Twelve Ophelias
by Caridad SvichDirected by Brett Womack
February 22, 23*, 24 at 8 p.m.
February 24 and 25** at 2 p.m.
in TheaterSpace
*ASL interpreted and Talkback to follow
** Audio Described
Recordings and photography of any kind are strictly prohibited.
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
Astheatre-goers,youlikelyhavesomefamiliaritywithHamletandits characters.Hamletwashaunted,Poloniuswasstabbed,Gertrudewas poisoned,Claudiuswasstabbedandpoisoned,andOpheliawasdriven madanddrowned.Spoilers,sorry.Despiteeverycharactermeetingacruel fate,Ophelia’siseasilythemosttragicofthemall,whilesimultaneously beingtheleastdeserving.EnterCaridadSvich,whopensthiswonderfully absurdistandfreshtakeonthecharacters,whereOpheliaisgivena secondchanceatfindingherself,nolongerdefinedbythemeninherlife, butonherownmerit.Bytellingthestoryfromherperspective,Svichis abletocraftapseudo-afterlifewhereOpheliafindsherself,herown identity.Whilethisstoryisoddandparticularandintimate,itsuniversality shinesthroughtheexperiencesofOpheliaandherrecoveringmindscape inthishalf-deconstruction,half-homagetotheoriginalplay.
Svich’sstorytellingreallyspoketomewhenIfirstreadtheplay.The uptighteloquenceofShakespeareisinvertedascharactersspeakin contemporarypoetryandmoderndialects.Theopportunitytoengage withthisstorythroughamusicalandmovement-focusedmediumwas oneIcouldnotpassup.Isoughttofillthisstoryofidentity,individuality, andwhitenoisewithmusicthatevokesthedissociativeanddistant,while stillremainingwhollydistinctandmemorable.Iapproachedtheentire showwiththatsamephilosophyofthepurposefulfuzzandnoisefound withinacrowdedmind,whichmakesthemomentsofbrevityandserenity thatmuchnicer.Peopledancejoyfully,wailwithgrief,zoneoutentirely, love,hate,live,anddie-oftenatthesametime.Imadeitweird.Butagood weird.
Iwanttotaketherestofthispagetothankyouforbeinghere.Yes,you specifically.Itmeanstheworldtothiswholecompanythatyoucameout tosupportus.Thisshowhasbeenmypassionprojectfornearlytwoyears, andI’msogratefultobesharingmyartandtheartofsomanystudent performersanddesigners.Ihopeyoucanleavethisroomtodaywitha newfoundappreciationforShakespeare’soriginal,asenseofretribution forthewrongedwomeninhisworks,andaloveforyoungandnewartists makingtheirarttogether.Icannootheranswermakebutthanks,and thanks,andeverthanks.
BrettWomack-DirectorandComposer
DRAMATURG'S NOTE
CAST
Mina, Dance Captain ........................................................
Chorus, G & Mina Understudy ......................................
Brea Davis
Idil Erdoğan
Chorus, R & H Understudy ...................................................
Gertrude .................................................................
Chorus, Rude Boy Understudy ..........................
E Griggs
Arrieon Grovner
Aven Hagen Grote
Chorus, Fight Captain, Gertrude Understudy ......
Shannon Harrel
H ...................................................................................
Rude Boy ................................................................
Keaton Lazar
Nathaniel McCay
G ........................................................................................
Chorus, Ophelia Understudy ................................
Katie Rowe
Jennah Sidiabed
Ophelia .........................................................................
R ...................................................................................
Rylan Snyder
Sarah Stewart
Swing .............................................................................
Olivia Wilson
DRAMATURG'S NOTE
PRODUCTION TEAM
Director/Composer ..................................................
Assistant Director/Choreographer ........................
Fight/Intimacy Director ...........................................
Brett Womack
Spencer Wilde
Lorraine Slone
Dramaturg ........................................................................
Stage Manager .............................................................
