SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

Department of Theatre Arts & Dance presents

SENIOR

PROJECT

FESTIVAL

THURSDAY, MAY 6 @7PM & SATURDAY, MAY 8 @2PM

ASK HER OUT! & CHANGE, SHIFT, FLOW

FRIDAY, MAY 7 @7PM & SUNDAY, MAY 9 @7PM

INTERVIEWS WITH LONELINESS & TO BE SEEN IS

TO BE HEARD...THIS IS WHO I AM!

SATURDAY, MAY 8 @7PM & SUNDAY, MAY 9 @2PM

NINE & WHAT NOW?

Ask Her Out!

PLAYWRIGHT Joelle Joyner-Wong DIRECTED BY John Ruzicka CAST CREDITS

Avery Wilson as Annabelle Phi Tran as Michael Robert Wiles as Gabe

STAGE MANAGER Gabe Fernandez COSTUMES Joelle Joyner-Wong LIGHTING Raquel Moreno

VIDEO EDITING Johnny Ryall and Matt Langlois MUSIC AND SOUND DESIGN Matt Langlois

Have you ever had a crush on someone, but did not know if you felt the same way? Well, Gabe and Annabelle most definitely have! Ask Her Out! Follows the story of two teenagers who have mutual feelings for each other, but don’t know that they have the same feelings. The only person who knows is their friend, Michael, who becomes the “matchmaker” for Gabe and Annabelle. I wrote Ask Her Out! in Fall 2019 during THAR 376, which is a play writing class. I originally started writing a draft version of it the Summer beforehand, but due to some personal events, I decided to drop the play. When I got the opportunity to write a play for playwriting, I decided to continue on with the piece because it is a cool story to tell. The moral of Ask Her Out! is to always trust your instincts, and if you don’t ask, you’ll never know. That is one of the most important lessons I have learned from writing this play, and my college experience.

- Joelle Joyner-Wong

Change, Shift, Flow

DIRECTED BY Brandon Leong and Sierra Parkhurst

CHOREOGRAPHED BY Brandon Leong and Sierra Parkhurst in collaboration with the dancers STAGE MANAGER Francelle Mariano

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Quintin Curtice COSTUMES Brandon Leong and Sierra Parkhurst LIGHTING Brandon Leong and Sierra Parkhurst

SOUND EDITING AND DESIGN Matt Langlois and Johnny Ryall

VIDEO EDITING Brandon Leong (Surface Tension, TIDAL, Afloat, Shasta, Ebb & Flow, and Change, Shift,

Flow) and Sierra Parkhurst (Crisis, Melt, 4 Million Acres, and Change, Shift, Flow)

Change, Shift, Flow is a collaborative work of Sierra Parkhurst and Brandon Leong. The program consists of pieces containing themes and concepts of trauma, water, longing and environmental issues. The program

has 9 dance films all choreographed and filmed during the past year following COVID 19 county and state protocols and guidelines.

“We are super excited to debut our new works and could not have done it without all the support from our families, casts, friends, mentors and each other. Change, Shift, Flow is a culmination of all of our experiences and opportunities we have been given within the past 4 years at Sonoma State. We are so gracious and thankful for everyone who joined us in our journey to this point.”

- Brandon Leong and Sierra Parkhurst

Change, Shift, Flow

CHOREOGRAPHED AND PERFORMED BY Giulie Bermudez, Christine Cali, Krystal Castillo, Kristen Daley,

Rian Dixon, Estefania Gutierrez, Angeles Higareda, Jasmine Kaiulani Lee, Eros Mene, Alexandra Onak, Marissa Salinas, Emma Sparks, Katy Waechter, Ava Wigley

MUSIC Original Music by Matt Langlois

Ebb & Flow

CHOREOGRAPHED BY Brandon Leong

PERFORMED BY Jasmine Kaiulani Lee, Sierra Parkhurst MUSIC Vanilla Sky by Lights and Motion

Two opposites coming together to form the perfect duet. The two dancers exploring the give and take through their movement. Navigating in the push and pull in life, within themselves and each other.

