Dog Sees God
This show was performed October 6th – 8th, 2023
SHOW SUMMARY: “When CB’s dog dies from rabies, CB begins to question the existence of an afterlife. His best friend is too burnt out to provide any coherent speculation; his sister has gone goth; his ex-girlfriend has recently been institutionalized; and his other friends are too inebriated to give him any sort of solace. But a chance meeting with an artistic kid, the target of this group’s bullying, offers CB a peace of mind and sets in motion a friendship that will push teen angst to the very limits. Drug use, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion and sexual identity collide and careen toward an ending that’s both haunting and hopeful.”
CONTENT WARNINGS- Please be advised that this show has the following content warnings:
- Drug use
- Suicide
- Homophobic slurs
- Prejudice
- Eating disorders
- Mental illness
- Sexual situations
- Sexual assault
- Body shaming
- Physical violence
- Bullying
- Harassment
- Foul language
- Arson
Directed By Lulu Royce
Written By Bert V. Royal
congratulations to the dog sees god team on our evvy awards nominations!
Outstanding Stage Play
Outstanding Direction for Stage Lulu Royce
Outstanding Sound Design for Stage Maddie Wright
Outstanding Print Advertisement Angela Keon
Outstanding Supporting Performance for Play Spencer Daniel
Outstanding Supporting Performance for Play Connor Rossi
Creative Team
Director
Lulu Royce
(She/Her) | BFA Theatre and Performance ‘26. Lulu is honored to be directing this show with such incredible people onstage and by her side. This is her Directorial Debut at Emerson College but some of her acting credits at the school include, Hot Dam! As Brody the Boyscout Kaplan, (EFA Cabaret (2022), and The Summer I Turned Pretty Workshop as Mrs. Evans (2023) Her Emerson Student Film credits include, “Far From Home” (2022), “The Blood On Your Hands” (2023), and “Behind the Milk” (2023). She would like to thank her Mom ❤, Dad, friends and cat Molly Ming for supporting her no matter her insanity. She hopes you enjoy the show! Or else…
Writer
Bert V. Royal
(He/Him) | Bert V. Royal quit his profession as a casting director to write the play DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD, which was awarded the 2004 New York International Fringe Festival Overall Excellence Award, as well as the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Off-Off Broadway Production. He also penned the screenplay for “Easy A.” He lives in West Hollywood with his partner, Clay, and their two dogs.
Producer
Oliver Worner
(He/Him) | BFA Stage and Production Management ‘26. Emerson Stage credits: Little Women and How We Got On (Assistant Company Manager), Cabaret (Production Assistant), Paris (Crew); Upcoming Emerson Stage projects: The Impracticality of Modern Day Mastodons (2nd Assistant Stage Manager), Rod Parker 2024 (Assistant Production Supervisor); Emerson College credits: The 43rd Annual EVVY Awards (Logistics EP Assistant), The 42nd Annual EVVY Awards (Assistant Stage Manager), RareWorks Theater Company (Advisory Board); Other credits: Camden International Film Festival XIV-XIX. Oliver would like to thank the BlueJay Family for creating such a beautiful space for this production, and for JJ and Lulu for being fearless leaders. He’d also like to thank his roommates Mac and Tippens for being unpaid therapists. He would also like to thank Jennifer Coolidge. @oliverworner04
Scenic Designer
Nicole Vota
(any pronouns) | BFA Theatre ‘26. Emerson Stage credits: Mary, Sweet Mary (Crew). Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s Hot Dam! (Assistant Scenic Designer). Upcoming credits: Musical Theatre Society’s Falsettos (Assistant Stage Manager), Mercutio Troupe’s In the Waiting Room (Assistant Stage Manager).
Costume Designer
Alexa Peterson-Ismail
(She/They) | BFA Theatre Design and Technology, concentration in Costume Design ‘26. Before attending Emerson, Alexa participated in over 20 shows working in various positions in the costume process. At the New England Youth Theater, as a stitcher and dresser, they most notably worked on Tuck Everlasting (2017) and Blue Stockings (2019). At SBS, Alexa was Head Costume Designer and Stitcher for a total of three years, completing Urinetown (2019), a virtual show (2020), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2022). In 2019, Alexa received a theater department award for the coordination and hard work achieved. They are happy to be a part of BlueJay Theater Collective’s first season.
