Produced with permission of the playwright.
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
I was drawn to The Virtuous Fall of the Girls from Our Lady of Sorrows because the play’s three themes are subjects that I have a strong connection with: womanhood, Brooklyn, and Shakespeare’s play Measure for Measure. Measure for Measure is a play about appearances versus reality. How people seem versus how they are Measure for Measure is also described by outdated literary traditions as a “problem play” because it is neither a comedy or a tragedy, though it has elements of both. The desire to quantify art, humans, thought, or life into binaries is a western, colonial, and patriarchal attitude. It works in tandem with power structures that create and uphold systemic oppression. For those whose power and privilege is tied to the patriarchy, individuals who do not conform to binaries upset the dominant hierarchy through free thought and action that challenges the status quo, potentially catalyzing a redistribution of power. Therefore those individuals are seen as “problems” who must be disciplined or eradicated in order to become governable once again.
The young women who attend Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic school, like Measure for Measure, defy categories, and that is what gets them in trouble. As we contemplate these themes in this theatre in Vermont tonight, I invite you to consider their newfound resonance in our troubled present. There are colleges in the United States today that would not allow this play to be produced because of its inclusive and pro-bodily autonomy attitude. Since the purpose of playing was and is to hold, as t’were, a mirror up to nature, I invite you to consider the following questions: Why does a play that is set over 20 years ago feel progressive? What will you do if—when—you are in Minnie’s shoes? What do you stand for and who do you stand with?
PLAYWRIGHT NOTE/BIO
Gina Femia is an award-winning playwright and performer whose work has been seen/developed at the Goodman Theater, MCC Theater, Playwrights Horizons, EST, Page 73, New Georges, The Playwrights Center, CTG, Theater of NOTE, Rivendell Theater, Cape Cod Theater Project, Bag&Baggage, Mirrorbox Theater, among others. Selected honors include The Kilroys List, Leah Ryan Prize, Doric Wilson Award, the Otis Guernsey New Voices Award, and the Neukom Award in Playwriting. Gina is a former core writer with the Playwrights Center, and an Alum of EST Youngblood, Page73’s Interstate 73, Pipeline Theatre’s PlayLab, New Georges’ Audrey Residency, the Ingram New Play Lab at Nashville Rep, and Parsnip Ship’s Radio Roots Writer’s Group. Gina’s a New Georges affiliated artist and has received residencies with Page73, Powerhouse, NTI at the O’Neill, SPACE on Ryder Farm, and Fresh Ground Pepper. Gina’s debut YA novel, Alondra, was named a Best Book for Teens in 2023 and was a finalist for a Golden Kite award. Learn more: www.femiagina.com.
THE COMPANY
Sarah Caire Fong-Yan ’28 she/her (Dove) Sarah is an aspiring theater major from Paris, France. She is grateful to share the stage with such talented people for Virtuous Fall after participating in the 2024 First Show. She has loved acting since childhood and pursued this passion during her pre-college years. While continuing to have fun on stage, she is now also eager to learn more about the production roles behind the scenes! Virtuous Fall was a meaningful experience for Sarah, and one that moved her emotionally. She hopes to communicate her feelings to the audience, and is certain that the story will lead them from tears to laughter. When Sarah is not doing theatre, she is probably trying to figure out what to do aside from theatre academically . . . She might also be dancing in her room or eating sushi while watching a rom-com.
Ella Eistrup Juhl ’28 she/her (Jenny) is an undecided major from Copenhagen, Denmark, based in Nashville. She first experienced the true joy of being present and vulnerable on stage while studying IB theater, where she acted in a play adaptation of The Lottery and created a twisted comedy piece. Last fall, Ella performed in Echoes of Truth and is now excited to be in another MIDD production! On a good day, she would like to be dancing/singing with friends/family, on an adventure with unhinged conversation or simply admiring a pretty view.
Victoria Fischer Luksch she/her (Sisters Ignatius, Rose, Lucy, and Mrs. O’Donell) is delighted to be
working with this wonderful director, cast, and crew. Victoria appeared last year in The Worst Mother in the World and The Three Penny Opera in Hepburn Zoo. Victoria studied acting at the Terry Schreiber Studio and the Atlantic Theater Company in New York and performed in several shows there including Laura Dennis at the Signature Theater Company. In Middlebury, she has appeared in several shows including A Christmas Carol, The Drowsy Chaperone, Church and State, and The Cake. She also enjoys working with students and faculty on their films and is so grateful for our awesome, creative community.
Virginia Frau ’27 she/her (Minnie) is a literary studies major from Littleton, Colorado, who discovered her love for acting in a high school Halloween production of Hookman by Lauren Yee. She previously played Albany in Michole Biancosino’s King Lear. She is endlessly grateful for the opportunity to perform again at Middlebury and hopes you enjoy the show!
Sophia Lidz she/her (Costume Designer) is a visiting artist for the spring 2025 term. This is her first costume design for Middlebury College Department of Theatre. Professional design credits include, She Loves Me, Imogen Says Nothing, BAT BOY!, Primary Trust, The Play That Goes Wrong, Cadillac Crew, Airness, Women in Jeopardy, The Thin Place, and A Christmas Carol. Other design credits: The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (nine seasons), Williamstown Theatre Festival, Las
Vegas Peepshow. Broadway credits: Motown the Musical, Baby it’s You, Lend me a Tenor, Elf, Grease, Ragtime, Legally Blonde, The Drowsy Chaperone, 110 in the Shade, The Farnsworth Invention, and Inherit the Wind.