Afloat

CHOREOGRAPHED BY Brandon Leong PERFORMED BY Estefania Gutierrez MUSIC Anchor by Novo Amor

Toying around with the idea of floating but while on land. This solo explores breath and levity and the feeling of weightlessness through movement.

Surface Tension

CHOREOGRAPHED BY Brandon Leong

PERFORMED BY Angeles Higareda, Brandon Leong, Sierra Parkhurst MUSIC Glaciers by Lights and Motion

The feeling of being inches away from the surface and realizing you might be out of breath. Embodying the feeling of pressure on one’s chest and lungs. Debuted in Fall Dance 2020: Unity Through Movement.

Melt

CHOREOGRAPHED BY Sierra Parkhurst PERFORMED BY Brandon Leong, Sierra Parkhurst MUSIC Alaska by Kwoon

As global temperatures increase, glaciers and ice sheets around the world are melting at alarming rates. “Melt” explores feelings of longing, loss, and the physical sensations associated with glacial melting.

Tidal

CHOREOGRAPHED BY Brandon Leong

PERFORMED BY Angeles Higareda, Ava Wigley, Eros Mene, Marissa Salinas MUSIC DNA by Lights and Motion

Water is depicted as beautiful, calm and tranquil and a main source of life. But water is also a source of destruction. Tsunami, tidal waves and floods, cause so much harm to the surrounding areas. This work explores the before and after the huge wave and the dangers within.

4 Million Acres

CHOREOGRAPHED BY Sierra Parkhurst PERFORMED BY Rian Dixon

MUSIC Optimist by Zoë Keating VIDEOGRAPHY Luca Kushner

In 2020 California recorded a new state record of over 4 million acres being consumed by wildfires in a single year. “4 Million Acres” explores the complexities of fire and the social and emotional trauma it can cause.

Shasta

CHOREOGRAPHED BY Brandon Leong

PERFORMED BY Albert Joesph Coito III, Angeles Higareda, Brandon Leong, Sierra Parkhurst MUSIC Euphor by Novo Amor

This piece is for my siblings, Haley, David and Lil D. From being on the same swim team to going to Lake Shasta every summer. This work is about our bond with each other and our memories around water and danced by my closest friends.

Crisis

CHOREOGRAPHED BY Sierra Parkhurst

PERFORMED BY Estefania Gutierrez, Angeles Higareda, Jasmine Kaiulani Lee, Marissa Salinas, Emma Sparks MUSIC Original Music by Harrison Hilla

VIDEOGRAPHY Sierra Parkhurst

Climate change is the biggest crisis facing humanity. “Crisis” explores the social impacts of climate change and examines how we might respond to this overwhelmingly large issue. This piece explores themes of despair, anger, urgency, and action, in hopes that it will spark a desire to make change.

STAGE MANAGER BIO

Francelle Mariano (Stage Manager) is a fourth year Technical Theatre major with a concentration in

has worked as Production Stage Manager for the Senior Projects in addition to mentoring stage managers this past year while also stage managing our two fall productions, Connection Collection and Fall Dance 2020: Unity Through Movement. Francelle would like to thank the department, friends and family for their everlasting support throughout her time at SSU.

Interviews with Loneliness

DIRECTED BY Alissa Dernetz CAST CREDITS

Maya Pratt-Bauman as Queela Karina Pugh as Janet Natalie Sanborn as Annarae

STAGE MANAGER Elise Clark COSTUMES Alissa Dernetz LIGHTING Alissa Dernetz

SOUND EDITING AND DESIGN Justin Olivier VIDEO EDITING Justin Olivier

POST PRODUCTION SOUND AND VIDEO EDITING Matt Langlois

Interviews with Loneliness is about three women describing their candid experiences with men, and the resulting struggles with self image and acceptance. On the surface, it is about women waiting for and on men. In reality, it is a series of patchwork monologues that work together to create a larger story of humanity, vulnerability, and struggling to free yourself from the male gaze.

