Boy
BOY
BY ANNA ZIEGLER
DIRECTED BY RENA GAVIGAN
February 3rd, 5th, & 6th, 2022 at Morton Memorial Library
February 4th, 2022 at Dutchess County Pride Center
More info on the piece here.
CAST
Josh Lococo: Adam Turner
Erin Hebert: Jenny Lafferty
Michael Britt: Wendell Barnes
Frank McGinnis: Doug Turner
Alex Petrova: Judy Turner
PRODUCTION TEAM
Rena Gavigan: Director
Anthony Carl: Stage Manager
Wendy Urban-Mead: Production Assistant
Donna Letteri: Costumer
Dan Chester: Original Graphics
Cody Allyn Page: Queer Theatre Consultant
Serra Beyler: Projection Design
Josie Grant: Social Media, Photography, and Voice Over
Zzoë Rowan: Mask Design and Construction
CAST AND CREW BIOS
Josh Lococo (Adam Turner) is a senior Theatre Arts major with a concentration in Performance at SUNY New Paltz. He is really passionate about developing new works, so most of his favorite roles have been in things the world at large hasn’t seen yet, but one credit close to his heart is Dickon in the 2019 RTS production of The Secret Garden. He could not be more grateful for this literal dream come true. Unending gratitude and love goes out to every single person who supported him throughout this process, of which there are too many to name. It truly took a village to make this performance possible. However, special thanks must be given to Rena, our fearless leader, who led this show with unparalleled grace and sensitivity.
Erin Hebert (Jenny Lafferty) is so grateful to be a part of this beautiful, important show, and is especially grateful to be doing it with such a talented and thoughtful cast and team. Erin's recent credits include A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (Ensemble), Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio), and Something Rotten (Shakespeare). She is also a fight choreographer (She Kills Monsters, Gaslight, As You Like It) and voice actress (most recently on the New York Times' "The Daily" podcast). She would like to thank all the folks who have helped make the Hudson Valley feel like home-- y'all are the best.
Michael Britt (Wendell Barnes) has appeared in many productions throughout the Hudson Valley. In the summer of ‘21 Michael appeared as Touchstone in Shakespeare’s As You Like It and as Mr. Braithwaite in the RTS production of Billy Elliot. Previous favorites include Bellomy (The Fantasticks), Dogberry (Much Ado About Nothing), Patsy (Spamalot), the Man in the Chair (The Drowsy Chaperone), Amos (Chicago), and Harold (The Full Monty). Michael trained with the Vassar Powerhouse/New York Stage and Film Company and Shakespeare and Company. Many thanks to director Rena Gavigan whose talent and drive impressed from the very beginning. Also thanks to Anthony and Wendy and to a wonderfully talented cast. As always, thanks to my wife for her steadfast support.
Frank McGinnis (Doug Turner) is honored and humbled by this entire experience. Some of his most recent roles include Guy in Once, Mortimer in Arsenic & Old Lace, and Sam Wheat in Ghost. Working with this cast, crew, and under Rena's vision and care has been a dream. The best two parts of doing theatre are the materials and the people. This production has been profound in both categories. Thank you all for this.
Alex Petrova (Judy Turner) is returning to theatre (after a covid pause) with this production of Boy, her first show with RTS. This cast and this director have been incredibly good for the soul. She is thankful to Rena and Anthony for the grace and care with which they approached this entire process. Alex grew up in Connecticut and holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of CT. She performs locally at the CENTER for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck, Woodstock Shakespeare Festival, County Players and Round the Bend Theatre among others. Past credits include The Crucible (Elizabeth Proctor), Pericles (Dyoniza), Taming of the Shrew (Katerina), How I Learned to Drive ( Lil'Bit) and August Osage County (Ivy).
