A Dream Play

2021 -22

Performing Arts Center university at albany

State University of New York

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Performing Arts Center Music Program Theatre Program

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Cover photo: Ashwini Ramaswamy by Ed Bock Photo this page: UAlbany Performing Arts Center by Patrick Ferlo

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Photo: Ashwini Ramaswamy’s Let the Crows Come by Jake Armour

for a full listing of this season’s events.

About the Film

Dramaturg’s Note August Strindberg’s A Dream Play (1901) is one of the first notable works of surrealist theatre, some two decades before surrealism in the arts was born. Strindberg himself represents a bridge between the theatrical movements of naturalism and expressionism. In his early works, Strindberg utilized the naturalist technique of capturing the world exactly as it seems to be as a way of analyzing society. His later career transitioned to experimentation with expressionist techniques of taking the artist’s internal state and putting it on the stage in order to explore deeper truths of how we perceive the world as individuals.

Strindberg’s artistic philosophy was that the only person the artist could truly know was themselves. All art was a dissection of the person who made it. Therefore, all of his works are highly autobiographical and are enriched by the knowledge of his life. In A Dream Play, we see Strindberg’s ruminations on his failed marriages, class consciousness, and the psychological and spiritual effects of modernity.

Caryl Churchill’s adaptation, first performed a century after the original play, modernizes the text in a way that maintains Strindberg’s original critiques while also making them more understandable to a modern English-speaking audience. In keeping with Churchill’s background as a feminist playwright, our version also plays with gender in a way that Strindberg may not have originally intended, but stays true to his overall worldview.

Tonight, we explore our dreams to gain a better understanding of ourselves and the world in which we live. Where do our dreams come from? Who makes them and why? As you take on the role of Strindberg’s dreamer, immerse yourself in this lucid space with no preconceptions and take from it only what you need.

Jack Besterman, Dramaturg

The Company THE DREAM PLAYERS: Agnes - Aaliyah Nunez-Delacruz Writer - Cay Stevens Officer - Vlad Panchishak Solicitor - Cristopher Sosa Glazier+ - Chioma Ofodile Billsticker+ - Natalie Tulloch Kristin+ - Dua Abdul Stagedoor Keeper+ - Fiona Faccilonga Victoria+ - Emily Olivia English Edith+ - Brianna Iacovone Quarantine Master+ - Jaime Kaufman Blindman+ - Michael P. Halkitis

UNDERSTUDIES/SWINGS: Michael P. Halkitis (Officer & Solicitor) Ajsia Cabrera (Agnes) Lena Dzialak (Writer) Krystina Broscko (All Dream Players) Khemasia Pierce (All Dream Players)

First performed in the Cottesloe auditorium of the National Theatre, London, on the 15 February 2005. This educational production is presented through special arrangement with Casarotto Ramsay & Associates Limited This production is made possible with generous support from The John Orser ’55 Theatrical Endowment, the Jarka and Grayce Susan Burian Endowed Theatre Fund, and University Auxiliary Services

Production Team Production Manager..…………………………………...STEVE MICHALEK Scene Shop Supervisor…………..…………………………….JOHN KNAPP Costume Shop Manager…………………….……………..RENEÉ M. BELL Marketing……………………………………………….KAT SCHERMERHORN Dramaturg……………………………………………………JACK BESTERMAN Assistant Stage Manager………………………………………. JAKE EVANS Assistant to the Director……………………………….……. MINSEO KOO Light Board Operator………………….…………………… SHRUTHI SUNIL Sound Engineer……………………………………….…EMMETT COSTELLO Sound Board Operator……………………….……………… EVA KOTTAKIS Projection Operator……………………………………….…… MJ JOHNSON Ushers…………………..……………JAIDEN EDWARDS, JAKE PERLMAN SHANNON GILPATRICK, CATHERINE MCDOWELL Deck Crew……………………………. JOY JOHNSON, DIEGO MAROTTA Scene Shop TAs….…EMMETT COSTELLO, DEANNA GREENBLATT MJ JOHNSON, OLEG BALITSKIY Carpentry Crew…………ANDREW MERCADO, WILLIAM FREERICK Properties Crew………………….SMRITHY MUDAVANGATTIL SAJAN Wardrobe Supervisor…………………………………………….MARY BLAIR Costume Shop TA………………………....…………………EMILY ENGLISH Costume Shop Crew………………………………………………JAKE EVANS Scene Shop Lab Students…..JOHN MARQUAYE, OLEG BALITSKIY KEN REIBMAN, EVA KOTTAKIS, EVELYN LEE LIAM MENGLER, CRISTOPHER SOSA AMANDA SPRINGER, DONNIE FRAZIER JORDAN DANNER, BB BANGURA, BRIA KNOX CALEB LEE, LUCY MORGAN, GABRIELLE CORTEZ ZARAH GLAZE, NATE KETCHUM, JAKE PERLMAN Costume Shop Lab Students………………….….BRIANNA IACOCOVE MEARA MCTAGUE, BIANCA MALAVE, HONOR KIRKPATRICK IAN LEE, CATHERINE MCDOWELL, NAISHA VELEZ GALAN ERIN FORD, JAIDEN EDWARDS, LENA DZIALAK

