THE DREXEL DEPARTMENT OF PERFORMING ARTS
PRESENTS
WITH
Aiden Abiuso, Nix Aronowitz, Josh Atkinson, Josh Barufaldi, Clara Boglioli, Alexa Boyes, Dana David, Kai Doron, Sasha Gomulka, Abigail Insana, Harang Kang, Cal Lechtenberg, Yan Liu, Emmett Portnoy, Ben Robare, Maya Seipel, Mikey Siedel, Jake Simmons, Dallas Smith, Shea Smith, Anastasiya Vasilenko
MANTUA THEATER PROJECT DRAMATURGS
Rachel Kessler - Co Lead Instructor, Nick Anselmo - Co Lead Instructor
Matthew Lacy, Jake Simmons, Niharika Roy, Abbey Ketchum, Cal Lechtenberg, Dom Lopez, Mirella Morelli-Peyton, Symone Patterson, Danie Moss-Velasco, Anakin Moyle
ARTISTICDIRECTOR
Nick Anselmo
STAGEMANAGEMENT/ MOVEMENTCONSULTANT
Melody Wong
COSTUMEDESIGNER
Bella Metzger
PROPSMASTER
Faith Roberson
WARDROBE/COSTUMEASSISTANT
John Hazlett
PRODUCTION MANAGER/SCENICDESIGN
Paul Jerue
COSTUMESHOPMANAGER
Asaki Kuruma
LIGHTINGDESIGNER& LIGHTBOARDOP
TECHNICALDIRECTOR
Chris Totora
PROJECTION/VIDEO DESIGNER
Janelle A Kauffman
SOUNDDESIGNER& SOUNDBOARDOP
Avery Shope Layan Mahoumad
STAGEMANAGER
Beckett Chase
MASTERELECTRICIAN/ AVSUPERVISOR
Amelia Hooker
COSTUMEDESIGNMENTOR
Asaki Kuruma
THE VIDEO OR AUDIO
ASSTSTAGEMANAGER
Harang Kang
CAMERAOP
Allie Bilger
LIGHTINGDESIGNMENTOR
Dom Chacon
DIRECTIONBY Nick Anselmo
GENERALMANAGER
Liv Shoup
ASSTPRODUCTIONMANAGER
Sydney Schulze
COSTUMEDESIGNER
Grace Weachter
PRODUCTIONASSISTANT
Sasha Gomulka
CAMERAOP
Shawn Marcucci
SOUNDDESIGNMENTOR
Drew Mangione
RECORDING OF THIS PERFORMANCE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED
WELCOME FROM THE DEPARTMENT
We are thrilled to have you join us for this special theatrical event that demonstrates the creativity, imagination, and talents of the youth of our community. The Mantua Theater Project is committed to offering self-esteem building experiences to the youth of the Mantua/Powelton neighborhoods where they can discover their self-worth through experiences in the Theatre. We are very grateful to everyone at Belmont Character School (BCS) for welcoming us and allowing us to be a part of their community. For this show, we spent about eight weeks working with two different groups of approximately eight students in the after-school program at BCS. We introduced them to the basic tenants of playwriting and then proceeded to create a gallery of characters with each of them. These were human characters with the qualities of animals, inanimate objects, and forces of nature. Through these imaginative characters, and some are really creative, we find that the young students can more freely express themselves and write about their concerns, wants and desires. They also make for an evening of whimsical and comedic plays, that still reveal great truths about the young playwrights who wrote them. You can learn more about the Mantua Theater Project by visiting www.mantuatheaterproject.com.
