OLD STOCK: A REFUGEE LOVE STORY
Digital playbill
Photo by @RebeccaGudelunasphotography
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OLD STOCK - A REFUGEE LOVE STORY Written by Hannah Moscovitch. Songs by: Ben Caplan & Christian Barry OLD STOCK: A REFUGEE LOVE STORY is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com Lead support is provided by the William Penn Foundation. About William Penn Foundation: The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia region through efforts that increase educational opportunities for children from low-income families, ensure a sustainable environment, provide inclusive and equitable public spaces and arts and culture experiences, and advance philanthropy in the Philadelphia region. Learn more at www.williampennfoundation.org. |
A note from the Director Rachel Gluck
When I was sent the script for “Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story,” the first thing that struck me was how much I could, as a Jew, recognize my own cultural heritage in this story. For me, that heritage is somewhat distant. My great-grandparents would have made the journey to America around the same time Chaya and Chaim arrived in Canada. I never met them. Now, that heritage is present in our own stories (my grandfather was a master storyteller), but it’s also present in smaller things—traditions, old jokes, and the way my grandparents spoke. It’s there in the little bit of Yiddish I can occasionally summon.
It's Passover now and will still be Passover when this play opens. One of the questions Jews ask as we tell the story of Moses around the seder table is, “why do we continue to tell these stories? What can they still teach us?” For those of us whose families arrived in the “new world” generations ago, I believe this play allows us to not just look back on our roots, but to, for an hour or two, live with our ancestors.
In the last verse of the song, “Fledgling,” The Wanderer sings,
“AS YEARS PASSED OTHER FAMILIES FROM OTHER FAR-OFF LANDS/BEGAN TO CROSS THE OCEAN AND TO WASH UPON THE SAND/THE FLEDGELINGS AND THEIR NEIGHBOURS FELT THEMSELVES TO BE AS ONE/AND SCARCELY COULD IDENTIFY WITH NEWBIRDS ON THE RUN.”
If our ancestors only live in a few old family stories, we may lose the ability to see ourselves in immigrants and refugees making the difficult journey to our country today. My hope is that by bringing this story to life, we can find a common heritage for those who are risking everything to bring their "fledglings" to a land where they might be safe. Maybe when we picture Chaya’s hunger and loss on the cold road to Russia, we will also see families suffering hunger and loss on the hot journey through Central America and Mexico, and we will not succumb to the forces of nationalism and xenophobia that seek to dehumanize each new generation of immigrants and asylum seekers.
As The Wanderer says, “maybe, but maybe not.” In the end, like my great-grandparents before me, I hope for a future that will be kinder than the past.
Cast
The Wanderer - Paul Harrold
Chaya - Alana Kopelove
Chaim - Jack Taylor
Musicians - Evan Raines, Noah Barr and Allen Green
Production Staff
Director - Rachel Gluck
Stage Manager - Celia HuttonJohns
Assistant Stage Manager - Eden Hershey
Sound Design and Music Director - Damien Figueras
Set Designer - Paul Kuhn
Lighting Designer - Siobhan Frigge Ehresmann
Costume and Prop Designer - Aetna Gallagher
Intimacy Director - Gabriel Rosario
Set Assistant - Mikey Carpenter
Photographer - Rebecca Gudelunas
Curio Staff
Artistic Director - Paul Kuhn
Managing Director - Gay Carducci-Kuhn
Artistic Associate - Aetna Gallagher
Education Director/Administrative Asst. - Tessa Kuhn
Box Office Manager - Christin Coleman
When I was sent the script for “Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story,” the first thing that struck me was how much I could, as a Jew, recognize my own cultural heritage in this story. For me, that heritage is somewhat distant. My great-grandparents would have made the journey to America around the same time Chaya and Chaim arrived in Canada. I never met them. Now, that heritage is present in our own stories (my grandfather was a master storyteller), but it’s also present in smaller things—traditions, old jokes, and the way my grandparents spoke. It’s there in the little bit of Yiddish I can occasionally summon.
It's Passover now and will still be Passover when this play opens. One of the questions Jews ask as we tell the story of Moses around the seder table is, “why do we continue to tell these stories? What can they still teach us?” For those of us whose families arrived in the “new world” generations ago, I believe this play allows us to not just look back on our roots, but to, for an hour or two, live with our ancestors.
