Wyrd Sisters |
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Director's Note
Days can seem so hectic currently so thank you for pausing to spend this time with us. An audience is essential to theatre, part of the mix, you here, in this moment, to witness how the performers bring these characters to life. This exchange adds an irreplaceable vitality to theatre, even with our Zoom constraints.
I am a big fan of Terry Pratchett's writing. I'm not sure which friend or relative introduced me to them but I have a stack handy to grab one whenever I need a laugh or some insight about humanity or just to take a vivid journey somewhere else. We are very grateful to Colin Smythe for arranging for us to livestream Wyrd Sisters. Instead of license fees, we made a donation to the Orangutan Foundation International, which if you've read much Pratchett at all you will appreciate the importance of.
One of the questions asked in this play is who writes history, how are we remembered? We seem to be getting closer and closer to a post Truth society, lies and uncertainty swirling. But we need to remember Truth does matter and can be found. And that Art is part of how we human, art and finding communities that respect who we are.
Now, in an era when things are being removed from public eye and voices silenced, I think it is even more important to restate our values, written by Jasmine Graham:
Upstart Arts recognizes that diversity creates better art. We are dedicated to providing opportunities to and inviting people of all ages, races, gender expressions, sexualities, or ethnicities. We acknowledge the Indigenous peoples, the Sioux, Algonquin, and Susquehannock tribes,who are the original stewards of the lands on which we now live and perform. We encourage our participants, patrons, and viewers to engage with their current leadership to learn more about land and climate issues. The theatre is a better place when we are all working together to tell rich and diverse stories focusing on all walks of life.
Who's Who
Cast
Creative Team
Michelle Denise Norton
Gayle Eubank
Ash Otto
Kitty Geoghan
Meet the Company
Candace Jayde Boswell
Candace (she/her) is very excited to make her acting debut in Upstart Arts's production of Wyrd Sisters. She trained in dance and theatre at Dream Makers Performing Arts Center and Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York. When Candace is not performing, she can be found with her nose in a book.
https://www.facebook.com/candacejboswell
tiktok.com/@candacejboswell
Kinah Britton
Kinah Britton (she/her) is a talented actress from Gulfport, Mississippi, who moved to New York City with her family after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Growing up in the city, she discovered her love for acting while attending a public high school and participating in various performing arts programs. With more than six years of experience in drama and theater, Kinah has built a career as a working actor and is always looking to improve her skills. She also hopes to explore commercial print modeling. Currently, Kinah is pursuing a Bachelor's degree.
The Danny
in this play I (whatever pronouns you want to refer to me as) portray the 2nd Soldier, Guard 2, Player, and Gumridge i have had much fun with upstart arts and i am ready to give this my all!
tiktok.com/@dannylee_official
discord.gg/hpU3Ucs3Pa
www.youtube.com/@DannyLeeCooking
Jonathan Davis
I (he/him) have been acting since elementary school all through high school. I stopped for a little until my son was old enough for me to continue. I was in Pygmalion and the radio show and I'm proud to be a part of Upstart again. You may have seen me at The Haunted Forests during the spooky season. I have also done other local theater along with independent films in the area.
T Donofrio
Hi I am T (he/him). This is my second acting role. My first one was a clown at a haunted house.
Aliona Garcia
Aliona Garcia (she/her) is a Spanish/British actress currently residing in Valencia, Spain. She has appeared in countless virtual productions on film and theatre and appeared in shows such as A Sketch of New York at the Producers' Club The Ballad of Lulu and Dad in the Secret Theatre, and Upstart Arts' Pygmalion and Something Fresh. She is also the Executive Director of Tiger's Heart Players and co-founder of EliWay Films.
Avery Knudson
Avery Knudson (she/her) is a NYC based actress in film and theater. She can be seen in the films 'Mania', 'Little Johnny Jewel', and 'Run'. Her theater experience has included sketch comedy shows at the ACC and the Producers Club, Urinetown, and The Big Five-Oh.
Priscilla McFerren
Priscilla McFerren (she/her) is active in community theatre in State College, PA having recently performed the part of Mrs. Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest (in New York) for The Next Stage. Just last weekend she was Marie Higgins in Sock & Buskin Theatre Company's For Better Or Worse, a murder mystery party. Her involvement in Upstart Arts, which began with the pandemic, has been the source of constant edification and challenges in multiple performances including Shakespeare readings, Sherlock Holmes radio shows, and the pleasure of meeting talented folks from near and far.
Cassandra Minor
This is Cassandra's (she/her) Upstart Arts debut, although for 20 years she has performed numerous roles in theatres in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Highlights include Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire, Lucy in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Vera in Ten Little Indians, Brooke in Noises Off, and many more. She has been living in Asia for the past ten years, joining our cast today from central Vietnam.
Since moving to Asia, she has directed week-long drama camps for grade school students in China, and recently joined with other theatrically-minded individuals to found a community theatre group in her new hometown of Hoi An, Vietnam. Participating in theatre online is a valuable way to keep creating and enjoying the community from anywhere in the world. A big thank you to Upstart Arts for this opportunity!
Nkiruka J
Nkiruka J (she/they) is 25 years old, and this her first time working with Upstart Arts. She's appeared mostly in stage productions with the TADA! Youth Theater and Baruch College, where she graduated with a BA in 2022. She's excited to appear in her first production with Upstart!!
