34th Annual Playwrights Festival
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Ilesa Duncan, Executive & Producing director Presents
The 34th Annual
Young Playwrights Festival 2020 Winning Plays - Presented Virtually A LADY’S FACADE by Aisha Ziad University of Chicago Laboratory Schools Teacher: Christine Himmelfarb Directed by Reshmi Hazra Rustebakke
CONTAINMENT By Lincoln Gaw Lane Tech Academy Teacher: Brian Telles Directed by Alex Levy
THESE GLASS LIVES By Jake Florell Kenwood Academy High School; Teacher: Jon Nemeth Directed by ILesa Duncan Video Design Rasean Davonte Johnson
Costume Design Izumi Inaba
Stage Manager Simran Sachdev
Lighting Consultant Josh Wroblewski
Props Design Jenny Pinson
Video Editor Harrison Ornelas
Sound Design Steve Labedz
Production Manager Jennifer McClendon
Pegasus Theatre Chicago is also supported in part by The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, The Polk Bros. Foundation, and The Seabury Foundation.
Press Opening Sunday, January 10, 2021 Photographing, videotaping or other audio/visual recording of this production is strictly prohibited. Pegasus Theatre is a proud member of the League of Chicago Theatres. Pegasus is a theatre-in-residence at Chicago Dramatists 2
Pegasus Theatre Chicago
CAST A Lady’s Facade Hayley................................................................................................................................. Nastacia Guimont Jim................................................................................................................................................. Josh Bernaski Leonardo DaVinci...................................................................................................................... Gabriel Fries Lisa /Alyssa..................................................................................................................................... Vinithra Raj Containment CDC 1..................................................................................................................................................John Drea CDC 2.................................................................................................................................. Nastacia Guimont Ohio Overlord........................................................................................................................... Josh Bernaski Elvis................................................................................................................................................. Gabriel Fries Sphinx.............................................................................................................................................James Lewis Amazon........................................................................................................................................... Vinithra Raj Radio Operator.........................................................................................................................Victor Musoni These Glass Lives Young ..........................................................................................................................................Victor Musoni Sir.....................................................................................................................................................James Lewis Police...................................................................................................................................................John Drea P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F Directors................................................................ILesa Duncan, Alex Levy, Reshmi Hazra Rustebakke Video Design....................................................................................................... Rasean Davonte Johnson Lighting Design................................................................................................................... Josh Wroblewski Costume Design.......................................................................................................................... Izumi Inaba Sound Design............................................................................................................................. Steve Labedz Props Design............................................................................................................................... Jenny Pinson Production Manager................................................................................................. Jennifer McClendon Stage Manager..................................................................................................................... Simran Sachdev Video Editor..........................................................................................................................Harrison Ornelas Casting Director................................................................................................................... Andrés Enriquez ENSEMBLE PROFILES JOSH BERNASKI is very excited to be working with Pegasus Theatre for the first time! Throughout the city, Josh has worked with Lifeline Theatre, Drury Lane, Theatre at the Center, First Folio, Akvavit Theatre, and The Shakespeare Project. Outside of Chicago, Josh has performed at regional theatres across the country, and toured four years throughout South America and the Middle East performing with Artspot
Educational Theatre. Proud graduate of Temple University. Founder of The Connecting Routes Project. Much love to his supportive family and friends. www. joshbernaski.com JOHN DREA – YPF 34 marks John’s Pegasus debut. Chicago credits include Whose Body? (Lifeline), Free Space (Possibilities), Much Ado About Nothing (Goodly Creatures); New York: 34th Annual Playwrights Festival
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OneIronaut (Outer Loop). Film/TV work includes Ashley Green, Storm Stories, and The Shadows. He will be studying at the School at Steppenwolf in Summer 2021. All my love to my best pal, Jayde. John is represented by Big Mouth Talent. GABRIEL FRIES is excited to be working with Pegasus Theatre for the first time! Favorite credits include It’s a Wonderful Life (Oil Lamp Theater), Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (Lifeline Theatre), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Metropolis PAC) , The Adventures of Robin Hood (Adventure Stage), The CiviliTy of Albert Cashier (Permoveo Productions/PFP), Peter and the Starcatcher (E.D.G.E. Theatre), Do Re Mi (Porchlight Music Theatre), and The Kid Thing (Nothing Without a Company). Gabriel holds a BA from Wesleyan University. Thanks to Mom and Dad for always supporting my dreams! Gabriel is represented by BMG Talent. www.gabrielfries.net
JAMES LEWIS is excited to be in his first Pegasus production! He was last seen in Haven’s Titus Andronicus and Brown Paper Box’s Grace. He was also in Brooklyn 99, 2 Broke Girls and True Blood. He is represented by DDO Artist Agency.