In the last verse of the song, “Fledgling,” The Wanderer sings,
“AS YEARS PASSED OTHER FAMILIES FROM OTHER FAR-OFF LANDS/BEGAN TO CROSS THE OCEAN AND TO WASH UPON THE SAND/THE FLEDGELINGS AND THEIR NEIGHBOURS FELT THEMSELVES TO BE AS ONE/AND SCARCELY COULD IDENTIFY WITH NEWBIRDS ON THE RUN.”
If our ancestors only live in a few old family stories, we may lose the ability to see ourselves in immigrants and refugees making the difficult journey to our country today. My hope is that by bringing this story to life, we can find a common heritage for those who are risking everything to bring their "fledglings" to a land where they might be safe. Maybe when we picture Chaya’s hunger and loss on the cold road to Russia, we will also see families suffering hunger and loss on the hot journey through Central America and Mexico, and we will not succumb to the forces of nationalism and xenophobia that seek to dehumanize each new generation of immigrants and asylum seekers.
As The Wanderer says, “maybe, but maybe not.” In the end, like my great-grandparents before me, I hope for a future that will be kinder than the past.
Cast
The Wanderer - Paul Harrold
Chaya - Alana Kopelove
Chaim - Jack Taylor
Musicians - Evan Raines, Noah Barr and Allen Green
Production Staff
Director - Rachel Gluck
Stage Manager - Celia HuttonJohns
Assistant Stage Manager - Eden Hershey
Sound Design and Music Director - Damien Figueras
Set Designer - Paul Kuhn
Lighting Designer - Siobhan Frigge Ehresmann
Costume and Prop Designer - Aetna Gallagher
Intimacy Director - Gabriel Rosario
Set Assistant - Mikey Carpenter
Photographer - Rebecca Gudelunas
Curio Staff
Artistic Director - Paul Kuhn
Managing Director - Gay Carducci-Kuhn
Artistic Associate - Aetna Gallagher
Education Director/Administrative Asst. - Tessa Kuhn
Box Office Manager - Christin Coleman
Cast and Crew Bios
Paul Harrold (The Wanderer) - is delighted to join the Curio team! Recent Philly credits include A Christmas Carol (Marley): Walnut St Theatre, A Man For All Seasons (Richard Rich): Lantern Theatre, Rent (Roger): New Light Theatre, Twelfth Night (Sir Andrew): Delaware Shakespeare, Plum Bun (Haynes): Egopo Classic Theatre, and Head Over Heels: Theatre Horizon. You can catch his band Paul Harrold and the Nuclear Bandits tearing up a dive bar near you, or wherever you stream music. Love and thanks to Mom, Dad, John and James.
Alana Kopelove (Chaya) she/her: Alana is ecstatic to be making her Curio Theatre Company debut with a piece that brings great pride to her roots. Previous credits include: BFG, Red Riding Hood (Arden Theatre Company); Peter Rabbit Tales (Enchantment Theatre Company). Up Next? Not sure! But look for updates on my website, alanakopelove.com. Shout out to my resumé twin and best friend, Jack Taylor, for being the best scene partner ever. Also much love sent to cast, crew, family, Micah, and my future dog, Reggie the Corgi. Thank you for supporting me in this art form that makes my heart so happy, enjoy!
Jack Taylor (Chaim) he/him - is stoked to be making his Curio Theatre Debut! He is even more excited that he gets to be scene partners once again with his Best Friend Alana. Jack was previously seen at the Arden Theatre where he understudied for The BFG and Charlotte's Web. Recently, he has also worked with Enchantment Theatre and Opera Philadelphia and works as a teaching artist with Theatre Horizon and Passage Theatre. Up next: The Brave Little Tailor Philadelphia Tour and My Father's Dragon National Tour both with Enchantment Theatre Company. He gives a big thanks to the folks at Curio for their hospitality and care, to his friends and family who are his biggest supporters, and to crab rangoons. Follow @jcktylor_ and www.jcktylor.com Enjoy the show!
