Sound Designer

"Dead Girl's Quinceañera" is a captivating theatrical performance scheduled to run from May 6th to May 18th at the Theodore and Adele Shank Theatre. This dark comedy, penned by the talented Phanésia Pharel and directed by Lamar Perry, delves into the complexities of being 15, especially when faced with the disappearance of a best friend. The narrative follows Maria and her friends as they embark on a desperate quest to uncover the truth behind her vanishing, exploring themes of secrets, female friendship, and crime-solving. The play poses profound questions about coming of age in a troubled world and the lengths one must go to survive.

Content Warning: Please note that the play addresses sensitive topics, including themes and dialogue related to childhood sexual assault.

The cast features Kat Peña as Salma, Gabriela D'Amico as Este, Colby Muhammad as Phoebe, and Gabriella Marie Johnson in the role of Maria, with a talented team of understudies and a creative team dedicated to bringing this story to life.

Tickets for the performance on Saturday, May 18th, at both 10:30 AM and 7:30 PM are currently sold out, with a waitlist available for those still hoping to attend.

About the Playwright: Phanésia Pharel is a Haitian-American playwright with a rich background and a member of the Obie award-winning EST/Youngblood group. Her work has been recognized and developed by prestigious institutions and has earned numerous accolades.

About the Director: Lamar Perry is a Queer Black director, producer, and educator with a wealth of experience in the theatre industry, including recent directing credits and contributions to the development of new works.

"Dead Girl's Quinceañera" promises to be a thought-provoking and entertaining experience, exploring significant themes through the lens of a dark comedy.

Dead Girl's Quinceañera

**Event Title:** The Half-Sibling Play

**Playwright:** Agyeiwaa Asante

**Director:** Ludmila de Brito, MFA 2

**Dates:** April 29 - May 17

**Location:** Theodore and Adele Shank Theatre, UC San Diego

**About the Show:**
"The Half-Sibling Play" is a poignant exploration of family, grief, and identity, penned by the talented Ghanaian-American theatre artist, Agyeiwaa Asante. The narrative unfolds as half-siblings Kweku and Amoaa, who have grown up in separate households and have never been close, are brought together by the unexpected death of their father. Their journey from Brooklyn to Ghana to pay their respects and claim their birthright becomes a deep dive into the complexities of sibling relationships, the absence of a parent, and the quest for belonging. This play is a heartfelt examination of what it means to come home, to connect with family, and to confront the past.

**Content Warning:** The play includes themes of Blood and Self-Harm.

**Director's Note:** Ludmila de Brito describes the play as a "love letter" to those navigating the turbulent waters of grief and the quest for love and acceptance. It's a narrative that acknowledges the messy, non-linear process of healing and the power of finding those who understand our deepest pains and struggles.

**Cast Highlights:**
- Amoaa: Ruva Chigwedere
- Kweku: Nate B. Smith
- Understudies include Cyera Ellis (U/S Amoaa) and Halin Moss (U/S Kweku).

**Creative Team:**
The production boasts a talented creative team, including Assistant Directors Halin Moss and Karla Leon, Dramaturg Jazmine Logan, Scenic Designer Tzu Yu Su, Costume Designer Ting Xiong, Lighting Designer Vida Huang, Sound Designer Harper Justus, and many more dedicated artists.

**Tickets:** The performance on Friday, May 17 at 7:30PM is sold out, indicating the high demand and anticipation for this production. A waitlist is available for this date.

**About the Playwright:** Agyeiwaa Asante is a third-year MFA student with a rich background in exploring the black diaspora and intraracial/cultural dynamics through her work. Her accolades include the Kennedy Center’s Page-to-Stage Festival 2017, the Watermelon One-Act Festival- Best Production 2019, and the Bret Adams and Paul Reisch Foundation’s Ollie Award for emerging playwrights in 2020.

**About the Director:** Ludmila de Brito, a Brazilian director of Indigenous descent, is known for her passion for politically urgent and transcendent storytelling. Her previous work includes directing in Brazil and India, and she is a Lin Manuel Miranda Family Fellow.

This event promises to be a powerful and moving experience, exploring deep themes of family, loss, and identity through the lens of two siblings' journey to reconnect with their roots and each other.

EPSG:4326

The Half-Sibling Play

Theodore and Adele Shank Theatre

Allie Moss is a third-year MFA student originally from Columbus, Ohio. Prior to attending UCSD, she was based in San Francisco.  UC San Diego credits: Late: A Cowboy Song, Boxed, Orlando, and Romeo and Juliet. Bay Area directing credits include Far Away (A.C.T. MFA Program), Restoration Master Reset (Cutting Ball Theater), Cloud 9 and American Hero (Custom Made Theatre Co.), and Hookman (A.C.T. Young Conservatory). Allie also served as the literary manager and casting associate at American Conservatory Theater, where she dramaturged mainstage productions, co-produced A.C.T.'s annual New Strands Festival, cast mainstage shows, and taught audition prep classes for high school, undergraduate, and graduate acting students. Allie has a BA in Theater from Goucher College and is an associate member of SDC.

Harper Justus

Sound Designer

Events

Upcoming events

Nov 22 - Dec 7, 2024

Vinegar Tom · University of California, San Diego Department of Theatre and Dance

Past events

May 18, 2024

Dead Girl's Quinceañera · University of California, San Diego Department of Theatre and Dance

Apr 29 - May 17, 2024

The Half-Sibling Play · University of California, San Diego Department of Theatre and Dance

About

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