Mason Cabaret: In A Sentimental Mood - Apr 2022

present

IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD: THE MUSIC OF DUKE ELLINGTON PERFORMED BY THE MASON CABARET

APRIL 14-16, 2022 PRESENTED IN THEATERSPACE

George Mason University's School of Theater and The Mason Players

proudly present

IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD: THE MUSIC OF DUKE ELLINGTON PERFORMED BY THE MASON CABARET

Created and Directed by Erin Gardiner and James Gardiner Photography, videotaping, or any other audio or visual recordings 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.

APRIL 14-16, 2022

presented in

TheaterSpace

at

George Mason University

DIRECTOR'S NOTE DRAMATURG'S NOTE This year marks the 10th anniversary of Mason Cabaret. Over that time, 95 students have been involved in bringing a wide variety of musical theater to Mason’s stages and the surrounding community.

We’ve highlighted the work of numerous composers who made a significant impact on musical theater including Stephen Sondheim, Kander & Ebb, Irving Berlin and many others. In 2020, we presented a Great American Songbook cabaret that featured three songs by Duke Ellington and when we discussed ideas for this spring’s cabaret, we realized that Sir Duke deserved an evening all to himself. He is one of the greatest composers in American history and one of the most important creative forces of the 20th century. Born and raised in Washington DC, his career spanned over half a century and his success is rooted in his innovation and incredible melodies. Over his lifetime Duke wrote over 3000 songs. Name one artist alive today that’s written over 3000 songs! Beyond his success as a commercial artist, Duke was also an instrumental voice in challenging the notions of race and cultural hierarchy in the United States. Duke once said “There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind.”

Tonight, we’re excited to share some really “good” music.

Erin Gardiner and James Gardiner Co-Directors, In A Sentimental Mood: The Music of Duke Ellington

NOTE DRAMATURG'S ABOUT ELLINGTON NOTE Note about Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington Musicologist Gunther Schuller once called Duke Ellington “the most significant composer of the genre [jazz].” What kind of COMPOSER was Ellington? Thinking about Ellington’s compositions only as notes on the page misses the point. In recordings of his Orchestra, we hear how Ellington utilized musicians’ individual tone and style. This is best symbolized in his penchant for writing players’ nicknames atop his parts (“Rabbit” for Johnny Hodges), rather than instrument names (alto sax). We also hear his ability as an improvising pianist and sensitive accompanist. Ellington composed in recorded sound as much as in notated scores. If you have not heard Ellington at Newport in a while, it is worth another listen.

Was Ellington a JAZZ composer? Ellington disliked the term jazz.

What do you call a musician whose work encompassed vocal hits, instrumental dance numbers, extended orchestral suites, sacred music, and film soundtracks? Ellington once called his music “Negro Folk Music.” The critics called it “Beyond Category.” Regarding race, Ellington’s friend Edmund Anderson told an enlightening story that I hope will enhance your listening experience tonight. “Once I asked him what he considered a typical Negro piece among his compositions. He paused a moment before he came up with ‘In A Sentimental Mood.’ I protested a bit and said I thought that was a very sophisticated white kind of song and people were usually surprised when they learned it was by him. ‘Ah,’ he said, ‘that’s because you don’t know what it’s like to be a Negro.”

John Kocur Historian, In A Sentimental Mood: The Music of Duke Ellington

PERFORMERS DRAMATURG'S NOTE Taylor Alexander (she/her) Darren Badley (he/him) Hasan Crawford (he/him) Rachelle Fields (she/her) Annie Graninger (she/her) Kendall Huheey (she/her) Ariel Kraje (she/her) Tony Lemus (he/him) Grace McNamee (she/her) Brandon Morris (he/him) Lizzie Nigro (she/her) Gill Rydholm (she/her) Kamy Satterfield (she/her) Sarah Stewart (she/her) Deema Turkomani (they/them) Walker Vlahos (he/him) Brett Womack (he/him)

MASON CABARET HISTORY DRAMATURG'S NOTE 2012 - Finishing the Hat: The Music of Stephen Sondheim 2013 - The Millenials: Musical Theater’s Next Generation 2014 - Contemporary Classics 2015 - Broadway Miracles!

2017 - Broadway and Beyond 2018 - An Evening of Sondheim 2019 - The Golden Age of Broadway 2020 - Celebrating the Great American Songbook 2021 - Sing Happy! the Music of Kander and Ebb 2022 - In a Sentimental Mood: The Music of Duke Ellington

DRAMATURG'S PRODUCTION TEAM NOTE Directors........................................................................Erin Gardiner James Gardiner Musical Director..................................................................Joe Walsh Assistant Director.............................................................Mike Sarisky Choreographer...................................................................Ariel Kraje Stage Manager................................................................Sarah Strunk Historian/Consultant .........................................................John Kocur Light Board Operator .......................................................Sarah Strunk Audio Technician...........................................................Nicolette Cash Production Manager....................................................Ruth Yamamoto Technical Directors....................................................Micah Stromberg Tom Terlecki Audio Support Engineers................................................Billy Kessinger Reid May

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 Julie Thompson, Billy Kessinger, Reid May, and the ASU staff

PROGRAMNOTE DRAMATURG'S Duke's Place (C Jam Blues) (1942)...................................Full Company Music by Duke Ellington. Lyrics by Duke Ellington, William Katz, Robert Thiele, and Ruth Roberts. Arranged by Kirby Shaw.

