Emerson Stage
in cooperation with Live & In Color
presents
THIS GOLDEN DAY
A virtual musical
Conceived and created by
Annie G. Levy & Devanand Janki
Directed by Devanand Janki
Music Direction by Jonathan Goldberg
Featuring songs written by Masi Asare, Joshua Betancourt, Nancy Cheser, Maggie-Kate Coleman, David Dabbon, Tia DeShazor, Timothy Huang, Trent Jefford, Kim Jinhyoung, Erato A. Kremmyda, Yan Li, Jaime Lozano, Marcus Perkins, SEVAN, Rona Siddiqui, Paulo K Tiról, and Jessica Wu.
NOVEMBER 19–22
On this page you'll find detailed programmatic information
as well as notes from the directors, composers, lyricists, designers, and the cast about how this production
took shape over the past few months.
Featuring
New Songs
About our partner
Live & In Color
Live & In Color was founded by Director-Choreographer Devanand Janki in 2015 to develop new work for the stage that promotes and celebrates diversity. Emphasizing non-traditional casting, multi-ethnic participants, and bold theatricality, L&IC offers unique development opportunities for new plays and musicals that encourage dialogue among artists from a variety of cultures. We envision an American Theatre where established and aspiring artists of color have generous opportunities to practice their craft, on- and offstage.
Shows developed at Live & In Color include Call It Courage by Adam Overett, The Family Resemblance by Masi Asare, Pangaea by Janet Noh and Lee Summers, Present Perfect by Jaime Lozano and Nancy Nachama Cheser, Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical by Laiona Michelle, Narrow Daylight by SEVAN, and ˆby Cheeyang Ng and Eric Sorrels.
Visit liveandincolor.org to learn more.
Meet the
Director
ABOUT DEVANAND JANKI
Devanand Janki is an award winning Director-Choreographer based in New York City, originally from Canada. He is the founder and artistic director of Live & In Color, whose mission is developing new plays and musical that celebrate diversity. LiveandInColor.org
His prolific New York credits include the hit Off-Broadway show Zanna, Don’t! (Winner of the Lortel, Callaway, & GLAAD Media Awards), John Patrick Shanley’s Romantic Poetry for the Manhattan Theatre Club, The Yellow Brick Road (Callaway nom.), Junie B. Jones (Lortel nom.), Cupid & Psyche, Henry & Mudge (Lortel nom.), Skippyjon Jones (Lortel nom.), Shine! The Horatio Alger Musical (NYMF), This One Girl’s Story (Abingdon Theatre, GLAAD Media Award nom.), and Buddy’s Tavern (York Theater - Lab).
Meet the
Music Director
JONATHAN GOLDBERG
In additional to music direction, Jonathan has provided additional vocal and instrumental arrangements. Jon is a member of Emerson’s Musical Theatre faculty. Emerson Stage credits: Flora The Red Menace, Working, Urinetown, Titanic, Guys And Dolls, and Carousel. Recent Regional credits: Lyric Stage Company of Boston's Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd ; Wheelock Family Theatre's Little Women, Billy Elliot. Jon won four IRNE awards for Lyric Stage productions of A Little Night Music, Man of La Mancha, Grey Gardens and Kiss Me Kate. Other credits: North Shore Music Theatre's Pacific Overtures, Stuart Street Playhouse's Forever Plaid, and three years with the Boston company of Nunsense.
A note from
the Dramaturg
Hello, my name is Jake Mouchawar and I'm the production dramaturg for This Golden Day! As an introduction to the show and its production process, I've put together three mini-essays focusing on different aspects of the production process.
I've also created an interactive dramaturgy hub (below) featuring links to different media with information about the religions of the show. Feel free to check all of this content and information out before you experience the performance.
