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Blood at the Root

Red-tinted close-up of stars and stripes of an American flag from playbill cover of

About the play...

Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves, and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

– Abel Meeropol, 1937

Sixty-seven years later, at Jena High School in Louisiana, six black teenagers were arrested and brought up on serious charges after assaulting a white student. The case of the Jena Six was precipitated by several other charged incidents, including nooses being hung from a tree – a prank many said was rooted in something much darker.

Dominique Morisseau’s Blood at the Root, based on this very incident, a character declares, “It all got roots. Way somebody choose not to sit next to somebody in the lunchroom – got roots. Way somebody got problems with the flag somebody else wear on they T-shirt – got roots. Way some people talk the way they talk, or hang out with who they hang out with, or love who they love, or hate who they hate – all got roots.”

The play, which Morisseau calls a “choreopoem” (a term coined by Ntozake Shange), aims to take the language of incrimination, of privilege, of prejudice, and transform it into poetry, music, and choreography that does not obscure the underlying sociopolitical messages but rather highlights and recontextualizes them, steering them away from the straightforward black and white of the issue to instead probe the grey areas of politics and social culpability.

The play premiered at Penn State and went on to play at the National Black Theatre, other Penn State campuses, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as well as Africa, Scotland, and Australia – along the way.

“To have such a U.S. black-and-white story become a story of South African students, become relevant in Australia, become relevant in Scotland, and invest all these different people and cultures in this story – it has just taught us how global the issues in the play are,” said Morisseau.

– Excerpts from AmericanTheatre.org

Red-tinted close-up of plant roots from playbill cover of

Blood at the Root

By Dominique Morisseau
Directed by Steve H.Broadnax III
Choreographed by A. Kikora Franklin
March 22–April 2, 2022
Pavilion Theatre


Blood at the Root was commissioned by Penn State in 2012, and premiered at Penn State Centre Stage in 2014, under the direction of Steven H. Broadnax III.


Covid Policy

Penn State has issued rules and precautions that follow, or may in some cases exceed, guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please visit the Penn State Virus Info website prior to attending a University event to ensure you are familiar with the rules and expectations.


About the Author

"Blood at the Root" author Dominique Morisseau.

Dominique Morisseau (born March 13, 1978) is an American playwright and actress from Detroit, Michigan. She has authored over nine plays, three of which are part of a cycle titled The Detroit Projects. She is a recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship (also known as the ‘Genius Grant’) for 2018.

Morisseau began writing plays in college. She was on the list of Top 20 Most Produced Playwrights in America in 2015–16, with 10 productions of her plays being produced nationwide. Her play, Blood at the Root, premiered at the Penn State School of Theatre in March 2014 under the direction of Steven Broadnax.

She wrote the book for the jukebox musical Ain’t Too Proud—The Life and Times of the Temptations, which is directed by Des McAnuff. The musical opened on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre in March 2019. It has played pre-Broadway engagements at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre (2017), the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles (August to September 2018), and the Kennedy Center (July 2018). This marked Morisseau’s Broadway debut, and she received a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical nomination, the first Black woman to do so.

Morisseau is a story editor for the television series Shameless on Showtime and is also credited as a co-producer.


Cast

Roles Actor
Raylynn Trinity Lyn Jackson
Asha Jenna Marie Wood
Toria Carly Rose Sturm
Justin Caden Malik Bilbrew
Deandre Derrick Sanders III
Colin Keaton J. Runco-Galanko


Acting company


Trinity Lyn Jackson

Trinity Lyn Jackson (Raylynn)  is a first-year B.F.A. Actor hailing from York County, PA. This is her Centre Stage debut and she’s so grateful that is with BATR! You may have seen her in recent project, Un Movie Moments. She thanks the many “Steve”s that have supported and gotten her to this point, her loving family and friends, and the School of Theatre for becoming a second home! Her performance is in loving memory of her Aunt Alice, who sparked the love for theatre in her so long ago. She hopes this show inspires change! You can keep up with her @trinity.l.jackson on Instagram!


