Performance Program
Unpersons: An Evening with Harold Pinter
Welcome to an evening of theatrical exploration into the works of Harold Pinter. Today,
we present not just one, but three of Pinter's works: "Mountain Language," "One for
the Road," and "The Dumb Waiter." Each play stands as a testament to Pinter's keen
insight into the human condition and his unflinching examination of power dynamics
and societal oppression.
In Act One, we interlace "Mountain Language" and "One for the Road," immersing ourselves in two distinct yet thematically connected narratives. "Mountain Language" unfolds within the confines of a prison, where civilians endure the dehumanizing effects of government oppression, particularly the suppression of their language and identity. Meanwhile, "One for the Road" thrusts us into the chilling interrogation of a family by a figure of authority, juxtaposing external horrors with the facade of polite conversation.
Act Two brings us "The Dumb Waiter," an exploration of existential unease and paranoia. Set in a stark basement inhabited by two contract assassins, we witness their unnerving wait for their next assignment amidst an atmosphere of suspicion and uncertainty.
These plays, written shortly after Pinter's visit to Turkey alongside his friend Arthur Miller, serve as poignant reflections on the abuse of power and the erosion of human dignity. Inspired by the Turkish government's treatment of the Kurdish people, Pinter's trilogy transports us into a dystopian world reminiscent of “1984” and Handmaid’s Tale,” where authoritarian control stifles individual freedom.
Central to Pinter's vision is the intricate dance of social status and power dynamics, reflected in the subtle nuances of his characters' interactions. As you watch, pay close attention to the underlying tensions simmering beneath the surface, as characters navigate a delicate balance between civility and aggression, using veiled language and subtle gestures to assert dominance. We invite you to immerse yourselves in Pinter's world—a world where silence speaks volumes, and the veneer of politeness masks deeper truths. Through his incisive wit and piercing insight, Pinter challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths about the nature of power and the fragility of human relationships.
Creative Team:
Director - Professor Luke Fedell
Set Design – Professor Kyle Moore
Lighting Design – Professor Kyle Moore
Sound Design – Professor Kyle Moore
Score and Music Selection - Professor Luke Fedell
Costume Design - Professor Macy Lynn
Video Filming and Editing - Christopher Latson
Cast
Mountain Language
Sergeant 1 __________________Star Rodgers
Sergeant 2 __________________Benjamin Payne
Officer 1 _____________________Danish Khaliq
Young Woman ______________Eman Hamid / Eleanor Novio
Prisoner 1 ___________________Ashura Bayyan-Lovelady
Elderly Women 1_____________Brianna Baskin
Head Guard__________________Beach Angel
Elderly Woman 2_____________Annamarie Garcia
Prisoner 2____________________Michael Gonzalez
Civilian 1______________________Cristian Cantu
Soldier 1______________________Jermal Sanders
Soldier 2______________________Trey Worrel
Soldier 3______________________Shon Brown
One for the Road
Nicolas____________________Emmanual Ojode
Victor_____________________Khang Huynh
Gila_______________________Alexandra Clemente / Adrianna Vargas
Nicky_____________________ E.J. Duvall
Dumb Waiter
Ben________________________Shon Brown
Gus________________________Andrea Magbual
Dancers
Sora Srivastava (Captain)
San Juana Cortina
Hanya Navarrete
Technical Crew:
Stage Manager – Maria Garcia Salazar
Assistant Stage Manager – Sora Srivastava
Sound Board Operator – Fernando Cejudo
Light Board Operator – Ian Ramirez
Assistant Scenic Designer - Paulina Llanas
Carpenter/Scenic Painter, Run Crew - Alana Humes
Scenic Carpenter - Saint Boutte
Scenic Carpenter - Kario LaVergne
Scenic Carpenter - Alexis McGregor
Scenic Carpenter - Jadyn Garcia
Scenic Carpenter - Bethany Alcavaz
Scenic Carpenter - Cammille Portuguez
Scenic Carpenter - Khang Huynh
Costume Design Assistant – Alexis Aldaba
First Hand – Airrinesha Shelton
Costume Assistant – Eman Hamid
Costume Technician/Wardrobe – Angel Paz
About the Actors and Crew:
(*) indicates that this Student is recipient of one or more Drama Scholarships.
