THE WILMA THEATER PRESENTS

ETERNAL LIFE PART 1

BY NATHAN ALAN DAVIS
DIRECTED BY MORGAN GREEN

On stage April 11-30, 2023
Streaming May 1-14, 2023

WOMAN/MOTHER SNOWFLAKEJennifer Kidwell
JUNIOR/SNOWFLAKE CHILD/HEARSE DRIVERBrandon J. Pierce
GREY-BEARDED MAN/DEATH CONSULTANTLindsay Smiling
GOOSESarah Gliko
MAN/FATHER SNOWFLAKESteven Rishard
VOICEPax Ressler 

Stage Manager Patreshettarlini Adams
Dramaturg Mariah Ghant
Set Designer Matt Saunders
Costume Designer Azalea Fairley
Sound Designer Jordan McCree
Lighting Designer Masha Tsimring
Projection Designer Alan Price
Videographer Leslie Rivera
Assistant Stage Manager Chloe Kincade
Technical Director Benny Henry
Crew Head Elliot Greer
Wardrobe Head Lily McClure
Head Sound Engineer Eddie Smith
Projections team Ben Levan, Cody Smith, Eddie Smith, and Anastasia Vertjanova
Head Electricians Ben Levan
Other Electricians Michael Hamlet, Anastasia Vertjanova, Bless Rudisill, Manny Garcia, Myles Martin, Hope Lash, Elijah Moore, and Josiah Perez
Head of Properties Kimitha Cashin
Carpenters Michael Battaglia, Elliot Greer, Anna Ryabova and Greg Kite
Live Audio Description Jihan Thomas
Open Captioning Christina Binder
Covid Safety Officer Elliot Greer

The Actors and Resident Stage Manager employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association,
the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

The Director and/or Choreographer is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Inc., an independent national labor union

Commissioned by Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, MA
Mandy Greenfield, Artistic Director

[logo] Venturous Theatre Fund

Eternal Life Part 1 and Nathan Alan Davis are recipients of a Venturous Playwright Fellowship at the Playwrights’ Center, which is supported by Venturous Theater Fund.

Edgerton Foundation New Play Award

Honorary Producers

David Markus and Lisa Timmel

Season Honorary Producers

Val Arkoosh & Jeff Harbison • Mari & Peter Shaw • John & Theresa Rollins

Honorary Producers Circle

Tobey & Mark Dichter • Herman & Helen Fala • Linda & David Glickstein • Katherine Kelton & Troy Graham • Eva & Michael Leeds • Tom Mahoney • Don & Barbara Parman • Ted & Stevie Wolf

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WILMA THEATER LEADERSHIP

Lead Artistic Director, 2022-23 Season: Morgan Green
Co-Artistic Directors: James Ijames, Yury Urnov
Managing Director: Leigh Goldenberg
Artistic Director Emeritus: Blanka Zizka

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DIRECTOR’S NOTE

My dad used to joke that he would be the last human to die, because the next day someone would invent the cure for mortality. This dad joke is born from “death anxiety,” or thanatophobia, a haunting feeling that plagues most humans at some point in their lives. This phobia seems to be a uniquely human thing; we are the only species fully aware that death is inevitable. Thank you, Consciousness. To manage this burden, there is a tradition in Bhutan some call “the secret to happiness,” which asks one to meditate on death five times a day. This, of course in 2023, is supported by a spin-off app called WeCroak that will text you a reminder five times a day reminding you that you are going to die. You could describe this meditation practice as an attempt to live with death, to keep it close, like a friend. And while I cannot claim to have made friends with my own demise, it’s clear that death is everywhere. There is an inspirational quote magnet which materialized on my fridge at some point and reads, “That it will never come again is what makes life sweet.” Thank you, Emily Dickinson. In Eternal Life Part 1, a contemporary fable, the character Woman is plagued with what you might call an extra dose of thanatophobia, but with a little assistance from the new and unusual friends she encounters along her life’s journey, she is eventually able to agree with Emily. When she is able to accept that life is finite, she is able to appreciate the interconnectedness of the universe, limitless love, and precious togetherness. To accept death is to unleash joy.

-Director Morgan Green

PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTE

Prior to becoming a parent, I had written a total of zero plays. Since, I have written eleven and counting. Before my first child was born, and for a few years while my two oldest were very young, I worked as an actor, pretzeling auditions and rehearsals around my day-job. My children’s toddler years feel like yesterday, but my working life during that span feels like several lifetimes ago. Now I have three children, ages 16, 14, and 9. I write for the stage, I write for the screen, and I teach—avenues of creative expression that I feel beyond fortunate to have found. While I don’t attribute the sea change in my artistic life solely to becoming a father, raising children opened pathways of introspection, experience, and understanding that had previously been closed to me. It shed fresh light on my own childhood and changed the way I thought about my parents and grandparents. I also began to experience time differently; which is to say I began to feel keenly aware of how little time I had. Eternal Life Part 1 is a play about a lot of things. It’s about death’s inevitability. It’s about wealth. It’s about futurity. It’s about the Great Beyond. It’s about our relationship with the natural world. And, yes, it’s about parents and children. I hope it brings you joy. I hope it helps you to integrate contradictory thoughts and feelings. And I hope it calls your inner child out of hiding for a while. 

