The Dreamer

Wedneday, October 25, 2023 @ 7PM

Thursday, October 26, 2023 @ 7PM

Friday, October 27, 2023 @ 7PM

The Dreamer at HERE Arts The Lovers: Max Samuels, Dan Kelly, Amanda Nichols and Stephanie Orta-Vazquez. Photo by Barry Gordin

Photo Credit: Durell Godfrey

Photo Credit: Durell Godfrey

Photo Credit: Durell Godfrey

Photo Credit: Durell Godfrey

Photo Credit: Durell Godfrey

THE DREAMER audience by Anne Chaisson

Photo Credit: Durell Godfrey

THE DREAMER company at LongHouse by Carrie Rebora Barratt

The Dreamer at HERE Arts The Lovers: Max Samuels, Dan Kelly, Amanda Nichols and Stephanie Orta-Vazquez. Photo by Barry Gordin

Photo Credit: Durell Godfrey

Photo Credit: Durell Godfrey

Photo Credit: Durell Godfrey

Photo Credit: Durell Godfrey

PLAYWRIGHTS' THEATRE OF EAST HAMPTON AT LTV STUDIOS IN ASSOCIATION WITH NEO-POLITICAL COWGIRLS PRESENTS

The Dreamer

Co-Directed and Produced by Kate Mueth & Josh Gladstone

This reimagining of Shakespeare’s beloved play centers on The Dreamer, a girl on the immediate cusp of womanhood. As we gaze through the lens of this modern girl’s psyche, we deep dive into the riches of her yet-to-come-out-of-the-shadows subconscious to explore power, identity, love, transformation, and the intensity of society’s patriarchal impression on young people’s spirits.Shakespeare’s wild and chaotic sleep story presents an unfettered terrain upon which to ponder that which lies in the darkness of our world’s hope- the youth.What awaits The Dreamer when she exits the moonlit forest of her existence to awaken to a new day’s dawning?Dance, multi-genre music and vibrant design illuminate the magic of our girl’s dream and takes her through a bold journey of self discovery and ultimate transformation.This production is made possible in part due to the generosity of The National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest through the grant Shakespeare In American Communities, Charles Weilman and Sylvie del Giudice, Sheri Sandler, Jackie Lowey of Saunders & Associates, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and our in-kind community donors. Without these generous supporters this project would not be possible.

“Magnificent and inspiring work by The NPC!”

“This was the very best Midsummer I’ve ever seen!”

“Absolute magic!”

“…exquisitely realized and so generously shared.... Thank you... What a spectacular WIN for THEATER and the LIVING SOULS within us all to whom you've called so thrillingly.... "

The Cast

Demetrius/Flute Dan Kelly

Lysander Max Samuels

Helena Amanda Kristin Nichols

Hermia Stephanie Orta-Vázquez

Titania/Hippolyta Vanessa Lynah

Obern/Theseus Rhys Tivey

Puck/Philostrate Kate Mueth

Bottom Trevor Vaughn

Snout/The Dreamer Gigi Grace

Quince Annie-Sage Whitehurst

Starveling Meaghan Robichaud

Snug/Egeus Josh Gladstone

Fairy Squad

Mustardseed Violet Spann

Moth Lucia Schwartz

1st Fairy/Peaseblossom Mary Garrett Turner

Cobweb Jade Diskin

Creatives

Co-Director/Co-Producer

Kate Mueth

Co-Director/Co-Producer Josh Gladstone

Costume Designer Yuka Silvera

Fight Director

Dan Renkin

Assistant Stage Manager/Dramaturg Annika Helgeson

DAN KELLY

Dan Kelly (Demetrius/Flute) is excited to join the Neo-Political Cowgirls as they mount this beautiful adaptation! For most of last Fall, Dan was performing just a few blocks away at The Soho Playhouse in Dear Mom, Sorry for Being a Bitch. Recent credits include: Ariel in The Tempest, Malcolm in Macbeth, Robert F. Kennedy in RFK with Face to Face Films, and Booker in 5-time Tony Nominee Douglas Carter Beane’s recent revival of Babes in Arms. Dan can be seen regularly in Accomplice New York, a comedic and interactive mystery show. Originally from Springfield, MA, Dan moved to New York to attend The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he graduated in 2019, and was a member of their 2019-2020 Acting Company. Enjoy the show!

