Emma Donoghue’s

Kissing the Witch

Directed & Produced by Associate Professor Meghan Brodie

Scenic Design: Meghan Jones Costume Design: Asaki Kuruma

Lighting, Projections, & Sound Design: Visiting Asst. Professor Shannon Zura

CAST

Act I

Introduction

The Witches……………………...Emily Bradigan, Myla Haan, Ali Wolf

Tale of the Rose Witch…………………………………………………………..Ali Wolf Rose……………………………………………………….Julia Herrero Father………………………………………………….Austin Brzezicki Beast……………………………………………………..Zara Tabackin Old Women……………………...Emily Bradigan, Myla Haan, Ali Wolf

Tale of the Skin Donkeyskin……………………………………………....Zara Tabackin King………………………………………………...Dominic Minicozzi Queen………………………………………………………Jessica Celli Prince………………………………………………….Austin Brzezicki Spinster……………………………………………………...Myla Haan

Tale of the Handkerchief Maid…………………………………………………….........Myla Haan Queen………………………………………………………….Ali Wolf Princess…………………………………………………....Julia Herrero Bridegroom Prince……………………………………..Austin Brzezicki Please note that this production carries content warnings for violence, sexual violence,

violence against animals, and incest.

Act II

Introduction The Witches……………………...Emily Bradigan, Myla Haan, Ali Wolf

Tale of the Voice Fishgirl……………………………………………………...Jessica Celli Witch…………………………………………………...Emily Bradigan Fishwife……………………………………………………...Myla Haan Merchant…………………………………………....Dominic Minicozzi

Tale of the Witch Witch…………………………………………………...Emily Bradigan Fishgirl……………………………………………………...Jessica Celli Dying Witch…………………………………………………...Ali Wolf Village Woman……………………………………………Julia Herrero Boy…………………………………………………….Austin Brzezicki Man………………………………………………....Dominic Minicozzi

PRODUCTION STAFF Technical Director & Production Manager………………Meghan Jones Stage Manager…………………………………………….Abigail Behm Assistant Stage Manager & Props Master………………...Elliot Cetinski Assistant Stage Manager & TriCaster…………………Donovan Erskine Audio Visual Technology Engineer………………………..James Futter Master Electrician…..……………………………………..Cassie Mazza Projections Assistants…………………………………...Emily Bradigan

Benjamin Douglas Naomi Marin

Ball Choreography………………………………………….Jessica Celli Fishgirl’s Song Music…………………………………..Austin Brzezicki Wardrobe Assistant………………………………………...Olivia Cross

PRODUCTION CREW Light Board Operator…………………………………….Robert Fisher Sound & Projections Board Operator………………………Leigh Willis Stage Techician…….………………………………...Benjamin Douglas TriCaster Operator………………………………………..Naomi Marin Camera Operators………………………Joli Hannibal & Arthur Artene Wardrobe Crew…………………………..Olivia Cross & Abbie Painter Deck Crew…………………………………….Frederick Greene, Emily

Gurganus, Justin Siberski Production Tech Assistants…………….Hannah Blanco, Elliot Cetinski,

Michela Coleman, Donovan Erskine, Robert Fisher, Emily Gurganus, Satchel Harp- Monseau, Rebekah Kline, Alan Okinaka, Nasya Stinson

Student Electricians……………………….Arthur Artene, Ben Douglas, Jacob Dunst, Nikole Fandino- Pachon, Sam Gregory, Joli Hannibal, Alexa Lewis, Chandu Palepu, Justin Siberski

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Director of Communications……………………………Ed Moorhouse Communications Creative Director…………………….Dominic Monte Communications Graphic Designer……………………..Emily Williams Theater and Dance Administrative Assistant………………..Maya Jones

