Southern Connecticut State University Department of Theatre and The Crescent Players present AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE A Radio Broadcast

by Henrik Ibsen

Translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling

Directed by Benjamin Curns

Sound Design by Nathan Roberts Production Dramaturgy by Kat Duffner & Ellis McGinley From top left, clockwise: Samhain Perez (photo by SCSU University Photographers); Leah Herde and Gary Robinson Jr. (photos by Kat Duffner) From left: (back row) Sebastian Cordero, Samhain Perez, Majesty S. Moore, Daniel Santana-Lopez, Gary Robinson Jr., Leah Herde, Liam Welsh, Matthew Lopes, Sarafina Kolaski, Patrick Ballard, Benjamin Curns, Ariana Harris; (front row) Nicole Thom- as, Veronic Bennett, Marcel Smith, and Nick Moran. Photo by SCSU University photographers.

CAST

Narrator...... Gracy Brown

The Stockmann Family Dr. Thomas Stockmann...... Daniel Santana-Gonzalez Katherine Stockmann...... Leah Herde Mayor Peter Stockmann...... Matthew Lopes Petra Stockmann...... Majesty S. Moore Ejilif Stockmann / Citizen #5...... Sarafina Kolaski Morton Stockmann / Citizen #1...... Ariana Harris Morton Kiil / Citizen #4...... Liam Welsh

The People's Messenger Hovstad...... Gary Robinson Jr. Billing...... Sebastian Cordero Aslaksen...... Samhain Perez

The Town Captain Horster / Citien #6...... Moise B. Nyandu Captain #2 / Vik / Drunkard, etc...... Marcel Smith Citizen #3...... Patrick Ballard PRODUCTION TEAM

Director...... Benjamin Curns Sound Designer...... Nathan Roberts Co-Dramaturgs...... Kat Duffner & Ellis McGinley Production Manager...... Mike Skinner Technical Director...... Brandon Fuller Carpenter...... Ryan Gardner Stage Management Mentors...... Robyn Gostomski & Theresa Stark Stage Manager...... Veronica Bennet Assistant Stage Manager...... Nicole Thomas Audio Rehearsal & Recording Engineer...... Nick Moran Front of House Manager...... Sarah Kolaski Shop Build Crew...... TJ Blotney Rushawn Brown Matthew Lopes Ryleigh Rivas Patrick Soldi

Stage Manager Veronica Bennett with director Benjamin Curns (right) and Assistant Stage Manager Nicole Thomas (left) during rehearsal for An Enemy of the People. Photos by Kat Duffner. FROM THE DIRECTOR

When I sat down with the rest of the Theatre Faculty here at SCSU last February to discuss possible titles for our 2020/21 season, the Covid-19 pandemic had not yet reared its ugly head. Originally slated to perform in February 2021, Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People was originally suggested because we thought it would be a potent response to the general election of November 2020. With our radio production now opening a full month before the election, our heads are spinning about all the ways this terrific play speaks to our contemporary American experience.

There is of course the worldwide pandemic and its grave threat to public health. However, perhaps even more dangerous is the deliberate and concerted modern effort to deny science, to dismiss experts, and to value commerce over safety. Dr. Stockmann’s discovery of bacteria in the town’s water supply may be dismissed as “idle fancy”, “unreliable”, and “false”, but that doesn’t make the water any safer than believing COVID-19 will disappear by way of “miracle.” The water is still poisoned no matter how the whistle blower might be smeared. Just ask the citizens of Flint, MI if you don’t believe me.

There is the profound influence of mass media and how private interests can manipulate these sources of information for their own gain. Hovstad and Billing claim they want a revolution but will print damn near anything so long as the readership keeps buying The People’s Messenger. Consider Mark Zuckerberg as a modern equivalent: a man who has promised action to prevent the spread of misinformation on Facebook, but largely chooses ad revenue over the truth.

And finally, there is the resurgence in the use of the term “Enemy of the People.” While its origins lie in ancient Rome, the phrase has since been used by Hitler, Stalin, and most recently Glenn Beck and, yes, the 45th president of the United States. Like our Dr. Stockmann, most of those branded with this title are done so for exposing “inconvenient truths.” The term attacks the speaker, not the speaker’s argument. Which is not to say the Doctor is without fault; insulting the citizens and dismissing them as an uneducated mob hardly earns him any support.

