Book pages in the background with various colors drawn on top including orange, yellow, and blue. In the foreground is an illustrated tree with a dagger piercing the side. On the front is a Missing poster with a person’s illustrated face that reads “Missing Marilyn Monroe”. To the left is a brown box that has “Equinox 2024 ‘Adaptation’” written in it.

Equinox New Play Festival 2024

Book pages in the background with various colors drawn on top including orange, yellow, and blue. In the foreground is an illustrated tree with a dagger piercing the side. On the front is a Missing poster with a person’s illustrated face that reads “Missing Marilyn Monroe”. To the left is a brown box that has “Equinox 2024 ‘Adaptation’” written in it.

Equinox New Play Festival 2024

Produced by Spencer Boyce, E Quinn, Joe Britt-Simpson, Anna Ryabova, Ethan Paone, Asher Vaglica

 
norma jeane: pop culture phenom, sex symbol, and sad, sad girl
Written by Sara Mascelli 
Directed by Violet Regan

 

Untitled JesusXJudas Lesbian Play
Written by Jordan Neff
Directed by Emma Price

 

A staged reading of The Masque of the Red Death
Written by Iris Knapton
Directed by Sabrina Liberatore

 

Tickets Available Now. 

 

FESTIVAL PRODUCTION TEAM

Spencer Boyce (Artistic Producer)(he/him) is a Sophomore DPP major. Past UArts credits include Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (Assistant Director/Image Design), My Mother Once Read...(Assistant Stage Manager), Delivery Boy (Assistant Director). Other Credits include My Son Pinocchio Jr. (Director), Singin' in the Rain Jr. (Director), among others. Spencer would like to thank Emma, Mom, Dad, Matthew and everyone working on this festival for making it possible.

E Quinn (Literary Producer)(they/she) is a Senior DPP major. Past UArts credits include Fun Home (dramaturg), The Sweet Hereafter (assistant director), Family Undone (playwright), This Beautiful City (dramaturg), Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea (assistant director), and Lilith and Her Demons (assistant stage manager).

Joe Britt-Simpson (Literary Producer)

Anna Ryabova (Technical Producer, Technical Director)

Ethan Paone (Technical Producer)

Asher Vaglica (Production Manager, Image Design)

Toni Mitchelli (Lighting Designer)

Finn Powers (Sound Designer, Co-Fight Director)

Alex Dembner (Projection Designer)

Lily Castiglione (Scenic Designer)

Naia Morgan (Props Designer)(they/them) is a Freshman Design/Tech major who so excited to work on their 4th Brind School production, having wardrobe supervised Fun Home, performed in Sleepy Hollow Haunts, and props/set designed Eat the Rich, Audrey!

Sam Herb (Props Designer)

Kalyn Paradis (Costume Designer) is a first year Design Tech student. Past UArts credits include Sleepy Hollow Haunts (Scare Actor) and the First Year Event (Assistant Stage Manager). She thanks her friends and family for their endless support!

Zoe Feldman (Intimacy Director)

Alex Cordaro (Co-Fight Director)

norma jeane: pop culture phenom, sex symbol, and sad, sad girl
Written by Sara Mascelli 
Directed by  Violet Regan

 

PRODUCTION TEAM

Sara Mascelli (Playwright)(she/they) is a Junior Directing, Playwriting and Production major. Past UArts credits include Family Undone (Director, Equinox New Play Fest.), Head over Heels (Assistant Director), Nonmonogamy (Dramaturg, Equinox New Play Fest.), The Fairy and the Snapdragon (Playwright, My Mother Once Read) and many many more. Endless gratitude to every human who worked on this festival, but especially the cast and crew of Norma Jeane. ps. forever special thanks to my family and my sarah chaneypie for their love and support.

