CofC Stages proudly presents
What Comes Next
Artistic Director:
Gretchen McLaine
| Stage Manager Mollie Davis |
Lighting Designer Lauren Duffie |
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| Costume Shop Manager Tyler Akeo |
Technical Directors JD Stallings and Evie Palmisano |
October 19-20
Sottile Theatre
Jump to: Production Team | Acknowledgments | Cast and Production Team Biographies
Dance Pieces and Program Notes
Bein El Qasrein – Palace Walk
Choreographers: Beena Austin and Christine Bonaparte
Costume Designer: Evy Massey
Music Composer: Yousry Sharif
Music edited by: Beena Austin
Dancers: Libby Drotar, Ashley Gargani, Jen Griffaton, Elishia Jennings, Ally Keschinger, Sophie Ketchum, Lili Mueller, Lilliana Myers, Ana Plucar, Lauren Summerville, Katelyn Ventura and Ava Woods.
Understudies: Quinn Abram and Avery Young.
~Palace Walk takes you on a journey of What Comes Next: from dramatic Wings and Veils through rich Arabic rhythms into a soft waltz and finally to a percussion duet between the drummer and the dancers.
When You’re Gone
Choreographer: Madison Vaughan
Costume Designer:
Original Lighting Designer: Heaven Egan
Music: “When You’re Gone” composed by Message to Bears
Dancers: Emily Falcone, Camilla Linkin, Madison Jackson, Kaelyn Kear
Understudies: Amara Alexander, Mia Dye
~“I wish I could change, but I’ll probably just stay the same. But you should believe me, our dreams are all the same.” – Current Joys
Animated Frescoes Pas de Quatre from The Little Humpbacked Horse
Choreographer: Arthur Saint-Leon
Restaged by Olga Wise
Costume Designer: Zoe Jocassee Barber
Music: Cezare Pugni
Dancers: Maria Stewart, Kailee Rafalko, Mackenzie Walker, Katie Mullins
Understudy: Mackenzie Hayes
~The Little Humpbacked Horse is based on a folk tale by Russian author, Peter Yershov. The story follows Ivanushka, a young man who is helped by a little humpbacked horse on his journey to win the hand of the Tsar Maiden. During the Soviet era, this ballet underwent many transformations and the majority of the original choreography was lost. Animated Frescoes is one of the few surviving excerpts from the original ballet. I chose this piece to share this little-known gem of 19th-century choreography with today’s audience before it might be lost forever.
Assembled in the USA
Choreographer: Laurel Van Beusecum
Costume Designer: Evy Massey
Music: “Shoo Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy,” performed by June Christy and Stan Keton and written by Guy Wood and Sammy Gallop. “Runyonland,” performed by Edward Strauss and the Guys and Dolls Orchestra (1992), written by Frank Loesser. “Sweet Charity: Rich Man’s Frug,” performed by Fred Wener and the Sweet Charity Original Broadway Orchestra, written by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields. “Fame,” performed by Irene Cara and written by Dean Pitchford and Michael Gore. “Le Jazz Hot,” performed by Julie Andrews and the Victor/Victoria Company, written by Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse
Dancers: Emily Acome, Lucy Addicks, Aimee Alston, Emily Carson, Lexi Debo, Mia Dye, Eliza Farley, Lindsey Ferguson, Alyssa Guardino, Mackenzie Hayes, Elena Lauzun, Emily Monahan, Abby Percy, Tabbi Rapp, Halle White, Avery Zolnoski
Understudies: Ashley Dietze and Chloe Stankiewicz
~“Jazz does not belong to one race or culture. It’s a gift that America gave the world.”- Ahmad Alaadeen
10 MINUTE INTERMISSION
Table Talk
Choreographer: Clarence Brooks (with assistance from the dancers)
Rehearsal Director: Pamela O’Briant
Costume Designer: Zoe Jocassee Barber
Music: Gandhi’s Love, Russell Gunn
Dancers: Ave Blanchette, Jillian Epstein, Ayushi Gaur, Jen Griffaton, Katie Mullins, Sarah Santucci, Mackenzie Walker, Olivia Wilkinson
Understudies: Ellie Sonne, Emmie Kiser, Ella Downs
~The movement for this contemporary ballet was drawn from multiple common phrases that use the word “table”. In my heart and mind, colloquialisms like “set the table”, “bring it to the table”,”round table”, etc. are metaphors for equality, equity, and commonality.
