DISMANTLING PROSPERO

a new play with dance by Tom Rowan

Dismantling Prospero is the story of Griffin Bates, a dynamic choreographer who has built a top-ranked dance department at Midwestern University. He struggled to hold the program together during the recent pandemic, teaching dance classes online. Now that the students are finally back on campus, he decides to reinvigorate the department with an especially ambitious spring production: an original ballet version of The Tempest—and audaciously casts himself as the magician Prospero. But is Griffin prepared to navigate the minefield of today’s culture wars? Original music and choreographed dance sequences enliven this unique theatrical experience; the audience will see a new ballet coming to life before their eyes, complete with behind- the-scenes artistic struggles and political turmoil. Timely and provocative, Dismantling Prospero takes a bold look at diversity training, Shakespeare, artistic freedom, and campus politics in our rapidly changing world.

MEET OUR CAST

MEET OUR TEAM

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DISMANTLING PROSPERO

Produced by Marty Goldin @ TBD Capital, LLC

Written by Tom Rowan

Directed by Kevin Ray

Choreographed by Ai Toyoshima

Original piano score by Martin Hennessy

Stage Managed by Henry Menestrier

Line Producer Stuart Green

Assistant Choreographer Fuka Kojima

Co-produced by Laura Downing-Lee

SIX PERFORMANCES ONLY

Sunday - August 24- 2pm

Wednesday - August 27 - 6:30pm

Friday - August 29 - 6:30pm

Sunday - August 31 - 2pm

Monday - September 1 - 6:30pm

Sunday - September 7 - 2pm

Tickets on sale now!

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Industry comp requests: email TLRowan@hotmail.com

This project is supported in part by funds from the FAIR Artist Grant.

A barebones workshop presentation, part of the Dream Up Festival

Theater for the New City
155 First Avenue
(between 9th and 10th Streets)
Manhattan
212-254-1109

OUR CAST:

Edgar Eguia* (Dale)is a NY-based actor. Trained at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Notable NYC theatre credits include Goliath (Poetic Theater Productions); She Kills Monsters, Job (The Flea); The Bad and the Better (The Amoralists); 410 [GONE] (Yangtze Repertory Theatre); and Pip's Island. Recent film work includes Shackled; Filipinos Get Some; and Concessions with Josh Hamilton and Michael Madsen. Member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. Thanks to Tom and Kevin for the opportunity!

Joyce Goldin (Francine) got her start in acting via the world of improv. She originally took acting classes simply to improve her improv skills, but accidentally fell in love with acting. Although she still has a ton of fun with improv, practicing often with a long-time group, she has also been a working actress on-screen (film, commercials, new media) for the past 5 years. She is thrilled to be back in the theater this month. Two weeks ago she completed a run of "Lucky Stiff" for the Gene-Frankel theater festival and now she is honored to be part of this amazing story of Dismantling Prospero!

Candice Tiffany Gordon* (Wanda)is a New York-based actor originally from Washington, D.C. Her journey as an artist began with classical dance training and frequent trips to the Kennedy Center—experiences that laid a foundation for her passion for storytelling. She honed her craft by studying with industry pros in all the major markets and has since worked across film, television, and theater. Her screen credits include appearances on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, SVU, FBI, and various indie films. On stage, she gravitates toward emotionally complex material and is grateful for the opportunity to embody layered, multi-dimensional characters as she had while playing Alea Johnson in a self-produced run of Dennis McIntyre's Split Second. Candice thanks the entire creative team for trusting her to take this journey and giving her space to play. Learn more at candicetiffanygordon.com or follow @CandiceTGordon on Instagram.

Calista Jones (Sara) is an actor, singer, and dancer originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, and is delighted to perform in New York City for the first time with Dismantling Prospero! She was most recently seen on the national tour of Peter Pan. Other regional credits include: Maine State Music Theatre's Funny Girl, White Christmas, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy). Love to mom, family, and her incredible support system. @calista.jones

Joshua Elijah Lewis (Marcus) is a first-generation American actor, singer, choreographer based in New York City. Previous credits include: Fire Shut Up In My Bones (William, The Metropolitan Opera), A Doll’s House (Dr. Rank, Carnegie Mellon University), Twelfth Night (Sebastian, Santa Cruz Shakespeare), Hamlet (Hamlet, Tiny Theater), and In the Red and Brown Water (Ogun). BFA from Carnegie Mellon University #TurnTartan !! Follow him on IG: @therealjoshlewis

Monique Ward Lonergan* (Emily) is ecstatic to join the cast of Dismantling Prospero. Graduate of the Boston Conservatory with a BFA in Musical Theater with an Emphasis in Dance. She has had the privilege of working with many amazing artists and theatres including The Geffen Playhouse, Music Circus, and Speakeasy Stage. Some highlights include playing Dusty in POTUS, The Girl Into The Valley, Luisa in The Fantasticks, Mary Warren in The Crucible, and Miranda in The Tempest. She is thankful for this amazing team and her family who has supported her every step of the way.