*San Juana Cortina (Dancer) is San JuanaCortina,and I am a Senior BAFA major at the University of Houston-Downtown.I
began working with the O’Kane theatre department in late 2021 as an ensemble member
of “Stories of Us” and continued to for almost every production since. Recently appeared
as Jen inThe Book Club Playand Beatrice inMuch Ado About Nothing.I’ve been inspired by many artists but in theatre actress EvaNoblezadahas been a
big influencetome in her ability of performing both in film and on musical theatre.One
of my favorite interactions that I’m thankful for was when we were introduced to Josh
Tower, the Aaron Burr for the Hamilton Tour, and got to see the Hamilton show at the
Hobby Center and along with also being invited to watch my first opera, thanks to
ProfessorFedell, with other students. Another collaborative memory was working on
costumes for the O’Kane Theatres production ofThe Royale.As I move forward to graduate in Spring 2024, I hope to continue to perform and explore
both film and theatre more. I wish to explore more dramatic-comedy genres of performance
and even work towards producing my own work.I would like to thank my professors at
UHD for all the opportunities I’ve been provided with and for all the guidance they’ve
given me as an actress. I would also like to thank my family and friends for their
continued love and support.
Shon Brown (Ben/Soldier) sometimes referred to as Dr. Brown by himself, is a senior BAFA major
at UHD. After showing up one day not even knowing how to spell “Theatre,” Shon has
become a staple to the O’Kane Theatre and has also appeared in or worked on productions
in many of the theatres in the Houston Community. With future aspirations of joining
the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a young T’Challa, or perhaps starring as a young
Mufasa in a prequal to The Lion King, he knows folks over at Disney Corporation are going to be signing his pay checks.
Shon would love to thank everyone who has supported him in any way since he started
his theatrical journey at UHD and the O’Kane.
Star Rodgers (Sergeant) is a fine arts major in the drama concentration at University of Houston
Downtown making both her debut at UHD and return to the stage after a long hiatus.
Star seeks to study dramaturgy going forward, and would like to thank her directors,
cast mates, and crew for creating such a wonderful environment and collaborating on
such a great play, her friends and family for always supporting her ambitions in the
arts, and a special mention to Shay Rodgers for instilling in her, from a young age,
an appreciation for the performing arts.
Benjamin Payne (Sergeant) is a freshman at UHD. This is his first performance at the O’Kane and
hopefully not his last. Ben is majoring in Computer Science and hopes to one day become
a programmer with impeccable acting skills. He is thankful to all the people attending
the show and afterwards he will gladly be signing autographs in the lobby.
Danish A. Khaliq (Officer) is a BS and MBA alum of University of Houston-Downtown. He has appeared
in San Um’s Fighting With Anger and has held other small roles in various Independent Media. Prior to his involvement UHD’s Drama Department, Danish took part in multiple shows
in his high school theatre. Danish would like to thank God, Professor Fidel and UHD for giving him this opportunity. He
would also like to thank his wife, his mom and his dog for their unwavering love and
support.
Ashura Bayyan-Lovelady (Prisoner) is a writer, artist and arts worker. He is a junior at UHD pursuing a bachelor’s
in Political Science with a double minor in Public Policy and Arts Administration.
His theater life began at Aldine Senior High School under the direction of Walter
Lane and his favorite play is The Dutchman by Amiri Baraka.
*Sora Srivastava (Dance Captain/ASM) is a junior BAFA student at UHD. This is his 3rdproduction with the O’Kane Theater, having previously appeared as William Nothnagel
inThe Book Club Play>and Don John inMuch Ado About Nothing. This is Sora’s first time in a stage managementposition, as well as his first time
being named Dance Captain.Sora’s previous dance experience primarily includes ensemble
work in various musicals such as Rodger’s and Hammerstein’sCinderella,Chicago, and many more, as well as experience as choreographer and dancer in UHD’s K-pop
club, Kulture, with whom he has performed at the House of Blues and White Oak Music
Hall. Sora hopes to pursue an MFA inPerforming Arts and continue his training in acting,
dance, and performanceand become a full-time actor and performer. Sora would like
to thank Professor Fedell for giving him this opportunity, Maria Garcia Salazar for
being his friend and for teaching him and working with him in stage management,John
Grimmett and Cody Edgar for acknowledging his passion and cultivating it to talent,
his friends for their incredible support and kindness in his life and all his endeavors,
and to his parents, brother, aunt, and family overseas for their endless support throughout
the years.
