BORDERLAND
BORDERLAND: In Concert
Music & Libretto by Natalie Elizabeth Weiss
Thank you for coming to the “elevated concert reading” of BORDERLAND. It features songs and scenes selected from the full-length version of BORDERLAND.
After the concert, join us for the afterparty, right here at Roulette, with DJ Amy Reid.
Director: Mia Walker
Music Director: Fernanda Douglas
Arrangements and Orchestrations: Natalie Elizabeth Weiss
Synthesizer Arrangements: co-created by Joe McGinty
Percussion Arrangements: co-created by Shayna Dunkleman
Stage Manager: Carrie Boyd
String Quartet: The Rhythm Method
Percussion: Shayna Dunkelman
Synthesizers (ARP 2600M, Sequential Pro 3, Omnichord): Joe McGinty
Line Producer: Caitlin McNeilage
DJ: Amy Reid
Associate Producer: Karli Holdren
Logo and Poster Design: Mirko Ilić
Costumes Assistant: Edward Cyphert
Production Assistant: Delia Cadman
CAST:
Ida C. Craddock: Natalie Elizabeth Weiss
Mom: Robyne Parrish
Soph: Bill English
Anthony Comstock: Ryan Andes
Woman 1: Hannah Eakin
Woman 2: Kristian Esperitu
Woman 3: Kay Webber
Man 1: Seth Gilman
Man 2: Shawn Bowers
Man 3: Knox Van Horn
Director’s Statement:
“Pregnancy is a blessing for those who want it, and a blasphemy for those it is forced upon.” - Viva Ruiz
This is a quote Natalie shared with me, and I cannot help but feel haunted by it. This show rings scarily true to our current times, and yet Ida C. Craddock was fighting her fight long before our time. I had never heard of Ida before this piece. I believe Natalie is channeling Ida’s spirit, in a deep way, and the message is clear: the work is not done, and women’s bodies and reproductive rights, as well as sexual health and mental health, and the intersectionality of all of these things, are at the forefront. We must “face it all,” as Natalie writes in her beautiful lyrics. I have never seen or heard anything quite like Borderland before, and it has certainly changed my life and view. I hope it does for you, too. Thank you for coming and supporting this work, and facing it all with us. – Mia Walker
Bill English
Broadway: Anything Goes, Twentieth Century
Off Broadway/Regional: Into the Woods (Flint Rep), The Music Man (Arizona Theatre Co.), Streamers (Roundabout), The Full Monty, A Christmas Carol (NSMT), The Shaggs (NYMF), The Times (Sonnet Rep), Dracula (Triad Stage), The Man Who Came to Dinner (ACC).
TV: Madam Secretary, The Good Wife, Elementary, Person of Interest, Family Guy, Outnumbered, Cavemen, Melrose Place.
Training: BFA, University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Robyne Parrish
Recent work includes: A Man Called Otto with Tom Hanks, Gossip Girl currently streaming on HBO Max, the feature film Hail Mary opposite Tina Benko and starring Max Cassella (in post), the indie horror flick Who's Afraid (in post) and the feature sci fi Nemisis Eternal (in post). Off Broadway at The York, The Mint, Project Y, NYMF, Musicals Tonight! and Sonnet Rep. Regional: Matilda as Mrs Wormwood (Virginia Stage), The Dino Musical as Carlotta (The Arden), Steel Magnolias as M'Lynn (Theatre Raleigh), The Next Fairy Tale (Pittsburgh CLO), The Revolutionists as Marie (Maine Public Theatre) and more at www.robyneparrish.com. Producing and writing indie projects: What if I Were You and Peri Street. Currently: directing A Man of No Importance. AEA/SAG-AFTRA. UNCSA graduate. Dramatist Guild.
Fernanda Douglas is a music director and composer from Santa Barbara, CA. She is an associate voice coach with Broadway vocal supervisor, Liz Caplan, and serves as deputy director of The Dream Unfinished, NYC’s activist orchestra. Before the shutdown, Fernanda worked on “The Unknown Soldier” at Playwright’s Horizons, and she is currently a rehearsal pianist for “Moulin Rouge” on Broadway. Fernanda is an active member of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop and an alumna of Columbia University.
