Special thanks to Dr. John Bradford PhD, CEO of SpaceWorks Enterprises for first introducing me to asteroid deflection efforts. And for his very patient technical guidance.
I’d also like to thank Melissa Foulger. Her direction and support for ORBITAL DEBRIS from the very beginning, through readings and workshops in Atlanta and New York, has been invaluable. It’s only right that this play’s premiere production is at Georgia Tech. All that’s left now is the hat.
— Vynnie Meli, Playwright
DramaTech Theatre Presents
BY VYNNIE MELI
Directed by
MELISSA FOULGER
Intimacy Coordinator
O’NEIL DELAPENHA
Selected by Working Title Playwrights for an Ethel Woolson Lab
The play has had readings with TRU, Theatre Resources, Unltd and CreateTheater, a national new play development group.
ORBITAL DEBRIS was also the subject of a new play development class at Georgia Tech. The semester long workshop culminated in a staged reading at DramaTech.
WHO’S WHO
SHREY PATEL (Scott) is a first-year master’s student in Computational Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech from Jonesboro, Georgia. This is Shrey’s seventh production at DramaTech. Outside of acting, he is DramaTech’s current Business Manager.
I’m so grateful to be a part of the world premiere of Orbital Debris, and I am incredibly proud of all the newbies who invested their time and effort to make this show happen. I hope to do justice to the character of Scott, and hopefully my hair has grown back enough so Scott isn’t bald.
ANGELA WRIGLEY (Claire) is a fourth year Industrial design student here at Tech from Blackwood, New Jersey. This is Angela’s first drama tech show. Besides acting, she has also been singing in Infinite Harmony, one of GT’s A Capella groups, for 3 semesters. Angela is also very involved in Georgia Tech Tour Guides (GTTG) and even serves on their executive board.
She would like to thank her family for supporting her, and her friends who unwilling helped her run lines.
MELISSA FOULGER (Director) is a faculty member in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication, in addition to being the Artistic Director of DramaTech. This is her sixteenth year at DramaTech. She is a professional theatre director having worked at theatres like Actor’s Express, Horizon Theatre, and Aurora Theatre. Her production of Mercury at Actor’s Express was recently nominated for six Suzi Bass Awards including Best Director for a Play.
For more information about her theatre work, visit www.melissafoulger.com.
WHO’S WHO
ELLIE RADLINSKI (Stage Manager) is a secondyear Materials science and engineering major with a biomaterials concentration at Georgia Tech from Oxford, Ohio. This is Ellie’s fourth DramaTech production. Outside of DramaTech, Ellie is a member of WREK radio, and is involved with undergraduate research.
TESSA ALLERS (Assistant Stage Manager) is a firstyear biomedical engineering major at Georgia Tech from Marietta, Georgia.
ALLIE HEARN (Show Manager, Props Team Member) is a fourth-year Solid Earth and Planetary Science major and Physics minor at Georgia Tech from Dunwoody, Georgia. This is Allie’s fourth year in DramaTech. She has previously participated in DramaTech productions through stage management, production management, marketing, run crew, and acting. Allie is excited to serve the club this year as President. This is going to be so much fun!
LIGHTS TEAM
ADITYA PRAKASH CHRISTOPHER LEONARD
ALMA NAJEM
LIGHTS TEAM
MAX GODDARD (Lights Team Member) is a second-year nuclear engineering major at Georiga Tech from Woodinville, Washington. This is Max’s first DramaTech production, but he has been involved in theatre for a few years prior to Georgia Tech as a master electrician, technical director, and advisor. Thank you to my family, especially my mom, who has supported me in every endeavor, no matter how stupid.
ALMA NAJEM (Lights Team Member, Set Team Member) is a first-year biomedical engineering major at Georgia Tech from Kuwait. This is Alma’s first production at DramaTech and her first experience with technical theater. Alma is also DramaTech’s current Memberat-Large, and she is very excited to become more involved.
MORE JAM?!
CHRISTOPHER LEONARD (Lights Team Member) is a first-year computer science major at Georgia Tech from Douglasville, Georgia. This is Christopher’s first DramaTech production, and his first major involvement in theater.
you can go back to watching the show
ADITYA PRAKASH (Lights Team Member) is a firstyear PhD student working in Space Robotics in Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech from India.
fyi scott, claire >>> space robots
AIDAN MASCOLI (Lights Advisor) is a second-year computational media and computer engineering student at Georgia Tech from Fair Lawn, New Jersey. This is Aidan’s second semester as a part of the lights team. In their spare time, Aidan enjoys realizing that they no longer have spare time.
they’ve trapped me in this pdf document, please send help
SET TEAM
ARIANA MANIATIS
ALMA NAJEM
ABIGAIL PEREIRA EMILY RICHARDSON
SET TEAM
HECTOR TORRES (Set Designer, Set Advisor) is a second-year masters student in biomedical engineering from Naples, Florida Hector thinks this is his millionth (12th?) production. He can’t remember anymore because he’s lived inside of these walls for four years, but the spirit of theatre keeps him trapped. When he is let outside, they are a Head TA for BMED 3110 and a HIVE PI, work on protocol and lab automation and optimization while creating novel techniques for visualizing cell cultures, and really like crochet. Hi reader! Have you ever considered gay? Do you like the second amendment? What about imaginary friends? Well come see She Kills Monsters and Edith can Shoot Things and Hit Them coming soon to this theatre.
