The Trojans

Loading Dock Theatre + Nancy Manocherian's the cell theatre + Eric Paul Vitale present

THE TROJANS

a new synthwave musical by Leegrid Stevens

directed by Eric Paul Vitale

music and vocal direction by Deena Kaye

featuring Daphne Always, Roger D. Casey, Bradley Cashman, Deshja Driggs, E. Jim Ford, Arya Grace Gaston, Emma Imholz, Emma Kelly, Alcorn Minor, Max Raymond, Jen Rondeau, Katherine Taylor, Sam Tilles, and Erin B. Treadway.

The Trojans is an original synth-wave musical in which warehouse workers re-enact the legendary tales of their home town’s high school glory days of the 1980’s, loosely following the mythic heroes and demigods of The Iliad. Set in the shadow of a corporate warehouse, the story delves into the financial realities faced by workers who take these grueling jobs to stay afloat. For Heather and her coworkers, the warehouse becomes both a prison and a stage—a place where youthful dreams and artistic aspirations clash with the harsh demands of adulthood. The timeless lessons of love, loyalty, and war resonate deeply as the workers confront not only each other but the systems that hold them back.

lighting design by Christopher Annas-Lee, scenic design by Simon Cleveland, choreography by Mindy Rebman, assistant director Rabiah Rowther, costume design by Ashley Soliman, sound design by Will Watt, and stage management by Sarah Jones.

The performance runs 2 hours and 15 minutes with intermission.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Leegrid Stevens (Playwright) is a Texas raised, Brooklyn based playwright, composer, and sound designer. Leegrid’s recent productions include War Dreamer (2023 @ wild project, Henry Hewes Sound Design nomination), A Peregrine Falls (2020 @ wild project), Spaceman (2x Drama Desk nominations 2019, 2x Henry Hewes design nominations), The Dudleys! (8x B. Iden Payne Awards), Mesquite, NV (Workshop Theater), and The Twelfth Labor (4x NYIT Award nominations). Leegrid is the co-founder of Loading Dock Theatre with Erin Treadway. Leegrid is also an award-winning sound designer (B. Iden Payne Award & NYIT Award for The Dudleys, NYIT Sound Design for Spaceman). Many of his plays are written simultaneously with the sound design, including his next project, which explores occult ritual magic used in treasure hunting in upstate New York in the early 19th century. Leegrid is also the co-author of a fantasy novel series, FALL, with Craig Bridger.

Eric Paul Vitale (Director) is a New York based director and producer. In 2023, Eric produced the Off-Broadway premiere of War Dreamer and directed Celebrate Strouse! a concert celebrating the composer Charles Strouse at 54 Below. He has produced for Emmy Award-winning comedian Jim Gaffigan, including Jim's 2019 Amazon Special, Quality Time. As Associate Director for Cirque du Soleil's Corteo, Eric was honored to tour with the original team and develop new content based on regional and cultural themes. Additional directing credits include Applause, NYU, The Signature Project, Off-Broadway premiere, The Sycamore Street Kite Flying Club, Lincoln Center, Carolee Carmello at the Metropolis, Annie, National Tour (Associate Director), Charles Strouse at The Pheasantry, London, Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo (Russian & European Tour, Associate Director), The Addams Family, Fordham University, Curtains, Georgetown Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Olympics Uber Alles, MIT, Immortal Journey, Theatre Row, Passion, YAA, and the Camp Broadway National Tour. Eric is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College with a degree in Theater Direction and was a member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Foundation 2019 Observership Class.

Deena Kaye (Music and Vocal Director) Deena Kaye is a noted music director, music and sound designer, composer, and arranger with credits in NYC, regionally, and internationally. Her work includes productions at Lincoln Center, The New York Public Theater, The Acting Company, NY Theatre Workshop, Circle Rep, 9 years as resident sound designer for the National Shakespeare Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Westport Playhouse, and Dublin’s Trinity Theatre. She is also a dialect coach in New York City and regionally and has privately coached many hundreds of performers in audition preparation, text, music, dialects, and accents for more than forty-five years. Deena has frequently coached voiceover talent for NPR and Amazon/Audible and is referred to as 'The Voice Whisperer’ or 'The Queen of Voice Acting’ for her success in strengthening vocal quality and presence for all speakers. Deena is the co-author of Sound and Music for the Theatre: The Art and Technique of Design, published by Focal Press. Known as ‘The Bible’ for sound designers, it is used widely by universities and theatre professionals. It is now in its 4th edition, with the 5th edition to be released later this year. In 2020, Deena was honored with the Distinguished Achievement Award in Sound by the United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT) as part of their annual conference in recognition of decades of work contributing to and influencing the art of theatre, sound, and music.

Loading Dock Theatre was founded by actor Erin Treadway and playwright/sound designer Leegrid Stevens. The company is based in Brooklyn, where they rehearse and build shows. Loading Dock produces emotional, character-driven plays with an experimental edge. Loading Dock also provides space for emerging artists to present original and untested work in front of an audience in a warm and inviting atmosphere, including serving as a venue for the annual Exponential Festival. Past productions include War Dreamer (Henry Hewes Design Award nomination), A Peregrine Falls, Spaceman (nominated for 2 Drama Desk Awards, 3 Henry Hewes Design Awards, 4 NYIT Awards), The Twelfth Labor (nominated for 4 NYIT Awards), Ms Julie: Asian Equities (named one of the Top 10 Theatrical Experiences of 2015 by Broadway World), and The Dudleys (NYIT) Award-winner for Outstanding innovative Design).

Nancy Manocherian's the cell theatre (Artistic Director Kira Simring) is a not-for-profit dedicated to the incubation and presentation of new work across all artistic disciplines that mine the mind, pierce the heart and awaken the soul. Founded in 2006 as a “21st century salon”, the cell has provided a developmental home in the heart of Chelsea for the performing arts, food artists, cyborg theatre artists, musicians, installation artists, choreographers and more. Central to the organization is the Residency Program, which grants space and funds to artists on a project-by-project basis, allowing for tailored support and creative freedom. Past performances include, Where We Meet, Arctic Explorations, The Tiger’s Bride, cryptochrome, I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire, multiple productions with The Why Collective, The Final Veil, Elizabeth Swados’ Nightclub Cantata, What Keeps You Going?, Fruma-Sarah (Waiting in the Wings) starring Jackie Hoffman (Time Out NY Critics’ Pick), Persou, Found, The Evolution of Mann, Bastard Jones (Time Out NY Critics’ Pick; Drama Desk Award Nominated), Crackskull Row (New York Times Critics’ Pick), Hey Jude, Peter/Wendy, The McGowan Trilogy, Horse Girls, Hard Times: An American Musical (New York Times Critics’ Pick; developed into the Tony Award Nominated Paradise Square) and Dinner and Delusion. Work developed at the cell has been seen on Broadway, Irish Repertory Theatre, Southwark Playhouse, MCC, Rattlestick Playwrights’ Theatre, Joe’s Pub, New World Stages, Cherry Lane Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Portland Stage, Toyohashi Arts Theatre, Kino Theater, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Tank, Carnegie Stage, Carnegie Museum of Art, and Art Basel Miami.