DIGITAL PLAYBILL
FIVE SESSIONS
By Jaime Estades
In English with Spanish supertitles
CAST
Ivan Goris is Vidal Estrella “The Super”
Belange Rodriguez is Christine Kennedy “The Therapist”
Bill Blechingberg is The Therapist Supervisor
Kyle Glenn is The Therapist Boyfriend
DIRECTOR: EDWARD TORRES
ASSOCIATED DIRECTOR: ALEX ROTHENBERG
CREW
Stage Manager – Valeria Llaneza
Translation – Edna Lee
Set Designer – Andrew Holland
Associate Set Designer – Z. Wechsler
Light Designer – Miguel Valderrama
Associate Lighting Designer – Rodney Perez
Lighting Board Operator – Mabel Chan
Production Electrician – Dominic Padom
Costume Designer – Fernando Then
Sound Designer – Jorge Olivo
Sound Technician – Dariel Garcia
Makeup Artist and Hairstylist – Tashoni Castillo
Supertitles Technical Operator – Heber Romero
Box Office – Sergio Flores
Development Coordinator – Elliot Ortiz
Photographer – Jairo Correa
About the play
My book and play “Five Sessions” represents a dialogue between a client and a therapist, where the client asks the therapist a question that no one has so far answered, “Would slaves in the South have felt better about slavery if they had therapy three times a week?
Everyone in the mental health field, psychologists and social workers, take a pause when confronted with this question. And then – there is no answer…
The reality is that the elimination of slavery is the only answer. Today we don’t have legalized slavery per se, but we have oppression, racism, classism, and disenfranchisement. Should we include activism as part of therapy when necessary?
It is my belief that today we practice psychotherapy that is beneficial for those who have most of their material needs satisfied, and who have not, historically, experienced discrimination. By contrast, those with ongoing unsatisfied material needs do not respond to such an approach. I believe in the need to start searching for a new “psychology of the whole,” which also embraces the working race, class, and poor who are affected by an economical, sociological, and political pathology that descends upon them as individuals.
“Five Sessions” tries to bring up issues that sometimes are not discussed widely, such as those expressed above.
Jamie Estades
Five Sessions is a class for master level clinical and advocacy students at Columbia (CSSW) graduate School of Social Work.
REVIEW BY ONE OF JAIME ESTADES’ STUDENT
“Five Sessions presents a compelling narrative that provides key insights into the diverse, intersectional policy challenges that continue to plague our society.”
REVIEW BY OTHER
“Who of us has not been curious about what takes place between therapist and client. This novella offers much more. James Estades cleverly interrogates the possibility of class biases in psychological theory in his novella Five Sessions.”
Author's Message
Five Sessions offers the fullest expression of what a college education entails, which involves working in an upper-class building while grappling with his shortcomings. There is nothing extraordinary here for those who have lived that experience day to day.
However, being invisible to others only deepens his frustration, even when he has enough class consciousness to understand that the problem is not him but the city that surrounds him. Five Sessions is not only about class and race but also about laying New York City on the therapy couch. Five Sessions is for those who do not understand the world of working people of color who survive in New York City.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jaime A. Estades, Esq. MSW
Jaime A. Estades is a Columbia University Adjunct Professor of Social Policy, Law and Social Work Advocacy and former PhD professor of Social Policy and research at NYU. He is also writer, labor and community activist has committed his life to advocacy, education, health, and leadership training.
He received his Juris Doctor from the City University of New York School of Law, his master’s in social work from the Hunter College Graduate School of Social Work, and his B.A. from Sacred Heart University in Santurce, Puerto Rico.
In 2022 Estades was selected as one of the most influential people in New York City by City and State magazine, the most influential political and policy magazine In New York. have or the past 30 years, he has been working on issues relating to education, immigration, housing, voter registration and family entitlement issues. In 1996, Jaime co-founded the Latino Leadership Institute, Inc. where he still presides as President. The Latino Leadership Institute, a not-for-profit nonpartisan corporation affiliated with the City University of New York and In October 2015, the Latino Leadership Institute was selected by the White House as one of the Bright Spots of Excellence in Education in the Hispanic Community in the United States.
Jaime has also put his experience at the service of strengthening non-profit organizations, such as the Borikén Neighborhood Health Center in East Harlem and Barrio Independent Production, an entity of which he is a Board Member.
Jaime continues to inspire the next generation of community activists, as an Adjunct Professor, of Social Welfare Policy at Rutgers University Graduate School of Social Work.
