Under the Skin New Play Development

Under the Skin

By Michael Hollinger

On Stage January 15 - March 15, 2015

Michael Hollinger & New Play Development

PLAYWRIGHT SPOTLIGHT

Michael Hollinger, Playwright

Under the Skin is Michael’s eighth World Premiere at the Arden. He began his career as a musician, recieving a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance from Oberlin Conservatory.

He began working in Philadelphia theatre as a dramaturg, and recieved a Master of Arts in Theatre from Villanova University.

Michael is currently an Associate Professor of Theatre at Villlanova University, where he teaches Playwrighting, Solo Peformance, Songwriting, and Collaborative Theatremaking. His background as a musician has made a profound impact on his work.

“Plays are music to me; characters are instruments, scenes are movements; tempo, rhythm and dynamics are critical; and melody and counterpoint are always set in relief by rests— beats, pauses, the spaces in between” - Michael Hollinger

A HOLLINGER, A HISTORY Dramaturg

Playwright 94 / 95

Ellen Foster 93 / 94

An Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf

07 / 08

Taming of Michael was the Arden’s the Shrew dramaturg from 1993 until 94 / 95 1998. The dramaturg’s job

varies greatly depending on what kind of work they are contributing to. In the case of world premieres, such as Under the Skin, the dramaturg works closely with the playwright as an editor and developer, asking thoughtprovoking questions and helping to shape the story into its final form.

96 / 97

97 / 98

Incorruptible

13 / 14 95 / 96

97 / 98

03 / 04

Red Herring

Tiny Island 99 / 00 Tooth Opus

03 / 04

and Claw

10 / 11

Ghost Writer

11 / 12

Cyrano

Michael has had 7 World Premeires at the Arden prior to Under the Skin, two of which have been revived within the last 7 years. He also translated and adapted the Arden’s second production of Cyrano in 2012.

Photos by Mark Garvin (clockwise): Richard Ruiz, James Ijames, and Douglas Rees in An Empty Plate in Café du Grand Boeuf (2007). Mary Martello, Michael Doherty, Marcia Saunders, Josh Carpenter, Paul L. Nolan, and Ian Merrill Peakes in Incorruptible (2014). Jennifer Childs and Scott Greer in Red Herring (2000). Patrick McNulty, Greg Wood, Douglas Rees, and Erika Cuenca in Opus (2006). Douglas Rees and Megan Bellwoar in Ghost Writer (2010). Eric Hissom in Cyrano (2012). Photos by Alan Kolc (clockwise): Lesley Mogford, Suzanne O’Donnell, Alexis Schulman, Vincent Yates, and Megan O. Davenport in Ellen Foster (1994). Tom McCarthy, Kathleen Tague, Kurt Knudson, and Jim Chance in An Empty Plate in Café du Grand Boeuf (1994). David Doepken, Douglas Wing, Barbara Winters-Pinto, Tim Moyer, and Scott Greer in Incorruptible (1996). Alda Cortese and Carla Belver in Tiny Island (1998). Dan Olmstead and Grace Gonglewski in Taming of the Shrew (1995). Photo by Paola Nagueras: Donald Grody and Susan McKey in Tooth and Claw (2004).

S

Under the kin ynopsis This synopsis contains spoilers.

Raina Lamott, a thirty-something single mother, is unexpectedly visited by her father, Lou Ziegler, who is suffering from kidney failure and is need of a willing and compatible donor. Raina, whose tendency to overthink and be anxious, struggles to decide whether her father is worthy of such generosity, since he has been absent as a figure for most of her life. While still undecided whether she will be his donor, Raina undergoes organ compatibility testing. She meets another donor candidate, Jarrell Hayes, who is hoping to give his kidney to his “Uncle Gummy,” a friend of his mother, Marlene Hayes, who helped support his upbringing and Raina (Julianna Zinkel) and Lou (Craig Spidle) discuss their relationship as father and daughter and whether Ivy League education.

Raina thinks Lou is worthy of receiving her kidney.

Raina opens up to Jarrell about her relationship Photo by Sabina Louise Pierce. with Lou, revealing how she believes her father’s affairs with other women and his eventual divorce from Raina’s mother contributed to her mother’s premature death. Jarrell’s understanding of Raina’s predicament sparks an attraction between the two, and they end up sleeping together at Marlene’s home in Jarrell’s childhood bedroom.

Through an exchange of childhood stories, the two discover that “Uncle Gummy” is, in fact, Raina’s father, Lou. When Raina and Jarrell confront Marlene and Lou about this debacle, they confess that Lou was not just a friend of Marlene’s, but he is actually Jarrell’s father, making Raina and Jarrell halfsiblings. This intensely awkward situation creates tension between the two, and they are now both unsure whether Lou is worthy of either of their kidneys. Raina meets Marlene and Jarrell confronts Lou to uncover the truths of their family’s past. Lou proposes a deal to Jarrell, and Marlene answers lingering questions about her relationship with Lou. The decision to donate ultimately lies in the hands of nature and the results of their organ compatibility Raina (Julianna Zinkel) and Jarrell (Biko Eisen-Martin) tests, causing this family, who by the end epitomizes are both kidney donor candidates who meet in the dysfunction, to not only question their connectedness process of their organ compatibility screenings. with each other, but with the entirety of humanity.

Photo by Mark Garvin

What’s in a Name?

Before it was Under the Skin the play was also called...

Playwrighting

Flesh In May 2013 The Kidney Play In December 2013 The One About the Kidney In April 2014

8 /26 /12

Under the Skin In October 2014

Scenic Design 10 /21 /14

5 /23 /13

11 /24 /14

James Kronzer designed the scenic aspects of this production specifically for the Arcadia Stage. On the top is a previous design of the set, and on the bottom is one of the final scenic designs, including a hanging track with a curtain that travels off and on stage.

12 /9 /14 The images above show how Michael Hollinger edits and changes the script subtly from its original draft up until the start of rehearsals. Even a few weeks before opening night, edits were made and pages were added to the script.

Development

Rock, Paper, Scissors In the beginning

New Play

QUESTIONS for Discussion 1) Does Lou deserve to receive a kidney transfer? Is Raina’s means of determing her father’s worth, like the +/- tally, justified?

2) The characters of Under the Skin search to understand what defines a family. What do you consider to be family? Is it strictly confined to blood relatives?

3) After Raina and Jarrell discover they are giving to the same person, they compete to decide who is more deserving to be the donor. Who do you think deserves to be Lou’s donor before the compatibility results are revealed? Raina or Jarrell? Why? 4) According to Raina’s biologist friend, Cindy, «...if you could trace your DNA back far enough, you’d get to one person on your mother’s side, and one person on your father’s side we’re all related to.» If all humans are of blood relation, should we feel obligated to help others, even strangers, in need of organ transplants if we are able to?

5) Were Lou and Marlene right to keep secrets from Raina and Jarrell? How might have the story panned out differently if Lou and Marlene were honest with their children?

Biko Eisen-Martin and Julianna Zinkel Photo by Mark Garvin

Alice M. Gatling and Doug Rees Photo by Sabina Louise Pierce

«Under the skin...we’re family.»