the pw
archive.
2023 / 2024 season
FAIRVIEW by Jackie Sibblies Drury '10 Directed by Navaiya Williams '25 *** Featuring: Nelsa Tiemtoré '26 Cam Curney '24 Marcus Waller '26 Naja Woodard '27 Thomas Ward '27 Olha Burdeina '27 Mia Richter '25 Sofia Tazi '26 Production team: Stage Managed by Riki Doumbia '26 and Asya Gipson '25 Production Managed by Nélari Figueroa Torres ’25 Lighting Design by Adnan Aldabbagh '25 Assistant Lighting Designer: Taimi Xu '26 Set Design by Preston Rossi '27 Props Design by Chinmayi Rajaram '26 Costume Design by Nélari Figueroa Torres '25 Poster Design by Asya Gipson '25 Technical Director: Abby Schindell '25 Set build by Allyssa Foster, Matthew Harm, Madeline Tirschwell, Jordan Stornelli Executive Produced by Andrew Neubauer '25 and Yana Tsyvis RISD '26
WHITE written by James Ijames Directed by Dri de Faria '26 *** Assistant directd by Ishani Sharma '25 Stage managed by Maison Teixeira '27
THE JITBOY VARIETY SHOW written and directed by Cam Curney ’24 *** The Jitboy Variety Show is a talk show, a prison drama, a hiking adventure, a basketball comedy, and two rap performances. It follows Jitboy, his sister, two of his closest friends, and some local politician. Oh, plus a whole ensemble of other characters. Jitboy just wanted an Arsenio Hall ripoff talk show, but now he's gotta escape prison. Plus, his friend has gotta triumph over bullies. Yo, and his sister is tryna make some art! *** Featuring: Sam Merkle as JITBOY Jordan Stornelli as MISSY Sanyu Rajakumar as STONEMAN Natan Rodrigues Ferreira as MAX Elizabeth Edwards as MAX’S MOM Ella Hochstadt as WAG 1 Thomas Ward as WAG 2 Jintao Yue as WAG 3 Elliott Rosenberg as HOMELY MACHO Oscar Low as REGULAR MACHO Devan Hernandez as MUSCULAR MACHO Production Team: Assistant Directed by Anirudh Narispur Props Design by Paris Carney Costumes Design by Anirudh Narispur Sound Design by Patrick Connor, Kaylen Pak Set Design by Cam Curney, Naisha Didwania Set Painting by Joe Dachinger, A. Cherry Set Build by Xavier Curney, Cam Curney, Anirudh Narsipur Raps Composed by Jennora Blair, Jordan Stornelli Raps Produced by Declan Hamill Run Cues by Patrick Connor, Kaylen Pak, Josue Cruz Executive Produced by Abbey Alderman, Lulu Cavicchi, and Sofia Tazi
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM written by William Shakespeare and directed by Liliana Greyf '26 and Fiona Mathews '26. *** The Midsummer Night of our Dreams was kitschy, raunchy, hedonistic, playground, psychedelic, noisy, Bacchanalian, ampersand, sultry & queer. This production flipped the Shakespearean classic on its silly little head. In the whimsy of the forest, everyone’s attraction gets all turned around: fairies emerge with love potions, best friends get a little handsy, & suddenly everyone wants everyone. Chaos ensues. Ass heads. Headasses. Gay weddings. Happily ever after! *** Featuring: Arnav Singhal '26 as HELENA Annabel Richards '26 as HERMIA Mia Richter '25 as LYSANDER Justin Ekstrom '24.5 as DEMETRIUS Eric Hadley '26 as EDEUS and PHILOSTRATE Maren White '27 as THESEUS and OBERON Maria Gomberg '26 as HIPPOLYTA and TITANIA Nan Dickerson '26 as PUCK Elaina Bayard '27 as PEASEBLOSSOM Jane Vaillant '24 as MUSTARDSEED Abby Jones '27 as COBWEB Ella Hochstadt '26 as PETER QUINCE Eliana Blumberg '24 as NICK BOTTOM Joey Fiscella '27 as FRANCIS FLUTE Sanyu Rajakumar '24 as TOM SNOUT Talia Yett '26 as SNUG Joshua Williamson '27 as ROBIN STARVELING Production Team: Stage Managed by Zach Susini '25 and Zoe Redlich '25 Set Design by Isaac Jenemann '24 Props Design by Chaewon Kim '28 Poster Design by Alicia Joo '26 Costume Design by Olivia Rodriguez '26 Lighting Design by Milan Capoor '26 Tech Direction by Keelin Gaughan '25 and Sofia Tazi '26 Executive Produced by Calvin Ware '26, Lulu Cavicchi '25, Emma Jeong '27, and Titi Zhang '25
2022 / 2023 season
GOD OF VENGEANCE by Sholem Asch and translated by Caraid O'Brien Directed by Ariela Rosenzweig '24 *** God of Vengeance centers on Yankel and Soreh Tshaptshovitsh and their young daughter Rifkele. Yankel runs a brothel out of the basement of their shtetl home and although it keeps him financially afloat, his family is despised in the village. Yankel attempts to improve his reputation by commissioning a Torah for the local synagogue, paid for by the labor of the sex workers in his basement brothel. Yankel also tries to bolster his reputation by marrying Rifke off to a pious Yeshiva student. Little does he know that Rivke is in love with Manke, one of the sex workers he employs. *** Featuring: Elijah Parsons '25 Marielle Buxbaum '24 Ellie Leibner '24 Marina Benson '24 Callie Rabinovitz '24 Deborah Cherman '25 Joe Saperstein '24 Laurel Meshnick '23 Eliana Blumberg '24 Ben Rosenn '23 Tal Dickman '25 Production Team: Lighting Design by Yana Tsyvis RISD'25 Production Management by Finn Bloomquist Eggerling '23.5 Costume Design by Edie Fine '25, Mariana Fajnzylber '23, and Deborah Cherman '25 Poster Design by Emilia Peters Executive Produced by Jessa Mellea '23 and Ania Briscoe '23
