The Originals Fall 2024

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theater.gmu.edu

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF THEATER

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.

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.

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