SATE opened its 2022 Season of Party, with the sixth annual Aphra Behn Festival, April 29-May 1, 2022 at 8:00 PM with live, in-person performances at the Centene Center for the Arts in midtown St. Louis.
Established in 2017, the Aphra Behn Festival’s goal is to give women interested in directing and writing for theatre an opportunity to get more experience, try out ideas, experiment, and hone their craft. The Aphra Behn Festival is named for a fascinating poet, translator, and spy. Aphra Behn is widely considered to be the first English woman to make her living as a playwright. SATE produced a play about her, Or, by Liz Duffy Adams, in February 2015 and collaborated with Prison Performing Arts to adapt Behn’s play, The Rover, for the women at Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic, and Correction Center in Vandalia to perform. The Rover was also the text shared by the directors in the 2020 Festival. SATE feels very much a part of Aphra’s legacy.
The theme for the 2022 Festival is “Party” and includes the following plays:
REPURPOSED, by Michelle Zielinski, directed by Elizabeth Van Pelt
Performed by: Ciera Thomas, Nicki Huber, Taylor Kelly
Will a downcast visitor on a dreary day find meaning in strange modern art? And which is stranger, the art or the other people? Reply Hazy, Try Again …
GO BEFORE I DO by Hazel McIntire, directed by LaWanda Jackson
Performed by: Eric Satterfield, Greta Johnson, Jess McCawley
A bar in the nightlife district becomes a portal into others life as drinks are poured and memories made. A daughter lives through the loss of both of her parents in the span of a few short years, which is viewed by her faithful bartender. A view of the world seen by the often unseen, Go Before I Do is a story of growth, exploration, and understanding.
THE SUPER FUN TIME PARTY PALACE, by Lize Lewy, directed by Rae Davis
Performed by: Ashley Bauman, Julie Birnstein, Jack Elias
The Super Fun Time Party Palace is a look into the banality of parenthood. Frankie and Jessie are first time parents who will try anything to make their 6 year old son’s birthday a success, and in doing so, chaos ensues.
Festival Stage Manager: Emma Glose
Festival Designers: Bess Moynihan, Liz Henning, Grace Sellers, and students from East Central College.
Festival Graphic Design: Dottie Quick
Festival Mentors: e.k. doolin, Summer Baer
2022 APHRA BEHN FESTIVAL ARTISTS
MICHELLE ZIELINSKI (Writer, Repurposed) also directs, designs lights, teaches playwriting and acts. She has worked with many companies in St. Louis, New York City and Bangkok. She serves on the board of the Black Mirror Theatre Company and is currently co-writing a show, Roll With It! with Katie Bannister, to be produced in October at the Kranzberg. She is thankful to SATE for this amazing opportunity and appreciates her theatre-loving family for their support.
ELIZABETH VAN PELT (Director, Repurposed) is thrilled to be a part of this festival for a third time! She was previously seen onstage in both 2017 and 2018 and is very excited to be directing this year. Big thanks to Rachel and Ellie for creating this awesome festival and allowing her to be a part of it again!
HAZEL MCINTIRE (Writer, Go Before I Do) is a New York-based artist. Currently a member of the Alumni Theatre Company, Hazel has also worked on productions of Bridge Watcher, The Flying Doctor, The Rover, and The Day Room Club. Hazel is also a poet with the Spoken Word Poetry program. Go Before I Do is Hazel’s first play. “As a writer of everyday feelings and emotions I would like to thank those sitting here feeling the emotions of this journey of life with us.”
LaWANDA JACKSON (Director, Go Before I Do) is a native of St. Louis, MO. She joined the Alumni Theatre Company in April 2021, and was a part of the Kept Away series. Prior to joining the Alumni, she started PPA in 2009. Her first play was Twelfth Night, where the late great Agnes Wilcox cast her as both the girl and boy twin. She has continued in over fifteen plays since then, including originating the role of Mel in Run-On Sentence. This is the first play she’s directed and her first time participating in the Aphra Behn Festival. She loves the experience and hopes to further her craft.
LIZE LEWY (Writer, The Super Fun Time Party Palace (she/they) is a St. Louis based playwright, director, actor, and proud owner of literally no free time! Lize is an upcoming graduate of the Sargent Conservatory of Theater Arts at Webster University and her latest piece, “Looking For You Online”, will be produced in Webster’s 2022 Spring Season. Lewy’s work covers deeply emotional themes such as loss, mental health, and toxic relationships; told with her own comedic and quirky style.
