ASU GAMMAGE
INNER CIRCLE asugammage.com
Volume 12 | Fall 2016
DISCOVERING CUBA’S ARTISTIC SIDE
NEW SPONSOR FOR EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES
MEET THE ASU GAMMAGE CHIEF OF STAFF
SUN DEVILS EXPERIENCE THE LAST GOLD
D I R E C TO R ’ S S P OT LI G H T
Photo: Tim Trumble
GUEST ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: MARTHA GONZALEZ
“Dr. Gonzalez is the perfect artist partner and guest artist in residence for ASU Gammage in helping to realize its mission of Connecting Communities™.”
50TH ANNIVERSARY LEADERSHIP BOARD Colleen Jennings-Roggensack William Ahearn Jerry Appell (in memoriam) Felice Appell JO Finks Grady Gammage, Jr.
This time of year is always my one of my favorites. I am so excited to have kicked off our Broadway and BEYOND Seasons. One of the most exciting events this season was kicking off our fall residency activities with acclaimed Chicana Artivista (artist/activist) Dr. Martha Gonzalez. Dr. Gonzalez is a Grammy Award®-winning singer, songwriter, Ph. D., professor at Scripps College in music and feminism and community organizer. She has performed at the Kennedy Center for the Arts as well as the Smithsonian and worked with musical artists Jackson Browne, Los Lobos, Tom Waits, Susanna Baca and many more. Through her music and community workshops in multiple Los Angeles communities, she and her long-time band, Quetzal, have helped to create increased access to healthcare and educational programs for underserved populations. She is the perfect artist partner and guest artist in residence for ASU Gammage in helping to realize its mission of Connecting Communities™. Since arriving in Phoenix, Gonzalez has already led a series of workshops, participated in discussions and performed demonstrations across the Valley, leaving a huge impact on all those she has worked with. This past month she met with students from Rosie’s House, Rising Youth Theatre and Spot 127 on a songwriting workshop. She took part in a jam session with the Phoenix based Son Jarocho Collective at the Tonatierra Community Development Center. She also helped kick off Hispanic Heritage Month at ASU. In one of the most powerful moments from Dr. Gonzalez’s residency thus far, she visited and worked with inmates at the Arizona Department of Corrections Perryville, where she led a collective songwriting workshop for 20 women. The women expressed what they had going on in their lives, their dreams and their fears. Gonzalez filled an entire whiteboard of what they had to share and then took those comments and created a song. The women were able to see how music can be used as a powerful form of expression. After the workshop, Dr. Gonzalez performed for 500 other inmates, allowing them to get up and dance, sing along and forget about their surroundings for a little while. One inmate afterward went up to an ASU Gammage staff member and expressed that they haven’t had an experience like this in over 15 years. We are so thrilled to have Dr. Gonzalez as part of our ASU Gammage team. I am looking forward to seeing all the amazing things that will come from her residency this year.
Laurie & Chuck Goldstein Pat Langlin-Brazil Albert Leffler Michael Manning Sarah Nolan Leslie & Jeff Rich, Co-Chairs Bill Way Mary Way, Co-Chair
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Colleen Jennings-Roggensack
Executive Director for ASU Gammage and Associate Vice President Cultural Affairs for ASU
Don’t miss the farewell tour of MAMMA MIA! December 6-11 at ASU Gammage.
CONTENTS 4 ASU Gammage Adventures in Cuba
8 Sponsor Profile: The Molly Blank Fund
10 Meet ASU Gammage’s Chief Of Staff Neva Bochenek
12 VIP Event Photos
14 CO N T E N T S
Gratitude For Your Attitude: ASU Launches Free Sun Devil Rewards App
15 School To Work Gives Students An In-Depth Look At Careers In Theater
16 Second Annual Senior Sun Devil Experience: The Last Gold
18 THE ILLUSIONISTS - Live From Broadway
The Company of the MAMMA MIA! Farewell Tour. Photo: Kevin Thomas Garcia, 2016.
19 Jazz Continues To Thrive At ASU Kerr
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CONNECTING COMMUNITIES™
Celebrating Roald Dahl’s 100th Birthday
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ASU Gammage VIP Club
Volume 12 | Fall 2016
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Editor In Chief and Project Manager: Theresa Dickerson
Upcoming VIP Events
Managing Editor: Victor Hamburger
Executive Editor: Colleen Jennings-Roggensack
Creative Director: Sarah Moore Editorial Team: Kari Amarosso, Cheryl Amick, Michelle Johnson CAP-OM, Erica Lin, Savanah Yaghsezian Contributing Writers: Jennifer Haaland, Victor Hamburger, Savanah Yaghsezian Cover: Stiltwalkers in Havana greet ASU Gammage VIPs.
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L to R: Mark & Joanne Halberg, Shelley Cohn, Mollie Trivers, Steve & Rhonda Maun, Buffie Anderson, Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, Michael Reed, Leslie & Jeff Rich, Erika & Russ Dickey
ASU GAMMAGE ADVENTURES IN CUBA •
By Jennifer Haaland
Some adventurous ASU Gammage VIP donors just returned from an eye-opening trip to Cuba. An itinerary with a first line that announced participants should expect change, both minor and major, in the same breath that it welcomed them on the first Art Deco walking exploration is an excellent encapsulated description of the entire week. “Our mantra for the trip became ‘Cuba: it’s very complicated,” laughs Colleen JenningsRoggensack, Executive Director for ASU Gammage and Associate Vice President Cultural Affairs for ASU. Her narrative catalogues how the 15 participants on the ASU Gammage excursion demonstrated a willingness to step back, and to wade through a culture often less progressive than we find at home, as a means to help move art forward.
lecture on adaptive re-use and further set the tone of the trip. Jennings-Roggensack indicates the revolution’s effects are still settling in the dust, noting an average of three buildings a day crumble in Old Havana. The group then visited the Contemporary Dance Company of Camaguey, who gave a private recital. The company’s dancers are from Havana and the fact that they continue to thrive underscores the importance of the arts in Cuba. Michael Reed, Senior Director of Programs & Organizational Initiatives, had danced with members of the Camaguey company years ago as part of a Ballet Arizona program. Because of that connection, the post-performance mingling included a reunion of sorts, providing more intimate insights.
The travelers flew to the island after gathering first for an evening in South Beach, a beautiful Mario Villa, our Guide and Joe Rosenberg, our Tour Director aesthetic beginning. But Miami also represented a portent of things to come, Jennings-Roggensack pointed out. The area is home to many Cuban immigrants who fled because their artistic endeavors or lifestyles were not acceptable in their Communist birth country. The complexities of Cuba were evident from their first café visit at Revolution Square in the heart of Havana. In a restored building, architect Roger Dominguez Martinez gave a 4
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Michael Reed with dancers from the Camaguey company.
Dance in Cuba takes a special kind of tenacity, which the ASU Gammage group continued to experience. The Cubans take pride in their dance, and many young children have the opportunity to study dance at no cost. Although dance is taught and encouraged, it is still an art form that is somewhat exclusionary at its highest level. Alicia Alonso is the founder and director of Ballet Nacional de Cuba and one of the most influential people in Cuba. Alonso and her school welcomes students of all backgrounds to her dance conservatory, but it is very rare for dancers with darker skin to be selected for the National Ballet. So when the opportunity to visit The Tropicana late one evening arose, Jennings-Roggensack says it was an unexpected gift. “The Tropicana is a hall that allows dancers of different ethnicities,” Jennings-Roggensack explains. “Many of the dancers we saw there were classically trained and exceptionally talented. Although not selected to perform with Ballet Nacional de Cuba these dancers found a home at the Tropicana.” The group found that vocal and instrumental art has also found ways to blossom. Jazz, especially as it is embodied by Roberto Carcessés, figured heavily into one of the trip days. After a private morning discussion with Carcessés, who created the Havana International Jazz Festival, the group was treated to an exclusive experience that night. Carcessés’ art is central enough to the country’s identity that Castro has named him “Mr. Cuba Music.” Carcessés and many other artists have traveled world-wide and shared their talents with many communities. Unfortunately, many of these artists do not travel to the United States due to the fact they cannot accept US currency, which is not
A S U G A M M AG E A DV E N T U R E S I N C U BA
One common observation about visiting Cuba is like stepping back into the 1950s, which is most apparent by looking at the cars around Cuba.
During their visit, the group visited the remains of the unfinished work of Cuba’s National Art Schools. The schools were founded by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, but were eventually abandoned and left to ruin. In recent years, there has been a movement to restore them.