Take the A Train (1939)......................Taylor Alexander, Rachelle Fields, Brandon Morris, & Gill Rydholm Music by Billy Strayhorn. Lyrics by Joya Sherrill

I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart (1938).........................Grace McNamee Music by Duke Ellington. Lyrics by Irving Mills, Henry Nemo, and John Redmond.

Satin Doll (1953)...............................................................Tony Lemus Music by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Lyrics by Johnny Mercer.

Bli Blip (1941).............................................Ariel Kraje & Walker Vlahos Music and Lyrics by Duke Ellington and Sid Kuller.

Something to Live For (1939)........................................Hasan Crawford Music and Lyrics by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.

I'm Just A Lucky So-and-So (1945)............................Deema Turkomani Music by Duke Ellington. Lyrics by Mack David.

In A Mellow Tone (In a Melotone) (1940)...............................Lizzie Nigro Music by Duke Ellington. Lyrics by Milt Gabler.

I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good) (1941)......................Kamy Satterfield Music by Duke Ellington. Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster.

Do Nothing Til You Hear from Me (1944).......................Annie Graninger & Tony Lemus Music by Duke Ellington. Lyrics by Bob Russell.

PROGRAMNOTE DRAMATURG'S Azure (1937)................................................................Brandon Morris Music by Duke Ellington. Lyrics by Irving Mills.

Mood Indigo (1930).......................................................Rachelle Fields Music by Duke Ellington and Barney Bigard. Lyrics by Irving Mills and Mitchell Parish.

Hit Me With a Hot Note (And Watch Me Bounce)...........Kendall Huheey, Kamy Satterfield, & Sarah Stewart Music by Duke Ellington. Lyrics by Don George.

Sophisticated Lady (1932)...........................Darren Badley, Tony Lemus, Brandon Morris, & Brett Womack Music by Duke Ellington. Lyrics by Irving Mills and Mitchell Parish.

I'm Gonna Go Fishin' (1959)............................................Sarah Stewart Music by Duke Ellington. Lyrics by Peggy Lee.

In A Sentimental Mood (1935).........................................Darren Badley Music by Duke Ellington. Lyrics by Manny Kurtz and Irving Mills.

I'm Beginning to See the Light (1944)............................Annie Graninger Music by Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, and Harry James. Lyrics by Don George.

I Like the Sunrise (1947)..................................................Full Company Featured Soloists: Hasan Crawford & Gillian Rydholm Music and Lyrics by Duke Ellington. From Ellington’s “Liberian Suite.” World premiere arrangement by David Rowen.

It Don't Mean A Thing (1932)..........................................Full Company Music by Duke Ellington, Lyrics by Irving Mills.

DEPARTMENT SUPPORT DRAMATURG'S NOTE arts support umbrella Production Manager Technical Director Scene Shop Supervisor Lead Carpenter TheaterSpace Technical Director Harris Theatre Technical Director

Dan Hobson Carrie Cox Ethan Osborne Stephan Starling Micah Stromberg & Tom Terlecki Adrianna Daugherty-Smith

Costume Shop Supervisor

Laurel Dunayer

Costume Shop First Hand

Vicki Burroughs & Sarah Alspach

Studio Assistant Technical Director Sound Intern Lighting Interns Management Interns Production Interns Paint Intern Costume Shop Student Interns

Caleb McMurtry Sloan Martin Merin Lemoine & Caleb McMurtry Sarah Strunk & Samba Pathak Vika Hearne & Mike Sarisky Susan Lane Jaime Ericson, Charlotte Langford & Luisa Romero

Props Intern

Marty Bernier

Shop Artisans

Caleb McMurtry & Anna Jungkeit

Props Artisan

Hannah Stoops

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)

SCHOOL OF DRAMATURG'S THEATER FACULTY NOTE & STAFF Director of the School of Theater

Djola Branner

Production Manager

Ruth Yamamoto

Program Manager

Nicholas M. 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

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 Anonymous

Ms. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati and Mr. Amin Neshati

John and Deborah Blacksten

Marilyn Jones

Doris Bloch and Bill Hunt

Eileen Mandell

Boeing Company

Dr. Alan Merten and

Rev. Dr. Elizabeth P. Braxton

Mrs. Sally Merten

Mary Brescia

Mack and Paulette Miller

Jane and Chris Brewster

Merle L. Mulvaney

Ms. Lois Brown

Diane and Tim Naughton

Byrd International, L.L.C.

