Poor Clare - Playbill

by Chiara Atik January 24 - February 11, 2024 Directed by Andi Meyer

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM

Cynthia Levin

Andi Meyer

Tanya Brown

Dri Hernaez

Manon Halliburton

Teisha M. Bankston

Morgan Walker

R.H. Wilhoit

Cathy Barnett

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

Opening Night: Saturday, January 27, 2024 UNICORN THEATRE PRESENTS

by Chiara Atik Directed by Andi Meyer THE CAST Clare Peppa / The Poor Alma Beatrice Francis / Beggar Ortolana

Dri Hernaez Manon Halliburton* Teisha M. Bankston* Morgan Walker* R.H. Wilhoit* Cathy Barnett*

PRODUCTION TEAM Stage Manager Production Assistant Scenic Designer Lighting Designer Costume Designer Asst. Costume Designer Sound Designer Asst. Sound Designer Props Designer Dramaturg Lead Electrician Sound Board Operator

Tanya Brown* Daniel Vazquez Gary Mosby Scott Olney Daniella Toscano Matt Snellgrove Thomas Newby Paul Verdos Shawnna Journagan Lindsay Kennedy Taylor Sullivan Mable Bell

* Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association

SETTING Assisi (Italy), 1211 IMPORTANT NOTES There wil be a 15 minute intermission.

Actors will be using the aisles throughout the performance.

PRODUCTION SPONSOR

Poor Clare is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service imprint. (www.dramatists.com) 3828 MAIN STREET | KANSAS CITY, MO 64111 | (816) 531-7529 | UNICORNTHEATRE.ORG

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT Chiara Atik (PLAYWRIGHT) is a playwright and screenwriter. Her play Poor Clare, was the recipient of the 2022 American Theatre Critics Association’s New Play Award, the LA Drama Critics Circle winner for Best New Play, and a Susan Smith Blackburn Award finalist. Other plays include Five Times in One Night, Bump, and the comedy Women, a modern re-telling of Little Women, which won the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Screenplays include Fairy Godmother (Blacklist), and is currently adapting of Maggie O’Farrell’s best-seller, Hamnet, for Amblin. She is a member of the Ensemble Studio Theater.

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 (co-directed 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 9 month old Golden Retriever rescue and the spirits of Dodger and Zia. Andi Meyer (DIRECTOR) is an award-winning Kanaka Maoli/Asian American theatre maker/activist, arts educator, and parent based in Wyandot/Osage/Kikapoo/ Kansa/Sioux/Otoe-Missourria ancestral territory (Kansas City). She is KCRep’s

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM Artistic Associate and leads Casting, as well as the Producing Artistic Director of Tradewind Arts, a boutique arts organization devoted to illuminating, motivating, and amplifying the voice of Native Hawaiian, Oceanic, and Asian American artists. Andi was a 2017-18 Charlotte Street Foundation (CSF) Studio Resident. Directing: Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them, #Representation Matters/Changing the Narrative, Justice At War, Nomad Motel co-directed with Ian R. Crawford. Her work has been recognized with support from ArtsKC, TCG, Asian Arts Initiative, The Kauffman Foundation, Charlotte Street Foundation, JOCO libraries, InterUrban ArtHouse, and the the Dramatists Guild Fund, as well as two NEA award winning projects in partnership with The Coterie Theatre including Hana’s Suitcase and last fall’s Justice at War. Andi has appeared in numerous productions at Unicorn Theatre, The New Theatre, The Coterie, Kansas City Rep, Disney’s Spirit of Aloha, with voice and oncamera clients including Hallmark, H&R Block, Sprint, and McDonald’s.

Dri Hernaez (CLARE) is a third year MFA actor from the Bay Area in California.

She’s a Filipino-American actress pursuing Theatre, Film, Voice-over for animation, and is also an emerging playwright. In recent years, she’s been a member of the Labyrinth Theater Intensive Ensemble 2022 and a feature film Once I Was Engaged in 2021. She is currently in the UMKC Masters of Fine Arts program for Acting and is graduating in Spring of 2024. She plans to stay in KC for a while after graduating, continuing to audition for theater and film in the area and around the country. Regional: Kansas City Repertory Theatre - Peter Pan & Wendy (Lost Boy Tootles), Cyrano de Bergerac (Ensemble/US Leila Ragneau), A Christmas Carol (*US Solicitor 2/Swing). Educational: University of Missouri-Kansas City - Cymbeline (Imogen), Thinner Than Water (Cassie), 39 Steps (Clown 1), Fixing King John (Queen Elinor). Film: Little Wagon Films - Once I Was Engaged (Leilani). Indie film - Left Behind (Ava).

