The Department of Performing and Media Arts presents:

Orlando's Gift

Written and Directed by David Feldshuh

A Production by Students, Faculty and Guest Artists
 

Class of '56 Flexible Theatre, Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts
430 College Avenue, Ithaca, NY
Friday, November 1st, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 2nd, 7:30 p.m. 
Friday, November 8th, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 9th, 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Content warning: This play contains discussions of death and suicidal ideation 

The vision of the Department of Performing and Media Arts is to nurture and mentor artists, performers, writers, and thinkers through the process of event programming. We recognize that all people should see their stories represented, and envision their stories as valuable. We commit ourselves to creating spaces that actively seek to break down systems of oppression based on race, gender, sexuality, class, ability, and place of origin and empower all to be involved. We seek to stimulate thoughtful discussion and enact social change within our productions and our audiences. It is our goal to make our events accessible to the wider Cornell and Ithaca community, to strengthen bonds and engage inquiry, dialogue, and impact around social and cultural expression. 

In the 2024-2025 academic year we will help realize a wide range of students’ creative projects, from original plays, to solo performances, to readings, to choreographies, to acting, directorial, and curatorial projects. We are particularly happy that in addition to supporting live performances, we are now also supporting the production of student films. Enjoy the shows!

Last year, Professor David Feldshuh was approached by a group of students who wanted to do a theatre project—and they were up for a challenge. Feldshuh took them at their word and came back with some guidelines. It would have to be something physical and fantastical. Language would have to be important. Vocal dexterity and variety would have to be part of the process and would help actors build useful skills. The project would have to be wildly theatrical and require students to go on an artistic journey to somewhere totally unpredictable. It would have to be something new. 

From these seeds, Orlando’s Gift emerged. Part adaptation, part biography, part love letter to language and to the art of writing, Orlando’s Gift tells two stories: the story of Virginia Woolf’s extraordinary novel Orlando and the story of the author herself, a writer who acknowledged the mad voices in her head as traveling companions to her own creativity. 

Woolf described Orlando as “an escapade, half-laughing, half-serious; with great splashes of exaggeration.” And what an escapade it is, following Orlando’s life from boyhood in Elizabethan England to womanhood in the twentieth century, with great adventures in between. 

Developing this play, Feldshuh says he “fell in love with Woolf again.” Virginia Woolf’s wit, keen observation, wild experimentation with form, and richness of language have made her one of the most significant and beloved writers of the twentieth century. Her work is complicated but at the same time, it invites theatrical transformation to ignite the imagination of an audience. 

This company and production raced headfirst and enthusiastically into that challenge. 

Aoise Stratford, Dramaturg, Orlando’s Gift

Zoe Addison Buddie (Orlando #3/Giles/Word)
Zoe is a junior double majoring in Psychology and Performing & Media Arts. You may have seen her slinking through the halls of the Schwartz Center at odd hours of the night or on stage in previous departmental and extracurricular shows (The Family Copoli, Chicago, Love and Information, Heathers, etc.). David Feldshuh's imagination bodies forth the forms of things unknown, and Zoe is ecstatic to be part of this process alongside such an unforgettable and dedicated cast and crew. She'd like to thank her family, friends, and Virginia Woolf.

Justin Lee (Orlando #1/Mr. Dupper/Word)
Justin is a junior studying PMA and Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences. His previous roles include Con in Stupid F**king Bird, JD in Heathers, Billy Flynn in Chicago, and Barfeé in Spelling Bee. He is so excited to be working with such a hard-working, talented cast and crew!

Luke Leh (Archduchess/Archduke/Word)
Luke is a senior in Computer Science and a dedicated storyteller. Drawing inspiration from both the media he enjoys and his Malaysian heritage, he aims to craft experiences that captivate in the moment while leaving lasting impressions. With a focus on innovation and creativity, Luke explores new perspectives across various storytelling mediums, particularly through the interactive nature of video games. @lukewnl

Liv Virginia Licursi (Sasha/Bartholomew/Word)
Liv is a senior studying Industrial and Labor Relations & Performing and Media Arts. Last summer, she performed at the Hollywood and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, and she is looking to produce a piece in Edinburgh this summer. Currently, she is producing an original play at the New York Theatre Festival, launching her own production company, serving as the President of Cornell Students Create, and preparing to direct the Melodramatics' spring 2025 show. She feels deeply connected to this piece and wants to thank David Feldshuh and all the collaborators on this project for everything. “Here we are, that’s all there is” -David.

