ZACK WINOKUR, PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR LAURA CLEMENT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Case of the Stranger
CREATED & PERFORMED BY
WHITNEY WHITE
CO-DIRECTOR
MAXIM POZDOROVKIN
MUSIC DIRECTION / PIANO
BEN COVELLO
TRUMPET
CLYDE DALEY
TROMBONE
EMILY “FREDDIE” FREDERICKSON
GUITAR/OUD
HARVEY VALDES
BASS
MOHAN RITSEMA
DRUMS/VIOLIN/MANDOLIN
NATHAN REPASZ
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
RODRIGO HERRERA
FEATURING ROTANA TARABZOUNI, VERONICA OTIM, WHITNEY WHITE
About This Performance
Refugee. Alien. Immigrant.
What are the terms we use to describe human lives? In a nearly forgotten passage from Sir Thomas More, Shakespeare uses a unique one: stranger.
With a score rooted in soul, jazz, and diverse geographical soundworlds, The Case of the Stranger takes its title from a passage in Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More — one of the earliest known pleas for a compassionate refugee policy. The piece explores themes of identity, migration, and the power of unexpected kinship. Written and composed by performer, and Tony-nominated director Whitney White. Previously developed with Guildhall Manhattan Theatre Club and the Rolex Arts Festival in Greece.
Seating opens 30 minutes before showtime and is available on the grass or benches.
Accessible seating is available. Please inform staff upon arrival if accommodations are needed.
The Cast
Rotana Tarabzouni
Traveler 2
Veronica Otim
Traveler 3
Whitney White
Traveler 1
Creative Credits
Whitney White
Writer & Co-Director
Whitney White is an Obie and Lilly Award winning director, actor, and musician based in Brooklyn, New York. She is a Tony Award nominee, a recipient of the Susan Stroman Directing award, an Artistic Associate at the Roundabout and part of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. Her original musical Definition was part of the 2019 Sundance Theatre Lab, and her four-part musical exploration of Shakespeare’s Women and ambition is currently under commission with the Royal Shakespeare Company (UK). She has developed work with: Manhattan Theatre Club, The Public Theatre, Ars Nova, The Drama League, Roundabout, New York Theatre Workshop, The Lark, The Movement, Jack, Bard College, NYU Tisch, Juilliard, Princeton, SUNY Purchase, South Oxford, Luna Stage and more. Whitney was a staff writer on Boots Riley’s I’M A VIRGO (Amazon, Media Res). Whitney is a believer in collaborative processes and new forms. Her musical discipline is rooted in indie-soul, and rock. She is passionate about black stories, reconstructing classics, stories for and about women, genre-defying multimedia work and film. Past fellowships include: New York Theatre Workshop 2050 Fellowship, Ars Nova’s Makers Lab, Colt Coeur and the Drama League. MFA Acting: Brown University/Trinity Rep, BA Political Science, Certificate in Musical Theatre: Northwestern University.
Maxim Pozdorovkin
Co-Director
Maxim Pozdorovkin is an award-winning director and writer based in New York. Most recently, Maxim wrote and directed,The Conspiracy, an animated feature that charts the history of conspiracy theories. Produced by Story Syndicate, the film stars Liev Schreiber, Lake Bell, Ben Shenkman and Jason Alexander. Hailed as “a terrifying work of science nonfiction,” The Truth About Killer Robots (HBOMax) premiered at the 2018 TIFF and has won multiple awards at festivals around the world. Our New President, made entirely of Russian propaganda covering the Trump presidency, premiered at Sundance 2018 where it won a Special Jury Award. Maxim’s other films include: Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer (Emmy winner), The Notorious Mr. Bout (Sundance 2014), Clinica de Migrantes(HBOMAX). Maxim holds a PhD from Harvard University for a dissertation on early Soviet propaganda and is a frequent media commentator on Russian politics.
Ben Covello
Music Director / Piano
Ben Covello is a New York Music Director, Pianist/Conductor, Guitarist, Orchestrator, and Collaborator. He is involved in the developmental processes of new projects in collaboration with BAM, Deaf West, Manhattan Theater Club, Guild Hall, the Athens Conservatoire in Greece, Lincoln Center, American Conservatory Theater, Ars Nova, Goodspeed Opera House, and others.
Ben was recently the Associate Conductor and Guitarist on Deaf West’s American Idiot revival at the Mark Taper Forum in LA. Ben currently is a substitute musician for The Outsiders on Broadway, where he also serves as a rehearsal pianist.