Despite these environmental and political disasters, it has been such a pleasure creating this play with this talented, fearless, and ambitious group of artists. It really has. We are lucky; not every college got to stay open this year, and the SCSU community is to be commended for maintaining health and safety. I am thrilled for the chance to work with such a diverse, passionate, and supportive cast and am thankful for all that they have taught me. I’m frankly glad we even got to be in the same room! I’d like to especially thank our Sound Designer Nathan Roberts and his stellar team of Mike Skinner and Nick Moran. Turning this production into a radio play presented a rather steep learning curve and these three handled it with patience, professionalism, and an inspiring enthusiasm. We literally could not have done this without them.

I hope you enjoy this radio production of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People. Even if the writing or politics are not for you, I have no doubt you’ll be blown away by this fabulous cast and meticulous crew. Hope to see you back in the theatre before long, but in the meantime, wear your mask and trust science. The great thing about genuine facts is that they are always true...

Benjamin Curns Director, An Enemy of the People WHO’S WHO AT THE MIC Patrick Ballard (Citizen #3) is very excited to be participating in this production. This is Patrick’s first time acting at Southern Connecticut State University; you can typically find him backstage in other productions. He wants to thank his family for all the love and support they have given him during this journey.

Sebastian Cordero (Billing) is a Theatre major and Historian for the Crescent Players. Some of his previous roles include, SCSU Theatre: Red Velvet (Casimir); Crosby High School: It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (George Bailey) and Radium Girls (Tom/Reporter/Knef/Berry). He would like to thank Ben and the cast/crew for helping him through this show in such crazy circumstances and his family/friends for supporting his love for theatre.

Ariana Harris (Morton Stockmann/Citizen #1) is thrilled to be a part of her first radio play. After having performed at Southern inLysistrata (Male Chorus), The Addams Family (Ancestor), Pippin (Player), and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Herself/Various), Ariana is excited to have the chance to work exclusively with her voice for a change. Furthermore, she is so very happy that theatre is continuing to thrive in this pandemic, and she is looking forward to sharing the hard work of this stalwart cast with audiences everywhere. She hopes the listeners enjoy and take from the show as much as she has.

Leah Herde (Katherine Stockmann) is a Senior Biology major. This is her fourth show at SCSU, including: Red Velvet (Halina), Pippin (Player) and English Made Simple (Jill). Some of her previous shows include: The Bridge of San Luis Rey (Pepita) and On the Twenty-First Century (Anita Highland). She would like to thank her amazing cast, stage managers and directors for making this production so special.

Sarafinah C. Kolaski (Ejlif Stockmann/Citizen #5) is a sophomore who has immensely enjoyed being involved with Crescent Players and this production of An Enemy of the People. This is her first show acting in a production on campus. Her favorite role she’s played in her life was Alice in Alice in Wonderland. She has a lot of love to give to her cast members and everyone involved and is grateful for her experience in this show. Matthew Lopes (Mayor Peter Stockmann) is a senior Theatre major. His most recent acting credits with SCSU Theatre include: Red Velvet (Bernard Warde), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Himself/ Matthew Lopes), Pippin (Charlemagne), The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (The Pope/Lucifer), and The Addams Family (Gomez Addams). Matthew was a Finalist for the 2020 and 2019 KCACTF Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Award, Region 1. He would like to thank his family and friends for their support and this cast/crew for the amazing experience!

Majesty S. Moore (Petra Stockmann) is a freshman Nursing major from Manchester, CT. She was a member of her high school theatre program for 4 years; however, this is her first production at SCSU. Majesty would like to thank the cast and crew for making her first theatre production at SCSU unforgettable.

Moise B. Nyandu (Captain Horster/Citizen #6) is a senior Exercise Science major and Theatre minor. His most recent acting experience was in Lilies of the Valley (Bailiff/Citizen #1) in the spring 2019 student-directed one-act festival. He would like to thank the Theatre Department and the Crescent Players for a great experience.

Samhain Perez (Aslaksen) is a freshman Theatre major who performed on- stage throughout his entire high school career. He starred in a wide variety of plays and musicals including: Oklahoma! (Ike Skidmore), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lysander), High School Musical (Zeke), and was prepared for Les Miserables (Javert). This will be his first time performing in an SCSU Theatre production.

Gary Robinson Jr. (Hovstad), from Montclair, New Jersey, is a sophomore Communication major and Theatre minor. His most recent acting credit includes: Red Velvet ( Ira Aldridge). Gary is on the SCSU football team and hosts his own radio show.