The Drexel Theatre Program has a commitment to developing new work and the writers who create it. The Mantua Theater Project presents plays written by elementary and middle school students. Join us next Saturday, February 22nd at 2:00 pm in the URBN Annex Black Box Theater as we collaborate with Philadelphia Young Playwrights for their Developmental Reading Series, when we will present readings of four short plays by Philadelphia middle and high school students. Finally, to conclude our quarter of new work we present our 11th Annual NewWorks Festival featuring brand new plays written by Screenwriting/Playwriting students from Drexel’s Page-To-Stage class developed under the mentorship of playwright Savannah Reich and Theatre Faculty member and Director Bill Fennelly on Saturday, March 15th at 7:00 pm in the Black Box Theater.
This production is the second offering of Drexel Theatre’s 2024-25 season. This is followed by our End of Quarter Theatre Showcase which will include a musical theater cabaret, the NewWorks Festival, and the Advanced Improv Ensemble under the direction of David Lee White. We conclude our season in the spring with the hilarious Tony Award winning musical comedy, Urinetown: The Musical directed by Peter Reynolds in The Mandell Theater.
For more information about those events and all the other performances offered by the Department of Performing Arts, please visit www.drexel.edu/performingarts and be sure to follow us on social media (@drexeltheatreprogram).
NICK ANSELMO Theatre Program Director
MIRIAM GIGUERE, PhD Department Head, Department of Performing Arts
ABOUT THE MANTUA THEATER PROJECT
The Mantua Theater Project is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) company that addresses the needs of the communities of Mantua, Powelton Village and the surrounding neighborhoods with activities that engage at-risk youth in worthwhile and meaningful experiences where they can realize their self worth and the diversity of their imagination, through positive, selfaffirming experiences of success in theater arts.
Visit wwwmantuatheaterprojectcom
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The land on which Drexel University stands and upon which we gather is part of the traditional territory of the Lenape called “Lenapehoking” (pronunciation: Lun-nah-pay-ho-king) It is here that the people called the 'grandfather tribe' and the 'peacemakers' have lived their lives, spoken their language, and held their ceremonies for thousands of years. Indeed, Lenape is translated as “real or original person.” During the colonial and early federal period, many were removed west and north, but some also remain in their homeland The Lenape were subjected to 250 years of colonization that included cultural suppression and erasure, forced removal from this land and continue to experience systemic discrimination and marginalization.
Acknowledging this history, our privilege to be on this land, and the Lenape tribe's continued presence, is consistent with Drexel University’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We openly recognize the Lenape tribe as the original inhabitants of eastern Pennsylvania, as well as their continuing presence and relationship with their territory. We acknowledge the Lenape people as the Indigenous stewards of their homelands as well as the spiritual keepers of the Lenape Sipu, or Delaware River, and Drexel University does hereby commit to actively supporting our Lenape community members in whatever way we are able, helping to maintain the Indigenous cultural identity of Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and southern New York.
We hope that, by recognizing this Indigenous history, it will inspire you to think about your place on this land, engage in efforts to promote a community that values work towards decolonization and strengthening of Indigenous communities, here and elsewhere
Fire,Friends,andFoes
By:Ja’SirNewton
JakeSimmonsasEmbertheForestFire,JoshAtkinsonasFelix andJoshBarufaldiasOffstageFireman
IWalkThisLandWounded
By:SaleemWilliams
DallasSmithasLeemstheSnakeandLexBoyesasChesterthe
Untitled
By:ShaylaWilliams
AbigailInsanaasBunnytheWhiteFoxandMargaretSiedellasMustheWiseTree
TheHuskyThatLovesHelloKittyNoodles andHasDadProblems
By:Ny’LahHopkins
SheaSmithasAlumnitheHuskyandCalLechtenbergasJourneytheBananaPhone
TheHiddenWar
By:DavidNang
BenRobareasBarrytheSeal,KaiDoronasMeistertheGeyser, andJoshBarufaldiasTheLeaderoftheSchoolofFish
OnaRainyDay
By:AngelaKeith EmmettPortnoyasPeterthePenciland ClaraBoglioliasStephaniethePinkRaindrop
NoBroccoliIceCreamPlease
By:DianaRodon hatheCat,AnastasiyaVasilenkoasCelinetheFly, andJoshBarufaldiasSecurityGuard
MeltingThroughTime
By:NatalieMoses stheFoxandNixAronowitzasChristiantheTiger
TheTaleofaSnakeandaToaster
By:KeonWard SamueltheSnake,YanLiuasTajintheToaster, JoshBarufaldiasGeneral,and ndSashaGomulkaasOffstageRussianSoldiers
MEET THE CAST
Josh Atkinson
Lex Boyes
Photographed by Eitan Barkat
Abigail Insana
Cal Lechtenberg
Kai Doron
Emmet Portnoy
Clara Boglioli
Dana David
Aiden Abiuso
Nix Aronowitz
Josh Barufaldi
Yan Liu
Ben Robare
MEET THE
CAST
CONT.
