The Assignment
PREMIERED 2017
The assignment
Inspired by the true stories of, and unlikely friendship between, two individuals touched by gun violence, THE ASSIGNMENT is an original play by Camilo Almonacid about an English professor who is shaken when a student’s personal essay describing an act of violence reopens long buried wounds. The play explores the long-term emotional toll of violence from both sides of the gun barrel, and the struggle to forgive others and ourselves.
Brought together by Houses on the Moon Theater Company’s workshop process, THE ASSIGNMENT was inspired by a friendship between two individuals–a woman who founded a youth violence prevention program after her teenage son was murdered by street violence, and a man who found education and rehabilitation while serving 17 years in prison for manslaughter. Though a fictionalization, the seeds of the play were born from a mother’s desire to understand what caused another to take her son’s life, and a man’s need to express remorse.
THE ASSIGNMENT was inspired by and developed in response to gUN COUNTRY, a collection of true stories written, cultivated, and presented by Houses on the Moon Theater Company members and members of the community who have been impacted by guns and gun violence.
THE ASSIGNMENT was presented in repertory with gUN COUNTRY at NYC’s ART-NY Theatres from April 17-May 7, 2017. A licensed production of THE ASSIGNMENT was presented at New Jersey’s Luna Stage from November 29-December 9, 2018.
Contact us to bring The Assignment and gUN COUNTRY to your community. Licensing is available for The Assignment; please contact us to inquire about a perusal script and terms.
Artistic Team
Camilo Almonacid
Playwright
Camilo Almonacid is a multi-talented artist based in New York City with over ten years of experience creating dynamic stories that explore the diverse voices of America. Some of his notable plays include The Assignment (A.R.T/NY Theatres 2017), Westpine Myopes (Rita Goldberg Award 2014), Checkin In (Irv Zarkower Award 2012), For the Flies (Here Arts 2015), Church Of Why Not (Theatre 167 2015), After the Crowds (Queen’s Museum, NY times Critics Pick 2014), and Shithole (Here Arts 2010). In addition to being a playwright, he is also a skilled freelance writer who has collaborated on branded content projects with major media outlets like Netflix, Remezcla, and Vice Media. Camilo Almonacid holds a BFA in acting from Rutgers University and an MFA in Playwriting from Hunter College. He is a proud member of the Dramatist Guild. You can find more information about his work at camiloalmonacid.com.
Emily Joy Weiner
Director
Emily Joy Weiner is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Houses on the Moon Theater Company, a NYC based 501c3 not for profit. Since the company’s inception in 2001 she has been creating, developing, performing, producing and directing new works that address the complex and sensitive issues of our time. Emily has been a facilitator of creative theater making workshops throughout the NYC public school system for the past 25 years, specializing in programs with teenagers and young adults going through the criminal justice system. In most recent years Emily directed the Off-Broadway production of THE SANTA CLOSET at Teatro Circulo, guided the company through its production of DE NOVO at Next Door at NYTW, directed the world premiere of THE ASSIGNMENT at the ART/New York Theatres and continues to guide the touring, live storytelling production of gUN COUNTRY. She has performed all over NYC and beyond with some highlights including OTHELLO at the West End Theater, COMING THROUGH at the American Place Theatre, FINDING THE WORDS at the Lucille Lortel, AN EPIDOG with Mabou Mines and FEFU AND HER FRIENDS at Williamstown Theatre Festival. She co-developed and toured a one-woman adaptation of Faulkner’s AS I LAY DYING with the late Wynn Handman of The American Place Theatre whom she studied with for many years. The League of Professional Theatre Women recently honored Emily with the Josephine Abady award for her work with Houses in the creation of multicultural works. Her play, SHARED SENTENCES, had its Off Broadway world premiere in Fall 2022.
Jamie Rose Bukowski
Stage Manager
Jamie Rose Bukowski graduated from the Pace University School of Performing Arts, with a B.A. in Stage Management. She’s had the pleasure of working with HOTM since 2016. Some other credits include: US TOUR: A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage, Rockin’ Road to Dublin. NYC: Día Y Noche (Labyrinth Theatre Group,) Pound (Theatre Row,) Pillowtalk (The Tank,) SOLSTICE PARTY! (Live Source Theatre Group), Otello and Macbeth (LoftOpera), and DISENCHANTED! (Theatre at St. Clement’s.) She has also PSMed for Drunk Shakespeare, Live In Theater, AMDA, and Quisisana Musical Theatre Resort.
Developed and Inspired by Manuel Borras Olivera, Elaine Lane, Jeffrey Solomon, Emily Joy Weiner
Set by Patrick Rizzotti
Sound by Erik T. Lawson
Costumes by Genevieve Beller
Lighting by Christina Watanabe
Cast
Karen Kandell
Helen Payne
Karen is Co-Artistic Director of Mabou Mines. Most recently, Recycling: Washi Tales, co-creator/collaborative writer/performer (Asia Society, 2016). Awards/Nominations: OBIE (Peter & Wendy, Talk, Mabou Mines’ Lear), Dramalogue, Connecticut Critics Circle, Craig Noel, Edinburgh’s Herald Angel, Helen Hayes nomination, Drama League Citation (Peter & Wendy), 2016 Lucille Lortel nomination (Futurity).
Erick Betancourt
Julian J. Torres
Erick Betancourt was recently seen in Our Lady of 121st dir: Phylicia Rashad, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train (NY Times Critic’s Pick) dir: Mark Brokaw; Julius Caesar (Delacorte) dir: Oskar Eustis; Shakespeare Trilogy (NY Times Critic’s Pick) dir: Phyllida Lloyd; Last Days of Judas Iscariot dir: Estelle Parsons; Other theater credits: The Assignment (Inaugural Season A.R.T.NY/Theaters); Exposure (NYC Premiere); Reboot: Queen Latina (Cherry Lane), Three Sisters; Lady (Actors Studio Drama School Repertory); Dominica: The Fat Ugly Ho (LAByrinth Theatre Intensive) & Regional Work: Romeo and Juliet (Trinity Rep Co.) Film Credits: “11:55” & “Missing William” TV Credits: “Law & Order SVU” “Blacklist:Redemption” “Master of None” “Sneaky Pete.” Training: MFA: Actors Studio Drama School. BFA: University of Rhode Island. Erick is Lifetime Member of the Actors Studio.