Hunger & Thirst Theatre is proud to present

MONSTRESS

Book and Lyrics by Emily Kitchens

Music by Ben Quinn and Titus Tompkins

Directed by Hondo Weiss Richmond

Music Direction by Titus Tompkins

Choreography by Olivia Palacios

OCTOBER 21 - NOVEMBER 5, 2022

at the New Ohio Theatre

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THE CUMP’NY

Rheanna Atendido*

Olivia Billings*

Jianzi Colón-Soto

Philip Estrera*

Natalie Hegg*

Jordan Kaplan*

Allison Kelly*

Adam Boggs McDonald*

Titus Tompkins*

CREATIVE TEAM

BOOK AND LYRICS BY: Emily Kitchens

MUSIC BY: Ben Quinn and Titus Tompkins

DIRECTOR: Hondo Weiss-Richmond

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Titus Tompkins

CHOREOGRAPHER: Olivia Palacios

DANCE CAPTAIN : Olivia Billings

STAGE MANAGER: Heather Olmstead*

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER: Alison Goldman

SCENIC DESIGNER: Jiaying Zhang

COSTUME DESIGNER: Sera Bourgeau

LIGHTING DESIGNER: Yang Yu

ELECTRICIANS: Darniece Brandon, Curtis Howard

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Rudi Utter

DIALECT CONSULTANT: Natalie Hegg

PRODUCING TEAM: Curtis Howard, Patricia Lynn

* Equity Member appearing with permission of Actors’ Equity Association without benefit of an Equity contract in this Off-Off Broadway production

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CONTENT WARNING / TRIGGER WARNING Please be advised that certain scenes in MONSTRESS include:
physical violence, gun violence, bondage, sexual innudendo and gesture, derogatory language, language centering on rape and incest, and the usage of the word 'master',

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SPECIAL THANKS

Khalia Davis, Julie Ann Earls, Patrick T. Horn, Theresa Langford, Joy Lanceta Coronel, Jackie Schram, Abby Hoke-Brady, Richard Thieriot, Amios, Mikey Rosenbaum

Note: Catch and the Sirens was originally created in isolation for AMiOS' Shotz series with original music by Mikey Rosenbaum.

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ARTIST BIOS

Rheanna Atendido* (Cump’ny Member, she/her) is a Filipino-American actor, playwright, and composer from Seattle, newly based out of New York. Acting credits include: Teenage Dick, We've Battled Monsters Before, Wonder Boy, Daddy Long Legs, Head Over Heels, Dance Nation, and The Last Five Years. Playwright/composing credits include: Breakup Bench, Cultural Essay, Unstable Connection, Inside Out and Back Again, and Pabitin (co-commissioned by The 5th Avenue & Village Theatre). She is currently a writer for Prospect's 2022 Musical Theater Lab: CAPTION THIS. Ask her about anime! She's shy, but she loves making friends. rheannaatendido.com / @rheannaatendido

Olivia Billings* (Cump’ny Member, Dance Captain, they/she) Olivia is so grateful to be part of such a fruitful and joyful process here at Hunger and Thirst! You may have seen their past work as Mary Wallace in ATHENA, Angela in NATURAL SHOCKS, or Shannon in HYSTERICAL!. Make sure to keep an eye on their website as she posts updates about their upcoming project, Cinderella in INTO THE WOODS. A huge thank you is due to the entire team, cast, Olivia’s family, and endlessly supportive partner Danyel. Sending love and healing to all! OliviaBillings.org  

Sera Bourgeau (Costume Designer, she/her): Selected Design Credits: Battle of Angels (Blessed Unrest/New Ohio Theatre), Nickel Mines (New York Musical Theatre Festival, ACT of Connecticut), Something Happens for Joe (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Refuge (Blessed Unrest), Honky Tonk Angels (Artistree Music Theatre Festival), Still Life With Iris (Long Wharf Theatre), Pete(Her) Pan, Jr. (Northern Stage), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (New York Shakespeare Exchange), Sound of Music, Intimate Apparel (Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center). The Lion in Winter, Chapter Two, Outside Mullingar (Cape May Stage). Some Lovers, Nikola Tesla Drops the Beat (Adirondack Theatre Festival). MFA: University of California, Irvine. IG: @serabourgeau www.serabourgeau.com 

Jianzi Colón-Soto (Cump’ny Member, she/her) is a NYC-based actor, singer, dancer, and linguist, and a graduate of the Molloy College CAP21 BFA Program. Recent credits include: In the Heights (Oregon Cabaret Theatre), She Persisted (Atlantic Theatre Co.), The Giant Hoax (Theatre Row), The Waitress and the Robber (Concrete Temple Theatre in Seoul, SK), Lady Capulet (Barefoot Shakespeare Co.), Troilus & Cressida (Under St. Marks), and The Wrong Box (Theatre for the New City). All the love in her heart to Mom, Li'l Sis, Heather, and Micah for their undying faith and support. | jianzicolonsoto.com | @jiancoso

