Dance Repertory Theatre
presents
Photo by Lawrence Peart
CO-Artistic DirectorS:
Charles O. Anderson, Dorothy O'Shea Overbey, Quilan “Cue” Arnold Producing Artistic Director: Erica Gionfriddo APRIL 6-10, 2022 | B. IDEN PAYNE THEATRE
APRIL 6 AT 7:30 P.M. (PREVIEW) APRIL 7-9 AT 7:30 P.M. APRIL 9-10 AT 2:00 P.M.
B. IDEN PAYNE THEATRE F. LOREN WINSHIP DRAMA BUILDING
THEATREDANCE.UTEXAS.EDU
DANCE*
CHOREOGRAPHER
A Million Alien Gospels Club KINGDOM (excerpt) Let Them See Of Mutants and Madmen Sawubona
Dorothy O’Shea Overbey Quilan “Cue” Arnold Love Muwwakkil Charles O. Anderson Ryan K. Johnson
*Listed in alphabetical order
Stage Manager: Victoria Salazar Technical Director: David Tolin There will be one 10-minute intermission. The videotaping, photography or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.
The Department of Theatre and Dance is a world-class educational environment that serves as the ultimate creative incubator for the next generation of artists, thinkers and leaders in theatre and performance.
NOTE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTORS Of all the words and phrases that will be indelibly linked to the pandemic; from “flatten the curve” to “second wave” to “social distancing,” none have come to define the massive social change of this era like “pivot.” It is, arguably, the defining word of the pandemic and the need for change it has forced upon us. To some people the word is insidious, suggesting a simple action – turning upon a fixed axis – when what is required amidst world-altering chaos is so much more dificult and complex. To others it’s a mere nuisance, an insult to those people struggling to survive. Whatever you make of it, the word is one that will define our lives and the challenges we face long afer the pandemic is over. The combination of the simplicity it presupposes and the tangibility of the concept explains why the word has been so popular in politics and business long before the pandemic. “Pivot” implies that the core center will be the same and you’ve just shifed. But saying you’re going to pivot – or barking at someone to do so – doesn’t make the task at hand any easier. “Pivot” is somewhat of a weasel word…It puts the onus for change on the person or organization without ofering any guidance on what that might entail. That’s the part that’s always lef out – pivot to what? It’s a combination of standing your ground and shifing your positioning at the same time, which is a maneuver that is called for increasingly in every aspect of human afairs. We’re now in a period of massive, comprehensive change in every aspect of human life. As creative artists this ambiguity is familiar terrain…Our intention with this concert is to embrace and accept that change is constant and adaptation is a requisite skill…Taking the opportunity to discard what no longer serves us…as we also endeavor to honor and preserve those traditions and practices that continue to sustain us…even if the “how” they sustain (and provide sustenance) evolves.
Co-Artistic Directors Charles O. Anderson, Dorothy O’Shea Overbey and Quilan “Cue” Arnold Producing Artistic Director Erica Gionfriddo
2021/2022 TEXAS THEATRE AND DANCE SEASON
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A Million Alien Gospels Choreography: Dorothy O’Shea Overbey in collaboration with the dancers Music: A Million Alien Gospels string quintet by Michael Alec Rose Costume Designer: Aaron Kubacak Lighting Designer: Sarah Jean Elliott Sound Designer: Elias Merlo Projection Designer: Benjamin Randall Rehearsal Assistant: Rachel Ernat Dramaturg: Kayla Senter Social Media Team: Diana Acosta, Ciera Vivian Ray, Heaven Wilburn Design Liaison: Josh Martinez Cast: Water…Jordan Gilbertson Air…Sheila Jackson Fire…William Kaufmann The Flower…Josh Martinez Earth…Ciera Vivian Ray Alice…Heaven Wilburn Humans…Samantha Leigh Anderson, Faith Davis, Lindsey Surles, Ashleigh Taylor From the Choreographer A Million Alien Gospels is an allegorical tale of humanity and its troubled relationship with the planet earth. Dancers representing the four elements present the main character, Alice, with a gif symbolizing the Earth and all of its blessings: love, community, learning, growth. Alice, caught in the web of her own compulsiveness and self-absorption, exploits and manipulates this gif to her own ends, draining its power and endangering its existence. The four elements rescind the gif and Alice is lef empty and desolate, facing a choice between despair and transformation. The full production will premiere with Ventana Ballet in June. Supported in part by Planet Texas 2050, The University of Texas at Austin.