Manon Halliburton (PEPPA/THE POOR) has been in several productions at the Unicorn over the years, with the last being Refuge in the 22-23 season. Her other favorite Unicorn shows include A Dolls House Part II, Asher Lev, Informed Consent and The Whale among others. She has worked in Regional theatre for over 20 years all over the country and is a proud equity member. Film and television credits include Law and Order and a recurring role on The Sopranos. She also guest starred in Indy horror film I Am Lisa. Next up is Amanda in The Glass Menagerie at MTH. Thank you for supporting live theatre and enjoy the show.

Teisha M. Bankston (ALMA) is delighted to return to the Unicorn following her appearances in Marys Seacole, American Son, Informed Consent, Eclipsed, and many other plays over the years. She has also been seen on the stages of other KC theatres, including The Coterie, Kansas City Actors Theatre, KC Rep, and Theatre for Young America. Teisha is featured in the documentary film, Barbara Johns: The Making of an Icon, the host of SciTech Now on KCPT, and has performed with Neil Young in his Kansas City Tour at Starlight, choreographed by Russ Tamblyn. Teisha is a member of Kansas City Actors Theatre Artistic Company and Board of Directors. Teisha extends gratitude and a warm heart to all; enjoy!

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM Morgan Walker (BEATRICE) is a Kansas City, MO based actor, singer and performer making her Unicorn Theatre debut. Regional: School Girls; or the African Mean a Girls Play (Kansas City Rep Theatre, Portland Center Stage); Ain’t Misbehavin’, Company, Show Boat, CATS, A Spectacular Christmas Show, Into the Woods (Musical Theater Heritage); Footloose (Starlight Theatre); Beehive!, Cinderella, The Game’s Afoot, The Sound of Music (Okoboji Summer Theatre); Once On This Island (Spinning Tree Theatre). “Nail Salon” Music Video by Mina Stone; Education: BFA in Musical Theatre, Stephens College.

Instagram: @minastonemusic, @reklawnagrom.

R.H. Wilhoit (FRANCIS/BEGGAR) is excited to make his Unicorn Theatre debut! He is a graduate of Drury University with a B.A. in Theatre Arts, and now calls Kansas City his home. Professionally, he’s been seen in Milking Christmas at The Living Room, The Play That Goes Wrong at New Theatre and Restaurant, Every Brilliant Thing at Spinning Tree Theatre, and The Tempest at Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. When he’s not performing or teaching, R.H. is busy as an active founding member of The Confluence Theatre Company, producing experimental works. As always, he thanks his father Chris, for his continued support.

Cathy Barnett (ORTOLANA) returns to the Unicorn flush with holiday spirit after a run of A Christmas Carol at the Lyceum Theater in Arrow Rock, Missouri. Prior appearances at the Unicorn include Pipeline, The Humans and Grey Gardens. Recent performances about town include Steel Magnolias (Nick Padgett Productions) Legally Blonde at Starlight Theater and Always a Bridesmaid with Morgan Fairchild at The New Theatre. She has toured nationally and internationally in productions of Forbidden Broadway, Forbidden Hollywood and Always, Patsy Cline. She voices the Hallmark greeting card character, “Maxine,” and brought her to life in the new live musical, Maxine’s Christmas Carol in Branson, MO and coming to Kansas City in 2024!

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.

Gary Mosby (SCENIC DESIGNER) Is happy to be a designer in this 50th anniversary season here at the Unicorn. Gary has had a 30 + year relationship with the Unicorn and Poor Clare is his 40th design here. Gary has been working professionally in the theatre for the past 47 years, mostly designing and building scenery. For the past 10 years he has also been the theatre coordinator at Kansas City Kansas Community College where he is resident Scenic designer and technical director, teaches most of the theatre technology classes and produces 4 shows each academic year. Gary says, “My favorite parts of the process are collaborating with many other theatre artists and contributing to or witnessing the continuing evolution of theatre.”

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM Scott Olney (LIGHTING DESIGNER) is excited to be a part of his first season designing at Unicorn Theatre. He has designed for various companies in Kansas City and Wichita over the last few years including Kansas City Kansas Community 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.

