New Repertory Theatre, Inc

Event Guide

Table of Contents

A Note from Playwright Phaedra Michelle Scott

A Note from Director Pascale Florestal

Artist Biographies

Special Thanks!

Actors’ Equity Association & Licensing Information

The New Rep Team

New Rep's Board of Directors

About New Rep

DIASPORA!

By Phaedra Michelle Scott

A Note from Playwright Phaedra Michelle Scott

Boston is a city that holds a special place in my heart. It is where I learned about myself as a human, as an artist. Where I met some of my dearest friends, and where I met the love of my life.

This play was born from a desire to define the undefinable--who am I, as a Black diasporic person, if I cannot trace where I came from? Am I where I was raised? Where I live now? The people that surround me? What I believe in? The best part is--the answer is everything we want it to be. It's liberating and terrifying, empowering and disorienting. Most of all, there is something quite special about living right here and right now. It is my dream to constantly challenge assumptions, and to engage with questions that are simply unanswerable, because if we start asking--maybe we'll get closer to the discovery of something new, and something greater.

To Pascale, Jon and Michael who have been with this play since its inception. I am so honored to have the three of you in my life who have believed in me and in this play. And to the incredible cast: Lorraine, Serenity, Sean, Valyn and Jae. To the amazing stage management team of Elizabeth, Athéna, and Roisin. It is thanks to you that this play has life, and there's a special place in my heart for all of you.

Special thank you to every single human who made this show possible. To the workshops, conversations, and support throughout the creation of this play.

A Note from Director Pascale Florestal

Thank you so much for joining us for the World Premiere production of DIASPORA! by Phaedra Michelle Scott. I have been very lucky to work on many theatrical productions but this is the first (hopefully many) new plays that I have been part of the initial development to this production today. Like its playwright, Phaedra Michelle Scott, this play is smart, sweet, funny, genuine, critical and full of joy. It shows a side of Boston that we both experienced as newcomers to the city I now call home. This play explores the power of history, memory, family, friendship and of course what happens when you grow older and see the world differently. What I have always loved about this play is how real every character and moment feels. Phaedra's ability to tell timeless themes with characters who are authentic and complex reminds me why we need more plays like these. Phaedra and I met working at the Huntington in 2015, a cubicle wall separating us but that small cubicle area blossomed into a friendship and artistic relationship that has led to this production today. I am forever grateful the Huntington brought us together, to SpeakEasy Stage for the two year development on this project and to New Rep for deciding to give this play a life after many years of development. Thank you to all of the actors, dramaturges and producers who came through the years of development of this play. Most of all thank you to Phaedra, for her bravery, artistry and friendship. Enjoy!

Artist Biographies

Athéna-Gwendolyn Baptiste **

Assistant Stage Manager

Lucas Boniface

Understudy for Thomas/Robert & Patrick

Understudy for Sunny & Dottie

Lorraine Victoria Kanyike**

Sunny

Elizabeth Yvette Ramirez*

Production Stage Manager

Amanda Reynolds

Understudy for Janae

Phaedra Michelle Scott

Valyn Lyric Turner **

Special Thanks!

Special thanks to the following individuals for helping us create the world of DIASPORA!: Liv Merryman (Dramaturgy), Katie Cona (Lead Carpenter), Jay Wiltz (Master Electrician & Lighting Assistant), Brenda Dziadzio (Scenic Painter), Kayleigh Kane (Intimacy & Fight Choreographer), Tim Gregor (Carpenter), Diego Farrell (Technical Director), Louise Potter (Scenic & Props Support), Ailey Rivkin (Scenic Support), and Jack Riter (Scenic Support).

Thanks to Ken Yotsukura Photography for our pre-production and production photos. Check out Ken's work at: www.kbyphotos.com

Actors’ Equity Association & Licensing Information

*Appearing through an Agreement between New Repertory Theatre and Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Actors' Equity Association (“Equity"), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional Actors and Stage Managers. Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors' Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. #EquityWorks

THE NORMAL HEART IS PRESENTED BY ARRANGEMENT WITH CONCORD THEATRICALS ON BEHALF OF SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. WWW.CONCORDTHEATRICALS.COM

The New Rep Team

Angelica Potter (she/her)- Director of Organizational Transition

Maria Hendricks (she/her)- Resident Artistic Director & Fall Props Team

Michael Hisamoto (he/him)- Resident Artistic Director

Lois Roach (she/her)- Resident Artistic Director

Lisa Cerqueira (she/her)- Business Operations Associate

Cal Callahan (any pronouns)- Education & Community Engagement Coordinator & Fall Props Team

Maria Basescu (she/her)- Communications/PR Consultant

New Rep's Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Chris Jones - Chair

Danielle Galligan - Vice-Chair

Sarah O'Neill - Clerk

Michael Zimmer - Treasurer

Lillian Sober Ain

Lisa A. Breit

Shannon Joseph Fairley-Pittman, Ed.D.

Erin Fragola

Don Giller

Jodi Goodman

Jackson Jirard

Stanley Kay, Legal Counsel

Shari Malyn

Chris Noble

Cheryl Price

Christopher Shearer

Pamela Taylor

About New Rep

New Repertory Theatre (New Rep) has been an award-winning professional theatre company for 39 years, staging productions and events that speak to the vital ideas of our time. New Rep is emerging from the pandemic with a renewed commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and accountability (IDEAA) infusing every aspect of the company’s work as it seeks to build community collaborations and give voice to the diverse interests of those communities. More information on New Repertory Theatre at www.newrep.org.