Made Possible in Part by:
Susanna Natti
& Alan Willsky
Pulitzer Prize Finalist
GLORIA
by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Directed by BRYN BOICE
When crisis explodes during a seemingly ordinary day at the Manhattan publishing office, ambition trumps compassion as a group of editorial assistants turn catastrophe into personal gain. The stakes for who gets to tell their own story are higher than ever. Gloria will delight you with it’s biting wit even in its most cynical moments of darkness and shocking truth.
The critically acclaimed Pulitzer Prize finalist play, Gloria, written by the MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant recipient Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Bryn Boice, will run June 3 through June 26. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 pm indoors at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester MA.
June 3 – June 26
Performances
Wednesday – Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday + Sunday, 3:00 p.m.
Talk Backs
June 12 + 19
Champagne Opening
Sunday, June 5
Run Time
Around 2 hours w/ Intermission
Content Warning
Gun Fire, Violence
Critical Praise for Gloucester Stage’s GLORIA by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
“Directed by Bryn Boice, GloucesterStage Company’s production of Gloria is provoking, memorable, and highly relevant today.”
“This play marks the return of Gloucester Stage to its indoor space…[and] they’re picking up with the same provocative programming that marked their productions last year.”
“1st-rate ensemble shocks, then makes you think as it satirizes a cutthroat workplace, ravenous media, who controls the story. DO NOT MISS!”
Meet the Creative Team
Playwright
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ plays include NEIGHBORS (Public Theater), APPROPRIATE (Actors Theatre of Louisville, Victory Gardens Theater, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, and Signature Theatre), AN OCTOROON (Soho Rep), and WAR. He is a Residency Five playwright at Signature Theatre and a Lila Acheson Wallace Fellow at the Juilliard School. Additionally, his work has been seen at the Vineyard Theatre, the Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles, Company One in Boston, and the HighTide Festival in the United Kingdom. He has taught at New York University and Queens University of Charlotte, and his honors include the Paula Vogel Award in Playwriting, the Helen Merrill Playwriting Award, and the inaugural Tennessee Williams Award. He holds an MA in Performance Studies.
Director
Bryn Boice
Bryn Boice is an award-winning director, educator, actor, and producer. Recent area credits include: The Sound Inside (Speakeasy Stage); The Half-Life of Marie Curie (Central Square); Admissions (The Gamm Theatre); The Children (Speakeasy Stage); Universe Rushing Apart: Blue Kettle & Here We Go – two Caryl Churchill one-acts (Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Director–Large Theatre, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company/CSC; and an all-female production of Julius Caesar for Actors’ Shakespeare Project. Bryn is the Associate Artistic Director of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company and Director of the CSC Academy. She teaches Dramatic Theory & Criticism, Acting III, Directing I, et al, at Salem State University. MFA Acting (FSU’s Asolo Conservatory) and MFA Directing (Boston University).
Meet the Cast
Esme Allen*
Esme Allen* (Gloria/Nan) is a Boston-based actor, educator, and designer. Boston-area acting credits include Hurricane Diane (Huntington Theatre). Gloucester Blue, North Shore Fish (Gloucester Stage Company); Much Ado About Nothing, The Cherry Orchard, Middletown and The Merry Wives of Windsor (Actors’ Shakespeare Project); Muckrakers, Elephant Man and Amadeus (New Repertory Theatre), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Greater Boston Stage Co.); Dog Paddle (Bridge Repertory Theater) and Coriolanus (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company). Television credits include The Good Wife (CBS). She earned her MFA in Acting from The California Institute of the Arts. She is a Resident Acting Company Member with the Actors’ Shakespeare Project and teaches at Salem State University.
Michael Broadhurst*
Michael Broadhurst* (Lorin) is very excited to be making his Gloucester Stage Company debut! NYC credits include: Life Sucks (Wheelhouse Theatre Co.), Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (Animus Theatre), and Pride and Prejudice (Primary Stages). Regional productions include: Treasure Island (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), The General From America, Twelfth Night, The Book of Will, As You Like It, Measure for Measure, and So Please You (all with the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival). Mike is a founding member of The Living Room Theatre Company in VT where he has appeared in many productions, including The Cherry Orchard, Exit The King, and The Seagull, among others. Film: The Holdovers (dir. Alexander Payne), Minyan (Dir. Eric Steele), as well as many commercials. Love to R!
Ann Dang
Ann Dang (Kendra/Jenna) is a NYC-based bilingual Chinese actor. Favorite theatre credits include Williamstown, Hangar Theatre, NY Fringe Festival, The Performa Biennial, The Tank NYC, and Columbia MFA. BFA: NYU Tisch / Stella Adler Studio. Ann is thrilled to be making her Gloucester Stage debut!
