Synopsis
Pers and Tri find themselves in a room with no way out and no memory of who they are or how they got there. What comes next? That’s entirely up to them. Omnia Motus is a darkly comedic play developed in response to the overwhelming urge to numb when faced with the nation-wide mental health crisis. What would happen if we stopped numbing ourselves and each other? That’s what Pers and Tri are about to find out. Essentially: Drugs, Friends, or Feelings? (but funny)
This fully staged world premiere of Omnia Motus produced by RedWit Theatre features work by Andrew Young (Director), Allison Shea Reed (Pers/Playwright/Producer), Jonathan White (Tri), Emerson Boatwright (The Voice), Kenny Harvey (Assistant Producer), Adam LeKang (Assistant Producer), Eleanor Alger (Dramaturg/House Manager).
Production History
Omnia Motus has been developed by the playwright over the past few years as a response to the mental health crisis happening in North America and the COVID-19 lockdown and pandemic. Initial readings were held with professional actors over Zoom in 2022, before the play was workshopped by the Dramatic Writing Department at SCAD in Savannah, Georgia with the playwright and actors. These workshop rehearsals resulted in a staged workshop/off-book reading in front of a sold-out audience in April of 2023. This is the world premiere of the fully staged production, which will be performing at the Other Space Theater at the Actors Company LA in West Hollywood as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival this June.
Audience feedback from the development workshop:
“An hour and a half of emotional somersaulting into rapturous laughter that will leave you wondering if you’ve been on suppressants yourself.”
Praise for the Playwright’s other work:
“We need more storytelling like this—to break down barriers and stereotypes, and foster awareness and understanding of those living with mental illness. And that an individual’s mental health issue does not define them.” -Life with More Cowbell
“A rare glimpse into the frantic, crushing inner dialogue of those who suffer from anxiety or OCD – an important show to see, especially for young audiences.” – Stage Door TO
Note from the Playwright
2 years ago, after a year of lockdown and moving to Savannah to complete my Master’s degree in the middle of a pandemic, I had the idea for this play. I was completely on my own and feeling very strange about meeting life head on again, after so long in isolation. This play was my response to the mental health crisis that I, unfortunately, think we’re still in: the collective trauma that we are expected to push down and ignore in order to get on with life. It also, quite simply, made me giggle. I hope it makes you feel all sorts of things, the good and the bad, and that it serves as a reminder to hold grace for yourself when you are pushed to your wit’s end.
In latin, omnia means all and motus means emotion or movement. In the play, motus stands for something else entirely. To me, the fact that motus stands for both emotion and movement is incredibly important. It is not enough to identify emotions, it is necessary to move through them and it’s not enough to pick and choose which ones. The idea of numbing is great in theory but falls short in practice. It doesn’t just mean avoiding the hard feelings, it affects the joyful ones too. As a good friend of mine once said, if the goal of life was to avoid all discomfort, we would all be on drugs. It’s up to you (and me) to choose not to numb, every single day.
It’s not a given: it’s a choice.
Thank you so much for supporting us, I cannot wait to see you at the show this June!
-Allison Shea Reed
CAST & CREW
Allison Shea Reed (Pers, Playwright, & Producer)
Allison Shea Reed is a Writer, Actor, Singer, Producer, and avid Monty Python & the Holy Grail Fan. She is passionate about creating work that defies mental illness stereotypes and helps end the stigma, as well as pieces that highlight and champion complex female characters that are likable and deeply flawed. She founded RedWit Theatre in 2017, in order to put authentic stories on stage that champion representation through the collaboration with exceptional neurodivergent artists who share her frustration with the lack of accurate representation of mental illness and difference in the media. Her play “A-Door Me” advanced to the Semi-Finals of the New York New Works Festival at the Duke 42 Off-Broadway Theatre and her play “Living with Olivia Cadence Donovan” has completed professional sold-out runs at the New York Theatre Festival, Alumnae Theatre, and Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Most recently, the television pilot she adapted from her play, “Living with Olivia Cadence Donovan,” advanced to the finals of the Austin Film Festival, Stage 32 TV Comedy Screenwriting contest, Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards, and the Outstanding Screenplays competition.
She graduated from NYU Tisch with her BFA in Drama from the New Studio on Broadway’s Acting and Musical Theatre program and completed her Master’s degree in Dramatic Writing at SCAD this past June. Since relocating to Los Angeles in June, Allison has been studying improvisational comedy (musical and otherwise) at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade and can be found performing with her Musical Improv team: Hot Cakes. allisonsheareed.com
Jonathan White (Tri)
Jonathan is an actor, playwright and screenwriter. He completed his BA in Jewish/Judaic Studies and Theater at the University of Chicago and is currently completing his MFA in Dramatic Writing at the Savannah College of Art & Design. While at SCAD, Jonathan was selected to join the writer’s room for Episode 2 of the student-run sitcom “Tours and Attractions,” before being appointed to a head-writer position on the newest SCAD sitcom. Additionally, his most recent play “Ivory Woman” performed as part of the SCAD Dramatic Writing Festival in April of 2023. Jonathan is very excited to return to the role he originated during the workshop production of Omnia Motus in Savannah and can’t wait for the West-Coast run.
Emerson Boatwright (The Voice)
Emerson is so excited to be joining Omnia Motus as The Voice. He is a Los Angeles based Actor/Singer/Composer/Vocal Coach. Favorite theatre credits include Young Frankenstein, Spamalot, Spelling Bee, and UMPO: League of Their Own. He is the Tenor section leader at WPC choir, where he was a soloist for Handel’s Messiah. You can hear his voice as Old Rex in the critically acclaimed video game Oxenfree II: Lost Signals. He also works as a composer and is currently working on a soon to be announced game! Follow along on his instagram @ejboatzzz
Kenny Harvey (Assistant Producer)
Kenny is incredibly excited to be a part of Omnia Motus’ LA Debut! He was forged in the bowels of Staten Island, New York where he developed his love for theatre in high school. Once he escaped the island, he attended Elon University and lateralled into their acting program. After graduating in 2022, he moved out to Los Angeles to pursue his creative passions. He is an improviser, producer, director and most importantly a creative who has met some of the coolest and most remarkable friends in the world. @_kenny_harvey_
Andrew Young (Director)
Andrew Young is an Actor, Director, Singer, Improviser and Teacher. He trained at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Directing and at the Upright Citizens Brigade in Improvisation and Writing. He is also a writer/composer/performer and director for Quick and Funny Musicals in Los Angeles. He has performed in festivals and shows in Australia, Las Vegas, New York, Austin, Scotland and around California. You can see him perform regularly at the UCB theater in Los Angeles.
Eleanor Alger (Dramaturg & House Manager)
Eleanor Alger is a screenwriter, actor, peace advocate, and dramaturg hailing from Virginia. She graduated Miami University of Ohio with a BA in Theatre and Savannah College of Art and Design with an MFA in Dramatic Writing. She has performed her original work at theatre festivals across the country, including Southeastern Theatre Conference. Her documentary play about the effects of genocide on women and democracy, Tell Me About the Other Side, was a finalist for the Jackie Demaline Regional Collegiate play/WRITE! Competition, as well as receiving the Miami University Theatre Department Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement. She has also worked extensively as a dramaturg, most notably at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA. Eleanor is currently a screenwriter based in Los Angeles, spending her time writing webseries and analyzing Taylor Swift lyrics.
Learn More at redwittheatre.com
Creative Team and Cast
