PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTE

Megan Benjamin Bennett

Clos(in)g is the combination of the many different types of people we come across in life: the ambitious teenager, the uncertain parent, the overworked mom, the charming (but problematic) old man- the list is endless. In creating a community full of all the people we know (and even versions of ourselves), I hope to have each audience member move into 1113 Dean Street and take part in the conversation. What does grief do to a person? What do you lose when you leave the comfort of being surrounded by people you know? Who determines the value of something- the people that can afford to buy it or the creators themselves? When does the cost of staying outweigh the cost of leaving? Who gets a say in how someone’s life turns out?

You, with your laughter, silence, and responses, answer those questions. Through the unique program that is Playwrights for Change, you will shape what you see on stage. As you watch, think about whose apartment you’d always visit, what you always need from Community Market, and who is your go-to friend. Do you need someone to help you let loose? Someone to tell you the truth? A ride or die? Or all of the above? At Clos(in)g, you are not a visitor, you are a resident. The stakes are as high for you as they are for the people speaking. So… what would you do?

Thank you to the primary members of my community: Chris, Fantasha, Shelby, Ikera, Jane, Tashieka, Onika, Caitlin, Ikea, Mike, Rob, Annie, Lily, Tanaya, Ellie, Jack, Taylor, John and Matt. You all give to me so generously that I am able to give to others. Clos(in)g is ours.

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

Matthew David Gellin

Clos(in)g is shaping up to be a gift to the American canon as it explores the critically relevant themes of the housing crisis, the ways our actions can unknowingly affect people we may never meet, and the stabilizing role community plays in all of our lives.

These themes may feel like bricks: heavy, rough, and dangerous when thrown about. But when bricks are stacked together and rely upon one another, they become an immovable force capable of sheltering and protecting entire communities.

It is the people who give these buildings their spirit. The question is whether that spirit remains after the people are gone. I hope that it does.

That hope is the light we move toward amid the darkness. It is my hope that today’s experience frees your mind and invigorates your heart to become a source of light in someone else’s life.

Thank you for letting ALT be part of that light today. We are thrilled to make the play development process, historically unseen by many audiences, more open and equitable by bringing you into conversation. Her ability to express in three words what others may need three sentences to say is unlike almost anything I’ve experienced. Her gift for capturing and honestly representing so many voices is her superpower.

I encourage you to use your voice today so Megan can distill it to its essence and carry this shared experience into the next iteration of Clos(in)g.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Clos(in)g takes place on the ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples who have long stewarded this region. We recognize the Osage Nation, Myaamia Nation, Shawandasse Tula, Kaskaskia, and the Mosopelea and Ofo cultures, whose connection to this land continues today.

We acknowledge the history of displacement and the ongoing impact of colonization, and we honor the enduring presence, culture, and sovereignty of Indigenous communities.

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CAST

Anita Anderson

Marina
Anita is a full-time diva and sometimes actress. She has been a part of ALT for over a year and has expanded her talents in the process. She sings all over the world with several gospel groups and kills people for a living as a Murder Mystery Immersioneer.
“ALT stands behind projects that reflect overlooked and relatable issues.”
Ariana Hodes

Brandy
Ariana is thrilled to return to ALT after her turn as Mindi in their recent world premiere of Bridge City. She is honored to be a part of another new work in development alongside some of her favorite Cincinnati artists. In addition to acting, Ariana can be found around town singing original tunes as one half of the duo, Ariana Hodes & The Longest Year.
“I believe in the power of art, and artists, to connect people in ways we need more than ever today. To support artists in the process of creating new work is so important, and I love that ALT is out here making magic happen.”
Kevin Simons

Brent
Kevin Simons is an actor, singer, dancer, improviser, and occasional menace. Equal parts heart, humor, and theatrical flair, they dream of Broadway, TV, film, and one day being important enough to have a bio written by someone else. Until then—thanks for coming to the show.
“I wanted to participate in Clos(in)g because theatre has always felt like a powerful way to build empathy and connection. Stories that explore identity, belonging, and the complexity of human relationships matter deeply to me, especially in moments where people are searching for understanding. Being part of a piece that invites honest conversation and reflects lived experiences feels both meaningful and necessary.”
Malyssa Quinn

Isabelle
Quinn is very excited to be joining ALT for Clos(in)g! Recent work included See Me, Hear Me. Cyberbullying with ALT, The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Innova Theatre, and the Dancing Princesses with Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. When not in a theatre, you can usually find Quinn gigging and performing with the Queen City Stunt Circus.
Deondra Kamau Means

George
Deondra Kamau Means is a community engagement specialist and teaching artist whose work celebrates African and American legacies through theatre and storytelling. A proud collaborator with American Legacy Theatre, he is honored to be part of this reading. Deondra has also worked extensively with The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati and Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, using the arts to educate, inspire, and build community.
“American Legacy Theatre’s mission reflects my own belief in theatre as a force for social reflection and transformation. Clos(in)g speaks to my personal journey — as a father, a new grandfather, and a caretaker walking beside my mother through the early stages of dementia. Through this work, I find both art and life intertwining in the act of letting go, holding on, and finding meaning in the spaces between.”
Tom Highley

