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We Are Samurai

3F, 1M, 60mins

After Josephine returns home to find her cats brutally murdered for a crime she committed in a past life, she enlists her boyfriend to help her avenge her cats’ deaths. What follows is a series of small, violent acts that are mundane and yet deeply tragic in their cyclical nature.  Rooted in both contemporary suburbia and the historical traditions of Japanese Theatre, We Are Samurai uses cats, iPhones, and simultaneous action to explore age-old questions of agency and entitlement.

 We Are Samurai is an immersive suburban revenge tragedy about four twenty-somethings engaging in petty acts of violence in an effort to absolve a millennia-old offense. As the piece unfolds simultaneously across four different playing spaces, it is up to the audience to choose what to witness.

Production History

Venus Theatre, Laurel, MD

133 Street Arts Center, NYC, NY

50 John Street, PVD, RI

Awards and Accolades

named a 2014 best play in professional Theaters by DC MEtro Arts

Published

in Fourth Wall Review


Venus Theatre, Laurel, MD

We are Samurai received its regional premiere at Venus Theatre in Laurel, MD. The show ran from September 5th-September 28th, 2014.

It was named a 2014 Best Play in Professional Theaters by DC Metro Arts. 

It was directed by Deborah Randall. 

 

CAST

Regan   Daven Ralston

Elias   Cathryn Benson

Josephine   Ann Fraistat

Rocky   Patrick Gorirossi

Dark Samurai   Mary Burke-Hueffmeier, Elliott Kashner,  Amy Rhodes

 

PRODUCTION TEAM

Set, Light, and Sound Design Deborah Randall and Amy Rhodes

Costume Design Deborah Randall

Musical Composition   Alan Scott

Musical Direction    Elliott Kashner

Choreography & Movement   Maria Lin Yaffe

Western Medicine & Elemental Guidance   Noreen Javornik

 

Photos Courtesy of Adam S. Lowe Photography


133rd Street Arts Center, New York, NY

We are Samurai received its New York premiere at the 133rd Street Arts Center Lab from September 26th - October 6th, 2013. 

It was directed by Ria T. DiLullo and produced by Marrow’s Edge.

 

CAST

Regan   Rachel M. Lin

Elias   Karen Eilbacher

Josephine   Tess Avitabile

Rocky   Sean Devare

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PRODUCTION TEAM

Stage Manager   Sarah Haber

Sound Design   Paula DiLullo

Lighting Design   Matt Bellas

Costume Design   Matsy Stinson

Puppet Design   Andrew Murdock

Technical Design   Jonathan Huggins

Scenic Dressing   Andrew Murdock

Set Consultant   Artem Kreimer

Production Assistant   Michelle Snyder

Poster Design   Harrison Densmore

Teaser Design   Kelly Carroll           


50 John Street, Providence, RI

We are Samurai was first produced at the 50 John Street Workshop Space, Providence, RI. It ran May 6th – May 9th, 2010. 

It was co-produced by Rites and Reason Theatre and Brown University’s Department of Theatre and Performing Arts.

It was directed by Erik Ehn, New Dramatist Alumni and Head of Playwriting at Brown University.

CAST

Regan   Bari Berger

Elias   Michelle Tan

Josephine   Madeleine Heil

Rocky   Gerrit Thurston


Set Design   Michael McGarty

Poster Design   Mateo Mancia