2021 -22
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for a full listing of this season’s events.
UALBANY THEATRE DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC & THEATRE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES PRESENTS
FRESH ACTS A festival of new plays Program A
Before War by Chioma Onwuka Ofodile, Directed by Witnie Dupre Sixty Seconds to Midnight by MJ Johnson, Directed by Billy Feerick Emotional Assortment by Blakely Brown, Directed by Zach MonteLeon
Program B
Rehab by Kat Schermerhorn, Directed by Rheonna Koss Stormy Weather by Yetunde Babalola, Directed by JadeElise Brown There Was a Dent Here, It’s Gone Now by Claire Dell-Priscoli, Directed by Marilyn Feerick
Production Assistant: Ken Reibman Dramaturg/Editor: Jack Besterman Artistic Director: Kate Walat
This production is made possible with generous support from The John Orser ’55 Theatrical Endowment, the Jarka and Grayce Susan Burian Endowed Theatre Fund, the Futterer-Gould Fund and University Auxiliary Services
The Company ENSEMBLE A Ashley Augustin Ayele Brockington Deasia Clarke Nathan Cooper Donnie-Lee Frazier Isabel Sanchez Mariam Sanou Godswill Utionkpan
ENSEMBLE B Emily Berkemeyer Jason Brown Ajsia Cabrera Honor Kilpatrick Samantha McLawrence Ava Perros Leanna Roskoff Jillian Sharp Kalvin Singleton Kyle Tunney
Production Team Production Manager..…………………………………...STEVE MICHALEK Scene Shop Supervisor…………..…………………………….JOHN KNAPP Costume Shop Manager…………………….……………..RENEÉ M. BELL Marketing…………………………………………..…. AYELE BROCKINGTON Scene Shop TAs……………………………………..……..… OLEG BALITSKIY NATE COOPER DEANNA GREENBLATT Carpentry Crew…………………………………………….…TAYLOR DORAN DONNIE FRAZIER CALEB LEE Properties Crew………………………….…………. KAT SCHERMERHORN Costume Shop TAs……………………………...………..….EMILY ENGLISH JAKE EVANS Costume Shop Crew……………………………………………..… ERIN FORD BRI IACOVONE Scene Shop Lab Students…………………………………….…... JOE WEST JAIME KAUFMAN BRIA KNOX DAVID ARMAH GRACE STIPE MINSEO KOO KOBE SMULLEN JACOB BELL NICHOLAS DIVALENTINO VERONICA LAURENT PETER MOSTERT ALFREDO AQUINO NIA LAWRENCE KEON MOORE LUCY SKIDMORE SHRUTHI SUNIL
Note from the Artistic Director Welcome to the fifth annual FRESH ACTS Festival of New Plays! UAlbany Theatre Program is thrilled to return to live presentations of our staged readings of these works-inprogress, written, directed, and performed by students. FRESH ACTS is modeled on professional play development festivals across the country, such as the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Playwrights Conference and PlayLabs at the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis. Festivals like these offer playwrights the opportunity for invaluable conversations with creative collaborators to gain a better understanding of the theatrical potential of their plays before entering a full production process. The six plays in this year’s FRESH ACTS were selected through a competitive submission process that began in December and continued through the start of the semester. Four of these works began in playwriting classes at UAlbany, and two were written by students on their own time, inspired to share their words and vision with an audience. These pieces dramatize issues of identity, obstacles to love, and the incredible tension of our world over this past year. They are as diverse and individual as the writers that created them. We are happy to gather together in one space with you, to share these works-in-progress in this important first step forward in collaboration with actors and directors. Thank you for being part of theatre being made! Kate Walat Playwright-in-Residence & Associate Professor UAlbany’s Theatre Program
