PRESENTS
October 29 through November 21, 2021
The Pico Theatre - 10508 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
A Dedication.
“This production of A PERFECT GANESH is dedicated to my dear friend, SUZANNE PATMORE GIBBS. Suzanne was there when Campus Cabaret began and she would have loved its return. She starred in WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY?, John Updike’s A&P, and FEN by Caryl Churchill. When not onstage, Suzanne was behind the scenes and we would spend many a night trying to study at a diner after rehearsals. She was my pal and confidante and our friendship continued for many years after college. I’m so sorry that she can’t be here in person, but her memory and spirit are with me every day.” – David
Campus Cabaret presents
A PERFECT
GANESH by
Terrence McNally starring
Mary Allwright
Kathleen Gray Mueen Jahan with
Delio Eswar Cameron Gregg Pavia Sidhu Svetlana Tulasi Judd Yort Scenic Design
Lighting Design
Costume Design
David Goldstein
Brandon Barush
Michael Mullen
Sound Design
Hair/Wig/Makeup/Mask Design
David B. Marling
Byron Baptista
Original Score
Choreography
Production Stage Manager
Kamini Natarajan
Svetlana Tulasi
Kassy Menke
Press Representative
Graphic Design
Marketing
Philip Sokoloff
Anne Borrell
Racquel Lehrman
Directed by
DAVID W. CALLANDER A PERFECT GANESH was originally produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City on June 27, 1993. A PERFECT GANESH is produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.
CAST
(in order of appearance) Dancers
SVETLANA TULASI, PAVIA SIDHU
Ganesha
MUEEN JAHAN*
Katharine Brynne
KATHLEEN GRAY*
Man #2
DELIO ESWAR
Margaret Civil
MARY ALLWRIGHT
Man #1
CAMERON GREGG
Walter*
JUDD YORT
* Appears courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association
There will be one 15-minute intermission. The Time: 1993 The Place: The play takes place during two weeks in India – getting there and coming home, too.
Who’s Who in the Cast MARY ALLWRIGHT (Margaret)
Mary, who is a member of the Palisades Theater Acting group, is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory. Her credits include The Vagina Monologues, Kingdom of the Gods, Cinderella, Electra, and an improv show Hot, Smart and Deep. She has also done work in short films, episodic television, commercials and voice over. It is a pleasure to play the role of Margaret in A Perfect Ganesh with its timely social message and its focus on the touching unfolding of personal relationships.
DELIO ESWAR (Man #2)
Delio is thrilled to make his theatre debut in A Perfect Ganesh and is quite excited to be playing multiple roles. He’s really enjoyed working on a production that explores cultural meshing, having been lucky enough to live in places all over the world and experience culture shock (and awe) a few times over! His top three destinations are definitely London, Tokyo, and Funchal, Madeira. He’d like to give a shout out to the cast and crew, his friends and family, and Production Director David Callander!
KATHLEEN GRAY (Katharine)
Kathleen appeared on many stages throughout LA as a baby ballerina with the David Lichine School, including the Hollywood Bowl and Greek Theatre (in Balanchine’s Nutcracker). She studied acting at Yale and with Stella Adler in NYC. After several off and off-off Broadway productions, she finally got to dance on Broadway in Teddy and Alice starring Len Cariou. She also appears in 3 films by Mike Nichols. Taking an incredibly long hiatus to become a licensed psychotherapist, she returns to her first love with A Perfect Ganesh.
CAMERON GREGG (Man #1)
Cameron made his acting debut at 7 playing a lost boy in the musical Peter Pan. Throughout his childhood in Asheville, NC, he performed at the S. Appalachian Repertory before pursuing advanced training at the UNC School of the Arts, Mason Gross School at Rutgers University, and at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. Cameron spent 3 years in NYC where he appeared in downtown/cabaret venues such as The Flea, Dixon Place, and Don’t Tell Mamma. On to Los Angeles in 2019, where he is pursuing a screen acting career. He has appeared Netflix and CBS. Cameron is a voice actor and has worked for clients ranging from Cartoon Network to Geico.
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Who’s Who in the Cast MUEEN JAHAN (Ganesh)
Mueen is excited to be making his debut performance at Campus Cabaret. His credits on BROADWAY include: Bombay Dreams. The Laguna Playhouse: 12 Angry Men, The Mark Taper Forum: Homebody/Kabul, Wallis Annenberg: Enter Laughing, 2100 Square Feet: Asylum {LA Ovation Award Nomination for Best Actor}, 3D Theatricals: Into The Woods, REGIONAL: Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre: A Perfect Ganesh {Desert Theatre League Nomination for Best Actor}. TELEVISION AND FILM: The Sex Lives of College Girls, Grownish, New Girl, Fresh Off the Boat, Victorious, Sopranos, Law and Order, Outsourced, Prime Suspect, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, Numb3rs. EDUCATION: Master of Fine Arts degree: Acting: University of Cincinnati, Bachelor of Arts degree: Acting: Shenanadoah University. Member of Actors Equity Association.
