present
George Mason University's School of Theater and The Mason Players
present
THE BOY DETECTIVE FAILS by Joe Meno Music by Adam Gwon Lyrics by Adam Gwon and Joe Meno Based on the novel 'THE BOY DETECTIVE FAILS' by Joe Meno Directed by Erin Gardiner Musical direction by Joe Walsh Assistant direction by Lila Gordon Choreography by Ariel Kraje Photographing, videotaping, or making any other audio or visual recording of this production is strictly prohibited. All outside food and beverages are prohibited inside the performance space. Please keep a face mask on at all times inside the building. Our COVID-19 safety measures and policies are parallel with those of George Mason University's Safe Return to Campus Initiative.
May 6-7, 2022
presented in
Center for the Arts Concert Hall George Mason University
DIRECTOR'S NOTE DRAMATURG'S NOTE We are so thrilled to bring this unique show to George Mason! Based on the novel by Joe Meno, The Boy Detective Fails is a contemporary musical that lives in a magical world full of mystery and heartbreak. This play questions everything. Are people evil? Why do they do terrible things? Will we ever understand the motivation of people’s actions? As we get older, it is hard to grasp the world changing from black and white to numerous shades of gray. Joe Meno wrote his novel in response to the events of September 11th. Struggling to find meaning behind those acts of terror, he created Billy Argo, a former child detective, an echo of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. After suffering a traumatic childhood event, Billy lives away from his hometown for 10 years, only to return now grown to try and solve his last unsolvable mystery. Book writer Joe Meno and composer Adam Gwon have created a new version of the show specifically for Mason and our cast. We are so honored to be a part of the on-going work on this beautiful piece. In these uncertain times, we hope The Boy Detective Fails helps bring comfort in the unknown. “Solving little mysteries is good, instead of letting bigger mysteries take hold.”
Erin Gardiner Director, The Boy Detective Fails
DRAMATURG NOTE DRAMATURG'S NOTE The Boy Detective Fails by Joe Meno is a portrait of a character who is still learning that it is okay not to know everything. As a child detective Billy Argo could solve any case with help from his sister, Caroline, and best friend, Fenton. But as he grows up alone, Billy struggles to come to terms with the natural ways of life and accepting that things are not always in one's control. The story explores the dilemma between “things happen for a reason” and “things just happen,” teaching us that life’s mysteries cannot always be solved. The musical has taken on many revisions and adaptations based on Joe Meno’s original novel. All revisions follow the heartbreaking story of Daisy Hollis & Caroline Argo. Notice the list of medications at the start of the play. What are they? Ativan [a tuh Van] - Used to treat anxiety & insomnia, status epilepticus [severe seizures]. Anafranil [uh na fruh nil] - an antidepressant used to treat OCD Seroquel - [seh ruh kwil] - psychotropic medication, used to treat schizophrenia, major depression & bipolar disorders, initially an antipsychotic. The medications listed imply behavioral and emotional disorders that Billy could have developed as a trauma response after Caroline’s death. Whether or not they were diagnosed before or after is not important, but the way they inform Billy’s everyday life is relevant to understanding Billy’s motivations and reality. A great starting point for understanding the musical’s timeline is Elizabeth Kübler-Ross’s Seven Stages of Grief (listed below). It’s important to note that these stages are not linear, so get familiar with them and see if you can identify the different stages the characters go through during your time with the piece. As you enter Billy Argo’s world and mind, allow yourself to be vulnerable with him. Connect with your younger, more curious self. Make believe, connect the dots and discover. Be a detective yourself but remember, you don’t have to be the hero. “THAT’S THE ANSWER THAT’S THE KEY; WE LET IT GO; WE HAVE TO SEE”
Jessica Singley & Deema Turkomani Co-Dramaturgs, The Boy Detective Fails
SCENE BREAKDOWN DRAMATURG'S NOTE Act I Scene 1: Prologue & Billy Argo, Boy Detective - Company Scene 2: Caroline - Billy, Caroline, Fenton, Ensemble Scene 3: Amazing - Larry, Billy Scene 4: Out of My Mind - Professor Von Golum, Billy Scene 5: Old Library - Billy, Caroline, Fenton, Ensemble Scene 6: As Long As You are Here - Penny Scene 7: Haunted Mansion - Billy, Caroline, Fenton, Ensemble Scene 8: Evil - Professor Von Golum, Ensemble Scene 9: I Like (The Secret Song) - Billy, Penny Scene 10: After Secrets/Haunted - Billy, Caroline, Fenton, Ensemble
