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Setting: 

Paris, the Reign of Terror (1793). 

A safe place, a study, a prison cell, the Tribunal. Then the scaffold. 

There will be one ten minute intermission

The Director's Decoder Ring

Do you ever struggle to tell your story? Each and every character in this story is struggling to tell their own story. It can’t be ignored that the audience for this play now finds themselves in a similar circumstance as the characters of “The Revolutionists” play: at this critical moment in world history-making, each and every citizen in the US is asked to decide how they want to tell their story. Certainly the last year of political life in the US has felt like we were in a strange spiral revisiting previous eras in world history. In theatre, surreality and dreamlike states are a kind of cheat-code for recognizing a liminal space, a space when one can experience change, where what has been a rule can transform into something else entirely.  

Pragmatically, this play suggests that acts of solidarity are the best option for moving forward in a hazy and dangerous reality, and it urges us to address and heal conflicts, believe women, and find compassion and care in the face of pain and oppression. But looking deeper, the playwright also reminds us that despite the world looking like someone else’s dream, we still retain the power to create our own stories.  

The character Olympe in the play (and this is true to history) is a playwright who writes a play where she is herself a character, and in it, she tries to convince the queen, Marie Antoinette, to change her mind about monarchical rule. This fascinating historical example of the play within the play inspired our creative team to ask, what if we did that too? What if we discovered ourselves in a story about danger and ideals, and we wrote our own way out?  

What followed was a reclamation of the play's character Marianne, who, according to Gunderson’s text, was a fictitious character imagined by Olympe. But in our version, Marianne is actually from our time, writing herself into Olympe’s story. Stories beget stories, which beget more stories. 

In a world inundated with the stories of the ultra rich and suffering laid upon everyday folks, it can be hard to imagine and craft our own stories, those in which despite oppression, we can thrive, grow and keep our peace. Scholar and cultural critic, Wini Breines argues that we can engage what she calls a ‘prefigurative politic’ through living how we want society to be, because it’s through that effort of living those ideals in even the most contrary of circumstances that we find ways to sustain those realities. Olympe de Gouges says it in the play, “We write our own endings!” 

It is my belief that theatre artists are uniquely positioned to do the work of reimagining reality: our power lies in our ability to use imagination. The artists before you today have risen to that challenge in a moment of deep polarity in the real world. They have visioned a new way forward, forward and through, this show using play, creativity, kindness and solidarity. Their creativity is an act that helps forge the world they want to see, just as Olympe used her playwriting in 18th century France. The means of expression will shift and change through the ages, but creative processes like this one remind us that we all have the power to form relationships and articulate unique bonds that can rewrite a seemingly predetermined world. Those bonds, real or imagined, are acts of solidarity. 

May we continue to reimagine what is possible and play it toward a better future.  

Tara Cariaso
Director

Cast

Creative Team

Meet the Company

Taylor Fruhling

Olympe de Gouges

Taylor (she/her) is super excited to be back on stage in her third production at CCBC. She has previously performed as Pauline in A Bright New Boise and as The Nurse in Medea at CCBC. She can’t wait for you all to see the hard work we have put into this show. She hopes you can take away something important from this play, as this show has many parallels to what is happening in the world today. She would like to thank her cast mates and crew for making this such an amazing experience, and she would also like to thank Tara, our wonderful director, for always believing in her.

Addi Stashik

Charlotte Corday

Addi (they/them), lover of sharks and musical theatre, is a 3rd Year theatre major acting in their 4th show at CCBC! Previous CCBC credits includeThe One-Act Play That Goes Wrong, A Short Comedy Festival, Anon(ymous), and was in costume crew for Medea last spring semester. During the summer, Addi also appeared in the ensemble of Glyndon Area Players' Seussical. In their free time, Addi enjoys honing their skills as an artist, drawing and singing whenever they can. After this semester at CCBC, they will be transferring to Towson University where they will continue their acting education in hopes to pursue theatre as a career!

Jamie Malott

Marie Antoinette

Jamie (she/they) is a student at CCBC who is very excited for her first production with the college! She is earning her degree in Secondary Education - English, but has a deep love for theatre and performing. She has been a part of several different productions in the past- including roles such as Ren in Footloose, Hunk/Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, and Father in Eurydice. Jamie would like to stop her backstage prayers to personally thank her holy trinity: her lovely and amazing cast, her wonderful crew and director, Miss Piggy from the Muppets. Thank you for coming, and have fun!

