SENIOR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR NASHVILLE Kelli Dill kelli@encoremagazine.com
SENIOR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR CHARLOTTE Hila Johnson hila@encoremagazine.com
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Robert Viagas robert@encoremagazine.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Tamara Hooks tamara@encoremagazine.com
DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Jennifer Nelson jennifer@encoremagazine.com
PROGRAM PRODUCER
Ashley Elliott ashley.elliott@alliancetheatre.org
Maybe it’s because we’re both small. But there’s something about a story that celebrates the littlest among us triumphing over their larger adversary. It’s what first attracted us to this particular story. But in the hands of playwright Idris Goodwin and director Mark Valdez, this story has become so much more. And we have the littlest among us to thank for this gift.
There are few things more rewarding than a young person’s restless curiosity. Their ability to innocently wonder about all manner of things makes us older folks examine our assumptions and humbly question the things we think we know. And there are few things scarier than questioning the things that frighten us the most. But when we have the courage to face these fears, they liberate us in ways never before imagined. This is exactly the journey that our hero, Young De Soto, sets in motion with this brand new adaptation of the beloved William Steig picture book.
And it’s that same restless curiosity that helped us find the heartbeat of this play. Whenever we produce a new play for young audiences, we always include them early in the development of the script. For this particular play, we invited a group of inquisitive third graders to participate in the first workshop of the play, listening to professional actors read the script and experimenting with some of the design elements. Their imaginative response pushed our entire creative team forward and helped guide us to the production you’re about to experience.
Thank you to all of the young people who continue to inspire us with your presence on our campus. We are building a new stage specifically for you! Please stay tuned as we prepare to open the Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families exactly one year from today!
With gratitude,
Tinashe Kajese-Bolden
Jennings Hertz Artistic Director
Christopher Moses
Jennings Hertz Artistic Director
“THE COMPLEXITIES OF DOING WHAT’S RIGHT”
STORY BY Ashley Elliott
Although William Steig’s best known children’s book is arguably Shrek (an incredibly well-known story that inspired many beloved animated films), most children are, often unknowingly, introduced to him and his writing through Doctor De Soto. At least, that was the case with playwright Idris Goodwin.
“The book was published when I was around three years old,” Goodwin says, “and it quickly became a favorite. I loved the humor and the simple yet engaging storyline. It always held a special place in my heart. Now that I’m a parent, I’ve had the joy of sharing it with my own kids, who also love it — and it still holds up today.”
When reading Doctor De Soto to his son, Goodwin became curious about what he calls “the theatrical possibilities inherent in the story — particularly the dynamics between the fox and the mouse dentists.”
Playwright Idris Goodwin on developing Doctor De Soto for the stage
Playwright Idris Goodwin
He approached the Steig estate to see what was possible with a theatrical adaptation, eventually securing the rights because he believed so firmly in the story’s ability to be adapted for the stage. “I believed the simplicity of the narrative,” he says, “paired with its humor and cleverness, would translate beautifully to the stage and resonate deeply with audiences.”
Because Goodwin is so passionate about workshopping a show and building a collaborative process throughout a production’s development, he worked with Seattle Children’s Theatre and Western Washington University to develop the show, along with Olympia’s String and Shadow to experiment with the puppetry aspect. “This exploratory phase was invaluable,” Goodwin explains. “It allowed us to test ideas in real time and make informed creative decisions based on what was most effective and engaging. Theater is inherently collaborative, and it was crucial to explore the physical and visual elements early.”
The process also went through workshops at the Alliance Theatre, with test audiences in the target demographic, all of which helped them develop the project into what it is today. During the process, Goodwin also took the liberty of adding a young child character, Young De Soto. As the play was being developed, it became what Goodwin affectionately calls “a play with occasional rhymes.”
