Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Theatre presents
PENNY DOWN
WRITTENBY KIRSTENGREENIDGE
DIRECTED BY GREGG WIGGANS & THE OPD COLLECTIVE
February 29March 3, 2024 Studios on 3
COMM AVE. BOSTON,
855
MA
BOSTONUNIVERSITYSCHOOLOFTHEATREPRESENTS
PENNY ONE DOWN
Written by
KIRSTEN GREENIDGE
Directed by GREGG WIGGANS
& THE OPD COLLECTIVE
FEBRUARY 29-MARCH 3, 2024
3RD FLOOR STUDIOS
855 COMMONWEALTH AVE BOSTON, MA
BOSTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS
Runtime: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Caution: This show contains the use of strobe lights and mentions of substance abuse
CAST
ENSEMBLE JAX ELIAS PAUL JILL JADE
EDITH
ENSEMBLE ENSEMBLE SUMMER PAST ENSEMBLE SUMMER PRESENT BEE
Rowan Benz
Charlie Berger
Nicolas Bolton
Dylan Fineman
Kira Gandolfo
Olivia Kelly
Lola Kennedy
Chloe McFarlane
Mairéad O'Neill
Amanda Reynolds
Lana Sage
Maia Sanaa
Emma Weller
PRODUCTION TEAM
DIRECTOR
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
PRODUCTION MANAGER STAGE MANAGER
ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION MANAGER ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Gregg Wiggans
Ava Laroche
Youyou Huang
Sara Gorelkin
Sebastian Sachs
Chris Daly
DESIGN & TECHNICAL TEAM
PROJECTION/SCENIC DESIGNER
ASSISTANT SCENIC DESIGNER
PROPS COORDINATOR
SCENIC CHARGE ARTIST
COSTUME DESIGNER
ASSISTANT COSTUME DESIGNER
LIGHTING DESIGNER
ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNER
CONVENTIONALS PROGRAMMER
PRODUCTION ELECTRICIAN
ASSISTANT PRODUCTION ELECTRICIAN
SOUND DESIGNER
ASSISTANT SOUND DESIGNER
SOUND ENGINEER
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Jacklyn Cinnamon
Anna Vidergar
Ethan Vettese
Anna Vidergar
Joice Caldeira Simao
Morgan Bailie
Rachael Harned
Lena Broach
Valerie Zhao
Ivy Comery
Valerie Zhao
Mackenzie Adamick
Rory Shea
Jessie Chen
Reanna Valencia
Hope Brown
PRODUCTION CREW
LEAD USHERS
Jaxon Ackerman
Ella Blumenthal
Frane Cebalo
Maggie Shen
A2/SOUND CREW
PROJECTIONS BOARD OPERATOR
LIGHT BOARD OPERATOR
LIGHTING CREW
PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS
Riley Higgins
Webb Hodges
Hannah Johnson
Rosalind Fore
Hannah Johnson
Luke Meisel
Stephanie Vaughn
Maia Bester
Frankie Kraus
Alisa Saisakorn
Kara Zacharewicz
SOUND BOARD OPERATOR
SOUND CREW
WARDROBE CREW
Rachael Debraal
Eliza Asante
Rachael Debraal
Nora Kempner
Sofia Merie Maravillas
Heris Salek
Ailsa Smith
DIRECTOR AND PLAYWRIGHT
Gregg Wiggans (DIRECTOR)
Gregg Wiggans is a freelance Director committed to the development of new and exciting American theater. For 3 seasons, Gregg served as the Artistic Directing Fellow at Kenyon Playwrights Conference under the leadership of Playwright, Wendy MacLeod. For over 6 seasons Gregg served as Artistic Associate, at the Two-Time Tony Award Winning National Playwrights Conference at The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, under the Artistic Direction of Wendy C. Goldberg. On over 10 productions, Gregg served as the Directing Associate at the Drama Desk and Obie Award-Winning Off-Broadway company, Transport Group Theater Company; under the Leadership of Jack Cummings III BROADWAY as Assistant Director/Ockrent Directing Fellow on Promises, Promises alongside the legendary writer, Neil Simon and Director/Choreographer, Rob Ashford Assistant Executive Producer How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying featuring Daniel Radcliffe. In addition, his work has also been seen at; ArtShare LA, Paper Mill Playhouse, Geva Theatre, Writers Theater of New Jersey, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Williamstown Theater Festival, The Lark, The Kennedy Center, The Goodman, Actor’s Salon of D C , Austin Script Works, Casa Manana, Austin Lyric Opera, and Arena Stage. TELEVISION work includes; Assistant Executive Producer, SMASH (NBC), 2nd Assistant Director, IT COULD BE WORSE (Hulu) and has directed and produced episodes for the HGTV network Gregg is a two-time National Directors Fellowship Finalist given by the Kennedy Center, The National New Play Network, and S D C F Gregg has been a guest artist at the National Theater Institute, Millsaps College, and Wagner College. A a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab and a proud graduate University of Texas at Austin
