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presents the public reading of

Directed by Bobby Johnson

Sunday, September 17th, 2023 - 7 pm

Synopsis

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Set in New York City, Yours in Words, follows the journey of two women writers with vastly different life experiences amidst a burgeoning turning point for women and invention. Lily Lamont is a daring young sapphist (lesbian) from Nebraska. Annabelle is a famous novelist, the world knows only as A.B. Jones. After an unlikely meeting, the two women realize they have an opportunity to change the landscape of The Great White Way. To do so, they must overcome their differences and break away from the societal limitations set for women, and challenge the gender norms of the day.

From its inception, Laura's known she wanted the play to be diversely cast like Hamilton or BridgertonYours in Words, is historical in setting and contemporary in theme. For although set in 1895, the misogyny that Annabelle and Lily confront in Yours in Words, is sadly, the same misogyny that we’re still up against today. And while Yours in Words, exposes the struggles of women in the late 1800s, it also celebrates the triumphs of women who live their lives on their own terms. It is important for women and queer people to see themselves represented on the stage in diverse, multifaceted, and complex ways. Yours in Words, is a play that helps foster the narrative that beautiful and rich storytelling isn’t only for the heteronormative gaze.

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Meet the Cast

Raven Rose (nee Dillon)

Lilian Lamont

Raven has been performing in Connecticut theaters for many years in productions such as Love/Sick at Little Theatre of Manchester, The Humans at Three Rivers Community College, 12 Angry Jurors and Lend Me a Tenor at Chestnut Street Playhouse. They originated the role of Maggie in Magpie at DramaWorks Theater Company and enjoy collaborating with local Connecticut playwrights. She is also a member of a playwriting group at Windham Theater Guild. They hope you enjoy this profoundly important expression of queer love during a time when LGBTQIA+ stories are needed more than ever.

Julie Fitzpatrick

Annabelle Jones

Julie is delighted to portray Annabelle in “Yours In Words,” by the talented Laura Thoma. Julie is a poet, playwright, performer and teacher whose acting credits run the gamut from Off-Broadway to regional theater and her Film/TV work includes Law & Order and The OA. Julie is a member of the Guilford Poets’ Guild, The Playwrights Circle and Ensemble Studio Theatre in NYC. Her solo show 77 U-Turn was published this summer by Next Stage Press. juliefitzpatrick.com. Thanks to her loves: her husband, Pete, and her sons, Fitz and Gracen.

Jordan Chenette

Dorothy Murphy

Jordan is so excited to be playing Dot Murphy and bringing this piece to life! Some of her favorite past roles include Natalie in Next to Normal (Chestnut Street Playhouse), Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show (Windham Theatre Guild), and Lucy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Killingly High School). When she’s not on stage, she can be found reading, writing, or watching Survivor. She would like to thank Laura and Bobby for this opportunity, and her husband Kody for always supporting her.

David H. Hamilton

Bernard Badger

David is thrilled and grateful to be part of "Yours in Words,” Some New York credits include "A Man for All Seasons"(Thomas More), "Uncle Vanya" (Astrov). "Seeing Stars"(Joey), "She Loves Me"(Georg), "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown"(Snoopy), "The Doctor in Spite of Himself"(Geronte) and "Forty Carats" (Billy Boylan). David was a member of The River Rep at the Ivoryton Playhouse for almost 20 years. Some favorite roles there include. "Into the Woods"(Jack) "Damn Yankees"(Sohovik) "Annie Get Your Gun" (Tommy) and "The Mikado"(Pish Tush).

Michael Vernon Davis

Gilbert Wilkinson

Michael has performed a variety of leading and supporting roles of both classical and original works throughout southern New England and New York. He played the role of the Therapist in last year’s production of Laura Thoma’s original play “Magpie”, at Drama Works in Old Saybrook.In April, Mike wrapped up a staged reading of "Lifespan of a Fact" presented by Readers Theater in Durham, followed by a May production of "Microshorts", a collection of original vignets at Dramaworks in Old Saybrook.Mike is delighted to reunite with Laura for her latest production.

