365 Days/365 Plays (One Act)
Our Second Show of the Season Presented Virtually February 9 – 13, 2021
In November 2002, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks decided to write a play a day for a year. From this incredible collection, entitled 365 Days/365 Plays, thirty-one selections will be performed by the Acting III: Honours class and directed by faculty member Hope McIntyre from February 9 – 13.
365 Plays/365 Days (One Act) is a buffet of short plays exploring a range of themes and ideas, which together form a celebration of the act of writing. As director McIntyre says, “Theatre is all about a connection in time and space. These pieces explore human connection, communication, and a rewriting of history; all the while using humour as well as pop culture parody.”
Parks is an American playwright, screenwriter, musician and novelist. Her play Topdog/Underdog won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2002, and she was the first African American woman to achieve this honour for drama. Her writing is a journey of discovery with rich language and symbols and metaphors that allow us to examine preconceived notions.
The University of Winnipeg production features set and lighting design by faculty member Adam Parboosingh and costume designs by student Kate George. All technical work is done by both junior and senior production students.
Following strict health and safety protocols, the nine-member cast will perform in a socially-distanced manner from the stage in the Asper Centre for Theatre and Film, supported by UW Production students following the same protocols.
Although performed live by the ensemble, audiences will be tuning in from offsite to safely watch the livestream.
365 Days/365 Plays (One Act) livestreams Tuesday, February 9 through Friday, February 13 at 7:30 pm each evening. Everyone is welcome to tune in to view the live performance from the comfort of their own homes via a private YouTube channel. Admission is free but reservations are required to receive the link, which may be used to view the live stream on your smart phone, laptop, tablet, computer or smart TV on the date specified only.
Content warning: Strong language, discussion of war and violence.
365 Days / 365 Plays (One-Act)
by Suzan-Lori Parks
(for production credits and notes, please see Show Credits and Director's Note)
PLAYS
What Do You See
Speaker 1 – Zanifa Rasool
Speaker 2 – Marysa Fosty
Speaker 3 – Isla Shea
Speaker 4 – Samantha Hutchings
Speaker 5 – Keith Jaeger
Speaker 6 – Laurel Fife
Speaker 7 – Anita Molinari
Speaker 8 – Willow Harvey
Lonesome Person – Haeln Gebre
Selling Out
Copper – Haeln Gebre
Joyce – Zanifa Rasool
Charley – Laurel Fife
Woman – Marysa Fosty
Man – Isla Shea
Scatter
Ginger – Samantha Hutchings
Mac – Willow Harvey
The Boss of Everything
Most Senior – Anita Molinari
Second Senior – Haeln Gebre
Third Senior – Willow Harvey
Fourth Senior – Isla Shea
Boss – Keith Jaeger
Astronomer – Samantha Hutchings
Bear – Zanifa Rasool
Group of Folks – Laurel Fife, Marysa Fosty
Star Search
Boss – Keith Jaeger
Bear – Zanifa Rasool
Headman – Marysa Fosty
Older Woman – Laurel Fife
Mother – Isla Shea
Play (Condemned Version)
Writer – Willow Harvey
X-Con – Marysa Fosty
Woman – Laurel Fife
(Again) Perfect
Woman – Laurel Fife
Timer – Haeln Gebre
Fine Animal
Princess – Haeln Gebre
Hag – Willow Harvey
Prince – Keith Jaeger
Veuve Clicquot
The Condemned – Marysa Fosty
Waiter – Laurel Fife
Murdered Women – Haeln Gebre, Willow Harvey, Samantha Hutchings, Anita Molinari,
Zanifa Rasool, Isla Shea
Hole
Man – Willow Harvey
Woman – Laurel Fife
The Executioner’s Daughter
Guard – Isla Shea
Executioner (Mother) – Zanifa Rasool
Prisoner (Daughter) – Haeln Gebre
Fries With That
1st Woman – Marysa Fosty
2nd Woman – Willow Harvey
Man – Keith Jaeger
Jaywalking
1 – Haeln Gebre
2 – Marysa Fosty
Mother Comes Home From the Wars
Man – Zanifa Rasool
Woman – Samantha Hutchings
Roll Out the Red Carpet
Dolly – Anita Molinari
Bertie – Willow Harvey
The Legend of Wilgefortis
King – Anita Molinari
Servant – Isla Shea
Servant with Bag – Haeln Gebre
Herald – Keith Jaeger
Timely Servant – Laurel Fife
Prince – Zanifa Rasool
Other servants – Marysa Fosty, Willow Harvey, Samantha Hutchings
If I Had to Murder Me Somebody
Speaker – Isla Shea
Dragon Song
Narrator – Keith Jaeger
