Kevin Glaccum Producing Artistic Director
AZUKA THEATRE presents
by JORDAN HARRISON Featuring MIKE DEES JAMISON FOREMAN AMANDA SCHOONOVER* MEGAN SLATER MATT TALLMAN & LEAH WALTON* Scenic Design MEGHAN JONES
Costume Design ALISA SICKORA KLECKNER
Lighting Design JOSHUA L. SCHULMAN
Sound Design & Composer DANIEL PERELSTEIN
Hair & Makeup MONIQUE GAFFNEY Production Manager TERRY SMITH Production Stage Manager LAUREN TRACY Directed by KEVIN GLACCUM
Philadelphia Premiere!
November 3 – 20, 2011 Azuka Theatre is a 501(c)(3) Not for profit organization
CAST Miles/Lady Romola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mike Dees True/Countesss Roquefort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Matt Tallman Casper/Greta the Maid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jamison Foreman Dorothy/Miles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leah Walton* Lorna/True . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Megan Slater Zina/Casper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Amanda Schoonover* *Member of Actors’ Equity Association
Time & Place: 1927, a very small town in the Midwest. There will be one 15 minute intermission. Please turn OFF all electronic devices prior to the performance. Photography or recording of this production, including cellular phones, is strictly prohibited The noted Actors in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Proud member of Off-Broad Street. Celebrating Philadelphia Independent Theater!
Azuka Theatre is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (GPCA).
Azuka Theatre is a member of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia (TAGP).
Azuka Theatre proudly participates in the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre.
A Note From the Director What are you wearing right now? How did you go about selecting these particular clothes? Did you come right from work, so you have ‘work clothes’ on? Or did you pick out something special, a ‘going-out outfit’? Whether we’re conscious of it or not, we’re ALL wearing a costume of one sort or another. You would no more wear overalls to a black tie affair than you would an evening gown to a soccer game. What we choose to put on everyday speaks volumes about us; not just our gender but our socio-economic status, what segment of the population we feel connected to (how many sports team jerseys do you own?), but most importantly what we wear reflects how we see ourselves. On the first day of rehearsal for Act A Lady I showed the cast Jennie Livingstone’s 1990 documentary Paris is Burning. The film looks at the drag balls that took place in NY in the late 1980’s (it’s where Madonna got the idea for ‘Vogue’). These rather extravagant competitions included a category for ‘realness’; that is men dressing as men. The difference being they were trying to ‘pass’ as military men or Wall Street businessmen; the uniforms and suits these men wore became ‘drag’. At one point in the film there are a few dozen shots of ‘regular’ people walking around New York with a voiceover talking about how everything we wear is a costume. Act A Lady turns what we wear and how we identify ourselves on its head; it’s also a love letter to the theater and to the power of imagination. And it’s REALLY funny! This is the second Jordan Harrison play I’ve directed and I’m constantly astounded at the man’s love for the English language and how he can use it to make me laugh out loud. His work also fits right into our mission, to give voice to the people whose stories go unheard. In this case, it’s not only the people of the small town of Wattleburg trying to put on a play, but the alternate personalities they have inside them. Sit back and enjoy—I hope you have as much fun watching this as we had making it!
WHO’S WHO mike Dees (Miles/Lady Romola) is thrilled to be working with Azuka again. Previous shows include Laura’s Bush and The Boys. Mike has an MA in Theatre from Villanova University, where he won the 2002 Barrymore Award for Supporting Actor in a Musical. He recently performed Off-Broadway in Dublin by Lamplight by Michael West. In Philly, he has worked with Inis Nua Theatre, 1812 Productions, Lantern Theater Company, and the Wilma Theater, among others. Thanks to Kevin, cast and crew! Jamison Foreman (Casper/Greta the Maid). Previous credits include: Fame (International Tour), Miss Saigon, White Christmas, Fiddler on the Roof (Walnut Street Theater), Tom Sawyer (People’s Light and Theater). He will next be seen in Voices of Christmas at Theatre Horizon. Thanks to this amazing cast, Kevin, and as always, to my mom.
