Stuart Little, Cirque Mechanics and Love: DMPA - 2014 by Des Moines Performing Arts

CENTERSTAGE, Jr. DES MOINES CIVIC CENTER

Stuart Little

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Saturday, March 29, 2014

cirque mechanics: Birdhouse Factory

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Saturday, May 17, 2014 LOVE

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Saturday, May 17, 2014

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Temple Theater

Central Iowa’s most advanced pediatric care

STUART LITTLE

From the President & CEO

Dear friends, It is my pleasure to welcome you to the fifth season of the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Family Series. Our thanks go to Wellmark and to more than 6,000 Des Moines Performing Arts Donors for making this series possible.

Dallas Children’s Theater On Tour SATURDAY, March 29, 2014

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CIRQUE MECHANICS : BIRDHOUSE FACTORY SATURDAY, May 17, 2014

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LOVE

Terrapin Puppet Theatre SATURDAY, May 17, 2014 Temple Theater

At Blank Children’s Hospital, we know the highest quality care involves more than simply treating childhood illness. It means using tools and approaches that help demystify the hospital, ease kids’ fears and maintain their natural enthusiasm. It means helping them focus on what it is they do best – be kids. Blank Children’s Hospital is committed to your family in more ways every day.

The point of unity is you.

Des Moines Performing Arts is committed to presenting top-quality professional performing arts programs—that includes educational (and fun!) productions for families and for young audiences. Please join us prior to each Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Family Series show for the Discovery Party—a time to learn, create and explore. Enjoy the show!

Jeff Chelesvig President & CEO Des Moines Performing Arts

Contents From the President & CEO

Stuart Little

Cirque Mechanics: Birdhouse Factory

Methodist | Lutheran | Blank Children’s Methodist West | Stoddard Cancer Center UnityPoint Clinic | UnityPoint at Home

Love

blankchildrens.org

From the Sponsor

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Activities & Fun Facts

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Stay tuned to DesMoinesPerformingArts.org for details on the 2014-2015 Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Family Series.

Des Moines Performing Arts Board of Directors and Staff

Guest Information

We hope to see you there! 0712 - 06456

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DES MOINES CIVIC CENTER

Meet The Directors

A Des Moines Performing Arts Theater Jeff Chelesvig, President & CEO

DALLAS CHILDREN’S THEATER ON TOUR Presents

Robyn Flatt (DCT Founder & Executive Artistic

By Joseph Robinette Based on the Classic Book by E.B. White Directer

Scenic Design

H. Bart McGheeon Sound Design

Marco Salinas Stage Manager/Technical Director

Ryan Tolzmann

K. Doug Miller

Producer/Tour Director

Sally Fiorello Properties Design

Costume Design

Anna Klawitter

Lighting Design

Robert Molina

Laurie Land Jason Lynch

Lighting Director/ASM

The Cast Mr. Little / Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nathanial P. Reid George / Snowbell / Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Justin Duncan Mrs. Little / Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathryn Taylor Rose Margalo / Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jad Saxton Angie / Mrs. Morrison / Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sky Williams Stuart Little . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Randall Scott Carpenter

DCT Production Staff Production Manager:

Scene Shop Foreman/Master Carpenter:

JOSH SMITH

ANNA KLAWITTER

Technical Director:

Carpenters:

Production Coordinator:

MELISSA CASHION H. Bart McGheeon

KENNETH GARDNER, JEFFREY STANFIELD, LUKE NORTON, KENNETH HALL

Scenic Artist:

JOHN MOSS II

Special Thanks to Sandy Clark Travel Produced by special arrangement with DRAMATIC PUBLISHING, Woodstock, Illinois

National Tour presented through arrangements made by Holden & Arts Associates, Inc., Michael Holden, Director. Federal copyright laws prohibit the videotaping, photographing or audio recording of this production.

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The Family Series is made possible through the generous support of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Des Moines Performing Arts Donors.

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Director) co-founded DCT in 1984 with start-up funds of $500. Under her artistic leadership, the theater’s creative and operational stature has grown over the past 24 years to reflect its current annual budget of more than $3 million. Her theatrical career has brought her acclaim as a professional director, actor and lighting designer. During her tenure as a member of the Dallas Theater Center Resident Company, she served as Assistant Artistic Director, and Director of Theater-in-the-Parks.  She holds an MA Degree from Baylor University and studied with Etienne Decroux, Juana Laban and Hanya Holm. Among Ms. Flatt’s many acting credits include two roles she created for award-winning world premiere productions: Dewey Dell in Journey to Jefferson and Martha Ann Sickenger in Preston Jones’ The Oldest Living Graduate. Her directing credits at DCT include Coyote Tales; The Great Gilly Hopkins; the world premiere musical adaptation by Linda Daugherty and Danny Ray of Steven Kellogg’s The Three Sillies; Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; The Miracle Worker; Island of the Blue Dolphins; and the critically acclaimed productions of And Then They Came For Me and To Kill A Mockingbird. She has served on the boards of AATE and ASSITEJ/USA and is a recipient of The 500, Inc.’s prestigious Ken Bryant Visionary Award, Dallas Historical Society’s 1999 Excellence in Community Service for Creative Arts, the 2002 Leon Rabin Standing Ovation Award, and the Excellence in Nonprofit Management Award. Ms. Flatt is a member of the College of Fellows of American Theatre and is currently Treasurer of the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America. She was nominated by The Dallas Morning News arts staff for the 2010 Texan of the Year Award, and received the Northwood University 2011 Distinguished Women’s Award.

