Bodies of Work ZOE SARNAK
Music, Lyrics and Text by Zoe Sarnak
Directed & Choreographed by Jennifer Jancuska
Developed by BringAbout Development
Introducing Bodies of Work ZOE SARNAK. For the first time, award-winning composer and lyricist Zoe Sarnak shares her own story from the stage, in a piece that leads the audience through the expansive and intimate life moments that influenced her songwriting process. From the piano, or with a guitar in hand, Zoe uncovers family cycles of immigration and assimilation, unpacks queerness and the expansive horizon of a different kind of family making, and teeters on the heartbreak and nerves of her risk-reward relationship with work, art, and the future.
Bodies of Work is purposefully a mid-career examination of Zoe’s body of work. Rather than a look back at the end of a life's work and story, the piece poignantly addresses the pressing decisions and challenges facing Zoe right now. Even with a significant “body of work” out in the world, so much of the future is still wide-open and ever-evolving. The audience is actively engaged in Zoe's present circumstances, as she seeks answers by delving into her past. They are folded into songs, led to dance, engaged with dialogue, and invited to join Zoe on this pursuit to rediscover what it feels like to do back flips off the diving board, even after you’ve had your first belly flop, to love unabashedly even after the painful end of a marriage, and to continue making art even when that means finding the reserves to start again at a new beginning. In a very exciting and real way, creating and sharing Bodies of Work will undoubtedly impact the future landscape and legacy of Zoe’s body of work.
NYSAF Open Studio
Sunday July 21, 10:30am & 3pm
Welcome to the final day of our one-week NYSAF Stories that Move residency. With a first full draft in hand, our time at NYSAF has been dedicated to exploring the possibilities for cohesive storytelling using text, song and dance as our tools. We jumped in with many questions, made bold choices, and have been learning and responding to the discoveries nonstop. We continue this process now in collaboration with you as an audience. Thank you!
What you're about to see includes five sections presented in show order. Between sections, we will provide context on what’s being skipping. Some sections will be performed at music stands, while others will be more embodied. Thank you for joining us!
Meet the company
Ephie Aardema - Creative Performing Artist
(she/her)
@ephieaardema
Ephie Aardema played Emma and understudied the role of Fanny Brice in the revival of Funny Girl and is headed into rehearsals for the upcoming Broadway revival of Our Town. She was in the original Broadway cast of The Bridges of Madison County and played Dawn on the 1st national tour of Waitress. She was nominated for a Jeff Award for her performance in Emma at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Off-Broadway credits include the Drama-Desk Award winning revival of I Can Get it For You Wholesale (CSC), Parade (Lincoln Center), Songbird, Daddy Long Legs and Dear Edwina. Regionally she has played at the Old Globe, La Jolla, Papermill, PCLO, Goodspeed and St. Louis Rep among many others. She’s an international tap champion with a history of working in community organizing & online integrity. She was the youngest-ever graduate of Circle in the Square Theatre School and holds a Congressional Gold Medal for Outstanding Youth.
Veronica Otim - Creative Performing Artist
(she/her)
@veronicaotim
Veronica Otim is an NYC based actress, and is honored to help bring Zoe and Jennifer's work to life. Past credits include Jagged Little Pill (Broadway), & Juliet (OBC).
Alexander Mendoza (he/him/his)
@officialalexandermendoza
www.officialalexandermendoza.com
Alexander Mendoza is a New York based artist. He was most recently seen in Berkeley Rep’s World Premiere of GALILEO: A Rock Musical. Select theatre credits include: 1st National Tour of Disney’s Frozen the Musical understudying the role of Kristoff. Mendoza was also seen on The World Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera understudying the role of Raoul, where he performed in the Philippines, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Israel, Dubai, and South Korea. Other credits include the 1st National Tour of Sister Act The Musical and the North American Tour of Mamma Mia! His original pop song “WOW!” is available on steaming platforms.