Emmanuel Ojode (Nicolas) is a graduate of UHD and holds a degree in English. He was presumed to
be “presumed dead.” Instead, this presumed presumption wasn’t disproved to not be
incorrect. To his horror and dismay, he has no wife, only enemies, associates and
the occasional loyal manservant. His trial has been delayed so he is free to continue
to appear on the UHD’s stage and has been seen on several occasions including Roy
in Lonestar, Jason in Medae, Reverend D in In the Blood, and Wynton in The Royale.
Trey Worrell (Soldier) is a student at UHD with hopes of majoring in Film Design. Having been
interested in theatre since the 8th grade, he appeared in a few productions and faced challenges within them. This is
second show here at UHD after playing the role of Dogberry in Much Ado last semester. He hopes to have more experience like this and would like to thank
the audience and all those involved with the show.
*Alexandra Marie Clemente (Gila) is a 21 year old junior and BAFA major at UHD. Having previously playing
the role of Hero in Much Ado, this is her second semester at UHD and is excited to be part of Unpersons. She has appeared on stage before at Lone-Star College-Cy Fair as Horatio in Hamlet, Louise in Private Lives, and Fraternite in The Revolutionist. Alexandra plans to pursue an MFA in Acting after graduation. She would like to thank
her family and friends for supporting her in all her endeavors.
Khang Huynh (Victor) is a Sophomore STEM major at the University of Houston-Downtown. He joined
the production of Much Ado About Nothing in the fall semester, which was his first college theatre production. He has also
been doing theatre for 6 years, throughout Jr high school to high school. He performed
in musicals of Cinderella, My Fair Lady, Beauty and the Beast, Chicago, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Other non-musical plays he’s been in are Noises Off, Romeo and Juliet, Leading Ladies, By the Bog of Cats, and The Angelina Project. It was Adam Delka, Nicholas Farco, and Troy Menn who taught him to overcome various
things when it comes to being in a professional environment. Taught him what to accept
and acknowledge. He would also like to thank Luke Fedell for encouraging him to join
the production during the fall semester and that he’s part of the O’Kane Theatre.
He wished the best to his cast, crew, designers, and director who makes his day every
day in joining this production.
*Michael V. Gonzalez (Prisoner 2) is Freshman at UHD and works in the Sports and Fitness Center here on
campus. This is his second production here on the O’Kane stage and hopes for many
more opportunities to show off what he can do best. He would like to thank his mom
for supporting him and bring the whole family to together to watch him excel in his
theatrical roles.
*Eman Hamid (Young Woman) is a freshman at UHD majoring in Business. Not having done a play in
the past four years, Eman is very excited to make her debut to the O’Kane stage.
In the future Eman would like to learn more about performing on stage and continue
building friendships with the people around her. Also, one day she would love to
start her own clothing line. She would like to thank her family and friends for supporting
her.
Hanya Navarrete Zarco (Dancer) is majoring in Biological and Physical Sciences. This is her first year
being part of a theatrical play, but not her first experience being on stage. She
had performed on stage at her high school as a dancer, as well as taking up a theater
class in middle school. Her goal in theater would be to overcome any nervousness of
performing with an audience and be able to take up a role of performing as a character
and not only be a consecutive dancer in future plays. She hopes to graduate and obtain
her bachelor's in May of 2026. She wants to thank the fellow actors, audience, mentors,
and everyone who contributed to the success of the play.
*Yulisa Angel (Guard) is a Freshman BAFA Major at the University of Houston-Downtown. Much Ado About Nothing is their second time appearing on the O’Kane stage. Before attending UHD, Yulisa
performed with Eisenhower HS Troupe 4588 in shows such as The Insanity Of Mary Girard, The Cover Of Life and 10 Ways To Survive The Zombie Apocalypse with their 1st 2 shows being One Act plays. Yulisa would like to thank their current UHD professors
for giving them this opportunity. They would also like to thank their former directors,
especially their 1st director Crystal Rose along with their loved ones for supporting them throughout
their theatre journey.
Annamarie Garcia-Whitten (Old Woman) is a Marketing major at UHD. This will be her first production she has
ever worked on. Although she is not a Fine Arts major, she fell in love with the theatre
when she took an acting class with Professor Klein. She is thrilled to assist Professor
Macy on the costumes for, Much Ado About Nothing. She plans to work on more productions at O’Kane theatre and cannot wait to see what
the future has in store for her. She would like to thank Professor Klein for introducing
her to the theatre, along with Professor Macy for giving her this opportunity!