PAVIA SIDHU (Dancer #2)
Pavia is an actress, writer, dancer, and singer. Her recent credits include Nickelodeon Warped, The Flash, Shrill, and Tamil films. Her recent theatre credits include School Mistress, Man who Came to Dinner, and Taming of the Shrew. She is a finalist from the international dance showcase and captain of renowned bhangra teams DCB and Bruin Bhangra (Elite Champions). She has trained at The Lab, SANCA, and Backstage Dance Studio in jazz, contemporary, and hip hop. In her free time, she is writing a pilot with her writing partner, singing randomly, and “youtubing.” She hopes you enjoy the show!
SVETLANA TULASI (Dancer #1)
Svetlana is a Los Angeles-based Indian Classical Kathak dancer, choreographer, educator & actor of South Asian/Caucasian ethnicity. THEATRE: A Year of India in Russia (Bolshoi & Mariinsky Theatre) 2009; Kathak Rockers in South Africa (Lyric Theatre) 2019; Diwali in Rome (Auditorium Parca Della Musica) 2019. TV: Dance Plus India, So You Think You Can Dance Ukraine; Russia’s Got Talent & Ukraine’s Got Talent. FILM: The Xenophobes (Lead as Captain Shriya Ballah) USA 2022. Tamasha (Starring Deepika Padukone; Ranbir Kapoor) India 2015. Indian Classical Dancer (biopic short film by Ankur Poseria) USA 2018
JUDD YORT (Walter)
Judd is very excited to be performing in his first play since the beginning of the pandemic. He is excited to help bring back live theater. Previous credits include: Hello, Again (Chromolume Theatre), Lili Marlene (WriteAct Rep), and Charming! An Original Musical (Hollywood Fringe). Judd (Walter) just received his BA in Theatre from the USC School of Dramatic Arts. He placed third in “The Monologue Room” and was a finalist in “LA’s Next Great Stage Star”. He hopes you enjoy the show!
The Creative Team DAVID GOLDSTEIN (Scenic Design)
David Goldstein is excited to be working at the Pico! His LA Credits include: Defenders, Elevator, Playground, Its Top Secret!, Rocky Horror, A Christmas Memory. Off Broadway Credits include: Emojiland, Church and State, Stalking the Bogeyman, That Golden Girls Show, The Portal, Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Soul Doctor. www.davidgoldsteindesigns.com
BRANDON BARUSH (Lighting Design)
Brandon is a Los Angeles-based light artist who specializes in designing experimental theater, opera, dance, and immersive performance. His design work has been seen in Poland, New York, Chicago, Tempe, and throughout California. The most intimate piece Brandon has designed was for an audience of one in the immersive theater piece Hamlet Mobile (Capital W—Touring.) www.brandonbaruch.com
MICHAEL MULLEN (Costume Design)
Michael is a costume designer, actor, and writer. Among his theatrical design credits are Dreamgirls, The Boy From Oz, Siamese Sex Show, Fugue, When Jazz Had The Blues, Burners, Cabaret, Year Of The Rooster, Fixed, Sweeney Todd, American Idiot, and The Legend Of Georgia McBride. He has received several awards and nominations for his work both onstage and off from such organizations as Ovation, L.A. Drama Critics Circle, L.A. Weekly, N.A.A.C.P., Scenie, Stage Raw, Robby, Broadway World, Ticket Holder, Eddon, and Desert Theatre League. He would like to thank his family, friends, and everyone involved with this show for being awesome. :)
DAVID B. MARLING (Sound Design)
It is nice to be back in the theatre again doing what I love, supporting the words and creating stories with sound. For information visit my website DavidBMarling@WavMagicAudio.com or call me at 818-370-8556.
