Educator Guide PHILADELPHIA THEATRE COMPANY at the

Prepared by Victoria Donnelly Designed by Gabriela Castaño table of Introduction The overall goals of this guide are to: contents A. Provide your classroom with the tools to have an engaging and educational theatrical experience B. Connect the production to your curriculum with relevant information and activities C. Engage the critical and analytical skills of your students Introduction 2 This guide consists of: Curriculum Connections 2 1. A brief plot summary of Everything is Wonderful 2. Character descriptions Plot Summary 3 3. An introduction to the playwright, Chelsea Marcantel 4. A summary of major themes and discussion questions based around those themes 4 5. Dramaturgy for Everything is Wonderful Character Descriptions and Cast 6. Additional discussion prompts and resources chelsea marcantel 5 Curriculum connections About the Playwright 5 National Core Arts Standards PA Arts and Letter from the Playwright 5 Humanities Standards TH Re7.I.a - Respond to what is seen, felt, and heard in a drama/theatre work to develop criteria for artistic choices 9.1.12 B - Recognize, know, use and demonstrate a variety of appropriate Major Themes 6 TH Re9.1.I.a - Examine a drama/ theatre work using supporting evidence and criteria, arts elements and principles to produce, while considering art forms, history, culture, and other disciplines review and revise original works in the arts Dramaturgical Context 7 TH Re9.1.I.c - Formulate a deeper understanding and appreciation of a drama/ theatre work by considering its specific purpose or intended audience 9.1.12 E - Delineate a unifying theme Amish culture 7-8 through the production of a work of art TH Cn10.1.I.a - Investigate how cultural perspectives, community ideas and personal that reflects skills in media processes Religions’ approach to forgiveness 9-10 beliefs impact a drama/theatre work and techniques

Sexual violence 11 NJ Arts and Social Emotional Learning Competencies Humanities Standards Discussion prompts 12 Social Awareness: Recognize and identify the thoughts, feelings and perspectives of 1.3.12 C1 - Describe the process of others character analysis and identify physical, emotional, and social dimensions of ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 12 Self Management: Identify and apply ways to persevere or overcome barriers characters from dramatic texts through alternative methods to achieve one’s goals Sources 13 1.3.12 C2 - Analyze the Relationship Skills: Identify who, when, where, or how to seek help for oneself or structural components of plays from a others when needed; Utilize positive communication and social skills to interact variety of social, historical, and political effectively with others contexts Self Awareness: Recognize one’s personal traits, strengths, and limitations PAGE 1 PAGE 2 Everything is wonderful Character Plot Summary Descriptions When an Amish family’s two sons are killed in a car accident, the guilt-ridden driver, Eric, comes to their home in search of redemption. The family takes him in, and the patriarch, Jacob, makes it his responsibility to help guide katie kleiger Eric’s lost soul as a way to help with his own grief and journey to forgiveness. The event also brings home Miri, Miri - 25, in the present. Smart, plain-spoken, independent. Left the the family’s eldest daughter, who five years earlier had been excommunicated. Her reception from her family, and Amish at the age of 20 and coped by building a hard shell around her the surrounding Amish community, is notably much cooler. While home, Miri must face the reality of her changed heart. More like her mother than her father. relationship with her family, as well as lingering trauma from a sexual assault that took place before she left the community. As the memories of the past begin to mingle with the present, the family tries to cling to their faith j hernandez and their way of life, and they must find a way to forgive and heal old wounds, as well as find a new path forward. Eric - Late 30s/early 40s. Unemployed, confused, and Content warnings: Sexual violence, death, addiction adrift in the world. There is a dark core at his center that he’s fighting very hard to keep buried. Deeply self-centered and self-loathing.

lucky gretzinger Abram - 25 years old in the present. Strapping, polite, charming, and entitled. Miri’s childhood sweetheart. He is a very charming brute.

stephanie hodge Ruth - 18 years old in the present. Miri’s youngest sibling. She is sweet and good, but not simple. More like her father than her mother.

