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About the Show
Can classmates with opposite views on moving up in the world, learn to trust one another? In this horror-comedy, two Black college students are employed to spend summer in the upstate New York home of a white 93-year-old retired professor. The most important task of the job: watch her while she swims. Things take a drastic turn as it becomes clear that something is not right with Professor Renword. As the Professor works to complete her life memoir, she becomes increasingly haunted by her troubled past. ↓D←R←O←W←N←E←R [Renword] unfolds into a nightmare. Will the two young women find their circumstances inescapable, or will they release themselves of the inherited burdens they carry?
If You’re Into:
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The Haunted Mansion
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One of Them Days
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Key and Peele's: Non-Scary Movie sketch
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Expect:
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Summer Jobs (which haunt your dreams)
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Ghost stories
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Unlikely Friendships
Special Events:
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Artist Talkback with the Playwright and Director - Feb 1 after the 2pm show
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Topical Talkback Hosted by Leadership Fairfax - Feb 6 after the 8pm show
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$30 under 40 Happy Hour - Feb 13 at 7 pm
Meet the Artists
Nia Akilah Robinson, Playwright
Nia Akilah Robinson (she/her) is a playwright and actor who reps Harlem with all her might. She's had productions at Soho Rep U.S. Off Broadway Premiere (2025 New York Times Critics Pick- Extended Twice!), Theatre503, (London), The Hearth, and Urbanite. Her work has been seen and developed with Steppenwolf Theatre, The Hearth, The New Group, Theatre503 (UK), The Ground Floor: Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Great Plains Theatre Conference, SPACE on Ryder Farm, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Waterwell, and Classical Theatre of Harlem. She has been a MacDowell Fellow, Travis Bogard Eugene O'Neill Foundation Fellow, and a writer for PEN America and EST/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (short play). Nia has had residencies at NYSAF and The Pocantico Center through YoungArts. Nia’s work was featured in the 2024 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival, 2024 The Fire This Time Festival, was featured in the 2023 SPACE JAM @ Roundabout Theatre, and the 48th Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway Short Play Festival. She participated in the National Black Theatre Soul Series and received the 2023 Film & TV Mentorship by Mitzi Miller. She has been awarded 1st Place for the 2023 A is For Playwriting Contest, the Next Wave Initiative Lorraine Hansberry Writing Scholarship, a Miranda Family Fund Commission, and the NYSCA Grant (CCCADI). She is shortlisted for the 2023 Theatre503’s International Playwriting Award. Nia is proudly represented by Alex Gold at CAA. And Nia is so excited to collaborate with Heather Lanza at NextStop Theatre!
Heather Lanza, Director
Heather Lanza is proud to be the Producing Artistic Director at NextStop Theater in Herndon, VA. Directorialy, Heather focuses on new play development and the devising of original new works. Her work has been premiered and workshoped at Juilliard, HERE Arts Center, Epic Theater Ensemble, Keen Company, Waterwell, The Gallery Players, The Davenport, NY International Fringe Festival, Access Theater, The Kraine, Theater for a New City, The Players Theater, Bleecker Street Theater, Magic Future Box, Berkshire Fringe, Virginia Children’s Theater, Redhouse Arts Center, and many others. Heather is currently serving as the Producing Artistic Director of NextStop Theatre in Herndon, VA. Additionally, Heather is also the co-founder of the NYC based Making it Happen Productions, which focuses on emerging artists voices who seek to use theater as a way to engage dialogue and promote change. Heather previously served as the Education Director/Artistic Director of the Waterwell Drama Program for Waterwell. Heather holds a BA in Directing from Fordham University and a MA in Applied Theater from CUNY School of Professional Studies. She is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union www.heatherlanza.com
AMBER PATRICE COLEMAN (Dee Dee, She/They)
is thrilled to make their Next Stop debut! Amber obtained her MFA in Acting from the University of Florida in May 2024. She also received her BA in Theatre from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2020. Amber’s recent stage credits include: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe: Purlie; Theatre Prometheus: Galatea in Galatea; Folger Theatre: Ophelia u/s in A Room in the Castle; Hippodrome Theatre (Florida): Audrey in As You Like It; University of Florida: Courtney in Pliant Girls, Yemaya in Yemaya’s Belly, Marta in I AM THE DEAD MAN (World Premiere). University of North Carolina at Charlotte: Death in Everybody, Fabian in Twelfth Night. Film: Kiss and Tell, Sweet Nothing. You can follow their acting journey at www.amberpatrice-coleman.com and @amber.coleman_official
IRIS DEWITT (Ensemble)
is excited to make her NextStop debut! Her most recent work could be seen in the Helen Hayes recommended production Clyde’s (Clyde) at Workhouse Arts Center, Little Shop of Horrors (Ronette) at ARTfactory, and Bye Bye Birdie (Rose - WATCH Award nominee for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical) at Port Tobacco Players. Other local credits include Urinetown (Pennywise), Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett - WATCH Award nominee for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical), and The Little Mermaid (Ursula) at Rockville Musical Theatre. Iris would like to thank her family & friends for their continuous support of her theatre endeavors. IG: @Hairflip08
NICOLE HALMOS (Professor Renword)
is delighted to return to NextStop Theatre after having previously been seen as Virginia in Native Gardens and as Della in The Cake, for which she won the 2024 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play. Seemingly making a habit of world premieres, in addition to Drowner [Renword], Nicole recently played Leah Rabin (and others) in the musical November 4 with Voices Festival Productions and the Ghost of Hanukkah Past (and others) in the Round House Theatre production of A Hanukkah Carol or Gelt Trip! the Musical. This spring, Nicole will make her 1st Stage debut in their production of Paula Vogel's Indecent. She can also be seen in the award-winning short film "Invasion '53" currently taking the festival circuit by storm. She wants to thank her undauntable castmates, Kayla Earl for her caring management, and Heather Lanza and Nia Akilah Robinson for trusting her with the wacky nonagenarian in this exciting new play, though she is on the lookout for a better moisturizer. www.nicolehalmos.com
MARY MYERS (The Attendant-Jillian, she/her)
is delighted to be back with NextStop after working on The Turn of the Screw and 45 Plays for 45 Presidents (Helen Hayes Award: Supporting Actress). Select additional credits include Faction of Fools: The Moors, Love Like Tuesday; Constellation Theatre Company: Orlando, Melancholy Play (Helen Hayes Nomination: Ensemble); Round House Theatre: Jennifer, Who Is Leaving (u/s); Pointless Theatre Company: Rhinocéros, King Ubu; Nu Sass Productions: Marx in Soho (Helen Hayes Nomination: Lead Actress). She also performed Marx at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. BA in Theatre: The College of William & Mary; Physical Theatre Intensive: St. Mary's University, Twickenham. Upcoming: Much Ado About Nothing with Faction of Fools!
