Teacher learns new lessons at end of life

By STU CLAMPITT
news@readthereporter.com

Main Street Productions (MSP) is staging a play about a cancer patient who learns to embrace life and become a better person. Wit will be on stage at Basile Westfield Playhouse, 220 N. Union St., from May 29 through June 8.

The Reporter reached out to Co-Directors Eric Bryant and Becky Schlomann to talk about the play, the journey it will take audiences on, and how simply by buying a ticket you can help with cancer awareness, education, and advocacy in Indiana.

“I originally read this play as part of a classroom project many years ago and what really stood out to me was the overarching theme of humanity in the place,” Bryant said. “The main character we find out within the first few minutes is being treated for Stage IV ovarian cancer and that she is not going to make it. This is all something that is discussed right up front. The play then becomes about her ability to come to grips with being cared for and to make connections with other human beings.”

Co-Director Becky Schlomann said this story has multiple lessons to teach.

“This play is about many things, but one that’s meaningful for me is the journey that the main character, Vivian (played by Beverly Roche), goes on,” Schlomann said. “She has a hard time asking for help and appearing vulnerable. I think a lot of us can relate to that. But finally, at the very end of her life, Vivian allows herself to be seen as fallible, as human. She’s truly present with her doctor (Connor Phelan) and her nurse (Becca Bartley). She’s able to greet death having had this deep experience of connection. That discovery is powerful to watch.”

The main character, Vivian, is a professor of 17th century poetry specializing in the work of John Donne, who is famous for writing the poem “Death be not proud.”

“She is far from what you would normally consider a professor of poetry to be like,” Bryant said. “She is uncompromising. She is not touchy-feely at all. She sort of hides behind this veneer of academic success and ambition to keep other people at bay.”

According to Bryant, Wit will also bring audiences a fair number of laughs.

“The one thing I find really unique about this play is that even though it deals with a very heavy subject it does so with a lot of humor,” Bryant said. “It’s quite funny in many places and it also takes a pretty hard – and not necessarily positive – view of the medical profession. Although I don’t think that it’s an indictment of the medical profession, I think it serves as a plot device for her to see her own personality reflected back to her in the form of these doctors who are interested in her as primarily research.”

The other thing Bryant finds unique about this play, given the subject matter, is that it is not maudlin.

“It doesn’t try to cast the main character Vivian as anything but kind of unsympathetic,” Bryant said. “We start to identify with her toward the end of the play and certainly watching her journey is challenging and we see her change and progress, but it’s not done in an overly sentimental or maudlin fashion.”

Given the subject matter of this play, the medical terminology, and the frank discussion of anatomy, MSP recommends this show for audiences age 16 and over.

“This is a play that at its core is about humanity and human connection. Even though it is about a very difficult subject matter, it’s very uplifting at the end,” Bryant said.

On Sunday, June 1, there will be an opportunity for the audience to talk to members of the cast and special guests at the playhouse.

“We are going to have some people there to discuss not just ovarian cancer, but also Brooke Conti is going to be in town to talk about the poetry of John Donne,” Bryant said. “We’re also going to have a few actors on stage to answer any questions that the audience might have.”

“Thanks to the generous contribution from Frank and Katrina Basile, Main Street Productions can afford to do lesser-known but important shows such as Wit,” MSP Business VP Bill Miller said.

Photos by Duane Mercier

CAST BIOS

BEVERLY ROCHE (VIVIAN BEARING, PH.D.) Beverly is an actor, director, puppeteer, mime, and teaching artist. Favorite acting roles include Betty in Women’s Work (Betty Rage Productions/Indy Fringe), Celeste in The Mutilated (NoExit Performance), Lille Ann in Barbecue (The Phoenix Theatre), Maria Lauletta in Triangle (Ben Asaykwee and ReAct Theatre), Galinthias and Hippolyta in Mad, Mad Hercules (Zach & Zack/NoExit Performance), The Mother Showman in Venus (NoExit Performance). She adapted and directed Orgasmo Adulto Escapes From the Zoo by Franca Rame (NoExit Performance/Indy Fringe) which won the Spirit of the Fringe Award. As a member of NoExit Performance, she appeared in many of their productions and contributed to their highly theatrical productions as an actor, puppeteer, mask-maker, and painter. Her puppets appeared in Catalyst Theatre’s M. Beverly is a teaching artist with Arts for Learning, Artmix Indiana, and coordinates the education program at the Fonseca Theatre Co. Beverly is part of the current cohort of Creative Renewal Fellows, awarded by IndyArts Council, and received a Christel DeHaan Fellowship for Accessible Arts which she will use to study clowning and physical theatre with PUSH theatre in Rochester, New York this summer. Thank you, Eric and Becky and the entire cast and crew for this extraordinary opportunity.