Rachel Gluck (director) - is a multidisciplinary theatre artis who is thrilled to be working with Curio Theatre Company, where she has a long and storied history. Previous productions at Curio include I Heart Alice Heart I (co-director), Antagonyms (playwright), Three Sisters By Rashdash after Chekov (actor), and many many more. She would like to thank Gay and Paull for this opportunity, and an infinitely talented cast, stage management, and design team for their care and hard work. She would also like to thank her wife, Colleen, for her endless support and insight, without which she could not pull this off--or if she could, she still wouldn't want to.
Paul Kuhn (Set Designer) - Paul is the Artistic Director. He is an original founding member with Aetna Gallagher, Gay Carducci, Tim Martin and Jared Reed 19 years ago. He is grateful for the loyal support of Curios patrons. Past favorite productions include Spymonkey's Oedipussy, Death and The Maiden, The Weir, Death of A Salesman.
Aetna Gallagher (Costume Designer) - Aetna is a founding company member and Artistic Associate of Curio working as an actor and costume designer for the past 19 seasons. Last seen on the Curio stage in I (heart) Alice (heart) I. Past productions include Noises Off!, The Bald Soprano, The Cripple of Inishmaan , The Birds, The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary, Catch-22, and All My Sons. Much love to my amazing family: John, Elizabeth, Judy, Danny and Jack.
Celia HuttonJohns (Stage Manager) - is a Philly based stage manager and is thrilled to be working with the incredible theatre-makers at Curio again. Credits include Dissociation (One Shot Productions), THE COMPLETE DEATHS (Curio Theatre Company) SPEECH (Lightning Rod Special), and The Taming! and Pericles: Prince of Tyre (Shakespeare in Clark Park). So much love to the cast and crew of Old Stock for making it such a fun project.
Eden Hershey (Assistant Stage Manager) - Eden Hershey (she/her) is excited to be back at Curio as an assistant stage manager. She has worked with Curio for several years and recently (assistant) stage managed The Complete Deaths and Jack and the Beanstalk for them. Huge thank you to Curio and everyone who made this show happen, and all my love to my family and friends!
Damien Figueras (Sound Designer and Music Director) - Damien Figueras (He/Him) is a 5-time Barrymore nominated sound and video designer. Recent credits include: Party Face (Off-Broadway, NY City Center), Tick Tick Boom (Theatre Horizon), Peter and the Starcatcher (Delaware Theatre Company), The Winter Wonderettes (Gulfshore Playhouse), Cabaret (Bristol Riverside Theatre), What the Constitution Means to Me (Arden Theatre), Kiss (Wilma Theatre), The Play That Goes Wrong (1812 Productions), Beehive (Walnut Street Theatre), Rose: You Are Who You Eat (The Bearded Ladies). In addition to his design work, Damien is the Production Manager for Wolf Performing Arts Center and a founding member of Apartment 20 Theatre. As always, he would like to dedicate his work to the memory of his mother. DFigueras.com
Siobhan Frigge Ehresmann ( Lighting Designer) she/her/hers - is excited and proud to be Lighting Designer for Old Stock. She is a trans theatremaker based in Philadelphia, with a BFA in Acting from Arcadia University. Her most recent designs include Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties for Fringe and She Kills Monsters at UPenn. She is deeply grateful for the opportunity to work with the incredible team at Curio!
Gabriel Rosario (Intimacy Director) - is a graduate from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and is a Faculty Member in its Stage Combat Department. He is an Advanced Actor Combatant, Stunt Performer, Fight Director and Intimacy Director. Theatre: Sweat ; Foggy Dew; the National Tour of The Adventures of Don Quijote; Follies; The Relationship Type; Fight Captain and Assistant Fight Director for the World Premiere of Treasure Island at the Fulton Theatre and at Maine State Music Theatre. Film/TV: Dead@17: Rebirth; Tower of Silence, Big Dogs, Mangú Aquí, etc. Fight Director: The Great Diamond Heist and Legacy of Sleepy Hollow; Sweat; Romeo and Juliet; Faust on 147th Street; and Valor, Agravio y Mujer (HOLA Award Best Fight Choreography); Rut, 12 Floors, and Les Chienes. Intimacy Director: The End of the Party Line; Roommates. Rosario an instructor for Arte Violenta and a guest artist for G+T Artists. @gabrielrosarioprfights Gabrielrosariopr.com
Noah Barr (Musician) - is a multi-woodwind instrumentalist from Seattle, Washington pursuing degrees in jazz performance and composition at Temple University. He has played reeds for shows such as Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Anything Goes, and Pippin. Thanks to Damien, Rachel, and the whole Old Stock crew. Love to Courtney.
