DIRECTOR’S NOTE

The Velveteen Rabbit experiences emotions that many of us have felt during these difficult months; Isolation. Anxiety. Loneliness. His desperation spurs him to ask the Skin Horse a timeless question. “What is real?”

A good pandemic question.

The Skin Horse replies, “Real isn’t how you are made. It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you, then you become real.”

A good pandemic answer.

Dear friends, let us love one another. During difficult, frus-trating, maddening, isolating, confusing times such as this. Love. For a long, long time.

-Norman Jones

Velveteen Rabbit Boy

Nana/NarratorMother/Skin Horse/Narrator

Grandmother/Doctor/NarratorFather/Lion/Narrator

Real Rabbit Fairy/Aunt/Narrator Real Rabbit/Uncle/Soldier/

NarratorPiano

CAST

Velveteen Rabbit Boy

Nana/NarratorMother/Skin Horse/Narrator

Grandmother/Doctor/NarratorFather/Lion/Narrator

Real Rabbit Fairy/Aunt/Narrator Real Rabbit/Uncle/Soldier/

NarratorPiano

Chris OrtizHannah Noel SchuurmanYankelina DuranFayelicia UriasHannah SpanglerAidan StockinJasmine RupaniJesse Kriesel

Michelle Muir

DirectorMovement DirectorTechnical Director/

Production ManagerScenic Designer/

Lighting DesignerCostume Designer

Sound DesignerStage Manager

Sound AssistantSound Apprentice

Props MasterWardrobe Supervisor

Marketing ResidentBox Office Manager

House Manager/Carpentry Apprentice

Videography Production PhotosPromotional Image

Norman JonesJill RogatiJessica Richmond

Michael Harvey

Ellie DixonElizabeth Van BebberKyle VanicekJesse KrieselArabella JiJessica RichmondChris OrtizJulia MurphyElise LosardoMiranda Taylor

Michael HarveyJulia MurphyJulia Murphy, Norm Jones

PRODUCTION STAFF

CAST BIOGRAPHIES

YANKELINA DURAN ‘22 (NANA/NARRATOR)Major: Theatre Arts, Psychology (Minor)Gordon Theatre: Babette’s FeastGordon Tech: Silent Sky, Mini-Fringe Festival, Spring Shorts, The Mystery of Edwin Drood

JESSE KRIESEL ‘22 (REAL RABBIT/UNCLE/ SOLDIERNARRATOR)Major: Theatre Arts, MusicGordon Theatre: Antigone, Mini-Fringe Festival, Fall Shorts. Tech: Babette’s Feast, Antigone, Fall Shorts

MICHELLE MUIR ‘21 (PIANO)Majors: Kinesiology, MusicGordon Theatre: Debut

CHRIS ORTIZ ‘22 (DAMICO/WIDENER/1ST AND 3RD CLASS PASSENGER)Major: Theatre Arts, Christian MinistriesGordon Theatre: Babette’s Feast, The spectACTular, Senior Showcases. Tech: Babette’s Feast, Antigone, Mini-Fringe Festival, Spring Shorts

JASMINE RUPANI ‘23 (REAL RABBIT/FAIRY/NARRATOR)Major: Communication Arts, Theatre Arts (Minor)Gordon Theatre: Debut

HANNAH SCHUURMAN ‘20 (BOY)Major: Theatre ArtsGordon Theatre: Antigone, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, As You Like It, Ama-deus, Senior Showcases, Shorts. Tech: I, Malvolio, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Silent Sky, As You Like It, Shorts, Senior Showcases.

HANNAH SPANGLER ‘23 (DOCTOR/NARRATOR)Majors: International Affairs Gordon Theatre: Titanic the Musical

AIDAN STOCKIN ‘22 (FATHER/NARRATOR)Major: Theatre Arts, BiologyGordon Theatre: Mini-Fringe Festival, Fall Shorts. Gordon Tech: Titanic the Musical

FAYELICIA URIAS ‘22 (SKIN HORSE/NARRATOR)Majors: Theatre Arts, PsychologyGordon Theatre: Babette’s Feast, The spectACTular, Senior Showcases. Tech: Babette’s Feast, Antigone, Mini-Fringe Festival, Spring Shorts