Assistant Stage Manager ....................................
Dan Piper
Andy Brown
Bertem Demirtas
Assistant Stage Manager ........................................
Technical Director .................................................
Emma Mitchell
Caleb McMurtry
Assistant Technical Director ....................................
Gabriel Embry
Scenic Designer ...............................................................
Properties Designer ..............................................
Eli Nguyen
Stephan Starling
Assistant Properties Designer ......................................
Costume Designer ..................................................
Paris Devlin
Hannah Griffith
Hair and Makeup Designer .....................................
Aurora Powell
Sound Designer ....................................................................
Lighting Designer .......................................................
An Tran
Garrett Jones
CAST BIOS
Brea Davis she/her (Mina) is a second-year Musical Theater major! She was recently seen as Candy Striper and a Dance Captain in 9 to 5 at Mason, and she's excited to continue her experience with the Mason Players. Brea would like to thank her family for always supporting her and being her biggest fans!
Idil Erdoğan she/her (Chorus / U/S G, Mina) is excited to be a part of her first play at Mason! She’s thrilled to have gotten the opportunity to work with an incredible cast & crew and looks forward to exploring more of the theater scene at Mason. She hopes Gravedigger 1 will earn a spot in audiences’ hearts.
Elie Griggs they/them (Chorus / U/S R, H) is a thirdyear Musical Theater major at Mason. They are from Camden, South Carolina, and have also been seen in the Mason Player’s The Night Knights (Swing) and Head Over Heels (Ensemble / U/S Pythio). Elie is thrilled to be in this production, and wants to thank their friends, family, and castmates!
n Grovner she/her (Gertrude) is a freshman rge Mason, and this is Arrieon's first main production with the Theater program. She is xcited to perform and hopes everyone the show!
CAST BIOS
Aven Hagen Grote he/they (Chorus / U/S Rude Boy) is majoring in Theater Studies with a focus on Dramaturgy. They would like to thank their family and their friends for the support and care. And they hope you like the show!
Shannon Harrel she/her (Chorus / U/S Gertrude) is a sophomore Theater major with a concentration in Musical Theater. This is her third production with Mason. Shannon worked on You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown as the Stage Manager and The Mason Player's The Originals! 2023 as Maya Westminster in A Dorian Mode. She would like to thank her friends and family for always being supportive!
Keaton Lazar he/him (H) is excited to work on another production at Mason with his friends! Keaton is a junior and this is his 5th production with School of Theater. He has previously been seen in productions such as The Road to the End, Sutta and 9 to 5. He is thrilled to be able to work on this amazing production of Twelve Ophelias, and hopes everyone enjoys the show!
Nathaniel McCay he/him (Rude Boy) is a senior at Mason who has previously taken part in the Mason Players productions of Eurydice (Father) and 9 to 5 (Dick / Ensemble). He has also appeared in productions such as A Midsummer Night's Dream (Oberon) and Mamma Mia (Harry). He is honored to work with such an incredible team, and hopes you enjoy the show!
CAST BIOS
Katie Rowe she/her (G) is a current sophomore at George Mason with a concentration in Musical Theater. Her most recent works include: Beauty and the Beast (Featured Dancer / Ensemble / Dance Captain), Head Over Heels (Ensemble / Pamela U/S), The Mason Players The Originals! 2022 (Full Disclosure; Annie), Anything Goes (Reno Sweeney).
Jennah Sidiabed she/her (Chorus / U/S Ophelia) is very excited to be a part of Twelve Ophelias at George Mason University. She recently was a Swing in the school's production of 9 to 5 and also played a character in one of the shows in The Mason Players The Originals! 2023. She is excited to continue her journey working with the lovely people she has met here, as she works toward her BFA in Musical Theater. She wants to thank her parents for supporting her and say "HII," to everyone who's come out to support her tonight.
