Journey to the Poles of Poles of Inaccessibility - Playbill

by Craig Pospisil December 6 - 22, 2023 Directed by Heidi Van

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM

Cynthia Levin

Heidi Van

Tanya Brown

Elise Poehling

Joshua Gleeson

Jenise Cook

Vi Tran

Francisco Javier Villegas

Mateo Moreno

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR UNICORN THEATRE THIS SEASON HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY:

Opening Night: Saturday, December 9, 2023 UNICORN THEATRE PRESENTS

JOURNEY TO THE POLES OF INACCESSIBILITY

by Craig Pospisil Directed by Heidi Van THE CAST Chris Dylan Aunt Pat/ Rene/ Mom Misha/ Wei/ Dad Sasha/ Ponce/ Lenin Avery/ Jimi/ Jo/ Dock Worker Chris U/S

Elise Poehling* Joshua Gleeson Jenise Cook* Vi Tran* Francisco Javier Villegas* Mateo Moreno* Erdin Schultz-Bever

PRODUCTION TEAM Stage Manager Scenic Designer Scenic Painter Lighting Designer Asst. Lighting Designer Sound Designer Costume Designer Props Designer Projections Designer Production Assistant Production Assistant Sound Board Operator

Tanya Brown* Bradley Meyer Bethany Elliot Alex Perry Kelsi Richardson Thomas Newby Arwen White Eric Palmquist Scott Olney Ashley Champion Daniel Vazquez Mable Bell

* Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association

SPECIAL THANKS

Kirsty Melville & Jonathan Chester OUR SPONSOR

3828 MAIN STREET | KANSAS CITY, MO 64111 | (816) 531-7529 | UNICORNTHEATRE.ORG

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT Craig Pospisil (PLAYWRIGHT) is the author of the plays Months On End, Somewhere In Between, and The Dunes, among others, and co-authored The Gorges Motel and One Christmas Eve At Evergreen Mall. He has written over sixty short plays and one-acts, including Dissonance, which is slated to be made into a short film in Hungary next year.

His work has been seen at New World Stages, Bay Street, Barrington Stage, Cherry Lane, Purple Rose, City Theatre, Ensemble Studio, Detroit Rep, and Stage West, among others. His plays have been performed internationally from Australia to Zimbabwe, and translated into seven languages. A native New Yorker, Craig lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Bloomberg TV anchor Alix Steel and their daughter, Dillon.

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM Cynthia Levin (PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR) is in her 45th season with the Unicorn. This will be her final season with the Theatre! Cynthia started at the Unicorn in 1979 as an actor, stage manager, designer and director. In 1983, she was offered the position of Artistic Director, which was to become the role of a lifetime. Since that time, she has worked on over 300 productions. Most recently Cynthia directed Refuge, Our Black Death and Bernhardt/Hamlet. Some of the other productions she has directed here are Bond, Vietgone, Chesapeake, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert: The Musical (codirected with Missy Koonce), Eclipsed, Hand to God, Heathers: The Musical (again, with Missy), The Oldest Boy, Women Playing Hamlet (world premiere), Bad Jews, Grounded, Venus in Fur, My Name is Asher Lev, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, The Soul Collector (world premiere), Hungry (world premiere), Red, Two Jews Walk Into A War…, Distracted, Green Whales (world premiere), Miss Witherspoon, My First Time, The Clean House, Mauritius, 9 Parts of Desire, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Bat Boy: The Musical and additionally the world premieres of rightnextto me (both at the Unicorn and Geva Theatre Center, Rochester, NY), How His Bride Came to Abraham, Light:Damage, Mercy Killing, Innocent Thoughts and Jack and Jill. At Coterie Theatre, she has directed Number the Stars, And Then They Came for Me, Frankenstein, Gatherings in Graveyards (I and II), Valley Song and To Kill A Mockingbird. At the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., she directed readings of Our Black Death, Occupants, In The Belly Of The Whale, The Friendship Of Her Thighs, The Last Pair Of Earlies, Tigers Be Still and White Devil and Loving Mother for the MFA Playwright’s Workshop. Cynthia is a graduate of Park University which also awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in 2002. She is a founding board member of the National New Play Network, an organization dedicated to the development and production of new works. She has been honored with the Pinnacle Award for Excellence in the Arts, the Human Rights Campaign Equality Award and most recently the Kathryn V. Lamkey Award from the Actors’ Equity Association for her ongoing commitment to inclusion and diversity. She shares her home with Dublin, the 7 month old Golden Retriever rescue and the spirits of Dodger and Zia. Heidi Van (DIRECTOR) is thrilled to be directing Journey to the Poles of Inaccessibility! Previous Unicorn Credits include directing Dance Nation, The Wolves, and Project Dawn and appearing in Nomad Motel, Hand to God, Next Fall, The Vibrator Play, and Bright Ideas. Heidi has directed at Musical Theatre Heritage, UMKC, The Coterie and most often for Fishtank Theatre, a theatre company she founded 10+ years ago. Heidi is also the owner and founder of The Black Box, an innovative theatre hub

