EastLine Theatre
in association with the
Babylon Citizens Council
on the Arts presents
Dance Nation
by Clare Barron August 12-27, 2023 BACCA Center, Lindenhurst
Dance Nation runs 1h40m with no intermission. Please be aware the play includes discussion of sexual assault, cancer, abuse, suicide, eating disorders, and violence, and features sexual language and gestures.
Amina Jenna Agbayani
Luke James Brautigam
Sofia Caitlin Cassidy
Ashlee Meghan Fawcett
Connie Farjana Islam
Maeve Victoria Kay
Zuzu Megan Laguna
Vanessa / The Moms Christine Nelson
Dance Teacher Pat Matt Rosenberg
Director Paul DeFilippo
Choreographer Deanna Ibrahim
Stage Manager / Intimacy Director Nicole Savin
Costume Design Lynn Ciorciari
Costume Assistant Wendy Pollak Grimm
Lighting Design Danny Higgins & Remi Watts
Special Effects Michelle Savin
Production Media Anthony Noto
Amina Jenna Agbayani
Luke James Brautigam
Sofia Caitlin Cassidy
Ashlee Meghan Fawcett
Connie Farjana Islam
Maeve Victoria Kay
Zuzu Megan Laguna
Vanessa / The Moms Christine Nelson
Dance Teacher Pat Matt Rosenberg
Director Paul DeFilippo
Choreographer Deanna Ibrahim
Stage Manager / Intimacy Director Nicole Savin
Costume Design Lynn Ciorciari
Costume Assistant Wendy Pollak Grimm
Lighting Design Danny Higgins & Remi Watts
Special Effects Michelle Savin
Production Media Anthony Noto
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This performance is taking place on unceded Native land. Long Island has been and still is home to Indigenous communities including the Lenape, the Shinnecock, the Unkechaug, the Montauketts, and the Matinecock, amongst others. You can find out more about Native American history and culture on Long Island at On This Site.
EastLine Theatre
Nicole Savin,
Artistic Director
Morgan Moffitt & Paul DeFilippo,
Associate Artistic Directors
EastLine Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our programming is made possible through your donations. Donations can be made fee-free via Facebook or with a small fee via BookTix. All donations are tax-deductible.
The EastLine Theatre Board of Directors is: Larry Meneses (Vice President), Lynda Gaug (Member Emeritus), Matt Rosenberg (Treasurer), Nicole Savin, and Danny Higgins (President)
The EastLine Theatre Creative Associates are: Abi Alam, Anna Stacy, Aly Kantor, Anjor Khadilkar, Anthony Noto, Bryan Bowie, David Bullen, Deanna Ibrahim, Jill Linden, Joe Boccia Jr., John Brautigam, Julianna Frasca, Lynn Ciorciari, Matt Rosenberg, Melanie Lipton, Morgan Moffitt, Nicole Savin, Paul DeFilippo, Sheilah Barksdale, and Remi Watts.
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In 2023 we enter double digits. Ten years! We cannot think of a better reason for nostalgia, reflection, and growth, and there will be so much of that to come in 2023 with your support. As we enter our second decade, in many ways we are still the scrappy little theatre company that could: as we scramble to find rehearsal space, or schlep an entire Shakespeare play's worth of supplies into a park on a sweltering day. The growing pains of adolescence are evident as we expand and develop our ways of working, as we increase the number of artists we are paying each year, as we reach to bring you the kind of theatre you are not seeing anywhere else on Long Island. Every time you choose to go to the theatre you are making the choice to go on a journey with us. We know it's easier to stay at home, to flip through Netflix. We would simply not exist without this community, and we want to thank you for being a part of it for ten messy and magical years. Across 2023 you'll find us developing new work by Long Island playwrights, crafting Long Island premieres of incisive contemporary plays, bringing free Shakespeare to parks across Long Island, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, hosting our monthly community book club, and more!
Your donations keep our programming free and low-cost, while maintaining the level of quality, innovation, and experimentation we strive to make our hallmark. Every dime is spent on artist pay, production supplies, and theatrical magic. EastLine Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our programming is made possible through your donations. Donations can be made fee-free via Facebook or with a small fee via Square. All donations are tax-deductible. Thank you always for your kindness and generosity, but more than ever on our tenth anniversary.
