2020–2021 THEATRE SEASON
A need for reckoning, a need for change...
Truth can be scary. It can leave us in a world of confusion and mix up our core beliefs. It can wake us from the comfort of what we believe is real, test our discipline, move us, calibrate our direction, and bring relief. Join us this theatre season to experience new perspectives with stories of historic movements, courage, fear, and loss that reveal a need for change in the reality we live today.
The 2020–2021 Mainstage Theatre season is dedicated to the memory of William “Bill” Raffeld, Associate Professor Emeritus, and UIC alumni class of 1955, in honor of his 57 years of teaching and dedication to UIC performing arts, who passed away in May of 2020. Contributions may be made to the William F. Raffeld Award at UIC Chicago, https://theatreandmusic.uic.edu/donate Locate UIC William F. Raffeld Award, SAUIC, and follow instructions; or, checks payable of the University of Illinois Foundation, and mailed to: 1305 W. Green Street MC-386 Urbana, IL 61801
Da Mixtape PRODUCTION STAFF Creators & Writers
Jackson Doran JQ Aranza Alvarado Kaylah Crosby Sol Fuller David Hernandez Adam Lawdan Sam Lopez Melody Lou Rose Mozier Victor Musoni Gabe Newman Yourtana Sulaiman
Musical Contributors
JQ Sol Fuller Nathan LaBranche David Hernandez Josh Schmidt
Directors
Jackson Doran JQ
PRODUCTION STAFF (CONT.) Stage Manager/ Film Coordinator
Wendy Madrigal
Assistant Director
David Hernandez
Video Designer
Anthony Churchill
Production Manager
Erin Freeman
Sound Designer
Josh Schmidt
Costume Designer
Myron Elliott
Associate Sound Designer
Nathan LaBranche
Assistant Video Designer/ Editor
Sam Castillo
Assistant Stage Manager
Lauren Littlejohn
Voice & Dialect Director
Tanera Marshall
Technical Director
Hannah Holmes-Robins
Costume Shop Manager
Stephanie Cluggish*
Puppet Costume Fabrication
Elise Petrucci
*Denotes U.S.A. Member
Choreographer (Opening Number and Jeans)
Victor Musoni
Choreographer (Theatre Degree Bling)
Sheena Laird
Contributing Faculty Artist
Collette Pollard*
ENSEMBLE Aranza Alvarado
Kaylah Crosby
Sol Fuller
David Hernandez
Jazz Jubulani
Adam Lawdan
Sam Lopez
Melody Lou
Rose Mozier
Victor Musoni
Gabe Newman
Yourtana Sulaiman
SPECIAL THANKS Christine Dunford, Yasen Peyankov, and the entire faculty of the UIC Theatre Department
UIC THEATRE BLM SOLIDARITY STATEMENT This summer we have been wrestling with how to proceed in the righting of institutional racism that has methodically put Black and Brown bodies in physical, financial, and emotional peril. Because Black Lives Matter. At this time our society is being asked to atone for many wrongs, the most egregious of which is the systemic racism that has remained unchecked in our cultural institutions for too long. Higher Education and The American Theatre are being called upon to acknowledge their perpetuation of these racist systems, and their responsibility to fix it. We, the faculty and staff at UIC Department of Theatre, an historically white institution, begin by acknowledging the lack of inclusion of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Latinx and all People of Color) identities in our overall pedagogy and modes of production. Further, we acknowledge our shortcomings, both personally and professionally, of our previous efforts. We state our commitment to holding ourselves and each other to a higher standard - NOW. In our shared analysis of the systems, traditions, and culture of our department, we are identifying biased practices. As a unified group, we are reconceiving these practices to be inclusive, equitable, and transparent. We recognize that this work of identifying and eradicating the underlying colonialism and racism is imperative, and long overdue. Most importantly, we are committed to follow this inciting spark through by setting specific, measurable, time-oriented goals. We understand that this deeply-rooted problem does not have an easy remedy—and that it will take longer than one semester, year, or generation. Here we begin this departmental transformation with a commitment to the following set of actions:
UIC THEATRE DEPARTMENT ANTI-RACIST ACTION STEPS Read our Anti-Racist Action Steps here:
https://theatreandmusic.uic.edu/newsdetails/805/792
SUPPORT THEATRE AND MUSIC AT UIC We rely heavily on our alumni, friends, and community to provide support for our students and programs. Please consider making a secure donation on our website, and help us bring wonderful theatre and music to our community. https://theatreandmusic.uic.edu/donate-now
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