Cole Newman ’26 he/they (Stage Manager) is a junior from New Mexico, studying psychology. Since coming to Middlebury, Cole has worked on the First Show twice (once as an actor and once as the stage manager). They also ran as a crew member for Tick Tick . . . Boom! in spring of 2023, acted in Orlando in spring of 2024, and stage managed for Guys and Dolls in winter 2025.
Nonna Madoyan ’28 she/her (Mathilda) is an international student from Armenia/Russia. She is a potential theater and IGS double major. Nonna has been a part of the Guys and Dolls musical during J-term, she has also directed Into the Woods and Hadestown in Armenia. Virtuos fall is her first theater faculty production at Middlebury, and she is very excited to share this moment with the audience.
Dan Ribaudo he/him (Sound Designer) is an audiovisual experimentalist. He has been designing and building immersive environments in a wide range of contexts, starting in Washington, D.C., theatres in 2001. Recently to celebrate the Vermont solar eclipse, he projection-mapped a number of venues in Burlington. Dan lives in Middlebury, performs his own musical compositions as Verbs Nouning, and performs live visuals as TVC-95.
Payton Rice ’28 she/her (Imogene) is an undeclared major from Chicago, Illinois. Though Virtuous Fall is her first production here at Middlebury, she has performed in various blackbox, community, and school theaters. She views theater as an art form of exploration and expression. Outside of class, you can find her sewing, crocheting, or dancing, often with her headphones blasting music.
Eleanor Roth ’25 she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is an IGS security studies major and linguistics minor from Birmingham, Alabama. Eleanor has done projection design for Ophelia Underwater (2022), Rhinoceros (2022), and A Woman Left Lonely (2023), worked a summer in the costume shop, learned how to use a light board for The Undertaker (2025), and co-stage managed Orlando (2024). She does not know how to sound design, but in her defense, projectors are really fun to work with. Eleanor is grateful for the Theatre Department staff’s incredible support and encouragement these past four years.
Yoyo Zhang ’28 She/her (Maxx)
You might have seen her in the fall semester’s First-Year show the Echo of Truth, where she portrayed Tina in Death Tax. Theater has been a passion of hers since primary school, though she didn’t begin acting until college. She is beyond excited to be part of The Virtuous Fall and hopes to continue pursuing acting in the future.
SHOW STAFF
Director Sheila Bandyopadhyay
Scene and Video Design Todd Canedy
Costume Design Sophia Lidz
Assistant Costume Design Juli Valle
Lighting Design Mark Evancho
Sound Design Dan Ribaudo
Sound and Video Engineer Jeremy Palmer
Technical Director and Properties Jim Dougherty
Master Electrician Tony Bader
Stage Manager Cole Newman
Assistant Stage Manager Eleanor Roth
Costume Shop Director Robin Foster Cole
Associate Costume Shop Dir. Katie Knauber
Light Board Operator Alex Garcia
Sound Board Operator Morgan Chacon
Costume Construction and Wardrobe Brianna Akuamoah-Boateng, Julia Breckenridge, Camryn Brielmann, Hope Jerris, Elsa Marrian, Payton Rice, Nancy Rivera Almanza, Kendall Schilling
Technical Production Crew Gerrit Blauvelt, Morgan Chacon, Jahnavi Choraria, Alex Garcia, Ryan Greguski, Chris Jovy, Sam KulasingheLarriere, Caelyn Macky, Isabel Manzano, Amanda Martins, Maia McNeill, Maya Murtuzu-Lanier, August Siegel, Zeon Waterhouse, Barry Yang
THEATRE DEPARTMENT STAFF
Professors Alex Draper: Acting, Directing, History and Literature
Mark Evancho: Scene and Lighting Design
Cláudio Medeiros: Acting, Directing, History and Literature (Department Chair)
Associate Professors Michole Biancosino: Acting, Directing, History, and Literature
Dana Yeaton: Playwriting
Assistant Professor Olga Sanchez Saltveit: Directing, Acting, Literature
Visiting Assistant Professors Sheila Bandyopadhyay: Directing
Summer Lee Jack: Costume Design
Production Manager Jim Dougherty
Theatre Technical Director Jeremy Palmer
Production Designer, Theatre/ Company and Budget Manager, Dogteam Theatre Todd Canedy
Costume Shop Director Robin Foster Cole
Associate Costume Director Katie Knauber
Master Electrician Tony Bader
Theatre Administration Mirjam Brett
Theatre Office Assistant Urian Vasquez
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The production was rehearsed and performed on land which has served as a site of meeting and exchange among the Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. The Western Abenaki are the traditional caretakers of these Vermont lands and waters, which they call Ndakinna. We give thanks for the opportunity to share in the bounty of this place and to protect it.
SPECIAL THANKS
Barbara Rubin and Shakespeare and Company
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS AT MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE!
The Theatre Program wishes to thank Drue Cortell Gensler ’57, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Barlow, Marie and Edward Matthews, Christian and Gerry-Jo Cranmer, John J. Morrissey ’72, and Mr. and Mrs. Lee Freeman, Jr. for their generous support of our program’s work.
The Theatre Department would also like to thank Jean Seeler ’60, in whose honor the Seeler Studio Theatre is named, for her continued support of and belief in the work of this department.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
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By Daniel MacIvor
Senior work in directing by Elsa Marrian
Senior work in stage management by August Siegel
April 10–12 | Hepburn Zoo
Gruesome Playground Injuries
By Rajiv Joseph
Senior work in directing by Sophie Butler-Rahman
500 work in lighting design by Alex Garcia
April 24–26 | Hepburn Zoo
The Walls
By Griselda Gambaro
Directed by Cláudio Medeiros
Senior work in scene design by Qinyi Hua
May 1–3 | Seeler Studio Theatre