SAINT JOAN
By George Bernard Shaw
Directed By Brian Tyrrell
WHITWORTH THEATRE
PRESENTS
Artwork by Hannah Charlton
By George Bernard Shaw
Directed By Brian Tyrrell
CAST
Dramatis Personae (in order of appearance)
Robert de Baudricourt ................................................................................ Zeke Taton
Steward Britney Botez
Joan of Arc Sydney Anderson/Fiona Beattie
Bertrand de Poulengey Sierra Pauley
Duke de La Tremouille Anna Reitz
Archbishop Dani Wolf
Bluebeard Abi Prather
LaHire Lynzie Kenney
Page Kenzie Quinn
King Charles VII .................................................................................. Jared McDougall
Duchess de La Tremouille ..................................................................... Britney Botez
Dunois ............................................................................................................... Ali Aboud
Earl of Warwick ......................................................................................... Joseph Selle
Chaplain .......................................................................................................... Zoe Picken
Page ................................................................................................................. Anna Reitz
Peter Cauchon .......................................................................................... Rab Greenup
The Inquisitor ................................................................................................ Zeke Taton
Canon D’Estivet ........................................................................................ Sierra Pauley
Canon de Courcelles ...............................................................................Kenzie Quinn
Brother Martin Ladvenu ............................................................................ Abi Prather
The Executioner .................................................................................... Lynzie Kenney
A Soldier ......................................................................................................... Anna Reitz
An English Gentleman ........................................................................... Britney Botez
SCENE SETTINGS
Scene 1
Castle of Vaucouleurs, Feb. 13, 1429
Scene 2
Chinon in Touraine, March 8, 1429
Scene 3
River Loire outside Orleans, April 28, 1429
Scene 4
An English camp outside Orleans, May 4, 1429
Intermission
Scene 5
The Cathedral at Rheims, July 17, 1429
Scene 6
Castle at Rouen, May 30, 1431
Epilogue
King Charles’ bedchamber, June 1456
FROM THE DIRECTOR
If it were a fiction, no one would believe it.
I’m not sure what you were doing at age 17, but I would imagine it pales in comparison to Joan’s courageous leadership of French soldiers against English troops. As Eric Metaxas states in his book Seven Women and the Secret to Their Greatness, “Her character and her exploits were so extraordinary as to be beyond belief.” Joan of Arc was an enigma. Wise beyond her years, yet innocent. Strong, but vulnerable. Bold, yet humble. She embodied France and hope itself. There has never been anyone quite like her.
In Joan of Arc, a History, author Mary Gordon remarked, “She stood for the triumph of the invisible over the visible, the potency of pure intention. We need her as the heroine of our better selves.” Playwright George Bernard Shaw paints Joan not as a saint, witch, or madwoman, but as a farmgirl, an illiterate intellectual whose focus rocked the church and state to their core. Shaw’s play effectively illuminates Joan’s journey from country lass to soldier to hero to scapegoat and finally to saint.
Though rarely produced, two productions of Saint Joan emerged in New York in 2018. Bedlam Theatre Company produced it with only four actors playing 24 roles. The Manhattan Theatre Club expanded the cast size to 14, as we are likewise doing. That production was directed by former Seattle Repertory Theatre artistic director Dan Sullivan, who said of Joan, “I think she is still relevant today because what she was doing with her life still hasn’t been completely realized in this world so she’s still sort of the vanguard for the movement.”
Saint Joan is about faith in a divine purpose. Faith in God and in the voices that inspired her to action. It’s about the courage of her convictions. Joan has major challenges to encounter at age 17 and tragically must face her fate by the time she’s 19. Remarkable.
Shaw’s Saint Joan could be subtitled: Tales of Inspiration and Hope. In a world all too often given to division and cynicism, it has been a delight working with my Whitworth University colleagues on a play that embraces thoughts and ideas that are the antithesis of our day-to-day existence.
It has been an absolute joy to work on this production with these talented, committed Whitworth Theatre collaborators. Our hope is that Joan’s story will not only entertain but enlighten and perhaps inspire the inner Joan in all of us.
Thank you for joining us.