THANK YOU

Karen Clemente, Erin Hovey, Maya Jones, Jeanine McCain, Dom Monte, Ed Moorhouse, Domenick Scudera, and Emily Williams,

with special thanks to Richard & Ann Sposato for the spinning wheel

BIOGRAPHIES

Abigail Behm—Stage Manager Abigail Behm is a first-year student majoring in International Relations and German. This will be Abby’s second collegiate performance after last semester’s production of radio plays The Company of Wolves and Puss in Boots. She is thrilled to be stage managing again! Abby would like to thank Dr. Meghan Brodie for having faith in her and helping her through stage managing, and Meghan Jones for showing her the ropes of Ursinus theater. Abby would also like to thank the cast, crew, and production staff for being such an accepting and fantastic group of people. Abby hopes to return for future productions and continue being involved with Ursinus theater! Emily Bradigan—Witch/Old Woman & Projections Assistant Emily Bradigan is a current sophomore at Ursinus double majoring in Theater Design & Technology and English. This is Emily’s fourth production at Ursinus. Some of her previous Ursinus performance credits include Rumors, 9 to 5, and The Company of Wolves/Puss in Boots. Special thanks go to the cast and crew for all their hard work on this production along with her friends for all their continuous support. Meghan Brodie—Director Dr. Brodie is Associate Professor of Theater and a faculty member in the Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies program. She is also a director, dramaturg, and playwright. Meghan directed the English-language world première of In the Underworld, a darkly comic operetta written by Germaine Tillion while Tillion was imprisoned in Ravensbrück concentration camp during World War II. Her other directing credits include plays by dramatists such as Sarah Ruhl, Charlotte Jones, Diana Son, and Paula Vogel. She has previously written about queer casting and consent-oriented theatre practices, coedited two anthologies of performance pieces written by LGBTQ youth and allies, and partnered with the Remember the Women Institute on several projects about women, theatre, and the Holocaust. She is currently writing a play, Claude & Marcel, about lesbian surrealist artists Lucy Schwob and Suzanne Malherbe. She holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University. Austin Brzezicki—Father/Prince/Bridegroom/Boy Austin Brzezicki is a sophomore double-majoring in Environmental Science and Music. He previously performed at Ursinus as an ensemble member in the Complete History of Ursinus College (Abridged), Smee in Breakaway's production of Peter/Wendy, Dwayne/ensemble in 9 to 5, and a company musician in The Company of Wolves and Puss in Boots radio plays. Outside of classes, Austin spends much of his time playing guitar, singing, and writing songs. He hopes to eventually record, produce, and release his original songs to the public.

Jessica Celli—Queen/Fishgirl Jessica is a junior at Ursinus and is currently majoring in Anthropology and Sociology. Previous Ursinus productions include Radium Girls, The Complete History of Ursinus College (Abridged), 9 to 5 The Musical, and The Company of Wolves and Puss in Boots radio plays. She has absolutely loved being involved in the theater community here at Ursinus, and would like to dedicate this show to her family and friends of the theater. Elliot Cetinski—Assistant Stage Manager & Props Master Elliot is a first-year student who plans to major in Theater and minor in Classics. He last appeared in the Ursinus College radio plays Puss in Boots and The Company of Wolves. Some of his favorite roles include Tito in Lend Me a Tenor, Stage Manager in Our Town, and Frederic in Pirates of Penzance. He plans to continue to work with the Theater Department as an actor and technician during his four years at Ursinus. Olivia Cross—Wardrobe Assistant Olivia is a first-year English and History double major from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania. This is Olivia's first show at Ursinus as well as her first show with Dr. Meghan Brodie. She is incredibly excited to expand her costuming abilities and sends her thanks to Dr. Brodie, Meghan Jones, and Asaki Kuruma for giving her this opportunity. Liv has absolutely loved working with the cast and crew of Kissing the Witch and could not have asked for a better Ursinus debut. Ben Douglas—Projections Assistant Ben is a first-year student who intends to major in Computer Science and Theater Design & Technology. He previously worked as a sound assistant for the Ursinus College radio plays Puss in Boots and The Company of Wolves. Donovan Erskine—Assistant Stage Manager & TriCaster Donovan is a senior Finance major and Theater minor. Donovan can be seen playing Edgar Allan Poe in the filmed production of Poe on Poe now streaming on Live! On Main. He hopes you enjoy this production and wants to encourage everyone to continue to support local theater artists! Myla Haan—Witch/Spinster/Maid/Fishwife Myla is a senior majoring in Theater and minoring in Educational Studies and Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies. Previous Ursinus theatre credits include Hair, Radium Girls, Agnes of God, 9 to 5, and most recently The Company of Wolves and Puss in Boots (radio plays). She is so grateful to have worked with Dr. Brodie and this wonderful cast and crew on her last undergraduate performance. Enjoy the show!