Who’s Who DUA ABDUL (Kristen+) is a junior Psychology and Human Development major at UAlbany. This is her first play production.

LENA DZIALAK (Writer Understudy/Swing) is a freshman at UAlbany with a Theatre major and a Film Studies and Acting minors. She would like to thank the cast and crew.

EMILY OLIVIA ENGLISH (Victoria) is a senior Theatre major with a Musical Theatre minor. She has previously appeared in UAlbany’s Six Scenes in a Theatre and Love & Other Destinations. Thank you to every member of the cast and production team for an amazing experience. Much love to her parents! Instagram: emilyoenglish1 FIONA FACCILONGA (Stage Door Keeper/Teacher/ Bishop) is a freshman at UAlbany who is majoring in Spanish and double minoring in Italian and Creative Writing. Some of her previous roles are Mrs. Peacock in Clue and Adelaide in Guys and Dolls.

She hopes you enjoy the dream!

MICHAEL HALKITIS (Blindman) is a Senior Human Development major with a double minor in Theatre and Psychology. This is my first ever production. He would like to thank his mom and dad for their support.

BRIANNA IACOVONE (Edith) is a freshman at UAlbany who is majoring in Theatre. This is her first production at UAlbany and is very excited to perform with her cast and thanks the crew.

JAIME KAUFMAN (Quarantine Master) is a freshman at UAlbany who is majoring in Theatre and Business Administration. This is

her first show at UAlbany. She is so excited and grateful to have such an amazing cast.

AALIYAH NUNEZ-DELACRUZ (Agnes) is a freshman at UAlbany who is majoring in English with minors in Theatre and Creative Writing. Thanks to her cast, director, and stage manager.

CHIOMA OFODILE (Glazier) is a senior at UAlbany majoring in Psychology and minoring in Creative Writing. She has an immense passion for African storytelling in all its complexity and beauty.

VLAD PANCHISHAK (Officer) is a Business-Economics and Theatre major with a minor in Acting. He is excited to be in his very first production.

CAY STEVENS (Writer) is a senior Communication major with a minor in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity. This is her first production with the UAlbany Theatre Program.

NATALIE TULLOCH (Billsticker) is a freshman at the University at Albany who is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Theatre.

This is her first performance at UAlbany.

EMMETT COSTELLO (Sound Designer/Sound Engineer) is a senior at UAlbany majoring in Psychology and Human Development and minoring in Theatrical Design/Technology. In the UAlbany Theatre Program, he has been the Production Assistant for Love and Other Destinations, the Sound Designer New Works/New Ways and Lovers & Lunatics, and the Sound Board Operator for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He is excited to be back behind the soundboard in person and working with

a great team! He would like to thank his friends and family for their love and support and thank the cast and crew for all of their hard work.

MJ JOHNSON (Projection Designer/Operator) is a senior at UAlbany majoring in Theatre and History. Credits at the University include Video Designer for New Works/New Ways, Playwright for Face The Music in FRESH ACTS 2021, and Sound Board Operator for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Other recent credits include Video Designer for CLOUDS at Columbia University and Technical Director for Uncensored 2021 and Streaming Engineer for Space Dogs, both with MCC Theater.

JACK BESTERMAN (Dramaturg) is a junior at UAlbany majoring in Theatre and Journalism. He has previously worked as the assistant director for Lovers & Lunatics.

MINSEO KOO (Assistant to the Director) is a sophomore Theatre Major, with a minor in Film/Psychology. A Dream Play is her first production in the UAlbany Theatre Program. She wishes to thank Angela for being nurturing throughout rehearsals. She also wishes to thank her mom, dad, and friends for being supportive as well.