Kirsten Greenidge (PLAYWRIGHT)
Kirsten Greenidge’s body of work examines how history, class, race, and gender intersect within the Black experience of the United States. She has been named Boston’s playwright laureate by Roxbury Community College, and is a Laura Pels/PEN American awardee, as well as a recipient of a recent Lily “Go Write A Play” Award. As artist-in-residence at Company One Theatre, a position borne from Kirsten’s six years as a Mellon Foundation/Howlround Fellow, Kirsten’s work includes Our Daughter’s Like Pillars, Milk Like Sugar, Feeding Beatrice: A Gothic Tale, and The Luck of the Irish. Her most recent project was the book/libretto adaptation for Boston Lyric Opera’s The Anonymous Lover. Kirsten has received an Obie/Village Voice Award, a Sundance Time Warner Award, and several Edgerton New American Play Awards. One Penny Down is Kirsten’s third play presented by BU’s SOT. Others include Little Row Boat, Or, Conjecture and Baltimore, which was a Big Ten Commission and has since gone on to be performed at colleges, universities, high schools, and middle schools across the country. Her plays have been produced and/or developed at The Lucille Lortel, The Huntington, Company One, Playwright’s Horizons, La Jolla Playhouse, LTC3 (Lincoln Center), Sundance, The O’Neill, Cleveland Playhouse, and Palm Beach Drama Works. Kirsten oversees the New Works Program and playwrighting track of study at the SOT, and is chair of Theatre Arts and co-chair of Performance. One Penny Down is a commissioned work by Writer’s Theatre of Chicago. Upcoming projects: Morning, Noon, and Nightproduced by Company One Theatre and Boston University’s School of Theatre in April 2024 and continued development of the musical Shelter (original book by Lauren Sandler, music and lyrics by Crystal Monae Hall) by Fourth Wall Theatricals. She lives in Westborough with her family which includes historian Kerri Greenidge (B U PhD ’06) and novelist Kaitlyn Greenidge
CAST
Rowan Benz (ENSEMBLE) (she/her) is a mover, actor, and director majoring in Theatre Arts with a minor in environmental analysis and policy at Boston University ('26). One Penny Down is her official daybout in the School of Theatre but she has also performed in the annual light and movement production of Aurora Borealis She gives all her thanks to her family, friends, and especially to Jo Anne.
Charlie Berger (JAX) (he/him) is an Actor, Director, Comedian, and Writer based in the Boston area. He is graduating this May with a BFA from Boston University in Theatre Arts Performance with concentrations in directing and playwriting. Charlie also is a member of the Spon Com Improv Troupe in the School of Theatre. Charlie explores how to engage with the serious acting training as a comedic actor, constantly looking for new ways to experiment with the pedagogy. Charlie is a strong advocate for new works in theatre. His passions for playwriting and directing have been cultivated in the new works festival at Boston University, in which under the direction of playwright Kirsten Greenidge, he helped develop seven new plays written by his peers, concluding in his senior year by directing a new work in the Booth Theater In his final production at BU, Charlie will intersect directing and comedy with Adam Bock’s The Drunken City, which will serve as his Capstone Thesis project in the school of theater. Charlie dedicates his art and performances to his friends and family who give him the drive and energy to walk into a tiny black box every day.