VICTOR MUSONI is ecstatic to be a part of the 34th Young Playwrights Festival. Chicago credits include La Havana Madrid (The Den Theater); Luck of the Irish, The Q Brother’s Rome Sweet Rome, Back The Night (UIC); Fun Harmless War Machine (The New Colony); No child (Definition Theatre Company); Blood at the Root (Jackalope); Columbinus (Steppenwolf/The Yard); The Toilet (Haven Theatre) and How We Got On (Haven Theatre u/s). TV/Film credits include Chicago Med, 6x9. Web Series credits include Brujos. Music videos credits include NASTACIA GUIMONT Young Lost Love, Sinner. Endless love to is excited to bring the Mom, Ama, and loved ones for holding it words of brilliant young down always and forever. Victor is minds to life with represented by Paonessa Talent Agency. Pegasus Theatre! Nastacia graduated VINITHRA RAJ grew from the University of up in the suburbs of Minnesota-Twin Cities Chicago and is with a BA in Theatre. Regional Credits: delighted to be a part Guthrie Theatre, Children’s Theatre of this city’s thriving Company, MN Fringe Festival, Indiana artistic community. On Repertory Theatre, ACT Theatre. She has stage she has played television roles on both GRIMM and performed in various CHICAGO MED. She also loves painting, productions and readings for companies being a plant Mom, and spending time including Collaboraction, MPAACT, Corn wrangling her two Boston Terrier mixes. Productions, and Rockwell Theatre Bandits. Shout out to her husband who is a She is represented by Gray Talent Group frontline worker and her biggest supporter! and has appeared on television in Fox’s IG @nastaciaguimont Empire and various commercials. She is so excited to be an ensemble member in this year’s unique, virtual Young Playwrights Festival! 4
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ILESA DUNCAN (Director, These Glass Lives) recent directing credits include Middle Passage (Jeff-Award), Neverwhere (Lifeline Theatre), at Pegasus Theatre Eclipsed, The Green Book, Shakin’ The Mess Outta Misery (BTAA Award), and several Young Playwrights Festival productions. Other favorite shows include The Nativity (Congo Square), For Her As A Piano, In The Continuum, and tick, tick Boom also at Pegasus. Locally, Duncan has worked with The Goodman, Writers Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Stage Left, and Chicago Dramatists; regionally, Contemporary American Theatre Company (Ohio), The Alliance Theatre (Atlanta), Arena Stage (Washington DC) and Lincoln Center Theater (New York). ILesa co-adapted Middle Passage from the National Book Award-winning novel by MacArthur Fellow Charles Johnson, and has written short stories, poems and other works. She is the executive/producing director at Pegasus Theatre Chicago and the artistic director at Lifeline Theatre.
Blood Theater at CHA Field, the home of the St. Paul Saints in St. Paul, Minnesota. Formerly artistic director at Pegasus, Mr. Levy holds an MFA in Directing from The University of California-Los Angeles.
