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kemps

 

By

2021 - 2022 Season

kemps

By Emma P Horwitz
Directed by Caitlin Davies
March 3rd - 7th, 2022

In the pine-woods of the Poconos at a sleep-away camp, where Every Girl Here Is A Winner, welcome to the last summer of your life. Lip-syncs, line-up, Lil Miss, and that poster you were never brave enough to put up in your bedroom. A queer coming-of-age epic, Kemps is a play about finding yourself when you’ve been here the whole time.

 

Tickets are now available! (Please Note: online ticket sales end Friday March 4th, in-person ticket sales will be cash only)

Thursday March 3rd at 7:30 p.m.

Friday March 4th at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday March 5th at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday March 6th at 2 p.m.

Sunday March 6th at 7:30 p.m.

Monday March 7th at 5:30 p.m.

 

Caitlin Davies (Director) is a New York-based director, actor, and award-winning audiobook narrator. She has directed in New York and regionally and assistant directed "Mac Beth" (Hunter Theater Project, dir. Erica Schmidt), "Hindle Wakes" (Mint Theater Company, dir. Gus Kaikkonen), "The Sound of Music" (Alabama Shakespeare Festival. dir. Rick Dildine) and "Into The Breeches!" (Trinity Repertory Company, dir. Tyler Dobrowksy). Caitlin also directs audiobooks for Macmillan, Harper, and Hachette. Education: Vassar College BA, Brown/Trinity Rep. MFA. She is a proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA, and an SDC Associate. "Kemps" is Caitlin’s first show with Kenan Theatre Company and it’s been a pleasure to work with this talented cast, crew, and production team!


Emma Horwitz is a writer and teacher from New York City. Her plays have been supported by The Playwrights Realm (2021-2022 Writing Fellow), the Williamstown Theater Festival (2020 Playwright-in-Residence), New Georges (Affiliated Artist), and elsewhere. Her work in fiction and comics have been published in print and online at places like Joyland Magazine, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, Two Serious Ladies, and Spiral Bound, among others, and she has held residencies with Arts Letters & Numbers, and CAMP (Collaborative Arts Mobility Project). She has taught playwriting workshops at Brown University, Mount Holyoke College, and the Rhode Island School of Design. BA: Bard College, Written Arts. MFA: Brown University, Playwriting. Author's Website

Z: Lauren Ragsdale
Lauren is a senior at UNC majoring in the Music and Dramatic Arts B.A. programs. Originally from Tennessee, she has performed with UNC Opera and multiple student and departmental productions at the university. Lauren’s recent collaborations include Theatre in the Park, Burning Coal Theatre, and Women’s Theatre Festival, and Cary Playwrights. After college, she hopes to attend graduate school and receive an M.F.A. in acting. She would like to thank her family and friends for their amazing support, anyone who has ever taught her how to act (Kathy Williams, Ray Dooley), and especially Jeff Cornell for his never-ending wisdom and support. She would not like to Gracie Watt for making her pick the top bunk with the spider above it 10 years ago, which resulted in her sleeping with the luggage for the week out of fear. Kemps was a much better camp experience.
Len: Nijal Morgan
Nijal Is a Junior Philosophy major at Carolina in his first stage production. He is incredibly excited to be performing for KTC and aims to continue acting at Carolina. He is also a member of the Forest Theatre Players so please be on the lookout for their great Shakespearian productions. He would like to thank everyone that ever shared a kind word.
K: Erica Bass
Erica Bass is a sophomore at UNC studying Dramatic Art, Political Science, and the Classical Humanities. This is Erica’s first show with Kenan Theatre Company, and she couldn’t be more excited! She also works as an actor with UNC Student Television and Carolina Film Association. She’d like to thank everyone coming to watch and support her, as well as the cast and crew.
Cassie: Lauren Flors
Lauren Flors is a junior at UNC double majoring in English and Comparative Literature and Dramatic Art with a minor in Creative Writing. She is so super excited that kemps is her KTC debut! Her other roles at UNC include Anna in A Bright New Boise (LAB! Theatre Company) and Tyne in Fear of Buildings (LAB! Theatre Company). Lauren is also a member of the Chapel Hill Players (CHiPs), UNC's primer improv and sketch comedy group. She'd like to thank her amazing friends and family for their continued love and support 🙂
Rachel: Biz Hillenbrand
Isabelle "Biz" Hillenbrand is a junior at UNC double majoring in Dramatic Arts and Advertising/Public Relations. She is so excited to be acting in her second show with Kenan Theatre Company, where she has previously worked as a costume designer, producer, and set designer. She would like to thank her parents for never sending her to sleepaway camp, as she now understands that she would've read and/or cried the entire time.
Carrie: Julia Finke
Julia is a sophomore from Norfolk, Virginia double majoring in Dramatic Arts and Film Studies. Previous UNC credits include Alice in Escaped Alone with Company Carolina, 395 in Laundry with LAB! Theatre, and Dolly in KTC’s Anna K. She also serves as the Production Manager of Events with LAB! and is responsible for producing 24 Hour Plays & Live Readings of Erotic Fiction. She’d like to thank whoever placed a jumping spider in her sneaker during her first session at Camp Chanco, which resulted in her crying in front of her bunk mates in terror and embarrassment. This performance would not have been possible without them.
Jenna: Ciara Dejesus
Ciara DeJesus is a senior at Carolina studying Dramatic Art and Sociology. She is super excited to be apart of Kemps and her third show with KTC! Previous UNC credits include: AnnaMae (By The Way Meet Vera Stark) and Allysha (The Winged Man), and Vi (Escaped Alone) with Company Carolina. Previous credits outside UNC include: Romaine Patterson (The Laramie Project), Elmire (Tartuffe), Cassie (Rumors), etc. She is an active member with the Forest Theatre Players and can be seen in their upcoming production of Much Ado About Nothing. She'd like to thank her cast for creating the summer camp memories she never had. <3
Sam: Katie Whittington
Katie Whittington is a freshman at UNC Chapel Hill studying Public Policy with minors in Environmental Justice and Social and Economic Justice. This is her first show with KTC, but she is no stranger to the stage. Some of her favorite past roles include Faith in Ascension Day (Penn-Griffin School for the Arts) and Cinderella in Into the Woods Jr. (High Point Community Theatre). She is beyond excited to be joining the KTC family and would like to thank her parents, boyfriend, ~suite tie cakes~, and, of course, the phenomenal kemps cast and crew.