“The arts are flourishing in Cuba. Freedom of expression is everywhere in the creative arts. We had a phenomenal time and and were thrilled to experience Cuba before it becomes more westernized.” - Jeff and Leslie Rich Jeff and Leslie Rich
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an issue when they travel to other countries. When Carcessés and others artists do tour the United States, they manage the complication by asking for donations of equipment and the like instead. “That night, we all squeezed into the home of Carcessés’ son, Bobby,” Jennings-Roggensack said as she detailed the amazing freedoms the music in the jam session exercised.
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Yet the people are cautious. One of the most inspirational people the group met with was Isbel Diaz Torres who shared with them the history of the gay rights movement in Cuba. Until 1989, homosexuals were still sent to ‘Aversion Workshops.’ Were they not “cured” in workshops, work camps and concentration camps ensued. The final step for those who didn’t conform was excommunication, by way of being kicked out of the country. Such raw and relevant history made lunch at La Guarida one day layered with huge context. Beyond being the apartment where Madonna celebrated a recent birthday, the restaurant was the setting for the 1993 film “Strawberry and Chocolate.” The film is notable for being Cuba’s only Academy Award®nominated film, which has helped change Cuban society’s attitude toward homosexuality. Cuba continues to progress in this area and just last year Havana hosted its first gay rights parade. “So many Americans want to develop Cuban projects today, big names like Disney,” says Jennings-Roggensack, suggesting the attitude changes can make for favorable financial changes, too. “We learned so much talking with filmmakers there.” As the ASU Gammage group made forays into the visual art community, complications continued to appear alongside endless creativity. Take Osmeivy Ortega and Lissandra Ramirez. They own two properties—an art gallery and a personal home. Though they’ve been a couple as well as business partners for years, they’ll likely never tie the knot. Should they marry, under Cuban law, they would lose one of their properties because married couples are only allowed to own one property. This is just not a possibility for them because they have worked so hard to build their home and their studio. The tools of their craft, too, were homemade, being that art supplies are not readily available.
Russ & Erika Dickey pictured with Osmeivy Ortega.
Despite deterrents, Jennings-Roggensack remarks, “They [the artists] had such an innocence and openness. When some of our guests approached Ortega about purchasing the wood blocks of his printmaking, he hesitated.” Until someone had purchased a few of his blocks recently and then started making and selling fraudulent prints, it had never occurred to Ortega to be wary of such a request. Jennings-Roggensack assured him the ASU Gammage group would absolutely treat the blocks like the pieces of art they were. “It happened that those who did buy art from him while we were there saw an immediate surprise increase in its value. During our trip, Ortega was named the National Printmaker of Cuba.” She smiles about his important new title. Near the end of the week the group met with Cuban author and former minister of culture Maritza Corrales. She is a woman notable for having stayed behind at 11 years of age to live with her grandmother when the rest of her family fled the revolution. At that tender age, she ventured into Cuba’s jungle, and went underground to teach. Though she was young, she was educated and had skills the revolutionaries needed. Throughout the week, our ASU Gammage travelers were able to distill the Cuba complications into a single simple truth. Art matters. People who risk creating and consuming it, especially in oppressed settings, change the world. This trip is one of many trips to come as ASU Gammage VIP travels and explores this incredible world we live in and the art that each culture presents. l
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The group had lunch at LaGuarida, a private apartment which was used as the location to film most of “Strawberry & Chocolate.”
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Buffie Anderson posing with a cannon from the Santa Clara Battery with Hotel Nacional, where the Gammage group stayed, in background.
Mark & Joanne Halberg standing in the remains of the Berdian Theatre which was built in 1919. A dance company still uses this space to practice and perform.
L to R: Buffie Anderson, Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, Leslie Rich, Rhonda Maun, Erika Dickey, Joanne Halberg, Mollie Trivers, Shelley Cohn, in the Lobby of the Hotel Nacional de Cuba
ASU donors visited with Carmen Fiol, 92-year-old Cuban fashion designer. She is one of Cuba’s great figures of fashion and has been creating signature looks for over 70 years. L-R: Erika Dickey, Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, Fiol, her granddaughter and Mario Villa.
Rhonda and Steve Maun posing on a staircase at the National Arts Schools of Cuba.
The group had lunch at Vistamer, a privately owned house next to the ocean.
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S P O N SO R P RO F I LE
The cast of KINKY BOOTS speaks to students at Kaleidoscope.
SPONSOR PROFILE: THE MOLLY BLANK FUND • By Jennifer Haaland The ASU Gammage Kaleidoscope program and the Performances for Students series are designed to grab students’ attention and create a learning arts experience that sticks with them. The Molly Blank Fund is a new sponsor of both programs and like a kaleidoscope, can arrange the varied goals of a family with spectacular many-hued results. “The Molly Blank Fund is a vehicle for us to transmit Molly’s wishes and funds,” says Michael Blank by way of introduction. “My mother passed away about a year ago. Her passions were theater, arts and young people. Upon her death we—my wife and brother and I—created a fund from her estate and named it after her.” Through Kaleidoscope, up to 100 high school students will participate in six weeks of designed curriculum such as history, music or dance, tied to a specific Broadway show’s theme. Projects will allow students to be creative in their learning while meeting objectives and required standards within the classroom. More than 2,000 students will participate in the Performances for Students Series at ASU Gammage this year. The program provides K-12 students with an opportunity to see incredible artists from around the world, while incorporating this arts experience with their daily curriculum. “It’s really my wife Carmen who knows art and has the passion for it. And we all, my mother, Carmen and I, want to 8
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help underserved children,” Blank explains. Carmen Blank adds about her mother-in-law, “Molly and I shared the love of theater and opera. Because Molly loved the arts so much, we are happy we could help direct her funds to ASU Gammage. This was a good match to help children stay involved.” Another Mollie, Senior Director of Development at ASU Gammage Mollie Trivers, shares that Michael and Carmen became involved with ASU Gammage in 2004. As they’ve gotten to know each other, Mollie and Carmen have had a chance to attend events together. “They worry about budget cuts in arts education. They want children to experience the arts and that’s why they felt strongly about sponsoring Kaleidoscope and the Performances for Students Series,” Trivers offers about the Blanks. “Carmen is so kind and she loves the performances. Michael often asks the hard questions and focuses on results.” Michael recounts a memory of his mother taking he and his brother on outings to a music school in his youth. “She would
“It’s really my wife Carmen who knows art and has the passion for it. And we all, my mother, Carmen and I, want to help underserved children.” - Michael Blank take us to performances and as a reward we’d go to a special restaurant. It was a place where we’d insert coins in a machine that let us choose a treat from behind little glass doors.” His own spectator appreciation has stuck with him, with shows like THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and LES MISÉRABLES standing out in his memories of ASU Gammage performances. Michael recalls too, his brother taking accordion lessons as a result of their family music school trips.
And while Arthur and Michael worked in the business, Michael and Carmen worked on raising two children over the course of their 44-year marriage. During that time, they’ve also continued to pass down through the generations Molly’s and Carmen’s passion for the arts. The Blanks have been bringing their grandkids to ASU Gammage and other Valley performing arts experiences since they were five years old. “We’ve taken them to everything from THE LION KING to BLUE MAN GROUP. The girls especially love ballet,” Carmen remarks. Ballet, in fact, is a big part of this season’s Kaleidoscope adventure. The high school students involved this year will be enjoying the production of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, which comes to ASU Gammage in April 2017, as well as time with the cast of the show. The participating students will see a performance of the musical, which won the 2016 Tony Award® for Best Choreography, at ASU Gammage and enjoy a catered dinner with several of the show’s cast members. The reception allows the students to show off some of their hard work over the preceding few weeks as well as have an exclusive question and answer session with the cast and crew. Carmen can’t wait to attend the AN AMERICAN IN PARIS Kaleidoscope reception with the cast and participating students. Having attended a number of similar activities with Trivers, Carmen looks forward to watching the kids—of all ages—as much as the performance.
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“My brother Arthur and I were equally entrusted to oversee our mother’s estate when we created this fund in her memory,” Michael says, referring to his sibling who co-founded The Home Depot and currently owns the Atlanta Falcons. “Our mother was a strong woman. When my father passed away when I was 16, she took over the family pharmaceutical distribution business. She ran it and was very successful. When it sold to another company in 1970, she remained president of that division. Arthur and I both worked in the business.”
Taiko Project (top) and ETHEL + Robert Mirabal (below) are coming to ASU Gammage as part of the Performances For Students Series this season.