Oscar Llodra (Orlando #2/Word)
Fifth-year architecture student Oscar Llodra works at the interconnection of architecture, film, and performance, finding new understandings and potentials of the built environment through their relation. When not on set, you may find him climbing rock, restoring cast-irons, or laying in the sun.

Tess Lovell (Virginia Woolf)
Tess is a senior studying Performing and Media Arts and Literatures in English. This is her seventh production at Cornell. You may also know her from the Whistling Shrimp Improv Comedy Troupe. Thank you to the cast (my family), the crew (my saviors), and Robin, Kathleen, and David (my heroes).

Jack Michael McManus (Willum/King Charles/Shelmerdine/Word)
Jack McManus, hailing from Baldwinsville, New York, is currently a senior at Cornell, and has spent the last three and a half years diving headfirst into every performing project he can get his hands on. Some previous works at Cornell include Sidney Bruhl in Deathtrap, Uncle Sorn in Stupid F***ing Bird, and directing Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice. He will cherish every moment he had working with David, the other ten talented actors and an amazing crew, and thanks them for letting him make magic with them.

Davis Norma Ouriel (Nick Greene/King James/Word)
 

Emily Elizabeth Pugh (Clorinda/Favilla/Euphrosyne/Mrs.Grimsditch/Word)
Emily is a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, double majoring in Performing and Media Arts and Literatures in English. At Cornell, she most recently acted in Love and Information with the PMA Department and directed Eurydice with the Cog Dog Theatre Troupe and Chicago with the Melodramatics. She has trained with the British American Drama Academy, The Prague Shakespeare Company, and The Juilliard School. She is grateful to have worked with this phenomenal cast, crew, and creative team and hopes you enjoy the show!

Emily Rose Rubinstein (Judith/Bawd #1/Word)
Emily is so excited to be a part of Orlando's Gift because of this amazingly talented cast and team! It has been an incredible experience and opportunity! Enjoy the show!

Katherine Lynn-Rose (Queen Elizabeth/Nell Gwynn/Word)
Katherine Lynn-Rose is an award-winning Chinese-Canadian actor, singer/songwriter, and writer/director represented by Rebel Creative Group in NY and LA. She performed her original music as a semi-finalist in the second season of Canada’s Got Talent. Her debut short film, Class Crush, which she wrote, directed, and starred in, premiered at TIFF Next Wave. Currently in her final year studying Performing and Media Arts at Cornell University, Katherine is thrilled to be performing in this incredible new play by Professor Feldshuh.

David Feldshuh (Writer/Director)

David Feldshuh has adapted and directed several projects at Cornell including Antigone (also produced at Center Stage Baltimore), A Christmas Carol (The Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis), Little Woman and The Awakening of Spring. Other plays include Dancing with Giants (Illusion Theater, Minneapolis), and Miss Evers’ Boys (off-Broadway, regional theatres and internationally). Miss Evers’ Boys was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama, and as an HBO movie, received five Emmys including Best Picture and the President’s Award for television exploring vital social issues. David is a Professor in the Department of Performing and Media Arts and serves as the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Sarah E. Bernstein (Costume Design)

Sarah Bernstein is the Resident Costume Designer at the Schwartz Center and Senior Lecturer in costume design, costume history, and character design. Some of her recent projects at Cornell include: The Family Copoli, HumaNatures, Locally Grown Dance 2023, Haunted Natures/Hidden Environments, Locally Grown Dance 2022, Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England, LGD 2021, Pipeline/Townhall, LGD 2020, The Next Storm, The Wolves, Spill, LGD 2019, Awakening of Spring, and Mr. Burns. Sarah is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University and the Yale School of Drama.

Kathleen Mulligan (Dialect and Vocal Coach)

Kathleen is a professor of voice and speech at Ithaca College. A proud member of Actors Equity, she has performed in productions across the U.S. and internationally. As a Fulbright scholar, Kathleen created the project Voices of Partition, devising original theatre pieces based on interviews with Partition survivors in Pakistan and India.

Aoise A. Stratford (Dramaturg) 

Aoise serves both as an Advising Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, and as a lecturer in Performing and Media Arts where she primarily teaches writing. She has a PhD from Cornell, and an MFA from the University of San Francisco. She has written many plays (and other kinds of stories including short films and fiction), and had her work produced throughout the USA and overseas. Her award-winning play “The Unfortunates” was a Time Out NY Critics Pick and is published by TRW. She also works as a dramaturg, helping other playwrights bring their work to the stage. As a scholar, Aoise has published essays about contemporary theatre, women playwrights, and the Gothic and is currently working on a book about Gothic Television. She regularly teaches First Year Writing seminars and loves working with students. She grew up in Australia and spent six years in California before making the move to Ithaca. She feels very lucky to be working with students in the classroom, in the rehearsal room, and as part of the Advising Team.

