Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters 

“I celebrate the ability of new plays to startle and transform. This should not be underestimated. All great and lasting plays have one fundamental thing in common: Until they existed, they were unimaginable,” Steven Diaz, American Theatre December 2022.

 

Just as in 1816  Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin Shelley penned into existence and the world of literature a new genre that would be called Science Fiction, E.M. Lewis has penned an ambitious new American play of the same ilk that we are fortunate to workshop at FAU with these students.  The Frankenstein Project blends and examines the creation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in juxtaposition to a modern equivalent creation: an AI Robot.  Our contemporary questions and ethical concerns remain as complex as they were in the 19^thcentury: What are our moral obligations in scientific research and experimentation? What makes us human? To whom does body autonomy apply? Who is allowed to be free, and what does freedom really mean?

 

This new play being explored by students could not be more appropriate, because the expansion of AI is the present and future for them. It is the future that we have made for them, a planet we have left them, and a legacy of our actions or inactions that they will have to navigate, confront, and reconcile for their generation and prodigy.  Can they dream up and create unimaginable solutions to the myriad of obstacles we leave in their path forward? Will they be able to answer the the question that has been nagging at the Americans for centuries, who is considered human and what is freedom for all, regardless of where they come from, how they present, or what they believe?

 

My hope is that new plays like The Frankenstein Project spark conversations, not only among the students in the rehearsal room, but you as the audience. What have you created and what is your responsibility for your actions, creations, and legacy?  Are you free?

 

Chatgpt AI Version of the Director's Notes when prompted "please expand to 350 words and elevate to grad school academic language": 

The power of new dramatic works to provoke, challenge, and transform audiences is an artistic phenomenon that should never be underestimated. As Steven Diaz eloquently articulates in American Theatre (December 2022), all great and enduring plays share a singular characteristic: before they came into existence, they were unimaginable. This assertion underscores the inherently radical nature of theatrical innovation, wherein the most profound and lasting narratives often emerge from the uncharted territories of the human imagination.

Just as Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin Shelley, in 1816, defied literary convention by conceiving what would become the foundation of modern science fiction, so too does contemporary playwright E.M. Lewis push the boundaries of theatrical storytelling with The Frankenstein Project. This ambitious new American play, which we are privileged to explore in this FAU workshop production, draws striking parallels between the creation of Frankenstein and our present-day engagement with artificial intelligence. By juxtaposing Shelley’s 19th-century scientific anxieties with contemporary concerns surrounding AI and human identity, The Frankenstein Project compels us to confront urgent ethical dilemmas that remain as complex and unresolved today as they were two centuries ago.

At the heart of the play lie fundamental philosophical inquiries: What are our ethical responsibilities in the realm of scientific experimentation? What constitutes humanity? To whom do principles of bodily autonomy apply? Who is entitled to freedom, and how do we define that freedom within evolving sociopolitical landscapes? These questions are not merely theoretical but profoundly consequential, particularly for the students engaging with this work. As the inheritors of an AI-driven future, they must grapple with a technological and ecological legacy shaped by prior generations’ choices. Will they be able to envision and implement innovative solutions to the challenges we leave in their wake? Can they redefine the American discourse on humanity and liberty to be more inclusive, equitable, and just?

Ultimately, I hope that The Frankenstein Project serves as a catalyst for critical discourse—not only within the rehearsal room but among audiences as well. As we reflect on our own creations and legacies, we must ask ourselves: What have we set in motion, and what ethical responsibilities do we bear for the worlds we shape? Are we truly free?

 

Marissa Spurr (Mary Shelly) is a Sophomore BFA Musical Theatre major from Lehigh Acres, Florida, and is so excited to take on the role of such a complex person. You may have previously seen her in Firebringer (Jemilla) and 1776 (John Witherspoon). She hopes you enjoy this spooky show!

Kerwin Cyriaque (Percy Shelly) is a freshman BA in Theatre major and is so excited to be a part of his second show at FAU. Previously they were in Firebringer (Clark). Other works they have done are Big Fish (Fisherman), Ride the Cyclone (Karnak/Swing) and RDTE. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Jakari Dozié+ (Lord Byron) is a first-year MFA candidate from Miami, Florida. In the spring of 2024, he graduated from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance. During his time at FAMU, he starred in several notable productions, including Calming The Man, Sweet Mama Stringbean, The Waiting Room, Romeo & Juliet: A Miami Love Story, Two Trains Running, and Pipeline.

Jonathan Leslie Palmer+ (John Polidori) is an MFA Acting student with a BA in Drama from Morehouse College. Recent stage credits include Radium Girls (Raymond) and 1776 (Josiah Bartlett) at Florida Atlantic University. He is grateful for the love and support of his parents and dedicates this performance to them—and to his beloved dog, Shabooski.

Sadie Scardino (Frederica Jones) is a freshman BFA Musical Theater major and is thrilled to be in her first theater production at FAU! Her favorite credits include: Peggy Sawyer; 42nd Street, Roxie Hart; Chicago, Donna Sheridan; Mamma Mia, Natalie Heller; All Shook Up and Top 10 actress in a leading role Broadway Stars of the Future 2023. Enjoy the show! @Sadiescardinomt

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Kristen Mestre (Dr. Frankenstein/Ms.Lee) ) is a transfer BFA Musical Theatre major. This is her second production at FAU. You may have previously seen her as Chorn in Firebringer. Kristen recently represented FAU in the Southeastern Regional NATS (National Association of Teacher Singers) Competition and placed 3rd which qualifies her for Nationals. She hopes you enjoy The Frankenstein Project and would like to thank her friends, family, and boyfriend for all their support.