Dana Segal* (Christina) has performed at The Edinburgh International Festival, LABrynth, EST, American Stage, Atlantic, Naked Angels, Drury Lane, and The Culture Project, among others. You can see and hear her on TV in commercials, voice overs, video games & as the voice of numerous children’s books. Dana has been in critically recognized Films, TV, Web and Animated Series including the Amazon Prime Series Casters, Winter Solstice, Curfew (Oscar Winner), Law & Order SVU and Celebrity Death Match. A graduate of RADA, Second City & NYU, she is the Winner of The LAWebfest Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy, a Break Out Performance Award, a TTB Theatre Honor & proud creator of Livinggreeninthecitys.com. Her new comedy series The Boca Girls will be premiering on YouTube in the Fall. Dana taught Political Theatre at NYU and has designed numerous Drama Programs for kids and teens all over the world. danasegal.com

Andy Start* (Griffin) is an actor, writer, and clinical social worker. Originally from Spokane, WA, they are a long-time New Yorker based in Queens. Their work as an artist has spanned film, TV, audiobooks, theater, dance, cabaret, variety, and cast recordings. As a social worker and genderqueer-identified person, Andy commits to a framework of mutual liberation in work with others experiencing life on the margins. Andy trained at Rutgers University, earning an MFA under the mentorship of Deborah Hedwall. Additionally, they studied dance at Point Park University, experimental theatre at The Evergreen State College and are currently earning an MSW from CUNY Hunter College. Proud member of AEA.

Jake Wallack (Jake) is a queer and Jewish actor, comedian, and writer based in Brooklyn. He can frequently be seen performing with his sketch comedy group Freak Jones at UCB @freakjones.ucb. Recent: The Great Lesbian Love of Eve Adams (The Tank). Jake is a graduate of Northwestern University, where his stage roles included Bobby in A Chorus Line.@jakewallack

*Member of Actors Equity Association. An AEA-approved Showcase.

CREATIVE TEAM:

Tom Rowan (Playwright) Tom’s produced plays include Kiss and Cry (GLAAD Nomination), The Second Tosca, Faye Drummond, David’s Play, The Blue Djinn (Best Short Play, Fresh Fruit Festival), and Festivities (presented online by Gallery Players during the pandemic). He has held commissions from The Ensemble Studio Theatre and the Maryland Opera Studio, where his libretto for The Young King (music by Martin Hennessy) was heard in concert in 2017. Tom’s work has been published by Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, Smith & Kraus, Next Stage Press, The New York Theatre Experience, and Steele Spring Stage Rights. He has directed over 75 plays and musicals, and has worked as a Casting Director, Literary Manager, and Acting Teacher. He is the author of the books A Chorus Line FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About Broadway’s Singular Sensation and Rent FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About Broadway’s Blaze of Glory.www.tomrowan.net

Kevin Ray (Director) is a Brooklyn based Generative Theater Artist, producing & directing original work in collaboration with actors & designers through KEVIN RAY | WORKS. His productions include Unearthly Visitants (2021), based on ghost stories by Edith Wharton, The Machine Stops (2023), based on the story of the same name by E.M Forster and We (2024), based on the dystopian novel by Russian dissident Yevgeny Zamyatin. Kevin’s work has been written about in Greenpointers and The New Yorker and has been described as “A Space Mountain roller coaster ride, an intellectual white water rafting expedition, a production that will have you talking about it for hours and days to come.” Kevin holds an MFA in theater directing from Brooklyn College and he writes about producing and directing independent theater on his Substack publication Modern Drama. kevinrayworks.com

Martin Hennessy (Composer) is delighted to work with Tom Rowan again. He composed music for Tom’s play, “The Blue Djinn,” presented at the Fresh Fruit Festival, and he and Tom collaborated on an operatic adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s “The Young King” for Maryland Opera Studio winning a commission from the University of Maryland. Hennessy’s other works include the two-act opera "Swimming in the Dark," based on Tomasz Jedrowski's LGBTQ+ bestseller with a libretto by Stephen Kitsakos for IU's Jacobs School of Music, and the chamber opera fantasy "Maria Estuardo," with a libretto by Irma Correa for LaJoven Teatro Real in Madrid, which will be performed again at Seville's Teatro de la Maestranza in February 2026. In addition, Hennessy and Kitsakos received rave reviews for “The Pleasing Recollection/A Cabaret Opera” starring Michael Kelly at Feinstein’s 54 Below in 2024. Visit him at www.martinhennessy.net.

Ai Toyoshima (Choreographer) is a New York based AEA actor and choreographer who has passion in both performing and directing/choreographing. Her credits include Sailor Moon Super Live, North American Tour, Attack on Titan at New York City Center, My Best Friend’s Wedding World Premier Production at Ogunquit Playhouse, Three Houses at Signature Theater, and Land that I Love, to name a few. Additionally, in 2024, she was appointed Artistic Director of the Time Capsule Project and successfully ran a week-long theater festival.

Henry Menestrier (Stage Manager, Lighting Designer) is a NYC-based theatre artist, focused predominantly on stage management and lighting design. He holds a BFA in Technical Theater and Design from Brooklyn College. Recent Stage Management credits include WE (Mark O'Donnell Theater), The Machine Stops (Mark O'Donnell Theater) Unearthly Visitants (Triskelion Arts Center), The Moors (Brooklyn College), Little Women (The Gallery Players), and The Winter's Tale (Brooklyn College).

Marty Goldin (Producer) started his theater career jumping off a stage in a caffeine withdrawal craze in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. After a 40-year hiatus as a real estate guy, Marty returned to the theater at Gallery Players. Marty has produced/co-produced Appointment with Death, Spring Awakening, Steel Magnolias, and Ain’t Misbehavin’, among others. Marty is pleased to help bring Dismantling Prospero to life for this year’s Dream Up Festival at Theater for the New City.

Special Thanks:
Tyler Brown Dance Center, John Hickok, Marlene Canapi, Arc Stages, Will Taylor, Elaine Devlin, Richard Rowan, Jonathan Randell Silver, Thomas Coumbe