Woman and Scarecrow
WE ARE: The resident theatre company of Fairfield University; made up of students, faculty and guest artists. We are a community of learners. Our artistic home is the Wien Black Box at the Quick Center for the Arts.
OUR MISSION is: To educate students and audiences in all aspects of the art form, as we produce high quality productions relevant to our times, utilizing professional standards and compelling plays from all eras.
Our aim is to harness the profound empathy-building power of theatre to celebrate human dignity and explore our common humanity.
OUR VISION is: Performances that make the world a more thoughtful, more compassionate, more just place.
WE VALUE: Respect for our artists and community; antiracism, inclusion, and diversity; and accessibility in all forms.
OUR ALUMNI: Are versatile and engaged theatre artists, working in all aspects of the industry. Alumni also include business managers, lawyers, medical professionals, and educators. Our alumni are agents of positive change in their communities. page 2 Woman and Scarecrow by Marina Carr Cast:
Woman...... Tracy Ferguson
Scarecrow ...... Kierstin Jones
Him...... Liam Bray
Auntie Ah...... Kiersten Bjork
There will be one 15-minute intermission .
All photography, audio/video recording, and screenshots are strictly prohibited during this performance .
page 3 Staff & Crew
Director...... Park Lytle
Producers ...... Kierstin Jones, Park Lytle
Costume Designer...... Julianna Gentile
Hair and Make-up Designer...... Julianna Gentile
Video Editor...... Park Lytle
Stage Manager...... Meghan Dana
Front of House Manager...... Shannon Whelan
Dramaturg...... Kierstin Jones
Poster Design ...... Hannah Jones
page 4 Created to honor the life of a spirited artist, the Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation supports young artists in the pursuit of their artistic visions . Sharing in Jamie’s passion for creation these local beneficiares are able to experience firsthand the countless opportunities the arts can offer . Jamie Alaine Hulley was a lover of the arts and was a studio artist, writer, actor, dancer, and songwriter . She greatly admired Theatre Fairfield’s work because its members aspired to excellence in every aspect of production and were not afraid to take artistic risks .
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page 5 Director’s Note “Not preservation, but reimagination .”
This is the mantra I have told myself since last Spring . As we have all transitioned into the virtual world in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak, the world of theatre has had to make some new and challenging decisions . I have seen other artists approach this new medium of theatre with the mindset that we should try our hardest to imitate what makes live theatre unique and attempt to recreate the magic of live performance despite the limitations and barriers . This is a way of thinking I’ve chosen to reject . Rather than attempting to replicate the power of an in-person performance, I decided to embrace the magic that can exist within a virtual one . When I first read Woman & Scarecrow, I gravitated toward its themes of indecision and the fear of following one’s true desires . I am closing in on my graduation and have my own choices to make that scare me just as much as Carr’s characters’ decisions did . But as time went on and the world grew darker, I could not imagine a more fitting play to perform . The themes of death and what lies beyond became my new focus . It is not my goal to scare audiences or remind them of just how horrible the world is right now, but to validate those fears and insecurities with a performance that feels more relatable than I believe Marina Carr ever intended it to be . When you watch this production, I hope you what has truly scared you this year; whether it be the pandemic, political landscape, racial inequality, or environmental catastrophes . Your fear is valid, and it is okay to be scared; this is a place where you don’t have to be strong or brave . All I ask is that once you recognize your fear, that you start to think about what steps can be taken so that this fear does not hold power over your life and your choices . - Park Lytle Co-Producer and Director page 6 From the Screen to the “Stage”
Tracy Ferguson (‘22) and Kierstin Jones (‘21) during dress rehearsal
Virtual theatre is the name of the game and this time, Theatre Fairfield took some cues from film to create an immersive online theatre experience . First, the actors performed the show together on Zoom . Then Park Lytle (‘21) edited the recording, adding the background and sound effect and giving the illusion that the actors are acting in the same space .
Watch the trailer here!