Unplugged
Choreographer: Charlie Maybee
Costume Designer: Zoe Jocassee Barber
Dancers: Bella Cipriano, Sydney Feinberg, Kennedy Miller, Abby Percy, Tabitha Rapp
Understudy: Lilliana Myers
~The inspiration for this piece was a back-to-basics approach to tap dance that treats the tap ensemble as an “a capella” band.
In Small Packages (2007)
Choreographer: Kristin Alexander
Costume Coordinator: Janine McCabe
Music: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G, BWV 1048: I-III by Johann Sebastian Bach
Dancers: Lucy Addicks, Aimee Alston, Leila Crane, Jillian Epstein, Emily Falcone, Elishia Jennings
Understudies: Alexis Colvin, Sarah Santucci, Olivia Wilkinson
~The best things come in small packages.
Vibrio
Choreographer: Gretchen McLaine
Original Costume Designer: Flynn Valentine
Music: “The Legend of Mother Swan”; composed and performed by The Hu
Dancers: Hayden Horton, Madison Vaughan
Understudies: Eliza Farley, Ashley Gargani
~Inspired by Steven Johnson’s book The Ghost Map, which explains how London’s cholera epidemic of 1854 led to a greater scientific understanding of epidemiology, this dance uses water as a metaphor to explore the transmission of both diseases and ideas- and how these powerful yet unseen interactions affect the modern world.
Production Team
CofC Stages Artistic Director: Janine McCabe
Chair, Department of Theatre and Dance: Gretchen McLaine
Production Manager: Miles Boinest
Assistant Technical Director: Sam Meier
Stage Management Advisor: Susan Kattwinkel
Costume Design Advisor: Janine McCabe
Pattern Maker: Tyler Akeo
Sewing & Alterations: Ashlyn Denham, Alyssa Guardino, Lily Lombardi, Evy Massey, Jenna Williamson, the students of Intro to Costuming
Wardrobe Crew: Keira Chanthavongsor, Hayden Cohen, Or Levy
Costume Shop Staff (select students hired by the Department of Theatre & Dance with support from donor funding): Ashlyn Denham, Alyssa Guardino, Lily Lombardi, Evy Masey, Jenna Wiliamson
Lighting Design Assistants: Abby Israel, Hannah Moore
Electric Shop Staff (select students hired by the Department of Theatre & Dance with support from donor funding): Bootsie Baldwin, Abby Israel, Alex Jones, Hannah Moore, Chris Warzynski
Assistant Stage Manager: Em Hutto
Run Crew: Cate Coelho, Emily Coleman, Hannah Mills
Sottile Theatre Director of Operations: Victoria Leatherman
Marketing & Communications: Nandini B. McCauley
Graphic Designer: Rob Alexander
Photography: David Mandel
Publicity: Jake Cisson, Maddie LaBarge, Kaylee Phillips
Office Assistant: Emma Bennett
Box Office: George Street Box Office
Thank you to all of our donors!
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As we transitions back to live in-person audiences and mask-free performances last season, we worked hard to keep our students and audiences engaged. We preserved the student experience during these last two years, but we lost essential revenue that plays a huge role in funding our season’s productions. Your donations contribute to funding the essentials needed for scenery, lighting, sound, and costumes, but more importantly, they help support student employees, student research and travel, and other student-focused experiences. We can’t do this without your generosity!