Jacqueline Perez Soto
Jacqueline Perez Soto (she/her), 28 years old. She's an Argentine actress, professional dancer and singer. In the past years, she has been working in different plays with Upstart Arts and also, had worked in different projects like videoclips, plays, tv and more in Argentina.
Stephanie Schwartz
Stephanie Schwartz is a NY/CT actor. Some favorite roles she has played are Florence (The Odd Couple, female version), Agnes (A Delicate Balance), Clairee (Steel Magnolias), Lady Montague (Hamlet), Hippolyta (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Martha (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), Mother (True West.) She has also appeared in leading and supporting roles in independent films. SAG/AFTRA, TRU. Contact: actorstephanieschwartz@gmail.com
Julie Spector
Julie(she/her) is thrilled to return to Upstart in Wyrd Sisters! She is streaming live from New York City. Julie is a graduate of Atlantic Acting School, and previously Hofstra University, where she earned a BA in English and Drama. She has been seen at various locations in the city including Don’t Tell Mama, La Mama Experimental Theater Club, and Atlantic’s Stage 2, and most recently 54 Below. Julie thanks her beloved family, friends, and
partner Damian for their endless support.
Website:
https://www.julie-spector.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZNPIT5HX6Tvxk52o-tdCoGQsVNKOnFX20z4hqwpY7PrCQPv5NpzJuLmLE_aem_nlmtB4KBF8KuOGH8feXIaQ
Eric Suben
Eric (he/him/his) is a performer and playwright based in Westchester County, New York. He recently originated the role of Steve in The Bee vs. the People (Bzzz) at Theatre for the New City in Manhattan. He will soon be heard as Mr. Peters in Upstart Arts' radio play Something Fresh and seen onstage as Baron van Swieten in Amadeus at the Manor Club Theatre in Pelham.
Denise Suddell
Denise Sudell (she/her) is tickled to be making her debut with Upstart Arts! Previous stage roles include Alice in Rapture, Blister, Burn with St. Mark's Players (Washington, DC); Laurie in The Fengolonian Fiasco (The Arlington Players, Arlington, VA); and Seely in Holy Toledo! with NOVA Nightsky Theatre, Falls Church, VA. She also appeared as Sister Clarence, aka Attila the Nun, in Punk Like Me: The B Sides, JD Glass's video miniseries adaptation of her novel Punk Like Me. She thanks Michelle and Gayle for inviting her to audition for Wyrd Sisters!
Michelle Denise Norton
Michelle Denise Norton (she/her) is the creative engine for Upstart Arts. And also a writer, cartoonist, photographer, editor, and theatre maverick. Theatre and the plays of William Shakespeare fascinated Michelle from a young age, leading her through every Shakespeare and Tudor history class she could find at Northwestern University, while also ushering at university performances and exploring Chicago's thriving theatre scene. Then she moved to York, PA, and began her apprenticeship period, culminating in founding Theatre Under The Trees, a summer Shakespeare touring program. With this unique theatrical journey and the the creative collaborations Upstart Arts has facilitated, Michelle has been adding to her skill set, currently working on adapting material like P.G. Wodehouse's Something Fresh into performance ready pieces.
Gayle Eubank
Gayle Eubank (she/her) has enjoyed learning new video skills for this production and is a co-founder of Upstart Arts. Gayle is the digital managing editor for the York Dispatch.
Ash Otto
Ash (he/they) is a 24 year old vampire in disguise who has the humor of Ryan Reynolds (who happens to be Ash’s hero and someone who he is a fan of).
Kitty Geoghan
Kitty Geoghan (she/her zie/hir they/them)is the graphic designer and visual artist for Upstart Arts. They have created designs for Upstart since its inception, as well as portraying Claudio in *Much Ado About Nothing* during 2020's Stay-At-Home Shakespeare. In the TUTT days, she also appeared as Hortensio in *Taming of the Shrew* and Celia in *As You Like It*. Born and raised in York, Kitty has traveled far and wide from Upstart's home base, and is currently in Michigan studying for a PhD in English and Education.
Photos
Creative Team at work
Rehearsal break
Thank yous: Jasmine Graham, Kitty Geoghan, Denise Suddell, Ash Otto, Meredith Singleton, Lorna Veraldi, Colin Smythe
Photo credits: Adam Jones, Rodrigo do Val Ferreira, Derek Jensen, Eden, Janine and Jim, Stephane Mignon, Kinshuk Sunil, Jeffrey Beall, John Fowler, Alexander Gerst, the real Kam75, Łukasz Hejnak, Tom Page, Grand Canyon National Park, Les Haines, David Blaine, Marc van der Chijs, Darren Hester, itoldya420.getarchive.net, MollySVH, Jim Linwood, Yumacool, Stuart Cale, Julija Rauluševičiūtė's, Heather
Sound credits: Druidus, Dawton, Pixabay, Freesound community, Freqman
Music from Free Music Archive: Fay Be Dol (instrumental) and Boke of Kokery (instrumental) by Nutmeg; Ship of Hope (ID 1852) and Free Guitar Walking Blues (F 015) by Lobo Loco; Chant Of Night Blades by Kai Engel
Eden, Janine and Jim
Upcoming Events
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Something Fresh
A radio play adaptation of P.G. Wodehouse's Something Fresh, the first book set at Lord Emsworth's Blandings Castle. A cross between a cozy pastoral and an Egyptian artifact heist thriller, Something Fresh is the perfect Spring Adventure. Subscribe for news updates here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3jFB0LpOMsLlvh1R8zLSdf?si=878705dc00084889
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