Teresa Langford*
Teresa Langford* (Ani/Sasha/Callie) is a Boston native & thrilled to be returning to Gloucester Stage after she was last seen as Mayella/Mrs. Dubose in To Kill A Mockingbird! Off-Broadway: Drama Desk-nominated, Beardo (Pipeline Theatre Company), Cute Activist (Bushwick Starr/New Saloon). Regional Theatre: Are You There? (44th Annual Humana Festival of New American Plays), The Sensational (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Everything That’s Beautiful (Human Race Theater). Education: BFA in Acting (Boston University), Classical Acting Certificate (LAMDA), 2019-2020 Acting Apprentice (Professional Training Company at Actors Theatre of Louisville). She is eternally grateful for families, given & chosen.
For more information, visit teresalangford.com!
Jordan Pearson*
Jordan Pearson* (Miles/Shawn/Rashaad) is ecstatic to be back performing at the Gloucester Stage Company! He is a recent graduate of The Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a BFA in Contemporary Theatre. Jordan’s past theatre credits at the Conservatory include; Macbeth (Macbeth), Jim Conley (Parade), and Midas (Metamorphosis). His professional credits include; Seared (Gloucester Stage Company), TJ Loves Sally 4 Ever (Speakeasy Stage Company), Insulted Belarus (Arlekin Players Theatre), and Akeelah and the Bee (Virginia Repertory Theatre). Jordan thanks his teachers, mentors, friends, and family for their never-ending support!
Michael Wood*
Michael Wood* (Dean/Devin) is thrilled to return to New England to make his Gloucester Stage debut. A Maine native, Michael currently lives in Washington DC. BOSTON CREDITS: Gold Dust Orphans: Whizzin’, All About Christmas Eve, The Phantom of the Oprah, Peter Pansy. Wheelock Family Theatre: Peter Pan, The Phantom Tollbooth. Lyric Stage: Follies. Charles Playhouse: Shear Madness. DC CREDITS: Ford’s Theatre: Shout, Sister, Shout! (upcoming). Olney Theatre: Singin’ in the Rain, Miss You Like Hell, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Dance Nation (upcoming). Imagination Stage: Cinderella. Rep Stage: The 39 Steps. Her Majesty & Sons: Twelfth Night. ACA/Shakespeare Theatre: Coriolanus, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. MAINE CREDITS: Good Theater: Act One, Mrs. Mannerly, Shear Madness. Dramatic Rep Co.: [title of show]. Michael is a company member of OnlyMakeBelieve.org. EDUCATION: M.F.A. Classical Acting from Shakespeare Theatre/GW; B.A. from Bowdoin College; Ecole Jacques Lecoq.
TheMichaelWood.com. Le point fixe n’existe pas!
Micheline Wu
Micheline Wu (Understudy Kendra/Jenna, Ani/Sasha/Callie, Gloria) is thrilled to be making her Gloucester Stage Company debut! She previously choreographed and performed in Lyric Stage Company’s production of Pacific Overtures, (Elliot Norton Award nomination, “Outstanding Musical Production”). Theater performance credits include: Allegiance (SpeakEasy Stage Company), My Fair Lady (New Bedford Festival Theatre), South Pacific (Plaza Theatricals), Little Shop of Horrors (Priscilla Beach Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing and Love’s Labour’s Lost (both Hub Theatre Company of Boston). A Boston native, she trained and performed with the American Chinese Arts Society’s Traditional Chinese Dance Troupe for ten years and comes to theater after many years as a contemporary dancer and choreographer. M.F.A. Musical Theater, Boston Conservatory.
Jacob Conley
Jacob Conley (he/they), (Understudy Dean/Devin, Lorin, Miles/Shawn/Rashaad) a rising senior at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, is a writer and performer from Atlanta, Georgia. He writes, most often, about race and relationships, and is known for his high energy, audience driven performance. He strives to create art that centralizes the Black experience in a way that is honest – which does not always mean it’s comfortable. A playwright, poet, director, singer, and actor, Jacob embodies the multi-hyphenate approach to artistic endeavors and most notably directed New Ground’s production of his inaugural play, Roughly Thirty Thousand Meters Up.
