Eurydice

Directors Note 

To be a theatre artist is a constant practice in commitment. Any story we tell requires us to bring the whole of our talents, passions, and experiences to the fore, grapple with them, and reorganize them into an intricate and deeply specific reflection of another person’s experience. I find nothing more invigorating as an artist than total commitment to exploring the world of ourselves through the word of great authors. I speak for myself and this entire company when I say that is what this production of Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice is and has been for us all: a deeply personal reflection on what it means to be alive through the lens of masterfully crafted music, movement, and poetry.

As a piece of theatre, Eurydice presents everything that I as an artist have always found most compelling. It asks for the creation of a highly specific world to support the lyrical brilliance of its eccentrically endearing text. So many of the moments in this show stand out to me simply because I’ve never seen anything like them on stage before. I hope that as you consume this piece, you will be swept away by our completely original score, our scenic design consisting mostly of found objects, and the beautifully intricate specificity of the devised movement created specifically for this production. What you will see tonight is a completely unique piece of art, and of that I couldn’t be more proud.

Nearly a year ago when I began conceptualizing this piece, I couldn’t have imagined the beauty that was in store for it. It has been the highest honor of my career to have been entrusted with facilitating the telling of this story. From the bottom of my heart I want to sincerely thank our brilliant cast for the vulnerable, brilliant risks they have taken, our designers for their unyielding precision and artistic ingenuity, our stage management team for their care and leadership and my brilliant Assistant Director, Alexa Adler, for enhancing the world of this piece. It was incredibly important that this process belonged to all of us who were fortunate enough to work on it, and I can with full confidence say that the piece of theatre you will consume tonight belongs equally to every member of this company.

I would also like to extend my biggest thanks to the PAC Executive Board. Every member of this team and cast is currently under the age of twenty two. Many of us (myself included) have not yet reached the age of twenty. It is essential for burgeoning theatre artists to have a place to be free to grow, experiment, create, and most importantly, express. As the story of Eurydice teaches us, life is so marvelously full and fleeting. This experience that we share is so fraught, and can all be taken from us in a moment. Every connection that we make, story we learn, or sensation we enjoy can drain from us as readily as fill us up, and so it is incredibly important to make the most of our time while documenting what it is to be human. The opportunity to do just this at such a formative stage in my understanding of life will leave its fingerprints on me for years to come.

In my opinion, at the core of this piece are four central questions:

1. How do we remember who we are in a world that encourages us to forget?

2. Is love strong enough to save us from our fate?

3. What are the consequences of loss when you choose to leave?

4. Is there any real way to maintain your innocence?

These questions are ancient and fundamental to the quest of human self realization. Obviously, this production could never provide a definitive answer to these questions, but I and my team have striven to reflect on these questions as we created this piece. I hope as you participate in this performance, you will bear them in mind, reflect on their implications in your own lives, and walk away with questions and revelations of your own. There is nothing more powerful than an experience which moves one into action, and I hope that this is what this production can do for you. Enjoy the show, and thank you for being the last piece of the puzzle that is this perplexingly eloquent and sincere reflection of the soul. We can’t wait to share this gift with you.

          -Aidan Heaney, Director of Eurydice

Content Warnings

• death
• illness
• predatory behavior

Cast

Creative Team

Meet the Company

Juliet Pearson

Eurydice

Juliet Pearson is a Junior BFA Musical Theatre Major with a Minor in Dance from Hyde Park, New York. Previous credits include: Ensemble in the Walter Gloor Mainstage production of The Wild Party and Waitress/Nancy D in A New Brain through SUNY Fredonia Performing Arts Company. Upcoming credits include: Juliet in The Walter Gloor Mainstage production of Romeo and Juliet and Susie Bones and Others in Puffs through Trash Rat Theatre Collective at Main Street Studios. "

Jamie Cox

Loud Stone

@jamie_singing_musical

Jay Byron

Orpheus

Jay is a senior acting major with a creative writing minor at SUNY Fredonia. Originally from the Finger Lakes region, he is so grateful and excited to be in PAC’s production of Eurydice. Recent credits include Taming of the Shrew (Baptista) and Peter and the Starcatcher (Peter). This upcoming May you can see him as Edmund in the Fredonia Mainstage’s production of Lear! He wants to thank Aidan for being a wonderfully imaginative director and the cast for being so fun and creative.

Andrew Bausher

Father

Andrew Bausher (he/him) is a Junior Acting major at Fredonia from Reading, PA. He was last seen on stage at Mainstreet Studios as Captain Scott in Peter & the Starcatcher. He will be seen next as Paris in Romeo & Juliet this Spring. Other Fredonia credits include: The Normal Heart (Tommy Boatwright), This Random World (Swing), and The Lifespan of a Fact (Jim). He wants to thank Aidan, Alexa, Ashley, and PAC for this opportunity.

Bowie Rivera

Little Stone

Bowie Rivera is a Junior BA Theatre Arts Major with a focus in Acting & Directing from Long Island, NY. Recent PAC credits include A New Brain (Stage Manager), This Random World (Bernadette), and Dolls of New Albion (Assistant Stage Manager). Bowie is beyond excited to be playing the role of Little Stone, and they are so honored to be working with such an incredible team and portraying this story.

Brent Hetrick

Big Stone

Brent is so excited to be portraying the role of Big Stone in this production. He has found the process of bringing “life” to this person of the underworld so fulfilling. This will be Brent’s 2nd PAC production as he had the pleasure of portraying Byron in “The Dolls of New Albion” last year. He would like to thank his fellow cast and crew from the show for working together so well, being so committed to this show, and for being so much fun!!!

