Director: Roxanna Conner
Assistant Director: Jahan Pierre
Scenic Designers: Bridget Kearbey and Nina Kasman
Costume Designer: Jeremy W. Floyd
Assistant Costume Designer: Danisha Gilmore
Lighting Designer: Brandon Wardell
Associate Lighting Designer: Mike Kozel
Technical Director: Tracy Nunnally
Assistant Technical Director: Kateri Pfeiffer
Properties Designer: Sasha Norman
Intimacy Choreographer: Jyerika Guest
Fight Choreographer: J. Cody Hunt
Stage Manager: Madie Barnas
Assistant Stage Manager: Sasha Norman

This show is approximately two hours and has a ten minute intermission.

Content warning: This performance includes homophobic and racial slurs, and the sound of gunshots.

Jax – David Alvarado
Zora – Jaylin Turner
Marc – Hardy Louihis
Andy – Skylar Thompson

Communities like the fictional 51st ward (aka Rightlynd) of Prowess are complex ecosystems. While breaking news reports focus on the violence in marginalized communities such as Austin, Englewood/Inglewood, Compton, the Bronx, what often goes unexamined are the systemic failures that play a pivotal role in the climate. And it’s easy to ignore those issues when you aren’t personally affected, when it’s “Not your neighborhood.” Headlines rarely highlight the joy, love and perseverance of community gardens, churches and mosques, pick-up basketball games, double-dutch, bucket boys, elotes, tamales, mild sauce, and more. These are the neighborhoods that created the blues, jazz, and hip-hop and they continue to create the artistic work that becomes pop culture. And, the residents are just as layered as their surroundings.

Prowess is the story of four people with their own personal stories, coming together to form a collective with one goal–fight back. Along the way, these roustabouts find themselves as they strip away their own layers, build friendships, and band together to preserve a community that has been abandoned by the rest of the city. Yet, there is a fine line between hero and vigilante. And as they fight back, the violence engulfs them.

It has been a pleasure to work on this play, by Ike Holter, a playwright I know and respect, with these artists and practitioners. I encourage you to read his other plays including Rightlynd, Exit Strategy, and Lottery Day all set in this same fictional Chicago community.

Welcome to the 51st ward.

David JC Alvarado (Jax)

David JC Alvarado is a third-year B.F.A. acting candidate from Elgin, Illinois. He was last seen as Sir William Davison in NIU’s production of Mary Stuart directed by Bethany Mangum-Oles. He wants to thank both his family and friends for their unwavering support. Enjoy the show!

Instagram:@Damniitdavid 

Jaylin Turner (Zora)

Jaylin Turner is a third-year B.F.A. student, is deeply grateful for the opportunity to share her art with others and eagerly anticipates the future ahead. She extends heartfelt thanks to her family, friends, and cast mates for their unwavering support and camaraderie throughout this journey.

Hardy Louihis (Mark)

Hardy Louihis is a third-year M.F.A. acting candidate at Northern Illinois University. Hardy received his bachelor of arts in theatre from the Metropolitan State University of Denver. He was in the NIU productions of In A Word (Guy), directed by Kay Martinovich, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oberon), directed by Melanie Keller, Witch (Scratch), directed by Kendra Holton and Mary Stuart (Lord Burleigh), directed by Bethany Mangum-Oles. He is so happy and grateful to have the opportunity to work with the ensemble and crew of Prowess. He is also thankful to have the support and love of his family and friends.

Skylar Thompson (Andy)

Skylar Thompson (he/him) is a sophomore acting major. Prowess marks his second NIU show after being in Machinal in the fall. He wishes to thank all the people in his life who have supported him and helped him grow into the performer he is today. To his family, friends, and girlfriend- he could not have made it here without you.

Roxanna Conner (she/her) Director is making her directorial debut at NIU. Her directing credits include Voices of Tomorrow, Victory Gardens Theater; Empathy, CLIMB Theatre; assistant director for How I Learned What I Learned and The Nativity Tribute (Congo Square Theatre), CPS Shakespeare: Macbeth and CPS Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre). She was co-producer on the development workshops for Pulitzer Prize winning Primary Trust. Other notable producing work includes Mexodus, Ignite Chicago, cullud wattah, and the Regional Emmy nominated Where Did We Sit on the Bus? at Victory Gardens Theater.

She has also worked as an arts educator and theater administrator at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts (UIUC), Mixed Blood Theatre, Crossroads Theatre, and New Freedom Theatre. She has led masterclasses and workshops on Shakespeare, August Wilson, and Devised Theatre for Chicago Public Schools, Chicago State University, DePaul University, and most recently at the Antalya International Theatre Festival (Antalya, Türkiye).

Roxanna is the director of the School of Theatre and Dance.

Guided by the words of James Baldwin, “Artists are here to disturb the peace.”—Jahan embraces theater as a means of disruption, reflection, and truth. As she prepares for the next chapter of her career, she hopes her contributions leave a lasting impact on NIU’s artistic legacy.