“When we go to the shows with busloads of kids, they eat lunch with the artists. They get so excited. Before the performance even begins they stand up and they clap. They’re practically jumping out of their seats.” The sheer number of students and the academic benchmarks their Kaleidoscope curriculum is designed to target are impressively quantifiable. Hundreds of students delving deeply into arts, specific months of curriculum delivery, special Broadway performances for young viewers. They’re all possible because of the Molly Blank Fund. Those results, fueled by the excitement and inspiration of which Molly and Carmen are so fond, are perhaps the kind of measurable facts that Michael values. Rather than harnessing that enthusiasm, the Blanks are looking to nurture and expand it. From the beginning of taking her boys to music school performances, that was Molly Blank’s intention. Carmen and Michael, along with brother Arthur, are creating a fitting legacy in her honor. They are providing a kaleidoscope of opportunity and possibility for hundreds of the next generation of ASU Gammage goers. l
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S TA F F P RO F I LE : N E VA BO C H E N E K
MEET ASU GAMMAGE’S CHIEF OF STAFF NEVA BOCHENEK The new Chief of Staff at ASU Gammage has lived a long, winding journey off stage at the performance hall. Thirty years ago, Neva Bochenek was an Arizona State University student who found a part-time job working at the ASU Gammage accounting office. About that time, as Ballet Arizona had CINDERELLA pirouetting across the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed stage in October 1986, Bochenek’s pumpkin carriage ride at ASU Gammage began. She graduated in 1988 with an accounting degree and was a full-time employee by the next year when MY FAIR LADY graced the ASU Gammage Broadway stage. Like this 2016-17 season, that year also included CABARET. This particular production featured the incomparable Joel Grey. By the 1990 season, the stars aligned with PETER PAN and STARLIGHT EXPRESS both lighting the ASU Gammage way. Bochenek was named Accounting Manager that year and she recalls how Broadway touring shows were beginning to gain momentum. “The Phoenix Valley was swimming in a sea of other concert presenters by then. I was grateful that ASU Gammage made a committed transition to Broadway at about that time. The jump really steadied us and has sustained us,” Bochenek says. Along the way, specific highlights stand out in her business perspective. When she began, the auditorium was a concert presenter. From the financial side, it looked quite different than it does now. They were focusing on ASU’s public events like concerts and stadium activities. Until the mid-’90s, that is. She remembers the huge renovations early in the decade that would accommodate a famous chandelier. In crystalline gold, 10
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it would be suspended from the ASU Gammage ceiling. The auditorium was closed for several months, preparing not just for crashing crystals but for a new era of Broadway touring shows. Cameron Mackintosh’s mega musicals were in their genesis, just beginning to offer true ‘Broadway caliber experiences’ on the road. “In 1994, we presented the first THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. It was our biggest show. We had a press conference, our first. The whole process took years of planning... for the ticket sales, for modifications to the theater,” she recalls. “It was our first big test in a much bigger world.” The demand for those Mackintosh productions changed ASU Gammage’s life forever. Huge and heavy shows like LES MISERABLES and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA paved the way for Disney’s long legacy of presenting at ASU Gammage to begin. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, AIDA and MARY POPPINS would soon follow. The biggest leap outside the performance arena she recounts was the 2004 Presidential Debate. George W. Bush and John Kerry addressed the day’s issues from the ASU Gammage stage in their third and final debate preceding the election. “I went from behind a desk to the media tent,” she remembers. “It was still all business-oriented.... processing invoices for equipment and supplies, but it was exciting. We became a madhouse of people and activity.”
Over the next decade, Bochenek remembers how ASU Gammage was “constantly exploring new roads, taking new paths. “Along with standard classics, they brought Vietnam, Africa, oceans of emotion and American immigrants to the forefront through fresh Broadway presentations like MISS SAIGON, THE LION KING, TITANIC and RAGTIME.” “Contracts grew and became much more complex as the Broadway series took off,” she says. “Right up to today, the Broadway season just keeps becoming more diverse, more dynamic and more popular.” In 2005 the business director at ASU Gammage retired. Bochenek and a colleague worked side by side to fill that position. By 2007 Bochenek became the ASU Gammage Director of Business Services. Since then, Bochenek’s direction of the behind-the-scenes transactions have allowed ASU Gammage to smoothly reflect a changing cultural landscape and train spotlights on important social events. ‘Fitting in on account of being different’ was a theme that shone brightly through blockbusters like BILLY ELLIOT, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, KINKY BOOTS, and of course WICKED in recent years. Hosting the Clinton Global Initiative in 2014 also helped ASU Gammage illuminate important people issues. People issues is what Chief of Staff is all about in Bochenek’s mind. Because she earnestly believes in making the
work environment a nurturing, meansproviding space, she feels at home with the title.
Now that she has the Chief of Staff helmet strapped beneath her chin, the road ahead has even more points of interest. She continues to oversee business services and human resources. Bochenek will be the acting executive director when Executive Director for ASU Gammage and Associate Vice President Cultural Affairs for ASU Colleen Jennings-Roggensack travels. That way, Bochenek can help ensure the staff is successful during her absences. Bochenek reasons, “We manage more shows now. Colleen has taken on the Cultural Affairs title which means we’re involved in all the Sun Devil Stadium events, too. We felt like we were getting pulled a little thin, and wanted to keep everyone performing at their best. I’ll help more to set leadership team meeting agendas, become a sort of a funnel for Colleen.” Meeting with other Chiefs and researching different organizations has made it clear to Bochenek that a Chief of Staff is a unique entity in
Neva and her nieces, Gabby and Brenna Bochenek, during their trip to France.
every organization. She’s on a mission to carve out what the position means to ASU Gammage. She wants to be a facilitator for leadership teams and managers. She wants to improve working relationships between people with different personalities. She’s ready to pursue learning to add to her treasure chest of experience. Bochenek’s life beyond the ASU Gammage walls is happily populated with exploration and journeys, too. She and her husband, Jim, along with some extended family, feel lucky to have spent time in France this past summer. Sharing excursions with her siblings, nieces and nephews have made the experiences all the richer. They’ve mapped out hopeful plans for Hawaii next year. Beaches, volcanoes and exploring a lush rain forest are at the top of Bochenek’s anticipated memory-
makers for that journey. “It’s calming and beautiful to see the scenery in different parts of the world. And of course the new food is always important!” she says laughing. As she thinks back on the tales she remembers in her lengthy tenure at ASU Gammage, stars of the stage and extravagant performances aren’t at the forefront. “I guess I’m watching people come in to the theater,” she muses about taking a seat at an ASU Gammage event. “Whether it’s a Broadway tour show or a BEYOND presentation or a concert or graduation, I just enjoy seeing the people. People laughing and people clapping and people crying. To have that connection to people is when I feel best. That’s when I get the biggest sense of serving people, when I can watch what makes them happy.”
S TA F F P RO F I LE : N E VA BO C H E N E K
“I want to help staff shine in their roles. First and foremost, I want to help Colleen, which means making sure her employees have what they need to succeed and grow,” Bochenek says. “For all of us, it’s about being the best you can. For yourself, for each other and for ASU Gammage.”
During Bochenek’s first fall at ASU Gammage, along with Ballet Arizona telling the CINDERELLA story, the Broadway tour of CAMELOT came through with Richard Harris starring as King Arthur. Few who heard him sing it will ever forget that our auditorium echoed with glory-wisped lyrics that October. ‘Don’t let it be forgot / That once there was a spot / For one brief shining moment / That was known as Camelot.’ “It’s why I’ve stayed so long,” says ASU Gammage Chief of Staff Neva Bochenek. She gives the impression that overseeing and being among happy people is the only way to continue on her idyllic journey, concluding, “It’s why I love it.” l Jennifer Haaland Neva and her husband Jim pose at ASU Homecoming
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V I P E V E N T P H OTOS
Colleen Jennings-Roggensack proposes a toast to the construction.
On Thursday August 25th, ASU Gammage held a small ground breaking reception to celebrate the start of construction on the Elevate and Alleviate Elevator and Restroom Expansion project. While construction began in June, the reception gathered the 50 th Anniversary Leadership Board and the construction team, as well as representatives of The Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation whose lead gift helped make the project a reality. The project will add 70 women’s and ADA restrooms and two elevators to the historic theater. ASU Gammage has remained open and completely operational during construction. While we are still fundraising to completely support the initiative, we have raised enough funds to allow the project to start. It is a proud day for all ASU Gammage VIPs as they have helped make possible a new ASU Gammage. Work began June 22 with an anticipated completion date of Spring 2017. We appreciate your support and ask that you “pardon our pixie dust” until construction is complete.
The Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation: Jeff Zemel, Nancy Ball, Jamie Coffaro
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Colleen Jennings-Roggensack and Grady Gammage, Jr.
