“cullud wattah”

by Erika Dickerson-Despenza

"cullud wattah" is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

“Originally Developed and World Premiere Production by The Public Theater Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director and Patrick Willingham, Executive Director” 

“cullud wattah was developed during the Lark Play Development Center’s 2018 Van Lier New Voices Fellowship tenure (John Clinton Eisner, Artistic Director) & received its first staged reading in October 2018 at Jackalope Theater in Chicago (Gus Menary, Artistic Director; Nora Leahy, Managing Director). cullud wattah recieved a Public Studio workshop production March 7 – 10, 2019 at The Public Theater.” 

This is a very special and important year for the University of Kentucky, Department of Theatre and Dance, as we focus on the Season of Sustainability.  Each of our productions this season tells stories and brings awareness to environmental issues, concerns, possible solutions, and preservation of our planet. Expanding beyond these stories, we are committed to reduce waste, pollution, and energy. From the costumes to scenery and set pieces, many of the materials scene on the stage, have been and will be re-purposed in multiple shows. Our new Energy efficient LED lights reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use less energy. Here are a few specifics from cullud wattah:

• Most props were sourced locally or bought used to reduce our carbon footprint from transportation and new material.
• The “contaminated” water onstage is collected paint water that would have been poured down the drain. The plastic bottles were collected over the semester in the Fine Arts Building.
• A low toxicity sustainable dye technique was incorporated for distressing the costumes.  
•  95% of the clothing used in the show will be saved and stored for use in future productions and classroom teaching.
• additional research was completed to source props from companies that have a focus on sustainability, such as eco-conscious, made from recyclable materials, or created using ethical labor practices.
• 30% of materials used in the construction of the show were re-use materials.
• 90% of materials from this production will be diverted from landfill
  • (70% harvested for re-use in construction and classroom instruction) 
  • (20% sent for recycling)  
• 10-15% of the clothing in the show is reused and/or recycled from stock and previous shows.
• Cast iron tub was salvaged from 1950's flood plain housing  in Frankfort, KY.
• We are using 100% LED fixtures on this production of cullud wattah. Our new energy efficient LED lights reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using significantly less energy than incandescent lights used previously.

The performing arts have the creative ability to address the substantial challenges of our time. I am gratified that our department’s focus is to reflect, discover, explain, and envision the state of the world. As the chair, I am excited to lead the Department of Theatre and Dance community of students, scholars, educators, and staff, to address the immense challenges of our time! 

Susie Thiel 
Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance 

TChyane Douglas
Plum 

Naomi Daniels
Reesee 

Alexandra Brown
Marion 

Mya Barber
Ainee 

Semaje Thornton
Big Ma

Director: Jeremy Gillett 

Technical Director: Zak Stribling 

Production Manager: Zak Stribling 

Stage Manager: Gates Smyth 

Dramaturgs: Maddie Butler, Gabby Hartman 

Scenic Designer: Kate Field 

Costume Designer: Nia Safarr Banks 

Lighting Designer: Jeremiah Kearns  

Lighting Programmer: Alex Korfhage 

Sound Designer: Jeremiah Kearns 

Scenic Charge Artist: Makenna Hampton 

Scene Shop Supervisor: Michael Daniels

Master Electrician: Alex Korfhage 

Lead Cutter/ Draper: Natalie Maynard 

Prop Director: Maze Wetzel 

Props Artisans: Hersch Nathan, Daryn Russell 

Special Effects Coordinator: Zachary Stribling 

Assistant Stage Managers: Matt Thacker, Ben Hasse 

Assistant Scenic Designer: Autrey Brown 

Intimacy Coach: Meredith Crutcher 

Photography: Mark Cornelison, UK Photo 

Graphic Designer: Shaan Azeem 

Program Designer: Jennifer Sciantarelli  

Costume Director: Lisa Wilson 

Costume Production Assistants:  Angelina Ellis 

Costume Inventory Specialist: Andrea Richardson  

Media Coordinator: Mark Mozingo  

Social Media Creator: Sarah Smith  

Producer: Susie Thiel

Run Crew: Daryn Russell 

Light Board Operator: Chance Sherman 

Sound Board Operator: Najiya Clayborn 

Wardrobe Crew: Emma Hatcher, Briahna Noland 

House Manager: Sarah Smith

Dean, College of Fine Arts: MARK SHANDA 

Chair, Department of Theatre & Dance: SUSIE THIEL 

FULL-TIME FACULTY

Tracy Barber, Senior Lecturer

Herman Farrell III, Professor, Playwriting, Co-Director Certificate in Filmmaking: Production & Dramatic Writing
 
Kate Field, Assistant Professor, Scenic Design  

Jeremy Gillett, Assistant Professor, Acting, Studio Season Director

Nancy Jones, Professor, History, Practice & Performance/Director of Musical Theatre Certificate/Director of Undergraduate Studies

Jeremiah Kearns, Assistant Professor, Lighting & Sound

Laura Neese, Lecturer, Dance 

Christina Ritter, Senior Lecturer, Theatre 

Peter Allen Stone, Associate Professor, Theatre 

Zak Stribling, Senior Lecturer, Theatre/Technical Director/Production Manager

Susie Thiel, Chair/Associate Professor, Dance

ADJUNCT FACULTY

Theresa Bautista, Dance

Danielle Dunmire, Dance

Jeremy Kisling, Theatre

Kristany Setser Malone, Dance

Janie Morgan, Dance

Ron Wilbur, Musical Theatre

Anna Wilson, Dance

Lisa Woods, Theatre

STAFF

Natalie Maynard, Costume Cutter/Draper 

Andrea Richardson, Costume Inventory Specialist 

Sarah Smith, Administrative Assistant

Lisa Wilson, Costume Shop Manager

EMERITUS FACULTY

Nelson Fields
Robert Haven
John Holloway
Geraldine Maschio
Rhoda-Gale Pollock
James W. Rodgers