MX SAMUELS

Max Samuels (Lysander) is thrilled to be making his Neo-Political Cowgirls debut. NY Theatre: George Kaplan (New Ohio); the American premiere of Angry Young Man (Urban Stages); Meat (The Tank); Hedda (Playwrights Downtown); The Winter’s Tale (New York Shakespeare Exchange). Regional: John Drew Theater at Guild Hall, Portland Stage, Northern Stage, New London Barn. Developmental workshops with New Victory LabWorks, New York Theatre Workshop, and Musical Theatre Factory, among others. TV: “Maisel” and “Kimmy Schmidt.” As a voice actor, Max has recorded podcasts with The TEAM and Colt Coeur, and his first audiobook narration, Never Quote The Weather to A Sea Lion, is available on Audible. B.A. Dartmouth College, M.A. London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

AMANDA KRISTIN NICHOLS

Amanda Kristin Nichols (Helena) is grateful to be back with NPC on this dreamy show. She is an NYC based actor. Graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, The Neighborhood Playhouse, and LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts. Theater credits include Three Sisters at The Sheen Center, Shakespeare’s R+J at The Hangar Theater, and The Last Night of Ballyhoo at Bay Street Theater. Film/TV includes Kaleidoscope on Netflix, New Amsterdam and Law & Order:OC on NBC, and The Sinner on USA… As always, big love and gratitude go out to her family and DH&Co.

STEPHANIE ORTA-VÁZQUEZ

Stephanie Orta-Vázquez (Hermia) is a classically trained New York based actor, writer and collaborator, born and raised in Puerto Rico. Some of their recent work includes Salome (Irondale Center), The Mannequin Play (The Tank), and Water Water Everywhere (Exquisite Corpse Company). Stephanie is honored and humbled to be a part of this production and to work with Neo-Political Cowgirls yet again, this cast is a Dream(er). She would like to give special thanks to her mom, who was the first person to ever be on her team. “Gracias, mami. Siempre.” stephanieortavazquez.com

Stephanie Orta-Vázquez (ella/elle) es una actriz, escritora, teatrera y colaboradora entrenada en Nueva York pero nacida y criada en Puerto Rico. Sus trabajos recientes en la industria incluyen Salome (Irondale Center), The Mannequin Play (The Tank), y Water Water Everywhere (Exquisite Corpse Company). Es un honor y un privilegio compartir con esta produccion, gracias a Neo-Political Cowgirls por esta bendición. “Y gracias a mami, por fomentar mis sueños desde que los tuve por primera vez. Gracias, siempre.”

VANESSA LYNAH

Vanessa Lynah (Titania/Hippolyta) is a born and raised New Yorker and is happy to be joining NPC for this new take on Midsummer Night's Dream. She would like to give thanks to Kate and Josh for introducing her to her first experiences with Shakespeare's works. If you'd like to follow along with what Vanessa is doing, feel free to check out her website:

RHYS TIVEY

After receiving his bachelors in jazz performance for trumpet at NYU, Rhys Tivey (Oberon/Theseus) began his acting journey by performing in Phoebe Legere’s Shakespeare and Elizabeth: The Reality Show at Theater for the New City in 2013. In 2019, he acted in experimental Nie Theater in Berlin in 2019. In 2021 and 2022, he performed as “Writer” in “My Onliness” at the New Ohio Theater in NYC. With performance art duo, Elk and Feather, he has performed at CREST Fest, Five Myles BK, and in residency at Signs and Symbols Art Gallery, and in March 2023 he joined choreographer Natalie Deryn Johnson as resident composer and dancer at Keshet Dance’s Makers Space Residency in New Mexico. As a vocalist, trumpeter, songwriter, and producer, he has written, produced and performed on three of his own records, with the most recent entitled “Unsteady” released in August 2020 (rhystivey.com). As a voice coach, Rhys offers sustainable voice training techniques, integrating research-based voice building exercises, qi gong, yoga, breathwork, movement, improvisation, and intuitive songwriting, to guide singers of any level toward discovering their deepest confidence and pleasure in singing.

