Wedlock

of the
Gods
By Zulu Sofola
Bing Theatre
September 29–October 2, 2022
presents

Wedlock of the Gods

By Zulu Sofola
With
Dara Adedara Levonte Herbert
Dami Adeyina Olivia Nicholson
Jordan Anderson Shyhiem Parker
Nia Baker Landon Robinson
Jordan Cooper Maya Sta. Ana
KJ Dawson John Stephens
Mylah Eaton Summer Young
Corey Gifft
Scenic Design Costume Design
Selby Souza Ann Closs-Farley and MJ Adamson
BFA Design, Junior
Lighting Design Sound Design
Brandon Baruch Renata Finamore
BFA Design, Junior

Stage Manager Technical Director Choreography

Marcus Maia Lizzy Lourenco Shannon Grayson
BFA Stage Management, Junior BFA Design, Junior

Directed by Bayo Akinfemi

Bing Theatre
September 29–October 2, 2022

Produced by special arrangement with Zulu Sofola Productions LLC for The Zulu Sofola Estate.
CAST (In alphabetical order)

Dara Adedara Dami Adeyina Jordan Anderson Nia Baker

Odibei Anwasia Okolie Nneka
B.A., Emphasis in Acting, Senior B.A., Emphasis in Acting, BFA Acting for Stage, Screen Bachelor of Arts, Junior
Sophomore & New Media, Sophomore

Jordan Cooper KJ Dawson Mylah Eaton Corey Gifft

Ogoli Diokpa Ata Ensemble Ike
BFA Acting for Stage, Screen BFA Acting for Stage, Screen B.A., Emphasis in Acting, B.A., Emphasis in Acting,
& New Media, Sophomore & New Media, Sophomore Senior Junior

Levonte Herbert Olivia Nicholson Shyhiem Parker Landon Robinson

Ibekwe Ensemble, u/s Ogwama Uloko, u/s Ibekwe Ensemble, u/s Diokpa Ata,Udo,Ike
MFA in Acting, Year 3 Bachelor of Arts, Senior MFA Acting, Year 3 BFA Acting for Stage, Screen
& New Media, Sophomore

Maya Sta. Ana John Stephens Summer Young

Otubo Udo, u/s Uloko Ogwoma
BFA Acting for Stage, Screen MFA in Acting, ’22 MFA in Acting, Year 3
& New Media, Sophomore
Wedlock of the Gods

This production is performed without an intermission.

PLEASE NOTE
Please be advised that this production contains depictions of
self-harm, pregnancy, suicide and blood, as well as suggestions of
violence. This production also contains the use of theatrical haze.

ADDITIONAL WEDLOCK OF THE GODS PRODUCTION STAFF

Musicians Dr. Adekunle Pinmiloye (K Sticks),
Samson Olawale, Festus Abiola, Tolu Bankole
Vocal/Dialect Coach Peter Marciano | Intimacy Director
Margaret Kemp | Assistant Stage Manager Hannah Baker
Stage Management Mentor Scott Faris | Scenic Design
Assistant Maya Channer | Costume Assistant JJ Javier
Hair & Makeup Consultant Gary Domasin | Sound Design
Mentor Phil Allen | Assistant Technical Director Alex Muir
Technical Director Mentor Duncan Mahoney
Technical Crew Dario Alatorre, Sun Jin, Ethan Kaiser,
Collette McCurdy, Lillian Mollo, Alex Muir,
Emily Nobel, Adrian Quinonez, Virginia Richardson,
Victor Robb Martin, Riley Skinner, Jakob Alon Tatoy,
Stefan Vujnovic, Presley Wexelman, Glen Wong
 NOTE FROM THE ARTISTIC TEAM