Ben strongly believes in the power of art and collaboration to challenge and advance the thinking of the masses. His approach is rooted in an undying desire to disrupt convention and tradition on both a microscopic and universal scale, and he is so grateful to always be surrounded by a community of artists, friends, and family that support one another unconditionally.
Rodrigo Herrera
Production Stage Manager
Rodrigo Herrera (he/him) Proudly Mexican. Industrial engineer and Stage Manager. Previous credits include: Broadway: Home (Roundabout), Hell’s Kitchen, Bob Fosse’s Dancin’; Nat’l tours: Hamilton (Philip & Angelica), Beetlejuice; Regional: Juan Planchard (Miami New Drama), Rent (Paper Mill Playhouse), In the Heights (Stages St. Louis). USITT’s Stage Management Mentorship Project alumnus. Thanks to my family, mentors, and friends (Rosy, Antonio, Toño, Nancy). BA in Theatre and Dance from The University of Texas at Austin. Immigrants, we get the job done!
Clyde Daley
Trumpet
Clyde Daley is a freelance trumpeter and teacher based in the NYC Metropolitan area. He has played at many of the city’s prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, The Beacon Theatre, Trinity Church Wall Street, and Riverside Church. In addition to playing with orchestras and opera companies, He has held chairs on several Off-Broadway shows and has performed as a sub on several Broadway shows.
Emily "Freddie" Frederickson
Trombone
Emily “Freddie” Fredrickson (She/they) is trombonist, composer, arranger, and arts advocate from Clearwater, Florida. She is an artist inspired to create and support honest endeavors by forging powerful, unlikely connections using her diverse background and widely varied skill set. They are a featured solo trombonist of the first national tour and Broadway sub of the Tony and Grammy award-winning Broadway musical, Hadestown. She has arranged over 200 works for big band and orchestra and has over 10 years of experience with music nonprofit organizations in programming and education.
Harvey Valdes
Guitar/Oud
A guitarist and multi-instrumentalist of searching, sophisticated musicality, Harvey Valdes, is renowned for his unique musical voice which spans a range of idioms and styles. His versatility has enabled him to work in refreshingly diverse situations, from award winning Broadway musicals, Baroque Opera, Middle Eastern music, experimental music, film scores, and the music of Bach.
Harvey’s work in NYC theater includes Broadway, Off-Broadway, and downtown theater. He was the onstage oud/guitar player for the Broadway hit, The Band’s Visit. The musical received 10 Tony awards, a 2019 Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album, and an Emmy. On the Off- Broadway stage, he has worked with Soho Rep, Atlantic Theater Company, New York Theater Workshop, The Public Theater, in addition to his stint with world renowned experimental theater, The Wooster Group.
Mohan Ritsema
Bass
Mohan has been in love with music for as long as he can remember. He took music lessons from age 8 through high school, and continued his education at the University of Michigan, where he got a BFA in Jazz Studies. You can find him playing bass at venues around New York, on Broadway, and all over the country, or simply making music in his bedroom.
Nathan Repasz
Drums/Violin/Mandolin
Nathan Repasz is a New York-based drummer, vocalist, improviser, theatremaker, and Foley artist. He is a founding member of the experimental theatre company CHILD, which presented “1-800-3592-113592” in Spring 2024 and was included in The New Yorker’s “Best Theatre of 2024” list. Recent/current projects, on drums: “The Best You Can,” a film by Michael Weithorn starring Kevin Bacon; “Fouad of Nazareth” by Fouad Dakwar; “Golem Owned A Tropical Smoothie” by Ethan Crystal + Garrett Poladian; and “Dirty Dancing in Concert” tour (US+Canada). As vocalist: “We Don’t Need the Sea to Drown” by Coco Karol + Sxip Shirey; The Marble Choir (staff tenor). As Foley artist: “Silent Light,” an opera by Paola Prestini and the devised piece “Lone Wolf” (NYC and Luxembourg). As music director/multi-instrumentalist: “The Four Lives” by Theodora Skipitares. His solo language+percussion performance practice explores liminal spaces between sense/nonsense and groove/noise and his piece “National Hot Dog Day” was featured in the 2024 “Emergency Index”. He works as a choral singer, session/pit musician, theatre artist, and goat-cheesemonger in the NYC area.