CREW BIOGRAPHIESELISE LOSARDO ‘22 (BOX OFFICE MANAGER)Majors: Communication Arts, Biblical Studies, Theatre Arts (Minor)Gordon Tech: Babette’s Feast, Titanic: The Musical

ARABELLA JI ‘23 (SOUND APPRENTICE)Major: Theatre ArtsGordon Tech: Debut

JULIA MURPHY ‘21 (MARKETING RESIDENT)Major: Theatre Arts, Communication ArtsGordon Theatre: Titanic the Musical, Spring Shorts, Senior Showcases. Gordon Tech: Babette’s Feast, Antigone, Fall Shorts, Spring Shorts, Senior Showcases

MIRANDA TAYLOR (CARPENTRY APPRENTICE/HOUSE MANAGER)Major: Theatre Arts, PsychologyPrevious Theatre: The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Mini-Fringe Festival, Senior Showcases, The Fantasticks, The Pirates of Penzance Gordon Tech: Mini-Fringe Festival, Fall Shorts, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Silent Sky

KYLE VANICEK ‘22 (STAGE MANAGER) Majors: Theatre Arts, Philosophy (Minor)Gordon Theatre: Titanic: The Musical, Babette’s Feast, Mini-Fringe Festival Gordon Tech: Fall Shorts, Senior Showcases

DIRECTOR/DESIGNER BIOGRAPHIESNORMAN M. JONES (DIRECTOR)Norman Jones has directed more than fifty plays, since he began teaching theatre arts at Gordon in 1985, and his interest in encouraging the creation of new theatrical works has resulted in fifteen premieres or commissioned plays. Some of Norm’s favorite roles as an actor include Duke Vincentio in Measure for Measure, Matthew in Play of Light, Harold in Orphans, Salter in A Number, and Badger in Wind in the Willows. In 2017, he played the role of Sheriff Thomas in the Gloucester Stage Company production of The Rainmaker, directed by Robert Walsh. Fall 2019 he played Creon in Gordon College Theatre Arts Homcoming production of Antigone, directed by Kimberly LaCroix ‘08. Currently Norm is developing a play about his experiences with visual impairment.

JILL ROGATI (MOVEMENT DIRECTOR)Jill, a 2007 Gordon alum, is delighted to add her collaborative background to this emotionally-inteligent and beautifully-conceived version of The Velveteen Rabbit. She received her MFA in Actor-Created, Physical Theatre from the Lon-don International School of Performing Art (LISPA) in conjunction with Naropa University. Jill has acted as movement consultant for multiple Gordon theatre productions including Twelfth Night, Metamorphoses, and The Bacchai, and co-directed the student devised piece On Common Ground. She also had the pleasure of teaching the Movement course at Gordon. Outside of Gordon, Jill devises plays with her Soap & Rope Theatre company.

JESSICA RICHMOND (TECHNICAL DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION MANAGER)Jessica is so excited to return to Gordon as the TD and PM! Since graduating, she has worked with Gloucester Stage Company, Fresh Ink Theatre, Jean’s Playhouse, Soap and Rope, and Apollinaire Theatre. She also spent two years as the Boston Troupe Director of American Immersion Theatre, training actors and performing interactive shows all over New England. She would like to thank her parents for being ever-supportive and endlessly loving.

ELLIE DIXON (COSTUME DESIGNER)Ellie is very thankful to be designing another show at Gordon, having designed over the last few years for Babette’s Feast, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, She Loves Me, and As You Like It. She is the Assistant Costumer at Phillips Academy in Andover. After graduating from Gordon, she studied at Parsons School of Design and has since worked in theatre costuming at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University in St. Louis, Endicott College, and North Shore Music Theatre, among other theaters. Thanks to Norm and Jessica for this great opportunity, designing at one of her favorite places.

MICHAEL HARVEY (SCENIC / LIGHTING DESIGNER)Michael Harvey is an associate professor at Salem State University, where he teaches scenic and lighting design. Michael also designs scenery and lighting for select productions in the New England area. Previously he spent four years at Southern Utah University as assistant professor and Director of Design and Production, where he taught scenic, lighting, and sound design and designed for productions in the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. In addition, he spent eight years teaching and designing at Central Lakes College in Minnesota and two years teaching at the University of Southern Indiana, where he served as Scenic Designer and Technical Director.