Jenna Wood

Jenna Marie Wood (Asha) is beyond grateful to be a part of Blood at the Root for her last production at Penn State. In past seasons, she performed in Qui Nguyen’s She Kills Monsters (Farrah), Jalen Martin’s The Black Boy Who Thought He Had It All (Lexi), Romeo and Juliet: A Radio Play (Mercutio), and Kyle Blumenthal’s GRAFF (Skim, fight choreographer). She could not be more thankful to her cast, crew, and director Steve Broadnax for all of their brilliance during this process, as well as playwright Dominique Morisseau for the opportunity to share this story inspired by the Jena Six.


Carly Sturm

Carly Rose Sturm (Toria) is honored to be closing out her Penn State career by helping to tell this essential story. You may have seen her previously as Debra U/S in Hooded or Being Black for Dummies. She would like to thank her sisters, grandparents, friends, and professors for their unwavering support and life lessons. She wants to give a special shout-out to her parents for always championing her dreams, no matter how big. Her hope is that this play will inspire audiences to stand up to injustice and get in some “good trouble” as late Senator John Lewis would put it.


Malik Bilbrew

Caden Malik Bilbrew (Justin) is a fourth-year Musical Theatre major from Jacksonville, Florida. Penn State credits include Hands on a Hardbody (Ronald McCowan); Hooded, or Being Black for Dummies (Officer Borzoi/Apollo); Krysten Child’s The Lucky Boy (Lucky Boy); A Chorus Line (Zach); and The Wild Party (Mr. Black). Malik is also a proud member of the Presidential Leadership Academy at Penn State, working closely with President Baron. Abundantly grateful for the support from his family, and his peers and teachers, Malik is excited for their last show at Penn State. Instagram: @cmbilb


Derrick Sanders

Derrick Sanders III (Deandre) is a second-year Actor in the B.F.A. program at Penn State. This is Derrick’s second role in a Centre Stage production. His first role was Ed Boone, father of Christopher Boone in The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time. He sends endless love and gratitude to his mother and father back home, for enabling him to attend this university and be a part of this program. He hopes everyone will be moved by this powerful production and be inspired to continue advocating for love, light, equality, and peace.


Keaton Runco Galanko

Keaton J. Runco-Galanko (Colin) is a fourth- year B.F.A. Acting student from Pittsburgh. Recent Penn State credits include Hooded, or Being Black for Dummies (Fielder/Dionysus), Angels in America (Male Swing), and Romeo and Juliet: A Radio Play (Benvolio). Special thanks to the cast and crew, and to his friends and family (and dog Charlie) for their endless support. He asks that his friends/family not take it personally when they see that his dog was the only one to get a direct shoutout (sorry Mom). Instagram: @keatonjrunco

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Artistic Team


Photo of Steve Broadnax

Steve H. Broadnax III (Director) Thoughts of a Colored Man (Broadway); Katori Hall’s 2021 Pulitzer Prize premiere The Hot Wing King at The Signature Theatre; Lee Edward Colston’s The First Deep Breath at Chicago’s Vineyard Theatre (premiere and winner of Jeff Awards Best New Work); Dominique Morisseau’s Blood at the Root at the National Black Theatre (winner of Kennedy Center’s Hip Hop Theater Creator Award); and William Jackson Harper’s premiere Travisville at NYC Ensemble Studio. Ensemble Studio Theatre member and serves as the resident director at People’s Light Theatre; Professor of Theatre at Penn State and Co-Head of M.F.A. Directing.


Photo of Kikora Franklin

A. Kikora Franklin (Choreographer/Movement) is an associate professor of theatre/dance and teaches West African, hip hop, and Mojah dance. She has performed, choreographed, and taught in cities across the globe, including Linz, Austria; Grahamstown, South Africa; Dakar, Senegal; Minas Gerais, Brazil; and throughout China, Europe, and the United States. Franklin has also performed and choreographed for the Atlanta Hawks dance team. At Penn State, her creative work and research focuses on developing the Mojah dance technique, an original style that fuses modern (Horton and Dunham), jazz, West African, and hip hop movement into one form. Franklin’s interests also include studying the cultural and artistic expressions of the African Diaspora, the development and evolution of contemporary African and African-American concert and social dance, and using arts education as civic engagement. Franklin shares her passion for dance and culture with young students as the artistic director of Roots of Life, a performing arts ensemble based out of the State College Area School District.


