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SEASON 26
A National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere
Haunted
written and directed by Tara Moses
dramaturgy by Quita Sullivan
produced in partnership with the Boston Public Library
Jan 24 - Feb 15, 2025
Rabb Hall @ Boston Public Library, Central Branch
All tickets are Pay-What-You-Want!
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
Ash and Aaron have been dead for twenty years, and the Indigenous siblings pass their time dancing to Britney Spears, haunting the families that try to move into their house, and wondering if they’ll ever be free from the shackles of racist stereotypes. As the cycle begins once more, the siblings ask: will they ever make it to the Spirit World? An Indigenous horror comedy with the coolest Y2K hits, Tara Moses’ Haunted forces us to confront the very land we walk on and our relationship (or lack thereof) with Native communities today.
AMPLIFYING ACTION
Company One Theatre is producing Haunted to AMPLIFY:
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the first-ever full-length staged work by an Indigenous artist at the Boston Public Library, where people can learn more about indigenous history, stories, artists and community members in an accessible civic space.
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the Land Back movement and our collective duty to be responsible stewards of Earth’s natural resources, in solidarity with the Indigenous communities who have persevered against colonization, gentrification, and displacement across generations.
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our understanding of the land we live, work, and travel on as a living, changing entity with ancestral connection.
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Native-led community partners and organizations who champion conservation efforts, advocate for legislation that benefits Indigenous people, and support the Indigenous community in Boston and beyond.
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the dynamic voice of Tara Moses, a multi-hyphenate Seminole/Mvskoke playwright whose work is the first-ever produced Indigenous play supported by the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere program.
Connectivity Partners
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Cultural Survival
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Amira Madison
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Malia’Kekia Nicolini
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North American Indian Center of Boston
RESOURCES & ACTION STEPS
Check back soon!
ABOUT THE TEAM
CAST
Bradley Lewis*
Ash
Chingwe Padraig Sullivan
Aaron
JāQuan Malik Jones
Vincent Jones
Evan Turissini
White Man
Katherine Callaway
White Girl
Tanya Avendaño Stockler
White Girl 2
PLAYWRIGHT AND PRODUCTION TEAM
Tara Moses, Playwright & Director
Quita Sullivan, Dramaturg
Kimstelle Merisma, Assistant Director
Danielle DeLaFuente, Scenic Designer
Elmer Martinez, Lighting Designer
Aubrey Dube, Sound Designer
Danielle Domingue Sumi, Costume Designer
Shanel LaShay Smith, Props Designer
Marisa Diamond, Fight Choreographer
Sara Gorelkin, Stage Manager
Abigail Lienhard, Assistant Stage Manager
Susan Weinhardt, Assistant Stage Manager
Mark Vagenas, Technical Director
Oliver Hawke, Master Electrician
Tree Brock, Wardrobe Supervisor
Matilda Lee, Sound Board Operator
Maria Hendricks, Community Advisor
BIOS
Bradley Lewis is thrilled to join Haunted in his Company One debut! Hailing from the Acoma Pueblo, he’s been seen recently in lots of theatre including Distant Thunder (Off-Broadway Original Cast), Pueblo Revolt (Santa Fe Playhouse), The Picher Project (Off-Broadway Original Cast), Ajijaak on Turtle Island (US Tour), Audrey: A New Musical (Off-Broadway Original Cast), Aida (Metropolitan Opera) and Flying Bird’s Diary (Long Wharf Theatre). Screen: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Resurrection (IFC Films). Upcoming film: Meet Cute in Manhattan. Thanks to Tara Moses and Company One! Da’wa’eh! // Thank you! bradleylewisactor.com
Chingwe Padraig Sullivan she/they/he/nákumChingwe Padraig Sullivan is a New England based two-spirit Indigenous actor (Shinnecock and Montaukett Nations), exploring the task of bringing indigenous storytelling into western theatrical spaces. After studying for three years at the Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Acting Program, where she played Adam/Leo in The Inheritance at Trinity Rep, he left in order to pursue work more tied to Indigeneity, leading to playing Levi in the world premiere of Cashed Out at San Francisco Playhouse. Other notable work includes Venessa, Joe Tiger, and Rex Starr in Tara Moses’ Oklahoma Cycle plays, Iago in Othello at the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival, Felix Turner in The Normal Heart, and as the present and future version of themself in the world premiere of JaMario Stills’ 2216: The Remix of a Global Experiment. This past winter they were part of a two-week tour with famous Indigenous Feminist theatre company, Spiderwoman Theater, and their newest show, Misdemeanor Dream, and just this summer she’s been a part of several workshops with Safe Harbors NYC as part of the core ensemble of their new show, Feast of Ghosts. Most recently Chingwe developed and performed the character of Ápasum in Tara Moses’ reimagining of Fugitive Songs, and he is glad to continue her long collaboration with Tara in being a part of the Boston premiere of Haunted. Táputni i skitôpák wôk cipayak ta manitok wuci yo ahki.