Violet Regan (Director)(she/her) is a Senior DPP major making her directorial debut! Past UArts credits include: Casting for Brind Spring Season 2024, A Midsummer Nights Dream (Assistant Director).Thank you to Sara for trusting me with your incredible piece and to Equinox for making my dream of directing at UArts come true! All my love to the PHENOMENAL cast and crew!

Aja Staten (Assistant Director)

Fletcher Rabin (Stage Manager)

Pamela White (Assistant Stage Manager)(she/her) is a Freshman DPP major. This is her second production with UArts, following The Bullet in the Brain last semester, for which she also assistant stage managed. Endless thanks to the Equinox producers for giving her this opportunity, and to the Norma Jeane team for their support.

Gio Coppola (Dramaturg) is a Junior MT who tripped and fell into this year’s Equinox! As the personality hire of the Norma Jeane team, he has had a great time helping to bring this story to life. Recent UArts production credits include Eat the Rich, Audrey! (Stage Manager) and Alchemic Oddities (Stage Manager).

 

CAST

Riley Irvine (Norma Jeane)(they/she) is a Senior Musical Theater major. Past UArts credits include Eat the Rich, Audrey! and Urinetown. Regional: Mamma Mia (Stumptown Stages). @realrileyirvine.

Hazel Foley (The Girl, Before)(she/her) is a Sophomore Musical Theater major. Past UArts credits include Act One: A First Year Exhibition and Norton I. Other credits include Our Town (Eastbound Theater Company), Hairspray (Fairfield Teen Theatre), and Pippin (Pantochino Productions). Endless thanks to the Norma Jeane team for this wonderful experience.

Brenna Patzer (Gladys)(she/her) is a Senior Acting major. Past UArts credits include The Blazing World (Ensemble), Pippin (Player), Esther’s Play… (June/July), Cherry Orchard (Varya), & A Midummer Night’s Dream (Mustardseed). Endless thanks to the entire Equinox team. For this specific production, Brenna would also like to thank her mom for providing the perfect example of unconditional love for her to model on stage. Love you Mom. ig: @brenna.patzer

Paige Mullen (Yankee)(they/she/he) is a Sophomore Acting major. Past UArts credits include Act One: First Year Event, Fun Home (Joan US), and various School of Film projects as both an actor and production member. Paige is very grateful to the entire Norma Jeane and Equinox teams for such an incredible experience. ig: paigermullen

Aidan Yates (Brain)(he/him) is a Freshman Acting/DPP double major. UArts credits include The First Year Event, Fun Home (ASM), and various film/animation school projects. Upcoming: The Doctor is Dead. Regional: Jesus Christ Superstar, Rocky Horror Show, A Christmas Story, and R+H's Cinderella (WPA). Aidan facilitates drama and music education as a camp counselor in Arizona and New York. He thanks the entire Equinox team for all of their efforts and passion towards this amazingly weird season. @theaidanyates

David Richardson (Talk Show Host/James)(he/him) is a Freshman Acting major. Past credits include Our Town, and Addicted. He is very grateful to Sara and Violet for this opportunity to be a part of such a beautiful team. Many thanks to Nancy Green.

Gideon Caro McDonald (Zanuck/Exec)(he/him) is a Junior Musical Theater major. Past UArts credits include, Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (Ensemble), Visiones Del Cuerpo (Lungs), Felipillo (Atawalpa) and The Cherry Orchard Musical (Yasha). This is Gideon's first Equinox production and is endlessly thankful for the support of his friends, family.

Lizeth Lopez (Swing)(she/her) is a Sophomore Musical Theater major. Past UArts credits include Polyphone Festival 2023 and Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. Thanks to anyone who has ever supported me.

Alexis Castro (Swing)(he/him) is a Sophomore Musical Theater major. Past UArts credits were Fun Home (John Bechdel), Felipillo (Martinillio), Untitled Cherry Orchard (Firs).

