Double Blind Productions

Escape Velocity

HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET A CHANCE TO TELL YOUR STORY?

“Born and raised as a South Bronx Boricua, I was driven to tell stories about identity, ancestral memory, and home. Living in Pittsburgh with my wife and children, curating other people’s art, and working almost solely on the business side of the arts, I was helping people find their voices. But something was missing. I wasn’t telling my story.” – Dr. Jason Mendez

That all changed when Jason joined The New Hazlett’s Community Supported Art (CSA) program.

Thanks to the New Hazlett Theater, artists like Jason have the tools, skills, and experience to take their work to the next level. But most importantly, the New Hazlett gives them the confidence to embrace their unique visions.

Give Todaywww.newhazletttheater.org/donate

May 31 and June 1, 2018New Hazlett Theater

The CSA Performance Series is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts,the Allegheny Regional Asset District, Avery C. Adams Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation,

Jack Buncher Foundation, Eden Hall Foundation, Fort Pitt Capital Group, Henry C. Frick Educational Fund of the Buhl Foundation,

John E. and Sue M. Jackson Charitable Trust , A. Sanford Levy and Hasele Deutsch Levy Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation,

McKinney Charitable Foundation through the PNC Charitable Trust Grant Review Committee, Opportunity Fund, and W.I. Patterson Charitable Fund.

Escape Velocity was made possible in part through the generous support of Pennsylvania Partners for the Arts Project Stream.

Director.............................................................Moriah Ella MasonAerial Director.................................................Mandy HackmanComposer.....................................................................Miles WilderStory and Script Coordinator.................Angela WhalenVisual Director and Illustrator*...................John HackmanLighting Designer..................................Antonio Colaruotolo

*Pro Bono

Jaques (the Heirophant)..............O’Ryan “the O’Mazing” ArrowrootUrsula (the Empress)..............................................................Marcella DayStella (the Star)..................................................Kristin Lyndal GarbarinoFrank (the Hermit)...............................................................Roberta GuidoLuna (the Moon)..............................................................Mandy HackmanLucia (the High Priestess)......................................Moriah Ella MasonHope (Temperance)......................................................Patricia PetronelloMargot (the Hanged Man)....................................................Betsy WackRingmaster (the Fool)............................................................Miles Wilder

ESCAPE VELOCITY

Double Blind Productions

cast

Welcome to Double Blind Productions’ Escape Velocity. We are a collaboration of artists delivering a unique live performance. We are storytellers. We are illustrators. Dancers. Acrobats. Street performers. Choreographers. Musicians. We are coming together to create a new kind of experience, to weave together a world that enfolds you and pushes you to see things you may have missed—new angles, new possibilities, new worlds.

Escape Velocity is our first endeavor as a collective and it has been the result of extensive collaboration over many months. Our characters and storyline were developed from a set of tarot cards you will see featured during the performance. The cards are from The Wayfarer’s Deck , a circus arcana created by our aerial director Mandy Hackman and her brother, our visual director, John Hackman in 2015.

Learn more about Double Blind Productions and stay tuned for our next adventures at:www.doubleblindproductions.wordpress.com

BiosO’Ryan ‘the O’Mazing’ Arrowroot (Jaques) is a career clown. He specializes in juggling, object manipulation, stiltwalking, unicycling, improvisation, and physical comedy. At 17 he left the farm in West Virginia where he was born and raised and began to travel wherever the whim would take him. Joining up with musicians and small circus troupes, he has found himself everywhere from orphanages and refugee camps to auditoriums and banquet halls. O’Ryan now mostly performs and teaches for an amazing spectrum of children and adults alike here in Pittsburgh and enjoys every minute of it.

