Program
The Misanthrope
by Molière
Translated by Richard Wilbur
Directed by Lucie Tiberghien
We thank all our generous 2022 supporters
&
Samira Wiley, Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Evelyn Sharp Foundation, The American Society of The French Legion of Honor, Alex and Sybilla Balkanski, Thomas Kail, William and Clémence Von Mueffling, Stephan Haimo and Veronica Bulgari, Leslie Puth, Michelle Gerber Klein and Nikola Duravsevic and Dan Ben-Ari
We also thank our incredible artists, staff, patrons, and press — who have all contributed to MIP's success.
Finally, we thank French Institute Alliance Française, The French Consulate in New York and The Cultural Services of the French Embassy for the their unwavering support and belief in this project.
In Partnership with
LeFrak Center at Lakeside and Prospect Park Alliance
Cast of The Misanthrope
Maechi Aharanwa* - (CELIMENE)
OFF BROADWAY credits include: MOTHERS (Playwrights Realm), If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhfucka (Playwrights Horizons), Bully (Clubbed Thumb), The Winter’s Tale, An Octoroon(TFANA), The Old Settler(Billie Holiday Theatre), Sweet, Facing Our Truth - Night Vision, No More Monsters Here (NBT). REGIONAL credits include: The Mountaintop, The Call, Seven Guitars, Antigone. TELEVISION/FILM credits include: Elementary(CBS), Show Me a Hero(HBO), Person Of Interest(CBS), 30 Rock(NBC), Intrusion, Boy In A Backpack, Maybe There’s A Tree. Princess Grace Award Recipient. The Actors Center Company Member. www.maechi.net
Janie Brookshire* - (CLITANDRE)
Broadway: The Philanthropist (Roundabout). Off-Broadway: The Mound Builders (Signature Theatre), Days to Come; Mary Broome; Wife to James Whelan (all for Mint Theatre Co.), Man and Superman (Irish Repertory Theatre), The Misanthrope (Pearl Theatre Co), MsTRIAL (New World Stages); Selected Regional: The Wanderers (World Premiere, Old Globe), Othello (Folger Shakespeare Theatre), Disgraced (Milwaukee Rep), Angel Street (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis); A Delicate Ship (World Premiere, Cincinnati Playhouse); Cry It Out, Intimate Apparel (Dorset Theatre Festival); The Illusion; Romeo and Juliet; Crimes of the Heart; Doubt; Amadeus (all for PlayMakers Repertory Company). TV and Film credits include "Blue Bloods", "The Good Wife", "Forever", "Louie"; A Shot Through the Wall, and So Good to See You opposite Sienna Miller (Official Selection, Sundance Film Festival). Janie is the co-producer and co-host of art.fully.grounded, a podcast exploring the intersection of art and spirituality. Find it wherever you find podcasts.
Chris Henry Coffey* - (ORONTE)
Chris Henry Coffey is so pleased to be back with Moliere in the Park, especially on this inaugural full production, having previously worked on multiple staged readings and zoom presentations. He has originated roles on & off-Broadway and regionally in numerous world premieres, favorites including Bekah Brunstetter’s “Public Servant” on Theater Row, Eric Simonson’s “Bronx Bombers” (Circle in the Square and Primary Stages), Quiara Alegría Hudes’s“Water by the Spoonful” (Second Stage), Neil LaBute’s“Happy Hour” (LaMama), Gina Gionfriddo's “Can You Forgive Her?” (Huntington), both Richard Nelson’s “Frank's Home”, directed by Robert Falls (Playwrights Horizons, Goodman), and “How Shakespeare Won the West” (Huntington), and with Arthur Miller on his penultimate play, “Resurrection Blues” (Old Globe). Also: Actors Theatre of Louisville (R&J 2020), Alley, Dallas Theater Center, Yale Rep, Williamstown, Dorset, Mint, many others. Selected Film & TV: The Good Nurse(upcoming in 2022), Trust, And Just Like That…(2022), Chicago Fire, Mrs. Fletcher, Law & Order (trifecta),Instinct, Good Wife, many others. Social Outreach: Theater of War Productions (facilitator and actor), AITAF, Waterwell. Graduate, Yale School of Drama.
