SANCTIONS
by Bruce Graham
directed by Bud Martin
SEPTEMBER 12–30, 2018
World Premiere! When a university athletic department returns to the big business of college football after its NCAA probation is lifted, staff conflict and a new scandal involving a freshman tutor threaten to blow up the whole program. From the playwright of White Guy on the Bus and The Outgoing Tide comes this incendiary and timely new drama inspired by true events.
Show Sponsor:
#DTCSanctions
Want a deeper look at the themes and topics presented in the show? Learn more with our Study Guide.
The content in this play will engage with situations of sexual assault and racism that may be emotionally and intellectually challenging for audience members.
PRESS & REVIEWS
"A first-rate cast under the assured direction of the company's executive and artistic director, Bud Martin, is often enthralling."
–The Inquirer, Read the full review
"Gripping world premiere ... Graham has scored a touchdown with this taut 95-minute drama. And Delaware Theatre Company’s production with its stellar cast and deft direction under the company’s executive and artistic director Bud Martin is riveting.
–WHYY, Read the full review
"A gritty inside view ... Graham has done a fine job of capturing the sensitive issues and themes around the #metoo movement and university scandals that have recently and sadly continue to make headlines.
–Delaware Arts Info, Read the full review
"A taut production about a seductive and treacherous world ... The onstage company is strong, all four actors deeply invested in Graham’s well-defined roles ... a swift-moving and compelling evening."
–The Broad Street Review, Read the full review
"Infused with a variety of viewpoints poised to pique thought, empirical evidence, and a savvy, charismatic cast directed by Bud Martin, there is something for everyone, not just sports lovers ... an excellent insightful work you’ll not want to pass up"
–Delco Culture Vulture, Read the full review
MEDIA
SANCTIONS (Trailer)
Get a first look at the world premiere of Bruce Graham's Sanctions, on stage September 12-30, 2018.
CAST & CREATIVE
*Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
ENRICH YOUR EXPERIENCE
All Community Engagement Activities are free and open to the public.
COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS
Immediately following each performance unless another activity is planned.
Stick around after your performance for a facilitated community discussion led by staff members. Reflect on your reaction to the play as we work together as an audience to unpack the themes presented on stage.
GUEST SPEAKER SERIES
Immediately following each Thursday performance.
Cast of Sanctions
September 13 / 10:00 - 11:00 pm
The cast will return to the stage for a post-show discussion. The cast includes Catharine Slusar* (Claire Torrance,) Edward O'Blenis* (Ronald Hitchens,) Kimberly Fairbanks* (Tonya Mann,) and Susanne Collins (Abby Barton.)
Charlie Wilson (Delaware State University)
September 20 / 10:00 - 11:00 pm
Dr. Charlie Wilson is the Associate Dean for Academics in the College of Agriculture, Science, & Technology and Faculty Athletics Representative at Delaware State University. He has served on the faculty since 1997 and was formerly the interim Dean of the College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology and Chair of the Department of Biological Science. Wilson earned a bachelor's in Biology from Delaware State in 1984 and a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Delaware in 1994.
Alonna Berry (Teach For America)
September 27 / 9:00 - 10:00 pm
Alonna Berry works for Teach For America Delaware, where she supports leadership development, classroom training, and support across the state of Delaware. In partnership with Teach For America Delaware, Alonna developed launched an educator leadership program, Engage Delaware in 2017. This year-long leadership development program focuses on building capacity through collective leadership for educators across the state; Engage Delaware innovates on programming for students and families by building mentoring programs, supporting teacher leader effectiveness and providing social-emotional supports for students with trauma across the state of Delaware. Before Teach For America, she worked as the Aide to the Chief Academic Officer and Associate Secretary of Education. In 2013, she was awarded the Sue Lehmann Award for Excellence in Teaching. She serves on boards such as Montessori Works and Next Generation South and is the advisor for the Youth Philanthropy Board in Sussex County. She is Founder and Chair of Proximate Network, INC. an organization committed to the rural development through education in Sussex County, DE.
