Sarah Sits Shiva for Herself
by Megan Pope directed by Kathleen Capdesuñer
stage manager Lindsay Matheos
dramaturge Katie Walker
Cast
Sarah Jackie Abbott
Jeanie Yelena Shmulenson
Mo Claire Saunders
Lou John Plumpis
Megan Pope (playwright - they/them) is a Brooklyn-based playwright and comedy person. Despite the last name, Megan is actually very Jewish. Megan's work includes Dox Modern Middle [Jewish Plays Project Finalist, Princess Grace Award Semi-Finalist], Sarah Sits Shiva For Herself [The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals, PAGE Finalist], and Lives In Transit [New York Film Festival]. Megan also produces podcasts for the Forever Dog Podcast Network, writes for BoogieManja Sketch Comedy, and has contributed to Interview Magazine. If you’re lucky, you can catch Megan doing stand-up in a basement. B.A. Brown University. Dramatists Guild of America Member. Twitter @mpopetweets. Instagram @megspope.
Kathleen Capdesuñer (director - she/her) is a director and theatre-maker currently based in NYC. She is a 2019/20 The Civilians R&D Group Director, 2019/20 Manhattan Theatre Club Directing Fellow, 2018/2019 Roundabout Directing Fellow, 2017/18 McCarter Theatre Center Directing Apprentice, Latinx Theatre Commons Steering Committee Member, and The COOP Youth Advisory Board Member. Kathleen has developed work at: Roundabout Theatre Company, American Lore Theatre, Columbia/Signature, Ensemble Studio Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, Teatro LATEA, Play x Play, Little y, and internationally in the Fringe Festival circuit. Kathleen is a first-generation Cuban-American from Kissimmee, Florida and committed to making equitable change in this industry. kcapdesuner.com
Lindsay Matheos (stage manager - she/her) is a stage manager with a passion for new plays and musicals. Among her recent credits are Dialogues of the Travelers (National Sawdust), As Much As I Can (Joe's Pub), Tell Me I'm Not Crazy (Williamstown), and The Sound Inside (Williamstown). Additional credits include original musicals The Northern Skies and Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. (scenic designer) with the Experimental Theatre of Vassar College.
Katie Walker (dramaturge - she/her) is a freelance Dramaturg/Writer from Denver, Colorado and now based in New York City. Dramaturgy Credits include Normal Ave NAP Series 2019 (All Eight by Lilly Camp and Monica: This Play is Not About Monica Lewinsky by Dianne Nora), Niagara: A New Musical by Lauren Widner and Ryan McCurdy, and television project Places the Show by Dani Prados. Katie has had her own work developed at the WorkShop Theatre in their Writers Intensive program. She evaluated submissions for the Literary Department at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and acted for several years as the Literary Manager for Pipedream Productions (Piping Hot New
Works, White Rabbit Red Rabbit - Denver True West Award).
Jackie Abbott (Sarah - she/her) is an actor, writer, & photographer. Acting credits include short films (Jackie, Seeing Emma), PIT House Sketch Teams, as well as readings & productions at The Playwrights Realm, TransLab, The Flea, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Cherry Lane Theatre, LaMama, and NYTW. NYU Tisch. www.jackiemabbott.com
Yelena Shmulenson (Jeanie - she/her) STAGE: Tevye Served Raw (NY), The Golem of Havana (NY/Miami), The Essence: A Yiddish Theater Dim Sum (NY/Stockholm/Bucharest), Covers, Old New Year, etc. FILM: A Serious Man,The Good Shepherd, Romeo & Juliet in Yiddish, Chinese Puzzle. TV: OITNB (recurring), Boardwalk Empire, Chicago Med, Madam Secretary, Blue Bloods.
Claire Saunders (Mo - she/her) Off-Broadway: Marry Harry (York Theatre), Errol and Fidel (NYMF), Taming of the Shrew (NY Classical Theatre). Regional: School Girls; or the African... (Ericka), Skin of Our Teeth (Gladys), Cyrano (Orange Girl), The Wolves (#8), In the Heights (Vanessa). TV/Film: Tell Me a Story (CBS), The Good Cop (Netflix), The Intern (Warner Bros). Proud Carnegie Mellon alum. Repped by Take3Talent. thesaunderscollective.com @clairesaundy
John Plumplis (Lou - he/him) National companies: The Lion King, Barrymore, starring Christopher Plummer (also 2011 film), Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor. Multiple appearances Off-Broadway, and nearly 100 productions at North America’s leading theatres. Recently: Indecent at Denver Center. Recent TV: Little America. Company member TACT, 31 productions. Workshops at 50+ colleges.
