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BLACK BEAR ISLAND
When her estranged childhood sweetheart mysteriously dies, Amitra returns home after a sixteen year absence to Black Bear Island, which legend says is haunted by a monstrous man-killing bear. As she searches for the truth, the forest begins to engulf the house and her past begins to collide with the present as her memory starts to unfog. This gothic, magical realistic thriller explores regret, the unreliableness of our own memories, and the paths we choose to become who we are.
KARISSA MURRELL MYERS (she/her) is a Chicago-based Filipino American theatre artist from Boise, Idaho. She serves as the Artistic Director of Bramble Theatre Company. An O’Neill finalist, her plays include On the Greenbelt, Black Bear Island, Blood of My Mother’s, The Red Fortune Cookie, and How to Murder. Her work has been developed and/or produced at Goodman Theatre, Strawdog Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, A Red Orchid Theatre, American Blues Theatre, The Gift Theatre, Silk Road Rising, Boise Contemporary Theatre, Avalanche Theatre, Broken Nose Theatre, and Bramble. Karissa received an “Outstanding New Work” Jeff Awards nomination for On the Greenbelt, and was featured in American Theatre Magazine’s “Theatre Workers You Should Know” and in Newcity Stage’s “Players 2023: Who Really Performs in Chicago Right Now”. MFA in Performance from University of Hawaii at Manoa, BA in Theatre Arts from Boise State University, and graduate of The School at Steppenwolf. Member of SAG-AFTRA and the Dramatist Guild. www.kmurrellmyers.com
Margaret Starbuck (she/her) is a theatre director and arts administrator. Her recent directing projects include Leah Nanako Winkler’s Kentucky for Pomona College’s Theatre Department; the world premiere of Unrivaled by Rosie Narasaki with Boston Court and Playwrights’ Arena; the world premiere Frankel & Bloom chamber musical We Three Sisters and Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure with Method & Madness Theater Co., a classical theater company she co-founded; as well as workshops and staged readings of new plays for Playwrights Union, EST/LA, the Road Theatre, Occidental College’s New Play Festival, SkyPilot, and Actor’s Circle Ensemble. She has assistant directed on shows at Pasadena Playhouse, The Geffen Playhouse, and the Getty Villa, among others. She is currently Associate Artistic Director of Boston Court Pasadena. This Fall she will be directing Henry IV Parts I & II in repertory for The Porters of Hellsgate Theatre Company.
“BLACK BEAR ISLAND”
MARJORIE – Suzanne Ford*
AMITRA – Ariana Afradi
THE MAN /UPS GUY – Chase Cargill*
WARREN – Dan Lin
BOY – Nirvan Patnaik*
FINN – Jordan Moore*
RUBY/GIRL – Gloria Ines*
Stage Directions: Inger Tudor*
*Road Company Member