My name is Ronald Benson-El Jr. Im a sophomore in the BFA Acting Conservatory at SUNY Purchase. Im from Washington, DC. Some past productions I’ve been in include, but aren’t limited to, “The Bluest Eye”(Soaphead Church), and “Rent”(Benny). I’ve always believed that perspective can change the world for the better. If we could truly understand one another maybe we can be at peace with our differing thoughts and opinions. Acting gives me the chance to challenge myself in that belief. To take on a character who’s values and principles may differ from my own, and give that character the same respect and justice as I would a character that I align with expands my thinking and perspective. I am grateful for every role I get as it provides a chance to explore a different reality than my own. In a way I get more out of life by acting. And in addition to expanding my perspective, I get to help expand other’s perspectives as well, as an extra treat. Good stuff, hard to beat this.

Follow me on Instagram at @ronaldbensonel

if you’d like to stay on the up and up of what I’m up to!

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My name is Kelsey Longwill, I’m from a small town in Southern California, and i’m a Sophomore at SUNY Purchase College, in the BFA Acting Conservatory. A few of my past productions have included And Then There Were None (Vera), The Dream of the Burning Boy (Rachel), and The Cripple of Inishmaan (Kate).

But most recently, I play Older Jeannie in the first (ever!) production of Roe Vs. Wade.

Upon being cast as Jeannie, I was initially intimidated by her older age, her complex character arc, and our differences in political and religious beliefs. However, I really wanted to play Jeannie’s character honestly, openly, and free of any judgements. So I had to dig past any/ all of our differing beliefs and follow Jeannie in her journey, and have compassion for her along the way. I believe that everyone’s story deserves to be heard, even if our beliefs are different. Discovering the mind of a woman who is struggling, broken, and lacking love and companionship was something that I feel has really helped me grow, and taught me a lot that I will carry with me. Roe V Wade has also greatly contributed to my growth as an actor, and I’m excited to see where my journey will take me.

A huge thank you to my incredibly supportive family, and my marvellous company members. You all have so much of my heart.

Follow the handle @kelseylongwill on instagram or download my resume to follow me on my journey!

Hi! Ta’Neesha Murphy (테니셔) here, I am a sophomore BFA actor from Washington DC. I play Doctor Blazer and Rhoda in Roe vs Wade. The story of Roe vs Wade is ongoing, and the issue of abortion affects women around the world. When I first time I read the play I was so excited to share a story that touched on so many topics and represented so many types of people. People of color, women, LGBTQ, religious etc, all groups of people who all share the common goal of achieving happiness in life. Playing Rhoda has been a journey for me, in my eyes she is a strong woman who has had to build up so many walls because she is both a woman of color and a lesbian in a world that values neither. I have always believed that as humans we are afraid of that which we do not understand, and therefore my job as an actor is to come to my characters with compassion and understanding so that I can honestly tell their story to the masses. When we open ourselves to the perspectives of others and realize that we all have struggles we are able to come closer to a better existence on earth.

I also worked on a lot of the props for the show, such as the Years that appear throughout the play, the Columbo's Pizza Parlor sign, the Abortion Clinic sign and others. My focus with most of the props was to take care of the audience using colors such as yellows and greens which are the easiest colors to see from far away, or to support Allison or Jeannie using their base colors of blues, yellows, and oranges. Past credits include Macbeth(Macbeth) and The Bluest Eye (Mama) at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and Maliki Simba(Nala) with Teens N Theater Theatre Program. I would like to thank my family, friends, ensemble and teachers for their continued support and love.

I am excited to continue to share the stories of people whose voices should be heard.

Hi, my name is Mason Forringer. I’m a sophomore actor at the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Theater Arts. I was born and raised in Fleminton, NJ. Some past things I’ve been up to include Dark of The Moon (Preacher Haggler), The Man Who Came to Dinner (Bert Jefferson) at Hunterdon Central Regional High School and Romeo and Juliet (Lord Capulet) at The Shakespeare Academy at Stratford. I’m extremely greatfull that I am able to continue this great journey at Purchase where I am always striving to be the best artist I can be. When I saw the cast list for Roe Versus Wade and discovered I was gonna play three different roles I was a little taken back. Every production is a brand new challenge, which should be viewed with fresh eyes. How was I gonna tackle these rolls and make them distinct and grounded in the world we are creating? Trey in particular was challenging, because he bounced off the page as this womanizing asshole, and that might be true, but the actor cannot judge their character in that way. Our job is to present and tell the truth. With Trey I had to look at him as a human first, character second. From there the work came alive, and we were off to the races. This show has been quite the journey, and I can only hope that what we’ve done will peek the audience’s interest to look closer at social, moral, and political issues in our society and to keep the conversation going. Thank you, and stay bold.