ARIANA MANIATIS (Set Team Member) is a first-year mathematics major at Georgia Tech from Woodstock, Georgia. This is Ariana’s first DramaTech production. She is excited to be involved with the club.
Mmm jam
ALMA NAJEM (Lights Team Member, Set Team Member) is a first-year biomedical engineering major at Georgia Tech from Kuwait. This is Alma’s first production at DramaTech and her first experience with technical theater. Alma is also DramaTech’s current Memberat-Large, and she is very excited to become more involved.
MORE JAM?!
ABIGAIL PEREIRA (Set Team Member) is a first-year aerospace engineering major at Georgia Tech from Sarasota, Florida. This is Abby’s first time being part of a DramaTech production.
EMILY RICHARDSON (Set Team Member) is a second-year aerospace engineering major at Georgia Tech from Villa Rica, Georgia. This is Emily’s third DramaTech production.
AMELIA URBAN (Set Advisor) is a fourth-year mechanical engineering major at Georgia Tech from Richmond, Virginia. Nobody was injured in the building of this set, and I believe the set is finally 0% blood.
COSTUME TEAM
MADYSON
COSTUME TEAM
MADYSON BRITTON (Costume Team Member) is a first-year Aerospace Engineering Major at Georgia Tech from Rockdale, Georgia. This is Madyson’s first DramaTech production.
JULIA MOY (Costume Team Member) is a first-year materials science and engineering major at Georgia Tech from Charlotte, North Carolina.
JAYSON SPRADLING (Costume Team Member) is a first-year computer engineering major at Georgia Tech from Covington, Georgia. This is Jayson’s second DramaTech production.
Additional Message
DELANEY SCHULTEN (Costume Advisor) is a Fifth year chemistry major, biology minor and Spanish minor at Georgia Tech from Tyrone, Georgia. This is Delaney’s 9th Dramatech production. Outside of Dramatech, Delaney is involved in Nature nerds and volunteers at the aquarium.
¡Vive la projections!
PROPS TEAM
MARIANA TORRES
DANNY
GEORGE
ALLIE HEARN
PROPS TEAM
DANNY GEORGE (Props Team Member) is a fifth-year CS major at GT from Macon, GA. This is Danny’s fifth DramaTech production! Outside of DT, Danny is either in the library or at the climbing gym.
Jam.
ALLIE HEARN (Show Manager, Props Team Member) is a fourthyear Solid Earth and Planetary Science major and Physics minor at Georgia Tech from Dunwoody, Georgia. This is Allie’s fourth year in DramaTech. She has previously participated in DramaTech productions through stage management, production management, marketing, run crew, and acting. Allie is excited to serve the club this year as President.
This is going to be so much fun!
MARIANA TORRES (Props Team Member) is a first-year environmental science major at Georgia Tech from Newnan, Georgia. This is Mariana’s first or second production with DramaTech depending on if you count Open House.
Meat jam!
SOUND TEAM
ADAM LAUZON
SEAN LYNCH
KELSEY MOLLER
ELIJAH RABINOVICH
SOUND TEAM
ADAM LAUZON (Sound Team Member) is a first-year computer engineering major at Georgia Tech from Cleveland, Ohio. This is Adam’s first DramaTech production. Outside of DramaTech, he is a member of the Fencing Club and the Taekwondo Club.
SEAN LYNCH (Sound Team Member) is a third-year computer science major at Georgia Tech from Duluth, Georgia. In his free time, Sean participates in workshops with DramaTech’s improv troupe Let’s Try This! This is Sean’s second DramaTech production.
3 2 1, yes chef!
KELSEY MOLLER (Sound Team Member) is a first-year chemistry major at Georgia Tech from Flowery Branch, Georgia.
ELIJAH RABINOVICH (Sound Advisor) is a third-year computer science major and linguistics minor at Georgia Tech from Peachtree Corners, Georgia. This is Elijah’s sixth DramaTech production. There are definitely two bodies in this show, but I wouldn’t say there are any celestial ones.
WHO’S WHO
HALEY MERRITT (Graphic Designer, Social Media Manager) is a second-year psychology major from Hiawassee, Georgia.This is Haley’s fifth DramaTech production. Outside of DramaTech, Haley is a member of SCPC!
Next time, the entire graphic design team will consist of Haleys
HALEY ARMOR (Assistant Graphic Designer) is a third-year LMC student at Georgia Tech from Kennesaw, Georgia.
While this is her first time on the marketing team, Haley has acted in three (going on four) DramaTech productions. Haley would like to remind everyone that she is a beautiful and perfect princess who has done no wrong.