Nicolas Bolton (ELIAS) (he/him/his) is a Sophomore at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, majoring in Acting. Nicolas has been apart of two new works process’ this school year and will finish off with a third at the end of April titled “Jesus On Ice” for STAMP. Nicolas would like to thank his mom and dad for always pushing him and
supporting him more than he could on his own, and his sister for always being his guiding light
Dylan Fineman (PAUL) is a senior theatrearts major with a focus in performance and arts leadership. They are so thrilled at the opportunity to bring One Penny Down to the third floor. Previous BU credits include Orlando (Booth) and Little Row Boat; or Conjecture (Studio One)
Kira Gandolfo (JILL) (she/they) is an AsianAmerican actor, director, dramaturg and theatre-lover from Washington, DC. She has worked internationally with Immediate Theatre in East London, as well as nationally with Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Central Square Theatre, Mosaic Theater Company of DC and many more. Select Acting Credits Include: Gingko Express (Boston University); The Taming of the Shrew (Actors Shakespeare Project); Once Upon A Carnival (Moonbox Productions); Directors Project, The Corruption of Morgana Pendragon, Antigone (Boston University) Thank you to Kirsten for writing this beast of a play. Thank you to my roommates (Emma&Emma) for listening to my raves and rants for this last four years. Thank you to SOT ‘24 for this wild ride And thank you to Yuriko & John, Alex, Aya, Clarissa & Mallory always. Everything is for you <3 @kiragandolfo kiragandolfo com
Olivia Kelly (JADE) is a sophomore theater arts major. When they aren't in classes or rehearsals they are spending their time writing She is also a part of BU EMS and enjoys photography and going to bed.
Lola Kennedy (EDITH) (She/Her), is a senior at Boston University studying Theatre Arts Performance and Art History Some of her favorite projects from her time at BU and beyond includes Boston Playwrights Theatre’s Sävë thë Whälës (Pony), Boston
CAST
University's School for Lies (Arsinoë) and Exit the King (Queen Marie), Interlochen Arts Academy’s Tartuffe (Dorine) and The Wolves (Soccer Mom), and Indiana Repertory Theatre’s The Giver (Fiona), The Crucible (Betty Parris), and A Christmas Carol (Fiona). She is immensely grateful to be sharing Kirsten Greenidge's wonderful play.
Chloe McFarlane (ENSEMBLE) is a wideranged artist pursuing a B.F.A in Theatre Arts, concentrating in Playwriting, Movement Direction, and Acting, at Boston University. Previous acting training includes intensives at Atlantic Theatre Company, HB Studio, Stella Adler, and the British American Dramatic Academy. Last year she was thankful to have taken part in the feature film Mr.Santa (Amber) and thrilled to solo in Boston University's Aurora Borealis last fall
Mairéad O’Neill (ENSEMBLE) (she/her) is a sophomore Acting Major with a Music Theatre Concentration, hailing from NYC!! Later this spring: LIVE AT 855, and Celeste #1/ Dot/Marie U/S in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. Select theatre work: I AND YOU (Penguin Repertory Theatre), WE <3 MR MARSDEN (Keen Company), ALL SHOOK UP (LaGuardia Arts), and several concerts at Feinstein’s/54 Below in New York. Her voice can heard on the critically acclaimed “Mars Patel” podcast. Proud member of SAG-AFTRA. Love and thanks to the OPD team, & family. maireadoneill.net
Amanda Reynolds (SUMMER PAST) is a Caribbean-American actor, writer, and director, born and raised in NYC. She is a Theatre Arts Major with a minor in African American studies. Her latest significant professional credits include: Raisin In The Sun (u/s, New Repertory Theatre); DIASPORA! (u/s, New Repertory Theatre); #IamAntigone (Teenage Antigone, Theatre Row); One Day Down (Paige, The Connelly Theatre) Educational Theatre Credits: Midsummer Night's Dream (Lysander, LaGuardia High School).
Lana Sage (ENSEMBLE) | A Senior Theatre Arts Major with focuses in Acting/Directing/Playwriting, Lana is thrilled to end her performance journey with SOT in a Kirsten Greenidge new work. With SOT, Lana has Assistant Directed/Assistant Movement and Intimacy Directed "Orlando" (Fall 2023), Assistant Directed/Music Directed "The Moors" (Fall 2022), performed as Tom Ripley in "Switzerland" (Spring, 2023), and presented her play "The Mountains Are Calling..." with Springboard (Spring 2023). Be sure to follow Lana's adventures on Instagram: @thelanasage and at her website: https://lanasage.com/
Maia Sanaa (SUMMER PRESENT) is a senior at The School of Theatre, pursuing her BFA in Theater Arts Performance w/ a concentration in Acting. She has now made her anticipated return to Boston after studying abroad for the entirety of her junior year, first through BUinLA’s
CAST
Film/TV internship program, followed by earning her semester certificate in Classical Acting at the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art. Some of her selected notable credits include; Fucking A (Hester Smith), North Star (Kyla), Titus Andronicus (Aaron), Everybody (God) & the devised homage to Ntzoke Shange, Somebody/Anybody SASABGS. Maia is ecstatic to be bringing the world of Kirsten Greenidge’s One Penny Down to life onstage Next, you can look for Maia’s upcoming thesis entitled: “She’s Got SOL.” A production created, written by as well as starring herself, and premiering from April 12th-14th. Maia gives immense thanks to her loved ones for limitlessly pouring into her & to the giftful art of storytelling in itself.
