Tituba
Truth, Power, Accusation.
Truth is nothing more than a collective acknowledgement - easily hidden, manipulated, and faltered. It is Power that dictates whose truth is actually acknowledged. When the tears of young girls fall and the screams of disgraced matriarchs pierce through cages in lament, whose truth will be recognized? As accusations of witchcraft create a chokehold on a community - the heart and mind of a servant woman, Tituba, begin to clash as she arrives at her one chance of survival. Listen as Truth and Power weave and unravel in “TITUBA” by Emma Kessler.
by Emma Kessler
About the Playwright: Emma Kessler
Emma Kessler (she/her) is an actress and playwright from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her topics of interest include history, psychology, and folklore. She currently studies psychology and theatre arts at the University of Minnesota. This is her second play in her four part series at Picnic Basket Theatre!
About the Director: John Patterson
John Patterson (he/him) is a choreographer focused on utilizing ethnography within performance. He explores how movement can tell stories and how stories physically manifest themselves in those other than their creator. A recent graduate of the University of Minnesota, TITUBA will be his directorial debut. He also serves as the Marketing Director for PBT.
The Cast
Antonia Perez
as
TITUBA
Antonia (she/her) is an actor in the Twin Cities who was notably in Antigone at Park Square Theatre, Once the Musical at Theatre Latte Da, and Velvet Swing with Umbrella Collective.
Grace Becker
as
SARAH GOOD
Grace (she/her) is excited to join Picnic Basket for this production of Tituba! Grace has recently been seen as Gabrielle in Faith Community Theatre's summer 2021 production of "Cinderella" and has also appeared onstage with Mounds View Community Theatre and the University of Minnesota.
Clara Marsh
as
SARAH OSBORNE & BETTY PARRIS
Clara (she/her) is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Guthrie BFA Actor Training Program. She is an actor and an artist with a passion for movement and eccentricity. #BLM #LandBack
Tessa Dahlgren
as
MAGISTRATE JOHN HATHORNE
Tessa (she/her) is an actor, dialect coach, and fight choreographer in the Twin Cities. She recently appeared with BARd Shakes as Hero in Much Ado About Nothing.
Kyra (she/her) is a recent Theatre Arts graduate of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. The post-pandemic era has brought her to several devised theatre and dance workshops, where she has nurtured her love for storytelling and crunchy brainstorming. Kyra's choreography has been showcased in community, collegiate, and high school theaters across Minnesota.
Maje Adams
as
JOHN INDIAN & THE JAILER
Maje (he/they) is an independent Nigerian-American actor, singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and audio engineer from Minneapolis, MN. Their stage and recorded work has taken the across the country and beyond. They are excited to be in their first production with Picnic Basket!
Kyra Rahn
as
ELIZABETH PARRIS & ABIGAIL WILLIAMS
Sam Purches
as
REV. PARRIS & WILLIAM GOOD
Sam (he/him) is so excited to be a part of this production and to have a creative outlet as he settles into his post grad life of monotony! This is Sam's first show with Picnic basket Theatre, but he has appeared in other shows such as Next to Normal, Pippin, Jerry Springer - The Opera, and others. He hopes you enjoy the show and just have a great day!
Raymond Niu
as
THE NARRATOR
Raymond (he/him) is a senior at the University of Minnesota studying Theatre and Computer Science, and the Company Manager of Picnic Basket Theatre. he has worked as an actor and musician at many Twin Cities theaters, including New Native Theatre, the Guthrie Theater, and Lyric Arts, and is very excited to act in Tituba!
Resident Production Team
Julianne Escanan
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Julianne (she/her) is the production manager with Picnic Basket Theatre. She has worked in theatre primarily as a pit violinist and music director for musicals and operas. She is especially interested in stories about BIPOC experiences and mental health. Outside of PBT, she is a board-certified music therapist passionate about pediatrics and mental health.
Rachel Brees
SOUND DESIGNER
Rachel (she/her) is the Associate Artistic Director and Sound Supervisor with Picnic Basket Theatre. Her work in theatre traditionally exists within the realm of sound design, audio engineering, and music composition. She is especially interested in projects that serve a community as well as stories about the queer experience, mental health, and complex family relationships.