Rena Gavigan (Director) is a director, choreographer, actor and theatre educator. Favorite directing credits include 25th Annual…Spelling Bee, Matilda, Sweet Charity, and Noises Off. Recent acting credits include Girl in Once and Morales in A Chorus Line at The CENTER and Beth in Merrily We Roll Along at Arc Stages. She is most passionate about telling queer stories and centering those that are underrepresented onstage. Rena is a proud member of the Ring of Keys theatre organization and is performing in their upcoming cabaret: Queering the Canon: Sondheim Concert at Joe’s Pub in NYC later this month. She is a graduate of Circle in the Square Theatre School and is working towards her certification in intimacy direction with IDC. www.renagavigan.net
Anthony Carl (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working with such a dedicated group of actors and production team as he makes his stage managing debut! Anthony would like to thank Rena, Dot, Joe, and everyone at RTS for their undying support during the production! You may also have seen Anthony on stage at The CENTER for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck. Some of his most recent appearances were in A Chorus Line, Mama Mia, and as Ching Ho in Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Wendy Urban-Mead (Production Assistant) is glad to be on the production team for Boy. Rena is an inspired leader, and Wendy regards it a privilege to support Rena’s vision. The actors are brave and talented. She thanks RTS for putting on this year’s New Director’s Series. Recent onstage credits include Billy Elliot (Lesley), As You Like It (Adam) and The Laramie Project (Rebecca Hilliker, Reggie Fluty, Fr. Schmit). Recent backstage work includes Songs for a New World/American Son (rehearsal Stage Manager) and The Secret Garden (Assistant Director.)
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
First and foremost, thank you for coming to see BOY. The fact that you came to see this obscure play at an untraditional performance space in the dead of winter is not lost on any of us. Because of people like you who show up to support live theatre in your community, we can continue to create meaningful theatre.
When choosing a play for this New Directors Series, our producers Dot Luongo and Joe Eriole encouraged me to find a piece that I was passionate about. I knew right away that I wanted to tell a queer story. Despite the many members of the queer community in most theatre circles, we so rarely get to play a role that connects to that part of our identity.
As I read plays and compiled a list of options, BOY really stood out to me, but I was hesitant. I was asking myself “IS this a queer story? Is Adam queer? He’s not trans… How does this story connect to the queer community? Is this representation enough? Is this even queer representation?! And if it is, why should I tell this story?” After divulging all of these thoughts in a late night, panicked phone call to Dot, she said “These questions are all valid and complex and I cannot give you answers. But I can tell you that if you do not choose this play because of these concerns, no one else is going to produce this play in this area for at least five, if not ten years. So if you feel passionately about it, you should do it, and you’ll make it happen and do a great job.”
Finding these five extraordinary actors has made it all possible. Their commitment to caring about this production and each other is unparalleled. Every day they came in with an eagerness to learn, understand, and express more deeply. Not only did they bring their actor A+ game to every rehearsal, but also a sincere tenderness for each other as human beings first. Seeing how these actors trusted each other and feeling how they trusted me has been the biggest highlight of this experience.
Seeing an identity of yours represented onstage is an integral part of why we engage with the arts. It makes us feel less alone, it makes us feel valid, it makes us feel seen. It reminds us that we have a place in this world. Thank you to everyone involved in this production who fully committed to this purpose and my vision of a little play in a library. We’ve made something very special and I have a feeling it will have more of an impact than we will ever know… a ripple effect, if you will.
This performance is dedicated to Kevin Archambault, a beloved member of our theatre community who cast an immeasurable ripple effect of love, inspiration, and joy during his time with us.
Special Thanks: Christine Dammann, Caitlin Weiner, CJ Zaretsky, Frank McGinnis, Melissa Matthews, Gavigan Graphic Designs
Land Acknowledgement: I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that much of the preparation for this production took place in Yorktown Heights, NY and this land holds historical and contemporary ties to the Munsee Lenape & Wappinger territories. Poughkeepsie and Rhinecliff, NY where we will gather for most of our rehearsal, production and performance will take place on the Indigenous lands of the Mohican and Munsee Lenape territories. I recognize the stewardship, dedication and continued presence of the Indigenous individuals and tribes for whom this area is home. I acknowledge that this land acknowledgement is a starting point and I commit to working beyond acknowledgement to put actions into practice to support these communities. - Rena Gavigan (BOY Director)