Gabriel Ebert* - (ALCESTE)
Gabriel won a Tony Award for his portrayal of “Mr. Wormwood” in Matilda The Musical. Other stage appearances include Casa Valentina, Thérèse Raquin, Brief Encounter, Time and the Conways, Preludes, Gently Down The Stream, Prometheus Bound and 4000 Miles for which he won an OBIE award. He was seen in 2021 on Broadway in Pass Over, reprising the role for which he won a Lucille Lortel award in the LCT3 production. He played Thomas Wentworth Higginson in the Apple TV+ series “Dickinson.” Other film and television include “Mr. Mercedes,” “News of the World,” “Jane Wants A Boyfriend,” “I Am A Seagull,” and “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.”
Danaya Esperanza* - (ELIANTE)
OFF-BROADWAY: TFANA/STC: Merchant of Venice (Jessica). Play On Podcasts: Coriolanus (Coriolanus). Rattlestick Playwrights Theater/Broadway Podcast Network: Isolated Incidents (Leo). Working Theater: Missing Them. National Black Theatre: Bayano (Yemaya). The Public Theatre: for colored girls . . . (lady in orange), Tempest Mobile Unit (Ariel), Twelfth Night Mobile Unit (Viola). CSC/OSF: Play On! Shakespeare (Various). Esperance: Breitwisch Farm (Zainabu). New York Theatre Workshop [NYTW]: Mary Jane (Amelia/Kat), Othello (Emilia u/s). Playwrights Horizons/Clubbed Thumb: Men on Boats (Seneca Howland/The Bishop). Soho Rep: Washeteria (Lucy/Consuela). Signature Theatre: Our Lady of Kibeho (Schoolgirl). REGIONAL: Next Chapter Podcasts: Coriolanus (Coriolanus). Geva Theatre Radio: The Bleeding Class (Sugar). Milwaukee Rep Zoom: Mother's Tongue (Instructor). Acting Company Zoom: Letters From Cuba (Fran). ATC Zoom: Alma (Alma). Denver Center [DCPA]: Alma (Alma). New York Stage and Film-Powerhouse [NYSF]: Annie Salem ... (Gaby/77ilith). Seattle Rep: Joe Turner Vino y Se Fue (Molly Cunningham). Shakespeare Theatre Company: Romeo and Juliet (Juliet). McCarter Theatre: Protect the Beautiful Place (Symphony); The Goodman Theatre: Another Word for Beauty (Luzmery). FILM: After Party. TELEVISION: The Blacklist, Elementary. TRAINING: The Juilliard School (Raúl Juliá Memorial Scholarship in drama)
Margaret Ivey* - (PHILINTE)
Off-Broadway: Measure for Measure (Epic Theatre Ensemble), Season 10 of The Fire This Time Festival, and workshops at Ensemble Studio Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, and Ma-Yi Theatre Company. Regional (selected): Perdita in The Winter’s Tale (Alley Theatre), Jane Eyre in Jane Eyre (Cincinnati Playhouse and Milwaukee Rep), Zoe in The Niceties (Contemporary American Theatre Festival), and Ruby in pen/man/ship (Contemporary American Theatre Festival). TV/Film: “The Blacklist,” “Different Flowers,” “Madam Secretary,” and “Prodigal Son.” Training: University of Southern California, the British American Drama Academy, and the American Theatre Wing’s SpringboardNYC Program. Teaching: Margaret empowers student artists as an actor/director with Theatre For A New Audience's New Voices Project and as a teaching artist with Epic Theatre Ensemble. In addition, she has shared her love of French language and culture with high school students as a group leader to France with the Experiment in International Living. Thank you for joining us! www.margaretivey.com
Nate Miller* - (ACASTE)
Nate Miller is a Brooklyn based Actor/Producer & founding member of Lesser America Theatre Co. Broadway: “JUNK” at LCT. Off Broadway: "The Merchant of Venice" at TFANA, “India Pale Ale”, “Ripcord”, “Of Good Stock” at MTC, “Love and Information” at NYTW, “Peter and The Starcatcher” at New World Stages. FILM: Either Side of Midnight, Another Kind. TV: The Code, The Goodwife (CBS), Us & Them (FOX) www.iamnatemiller.com www.lesseramerica.com @iamnatemiller
Kate Siahaan Rigg* - (ARSINOE)
