Hello! I’m Mary Paola, born and raised in Bar Harbor, Maine. I’m a second year Acting student at the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Purchase College and I am so proud to be a part of Roe Versus Wade with Company 45. I play Jeannie in the the first act, the young “Jane Roe”.

Some of my favorite past credits include Wole Soyinka’s The Bacchae of Euripides: A Communion Rite, and most recently playing Eliza Doolittle in Acadia Repertory Theatre’s production of Pygmalion.

I was immediately attracted to the role of Jeannie when I read the play, and I became fascinated by the real-life Norma McCorvey’s life story. Growing up grappling with my own queer identity, I’m thrilled to be playing this woman, whose sexuality was widely unknown to the public even at the heights of her fame. A woman who married a man at a young age before finding the community of underground, essentially criminal lesbians in the late 60s and early 70s in east Texas. One of the greatest pleasures of this experience has been working with Catherine Young, who plays Carla, Jeannie’s girlfriend. Together we’ve been working to explore the danger of living openly as a gay woman at the time, and the small glories of privacy and tight-knit community understanding. Identifying with a label/community gives them some salvation and joy inside of the risk and prejudice of their environment. It’s been a very important learning experience for me, and I want to continue participating in telling the stories of the neglected communities and individuals who are struggling in today’s America.

I am so grateful for this powerful collaboration, and thank you to my family for their constant support.

Hi, my name is Ana Nicolle Chavez and I am a Arizona desert gal who loves to Act. Currently I am training at the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at State University of New York, Purchase College. It is here at Purchase that I have the opportunity to be a part of the first production of Roe v. Wade; and it's been really special to bring life to the stories of these real women in history. Every character seemed equally interesting during the audition process so I was really willing to play with any of the women's roles. Blue in particular, interested me because of her ability to travel and live fully within her world in the 70s as a gay woman, and still associate herself with groups who did not approve of her “lifestyle”. Her sexuality is unapologetic and it allows her to keep the people around her honest. Her essence has taught me so much about the power that lies in honesty without a need for approval. This show has taught me so much about the power of fundamental beliefs and the way it controls the structure of our lives. Working with my company everyday, we had to stay open minded and listen to each other in order to get the most out of interacting with characters from such opposing human right beliefs. I hope everyone who gets to watch this show, whether it be this production or not, gets to experience being willing to listen to everyone's truths the way my company and I did.

And a shout out to my madre for bringing me into existence with endless support and freedom!

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Hey y’all! My name is Carson Bennett, and my roots are all the way in Blackshear, Georgia. I am currently a Sophomore in the SUNY Purchase BFA Acting Conservatory. I have been in productions like The Miracle Worker (Helen Keller), I Never Saw Another Butterfly (Raja), and A Chorus Line (Cassie). I have also worked in multiple short films such as “The Letter.” I have also worked as a resident director at Iroquois Springs camp for the past two years. My mission, I guess you could say, is to tell honest stories for people who cannot or have never gotten the chance to speak for themselves. With all the productions I have participated in, I try to bring a piece of humanity- a trait that seems to be lacking in today’s world. As I am playing multiple roles in this production Roe Versus Wade, I have learned so much in developing the lives and values of such complex and foiled characters. With all characters, I have worked my hardest to tell their truth- even if it’s not my personal own. I feel that is at the crux of storytelling and sharing. All of this would not be possible without the undying love and uplifting support of my family and friends. Thank you all for loving me, even when I am hard headed! I love y’all!

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