Emma Weller (BEE) (she/her) is a German-American actor, director, and movement artist pursuing a BFA in Theatre Arts Performance (Dance Minor & Movement Concentration). She has a passion for developing new work and recently premiered the role of Lou in Moonbox Productions’ honeyhole. Selected theatre credits: Orlando (Queen), Revolt. And She Said. Revolt Again. (Ensemble/Movement Captain), Mac Beth (MacDuff/Movement Captain), Sister Act (Mother Superior), and The 39 Steps (Anabella Smith/Company). Emma has trained and performed with Frantic Assembly in London, and with Accademia Dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy. She loves female rage, magical realism, sapphic stories, and scented candles. emmaweller.com & @em.sophia
PRODUCTION TEAM
Ava Laroche (ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR) (she/her) is a BFA Theatre Arts Performance major completing the Acting, Directing and Playwriting track. She is also studying Film & Television in the College of Communications. Ava previously has worked as Assistant Director for OPT at Boston's Playwrights Theatre, and as a Director, Composer, and Sound Designer for the 2023 Director's Project. Ava has previously acted in Three Sisters, Collective Rage, and Director's Project, as well as being an off-stage cover for Let the Right One In This semester, she is very grateful to be collaborating on One Penny Down, Yerma, and a staged reading of her original play, Manspread.
Youyou Huang (PRODUCTION MANAGER) is a second-year MFA production manager with a background as a production manager for Collective Rage and Fucking A, and as an associate production manager for ONCE and Little Women.
Sara Gorelkin (STAGE MANAGER) (she/her) is a theatre artist and administrator from Long Island, NY. She will be graduating from Boston University this Spring with a BFA in Theatre ArtsDesign & Production with concentrations in stage management and dramaturgy. In addition to her time at BU’s College of Fine Arts, Sara is currently interning at SpeakEasy Stage Company. Some of Sara’s most impactful theatrical experiences have been new works, so she is grateful to have been a part of this team that brought Kirsten Greenidge’s
new promenade play to life. One Penny Down marks the eleventh production process Sara has been a part of at the School of Theatre. Her favorite credits include Colossal (ASM), Shakespeare’s R&J (SM), and Shakespeare in Love (Dramaturg). Sara’s final production at BU will be her Capstone Thesis project, for which she will be producing and stage managing The Drunken City by Adam Bock on April 19-21! As always, Sara dedicates her work to her family, whose love and support led her here. www.saragorelkin.com.
Sebastian Sachs (ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION MANAGER) is a sophomore studying Theater Arts with concentrations in Sound and Production Management. Past BU credits include Fucking A, Let The Right One In and El Nogalar. They are very excited to work with this amazing team and get their production management debut.
Chris Daly (ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER) is excited to help manage their ninth production at BU! Past favorites include Orlando (SM), The Legend of Georgia McBride (SM), and Once (ASM). They look forward to managing their Senior Thesis productions Live @855 and Jesus on Ice this upcoming spring! IG: @chris d.aly
DESIGN & TECHNICAL TEAM
Jacklyn Cinnamon (PROJECTION/SCENIC DESIGNER) is a second-year Graduate Scenic Designer at BU. She previously went to undergrad at the University of Northern Colorado. Jacklyn is so excited and thankful to be able to be a part of this production and be able to share it with everyone! Working with this cast and crew has been such a wonderful experience. Here’s to making art happen!
Anna Vidergar (ASSISTANT SCENE DESIGNER) (she/her) is a senior Theatre Arts major concentrating in scenic design Previous BU experience includes Marcus, or the Secret of Sweet (Scenic Design), Art House (Kitchen Design), Laure (Scenic Design/Paints), and Little Women (Assistant Scenic Design/Props).