Susan Ahearn, Bill & Mary Way, Laurie & Chuck Goldstein, Bill Ahearn
CABARET VIP CAST PARTY
V I P E V E N T P H OTOS
CABARET VIP Cast Party at P.F. Chang’s 1. Shannon Olwine, Scott Robertson (Herr Schultz), Mary Gordon Murray (Fräulein Schneider), Mohit Mehta 2. Jeff & Leslie Rich, Benjamin Eakeley (Clifford Bradshaw) 3. Alexia Lorch (center), pictured with CABARET Ensemble members 4. Greg Yagi and Mary Gordon Murray (Fräulein Schneider) 5. Alison Ewing (Fräulein Kost) and Pat Langlin-Brazil 6. Mary Gordon Murray (Fräulein Schneider), Scott Robertson (Herr Schultz) and David Horowitz 7. JO Finks and Benjamin Eakeley (Clifford Bradshaw) 8. Brenda Rowland and Benjamin Eakeley (Clifford Bradshaw) Photos: Tim Trumble
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S U N D E V I L R E WA R D S
The fun and engaging Sun Devil Rewards app keeps score with Pitchforks that can be redeemed for free prizes, everything from VIP tickets and golf packages to autographed memorabilia and exclusive tours of ASU landmarks.
GRATITUDE FOR YOUR ATTITUDE: ASU LAUNCHES FREE SUN DEVIL REWARDS APP ASU merchandise and exclusive experiences available to Sun Devils around the world Now, there’s an app for that. Arizona State University has announced the launch of Sun Devil Rewards, its new official loyalty program app. Sun Devil Rewards awards “Pitchforks” to users who connect with the university via the app by playing trivia games, answering surveys and polls; attending events; sharing news stories; connecting socially via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; purchasing ASU merchandise online; and more. The fun and engaging Sun Devil Rewards app keeps score with Pitchforks that can be redeemed for prizes. Unlike most rewards programs, which require purchases to obtain product discounts, Sun Devil Rewards keeps score with Pitchforks that are earned simply by interacting with the app and redeemed for free prizes. “This app is, pure and simple, a rewards program; the university’s unique way of saying thanks to its family of 400,000-plus alumni around the world, its faculty, staff, students and everyone who is engaged with ASU,” said Dan Dillon, university chief marketing officer. “There is no cost whatsoever, and Pitchforks are earned easily, just by doing what Sun Devils normally do, which is being a part of the
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fabric of ASU, following its progress and activities and staying connected.” Pitchforks can be redeemed for unique ASU experiences, Sun Devil merchandise and sweepstakes opportunities. Among early rewards are tickets and merchandise to ASU Gammage events, golf packages, autographed memorabilia and exclusive tours of such ASU landmarks as the world’s largest universitybased meteorite vault. Additional rewards and sweepstakes prizes will be regularly added to the program catalog. When registering for the first time, users can immediately earn 250 Pitchforks by tapping the “Secret Word” button on the app homepage and entering ASULAUNCHNEWS. “This is our way of honoring alumni and all advocates of Arizona State University,” said Dillon. “We have built an app that is inviting, engaging and rewarding for all.” To download Sun Devil Rewards, go to Apple’s App or Google Play Stores. l Written by Stephen Des Georges, ASU Enterprise Marketing Hub
Deciding what you want to be when you grow up can be a difficult decision. There are so many possibilities and factors to take into consideration. Everyone wants a job they love, but they may not realize the position that’s perfect for them actually exists. Typically, when young adults think about a career in performance arts they only imagine working as a performer or becoming part of the backstage crew. However, there are many different positions and departments that go into putting on a show and maintaining a theater. At ASU Gammage’s School to Work program, middle and high school students have the opportunity to learn about different career opportunities within the performing arts community. Departments that participate in the program include the Box Office, Marketing and Communications, Programming and several others. Melissa Vuletich, cultural participation program manager for ASU Gammage, also believes School to Work is beneficial for all students. “In addition to opening the eyes to those that love theater and the arts to other careers, School to Work translates to other career paths as well,” said Vuletich. “Love football? Well the NFL has jobs in marketing, business services, etc. Do you want to open your own restaurant? These types of jobs and skills exist there as well.” About 18 years ago Michael Reed, the director of programming for ASU Gammage, wrote a proposal for ASU Gammage to receive funding from the state to start the School to Work program. Eighteen years later the program is still going strong and making a huge impact on all those involved. When participating students arrive at ASU Gammage for School to Work, they’re divided up by department. Sometimes
the assignments are random, but students also have the opportunity to choose what career path they’re most interested in learning about.
SC H OO L TO WO R K
SCHOOL TO WORK GIVES STUDENTS AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT CAREERS IN THEATER
Staff members will give students a “day in the life” explanation of what they’re responsible for at work. After a quick presentation, students are given a real-life example of a situation they might face in that particular job. Reed is proud that the program is another great way that ASU Gammage fulfills its mission of Connecting Communities™. “The impact really is the discovery that it’s something (having a career in the performance industry) these kids really want,” said Reed. Some of the students who took part in School to Work will eventually attend ASU and work for the Box Office or in another department at the theater. Lauren Anderson is one of these students. She participated in School to Work her junior and senior year of high school. Now a sophomore at ASU, Anderson took a job as a development intern for ASU Gammage last year. “Up until then I knew I wanted to do theater of some sort, but not acting,” said Anderson. “I had no idea what else there was.” Anderson was randomly assigned to the Programming department the first time she signed up for School to Work. The second time, however, Anderson said she enjoyed Programming so much she voluntarily signed up for it. Today, Anderson is a theater major who wants to either continue pursuing a career in theater programming or become a casting director. “Go into it (School to Work) with an open mind and be willing to explore the different opportunities that they’re teaching you about,” advised Anderson. l Savanah Yaghsezian VOLUME 12 | 2016
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SECOND ANNUAL SENIOR SUN DEVIL EXPERIENCE: THE LAST GOLD
T H E L A S T G O LD
With the 2016 Olympics just days in ASU’s triumphant rearview mirror, a final golden Olympian event unfolded on campus next door to ASU Gammage at the Galvin Playhouse. There, senior Sun Devil athletes and 1976 Olympic swimming medalists gathered to screen an important new film: “The Last Gold.” Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, who we at ASU Gammage know as our fearless Executive Director, is also a USA Swimming Official and mom to Kelsey, an All American swimmer. So when the opportunity to host a second annual arts event that focused on Olympic swimming arose, she dove right in.
Golden Second Annual Senior Sun Devil Experience ASU Athletic Director Ray Anderson, together with Jennings-Roggensack last year launched the Senior Sun Devil Experience. They, with Anderson’s catalyst of a spouse, Buffie, created a program that would expose senior athletes on campus to an arts experience directly tied to their development as emerging academic athletes. Last season, the program debuted with the play BLACK ANGELS OVER TUSKEGEE, an award-winning docudrama about six men who became the first African American aviators in the United States Army Air Forces during racially segregated times. It toured here from its Off-Broadway location in New York City. The students in attendance had been visibly moved and had peppered the cast with questions after the show. “The thing about cultural gifts is you stumble on them unexpectedly,” said Anderson, describing how this year’s experience was determined. “Then you find yourself saying, ‘It can be done. Let’s figure it out and do it!’” He relayed that the film “The Last Gold,” which had been featured at the LA Film Festival in June, was being shown at the Olympic trials in Omaha. The screening in Nebraska had been followed by a panel discussion with the Olympic athletes on whom the movie was based. “The Last Gold,” according to the LA Film Festival’s description, exposes an untold Olympic doping scandal that occurred before ‘steroid’ was a common or even known term. It is a feature-length documentary film narrated by Emmywinner Julianna Margulies (“The Good Wife”) that reveals one of the greatest untold stories in Olympic swimming history. Forty years ago, at the 1976 Montreal Games, a team
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ASU GAMMAGE INNER CIRCLE
of doped East German athletes thrashed their rivals from the United States, until a remarkable final race. “It was a story I had not heard,” Anderson said. “When the event finished, Buffie and Bart [Wear, of the USA Swimming Foundation] and I were slowly moving out of the theater. Buffie shook her head and just said quietly, ‘Boyyy. More people should really see this.’” “Bart instantly got with the USA Swimming organization that made the film. Buffie instantly contacted Colleen and the group back home,” Anderson said, impressed by their speed and determination. After she saw it, Jennings-Roggensack described the piece saying, “The documentary tells an extraordinary tale of women robbed not just of their medals, but of their athletic standing in the world.” Anderson followed, “The story can be an important one for our senior athletes. It is an education about how other athletes have confronted adversity, disappointment and ridicule on a very public stage. It helps answer, ‘How did these individuals cope?’” Just teen and college-aged at the 1976 Olympics, the surviving three members of the relay team are now adults of the same generation as many of the ASU student-athletes’ parents. Anderson noted that these Olympians were phenomenal athletes. Each had their character sorely tested and largely defined by this seminal event. Whether bitter and unforgiving or adjusted and at peace, the experience shaped the kind of adults they became. “It’s this dramatic story of female athletes robbed of glory. And it leaves us feeling so hollow, because it’s true. The women it
happened to will be here that night,” Jennings-Roggensack said about the second annual Senior Experience. “Shirley Babashoff in particular, had been touted as USA’s female Mark Spitz. On a fair pool deck she may have been, but she was denied that chance. Instead the press labeled her a whiny baby,” said Anderson, whose career has demanded he confront the ugly effect steroids have had on athletes and athletics in recent years. “The doping isn’t just dangerous for the athletes as individuals. It isn’t just competitively unfair. The integrity of the game and of sports is at risk,” he said. “The film demonstrates that in a powerful way.”