Amanda Schoonover (Zina) is thrilled to return to Azuka for her 8th show! Amanda is a six time Barrymore Award nominee, winning two awards for her work as Dottie in Theatre Exile’s Killer Joe, as well as being a 2010 F. Otto Haas Emerging Artist finalist. She has worked with many theaters in Philadelphia including the Arden, People’s Light, Theatre Horizon, Bristol Riverside, Pig Iron, New City and the Lantern. Favorite roles include Lucy in Mr. Marmalade (Exile), Minnie in the terrible girls (Azuka), Sara in Grace (Luna) and Moll in Kid Simple (Azuka). Look for her in the upcoming productions of Charlotte’s Web at the Arden and A Behanding in Spokane with Theatre Exile! Many thanks the entire Azuka family and especially to Kevin for the opportunity! megan Slater (Lorna) is excited to return to the Azuka stage after previously performing as a member of the chorus in Sweetie Pie. Locally, Megan has worked with Bckseet Productions, Flashpoint Theatre Company, The National Constitution Center, Philadelphia Artist Collective, Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Workshop, Simpatico Theatre Project and The Wilma. Huge amounts of love and gratitude to Kevin and Allison for this fantastic opportunity.
matt tallman (True/Countess Roquefort). Regional: Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth, Pride and Prejudice (Utah Shakespearean Festival); Hamlet (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Tour); Hamlet, The Tempest, Love’s Labors Lost, All’s Well That Ends Well (American Players Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Dallas Theater Center); As You Like It (Water Tower Theatre); Much Ado About Nothing, A Christmas Carol (St. Croix Festival Theatre); The Voice of the Prairie, What the Butler Saw (Next Act Theatre); The Tempest, Othello (Milwaukee Shakespeare); Ghosts, Much Ado About Nothing, Misalliance (Commonweal Theatre Company) A Life in the Theatre (Nevermore Theatre). Film: I Become Gilgamesh. Education: MFA, Southern Methodist University. Leah Walton (Dorothy). Off-Broadway: Ars Nova Lapsburgh Layover (NY Times and Time Out NY“Critics Pick”), Playwrights Horizons SuperLab Untitled Blood Play. Philadelphia: Walnut Street Theater, InterAct, Lantern, Pig Iron, Montgomery Theatre, 11th Hour (Barrymore Nomination Best Leading Actress in a Musical), Azuka, among many others. Training: National Theatre Institute, Moscow Art Theatre School, Michael Chekhov Association. Leah teaches acting privately and at the Walnut Street Theatre School. Up next: Charlotte’s Web at the Arden. So many thanks and much love to Kevin!
Jordan harrison (Playwright) grew up on an island near Seattle. His plays tend to have multiple storylines, fastidious font selections, sexual initiation scenes, props with emotional arcs, and an even number of actors. Jordan has received commissions from Actors Theatre of Louisville/Berkeley Rep, Playwrights Horizons, the Arden Theatre, South Coast Rep, Guthrie Theater/Children’s Theatre Company, Perishable Theatre, and Cypress Films. He has been a resident playwright at The Empty Space Theatre, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Commonweal Theatre, and the Sundance Playwrights’ Retreat. Jordan has been supported by a Kesselring Fellowship, two Jerome Fellowships and a McKnight Grant from The Playwrights’ Center, a Lucille Lortel Fellowship, and a NEA/TCG Playwright-in-Residence Grant. He is the recipient of the Heideman Award, a Theater Masters’ Visionary Playwright Award, and the Arch and Bruce Brown Playwriting Award; he has twice been a Finalist for the Weissberger Award. Jordan’s plays KidSimple, Act A Lady, Finn in the Underworld, and The Museum Play are published by Playscripts, Inc. Doris to Darlene, Fit For Feet, and Amazons and Their Men are published by Samuel French. With Sally Oswald, he edits the annual Play: A Journal of Plays, dedicated to reinventing the life of plays on the page. Jordan is a graduate of Stanford University and the Brown University MFA Playwriting