Jamaya Saddler

Marianna Angelle

Jamaya (she/her) is in her first semester at CCBC Catonsville, majoring in Theatre Performance. She couldn’t have imagined a better cast and crew to share this wonderful journey with. She gives special thanks to her amazing director and professor, Tara Cariaso, for creating such a warm and welcoming environment at the Essex Campus. Jamaya’s love for theatre began in elementary school when she joined show choir, sparking a lifelong passion for self-expression and community. Since then, her dedication to the stage has only grown, with some of her favorite roles including Scar in The Lion King Jr. the Musical, Mrs. Peacock in Clue! On Stage, and Cherry Valance in The Outsiders. This role is another meaningful addition to that list. After earning her degree, Jamaya hopes to transfer to a four-year college and pursue her dream of becoming a theatre teacher.

Lauren Gunderson

Author

Click here to read about the author.

Tara Cariaso

Director

Tara (she/her) is a queer Filipina-American performing artist, an educator of physical theatre, archetypes, somatic acting, mask performance, and founder/designer for Waxing Moon Masks Education and Fabrication Company, creating custom theatrical mask designs for classrooms and performance since 2011. Recipient of the 2025 TSU Rosenberg award and the CCBC Adjunct of the Year award, Tara works both locally and globally. Her ongoing work with non-profit B4 Youth Theatre uses somatic practices for social justice play-making in Liberia, West Africa, and her original pedagogy “Embodying Archetypes” is being used in devised theater practices across Maryland. Adjunct professor of theatre at CCBC, UMBC, and guest teaching artist for The Pig Iron School, she earned her MFA from Dell’Arte Int'l School of Physical Theatre. Tara is a Core Creator with immersive theatre company, Submersive Productions LLC, and resident mask maker, style and pedagogical consultant for Faction of Fools Theatre Company since 2021. Her writing on reimagining an anti-oppressive Commedia Dell'Arte framework for classrooms and stages has been published by HowlRound Theatre Commons.

Terri Raulie

Scenic/Lighting Designer

Terri (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Performing Arts and Humanities Department at CCBC. She holds a BFA and an MA in Theatre Design and Production from Montclair State University in New Jersey. Professional and regional credits include The Whole Theatre, The Hangar Theatre, and Playwright Horizons in New Jersey and New York. Locally, she has designed sets and/or lights for productions with Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre, Phoenix Festival Theatre, and the Baltimore School for the Arts.

Madeline Baynard

Costume Designer

Madeline (she/her) is a Baltimore-based theatre artist and fabricator. Experimenting in many different artistic paths during her time at Chesapeake College and Towson University has shaped how she approaches design with each project. She is drawn to highly collaborative and process-oriented work, and partial to recycling and upcycling materials. Her favorite projects usually include puppetry design, props and world-building, or costume design. Credits include National Aquarium’s Voyages Chapter 7: Submerged! In the Company of Fish with Submersive Productions, Salty with Truepenny Projects, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and A Bright New Boise at CCBC, Lyra and the Ferocious Beast with Truepenny Projects, From an Aerial View by Air Dance Bernasconi, Pirates and Dolphins! at Chesapeake College, and A Monster Calls at Towson University.

Stephanie Parks

Costume Designer

Stephanie is a Costume Designer, Educator, and Technician living and working in the DMV. Recent credits include Baskerville (The Alley Theatre, Associate Costume Design), Aida (The Washington National Opera, Assistant Costume Coordinator), Waitress (Olney Theatre Center, Assistant Costume Design), and John Proctor is the villain (Catholic University, Costume Designer). Currently serving on the Adjunct Faculty of Howard Community College, She holds an M.F.A. in Costume Design from The University of Maryland with credits including As You Like It, Later the Same Evening, and Hookman. Stephanie is a collective member of Submersive Productions in Baltimore, MD. Submersive credits include RECHOllection, Mesmeric Revellations and H.T. Darling’s incredible Musaeum. As a technician, Stephanie has worked on and off Broadway. Broadway credits include Cinderella and Motown. www.stephanieparksdesign.com

MaeAnn Ross

Sound Designer/Production Coordinator

MaeAnn (she/her) holds a BFA in Technical Production from Texas State University and an MFA in Sound Design from UC San Diego. Previously, she was the Director of Technical Theatre at Coronado School of the Arts and the Post MFA Teaching Fellow in Design at Pomona College. She also currently works at GraphicAudio as a Sound Designer. https://maeannrossdesigns.myportfolio.com.