ABOUT JAKE MOUCHAWAR,
BFA '22, Theatre Education & Performance
Emerson Stage credits: Squeaky Fromme Love Song (Dramaturg), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Simon The Zealot), and Flora and Ulysses (On-Stage Puppeteer). Emerson College credits: Emerson Shakespeare Society's [Enter Messenger] (Dramaturg), Kidding Around's She Kills Monsters (Steve), EIV's Ruthless (Samuel Witt), and Musical Theatre Society's American Idiot (Theo) and Children of Eden (Abel). Regional credits: KidStage's Three Little Pigs (Narrator/Mama Pig). Thanks to God, Robert Duffley, Sprinkler's Room, and Skating Snacks.
Meet the
Composers and Lyricists
MASI ASARE
Composer | Lyricist |Playwright
JOSHUA BETANCOURT
NYC-based creative writer and performer
NANCY CHESER
Projects span from her abstract photographs to essays published in national magazines
MAGGIE-KATE COLEMAN
Bookwriter | Lyricist | Artistic Director
DAVID DABBON
Emmy-nominated and Grammy-nominated Composer
TIA DESHAZOR
Actor | Lyricist | Librettist
TIMOTHY HUANG
Composer | Lyricist | Librettist
TRENT JEFFORDS
Performer | Singer | Songwriter
KIM JINHYOUNG
Storyteller | Composer | Lyricist | Librettist
ERATO A. KREMMYDA
Composer
YAN LI
Composer, lyricist, music director, pianist, arranger, and teacher.
JAIME LOZANO
Musical Theatre Composer
MARCUS PERKINS
Storyteller | Composer | Lyricist | Librettist
SEVAN
London and NYC-based Playwright-Actor
RONA SIDDIQUI
Composer and Lyricist based in New York City
PAULO K TIRÓL
Composer and Lyricist from Manila, Philippines
JESSICA WU
NYC-based playwright, director, songwriter, dramaturg, and actor-in-a-past-life
Meet the
Scenic Designer
JOE KEENER III
Joe Keener III is the current Scenic Painter for Emerson Stage and the Emerson College Department of performing Arts and holds an MFA in Scenic Design from the University of Connecticut. As a scenic artist, he has painted scenery for Alexander Dodge, Tony Straiges, Marjorie Kellogg, Hugh Landwehr, and others. Other projects include video/set pieces (Dave Matthews Band, Shakira); theme parks in the United States, Europe, and Japan; regional theaters (Cleveland Playhouse); television (Sleepy Hollow), and feature films (Iron Man 3, MAsterminds). He has designed sets for theaters in New York, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Florida, and Massachusetts; and most recently, a TYA production of Peter And The Starcatcher. joekeener3.com
Meet the
Props Lead
VALERIE STEBBINS,
BFA '21, Theatre Design & Technology
Emerson Stage credit: What Remains Hidden (Is Still Known) (Assistant Scenic Designer). Emerson College credits: The 38th Annual EVVY Awards (Co- Scenic Designer); Mercutio Troupe's Girl in the Machine (Scenic Designer) and IPSEITY (Co- Scenic Designer). Thank you for making this a great experience with Emerson Stage!
Meet the
Costume Designer
MOLLY SHAUGHNESSY,
BFA '22, Theatre Design & Technology
Emerson Stage credits: Amanuensis, or The Miltons (Co- Costume Designer), Augusta and Noble (Assistant Costume Designer), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Wardrobe Assistant), Mad Moon (Wardrobe Assistant). Emerson College credits: The 39th Annual EVVY Awards (Wardrobe Stylist Assistant). Thank you to my family and friends for all of their continuous love and support.
Meet the
Lighting Designer
JOSIE BUCKON,
BFA '22, Theatre Design & Technology
Emerson Stage credits: Men On Boats (Production Electrician), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Assistant Lighting Designer), Augusta and Noble (Assistant Lighting Designer), Mad Moon (Assistant Master Electrician), WHRISK (Assistant Lighting Designer). Other Credits: EVVY38 (Assistant Master Electrician), EVVY39 (Assistant Lighting Designer), Index Magazine “Skins” (Lighting Designer), Index Magazine “Digital Disco” (Lighting Designer). Thank you to the shows Production Electricians, Grace and Callie, for being so amazing to work with through this process!