Robin Guiver (Movement Specialist)

Robin is an actor and movement specialist, recently relocated to Ithaca, having spent the past 15 years working professionally on stage and screen in the UK. He specialises in screen acting, puppetry and Lecoq based movement techniques. He is thrilled to be working both with the Cornell PMA, and on this new play by David Feldshuh. Robin’s previous theatre includes performing in the original West End cast of War Horse, multiple projects with Complicite, and the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony. His work on screen includes Doctor Who, the upcoming Wicked movie adaptations, and numerous award-winning independent shorts. Find out more at www.robinguiver.co.uk

Kent Goetz (Scenic Design)

Kent Goetz is a Professor Emeritus at Cornell’s Department of Performing and Media Arts and was the Resident Scene Designer at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts from 1991-2019. From 2002 to 2008 he served as department chair. He has designed at other institutions including: the Asolo Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Florida Stage, Geva Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Madison Repertory Theatre, Madison Opera, Skylight Opera, Body Politic Theatre, American Musical Theatre, Maine State Musical Theatre, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Hangar Theatre and Kitchen Theatre Company. He has also served as a scenic artist at the Long Wharf Theatre, Hartford Stage, Goodspeed Opera and Julliard. Prior to Cornell Kent taught theatre design at Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University.

Warren Cross (Sound Design)

Warren Cross is the Resident Sound Designer for the Department of Performing and Media Arts at Cornell University, and joined the department in 1990. In addition to designing sound for department productions, Warren teaches courses in Sound Design, Post Production, and Interactive Performance Technology. He attended Five Towns College for Music Technology, Manhattan School of Music for Composition, and SUNY Stony Brook for Technical Theatre.

Ethan Ordower (Assistant to the Director)

Ethan is a Senior majoring in Urban and Regional studies with a minor in Theatre. He has worked on numerous productions, in roles such as Stage Manager, Lighting Designer, Scenic Designer, and many more! He is also the President and Producer of The Melodramatics Theatre Company, the student-run musical theatre company on campus. He is so excited to be a part of this wonderful production, and is so excited for you all to see it!

Bryan Ealey (Lighting Design)

Jen Pearcy-Edwards (Movement Specialist)

Tim Ostrander (Props & Paint Coordinator)

Sharyn Schweitzer (Assistant Costume Designer)

Lila Alithea Rallatos (Music Coordinator)

Stage Manager: Alexa Alfonsi 

Assistant Stage Manager: Sarah Bewley 

Run Crew: Sam Potkin 

Light Board Programmer/Operator: Ethan Ordower 

Music Coordinator: Lila Rallatos

Props & Paint Assistant: Sevara Khojamuratova 

Sound Mixer/Operator: Giacomo Cuomo 

Head Dresser: Sharyn Schweitzer 

Dressers: Viki Ding, Bryn Elliot, Joyce Huang, Joanna Teran 

Costume First Hands: Isabel Berkenblit, Juliana Cross, Alex de Smidt, Lucy Jones, Venecia Lamy, Ana Mocklar, Avery Wang 

Production Technology Laboratory PMA 1610: Melissa Chu, Bixby Piccolo-Hill, Sharyn Schweitzer 

Scenic Work Studies: Maximilian Fanning, Bailey Hecht, Benjamin Okoronkwo, Katharine Turk

Production Manager: Andrew Deppen
Technical Director: Fritz Bernstein
Assistant Technical Director: Savannah Relos
Props & Paint Coordinator: Tim Ostrander
Costume Shop Supervisor: Lisa Boquist
Lighting & Video Supervisor: Michael Garrett
Computer Support: Chris Christensen
Communications Manager:  Youngsun Palmer 
Communications Coordinator:  Beatrice Fenyes-Gartenberg 

Special Thanks to
Ashley Alexander: child’s voice, Virginia’s nightmare
The Cherry Arts
Chris Christensen: adult’s voice, Virginia’s nightmare
Carolyn Goelzer
The Illusion Theater
Beth F. Milles
Dr. Samantha Sheppard
Saviana Stanescu