“[This] phrase ... is a playful nod to the fact that while I write lyrics and incorporate rhythmic language,” he says, “I’m not a traditional
Playwright Idris Goodwin, Director Mark Valdez, and Jennings Hertz Artistic Directors Christopher Moses and Tinashe Kajese-Bolden at the first rehearsal for Doctor De Soto. Photo by Kathleen Covington.
composer in the musical theater tradition. My background is in rhythmic storytelling which of course invites musical accompaniment. Ultimately, I just want to tell a compelling story, and if audiences want to call it a musical, that’s fine by me.”
In the original story, Doctor De Soto and his family dentist office has one rule — they won’t serve predators. But when a distressed fox shows up with a rotten tooth, this practice is tested, and the family must decide if and how they will help. Although minor changes occurred throughout the development process and the story jumped from page to stage, the main themes remain the same — rules, choices that bend those rules, and the nuance introduced when that happens. “This core dilemma — balancing safety with compassion and confronting the repercussions of our choices — felt essential to convey,” Goodwin says. “It raises important questions about courage, empathy, and the complexities of doing what’s right.”
The story’s main dilemma, Goodwin hopes, opens up audiences to conversation about choices and the consequences of those choices. “I want young audiences to reflect on what they would do in the De Sotos’ situation,” he says. “The narrative presents complex, layered choices — not just right or wrong answers. I hope kids leave considering the consequences of their actions and the nuances of making tough decisions. It’s about understanding that every choice has both benefits and drawbacks.”
Goodwin believes the play raises important questions about trust, compassion, and courage, and encourages families to discuss the idea of “taking risks for the greater good,” even when something seems daunting or even threatening. “Would [you] have made the same choice as the De Sotos? How do we determine who deserves help, and how do we weigh the potential
DIVE INTO DE SOTO WITH THE JUNIOR DRAMATURGS
STORY BY
The third-grade Junior Dramaturgs from The Museum School of Avondale Estates, with teachers Emily Gardner and Robin Hollis and Alliance Theatre Institute Teaching Artist Kim Bowers-Rheay Baran
Through our Dramaturgy by Students residency program, Alliance Theatre teaching artists and classroom teachers collaborate with students to create artful educational materials related to a stage production. The Junior Dramaturgs’ research process includes reading the play, researching the author of the source material, and identifying characters, setting, and historical and scientific context to provide information for the audience, director, actors, and designers of the play.
Animal Facts
• Mice have 20 teeth, and their teeth grow back when they lose them.
• Most foxes have 42 teeth.
• There are four main colors of a fox — red, silver, cross between red & silver, and white.
• Foxes are nocturnal, which means they hunt at night. They have whiskers on their face and their legs which help them navigate in the dark.
(Doctor De Soto must be a really good dentist!)
• Mice have 32–56 babies annually, and one mouse can have over 100 babies a year!
• In the wild, mice live between 6 and 18 months.
Drawing by Maddie
Drawing by Annie
Drawing by Ben
Doctor De Soto is a mouse and a dentist, but he used to be a magician. He has a good sense of humor, but Doctor De Soto doesn’t let predators of mice into his dentist’s office.
Drawing by Tegan
The Fox is a trickster and good at pretending. They are not always honest or trustworthy. The Fox really likes shiny objects, like a golden tooth.
Mrs. De Soto is a mouse and great to have around. She is a partner in the dentist office. She is nice, creative, helpful, and kind but always follows the family rules. Mrs. De Soto is forgiving and is talented at pop-locking (or dancing).
Drawing by Mabel
Young De Soto is a ten-year-old mouse and the child of Doctor and Mrs. De Soto. They are learning about being a dentist and wish their parents would listen to their ideas. They are very helpful and can be brave, but, sometimes, this young mouse can ignore the rules.
Predator vs Prey
By Maddie
Some animals eat other animals; foxes, for example, eat lots of animals, like mice. Mice do not eat any other animals, except bugs, because mice are near the bottom of the food chain.
The food chain is an imaginary chain that connects predators and prey. Starting with grass, termites eat grass, and mice eat termites. Foxes eat mice, and then, the food chain ends.
