Sarafina Bush
A NEW MUSICAL BASED ON THE DOCUMENTARY FILM BY Alexandra Shiva
SCENIC DESIGN
CHOREOGRAPHER Mayte Natalio
COSTUME DESIGN
In loving memory of Harold Prince.
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
BOOK AND LYRICS BY Rebekah Greer Melocik
September 21 – October 9, 2022
Scott Rowen*
MUSIC SUPERVISOR/ORCHESTRATOR Matt Gallagher
MUSIC DIRECTOR Lily Ling
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Robert Hupp Artistic Director Jill A. Anderson Managing Director Melissa Crespo Associate Artistic Director Kyle Bass Resident Playwright CASTING Stewart/Whitley
Jill A. Anderson, Managing Director. This production was rehearsed at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street, NY, NY 10036, www.signaturetheatre.org
DIRECTED BY Sammi Cannold
2022 World Premiere Produced by Syracuse Stage, Robert M. Hupp, Artistic Director
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH Ben Holtzman, Sammy Lopez, and Fiona Howe Rudin
Robert Brill
Laura Jane Collins*
MUSIC BY Jacob Yandura
ARRANGEMENTS Matt Gallagher and Jacob Yandura
SOUND DESIGN Connor Wang LIGHTING DESIGN Bradley King
MEDIA SEASONSPONSORSSPONSORS
PRESENTS
SyracuseStage3 TableofContents 4)Letterfromthe EducationTeam 5)EducationalOutreach Sponsors 6)MeetthePlaywright 7)MeettheComposer 8)MeettheDirector 9)NoteAbouttheShow 10)Synopsis 11)Discussion Questions 12)DesignYourOwn SpringFormalOutfit 13)ElementsofDrama 14)ElementsofDesign 15)Additional Resources 16)Sources RobertMHupp ArtisticDirector MelissaCrespo AssociateArtisticDirector JillAnderson ManagingDirector JoannYarrow DirectorofCommunityEngagement& Education KateLaissle AssociateDirectorofEducation TheorriLondon CommunityEngagement&Education Coordinator TraceyWhite AudienceDevelopmentManager TaliaShenandoah AudienceDevelopmentAssistant BoxOffice (315)443-3275
JoannYarrow,KateLaissle,andTheorriLondon
SyracuseStage4
DearEducators, Thebestwayoflearningislearningwhileyou’rehavingfun.Theatreprovidestheopportunityforusto connectwithmorethanjustourownstory,itallowsustofindourselvesinotherpeople’slivesand growbeyondourownboundaries.Whiletimesaredifferent,wearestillexcitedtosharewithyounew theatricalpiecesthroughliveand/orpre-recordedmeans.We’retheonlyspeciesontheplanetwho makestories.Itisthestoriesthatweleavebehindthatdefineus.Givingstudentsthepowertowatch storiesandcreatetheirownispartofourlastingimpactontheworld.Andthestorieswechooseto hearandlearnfromnowareevenmorevital.Storiesbringustogether,evenwhenwemuststay apart.Storiesareourconnectiontotheworldandeachother.Weinviteyouandyourstudentsto engagewiththestorieswetellasastartingpointforyouandthemtocreatetheirown.
Sincerely,
SyracuseStageiscommittedtoprovidingstudentswithrichtheatreexperiencesthatexploreandexaminewhatitis tobehuman.Researchshowsthat childrenwhoparticipateinorareexposedtotheartsshowhigheracademic achievement,strongerselfesteem,andimprovedabilitytoplanandwork towardafuturegoal.
ManystudentsinourcommunityhavetheirfirsttasteoflivetheatrethroughSyracuseStage’soutreachprograms. Lastseasonmorethan21,000students fromacrossNewYorkattendedorparticipatedintheBankofAmerica Children’sTour,artsEmerging,theYoungPlaywrightsFestival,Backstory,Young AdultCouncil,and/orourStudent MatineeProgram.
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Wegratefullyacknowledgethecorporationsandfoundationswhosupportourcommitmenttoin-deptharts educationforourcommunity.
