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Setting:
The Place In Between
 

The play runs 85 minutes without and intermission

Director's Note

Naomi Iizuka’s anon(ymous) is a powerful modern retelling of The Odyssey, exploring themes of displacement, identity, and survival. At its heart, the play delves into the lives of refugees and immigrants—people often unseen, unheard, and rendered anonymous in a world that too often overlooks their humanity. These stories remain tragically relevant today. The displacement of refugees, especially children, continues to be a pressing global issue. While social media can amplify their voices, the world has become increasingly desensitized to the horrors of war and violence, leaving these stories shared but rarely truly absorbed.

Iizuka’s poetic yet raw storytelling allows us to witness these struggles through the eyes of Anon, a young refugee searching not just for a place, but for the person who represents home—his mother. The play beautifully transforms the idea of home from a physical destination into the people we love and who anchor us. Anon’s whirlwind journey is one of both survival and the deep longing for the one person who can make him feel truly at home.

I hope you take something from this journey and see how each character navigates the intersection of myth and reality. This production centers on the ensemble and the people who make up our idea of home. As the world constantly shifts beneath our feet, we may have many physical places we call home, but it is our family—whether chosen or given—that remains with us, no matter the distance. May this story resonate with our present moment, reminding us of the shared humanity that binds us all. May it give you the courage to stand with the voiceless, and may it bring love and light to you and your families.

For my own mother, whose resilience is unparalleled.

Nigel Semaj
Director

Cast

Creative Team

Meet the Company

Ayann Shah

Anon

Ayann (he/him) returns to CCBC Catonsville after roles in He Has Risen, A New Brain, and Goya: en la quinta del sordo (in the house of the deaf man). Ayaan is a third year Theatre major here at CCBC and plans to transfer to UMBC.

Mariah Dawson

Nemasani

Mariah (she/her) growing up, Mariah’s family played loud music, but her older brother inspired her love of musicals and visual music. After being in small plays in elementary school, her real dream began while being in chorus in middle school. It was like Glee, especially in competitions. Once high school began, she was thrilled to be in drama and took any role she was given. He teacher even gave her a plaque at graduation for it, which she’s proud of.

Jake DeVries

Mr. Mackus/ Zyclo/Ensemble

Jake (he/him) After getting his degree in Interactive Media at Harrisburg University, Jake is returning to college to study Health and Wellness and is appearing in his first play since appearing in CCBC’s workshop production of He Has Risen. In high school, he was in productions of Aladdin and Fiddler on the Roof. He is excited to continue his career in theatre and his college education.

Jarod Johnson

Pascal/Ensemble

Jarod (he/him) returns to CCBC Catonsville after appearing in the fall 2023 production of The (One-Act) Play That Goes Wrong as The Inspector/Chris. A second year Digital Media major, Jarod has been acting since his 11th grade year in high school. His productions include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Beauty and the Beast, and A Soldier’s Story at Owings Mills High School, and The 10-Minute Play Festival at Bowie State University.

Elliott Chenoweth

Nasreen/Belen/Ensemble

Elliott (they/them) is a second-year biology major at CCBC Catonsville. They appeared in Peter Pan Jr. at Catonsville Middle School and Puffs at Catonsville High School. Outside of theatre, they can be found supervising the campus cafe.

Ifeoma Onwuli

Naja/Ensemble

Ifeoma (she/they) makes an appearance at CCBC Catonsville for the first time in their final year. Ifeoma has performed over the last decade, working in productions with the Arena Players such as The Ice Queen, Emma Lou and the Big Ragout at Woodlawn High School, and backstage for A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Sudbrook Middle School. Ifeoma has been trained in classes between CCBC campuses and plans to transfer to University of Maryland.

Alessandro Rossal

Ali/Ignacio/Ensemble

Alessandro (he/him) attended drama school in Guatemala before moving to the USA. He has appeared in around 15 plays in Spanish and attended classes in New York at Teatro Thalia. Then he helped establish the first Spanish speaking theatre company in Sarasota, FL, where he acted in, directed, and produced several plays. He is currently a Theatre major at CCBC Essex, and this is his first play in English.

Delaney Seitz

Calista/Ensemble

Delaney (she/her) has been performing since the age of 10. She has been many productions since then such as The Frogs, Mama Mia!, Little Shop of Horrors, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Beauty and the Beast, and so much more.

