First Prologue

They brought a woman
from the street
And made her
sit in the stalls
By threats
By bribes
By flattery
Obliging her to share
a little of her life
with actors

But I don't understand art

Sit still, they said

But I don't want to see sad things

Sit still, they said

And she listened to everything
Understanding some things
But not others
Laughing rarely,
and always without knowing why
Sometimes suffering disgust
Sometimes thoroughly amazed
And in the light again, said

If that's art I think it is hard work
It was beyond me
So much beyond my actual life

But something troubled her
Something gnawed her peace
And she came a second time, armoured with friends

Sit still, she said

And again,
she listened to everything
This time
understanding different things
This time
untroubled that some things
Could not be understood
Laughing rarely
but now without shame
Sometimes suffering disgust
Sometimes thoroughly amazed
And in the light again said

This is art,
it is hard work
And one friend said,
too hard for me
And the other said,
if you will
I will come again
Because I found it hard
I felt honoured

-- Howard Barker,
from The Bite of the Night

11 April, 2025

¡VOS! – a world premiere

@tcharleserickson

Opening Night of the world premiere of ¡VOS! at Two River Theatre.

All hail this female TRIUMPH of a play. This glorious, funny, warm, loving, moving, beautiful story full of history and heart. It has been an honor to be a part of the BIRTH of this piece, create these characters alongside the brilliant actor/playwright Christina Pumariega and with the peerless leadership of Nicole A Watson.

What a rehearsal room (of all women— including our glorious SM team, dramaturg and AD!) This also marks my first theatre contract as a Latina actor (this one is for you Noriega family—finally!), my 7th world premiere, and marks my 20th year in the professional theatre.

I’m so proud to be a part of this show I could burst.

As Dr. Cossí says: “Okay we done!”

Let’s party.

photo by @motendesigns (also our phenomenal scenic designer)

A play is nothing without the team that makes it. It takes a village.

That village is:

Playwright: Christina Pumariega

Director: Nicole A. Watson

Scenic Designer: Lawrence E. Moten III Costume
Designer: Raquel Barreto
Lighting Designer: Carolina Ortiz Herrera Sound
Designer: Sinan Refik Zafar
Projection Designer: Kelly Colburn
Dramaturg: Sarah Rose Leonard
Dialects: Rosie Berrido
Intimacy Coordinator: Alex Might
Production Stage Manager: Jynelly Rosario
Rehearsal Assistant Stage Manager: Gracie
Carleton
Assistant Stage Manager: Abigail Medrano
Casting: Caparelliotis Casting and Joseph Gery
Assistant Director: Jessi Stier
Associate Scenic Designer: Danielle Delafuente
Assistant Lighting Designer: Hayley Garcia Parnell
Hair and Makeup Consultant: Carissa Thorlakson
Projections Consultant: Dylan Uremovich