Daniel Santana-Gonzalez (Dr. Thomas Stockmann) is a Secondary Education/History major and this is his first performance with SCSU Theatre. He is delighted to participate in An Enemy of the People as Thomas Stockmann. Marcel Smith (Citizen #2), from Hartford, Connecticut, is a sophomore Communication major concentrating in Film, TV, and Digital Production. This is Marcel’s first time in an SCSU theatre production. Marcel is also a part of the SCSU Track & Field team and is the general manager of WSIN Radio.

Liam Welsh (Morton Kiil/Citizen #4) is a sophomore playing in his third show with SCSU Theatre. This is his 2nd year working with Crescent Players; he also works as the Promotions Manager for WSIN Radio on campus. He is thrilled to have this opportunity and is thankful for all his Old Saybrook, Southern, and Incarnation Camp family for supporting him this far.

WHO’S WHO BEHIND THE SCENES

Veronica Bennet (Stage Manager) Veronica Bennet is a senior Comprehensive Special Education major and Theatre minor. She acted in small productions throughout middle school, but it wasn’t until college that she fell in love with working behind the scenes. With SCSU Theatre, Veronica worked on The Addams Family (Deck Carpenter) and even played a small role as Cousin It during the run! This is Veronica’s third production as Stage Manager; she previously worked on The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) in Fall 2019 and planned to stage manage the Student Directed One Act Festival in Spring 2020. She wants to thank Ben, the director, and the cast for being so easy to work with. Veronica also wishes to thank her stage management mentors, Robyn and Theresa, who guided her through this super crazy time. She also wants to thank Nicole Thomas (Assistant Stage Manager) for helping her out and being amazing to work with! Lastly, she wants to thank her parents, siblings, and boyfriend for supporting her through this whole process and getting her to where she is today!

Alexina Cristante (Publicity Crew Manager) is a sophomore Music major and Publicity Crew Manager for the Crescent Players. Her previous SCSU Theatre credits include: Red Velvet (Costume Run Crew), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (Light Board Operator), and Pippin (Player). She would like to thank her family and friends for always helping and being supportive. Enjoy the show! Benjamin Curns (Director) serves on the Adjunct Faculty of the Department of Theatre at Southern Connecticut State where he directed last season’s production of Red Velvet and co-directed The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Benjamin has previously worked with students at Longwood University (VA), Guilford Tech (NC), and was selected as the McDermott Visiting Teaching Artist in 2019 for the Shakespeare & Performance MFA company at Mary Baldwin University (VA). Directing credits include national touring productions of Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar, and Much Ado About Nothing (American Shakespeare Center); Coriolanus, As You Like It (Shakespeare Academy @ Stratford); ‘Diggers, Shakespeare on Ice (World Premiere, Blackfriars Conference), The Boy (Philadelphia Fringe), Arsenic & Old Lace (Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre), and Cymbeline, 2 Henry IV, Othello, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest, All’s Well That Ends Well (American Shakespeare Center Young Company). As an actor, Benjamin’s work has been seen on television, web-series, independent film, and stages in New York and regional theatres such as The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, PlayMakers Rep, Virginia Stage, and the American Shakespeare Center where he played over 100 roles in 60 different productions including the title roles inRichard III, Macbeth, and Henry VIII. Benjamin received his MFA in Acting from the Professional Actors Training Program at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was also awarded the David Hammond Award for Excellence in Dramatic Art. Benjamin is a proud member of Actors Equity and holds the rank of Advanced Actor/Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors where he was also awarded the David Boushey Founder’s Award for Excellence in Unarmed Combat. Currently, Benjamin is a company member with the Elm Shakespeare Company where he serves as an actor, musician, and teacher. Visit www. benjamincurns.com for more info!

Kat Duffner (Co-Dramaturg) is a junior Theatre major and Creative Writing minor who works as Events Coordinator for the Crescent Players. Past SCSU Theatre acting credits include: Red Velvet (Ellen Tree), The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus (Chorus), and The Door (Justin). Her SCSU Theatre tech credits include: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Deck Carpenter), Pippin (Costume Crew Head), and The Addams Family (Costume Crew). She is so proud of all the work put into An Enemy of the People and would like to congratulate the cast and crew on this production!

