Catharsis

This play contains themes of suicide and transphobia.
Remember: you’re never alone. Acceptance is somewhere beyond the closet door

DIRECTOR’S NOTE
Hello all! A quick note before we embark on our adventure:
When I was approached by Link to direct the staged reading of this play, I imagined the
traditional staged reading arrangement: music stands, scripts, and barebones lighting, set, and costumes. After reading the script, I realized that a story of fantastical adventure and magic ought to be much more than that. With Link’s guidance, I set about building the visual landscape of this staged reading (heavy emphasis on the staged) and experimented with this wonderful and generous cast to bring these characters to life. I wanted to break the mold and tell Andi’s story beyond tradition. A story like this is necessary and integral to our current world, deeply personal to trans and non-binary people, and was a story that needed to be told. It is truly a part of our modern folklore, our eternal now, and a light of hope for the future. Without further ado, I warmly welcome you to Lightfell. Enjoy the show!
–Kat Tobits

PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTE
Writing has been something I have done for as long as I can remember. When I was
two-years-old, I would write in scribbles that were my own language until I was taught
how to write properly. From that moment forward, I knew I wanted to create worlds the world hadn’t seen or experienced before. I’ve attempted several mediums of writing, but playwriting seemed to always stick with me. Andi’s story, Catharsis, came to me after facing quite a few complications after coming out. Most of these scenes are based on true events. It’s true I embarked on the journey of creating Lightfell as an attempt to find some light in the dark path I found myself on at nineteen. The reason I present this story today is to help others know they aren’t alone, and so others may not have to go through what I did. I hope trans and non-binary people know there is a place for us in the world of theater, and I will always do my best to write roles that allow trans people to feel comfortable in how they are presented onstage. Thank you for listening to my story, and I hope all of you can find yourself somewhere within these carefully crafted words.

- Link Hagerty

OWAN KEANE-LOMBARDO (they/them) (Andi) is a Theatre
and Performance/Global and English Literature major. They’ve been
performing all their life, most recently in productions of Eurydice
(Nasty Interesting Man/Child), Ride the Cyclone
(Ricky/Jane/Karnak swing & Ensemble), and the 2024 Spring
Crescendos cabaret, and are so incredibly honored to work with this
talented, hardworking, and kind team of performers. They want to
thank their friends from home—their real-life adventuring
party—who never let them go questing alone and remind them what they love about
creating. They want to give special thanks to Raynah, who reminds them what they love about being real, too. Finally, they’d like to thank Link, for giving them the privilege of telling this story as best they can, and for giving them these words to say all the things that they’ve never had the courage to. Their favorite Dungeons & Dragons race is a genasi.

KIM CROSSWAY (she/her) (Melissa) is a THP senior from the
Capital Region who enjoys video games, music, and streams in her
free time. She also works as a Princess Performer for Hill City Ice
Queen Princess Parties. Select Purchase credits include: her senior
project – The Haunting of Campbell House (“Tess”), Ride the
Cyclone (“Jane Doe”), and The Attic (“Samurai/Anchorman”). Other
select credits include: The Pirates of Penzance (“Daughter/Police”)
and Xanadu (“Thalia”). She has also filled many tech-related roles
in other shows on campus, such as set designer (The Haunting of Campbell House) and
stage manager (She Kills Monsters). She would like to thank the cast of this show for
being so kind to her, and especially thank Link and Spencer f

or being so epic. She hopes this is a cathartic experience for the audience!
KAELIN VIERA (she/her) (Rain/Rookie/Bandit 4) is a freshman
theatre and performance and journalism double major from Rhode
Island. She is the recipient of two Ocean State Star Awards for her
portrayal of Queen Aggravain in Once Upon a Mattress at Bishop
Hendricken High School. At Purchase, she has lent her voice to Kill
the Man! (Newscaster) and her sanity to Ride the Cyclone (Ocean,
Dance Captain). Kaelin would like to thank the entire Catharsis team for their dedication and you, reading this, for your support. Enjoy!

LINK HAGERTY (they/he) (Gatekeeper, Producer, Playwright,
Choreographer, Fight/Intimacy Coordinator) is a senior Theatre and
Performance major with a minor in playwriting. Past credits include:
Monty Python’s Spamalot (Lady of the Lake), Macbeth (Banquo),
and Ride the Cyclone (Ricky Potts, Mischa u/s, choreographer);
however, this is their debut as a playwright. They are honored to
share their very first play with all of you. A special thanks to Kat
Tobits for directing this world, Rowan Keane-Lombardo for
stepping into Andi’s robes, and Spencer Scalamoni, their boyfriend, for helping them find their way, and for every member of this team for being their new family. It means the world that they all were willing to bring both sides of this world to life. Link would like to remind everyone that there is a place for everyone in this world - it sometimes takes time to find your people. OH! And thank you for attending the story they’ve created. They couldn’t do it without you. Yes, you. The one reading this… roll initiative.