I would like to thank my family and friends for their endless support and love, my teachers for pushing my forward, and I would like to dedicate this show and my performance to Chris. Thank you for everything brother, we’ll see each other again someday.

If you wanna check out what I’m doing you can follow me on Instagram @mason_forringer

Hello, I am Catherine Young. I am an actor grown in Louisville, Kentucky currently in my second year of training at SUNY Purchase. I am playing Carla in the show. My favorite past productions have been The Bacchae of Euripides, Henry VI Part II and Henry IV Parts I and II. I was so excited to learn that we were going to be working on this play, Roe Versus Wade. I believe that as theatre makers we have a unique responsibility to challenge matters of justice and offer new thoughts and deeper perspectives on vital human issues. As it presently stands abortion is on the chopping block and now more than ever we need to listen, look and challenge ourselves and each other. I am proud to tell this story.

When I first read the script I was immediately drawn to Carla and Jeannie’s relationship. Sarah Schulman does an amazing job of providing the audience with the differences between the two couples. They are in different social classes. Carla and Jeannie are forced to isolate themselves and this play beautifully shows how that affects their hope, their love and their outcome. What it means to grow with somebody like they did and then have to leave them. No character in this play is void of passion. I think that is what is truly so wonderful about this story—nobody does not care about this issue. So as an actor and, my hope is, that as an audience we will listen, ponder and feel a fire lit.

I would like to send a sharp thank you to the people who have lit a fire under me and challenged my beliefs. And a warm thank you to my family in Kentucky and otherwise.

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My name is Aaron J. Stewart. I was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, and was raised right across the Hudson Bridge in Highland, New York. I’ve been living In New York my whole life, but I’m grateful to live near a city where there’s always something exciting happening! I’m currently a Sophomore BFA actor at the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Theatre Arts. For the past two years here, I’ve developed my craft to levels I never thought I could reach. I’m forever grateful for the help I received from my amazing faculty, and forever thankful for the inspiration I receive on a daily basis from my company members. I’ve always loved the art of acting, and playing the characters of the Judge and Orderly in Roe v Wade makes me love and appreciate the type of art I do even more. To be able to play two different characters; One with loads of anger and power, the other filled with buoyancy and enthusiasm. They're both so satisfying to embody. Working on this production has been an eye-opening experience. Not only because of the mass amount of knowledge I accumulated from my research on the case, but also working on the production side too. We weren't given a budget or a stage for this show; So we had to become our own production team, create our own budget, and make our own music. It was a long process, but I believe we all put in work to make this show something really special. I want to give a shoutout to the Mom and Pops for helping me out and always having my back no matter what, and all my close friends that are always down for a good conversation. I love you all!

Past Credits: Directing apprentice at Powerhouse Theatre, Artistic apprentice with Fresh Ground Pepper.

Past Acting Credits: Our Town (George Gibbs), The Cripple of Inishmaan (BabbyBobby), and I’ve Tried To Do This Alone (Actor).

See what I’m up to:

https://www.instagram.com/aaronjstew/

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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 and welcome to Roe Versus Wade! My name is Clara Steeves and I am delighted to be playing Candy and Christine; two women both with strong moral beliefs and valid opinions (though perhaps different from yours and mine), who are caught in a world with intense clashes between sexes, religion, and individual and collective rights. I proudly hail from Newfoundland, Canada, left home at 15 to go to a performing arts preparatory school in northern Michigan and have ended up in New York where I am currently a BFA acting major (sophomore) at SUNY Purchase. Past credits as an actor at Interlochen Center for the Arts include The Winter's Tale (Camillo), Cardenio(Marcella), Our Town (Stage Manager), and A Flea in her Ear (Hotel Guest). My path to get here is a bit unusual. Newfoundland has a major fishing industry, worth one billion dollars that employs over 20,000 people. Theatre, however, is not something that pops into one’s head when one thinks of Newfoundland. Leaving home made all the difference in my theater training. During this process of Roe Versus Wade I was very motivated, inspired, and moved by my peers. Watching them act makes me think and question. Observing life and reading also inspires me. Living on an arts campus for the past five years has taught me that being an artist isn’t just about practicing and working hard. It is also about broadening yourself and your knowledge and being open to new thoughts and ideas. Reading great literature like Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy (my favorite book) or Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (my second favorite book) helps me see the world from a different perspective. Different perspectives and opinions is something central to Roe Versus Wade. Spending time researching the time period, laws of the time and the history of the time allowed me to gain an understanding as to why certain characters might have these certain opinions and beliefs. I have loved the opportunity to play and fight for characters with beliefs so very different from my own. I would like to thank my fellow cast members, our dedicated and supportive stage management team, Devin and Siobban, and our enthusiastic, passionate and simply wonderful director Roz for their tireless work and commitment throughout this whole process. Thank you to the entire faculty for their guidance, and to my friends and family for their support. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the impact of my Grandma Marge who saw very early on that I wanted to be an actor and who supported and encouraged me. Enjoy the show!

