New Works Play Reading: Dry Land
Time and Location
- 2021, Feb 11
- 2021, Feb 12
Content Warning
This play includes discussion and portrayal of potentially triggering subject material including
- self-harm
- sexual abuse
- abortion
- eating disorders
- suicide
This play also includes strong language
by Ruby Rae Spiegel
Ester is a swimmer trying to stay afloat. Amy is curled up on the locker room floor. Dry Land is a play about abortion, female friendship, and resiliency, and what happens in one high school locker room after everybody’s left.
DRY LAND is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.
Directed by Pirronne Yousefzadeh
Pirronne Yousefzadeh is a director, writer, co-founder of Maia Directors, and the Associate Artistic Director and Director of Engagement at Geva Theatre Center. She has a passion for new work that centers and uplifts the stories of global majority communities and has developed and directed work extensively regionally and in New York City. Some of her recent credits include The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe (Actors Theatre of Louisville, the world premiere of Kid Prince & Pablo by Brian Quijada (Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts), Queen by Madhuri Shekar (Geva Theatre Center), and The Royale by Marco Ramirez (Kitchen Theatre/Geva Theatre Center). She is currently developing new works with writers including Sanaz Toossi, Ramiz Monsef, Nikki Massoud, and Vichet Chum. Pirronne is a Usual Suspect at NYTW, New Georges Affiliated Artist, member of EST and Wingspace, and an alumna of the 2050 Fellowship at NYTW, Sagal Fellowship at Williamstown Theatre Festival, SDC Denham Fellowship, Lincoln Center Directors Lab, Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab, New Georges Jam, and Drama League Directors Project. She was a finalist for the 2020 Zelda Fichandler Award from SDC and is a proud member of the union. M.F.A., Columbia University. Representation: Ben Izzo at Abrams Artists. pirronne.com; maiadirectors.com
Amy: Shona Carter
Ester: Kharma Stambaugh
Reba: Monty Rozema
Victor: Mitch Stevens
Janitor: Jim Lortz
Stage Directions: Jo Saunders
Director: Pirronne Yousefzadeh
Assistant Director: Katie Ginther
Stage Manager: Lily Furlong
Scenic Design: Frankie Parrish
Costume Design: Aisha Richards
Props Design: Raina Mooney
Crew: Kal Wallace
Production Manager: Savannah LeCornu
Company Managers: Mark Kuntz, Kamarie Chapman
I want to acknowledge that this gathering and celebration is being produced by this Western Washington University on the ancestral homelands of the Coast Salish Peoples past and present, and honor with gratitude the land itself and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations. This calls me to commit to continuing to learn how to be a better steward of the land I inhabit as well.
It is important to acknowledge the long-standing history that has brought us all to reside on the land, and to seek to understand our place within that history. Land acknowledgements do not exist in a past tense, or historical context: colonialism is a current ongoing process, and we need to build our mindfulness of our present participation. It is also worth noting that acknowledging the land is Indigenous protocol.
I would also like to recognize all the people who have built, created, and died in the process of this society being what it is today. The diasporic actions of the Euro colonizers have created damaging ripples in those communities that still require action to be taken.
Here in Bellingham Washington we recognize the Lummi, Semiahmoo and Nooksack tribes and their neighboring stewards the Samish, Stilliguamish, Sauk-Suiattle and Swinomish tribes.
Disability Accommodations
For disability accommodations, please contact the department presenting the event. Disability access information is available online at Parking Services, and further resources can be found on Western's Disability Resources website.
