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By Inda Craig-Galván
Directed by Jade King Carroll
April 10 – May 5, 2024 | World Premiere

Leslie Wallace is a promising Black writer who has just landed her first deal with HBO. Her celebration is cut short when she gets a surprise visit from Andrew, a white man from her grad school cohort, who accuses her of plagiarizing his script. Their confrontation—and eventual uneasy alliance—forces a reckoning on representation, privilege, and who gets to tell what kinds of stories. Full of humor and complex characters, A Jumping-Off Point is a sharp and electric new play from rising star playwright and screenwriter Inda Craig-Galván. (Part of the National Capital New Play Festival)

Thank you to our sponsors:
The 2023-2024 Season is sponsored by Linda Ravdin and Don Shapero.

A Jumping-Off Point is sponsored by Nan Beckley and Noreen Marcus & Jay Sushelsky and is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support for the National Capital New Play Festival is provided by the Morgan Fund at Seattle Foundation.

Cast

Danny Gavigan

Andrew

Danny Gavigan (Andrew) is grateful to be back at Round House Theatre, where previous credits include Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, NSFW, How to Write a New Book for the Bible, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Double Indemnity, and Pride and Prejudice. DC credits include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Helen Hayes Award for Best Ensemble) and Death of a Salesman at Ford’s Theatre; One Jewish Boy and The Admission at Theatre J; Describe the Night and Detroit at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company; and Really Really at Signature Theatre. Off-Broadway appearances include Lucky Star at 59E59. Regional credits include Peer Gynt at La Jolla Playhouse and Kansas City Rep; A Streetcar Named Desire at Palm Beach Dramaworks; and The Rivals and Snow Falling on Cedars at Baltimore Center Stage. Film and television credits include FBI, Unarmed Man (TIVA DC Award for Best Actor), and Last Night (RIFE Award). Danny is a company member at Everyman Theatre in Baltimore, where he has performed in over 20 productions and produced the true crime paranormal podcast Everyman Theatre’s Resident Ghost Company.

Cristina Pitter

Miriam

Cristina Pitter (Miriam) is a queer multi-spirit afro-indigenous artist, abolitionist, and alchemist who wants to burn it all down and plant new seeds in the fertile soil. They also have the best laugh ever. Seriously. You may have seen their work at Round House Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Metropolitan Opera, JACK, The Bushwick Starr, Target Margin Theatre, Abrons Art Center, Mabou Mines, 59E59, Ars Nova, New Ohio Theatre, Joe’s Pub, The Tank, or Netflix’s Bonding. Follow their antics at cristinapitter.com . (They/She/Anything said with respect)

Nikkole Salter

Leslie

Nikkole Salter (Leslie) is thrilled to be making her Round House Theatre debut in A Jumping Off Point. DC credits include Confederates at Mosaic Theater Company; Stick Fly at Arena Stage; Macbeth at Shakespeare Theatre Company; and In the Continuum at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Regional credits include The Christians at Baltimore Center Stage; The Royale at Cleveland Playhouse; Mud Row at People's Light Theatre; Our Daughters Like Pillars and Luck of the Irish at the Huntington Theatre; Gee’s Bend at Kansas City Rep and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Head of Passes at Berkeley Rep; and The Old Settler at Luna Stage. Off-Broadway credits include Stew at Page 73; In the Continuum at Primary Stages/Perry Street Theatre; Gloria: A Life at DR2; and Inked Baby at Playwright's Horizons. Broadway credits include The Great Society at the Lincoln Center. Film and television credits include Pride and Glory, The Architect, Love and Communication, Last Night, The Unit, and Godfather of Harlem.

Nicole Ruthmarie Watkins

Leslie and Miriam Understudy

Nicole Ruthmarie Watkins (Leslie and Miriam Understudy) is ecstatic to make her Round House Theatre debut! DC credits includes School Girls: Or, The African Mean Girls Play, 46 Plays for America’s First Ladies, and A Midsummer Night's Dream at Nextstop Theatre Company; Bell Wringer (Capital Fringe Award for Best Musical) with Pinky Swear Productions; Oleanna at Perisphere Theater; Unprotected at Pipeline Playwrights; Can't Complain at Spooky Action Theater; The Trojan Women Project (Helen Hayes Award nominated for Supporting Actress in a Play and Best Ensemble) at Brave Spirits Theatre; Shakespeare’s Histories Rep company member at Brave Spirits Theatre. Instagram: @nicoleruthmarie. www.nicoleruthmarie.com (She/Her)

Creative Team

MEDIA

<p>Danny Gavigan (Andrew) and Nikkole Salter (Leslie) in <em>A Jumping-Off Point</em>. Photo by Margot Schulman Photography. </p> — Danny Gavigan (Andrew) and Nikkole Salter (Leslie) in *A Jumping-Off Point*. Photo by Margot Schulman Photography.

<p>Nikkole Salter (Leslie) and Cristina Pitter (Miriam) in<em> A Jumping-Off Poin</em>t. Photo by Margot Schulman Photography.</p> — Nikkole Salter (Leslie) and Cristina Pitter (Miriam) in A Jumping-Off Point. Photo by Margot Schulman Photography.

Production Photos