Originally produced by Woolly Mammoth Theater Company, Washington DC
DAVID’S REDHAIRED DEATH is produced by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc, NYC
www.broadwayplaypublishing.com
We are on sacred ground. Northwestern University is on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa—as well as the Menominee, Miami, and Ho-Chunk nations. Before it was stolen from them through colonization and forced removal, this land was a site of trade, travel, gathering, and healing for more than a dozen other native tribes. The state of Illinois is still home to more than 100,000 tribal members. In the spirit of healing and making amends for the harm that was done, we acknowledge the native and indigenous peoples who called this land home. We pledge ourselves as members of the Northwestern School of Communication to turn our statements into action and build better relationships with native and indigenous communities in Evanston, in Chicago, and throughout the region.
This is a play I have loved since I was a teenager. It was one of the first pieces of art I encountered that acknowledged the enormity and inescapability of grief in the world we live in now—how we must wrestle with our personal deaths, the deaths of history and fiction, and the thousands upon thousands of deaths of strangers around the globe that the internet brings to our front door every day. It gave me a story of complicated queer womanhood before I could even identify that in myself. Now, as an out lesbian, I love that the play’s preoccupation isn’t with coming out, but with the way coming into queerness as an adult shakes the foundation upon which you have built your life. I love how it captures the thrill and the panic of acting on that attraction for the first time, when you’re so aware that you don’t know what you’re doing, when you feel like everyone else is ahead of you in the game. I love its puzzles, loops, and double meanings—its understanding of personas as both traps and means to freedom. I love its sense of humor, its sense of longing, its slippery sense of time. I love its specificity about each person’s experience of a single death and its acknowledgement of the maddening ordinariness of loss. And I love its reverence for a perfect French fry.
David’s Redhaired Death is a play that understands the tremendous stakes of being honest with yourself and being vulnerable with other human beings. I hope you’ll accept its invitation: to acknowledge just how terrifying it is to love yourself and the people around you and say, “Okay. I’ll do it scared.”
Special thanks to Mark H., Sherry Kramer, Robert and Barbara Faires, Brooks Naylor, Allison Grindle, the Charles Deering McCormick Library, and The Theatre School (DePaul University) Wig and Makeup program of 2027 (TTS-WaM).
Ani Kabillio — Jean
Mia Van De Mark — Marilyn
Alex Arinkin — Stage Technician
Henry Jones — Stage Technician
Louise Sims — U/S Jean
Grace Hall — U/S Marilyn
Sachin Jain — U/S Stage Technician
Alex Myres — U/S Stage Technician
Shea Frimmer, Olivia Ash — Asst. Directors
Grace Needlman — Scenic Designer
Aura Carolina Rodriguez Vasquez — Costume Designer
Regina “Reg” Harris — Lighting Designer
Lawrence Lewis — Sound Designer
Ethan Korvne — Sound Design Mentor
Courtney Abbott — Intimacy/Fight Coordinator
Evelyn Jane Wohlbier — Intimacy/Fight Coordinator Shadow
Iris Hernández, Harrison Whitfill — Dramaturgs
Gabriella Cianci — Hair/Makeup Coordinator (TTS-WaM)
Elinor Dow — Asst. Hair/Makeup Coordinator (TTS-WaM)
Aidan Passaro — Production Stage Manager
Ellie Panko, Claire Sueyoshi — Asst. Stage Managers
Nihan Baysal — Run Crew Head
Lily Zebrauskas, Allison Kuhn, Claire Sueyoshi, Beatrice Biello, Mason Wang, Helena Ayas, Tai Duong — Run Crew
Alex Arinkin (Stage Technician, any) is absolutely giddy to be a part of David’s RedHaired Death! A Theatre and English Major from Wisconsin, Alex has recently performed in Caucasian Chalk Circle and Among The Dead on campus. Alex would love to thank his family and friends for their constant support, as well as everyone working on this amazing project for their passion and joy. Enjoy the show!
Olivia Ash (Assistant Director, she/her) is a Chicago-based theatre artist and current Northwestern student earning her Master’s Degree in Leadership for Creative Enterprises. Her most recent credits include Arcadia, The Wolves, and Radium Girls (Stage Manager). She has also been seen onstage in Into the Woods (Witch), and Violet (Music Hall Singer). Olivia is excited to be making her directing debut and is thankful to the cast and crew for sharing their artistry and passion for live theatre!