This piece means a lot to me because it showcases three strong female roles, and it isn’t afraid to shy away from emotional material. It is incredibly rewarding to be able to finally share my vision for this piece with you all! I think it’s important to keep stories like these in the forefront, because they remind us that everyone’s journey is different, and in the end, we all have wishes we still want to fulfill.

- Alissa Dernetz

CAST BIOS

Maya Pratt-Bauman (Queela) is a second year acting student at Sonoma State University. This is her

third zoom production with SSU, her first being The Connection Collection in November of 2020 and Sonnets for an Old Century in April of 2021. She has really enjoyed working on this project and can not wait to share it with others.

Karina Pugh (Janet) is excited to return to Sonoma State for Interviews with Loneliness! She is a recent

graduate of SSU, majoring in Theatre Arts. She was last seen in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Mary Bennet), Sunday on Rocks (Jen), Woyzeck (Marie), and Twelfth Night (Sir Andrew). She would like

to thank her family and friends for all of their love and support!

Natalie Sanborn (Annarae) is excited to finally be performing with Sonoma State again. Previously, she

played Chanelle in Cheers, part of Powerlines: A New Play Festival. Some of her favorite past roles include Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the Rain and Ashley in Emma! A Pop Musical. Natalie would like to thank all of her friends and the theatre majors who make her feel welcomed into their community.

STAGE MANAGER BIO

Elise Clark (Stage Manager) is a sophomore Technical Theatre major and Math minor wishing to pursue a

career as a lighting designer. She recently finished working on the spring 2021 musical Spring Awakening as SM but she was also seen working the lights for Origin Story (Fall 2019). Elise would like to thank her family and roommates for being so supportive and patient while she worked on the show.

*Content Warning - explicit language, dialogue containing descriptions of sexual acts and domestic abuse.

To Be Seen Is To Be Heard...This Is Who I Am!

CHOREOGRAPHED BY Brandon Lombardo STAGE MANAGER Manny De Leon COSTUMES Brandon Lombardo

““To Be Seen Is To Be Heard...This Is Who I Am” is based on the journey of my life that I have been through. Physically, Mentally, and Emotionally. Everyone who has been on this journey with me knows me for being bubbly, friendly, optimistic, caring, etc. I wanted this project to be a personification of my innermost self. The deep self. Giving the audience a sense of who I am as a person, but more importantly as an artist. This project is super special to me, because everyone gets to join me on this journey of emotions and happiness. Paying my respects to my past, my present, my mentors, and even embracing my future. Even more so looking beyond the finish line of what is next. I hope you all can finally see me for what I love to do!”

- Brandon Lombardo

Vulnerable

PERFORMED BY Brandon Lombardo MUSIC I Can Hear Water by Olafur Arnalds VIDEO EDITING Spencer Byrne

Being able to feel uncomfortable with yourself. Living in fear, sadness, and wanted to open myself up to a side I am afraid to show.

My Emotions

PERFORMED BY Ashley Cho, Sol Enciso, Alessandra Balestrieri-Jennings MUSIC Hurricane by Slow Meadow

VIDEO EDITING Julia Lyon

As an artist we experience many different emotions, and can express that through movement. My emotions do not control how I feel or live in the moment. I ride the wave, I feel my feelings, and move on.

With Love

PERFORMED BY James DeSoto, Justin Brown, Carolyn Fulton, Chantill Lopez, Raquel Medina, Erin Stous MUSIC Pareidolia by Slow Meadow

VIDEO EDITING Matthew Langlois

“A thank you to all the brave, strong, and amazing women/mentors in my life that have inspired me to be the best dancer, choreographer, and beautiful person I can be. Without them I wouldnt be where I am today without their guidance. This is for you all!!”

- Brandon Lombardo

Embracing & Accepting

PERFORMED BY Brandon Lombardo

MUSIC Everything is a Memory by Slow Meadow VIDEO EDITING Lyndsey Burcina

Being able to look back on your past and saying thank you to your future. My journey is never ending. I am always saying thank you to where I came from and embracing my future for new adventures.

