Downtown Art presents
The waistmaker’s opera
May 8 – 30, 2010
Downtown Art’s Trustees:
Board Emeritus:
Elena Feliciano (Treasurer), Sam Greenhoe,
Michael Hickey (Chair), Bruce Morrison
(President), Charlie Potts, Rosemary Quinn
(Secretary), and Ryan Gilliam.
Clifford Scott, Melvin Mister
Artistic/Executive Director:
Associate Producer
Composer in Residence
Planning Consultant:
Attorneys:
Auditors:
Ryan Gilliam
Veracity Butcher
Michael Hickey
Nello McDaniel & Arts Action Research
Brooklyn Legal A, Patterson Belknap
Cason & Company
The 2009/2010 Company:
Lily Abedin, Doris Alcantara, Ari Anderson, Zen Anton, Kamyn Asher, Hans Bilger,
Alyssa Burgos, Lauren Burgos, Angelika Burkle, Olivia Cabrera, Erin Carden, Zach
Crumrine, David Fasanya, Michela Garabedian, Lili Gehorsam, Gal Gelbard, Eli
Greenhoe, Oscar Hallas, Lena Feliciano Hansen, Isabel Jenkins, Robby Jenkins,
Jarrett Jung, Jeanne Kessira, Amelie Lyons, Alice Quinn Makwaia, Mariana Quinn
Makwaia, Max Molishever, Jasai Chase Owens, Jake Paganakis, Claritza Quezada,
Kahlil Russell-Starks, Isabella Sullivan, Lindiana Timmons, Erin Wells
Special Acknowledgements for the Waistmaker’s Opera –
This opera could never have been written without the research and insight of
historians who have written at length about the Triangle Fire and the Uprising of the
20,000, most particularly David Von Drehle “TRIANGLE: The Fire that Changed
America”, and Nan Enstad “Ladies of Labor, Girls of Adventure.”
with (in alphabetical order)
Lily Abedin
Doris Alcantara
Ari Anderson
Alyssa Burgos
Lauren Burgos
Olivia Cabrera
Lena Feliciano Hansen
Michela Garabedian
Lili Gehorsam
Gal Gelbard
Izzy Jenkins
Jeanne Kessira
Alice Quinn Makwaia
Mariana Quinn Makwaia
Claritza Quezada
Isabella Sullivan
Lindiana Timmons
girl, S. Gompers, lady, Socialist
girl, boss
girl, Mayor, Clerk, Socialist
girl, lady, boss
girl, Triangle Boss
girl, Alva Belmont, boss
girl, reporter, Morris Hilquit/Socialist
girl, narrator, Women’s Trade Union
League (Violet Pike, Mary Dreier)
girl, judge, Anne Morgan
girl, judge,reporter
girl, Triangle Boss
girl, judge, dance soloist
girl, vocal soloist
girl, Clara Lemlich
girl, boss, police
girl, boss, secretary
girl, reporter
Composed by Michael Hickey
Libretto and direction by Ryan Gilliam
Musicians:
Hans Bilger – Bass
Eli Greenhoe – Percussion
Zach Crumrine – Violin
Michael Hickey - Guitar
Stage/House Manager: Veracity Butcher
Sound Technician: David Fasanya
To the graduating class of 2009/2010 – Our thanks and love!
BIOGRAPHIES
Lily Abedin (girl, Samuel Gompers, lady, Socialist) is a sophomore at the
NYC Lab School This is her second show at Downtown Art and she has fallen
in love with every cast member here. She enjoys theater, Sawyer, and long
walks on the beach. Thanks to Ryan and Mike for bringing such an incredible
story to light and making it a beautiful show. Gomps out.
Doris Alcantara (girl, boss) is in her first show at Downtown Art. She thanks
her family for their support and wishes everyone the best.
Ari Anderson (girl, Mayor, Clerk, Socialist) goes to school at La Guardia and
has does several shows at Downtown Art as well as written plays for DTA’s
Festival of Homegrown Work. She hopes you all enjoy the show.
Alyssa Burgos (girl, lady, boss) is in her third show at Downtown Art. Please
google her if you’d like to know anything more. P.S. Amelie is her fiancee.
Lauren Burgos (girl, Triangle Boss) is 17 years old and enjoys long walks in
the sunset (its isolated.) She is a vegetarian and wants you to enjoy the show
meat-free.
Olivia Cabrera (girl, Alva Belmont, boss) is 16 years old and attends
Dominican Academy High School. This is her first season at Downtown Art.
She would like to thank Ryan for being an awesome director, Mike for writing
beautiful music, and the cas for being so dedicated to this show. Enjoy the
show!
Lena Feliciano Hansen (girl, reporter, Morris Hilquit/Socialist) is 16 years old
and this is her 4th season and her 5th performance at Downtown Art. She
would like to thank all the beautiful and dedicated young women of the cast –
“If we stick together, we will win.” This is by far the most unique performance
she has been in and she hopes you enjoy the show! She would also like to
thank Mariana Quinn-Makwaia, for not only being an amazing actor, but an
amazing friend. Lena knows she will do great things and loves her beyond
words.