Daniella Toscano (COSTUME DESIGNER) is a Mexican-American costume designer and visual artist, originally from Southern California and raised in Las Vegas, NV. Alongside costume design projects, she’s also worked extensively in costume shops around the country and has developed skills in multimedia design to further explore theatrical storytelling in the digital landscape. She received her Masters in Fine Arts in Costume Design at the University of California, San Diego, and is interested in new works and reimagining the classics. Recent Costume Design credits include: Skeleton Crew (Kansas City Actors Theatre); The Secret Garden (Musical Theater Heritage); STEW, The Piano Lesson, The Amen Corner (Kansas City Melting Pot Theatre); Fefu and Her Friends (Riverside Theatre); El Huracán (Cygnet Theatre); The Who’s Tommy (Flint Repertory Theatre); Elephant (A World Premiere at Benchmark Theatre).

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.

Lindsay Kennedy (DRAMATURG) is a playwright, dramaturg, director, and educator. She is excited to be back in Kansas City and dramaturging at the Unicorn again, after working on Dance Nation and Disgraced! She has dramaturged and directed for Confluence Theatre and St. Louis Shakespeare, as well as working independently with playwrights as a new work dramaturg/director and reading scripts for the Dramatist Guild Foundation Playwriting Fellowship and the KCACTF Playwriting Awards. She also has been honored nationally for her work as a playwright—her plays, River Like Sin and Rattler were semi-finalists for the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference and her in-development musical Like Cinders (written with Rebecca Nisco) was a semi-finalist with the O’Neill National Music Theater Conference. Her work has been produced and developed across

THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM the US with companies like Theatre Alliance (DC), Actors Theatre of Indiana (IN), KC Public Theatre (MO), Keegan Theatre (DC), CLIMB Theatre (MN), Midwest Dramatists Center (MO), and Springville Center for the Arts (NY). She is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Benedictine College and a proud member of the Dramatists’ Guild. MFA in Playwriting, Catholic University of America; PhD in English, Saint Louis University.

UP NEXT Backwards Forwards Back

by Jacqueline Goldfinger a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere

March 20 – April 7, 2024 Directed by Logan Black War changes a person forever. When a soldier returns from Afghanistan carrying the ghosts of their tour, they face the decision to seek help for their PTSD. This electric, one-person play explores the transformative power of virtual reality therapy and the journey toward healing and finding strength in vulnerability.

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.

A NOTE FROM THE DRAMATURG

Francis and Clare: Religious, Radicals, Revolutionaries

By Lindsay Kennedy A prayer attributed to St. Francis asks, “Lord make me an instrument of your peace: / where there is hatred let me sow love.” The prayer continues, “it is in giving that we receive.” This prayer, which Chiara Atik riffs upon in Poor Clare, may sound innocuous, even trite to contemporary ears, but such a dismissal ignores the radicalness of this kind of statement—particularly in medieval times defined by status and socio-economic disparity and constantly punctuated by war.

Most know St. Francis as the saint that loved animals, and St. Clare, if known at all, as the person that started an order of nuns, the Poor Clares. While true, neither of these things get at the heart of what made these two so extraordinary, both for their time and ours. Both saints rebelled against the very fabric of their society, rejecting the materialism and violence that was viewed as normal. The only way they could think of to address these issues was to isolate themselves and show a different way of living—one that completely rejected all wealth and material objects. St. Clare was the first woman to write out her own Church-authorized rules for a religious order, but in doing so she consistently had to fight attempts to water down her order’s wish to live in radical poverty.

As Francis puts it in the play, their goal was to imagine a world beyond the redistribution of wealth, where “there are no rich people anymore.” To live in the image of God, as Francis and Clare seek, requires that they live like the Holy family, who were “poor and desperate.” As he puts it, talking about us in the modern day as well as the medieval, “I don’t think anyone understands that anymore.”

Perhaps this is why we see a deep discomfort with being called wealthy from characters in the play like Ortolana; however, this still rings true today.

According to a 2023 Ameriprise study, only 8% of millionaires would describe themselves as ‘wealthy.’ While the goal of leaving one’s children better off is totally understandable, Poor Clare asks us to wonder, along with Clare, if it is truly possible to live ethically while being wealthy and trying to accrue wealth? We must ask ourselves, as Clare does, what can we do to truly make a difference?

Do we just accept poverty and income inequality and war as inevitable? Most importantly, what are we willing to give up to make change? Because the problem still is, as Francis acknowledges, “no one is willing to go with less so that other people can have more” (23). Except, perhaps, for these two brave and countercultural rebels, Clare and Francis, and those who have followed in their footsteps.

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 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

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