blair sams Esther - Late 40s/early 50s in the present. Miri’s mother. A hard worker who suffers no fools and speaks her mind. On the outside, she seems simple and perhaps submissive, but she has a core of steel. Steve Polites, Bruce Randolph Nelson, Tony Nam, Alex Spieth, Deborah Hazlett, and Hannah Kelly in Everything is Wonderful by Chelsea Marcantel at Everyman Theatre, Baltimore. (Photo by ClintonBPhotography)

Everything is Wonderful is a great opportunity to explore complex emotions with your students, and provides William Zielinski a great chance to incorporate Social Emotional Learning into the classroom. Additionally, the unconventional Jacob - (pronounced: YAK-ob) late 40s/early 50s in the present. Miri’s storytelling methods can create discussions about how the structure of the piece itself helps tell a story and how father, an open and earnest man. Believes the best way to make peace to interpret plays and live performances. with the deaths of his children is to actively work on forgiveness. PAGE 3 PAGE 4 About the Playwright Major Themes Originally from Southwest Louisiana, Chelsea Marcantel is now a playwright based on the West Coast. She completed a Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Fellowship at The Juilliard School in 2016. Previously, she taught at Virginia Intermont College and Emory & Henry College, in West Virginia, a position which she thoroughly enjoyed. Currently, she Forgiveness is an inaugural member of the Writers’ Room playwrights’ unit at the Geffen Playhouse in LA, as well as a member of The Each character in EIW must learn not only to forgive Writers Guild of America and The Dramatists Guild. She was invited to join The Kilroys in 2018, and remains a member themselves and others, but also how to ask for forgiveness. today. As a writer, Chelsea is extremely interested in humans as small-group primates, and what happens when the rules and value systems of our chosen groups cease to serve us. Her other plays include Airness, Tiny Houses, Ladyish, and Does forgiveness have to be earned? Devour. Do your ideas of forgiveness align with or depart from the way it is presented in the play? Is forgiveness different from redemption? How?

Chelsea Community Though the audience does not see much of the other Amish community Marcantel members, their importance and presence can always be felt.

What is each character’s place within the community?

letter from the Playwright How does a character’s place in the community affect their relationships The lifespan of a play can be frustratingly brief. Even if the play is good, sells tickets, and gets solid reviews, there can be such with others? a hunger for the "world" or "regional" or "coastal" premiere, that after about three productions (one on each coast, one in the regions) even the most well-crafted play can face an uphill battle continuing its life. This is doubly true for stories written How does isolation from the community affect the characters? by women, about women protagonists -- these stories can get labeled 'niche' or 'trendy,' and no one wants to commit to last season's trends. For all these reasons, I am thrilled and honored that Philadelphia Theatre Company has acquired the rights to my play Everything is Wonderful, for what will be its fourth production. This faith in my play demonstrates to me a theatre that knows its audience and is committed to a clear artistic vision, instead of worrying primarily about the marketing blurbs Grief on its posters. This fourth production will solidify the legacy of Everything is Wonderful as a play, which means so much to There are many different kinds of grief and loss throughout the play, and they all create an individual emotional experience for each character. me on three fronts. Artistically, it means the play will attract attention from other theaters around the country, who will take Philadelphia Theatre Company's faith in my work as a sign that the play is now part of the contemporary American canon, and not a fad. Pragmatically, it means I will be one step closer to repaying the publishing advance on the play, giving me the means How does each character deal with their grief? to continue to work as an artist. And geographically, the play is set in Pennsylvania, but has never had a production in the state Do these methods differ from each other? where its characters live, with an audience who lives and works around them. For all of these reasons, I hope that you will support Philadelphia Theatre Company in their mission to bring stories by and about women to production -- not just the first or Is the way characters deal with past trauma and grief second time, but in those crucial later productions that create lasting play legacies and permanent careers for women artists. different than how they handle new trauma? Why do you think that is?

