- By Sarah K. Chalmers
- Entertainment
Print 
Ranked by the National Hurricane Center as one of the five deadliest hurricanes to strike the United States, Hurricane Katrina formed off the eastern coast of the United States on August 23, 2005. Katrina made landfall first in southern Florida on August 25, and then in Louisiana on August 29. After passing through Louisiana, where Katrina is estimated to have done the most damage, the hurricane continued north - affecting most of the eastern United States and reaching as far as southeast Quebec before dissipating on August 31. Hurricane Katrina is estimated to be directly responsible for 1,200 deaths and at least $108 billion (USD 2005) in property damage.
"When we talk about this project, everyone always gives us the same incredulous look and says, 'It's been 10 years since Katrina?'" according to Civic Ensemble Artistic Director Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. He added, "We felt like it was important to honor the resilience of the folks in New Orleans and remember how a strong community can weather storms that aren't just political, but very real." Director of Civic Engagement Sarah K. Chalmers notes, "We are committed to bringing theatre to everyone both onstage and off. We're very excited to be working with a large group of actors from many backgrounds: from Phoebe Brown, who took part in the first year of our ReEntry Theatre Program, to Holly Adams and Alexander Thomas, fixtures of the Ithaca theatre scene."
Playwright Yvette 'Jamuna' Sirker, is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. Ms. Sirker is a playwright, director, producer, choreographer and teaching artist. Her plays have been presented Off-Broadway, Off-Off Broadway, in regional theaters, colleges and universities across the USA. Plays include: When the Sky Falls, Pink Collar Crime, And Momma Said, Speakeasy and Troubled Waters. Ms. Sirker has earned three National Endowment for the Arts Play Development Grants, and three Arts Council of New Orleans development grants. She serves as Adjunct Professor of Communications and Theater for Berkshire Community College, as Writing and Media Specialist for Pittsfield (MA) Public Schools and as Teaching Artist for Enchanted Circle Theater. Ms. Sirker holds a B.A. in English from Cornell University, an M.F.A. in Acting from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Acting Program and an Honors in Dance degree from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.
Playwright Jason Maghanoy is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada. He is the current Playwright-In-Residence at Young People's Theatre. Jason's plays have been presented and produced in Vancouver, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, New York City and Japan. His work has been featured as part of the Montreal Fringe Festival, Toronto Fringe Festival, Wildside Theatre Festival, Next Stage Theatre Festival, and SummerWorks Performance Festival. His play Throat received second place in the Uprising National Playwriting Competition, and Heart won the 2013 Mario Fratti-Fred Newman Political Play Contest in New York City. Jason's plays Gas and Dust were published by Scirocco Drama, and his play The Corner was published in The Canadian Theatre Review.
Katrina: Ten Years Later features Holly Adams, Phoebe Brown, Sherron Brown, Helen Clark, Delly Fears, Rudy Gerson, Jeffrey Guyton, Nilka Joaqin-Santali, Effie Johnson, Ralph Lawrence, Jr., Donovan Lockett, Elizabeth Mozer, Jelani Pitcher, Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr., Alexander Thomas, Irving Torres, Jacob White, Eric Worthington, and Sylvie Yntema. K (or the girl with the plastic rose) is directed by Godfrey Simmons, Jr., Throat is directed by Sam Buggeln, Heart is directed by Ross Haarstad, and When the Sky Falls is directed by Dean Robinson.
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