New Brain. Rabin Awards for direction include: A Man of No Importance, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Aida, and Love! Valour! Compassion!. Other favorite shows that he has directed include: Grease, Barefoot in the Park, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and Valley of the Dolls. Doug has also received many The Column Awards, and the prestigious DFW Critics Forum Award for Acting & Directing. Doug is the Director of Musical Theatre at Park Cities Dance / The Dallas Conservatory for the Arts.

Sally Fiorello (Producer/Tour Director) began her association with Dallas Children’s Theater in 1984 and has since served as a director, designer, actor and consultant for numerous DCT productions. In 1998 she joined the staff as Producing Director of the national touring company. Stuart Little marks her sixteenth touring production in a distinguished line of shows which includes the nationally acclaimed And Then They Came For Me, Most Valuable Player and A Midnight Cry: The Underground Railroad to Freedom, which she also directed. Sally also spearheaded DCT’s inclusion in the 2006 Shanghai International Children’s Culture and Arts Expo in Shanghai, China. She has worked as a designer and/or performer with The Haymarket Theater Company, Pegasus Theater, The Dallas Symphony, The Dallas Opera, Bootstraps Comedy Theater and the Broadway touring production of Patio/Porch. As a master puppeteer and senior designer with the critically acclaimed Kathy Burks Theatre of Puppetry Arts, she has performed throughout the country and served as Art Director for the award-winning children’s television pilot Discovery Outpost. Ms. Fiorello is a recipient of the Dallas Theater Critics Forum Award.

K. Doug Miller (Production Director) has

directing credits at DCT include Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type; Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day; the Dallas premiere and national tour of Giggle, Giggle Quack; and last season’s national tour The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! Doug was also the Performance Director for Barney & Friends (PBS) for several seasons. Favorite stage roles include: Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Sparky in Forever Plaid, Cosmo in Singin’ in the Rain, Rooster in Annie, and Jeffrey in Jeffrey. Dallas Theatre League’s Rabin Awards for acting include: The Baker in Into the Woods, and Roger in A

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STUART LITTLE TOURING COMPANY Nathaniel P. Reid (Mr. Little/Ensemble) Stuart

Little marks Mr. Reid’s first performance with DCT. His previous roles include S Bubba Little Joe in Hotel for Hollywood Has-Beens with Sam Bass Theatre Youth Organization, Pops in Babes Off-Broadway with The Original Cast II, Pantalone in A Company of Wayward Saints with Sam Bass Theatre, Brighella in The Servant of Two Masters and TR in the musical Tintypes with Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Theatre. He was most recently seen as the titular Mother Goose in the 2012 panto Mother Goose with Dallas’ own Theatre Britain. Mr. Reid holds a BA in Theatre and English Literature from Stephen F. Austin State University and dedicates his performance to the memory of Dallas Children’s Medical Center Funnyatrics clown Sarah “Dippity” Hale.

Justin Duncan (George/Snowbell/Ensemble)

is thrilled to be making his debut with DCT’s national touring production Stuart Little. A native of Dallas, Texas, his previous acting credits include Thaliard in Pericles with Shakepeare Dallas, Dayne in Yellow with Uptown Players, Geek in Sideshow with PFamily Arts, Old Soldier/ Dorsey in Parade with Casa Manana, Bob McCaffrey in South Pacific with Garland Summer Musicals, and Father in Ragtime with Collin Theatre Center. “Sometimes, you can put it together with a good imagination and invent something.”

Kathryn Taylor Rose (Mrs. Little/Ensemble)

Stuart Little marks Kathryn’s first appearance with DCT. Her other acting credits include Ethel Toffelmier in The Music Man with Lyric Stage, Patricia in Crazy For You with Theatre Three, Dolly in Sideshow with PFamily Arts, Ferdinand in Ferdinand the Bull with Stages Repertory Theatre, and Ensemble member in Ragtime with Turtle Creek Chorale & Uptown Players. Ms. Rose is a musical theatre graduate of Sam Houston State University. Thanks and love to family and friends! Caro mio! kathryntaylorrose.com

JAD SAXTON (Margalo/Ensemble/Company Manager) is incredibly excited to be making her debut with Dallas Children’s Theater! Her other theater credits include Avenue Q, Enron, Ragtime, Sideshow, Present Laughter, and The Great American Trailer Park Musical. She also has numerous Anime voice-over credits from FUNimation Entertainment. Jad holds a BA in Music from Texas Wesleyan University and is represented by Core Talent.

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SKY WILLIAMS (Angie/Mrs. Morrison/Ensemble)

2014 Summer Camps! Spend your Summer in the Spotlight!

is thrilled to be a part of DCT’s 2013-2014 National tour of Stuart Little. She is a recent Honors graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Theatre with a minor in Educational ASL Interpreting. Her most recent theatre credits include Gary Coleman in Avenue Q, Ronnette in Little Shop of Horrors, Dina in Schoolhouse Rock Live, Collin in Puss in Boots, Thyona in Big Love, and Ruth in Blithe Spirit. Sing... Pray... Love... Werk!

RANDALL SCOTT CARPENTER (Stuart Little)

is simply ecstatic to be on tour with DCT’s Stuart Little! A recent graduate of KD Studios Actors Conservatory, Randall has been seen in numerous theaters throughout the Dallas and Houston areas, including Uptown Players, Garland Summer Musicals, Level Ground Arts, Our Productions, Co., Blackbox Productions, PFamily Arts, and Stages Repertory Theatre. A few of his previous roles include Jack in Into the Woods, Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd, Man #1 in Songs for a New World, Jesus in Godspell, Troy Bolton in Disney’s High School Musical, Mortimer in The Fantasticks, Squeegee Man and others in RENT, Little Guido in Nine, and Doody in Grease. Randall would like to thank his friends, family, and past instructors for helping him chase his dream. Caro Mio!