program. He has taught playwriting at Brown, The Playwrights’ Center, and SUNY Purchase. Kevin Glaccum (Director) is Producing Artistic Director of Azuka Theatre, where he been a member since he appeared in Azuka’s first production La Rue des Faux. For Azuka he has directed productions of Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom, Nerve, Whisky Neat, Greek Active, Kid Simple, Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Barrymore Nomination; Best Director of a Musical, Philadelphia Weekly), Azuka One-Acts, Four, The Boys and Sincerity Forever. Other credits include Say Goodnight, Gracie (Act II Playhouse) The Rocky Horror Show, Club California (Arcadia University) Iron Kisses (Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Theater Festival) and The Shoes (Philadelphia Fringe Festival). Before turning to directing he appeared in Azuka’s productions of Metamorphosis, Friends and An Artist’s Workshop. Kevin is a member of The Lincoln Center Directors Lab. Thanks to HP. meghan Jones (Scenic Designer) is delighted to be a part of the design team for Act A Lady. Her previous design experience with Azuka includes Neighborhood 3. She mostly designs throughout the Philadelphia region. Past companies include Inis Nua, IRC, Theatre Exile, InterAct Theatre, Lantern Theater Co. and People’s Light and Theater Co. Past highlighted designs include Kidnapped, HunterGathers, When We Go Upon The Sea, Gagarin Way, and Hot House. Meghan also dabbles in production management, fine painting, and furniture design. She holds her MFA from Temple University. Most appreciation to Azuka’s Staff, Cast, and Crew. Alisa Sickora Kleckner (Costume Designer) is thrilled to be rounding out her design centennial with even more cross dressing quick change madness! She is busy this season designing and building costumes, puppets, f/x makeup and masks for such companies as Act II, 1812, Flashpoint, Penn, Enchantment, Swim Pony and IRC. As adjunct faculty and resident designer at Arcadia University, she teaches a range of courses in addition to running the university’s costume shop. She also co-founded Little Bunny Voodoo with her husband Chris and produces, designs, directs, puppeteers and sometimes even writes original puppet shows for adults. Alisa is an alum of the ONeill National Puppetry Conference and Puppets in Prague. She has been honored with the KC/ACTF Faculty Design Fellowship, a nomination for the F. Otto Haas Emerging Artist award and gigs that allow her to make crazy stuff. Oh Azuka, how I love thee. Daniel Perelstein (Sound Designer & Composer) is a freelance sound designer, composer, and musical director in Philadelphia. He is pleased to return to Azuka, for whom he designed the 2010-2011 season (Neighborhood 3 as well as the terrible girls — on a related note, Kevin Glaccum is my homeboy). Recent and upcoming designs: Wilma Theater, Live Arts Festival, PlayPenn, Arden Theatre, Walnut Street Theater, Peoples Light & Theater, Theatre Horizon, Flashpoint Theatre, Lantern Theater, Kimmel Center, Inis Nua, Commonwealth Classic Theater, Shakespeare in Clark Park, Bearded Ladies Cabaret. Daniel has been
PASt SeASoNS
the terrible girls (2011)
Nerve (2010)
Kid Simple (2008)
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2008)
The Long Christmas Ride Home (2009)
Four (2005)
2010-11 **Neighborhood 3: requisition of Doom by Jennifer Haley *the terrible girls by Jacqueline Goldfinger 2009-10 **Nerve by Adam Szymkowicz **the Long christmas ride home by Paula Vogel 2008-09 **Kid Simple by Jordan Harrison *Whiskey Neat by Bruce Walsh 2007-08 *Sweetie Pie by Madi Distefano hedwig and the Angry inch by John Cameron Mitchell music & lyrics by Stephen Trask
2004-05 **Laura’s Bush by Jane Martin **Four by Christopher Shinn 2003-04 *An Artist’s Workshop conceived and created by Alden Moore written by Raelle Myrick-Hodges 2001-02 **Sincerity Forever by Mac Wellman **Friends by Kobo Abe 2000-01 **Polaroid Stories by Naomi Iizuka 1999-2000 *trouble With Bohemia by Raelle Myrick-Hodges metamorphosis by Franz Kafka adapted by Steven Berkoff