Club KINGDOM (excerpt) Choreography: Quilan “Cue” Arnold in collaboration with the dancers Music: Original score by Anthony “Ynot” Denaro with script by Quilan and Krysten Arnold Costume Designer: Aaron Kubacak Lighting Designer: Sarah Jean Elliott Sound Designer: Elias Merlo Scenic Designer: Teresa Guerrero C. Rehearsal Assistant: Andrea Orta Dramaturg: Gracyn Womeldorph Social Media Team: Karina Enriquez, Ava Tran Design Liaison: Anna Valdman Cast: Lauren Akard, Sabrina Blackwelder, Faith “Ese” Ehioghae, Karina Enriquez, Angelica Monteiro, Lexie Nelson, Andrea Orta, Ava Tran From the Choreographer K.nowledge I.nsight N.ovelty G.race D.eference O.ther-centered M.uch have conjured the loving, liberating, spirit of JAQ through Club KINGDOM for 49 years. Their commitment to JAQ is tested as their 50th anniversary celebration is disrupted by a virus. Praise to the Holy Trinity for life and creativity. Thanks to my ancestors, my elders, my family, my parents and my sister for showing me God’s love. Thanks to the collaborators at The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance who invested in this work. Thanks, community, for showing up to witness these beautiful dancing humans. Love and light to you all.
Let Them See Choreography: Love Muwwakkil Costume Designer: Aaron Kubacak Lighting Designer: Sarah Jean Elliott Sound Designer: Elias Merlo Rehearsal Assistant: Ciera Vivian Ray Dramaturg: Ashleigh Taylor Social Media Team: Evan Beek, Lexie Nelson Design Liaison: Sheila Jackson Cast: Diana Acosta, Evan Beek, Aída Hernandez-Reyes, Isabella Mao, Andrea Orta, Ciera Vivian Ray, Denise Rodriguez, Kayla Senter, Ashleigh Taylor From the Choreographer “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Let Them See is an acknowledgement, a complication, a grappling and a love all at once. Thanks to the cast for their patience and holding me accountable.
Of Mutants and Madmen
Choreography: Charles O. Anderson Costume Designer: Aaron Kubacak Lighting Designer: Sarah Jean Elliott Sound Designer: Elias Merlo Rehearsal Assistant: Jordan Gilbertson Dramaturgs: Samantha Leigh Anderson, Willian Kaufmann, Gracyn Womeldorph Social Media Team: Sabrina Blackwelder, Angela Cox Design Liaisons: Evan Carlson, Maya Parker Cast: Laura Anawaty, Lilly Brown, Kennedy Cannon, Evan Carlson, Jannah Collins, Rachel Ernat, Brock Gayaut, Jordan Gilbertson, Tori Hicks, Lauren Jershin, William Kaufmann, Josh Martinez, Kendra Isabel Peña, Anna Valdman, Jenna Weatherbie, Heaven Wilburn, Gracyn Womeldorph From the Choreographer “The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters.” -Antonio Gramsci Inspired by the above quote, Of Mutants and Madmen is part of a reimagining of the isle of Sycorax where Shakespeare’s The Tempest takes place.
Sawubona Choreography: Ryan K. Johnson; final section in collaboration with the dancers Music: Wade in the water, arranged by Ryan K. Johnson and Tamar Greene, performed by Tamar Greene with text performed by the artist; with additional music arranged by Ryan K. Johnson, Tamar Greene and Themba Mkhatshwa Costume Designer: Aaron Kubacak Lighting Designer: Sarah Jean Elliott Sound Designer: Elias Merlo Projection Designer: Sydney Sousa Rehearsal Assistants: Kennedy Cannon, Tori Hicks Dramaturgs: Aída Hernandez-Reyes, Lauren Jershin Social Media Team: Lilly Brown, Jenna Weatherbie Design Liaisons: E’ja Alexander, Jannah Collins Cast: E'ja Alexander, Evan Beek, Kennedy Cannon, Jannah Collins, Angela Cox, Aída Hernandez-Reyes, Tori Hicks, Maya Parker From the Choreographer I dedicate this piece to those known and unknown who originally occupied this land; the enslaved Africans who worked this stolen land and those who have been assassinated by hate due to race, identity, gender or ethnic background. “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” - Barack Obama
CREATIVE Charles O. Anderson (Co-Artistic Director; Choreographer – Of Mutants and Madmen) a native of Richmond, Virginia, is the head of the dance program and producing artistic director of Dance Repertory Theatre at The University of Texas at Austin as well as artistic director of the critically-acclaimed afro-contemporary dance theatre company, dance theatre X (founded in 2003). He received his M.F.A. in Dance from Temple University (2002) in Philadelphia and was previously selected as one of "25 Artists to watch" by Dance Magazine. Quilan “Cue” Arnold (Co-Artistic Director; Choreographer – Club KINGDOM) is a dance professional based in Union City, New Jersey and Austin, Texas. He has danced with Camille A. Brown & Dancers (New York), Rennie Harris Puremovement (Pennsylvania) and Abby Z and the New Utility (New York). Arnold’s most recent choreographic work, Searching for a True Move: A Kinesthetic Usonian English Experience, was virtually presented at Western Washington University (Washington) in 2020 and Brigham Young University (Utah) in 2021. cue4christ.com Anthony “Ynot” Denaro (Composer – Club KINGDOM) explores the design, sustainability, history and community of hip-hop. As a B-boy, he’s traveled the world extensively judging battles, teaching workshops and building cultural awareness. Currently, his classes can be found on a workshop basis internationally, as well as online and in-person through University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Arizona State University and Texas Tech University where he facilitates courses in breaking technique, stylized letterform design and sound design for electronic music production. Sarah Jean Elliott (Lighting Designer) is a firstyear M.F.A. in Theatre (live design and production) candidate at The University of Texas at Austin. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include lighting design for Jinkies! or The Dog Play (UTNT (UT New Theatre), 2022) and Fall For Dance (2021) as well as assistant lighting design for Sonnets for an Old Century
(2021). Her work has been seen at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, Florida; Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia; Ballet Vero Beach and Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami. Erica Gionfriddo (Producing Artistic Director) is a dance artist, educator and co-founder of the transdisciplinary performance group ARCOS. They have presented work at Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology’s biennial symposium, Engagement Symposium of Philosophy and Dance, Currents New Media Festival and an award-winning production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Gionfriddo is an assistant professor of practice at The University of Texas at Austin and holds a B.F.A. from Shenandoah Conservatory and a M.F.A. from Hollins University. Tamar Greene (Composer/Performer – Sawubona) is a writer, arranger, classical pianist, opera singer and accomplished voice teacher. Past credits include Hamilton (Broadway), Love Never Dies (National Tour and North American premiere), Porgy and Bess (Spoleto Festival USA) and Show Boat (Lincoln Center; PBS broadcast), among others. Greene holds his Master of Music from the Eastman School of Music and a B.A. in Music and B.A. in Computer Information Systems from SUNY Oswego. Teresa Guerrero C. (Scenic Designer – Club KINGDOM) is a first-year M.F.A. in Theatre (live design and production) candidate at The University of Texas at Austin. She has a background in art direction and production design for film. Recent credits include assistant scenic design for Jinkies! or The Dog Play, Tiny Fingerprints and Murky As Hell (UTNT (UT New Theatre), 2022); assistant scenic design for Elixir of Love (Butler Opera Center, 2021) and production design for The Perfect Fit short film (2021). Ryan K. Johnson (Choreographer – Sawubona) is a M.F.A. in Dance candidate at The University of Texas at Austin and founding executive artistic director of SOLE Defined Percussive Dance Company. Johnson’s credits include performing with Gregory Hines and Marvin Hamlisch,
CREATIVE The Beatles LOVE and One Drop by Cirque Du Soleil, STOMP and Step Afrika!. He was the only resident tap dancer for The Washington Ballet and a featured artist in Ayodele Casel’s Diary of a Tap Dancer. soledefined.com @rkjdance Aaron Kubacak (Costume Designer) holds a M.F.A. in Theatre (costume design) from The University of Texas at Austin. He is particularly interested in costume and spectacle. His credits include Dance Repertory Theatre’s Momentum (2017) and Transcendence (2018); original dance pieces Crone (2017) choreographed by Dorothy O’Shea Overbey, 39 Inside (The Cohen New Works Festival, 2019), Charles O. Anderson’s (Re)current Unrest (Fusebox Festival, 2019); The Crucible (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2017); Performance as Public Practice Graduate Student Alliance’s Telephone (2017) and Mr. Burns, a post-electric play (2018). Elias Merlo (Sound Designer) is a B.A. in Theatre and Dance major with an emphasis in playwriting and directing at The University of Texas at Austin. He is a third-year transfer student from the Rio Grande Valley. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include kin • song: ode to disability ancestors (2021). Other credits include The Taming of the Shrew, Cahoots, Cyrano, Medea, Let’s Talk Theatre and Cypress Video as part of South Texas College Theatre. Love Muwwakkil (Choreographer – Let Them See) is a M.F.A. in Dance candidate at The University of Texas at Austin. With an extensive background in performing and teaching, her credits include rehearsal director and company member for Urban Bush Women, Hairspray with Royal Caribbean, projects with the aerial dance company AERA Dance and The PULSE Project; performing with Gesel Mason Performance Projects and Taylor Mac’s A 24-Decade History of Popular Music. Dorothy O’Shea Overbey (Co-Artistic Director; Choreographer – A Million Alien Gospels) is in her eighth year on faculty at The University of Texas at Austin. Afer receiving a B.F.A. in Dance and B.A. in Philosophy from Southern Method-
