THE Henry winkler premier production
BARBECUE
A Marquee Production
By Robert O’Hara
Directed by Jonathan Kitt
A darkly comic play that explores race, identity and family through the story of a dysfunctional family forced to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves.
OCTOBER 14-17, 2026
Greene theater
All performances open to the public
BARBECUE is presented by arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide, theatricalrights.com
Run Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes with one 15 minute intermission
Content Advisory: This play contains strong language, satirical representation of drug and alcohol abuse and discussions of addiction and recovery.
Barbecue
Creative Team
Scenic Design
Verrine Farag
Costume Design
Maria-Renee Herman
Lighting Design
Lizzie Lamb
Sound Design
Ben Emerson
Properties Lead
Ryan Bates
STAGE MANAGER
Sydney Williams
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
Alyssa Schlaifer
Vocal coach
Tom Giordano
A note from the
Director, Jonathan Kitt
I was excited to explore Barbecue by Robert O’Hara because it is a dark comedy that tackles a number of complex and deeply relevant themes, including family, race, class, media perceptions, and drug addiction. What makes the play especially compelling to me is the way O’Hara uses
humor to bring audiences into conversations that can otherwise be uncomfortable or difficult. Beneath the laughter, the play asks us to examine the assumptions we make about other people and the ways society creates, reinforces, and consumes stereotypes. Many of these themes are universal, which is why I believe the play can resonate strongly with today’s audiences. Family dynamics, struggles with addiction, questions of identity and class, and the desire to be seen and understood are experiences that many people can recognize, even when the circumstances are very different. Barbecue has the very best of both worlds, it is entertaining and profoundly thought-provoking.
I hope the play encourages both audience and actors to become more empathetic and supportive people. My expectations are for people to question stereotypes, champion reality over assumptions, and recognize the humanity and complexities inside us all.
Best, JKitt
CAST
James T — TORIN COX
Lillie Anne — PEYTON FENNER
Barbara — MADELINE NILES
Marie — ENZA FAMMARTINO
Adlean — KENDALL PELLEGRINO
James T — DREW KING
Lillie Anne — YASMEEN SMITH
Barbara — AKILI BANDELE
Marie — AURA HENDERSON
Adlean — ARYANA DUNCAN-ADAMS
Understudies
James T — SPENCER MORVILLO
Adlean/Lillie Anne — MORGAN HART
Adlean/Lillie Anne — LILLIAN ROBINSON
Barbara/Marie — BRYCE COLLIS
Barbara/Marie — DAIA JADE JOHNSON
Meet the
Artistic and Production Staff
Assistant Director — REIGN BAILEY
Technical Director — KRISTIN KNUTSON
Assistant Costume Designer — JACY ALPERT
Wardrobe Supervisor — NATALIE ALPERT
Assistant Lighting Designer — HUGO BILLIAU
Programmer — NATE PRITZKER
Production Electrician — EMMA KLICK
Lead Electrician — ABIGAIL THORNELL
Assistant Production Sound Engineer— ZEE COWAN
Assistant Stage Manager — VICTORIA ROMANO
2nd Assistant Stage Manager — MOIRA POEPPERLING
Associate Production Supervisor — REN LAKE
Company Manager — PATRICK BRUDERLE
Cast Bios
TORIN COX — James T
BFA ’27 Acting. Emerson College credits: Emshakes’ A Streetcar Named Desire (Mitch) and No Exit (Swing Valet/Garcin); Mercutio Troupe’s The Thanksgiving Play (Jaxton). Regional Credits: Beyond Therapy (Swing Bruce/Stuart/Waiter) at the Dance Complex.
PEYTON FENNER (she/her) — Lillie Anne
BFA ’27 Theatre & Performance. Emerson Stage credits: Confederates (U/S Missy Sue/Candice), The Great God Pan (U/S Paige). Emerson College credits: EmShakes’ A Streetcar Named Desire (Femme Dancer), Macbeth (Captain/Macduff), and Death of A Salesman (Howard/Ben). Other credits: Legally Blonde: The Musical (Brooke Wyndham) for Summer Place Theater. Thank you to my mom for answering my calls after late rehearsals, and to J. Kitt and everyone in the cast and crew for their whimsy and dedication. Instagram: h3y.pey
MADELINE NILES (she/her) — Barbara
BFA ’28 Acting. Emerson Stage credits: NewFest Short Works: “In Utero With Love” (Cell), Digging Up Dessa (U/S Dessa). Emerson College credits: “Cabin Frenzy” (Jenni), “Katie and Amara” (Katie). Colgan High School credits: The Play That Goes Wrong (Chris), The Little Mermaid (Ariel), Puffs (Hannah/Xavia). Special thanks to my family and Robert for all their love and support.