RyaN TOLZMANN (Stage Manager/Technical Director/Audio Engineer) has served as an Audio Engineer for numerous productions throughout the Western United States. His diverse credits include corporate conferences, arena concert tours and live theater. A 23 year old native of Minnesota, this is his first national tour with Dallas Children’s Theater. Ryan is excited to be a part of Stuart Little and eager to present the best show possible for audiences all around the country Robert Molina (Lighting Director/Assistant Stage

Manager) is very excited to be working with DCT for the first time. His regional credits include Clybourne Park and Raisin in the Sun with Dallas Theater Center, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for Wishing Star Productions, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Songs for a New World, Hello Again, Broadway Our Way 2011 & 2013, Next to Normal, Victor Victoria and Yellow with Uptown Players, and Evita with Casa MaÑana. Robert was the proud recipient of the Ben Berttell Youth Award at the 2013 Column Awards.

THEATER CAMPS

Ages 6–18 | No previous experience required. These weeklong day camps invite young artists to explore their talents and skills as musical theater actors in a production on the Civic Center stage.

King Arthur’s Quest | July 7–11 Rapunzel | July 21–25 Treasure Island | August 4–8

BROADWAY INTENSIVE Ages 14-19 | Previous musical theater experience required.

Taught by experienced Broadway veterans from New York City, this week-long triple-threat intensive focuses on finetuning musical theater skills in singing, acting and dancing.

STAGEright Broadway Experience June 24-28

REGISTER NOW! Online at DesMoinesPerformingArts.org/education Questions? (515) 246-2358 or education@DesMoinesPerformingArts.org

DES MOINES CIVIC CENTER A Des Moines Performing Arts Theater Jeff Chelesvig, President & CEO

CIRQUE MECHANICS: BIRDHOUSE FACTORY

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

Cirque Mechanics Birdhouse Factory was inspired by the masterful industry murals of Mexican-born artist Diego Rivera, the outrageous illustrations of cartoonist Rube Goldberg and the slap-stick style humor of Charlie Chaplin’s film “Modern Times”. While its inspirations make Birdhouse Factory artful, nostalgic and funny, the true essence of the show comes from the circus.

PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTE

Birdhouse Factory was originally produced and presented by the Circus Center in San Francisco in December 2004. The show was based on an original concept and material by Chris Lashua and was collaboratively directed by Chris as Creative Director and co-directors: Rex Camphuis, Sandra Feusi, Aloysia Gavre and Sam Payne.

Creative Director/Artist

CHRIS LASHUA

Co-Director/Choreographer/Artist

ALOYSIA GAVRE

ABOUT THE SHOW

Enter the most unlikely setting for a circus, a factory - where the workers are acrobats and the machines are circus props. A place where spectators will watch a contortionist perform on a turntable powered by unicyclists, they will be captivated by the trapeze artist flying high thanks to the spins of an acrobat inside a giant gear-like wheel and they will be stunned when the trampoline wall artists defy the laws of physics by virtually flying and walking on air. All the while they will be giggling at the antics of the comedic characters, impressed by the acro-dancing and enchanted by the story of laughter, love, flight and birdhouses. Cirque Mechanics Birdhouse Factory is brought to life thanks to the vision of its creative team, Director Chris Lashua, Assistant Director/Choreographer Aloysia Gavre and Character Actor/ Performer Steven Ragatz, veterans of the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil. The inventive machines and the extraordinary talent and energy of its cast of acrobats, dancers, contortionists and clowns - former members of Cirque du Soleil, the Pickle Family Circus and the Moscow Circus transform the mundane into the magnificent. Running Time – 1 Hour

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The Family Series is made possible through the generous support of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Des Moines Performing Arts Donors.

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BIRDHOUSE FACTORY COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES CHRIS LASHUA (Creative Director/Artist) has spent his life on or around wheels. After nearly a decade of professional bicycle freestyle competitions and performance, he found himself at China’s famed “Wu Ciao” festival in ‘92, where he won a bronze medal and a place on Cirque du Soleil’s Japan tour of Fascination. Chris’s obsession with wheels led him to perform inside one – a German Wheel and as the opening act of Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam in 1996. During the six years Chris toured with Quidam, he began work on a mechanical contraption he called the trolley which allowed him to roll in place and be able to perform his act in a smaller space. The trolley was the start of an idea to build other machines that would interact with circus acrobatics. He decided early on that the place to showcase these machines would be a factory floor, a place Chris called Birdhouse Factory™. By adding a winch to the trolley and inviting fellow artist and friend Aloysia Gavre to experiment, a duo act emerged, a study not only in acrobatics, but in the relationship between man, woman and machine. Next Chris modified four unicycles which power a turntable, a mobile, yet static enough platform to host a more conventional ground act. In keeping with the factory floor setting, a conveyor belt driven by a giant turning wheel, a rolla-bolla driven fan and an overhead crane with a traveling high bar were born. Birdhouse Factory was growing. In order to complete and realize his vision for the show Chris teamed up with talented and experienced friends,

graduates of the Circus School of San Francisco and former Pickle Family Circus members – other former members of Cirque du Soleil and artists from the Nanjing acrobatic troupe. Birdhouse Factory is the result of their tireless, combined efforts.