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM in the West Bottoms. Van is a Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Fellow and a proud recipient of the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation SEED Grant. The Fishtank & Heidi were curated into Open Spaces with the TIME Magazine recognized immersive theatre production of Elegy For A Lady by Arthur Miller. Heidi is mother of three incredible ladies, Marianne, (almost 12!) Pauline, (too close to 10) and little Baby Esme (who turned 4!) Thank you Philip, Mom and Dad and The Black Box team for having her back. Find out more at www.blackboxkc.com.

Elise Poehling (CHRIS) is so excited to return to The Unicorn with such a fantastic team!

She has previously worked at The Unicorn in Our Black Death, Death of a Driver, and The Revolutionists. She has most recently been seen at The Coterie as Emma Fairfax in Doctor Dolittle, The Living Room as Macey Maid-a-Milking in Milking Christmas, and co-devising Nellie and Elise’s Clown Closet at The Black Box. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Joshua Gleeson (DYLAN) is extremely humbled to have his Unicorn debut be alongside such an incredibly amazing cast of performers. You may have seen Gleeson previously as Max in KC Repertory Theatre’s production of The Royale or as John Faustus in The Tragedy of Dr. Faustus produced by Kansas City Public Theatre. He would like to thank Cynthia Levin, Craig Pospisil, and Heidi Van for their leadership, trust, and guidance. He would also like to thank Tanya Brown and the entire production team for all their hard work and dedication. Lastly, Joshua would like to express his undying gratitude for his loving wife Kaitlynn. For without her constant love and support, nothing would be possible.

Jenise Cook (AUNT PAT/ RENE/ MOM) is an Actor, Movement Artist, and Intimacy Director from Detroit, MI. She holds an MFA in Acting and Directing from the University of Missouri - Kansas City. She has spent time acting and choreographing (movement and intimacy) in Georgia (Aurora Theatre, Synchronicity Theatre, Georgia Gwinnett College), South Carolina (Glow Lyric Theatre), Ohio (Cleveland Playhouse - New Ground Festival), and Kansas City (Starlight, KCREP, Unicorn Theatre, Coterie Theatre, Kansas City Actors Theatre, Fishtank Theatre, UMKC, KU). Jenise was also a puppeteer on the UK children’s series Moon and Me (produced by Andrew Davenport). She is currently the Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre - Performance at the University of Central Missouri. jenisec.com Vi Tran (MISHA/ WEI/ DAD) is fresh off the road from the national tour of Cambodian Rock Band (Alley Theatre, Berkeley Rep, Arena Stage, ACT/5th Avenue) and is thrilled to be home at the Unicorn where audiences may remember him from Vietgone, The Oldest Boy, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, and Take Me Out. Born in Vietnam and raised in Kansas, Vi is equal parts sea salt and wheat fields. His autobiographical refugee folk musical The Butcher’s Son chronicles his family’s journey and was nominated for 8 awards at the 2018 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, winning Most Promising Musical and Best Leading Performer (Tran). Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @vitranmusic.

Watch and listen at youtube.com/vitranmusic.