Addi Stashik

Helen Laius/Zyclo's Pet Bird/Ensemble

Addi (they/them) returns for their third CCBC production as a second year Theatre major. They have previously played Ceil Haversham in The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong and Narrator/Joey Chestnut in The Short Comedy Festival. Addi also did theatre at Dulaney High School and likes to sing and draw as a hobby. They are very excited to get back into performing after a long summer break!

Jory Williams

Senator Laius/ Strygal/Ensemble

Jory (he/him) makes his theatrical debut at CCBC. Jory previously acted in a short film, The Writer, and acted in and wrote the film Repeat Offender. Both were filmed at CCBC Essex. Jory is in his third semester at CCBC. He is currently employed at Outback Steakhouse. He plans to transfer to Towson University.

Vanessa Williams

Ritu/Serza/Ensemble

Vanessa (she/her) is a sophomore at CCBC. This is her first production here, and she’s very excited. She is a Performing Arts major studying vocal music. She has been in many productions before including Little Red Riding Hood, The Lion King, The Nutcracker, Bugsy Malone, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. She sang in the children’s choir through middle school and toured with the Singing Sensations. She plans to transfer to Howard University.

Naomi Iizuka

Author

Click here to read about the author.

Nigel Semaj

Director/Choreographer

Nigel (they/them) is a Baltimore-based director, movement director, choreographer, and Assistant Professor of Performance at UMBC. Notable directing credits include Ntozake Shange’s Spell No. 7, as well as new works such as the Off-Broadway Premiere of Bloodshot by Elinor T. Vanderburg. Their adaptation work includes a five-woman adaptation of Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus entitled 10,000 Moor, “For Hylas,” a queer retelling of the Hercules myth, and Call Me By Any Other Name…Just As Sweet: a queer deconstruction of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Nigel’s academic tenure in higher education includes policy creation/amendment, and developing anti-racist pedagogies in theatre education.

Bridget Wiggan

Assistant Director

Bridget (she/her) was born in NYC, but grew up primarily in Bergen County, New Jersey. She’s known from a very young age that she wanted to tell stories. She graduated from Muhlenberg College with a BA in Theatre and Dance. Her most recent work was at the heart of it all / at the end of the line, an adaptation of the classic myth of Eurydice and Orpheus centering queer love and grief using dance, which premiered on the Muhlenberg stage.

G. Maurice (Moe) Conn

Scenic & Lighting Designer/Technical Director

Moe is in his 15th year as the Fulltime Technical Director and Designer at CCBC Catonsville Center for the Arts Theatre. He has an MFA in Scene Design and Technical Theatre and a BA in both Alcohol Learning and Drug Studies and Technical Theatre. Moe has been working in technical theatre since 1993, as a Designer, Technician, Technical Director, and Educator where he has spent most of his professional career. Moe has served as the Technical Director and Designer for Cockpit in Court Theatre, Maryland’s Oldest Summer theatre. He has also worked on numerous productions at in the Baltimore area. Moe has received multiple nominations for Best Scene Design, Received Best Scenic Design from the MD Theatre Guide’s Readers’ Choice Awards for his design of Sunset Boulevard. Moe is one of the original Long Reach Long Riders starting in 2004 and has been a part of the core since its inception. He continues to serve on the ”Horde” of Directors as they continue to move forward. Moe is the last of the first 9 still riding with the LRLR. For the last 19 years he has volunteered with Behind the Scenes and can be found in the booth at USITT and occasionally LDI helping provide awareness and support for the charity. He also plays a mean Kazoo.

Jess Rassp

Costumer & Puppetry Designer

Jess is a theatre artist, producer and puppetry specialist who works as an independent artist with various theatre companies as a leader, designer, and puppet creator. In addition to intensive studies in theatre and fine arts, she received her B.A. in English Literature from Brandeis University. jessrasspdesign.com