ALOYSIA GAVRE (Co-Director/Choreographer/Artist) is an original co-director of Birdhouse Factory and an early member of the San Francisco based Pickle Family Circus, and Aloysia has been a movement/dance and circus enthusiast most of her life. She has studied with Pilobolus, The Tandy Beal Dance Company and Zacho Dance Theater, and has perfected her circus abilities with Master Lu-Yi of the San Francisco School of Circus Arts and L’Ecole Nationale Du Cirque in Montreal. Aloysia was a featured act in Cirque du Soleil’s O in Las Vegas and Quidam where she performed the aerial hoop act that earned the troupe a special prize at the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival in 2002. STEVEN RAGATZ (Comedic Conceptor and Captain

of the Funny) is an original Birdhouse Factory cast member and collaborator, and has been entertaining audiences with his juggling, physical comedy, stilt walking and general antics for over two decades. As a six year veteran of the French Canadian circus, Cirque du Soleil, Steven has performed throughout North America. His television credits include The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Rosie O’Donnell Show and The Today Show. Steven’s recent appearance in “The Toy Shop” with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra is a reprise of his previous season’s performance with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

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BIRDHOUSE FACTORY COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES JESSE DRYDEN (Character Artist/Clown) conquered his fear of clowns by becoming the first Canadian graduate of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. Due to his tiger allergy, he was forced to pursue the craft of clowning elsewhere. Through a buffet of subsequent festivals, prestigious events, street shows and various tours in Canada, the United States and Europe, Jesse discovered many other allergies. He has also spent the past decade coaching and performing with Vermont’s Circus Smirkus and is currently the Creative Director of their Big Top tour. In between he took some time to perform with Cirque du Soleil and to do outreach circus in Africa. He lives in Montreal with his wife Alisan and their pet tortoise who chooses to remain anonymous. MICHAEL REDINGER (Trampoline Act Captain/

Creator) began his gymnastics training In 1993 in Fort Worth, Texas where during his six years as a competitive gymnast he was awarded numerous honors including district all-around champion and Texas State floor gold. In 1999 he began his professional acrobatic career in Disney’s Festival of The Lion King. He has also performed at Disney’s Tarzan Rocks and Cirque Oddysea in Sea World Orlando. He is now a freelance acrobat and continues to work with Antigravity, New Vision Cirque, Power of Balance, Hard Drive, E.S.I. and G-Force Entertainment.

WES HATFIELD (Acrobat) has been a competitive gymnast and acrobat for more than 10 years. As a member of the Clown Wall trio he has traveled throughout the US wowing audiences with his technical prowess and zany comedic antics. In the world of trampoline competition his resume includes several state and national championship titles. GANCHIMEG OYUNCHIMEG (Contortion) began

studying the art of contortion at the age of three in her native country of Mongolia. Between 1996 and 1998, she performed with the Yagaantsetseg trio, with whom she won four awards of the five world-class circus festivals. For the last 10 years she has performed in more than 3,000 shows as for various companies on four continents: America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

CLINT BOBZIEN (Acrobat) has been performing in

live productions since the age of 10. He began his career as an actor and musician and attended the University of Evansville to pursue acting and ended up at Indiana University a few years later with a degree in Biology. Seeking a logical progression into the professional world,

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Clint thought it wise to join the circus. Since then he has traveled the world performing in many highly acclaimed shows as an acrobat in several disciplines including: highflying trapeze, trampoline, statue hand-to-hand, corde lisse, aerial silk and whatever else the director tells him to do. He is currently enjoying his tour of North America and falling in love with a little town called Boom.

HANNAH JO BOBZIEN (Aerialist/Acrobat) began acrobatic training as a gymnast and diver. She joined the High Flyers Circus from Bloomington, Indiana at the age of 10 and began performing immediately in festivals, parades and local shows. Whenever she can, she and her husband Clint Bobzien run a summer circus program at Camp Lohikan in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Hannah spent most of 2010 performing aerials and statue handto-hand on a cruise ship in Asia. She loves working with Cirque Mechanics and would prefer to stay on land for a while, even with the looming threat of BOOM. LINDSAY ORTON-HINES (Aerialist/Acrobat) is an accomplished gymnast with more than 20 years of competitive experience. After completing her college degree at the University of Denver, Lindsay joined Cirque du Soleil as an acrobat and for four years toured with two of their productions, Alegria and Saltimbanco. Lindsay has also performed with Diavolo, at Sea World, at Disney, and in various Hollywood productions. CODY RUSSELL (Acrobat) is the son of two collegiate gymnasts from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Born in 1989, he grew up doing gymnastics and competed at the highest level nationally. He trained on trampoline under a worldranked trampolinist and landed his first acrobatic job in 2011 with Pirates Voyage in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. There, he further developed his talents on the Russian Swing and Tramp Wall.

ANTHONY POWERS (Lighting Director) is a resident of Oakland, and has designed productions throughout the Bay Area, California and Chile for companies such as Killing My Lobster, San Francisco Mime Troupe, New Conservatory Theater and Playhouse West. For the past four years, he has designed the lighting and productionmanaged corporate and live events as well as trade shows for a vast array of clients including T.E.D. (2006), Disney on Ice, EA Sports, Yahoo, Clorox and Macy’s West to name a few. Anthony is also the undisputed karaoke king of Nome, Alaska. His design work can be seen at anthonypowers.arloartists.com.

