KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Production Sponsors
Lisa and David Casey
JULY 29 – AUGUST 21 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P1
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
We look forward to seeing you at La Jolla Playhouse at your upcoming performance of Free Speech! (While Supplies Last). Below is some additional information about the production and the venue to enhance your theater-going experience.
PARKING Parking is free for all subscribers. For all others parking is $2 (subject to change), Mon-Fri. Upon arrival to campus, please purchase your parking permit from one of the automated pay stations located next to the information kiosk. Simply park, note your space number, and pay $2 at the pay station. Pay stations accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express or cash ($1 and $5), and do not give change. You will not need to return to your car. Parking is free on the weekends. ACCESSIBILITY A golf cart is available to assist patrons with accessibility issues to and from the parking lot. Please notify Patron Services prior to your performance if you are in need of this service; additionally, you may pull into the five minute parking in front of the theatre, and a friendly La Jolla Playhouse greeter will assist you.
Children under the age of 6 are not permitted in the theatre during performances unless otherwise posted. Unaccompanied minors ages 12 and under are not permitted in the theatre.
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DINING
James’ Place is the Theatre District’s on-site restaurant. Developed by renowned Sushi Master James Holder, the menu includes his signature sushi, as well as delectable dishes created with Prime and Angus cuts of beef, locally and sustainably harvested seafood, along with seasonal dishes. A lighter fare menu is also served at the newly-redesigned sushi/cocktail bar, featuring craft beer and California wines. James’ Place is open daily. For reservations, please call (858) 638-7778. For menu and hours, please visit jamesplacesd.com. We also recommend the following nearby restaurants:
Adobe El Restaurante and Mustangs & Burros at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road La Jolla, CA 92037 estancialajolla.com
Cusp Restaurant and Hiatus Poolside Lounge at Hotel La Jolla 7955 La Jolla Shores Drive La Jolla, CA 92037 cusprestaurant.com
Café la Rue and The Med at La Valencia Hotel 1132 Prospect Street La Jolla, CA 92037 lavalencia.com
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 8970 University Center Lane San Diego, CA 92122 flemingssteakhouse.com
Dolce Pane e Vino 16081 San Dieguito Road Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 dolcepaneevino.com
Giuseppe Restaurants & Fine Catering 700 Prospect Street San Diego, CA 92037 giuseppecatering.com
Pamplemousse Grille 514 Via de la Valle, Suite 100 Solana Beach, CA 92075 pgrille.com Piatti 2182 Avenida De La Playa La Jolla, Ca 92037 Phone: 858-454-1589 piatti.com/lajolla Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery Playhouse Patrons Get 20% Off 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive La Jolla, CA 92037 rockbottom.com
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MISSION STATEMENT: La Jolla Playhouse advances theatre as an art form and as a vital social, moral and political platform by providing unfettered creative opportunities for the leading artists of today and tomorrow. With our youthful spirit and eclectic, artist-driven approach, we will continue to cultivate a local and national following with an insatiable appetite for audacious and diverse work. In the future, San Diego’s La Jolla Playhouse will be considered singularly indispensable to the worldwide theatre landscape, as we become a permanent safe harbor for the unsafe and surprising. The day will come when it will be essential to enter the La Jolla Playhouse village in order to get a glimpse of what is about to happen in American theatre.
La Jolla Playhouse has received La Jolla Playhouse has received the the highest rating from Charity highest rating from Charity Navigator, Navigator, the nation’s premier the nation’s premier charity evaluator. charity evaluator. P4 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P4
OUR MISSION
LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS
Michael S. Rosenberg Managing Director
Christopher Ashley Artistic Director
DIRECTED BY
RYAN ARCHIBALD FEATURING
EMILY FIGHTMASTER*, CARLEY MOSELEY, JEFFREY MURDOCH*, SCOTT NELSON*, CHUCHO PÉREZ*, JULIA WEISS* MUSIC DIRECTOR MARY MAHONEY STAGE MANAGER SCOTT FLORES-DETER* LIGHTING DESIGNER SHERRICE MOJGANI PROJECT PRODUCTION MANAGER BECCA DUHAIME
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THE ENSEMBLE
Emily Fightmaster Carley Moseley Jeffrey Murdoch Scott Nelson Chucho Pérez Julia Weiss
The Second City’s Free Speech! (While Supplies Last) is performed with a 15-minute intermission.