Harley Selegean

Lord of the Underworld

Harley (they/he) is a sophomore double major in Acting and Writing and they are thrilled to have the opportunity to play the Lord of the Underworld in PAC's production of Eurydice. They have never been in a show quite like this one, and it's been such a wonderful experience from beginning to end. They are so proud of all their castmates and of course their good friend and director, Aidan Heaney. It is such a gift for them to be able to see their colleagues learn and grow and thrive. Aidan and the rest of their cast has been such a huge inspiration, and they thank them endlessly. Upcoming in the spring, they will be playing Regan in TADA's Mainstage production of Young Jean Lee's Lear. Save the date, and enjoy the show!

Aidan Heaney

Director

Aidan Heaney is a sophomore BFA Acting Major from Belfast, NY, and is ecstatic to be serving as the director of PAC's production of "Eurydice". Her recent performance credits include "This Random World" (Scottie), "Taming of the Shrew" (Swing), and "Peter and the Starcatcher" (Grempkin/Etc.). She currently serves as the General Manager on the PAC Executive Board and will be making her Walter Gloor Main Stage debut next semester in "Romeo and Juliet" (Rosaline/Juliet u./s.). She thanks the entire "Eurydice" team and PAC Eboard for their work and hopes audiences enjoy this beautifully crafted retelling of this timeless and fundamentally human story.

Alexa Adler

Assistant Director/Intimacy Coordinator

Alexa is a junior Musical Theatre major with a minor in Business Administration from Long Island, NY and she is absolutely honored to be on the production team of such a beautiful show. Fredonia credits include Pipeline (Laurie), A New Brain (Mimi),The Persians (Navy/Admirable), Songs for a New World (Understudy), New Works Now (Ensemble) and Ordinary Days (Asst. Stage Manager). Upcoming: Romeo and Juliet (Friar Lawrence). Alexa would like to thank Aidan for giving her the opportunity to work on this show, as well as the rest of the team and cast for all of their hard work.

Ashley Halm

Stage Manager

Ashley is a senior BA Theatre Arts/English double major with a minor in Creative Writing. Originally from Corning, NY, her previous PAC stage management credits include The Lifespan of a Fact, Ordinary Days, Small Mouth Sounds, and This Random World. She is also the Production Manager for PAC. When they're not sending emails or signing contracts, Ashley enjoys writing plays, watering their plants, and stress-baking pumpkin pie. She can't wait for you to see the show!

Becca Torncello

ASM and Props

Becca is a sophomore acting major and she is very excited to be apart of her first PAC show. Her past credits include Rebecca Gibbs in the Walter Gloor Mainstage production of Our Town. Becca is very happy to be on the production side of a show and has learned so much from her fellow production team and cast and can't thank them enough for all of their love and hard work they have put into this beautiful show. You can see her in the upcoming Walter Gloor Mainstage production of Romeo and Juliet as Friar John in April 2023!

Olivia Kaye

Scenic Designer and Technical Director

Olivia is based in Schenectady, NY, and is thrilled to partake in her first design role. Currently, she is the assistant stage manager for SUNY Fredonia's production of Into The Woods, and the assistant technical director for SUNY Fredonia's production of Radium Girls. Olivia is also serving her second year on the PAC board as the assistant technical supervisor. She would like to thank the whole team, but especially Aidan and Ashley, who have created something so beautiful.

Nick Cristoforo

Composer/Sound Designer

Nick Cristoforo is a sophomore Music Composition Major from Patchogue, NY. He began exploring music by arranging for a small jazz combo, which quickly developed into arranging for larger ensembles and orchestras. Since starting at Fredonia, he has written original music for many different ensembles in various styles, experimenting with harmony and motivic use. This is Nick’s first time working with PAC (and hopes it won't be the last)! Writing the music for Eurydice has been a ton of fun, as the plot of the show develops and twists various themes around, allowing for many musical opportunities. Musical themes and motives tied to these ideas can be traced throughout the show, allowing for more storytelling and some foreshadowing. Nick is honored to be able to bring the musical side of this story to life!

Emma Morlino

Costume Designer

I am currently a student at SUNY Fredonia, a senior who will be graduating Spring 2023. This is my second PAC show to be working on, I have was the Costume Designer for This Random World last Spring Semester. I will be Costume Designing one of the Main Stage show at SUNY Fredonia, Radium Girls, which is coming up very soon.

Lucy Pizzicarola

Costume Designer

Lucy Pizzicarola is a Theatre Arts and Music major who is happy to be a part of her second PAC show. Previous credits include costume designer for PAC'S A New Brain, assistant costume designer for Paul Robeson theatre’s production of A Raisin in the Sun, a stitcher on the Hangar theater's productions of Natasha and Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, The Great Leap, as well wardrobe supervisor of Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans. She is looking forward to her last year at Fredonia, and can not wait to see where theatre takes her next.

Nax Sidoni

Lighting Designer

Nax Sidoni (he/him) is a senior BFA Theatrical Production and Design major with a concentration in Lighting. His recent PAC credits include Lighting Designer for Small Mouth Sounds and This Random World. Previous Department credits include Lighting Designer for Into the Woods and The Normal Heart. He is so thankful for this opportunity to work with such a talented team on this production.

SPECIAL THANKS

Sophia Plaitakis

Aislinn Edmunds

Stephanie Reed

Dylan Janish

Czerton Lim

Megan Lancy 

Henry Zelenak 

Ted Sharon

Donovan Gale

Brian Cecala

Erin Houghtaling

David DeCaro

Elle Nunzio

Jessica Hillman-McCord