BIRDHOUSE FACTORY COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES SEAN RILEY (Set Designer/Aerial Rigging Designer) is a designer, rigger and sculptor, living in San Francisco. Concentrating his performance design on sight-specific and experimental work, Riley creates functional, architectural and lighting installations in collaboration with a spectrum of varied artists. Riley’s lighting design for Ta IA Brugera was featured at Documeta 11 and the MMK in Frankfurt. His theater installations can be seen all over the United States. When not creating for himself, Riley keeps the San Francisco area lifting and flying safe through the rigging company Gravity Design, Inc. JANEEN JOHNSON (General Stage Manager) Janeen’s career in theater production was cultivated through 11 years of arts and civic engagement as a student of folk arts, dancer, arts administrator and company manager. She yields an impressive professional track, serving a multitude of projects illustrating a wide range of artistic and theatrical expressions to include seven years of experience as a freelance production field technician and stage manager throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Janeen has worked with the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, San Francisco Hip Hop Fest, San Francisco International Festival of the Arts, Black Choreographer’s Festival, Chitresh Das Dance Company and Fua Dia Congo Performing Arts Company. She recently completed her maiden voyage in circus with the tour of Cirque Mechanics Birdhouse Factory. CLAUDETTE WADDLE (General Stage Manager) is a Native Texan, who spent the last 15 years trying to finally get back, which she recently successfully attained by setting up home base in Austin, where she works as a freelance production manager, event manager and Stage Manager. Most recently, Claudette worked in LA as an Assistant to the Line Producer on Alias and LOST. Prior

to her experience in the television and film industry, Claudette worked for several years with Cirque du Soleil where she stage managed Mystère in Las Vegas, La Nouba in Orlando and toured North America with Varekai. Before she ran away with the circus, Claudette stage managed for the performance art troupe, Blue Man Group, in New York, Boston and Chicago. Professional highlights have included stage managing shows for President and First Lady Clinton, both Presidents Bush, Jimmy Buffet in the Virgin Islands, performances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and performance art in a swimming pool.

CODY WESTHEIMER/JULIA NEWMAN

(Composers) Composer couple Cody Westheimer and Julia Newmann met while studying music composition at USC’s Thornton School of Music. Westheimer, originally from Santa Barbara, started writing music in his teens and began studying privately at UCSB while still in high school. Newmann is a native Angeleno and began her piano studies early. She graduated from the prestigious Hamilton Music Academy before continuing her education at USC. Primarily film and television composers, Birdhouse Factory marks the couple’s first theatrical venture.

BETH CLARKE (Creative Content Contributor) is a variety artist based in San Francisco known for her aerial and slack rope work as well as her much loved comedic character, Chocolate. She is co-founder of Sweet Can Productions, a circus company. Beth currently performs in corporate events throughout North America and can be seen this winter in Habitat. To learn more about Beth, visit goodwithrope.com or sweetcanproductions.com. Beth’s rope lamp routine was the inspiration for the rope act featured in Birdhouse Factory.

Aida and our three sons, Zion, Quinn and Iago, for their unconditional love and support, their encouragement and for being the birds in my house and in my heart. Our cast and crew for their tireless efforts, incredible imagination and collaborative spirit. Chris Jenkinson for inspiring me to take the plunge, Armand Thomas for being an example of grace and strength, Gilles Ste-Croix for discovering my potential and encouraging me through the years, Janet Pundick and Michael Bolinbroke for sharing their expertise and friendship, Neil Benson and Elaine Lipcan for bringing us onto the Opus 3 roster, Christine Barkley at CBA for giving us our start in the PAC world, Bo Bogatin for keeping us honest and legal, Andy Espo for keeping more than our Macs in working order. Tony Roan for fabricating and creating. Our friends and family at Cirque du Soleil for continuing to set the bar higher and to the Circus Center of San Francisco for helping build the show that we are so proud to be touring today.

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DES MOINES TEMPLE THEATER A Des Moines Performing Arts Theater Jeff Chelesvig, President & CEO

TERRAPIN PUPPET THEATRE’S LOVE About Digital Puppetry

Terrapin Puppet Theatre’s

Terrapin Puppet Theatre is on a new course in its pursuit of making contemporary puppet theatre. This new direction is called “Digital Puppetry”. Distilled down to its most fundamental core, Digital Puppetry is the animation of characters and the theatrical space using digital technologies. It is not a specific reference to any one type of technology, or aesthetic, but rather a broader catchphrase alluding to the materials that are at the core of Terrapin’s shows. Digital Puppetry can take numerous forms in the same way that traditional puppetry does. It is not locked into a particular style. It is a subset of the genre of puppetry, where the materials that form the base of what the puppets are made from is found in digital technologies.

By Finegan Kruckemeyer, directed by Frank Newman

Director...................................................Frank Newman Writer.......................................Finegan Kruckemeyer Designer....................................... Selena de Carvalho Design Dramaturg/Mentor.....................Anna Tregloan Composer.........................................Matthew Fargher Animator............................................Stefan Le Mottee Lighting Designer........................................ Jason James

Performed by...................... Mel King and Jeff Michel

Systems Designer.......................................Matt Daniels Production Manager.................... Andrew MacDonald Audio and Video Technician...............Joseph Barrows

About Terrapin Puppet Theatre

Terrapin Puppet Theatre is the Australian innovator of puppetry-based visual theatre embracing new technologies, creating contemporary storytelling, and touring and collaborating nationally and internationally. The company injects skills and programs into the Tasmanian community, entertaining family audiences, and supporting and developing artists. The company is exploring digital puppetry, which uses new technologies and cross platform practice to continually challenge and redefine puppetry as a visual theatre form. Terrapin creates new works through research and developmental processes that are designed specifically for each work. Whilst Terrapin reaches to the future in its exploration of form and story-telling styles, it does so with its feet firmly grounded in the age-old craft of puppetry and theatre’s rich traditions. Terrapin’s productions engage all age groups and are designed to tour. Running Time – 55 minutes Terrapin Puppet Theatre, and the tour of Love, is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, and through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for the Arts.

