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In partnership with
at the Studio City Branch Library
Presents
THE PULITZER PRIZE WINNERS
A STAGED READING SERIES OF FIVE OUTSTANDING PLAYS
WHICH WERE AWARDED LITERATURE'S HIGHEST HONOR,
THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR DRAMA.
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Barry Heins
ITC Artistic Director & Series Producer
Kristen Egermeier
ITC Managing Director & Series Producer
DISGRACED
by Ayad Akhtar
Directed by
AMIE FARRELL
Studio City Branch Library
March 9, 2024
2:00 p.m.
EMILY ..... Mary O'Malley
AMIR ..... Behzad Dabu*
ABE ..... Samip Raval*
JORY ..... JoNell Kennedy*
ISAAC ..... David Lengel
Assistant to the Director and Stage Manager/ Dramaturg
Bairton Brown
Poster & Media Design
Barry Heins
A spacious apartment on New York's Upper East Side.
TIME
2011 - 2012
The first two scenes take place in the summer of 2011.
The third scene takes place three months later, during the fall.
The fourth scene takes place six months later, during the spring.
*Actors appear through an Agreement between Interact Theatre Company and Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
STUDY GUIDE
Bairton Brown's study guide for the play will be available on our website soon.
www.interactla.org
DISGRACED is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.
DISGRACED was developed in part at the New Writers New Plays residency at Vineyard Arts Project (Ashley Melone, Founder and Artistic Director).
DISGRACED had its World Premiere in January 2012 at American Theater Company, Chicago, Illinois (PJ Paparelli, Artistic Director).
New York Premiere produced by Lincoln Center Theater, New York City, 2012.
Original Broadway Production produced by The Araca Group, Lincoln Center Theater, Jenifer Evans, Amanda Watkins, Richard Winkler, Rodger Hess, Stephanie P. Mcclelland, Tulchin/Bartner Productions, Jessica Genick, Jonathan Reinis, Carl Levin/Ashley De Simone/TNTDynaMite Productions, Alden Bergson/Rachel Weinstein, Greenleaf Productions, Darren Deverna/Jere Harris, The Shubert Organization, and The David Merrick Arts Foundation.
Special Thanks To
Los Angeles Public Library
Steve Orozco
Vu Le
The Library Foundation
for helping the Exploration & Creativity Department
manage the L.A. Made Fund
Marcy Capoferri
Colin Thomas Jennings
Friends of the Studio City Library
for concessions support
The Pulitzer Prize Board
Actors' Equity Association
Noho Copy and Print
David Elzer/ DEMAND PR
Tracy Lilienfield, CSA
Lankershim Arts Center
Sonaz Isadi
for original paintings
ITC Board of Directors
Barry Heins, President
Anthony Wofford, Vice-President
Carol Doehring, Treasurer
Kristen Egermeier, Secretary
INTERACT SALUTES OUR GENEROUS DONORS
Partners
CAPLIN FOUNDATION
CAROL DOEHRING
KRISTEN EGERMEIER
BARRY AND TRACY HEINS
LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS
LOS ANGELES COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION
LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY
UCLA SCHOOL OF LAW/ CLAFI
Sponsors
DAVID BRYANT
W. COLIN McKAY
JONATHAN MERSEL AND MARION PETERS
JOEL ZWICK
Supporters
Anonymous
Annie Abbott
Rob Adler
Dave Beazley
Mary Lou Belli
Nancy Boykin
Rob Brownstein
Amanda Carlin and Fred Sanders
Thomas Cavanaugh
Jeffery Chernin and Peter Nardi
Larry Corsa
Robyn Cohen
Laurie Dowling
Stephanie Erb and Arthur Hanket
Peng Thim Fan, M.D.
Don Fischer
Zia Garcia
Dennis Gersten
Wendy Graf
Stephanie Erb and Arthur Hanket
Steve Heisler
Andrew Heins
Jason Henkel
Elizabeth and Christopher Herron
Steve Heisler
Andrew Hill Newman and Leslie Hicks
John Hugo
Gregory Jennings
Anita Khanzadian
Maurine Kornfeld
Paul Lazarus
Terry Lilienfield
Yuri Lowenthal
Miguel Mireles
Kenneth Meseroll
Michael Modecki
Eric Mokover
Oliver Muirhead
Mary O'Malley
John Penzenas
Tracy Powell
Cynthia Paskos
Michael Peretzian
Triva Ponder
Francesca P. Roberts
Jim Rash
Jill Rogosheske
Stephanie Satie and Rick Friesen
Marc Valera
Steve Vinovich
Anthony White
Lara Wickes
Willow Cabin Productions
Alexandra Wright
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THE PULITZER PRIZE WINNERS
is made possible in part by a grant
from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to
Interact Theatre Company
and help us keep us going strong.
