From the Director

I first encountered this play at the North Carolina Theatre Conference High School Play Festival about 10 years ago and was struck by how the young student actors fearlessly gave themselves over to both the enthusiastic physical and mature emotional intimacy in this surprisingly dark, funny play. I realize now, after working closely on Cariani’s text with only a slightly older company of students, that the play is so accessible because it is both close to the heart and slightly askew. His centering of these “9 short plays” around moments in the life of love relationships and the socio-cultural expectations surrounding what makes a relationship “good” or “right” or “healthy” is actually an exceedingly familiar trope for this generation of young people: inundated nearly every moment of every day with images, sound bites, the onslaught of influencers, and the relentlessness of other mediated “content” about love and sex, this student company has embraced the play’s themes instinctually and without guile. Because Love/Sick captures the timelessness of familiar relationship patterns, it seems to remain ever in the present. 

 For me, Love/Sick is a play about the joyful, terrible, necessary, inevitable messiness of human connection in the face of societal expectations and self-doubt. It is a celebration of human awkwardness and selfish stupidity; empathy and generosity; fear of failure and embarrassment; loneliness; desire; and our need to be really, truly seen, understood, and valued. It is also, quite simply, a fabulous play for actors: As a celebrated actor himself, Cariani really gets actors and crafts his plays especially for them: his plays contain clear, playable dramatic action but also interesting, inventive moments that give actors a lot of weird, wonderful, quirky strangeness to play with. 

I’m so grateful to have had this brave and skilled company of young performers to work with. They have been “game” every step of the way and have brought so much of themselves to the work.

As always, we are also grateful to you all for your attendance tonight and the time you are giving over to the (relatively) unmediated experience of live theatre. What we do is different and special, and we are excited to share it with you tonight and always. Thanks.

— Director, Dr. Beth Homan


The Blue Masque
The Shuford School of Performing Arts
The Theatre Arts Department

Presents

Love/Sick

 

Written By

John Cariani

with

Mak Petersen

Viper Schenck

Giana Tucciarone

Haley White


Directed by

Dr. Beth Homan

Assistant Directed by

Madison Alwran

Scenic Design

David Pulliam

Costume, Hair & Makeup

Erin Dougherty

Lighting Design

Teresa Greene

Assistant Lighting Design

Luca Narcisco

Sound Design

Zoë Logan and Beth Homan

Cast Members

  • Man, Andy, Bill, Kevin —Mak Petersen 
  • Singing Telegram Man, Ben, Keith, Mark, Jake — Viper Schenck
  • Woman, Celia, Kelly, Jill, Abbie — Giana Tucciarone
  • Louise, Sarah, Liz, Emily — Haley White*

Creative

  • Director — Dr. Beth Homan 
  • Assistant Director — Madison Alwran* 
  • Scenic Design — David Pulliam 
  • Costume/Makeup/Hair Design — Erin Dougherty 
  • Lighting Design — Teresa Greene* 
  • Assistant Lighting Design — Luca Narcisco
  • Props Artisan — Kamora Allen
  • A1/Audio Engineer — Zoë Logan* 

Stage Operations

  • Stage Manager / Propsmaster — Teddy Lepage 
  • Assistant Stage Manager / Props Manager — Skye Sterrett-Spencer*
  • Prop Crew — Adison Schwab*, Malaki White 
  • Lightboard Operator — Grayce Pittman 
  • Wardrobe Manager — Jessica Slapnik 
  • Wardrobe Crew — Oliver Avery, Francine Green-Thomas*
*Denotes membership in Alpha Psi Omega, Alpha Alpha Pi Chapter

Love/Sick is produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service Inc.
440 Park Avenue South New York, NY 10016

Content Warning: This production contains a firearm prop.

The use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs, either with or without flash, is prohibited. Please turn off all electronic devices such as cellular phones, beepers, and watches.

This production of Love/Sick runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.


Scenes

Obsessive Impulsive

Mak Petersen, Giana Tucciarone

The Singing Telegram

Viper Schenck, Haley White
Song “No Lie” by John Cariani; original arrangement by Jeff Theiss & Harvey Valdez.
Backing track created by Zoë Logan; choreography by Viper Schenck.

What?!?

Mak Petersen, Viper Schenck

The Answer

Viper Schenck, Giana Tucciarone

Uh‑Oh

Mak Petersen, Haley White

Lunch and Dinner

Viper Schenck, Giana Tucciarone

Forgot

Mak Petersen, Giana Tucciarone

Sick of This

Giana Tucciarone, Haley White

Destiny

Mak Petersen, Viper Schenck, Giana Tucciarone, Haley White

 

John Cariani
Who is John Cariani?