The Last Gold on the Galvin Stage
Several introductions before the film rolled added to the evening, beginning with Jennings-Roggensack welcoming “Buffie Anderson, the creator of the Senior Experience and the First Lady of Sun Devil Athletics.” Next, Bart Wear, who had just returned from the Rio games, spoke. He suggested the film choice they’d made back in Omaha was derived as a reflection of how the Olympic program at ASU has grown. “As the university raises its commitment to Olympic sports,” he said, “this arts experience delivers a moving episode in history with a strong antidoping message.” As evidence of the campus-wide commitment, Bob Bowman, the ASU head swimming coach, who was also the U.S. Men’s Olympic swimming coach and personal coach of Michael Phelps, took the microphone. He and his team had returned from Rio the previous week with 32 Olympic medals, 16 of which were gold, and he received a whooping ovation. “Reaching the highest level of excellence, for me, is about the joy of watching a purity of effort. We get to witness the compelling nature of pushing the edges of human performance,” Bowman said to the athletes he addressed. Finally, Assistant Executive Director of USA Swimming Mike Unger who had overseen the film’s creation introduced “The Last Gold.” He noted it was one of just 12 films chosen from over 4,000 submissions to the LA film Festival this summer.
Rarely heard these days, as the final moments of the women’s 4×100 gold medal-winning relay played out on the big screen, cheers and applause erupted during the movie.
The Last Gold’s Last Word When the houselights came back up, the three surviving members of that newly-famous gold-winning relay took the stage. Their real life responses, like Anderson had predicted, displayed remarkably different approaches for the student athletes to digest. The psychology of coping strategies hit their mark as students hung on every word the women offered. Jill Sterkel had just kept swimming against the tide. “I was in four different Olympics (‘76, ‘82, ‘84, ‘88) and there was unexposed doping in every single one,” she shared. “We live in a world that exists in the realm of the unthinkable. But for me, I didn’t want to give it voice because then it could beat me.” In response to the final question she was posed, Sterkel issued a punctuated imperative: “Make. Every. Day. Count. Because you cannot go back.”
T H E L A S T G O LD
The air inside the Galvin Playhouse was charged with excited activity. Before the lights dimmed in the crowded auditorium, dressed up students were wide-eyed and inquisitive as Olympic celebrities and swim officials visited and posed for photographers.
The film itself was met with rapt attention. Lots of scratchy swim race footage and even more remarkable testimony from the East German athletes who had been drugged without parental permission or choice appeared. Those scenes had been seamlessly woven into exclusive interviews with the three Olympians who were in the Galvin Playhouse watching themselves talk and make historic swims.
Wendy Boglioli has become a change agent and motivational speaker. She noted she had made friends and exchanged baby gifts with one of the East German women against whom they’d swam. “The cheaters are the cheaters. Crap is going to happen. Nobody was going to give us a pass. But when I look back, I realize it was still the best, most thrilling time of my life.” She nonetheless concluded with a caution: “But the problem is even more pervasive now. I don’t know how to cure it. Now, 40 years later when the doping is so obvious ... and in the end we are knowing and allowing it. It’s devastating. There has to be consequences. We are the stakeholders and we need to fix it.” Shirley Babashoff left swimming after the 1976 Games, still a teenager. The film trailer describes her as “a transcendent American athlete denied her due and since lost in time.” Against popular opinion, however, she never wavered in her sassy, humor-laced convictions about what had occurred. She further noted the California legislature had just moved to pursue obtaining the American medals unfairly lost. As the evening closed, she bluntly implored the athletes in the Galvin audience: “I can’t understand. In this scenario, how are we expected to lose gracefully?” In the end, “The Last Gold” and the second annual Senior Sun Devil Experience provided exactly the opportunities all good art invites. As a springboard for deeper exploration and new perspective, it won. l Jennifer Haaland
VOLUME 12 | 2016
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T H E I LLU S I O N I S T S - LI V E F RO M B ROA DWAY
THE ILLUSIONISTS LIVE FROM BROADWAY A magician revs up a large chainsaw and prepares to saw his lovely assistant in half. The blade makes contact with the wooden box the assistant is encased in and begins to slice through. About halfway, he stops, has something gone wrong? The audience momentarily panics and a little boy leaves the theater in hysterics. Dan Sperry, one of the magicians in THE ILLUSIONISTS cast, was the little boy who left the theater crying after this particularly intense magic trick. He and his family attended a David Copperfield show when he was 4 years old and the experience terrified him so much he had to leave the performance early. Obviously, Copperfield saves the day at the last second, but Sperry never found out exactly what happened.
of hats—unless they’re on fire while he’s upside down.
Although he never saw the conclusion of the show, his family encouraged him to explore the world of magic in order to understand it and overcome his fears. He started with simple “magic boxes” and then worked his way up from there.
“I get really sad when I’m not touring,” said Sperry. “On tour, every day you have an adventure.”
“It kind of led to the next thing, to the next thing,” said Sperry of his involvement with practicing magic.
“It’s a magic show for magic people who love magic shows, and a magic show for people who hate magic shows,” said Sperry.
Today, Sperry has competed on the television show “X-Factor,” become one of the top ten most Googled people, collected nearly 30,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel and has performed across the globe. Sperry became involved with THE ILLUSIONISTS cast after a talent scout for the Sydney Opera House watched his YouTube videos and attended one of Sperry’s Off-Broadway performances.
Andrew Basso
THE ILLUSIONISTS is the perfect way for Sperry to perform his greatest tricks among some of the best magicians in the industry. The show is the #1 best-selling magic show and unlike any other show on tour. According to Sperry, THE ILLUSIONISTS is the “MTV Music Awards with magic.” Dan Sperry
“It’s a magic show for magic people who love magic shows, and a magic show for people who hate magic shows.”
After three weeks of intense brainstorming with other magicians, THE ILLUSIONISTS was born. Sperry typically describes himself as an “anti-conjuror,” or a magician who uses suspense and anticipation to shock and amaze the audience. You won’t find Sperry pulling rabbits out
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For Sperry, touring is one of the best parts of being a magician. He said he enjoys checking out what every city has to offer while avoiding tourist attractions.
ASU GAMMAGE INNER CIRCLE
Sperry said he doesn’t usually get stagefright, but sometimes he gets nervous when selecting a random member from the audience because he’s unsure how they’ll react on stage. Because the audience member isn’t in on the trick, it’s hard to tell who will be a “good” person to bring on stage. However, Sperry said he just hopes the person he picks likes him and has fun.
Sperry the “Anti-Conjuror” performs alongside Kevin James, Ben Blaque, Colin Cloud, Adam Trent, Jeff Hobson, Andrew Basso, Yu Ho-Jin and Darcy Oake. THE ILLUSIONISTS will perform at ASU Gammage January 17-22 as a part of the 2016-17 Broadway season. l Savanah Yaghsezian • savanah.yaghsezian@asu.edu Photos by Joan Marcus
JAZZ CONTINUES TO THRIVE AT ASU KERR At the ASU Kerr Cultural Center, jazz has always been a large part of what truly makes ASU Kerr a harbor for all genres of musicians. Jazz performances at the ASU Kerr Cultural Center are highly respected within the local jazz community. As an unspoken rule, patrons will arrive at ASU Kerr dressed as if attending a gala; it’s not a casual event for many long-time fans. From January to April, musicians, jazz-lovers and newcomers all flock to ASU Kerr to hear some of the best in jazz perform.
“That was the first time the jazz community became aware of ASU Kerr,” said Stacey Bailey, Program Coordinator at ASU Kerr. Lewis met Kerr through her son in 1954. Kerr became a positive influence in Lewis’ life and eventually encouraged him to stay and work under her roof. “She was just a great lady,” said Lewis.