Program A Wednesday at 8pm Friday at 3pm Saturday at 2pm Before War by Chioma Onwuka Ofodile Directed by Witnie Dupre CHELUCHI: Deasia Clarke SERIKI: Godswill Utionkpan CHUKWUEMEKA: Ayele Brockington ADIMCHINOBI: Ashley Augustin NDIDI: Mariam Sanou IKENNA: Donnie-Lee Frazier STAGE DIRECTIONS: Nathan Cooper Sixty Seconds to Midnight by MJ Johnson Directed by Billy Feerick RUTH: Isabel Sanchez DAVID: Ayele Brockington ZEKE: Nathan Cooper HELEN: Mariam Sanou STAGE DIRECTIONS: Godwill Utionkpan Emotional Assortment by Blakely Brown Directed by Zach MonteLeon SALEM: Isabel Sanchez DRACO: Donnie-Lee Frazer PROFESSOR: Nathan Cooper STAGE DIRECTIONS: Ashley Augustin
Program B Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 10pm, Saturday at 8pm Rehab by Kat Schermerhorn Directed by Rheonna Koss CHLOE: Jillian Sharp KAREN: Samantha McLawrence SAMANTHA: Ava Perros LENA: Ajsia Cabrera AMANDA : Honor Kilpatrick KRISTEN: Leanna Roskoff GWEN: Emily Berkemeyer TOM: Kyle Tunney JESSE: Kalvin Singleton STAGE DIRECTIONS: Jason Brown Stormy Weather by Yetunde Babalola Directed by JadeElise Brown TERRENCE: Kalvin Singleton CHARISE: Samantha McLawrence JAMES: Jason Brown OFFICER JOHNSON: Kyle Tunney WAITER: Jillian Sharp STAGE DIRECTIONS: Leanna Roskoff Dent by Claire Dell-Priscoli Directed by Marilyn Feerick SUE: Emily Berkemeyer ROBERT: Kalvin Singleton VERONICA: Ava Perros SHIRLY: Honor Kilpatrick DEBORAH: Leanna Roskoff CAROL: Samantha McLawrence JULIAN: Jason Brown EUGENE: Kyle Tunney PANDORA/STAGE DIRECTIONS: Ajsia Cabrera
Who’s Who ASHLEY AUGUSTIN (Ensemble A) is a senior Accounting Major at University at Albany. This is her first time participating in a theatre production. YETUNDE BABALOLA (Playwright, Stormy Weather) is a senior at the UAlbany with a major in Political Science and minors in Theatre and English. They performed in two FRESH ACTS productions in 2021. They are also the author of Josephine that was produced in New Play Arena this fall,and are very passionate about writing plays for underrepresented voices. EMILY BERKEMEYER (Ensemble B). As a former Engineering student who just transferred to the University at Albany, Emily is now wholeheartedly follow her passions as a Political Science major as well as exploring their interests in Theatre and History. Emily thanks the playwrights of Dent and Rehab for the opportunity to tell the stories of the characters they’ve been crafting. JACK BESTERMAN (Dramaturg/Editor) is a junior at UAlbany studying Theatre and Journalism. He has previously acted in FRESH ACTS in 2021 and worked as a Dramaturg (A Dream Play) and Assistant Director (Lovers & Lunatics). AYELE BROCKINGTON (Ensemble A) is a Theatre/History major at UAlbany, who recently played Antonio in Twelfth Night. He has also appeared as Theodore Prince in Mothman in New Work/New Ways in Fall 2020, Caesar in Our Country’s Good, and Mysterious Man in MTA’s Into the Woods. He’s excited for the return of live theater and hopes everyone loves the show and has a great time out.