SOMEDAY written and directed by Hyung Jin Lee '24 *** Fueled by the promise of opportunity and happiness, a Korean family separates. Moon Hee, a fourteen-year-old Korean girl, and Eun Jung, her working mother, head to New Jersey. Moon Hee's father, Dae Han, stays behind in Korea for his job. It sounds like a good deal. Five years. Moon Hee gets an education in the United States. Eun Jung expands her career abroad. Dae Han picks himself up. In five years they’ll reunite, better than they were. However, it soon becomes clear that their equation for happiness might not be so simply resolved. *** Featuring: Ellie Kim '26 Shei Jeong RISD'24 Charles Shi '23 Ivy Zhuang '25 Emma Choi '24 Maya Laur '24 Jules Griswold '25 Ester Kislin '25 Indira Abzalova '25 Production Team: Assistant Directed by Saira Moazzam '24 Stage Managed by Mai-Thanh Nguyen '24 Production Managed by Anabelle Johnston '23 Props Design by Lucia Tian '23, Matthew Harm '26, and Ashley Yae RISD'23 Set Design by Qiaoying Chen '25 and Connie Liu '23 Lighting Design by Lizi Zhang '24, Joyce Gao '24, and Adnan Aldabbagh '25 Media Design by Adnan Aldabbagh '25 Sound Design by Levi Neuwirth '26 and Atharva Nihalani '26 Costumes Design by Hyunjoo Choung RISD'24 Dramaturgy by Brian Han '24 Poster and Program Design by Ashley Yae RISD'23 Publicity by Hannah Son '23 and Lisa Li '24 Language Coaching by Jaeson Jang (Post-Doc) Executive Produced by Sojas Wagle '23
HINT!: the Parody of the Play of the Movie of the Board Game (Inspired by CLUE: The Play by Sandy Rustin, based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn) Directed by Finn Blomquist Eggerling ’23.5 and Annie Stein ’24 *** Six mysterious guests descend upon a decadent mansion for what they believe will be a night of raunchy, raucous revelry. We couldn’t get the rights to produce Clue: The Play, so join General Grey-Poupon, Mrs. Off-White, Madame Merlot, Mr. Grass, Professor Purple, and Mrs. Pigeon for a night of murderous hijinks like nothing you’ve ever seen before (mostly). It’s not a game anymore. It’s also not a movie anymore. Or a play. It’s… HINT!: the Parody of the Play of the Movie of the Board Game. *** Featuring: Yoni Weil ’24 Masha Breeze ’23 Iman Husain ’23 Callie Rabinovitz ’24 Teniayo-Ola Macaulay ’25 Ari Cleveland ’24 Laurel Meshnick ’23 Ben Rosenn ’23 Lydia Riess ’24 Calvin Ware ’26 Sam Colt-Simonds ’24 Production Team: Stage Managed and Assistant Directed by Zach Susini ’25 Rafi Ash ’26 Cici Osias ’23 Maddie Groff ’23 Venus Talley ’23.5 Juliana Morgado Brito ’24 Sita Pawar ’25 Milan Capoor ’26 Emilia Peters ’24 Executive Produced by Malini Narayan ’23 and Abbey Alderman ’24 Watch a recorded live-stream of the show here: https://fb.me/e/2GpVIrf8Q
Some other festivals play with the idea of the live. WRITING IS DEAD also did that, but with a different name. Writing is Dead was a series of casual table readings of the Brown University student body’s most exciting new works, be they short plays or select scenes. A group of actors took on various roles throughout the two evenings, and audience members were welcome to read too. It was be silly, dramatic, and a raucous good time. Featured works: THE SOCIAL by Zoe Redlich INSPIRE, REHEARSE, EXPIRE (excerpted) by Irene Zhiyi Chen SUSANNA G by Annie Stein TRIAL OF MEDEA by Michael Geisinger SUN WON'T WAIT by Maya Laur DISTANCING by Lily Lustig Executive produced by Lulu Cavicchi '25, Navaiya Williams '25, and Sojas Wagle '23.
Photo by Dori Walker, @doriwithacamera
2018 / 2019 season
In September 2018, PW presented its QUEER ARTS FESTIVAL, a two weekend extravaganza of queer performance and art events! All events were held at TF Green Hall. Performance events included: PUSHING PAST PINK. An original dance piece by Julianna Lee Marino and Nia Sanders that asks: what does it really mean to embody “she”? NEW DOMESTICITY. A new play written by Cori Williams and directed by Beth Pollard about a woman who is hoping to come out to her conservative Indian family. By looking into the complexities of ancient Hindu mythology, she and her partner discover a precedence for their love and the courage to build a new domesticity. JOAN OF ARC. A one person show performed by Emily Tunkel about Joan of Arc, a queer, gender non-conforming peasant teen who ran an army. QUEER OPEN MIC. Free and open to the public!
