Welcome to our ghost story. Eldest Daughter Elegy travels from the heady, half-remembered space of summer camp sprained ankles and bug bites to a glitching VHS tape and back again, hopping between (un)realities and ghost-selves until reality itself begins to fracture. Over the past year that I have worked on this play, it has undergone many selves and many forms. The performance in front of you is all at the same time a draft, another step in the life of this story, and one I am unbelievably delighted to share. I am deeply indebted to the kind and generous eldest daughters who took part in my interviews, the brave, compelling, and wonderful actors and designers who have taken this script up and made it into something so much greater than the sum of its parts, and all those who have taught me, especially my capstone advisor Dr. Nikki Yeboah. Over the past few months, an Emily Dickenson quote from my Eldest Daughter Elegy pinterest board has come back to me over and over again, and comes to me now as I consider this impending performance, and the even more terrifying looming fact of graduation. I don’t have any idea what the context is, but the quote reads, “I am out with lanterns looking for myself.” I offer this as a trap door, in hopes that it pulls you straight to the center of this story. Take up your lantern and join us. I hope you find a piece of what, or who, you’re looking for.
- Daisy
Program
Madison // Arabella Rose (she/her)
With a deep respect and strong enthusiasm for the art of performance, and Shakespeare in particular, Arabella has performed in many productions throughout her career. She loves exploring roles that she feels passionate about, her favorites in the past being Demetrius in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Linda in John Patrick Shanley’s “Savage in Limbo.”
One of Arabella’s favorite things about the performing arts is the opportunity to learn and grow as an actor during every production. So when she isn’t home looking after her cats Nova and Elsa, she can be found pursuing her major in Drama: Performance, at the University of Washington. @Arabella___Rose
Shelby // Grace Lewis (she/her)
Grace graduated from UW with a BA in Drama in Fall 2023 and is now doing as many resume building theater projects as she can while she rummages through every trash can in Seattle. The last thing you may have seen from Grace was Machinal by Sophie Treadwell, her directorial debut, and a play that was totally different than this one in every way. In her free time she likes to work on the same blanket she has been knitting for like five years. She would like to thank any of her friends and family that came to see the show or didn’t come to see the show but have a really good reason why and still love her anyway. She would also like to thank George de Mestral, and she hopes you enjoy Eldest Daughter Elegy!
Julia // Samantha Grossman (she/her)
Samantha is a freshman at the University of Washington this year, and is currently pursuing a major in Drama. In her free time, she enjoys reading, binge-watching Gilmore Girls, and missing her cat back home. She is very excited to be participating in her first production at UW, and would like to thank Daisy for the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful show. She would also like to thank the rest of the cast for being so welcoming to a newbie such as herself, and, of course, her mom, for always being there for her and supporting her no matter what. Enjoy!
Phoebe // Ronan Pirkle (he/they)
Ronan is a Seattle based actor and an alumnus of the University of Washington’s School of Drama. Recent credits include Tenderness at Annex Theatre and Deep Purple Wiggle at Theatre Battery. Outside of the theatre, you will find him walking at Green Lake and gushing about the Muppets.
Jacquline // Juliana Kilty (she/her)
Juliana is a third-year student at University of Washington and is majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Most her free time is spent fighting for her life in organic chemistry and changing her class schedule for no reason. Juliana is thrilled to be performing with such a wonderful and talented cast! She would like to thank Daisy for writing this amazing show and supporting the jorts agenda just for this performance.
Mia // Hannah Saito (she/her)
After graduating recently from UW with degrees in Drama, English, and Anthropology, Hannah is enjoying being back in the sandbox! When not on stage or working front of house at the Paramount Theater, she can be found playing D&D with her friends, or singing (probably too loudly) in the kitchen with her sister. She would like to give a huge thanks to the people who heard, “I can’t, I have rehearsal,” from her in the past month or so, and she hopes they’ll enjoy seeing what she was working on here.
