How to Mourn the Dead: A Tragedy in Flux

Department of Theatre and Dance New Works Initiative

How to Mourn the Dead: A Tragedy (in flux)

By Eric Marlin

February 20 I 21 I 22 I 23, 2020

L. Howard Fox Theatre

The New Works Initiative is made possible through the generous support of Bob and Holly Gregory.

Dr. Susan A. Cole, President Daniel Gurskis, Dean, College of the Arts Jedediah Wheeler, Executive Director, Arts + Cultural Programming Department of Theatre and Dance Randy Mugleston, Chair

New Works Initiative

How to Mourn the Dead: A Tragedy (in flux)

By Eric Marlin Director Ilana Khanin Scenic Designer Gabby Goldman Costume Designer Montana Fucci Lighting Designer Christopher Ferranti Sound Designer Hannah Szarko Video Designer Ryan Cutler Production Stage Manager Kristina Twarkusky

Cast (in order of appearance) Antigones ............................................................................................Ciara Chanel Allen Jacklyn Azoff Constance Curme Leah DeCecco Mary Blair Duncan Alexis Farrell Sarah Gagarin Abbey George Dale Harris Alexis Key Isabel Lagana Jess Pace Ava Rendina Gwendolyn Torrence Ismene................................................................................................. Diana Maldonado Pigres .................................................................................................... Bradley Satchell Glaukos......................................................................................................Joey Stellwag

How to Mourn the Dead: A Tragedy (in flux) is presented as part of the New Works Initiative (NWI) and made possible through the generous support of Bob and Holly Gregory.

Duration: 90 minutes, no intermission.

In consideration of both audiences and performers, please turn off all electronic devices. The taking of photographs or videos and the use of recording equipment are not permitted. No food or drink is permitted in the theater.

The New Works Initiative (NWI) is an Artist-in-Residence program and developmental platform in the Department of Theatre and Dance. NWI’s mission is to bring together established and emerging playwrights, composers, choreographers, theater-makers, and professional directors with Montclair State University theater students to explore adventurous theatrical works. (montclair.edu/theatre-and-dance/ new-works-initiative/)

Acknowledgments Special thanks to Em Weinstein, Noah Berman, Christo Grabowski, Lily Balsen, Soraya Broukhim, Caitlin Rose Duffy, Shannon Gibbs, Hannah Hodson, Toria Isquith, Gabrielle Owens, Mari Vial-Golden, Amanda Whiteley, Sherry Kramer, Courtney Meaker, Charles Green, Luke Daniel White, Hayley Cartee, Siena D’Addario, Brenna Donahue, Kate Falk, Nia Farrell, Shelby Green, Lizzy Jarrett, Casey Landman, Grace Palmer, Amanda Phelan, Sangi Varsano, Ryan Courtney, Adam Goldberg and Frank Martinez in Broadcast and Media Operations, Albert Rosado and Barbizon Lighting, Heather Benton, and Mark Hardy.

Production Biographies Eric Marlin (Playwright) has been produced and developed by the Ars Nova ANT Fest, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Dixon Place, Samuel French, HOT! Festival, Play Date @ Pete’s, Exquisite Corpse Company, PTP/NYC, Tennessee Williams Festival, and WildClaw Theatre. He was the winner of the Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway Short Play Festival, shortlisted for the Berliner Festspiele Stückemarkt, and finalist for the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference and SPACE at Ryder Farm. Marlin is co-founder of the Healthy Oyster Collective, with whom he has created three original works. He has worked as a producer and stage manager for the Bushwick Starr, New Georges, the Women’s Project, Red Bull Theater, CTown, PTP/NYC, the Public Theater, the New Ohio Ice Factory Festival, and PRELUDE. Marlin holds an MFA from the Iowa Playwrights Workshop and a BA from Bennington College.

Ilana Khanin (Director) is a New York–based director. Directing credits include Ars Nova ANT Fest, HERE, Theaterlab, Exquisite Corpse Company/Governors Island, Judson, Joust Theater Company, Samuel French, Center at West Park, Primary Stages, The Brick, The Tank, Dixon Place, Atlantic Stage 2, among others. She has been an associate director for Lila Neugebauer, Lee Sunday Evans, and Annie-B Parson and worked on productions at Brooklyn Academy of Music, Old Vic (London), Deutsches Theater (Berlin), Canadian Stage (Toronto), Carolina Performing Arts, Playmakers Rep, La MaMa, WP Theater, Bushwick Starr, Clubbed Thumb, New York City Players, and Big Dance Theater. Khanin holds an MA in Performance Studies and a BFA in Directing from New York University. ilanakhanin.com

Further program content, including artist bios, may be found at peakperfs.org/programs.