RESHMI HAZRA RUSTEBAKKE (Director – A Lady’s Facade) Reshmi is a multi-faceted film and theater maker who develops work as a creator, director, producer, storyteller and curator. She has her BFA from New York University, Playwrights Horizons Theatre School. During her time in New York, she received the Robert Moss Directing Fellow at Playwrights Horizons Theatre, as well as the Artist of Color Fellowship at New York Theatre Workshop. She works creatively developing new work, and also directing, producing, and production managing many varieties of shoots and plays. She has worked at The Vineyard, Playwrights Horizons Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, TimeLine Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Free Street, and many more. She is the co-director of critically acclaimed BRUJOS, and director for 8,000, ALEX LEVY (Director – Containment) FOBia, The Haven, Ethel and Agnes, Geeta’s Alex has directed several show for Pegasus Guide to Moving On, and several more including numerous productions of projects in development. She is currently The Young Playwrights Festival. Alex is a regular Contributing Editor with The currently the Artistic Director of 1st Stage Everymom and has just completed her in Northern Virginia. Since joining, the Pop Culture Collaborative Fellowship company has won several awards including administered through OTV. the American Theatre Wing’s National Theatre Company Grant and was named IZUMI INABA (Costume Design) Izumi is “One of America’s most impressive smaller delighted to come back to YPF after several theater companies” by The Wall Street years, and grateful for this opportunity to Journal. In 2020, 1st Stage won five Helen connect with the people! She is a resident Hayes Awards including “Outstanding artist at Albany Park Theater Project, and a Production.” Alex is a three time Helen company member at Red Tape Theatre and Hayes Award nominee for best director and House Theatre of Chicago. Recently, she his production of Lobby Hero was named received a Black Theatre Alliance Award for best regional revival of 2016 by The Wall designing costumes for Kill Move Paradise Street Journal. Previously, Levy served as (Timeline Theatre) along with everyone in Artistic Director of Ballybeg Theatre in New the team. During the pandemic, she has York City and the managing director of been missing the theatre community very The Watts Village Theater Company in Los much, but she is hopeful and looks forward Angeles. In March 2017, his award-winning to working on many more brand new, eyeplay Safe at Home was produced at Mixed opening plays in coming years. 34th Annual Playwrights Festival
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RASEAN DAVONTE JOHNSON (Video Design) is delighted to be working with Pegasus Theatre. A Chicago based video artist and theatrical designer, his work has been seen around town with institutions such as Steppenwolf Theatre, Court Theatre, The Hypocrites, Writers Theatre, Teatro Vista, Collaboraction, and Manual Cinema. His regional credits include work with Yale Repertory Theatre, Geva Theatre Center, Hartford Stage, Alliance Theatre, and the McCarter Theatre Center. Additionally his installation work has been seen at the Yale Art Gallery, The Bridgeport Film Festival, the Logan Center for the Arts, and the Columbus International Film Festival. MFA Yale School of Drama. raseandavontejohnson.com.
HARRISON ORNELAS (Video Editor) was born and raised in Chicago, graduated from Columbia College Chicago 15’ and has worked in theatre from storefront to larger houses and festivals. Currently, Harrison is the Technical Director for both Lifeline Theatre and Remy Bumppo Theatre since July 2019. During the pandemic he shifted into video editing using his training and lessons in film production during college. He is thrilled to be working professionally with Pegasus Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival, especially after entering and receiving an honorable mention when he was in high school at Lane Tech. Harrison is patiently waiting for the day when his scene shop will be full of set pieces and everyone may safely return to the theatre.
STEVE LABEDZ (Sound Design) is a composer and sound designer based out of Chicago. Other work includes Good Grief with Free Street Theatre, United Flight 232 with The House, and Fast Company with Jackalope Theatre. Steve is a proud company member with Red Tape Theatre and Jackalope Theatre Company. They are happy to return to the Young Playwrights Festival for the third time.
JENNY PINSON (Props Design) This is Jenny’s first production with Pegasus Theatre. She has designed props at Emerald City (Hansel and Gretel, Dr. Doolittle, Cinderella, Peter Pan), Route 66 (High Fidelity: The Musical), Oakton Community College (A Flea in Her Ear, M. Butterfly, Harvest), Drury Lane Oakbrook (Thoroughly Modern Millie, High School Musical), American Theater Company (Disgraced), Theater Wit (The North Plan), A New Colony (Rewilding Genius), Steep Theatre (Posh, Birdland, Pomona), About Face Theatre (After All the Terrible Things I Do, The Secretaries), Light Opera Works (Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady), Remy Bumppo (Seascape, Pygmalion), and A Red Orchid Theatre (Pilgrim’s Progress, Small Mouth Sounds), Victory Gardens Theater (The First Deep Breath, Lifeline Theatre (Fable-ous, Arnie the Doughnut, You Think it’s Easy Being a Tooth Fairy, The Man Who Was Thursday, The Time Warp Trio, Bunny’s Book Club). as well as many productions at The University of Chicago where she is the Props Manager for the Committee for Theatre and Performance Studies.