Zach Kelley
Zach Kelley (he/they), (Understudy Dean/Devin, Lorin) is thrilled to be making his Gloucester Stage debut with Gloria. He’s an actor, director, writer and comedian who just graduated from Boston University with a BFA in Acting. Zach is an alum of the acting and directing programs at the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Additionally, they have worked with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Gamm Theatre and BU’s Summer Theatre Institute. Recent credits include Mr. Hit Man (Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center/Young Playwright’s Festival), John & Jen (BU), Peter & the Starcatcher (BU) and Crackhead Annie (BU, Co-Writer/Director, New Work).
Designers
Rachel Padula-Shufelt (Costume Designer) is a graduate of Emerson College. Recent costume design credits include Be Here Now, Thanksgiving Play at Lyric Stage, 39 Steps at Greater Boston Stage Company, The Children, Choir Boy, Once, Shakespeare In Love, Men On Boats at Speakeasy Stage, Young Nerds Of Color, Frankenstein at Central Square Theatre, Oliver, 1776 at New Rep Theatre, Macbeth, Edward II (Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Design) at Actor’s Shakespeare Project, Charlotte’s Web at American Repertory Theatre, S.i.n.s.ofu.s., The Owl Answers at Harvard Tdm, Rosenbergs, Lost Tempo, The River Was Whiskey, Mortal Terror, Legally Dead, Absence, Windowmen (nominated Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Design), at Boston Playwrights Theatre. Barefoot In The Park, Trad and Crimes Of The Heart at Gloucester Stage Company.
Jeffrey Petersen (Scenic Design) is thrilled to return to the beauty of Cape Ann for another collaboration with Gloucester Stage! Previous designs for GSC include: The Agitators, and Barefoot in the Park. Jeffrey is a Minnesota transplant with a fading accent and has worked throughout New England for professional institutions including: Commonwealth Shakespeare Co., Huntington Theatre, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, New Repertory Theatre, Odyssey Opera, Boston Midsummer Opera, Opera Hub, Greater Boston Stage, SpeakEasy Stage Co. He holds an MFA in Scenic Design from BU’s School of Theatre and is a proud member of the United Scenic Artists Local 829.
www.jeffreypetersendesign.com (he/him)
Aja M Jackson (Lighting Design) Gloucester Stage Company shows include: Seared and Hamlet. [OFF-BROADWAY]: A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet. [REGIONAL]: Hartford Stage: Lost in Yonkers. Everyman Theater: Behold, A Negress. American Repertory Theater: Hear Word. The Public Theater Under-The Radar Festival: Hear Word. Nebraska Rep: Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea. North Carolina Black Rep: Freedom Summer. Kitchen Theatre Company: Catch as Catch Can. Speakeasy Stage: Once on This Island. Lyric Stage Company of Boston: The Cake, Breath and Imagination. Actor’s Shakespeare Project: Nat Turner in Jerusalem, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged. Moonbox Productions: Passing Strange. Boston Early Music Festival: Pimpinone and Ino. [DANCE]: Modern Connections: Hot water over Raised Fists. HoldTight: What Keeps You Going?, Why Believe?, What Does it Feel Like to Grow Up?, What Does is Feel Like to Fall in Love? [OTHER]: Boston Conservatory Theatre: The Consul, Glory Denied, Can’t Keep Quiet. Brandeis University: We Are Proud To Present…, The Tempest. Wheelock Family Theatre: Ragtime. [TEACHING]: Boston University, National Theatre Institute. IG: @ajamjackson | ajajacksonlighting.com
David Remedios (sound design) has previously designed sound for GSC’s Barefoot in the Park, Out of the Mouths of Babes, The Effect, The Totalitarians, The Flick and An Ideal Husband. Recent credits include Miss Holmes Returns (Greater Boston Stage Company); Women in Jeopardy! (Arizona Theatre Company); The Rise and Fall of Holly Fudge and A Woman of the World (Merrimack Rep); The Sound Inside (SpeakEasy Stage); Berta, Berta (Everyman Theatre). David’s work has also been heard regionally at Huntington Theatre Company, Portland Stage, Contemporary American Theater Festival, City Theatre Company (Pittsburgh), Alley Theatre, Trinity Rep, 59E59, Geva Theatre Center, The Studio Theatre (DC), Theatre for a New Audience, American Repertory Theatre (50 productions), La Jolla Playhouse, and Cincinnati Playhouse; locally at many New England Area Theatres; and internationally at prominent arts festivals in Bogotá, Paris, Hong Kong and Edinburgh. David is Program Head of Sound Design at Boston University’s School of Theatre and is a proud member of United Scenic Artist Local USA 829.
*Member of Actors Equity Association (AEA)
†Member United Scenic Artists IATSE Local 829
GLORIA is presented under special arrangement with Concord Theatricals