Written by
Shea Ketchum
A Story of Courage,
Hope, & Loss in a Soviet Union Women's Prison
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Synopsis
Based on true accounts, GULAG GIRLS tells the story of a group of women daring to live,
love, and fight the system from within the constraints of a Soviet-era GULAG. Arrested as
Enemies of the People, Olga, a nun; Yelena, a farmer; Anna, an actress; Irena, a professor;
Eugenia, a politician’s wife; Zasha, a shop clerk; and Tati, a young mother; must band
together in order to survive the harshest of sentences in a Siberian prison.
Content Warnings
Adult Language, Violence, Sexual Assault, Gunshots
Performance Location & Dates
The Arts Asylum
824 E Meyer Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64131
Saturday, 7/20 at 4:30pm - SOLD OUT
Sunday, 7/21 at 9:00PM
Wednesday, 7/24 at 9:00PM
Friday, 7/26 at 6:00PM
Saturday, 7/27 at 7:30PM
CAST & CREW
(In Order of Appearance)
Eugenia .................................................................................................................................................... Katelyn Baron
Irena ................................................................................................................................................................... Dri Hernaez
Tati ..................................................................................................................................................... Emily Anne Coffin
Anna ........................................................................................................................................................................ Casey Jane
Olga .................................................................................................................................................................. Sarilee Kahn
Yelena .......................................................................................................................................................... Shea Ketchum
Zasha ......................................................................................................................................... Erdin Schultz-Bever
Pavel/Interrogator/Guard/Doctor ................................................................... Chris Arnone
Matron .............................................................................................................................................. Megan Reynolds
Director:
Stage Manager:
Scenic & Sound Designer:
Lighting Designer:
Composer:
Costume & Makeup Designer:
Properties Designer/Poster Artist:
Dialect Coach:
Dramaturg:
Erika Lynnette Baker
Taylor Zimmerman
Shea Ketchum
Becky Ochoa
Rowan O'Conner
Katelyn Baron
Seth M. Jones
Casey Jane
Shea Ketchum
Shea is a local KC actress, director, producer, and playwright. Shea is grateful for all the support this play has received since its inception. Thank you to KC Public Theatre for selecting this work in progress as part of their 2023 Stage Reading program. Thank you to Casey and Katelyn of Rising Tide Productions for believing in her voice and co-producing this one act version of Gulag Girls for 2024 KC Fringe. Shea plans to expand GG into a full length play in the near future; stay tuned! Thanks to friends and family for their
unending support, especially B. This work is dedicated to Shea's late grandfather Ed Samocha.
Shea Ketchum
Playwright / "Yelena"
Katelyn Baron (they/she) is a producer, director, actor, writer, and the Executive Artistic Director of Rising Tide Productions. After living and learning in the theatre world in NYC and film scene in LA, Katelyn returned to KC to cultivate art that changes minds and shifts perspectives. They strive to generate safe creative spaces for artists to unveil their true heart, so that they may understand themselves and others without judgment. In conjunction with this goal, they are also a founding committee member of the Kansas City Theatre Safety Initiative (KCTSI) - a mission to provide public standards in a community agreement, uniting theatre artists and companies in an effort to build a safer and more transparent future. Local credits include: Amuck, Amuck, Amuck! (Rising Tide Productions), Chicago, The Addams Family (New Theatre Restaurant), A Christmas Carol (Kansas City Rep), Jesus Christ Superstar (Music Theatre HeritagE), The Death of Cupid (The Living Room), Once Upon a Mattress (Coterie Theatre), Violet (Spinning Tree Theatre), and the U.S. Symphonic Premiere of Children of Eden.
Thanks to Shea for trusting Rising Tide to help bring her incredible work to life. Growing through this project with this team has been an honor and joy.