Lighting Designer
Sawyer Grabow
(They/Them) | BFA Theatre ‘26. Emerson College credits: Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s Hot Dam! (Assistant Lighting Designer), emShakes’ Lord of the Flies (Henry) and some other cool stuff coming very soon 🙂 @ggrabss on IG !!! I HEART BLUEJAY <3
Sound Designer
Maddie Wright
(They/Them) | BFA Theatre Education ‘26. Emerson College credits: Kidding Around’s Seussical (2nd Assistant Stage Manager), Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s The Wild Party (Stage Manager), Musical Theater Society’s Ride the Cyclone (Sound Design). Mercutio Troupe’s The Trail to Oregon! (Co-Director, upcoming). They would like to thank the team for this opportunity to work on a show that they love, and their suitemates for being the first people to listen to their sound effects.
Stage Manager
Lucy Page
(She/Her) | BFA Theatre Education ‘25. Emerson College credits: Kidding Around’s A Tail of Socks the Street Cat (Stage Manager), RareWorks Theatre Company (Marketing Director), Kidding Around (Co-Events Director). Upcoming: Kidding Around’s Barry and the Bear (Producer), Emerson Stage’s NewFest (Assistant Company Manager). Lucy is SO excited to be stage-managing for the first time on BlueJay’s debut production! She wants to thank her friends, family, and crew for having her back. Thank you to this amazing cast for endless laughs and great times in the rehearsal room. Shout-out to Lulu for being such a supportive figure and always bringing positivity to the room. <3
Props Lead
Timothy Fine
(He/They) | BA Visual Media Arts ‘24. Tim is thrilled to be a part of the design team for Dog Sees God and BlueJay’s first-ever production! Past work includes: RareWorks Theatre Company’s To the End of the World (Scenic Designer), CCRI’s Summer Rep Othello (Props Lead), CCRI Players’ Orlando and 1989 Pink Thunderbird (Props Lead). In addition to props and scenic design, Tim has also worked in the audio department at Emerson OA and has worked on various Emerson film sets. Thanks to BlueJay and Lulu for trusting me to create props for this AMAZING play!
Intimacy Coordinator
Nicole Coleman
(She/Her) | BFA Theatre Education ‘26. Emerson Stage credits: Old Jake’s Skirts (Light Board Operator). Emerson College credits: RareWorks Theatre Company’s To the End of the World (Stage Manager); Musical Theatre Society’s Heathers (Assistant Stage Manager) and Cabaret of Color 2023 (Stage Manager); emShakes Theatre Company’s Lord of the Flies (1st Assistant Stage Manager); Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s Hot Dam!. Thanks to cast and crew!
Acting Company
CB
Alex Serino
(he/they) | BFA Acting ‘24. Alex is thrilled to be a part of BlueJay’s first ever production here at Emerson College! This journey has been a delightful adventure, filled with wonderful people and cherished memories. Gratitude goes out to the remarkable Lulu and the entire creative team for leading the craft of this exceptional production. Special thanks to my supportive parents, my brother, my studio members, and my roommate Conall for their unwavering encouragement. Find out more about me here: alexanderserino.com
CB’s Sister
Elizabeth Fuire
(she/her) | BFA Theatre and Performance ‘24. Liz is so excited to be making her Emerson theatre debut right here at Dog Sees God (better known as Cocooning Into Platypus: A One Woman Show by CB’s Sister). Previous Emerson credits include Emerson Independent Video’s Abducted Anonymous (Amber) and Criminal Acts (The Psychiatrist). Also, don’t forget to check out her radio show, The Biggest Fan, every Monday from 9-10pm on WECB.FM!! Thanks to the incredible Dog Sees God cast and creative team, and enjoy the show!
Van
Louis Correro
(he/him) | BFA Theatre and Performance ‘27. Louis is a first-year at Emerson from Jersey City, NJ. He is super excited to debut with BlueJay Theater Collective’s amazingly talented premiere cast and crew. He has received training from The Barrow Group in New York and numerous experienced professionals. His favorite credits include: starring as Macbeth in Macbeth and Ernie Mac and others in Puffs, both with St. Peter’s Prep. Louis would like to thank BlueJay Theater Collective for giving him this opportunity to perform so early into his Emerson career.
Matt
Connor Rossi
(he/him) | BFA Theatre and Performance ‘26. Emerson Stage credits: Little Women (Mr. Dashwood), Emerson College credits: Rareworks Theatre Company’s Feeding the Moonfish (Martin), Kidding Around’s A Wrinkle in Time (Calvin). Thank you to Mom and Aidan for the support!