YELLOW FACE by David Henry Hwang, directed by Kai Barshack ’20. *** The play follows Hwang and his misadventures after he accidentally casts a White actor, who he mistakenly believes is Asian, in the Asian lead role of his new play. Yellow Face turns our assumptions about what it means to be of a particular race, nationality, or community on their heads. The play interrogates issues of identity, representation, political persecution, and how all these things are reflected in the media. Yellow Face explores these themes as a fast-paced comedy that leaves everyone laughing and lets no one off the hook. *** Featuring: Ani Pula Charlie Stewart Galen Tiong Gavin Petty Samuel Rhee Samuel Blustein Sunny Snell Zoë Koss Production Team: Stage Managed by Bailey Jones Assistant Stage Managed by Noah Medina, Mikaela Magpali Production Managed by Eleanor Avril Technical Direction by Carmen Horn Assistant Technical Direction by Mara Jovanovic, Zach Ngin Set Design by Caitlin Takeda Lighting Design by Claire Chen Assistant Lighting Design by Alex Purdy Sound Design by Grant MacFaddin Assistant Sound Design by Kishanee Haththotuwegama Costume Design by Sofia Michaelides Assistant Costume Design byErica Wei Properties Design by Lauren Lubeck Dramaturg by Yong Hui Chin Drums by Tommaso Bernadini Photography by Keri Brooks Poster Design by Erin Malimban Executive Produced by Isabel Brodsky, Finch Collins
3C2C is Production Workshop's student written play festival! 3 chairs and 2 cubes are used as the set for multiple new, short, sparkling plays. 2018’s festival featured six new works: CODSWALLOP written and directed by James Feinberg EIGHT AND A HALF MILLION written by Alex Murphy, directed by Harrison Epstein EMBER written by Sam Masto, directed by Sophia Hernandez LANDING written by Judson Ellis, directed by Harry Levine SO SHE CAN SEE written and directed by Isabel Brodsky SUN CATCHER written by Sam Crausman, directed by Miranda Pla Executive Produced by Gavin Petty and Yong Hui Chin
HOUSE ARREST written and directed by Iris Cronin ’19. *** A lonely god A lovely girl A missing flyer A funeral pyre it happens the way all stories happen which is to say it doesn’t. The play is a surreal, suburban, dreamlike reimagining of the myth of Hades and Persephone. A young woman, Baby’s Breath, has been taken and hidden by Handsome Ghost, a lonely and enigmatic companion who has been visiting her since childhood. He keeps her captive in a dollhouse, held under an amnesiac spell, content and unaware of her captivity. Until, suddenly, she starts to remember. *** Production Managed by Bailey Jones and Caroline Finken
IN THE PINK written and directed by Molly Tamra Pittman ’21 *** IN THE PINK is a love letter to the strong and complicated women in our lives and our oftentimes strong and complicated relationships with them. The non-linear piece explores the dynamic relationship between a Jewish mother and daughter when the mother, Sarah, is diagnosed with breast cancer. With its intimate narrative and setting, “In the Pink” is a testament to the joys and traumas that link us to our loved ones and the truths about love, religion, violence, and survival that can come to light when we are facing death. *** Production Team: Stage Managed by Grace Keefe '22 Production Managed by Bella Cavicchi ’21
FIREFLY IN THE LIGHT written and directed by Shayna Toh '20 *** Torn between a possessive mother, her childhood sweetheart Jake, and spirited friends, Wendy deserts home in search of city lights, fame, and a long-lost father. 7 years later, Wendy and Jake's destinies once again intertwine. With rekindled love within grasp, Wendy must first find her own truth – only to confront having her pursuit of stardom cross fatefully with the uncovering of a dark family secret. Firefly in the Light is a new pop-rock musical about ambition, loyalty, and truth of identity. *** Featuring: Clara Pritchett as WENDY Corey Morrison as JAKE Amelia Wyckoff as OLIVIA Sam Masto as SIMON Khaila Mickens as LUISA JD Calvelli as GUILLARD Samuel Rhee as MANAGER Ellie Baker — Ensemble Daphne Li-Chen — Ensemble Production Team: Vocal Music Direction by Ari Goldbloom-Helzner Orchestral Music Direction by Daniel Ritter Assistant Music Direction by Cherilyn Tan Stage Managed by Yong Hui Chin Assistant Stage Managed by Paola Vazquez Gomez Production Managed by Eleanor Avril Choreography by Emma Lopez Lighting Design by Zachary Espiritu Sound Design by Akari Izumi Set Design by Brenton Duhan Assistant Set Design by Kristen Marchetti Technical Direction by Noah Medina Assistant Technical Direction by Kenneth Bradley and Léane Pajot Costume Design by Abby Espiritu Props Design by Jenna Benzinger Dramaturgy by Drew Hawkinson Poster Design by Miranda Pla Photography by Liam Bendicksen Executive Produced by Gavin Petty and Carmen Ferran
DANCEDEVIL was a story, told with movement, about intergenerational mental health, navigating the diaspora and being trans, recollecting our childhoods and imaging our healing. Choreographed by Brian Solomon '19.
NOT I written by Samuel Beckett, directed by Grant MacFaddin ’19 *** A play at the speed of thought about what we want to say and what we cannot, Not I captures the frenetic and painful process of coming to terms with one’s past. “what?…who?…no!…she!…SHE!” *** Featuring: Karishma Swarup '19 Production Team: Production Managed by Bailey Jones
SPRING AWAKENING by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik ‘92, directed by Abby Espiritu ‘19 *** Featuring: Mikey Abela ‘21 Indy Dang RISD ‘19 Ari Goldbloom-Helzner ‘20 Maddie Groff ‘22 Drew Hawkinson ‘19 Jardelle Johnson ‘19 Michael Lahiff ‘22 Kaetlyn Liddy ‘21 Siena Rafter ‘20 Jasmine Aurora Thomas ‘19 Shayna Toh ‘20 Rishi Wagle ‘20 Peter Zubiago ‘22 Pit: Peter Deegan ‘21 Mariel Jackson ‘21 Carleen Jeffers ‘19 Anna Kerber ‘22 Nate McDermott ‘20 Stephen Moss UMich ‘22 Ben Stewart ‘20 Production Team: Associate Directed by Miranda Pla ‘21 Music Directed by Akari Izumi ‘21 Choreographed by Emma Lopez ‘21 Stage Managed by Grace Keefe ‘22 Abby Espiritu ‘19 Quinn Quinlan ‘22 Haley Barthel ‘20 Zoe Zimmerman ‘22 Yong Hui Chin ‘20 Zachary Espiritu ‘21 Sarah Goldman RISD ‘23 Leane Pajot ‘22 Noah Medina '22 Karya Sezener ‘21 Julissa Garcia ‘22 Talia Mermin ‘22 Julianna Lee Marino ‘19 Bella Cavicchi ‘21 Maaike Laanstra-Corn ‘21
2021 / 2022 season
3C2C 2021 was, as always, a student-written, student-directed, and student-acted play festival! The only requirements for the plays were that they used up to three chairs and two stock cubes in their set. Featured new works: MAY DAY MARIAN'S SHOP OF MAGICAL THINGS written by Lulu Cavicchi, directed by Jordan Roller GRADUATION PLAN written by Irene Chen, directed by Antara Chowdhary A VIEW FROM SUNRISE POINT written by Zoe Redlich, directed by Vinny Amato FUZZY DICE AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE ROSARIES written by Amber Fehrs, directed by Marielle Buxbaum OBERT, CONSTANCE, AND DELANIE written by Marielle Buxbaum, directed by Becca Erdenebulgan Executive Produced by Robby Bush '23 and Mia McKinney '22.