Brandon Fuller (Technical Director) is working on his sixth production with SCSU Theatre: The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, Student Directed One-Acts, Pippin, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), and Red Velvet. He’s pleased to be back! He has many credits within New Haven and Connecticut, including being a company member of A Broken Umbrella Theatre, and production work at Yale Repertory Theatre, Elm Shakespeare, ShowMotion, Phoenix Entertainment, and the Goodspeed Opera House, among others. He also works nationally with Productions On Point, providing management, surveying, drafting and layout services for large events.

Ellis McGinley (Co-Dramaturg) is a Freshman Exploratory Arts & Humanities student. An Enemy of the People is their first production with SCSU Theatre! Previous theatre credits include the Capital Theatre: Funny Girl (Costume Crew) and Getting Out (Costume Design).

Nick Moran (Sound Crew Manager/Production Audio Rehearsal & Recording Engineer) is a sophomore Theatre major and Computer Science minor who works as Sound Crew Manager for the Crescent Players. His previous work with SCSU Theatre includes: Pippin (Light Board Operator), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Sound Board Operator), and Red Velvet (Assistant Stage Manager). He would like to thank the cast and crew of An Enemy of the People for a wonderful performance and is very excited to be a part of such a unique show! Nathan Roberts (Sound Designer) is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, instrument- maker, and sound designer who specializes in creating original music and soundscapes for plays, often live onstage. For the Crescent Players and SCSU Theatre: Red Velvet, Pippin, RENT, Godspell, Urinetown, Shakespeare in Hollywood, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Off Broadway: WP Theater: Natural Shocks; Theater for a New Audience: The Servant of Two Masters; The Acting Company: Julius Caesar, Macbeth; The Playwrights Realm:Crane Story, Dramatis Personae; HERE: Olives and Blood. Regional: Oregon Shakespeare Festival: The Way the Mountain Moved, Sense and Sensibility; Baltimore Center Stage: Miss You Like Hell, Fun Home, The Christians, Les Liaisons Dangereuses; Milwaukee Rep: Animal Farm; Dallas Theater Center/ Guthrie Theater: Sense and Sensibility; The Old Globe: Tokyo Fish Story; Ford’s Theatre: The Widow Lincoln, Our Town; Yale Repertory Theater: Assassins, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, The Servant of Two Masters; Hartford Stage: Twelfth Night, The Tempest; Long Wharf Theatre: It’s a Wonderful Life. Other: designs and builds musical instruments, with a special emphasis on flutes and hurdy-gurdies. Education: MFA, Yale School of Drama. Faculty: Lecturer in Theater and Performance Studies, Yale University.

Mike Skinner (Production Manager) is an Associate Professor and Chairperson for the Department of Theatre. Sound Design Credits include: Regional: It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play, Two Trains Running, Underneath the Lintel (Triad Stage); Mamma Mia, Cabaret, 1776, Sweeney Todd (CT Critics Circle Award Nomination 2019), Disaster! (broadwayworld.com Best Sound Design Nominee 2018), Jesus Christ Superstar, Noises Off!, Peter and The Starcatcher (broadwayworld.com Best Sound Design Nominee 2016), Newsies, How to Succeed…, Peter Pan, Xanadu, Les Miserables, Gypsy, The Sunshine Boys, A Chorus Line (Connecticut Repertory Theatre); Bossa Nova (Yale Rep); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet, Love’s Labour’s Lost (Elm Shakespeare Company); Other designs for: W.H.A.T., H.E.R.E., N.Y.M.F.; University Faculty Designs for: Fordham, John Jay College, Quinnipiac, Southern CT State, The Actors Conservatory, Amherst College. Education: MFA, Yale School of Drama. Listen to some of Mike’s compositions at skinnerdesign.podbean.com or check his acoustic trio, VAMP42 at facebook.com/VAMP42Band/.

Keegan Smith (Construction Crew Manager) is a junior Honors College student studying Psychology with minors in Religious Studies and Theatre. He is very excited to be involved with another Crescent Players production (but behind the scenes now)! While this is his first tech credit, his past acting credits at SCSU include Red Velvet (Henry Forrester), Pippin (Lewis), Lilies in the Valley (Sam), The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus (Dick/Envy/Devil), and The Addams Family (Pugsley). Usually a performer, Keegan is grateful for the opportunity to explore the technical elements of theatre and be a part of building the isolation booths for Enemy of the People. He would like to thank Brandon Fuller and Ryan Gardner for their guidance and patience and thank the Crescent Player members for their votes to get to this position. Cheers to all involved and he hopes everyone enjoys this one-of-a-kind theatre experience in this one-of-a-kind time! Dramaturg Note

