GURLS (after Euripides’ The Bacchae)

October 6 - 8, 2017

WALLACE THEATERat Lewis Arts complex

A FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS AT PRINCETON

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LEWIS CENTER FOR THE ARTSChair Michael CaddenAdministrative Director Marion YoungFestival of the Arts Executive Producer Mara Isaacs

by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins ‘06

Lewis Center for the Arts and Department of Music present

PROGRAM IN THEATERDirector Jane CoxProducer Darryl WaskowProduction Manager Chloë Z. BrownProduction Stage Manager Carmelita BecnelResident Musical Director/Composer Vince di MuraAssistant Stage Manager Rob Del ColleCostume Shop Manager Keating HelfrichCostume Shop Assistant Julia KosanovichCostume Technician Caitlin BrownTechnical Director Timothy GodinAssistant Technical Director Jesse FroncekTheater Technician Torrey DrumLighting & Stage Supervisor Matt PilsnerProp Master Alexandra Geiger Scenic Artist Melissa RiccobonoMaster Carpenter Michael SmolaSound Engineer Kay RichardsonAcademic Support Joseph Fonseca

DIRECTOR’S NOTEIn 2006, when Branden and I were graduating from Princeton, both with Certificates in Theater & Dance, there was a huge announcement of a major gift to expand the creative and performing arts. And I remember feeling … “WHAT?! THAT’s AMAZING!” and also “WHY COULDN’T THIS HAVE HAPPENED WHILE I WAS HERE?!!!”

So, to be back here at the beautiful new Lewis Center, years later, feels like an incredible honor and a strangely fortuitous and mysterious homecoming.

And what better way to open up a new theater than to invoke the god Dionysus? That was the question posed by Chair Michael Cadden, who then commissioned Branden and myself to work on this new piece inspired by Euripides’ The Bacchae.

We were inspired in a number of ways: in the way that ancient Greek theater was a civic act, full of music and new plays that questioned its culture, and, in the particular case of Euripides, full of a deliberate subversive-ness. Our play continues in that theme, as an exploration of a society somewhat like our own but a bit foreign, grappling with wildness and control that resonates in complicated and difficult ways with our contemporary culture.

It has been a joyous journey with an incredible team of students, designers, faculty and staff of the Lewis Center. We’re unbelievably excited to invite you to the next part of this adventure. YAAAAAAS!!!!

Lewis Center for the Arts & Department of Music present

GURLS (after Euripides’ The Bacchae) by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins ‘06

GURLS is supported by the Roger S. Berlind ‘52 Playwright-in-Residence Fund.

Run time: Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

Haze, fog, strobe lights, loud music, and blank firing weapons are used in this production.

Use of any video or audio recording, and photography is prohibited.

SETTING“Over an angled clearing in a dense, green wood, the sky is turning the dreamy violet-silver of dusk.”

CASTDeon .......................................................................................................... Ben Diamond‘19*Theo .........................................................................................................Michael Smilek ‘20Gaga ........................................................................................................ Ankita Ghoshal ‘18*Dada ...........................................................................................................Nicholas Judt ‘20Rere, Officer Ronnie, Cowherd ..............................................................Marshall Schaffer ‘20Girl ...........................................................................................................Tessa Albertson ‘20Girl ....................................................................................................... Chase Hommeyer ‘19Girl .................................................................................................... Abby Jean-Baptiste ‘18*Girl ..........................................................................................................Amma Prempeh ‘19Girl ............................................................................................................ Justin Sansone ‘19Girl ..................................................................................................................Anna Zabel ‘19Girl ...................................................................................................... Victoria Davidjohn ‘19*Ensemble ...................................................................................................Daniel Benitez ‘21Ensemble ................................................................................................Morgan Carmen ‘21Ensemble ............................................................................................Eliana Cohen-Orth ‘21Ensemble ......................................................................................................... Jacy Duan ‘21Ensemble ......................................................................................................... Faith Iloka ‘21Ensemble .................................................................................................... Haydon John ‘21Ensemble ......................................................................................................Raye Kessler ‘18*Ensemble ..................................................................................................... Nathan Phan ‘19Ensemble ................................................................................................Deztynee Rivera ‘21Ensemble ....................................................................................................Allison Spann ‘20*Ensemble .......................................................................................................Andrew Tye ‘21Ensemble ................................................................................................Lydia Weintraub ‘18Ensemble .................................................................................................... Lillian Wilkins ‘19

PRODUCTION TEAMDirector ................................................................................................ Lileana Blain-Cruz ‘06Playwright/Adaptor ................................................................... Branden Jacobs-Jenkins ‘06Choreographer .......................................................................................... Raja Feather KellySet Designer .........................................................................................................Adam RiggCostume Designer ................................................................................ Montana Levi BlancoLighting Designer .......................................................................................................Yi ZhaoSound Designer ............................................................................................Palmer HefferanProjection Designer ......................................................................................... David BengaliDramaturg .................................................................................................. Robert SandbergStage Manager ..................................................................................Magda Stankowska ‘18*Assistant Director ............................................................................................. Nico Krell ‘18*Script Supervisor.......................................................................................Kirsten Hansen ‘20Assistant Choreographer ..................................................................... Jhor van der Horst’19*Sound Engineer ............................................................................................ Kay RichardsonAssistant Stage Manager/A2 .........................................................................Rosie Vasen ‘21Assistant Stage Manager/Video Crew ......................................................... Tyler Ashman’21*Assistant Costume Design ............................................................................. Miles Carey ‘18*Assistant Lighting Design ....................................................Megan Berry ‘19, Jenny Kim ’20Assistant Sound Design ................................................................................. Zara Jayant ‘19Stitcher(s) .......................................................................................................Jessica SandersWardrobe Supervisors ..........................................................Caitlin Brown, Julia KosanovichLighting Programmer......................................................................................... Brian AbbottLightboard operator ................................................................................ Asher Muldoon ’21Follow spot operator .................................................................................. Will Alvarado ‘19*Projection Engineer/Technician ........................................................................Stivo ArnoczyProjection operator.............................................................................................Torrey DrumVideo run crew ............................................................................................. Jack Busche ‘19*Deck/Props run crew ....................................................................................... Rob Del ColleFight Coach .......................................................................................................Mike RossmyPhysical Therapists .......................................................................Claudia Wohl, Holly Burns

FACULTY ADVISORSRobert Sandberg ........................................................................ Dramaturg, Faculty Advisor

Special thanks to the McCarter Theater for hosting the workshop reading this past Spring, and to the professional cast: Chris Bannow, Helen Cespedes, Catherine Combs, Audrey Corsa, Nike Kadri, Dan Kublick, Jamar Williams, Zenzi Williams, and Ayana Workman.

Please turn off all electronic devices including cellular phones, tablets, and watches for the duration of the performance. Please refrain from text messaging during the performance.

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* Denotes a certificate student in the Program in Theater