John Cariani is an actor and a playwright. As an actor, he’s been nominated for a Tony Award® and a couple Grammy Awards®. And most people seem to know him for his roles on TV’s Law & Order,  The Onion News Network, and  Numb3rs.  As a playwright, John is best known for his first play, Almost, Maine, which has become one of the most popular plays in the country and around the world with over 5000 productions to date. His play, LOVE/SICK, has had a few hundred productions around the country and around the world and has been made into a film in Mexico called Enfermo Amor. His other plays, Last Gas and cul-de-sac, are his two favorites and he wishes more people did them.  John is also a novelist. His first novel, Almost, Maine-a novel, was published in 2020 by MacMillan and is now available in paperback.  Originally from Presque Isle, Maine, John lives in the Bronx. (Dramatist Play Service)

Who’s Who — Cast

Mak Peterson Mak Petersen (Man, Andy, Bill, Kevin) (he/him) is a Freshman Musical Theatre major here at Catawba and is thrilled to be in his first show on campus! Throughout high school he performed in shows such as The Mousetrap (Sergeant Trotter), The Little Mermaid (Sebastian), You Can’t Take It With You (Ed Carmichael), and more. Mak also spent this past summer working as an improv actor at a kid’s summer camp. He would like to thank his family and friends for the overwhelming support and hopes that everyone has an amazing time watching Love/Sick!
Viper Schneck
Viper Schneck (Singing Telegram Man, Ben, Keith, Mark, Jake) (they/he) is a Freshman at Catawba College and a part of the BFA Theater Arts program. They graduated from Colgan High School, where they enjoyed working in various positions, including stage manager, choreographer, director, and more. They’re thrilled to be acting in their first college production, and hope you enjoy the show!
Giana Tucciarone
Giana Tucciarone (Woman, Celia, Kelly, Jill, Abbie) (she/her) is excited to be part of this talented cast for her first production with Catawba College. She would like to thank Professor Homan for this amazing opportunity, as well as the cast and crew for kindly welcoming her. Giana has her AFA in Theatre Performance from Central Piedmont Community College and is currently working towards her BFA in Musical Theatre with a minor in Music. Some of her favorite past roles include Lucy Van Pelt in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown  (Theatre Statesville), Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act (The Green Room), The Proprietor in Assassins (Old Colony Players) and Mrs. Winifred Banks in Mary Poppins, Jr. (The Piedmont Players). Thank you for being here. Enjoy the show!
Haley White*
Haley White* (Louise, Sarah, Liz, Emily) (she/her) is a Senior Theatre Arts Administration and Musical Theatre double major. Love/Sick is her fifth show at Catawba College, and her second mainstage show ever! You may have seen her in Natural Shocks (Angela), Alabaster (Alice), Carrie: The Musical (Carrie White), and Breadcrumbs (Beth/Mother). When she is not onstage performing, you are very likely to find her in the Box Office. She is also the Administration lead for Catawba College’s 25-26 Senior Company (performing Goldilocks on Trial in December!), Blue Masque Secretary, a member of Alpha Psi Omega (Catawba’s Theatre Honors Society), and the Theatre Management Studio’s Work Study! She wishes to thank the cast and crew of Love/Sick for allowing her to learn and play with this phenomenal script, her family for pushing her to keep going, and her partner for putting up with her shenanigans and off-the-wall situations. Enjoy this sickeningly sweet performance and Have a Good Day! :) 

Who’s Who — Creative

Madison Alwran Madison Alwran (Assistant Director) (she/her) is a Junior Theatre Arts Administration major, and is absolutely elated to be Assistant Directing Love/Sick! This is her first show as assistant director. She has performed in past Catawba productions such as Carrie The Musical (Carrie White), Alabaster (June), and Jekyll and Hyde (Lucy Harris). She has also served in various technical positions as an Audio Engineer (Spring Awakening, Avenue Q), Sound Designer for Breadcrumbs, and Stage Manager for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. She is incredibly grateful for this opportunity and wishes the cast a wonderful opening!
Teresa Greene Teresa Greene (Lighting Design) (she/her) is a Senior Design and Production major and is thrilled to be the Light Designer for Love/Sick at Catawba College. Previous credits include Disenchanted (ASM & A2) at Lee Street Theatre, The Crucible (Light Designer) with Post Mortem Players, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Dramaturgy) at Catawba College, and Breadcrumbs (Light Designer) at Catawba College.
Luca Narciso Luca Narciso (Lighting Design) (he/him) is a Freshman here at Catawba College. He is very excited to be a part of the team here and is the Assistant Lighting Designer for this production! He hopes that you all enjoy this production as much as he has enjoyed working on it!
Kamora Allen Kamora Allen (Props Artisan) (she/her) is a Freshman at Catawba College, majoring in Theatre Design and Production. She will be responsible for the props for Love/Sick.
Zoë Logan Zoë Logan (A1 / Audio Engineer) (she/her) is a Junior at Catawba College and is studying Theatre Performance. She has participated in productions like A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Titania/Hippolyta), Avenue Q (Gary Coleman), and Carrie: The Musical (Miss Gardener). And while she has worked backstage positions before, she’s thrilled to have been given this new challenge.