BLAKELY BROWN (Playwright, Emotional Assortment) is currently enrolled in the combined BA/MS Mental Health Counseling Program at UAlbany. She will graduate with her undergrad degree at the completion of her Fall 2022 and continue pursuing her Masters. Blakely first encountered theater as an introductory course at the University, which sparked her interest and led her to make Theater one of her minors. This is the first production she has ever worked on. JADEELISE BROWN (Director, Stormy Weather) is a Theatre major with a double minor in Acting and Creative Writing. She was previously an assistant stage manager on the New Play Arena and is excited to be directing her first show. She has also acted in Hope in FRESH ACTS 2021, and most recently as Olivia in Twelfth Night. She thanks her cast for all their hard work and dedication and her family for always supporting her dreams. JASON BROWN (Ensemble B) is a first year UAlbany student. He is majoring in English and minoring in theater. Jason studied acting at the Denzel Washington School of the Arts (PVAM) for three years and continues his journey in the intimidating world of show business to this day! Previous productions he has worked on are PVAM’s performances of The Wiz and Seven Guitars, as well as UAlbany’s New Play Arena in Fall 2021. AJSIA CABRERA (Ensemble B) is a junior at the University at Albany. She is a Psychology major and Theater minor. Previous productions she has worked on include Josephine in the New Play Arena, and A Dream Play, both this fall. DEASIA CLARKE (Ensemble A) is currently a junior at UAlbany. She has a major in Economics with a minor in Business. She previously worked on the New Play Arena production in Fall 2021, playing the part of Aeris/Shola in Josephine.
NATHAN “NATE” COOPER (Ensemble A) is a senior UAlbany Theater major who recently made his departmental debut on stage, as Sir Andrew on Twelfth Night, after many years of working various positions backstage. He would like to thank the audience, cast, crew, and the hard working and too oft forgotten members of electrics, scene shop, and costume shop. CLAIRE DELL-PRISCOLI (Playwright; There Was a Dent Here, Now It’s Gone) is a Junior at the University at Albany, majoring in English and Theatre. Previous productions include shows such as Suddenly Last Summer and, most recently, Twelfth Night. Claire enjoys writing plays as much as performing and is excited to be showing off her work in this production. Claire wants to thank her friends and family for helping her get this far! WITNIE DUPRE (Director, Before War) is a senior at UAlbany majoring in Communications with a minor in Theatre. Previous productions she has been a part of are FRESH ACTS Spring 2021 as a Playwright, and Twelfth Night as an Assistant Director. This is her second time doing FRESH ACTS, but it’s her first time directing, and she’s really excited to be trying something new. BILLY FEERICK (Director, 60 Seconds to Midnight) is a senior majoring in Theatre & Business. In UAlbany Theatre Program productions he has played Flute (Midsummer Night's Dream), Travis (Six Scenes in a Theatre), and Telly (Godspell); and also played Harry in MTA’s Mamma Mia. He most recently appeared as Sebastian in Twelfth Night. MARILYN FEERICK (Director, Dent) is a junior majoring in Theatre and English. She has acted in shows such as Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Footloose, and Six Scenes in a Theatre. She also performed in FRESH ACTS last year but is so jazzed to be directing this year! She wants to shoutout the cast and crew for working so hard to put together something so special.
DONNIE-LEE J. FRAZIER (Performer) is a junior at UAlbany, with a Theatre major and a Creative Writing minor. This fall was the first time he participated in a production, in the New Play Arena, and he is looking forward to performing again. MJ JOHNSON (Playwright, Sixty Seconds To Midnight) is a senior at UAlbany with majors in Theatre and History. They are thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in FRESH ACTS once again after having their play Face the Music featured in FRESH ACTS 2021. Other recent credits include Projection Designer for A Dream Play at UAlbany, Video Designer for Clouds at Columbia University, and Technical Director for Uncensored 2021 at MCC Theater. They would like to thank their family and friends for their support and all the amazing people taking part in FRESH ACTS for their work! HONOR KILPATRICK (Ensemble B) is a first-year student at the University at Albany. She is a Theatre major with an Acting minor. You may have seen her this academic year in UAlbany Theatre's productions of New Play Arena as Deborah and Demi, or as a Villager in Twelfth Night. She would like to thank her family, the cast, and crew. RHEONNA KOSS (Director, Rehab) is a senior at UAlbany. This will be her third time taking a part in FRESH ACTS. She is double majoring in Theater and Psychology and is continuing her psychology education in graduate school. Some of her most recent credits as a performer include Feste in Twelfth Night, Maria in Face the Music, and Duckling in Our Country’s Good. SAMANTHA McLAWRENCE (Ensemble B) is a senior at UAlbany, with a major in Biology and a minor in Theatre. Originally from Brooklyn, growing up as an only child Sam was shy and awkward, but the arts became her outlet for expression. She’s an