Rosalind 'Rozy' Isquith

Rosalind ‘Rozy’ Isquith (Scenic Designer) is a scenic designer and artist currently working towards her M.F.A. in Scenic Design at Penn State. She graduated from the University of Vermont, and worked as a freelance designer and artist in New England. In design, Rozy worked for the Downtown Cabaret Theatre, University of Vermont’s Royal Tyler Theatre, and the Very Merry Theatre Company. As a scenic artist, she continues to work with Goodspeed Musicals, The Glimmerglass Festival, Scenic Art Studios, and the New London Barn Playhouse. Her design work can be viewed at https://rosalindisquith.com/


Madeline Simpson (Costume Designer) is a third-year student pursuing a B.F.A. in Costume Design and Technology and is thrilled to be designing her first show at Penn State Centre Stage. She would like to thank Steve, the design team, Richard, Laura, Charlene, Diane, Amanda, and the rest of the costume shop for helping guide her through this process, and the actors for being excited about building these characters. She would also like to thank her parents and sister who have endlessly supported her. Her previous experiences in costume design and technology include A Little Night Music (first-hand), The Lucky Boy (assoc. wardrobe supervisor), Angels in America (first-hand), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (asst. costume designer). Upcoming projects include Metamorphoses (costume designer) in Penn State Centre Stage’s 2022-2023 season! @msimpson.1


James Gibney (Lighting Designer) is a third-year B.F.A. Lighting Design student from Suffolk County Community College, where he earned his associates degree in Theatre Technology and Design. His previous Penn State design credits include: Moving Forward (Dance Concert), Cabaret of Many Colors (associate designer), and assistant lighting designer on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.


Michael Smedley (Sound Designer) is thrilled to be a part of the Blood at the Root creative team as the sound designer for his final show at Penn State. Prior to Blood at the Root, Michael was the mix engineer for Penn State’s premiere production of Nostalgia Night. He also recently worked as the composer for Penn State Centre Stage’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and season sound designer and mix engineer at Ozark Actors Theatre (AEA), where he won BroadwayWorld.com St. Louis’s Best Sound Design of a Play or Musical for his design of Little Shop of Horrors.


Steven Rimke (Vocal Coach) teaches Voice and Speech for the B.F.A. Acting and Musical Theatre programs in the School of Theatre at Penn State. Steven has coached theatrical productions in Canada, England, Malaysia and the United States. Steven also provides coaching to members of the transgender community, aiding in their ability to have their voice safely match their preferred identity. You may have recently Steven clowning with colleague Malena Ramirez at the Happy Valley Latin Festival.


Liz Nugent (Production Stage Manager) is a third-year Stage Management student from Bellefonte. Her previous Penn State stage management experience includes Angels in America (production assistant), A Chorus Line (assistant stage manager), and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (assistant stage manager). Liz would like to thank her family for supporting her not only through this production, but in all aspects of life.


Hailey Sanchez (Assistant Stage Manager) is a second-year trans femme B.F.A. Stage Management student at Penn State, also pursuing Technical Direction. This is her first Centre Stage production as an assistant stage manager. Previous credits include Lonely Together (ASM) and Romeo & Juliet: A Radio Play (PA). She is honored to have the opportunity to work on Blood at the Root with the fantastic cast and supporting creative team, a special thanks to PSM Liz Nugent and Director Steve Broadnax for creating such a strong and supportive space during the work!


Rachel Zwerver (Assistant Stage Manager) is a fourth-year Stage Management student from Blairstown, New Jersey. She is excited to spend her spring semester as the assistant stage manager for Blood at the Root. Her previous projects include Lonely Together (production stage manager) and Fun Home (production stage manager), among others. She would like to thank her professors for their continuous mentorship, and her friends and family for their love and support.