Jenna Agbayani, James Brautigam, Caitlin Cassidy, Meghan Fawcett,
Farjana Islam, Victoria Kay, Megan Laguna, Christine Nelson, Matt Rosenberg
Jenna Agbayani is a proud graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre ‘23. For their final productions, she was recently in an adaptation of LEAR directed by Timothy D. Stickney; in which she played Cordelia— making her theatrical debut. Dance Nation is her first play outside of drama school. Originally from Jacksonville, FL, Jenna is excited to join a project that spreads awareness of the unspoken experiences and feelings of young girls and women alike. She is happy to be part of a project that reminds women to take up space in any way they happily choose to. Sending love to the theatre family she has found in New York City, and the endless kindness they shower her to dream big.
James Brautigam is an actor in Theater, Voiceover, and Film/TV who is very excited to be performing with EastLine again after five years. In addition to being in The Cat in the Hat (Boy/Narrator), Prospero Live! with Eastline Theatre (Prince Ferdinand), 42nd Street (Featured Dance Ensemble), and The Pirates of Penzance (Pirate Ensemble), James has performed Off-Broadway at The Player’s Theatre in original musical adaptations of Beauty and the Beast (Chance, Beauty’s Brother), and Frankenstein (Hermit, Henry U/S) and can be seen as an extra in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime, Spider-Man: Far from Home, and Manifest on NBC. James holds a BA in Theatre Performance from Wagner College. James, in voiceover, has also narrated an audiobook entitled Rose’s Musings that is available right now on Audible and is one of the narrators on the LEGO discussion channel, Epic Bricks. A huge thank you to Paul, Nicole, Deanna, and the entire cast and crew for making this process so special. Instagram: @james.broadwaygams
Caitlin Cassidy (she/her) is thrilled to work with EastLine on this stunning play. Recent roles include Annie in In the Next Room… and Caroline in the staged reading of Aly Kantor’s new play, Blowhole (both with EastLine). She is thankful to EastLine for helping her return to the stage after a long-ish absence. Caitlin is an educator on Long Island. Education: MSEd-Special Education (Queens College), BS-Education/BA-Theatre (Penn State University).
Meghan Fawcett (she/her) is thrilled to be back at EastLIne in this incredible play. Some of her favorite acting credits are Bradley in Men on Boats, Launce in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Midnight in Eclipse and Clown in The Winter’s Tale. She holds a BA in Theatre (acting) from Brooklyn College. She would like to thank her fabulous cast, her director, Paul, and the whole Dance Nation team for dancing along with her. Special thanks to her friends, family and dog for always believing in her. Eat, sleep, dance!
Farjana Islam (she/they) is excited to make her acting debut in this production of Dance Nation. A born and raised New Yorker, they are thrilled to make a splash with EastLine in the New York acting world. Her previous credit includes Mike Teavee in her elementary school production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Like Connie, Farjana has a fondness for horses and environmental justice.
Victoria Kay (she/her) is a Long Island actress with a BFA degree earned at Five Towns College. Favorite roles she’s taken on in the past include Florence in Waiting for Lefty, Mandy in Time Stands Still” and Mr. Bungee in A New Brain. In addition to acting, she loves to sing opera! This is Victoria’s first show with EastLine, and she thanks them immensely for the opportunity.
Megan Laguna (she/her) is thrilled to be involved in this incredible production! Recent credits include Judy, Curious Incident…Night-Time, Ursula/Verges, Much Ado About Nothing, and Seneca Howland, Men on Boats. A Digital Marketer by day, Megan would like to thank her fellow colleagues in Akron/Canton, OH, for providing insight into the Ohioan spirit. She would also like to thank her family, friends, and bird, Bert, for their support.
Christine Nelson is thrilled to be playing “The Moms”. She recently had the opportunity to play the Nurse in EastLine’s production of Romeo & Juliet and is happy to be back working with this creative team. She has performed locally at Studio Theatre, Bare Bones Theatre Company, Smithtown CPA, Star Playhouse, Synergy Ensemble, Arena Players, and the Merrick Theatre and is also a proud cast member of the Long Island Comedy Improv group The Alchemists. Christine trained at the National Theatre Institute and holds an MA in Theatre Education from NYU. She has directed and produced over 30 theatre productions at Schreiber High School, where she has been a teacher for over 20 years.