Staff Office of Arts + Cultural Programming

College of the Arts

Jedediah Wheeler, Executive Director Stephanie Haggerstone, Managing Director Jill Dombrowski, Producing Director J. Ryan Graves, Director of Production Chrissy D’Aleo Fels, Cultural Engagement Director Camille Spaccavento, Marketing & Media Director Robert Hermida, Audience Services Director Regina Vorria, Associate Producer Colin Van Horn, Technical Director Andy Dickerson, Production Coordinator Andrew R. Wilsey, Master Stage Electrician Jeff Lambert Wingfield, Box Office Manager Laurel Brolly, Business Administrator Patrick Flood @ Flood Design, Art Director Blake Zidell Associates, Media Representative Natalie Marx, Media Creator Martin Halo, Website Claudia La Rocco, PEAK Journal Editor David DeWitt, PEAK Journal Managing Editor Susan R. Case, Program Editor Bart Solenthaler, Program Layout Design Maureen Grimaldi, House Manager Maya Siguenza, Student Assistant, Administration and Marketing

Daniel Gurskis, Dean Ronald L. Sharps, Associate Dean Linda D. Davidson, Assistant Dean Marie Sparks, Director of Administration Zacrah S. Battle, College Administrator Abby Lillethun, Art and Design Thomas McCauley, John J. Cali School of Music Keith Strudler, School of Communication and Media Randy Mugleston, Theatre and Dance Patricia Piroh, Broadcast and Media Operations

Production Staff

Staff for How to Mourn the Dead: A Tragedy (in flux)

Heather Benton, Coordinator of Acting Peter J. Davis, Production Manager Cyndi Kumor, Production Associate Nicholas Zaccario, Production Office Assistant Erhard Rom, Scenic Supervisor Benjamin Merrick, Technical Director Daniel Graham, Assistant Technical Director Jason Audette, Master Carpenter Olivia Joyce, Scenic Charge Alison Merrick, Props Supervisor Debra Otte, Costume Supervisor Judith Evans, Costume Shop Supervisor Jeanette Aultz, Assistant Costume Shop Supervisor Tilly Adams, Amanda Phillips-Balingit, Katie Pippin, Drapers Taylor Pico, Wardrobe Mentor Courtney Smith, Hair and Makeup Mentor Cecilia Durbin, Lighting Supervisor Christopher Thielking, Production Master Electrician Michelle Tobias, Studio Master Electrician Daryl Bornstein, Sound Supervisor Mysti Stay, Stage Management Supervisor

Camyron Chauffe, Assistant Scenic Designer Lillian Schweikert, Assistant Costume Designer Anthony Borsellino, Assistant Lighting Designer Allison McLain, Eponine Myles, Assistant Stage Managers Markus Johnson, Master Electrician Burkett Horrigan, Assistant Master Electrician Camyron Chauffe, Props Master Shannon Tierney, Assistant Props Master Joey Messana, Light Board Operator Sam Bloch, Deck Electrician/Video Board Operator Sydney Caprio, Assistant Production Manager/Sound A1 Heather Ball, Scenic Charge Charlotte Giacomini, Wardrobe Head Eto Gabunia, Wardrobe Crew Haley Amann, Danny Waldman, Run Crew

Programs in this season are made possible in part by funds from: The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts Discover Jersey Arts New England Foundation for the Arts–National Dance Project PEAK Performances is in partnership with WNET’s All Arts.

PEAK Patrons: Mary Brislin; Susan Campbell; Yong Chang; Joanna Conrad; Bob Fisher/Monroe Denton; Julie Harris; Paul Horowitz; Eric Levin; Karen Lundry; Michael Peroff; Gerard Piserchia, Jr.; Martin Wechsler To view our complete season and for more information, visit peakperfs.org. @peakperfs

@peakperfs

Production Biographies Montana Fucci (Costume Designer) is relatively new to the theater world. She was a costume assistant for MSU’s production of The Rover and also ran wardrobe for their production of Orlando. In addition, she was the original costume designer for Abby Zbikowski’s On the Line, a New Works Initiative dance piece for Works-A-Foot 2018.

Christopher Ferranti (Lighting Designer) is a senior at MSU. Ferranti predominantly designs for dance, having previously designed the lights for NiNE (2018), Jump the Turnstile (2019), Dance Collage 2019, and Fall Dance 2019. How to Mourn the Dead is his first mainstage play.

Hannah Szarko (Sound Designer) is a BFA Production/Design major concentrating in sound design with a minor in Musical Theatre. Recent technical credits include sound designer for Anon(ymous) and Danceworks at MSU and Beauty and the Beast and Robin Hood at the New London Barn Playhouse (NLBP); A1 for The Rover and Orlando at MSU and The Odd Couple at NLBP; and A2 for Urinetown at MSU and Catch Me if You Can and Grease at NLBP. Recent performing credits include Christine in A Doll’s House at MSU. Ryan Cutler (Video Designer) is a sophomore in the Theatre and Dance Department with a concentration in lighting design. How to Mourn the Dead is his first video design at MSU. Originally from Southern California, Cutler designs at theaters in the area.