Set in nineteenth century mid- Zulu’s fifteen published plays tackle

western Nigeria, the thematic injustice, corruption, inequality,
pre-occupations of Wedlock of and other societal ills. This
the Gods is still as relevant today. production of Wedlock of the Gods
Written by Zulu Sofola; Africa’s underlines gender inequality as
first female Professor of Theatre one of the topical issues plaguing
Arts and a true embodiment of the American society where its
essence of African womanhood, manifestations take different forms
the play advances an unflinching in gender pay gap and reproduction
critique of the inequitable rights amongst others.
treatment of women within a
society. It questions an oppressive Our gratitude also goes to the Zulu
tradition that reduces women Sofola family for collaborating
to chattels and challenges a with the USC School of Dramatic
burdensome patriarchal belief Arts to make this project a reality.
that “a man’s daughter is his To our audience, particularly the
source of wealth.” Nigerian community and Africans
in the Diaspora, thank you for your
Zulu Sofola—popularly known by support.
her students as “Mama”—enjoyed
the enviable distinction of being
the matriarch of Nigerian theatre.
She was a celebrated international
scholar, a prolific theatre director,
and the first female head of a
theatre arts department in Africa:
The Performing Arts Department of
the University of Ilorin, Nigeria.
DEAN PROFESSORS OF THEATRE PRACTICE
Emily Roxworthy Philip G. Allen
(Director of Sound Design)
VICE DEAN Brent Blair
Lori Ray Fisher (Director of Theatre & Social Change)
Kate Burton
ASSOCIATE DEANS Paula Cizmar
Professor of Theatre Practice Elsbeth M. Collins
Anita Dashiell-Sparks (Chair of Production & Stage Management)
(Vice Chair of Performance, Joseph Hacker
George Burns Professor of Theatre) Duncan Mahoney
Professor Oliver Mayer (Technical Director)
(Director of MFA Dramatic Writing Program) Kenneth Noel Mitchell
(Director of Musical Theatre)
DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORS Natsuko Ohama
Velina Hasu Houston Michele Shay
(Resident Playwright) (Chair of Performance)
Stephanie Shroyer
PROFESSORS
David Warshofsky
Sharon Marie Carnicke (Director of MFA Acting, McKinlay Chair)
Meiling Cheng
Colman Domingo ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS
OF THEATRE PRACTICE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS John DeMita
Luis Alfaro Kathleen Dunn-Muzingo
Takeshi Kata Melinda C. Finberg
(Chair of Design) Laura Flanagan
Sibyl Wickersheimer
ASSISTANT PROFESSORS
ASSISTANT PROFESSORS OF THEATRE PRACTICE
Alexandra Billings Boni B. Alvarez
Esther K. Chae Bayo Akinfemi
Ann Closs-Farley Kirstin Eggers
Elizabeth Harper Scott Faris
Samantha C. Jones (Alice M. Pollitt Professor of Stage Management)
Noel Nichols Stevie Johnson
Rena M. Heinrich
(Chair of Critical Studies & Dramatic Writing,
Chair of Literary Committee)
Dan Shaner
(Director of Professional Development)
Zachary Steel
(Director of Comedy)
Rodney To