THE SECOND CITY, INC.
CEO & Executive Producer..........................................................................................................................Andrew Alexander President of Second City Theatricals....................................................................................................................Erica Daniels Producer of the Touring Company............................................................................................................................Joe Ruffner Producing Director of the Touring Company...........................................................................................................Nate DuFort Associate Producer.................................................................................................................................................Lesley Stone Director of Talent Development........................................................................................................................Beth Kligerman
* Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage
Managers in the United States. The theatre operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association. This theatre operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, an independent national labor union.
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This theatre operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE. La Jolla Playhouse is a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for the nonprofit professional theatre.
THE COMPANY EMILY FIGHTMASTER moved from Cincinnati to Chicago to study at The Second City and DePaul University and just returned from a year at Boom Chicago in Amsterdam. She is a proud member of the cast of Burlesque Is More at the Annoyance Theatre, plays guitar and piano for her two-person musical sketch group, Coffee Boy, and has traveled coast-to-coast with her two-woman improv troupe, Mr. Beaver. Big thanks to my mom for everything. Please stop overfeeding the cat. CARLEY MOSELEY is thrilled to be performing in La Jolla! A New Jersey native, she moved to Chicago to study with The Second City and the iO Theater and continues to write and perform with both. She tweets a little @carleymoseley, but mostly uses her account to keep tabs on @Beggin’Strips and the tweet life of @zackcodytweet. Carley tries to be as funny as her grandmother, as supportive as her family, and as tall as her little brother. Thank you for coming to the show! JEFFREY MURDOCH was born and raised in the Metro Detroit area, where he also attended school at the University of Michigan. After graduating he moved to Chicago, where he started performing at the Upstairs Gallery, iO, Annoyance and now The Second City! When he isn’t on stage you can see him producing videos with his comedy duo “Seriously Unprepared.” Follow Jeff on Twitter @jsmurd. SCOTT NELSON Originally from Geneseo, IL, Scott has been performing in and out of Chicago for the last nine years. He performs long-form improvisation with Sand (Newcity Chicago’s Best Improv Troupe, 2015) at Spitballin’ at Quenchers Saloon and with the Late 90s at iO. He also performs at the Annoyance Theatre in The Holy F*** Comedy Hour. In 2014 and 2016, Scott worked with Second City Theatricals on the NCL Pearl and NCL Dawn. He attended Western Illinois University in Macomb where he studied Theatre. CHUCHO PÉREZ is honored to be touring with The Second City. When he isn’t on the road, you can most often see him performing solo shows, with his rap group Handsome Naked, or with Pimprov Friday nights. Hailing from Michigan (Go Blue), you can follow him and his Detroit sports bias @ TheChuchoPerez. Chucho would like to thank The Second City for providing this experience, Dionna Griffin-Irons for all she has done, and, most importantly, his parents for being supportive of him wasting his college education by pursuing an acting career. JULIA WEISS is delighted to be performing for The Second City! An Indiana native, Julia studied theatre at Indiana University. She is a regular contributor to The Paper Machete and a member of Improvised Star Trek. Julia has also produced several plays in Chicago including the acclaimed Tammy: A Coming of Age Story About a Girl Who’s Part T-Rex, published by Playscripts, Inc. Follow her on Twitter @Weiss_Tea.