2022/2023EducationalOutreachSponsors
Photosfrom melocik.com and jacobyandura.com
SyracuseStage6
JacobYandura(he/him)(Music)andRebekahGreer Melocik(she/her)(BookandLyrics)areaNewYorkCitybasedsongwritingteam.Mostrecently,JacobandRebekah areatworkonamusicaladaptationofthe2015Peabody Award-winningdocumentary HowtoDanceinOhio (directed bySammiCannold;supportedbythePrinceFellowshipand theShubertOrganization’sArtisticCircle).Theirother projectsinclude TheLastQueenofCanaan (bookby HarrisonDavidRivers), TheCoup,and Wringer,a commissionbyNewYorkCityChildren'sTheater,basedon thenovelbyJerrySpinelli(Off-Broadway;NewYorkCity CenterStageII;directedbyStephenBrackett).Recognitions include:SPACEonRyderFarmresidency,JonathanLarson Grantfinalists,NAMTFestivalofNewMusicals(TheLast QueenofCanaan),ArsNova’sUNCHARTEDresidency(The Coup),theJohnnyMercerWritersGroveatGoodspeed Musicals,theYorkTheatre'sNEOresidency,theYaleInstitute forMusicTheatre(TheLastQueenofCanaan),the DramatistsGuildfellowship,theJohnnyMercerSongwriters Project,RhinebeckWritersRetreat,Cap21’sWriters Residency,andArsNova’sANTFest.JacobholdsaB.A.in musiccompositionfromKenyonCollege.Rebekahholdsa B.A.inpoetryfromUniversityofSouthernCalifornia.They eachearnedanM.F.AfromNewYorkUniversity’sGraduate MusicalTheatreWritingProgramin2011.
MeettheWritingTeam
Biofrom sammicannold.com
SyracuseStage7
SammiCannoldisadirectorwhoisoneofForbes Magazine's30Under30inHollywood&Entertainment,class of2019andhasworkedonandoffBroadwayaswellasfor CBS,Nickelodeon,Paramount+,CirqueduSoleil,andTikTok --andatsomeoftheworld'smostprestigiousvenues, includingTheKennedyCenter,RoyalAlbertHall,RadioCity MusicHall,andLincolnCenter.Recenttheatercreditsinclude Evita (NewYorkCityCenter), Endlings (NewYorkTheatre Workshop,A.R.T.), RagtimeonEllisIsland, TheUnofficial BridgertonMusical (KennedyCenter,RoyalAlbertHall), Violetonamovingbus (A.R.T.),and Allegory (LaJolla PlayhouseWOW).Thispastsummer,Sammi’sfirst documentaryfeaturefilmpremieredatBroadway’sMajestic TheatreandwasjustreleasedworldwideonAppleTV. Upcomingprojectsincludeseveralnewmusicals,revivals, featurefilms,andanopera.Associatedirectorcreditsinclude theBroadwayproductionof Natasha,Pierre... (dir.Rachel Chavkin).SammihasalsoservedasanArtisticFellowatthe A.R.T.,amemberofCirqueduSoleil'sCreativeCognoscenti, andaSundanceInstituteFellowandhasworkedinthelive televisionspaceforWhiteCherryEntertainment,CBS,and Paramount+.Outsideofherworkintheater,film,andTV, SammicurrentlyservesasChiefofStaffforHumanFirst Coalition,anorganizationdedicatedtoproviding humanitarianaidinAfghanistan.SammiholdsaB.A.from StanfordUniversityandanM.A.fromHarvardUniversity.
MeettheDirector
autisticadvocacy.org SyracuseStage8
HowtoDanceinOhiofollowstheexperiencesofagroupofautisticyoungadults.The audienceisgivenaglimpseintotheirlives,theirupsanddowns,andhowtheseparticular charactersseetheworld.ThestatementbelowfromtheAutisticSelfAdvocacyNetwork providessomecontextonautismandhowitdifferentlyaffectsthelivesofautisticpeople.