ADJUNCT LECTURERS AND PART-TIME FACULTY

Emily Alpren, Robert Bailey, Christopher Bange, Ahmed Best, Mallory Birkrem, Danyé Brown,
Tom Buderwitz, Heather Carson, Frank Catalano, Julián Juaquín Conde, Jeff Crockett, Tim Dang,
Gregg T. Daniel, Debra De Liso, Shammy Dee, Amrita Dhaliwal, Gary Domasin, Kathryn Dunn,
Wayne Federman, Matthew Felton, Laurie Fisher, Lena Ford, Jenny Guthrie, Mireya Hepner, MaryAnn Hu,
Paul Hungerford, Nicholas Hussong, Edgar Landa, Erik Liberman, Carvens Lissaint, Anthony Lucca,
Paul Marciano, Babette Markus, Kevin McCorkle, Matthew Montgomery, Patrick Murphy,
Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Jeremiah O’Brian, Stephanie Petagno, Kosta Potamianos, Tomm Polos,
Andy Robinson, Abdul Hamid Royal, Sheri Sanders, Pablo Santiago, Gabriella Santinelli, Sim Sarna,
Kenneth Sawyer, Nathan W. Scheuer, Judith Shelton, Tessa Slovis, Camille Thornton-Alson, Paul Urcioli,
Stephen Zuckerman, Sabina Zuniga Varela
Emeriti Faculty: Don Llewellyn, Eve Roberts, Andy Robinson, Eric Trules, James Wilson
BOARD OF COUNCILORS STAFF
Michele Dedeaux Engemann ADMISSIONS & STUDENT SERVICES
Founding Chair Associate Dean Sergio Ramirez
Joshua B. Grode Assistant Director of Admissions Ramón Valdez
Chair Academic Advisors Aspen Cole, Sarah Oh
Chris Andrews Office Manager Mabel Lopez
Lorrie Bartlett ADVANCEMENT
Todd Black Associate Dean Sara Fousekis
Lauren Booth Director of Development Kimberly Muhlbach
Connie Britton Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations Alfred Magallanes
Michael Chiklis Director of Fundraising Special Initiatives Marissa Gonzalez
Megan Colligan Advancement Coordinator Kathy Morgan
Michael Felix
BUSINESS AFFAIRS
Brad Fuller
Associate Dean Kalief Washington
Lori Furie
Department Business Administrator
Kourosh Gohar
& Home Department Coordinator Crystal Balthrop
Grant Heslov
Gary Lask COMMUNICATIONS
Franklin Leonard Associate Dean Delphine Vasko
Alexander LoCasale Content Marketing Manager Geoffrey Waring
Dr. Steven Nagelberg Graphic Designer Christopher Komuro
Byron Pollitt Communications Assistant Faith Flippen
Rik Reppe
DEANS’ OFFICE
Dean Emily Roxworthy
Information Technology Director Prakash Shirke
Linda Bernstein Rubin
Director of Internships & Special Programs Meghan Laughlin
Canthy Sandrich Gelfond
Events Manager Jennifer Franco
Anthony Sparks Conservatory Coordinator & Director of the Office of Equity,
Rik Toulon Diversity and Inclusion Chevaughan Dyer
Tracy Tutor Executive Assistant to the Dean & Vice Dean Nathalie Zuletta
Blair Underwood Medical Clowning Program Coordinator Chae Chaput
Paula Wagner Industry Liaisons Ally Beans, Daryl Eisenberg
Noelle L. Wolf
PRODUCTION
ALUMNI LEADERSHIP Associate Production Manager Leia Crawford
COUNCIL Theatre Manager Michael Latimer
Assistant Technical Directors Michael Etzrodt, Donavan Martinelli
Tomm Polos
Chair Properties Manager Hannah Burnham
Scenic Charge Artist Bessie M. Lebeda
Adrienne Visnic
Asst. Theatre Managers Christopher Paci, Joe Shea
Vice Chair
Costume Shop Manager Howard Schmitt
Taylor Allen Costume Technicians Carissa Dickerson, Charlotte Stratton
Adam Blumenthal
Kate Cannova
John Coffey ABOUT THE SCHOOL
David Fickas
Lorena Estefania Gonzalez The USC School of Dramatic Arts fosters the talents of artist-
Kendall Johnson scholars who are dramatically different—who are willing
Jaclyn Kalkhurst to imagine the future of the entertainment industry and
JP Karliak bring it to life. Through an interdisciplinary, entrepreneurial
Sean Lask education students develop the skills necessary to discover
Alex LoCasale their unique voice and are exposed to diverse styles and
Elizabeth O’Connell Gerberg multiple media. Students and recent alumni are supported by
Mona Raffle
the School’s unique Professional Development Center which
Michael Schwartz
Pranav Shah offers career services and professionalization opportunities
John Villacorta to help students establish and sustain successful careers as
creators, performers and cultural innovators.
For more information, please visit dramaticarts.usc.edu.
SUPPORTERS OF DRAMATIC ARTS
The USC School of Dramatic Arts would like to recognize the generosity of the following individuals and
organizations who have supported the School over the past year towards core programs such as production,
professional development, scholarship, Dean’s Strategic Fund and our new Drama Center. We recognize at the
visionary level those donors whose tremendous generosity has reached the cumulative giving level of $1 million+.
Their extraordinary commitment has built the foundation for our continued ascent and future achievements.