Rylan Snyder she/her (Ophelia) is a junior Honors College student pursuing her BFA in Musical Theater here at Mason! You may have seen her last on Mason stages in 9 to 5, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and the Mason Cabaret, as well as others. She would like to thank her parents and friends for their overwhelming support. Enjoy!
CAST BIOS
Sarah Stewart she/her (R) is a senior working to obtain a BFA in Theater with a concentration in Musical Theater. She’s thrilled to be working with such a wonderful cast and crew, and is very grateful for this opportunity! Some of her favorite past productions at Mason include 9 to 5 (Judy Bernly), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Sally Brown), Baby Dream Your Dream: The Women of Broadway (Soloist), and The Boy Detective Fails (Daisy Hollis U/S / Ensemble).
Olivia Wilson she/her (Swing) is a first year student from Richmond, Virginia. She is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to pursue her passion for the stage along with a degree in Political Communications. Her third production with Mason, Twelve Ophelias has held great value in her development as an actress. She hopes to continue learning as much as possible through the theater department in the next few years.
PRODUCTION BIOS
Andy Brown he/him (Stage Manager)
Bertem Demirtas he/him (Assistant Stage Manager) is primarily an actor but is excited to assistant stage manage for the first time! He would like to thank his friends and especially his family for always supporting his endeavors. He’d also like to thank the cast and production team for creating such a fun environment to work in!
Paris Devlin (Assistant Props Designer)
Gabriel Embry (Assistant Technical Director)
Hannah Griffith she/her (Costume Designer) is a theater artist with two years of experience. She is passionate about theater and believes it can be a powerful medium for storytelling and social change. Hannah is pursuing both a degree in Business Marketing and Design and Technical Theater. She regularly works as a costume designer, hair stylist, and makeup artist.
Garrett Jones (Lighting Designer)
Emma Mitchell (Assistant Stage Manager)
PRODUCTION BIOS
Caleb McMurtry he/him (Technical Director) is thankful to be back as the Technical Director for his 21st and (currently) last show at GMU before graduating in May! He wanted to take this space to say thank you to everyone who has supported him in his years at George Mason. Particularly the Design Tech professors for helping him get to where he is today, he couldn’t have done it without their help! He would like to thank his family and friends for their incredible support, especially when he got too busy to text them back! And more than anything, thank you Carrie for giving him the opportunity to learn and grow into the Technical Director he is today.
Eli Nguyen he/she (Scenic Designer)
Dan Piper he/she/they (Dramaturg) is a senior at Mason majoring in English and minoring in Illustration. He jumped on the opportunity to apply his academic Shakespeare background to the stage, and to work with the Mason Players after an extended hiatus from theater. He wants to thank the cast and crew for their warm welcome.
Madison Pitzer they/them (Student Lead Marketer) is currently in their sophomore year, and is working as the Lead Marketer for Twelve Ophelias! They are an Art major along with a playwright! Some of the plays have had staged readings here on campus: Baby Blues, In this Realm We Cannot See, and Preaching Our End of the Universe!
PRODUCTION BIOS
Aurora Powell they/she (Hair & Makeup Artist) is a second-year Musical Theater student and CoHistorian on the board of Mason Players. Last year at Mason you may have seen them as Pythio in Head Over Heels or Infanta Juana in The Hunchback of Seville. They just finished assistant directing fallen with the incredible Theresa Ohanian and are thrilled to be participating in another favorite technical aspect of theater this semester. IG: aurorajpowell An Tran (Sound Designer)
Lorraine Slone she/her (Fight & Intimacy Director)
Stephan Starling they/he (Props Designer)
Spencer Wilde he/him (Assistant Director / Choreographer) is a sophomore in the BFA program with a Musical Theater concentration. He has recently performed as a Featured Soloist in Mason Cabaret, Dwayne in 9 to 5, and Schroeder in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, all at GMU. Although he has previously served as a Fight Captain and Dance Captain, this is his first step into the creative team for a show and is excited to share this special moment with you!