Digital Puppetry is distinct in that digital technologies are used to create characters in the same way wood or foam is sculpted to carve puppets or fabrics are used to make costumes. It is a material for the artist to use to fashion the images of their imagination and serve the telling of the story. Digital Puppetry is not about using animation or projection to decorate the set of a show. It is not a form of animation or multimedia cartoon but rather an exploration of new ways to be theatrical in puppet-based visual theatre. It is principally concerned with animating characters and the theatrical space using inanimate objects that in this instance are digital in some aspect of their functionality.

LOVE COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES FRANK NEWMAN (Director) has directed, produced

and performed for more than 18 years. He has a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Theatre Technology from Wollongong University. Frank’s shows have played in festivals and venues in New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, the United States, China and around Australia including the Sydney Opera House, the Arts Centre Melbourne and the Adelaide Festival Centre. He has worked with artists such as the Dell ‘Arte Players in California, Nigel Jamieson, Nick Enright, Gary Stewart and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Frank is exploring what happens when puppetry and technology meet. For Terrapin, Frank has directed Explosion Therapy, Boats, Helena and the Journey of the Hello, The Falling Room and the Flying Room, When the Pictures Came, The Gatekeeper, The Waltzing Tree, Love, Sleeping Horses Lie, Shadow Dreams and the Helpmann Award-winning Boats.

FINEGAN KRUCKEMEYER (Writer) has had 57

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The Family Series is made possible through the generous support of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Des Moines Performing Arts Donors.

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commissioned plays performed on five continents, and was an inaugural recipient of the $160,000 Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship. This year, 13 works (including eight premieres) perform worldwide. In Germany, he is represented by Rowohlt Agency. To date, Finegan’s plays have had seasons in: 50 Australian and international festivals; five consecutive IPAY North American invited showcases; seven Australian states; five UK national

tours; and at Australia’s Sydney Opera House, Ireland’s Dublin Theatre Festival, Scotland’s Imaginate Festival, Shanghai’s Malan Flower Theatre, New York’s New Victory Theater and New York University, and DC’s Kennedy Center for the Arts. Finegan and his work have received the 2012 Helpmann Award for Children’s Theatre, 2010 Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award, 2010 Best New Work Ruby Award, 2009 Australian Writers Guild Award (AWGIE) for Best Children’s Play in Australia, 2009 Mystate Young Tasmanian Artist Award, 2009 Ruby Award For Innovation, 2008 Best Children’s Theatre Playwright Oscart, 2007 Best Playwright Oscart, 2006 Jill Blewett Playwrights Award and 2002 Colin Thiele Scholarship. He currently has two works short-listed in the Sydney Theatre Award’s Best Production for Children. Finegan was born in Ireland, and came to Adelaide, Australia at eight. In 2004, he moved with his wife Essie to Hobart, Tasmania, from which he now writes for national/international companies. He is committed to making strong and respectful work for children, which acknowledges them as astute audience members outside the plays, and worthy subjects within.

MEL KING (Performer) graduated from Theatre Nepean in 1991, and has worked in theatre, film and TV. In theatre Mel has performed with Riverina Theatre Co., Canberra Theatre Co., Siren Theatre Co., REM and Tas Performs. Joining Terrapin Puppet Theatre in 1994, Mel has toured

WELLMARK BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD FAMILY SERIES

F rom

the Sponsor

Dear friends, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is proud to partner with Des Moines Performing Arts to bring the wonder of live theater to audiences of all ages through the fifth season of the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Family SeriesSM. For more than 75 years, Wellmark has committed itself to serving Iowa families by working hand in hand with cultural and civic organizations to build vibrant and healthy communities. Our partnership with Des Moines Performing Arts continues that longstanding tradition. We hope you enjoy the imagery, humor, song and spectacle only family theater can provide. Indeed, this season’s productions are certain to entertain and inspire.

Celebrate the Arts

From Council Bluffs to Davenport and all towns in between, Wellmark is pleased to welcome you to this performance.

From the magic within our hearts, to the inspiration on stage, the arts help us capture the moments that are worth celebrating. There are lots of reasons we support the arts. Your family is one of them.

Thank you for being our guest – enjoy the show!

John Forsyth, Chairman & CEO Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield

A proud sponsor of the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Family Series

WELLMARK BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD FAMILY SERIES

LOVE COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES

JEFF MICHEL (Performer) trained in Cleveland, Ohio

with James Thornton and later in New York at The Michael Howard Studios and the School of Russian Art Theatre Summer School at Columbia University. In New York, he appeared in the Sydney Theatre Company production of The White Devil. Since moving to Tasmania in 2005, he has performed in various shows. With Terrapin, he toured with Boats, winner of the 2012 Helpmann award for the Best Presentation for Children. Other Terrapin credits include Love, The Gatekeeper and The Falling Room and the Flying Room. In 2010 he co-founded Blue Cow Theatre and appeared in their first production, Art, as well as Terminus in 2012. Other credits include: Cabaret, Pinocchio, Wind in the Willows and The Mikado. Jeff is also an English and Drama educator, and recently directed his first college musical, All Shook Up. Jeff is a member of Actor’s Equity.

SELENA de CARVALHO (Designer) is a Tasmanian

based cross-disciplinary artist. She was a Fine Art graduate of the University of Tasmania in 2011, where her work was recognized with the Jon Lajos Prize. Her practice traverses traditional and new media, printmaking and design for installation and live performance. She has exhibited regularly. Selena began designing for theatre in 2011 on Terrapin’s production Love under the mentorship of theatre maker and designer Anna Tregloan (2010 Australia Council Fellow) and has since designed Sleeping Horses Lie and Shadow Dreams. During 2012 Selena was mentored by Raef Sawford through Jump, the Australia Council’s national mentoring program for young and emerging artists and is a recipient of an Australia Council ArtStart Grant. She travelled to China in 2012 to undertake a 24HR Art (in partnership with Asia-link) residency at the Huantei Art City, Beijing supported by Copyright Agency Limited. In 2013, she was the recipient of the Arts Tasmania Dombrovskis Award.