ist University, Overbey danced for Colorado Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Ballet New York and numerous independent choreographers in New York City, where she also trained at the Atlantic Acting School. Overbey is a co-founder of Austin Community Ballet, partner in First Street Studio, director of Red Nightfall Productions and artistic advisor with Ventana Ballet. Benjamin Randall (Projection Designer – A Million Alien Gospels) is a M.F.A. in Theatre (integrated media for live performance) candidate at The University of Texas at Austin. With his B.S.A. in Computer Science and lifelong interest in music and performance, Randall folds his skills together to design generative and AI-based media for live events. Recent projection design credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Chlorobo (The Cohen New Works Festival, 2021) and The Horizon and the Ofing (Fall For Dance, 2021), as well as assistant media design for La Ruta (2020). Michael Alec Rose (Composer – A Million Alien Gospels) is a composer of symphonic, chamber, piano, vocal, wind ensemble, ballet and theatre music. His music has been performed widely in the United States, as well as in Europe and South America and he has received 30 ASCAP Plus awards. Rose is Professor of Composition at Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music, where he has won three university-wide teaching awards, including a Chair of Teaching Excellence. Victoria Salazar (Stage Manager) is a secondyear B.A. in Theatre and Dance major with an emphasis in stage management at The University of Texas at Austin. She has been participating in performance for many years and has a background in stage management for theatre, dance and music festivals. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include serving as stage manager for Fall For Dance (2021) and assistant stage manager for Radiance (UTNT (UT New Theatre), 2021). Sydney Sousa (Projection Designer - Sawubona) is a M.F.A. in Theatre (integrated media for live performance) candidate. She received her B.A. from the College of Charleston in South Caro-
CREATIVE lina. Before attending The University of Texas at Austin, she was a touring media technician for Feld Entertainment. Recent credits include serving as the assistant projection designer for The Tasters (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2021). David Tolin (Technical Director) was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. He received his B.A. in Theatre with a concentration in design/ technology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He received his M.F.A. in Theatre from The University of Texas at Austin before teaching at Westlake High School for seven years. Tolin works at Texas Performing Arts’ Fabrication Studios as the Project Manager and as faculty in the UT Live Design and Production area.
Love and Information is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
April 13-24, 2022 Oscar G. Brockett Theatre TICKETS: JOINTHEDRAMA.ORG
CAST
Diana Acosta
Laren Akard
E'ja Alexander
Laura Anawaty
Samantha Leigh Anderson
Evan Beek
Sabrina Blackwelder
Lilly Brown
Kennedy Cannon
Evan Carlson
Jannah Collins
Angela Cox
Faith Davis
Faith "Ese" Ehioghae
Karina Enriquez
Rachel Ernat
Brock Gayaut
Jordan Gilbertson
Aída Hernandez-Reyes
Tori Hicks
CAST
Sheila Jackson
Lauren Jershin
William Kaufmann
Isabella Mao
Josh Martinez
Angelica Monteiro
Lexie Nelson
Andrea Orta
Maya Parker
Kendra Isabel Peña
Ciera Vivian Ray
Denise Rodriguez
Kayla Senter
Lindsey Surles
Ashleigh Taylor
Ava Tran
Anna Valdman
Jenna Weatherbie
Heaven Wilburn
Gracyn Womeldorph
CAST Diana Acosta (Dancer – Let Them See; Social Media Team – A Million Alien Gospels) is a thirdyear UTeach Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. During her time at UT Austin, she has worked with Erica Gionfriddo, Erica Patricia Saucedo and student choreographers Ciera Ray and Matthew James. Her recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include In the Ether (2020), del corazón nace el enjambre (2021) and Enjoy. (Fall For Dance, 2021). Lauren Akard (Dancer – Club KINGDOM; Archivist) is a third-year B.F.A. in Dance major also pursuing a minor in kinesiology at The University of Texas at Austin. She grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, where she trained at Arlington Heights High School. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include In the Ether (2020) and burst! (2021). E’ja Alexander (Dancer, Design Liaison – Sawubona) is a second-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Fall For Dance (2021). Laura Anawaty (Dancer – Of Mutants and Madmen; Archivist) is a second-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has an extensive background in dance. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Fall For Dance (2021). Samantha Leigh Anderson (Dancer – A Million Alien Gospels; Dramaturg – Of Mutants and Madmen) is pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance at The University of Texas at Austin. Her work focuses on performance and choreography. She has an extensive background in classical ballet, contemporary dance and competitive dance teams. This is her second performance with Texas Theatre and Dance. Anderson has studied with American Ballet Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Gibney Dance.
