10.08.24 - 12.01.24

Setting: Port-au-Prince, Haiti

RUNNING TIME: 2 hours and 10 min (with one 15-minute intermission)

Support for BAD KREYÒL is provided by the Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater.

Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for their generous support of the Premiere Residency program.

“To love a people is to learn their language.” I heard a friend say this years ago and it has stuck with me ever since. He was talking about generations talking to each other across varied experiences. It can also refer to learning pronouns and other identity indicators that make people feel respected. For me, I immediately thought about Kreyòl.

I didn’t grow up speaking it. I grew up speaking some French and hearing French spoken in my home on occasion when my father’s side of the family would visit. It was spoken over, in and around me. But when it was spoken “to” me, I went mute. I didn’t have a community to practice with. I grew up in Detroit where Haitian identity was minimal. In the 90’s, if my classmates knew anything about Haiti at all, it was nothing but negativity.  Poor. Violent. Dirty.

What is ironic is that those same descriptions were given to me about Detroit whenever I’d venture beyond city zones.

The connection between Detroit and Haiti is great to me. One black city. One black country. Both independent in mind, body and politic. Both ostracized from the rest of the largely white and affluent neighbors. Both punished by the statewide and global powers for its black independent radical liberation.

When I went to visit Haiti for the first time since my childhood, I was accompanied by my father, brother, and husband. I was determined to learn Kreyòl, even if just a little bit. I still only know a small bit. I still read and write it better than I speak or hear it. But I am clear that I love these people. So I will not tell them to change. I will not reject it when the words don’t fit in my mouth. I will not dismiss it. I will keep trying to understand. Because I have learned that language is not only love, but it is an act of liberation.

Kreyòl is anti-colonialism as a language. It resists the oppressor’s tongue. It is not broken French. It is a language of resistance and freedom. So though I speak “bad kreyòl”, there is only good that can come from allowing a people the dignity to choose their own master tongue.

For my father Frantz. My Uncle Eddie. My grandmother Mima. My Tante Liz. My Uncle Thèo. And my grandfather Dumont. Thank you for your bloodline of revolution, power, and liberation.

peaceandlovedominique:)

Consider this an invitation to be your full and un-restricted selves. The theatre normative will be disrupted in this space for the duration of this show. And that means some thangs…

It means you are allowed to laugh or gasp audibly and give all the “um hmmms” and “uhn uhnnns” (or “ehn ehnns” and “oh ohs” if you’re Haitian) you feel inspired to give.

You are allowed to be fully entertained or agitated in this space, and emote accordingly.

As always, the theatre can be church for some of us, and testifying is allowed.

Please be an audience member that joins with the village, either silently or vocally, in support of the journey we will take collectively. Exhale together. Laugh together. Say“amen” or “sak pase” should you need to.

This is community. Let’s go.

peaceandlovedominique:)

Click below to learn more about BAD KREYÒL

BAD KREYÒL: A Deeper Dive

The Pershing Square Signature Center is situated on unceded traditional lands of the Munsee Lenape, the Canarsee, the Wequaesgeek and the Siwanoy. Our territory currently known as New Yorek City originates from the indigenous population that once inhabited the area of Manahatta and its collective five boroughs within Turtle Island.

To the region of Lower Manahatta we are indebted to the Canarsee whose Chief Seyseys , met with the Dutch. To the region of Upper Manahatta we give reverence to the Wequasgeek, whose territory encompassed the Bronx and whose Chief Meijeterma, met with Jonas Bronck.

Let this our Land Acknowledgement be the beginning of our return to unity, not just of each other but to the awareness that we are truly a part of the earth. Let us now walk with the knowledge that each and every one of us is a guardian of most importance, as we were put upon this Turtle Island not to seek dominion but as Care takers, as Two leggeds, to protect and to grow each other, to love and offer kindness. We are here to ensure that the gifts of earth, water, and air remain pure and whole, and so let us be guardians of the earth, the water, and the air, the 4 legged, fliers, the swimmers, the crawlers, the mammal people and the green. In this way we honor the land which gives us life, we honor the lives & culture forsaken, and we honor the prospect of renewed alliances.

Moreover, let this moment of recognition be a monument of action. Action that is fortified with a cooperative spirit and reverence for our traditional ways. Let it be the beginning of hope for this our Turtle Island in the land of the Munsee.

Let us now stand lifting our humanity, enrapturing with the earths conscious as guardians of harmony and kindness, as we pay respect to all of our ancestors and to future generations.

We are the Lenapehoking today, and will be for the remaining days of tomorrows...*Keepers of the Pass.