Evan Raines (Musician) - Regional: The Devil/Lou in Johnny & the Devil's Box (Cumberland County Playhouse), Leon/Music Captain in Hank Williams: Lost Highway (Fort Peck Summer Theater), Player 3 in Ring of Fire (Opera House Theater Company), Mr. Bennett/Mr. Collins in Kate Hamill's Pride & Prejudice (Pendragon Theatre). Lost Highway, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Maples Repertory Theatre). Local: Romeo & Juliet (Wilma Theatre) Civil War Voices, A Christmas Carol (Walnut Street Theater), The Nose (EgoPo Classic Theater). Evan has also served as an educator in the School District of Philadelphia and as a teaching artist with Philadelphia Young Playwrights. evanraines.com
Paul Harrold (The Wanderer) - is delighted to join the Curio team! Recent Philly credits include A Christmas Carol (Marley): Walnut St Theatre, A Man For All Seasons (Richard Rich): Lantern Theatre, Rent (Roger): New Light Theatre, Twelfth Night (Sir Andrew): Delaware Shakespeare, Plum Bun (Haynes): Egopo Classic Theatre, and Head Over Heels: Theatre Horizon. You can catch his band Paul Harrold and the Nuclear Bandits tearing up a dive bar near you, or wherever you stream music. Love and thanks to Mom, Dad, John and James.
Alana Kopelove (Chaya) she/her: Alana is ecstatic to be making her Curio Theatre Company debut with a piece that brings great pride to her roots. Previous credits include: BFG, Red Riding Hood (Arden Theatre Company); Peter Rabbit Tales (Enchantment Theatre Company). Up Next? Not sure! But look for updates on my website, alanakopelove.com. Shout out to my resumé twin and best friend, Jack Taylor, for being the best scene partner ever. Also much love sent to cast, crew, family, Micah, and my future dog, Reggie the Corgi. Thank you for supporting me in this art form that makes my heart so happy, enjoy!
Jack Taylor (Chaim) he/him - is stoked to be making his Curio Theatre Debut! He is even more excited that he gets to be scene partners once again with his Best Friend Alana. Jack was previously seen at the Arden Theatre where he understudied for The BFG and Charlotte's Web. Recently, he has also worked with Enchantment Theatre and Opera Philadelphia and works as a teaching artist with Theatre Horizon and Passage Theatre. Up next: The Brave Little Tailor Philadelphia Tour and My Father's Dragon National Tour both with Enchantment Theatre Company. He gives a big thanks to the folks at Curio for their hospitality and care, to his friends and family who are his biggest supporters, and to crab rangoons. Follow @jcktylor_ and www.jcktylor.com Enjoy the show!
Rachel Gluck (director) - is a multidisciplinary theatre artis who is thrilled to be working with Curio Theatre Company, where she has a long and storied history. Previous productions at Curio include I Heart Alice Heart I (co-director), Antagonyms (playwright), Three Sisters By Rashdash after Chekov (actor), and many many more. She would like to thank Gay and Paull for this opportunity, and an infinitely talented cast, stage management, and design team for their care and hard work. She would also like to thank her wife, Colleen, for her endless support and insight, without which she could not pull this off--or if she could, she still wouldn't want to.
Paul Kuhn (Set Designer) - Paul is the Artistic Director. He is an original founding member with Aetna Gallagher, Gay Carducci, Tim Martin and Jared Reed 19 years ago. He is grateful for the loyal support of Curios patrons. Past favorite productions include Spymonkey's Oedipussy, Death and The Maiden, The Weir, Death of A Salesman.
Aetna Gallagher (Costume Designer) - Aetna is a founding company member and Artistic Associate of Curio working as an actor and costume designer for the past 19 seasons. Last seen on the Curio stage in I (heart) Alice (heart) I. Past productions include Noises Off!, The Bald Soprano, The Cripple of Inishmaan , The Birds, The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary, Catch-22, and All My Sons. Much love to my amazing family: John, Elizabeth, Judy, Danny and Jack.