Our mission is to:
• Nurture professional
performing artists
• Provide a forum for educational
and cultural enrichment
• Bring arts education to underserved youth
at little or no cost
• Make a positive and lasting impact
on diverse audiences of all ages
through the unique experience
of live theatre.
Donors will be gratefully acknowledged
in our programs.
ITC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Federal Tax ID #93-1063357
Please click here to DONATE
Or use this QR Code
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Thank you!
Follow Us:
Cast
Creative Team
Ayad Akhtar
Amie Farrell
Bairton Brown
Barry Heins
Kristen Egermeier
About Interact
”Invigorating."
”The Ensemble is first-rate."
“Exhilarating.”
"A DELECTABLY VERSATILE ENSEMBLE."
- Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times
"Together they form, in my view, the very best acting ensemble to be seen currently in Los Angeles."
- Cynthia Citron, Santa Monica Press
"A company of hard-hitting professionals, with a rare combination of heart and expertise."
-NoHo News
"Since its inception, INTERACT THEATRE COMPANY has become known as one of the most exciting theatrical hamlets in the urban forest."
- F. Kathleen Foley, Los Angeles Times
HISTORY
In January of 1989, actor and director Barry Heins invited fifteen friends – all experienced stage actors homesick for the New York theatrical community – to a weekly play reading group held in a vacant apartment in Sherman Oaks. Before long, a pool of forty actors was involved in readings that consisted of everything from classic plays to new plays and screenplays. The quality of the work attracted other theatre professionals eager to collaborate. Directors came to hear plays, as well as playwrights and screenwriters who arranged to hear these talented actors breathe life into their new scripts. Ten months later, the group became the exclusive tenants of Theatre Exchange in North Hollywood, and Interact was born. On May 1, 1992, the company formally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theater.
Interact’s loyal and supportive audience has followed the company to various stages and venues in the San Fernando Valley, the Westside, and Downtown LA, enjoying more than forty full-scale productions of plays and musicals since its founding. Interact also presents high-quality free or low-cost community programming, such as its lauded summer arts education program for underserved youth, hundreds of workshops, fundraisers and special events, and, to date, over a thousand public play readings.
AWARDS
ITC has received 95 performance and production awards (175 nominations), including Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, Ovation, Stage Raw, Garland, LA Weekly, Telly, and NAACP Awards.
Meet the Company
Behzad Dabu
Behzad Dabu is an actor, producer, and writer based in Los Angeles. He grew up in Syracuse, NY and got his BFA in Acting from Columbia College Chicago, where he also worked after college as the Senior International Admissions Officer; traveling all over the world working with students and their families on creating careers in the arts.
He has worked extensively on stage at some of the best theaters in the country, especially in Chicago, and is a proud company member at TimeLine Theatre Company, which presents stories inspired by history that connect with today’s social and political issues.
With a passion for working with playwrights and new play development, he originated the role of 'Amit' in "Samsara" at Victory Gardens Theatre, for which he was nominated for a Jeff Award - Best Actor. He also originated the role of 'Abe' in the Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony-nominated play, "Disgraced" which he performed at American Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, Berkeley Repertory, Seattle Repertory, and the Mark Taper Forum at Center Theatre Group.
On screen, you can see him as 'Simon Drake' on Seasons 3 and 4 of How To Get Away With Murder on ABC, as 'Amir' on the Showtime series The Chi, and on Disney’s The Lion Guard. He also appeared in episodes of The Good Place, All Rise, Chicago P.D., Drive Share, You're So Talented, Dealbreakers; and in the films Mirage, Star Vehicle, Weathering, Pick Up, Hoop, King Rat, Imperfections; as well as various audiobooks, podcasts, and national commercials.
Behzad is the Director of Acting for Hillman Grad, a faculty member at Last Acting Studio, and the Acting Coach for the TV series The CHI. He strives to be a strong advocate in regards to representation in the arts and media; and is a founding member of The Chicago Inclusion Project, which seeks to level the playing field and provide resources in the arts for people of color, women, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. He is a skilled audience engagement facilitator and experienced post-show discussion leader.