VISIONARY CIRCLE Pamela & Mark Litvack* PATRONS

Anonymous* (4) LoCasale Consulting, Inc.* Clara Y. Bingham
Dr. & Mrs. Peter Bing and the Michael & Melissa Meyers* & Joe G. Finnerty III
Anna H. Bing Living Trust The Polos Family Lynn Hunt-Gray
Lauren & Mark Booth* Karyn & Paul Staubi* & Robert O. Gray Sr.
Victoire & Owsley Brown III* Dennis Cornell Lenahan
George N. Burns Trust EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Roger & Michele Dedeaux Adam Blumenthal* ANGELS
Engemann* Legendary Anonymous
Katherine B. Loker Alexander & Megan LoCasale* Jonathan & Adrienne Anderle
Martin Massman Trust R. Sally Watt Oxley & Howard Oxley Emanuel Bachmann Foundation
Robert & Elizabeth Plumleigh Danny Strong — In Memory of
—In Memory of Adrienne Visnic* Emanuel O. Bachmann, B.S. 1932
Karen Plumleigh Cortney* Yvonne M. Bogdanovich
PRODUCERS Parvesh Cheena
Alice, Teresa & Byron Pollitt
Anonymous (3) Scot & Wendy Claus
DEAN’S CIRCLE The Bryan Family Els Collins
Anonymous* (2) Kate & Joe Cannova Freddie & Andrea Fenster
The Auen Foundation EPIX Entertainment, LLC James Fousekis
Rama Backer* Brad & Ally Fuller Jenifer Glagowski
The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Melvin & Doris Hughes Amy Landecker & Bradley Whitford
Foundation * Kam & Joe Patton LATC
Steve & Jerri Nagelberg* The Phil Allen John C. McGinley
Richard & Diane Weinberg* Mentorship Scholarship Scott S. Mullet & Jenelle Anne
Rik Reppe Marsh-Mullet
PATRONS OF TRIBUTE Dr. Willa Olsen
Anonymous* DIRECTORS
Mary Reveles Pallares
Albert and Bessie Warner Fund Chris & Jennifer Andrews
Madeline Puzo
Joan Beber Grant Fund of the Lorrie A. Bartlett
— In Honor of Lori Fisher
Jewish Community Foundation* Randolph & Ellen Beatty
Deirdre O’Connor Quinn
The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Todd S. Black
& Patrick Quinn
Foundation & Ruth Graham Black
Brian Sacca
Michael & Debbie Felix* MaryLou O. Boone
Michael Charles Solomon
Vida & Kourosh Gohar* John D. & Leslie Henner Burns
Abe & Annika Somer
Marilou & Mark Hamill Family* Family Foundation
Marissa Stahl
Carla & Bill Pelster* Michael & Michelle Chiklis
Susan Shetter
Linda Bernstein Rubin The Michael S. Engl
Jeff & Cathie Thermond
& Tony Rubin* Family Foundation
Drs. Kellie Yoon & Stephen Treiman
Sumner & Angela Erdman
Yingping Zou & Hok Yau
SEASON SPONSORS Kristin Fontes
Anonymous The Heslov Family
Connie Britton Gary & Karen Lask
DeAnna & Michael Colglazier* Jan & Mike MacDougal
Christine & Gabriel Dassa* Christine Marie Ofiesh
The Megan & Larry Foley Anthony Sparks, Ph.D.
Foundation & Professor Anita Dashiell-Sparks
Lori & Simon Furie Rik Toulon
Kristin & Warren Geller* John Villacorta
Perry C. Hoffmeister James & Leslie Visnic
& Hilary C. Hoffmeister* *Represents multi-year pledge

We hope you will consider becoming a member. For more information about giving to the
School of Dramatic Arts, please contact Sara Fousekis at 213-821-4047 or [email protected].
 Season of Plays
SDA22/23
Wedlock of the Gods The Aliens Urinetown
By Zulu Sofola By Annie Baker Music by Mark Hollman
BT Sept 29-Oct 2, 2022 KDT Nov 10-12, 2022 Lyrics by Mark Hollmann
and Greg Kotis
Nora: A Doll’s House The Conduct of Life Book by Greg Kotis
By Stef Smith By María Irene Fornés BT Mar 30-Apr 5, 2023
SDT Oct 6-12, 2022 KDT Nov 17-19, 2022
The Belle’s
Carrie: The Musical we, the invisibles Stratagem
Music by Michael Gore By Susan Soon He Stanton By Hannah Cowley
Lyrics by Dean Pitchford SDT Nov 10-20, 2022 SDT Apr 6-9, 2023
Book by Lawrence D. Cohen
Based on the novel by Passage MFA Dramatic
Stephen King By Christopher Chen
MT Oct 6-9, 2022 MT Nov 17-20, 2022 Writing Year 2
New Works Festival
Into the Woods Buried Child Apr 6-9, 2023
Music and Lyrics By Sam Shepard
by Stephen Sondheim SDT Jan 26–30, 2023 MFA Dramatic
Book by James Lapine Writing Year 3
BT Oct 27-Nov 3, 2022 The Winter’s Tale
By William Shakespeare New Works Festival
Wintertime BT Feb 23-26, 2023 MT Apr 20-27, 2023
By Charles L. Mee
MT Oct 27-30, 2022 Company
Music and Lyrics
by Stephen Sondheim
Book by George Furth
BT Apr 20-26, 2023

KEY: SDT = Scene Dock Theatre / BT = Bing Theatre / MT = McClintock Theatre / KDT = Kirk Douglas Theatre

For more information about our shows, visit

J dramaticarts.usc.edu
Plays:
General $17, USC Students/Faculty/Staff with ID $10
Musicals:
General $22, USC Students/Faculty/Staff with ID $15