Abstract collage of three images – plant roots, cropped tree canopy, and cracked earth – all tinted red. From playbill cover of

Supporting Roles

Every production requires so many more individuals than those you see on the stage. These are the people who make sure that the show, indeed, does go on.

Production Staff

Asst. Stage Manager
Hailey Sanchez
Rachel Zwerver
Associate Technical Director
John Geisz
Voice Coach
Jaime Smith
Dramaturgy
Jayla Hamlin
Jhordan Price
Head Carpenter
Chris Shuey
Staff Scenic Carpenters
Stephen Harris
Chris Shuey
Scenic Carpenters
Riley Allsop
Nicolas Baror
Jack Briggs
Cassidy Lyn Burke
Clare Cawley
Daniel Dembek
Maxwell Doherty
Victor Hernandez
Kaydee Oliver
Lauren Petrocelli
Raymond Reehill
Emily Simpson
Sydney Smith
Scenic Charge Artist
Stephanie Lynn Nimick
Scenic Artists
Rosalind Isquith
Mia Irwin
Beatriz Chung Ore
Assistant to the Costume Designer
Aubrey Lewis
Costume Technical Supervisor
Laura Kay Robinson
Costume Shop Manager
Diane Toyos
Draper
Amanda Ferg
Wardrobe Supervisor
Taylor Green
Wardrobe Crew Head
Owain Milliken
Wardrobe Crew
Demanie Redhead
Justin Roldan
Asst. Lighting Designer
Michael D. Aboah
Production Electrician
Connor Westhoff
Asst. Production Electrician
LP Patterson
Light Board Operator
Michael Guastamachio
Asst. Sound Designer
Lauren Petrocelli
Production Audio
Sydney Smith
A1
Joel Rehn
Deck Crew
Ava Cronin
Jasmine Ward
Properties Shop Supervisor
Jay Lasnik
Properties Manager
Jack Briggs
Properties Artisans
Andre Brandao
Lorena Sandoval
Social Media Coordinator
Curtis Trowbridge

Production Crew

The following students will support the costume, scenic, and electric crews this semester.