Kamyn Asher – for her dedicated cheerfulness, her willingness to throw herself
wholeheartedly into all she takes on whether its a murderous alien, a stormtrooper, a
circus dancer, or a passionate progressive; she has set standards of commitment and
excellence for all of us as a company.
Zach Crumrine – for his gorgeous violin, his finely tuned ear, and his willingness to
step in and wrestle with problems ranging from the technical to the mundane... his
artistry will be sorely missed.
David Fasanya – in his first season, taking on acting and writing, finding his way into
this new company with warmth and grace, with an onstage presence of depth and
insight, he brings new perspectives, ideas, and his own internal musicality to our
work.
Mariana Quinn-Makwaia - who has blessed our company with her performances and
warmth since she was eleven years old, who has always had a delicate strength and
a powerful spirit that has reached audience after audience, whose gorgeous voice
has entranced us, who has been admired and beloved by her company members for
years.
SPECIAL THANKS
To Sam and Elise Greenhoe for their help and support (and living room!) in making
the music come to life!
To the families of the THE WAISTMAKER’S OPERA cast for their support!
And to every creative thinker who has contributed to making DTA exactly, and
proudly, what it is.
COMING SOON
The second annual NYC FESTIVAL OF YOUNG ARTISTS AND LEADERS,
Saturday, June 5, a free outdoor celebration featuring over 30 NYC teen
companies showing music, theater, dance, film, and interactive exhibits,
companies of teen artists and community leaders on East 4th Street,
Downtown Art
Ryan Gilliam, Artistic/Executive Director
(212)479-0885 [email protected] www.downtownart.org
together to establish a cultural district here on our block. She has received a Bank of
America “Local Hero” award and an ART/NY “Local Hero” award. Ryan has a B.F.A.
from New York University’s School of the Arts and a M.F.A. from the Yale School of
Drama.
She gives her gratitude and love to everyone who saw her through the challenges of
‘The Waistmaker’s Opera’ – most particularly and completely to Mike.
Michela Garabedian (girl, narrator, Women’s Trade Union League (Violet
Pike, Mary Dreier) is a happy 16 year old from the Bronx High School of
Science. She loves this show and everyone in it. She loves Ryan for teaching
us how to act, Mike for writing really beautiful music, the band for playing
really beautiful music, the tech crew for handing us hats, and the cast for
bringing this piece to life. She would like to tell Mari, who is graduating this
year, that she has brought so much to every piece she has been a part of..
your openness to all and bravery in performance makes you someone Michela
really looks up to. We love you, Mari!
Lili Gehorsam (girl, judge, Anne Morgan) attends Stuyvesant High School
and this is her first season at Downtown Art.
Downtown Art is a member of Fourth Arts Block (FAB). FAB is coalition
of cultural and community organizations developing the East 4th Street
Cultural District between Bowery and 2nd Avenue. For more info, go to
www.fabnyc.org.
HOUSE OF DREAMS is made possible with public funds from the New
York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.
HOUSE OF DREAMS is supported, in part, by public funds from
the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
Downtown Art is a member of the Alliance of Resident Theater/NY (ART/NY.)
Contributors to Downtown Art’s 2009/10 Season (list in formation):
•
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
•
City Councilmember Rosie Mendez
•
NYC Dept of Youth and Community Development
•
Deutsche Bank
•
New York State Council on the Arts
•
J.M. Kaplan Fund
•
van Itallie Foundation
•
Mary Duke Biddle Foundation
and many, many wonderful generous individual - a list of whom would end up creating an
entire additional program!
Gal Gelbard (girl, judge,reporter) is a 14 year old freshman at LaGuardia High
School. This is her third year and fourth performance here at Downtown Art.
Oh.. and this is her first musical! She would like to thank Ryan, Mike, the
band, and everyone in the cast for making this experience a great one. She
hopes you enjoy the show!
Izzy Jenkins (girl, Triangle Boss) is a 16 year old student at the Bronx High
School of Science. DTA is the best thing that has happened to her since Lily
Abedin. She loves these girls, and by extension, this courageous show.
Please enjoy.
Jeanne Kessira (girl, judge, dance soloist) is a sophomore at the Beacon
School and this is her third season and show at DTA. She’d like to thank all
the lovely ladies and talented musicians who made the opera come alive, and
Ryan for her creative genius. Enjoy the show!
Alice Quinn Makwaia (girl, vocal soloist) is 14 years old and is in her last year
at Tompkins Square Middle School. She is in her third production at
Downtown Art and she hopes you enjoy the show.
Mariana Quinn Makwaia (girl, Clara Lemlich) is a senior at Stuyvesant. She
first joined DTA when she was eleven and now (....six years later) she can’t
accept that this is her last show. She will miss ‘the Gilliam family’ incredibly,
but promises, formally on paper to visit often. Ryan is an inspiration, the
musicians a dream, and the cast “her sisters.” Peace and love.