KATE MUETH

Kate Mueth (Puck/Philostrate/Conceiver/Director/Co-Choreographer) founded the award-winning The Neo- Political Cowgirls 17 years ago to help fill the dearth of opportunities for and stories from the perspectives of women on our theater landscape. She conceives, choreographs and directs new, site-specific theater and dance theater that is “Mind-bending, gorgeous, provocative and wild” in execution. Kate is an Equity actor, a proud Board Member and Officer Emeritus for The League of Professional Theatre Women, and co-founder of The East Hampton Arts Council. Kate has worked as actor/director/choreographer with such luminaries as Blythe Danner, Cathy Curtin, Aida Turturro, Tony Walton, Peter Boyle, Lizzie Larsen, Laura Gomez, Florencia Lozano and more. She has performed at Lincoln Center, Bay Street Theater and The John Drew Theater at Guild Hall as well as on stages in NYC, Chicago, Boston, and abroad. The summer of 2021 Kate directed a first annual outdoor production of Shakespeare In The Park in East Hampton Village: “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged”, followed in 2022 by a workshop production of a new devised work based on Shakespeare’s famous “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, — now finding it’s second, fuller incarnation at HERE Arts in NYC. This work examines the classic text’s themes through the lens of Dreamer, a modern girl on the cusp of womanhood grasped by the anxiety sickened clutches of a world on fire in every possible way. Favorite acting roles include Lady M, Varya, and Mrs. Wadhurst in Tonight at 8:30 with Blythe Danner. Latest film work- acting in and choreographing Josh Klausner’s award- winning feature “WANDERLAND”. History of new, devised works for NPC includes “HYSTERIA”, “BAUBO”, “Wody Girtch Mama”, “Trojan Women Redux”, “ZIMA!”, “VOYEUR”, “EVE”, “B(e)RD” and countless one- offs. Other recently devised work- “HYSTERIA”, a “surround fear experience” played to East End audiences as well as attendees at The Old South Church in Boston fall of 2019. In 2017 she worked side by side with her director husband Josh Gladstone to create a run of a post-punk “Romeo and Juliet” where she played a ribald Nurse and choreographed popping stylized dance and movement for the adventurous interpretation at The John Drew Theater at Guild Hall. Kate directed a world-wide troupe of rock musicians in a bioethics examination rock opera, “Playing God”, in Helsinki in 2016 which had its American debut at The Danny Kaye Theater in New York. Also in 2017 she worked in collaboration with the Helsinki-based theater company Taiteen Sulattamo to create “100 Women”, a theater production bringing professional performers together with women dealing with mental illness. The summers of 2016/17 her production of “ANDROMEDA”, a “Myth for the masses," Gave voice to the universal refugee," (East End Beacon) in its performance in the hills of Montauk out under the stars. “EVE”, a 13-room, immersive experience, enjoyed two seasons in the Hamptons then an Off-Broadway run in the fall of 2015 at The Gym at Judson. “VOYEUR”, a branded NPC site- specific experiential performance made in various unusual spaces, made its European debut in Berlin in July of 2015. Kate has a lengthy biography in theater arts teaching and curriculum building over the past 30 years. Her work in conceiving, developing, directing and teaching the theater arts programs January Girls, Young Cowgirls, Dude’s Eye View, Girls’ Gaze and Project Hero continue to annually serve and empower our community’s youth, at-risk, and marginalized populations. She has furthered her passion for Arts Education by training with the prestigious Arts Leadership program at Lincoln Center and trained with Jacob’s Pillow in their celebrated “Curriculum In Motion Institute”, and now serves on their advisory board. She centers her work around shifting American culture to become more invested in the performing arts as ignition for human connection, problem solving, and thriving. Kate was proud to be honored by Katlean DeMonchy with a Hamptons Muse award, one of several women recognized for creative and social change work. She is mother to August Gladstone, a recent Emerson College graduate now residing in Los Angeles working for 3Arts Entertainment as he builds towards becoming a show runner and writing for film and television, and is wife to the talented Josh Gladstone. Kate splits her time with work between East Hampton, NYC, nationally and internationally. The Neo- Political Cowgirls are professional wild dance theater and arts education outreach- a powerful marriage of Arts and Advocacy.

TREVOR VAUGHN

Trevor Vaugh (Bottom) is a multi disciplinary artist, creative outlier and 5th generation Texan, who is inspiring convergence systems with diverse teams to tackle complex challenges and opportunities, which restore regional ecosystems while triggering circular regenerative economies. Trevor is a proud member of Kate Mueth’s Neo-Political Cowgirls that has coached middle school students in the anti-bully workshop Project Hero as well as high school boys express themselves through the medium of film through Dudes Eye View. He is passionate about scaling new farming paradigms and specialty cropping that can transform production viability on family farmland on the TX High Plains. He has team led convergence research via the Water, Energy, Food Nexus Initiative at TX A&M, and advised students of Bard College MBA Sustainability. For a magical time he was the lead singer of rock band Reserved For Rondee and currently has a recording studio called The Brooklyn Pearl. Trevor is a proud graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts and dedicates his performance to Gaia’s global healing.

