*Marketing Materials Designed by Brianne Molloy*

Presented through Dixon Place’s 2024 HOTFEST

Presented by Chloé Hayat,

in association with Breaking & Entering Theatre Collective

Playwright's Note:

Thank you so much for attending this one night only production of The End of Incorporated Filth at Dixon Place. I'm so thankful to be able to share this story that lives so close to my heart with all of you! I began writing this play in 2018 when I was in my first queer relationship- feeling excited to be visible and proud to step into the sunlight. But this was mid-Trump era (and I'm a student of queer history and a big fan of Cabaret- duh). I felt and still feel safe to be queer in my neighborhood (Astoria, Queens babyyy)- but that's how our queer elders and ancestors felt in the last wave of mainstream queer celebration in the 1920's & 30's. I wanted to reach back and pull their fight, joys, and culture back up through the rubble. It reminded me that we cannot. Get. Complacent. We protect us. Our communities, friends, families (chosen and/or blood), elders, youth, joy, history, and resilience protect us and keep us reaching towards the future.

The story of the Eltinge is based in reality, the songs are real and unaltered- though the characters are fictional they are all based on real artists of the time such as: Gladys Bently, Ma Rainey, Cab Calloway, the Nicholas Brothers, Mae West, Gene Malin, Julian Eltinge and Bert Savoy. Names that were widely celebrated- even household names at the time! Some of these names you may not recognize because of the implementation of the Hayes Morality code. A law which made depictions of queerness, sexuality, interracial relationships, female bodies, and other "immoral behavior" in the media illegal, and attempted to erase these revolutionaries from existence. While we have our queer and trans ancestors to thank for where we are now, we cannot stop advancing their cause because we think we are in a safer time- we are not. There are American laws on the books and being proposed in congress that threaten to send us back to the exact moment we are representing tonight- and American colonialism threatens queer folks across the globe (there is no pink door out of an occupation).

We are not free until all of us are free.

On a much more positive note, I would like to thank you all again from the bottom of my heart for coming out tonight. I also have to express my undying gratitude for the amazing team who has worked so hard, passionately, and tirelessly to put this play up. Thank you for being the most incredible, sweet, inclusive, resilient, talented, kind group I could possibly have imagined. I'm so excited to no longer call you my rehearsal friends. Thank you for bringing the Eltinge back to life with me.

CAST

Allegra Verlezza (Billie Bang-Up)

Allegra Verlezza (they/them) is a voiceover artist and actor. Their recent projects include voicing Captain Marvel in What If...? – An Immersive Story and Leo in Yu-Gi-Oh! CROSS DUEL, PSAs for The Trevor Project and GLAAD, and commercial campaigns for Burt's Bees, Häagen-Dazs, and Google Chrome. Allegra is so excited to reprise their role as Billy Bang-Up for the third time and they are so grateful to Chloé Hayat for inviting them along on this beautiful, filthy journey.

Chip Piper (Robin)

Chip/ Al Piper is originally from Washington D.C. and is a proud graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts. They received their BFA in acting from SUNY Purchase. Theatre credits include: House of Telescopes (A.R.T. New York), *Unf*ckwithable* (A.R.T. New York)*, Anna Karenina: a riff* (Flea Theater), *Twelfth Night* (Shakespeare on the Sound)*, The Maid’s Tragedy* (Access Theater), *Made To Dance To Dance In Burning Buildings* (Joe’s Pub), *Romeo and Juliet (American Shakespeare Center),* *The Two Gentlemen of Verona (ASC).* TV: “FBI,” “Blue Bloods,” “Harlem,” “Katy Keene”. Special thanks to their family for the continued love and support.

