If Shakespeare had a sister, her name would be …
New play by Katie Bender
Staged reading directed by Brendon Fox
Original concept by Livy Scanlon
PROJECT HISTORY & SPECIAL THANKS
Judith was developed with the Hyde Park Theater Writers Group in 2020 and 2021. It then enjoyed a non-Equity production at Hyde Park in 2022, directed by Madge Darlington, for which it won the B. Iden Payne Award for best original script.
Tonight’s reading is made possible in part by the generosity of the Worcester Cultural Coalition and the Barr Foundation. Thank you!
CAST & CREATIVE TEAM
KATIE BENDER she/her/hers (Playwright) is a playwright, performer and theater maker. Her plays grapple with American myths, revel in female bonds and delight in physical exertion. Plays include The Survivors / Los Sobrevivientes, Instructions for a Séance, She Wolf, Still Now and Howling, Texas. Her work has been developed at The Alley, Hyde Park Theater, Kitchen Dog, Icicle Creek and ZACH as well as The New Harmony Project, The Orchard Project, Shrewd Productions, The Hangar, EST, The Playwrights’ Center and Launch Pad. Katie is on the Kilroys List and is a finalist for the inaugural Shakespeare’s Sister Fellowship. She is an Affiliated Writer at The Playwrights’ Center and was a ‘16-’17 Jerome Fellow. MFA, University of Texas.
BRENDON FOX** he/him/his (Director) is a director, teacher, adapter, producer and two-time NEA Panelist whose work has been seen from LA to Prague. Select directing credits include: The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial; The Winter’s Tale, Henry VI Part III, and Love’s Labour’s Lost (Prague Shakespeare); Long Day’s Journey Into Night (American Stage); an all-women, five-person A Christmas Carol (Delaware Theatre Co); and Baskerville (Long Wharf, co-production of Cleveland Playhouse / Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park). Brendon has developed new work at Gulfcoast Playhouse, JAW and New Harmony Project. He has taught at Juilliard, USD / Old Globe, FSU / Asolo Rep and others. MFA, UCLA. foxdirector.com
LAURA J. ECKELMAN (Lighting Designer) has worked with companies and institutions across the country, including Yale Repertory Theatre, Studio Theatre, Theater J, Keegan Theater, Triad Stage, The Welders, Perseverance Theatre, the Bearded Ladies Cabaret, Bang on a Can’s Asphalt Orchestra and many others. Laura is an Associate Professor at WPI, where she teaches design & management. She is a proud alumna of Middlebury College and Yale School of Drama. laurajeckelman.com
“Let me imagine, since facts are so hard to come by, what would have happened had Shakespeare had a wonderfully gifted sister, called Judith, let us say.”
- Virginia Woolf, A Room of One’s Own
PATRICIA DeLOREY (Dialect Coach) is a Certified Associate Fitzmaurice Voicework Teacher with an MFA in Voice and Speech from the Moscow Art Theatre/ American Repertory Theatre. Patricia teaches voice and dialects at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. She is the resident voice and dialect coach at the Asolo Repertory Theatre where some of her favorite productions include: Sweat, Sweeney Todd, The Cake, Gloria, Ragtime, Roe, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, The Great Society and Josephine (world premiere).
LIVY SCANLON* (Judith) Livy is a versatile theatre professional working as a producer, director, actor and teaching artist. She currently serves as Artistic Director of THT Rep and Managing Director of the JMAC. Various professional credits include Central Square Theatre, New Rep, Commonwealth Shakespeare, Trinity Rep, Asolo Rep, Paper Mill Playhouse, Hartford Stage and Bridge Rep, which she founded and helmed for five years, and where she received an Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Director (Dark Room) and an IRNE Award for Best Actress (Mrs. Packard). MFA, Brown University/Trinity Rep.
CASEY WORTHAM (Narrator) is a third year UCONN MFA Acting student, class of ‘23. Casey is an Atlanta Native. She previously finished her Kenny Leon Fellowship at The Alliance Theatre. Previous stage credits include: Food for the Gods, Blood At The Root and ROE at Connecticut Repertory Theatre. Her most recent TV credits include ShudderTV’s & Amazon Prime’s “Creepshow” Season 3.
JANE SIEBELS* (Production Stage Manager) is excited to be back with THT Rep after stage managing Macbeth and The Edgar Allan Poe Double Header! In addition to stage managing A Christmas Carol with The Hanover Theatre, she has also stage managed at regional venues including The Huntington Theatre, SpeakEasy Stage Company, Greater Boston Stage Company, American Stage Festival, Florida Studio Theatre and the Asolo. New York credits include The Pearl Theatre, Miranda Theatre Co, The John Houseman Theatre and Lincoln Center. Currently, Jane also enjoys working as a Children’s Librarian in Shrewsbury. Many thanks to her family for supporting her during this busy adventure!
*Member, Actors’ Equity Association
**Member, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
PLEASE NOTE
You are welcome to stay after the reading for a 15-minute audience dialogue moderated by Dr. Kathryn Moncrief, who will also welcome you at the top of the show.
REMINDER
For the actor’s safety and the enjoyment of all our patrons, photographing, videotaping and other video or audio recording of this production is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Please turn off all cell phones and electronic devices during the performance.