 

Content Disclosures: Strong Language, Sex/Sexuality, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual Assault, Grooming, Drug/Alcohol Abuse, Violence, Cannibalism, and Blood

Untitled JesusXJudas Lesbian Play
Written by Jordan Neff
Directed by  Emma Price

 

PRODUCTION TEAM

Jordan Neff (Playwright)

Emma Price (Director)

Amelio Kirshon (Assistant Director, Composer)(he/they) is a Junior Musical Theater major with a Music minor (and DPP side quest!). Past UArts credits: The Untitled Cherry Orchard Musical (Lyuba), This Beautiful City (Alt. Writer/AMD), and Ghosttown (Nellie). Many thanks to Jordan, Emma, Cyrus, Emi, and all those whose creativity and passion made this a reality.

Cyrus Nasib (Stage Manager)(he/they/she) is a Freshman Directing, Playwriting, and Production major. Past UArts credits include Sleepy Hollow Haunts (Operations Manager) and Eat the Rich, Audrey! (Crew).

Emilia Hoard (Dramaturg)(she/they) is a Freshman Directing, Playwriting, and Production Major. Her part UArts credits include Assistant Stage Managing Eat the Rich Audrey! directed by Alani Rose. She has played roles in The Sound of Music (Leisel), The Little Mermaid (Andrina), Godspell (Lindsey), and Be More Chill (Ensemble), has choreographed for Annie Jr. at her former high school.

 

CAST

Gwendolyn Felton (Judy)(they/them) is a Senior Acting major. Past UArts credits include: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Lysander), Felipillo (Francisco Pizarro), Delivery Boy (Delivery Boy), Woyzeck (Andres) and I Want a Country (cast). Much love to the Equinox team for all of their dedication on making these projects a possibility.

Claudia Combet (Sophia)

Carl Bright-Walck (Tim)

Ella MacLaren (Young Judy/Ensemble)(she/her) is a Freshman Musical Theater major. Past UArts credits include the First Year Event. Endless thanks to the cast and creative team of JesusxJudas and everyone who makes Equinox possible!

Remy Abarbanel (Young Sophia/Ensemble)(she/her), is a current Freshman actor at UArts. She attended a magnet middle and high school for acting, and performed productions such as Radium Girls (SMMS), Airness (GWCCAT), Cancelled (play) (GWCCAT), Fame! The musical (GWCCAT), The Wolves (Trapdoor Theater Company), Julius Caesar (Trapdoor Theater Company), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (GWCCAT).

 

Content Disclosures: Flashing Lights, Mentions of sex and pregnancy, Antisemitism, Cursing, Depictions of violence/slapping, Blood, Parental issues and trauma, Loud noises and yelling, Bright lights, Death, Murder, Suicide, Simulated intimacy

A staged reading of The Masque of the Red Death
Written by Iris Knapton
Directed by  Sabrina Liberatore

 

PRODUCTION TEAM

Iris Knapton (Playwright)(they/she) is a Sophomore Film major. Past UArts credits include their short films Flood (2022) and Pigment (2023). This is their playwriting debut and they're endlessly grateful to the incredibly weird and wonderful TMOTRD cast & crew, and everyone involved in Equinox!

Sabrina Liberatore (Director)(she/her) is a Junior Musical Theater & DPP double major, and is thrilled to be directing her first collegiate production! Past UArts credits include Horse Girls (Brandi Marshall) and Ester’s Play… (Swing). She thanks the production team for trusting her with this incredible piece and her family & friends for supporting her through this new double major journey! @sabrina.liberatore

Brandon Searle (Assistant Director)(he/him) is a Freshman Directing, Playwriting and Production major. Past UArts credits include Things Left Unwritten (Assistant Stage Manager), and Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Spot-Op). Other credits include Superfreak (Co-director), Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons (Director), Eurydice (Interesting Man/Child), The Book of Will (John), and Burn This (Pale). Brandon is grateful for the wonderful community here at UArts.