Rosalind Faires (Director, she/her) is a director from Austin, Texas. Regional credits include: Orlando: Excerpts (Wirtz Center Chicago), Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (TexARTS), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Penfold Theatre), Running Bear (Hyde Park Theatre, world premiere), and Sense and Sensibility (assistant director, Dallas Theater Center). She received dual degrees in Plan II Honors and Theatre and Dance from The University of Texas at Austin and is currently pursuing an MFA in Directing at Northwestern University.
Shea Frimmer (Assistant Director, they/she) is a director and music director currently pursuing a B.S. in Theatre. They are the founding artistic director of The Youth Artists Project, a producing collective based in Connecticut, and the literary manager and music supervisor for Purple Crayon Players. Select directorial credits: Stephanie Christopher… (OOB Festival), Bad Jews (Northwestern), Head Over Heels (Northwestern), Something Borrowed (Youth Artists Project), 9:47 (Youth Artists Project), Play With Your Food (JIB Productions).
Grace Hall (U/S Marilyn, she/her) is a Junior studying Theatre with a module in Theatre for Young Audiences at Northwestern. She is originally from Los Angeles, California. Some recent Wirtz credits include; Autumn in Imagine That! and Sofie (U/S) in Wink. Recent professional credits include Tracy in Hairspray. She is grateful to be a part of the lovely team of David’s Redhaired Death.
Lawrence Lewis (Sound Designer, he/him) is a multidisciplinary practitioner of the performing arts. He has performed in musicals, opera, straight plays, and was regularly working as a scenic technician and carpenter in Colorado before moving to Chicago to pursue his master’s degree in sound design. Previous acting credits include Antigone, The Play That Goes Wrong, Guys and Dolls, and The Rivals. Technical credits include Cabaret, The Bluest Eye, Othello, Flyin’ West, King Hedley, and Dream Hou$e (Theatreworks).
Alex Myres (U/S Stage Technician, he/him) is excited to be making his acting debut at Northwestern! A sophomore studying English and Theatre, his high school acting credits include The Sound of Music (Captain von Trapp) and Arsenic and Old Lace (Lieutenant Rooney/Reverend Harper). He has also been on the design team and in the rehearsal room for several shows at Northwestern. Alex would like to thank everyone who has supported his theatre journey.
Aidan Passaro (Production Stage Manager, he/him) is excited to be Stage Managing this production of David’s RedHaired Death. Aidan has previously been seen at Northwestern in The Addams Family, Yadda Yadda Yadda the Lyrics of Cheryl Coons (AMTP), and Pythia, an original musical. Aidan has also been an assistant stage manager for various productions including Mancub and Love and Information. Other past acting credits include Young Charlie in Kinky Boots (Broadway & National Tour), John Addams in 1776, Billy Flynn in Chicago, and Mike in A Chorus Line. He would like to thank his family and the company of David’s RedHaired Death.
Louise Sims (U/S Jean, she/her) is a junior theater major pursuing the Music Theater Certificate and super jazzed to be part of David’s Redhaired Death! Favorite credits include Fanny in As It Is in Heaven (Wirtz Center), Lucius/Mark Antony u/s in Julius Caesar (Delaware Shakespeare Festival), Sue in Fefu and Her Friends (WAVE Productions), & Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz (Walnut Street Theater). Offstage, Louise can be found carpenting, directing, baking, or cutting her bangs. Love to her family and the dog.
Claire Sueyoshi (Assistant Stage Manager, she/her) is a freshman Theatre major from Irvine, California. She is excited to be working on her first Wirtz production with such an incredible creative team! She currently serves as the 84th Annual Dolphin Show’s Production Manager and recently stage managed Sit and Spin’s BEEF: Madonna x Gaga. She is also a proud member of WAVE Productions. She would like to thank her family for their love and support in all she does.
Mia Van De Mark (Marilyn, she/her) Mia Van De Mark is about to complete her final year at Northwestern and she could not be more grateful to be closing out her time here with this play. She is a Sarah Siddons scholarship recipient, and a proud member of Purple Haze A Cappella and WAVE Productions. Some of her favorite previous credits include Vocalist/Musician (As it is in Heaven), Millie Martindale (Perfect Arrangement), and Isabella (Women Beware Women)! | miavandemark.com
We thank our donors who make it possible to develop and sustain the quality of productions at Northwestern University. The following individuals and institutions have made gifts to one or more of the following areas: the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, American Music Theatre Project and the Music Theatre Funds. All gifts were made between September 1, 2025 and January 13, 2026.
