EastLine Theatre
in association with the
Babylon Citizens Council
on the Arts presents
Yerma
Based on the play by Federico García Lorca Translated and Adapted by Melinda Lopez September 19 - October 3, 2026 BACCA Arts Center, Lindenhurst
Yerma runs 90 minutes with no intermission. Please be aware this production includes includes depiction of violence, and discussion of fertility, sexuality, and infidelity. Water-based haze is utilized.
Yerma Stephanie Moreno
Juan Joe Armando Grosso
Victor Christina Morris
Dolores Michelle Malone
Incarnacíon Ashley Domenech
Maria Lucille Loren Vasquez
Marta Mel Levine
Veronica / Rosa Maria Deby Gil
Musician John Brautigam
Director Megan Laguna-Shy
Original Music John Brautigam
Stage Manager Jen LoPresti
Costume Design Morgan Moffitt
Lighting Design Nicole Savin
Set Design Michelle Savin
Technical Assistance Remi Watts
Production Assistance Michael Devereaux
Larry Meneses, Hispanic Heritage Chair
Yerma Stephanie Moreno
Juan Joe Armando Grosso
Victor Christina Morris
Dolores Michelle Malone
Incarnacíon Ashley Domenech
Maria Lucille Loren Vasquez
Marta Mel Levine
Veronica / Rosa Maria Deby Gil
Musician John Brautigam
Director Megan Laguna-Shy
Original Music John Brautigam
Stage Manager Jen LoPresti
Costume Design Morgan Moffitt
Lighting Design Nicole Savin
Set Design Michelle Savin
Technical Assistance Remi Watts
Production Assistance Michael Devereaux
Larry Meneses, Hispanic Heritage Chair
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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
Paul DeFilippo,
Associate Artistic Director
The EastLine Theatre Board of Directors is: Larry Meneses (President), Nicholas Ciuffo (Vice President), Matt Rosenberg (Treasurer), Nicole Savin (Secretary), Deanna Ibrahim (Member)
The EastLine Theatre Creative Associates are: Anik Alam, Anna Stacy, Aly Kantor, Anjor Khadilkar, Anthony Noto, David Bullen, Deanna Ibrahim, Jill Linden, John Brautigam, Julianna Frasca, Lynn Adler, Matt Rosenberg, Megan Laguna, Melanie Lipton, Michael Devereaux, Michelle Osojnak, Nicole Savin, Paul DeFilippo, Sheilah Barksdale, Taylor Dunn, and Remi Watts.
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Thank you always for your kindness and generosity.
Ashley Domenech, Deby Gil, Joe Armando Grosso, Mel Levine
Michelle Malone, Stephanie Moreno, Christina Morris, Lucille Loren Vasquez
Ashley Domenech (she/her) is thrilled to be making her debut with EastLine Theatre and portraying the role of Incarnación in this incredible production of Yerma. Past credits include Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar, Martha Jefferson/Joseph Hewes in 1776, Cinderella’s Mother in Into the Woods, Gretchen in Boeing Boeing, Vibrata in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Forum, Sheila Birling in An Inspector Calls, Mrs. Santiago in Ghost the Musical, Florence in Bright Star, Mabel in Pirates of Penzance, Elizabeth Benning in Young Frankenstein and others. A huge thank you to director Megan Laguna-Shy, Nicole Savin and the entire production team at EastLine in general for this amazing opportunity to not only perform, but to also shed light on this beautiful adaptation for Hispanic Heritage Month. She is grateful to the entire company for making her feel so welcome and she is especially thankful for the continuous love and support she has received from her wonderful family and friends.
Deby Gil (she/her) is excited to be a part of EastLine Theatre’s production of Yerma and to be making her acting debut with the company. A Long Island native, she is looking forward to becoming more involved in the local theatre community and continuing to explore her love of the arts. She is grateful for the opportunity to share the stage with such a wonderful cast and creative team.