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PATRON up to $99
Dean Adams, Jennifer Asouzu, Arsalan Baig, Chris Burgess, Henderson Cole, Carmella Della-Peruta, Irina Gigova, Maegan Gudridge, Cianne Maloney, Katie Martin, Thomas McCabe, Todd McNerney, Elizabeth Meyer-Bernstein, Kerri Needle, Shelby North, Erin Percy, Eli Salas, Anna Stephenson, Joseph Willingham
Cast and Production Team Biographies
Clarence Brooks (he/they), a Baltimore native, has performed with 80-plus dance companies and is currently a freelance artist with five companies. A former associate professor, published author, and the recipient of several honors, fellowships, and awards, Clarence holds two dance degrees, four somatic certifications, and sits on the boards of several non-profit dance organizations.
Quinn Abram is a freshman majoring in International Business with a minor in Spanish from Longmont, Colorado. This is her first mainstage show at the College of Charleston.
Emily Acome is a sophomore double majoring in Psychology and Dance from Richmond, Virginia. This is her third mainstage show at the College of Charleston.
Lucy Addicks is a freshman from Knoxville, TN. She is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Dance on a pre-health track. She is very excited to perform in her first mainstage production with the College.
Amara Alexander is a sophomore double majoring in Biology and Dance from Potomac, Maryland. This is her third mainstage performance at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in Pathways.
Kristin Alexander is an Associate Professor of Dance at the College of Charleston. She is the Artistic Director of Annex Dance Company. Last spring Kristin served as the Artistic Director of the student dance concert Pathways, and looks forward to taking on that role again next semester for Moved by Memories.
Aimee Alston is a sophomore double majoring in Marine Biology and Dance from Franklin, Massachusetts. This is her second mainstage show at the College of Charleston.
Beena Austin is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Dance. She has studied, performed, and presented cultural dances of the Arab world, folkloric and modern dances from Egypt and the Gulf countries to the Levant region and the North African Maghreb region. She teaches Indian and Arabic dance at the College of Charleston, as well as private lessons and group classes in Mount Pleasant and West Ashley.
Zoe Barber is a sophomore majoring in Theatre (Costume Design) and Historic Preservation and Community Planning from the College of Charleston. This is the first time her work will be seen in a mainstage show at the college.
Avé-Ella Blanchette is a senior double majoring in Dance and Special Education from Nashua, New Hampshire. This is her sixth mainstage show at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in Pathways.
Emily Carson is a senior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Communications from Pinehurst, North Carolina. This is her second mainstage performance with the department and was last seen in Pathways.
Bella Cipriano is a senior majoring in Dance (Performance/Choreography) and a minor in Psychology from Fort Mill, South Carolina. This is her second mainstage show at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in Pathways.
Alexis Colvin is a junior from Long Island, NY, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Dance. She is excited to perform in her first show with the Department of Theatre and Dance.
Leila Crane is a senior from Habersham, Georgia majoring in English (Writing, Rhetoric, and Publications) and minoring in dance. This is her fifth performance with the College. She choreographed for last spring’s Pathways dance concert.
Mollie Davis is a senior double majoring in Psychology and Theatre. Her previous stage management work was last seen in Pippin last season. She is excited to work on her first dance concert with CofC.
Lexi DeBo is a sophomore double majoring in Dance and Communication from Greenville, SC. This is her third mainstage show at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in Pathways.
Ashlyn Denham is a senior majoring in Theatre (Costume Design) from Charleston, WV. Her costume design work was last seen in last spring’s Pathways dance concert.
Ella Downs is a sophomore double majoring in Dance and Marketing from Kennett Square, PA. This is her third mainstage show at the College of Charleston.
Libby Drotar is a freshman double majoring in Sociology and Dance from Norfolk, VA. This is her first mainstage show at the College of Charleston.
Mia Dye is a sophomore majoring in Elementary Education and minoring in Dance from Hampton, NH. This is her first mainstage performance.
Jillian Epstein is a sophomore double majoring in Dance and History from Asheville, North Carolina. This is her third mainstage show at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in Pathways.
Emily Falcone is a senior double majoring in Psychology and Dance from Smithfield, Rhode Island. This is her sixth mainstage show at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in Pathways.
Eliza Farley is a freshman majoring in Communications from Hingham, MA. This is her second mainstage show at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in After the Rain.
Sydney Feinberg is a freshman majoring in Dance from Summerville, SC. This is her first mainstage performance with the College of Charleston.