JENNIFER MCCLENDON (Production Manager) Jennifer is a native Chicago theatre artist who received her BFA in Stage Management from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A former Steppenwolf Multicultural Fellow and Production Management Apprentice, Jennifer has worked as a freelance Production Manager and Stage Manager in Chicago since 2012. She has worked with companies such as Steppenwolf, Remy Bumppo, Theatre Seven, The Hypocrites, Mary Arrchie, and Definition Theatre. Jennifer has been the resident Production Manager at Lifeline Theatre Company since 2016. She is honored to be able to work on the 34th Annual Young Playwrights Festival with Pegasus Theatre Chicago and help bring the festival to the digital realm. 6
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SIMRAN SACHDEV (Stage Manager) is an Alumnus of Illinois State University’s School of Theater and Dance Acting program. She is new to Young Playwrights Festival this year and is so very thankful and excited for the virtual art we get to create in a year full of pain and distance. JOSH WROBLEWSKI (Lighting) Resident Lighting Designer with Pegasus, his previous work includes: The Glass Menagerie, When the Rain Stops Falling, Becky Shaw, Foxfinder (Las Vegas Valley Theatre Award for Best Lighting Design) with A Public Fit; Apropos of Nothing with Bloomington Playwrights Project,
Young Playwrights Festival 29-33, and Rutherford’s Travels (Pegasus Theatre Chicago), among many others. Josh is the Head of Lighting at Western Illinois University while maintaining a freelance lighting design career. He is also the resident lighting designer for A Public Fit in Las Vegas, Nevada. Josh received his MFA from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and has worked in many facets of the entertainment industry from concerts, dance, theatre, corporate, and academia. www.jwlightingdesign.com
GREETING CARDS FOR THEATRE PEOPLE
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34th Annual Playwrights Festival
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Congratulations to the 34th Annual YPF Finalists and Honorable Mentions
HO NO R A B L E M E NTI O NS Camille Adams-Lonzer Imagine You and Me Lincoln Park High School Teacher: Bart Hanson Maral Chinbat Biowarfare
Lincoln Park High School Teacher: Sarah Mostad
FIN A LISTS George Culver The Watcher of the Eternal Flame University of Chicago Lab Schools Teacher: Darlene McCampbell Will Lafleur Broken Advanced Arts Program, Gallery 37 Teacher: Sarah Mostad Jolie Mahr She Wouldn’t Hurt A Fly Lane Tech College Prep Teacher: Molly Meacham
Shelby Dider Freshman Year
Taft High School
Teacher: Jonathan Cohen Veronica Godina A Beautiful Day
University of Chicago Lab Schools
Teacher: Christine Himmelfarb Alanna Gonoude The Chronicles of Jared
Lane Tech College Prep
Teacher: Julie Allen
Natalia Marroquin Are you from India
Taft High School
Teacher: Jonathan Cohen Isha Nayak It’s Not Always Fair
University of Chicago Lab Schools Teacher: Rachel Nielsen
Nina Martyn Middle Ground Lincoln Park High School Teacher: Barton Hanson Joseph Munoz A Match Made in Hell Lane Tech College Prep Teacher: Kirsten Hanson David Pavletic The Hustle
Whitney Young Magnet
Teacher: Elizabeth Danesh Yasmine Soria It Builds Taft High School Teacher: Jonathan Cohen 8
Pegasus Theatre Chicago
Johnny Raguay Jr. How to Succeed
Taft High School
Teacher: Adrienne Carmona
Tiffany Tam Restaurant Blues Whitney Young Magnet Teacher: Elizabeth Danesh Una Tarpey Send
Lane Tech College Prep
Teacher: Julie Allen
Maja Todorovic Unsuitable Lane Tech College Prep Teacher: Kristen Hanson Lashae Wilson Sunshine Over the Mountain
Advanced Arts Program, Gallery 37 Teacher: Sarah Mostad
ABOUT US PEGASUS THEATRE CHICAGO’s mission is to champion new, authentic voices and produce boldly imaginative theatre primarily by and about black, indigenous or other people of color (BIPOC). Home of the Young Playwrights Festival, the company promotes cultural equity while celebrating diversity, inclusion, and first voice. Our Core Values: • Community Engagement - We build community through respect, honesty and trust, ensuring connection and accessibility for all. • Social Relevance – We reflect social issues through creative and fearless storytelling. • Audacious Boldness - We reserve the right to rock the boat in a purposeful and imaginative way. • Adventure – We will explore the new, the extraordinary, or the unusual to give our audiences an exciting experience. • Excellence – We choose important stories to tell, and with great attention to our theatrical artistry, create memorable experiences for our artists and our supporters. From 1984-2010, the founding company was in residence at the O’Rourke Center for the Performing Arts at Truman College in the heart of Uptown. Pegasus’ has received 79 Non-Equity Jeff Awards and countless nominations. Currently in residence at Chicago Dramatists in West Town, the new Pegasus Theatre Chicago is Where Epic Stories Take Flight.