BYRON BATISTA (Hair/Wig/Mask Design)
Some of Byron’s most recent work has been Cabaret (Celebration Theatre) Laughter On The 23rd Floor (Garry Marshall Theatre), The Marvelous Wonderettes (Glendale Center Theatre). Favorites include Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert, Die, Mommy, Die! and Boy From Oz (Celebration Theatre), Bronies, The Musical (World Premiere)The Little Mermaid (Soundstage Live), Heathers (World Premiere), Silence, The Musical (West Coast Premiere), End of the Rainbow (La Mirada), Hair (Hollywood Bowl), Hairspray (Hollywood Bowl), The Producers (Hollywood Bowl), Moonlight Amphitheatre, First National Tour, MTW), Chicago (Hollywood Bowl), Les Miserables (Hollywood Bowl), I Love Lucy, Live! (Greenway Court), Red Hot Patriot (w/ Kathleen Turner at the Geffen Playhouse), Next Fall (w/ Leslie Ann Warren at The Geffen Playhouse), Jekyll and Hyde (Sturgis Center), Baby, It’s You, Stormy Weather (Pasadena Playhouse), Radio Girl, James and the Giant Peach (Goodspeed Musicals). And many more... Some of Byron’s costume work is currently on display at the Hollywood Museum! www.WigsByByron.com
KAMINI NATARAJAN (Original Score)
Kamini is an Indian Classical Hindustani Vocalist, composer and teacher based in Los Angeles area. She likes to incorporate various global sounds into her music. Through inspiration she weaves the intricacies of Eastern melody and rhythm with western harmony. Kamini spent over a decade learning Indian classical music and won several national level awards. She graduated in Vocal Hindustani music from Khairagarh University, India. Kamini is one of the youngest graded singers from All India Radio (national radio station of India) and Doordarshan (National TV channel of India). She has performed in India and USA. Kamini’s versatility and deep knowledge in music allows her to easily sing and improvise over wide genres of music. Kamini’s music is spiritual and soulful, her rendition of Ragas creative and free flowing. 7
The Creative Team KASSY MENKE (Production Stage Manager)
Kassy studied at SJDC before receiving her BA in Theater Arts from Cal State Northridge. She works in live theater and the entertainment field exploring avenues such as photography (Kasandra Faith Photography), acting, and production work. Her favorite credits in stage management: Miracle on 34th Street, A Live Radio Musical Play, The Forgotten Fort taken to Desert Hearts Music Festival and LiB Festival, A Lie of the Mind, and Boom!. She is thankful to God, her family and friends for the constant support and love. #LiveLi
RACQUEL LEHRMAN (Theatre Planners Marketing)
Racquel is the founder and managing director of Theatre Planners, her own theatre production firm which has been serving the Los Angeles theatre scene for over fifteen years. She graduated from NYU-Tisch School of the Arts and lived in NY for many years producing theatre. Theatre Planners has since developed into a very busy and successful outlet for actors, writers, producers and theatre companies. Doing everything from producing, consulting, marketing and more, Racquel loves to make productions a reality and help to keep the theatre scene in LA alive and strong. Racquel is also the owner of The Lounge Studio, The Lounge on Melrose, and manager of The Zephyr Theatre. To learn more about Racquel and Theatre Planners, go to www.theatreplanners.com
PHILIP SOKOLOFF (Theatrical Publicist)
Philip is L.A.’s most active theatrical publicist representing over 100 live attractions and several dozen feature films annually (in a non-pandemic year). Also, an actor, he has appeared in over 70 plays on both coasts, most recently appearing in “Revolutionary Genocide” opposite Danny Glover for The Robey Theatre Company. Philip is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and an associate member of the Los Angeles Press Club.
ANNE BORRELL (Graphic Design for Print and Web)
Anne is delighted to work with David Callander and Campus Cabaret on the rebirth of LIVE theatre. Anne designed the posters, program, social media promos – and props too! www.anniebdesign.me
DAVID W. CALLANDER (Director and Founder, Campus Cabaret )
David received his undergraduate degree in theatre from Pomona College. It was there that he first formed Campus Cabaret, a company which produced over a dozen plays and musicals in three years (COMPANY, SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM, IS THERE LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?, THE SHADOW BOX, KEY EXCHANGE, WHOSE LIFE IS It ANYWAY?). After graduating, he moved to New York where he became a stage manager on Broadway (BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, KISS OF THE SPIDER WIOMAN, ORPHEUS DESCENDING with Vanessa Redgrave, and LEGS DIAMOND starring Peter Allen). As a young man trying to find his way in the world during the last pandemic, he decided to go to medical school, and he graduated from the State University of New York Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn (Downstate) in 2000. He completed his internship in internal medicine at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Greenwich Village and then completed his training in psychiatry at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, CA. David served on the faculty at Olive View UCLA Medical Center as well as at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center before opening his private practice. In 2014, David returned to the theatre as an actor. He was most recently seen as Daddy Warbucks in ANNIE at Glendale Centre Theatre. Other roles include: Professor Callahan in LEGALLY BLONDE (Cupcake Studios), the Senator in HELLO, AGAIN, Mr. Pinky/Spritzer in HAIRSPRAY, Mr. Mushnik in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Officer Lockstock/Mr. Cladwell (at alternating performances!) in URINETOWN, Beauregard in MAME, and Man One the Sondheim revue PUTTING IT TOGETHER. David has also performed at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center and the St. Louis Cabaret Conference. A PERFECT GANESH is the first production from the return of Campus Cabaret.