Donate online at giving.northwestern.edu.
Thank you for supporting Northwestern University Theatre and Dance!
E. Patrick Johnson, Dean of the School of Communication and Annenberg University Professor
Lori Barcliff Baptista, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Advising
Roderick Hawkins, Associate Dean of External Affairs and Chief of Staff
Molly Losh, Associate Dean for Research
Bonnie Martin-Harris, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Jeff Brown, Associate Dean for Finance and Administration
Rayvon Fouche’, Associate Dean for Graduate Education
Tanya Palmer, Assistant Dean & Executive Artistic Director
Bharath Chandrasekaran, Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Jeremy Birnholtz, Communication Studies
Joshua Chambers-Letson, Performance Studies
Jacob Smith, Interim Chair of Radio/Television/Film
Henry Godinez, Theatre
Melissa Blanco Borelli, Director of Dance
Megan Roberts, Associate Chair of Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Courtney Lynam Scherr, Associate Chair of Communication Studies
Erin Courtney, Associate Chair of Radio/Television/Film
Tommy Rappley, Associate Chair of Theatre
Jorge Silva — Director of Business Operations & Managing Director
Michael Constantino — Associate Managing Director
Pete Brace — Marketing & Development Manager
Heather Basarab — Production Manager
Valerie Tu — Production Manager, Chicago
Gianna Carter — Production Coordinator
Aziza Macklin — Audience Experience Manager
Jamie L. Mayhew — Box Office Manager
Lynn Kelso — Imagine U Artistic Mentor
Ryan T. Nelson — Music Supervisor
Dylan Reyno — Technical Coordinator
Shannon Perry — Technical Supervisor
Emily Baker — Assistant Technical Supervisor
Dylan Jost — Scenic Carpenter
Micah Hofferth — Scenic Carpenter
James Weber — Scenic Artist
Eileen Rozycki — Assistant Scenic Artist
Chris Wych — Properties Supervisor
Kathy Beach Parsons — Properties Assistant
Eileen Clancy — Costume Shop Supervisor
Jessica Donaldson — Assistant Costume Shop Supervisor
Kristy White — Cutter/Draper
Renee Werth — Stitcher/Crafts Supervisor
Eli Hunstad — First Hand
Peter Anderson — Lighting & Sound Supervisor
Michael Trudeau — Associate Lighting & Sound Supervisor
Nate Walczyk — Lighting and Sound Technician
Sara Kurensky — Marketing Assistant
Stephen J. Lewis — OGMC Arts and Media Producer
Stephanie Kulke — OGMC Fine Arts Editor
Masi Asare — AMTP Artistic Director
Alaina Parr, Alec Westland-Hurwitz, Alex Myres, Alex Yang, Allyson Vasquez, Amanda Swickle, Amy Xu, Anah Shaikh, Arawen Alberg, Arran Kennedy Orive, Ashley Flores, Avery England, Aydn Calhoun, Ayla Richardson, Benny Wu, Cannon Elliott, Ciara Farris, Clio Siegel, Crom Amaya, Daniel Cho, Elijah Curtin-Adelman, Elle Pierre, Ellsworth Sullivan, Gavin Yi, Gemma Cohen, Ghino Lee, Haley Randall, Henry Rohrback, Isabella Mason, Jessica Guo, Jordin Amoah, Josaphina Brinkerhoff, Josefina Espino, Katherine Li, Kira Carpenter, Kris Lambert, Lucian Cruz, Mariah Waters, Maya Avery, Michael Peterson, Millie Rose Taub, Miracle Idowu, Morgan Marin, Natalie Mendoza, Noor Maghaydah, Nora Fox, Olivia Kieffer, Olivia Wise, Owen Meehan-Egan, Pranav Singh, Poseybelle Stoeffer, Roie Dahan, Rose Peters, Ryan Cooke, Sarah Charles Lewis, Sebastian Vidra, Seidy Pichardo, Sophia Mitton-Fry, Sydney Chan, Sydney Frazure, Tamyrha Dunac, Tvesha Gupta, Valentina Brander, Vicky Laguerre, Walter Todd, Will Claudius, Yehuda Zilberstein, Yooha Park, Yumi Tallud