JāQuan Malik Jones he/himJāQuan Malik Jones is a Virginia-born actor, writer, and creator with a deep passion for exploring stories rooted in the Black diaspora and his coastal southeastern heritage. Raised in Chesapeake’s South Norfolk community, JāQuan’s work reflects his lived experiences and commitment to telling authentic, impactful stories.
He has performed in numerous productions, including By the Queen (Trinity Rep) and True West, Soul Tapes, and Everybody (Brown/Trinity Rep). His other notable roles include Citizen Barlow in August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean (Norfolk State University) and Booth in Topdog/Underdog.
A proud graduate of Brown University’s Trinity Repertory M.F.A. Acting Program, JāQuan was also selected as an actor in the prestigious Sony Pictures Television Actor’s Fellowship, further honing his craft on screen. He is the co-creator, writer, and producer of Billiards, a signature project blending storytelling, visual art, and advocacy.
Whether on stage, in front of the camera, or behind the scenes, JāQuan is dedicated to creating art that uplifts and connects with others.
IG: @jaquanmalikjones | @billiardsvmsoa
Evan Turissini he/himEvan Turissini is an Elliot Norton Award-nominated actor and long-time fan of Company One delighted to make his debut with this celebrated company! His local credits include Vanity Fair (Central Square Theater); Casey at the Bat, The Spider & The Fly (imaginary beasts); A Bold Stroke for a Husband (Theatre in the Open); The Antelope Party, Three Sisters (Apollinaire Theatre Company); Revolution’s Edge (Plays in Place/Old North Illuminated); Twelfth Night, Shipwrecked! (Moonbox Productions); and many more. By day, Evan is the Director of Marketing & Communications for Actors’ Shakespeare Project. Evan has been a proud ensemble member of Shit-Faced Shakespeare since 2017, where he has performed as Claudio, Mercutio/Friar Lawrence, Demetrius, Benedick, and Tybalt/Lord Capulet.
Katherine Callaway she/herKatherine Callaway is making her Company One debut! Regional: John Proctor is the Villain (Huntington Theatre); Rooted, Be Here Now (Lyric Stage Boston); The Suppliant Women (Epaphos Dancer, Women’s Chorus); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Boston Theater Company); What Remains Hidden (Is Still Known) a devised play with Rinde Eckert. Katherine has performed in the Boston Theater Marathon for the Huntington, Lyric Stage Boston, and Gloucester Stage, and in Fresh Ink’s Mad Dash. Katherine is also a teaching artist and producer. She holds a BFA in Acting from Emerson College and is a West Virginia native. katherinecallaway.com
Tanya Avendaño Stockler she/theyTanya is a Colombian and Swedish actor, voice actor, singer, arts administrator, and new works enthusiast who believes in the power of storytelling to cultivate social change. Local credits: Miss You Like Hell (Wilbury Theatre Group), The Donkey Show (American Repertory Theatre), Pericles (the rig), Measure for Measure (Brown Box Theatre Project), and several developmental new play workshops with Actors’ Shakespeare Project, HowlRound Theatre Commons, Artists’ Theater of Boston, and Fresh Ink Theatre. Tanya received a BA in Theatre from UMass Amherst and has studied at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Double Edge Theatre, Berg Studios Los Angeles, and the British American Drama Academy. Tanya is also a passionate screen actor and can be seen in a handful of independent short films and features. Thank you to Tara Moses, Quita Sullivan, the stage management team, and C1! actortanya.com
Tara Moses she/herTara Moses is thrilled to be making her Company One Theatre debut (in person) after participating in SurgeLab. She is a citizen of Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Mvskoke, director, award-winning playwright, and co-Founder of Groundwater Arts. Selected directing work: Moonbox Productions (Cambridge, MA); Santa Fe Playhouse (Santa Fe, NM); Kansas City Repertory (Kansas City, MO); San Francisco Playhouse (San Francisco, CA); Brown/Trinity Rep (Providence, RI); Manton Avenue Project (Providence, RI); New Repertory Theatre (Boston, MA); Princeton University (Princeton, NJ); American Indian Community House (New York, NY); Arena Stage (Washington, D.C.); Yale Indigenous Performing Arts Program (New Haven, CT); Safe Harbors Indigenous Collective (New York, NY); telatúlsa (Tulsa, OK); Oklahoma Indigenous Theatre Company (Edmond, OK); Serenbe Playhouse (Chattahoochee Hills, GA); and Amerinda (New York, NY). She is the former Artistic Director in Residence at Red Eagle Soaring, a Participant in New York Stage and Film’s inaugural NYSAF NEXUS project; a Cultural Capital Fellow with First Peoples Fund; fellow with the Intercultural Leadership Institute; member of DirectorsLabChicago; member of the Directors Lab at Lincoln Center; recipient of the Thomas C. Fichandler Award; associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society; and Dramatists Guild member. She is from the Muscogee Creek Reservation, holds a MFA in Directing from Brown/Trinity and a BA in Theatre from the University of Tulsa. www.taramoses.com