Kate is thrilled to be working with Molière in the Park again after appearing last year as Tartuffe in their production of Tartuffe in Prospect Park. New York appearances include Happy Lucky Golden Tofu Panda Dragon Good Time Fun Fun Show (La Mama ETC. /tour/ film), Zombie Asian Moms, (La Mama) Cygnus (Women's Project),The Jammer, Three Kinds of Exile (Atlantic), BFE (Playwrights Horizons), Dogeaters (The Public) Vagina Monologues (Westside Theater) Most Fabulous Story (NYTW). Regionally, Kate has created roles in World Premieres at ACT, Woolly Mammoth, Long Wharf, Actors Theater Louisville, Brava, Mark Taper Forum, New World Theater, Out North, Conworks. Her solo works have been invited to the Smithsonian, The Comedy Central Theater and many festivals. TV: New Amsterdam, Tales of The City, The Punisher, The Path, Law and Order SVU, Law and Order, Law and Order CI, Fox's Family Guy. As a comic she has done stints on One Night Stand-Up, The Dr. Phil Show, Comedy Central Women in Comedy, Showtime's Hot Tamales. Film: Mile 22, Race Is the Place, That's What She Said, The Naughty Show. Artist Residencies: CTGLA, Eugene Oneill musical theater program, NYFA, Comedy Central Theater. Lead Singer of the spoken word/rock duo Slanty Eyed Mama. Stand Up Comic and solo artist in stadiums and dive bars around the world. Graduate: Juililard. www.katerigg.com FB: @katerigg IG: @kateriggnyc
Aline Salloum - (BASQUE/GUARD/DUBOIS)
Aline is a NYC-based actress and writer who has performed in a range of countries, including Lebanon, Switzerland, and the United States. She is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts NY and was a member of the 2018/2019 Academy Company. Her recent NYC credits include The Meltdown, which she co-created and performed at the Global Forms theater festival produced by Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. And Only Remains Remain, by Freya Powell performed at MoMA PS1 as part of the Greater New York exhibition.www.alinesalloum.com
Creative Team
Director - Lucie Tiberghien (she/her)
A Brooklynite since 2001, Lucie Tiberghien was raised in France and Switzerland. Specializing in new work, Lucie spent 15 years developing and directing new plays in New York City and all over the country. Bringing free theater and the works of Molière to Brooklyn was a longtime dream which she is thrilled has become a reality. She was awarded the prestigious designation of chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres, by the French Government.
Producer - Garth Belcon (he/him)
An independent feature film Writer and Producer, and a theater Producer and Production Manager, Garth was raised in the Bronx but has called Brooklyn home for more than 15 years. Garth is honored to be a part of bringing Molière and the funny, biting, brilliant social commentary of his work, to Brooklyn and all of NYC annually. Garth is the Co-Founding Executive Producer of MIP.
Set Design - Teresa Williams
Teresa L. Williams, originally from New Orleans, LA, is a designer currently based in New York City and a recent graduate of NYU Grad Design program. She is excited for this first collaboration with Moliere in the Park! Teresa thrives in collaborative environments, creating rich, honest work with deep roots. Her hope is to design sets that will connect with others on an emotional level while simultaneously providing an outlet for enjoyment. Recent work: The Evolution of Henry Mann/American Theatre Group, Dance Nation/Columbia University, Queens Girl in the World/Abingdon Theatre Company. tlwilliamsdesign.com
Lighting Design - Stoli Stolnack (they/them)
is an NYC-based lighting designer and associate. Lighting design credits include Terminus (Monk Parrots, NYTW’s Next Door Series), Queen of Spades, Stomping Grounds, Lost Luggage (Pavilion at the Glimmerglass Festival), The Misanthrope and Tartuffe (Moliere in the Park). Assistant credits include Prayer for the French Republic (MTC), Dance Nation and Wives (Playwrights Horizons), Boesman and Lena (Signature Theater Center), Fire in Dreamland (The Public), Show Boat and Traviata (The Glimmerglass Festival), West Side Story (Atlanta Opera). Special effects work includes assistant special effects designer on Beetlejuice the Musical, effects programmer for the Hadestown National Tour,and effects crew member for New Year's Rockin' Eve 2018-2022. Stoli is the lighting director for the Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, NY.
