The Moors by Hockaday Student Publications

LACERTE FAMILY BLACK BOX

THE MOORS

A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR

The 1850s-ish English moors, as depicted in our play by Jen Silverman, are a savage, desolate hellscape that will gobble you up if you aren’t careful. The women in our play are holed up in an aging manor—seemingly with only one room—in the middle of nowhere, with only delusion, crocheting, and atemporal journaling to keep them busy. Oh, there’s also a fervently religious, neglected dog who falls in love with an ignorantly atheist, injured hen. Our characters are depressed, frustrated, angry, hurt, bored, and alone. But don’t worry! It’s a comedy! Some situations are so miserable you can’t help but laugh at them.

The Moors, however, has a nagging darkness. After spending considerable time working on this play, it feels so plaintive to me now that I’m surprised when I hear laughter coming from the audience. The Mastiff (played by Lauren Lockhart) tries to describe to the Moorhen what’s its like being inside his head. The end of the monologue lands heavily on me.

“They think I’m guarded. But actually, if anybody truly asked me anything, I would tell them! I don’t want to be alone with my thoughts! It’s like being in a dark room all the time and you don’t have any hands and nobody thinks to open the door for you!”

Admittedly, I tend toward gloom and doom (my family and friends will snicker at this confession). And November can be a rough month—this one in particular. There’s Seasonal Affective Disorder, turning the clocks back, it getting darker earlier, Halloween being over, the Fair being over, Thanksgiving being practically in December this year, and the I’ve spent a considerable amount of time in a dark room working on a dark play. Yet, I still laugh. Laughter, after all, can be a soothing salve, even in the darkest times. Laughter heals by opening the door to hope—the door the handless Mastiff has no one to open for him.

Last night, at our final dress rehearsal, I was cackling. So how is it that, despite not feeling particularly hopeful at the moment, I can still laugh? It’s because I’m not laughing at the play. I’m laughing with my students. They open my door to hope. Their hard work, intelligence, passion, dedication, and humor heal me. When I watch them perform, not even the worst November could extinguish my hope.

Jeremy Landon Hays Director of Theatre

The Hockaday Theatre Company presents

THE MOORS

Jen

Silverman

Starring

Morgan Bowers

Anne Marie Helfrich

Scenic Design by Allison Wagner

Deck Crew

Katya Davis

Callan Fox

Maddie Isaac

Costume Supervisor

Kendal Young

Hair/Make-up Supervisor

Emily Yu

Emily McShane

Dylan George

Lauren Lockhart

Lightboard Technician

Hattie Bethancourt

Crew Chief

Stella Monteiro

Off-Broadway premiere produced by The Playwrights Realm (Katherine Kovner, Artistic Director; Roberta Pereira, Producing Director) in January 2017

World Premiere produced by Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, Connecticut

James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director by

“The Moors” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

CAST

Agatha ............................................................................................................ Morgan Bowers ‘26

Huldey Maddie Isaac ‘26

Marjory/Mallory .................................................................................................... Callan Fox ‘26

Emilie................................................................................................................... Dylan George ‘25

Mastiff Lauren Lockhart ‘27

Moor-hen ...............................................................................................Anne Marie Helfrich ‘26

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director ........................................................................................................ Jeremy Landon Hays

Technical Director Robert Kallos

Costume Designer............................................................................................. Liz Helfrich ‘98

Lighting Designer ..............................................................Landry Strickland, Brent Scoggins

Promotional Photography Emily Marie Mamone, The Mamones

Production Photography ............................................................ Simon Luna, The Mamones

CONTENT ADVISORY:

This production uses flashing and strobing lights.

SPECIAL THANKS

Kristen Works, HPA Fine Arts Rep

Parents of Cast & Crew

Christie Sullivan, Chair of Performing Arts

Jason Wagner, Theater Technology

Ellery Works, Sanjana Rajagopalan, Varsha Jagarlamundi, Caroline Hayes, Ushers

Sally Hudspeth, Communications Manager

Lisa Culbertson, Head of Upper School

Dr. Laura Leathers, Eugene McDermott Head of School

CAST & CREW BIOGRAPHIES

MORGAN BOWERS ‘26 (FORM III) (Agatha) is thrilled to be back onstage in The Moors after recently preforming in St. Marks’s production of Guys and Dolls and Hockaday’s productions of The Wolves and SIX: Teen Edition. Morgan enjoys traveling, is a big fan of Karol G, and loves her two cats. She would like to thank Mr. Hays for putting together this amazing show, and she is grateful to the cast for being incredibly cool and supportive throughout the rehearsal process!!