Katelyn Baron
Producer / "Eugenia"
Casey Jane is a dynamic theatre and media artist, having pursued acting professionally on KC stages since 2013. She received her Bachelors in Theatre & Communication from Truman State University. She works as an Actor/Producer/Director/Writer/Video Editor around KC and with her theatre & film company, Rising Tide Productions, which she founded in 2018. Her notable theatre credits include: Amuck, Amuck, Amuck! (Rising Tide Productions), On the Veranda (Warehouse Ensemble), When/Time (No Divide KC), Barbecue (KC Melting Pot), The Holy Trinity (KC Public Theatre), The Taming of the Shrew (Rising Tide Productions), and Wicked Creatures (Confluence Theatre Company). She has also appeared in several local films, including Rennie (Barley Moon Productions) and Behind the Scenes (NathanielPaullHits). In 2023, she released her first comedy music video, “Simp for Billionaires” (Rising Tide Productions). Outside of her creative moonlighting, she’s a full-time single mom and works as a communication specialist and content creator in the communication access and entertainment industries. She's over the moon to bring "GULAG GIRLS" to the Fringe stage after appearing in the KC Public Theatre reading in December 2023, and has treasured this creative process with her co-producers Shea & Katelyn. Visit her website at bit.ly/caseyjanekc
Casey Jane
Producer / "Anna"
Dri Hernaez
Adrienne "Dri" Hernaez is a Filipino-American actor and emerging writer. She is pursuing acting in Theatre, Film/TV, and Voice Over work. She is an aspiring playwright and screenwriter and is determined to tell stories about her experiences and culture as a Filipino-American. Her professional credits include: Poor Clare (Unicorn Theater), Cyrano De Bergerac, Peter Pan & Wendy and A Christmas Carol (Kansas City Repertory Theatre). Film experience includes feature film: Once I Was Engaged in 2021. Educational credits include an MFA in Acting and Directing from the University of Missouri - Kansas City Conservatory 2024 and the Labyrinth Theatre Intensive Ensemble in 2022. Dri (Dree) grew up in The Bay Area in California and is very connected to her hometown friends and family. She is currently living in Kansas City where she is continuing to hone in her skills as an actor and writer. She loves dreaming and writing sitcoms and dark comedies. She hopes to continue to write and act professionally across the country. After graduation, she hopes to move to Chicago or Los Angeles. There, she would like to work in Film and Film making, Animation Voice-Over, and Regional Theatre.
"Irena"
Emily Anne Coffin
Emily Anne Coffin (they/she/he) is a performer and artist born and raised in the KC area! Recent local credits include Helen Bechdel in Fun Home (OCTA), Sonya in Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812 (Fishtank Theatre), Keep it Gay Cabaret (Fishtank Theatre), Eddie in The Rocky Horror Show (Summit Theatre Group), Foley Artist in Our Town (Arrow Rock Lyceum) and Nun Ensemble in Sister Act (Arrow Rock Lyceum).
"Tati"
Sarilee Kahn
Sarilee Kahn is delighted to be involved with Rising Tide Productions and this wonderful cast and crew. She has recently returned to Kansas City – and to the stage – after a career as an international social worker, working around the world with survivors of war trauma, torture, and genocide, followed by 6 years on time faculty at the McGill University School of Social Work in Montreal, where she remains as Adjunct Professor. As an teaching artist and facilitator, Sarilee integrates Theatre of the Oppressed and Playback Theatre techniques, with improv, scene study, and theatre games to help people affected by trauma learn and practice social and emotional intelligence skills, teamwork, conflict resolution, and self-empowerment. Her work has taken her to Bosnia, Afghanistan, Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Iraq. Since returning to KC, she has begun to support local communities affected by violence, incarceration, and homelessness. As an actor, she recently played Romaine Vole in the KC Barn Players’ production of Witness for the Prosecution, and Masha in the Kentwood Players’ production of Vanya, Sonia, Masha, and Spike in Los Angeles.
"OLGA"
Erdin is excited to join the Gulag Girls team and share this new play with the community! Recent projects include The Glass Menagerie at Musical Theatre Heritage, The Head of Medusa with KC Public, and understudying for Journey to the Poles of Inaccessibility at Unicorn Theatre. Erdin has an MFA in Acting from UMKC, teaches Movement for the Stage at Johnson County Community College, and is part of the artistic leadership team for Confluence Theatre Company. She also enjoys training and performing aerial and circus arts.
