IC News

On Thursday, Feb. 6, The Kitchen Theatre in Ithaca will open its production of the groundbreaking comedy “Cry It Out,” an ode to new parenthood. The show runs through Feb 22.

The play tells the story of three sets of new parents and shows the trials and tribulations that come with navigating the “good, bad and ugly” of parenthood.

Several Ithaca College alumni, faculty and current students are involved in the production, including Erica Steinhagen ’99 (voice performance), who plays a career-oriented mom named Adrienne; Tyler Struble ’19 (theatre studies), who is the assistant director; visiting faculty member Tyler M. Perry ’12 (theatrical production arts), who is the lighting designer; assistant professor of theatre arts Daniel Zimmerman, who is the scenic designer; Indigo Shea ’19 (theatrical production arts), who is the props master and master electrician; and Glen Epps ’20 (journalism), who worked on graphic design and marketing for the show.  Marissa Accordino ’16 (integrated marketing communications) is the house manager and Stiller Zusman, who has taught at IC, is the scenic artist.

“I love the women-centered story, written by a woman, and of course directed by M. Bevin O’Gara, who is very gifted at bringing a team of women together for her shows,” said Steinhagen, who has performed with the Kitchen Theatre Company (KTC) since the mid-2000s and has been involved in over a dozen productions at the theatre. “Being part of this community, I have a very deep relationship with IC as a voice teacher to many of the college’s amazing theatre students, and as a colleague and friend to many of the faculty and staff. I look forward to sharing this story with them.”

Accordino joined the Kitchen Theatre staff last fall. She said IC alumni and faculty members have been involved with the theatre since its inception in 1991.

“When I consider IC’s involvement with the Kitchen Theatre Company, the results are impressive,” she said, noting that the cast and crew of “Cry It Out” represents alumni or faculty from the School of Music, the Roy H. Park School of Communications and the Department of Theatre Arts in the School of Humanities and Sciences. “To have people from three very distinct schools, all with varying concentrations, be able to come together and do something as important as this, I’m just so honored to be a part of it.”

For Perry, “Cry It Out” marks his 30th main stage production at the Kitchen Theatre.

“KTC has a long-standing tradition of championing compelling, timely and evocative plays, which helped expand my theatrical palette and experience with different styles of storytelling,” said Perry, who not only saw “Cry It Out” as another opportunity to expand upon his craft but also felt a personal connection with the story. “After graduation, I continued my professional relationship at the theatre and also met the woman who is now my wife. Parenthood has been a topic that we have discussed as we decide our own family’s future, and what it might hold. I find it exciting to be working a production that feels like it is in the zeitgeist, politically, locally and personally.”

Perry will be teaching Lighting Design at IC for the spring 2020 semester.

Zimmerman has been a part of several productions at the KTC and teaches set design at IC.

“The Kitchen Theatre is about community — seeing so many artists who get their start here and continue to come back is a remarkable testament to that!” said Zimmerman.