B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R S Jocelyn Woodards........................................................................................................................... President David Barr, III.............................................................................................................. Secretary & Treasurer ILesa Duncan .......................................................................................................................................Director Gerry Messler.......................................................................................................................................Director Sarah Mostad.......................................................................................................................................Director Mike Radzilowsky...............................................................................................................................Director
A DV I S O R Y C O U N C I L Michelle Bibbs | Harry J. Lennix | Topher McCulloch | Nick Rabkin | Juan Ramirez P E G A S U S S TA F F Executive & Producing Director..........................................................................................ILesa Duncan Program Manager.......................................................................................................................Cayla Jones Graphic Design/Website..............................................................................................Topher McCulloch Public Relations....................................................................................................... Brava Public Relations Accounting Services...........................................................................................................................ICL, LLC Legal Services...................................................................................................................... Radzilowky, LLC Insurance Service....................................................................................... Paczolt Financial Group, Inc. Usher Services.................................................................................................................................The Saints Intern........................................................................................................................................Dana Pepowski 34th Annual Playwrights Festival
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F O U N DAT I O N , C O R P O R AT E & G OV E R N M E N T S U P P O R T The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation The MacArthur Fund at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation The Reva & David Logan Foundation The Polk Bros. Foundation
The Seabury Foundation John Crewdson Memorial The National Endowment for the Arts The Illinois Arts Council Agency CityArts, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events Anonymous
D O N O R S 2 018 – 2 0 1,000-2499 Felipe Caro/Picante Candace Hunter Harry J. Lennix Gerry Messler Sarah Mostad Michael Radzilowsky Jonathan Wilson $400-$999 Anonymous Sarah Eng
$100-399 Montie Apostolos Arlene Crewdson Len Dominguez ILesa Duncan Sharon G. Fountain Juan Ramirez Nicoline Shoffer Tom Tresser Jocelyn Woodards $20-$99 Michelle Bibbs Carmen Caldero Diane Dorsey
Aaron Todd Douglas Marsha Estell Regina Fields Tsehaye Hébert Nilda Hernandez Hunter Koerner Nancy Levner Joan Mazzonelli Oliver Moore Sr. William Natale David Obermeyer Ron OJ Parson TaRon Patton Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Pinella
P E G A S U S A R T I S T I C A S S O C I AT E S Melissa DuPrey Rachel Dubose Dana Lynn Formby Denise Karzcewski
Christopher Kriz Steve Labedz Jess Leeseberg Coco Lemery
Jennifer McClendon Steven Simoncic Josh Wroblewski
SPECIAL THANKS Pegasus Board of Directors, Chicago Dramatists, Lifeline Theatre, Dana Lynn Formby, and Workshop Volunteers: YPF Alumni Gabriella Bonamici, Abigail Henkin, Luna MacWilliams & Daisianee Minenger WISH LIST JOIN OUR BOARD – email info@pegasustheatrechicago.org Writing Lab Printing Services Pro Bono Marketing & Social Media
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Pegasus Theatre Chicago is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donation of services and goods are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
Pegasus Theatre Chicago