The Milk Made (Spring 2022)

Cast

Staff

Orchestra

The HRG&SP Rewrite Project

The HRG&SP Rewrite Project was an opportunity for the Harvard community to create an original comic operetta in the style of Gilbert & Sullivan. The Harvard-Radcliffe Gilbert and Sullivan Players is an institution that has benefited from white supremacy in many ways, such as through the production of shows like “The Mikado,” which marginalizes the experiences and lives of people of color. We want to acknowledge that history and give a voice to people with identities misrepresented or unrepresented by G&S canon, while bringing new, contemporary stories to the stage. 

Two student writers, librettist Mira-Rose Kingsbury Lee and lyricist LyLena Estabine, co-wrote The Milk Made; or, The Friend of Anarchy, an original libretto, with new lyrics set to existing G&S music. This writing process took place over the course of two semesters (spring 2021 and summer 2021), and the students were mentored by industry professionals Amara Brady and Jessica Wu during the spring. The written show was staged in Spring 2022, as our community was still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amara (She/Her/Hers) is a generative artist & cultural dramaturg from Chicago. At the crux of her artistry is uplifting Black women and connecting underserved communities to theatrical experiences. Acting: Abduction (Atlantic Theater Co.), This Is Where We Go (MCC), Bernarda’s Daughters (The Lark), Annie Golden: Broadway Bounty Hunter (Barrington Stage Co.), NYTW, 54 Below, Joe’s Pub & others. She’s a member of Joe Iconis & family. Playwriting: This is Where We Go (MCC), Last Ones First (Crux VR in association with Blair Russell Productions); When We Were gods (Blackboard collective + Kervigo Ensemble); Manic Pixie Dream Girls Aren’t Black (The Parsnip Ship), The Wickedness of Men or Love Songs for the End of the World (MTF + Broadviews on Broadway); inaugural member of the Showdogs playwriting collective, and a member of SHECreates NYC’s Myths and Legends program. Her work has been staged at The Drama League, The Dramatists Guild, Joe’s Pub, and The Wow Cafe Theatre. Producing: Theatre Communications Groups National Conference (2019). NYT’s Critic Pick,Jillian Walker’s SKiNFoLK (Associate Producer). YouTube series, ‘Skinny & White’ Aren’t Character Traits. In This Paper I’ll Explain. Resist, check your privilege, & then give some space to Women of Color & Trans Folx. Ashé to the ancestors. All Power to all people. Website:https://linktr.ee/ajbrady Instagram: @bradynotthebunch

Jessica Wu is an award-winning NYC-based playwright, director, songwriter, dramaturg, and actor-in-a-past-life. Her performance credits include the Broadway Revivals of Miss Saigon and A Chorus Line and she has crossed the US in a half-dozen National Tours, performed at Shakespeare in the Park, Radio City Music Hall, NYC Opera, Lincoln Center, with numerous Regional theatres, and in late-night sketches with Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert. Jessica has written a number of short-films and theatrical works, including two full-length musicals. “You, Me, I, We” has won several development awards (including The National Asian Artists Project’s Discover: New Musicals Series) and was a Finalist for Live & In Color’s Development Retreat, as well as a semi-finalist for The National Alliance of Musical Theatre’s O’Neill Conference. Upcoming is “Poupelle of Chimney Town”, a new-musical based upon the best-selling Japanese picture book of the same name. Currently in development, it’s slated to debut next season Off-Broadway. Jessica is an adjunct Theatre Professor at American University and has also spent the last several years in Non-Profit Arts Leadership as an Associate Artistic Director. Last fall she founded Inspirate Creative Consulting and Development, a practice dedicated to providing clients with purposeful creative coaching and open-hearted, collaborative development sessions for works in-process. www.jessica-wu.com