Autisticpeopleareineverycommunity,andwealwayshavebeen.Autisticpeoplearepeopleofcolor.Autisticpeopleare immigrants.Autisticpeopleareapartofeveryreligion,everyincomelevel,andeveryagegroup.Autisticpeoplearewomen.Autistic peoplearequeer,andautisticpeoplearetrans.Autisticpeopleareoftenmanyofthesethingsatonce.Thecommunitiesweareapart ofandthewayswearetreatedshapewhatautismislikeforus.
Autismhasalwaysexisted.Autisticpeoplearebornautisticandwewillbeautisticourwholelives.Autismcanbediagnosedbya doctor,butyoucanbeautisticevenifyoudon’thaveaformaldiagnosis.Becauseofmythsaboutautism,itcanbeharderforautistic adults,autisticgirls,andautisticpeopleofcolortogetadiagnosis.Butanyonecanbeautistic,regardlessofrace,gender,orage.
IfyouwouldliketoreadtherestofthisstatementorlearnmoreabouttheAutisticSelfAdvocacyNetwork,pleasevisit autisticadvocacy.orgorfollowtheQRcodebelow.
Thereisnoonewaytobeautistic.Someautisticpeoplecanspeak,andsomeautisticpeopleneedtocommunicateinotherways. Someautisticpeoplealsohaveintellectualdisabilities,andsomeautisticpeopledon’t.Someautisticpeopleneedalotofhelpintheir day-to-daylives,andsomeautisticpeopleonlyneedalittlehelp.Allofthesepeopleareautistic,becausethereisnorightorwrongway tobeautistic.Allofusexperienceautismdifferently,butweallcontributetotheworldinmeaningfulways.Wealldeserve understandingandacceptance.-AutisticSelfAdvocacyNetwork
Autismisadevelopmentaldisabilitythataffectshowweexperiencetheworldaroundus.Autisticpeopleareanimportantpartofthe world.Autismisanormalpartoflife,andmakesuswhoweare.
Johanna(she/her)-Caroline’s mother
Amy(she/her)-Drew’s mother
CharacterDescriptions
Remy(he/him)-a22yearold thatlovestodressupin costumes
Tommy(he/him)-a24year oldwholovestheBuckeyes footballteamandcandy
Melissa(she/her)-a24year oldwhoisintoselfhelpand mindfulness
SyracuseStage9
AshleyAmigo(she/her)-Dr. Emilio’sdaughterwhois workingforhimwhile recoveringfromadance injury
Synopsis
DrewshowsuptothespringformalwithnoonetherebutDr.Emilio.Dr.EmiliotellsDrewthebadnews,butDrewrefusestogive up.Hedecidestheyshouldhostanewdanceatthecenterandorganizesthewholething.Thespringformalissaved,andthegroup enjoysthenightofnewexperiences.
Dr.EmilioAmigo(he/him)-a 50yearoldclinical psychologistandfounderof thecenter
Drew(he/him)-an18year oldwhoisgreatatmathand wantstobeanengineer
Marideth(she/her)-a16year oldwholovesfactsand seemsuninterestedin socializing
Jessica(she/her)-a22year oldwhowantstoliveonher ownandisadogmamatoa YorkienamedMaximus
Michael(he/him)-Marideth’s father
Basedonthe2015documentary, HowtoDanceinOhiofollowsagroupofautisticyoungadultsandDr.Emilio,aclinical psychologistwhorunsacenterthatfocusesonworkingwithautisticpeople.Hedecidestoarrangeaspringformaltohelpfacilitatea newexperienceforoneofhisgroups.Thegrouphasmixedfeelingsaboutthespringformal,butDr.Emilioforgesahead.Remyloves todressupandseesthespringformalasachancetoputtogetheranewfancyoutfit.Carolineiseagertobringherboyfriendtothe dance,andsheandJessicahaveagreattimewhilegoingdressshopping.TommyandJessicabothhavesomeonetheywouldliketo asktothedanceandareexcitedandnervousaboutthetask.Drewisnervousaboutthedanceanddealingwithothernewchallenges aswellashemakeshiscollegedecisionanddevelopsanewcrushonMarideth.Maridethseemsunsureanduninterestedinthe dance.