Behzad is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA
JoNell Kennedy
JoNell Kennedy is happy to be “at play” with Interact Theatre Company. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, JoNell began her acting study at the celebrated New Orleans Center For the Creative Arts (NOCCA) and received her BFA in theatre at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She later joined Chicago’s theater community, acting in productions at The Victory Gardens Theatre, The Black Ensemble, Chicago’s esteemed Steppenwolf stages, and several productions at The Goodman Theatre, where she was presented the Joseph Jefferson Award for her performance in George C. Wolfe’s SPUNK! JoNell’s additional stage credits include Cry the Beloved Country, Puddin' and Pete, Marvin's Room, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Regional credits include Purlie Victorious at Tiffany's Attic, The Colored Museum at Yale Repertory Theatre, Monkey Grass at LA's The Victory Theatre and I Just Stopped By To See The Man at The Geffen Playhouse. Film credits include Miranda July’s Me, You, And Everyone We Know that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival , Paramount/Universal’s Dreamgirls, and the independent feature Bolden! Television credits include 911, FBI, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS:LA, and recurring roles on The Ms. Pat Show, You’re The Worst and The Mentalist. She is currently experiencing a full circle moment, lending her voice to a host of beloved characters from New Orleans culture including Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen, on Dreamwork’s animated series Fright Krewe, now streaming on HULU and Peacock.
David Lengel
A proud native of Queens, New York, David attended the famed High School for Performing Arts and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied at the Stella Adler Studio. TV credits include WandaVision, This Is Us, NCIS, Doom Patrol, Bosch, and Henry Danger. Film credits include Jungle Cruise, Coming 2 America, Richard Jewell, and Secret Headquarters. Theatre credits include Awake and Sing! (A Noise Within), Waiting For Lefty (Art of Acting), Come Blow Your Horn (Glendale Centre Theatre), and Play It Again, Sam (Morgan-Wixson). Love to my wife, Erika, and our new baby, Oliver.
Mary O'Malley
Mary O'Malley (AFTRA-SAG) has been a member of Interact since 2013. When she was in college, she did readings with Interact and has been a fan ever since. She is so privileged to be a member of this company. Her undergraduate work took place at LMU, and she got her Master's at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and King's College in London. As a writer, Mary's short plays have been performed at festivals in London, New York, and Los Angeles. She is currently the voice of the Louisville Zoo and, most recently, Korbel. Mary and her husband played the two announcers on Live From the Lounge Podcast with Keythe Farley directing. She owns Green Door Learning, LLC , an educational support services company. Mary is also an educational therapist and is a proud mom of two.
Samip Raval
Samip Raval is a performer, writer, director, and teacher. He has worked regionally at PlayMakers Repertory, Arena Stage, Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, ACT Seattle, and internationally with PingPong Arts in China. He holds a BFA from the North Carolina School of the Arts.
Ayad Akhtar
Ayad Akhtar was born in New York City and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is the author of "American Dervish," published in 25 languages worldwide and a 2012 Best Book of the Year at Kirkus Reviews, Toronto's Globe and Mail, Shelf-Awareness, and O (Oprah) Magazine. He is also a playwright and screenwriter. His play DISGRACED played at New York's Lincoln Center Theater in 2012 and premiered at the Bush Theater in London in May 2013. Disgraced won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. His play The Invisible Hand was nominated for the ATCA/Steinberg Award, and won Best New Work 2013 from the St. Louis Theater Critics Circle. As a screenwriter, he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay for "The War Within." He has received commissions from Lincoln Center and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He is a graduate of Brown and Columbia Universities with degrees in Theater and Film Directing.
Amie Farrell
Amie Farrell (She/Her) – As an actor and director, Amie’s vast career has spanned from one end of the United States to the other. Acting credits include roles in Oscar-nominated films MANK with David Fincher and Clint Eastwood’s AMERICAN SNIPER. On television, Amie has been seen in guest star and recurring roles on THIS IS US, GREY’S ANATOMY, CRIMINAL MINDS, iCARLY, and RAVEN’S HOME. Theater is Amie’s first love. She holds a BFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University and has honed her craft on some of the country’s most prestigious stages, including The Geffen, Pasadena Playhouse, Playwright’s Horizons, Milwaukee Repertory, Missouri Repertory, International Center Theater, Rubicon Theater, LA Shakespeare Festival, Fort Worth Shakespeare and more. Amie’s favorite roles on stage include Olivia in TWELFTH NIGHT, Jacqueline in DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER, and Cinderella in INTO THE WOODS. Amie’s theater directing credits include TROJAN WOMEN, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and HAMLET, and she has expanded her talents to the podcast realm, with original productions for Meet Cute and Theater aLIVE. Amie, with her husband and fellow actor Leonard Roberts, co-founded VARIANT ARTISTS, a production company committed to centralizing voices that expand the story telling experience. Amie’s most inspired work in development is her child, Ev.