Antonio Colaruotolo (Lighting Designer) originally from Italy, is truly happy to be back to design for the CSA Performance Series. Previous productions: Büer’s Kiss, Apart from Me, Over Exposed, A Love Supreme, Redemption: Sons, Midnight In Molina, Memory 4, The Silent Spring Project, A Brand New World: Kill The Artist, Loving Black, Chachacha and The Reduction.  Pittsburgh Playhouse: Fancy Nancy The Musical and The Gift of the Magi. Off The Wall Productions: Byhalia, Mississippi, Sex Werque, 4.48 Psychosis, The Pink Unicorn, Eff. Ul. Gents and Kimono. PICT Classic Theatre: Oedipus Rex. Bricolage Production Company: BUS and Enter the Imaginarium. Carnegie Mellon University: Co-Opera. Antonio is currently the lighting designer for Slippery Rock University Department of Dance and Youngstown State University Department of Dance and Theatre. For more information: lightingbyantonio.com

Marcella Day (Ursula) danced her way through college, earning her BFA in dance from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA under the direction of Buffy Price and Susan Shields. She relocated to Pittsburgh in October of 2015 and joined Bombyx Collective in March 2016. Since then she has performed in several festivals such as the Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s newMoves Festival, Thrival Music Festival, SpringUp Dance Festival in Allentown, PA, and in the Movement Research open performance at Eden’s Expressway in New York City. Local performances also include the world premiere of Something Pretty, choreographed by Alexandra Bodnarchuk, Attack Theatre’s Remainder/Northside, Millenium Dance Complex’s Ascendance, Exhalations Dance Theatre, RAW Artists Pittsburgh as a choreographer and dancer, and Rendering Home by Courdance.

artist statement

Kristin Lyndal Garbarino (Stella) studied acting and movement at the Moscow Art Theatre at Harvard University and the American Conservatory Theater. As the co-founder and director of Pittsburgh aerial dance company bombyx collective, Kristin has choreographed pieces for two Thrival Festivals and performed in Failure:Lab and Bricolage’s SAINTS TOUR. She danced and chanted in Sakshi Productions’ Prana/Breath at the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in New York, performed in Cincinnati Contemporary Dance Theater’s Performance Time and Art Series, and danced in CorningWorks’ production at the Mattress Factory. She is also an indie-film producer with credits that include the feature film Judy’s Dead, in which she co-stars with Drama Desk award-winner Tom Atkins; and The Race. She is currently the director of digital marketing and engagement at Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Roberta Guido (Frank) specializes in movement improvisation and uses performance as a space to practice embodied presence. Recently, they were seen in The Moon Baby’s Barbara EP release party and at CMOA’s Third Thursday with girlfx. They graduated from SUNY Brockport in 2015 with a BFA in dance and are currently pursuing a license in massage therapy.

John Hackman (Visual Director and Illustrator) is a Pittsburgh-born illustrator and animator who has a passion for making unique and engaging pictures. Currently, he is working as an animator/production illustrator for a small media production company in the Midwest. His work includes storyboards, character designs, concept designs, and 3D animation for national and international commercials, websites, educational shorts, television promotional pieces, museum displays, and other animation-based independent properties.

Mandy Hackman (Aerial Director, Luna) is fascinated by secrets, in-between spaces and anything that can be climbed, spun, dodged, rolled over, or danced in. She believes in digging low and flying high, in the very small and the very large, in the unexpected and the deeply investigated. Mandy slid sideways from the world of contemporary dance into the world of circus. She began her aerial journey doing guerilla acrobatic dance in trees, and has since performed professionally in rope, fabric, lyra, and sling. Mandy has performed and taught aerial arts, contemporary dance, and composition nationally and internationally, from Denver to the Kennedy Center to Gujarat, India. Company credits include Frequent Flyers, Control Group Productions, The Phantom Circus, Sinecdoche Dance, and visual artist Mike Kelley. Mandy is currently on staff coaching aerial technique and fitness with Frequent Flyers of Colorado, and will be teaching in this year’s Aerial Dance Festival in Boulder CO.