Matt Rosenberg (he/him) is excited to return to the stage in a major role for the first time in almost 7 years! Matt has been working in Long Island theatre for 15 years as a stage manager, director, and actor. He has stage managed over a hundred productions across Long Island, and has been with EastLine since 2015. As an actor, Matt has appeared in The Normal Heart (Tommy Boatwright), The Butler Did It (Louie Fan), and Antigone (Messenger), among other appearances as a Butler, including most recently in Being Earnest. He wishes to thank Paul and the entire cast and crew for their hard work and welcoming him back on stage!
Jenna Agbayani is a proud graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre ‘23. For their final productions, she was recently in an adaptation of LEAR directed by Timothy D. Stickney; in which she played Cordelia— making her theatrical debut. Dance Nation is her first play outside of drama school. Originally from Jacksonville, FL, Jenna is excited to join a project that spreads awareness of the unspoken experiences and feelings of young girls and women alike. She is happy to be part of a project that reminds women to take up space in any way they happily choose to. Sending love to the theatre family she has found in New York City, and the endless kindness they shower her to dream big.
James Brautigam is an actor in Theater, Voiceover, and Film/TV who is very excited to be performing with EastLine again after five years. In addition to being in The Cat in the Hat (Boy/Narrator), Prospero Live! with Eastline Theatre (Prince Ferdinand), 42nd Street (Featured Dance Ensemble), and The Pirates of Penzance (Pirate Ensemble), James has performed Off-Broadway at The Player’s Theatre in original musical adaptations of Beauty and the Beast (Chance, Beauty’s Brother), and Frankenstein (Hermit, Henry U/S) and can be seen as an extra in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime, Spider-Man: Far from Home, and Manifest on NBC. James holds a BA in Theatre Performance from Wagner College. James, in voiceover, has also narrated an audiobook entitled Rose’s Musings that is available right now on Audible and is one of the narrators on the LEGO discussion channel, Epic Bricks. A huge thank you to Paul, Nicole, Deanna, and the entire cast and crew for making this process so special. Instagram: @james.broadwaygams
Caitlin Cassidy (she/her) is thrilled to work with EastLine on this stunning play. Recent roles include Annie in In the Next Room… and Caroline in the staged reading of Aly Kantor’s new play, Blowhole (both with EastLine). She is thankful to EastLine for helping her return to the stage after a long-ish absence. Caitlin is an educator on Long Island. Education: MSEd-Special Education (Queens College), BS-Education/BA-Theatre (Penn State University).
Meghan Fawcett (she/her) is thrilled to be back at EastLIne in this incredible play. Some of her favorite acting credits are Bradley in Men on Boats, Launce in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Midnight in Eclipse and Clown in The Winter’s Tale. She holds a BA in Theatre (acting) from Brooklyn College. She would like to thank her fabulous cast, her director, Paul, and the whole Dance Nation team for dancing along with her. Special thanks to her friends, family and dog for always believing in her. Eat, sleep, dance!
Farjana Islam (she/they) is excited to make her acting debut in this production of Dance Nation. A born and raised New Yorker, they are thrilled to make a splash with EastLine in the New York acting world. Her previous credit includes Mike Teavee in her elementary school production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Like Connie, Farjana has a fondness for horses and environmental justice.
Victoria Kay (she/her) is a Long Island actress with a BFA degree earned at Five Towns College. Favorite roles she’s taken on in the past include Florence in Waiting for Lefty, Mandy in Time Stands Still” and Mr. Bungee in A New Brain. In addition to acting, she loves to sing opera! This is Victoria’s first show with EastLine, and she thanks them immensely for the opportunity.
Megan Laguna (she/her) is thrilled to be playing “The Moms”. She recently had the opportunity to play the Nurse in EastLine’s production of Romeo & Juliet and is happy to be back working with this creative team. She has performed locally at Studio Theatre, Bare Bones Theatre Company, Smithtown CPA, Star Playhouse, Synergy Ensemble, Arena Players, and the Merrick Theatre and is also a proud cast member of the Long Island Comedy Improv group The Alchemists. Christine trained at the National Theatre Institute and holds an MA in Theatre Education from NYU. She has directed and produced over 30 theatre productions at Schreiber High School, where she has been a teacher for over 20 years.
