Émilie: La Marquise du Châtelet défend sa vie ce soir Playbill

par Lauren Gunderson

traduit en français par Yanaëlle Cornez

Commissioned and first produced by South Coast Repertory
with support from the Elizabeth George Foundation

*Audience Advisory: this performance contains strobe effects, strong language and mild adult themes. Recommended for high school and above.

CAST

PRODUCTION

SPECIAL THANKS

The Atlanta Jugglers Association, 7Stages, Synchronicity Theatre, the Atlanta Science Festival, Thom Stanley, Josh Marsh, Thalia Kirsch, Joy Ludwig, KK Hawkins, Kailey Nelson, Karuna Shah, Debbie Livingston, Emily Pietro, Jamey Russell, Matt and Carolyn Cook

COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES

Cast

Dionna D. Davis (Èmilie du Châtelet) is a Savannah native who graduated from Georgia Southern with a degree in French & Theatre. She’s honored to return to Theatre du Reve to once again merge her pasttime and passion. Aside from TdR’s Vive La Fontaine, she has worked with Atlanta’s Synchronicity Theatre (Ella Enchanted, Mirandy & Brother Wind, The Bluest Eye, Edward Tulane), Horizon Theatre (Roe, Square Blues), Center for Puppetry Arts (Duke Ellington’s Cat), Out of Hand Theatre (Class Dismissed, Conditional Care), Theater Emory (Lost Girl, Blood Wedding) as an actress, stage manager, and propsmaster since 2014. She’s grateful for her mother’s unconditional support, for playwright Paris Crayton III’s lasting friendship, as well as her ride-or-die friends Patience & Porsche, and to be part of the magic of the dream!

Luis Hernandez (Voltaire) makes his debut with TdR in this production. This is also his first time performing in French, so he’s very excited to challenge all his language skills with this performance. He’s a native of Puerto Rico and fluent in Spanish, which has definitely helped with all the French grammar. You may have seen him perform in other theatres in Atlanta, such as 7 Stages, Actor’s Express, ART Station, Atlanta Lyric, Aurora Theatre, Dad’s Garage, Georgia Ensemble, Horizon Theatre, Synchronicity, The Object Group and The Shakespeare Tavern among others. He is also a puppeteer at the Center for Puppetry Arts, and from time to time he portrays Ricky Ricardo in the Lucy & Ricky Tribute Show. His film and TV credits include Superman 2025, The Underdoggs, Swarm, Candy, Florida Man, NCIS: New Orleans, Devious Maids.

Karine Dieuvil (Soubrette) is a Haitian-American actress based out of Atlanta,Georgia. Karine has worked in professional theatrical productions throughout the Southeast including Théâtre du Rêve’s 2024 production of Le Malade Imaginaire, Marisol (University of Florida), The Last Desdemona (Florida New Works Festival), and Red Velvet (Directed by Dr.Mikell Pinkney). They are best known for their roles in popular web-series Blackview as Sydnee Morris and Public Policy playing Clarice and extend gratitude to their tribe for their unwavering support. When not acting, Karine can be baking a good vegan treat, or running a creative consulting agency. You can find Karine on all platforms @Kughreen. And as always, the struggle persists.

Mallory Ivy (Gentleman) is a Jane-of-all-trades based out of Atlanta, Georgia. Her most notable theater roles include Marianne in Constellations (Out of Box Theatre), Eleven (Stranger Things Experience), and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (The School Street Playhouse). If she’s not applying to The Ministry of Silly Walks or running a film set, you can probably find her developing a mass of pole bruises, learning a new language, or taking an international flight. She is honored to be making her Théâtre du Rêve debut!

Natalie Karp (Madame, she/her) is thrilled to be back for her third Théâtre du Rêve aventure en francaise: Celles d’en haut (Women on Top), Il Était Une Fois, and now Émilie! She was last seen in Eleanor Burgess’ The Niceties at Stage Door Theater. TV credits: Dynasty(CW), The Vampire Diaries(CW), Tales of the Walking Dead(AMC), Confirmation(HBO),and Containment(CW). She has eternal gratitude for her devoted teachers who never stopped challenging and inspiring her: Wendell K Phillips, Homer Swander and the incomparable Salome Jens of The Actors Studio. Merci à tous for supporting live theater!

Production Team

Lauren Gunderson (Playwright) has been one of the most produced playwrights in America since 2015, topping the list thrice including 2022/23. She is a two-time winner of the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award for I and You and The Book of Will, the winner of the winner of the William Inge Distinguished Achievement in Theatre Award,the Lanford Wilson Award and a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. She is a playwright, screenwriter, musical book writer and children’s author who lives in San Francisco. She graduated from NYU Tisch as a Reynolds Fellow in Social Entrepreneurship. LaurenGunderson.com

Yanaëlle Cornez (Translator) is a local educator and musician. Born in France, she has spent the past 25 years in Atlanta. A long-time fan and supporter of Théâtre du Rêve, she is delighted to contribute to this year’s production with her first professional translation.

Rebekah Suellau (Director) is a director, dramaturg, and playwright focusing on new play development in Atlanta since 2013. Her dramaturgy services are available through Working Title Playwrights, where she previously served as Associate Development Artist, and she teaches dramatic writing at Georgia State University. When she’s not making theatre, you can find her offering “spiritual dramaturgy” as a Tarot reader at Modern Mystic Shop. MFA: Florida State University.