Mika J. Nakano

Projection Designer

Mika (she/her) is a Baltimore-based multi-disciplinary artist and teacher. Her work often lives between the tactile and the digital, where light, movement, and story meet to create new worlds. As a projectionist, she is fascinated by how images can transform space and deepen our connection to live performance. She is always grateful to be part of collaborative storytelling that reimagines familiar narratives that weaves traditional and contemporary means. You may have seen her work across Baltimore theaters including Submersive Productions, Strand Theater, Everyman, and Mercury Theater, as both performer and designer. Working on The Revolutionists is especially meaningful to her as a feminist artist, where each projection becomes a layer in retelling the rich experiences and story of women who shaped history through their voices, actions, and dreams. She thanks Tara Cariaso for inviting her to this project and the artists she has met through this show.

Victor Scigala

Stage Manager

Victor (he/him) is very excited to be stage managing a whole show for the first time! He is a Theatre Major here at CCBC. His CCBC credits include Bright New Boise (Light Board Operator), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Various Acting Roles), & Medea (Asst. Stage Manager). He will be stage managing Eurydice in the spring here on the CCBC Essex campus. His previous acting credits include Fame (Goody) with Carver Theatre Company, Legally Blonde (Emmett) & Les Misérables (Enjolras) with Theatreworks Live, Newsies (Pulitzer) and Damn Yankees (Rocky) with Cockpit In Court, and so much more! He would like to thank MaeAnn for being such an amazing mentor throughout this process! I love you and I couldn’t have done it without you! And of course my team, Tara and Breanna for being so so amazing to work with! Enjoy the show!!

Breanna Wilson

Assistant Stage Manager

Jason Randolph

Technical Director

David Martin

Assistant Technical Director

Gillian Wren Elfring

Dramaturg/Sound & Projection Operator

Gilliam (he/him) is in his final semester at CCBC for Theatre. He acted throughout high school, and has helped backstage on multiple performances. This is his first time working as a Dramaturg, and he would like to pursue it after graduation.

Asia Mason

Light Board Operator

Amanda Sergent, Jory Williams, Orianna York

Stage Crew

The Students of THTR 131 - Stagecraft

Scenic Construction

The Students of THTR 201 - Stage & Studio Lighting Design

Electrics

Francesco Leandri, Robert Noakes, Cicada Naydan, Andrew Pfluger, Carter Wescott

Scene Shop Assistants

Sarah Joyce, Brittany Runk

Costume Shop Assistants

Victoria Benson

Costume Crew

Special Thanks

Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis
CCBC President
Dr. Joaquin Martinez
Provost & Vice President of Instruction
Dr. R. Michael Walsh
Dean, School of Arts & Communication
Irina Lapteva
Director of the Arts
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
Jason Randolph
Technical Director, CCBC Essex
David Martin
Assistant Technical Director, Essex
Cathy Kratovil
Communications Assistant, School of Arts & Communication
Michael Elspas
Designer, CCBC Creative Services
Marc Ershler
Campus Director, CCBC Essex
Gianne Boteler
George Cyzia
Benedict Kragbe
Trent Haines-Hopper
Ryan Metzler
Eesha Nasir
Stephanie Parks
Sheri Trevane

 

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

Irina Lapteva, Director of the Arts
Lisa L. Boeren, Interim Administrative Assistant
G. Maurice “Moe” Conn, Technical Director
Jason Randolph, Technical Director
Marc Smith, Technical Director
David Martin, Assistant Technical Director
Lisa Boeren, Box Office Manager
Thom Purdy, Box Office Assistant
Lance Bankerd, Production Manager
Cathy Kratovil, Communications Assistant


Theatre at CCBC

Damon Krometis, Coordinator, Faculty Director
Julie Lewis, Faculty Director
Terri Raulie, Faculty Designer
Jennifer Ring, Faculty Director

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