Marcy
Gabriella David
(she/her) | BFA Theatre, concentration in Directing ‘26. Emerson College credits: December 2023, Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s Tanner Maverick’s Book of Sound (Director); Kidding Around’s A Wrinkle in Time (Asst Director); Musical Theatre Society’s Heathers (Asst Director). Additional credits: Studio Bleu’s Tick Tick Boom (Director); DQ Troupe’s The Trail to Oregon! (Director) and The Other Room (Director). Gabi is so excited to be making her acting debut at Emerson, and is so thankful for the cast, creative team, her family, and Ry. Q! Thank you Lulu for everything!
Tricia
Keaton McLachlan
(she/her) | BFA Theatre and Performance ‘24. Emerson College credits: Wired (Mercutio), Transparency (Independent), Emerson Independent Video’s No Closing Time for Lovers, and The God Couple. Professionally, Keaton has acted in Urban Ed (Classroom Speaks), Invitation to a Bonfire (AMC Productions), and The Collaboration (Compelling Pictures). She has placed “Best Actress” at Montreal Independent Film Festival and Official Selection at the International Women Film Festival for Based on a True Story (Cruz). Fun fact: In 2020, her audition monologue for Emerson was from this exact show, so she is VERY grateful to experience this full circle moment and to everyone involved. Sporks 4ever <3
Van’s Sister
Natalie Keckler
(she/her) | BFA Theatre and Performance ‘26. Natalie is so excited to be part of BlueJay’s debut production! She is a member of Emerson Urban Dance Theatre’s hip hop company and Swomo. Her theatre credits include Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Elf: The Musical, and Exposed: An Original Working Play. She would like to thank her friends and family for all their love and support. Enjoy the show!
Beethoven
Spencer Daniel
(he/him) | BFA Theatre and Performance ‘24. Emerson Stage credits: The Secret in the Wings (Actor 6), Old Jake’s Skirts (Old Jake), Three Romances for the Unwell and Otherwise (u/s Robert), Marie Antoinette (u/s Joseph/Mr.Sauce, Axel/Executioner), This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing (Man/2/Peter); NewFest Shortworks’ Biscotti (Boss), Sometimes A Soul (Derek). Emerson College credits: Full Fathom’s Life, Death, Bowling (Darryl); emShake’s Interior with Peder and Marie (Peder), and [Enter Messenger] (Chorus). “Happiness is a warm puppy.” @spencermdaniel
Swing, Van’s Sister Understudy
Camilla McKay
(she/her) | IDS Literary Philosophy and Sociology ‘26. Camilla is so excited to be in BlueJay Theater Collective’s first Emerson production! She was last in Seussical with Kidding Around and can’t wait to continue performing in plays and musicals! She hopes you really like this performance, and wants to thank the swag cast and production team for all being so swag and productive. Enjoy!
Swing, CB Understudy
David Schell
(they/he) | BFA Theatre and Performance ‘25. David is so excited to be a part of BlueJay’s debut! Performance credits: Emerson Stage’s Cabaret (Victor); Musical Theatre Society’s La Cage Aux Folles (Hanna), Big Fish (Young Will/Zacky), Urinetown (Officer Barrell), and 2021 Emerson Fights Aids Cabaret; Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s Dream Cabaret. Costume Design: Gruesome Playground Injuries and The Secret Garden. Upcoming credits: Musical Theatre Against the Grain’s A Chorus Line. Thanks to Lulu for this blast of a process. Rigatoni <3 @d_schell186
Additional Staff
Assistant Stage Manager Samantha Autumn
Assistant Scenic Designer Lucy Latorre
Assistant Costume Designer Liam Bennett
Playbill Designer Elizabeth Tippens
Special Thanks
Richelle Devereaux-Murray
Joe Keener III
Kristin Knutson
Ella Conway
Callie Adin
Phoebe Doyle
Saya Elisofon
Sky Hermanson
Sofia Giarusso
Katelyn Petersen
Cate Cianci
Brynna Bloomfield
Aly Bouchard
RareWorks Theatre Company
SEAL
BlueJay board members
Faculty Advisor Tushar Mathew
Artistic Directors Lulu Royce & JJ Moore
Production Manager Oliver Worner
Marketing Director Angela Keon
Company Manager Mac Medeiros
Literary Manager Aisha Akorede
Treasurer Jake Knapp
Associate/Observing Production Manager Ethan West
Marketing Coordinator Mason Pofahl
Assistant Company Manager Lauren Weidenmann
Aesthetic Advisor/Staff Photographer Sasha Winett