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Crimes of the Heart

The Harper Ensemble Theatre Company, Liberal Arts Division, and Cultural Arts Committee Present

Crimes of the Heart

Directed by Kevin Long

 

Please Note

If we can help accommodate you during your visit, please speak with our House Manager.

• Eating or drinking is not permitted in the theatre.
• Please turn off all electronic devices.
• The use of any recording device, either audio or video and the taking of photographs, either with or without flash, is strictly prohibited.

About the Artists

Beth Henley was born in Jackson, Mississippi. Her plays have been produced internationally and translated into over ten languages. Crimes of the Heart (The Golden Theatre) and The Wake of Jamy Foster (Eugene O’Neill Theatre) were performed on Broadway. Off-Broadway productions include: The Miss Firecracker Contest, Am I Blue, The Lucky Spot, The Debutante Ball, Abundance, Impossible Marriage, and Family Week. Her play Ridiculous Fraud was produced at McCarter Theatre as well as South Coast Repertory Theatre. Ms. Henley’s The Jacksonian premiered at the Geffen Theatre in January 2012 to great acclaim. Robert Falls directed and the cast included Ed Harris, Bill Pullman, Amy Madigan, and Glenne Headly. It was performed Off-Broadway at the New Group. Studio Theatre produced the world premiere of her newest play, Laugh in 2015. Beth Henley was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Drama and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best American Play for Crimes of the Heart. Other awards include American Theatre Wing 1998 Award for Distinguished Achievement in Playwriting Susan Smith Blackburn Finalist for Crimes of the Heart and Ridiculous Fraud; Richard Wright Literary Excellence Award 2000; New York Stage and Film Honoree, 2007; ATHE Career Achievement Award, 2010. Ms. Henley has the honor of serving as Theatre Arts Presidential Professor at LMU, Los Angeles. She is a member of The Fellowship of Southern Writers, the Dramatist Guild and the Academy of Arts and Science.

 

Kevin Long (Director), Nominated for the 2015 Tony Award® for Excellence in Theatre Education and Co-Author of the book Bring on the Bard: Active Drama Approaches for Shakespeare’s Diverse Student Readers (with Dramaturg Mary T. Christel). Kevin is a Professor of Theatre at Harper College, the recipient of the 2018 Motorola Solutions Foundation Endowed Award for Teaching Excellence, recipient of the 2012 Illinois Theatre Association Award for Excellence in College Theatre Teaching and an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Kevin is a nationally recognized expert in teaching Folio Technique and frequently presents his workshop “Shakespeare Whispers into Your Ear” which explores the language and theatre of Shakespeare using the 1623 First Folio. Kevin teaches Folio Technique for Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Education Department, for Actors Training Center, and at various institutions and theatres across the country. www.kevinlongdirector.com

 

Lauren Nichols (Set Designer) Lauren is a Jeff award -nominated designer, model builder, and draftsman. Chicago: Home What Howls (Steppenwolf); Anna in the Tropics, Blues for an Alabama Sky (Remy Bumppo); Tiger Style (Writers); Bernarda! (Teatro Vista); Motherhouse (Rivendell). Regional: Cinderella (Village Theatre- Seattle); Rose (Renaissance Theatreworks- Milwaukee). She has also designed for UIC, University of Chicago, DePaul Opera, Glass Apple, The Gift Theatre, Firebrand, Northwestern and BoHo. Assistant work: Marriott, Court, Julliard, NY Theatre Workshop, St. Louis Opera, Goodman, Asolo Rep, Milwaukee Rep, The Alliance and Oregon Shakes. Upcoming: Hot Wing King (Writers). Teaching: Adjunct Professor at The Theatre School-DePaul University. Education: MFA Northwestern. laurenangeldesigns.com

 

Andrew H. Meyers (Lighting Designer) Andrew Meyers is a Chicago-based theatrical Lighting Designer, who designs plays, operas, ballets, circuses, fashion shows and corporate events around the country. His previous designs at Harper include Pippin, The Tempest, Hair, American Idiot and Lettie. He is a proud member of Team Recorder.

