The Lady from the Sea Virtual Playbill

My love of Henrik Ibsen and all his plays began many years ago as an undergraduate acting student. I started by reading many of his major works, then went on to read Michael Meyer’s incredible three volume biography of Ibsen, then read more of his plays, and, finally, found myself teaching and directing his works. My journey with Ibsen has been a very rewarding one and with each step, my fascination and admiration for his work grows ever
deeper.

As Micheal Meyer recounts in his introduction to The Lady from the Sea, on one visit to Molde, Ibsen “stood for hour after hour gazing down into the fjord, or out at the rough waters of the Atlantic.” So powerful was the water’s effect on Ibsen, he worked the mysteries of the sea into many of his plays; and in none more so than The Lady from the Sea. Some think of this play almost as a cousin to his more famous play, A Doll’s House. Though it is a little sunnier in its outlook, as you will discover, at its core, it remains rich with many of the same ideas he explores in his other plays: the antiquated view of women’s role in family and society, the imperative necessity of developing a sense of individuality as a condition of joy and health, the critical ability to overcome the power of one’s past, and the importance of being able to exercise choice in one’s life in full freedom and responsibility. These are the conditions that allow to individual to grow from childhood into adulthood. Without these conditions, one is almost certain to forever remain a spiritual and emotional child. Ibsen knew this and demanded his audience acknowledge it. In so doing, he revolutionized the way societies of his era thought. He did so as no other playwright had ever done before, and perhaps as none has ever done since.

Human frustration, anger, and despair can come about for a multitude of reasons; Ibsen’s plays carefully reveal this layer by layer. In the process, his plays ask: What happens when social forces deny an individual control over her own destiny, when free choice is denied? Ellida’s world, life, and experience may, at first, seem far removed from our own, but if we stop to ponder her plight, are they really?

We hope you enjoy this celebration of individuality discovered and choice freely given.

Thank you,               
Desmond Gallant

Sarah Sun Park+ (Ellida Wangel) Credits include North Caroli- na Theatre’s Broadway production of Mamma Mia!; Berkshire Theatre Group’s Hair; The World Premiere of Michael Weller’s A
Welcome Guest at the Contemporary American Theater Festival; Rattlestick Playwrights Theater; Two River Theater; Virginia Stage Company, Playhouse on Park, Village Theatre, Playwrights Hori- zons. Sarah gives thanks to Jesus Christ, her family, her Infinity Love André, and this amazing cast and creative team! In loving memory of Kathy. 1 Cor 16:14.

Anthony Blatter+ (Dr. Edward Wangel) is a second-year MFA candidate at Florida Atlantic University. He recently received his
BM in Vocal Performance and a BA in Theatre Performance from
the University of Missouri. FAU credits include: The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 (Roger Hopewell), Violet (Flick), Sweat (Brucie/ Evan). Other credits include: RENT (Tom Collins), A View from the Bridge (Eddie Carbone).

Shayna Gilberg+ (Bolette Wangel) ) is a second-year MFA Acting Candidate. She is a graduate of the University of Central Florida’s BFA Musical Theatre and Dance Minor programs. Credits: Shrek the Musical (Princess Fiona), First Date (Woman 1), The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 (Marjorie Baverstock). She thanks her boyfriend Forrest, family, and cohort for their love and support.shaynagilberg.com


Daniela Moon (Hilde Wangel) is a BFA musical theater major at FAU. Her favorite credits include A Chorus Line (Val), Legally Blonde (Elle Woods), Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Anything Goes (Reno Sweeney), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive Ostrovsky). She is so excited to be participating in her 5th main stage at FAU and would like to thank everyone who has supported her through this journey

Joel Rodriguez+(Arnholm) is a second-year Dominican-American MFA Acting candidate from Kansas City, Missouri. He finds joy in composing, performing, and producing musical theatre. Some recent credits include “Oscar” in Sweat and “Sergeant Michael Kelly” in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940. You can find more about him at www.joelrodrig.com

Zach Marullo+ (Hans Lyngstrand) is a graduate student at Florida Atlantic University. Recent credits at FAU include “Jason” in Sweat and “Eddie” in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940. Zach plans to Direct and act professionally after graduation.

Kyle Smith+ (The Stranger) is a second year MFA candidate at FAU having received his BFA in musical theatre from Ohio North- ern University. Favorite roles: Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing with Vermont Shakespeare Co., Gabe in Next To Normal at Mid- town Arts Center and Cliff in Cabaret with Sierra Repertory The-
atre. At FAU: Monty in Violet and Orpheus in Polaroid Stories.

Connor Lee (Ballested) is a third-year BFA in Musical Theatre ma-jor. He has performed in shows here such as A Chorus Line, Dances We Dance, Neighborhood 3...Requisition of Doom, Richard III, and Lady Windermere’s Fan. As well as Alpha Psi Omega’s Wonder of the World. He hopes you enjoy the tale of The Lady From The Sea.

Trevor Gill (Tourist, U/S Lyngstrand, U/S Ballested) is a BFA Perfor- mance major, and this is his second year at FAU. He was recently seen as “SKINHEADboy” in Polaroid Stories, and he has been in a few student-directed shows and showcases. He is so grateful to work with and learn from this wonderful cast!

Tayia Lombardi (Tourist, U/S Bolette Wangel) is a theater minor, making her debut on the FAU stage as one of the tourists in the production of The Lady from the Sea, as well as understudying Bolette Wangel. She is from New Jersey, and took a small break from acting after being named the 2021 Thespian of the Year at her high school. Tayia is beyond excited to get back on stage and gain more experience!

Marissa Spurr (Tourist, U/S Hilde Wangel) is a BFA Musical Theatre Major at FAU and is excited to be a part of her first show here! She is originally from Fort Myers, Florida, where she was in shows such as Murder in Paradise at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, "Cosette" in Les Miserables, and "Rusty" in Footloose. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Jorge Pie is a BA Performance Theatre Major here at FAU. He aspires to be an actor, particularly for film, but would also like to do stage acting.

Graham Oberlink (they/them) is a Senior BFA Theatre Performance major. This is their second time doing hair and makeup. They have recently been seen as Narcissus in Polaroid Stories, and Murderer #2/Lord Stanley in Richard the Third. You might have also seen them perform as the drag queen Geeez Louise in the south Florida area. They are grateful for their queerness and loving family. 

Caroline is a senior BFA Musical Theatre Major recently seen in The Wolves, Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom, and A Chorus Line. While she has spent most of her time working on her performance training, she also has crafted a portfolio designing hair and makeup for FAU productions of Hedda Gabler, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Polaroid Stories, Sweat, and Musical Comedy Murders of the 1940’s.