RAE DAVIS (Director, The Super Fun Time Party Palace) is a creative that has been active in the St. Louis area. Her love for storytelling has allowed her opportunities to act on stage and in film, and is grateful to make her adult directing debut with SATE.
CIERA THOMAS (Esme, Repurposed) Ciera Thomas is a recent graduate from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a newfound love of acting. Overall art and creativity are her passions and being a part of other people’s projects is exciting. Ciera loves to sing, dance, read, play video games, cook, watch anime, and creative writing. She used to live overseas during her childhood and found a love of traveling there. Ciera plans to travel more in the future!
NICKI HUBER (Debbie, Repurposed) Nicki Huber is an actor and theater artist native to the St. Louis area. They have a BA in Theater from Truman State University and recently could be seen performing in Magnificently Miscast with Over Due Theatre Company. Nicki is excited to be making their SATE debut with the Aphra Behn Festival.
TAYLOR KELLY (Jordan, Repurposed) is a St. Louis-based actor who is thrilled to be making her debut with SATE at the Aphra Behn Festival. In May, you can catch Taylor in Farce of Habit at Theatre Guild of Webster Groves. When she is not acting Taylor spends most of her time at The Rep Theatre of St. Louis, where she is currently employed.
ERIC SATTERFIELD (Dad, Go Before I Do) Eric Satterfield is an actor, writer, and graphic designer. He most recently played Claudius in the Alumni Theatre Company’s premier of Elsinore, a prequel to Hamlet that Eric wrote with his writing partner. Other credits include PPA’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Front Page, Trippingly Hamlet, Hip-Hop Hamlet, Quick Brewed Macbeth, and Kept Away. He recently directed The Bridge Watcher, a short digital play which streamed last year. He is currently working on multiple writing projects.
JESS McCAWLEY (Bartender, Go Before I Do) is thrilled to be making her SATE debut. Originally from Central Illinois, she has been living and performing in the St. Louis metro area since 2017. Jess recently performed in Winter Opera St. Louis’ 15th season and Over Due Theater Company’s Magnificently Miscast. Some of her favorite roles include Guenevere in Camelot, Fiona MacLaren in Brigadoon, and Emma Horton in Terms of Endearment.
GRETA JOHNSON (Daughter, Go Before I Do) is thrilled to be making both her SATE and St. Louis debuts with this performance! Greta has trained in classical and musical theatre voice, multiple dance disciplines, and a variety of acting techniques. She recently graduated from Principia College with a B.A. in Theatre and a B.A. in Educational Studies where she got to explore her passion for both acting and arts education. Presently, Greta is diving into the St. Louis arts industry through teaching tap classes at COCA, training as an apprentice with moSTLy Tap, and connecting with local actors. Endless thanks to Mom, Dad, and William for their infinite love and support, and to John O’Hagan for being a caring, encouraging mentor.
ASHLEY BAUMAN (Frankie, The Super Fun Time Party Palace) is delighted to be a part of the triumphant in-person return of SATE’s Aphra Behn Festival! You may recognize Ashley from previous performances with SATE, Poor Monsters, St. Louis Shakespeare, and The Black Mirror Theatre Co. Favorite recent roles include Bottom in “A Midsummer Night’s Stroll,” Doctor Faustus in “Doctor Faustus, or the Modern Prometheus,” and Rosalind in “As You Like It.” Many thanks to SATE and Rae for taking extra pains to ensure a safe audition, rehearsal, and performance environment. To Pierce: May this performance not be a prophecy.
Chef JULIE BIRNSTEIN (Jessie, The Super Fun Time Party Palace) (She/They) is returning to the stage for the first time in 17 years! Wild, right? Like, what should they do with her hands if not holding a sauté pan or a knife? How much stage make up is too much?… can I eat backstage? I’m honestly just happy to be included, and grateful for the support of the team and fellow artists. Big bucks, no whammies!
JACK ELIAS (Mr. Super Fun Time, The Super Fun Time Party Palace) is a 17 year old actor and comic from St. Louis. He has previously performed at the St. Lou Fringe Festival with Deenie Nast and has appeared in productions of Romeo and Juliet, Our Town, and as Edgar Allen Poe in an original, devised, outdoor walking tour based on Poe’s writings.