Jermal Sanders (Soldier) is a senior pursuing a Computer Science major and a Math minor at the University
of Houston – Downtown. This is the first time appearing on the UHD Stage, from what
he’s experienced, he looks forward to being in or assisting with another play soon.
I would like to thank Professor Luke Fedell and the entire theater department for
giving me the opportunity to experience a production.
Cristian Cantu (Civilian) is a freshman Art major from the University of Houston-Downtown. This
play is his first theatre performance. He’s inspired by actors such as Willem Defoe
and Alex Hirsch. He’s new to collaborating with other actors and the production and
has found it quite pleasant and would like to gain more experience and knowledge of
working in theatre. He would like to thank the director and the rest of his teammates
for allowing him to be a part of this production and his parents for driving him back
a fourth from campus to home.
Andrea Magbual (Gus) is a 4th year Business Communications major at University of Houston Downtown. Despite not
being chosen for the advanced theater class in 8th grade, she has triumphed several years later in her first role as Gus in Dumb Waiter. Andrea
has always been fascinated by interpretation of emotion. The power a line carries
can be infinitely colored by tone or volume. Though she doesn’t assume theater is
in the future for her, she hopes that through a role in public transportation infrastructure
that she can allow many others to participate in whichever community makes them feel
whole. Dramaturgy also sounds, in her words, “kinda based.” She would like to thank
the entire community of the Green Room for welcoming her, every card shop friend she’s
ever met, her family, and Dr. Eva.
Eleanor Novio (Young Woman) is a CHSS major at the University of Houston-Downtown. She originally
was only interested in scenic painting but was encouraged by Dana Estoesta to audition
and got the part. Eleanor admires the works of Tim Burton and his collaboration with
Jenna Ortega on the Netflix show Wednesday. Eleanor is working over her stage fright,
but thanks to guidance of Professor Fedell, Dana Estoesta, Eman Hamid, Ben Payne,
Annamarie Garcia and Shon Brown she is determined to grow in UHD’s O’Kane Theater
community. She is grateful to have met a genuine group of people that lift each other
up. Eleanor would like to thank her professors Macylyne Malmstrom and Luke Fedell
and the students of the O’Kane Theater community for giving her such a warm welcome.
Adrianna Cecilia Vargas (Gila) is a business major, and this is her first ever major performance in a production.
She first got her first experience in theatre when she was in elementary where she
was casted as penguin #2. She is excited for this opportunity and is grateful to meet
others in the theatre space here at UHD O’Kane Theatre and form friendships to last
a lifetime. She wants to thank everyone who has made an everlasting mark in her life
including but not limited to friends and family; new and old! And she hopes you enjoy
the show!
Brianna Baskin (Old Women) is a biology major with special interest in ornithology, botany, and
myrmecology. This is her first production with UHD. Previous performances include
her portrayal of Alice In Wonderland‘s caterpillar at St John‘s School. She has also shone from behind the stage, designing
and running lights for over seven individual dance pieces as part of the Student Chorography
Showcase at St John’s School. She has been the stage manager for several shows including
Guys and Dolls, The Stinky Cheese Man, and The Cripple of Inishmaan at St John’s, and ran the lightboard and sound for countless more. Brianna wishes
to continue to pursue her passions for lighting design and acting alongside her regular
studies. She wishes to thank her family for supporting her along her theatrical journey,
her friends from around the globe, and the new friends she has made in this first
semester at UHD. She also wishes to thank the ‘unsung backstage heroes’: Maria, Fernando,
Ian, Sora, and everyone who makes theater tech possible at UHD. Most of all, she wishes
to thank Professor Fedell for his countless hours of work directing the show, and
all of the audience for attending and supporting the show. Down with the Foundation!!!
EJ Duvall (Nicky) is happy to be in his first show at UHD. He would like to thank his mom for
giving him his acting skills. Stardom clearly runs in the family.