JASMINE PROCTOR (RiRi, She/Her)
is thrilled to be working with NextStop Theatre again. Local credits include Olney Theatre Center : SLEEPOVA, NuSass Theatre: Craiglisted; Faction of Fools: The Moors, Romeo & Juliet, Love Like Tuesday. Jasmine would like to thank her family and friends for their constant love and support. #HELLIANTHUS
VINCENT STOVALL (Ensemble)
is excited to make his NextStop Theatre debut. His work spans films, commercials, industrials, and stage performances throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Select credits include the role of Deacon Sid in Angela Wilson’s play, Clay’s Place: Inside My Blue Mind, (Chesapeake Performing Arts Center, Brooklyn Park, MD) and his acclaimed solo works, i Got Somethin’ to Say and i’m Gon’ Say It!, and The Truth According to Uncle Vinny (Atlas Performing Arts Center, Washington, DC). Other performances include the films, Lady in the Lake, We Own This City, and the upcoming film, They Fight. His play Barbershop premiered at the historic Karamu House (Cleveland, OH) and was featured at the National Black Theatre Festival (Winston-Salem, NC). An accomplished musician and composer, Vincent’s work includes “The Other Side of the Rainbow,” written for Grammy-nominated recording artist Melba Moore. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he began studying classical piano and composition at age seven at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He is a graduate of Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA) and Howard University, and an alum of the Studio Acting Conservatory. Vincent wishes to thank his family and friends for their continued support. He also extends his gratitude to the late, great playwright and good friend, Angela Wilson whose enduring spirit continues to encourage and inspire.
MEGAN BARBIE (Professor Renword and The Attendant-Jillian Understudy, she/her)
is very excited to be working with NextStop Theatre. Recent credits include City of Fairfax Theatre Company: A Backstage Christmas (Vanessa); Goose Creek Players: Clue (Mrs. White); Sterling Playmakers: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)(Romeo/Violivia/MacDuff/Laertes/others), The Social Secretary Musical (Beth); and StageCoach Theatre: A Christmas Story (Miss Shields). She would like to sincerely thank her family for putting up with her absences to do something she loves so much!
AJA GOODE (Riri and Keisha Understudy, she/her)
is excited to be back at NextStop again after being in School Girls; Or the African Mean Girl Play. Aja has a strong background in dance and musical theater, with a deep passion for equity, anti-racism, and social justice work. Local credits include: Imagination Stage: Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood (Helen Hayes Award Winner); Rorschach Theater: So Late Into the Night; Faction of Fools Theatre: The Moors. Instagram: aja_symone
CHRISTOPHER C HOLBERT (Ensemble Understudy)
is happy to work with NextStop, his hometown theater. Recent appearances include Hamlet, Julius Caesar, and Coriolanus with Avant Bard Theatre. Other credits include Runaway Home, A Clockwork Orange, Invisible Man (Studio Theatre), On The Waterfront (American Century), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Port City Playhouse), and Six Degrees of Separation (Silver Spring Stage). Film/ Television: Mercy Street (PBS), Deep End (Jouska Films), The Good Seed (Mythic Films), Bloodsworth (Chapel Cove Productions).
COURTNEY SIMMONS (Dee Dee and 2nd Keisha Understudy)
is a Baltimore-based actress and is so excited to make her Next Stop Theatre debut! REGIONAL THEATRE CREDITS: Olney Theatre Center: Sleepova (Shan u/s & Elle u/s); ArtsCentric: For Colored Girls (The Lady in Yellow). Iron Crow Theatre: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Pritti). EDUCATION: B.A. from University of Maryland’s School of Theatre Dance and Performance Studies. COLLEGIATE CREDITS: The Book Club Play (Lily), Stickfly (u/s Cheryl), Fixed: A Dance Drama (Pusherman), Our Lady of Kibeho (Marie Claire). She has also performed her poetry at Baltimore Center Stage and at the DC Fringe Festival. Instagram: @xo_courtney
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