-Playwright Nathan Alan Davis

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MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM

Morgan Green (Director) directs plays, films, podcasts, and dinnertime. Her work celebrates goofiness, visual poetry, and surprise. Green was a Co-founder of the award-winning theater company, New Saloon (Minor Character at The Public Theater, Cute Activist at The Bushwick Starr) and is currently a Co-Artistic Director at The Wilma Theater in Philadelphia, where she directed the Pulitzer Prize winning filmed production of Fat Ham by James Ijames (now on Broadway!), and Barrymore recommended School Pictures, by Milo Cramer. Other credits include The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe (West Coast Premiere, Marin Theater Company), The Music Man by Meredith Wilson, Far Away by Caryl Churchill (The Sharon Playhouse), and BOY FACTORY by Milo Cramer (Playwrights Horizons Soundstage). Her short film Good Guy was accepted into the San Francisco Indie Film Festival as well as the LA Independent Women Film Festival and Florida shorts. Her thesis film, One More Time With Feeling, is currently in post-production with a Panavision Early Filmmakers Post Production Grant. Morgan holds a BA in Theater Directing from Bard College and a MFA in Film Directing from the Feirstein School of Cinema, Brooklyn College. Proud member of SDC.

Nathan Alan Davis (Playwright): His plays include The Refuge Plays, The High Ground, Nat Turner in Jerusalem (Stavis Playwright Award, 2017), Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea (Steinberg/ATCA New Play Citation, 2015), Origin Story, and The Wind and the Breeze (Lorraine Hansberry Award, 2013). For his body of work thus far, he has received a Windham-Campbell Prize (2021), a Steinberg Playwright Award (2020), and a Whiting Award in Drama (2018). His plays have been produced and commissioned by theaters across the United States, including New York Theatre Workshop, Arena Stage, Seattle Rep., Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Cygnet Theatre, and Skylight Theatre. As a screenwriter, he has worked on TV and film projects for HBO Max, Paramount, AMC, BET, Netflix, and others. Originally from Rockford, Illinois, Nathan is an alumnus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Indiana University Bloomington, and The Juilliard School. He is a Lecturer in Theater and Berlind Playwright-in-Residence at Princeton University and a Venturous Fellow at the Playwrights’ Center.

Jennifer Kidwell (Woman/Mom Snowflake, she/they) is a performing artist. Recent projects – Ocean Filibuster (PearlDamour), Fat Ham and Antigone (The Wilma Theater), Michelle Ellsworth’s Body on a Table, Underground Railroad Game (2017 Obie Award for Best New American Theatre Work; 2018 Edinburgh Fringe First Award; Lucille Lortel, Helen Hayes nominations), Jaamil Olawole Kosoko’s Syllabus for Black Love, Geoff Sobelle’s Home (2018 Bessie Award), Adrienne Truscott’s Still Asking for It (Joe’s Pub), Dan Hurlin’s Demolishing Everything with Amazing Speed, David Neumann/Advanced Beginner Group’s I Understand Everything Better (2015 Bessie Award for Outstanding Production), Being/With and The Octopus and the Interview (Nichole Canuso Dance Company), Superterranean, Fire Burns Hot: Little Reno!, I Promised Myself to Live Faster and 99 Break-Ups (Pig Iron Theatre Company), Dick’s Last Stand (Whitney Biennial 2014, as Donelle Woolford), Zinnias: the Life of Clementine Hunter (Robert Wilson/Toshi Reagon/Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon). Wilma Theater Associated Artist, co-founder of JACK. Published in movement research Performance Journal #45 and at hyperallergic.com. 2020 Visiting Artist Duke University, 2021 Visiting Artist UPenn. 2013 TCG/Fox Resident Actor Fellowship, 2015, 2021 Leeway Foundation Art & Change Grant, 2016 Pew Fellow, 2017 Independence Fellowship, 2020 Ruthie Award & Hodder Fund Grant. 

Brandon J. Pierce (Junior/Snowflake Child/Hearse Driver): Broadway: Birthday Candles (Roundabout Theatre Company). Off-Broadway: Exit Strategy (Primary Stages). Regional: Ben Butler (North Coast Repertory); Native Son (Playmakers Rep.); Skeleton Crew (Portland Stage); Welcome to Fear City (KC Rep); Sweat (People’s Light); Fat Ham, Kill Move Paradise (Wilma Theater); Metamorphoses, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Arden Theatre Company); The City of Conversation (Delaware Theater Company); Dutch Masters (Azuka Theatre); Shakespeare in Love, Richard II (PSF). Brandon is a member of the Wilma Theater’s Hothouse Company. Love to Alexandra, Mom, and Dad. Up Next: Incendiary (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company).

Lindsay Smiling (Greybearded Man, Bad Snowflake, Death Consultant) is returning for his 19th production at the Wilma. Wilma credits include: Fat Ham, Is God Is, and Kill Move Paradise. Recent productions: How to Catch Creation (Baltimore Center Stage/Philadelphia Theatre Company), Pride and Prejudice (Santa Cruz Shakespeare). Other acting and directing credits include: Delaware Shakespeare, New Light Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Lantern Theater, Arden Theater, Syracuse Stage, People’s Light, Pittsburgh Public, Two River Theatre, Victory Gardens, ACT, Dorset Theater Festival, Human Race Theatre, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Walnut Street, Illinois Shakespeare Fest., Arkansas Shakespeare Theater, Mixed Blood Theater, and Bristol Riverside Theatre. Lindsay is a proud member of the Wilma Theater’s HotHouse Company, an Adjunct Professor at Temple University, and a founding member of the Black Theatre Alliance of Philadelphia. More info about Lindsay @ www.lindsaysmiling.com.