Bridget Kearbey (she/her) Scenic Designer from Aurora, Illinois, Bridget is typically found backstage, but she is so excited to be working behind the design table for this production. Bridget is a first year M.F.A. at NIU. She has a B.A in musical theatre from Aurora University.

Stage Management: Million Dollar Quartet (Paramount Theatre), Mean Girls Jr. (Paramount PSA), The Music Man in Concert, A Christmas Carol, Xanadu (Metropolis PAC),

Backstage Crew Credits: School of Rock (Paramount Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (Paramount Theatre) 9 to 5 (Metropolis PAC) Crew Swing – Frozen, Peter and the Starcatcher (Paramount Theatre), 1776 (Mariott Theatre) Ain’t Misbehavin’, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof (Drury Lane).

IG:@bridgetnkearbey 

Mike Kozel, Associate Lighting Designer is a third-year design technology major here at NIU. Other School of Theatre and Dance shows include Carmina Burana, Anxious People, and Macbeth.

Sasha Norman (she/her)  Props Designer, Assistant Stage Manager, is currently in her second year as a theatre arts design and technology student at NIU. This is her first time stage managing and her first experience designing props at the college level.

Her previous credits include serving as flight crew for A Midsummer Night’s Dream and deck chief for Macbeth at NIU. Sasha also completed an AmeriCorps apprenticeship in scenic, props, and stage run crew at Summer Stock Festival 56, and worked as an Upstaging summer employee.

She is honored and excited to be working with such a talented team and would like to express gratitude to everyone who has supported her along the way. Sasha also extends her heartfelt thanks to her mom, dad, sister, and friends for their love and encouragement!

Cody was trained in the skills of unarmed stage combat, knife, rapier and dagger, and broadsword by SAFD Fight Director Ted Sharron, SAFD Fight Master J. Allen Suddeth, and Jake Guinn. Cody was also trained in stunt falls by Hollywood stuntman Mark Dirkse.

You might have seen Cody’s fight choreography on the NIU stage in productions like Macbeth, Witch, Booked and Blessed…OR BUST!, Anxious People, Rage Play, and Big Love.

His professional fight direction credits include On An Average Day (Kane Repertory Theatre), Jesus, Miracle of Christmas, Samson (Sight and Sound Theatres), Grease (Cedartown Performing Arts Center), Th’ Burning (Alys Stevens Theatre), The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Piedmont High School), and Anastasia (Oneonta High School).

Thank you to NIU and Roxanna Conner for allowing me to be a part of this amazing production and to Elena, Emerson, and Ezra for their undying love and support!

Scenery

Scenic Coordinator – Sahin Sahingolu
Scene Shop Supervisor – Adam Rager
Scene Shop Graduate Employees – Emery Foster and Bridget Kearbey
Scene Shop Undergraduate Employees – David Mortenson, Mike Kozel, Sasha Norman, Jade Doherty, Reese Rodriguez
Scenic Painters – Nina Kasman, Max Garcia, B. Leni, Kadi Knapp, Jade Doherty, Gemma Baines, Sasha Norman, Lexi Foelkner, Mike Kozel
Run Crew – Crowler Bonomo, Kylee Fruin, Monet’ Jackson, Reese Rodriguez, Mosi Werinburg

Costumes

Costume Design Advisor – Jeremy W. Floyd
Costume Director – Lori Hartenhoff
Costume Shop Supervisor – Elizabeth Galba
Costume Shop Graduate Employees – Ski Sciaraffa, Kylee Galarneau
Costume Shop Employees – B. Leni, Alyssa Altadonna, Natalie Shank, Lexi Foelker, Emily Christianson
Student Technicians – THEA 210, 235, and 295 Students
Costume Crew – Teresa Dingman, Toby Thomas, Garin Wilks

Lighting

Lighting Design Advisor – Brandon Wardell
Resident Head Electrician – Chris Kurszewski
Production Head Electrician – Emily Christianson
Lighting Shop Graduate Assistants – Ross Wheeler, Bridget Kearbey
Lighting Shop Employees – Logan Bryant, Conall Doherty, Kateri Pfeiffer
Student Electricians –Reece Deidrick, Max Garcia, Megumi Goto, Kateri Pfeiffer, Gunner Wright, and THEA 210 students
Light Board Operator – Payton Shields
Sound Board Operator – Maia Perez

Properties

Properties Director – Dave Doherty
Properties Designer – Sasha Norman
Properties Graduate Assistants – Alicia Margerum, Ski Sciaraffa
Properties Shop Employees – Elizabeth Nowak, Sasha Norman, David Mortenson
Properties Shop 295/395 Students – Derrick Longstreet, Gemma Baines, Maggie Kanapilly, David Mortenson

Production Management

Technical Direction Advisor – Tracy Nunnally
Stage Management Advisor – Angela A. Miller
House Management Supervisor – Cornelia Hayes

Upstaging Lighting and Transport, Holmes Student Center Events