Memories of Overdevelopment at Firehouse Theatre

World Premiere by Caridad Svich
February 7-25, 2024
Directed by Nathaniel Shaw
Starring Juliana Caycedo + Katrinah Carol Lewis

“Some plays are a quiet revolution about loud things. Some plays are about the stories we carry in our bones."

This play is also a film: a staged documentary about what people remember about dictatorships where they grew up and how they left and how they survived. An enactment of seven startling, personal interviews, inspired by true stories. A rebellious look at where we’ve been and where we are right now.

The New Theatre at Firehouse is thrilled to announce the World Premiere of Memories of Overdevelopment by Caridad Svich, opening on February 9th, 2024, on the Carol Piersol Stage at the Firehouse Theatre, 1609 West Broad Street. Memories of Overdevelopment will have two preview performances on February 7th and 8th, 2024, and will run through February 25th, 2024.

Playwright Caridad Svich has received an Obie for Lifetime Achievement, won the National Latinx Playwriting Award twice, and has been a Radcliffe Institute fellow at Harvard. Key works include 12 Ophelias, Iphigenia Crash Land Falls..., Red Bike, and The House of the Spirits (based on Isabel Allende's novel). As screenwriter, her film Fugitive Dreams is now streaming on Apple TV and Amazon. They have authored/edited several books on theatre, among them, “Toward a Future Theatre” (Methuen Drama). She is Artistic Director of New Play Development at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in NYC, and an editor at Contemporary Theatre Review, UK. Website: www.caridadsvich.com

Nathaniel Shaw, Founding Artistic Director of The New Theatre, will direct. He served as Artistic Director for Virginia Repertory Theatre, and was the founding Artistic Director for The Active Theater (NYC). He was the inaugural New Play Development Director for Glass Half Full Productions, Tony and Olivier Award Winning Producers of Betrayal and was an Associate Choreographer for Once, supervising both the Broadway production and the First National Tour.  Richmond directing credits include the US premiere of The Barber Of Moville at Firehouse (Richmond Theatre Community Circle Award-winner for Outstanding Original Work), Peter And The Starcatcher, the world premiere of The End Of War (winner of 4 RTCC Awards), the world premiere of River Ditty (in collaboration with Glass Half Full Productions), In The Heights starring Arielle Jacobs with Choreography by Karla Garcia (winner of 5 RTCC Awards including Best Direction), West Side Story (RTCC Award for Best Musical), The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, The 39 Steps, and Once (Co-Produced with The Fulton Theatre).

The design team includes set/projection designer Tennessee Dixon and videographer Andrew Keeton. Kate Statelman joins the creative team on sound design, featuring original music compositions. Ruth Hedberg will design costumes and Andrew Bonniwell will design lighting. Sarbajeet Das is associate director, and Grace Labelle will stage manage. 

Cast members are Katrinah Carol Lewis (recently Berta in Berta, Berta at The New Theatre at Firehouse) and Juliana Caycedo. Keaton Hillman will understudy both roles.

Tickets can be found at the Box Office (804) 355-2001 and online at www.firehousetheatre.org. Tickets are $35. Discounted tickets available to Firehouse members. $15 tickets available for college and high school students. Pay-what-you-will performances will also be included in the run.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Direction Nathaniel Shaw
Associate Direction Sarbajeet Das
Set/Projection Design Tennessee Dixon
Lighting Design Andrew Bonniwell
Costume Design Ruth Hedberg
Sound Design/Original Music Kate Statelman 
Videography Andrew Keeton
Stage Management Grace Labelle
Assistant Stage Management Isabel Stone

CAST

Actor 1 Juliana Caycedo
Actor 2 Katrinah Carol Lewis
Understudy Keaton Hillman

The Firehouse Theatre is a thriving hub of creative activity, an artistic home, and a center for community engagement where new work is produced and performed. The New Theatre strives to challenge and expand art and industry through innovation in project development, presentation, and community participation. With a revitalized commitment to our legacy, energized by combining two dynamic organizations, TNT@FT is committed to amplifying the diverse voices of the New American Theatre and fostering innovative performance and organizational practices.