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) was the son of a merchant father and artistic mother. A short eight years after he was born, his poverty- stricken family was forced to move to a farm. At fifteen, he began work as an apothecary apprentice. After several years, he began writing plays and managing theaters full time. After living in several places in Norway, he moved to Italy, where he continued to write. Despite being one of the leaders of the time in feminist plays, he had several infatuations and affairs with young women, fathering at least one illegitimate child. Upon his return to Norway, he was celebrated as an author and playwright. In 1906, after multiple strokes years before, his nurse told a visitor that he was doing a bit better, to which Ibsen replied “on the contrary” before passing away. He received a state funeral honoring his influence on literature and drama. Today, he is regarded as the father of modern drama for his heavy influence in the transition from Romanticism to Realism. When Henrik Ibsen published his play Ghosts in 1881, there was outrage at how overtly he addressed adultery and sexually transmitted diseases. He was berated by critics for writing this controversial play, which spurred him to write An Enemy of the People. Enemy centers around a respected man at the top of his scientific field. In a time when most places had a single doctor, he is well known by everyone in the town. When he discovers that a preventable public health crisis is being overlooked, he is censored and discredited by those who wish to save their fortunes over the lives being put in danger. Having only a small number of supporters, he and his family suffer consequences at the hands of a self interested government and a town that has only one source of information. Our version of the play was translated by Eleanor Marx- Aveling. Daughter of Karl Marx and Socialist activist in her own right, she translated between ten and fifteen dramas and other works of literature before her death in 1898. The play as it is translated is distinctly relevant to a plethora of social issues, including classism, overbearing government, and the government-sanctioned censorship of scientists, educators, and citizens. One of many present parallels to the show is Flint, Michigan’s ongoing water crisis. In spring of 2014, it came to the public’s attention that the water in Flint had been contaminated by lead pipes. The push for change and attention was led by Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, who would soon find herself under intense pressure from local government to handle the situation quietly. Four years later, Dr. Hanna-Attisha has published a book about her experiences— What the Eyes Don’t See—and the replacement process for Flint’s pipes is still ongoing. Brain damage and other lasting effects of lead poisoning will haunt the city for generations to come. And a century and a half prior, newspaper offices like the one seen inAn Enemy of the People would also have the ear of the public—in the midst of the so-called Newspaper War, with Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World and William Hearst’s New York Journal. The fierce rivalry between the two would produce yellow journalism (ever heard of clickbait?), an era in journalism marked by sensationalist headlines, flagrant twisting of truth, and a constant manipulation of the middle class’ public opinion. It is this middle class that we see displayed in the midst of Ibsen’s play now; fresh off the economic boom Norway experienced after establishing its own constitution and merging with the kingdom of Sweden, his workers are quick to shed their blue collars but haven’t yet forgotten the injustices of a tight-fisted upper class. Despite the fact that Enemy was written over a hundred years ago, the play remains hauntingly familiar to a modern audience. From a corrupt government with a totalitarian head, to people in media being too easily swayed, to a disbelief in science, to a society that places capital gain above the health of unknowing victims, we have to wonder how we have allowed this to continue. Kat Duffner & Ellis McGinley Production Dramaturgs UPCOMING

Sweat by Lynn Nottage Directed by Dexter J. Singleton A Virtually Streamed Performance Streaming November 19-21 at 8:00PM and November 21 & 22 at 2:00PM

Filled with warm humor and tremendous heart, Sweat tells the story of a group of friends who have spent their lives sharing drinks, secrets, and laughs while working together on the factory floor. But when layoffs and picket lines begin to chip away at their trust, the friends find themselves pitted against each other in a heart-wrenching fight to stay afloat. https://insidesouthernct.edu/theatre/productions

For more news from the Department of Theatre, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram! Crescent Players 2020-21 Board President/Properties Crew Manager, Leah Herde Treasurer/Producer’s Representative, Patrick Ballard Secretary, Robert Porter Historian, Sebastian Cordero Events Coordinator, Kat Duffner Publicity Crew Manager, Alexina Cristante Sound Crew Manager, Nick Moran Electrics Crew Manager, TJ Blotney Construction Crew Manager, Keegan Smith Paint Crew Manager, Nicole Thomas Front of House Crew Manager, Sarafina Kolaski

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