*This acknowledgement demonstrates our ongoing commitment as a community working to dismantle the continued legacies of colonialism, oppression, and systematic racism. We offer a pledge of Social Justice awakening, and education in order to raise the level of awareness and to ultimately strengthen the communal fabric which includes outreach with out indigenous neighbors. In this way, out collective voices can disrupt the patterns of social injustice through reverence of the Native People who share their land and by revitalizing Indigenous history through Indigenous specific programming.

Signed x Chief Dewaine Perry *Ramapugh-Lunaape; Munsee
Co-Signed x Oleana Whispering Dove; Author & Museum Docent
*EasternTsalagi/Algonquian descendant

Executive Staff

Interim Artistic Director
Beth Whitaker

Executive Director
Timothy J. McClimon

Artistic/Literary

Artistic Line Producer
Jeremy Ehlinger

Artistic Assistant
Emily Chackerian

General Management

General Manager
Kenneth Naanep

Associate General Manager
Caroline Knapp

Director of Rentals and Sales
Jake Miller

IT Manager
Franklin David

Cafe and Bar Manager
Noah Yaconelli

Company Manager
Andrew Marderian-Davis

Development

Director of Development
Mac Ingram

Director of Individual Giving and Special Events
Cheyenne Myrie

Director of Institutional Giving
Seth Beaugh

Manager of Special Events and Board Relations
Kristin Reeves

Manager of Donor Programs
Jen Cullen

Marketing & Ticket Services

Director of Marketing and Communications
Victoria Howell

Manager of Marketing and Communications
Victoria Vitucci

Digital Marketing Manager
David Samuel

Tessitura Operations Manager
Joshua Peters

Ticket Services Manager
Sunni Day

Lead Ticket Services Representatives
Mahalia Jackson, Emma King Komisar

Ticket Services Representatives
Quinn Riggs

Audience Services

Interim Senior Front of House Manager
Serena Buchan

Front of House Managers
Megan Moran, Taylor Stanley, Angel Rivas

House Managers
Jess Jaffe, Neil Klein, Matthew Lopez, Myren Mandap, Micah Price, Lily Welsh

Captains
Ian Downing, Sophie Ferrin, Lauren Keffer, Ruby Leef

Audience Services Representatives
Sara Becker, Isabel Biagiotti, Rosemary Boatner-Doane, Isaiah Byrd, Zack Cambronne, Rhiannon Cosette, Kaleb Dufrene, Henry Eden, Lydia Funke, Isa Garcia, Sophie Greenway, Keeley Heagerty, Henry Houghton, Rose Kortrey, Jovani Powell, Erin Proctor, Alexandra Rogers, Chloe Schneider, Shawna Schwarz, Hanna Sgambellone, Diego Tobar, India Warren, Shannon Wynne.

Production

Director of Production & Facilities
Paul Ziemer

Venue Coordinator
Debby Lau

Audio & Video Supervisor
AJ Surasky-Ysasi

Production  Supervisor
Five OHM

Facilities

Assistant Facilities Supervisor
Lakeshia Lopez

Facilities Supervisor
Julian Rivera Jr.