K E R R KO R N E R
Although jazz was not owner Louise Lincoln Kerr’s central musical focus, the genre has flourished on her property. She frequently housed aspiring, disciplined classical musicians to help them focus and find inspiration for their music. In the late 1960’s, however, Kerr made an exception and invited local jazz legend Charles Lewis to become a resident of her property and work on his music in the Kerr studio.
Vocalist Renee Patrick, drummer Cleve Huff and multi-instrumentalist Shea Marshall during the 2015-2016 Divas show.
Lewis said Kerr would often hear him practicing in his room or in the studio. A few times she even offered her critiques to Lewis. After some time, Kerr gave Lewis permission to invite other jazz musicians for “jazz parties.” During this time, there were no formal concerts. It was strictly on an inviteonly basis. Eventually, jazz concerts made their way into ASU Kerr’s scheduled performances. In 1986 “Friends of Jazz” performed. From there, several other jazz musicians found their way to the historic venue, including the popular “Divas” series which features several local female jazz artists.
Louise Kerr and Charles Lewis
Today, ASU Kerr often incorporates jazz concerts into the Featured Artists series in their performing arts season. Jazz in AZ/The Nash offers its annual ASU Kerr Jazz in Concert series with support from the Jazzbird Foundation and Scottsdale Cultural Council. “Jazz has been extremely important to ASU Kerr,” said Bailey. “The (jazz) musicians in Phoenix are definitely like a family to ASU Kerr.” In 2017, the jazz lineup features some old favorites and new faces. Dennis Rowland will return to ASU Kerr, Nayo Jones will perform the pieces she previously recorded at Kerr and Ralna English from “The Lawrence Welk Show” is one of the featured artists this season. l Savanah Yaghsezian
Charles Lewis
Above: Ralna English perfoms on February 8, 2017, and Nayo Jones & Elan Trotman will be performing on February 24, 2017 at ASU Kerr.
VOLUME 12 | 2016
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HAPPY DAHL DAY!
100K MILESTONE
DONORS
ASU Gammage gratefully acknowledges these individual donors and foundations whose cumulative giving totaled $100,000 or more as of September 2016. The contributions of these generous benefactors, in partnership with those of other visionary patrons, sponsors and volunteers, have incalculably enriched our community.
ASU Gammage celebrated Roald Dahl's birthday on September 13 by surprising a 4th grade class at BrunsonLee Elementary School with copies of Matilda and cupcakes for each student.
Abbett Family Foundation Arizona Lottery APS Susan & William Ahearn Jerry Appell Carmen & Michael Blank F. Richard Bloechl Family George Brazil Plumbing & Electrical Broadway Across America JO & Harvey Finks Laurie & Chuck Goldstein Joanne & Mark Halberg Patricia Kaufman Patricia Langlin-Brazil Hugh W. Long, Jr. Family Rae & Richard S. Love Robert Machiz Doreen & Michael Manning Lesley & Paul Monfardini Rosenbluth Family Foundation Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation Margaret T. Morris Foundation Sarah Nolan Rev. Jenny Norton & Bob Ramsey Ticketmaster VMI Holdings The Way Family/Way Family Charitable Foundation
CORPORATE/ FOUNDATION SPONSORS $100,000+ Abbett Family Foundation Broadway Across America Desert Schools Federal Credit Union Margaret T. Morris Foundation/J.W. Kieckhefer Foundation $99,999-$50,000 George Brazil Plumbing & Electrical Ticketmaster $49,999-$25,000 Andrew Family Foundation National Endowment for the Arts $24,999-$10,000 Arizona Lottery APS California Institute of Contemporary Arts 20
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Penrose Academy Stinson Leonard Street LLP/Michael C. Manning $9,999-$2,500 Abbot Downing Arizona Business Bank Arizona Business Magazine Macy’s Foundation The New England Foundation for the Arts The Reflective Designer Target Tim Trumble Photography, Inc. Wells Fargo
LEGACY
INVESTORS GUILD $25,000 and Above
Susan & William Ahearn* Molly Blank Fund and Carmela & Michael Blank Lee Bowman* Joanne & Mark Halberg Dr. & Mrs. Charles Goldstein Beth & Michael Kasser Patricia Langlin-Brazil Jenny Norton & Bob Ramsey The Hugh W. Long, Jr. Family
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GRADY GAMMAGE SOCIETY $5,000 and Above
Anonymous Allen-Heath Memorial Foundation Reginald M. Ballantyne III E.G. & Carol Barmore Mary A. Barrett Oonagh & John Boppart Renee Cermak & Fred Auzenne Jacqueline Chadwick, MD Michele & Chris England Dr. & Mrs. Steven Farber Sophia & Mike Fong Davie Glaser In Loving Memory of David H. Glaser Christine & Luis Gonzalez Jan & Dick Govig* Jay & Rojon Hasker* David N. Horowitz & Damon J. Bolling Norman & Teresa Klein Family Gail & John Krueger Aaron & Brenda LaTowsky Kathy & Albert Leffler Julie & Herbert Louis Richard S. & Rae Love Dr. & Mrs. Gerald Mandell Merrily Metzger* Lesley & Paul Monfardini* BOLD indicates $50K cumulative giving to ASU Gammage * denotes multi-year commitment
• as of 10/2016
The George and Karen Nackard Foundation Jeffrey D. Oliver* Arthur & Linda Pelberg Leslie & Jeff Rich Larry & Lisa Rogoff* Rosenbluth Family Foundation Richard & Christy Schust Enid & Michael Seiden Lorri & Stephen Smith Roxane Smyer & Bailey Smith Mr. & Mrs. Ron Starkman* Steffie & Millie Marsha & Charles Van Dam Kristi Vasquez & Jeff Roberts Veteran Tickets Foundation The Way Family Fran & Barry Weissler Jana & Mark Wilcke Patrick H. Zanzucchi KATHRYN GAMMAGE CIRCLE $2,500 and Above
AADS Office Solutions Int’l, LLC & Top Priority Messenger Service, Inc. Kathy Aichele & Fran Tepner & Robert Scrivner Nancy & Warren Alter Anderson, Chavet and Anderson Inc. Buffie & Ray Anderson Rhet & Marcia Andrews Anonymous Felice Appell Tran & Glenn Appell Arizona Glaucoma Specialists - Jeffrey S. Kay, M.D. Alan & Char Augenstein Harrison & Laura Bachrach Tara Bickford Bailey & Glen R. Bailey Craig & Barbara Barrett Kristy & David Benton Barbara, Irv & Jeremy Berger* Karen & Gary Bethune Janet Bioletto Corilee & Kevin Bishop The Blunck Family Jon & Jennifer Bohnert Tara & Todd Bookspan Marilyn Bostic Susan & David Brachman Shirley F. Brown & Fred L. Brown Steve & Belinda Brown Cheryl & Lee Brueckel Jim Cairns & Dani Stanton Linda Carneal Rick & Kathy Cartell Dr. David & Mrs. Georgiana Cave Dawn Cernak Susan & Steven Charney Children’s Dental Village Marilee & David Clarke Carol & Larry Clemmensen Les & Becky Coates/Lawns by Les Dr. & Mrs. Lance Cohen John H. Cole III M.D. & Patrick T. Boyhan Marilyn & Bob Colvert Angela & David Conwell Hollie M. Crim Barbi Crisp & Mark Nemscoff Diane & Phil Daspit Michele Davis Beth & Ed Dawkins VOLUME 12 | 2016