SCOTT FLORES-DETER, Stage Manager is excited to be working with The Second City. He has been a stage manager in the Chicagoland area for many, many years now. Some of his favorite productions include: Pinkalicious: The Musical (Emerald City Theatre Company), The Nutcracker (Peoria Ballet), and Late Nite Catechism (Nuns4Fun Entertainment). When he’s not on the road touring with a show, he enjoys spending time with his wife and son. MARY MAHONEY, Music Director is thrilled to be working with this amazing cast at The Second City. She has spent the last year touring the country as Music Director for a children’s theatre company, and more recently was involved in The Second City’s Director Showcase, performing with the casts of InSecurity Guards, Drunk at the Kids Table, and Judgement Daze. A graduate of Western Washington University with a degree in Violin Performance, she is thrilled to be doing not that – but this, which is way more fun. SHERRICE MOJGANI, Lighting Designer Recent designs include Outside Mullingar, My Mañana Comes, Steal Heaven, HONKY, The Mountaintop, Clybourne Park (San Diego REPertory Theatre); Ruthless The Musical, Trouble in Mind, Jade Heart, Mud Blue Sky, Skinless, Freedom of Speech (Moxie Theatre); Golda’s Balcony, The Nutcracker, To Kill a Mockingbird (New Village Arts); Bright Half Life (Diversionary Theatre). Sherrice holds a B.A. in Theater Arts from UC Santa Cruz and an M.F.A. in Lighting Design from UC San Diego. sherrice.weebly.com RYAN ARCHIBALD, Director is a veteran performer and teacher for The Second City, a former touring actor and resident member of The Second City in Las Vegas. Ryan currently directs for The Second City’s Touring Company and plays from time to time in the UP Comedy Club with The Second City’s Improv AllStars and every Friday evening in Donny’s Skybox with The Boys. Ryan has also taught and performed at Chicago’s iO Theater for almost twenty years, now playing with 3033, GDFG and Search Engine with Craig Uhlir. “Arch” crafted four sketch comedy shows with Andel Sudik, including Arch & Andel present: Live! Network! Showcase!. Over the years, Ryan has directed many independent sketch comedy and improv shows including: Atlantis, Four Square, D.W. Bitsmith, Brand New Toys, That Just Happened and 1979 at Under The Gun Theater. Ryan also worked in Amsterdam with Boom Chicago.
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Y OF R O T S I H THE
Martin Short
The Second City opened its doors on a snowy Chicago night in December of 1959. No one could have guessed that this small cabaret theatre would become the most influential and prolific comedy theatre in the world. With its roots in the improvisational games of Viola Spolin, The Second City developed an entirely unique way of creating and performing comedy. Founded by Spolin’s son, Paul Sills, along with Howard Alk and Bernie Sahlins, The Second City was experimental and unconventional in its approach to both theatre and comedy. At a time when mother-in-law jokes were more the fashion, The Second City railed against the conformist culture with scenes that spoke to a younger generation. The Broadway success of Mike Nichols and Elaine May – members of The Second City’s predecessor, The Compass Players – put attention on the fledgling company. Soon, alumni of The Second City – such as Alan Arkin, Barbara Harris, Robert Klein, David Steinberg and Fred Willard – began to cement the theatre’s reputation for developing the finest comedic voices of each and every generation. With the debut of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, populated by Second City Alums John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Gilda Radner, the theatre became internationally known for its ever increasing roster of comedy superstars.