Nicholas Connors - Music Director
(he/him)
@nick_connors
www.nicholas-connors.com
Nicholas Connors is a composer/lyricist, Broadway conductor and orchestrator. For his new musical COAL, he is a Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellow and recipient of the Lortel Theatre’s 121 Project grant. He was also a recent finalist for the Ed Kleban Prize, Jonathan Larson Grant, and Fred Ebb Award. Nicholas’ other stage musicals include PAPER VALLEY and HERE, IN THE PARK. Nicholas has orchestrated and arranged music for many stars of the stage and screen, including Kristin Chenoweth, André De Shields, Lea Salonga, and Jessica Vosk. His orchestrations have been performed by orchestras across the country, from Carnegie Hall to the White House. Nicholas' Broadway credits include ALMOST FAMOUS (Asst. Music Director), Kristin Chenoweth's FOR THE GIRLS (Assoc. Music Director, Orchestrator) and MEAN GIRLS (Pianist). Nicholas is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Zoe Sarnak - Composer, Lyricist, Book Writer
@zoesarnak
www.zoesarnak.com
Zoe Sarnak is a New York City-based composer, lyricist, and writer. She is a Jonathan Larson Award winner; and a finalist for the Ebb, Kleban, and Billie Burke Ziegfeld Awards. Her work has been developed with and presented by Second Stage, New York Stage & Film, The Public, Roundabout Theatre Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, New York Theatre Workshop, WP Theatre and many more. Works include: NY Times Critics Pick, THE LONELY FEW (with Rachel Bonds) at MCC and The Geffen; GALILEO (with Danny Strong and Michael Weiner) at Berkeley Rep; the upcoming world premiere of EMPIRE RECORDS (with Carol Heikkinen) at McCarter Theatre; PARTICLE FEVER (with David Henry Hwang and Bear McCreary), SPLIT (with Michele Lowe) and others soon to be announced. Her music has been featured by the NY Times Live, The Guggenheim, the BBC, and in benefit concerts and albums for Everytown. www.zoesarnak.com @zoesarnak
Jennifer Jancuska - Director, Choreographer
(she/her)
@jencuska
www.JenniferJancuska.com
Jennifer Jancuska is a New York based Director & Choreographer (The Old Globe, Berkeley Rep, The Public, City Center, Dallas Theatre Center, Goodspeed and more). Resident Choreographer (Broadway’s HAMILTON). Founding Artistic Director of BringAbout, a 501c3 nonprofit development and production company dedicated to developing dance as a narrative tool early in the process of writing new musicals and plays. Jennifer is known for producing the sold out bi-annual event BC BEAT, described by The New York Times as the place to “step into the spotlight and re-imagine the possibilities for dance in musical theater.” As an educator, Jennifer has been a master teacher and guest lecturer at theatre and dance programs across the country and internationally including NYU GMTWP, Syracuse University, Ithaca College, Pace University, University of the Arts, College of Charleston, and Shanghai Theatre Academy. Jennifer is a graduate of Cornell University and member of the Society of Directors and Choreographers. She resides in Brooklyn and is an avid traveler alongside her husband and two children - Linus, Ruthie. Jennifer is named to the Broadway Women’s Fund 5th Annual Women to Watch List 2024.
Max Reuben - Dramaturg
(he/him)
@maxreubensandwich
www.maxreuben.com
Max Reuben is a Philadelphia-born, Brooklyn-based playwright, director, and teacher. Recent directing: A series of cabarets for Salty Brine’s Living Record Collection (the David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Neutral Milk Hotel, Harry Nilsson, and Led Zeppelin shows, respectively), as well as the upcoming We Are Gathered Together with actors at Vassar’s Powerhouse Theater Training Program. Recent playwriting: THIS PLACE IS DEFINITELY HAUNTED (Powerhouse); THEN, OF COURSE, ALL THE THINGS HAPPENED (Crashbox, Seven Devils, Paper Kraine); Bank Holiday (The Hive Collaborative). MFA: NYU.