BREAKING THE SILENCE: A PANEL DISCUSSION
Saturday, September 22 / 4:00 - 5:00 pm
More than 90% of sexual assault survivors on college campuses do not report the assault. This discussion aims to provide insight and information on raising awareness and preventing sexual violence on campus. Expert panelists include:
Melissa Bader-Huesgen (University of Delaware)
Melissa Bader is a Residence Hall Coordinator through University of Delaware UD Residence Life who is a trained victim advocate with Sexual Offense Support at UD. She holds an MS in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Miami University and a BA in Liberal Studies from Sonoma State University.
Joanne Sampson (University of Delaware)
Joanne Sampson is a Sexual Violence Prevention Specialist at the University of Delaware and the program coordinator for Bringing in the Bystander®, a sexual misconduct prevention program. She is a trained victim advocate with Sexual Offense Support at UD, and is certified in direct services/systems advocacy and prevention as a Domestic Violence Specialist in Delaware.
Natalie Walton (University of Delaware)
Natalie Walton is a junior at the University of Delaware studying sociology and criminal justice. She has been a Sexual Offense Support advocate since January 2017 and has since founded and, is the president of, It’s On Us, a student organization working to mobilize students against sexual violence. Outside of UD, she has interned with the Office of the Child Advocate and currently volunteers with Planned Parenthood in the Sexuality Education Training Institute. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she hopes to attend graduate school and do research on accessibility to sex education.
ATHLETES IN ACADEMIA: A PANEL DISCUSSION
Saturday, September 29 / 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Explore the complicated—and often controversial—balance of academic integrity and athletic achievement many intercollegiate sports programs face today. Expert panelists include:
Linda Andrzjewski (Wilmington University)
Dr. Linda Van Drie Andrzjewski has worked at Wilmington University for over 17 years, most recently at her post as the Executive Director of Title IX, Clery and Regulatory Affairs, where she is responsible for the University’s Title IX and Clery compliance. Prior to this, she was the Director of Athletics. She has over 21 years background in intercollegiate athletics administration with a background heavy in compliance. She has served on several NCAA Committees, and completed an 18-month fellowship with the NCAA in 2009. Dr. Van Drie Andrzjewski earned degrees from the University of Miami (B.A, and M.S. Ed. ) and her Doctorate from Argosy University.
Jan Blade (Delaware State University)
Dr. Jan Blade is the Chair of the Department of Sport Management and the Director of the Sport Administration graduate program at Delaware State University. Jan has an extensive background in academics and athletics. She served as DSU’s Faculty Athletics Representative for ten years and for seven years she served on the NCAA Committee for Academic Performance when the Academic Progress Rate (APR) was in the infancy stage. In addition, she has served on the NCAA Committee for Academic Performance Appeals Subcommittee, Supplemental Support Fund Advisory Team, and the HBCU and Limited Resource Institutions Advisory Group.
Guest Speakers, Panelists, and Community Engagement Activities subject to change.
ENRICH YOUR EXPERIENCE
All Community Engagement Activities are free and open to the public.
COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS
Immediately following each performance unless another activity is planned.
Stick around after your performance for a facilitated community discussion led by staff members. Reflect on your reaction to the play as we work together as an audience to unpack the themes presented on stage.
GUEST SPEAKER SERIES
Immediately following each Thursday performance.
Cast of Sanctions
September 13 / 9:00 - 9:30 pm
The cast will return to the stage for a post-show discussion. The cast includes Catharine Slusar* (Claire Torrance,) Edward O'Blenis* (Ronald Hitchens,) Kimberly Fairbanks* (Tonya Mann,) and Susanne Collins (Abby Barton.)
Charlie Wilson (Delaware State University)
September 20 / 9:00 - 9:30 pm
Dr. Charlie Wilson is the Associate Dean for Academics in the College of Agriculture, Science, & Technology and Faculty Athletics Representative at Delaware State University. He has served on the faculty since 1997 and was formerly the interim Dean of the College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology and Chair of the Department of Biological Science. Wilson earned a bachelor's in Biology from Delaware State in 1984 and a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Delaware in 1994.