Molly Penny (Language Assistant) is over the moon to be part of this beautiful production! An Atlanta-based actor and French teacher, Molly was most recently seen onstage as Lydia Bennet and Lady Catherine in Woodstock Arts’ Pride & Prejudice. Atlanta: Sesame Street the Musical (Center for Puppetry Arts), Sweeney Todd, Matilda, She Kills Monsters, The Comedy of Errors, Little Shop of Horrors (Woodstock Arts), The Wolves (Horizon Theatre), Curious Holiday Encounters (7 Stages/Théâtre du Rêve), and Georgia Aquarium’s entertainment team. Regional: The 25th… Spelling Bee (The Warehouse Theatre), Mamma Mia!, Rootabaga Express! (Flat Rock Playhouse). Molly earned her MA in French from Georgia State University, where she continues to teach, and also freelances as a director and dialect coach. When not doing French or theatre things, she can be found hanging out with her cats, curled up with a good book or two (find her @pennyforyourbookthoughts to follow along!). Mille mercis to the marvelous Émilie team for letting me be in this beautiful time and space with you all, combining my two favorite things! À Zach, je t’adore et je t’aime.

Scottie Belfi (Language Coach) has made a career out of all things communication and connection between people and cultures. Following her triple major in French, International Studies and Political Science from the University of Richmond, she spent 4 months with the International Trade Administration in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire and developed a strategic plan for US investment in West Africa. Back in the US, she worked as a staffer on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and completed her Masters in French and Secondary Education at Belmont and Vanderbilt University. As a high school French teacher in private and public schools, her passion is creating exchange programs for students. Her most recent collaboration was with the Galloway School at the Lycée Saint-Elme in Arcachon, France. After 30 years in the classroom, she decided to spend more time in France and expand professionally with an Entrepreneur Visa in France where she collaborated with the firm, English Insiders in Bordeaux, France. When Scottie is in Atlanta, she is active with the Development Team of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) and the Community Assistance Center (CAC) English as a Second Language (ESOL) program. Forever the teacher, Scottie provides private and small group teaching and coaching for French and English both in person and on-line and enjoys inspiring her clients all over the globe to communicate with confidence and joy! Scottie has loved the opportunity to support the phenomenal cast of “Emilie” at TdR in this ambitious undertaking!

Lexi McKay (Intimacy Coordinator) is a stage manager by trade but in 2018 took her first intimacy choreography class and fell in love with the work. She has a BFA in production design from Savannah College of Art and Design as well as a MFA in Stage Management from The University of Alabama. Previous intimacy work include I’m Gonn Marry Toby Maguire, Circle Mirror Transformation, Rocky Horror Picture Show, and many more. She is super excited to step into this story and help show the push and pull of life and work with this amazing team!

Ticket Knowlton (Stage Manager, they/them) Born and raised in the South; Ticket is obsessed with all things fried, loves holding the door open for people, and going out on the porch to look at the clouds. After graduating from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, they moved to Atlanta to pursue their hopes and dreams. Director, stage manager, dramaturg and dancer. Ticket makes art to archive their existence as a southern trans person who needs to talk about life as they’re living it. Ticket loves creating, facilitating, and observing all things live performance. Ticket can most likely be found in their kitchen cooking a meal for themself or someone they love, or on a walk looking up at the sky and smiling.

Barrett Doyle (Scenic Designer) is a multidisciplinary artist and actor, working across the theatre, film and visual arts spaces.  He has designed and acted on many Atlanta stages before recently relocating to Washington DC.  A long time collaborator of Théâtre du Rêve, he is honored to be back supporting this next chapter in TdR’s evolution and sharing the inspiring story of Émilie du Châtelet. 

Ari Shah Conkright (Lighting Designer) is a Lighting Designer based out of Atlanta, GA who got their start at 7Stages, in Youth Creates many moons ago. Ari has a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Technical Theatre with a focus in Lighting Design and Stage Management from Guilford College. Most recently, Ari has designed on What Are You?, True North,  Don Giovanni as well as The Admix Project’s Summer Intensive Showcases.

Emory Goocher (Sound Designer) brings a blend of musical and cinematic artistry to the sound design of “Émilie.” His experience allows him to craft soundscapes that are both evocative and integral to the story. When not immersed in sound design, he’s preparing to bring the joy of song to others through his upcoming venture, “HomeStar Karaoke.”

Jennifer Schottstaedt (Costume Designer) most recently designed the costumes for Marie Antoinette (Actor’s Express). Past work includes: Le Malade Imaginaire, Vive La Fontaine, Code Noir, Il était une fois and Le petit prince (Théâtre du Rêve), Tesla vs. Edison (Suzi Bass Award: Best Costume Design – Play), Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote, The Ghastly Dreadfuls, Owl at Home and Aesop’s Fables (Center for Puppetry Arts), Pinocchio (7 Stages), and Frankenstein’s Funeral and Frankenstein’s Ball (Found Stages). She has worked at the Santa Fe Opera, the Chautauqua Opera and the Texas Shakespeare Festival, and has been seen onstage at Synchronicity Theatre, Actor’s Express, Théâtre du Rêve, Georgia Shakespeare, Found Stages and Pinch ‘n’ Ouch. Jennifer received her BFA in Costume Design & Construction from the University of Evansville and her MFA in Acting from the University of Georgia. 

Victoria Nation (Props Designer) is  excited to put her background as an amateur antiquarian to good use for Émilie! A playwright, director, and performer, she’s on a mission to wear every hat in the business to become the ultimate theatre menace.

Adam Pagdon (Technical Director) is an actor, puppeteer, and theatre artist recently retuned to Atlanta from Brooklyn. In the late 90’s, he was the technical director and scenic designer at the Center for Puppetry Arts. CREDITS INCLUDE: Orange Is The New Black (Showtime); Person of Interest (NBC); The Pee Wee Herman Show on Broadway (Henry Miller Theatre); West Side Story (Ogunquit Theatre); Crank Yankers (Comedy Central) LazyTown (Nick Jr.), and special live appearances with The Muppets (Disney). He holds an M.F.A. in Theatre Design from UNC-Greensboro.