Repertory Design
Mary Ellen StebbinsLighting Designer, Repertory Lighting Plot
Nicholas PollockAssociate Lighting Designer, Repertory Lighting Plot
Shannon SlatonSound Designer, Repertory Sound System
Nikki BelenskiAssociate Sound Designer, Repertory Sound System
Additional Programming Support
Arthouse: Sara Fitzpatrick, Marc Mettler, Sarah Marcus Hansen, Justin Yu, Travis Moser, Yael Matlow, Brandon Stansell, Kat Largent, Gina SurianoAdvertising & Social
DKC/O&M: Rick Miramontez, Ellie Detwiler, Abby KelleyPublic Relations
Amiah McGintyEmerging Producer
Madyson BarnfieldAssistant Producer
Vivian Yining CaoCompany Manager
Riley Donelson-NewhouseAssistant Production Manager
Annie MaclinAssistant Production Manager
Liz CoulterAssistant Production Manager
Kevin MarquezArtistic Programming Fellow
Nathalia Velasco HerreraMarketing and Communications Fellow
Production Crew
Henry MayrHouse Audio
Kaitlyn TrustyA2
Nicholas CialoneLighting Board Operator
Year-Round Staff
Executive
Laura Clement
Executive Director
Zack Winokur
Producing Artistic Director
Jennifer Ardizzone-West
Chief Operating Officer
Shawn Cargil
Senior Director of Park Operations
Kelsey Martinez
Senior Director of Artistic Programming
Michael Wiggins
Senior Director of Engagement and Strategic Programs
Jon Grenon
Executive Assistant
Park Operations
Orrin Sheehan
Director of Horticulture
Grace Cho
Facilities Manager
Jessica Douglas
Park Operations Manager
Adelin Rodriguez
Park Supervisor
David Pallatta
Horticulture Supervisor
Susannah Shyyunn Go
Assistant Manager of Park Administration
Tyreek Holland
Senior Park Supervisor
Jennifer Pacuruco
Horticulture & Facilities Associate
Anthony Fillat
Maintenance Technician
Isabel Allen
Park Operations Associate
Sanjeev Uppal
Park Attendant/Assistant Park Supervisor
Stephen Jenkins
Park Attendant/Assistant Park Supervisor
Johnny Brown
Park Attendant
Ramfy Acosta
Park Attendant
Yumilka Perez
Park Attendant
Noel Molina
Junior Maintenance Technician
Robert Casellas Jr
Junior Maintenance Technician
Shanequa Coleman
Custodian/Assistant Park Supervisor
Leonela Vicente Nivar
Custodian/Custodial Supervisor
Ana Maria Del Orbe Gil
Custodian
Mariyeni Perez Tobal
Custodian
Artistic Programming
Ed Wasserman
Associate Producing Artistic Director
Maan Singh Tinna
General Manager
Patrick Lachance
Production Manager
Cameron Appel
Associate General Manager
David Glista
Technical Director
Kris Pritchard
Associate Production Manager
Maxwell Friedman
Producer
Sarah Bellin
Producer
Jonathan Chang
Assistant Producer
Taji Senior
Executive Assistant
Marketing & Communications
Abby McLoughlin
Director of Marketing & Communications
Danielle Ruff
Senior Marketing & Communications Lead
Education & Community Relations
Santos Collado
Assistant Manager of Workforce Development
Administrative
Ben Clark
Director of Finance
Lisa Guzman
Assistant Director of Business Affairs and Capital Planning
Sonja Toulouse-Martin
Assistant Director of Human Resource Operations
Katherine Stamford
Human Resources Generalist
Melanie Dorsey
Talent Manager
Sara Houston
Payroll Specialist
Joshua Perdomo
Administrative Associate
Kai Chieh Tu
Finance Associate
Arcinello Jocson
Administrative Coordinator
Jaali Michael Phillips
Human Resources Coordinator
Special Thanks
Specialthanksto Minerva Perez and her organization OLA of Eastern Long Island, an organization that works to create a more equitable East End for Latino immigrants through advocating for just and inclusive government and school policies; protecting families; nurturing power and unity among Latinos through leadership workshops and other programs; and building bridges among different sectors of the East End community through celebrating arts and culture.
Special thanks to Taibi Magar, Anthony Madonna, Matvey Kulakov, Nicki Hunter, Zack Winokour and Minerva Perez, Executive Director of OLA of Eastern Long Island.
The Case of the Stranger is an Edgerton Foundation New Play Commission awarded by the Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director, Barry Grove, Executive Producer
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Bio to come
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