The Department of Performing and Media Arts (PMA) 

presents

Reach for the Sky 
^{_{An Original Experience with Music}}

Written and Directed by Cole Romero ‘22

Black Box Theatre
Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts

October 28th 7:30 p.m.

October 29th 5:00 p.m.

October 30th 2:00 and 7:30 p.m.

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 change.
 
In the 2021-2022 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 several student thesis films. Enjoy the shows!

If you could look inside someone’s mind, what would it look like? What do you remember? Who do you see? What might you find in the maze of memories? What kind of chaos ensues in this cerebral cage?

As a human being and as a storyteller, I have been waiting a very long time for this opportunity to express myself. To get here has been the ride of my life so far and I couldn’t be happier to share Reach for the Sky with all of you. In developing this project, I originally wrote drafts more “Broadway-style” because I really wanted to explore music onstage. However, it became clear how inauthentic the story, the characters, and the experience felt. I wasn’t communicating the root of the complexity.

Reach for the Sky is the most vulnerable and honest presentation I can give at the moment. The journey I’ve had with discovering my identity as a non-binary human has not been straight nor at all clear. The way my brain works, the way my mind roams, how scattered I can feel; I wanted to capture some of that experience and welcome you to take a peek.

The journey that Sky goes on requires the audience to be present. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here and being a part of this experience. I’ve had such a hard time being honest with myself through all of my life, and this is my way of articulating myself as authentically as I can. I hope you all enjoy. Thank you endlessly to Arin, Kenny, Luke, and the cast for helping me bring this vision to life. It’s been such an honor to work with all of these talented people.
 

Lila Rallatos (She/They) - Sky
Howdy folks! Lila is a gal/non-binary pal who is comically excited to be a part of this experience with all of you. As a writer, director, and actor, they've felt so attached to this show and the personal, queer journey it represents ever since she first read the script. Previously, Lila directed "She Kills Monsters" with the Cog Dog Theater Troupe at Cornell alongside acting in various Cog Dog and Cornell Shakespeare productions since she started studying Environmental Engineering last year. For Lila, "Reach for the Sky" is a perfect exploration of their gender identity manifested on stage.

Fannie Massarsky (She/Her) - Maeve
Fannie Massarsky is a very fun and fresh (this is objective) sophomore Psychology major from Brooklyn, New York. She has acted in two Cog Dog short plays her first semester of freshman year, and has directed “The Dream of the Burning Boy” last semester. She loves all things related to theater and is very excited and grateful to have had an opportunity to work on this show! A big thank you to Cole, Arin, Kenny, and Luke, and the entire cast and crew!

Sarah Lu (She/Her) - Tracy 
Sarah Lu is a graduate student from Naperville, Illinois who is pursuing a Masters in Public Administration at Cornell's Jeb E Brooks School of Public Policy. This is Sarah's first production at Cornell and she is super excited to show what she and her fellow castmates have worked hard on for more than a month. Sarah graduated this past spring from Vanderbilt University where she studied Cognitive Studies, Theatre, and pursued a minor in Political Science. There she was involved in productions such as the First Year Showcase, The Language Archive, and Bowling for Beginners.

Jack McManus (He/Him) - Jay
Jack McManus is from Baldwinsville, New York, and is a freshman at Cornell University this year. He has previously been involved on campus in Festival 24 '21 and Saving for 17. He is currently studying Biochemistry, and in his free time enjoys running and watching films.

Matthew Saylor (He/Him) - Miller
Matthew Saylor is a freshman from Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, studying Mathematics, and is thrilled to be appearing in his first performance at Cornell. In addition to the Cornell Glee Club, he has performed regionally in Philadelphia at The Walnut Street Theatre, A Christmas Story (ensemble) and The Media Theatre, Into the Woods (The Baker), with other memorable roles in community & high school theater such as Oliver (Artful Dodger), Newsies (Jack Kelly), Hairspray (Link Larkin), and Macbeth (Macbeth). He would like to thank Cole and everyone for this incredible opportunity and is excited to begin his theatrical college journey.

Hannah Irvine (She/Her) - Lucy
Hannah is a Government major in the College of Arts and Sciences. This is her first production at Cornell. She is from Southampton in the United Kingdom and she is so excited to be getting involved in theatre at Cornell.

Cole Romero (They/Them) - Director/Writer
Cole Romero is a senior studying Performing and Media Arts with a minor in English Literature. Cole has been dedicated to the craft of storytelling since coming to Cornell in Fall 2018. First starring in 10-Minute Play Fest, Cog Dog Theatre Troupe's productions of "Rumors" and "The Big Meal", and PMA's "Spill", their efforts have since been seen co-directing "There For You: A New Musical", directing for 10-Minute Play Fest and developing this very production. Cole would like to thank you all endlessly for coming out and joining me on this journey. This experience could not have been possible without the cast, the designers, the crew, and they hope you enjoy your time tonight. Without your presence, Sky could not begin their journey...so, thank you.