Who’s Who — Stage Operations


Teddy Lepage
Teddy Lepage (Stage Manager / Propsmaster) (he/him) is a Sophomore Theatre Arts Design and Production major with a minor in Creative Writing. Love/Sick is Teddy’s first show as a Stage Manager, and he is excited for you to see the final product. He has worked in technical positions such as run crew for Albemarle Ballet Theatre, tech crew for Piedmont Dance Company, and wardrobe crew for Catawba Theatre’s I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Teddy has also performed in other Catawba Theatre productions like No Exit, Carrie: The Musical, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He hopes you enjoy the show!
Skye Sterrett‑Spencer
Skye Sterrett‑Spencer -Spencer (Assistant Stage Manager) (they/them/theirs) is a fourth-year Musical Theatre Major at Catawba College and is incredibly excited to kick off their final year with Love/Sick. While you may have seen them on stage in Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Schmendiman) or heard them singing in Spring Awakening (Melchior), they are delighted to serve behind the scenes as ASM for the first time! As always, Skye would like to thank their family, friends, and fiancé for their continued support and they hope you enjoy the show!
Grayce Pittman
Grayce Pittman (Light Board Operator) (she/her) is a Sophomore Theatre Arts Administration major and is so excited to be helping backstage for another show at Catawba College! You may not have seen her in shows such as "I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” (Assistant Stage Manager) or “Carrie: The Musical” (Run Crew). She also spent her summer at Theatre Charlotte working as their Administration Apprentice! She sincerely hopes that you enjoy this production of “Love/Sick” and thanks you for coming to see the show!
Jessica Slapnik Jessica Slapnik (Wardrobe Manager) (they/them) (who is better known as Jess) is a Sophomore at Catawba. They are a BFA Musical Theatre and a BS Theatre Arts Administration Major, as well as a Dance Minor. Some of their previous acting credits include: Breadcrumbs (Beth/Mother), A Year With Frog and Toad (Turtle), and The Phantom of the Opera (Meg Giry). Their most recent tech credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Wardrobe), A Year With Frog and Toad (Assistant Director), and A Chorus Line (Choreographer). Jess has also recently completed their first paid theatre job, being a cast member at Young Americans on the Midwest Summer Camp Tour. They are so excited to be a part of the wardrobe crew on Love/Sick.
Oliver Avery

Oliver Avery (Wardrobe Crew) (he/him) is a Sophomore Communications Major. Love/Sick is the first show he’s on crew here and will soon be shown in the musical Urinetown. When not in the theatre Oliver loves drawing, listening to music, and spending time with his friends. He’s a part of Blue Masque and is often seen working in the campus library. Oliver thanks his friends and family, and everyone who has supported his love for the theatrical arts.
Francine Green-Thomas Francine Green-Thomas (Wardrobe Crew) (they/them) is a Senior at Catawba College, majoring in Musical Theatre. You may have seen them perform in main stage shows like Carrie: The Musical or Spring Awakening as well as Blue Masque productions like Breadcrumbs or Alabaster. Though they concentrate on performance, Francine has enjoyed participating in tech roles such as Run Crew and designing/styling wigs for The Revolutionists. Francine is excited to be a part of the crew for Love/Sick and hopes that everyone enjoys!
Adison Schwab Adison Schwab (Props Crew) (she/her) is a Theatre Arts student at Catawba College and is excited to be part of Love/Sick. She is grateful for the opportunity to work with such a talented team and would like to thank their friends and family for their continued support.
Malaki White Malaki White (Props Crew) (he/him) Born in Waterloo, Iowa, Malaki White discovered his passion for the performing arts early in life. He relocated to North Carolina during his teenage years, furthering his love for the arts. Now a Senior at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC, Malaki is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater Arts. With a meticulous eye for detail and an organizational knack, Malaki has built a strong foundation in coordinating live theater productions. His experience includes serving as Stage Manager and Director for A Doll’s House, Part 2, where he successfully managed rehearsals, created and maintained detailed production paperwork, and called cues with technical precision to ensure seamless performances. As he prepares to graduate in 2025, Malaki looks forward to bringing his dedication and expertise to the world of professional theater.