FREE -Artists-in-Residence Sharing: Scenes, Stories, and a Film - August 10, 2025 at 1pm

Artists-in-Residence Sharing: Scenes, Stories, and a Film in Progress
Sunday, August 10 at 1pm | Hubbard Hall Mainstage
Free admission | Donations welcome | Space is limited, pre-registration encouraged

Join us for an extraordinary afternoon of new and restaged work created in residence at Hubbard Hall by members of A Certain Something, a collective of nationally acclaimed theatermakers, in partnership with members of the Hubbard Hall Theater Company and the Cambridge community. Throughout the week, these artists have developed plays, solo performance pieces, and a brand-new short film shot in and around Cambridge.

This informal, one-hour presentation will feature scenes and excerpts from six works in progress, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look into the creative process:

I JUST WANNA BE YOUR LOVERGIRL
Written and performed by Cherrye J. Davis
A musical and poetic solo performance tracing love, longing, and self-worth in the lives of women today. A follow-up to her acclaimed national tour of How to Mourn an American.

MISS JULIE
Adapted and directed by Nilan
Strindberg’s explosive classic, reimagined through an American lens. This sharp, urgent adaptation explores class, survival, and desire in new and riveting ways.

AN ILIAD
By Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare, directed by Gabriel Stelian Shanks
Featuring Jewel Winant and David Skeele. This multi-character version of An Iliad retells the Trojan War as an epic meditation on war, grief, and memory, echoing ancient truths for a modern audience.

HEAVEN, HELL, OR CAROLINA
A new play by Nilan
In development at Playmakers Repertory Theatre in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, this bold new work continues its evolution during the ACS residency at Hubbard Hall.

THE STOKES INTERVIEW
A film project inspired by immigration attorney Rachel Einbund
An early-stage script exploring the painful and little-known “Stokes Interview” process in U.S. immigration, a bureaucratic ordeal that has separated countless couples seeking legal residency.

CAMBRIDGE
A short film by Catalin Stelian
Shot on-site during the residency, this poetic and cinematic piece explores identity and belonging in small-town America. Featuring Jewel Winant and David Skeele, Cambridge celebrates the spirit and scenery of our own community.

This is a rare opportunity to see and support the early stages of dynamic work, meet the artists, and be part of the creative process. Your feedback is welcomed and encouraged.

Admission is free, but seating is limited. Donations are welcome.
Pre-registration is strongly encouraged!

About the Artists

These artists are in residence at Hubbard Hall as part of a weeklong development lab supported by A Certain Something, in collaboration with members of the Hubbard Hall Theater Company.

A Certain Something (ACS)

A Certain Something is a multidisciplinary collective of award-winning artists committed to developing bold, process-driven work that blends theater, film, music, and movement. Founded by Obie Award-winning director Gabriel Stelian Shanks, the company centers collaboration, experimentation, and community in all stages of creation.

Gabriel Stelian Shanks
Gabriel is a director, writer, and Artistic Director of The Drama League. His work includes the television series Extra Room and the films The Least Untrue, One More Thing, and The Damnable Deprivation of Dmitri. His work has screened at international festivals including Madrid, Stockholm, and Harlem. Gabriel has also taught and lectured nationally on directing.

Cherrye J. Davis
An award-winning actor, playwright, poet, and musician, Cherrye is the creator and performer of How to Mourn an American, SOLD!, and Dreams in Scar Space. Her work spans downtown New York stages, national tours, and film, including HBO and award-winning independent projects. She is a graduate of NYU Tisch and lead vocalist for The Nervous and DeathrowTull.

Catalin Stelian
Catalin is a filmmaker, editor, and actor originally from Bucharest and now based in New York City. A 2021 Bessie Award winner, his work includes Nobody’s Perfect, Desperate Ghosts, and Horse Power (Golden Pardino nominee, Locarno). He is the Media Director of Sharp Left Media and produces films, music videos, and branded content for national clients.

Nilan
Nilan is a writer, performer, and Associate Artistic Director of The Drama League. He co-created and stars in Extra Room and has written plays including Shadow in the Corner, The Spectrum Plays, and Our Precedent. His work has been presented by PlayMakers Rep, Harlem 9, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, and others. He holds an MFA in Acting from UNC Chapel Hill and is a member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA, and the Black Theatre Network.

Hubbard Hall Theater Company

Jewel Winant
Jewel is an emerging actor and the 2025 Summer Shakespeare Fellow at Hubbard Hall. She recently appeared in Dancing at Lughnasa and currently stars as Orlando in As You Like It. A graduate of the University at Albany, she has performed in nearly 40 productions and begins her MFA in Classical Acting at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC this fall.

David Skeele
David is a playwright, director, and performer who recently relocated to the Capital Region after 30 years as a professor at Slippery Rock University. His plays including Starla, The Margins, and Dark North have been produced internationally. At Hubbard Hall, he appeared in Twelfth Night and premiered Starla at the Capital Region Festival of Theatre in 2025.