Prey is usually at the bottom of the chain, while predators, like lions, are on the top tier. If you are on the top tier, no animal eats you. Foxes are predators, near the top of the food chain, which means they eat mice!
Question for the Playwright
The Junior Dramaturgs read the original book, Doctor De Soto by William Steig, and the script by playwright, Idris Goodwin. They had a big question for the playwright: Why did you add the new character, Young De Soto, to the play?
According to the playwright, Idris Goodwin, when he read the book as a young child, he was bothered that Doctor De Soto so quickly ignored his own rules to allow predators in the office. Since children do not always think things through, Mr. Goodwin thought that adding a young character, who might make some immature choices, could create problems for the family to solve together.
About The Museum School
Located in Decatur, GA, this DeKalb County public charter school serves K-8 and is the only museum school located in Georgia.
“Ours is a different approach to learning, based on research that shows children learn best through exploration and personal experience. By partnering with museums and other institutions, The Museum School gives its students real-life experience with classroom lessons and allows them to make discoveries driven by their curiosity.”
- Dr. Kathleen Kelbaugh, Executive Director of The Museum School
Drawing by Lillian
Drawing by Winston
IT TAKES COURAGE TO BE KIND
WRITTEN BY Abrianna Belvedere
“It takes courage to be kind.”
Maya Angelou, known for her (more than) occasional rhyme, shared these words in a 2002 interview with Ann Curry. Young De Soto and his family learn this lesson in Idris Goodwin’s Doctor De Soto.
When the fox appears with a bad toothache, the De Sotos are not sure if they should help. They know the danger of taking care of a carnivore! How could they trust that a fox would not eat a tasty family of mice like them?!
Young De Soto sees the fox’s pain and knows he has to help. It requires a lot of courage to look into a mouth full of sharp teeth, not to mention put your paws to work healing them.
In the same way, we humans can feel timid like a mouse when someone is in pain. We might be afraid to help because we don’t want to get hurt.
Kindness requires us to give without expecting anything in return. So why be kind? Why is kindness “the right thing to do”? Even when someone could reject us or be mean because they are afraid too?
Because we all deserve to live in a kind world, where we can all feel better and happier together. Even if some of us do not have the courage to be kind yet, we can lead by example, like our hero Young De Soto.
So, what happens when we are kind, and someone bares their teeth? It can be easy to say we’ll never be kind again and that we’ll never open our doors or hearts to anyone else.
If we do this, we might not get hurt again. However, we also will lose out on the opportunity to make each other hurt less.
The De Soto family may decide not to help a particular fox who has already tried to eat them. That’s probably a good choice! They also learn something important: being kind can be scary! But helping others feel better is an important part of being a good neighbor — and being a good dentist.
Most importantly, the De Sotos learn that sometimes it is easier to have the courage to do scary things — like being kind even when others aren’t — when you have your friends and family by your side.
FEB 13–MAR 16 2025
World Premiere
Recipient of an Edgerton New Play Award
It’s not only hell that breaks loose in this ground-breaking, form-defying, laugh-outloud new drama.
By ZORA HOWARD
Directed by LILEANA BLAIN-CRUZ
A Co-Production with Goodman Theatre
Produced in association with Sonia Friedman Productions, Khaliah Neal and Thomas Swayne
World Premiere/Musical
A million dollars is a windfall. A family is a fortune.
Book by BOB MARTIN
Music & Lyrics by ADAM GUETTEL
Based on the novel and screenplay by FRANK COTTRELL BOYCE
Directed by BARTLETT SHER
Produced by arrangement with Sonia Friedman Productions and Franco Productions
ALLIANCE THEATRE
TINASHE KAJESE-BOLDEN
Jennings Hertz Artistic Director
CHRISTOPHER MOSES
Jennings Hertz Artistic Director
MIKE SCHLEIFER Managing Director
present
IDRIS GOODWIN
ARETTA BAUMGARTNER
*ERNAISJA CURRY. . .