STAGE MANAGER BIO

Manny De Leon (Stage Manager) is a senior graduating with his Bachelor’s degree in Acting and Social

Science. Born and raised in Santa Rosa he has worked all over Sonoma County and the Bay Area and is excited to move to do other projects in new cities after graduation. He spends much of his on stage time performing in both Spanish and English pieces that are driven by social justice in the community.

Nine

PLAYWRIGHT Jane Shepard DIRECTED BY Lindsey Abbott CAST CREDITS

Allison Dominguez as 1 Annaliese Van Sickle as 2

STAGE MANAGER Chelsee Seccombe ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Amanda Krack

COSTUMES Carly Bozeman LIGHTING Christopher Peterson SOUND EFFECTS Andrew Moore VIDEO EDITING AND MUSIC Matt Langlois

“Two women held in a life-threatening situation and the mind games they play to keep one another alive. Held and surveyed in two different rooms against their will, their only currency is words, and balance of power is everything when a single word becomes the hanging point between life and death.

Nine was first introduced to me when I was a junior in high school. I saw part of it being done as a final performance in an advanced theatre class, and the story has stuck with me to this day. When faced with the challenge of picking a new show for my senior project the second time (long story), I came back to this show, and I never looked back. I am so incredibly happy to be able to show this story, and to have wonderful people involved in making this possible.”

- Lindsey Abbott

CAST BIOS

Allison Dominguez is a 3rd-year theatre major at Sonoma State University. Her past shows at SSU

include Order’s Up and Lotus Flower in the Powerlines Festival, the operetta Candide, and Tartuffe. She is so excited to be on this project alongside so many wonderful people on the team. She would like to thank her parents for assisting her in her artistic pursuits, as well as her director and scene partner for their unwavering support and guidance throughout this process.

Annaliese Van Sickle is a 3rd-year Theatre Arts & Dance and Early Childhood Studies double major at

Sonoma State University. Her past shows at Sonoma State include Mega Hot: Molten Hot Lava New Play Festival and Connection Collection. She appreciates the support and encouragement from her family, friends, and all that are working on the production alongside her. Annaliese wants to give the biggest thanks to her director and scene partner for helping her and guiding her through such a wonderful experience.

*Content Warning - explicit language, dialogue portraying violence against women, visible signs of psychological and physical abuse.

What Now?

PLAYWRIGHT Euan Ashley DIRECTED BY Euan Ashley CAST CREDITS

Euan Ashley as Euan Ashley

STAGE MANAGER Chelsee Seccombe ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Amanda Krack

COSTUMES Euan Ashley LIGHTING Euan Ashley

SOUND DESIGN, VIDEO EDITING AND MUSIC Matt Langlois

“What Now? is my one man show. It was born out of a very difficult process of finding a play that had available streaming rights. After not hearing back about rights for my other proposed project, a performance of Jack: Or the submission by Eugene Ionesco, I didn’t know what to do. I remember mid January right before the start of the semester sitting down and thinking I was absolutely screwed. I had little to no time to find a piece and get the rights approved before auditions, and while there was open source material to choose from, it was overwhelming to try and sift through all of it. So, I decided to take a shot at something I’ve been wanting to do for years: a one-man show.

I’ve always loved the idea of one man shows, especially ones that are written by the person performing them. As actors, our job is to interpret the work of others, study their stories and bring the characters to life through ourselves. But this project allows me to be fully and authentically myself. This also allows me a space to celebrate all of the work and knowledge that has brought me to this very point in time and ultimately culminated in this show. I intend to keep working on this show in the future as it has become a project near and dear to me so I hope to see you all there! “

- Euan Ashley

SENIOR PROJECT ADVISOR Anthony Bish FESTIVAL DIRECTOR Christine Cali

FESTIVAL PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER Francelle Mariano FESTIVAL POST-PRODUCTION DESIGN Matt Langlois CPA PRODUCTION MANAGER Vikki Del Rosario CPA MARKETING AND PR COORDINATOR Jana Duncan TECHNICAL SUPPORT Theo Bridant

Welcome to the Department of Theatre Arts & Dance

EVERT B. PERSON THEATRE is an extraordinary learning laboratory, a fully-equipped live performance space containing professionally staffed costume and scene shops, where SSU students learn skills essential to the art of live dance, music and theater performance. For today’s show, through performance-related coursework, the students have spent weeks in this building hammering, harmonizing, acting, welding, stitching, and cabling, under the mentorship of professional staff, designers, and faculty. We hope you enjoy the product of the students’ learning and skill-building process.

