The Company Theatre presents
VENUS IN FUR
by David Ives
directed by Carl Del Buono
September 26-October 12, 2025
28 Lawn Street
this production is made possible by our sponsors:
with generous support from our media sponsor:
THE CAST OF VENUS IN FUR
Vanda — Kit Prelewitz
Thomas — Matthew Walls
CREATIVE TEAM
Director — Carl Del Buono
Stage Manager — Alessandro Martellero
Intimacy Director — Jill Rittinger
Technical Director — Brodie McPherson
Fight Director — Rich Steele
Costume Design — Carl Del Buono, Kendall Del Buono
Promotional Photography — Sammi Cohen
Production Photography — Ron Heerkens, Goat Factory Media
Dramaturg — Amy Canfield
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ASL INTERPRETERS
Joseph Fox, Madison Halker
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THE COMPANY THEATRE STAFF & BOARD
Artist Director: Carl Del Buono
Technical Director: Brodie McPherson
Board President: Susan Murad
Vice President: Philip Detrick
Treasurer: Doris Ludek
Secretary: Jael Lopez Gifford
Board Members: Sammi Cohen, Christopher C. Conway, Ron Dufort, Meaghan Finlay, Lydia Palmer, Jill Rittinger, Jessica Ruby​
A Word from the Director
The relationship between actor and director is a truly complex and often beautiful thing. In the best scenario, you find two willing and open collaborators who are both bringing all the knowledge and passion they have for the material into the room with them. These parties, in my mind, should be there to play, and think, and talk for hours in order to prop up the work they are building together, and then not let it drop for a second as long as you have an audience in attendance.
David Ives’ play, Venus in Fur, is a furious and astonishing example of the struggle, the resplendence, the agony, and the ecstasy of the actor/director relationship. When Thomas and Vanda come together in this sacred space, the theatre rehearsal room, they bring with them every hope, fear, and experience they’ve ever had, along with one other essential element: hunger. These two people are starving for something more than what they’ve had before. And deep down, they are both willing to take huge chunks out of each other (and themselves) in order to satiate that hunger and then gnaw on the bones when they’re done.
Enjoy the feast…
Carl Del Buono
Founding Artistic Director
The Company Theatre
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Photo Credit: Sammi Cohen
VENUS IN FUR runs 90 minutes with no intermission.
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Content advisory: Not suitable for children. Contains adult situations and language. Discussion and brief depiction of physical violence, with realistic-looking weapons appearing on stage.
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ABOUT THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM
Kit Prelewitz (Vanda) is absolutely thrilled to be in her fourth production at The Company Theatre! Recent past shows include GREAT EXPECTATIONS as Estella Havisham and THE SUMMERLAND as Leah Fox at The Company Theatre, CABARET as Rosie and LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES as Madame de Tourvel at Blackfriars Theatre, and THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER as Maggie at The Company Theatre. Kit thanks her loving family, friends, fellow thespians, and her fiancé Philip for their incredible support.
Matthew Walls (Thomas) feels warm and fuzzy in the company of The Company Theatre, as he takes on Thomas in VENUS IN FUR. This will be his second show in Rochester and his first with The Company Theatre. Earlier this year, he played Vova in Out of Pocket’s production of DESCRIBE THE NIGHT. Matt is from Indiana originally where his credits include THE PILLOWMAN (Ariel); WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (Nick); TRUE WEST (Lee); and RIDE THE CYCLONE (Mischa Bachinski).
Carl Del Buono (Director, he/they)'s regional credits include THE SUMMER LAND (Director) at The Company Theatre, SWEENEY TODD (Sweeney Todd) at Blackfriars Theatre, MACBETH (Macbeth) at The Company Theatre, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (Director) at The Company Theatre, ROMEO & JULIET (Director) at The Company Theatre, RICHARD II (Director) at The Company Theatre, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Director) with Rochester Community Players, ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA (Director) with Rochester Community Players, THE SEAGULL (Director) at The Company Theatre, LITTLE WOMEN (Prof. Bhaer) at Bristol Valley Theater, SISTER ACT (T.J.) at Redhouse Arts Center, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (George) at Blackfriars Theatre, CARL AT BLACKFRIARS: A Benefit Concert, MY FAIR LADY (Quartet/First Cockney) at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse (now The REV), THE LAST FIVE YEARS (Jamie) at JCC CenterStage, DIE FLEDERMAUS (Frosch) with Finger Lakes Opera, ROMEO & JULIET (Friar Laurence) with WallByrdTheatre Co., and ANGELS IN AMERICA (Prior) with Method Machine. In addition to acting and singing, Carl is an experienced voice actor, acting coach, and director as well as the founding artistic director of The Company Theatre in Rochester, NY. He’s also cohost of the popular podcast BROADCAST REVISITED! For more information, follow Carl on socials @carldelbuono and @broadcastrevisited
Alessandro Martellero (Stage Manager) is honored to be working with the rest of the brilliant team involved with VENUS IN FUR. This is Alessandro's fourth show with The Company Theatre, having previously been on the production team of SPRING AWAKENING (Music Director), and appearing on stage in TARTUFFE (Officer/Pool Boy) and THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (Richard). Some of Alessandro's other previous production team credits include 35MM at the Rochester Fringe Festival and SOMETHING ROTTEN! with RIT. Enjoy the show!
Our 2025-26 season commemorative glasses are here! Purchase one (or more) at $10 each and your first beverage of choice is on the house! Available in the theatre lobby or at the concessions stand during intermission or after the show.
THANKS TO OUR 2025-26 SEASON DONORS:
LEADING ($500+):
Sally Cohen
Sally Milick
Susan Murad**
MAJOR($250+):
Denise Bartalo
Raymond Donovan
Jacquelyn Murad and Joyce Tencza
SUPPORTING ($100+):
Paul Allen
ENTHUSIAST ($50+):
Deb VanderBilt
MEMBER ($25+):
Dara Lubin
Lauren MacDonough
Eric McKinley​​​
Donald Pingleton
Jill Rittinger**
Valentin and Jeannette Vargas
FRIENDS OF THE COMPANY THEATRE
Judy Molner
**Current Board Member
Any errors or omissions are purely accidental. Please email info@thecompanytheatreroc.org with corrections.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
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RIT|National Technical Institute for the Deaf
The Reverend Julianne Buenting and the Vestry of Christ Church
Bristol Valley Theatre
TheatreROCS
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And a special thanks to our donors and patrons who have joined us thus far and for the many seasons to come.