Samantha // Steph Couturier (they/them)
Steph is a Seattle-based actor, administrator, and youngest child (don't tell Daisy!!). They are a graduate of the Seattle Children's Theatre Teaching Apprenticeship and have a BA in Theatre Education and Performance from Emerson College. In their free time, they can be found petting cats and continuing their search for the best dumplings in Seattle.
Maria // Emily Hall (she/her)
Emily is excited to join this cast of UW students, alumni, and cool kids forced to work full time such as herself. While not an eldest daughter personally, she does relate to her character perhaps a bit too much. When not daydreaming of running away and becoming a pirate, she enjoys hiking with friends, getting lost in a good book, and training/fighting with stage combat weapons (safely) on the weekends. IG: @Emmie_hall22
Izzie & Interviewer // Marisa Nelson (she/her)
Marisa is an aspiring actor who works as an Engineer in the area. She is thrilled to be performing in her first show since moving to Seattle and became interested in theatre after playing different roles in Beauty and the Beast and Annie. She enjoys writing and performing poetry to close friends in her free time as well as reading and running.
Marisa is not an eldest daughter, but she is passionate about the story behind Eldest Daughter Elegy and is hoping to fool the audience. She would like to dedicate this performance to her two sisters, Amanda, and Gabbie, who have been the best sisters in the whole world and her incredible parents!
Gabby // Sachinmayi Menon (she/her)
Sachi, a Seattle-based actor, exudes charisma and style, with a passion for fashion and a dramatic flair. With a background in fashion design, her enthusiasm for both fashion and the dramatic arts is evident in her every move. Trained in theatre at Freehold Theatre and commercial acting with Mighty Tripod, she possesses vast acting prowess matched only by her eclectic wardrobe. Some liken her expressions to launching a thousand ships, but Sachi is focused on believing in herself and dreaming of making waves in the world of films.
Despite not being the eldest daughter, she strongly identifies with her character "Gabby," finding a profound connection that fuels her performances. Sachi extends her heartfelt thanks to Daisy for her support and guidance. Get ready to be dazzled, delighted, and thoroughly entertained by the sensational Sachi and her delightful idiosyncrasies!
Lighting Designer // Anna Shih (they/she)
Anna is a senior UW undergraduate double majoring in Drama: Design and Computer Science. When she has free time (which she never does) she knits, somersaults, and drinks too much tea. Previous design credits inclide Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea, An Incomplete List. . . (Dacha Theatre), In Between, Monologues of N Woman (Yun Theatre) and Hookman (UTS).
Sound Designer // Alex Parr
Alex is a senior undergraduate student at the University of Washington, studying Drama Design (emphasis on sound design). Recent productions Alex has been involved with are Photograph 51, The Oresteia, The Wolves, A Thick Description of Harry Smith, and Paper Angels, all at the UW. Alex had a wonderful time making this show happen with everyone, and hopes that you enjoy the show!
Playwright // Daisy Schreiber
Daisy is a lifelong Seattleite, eldest daughter, and senior at the University of Washington, majoring in Drama and Creative Writing. She is unbelievably grateful to everyone who had a hand in the creation of Eldest Daughter Elegy, especially those who were kind enough to share their stories and the actors and designers generous enough to take this project on. Daisy cares deeply about honest stories that unearth unexpected commonalities, attempts to approach her artistry with tremendous love and gratitude for those around her, and admits that she's a sucker for a happy ending. She thinks often of the ways bodies construct meaning onstage, and aims to tell stories that soften the barbs we turn on ourselves. Outside of rehearsal Daisy works at a small cookie bakery, video-chats with her cats, and wanders around the IMA looking lost, hoping to attract the hot jock of her dreams.
Choreographer: Char Hertel
Dance Captain: Julianna Kilty
Graphic Designer: Arabella Andersen
Advisor: Dr. Nikki Yeboah
Special thanks to UTS, Dacha Theatre, UW School of Drama, Eric and Tera Schreiber, Nikki Yeboah, Ginger Schreiber, Sammy Weinert, and all those who read, considered, and provided feedback on earlier iterations of this script.