Meet the
Sound Designer
STEVEN DEPTULA
Steven is excited about returning to Emerson Stage. Other credits: Way of the Water and Leveling Up (Sound Designer) at Brandeis University; Company One's The Hindu Gods Trilogy; Actors' Shakespeare Project's (ASP) Henry VIII and Henry VI, Part 2 ; Boston Children's Theatre's Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, A Year With Frog and Toad, Footloose, Little Women, Spring Awakening, and Pinkalicious. ASP's Troilus and Cressida (Assist. Sound Designer).
Meet the
Stage Manager
KIRSTEN DAVIS, BFA '22, Stage & Production Management
Emerson Stage credits: Corduroy (Production Supervisor), Good Breeding (2nd Assistant Stage Manager), and Working (Production Assistant). Much love and thanks to Maia, Liv, El, Deb, and everyone in SPM '22 for your support.
Meet the
Cast
ROBERTA ALAMAN, BFA '22, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Stupid Fu##ng Bird (Emma). Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Society’s Heathers: The Musical (Heather Duke) and EFA Cabaret (Ensemble). Thanks to my mom, dad, Ale, Cris, and my whole family for being my rock during this tough time.
MAX BOONE, BFA '21, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Measure for Measure (Messenger/Ensemble) and Flora the Red Menace (Swing). Emerson College credit: Musical Theatre Society’s Little Women (John Brooke/Braxton) and member of Emerson Dance Company. Regional credits: New Bedford Festival Theater’s Mamma Mia! (Ensemble) and Priscilla Beach Theater’s Bye Bye Birdie (Ensemble/Male Quartet). Endless love to his family and friends for all that they have done to help him get to this point. And a huge thanks to the Dev, Jon, Yan, and all the other creatives involved for this experience!
NAJA BROWN (Understudy), BFA '23, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage debut. Emerson College credits:13! The Musical (Cassie) Thanks to mom and Shani for your endless support!
JAKE COLLINS, BFA '22, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credit: 10 Out of 12 (E2). Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Society's Little Women (Laurie) and Kidding Around's The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley (Stanley Lambchop). Other credits: New Light Theatre's Dogfight (Bernstein) and Next to Normal (Gabe Goodman). Thanks to the writers who worked to create fantastic material!
DENNIS DIZON (Understudy), BFA '22, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Bailiff) and Spring Awakening (Male Swing). Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Society’s Children of Eden (Cain) and Cabaret of Color; Emerson Dance Company; and Emerson Urban Dance Theatre. Thanks to my family and friends for all of the support! @dennisdzon
LAUREN DODDS (Understudy), BFA '23, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage debut! Emerson College credits: Kidding Around’s 13 the Musical (Patrice) and She Kills Monsters (Assistant Dramaturg); Musical Theatre Society’s EFA Miscast Cabaret; Mercutio Troupe’s The Trial of Errors (Carmen); and Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s Inaugural Cabaret. Regional credits: Theatre Under the Star’s The Music Man, Elf, Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan, and Annie; Houston Shakespeare Festival’s Hamlet and Comedy of Errors. She is also an Emerson Cheerleader! laurendodds.net. IG: @who.let.the.dodds.out.
AUSTIN HAND (Understudy), BFA '23, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage debut! Member of Noteworthy A Capella. Thanks to my parents and three little brothers (specifically Levi)!
CEDRICK EKRA, BFA '22, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credit: Stupid F##king Bird (Trigorin). Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Society's Next to Normal (Doctor Fine/Madden) and Children of Eden (Father). Regional credits: Playhouse on Park’s The Scottsboro Boys (Clarence Norris) and West Hartford Summer Arts Festival’s Beauty and the Beast (Gaston). Cedrick would like to thank all of the composers that lifted our spirits with their powerful music, as well as Dev and Jon for being so supportive and reassuring during this wild process. Bisou mama. cedrickekra.com
ARIANA GEORGE, BFA '21, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Flora The Red Menace (Flora), Spring Awakening (Female Swing), and Mad Moon (Cy). Emerson College theatre credits: Bonnie & Clyde (Cumie/Trish/Alcorn) and EFA Miscast Cabaret (Co-director) for Musical Theatre Society. Other credits: Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Into the Woods (The Witch), and Annie Get Your Gun (Annie Oakley). Thank you to mom and dad, her loving boyfriend Will, and all her amazing friends for supporting her through this crazy year. Instagram: @ariananicolegeorge
MARCO GIACONA (Understudy), BFA '23, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage debut! Shoutout to Zion, couldn't have done this without you.