Jane – Samantha Hutchings
Dragon – Isla Shea
The Wits – Laurel Fife, Marysa Fosty, Haeln Gebre, Willow Harvey, Anita Molinari, Zanifa Rasool
The Carpet Cleaner on Pearl Harbor Day
Carpet Cleaner – Samantha Hutchings
Dolly – Anita Molinari
Bertie – Willow Harvey
Photos with Santa
Santa – Keith Jaeger
Elf – Anita Molinari
Woman – Zanifa Rasool
(Again) Groundhog (for Sova)
Lady – Samantha Hutchings
Shadow – Laurel Fife
Revolver Lover
Man – Willow Harvey
Woman – Zanifa Rasool
Another Man – Keith Jaeger
Proust’s Cookie
Cookie – Haeln Gebre
Man – Anita Molinari
Another Man – Laurel Fife
Coney Island Joe’s
Lonesome Man – Keith Jaeger
Pretty Waitress – Samantha Hutchings
Short Order Cook – Haeln Gebre
Ukulele – Willow Harvey
Customers – Zanifa Rasool, Isla Shea
Bonanza
Well-to-do-Cowboy – Willow Harvey
Cowboy 1 – Isla Shea
Cowboy 2 – Marysa Fosty
Two Marys
1st Woman – Laurel Fife
2nd Woman – Isla Shea
Man’s Voice – Keith Jaeger
All I Can Say Is Thank You
Writer – Zanifa Rasool
Actor – Haeln Gebre
Decoy
Woman – Samantha Hutchings
Man – Haeln Gebre
Head Wiper – Zanifa Rasool
2nd Wiper – Laurel Fife
3rd Wiper – Keith Jaeger
Other Woman – Isla Shea
Goodbye New York
Woman – Marysa Fosty
Man – Anita Molinari
Old Man – Keith Jaeger
The Plane on the Runway at 6 a.m.
Stewardess – Samantha Hutchings
Other Flight Attendants – Laurel Fife, Haeln Gebre, Anita Molinari, Zanifa Rasool, Isla Shea
Passengers – Marysa Fosty, Keith Jaeger, Willow Harvey
The University of Winnipeg Department of Theatre and Film presents
365 Days/365 Plays (One-Act)
by Suzan-Lori Parks
ARTISTIC STAFF
Director...................................................................................................... Hope McIntyre
Scenic and Lighting Design...................................................................... Adam Parboosingh
Costume Design............................................................................................. Kate George
Movement Coach / Instructor............................................................................ Tom Stroud
Scenic Painter ........................................................................................ Stephanie Porrior
Text & Vocal Coach / Voice & Speech Instructor.............................................Shannon Vickers
Assistant to the Lighting Designer.................................................................Joshua Gehman
Dance Captain.................................................................................... Samantha Hutchings
Stage Manager............................................................................................... Devon Helm
CAST
Laurel Fife, Marysa Fosty, Haeln Gebre, Willow Harvey, Samantha Hutchings,
Keith Jaeger, Anita Molinari, Zanifa Rasool, Isla Shea
(for a cast list by play, please see Play and Cast List)
PRODUCTION STAFF
Head Electrician....................................................................................... Denise Dela Cruz
Head of Sound............................................................................................ Paramvir Singh
Wardrobe Coordinator................................................................................... Julia Anderson
Props Coordinators...................................................................Bennette Villones, Amy Wood
Production Assistant / Assistant Electrician .................................................... Liam Dutiaume
Deck Sound............................................................................................. Zambia Pankratz
House Managers .................................................................... David Lange, Anna Verbytska
CARPENTERS & PAINT CREW
Anika Binding, Jenna Brown, Evan King, Amber Reimer, Alexander Wuersch
ELECTRICIANS & LIGHT WALKERS
Julia Anderson, Liam Dutiaume, Evan King, Zambia Pankratz, Paramvir Singh, Bennette Villones
VIDEO TEAM
Floor Director: Tori Popp
Operators: Jenn Bahniuk, Jenna Brown, Katie Robinson Hoppa
FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG
Department Chair................................................................................... Christopher Brauer
Poster and Layout....................................................................................... Danielle Friesen