She also teaches ballet at San Marcos Dance Studio and at Pivotal Academy of Dance. Evan Beek (Dancer – Let Them See, Sawubona; Social Media Team – Let Them See) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has an extensive background in various dance styles. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Enjoy. (Fall For Dance, 2021) and (Re)current Unrest (2020). Sabrina Blackwelder (Dancer – Club KINGDOM; Social Media Team – Of Mutants and Madmen) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin and has an extensive background in dance. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include (Re) current Unrest (2020), del corazón nace el enjambre (2021) and Fall For Dance (2021). Lilly Brown (Dancer – Of Mutants and Madmen; Social Media Team – Sawubona) is a secondyear B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. This is her second credit with Texas Theatre and Dance, having previously performed in Dance Repertory Theatre’s Fall For Dance (2021). Brown has an extensive background in dance and is a member of the social media team for Sawubona. Kennedy Cannon (Dancer – Of Mutants and Madmen, Sawubona; Rehearsal Assistant – Sawubona) is a fourth-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has an extensive background in modern, contemporary, ballet and Afro-fusion dance styles. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include The Cohen New Works Festival (2021), (Re) current Unrest (2020) and In the Ether (2020). Evan Carlson (Dancer, Design Liaison – Of Mutants and Madmen) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. He has extensive performance experience in theatre, voice and dance.
CAST Jannah Collins (Dancer – Of Mutants and Madmen, Sawubona; Design Liaison – Sawubona) is a second-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has an extensive background in various styles of dance. This is her second performance with Texas Theatre and Dance. Angela Cox (Dancer – Sawubona; Social Media Team – Of Mutants and Madmen) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. Before attending college, she received training at a local studio in Austin, Texas. Recent credits include performing and choreographing for Dance Action's S.E.E.D. Faith Davis (Dancer – A Million Alien Gospels; Archivist) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has spent summers training with Houston Ballet, Tulsa Ballet and Ballet West. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include performance and archival work for Head in the clou… as part of Fall For Dance (2021). Faith “Ese” Ehioghae (Dancer – Club KINGDOM) is a fourth-year student at The University of Texas at Austin. Ehioghae has received training from masters in their craf, including Candace Brown, Robert Green and Marty Kudelka, among others. Ehioghae also has an innate passion for producing visual experiences that incorporate movement through photo and film. Karina Enriquez (Dancer, Social Media Team – Club KINGDOM) is pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance as well as a B.S.W. from the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin (class of 2023). She has been dancing for over 12 years. Enriquez attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas where she trained in contemporary, ballet, tap, samba and Indian dance styles, among others. Rachel Ernat (Dancer – Of Mutants and Madmen; Rehearsal Assistant – A Million Alien Gospels) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has trained in multiple dance
styles since the age of four. Recent credits include Dance Repertory Theatre's Fall For Dance (2021), costume curation for Gesel Mason's burst! (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2021) and performing in Summer Stock Austin’s Bring It On! The Musical. Brock Gayaut (Dancer – Of Mutants and Madmen; Archivist) is a UTeach Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. His background includes performance in both dance and music. Jordan Gilbertson (Dancer – A Million Alien Gospels, Of Mutants and Madmen; Rehearsal Assistant – Of Mutants and Madmen) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has received a wide variety of dance training from teachers all over the state. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Fall For Dance (2021), burst! (2021), In the Ether (2020) and (Re) current Unrest (2020), in addition to projects as a part of The Cohen New Works Festival (2021). Aída Hernandez-Reyes (Dancer – Let Them See, Sawubona; Dramaturg – Sawubona) is a secondyear B.F.A. in Dance major in the Department of Theatre and Dance at The University of Texas at Austin. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Fall For Dance (2021). Tori Hicks (Dancer – Of Mutants and Madmen, Sawubona; Rehearsal Assistant – Sawubona) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has an extensive background in both dance and acting. This will be her second performance with Texas Theatre and Dance. Sheila Jackson (Dancer – A Million Alien Gospels; Design Liaison – Let Them See) is a third-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. Before attending UT Austin, she trained with Ballet Austin and Oregon Ballet Theatre. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include the Fall For Dance (2021) pieces The complexity of being and The Horizon and the Ofing, as well as Gesel Mason's burst! (2021) and a project as a part of The Cohen New Works Festival (2021).