Erdin Schultz-Bever
"Zasha"
Chris is excited to join Rising Tide for the first time. You may have seen him in Prejudice and Pride (Arts Asylum, MTH, 59E59), various roles with The 1994 Project, or as one of the founding members and producers of Bohemian Cult Revival. He is also a poet and author. His most recent novel, Necropolis Alpha, is available everywhere you buy books. You can also find him on various social media platforms @ChrisMArnone
Chris Arnone
"Pavel/Guard/Interrogator/Doctor"
Megan Reynolds is a passionate and versatile performance artist and technician - new to the KC stage. She received her Bachelors in Theatre & Spanish from Kansas State University where she gained significant vocal, choral, performance, and stage management experience. A "teacher by day, actor by night" she is in her 11th year as an educator and has been revitalizing her professional acting career through work in stage, entertainment, film, and VO. She has studied with Andy Garrison at the Actor Training Studio and works as an improv actor for The Murder Mystery Company as well as UMKC and KU Med serving as a simulated patient. She is particularly passionate about immersive theatre. Recent work includes voice over for KCK Legacy Trails (Visit KCK), the web series Quest Note (Ryan Miller) in post-production, and several projects through the IFCKC. Megan lives in KCK with her dog, Diego, and enjoys singing, writing, exploring KC, and playing her PS5 when she has the time.
Megan Reynolds
"Matron"
Erika Lynnette Baker
Director
Erika Lynnette Baker is a local theatre artist who began working in the Kansas City area in 2010. For the last 14 years Erika has worked as a puppeteer, actor, director, writer, producer and teaching artist in addition to her work with the disability community. She loves working to uplift local writers and is honored to be making her Rising Tide debut working on a script written by a badass, local-lady playwright.
taylor zimmerman
Taylor is excited to be working on her first show with Rising Tide Productions! Taylor holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and Technical Design from Avila University and an MFA in Scenography from the University of Kansas. Previous credits include costume designing for Spinning Trees: Ride the Cyclone, Once on this Island & Working and Whim Productions: Last Summer at Bluefish Cove. Taylor has also assistant stage managed for TIP's Sparkletones and Always Patsy Cline. In her free time Taylor enjoys reading, playing video games and cuddling her dog, Storey. Enjoy the show!
Stage Manager
Becky is thrilled to be working on another KC Fringe Show with Rising Tide! She is a professional stage manager, lighting designer, technical director, and teaching artist in the Kansas City area. She holds a BA in Theatre from Northwestern College in Orange City, IA. She found a love for all things that happen behind the scenes, including directing, stage management, costume design, and lighting design. She has stage managed and designed for numerous regional shows. Favorites include The Music Man, Taming of the Shrew, Merrily We Roll Along, and Bright Star. Currently, she works as the Technical Director and Production Manager for First Act Theatre Arts, a nonprofit organization giving opportunities to young performers in the Kansas City area to grow and develop their performance and technical theatre skills. Becky loves instilling a love of theatre and storytelling in students and adults alike, and hopes that you come out and enjoy Gulag Girls, and the other fabulous offerings at this year's Fringe Festival!
Becky Ochoa
Lighting Designer
Rowan O'Conner
Rowan O’Conner is elated to have had the opportunity to write music for GULAG GIRLS. In addition to being a composer, producer and musician, Rowan is also the Artistic Director of the Delphi Opera House in Delphi, Indiana. They grew up in Brownsburg, IN and graduated from Butler University with a Bachelor of the Musical Arts - Voice. Rowan would like to thank their supportive family and friends. They would also like to extend their gratitude to the amazing cast and crew of GULAG GIRLS, namely Shea Ketchum, without whom there would be no show. Lastly, they would love to thank everyone for coming to see the show! It’s been such a pleasure and an honor to be a part of something so special.
Composer
Seth M. Jones
Seth Jones is a visual artist and designer living in the Historic Northeast neighborhood of Kansas City. His work is primarily inspired by storytelling, significant life moments, and the beauty of nature. When Seth isn’t painting full time, he is most likely with his husband Chris or tending to their many animals, garden, and Victorian Home. Seth is thrilled to be joining the GULAG GIRLS team! sethmjonesart.com
Props Designer / Poster Artist
In collaboration with our production of GULAG GIRLS, we are seeking donations to World Central Kitchen. See more information and ways to donate by clicking below!
GULAG GIRLS was selected as part of the Theatre Lab program for KC Public Theatre’s current season, and was performed as a staged reading at PH Coffee in December 2023.
Rehearsal Space Sponsored by
Special Thanks
