John Deserves To Die

Written by Rachel Greene

Directed by Regine Vital

April 27 - May 13, 2023

Plaza Black Box Theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts

Single tickets $5-35

Groups of 10-20 people receive a discounted ticket of $20 per person. Groups of 20+ receive a ticket price of $15 per person. For additional information, please email operations@freshinktheatre.org.

 

All is calm until theater department favorite Professor Daniel Holmes casts unassuming freshman Laura Vogel as Carol in his Spring production of David Mamet’s Oleanna. No one is less pleased than ambitious, fat sophomore Jen Barnett, who threatens to expose a secret that could turn lives and careers upside down. When fiery student reporter Andy Stark starts to follow leads for an explosive exposé, it is only a matter of time before dangerous truths come out. Art begins to imitate life as secrets unravel, masks come off, and classic texts are challenged. In this decidedly murderous exploration into the devilish intricacies of sex, power, consent, and gender politics in academia, three students take control in asking: If Carol was telling the story, wouldn’t John deserve to die? 

Please Note:

This show runs approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes with one 15min intermission

Content warnings: fatphobia, implications of disordered eating, discussion of murder, discussions of rape, stylized on-stage depictions of sexual assault, onstage moments of physical/sexual violence, explicit language including the c-word.

Special Events

  • Pay What You Want on Wednesday, 5/3 and 5/10 ($5 minimum)

  • Playwright's Night on Thursday 5/4 and 5/11 - Buy 1 Get 1  tickets when purchased online (no code needed, must buy 2 tickets to receive the discount). Join us for a conversation with the playwright following the performance!

 

Show Dates and Times

April 27-May 13, 2023
Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30pm
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm
Saturdays at 2pm
 

CLICK HERE for directions to Boston Center for the Arts.

 Cast and Production Team


Professor Daniel Holmes - Alex Jacobs
Jen Barnett - Cara Clough
Laura Vogel - Devon Whitney
Andy Stark - Tiffany Santiago
Leah Harris - Lorraine Kanyike
Steven Sanders - Ethan Williams

******************

Playwright - Rachel Greene
Director - Regine Vital
Dramaturg - Hannah Levinson
Stage Manager - Melee Lee
Assistant Stage Manager - Lily McCollum
Assistant Stage Manager - Susana Noto
Scenic Design - Victoria Rojo
Lighting Design - Isaak Olson
Costume Design - Kat Lawrence
Prop Design - Victoria Hermann
Sound Design - James Cannon
Fight and Intimacy Coordinator - Margaret Clark

 

Alex Jacobs (Professor Daniel Holmes, he/him) is thrilled to be making his full-length Fresh Ink debut! Coincidently he IS a theatre professor at Salem State University. Alex received his undergraduate degree in Theatre from the University of Leeds, UK & University of Memphis, with graduate studies at Brandeis University. Credits include: Baskerville (Gloucester Stage), The Rocky Horror Show (Moonbox), Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol (Greater Boston Stage), The Lyons (Titanic), Steve (Zeitgeist), The T Party (Company One), The 39 Steps (Winnipesaukee Playhouse) & Animals out of Paper (Hampstead Theatre), for which he received a New Hampshire Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Professional Comedy/Drama. @alexmjacobs

 

Cara Clough (Jen Barnett, she/her) graduated from Florida State University with a BFA in Acting in 2016 and moved to the greater Boston area shortly thereafter. While in Boston she has had the pleasure of working with the True to Life Training company as an Actor/facilitator as well as The Underlings Theatre Company in their production of What Rough Beast (Alyssa). She is very excited to be back in the theatre and is grateful for the opportunity to work with Fresh Ink! 

 

Devon Whitney (Laura Vogel, she/her) is a Boston-based actor and director graduating this spring from Northeastern University where she studies Theatre & Sociology. She has also trained at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA. Recent credits include PROBLEM PLAY (Northeastern University), CLOSE THE DOOR LET ME IN (Silver Masque Theatre Company), and THE BACCHAE (Northeastern University). She loves new work with her whole heart and is so very pleased to make her Fresh Ink debut! @crescendev

 

Tiffany Santiago (Andy, she/her) is honored to make her Fresh Ink debut! A graduate of Framingham State University, Tiffany studied Psychology with minors in Diversity Studies and Neuroscience. She is excited to return to the stage to share a story that makes her feel so seen and heard. Some of her favorite past credits include:, Leanne/Ginny (Puffs/FTLO Theater), Dull Gret/Angie (Top Girls/Ghostlight Players), Self (History of America Abridged/FTLO Theater), and Emily Webb (Our Town/Framingham State University). When she’s not on stage, you can catch her obsessing over her latest 2 week ADHD fixation hobby. 

 

Lorraine Victoria Kanyike (Leah Harris, she/her): Lorraine is excited to be a part of the Fresh Ink season! Past Credits, regional: Chicken and Biscuits (Front Porch Arts Collective), The Colored Museum (Umbrella Stage Company), QUOTABLES! (Company One), BLKS (Speakeasy Stage Company), Splash Hatch on the E Going Down (Central Square Theatre). Education: University of Massachusetts Boston Class of 2020. 

 

Ethan Williams (Steven Sanders, he/him) is an actor and playwright based out of Boston. His regional theatre credits include Heroes of the Fourth Turning with Studio Theatre, And Your Little Dog Too and Romeo and Juliet with Apollinaire Theatre Company, Power Play with Artists Theatre of Boston, Red with Unified Theatre Company, Corpus Christi and Slipping with Richmond Triangle Players. Ethan graduated from Emerson College with a BFA in Acting. He is stoked to be working with Fresh Ink for the first time and would like to thank his friends and family for their unconditional support.