ENZA FAMMARTINO (she/her) — Marie
BFA ‘29 Theatre & Performance. Emerson Stage Debut! Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s The Cradle Will Rock (Female Swing). Other credits: Chicago: Teen Edition (Roxie Hart), Mamma Mia! (Donna Sheridan); Union Arts Center’s Antigone, This Play I Read In High School (Ismene); The Shattered Glass Project’s A Scythe and Sandglass the Skeleton Bore (The Creature). Thanks to the endless support and love from family and friends! @enzafammartino
KENDALL PELLEGRINO — Adlean
BFA ’28 Theatre & Performance. Regional Credits: The Ferryman (Mercy Carney) with Rochester Community Players. Thank you to my amazing father, and my wonderful uncle and grandparents! I love you all so much!
DREW KING (he/him) — James T
BFA ’28 Acting. Emerson Stage credits: Confederates (U/S Abner/Malik), NewFest Short Works: “Death of Gogh” (Vince), NewFest Short Works: “Please Leave a Message at the Beep” (Jayce). Emerson College credits: MTS’ High School Musical: On Stage (Chad); EmShakes’ The Inheritance Part One (Tristan) and A Streetcar Named Desire (U/S Pablo/Mitch); Mercutio Troupe’s 10 out of 12 (Ben); MTAG’s The Cradle Will Rock (Dr. Specialist/others). Regional: King Lear (Oswald) with Indianapolis Shakespeare Company. Other Credits: The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Speed/Duke), Much Ado about Nothing (Benedick), and King John (King John). Upcoming: EmShakes’ The Cherry Orchard (Director). Much love to friends, family, and all who made this show possible! @andyrewjacob
YASMEEN AALIYAH (she/her) — Lillie Anne
BFA ’28 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage credits: Confederates (Sandra), Sweet Charity (Ensemble). Emerson College credits: Cabaret of Color 2025 (Performer), Cabaret of Color 2026 (Performer), MTAG’s The Cradle Will Rock (Yasha/ Ella Hammer), MTS’ The Mad Ones (Hair and Makeup Designer), Kidding Around’s Calvin Berger (Hair and Makeup Designer). Thank you to the AMAZING cast and crew and of course huge thank you to JKitt for being an amazing director and collaborator. Lastly, thank you to my beautiful Mama who speaks life into everything I do, I love you!! Follow the gram: @yasmeenaaliyah_
AKILI BANDELE (she/her) — Barbara
BFA ’29 Theater & Performance, Business of Creative Enterprises. Emerson Stage Debut! Thank you for all of your support, friends and family! And everyone who came out to provide their support. I adore you all.
ARYANA DUNCAN-ADAMS — Adlean
BFA ’27 Acting. Emerson Stage credits: NewFest Short Works: “Please Leave A Message At the Beep” (Darla). Emerson College credits: EmShakes’ A Street Car Named Desire (U/S Blanche); Rareworks’ Last Year (Violet). A huge shout out to my family and friends for all their continuous support in my artistic career! I love you all so much!!
AURA HENDERSON (they/she) — Marie
BFA ’28 Acting. Emerson Stage credits: Confederates (Sara). Emerson College credits: EmShakes’ The Sea Ends at Troy (Chorus #4); EmShakes’ MacBitches (Lexi); FreshFest: Beautiful (Margaret). Thank you Mom, Dana, Emily, and Alejandro for supporting me and my dreams. Thank you to the cast and and crew of Barbecue, I love you all!
SPENCER MORVILLO — U/S James T
BFA ’28 Acting. Emerson Stage credits: NewFest Short Works: “Death of Gogh” (Richard). Emerson College credits: MTS’s Assassins (U/S Herold/Booth); Mercutio Troupe’s 10 out of 12 (Erik); MTAG’s Hair (Claude). Spencer would like to thank his family and friends, for without them, there would be no Spencer. Spencer loves his grandmothers very much. @spen.mp3
MORGAN HART (she/her) — U/S Adlean/Lillie Anne
BFA ‘27 Theatre and Performance. Emerson College credits: Genevieve Peter’s The Worth (Swing); UNH Credits: UNH Main Stage’s As You Like It (Amiens), MUB Underground Haunted House (Scare Actor). Thank you so much to my mom for always supporting me and telling me to shoot higher. @morgs.marie_
LILLIAN ROBINSON — U/S Adlean/Lillie Anne
BFA ’29 Theatre & Performance. Emerson Stage credits: Bill & Ted’s Most Excellent Rock Opera (Captain Logan). Emerson College credits: Rarework’s Omniscient Bus (Skeptical); Emshake’s MacBitches (U/S Lexi,Rachel), Murder in City Town (Leah). Thanks to: My family and friends for supporting to me and creating an environment where I can stay creative and feel love.