Lucas
Tom Highley has performed in a wide range of roles over the past four decades. During his undergraduate years, supporting roles in A Chorus Line, The Tempest, Working, and All My Sons were well received and led to performance work at King’s Island and corporate theater, where he worked as a vocal director. Going back to school to earn a teaching degree in English, Tom spent years as a high school director, staging productions of God’s Favorite, Don’t Drink the Water, and Crimes of the Heart, to name a few. Years later, Tom returned to acting, earning critical praise in Cincinnati for his role of Allan Swann in My Favorite Year. This led to opportunities on area stages, most notably playing Carl Magnus in A Little Night Music with New Stage Collective, Roger DeBris in The Producers with Cincinnati Landmark Productions, and Hugo West in the fringe festival production of Don’t Cross the Streams. Most recently, Tom appeared in the Josh Steele production of Hot Damn! It’s the Loveland Frog as Pee Paw. Tom is currently a professor of literacy at Georgetown College and is excited to be pursuing his first love, performance.
“I work with ALT because I support their mission; social justice, equity, inclusion, and raising awareness of related issues. Further, I support the development of new works that push boundaries.“
Phillip Latham

Teddy
Phil Latham Born and Raised in Cincinnati Ohio caught the acting bug at the young age of 9. Most recent Productions of King James Directed by Darnell Pierre Benjamin and Blerds Directed by Derek Snow both at The KNOW Theatre. Phil is Super Excited to be apart of Clos(in)g a ground breaking new Show that’s sure to stay with you long after the show. This is Phil’s first production with ALT but surely won’t be the last!
“The Theatre is a place to tell what life is really about: the good times and the bad times; it places you in the character’s world, and you go on this ride you may or may not have experienced before. ALT is at the forefront of telling real and new stories and Clos(in)g is one of those stories! We may be different but we experience the same things. This story spoke to me in a way and I knew I had to be a part of it. So many different lives within the same space, going through the same thing from different perspectives. It’s truly a beautiful piece of Theatre and Life.”
Mary Patton

Theresa
Mary Patton, a Cleveland native now based in Cincinnati, is a classically trained vocalist who studied at Morgan State University and has performed worldwide. Her credits include Severance Hall, Carnegie Hall, the First National Tour of Sister Act (Deloris understudy), and international tours of Dreamgirls. She’s also performed on Royal Caribbean ships. A proud wife and mother of four, Mary sends special thanks to her children and Husband (Marcus ) for their love and support.
“ALT is important because of the space it allows for telling an authentic story and experiences.”
Julius Jenkins

Carter
Julius “Eclypse” Jenkins is a street dance professional with 20 years of experience, specializing in robotic animation. He has performed locally and internationally, including the StreetArt Festival of Gabon, Devil’s in the Details (Chicago), and the Cincinnati Music Festival, sharing stages with KRS-One, Lupe Fiasco, and Flux Pavilion. His choreography credits include John Adams’ Alleged Dances and Beautiful: The Carole King Story, and he currently teaches at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Xavier University, and Miami University.

CREATIVE TEAM

Megan Benjamin Bennett

Playwright
Megan Bennett is a born and bred New Yorker, attending prestigious junior high and high schools in Brooklyn. Meeting minds that would go on to be doctors, executives, and entrepreneurs shaped her to become not just a playwright, labor leader, and poet, but someone who is always thinking about how to shape tomorrow.
While on the surface Megan appeared academically successful (graduating from the University at Buffalo with a double major in English and Theater cum laude), behind the scenes, every grade, word on the page, and manifested idea was an uphill battle. She grew up in a community where most people were dependent on government benefits for survival, selling drugs was commonplace, and racial tensions between the Black and the Hasidic Jewish communities ran high. It was a childhood fraught with need, loneliness, and a desire for a better world. It created a woman with great strength, great vision, and a lot of inner battles to fight.
After graduating college, Megan Bennett went on to write four books of poetry; Love Story, War Story and Soul Story, a trilogy documenting her growth as an artist, and Black, a direct response to the social unrest brought on by the murder of Black people in America. During this time, she also wrote, directed, and produced a lighthearted web series entitled Plus One. In exploring other artistic mediums, she found that nothing can compare to a community of people sharing the same experience at the same time. She believes that now, more than ever, it is critical that we return to the theater to discover both ourselves and the world around us.
“American Legacy Theatre is an organization that is grounded in the present while reaching for the future. In its effort to build the American legacy, it promises to speak to all people for decades to come.”
Matthew David Gellin

Director & Producer
Matthew has successfully acted and directed across the country, in Europe, and in Asia. He is proud to have served as a U.S. representative at the UNESCO
International Theatre Institute Research Lab in Romania. He was named a Promising Artist of the 21st Century by the International Arts and Cultural Exchange, and he has published papers on directorial theory in international peer-reviewed journals. He has also been recognized as one of Cincinnati Business Courier’s Forty Under 40.
“The power of theatre has not yet been fully leveraged. It’s about how theatre can bring people together and move us toward a more equitable world. How do we truly make a positive impact for all voices and all people? At ALT, we give people a voice and bring those voices to the forefront to be heard.”
Roza Ruthie Gavriilidis

Stage Manager
Roza is thrilled to be working with ALT again, this time workshopping a new write. Roza has spent the last six months managing ALT's educational tour See Me , Hear Me, Cyberbullying, delivering an impactful message to Ohio's youth regarding the direct results of bullying.
Having received her BFA in Technical Theatre, Design & Production (Stage Management) in 2023, Roza moved on to bring her skillset in entertainment management downtown where she managed all internal programming for iconic civic spaces such as: Washington & Ziegler Parks, Fountain Square, Court St. Plaza, & Imagination Alley.
Intermittent local credits include:
Production Stage Manager for Queen City Opera (Undina, October '23)
Production Assistant for Blink ('22)
“ALT is a special organization for many of us, not only as a place we get to share our love for theatre, but because it is a space where every voice and perspective is valued as an integral part of each narrative.

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THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

This production is made possible through the generous support of our funders and community partners. Thank you for helping us create and share new work that reflects the voices and experiences of our communities.