Celia HuttonJohns (Stage Manager) - is a Philly based stage manager and is thrilled to be working with the incredible theatre-makers at Curio again. Credits include Dissociation (One Shot Productions), THE COMPLETE DEATHS (Curio Theatre Company) SPEECH (Lightning Rod Special), and The Taming! and Pericles: Prince of Tyre (Shakespeare in Clark Park). So much love to the cast and crew of Old Stock for making it such a fun project.
Eden Hershey (Assistant Stage Manager) - Eden Hershey (she/her) is excited to be back at Curio as an assistant stage manager. She has worked with Curio for several years and recently (assistant) stage managed The Complete Deaths and Jack and the Beanstalk for them. Huge thank you to Curio and everyone who made this show happen, and all my love to my family and friends!
Damien Figueras (Sound Designer and Music Director) - Damien Figueras (He/Him) is a 5-time Barrymore nominated sound and video designer. Recent credits include: Party Face (Off-Broadway, NY City Center), Tick Tick Boom (Theatre Horizon), Peter and the Starcatcher (Delaware Theatre Company), The Winter Wonderettes (Gulfshore Playhouse), Cabaret (Bristol Riverside Theatre), What the Constitution Means to Me (Arden Theatre), Kiss (Wilma Theatre), The Play That Goes Wrong (1812 Productions), Beehive (Walnut Street Theatre), Rose: You Are Who You Eat (The Bearded Ladies). In addition to his design work, Damien is the Production Manager for Wolf Performing Arts Center and a founding member of Apartment 20 Theatre. As always, he would like to dedicate his work to the memory of his mother. DFigueras.com
Siobhan Frigge Ehresmann ( Lighting Designer) she/her/hers - is excited and proud to be Lighting Designer for Old Stock. She is a trans theatremaker based in Philadelphia, with a BFA in Acting from Arcadia University. Her most recent designs include Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties for Fringe and She Kills Monsters at UPenn. She is deeply grateful for the opportunity to work with the incredible team at Curio!
Gabriel Rosario (Intimacy Director) - is a graduate from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and is a Faculty Member in its Stage Combat Department. He is an Advanced Actor Combatant, Stunt Performer, Fight Director and Intimacy Director. Theatre: Sweat ; Foggy Dew; the National Tour of The Adventures of Don Quijote; Follies; The Relationship Type; Fight Captain and Assistant Fight Director for the World Premiere of Treasure Island at the Fulton Theatre and at Maine State Music Theatre. Film/TV: Dead@17: Rebirth; Tower of Silence, Big Dogs, Mangú Aquí, etc. Fight Director: The Great Diamond Heist and Legacy of Sleepy Hollow; Sweat; Romeo and Juliet; Faust on 147th Street; and Valor, Agravio y Mujer (HOLA Award Best Fight Choreography); Rut, 12 Floors, and Les Chienes. Intimacy Director: The End of the Party Line; Roommates. Rosario an instructor for Arte Violenta and a guest artist for G+T Artists. @gabrielrosarioprfights Gabrielrosariopr.com
Noah Barr (Musician) - is a multi-woodwind instrumentalist from Seattle, Washington pursuing degrees in jazz performance and composition at Temple University. He has played reeds for shows such as Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Anything Goes, and Pippin. Thanks to Damien, Rachel, and the whole Old Stock crew. Love to Courtney.
Evan Raines (Musician) - Regional: The Devil/Lou in Johnny & the Devil's Box (Cumberland County Playhouse), Leon/Music Captain in Hank Williams: Lost Highway (Fort Peck Summer Theater), Player 3 in Ring of Fire (Opera House Theater Company), Mr. Bennett/Mr. Collins in Kate Hamill's Pride & Prejudice (Pendragon Theatre). Lost Highway, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Maples Repertory Theatre). Local: Romeo & Juliet (Wilma Theatre) Civil War Voices, A Christmas Carol (Walnut Street Theater), The Nose (EgoPo Classic Theater). Evan has also served as an educator in the School District of Philadelphia and as a teaching artist with Philadelphia Young Playwrights. evanraines.com
Support provided by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund