The Unspoken Word Collection

Includes discussion of violence and sexual assault; includes loud sounds such as gunshots and screams; includes visible blood effects

2 Pimp A Caterpillar is a solo show performed and written by Abel Santiago, all in spoken word which details the intensity that many black and brown men go through. You will see 4 different men in different stages of their life dealing with their own individual problems, all trying to come to terms with how they grieve in their own way. A tribute 2 many victims of gun violence, mass incarceration, the loss of fatherhood, and the loss of expressing yourself as many black/brown men do. Most of the story will consist of first-hand experiences growing up in a low-income community witnessing one’s own loss of emotional connection 2 fatherhood and what leads to that.

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Alienated is a culmination of my perspective on US Immigration Policy as a Queer Latinx DACA immigrant, and the ongoing conversation on “citizenship.” What does it mean to be a citizen? Who are really the aliens here? What are the limits of borders? Through an exploration of multiple identities, we take you through a maze of characters that interrogate these questions and more.

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When an injustice against a woman’s sexuality, consent, and physical safety takes place, it is not the event itself that causes the most harm to a woman, but the internal damage that occurs afterwards. Recollecting the broken and lingering pieces that have been robbed from Her is the most difficult part. Disgusting Is My Middle Name tells the story of the unraveling of a woman’s healing process after she has been sexually assaulted. Through trial and error, relapse, blood, tears, and untapped potential— does she have the power to heal herself again?

Milan Castro is a junior director at SUNY Purchase. Disgusting Is My Middle Name is Milan’s film theatre debut. Based in Brooklyn, Milan’s work unveils the complexities of the human condition. Using the stage as a magnifying glass, the pieces she makes question life outside of the theatre, and our roles in them. Her past credits on campus include Springtime (Director) and Dance Nation (assistant director). Her upcoming project is A Walrus In The Body Of A Crocodile,opening Fall 2021. Milan would like to thank her family, friends, and God for their endless love, support, and encouragement on her journey into directing. She would also love to thank Amanda for her work, her passion, and her heart in this process. Milan is grateful to have been a part of a show that seeks out truth, healing, and power in the way Disgusting has. She would like to dedicate this project to the survivors, we are forever in awe by you.Instagram Handle: @callmebbydoll

Oliver Copeland is a sophomore theatre student with an interest in the backstage components of performance and this is the fifth show that he has worked as a stage manager on. On the side, he has recently gotten accustomed to tools in the school woodshop and would like to further pursue set design and woodworking. He would like to thank all of the collaborators and creators of this project for bringing him on to this venture. Special thanks to Hannah Peterson, Peter Sprauge, and Nic Forero.

Richie Davis is from the Bronx, NY. He is a senior at SUNY Purchase. His major is Theatre and Performance with a concentration in directing. He is also a film actor and a model with a love for the arts. He will be directing “2 Pimp a Caterpillar” written and performed by Abel Santiago. This play is filled with truth, pain, humor and based on a true story. A really dope and amazing play and he can’t wait for people to see it.

Erin Michelitsch is a Purchase alumni from 2019 and works mainly as a photographer and writer based in New York City and on Long Island. Her background is in theater and film / TV, and she’s worked on multiple projects on and off Broadway and in film for tech and design. For more of her work, you can find her on Instagram @erinmichelitsch. She’s thrilled to be able to work for such a great company and production. She would like to especially thank Veronica, not only for allowing her to take part in such profound work, but for writing such an important, poetic, brilliant piece. The world certainly needs more of Veronica, and she can’t wait to watch that happen.