Sarah Gliko

Sarah Gliko (Goose) is an actor/musician and founding member of the Wilma HotHouse Acting Company, where past productions include: The Cherry OrchardMinor Character, Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Drama League Award Nomination-Outstanding Digital Theatre), Describe the Night, Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play,Blood Wedding, Constellations (Barrymore Nomination-Lead Performance), When The Rain Stops Falling (Barrymore Award-Ensemble),  the U.S. premiere of Tom Stoppard’s The Hard Problem, and the world premiere of Paula Vogel’s Don Juan Comes Home from Iraq. Other recent credits include: Greenbrier Valley Theatre’s Mountain Home Christmas, TOWN at Theatre HorizonDelaware Theatre Company’s all female A Christmas Carol, alongside Bebe Neuwirth in A Small Fire and The Bridges of Madison County (Barrymore Award-Lead Performance), both at Philadelphia Theatre Co. She has also worked locally with Arden Theatre Co., Act II Playhouse, Azuka Theatre, Bearded Ladies Cabaret, Inis Nua Theatre, Lantern Theater Co., Montgomery Theatre and The Walnut St Theatre.  She is the grateful recipient of a 2019 Independence Foundation Fellowship Award. 

Steven Rishard (Man/Father Snowflake) was last seen at the Wilma in Kiss. Other Wilma productions include Describe the Night, When the Rain Stops Falling, Adapt!, Romeo and Juliet, The Hard Problem, and Antigone. Here in Philadelphia, his other credits include: Garbologists and Detroit, Philadelphia Theatre Company; Boycott Esther and The Arsonists, Azuka Theater; Cabaret and Doll’s House 2, The Arden Theatre; The Few, Theatre Horizon; Straight White Men and Settlements, Interact Theater. His New York credits include: The Bacchae for The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park; In the Penal Colony at Classic Stage Company; Luz at LA MaMa Theatre; Cascando with Division 13 Productions; Journeys Among the Dead at H.E.R.E Art Space; Act Without Words 1 at the Brooklyn Can Factory. TV credits include Law & Order, Treme, Law & Order: SVU, Kings, and The Americans. Film: Shelter (6 Souls), Joy D.Vee, and Hal Hartley’s Meanwhile. Look him up on Instagram @srishard for his work in visual art.

Pax Ressler (Voice, they/she) is a non-binary performer, devisor, music director, and composer working at the intersections of theatre and music as well as arts and advocacy. In addition to the Wilma, they have performed and collaborated with Arden Theatre Company, Bearded Ladies Cabaret, People’s Light, Theatre Exile, Theatre Horizon, Shakespeare in Clark Park, and more. Pax is a passionate advocate and organizer of the local non-binary and trans theatre community with Genderfunk Philly (@genderfunkphilly), an Instagram rolodex of local trans and non-binary theatre practitioners. She recently formed Rise Choir (@risechoircollective), a non-audition group of singers invigorating community spaces with joy and solidarity. Pax’s work as a composer has been heard in The Bearded Ladies’ Barrymore Award-winning Contradict This! A Birthday Funeral for Heroes and in productions at La Mama Experimental Theatre and Works and Process at the Guggenheim in NYC. paxressler.com @paxressler

Patreshettarlini (Pat) Adams (Stage Manager, she/her) is proud to be the resident Stage Manager at the Wilma Theater.  She has been with the organization since the theater opened in its new home on the Avenue of the Arts in 1996. This season (2022-23) will be her 27th at the Wilma!  She has been a member of Actor’s Equity for over 31 years.  Thanks be to God! Pat’s career encompasses work on over 100 productions, including the Crossroads Theatre Company, New Brunswick, NJ; Freedom Theatre, Philadelphia, PA; New Victory Theater, NYC; Ford’s Theater, Washington, DC; The National Black Theater Festival, Winston-Salem, NC; The National Black Arts Festival, Atlanta, GA.; the Standard Bank National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa.  She has also traveled internationally with acclaimed dance company, Noche Flamenca! Pat is proud to serve as a Board Member for Theatre Philadelphia; the Lay Leader, a Christ-Servant Minister, Secretary to the Administrative Council and a member of the Trustee Board of Emmanuel UMC; a Lifetime member of the SMA and a Board member for the Stage Manager’s Association Foundation; a Board member-at-Large and member of the Stavis Committee for the National Theatre Conference. She is the recipient of the Bonaly Recognition for Stage Management (2017); the IUP Alumni Award of Distinction/College of Fine Arts (2018); and a 2020 recipient of the Del Hughes Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Art of Stage Management. In memory of ‘Miss Thomi’, for Love and Faith.

Chloe Kincade (Assistant Stage Manager, they/them) is a freelance stage manager in Philadelphia, and is happy to be joining the team for their second production at the Wilma. They are currently the Company Production Manager with Applied Mechanics. They recently graduated from Ball State University with a B.S. in Theatre and a concentration in Stage Management.

Mariah Ghant (Dramaturg, she/hers) is thrilled to be serving as the Dramaturg for Eternal Life Part 1. Originally from the suburbs of Chicago and an alumna of Vassar College, Mariah joined the team at the Wilma in January 2021 where she serves as the Artistic Associate and Literary Manager. Outside of the office, Mariah is a former Arden Apprentice (Class 26), a member of Theatre Contra, an improvisor with ComedySportz Philly, and on the Artistic Squad with Delaware Shakespeare. She also enjoys acting, dancing, teaching, writing poetry, and watching terrible reality TV. Mariah continues to pursue her passion for creating art that is accessible for all and provides opportunities for those otherwise underrepresented to have a voice. Learn more about her at her website mariahghant.com and explore her poetry writing on Instagram @mariah.g.poetry.

