By David Lindsay-Abaire
About the Play
In the aftermath of a life-shattering accident, a married couple find themselves drifting perilously apart. “Rabbit Hole” charts their bittersweet search for comfort in the darkest of places…and for a path that will lead them back up into the light of day.
The play premiered on Broadway in 2006, and Cynthia Nixon won the 2006 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for her performance as Becca. It was the recipient of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Director: Michael Ennis
Michael began his theatre journey in his native Ireland as a teenager many moons ago. Upon coming to Frankfurt in 2007, he quickly got involved with FEST and has been involved in many productions, such as: The Mousetrap, The Zoo Story, Death in Heels, Cinderella (Panto), A Time for Farewells, The Devil with the 3 Golden Hairs, Breakaway (writer and director), Our Country’s Good, The Lonesome West (producer), Death of a Salesman, Vanja and Sonya and Masha and Spike (director and actor), and The Cherry Orchard. Apart from his involvement with FEST, Michael was also involved in productions of The Crucible and Othello with the English Theatre Frankfurt drama group and Accidental Death of an Anarchist with the ECB theatre ensemble.
Assistant Director: Hazem Elessawy
Hazem comes from the land of the pharaohs. He doesn’t take his camel to work, though, nor does he live in a pyramid. He discovered the world of theatre in his junior year at the American University in Cairo. He appeared on FEST’s stage multiple times, including as Mr. Pommeroy in Mike Riepl’s Dinner for Five, God in Rich Orloff’s Can This Marriage Be Saved, Fred Narracott in Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Happy Loman in Death of a Salesman, and The Station Master in The Cherry Orchard. Hazem is a full-time cinephile, book-lover and wannabe writer. And, in his free time, he “engineers” his way out of embarrassing situations.
The Cast
Sarah Macey (Becca)
Sarah is a native of Frankfurt who began her exciting journey into anglophone theatre with the English Theatre Frankfurt’s Drama Club production of Romeo and Juliet in 2008. She then joined Goethe University’s Chaincourt Company, where she had the opportunity to explore many different characters under the mentorship and direction of James Fisk. Sarah has always been in awe of the power of theatre productions to bring diverse people together and loves finding the humanity in every character she plays. Rabbit Hole is her second production with FEST, following her role as Mrs. Hale in Trifles. She would like to thank the crew for giving her the opportunity to take on the role of Becca. Sarah is thrilled to tell this beautiful story alongside an amazing cast and hopes you enjoy watching it as much as she enjoyed rehearsing it.
Emma Merritt (Izzy)
Emma is happy to be back on stage and confront her fear of pregnancy as Izzy. This is her second show with FEST, having made her debut last year portraying Nina in “Vanya & Sonia and Masha & Spike.” Offstage, she enjoys learning new languages, crafting chaotic storylines in The Sims, and greeting every bird, cat, and dog in her neighborhood. As always, she thanks her supportive wife for putting up with the hours of unhinged muttering that went into learning her lines.
Alexander Hemus (Howie)
Alexander hails from the UK, where his acting journey began at age six with a starring role (literally carrying a star) in his school’s nativity play—sadly, not as the first (or any other) lobster. His true love for acting ignited at 16 in Germany, playing Kasimir in Kasimir und Karoline with his school theatre club. Despite his passion, Alexander took a 20-year hiatus to work, travel, and be a dad, with regular performances of Zog for his kids and singing musical soundtracks at every opportune (or inopportune) moment. But “a million dreams were keeping him awake,” and so, in 2024, new to Frankfurt and determined to make his dreams a reality, he found FEST, and the rest, as they say, is history—or at least will be soon. Alexander is excited to return to the stage with Rabbit Hole.
Katja Sassi-Bucsit (Nat)
Katja Sassi-Bucsit is a German-Italian Frankfurter who spent 16 years in China, where she created and executed numerous award-winning experiential live marketing campaigns and events. Katja was stranded in her hometown of Frankfurt during lockdown and is delighted to participate in her first FEST production. Katja has worked with several theater and dance companies in Beijing, including Beijing Playhouse, a Chinese American theater group, and the Portacones Flamenco ensemble. Rabbit Hole is her debut theatrical appearance in Frankfurt. She is overjoyed to be back on stage on her home turf, and she aspires for many more appearances.
Leon Gacheru (Jason)
Leon set out to try new things. When the chance of playing Jason in FEST’s production of Rabbit Hole came along, he took it. This is his debut role and he is excited.
The Crew
Producer: Julie Ng
Stage Manager: Aleksandra Galaganova
Light and Sound Tech: Patrick O’Sullivan
Set Designer: Julie Ng
Props Master: Aleksandra Galaganova
Costume Designer: Ornela Giolla
Assistant Props Master: Aditya Singh
Assistant Props Master: Philip Carr
Make-Up: Ružica Vrbat and Anastasia Levina
This production was sponsored by Source For Alpha AG.
All photos by Mic Gruber.