GIGI GRACE

Gigi Grace (Snout/The Dreamer) is an actor, singer and dancer who is honored to be part of The Dreamer. Previously, she was Off-Broadway in Camp Rock (Tess Tyler); her TV credits include “Fleishman Is In Trouble” and the upcoming series “Lioness”. Big appreciation to Kate Mueth, Josh Gladstone, NPC and her cast mates for this experience. Gigi is grateful for the love, guidance and support from her team, family, coaches, and dance teachers especially especially Calli Company, Stewart Talent, Kia Riddick-Taylor, Rance Wright and Alex-Renee Davies.

@_gigigrace_

ANNIE-SAGE WHITEHURST

Annie-Sage Whitehurst (Quince) is a professionally delusional New Yorker, born and raised. Acting includes theatre (Faux-Real Theatre Company at La Mama), voiceover ("Lia Haddock" in LIMETOWN), film “The Daphne Project”, “Roadside Assistance”, solo/collaborative experimental performance, and improv across NYC. Writing includes short films, webseries, and an opera libretto (“Arkana Aquarium” produced by EiO). In 2020, she founded The Sequestered Film Fest, a weekly, phones-only filmmaking challenge that now serves as an international archive of filmmaking during the COVID lockdown. She currently performs as "Hollywood's Most Available Ingenue" Kitten Solloway on "The Keepin' Cozy Show", an improvised 1950s TV special she produces at The Players Theatre. Many thanks to NPC, and so much love to the family!

@anniehyphensage | @kittensolloway

MEAGHAN ROBICHAUD

Meaghan Robichaud
(Starveling) is a Brooklyn-based performer and writer. A recent graduate of Emerson College’s Acting program, Meaghan could be seen performing in Boston with the Neo-Political Cowgirls in Hysteria and with Boston Lyric Opera in The Handmaid’s Tale. Recent New York performances include I Am My Own MILF which premiered at the Frigid Fringe Festival this past February and their recent burlesque debut at Club Cummings. To see what they’re up to you can follow them on Instagram @meaghanrobi and check out their website www.meaghanrobichaud.com. Also, shout out to their parents, Kazia and Rick without them, they’d be lost! Love y’all.

JOSH GLADSTONE

Josh Gladstone (Sung/Egeus/Co-Director/Producer) served twenty one seasons as the Artistic Director of the John Drew Theater at Guild Hall in East Hampton, NY. This summer he directs the theatrical adaptation of the new screenplay The Wreck of The Circassian at Southampton Arts Center and several staged readings at The Carl Fisher House and The Library in Montauk, as well as producing The Playwrights’ Theatre of East Hampton at LTV Studios where he serves as Associate Producer. Josh is also Associate Producer for The Hamptons Festival of Music’s second season, with performances coming up at LongHouse Reserve and in partnership with The Hamptons International Film Festival. Other recent projects include producing Love Letters starring Harris Yulin and Mercedes Ruehl at The Suffolk Theater and Associate Producing the Off Broadway premiere of Hitler’s Taster’s by Michelle Kholos Brooks. At the Drew he directed and produced such plays as Romeo & Juliet, Extinction, The Underpants, All My Sons starring Laurie Metcalf and Alec Baldwin; Clever Little Lies starring Marlo Thomas; Tony Walton’s productions of Tonight at 8:30 starring Blythe Danner, Equus starring Alec Baldwin and Moby Dick Rehearsed starring Peter Boyle; and The Glass Menagerie starring Amy Irving. Regional credits: Children’s Theatre Co.; Shakespeare Theatre, DC; and four seasons as co-founding Artistic Director of the Hamptons Shakespeare Festival. Josh is delighted to once again collaborate with the NeoPolitical Cowgirls and his brilliant wife Kate Mueth, with whom he shares THE DREAM.

VIOLET SPANN

VIOLET SPANN (Fairy Squad: Mustardseed) is a dancer and visual artist based in Brooklyn, New York. She started dancing at age 14 taking jazz classes at her local dance studio in Vermont. Since then she has continued to study many dance styles, focussing mainly in contemporary, modern, and ballet. Violet has been dancing in New York City since 2017 when she moved to attend college at The New School. While there she was able to work with choreographers such as Rebecca Stenn, Neil Greenberg, Nia Love, Vicky Shick, and Jodi Melnick, among many others, and graduated in 2022 with a degree in contemporary dance. After graduating Violet began working on a project with a collective of dancers which ended up being performed in Manhattan and San Francisco at the end of 2022. “My artistic style is rooted in curiosity and intuition. I am influenced by my surroundings and those I grew up in. Although I am in this city now, I still draw much of my inspiration from nature as most of my childhood was spent in the trees, dirt, and water. My creative practice involves elements of mundanity, memory, and routine, as well as attempts at exploring the unknown and unusual.”