Joice Caldeira Simao (COSTUME DESIGNER) | Originally from Brazil, she is a first-year graduate student in costume design at Boston University. Her background includes designing costumes for plays like O Ultimo Mafagafo, 4ever, and Hamlet, along with the web series Desaventureiros. Prior to her graduate studies, she served as a costume designer assistant for Broadway shows in Brazil, including Matilda, Evita Open Air, Wicked, Phantom Of The Opera, and Sister Act. Her experience also extends to TV series like O Som E A Silaba, MauáO Primeiro Gigante, soap operas like Jezabel and As Aventuras de Poliana, and feature films like Volume Morto and A Cidade Aqui Dentro One Penny Down marks her debut design project at Boston University.
Morgan Bailie (ASSISTANT COSTUME DESIGNER) (she/her) is a sophomore Costume Design major. She is located in Boston and the Twin Cities Other BU productions include the original production of Half (Costume Designer) and Little Women (Wardrobe). She would like to thank her friends and family for their support.
Rachael Harned (LIGHTING DESIGNER) is a first year MFA Lighting Design candidate at Boston University. She received her BFA in Performing Arts Design from The University of Utah. For the last two years she took time off from designing to work as a Technical Director for the Rose Wagner Theatre and Midvalley Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake. Her most recent professional credits include The Grand Theatre as both a designer andassistant (39 Steps, Noises Off, Rocky Horror Picture ShowAsst.), PYGmalion Theatre Company (White Savior, Flying, and WAIT!), Kingsbury Hall (She Kills Monsters, and Dialogue of the Carmelites - Asst.), Babcock Theatre (Company, and Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed) and Pioneer Theatre Company (La Cage Aux Folles and Once on This Island - Asst.)
Lena Broach (ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNER) (she/her) is a junior Lighting Design Major from North Aurora, IL. Her recent credits include Lighting Designer for i love you and i always will or charlie’s play, Jazz Fest, Opera Scenes, and the Class of 2023 Performance Showcase, as well as the Assistant Lighting Designer for Orlando
DESIGN & TECHNICAL TEAM
and Alcina. She also serves as the President of BU’s Trans Listening Circle. She is looking forward to her upcoming projects, and is grateful for support from her friends!
Ivy Comery (PRODUCTION ELECTRICIAN) is a sophomore lighting design major, born and raised in Atlanta. She has previously worked on the BULX crews for La Hija de Rappaccini and Little Women. Ivy would like to thank her friends, family, and wonderful team for all of their support!
Valerie Zhao (ASSISTANT PRODUCTION ELECTRICIAN/CONVENTIONALS
PROGRAMMER) is a junior pursuing a BFA in Lighting Design. Previous credits include Mankind, Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea, & Elements XXI. Her favorite jam flavor is raspberry.
Mackenzie Adamick (SOUND DESIGNER) is a third-year graduate student studying Sound Design at Boston University’s School of Theatre, and a working Boston-based Composer/Sound Designer. Select professional credits include Macbeth [Composer] (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company), How I Learned to Drive, As You Like It, Coriolanus, Let the Right One In (Actors’ Shakespeare Project), Outside Mullingar, The Mountaintop (Lean Ensemble Theatre), The Normal Heart (New Repertory Theatre). Select BU productions include Mankind, El Nogalar, The Nina Variations, Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea, Fucking A A couple of her upcoming projects include A
Midsummer Night’s Dream (CSC2) and composing music for CSC’s The Winter’s Tale this summer on the Boston Common.
Take a listen to her soundscapes and original compositions on her website: www.mackenzieadamick.com
Rory Shea (ASSISTANT SOUND DESIGNER) (she/her) is a Sound Design major from Morristown, New Jersey. She would like to thank Justin Timberlake's falsetto for getting her through tough times.
Jessie Chen (SOUND ENGINEER) is a sound designer from Taiwan, a first-year student in the sound design MFA program at BU. She had a good time being a sound engineer in Marcus( a show in Quarter 1.) Jessie is looking forward to having more interesting facts to share in the bios of her next show!
Reanna Valencia (TECHNICAL DIRECTOR) (They/She) is a senior technical production major and art history minor. They want to thank everyone working on this process and hope you make this "Art House" an art home!
ABOUTBOSTONUNIVERSITYCOLLEGEOFFINEARTSSCHOOLOFTHEATRE
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