George Mason University School of Theater Presents
The Mason Players’ Originals! November 23, 2020 Mason Arts At Home
A Message from the Faculty Mentors
Welcome to our 2020 presentation of The Mason Players Originals! Fifteen years ago, our colleague Heather McDonald conceived an event designed to give our student playwrights an opportunity to showcase their work, and the Ten-Minute Play Festival was born. This year, under the Originals banner, we continue our expanded approach that includes student-created work of all stripes – comedy, one-person shows, choreographed devised work, and, of course, the more traditional ten-minute play structure. In this unorthodox season, we share this work with you digitally, though we wish we could all be together in our TheaterSpace. But, as we soldier on, exploring the possibilities of this new artform, we celebrate the collaboration and spirit of all our students involved in this project--the writers, directors, performers, designers, stage managers, technicians, editors, staffers--and wish to take this opportunity to welcome our newest students, the class of 2024, many of whom are in the show you are about to see. Enjoy! Mary Lechter & Kevin Murray
PART ONE
PART TWO
Reincarnate Written and Directed by Jacob Horowitz
How Jane Got Married Written by Caroline Austin Directed by Thomas Chapman
Punchline Created and performed by Jeremy Pritchard
Inside Are We Monsters?
Tom Toni Henry Becca Asia Cooper Andi Macayla Smith Henry Albee Horowitz Billy Samba Pathak
How to Get Caught with Murder Written by Kendal Ferguson Directed by Kira Simmons Alfred A. Nelson – Ryan Kirby Carlos – Raul Valencia Judge – Caroline Buchholz
Tomorrow Is My Day Written by Bella Panciocco Directed by Steven Franco
Lina- Cristina Casais Brian-Hansin Arvind Max- Luke Rahman Mark – Darren Badley Briana- Makayla Collins Vanessa-Natalie Cumming Benny-Ariel Kraje Nurse Millie-Shannon Rodgers
Jane- Megan Lederman Antony-Kevin Kaluarachchi Hamlet – Ty Wright Romeo-Abby Hastings Written by JD Clark Directed by Josiah Arnett
Tessa – Megan Ayers Blake- Rayna Ketch Bet- Amanda Guzman-Romero Thomas-Darren Badley Seth-Benji Lord Reggie- Jackson Mielnicki
Look for the Good Created by Ariel Kraje
Denial – Elizabeth Nigro Bargaining 1 – Jessica Barraclough Bargaining 2 – Drake Leach Anger – Kendall Huheey Depression – Martin Desjardins Acceptance – Ryan Kirby Algún Día (Someday) Written by Sophia Inserra Directed by Kassie Demopoulos Mami – Lenny Mendez Mom – Melanie Terrazas Amor – Bianca Peña Mikey – Eli Nguyen
Production Team Stage Manager Olivia Denaburg
Assistant Stage Managers
Reincarnate
Brooke Emeott
Punchline
Olivia Denaburg
How to Get Caught with Murder Brooke Emeott
Tomorrow is My Day Nicole Lewis
How Jane Got Married Jessica Moore
Inside Are We Monsters? Jessica Moore
Look for the Good Olivia Denaburg
AlgĂşn DĂa (Someday) Amber Cox
Special Thanks to THR 201 DL1 Stage Management Class who acted as assistants to the assistants. Sound Design Chris Tait
Faculty Mentor Sound Design Kevin Dunayer
Alumni Mentors and Reading Committee Kaity Ormesher Rebecca Wahls Zachary Wilcox
Faculty Mentors Mary Lechter Kevin Murray
Graduate Student Mentors Vicky Chernyak Rex Daugherty Production Manager Ruth Yamamoto
Assistant Production Manager Amelia McGinnis
Video Editors Billy Kessinger Reid May
ARTS SUPPORT UMBRELLA
Production Manager Scene Shop Supervisor Technical Director Master Carpenter Venue Technical Directors TheaterSpace
Harris Theatre Costume Shop Supervisor Costume Shop First Hand Sound Intern
MASON PLAYERS STAFF
Company Manager Associate Company Manager Company Secretary Sales Coordinator Development Manager Historians
Dan Hobson Ethan Osborne Carrie Cox Stephan Starling
Micah Stromberg Tom Terlecki Adrianna Daugherty-Smith Laurel Dunayer Vicki Burroughs Sarah Alspach Chris Tait
Marketing Manager
Amelia McGinnis Erin Cleary Addison Picardat Megan Lederman Christian Jost Erin Pugh Deema Turkomani Ariel Kraje
President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Associate Member Coordinator Historian Community Service Chair
Erin Cleary Sarah Millard Xavier Howard Marty Bernier Ariel Kraje Madison Bacino Hasan Crawford
ALPHA PSI OMEGA OFFICERS
SCHOOL OF THEATER FACULTY & STAFF
Director of the School of Theater (Interim)...........................Kevin Murray Production Manager................................................................Ruth Yamamoto Academic Adviser...................................................................Sara Simanski Office Manager.......................................................................Mary Burgess Voice.......................................................................................Elizabeth Alman Playwriting................................................................................April Brassard Intro to Theater.......................................................................John Carlson Scenic Painting.......................................................................Carrie Cox Lighting Stagecraft.................................................................Sean Cox Directing.................................................................................Rick Davis Event Technology, Sound Design...........................................Kevin Dunayer Movement...............................................................................David Gaines Musical Theater, Acting..........................................................Erin Gardiner Musical Theater.......................................................................James Gardiner Acting......................................................................................Edward Gero Screenwriting..........................................................................David Goldstein Theater Technology.................................................................Dan Hobson World Stages, Directing...........................................................Nicholas Horner Theater Education, Acting.......................................................Mimsi Janis Dramaturgy, Criticism..............................................................K. Johnsen-Neshati Sound Engineering...................................................................Billy Kessinger Acting.......................................................................................Mary Lechter Acting.......................................................................................Kaiulani Lee Acting.......................................................................................Bryce Lennon Playwriting..............................................................................Heather McDonald Acting.......................................................................................Ahmad Maaty Lighting Design, Stage Management.......................................Sherrice Mojgani Acting for the Camera, Audition Techniques............................Kevin Murray Voice, Intro to Theater, Contemporary Women Playwrights .....Theresa Ohanian Playwriting................................................................................Frank Robinson Movement for Musical Theater,Stage Combat.........................Stefan Sittig Costume Design, Set Design....................................................Deb Sivigny Musical Theater........................................................................Joe Walsh Stage Management, Acting, Improvisation.............................Ruth Yamamoto
The School of Theater wishes to thank the following donors for their generous support Professional Artist Residency in Theater (PART) Legacy Donors
Kenneth and Carol Adelman Mr. Daniel C. Beck John and Deborah Blacksten Doris Bloch and Bill Hunt Rev. Dr. Elizabeth P. Braxton Jane and Chris Brewster Ms. Lois Brown Charles and Patsy Byrd Gordon and Judy Canyock Ms. Grace Chae Ms. Chris Downey Charles and Eileen Duggan Linda Evans Dr. and Mrs. William H. Gilcher Irwin and Fay Gold Vernon W. Gras, Ph.D. Verizon Foundation Mr. Carl Hemmer Emmett L. Holman, Ph.D. Ted and Anne K. Rosenblum Ms. Ann Steers Daniel and Ann Toohey Mikki Van Wyk Edward and Wava Vigen Boeing Company Byrd International, L.L.C. Chevy Chase Trust Council on American-Islamic Relations Ken and Molly Elston and The Greater Manassas Christmas Parade Committee IBM International Foundation Captain Marsha and Robert Rease Marilyn Jones Eileen Mandell Dr. Alan Merten and Mrs. Sally Merten Mack and Paulette Miller Merle L. Mulvaney Diane and Tim Naughton Warner and Cheryl North Mr. Ronald Page Robert and Ida Portland Mrs. Lauren W. Rabb Diane and Robert Rafuse 1,001 Plays Supporters Anonymous The Mostaghim Family Phyllis A. Krochmal
Friends of Theater Gifts from January 1, 2019 to September 1, 2020 Angel ($5,000+)
Mr. Ronald A. Boykin Howard V. Kurtz Mack and Paulette Miller Diane and Tim Naughton
Patron ($1,000-$4,999)
Helen and Bill Ackerman Susan J. Aitel and Jonathan Goldman Elizabeth F. Alman Anonymous Dianne and Gerard Blais Gene Frogale Judy Canyock Dr. Rick Davis and Ms. Julie Thompson Charles and Eileen Duggan Art and Linda Hamerschlag Dr. Joy Hughes and Mr. Kenneth Lee Donna L. Kidd and Peter N. Stearns Henry Linsert Vafa Mostaghim David Ottaway Cass and Lisa Panciocco The Honorable J. Chapman Petersen & Mrs. Sharon Kim Petersen Robert and Ida Portland Norma Jean Reck Sheralyn Watkins
Producer ($500-$999) Anonymous Doris Bloch and Bill Hunt Thomas and Pam Maskey Mr. and Mrs. Kosmo Tatalias Verizon Foundation
Performer ($200-$499)
Clayton and Jacqueline Austin Ms. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati and Mr. Amin Neshati Harriet Kaplan Robert Langelier Ms. Mary Lechter and Mr. Kevin Murray Brian and Laurie Lindberg Alice and Matt Magelssen-Green William Schneider Ken and Joanne Schoonover Joseph Walsh Bob and Pat Warakomsky Dean and Andrea Westman
Friend (up to $199)
Anonymous Jane and Carlos Arancibia Michelle and Steven Barraclough Sarah Brady and David Lanphear Brassard Family
Friends (up to $199) cont.
Julia A. Bratton Mary M. Burgess Olga and Robert Burns Pat and Pat Carroll Cody Clarke and Brianna St. Clair Giovanna Doyle Nancy Eller Timothy B. Cooke BA’08 and Megan Fowler Cooke BA’10 Beverly George Dr. and Mrs. Robert Gerbracht Edward and Marjike Gero Linda and Shelly Gersten Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Gholz Lynn S. Gramzow Alan Green and Lea Edwards Dr. and Mrs. Dwight H. Harrison Jacqueline Havener Steven and Raquel Hecker Pat Hertig Michael and Ellen Hilert Katherine Hood Catie and Mark Hubbard Barbara Jacksier and Everett Chasen Mr. Edward Jones Evelyn Kiley David and Barbara Kilpatrick Ms. Diane Kiser Dr. Michael and Mrs. Linda Kostrzewa Phyllis Krochmal Christine D. Lange Hyla London Eileen Mandell Patricia and Evans Mandes Mr. R. Wesley Meekins Marianne and Symour Metz Richard Mitchell Kim and Ralph Moden Jill Norris Don and Sonja Palomaki Ms. Patricia M. Papadopoulos Norman and Lorraine Rosenberg May E. Roy Mark and Merrill Shugoll Arlene Singer and Gerald Riske Dorothy Smith Kirsten Smith Kitty Lou Smith Walter and Janice Smith Jeffrey and Joy Stephens Brad and Gayle Thayer Kelly Thomas Steven L. Tipton Kathy Trainor Frank and Lakyntiew Watrous Dr. and Mrs. George Whipple Joan R. White Zachary D. Wilcox Kenneth and Kathie Wilson Maiju and Dick Wilson Philip and Helen Zubaly
The School of Theater’s and Mason Players’ 2020-2021 Fall Season Mason Players’ Staged Reading Hookman By Lauren Yee Directed by Julia Rudgers October 9 (Mason Arts At Home) presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com Gaining Ground: A Celebration of Diverse Voices in Musical Theater Directed by Erin and James Gardiner Musical Direction by Joseph Walsh October 22 (Mason Arts At Home) Mason Players’ Originals! November 21 (Mason Arts At Home)
Mason Players Staged Reading Alabaster By Audrey Cefaly Directed by Rachel Sharp December 4 (Mason Arts At Home) presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
The School of Theater’s and Mason Players’ 2020-2021 Spring Season
Mason Cabaret: Sing Happy! The Music of Kander and Ebb Directed by Erin Gardiner and James Gardiner Musical accompaniment by Joe Walsh February 1 (Center for the Arts Concert Hall) February 5 (Hylton Performing Arts Center)
Mason Fringe February 24-28 (TheaterSpace) Chimichangas and Zoloft By Fernanda Coppel Directed by Esteban Marmolejo-Saurez presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com In repertory with
Come My Beloved By Emma Weinstein Directed by Jacob Horowitz
Men on Boats By Jaclyn Backhaus Directed by Mimsi Janis March 25-April 3 (TheaterSpace) Romeo and Juliet By William Shakespeare Directed by Nicholas M. Horner April 22-25 (TheaterSpace)
1,001 Plays Co-directed by Kristin Johnsen-Neshati and Nicholas M. Horner April 27 (Theater Space) A Concert Presentation of Runaways By Elizabeth Swados Directed by Erin Gardiner and James Gardiner Musical Direction by Joe Walsh April 31 & May 1 (Center for the Arts Concert Hall)
Theater at Mason would like to thank the Friends of Theater for their ongoing support of our programs, especially their support of scholarships for our students. Please consider becoming a Friend. Please consider giving by logging onto our website https://theater.gmu.edu/give