Maya Seipel
Anastasiya Vasilenko
Jake Simmons
Shea Smith
Mikey Siedell
Dallas Smith
DEPARTMENT OF PERFORMING ARTS
DEPARTMENT HEAD
Miriam Giguere, PhD
PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Luke Abruzzo
Music Program
Nick Anselmo
Theatre Program
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Hannah Burke Department Administrator
Eleanor Ebby Administrative Coordinator
Cecelia Hill
Performing Arts Graduate Assistant
Jennifer Morley Dance Program
Caroline Leipf Managing Director, Mandell Theater
Liv Shoup
Audience Services Coordinator
Lauren Tracy
Ensemble Production Associate
PRODUCTION STAFF
Paul Jerue
Theatre Production Manager, Black Box Theater Technical Director
Asaki Kuruma Costume Shop Manager
Chris Totora
Mandell Theater Technical Director
UPCOMING PERFORMING ARTS EVENTS
THEATRE
NEWWORKS FESTIVAL
March 15, 2025 | 7:00PM | URBN Annex Black Box Theater
END-OF-TERM THEATRE SHOWCASE - WINTER
March 15, 2025 | URBN Annex Black Box Theater
Musical Theatre Cabaret – 1:00PM
Advanced Improv Ensemble – 8:30PM
MUSIC
CONCERT BAND
March 3, 2025 | 7:00PM | Mandell Theater
CHAMBER STRINGS
March 4, 2025 | 7:30PM | Mandell Theater
FUSION BAND & ROCK ENSEMBLE
March 11, 2025 | 7:30PM | Mandell Theater
MEDITERRANEAN ENSEMBLE
March 12, 2025 | 7:30PM | Mandell Theater
JAZZ ORCHESTRA & JAZZTET
March 13, 2025 | 7:30 PM | Mandell Theater
DREXEL UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
March 14, 2025 | 7:30PM | Main Auditorium
GOSPEL CHOIR
March 15, 2025 | 7:00PM | Mandell Theater
ALL COLLEGE CHOIR & CHAMBER BRASS AND WINDS
March 15, 2025 | 7:30PM | Main Auditorium
PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE & EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC ENSEMBLE
March 16, 2025 | 3:00PM | Mandell Theater
UNIVERSITY CHORUS
March 16, 2025 | 3:00PM | Great Court
DREXEL THEATRE COMPANY MEMBERS
Aiden Abiuso.............................................................................................................Computer Science
Jason Adams.............................................................................................Computing & Security Tech
Josh Atkinson........................................................................................................................Psychology
Ben Bailey...........................................................................................................Behavioral Economics
Eitan Barkat...........................................................................................................................Marketing
Allie Bilger......................................................................................................................Music Industry
Clara Boglioli.................................................................................................................Fashion Design
Avery Boudreaux...........................................................................................................Fashion Design
Lex Boyes........................................................................................................................Product Design
Beckett Chase..............................................................................Entertainment & Arts Management
Rick Connor........................................................................................................................Architecture
Ava Jade Dandrea.........................................................................................................Graphic Design
Dana David..........................................................................................................................Architecture
Daniel David..............................................................................................................Computer Science
Lois Divoll..........................................................................................................................Mathematics
Korey Donaghy...................................................................................... Entertainment & Arts Mgmt
Kai Doron..........................................................................................................Environmental Science
Viza Freeman................................................................................................................Communication
Andrea Gadaleta.........................................................................................Screenwriting/Playwriting
Vlad Gherghel............................................................................................................Film & Television
Sasha Gomulka......................................................................................................................Pyschology
Spencer Gordon............................................................................................................Communication
Alex Hartley................................................................................................................Film & Television
Sophia Hannah......................................................................................................................Marketing
John Hazlett..................................................................................................................Fashion Design
Hannah Herman.......................................................................................................Entrepreneurship
Vivien Ho.............................................................................................................Software Engineering
Amelia Hooker...............................................................................................................Fashion Design
Abigail Insana..........................................................................................................Biological Sciences
Declan Joyce...............................................................................................................Film & Television
Harang Kang..........................................................................................Animation and Visual Effects
Rachael Kelson.........................................................................................Environmental Engineering
Frankie Labelle.......................................................................................Entertainment & Arts Mgmt