Lindsey Ferguson is a junior double majoring in Psychology and Dance from Greenville, SC. This is her fourth mainstage show at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in Pathways.
Ashley Gargani is a sophomore majoring in Communications and Dance with a concentration in choreography/performance. She is originally from Long Island, NY, and this is her second mainstage performance. She was last seen in Pathways.
Ayushi Gaur is a junior double majoring in Marine Biology and Dance from Memphis, Tennessee. This is her fourth mainstage show at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in After the Rain.
Jen Griffaton is a sophomore double majoring in Dance and Music from Columbus, Ohio. This is her third mainstage show at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in Pathways.
Alyssa Guardino is a senior double majoring in Dance and Elementary Education from Newburgh New York. This is her sixth mainstage show at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in After the Rain..
Mackenzie Hayes is a freshman majoring in Dance and Political Science from Greenville, SC. This is her first mainstage show with the College of Charleston.
Hayden Horton is a sophomore from Barnwell, South Carolina. She is a double major in Business Administration and Dance. This is her second mainstage performance with the College of Charleston. She was last seen in After the Rain.
Abby Israel is a junior majoring in Theatre (Lighting Design) from Memphis, TN. Her latest design work was featured in the Pathways dance concert in Spring of 2024.
Madison Jackson is a senior majoring in Psychology from Greenville, South Carolina. This is her third mainstage production with the College of Charleston. She was last seen in Becoming We.
Elishia Jennings is a junior double majoring in Dance and Computer Science. She is from Charleston, South Carolina. This is her second mainstage show with the Department of Theatre and Dance
Kaelyn Kear is a senior majoring in Biology with a minor in Dance. She is from Hilton Head Island, SC. This is her fourth mainstage performance with the College and was last seen in Shifting Perspectives.
Ally Keschinger is a senior majoring in Dance and Psychology and minoring in Crime, Law, and Society from Irmo, South Carolina. This is her 5th mainstage production with the College. She was last seen in Pathways.
Sophie Ketchum is a junior majoring in Dance and minoring in Studio Art from Nashville, Tennessee. This is her fourth mainstage show at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in Pathways.
Emmie Kiser is a sophomore double majoring in Dance and Education from Rock Hill, South Carolina. This is her second mainstage show with the department.
Elena Lauzun is a freshman majoring in International Studies with a minor in Dance, from Ithaca, NY. This is her first performance at the College of Charleston.
Camilla Linkin is a junior majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Leadership for Sustainability, alongside a Dance minor from Greenville, South Carolina. This is her third mainstage production, last seen in Pathways.
Charlie Maybee is a choreographer, musician, educator, and writer currently based in Charleston, South Carolina where he is an Adjunct Lecturer at the College of Charleston (CofC). He holds an MFA in Dance from the University of Illinois with a certificate in Criticism and Interpretive Theory. He has worked consistently in higher education since 2015 specializing in tap and modern dance technique classes, overseeing dance research projects, and providing musical accompaniment for dance classes on drums, guitar, and piano. In 2014, he founded the Polymath Performance Project, through which he created interdisciplinary performances with tap dance as its artistic center.
Gretchen McLaine is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at the College of Charleston. She holds degrees from Winthrop University (BA), American University (MA), Marywood University (PhD), and advanced Labanotation certifications from the Dance Notation Bureau. Her areas of research include dance history, Labanotation, and kinesiology. Dr. McLaine has served on the Board of Directors for the National Dance Education Organization and the American College Dance Association and is currently an Assistant Editor for the Journal of Dance Education.
Kennedy Miller is a freshman majoring in Dance and minoring in Marketing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This is her first mainstage show at the College of Charleston.
Emily Monahan is a senior majoring in English with a minor in Dance from Landrum, South Carolina. This is her fifth mainstage show with the College, and was last seen in Pathways.
Hannah Moore is a sophomore majoring in Theatre (Lighting Design) from Conway, SC. This is her first time as an assistant designer of a mainstage show at the College of Charleston.
Lily Mueller is a sophomore majoring in Theatre (Scenic/Lighting Design). This is her second production with the college. She was last seen in Pathways.