BRYCE COLLIS — U/S Barbara/Marie
BFA ‘29 Musical Theatre. Emerson Stage debut! Emerson College credits: MTAG’s The Mad Ones (Shadow Dancer). Other credits: The Little Mermaid (Teen Ensemble) at The Muny. Thank you so much to my parents, family, friends and teachers! @bryce.collis
DAIA JADE JOHNSON — U/S Barbara/Marie
BFA ‘28 Acting. Emerson College credits: EmShakes Theater Company’s Macbeth (Witch 3); Bluejay’s Overbridge High… (Dara); Musical Theater Against the Grain’s Hair (Dionne) Other credits: King John (Bastard) How to Make Friends and then Kill Them (Ada). Thanks to my family and my friends and everybody black ever !! @_daiaia
Creative Team Bios
JONATHAN KITT — Director
Directing credits: Digging Up Dessa, Late Bus To Mecca, Yellowman, for colored girls…, 4.48 Psychosis, In Real Life, Songs For A, New World, Gee’s Bend, School Girls…, Holly Down In Heaven, Gem of the Ocean, In The Continuum. Acting credits: Off Broadway: Boy x Man (Negro Ensemble Company). Off-Off Broadway: Becoming Something: Canada Lee (The Kraine Theater), Blues For an Alabama Sky (NYU Gallatin School), The Mighty Gents (African American Showcase Theatre). Regional: August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean (Actor’s Shakespeare Project and Shakespeare and Company), Toni Stone (Huntington Theatre); Knives In Hens (The Vineyard Playhouse); North Folk and Ends (New Jersey Repertory Company); Servant of the People and Julius Caesar (Jomandi Productions). Film: Unexpected (Student Teacher LLC). TV: Crisis (NBC); Chicago Fire (NBC). Education: MFA, The Theatre School at DePaul University. He is an Assistant Professor of Scene Study/Acting at Emerson College. jonathankitt.com
VERRINE FARAG (she/her) — Scenic Designer
BFA ’28 Theatrical Design and Production. Emerson Stage credits: Death Crashes A Dinner Party (Asst. Scenic Designer); The Great God Pan (Lead Electrician); Chantecler, A Musical Fable (Light Board Operator); Digging Up Dessa (Asst. Props Lead); Head Over Heels (Asst. Lead Electrician); The Miraculous Journey Of Edward Tulane (A2). Emerson College credits: Emshake’s MacBitches (Scenic Designer). Other credits: Assistant Lighting Supervisor, Barrington Stage Company’s 2026 Season. Thank you everyone for working together on this wonderful production! @verrinefaragdesign
MARIA-RENNE HERMAN (she/her) — Costume Designer
BFA ’27 Theater Design/Technology. Emerson Stage credits: Confederates (Assistant Costume Designer), POTUS (Assistant Costume Designer), I Love XXX (Wardrobe Supervisor), Second Star the Right (Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor). Emerson College credits: MTS’ Hedwig and the Angry Inch; EmShakes’ Macbitches; Rareworks’ Omniscient Bus; BlueJay’s Rabbit Hole and Almost, Maine (Kidding Around). Other Credits: Head Over Heels and Bright Star at Footlight Club; On: Being Pluto for EIV productions. Thank you to my family and friends for always believing in me!
LIZZIE LAMB (any pronouns) — Lighting Designer
BFA ‘27 Theater Design/Technology. Emerson Stage credits: Great God Pan (Production Electrician), Julius Caesar (Asst. Lighting Designer), I Love XXX (Asst. Lighting Designer), The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Asst. Lead Electrician), Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (Asst. Lighting Designer) Emerson College credits: School of Rock (Lighting Designer), Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Musical (Co-Scenic Designer), and June, July, August (Asst. Lighting Designer) for Kidding Around; Alice By Heart (Scenic Designer) and Daddy Long Legs (Lighting Designer) for Musical Theater Against the Grain; Sunday in the Park with George (Co-Lighting Designer) and Falsettos (Lighting Designer) for Emerson College’s Musical Theater Society; Rabbit Hole (Production Electrician/Asst. Lighting Designer) for Blue Jay Theater Collective; The 45th Annual EVVY Awards (Technical Director) and The 44th Annual EVVY Awards (Technical Director/Lead Electrician) for The EVVY Awards. Thank you to this wonderful team and my fabulous family and friends! @liz.lamb05 on instagram | LizzieLamb.me
BEN EMERSON — Sound Designer
Ben has designed regionally at the Huntington Theatre, Gloucester Stage, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Studio Arena Buffalo,and others. He has designed locally for Speakeasy, the Sugan Theatre Co., New Repertory Theatre, Commonwealth Shakespeare Co., CentaStage, and others. Ben has designed several productions for Emerson Stage including A Tale of Two Cities, Grapes of Wrath, Big Love, and Fefu and Her Friends.
