In the Blood

2025-26 Season

DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC AND THEATRE PRESENTS

FOR INFO & TICKETS

BY SUZAN-LORI PARKS DIRECTED BY SHAUN PATRICK TUBBS

OCTOBER 22 TO 26 WEDNESDAY AT 8PM THURSDAY AT 8PM FRIDAY AT 3PM SATURDAY AT 2PM & 8PM SUNDAY AT 2PM

Advance Tickets: $20 general public/$15 students, seniors, & UAlbany faculty-staff Day of Show Tickets: $25 general public/$20 students, seniors, & UAlbany faculty-staff

Info:(518)442-3995 WWW.ALBANY.EDU/PAC

UAlbany Theatre Department of Music & Theatre College of Arts and Sciences presents

IN THE BLOOD by

Suzan-Lori Parks Directed by

Shaun Patrick Tubbs Costume Design

Stage Manager

Samantha Landy

Johanna Levitt-Dindas

Lighting Design

Vera Schulman

Production Manager/Original Music Composition

Properties Manager

Scenic Consultant/Props Supervisor

Otto Vaval

Evan Anderson Beck Clark

Technical Direction

John Knapp

Original New York Production by The New York Shakespeare Festival, George C. Wolfe, Producer

This production is made possible with the generous support of The John Orser ’55 Theatrical Endowment and the Futterer-Gould Fund.

A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR Suzan-Lori Parks’ play In the Blood delves into the harsh realities of poverty, motherhood, societal expectations, and the often harsh realities of life for those living on the margins.

At the heart of In the Blood lies Hester’s relentless fight for her children’s future. She embodies the struggles many mothers face: balancing love and sacrifice while trying to provide a better life for them. Throughout the play, we witness Hester's trials and tribulations as she tries to traverse her circumstances—a reality filled with indignation from every facet of our society. Parks raises questions about what happens when people are marginalized not only economically but socially as well. Presenting how often we turn a blind eye to individuals like Hester, reducing them to mere statistics rather than recognizing their humanity.

The play also explores power dynamics—the power some hold over others due to privilege or status. Reflecting how power can corrupt human relationships. Helping others becomes less about compassion and more about perceived obligation or moral superiority—a theme intricately woven into modern society's fabric where altruism sometimes masks deeper self-serving motivations.

Even now, In the Blood continues to explore issues that are still extremely prevalent in nearly every part of the world. My hope is that as you witness this play it will invite a dialogue around the responsibility toward those affected by systemic injustices, and urge us all to question our own complicity within these frameworks. We must ultimately remember that Hester doesn’t simply serve as a commentary or cautionary tale. Hester is, in fact, us when we are forgotten.

The Company Hester, La Negrita

MIEKAYLA PIERRE

Chilli/Jabber

JARED LEWIS-HOLLIDAY

Reverend D/Baby

JAY ROBINSON

The Welfare Lady/ Bully

DALYCE URIBE

Aminga Gringa/Beauty

ALLISON KRAWCZYK

Doctor/Trouble

ETHAN GOLDBERGER Production Team

Scenic Consultant/Props Supervisor………………………BECK CLARK Scene Shop Supervisor…………..…………………………….JOHN KNAPP Costume Design Supervisor/Shop Manager ….. ANNE CROTEAU Original Music Composition ..……………………….EVAN ANDERSON Assistant Costume Designer……….……………..ETHAN KAVALUNAS Assistant Stage Manager…………………SAGE MAHAR-RYSEDORPH Marketing ……………………………………………………. CHLOE POLANCO Department Photographer………………………………………..LONG LIN Light Board Operator………….……………..…....…………… CAT BRADY Sound Engineer………………………….…………………….ESTHER LEVINE Sound Board Operator…………………………………SAMANTHA GLICK Wardrobe Crew.……………………….……….…...………. VALERIA CANO, ETHAN KAVALUNAS, ZACH GOPILALL