 

Jane DeBont (Costume Designer) graduated from Millikin University in 1984 and was an equity actor for ten years. She has been a professional designer/stitcher since 1994. For the past four years, Jane and her design partner, Jesus Perez, have been the lead costume designers for RAIL EVENTS’ Polar Express. Other recent productions include Emma (St. Ignatius High School); Big Fish, Lettie, Sense and Sensibility, Too Heavy for Your Pocket, Shakespeare in Love (Harper College); and Sister Act, Sweeney Todd and Disaster! (Rocky Mountain Repertory theater). Jane is currently the resident costume designer at Harper College.

 

Emily Hayman (Sound Designer) Emily Hayman is a Chicago-based sound designer and composer. Recent sound design credits include Seagulls (Oak Park Festival Theatre); Measure for Measure (Montana Shakespeare in the Park); Tintypes and Men on Boats (Illinois Wesleyan University); A Town Called Progress (Promethean Theatre Ensemble); Extra Yarn and Dooby Dooby Moo (Lifeline Theatre). Assistant sound design for Winter’s Tale (Hartford Stage); POTUS, Describe the Night, Choir Boy and Seagull (Steppenwolf); New Stages 2022 (Goodman Theatre); Richard III, The Notebook (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre). Emily received her BFA in Sound Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University.

 

Patty Meier (Props Designer) is a Harper graduate returning after 8 years. Patty is thrilled to be working alongside the latest talent of Harper Ensemble Theatre once again. Her recent credits include The Pajama Game, Newsies (Prop Design, Summer Place Theatre), Boeing Boeing, The Creators and The Play That Goes Wrong (Stage Manager, 3 Brothers Theatre). She would like to thank her family and friend for all their support through her crazy theatre life. Hold onto your pecan pies and enjoy the show!

 

Mary T. Christel (Dramaturg) currently is the curriculum developer for TimeLine Theatre’s Living History program. She has served as dramaturg for Harper Theatre Ensemble productions including Shakespeare in Love, Too Heavy for Your Pocket and Lettie. Mary co-authored Bring on the Bard: Active Drama Approaches for Shakespeare’s Diverse Student Readers with Kevin Long.

 

David Antonides (Dramaturg Consultant) David is an Associate Professor of Student Development and a Counselor at Harper College; and is also a licensed clinical professional counselor. David is qualified as a Specialized Dramaturgy Consultant and this will be his first collaboration on a Harper Ensemble Theatre Company production.

 

Kate Stewart (Stage Manager) This is Kate's 12th year working with Harper College. She is a graduate of Harper College and Columbia College of Chicago where she earned her degree in Technical Theatre. She is thrilled to be working at Harper again. Previous works include Boeing Boeing, Fiddler on the Roof and Gypsy, to name a few. She wants to thank her family for all their love and support over the years as well as Kevin Long and Alyssa Maslanka for being by her side through it all.

 

Alyssa Maslanka (Assistant Stage Manager) Alyssa is a Harper graduate who moved to Roosevelt and got their bachelor’s in criminal justice. Alyssa is excited to work on another show with Kevin and Kate! She has worked on previous Harper College productions of Anna in the Tropics, Follies, Sense and Sensibility, Shakespeare in Love and Lettie. Alyssa also served as assistant stage manager for Ragtime produced by St. James Theatre. She wishes to thank all her friends and family for their support throughout all her past shows and all the future shows to come.

 

Alex Chrisos (Sound Board Operator) is a sophomore and Theatre Technician at Harper College. He was the sound board operator for a previous Harper College production, Lettie (Spring 2023). He is also the founder and current president of the Film & Theatre Club at Harper College.

 

Stephen DeWaal (Light Board Operator) is a sophomore at Harper College participating in his third production. Before Crimes of the Heart, he worked on Lettie (Spring 2023) as an Understudy and as a Run Crew Member and Big Fish (Fall 2023) as a Light Board Operator. Stephen is a local filmmaker who is currently developing his own film studio Sample 8 Films. His first short film “A Long Drive Home” (2023) he wrote and directed receiving official selections at Crown Point International Film Festival and at Filmmakers Lift Off. He is the go-to cinematographer here at Harper College. Currently he’s the Secretary at the Theater and Film Club at Harper College.

 

Emily Lundsgaard (Student Assistant to Costume Designer) has worked on Harper Productions of Sense and Sensibility (2022), Lettie (2023) and Big Fish (2023). They are graduating with an Associate in Arts from Harper College this Spring. They hope to continue working in theatre at their next school and post college.