CAST Lauren Jershin (Dancer – Of Mutants and Madmen; Dramaturg – Sawubona) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has an extensive dance background, having trained at The Dance Movement in Plano, Texas prior to attending UT Austin. She has previously performed and choreographed for the student organization Dance Action. Credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include The Horizon and the Ofing (Fall For Dance, 2021).
the urban environments of Latin America.
William Kaufmann (Dancer – A Million Alien Gospels, Of Mutants and Madmen; Dramaturg – Of Mutants and Madmen) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. He has an extensive background in ballet, contemporary and modern dance. Kaufmann has also performed around Texas with the Rio Grande Valley Ballet, Bellas Artes Academy, McAllen Wind Ensemble and Dance Repertory Theatre.
Andrea Orta (Dancer – Club KINGDOM, Let Them See; Rehearsal Assistant – Club KINGDOM) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has an extensive background in a number of dance styles. Recent performance credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Fall For Dance (2021).
Isabella Mao (Dancer – Let Them See; Archivist) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include (Re)current Unrest (2020), Fall For Dance (2021) and projects as part of The Cohen New Works Festival (2021). Josh Martinez (Dancer – A Million Alien Gospels, Of Mutants and Madmen; Design Liaison – A Million Alien Gospels) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. He trained in multiple styles of dance at the Quenedit Ballet School in San Antonio, Texas. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include (Re) current Unrest (2020), In the Ether (2020), burst! (2021) and Joel Valentín-Martínez's Cositas (Fall For Dance, 2021) as the featured soloist. Angelica Monteiro (Dancer – Club KINGDOM) is an afro-indigenous movement artist and educator from Belém, a city in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. She established and directed Companhia Mirai de Danca, the first street dance company and school of the State of Pará, Brazil. Currently, she is a M.F.A. in Dance candidate at The University of Texas at Austin, where she researches dance as a form of resistance in
Lexie Nelson (Dancer – Club KINGDOM; Social Media Team – Let Them See) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has an extensive background in both dance and music. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Fall For Dance (2021), burst! (2021) and (Re)current Unrest (2020), in addition to multiple projects as part of The Cohen New Works Festival.
Maya Parker (Dancer – Sawubona; Design Liaison – Of Mutants and Madmen) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include burst! (2021) and In the Ether (2020), as well as Cositas and Head in the clou… as part of Fall For Dance (2021). Kendra Isabel Peña (Dancer – Of Mutants and Madmen; Archivist) is a UTeach Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has received training in numerous dance styles and has experience in both choreography and teaching. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Cositas (Fall For Dance, 2021), del corazón nace el enjambre (2021) and Collecting Dust (The Cohen New Works Festival, 2021). Ciera Vivian Ray (Dancer – A Million Alien Gospels, Let Them See; Social Media Team – A Million Alien Gospels; Rehearsal Assistant – Let Them See) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin set to graduate in May 2022. She has an extensive background in dance, having worked with choreographers Peter Chu, Gregory Dolbashian and Manuel Vignolle, among others. Denise Rodriguez (Dancer – Let Them See; Archivist) is a UTeach Dance major at The University
CAST of Texas at Austin with an extensive background in dance. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet (2020), del corazón nace el enjambre (2021) and Cositas and Enjoy. as part of Fall For Dance (2021). Kayla Senter (Dancer – Let Them See; Dramaturg – A Million Alien Gospels) is a second-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She transferred from Collin College where she performed with the Collin Dance Ensemble for two years. In her time as a member of CDE, her choreographic work was chosen to be performed for adjudication at the American College Dance Association. She was last seen in The Horizon and the Ofing as part of Fall For Dance (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2021). Lindsey Surles (Dancer – A Million Alien Gospels; Archivist) is a UTeach Dance and Applied Movement Science double major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has performed in several dance concerts, football halfime performances and opening ceremonies throughout Texas. She has also danced in the Birmingham International Tattoo in Birmingham, England; in the Italian Bowl in Milan, Italy and twice in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. This is her first performance with Texas Theatre and Dance. Ashleigh Taylor (Dancer – A Million Alien Gospels, Let Them See; Dramaturg – Let Them See) is a third-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin with an extensive background in many styles of dance. Recent credits with Texas Theater and Dance include burst! (2021) and Contronymic Living and The Horizon and the Ofing, performed as part of Fall For Dance (2021). Ava Tran (Dancer, Social Media Team – A Million Alien Gospels) is a second-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. Originally from Houston, Texas, Tran trained at the Houston Academy of Dance where she was a part of the studio’s competitive company as well as 713 Dance Ensemble. Tran has also performed in past productions with Dance Repertory Theatre.
