July 1, 2021
7:00pm

The Space at Irondale
85 S. Oxford St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Inspired by Plutarch’s "Life of Pelopidas" and the writings of Nepos, A SACRED SONG OF THEBES is a historical Greek romance about the origin story of the Sacred Band of Thebes, a battalion of the Theban army made up exclusively of same-sex lovers. Living in a culturally diverse city rife with political division, our ensemble of lovers must discover their own independence by committing to each other instead of their country. A SACRED SONG OF THEBES desires to become a new queer classic: A traditional five-act play written in verse, but with language rooted in modern LBGTQIA+ vernacular and peppered with queer colloquialisms, double entendres, and references to queer culture across generations.

Donate to the company!

All donations will be split equally amongst the entire Thebes family.

MEET TEAM THEBES

in alphabetical order

Emilio Maxwell Cerci

Technical Producer

Emilio Maxwell Cerci (He/They) is a Director, Producer, and Lighting Designer based in New York City. He currently resides at The Space at Irondale Center as the Rental and Production Manager. His current and past projects include: Miss Jones in the Morning: The Reunion Show (Producer) Irondale Center's OnWomen Festival '21 (Producer), Walking with Bubbles at OnWomen Festival 2021 (Director), Beckett at Graystones Bay at Hofstra University (Director), The Four of Us & Wolfpack at NYCFringe Festival BYOV (Director), Bright and Brave at Dixon Place (Lighting Designer), Hadestown on Broadway (Assistant to Lead Producer), Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune on Broadway (Assistant to Lead Producer), Sketching & Renewing Vows at Playzoomers (Director).

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Natasha Cole

Dramaturg

Natasha (she/her/hers) is a Providence based theatre artist and non-profit administrator. She is a former cast member of the international tour of Kultar's Mime and an ensemble member of OUT LOUD Theatre in Providence, RI. This fall, Natasha will pursue a MA in Performance Studies at Washington University in St. Louis.

Elisa Galindez

Dramaturg

Elisa Galindez (She.Her) is a Multi-Hyphenate, Queer, Boriqua, Bronx Native artist and educator. As an actor & creative she has worked on various new projects and regional productions including Queen Anne (Bloody Mary), A Seat at the Table (Citlalli Hernandez), Head Over Heels (Pamela), West Side Story (Rosalia), Beautiful Thing (Asst. Director), and Bright & Brave: A New Musical (Asst. Director/Asst. Choreographer). As an educator she works with TheaterWorksUSA as a teaching artist and is the lead Education Associate at The Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute advancing cultural equity, racial and social justice for African descendant communities. Her mission is to cultivate safe, brave, and collaborative spaces to create and share the beautiful, nuanced stories of her community. You are enough! #palante

Diego Alejandro González

Community EDI Organizer

Diego [he/she/they] is a performing arts professional. Originally from Monterrey, México, Diego moved to the Borderlands of McAllen, TX at 11. They later received a BFA in Musical Theatre from Abilene Christian University in 2018. In NYC they began a career as artist, choreographer, teacher, and arts administrator. Diego is an employee of Tectonic Theater Project as Communications Manager and the Business Manager of the Moment Work Institute. They are also their resident graphic designer, production video specialist, and seasonal producer of their work. In NYC, they worked with The Public Theater's PUBLIC WORKS program in their first year to launch Twelfth Night for Shakespeare in the Park's 2018 season. Diego served as Associate Artistic Director of 13 O' Clock Theater in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, a non-profit arts organization dedicated to creating work with stories of/by/for the community.

Yz Jasa

Movement Director

Yz Jasa (they/them) is a New York-based actor, dancer and singer and hails from the beautiful island of Guam. Mainly known for their musical theatre pursuits, they have since fallen in love with physical ensemble-based theatre, combat composition and developing new works. They have travelled nationally and internationally bringing theatre to new and diverse audiences and hopes to continue challenging what modern theatre looks like, how it's made and who it’s made for. Select credits include: RENT: 20th Anniversary Tour, A Chorus Line (China Premier), Wig Out! (Nom. Helen Hayes Best Choreo), Henry VI (Asst. Fight Choreo, Nom. Drama Desk). Graduate of NSB at NYU/Tisch. Represented by GBM. @yzjasa // www.ysabeljasa.com

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Stephanie Martinez

Stage Manager

Stephanie Martinez (she/her) is a queer stage manager, director, and educator from Long Island, NY. A recent graduate of Hofstra University, she holds a BFA in Theatre Arts with a stage management concentration and an educational studies minor. Stephanie is the resident director of the West Hempstead Middle School Drama Club and a teaching artist at Merrick Theater and Center for the Arts. Recent stage management credits include Hofstra University's Barbecue and Smithtown PAC's American Idiot. Stephanie is also the Social Media Manager for Strongbox Theater. She dedicates this one to the girls, the gays, and the theys!