CALLAN FOX ‘26 (FORM III) (Marjory/ Mallory) is so excited to be a part of The Moors! She is a junior and when not in the theater loves to ride horses and play the piano. Other productions she has been a part of recently include Guys and Dolls (General Cartwright), Spamalot (Guard/Ensemble), The Addams Family (Ancestor), and She Kills Monsters (Miles). Callan would like to give endless thanks to the cast and crew, Mr. Hays, and Mr. Kallos for making this “wild, spectacular, and completely unexpected” show a reality!

DYLAN GEORGE ‘25 (FORM IV) (CastAnne Boleyn) is thrilled to play Emily in this production of The Moors! Dylan is currently a senior at Hockaday and has been involved in theater, voice, acting, and dance since she was seven. She has appeared in over 20 performances, four with Hockaday so far, her favorites including: Anne Boleyn in Hockaday’s production of SIX: Teen Edition, Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins, Gertrude in Suessical, and Splasher in Newsies! at St. Mark’s. Besides musical theater, Dylan also enjoys singing jazz, film acting, being a teen leader in TACT, and spending time with friends and family. This is Dylan’s last year of Hockaday theater, and she is so grateful to her cast and teachers. She would like to thank Mr. Hays for his support over the past two years and for strengthening her love of theater. You can catch Dylan next as the

Baker’s Wife in Hockaday’s next production of Into the Woods. Enjoy The Moors!

ANNE MARIE HELFRICH ‘26 (FORM III) (Moor-hen) is thrilled to be in this performance of The Moors! She is a junior and her previous roles include ancestor in The Addams Family, The Knight Who Says Ni in Spamalot, Tilly in She Kills Monsters, and Arvide Abernathy in Guys and Dolls. Many thanks to the cast, crew, Mr. Hays, and Mr. Kallos.

MADDIE ISAAC ‘26 (FORM III) (Huldey) is delighted to be performing The Moors with The Hockaday Theater Company. She is currently in Form III at Hockaday and has loved theater since she was eight (probably before that). Some of her recent favorite roles include Agnes in She Kills Monsters with Hockaday, Mimi/Crapshooter in Guys and Dolls and Herbert’s Father in Spamalot with St. Marks. In her free time she enjoys hanging out with friends, volunteering at a local cat shelter and going to see opera with her dad (and more theater of course).

LAUREN LOCKHART ‘27 (FORM I) (Mastiff) is thrilled to be performing The Moors with the Hockaday Theatre company. Lauren’s favorite previous roles include Edward Rutledge in (1776) at Stagedoor Manor and Anne of Cleves in (SIX: Teen Edition). In her free time, she enjoys rowing and concert going. She would like to thank her family and friends for their constant support and the Hockaday Fine Arts faculty for their encouragement.

HATTIE BETHANCOURT ‘27 (FORM II) (Lightboard Operator) is excited to be back behind the scenes in The Moors after interning in lighting last year in SIX: Teen Edition and other performances. Hattie is movie fan and loves painting and guitar. She would like to thank her parents and friends for being supportive and her fellow Moors

cast and crew for putting on an amazing show.

KATERINA DAVIS ‘28 (FORM I) (Stage Crew) is excited to work on her first production as an upper school crew member. She’d like to thank the crew team, Mr. Hays and Mr. Kallos for giving me the opportunity to work on the Moors.

ALLISON WAGNER ‘26 (FORM III)

Scenic Designer/Props) is thrilled to be backstage again in The Moors after last school years’ SIX: Teen Edition among Hockaday’s other past productions. Allison enjoys making art and hanging out with her friends. She would like to thank her family, friends, and especially the rest of the tech crew for being so supportive throughout this process!! It’s been so much fun!

KENDAL YOUNG ‘26 (FORM II) (CastEnsemble) is so excited to be participating in SIX: Teen Edition! This is her 10th musical, as she previously preformed in shows with NTPA. She is also apart of the Hockaday Concert Choir and has been to TPSMEA All-Region and All-State for the past two years. Jessie wants to thank her teachers and friends for supporting her everyday, and she is looking forward to future productions!

EMILY YU ‘25 (FORM IV) (Hair/Makeup Supervisor) )is excited to work with the Hockaday Theatre Company again after performing and designing makeup in SIX: Teen Edition. Emily spends her time dancing, talking to friends or her cats, and experimenting with fun makeup. She would like to thank Ms. Helfrich and Mr. Hays for the opportunity to be a part of this brilliant show and is grateful for Emily Mcshane’s friendship and documentary vlogs.