Daxx (Cecil/Sissy De Long)

Daxx (they/them) is a third gen Lebanese American based in Brooklyn. Recent credits include *Law & Order: Organized Crime*, Off-Broadway’s *House of Telescopes* (Doobs), and regional productions like Signature Theatre’s Helen Hayes Award-Winning *A Chorus Line* (Mark Anthony), OKC Rep’s *Superstitions* (Sildat), Cape Playhouse’s *A Chorus Line* (Greg Gardner), Arts Center of Coastal Carolina’s *An American in Paris*, and *A Chorus Line* (Greg Gardner). CESD Talent Agency @daxxjayroe

Greg Lakhan (Zeke/Radio & Associate Producer)

Greg Lakhan (@sirgregolas) is a versatile theater artist, filmmaker, and singer/songwriter from Queens, NY. With experience at renowned institutions like The Tank Theater, The Public Theater, The New York Neo Futurists, and Virgin Voyages, he has developed a strong foundation in the art of performance and artistic collaboration. They are stoked to be gracing the stage at Dixon Place and would like to thank everyone who has supported Incorporated Filth!

Lama El Homaïssi (Zahia)

Lama El Homaïssi (she/her) is a Lebanese actor, singer and writer based in New York City. Lama comes from a theatrical family and grew up behind-the-scenes of her father’s mime plays and musicals in Beirut. She worked as a filmmaker and writer for television while also performing as a singer in Lebanon before moving to the U.S. to pursue her MFA in Musical Theatre at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Most recently, Lama was an artist-in-residence at SHIM:NYC, Joe’s Pub Working Group, and SPACE on Ryder Farm.

lama-elhomaissi.com | @lama.elhomaissi

Chloé & the team would love to extend a special thanks and deep appreciation for the following people:

Kate Conroy & Marty Correia, Julia Goldman, Jonah Bobo, Alex Manaa, Tristen Stafford, Elizabeth Spindler, Steven Amsterdam, Shannon Goldman, Ronit Wrubel, Linda Miglierina, Lester Shane, Tony Spiradakis, Lynn Marfey, Virginia Chambers, Ronnie Najjar, Gina Enock, The GoldMansour Family, Matt Freeman & Theater Accident, Michael Raine, The Fled Collective, Noor Theatre, Dixon Place, and the SWANA Writer's Group

CREATIVE TEAM

Thalia Ranjbar (Director)

Thalia Ranjbar is a Persian- Salvadoran director, choreographer, and librettist. Credits include The Extinctionist (Asst. Director, Heartbeat Opera), Sparks (TheatreNOW), The Talk (New York Theatre Festival, nominated for Best Short), and All the Space Between (Eugene O’Neill Theatre). Thalia recently earned the distinction of Master of Fine Arts from NYU and since has been selected for the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project, and she was featured in the Highlight Series at Noor Theatre. Thalia is also a passionate teaching artist and currently teaches at Classic Stage Company as well as the Washington Heights Choir School.

Chloé Hayat (Playwright, Costume Designer & Executive Producer)

Chloé Hayat is a Lebanese-American playwright, dramaturg, and producer from Roosevelt Island, New York. Her work has been seen and developed as a part of Clubbed Thumb’s Early Career Writer’s Group, Space on Ryder Farm, Noor Theatre, The Fled Collective, The Flea, Theater Accident, Ithaca College, Manhattan Film Institute, Young Playwrights Inc., SUNY Purchase and The SWANA Writer’s Co-Op (where she now proudly serves as the co- Administrative Director). She’s also a professional makeup artist, an amateur baker, and (obviously) an aspiring burlesque performer.

Lila Weitzner (Stage Manager & Associate Producer)

Lila Weitzner is a theater maker and writer from Washington, DC. Lila is passionate about lots of different ways to tell stories. She performed in the devised project *Variation on a Blueprint* at Lincoln Center, has contributed to stories about interfaith community for public radio, and is currently working on a play exploring the chaos and romance of working in NYC fine dining. To be a part of the End of Incorporated Filth Team has been a true pleasure. Special thanks to my family and my 2015 DESA theater ensemble family - love you madly! Thank you to all of you!!!