LUCIA SCHWARTZ

Lucia Schwartz (Fairy Squad Moth) is thrilled to be back with the Neo-Political Cowgirls. She appeared in The Dreamer at Longhouse this last summer and is excited to reprise the role of Cobweb. Lucia made her NYC debut in The Great Ladies of Broadway at The Green Room. She lives in Sag Harbor with her family and beloved dog Miso.

MARY GARRETT TURNER

Mary Garrett Turner (Fairy Squad: 1st Fairy/Peaseblossom) is delighted to be dreaming again with Neo-Political Cowgirls. She has performed offbroadway and regionally in A Chorus Line, The Will Rogers Follies, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and as a Radio City Rockette. She can also be seen in the films The Producers, The Stepford Wives, and Summer of Sam. She holds a BFA in Dance from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and discovered her acting chops with Peter Jensen at T. Schreiber Studios. Love to Virginia, Allen, Jason and Kate for supporting and inspiring her own “Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

JADE DISKIN

Jade Diskin is from Sag Harbor, New York. Jade began her dance training locally on the east end before attending Walnut Hill School for the arts for her high school education. At Walnut Hill she trained under the direction of Michel Owen and Denis Lewis and graduated cum laude in 2019. During her highschool years she spent summers training at Ballet Austin as well as at BalletMet. Jade recently graduated in May of 2023 from Butler University with a B.F.A in Dance, where she graduated with high distinction. Throughout her years at Butler, Jade performed many roles in the annual Nutcracker, and was most recently a little swan in Butler Ballet’s production of Swan Lake. Jade also performed other works choreographed by her professors David Ingram, Susan Mcguire, Derik Reid, and Marek Cholewa. Soon after graduating, Jade went to Montreal to participate in workshops and creations labs and had the pleasure of learning from Margie Gillis, Laja Field, Alexandra “Spicey” Landé, Andrea Peña, Emmanuelle Lé Phan and Alexanda Damiani. Jade attended also the Bates Dance Festival this summer and was able to take classes with Duane Lee Holland Jr., Kimani Fowlin, Cynthia Oliver, Eric Parra and Kevin lega Jeff. Jade is very excited to be joining the fairy squad in this production of the dreamer and looks forward to where dance takes her next!

YUKA SILVERA

Yuka Silvera (Costume Designer) is an IATSE costume designer and the owner of the online rental & retail clothing and costumes shop, Girls on Film Collection based in NY. She studied fashion design and pattern making technology in Tokyo, as well as fashion design, theatrical costume design in NYC. She has over 20 years of experience in fashion and has created exquisite couture costumes. Her costume designs include: Musical "Surviving the Rosenthals" written & produced by Arnie Roman, directed by Andrea Andresakis. Musical "My Fair Lady", directed by Tony Walton. Film “Beach House” produced by late Ben Barenholtz. Opera “Acis and Galatea” for the Four Nations Ensemble. Shakespeare play “Hamlet and Macbeth", for the Round Table Theater & Academy. Ballet “Nutcracker", “Cinderella” and many more for the Hampton Ballet Theatre School.

Follow @YukaSilvera and @GirlsonFilmCollection

DAN RENKIN

Dan Renkin (Fight Director) teaches for Circle in the Square, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Five Towns College, and is founding faculty with NYFA's Professional Conservatory of Musical Theatre and the AAFD. He has worked from Broadway to the Met, and his fights have toured nationally. His past collaborations with Kate and Josh include both Shakespeare and Spielberg, with acclaimed productions of Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Extinction.

ANNIKA HELGESON

Annika Helgeson (Assistant Stage Manager / Dramaturg) is a theatre artist based in NYC and Boston, currently pursuing a BFA in Acting at Boston University. Her dramaturgy and performance work centers love, nature’s wisdom, and the sovereignty of all beings in the hopes that theatre can move us to treat ourselves, one another, and the earth with care. Thank you to the divine supernova that is Kate Mueth, the beautiful brilliant cast and crew of The Dreamer, Patrese McClain, Tina Birch, Mom, Dad, Erik, Alex, Maddie, Finn, Uncle Dale, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Clarissa Pinkola Estés, bell hooks, Kimberly Douglass, Sonya Renee Taylor, Brené Brown, Glennon Doyle, adrienne maree brown, Hitomi Mochizuki, and all the mothers, grandparents, teachers, healers, storytellers, and dreamers. Your hearts and wisdom inspire and guide me every day.

The Playwrights' Theatre of East Hampton was founded by Mitzi and Perry Pazer.

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