Sound Design - Chad Raines
Chad Raines, composer, performer and sound designer from Dallas, Texas. In New York his work has been featured at Soho Rep, Roundabout Underground, Here Arts Center, Jack Performing Arts Center, Target Margin, The Baryshnikov Arts Center, The Ontological, The New Ohio, La Mama, The Public Theatre’s Under the Radar Festival as well as Regional and College Theaters such as Bard’s Fisher Center, Princeton’s Berlind Theatre, Long Island University, Brown/Trinity, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Barnard and Brooklyn College and more. www.chadraines.com
Audio Engineer - Admiral Grey
Admiral Grey is a multidisciplinary artist who designs, composes, directs and performs for theater, music, video and film. Recent theatrical projects have been Sound Design for The Wetsuitman at Cherry Arts, Directing/Designing her original piece The Human Dream Project at St. Ann's Warehouse Puppet Lab, and touring as a founding artist and performer with The Plastic Bag Store. She has toured nationally and internationally with bands Cellular Chaos,The Simple Pleasure, Ecstatics, and solo projects. She will be the June 2022 artist in residence at KinoSaito Arts Center.
Costume Design - Dina El-Aziz (She/Her)
Regional Theater: Selling Kabul (Seattle Rep); Unseen (OSF); When Monica Met Hillary, (Miami New Drama); This is Who I Am (OSF/Woolly Mammoth/The Guthrie/ART/PlayCo); 9 Parts of Desire (Portland Center Stage); King Lear (Northern Stage); Noura (The Guthrie); Noura (The Old Globe); Selling Kabul (Williamstown Theatre Festival). Off-Broadway: The Vagrant Trilogy (The Public Theater); Heartland (Geva Theater/59E59) First Down (Noor Theater/59E59); Hindsight (Fault Line Theater); Eh Dah? Questions for My Father (Hypokrit Theatre/ NYTW Next Door); The Russian and The Jew (Anna and Kitty Inc/The Tank); Dead Are My People (Noor Theater/NYTW Next Door). Other Theater: One Night, P*ssyC*ck Know Nothing, Marjana and the Forty Thieves Pay No Attention To The Girl, (Target Margin Theater); Design for Stage and Film M.F.A. - NYU Tisch School of the Arts.www.dinae.me
Production Stage Manager - Madison Lane (she/her)
Madison is a New York-based stage manager, hailing from northern Virginia. She feels very fortunate to have continued stage managing throughout the shutdown, thanks to the miracles of technology, and to have been spending a lot of her time recently working as a COVID Compliance Officer, helping to make sure that our return to theatrical spaces has been smooth and safe for all. Recent stage management credits include: Moliere Turns 400 [FIAF]; A Very Modern Classical Evening – Family & The Imaginary Cuckold [Moliere in the Park]; King Lear [New York Classical]; pen/man/ship (2021, 2020), School for Wives, Tartuffe, The Misanthrope [virtual, Moliere in the Park]; A Doll’s House Pt. 2 [virtual, Stella Adler Studio]; I, My Ruination by Kevin Artigue, Bust by Zora Howard, The Hystericals by Edith Freni, Moses by Michele Lowe [virtual, Cape Cod Theater Project].
Assistant Stage Manager - Cara McErlean
Cara is an NYC based multidisciplinary theater artist and administrator. Originally from Hershey PA, she is a recent graduate of The George Washington University Corcoran School of Art. Cara loves accessible, free, outdoor theatre, and is excited to be doing her first show with Molière in the Park, as well as Wardrobe Supervising New York Classical Theatre’s upcoming Cymbeline in Central Park. To see more of Cara’s work, visit caramcerlean.com
Wardrobe Supervisor - Stephanie Echevaria
Based in Brooklyn, Stephanie Echevarria is a multidisciplinary artist and is excited to be doing her first show with Moliere In The Park. To see more of her work visit stephanieechevarria.com
Assistant Director - Thijs Hogenboom (he/him)
Thijs Hogenboom is an actor and dancer originally from the Netherlands. He toured all over Europe with several renowned dance companies based in The Netherlands and Spain. He was a finalist at the Eurovision Young Dancers, representing the Netherlands and performed on Egyptian superstar Sherine Abdel Wahab's talkshow. Making the move to New York and focusing more on acting, Thijs had the amazing opportunity to work on Young Frankenstein with directors Shaun Peknic (associate director for Broadway's Once the Musical), and Matthew Dean Marsh (associate musical director for Broadway's Beetlejuice). Here, he was featured as one of the leads, Victor von Frankenstein. Thijs didn’t have to think twice when he was offered the position of assistant director for The Misanthrope and has thoroughly enjoyed his time learning alongside Lucie.
