Bring SMU Grads' Comedy to Off-Off Broadway

We’re thrilled to announce an exciting new production – an absurdist comedy that provides a sharp, satirical look at everyday power dynamics in the workplace.

The play employs the absurdist techniques of Eugene Ionesco, Edward Albee, and Christopher Durang to create a world where language and behavior are twisted into the surreal.

But this play does more than entertain – it resonates with anyone who has felt powerless, on-edge, or stuck in a world full of power struggles and overwhelming challenges. In a city like New York where these themes are all too familiar to us, this play offers a reflection on the absurdity of our struggles and a cathartic release through humor.

As actors, we know these feelings all too well, especially during the audition process where our efforts can go unrecognized and our power seems limited. At Southern Methodist University, our professors urged us to "make your own theatre" and "be world changers." Producing this play is our way of taking control, of transforming our own experiences of powerlessness into a story that mirrors and critiques these very themes.

Your contributions will help cover:

Production Timeline

Fundraising: September 1st- October 1st

Rehearsals: October 20th-November 6th

Show Dates: November 7th-10th

MEET OUR TEAM

Executive Producers

Alysia Giakoumas is a New York City-based actor, producer, and arts entrepreneur originally from West Palm Beach, FL. She holds a BFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University and is the Founder and Program Director of The Playground Acting Program, an educational acting company based in Dallas, TX. Alysia most recently produced GRIPPED, a film about passion, obsession, and being broken by what you love. Her recent stage performances include work at Dallas Theatre Center and Echo Theatre. Alysia is excited about projects that reflect the moments in life that are painfully funny, awkward, confrontational, wacky, romantic, riveting, and honest.

Angelica McEwan is an actor, producer, and poet based in New York City. Originally from Miami, FL, she attended New World School of the Arts and then went on to attend Southern Methodist University where she obtained her BFA in Acting. Most recently you may have seen her in Girls Just Want To Commit Domestic Terrorism at The Tank or Executive producing The Future of Art; A Short Film Festival! Along with working on this production she is also currently developing her poetic one-woman show.

Lyon Hamill is a New York City-based actor originally from Bermuda. With a BFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University, Lyon has garnered experience in both regional theater and film. Recent stage credits include portraying Berowne in Love's Labor's Lost at Shakespeare in the Valley and performing in Enter the Guardsman at Theatre Aspen. His film work includes roles as Cal in The Better Part (Amazon Prime) and Brock in Carry the Darkness. This is Lyons first producing venture however his extensive background at Theatre Aspen, where he worked for six summers, has equipped him with the skills and insights needed to produce high-quality theater.

Producers

Addison Vaughn is a New York-based writer, director, and producer with a BFA in Theatre from Southern Methodist University. At SMU, she produced over twelve new works as president of the university’s student theatre company. In the Dallas theatre scene, she has worked as an assistant director, production assistant, and stage manager. She currently interns at The Tank, a Manhattan-based non-profit arts presenter and theatre serving emerging artists. Addison is deeply passionate about uplifting underprivileged voices in theatre and providing more leadership opportunities for female and non-binary creatives.

Sabina Arcila is a multi-hyphenate Latinx theatre artist and filmmaker who loves to act, write, direct, and produce. A recent graduate of Southern Methodist University with a B.F.A. in Theatre Studies, and a proud alum of New World School of the Arts in Miami, Arcila seeks to uplift the stories of the Latinx communities——and particularly the women——that made her. She previously directed a production of References to Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot at the Margo Jones Theatre in Dallas, TX as well as the New York premiere of Girls Just Wanna Commit Domestic Terrorism at The Tank. She also wrote, directed, and produced a short film entitled “reyna.,” which was screened at the NTUFF Film Festival. Arcila is currently an Artistic Fellow at Second Stage, and she was named one of The Theatre Leadership Project’s (TTLP) 2024 Creative Producing Fellows.

Assistant Producer

Mikayla Perry is a New York City based producer who grew up in South Florida with a background in Technical Direction. Since moving to the city she has worked in marketing, hospitality, and her most recent producing credits include producing one woman shows for amazing women such as Leslie Ayvazian and Brenda Braxton.

Director

Deanna Ott is thrilled to collaborate with fellow SMU alums on this production. Deanna holds her MFA in Acting from SMU. Originally hailing from California, Deanna is an actor, director, and arts educator whose work has been seen nationwide. Passionate about a creative and collaborative process, and storytelling through movement, she looks forward to building this piece, highlighting the unique voices of the artists involved. For more about Deanna: https://deannaott.com/

By contributing to our campaign, you’ll be supporting a production that not only entertains but also challenges its audience to think critically about workplace culture and societal norms. Your donation will help us turn this unique vision into a reality and bring a fresh, humorous perspective to important issues.

Join us in making a theatrical experience that promises both laughter and reflection. Your support can help us achieve this ambitious project and spark meaningful conversations through the power of absurdist theater.

Thank you for your generosity and belief in us and this exciting production!

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