Moriah Ella Mason (Director, Lucia) is an interdisciplinary artist, bodyworker, and educator based in Pittsburgh. Her original dance theater works have been performed locally at the New Hazlett Theater, the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, Future Tenant Gallery, and at a variety of venues in NYC, Philadelphia, and Tucson. As a dancer/physical artist Ella has performed with the Pillow Project, Maree Remalia/merrygogo, and Mark C. Thompson. Follow her work at moriahellamason.com

Patricia Petronello (Hope) has been dancing professionally in Pittsburgh for the past six years after graduating from Slippery Rock University with a BA in dance and a minor in business management. She has worked with a wide range of artists and companies including Mary Miller, Staycee Pearl, Pearlann Porter, Sarah Parker, Alexandra Bodnarchuk,

Murphy/Smith Dance Company and Moriah Ella Mason. Patty just closed a show with Beth Corning this past March at the Mattress Factory performing IN HOUSE intimate interiors. Patty is the community manager of Geeksdanz, a modern dance company that celebrates pop culture and all things geeky. She is also the associate director of bombyx collective, an aerial dance company located in the heart of Pittsburgh. She is excited to be performing in another CSA performance with Moriah Ella Mason, showing off her weird circus moves.

Betsy Wack (Margot) is co-founder of the Pittsburgh aerial dance company, bombyx collective. She has a master’s degree in literary and cultural studies from Carnegie Mellon University and works as a technical writer for Tobii Dynavox, a company that makes speech-generating technology for people with disabilities. She enjoys high speeds, vertiginous places, and empowering others.

Angela Whalen (Story and Script Coordinator) is a writer of speculative fiction, with an emphasis on themes of female experience, motherhood, fairy tales, Rust Belt Gothic, and the circus. She’s found the fantasy and strangeness of classic circus (not to mention the thrill) to be rich vehicles for the exploration of a cultural nostalgia that continues to fascinate her. She currently works in academic publishing to pay the bills. Great thanks to her family for their very generous support (and to her mom for buying out half the seats)! She is excited to have contributed to Escape Velocity’s narrative and hopes that you—ladies and gentlepeople—will enjoy the show.

Miles Wilder (Composer, Ringmaster) is an artist and musician from an alternate timeline of Earth. Or this one. Probably. They’re not quite sure. As an artist Miles presents the absurdity of our reality set against strangely familiar melodies. Their songs are uniquely American and uniquely of no-place and every place, all at once. As a trans-dimensional bard, Miles has sung for coin and chopped wood for hot soup, and once almost flew in a hot air balloon, but it was too windy that day and the guy said there would be no rain-checks. Through it all, they have persevered. Wherever they go, Miles brings songs of truth to reassure us that what we think we know won’t help, what we’re worried about doesn’t matter, and what we don’t know might be the most useful bit yet.

Join Pam and Ken McCrory

for fabulous food, wonderful

drinks and fireworks atop

Mount Washington.

Meet the artists of the next

season of the CSA Performance

Series and other friends of the

New Hazlett.

Tickets are $135 and all

proceeds go to the theater.

Purchase online at newhazletttheater.com

or mail a check to:

New Hazlett Theater

6 Allegheny Square East

Pittsburgh, PA 15212

(note on the check if you have dietary restrictions)

the new hazlett theater thanks its major supporters

Special Thanks

Avery C. Adams Fund of The Pittsburgh FoundationAllegheny Regional Asset District

Anonymous The Benter Foundation

The Buhl FoundationJack Buncher Foundation

City of PittsburghAnne L. and George H. Clapp Charitable and Educational Trust

Eden Hall FoundationFisher Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation

The Forbes FundFort Pitt Capital Group

Henry C. Frick Educational Fund of the Buhl FoundationGiant Eagle FoundationThe Grable FoundationThe Heinz Endowments

Hillman FoundationJohn E. and Sue M. Jackson Charitable Trust

Laurel FoundationA. Sanford Levy and Hasele Deutsch Levy Fund

of The Pittsburgh FoundationMcKinney Charitable Foundation through thePNC Charitable Trust Grant Review Committee

National Endowment for the ArtsOpportunity Fund

W.I. Patterson Charitable FundThe Pittsburgh Foundation

Richard King Mellon Foundation

Ardon Shorr, Christiane Dolores, The Verve 360, Community Forge, Off the Wall Charitable Trust, all our Indiegogo donors, and to the staff and board of the New Hazlett Theater.