Christine Nelson is thrilled to be playing “The Moms”. She recently had the opportunity to play the Nurse in EastLine’s production of Romeo & Juliet and is happy to be back working with this creative team. She has performed locally at Studio Theatre, Bare Bones Theatre Company, Smithtown CPA, Star Playhouse, Synergy Ensemble, Arena Players, and the Merrick Theatre and is also a proud cast member of the Long Island Comedy Improv group The Alchemists. Christine trained at the National Theatre Institute and holds an MA in Theatre Education from NYU. She has directed and produced over 30 theatre productions at Schreiber High School, where she has been a teacher for over 20 years.
Matt Rosenberg (he/him) is excited to return to the stage in a major role for the first time in almost 7 years! Matt has been working in Long Island theatre for 15 years as a stage manager, director, and actor. He has stage managed over a hundred productions across Long Island, and has been with EastLine since 2015. As an actor, Matt has appeared in The Normal Heart (Tommy Boatwright), The Butler Did It (Louie Fan), and Antigone (Messenger), among other appearances as a Butler, including most recently in Being Earnest. He wishes to thank Paul and the entire cast and crew for their hard work and welcoming him back on stage!
Starting in October, EastLine will be opening its doors to a new generation of artists through a program called Gen Connect. Gen Connect is a free arts program that provides space for teens to express their ideas and tell their stories. Interested teens will sign up to participate in weekly workshops at Westbury Arts, guided by artists in theater, music, poetry, visual arts, and more. Over this three month program, teens will explore issues and themes that matter to them, and create their own artwork to put their thoughts to action. The program will culminate in an open mic-style event at Westbury Arts that will be open to the community. If you or someone you know is interested in joining Gen Connect, please email deanna@eastlinetheatre.org for more information on how to sign up. Follow GenConnect_li on Instagram for updates.
Lyn Adler-Ciorciari (she/her) being a fashion-plate punk rocker in the early 80s was only possible on a teenager’s budget by learning how to sew. Thus began a lifelong passion for all things fabric, thread, needles and pins. Costuming actors from NYC to Idaho to Atlanta and now, at EastLine, is a privilege. Big thanks to an ultra-creative mom who handed over the keys to her trusty Singer way back when.
Paul DeFilippo (he/him) has previously directed productions of Three Sisters and The Crucible, and created an original film, Policy, for EastLine’s Muse Anthology. He would like to dedicate this production to all past, present, and future Girls.
Danny Higgins (he/they) has been making theatre with EastLine Theatre since 2011. Selected other credits include Angels in America. The Glass Menagerie, Indecent, Amadeus, Buried Child, and the original musical Prospero (Live!) for which he also wrote the book. He is a NYSCA sponsored artist.
Deanna Ibrahim (she/her) is excited to be making her choreography debut with EastLine this summer. This production holds special meaning, as her first exposure to the arts was through competition dance at age seven. Deanna also trained with various studios including the Eglevsky ballet and BDC, and has danced professionally with Katherine Pettit Creative and Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre. She has taught dance to children and adults across Long Island and NYC. Currently, Deanna is a doctoral candidate and adjunct professor of applied psychology at NYU, where she studies the role of arts participation in youth development and social change.
Michelle Savin (she/her) is a Long Island-based visual artist. Previous scenic painting and prop design credits at EastLine include Our Leading Lady, Amadeus, Intimate Apparel, and Indecent. Other previous production credits include Into the Woods, I Remember Mama, and Noises Off. In addition to her artistic pursuits, Michelle is a handler with Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program, where she is teamed with her loyal pup, Sadie. With gratitude to Caitlin, for everything.
Nicole Savin (she/her) is a theatre-maker from the south shore who is pleased to be making her intimacy direction debut after spending the last year training with Theatrical Intimacy Education. She holds a BA (Hons) in Drama and Theatre Studies from Royal Holloway, University of London. She has been an EastLine contributor since 2016 and has directed productions of Men on Boats, Treasure Island, The Truth, Pride & Prejudice, and God of Vengeance amongst others. She sits on the BACCA Advisory board and is a founding member of the London-based By Jove Theatre Company.
Remi Watts (she/they) is EastLine’s Technical Director, she has worked at places such as BAM Fisher and the Met Opera. She is excited to be working on this production of Dance Nation. Remi strives to create new and unique worlds through her use of lights and sound. Some of their favorite credits include Peter and the Starcatcher, Treasure Island, and Indecent.