Aubrey Gleason (Stage Manager)(she/they) is a Freshman DPP Major. This is Aubrey’s first-time stage managing at UArts following assistant stage-managing Fun Home and interning at 1812 Productions for This Is The Week That Is! Aubrey will also be the ASM on Cabaret later this semester! Much love to everyone involved in Equinox!

Lucy George (Dramaturg)(she/her) is a Freshman Musical Theater major. Past UArts credits include the First Year Event and Assistant Stage Managing A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She wants to thank everyone involved with Equinox for all of the incredible work they have done!

 

CAST

Ella Kahan (Princess Opula)(she/her) is a Junior Acting major, Musical Theater minor. Past UArts credits include: The Sweet Hereafter (Nichole), Family Undone (Alanis), Everybody (Ensemble, u/s Death), and A Little Death (Ensemble). Much love to everyone involved in Equinox!

Mark Simons (Prince Prospero)(any pronouns) is a Freshman Musical Theater major. This is their first show at UArts after their debut in the First Year Event. They give their thanks to the extremely talented production team for all their hard work!

Christopher Picos (Lord Silk)(he/him) is a Freshman Musical Theater major. Past UArts credits include First Year Event. Endless thanks to Brian and Melinda and my family.

Zoe Hollander (Lard Lavinea)(she/her) is a Junior Musical Theater major at UArts. She is thrilled to be performing in her third Brind School production! Originally from Minneapolis, MN, Zoe grew up performing in the Twin Cities. UArts: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Horse Girls. Regional: Theatre Latté Da, MN History Theatre, and Stages Theatre Company.

Frank Sietz (Lord Lavine)(he/him) is a Freshman Acting major. This is his first show at UArts.

Brooke Dusseau (Narrator/Stage Directions)(she/they) is a Sophomore Musical Theater major. Past UArts credits include Act One: First Year Exhibition, as well as School of Film projects such as Flood (2022) by Iris Knapton, who also wrote this play! Brooke is honored to be a part of such a lovely project and would like to thank everyone who has supported her.

Camden Westfall (Sick) is a Freshman Acting major at UArts. Past UArts credits include Sleepy Hollow Haunts (Steve Lawrence/Ringleader).

Noah Haren (Dying)(he/she) is a Sophomore Musical Theater Major, and is super excited to be a part of this production. Past UArts credits include Horse Girls (Horse) and Things Left Unwritten (August). Noah will also be appearing as Nightingale in The Doctor is Dead this Spring. Much love to all the cast and crew!

Allie Wahl (Dead)(she/her) is a Freshman Acting major. Past UArts credits include First Year Event and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Assistant Stage Manager). Endless thanks to her dog Indiana Jones for being her top supporter

 

Content Disclosures: Swearing, Violence, Death, Simulated alcohol consumption

 

University of the Arts

Kerry Walk, President

Kikau Alvaro, Interim Dean, Ira Brind School of Theater Arts

Aanika Allen, Assistant Dean, Ira Brind School of Theater Arts

Madison Claus, Senior Administrative Assistant

Krista Apple, Program Director, Acting

Amy Dugas Brown, Program Director, Directing, Playwriting and Production

Thom Weaver, Interim Program Director, Theater Design & Technology

Jacob Brent, Interim Program Director, Musical Theater

Quinn Bauriedel, Program Director, Pig Iron School MFA in Devised Performance

 

Nick Embree, Associate Professor 

Sarah Sanford, Assistant Professor 

Issac Byrne, Visiting Assistant Professor 

Kyle Metzger, Visiting Assistant Professor

 

Lindsay Cram, Associate Producer

Joe Fasciano, Technical Director

Troy Martin-O’Shia, Production Electrician 

Anna Sorrentino, Costume Shop Manager

Larry Fowler, Sound Practicum Instructor

Chris Haig, Technical Practicum Instructor

Rebecca Kanach, Costume Practicum Instructor

Juliana Luber, Audience Services Coordinator