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The Forge Theater Lab, in residence at Fitchburg State University, develops new plays that ignite passionate conversations. Our first season began in December 2018 with Generations, a night of short plays by ten writers, and continued in 2019 with Draft House, four staged readings of plays in progress. The journey continues with Season Two, two full productions plus two staged readings.
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Kevin Boudreau in ON OUR TERMS by Mary Darling.
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The Staff
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Artistic Director Samantha deManbey is a founding member of The Forge Theater Lab. She was a director, stage manager, and sound designer for our kickoff event Generations, which featured her short play “Pipe Dream.” Her play Shadows in the Cave was developed in March as part of our first Draft House series, for which she also directed Chasing the Ghost and acted in The Lowell Offering. DeManbey graduated from FSU in 2011 with a dual degree in theater and film/video. Her one-act The Playwright was performed at FSU in 2010, and her dark comedy Fausted premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2015. She is also a freelance filmmaker who shoots and edits all of The Forge's promotional videos; see more of her film work at scdemanbey.com.
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Joanna Karamanou, Samantha deManbey, and Jack Crory in a staged reading of THE LOWELL OFFERING by Andy Bayiates and Genevra Gallo-Bayiates.
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Managing Director Jack Crory has produced or co-produced all of The Forge's productions. In the past he has produced and/or directed shows for Lonesome Coyote Theater, Theatre Omnibus, Fitchburg State University MainStage, Fitchburg Theater Company, Boston Actors' Theater, Playwrights' Platform, and the Cannon Theater.
Marketing Associate Brittany Messuri graduated from FSU in May 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Communications Media and double concentration in photography and theater. She most recently played Madeline in The Women of Lockerbie at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and appeared in The Forge’s staged readings of Chasing the Ghost and Good Grief. She will appear as Patty in the premiere of Chasing the Ghost. See her photography at brittanymessuri.com.
Literary Manager Erik Nikander has been working with The Forge Theater Lab practically since its inception. Most recently, he took part in Draft House as a dramaturg and Generations as a writer and director (for “27” and “Copley,” respectively). Erik is also an Artistic Associate at NewYorkRep, and has worked as a dramaturg and script reader for local companies such as the Nora Theatre Company and Fresh Ink Theatre. His theater criticism can be read in The Arts Fuse and HowlRound. For more information, please visit his website at eriknikander.com.
Season 2 Graphic Designer Monique Guthrie won The Forge's logo design contest and creates the posters and graphics to promote our events. At FSU she studied graphic design and professional communication. Monique has created designs for the Fitchburg Art Museum, FSU Mainstage, and Strong Style Coffee. She specializes in designing logos, t-shirts, tattoos, posters, and brand identity. Check out her digital portfolio at moniqueguthrie.com.
Marketing Associate Brittany Messuri graduated from FSU in May 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Communications Media and double concentration in photography and theater. She most recently played Madeline in The Women of Lockerbie at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and appeared in The Forge’s staged readings of Chasing the Ghost and Good Grief. She will appear as Patty in the premiere of Chasing the Ghost. See her photography at brittanymessuri.com.
Literary Manager Erik Nikander has been working with The Forge Theater Lab practically since its inception. Most recently, he took part in Draft House as a dramaturg and Generations as a writer and director (for “27” and “Copley,” respectively). Erik is also an Artistic Associate at NewYorkRep, and has worked as a dramaturg and script reader for local companies such as the Nora Theatre Company and Fresh Ink Theatre. His theater criticism can be read in The Arts Fuse and HowlRound. For more information, please visit his website at eriknikander.com.
Season 2 Graphic Designer Monique Guthrie won The Forge's logo design contest and creates the posters and graphics to promote our events. At FSU she studied graphic design and professional communication. Monique has created designs for the Fitchburg Art Museum, FSU Mainstage, and Strong Style Coffee. She specializes in designing logos, t-shirts, tattoos, posters, and brand identity. Check out her digital portfolio at moniqueguthrie.com.
Joanna Karamanou in a staged reading of THE LOWELL OFFERING by Andy Bayiates and Genevra Gallo-Bayiates.
Andy Bayiates and Kelly Stowell in rehearsal.
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The Founding Group
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The Forge Theater Lab was founded by a "start-up group" of Fitchburg State University alumni, convened by an open invitation from professor Kelly Morgan in April 2018. Over a series of six meetings, this group decided on the initial mission, vision, and core values for the company; wrote its bylaws; and selected the plays to be performed in the kickoff event Generations.
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Founder Kelly Morgan
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