RYAN BATES (he/him) — Properties Lead
Ryan Bates is the Props Director for Emerson Stage, and has worked as a props lead and scenic designer throughout New England, including productions at Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Wheelock Family Theatre, New Repertory Theatre, Bridge Repertory Theatre, The Umbrella, Gloucester Stage Company, InMotion Theatre, Longwood Players, Off the Grid, Fresh Ink, and many more. In addition to his work in the prop shop, Ryan mentors scenic design students on Emerson Stage productions, teaches Props Construction at Emerson and taught Production Design for four years at Boston University. MFA: Boston University. www.ryanbatesdesign.com
SYDNEY WILLIAMS (they/she) — Stage Manager
BFA ’27 Stage and Production Management. Emerson Stage credits: Sweet Charity (1st Assistant Stage Manager), Confederates (1st Assistant Stage Manager), Amour (Assistant Production Supervisor), POTUS or: Behind… (2nd Assistant Stage Manager), Second Star to the Right (Production Assistant), How We Got On (Production Assistant). Emerson College credits: Jamie Has a Bomb (Stage Manager). She’d like to thank her family, friends, and Deb Acquavella for their support throughout these four years!
ALYSSA SCHLAIFER — Production Supervisor
BFA ’27 Stage and Production Management. Emerson Stage credits: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (1st ASM); The Great God Pan (Assoc. pSupe); Red Wolf (1st ASM); Imogen Says Nothing (Asst. pSupe); …The Great Comet of 1812 (Production Assistant). Emerson College credits: Musical Theater Against the Grain (Production Manager); Vice Chair of Student Theater Alliance; The 46th Annual EVVY Awards (Co- Aesthetics Producer). Other credits: The Boston Pop 250th Firework Spectacular (Production Asst.); Shark Tank Season 16 (Production Asst.); LA Area Emmy Awards (Production Asst.); Late: A New Musical (ASM). Thanks to Barrett, Merin, Sasha, Sydney and Kai!
TOM GIORDANO (he/him) — Voice and Text Coach
Tom has been Affiliated Faculty at Emerson since 2020, and also teaches at Shakespeare&Company and Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. Tom is a Designated Linklater Teacher, is certified to teach Colaianni Speech, and is training to certify as a teacher of the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique. Also a director and actor, Tom recently appeared in NETWORK at Umbrella Arts, and directed Don’t Push the Red Button at Theatre@First. Tom earned his M.F.A. in Acting from Columbia University.
Meet the
Emerson Stage Staff
Staff
Director of Theatre Operations — Eric Paris
Production Manager — Angela Harrington
Artistic & Production Associate — Katie Meade
Technical Director — Kristin Knutson
Scenic Painter — Saskia Martinez
Properties Director — Ryan Bates
Assistant Properties Manager — Lauren Corcuera
Costume Shop Supervisor — Matthew Torbett
Draper/Cutter — Erika Krause
Electrics Supervisor — Timothy Fairley
Sound Supervisor — Marisa Barnes
Mentors & Advisors FOR THIS PRODUCTION
Stage Management Mentor — Brian Robillard
Scenic Design & Props Mentor — Ryan Bates
Costume Area Mentor –– Tristan Raines
Lighting Design Mentor –– Dan Jentzen
Electrics Mentor — Jess Elliot
Sound Design Mentor — Marisa Barnes
Sound Engineering Mentor — Ben Emerson
Student Staff
Emerson Stage Office Assistants:
Emery Frost, Liliana Ravins, Alyssa Schlaifer, Joanna Su
Production Management Assistants:
Mariana Morales, Ben Browder
Scenic Technicians:
Verrine Farag, Ari Flaherty, Benjamin Gmyrek, Samuel Greenstein, Aiden Lank, Zoe Mills, Charlie O’Connor, Ernest Shao
Scene Shop Assistant Technical Director:
Mack MacIntyre
Volunteer Scenic Technicians:
Samuel Greenstein, Ernest Shao
Scenic Painters:
Lily Hourin, Elodie Lambert, Kristen Lee, Kiana McCully, Gabrielle Berry, Sophia Da Silva, Veronica Babiuk
Volunteer Scenic Painter:
Robbie Jones
Prop Shop Assistants:
Alexa Lunney, Sydney Williams
Props Stock Assistant:
Allison Johnson
Prop Artisans:
Mckayla Do, CJ Einhorn, Mawce Glancy
Costume Shop Assistants:
Natalie Alpert, Zee Cowan, Grace Cunniff, Parker Fedak, Maria-Renee Herman, Mia Langbert, Ila Nabi, Rylan Summers, Jaidyn Wein