  • Michael D. Aboah
  • William Adams
  • Riley Allsop
  • Francesca Alvidrez
  • Lavanya Anantharaman
  • Hannah Bank
  • Nicolas Baror
  • Hunter Belisle
  • Mackenzie Borine
  • Andre Brandao
  • Lauren Bretl
  • Jack Briggs
  • Cassidy Lyn Burke
  • John Carpino
  • Carlo Castoro Jr.
  • Adrian Castro
  • Sage Castro
  • Clare Cawley
  • Carter Celgin
  • John Chambers
  • Beatriz Chung
  • Bree Clark
  • Celia Craig
  • Ava Cronin
  • Dante D’Antonio
  • Daniel Dembek
  • Sabine Desamours
  • Maxwell Doherty
  • Jeremy Eiben
  • Chloe Evans
  • Breanna Fais
  • Hannah Flade
  • Samantha Forrest
  • Jordan Frank
  • Gage Gardiner
  • James Gibney Jr.
  • Maddy Glave
  • Julianne Greco
  • Lauren Greenfield
  • Kathleen Griffith
  • Michael Guastamachio
  • Kattie Hasenecz
  • David Heguy
  • Victor Hernandez
  • Jessica L Hill
  • Zharia Hill
  • Taylor Hufnagel
  • Anan Hussein
  • Mia Catherine Irwin
  • Rosalind Isquith
  • Trinity Jackson
  • Yunke Jiang
  • Nadia Khorshid
  • Dillon Kraus
  • Jonathan Langberg
  • Gailyn Lee
  • Michelle Lee
  • Yeji Lee
  • Amirah Lomax
  • Mason LoPiccolo
  • Anna Lustig
  • Jillian Ma
  • Eleonore MacZura
  • Noi Maeshige
  • Natalie Maguire
  • Anna Martin
  • Lucy Martin
  • Quinn McDonald
  • Nicole McFadden
  • Michel McGillian
  • Riley McKean
  • Mackenzie Miller
  • Owain Milliken
  • Charles Mrlack
  • Kyra Muramoto
  • Evelyn Murphy-Welconish
  • Flynn Nolen
  • Kaydee Oliver
  • James Palmieri
  • Maria Papadopoulos
  • LP Patterson
  • Valentine Regla Pesola
  • Ethan Peterson
  • Lauren Petrocelli
  • Claire Phillips
  • Tyler Phillips
  • Vincent Wolf Pilone
  • Clarlie Plante
  • Zachary Rebarchak
  • Demanie Redhead
  • Raymond Reehill
  • Joel Rehn
  • Joey Reihart
  • Justin Roldan
  • John Michael Rosenblum
  • Hailey Sanchez
  • Skyler Sandner
  • Lorena Sandoval
  • Kyle Shearer
  • Maggie Schlachter
  • Zachary Schwartz
  • Sarah Schwidel
  • Emily Simpson
  • Madeline Simpson
  • Zandra Siple
  • Kayla Sliger
  • Michael Smedley Jr
  • Ronnie Spoto
  • Erin Stanek
  • Victoria Steward
  • Beatrix Stickney
  • Thomas Strong
  • Keagan Styes
  • Paige Taylor
  • Matthew Thompson
  • Rafaela Torchia Carvalho Castro
  • Regine Torres
  • Megan Totz
  • Eda Uyanik
  • Sylvan Vanstory
  • Jovanni Aparicio Velez
  • Sunakshi Verma
  • Anna Wagner
  • Jack Warner
  • Jasmine Ward
  • Connor Westhoff
  • Stacy Wiener
  • Georgia Wood
  • Austen Yim

Band

Keyboard I
Richard Carsey

Keyboard II
Jamie Johns

Guitar
Tom Cody

Guitar II
Jesse Tyler Moore

Bass
Justin Dorsey

Drums
Kyle Haust

Penn State Centre Stage Administration

Producing Artistic Director
Rick Lombardo

Interim Production Manager
Ronda Craig

Interim Technical Director
Stephen Frausto

Marketing Director
Cheri Sinclair

Business Manager
Janet Bergamaschi

Arts Ticket Center
Tracy Noll – Sales Director
Christine Igoe – Ticket Manager
Shannon Arney – Assistant Ticket Manager
Len Codispot-Anderson – Group Sales and Development Relations Manager
Joi McKenzie – Ticket Sales and Customer Service Manager

House Management
Jojo Sugg
Sierra Lucas

School of Theatre Administration

Director of the School of Theatre
Rick Lombardo

Associate Director for Instruction
Dan Robinson

Associate Director for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
A. Kikora Franklin

Graduate Officer
Dan Robinson

School of Theatre
Judy King – Administrative Coordinator
Carrianne Love – Academic Records
Mark Powell – Staff Assistant
Shannon Ritter – Admissions and Recruitment

School of Theatre Faculty + Staff

Directing
Rick Lombardo
Rich Biever
Susan H. Schulman
John Simpkins

Acting
Steve Broadnax III
A. Kikora Franklin
Erik Raymond Johnson
Rick Lombardo
Sam Osheoff
Steve Snyder

Musical Theatre Acting
John Simpkins, Nagle Family Endowed Chair in Musical Theatre

Musical Theatre Singing
Raymond Sage
Gabriella Sam
Gwen Walker

Music Direction
Richard Carsey
Melissa Yanchak

Dance/Choreography
Michele Dunleavy
Chaz Wolcott
A. Kikora Franklin
Linda Hildebrand
Rebecca Maciejczyk

Dramaturgy/History/Literature
Elizabeth Bonjean, Ph.D.
William Doan, Ph.D.
Jeanmarie Higgins, Ph.D.
Susan Russell, Ph.D.
Robert W. Schneider
Sebastian Trainor
Malcolm Wolmack, Ph.D.
Michael Schweikardt