Philip Estrera*^ (Cump’ny Member, he/him) Past Theater credits: Discus with Hunger & Thirst Theatre, Orphan of Zhao at ACT/La Jolla Playhouse, and a totally different play also named Monstress at ACT. He was in the 2021 Sesame Street Thanksgiving special which introduced the first Asian American puppet to the series.  He can be seen in Blue Bloods, New Amsterdam, and the web series Characteristically. Estrera is a graduate of the American Conservatory Theater’s MFA program.  Love always to Gunther, Frances, and Hercule. And, a HUGE shout out to Jodi Collins. This performance is dedicated to my father and my family and the Manilamen of St..Malo. - IG: @drinkingwithphil | website: philipestrera.com

Alison Goldman (Assistant Stage Manager, she/her): is thrilled to be part of such an incredible production team on her first Hunger and Thirst show. Alison has a B.A. in theatre producing and management from Marymount Manhattan college and freelances around the city, most recently having wrapped The Memory Exam with Oberon Theatre Ensemble as their assistant stage manager. Love to Dad and Dante, always.

Natalie Hegg*^ (Cump’ny Member, Dialect Consultant, she/her) is a theatre-maker, voice & speech teacher, and soon-to-be mama originally from Wisconsin. She is the Artistic Liaison with Hunger and Thirst Theater, where she's appeared in Strangers in the Night, Trifles and Messenger #1. She also composed music for their inaugural production Ivanov, and workshop of The Seagull Project. Other favorite credits: Kill Me Like You Mean It, Potion, and The Bachelors’ Tea Party (Stolen Chair Theatre), Rock ‘N’ Roll and A Christmas Carol (American Conservatory Theater), Dancing Boobies Trilogy (Virago Stage and Screen). MFA: American Conservatory Theater, BS: University of Evansville.

Curtis Howard (Producer, he/him) is an NYC-based artist. In addition to producing, he sings, dances, makes masks, and is a dedicated Sourdough Baker. He was most recently touring New England as the Ringmaster for Hideaway Circus. His quarantine was spent in the CUNY Baccalaureate Program, where he custom designed a BA in the Business of Dance Production. He is an original B’way COVID Safety Team member, where he started “Welcome Back to Broadway!!!” He is so happy to be working with Hunger & Thirst again this year! Thank y’all for being here today; we can’t do this with you. www.Curtis-Howard.com

Jordan Kaplan*^ (Cump’ny Member, he/him) Monstress will be Jordan's tenth production with Hunger & Thirst Theatre. Other NYC companies include Prospect Theater Company, The Red Fern Theatre Company, Astoria Performing Arts Center, and the Guerrilla Shakespeare Project. Jordan has also performed regionally with American Conservatory Theater, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Tennessee Shakespeare Company, Trinity Repertory Company, Shadowland Stages, Valley Shakespeare Festival, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, and Stanford Summer Theater. Proud graduate of Stanford University and Brown/Trinity Rep. He lives in Croton-on-Hudson with his wife Kim and their twin sons Max & Leo. He'd like to thank his family for their unyielding support.

Allison Kelly* (Cump’ny Member, she/her) is thrilled to be making her Hunger and Thirst debut. Regional: The Other Josh Cohen, American Idiot, Ring of Fire, Airness, Almost Heaven: John Denver’s America. NY Workshops: Little Orphan Danny, The Hello Girls. TV: The Helpsters (Apple TV+). Allison tours nationally as June Carter with Darlin’ Companion: Johnny and June Carter Cash, and the show she co-created Ramblin’ Rose: The Women who made Country Music. Her original music can be found through her band, Southpaw Green, on all streaming services. WSU Grad. Thanks to cast and crew for a wonderful experience! @akplaysmusic @southpawgreenmusic 

Emily Kitchens^ (Book and Lyrics, she/her) is a theatre artist based out of NYC and Atlanta and is currently Assistant Professor of Acting/Artist-in-Residence at Kennesaw State University She has worked with many theaters including ACT, Yale Repertory Theatre, The Kennedy Center, The Guthrie Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and The Alliance Theatre. Her works have been performed in NYC, the Bay Area, Edinburgh, Berlin, and Leesburg, GA. MFA: ACT. BFA: University of Evansville. She is mother to Ramrao.

Patricia Lynn^ (Producer, she/her) is the Executive Producing Manager at Hunger & Thirst Theatre. She has worked as a playwright, producer, actor, and director in the off-off-Broadway community for the past twelve years. Her most recent play—a modern-day female-focused adaptation of Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde—is currently in the New Play Initiative at Triad Stage. In her spare time, Patricia is also a full-time graduate student; she will receive her MFA in Creative Writing at Lesley University in Summer 2023. www.patriciamlynn.com 

Adam Boggs McDonald* (Cump’ny Member, he/him) is an actor, singer, dancer and model from Las Vegas, NV.  He holds a BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts (2018), and is a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association. His life mission is to create roles in musical theatre for young bass-baritones and Black Queer Excellence alike. His past work includes Smokey Joe’s Cafe (SST), Painted Alice (Plaxall), A Symphony for Portland (54 Below), and the Braata Folk Singers (Braata Productions). He would love to thank his family, close friends, inspiration Shoshana Bean and voice teacher Jared Trudeau for helping him grow as an artist. You can follow @adamboggsmcdonald on Instagram for more riffs, runs, and Real Housewives commentary.