VIBRATIONS written and directed by Jenna Benzinger ‘22 *** Vibrations follows the journey of a body after they stumble into the colorful and quirky dreamscape. The show consists of a series of dream sequences strung together in attempts to explore how the body experiences sound. A queered sound. Vibrations is a therapeutic journey of how to queer sound, fight with sound, and celebrate sound in a performance space. Vibrations was an original performance art piece founded in movement and sound. The production looked to experiment with movement and music-making to explore the different ways to experience sound. This project was conceived during the pandemic and is an embodiment of the frustrations of being a disabled being in able-bodied spaces and the uneven access of sound. *** Featuring: Chuck Tucker ‘23 Cherilyn Tan ‘22 Boniat Ephrem ‘22 Rachel Tam ‘23 Jayda Fair ‘25 Maggie Preller ‘24 Belinda Hu ‘23 Jaden Chew ‘23 Ria Panjwani ‘23 Maliha Islam ‘22 Iris Wright ‘23 Vance White ‘23 Elsa Bretz ‘24 Venus ‘23 Production Team: Assistant Directed by Ren L[i]u ‘23 and Leona Hariharan ‘23 Musically Directed by Amelia Chalfant ‘23 Vocal Directed by Luca Iallonardi ‘25 Stage Managed by Adira Altman ‘25 Executive Produced by Will Buerger '22, Kaetlyn Liddy '22, and Caroline Finken '22
STEAMrave was an interactive multimedia art installation created by Brown | RISD STEAM. Each exhibit piece ventured into a different level of connection: cellular, self, society, and nature and asked us to ponder the connection and disconnection we feel at each level. At STEAMrave, you weren't just a viewer: you were part of the exhibit. PW's 2022 Immersive Slot.
SAILBOAT LULLABY written and directed by Irene Zhiyi Chen *** Jasmine, a Chinese girl new to East City Bilingual School, enters sixth grade with anxiety and loneliness. She quickly develops an affinity for Ellie Morgan, who teaches her a lot more than - and through - the English language. In the span of eight years, Jasmine grows into a writer and an intern working alongside Ellie. She tries to reciprocate the care that Ellie has given her, when Ellie goes through a series of changes in life connected to her queerness and teaching philosophy. What is their capacity of being there for each other, and how does their relationship grow beyond boundaries? Part of the PW Playwriting Residency, the performance was a staged reading. Actors read from scripts and had minimal stage movement. *** Featuring: Ivy Zhuang ‘25 Maiya Ramsaroop ‘25 Jonah Massey ‘24 Titi Zhang ‘25 Emilie Lum ‘24 Executive Produced by Malini Narayan '23
TRANSITORY PERMANENCE was a group exhibition highlighting artists at Brown and RISD. Through multimedia and interactive works, the show attempted to uncover the true nature of how relationships come to be and their lasting marks on the individual.
DO YOU FEEL ANGER? by Mara Nelson-Greenberg Directed by Josephine Miller '24 *** Do You Feel Anger? follows Sofia, a young professional recently hired as an empathy coach at a debt collection agency — who, clearly, has her work cut out for her. The employees can barely identify what an emotion is, much less practice deep, radical compassion for others. And while they painstakingly stumble towards enlightenment, someone keeps mugging Eva in the kitchen. DYFA? is an outrageous comedy about the absurdity—and the danger—of a world where some people’s feelings matter more than others’. *** Featuring: John Coady '23 Lily Lustig '23 Will Malloy '25 Katie Serra '23 Kabir Narayanan '24 Isabelle Centola '24 Elijah Parsons '24 Production Team: Assistant Directed by Navaiya Williams '25 Stage Managed by Lia Ortner ‘25 Lighting Design by Lizzy Steeves '25 Set Design by Blue Williger RISD '22 Costume Design by Dikshita Khullar '22 Poster Design by Michelle Ding '25 Production Managed by Indira Abzalova '25 Executive Produced by Robert Bush '23, Jessa Mellea '23, and Lulu Cavicchi '25 DYFA was PW's last Commencement Slot show before retiring the slot in 2022.