Voice/Speech
Steven Rimke
Kris Danford

Movement
Steve Broadnax III
Elisha Clark Halpin
Erik Raymond Johnson
Megan Moore

Projections
Curtis Craig
Andrew Haag

Scenic Design
Dan Robinson
Milagros Ponce de León
Michael Schweikardt

Costume Design
Richard St. Clair
Charlene Gross

Costume Technology
Laura Robinson

Lighting Design
William Kenyon
Ken Friedhoff

Sound Design
Curtis Craig
Andrew Haag
Kyle Jensen

Stage Management
Geoff Boronda
Ronda Craig

Technical Direction
Stephen Frausto

Scene Shop
John E Geisz
Stephen Harris
Chris Shuey

Properties Shop
Jay Lasnik – Supervisor

Paint Shop
Stephanie Nimick – Supervisor

Costume Shop
Diane Toyos – Supervisor
Amanda Ferg – Draper


  1. Member of Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers
  2. Member of Actors’ Equity Association
  3. Member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829
  4. Member of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
  5. Member of The Dramatists Guild
  6. Member of National Writers Union
  7. Local 802 American Federation of Musicians
  8. ETCP Electrician
  9. Member of The Society of Professional Props Artisan Managers

School of Theatre Graduate Students

Graduate students fill a number of key positions in the School of Theatre. Common roles include assistant director, paint supervisor, charge artist, property master, first hand, draper, and musical director, to name a few.

Costume Design
Jeremy Eiben
Zandra Siple

Costume Production
Taylor Greene
Jessica Hill
Tyler Phillips
Erin Stanek
Keagan Styes
Erin Stumm

Musical Theatre Directing
Jennifer Delac
Alison Morooney

Music Directing
Harrison Collins
Emily Orr

Scenic Design
André Brandao
Beatriz Chung
Mia Irwin
Rosalind Isquith
Lorena Sandoval

Technical Direction
Raymond Reehill

Penn State Centre Stage Community Council 21–22

Council Members
Judith Albrecht
John Carder
Katie Dawes
Connie DiNunzio
Jacki Hunt
Kay Kustanbauter
Kevin Roe
Jerry Sawyer
Jeane Singer
Susan Werner
Barbara King-Wilson

Ex Officio Members
B. Stephen Carpenter II
Rick Lombardo
Janet Bergamaschi
Robyn Krause-Hale
John Simpkins
Cheri Sinclair

Professional Member Organizations

Actors’ Equity Association


NAST – National Association of Schools of Theatre


SDC – The Director and Choreographer are members of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.


SPAM – The Society of Properties Artisan Managers


United Scenic Artists Local USA 829


U/RTA – University Resident Theatre Association
Member of U/RTA, the country’s oldest and largest consortium of professional theatre training graduate programs and associated professional theatre companies, and utilizes that association to facilitate and manage contracts with members of the various theatrical unions. These include Actors’ Equity Association, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreograhers, and United Scenic Artists.


USITT – United States Institute for Theatre Technology



Make a gift

We are able to do what we do because you believe in us.

Our students, faculty, and visiting professionals bring tremendous talent to the stage and you give them a stage to stand on. Our choreographers, costume and scenic designers, lighting technicians, and all of our artistic team envision new worlds and you give them the resources to realize these worlds. While Penn State provides a foundation for our theatrical productions, we rely on the generosity of our community to provide the additional resources needed to perform at the highest level. Your gifts provide financial assistance with show rights, costumes, technical equipment, set materials, music, marketing, and supporting visiting artists and educators who come to share their craft.

You can make a tax-deductible donation to Penn State Centre Stage online using the link below, or by phoning 888-800-9163. Specify “Centre Stage–XAFPS” when you make a credit card gift by phone or online. You can also mail a check to: PSCS/Penn State, 116 Theatre Building, University Park, PA 16802-1506.