Technical Director: Jordan Clodfelter

Jordan Clodfelter (she/her) is thrilled to be a part of her second production as the Technical Director for Kenan Theatre Company! She recently graduated from Meredith College with her BA in Theatre. Some of her past credits include KTC’s production of Anna K, as well as serving as the assistant scenic painter for Temple Theater’s production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. She would love to give a shout out to her friends, family and Austin for all of their love and support, as well as her work study students for all of their hard work.

Producer: Ava Pukatch

Ava Pukatch is a senior at Carolina studying journalism and political science. She is excited to produce kemps as the Lillian Chason scholar this year. Previous roles with KTC include assistant stage managing The Language Archive and producing the One Act Series as well as virtual short plays during COVID-19. Thanks so much her family for supporting all her endeavors at UNC the past four years and to the cast, crew, Dave and the Chason Family for bringing this amazing production to life.

Stage Manager: Elizabeth Redding

Elizabeth Redding is a junior at UNC studying Dramatic Art and Chemistry. She is ecstatic to share this hilarious and poignant show with everyone. Recent positions include lighting design for Anna K (KTC); stage management for M Butterfly (Company Carolina), the One Acts Festival (KTC), and By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (KTC). Elizabeth also is the technical director for LAB! Theatre and the Master Electrician for KTC. She would like to thank the wonderful cast and production staff for bringing the show to life.

Assistant Stage Manager: Aubrey Reid

Aubrey Reid is a sophomore at Carolina studying Dramatic Art. This is her first show working with Kenan Theatre Company as well as her first show at Carolina, and she is really excited for the opportunity to work on such an amazing show. Previously she worked crew for Music City, Annie, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Mempis (CFRT), as well as sound operator for Richard III and Merry Wives of Windsor (Sweet Tea Shakespeare). She would like to thank her parents, her sister, her friends in Pride Place, and the phenomenal cast and crew.

Assistant Stage Manager: Xiuping Xiong

Xiuping Xiong is a sophomore at UNC majoring in Dramatic Art and Political Science. Kemps is his first show working with KTC and he recommend you with all of his heart to enjoy this production. He would like to thank the awesome crew and cast for producing this show and his friends for supporting him.

Costume Designer: Zoë Lord

Zoë is a senior at Carolina studying Political Science and Public Policy. She is both excited and sad that kemps will be her last show with KTC. She has worked on Hedda Gabler and the KTC One Acts. She would like to thank her parents, the cast and crew, but most importantly the rental department at Boston Costume for having a bear suit.

Sound Designer: Baker Franklin

Scenic Designer: David Navalinsky

Assistant Scenic Designer: Alex West

Alex is a freshman at UNC and is currently trying to cover all their bases in the tech world. Learning about scenic design has been the highlight of their first semester and they can’t wait to work on future productions! They would like to thank Mr. Navalinsky for offering them this opportunity. 

Assistant Scenic Designer: Alison Dixon

Props Master: Emily Sallade

Em Sallade is a senior, majoring in Psychology and Women’s Studies. They have been involved with KTC for 4 years, and would like to thank the company for so many opportunities for growth, both as a participant in theatre production and as a person. Em's most recent projects include Anna K, Nia, Indeed, Friend!, and Trifles.

They would like to apologize to their dog for being out late doing theatre work the last few weeks.

Lighting Designer: Lucinda Rosen

Lucinda Rosen is a freshman at UNC studying political science. She is overjoyed to have had the opportunity to be part of the Kemps production team. She would like to make a special thank you to David Navalinsky for shepherding her through this exciting process.

Lighting Designer: Alicia Laxton

Alicia Laxton is a freshman majoring in Communication Studies. She is excited to be involved in her very first theatre production. She would like to thank everyone who has helped answer the many questions she and Lucinda had, as well as her family (especially her dogs).