Anna Valdman (Dancer – Of Mutants and Madmen; Design Liaison – Club KINGDOM) is a third-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Fall For Dance (2021) and In the Ether (2020), as well as performances with Dance Action’s S.E.E.D. Over the summer, she has had the opportunity to continue her training at dance intensives around the country as well as Canada and Israel. Jenna Weatherbie (Dancer – Of Mutants and Madmen; Social Media Team – Sawubona) is a fourth-year B.F.A. in Dance major also pursuing a pre-physician assistant certificate at The University of Texas at Austin. Past credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Charles O. Anderson’s (Re)current Unrest (2020), Erica Gionfriddo’s In the Ether (2020), Erica Patricia Saucedo’s del corazón nace el enjambre (2021) and Jesse Zaritt’s Contronymic Living (Fall For Dance, 2021). She was also involved in Sarah Wales’s work Manufacturing Female (The Cohen New Works Festival, 2021). Heaven Wilburn (Dancer – A Million Alien Gospels, Of Mutants and Madmen; Social Media Team – A Million Alien Gospels) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has an extensive background in dance. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include (Re)current Unrest (2020), burst! (2021) and Head in the clou… (Fall For Dance, 2021). Gracyn Womeldorph (Dancer, Dramaturg – Of Mutants and Madmen; Dramaturg – Club KINGDOM) is a fourth-year B.F.A. in Dance major, set to graduate this spring. Before coming to Austin, Womeldorph trained in a variety of dance styles in Dallas, Texas. She has worked with many choreographers including Gesel Mason, Charles O. Anderson, Erica Gionfriddo and Dorothy O’Shea Overbey, among others. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include burst! (2021), (Re)current Unrest (2020) and Dance Repertory Theatre’s Fall For Dance (2019), as well as Dance Action’s S.E.E.D.
CREW
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER ILYANA JONES ARCHIVISTS LAUREN AKARD LAURA ANAWATY FAITH DAVIS BROCK GAYAUT ISABELLA MAO KENDRA ISABEL PEÑA DENISE RODRIGUEZ LINDSEY SURLES ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, TPA* FABRICATION STUDIO J.E. JOHNSON ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, TPA* FABRICATION STUDIO KAREN MANESS TPA* SENIOR TECHNICAL DIRECTOR SCOTT BUSSEY PROJECT MANAGER, TPA* FABRICATION STUDIO DAVID TOLIN OPERATIONS MANAGER, TPA* FABRICATION STUDIO JASON LEE HUERTA PROPERTIES MANAGER, TPA* FABRICATION STUDIO CAROLYN HARDIN LEAD FABRICATOR, TPA* FABRICATION STUDIO HANK SCHWEMMER PROJECT SPECIALIST, TPA* FABRICATION STUDIO ASHTON BENNETT MURPHY GRADUATE PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS TERE GUERRERO CARDOSO INJI HA HELEN SOHYUN PARK ALEXANDER ROCKEY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT MADISON SHERIDAN PRODUCTION LEADS TAYLOR LAINE ABS LEAH AUSTIN ZOE BIHAN RODRIGO ESQUIVEL HERRERA GRACE FEATHERSTON DANIEL GELD DAVID HERNANDEZ ISABELLA HOLLIS MAJED JOSEPHI MIKAELA KELAREK BRITTNEY KOOPMANN ROXOLANA KRYWONOS AUSTIN LUCHAK