Quita Sullivan nákum/they/sheQuita Sullivan (Montaukett/Shinnecock) (Kee-tah Suh-lih-ven) is Senior Program Director for Theater where nákum directs the National Theater Project. They hold Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in Theatre from Knox College and SUNY Stony Brook, respectively, as well as a Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School. Before law school, nákum worked as a Stage Manager at ETA in Chicago and was the first stage manager for ETA’s production of Checkmates by Ron Milner, directed by Woodie King, Jr. They later worked at Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates, a not-for-profit artist management office, creating contracts and managing booking and performing fees for musicians in the Great Lakes area. After law school, they practiced Environmental Justice law for 10 years in Detroit and Boston. Quita is a Senior Fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program, and a 2016 alum of the artEquity Facilitator Training. They are also a former Associated Grant Makers Diversity Fellow, the mission of which was to identify, recruit and cultivate emerging practitioners of color who represent the next generation of philanthropic leaders and offer them training, support and strong community.Quita is chair of the Grantmakers in the Arts Board of Directors Audit Committee and a member of the Trustee Committee, a Steering Committee member of Western Arts Alliance’s Advancing Indigenous Performance program, and a frequent speaker on supporting Indigenous Artists and Racial Equity. Nákum continues to work to support equity at all levels of theater and grant making. Prior to joining NEFA as a staff member, Quita was an Advisor for NEFA’s Native Arts Program. Outside of work, they continue to develop their own artistic talents as a beadwork artist. Nákum is part of a group of community language researchers working to restore Long Island Algonquin to spoken language status, as well as a learner of their language. Quita has achieved the rank of Shodan (first degree) in Ueichi Ryu karate.
Kimstelle Merisma she/herKimstelle Merisma is a queer Haitian-American actress and emerging playwright based in both Boston and Providence. Kimmi currently works as the Assistant to the Artistic Director at Company One Theatre. She recently graduated from Emerson College, receiving her BFA in Theatre and Performance with a minor in African American & Africana Studies. Kimmi’s heart, mind, and craft exist at the intersection of theatre arts, storytelling, and community-strengthening. As an artist and C1 staff member, Kimmi’s focus is bringing under-represented stories to the stage and showcasing faces and bodies American theatre has previously denied. As a lover of humanity, Kimmi is devoted to bringing people together through makeshift art, unapologetic love, and rambunctious joy.
Danielle DeLaFuente she/herDanielle DeLaFuente is excited to be returning to the BPL as the scenic designer for Haunted! Some recent design credits include Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (American Players Theater), Driving in Circles (Boston Playwrights Theatre), The Crucible (WCSU), The Interrobangers (Company One), The Boy Who Kissed the Sky (Company One), and While We Wait (The New School). Danielle also works as an associate scenic designer on projects such as What Became of Us (Atlantic Stage 2), The White Chip (MCC Theater), The Covenant (Roundabout Theater), and Mr Parent (The Lyric Stage Company of Boston). Danielle is thrilled to back working with Company One and this incredible team. danielledelafuente.com
Elmer Martinez he/himElmer Martinez is a Puerto Rican- Dominican American interdisciplinary working theater artist, poet and dancer. Born in Lowell, MA he developed in the spoken word, theater and street dance communities before completing his BFA in Theater Studies focused on Lighting Design with a minor in Dance in 2019. Boston based, Elmer travels the world as a guest artist, Lighting Designer, Poet, Teacher, DJ and Dancer. His stage work centers around aesthetically, authentically bridging street dance and theater cultures. Currently, Elmer serves as the Collaborative Arts Coordinator with Moonbox Productions where he is focused on producing community focused programming through the “Breaking Bread Project”. He is the founder of “Rebirth” a weekend long Street and Social Afro-Diasporic Arts festival in Boston. Haunted is his third production with Company One! Some of his other work includes: Company One: Black Super Hero Magic Mama, The Interrobangers. Lyric Stage: The Light. Northeastern University: Twelfth Night, Everybody, The Bacchae. SpeakEasy Stage Company: A Case for the Existence of God. Brandeis University: Everybody, Wolf Play. New Repertory Theater: Nina Simone and Hip-Hop. Greater Boston Stage Company: Popcorn Falls. VLA Dance: In the space between, For Nina. Connecticut College: The Moors, Ophelia. The Boston Globe: Globe Live. Passion Fruit Dance Co.: Dance Within Your Dance, Trapped.