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Nancy A. Dean Cyndi & Terry DeBoer Mr. & Mrs. Tom DeBonis Bob Demaine Teresa & Michael Dempsey Laurie Dennhardt & Anna de Jesus Cathy Dickey Mr. & Mrs. Robert Donat Jane Dowling Daniel Eng Kerry & Jim Engbarth Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Ensor Ardie & Steve Evans Jane & Andrew Evans II Ray & Bettijune Fanning Mary Farrington-Lorch & Martin Lorch Nelson Faux Phyllis & Jack Finney Mike & Becky Fish Eric Fox & Raymond Hebert & Judith Rosenthal & Georgia Garrett-Norris Fractured Prune Doughnuts Arizona Terry Gimmellie & Brooks Hull & Paula Kampinski Mrs. Saul Ginsberg Neil G. Giuliano Judy & Herb Gold Mark & Sherry Goldberg Don & Justine Good Penni & Todd Graham John & Deanne Greco Joan & Al Gudriks & Mary & Dan Stamp Gretchen & Jim Haahr In Memory of Ada Halbreich Mr. & Mrs. Don Hall Liesa Harkness Jeffrey E. Harper Carl & Patricia Harris Jennifer & Stuart Hetrick Beth & Bill Hicks Ralph & Ellen Hirsch Genevieve & Michael Hogan Marfa Holland Jacqueline Hufford-Jensen & Greg Kroening Christine Hughes Tara Iyengar Dr. Ellie & John Izzo Jaburg & Wilk, P.C. Colleen Jennings-Roggensack & Dr. Kurt Roggensack Brian Jones Dr. Lyndy Jones Peggy R. Joslin Michelle Jung & Chris Rodriguez Mr. & Mrs. Tim Kaehr Stacy & Alan Klibanoff Michael & Ellyn Kruke Michelle Laiss-Lepner Patricia & Mark Landay Law Office of Christina M. Lopez, PLLC Machrina & Dale Leach Hope & Steven Leibsohn Herb & Nancy Lienenbrugger Lynn Londen Douglas Lowe Kurt & Keli Luther Kristen & Doug Magnuson Cheryl & Johan Magnusson Marketline Mortgage ASU GAMMAGE INNER CIRCLE
Ms. Michelle Matiski & Dr. Alan Snyder Steve & Rhonda Maun* Celia & Kent McClelland Cathy McDavid Leslie McDonnell In Memory of Jack McDonnell Patrick McPhilomy Andrew & Marcia Meyer Kathleen A. Mickle & Karen B. Roth Glenn & Stephanie Mitchell Raymond Mogensen Kathleen & Barry Monheit Larry & Virginia Morrison Carl C. Mueller Kenneth & Donna Muller Dawn & John Mulligan Tammy Munizza Rafael & Mary Munoz Dr. & Mrs. Jacob Musallam Dick & Jane Neuheisel Nathan & Betty Norris Novack Family Linda & Kevin Olson Mr. & Mrs. Enrique Ortega PRM Association Management Frank & Ginny Palamara Leah Pallin-Hill & Bryan Hill* Dr. John Parente Alisa & Glenn Park Bela Patel & Miguel Fernandez Jeffrey Perlmeter Dwight & Kathryn Peters Pat Piazza Debbie & Tobie Pirone MaryLee & Glen Poole Carol A. Poore, Ph.D. Practice Strategies Pragmatic Marketing, Inc. Dr. Coral Quiet/Arizona Breast Cancer Specialists Dr. Carolyn Ragatz & Mr. Phillip Ragatz Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Rawlings Mario Trejo Romero & G. Lewis Penrose Russell A. Robbins Mitchell & Heather Ross Jim & Brenda Rowland Cheryl Rubbelke Karen & John Runberg Norm & Pam Saba Jesse & Jennifer Schwarz Danny Sharaby/Tickets Unlimited Jeffrey & Deborah Smith Zahnie L. Soe Myint, Esq. Ava Spanier & Steve Garland Nicole Spracale Frances & Unni Sreekumar Dr. Cheri St. Arnauld & Family Dr. Barry & Judith Stern Morgan Stewart & Troy Homewood Cheryl & Ed Sucato John & Monica Suriano Holly, Kristen & Lauren Terrell Bruce C. Thoeny Brinley Thomas & Charles Bentley Tiller Family Foundation Violet Toy & Betsy Toy Yee Melissa Trudelle Cheryl & Gary Van Brunt Susan Van Dyke MD/Van Dyke Laser & Skin Care Mark & Lynn Vanderlinde/VRealty Advisors
Laura & Richard Varner M.A. Verso MD Doug Walters Col. Alexander Warschaw Jeffrey & Dian Weisman Todd & Tammy Wilkening Daryl & Karly Williams Dr. Syd Wilson & Dr. Carol Wilson Dr. Judith G. Wolf Dr. Salpi Wolper Frank & Candace Yaconis Greg Yagi & Don Strook Ray & Sue York Martha Zachary Charlie & Judy Zarrelli*
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Mariana & Richard Abelson Alive at Work, LLC Marilyn Alsager Altier Credit Union Anonymous Louraine Arkfeld Kevin Axx & Cameron Goebeler AZ Obstetrics & Gynecology Sam Baar Luisa & Berke Bakay Shayna Balch Douglas Ball Jim Barash & Dr. Tamar Gottfried Lory Baraz & Robert Zucker Fredric D. Bellamy Michael & Julie Bennett Gina & Gregory Berman In Memory of Nan Beyer Col. Jody Blanchfield Katherine & John Boisvert Kelley & John Bonowski Susan & Richard Bookspan Teresa & Mark Borota Linda Broomhead & Terese Sanchez Patti & Rick Brown Cheryl & Pat Burke Janet & Edward Burke Elizabeth Burm Dawna & Dan Calderone Camelview Physical Therapy Elaine & Paul Campbell David E. Cantrell & Glenn W. Eyet III Kent Cattani Kristin & Mark Chase Helen Cho Kathryn A. Christmann Grainger Cole Kris Cook & Dale Wendt Jr. Kathleen Cullen Rene & Jeremy Daer Marilee & Zach Dal Pra Tiersa & Lawrence Damore Bette DeGraw Brian & Becky Delghiaccio Lloyd Dennington Drs. Fred & Suzie DePrez Donna & Bob Dichiaro Jackie & James Disney Janice Donnelly & John King Michael Drexler Jim Edmonds Cynthia Emmons Lou & Rick Ender Christine English & Lenard Hailey Jody Epperson
Michele & Michael Etheridge Thomas Fannin Dino & Linda Farfante Gail Fawcett Penny & Charles Fine Sandra J. Fromm Brooke Fry Family Crystal Fyke Marybeth & Jimmy Garrett Kyla & Michael Garrison Barbara & Gregory Geidel Dr. Philip E. & Roseann M. Geiger Carole & Ronnie Gilbert Sue & Joe Gilleland Joe & Helen Goldblatt Lisa & David Goldstein Vicki Greener Lindsey, Victor & Henrik Hamburger Alan & Anita Handelsman Lynlie & Myron Hansen Kathy & Marty Harper Diane Harrison Dottie & Mark Harshbarger Nora & Tim Hart Ronald H. Harten Marilyn & Paul Harter Larmon & Linda Haugen Christopher & Judy Hossack Dr. Scott Howell & Mr. Sean Smith Mike Hughes & Dr. Kevin Mendivil Teresa & Darrel Huish Marcie & Michael Hutchinson The Til Hutchison Family Jacqueline E. Jackson Kim Jameson & Jon Ann Hockersmith Gwen Johnson In Memory of Steven R. Jonas Lynda Jones & Ron Jenks Lynn Judd Shari & Irwin Kanefsky Rona & Allan Kasen Casey & Clara Khaleesi George Kief Alan Kierman Jo Krueger Lawrence R. Lathom Linda & Jim Lee Patty & Matthew Lernor Mary E. LeRoy & Mark F. Tabar Paul, Pat & Kelsey Lewis Mary & Randy Long Sharon Lytle-Breen Rita & Nicole Mann Bev & Bruce Martin Robbyn McDowell Dr. Geoffrey McKinzie & Tabitha McKinzie Bruce Meyerson & Mary Ellen Simonson In Memory of J. Eric Miller Mary Murphy & Kurt Meyer Christine & John Minch Mutual Management Services Karen & Robert Nagle Brenlie & Jim Nagy Christine & Frank Nechvatal Pamela & Tom Ng In Memory of Cindy Olstein Shannon Olwine & Mohit Mehta Dr. & Mrs. Donald A. Opila Todd Ott Dr. & Mrs. Donald Patterson Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Piemme
SUPPORTING MEMBER $500 and Above
Natalie & John Ahearn Anonymous Susan Anderson & Robert Arthur Rosemary Berg Ross & Shirley Berg Suzanne & David Black Dr. & Mrs. Derek Braun Babette Burdman Emily Burns