*Maria Garcia (Stage Manager) is a senior at UHD working towards getting a double major one in Fine Arts and another in CIET. She started working in the theater on the fall 2022 with The Amish Project, Spring 2023 The Book Club Play, and finally in Spring 2024 Unpersons. It was difficult at first since she had no clue to what she was doing, but show after show she started getting a hang of things and knew what to do. Every new play becomes one of her favorite ones, and they are very different and each time she learns something new. Theatre has always been a place that she’ll call home at, so being able to be a part of the O’Kane Theatre has meant a lot to her. Costume Designer Danielle Hodgins taught her many of the skills she now has, and is grateful to aal the things she taught her. She was able to see what this theatre industry has to offer, all the backstage and designing, opportunities and connections that have taken her this far. She would also like to show appreciation for her dear friends she sees every day, Avianca Palmer, Sora Srivastava, and Ian Ramirez. She enjoys learning something new every time and challenging herself has become the norm. She hopes one day to get a job at a theater company and do costumes and backstage. She would like to thank her friends and professors who have all worked extremely hard to make this play a reality.
*Dana Estoesta (Photo Documentarian) is a sophomore at UHD majoring in psychology. This is not her first show at the Okane theatre. She has been blessed to be a stage manager twice at Okane theatre and has worked on crew for all the other shows she’s done here. She was one of the stage managers for The Book Club Play. Now still stage managing the play Much Ado About Nothing. She is the backbone of the shows at the O’Kane. In the future, Dana sees herself doing more shows and making the theatre space open for everyone! Dana wants to thank you her family and friends who is seeing her grow! Stage manager D! Thanks, her big sisters! Avianca Palmer and Gaelle Elias!
Fernando Cejudo (Board Operator) is a sophomore political science major. This is his second time helping out with a productions here at the O’Kane Theatre, but he is not new to the group. Having many friends here in college who are apart of the theatre productions, it was only the next logical step for him to also help. While he doesn’t really see himself as an actor, helping out with the background aspects of production seems like something he could do. He would like to thank Dana Estoesta for pushing him with friendship to help with this production.
Ian Ramirez (Board Operator) is a Fine Arts major at the University of Houston – Downtown. Ian began working as a backstage crew member during his time in high school and later continued his practice in university where He has worked behind the scenes as lightboard Operator in multiple plays such as Hell Cab, The Story of Us, The Royale, The Amish Project, The Book Club Play, and now, Unpersons. The people who influenced Ian to become part of the theatre were his high school teacher Jack Mcewen alongside his professors Luke Fedell and Tim Klein. Ian enjoys spending time working with the cast and crew members both in and out of production and wishes to take his talents outside of the University and work in greater productions in the future. Ian would like to thank his professors for the opportunity to join on this production along with the cast and crew who he had the opportunity to work closely with. He would also want to give thanks to his mother and father for taking their time and helping him arrive to the university.
Theater Scholarship Recipients:
Rockwell Fund, Inc.
This semester’s recipients: Sora Srivastava, Maria Garcia Salazar
The Charles and Betti Saunders Foundation
This semester’s recipients: Sora Srivastava, San Juana Cortina, Dana Estoesta, Maria
Garcia Salazar
The Tom Lyttle Endowment
This semester’s recipients: Dana Estoesta, Maria Garcia Salazar
The Bill and Ann Stokes Foundation
This semester’s “Stokies”: Eman Hadid, Michael Gonzalez, Paz Angel, Yulisa Angel,
Shawn Aguilar
The University Theatre Scholarship
This semester’s recipients:
Michael Gonzalez, Yulisa Angel
Special Thanks:
President Loren J. Blanchard, Dr. Azar Rejaie, Dr. Wendy Burns-Ardolino, Dr. Paul Kintzele, Mark Cervenka, Dr. Deborah E. Bordelon, Kimberly Thomas, Liza Alonzo, Emily Leffler, Dr. Judith Quander, Dr. Lucas Logan, Dr. Anthony Ramirez, Dr. Vida Robertson, Dr. Chuck Jackson, Dr. Krista Gehrig, Dr. Kevin Buckler, Dr. Lisa Jennings, Cherilyn Pearson, Antréchelle Dorsey Benito Vasquez, the Students in the course Costume Design Class, Dr. Tammis Thomas, Frank Vela, Eric Zett, Cynthia Vargas, Ricardo Perea, Albert Holden, Tim Klein, Jennifer Nava, Angela Parrish, Jessica Ramirez, Marlene Chavez, Callie Everett, Courtney Lundgren, Joel Burkholder.