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Tina F ey
Soon, The Second City’s sister-theatre in Canada, developed its own sketch comedy series, SCTV, hailed as one of the greatest comedy series of all time and featuring an all-star cast that included Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Catherine O’Hara, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty and Rick Moranis. By the 1980s, The Second City had become much more than a small cabaret theatre on Chicago’s north side. In the middle of the decade, The Second City would begin a new era as The Second City Toronto proprietors Andrew Alexander and Len Stuart would buy out Bernie Sahlins’ interest in The Second City Chicago and set in motion a new era of innovation for the company. rg berg einbe Stein vid St David Da
Today, The Second City continues to produce the premiere comic talent in the industry. From Mike Myers to Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert to Tina Fey – The Second City imprint is felt across every entertainment medium. Additionally, The Second City has grown well beyond a single stage to become a diversified entertainment company. The Second City Training Centers in Chicago, Toronto and Los Angeles teach thousands of students every week; four touring companies perform The Second City revues all over North America and abroad; Second City Communications has become an industry leader in bringing improv-based methodologies to the corporate sector; and The Second City continues to create unique media in television, film and the digital realm. C Cat athe herin rinee O O’H ’Har araa
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LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE LEADERSHIP
CHRISTOPHER ASHLEY, Playhouse Artistic Director has served as La Jolla Playhouse’s Artistic Director since October, 2007. During his tenure, he has helmed the Playhouse’s acclaimed productions of Hollywood, The Darrell Hammond Project, Chasing the Song, His Girl Friday, Glengarry Glen Ross, A Dram of Drummhicit, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Restoration and the acclaimed musicals Come From Away, Xanadu and Memphis, which won four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical. He also spearheaded the Playhouse’s Without Walls (WoW) series and the Resident Theatre program. Prior to joining the Playhouse, he directed the Broadway productions of Xanadu (Drama Desk nomination), All Shook Up and The Rocky Horror Show (Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations), as well as The Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration productions of Sweeney Todd and Merrily We Roll Along. Other New York credits include: Blown Sideways Through Life, Jeffrey (Lucille Lortel and Obie Awards), The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Valhalla, Regrets Only, Wonder of the World, Communicating Doors, Bunny Bunny, The Night Hank Williams Died and Fires in the Mirror (Lucille Lortel Award), among others. Mr. Ashley also directed the feature films Jeffrey and Lucky Stiff, as well as the American Playhouse production of Blown Sideways Through Life for PBS. Mr. Ashley is the recipient of the Princess Grace Award, the Drama League Director Fellowship and an NEA/TCG Director Fellowship. DEBBY BUCHHOLZ, General Manager has served as general manager of La Jolla Playhouse since 2002. She is the Secretary of the League of Resident Theaters (LORT) and a member of its Executive Committee. In 2009, she received a San Diego Women Who Mean Business Award from The San Diego Business Journal. Previously she served as Counsel to The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. She was a faculty member of the Smithsonian Institution’s program on Legal Problems of Museum Administration. Prior to The Kennedy Center, she served as a corporate attorney in New York City and Washington, D.C. She is a graduate of UC San Diego and Harvard Law School. Ms. Buchholz and her husband, noted author and White House economic policy advisor Todd Buchholz, live in Solana Beach and are the proud parents of Victoria, Katherine and Alexia.
MICHAEL S. ROSENBERG, Managing Director has served as the Managing Director of La Jolla Playhouse since April, 2009. Working in partnership with Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, he has developed and produced new work by Ayad Akhtar, Trey Anastasio, Amanda Green, Kirsten Greenidge, Quiara Alegría Hudes, John Leguizamo, Herbert Siguenza, Basil Twist, Doug Wright and The Flaming Lips. Playhouse collaborations have included projects with UC San Diego, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, The New Children’s Museum, San Diego Rep, Tectonic Theatre Project, the I.D.E.A. District and the cities of Escondido and Chula Vista. Previously, Mr. Rosenberg was Co-Founder and Executive Director of Drama Dept., a New York non-profit theatre company, where he produced new works by the likes of Douglas Carter Beane, Warren Leight, Isaac Mizrahi, Paul Rudnick and David & Amy Sedaris. His early work included stints at the Kennedy Center and the National Dance Institute. Mike serves on the Boards of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, NBC 7 San Diego Community Advisory Board and the Theatre Communications Group — where he is on the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee and chairs the Global Theatre Initiative Community. Follow him on Twitter: @MrMikeRosenberg. DES McANUFF, Director Emeritus served as La Jolla Playhouse’s Artistic Director from 1983 through 1994, and from 2001 through April, 2007. Under his leadership, the Playhouse garnered more than 300 awards, including the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Playhouse to Broadway credits: Jersey Boys (four Tony Awards); Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays (Tony Award); How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (five Tony nominations); director and co-author with Pete Townshend on The Who’s Tommy (Tony and Olivier Awards for Best Director) and Big River (seven Tony Awards), among others. Film credits: Quills, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, The Iron Giant (9 Animation Society awards) and Cousin Bette. Recipient of the Drama League’s 2006 Julia Hansen Award, Mr. McAnuff served as Artistic Director at Canada’s Stratford Festival from 2007 through 2012. He recently directed the hit productions of Sideways, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and Jesus Christ Superstar at the Playhouse.
LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MARGRET McBRIDE Chair KAY GURTIN, Gurtin Municipal Bond Management
First Vice-Chair MICHAEL FLASTER Second Vice-Chair MICHAEL YEATTS, U.S. Bank Treasurer MARY WALSHOK, Ph.D. Secretary TRUSTEES Michael Bartell Dave Bialis, Cox Communications Gregg Brandalise** Ralph Bryan* Robert Caplan, Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek
Lisa S. Casey Linda Chester Randall L. Clark, SDG&E Doug Dawson
Edward A. Dennis, Ph.D. Brian Dovey, Domain Associates Daniel Einhorn Mick Farrell William Georgis Noel Gillespie, Procopio Wendy Gillespie Jeffrey Goldman Lynn E. Gorguze Clark Guy, US Trust Bank of America Joan Jacobs Sheri L. Jamieson Jeanne Jones Pradeep K. Khosla, Ph.D. Lynelle Lynch* Kay Matherly, Wells Fargo Mark J. Muñoz, Dowling & Yahnke, LLC
Bennett Peji** Karen A. Quiñones Jeffrey Ressler* David Smotrich Amy Spielman Steven M. Strauss*
Sharon Weremiuk** Charlayne Woodard Barbara ZoBell HONORARY TRUSTEES Richard Atkinson, Ph.D. Ivan Gayler John Goodman Ewart W. Goodwin, Jr.* Joel Holliday* Julie Potiker Geri Ann Warnke* Gary Wollberg* Robert Wright, Esq. EMERITUS TRUSTEES Rita Bronowski (1917-2010) David Copley (1952-2012) Ted Cranston (1940-2012) Milton Fredman (1920-2005) Marian Jones Longstreth (1906-1997) Hughes Potiker (1925-2005) Sheila Potiker (1930-2011) Ellen Revelle (1910-2009)
Roger Revelle (1909-1991) Willard P. VanderLaan,M.D.* (1917-2012) Arthur Wagner, Ph.D. (1923-2015) Mandell Weiss (1891-1993) 1947 FOUNDERS Mel Ferrer Dorothy McGuire Gregory Peck *Past Chair of the Board **Ex-Officio List as of June 30, 2016
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PLAY HERE! Design your own subscription package and get FREE parking, exchange benefits and discounts on additional tickets.
FREAKYY FRIDA SEPT 6 – OCT 2 Adult choices are fun...(not!)
OCT 25 – NOV 27 A vibrant road-trip musical
JAN 31 – MAR 12 An American classic becomes a musical
(858) 550-1010 LaJollaPlayhouse.org Background photo: Jon Rua in Hands on a Hardbody; photo by Kevin Berne.
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MORE WAYS TO PLAY Every Thursday during the run of Free Speech, starts at 7:00 pm
THIRSTY THURSDAYS
Join us before your performance for complimentary beer tastings from Modern Times Brewery. Presented by La Jolla Playhouse in partnership with James’ Place. Includes two 3-oz beer tastings. Every Friday during the run of Free Speech (except August 5), starts at 6:00 pm
FOODIE FRIDAYS
Theatergoers are invited to attend Foodie Fridays, where a ticket to select Playhouse performances also includes access to some of San Diego’s finest food trucks!
Every Saturday evening during the run of Free Speech
SONIC SATURDAYS
Enjoy live music before the show. Please visit LaJollaPlayhouse.org for more information.
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