2006-07 *Azuka one-Acts by various ‘twas the Night by Veronica Griego two rooms by Lee Blessing Co-Produced with Blue Ridge Theatre Festival
1999 *La rue des Faux by Raelle Myrick-Hodges adapted from James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room
2005-06 *‘twas the Night by Veronica Griego *the Boys by Kris Elgstrand
*World Premiere **Philadelphia Premiere
WHO’S WHO Continued from Page 7
fortunate to work with and learn from other prominent designers and composers including Pavel Fajt, Troy Herion, Chas Marsh, Andrew Nelson, Rob Kaplowitz, Christopher Colucci, and especially Nick Kourtides. He holds a B.S. in Engineering and a B.A. in Music from Swarthmore College. Hear samples of his work at www . danielperelstein . com Joshua L. Schulman (Lighting Designer). 2008 Barrymore Award for lighting design of Art at Delaware Theatre Company. 2009 Barrymore Award nomination for Rock ‘N’ Roll at the Wilma Theater. Designs for Azuka Theatre includes Nerve, Kid Simple, Sweetie Pie, and Four. Work for other companies includes People’s Light and Theatre Company, Flashpoint Theater Company, The Hidden City Festival, Theatre West Virginia, the Rebecca Davis Dance Company, and many more. Other projects that Joshua has worked on include being the programmer for Boathouse Row in Philadelphia along the Schuylkill River and the associate designer/programmer for the Cira Centre next to 30th Street Station. He has his M.F.A. from Boston University. Joshua lives in South Philly with his wife, Karen, and son, Elijah. www.jlsld.com monique Gaffney (Hair & Makeup) is very excited to be working on hair and makeup for Act A Lady, as this is her first professional show. Many thanks go out to the cast for being a joy to work with. Special thanks go out to Kevin for trusting her and giving her this wonderful opportunity. She’d also like to thank Alisa Sickora Kleckner for mentoring her the past 3 years at Arcadia University, where she worked on wigs, hair and makeup for several shows. Now that she is in her senior year, she is excited to graduate and get started with her life outside of college theater. She would also like to thank her family and close friends for their wonderful support and love. Annie heath (Properties) is your friendly West Philly props artist. She has most recently worked as a Props Master for Upper Darby’s Summer Stage and was a member of the Live Arts Festival Staff. She works many odd freelance jobs in the city, working for companies such as the Lantern Theater, Avista Custom Theatrical Services, and Synergetic Sound and Lighting. She can also bake up a mean apple pie. Lauren tracy (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be returning for another season with Azuka! She stage managed Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom and the terrible girls last season. Other local credits include This Is How It Goes (Room 6 Theatre), The Winter’s Tale (Delaware Shakespeare Festival), A Christmas Carol (Walnut Street Theater). She will return to the Walnut again this season for another round of A Christmas Carol. She served as the ASM for Art (Act II Playhouse). She also serves at the Production Manager for Plays & Players Theater. She’s a graduate of Syracuse University’s Stage Management program. Thank you to Kevin and everyone else at Azuka, her parents, friends, and Andrew for all of their support. Natalie Diener (General Manager) comes to Azuka Theatre with a background in sales, marketing, theatre production, small business management, and special events. Previously, Natalie worked as the Marketing Director for the Philadelphia City Paper and Production and Company Manager for the Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival. In addition to her position with Azuka, she owns a freelance event consultation business and plans weddings and events for individuals and companies all over the Greater Philadelphia area.
Welcome to our new home!