Mikaylah O’Brien (The Creature) is excited to be playing the role of The Creature in this production of The Frankenstein Project . She attends FAU and is pursuing her BFA in Musical Theater. She wants to thank the artistic staff for all their hard work and dedication to this production and especially her family and her brother Josh for their unending support. She is excited for you to see the show and hopes you enjoy!

Carly Brown (The Creature) is very excited to be a part of this brand new play at FAU. She is a sophomore BFA in Musical Theatre and was previously seen in Firebringer (Claire/ US Zazzalil), and 1776 (The Courier). She has been absolutely loving this incredible process of being a part of something brand new and watching everything come together has been so cool. She thanks everyone around her and hopes you enjoy the show! :)

Kaz Ward (Mary Lattimore) is a Sophomore BFA Performance major and is thrilled to be a part of their first official FAU production. Previous credits include Spring Awakening (Fraulein Knuppeldick), Love's Labour's Lost (Maria) and Boeing Boeing (Berthe). They are so grateful to have been a part of this show.

Gustavo Garcia+ (Frank Lattimore ) an MFA candidate, he has been performing for the last decade in South Florida. He has worn nearly every hat in the theatre—actor, director, producer, and designer. He has a passion for education through drama, and a love of new play development. Keep watching live theatre. Credits: Radium Girls, 1776, and Violet (FAU); Christmas Carol (NCP); Fool For Love (TNT Co.)

Sadie Corley + ( Ann Lattimore) is a first year graduate student here at FAU. She graduated with her BA in Theater Performance from Wagner College last spring. Previous credits include 1776 (Martha) and Radium Girls (Grace Fryer). Find her on Instagram @sadiecorley

Carson Carter+ (Pete Harrison) is a graduate theatre performance student here at FAU. He is from Bemidji, MN and holds a Bachelor of Music inVocal Performance from Viterbo University. He was most recently seen as John Dickinson in FAUs production of 1776. He hopes you enjoy the show! @CarsonTCarter

Valeria Illán ( R23 ) is in her final semester of the Musical Theatre BFA. Previous credits: 1776 (Livingston), Ride the Cyclone (Jane Doe) and A Chorus Line (Diana). This is her last show with FAU and she dedicates this performance to all her friends that she will miss dearly!

 

 

E.M. Lewis ( Playwright ) is an award-winning playwright, teacher, lyricist, and opera librettist. Her work has been produced around the world, and published by Samuel French. She received the Steinberg Award for How the Light Gets In and Song of Extinction and the Primus Prize for Heads from the American Theater Critics Association, the Ted Schmitt Award from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, a Hodder Fellowship from Princeton University, a playwriting fellowship from the New Jersey State Arts Commission, the 2016 Oregon Literary Fellowship in Drama, and an Edgerton Award for Magellanica. Other plays include: Apple Season (National New Play Network rolling world premiere), The Gun Show (more than fifty productions across the country; Edinburgh Fringe), True Story, Dorothy's Dictionary, and You Can See All the Stars (a play for college students commissioned by the Kennedy Center). Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant (written with composer Evan Meier) premiered at Opera Modesto last year. Lewis recently finished two new plays, Apple Hunters! and Strange Birds. She is currently playwright-in-residence at Artists Repertory Theater through the Mellon Foundation’s National Playwright Residency Program, and is a proud member of LineStorm Playwrights, Opera America, and the Dramatists Guild. She lives on her family’s farm in Oregon. 

Margaret hails from Chattanooga where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Speech from the University of Tennessee. She has directed plays, musicals, and readings all over South Florida, including City Theatre, Promethean Theatre (resident director for eight years), Palm Beach Dramaworks, The Foundry, Gablestage, Florida Repertory Theatre, Naked Stage, New Theatre, Delray Beach Arts Garage, Mosaic Theatre, Caldwell Theatre Company, Florida Stage, Island City Stage, Thinking Cap Theatre, Theatre Lab, University of Miami, and now, proudly FAU. She studied Cubist-Expressionistic scenography post-WWI at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. Margaret is a National Reviewer for the National YoungArts Foundation in theatre and musical theatre, a member of Actors’ Equity Association, and a co-founder and Creator at Mangrove Creative Collective. An eight-time Carbonell Award nominee for Best Director and winner of multiple Silver Palm awards for Direction, she has been Miami's City Theatre Artistic Director since 2017.

Marques Decade (Assistant Stage Manager)  is a senior BFA performance major and is thrilled to be a part of his 3rd production at FAU. He has acted in one man two guvnors and AHM (Assistant front of House Manager) for 1776. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Roselene Dufresne (Run Crew) is a freshman BA Theatre major from Lauderhill and is thrilled to be a part of her first production at FAU. She’s worked on crew for some shows before coming here, but this is her first time being run crew. She is excited for you to see the show and hopes you enjoy!

Libby McDonald (crew) is a freshamn BFA student here at fau and is beyond excited to be involved in her second production at fau as she was last seen as James Wilson in 1776! She hopes you enjoy the show!

Gabi Guzman (ASM) is a senior BFA in Theatre Technology & Design and is excited to crew her first show in Studio 1. She's most recently worked on FAU's productions of 1776 and Repertory Dance Theatre Ensemble. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Mia Jones (Run Crew) is a freshman BA in Theatre Design and Technology and is thrilled to be apart of her first production at FAU. She hopes you enjoy the show!