January | 2011 | The Passages of Ross

Emerson Theatre Collaborative Announces Production of Harriet Tubman’s Dream

February 5, 2011/New London, CT . . . In celebration of Black History Month, the play, Harriet Tubman’s Dream will be performed on February 5, 2011 at The Writer’s Block INK, in New London. Harriet Tubman was an African American, abolitionist, anti-slavery activist, suffragist and one of the greatest American humanitarians that ever lived. After escaping slavery, into which she was born, she made thirteen missions to personally rescue over seventy slaves with the help of the Underground Railroad and helped another 60 slaves plan and carryout their own escapes. She worked closely with many well-known abolitionists including Frederick Douglass and John Brown. During the Civil War, she worked as a nurse, scout and spy for the Union Army without financial compensation. Throughout her life, she worked tirelessly and selflessly to end injustice and to obtain freedom, equality and dignity for all people. To help support herself, the fugitive slave community and to finance her rescue missions, Harriet Tubman worked as a cook, domestic servant and gave dramatic storytelling performances of her life. At parlor socials or at church meetings, she performed to great acclaim for many prominent abolitionists, suffragists and the literary elite in New England. In Harriet Tubman’s Dream, Camilla Ross portrays Tubman giving one of her storytelling performances in Boston.

Camilla Ross performs Harriet Tubman’s Dream. Ms. Ross is the current president and founder of the Emerson Theater Collaborative, and a graduate of Emerson College in Boston. Camilla spent time studying with the Actor’s Workshop of Boston. Drawing on over 20 years of theatrical experience, ranging from commercials to regional theater, Camilla is leading and shaping ETC from the ground up as one of the first professional theaters in southeastern Connecticut. She is the theatrical advisor and acting coach for the SPAG Players at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, CT. She is a current board and choral member with the Connecticut Lyric Opera of New London. Camilla is a former board member and acting instructor for the Writer’s Block, Ink of New London, CT. Camilla is currently a part-time business faculty member of the Three Rivers Community College, teaching a variety of business courses. She currently sits on the Emerson Alumni Board, as one of the co-presidents of the CT Chapter. As an actress, she was seen most recently in John Patrick Shanley’s play “Doubt,” playing the role of Mrs. Mueller, and as Harriet Tubman in Lisa Giordano’s “Harriet Tubman’s Dream,” and as Chessie in “Chestina Vanessa Poulson” by Melanie Greenhouse.

Welcome to the Emerson Theater Collaborative in 2011.

This will be a year filled with original works by great playwrights!

Coming in February 2011 LOVE LETTERS

February 14, 2011, Mystic, CT…Emerson Theatre Collaborative (ETC) announces the dinner theater production of A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters directed by Joshua Ramos at River Walk restaurant. Performance information and tickets for Love Letters be can be obtained by visiting EmersonTheaterCollaborative.org. Tickets are $50.

The play centers on two characters, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. A.R. Gurney has the characters sit side by side and read the notes, letters and cards they wrote to each other over a time period of nearly 50 years. In these letters, they discuss their hopes and ambitions, dreams and disappointments, and victories and defeats throughout their lives.

Emerson Theater Collaborative’s mission is to serve youth, under-represented communities and artists with an emphasis on diversity, by producing innovative and exhilarating theater in Southeastern Connecticut. ETC explores timely themes and issues through new, original works and modern theatrical classics. The company develops and nurtures both emerging and professional artists, and collaborates with the Emerson College network of alumni and students. ETC’s goals include reaching inner city youth through educational theatrical programming and to support local communities by providing free admission to low-income families and donating profits to humanitarian causes.

Joshua Lee Ramos (Director) is a native of Hartford, CT and a graduate of University of Hartford where he received a BA in Drama and Film. In 2008 he made his professional theatre directorial debut with Princebury Productions directing A. R. Gurney’s Love Letters. Joshua brought the revival of Maria Irene Fornes’ The Conduct of Life to Off-Broadway’s June Havoc Theatre as part of the Midtown International Theatre Festival in summer of 2008 serving as director, lighting designer and sound designer. Additional regional professional credits include working as a director for New Works New Britain Theatre Festival, as well as having been a lighting designer for CONNetic Dance in Hartford and for their regional tour. In 2010, he directed Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans: A Salsa Fairy Tale for the Hartford Children’s Theatre. For Emerson Theater Collaborative, he directed Spinning Into Butter and Hate Mail, as well ass serving as Assistant Director for the premiere of Chestina Vanessa Poulson and Stage Manager for Harriet2. For more information, visit joshualeeramos.webs.com

Cast: Dan Mauro and Carolyn Paine

Dan Mauro is a Connecticut native with a BS in Film from Emerson College in Boston. His acting career began when a close friend pushed him onstage for an audition at what he thought was a crew meeting. This led to his being cast in Larry Shue’s “The Foreigner”. Dan spent several seasons as a member of the New Haven based, non-profit theatre group Mastermind Productions. While raising thousands of dollars for charity, he built sets and appeared in numerous shows including Steve Martin’s “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” and as Rick Steadman in Shue’s “The Nerd”. He has also appeared in New Haven Theater Company’s “The Wake of Pedro de Urdemalas” and unique “Meter Theater” bits during the New Haven Festival of Arts and Ideas. Training at the Actors Gym in Hamden, CT has recently led him to regional commercial work. Dan is excited to work with ETC and is very happy to be onboard for “Love Letters”.

Carolyn Paine is delighted to be performing with E.T.C. for the Second time. She has BA in Drama from University of Hartford, where she performed in such plays as The Philadelphia Story, Noises Off and Measure for Measure. Most recently she could be found in the premiere of Christmas Blessing at The Where Eagles Dare Theatre in NYC. She is acting Company Member of New York Playwrights and has previously performed Off-Broadway in NYC at the June Havoc Theatre in the revival of Maria Irene Fornes’ intense drama The Conduct of Life. On stage, her regional and professional credits include working with Chelsea Rep Lab in NYC, Shakespeare Now Theatre Company in Boston, Square One Theatre in Stratford, New Works New Haven, Peripitus Theatre Company in the world premiere of 3’s, Park Road Playhouse in the award winning The Foreigner, and with Princebury Productions in Love Letters. She has also toured with Classical Players in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Carolyn can be found in numerous regional and national commercials and has had featured appearances on television and in independent film. She also had fun appearing as a case model in the live casino tour of NBC’s “Deal or No Deal” featuring Howie Mandel. Carolyn has been a professional dancer and choreographer as well and has performed with Hartford’s Ballet Theatre, CONNetic Dance, Boston’s BalletRox, and several choreographers and companies in NYC. For more visit www.carolynpaine.com!

Key Dates and Information

What: Emerson Theatre Collaborative’s production of Love Letters.
When: February 14 at 6:00 PM.
Where: How: River Walk Restaurant, 14 Holmes St., Mystic, CT. Tickets are $50 and can be obtained online at http://www.emersontheatercollaborative.org

Additional information is available at www.EmersonTheatreCollaborative.org or by calling (860) 705-9711

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Contact: Lisa Giordano, giordano9@rocketmail.com

Photos are available upon request.

The Creative Team available for interviews by appointment.