Lexi Orphanos

Intimacy Director

Lexi Orphanos (she/her) is a NYC-based intimacy and movement specialist, who is thrilled to be returning to live theatre with a production as Greek and queer as she is! She has proudly directed intimacy for stage and film with Steiner Studios, Dixon Place, Three of Cups Theatre Collective, NYC Fringe Festival, the Hudson Guild Theatre, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and The Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, among other independent creators. Her advocacy for consent-based, trauma-informed practices in theatre with the National Action Network is also featured in the new textbook Performing #MeToo. lexiorphanos.com

David Rivas

Costume Designer

David Rivas (he.they) is an East Coast based actor, dancer, and musician. They also host a queer podcast called "Fck Me" (@fckmepod) where they examine every aspect of sex. They recently produced/directed their first short film "The Garden" (@thegardenfilm), created in collaboration with ensemble and production team. For more information find them at https://www.davidrivas.org/ and @winedaddio

Jack Saleeby

Playwright

Jack Saleeby (he.him.his) is a queer storyteller based in New York City. As an actor, he has performed across the United States and China in touring and regional productions including The Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow), Newsies (Finch), Peter Pan (Curly), Head Over Heels, and Jesus Christ Superstar. As a creator, he has worked on various projects in development including Queen Anne (chor./George), Stalling (Jude, original cast) and Starting Up! (Scott). His original works have been produced throughout New York City, most notably Wolfpack at the Irondale Center in Brooklyn and Bright and Brave: A New Musical at Dixon Place. For more information, visit www.jacksaleeby.com

Amy Marie Seidel

Director

Amy Marie Seidel (she.her.hers) is an artist: Director, Writer, Devisor, Dramaturg, Actor, Designer, Painter, Advocate, Etc. She is a Tectonic Theater Project Company Member in addition to serving as full-time Company Dramaturg at Tectonic, where she has traveled the world to research and create new works of theater. Select Tectonic credits include Seven Deadly Sins (Dramaturg), Moments in Progress (Director and Devisor), Treatment & Data (Associate Writer, Dramaturg, and Associate Director), Here There are Blueberries (Devisor, Dramaturg, and Associate Director), and Three Hotels (Associate Director). Select outside credits include Paradise Square at Berkeley Repertory Theatre (Assistant Director), and The Gorgeous Nothings: In Concert at The Public Theater (Dramaturg). She is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. www.amymarieseidel.com

MEET THE THEBES CAST

in alphabetical order

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David Baxter

General Gorgidas

David (they/them) is a burlesque performer and podcaster who is slowly coming out of COVID. Currently located in Queens where their apartment doubles as a recording studio and background for Zoom play readings.

Maya Carter

Dom

Maya (they/she/Maya) is an interdisciplinary performer, artist-educator, and theater-maker based living on the unceded ancestral land of the Lenni Lenape and Canarsie People (BK,NY). Performance credits include: Period Sisters at HERE Arts Center (Ellie Hart), Like Real People Do with Linked Dance Theatre (Cornelia Prue), and Grounded at Irondale (The Pilot). As an artist educator, Maya seeks to dismantle oppressive power structures + decolonize access to artistic liberation. She also facilitates the development of new contemporary plays and ensemble-devised work in various capacities, including: Festival Curation, Dramaturgy, Movement Direction/Choreography, and Devising/Writing. Developmental projects include: Elle S’envoie with Linked Dance Theatre, and Suck + Blow with Sacred Circle Theater. Maya's personal generative work delves into their lived experience as a Black, Queer, Non-Binary, Person of Faith. Currently, Maya is cultivating ease + softness; while assisting the Revolution in the ways that they can.

Justin Chevalier

Izzo

Justin Chevalier (he/him/his), proud alumni of Hofstra University, is an actor/artist born and raised in the warmth of Houston, Texas and based in New York City. Chevalier most recently appeared in a new play, Ocean Quilt by Mickey Bolmer, produced by Poetic Theater Productions - his first in person performance since the beginning of the pandemic. Other credits include: The Lady Aoi and Pancho/Hank - Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theatre Festival, The Puppet Master - La Mama, Beak in Bright and Brave - Dixon Place, Lopakhin in The Cherry Orchard, Nagg in Endgame. Chevalier is looking forward to the new, more diverse and colorful theatre ahead. Thanks to his family for the love, thanks to team for sharing space and thanks to you for attending. Love.

Maya Deschenes

Ianthe

Maya (she.her.hers) is thrilled to be returning to the stage with such an incredible group of artists. Throughout the past year and a half, Maya graduated from Hofstra University (online of course), moved to New York City, and began working full time at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. While at school, some of Maya’s favorite productions include Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife), She Stoops to Conquer (Charles Marlow) and Fefu and Her Friends (Julia). Regionally, she performed in Little Women (Jo March), and originated the role of Charlotte in With or Without You: A New Musical at Theatre Row. As a queer artist, Maya is so happy to be part of this inclusive new work and can’t wait to play on-stage again!

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Joshuah Dominique

Melon

Joshuah (JD) (they/she) is thrilled to be joining this delightfully queer group of artists for their first in person show! JD is a New York City based performer, creator, and educator who graduated from the University of the Arts and the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Some previous credits include; Nurse Kathy in the Elementary Spacetime Show (Powerhouse),Colin Goldchild in The Eleventh Hour (Town Stages), and their solo cabaret It Takes One (Philadelphia Fringe). Follow them on twitter and instagram to find out about more upcoming projects and the like @JoshuahDSimpson. Long live Audra McDonald!