Joe Armando Grosso (he/him) hails from Costa Rica & lives in Brooklyn, NY. He is a SAG-AFTRA member who has studied various acting styles, such as the Viola Spolin technique, the Meisner technique & Acting for the Camera. Joe has performed in improv theater, student films, independent films, T.V. series, & verticals. Credits include Charlie (Memories Withered) a NYU student film, Vaughn (Danny Will Die Alone), Mark Cain (My Boss is My Secret Sperm Donor), God’s Assistant (Naked Theater Freedom Dance), Joseph (Ella the Ungovernable), Dan (Happenstance), and most recently Leonard Vole (Witness for the Prosecution) at EastLine. He looks forward to returning to EastLine Theatre to perform again.
Mel Levine (she/they) is an actor and filmmaker born and raised on Long Island. Mel graduated last year from Ohio University with a degree in Performance. Her recent credits include: The Wolves (#25) at the Southampton Arts Center and Victor Built a Body: or The Modern, Modern Prometheus (Victor) at Ohio University. Mel’s passion for storytelling is fueled by stories about women and queer characters, as well as new play development. Mel is thrilled to be joining EastLine theater for the very first time and she hopes you enjoy the show! (Follow her @melissanlevine on instagram!).
Michelle Melone (she/her) is excited to be returning to theater here at EastLine after a lengthy hiatus. In the theater realm, she cherishes her memory of performing the role of Paulina in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale most. The Long Christmas Dinner, The Sound of Music, Anything Goes, Grease and several original musicals were also highlights from her past credits. Michelle is grateful to her family for their support at home to enable her to prepare for this show. She is also thankful for the people in her life who inspire her by displaying their own talents!
Stephanie Moreno (she/her) is a Brazilian-American actress and comedian based in NY. She is excited to be working with EastLine Theatre again after appearing as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Romaine Vole in Witness for the Prosecution, Young Woman in Machinal, and Goneril/Jane Fairfax in last summer’s King Lear and Emma. Experienced in stand up, improv, and devising, she has collaborated in countless new works presented at the Theater for The New City, The Tank, The Player’s Theatre, and more, as well as classics at regional and educational theaters. Stephanie hopes to continue to have the opportunity to bolster new voices in theater and in life. www.stephaniejmoreno.com
Christina Morris (she/her) is an orchestral conductor, musician, and actor whose artistic practice spans music, theatre, and interdisciplinary performance. She has worked with ensembles and institutions including the New World Symphony, Tanglewood, Juilliard Extension, and Chineke! Orchestra in London. As a performer, Christina has appeared as Venus in Suzan-Lori Parks’ Venus and as an actor in Caryl Churchill’s Love and Information. She also performed as a bassist, pianist, singer, and actor in The Vicksburg Project, which premiered in Manhattan at Mabou Mines. Christina was awarded the VASTA Award for Vocal Excellence in the Irene Ryan Acting Competition in recognition of her work as a performer. Christina is thrilled to join the cast of Yerma as Victor. She is particularly interested in the ways music, theatre, and storytelling intersect, and continues to explore these connections through her work as a conductor, musician, and actor.
Lucille Loren Vasquez (she/her) is an actor, dancer, singer, and writer based in the Bronx. She graduated from Providence College with a BA in Theatre and primarily studied Hagen’s acting technique. Her stage acting credits include The Spoils as Sarah at Stageworks, The Love Hate Club as Lily at Theatre Row, and Finding My Steps as Piper at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Some of her independent film acting credits include her performance in To the Bronx, I Love You as Lilly, SELAH as Sasha, and Apple Pie as Maria. She has workshopped her first full length play under the Bronx Cultural Visions Fund. Lucille has vocally trained at Pelham Music Arts Studio and has trained in dance under the Richard Ellner Scholarship at Broadway Dance Center.