Tracy Ferguson (‘22) as Woman and Kierstin Jones (‘21) as Scarecrow
page 7 Kiersten Bjork (‘21) as Auntie Ah
Tracy Ferguson (‘22 - upper left), Kiersten Bjork (‘21 - lower left) Kierstin Jones (‘21 - upper right), and Liam Bray (lower left) during dress rehearsal
Liam Bray as Him and Tracy Ferguson (‘22) as Woman page 8 About the Playwright
Marina Carr was born on November 17, 1964 in Dublin, Ireland . Artistry ran in her family; her mother wrote Irish poetry and her father was a playwright and a composer . She spent her childhood in County Offaly writing and performing violent, dramatic plays with her siblings in the shed-turned-theatre in their backyard . Carr went on to study English and philosophy at University College Dublin . After graduating, she wrote her first play, Ariel (2002), which premiered at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin . Since her debut, she has written more than 30 plays, many of which are well-known . Almost all of her works have similar character dynamics . There is usually an idealized mother figure who has either died or left, a present motherly figure who is callous and distant, and a complicated family dynamic . They explore how death affects life, how death reveals motivations, and how death impacts family . They are often based on Greek mythology and contain elements of Irish mythology or history . One of her most famous plays, By the Bog of Cats (2004), for example, is loosely based on the myth of Medea and explores issues of land ownership in the Irish Midlands . Carr has written more Greek-oriented plays of late . Her most recent play, Hecuba (2015), a play that deals with the aftermath of the Trojan War, premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Company . Carr’s masterpieces have won her many awards, including The Irish Times Playwright award and the Yale Windham Campbell Prize . She has taught at Trinity College Dublin, Villanova University, and Princeton, and is a writer-in-residence at the Abbey Theatre as well as Trinity College Dublin .
page 9 Dramaturgy
The Morrigan Marina Carr’s inclusion of the character Scarecrow is most likely a fantastic interpretation of the Irish goddess the Morrigan . Known as the Queen of Death, the Morrigan features prominently in Irish mythology .
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Demi Roussos Woman’s favorite musician, Demi Roussos, was a Greek progressive rock musician . After leaving Aphrodite’s Child after its heyday, he became a wildly successful soloist, producting No . 1 hits, and touring the world .
Click here to read more! page 10 Death of the Virgin by Caravaggio Catholicism is deeply rooted in Irish history and—true to form— Marina Carr uses the character Auntie Ah, and rich, imaginary dialogue to explore its impact . The Virgin Mary is one of the central figures in the Roman Catholic faith . While most picture Mary haloed in blue and gold, Michelangelo Caravaggio took a different turn .
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page 11 Special Thanks
Liam Bray Hannah Jones Sam Millette Shannon Whelan Ken, Christine, and Christian Bjork The Ferguson Family Ron Blumenfeld & Selina Strong Marie Hayes The Regina A . Quick Center for the Arts especially Peter van Heerden, Lori Jones, Russ Nagy, Melissa Matuska, & Kyle Russell Dr . Marice Rose Melissa Roberto Dean Richard Greenwald, College of Arts and Sciences Vice Provost Mark Ligas Provost Christine Siegel Fairfield University Department of Public Safety
Theatre Faculty Lynne Porter, Dr . Martha S . LoMonaco, Julie Leavitt-Learson Anne Kendall, Jackob G . Hofmann, Tom Schwans, Jan Mason
Theatre Fairfield Production Interns Kiersten Bjork ‘21 - Marketing Intern Park Lytle ‘21 - Audience Relations Intern Carlin Fournier ‘22 - Technical Intern Kierstin Jones ‘21 - Dramaturgy Intern page 12 Theatre Fairfield Season 2020-2021 Love and Imagination Plays by David Ives and Monologues by Barrie Cole Directed by Jan Mason October 23-24 at 8pm October 25 at 1pm Performances live on Zoom Director’s Cut A Series of One-Act Plays Staged by Advanced Directing Students December 4-5 at 8pm Deceber 6 at 2pm Perfomances live on Zoom Woman and Scarecrow by Marina Carr Produced, Directed, & Designed by Advanced Theatre Students Sponsored by the Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation January 29-30 at 8pm January 30-31 at 2pm Performances streamed via YouTube [title of show] Music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen Book by Hunter Bell Directed by Dr . Martha S . LoMonaco April 14-17 at 8pm April 17-18 at 2pm Performances stream live via Youtube
Be sure to check out Theatre Fairfield online: Instagram - @theatrefairfield Facebook - Theatre Fairfield YouTube - Theatre Fairfield Email - theatrefairfield@fairfield .edu Our Website - theatre-fairfield .org For more information about the Theatre Program at Fairfield University https://www .fairfield .edu/undergraduate/academics/schools-and-colleges/college- of-arts-and-sciences/ programs/visual-and-performing-arts/theatre/
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