The Night Knight, Mar 3-4, 2023 SOT

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF THEATER presents

The Night Knights

Directed by Mimsi Janis

The taking of any recording or photographs by audience is strictly forbidden

March 3 at 8pm* in TheaterSpace

March 4 at 11am** in TheaterSpace

March 4 at 2pm*** in TheaterSpace

*ASL interpreted and Talkback

**Sensory Friendly Performance

***Audio Described

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

At the place George Mason University occupies, we give greetings and thanksgivings to these Potomac River life sources, to the Doeg ancestors, who Virginia annihilated in violent campaigns while ripping their lands apart with the brutal system of African American enslavement, to the recognized Virginia tribes who have lovingly stewarded these lands for millennia including the Rappahannock, Pamunkey, Upper Mattaponi, Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Nansemond, Monacan, Mattaponi, Patawomeck, and Nottaway, past, present, and future, and to the Piscataway tribes, who have lived on both sides of the river from time immemorial.

THANK YOU, for coming and supporting The School of Theater’s Mason Players. The community of students, faculty, and staff that make up the School of Theater and The Mason Players, strive constantly to grow together and share theater with our larger community. We are happy that you’re here.

As head of theater education here in the School of Theater, theater for young audiences is close to my heart. One of the things that I love about teaching and working with young performers is the possibility to encourage new ways of working, seeing, and being a citizen of the theater community and the world. My greatest joy in developing this piece has been watching them be inspired and excited to share theater with younger audiences.

As much as I thought about and developed the framework, ninety percent of what you will see today was developed by the cast and crew. The specific fairytales, adaptations, jokes, and twists all came from the creative artists that you will watch perform. They devised this piece with humor and care.

The framework for the play began with me reading children’s books. A lot of children’s books. Reading and books have always been important in my family.My grandfather read to us and recited poetry that he had learned as a child. My great grandfather read to him every night to go to sleep until he was around sixteen years old. My father did the same for me. My entire childhood and adolescence I fell asleep to the comfort of someone reading to me.

Fairytales and stories not only bring comfort, but important lessons. They are a road map for life. As Neil Gaimen famously noted, "Fairytales are more than true – not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten." Our dragon just needs to go to bed, but he is real, nonetheless.

I invite you to watch, enjoy, and if you are a grown-up – remember what it was like to be a child. Did you want to stay up late, afraid that you might miss the action? What stories did you love? Maybe adventure. Maybe something funny. Maybe something you had heard a hundred times before. Who was there to help you to get to sleep? And what if we lived in a world where a team of people acted out stories just for us? This story is for you. All of you.

--Mimsi Janis

Megan Ayers (she/her)...................................Knight

Andy Brown (he/him)......................................Knight

Peter Dasher (he/him)....................................Knight

Martin Desjardins (he/him)............................Knight

Ella Grant (she/her)..........................................Knight

Elie Griggs (they/them)...............Understudy/Swing

Dyllan Hutchison (she/her)............................Knight

Michelle Rizzo (she/her).................................Knight

Nathan Tilley (he/him)....................................Knight

DRAMATURG'S NOTE PRODUCTION TEAM

Director.........................................................................................Mimsi Janis

Assistant Director................................................................Skylar Fitzgerald

Stage Manager.......................................................................Caroline Austin

Assistant Stage Manager.........................................................Raynell Crook

Lighting Coordinator.................................................................Garrett Jones

Scenic Design.................................................................................Eli Nguyen

Sound Design.........................................................................Brooke Emeott

Costume Coordinator...........................................................Hannah Griffith

Technical Director..........................................................................Carrie Cox

Assistant Technical Director...............................................Stephan Starling

Production Manager............................................................Ruth Yamamoto

Assistant Production Managers............................................Samba Pathak

Jay Dews Aqwia Harris

Light Board Operator...........................................................Meghan Krause

Sound Operator..............................................................Charlotte Langford

Run Crew......................................................................................Orion Bates

Faculty Mentors..................................................................... Kevin Dunayer

Sherrice Mojgani

Deb Sivigny

Shaila Schmidt

Ruth Yamamoto

CAST BIOS

Megan Ayers she/her (Knight) is a current junior theater major with a concentration in theater studies. She has been involved with various shows in the School of Theater over the past few years, but The Night Knights quickly became one of her favorites after the first rehearsal. She is excited to share with audiences of all ages the hard work put into making this play as entertaining and fun as everyone involved had!

Andy Brown he/him (Knight) is incredibly excited about his on-stage debut with The Mason Players! Andy is from Springfield, Pennsylvania, and is a proud alumnus of Springfield Theater Workshop, Carmela’s Dance Studio, and Upper Darby Summer Stage. He is the most recent recipient of the Summer Stager of The Year award. He would like to thank his friends and family for their constant support.