new hazlett theater staffExecutive Director...............................................................................................................René ConradTechnical Director...............................................................................................................Scott ConklinDirector of Programming..................................................................................................Bill RodgersFinance/Business Manager.................................................................................................Jenn BonfiliProgramming and Events Manager........................................................................Mindy CooperVenue and Hospitality Manager........................................................................Emma DeFrangeAssistant Technical Director/Master Electrician.........................................................Dylan BakerAudio Engineer.........................................................................................................Angela BaughmanMarketing and Communications Manager...................................................................Anne BemisMarketing Consultant.........................................................................................................Josh Storey Administrative Associate/PULSE Fellow..........................................................................Maura BellFront of House Staff.............................................................................Angela Billanti, Kelly Burns

Michelle Engleman, Tracee ImaiEric Johnson, Bob Jungkunz, Renee KrynockClaire Landuyt, Heidi Nagle, Howard Parsons

Thomas Poole, Jesse RandallAlexis Retcofsky, and Ally Ricarte

Board of DirectorsJoshua Siebert, President

Erin Catalina, Jonas Chaney, John Docherty, Mark Fatla, Susan Gillis Kruman, Brian P. Maloney Esq., Brien Marsh,

Douglas J. Morally CPA, Richard E. Rauh, Evan Rosenberg,Daniel Sypolt Esq., and Rob Zellers

TICKETS AVAILABLE

newhazletttheater.org

6 Allegheny Square East

Pittsburgh, PA 15212

412.320.4610

theater • music • dance • more

available for corporate rentals

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Park House 403 East Ohio Street

Bier’s Pub 900 Western Avenue

Modern Café 862 Western Avenue

Lola Bistro 1100 Galveston Avenue

Lillen’s Restaurant 535 East Ohio Street

Clark Bar & Grill 503 Martindale Street

Hook Fish & Chicken 1221 Federal Street

Penn Brewery 800 Vinial Street

Scratch Food & Beverage 1720 Lowrie Street

Threadbare Cider House 1291 Spring Garden Avenue

Badamo’s PIzza 1106 Federal Street

Brugge on North 40 W North Avenue

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Federal Gallery 200 Children’s Way

California Coffee Bar 3619 California Avenue

Chateau Café & Cakery 1501 Preble Avenue

Lindo’s Café 947 Western Avenue

Arnold’s Tea 502 East Ohio Street

Crazy Mocha Coffee Shop 2 East North Avenue

Bistro to Go 415 East Ohio Street

Priory Fine Pastries 528 East Ohio Street

Giorgio’s Place 908 Western Avenue

El Burro 1108 Federal Street

Max’s Allegheny Tavern 537 Suismon Street

SoHo 203 Federal Street

Hog’s Head Bar and Grill 3433 Spring Garden Avenue

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2018-2019october may

HOMEGROWNPERFORMANCESWORLD PREMIERES

Become a shareholder and get one show for free!Plant the seed of opportunity for artists. The CSA program allows artists a chance to debut a new work of art. Your share in the CSA doesn’t just pay for a seat at a show. You’re providing resources these artists need to create professional caliber work.

SEASON

SIXCS

A

OCTOBER 2018

Afro Yaqui Music CollectiveMULTICULTURAL JAZZ

Migrant Liberation Movement Suite

FEBRUARY 2019

Ali HoefnagelSTORY TELLING

You Can Call Me Al

MAY 2019

KamratōnCONTEMPORARY OPERA

Her Holiness, The Winter Dog

DECEMBER 2018

Felicia CooperPUPPETRY

Porto Domi

APRIL 2019

Kasia ReillyDANCE

All Ravening for Earth and Light

“The New Hazlett Theater is so much more than a venue. It’s a collaborative environment that nurtures the most creative minds in town. We like to call it an incubator for the arts.”René Conrad, Executive Director

NewHazlettTheater.org/csaSubscriptions now on sale online or at the box office after the show.