My sincerest thanks...
I have been saying I wanted to direct again for 33 years. Just ask any of my friends. There are so many people I want to thank for helping to make this dream come true. First and foremost, the cast and crew of A PERFECT GANESH for your patience, hardwork, and creativity. Mika Gonda and Helton Najera at The Pico for giving me a place to create this show (and so close to home!). Anne Borrell for her tireless efforts at creating the graphic designs of the show. Faith Prince, for her ongoing support and wisdom. Tom Kirdihy for his guidance and counsel. Colors by Padmini for the gorgeous curtains that will have to billow another day. Ron Stoddart for making the beds that will have to wait for a bigger stage. Rosaria Vivone at the Third Street Dance for helping to recreate the foxtrots at the Westchester Country Club. Chris Arrufo, for being the first person to have the guts to tell me I was going to lose more than my shirt with this play. Kassy Menke for doing one of the most thankless and vital jobs in the theatre – the stage manager. Svetlana Tulasi for bringing dance to a play I always thought was a musical. Kamini Natarajan for giving that musical a score. Raquel Lehrman for providing me with my introductory course in producing for the theatre (I may need to take it over again). Phil Sokoloff for getting the word out there. Gurinder Sindher for putting up with my constant worries while trying to keep me moving. Dennis Stover, for returning to take photos now that my hair has grown back. Judy Balsam for finding me a box of Indian cookies. Terrence McNally for so many wonderful nights in the theatre. He was holding a lantern in the dark as I was a young gay man trying to make my way in New York City in the early 90s. And finally Daniel Babic for running the house while I went to India.
About Campus Cabaret CAMPUS CABARET was originally formed at Pomona College in 1985. The brainchild of theatre students David Callander and David Blatner, Campus Cabaret sought to add a variety of plays, musicals, and cabaret to the Pomona College community. It was active four years producing such works as: Side By Side By Sondheim, Is There Life After High School?, Caryl Churchill’s Fen, Whose Life Is It Anyway? The Shadow Box, Starting Here Starting Now, Key Exchange, an adaptation of John Updike’s short story A&P, Scrambled Feet, and Company. Many actors who originally appeared in Campus Cabaret productions have gone on to have successful careers in the performing and visual arts such as Heidi Godt, who later appeared in Mamma Mia on Broadway, Meeghan Holaway (now currently a member of the Road theatre company in LA, film director Paul Etheridge, singer songwriter Susan Cattaneo, Gen Anderson, photographer John Ellis, and Suzanne Patmore Gibbs. No longer bound by the hallowed gates of Pomona College, but still true to its collegiate aspirations, Campus Cabaret hopes to add a variety of theatrical experiences to the Los Angeles community. 9
About Terrence McNally Terrence E. McNally was an American playwright, librettist, and screenwriter. He has been described as “the bard of American theater” and “one of the greatest contemporary playwrights the theater world has yet produced.” (New York Times, April 2019) His career spanned six decades, and his plays, musicals, and operas were routinely performed all over the world. He wrote screenplays, teleplays, and a memoir. Active in the regional and off-Broadway theatre movements as well as on Broadway, McNally was one of the few playwrights of his generation to have successfully passed from the avantgarde to mainstream acclaim. His work centered on the difficulties of and urgent need for human connection. McNally was a recipient of the Dramatists Guild Lifetime Achievement Award and the Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement Award. He won four Tony Awards for his plays Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class and his musical books for Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime. In the course of his career, McNally wrote a number of TV scripts, including Andre’s Mother, for which he won an Emmy Award. He has received two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Rockefeller Grant, four Drama Desk Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards, two Obie Awards, and three Hull-Warriner Awards from the Dramatists Guild. In 1996 he was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame. McNally wrote the libretto for the operas Great Scott and Dead Man Walking, both with music by Jake Heggie. Other plays include Mothers and Sons; Lips Together, Teeth Apart; The Lisbon Traviata; A Perfect Ganesh; The Visit; The Full Monty; Corpus Christi; Bad Habits; Next; The Ritz; Anastasia; It’s Only a Play; Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone?; and The Stendhal Syndrome. For this profound artist, the most important function of theatre was to create community and bridge rifts opened between people by differences in religion, race, gender, and particularly sexual orientation. In an address to members of the League of American Theatres and Producers he remarked, “I think theatre teaches us who we are, what our society is, where we are going. I don’t think theatre can solve the problems of a society, nor should it be expected to ... plays don’t do that. People do. [But plays can] provide a forum for the ideas and feelings that can lead a society to decide to heal and change itself.” “The world needs artists more than ever,” McNally said, “to remind us what truth and beauty and kindness really are.” Terrence McNally died of complications from COVID-19 on March 24, 2020, at a hospital in Florida. He was 81 years old.
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