Mason Reeves - Creative Performing Artist
(he/him)
@rasonmeeves
www.Masondreeves.com
NATIONAL TOUR: Frozen (Kristoff, First Natl.) REGIONAL: Hair (Berger), Signature Theatre; Real Women Have Curves (Henry), ART; Footloose (Ren), MUNY; Once On This Island (Daniel), PCLO; Mamma Mia! (Sky), Connecticut Repertory Theatre. UNIVERSITY: We Are Proud to Present… (Actor 2), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Jesus of Nazareth). FILM: Inhuman (Elliot), How To Cure Insomnia. EDUCATION: BFA in Musical Theater, University of Michigan. Masondreeves.com. Instagram: @rasonmeeves
Veronica Fiaoni
- Dance Captain, Creative Performing Artist
(she/her)
@vernyverny
www.veronicafiaoni.com
Veronica is originally from Toronto, Canada but was raised in Los Angeles, California. She discovered her passion for the arts at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA), where she majored in Dance. Veronica went on to attend Montclair State University where she graduated with her BFA a full semester early in order to join the International Tour of West Side Story. Since then, she has continued to work both on Broadway and TV. Credits include: Broadway: Lempicka. Regional: Chicago (The Muny), Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (TUTS), Anne of Green Gables (Goodspeed). Tours: A Chorus Line; Beetlejuice; West Side Story. TV: “American Horror Stories,” “Law and Order,” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
Marissa Barragán - Creative Performing Artist, Assistant Choreographer
(she/ her)
@marissabarragan
www.marissabarragan.com
Marissa is thrilled and deeply grateful to be part of Bodies of Work! Recent credits include: American Repertory Theater, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Bucks County Playhouse, Flat Rock Playhouse, Riverside Theatre, Transcendence Theatre Company, and several new works in development. Proud Georgetown University graduate. Endless thanks to her loving family. Gratitude and glory to God. @marissabarragan
Hugo Brument Scuderi - Creative Performing Artist
(he/him)
@_yuugo__
hugo
brumentdancer.com
Hugo Brument Scuderi is a dancer and choreographer from Paris, France. Hugo has had the pleasure to collaborate with many NYC based choreographers working on development for new creative projects. Favorite regional theater credits include : In the Heights, On Your Feet!, West Side Story. Commercial work : dancer for Disney, assistant-choreographer for Uniqlo. Associate artistic director of Misty Dance Theater ( @misty_dance_theater ), Hugo writes and directs films. His latest short Depending on the Music is currently running in film festivals around the country. RIP Chet, you live through our ball changes.
Natalie Brown - Music Assistant
(she/her)
@nataliebrownmusic (IG / TikTok)
www.nataliebrownmusic.com
Natalie Brown is a composer, musician, and playwright. Original works include the opera adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s for colored girls (New York City Center/Yale University), chamber music piece insomni/black (commission, Carnegie Hall), and new musical Finding Eden. Additional musical experience: Gun and Powder (Music Assistant, Paper Mill Playhouse), incidental music for Sanctuary City (Yale University), and performances at venues including New York’s 54 Below and New Haven’s Koffee?. Natalie is pursuing her BA in Music and African-American Studies at Yale University, where she is a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow. Among other musical and academic awards, she has been honored as a Eugene O’Neill NMTC Semifinalist, Write Out Loud Finalist, and Yale Swensen Scholar in the Arts. Her new musical little white lies will debut at Yale in February 2025.
Luke Wygodny - Cello, Guitar, Creative Performing Artist
(he/him/his)
@TheHeartStringsProject
@LukeWygodny
lukewygodny.com
As a Singer/Songwriter/Composer Luke wrote the music & performed it live in the World Premiere of the Pulitzer Prize winning play, Primary Trust at Roundabout (NY Critics Pick) starring William Jackson Harper. Some other credits: 3rd Gen (A Survivor’s Story) at Spark Fest, Fucking A at Columbia University (Lenfest Center for the Arts) & a sold out reading of Crazy Mama at the Hollywood Museum starring Carolyn Hennesy.