Assistant Costume Designer - Hannah Mattingly (she/they)
Hannah is a Designer, Artisan and Director based in Brooklyn. New York credits include Happy Birthday Curiosity Rover! and Motherf**king Girl Scouts as Costume Designer, and The Public Theater (Cullud Wattah, The Vagrant Trilogy as Costume Coordinator, Mobile Unit 2021, Merry Wives, Richard 3 as Shopper/Crafts). A 2020 graduate of the University of Evansville, some of Hannah's favorite projects there include the self-produced "The Rocky Horror Halloween Spectaculathon", or her costume designs of Violet and The Wolves. They are proud to currently be a part of the In Living Color team, a monthly drag show at 3 Dollar Bill, where they operate the spotlight and provide all kinds of drag support.
Assistant Set Designer - Alex Jourdan
Alex is currently the Black Theatre Coalition’s Scenic Design Fellow and is currently working for Tony award winning scenic designer Derek McLane as an assistant and is set to work for Tony award winning scenic designer Scott Pask in June. Recently, Alex has designed the scenic design for a production of The Drowsy Chaperone at Curtain Call Theatre in August of 2021. He is set to design The Pajama Game this upcoming August at the same theatre. Alex hopes you enjoy this lovely performance of Misanthrope.
Production Manager - T Pope Jackson
Pope Jackson is a Producer, Designer, Production & Technical Manager with over two decades in the theatre, film, and events industries. A Harlem native & founder of Pope Solutions, Pope, began his role at The Shed In 2018, where he is Production Manager. Pope managed The Shed's opening program, Soundtrack of America in 2019 with Steve McQueen and Quincy Jones, and new works and events by luminaries Björk, Arca, and Boots Riley, amongst others. Before that, he served as Production Supervisor for BRIC-Celebrate Brooklyn, where he worked on the standout project of the 40th-anniversary sculpture HEDERA. Also previously served as Assistant Operations Manager for New World Stages, Theatrical Operations director for Urbintel Productions, Executive Program Director for the Williamsburg Music Center in Brooklyn, founder of Actuator Inc, and a co-founder of La Reina Del Barrio Productions.
Awards include the NY 48 Hour Film Project in 2005 and worked on the Grammy-nominated album Wynton Marsalis, Live at the House of Tribes in 2006. In addition, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg recognized the work of his first production stage play, “Death of a Dream,” for educating the public about domestic violence by deeming October 30, 2009, "Death of a Dream" Day by official proclamation. In 2012, he was also honored with citations from NY State Senator Gustavo Rivera, NY State Assemblywoman Vanessa L. Gibson, NY City Council Majority Leader Jose Rivera, and NY City Community Board #6 for outstanding community service as a citizen and artist as well as for his company Actuator Inc.’s work in the arts. In 2016, he was recognized by Mayor Bill de Blasio for his outstanding efforts to improve the city.
Press Representative - David Gibbs (he/him)
David is the founder of DARR Publicity, a boutique press agency specializing in theater, dance, music-driven shows and unique theatrical experiences. Clients include The Amoralists, Company XIV, Ice Factory Festival, La MaMa, Molière in the Park, New Ohio Theatre and PTP/NYC. David has publicized shows at many Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway venues throughout NYC. His clients have won Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Obie and Off Broadway Alliance Awards. www.DarrPublicity.com
*Denotes member of the Actors’ Equity Association
We wish to express our gratitude to the Performers’ Unions:
ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION
AMERICAN GUILD OF MUSICAL ARTISTS
AMERICAN GUILD OF VARIETY ARTISTS
SAG-AFTRA
through Theatre Authority, Inc. for their cooperation in permitting the Artists to appear on this program.
LeFrak Center at Lakeside
The Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Center at Lakeside is the largest and most ambitious project in Prospect Park since its creation nearly 150 years ago. Spanning 26 acres, this $74 million restoration by the Prospect Park Alliance transformed the southeast corner of the Park into a popular scenic and recreational destination. Since opening in 2013, the LeFrak Center has become a year-round community destination welcoming more than 200,000 visitors each year.
Prospect Park Alliance
Prospect Park Alliance is the non-profit organization that sustains "Brooklyn's Backyard," working in partnership with the City of New York. The Alliance was founded in 1987 to help restore Prospect Park after a long period of deterioration and decline. Today, the Alliance provides critical staff and resources that keep the park green and vibrant for the diverse communities that call Brooklyn home. The Alliance cares for the woodlands and natural areas, restores the park's buildings and landscapes, creates innovative park destinations, and provides free or low-cost volunteer, education and recreation programs.
