theater.gmu.edu
present
The Mason Players Originals!
Co-directed by Franklin Robinson, Jr. & April Brassard
September 13* & 14 at 8pm September 14 at 2pm in TheatreSpace
*ASL interpreted
Recordings and photography of any kind are strictly prohibited.
Content Advisory
The six pieces in this year’s Originals! are filled with a rollercoaster of emotions and a staggering range of genres. Several pieces tackle difficult themes such as death and the afterlife, gaslighting and emotional abuse, and paranormal and supernatural entities. Rehearsals have been conducted to respect the gravity of these themes in our scripts, while also keeping a jovial and lighthearted approach to draw a necessary boundary between life and art.
CAST AND CREW
A Forgotten Past— Book, Music, and Lyrics by Lexi Carter
E Griggs Director
Kaitlyn Brittenham Claire
Elise LeGault Carrie
Jalen Whitmore Soul 1
Owen Potts Soul 2
Jax Berg Darkness
Sleep Apnea Bug by Kai Yoffe & Bertem Demirtas
Keaton Lazar Director
Sanjay Nagar Dad
Adia Spezza Mom
Caroline Antonucci Daughter
The Beautiful People by Jessica Nguyen
Aurora Powell Director
Aven Hagen Grote
Sharon Cho
Merlot by Elias Collier
Mr. Morgan
Bao
Andy Brown Director
Gabe Holsinger Cliff
Tommy/Ivy Maxson
Richie
Nasim Abdul Khalaliq Understudy
CAST AND CREW
I Don’t Believe in Witches by Amollie Stoermer
Nathaniel McCay Director
Ennis Shabab Brother Cletus
Montgomery Jones Mary Constance
Men on A Girder— Book, Music, & Lyrics by Brett Womack
Spencer Wilde Director & Choreographer
Brett Womack Musical Director
Kai Yoffe One
Finn O’Connell Two
Jackie House Three
Jennah Sidiabed Four
Ava Peach Five
Joseph McQuirter Six
Matteo Hope Seven
Dae’Quon Shines Eight
Lake Rusch Nine
Katie Murchison Ten
Shannon Harrel Eleven
PRODUCTION TEAM
April Brassard
Faculty Co-Director
Frank Robinson, Jr
Faculty Co-Director
Brianna Zawicki ...........................Props Coordinator
Luna Jones................................ Co-Lighting Designer
Mary Clare Bernier................. Co-Lighting Designer
Casper Sullivan...................... Costume Coordinator
Kyle Crowne...................................... Sound Designer
Tess Tsolis......................................... ..Stage Manager
Valerie Pesot...................... Assistant Stage Manager
Arts Support Umbrella
Micah Stromberg............. ASU Production Manager
Carrie Cox............................. ASU Technical Director
Stephan Starling.......... Assistant Technical Director
Ethan Osborne .....................Scene Shop Supervisor
Tom Terlecki..................... Venue Technical Director
Laurel Dunayer............... Costume Shop Supervisor
Crew
Adrian Jin ................................Wardrobe/Deck Crew
Travis Carson.......................... Light Board Operator
Alexis Meadows................... Sound Board Operator
Brea Davis................................................... Run Crew
FEATURE ARTICLE
Mason Player’s The Originals possesses a history spanning nearly twenty years. Spawned by Professor Heather McDonald with the moniker the Ten-Minute Play Festival (TMP), the goal was to provide student playwrights, directors and actors a chance to create an evening’s worth of original entertainment, all the while supported by a team of professional theater artists and scholars. College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Rick Davis even served on the play selection committee. During this period, it was not uncommon for 50-60 new plays to be submitted for consideration. At its height, nearly 100 students were involved start to finish in the production process. At one point, TMP was made curricular with support from multiple faculty members from Performance and Design and Tech. By 2018, a reimagining of the production occurred, with a change in name accompanying it, and The Originals was born. In part, the shift was to facilitate the inclusion of other types of entertainments students were interested in presenting: stand-up comedy, magic, and dance to name a few.
Professors Kevin Murray and Mary Lechter lead the production process, bringing in School of Theater and TMP alums to provide the institutional knowledge of the production process and to serve as mentors to the younger generation.
After the pandemic hit in 2020, the Originals experienced a leadership change again. Professors April Brassard and Frank Robinson took the lead to serve as Directors of the production. Brassard, a School of Theater alum in playwrighting wrote her first play for TMP after an introductory stint as a Stage Manager. That play,
The Morphine Diaries, made its professional debut at the Capital Fringe Festival in Washington, D.C. in 2011. Robinson, a playwright, actor, and archivist in the Washington, DC area sums up the importance of the Originals to George Mason School of Theater students, “[g]iven that so many are motivated to make a success in the profession, no doubt as they move out into the theatre world, we will hear more and more about our amazing alumni who have made a mark in theatre, film, or television.” Robinson and Brassard encourage School of Theater students to push the envelope and stretch their abilities for the Originals. Students have responded to their call, writing large-cast musicals and James Bond styled thrillers. Centering students’ visions and voices, a process began nearly twenty years ago, continues with tonight’s performance. When the performances are done, planning will continue for a new addition to the Originals, an evening of staged readings of plays in development on December 6 at 8:00 pm. We look forward to seeing you then.
Dr. Elizabeth Forte Alman Head of Theater Studies Associate Professor of Theater
DRAMATURG'S NOTE SCHOOL OF THEATER FACULTY & STAFF
Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Director, School of Theater
Assistant Director
Production Manager
Academic Advisor
Office Manager
Marketing Assistant
Faculty
Elizabeth Alman
Kelly Armstrong
Djola Branner
April Brassard
Carrie Cox
Jonathan Dahm Robertson
Rick Davis
Kevin Dunayer
Laurel Dunayer
Leighann Enos
David Gaines
Erin Gardiner
James Gardiner
Edward Gero
David Goldstein
Nicholas Kfoury Horner
Rick Davis
Djola Branner
Nicholas Kfoury Horner
Lena Salins
Sara Simanski
Mary Burgess
Nafisa Ferdous
Mimsi Janis
Kristin Johnsen-Neshati
Mary Lechter
Billy Kessinger
Minjoo Kim
Kaiulani Lee
Bryce Lenon
Ahmad Maaty
Heather McDonald
Ian McEuen
Yaritza Pacheco
Franklin Robinson Jr.
Shaila Schmidt
Joseph Walsh
Edrie Weekly
DRAMATURG'S NOTE DONOR SUPPORT
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
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 DugganKen and Molly Elston and
The Greater Manassas
Christmas Parade Committee
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.
IBM International Foundation
Ms. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati and Mr. Amin Neshati
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
Captain Marsha and Robert Rease
Ted and Anne K. Rosenblum
Ms. Ann Steers
Daniel and Ann Toohey
Mikki Van Wyk
Verizon Foundation
Edward and Wava Vigen
1,001 Plays Supporters
Ms. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati & Mr. Amin Neshati
Nicholas Kfoury Horner
Phyllis Krochmal
Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas
Vafa Mostaghim
Virginia Humanities
DRAMATURG'S NOTE FRIENDS OF THEATER SUPPORT
angel ($5,000+)
Edward Jones
Diane and Tim Naughton
Virginia Foundation for the Humanities
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
producer ($500 - $999)
Helen and Bill Ackerman
Mr. Rick Davis and Ms. Julie Thompson
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hamerschlag
Ms. Mary Lechter and Mr. Kevin Murray
Don and Sonja Palomaki
Robert and Ida Portland
William Schneider
Mr. and Mrs. Kosmo Tatalias
performer ($200 - $499)
John and Toni Acton
Susan J. Aitel and Jonathan Goldman
performer ($200 - $499)
cont.
Anonymous
Brian and Laurie Lindberg
Patricia and Evans Mandes
Mitchell J. Martin
Lene Mcvoy
Mary and John Tuohy
Verizon Foundation
friend (up to $199)
April Brassard
Carol Burbage
James and Sue Christensen
Roland and Victoria Fabia
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Gerbracht
Linda and Shelly Gersten
Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Gholz
Zayd A. Hamid
Linda and Harlan Harber
Catie and Mark Hubbard
Shirley A. Joyce
David and Barbara Kilpatrick
Michael and Linda Kostrzewa
Christine Lange
Stanley Lichtman and Paulette
Lichtman-Panzer
Alice and Matt Magelssen-Green
Erica M. Nantais
Emily Roudebush
Terry Sarley
Dana D. Semmes
Bob and Pat Warakomsky
Christopher M. Ward
Joan R. White
Sheila Woods
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
School of Theater 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 and giving by logging onto our website https://theater.gmu.edu/give
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.