Arlene Busch Stephanie & Brad Butler Ann Chafoulias Sophia Chiang & Wayne Gaafar Rose & Joseph Circello Steven & Shari Cohen Catherine M. Comer Carl J. Cross Shelly & Mark Detmer Julie & Michael Dillon Don Dotts Jan & Leo Dressel Rhonda Elifritz-Rix Priscilla Ethier Virginia & Ron Erhardt Karen Felts & Amanda Felts Mr. & Mrs. Armando Flores Jane & Bob Franek Rose M. Frankfort Natalie & Edward Gaylord Morton L. Goodman & Kathleen Niederst Jill Hart Col. Paul Harwood Linda Heppe Beth & Bill Hicks Patty & Ronnie Horn William Hosking Kathy & Kenneth Hudson Laurene Hughes Mister Jackson Michelle Louise Johnson Mr. & Mrs. Malcolm Jozoff Ellen & Howard Katz Dr. & Mrs. Dean Kile Mr. & Mrs. Michael Kirby Sr. Alisa & Michael Lacey Cheryl Laurent Dorothy Lincoln-Smith Christine Mahon & Charles Mackey Suzan Makaus Marilyn & Mark McCall Ellis & Kiran Means Julie Mooney Vickie & Ron Neill New Electric, Inc. Karen Nordstrand Michael O’Meara Sara Oliver Sharon & Howard Paley Pam & Gary Passey Valerie & Gregory Patten Natalie & Robert Perucelli Sandra Phillips Nathanael Pretlow Rachel & Elliot Rabinovich Rosalie Raptosh Gail & Michael Reed Michael Rego Ronald & Beverly Richards John & Dee Ann Rogers Jordan Roth Norma & Henry Rother Alice & Doug Safford Ed Sandler Dawn & Michael Sandlin Ursula & Rick Schultz Jacob Schwarz In Memory of Judith Signeski William Smith Tena & Michael Sprenger Richard P. Stahl Cynthia & Adam Stcyr Laura & Michael Suriano Orin & Mary Svarc Chris & Geri Swahn Frank & Donna Tanori Vicki & Tom Taradash Dr. Jerome & Dr. Selma E. Targovnik VIP Tours of New York LLC Sandy Wagner Kelli & Lonnie Williams Deborah Wright & Robert Singley Larry Wulkan
CONTRIBUTING MEMBER $250 and Above
Anonymous Joseph Albach Ted Allmon Teresa Amabisca Brenda & Kerry Amstutz Association of the United States Army, Arizona Territorial Chapter Melissa & Joshua Baker Sheryl & Fred Barlam Lori Barnes Rosemarie Bartolome C.K. “Wiggie” Bastian & Stephanie Keeler David Bayliff Veronica & John Beamer William Becker Angela Bernhardt Mark Betz Regina & Peter Bidstrup Kristine Black Neva & Jim Bochenek Judy Bodnar George & Mary Ann Bradbury Lauri & Mike Branch Dr. & Mrs. Peter S. Brown Saundra Bryn Elizabeth & Dan Burk Melanie & Patrick Burm Mary & Ray Byke Christine Carlson Peggy & Cy Carney Catherine Clarich Brent Collins Dorothy & Roger Colucci Kevin Corrigan Christopher Cropley Robert Crump Michele & Bruce Davis Casey Dickinson Virginia Doherty Richard Duke Cheryl Eames & Bill Achtenberg Flo & Paul Eckstein Erin Ezzell Patricia & Fred Farsjo Sharon Feltus Patricia Fimbres Catherine Flowers Jodie Ford Sylvia & John Fox V. Paul & Wilma Gahagan Mary Ann Gallagher Nanci Geres Sarah Giunta Selma Glass Alyssa Ann Goldstein Jessica Griffin Michelle Gonzales Sharon & Tim Gregory Jessia Griffin Eva & James Hamant Barbara & Joel Hanania Therese & Scott Hannemann Kristine & Walter Harnden Lettie & David Harrald Brody Hawker Angeline Hawkes Sara & James Herschauer Bruce Heyse Matthew Hollenbeck Dorothy J. Horn Mr. & Mrs. Jason Hug Margo Hull Ron Hurle Patricia Hynoski Mary Sue & Paul Ingraham Gary Jackson Joe W. Janick & Tina Firetag Frances Johnson-Gibbs Robert Johnson Anne & Tom Jones Barbara Katz Kathryn Leo Keast Louis C. Kirby Ann & Timothy Kneuss Alexandra Knight Diane Kreizenbeck Donna & Frank Kucinski Edith & Donald Kunz Richard Laborin William & Linda Langer Raenelle & William Lees Mr. & Mrs. Brian Leiphart Cheryl Lewis
Florence & Paul Libin Christy Lindsay Steven Lofgren Trenda & John Long Marissa Luck Karie Lurie Alice Mason Julie Mate Julie McCallister James McDonald Kathryn Morrison McKay Moulton Gerald & Juanita Myers David Novarina Joey Parnes Shannon Payne & Richard Joos Alicia Pendley Paul Peters Valleria Pickett Ann & Richard Porras Melanie Powers William Rase Justin Reynolds Peter & Jeane Robbeloth Lynn Robinson Matthew Robinson Ronald & Cynthia Rodgers Donna & Jack Rubino Virginia Savage Gloria Sawrey Plezana Schuler Carolyn Sechler CPA Janet Seely Elvia Senter & Norman Buckner, Jr. John Sickels In Honor of Kendall Siebels Kathy Sill & Joel Birenbaum Raj Sivananthan Daniel L. Smith Laura & Toby Sneed Hector Sosa Marguerite Spears Allan Stein Mark Stevens Margaret Stone & Jonathan Dee Trisa Summers Audreyetta Swanson Sherri Tanis In Memory of Ralph Thomas Bradley Timmerman Josephine Torrez Jennifer Turner Francisco Uriarte Celia Vasfaret Tasha Vatistas Mary Walker Wilmore Washington Katherina & Harold Watson Leesa & George Weisz Marty Westfall Beverly White Darcey Winterland Christine Woodson Tandy Young Yubeta Family Veronica Zavala Lisa Zelasko Gayle Zerkel
VOLUME 12 | 2016
DONORS
Gloria & Jill Pierce-Garcia The Powers Family Keith & Laura Price Hari Puri Matt Raiff Toni Ramsey & Mark Mulligan Dean Rennell Herschel & Valerie Richter Rebecca P. Ripley & Tara Swinehart Sharon & James Robbins Dr. Lynn Robershotte & Bryce Rene & Theresa Romero Kristine Romine Rosedale Hair Design Scott Rudin Beth Saiki-Olsen & Morgan Olsen Jeff Salomone Mr. & Mrs. Harold Samloff Bryan & Katherine Sandler Christine & Frank Scarpati Mark Schiavoni Ellen & Paul Schifman Katherine & Randall Schmidt Lyrna & Michael Schoon Marcia & John Sciali Ryan & Rachel Semro Judy Sera-Windell & Robert Windell Mr. & Mrs. Clark Skeans Rebecca & William Smead Karen Stein Roslyn & Alan Stoff Christina & Tim Tarter Toby Teret Taylor Carla & Gary Tenney Tewksbury Financial Group/John & Sunny Tewksbury Kartika & Eric Thornbre Susan Thrasher & Chuck Schwartz Kerie S. Trindle Byrne & Derek Byrne Mollie C. Trivers Alicia Torruella Zeena Ubogy M.D. & Millard Thaler M.D./Papillon Cosmetic Dermatology Center Ann & Paul Underwood Steve Urke Joseph Walters Dale & Sheryl Wanek Phyl Wason Suzanne & Craig Weaver Lori Weinstein Kristi West John O. Whiteman Jeanne Wilcox & Joe Rody Doris & Duly Winkler Coral & Thomas Wood Sharon K. Woodman Michelle & Chris Zachar Joseph Zavislak Pam Ziegler Robert Zinn
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ASU GAMMAGE INNER CIRCLE PO Box 870205 Tempe, AZ 85287-0205 480.965.5062 asugammage.com
UPCOMING VIP EVENTS
Tuesday, November 8
Tuesday, November 22
Performance for Students: CONTRATIEMPO
Cast Party: BEAUTIFUL
See your donation at work and join us for a special performance for students followed by a donor reception and Q & A with energetic music and dance group CONTRA-TIEMPO. Exclusive VIP Club member benefit! Must RSVP.
Saturday, November 12 BEYOND: CONTRA-TIEMPO – Agua Furiosa Acclaimed and energetic dance troupe CONTRA-TIEMPO returns to Gammage and the Valley for their latest work: Agua Furiosa. Tickets are available.
Join ASU Gammage and cast members from BEAUTIFUL for beverages and light hors d’oeuvres on Opening Night. Exclusive VIP member benefit (Directors Club Member and above)! Must RSVP.
SAVE THE DATE
Tuesday, December 6
Gammy and Jerry Awards
Cast Party: MAMMA MIA! Join ASU Gammage and cast members from MAMMA MIA! for beverages and light hors d’oeuvres on Opening Night. Exclusive VIP member benefit (Directors Club Member and above)! Must RSVP.
Monday, March 27, 2017 Save the date for the third presentation of ASU Gammage’s Jerry award for outstanding contribution to ASU Gammage and Gammy award for outstanding contribution to the global performing arts community. Must RSVP.
UPDATE: VIP LOUNGE WILL NOW OPEN 90 MINUTES PRIOR TO CURTAIN FOR BROADWAY SHOWS