Azuka Theatre 1636 Sansom Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 Phone (215) 563-1100 Fax (215) 563-2100
StAFF & creDitS BoArD oF DirectorS 2011-2012 David Fedor - President Heather Evans - Vice-President Andrea Sheaffer - Treasurer Mark Andrews - Secretary Natalie Diener Kevin Glaccum Brian Moore Adam Travia AZUKA theAtre StAFF General manager Natalie Diener Producing Artistic Director Kevin Glaccum Director of marketing Mark H. Andrews Literary manager Allison Heishman Artistic Associate Mike Dees Production manager Terry Smith
ProDUctioN creW technical Director Mike Troncone Assistant Stage manager Amy Harting Box office manager Bailey Shaw creDitS Photo credit Johanna Austin/AustinArt.org Graphic Design Mark H. Andrews & Derek Carnegie it, Website Design & maintenance Andrew Nelson Printing Quaker Printing
SPeciAL thANKS Kate Tejada, Tyler Melchior & everyone at 1812 Productions, Paul Moffitt, Avista Custom Theatrical, Lantern Theater Company, Bob Wuss, Chris Sannino, Clifford Greer, Aaron Cromie, Adam Darrow, Caleb Wimble, Kara Boland, Nicole Samuel, Drew Carroll, Will Poost, Madison Auch, Carrie Ryan, Trevor William Foehl, & Morgan Everitt
Azuka Theatre is a proud participant in the Melissa Lynch Theater Memorial Fund for Saint Hubert’s, a Philadelphia Theater Community-wide effort to raise funds for the drama club and theatre at Melissa’s high school alma mater, St. Hubert Catholic High School For Girls. All proceeds directly benefit St. Hubert’s in Mel’s name and honor. If you are interested in making an individual contribution, checks can be made payable to “St. Hubert Catholic High School For Girls”, with “Melissa Lynch Theater Memorial Fund” noted in the memo line, and can be sent to:
St. Hubert Catholic High School For Girls 7320 Torresdale Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19136 Thank you for your consideration of joining the effort to honor such a wonderful actor, person and friend.
SUPPort FoUNDAtioN SUPPort Wyncote Foundation William Penn Foundation Samuel S. Fels Fund CHG Foundation Philadelphia Cultural Fund Charlotte Cushman Foundation
ProDUcerS circLe Honorary Producer ($2500 - $5000) David M. Fedor Kenneth & Anita Goldenberg Anonymous Producer ($1000 - $1499) Louis Bluver Virginia & Harvey Kimmel Bob & Sue Ann Marburg Elizabeth A. O’Donnell Associate Producer ($500 - $999) Josephine Klein Michael L. Norris Anonymous
iNDiViDUAL SUPPort Dreamer ($1000 - $4999) Robert J. Kratz & Co† Idealist ($100 - $499) Robert & Mary Anne Andrews Patrick L. Bell Phyllis Cohen Natalie Diener Michael & Jill Feighan Vincent Fumo Deena Gerson Bryan & Kathy Glaccum Maureen Glaccum & David Speers
William & Carolyn Glaccum Jacqueline Pardue Goldfinger Terry Graboyes Stephen & Pamela Heishman Stephen & Jane Heumann Theodore & Betsy Hershberg David & Karen Jones Sondra N. Jones Arden Kass Catherine F. Kerrigan Diane & Larry Loebell Noris W. Malvey Robert Mandell Farah Marasigan & Andrew Nelson† Bob & Sue Marburg Michael McKeever William I. Packard Molly Peckman Michael & Elizabeth Perelstein Lee Porter William F. Rahill Fernando van Reigersberg Denise & Samuel Rudderow Noreen & Eric Tarr Ed Tettemer John Tobin Miriam White Oller & Associates Realist (up to $99) Michael Alltop Ralph Andracchio & Daniel Kelly Mark H. Andrews Jack Armstrong & Carmen Khan Wendy M. Bolas Gail Bourguinon Antony X. Braithwaite Daniel Cheever Christopher & Peggy Cline Marie Conti Liam Daley Barbara Dilley Madi Distefano Jason D. Evans Susan & Anthony Faillace Mary Q. Frantz
Donald M. Friedman, M.D. Narinder & Patricia Garg John Frisbee & Jill Garland Nan Gilbert & Lou Grimaldi Greg Goldman & Elizabeth Hersh Jessica Hogan David M. Ingram & Melanye Finister Joseph Johnston Uranium City Films Joann & Michael Kean Patrice A. Kelly Kevin F. King Jim Kirby Sharon Kling Thomas Korman & Ann Kirschner Stephanie Lauren Jean S. Markovitz Christopher J. McCarrick Paul & Michal Meshejian Susan L Mock Brian Moore Charlene A. Nolten Sara Pilling Katie Ringwood Eddie Ruiz Amrital K. Sidhu Caitlin B. Speers Robin Stamey Richard H. St. Clair Dan Taraborrelli Leah Walton Anthony Zalis Anonymous (5) (List complete as of October 1, 2011) † Denotes an in-kind donation Azuka theatre thanks all of our donors for their continued support of the work we do. if you have questions about supporting Azuka, please call Kevin Glaccum at 215.563.1100
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