Hannah Eakin
Hannah is delighted to work on this exciting piece! NYC: Pirates of Penzance (New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players); Outside of Eden, ICONS/IDOLS (New Ohio Theater). Regional: Les Misérables, Mary Poppins, The Bridges of Madison County (Arkansas Repertory Theatre); Mary Poppins, Tarzan, Singin’ in the Rain, Fiddler on the Roof (Barn Theatre); Sister Act (Westchester Broadway Theatre). Also a filmmaker and writer, her work has been recognized by PAGE International Screenwriting Awards, ScreenCraft Drama Screenplay Competition, and The Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards, among others. Proud graduate of Oklahoma City University. www.hannaheakin.com
Kay Weber
Kay Weber, Mezzo Soprano, is a dynamic performer with a commitment to communication through music. Kay's work includes both opera and musical theater. She has performed at NYC’s Signature Theater in ‘Sweetee’ directed by Pat Birch, The New Ohio Theater in Icons/Idols Outside of Eden as Irene directed by Colette Robert, and with regional symphony orchestras/opera companies. She received a double bachelors from the Eastman School of Music in Voice Performance and Music Education.
Knox Van Horn
Knox Van Horn is New York-based actor, singer, and composer. A 2019 graduate of NYU Tisch Drama, he is currently pursuing an MM in Vocal Performance at the Mannes School of Music where he studies with William Burden. Some recent credits include In The Green (Volmar/Ensemble) at Mannes and Wake: In Concert (Singer/Shaughnessy) at Emerging Artists Theatre. This summer he will also appear as Ferrando in Castellopera's production of Cosi fan tutte in Italy. Many thanks to Natalie, Mia, Fernanda, Carrie and the whole cast and crew of Borderland, it's been a wonderful opportunity!
Kristian Espiritu
Kristian Espiritu is a Brooklyn-based storyteller and multi-hyphenated Filipinx creative. Selected theater: The Rise and Fall of Holly Fudge (Merrimack Rep), Once On This Island (Pioneer Theater Co.), School of Rock (1st Nat’l), and Here Lies Love (The Public). TV: Love Life, Ray Donovan, Younger. Kristian is also a fiber artist and owner of How Bout Knot, sustainable macrame goods and art. RISE. IG: @kriscendo @howboutknot
Ryan Andes
Excited to be working on Borderland! Broadway: Big Fish as Karl the Giant. TV Musicals: Peter Pan, Live! Off-Broadway: Sweeney Todd (Avery Fisher Hall w NY Phil), The Wild Party (NYCC Encores). Select Regional: 1776 as Lee, (The MUNY), South Pacific (The MUNY and Papermill), Best Little Whorehouse... (Finger Lakes) as Ed Earl. TV Drama: "Person of Interest," "Elementary," "Madam Secretary," "The Path," "Time After Time," "YOU." Voice Over and Voice acting credits in Commercials, Dubbing, and Animation. Much love and gratitude to my lil wifey bee, Lindsey. www.ryanandes.com
Seth Gilman
Seth Gilman is a New York-based lyric baritone with experience focusing on early and new music. A graduate of Mannes College of Music and the University of Michigan, he is a regular performing member of Opera on Tap and Random Access Music, he is particularly excited by the prospects of performing premiers, chamber music, and revivals of unfairly neglected work and composers.
Shawn Bowers
Shawn Bowers is a multi-hyphenated artist. Broadway: Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations. Recently, he had the opportunity to portray the titular role of Oscar Micheaux in a new musical development that chronicles the first major African-American filmmaker. Regional credits include: Meet Me in St. Louis, Beauty and the Beast, Grease, The Addams Family (The Muny), The Full Monty (STAGES St. Louis) and Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Fulton Theatre). In addition, he is an avid lover of poetry, interior design and travel. He would like to thank his family and friends for their continuous love and support. Follow his journey on IG: @shawn_bowersnyc.