JACOB (JAKE) EVANS (Assistant Stage Manager) is a senior Business Administration major with a Theatre Minor. Jake is a drag queen who enjoys constructing costumes. Previous productions include Godspell and Our Country’s Good. Jake would like to thank everyone who helped him find his love for theatre again.

RENEÉ M. BELL (Costume Designer, Stage Manager) is the Resident Costume Designer, Costume Shop Manager, and

Lecturer here at the University at Albany. Previously, she was an Assistant Professor at Marietta College, a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa, and the Craft/Stock Supervisor at the University of Texas, Austin. She continues to design shows for educational and professional theatres including Weathervane Playhouse, University of Iowa, Transport Group, Barrington Stage Company, Manhattan Theatre Source, Riverside Theatre, and Shakespeare by the River. She designed costumes for the independent feature film, Splatter: Love, Honor, Paintball. Reneé has worked as a Milliner on such Broadway shows as Mary Poppins, The Color Purple, The Lion King and The Pajama Game. Reneé is a freelance Costumer with Celebrity Cruise Lines. She has been a proud member of USITT for the last 15 years. Reneé holds a BA in Design and Technical Production from Western Michigan University, and an MFA in Design from the University of Iowa. www.reneembell.com DEVON DROHAN (Scenic Designer) Hailing from Westborough, Massachusetts, scenic designer, production designer, props master and scenic charge Devon Drohan has been involved in technical theater since the age of eight, when she first assisted her aunt, a co–founder of Central Massachusetts–based Calliope Productions, with technical production. Her professional and academic credits include scenic design for A Dream Play (UAlbany), Becoming Othello: A Black Girl’s Journey, Coriolanus, Taming of the Shrew, Love’s Labor’s Lost, and God of Carnage (S&Co), The Magic Flute (UNCG Opera), Antigone, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (UNCG), Machinal, and Casanova (UMass Amherst); production design for Emperor of the Moon, Comedy of Errors, Macbeth, Hamlet (S&Co); and props master at S&Co and the Cape Playhouse in Dennis, Massachusetts. Devon has also served as a production designer for S&Co’s Fall Festival of Shakespeare. She holds a Master of

Fine Arts in Design from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro’s School of Theatre and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Website: DevonDrohanDesigns.Weebly.com JOHN KNAPP (Scene Shop Supervisor) holds a BA in Theatre from UAlbany. John has been part of the team of students and artistic colleagues for approximately twenty-six years, helping build roughly 100 productions at UAlbany. John’s designs include The School for Scandal, Cloud 9, My Children! My Africa!, Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, The Importance of Being Earnest, and In The Next Room. John doubles as the Theatre Program’s Archivist. In 2006, John started collecting documents (photos, programs, posters, etc.) to create a digital archive of Theatre at the University. We are nearing 110 years of known Theatre history. If you have memorabilia that relates to Theatre at the University, please contact John at: jknapp@albany.edu.

ANGELA LEDTKE (Director) is thrilled to be working once again with the incredible UAlbany Theatre production team! As a dedicated UAlbany Theatre undergraduate, graduate student and faculty member over the span of the past 25 years, Angela has enjoyed every experience shared with her fellow PAC rats. With a BA in Theatre, Classical Vocal Training from the Eastman School of Music and an MA in Theatre History, Literature and Criticism, Angela set her sights on gaining valuable teaching experience at Siena College, the College of Saint Rose and here at UAlbany. During this time, while working with college students in the classroom, she found her love for directing. She served as the drama production director and producer for the College of Saint Rose English Department’s Drama Program for the last 7 years, adding 16 academic theatre productions under her belt. Her creative life continues off-stage

as the proud owner of Artique - an artists’ cooperative with two locations, in Clifton Park and Crossgates Mall, where she has collaborated and supported artisans from all over the Capital Region for the past 12 years. She rounds out her roles in life as a mother to 2 beautiful daughters - Olivia & Sophia. She would like to thank Eszter, the entire production team and fellow faculty members for having the confidence to allow her to take the lead on this challenging work of art; to the student designers for their willingness to dive into the world of this play; the cast for their commitment and collaboration; and lastly the audience - whom have been at the center of this journey - may this work ensnare your mind, capture your heart and free your soul.