Claritza Quezada (girl, boss, police) is a 16 year old girl who goes to Nest+m.
This is her second production at DTA, however she was in her school musical,
too. She’d like to thank her parents (for letting her come to DTA), Ryan (for
directing the opera), Mike and the musicians (for all the time they took in
making the music) and the WHOLE CAST AND CREW (for everything)! Enjoy
the show!
Isabella Mia Sullivan (girl, boss, secretary) is 13 years old and goes to the
Clinton School for Writers and Artists. This is her first year at Downtown Art
and she is really, really excited for the show!!!!
Lindiana Timmons (girl, reporter) aka Lemon, is a freshman at LaGuardia
High School for drama. She is proud to be in her third year at Downtown Art.
She has had so much fun working on this production and is so proud of the
cast for all the amazing work they have put into this season. She hopes you
love the show as much as she does!!
David Fasanya (sound technician) is a 17 year old kid... who is doing tech for The
Waistmaker’s Opera. This is his first and only year at DTA and he decided it would
be fun to invade every project that took place this year. Contact him for more
information.
Hans Bilger (Bass), is still living with his parents, and so is a well-fed artist living in
Park Slope, Brooklyn. He is currently wrapping up his sophomore year at Poly Prep
and performing in his third show with the company. His interests include backpacking,
playing and recording music (among other projects, his band with Eli, Men Who
Shave, gig regularly), and doin’ thangs (though that really encompasses the other
two). He dreams of one day producing a smooth, velvety, bean-based liqueur with
band-mates Zach and Eli. If he was ever presented with the option of purchasing a
pretty new hat for himself, he most certainly would, even if it might make him feel like
a lady
Zach Crumrine (Violin) plays violin, is going to the California Institute of the Arts next
year as a music technology major, and hates writing about himself.
Eli Greenhoe (Percussion) attends LaGuardia High School and this is his fourth
season with Downtown Art.
Veracity Butcher (Stage/House Manager, Associate Producer) is a former DTA
company member as well as a budding artist graduated from Middlebury College with
a degree in Theatre and Arabic. She loves approaching theater from all facets—
particularly acting, designing, and playwriting. Her play A Dangerous Electricity, which
centered on factual accounts of injustices in East St. Louis and Israel’s Gaza Strip,
was read on the Atlantic Stage 2 summer 2009. New York City acting credits include
La Boheme (Spoken) and The Great Recession at The Flea Theater, and The
Europeans (Potomac Theatre Project) at Atlantic Theater. Upcoming projects include
The Green Knight at the 45 Bleecker theater and The Diamond Trade at La Mama.
Michael Hickey (Composer) has been a musician, performer, recording artist,
musical collaborator and songwriter for over 25 years. Since joining Downtown Art in
2005, Mike has been Composer in Residence, working with Artistic Director Ryan
Gilliam to craft new musicals from original and adapted works. “The Waistmaker’s
Opera” is his fifth show. In addition to his work with Downtown Art, Mike is the full
time Executive Director of the Center for New York City Neighborhoods: a nonprofit
dedicated to coordinating foreclosure prevention efforts throughout New York City.
He would like to thank Zach for his beautiful violin work, daring digital music
compositions, and his steadiness as a member of the sound tech team. He wants to
thank Hans and Eli for their virtuosity, flexibility and for inspiring him with their deep
enthusiasm for making music. You guys rock. He also wants to thank the cast: his
music is inspired by thinking of your voices, dancing and happiness. A thank you to
the Greenhoe family, especially Sam Greenhoe – board member, volunteer, sound
designer, and all around huge help. Without their generosity this project would not
have been possible. Love to Dakota, his family, his co-workers and friends who’ve
been such great supports in taking on this big project. Finally, much love to Ryan, his
muse, who made such a huge commitment to his music throughout. It’s hard to
believe we’ve been able to make this all happen, and he’s so excited and pleased
with the result.
Ryan Gilliam (Libretto, Director) has been working with young artists to make theater
since 1988. Ms. Gilliam has directed over a hundred productions; additionally, she
has written sixteen plays and one libretto (this one!), adapted many works of film and
literature for the stage, choreographed dozens of shows, and designed sets and
costumes for more than forty productions. She has worked with more than 1000
young artists, in companies of 12 – 18 members, making theater in an intensive fourto seven- month-long process. Ryan has been the Artistic Director of Downtown Art
since 1992, before the company became a youth theater, and during which time
several DTA productions were awarded OBIE and BESSIE awards, and the company
received a Special OBIE Grant citing its support of young artists. Ryan was featured
as a “New Yorker of the Week” on cable television’s New York One, and has been
the subject of a half-hour documentary program - part of a series on New Yorkers for Japan’s Public Television. She has taught theater at the Neighborhood School,
the Earth School, and Tompkins Square Middle School. She served as Chair of
Fourth Arts Block (FAB), a membership of cultural and community groups working