Alex Wakim (Music Director)

Alex Wakim (Music Director) With work presented at the Tribeca Film Festival 2024; his original music-based book, DUST AND IONS, co-written with Yara Zgheib, slated for publishing with Rose Metal Press; and an upcoming premier of a concert suite based on the concept at the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Alex Wakim’s unique musical aesthetic has led him to push barriers in sound and story. His music is also found scoring Julianne Moore, featured in the RAINDANCE Film Fest, WOODSTOCK Film Fest, DOC NYC, off-Broadway at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater, the National Portrait Gallery, and more. Music direction and composition for stage are enriching accompaniments to his work for the screen.

Gregory Jafari Van Acker (Casting Director)

GREGORY JAFARI VAN ACKER (Bass/Valle Casting / Casting Collaborative) CD (selected): Kimia…of the Mountains (Kennedy Center), The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience (Netflix/Shondaland), Bite-Sized Broadway (Indieworks), Shoot For The Moon (dir. Raja Feather Kelly, MTF), Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Little Island), The Deciders (Woolly Mammoth), Como Correr (Peak Performances). Casting Associate: Sunset Blvd (ACT of CT), House of Telescopes (Pipeline), Stranger SINGS! (Playhouse 46), Gatsby (Immersive), Journey! (dir. John Rando), multiple shows for Atlantic, Denver Center, Syracuse Stage, and Alliance Theatre. Normalizing positive representation for historically excluded voices. https://www.gregoryvanacker.com

Tori Lassman (Props Master)

Tori Lassman is a Brooklyn born prop, playwright and theater artist. She has had the privilege to work on shows such as, Succession, Pose, High Maintenance and the greater privilege to do props for END OF INCORPORATED FILTH!!

Thea Goldman (Co-Scenic Designer)

Thea is a brooklyn-based scenic designer. Some recent credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Set Design, Peregrine Theatre Ensemble) Fish (Assistant Set Design, Keen Company @ Theater Row), I Dui Timidi (Assistant Set Design, Juilliard Opera), Maya Mouse (Set Design, Cape Repertory Theater), El Huracan, Dance Nation (Set Design, Brooklyn College). Thea is currently completing her MFA in scenic design at Brooklyn College, where she serves as adjunct faculty. A special thanks to co-designer Riley for being a consistently helpful and creative delight to work with! See Thea's work at https://www.theagoldmandesigns.com.

Riley Lathrom (Co-Scenic Designer)

Riley is a Brooklyn - based Scenic Designer and Scenic Artist. Recent credits include The Beauty Queen of Leanne (Props Master, Dorset Theatre Festival) Macbeth (Set Design, Brooklyn College) Misery (Assistant Paint Charge, Dorset Theatre Festival) Sweat (Set Design, Missouri State University). Riley is in her 2nd year as a MFA Scenic Designer student at Brooklyn College. Many thanks to co-designer Thea Goldman for being such an amazing collaborator and designer ! Enjoy the show !

Yang Yu (Lighting Designer)

Yang Yu is a New York based lighting for performing arts. She is interested in using light, space, and timing to create an emotionally charged environment, as well as visualizing music. Recent credits include The Lydian Gale Parr (Target Margin Theater), Unresolved Rage Game (Soho Rep Writer Director Lab); Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (Crossroads Theatre Company). Publication: Collected Light Volume Three: Women in Entertainment Lighting. MFA from Brooklyn College. Yangyudesign.com

Michael Ortiz (Sound Designer)

Michael Ortiz (he/him) is a multi-hyphenate theater artist hailing from the state of Florida. He is one of the Co-Artistic Directors of the Brooklyn-based Breaking & Entering Theater Collective, and he currently produces and hosts SERIALS, a late-night episodic short play competition at The Tank. After originating the role of Cecil in the 2019 workshop of Incorporated Filth, he is honored to return to the team as the show's sound designer!