Heather Olmstead* (Stage Manager, she/her) is delighted to be a part of this wonderful show with her incredible friends. Favorite NYC productions include Trifles, Your Invisible Corset, and Messenger#1 with Hunger and Thirst; Janes Calling, Afterparty, and Floydada with Peculiar Works Project; On Strivers Row and Injunction Granted at Metropolitan Playhouse. As always, thanks to her family and friends for supporting her theater habit. 

Olivia Palacios (Choreographer, she/her) is a NYC based choreographer—dancer—designer, working in dance and theatre. Select theatre credits include: Princeton University, Columbia University, Hercules (The Public, Chor. Chase Brock), The Mood Room (BAM, Annie-B Parson), Fragments (Mandie Rapoza, Dixon Place); Grey Gardens, A New Brain (Front Porch Theatricals), Legally Blonde, Little Shop of Horrors, [title of show], Rocky Horror Show (University of Pittsburgh Stages); dance credits include: Dixon Place, Triskelion Arts, The Tank, Spoke the Hub, The Craft, Millennium Dance Complex PGH, Carnegie Mellon Film Festival, Pitt Dance Ensemble. Olivia was a residency recipient for Modern Accord Depot’s inaugural MADarts program. OliviaPalacios.com / @ChoreoByLiv_Pal

Ben Quinn (Co-Composer, he/him)  is an actor, multi-instrumentalist, and sound producer based in NYC. Originally from Cincinnati, he earned his B.S. in Theatre Performance from the University of Evansville and his M.F.A. in Acting from A.C.T. in San Francisco. In 2018, he was nominated for the Planet Connections award for Best Actor in a Musical for his roles in "Close Your Eyes and Sleep" and "Rusalka". Most recently, he has been collaborating on a variety of new productions and performing nationally with his Americana band The Good Morning Nags, in which he plays the mandolin and guitar. The Good Morning Nags have been featured in Relix magazine and their music is available across all streaming platforms.

Titus Tompkins* (Cump’ny Member, Co-Composer, Music Director, he/him) is an actor/musician, and is happy to work with Hunger and Thirst again! He has performed in 5 Off-Broadway shows since 2015 as an actor. He has played in new works at DC Fringe (shout out to Hunger and Thirst!), NY Fringe, and devised classical work with Mark Jackson in San Francisco. Recently he performed as a dancer and vocalist for an opera at the Getty Museum in LA before the national theatre sabbatical of 2020. Screen credits include Younger (TV Land) and Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar North). He has played with ten bands in New York City. If he’s good about posting, you can find his gigs on his Instagram stories: @titustompkins. If you ever want to throw axes with him, you can find him at Hatchets and Hops in Williamsburg.

Hondo Weiss-Richmond (Director, he/him) is a director and deviser with a focus on new work. He has directed or developed projects with the Ohio Theatre, Primary Stages, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Hunger & Thirst Theatre, Two Headed Rep, and Dutch Kills, among others. Hondo has assistant directed on and off Broadway, as well as regionally. His previous residencies and fellowships include the Drama League Directors Project, Playwrights Horizons, and Woolly Mammoth.

Yang Yu (Lighting Designer, she/her) is a New York based lighting designer for performing arts. She is interested in using light, space, and timing to create an emotionally charged environment, as well as visualizing music. Recent theatre credits include: Powerhouse (Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theatre); Simon and his shoes (The Tank); Hit the Wall (Kraine Theater); The Rise and Fall of Jean Claude Van Damme (The PIT); Take Shape (Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theatre); Revolution (The Tank, nominated for 2021 BroadwayWorld Off/Off-Off Broadway Awards for Best Lighting Design); The Shes (The Public Theater, Weasel Festival). MFA from Brooklyn College. yangyudesign.com

Jiaying Zhang (Scenic Designer, she/her) is a New York based set designer. Her recent work includes Cherry Jam (IRT, New York), The Quest – Performing with the Ghost (Prague Quadrennial), In The Blood (The Atlas Theatre, New York). She is currently designing The Sea does not Reach Naples, directed by Elena Vannoni, and Enfrascada, directed by Anna Rebek. She received her MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. www.jiayingzhang.com

*Equity Member appearing with permission of Actors’ Equity Association without benefit of an Equity contract in this Off-Off Broadway production

^HTT Company Member

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS

Hunger & Thirst Theatre is deeply inspired by the ritual of a community gathering around a fire in order to break bread and share their stories.

Therefore, we are dedicated to sharing timeless stories. We create insightful reimaginings of classical works in hopes of making them more relevant to a modern audience. We are also in the process of incorporating new play development into our programming, as we believe in the importance of offering a platform for the many timeless stories being crafted by our generation. 

We also strive to be a communal hearthstone for artists and audience members from all walks of life. We endeavor to foster a warm and welcoming space where the hunger and thirst for collective illumination can be satiated through the time-honored art of storytelling.

To learn more, please visit www.hungerandthirsttheatre.com

Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 50,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org