Dylan Glatthorn

Sound Designer

Dylan is a Brooklyn-based composer and sound designer. His original full-length musicals include The Pelican (2022 NAMT Festival, 2020 Frank Young Fund grant recipient), Pottersfield (2024 National Foundation for Musical Theatre grant recipient), and Edison. Original short one-act musicals (all licensed through MTI) include Bittersweet Lullaby, Starshine, and Peach Melba (2023 Prospect Musical Theater Lab). Dylan has written music for eleven feature films, numerous shorts, documentaries, and commercials for clients such as Lindt, Nickelodeon, Oakley, Red Bull, Alessi, and PBS. Awards: New Hampshire Theatre Award for Best Sound Design, Clive Davis Award for Excellence in Music in Film, Best Original Score at First Run Film Festival, and two-time recipient of the Alan Menken Award. Member: Theatre Now Musical Writers Lab, ASCAP, and The Dramatists Guild of America, Inc. www.dylanglatthorn.com

Samuel Koch

Stage Manager

Samuel (he/him) returns to CCBC to be stage manager after being assistant director for John Proctor is the Villain and stage manager for The (One-Act) Play That Goes Wrong. Sam is currently a Design and Production major at UMBC, with plans to make theatre his career.

Caelyn Ricks

Assistant Stage Manager

Caelyn (they/them) returns to CCBC after stage managing John Proctor is the Villain last spring. They have acted in multiple CCBC productions, including last fall’s The One-Act Play that Goes Wrong as Sandra/Florence and Barbecue as LillieAnne. Caelyn grew up involved in drama clubs and community theatre, primarily being on stage as part of the cast. Dabbling in the other side of the production universe, Caelyn took on working lights for CCBC’s production of Goya: en la quinta del sordo. Now they’re diving more into the production side of stage plays and can’t wait to be part of theatre in new ways.

Mitchell Avent

Assistant Choreographer

Mitchell (he/him) is attending his first year at CCBC Catonsville as a Theatre major. Mitchell spent 10 years practicing dance and attended Peabody Institute. In his high school years, Mitchell performed in High School Musical, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Newsies, and more.

Jacinda Pintuck

Light Board Operator

Aaron Partin

Sound Operator

Students of Stagecraft THTR 131

Set Construction

Alex Bosworth, Nathaniel Key, Samuel Koch, Aaron Partin

Scene Shop Assistants

Yahya-Kamau Brown, Oluoma Ogbuka, Myles Rigsby

Stage Crew

Sarah Joyce, Ash Stevenson

Costume Shop Assistants

Costume Crew

Ruby McKerrow, Marlon Seemungal 

Trent Haines Hopper, THsquared Photography

Production Photographer

Damon Krometis

Production Coordinator

Special Thanks

Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis
CCBC President
Dr. Joaquin Martinez
Provost & Vice President of Instruction
Dr. R. Michael Walsh
Dean, School of Arts & Communication
Brad Norris
Interim Performing Arts Manager
Professor Nick VanHorn
Chair, Performing Arts and Humanities
Tommy Parlon 
Arts Pathways Coordinator
Moe Conn
Technical Director, CCBC Catonsville
Marc W. Smith
Technical Director, CCBC Dundalk
Designer/Scenic Artist of City Drop
Jason Randolph
Technical Director, CCBC Essex
David Martin
Assistant Technical Director, CCBC Essex
Johanna Lawrence
Administrative Assistant, Arts
Cathy Kratovil
Communications Assistant, School of Arts & Communication
Michael Elspas
Designer, CCBC Creative Services
Johari Barnes
Campus Director, CCBC Catonsville
Rebekah DeWit
Dundalk Community Theatre
International Refugee Committee
Latino Racial Justice Circle
Rachele Lawton
Shane Lowry, Toby's Dinner Theatre
Ann MacLellan
 

CCBC School of Arts and Communication

Dr. R. Michael Walsh, Dean Professor
Professor Will Niebauer, Chair, Arts and Design
Professor Nick VanHorn, Chair, Performing Arts and Humanities

The Arts at CCBC

Brad Norris, Interim Performing Arts Manager
Johanna Lawrence, Administrative Assistant
G. Maurice “Moe” Conn, Technical Director
Jason Randolph, Technical Director
Marc Smith, Technical Director
Nicole Buckingham Kern, Galleries Coordinator
Lisa Boeren, Box Office Manager
Thom Purdy, Box Office Assistant
Cathy Kratovil, Communications Assistant
Jess Rassp, Resident Costumer


Theatre at CCBC

Julie Lewis, Coordinator, Faculty Director
Damon Krometis, Coordinator, Faculty Director
Terri Raulie, Faculty Designer
Precious B. Stone, Faculty Director
Jennifer Ring, Faculty Director

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