Kenny Aune (He/Him) - Assistant Director 
Kenny is a sophomore from Honolulu studying Performing and Media Arts. Recent directing credits include Festival 24, and the Spring Melodramatic's Musical, "Title of Show." On-campus, Kenny is a part of the A-cappella group "The Chordials," and he is also pursuing a game design minor. Kenny is so grateful for getting to work with Cole on this project, and he hopes you enjoy the show!

Arin Sheehan (She/Her) - Producer/Stage Manager    
Arin Sheehan is a senior in AEM studying Marketing and Strategy with a minor in PMA. On-campus, she has been producer of Festival24 since Spring 2018 and is currently the co-producer of the Melodramatics Theatre Company. Previously she has produced the PMA Fall 2020 10-Minute Play Fest and The Melodramatics Theatre Company's Spring 2021 production of [title of show]. Besides that, she is currently the Planning & Events chair for CAMP.

Stacie Dressel (She/Her) - Assistant Stage Manager
Stacie is a Biological Engineering major from Wisconsin. She is involved in activities with Risley Residential College, Engineers for a Sustainable World, Wind Symphony, and Research on campus. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, crafting, singing, and thrifting.

Luke Ellis (He/Him) - Music Director/Composer
Luke Ellis is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Information Science and Music. He is from Honolulu, Hawaii, where he went to high school with Assistant Director Kenny Aune. He is excited to be debuting his first original songs of the musical theater variety. Luke is the President of Jazz+, a student organization supporting Cornell's community of musicians and music lovers. You can also hear him playing piano with Cornell jazz groups, at random hours in the Lincoln Hall basement, or on his Instagram @lukegrooves

Thea Goldman (She/Her) - Technical Director/Design    
Thea Goldman is a senior PMA student concentrating in set design. You may have seen Thea’s design work in “The Nether” (Cornell University, 2020). This past summer, she also worked as a scenic constructor and assistant technical director at The Hangar Theater here in Ithaca. When she isn’t building, designing, or drawing, Thea enjoys watching messy reality TV with her pet rabbit, Jojo.

Adam Shulman (He/Him) - Set Design 
Adam Shulman (BFA/BA ‘23) studies Fine Arts, Performing and Media Arts, and Music. He has designed sets for “Asiamnesia” (PMA, 2021) and "L'Histoire du Soldat" (Hubbard Hall, Cambridge NY, 2018). Last spring, he presented the projection and lighting installation, “After Nature had Drawn a Few Breaths…” on the exterior of the Schwartz Center. On the physical and virtual Cornell stage, he has appeared in "Cymbeline Anthroposcenes" (2021), Festival 24, The 10 Minute Play Fest, and the Shakespeare Troupe at Cornell. A native upstater, he is currently studying art in Rome, and has delighted in collaborating overseas toward Cole’s beautiful vision!

Anastasia Kriesel (She/Her) - Light Design    
Anastasia is a senior originally from Atlanta, Georgia. She is double majoring in psychology and PMA, and double minoring in education and human development. Within PMA, she focuses on lighting design and has helped with the electrical and design aspects of many projects throughout the department. Outside of PMA she does research studying intelligence and creativity in the Sternberg Lab, is on the eBoard for Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity, and a member of the color guard for the Big Red Marching Band. 
 

PRODUCTION CREW
Kayla Bouazouni, Kaitlyn Cui, Jacob Duffles-Andrade, Julianna Lee, Anusua Nath, Bella Peters, Cole Romero, Yifan Tong

ELECTRICS CREW
Emlen Brown, Anastasia Kreisel, Matthew Secondine, Ariel Shaked

BUILDING/HOUSE MANAGERS
Sofia Aguirre, Mackenzie Closson, Naomi Daniel, Samantha Granja, Deepak Ilango, Anastasia Kreisel, Jack McManus, Maxwell Ringer, Matthew Saylor, Ariel Shaked, Sarah Zaragoza-Smith

PMA PRODUCTION STAFF
Director of Productions & Events: Pamela Lillard
Technical Director: Fritz Bernstein
Stage Manager: Howard Klein
Assistant Technical Director: Savannah Relos
Props Coordinator: Tim Ostrander
Master Electrician: Steven Blasberg
Costume Shop Supervisor: Lisa Boquist
Computer Support: Chris Christensen
Media Assistant: Randy Hendrickson
Communications & Events Coordinator: Youngsun Palmer
Communications Manager: Gary Gabisan
Box Office Manager: Julie Tibbits
Department Manager: Christopher Riley