Elmer teaches lighting design at Brighter Boston and is multi award nominated. Instagram:@ElmerM_Art @Rebirth_Jam
Aubrey Dube he/himAubrey Dube returns to Company One after working on; Downtown Crossing and Vietgone. Other credits include; Fat Ham, The Bluest Eye, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Clyde’s & The Lehman Trilogy [associate designer] (Huntington); Paradise Blue, The Thin Place, Stew (Gloucester Stage); Simona’s Search (Hartford Stage); The Fortune Teller (Chuang Stage); How We Got On (Arts Emerson); Trayf, Good (New Rep); Clyde’s (Berkeley Rep); Queens, Torch Song, The House of Ramon Iglesia (Moonbox Productions); Vinegar Tom, Monster, Serious Money, Pentecost (PTP/NYC); A Taste of Honey (BCAP); Potus, A Case For The Existence of God (SpeakEasy Stage); Fences (The Umbrella Theatre); The Renaissance Mixtape (Apollo Theatre NYC). University: Cymbeline, Pilgrims of the Night (Suffolk University); Orlando (Brandeis University); Antipodes, Love and Information, As You Like It, Sensitive Guys, The Moors (Northeastern University); Big Love, The Imaginary Invalid, In The Next Room, Man of La Mancha (Middlebury College); Delirium, Daddy Issues, The Hothouse (Boston University). Education; MFA in Sound Design. @footballpowerhour on youtube
Danielle Domingue Sumi she/herDanielle Domingue Sumi is a visual artist inspired by culture, spirituality and humility. Danielle is committed to promoting social well-being through costume design and expressive arts including increased understanding, recognition, and response to multiethnic heritage. Danielle’s creativity is explicated through multi-cultural diversity, humanism and social justice principles.
A graduate of Clark Atlanta University, FIDMLA and Loyola Marymount University with degrees in both design and art psychotherapy; Danielle is treasured for ingenuity and leadership skills in theatrical, fashion, dance and opera costume production.
Danielle has created for FIDMLA, Theatre Forty, LA Opera, Kirk Douglas Theater, Music Academy of the West, LAPHIL, Perm Opera and Ballet Company, Teatro Real Madrid, English National Opera, Los Angeles Master Chorale, East West Players, JACCC, Halau Hula Moani’a’ala Anuhea, LACHSA, Company One Theatre, Nobles Theatre Collective and New Repertory Theatre. She worked as Costume Director with New Orleans Opera Association.
Danielle is currently Resident Costume Designer and Costume Shop Manager with Walnut Hill School for the Arts.
Shanel LaShay Smith she/herShanel LaShay Smith is making her Company One Theatre debut! Recent credits include Scenic Design for Wolf Play by Hansol Jung at Wilbury Theatre Group and Scenic Design for La Luz Verde by Catia Rhode Island Latino Arts/Trinity Repertory Company.
Sara Gorelkin she/herSara Gorelkin is a theatre artist and administrator from Long Island, NY. She is excited to be back at Company One after stage managing Hoops, and assistant stage managing Morning, Noon, and Night. Sara is a recent graduate of Boston University’s School of Theatre, holding a BFA in Theatre Arts-Design & Production with concentrations in stage management and dramaturgy. She currently works at SpeakEasy Stage Company as their artistic fellow for the 2024-2025 season. Other credits include: Pru Payne (assistant director) at SpeakEasy Stage, and Sugar (stage manager) at Fresh Ink Theater. For more: www.saragorelkin.com
Abigail Lienhard she/herAbigail is making her Company One Theatre debut! Recent credits include Behind the Sun with History Theatre, and Cost of Living with SpeakEasy Stage Company. She has a BA from Wellesley College with a major in Theatre Studies, and has spent the past three years working as a stage manager at Buck’s Rock Creative and Performing Arts Camp.