Master Carpenter / Production Instructor............................................................. Aaron Frost
Production Coordinator / Production Instructor .................................................... Allison Loat
Scenic Design Instructor.......................................................................... Adam Parboosingh
Stage Management Instructor.................................................................. Melissa Novecosky
Costumer..................................................................................................... Lauren Martin
Assistant to the Master Carpenter ............................................................... Khaeler Bautista
Assistant to the Production Coordinator............................................................... Colin Wiens
Running time: approximately 90 minutes without intermission
CONTENT WARNING: Strong language, discussion of war and violence.
The video and/or audio recording of this performance by any means whatsoever is strictly prohibited.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Prairie Theatre Exchange, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
I.A.T.S.E. Local 63 for its continuing support of our Production students
“365 Days/365 Plays (One-Act)” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This production was written by an American playwright whose writing is often steeped in the reality of being a black person in the U.S. It is about reclaiming history and writing a new way forward. We present this work on Treaty 1 Territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinabe, Ininew, Oji-Cree, Dene, and Dakota, and the Birthplace of the Métis Nation. We acknowledge the harms done on this land and the need to educate ourselves and others about this truth in order to address systemic racism.
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
Here we are at a time when we cannot come together, connect, or gather in the theatre. This show is a real celebration of who we are as artists and the privilege we have to create and tell stories. These students have chosen to study theatre. Putting a show together is a necessary part of that experience, even if it means having our audience in a different space.
365 Days/365 Plays was written by Suzan-Lori Parks in 2002/2003 when she set herself the challenge of writing a play a day for a year. She was often responding to the events around her at the time, but so much of it echoes with the here and now. Her writing was about being present and being committed to the artistic process every single day.
“…it is revealing community where it already exists – in theaters both grand and modest, in schoolrooms, storefronts, nursing homes, and alleyways. Theater touches the lives of thousands of people across the country each day.” – Suzan-Lori Parks
Our cast of students selected 31 of the 365 plays and also chose the roles they wanted to tackle. Initial rehearsals were on-line as we delved in to the writing. We then moved in person for the last few weeks. We have relished every moment of it.
In a socially isolated world, it was exciting to work with Parks’ mini plays. She has said that traditional play structures could never accommodate the figures which take up residence inside her. Instead she writes drama of accumulation. It is like a kaleidoscope written by a poet. There are echoes of absurdism, surrealism, heartbreaking reality and resistance text meant to transform. Jodi Van Der Horn-Gibson says that Parks’ writing is about who owns history. It is a process of untelling what we think of the past in the present while forecasting new possibilities into the future. Parks’ writing is a journey of discovery with rich language and symbols and metaphors that allow us to examine preconceived notions.
It is also imagination, creativity, and THEATRE in all its glory. I’m grateful to the students both onstage and off who put their own creativity in to this project, despite having to work in a whole new way. We need art and artists more than ever right now to help process the world we live in, and more importantly envision the world we want to live in.
Hope McIntyre
Please join us for our next production:
BLINK
by Phil Porter
March 30 – April 3, 2021
Watch for information and online reservations in March at our website: