The Storyteller playbill
Director's Note
The idea of the original story existing has been challenged for centuries. Kurt Vonnegut made the idea of “eight stories” a concept taught for years in creative writing spaces. Today we challenge that idea and expand on it. While there may be eight structures that stories often live in, the experiences and catharsis created within those structures varies by the individual writing it. The Storyteller was inspired by The Tempest (which was likely inspired by Virgil’s Aeneid which was inspired by Homer’s Odessy, which was likely inspired by a story erased from western history...). The parallel all these stories hold is a message of accountability.
How we choose to grieve and who that affects is in our control. How we rewrite a history to comfort our own mind (or our own morals) is one humans still grapple with today. Theatre has always been a space where we gather and share a story that asks us to think about our place in this world. In the case of The Storyteller script by Sara Jean Accuardi, we are asked to think about how the trauma we endure can alter our memories and tasks us with finding out what exactly is the real story?
Discover more about the history of creating this production and the research that went into bringing this play to Western: Visit our dramaturgical website
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.
The Lady
Alyssa Whorley
Paps
Corwin Taylor
Randi
Eva Nguyen
Tiff
Parker Curtis-Knox
Jimmy
Sara Kirsten Waywell
Spencer
Nathan Gibson
Understudy for The Lady/Tiff
Angela Hinton
Understudy for Paps/Jimmy
Sarah Feltman
Understudy for Randi/Spencer
Charlise Haagenson
Sound Board Operator
Braeden Rowland
Light Board Operator
Tyler Kalvert
Deck Crew
Alexandria Cedras
Josh Kretz
Dressers
Galen Soleimpanour
Brynn Turner
Wardrobe
Mattie English
Emma Lavi
Director
Kamarie Chapman
Dramaturgy Team
Sarah Feltman
Charlise Haagenson
Angela Hinton
Technical Director
Perry Lewis
Production Manager
Teylor Lowe
Assistant Production Manager
Emerson Ward
Stage Manager
Morgan Loftus
Assistant Stage Manager
Drew Ransom
Scenic Designer
Maya Witt
Scenic Design Faculty Mentor
Dipu Gupta
Lighting Designer
Caitlin Savage
Assistant Lighting Designer
Angela Hinton
Lighting Design Faculty Mentor
Darren McCroom
Costume Designer
Ren Andersen
Asst. Costume Designer & Hair/Makeup
Miles Stansbury
Costume Design Faculty Mentor
Sarah Jo Monaghan
Costume Shop Manager
Rachel Anderson
Assistant Costume Shop Manager
Marie Wildfield
Sound Designer
Addy Ebrahimy
Assistant Sound Designer
Riley Gregg
Props Designer
Sarah Harder
CFPA Facilities
David Saxton
Fred Ramage
Administrative Services Manager
Erin Emry
Many thanks to the faculty, staff, and students of WWU Theatre & Dance. The unwavering support of the script has made possible this beautiful outcome. Thank you to the ReStore for help with inspiring sustainability. Thank you to Shannon and The Clams for the music that is our soundtrack. Thank you to Bodi Hallett and Madison LeFever for gorgeous photos! And thank you to the playwright who trusted us to dramaturg and produce her gorgeous script to share with our community.
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