Matt Saunders (Set Designer): Recent Off-Broadway credits include the world premiere of Daddy by Jeremy O Harris, for which Saunders won a Drama Desk Award, the world premiere of Dominique Morisseau’s Pipeline at Lincoln Center, the world premiere of Futurity for Soho Rep and Ars Nova, Venus at Signature, Good Person of Szechwan at The Public Theater, The Tempest for The Public Theater at the Delacorte. Regionally, Matt has designed at Mark Taper Forum, Kennedy Center, Guthrie Theater, Huntington Theatre Company, Yale Rep, Berkeley Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, Spoleto Festival, Arden Theatre Company, Pig Iron Theatre Company, Philadelphia Theatre Company, and Yale Repertory Theatre. Eternal Life is Matt’s 18th design at the Wilma; selected others include: Describe the Night, Kill Move Paradise, When The Rain Stops Falling, The Christians, An Octoroon, Hamlet, and Angel’s in America. Matt holds an MFA from Yale School of Drama. He is a 2014 Pew Fellow in the Arts, as well as 2015 Hodder Fellow at Princeton University. Matt is an Associate Professor of Design in the Department of Theater at Swarthmore College. mattsaunders.net.

Azalea Fairley (Costume Designer, she/they) is a New Orleans born NYC based costume designer and is happy to make their debut at the Wilma! Selected Off Broadway and Regional credits include: Shadow/ Land (Public Theater NYC), Clyde’s (George St Playhouse, NJ) Detroit 67 (TheaterSquared AR), Blood Knot (Flat Rock Playhouse NC), By the Way Meet Vera Stark (Colorado Fine Arts Ctr, Nominated for 2022 Henry Award for Outstanding Costume Design), 10×10 Play Fest (Barrington Stage MA), Schoolgirls (Theater Squared AR), What Lies Beneath (On Site Opera NYC), TJ Loves Sally Forever (Jack Theater, NYT Critics Pick). Broadway assistant credits include: Hamilton and A Strange Loop (2022 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical). Film design credits include The Rainbow Experiment, and Paris in Harlem. Proud member of USA 829. Azalea-Fairley.com.

Masha Tsimring (Lighting Designer) is a NYC based designer for live performance. Recently: The Appointment (Lightning Rod Special); morning/mourning (Prototype/HERE); Events (The Hearth); Montag (Soho Rep); Vietgone (Guthrie); Tick Tick…Boom! (Portland Center Stage); Der Freischütz (Wolf Trap Opera); To the Yellow House (La Jolla Playhouse). Internationally, her work has taken her to Chile, China, Russia, Germany, Abu Dhabi, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Bolivia, and one very big boat. Homes for New York projects include Playwrights Horizons, Soho Rep, HERE Arts, The Brick, The Kitchen, Atlantic Theatre Co., Clubbed Thumb, PlayCo, Invisible Dog, Page73, and Bushwick Starr. In addition to design, Masha’s interests include progress towards pay equity and a more ethical model of making in the American theater. Masha received her MFA from the Yale School of Drama. She is a proud member of USA829. More info at www.mashald.com.

Jordan McCree (Sound Designer) is a percussionist, producer, composer, sound designer, and teaching artist in Philadelphia. His most recents works and collaborations include: Empathitrax (Philadelphia Theatre Company), TOWN(Theatre Horizon), This Is The Week That Is (1812 Productions), Backing Track(Arden Theatre Company), Citizen (New Light Theatre), Peril’s Island (Shakespeare In Clark Park), Fat Ham (The Wilma Theater), My General Tubman (Arden Theatre Company). Recently, he has become one of the grant recipients to the 1/52 Project. He is also a member of Philly-based, Barrymore Award winning, hip hop collective, ILL DOOTS. Their music is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and more! #ILLMOVEMENT | ILLDOOTS.COM

Alan Price (Projection Designer) is the founding director of the Center for Immersive Media at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He has previously served as associate director of the Imaging Research Center at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and affiliate research faculty and acting director of the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design at The Ohio State University. He was a visiting fellow at the iCinema Centre for Interactive Cinema Research at the University of New South Wales; visiting associate professor at the Centre for Applied Computing and Interactive Media at the City University of Hong Kong; and a visiting associate professor at the School of Art, Design and Media at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Alan’s background as an animator and filmmaker emphasizes narrative and cinematic structure in his works with immersive and interactive storytelling. His animation and film work has been awarded and exhibited at numerous film festivals including Black Maria, Transmediale, Humboldt, Anima Mundi and Ann Arbor, among others. He is a recipient of international awards in interactive media including Prix Ars Electronica in Linz, Austria; SIGGRAPH conference Art Gallery exhibitions; and a MUSE Award for international achievement in galleries, libraries, archives and museums. His applied research includes collaborations and sponsored research projects funded by Honda; the Federal Agency for Health Care Research and Quality; the National Science Foundation; the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science; the Baltimore Museum of Art; La Panacée Center for Contemporary Culture in Montpellier, France, and other institutions.