Brian TyrrellCREATIVE TEAM
Director ......................................................................................................... Brian Tyrrell
Scenic Design ....................................................................................... Aaron Dyszelski
Technical Director and Lighting Design ............................................... Maria Sorce
Costume Design Mica Pointer
Sound Design Jonah Hill
Projection Design Bella Friedman
Properties Manager Fiona Beattie
Hair/Makeup/Wigs Anna Daniel
Costume Assistant Tara Mickschl
Costume Assistant Dani Wolf
Wardrobe Manager Kenna McIlraith
Assistant Lighting Designer ............................................................. Emily Van Vleet
Stage Manager ....................................................................................... Lynzie Kenney
Assistant Stage Manager ................................................................... Henry Wheeler
Assistant Stage Manager ...................................................................... Max Broennle
Scenic Carpenter ................................................................................... Lynzie Kenney
Scenic Charge ..........................................................................................Jessica Chase
Scenic Crew ................................ Jessica Chase, Titilope Oluwasholape Olatunji, Michael St. Marie, Hassan Shah, Ahmed Amir, Nana Boateng Amoah, Henry Wheeler, Jared McDougall, Anna Daniel, Theophilus Owusu, Lynzie Kenney, Robert Batchelder, Mandy Moore
Interim Theatre Chair Erica Salkin
Community Engagement Director Sydney Anderson
Box Office Manager Kim Dawson
House Manager Sierra Van Der Pol
Assistant Box Office Manager .................................................................. Stella Reitz
Digital & Graphic Designer ........................................................... Tamara Burkhead
Brian Tyrrell (Guest Director) taught, directed and produced theatre at Centralia College for 25 years. Post-retirement he taught and directed theatre at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Wash. During his academic career he served for five years as the Playwriting Awards Chair for Region 7 of the American College Theatre Festival. Academic honors include the Golden Medallion from the Kennedy Center, the Washington Community and Technical College Humanities Association Exemplary Status Award (1995 and 2006), and Centralia College’s Exceptional Faculty Award (2000 and 2015). Beyond the more than 100 academic productions under his directorship, his non-academic directing includes productions in Olympia, Tacoma and Longview, Wash., and assistant direction of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle. He holds an MFA and M.A. in theatre from Purdue University and a B.A. in theatre from Washington State University.
Brian has been a proud member of Actors Equity Association since 1987. His stage credits include multiple seasons at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, single seasons with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and a national tour with the National Shakespeare Company in New York. Regional stage credits include productions in Indianapolis, Chicago, Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia.
He served as the associate artistic/casting director for the Tacoma Actors Guild and is the co-founder of the Northwest Playwrights Association at the Seattle Repertory Theatre.
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
Ali Aboud ’25 (Dunois) is a Spokane native (Rogers High School) majoring in psychology and theatre. This is his second Whitworth University stage appearance having previously been seen in Something Rotten! as Tom Snout/Bard Boy. He appeared in Murder on the Orient Express for the Spokane Civic Theatre. His many high school credits include roles in Fiddler on the Roof, An Inspector Calls, Little Shop of Horrors and Noises Off. He’d like to thank all of the cast and crew for being amazing and showing up every day to make this show happen and give an even bigger thank-you to the wonderful director who challenged him with the role he received.
Sydney Anderson ’25 (Joan) is majoring in theatre and English. Her Whitworth stage credits include Something Rotten! and Men on Boats. She would like to thank her whole family for always supporting her. She couldn’t have done it without them.
Fiona Beattie ’25 (Joan) is majoring in psychology and Theatre. Previous Whitworth stage credits include Men on Boats and a Festival of Short Plays She would like to thank her family, friends and partner for their love and support.
Britney Botez ’24 (Steward/Duchess/English Gentleman) is majoring in theatre and political science. Her Whitworth stage credits include Bradley in Men on Boats, The Sound of Music and Antigone. She would like to thank friends and family for supporting her in her venture into theatre.
Rab Greenup ’24 (Peter Cauchon) is majoring in human-computer interaction and theology. Saint Joan is Rab’s Whitworth Theatre debut.
Rab’s stage credits include multiple productions with Liberty Lake Community Theatre including The Taming of the Shrew, Big Bad and Anne of Green Gables. For TAC at the Lake he was seen in Puffs and Gulliver’s Travels.
Lynzie Kenney ’24 (LaHire/Executioner) is majoring in English literature and theatre. Her Whitworth stage credits include a Festival of Short Plays. Lynzie’s backstage credits include stage management for Angels in America, Men on Boats, Something Rotten! and The Sound of Music. She would like to thank her family, her girlfriend and her many friends who have all been incredibly supportive and helpful throughout the years.
Jared McDougall ’24 (King Charles VII) is from Spokane and is majoring in secondary education with an emphasis on English and theatre. Previous Whitworth stage credits include Prior Walter in Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Shylock in Something Rotten! and Dylan in Growing Up, Growing Out. He also appeared as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Spokane Shakespeare Society. He would like to thank his wonderful family, housemates and friends for their support and levity.
Sierra Pauley ’25 (Polly/D’Estivet) is majoring in theatre and psychology. Previous Whitworth stage credits include Lady Clapham in Something Rotten! and Seneca Howland in Men on Boats. Her high school credits include leads in Frozen, Into the Woods and Death by Dessert. Sierra wants to thank her family for their unyielding love and support and her besties for putting up with “Sorry, I have rehearsal” this spring.