SPENCER SCALAMONI (he/him) (Lysander) is a senior
Playwriting and Screenwriting Major with a minor in Psychology.
He’s been heard in Kill the Man! (Newscaster) and seen in things
like Ride the Cyclone (Mischa), Rough with Love (Paris), Ordinary
Days (Warren), and Les Miserables (Thenardier). He’d like to thank
the cast for being so fun to play with, and his mom, stepmom, and
dad for teaching him the importance of imagination. Love to all the
people in my corner. You guys keep it cozy here. And of course, a
special shout out to My Boyfriend, The Playwright. I am beyond proud of your world,
and you should be too. It’s unlike any I’ve ever seen. May it thrive in its debut.
OLIVIA SUMMER (she/her) (Snow) is a freshman undeclared
major, who is so excited to be making her CMFT debut. Previous
credits include Carrie: The Musical (Margaret White), Cabaret
(Fraulein Schneider), Ride the Cyclone (Constance) and more. She is
beyond humbled and thrilled to be a part of this beautiful and
brilliant show with some of the most talented and wonderful people
ever. Special shoutout to her mom, Courtney, who has always been
her loudest cheerleader. So much love. 

ALVAREZ PICKETT (they/he) (Jaymie) is a junior
communications major and is incredibly excited to perform.
Previously, he has been in Jekyll & Hyde (Dr. Jekyll), Ride the
Cyclone (Noel Gruber), and Clue (Wadsworth). They’d like to thank
their mother for always supporting him, his strange antics, and
impulsive haircuts for all these years.

MATTHEW LAZZARINO (he/him) (Jacob/Crewmate/Bandit 1)
is a senior Theatre and Performance major and Playwriting minor
from Yardley, PA. He is happy and excited to be a part of this
project. Recently, he has starred in She Kills Monsters (Orcus), The
Attic (Hasegawa) and his Senior Project, Judy’s House
(Oliver/Larry). He would like to thank his family and friends for
always supporting him.

EVERETT CURRIER (they/he) (Ben/Bartender/Captain/Bandit 3)
is a senior double major in Anthropology and Communications. This
will be their first show at Purchase, and they are excited to be part of
this amazing cast! He is also involved with administration in Nerf
Club, is the event coordinator at Game Club, and has read for POV
Fest in 2023 and 2024. In their free time, they produce multiple
forms of media like television, podcasts, and social media content.
He would like to thank the cast and crew for taking a chance on him
and welcoming them to the production with open arms. He also remarked that “Elf
species with Cleric class is the best character type and I can’t be convinced otherwise.”

KIRRY KAUFER (they/them) (Eleanor/Bookkeeper/Librarian/First Mate/Bandit 2) is a senior Creative Writing major who also enjoys theater and performance.
They have been acting since elementary school. Additional Purchase
show credits include She Kills Monsters (Narrator/Farrah/Evil Tina),
The 1st Annual Halloween Cabaret, and The Haunting of Campbell 
House (Gio; Alex u/s). They are also a member of Purchase’s show choir, Crescendo.
Outside of theater, they edit for various literary magazines, including managing
Purchase’s official journal, Italics Mine. Their favorite Dungeons & Dragons races are
tieflings, fairies, and pirates.

LYDIA HARADA (she/her) (Narrator of Stage Directions,
Poster/Program Design) is a sophomore Communications major.
She has been seen in Ride the Cyclone (Karnak) and made programs
for Ride the Cyclone (incl. poster design) and The Haunting of
Campbell House. You can also find her on YouTube as Lydia
Valentino. Lydia would like to thank her incredible castmates, whose
awe-inspiring talent regularly brings tears to her eyes. It feels like a
privilege and a blessing to be in your orbits – especially Link, who
has been the best mentor I could have ever asked for in my time at Purchase. We’re part of the family.

KAT TOBITS (she/her) (Director) is a junior Theatre and
Performance major from Readsboro, VT. Past directing credits
include How to Defend Yourself (AD), Kill the Man!, Leaving, and
most recently, The Haunting of Campbell House. She’d like to offer
her love and thanks to the wonderful cast and crew of Catharsis, and
to her family and friends for their love and support!

AIDAN MITCHELL (he/him) (Stage Manager) is a freshman Arts
Management & Theatre and Performance double major. He has been
doing theatre since freshman year of high school. High school show
credits include ¡Bocón! (Sound Designer), Frozen: The Broadway
Musical (Scenic Tech), The Old Man and The Old Moon (Musician),
Puf s (Ernie Mac/2nd Headmaster Seamus/A Very Tall
Man/Professor Locky). He also loves playing music and creating art
with friends. His favorite Dungeons & Dragons races are elves,
dragonborns, and mountain dwarves.

NOEL HOLMGREN (they/them) (Sound Design) is a 2023
Purchase alum who graduated with a BA in Theatre and
Performance with minors in playwriting and arts management.
Select credits include The Haunting of Campbell House (Sound
Designer/Operator), Ride the Cyclone (Sound Director), Just a Little
Anxious (“Taylor”), and She Kills Monsters (Director). Noel would
like to thank their mom; Link, and the rest of the cast and crew for
this opportunity and for all their hard work put into this project!