WREN ADKINS (Headshot Designer) pondering the orb
WHO’S WHO
ELLIE KU (Assistant Headshot Designer, Assistant Program Designer) is a second-year industrial engineering major at Georgia Tech from Fremont, California. This is Ellie’s first time doing marketing! She also does stage management and sound at DT. Orb is the MVP of the headshots team
ALEXEY TATARINOV (Assistant Headshot Designer) is a second-year electrical engineering major at Georgia Tech from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This is Alexey’s fourth DramaTech production. Outside of DramaTech, Alexey does photography and rock climbing, and is a member of GT Sailing. ORB!!!!!!!
MATTHEW ARONIN (Program Designer) is a fourth-year mathematics major at Georgia Tech from Marietta, Georgia. This is Matthew’s eighth DramaTech production, having worked on the programs for Love and Information, Urinetown, The Diviners, Rent, Puffs, and Circle Mirror Transformation and directed an experiment for Open House 2024. Outside of DramaTech, Matthew is a member of The Ramblin’ Reck Club, having served as Vice President and as Editor-in-Chief of the 2023 T-Book.
I still have not read the script.
WHO’S WHO
ANTHONY HEIGES (Assistant Program Designer) is a fourth-year chemistry major at Georgia Tech from Athens, Georgia. Anthony is the historian and archivist of DramaTech and a saxophone section leader in the Tech Marching Band.
20 minutes
VYNNIE MELI (Playwright) is a multi-hyphenate - a playwright, lyricist, librettist who writes plays, musicals, operas. Meli’s work has received numerous national and regional awards and has been produced across the US; in Australia and Germany as well. She is currently working with the Alliance Theatre on her second Reiser Atlanta Artists Lab. Meli is so glad that this play is being done at DramaTech. Many thanks to Melissa for her inspiring direction, some sci-fi dramaturgy, and for believing in this play. And to SpaceWorks for the spark. As Claire would say, “thanks for, you know, saving the planet”.
vynnie.com
Dramatists Guild, Inc; TRU - Theatre Resources Unltd; CreateTheater/ETC; TCG; TYA; Working Title Playwrights
RUN CREW
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
Welcome to DramaTech Theatre,
I’m so excited to share Orbital Debris with you all. This show has been years in the making and has a long history with Georgia Tech, so it only seems fitting that it has its world premiere here on campus. It all started about twelve years ago when I was asked to direct a development workshop of Vynnie Meli’s play. We spent a week working through the show with a talented group of actors and a dramaturg. The week culminated with a staged reading of the play and I felt like Vynnie had something with the show.
The next spring, I invited Vynnie to participate in my acting class where I decided to focus on working with a new play. During the class, we continued developing the script and working on scenes. At the end of the semester, we did a workshop production to see where we were. It was scaled back but allowed us to see what it might look like as a full production. Somewhere in my head, I knew that it was a fit for DramaTech. I just had to find the right time and the right season. Then COVID-19 hit.
Once we could get in the same room, we decided to get back together and do a Zoom version of the show. Vynnie wanted to revisit the show and I wanted to see it again as we planned to reopen the theatre. Unfortunately, it took a few years, but here we are!
I’m so proud to bring this play to you. The actors have worked so hard, as have our design teams. And it hasn’t been easy. We’ve been through illness, a tropical storm, just to name a few things! But we’re here now and ready to take the stage on this world premiere! Thank you for being here to see it come to life.
We also hope that you will come back to see the rest of our season including She Kills Monsters, Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them, Spring Awakening, and Eurydice. It’s a great season and we are excited to share it with you. This is our first season where we’re back to doing the number of shows we did before COVID. So, welcome back to DramaTech at 100%. We’re glad you’re here!
Enjoy the show!
Melissa Foulger Artistic Director of DramaTech Director of Orbital Debris
ABOUT DRAMATECH
HTS 2077
(HISTORY OF DRAMATECH THEATRE)
1947: DramaTech founded with $30 from the student council. It’s first show of three one-acts was performed at the nearby YMCA
1952: The theatre moves to it’s first permanent home, The Crenshaw Field House, with a stage designed and built by Tech architecture students. DramaTech adopts it’s theater-in-the-round style, which would persist for decades.
1959: Crenshaw Field House condemned and DramaTech enters another nomadic period.
1961: The Crenshaw Field House is rebuilt with a new lighting system designed by Tech Electrical Engineering students.
1966: Mary Nell Santacroce, DramaTech’s director since 1949, retires.
1967: DramaTech moves to the Georgia Tech Center for Performing Arts, affectionately called the Old Church.
1970: DramaTech performs it’s first summer show. It has performed a show every summer since.
1983: Let’s Try This!, DramaTech’s resident improv troupe, is founded.
1984: Greg Abbott hired as Artistic Director. He directed all of DramaTech’s shows until his passing in 2006.
1992: DramaTech moves to it’s current home in the Dean James E. Dull Blackbox Theater.
2022: The theatre celebrates it’s 75th season as the longest continuously running theatre in the southeast.
