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.