(CAMDEN, NJ) -- South Camden Theatre Company and the Waterfront South Theatre will return to performing in front of live audiences with the regional premiere of Quiara Alegrîa Hudes’ Daphne’s Dive, which runs September 10-26. The production, directed by Joel Guerrero, takes place in a tucked away corner bar in North Philly where Daphne and her vibrant, eclectic regulars drink to art, politics, and life.
This is the second show South Camden Theatre Company has produced by Hudes. The first, Water by the Spoonful, was the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and was produced in Camden in January 2017. Guerrero explained, “The opportunity to help tell one of Hudes stories has always been a personal desire of mine. She has proven through all of her work that she is an ultimate storyteller. It’s also my first chance to tell a story of Latin Americans in Philadelphia! As a Latin American who lives in Philly, I have always been drawn to telling our stories and experiences. My goal is to stay true to the story while representing the vast spectrum of our Latin culture. Many people think Latin equals brown, while in actuality the Latin community spans from the indigenous Latin Americans of Mexico and Puerto Rico to the Afro-Latino populations of the Dominican Republic and South America. I hope the audience will embrace the show and its many faces of Latin culture.”
The director continued to express his passion for the play and when asked if the play hit any specific emotions he shared, “Daphne’s Dive has changed how I see one’s own nuclear family and ones chosen family. In todays society, family is a word that means many things and this show truly embraces that idea. Not only will this show speak to the residents in Camden and Philadelphia, it will speak to the human experience.”
He also mentioned the play’s leading character Daphne and how strong she stays throughout the show. He knew he had to cast a woman with the same strengths in their own character. The selection of Jessy Gruver for the lead female role was motivated by an experience he had sharing the stage with her. She has the acting chops, but most importantly she’s a mother and can grasp the matriarchal aspects of this stories lead character.
Quiara Alegría Hudes is the Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatist of Water By the Spoonful (Produced by SCTC in 2016); author of a memoir, My Broken Language; and screenwriter of In the Heights and Vivo. Previously, she co-wrote the Tony Award-winning stage musical In the Heights with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Miss You Like Hell at the Public Theater with Erin McKeown. Hudes’ notable essays include High Tide of Heartbreak in American Theater Magazine, #OurMothersToo in The Atlantic, and Corey Couldn’t Take It Anymore in The Cut. In opposition of the carceral state, Hudes and her cousin founded Emancipated Stories, a platform where people behind bars can share one page of their life story with the world. A passionate wife and mom, Hudes is a native of West Philly, and now lives with her family in Washington Heights, NY.
Joel Guerrero is originally from San Angelo, Texas where he grew up and studied theatre at Angelo State University. There he was an active actor and director with his local theatre troupe and a teacher and director of youth productions. In December 2012 Joel moved to the greater Philadelphia area to join Hedgerow Theatre as a member of their professional fellowship program. There he lead many comedic production and served as the resident youth director. Joel is now a freelance actor/director with many theaters in the greater Philadelphia area. He is ecstatic to work with a cast of this caliber and truly hopes you enjoy this amazing story! After Daphne’s Dive, He will be directing Matilda the Musical at The Broadway Theatre of Pitman.
South Camden Theatre Company also announced that they have chosen an Interim Artistic Director to replace Raymond Croce, Sr., the company's retiring Artistic Director. The Interim Artistic Director position will be filled by actor, director, musician, and teacher Dawn Varava. Dawn is a graduate of the Hartt School of Music and Rowan University for Theatre. She is currently an Equity actor and has performed on South Camden's stage in several past productions, including The Savannah Sipping Society and Gemini. Dawn’s guidance will be key as the company embarks on their first post-Covid live productions.
Varava said, “I’m very excited to be taking over the reign’s of South Camden Theatre Company. I’ve always held a very special place in my heart for the Company, its mission in Camden, and for the professional work they put on their stage.”
Outgoing Artistic Director, Ray Croce was excited to nominate her at the August board meeting and immediately following the vote and meeting took Dawn to their second floor offices to show her a desk with an extensive collection of plays.
Daphne’s Dive will be presented live, on-stage from September 10-September 26 with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, and on Sundays at 2:00pm.
This season of American stories was created to tug at your heart, make you laugh and bring you entertainment that you simply can’t see anywhere else. Each ticket you purchase supports our actors, directors, stage managers, artists and our beautiful home, The Waterfront South Theatre, Camden’s first theatre built in more than 100 years.
South Camden Theatre Company is proud to call Camden home. When the company was founded in 2005, performances were held in the basement theatre of the Sacred Heart Church. We’re now the proud owners of The Waterfront South Theatre, the first, free-standing theatre built in Camden in more than 100 years.
Along with the theatre company, the Waterfront South neighborhood is also a growing arts community. Our arts neighbors now include Camden FireWorks, artist studio spaces, and gallery, The Nick Virgilio Writer’s House, Bee Still Studios, The Camden Shipyard & Maritime Museum, Camden Boat Works, and the Center For Environmental Transformation, along with The Heart of Camden, The Camden Sophisticated Sisters, and The Sacred Heart Church.
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