Can You Hear the Mermaids Singing?
Two sisters navigate the deep waters of the local pool and their relationship in the wake of their mother’s death. Here be mermaids.
Can You Hear the Mermaids Singing? is written by Rachel Atkins and directed by Rebecca Rose Schilsky.
Biographies
Rachel Atkins
Rachel Atkins [she/her] (Playwright) is a Seattle-based playwright and teaching artist. She is the scriptwriter for the multimedia educational theatre company Living Voices, with 12 shows on different issues of history and social justice in ongoing touring repertory, seen by over 3 million audience members throughout the U.S. and Canada. Her play Black Like Us (Original Works Publishing) received the Theatre Puget Sound Gregory Award for Outstanding New Play, 2 Seattle Times Footlight Awards, and was an American Theatre Critics Association Steinberg New Play Award nominee. A three-time Gregory Award nominee for Outstanding Playwright/New Play, her work has been produced extensively in Seattle and around the U.S., Canada, and Brazil. Rachel is a Dramatists Guild member and holds her master’s in educational theatre from New York University. As a Seattle Office of Arts & Culture Arts Partner, she teaches throughout the region, including Seattle Public Schools Theatre of the Oppressed/Ethnic Studies program and Arts Impact, including the Native Voices Arts Academy.
Rebecca Rose Schilsky
Rebecca Rose Schilsky [she, her] (Director) is excited to return to Ghostlight this summer! Since moving to Chicago, Rebecca has worked as a director, teaching artist, and production manager, with Second City, Northlight Theatre, Mudlark Theater, Jackalope Theatre, Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble, & Whiskey Radio Hour, and just wrapped up working on the Moulin Rouge Tour! Rebecca’s theatrical passions include creating brave spaces on and offstage, and generating productions that strive to inspire audiences ages 0-101!
GWYNETH CLARE
Gwyneth Clare [she/her] (Beth) is thrilled to be making her Ghostlight Ensemble debut! Gwyneth graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting and a minor in new works for the stage from Ball State University in 2020. Some of her favorite roles during her education include Dinah in Revolt. She said. Revolt Again (dir. Kelsey Price), Dorothea in Hath Taken Away (dir. Sarah King) and Bernie in the premiere production of Borrowed Babies (dir. Karen Kessler). Film credits include Tiger in What Tiger Wishes (dir. Chris Anderson) for which she received a Best Actress nomination at the Oniros Film Awards in 2020. Now that she is in Chicago, Gwyneth is so excited to be acting again following a brief hiatus in which she enjoyed tennis lessons, stand-up comedy classes, and lots of video games. Gwyneth thanks her friends and family for the support, and she hopes you all enjoy Make/Believe!
Adeera Harris
Adeera Harris [she/her] (Sarah) is honored and excited to be working with Ghostlight Ensemble for the first time. Adeera has just finished her first year at Syracuse University as a Bachelor of Fine Arts Musical Theater major and is extremely excited to continue her learning experience over the summer working within this amazing project. Adeera is very proud of her credits that range from theater performances and short film appearances, as well as her involvement and creation of a web series called Black Girl Chronicles that uplifts young black women. Adeera would like to thank her family, friends and mentors for supporting her always without fail.