Leslie Rivera (Videographer): Stories, entertainment, movie magic and the search for truth.  Those are the things that drive Puerto Rico born writer/director Leslie Rivera to create uniquely entertaining narratives. For Les, each project is an opportunity to push his chosen art form further, to explore the human condition and to leave a mark on the fabric of the world. A winner of the Philadelphia Film Festival’s Philly Pitch and a Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab semi-finalist, Les has made myriad short films and documentaries. He is an avid educator of low budget filmmaking techniques, believing it is through hard work, mistakes, repetition, failures and self reflection that a filmmaker learns and gets better at their craft. He has taught multiple master workshops for various organizations including the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival. His youtube channel, Blatino Cineninja, is full of video tutorials that teach movie magic. It is there that Les developed and produced his award winning feature debut “Papi Ramirez vs Giant Scorpions”, which was shot in a rental storage unit using green-screen, miniature props and sets, and stock footage to create a quirky, campy, retro cinematic look for an entertaining story about the lengths a soon-to-be-father will go for his child.

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COMING SOON TO THE WILMA STAGE

TWELFTH NIGHT

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
DIRECTED BY YURY URNOV

JUNE 6-25, 2023

The Wilma boldly reimagines Shakespeare’s beloved romantic comedy about twins separated by a shipwreck. Set on a beach, the story is about getting to the other side of grief, and moving towards reunion and resolution.

LEARN MORE

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TAKE A WORKSHOP WITH THE DIRECTOR OFETERNAL LIFE PART 1

DIRECTING INTENSIVE WITH MORGAN GREEN

Take an in-person directing class with Wilma Theater Co-Artistic Director Morgan Green (Fat Ham, School Pictures, Eternal Life Part 1) on Sunday, May 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

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WILMA THEATER ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES

  • Curiosity: A willing, playful, open-minded approach to each encounter, each person, our work and ourselves with an inquisitive imagination about what may emerge.
  • Courage: A desire to approach our work with boldness and openness, despite fear. 
  • Care: Thoughtfully considering the needs and wants of others with empathy.
  • Rigor: Fostering an environment in which we individually and collectively continue to learn, practice, and deepen our craft.
  • Joy: Actively creating the conditions for presence, pleasure, and vitality. 
  • Collaboration: A mode of working towards a common goal dependent on trust, respect, active listening, and mutual support; in which the ideas and experiences of all participants inform the outcome.
  • Liberation: Inclusivity and equity in our work, ensuring a dynamic and productive environment in which everyone is empowered, heard, and valued.

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WILMA EDUCATION AND PORTABLE STUDIO

WILMA EDUCATION

Wilma Education supports the larger Wilma mission by striving to cultivate the artists and audiences of tomorrow through meaningful engagement with the art today. Whether through interactive pre-show workshops with cast members, backstage tours with our production team, or classroom residencies with Wilma company members and teaching artists in which students develop their own theatrical responses to Wilma productions, we invite students into the conversations around our work at the deepest levels. By encouraging students to reflect on the complexities of contemporary life today, we nurture the audiences, innovators and global citizens of tomorrow.

PORTABLE STUDIO

The Wilma Theater’s Portable Studio offers FREE and FUN theater classes for adults who want to meet new people and inspire each other by seeing a show and collaborating creatively together. Classes are led by professional artists and take place in public spaces all over the city. No previous experience is required but the Portable Studio has become a creative home to much of Philadelphia’s hidden talent. Many Portable Studios are offered virtually and in-person. We are expanding in-person programming as it is safe to do so, and we are so excited to welcome you! 

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The Actors and Stage Managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

This theater operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

The scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT Theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE.

The Wilma Theater is a member of the following organizations: Avenue of the Arts, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, League of Resident Theatres, Midtown Village Merchants Association, Professional Non-Profit Theater Coalition, and Theatre Communications Group.

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THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

If your name has been omitted or misprinted, please accept our apologies and kindly notify us by contacting the Development Department at 215-893-9456 x108.

Thanks to all of our individual donors, whose support has meant so much over the past year.

$15000 or more

Val Arkoosh & Jeff Harbison · Daniel Berger, Esq. · Gay & Don Kimelman · John & Theresa Rollins

$10000-14999

Peter A. Benoliel & Willo Carey · Tobey & Mark Dichter · Herman & Helen Fala · Linda & David Glickstein · Katherine Kelton & Troy Graham · Tom Mahoney · Mari & Peter Shaw · Jeri Svanda · Ted & Stevie Wolf
$5000-9999

Wray & Michelle Broughton · Robert T. Foley · Peggy & Richard Greenawalt · Edward & Susan Hoffman  · Jane & Brad Hollingsworth · Eva & Michael Leeds · Matthew & Cindy Lewis · David Markus & Lisa Timmel · Don & Barbara Parman · Tim Sabol & Judd Flesch · Sharon & Irv Shapiro · Ellen B. Solms