MATTHEW FARGHER (Composer) has composed

original music for Terrapin Puppet Theatre (Touch the Air, Boats, The Gatekeeper, Love, Sleeping Horses Lie), Marrugeku’s Mimi, Crying Baby, BURU and Burning Daylight, Circus Oz, Australian Theatre for Young People, Australian Theatre of the Deaf, Sidetrack Theatre, Belvoir Street Theatre, Kickstart Arts, various festivals and events, as well as numerous films and animation projects. He created Origins with musicians and storytellers from Hobart, Melbourne and Broome. Matthew has worked since the early 1980s and has been a resident in Tasmania for 11 years. His composition often uses custom designed instruments and manipulated found-sound alongside contemporary forms (Hip Hop, Reggae, World, Roots and Blues). He performs with and coordinates the “Roadhouse Ravens”, a mental health support group for musicians and writers. Matthew is also a youth and community producer in Tasmania working with aboriginal elders and emerging artists as well as young rock bands, vocalists and hip hop artists.

Activities &

JASON JAMES (Lighting Designer) has worked as a

lighting designer for more than 10 years, creating designs principally for new works. His recent credits include Shadow Dreams, Love, The Gatekeeper and Sleeping Horses Lie (Terrapin Puppet Theatre); Branch Book Bench (Tasmanian Theatre Company); The Barbarians and Kimisis (IHOS Opera); Birds (M.A.D.E.); The Landing Party (Salamanca Arts Centre); Death by Television (Briony Kidd); Hieronymus (Andrew Harper); ErrorIn Time() (Nancy Mauro-Flude); La Casa Di Signori (Marisa Mastrocola and Nigel Kellaway); The Company I Keep and If I Jumped I’d Fly (Tasmanian Theatre Company). Jason has a Diploma of Live Production, Theatre and Events, and an Associate Diploma of Electrical Engineering. He is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in Sculpture. During the day he teaches the lighting and core studies for the Diploma of Live Production, Theatre and Events for Salamanca Performing Arts Course in Entertainment.

Word Search!

E C S t u a r t f o i a New York City

Did you know

d A N l e M t y a h n d p R O j l A g b m f r v

Stuart Little is based on a book written by E.B. White, who also wrote Charlotte’s Web.

N e w Y o r k C i t y e q f B i Y G d s L i p n n j E k A A y h y g f t z s L r l L H a l t Y U

STEFAN Le MOTTEE (Animator) studied graphic

art at Swinburne in the mid-90s, and since then has worked as a freelance illustrator, graphic designer and animator. He joined Blue Rocket Productions in 2006 and was Lead Animator on the kid’s TV show Pixel Pinkie series 1 and 2, as well as the interstitial series, Mega Bites. He also worked with Blue Rocket as a visual artist and animator on the My Place website for ABC. Stefan occasionally gets the urge to tread the boards; his most notable performance to date was as Begbie in Old Nick’s production of Trainspotting. Stefan has created animations for Terrapin’s The Gatekeeper and Love.

u F n Facts

STUART LITTLE

Family Friendship Stuart Margalo Snowbell Car Loyalty Adventure Mouse

e l L e T O s d t y h r H O U S Y D A M O U S e F R I E N D S H I P W A

Cirque Mechanics: Birdhouse Factory

in the productions Freedom of the Heart, Little Red, Yolla, Heroes, Unearthed, The BFG, Frankenstein, Explosion Therapy, Helena and the Journey of the Hello, Love and most recently, Shadow Dreams. In 2000 she worked with Henson puppets on the Australian production of Pan and performed in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Sydney Paralympic Games with Plasticien Volants. Other performances: Big Monkey – Treasure Island, Robin Hood, Alice in Wonderland and Once a Jolly Swagman; Tasmanian Theatre Company – Bombshells and Ten Days on the Island of Poxed; Blue Cow Theatre – Tidal Pools and Ruben Guthrie. Most recently, Mel performed with her own company Extended Play Projects in an adult puppetry work Hungry For You. She has been seen in many short and feature films, as well as on TV and radio.

? Did you know

The actors in this show tell their story through clowning, mime, acrobatics and contortion. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, “acrobatics” are “difficult and dangerous acts done by an acrobat.” In other words, don’t try what you see on stage at home!

Match It Up!

Simple machines are used throughout the performance. Can you match the simple machine pictured to its correct name?

Pulley

Wedge

Lever Screw

A C

Answer Key: A – Wedge, B – Lever, C – Screw, D – Pulley

WELLMARK BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD FAMILY SERIES

Board

Karen J. Lynn * Audit Chair Athene USA

OFFICERS

Thomas Brown * Chair Brown NationaLease

Rosemary Parson * Secretary EquiTrust Life Insurance Company Mary Stier * Past Chair/ Compensation Chair The Brilliance Group

S taff Laura Sweet Vice President & COO Bill McElrath Business Director Barbara Hanson Accountant

Monica Kirgan The Principal Financial Group

Michael Eberle, DVM Eberle Animal Hospital

Christine Lauridsen Sand Lauridsen Group

Jon Garnaas G3 Development

Bob O’Hollearn Allied Insurance

Dr. Andy McGuire Nom/Gov Chair Meridian Health Plan

Thomas E. Press * Treasurer Midland’s Choice

Jeff Chelesvig President & CEO

Eric T. Crowell UnityPoint Health Des Moines

Patrick Mack * Finance Chair John Deere Financial

Mary Kramer * Vice-Chair/Assets Chair Ambassador, Ret.