2020-21 EVERT B. PERSON SCHOLARSHIPS

DANCE Abigail Eissman, Angeles Higareda, Sol James, Alessandra Balestrieri-Jennings, Brandon Leong

MUSIC Andrew Cedeño, Linda Peng, Sierra Smith, Jonathan Decicio, Owen Donahue,

Abbigayle Samuels, Matthew Bowker, Adan Ortega, Natalie Cucina, Kristina Ibarra,

Liam Daley, Joey Banducci, Jadyn Gorbet, Ann Kessler, Isabella Grimes, Elizabeth Lyle, Sungdu Bae

TECHNICAL THEATRE Elise Clark, Saylor Duckworth, Francelle Mariano

CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT Christine Cali

Acting

PROGRAM DIRECTOR Paul Draper

Beginning Acting, Scene Study, Characterization, Non-realistic Style, Chekhov, Shakespeare, Directing, Theatre History

Danielle Cain Voice, Scene Study, Comedy of Manners, Shakespeare, Audition Marie Ramirez Downing Introduction to Acting, Advanced Scene Study, Voice,

Movement, Devised Theatre Workshop

Laura Odeh Beginning Acting, Career Prep and Planning, Physical Theatre Doyle Ott Critical Thinking, Children’s Theater, Humanities Learning Community,

Commedia dell’Arte, Feldenkrais, Theater History

Dance

PROGRAM CO-DIRECTORS Christine Cali andKristen Daley

Christine Cali Contemporary Technique, Choreography, Global Perspectives in Dance,

Improvisation/Somatic Practices, Theatre in Action, Critical Thinking, Actor/Dancer Collaboration, Dance Ensemble, Spring Dance Choreography,

Teaching Methodologies and Dance for Everybody

Kristen Daley Contemporary Technique, Anatomy for Dance, Choreography,

Dance History & Criticism, Yoga, Dance Conditioning, Actor/Dancer Collaboration, Dance Ensemble, Spring Dance Choreography, Global Perspectives in Dance

Jennifer Jaffe Ballet

Nancy Lyons Professor Emeritus

Farrah McAdam Dance Ensemble, Dance for Everybody, Hip Hop

Technical Theatre

PROGRAM DIRECTOR Anthony Bish Scene Design, Light Design, Prop Design,

Stage Management, Portfolio

Theo Bridant Light Design

Martha Clarke Costume Construction, Costume Design, Stage Management Peter Crompton Design for the Stage

Theatre Studies

PROGRAM DIRECTOR Scott Horstein Dramaturgy, Contemporary Theatre,

Playwriting, Research Methods, Theatre History, Humanities Learning Community

Judy Navas Professor Emeritus

2020-21 Guest Artists

Jody Banks Virtual Design Sonnets for an Old Century Spring 2021 Danielle Cain Virtual Performance Director Connection Collection Fall 2020 Matt Langlois Virtual Design Fall Dance, Spring Dance 2021 and Post-Production

Design/Editing for Senior Project Festival 2021

Farrah McAdam Virtual Performance Director Fall Dance 2020 Charlie Stellar Virtual Title Design Connection Collection

TH EA TR E A RT S & D AN CE

Fac

ul

ty

Cen

ter

DEAN, SCHOOL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES Hollis Robbins, Ph.D.

CPA Professional Staff

CPA PRODUCTION MANAGER Vikki Del Rosario

ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Tai Russotti

ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST, DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC Brooke Tester

ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST, DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE ARTS & DANCE Douangta Sorensen

ASSISTANT TO THE DEAN Leigh McTaggart

COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH ANALYST Linda Eichhorn

PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Jana Duncan

COSTUME DIRECTOR Martha Clarke

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Theo Bridant