 

About the Cast

Lily Barger (Meg Magrath) is a current Harper College sophomore making her first appearance with the Harper College Ensemble Theatre Company. She is a graduate from Resurrection College Prep and would like to thank everyone in her life for getting her where she is now.

 

 

 

 

Sarah Deacy (Babe Botrelle u/s) is a second-year student at Harper making her first appearance with the Harper College Ensemble Theatre Company. Sarah is truly excited to be working with the entire company of Crimes of the Heart.

 

 

 

 

Bruno Diaz (Barnette Lloyd u/s) is a freshman at Harper College making his first appearance with Harper College Ensemble Theater Company. He’s very thankful for the opportunity and is excited to gain new knowledge and experience. Bruno recently graduated from Wheeling High School where his passion for theater originated. He’d like to thank his friends and family for their unconditional love and support. He’d like to thank his Acting 1 class as well for their kindness and encouragement.

 

 

Rachel Dula (Lenny Magrath u/s) is a Harper College alumna and is very excited to be a part of the theater again. When she was a student, she spent most of her free time in the theater club and dancing with the Harper College Dance Company. She'd like to thank her family and friends, as well as the cast and crew, for their endless support.

 

 

 

Jenna Fleita (Babe Botrelle) is making her first appearance with the Harper College Ensemble Theatre Company. During her earlier school years, Jenna appeared in a few productions, including Violet in Willy Wonka, and Mr. Big in Get Smart. She is a second-year student at Harper College where she recently revisited her love for theatre. Jenna is beyond grateful for this opportunity and thrilled to be part of this production. She wishes to thank her family for their unwavering support and love through everything.

 

 

Joe Gomez (Doc Porter u/s) is working with the folks at Harper for his first time. His most recent credits include “Glengarry Glen Ross” as John Williamson (Village Theater Guild), “The Man Who Came To Dinner” as Bert Jefferson (Palos Village Players), The world premiere of “Love And Tear Gas” as Walter Arbogast (Green Man Theater), “Newsies” as Spot Conlon (Summer Place Theater) and “Arsenic And Old Lace” as Officer Klein (Beverly Arts Center). He studied at Acting Studio Chicago with Charles Andrew Gardner and Adrianne Cury.

 

 

Bobby Izumikawa (Barnette Lloyd) is a recent Harper graduate who participates in various theatre, film and voice acting projects. Bobby is featured in Harper’s episode of The College Tour produced by Amazon Prime. When not acting, Bobby enjoys working out, working, hanging out with friends or cooking. He is excited for this opportunity and hopes everyone enjoys the show!

 

 

 

 

Stefano D. Lanzi (Doc Porter) graduated from Harper after the Fall 2023 semester. He works as a cabinet maker for his family's business, which he plans to take over as president one day. In his free time, he enjoys playing the guitar, watching football, and playing games like ping pong and chess. Stef most recently played Mr. Darcy in Saint Viator High School’s production of Pride and Prejudice in 2019.

 

 

 

Giselle Garcia Mendez (Meg Megrath u/s) is in her final year at Harper College, is thrilled to be making her debut as an understudy with the Harper College Ensemble Theatre Company. Giselle's journey into theater began in 2023 when she enrolled in Kevin Long's Intro to Theatre class. This decision ignited a newfound passion, leading her to pursue theater as a minor. Giselle extends her heartfelt thanks to her friends and family for their unwavering support.

 

 

 

Hannah Victoria Miller (Chick Boyle u/s) is a Harper College freshman and is thrilled to make her first appearance with the Harper College Ensemble Theatre Company! Other credits include Beauty and the Beast (Lady Grey), Twelfth Night (Antonia) and It's a Wonderful Life (Violet). She would like to dedicate her performance to Uncle Al, Auntie Cheryl and Koneko; never forgotten, forever loved.

 

 

 

Sofia Moritz (Chick Boyle) a Harper College sophomore, is happy to be a part of another production here at Harper. She previously appeared in Harper's production of Proof as Catherine. She hopes to transfer with her associates in the fall and wants to thank her friends and family for their love and support.

 

 

 

 

Molly Rosen (Lenny Magrath) is a recent Harper College graduate and happy to be back on stage again. Molly previously appeared in Harper’s productions of Lettie as the title character Lettie and as Catherine in Proof, Molly is a past recipient of the Mary Jo Willis Theatre Scholarship.