Julia Herrero—Rose/Princess/Village Woman Julia is a senior majoring in Theater and English and is a member of Tau Sigma Gamma sorority. She is so excited to be able to work with this cast on Kissing the Witch, even in these challenging times. Previous Ursinus productions include Puss in Boots/The Company of Wolves, 9 to 5 The Musical, God of Carnage, Radium Girls, and Clybourne Park. She would like to thank her family and friends for their support, and the cast for their hard work! Meghan Jones—Scenic Designer, Technical Director, & Production Manager Meghan Jones is happy to join the team for Kissing the Witch. Previous designs with Ursinus Theater Department include Poe on Poe, The Complete History of Ursinus College (Abridged), Radium Girls, Clybourne Park, By the Way: Meet Vera Stark, Much Ado About Nothing, and Search for Signs of Intelligent Life. Her designs can be seen with Inis Nua Theatre Co., Azuka, Theatre Exile, Act II Playhouse, and Lantern Theater Co. Past highlighted designs include Penelope, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Coriolanus, and Don’t Dress for Dinner. Meghan also designs for Drexel University; recent productions include The Diary of Anne Frank and Avenue Q. She teaches stagecraft and production for Ursinus College and is the Technical Director for the Theater and Dance Department. Meghan holds her M.F.A. from Temple University. Much appreciation to Ursinus’s staff, cast, and crew for all their support. Asaki Kuruma—Costume Designer Originally from Japan, Asaki has been working professionally for over a decade collaborating with many theater companies and artists in the Philadelphia area. Costume design credit: The Scar Test, A Midsummer Nights Dream (Villanova Theatre), Man of God (InterAct Theatre), Boycott Esther (Azuka Theater), Las Mujeres (Power Street Theatre Company), Romeo & Juliet (Lantern Theater Company), Tiger Style! (Philadelphia Asian Performing Artists), Romeo & Juliet, Complete History of America, Abridged, Measure for Measure (Commonwealth Classic Theatre Co). She is so grateful to Meghan Jones and Shannon Zura for bringing her into this wonderful community at Ursinus! Asaki is also a Resident Artist at Power Street Theatre https://www.powerstreettheatre.com. MA in Theatre/ Certificate for Nonprofit Management, Villanova ’20. Naomi Marin—Projections Assistant Naomi Marin is a sophomore majoring in Theater Design & Technology. She has worked as an audio technician with Dr. Brodie for 9-5 and as a sound assistant for The Company of Wolves and Puss in Boots (radio plays). This is Naomi’s first time working on projections design and she is thrilled to have had this amazing opportunity. Naomi thanks all of the cast and crew for their hard work.

Dominic Minicozzi—King/Merchant/Man Dominic Minicozzi is a first-year student majoring in Theater and Media/Communications. This is his first production at Ursinus and he is excited to be in his first show. Zara Tabackin—Beast/Donkeyskin Zara Tabackin is a sophomore Biochemistry and Theater double major. She was previously seen on the Ursinus stage as Doralee in 9 to 5 and as Cassie in Rumors. Zara’s previous acting experiences include Annie Who in Broadway’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Madison Square Garden, voiceover work with Vox City, and commercial work with Nickelodeon. She is incredibly appreciative for this opportunity and would like to thank her family, friends, castmates, and educators for their support. Ali Wolf— Witch/Queen/Dying Witch Ali is a sophomore History and Theater double major. Ali was last heard on the Ursinus stage as the Hag in the radio play Puss in Boots. She has also been seen in The Complete History of Ursinus College (Abridged) and was backstage on the wardrobe crew for 9 to 5. She is excited to once again be working with Megan Brodie and with all the wonderful designers, crew members, and her fellow cast. Shannon Zura—Lighting, Projections, & Sound Designer Shannon Zura is Visiting Assistant Professor of Design and Technology in Theater and Dance as well as a professional lighting, sound, and scenic designer. Credits include designs for InterAct Theatre Co., Lantern Theater Co., Azuka Theatre, Portland Stage Co., Opera Maine, Delaware Theatre Co., and Stonington Opera House Arts among others. She recently collaborated with Christensen Lighting on an award-winning lighting design for the Weiss Energy Hall at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Shannon holds an M.F.A. from Temple University, was Associate Professor and Chair of Theatre at the University of Southern Maine, and was Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre at Franklin and Marshall College.