Peter Dasher he/him (Knight) is a sophomore who is ecstatic to once again be leaving his signature impression onstage. Peter is currently working for AFYP. Prior credits include films such as Kaijuburbia and Spider-Man: Blood Brothers as well as playing Henry in The Road to the End workshop’s staged reading.

Martin Desjardins he/him (Knight) is a senior at GMU, although he will be returning to school for an additional year in the fall. A BA performance major with minors in dance and event tech, he keeps busy. You may have seen him in The Originals! and Hookman, or backstage as a dramaturg for Just Like Us and 1,001 Plays.

Ella Grant she/her (Knight) is a first-year student at George Mason and is thrilled to perform in her second production with The Mason Players: her first production being The Originals! last semester. Ella is from Lynchburg, Virginia where she was seen in roles such as Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins and Morticia Addams in The Addams Family. She sends love to her family and friends who have always supported her!

Elie Griggs they/them (Swing/Understudy) is a second-year musical theater major at Mason. They are from Camden, South Carolina, and have also been seen in the Mason Player’s 1,001 Plays (Camila) and Head Over Heels (Ensemble/ US Pythio). Elie is thrilled to be in this production, and wants to thank their friends, family, and cast mates!

Dyllan Hutchison she/her (Knight) is very excited to be a part of The Night Knights production as it is her first experience with devised theater. Some notable roles and accomplishments of hers in the Mason theater community would include multiple roles in the 1,001 Plays exchange in 2022, being a playwright for the Mason Player's The Originals! this past fall, and being the president of the Mason Improv Association.

Michelle Rizzo she/her (Knight) is a junior majoring in theater with a performance concentration, and this is the first Mason Players production she has acted in. In her sophomore year, she assistant stage managed the fall production of Loves Labors. Michelle is focusing more on film, and has done two films so far, which are No Endings (2022) directed by Sean Williams, and And...Scene! (2023) directed by Jonah Manibusan. Michelle is so thankful to be a part of such a playful and positive production.

Nathan Tilley he/him (Knight) is a current junior at George Mason, majoring in theater with a concentration in performance. He has had the privilege to be a part of several shows here at Mason. You may have seen him as Little Stone in Eurydice, or at some of the talk backs here for shows like Just Like Us and Sutta as the moderator/dramaturg. Nathan expresses his thanks to everyone watching the show, as well as his friends, family and all those involved with the production.

PRODUCTION BIOS

Caroline Austin she/her (Stage Manager) is a senior at George Mason University. She is graduating this semester with a BA in theater studies and a minor in design and technical theater. When she is not on campus, Caroline spends her time working in the D.C. area as a teaching artist and a freelance scenic painter.

Raynell Crook she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is a third year theatre education major at George Mason and has had the pleasure of being part of a couple different productions including as assistant director for Sutta.

Brooke Emeott she/her (Sound Designer) worked on The Originals! last semester as a co-sound designer and is excited to be the designer on this show.

Production BIOS

Mimsi Janis she/her (Director) is an assistant professor in the School of Theater at George Mason University. She is an actor, director and teaching artist in the DC area. She has performed with Studio Theater, Signature Theater, Washington Stage Guild, The Kennedy Center, South Dakota Shakespeare, NextStop Theater, Chesapeake Shakespeare, Maryland Shakespeare, and many others.

Garrett Jones he/him (Lighting Coordinator) is junior/senior BFA of theatrical lighting and design, a production minded design student ready for a debut, his first production credit. Extremely excited to put his ideas to work in collaboration with the production team!

Stephan Starling they/them (Assistant Technical Director) holds a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University with a focus in scenic design and technical production. They have worked professionally as a scenic carpenter at companies such as Porthouse Theatre. This is Stephan's fourth year as staff at Mason, and first as Assistant Technical Director. The students motivate and inspire them every day.

DEPARTMENT SUPPORT

Arts Support Umbrella

Production Manager

Technical Director

Scene Shop Supervisor

Assistant Technical Director

Lead Carpenter

Scenic Painter

TheaterSpace Technical Directors

Harris Theatre Technical Director

Costume Shop Supervisor

Costume Shop Assistants

Costume Interns

Sound Interns

Lighting Interns

Management Interns

Scene Shop Production Intern

Scene Shop Paint Intern

Scene Shop Props Intern

Dan Hobson

Carrie Cox

Ethan Osborne

Stephan Starling

Madelyn Southard

Chloe Scheel

Micah Stromberg & Tom Terlecki

Adrianna Daugherty-Smith

Laurel Dunayer

Vicki Burroughs & Sarah Alspach

Angie Lee, Caleb McMurtry, Jeremy Pritchard, Jackson Ramos, Hannah Griffith

Sydney Anderson, Jordan Patnett

Merin Lemoine & Mary Clare Bernier

Jay Dews & Samba Pathak

Vika Hearne, Caleb McMurtry, Viann Tran

Anna Jungkeit

Susan Lane Luke Rahman

Alpha Psi Omega Officers

President

Vice President Secretary Treasurer

Associate Member Coordinators

Historian

Community Service Chair

Education Deputy

Kendall Huheey (she/her)

Elisabeth Dupuy (she/her)

Martin Desjardins (he/him)

Samba Pathak (he/him)

Erin Birchfield (she/her)

Khue Duong (she/her)

Shannon Rodgers (she/her)

Darren Badley (he/him)

Jo Arnett (she/they)

DRAMATURG'S NOTE DEPARTMENT SUPPORT

Mason Players Staff

Company Manager

Associate Company Manager

Company Secretary

Devolpment Manager

Development Apprentice

Sales Coordinator

Marketing Manager

Co-Company Historian

Co-Company Historian

Marketing Apprentices

Development Apprentice

Players4Change Staff

Equity and Empowerment Managers

Megan Lederman (she/her)

Darren Badley (he/him)

Shannon Rodgers (she/her)

Luke Rahman (he/him)

Erin Birchfield (she/her)

Nathan Tilley (he/him)

Brett Womack (he/him)

Lexi Carter (she/her)

Nathaniel McCay (he/him)

Sally Deen (she/her)

Aurora Powell (she/they)

Erin Birchfield (she/her)

Hansin Arvind (he/him)

Megan Ayers (she/they)

Mary Clare Bernier (she/they)

Jaylen "Jay" Dews (he/him)

Emma Harris (she/her)

Luke Rahman (he/him)

Zoe Winter (she/they)

DRAMATURG'S NOTE SCHOOL OF THEATER FACULTY & STAFF

Dean of College of Visual and Perfroming Arts

Director of the School of Theater

Production Manager

Program Manager

Academic Adviser

Office Manager

Office Assistant

Marketing Assistant

Faculty

Elizabeth Alman

Kelly Armstrong

Djola Branner

April Brassard

Carrie Cox

Jonathan Dahm Robertson

Rick Davis

Kevin Dunayer

Laurel Dunayer

Amr El- Bayoumi

Leighann Enos

David Gaines

Erin Gardiner

James Gardiner

Edward Gero

David Goldstein

Mimsi Janis

Rick Davis

Djola Branner

Ruth Yamamoto

Nicholas Kfoury Horner

Sara Simanski

Mary Burgess

Megan Lederman

Nafisa Ferdous

Mary Lechter

Billy Kessinger

Nicholas Kfoury Horner

Kaiulani Lee

Bryce Lenon

Ahmad Maaty

Heather McDonald

Sherrice Mojgani

Theresa Ohanian

Yaritza Pacheco

Franklin Robinson Jr.

Shaila Schmidt

Stefan Sittig

Debra Sivigny

Joseph Walsh

Ruth Yamamoto

DRAMATURG'S

TheSchoolofTheaterwishestothankthe followingdonorsfortheirgeneroussupport

Professional Artist Residency in Theater (PART) Legacy Donors

Kenneth and Carol Adelman

Anonymous

John and Deborah Blacksten

Doris Bloch and Bill Hunt

Boeing Company

Rev. Dr. Elizabeth P. Braxton

Mary Brescia

Jane and Chris Brewster

Ms. Lois Brown

Byrd International, L.L.C.

Gordon and Judy Canyock

Ms. Grace Chae

Chevy Chase Trust

Council on American-Islamic Relations

Ms. Chris Downey

Charles and Eileen Duggan

Linda Evans

Dr. and Mrs. William H. Gilcher

Irwin and Fay Gold

Vernon W. Gras, Ph.D.

Mr. Carl Hemmer

Emmett L. Holman, Ph.D.

Captain Marsha and Robert Rease

Marilyn Jones

Eileen Mandell

Dr. Alan 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

Ted and Anne K. Rosenblum

Ms. Ann Steers

Daniel and Ann Toohey

Mikki Van Wyk

Edward and Wava Vigen

Ken and Molly Elston and The Greater Manassas Christmas

Parade Committee

IBM International Foundation

Verizon Foundation

Ms. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati & Mr. Amin

Neshati

Cpt. Marsha and Robert Rease

Verizon Foundation

1,001 Plays Supporters

Anonymous (2)

Ms. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati & Mr. Amin Neshati

Nicholas Kfoury Horner

Phyllis Krochmal

Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of America

Vafa Mostaghim

DRAMATURG'S NOTE FRIENDS OF THEATER SUPPORT

from December 1, 2021 to January 1, 2023

angel ($5,000+)

Edward Jones

Diane and Time Naughton

sponsor ($2,500-$4,999)

Judy Canyock

Mack and Paulette Miller

Norma Jean Reck

patron ($1,000 - $2,499)

Anonymous

Dianne and Gerard Blais

Charles and Eileen Duggan

Dr. Joy R. Hughes and Mr. Kenneth Lee

Dr. Peter N. Stearns and Ms. Donna L. Kidd

Sherry Watkins

producer ($500 - $999)

Helen and Bill Ackerman

Mr. Rick Davis and Ms. Julie Thompson

Mr. and Mrs. Arthus Hamerschlag

Barbara Jacksier and Everett Chasen

Ms. Mary Lechter and Mr. Kevin Murray

Robert and Ida Porter

Mr. and Mrs. Kosmo Tatlias

performer ($200 - $499)

John and Toni Acton

Susan J. Aitel and Jonathan Goldman

Anonymous

Joseph and Jocelyn Colao

performer ($200 - $499) cont.

Ms. Kristin Neshati-Johnsen and Mr. Amin Neshati

Brian and Laurie Linberg

Patricia and Evans Mandes

Mitchell Martin

Lene Mcvoy

Don and Sonja Palomaki

friend (up to $199)

April Brassard

Carol Burbage

Jasmin Barnes

Pat and Pat Carroll

Barry and Peggy Fink

Linda and Shelly Gersten

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gholz

Zayd Hamid

Linda and Harlan Harber

Catie and Mark Hubbard

Shirley A. Joyce

David and Barbara Kilpatrick

Ms. Diane Kiser

Michael and Linda Kostrzewa

Christine Lange

Paulette Lichtman-Panzer

Alice and Matt Magelssen-Green

Kim and Ralph Moden

Erica M. Nantais

Emily Rouderbush

Terry Sarley

Willa nad David Seigel

Bob and Pat Warakomsky

Christopher M. Ward

Joan R. White

Sheila Woods

DRAMATURG'S NOTE FRIENDS OF THEATER SUPPORT

from December 1, 2021 to January 1, 2023

friend (up to $199) cont.

Harriet Kaplan

Ms. Diane Kiser

Michael and Linda Kostrzewa

Mrs. Phyllis Krochmal

Robert Langelier

Paulette Lichtman-Panzer

Brian and Laurie Lindberg

Eileen Mandell

Pam McIntosh

Kim and Ralph Moden

Edward and Marianne Morahan

Jill Norris

Mary Alice Pett

Emily Roudebush

Terry Sarley

Willa and David Siegel

Roy and Margaret Wagner

Joseph Walsh

Lakyntiew L. Watrous

Dean and Andrea Westman

George and Marty Whipple

Joan R. White

Rachel Winograd

Ursula Wohlfahrt

The School of Theater’s and Mason Players’ 2022-2023

Spring Season:

Mason Cabaret | Directed by Erin and James Gardiner | Musical Accompaniment by Joe Walsh | February 3 & 4, Harris Theatre |

February 10 Hylton Performing Arts Center: Gregory Theater

The Night Knights |Directed by Mimsi Janis |March 3 & 4, 2023 |

TheaterSpace

1,001 Plays | March 10, 2023

The Hunchback of Seville |Directed by Carlos Murillo| March 30April 1, April 5-8, 2023 | Harris Theatre

The Road to the End |Directed by Megan Lederman |Written by Bella Paniocco |April 20-April 23, 2023 | TheaterSpace

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown | Directed by Erin Gardiner |

Musical Direction by Joe Walsh| May 5 & 6, 2023 | Hylton

Performing Arts Center: Gregory Theater

DRAMATURG'S NOTE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

School of Theater Scholarships (continuing awards): Dezire Duverglas, Steven Franco, Abigail Hastings, Bianca Peña, Julia Rudgers, and Nathan Tilley

The Howard Vincent Kurtz Endowed Scholarship in Design: Sloan Martin

The Mack & Paulette Miller Theater Scholarship Endowment (2022): Brandon Morris

The Brower “BC” Spransy Memorial Scholarship Endowment (2022): Rayna Ketch

The Chris Parsons Memorial Scholarship: Bella Panciocco

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Theater Scholarship: Samba Pathak

The School of Theater congratulates our 2020 scholarship recipients: Arts by George Scholarships (awarded Spring 2020):

Kat Amato, Darren Badley, Jessica Barraclough, Alex Berrios, Erin Cleary, Garvey Dobbins, Samuel Dunn III, Em German, Ariel Kraje, Lenny Mendez, Bianca Peña, Julia Rudgers, Austin Shores, Tyler Shores, Jacqueline Smith, Shanell Stukes, and Alex Weimeyer

Friends of Theater at Mason Scholarships (awarded Spring 2023): Jo Arnett, Caroline Austin, Asia Cooper, Starr Hill, Dyllan Hutchison, Garret Jones, Caleb McMurty, Jeremy Pritchard, Shannon Rogers, Nathan Tilley

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

April 20-23, 2023

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

May 5-7, 2023