WHO'S WHO IN THE CAST
Ivan Goris
is
Vidal Estrella “The Super”
Ivangoris646@gmail.com
Instagram: @Ivan_Goris537_
Dominican-American actor/writer/director/producer born and raised in the Lower East Side of Manhattan with a strong connection to his Latino community. As an actor, Ivan has appeared on stages throughout New York. His theater credits include Teatro Circulo’s THE FALL OF RAFAEL TRUJILLO, CINCO SESIONES, MACHINAL, CINCO SANDWICHES. His film and television credits include HBO’s VINYL, Tim Blake Nelson’s ANESTHESIA, Spike Lee’s SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT, and CBS’ MADAM SECRETARY. He made his debut as a film director with the short film EL PODER DE LA ORUGA, by writer MICHAEL NARVAEZ. Recently he co-directed “TUYA SIMEMPRE JULITA” as his first co-directing credit, alongside leading actress and director Amneris Morales.
Belange Rodriguez
is
Christine Kennedy
“The Therapist”
belange.rodriguez@gmail.com
Instagram: @officialbelangerodriguez
Belange Rodriguez (Julia de Burgos): She recently became the first Latinx actress to be nominated for a Drama Desk Awards in a Spanish-language work for her performance in La Breve y Maravillosa Vida de Oscar Wao en Repertorio Español. Her career includes credits from Broadway (Latinologues with Eugenio Derbez), Off-Broadway and International Festivals (Fringe Festival), among others, for which she has been recognized with awards such as ACE, HOLA, ATI and LATA. In her career in film and television she has stood out in leading and co-starring roles on Decisiones (Telemundo International), as well as award-winning independent films around the world. Member of Repertorio Español since 2003.
Bill Blechingberg
is
The Therapist Supervisor
vendane1@gmail.com
Facebook:@bill.blechingberg
Bill Blechinberg has been acting in multiple Theatres in New York and overseas, as a bilingual actor. Some of them are; Repertorio Español, Teatro Latea and Rasgos (founding member), Pregones, Teatro Circulo, SEA, The Duke Theater, New Perspectives Theater, La Gran Scena Opera and many others. Also he has been on Paris with Teatro Circulo in the Entre-Actes of Cervantes, and other countries. He has been recognized with awards such as ACE, HOLA and LATA as an actor but also as a Director for his work in Hay Que Apagar el Fuego (LATEA). His Film Credits include: Bushwick, La Vida Inesperada, Ice Age, and The Undead.
Kyle Glenn
is
The Therapist Boyfriend
Acting / Modeling / Art
Kyle Glenn is a New York–based actor and model who began his career in Milwaukee before moving to NYC in 2015. His work spans film, television, and theater, with appearances in over 10 indie projects and on CBS’s Bull. Stage credits include As Much As I Can (Joe’s Pub) and Hype Man (InterAct Theatre, Philadelphia), along with extensive improv and sketch comedy performances. Commercial and voiceover clients include major national brands such as American Express, Burger King, and the NBA.
DIRECTOR
EDDIE TORRES
His most recent works as a director are: The Workshop of the, The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao for The Old Globe Power New Voices Festival and The Chicago Premier of Henry Johnson by David Mamet for Victory Gardens Theater’s’ 50th anniversary. He has directed at The Old Globe, productions of El Borracho, Familiar, Native Gardens, & Water by the Spoonful, The World Premiere of Kristoffer Diaz’s The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Victory Gardens Theater/Teatro Vista / Best Play of 2009 by the Chicago Tribune and garnered five Joseph Jefferson Awards including Best Production – Play and Best Director – Play). He has also directed at several regional theatres Including Geffen Playhouse, Second Stage Theatre,
Goodman Theatre, The Public Theater, Repertorio Español, and more. His other awards included Latin ACE Award. He is also Artistic Director Emeritus at Teatro Vista and Co-Founder of the recently acclaimed Relentless Theater Group and currently serves as the Interim Artistic Director of Victory Gardens Theater.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
ALEX ROTHENBERG
She is a New York based artist and educator. A graduate of Wesleyan University, she has worked across theater and documentary for Atlantic Theater Company, Tectonic Theater Project, Reservoir Films, Teatro LATEA, and Steeplechase Films. She is thrilled to be collaborating again with the team of 5 Sessions, having first worked together on the production at Teatro LATEA. Her career credits include Associate Producer on Dante: Inferno to Paradise and The New York Series both on PBS, as well as Line Producer on the short Lost Dog, which recently premiered at the Big Apple Film Festival.
STAGE MANAGER
VALERIA LLANEZA
She is originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. BFA in Dramatic Arts at Universidad del Salvador. She attended The American Musical and Dramatic Academy of New York (AMDA). Recent credits include: “Bodas”, “Ahoradespues”, “The Importance of Doing Art”, “Grupo Niche” at Carnegie Hall, “La niña y la ballena”, “Las Vidas Rotas”, “La Llamada”, “Egg Frame”, “Sometimes de Rain, Sometimes the Sea”, “The Dark Stone”, “Eva Luna”, “La Dama Boba”, “En el Cielo con Diamantes”, “Umbral, tango y música Argentina” among others. Winner ATI Award for Best Actress in a Musical and Best Actress in an English play. LATA
Award for Best Actress in a Play.