Recent productions include Newsies (Yorba Linda Spotlight), A Chorus Line (California Theatre of the Performing Arts), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Stage Door Repertory Theatre), and Nunsense (Cabrillo Playhouse). Other non-design work includes Urinetown and The Rover (MSU). Cutler also works as a casual member of IATSE Local 504, servicing Segerstrom Center for the Arts and other venues including Disneyland.

Ryanccutler.wixsite.com/lightingdesign Kristina Twarkusky (Production Stage Manager) is a junior in the Theatre and Dance Department with a concentration in management and audio production. Recent technical credits include production assistant for Oreo Pop-Up Experience, production stage manager for Dance Works 2019, production assistant for Side by Side: A Celebration of Service, and various audio positions.

Cast Biographies Ciara Chanel Allen (Antigone) is a sophomore BFA Theatre major and in her third year at MSU. Her most recent work includes playing Valeria in Aphra Behn’s The Rover. Allen has been acting since she was seven years old and has always been passionate about theater. Her goal is to inspire children to follow their passions, no matter how daring.

Jacklyn Azoff (Antigone) is a sophomore BFA Acting major at MSU. How to Mourn the Dead is her first department show at the school. Aside from this, she has been in an MSU F.A.S.T. show called War on Safety and she is a proud member of the Dirty 9, the improv group on campus.

Constance Curme (Antigone) is a junior BFA Acting major. Some of her favorite roles include Mrs. Bumbrake in Peter and the Starcatcher, Nora in A Doll’s House, and Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Instagram: @conniecurme.

Leah DeCecco (Antigone) is a junior Acting major who has high self-esteem and a gleaming reputation.

Mary Blair Duncan (Antigone) is a junior BFA Acting major at MSU. Some of her past credits include Lucetta in The Rover and Zerbinette in Scapin the Schemer.

This summer, she will return for her second year as the movement intern at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick. NJ. @Maryblairduncan Alexis Farrell (Antigone) is a sophomore in MSU’s BFA Acting program. She is thrilled to make her debut on the MSU main stage. She is a proud member of the Dirty 9, MSU’s improv/sketch comedy group. @alexis_farrell Sarah Gagarin (Antigone) is a senior in MSU’s BFA Acting program. Previous credits include Civics and Humanities for Non-Majors, We Victorians (New Jersey Play Lab), and Yerma.

Abbey George (Antigone) is a senior at MSU in the BFA Acting program. She has been seen in MSU’s Studio Series productions of Matsukaze and An Ideal Husband

as well as Virginia Woolf’s Orlando at the Fox Theatre. Outside of MSU, George has trained at the Atlantic Acting School, CAP21, and Texas State University.

Dale Harris (Antigone) is a sophomore and a BFA Acting major. She resides in Plainfield, NJ, where she graduated from Plainfield Academy for the Arts and Advanced Studies. Harris is a spoken-word poet. Her mantra is, “Everything happens for a reason, we don’t know why and we don’t know how, but in the end we will figure it out.”

Alexis Key (Antigone) is a BFA Acting sophomore. How to Mourn the Dead is her fourth production at MSU. Her past credits include Mattie in Wedding Band and Nia in In the Red and Brown Water.

Isabel Lagana (Antigone) is in her third year of the BFA Acting program. Her previous MSU credits include Lysistrata (Ismenia), Wedding Band (Annabelle), and Theatre on the Move (Ensemble).

Diana Maldonado (Ismene) is a freshman and excited to be in her first mainstage production here at MSU. Jess Pace (Antigone) is a sophomore BFA Actor and excited to be premiering in her first MSU production. She was a member of the Dirty 9 her freshman year as well as Izzy in F.A.S.T.’s production of War on Safety.

Ava Rendina (Antigone) is a junior BFA Acting major. She has been in productions of The Rover, Mad Forest, and Carrie: The Musical at MSU. Instagram: @avarendina Bradley Satchell (Pigres) is a senior Acting major from Port Saint Lucie, FL. His recent credits are The Rover by Aphra Behn and Daughters of the Rebellion by Guadalís Del Carmen. He has received training from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York and the Rutgers Summer Acting Conservatory in New Brunswick, NJ. IG: bradsatch Joey Stellwag (Glaukos) is a junior Acting major from Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly, NJ.

Gwendolyn Torrence (Antigone) is a senior BFA Acting major at MSU. Previous works include Matsukaze, directed by Mercedes Murphy, and The Rover, directed

by Jean Randich. @gw3ng3r