Pass Over by Antoinette Nwandu

As this country reckons with its history of suppressive systematic racial violence, trauma, and injustice - PASS OVER shows us the humanity at the core of this horrendous American condition; forcing us to collectively consider how we value Black lives in this country.

In this time of an absurd cycle of racial violence and inertia, when many Americans are feeling angry, traumatized, frustrated, and hopeless; now more than ever we need to enter into an open dialogue with one another, making space for hard truths and collective healing.

The LAB LV presents a private, outdoor, socially distanced, mandatory masked, moderated discussion, preceded by the ambient dialogue of PASS OVER.  

*Content Advisory: Contains loud sirens and explicit language 

______________________________

Jason Nious (MOSES) is a performing artist and creative director of Molodi, an experimental body percussion ensemble based in Las Vegas.  Past productions include STOMP, Step Afrika!, and Cirque du Soleil's KA and Zarkana.  Film credits: Stomp The Yard: Homecoming, Bubblegum & Broken Fingers, and Finding My Precious Basquiat.  Jason is currently a teaching artist with Cirque du Soleil’s Arts Nomades program.  He received his B.A. in Theatre from the University of New Mexico. 

Jamey Clay-Brown (KITCH) is excited to join The LAB LV again after making his debut as Fish in our production of The Royale. His recent work includes A Soldier's Play at the Smith Center with Broadway in The Hood. He’s trained at the Susan Batson Studios in New York City, and has studied with acting instructors Carl Ford, Richard Handy, and Nina Binder. Jamey has also contributed in front of and behind the camera on numerous sets. Playing basketball, dancing, and inspiring others are just a few of the things that keep his artistry thriving. 

Scott Carl McAdam (MISTER/OSSIFER) Scott’s acting experience spans stage, film, commercials and other media. His Las Vegas resume includes a Best Lead Actor-nominated performance as Sims/Papa in Cockroach Theatre’s production of The Nether (Best Play of 2016, Las Vegas Valley Theatre Awards), and his fiery portrayal of the Reverend Jim Jones in Table 8’s original production of Jonestown (Best of 2014, Las Vegas Weekly). Other productions include, The Thanksgiving Play, Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, Stage Kiss, The Birthday Party, and A Summons From The Tinker. When not acting, Scott supports a number of international Christian organizations, travels and spends time with his family, God kids, friends and Emma (his Golden Retriever and a working therapy dog).  Scott is also an accomplished business attorney and advisor.

Sabrina Cofield (DIRECTOR) Directorial Debut, Winner of the 2017 Best Supporting Actress Vegas Valley Theater Award for her role in The Christians, and recently featured as Desert Companion Magazine’s ONES TO WATCH, Sabrina Cofield is an Emmy Award winning journalist who is proud to be working with The LAB LV in a different capacity, after starring in; The Royale, A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Concert Fantastic (at Super Summer Theatre), The Wolves, and Antigone.  Sabrina also earned a Best Actress nomination for her role as Agnes in BUG.  Other productions include; WIT, Native Speech, and Mr. Burns.  

Dulce Valencia (PRODUCTION/STAGE MANAGER) is a visual artist and storyteller from Mexico. She incorporates elements of her immigrant upbringing into her art in an effort to elevate and advocate immigrant rights.  Her story and work can be seen on Lifetime's Her America, Apple TV+'s "Dear..." Past credits include: Jasmine, Hart Island Requiem (Reading) at the Drama League, The Grief Dialogues, Asylum Theatre, and Las Vegas' Fringe Festival and 24 Hour Play Project.

Kate St-Pierre (THE LAB LV ARTISTIC DIRECTOR) Drama Desk Award nominee, Kate is most recognized for her versatility. Vocally, Kate has recorded for multiple film scores and soundtracks. She was the original singer for Cirque Du Soleil’s Le Reve and was also the singer/soloist for Cirque Du Soleil’s Ka.  In 2015 Kate established The LAB LV, an interdisciplinary experimental theatre company.  She has since directed award winning Iphigenia 2k16, The LAB’s premier immersive production, which was declared one of the “Top Three Theatrical Productions: Best of Theatre 2016” by the Las Vegas Weekly.  Other directing credits include;  Antigonick, Disgraced, The Whipping Man, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity for Cockroach Theatre. (CTC), Erwartung for a collaboration between Sin City Opera (SCO) and (CTC), The Wolves, A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Concert Fantastic, with Super Summer Theatre and most recently The Royale and Dance Nation. Kate is an alumnus of the Lincoln Center Theater Directors’ Lab, Artist in Residence with the Nevada Arts Council, Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Rogers Art Loft board member, StateraArts Ambassador and teaches directing (grad and undergrad) at UNLV.