ISABEL GINSBERG (Understudy), BFA '21, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage debut! Emerson College credits: Kidding Around’s 13! the Musical (Lucy); Musical Theatre Society’s Little Women (Marmee) and EFA Miscast Cabaret. Isabel is on the executive board of Emerson Shakespeare Society and the Vice President of Achoired Taste A Cappella. Thanks so much to family and friends who were so supportive during this unique rehearsal process!
MAURA LEBLANC, BFA '21, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Flora the Red Menace (Flora standby), Measure for Measure (Ensemble), Spring Awakening* (Martha). Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Society's Little Women (Meg), Kidding Around's The Mermaid's Tale (The Little Mermaid). *canceled due to COVID
ELLA LEVINSON (Understudy), BFA '23, Musical Theatre. Thanks to her supportive family and loved ones! Enjoy the show.
OMAR MARDINI (Understudy), BFA '21, Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Saint Matthew); Spring Awakening (Assistant Company Manager); Everybody (Assistant Director). Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Society’s Children of Eden (Ensemble), RareWorks Theatre Company’s Elephant’s Graveyard (Strongman), and Kidding Around’s 13 the Musical (Assistant Director). Thank you to my family here and abroad, my Zetas, and Dev for this opportunity.
GIAVANNA MARIANO, BFA '22, Theatre & Performance. Emerson Stage debut! Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Society’s Little Women (Aunt March/Mrs. Lawrence/Mrs. Kirk), Full Fathom Production’s Seascape with Sharks and Dancer (Tracy), and EIV’s Ruthless (Ruth Johnson). Love to 803 and her whole family, wherever they may be in the world. Let us light each other's way! IG: @gggggia_
DAVID MARQUES, BFA '21, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credit: Mad Moon (Harrison). Emerson College credits: Heathers: The Musical (Ram Sweeney)*, Bonnie and Clyde: The Musical (Clyde Barrow)**, Spring Awakening (Moritz). Regional credits: Provincetown Theater’s Sweeney Todd (Tobias) and Priscilla Beach Theater’s Bye Bye Birdie (Harvey Johnson). Thank you to the cast and crew for making this process unforgettable experience and to my friends, family, and voice teacher for the endless support. IG: @david_marques07
* EVVY Award Winner for Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Musical (2019)
** Nominated for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical (2019).
BRENDAN MASSAR, BFA '22, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Good Breeding (Zeus). Emerson College credits: American Idiot (Director), Children of Eden (Adam/Noah), First Date (Gabe) and Heathers: The Musical (JD). Other favorite stage credits include Les Miserables, Newsies, West Side Story (Tony) and Blood Brothers (Mickey). Brendan is so happy to be working with such an incredible group of people! He would like to thank his friends and family for all their love and support.
STEFANIE RICHARDSON, BFA '23, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage Debut! Emerson College credits: Musical Theater Society’s Fun Home (Helen). Thanks to Mom for all the love and support!
AMANDA VAZQUEZ (Understudy), BFA '22, Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credit: 10 Out of 12 (Siget). Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Society’s Heathers: The Musical (Ms. Fleming) and Little Women (Amy March). Other credits: Wild Theatre Company’s Don’t Fear the Rain (Inti) and Alice in Wonderland (Alice); Area Stage Company’s A Chorus Line (Morales) In the Heights (Carla); International Lyric Academy’s And the World Goes Round (Vocalist). Thanks to her parents, her family, friends, this incredible cast and crew, her cats, and God.