Francisco Javier Villegas (SASHA/ PONCE/ LENIN) would like to thank you for taking the time to be here at Unicorn Theatre, watching this production of Journey To The

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM Poles Of Inaccessibility. As time progresses, the time shared together in this haven of creativity known as KC, means more to him than can be expressed in this bio. Francisco is proud of the work shown today and is even more proud of every single person who decides to get out of bed to try and make today better than it was the day before. One foot in front of the other, one day at a time. ¡Amor y paz! Go fast, take chances. (Pancho) Mateo Moreno (AVERY/ JIMI/ JO/ DOCK WORKER) is an actor/playwright, dabbles in the backstage world and is thrilled to be making his debut at Unicorn Theatre.

Highlights: Chicago the Musical (Broadway, CSM), Spamilton (National Tour, ATM), Self-Storage (Off-Broadway, Benny), Not-Knowing (OB, Various), Matilda the Musical (Broadway, Lottery/Events), The Rocky Horror Show (Regional, Frank), Dead Wives Dance the Mambo (OB, Vicquez). As a playwright, his plays Happily After Tonight, Bohemian Valentine, Broken Pieces & No Hablo Español have all been produced in NYC. His play Pitch has been published & is available on Amazon. He also writes film reviews at “The ArtsWireWeekly.” Love to Skye, his family and his furball boys. www.MateoMoreno.com www.TheArtsWireWeekly.com Tanya Brown (STAGE MANAGER) is in her 18th season with Unicorn Theatre. Some of her all-time favorites have been The Revolutionists, Venus in Fur, Hand to God, Cock, Stupid F##king Bird, and Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Bradley Meyer (SCENIC DESIGNER) is a freelance Theatre Designer and professional educator from Des Moines, Iowa. He moved to Kansas City in 2021 after a lifetime in Iowa where he taught Family and Consumer Science as well as directed theatre and speech programs at the high school level. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Science from Iowa State University as well as a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, and studied scenic design in the graduate program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. His recent design credits include; Boxed (Whim Productions), Playing on the Periphery (Whim Productions), After All: 60 Years of Cher (Heartland Men’s Chorus), Seussical the Musical (Ruskin High School), Marys Seacole (Unicorn Theater), & Bethel Park Falls (UMKC). Bradley has served as the Props Artist for the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival for three seasons and serves as the Resident Scenic Designer for both Whim Productions and Heartland Men’s Chorus. Upcoming Productions include; Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage (JCCC) . For more information visit: bradleymeyerdesigns.com Alex Perry (LIGHTING DESIGNER) holds 9/10 of a Masters of Fine Arts from UMKC and is thrilled to light design for the Unicorn having also worked in the areas of scenery and props. Lighting designs include: Lungs, Our Black Death, Who’s your Bahgdaddy, Heathers: The Musical, The Ghosts of Lote Bravo, The Oldest Boy, Hands on a Hardbody, Water by the Spoonful, Grounded, Venus in Fur, The Mountaintop, My Name is Asher Lev, Everyday Rapture, and Red. Alex has also worked as lighting and scenic designer with many other theatres in the KC area, and spends his days with A to Z Theatrical Supply and Service Inc. Scott Olney (PROJECTIONS DESIGNER) is so excited for his first time being a part of the design team at Unicorn Theatre. He has designed for various companies in Kansas City and Wichita over the last few years including Kansas City Kansas Community

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM College (Ride The Cyclone - Projection Design), Music Theatre Kansas City (Beauty And The Beast - Lighting Design) and Crown Arts Collaborative (Rent - Lighting Design).

When not designing shows, Scott works in the Sales and Service department at A to Z Theatrical as well as doing freelance video production work. He would like to thank his wife Anna, his parents, Mark and Pam, as well as the rest of his family for their love and support of all his endeavors.

Thomas Newby (SOUND DESIGNER) has been making music, film and live theatre for the past 15 years. He received his MFA in sound design from UMKC in 2023. He is a cofounder of the Green Zoo Arts Collective and has released several albums as vocalist and songwriter for his two bands, The Green Zoo and By Fire and Sword. He has written and produced several original plays with his theatre company Green Zoo Theatre. His play, Waiting Games was chosen as a regional finalist for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. He has recently worked with Unicorn Theatre, the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Kansas City Actors Theatre, The Living Room Theatre, Fishtank Theatre and the College of Idaho Studio Theatre. He’s a gifted whistler.

