Performance Program
Spring 2025
Pipeline
Dramaturgy Note:
The work of Dominique Morisseau, as presented by the cast, crew, and creative team of the O’Kane theatre, weaves together a tapestry of adversity. Morisseau’s Lucille Lortel award nominated play, “Pipeline” presents brutal commentary of the school to prison pipeline, generational divide in marginalized communities, and the lasting scars of oppression. It has been described by the New York Times as a "passionate but frustratingly unresolved play about a family struggling to outrun social prophecy." I find the dialogue to be poetry in motion, and amongst the most evocative I’ve seen in any play, ripe with meticulous beauty that exists beyond the confines of conventionally accepted speech, and the story told by it is as breathtaking as it is devastating.
I hope, more than anything, that this play, as we present it, makes you question. I hope it makes you consider race, class, familial relations, and the state of our country in a new light. Within the current state of things, it’s easy to withdraw, to become despondent, and to lessen your circle of concern. I hope this piece makes you consider the issues so many face, even if they’re issues foreign to you. I hope you may find it in yourself to view the content of Morisseau’s work with fresh eyes, and know, in your soul, that it is real. I hope it may make you question the scars of oppression, to question the state of American education and the racial biases that exist within it. I hope it makes you feel rage, and sorrow, and, paradoxically, hope, just as it has for me.
In trying times, the only way we can make it through is together.
Star Rodgers
Creative Team:
Director – Dr. Zach Dailey
Set Design – Professor Kyle Moore
Lighting Design – Professor Kyle Moore
Sound Design – Professor Kyle Moore
Score and Music Selection –Dr. Zach Dailey
Costume Design – Kystal Uchem
Dramaturg – Star Rodgers
Cast:
Nya – Kechi Ogavu
Omari – Trey Worrell
Xavier – Shon Brown
Jasmine – Eleanor Novio
Laurie – Heather “Shoresy” Williams
Dun – Mawue Agbenohevi
Poet – Kyla Shy
Poet – Moutaz Khidir
Technical Crew:
Assistant Director – Moutaz Khidir
Stage Manager – Dana Estoestra
Assistant Stage Manager – Alana Humes
Assistant Stage Manager – Africa Qhamata
Sound/Video Engineer – Ian Ramirez
Light Board Operator – Fernando Cejudo
Deck Crew – Drake Davies. Michael Gonzalez,
Khang Huynh, Yamily Rivera,
Wardrobe Head – Eman Hamid
Wardrobe Crew – Alexandra Clemente, Julian Dorr, Bex Rathbun, Adrianna Vargas
Props Crew - Heather S. Williams
Scenic Carpenter – Brianna Baskin
Scenic Carpenter – Sora Srivastava
Shop Foreman – Shawn Hyder
About the Actors & Crew
(*) indicates that this Student is recipient of one or more Drama Scholarships.
Kechi Ogavu (Nya) is honored and thrilled to be making her debut with the Okane Theatre. Although
it has been a few years since Kechi has hit the stage, she has been honing her skills
in acting, costume design and songwriting/recording. In her free time, Kechi likes
to choreograph dances for fun, workout, and make music. She is currently a senior
at the University of Houston-Downtown pursuing a degree in Fine Arts (Drama Concentration).
Fun fact about Kechi, she has been working with The Knight School Houston teaching
chess to elementary school students for the past three years.
Trey Worrell (Omari) is delighted to be back with the O’Kane Theater. He is fresh off his last
role of Lloyd from One Man, Two Guvnors and is ecstatic to be a part of another. He is currently working on his film studies
degree at UHD and making great strides. A fun fact about Him is that he accidentally
took the same theater class 3 times.
Eleanor Novio (Jasmine) is delighted to be back with the O’Kane Theatre. Recent credits include
Unpersons: A Night with Harold Pinter as Young Woman with O’Kane Theater as well as a scenic painter/assistant director
in the summer production of The Lifeboat is Sinking. She also recently played an audience plant in One Man Two Governors. She is a student pursuing a BAFA degree at University of Houston-Downtown. She enjoys
making music and art.
Heather “Shorsey” Williams (Laurie/Marketing) is delighted to be making her debut with the O’Kane Theatre at
UHD. Credits include Props on One Man Two Guvnors Fall 2024. She was also recently nominated to the Honors Society National Society
of Leadership and Success (NSLS). She holds two Associates in both Liberal Arts and
Applied Science and is pursuing a bachelorette diploma in Sociology from University
of Houston-Downtown. She is a Student Worker for The Center for Student Advocacy &
Community.
Mawuena Agbenohevi (Dun) is more than delighted to be participating on this show, he recently participated
in Much Ado About Nothing Fall 2023 and later, in Fall 2024, was cast on the ensemble of One Man Two Guvnors. Mawuena brings a diverse set of skills and abilities, from playing the piano and
other musical instruments to his singing ability and stage presence when cast into
a role. He is currently a psychology major at the University of Houston-Downtown,
planning to also snatch a minor in General business before graduation. He strives
to surpass expectations no matter the obstacles! Although Mawuena has only been officially
cast in UHD plays he has also had acting roles in churches and a few of non-profit
acts, don’t take your eye off: Him he is a Star in the making! His main goal in life?
He plans to work hard so his family can depend on him.
(Xavier) The Prodigal Son, Shon is elated to be back and to perform once more in
the O'Kane Theater Stage. Though he is working all around the Houston theater scene,
both on and behind the stage, there is no place like home.