His indie/folk band The Heartstrings Project was up for consideration at the 64th Grammy Awards 2022: Best Americana Album of the Year & Best American Roots Song. 2022 Song Contest Semi-Finalists for the American Songwriter. They performed at Yusuf/Cat Stevens' Virtual 50th Anniversary of Tea for the Tillerman with Dave Matthews Band, Haim & more. The've also been Deepak Chopra's Monthly Featured Artist Pick on Spotify. First Emerging Artist to perform at Bethel Woods Center of the Arts Horizon Stage.
As an actor, he played the role of Judas in Godspell at PCLO and has toured the country in Broadway musicals such as Once, American Idiot, and Soul Doctor. He was also seen in Hundred Days with The Bengsons at La Jolla Playhouse & David Cromer’s production of Rent in Chicago. He originated the role of “Jumping Jack the Acrobat” under the circus tent in Jahn Sood’s folk opera The Disappearing Man at St. Louis Rep.
Nicole Patrick - Percussionist, Creative Performing Artist
(they/them)
@niconeeek
www.nicoleepatrick.com
Nicole Patrick is a percussionist and drummer living in Brooklyn. They are currently subbing on Broadway for the Tony Award winning ILLINOISE on both percussion and drumset. In 2022 they premiered the role of “Rockstar”, the on-stage percussionist, with BLUE MAN GROUP World Tour. Current projects: pop kiss (indie pop), Alaara (experimental trio), Goldfeather (art-rock), Tanner Porter (chamber folk).
James Jin - Photographer
(he/him)
@jamesjinimages
www.jamesjinimages.com
James Jin is a photographer and an artist mindset coach. James explores how to stay curious and open in the midst of feeling creative fears.
BringAbout Development
BringAbout Development is a 501c3 nonprofit organization transforming the way dance is integrated into new musicals through multi-faceted residency programs, fellowships, BC Beat, and theatrical partnerships. Operating in New York, London, San Diego, and Tokyo, BringAbout connects over 200 artists annually, fostering genuine artistic relationships that transcend traditional barriers of gender, race, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation. Supported by grants and residencies from prestigious organizations including the NEA, the CUNY Dance Initiative, the US-Japan Creative Fellowship Residency, and the Baruch Performing Arts Center, BringAbout continues to push the boundaries of art-making, uniquely introducing writers to the possibilities of dance in new musical theatre works—a pioneering effort unmatched by any other organization. Through this innovative approach, BringAbout nurtures talents from emerging artists to Broadway award-winners.
Special Thanks
New York Stage and Film's programming branch STORIES THAT MOVE: DEVELOPING DANCE MUSICALS (INSPIRED BY JEROME ROBBINS) proudly supports dance-driven new works with developmental opportunities year-round. STORIES THAT MOVE is made possible with leadership support from the Jerome Robbins Foundation, as well as the Howard Gilman Foundation, the Frederick Loewe Foundation, and the Mertz Gilmore Foundation.
Special thanks to New York Stage & Film, Liz Carlson, Isabelle Sanatdar Stevens, Gabby Clark, Sam Stein, NYSAF Company Management, and the entire NYSAF team. We also extend our gratitude to Don Matteson and Marco Crocchianti for their longstanding support of BringAbout, which has lifted off and supported Bodies of Work ZOE SARNAK from the beginning!
Stay in touch with Bodies of Work ZOE SARNAK and BringAbout!
Up next!
CUNY Initiative Residency
Baruch Performing Arts Center, NY (2024 - 2025)
BringAbout Development Ltd, including Bodies of Work (the series), and Bodies of Work ZOE SARNAK, are represented by Sendroff & Baruch.