Whenthesurroundingcommunityhearsaboutthespringformal,localnewspapersandothermediaoutletstrytointerviewDr. Emilioabouttheformal,butDr.Emiliodoesnotwanttoexposehispatientsandtheirfamiliestomediaattention.However,after meetingShauna,areporterheadmires,heagreestodoasolointerviewthatwillrunafterthedancehasconcluded.Hedecidesitmay begoodforthegrouptoseethatthesurroundingcommunitysupportsthem.
However,asDr.Emilioandthegroupgetclosertothedance,thingsstarttofallapart.Carolineandherboyfriendbreakup, whichleavesherheartbrokenandtoodistraughttogotothedance.JessicaasksTommytothedanceandisrejected,leavinghertoo distraughttoattend.Tommycrasheshisbrother’struckandcannotgotothedance.OneofthereportersrunstheinterviewDr.Emilio didtooearly,andRemyseesit,discouraginghimfromattendingthedance.Allofthegroupmembersdeclinetoattendthedanceone byone,exceptforDrew.
Caroline(she/her)-a19year oldwhoattendscommunity collegeandhasaboyfriend
Teresa(she/her)-Jessica’s mother
Shauna(she/her)-areporter Dr.Emilioadmires
Kurt(he/him)-Drew’sfather
Rick(he/him)-areporter
Pre-ShowDiscussionQuestions
Haveyoueverbeentoasocialand/orformaldance?Whatemotionsdidyouexperiencebeforeorafterthedance?
Whatwasyouropinionofthecostumes?Whatinformationdidthecostumestellyouabouttheplayandcharacters?
Whatwasyourfavoritemomentintheplay?
Didthereseemtobeaunifyingideabehindtheproduction?Whatisthatidea?Howwasitconveyedtoyouthroughthe production?
Wouldyourecommendsomeoneelsetoseethisplay?Whyorwhynot?
Howdidthelightingaffectthemoodoftheperformance?Werethereanymomentsofinterestinglightingdesign?
Doesdoingnewthingsmakeyounervous?Howdoyoufacethatfear?
Whatisidentity?Howdoyouidentify?
Didthisplayhaveanyobservationsaboutpeople,society,relationships,oranythingelse?
Haveyoueveranticipatedanexperiencewouldbeoneway,butitendedupbeinganother?
Weretheactorsbelievable?Whatperformersweremostsuccessfulintheirroles?Whatmadethemsuccessful?
Doyoulikeshoppingfornewclothes?Whyorwhynot?
Doyouthinkthecharacter’sidentitiesaffectedtheirexperienceorhowtheyattendedthedance?Wouldyouridentityaffecthow attendedadanceorsocialevent?
Whatwasyouropinionoftheset?Howdiditcontributetotheperformance?
SyracuseStage10
Didyourelatetoanycharacter’sspecificexperience?Whoandwhy?
Post-ShowDiscussionQuestions
COSTUME DESIGN BY:
PLAYCHARACTER:TITLE:
COSTUME DESIGN BY:
PLAYCHARACTER:TITLE:
SyracuseStage11 DesignYourOwnSpringFormalOutfit!
ACTIVITY
Atitscore,dramaisaboutcharactersworkingtoward goalsandovercomingobstacles.Askstudentstouse theirbodiesandvoicestocreatecharacterswhoare: veryold,veryyoung,verystrong,veryweak,very tired,veryenergetic,verycold,verywarm.Havetheir charactersinteractwithothers.Givethemanobjective tofulfilldespiteenvironmentalobstacles.Later, recapbyaskinghowtheseobstaclesaffectedtheir charactersandthepursuitoftheirobjectives.