Warner and Cheryl North

Gordon and Judy Canyock

Mr. Ronald Page

Ms. Grace Chae

Robert and Ida Portland

Chevy Chase Trust

Mrs. Lauren W. Rabb

Council on American-Islamic

Diane and Robert Rafuse

Relations

Captain Marsha and

Ms. Chris Downey

Robert Rease

Charles and Eileen Duggan

Ted and Anne K. Rosenblum

Ken and Molly Elston and

Ms. Ann Steers

The Greater Manassas

Daniel and Ann Toohey

Christmas Parade

Mikki Van Wyk

Committee

Verizon Foundation

Linda Evans

Edward and Wava Vigen

Dr. and Mrs. William H. Gilcher Irwin and Fay Gold

1,001 Plays Supporters

Vernon W. Gras, Ph.D.

Kristin Johnsen-Neshati

Mr. Carl Hemmer

Phyllis Krochmal

Emmett L. Holman, Ph.D.

Vafa Mostaghim

IBM International Foundation

The Koons Family

FRIENDS DRAMATURG'S OF THEATER NOTE SUPPORT from March 1, 2020 to September 15, 2021

angel ($5,000+)

performer ($200 - $499)

Judy Canyock

Susan J. Aitel and Jonathan Goldman Clayton and Jaqueline Austin Dorsey and Catherine Drummond Roland and Victoria Fabia Edward and Marjike Gero Catie and Mark Hubbard Mr. Edward Jones David and Barbara Kilpatrick Dr. Michael and Mrs. Linda Kostrzewa Alice and Matt Magelssen-Green Mitre Corporation Dr. Norman Rosenberg and Mrs. Lorraine Rosenberg Mr. and Mrs. Kosmo Tatalias The Kosmo D. Tatalias Family Trust Joseph Walsh Bob and Pat Warakomsky Dr. and Mrs. George Whipple

patron ($1,000 - $2,499) Helen and Bill Ackerman Anonymous Berkshire Hathaway Energy Foundation BH Equities Dianne and Gerard Blais Harry Bookey Dr. Rick Davis and Ms. Julie Thompson Charles and Eileen Duggan Art and Linda Hamerschlag Dr. Joy Hughes and Mr. Kenneth Lee John and Tracie Jacquemin The Jacquemin Family Foundation Ms. Kristin Johnsen-Neshati and Mr. Amin Neshati Henry Linsert Timothy McEvoy Mack and Paulette Miller Vafa Mostaghim David Ottaway Robert and Ida Portland Norma Jean Reck Dr. Peter N. Stearns and Ms. Donna L. Kidd

producer ($500 - $999) Anonymous Doris Bloch and Bill Hunt Hugh and Sandra Hill Don and Sonja Palomaki Cass and Lisa Panciocco Robert and Ida Portland William Schneider Sherry Watkins

friend (up to $199) Helen Albanese Anonymous (2) Donald Ball Michelle and Steve Barraclough Claudia Borke Brassard Family Timothy B. Cooke and Megan Fowler Cooke Giovanna Doyle Barry and Margaret Fink Arielle Flax Mary Fuson Beverly George Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Gholz Dr. Thalia R. Goldstein Joseph Gutierrez Linda and Harlan Harber Ian Hastings

FRIENDS DRAMATURG'S OF THEATER NOTE SUPPORT from February 1, 2020 to August 10, 2021

friend (up to $199) cont.

Judith Hoy Kyle Imperatore Ms. Diane Kiser Mrs. Phyllis Krochmal Nancy Lewis Karen Lygizos Eileen Mandell Lene Mcvoy Mr. R. Wesley Meekins Robert Merrill Marianne and Seymour Metz Ms. Mary Lechter and Mr. Kevin Murray

Linda Renzi May E. Roy Terry Sarley Mark and Merrill Shugoll James Slawski Jeffrey and Joy Stephens Kathleen Trainor Rebecca Wahls Frank T. Watrous Dean and Andrea Westman Joan R. White Zachary Wilcox Rachel S. Winograd

The School of Theater’s and The Mason Players’ Spring 2022 Season 1001 Plays Co-Directed by Nicholas M. Horner and Kristin Johnsen-Neshati February 10, 2022 Eurydice Directed by Marty Bernier March 3-6, 2022 | TheaterSpace Everybody Directed by Kristin Johnsen-Neshati March 31-April 2, April 7-10, 2022 | Harris Theatre Mason Cabaret Directed by Erin & James Gardiner | Musical Accompaniment by Joe Walsh April 14, 15 & 16, 2022, TheaterSpace Just Like Us Directed by Esteban Marmolejo-Suarez April 29-May 1, 2022 | TheaterSpace The Boy Detective Fails Directed by Erin Gardiner | Musical Direction by Joe Walsh May 6 & 7, 2022 | Center for the Arts Concert Hall

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 (2022): 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 2020): 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 10, 2022

April 14-16, 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