Kyla Shy (Poet, Jasmine U/S) is thrilled to be a part of Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau. She is honored to serve as the understudy for the role of
Jasmine in this powerful and timely production. She is a professional dancer who has
performed on numerous stages. Her major is medical humanities, and she plans to attend
a physician assistant program after graduation. Kyla is passionate about storytelling,
which sparks conversations, and she is grateful for the opportunity to work on such
an impactful piece. She thanks the cast, crew, and her loved ones for their support.
Moutaz Khidir (Assistant Director, Poet, Dun U/S) is an aspiring and passionate actor who is excited to make his debut with Pipeline. His first play was a lead role in one of UHD’s One-Act plays “Priorities”. He has
also recently been in Season 2 of Netflix’s MO. He is currently working on his Bachelors of
Arts in Fine Arts (Drama Concentration), and has also trained with celebrity acting
coach Louis Stancil at LSActing Studios. Fun fact is that he likes to produce and
make music during his free time.
Dana Estoesta (Stage Manager/photographer/social media marketing) is very honored to be working
on her 8th production here at UHD O’Kane Theatre. Never will Dana forget how amazing
these wonderful shows have come together and been there from start to finish. Starting
from making costumes to now being the Stage Manager for a few shows before like Much Ado About Nothing and Assistant Stage Manager for The Book Club Play to again being the Stage Manager for Pipeline. Dana is pursuing a Psychology major. A few hobbies Dana has is being a photographer
and has been able to take head shots and production pictures for the O’Kane Theater
for a few shows. Dana would like to thank her family and all her friends who have
supported her in her journey in the theater world.
Alana Humes (Assistant Stage Manager) is delighted to work her third show with the O’Kane Theatre.
Alana worked on Unpersons as a carpenter/ scenic painter, Costumes/ wardrobe crew for One man, Two guvnors,
and now as Assistant stage manager for Pipeline. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in
Interdisciplinary Studies and is now working on a MBA in Project management and Process
Improvement. Fun fact about Alana, she loves to crochet and knit and can figure out
how things are made just by looking at it.
Africa Qhamata (Assistant Stage Manager) is happy to be working backstage for the first time with
UHD O'Kane Theater. Her favorite show was a Musical called The Little Mermaid with Cadre Kerr Theater. She recently performed in the show One Man, Two Guvnors with the O'Kane Theater. She is currently a student at the University of Houston
Downtown, majoring in Finance. She gives thanks to everyone who's working on the play
for their hard work and to professors for allowing her the opportunity to participate
and work on Pipeline.
Star Rodgers (Dramaturg) Star Rodgers is a history and drama student at University of Houston Downtown,
this is her second time performing with the O’Kane Theatre, having previously made
her UHD debut as a sergeant in Unpersons. Star seeks to study dramaturgy going forward, and would like to thank her directors,
cast mates, and crew for creating such a wonderful environment and collaborating on
such a great play, her friends and family for always supporting her ambitions in the
arts, a thanks to the audience, without whom none of us would be here, and finally
a special thanks to her mother, Shay Rodgers, for nurturing in her, from a young age,
a strong appreciation and understanding of the arts.
Fernando Cejudo (Lighting) Fernando Cejudo is a Junior Political Science major at the University of Houston Downtown.
Recently he is working backstage on the current theatrical production of One Man Two
Guvnors, doing light and sound work. This is currently his third production with the
O’kane Theatre, and plans on doing many more future shows, and maybe even be in front
of the audience one day. I would like to thank the professors and directors at the
university, for allowing him to learn the ropes on how to do backstage production,
and his friends for making the experience memorable and seeing rising stars in local
theatre.
Ian Ramirez (Sound and Projections) Ian Ramirez is a Fine Arts major at the University of Houston – Downtown. Ian began
working as a backstage crew member during his time in high school and later continued
his practice in university where He has worked behind the scenes as light board Operator
in multiple plays such as Hell Cab, The Story of Us, The Royale, The Amish Project, The Book Club Play, and now, Unpersons. The people who influenced Ian to become part of the theatre were his high school
teacher Jack Mcewen alongside his professors Luke Fedell and Tim Klein. Ian enjoys
spending time working with the cast and crew members both in and out of production
and wishes to take his talents outside of the University and work in greater productions
in the future. Ian would like to thank his professors for the opportunity to join
on this production along with the cast and crew who he had the opportunity to work
closely with. He would also want to give thanks to his mother and father for taking
their time and helping him arrive to the university.
UHD Scholarship Awards:
Rockwell Fund, Inc.
The Charles and Betti Saunders Foundation
The Tom Lyttle Endowment
The Bill and Ann Stokes Foundation
The University Theatre Scholarship
Special Thanks:
President Loren J. Blanchard, Dr. Liza Alonzo, Dr. Azar Rejaie, Dr. Wendy Burns-Ardolino, Dr. Paul Kintzele, Dean Crystal Guillory, Mark Cervenka, Dr. Deborah E. Bordelon, Kimberly Thomas, Liza Alonzo, Emily Leffler, Dr. Judith Quander, Dr. Lucas Logan, Dr. Anthony Ramirez, Dr. Vida Robertson, Dr. Chuck Jackson, Cherilyn Pearson, Benito Vasquez, the Students in the course Costume Design Class, Frank Vela, Albert Holden, Daniel Ko, Tim Klein, Jennifer Nava, Angela Parrish, Jessica Ramirez, Marlene Chavez, Callie Everett, Courtney Lundgren