PAGE 5 PAGE 6 Other things Amish youth may do during this time include wearing “English” (non-Amish are referred to as the “English”) Dramaturgical Context clothes, driving cars (typically only done by men), using cellphones, and, of course, dating. Dating typically follows a set Dramaturgy is the study of the world in which the play resides. It provides a context for all the social, political, pattern: a young man will ask a young woman if he can drive her home after a meeting with their youth group. From there, the couple will exchange letters and see each other on the weekends. This will typically go on for about a year before the and economic factors, as well as everything in between, that influence the world that the play lives in. young man asks the young woman’s parents for their blessing. Rumspringa typically ends for most youth with a proposal A dramaturg for a new play assists a playwright in a way similar to an editor, helping ensure that the story is or a baptism, sometimes both. shaped and the characters are well-drawn, for maximum dramatic effect. Baptism is a huge deal in Amish culture, and is regarded as a choice that should be made by willing adults.Rumspringa is an important aspect of that choice, as it provides youth with the ability to explore other options. However, most Amish communities report that about 75-80% of their youth are baptized. Most young people are baptized between the ages of Amish Culture 18-22. Baptism signifies a life-long commitment to the church, and once a member undergoes baptism they cannot leave While Everything is Wonderful is written and performed in English, the Amish typically speak a dialect of German referred the Amish community without being excommunicated, which is what happens to Miri in the play. Marriage is a huge in- to as Pennsylvania Dutch, in addition to English. Here a few examples of the dialect that you will hear the Amish charac- centive for baptism, as only baptized Amish can marry, and members of the church may only marry other members. After ters use throughout the show: their baptism, the candidates are considered full members of the church, and expected to uphold all laws of the Ordnung. The Ordnung is the set of church rules and guidelines that governs daily living in a particular Amish community. The word Pennsylvania Dutch Dialect: *taken from script of Everything Is Wonderful* “Ordnung” means “order” or “discipline” in German. The Ordnung’s main purpose is to uphold the community, because, in the eyes of the Amish, a community without rules is hardly worth being a part of. These rules also help them to be • The phonetic word te is sometimes used in place of “the.” better Christians. Submitting to a set of rules allows them to break free from individualism, and the arrogance that • The phonetic word tat is sometimes used in place of “that.” comes with it, and helps them maintain a humble spirit. • The word Dat is the Amish equivalent of “Daddy”. • The word English is used by the Amish as a noun and an adjective, to describe

non-Amish Americans (because we speak English). Some basic principles of the Ordnung that can be found in most Amish communities include:

• Married men are expected to grow a beard and wear a hat and vest. Women are expected Adolescence to adulthood in amish culsture: to wear a covering for their head as well as a three-piece dress that includes a cape and an rumspringa --> Baptism --> the ordnung apron. One of the most well-known aspects of Amish culture is “Rumspringa” which translates as “run around.” This is the time • Owning any kind of car is forbidden. Members instead must use horse and buggy. in an Amish adolescent’s life, normally starting at age 16, when they are given more freedom to explore life outside of • It is forbidden to own a television, radio, camera, or computer. Amish culture, and begin their journey into adulthood. The purpose of this time is to allow Amish youth freedom to explore • Divorce is forbidden. other ways of life, so they may accurately choose if they want to be baptized or not. • Jewelry, and any other ornamental garment, is forbidden, as it promotes vanity. What Rumspringa really consists of for Amish youth is entirely up to the individual. Amish teens normally still live at home • Public electricity is forbidden. during this time, and are expected to continue their household duties. While they are still subject to the rules of the community, known as the Ordnung, during this time, adults are more forgiving of youth on Rumspringa and do not exercise their authority as they usually would during this time. However, the idea that Amish youth use Rumspringa as a Many of the rules outlined in the Ordnung are based on ideas from Scripture, but may not be specifically stated. Plain time to go wild with partying and sex is representative of a very small portion of the population. dress, for example, is derived from several Scripture passages, yet the specifications, such as what particular colors are allowed, are not necessarily found in any spiritual text. These factors will vary between church districts, and what is Typically, Amish teenagers will join one of the many youth groups within their community, who they meet with on allowed in one district may even be banned in another. As much as the Ordnung is a set of rules for a community, it is also weekends, for a variety of activities. These groups vary in their “plainness,” or how conservative they are with their the core of each community’s specific identity. The Ordnung can be changed, yet this often happens very slowly. As new activities. “Slow”groups are tamer, normally doing things like playing volleyball or group singing of traditional hymns, issues arise, church leadership will discuss them with the congregation. The rules are then agreed upon by an individual with adult supervision occasionally. “Fast” groups may attend parties and have unsupervised activities. congregation twice a year at the Council Meeting, which precedes the community’s Communion celebration. PAGE 7 PAGE 8 How different religons How different religons approach forgiveness approach forgiveness

