Honorary Producers: Pam and Gresham Riley
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DESIGN/PRODUCTION TEAM:
Director: J Hernandez Producer: Damon Bonetti Stage Manager: Hunter Smith |
CAST:
Teodoro - Tyler Elliot Diana - Madeleine Garcia Tristan - J Hernandez Marcela/Antonelo - Aneesa Neibauer Ricardo - Damon Bonetti Federico - Robert DaPonte Anarda/Furio - Amanda Schoonover Octavio/Ludovico - Nathan Foley Dorotea/Lirano - Jennifer Summerfield Fabio - Zachary Valdez Camilo - Arthur Robinson Leonido - Nicholas Perez-Hoop Celio - Lee Cortopassi |
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J Hernandez - Director
J is always incredibly happy to be working with PAC, whether as an actor, reader, and this time a director! J was first seen with PAC as Leonardo in their co-pro with Drexel of Lorca's Blood Wedding, and has been seen in a number of readings through the years with them. Around town J has also worked with the Arden, PTC, Quintessence Theatre Group, the Lantern, and DelShakes, among others. He received his BFA from the College of Sante Fe, his MA in directing with a cognate in classical performance from Texas State University, and his MFA in acting from the University of Virginia. J would always like to thank Damon and everyone at PAC for the work they do. |
What draws you to a play?
When I think about it, I think about something one of my mentors said in my thesis defense back in the mid aughts when I was at Texas State University: "J Hernandez is more actor than director, and more a director than a scholar." Haha, and I agree, I'm not the deepest of thinkers, but I know good material when I see it. As an actor and as a performer, I'm attracted to good plays, plays that I'd want to perform in, plays that I'd want to direct. In this instance, lucky for me, I get to do both.
Where did you first encounter The Dog In The Manger?
Back story: Lope de Vega's Dog in the Manger was in a stack of required readings before I went to Stratford upon Avon to study abroad for the Summer. My grad class would get together as a group and, for better or worse, read every single one of these chosen plays aloud, and, more often than not, we were left disappointed. Dog in the Manger was the exception to the rule. We came into it not really knowing what to expect, and, before we knew it after we were done reading, we founds ourselves left with one of the greatest experiences we'd had in our time at Texas State. That's the only way I can describe it.
A month later we saw it in production at the Swan in Stratford, and to this day, it remains one of the greatest, if not THE greatest production I've ever seen of anything. ANYTHING. High praise, I know, but for someone whose job it was to peruse classical texts day in and day out for 2 years straight, when you find something that absolutely delights you to the point of laughter and tears (sometimes both at the same time), it sticks with you.
What made you choose this play to direct with PAC?
As an actor, I like exploring characters who don't reside in a world that's black and white, the gray in anything is what interests me. Honor, love, the conflict and madness that come with them, especially in classical works, is what engages me as an artist. In DITM, you'll find some of these characters initiate the best actions for the worst of intentions and vice versa. There's plenty to find fault with, but, at the same time, there's plenty to laugh at as well. PLENTY.
As a director, the absolute biggest reason why I chose this play, getting back to the experience I had with it when I was in grad school, is because I want MORE audiences to experience it, I simply want to share the ecstasy and joy I felt in reading this with my schoolmates and I want to pass that along to you, yes, you, you who's reading this, YOOOOU!
So, in closing, if you choose to come watch our reading of The Dog In The Manger, be prepared to fall madly in love, and - more importantly - be prepared to laugh.
When I think about it, I think about something one of my mentors said in my thesis defense back in the mid aughts when I was at Texas State University: "J Hernandez is more actor than director, and more a director than a scholar." Haha, and I agree, I'm not the deepest of thinkers, but I know good material when I see it. As an actor and as a performer, I'm attracted to good plays, plays that I'd want to perform in, plays that I'd want to direct. In this instance, lucky for me, I get to do both.
Where did you first encounter The Dog In The Manger?
Back story: Lope de Vega's Dog in the Manger was in a stack of required readings before I went to Stratford upon Avon to study abroad for the Summer. My grad class would get together as a group and, for better or worse, read every single one of these chosen plays aloud, and, more often than not, we were left disappointed. Dog in the Manger was the exception to the rule. We came into it not really knowing what to expect, and, before we knew it after we were done reading, we founds ourselves left with one of the greatest experiences we'd had in our time at Texas State. That's the only way I can describe it.
A month later we saw it in production at the Swan in Stratford, and to this day, it remains one of the greatest, if not THE greatest production I've ever seen of anything. ANYTHING. High praise, I know, but for someone whose job it was to peruse classical texts day in and day out for 2 years straight, when you find something that absolutely delights you to the point of laughter and tears (sometimes both at the same time), it sticks with you.
What made you choose this play to direct with PAC?
As an actor, I like exploring characters who don't reside in a world that's black and white, the gray in anything is what interests me. Honor, love, the conflict and madness that come with them, especially in classical works, is what engages me as an artist. In DITM, you'll find some of these characters initiate the best actions for the worst of intentions and vice versa. There's plenty to find fault with, but, at the same time, there's plenty to laugh at as well. PLENTY.
As a director, the absolute biggest reason why I chose this play, getting back to the experience I had with it when I was in grad school, is because I want MORE audiences to experience it, I simply want to share the ecstasy and joy I felt in reading this with my schoolmates and I want to pass that along to you, yes, you, you who's reading this, YOOOOU!
So, in closing, if you choose to come watch our reading of The Dog In The Manger, be prepared to fall madly in love, and - more importantly - be prepared to laugh.
Teodoro
Tyler Elliot |
Diana
Madeleine Garcia |
Tristan
J Hernandez |
Marcela / Antonelo
Aneesa Neibauer |
Ricardo
Damon Bonetti |
Federico
Robert DaPonte |
Anarda / Furio
Amanda Schoonover |
Octavio / Ludovico
Nathan Foley |
Dorotea / Lirano
Jennifer Summerfield |
Fabio
Zachary Valdez |
Camilo
Arthur Robinson |
Leonido
Nicholas Perez-Hoop |
Celio
Lee Cortopassi |