Finance

Interim Director of Finance
Steve Becker

Finance Assistant
Steve Bratton

Human Resources

Director of Human Resources & DEI
Shawn Campbell

Payroll and Benefits Specialist
Kat Phifer

Consultants

Digital Marketing
Situation Interactive

Publicity
Blake Zidell & Associates

MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB STAFF

Artistic Director......................................Lynne Meadow

Executive Director.................................. Chris Jennings

General Manager..................................... Robert Carroll

Chief Strategy and

Communications Officer...................... Amy Gilkes Loe

Associate Artistic Director......................... Nicki Hunter

Director of Play Development/

Sloan Project Manager............................. Scott Kaplan

Manager, Office of the Artistic Director/

Artistic Associate...............................Rosie DiVincenzo

Assistant to the Executive Director............Liam Lonegan

Literary Manager...................... Elizabeth Sharpe-Levine

Literary Assistant/Readings Coordinator......Sydney Fells

Artistic Production Associate................Melissa Mickens

Artistic Office Assistant.............................Logan Collins

Casting Director...................................... Kelly Gillespie

Casting Assistant..............................Malaika Fernandes

Artistic Consultant.................................. Daniel Sullivan

Artistic Development Consultant...................Jerry Patch

Judith Champion Playwriting Fellow............ Eboni Booth

Drama League Directing Fellow.....................Zoë Adams

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

2023-2024 Commissions........... Sonali Bhattacharyya,

Zachariah Ezer, Beth Hyland, Aurora Real de Asua,

Ruby Thomas

Bank of America Commissions................... Eboni Booth,

Halley Feiffer, Lindsey Ferrentino, Daniel Goldfarb,

Dave Harris, David Lindsay-Abaire, Sarah Ruhl,

Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Bess Wohl

Bobbie Olsen Commissions.....Will Arbery, Aziza Barnes,

Vivian J.O. Barnes, Bekah Brunstetter, Emily Feldman,

James Graham, Ella Hickson, C.A. Johnson,

Anchuli Felicia King, JC Lee, Abby Rosebrock,

Alexis Scheer, Jonathan Spector, Simon Stephens,

Sanaz Toossi, Jenny Rachel Weiner

Bobbie Olsen/

Laurie Foundation Commission..............Amy Rosenthal

Edgerton Foundation

New Play Commissions...................Christina Anderson,

Jeff Augustin, John J. Caswell, Jr., Heather Christian,

Lydia R. Diamond, Joshua Harmon, Aleshea Harris,

Steven Levenson, Martyna Majok,

Dominique Morisseau, Qui Nguyen, Erika Sheffer,

Lloyd Suh, Sharr White, Whitney White, Anna Ziegler

Mary Mill Commission......................Molly Smith Metzler

Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation

Commission.................................... Christine Quintana

Paul A. Kaplan Literary Trainee.................... Katie Brown

Chief Development Officer....................... Kate Martinez

Senior Director of Institutional Giving

& Capital Projects......................................Katy Higgins

Director of Development Operations

and Strategy...........................................Corriane Oster

Manager of Institutional Giving.................Jennifer Brady

Director of Special Events......................Jonquil Schaller

Individual Giving Manager.............................Sofia Ubilla

Development Communications Manager....... Stefanie Pancaro

Membership Assistant.........................Eduardo Delgado

Development Assistant............................ Caroline Dunn

Board Liaison and Leadership Giving Manager....Sarah Wolf

Development Operations Assistant............Maeve Hogan

Special Events Assistant............................ Ethan Sichel

Paul A. Kaplan Special Events Trainee........Rachel Bland

Fordham University

Serving the City Development Intern.........Milagros Luis

Chief Marketing Officer...................Debra Waxman-Pilla

Assistant Director of Marketing...................Brian Sellers

Digital and Social Media Manager.................Zach Raffio

Audience Development.... Joanna Lee; Marcia Pendelton,

Walk Tall Girl Productions

Paul A. Kaplan Marketing Trainee....... Sheldon Skoboloff

Marketing Fellow........ Miciah Wallace

Director of Finance...............................Matthew Svigals

Human Resources Director......................Vincent Losito

Human Resources and Payroll Manager........Julia Torres

Business Manager..................................Aminah Walton

Business Assistant.................................... Katrina Olson

Business and Analytics Trainee.................Emily Wallace

IT Manager......................................... Mendy Sudranski

System Administrator............................... Jason Fritzsch

Associate General Manager.................... Gilbert Medina

Company Manager, Friedman............... Lady del Castillo

Company Manager,

New York City Center................ Carissa Barry-Moilanen

General Management Associate...........Eliza Ducnuigeen

Director of Ticketing Services..............Robert Allenberg

Ticketing Services Manager............Mark Bowers-Molter

Ticket Inventory Manager.........................Charles Murria

Ticketing Services

Representatives.....................Rosanna Consalvo Sarto,

Alan Mendez, Laura Eichholz

Director of Learning and

Community Engagement..................Rachel Kara Pérez

Director of Education Operations.............Wade T. Handy

Learning and Community

Engagement Manager..................... Gabbie Ballesteros

MTC Teaching Artists....Claudia Acosta, Raquel Almazan,

Chris Ceraso, Dominic Colón, Daniela Gonzalez y Perez,

Devin Haqq, Amy Harris, Kate Long, Taryn Matusik,

David McElwee, Elia Monte-Brown, Andres Munar,

Carmen Rivera, Jonathan Rivera Morales,

Stephen Scarpulla, Nilaja Sun, Judy Tate,

Ashley M. Thomas, Camille Thomas, Cándido Tirado,

Liam Torres, Marilyn Torres, Joe White, Amy Witting

Learning and Community

Engagement Trainee.............................. Han Bumanlag

Director of Production............................ Chris Batstone

Production Manager......................... Celeste Lagrotteria

Facilities Manager............................... Esperance Conde

Assistant Production Manager................Brooklyn Garza

Production/Facilities Assistant.........Paola Solís-Ramírez

Production Management Trainee.............. Tess Vocalina

Properties Supervisor................................. Jessica Zivny

Assistant Properties Supervisor........ Sam Gordon Llanes

Costume Director............................ Erin Hennessy Dean

Assistant to the Costume Director...........Stefanie Genda

Stage Management Fellow............................. Katrina Ali