EMMA GLOSE (Festival Stage Manager) is a recent graduate from SLU with a degree in Theatre and Communication. She’s excited to be working with SATE again as part of the Aphra Behn festival after previously Assistant/Performance Stage Managing The Women of Lockerbie. This May, she will be producing/stage manage Elektra Heart with Critique Theatre Company. She wants to thank Ellie and Rachel for this opportunity to empower women in theatre and her friends and family for their support.
BESS MOYNIHAN (Set/Lighting Design Mentor) has been a versatile Theatre Artist in the St. Louis region for over 13 years. On top of being a resident artist at SATE for the past 7 years, she has designed scenery and lighting for a variety regional companies (3 Nominations- STL Theatre Circle Award), and directed for multiple professional companies. She is also a teaching artist for Prison Performing Arts and COCAbiz. She is currently on Faculty at East Central College where she teaches Technical Theatre & Communications.
LIZ HENNING (Costume Design) is excited to partner with SATE once again! During the pandemic, she sewed masks instead of costumes, and learned how to pickle with her great-grandmother’s recipe. She’s glad to return to theatre work, as her whole house now smells like vinegar. Upcoming productions include work with Midnight Theatre Company (Anomalous Experience and Rodney’s Wife), and SATE and Bronte Sister House Party in August. Love to Kit, Bea, the SATE Coven and #CycleStar Ashley.
GRACE SELLERS (Lighting Design) attended Fontbonne University and has recently graduated from East Central College. She was the Lighting Designer and a part of the run crew for Almost, Maine (ECC), Master Electrician for Puffs (ECC) and Technical Director for Ozark Actors Theatre’s 2021 summer season.
DOTTIE QUICK (Graphic Designer) is celebrating a decade of creating graphics for SATE. Starting with Lanford Wilson’s Burn This in 2012, some of her other favorite graphics for SATE productions are Nine by Jane Shepard / Sketch by Hannah Fischer at Leverage Dance Theater, No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre, and Antigone directed by Lucy Cashion. Dottie is also excited to be designing graphics for The Midnight Company’s 25th anniversary season. She’s been working with Midnight since 2017. She’s also a regular vendor at local craft markets. Her work can be viewed at @DottieQuickDesigns and DottieQ.com.
JOEY RUMPELL (Photographer) is now in her 11th year as SATE’S company photographer is living her dream as the Recreations Coordinator for the City of Union Parks and Recreations department. When she’s not spending time in their beautiful parks, she is the Vice President of the St Louis Beard & Mustache; a non-profit involving charitable acts around the country. Eniugh about Joey, enjoy the show!
SET DESIGN STUDENT TEAMS
REPURPOSED: Allie Medows, Emma Adams, Sara Schaible
GO BEFORE I DO: Sarah O’Bannon, Ashley Henke, Grace Sellers
THE SUPER FUN TIME PARTY PALACE: Adrian Smith, Grace Allgaier
2022 FESTIVAL MENTORS
SUMMER BAER (Directing Mentor, 2020 Festival Alumnae) is very excited to return to the Aphra Behn Festival as a directing mentor! Summer studied Theatre Performance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and has since started her career as a St. Louis based actor and teaching artist. Summer was most recently seen in Moonstone Theatre Company’s Proof as Catherine. You may have also seen her in shows such as; Midsummer Night’s Stroll (Peter Quince), As You Like It (Celia), and Brighton Beach Memoirs (Nora). www.summerbaer.com
e.k. doolin (Writing Mentor, 2019 Festival Alumnae) (she/her) lives and writes in the MetroEast area of St. Louis. Her plays have been produced by the Slightly Askew Theatre Company, Prison Performing Arts, and the Center of Creative Arts (all of Missouri), and York College (PA), Geneva Theatre Guild (NY), Cutler Bay Theatre (FL), Theatre is the Cure (CA) and Slackline Theatre (UK). In January of 2022, her one-act play Running Uphill to Smooth Criminal was a Region 3 finalist at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and will be fully produced by the Heartland Theatre of Bloomington, IL in July of 2022.
e.k. is currently pursuing her Master of Fine Arts with a concentration in Playwriting from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
SATE receives support for the Aphra Behn Festival from the Missouri Arts Council and the Steve Nelson Memorial Playwright’s Fund.
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