Make a gift online to Centre Stage

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Become a Donor. Penn State School of Theatre is home to one of the finest theatre training programs in the country. We invite you to have a richer theatre experience by becoming a donor to Penn State Centre Stage. Let our students know that you love the theatre and care about ensuring opportunity for artists.

Your patronage will also provide assistance for students with financial need to take advantage of extra-curricular opportunities such as master classes, regional theatre productions, and conference participation. By supporting Penn State Centre Stage, you support a home where young artists discover their gifts and you show them the impact that theatre has on everyone it touches.

We’re thankful for your partnership and philanthropy, and we applaud every person who joins us in our mission to make our theatre training program one of the top ranked in the country. We can’t wait to show you what’s next.

Ensuring the Future of Live Professional Theatre

2021–22 Season Donors

Donors, Grants, Sponsorships and In-Kind Contributions to the 2021–22 Season

Your loyalty and support have been the driving force behind our success. Thank you for your help in creating something truly special in this community. The list below includes donors to PSCS from June 2021 – February 2022. Every effort was made to ensure its accuracy. We apologize in advance for any errors or omissions!


Producer ($5,000 & up)

  • Happy Valley Adventure Bureau
  • Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (a state agency)
  • Dennis Gioia & Judith Albrecht

Director ($2,500–$4,999)

Performer ($1,000–$2,499)

  • Rosalie & Roger Dietz
  • Charles & J. Ann Dumas
  • Blake & Linda Gall
  • Ann & George Johnstone
  • Pieter & Lida Ouwehand
  • Jeane & Richard Singer
  • John & Judith Vicary Swisher
  • Mark & Anne Toniatti

Supporter($500–$999)

  • Lou & Bernadette Barth
  • Catherine A. Bresee
  • Alan Brown
  • Bruce Fleischer & Heidi Nicholas
  • John & Katie Dawes
  • Steven Herb & Sara Willoughby-Herb
  • John & Jackie Hook
  • Theodore & Casey Hovick
  • Bill Jaffe
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh
  • Kitchen Kaboodle
  • Kay Kustanbauter
  • Colleen & Frank Miceli
  • Helen Manfull
  • Kevin & Joy Roe
  • Robert & Karen Shute
  • David & Susan Werner

Benefactor ($100–$499)

  • Lynn & Ellis Abramson
  • Ruth Bank
  • Ned & Inga Book
  • Lynn Donald Breon
  • John & Deborah Carder in memory of Shirley Palermo
  • David & Ellen Cavanaugh
  • Mimi Barash Coppersmith
  • Susan Del Ponte & Carole Pearce
  • George & Tamara Downsbrough
  • John & Connie DiNunzio
  • Earl & Susan Graham
  • Don & Mary Heller
  • Vicki Wedler Herrie & Joseph Herrie
  • Linda Higginson & Susan Youtz
  • Patricia & Jay Hummer
  • Robyn Krause-Hale & Rick Roush
  • Donald & Cynthia Koss
  • Barry & Judith Kur
  • Harry Kropp & Edward Legutko
  • Kirk & Sandra Larter
  • Benson & Christine, Lichtig Nittany Clothiers, Inc.
  • David & Sharon Lieb
  • Lawrence Lokman & Rhonda Seaton
  • Rick Lombardo & Rachel Harker
  • Harold & Priscilla McFerren
  • Sayaka Ninomiya
  • Janet Pontius
  • Kathleen & David Rue
  • Jerry & Martha Sawyer
  • Christopher & Jennifer Shuey
  • Lou Silverman & Veronica Samborsky
  • Cheri Sinclair
  • Patricia & Michael Spicer
  • Benchamas Sporay & Thomas Renehan Jr.
  • William & Kimberly Townes
  • Sebastian & Jeanmarie Trainor
  • Renaisssance Charitable Foundation
  • Daniel & Linda Trevino
  • Larry Ullman & Jessica Currall
  • Joseph & Maureen Yanoshik

Friend ($5–$99)