Lyn Adler-Ciorciari (she/her) being a fashion-plate punk rocker in the early 80s was only possible on a teenager’s budget by learning how to sew. Thus began a lifelong passion for all things fabric, thread, needles and pins. Costuming actors from NYC to Idaho to Atlanta and now, at EastLine, is a privilege. Big thanks to an ultra-creative mom who handed over the keys to her trusty Singer way back when.
Paul DeFilippo (he/him) has previously directed productions of Three Sisters and The Crucible, and created an original film, Policy, for EastLine’s Muse Anthology. He would like to dedicate this production to all past, present, and future Girls.
Danny Higgins (he/they) has been making theatre with EastLine Theatre since 2011. Selected other credits include Angels in America. The Glass Menagerie, Indecent, Amadeus, Buried Child, and the original musical Prospero (Live!) for which he also wrote the book. He is a NYSCA sponsored artist.
Deanna Ibrahim (she/her) is excited to be making her choreography debut with EastLine this summer. This production holds special meaning, as her first exposure to the arts was through competition dance at age seven. Deanna also trained with various studios including the Eglevsky ballet and BDC, and has danced professionally with Katherine Pettit Creative and Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre. She has taught dance to children and adults across Long Island and NYC. Currently, Deanna is a doctoral candidate and adjunct professor of applied psychology at NYU, where she studies the role of arts participation in youth development and social change.
Michelle Savin (she/her) is a Long Island-based visual artist. Previous scenic painting and prop design credits at EastLine include Our Leading Lady, Amadeus, Intimate Apparel, and Indecent. Other previous production credits include Into the Woods, I Remember Mama, and Noises Off. In addition to her artistic pursuits, Michelle is a handler with Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program, where she is teamed with her loyal pup, Sadie. With gratitude to Caitlin, for everything.
Nicole Savin (she/her) is a theatre-maker from the south shore who is pleased to be making her intimacy direction debut after spending the last year training with Theatrical Intimacy Education. She holds a BA (Hons) in Drama and Theatre Studies from Royal Holloway, University of London. She has been an EastLine contributor since 2016 and has directed productions of Men on Boats, Treasure Island, The Truth, Pride & Prejudice, and God of Vengeance amongst others. She sits on the BACCA Advisory board and is a founding member of the London-based By Jove Theatre Company.
Remi Watts (she/they) is EastLine’s Technical Director, she has worked at places such as BAM Fisher and the Met Opera. She is excited to be working on this production of Dance Nation. Remi strives to create new and unique worlds through her use of lights and sound. Some of their favorite credits include Peter and the Starcatcher, Treasure Island, and Indecent.
Paint generously donated by Bak & Vogel of Lindenhurst
Public funding provided by Suffolk County.
Dance Nation is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com DANCE NATION received its UK premiere at the Almeida Theatre, London, September 2018. Playwrights Horizons, Inc., New York City, produced the World Premiere of DANCE NATION in 2018 with support from an award by the National Endowment of the Arts, and a generous gift from Scott M. Delman. Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Trust for supporting new plays at Playwrights Horizons, and special thanks to the Time Warner Foundation for its leadership support of New Works Lab at Playwrights Horizons. DANCE NATION was developed at the Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival, June 2015, with the Atlantic Theatre Company, and presented as part of the Contemporary American Voices Festival at Long Wharf Theatre, September 2016. DANCE NATION was written, in part, in residence at SPACE on Ryder Farm, and received extensive workshop time and space as part of New Dramatists’ Jerry A. Tishman Playwrights Creativity Fund.
EastLine Theatre is a nonprofit theatre company that BroadwayWorld calls ‘Long Island’s best kept secret’. EastLine aims to create theatre in unlikely spaces while re-examining the canon, exploring modern plays, and bringing original works to the attention of the community. EastLine is committed to creating opportunities for women, people of color, and LGBTQIA+ people.
EastLine Theatre is a proud member of the Huntington Arts Council and the Alliance of Resident Theatres / New York.
With thanks to
Liz Mirarchi, Shawn Cullinane, Jason Jenkins, and everyone at BACCA, Rachel Cassidy Davis, Pat Vultaggio, Michele Sivori, Danielle Kelly, Almurie DeFilippo, Floryn Glass-Stock, Jodi Walters, Maryann Weckerle, Fabric Wholesale Direct, and Paul & Lynda Gaug