Brett Womack he/him (Director / Music Director / Composer) is a junior at Mason with a BFA in Theater with a concentration in Musical Theater and a BA in Mathematics. Brett is beyond happy you could be here for his directorial debut at Mason! Previous production credits include Assistant Directing You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Composing for The Road to the End, Music Directing and Composing for fallen, and Music Directing his two original musicals from The Originals! 2022 and 2023. Thank you to his friends, family, girlfriend, and all who support! Thank you thank you thank you!!!
UNIT SUPPORT
Arts Support Umbrella
ASU Production Manager
Technical Director
Assistant Technical Director
Costume Shop Supervisor
Scene Shop Supervisor
Scenic Painter/ Paint Elevation Artist
Lead Carpenter
Venue Tech Director
Crew
Wardrobe Crew
Light Board Operator
Sound Board Operator
Scene Shop Interns
Properties Intern
Production Intern
Paint Intern
Micah Stromberg
Carrie Cox
Stephan Starling
Laurel Dunayer
Ethan Osborne
Chloe Scheel
Maddie Southard
Tom Terlecki
Quiana Michel
Jalen Whitmore
Sophia Ferolito
Megan Ayers
Bertem Demirtas
Gabriel Embry
Anna Jungkeit
Caleb McMurtry
Sydney Schepis
UNIT SUPPORT
Costume Shop Interns
Anna Connole
Hannah Griffith
Lee Guber
Scene Shop Construction Practicums
Rosie Chan
Carter Hurd
Aadith Iyer
Kevin Kaluarachichi
Sydney Schepisi
Shannon Harrel
Jackson Ramos
Brianna Zawicki
Zatch Valenzuela
Walker Vlahos
Ky Wilcox
Spencer Wilde
Zoe Winter
DRAMATURG'S NOTE UNIT SUPPORT
Alpha Psi Omega Officers
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Associate Member Coordinators
Historian
Community Service Chair
Education Deputy
Mason Players Staff
Company Manager
Associate Company Manager
Company Secretary
Development Manager
Development Apprentice
Marketing Manager
Marketing Apprentices
Co-Company Historians
Players4Change Staff
Equity and Empowerment Managers
Erin Birchfield (she/her)
Elisabeth Dupuy (she/her)
Dyllan Hutchison (she/her)
Peter Dasher (he/they)
Jay Dews (he/him)
Kamy Satterfield
Lorcan Von Slomski
Megan Ayers (she/they)
Martin Desjardins
Nathan Tilley (he/him)
Lexi Carter (she/her)
Peter Dasher (he/they)
Erin Birchfield (she/her)
Ella Grant
Brett Womack (he/him)
Mercury Pitzer
Idil Erdoğan
Aurora Powell (she/they)
Mery Estrella (she/her)
Megan Ayers (she/they)
Mary Clare Bernier (she/they)
Jaylen "Jay" Dews (he/him)
Emma Harris (she/her)
Zoe Winter (she/they)
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
Nick Kfoury Horner
Lena Salins
Sara Simanski
Mary Burgess
Nafisa Ferdous
Mimsi Janis
Kristin Johnsen-Neshati
Mary Lechter
Billy Kessinger
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
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
Anonymous (2)
Ms. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati & Mr. Amin Neshati
Nicholas Kfoury Horner
Phyllis Krochmal
Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas
Vafa Mostaghim
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
Anonymous
performer ($200 - $499) cont.
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 MagelssenGreen
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.
THE MASON PLAYERS
spring 2024 performance season
1,001 Plays March-April, 2024
Antigone, Presented by the Girls of St. Catherine’s March 21-24, 2024
Thrive, or What You Will April 11-14, 2024
A Concert Presentation of:
Once Upon a Mattress April 26-28, 2024
Follow The Mason Players for Season Updates & Announcements on
@THEMASONPLAYERS
THEATER.GMU.EDU