Dean College Presents: Clybourne Park
This weekend, the School of the Arts will perform Clybourne Park, the award-winning spin-off to A Raisin in the Sun. Loosely based on historical events that took place in the city of Chicago, the play applies a modern twist to the issues of race and housing and aspirations for a better life in two acts, set 50 years apart. Clybourne Park opens tomorrow, February 17 and runs through Sunday, February 20.
Cast members Nikita DaRosa ’22 (Francine/Lena), Katie Moran ’22 (Bev/Kathy), Zion Hall ’23 (Understudy - Albert/Kevin) and Michael Cabral ’23 (Jim/Tom) answered a few questions about the show.
Q: What is your role? Tell us a little about what your role has involved and how you’ve been preparing for the show.
Nikita (Francine/Lena): “I play the role of Francine/Lena. Francine appears in Act One as a domestic worker in 1959 for a white family and Lena appears in Act Two, 2009 with her husband Kevin as a white family is moving into the same home Francine has worked at and honors the connection to the house.”
Katie (Bev/Kathy): “I will be playing the role of Bev and Kathy. The most interesting part about preparing these roles is that the two acts in the show take place 50 years apart. Bev is your classic 1950s ditzy housewife, and Kathy is a talkative lawyer from the early 2000s. What made this interesting for me as an actor was the fact that I had to find differences as well as similarities between these two women. It's been such a fun challenge, and I feel like I've been able to use most of my range as an actor to make them two distinctly different people. I've been preparing by practicing my lines every chance I get, and by having wonderful conversations to develop character with the other actors in the show.”
Zion (Understudy - Albert/Kevin): “I am currently the understudy of Albert/Kevin played by the talented Myles Luongo Clay and will be performing in the Saturday matinee show at 2:00 p.m. in the role. As an understudy, I have been able to watch and learn under Myles as he took on the role and also gain feedback from both him and our director Andrew Gallant on what I should expect when I play the role. I also have spent the rehearsal process running lines on my own time along with just going off of Myles and his performance as a way to review the material in preparation to take on the role.”
Michael (Jim/Tom): “I am playing the roles of Jim and Tom. Jim is a priest in 1959 and Tom is a lawyer in 2009. It has been an exciting experience playing two very different characters in the same production. To prepare for these roles, I've had to do a lot of research into the lifestyle and language that these characters are familiar with.”
Q: What are you most excited for the audience to see?
Nikita (Francine/Lena): “I'm excited for the audience to see the cultural and political struggles African Americans went through and see the transgression that some things haven't changed. I hope the audience is able to learn and understand the discussions that take place throughout.”
Katie (Bev/Kathy): “This is a difficult show for many reasons, but the main reason is the story and that is what I am excited for the audience to see. We have taken a lot of time to have discussions about the script and our characters and I think all of the hard work we have put in to understand this story shows and I feel that it is ready to be shared with an audience.”
Zion (Understudy - Albert/Kevin): “I am excited for the audience to see the dynamics and relationships we were able to create with one another, as this show is not the easiest to put on given the context and relevant themes that this show presents.”
Michael (Jim/Tom): “I'm most excited for the audience to see the contrast between the two acts that take place 50 years apart from each other. It is interesting to see what is different and what has stayed the same.”
Q: What is your favorite part about participating in Clybourne Park?
Nikita (Francine/Lena): “My favorite part of being a part of this show is working with the cast. Everyone is so understanding and cooperative to the topics that are addressed, and I can't thank them enough for giving me my daily dose of serotonin.”
Katie (Bev/Kathy): “My favorite part about being in Clybourne Park has been working with this cast and production team. This was the perfect group of people to tell this story, and I feel like we have a strong sense of trust and acceptance as a group. The rehearsal space has been a safe space for us all to have conversations and listen to one another, and I am really proud that we have that. I'm in my last semester here at Dean and this has been a really wonderful experience with some of my favorite friends here.”
Zion (Understudy - Albert/Kevin): “My favorite part about this show and the process overall was the ability to talk about how we all felt while playing these characters and learning from one another as we all come from different places and backgrounds. Professor Gallant allowing open discussions whenever it was needed to discuss what is on our minds helped us better understand the show and one another. And that is something I will be forever grateful for.”
Michael (Jim/Tom): “My favorite aspect of participating in Clybourne Park is using theatre as a tool for change. I hope the audience leaves this show with a different perspective on the world around them.”
The Dean College production of Clybourne Park will take place in the Main Stage in the Campus Center at Dean College at 7:30 p.m. Thursday – Saturday, with matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Clybourne Park is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service.
To learn more and purchase tickets, visit the Dean College Box Office.