Run Crew .…….……………………………….. FANTOUMATA DOUCOURE, BLEU SANTIAGO, JAYDON VINEYARD Prop Crew………………………………………..………. SK KOUASSI, LAUREL IZZO, LOREL ROSS Scene Shop Technical Assistants …………………………... CAT BRADY, ESTHER LEVINE, JOHANNA LEVITTDINDAS, AVERY LUENING Scene Shop Crew ………………….…………… STACY HYSON, EMMA EIS Scene Shop Lab Students………………… FAITH ADAMCZYK, ANYLAH BARRETT, JAKE HUERTER, SHERLYN JOAQUIN, ETHAN KAVALUNAS, BRODY LEE, JARED LEWIS-HOLIDAY, MILLA LIM, FATOU MBAYE, KYE MCCOLLUM, OLIVER MERCURIO, BLEU NIEVES, SOFIA PEREZ, AVA PIATT, XAVIER ROSARIO, NINA SCANDURRA, HAYLEY WHITSETT, ALEX ZEHNER Electrics Crew…………………………………………………. MALACHI REDD Costume Shop Technical Assistants ……………………..LAUREL IZZO, SAMANTHA LANDY Costume Shop Lab Students .…………………………….SARA BARTELS, ZOEY CAHILL, HEAVENLEE GONZALEZ, ETHAN KAVALUNAS, TORI SHROPSHIREHOWERTON

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Who’s Who MIEKAYLA PIERRE (Hester, La Negrita) is a senior Marketing/Finance major with a minor in Theatre, and is thrilled to be part of another amazing production at UAlbany! Previous productions Miekayla has worked on include The Rocky Horror Show, where she played the Usherette and a Phantom, and she was also featured as a performer in FRESH ACTS. Miekayla is incredibly grateful to be part of such a warm, supportive cast and is eager to share this powerful production with the audience.

JARED LEWIS-HOLLIDAY (Chilli/Jabber; Fight Captain) is a junior at the University at Albany pursuing a BA in Theatre and Political Science with a minor in Acting. Recent credits include Percy Shelley in Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein, Willmore in a staged reading of The Rover, Macbeth in the 2025 Shakespeare Showcase, Oswaldo in Between Riverside and Crazy, and ensemble work in Capital Repertory Theatre’s Next Act Festival and the Theatre Program’s FRESH ACTS Festival of 2025. Jared is grateful to God for this opportunity and Director Shaun Patrick Tubbs for trusting him with this role.

JAY ROBINSON (Reverend D/Baby) is a senior at the University at Albany, with a Theatre major and an Acting minor. Previously in the Theatre Program he was a sound board operator for both Machinal and The Rocky Horror Show, and a performer in the Authors Theatre staged reading of The Rover. He is also a dancer and an aspiring film actor, hoping to soon make his way to the big screen.

DALYCE URIBE (The Welfare Lady/Bully) is a Communications major and a Philosophy at Law and Theatre minor. She has previously appeared in Theatre Program productions as Helen

in Machinal, Clyde in Clyde’s, and character #00 in The Wolves.

Dalyce is super excited to be working with the wonderful director Shaun Patrick Tubbs, and is looking forward to everyone watching this production that speaks on things that she believes need to be spoken of and brought up more in our society.

ALLISON KRAWCZYK (Amiga Gringa/Beauty) is a senior this year at the University at Albany. Originally from Buffalo, New York, she is majoring in Theatre with a minor in Musical Theatre.

Previous productions that she has worked on include The Rocky Horror Show (playing Columbia, 2025), Mary Shelly Meets Frankenstein (ASM, 2024), Taming of the Shrew (playing Vincentio, 2024), and RENT (2023). She is excited and grateful to help share a story that confronts injustice and forces us to examine the systems we too often ignore, alongside our talented actors and the incredible work put in by the creative and design team.

ETHAN GOLDBERGER (Doctor/Trouble) is a sophomore at the University at Albany and is very excited for his first show here.

He is currently a Theatre major and has previously been in many great productions such as Young Frankenstein and Clue at Seaford High School. Good luck to the cast and crew. Break-aleg!

SAMANTHA LANDY (Costume Designer) is currently a senior at the University of Albany, majoring in Theatre with a minor in Theatrical Design and Technology. Previous design credits include Grand Night for Singing, Jesus Christ Superstar, Escape to Margaritaville, and The Fantasticks (Assistant) at the MacHaydn Theatre; and Lend Me a Tenor at the Ghent Playhouse.

Sam has also worked in Theatre Program productions as the assistant designer for The Glass Menagerie, Mary Shelley Meets

Frankenstein, and The Rocky Horror Show. Most recently, Sam worked as the Cutter/Draper and the Costume Shop Manager at the Mac-Haydn Costume Shop.

VERA SCHULMAN (Lighting Designer) is proud to be the lighting designer for In the Blood. Vera is a senior Theatre major with a minor in Theatrical Design and Technology. You can often find her work at Lark Hall in downtown Albany, and was operating the console for the Theatre Program’s production of The Rocky Horror Show last spring.

OTTO VAVAL (Properties Manager) is a junior here at the University at Albany. They are a Theatre major with a minor in Acting. Originally from Hillburn, New York, they have been doing theatre for almost a decade, both onstage and backstage. They have worked on props for several Theatre Program shows including The Taming of the Shrew, Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein, Machinal, and The Rocky Horror Show. They were the Assistant Prop Supervisor for Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein; and have also stage managed several productions and were assistant stage manager for the Theatre Program’s production of Clyde’s their freshman year. Otto is honored to be taking part in such an impactful production, and hopes everyone enjoys the show!

JOHANNA LEVITT-DINDAS (Stage Manager) is a junior at the University at Albany, pursuing a double major in Theatre and Political Science, with a minor in Theatrical Design and Technology. Past credits include: The Crucible (Stage Manager/Assistant Director) and Chicago (Prop Master/Stage Crew); and the Theatre Program’s production of Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein (Assistant Stage Manager) and The Rocky Horror Show (Assistant Stage Manager), as well as the 2025 Authors Theatre staged reading of Building the Wall (Stage

Manager) with the NYS Writers Institute. She is excited to be part of this wonderful production, and grateful for the chance to bring it to life alongside such a talented cast and crew.

SAGE MAHAR-RYSEDORPH (Assistant Stage Manager) is a senior majoring in Theatre and minoring in Theatrical Design and Technology. This is her fourth show at UAlbany since transferring here sophomore year from SUNY Oswego, where she was on the props crew for Romeo and Juliet. Sophomore year she was sound board operator for the Theatre Program’s production of The Glass Menagerie, and last fall was on the run crew for Machinal. In the spring she was Assistant Scenic Designer for The Rocky Horror Show and participated as a playwright in FRESH ACTS 2025. She would like to thank her family for always supporting her love for theatre.

SHAUN PATRICK TUBBS (Director) is a New York-based director, actor, and the Visiting Assistant Professor of Direction at UAlbany. Selected directing credits include Salt in a Wound (NYU/Stella Alder), The Comedy of Errors (Powerhouse Theatre), The Rocky Horror Show (UAlbany), American Apollo (Des Moines Metro Opera), The Glass Menagerie (UAlbany), Ragtime (Union Avenue Opera), Defacing Michael Jackson (Miami New Drama), The Tempest (Powerhouse Theatre), Troilus and Cressida (Juilliard), Sweat (Wright State), Life Is a Dream (Juilliard), Black Dick (NYTW), Lost in the Stars (Union Avenue Opera), Independence Eve (Signature Theatre DC), Well-Intentioned White People (Orlando Shakespeare), hop tha A (Ars Nova), Artney Jackson (The Lark/New Black Festival), and Disgraced (Asolo Repertory Theatre). Selected acting credits include Stained (New Ohio Theater), Terminus (NYTW), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (Human Race Theatre), My Mañana Comes (MTC), and The Book of Grace (Zach Scott

Theatre). He is a recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, and holds an MFA from UT Austin and a BFA from Wright State University. Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC), Actors Equity Association (AEA), and SAG-AFTRA. BECK CLARK (Scenic Consultant/Props Supervisor) is a scenic designer, scenic artisan and the Visiting Assistant Professor of Scenic Design here at UAlbany. Professional design and assistant design credits include work at Cortland Repertory Theatre, Underscore Theatre Company, Colorado College, Hangar Theatre Wedge and KidSTUFF series, Arkansas Shakespeare Company, and more. Before joining the UAlbany Theatre Program, Beck was formerly an Assistant Professor of Theatre Design and Technology at Angelo State University in Texas. They hold an MFA in Scenic Design and Production from the University of Arizona, and a BA in Theatre from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.

EVAN ANDERSON (Production Manager/Original Music Composition) is a lighting designer and composer for theatre, dance, and film, as well as the Visiting Assistant Professor of Production here at UAlbany. His lighting work has been seen across the United States and internationally in Europe and Asia.

Frequent collaborators include The Wooster Group, zoe | juniper, and Paul Budraitis. Recent work: The Winter’s Tale and It’s a Wonderful Life (Hartford Stage), The Plot (Yale Repertory Theatre), Pipe Dream (Berkshire Theatre Group), Symphony of Rats (The Wooster Group), I Love That For You (Acker Statd Palast), Constellations (Ancram Opera House); Scenes With Girls (Theater Lab), and Happy Life (The Hearth). He is a company member of CabinFever, a Burry Fredrik Design Fellow, and a graduate of Yale School of Drama.

ANNE CROTEAU (Costume Shop Manager) is the Theatre Program’s Costumer, designing costumes and supervising student designers for the production season. She teaches courses in theatrical design and costume construction, and runs the costume shop. Previous costume design credits at UAlbany include The Rocky Horror Show, Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein, The Taming of the Shrew, RENT, The Piano Lesson, Eurydice, Spring Awakening, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, and others. Professional theatre credits include the American Repertory Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Costume Works Inc., Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Saratoga Children’s Theatre and many others. Anne is the owner of Dress You Up, a custom bridal and formal gown design studio in Ballston Lake, NY and a member of the Board of Directors for Not So Common Players of Clifton Park, NY. She holds an MFA in Costume Construction and Design from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana; and a BA in Theatre from UAlbany.

JOHN KNAPP (Scene Shop Supervisor/Technical Director) John holds a BA in Theatre from UAlbany. He has been part of the team of students and artistic colleagues for approximately twenty-seven years, helping to 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 now have over 110 years of known Theatre history at UAlbany. If you have memorabilia that relates to theatre here, please contact John at: jknapp@albany.edu.

Theatre Program Administrative Staff Chair of Music & Theatre/Producer…………............. KATE WALAT Head of History, Literature & Criticism………….ESZTER SZALCZAR Department Administrative Assistant…..…………….. AMY REUTER Administrative Services ..............................................PAC STAFF Theatre Faculty & Staff Professor..........................................................ESZTER SZALCZER Associate Professor.................................................KATE WALAT Visiting Assistant Professors…………………………. EVAN ANDERSON BECK CLARK ANNE CROTEAU MICHAEL SCHANTZ SHAUN PATRICK TUBBS Instructional Support Associate..............................JOHN KNAPP Adjunct Instructors ………………………………..……..….. ELLEN CRIBBS DAVID GIRARD ASHLEY-SIMONE KIRCHNER ANGELA LEDTKE STEVEN MADORE YVONNE PERRY DESIRÉE CHAPPELLE STREETER Coming Soon Please join us for OUR TOWN

by Thorton Wilder Directed by Jean-Remy Monnay In the Lab Theatre November 19-23

2025-26 Season

Theatre Program 2025-2026 Season!

OCTOBER 22-26 - Lab Theatre

IN THE BLOOD

by Suzan-Lori Parks Directed by Shaun Patrick Tubbs NOVEMBER 19-23 - Lab Theatre

OUR TOWN

by Thornton Wilder Directed by Jean-Remy Monnay MARCH 4-8 - Arena Theatre

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

by William Shakespeare Directed by Michael Schantz APRIL 22-25 - Arena Theatre

FRESH ACTS Artistic Directed by Shaun Patrick Tubbs

For tickets visit: https://www.albany.edu/pac/department-music-and-theatre-performances

2025-26 Season

Music Program Upcoming Performances Fall 2025 November 1st —Main Theatre

Fall Choral Hour November 8th - Recital Hall

Alumni Trio December 1st - Recital Hall

UNIVERSITY JAZZ ENSEMBLE December 3rd - Recital Hall

Student Recital December 7th - Main Theatre

ANNUAL HOLIDAY CONCERT December 8th - Main Theatre

12 Drummers Drummin’ For tickets visit: https://www.albany.edu/pac/department-music-and-theatre-performances

Thank you for supporting the Department of Music and Theatre at UAlbany!