2020 / 2021 season
3C2C, Production Workshop’s student-written, student-directed, and student-acted play festival! While the plays may not have had the 3 chairs and 2 cubes that give the festival its name, we did have lots of *squares* on zoom. Works featured: 2AM Musings by Ellie Leibner, directed by Madeleine Adriance CDC? by Marielle Buxbaum, directed by Quinn Quinlan ZOOM OUT by Thomas Godwin, directed by Marielle Buxbaum CARPOOL by Alex Poe, directed by Yash Gulani Executive Produced by Robby Bush '23 and Will Buerger '22
PLAY CLUB was our monthly virtual reading group that read and discussed work by BIPOC playwrights. Plays discussed: MANAHATTA by Mary Kathryn Nagle WILD GOOSE DREAMS by Hansol Jung ENDLINGS by Celine Song IS GOD IS by Aleshea Harris
2019 / 2020 season
THE RIMERS OF ELDRITCH by Lanford Wilson Directed by Annalie Brody ‘20 *** As Martin Gottfried comments, "It is a simple one. A mystery, really. A man has been murdered. The mystery is, who he is, who murdered him and what were the circumstances? And to solve it, Wilson looks at the outsides and insides of his tiny, Middle Western town…. He is grasping the very fabric of Bible Belt America, with its catchword morality ('virgin,' 'God-fearing') and its capability for the vicious. He senses the rhythm of its life and the cruelty it can impose. He understands the speech patterns of its loveless gossips, its sex-hungry boys, its compassionless preachers, its car-conscious blondes." In the end Wilson's portrait of Eldritch is full length, and the truth of its revelations will be pondered long after the stage lights have dimmed and the play has ended. *** Production Team: Stage Managed by Zoe Koss '20
3C2C 2019, as ever, was a new works festival, with the only requirements for the plays being that they use up to three chairs and two stock cubes in their set. Featured New Works: AFTER A LITTLE WHILE written by Gavin Petty, directed by Nathan Sorscher DON'T YOU SEE THEM written by Danielle Emerson, directed by Zoë Koss LET'S DO IT (LET'S FALL IN LOVE) written by Ben Shrock, directed by Weitong Zhang TIGHT TWENTY written by Gabriel Blanc, directed by Jared Schwartz Executive produced by Finch Collins ’21.
ABCD written and directed by Arvind Veluvali '20 *** ABCD. American-Born Confused Desi. Let’s break it down. 'Desi' comes from the Sanskrit Desha, meaning 'homeland.' 'American-Born'—well, that speaks for itself. And stuck in the middle is the Confusion. You see, the term 'ABCD' reflects a mindset unique to the Indian community in America—and it continues to be a thorny issue for us first-generation kids, the ones born in the States after our parents immigrated. We might be American-Born, but in our parents’ minds, we will always be intrinsically 'Desi'—one foot firmly planted in the land and the culture of our forefathers. Hence, Confusion. This is the root of this new musical. It’s about finding yourself in a place where no one looks like you. It’s about forging an identity on your own terms. And it’s about the quest to become a little less confused. *** Production Team: Music Directed by Rishi Wagle '20 Stage Managed by Nate Smith '22
THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY by Kristoffer Diaz Directed by Ani Pula '20 *** MACEDONIO GUERRA is the most talented wrestler in THE Wrestling (definitely not a stand-in for the WWE). So why is his boss EKO writing him as the loser to the big-name star of the franchise, CHAD DEITY? When he tries to team up with the charismatic VIGNESHWAR PADUAR to write their own storylines, they instead get cast as "terrorists". Yet, as their characters become huge hits, finding the courage to say what needs to be said becomes much harder. This play takes a satirical look at violence and stereotyping in one of America's most infamous forms of mass entertainment, and asks us "once we find power, how do we use it?" Featuring: Anthony Walley Lemuel Burgos Sojas Wagle Eli Kaplan Daniel Cody Production Team: Stage Managed by Julissa Garcia '22 Malini Narayan Vanessa Garcia Iman Cochu Naya Lee Chang David Holmes Nick Diaz Namrata Dhore Jaden Schoenfeld Leane Pajot Dylan Lewis Hannah McFarland Jaden Schoenfeld Naya Lee Chang
THE HANGING GIRL by Aleks Merilo Directed by Rishi Wagle '20 *** The Hanging Girl follows the story of Sonny, a recently expelled high school student, and his friends as they engage in a final night of revelry that will end with one of them going missing. 18 years earlier, Sonny's parents were involved in a crime that would never be reported. These two stories collide in the present day. *** Featuring: Arthur Chen '20 as SONNY Lavanya Sathyamurthy '22 as HAZEL Dylan Davis '21 as WADE Helen Zhang '22 as SERENA Devonte Kavanaugh '20 as CHRIS Daphne Li-Chen '21 as ASHTON Ania Briscoe '23 as IRIS Isaiah Dawkins '23 as NEIL Sojas Wagle '23 as PARKER Sam Masto '21 as EVERETT Kira Bierly '23 as NORA Renee Clairvoyant '23 as BILLIE Production Team: Assistant Directed by Akash Altman '20 Stage Managed by Robert Bush '23 Production Management by Jared Ong '23 Set Design and Technical Direction by Leane Pajot '22 Technical Direction by Mara Jovanovic '22 Sound Design by Akari Izumi '21 Lighting Design by Caroline David '23 Costume Design by Glory Lee '24 Props Design by Jason Goodman '23
THE COLLECTED COLLECTIVE was PW's 2020 TWITS ("two weeks in the (up)space") slot. Artists: Nina Fletcher Kenneth Neighbours Stina Trollbäck Jessa Mellea Kaetlyn Liddy Zev Izenberg Leo Fine Nondi Walters Chong Jing (CJ) Gan Eli Kaplan Laila Rodenbeck Miranda Luiz Ella Harris Mara Jovanović Moe Levandoski Robby Bush Seung Heon (Dave) Song Alisa Caira Facilitated by Anna Kerber & Léane Pajot Production Managed by Jared Ong Executive Produced by Isabel Brodsky and Elias Solis
YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXEGESIS written by Julia May Jonas, directed by Francesca Sabel '21 *** The members of a church youth group—new girl Beatrice, confident Brian, sensitive Chris, sharp Addie, and Reverend Kim—attend services, host Danceathons, and prepare for their annual passion play. But a scandal is brewing. And as everyday crushes and missteps get blown to passion play proportions, the suburbs are starting to look a lot more biblical. *** Featuring: Maaike Laanstra-Corn '21 Harry Levine '22 Pablo Richter '21 Peyton Strong '22 Haley Wong '20 Production Team: Assistant Directed by Jason Goodman '23 Stage Managed by Mikey Abela '21 Grace Attanasio '22 Bella Cavicchi '21 Claire Chen '20 Yong Hui Chin '20 Alex Hanesworth '20.5 Riya Kothari '21 Jenny Lange '21 Dylan Lewis '22 Jessa Mellea '22 Clark Oh-Willeke '23 Léane Pajot '22 Elias Solis '21 Ella Spungen '23 Adi Thatai '23 Amelia Wyckoff '22 **This production did not complete performances due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.**
2024 / 2025 season
CYRANO DE BERGERAC by Edmond Rostand Directed by Sita Pawar '25 *** Cyrano de Bergerac is a delightful, hilarious, dramatic, and ultimately tragic play that explores questions of beauty, honor, language, and love. With a rom-com worthy love triangle, thrilling sword fights, and a devastatingly funny script, Cyrano defies genre to be an all around good time (except, of course, for when everyone is having a terrible time.) *** Featuring: Dhruv Anand '25 as Cyrano de Bergerac Miles Hardingwood '28 as Christian de Neuvillette Ariana Ghafouri '25 as Roxane Gui Sequeira '28 as Comte de Guiche Evan Gray-Williams '28 as Le Bret Arnav Singhal '26 as Ragueneau Jack Wolfe Lipsey '28 as Viscount de Valvert and Fourth Cadet Joseph Fiscella '27 as Ligniere, Marquis and Cadet Nora Rowe '28 as Montfleury, poet, citizen and Cadet Owen Harris '25 as Cut purse and Second Cadet Dorian Park Wang '28 as Manager, Poet and Third cadet Minne Hatchuel '27 as Servant, Poet, Musician and Sentry Sally Hirschwerk '25 as Meddler and first cadet Production Team: Stage Managed by Keelin Gaughan '25 Assistant Stage Managed by Alice Bachelder '28 Production Managed by Nikhil Das '27 Set Design by Keelin Gaughan '25 Lighting Design by Adnan Aldabbagh '25 Assistant Lighting Design by Indira Abzalova '25 Costume Design by Ariana Codjoe '25 Assistant Costume Design by Veronika Grytsai '26 Props Design by Abby Schindell '25 Co-Technical Direction by Zach Susini '25 Co-Technical Direction by Arete Xu '26 Assistant Technical Direction by Hrishita Acharya '26 Poster and Program by Catie Witherwax '25 Sound Design by Indira Abzalova '25 Fight Choreography by Avinash Srinivasan '25 Intimacy Coordination by Mo Aig-Imoukhuede '26 Sound and Pit by Sam Kelemen '25 Art Direction by Lily Yanagimoto '27 Build Crew: Matthew Fang '28 , Ashley Luo '28, Daniel Zheng '25, Sam Kelemen '25, Sydney Roberts '25 Executive Produced by Nikhil Das '27, Andrew Neubauer '25 and Sofia Tazi '26
IN THE NEXT ROOM (OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY) by Sarah Ruhl '97, '01 MFA Directed by Ishani Sharma ’25 *** In the Next Room is a comedy about marriage, intimacy, and electricity. Set in the 1880s at the dawn of the age of electricity and based on the bizarre historical fact that doctors used vibrators to treat ‘hysterical’ women (and some men), the play centers on a doctor and his wife and how his new therapy affects their entire household. *** Featuring: Olivia Bendich '25 as CATHERINE Owen Shipley-Dean '27 as DR. GIVINGS Gui Sequeira '28 as LEO Destiny Kristina Smith-Sarter '27 as ELIZABETH Mia Tretta '27 as ANNIE Locky McCann '27 as MR. DALDRY Isa Marquez '26 as SABRINA Production Team: Assistant Directed by Nat Konowicz ’28 Stage Managed by Andrew Imbens ’28 Production Managed by Matthew Lam '27 Set and Lighting Design by Ellie Chang '27 Costume Design by Clara Beatty '28 Props Design by Samdol Lhamo Sichoe '28 Sound Direction by Andrew Imbens '28 Assistant Sound Direction by Ellis Picuri '28 Intimacy Coordination by Mo Aig-Imoukhuede '26, with support by Irene Zhiyi Chen '25 Photography by Lulu Cavicchi '25 Executive Produced by Lulu Cavicchi '25, Emma Jeong '27, and Nikhil Das '27
THE FOG written and directed by Jesse Rusche ’25. *** THE FOG is a one-act Queer play about two people who come together at a time of need but soon find their relationship is unhealthy, and who are surrounded by The Fog, an embodied representation of the illusion of capitalism. The play is gritty, combining poetry and dance and messing with tempo and repetition. *** Featuring: Nat Konowicz '28 as DELIA Naile Ozpolat '25 as LOREN Ani Delgado '27 as THE FOG Production Team: Assistant Directed by Eric Hadley '26 Stage Managed by Grace Martin '26 Lighting Design by Lizzy Steeves '25 Choreography by Siji Soetan '25 Sound Direction by Ari Cleveland '25 Costume Design by Charlotte Knutsen '25 Poster Design by Lulu Cavicchi ’25 Executive Produced by Navaiya Williams '25 and Thomas Ward '27
2013 / 2014 season
SINK written and directed by Ursula Raasted '14 *** Read more about the show here: https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2013/09/sink-makes-waves-at-pw *** Featuring: Ellen Zahniser '14, Becca Millstein '16, Jillian Jetton '14 as the SIRENS Arjun Pande '14, Fletcher Bell '16, Simon Henriques '15 as the SAILORS Christopher Fitzsimmons '13.5, Patrick Madden '15, Ava Langford '14 as the SOOTHSAYERS Photos by Michelle Migliori