Matthew Lacy..............................................................................................Screenwriting/Playwriting
Will Lazar.......................................................................................................................Music Industry
Yan Liu............................................................................................................Mechanical Engineering
Sam Macris................................................................................................................Computer Science
Shawn Marcucci............................................................................................................Product Design
Anthony Finn McNamara..........................................................................................................English
Bella Meltzer..................................................................................................................Fashion Design
DREXEL THEATRE COMPANY MEMBERS
Mae Merkle..................................................................................................................Costume Design
Layan Mouhamed.....................................................................................................................Finance
Izzy Patrizio.................................................................................................................Communication
Symone Patterson.........................................................................................................Music Industry
Serena Pearl.................................................................................................................Political Science
Maddye Perry.........................................................................................Entertainment & Arts Mgmt
Aidan Pettyjohn..........................................................................................Architectural Engineering
Emmett Portnoy...................................................................................................................Animation
Ben Robare....................................................................................................Mechanical Engineering
Faith Roberson.............................................................................................................Fashion Design
Niharika Roy......................................................................................................................Architecture
Natalie Russo.................................................................................................Mechanical Engineering
Sophie Rutan.................................................................................................Mechanical Engineering
Pablo Santos.........................................................................................................................Economics
Sydney Schulze.......................................................................................Entertainment & Arts Mgmt
Maya Seipel...............................................................................................Design and Merchandising
Avery Shope.......................................................................................................Electrical Engineering
Mikey Siedell.................................................................................................................Music Industry
Noa Silverman..............................................................................................................Graphic Design
Jake Simmons...............................................................................................Mechanical Engineering
Zoe Sliwinski.............................................................................................................Film & Television
Dallas Smith.....................................................................................................................................Law
Shea Smith....................................................................................................Business Administration
Alan Stelmukh..............................................................................................................Music Industry
Abby Swaney........................................................................................................................Psychology
Krzysztof Swieton..........................................................................................Biomedical Engineering
Dana Taylor............................................................................................Entertainment & Arts Mgmt
Angela Tetruashvili...............................................................................................................Marketing
Kiara Thompson.....................................................................................Environmental Engineering
Dahlia Ufberg........................................................................................................................Marketing
Dylan Ugel.....................................................................................................................Music Industry
M Ulses......................................................................................................................Film & Television
Morgan Unruh.....................................................................................................................Psychology
Anastasiya Vasilenko...........................................................................................................Psychology
Kenneth Wang.........................................................................................................Computer Science
Grace Weachter.........................................................................................Screenwriting/Playwriting
Syd Webb..............................................................................................................................Psychology
Jia Weingard........................................................................................................................Psychology
Madison Yu............................................................................................Entertainment & Arts Mgmt
Mia Zlupko....................................................................................................................Product Design