$2500-4999

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$250-499

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$100-249

Anonymous (3) · Fidler/Allen Family · Dave & Nadean Anderson · Cecily M Banks · Paul T. Barnes · Gary Bauman · Rodd Bender & Cari Feiler Bender  · Fern Beschler · Jessica Betts · Carlo Beuf · David & Michele Blask  · Libby Harwitz & Burton Blender · Russell Champa & Johanna Pfaelzer · Allan & Mary Ann Champion · Denise Chiarella · Beth Cohen · Gary & Marcy Cohn  · Tim & Cathy Conahan · Michael Borowitz & Barbara Crain · William Davis · Susan Dempsey · Tom Dennis & Chela Weiler · David Durham · Neil Durkin · A. Ebrahim · Eve & Jeff Edwards · Jeff L Eichen · John Erickson & Harry Zaleznik · Erica & Matt Ezold Household · Alan Folsom & Kathryn Ruch · Kathleen A Foster · Henry Fraimow & Jacqueline French  · Peter & Julie Gale Household · Maureen Gallicchio · Gerald Gay · Andrew Gelber · Carolyn Gnage · Brent Groce & Donna Cordner  · June L. Hament · Margaret Harris · Libby S Harwitz · Matinee Ladies & Token Male · Jim Heenehan & Carolyn Guss · Marcia Herman · Ralph & Natalie Hirshorn · Robert & Binnie Holum · Esther & Robert Hornik · Pat Houppert · Lawrence & Feather Houstoun  · David & Thea Howey  · Michael & Marlena Hurley · Germaine Ingram · Joan & Michel Jeruchim · Brian Jones · Jo Ann P Kelton · Peter Leffman · Joe & Virginia Leonard · Cameron Lester · Jane Isaacs Lowe · Margaret & Bruce Mainland · Lynne Maxwell · Julia Mayer & Barry Jacobs · Donna Mayforth · Ellen Meyer-Kalergis · Sonya & Peter Murphy · Erin Nash · Cory Newman · Nathaniel & Nicole Nucci · Vickie Pasternack · Claudia Pine-Simon · Jay Scott Reynolds · Ken Richman · Edward & Geralyn Rock · Cintra S Rodgers · F.L. Rodgers Family Fund of the Community Foundation of New Jersey · Mr. & Mrs. William Schwarze · Joann Seaver · Howard Shalwitz · Claudia Pine-Simon & Morton J. Simon, Jr. · Tamara Smirnova · Margaret Harris · Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Strieb · Holland Taylor · Beverly Marie Vaughn · Cindy Veloric · Alexander & Lisa Vershbow  · Stanley Ware · Robert Washburn & Judith Drasin  · Leonard Weinberg & Fran Gallun · Rebecca Wells · Doris A Williams · Alan Windle · Hilary Zankel

$25-99

Anonymous (3) · Leslie Adams · Donna L Antonucci · Richard Apgar & Allen Black  · Stephen Arum · Johanna Austin · Nancy Axelrod · Courtney Kathleen Bambrick · Mark & Linda Baum  · Marc Beschler · Kathleen & Michael Beveridge · Thomas & Sarah Breeden · Kathleen Ellen Brooks · Sandra E Brooks · Katie, Iain, & Malcolm Campbell · Emma Castrege · Two Chances · Paul D. Chrystie · Pamela Clarke · James F. Conway · B. Karen Coyne · Carol Daeley · MaryJane Danan · Aaron Davis · Pamela Dernham · Ann Marie Dimino · Toni Dorfman · Lisa & Brian Bostwick · Andrew & Ricki Eisenstein  · Erin Elman · Dina Emerson · Ia Ensterä · Maryann Erdosy · Shani Ferguson · Judith S. Finkel, PhD · Galina Fomenkova · Ms. Anne Francis · Beth W. Galinsky · David & Beth Galinsky Household · Miriam Galster · Sharon Gornstein & Jeff Gelles · David & Susan Giffen  · Burt Gitlin · Deborah Glass · Bill Goldberg · David Gottlieb & Becky Hutto · Hellmut Gottschild & Brenda Dixon Gottschild · Phil Graneto · Herbert Graves · Gary & Catherine Gray  · Grace Grillet & W. Richard Eagan  · Angela & Stuart Grodanz · Debra X Gross · Jennifer Gruce · Terry & Paul Guerin · Jerry & Miriam Haag · Gretchen Hall · Charles Harde · Gail Harlow · Stephen Hatzai & Linda Newsted · Gail Hecky · Michael & Angela Hennessey · Thomas Herninko · Edith Hill · David & Donna Hodges  · Caren & Stuart Hosansky · Anne Schuster Hunter · The Haley Foundation · Anne Dutlinger · Gina Kaiser · Max & Jeannie Karlovitz  · Michele & John Koskinen · Karen A Lagerson · Daniel Lai · Valerie Adeniji Lawrence · Thomas Lee · Ann M Lesch · Jack Lovewell · Carol Lupo · Christine MacArthur  · KC MacMillan · Mark Robert Makurath · Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Manko · Laura Marlin · Laurie Ellen Mazer · Mary T McGinn · Brian McManus & Laurie Mazer  · Mrs. Nancy Megley · Anna & Hays Mershon · Jordan Michel · Denise Moravek · Hortensia R. Morell · Mrs. Toni Nolan · Marta Nolan-Alley · Lydia Ogden · Helen O’Rourke · Mike Pavol & Jenny Goldman  · Tonya Quillen · Susan Ralston · Grace Ray · Leslie J Rivera · Pablo Samuel Rivera · Michele Roberts · Andrew A Robinson · Talia Ron · Lisa Ryan · Janice Sakkal · Delores Sapp · Ann Herrmann-Sauer & Richard Sauer · Vladimir Savikovsky · Ruth & Anthony Scavozzi · Isaac Segal · Deanna W Shelton · Debbie D. Smith · Douglas & Merril Smith · Emlen & Joanna Smith  · Joanna Smith · Robert Snyder · Robert Stern & Mary Ellen Weber  · Jeffery A Stewart · William Thompson & Bernadette Faix  · Josh Tjaden · Andrew & Patricia Toy  · Judy Trailer · Paul & Barbara Truscello · Bill Joseph Untereker · Christa Walck · Patricia Wallace & Daniel Peck · Russell Walsh · Kristine Ward · Phyllis Berman & Arthur Waskow · Ben Waxman · Gary Waxman · Amy White · Professor R L Widmann · David Wierz · Paige Willan · Vivian Williams · Alan Wohlstetter & Cheryl Rice  · Charles Wright · Anna Yemelyanova · Thomas Zelman · Pamela H. Zimmerman · Michael Zuckerman