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https://www.instagram.com/clarasteeves7188/

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!

Follow me on Instagram!

www.instagram.com/adeadassflan

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Hi! My name is Dafi Cramer and I am from Tel Aviv, Israel. I play the character of Allison in the second act, or “older” Allison. I am a sophomore BFA Actor at SUNY Purchase, and I am so thrilled and honored to take part in telling the story of “Roe Versus Wade.” This is not only my first production here at Purchase, but also my first production in the US and in English!

When I discovered I would be playing Allison: a middle-aged, sharp-minded lawyer from the south, I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me. Especially because I come from a completely different background, culture and life experience. I started contemplating how to feel closer to Allison and her life’s journey.

After researching, studying and watching countless interviews, I realized Allison and I are not so different. We are both driven by our passions and desires. I, in my dedication to spark change through story telling, Allison, in her devotion to justice.

Studying and growing at Purchase has been a life-changing experience so far, I am forever grateful to the people who have continued to help me in my journey. My parents, who do all in their being to support my dreams, my sisters and their endless love, my NYC family; Alona, Nimi, and Tuni- I wouldn’t be able to do this without you. And to my dear friends for being my rock. אתם יודעים מי אתם.

Past credits include Minotaur at “Hasimta” theatre Tel Aviv (winning play of Fringe festival), Blood Wedding (the bride), and Midsummer Nights Dream (Helena) at Alef School of the Arts.

For further information about what i’m up to, check out my instagram and my resume!

www.Instagram.com/daficramer

Hey! I’m Cici, born in Africa and raised in Florida.

Some of my past theatre credits include “Obama-ology” (Cece/Barbara) and “Frost/Nixon” (Evonne Goolagong).

To be a part of the first production of Roe V. Wade at Purchase College has been quite a journey as I have been greatly inspired because of the lives of these young, strong, and brave women within the play. My character, Charlene, is this will-forced and intelligent woman that has taught me that there can always be a way, no matter your age, circumstances or whatnot. If you believe hard enough that you can achieve something, then it can happen. What struck me to be fascinated with her is the fact that she’s endured great pain from such transformative experiences, yet, carries the passion and will-force needed to become something greater-with the help of her dear friend, Allison. That’s something I will definitely take with me.

Enjoy the show!

Check out my site, cicikoueth.webnode.com

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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Instagram @car.vroom.son

Hello! My name is Patrick Allen Moore, and I’m an actor from Salisbury North Carolina. Roe Versus Wade will be my first performance experience here at Purchase college, and I couldn’t possibly be more thrilled! Last year I arrived at Purchase College with nothing more than my banjo, a backpack, my suitcase, and a sunburn.

Since then I’ve been blessed with a multitude of experiences; all of which are actively nurturing my craft and developing a further sense of self. I’ve gone to Puerto Rico to rebuild homes, learned to dance, made a fool of myself, laughed it off, cried a bit, sang a song about what I love, and made a whole bunch of friends in the process. I’m incredibly thankful for this campus, my faculty, my family, and my friends. All of whom continue to urge and support me in becoming the best me I can be!

 And as always: the warmest of love belongs to my aunt Georgie, my uncle Trent, and my late grandmother Alice Fortson-Turner. Without them— I would not be.

Roe Versus Wade urges us to tell the story and help frame the multifaceted American mindset when it comes to the topic of abortion and women’s rights.

Having grown up in a rural southern town, I happen to know the evangelical church and protester type folk very well. They crowd each busy street corner on Sundays and make sure they are heard by any and everyone around. Tapping into that mindset has left me conflicted, knowing that their true heart does in fact lie in a place of comfort and compassion— although it may often times seem otherwise. There was a never-ending well of work to be done in discovering Randy. His mask, his truth, and his past. Conviction is a gorgeous thing. 

Past credits include: Iphigenia 2.0 (chorus) North Carolina Governor’s school, The Glass Menagerie (Tom) UNCSA HS, Tom Dick and Harry (Tom) Piedmont Players Theatre.