MARK KAMISH (HARVEY KELEKIAN, M.D. & MR. BEARING) Mark is honored to be part of the Wit cast and creative team. He hopes our production of this Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about life, death, and the comma in between stays with you after leaving the theater today. Mark was on the Basile Westfield Playhouse stage last season as James Daley in Jason Miller’s That Championship Season. Other favorite former roles include Stone in the musical City of Angels, Henry II in The Lion in Winter, Kerry Max Cook in The Exonerated, Ludie Watts in The Trip to Bountiful, Sgt. Merwin J. Toomey in Biloxi Blues and Danforth in The Crucible. He dedicates his performance to Mary Lou Falvey Kamish, who died of metastatic breast cancer too soon on June 4, 2000.

CONNOR PHELAN (JASON POSNER, M.D.) Connor grew up in the Indianapolis community theatre scene, taking part in a myriad of productions over the years both on and off the stage. His acting credits extend across the state, including performances at Mud Creek Players, The Belfry, Culver Academies, The Cat, Indy Bard Fest, and Center Stage Community Theater. Favorite roles include Apostle Batholomew in Jesus Christ Superstar (Mud Creek Players), Tranio in The Taming of the Shrew (NCAC Shakespeare in the Park), and Vinnie in In-Laws, Outlaws, and other people (that should be shot) (Mud Creek Players). Most recently, he directed The Arsonists and produced Indy Bard Fest’s final production The Taming of the Shrew at Mud Creek Players. Connor is excited, honored, and relieved to be stepping back onstage and making his Basile Westfield Playhouse debut in this powerful drama.

BECCA BARTLEY (SUSIE MONAHAN, R.N., B.S.N.) Becca is excited to be returning to the Basile Westfield Playhouse stage after portraying Bella Kurnitz in Lost In Yonkers last winter and co-directing The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood in the summer of 2023. This year, she appeared as Clown 2 in The 39 Steps with the Hyperion Players. Becca’s three decades of theatrical experience range from acting and directing to teaching and stage managing. She studied theatre at Bradley University. Other favorite stage credits include Simeon’s Wife (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Grace Church), Helga ten Dorp (Deathtrap, Bradley University), Rosalind (As You Like It, Noblesville Shakespeare in the Park), Ruth Nowack (Miracle on South Division Street, The Belfry), Essie Carmichael (You Can’t Take It With You, Grace Church), and Babe Botrelle (Crimes of the Heart, The Belfry). Words cannot express Becca’s gratitude toward Barry for his support during this busy theatre season.

SUSAN HILL (E.M. ASHFORD, PH.D.) Susan is delighted to return to the Basile Westfield Playhouse.She last appeared here as Gay Wellington in You Can’t Take It with You in 2024. Her favorite roles include Ethel Thayer in On Golden Pond at The Commons Theatre in Alexandria and at Hendricks Civic Theatre in Danville, Princess Natalya Dragomiroff in Murder on the Orient Express at Civic Theatre in Carmel, and The Stage Manager in Our Town at the Belfry in Noblesville. She’s worked at several local community theatres as an actor, set designer and decorator, stage crew, costumer, and assistant director. She’s honored to join the talented directors, cast, and crew for this powerful play. And most of all, she would like to thank her Encore-winning husband Mike Mellott for his unwavering support.

ERIC BOWMAN (ENSEMBLE) Eric is pleased to once again be on stage at the Basile Westfield Playhouse. You may have seen him recently in Great Expectations as Abel Magwitch, or as Adult Ralph in A Christmas Story, both with Duck Creek Players. He has been in many other productions since he started in community theatre in 2018. He would like to thank the directors for this opportunity to tell this story and you for coming to see live theatre.

LEAH HOOVER (ENSEMBLE) Leah works as an English teacher and an instructional coach for Elwood High School. She has been married to her wonderful husband Kevin for 21 years and has two beautiful daughters. She played Cinderella in Forgiven and Woman C in Three Tall Women produced and performed in Zanesville, Ohio. She also directed high school productions of Harvey and Seussified Christmas. This is her first production at the Basile Westfield Playhouse.

MARYANNE MATHEWS (ENSEMBLE) MaryAnne is an actor, musician, and playwright who authored and performed in Mrs. President: A Visit With Mary Todd Lincoln, Votes For Women, portraying a fictional Indiana suffragist, and Mother Ireland, co-written with Kate Duffy. Her play I Say Tomato, You Say Cheese premiered at IndyFringe’s DivaFest in 2019. She was seen as Edna and Hal in Ballad of the Book Women (DivaFest 2023), Leader of the Women in Lysistrata (BardFest 2022), among other acting credits. She portrayed Maude in Harold and Maude and was in The Civil War and The Homecoming with Main Street Productions. She is delighted to be back. When not performing, she is a historic interpreter at Conner Prairie and an actor/facilitator at the Indiana History Center. She also performs with Crossing Bridges, an acoustic trio.

TERESA OTIS SKELTON (ENSEMBLE) Teresa is excited to be back on stage at the Basile Westfield Playhouse. Since she was 17 she has performed in over a hundred shows and was one of the founding board members of MSP until she began a career with the city of Westfield. There, she served in a few elected and appointed positions until retiring in 2013, then worked as a worship leader for the Cross Roads Church of Westfield writing, directing and acting. Later, she became director of the Downtown Westfield Association (DWA), producing community events for 25+ years before returning to the MSP Board of Directors in 2019. Fun Fact: Teresa spent most of her time growing up in a house that sat at 220 North Union Street, where the Playhouse sits today. She thanks the cast and crew of Wit for allowing her the privilege of being part of this ensemble.

CREATIVE TEAM

KA’LENA CUEVAS (PRODUCER) Ka’Lena (she/her) is thrilled to work with this talented group of creatives, especially with directors Eric Bryant and Becky Schlomann for the first time as they make their directorial debut with Main Street Productions. Ka’Lena has been involved in Indianapolis community theatre since 2016 and serves on the board for Main Street Productions and Hyperion Players. Producer credits at the Basile Westfield Playhouse include You Can’t Take It With You, Lost in Yonkers, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, August: Osage County, Night Must Fall, Rumors, Of Mice and Men, and Lie, Cheat, and Genuflect. Favorite past stage credits include Mrs. Muller in Doubt (Hyperion Players), Horatio in Hamlet and Katherina Minola in The Taming of the Shrew (Noblesville Cultural Arts Commission), and Chick in Crimes of the Heart (the Belfry Theatre). Thanks to the cast and crew for all their hard work in this production.

ERIC BRYANT (DIRECTOR) Eric (he/him) is a local actor, director, and teacher. Favorite roles include Judas in Cold Journey in the Dark (presented at the Eugene O’Neill Playhouse), Athos in The Three Musketeers (Biggs-Rosati National Tour), Barrymore in I Hate Hamlet (Carmel Community Players), Claudius in Hamlet (Indy BardFest), Will Shakespeare in Elizabeth Rex (Indy BardFest), TJ in TJ Loves Sally 4Ever (Fonseca Theatre), and Erik in The Humans (American Lives Theatre). Eric’s directing credits include Natural Shocks (Southbank Theatre Company), True West (Carmel Community Players), and I Hate Hamlet (Southbank Theatre Company). Eric teaches technique and scene work classes for adult actors and is a member of the 2024-2026 Meisner Technique class cohort at the Phoenix Theatre and Cultural Center, led by Jolene Mentink Moffatt. Many thanks to Main Street Productions for letting this story be told, and to Ka’Lena Cuevas and Becky Schlomann for being such an awesome team!

BECKY SCHLOMANN (DIRECTOR) Becky (she/her) is delighted to return to MSP ten years after her company debut playing the poetry-spouting villain in Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd across the street at Asa Bales Park. An Indianapolis director, actor, and playwright, Becky’s local credits include: I Love My Zombie (Hyperion Players), The Profession and The Lion in Winter (both Southbank), Dolly (Clerical Error Productions), LOVE/SICK (Theatre Unchained), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Garfield Shakes), Steel Magnolias (Wayne Twp.), aMUSEd (DivaFest & Indy Fringe), Much Ado About Nothing (First Folio), and Prelude to a Kiss (Ricks-Weil). A former k-12 theatre teacher, Becky now teaches acting and stagecraft to playwrights for the Indiana Writers Center. BA, theatre: Knox College; MFA, drama and theatre for youth: U.Texas-Austin. Board member, Theatre Unchained. Becky thanks Eric and Ka’Lena for being rockin’ copilots and the company for their courage and dedication in telling this story. Enjoy the show!

DWAYNE LEWIS (STAGE MANAGER) Dwayne is thrilled to be back with Main Street Productions as the stage manager for Wit. Dwayne was also the stage manager for MSP’s production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street where he won Best Stage Manager at the 2024 Westies. Dwayne has also been seen on stage in MSP’s White Christmas and the Belfry Theater’s One Man Two Guvnors. Dwayne would like to dedicate this show to his late mother Jacqueline Lewis, who passed away from ovarian cancer.