Zoe Picken ’26 (Chaplain) is majoring in theatre and is a native of Willis, Texas. Saint Joan is Zoe’s Whitworth stage debut. Recent roles include Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire, Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Frenchie in Grease. She would like to thank her mom for making the trip up to see the production. She hopes you enjoy the show.
Abi Prather ’25 (Bluebeard/Ladvenu) is majoring in graphic design and studying dance. Abi was part of the ensemble in Whitworth’s production of Something Rotten! Additional stage credits include roles in Macbeth, Wonderful Town, Guys and Dolls and as Frenchie in Grease. She would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her and running lines with her over and over.
Kenzie Quinn ’25 (Page/Courcelles) is majoring in secondary education and theatre. Kenzie’s previous Whitworth stage credits include Nostradamus in Something Rotten! She would like to thank her parents for always being supportive of her theatre career.
Anna Reitz ’26 (La Tremouille/Page/English Soldier) is majoring in theatre and English. She was seen earlier this school year in Whitworth’s production of The Sound of Music. She would like to thank the wonderful cast and crew and everyone who has supported her along the way!
Joseph Selle ’25 (Earl of Warwick) is from Spokane majoring in theatre. Previous Whitworth stage credits include the Minister of Justice in Something Rotten! and Admiral von Schreiber in The Sound of Music.
Joseph appeared in A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Demetrius and as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet for the Spokane Shakespeare Society. He would like to thank the designers and crew for creating the gothic arches that he and his fellow cast mates now get to walk through.
Zeke Taton ’24 (Robert/Inquisitor) is majoring in elementary education and music. Saint Joan is Zeke’s stage debut. He’d like to thank his parents for always encouraging him to be creative and to try new things.
Dani Wolf ’24 (Archbishop) is majoring in English and theatre. Dani’s previous Whitworth stage credits include the Messenger/Ensemble in Something Rotten!, Hall in Men on Boats, Wilhelmina in Silent Sky and Chorus/Messenger in Antigone. Dani would like to thank her roommates (for always making sure she has dinner before rehearsal), her friends (for putting up with the zero amount of free time she has), and her family (for supporting her throughout college) – love you all so much!
SPECIAL THANKS
Jamie Suter, Spokane Civic Theatre
Brian Rempel, Combat Corps
Jessica Rempel, Mt. Spokane High School
Jessica Ray, Eastern Washington University
MCDONALD OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARS
Box Office Manager – Stella Reitz
Community Engagement Director – Sydney Anderson
Costume Assistant – Dani Wolf
House Manager – Sierra Van Der Pol
Lighting Design Assistant – Emily Van Vleet
Makeup Designer – Anna Daniel
Projection Designer – Bella Friedman
Properties Manager – Fiona Beattie
Scenic Carpenter – Lynzie Kenney
Scenic Charge – Jessica Chase
Sound Designer – Jonah Hill
Technical Director, Stage II – Kaylee Unwin
Wardrobe Manager – Kenna McIlraith
WHITWORTH THEATRE
Whitworth Theatre is dedicated to cultivating artistic integrity by making theatre that engages both mind and heart with honesty, compassion and hope. Students in Whitworth Theatre reach beyond their personal experiences to portray stories from all walks of life in an ongoing dialogue with the audience about the human experience. Our academic theatre program stimulates creativity and discipline through classes in performance, directing, dance, design, history and literature. For more information about Whitworth Theatre, or to be added to our mailing list, please contact the theatre office at 509.777.3707 or email kdawson@whitworth.edu.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Main Stage
Much Ado About Nothing
Oct. 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 15 and 22 at 2 p.m.
Stage II
Lysistrata
A Stage Reading
May 6 at 7:30 p.m.
May 7 at 2 p.m.
Emily Van Vleet Senior Project Trifles
April 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Kenna McIlraith Senior Project
First Date
April 22 at 7:30 p.m.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
As followers of Christ, we are compelled to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. It is our love of God and neighbor that leads us to offer the following statement: a xest sxľxaľt. Welcome, everyone. We acknowledge that we gather today on the traditional homelands of the four bands of the Spokane Tribe of Indians: Sntut úlix w , Snx w mén e , Scqesciłni and Sčewile . Since time immemorial, the Spokane Tribe of Indians has lived prosperously on this land, identifying themselves as “sqélix w,” or “flesh of the land.” We pay our respects to their Elders – past, present and emerging – and we acknowledge their continuing connection with the land, waters and culture. We honor God with gratitude for the land itself and the peoples who have fished, hunted, harvested and gathered here for generations. This acknowledgment recognizes the first custodians of this land, the suffering they endured, and the continued restoration and healing needed. It is important to understand the history that has brought us to reside here, because such understanding fosters a more united community that honors and embraces the first peoples of Spokane. We thank the Spokane Tribe members for sharing their stories, culture and language to develop this welcome. lem lmtš šey u hoy.
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