Follow my Instagram here:

https://www.instagram.com/patchallenmo/

When I first read Roe V. Wade, my attention went immediately to the character Frank. In the era of #metoo there’s familiarity to the archetype of a man in a women’s movement. I knew I wanted to portray him.

Although it interested me, I read him as an antagonist at first. His delicate ego seems to make him little more than an obstacle to his wife, Allison, one of the main protagonists of the play.

All judgements aside, as I began to explore Frank more deeply, I began to see there was more to him. I thought about second wave feminism during the era of Roe V. Wade, specifically the idea that the personal is political. Frank’s political beliefs are in opposition with who society has told him to be as a person. As a man, he may want to see and treat women as equals, but the image of manhood in his time is too rigid to fit that.

Frank’s struggle is one that many of us face, to become oneself in spite of oneself. To overcome the trauma and propaganda inflicted on us, personal and political, and try to become the best version of ourselves.

Thank you all to my company, Devin and Chevon, our stage managers; and to Rosalyn for her charity, leadership and compassion. We put this thing together with NO BUDGET, that’s true power.

Past credits include Beauty and the Beast (Cogsworth) and Macbeth (Macbeth). Check out my resume or follow me on instagram below @grxxnbxrg.

https://www.instagram.com/grxxnbxrg/

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Hello my name is Darian Bencosme and I’m currently a sophomore at the BFA Acting conservatory at SUNY Purchase. From a very young age my fascination for story telling and character building has always inspired me to create. My passion for activism and representation for the Latino community has given me the opportunity to create art that gives voices to those who feel like they aren’t being heard. I originated the role of ‘Randy’ in BroCreation, a new play by Ashley Rogers, which premiered at The Producers Club in Manhattan, NY. I have also had the privilege to work with The McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ for their staging of the Every 28 Hours Plays. In Roe V. Wade I play the role of Randy, the very driven, southern evangelical Christian preacher. When I first read the play he was one of the many characters that I was drawn to because of his very strong and secure beliefs. When I found out I would play the role of Randy the first thing I promised myself to do was to not judge him. This is a character who was written to share the voices of those who feel like their side isn’t being heard, and playing him with the conviction of his honest truth, has given me the tools to expand my knowledge and understand both arguments of the pro-choice and pro-life movement. One of the major things that I’ve learned about working on this play is that everyone has the right to their own truths. Playing someone who’s very different from who I am has given me the courage to lend my body to the a character that wants to tell their story with no guilt, shame, or punishment.

Follow me on Instagram to see what I do next www.instagram.com/darianbencosme

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Hey there!, My name is Marlynn Pollard and I am currently a Sophomore at the BFA Acting Conservatory at SUNY Purchase College. I am a New Yorker born and raised reigning from the Bronx, New York. A few of my past productions include, Twelfth Night (Olivia ), Emotional Creature (Marta), In the Heights (Vanessa), Eclipsed ( Wife 1 and 2 ) , Three Viewings (Mac), In the Blood (Hester), and Lion King Jr at Harlem School of the Arts ( Sarabi). Also an Off Broadway performance of Fools in love at Feinstein/ 54 below. And most recently, playing younger Allison in the first ever production of Roe Vs Wade. Before getting the role there was so much research and digging into each of the characters before I had an idea of who I wanted to play. After reading the play a couple of times the character Allison really stood out to me. Someone who is ambitious. Someone willing to give there life up for a cause. Allision is based off of Sarah Weddington the lawyer who decided to argue the case in front of the Supreme Court and get Abortion Rights in the United States. Initially I was very intimidated by this role. Me and Allison come from two different socioeconomic backgrounds and being a black women playing a white women I had to really try to embody her essence and energy. Like Allison I believe in change. Sarah Weddington once said. “For a lot of women, one of the hardest things about leadership is the desire to be liked by everyone. That’s often inconsistent with leadership. It’s certainly inconsistent with taking positions on very controversial issues.” Playing the role I found how hard it was to be successful women in a society ruled by men and having to always fight harder to get where I wanted to be. Especially in the Supreme Court house scene it was exciting to be there and getting to argue my case. But it was devastating to only have pushed so far and fall short. This production has taught me so many great lessons and I am just grateful to be sharing it with all of you. I would like to thank all of the wonderful people who paved the way for me to become an actress. My family, friends, teachers, and company members for pushing me to my greatest potential. And a special thanks to Lisa Kowalski, Dominic Colon, Sarah Rosenberg, Luis Cardenas & DPHHS. I would like to dedicate my performance to my aunty Josephine Greenaway and her loving memory.

If you want to check out what I’m doing you can follow me on Instagram

@therealmarlytaylor_

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