Katie Mullins is a senior majoring in Public Health and minoring in Healthcare and Medical Services Management from Summerville, SC. This is her third mainstage production at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in Pathways.
Lilliana Myers is a junior majoring in Economics and Political Science and minoring in Dance and Spanish from Wilmington, NC. This is her first mainstage show at the College of Charleston.
Pamela O’Briant is in her 13th year as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Dance. In addition to teaching Ballet technique, beginning Modern and Dance Appreciation, Pamela is a certified Pilates and Gyrotonic instructor.
Abby Percy is a sophomore majoring in Dance and Political Science and minoring in Writing, Rhetoric, and Publications from Madison, AL. This is her third mainstage show at the College of Charleston.
Ana S. Plucar is a sophomore majoring in Dance with a minor in Arts Management from Plymouth, Minnesota. This is her third mainstage show at the College of Charleston.
Kailee Rafalko is a senior double majoring in Dance and Communications from Hackettstown, NJ. This is her sixth mainstage show at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in After the Rain.
Tabitha Rapp is a Sophomore double majoring in Dance and Exercise Science from Wilmington, NC. This is her third mainstage show at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in Pathways.
Sarah Santucci is a freshman from Doylestown, Pa. She plans to double major in Dance and Special Education and is honored to be performing in her first mainstage production at the College of Charleston.
Ellie Sonne is a freshman majoring in Dance from Cameron, South Carolina. This is her first mainstage show with the College of Charleston.
Chloe Stankiewicz is a sophomore majoring in Exercise Science from Greenville, SC. This is her third mainstage show at the College of Charleston. She was last seen in Pathways.
Maria Stewart is a junior majoring in Dance (Performance/Choreography) and a minor in Geology from Clemson, SC. This is her fourth mainstage show and was last seen in After the Rain.
Lauren Summerville is a junior double majoring in Classics and English and minoring in Dance from Cary, North Carolina. This is her third performance with the department.
Madison Vaughan is a senior from Harford County, Maryland. She is majoring in Dance (Performance/Choreography) and minoring in Business Administration. Her choreography premiered in Pathways last spring and was selected for inclusion in What Comes Next.
Laurel Van Beusecum is an Adjunct Lecturer with the Department of Theatre and Dance, is a native of Western North Carolina and holds an M.F.A. in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and a B.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography from The University of Alabama. She has enjoyed numerous performance and choreographic opportunities including dancing with the Second Avenue Dance Company in NYC and taking stage at Radio City Music Hall. Teaching in higher education since 2013, she challenges her students to explore the valuable, universal language dance offers through both technique and lecture base courses. Laurel has enjoyed choreographing for both dance and musical theatre productions during her time at the college.
Katelyn Ventura is a sophomore majoring in Exercise Science and minoring in Dance from Aiken, South Carolina. This is her second performance with the College.
Mackenzie Walker is a sophomore majoring in Dance (Performance/Choreography) from Columbia, South Carolina. This is her third performance with the College. She was last seen in Pathways.
Olivia Wilkinson is a sophomore majoring in Dance (Performance/Choreography) and minoring in Arts Management from Austin, Texas. This is her third performance with the College.
Olga Wise is a graduate of the Bolshoi Choreographic Institute in Moscow, Russia. This is her sixth year as an adjunct lecturer at the College of Charleston, where she teaches ballet and pointe technique courses. In addition to teaching at the College, Olga and her husband are Co-Artistic Directors of the Robert Ivey Ballet.
Halle White is a senior double majoring in Arts Management and Dance with a concentration in Performance/Choreography. This is her sixth dance concert at the College.
Ava Woods is a senior majoring in Dance (Performance/Choreography) from Parkville, Maryland. This is her seventh mainstage performance with the College and was last seen in Pathways.
Avery Young is a sophomore majoring in Dance from Oklahoma City, OK. This is her first mainstage show at the College of Charleston.
Avery Zolnoski is a freshman majoring in Marketing and minoring in Dance from Middletown, New Jersey. This is her first mainstage show at the College of Charleston.