INTERMISSION (15 MINUTES) Act II Scene 1: That's All - Dale, Violet, Billy, Ensemble Scene 2: Little Mysteries - Penny, Billy Scene 3: Under the Porch Scene 4: Amazing (reprise) - Larry, Billy Scene 5: Billy Argo, Boy Detective (reprise) - Ensemble Scene 6: Always - Professor Von Golum Scene 7: Fenton's Room Scene 8: Let Me Save You - Billy, Caroline, Ensemble Scene 9: Finale - Billy, Penny
DRAMATURG'S CAST NOTE Billy Argo......................................................................Darren Badley Penny Maple.............................................................Natalie Cumming Larry ..............................................................................Tony Lemus Daisy Hollis ...............................................................Grace McNamee Dale Hardy .................................................................Brandon Morris Detective Brown .............................................................Gill Rydholm Caroline Argo ..................................................................Bianca Peña Violet Dew.................................................................Kamy Satterfield Fenton Mills..................................................................Walker Vlahos Professor Von Golum .......................................................Arielle Ward Ensemble .................................................................Taylor Alexander Lexi Carter Kendall Huheey Julia Leipertz Alana Lyons Sarah Stewart Ryan Von Slomski
DRAMATURG'S MUSICIANSNOTE Piano/Conductor.................................................................Joe Walsh Drum Set..........................................................................TJ Maistros Upright Bass.....................................................................Cyndy Elliot Flute......................................................................Eunice Richardson Clarinet.....................................................................Lindsay Williams
DRAMATURG'S PRODUCTION TEAM NOTE
Director................................................................................Erin Gardiner Musical Director.........................................................................Joe Walsh Assistant Director.....................................................................Lila Gordon Choreography............................................................................Ariel Kraje Stage Manager......................................................................Samba Pathak Assistant Stage Managers..................................................Addison Picardat Elisabeth Dupuy Dramaturg(s)...................................................................... Jessica Singley Deema Turkomani Lighting Designer.................................................................Merin Lemoine Deck Audio...............................................................Shyloh-Symone Bailey Audio Mixer..............................................................................Ben Counts Costume Coordinator........................................................Kamy Satterfield Lila Gordon Intimacy Coach........................................................................Mimsi Janis Deema Turkomani Shop Artisan......................................................................Caleb McMurtry Anna Jungkeit Light Board Operator......................................................Jaylen "Jay" Dews Percie Sylvester Production Manager...........................................................Ruth Yamamoto Technical Director......................................................................Carrie Cox Lead Carpenter.................................................................Stephan Starling Costume Shop Supervisor....................................................Laurel Dunayer Faculty Mentors..................................Kristin Johnsen-Neshati (Dramaturgy) Ruth Yamamoto (Stage Management) Sherrice Mojgani (Lighting) Carrie Cox (Props) Kevin Dunayer (Sound)
DEPARTMENT SUPPORT DRAMATURG'S NOTE arts support umbrella CVPA Production Manager CFA Production Manager Program & Production Coordinator Technical Director
Dan Hobson Jessica D’Angelo Megan Webb Carrie Cox
Audio Supervisor
Billy Kessinger
Audio Technician
Reid May
Master Electrician Assistant Master Electrician
Bethany Thompson Will Gautney
Costume Shop Supervisor
Laurel Dunayer
Costume Shop First Hand
Vicki Burroughs & Sarah Alspach
Sound Intern Lighting Interns Management Interns Production Interns Paint Intern Costume Shop Student Interns
Sloan Martin Merin Lemoine & Caleb McMurtry Sarah Strunk & Samba Pathak Vika Hearne & Mike Sarisky Susan Lane Jaime Ericson, Charlotte Langford & Luisa Romero
Props Intern Shop Artisans
Marty Bernier Caleb McMurtry & Anna Jungkeit
Construction Practicum Students
Darren Badley, Dulci Russell, Alex Berrios, Xavier Howard, Ben Counts, David Poach, Eli Nguyen, Jay Martinez, Sarah Stewart, Miles Tison, Bianca Peña, Addison Picardat, Macayla Smith, Lexi Carter, Konstantin Langenberg
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS DRAMATURG'S NOTE the mason players staff Company Manager
Deema Turkomani (they/them/theirs)
Associate Company Manager
Megan Lederman (she/her/hers)
Company Secretary
Addison Picardat (she/her/hers)
Sales Coordinator
Nathan Tilley (he/him/his)
Company Historian
Annie Graninger (she/her/hers)
Marketing Manager
Samba Pathak (he/him/his)
Development Manager
Luke Rahman (he/him/his)
players4change staff Co-Creator
Deema Turkomani (they/them/theirs)
Co-Creator
Steven Franco (he/him/él)
Equity and Empowerment Manager
Darren Badley (he/him/his)
Equity and Empowerment Manager
Natalie Cumming (she/her/hers)
Equity and Empowerment Manager
Kenya Gary (she/they)
alpha psi omega officers President
Marty Bernier (he/him/his)
Vice President
Addison Picardat (she/her/hers)
Secretary
Elisabeth Dupuy (she/her/hers)
Treasurer
Ariel Kraje (she/her/hers)
Associate Member Coordinators
Jeremy Pritchard (he/she/they) Zoe Winter (she/her/hers)
Historian Community Service Chair Education Deputy
Bella Panciocco (she/her/hers) Darren Badley (he/him/his) Kendall Huheey (she/her/hers)
DRAMATURG'S DONOR SUPPORT NOTE
The School of Theater wishes to thank the following donors for their generous support Professional Artist Residency in Theater (PART) Legacy Donors Kenneth and Carol Adelman
Marilyn Jones
Anonymous
Eileen Mandell
John and Deborah Blacksten
Dr. Alan Merten and
Doris Bloch and Bill Hunt
Mrs. Sally Merten
Boeing Company
Mack and Paulette Miller
Rev. Dr. Elizabeth P. Braxton
Merle L. Mulvaney
Mary Brescia
Diane and Tim Naughton
Jane and Chris Brewster Ms. Lois Brown Byrd International, L.L.C. Gordon and Judy Canyock Ms. Grace Chae Chevy Chase Trust Council on American-Islamic Relations Ms. Chris Downey Charles and Eileen Duggan Ken and Molly Elston and The Greater Manassas Christmas Parade Committee
Warner and Cheryl North Mr. Ronald Page Robert and Ida Portland Mrs. Lauren W. Rabb Diane and Robert Rafuse Captain Marsha and Robert Rease Ted and Anne K. Rosenblum Ms. Ann Steers Daniel and Ann Toohey Mikki Van Wyk Verizon Foundation Edward and Wava Vigen
Linda Evans
1,001 Plays Supporters
Dr. and Mrs. William H. Gilcher
Anonymous
Irwin and Fay Gold
Ms. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati and
Vernon W. Gras, Ph.D.
Mr. Amin Neshati
Mr. Carl Hemmer
Literary Managers and
Emmett L. Holman, Ph.D.
Dramaturgs of America
IBM International Foundation
Mrs. Phyllis Krochmal
Ms. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati
Vafa Mostaghim
and Mr. Amin Neshati
Nicholas Kfoury Horner
SCHOOL OF DRAMATURG'S THEATER FACULTY NOTE & STAFF Director of the School of Theater
Djola Branner
Production Manager
Ruth Yamamoto
Program Manager
Nicholas Kfoury Horner
Academic Adviser
Sara Simanski
Office Manager
Mary Burgess
Romanticism to Present
Elizabeth Alman
Technical Direction Fundamentals of Production
Carrie Cox Jonathan Dahm Robertson
Directing
Rick Davis
Event Technology, Sound, Fund. of Production
Kevin Dunayer
Costume Technology
Laurel Dunayer
Acting for the Camera, Audition Techniques
Amr El-Bayoumi
Acting I, Advanced Movement for Actors
David Gaines
Musical Theater Ensemble, Voice and Speech
Erin Gardiner
Acting Shakespeare, Great Film Performances
Edward Gero
Screenplay Workshop Theater Education, Acting II Advanced Study of Directing/Dramaturgy Advanced Sound Engineering Artists in the Real World, Finding Your Voice
David Goldstein Mimsi Janis Kristin Johnsen-Neshati Billy Kessinger Kaiulani Lee
Acting I
Bryce Lennon
Acting I
Ahmad Maaty
Lighting Design, Intro to Theatrical Design
Sherrice Mojgani
Theatrical Medium, Adv. Voice, Adv. Dramaturgy
Theresa Ohanian
Script Analysis Contemporary Playwrights of Color Stage Combat, Movement for Musical Theater Stage Management, Acting, Improvisation
Franklin Robinson, Jr. Shaila Schmidt Stefan Sittig Ruth Yamamoto
FRIENDS DRAMATURG'S OF THEATER NOTE SUPPORT from July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021
angel ($5,000+)
performer ($200 - $499)
Anonymous Judy Canyock Norma Jean Reck
John and Toni Acton Susan J. Aitel and Jonathan Goldman Mr. Clayton M. Austin Doris Bloch and Bill Hunt Dorsey and Catherine Drummond Roland and Victoria Fabia Edward and Marjike Gero Catie and Mark Hubbard Ms. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati and Mr. Amin Neshati Mr. Edward Jones David and Barbara Kilpatrick Dr. Michael and Mrs. Linda Kostrzewa Mitre Corporation Don and Sonja Palomaki Dr. Victoria N. Salmon and Mr. John J. Salmon Joseph Walsh Bob and Pat Warakomsky Christopher M. Ward Dr. and Mrs. George Whipple Rachel S. Winograd
sponsor ($2,500-$4,999)
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Foundation
patron ($1,000 - $2,499) Helen and Bill Ackerman Dianne and Gerard Blais Harry and Pamela Bookey Dr. Rick Davis and Ms. Julie Thompson Charles and Eileen Duggan Art and Linda Hamerschlag Dr. Joy Hughes and Mr. Kenneth Lee The Jacquemin Family Foundation, Inc. John and Tracie Jacquemin Henry Linsert Timothy McEvoy Mack and Paulette Miller David Ottaway Robert and Ida Portland Dr. Peter N. Stearns and Ms. Donna L. Kidd Steve Tipton Van Metre Companies Foundation, Inc. Sherry Watkins
producer ($500 - $999) Anonymous Hugh and Sandra Hill William Schneider Mr. and Mrs. Kosmo Tatalias Verizon Foundation
friend (up to $199) Helen Albanese Anonymous Donald Ball Jasmine Barnes Michelle and Steve Barraclough Claudia Borke and Erik Pohlmann Brassard Family Anne Buzalski Timothy B. Cooke and Megan Fowler Cooke Barry and Margaret Fink
FRIENDS DRAMATURG'S OF THEATER NOTE SUPPORT from July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021
friend (up to $199) cont. Arielle Flax Mary Fuson Beverly George Linda and Shelly Gersten Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Gholz Dr. Thalia R. Goldstein Joseph Gutierrez Linda and Harlan Harber Ian Hastings H. Keith and Joyce Hellems Kyle Imperatore William Inserra Barbara Jacksier and Everett Chasen Shirley Joyce Harriet Kaplan Ms. Diane Kiser Mrs. Phyllis Krochmal Robert Langelier Ms. Mary Lechter and Mr. Kevin Murray Nancy Lewis Paulette Lichtman-Panzer
Brian and Laurie Lindberg Karen and Nick Lygizos Alice and Matt Magelssen-Green Eileen Mandell Lene Mcvoy Mr. R. Wesley Meekins Robert Merrill Marianne and Seymour Metz Kim and Ralph Moden Jill Norris Linda and Mike Renzi Emily Roudebush May E. Roy Terry Sarley Willa and David Siegel James Slawski Kathleen Trainor Roy and Margaret Wagner Rebecca P. Wahls Frank T. Watrous Dean and Andrea Westman Joan R. White Zachary Wilcox
Theater at Mason would like to thank the Friends of Theater for their ongoing support of our programs, especially their support of scholarships for our students. Please consider becoming a Friend. Please consider giving by logging onto our website https://theater.gmu.edu/give Special thanks to Chris Youstra, JC Cantrell, Adam Gwon, & Joe Meno
SCHOLARSHIP DRAMATURG'S RECIPIENTS NOTE School of Theater Scholarships (continuing awards): Dezire Duverglas, Steven Franco, Abigail Hastings, Bianca Peña, Julia Rudgers, and Nathan Tilley The Howard Vincent Kurtz Endowed Scholarship in Design: Jaime Ericson The Mack & Paulette Miller Theater Scholarship Endowment (2021): Darren Badley The Brower “BC” Spransy Memorial Scholarship Endowment (2021): Tony Lemus The Chris Parsons Memorial Scholarship: Marty Bernier The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Theater Scholarship: Alexandria Hardin The School of Theater congratulates our 2020 scholarship recipients:
Arts by George Scholarships (awarded Spring 2020): Kat Amato, Darren Badley, Jessica Barraclough, Alex Berrios, Erin Cleary, Garvey Dobbins, Samuel Dunn III, Em German, Ariel Kraje, Lenny Mendez, Bianca Peña, Julia Rudgers, Austin Shores, Tyler Shores, Jacqueline Smith, Shanell Stukes, and Alex Weimeyer Friends of Theater at Mason Scholarships (awarded Spring 2022): Alexandra Berrios, Hasan Crawford, Khue Duong, Steven Franco, Annie Graninger, Megan Lederman, Merin Lemoine, Tony Lemus, Alana Lyons, Shannon Rodgers.
THE MASON PLAYERS Spring 2022 Performance Season
EVERYBODY
MASON CABARET
by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Created by Erin and James Gardiner
March 31-April 9, 2022
April 15-16, 2022
JUST LIKE US
THE BOY DETECTIVE FAILS
by Karen Zacarias
April 29-May 1, 2022
@THEMASONPLAYERS
by Joe Meno | Music by Adam Gwon
May 6-7, 2022
theater.gmu.edu TheMasonPlayers.com