RuBen Permel (COSTUME DESIGNER) RuBen Permel has been creating on and off stage for more than three decades throughout the United States and Canada. He has designed costumes for more than 50 theatrical productions and toured with many Broadway national companies. Locally, RuBen has designed costumes for Cirque du Soleil’s inaugural One Night for One Drop at the Bellagio and Jeff Calhoun’s Heartbreak Hotel at Harrahs. He won the Vegas Valley Best Costume Design as well as Broadway World Regional Award for his work on Marie Antionette at Majestic Repertory Theatre. He designs for television and film while maintaining a successful career as a contemporary painter. RuBen headed wardrobe teams for FIVE Cirque du Soleil productions with MGM Resorts. 

Ellen Bone (LIGHTING DESIGN) Ellen has previously designed A Midsummer Nights’ Dream, A Concert Fantastic for The LAB LV;  Holmes and Watson, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, The Dog and The Cat, The Wolves, and Grounded for Vegas Theatre Company (Cockroach).  Gianni Schicchi and Seven Deadly Sins/Ewartung for Cockroach/Sin City Opera.  She has also designed Man of La Mancha, In the Heights, and Memphis for Super Summer Theater as well as Incognito, August Osage County for A Public Fit.  In NYC, Ellen designed for several dance companies as well as assisted lighting designers for companies such as Second Stage, Playwrights Horizons, Mabou Mines, Cleveland Playhouse and Feld Ballet.  She has previously designed for Yow Dance in Orlando and Stray Cat Theatre in Tempe.  

Martin St-Pierre (SOUND DESIGN)​ A front man in both violin performance and composition, Martin St-Pierre is renowned for his versatility, specializing in Classical, Rock and World Music. St-Pierre has extensive knowledge of traditional Chinese, North Indian Classical, Eastern Europe and various Middle Eastern styles of music. St-Pierre was an orchestrator and score coordinator for Christopher Young on numerous feature films including The Grudge, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Spider-Man 3 and soundtrack co-producer for Ghost Rider. An accomplished orchestra conductor, St-Pierre is an alumnus of the highly prestigious Pierre Monteux School for Orchestra Conducting in Maine. In 2004 St-Pierre was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. In 2006 St-Pierre won the Composer Lab Fellowship at the Sundance Institute.

Laney Hill (PROPS/SET DESIGN) Laney spent six years working with Blue Man Group in New York and touring professionally, as well as Terry Fator. For many years she worked as a scenic painter for major theme parks, honing in on her craft and learning anything new and exciting. She currently works for community theater companies around the Vegas area. She is so excited to work with The Lab LV and is thankful for the opportunity to create, even when this industry is at a stand still. Laney lost her mom on March 23, 2020 and is dedicating this build to her. 

Camern Wakefield (SET DESIGN) Camren has been exploring numerous faucets of live entertainment and interactive arts for over ten years. They have volunteered with countless theatrical companies, helping to develop and produce various work and spaces. With an Entertainment Engineering and Design degree from UNLV, Camern  hopes to educate and improve the community.  

Angel Mendoza (FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY/WEAPONS SAFETY) Although Angel has shifted focus to being in front of the camera and on stage, he still shares his passion for fight choreography. With his experience in Martial Arts and Acting he truly enjoys studying and designing fight scenes for Film and Theatre. He adds "I'm all for trying to improve the story by getting the audience to feel the pain, the relief, and the angst of the fight through the performance. It sometimes is a story in itself".

A very special thank you to our INCREDIBLE team behind the scenes Tatiana Weiford, Anessa Lambert, Sidney May, Darren Simmons, and Marina Kaminskiy.

______________________________

Be The Change

This production was made possible with the help of our generous DONORS who continue to support the work we do, recognizing the need for representation and amplification of the voices and narratives that have been silenced for far too long.  THE LAB LV THANKS Stacy Joseph, Lillian Radomsky, Kevin Hooks, Alyson Clyde, Jordana Haber, and Charlene Shar. We would also like to thank Ed Kainen for his patience, selfless generosity, and understanding as we invaded his space over the last month.  Our COVID Compliance Consultant Adia Bell of A. Bell and Associates. And last, but certainly not least, we would like to thank our brilliant moderators Frank Rudy Cooper, Kevin Hooks, Keisha Weiford, and Weslyn Juhl.