3C2C 2013 was, as always, a student-written, student-directed, and student-acted play festival! The only requirements for the plays were that they used up to three chairs and two stock cubes in their set. Featured new works: SIRENS written by Jenny Gorelick '14, directed by Ben Silver '17 DOUBLE BLIND written by Bryan Smith '14, directed by Nick Healy '17 UNMOORED written by Eli Petzold '14, directed by Thom Finley '14 LAST SUNDAY AND THIS SUNDAY AND NEXT SUNDAY AND EVERY SUNDAY written by Simon Henriques '15, directed by Patrick Madden '14 YOUR VINCENT, OR, A ROMANTIC COMEDY written by Tonya Riley '15, directed by Sam Rubinek '17
IN THE NEXT ROOM / THE VIBRATOR PLAY written by Sarah Ruhl '97 MFA '01 Directed by Karin Nilo '14 *** Set in Victorian era New York, THE VIBRATORY PLAY tells the story of Mrs. Givings, a woman whose husband is one of the first doctors to make use of the vibrator as a means of treating female hysteria, and Mrs. Daldry, one of the doctor's patients. The two women go on a journey to discover their sexualities, find intimacy, and take control of their own bodies. And it's a comedy. The play showed a world that is seemingly controlled by men, yet where women take matters into their own hands (literally). Come and see a world where the vibrator is nothing more than a medical instrument. Come. *** Read the review: https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2013/10/vibrator-play-presents-uncensored-peek-into-female-sexuality *** Featuring: Natalie McDonald as CATHERINE Simon Henriques as DR. GIVINGS Emma Johnson as SABRINA Sam Lanier as MR. DALDRY Michelle Migliori as ANNIE Jenna Spencer as ELIZABETH Michael Weisman as LEO Photos by Sacha Rufa
THE RECEPTIONIST written by Adam Brock ’89 Directed by Michelle Migliori '14 *** Written by a Brown alum, THE RECEPTIONIST is a dark and compelling office comedy that examines the notion of the banality of evil. This production took place in the Upspace. *** Featuring: Arianna Geneson '14 Ava Langford '14 Michael Chiboucas '13.5 Chris Fitzsimmons '13.5
THE SNOW QUEEN written by Michael Smith Directed by Evan Silver ’16 *** The Snow Queen was a new musical written by folk singer-songwriter Michael Peter Smith, who Rolling Stone named "the greatest songwriter of the English language." This was the first production outside of Chicago. *** Read the review: https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2013/12/snow-queen-enchants-with-arctic-paradise *** Featuring: Gavin Kramer Ursula Raasted Hassani Scott Arjun Panda Simon Henriques Becca Millstein Marli Scharlin Bergner et al. Music Directed by Marty Strauss Photos by Gabriel Anaya and Ashley So
WAITING FOR GODOT by Samuel Beckett Directed by Patrick Madden ’14
THE PILLOWMAN by Martin McDonagh Directed by Andrew Ganem '16 *** THE PILLOWMAN was the 2014 TWITS aka Two Weeks in the Upspace slot. *** Featuring: Alex Ostroff Evan Silver Keston McMIllan Sam Rubinek Audie Fierberg Peter Bowden Hannah Margolin Marli Scharlin Devon Nir Ellen Taylor Justin Harris + PUPPETS
PAUSE: AN EVENING WITH HAROLD PINTER Directed by Kutay Onaylı '17 *** PAUSE was a celebration of a playwright whose work is some of the sharpest and most ominous theatre ever written, an hour-long pause to our safe, secluded lives for a look at places of chaos, oppression and evil. The show brought together three of Pinter's most openly political pieces: “Mountain Language” explores the relationship between language and identity—what happens to your identity if the state outlaws your native language? The short sketch “Press Conference” exemplifies the absurd propaganda of one such oppressive state. “One For The Road” is an account of the ultimate mental and physical torture: What would it take to completely destroy political dissent and, in the process, the human soul? *** Featuring: Spencer Roth-Rose Emily Rudder Ellie Gravitte Kutay Onaylı Ningfei Ou Sinan Eczacibasi
MEDEA by Robinson Jeffers, freely adapted from Euripides Directed by Celeste Cahn '15 *** Medea is the story of an abandoned and scorned woman alone in a strange land. Her husband has left her after she gave everything for him leaving her home and even killing her brother. Now she seeks vengeance and justice. *** Read the review: https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2014/03/medea-brings-ancient-feud-to-brown *** A peek into the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBf3wsEBHkc *** Featuring: Alejandra Rivera Flavia Simon Henriques Emma Johnson Ava Langford Natalie McDonald Michelle Migliori Rihana President Haley Schwartz Christopher Thompson
WRITING IS UNDEAD *** This festival of original student plays took place in the Upspace in March 2014. *** Featured plays: INTERLOCUTION by Ian Everbach BEFORE by Sophia Washburn HUNK-OFF by Max Genecov TRINITY/CYCLE by Eli Petzold BLOOD SISTERS by Laura Neill
BOBRAUSCHENBERGAMERICA by Charles Mee Directed by Thom Finley Photos by Danielle Perelman
BUNNY BUNNY GILDA RADNER by Alan Zweibel Directed by Jenn Maley ‘16 Featuring: Marty Strauss Marla Scharlin Bergner Et al. Assistant Directed by Emily Rudder ‘17 Poster by Michael Gabrielle
2017 / 2018 season
5 LESBIANS EATING A QUICHE by Evan Linder and Andrew Hobgood Directed by Kayla Kirk ‘19 *** Read the review: https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2017/09/production-workshop-presents-5-lesbians-eating-a-quiche *** Featuring: Luna Floyd ‘19 Haley Wong ‘20