Alonna Berry (Teach For America)
September 23 / 4:00 - 4:30 pm
Alonna Berry works for Teach For America Delaware, where she supports leadership development, classroom training, and support across the state of Delaware. In partnership with Teach For America Delaware, Alonna developed launched an educator leadership program, Engage Delaware in 2017. This year-long leadership development program focuses on building capacity through collective leadership for educators across the state; Engage Delaware innovates on programming for students and families by building mentoring programs, supporting teacher leader effectiveness and providing social-emotional supports for students with trauma across the state of Delaware. Before Teach For America, she worked as the Aide to the Chief Academic Officer and Associate Secretary of Education. In 2013, she was awarded the Sue Lehmann Award for Excellence in Teaching. She serves on boards such as Montessori Works and Next Generation South and is the advisor for the Youth Philanthropy Board in Sussex County. She is Founder and Chair of Proximate Network, INC. an organization committed to the rural development through education in Sussex County, DE.
BREAKING THE SILENCE: A PANEL DISCUSSION
Saturday, September 22 / 4:00 - 5:00 pm
More than 90% of sexual assault survivors on college campuses do not report the assault. This discussion aims to provide insight and information on raising awareness and preventing sexual violence on campus. Expert panelists include:
Melissa Bader-Huesgen (University of Delaware)
Melissa Bader is a Residence Hall Coordinator through University of Delaware UD Residence Life who is a trained victim advocate with Sexual Offense Support at UD. She holds an MS in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Miami University and a BA in Liberal Studies from Sonoma State University.
Joanne Sampson (University of Delaware)
Joanne Sampson is a Sexual Violence Prevention Specialist at the University of Delaware and the program coordinator for Bringing in the Bystander®, a sexual misconduct prevention program. She is a trained victim advocate with Sexual Offense Support at UD, and is certified in direct services/systems advocacy and prevention as a Domestic Violence Specialist in Delaware.
Natalie Walton (University of Delaware)
Natalie Walton is a junior at the University of Delaware studying sociology and criminal justice. She has been a Sexual Offense Support advocate since January 2017 and has since founded and, is the president of, It’s On Us, a student organization working to mobilize students against sexual violence. Outside of UD, she has interned with the Office of the Child Advocate and currently volunteers with Planned Parenthood in the Sexuality Education Training Institute. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she hopes to attend graduate school and do research on accessibility to sex education.
ATHLETES IN ACADEMIA: A PANEL DISCUSSION
Saturday, September 29 / 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Explore the complicated—and often controversial—balance of academic integrity and athletic achievement many intercollegiate sports programs face today. Expert panelists include:
Linda Andrzjewski (Wilmington University)
Dr. Linda Van Drie Andrzjewski has worked at Wilmington University for over 17 years, most recently at her post as the Executive Director of Title IX, Clery and Regulatory Affairs, where she is responsible for the University’s Title IX and Clery compliance. Prior to this, she was the Director of Athletics. She has over 21 years background in intercollegiate athletics administration with a background heavy in compliance. She has served on several NCAA Committees, and completed an 18-month fellowship with the NCAA in 2009. Dr. Van Drie Andrzjewski earned degrees from the University of Miami (B.A, and M.S. Ed. ) and her Doctorate from Argosy University.
Jan Blade (Delaware State University)
Dr. Jan Blade is the Chair of the Department of Sport Management and the Director of the Sport Administration graduate program at Delaware State University. Jan has an extensive background in academics and athletics. She served as DSU’s Faculty Athletics Representative for ten years and for seven years she served on the NCAA Committee for Academic Performance when the Academic Progress Rate (APR) was in the infancy stage. In addition, she has served on the NCAA Committee for Academic Performance Appeals Subcommittee, Supplemental Support Fund Advisory Team, and the HBCU and Limited Resource Institutions Advisory Group.
Guest Speakers, Panelists, and Community Engagement Activities subject to change.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
This organization is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com