ETHAN WILLIAMS (Understudy), BFA '22, Acting. Emerson Stage credits: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Ragg/Dullfeet), Good Breeding (Achilles), and Stupid F##king Bird (Dev). Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Society's American Idiot (Will), Children of Eden (Storyteller), and Heathers: The Musical (Ram's Dad). Regional credits: Unified Theatre Company's Red (Ken); Richmond Triangle Players' Corpus Christi (Thaddeus) and Slipping (Eli). Thanks to all of Ethan's friends and family for their support!
Meet the
Artistic and Production Staff
Transmedia Consultant DEREK CHRISTIANSEN
Assistant Director ALYSSA TSCHIRGI
Lead Electrician Advisor TAYLOR NESS
VMA Guest Consultants MAURICE METHOT and GABBY SUMNEY
Assistant Costume Designer TRIXIE WARD
Assistant Lighting Designer PIPER PHILLIPS
Assistant Sound Designer AMANDA RYAN
Assistant Props Master DANIEL WOZNIAK
Production Electrician GRACE TUCHMAN
Lead Electrician CALLIE MOOS
Production Sound Engineer/Mix Engineer JUANMA SUÁREZ
Production Sound Engineer MADDIE HANLEY
VMix Technician JORDAN BARNETT
Wardrobe Supervisor MADDIE BOSCHEN
Assistant Lead Electrician NARISSA KELLIHER
Assistant Stage Manager MAIA TIVONY
2nd Assistant Stage Manager OLIVIA TIGHE
Production Assistant EL BRYANT
Company Manager KELLEIGH LEVESQUE
Assistant Company Manager ALEX TAWID
Production Supervisor SARAH BORD
Assistant Production Supervisor ELENA RING
Assistant Production Supervisor EMMA ALVAREZ-ROTH
Run Crew
Samantha Boutureira, Lauren Carter, Grace DiNatale,
Hannah Forsberg, Gabriel Gonzales, Ryan Hoult, Katherine Kendrick, Keaton McLachlan, Mia Moore, Mina-Claire Paz-Le Draoulec, Mercedes Suarez, Natalie Taylor, and Oakley Walker
Meet the
Emerson Stage Staff
STAFF
Artistic Director—Annie G. Levy
General Manager—David Colfer
Production Manager—Timothey Sullivan
Technical Director—Keith Cornelius
Props Director—Ryan Bates
Costume Shop Supervisor—Richelle Devereaux-Murray
Resident Sound Designer—Arshan Gailus
Scenic Painter—Joe Keener
Assistant General Manager—Alix Bigley
Assistant Costume Shop Supervisor—Brian Choinski
Draper/Cutter—Laurie Bramhall
Sound Technician—Steven Deptula
Assistant Properties Manager—Lauren Corcuera
Assistant Production Manager: Curricular Support—Jamie Carty
ADVISORS
Stage and Production Management—Debra A. Acquavella
Scenic Design—Luciana Stecconi
Scenic Painting—Joe Keener
Costume Design—Tyler Kinney
Lighting Design—Scott Pinkney
Sound Design—Arshan Gailus
Dramaturgy—Robert Duffley
STUDENT STAFF
Emerson Stage Office Assistants—Carleigh Allen, Shannon Horsey, Kaitlin Phelan
Production Management Assistants—Anthony Feola and Caitlin Hudecheck
Videographer—Benjamin Bernard
Scene Shop Assistants—Talia Colten and Samuel Kisthardt
Scene Shop Staff—Jonah Barricklo, Sean Dougherty,
Marco Giacona, and Emerson Hart
Paint Shop Staff—Emily Curtis, Serino Nakayama, Garrett Traer,
Fernando Rueda, Kimberly Ndegwa, Leah Heath, Isabella Kochakian,
Lauren Velentzas, and Noelle DeConzo.
Prop Shop Assistant—Alex Koplos
Prop Technicians—Delene Beauchamp, Dan Bovair, Evy Burch,
Oliver Hawke, and Ryan Rock
Costume Shop Office Assistant—Samantha Golub
Stitchers—Madeline Boschen, Raegan Campbell, Lucy Kania, Ceilidh Welsh, Catriona Morris, Rebecca Palmer, Tuyet Corson, and Hana Brown