Any piece of theatre comprises multiple art forms. Asyouexplorethisproductionwithyourstudents, examinetheuseof: WRITING VISUAL ART/DESIGN MUSIC/SOUND DANCE/MOVEMENT
elementsofdrama
LANGUAGE
INQUIRY
Whatisthestoryline?Whathappenedbeforethe playstarted?Whatdoeseachcharacterwant?What dotheydotoachievetheirgoals?Whatdotheystand togain/lose?
Whoarethepeopleinthestory?Whataretheirrelationships?Whydotheydowhattheydo?Howdoes age/status/etc.affectthem?
MUSIC
Whatideasarewrestledwithintheplay?Whatquestionsdoestheplaypose?Doesitpresentanopinion?
CHARACTER
Howdomusicandsoundhelptotellthestory?
Howdotheelementscometogethertocreatethe wholeperformance?
How are each of these art forms used inthisproduction?Whyaretheyused? Howdotheyhelptotellthestory?
Whatdothecharacterssay?Howdotheysayit? Whendotheysayit?
THEME
SPECTACLE
SyracuseStage12 SyracuseStage15
PLOT
SHAPE istwo-dimensionalandenclosesspace. Itcanbegeometric(e.g.squaresandcircles), man-made,orfree-form.
elementsofdesign
COLOR hasthreebasicproperties: HUEisthenameof thecolor (e.g.red,blue, green), INTENSITYisthestrengthof thecolor (bright or dull), VALUE is the range of lightness to darkness.
TEXTURE referstothe“feel”ofan object’ssurface.Itcanbesmooth, rough,soft,etc.Texturesmaybe ACTUAL(abletobefelt)orIMPLIED(suggestedvisuallythrough theartist’stechnique).
SPACE isdefinedanddetermined byshapesandforms.Positivespace isenclosedbyshapesandforms, whilenegativespaceexistsaround them.
LINE canhavelength,width,texture,directionand curve.Thereare5basicvarieties:vertical,horizontal,diagonal,zig-zag,andcurved.
FORM isthree-dimensional.Itenclosesspace and fillsspace.Itcanbegeometric(e.g.cubes andcylinders),man-made,orfree-form.
SyracuseStage13 SyracuseStage16
SyracuseStage14
GoodreadsList-BooksbyActually AutisticAuthors-Thislistcontainsover 300booksbyautisticauthors.
EveryyearSyracuseStageinvites CentralNewYorkhighschoolstudents towriteoriginalten-minuteplaysand otherperformancepiecesforentryinto ourannualYoungPlaywrightsFestival contest.Ourpaneloftheatreand literaryprofessionalsevaluateseach student'splay.Semifinalistsareinvited toattendawritingworkshopwith SyracuseStagewheretheirplayswill bereadandcritiqued.Finalistswillsee theirplaysperformedasstaged readingsbySyracuseUniversityDrama Students.
Findoutmoreatsyracusestage.org
AdditionalResources
Findoutmoreatsyracusestage.org
Festival
HowtoDanceinOhio-The2015 documentary,whichthemusicalis basedon,followsthelivesofagroupof autisticyoungadultspreparingfortheir SpringFormal.(AvailableonHBOMax)
TheYoungAdultCouncilisaplacefor teenstomeetotherCNYstudents withaninterestintheatre,havea voiceintheprogrammingdesigned forthem,andexplorehowtheatre impactstheirlives.Theprogram focusesonpeerleddiscussionand eventsinadditiontoadvocatingfor theatreandartsparticipationtofellow students.YACmembersalsogeta freetickettoeachshowinthecurrent SyracuseStageseason.
YoungAdultCouncil (YAC)
YoungPlaywrights
“About.”JacobYandura,www.jacobyandura.com/new-page.
“About.”Www.sammicannold.com,www.sammicannold.com/.
AutisticSelfAdvocacyNetwork.“AboutAutism.”AutisticSelfAdvocacyNetwork,2009,autisticadvocacy.org/about-asan/about-autism/.
“Bio.”RebekahGreerMelocik,melocik.com/bio.
SyracuseStage15 Sources
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