JONAH MAUGHAN JULIO MUÑOZ JORDYN PAUL MIA RAMIREZ MADISON SHERIDAN ANNA SOUTHERN CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR REBECCA WOOLLS JULIA YELVINGTON FABRICATION PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS SE’AN BOATNER SAMANTHA CORTEZ NICOLE DELAROSA SYDNY DEMEYER MICAH HERNANDEZ BROOKLYN HINDERER RUSAMA ISLAM JAKE JOSEPHI AUSTIN LUCHAK DAIJHA MAINOR MELISSA MARTIN HANNAH NELSON EMILY PEREZ SKYLER QUAIT ISABELLA RAY KOBE WILLIAMS PROP ARTISANS GRACE FEATHERSTON ROXOLANA KRYWONOS HELEN SOHYUN PARK JULIE WEBB MICHAEL WILLIAMS MARTINEZ PROP STOCK MANAGER HELEN SOHYUN PARK COSTUME PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NANETTE ACOSTA COSTUME FABRICATION STUDIO PRODUCTION ASSOCIATE DESIREÉ HUMPHRIES SHOW MANAGER JACLYN BJORNSON DRAPER JENNIFER BALL FIRST HANDS EMMA DICKERSON CALIFORNIA THORSON STITCHERS HAROLD HORSLEY KATIE MILLER CAMRYN PATTERSON COSTUME CRAFTS ARTISAN TANYA OLALDE COSTUME CRAFTS ASSISTANTS HAROLD HORSLEY JULIE WEBB
COSTUME FABRICATION STUDIO ASSISTANT RACHEL GREEN COSTUME FABRICATION CREW SUPERVISORS HSIAO-WEI CHEN KATIE MILLER COSTUME FABRICATION CREW KATRINA ESPINOZA ABIGAIL GERRON CECILIA GONZALES ALYSSA HERNANDEZ ESTRELLA MARTINEZ MIKA O’DWYER SEBASTIAN OJEDA JADZIA PADILLA RICHARD PRATCHETT AIMEE RAMOS SIMON SALINAS FRANCES SMITH ASHLEY SPEIGHT REBEKAH URBAN JOYLIN WEI
TEXAS THEATRE AND DANCE LIGHTING CREW FEDOR AGLYAMOV PETE ALMARAZ HAYLIE BOYD SAMANTHA BROWN BRIDGETTE CLIFFORD ISAAC GARCIA ZACHARD MARTIN ANDREA NUÑEZ JUAN PADRON FATIMAH QURAISHI LORIANN RATLIFF SIMONE THOMAS MADELINE THOMPSON MORIAH DEL TORO MICHAEL WILLIAMS MARTINEZ TPA* LIGHTING CREW SARA CHANEY LIBBY JANTZ SADIE KLOS ZACKARY READ MATTHEW E. SMITH SHELLY UPHAM
WARDROBE SUPERVISOR DESIREE TOWNES
LIGHT BOARD OPERATOR QIANPENG JING
WARDROBE CREW CHIEF MEAGAN BEATTIE
TPA* AUDIO SUPERVISOR DREW MILLAY
WARDROBE CREW KEELEY BRYANT ASHLEY DIAZ ANDREA GIL STEPHANIE KELLER MADELINE LOY ARIA MORGAN
TPA* ASSOCIATE AUDIO SUPERVISOR KENNY KUYKENDALL
COSTUME STOCK SUPERVISOR DESIREÉ HUMPHRIES COSTUME STOCK ASSISTANTS JACOB BENAIM LEAH HUMMEL 324P LIGHTING FACULTY SUPERVISOR JEDIDIAH ROE TPA* SUPERVISING ELECTRICIAN SARAH CANTU TPA* LIGHTING SUPERVISOR SEB BOONE SENIOR LIGHTING TECHNICIANS SARAH ELLIOTT ARI JAMIESON NINGMO LIU
TPA* AUDIO CREW CHEYENNE CHESTER ISABELLE GILMORE CODY HANCOCK LUCY KULZICK BRYCE RIGGLE ALEX TITSWORTH AUDIO BOARD OPERATOR MIA BLITZ INTEGRATED MEDIA SHOP SUPERVISOR EARNEST MAZIQUE MEDIA GRADUATE ASSISTANTS JACKSON COBB ZOEY CROW JOHN ERICKSON HEEKYUNG KIM SYDNEY SOUSA MEDIA SHOP CREW JEREMY CANALES CHRISTIAN COFFEY AMBER HUCHTON ANDREW LIMAS MIRANDA LUNA ISABELLA MORGART SYDNEY ROKAS NICOLE RUDAKOVA SOPHIA SAVELLOS AGUSTUS WHEELER
CREW
MEDIA OPERATOR SHABNAM RASUL
COSTUME DESIGN ADVISOR RAQUEL BARRETO
SOUND DESIGN ADVISOR PHILLIP OWEN
STAGEHANDS REESE HERNDON EDEN RYDER MADYSN WATKINS
COSTUME TECHNOLOGY ADVISOR JAMES GLAVAN
TPA* DIRECTOR OF FABRICATION AND ACADEMIC PRODUCTION JEFF GRAPKO
CREW SWINGS LORNA LUCIANO GABRIELLA MACHADO STAGE MANAGEMENT ADVISOR RUSTY CLOYES
LIGHTING DESIGN ADVISOR MICHELLE HABECK INTEGRATED MEDIA DESIGN ADVISOR SVEN ORTEL SCENIC DESIGN ADVISOR JOSAFATH REYNOSO
PHOTOGRAPHER THOMAS ALLISON GRAPHIC DESIGNER JEFF GRAY
SPECIAL THANKS AJ GARCIA-RAMEAU MICHAEL ALEC ROSE AUSTIN CAMERATA DANIEL KOPP SARAH ROBB BRIAH NAPIER *TPA = TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS
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