Rachel H. Babcock

Claire Dennison

Rachel is a director, performer, writer, acting coach, dramaturge and costume designer. Acting since age 7, Rachel has a degree in Arts Administration from UMASS Amherst. She has performed in LA, CT,AK and toured with the National Broadway Tour of Six Degrees of Separation. She played the role of Mamma in last year’s production of Laura Thoma’s original play “Magpie”, at Drama Works in Old Saybrook. An active member of local and regional theatre and film, she is Co-Founder of SheSpeak and loves to bring communities together through theatre, art, and courageous storytelling.

Derek Clark

Thomas Miller/Lenny Ayers

Derek is a surveyor with Clark Land Surveying, an amateur photographer, and someone who enjoys listening to philosophy podcasts while hiking with his dog Tinsel. Production credits include: Drama Works Theatre: Dancing Lessons (Ever Montgomery); East Haddam Stage Company: The Professor (Professor Hinsdale); The Meeting House Players: Play On! (Billy Carewe); The Warner Theatre: International Playwright Festival's Quelched (Michael), Love, Sex, & The IRS (Jon Trachtman). Twitter/derekwclark Instagram/dwcimages

Meet the Creatives

Laura Thoma

Playwright

Laura is thrilled to be working and collaborating with this talented cast and crew. She is a trauma-informed playwright and theatremaker originally from Tidewater, Virginia, whose work is published internationally. As someone who has never fully seen herself represented on the stage, it is essential for Laura to explore and write women-centric stories of identity, mental health, aging, and queerness. She was thrilled to attend the Desert Playwrights’ Retreat in Palm Springs, a retreat for LGBTQIA playwrights, earlier this year. Her play Writer’s Block will be featured in The Bechdel Group Fall Reading Series at The Tank in NYC next month. In 2022, Laura had the World Premiere of her play Magpie and was honored to be selected for both the National Playwrights Symposium and the Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive. During the pandemic, she wrote and directed Me, Myself, and I, starring Broadway veteran Erin Stoddard—last year it garnered 18 awards from short film festivals around the globe, including London, Paris, and New York. Laura lives on the Connecticut Shoreline with her bookish wife, Chris, and their two dogs, Buddy Fitzwilliam and Beatrice Dashwood. www.laurathomaplaywright.com

Bobby Johnson

Director

Bobby is a theater director who hails from Florida, by way of Chicago & NYC. His career began as an actor/dancer before discovering his passion for directing. His work has been seen in many regional theaters across the country most notably Paramount Theater Aurora, Light Opera Works, and Music by the Lake. He was lucky enough to participate in the inaugural directing fellowship at Barrington Stage Company in the Berkshires and had the privilege of teaching theater to students in several Chicago area high schools.  He is a member of many organizations inside and out of the theater including AEA and Out in Tech. Remaining true to the human experience and always keeping a childlike curiosity is his motto—for rich storytelling can happen only when we keep space for ourselves and others to contribute their perspectives in a complex, holistic, and authentic way.

Teresa Mella-Fogel

Stage Manager

Teresa Mella-Fogel is a playwright and co-founder of Shoreline Playwrights. She has showcased her plays at Drama Works but for this production wears a different hat. Teresa is excited to work and support her friend, Laura Thoma in the exciting reading of “Yours in Words,”. She was on the production team for Fall Shorts, a playwrights festival performed in the Fall of 2021 as well as Laura Thoma’s original play, “Magpie” that premiered at Drama Works Theatre. Teresa and Laura have worked together for many years, and she is honored to be part of this event.

Our Development History

Laura’s work on Yours in Words, began in 2015  when the character of Annabelle Jones showed up while she was working on a solo show. Initially, she had no intention of writing the epic queer play that exists today, but Annabelle wouldn’t leave and the work kept calling.

Milestones include:

2023

Development workshop with GreenStage Guilford Live Arts Festival Sept 17-24

2021

Studied with Sheri Wilner and C. Julian Jimenez during multi-level revisions of characters and structure.

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2019-2020

Short play adaptation chosen for New Works Festival at Theatre Artists Workshop in Norwalk, CT

2016

First staged reading and talkback of the complete script in partnership with Blackstone Memorial Library in Branford, CT.

Explore our full timeline of work...

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