IAN MARSHALL-FISHER (SET DESIGN) Ian (he/him) has designed several productions for various theatres around the Indianapolis area. Recent scenic designs include Lost in Yonkers, The Spitfire Grill, Night Must Fall, and Of Mice and Men with Main Street Productions; Caroline, or Change with Footlite Musicals; The Lilies of the Field and Drinking Habits with the Belfry Theatre; The Dinner Party and True West with Carmel Community Players; and I Hate Hamlet with Southbank Theatre Company. Outside of theatre, Ian works as a Director of Human Resources for the Indiana Convention Center. In his free time he enjoys playing Pokémon with his nieces and nephew, spending time with family, traveling to new places with his husband, DéJon, and decorating their house.

ERIC MATTERS (LIGHT DESIGN) Eric is glad to work on Wit with Eric Bryant and Becky Scholomen. Eric can be found working on various technical theater at numerous community and professional theaters around Indiana, as well as managing the Warren Performing Arts Center. Some fun light challenges have included LED umbrellas in The Rainmaker, live balance of 32 mics for Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Technical Direction for The Indianapolis Opera, and creating the soundscape for Angels in America. He would like to thank his family, loved ones, and friends for supporting him.

HOPE OETJEN (LIGHTING OPERATION) Hope is so excited to operate lights for this show! They have loved the theater since high school, both on stage and behind the scenes. They can often be found hiking, reading, drinking coffee, or doing all three at once. They hope you enjoy the show!

ERIC DIXON (SOUND DESIGN & OPERATION) Eric first joined community theater in 2011 as a special effects technician for MCFA’s Dracula. Since then, he has become a regular in Indiana theater productions, both on and off stage. Recent productions include sound design for The Belfry’s How the Other Half Loves, sound design and operation for MSP’s Lost in Yonkers, and sound design for The Belfry’s Little Women. Eric is proud to be the sound designer and operator for Wit.

KAREN CONES (COSTUME DESIGN) Karen was born into Indianapolis community theatre at Footlite Musicals. She’s done over 150 theatrical productions! Karen is an actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, stage manager, properties master, scenic artist, musician and costumer.  She is enjoying her retirement after 33 years of Federal service by managing costumes for Southbank Theatre Company, Lawrence North High School, and Main Street Productions at the Basile Westfield Playhouse. She is also the Box Office Manager at the Basile Westfield Playhouse and the Advisor to the MSP Youth Advisory Council.

HEIDI MORANSKI (PROPERTIES) Heidi is happy to return for her 5th show designing props at the Basile Westfield Playhouse. Her work has previously been featured in over a dozen shows around town, including Of Mice and Men (MSP), The Great Gatsby (The Belfry), Night Must Fall (MSP), Lost in Yonkers (MSP), and Peter and the Starcatcher (CCP). When not propping up local theater, Heidi can be found working at the Embassy Suites in Noblesville or drilling as a Religious Affairs Airman in the 181st Intelligence Wing, Indiana Air National Guard.

LOLA LAVACIOUS (HAIR & MAKEUP & INTIMACY DIRECTOR) Lola wears many hats as a local Indianapolis creative, working on a rotating basis as a performer, producer, arts event director, and intimacy director. She recently worked on Red Velvet with Southbank Theater and Macbeth for BardFest. In her free time, she enjoys drinking all the coffee and making epic music playlists.

GLENN L DOBBS, DO, FACOG (CLINICAL CONSULTANT) Glenn is a board-certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist who retired from medicine after over 25 years of practice. He was honored to provide medical consultation to this talented cast and crew to help bring this important work to the stage.

BROOKE CONTI, PH.D. (DRAMATURG) Brooke is Associate Professor of English at Cleveland State University, where she specializes in Renaissance literature and culture. Her book, Confessions of Faith in Early Modern England, was published in 2014; it explores the paradoxical relationship between autobiography and polemic in an age of religious conflict. She is the author of numerous articles about writers such as Donne, Milton, and Shakespeare, and co-editor of a 2023 edition of Religio Medici: Thomas Browne’s wildly popular meditation on the relationship between faith and reason. Some of her forthcoming and projected work has gone in a new direction, considering the place of writers such as Milton and Donne in postwar American culture; one such article, on Tony Kushner’s conflicted engagement with Milton, is now forthcoming in Contemporary Literature. She received her Ph.D. from Yale University.