  • Janet Bergamaschi
  • Richard & Heidi Biever
  • Gay Fisher
  • Barry & Debra Gallagher
  • Joshua Gitelson & Hari Osofsky
  • Claudia Gulley
  • Alisha Hartley
  • Linda & Robert Hendrickson
  • Susan & George Henning
  • Janis Jones
  • Marla & Thomas Kane
  • Janet Quirsfeld Lindsay
  • Heather Low
  • Lisa & Andrew Marzka
  • Stanley & Patricia Mayers
  • Christopher & Kathryn Maxwell
  • Donna, Robert & James McDougal
  • Richard & Sharleen Nichols
  • Kay & Ernest Salvino
  • Jennifer & Christopher Shuey
  • Patricia & Michael Spicer
  • Nancy Wolf

School of Theatre Endowments

  • Mona Shibley Bird Memorial Scholarship in Theatre
  • Susan Browning Theatre Award
  • Kenton H. Broyles Trustee Scholarship
  • Irvin and Lois E. Cohen Fund for the School of Theatre (named annual fund)
  • Margaret M. and George A. Downsbrough Endowment for Penn State Centre Stage
  • Manuel Duque Award
  • Mack Emmert Trustee Scholarship
  • June H. Ford Memorial Award for Musical Theatre Dance Performance
  • Frances Foster Award in Theatre
  • French Undergraduate Award in Theatre
  • Sid and Helen Friedman Endowment for Penn State Centre Stage
  • Blake and Linda Gall Musical Theatre Excellence Fund (named annual fund)
  • Blake and Linda Gall Scholarship in Musical Theatre
  • Blake and Linda Gall Trustee Matching Scholarship
  • Susan Jane Gaul Memorial Award
  • Anne Gibson Award for Professional Development in Theatre Design and Technology
  • John Lloyd Hanson Scholarship in Musical Theatre v
  • John L. Hanson and Neil E. Hoff Trustee Matching Scholarship
  • James E.Hess and Suzanne Scurfield Hess Endowment for the University Resident Theatre Company
  • Arlene and E.Z. Jackson Scholarship in Musical Theatre
  • Honey Jaffe Musical Theatre Program Excellence Fund
  • Kissin’ Annie Endowed Scholarship in Musical Theatre
  • Mabel Reed Knight Scholarship
  • Robert E. Leonard Award
  • Willie Leone Endowed Scholarship Fund in Music Theatre
  • Wyllis Leonhard Endowment for Music and Dance
  • Lethbridge-Jackson Awards
  • Helen and Lowell Manfull Theatre Scholarship
  • Mattie C. and A. Laura Mateer Theatre Artist-in-Residence Fund
  • William E. McTurk Endowment for Musical Theatre
  • Musical Theatre Endowment Fund
  • Nagle Family Endowed Chair in Musical Theatre
  • Dorothy Briant O’Connor Endowed Scholarship Fund in Musical Theatre
  • Penn State Centre Stage Class of 1935 Endowment
  • Irene Richards Memorial Scholarship
  • School of Theatre Design and Technology Alumni Conference Scholarship (named annual fund)
  • Todd Anthony Sloan Scholarship for Musical Theatre
  • Oliver Smith American Design Award
  • Graham B. and Sandra K. Spanier Student Development Fund for the Musical Theatre Program
  • Henrietta Thomas Memorial Award for Musical Theatre Vocal Performance
  • Peter G. and Ann C. Tombros Endowed Scholarship in Musical Theatre
  • Zewan Trustee Scholarship

Atherton Society

Penn State’s Atherton Society recognizes individuals who have made a provision for a planned gift to benefit the University. To learn more about creating your legacy with the School of Theatre, contact Robyn Krause-Hale, director of arts advancement at rmk50@psu.edu or call 814-863-4079


  • Michael R. Chapman
  • Irvin and Lois Cohen
  • Roger and Rosalie Dietz
  • Charles D. Fasnacht
  • Bill Jaffe
  • Richard G. Johnston and Sarah Ann Gallagher
  • Helen Manfull
  • Carrie M. Robbins