Christianity Buddhism The religion of the Amish is technically Christian, though they are a different denomination of Christianity, which makes their beliefs Forgiveness is approached in a variety of different ways in Buddhism, normally as an extension of a different practice in Buddhism. One and practices different from “mainstream” Christianity. While beliefs across other denominations of Christianity differ from each other method calls on the practice of loving-kindness, which involves extending compassion and good will to others. Another is to rid oneself of slightly, forgiveness is an incredibly important thread that runs throughout the core principles of all Christianity. A defining factor expectations and disappointments. To Buddhists, one must forgive, otherwise they will be stuck in the past and will remain in a cycle of of Christianity is that God sent Jesus to earth so that sins could be forgiven. When searching for forgiveness, Christians must first pain and hurt. Forgiving not only extends kindness to those who have wronged you, but also to yourself, so that you can move on from any acknowledge their sins, and approach their life with the intent to not sin again. While no Christian believes it possible that any fully human pain you are experiencing. person could not commit sin, forgiveness is always attainable so long as one admits their own sin, a belief that one can see paralleled in the Amish faith in Everything Is Wonderful.

Judaism Islam Similar to Amish practices, Judaism believes that it is one’s duty to forgive others, and specifically forbids holding grudges or taking There are two main forms of forgiveness in Islam - forgivness from Allah and forgiveness from others. Someone can ask for forgiveness revenge. One must also allow the person who has wronged them to make amends, and extend empathy toward that person as well. from Allah directly, and it is believed by Muslims that Allah will forgive them, so long as their intention is pure. When asking forgiveness Sincerity also plays an important part in Jewish forgiveness. If someone has committed an act of evil towards another person, the from another human being, the principle is the same; an ask for forgiveness must be approached with real intention. Muslims believe that person who committed the act must be sincere in making amends, otherwise the person wronged does not have to accept their apology. if Allah can forgive humans, humans should be able to forgive each other. Atonement is the ultimate form of forgiveness to Jewish people, which wipes away all sin, and can only be granted by God.

PAGE 9 PAGE 10 Sexual violence Discussion prompts All statistics and numbers are from Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) What would be the hardest part of following the Ordnung, for you?

Are there similarities between how different religions approach forgiveness? If so, what are they? Sexual violence is a reality that many women, men and children experience throughout their lives and can affect not only the individual, but also families and communities. Sexual violence means someone forcing or manipulating What do you think this says about forgiveness overall? another person into unwanted sexual activity without consent. In regards to sexual activity, consent is an informed, enthusiastic, and continuous “yes” to any and all activities that occur during the sexual encounter What communities are you part of? Do your roles in these communities affect your daily life? How? from both parties. What consent can look like and sound like in different situations depends on the parties involved, yet it should never be assumed. It is always better to ask for consent clearly and directly. Some reasons that a person may not be How does the addition of music aid the storytelling? Why do you think the playwright included that song in the able to consent include age, fear, illness, disability, or the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. play? Sexual violence can take many different forms including rape or sexual assault, incest, sexual harrassment, unwanted sexual touching, sexual exploitation or watching someone in a sexual situation without their knowledge or consent. Thankfully, sexual How did the other theatrical elements of the production - sets, costumes, lighting, sound - help tell the story? violence has decreased by 63% since 1993, according to RAINN. However, 1 in 6 American women have been the victim of Were there any particular uses of these elements that stood out to you? some kind of sexual assault, whether it was attempted or completed, and for men, that statistic is 1 in 33. Young people are at the highest risk of sexual violence, with 54% of victims being aged 18-34 years old. Additionally, transgender, genderqueer and gender nonconforming people are at a higher risk of sexual violence, with 21% of these colleged-aged indviduals having experienced some kind of sexual assault, with an alarming trend of increased violence against black trans women. Statistics are also higher for people of color, specifically Native American women. Additional Resources According to RAINN, one of the most harmful aspects of sexual violence is its perception in the public eye, otherwise referred to as “rape culture.” Victim blaming and misconceptions about sexual violence in the US only perpetuate rape culture and Plays that touch on similar themes to Everything is Wonderful devalue the experience of victims, as well as keep victims from reporting the crime. Victims are never to blame for their • Identity in regards to faith : Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar assault, and what one is wearing or how they are acting never matters in regards to the assault. While it is entirely the victim’s choice whether or not they want to report the crime, many victims are scared away from reporting due to fear of being blamed • Amish culture: The Amish Project by Jessica Dickey for their attack, fear of their attacker hurting them again, distrust of law enforcement, pressure from others to keep quiet • Family conflict, outsiders, prejudice: And the Rain Came to Mayfield by Jason Milligan about their experience, and a variety of other reasons that make sexual assault the least reported violent crime in the US. • The aftermath of a tragedy : 26 Pebbles by Eric Ulloa, The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman

Sexual violence is largely preventable. Some ways individuals can help make change around sexual violence include standing • Tradition in the midst of upheaval: A Mexican Trilogy by Evelina Fernandez up for and believing victims, demonstrating supportive behaviors in your own relationships, creating and advocating for policies • More plays by Chelsea Marcantel: Tiny Houses, Saint Joan, Airness in your community that condemn sexual violence and support victims, showing your support for government initiatives that • Additional resources on Amish Culture: Amishamerica.com support victims and helping stop sexual violence. Anyone interested in helping create further change can volunteer or work • Additional resources on Sexual Violence: Rainn.org, Woar.org with their community’s sexual assault center.

1-800-656-4673 National Sexual assault hotline available 24/7

Lucas Papaelias and Marinda Anderson in Airness at The Phoenix Theater Company Nandita Shenoy, Michael Doherty, and Kate Eastman in PAGE 11 by Chelsea Marcantel. (photo by Bill Brymer) the Cleveland Playhouse production of Tiny Houses PAGE 12 by Chelsea Marcantel. (photo by Roger Mastroianni) Sources

Blumenthal, David J. “Is Forgiveness Necessary?” My Jewish Learning, My Jewish Learning, 30 Aug. 2002, www. myjewishlearning.com/article/is-forgiveness-necessary/.

“Importance and Benefits of Forgiveness in Islam: Learn from Quran and Sunnah.” Islamic Articles, 9 May 2019, www.quranreading.com/blog/importance-and-benefits-of-forgiveness-in-islam-learn-from-quran-and-sunnah/.

McLeod, Ken. “Forgiveness Is Not Buddhist.” Tricycle, tricycle.org/magazine/forgiveness-not-buddhist/.

“The Practice of Forgiveness.” Jack Kornfield, 11 July 2019, jackkornfield.com/the-practice-of-forgiveness/.

“Regulations.” Amish Studies, 30 Sept. 2015, groups.etown.edu/amishstudies/cultural-practices/regulations/.

“Rumspringa, The Amish Rite of Passage.” AmishFactory, 17 Mar. 2019, www.amishfurniturefactory.com/amish- blog/rumspringa-the-amish-rite-of-passage/.

“Rumspringa-Myths and Reality.” Amish America RumspringaMyths and Reality Comments, amishamerica.com/ rumspringa-myths-and-reality/.

Schall, James V. “On Forgiveness.” The Catholic Thing, 2 Mar. 2015, www.thecatholicthing.org/2015/03/03/for- giveness/.

Shemtov, Eliezer. “The Art of Forgiveness.” Judaism, 28 Sept. 2011, www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/ aid/1619314/jewish/The-Art-of-Forgiveness.htm.

“Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics.” RAINN, www.rainn.org/statistics/victims-sexual-violence.

“What Is Rumspringa?” Amish America What Is Rumspringa Comments, amishamerica.com/what-is-rumspringa/.

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