This December: The final, autobiographical work from Academy Award winner Tom Stoppard. Spanning fifty years and multiple generations, Leopoldstadt follows a Viennese Jewish family’s reckoning with a past it cannot escape and a future it cannot control. A passionate drama of love and endurance beginning in the last days of 1899 through the heart of the twentieth century. Winner of the Olivier and Tony Awards for Best New Play.
Megan Laguna-Shy (she/her) returns to the director’s chair after last year’s production of The Hours Are Feminine. Recent credits include: Much Ado About Nothing (Hero), 1776 (George Read), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Director/Columbia), Hamlet (Ophelia), Firebringer (Shwoopsie), Dance Nation (Zuzu), and Curious Incident…(Judy). Thanks aren’t enough to Nicole, Michelle, Michael, Wendy, Remi, Morgan, Paul, & Lisa for all they’ve done for this production. To Josh, I love you most.
Jen LoPresti (she/her) is a graduate of the SUNY Oneonta Theatre and Music Industry programs with her Master’s Degree in Special Education from SUNY Old Westbury. Some of her recent technical experience includes: Stage Manager for South Pacific and A Bronx Tale with Lighthouse Repertory Theatre, and for Macbeth at Five Towns College. She is a frequent Sound Designer across Long Island, and winner of Broadway World Long Island’s Best Sound Design 2022 for her work on Matilda at The Merrick Theatre and Center for the Arts. Currently, she works as a Substitute Teacher for the Elmont School District.
Michelle Savin (she/her) is a Long Island-based visual artist. Previous scenic and prop design credits at EastLine include The Hours Are Feminine, Trouble in Mind, Our Leading Lady, Amadeus, Intimate Apparel, and Indecent. Other previous production credits include work at the Brooklyn Academy of Music as well as 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) EastLine directing credits include: Much Ado About Nothing, A Very Expensive Poison, Emma, Trouble in Mind, God of Vengeance, Men on Boats, The Truth, Treasure Island, Pride & Prejudice, and Yentl. She holds a BA (Hons) from Royal Holloway, University of London in Drama and Theatre Studies. She is an Associate Director with Theatre of the Gentle Furies, and on the literary team at The Playwrights Realm.
Public funding provided by Suffolk County.
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by The Huntington Arts Council.
From director, Megan Laguna-Shy:
“Theater is poetry that goes beyond the book to become human.” – Federico García Lorca.
Yerma has stood the test of time. It’s sad, but true; a phrase Lorca often depicted in his poetry. I agree that not all stories warrant a happy ending. Especially in theater, it is important to show honesty. We need to see grief, loss, and unhappiness on stage. Theater is an escape for most, but we can’t forget it’s also political.
Yerma was written in 1934 during Spain’s prelude to political turmoil. Nationalist forces assassinated Lorca during the early weeks of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, and the new Spain he craved would not be born until years after his death. The symbolism of a barren wife desiring a child, was Lorca’s way of expressing his desire for a country worth supporting. That desire still holds decades later for people worldwide, and it is why Lorca’s work continues to inspire after his death. After all, we all aspire to live in a country we are proud of.
This production wouldn’t be possible without an incredible team. Nicole, thank you for your guidance and constant support. I could list how much I appreciate you, but it would make this Director’s Note three pages. To Jen, thank you for all your help throughout this process. To Stephanie, Joe, Lucille, Christina, Ashley, Mel, Deby, and Michelle, I thank you for your commitment and respect for this piece. To John, for composing music that drives the message forward and gives this production so much life. To Michelle, for taking my childlike doodles and turning them into a set of my and Yerma’s dreams. To Morgan, for stepping in to costume this show. I love you; you’re a magician. To Remy, Robin, and Michael, thank you for your assistance with our set!
And to our audience members, thank you for supporting local theatre and Hispanic Heritage Month.
“One of the boldest, bravest theatre companies on Long Island,” according to Fire Island News, the nonprofit EastLine Theatre 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
Nicholas & Maureen Savin, Joshua Shy,
Lynn Adler, Jason Jenkins, and everyone at BACCA.