Susan Weinhardt she/herSusan is making her Company One Theatre debut! She is originally from Vienna, Virginia and earned her BFA in Stage and Production Management with a minor in Psychology from Emerson College. She is now local to Boston and Washington DC as a freelance Stage Manager and Event Technician. Recent credits include- Boston Ballet: The Nutcracker (Child Supervisor); The Glimmerglass Festival: Rumpelstiltskin… (Assistant Stage Manager), Elizabeth Cree & Curran’s The Pirates of Penzance (Apprentice Stage Manager). Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre: Hello Dolly! (Assistant Stage Manager). Fairfax City Theatre Company: Shrek: The Musical! (Assistant Stage Manager). Emerson Stage: Imogen Says Nothing (Stage Manager), 16 Winters (Associate Production Supervisor), Bat Boy: The Musical! (1st Assistant Stage Manager), Are You Someone to Somebody (2nd Assistant Stage Manager), The Wolves (Assistant Production Supervisor), As You Like It (Production Assistant). Emerson College credits: Teach In On Sustainability’s 24 Hour Play Festival (Stage Manager); emShakes’ The Big Meal (Producer); BlueJay Theater Collective’s Significant Other (Stage Manager); RareWorks’ Escape (or The Piña Colada Play) (Dramaturgy), Hookman (Producer), sub (Assistant Stage Manager), EVVY42 & EVVY41 (Assistant Stage Manager). Upcoming credits include- Washington National Opera: Zambello’s Porgy & Bess (Production Assistant). All her love and gratitude goes out to: her beautiful team, Sara and Abby; Deb and Summer for being invaluable mentors; Jo Ann, Dad and Thomas; Halle, Ethan and Jamie; Support Group; Wri, and, of course, mom <3.
Tree Brock they/themTree Brock is ecstatic to be working with Company One. Their previous accomplishments have been with Umbrella Arts as Wardrobe supervisor in Rent, Middleton Heights, The Color Purple, Lizzie, The Minutes, Network and Now Here This. They have previously worked as the costume designer with Hoovey Theatre doing Witch, Marjory Prime, and Pillowman. They were also costume designer for Court Martial at Fort Devers with Arlington Friends of Drama. During the summer, they help at Creative Arts helping kids costume creation and looks for the summer productions. Their company is Red Bark Crafting and believes you should fly your fandom banners proudly.
Matilda Lee she/herMatilda Lee is excited to return to Company One after Hoops as Qlab operator and Morning, Noon, and Night as board/Qlab operator. Anticipating to graduate this Spring at Berklee College of Music with Music Production and Engineering, and Performance, she has a passion for live sound in the theater industry. Her recent work was with an Off-Broadway production of Blue Blind the musical as Qlab operator, and currently works at Boston Conservatory as Production Sound Assistant. Envisioning a community of inclusivity and collaborative creative arts, Matilda hopes to share the depths of technical theatre through her journey. Instagram: @matildalee.__
Maria Hendricks she/herMaria Hendricks (Assonet & Mashpee Wampanoag) is an actor/activist and Haunted’s Community Advisor – aiding C1s Connectivity team in connecting the local indigenous community to this play and one another in the spirit of community collaboration! Maria also served as Resident Artist/Co-Artistic Director at New Repertory Theatre (winner of 2 Boston Theater Critics Association-Elliot Norton Awards in 2024!). Her work at New Rep focused on the celebration of & creating platforms for historically, marginalized voices & groups in the Greater Boston area. Some producer credits include community collaborations on Watertown Multicultural fest, WatertownPRIDE, and several Indigenous Peoples Day events. Maria Hendricks also works as an audio-describer and cultural/linguistics consultant for numerous Boston artistic organizations in collaboration with www.thinkoutsidethevox.org – A group that centers its work on anti-ableist/anti-racist disability culture for arts institutions. Most recently, Maria curated an entire season of Indigenous centered programming at Emerson Colleges UnCommon Stage (on Boston Common). As a commissioned artist with Arts Emersons Black & Indigenous Futures Initiative, Maria continues her dedicated work to creating collaborative connections amongst creatives at the intersection of Afroindigineity. You can see Maria next February 19th – March 9th in Between Riverside & Crazy at the Gamm Theatre in RI). @mariaalbertina888
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association
^ Member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829
PRESS & BUZZ
January 7, 2025: Cultural Survival, “Native Theatre Brilliance Rising: An Interview with Playwright Tara Moses”
“[Haunted] is an ‘Indigenous horror comedy’ that follows Ash and Aaron, siblings who have been dead for 20 years, as they haunt the house they’ve been tethered to and wait to enter the spirit world. The story amplifies the Land Back movement and prompts conversations about cultural myths, ancestry, and Indigenous sovereignty.”