Brooklyn Academy of Music 1997 Next Wave Festival .•- •• • •••••• ••• • • • • Julio Galan, Rado, 1996, oil on canvas, 39 '/>" x 31 W' Missionaries PHILIP MORRIS BAM 1997 Next Wave Festival is sponsored by COMPANIES INC. Brooklyn Academy of Music Bruce C. Ratner Chairman of the Board Harvey Lichtenstein President and Executive Producer presents Missionaries Running time: BAM Majestic Theater approximately November 4-8, 1997 at 7:30pm two hours and twenty minutes Conceived, composed and directed by Elizabeth Swados including one intermission Produced by Ron Kastner, Peter Manning and New York Stage and Film Cast Dorothy Abrahams, Vanessa Aspillaga, Carrie Crow, Josie de Guzman, Pierre Diennet, Marisa Echeverria, Abby Freeman, Peter Kim, Gretchen Lee Krich, Fabio Polanco, Nick Petrone, Heather Ramey, Nina Shreiber, Tina Stafford, Rachel Stern, Amy White Musical direction and piano David Gaines Percussion Genji Ito, Bill Ruyle Guitar Ramon Taranco Cello / keyboards J. Michael Friedman Lighting design Beverly Emmons Costu me design Kaye Voyce Production manager Jack O'Connor General manager Christina Mills Production stage manager Judy Tucker Co-commissioned by Brooklyn Academy of Music Major support provided by ==:ATaaT and The Ford Foundation ~ Missionaries is meant to honor the memory of those who were killed in EI Salvador during the terrible times of the 1970s and 1980s. I hope it will also bring attention to the extraordinary efforts being made today by the MADRES and other groups devoted to stopping violence and bringing freedom and dignity to the poor. Jean Donovan, Dorothy Kazel, Ita Ford, and Maura Clarke were murdered because of their beliefs and dedication to the women and children of EI Salvador. The cast of Missionaries and I have had the pleasure of meeting nuns and priests who knew the four women as well as refugees from Central America who endured some of the injustices portrayed in this piece. I .hope Missionaries serves as a proper tribute to some of the real heroes in this world. -Elizabeth Swados Time Act 1: late 1970s Act 2: late 1970s-1980 Place EI Salvador Text written/inspired by Placido Erdozain, Deify G6chez Fernandez, Jaime Suarez Quemain, Miguel Huezo Mixco, Carolyn Forche, Ana Carrigan, the Nez Perce Indians, Robert Armstrong and Janet Shenk, Donna Whitson Brett and Edward T Brett, the sermons of Archbishop Oscar Romero, anonymous guerrilla poetry of the Salvadoran people, and the diaries and letters of Maura Clarke, Jean Donovan, Ita Ford, Dorothy Kazel, their friends and family. Staff Assistant to the producer Mandy Greenfield Assistant stage manager Richard Hodge Assistant director Trip Cullman History Missionaries originated with the Minnesota Music Theater Company. After that it was workshopped for two consecutive summers at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles with Gordon Davidson. Missionaries' first production was presented by New York Stage and Film and Vassar College in association with Ron Kastner in July 1996. Subsequently, Missionaries was workshopped by NYS&F and Ron Kastner at LaMama ETC. in October 1996. Special Thanks Ron Kastner, Minnesota Music Theater Company-Ben Krywcys, Mark Taper Forum-New Plays Program-Gordon Davidson, Paul and Jane Schoelkofs, George and Ginger Elvin, Tom Fontana, Wilber Colon, Patricia Cloherty, Dr. and Mrs. J. Jacobson, Janet Shenk, Michael Si rotta , Sarah Plante, John La Babarra, Deena Kaye, David Caparelliotis, Mandy Greenfield, Beth Fargis-Lancaster and Vassar College, the previous cast of Missionaries in New York, Minneapolis and Los Angeles, the arrangers and copiers of the early drafts, Sister Janice McLaughlin and the Sisters and Brothers of Photo, Vic/or Carnuccio the Maryknoll Order, Roz Lichter. There are days) sir) in which San Salvador arouses from its saintly patience And we see youths and workers Take the streets to chant their anger to leave their protests painted in blood on the pavement To shout their songs their poems their dreams ... It is then) sir) when the enemies of roofless children walk silently shadowed by the moonlight And rap on the doors of angels and take them away) bound) to dig a grave where flowers grow. Pictured (left 10 right), Maura Clarke, Jean Donovan, Ita Ford and Dorothy Kazel ---from There are Days by Jaime Suarez Quemain Elizabeth Swados (composer, conceiver and director) has created over thirty pieces on and off-Broadway including Runaways, Doonesbury, The Haggadah, The Trojan Women, Jerusalem, Alice in Concert and others. She's received five Tony nominations, Guggenheim and Ford Fellowships and a grant from The Righteous Persons Foundation to film The Hating Pot, her recent production about racism and anti-semitism. Ms. Swados has also composed movie scores and her CD Bible Women was released last year. Missionaries is also available on CD. This production marks her fourth collaboration with BAM. Dorothy Abrahams (Sister Ita Ford) was seen last year at various offices around NYC. Past roles include Janis Joplin in Beehive and Anna Akhmatova in The Beautiful Lady, also by Ms. Swados. Props to all The Foundling misfits. Thanks to the angels in Ossining who have inspired and guided us during this journey. Vanessa Aspillaga (Isabel) Theater: Teresa in Voir Dire at Long Wharf, Arena Stage and Seattle Repertory; Isabel in Missionaries at LaMama and NYS&F; Pilar in A Park in Our House at New York Theater Workshop and McCarter Theater; Hilde in The Lady from the Sea at Cleveland Play House. Film and television: Marie in Mr. Wonderful; Lily in Where We're Born and episodes of Law and Order and Loving. Carrie Crow (Bishop, Narrator, Campesino Woman) was most recently in Liz Swados' The Foundling. She was in productions of Missionaries at New York Stage and Film, LaMama and the Maryknoll Convent and can be heard on the cast recording. A recent graduate of NYU, Carrie wishes to thank Liz, David and the company for this incredible work. Josie de Guzman (Laurencia) has worked with Liz over many years and is happy to be working with her again. She has worked on and off-Broadway as well as in regional theater, film and television. She has been nominated twice for a Tony award in recognition of her portrayals of Maria in the 1980 revival of West Side Story and Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls. Pierre-Marc Diennet (Doug, Soldier, Campesino Man) first worked with Elizabeth Swados on the Tisch production of The Beautiful Lady. He left the nest briefly to join the Bloomsbury Theater Ensemble for a season but now is happy to be back in the fold. He is a graduate of the Experimental Theater Wing, NYU / TSOA. Marisa Echeverria (Campesino Woman, Guerrilla) Currently a sophomore at Harvard University, Marisa last worked with Liz on Cantata 2000. Marisa has performed in operas at the Los Angeles Music Center, regional theater, television commercials and the soundtrack for the film Hero. Thanks to Liz, family, friends and love to PS. Abby Freeman (Campesino Woman) will be graduated from the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. Recent productions include Doonesbury Flashbacks and The Emperor's New Clothes (both with Liz Swados), Twelfth Night and All's Well that Ends Well. Thanks to friends and family for your love and support. Peter Kim (Carlos, Parent, Campesino, Soldier) Past Credits: The Foundling, The Beautiful Lady, and Missionaries (NYS&F), all directed by Elizabeth Swados; The 49 Years with Estelle Parsons, Yoko Ono's New York Rock (WPA), Romeo and Juliet (The Salon). Film and television: Hackers, Citykids (ABC) and voice-overs for Sprite and AT&T. Many thanks to Liz, my family, HJK, Miles and the one above. Gretchen Lee Krich (Sister Maura Clarke) NY credits: Dancing at Lughnasa (Broadway u/s and tour), Advice from a Caterpillar (Off-B-way), Victor, Emperor of the Moon, Lear (Arden Party), Mad Shadows (HERE), Young Goodman Brown, The Nutcracker (Target Margin at LaMama and Nada), Travelogue, Spell for Opening the .Mouth of N (Joshua Fried / Douglass Dunn at LaMama, The Kitchen and Lincoln Center Outdoors), The Three Sisters, On the Verge (Cocteau Rep). Other stuff: Missionaries (NYS&F), Krapp's Last Tape (Beckett Festival, Canada) and Henry Fool (Hal Hartley's new film). Upcoming: Uncle Tom's Cabin with Drama Dept. Fabio Polanco (Campesino Man, Guardia) completed his MFA in acting at Case Western Reserve University in May. Most recently he appeared as Orin the Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors at Cain Park in Cleveland and as Damis in Tartuffe at CWRU. Regional credits include McCarter Theater, Arden Theater Company, Halle Theater and the Cleveland Play House. Nick Petrone (Romero) Some of Nick's credits are Jerusalem, Delacourt Theater; The 49 Years, Manhattan Theater Club; The Hating Pot, BAM Majestic Theater and Missionaries, New York Stage and Film and Vassar. Nick is a singer and songwriter who has worked with many artists including Stephen Schwartz and Donna Summer. Heather Ramey (Campesino Woman) Heather is a graduate of NYU / TSOA and is honored to be a part of the Missionaries cast. Thanks to Mom, Dad, Dan, Laura, and Nathan for their support, love, and laughter. This perfor­ mance is dedicated in memory of Patti. I miss you. Nina Shreiber (Campesino Woman) Previous credits: The 49 Years at the Actor's Studio (directed by and with Estelle Parsons), Missionaries at LaMama and NYS&F; Doonesbury Flashbacks and The Emperor's New Clothes at LaMama and Playwrights Horizons; The Beautiful Lady at Abe Burrows Theater. Nina is about to finish her last year at NYU / TSOA. She is proud to be a part of Missionaries' continual journey. Tina Stafford (Sister Dorothy) is thrilled to be reunited with this powerful company in such a magnificent venue. Originally from California and now a third-year New York City dweller, Tina has performed regionally at the Goodspeed Opera House (Can-Can, Sweeney Todd), Papermill Playhouse (Brigadoon) , the Weathervane Theater Unto the Woods) and is returning next week to the Boston company of Cabaret where she'll play Fraulein Kost.