His professional credits include: Scenic Coordinator for the Opera Company of Philadelphia; Scenic and Lighting Designer for several Primedia Inc. television productions; and Production Manager for both the New Harmony Theatre in New Harmony, Indiana, and Capital Repertory Company in Albany, New York. He holds an M.F.A. in Scenic Design and Theatre Technology from Wayne State University in Detroit.

ELIZABETH VAN BEBBER ‘20 (SOUND DESIGNER)Elizabeth Van Bebber is a 2020 Gordon College graduate with degrees in Biblical Studies and Theatre Arts, who hails from southern Pennsylvania. She has been the sound designer for many recent Gordon productions, including Titanic The Musical, Antigone, Babette’s Feast, Silent Sky, and Blood and Gifts. She was also the sound technician for Freud’s Last Session, As You Like It, She Loves Me, Amadeus, and Translations. When she is not gathering sound props, programming sounds, or playing with the ocean drum, she en-joys studying biblical languages, reading (especially C.S. Lewis), and playing video games. She would like to give a special thanks to the entire Gordon community for making Gordon a true home away from home.

SPECIAL THANKS Purni Morell, Leo Cleary, Michael Harvey, Jean Sbarra Jones, Lynn Richmond, Chris Jones, Chris Imming, Daniel Alvarado, Jeff Miller, Gordon College Covid-19 Support Team, and the Design Center

DESIGNER BIOGRAPHIES

THE PRINCETON REVIEW The Gordon College Department of Theatre Arts is thrilled to share that The Princeton Review recently named Gordon in its top 20 Best College Theater list, based on the rank-ings of fellow students. We share this honor with all of you who made these productions possible by your participation and attendance. Thank you!

UPCOMING THEATRE PRODUCTIONS

White Guy on the BusDirected by Jeff MillerOct. 14 - 31, 2020 | Live Streamed Virtual Performances

A Doll’s House, Part 2Directed by Jeff MillerOct. 17 - 31, 2020 | Live Streamed Virtual Performances

Fall Shorts10-Minute Plays Directed by StudentsNovember 17-19, 2020 | Live Streamed Virtual Performances

Ticketing InformationComing Soon

Stay Up to Date at Gordon.edu/TheatreSchedule

Gordon College is the preeminent Christian college in the global hub of higher education—widely respected for its commitment to bold intellectual inquiry, personal mentoring and academic rigor. Through a broad spectrum of liberal arts and sciences, students develop the intel-lectual scope and leadership skills to address the increasingly complex challenges of a global society.

Just north of Boston and only a few hours from the financial and po-litical capitals of the Western world (New York and Washington, D.C.), the College is ideally situated to offer students extraordinary access to leading-edge opportunities for professional and leadership devel-opment. Gordon stands apart from other outstanding institutions in New England by combining an exceptional education with an informed Christian faith.

The College offers 40 majors and 41 concentrations for undergraduate study, as well as graduate programs in education and music education. The campus includes the Phillips Music Center and the Barrington Center for the Arts. Both facilities help solidify Gordon’s position as a premier cultural center on Boston’s North Shore.

ABOUT GORDON COLLEGE

ABOUT THE THEATRE

The Margaret Jensen Theatre, affectionately known as The Black Box, was designed by Iain Mackintosh, one of the world’s preeminent designers of theatres. Some of his notable theatre designs are The Cottesloe Theatre for The Royal National Theatre of Great Britain, The Tina Packer Theatre for Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, Massa-chusetts, and the Tricycle Theatre in London. He has remodeled many other theatres, including The Edinburgh Festival Theatre and London’s Royal Court Theatre. He is a graduate of Worcester College, Oxford, and is the author of Architecture, Actor and Audience.

As a Christian liberal arts college, Gordon College is committed to producing a wide variety of plays that assess the human condition, raise moral questions and acquaint students with the history of theatre. The words and views expressed in the plays are the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Gordon College, its faculty, staff or student body.

A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE ARTS