3C2C 2017 was a student-written, student-directed, and student-acted play festival! The only requirements for the plays were that they used up to three chairs and two stock cubes in their set. *** Read the review: https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2017/10/3c2c-show-features-student-directed-plays *** Featured new works: A DEAD DOG written by Sarah N. Scotherns, directed by Gavin Petty CRYSTAL & APPLESAUCE by Sam Crausman, directed by Beth Pollard GROUND CONTROL by Christian Hanway and Joe Skoff HOUSE IN VIRGINIA by Michael O'Neill LAURENCE, THE LAST DINOSAUR, THE FRIENDLY DILOPHOSAURUS by Tristen Moseley, directed by Raphaela Posner THE TRIUMPHANT THREESOME by Nicole Martinez Executive Produced by Marielle Burt
MELANCHOLY PLAY by Sarah Ruhl '97, '01 MFA Directed by Shade Au ‘19 *** MELANCHOLY PLAY is a silly, serious, comic, tragic, melodramatic romp through the mystery land that is human emotion. Specifically that oh so misunderstood human emotion, melancholy. As Ruhl says in a foreword to the show, "Melancholy can be active, yearning, hopeful, nostalgic, sexy even, and offers the possibility of communing with others. Melancholy makes us contemplate the inevitable passage of time—the transience of things—and in that sense, it's not neurotic, but rather part of the human condition." *** Read the review: https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2017/10/pw-s-melancholy-play-reframes-reflective-sadness *** Featuring: Tara Sharma ‘20 Cellist - Julian Gau ‘19
PAX AMERICANA written and devised by Stronshay Washington, Alyssa McPherson, Halle Vernon, and Arie Davey *** A story about family and strength in trying times *** Featuring: Stronshay Washington Alyssa McPherson Halle Vernon Arie Davey Production Team: Claire Chen Karya Sezener Beth Pollard Brianna Cox Arie Davey Ani Pula Alex Burnett Beth Pollard Anthony Cherry Liesl Jaeger Poster Design by Laura Tamara Jaramillo
TWO BIRDS ONE BEET *** Pieces inspired by the growth and care of 30 lovely lil beet babes. A celebration of the relationship between plants and humans. The tangibility of fresh food. Ways to make access to it available to all. Fall in love with food and the earth which we grow it in! Bonus Joke: Did you hear about the guy who stopped eating vegetables? His heart missed a beet. *** TWITS (Two Weeks in the (Up)space) 2018 Slot
JULIUS CAESAR by William Shajespeare Directed by Caroline Sprague *** This is (not) Rome – Haec Roma nostrarum est: This is a space (un)recognizable. Here we are womxn, femmes, and more. Here, we are of many races. Here we use words like “lovers,” “sisters,” and “countrywomxn.” Here is space enough to hold all our love and all our violence. This is (not) Rome – Here is our Rome. *** Read the review: https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2018/02/pw-s-julius-caesar-showcases-femme-perspective *** Watch a recorded livestream of much of the show here: https://fb.watch/wRg_Cdy5lM/ *** Production Team: Assistant Directed by Beth Pollard Stage Managed by Bella Cavicchi
THE WOLVES by Sarah DeLappe Directed by Marielle Burt ’19
IF I DID HEDWIG by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask Directed by Anthony DeRita
YERMA by Federico García Lorca Presented in a new translation by Duncan Gallagher '18 *** Written just two years before the assassination of its author, "Yerma" has been hailed by critics as Federico García Lorca's most explicitly political tragedy. Alongside "The House Of Bernarda Alba" and "Blood Wedding," this production marked the final installment of Lorca's 'Rural Trilogy' to be performed at PW. *** Featuring: Erica Alonso ‘20 as YERMA Daniel Kushner ‘20 as JUAN Leo Tamez ‘21 as VICTOR Alonnie Johnson ‘21 as MARIA Sammie Chomsky ‘18.5 as OLD WOMAN Carmen Ferran ‘20.5 as DOLORES and others Liesl Jaeger ‘18 as various Halley McArn ‘19 as various Sam Blustein ‘21 as various Roysworth Grant ‘21 as various Marissa Alfiero ‘21 as various Production Team: Assistant Directed and Choreographed by Isabel Brodsky ‘20 Stage Managed by Yong Hui Chin ‘20 Assistant Stage Managed by Amsel Saleem ‘21 Production Managed by Bella Cavicchi ‘21 Lighting Design by Matt Steinberg ‘19 Assistant Lighting Design by Bailey Jones ‘19 Sound Design by Alex Hanesworth ‘20 Assistant Sound Design by Karya Sezener ‘21 Set Deign by Anthony DeRita ‘18 Props Design by Jennifer Osborne ‘20 Technical Direction by Nicole Fegan ‘20 Assistant Technical Direction by Vanessa Escartin Uribe ‘21 Assistant Choreography by Drew Hawkinson ‘19 Dramaturgy by Ruby Gerber ‘20 Poster Design by Megan Peng RISD ‘20 Executive Produced by Lauren Lubeck and Ani Pula
The PENELOPIAD by Margaret Atwood Directed by Mary Martha Wiggers *** Margaret Atwood's retelling of The Odyssey through the characters of Penelope and her maids reveals the dark underbelly of our society's conceptions of duty, honor, and chastity. Penelope's maids often bear the full brunt of systemic classed and gendered violence which Penelope, in her financial and social privilege, is often in a position to escape. Mary Martha's vision for the production centered a cast made up of womxn, gender non-conforming, and trans male and female actors—in other words, those who have been oppressed by the cis-patriarchy. The cast used song, movement, and verse as methods of unveiling the silenced narratives of oppressed and marginalized bodies. *** THE PENELOPIAD was PW’s 2018 Commencement Slot.