ADMINISTRATION

Guest

of Directors

Travis Gjoraas Deloitte

Thomas E. Stanberry * Davis Brown Law Firm

Robert Brownell Polk County Board of Supervisors

Sheryl Grimm Community Leader

Angela Williams The Great Frame Up

Rick Clark City of Des Moines

Laure Guisinger Holmes Murphy & Associates

* Indicates member of the

Terry Johnson Wells Fargo Wealth Management

LEGAL COUNSEL

DIRECTORS

Frank Cownie City of Des Moines John Craig Sammons Financial Group

Building Services Associates: Danny Glover Francisco Hernandez Khom Mao Francisco Mora Irene Perez Hank Teav Dominick Ung

DEVELOPMENT

House Managers: Kerry George Shirley Kleywegt Doug Kouba Evonne Kouba Sharon Montgomery Cynde Pool Shirley Ramirez Sandra Sapp Marion Singleton

Todd Fogdall Director of Development

MARKETING

Julie Houghton Executive Assistant

Tiffany Spinner Annual Fund Manager

Barb Preuss Director of Marketing

BUILDING SERVICES

Brett Smith Research Specialist

Cindy Hughes Anliker Communications Manager

Rachel Woodhouse Donor Relations Coordinator

Matt Spangler Marketing Manager

Chris Browning Office Manager

Earl Smith Building Services Manager Ly Ung Assistant Building Services Manager The backstage employees of Des Moines Performing Arts are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 67.

GUEST SERVICES

Joel Cox Guest Services Manager Allison Ross Assistant Guest Services Manager

Summer Evans Marketing Manager Leslie Jasper Group Sales Manager Greg Votava Digital Marketing Manager

WELLMARK BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD FAMILY SERIES

PROGRAMMING & EDUCATION

Eric B. Olmscheid Director of Programming & Education Karoline Myers Education Manager

Executive Committee

Mike Kulik Davis Brown Law Firm

CAMERAS The use of cameras or any type of recording devices in the Main Hall is prohibited at all times. CELL PHONES Please turn your cell phone off or set it to the silent mode. Please also refrain from text messaging and using your phone as a light source during the performance. ELEVATORS Elevators to the second level of the lobby are located in the Nollen Lobby and near the Stoner Theater.

LISTENING DEVICES Infrared listening devices are available at the Nollen and Prairie Meadows Lobby Guest Services Counters. LOST ITEMS Lost items may be reported or claimed at the Nollen Lobby Guest Services Counter area during an event. After an event, please contact our Ticket Office at (515) 246-2300 or stop by Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Items are kept for 30 days. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE If you have a medical need, please

TICKET OFFICE

notify the House Staff. Medical services are provided by UnityPoint Health – Des Moines in the Prairie Meadows Lobby. SPECIAL SEATING NEEDS Seating is available for all performances for a variety of accessibility requirements (including wheelchair, motorized cart, difficulty with stairs and sight impairment). Please call the Ticket Office at (515) 246-2300. TOBACCO USE The use of tobacco products is not allowed in the Des Moines Civic Center or within 15 feet of any entrance. WHEELCHAIRS Des Moines Performing Arts has wheelchairs available to assist guests with mobility concerns. Guest Services staff may be contacted to assist.

STAY CONNECTED!

JOIN OUR EMAIL CLUB!

Des Moines Performing Arts

@DSMPerforming DesMoinesPerformingArts.org Des Moines Performing Arts 221 Walnut Des Moines, IA 50309-2104 (515) 246-2300

AT THE BEAUTIFUL AND HISTORIC TEMPLE FOR PERFORMING ARTS LOCATED AT LOCUST & 10TH DOWNTOWN

Misty Enderson Ticket Office Database Manager Jeff Waldschmitt Ticket Office Manager

Sarah Bannon Community Programs Coordinator

Jessica Peters Ticket Office Staff Manager

TECHNICAL OPERATIONS

Laura Arenson Customer Service Team Member

Greg Tracy Production Manager/ Head Audio

Margo Jones Customer Service Team Member

Alan Dyer Technical Operations Manager/Head Electrician

Candace Bell Customer Service Team Member

Nicholas Romano Stage Operations Manager/Head Carpenter

BINOCULARS Binoculars are available for rent at the Nollen and Prairie Meadows Lobby Guest Services Counters for $5.

LATE SEATING Late seating will be accommodated by House Staff at the earliest appropriate time. Pay attention to lobby chimes, which are sounded five minutes before the show begins, as well as after intermission.

Jamie L. Stepp Production Supervisor

Michelle McDonald School Programs Coordinator

Brian Anstedt Production Director

ATM An ATM is located in the Ticket Office Lobby.

Information

Chontel Berthelsen Group Sales Coordinator

Give your child the gift of

Great Music...For a Lifetime Enroll in Private Lessons with one of our outstanding faculty. Lessons are available from age 3 to adult.

PIANO VIOLIN VIOLA

CELLO DOUBLE BASS FLUTE TROMBONE

TRUMPET PERCUSSION HARP

For more information on the Academy, please visit dmsymphony.org/academy or contact Joshua Barlage, Managing Director, at Joshua@dmsymphony.org or 515.280.3332.

WELLMARK BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD FAMILY SERIES

Pediatric Department Pediatric Department Pediatric Department

We Put Your Family We Put Family WeCenter Put Your Your Family Stage Center Center Stage Stage

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