Visit her website: valeriallaneza.com
Instagram: @llanezavaleria
SET DESIGNER
ANDREW CAVANAUGH HOLLAND
Andrew has designed both scenery and costumes for all types of live performance. His work has been seen at the Spoleto Festival USA, Juilliard, Chicago Opera Theater, The Canadian Opera Company, Boston Lyric Opera, The Yale Repertory Theater, Pittsburg Ballet Theatre, The Glimmerglass Festival and a long list of other venues. Mr. Holland has served on the faculties of American University and Hamilton College, among others. He holds an MFA in Design from the Yale School of Drama and lives with his family in Astoria, New York.
LIGHT DESIGNER
MIGUEL VALDERRAMA
Miguel Valderrama is a full time lecturer of the Entertainment Technology department, where he coordinates the Lighting track. His professional work experience ranges from the design of the lights for several theatre productions to lighting for live music concerts. His work also focuses on a constant exploration of lighting as a medium in different and changing environments and unconventional spaces where a standard infrastructure for lighting production is not available. He has been an active theatrical lighting designer in New York City for more than fifteen years. He has also worked as the director of lighting for the Brick Celebrate Brooklyn Festival 2012-2018, Photoville 2015- 2025 and Teatro Stage Fest 2009-12. His lighting design work also includes fields as Video, film, fashion and a wide variety of corporate events. Miguel is a proud alumni of the department of Entertainment Technology at the New York City College of Technology – CUNY.
SOUND DESIGNER
JORGE OLIVO
He is an audio engineer, sound designer and composer based in Queens. Design credits include; Sound System Design: The Public Mobile Unit Summer of Joy 2021, Associate Sound Design: Sea Wall/A Life at the Public; Associate Sound Design: The Chinese lady Ma Yi at Theater Row, Sound Design: Anna In The Tropics audio drama at The Acting Company. Some mixing credits include; A1: Mojada at the Public, A1 for Teenage Dick , The Public/MaYI A1: Letters to Suresh at Second stages. Music: Baby Jessica’s Well Made Play Walk Up Arts, Music and sound:EN with Ren Gyo Soh 2020, Music:Fader Magazines The Fader Podcast. He won Best Sound Design 2017 at United Solo for Hide Your Fires with Ren Gyo Soh. I love the sounds that I have created for this play over the years and I am excited that the show continues to live and grow.
SOUND TECHNICIAN
DARIEL GARCIA
Dariel Garcia, a Dominican Republic native and Brooklyn College graduate. With a portfolio mostly rooted in New York City. He has served as the Lighting Designer for NYU’s Ultra Violet Live, The Chain Theatre’s One Act Festival, Pushover. Lighting Programmer for La llamada and Los Soles Truncos at Repertorio Español. Production Electrician for PRTT’s The Wedding March and Baile Cangrejero. His most recent also work includes the Reykjavík Fringe Festival and the Reykjavík Dance Festival in Iceland.
PHOTOGRAPHER
JAIRO CORREA
Jairo Correa is originally from Bogotá, Colombia, a publicist by profession who currently resides in New York. He studied at the Central University of Colombia he studied Advertising and Marketing. After graduation, he taught illustration techniques, sketching, and product photography at Universitas University.
Mr. Correa’s great sensitivity connects him with the arts. He regularly produces visually pleasing music videos and vlogs footage for his client’s social media. He was the Technical Director of the short films “Garden of Hope” and “Milagros on the Tree” by director Gloria Zelaya and producer of “Confusión”, a short film by director Victor Martinez. In 2021, he started producing Teatro NYC TV, a show for public television about the current events in the Latino Theater of New York City. In 2023 he started filming the documentary: Latin Theater in New York, which is in development.
Publicista & Productor de Medios Audiovisuales
+1 (646) 355-5487
jairocorreafilms@gmail.com
Socials: @jairocorreafilms
IMDB: imdb.com/name/nm10296394/
GRATITUDE
On behalf of Barrio Independent Productions our most sincere gratitude to everyone who supported us to achieve our goals. To achieve these goals we need the support of people like you, people committed to the community and to art, as well as to our Latin and Caribbean heritage.
Special Thanks: Fernando Then & Isabel Maduro: Repertorio Español, El Barrio’s ArtspacePS109, Hector Luis sin Censura, Magdalis Geronimo / Bohemia y más con Magdalis, Fior Marte, Latinos en Nueva York, Alfonso Mallegas Roblin / Periódico Orgullo Latino, Victor Lagos / PeriódicoLatinos en Nueva York, Lucy Santiago… and to all members of the press for tall heir continued support
This project is made possible in part with funds from NYSCA, APREE & María E. Sánchez Center for Latinx Studies