ANDI LYONS (Lighting Designer) is Professor Emeritus/O’Leary Professor of Theatre, former Chair of UAlbany’s Theatre Department, and former Head of Design and Technology. Andi has designed over three hundred productions for a variety of professional and academic venues over the past decades. A few favorites include Ann for both the Dallas Theater Center and Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.; WAM Theatre’s Emilie: La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight; Capital Repertory Theatre’s The Seahorse; La MaMa E.T.C.’s Sole Sisters; Theater for the New City’s Distant Music; Tri-Cities Opera’s Tosca; Stageworks/Hudson’s Imagining Madoff; and Des Moines Metro Opera’s Il Trovatore. Andi continues as an active member of USITT, the association for design, production, and technology professionals in the entertainment industry.

Professor Lyons received both Chancellor's and President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching and for Excellence in Academic Service. Andi is a lifetime Fellow of USITT, a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, and earned the MFA from Yale University’s School of Drama.

STEVE MICHALEK (Production Manager/Technical Director) is the Head of Design and Technology. He has held myriad positions at numerous regional theatres including Merrimack Repertory Theatre (carpenter/welder), Shakespeare & Company (lighting designer, master electrician, ATD), the Ogunquit Playhouse (TD), Connecticut Repertory Theatre (TD), and the Richard B. Fisher Center at Bard College (TD). He has also acted on area stages including the Mac-Haydn Theatre and the Ghent Playhouse. He has previously taught at Union College (LD/TD), Southern Connecticut State (PM/TD), the University of Connecticut, and at the New Hampton School. He has a BA in English from the University at Albany and an MFA in Technical Direction from the University of Connecticut.

Support UAlbany Theatre Thank you for supporting 110 years of live theatre at the University at Albany. The UAlbany Theatre Program has a long, proud history of creating thought-provoking theatre while training the next generation of theatre artists, and we need your help to continue.

We hope you will consider donating to the UAlbany Theatre Program to support our productions, student scholarships, and special endowments to ensure we can provide the best training for our talented students for the next 100 years. You will also help us cover a portion of the costs of the sets, costumes, lighting, royalties, and other expenses required to produce theatre. For more information on how you can help, contact the Theatre Program at 518-442-4200. www.albany.edu/theatre www.Facebook.com/UAlbanyTheatre

Theatre Program Administrative Staff Theatre Program Director/Producer, Head of History, Literature & Criticism............ESZTER SZALCZER Head of Performance..........................................CHAD LARABEE Head of Design and Technology.......................STEVE MICHALEK Head of Acting......................................................KIM STAUFFER Department Administrative Assistant…..….BERNADETTE SOCHA Administrative Services ..............................................PAC STAFF Theatre Faculty & Staff Professors...................................ANDI LYONS, ESZTER SZALCZER Associate Professor..........................................KATHRYN WALAT Full Time Lecturers....................RENEÉ M. BELL, CHAD LARABEE KIM STAUFFER, STEVE MICHALEK Instructional Support Associate..............................JOHN KNAPP Adjunct Instructors…...............DEVON DROHAN, MELISSA HURT SARA KATZOFF, DAVID KENNER ANGELA LEDTKE, RACHEL MACKENZIE BHAVESH PATEL, YVONNE PERRY, THOM RIVERA Coming Soon Twelfth Night

by William Shakespeare Directed by Chad Larabee March 31 to April 10 On an island where everyone’s in love with someone, but no one’s in love with the someone who loves them back, a castaway may be able to set everything right. Twelfth Night is a classic tale of genderbending hijinks, mistaken identity, and the quest for true love. “If music be the food of live, play on.”

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER HOUSE POLICIES Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the management and its staff. .

The use of photographic or recording devices of any kind during this performance is strictly prohibited. .

There is no food or drink allowed in the theatres, nor is smoking allowed in UAlbany buildings. .

To avoid disrupting the performance, kindly disable any noise making electronic devices you may have with you. .

Please take time to note the location of the fire exits nearest to you. In the event of an emergency, please proceed to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion and follow the directions of our staff.

Created and produced by the University Art Museum, NYS Writers Institute and UAlbany Performing Arts Center in collaboration with WAMC Public Radio, this popular series features leading figures from a variety of artistic disciplines in conversation about their creative inspirations, their craft and their careers.

“Roundtable” host Joe Donahue conducts live on-stage interviews followed by a Q&A with the audience.

Dance in Albany 2021-22

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