Under $25

Anonymous · Alexandra Alger  · Majid Alsayegh  · Janay Anderson  · Maralyn Anderson  · Palmira Araujo  · Eleanor Barba  · Cynthia A Bardwell  · Wendy J Barnes  · Frances Bendert  · Amanda Bergson-Shilcock  · Esther Bernard  · Sara Beroff  · Mr. Bruce Birchard  · Nina Blackshear  · Marshall Blalock  · Mrs. Laura Blau  · Christina Bradley  · Timothy Brodwater  · Oleg Brovender  · Andrea Brown  · Linda Burnett  · Shannel Burton  · Ms. Susan J. Butterweck  · Elizabeth Carmalt  · Valerie Carter  · Maria Ceferatti  · Arthur & Janet Cherry · Monica Choi  · Caitlin A Cieri  · Dr. Robert Cohen & Dianne Tankle  · Monica Cole  · Jeremy Colson  · Cris Constantinescu  · Betsy Maxfield Crofts  · Vicki Croul  · Ms. Patricia Daly  · Lauren Davenport  · Malcolm Davis  · Nina Dawson  · Marilupe De La Calle  · Natalye Delegal  · Mary Dougherty  · Thomas Dougherty  · Golde Dudell  · Paul & Mary Lynn Ellis  · Sue Levi Elwell  · Jaclyn English  · Eric Feldman  · Suzanne Felix  · Richard Fitzgerald  · Vignette Fleury  · Alan Forman · Karin Fort  · Irene Fotiadis   · Eric Frank  · Erik Freitas  · Martin & Sheri Friedman  · Sheri B Friedman  · Christine R Fryer  · Dennis Gallagher  · Sheree Galpert  · Pierre-Richard Gautier  · Laurence & Brenda Gavin  · David Gifford  · Regina Gogol  · Patricia Goldentyer  · Sofia Golovey  · Wiley Basho Gorn  · Meaghan Harned  · Paxton Harris  · David Chan Hemingway  · Reece Herberg  · Paul & Mary Hernandez- Cuebas  · Mia Herndon  · Karen Hester  · Amy Hicks  · Karen Hill  · Andrea Knox & Jonathan Hodgson  · Nate Gable Holt  · Jaclyne Hopkins  · Mr. Richard D. Munoz & Ms. I. Gail Howard  · Carolyn Huckabay  · Barbara Hughes  · Elaine M. Hyman  · Victoria Ignatova  · Anna Itskovich  · Andrea Y Johnson  · Jalon Johnson  · Helen Jones  · Lindo Jones  · Marisa Jones  · Parris Jones  · Theresa Jones  · Zane Jones  · Ella Bennett Kahan  · Lisa Kammerud  · Catherine Kapchits  · Bruce & Joane Katsiff  · Aya Kaufmann  · Donna Keegan  · Andrew Khouri  · Rhonda Kinard  · Vera P Kirillova  · Mark Klarman  · Olga Kondrashova  · Jennifer Krivinskas  · Lauren Krug  · Ekaterina Krylova  · Corine Labridy  · Joshua A Lachewitz  · James T Lamb  · Eileen Ann Lambert  · Kinard & Cheryl Lang  · Margarete Larese-Ortiz  · Ben Keith Lefkowitz  · Kelsey Leljedal  · Roberta Faith Levine  · Jeff L Lewin  · Vladimir Litvak  · Barbara Lobb  · Laurie Lober  · Donald & Linda Loftin   · Jean Lowerison  · Heidi Lucas  · Brendan D Malm  · Caitlin Marrazzo  · Kate Martucci  · George Matysik  · Ellise Mayor  · Micah McKinney  · Sherri Michalovic  · Harris & Julie Miller  · Leslie Minora  · Barbara Mirell  · Jonathan Frank Molinaro  · Reginald T Mosley  · Bronwen Mullin  · Mary Neal  · Emma Needleman  · Maya Nittoor  · Michael Ochs & Erica Golemis  · Dan O’Connor  · Kelly Orphan  · Jaymie Campbell Orphanidys  · Margaret Otte  · Danielle Parker Mangum  · Jeffrey Todd Peacock  · Sherry Peck  · Dinah Pehrson-Day  · Carl Perchnock & Deborah Pines  · Natalia Petrova  · Dr. Deborah Pines M.D.  · Anna Pizzimenti  · Arthur & Barbara Pomerantz · Thomas K Pratt  · Richard M Price  · Joseph Quinn  · Evan Radcliffe  · Elliot Ratzman & Jennifer Bush  · Kriswel Rivera  · Elizabeth Robinson  · Rebekah Ruark  · Jennifer Converse Schelter  · Lauren Schiavo  · Ilona M Schmalfuss  · Andrew Schwartz  · Warren & Diane Seider  · Barbara Shapiro  · Daria Shishkin  · David & Rebecca Sinkler  · Jeffrey Smith  · Kelsey Smith  · Tamara Sorelli  · Hallie Spencer Harmon  · Robert & Catherine Stock  · Elizabeth Stoessl  · Bruce Stowell  · Kirwyn Sutherland  · Jan Swenson  · Mr. & Mrs. George Szymanski  · Niki Tate-Royal  · Albert Tedesco  · James Testa  · Jamille Tinsley  · Mackenzie Toler  · Shoshana Trager  · Amelia Truett  · Gary Christopher Tumolo  · Holly Tyson  · Bambi Vargo  · James Vines  · Kimberly Waite  · Pamela Walkling  · Bettyruth Walter  · Lifei Wang  · Solana Warner  · Alex Wassell  · Janislee Wiese  · Phillip Williams  · Lana Xu-Litt  · Dina Yacoubagha  · Elena Yeselevskaya  · Michael Zakroff  · Yenlik Zheteyeva  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·