Q&A WITH THE DIRECTOR Who is Emma Donoghue? Emma Donoghue is an award-winning novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. She was born in Dublin and lives in Canada. She adapted her novel Room into an Academy Award-nominated screenplay. Her most recent novel, Pull of the Stars, is a New York Times bestseller. Kissing the Witch is based on selections from Donoghue’s collection of short stories of the same name. Are these fairy tales that audiences already know? Emma Donoghue has reimagined five folk tales. Her perspective is a feminist one that weaves together the stories of maids, spinsters, queens, and witches, none of whom is what she seems. Audiences might be most familiar with The Tale of the Rose (Beauty and the Beast) and The Tale of the Voice (The Little Mermaid), but Donoghue’s adaptations are not the popular Disney versions of these stories. Kissing the Witch is intended for adult audiences. What does it mean to produce theater during a pandemic? Many professional and university theater seasons have been cancelled as a result of the pandemic. I am proud that Ursinus’s Theater and Dance Department has managed to maintain a full season of socially distant, safe programming. I chose to livestream Emma Donoghue’s Kissing the Witch because I wanted the students to have the experience of performing live each day of our run. The students perform masked which means each actor has been working on a different type of projection in addition to their usual vocal and physical work. We don’t make any attempt to hide the masks. We are making theater during a pandemic and the masks are a reminder of that; they represent both our commitment to safety as well as our resilience. For me, making art in pandemic times is an act of hope.

How has the need for social distancing changed your approach to directing Kissing the Witch? Our production of Kissing the Witch focuses on the actors as storytellers. We have made the conscious decision to use neither realistic sets nor scores of props; instead, we have chosen a production style that relies equally on the actors’ abilities to transport us into the world of the play and the audience’s willing suspension of disbelief. Our production of Kissing the Witch is a shared imaginative journey. The set is spare. Each actor plays multiple roles. This is an ensemble-driven exploration of dark folk tales that continue to resonate with us today. Obviously, as the title suggests, there are moments of intimacy in the play that the actors cannot safely portray given the climate of COVID so we sought an outside-of-the-box solution. Three students are working with Visiting Assistant Professor of Theater and Dance Shannon Zura to create animated projections for specific scenes in the play. For each of the five folks tales, there is a moment when we transition from live action to projected animation and then back to live action. The projections design is inspired on scherenschnitte, the German word for paper cutting design. Scherenschnitte informed the design of our promotions image, parts of the scenic design, and the innovative projections design. I love the beauty of black and white paper cutting design and thought this was a natural fit for folk tales that are equal parts light and dark. Anything else noteworthy about this production? Although the aesthetic of the production may seem somewhat simple, the livestreamed production is technologically sophisticated and involves more crew members than actors. Additionally, it seems fitting that Donoghue’s feminist reimagining of classic folk tales is helmed by a team of women: director Meghan Brodie; scenic designer Meghan Jones; guest costume designer Asaki Kuruma; and lighting, projections, and sound designer Shannon Zura.

WITCH WISDOM

The cast’s favorite pieces of witch wisdom from Emma Donoghue’s Kissing the Witch

“Knowing what they say about you is the first step to

power.” (7)

“When a boy changes his life, it’s called an adventure. When a girl does the same, it’s only a fairy tale.” (8)

“[L]ife is long and you’ll never get through it without

dirtying your hands.” (20)

“What matters is the stuff you’re made of. Strength will always bubble to the surface, like oil in the sauce.” (28)

“[W]e’re all—princess or maid—equally tiny under the

eye of the sky.” (36)

“People never value what they’ll get for free.” (49)

“What do you think a witch is? A woman who’s stumbled across a bit of power, that’s all.” (53)

Donoghue, Emma. Kissing the Witch. Emma Donoghue: Selected Plays. Oberon Books, 2015. 1-59.

Why Ursinus College Theater & Dance? Have you ever considered majoring, double majoring, or minoring in Theater

or Dance? A rigorous liberal arts degree in Theater or Dance prepares students for professional work and graduate school in both the arts and other fields. Theater and Dance majors are the leaders of tomorrow. Check out these

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“STEAM RISING: Why we need to put the arts into STEM education”

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“How Artists Push Social Change” The Chronicle of Higher Education, 4.2017

“What Can You Do With That (Useless) Liberal Arts Degree? A Lot More Than You

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Ursinus College’s Theater and Dance programs offer historical, critical, and practical training in the performing arts. Whether you pursue a career in the arts or take a class or perform on our stages, the Ursinus Theater and Dance

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