Veronica Ryzio is an actor, writer, and style icon from Queens, NY. Her work seeks to make space for marginalized communities and amplify non hegemonic voices. As a First Generation Queer Latinx Undocumented DACA Immigrant, Ryzio is passionate about using theatre and storytelling as a vehicle for social transformation and to ignite a flame. “In a world that constantly attempts to erase the intersectionalities of my identity, I choose to be visible. I choose to be radically rebellious. I choose to be an actor.” Ryzio will graduate with her BA in Theatre and Performance from Purchase College in May 2021. She is a recipient of the 2021 President’s Award for Achievement: The Abbott Kaplan Award. Past credits include Purgatorio Wonderland (Poet), Short Eyes (Mr. Nett), Men on Boats (Goodman), and Twelfth Night (Olivia). Gracias mami y papi por su inmenso apoyo and to my incredibly wonderful partner for putting up with the Aries shenanigans. THE BEST IS YET TO COME! #AbolishICE IG: @vryzio

Abel Santiago is a senior at Purchase College who is a poet, playwright, actor and music curator. He will be getting his Masters in Acting at The Old Globe program this upcoming fall and is excited to continue to work as an actor. Abel strives to always bring poetry and his love for hip hop into everything he does, this show is just the stepping stone to that method. He is excited to showcase this beautiful piece of poetic work coming from his own experience. He would like to thank his mentors at EPIC, his director Richie, and Purchase College for allowing such beautiful work to happen.

Amanda Santiago is an actor, performing artist, playwright, spoken word poet, and Universal Creator and Destroyer. Based in Bushwick NY, her approach to art is rooted in her metaphysical experiences and deep connection with the Collective. Amanda strives to develop more work that is hardly ever seen or spoken about in the world of theatre and film, whether it be through the lens of evolving identity, unhealed trauma, individual battles or collective injustices. Amanda has completed her studies at LaGuardia Community College with the experienced training of Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival, and will soon graduate with her BA in Theatre and Performance in May 2021. She plans to continue her explorations in her writing and acting craft by becoming a vessel for the disembodied and a voice for the voiceless. Amanda is grateful for the women in her life, who have overcome incredible obstacles through perseverance. She says, “I could not have done this without all of you.”  IG Handle: @POISONAMANDA

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Unheard Voices Productions is a Brooklyn-based film/theater company run by former CUNY students. At UVP we want to create content that represents BIOPIC in their eternity. We want to shed light on the voices that are unheard through multimedia content of all different genres. We want to become the hub where those voices are free to speak their mind. Whether it’s through film, theater, music, or dance coming together to produce art that will set someone onto their purpose in life is what we live for. We want to create opportunities made by students, for students. We would like to thank The Unspoken Word Collection for giving us the platform to do so. They will be forever in our soul. Follow us on our journey: Instagram Handle: @Unheardvoicesproductions
Facebook: Unheard Voices Productions
Youtube: Unheard Voices Productions

Justyn Candelaria is a recent Queens College Graduate. He works full time as an Assistant Manager at Gamestop. He is a Freelance Director, Writer, and Film Editor when he is not helping his customers at his store. He is also the co-host and editor of his very own Podcast “The Saturday Morning Superman Show”, a local podcast brought to the community by him and the creator, @Sherbertdowneyjr on instagram. A podcast that discusses the love of both Justyn and Steven’s love for the Man of Steel across generations, sponsored by Royal Collectibles comic shop located in Forest Hills, NY. He is extremely thankful for the opportunity to work on this project and with the wonderful talent involved with it. He can see a bright future in the industry for everyone involved.  Instagram Handle: @the_real_king_in_black
Podcast Instagram Handle: @thesaturdaymorningsupermanshow

Una Bharat is a sophomore at Purchase College as an Arts Management major. She is founder and CEO of Brooklyn-based film/theater production company, Unheard Voices Productions. She is a former ballet dancer tackling the world of producing theater and film. She is incredibly thankful to The Unspoken Word Collection for allowing UVP to be able to produce such rich, intense, and beautiful arts. It was a blessing to be a part of this group. For every single piece, she was mesmerized by the collaboration and unity between each group. She can’t wait to see Abel, Veronica, and Amanda fulfil their endeavors.
Instagram Handle: @una.dos.tres

Zach Walker is a budding cinematographer hailing from the Bronx, New York City but based in all five boroughs of New York City. It’s his ultimate goal to show the world beautiful visuals. Though theater isn’t his medium, he is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate on this project to create amazing visuals. He can be reached on social media via @younggodicarus for photography and videography inquires.