Bairton Brown
Bairton Brown (he/they) is a multiracial, award-winning filmmaker and theatre practitioner. A 2023 Next-Up Playwriting Fellowship at Congo Square Theatre, Bair’s full-length play, “THE PLAY GROUNDS, or MOMENTO VIVIERE” received staged readings in Chicago, Denver, and Hollywood Fringe Festivals. Bair currently works as a writer and first AD for the web series BLACKSIDE. Bair also works as head writer for Syllble Studios’ multimedia series, BLACKTOPIA. Book One will be published on Amazon in 2024. BFA from DePaul University, MA from New York University. Media: @BairtonBrown | Bairbrown.com | stonehavenstudios.org
Barry Heins
Most recently, Heins produced and directed the hit Los Angeles premiere of Aaron Posner's Life Sucks at the Broadwater Main Stage to wide critical acclaim, earning a coveted spot on the LA Times' "Top 9 List" of 2023. and nominated for seven L.A. Drama Critics Circle awards. A graduate of The Juilliard School and alumnus of The Acting Company, he has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, at leading regional theaters across America, and in film and TV. Los Angeles stage credits include Much Ado About Nothing at the Ford Theater (Drama-Logue Award, Outstanding Performance) and the critically acclaimed ITC productions of Counsellor-At-Law with John Rubinstein (Ovation Award, Best Ensemble), Other People's Money, and the West Coast premiere of the Mark Rylance/Louis Jenkins comedy, Nice Fish. He has worked extensively as a voice-over artist, lending his talents to everything from film trailers to political ads, and has been a dialect consultant on Broadway and for PBS. Heins has served on the faculties of several professional actor training conservatories, including NYU Tisch School of the Arts/Playwright's Horizons Theater School and SUNY Purchase College. His producing credits at Interact include curating three multi-month staged readings programs for Los Angeles Public Library's LA Made cultural enrichment initiative: "The Tony Award® Winners," showcased worldwide on BroadwayOnDemand.com during the pandemic, and two Pulitzer Prize-winners series (dir: You Can't Take It With You, The Great White Hope, and Driving Miss Daisy). Heins produced and directed two impactful short films for ITC, Faultless and Just Another Birthday in Bedlam, which garnered international recognition and multiple honors at prestigious film festivals, including a 2021 Bronze and 2022 Gold Telly Award. Both films can be enjoyed on ITC's official YouTube channel, @InteractTheatreCompanyLosAngeles.
Kristen Egermeier
Kristen is thrilled to continue her work with ITC as the new Managing Director. While she is a trained Actor first, Kristen has served as operational support for theatres across the county for the past 15 years. She has also produced, written, and managed multiple productions on stage and film. As a graduate of Cal State University, Northridge with a BA in Theatre Arts and a minor in Chemistry, her well-rounded education has combined her love of theatre with her organizational business skills.
After working and studying with multiple theatre companies back east, she returned to Los Angeles to dive further into her roles as an actor and operational consultant, with an emphasis on nonprofit organizations. Kristen has aided in administratively supporting and developing multiple theatre and community programs.
Her 20 years of experience in management and hands-on roles in accounting, data analytics, editorial writing, and operations management have created her specialty in working with small businesses and nonprofit organizations to develop business practices and streamline financials. A background in industries outside of the theatre world includes environmental research and services, federal and state government services, manufacturing, and GIS data services
ITC's Ongoing Programs
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UCLA SCHOOL OF LAW
Staged Readings Series
24 Years
2024 marks Interact's 24th season of performing at least
one staged reading each semester.
Co-hosted by the Center for Liberal Arts and Free Institutions (CLAFI), the purpose of the staged readings is to evoke discussion of the ethical and societal issues raised in the plays, stimulate interdisciplinary consideration of the law and the humanities, and, of course, entertain.
The readings are free and open to the public.
COMING MAY 20TH
THE CAINE MUTINY COURT-MARTIAL
BY HERMAN WOUK
DIRECTED BY ROB BROWNSTEIN
View the schedule at interact.org/programs/ucla
ITC PLAY LAB
Playwrights and screenwriters present new works for public readings performed by the ITC Ensemble and guest artists. Lab Director Anita Khanzadian moderates audience discussion following the readings.
Free and open to the public.
Select Wednesday evenings at 7:30 PM
at
Lankershim Arts Center
5108 Lankershim Blvd. | North Hollywood, CA 91601
View the Play Lab schedule at interact.org/programs/playlab.
Dramaturgical Materials - by Bairton Brown, Assistant Director/Stage Manager/Dramaturg
Click here to learn more about the play.