artist, actress, dancer, stepper, and instrumentalist. Sam hopes you enjoy the talent and hard work that will be seen here today! ZACH MONTELEON (Director, Emotional Assortment) is a Theatre major and Musical Theatre minor graduating this spring and is excited to get his start in directing. He recently appeared in the program’s production of Twelfth Night, 2021 musical film Love and Other Destinations and in Postmortem as part of the 2020 production in New Works/New Ways. Special thanks to everyone that’s supported him along his journey! CHIOMA ONWUKA OFODILE (Playwright, Before War) is a senior at UAlbany majoring in Psychology and minoring in Creative Writing. In the UAlbany Fall 2021 production, she played Glazier in A Dream Play. She was born and raised in Nigeria, which has shaped her immense passion for African storytelling in all its complexity and beauty. In high school, she was introduced to theater through the Manhattan Class Brooklyn Youth Company and has loved it ever since. AVA PERROS (Ensemble B) is a junior at UAlbany with a major in Communications and minor in Psychology. Ava has never been in any productions before and is excited about making her debut! KEN REIBMAN (Production Assistant) is a senior at UAlbany, with a major in Theatre and a minor in Business, who also worked on our recent production of Twelfth Night. LEANNA ROSKOFF (Ensemble B) is a senior at the University of Albany. She is a Psychology major and a Philosophy minor. This is her first production. ISABEL SANCHEZ (Ensemble A) is a sophomore studying Human Development and Theatre. She most recently appeared onstage as Maria in Twelfth Night and is very excited to be participating
in her fourth production at the University. She thanks the entire cast and crew for a wonderful production. MARIAM SANOU (Ensemble A) is a first-year student at UAlbany. She is a Computer Science major with a double-minor in Theater and Psychology. Last semester she was an actor in Josephine, in UAlbany’s New Play Arena. KATHRYN SCHERMERHORN (Playwright, Rehab) is a senior at UAlbany. She is a Theater major and English minor. Previous productions she has worked on include MTA’s Footloose (cast) and UAlbany Theatre Program’s Twelfth Night (props). JILLIAN SHARP (Ensemble B) is a junior at the University at Albany. She is a Theater major and Creative Writing minor. Previous productions she has worked on include Six Scenes in a Theater, Lovers & Lunatics, and Love and Other Destinations. KALVIN SINGLETON (Ensemble B) is a freshman Psychology major who is excited to work with the Theatre program at UAlbany after acting all throughout high school. He wants to shoutout Yetunde Babalola for her sensitivity to the psychic field of an experience he knows well, and he is honored to perform alongside such a talented cast and crew. KYLE TUNNEY (Ensemble B) is a senior at UAlbany. He is an English major and Theatre minor. He previously had roles in the University at Albany’s New Play Arena (2021) and the Hudson Valley Community College’s Night of One Acts (2019). GODSWILL UTIONKPAN (Ensemble A) is a sophomore at UAlbany majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Theater. This is his first college play, so he is very ecstatic about the experience as well as the opportunity. He hopes to use this to come out a much better actor in the end, and thanks his friends for all the encouragement they have given him.
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER HOUSE POLICIES Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the management and its staff. . The use of photographic or recording devices of any kind during this performance is strictly prohibited. . There is no food or drink allowed in the theatres, nor is smoking allowed in UAlbany buildings. . To avoid disrupting the performance, kindly disable any noise making electronic devices you may have with you. . Please take time to note the location of the fire exits nearest to you. In the event of an emergency, please proceed to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion and follow the directions of our staff.
Created and produced by the University Art Museum, NYS Writers Institute and UAlbany Performing Arts Center in collaboration with WAMC Public Radio, this popular series features leading figures from a variety of artistic disciplines in conversation about their creative inspirations, their craft and their careers. “Roundtable” host Joe Donahue conducts live on-stage interviews followed by a Q&A with the audience.
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