WILMA THEATER STAFF

Lead Artistic Director2022-23 SeasonMorgan Green
Co-Artistic Directors: James Ijames and Yury Urnov
Managing Director: Leigh Goldenberg
Artistic Director Emeritus: Blanka Zizka

Artistic

Associate Artistic DirectorKellie Mecleary
Artistic Associate and Literary Manager:
Mariah Ghant
HotHouse Company:
Krista Apple, Ross Beschler, Taysha Marie Canales, Keith Conallen, Melanye Finister, Sarah Gliko, Suli Holum, Justin Jain, Anthony Martinez-Briggs, Jered McLenigan, Campbell O’Hare, Jaylene Clark Owens, Brandon Pierce, Steven Rishard, Brett Ashley Robinson, Matteo Scammell, Lindsay Smiling
Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Initiatives: Noelle Diane Johnson
Wilma Acting Fellows:
Bash Bastian, AJ Garrett 
Literary Intern:
Kristina Neal

Education

Education ConsultantAnne K. Holmes
Resident Teaching Artist: Lee Minora
Teaching Artists: Taysha Marie Canales, Chris Davis, Kirstie Floyd, Nick Hatcher, Donovan Lockett, Brennen Malone, Anthony Martinez-Briggs, Lee Minora, Taylor Mitchell, Campbell O’Hare, Lillian Ransijn, Taj Rauch, Sunflower B. Rose, Devon Sinclair

Portable Studio Program

Program DirectorLee Ann Etzold
Portable Studio Program Coordinator: Wi-Moto Nyoka
Portable Studio ArtistsPatreshetarlini Adams (she/her), Chris Davis (he/him), Debra Disbrow (she/her), Lindo Jones (he/him), Donovan Lockett, Tommy Mavra, Anthony Martinez-Briggs (he/they), Cat Ramirez (they/she), Lillian Ransijn (she/her),

Development

Development Director: Jessica Betts
Individual Giving Associate: Brittney Anderson
Development and Executive Assistant: Danielle Pisechko

Marketing

Marketing DirectorBill D’Agostino
Visual Communications ManagerKristin Finger
Marketing and Communications Assistant: Cat Bohnenberger

Business/Administration

Business Associate: Minna Tran

Production

Production ManagerMatt Zumbo
Resident Stage ManagerPatreshettarlini Adams
Technical DirectorBenjamin Henry
Head ElectricianMichael Hamlet
Properties Head: Kimitha Cashin
Wardrobe Supervisor: Lily McClure
Audio Engineer: Eddie Smith

Operations and Facilities

Operations and Facilities Manager: Peter Escalada-Mastick
IT Systems and Data Associate: Alyssa Cole

Box Office

Box Office ManagerJames Specht
Patron Services Liaison: Sarah Blask
Box Office Staff: Kylen Bailey, Owen Groce, Francesca LaRosa
House Managers: Katherine Desimine, L. Elwood, Ana Kola, Gio Maneri, Javier Mojica, Rasheda Sesay

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers

Katherine Kelton, Chair
Jerry Goldberg, Vice Chair
Tim Sabol, Treasurer
Mark S. Dichter, Secretary, Former Chair

Board Members

Siv Anantuni
Ross Beschler
Wray Broughton, Former Chair
Melanie Dubin
Herman C. Fala, Former Chair
Linda Glickstein
Peggy Greenawalt, Former Chair
Jeff Harbison, Former Chair
Thomas Mahoney
Kinohi Nishikawa
Lindsay Smiling
Lansie Sylvia
A.E. (Ted) Wolf, Former Chair

Ex-Officio

Leigh Goldenberg
Morgan Green
James Ijames
Yury Urnov
Blanka Zizka  

Emeritus                             

Harvey Kimmel   
Sissie Lipton
James F. McGillin
John Rollins, Former Chair
Dianne Semingson
Mari Shaw, Former Chair
Evelyn G. Spritz
David U’Prichard, Former Chair
Dr. R. J. Wallner
Jeanne P. Wrobleski

Wilma HotHouse Company

The Wilma HotHouse Company is the Wilma Theater’s ensemble of actors – an intrepid, process-oriented community of artists who meet regularly to train our bodies and voices in pursuit of deeper and more expansive theatrical expression.

In our Monday sessions, workshops, and rehearsals, we investigate theatrical pedagogy in order to support both individual and collective expression.

Through rigor, care, curiosity, and play, we bravely and imaginatively excavate the endless possibilities we might bring to the Wilma stage (and beyond).