Arwen White (COSTUME DESIGNER) is a Kansas City based costume designer and founder of Juste Jaquet Designs, a creative studio for costume design and fine art. She has designed theatrically throughout the city on productions including Dr.Dolittle, Pigeon, Pete the Cat (Coterie Theatre), What the Constitution Means to Me, Flood (The KC Rep), Mary’s Seacole, The Sound Inside, Clyde’s, Toni Stone, Tiny Beautiful Things, The Lifespan of a Fact, Who’s Your Baghdaddy?, The Revolutionists, Sweat (Unicorn Theatre); Sketchbook for Ollie (Lyric Opera); Great Comet of 1812, Motherfreakinghood, Gruesome Playground Injuries (Fishtank Theatre); R & H Unplugged (Musical Theatre Heritage); Little Shop of Horrors (Padgett Productions); Something Rotten, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Peter Pan (The White Theatre); Tommy (Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre); Chainsaw (The Living Room); Tartuffe (Landlocked Opera); Wicked Creatures (Confluence Theatre); the light burns blue (Stage Play). Film: Plot to Kill Jesse James, History Channel. Education: Theater Design and Construction, UMKC. Mrs. White is the founder and lead designer of Juste Jaquet Designs. arwenjwhite.com. Entertainment Contractor for Norwegian Cruise Line, stitching for Burn the Floor, Paradie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and Band on the Run. A Teaching Artist throughout Kansas City she is loving the opportunity to help young artists grow and explore through theatre and design. arwenjwhite.com Eric Palmquist (PROPS DESIGNER) is a graduate of the University of Kansas theatre program and a founding member of Terra Femina Collective. Recent work includes macbitches, Native Gardens, Marys Seacole, Refuge, Clyde’s, The Sound Inside, Toni Stone, The Inheritance Parts 1 & 2, Tiny Beautiful Things, Our Black Death, Dance Nation, Pipeline, The Lifespan of a Fact, American Son, Babel, Bernhardt/Hamlet, Who’s Your Baghdaddy, The Revolutionists, The Humans (Unicorn Theatre), Caroline, or Change, Every Brilliant Thing, Billy Elliot (Spinning Tree), and A Moon for the Misbegotten (KCAT).

An AEA member, he was last seen in Viper (Terra Femina) and Nomad Motel (Unicorn Theatre), and has performed with the Coterie, the Living Room Theatre, Equity Actors Reader Theatre, the MET, and the Buffalo Room.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STAFF

President

Producing Artistic Director Cynthia Levin Director of Finance Jason Kralicek Director of Marketing Nathan Gwartney Director of Development Skylar Pappenfort Production Manager Taylor Jene Sullivan Technical Director Andy Peveler Box Office Manager Michael LeDesma Social Media Coordinator Josh Grinlinton Production Stage Manager Tanya Brown Front of House Staff Todd Becker, Cheryl Benge,

Sally Everhart

Vice President

Kirsty Melville

Treasurer

Michael Nonbello Secretary

Meredith Webster Kevin Gabriel Carol Gee Cynthia Levin Annie Swartz Amy Wright

Anthony Beyer, Christopher Carlson, Megan Forbes, Paula Fry, Andrew Gosling, Daniel Harkins, Imani Lewis, Tshombe Locke, Ethan Platt, Emma Post, Anna Sell, & Rosie Thomas Photography Cynthia Levin

UNICORN THEATRE’S MISSION Unicorn Theatre enhances the Kansas City community by developing and producing high-quality, thought-provoking plays that have never been seen in the region. We illuminate social issues by shining a light on diversity and inclusive stories which include race, religion and gender identity. Unicorn creates opportunities for the advancement of emerging and established actors, directors, playwrights, designers, technicians and administrative staff.

VISION STATEMENT By producing provocative new plays Unicorn Theatre fosters the next generation of great American writers and artists, creating innovative and intimate theatrical experiences that transcend the ordinary. We inspire the community to think and feel deeply; to see the world in new and different ways. Unicorn strives to be one of the preeminent homes for new plays in the country.

AFFILIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS Unicorn Theatre is a constituent of Actors’ Equity Association; Theatre Communications Group, Inc.; The National New Play Network; Missouri Citizens for the Arts; The Downtown Council; Main Street Development Corporation; Nonprofit Connect; Urban Core Group; and The Kansas City Convention and Visitors Bureau.