CAST
. . Patients
. . . . .Mrs. De Soto/Patients (2/23—3/2)
*SHELLI DELGADO Young De Soto
SARAH BETH “ESSBEE” HESTER Patients
*BETHANY ANNE LIND Fox
*SHAUN MACLEAN Doctor De Soto/Patients
*KALA ROSS Mrs. De Soto/Patients (1/18—2/23)
UNDERSTUDIES
CHRIS MCKNIGHT Patients
ERIN NORTH.
HAYDEN ROWE
MAIA SANAA
BRIE WOLFE
STAGE MANAGERS
Fox
Doctor De Soto/Patients
Mrs. De Soto/Patients
Young De Soto
*BARBARA GANTT O’HALEY Stage Manager
*SHAUN MACLEAN Assistant Stage Manager
SAMANTHA HONEYCUTT Stage Management Production Assistant
PRODUCTION AND DESIGN ASSISTANCE
HAYLEE SCOTT Production Management Lead SAM PROVENZANO Assistant Director
FOR THIS PRODUCTION
ROCHELLE RILEY.
MONICA M. SPEAKER
AARON VOCKLEY
Light Board Operator
Wardrobe
. Production Sound Engineer
EMMA MOULEDOUX Sound Engineer
ADIRAH ROBINSON Stagehand
SPECIAL THANKS
Alexandar Babbage, Analytics & Research Service Provider
Kim Bowers-Rheay Baran, Alliance Theatre Institute Teaching Artist
Emily Gardner, Robin Hollis, and the Junior Dramaturgs from The Museum School of Avondale Estates
*Denotes a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
The Alliance Theatre operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, an independent national labor union. The Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, and is a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young Audiences (ASSITEJ/USA), The Atlanta Coalition of Theatres, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Midtown Alliance.
Photos may be taken in the theater before the performance and following the performance. If you share your photos, please credit the designers.
Photos, videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited, is a violation of United States Copyright Law, and is an actionable Federal Offense.
This production is approximately forty-five minutes long and has no intermission.
ARETTA BAUMGARTNER (Patients) [she/her] is a performer and teaching artist specializing in puppetry, mask and movement. She’s been a professional puppeteer since 1992 and has presented many hundreds of workshops, master classes and keynotes at arts/arts education events all over the country. Aretta served multiple terms as President of the Board of Directors for the Puppeteers of America and as Education and Advocacy Director at Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts. She performs regularly as a puppeteer, actor and backing vocalist. Aretta is dedicated to using puppetry as a tool to unlock potential, passion and story in every human she meets.
ERNAISJA CURRY (Mrs. De Soto/Patients [2/23—3/2]) is excited to join this wonderful production at Alliance Theatre! Ernaisja graduated from Adelphi University with her BFA in Theatre and is a Teaching Artist specializing in directing, choreographing, and coaching young performers. Broadway (in Chicago) credits include The Play That Goes Wrong at Broadway Playhouse. Regional credits include The Three Musketeers at Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Nollywood Dreams at Round House Theatre. Film credits include The Coming and Wonder Child. Ernaisja is eternally grateful to her family, friends, and mentors for their continuous love, faith, and support. Connect with her on all social media at @ErnaisjaCurry / www.ernaisjacurry.com.
SHELLI DELGADO (Young De Soto) is happy to be back on the Hertz Stage playing another brave rodent! Previous Alliance credits: Into The Burrow: A Peter Rabbit™ Tale, Something Moving, A Christmas Carol, Max Makes a Million!, Tiger Style!, and TVY shows Little Raindrop Songs and Dinosaur. Recent regional credits include work with Actor’s Express, Warehouse Theatre, Aurora Theatre, Horizon Theatre Company, Synchronicity, Lean Ensemble Theatre, & others. TV/Film: “Hysteria!,” “The Bondsman,” Reptile, “Doom Patrol,” “The Vampire Diaries.” Shelli also serves as Education Director for Destination Theatre and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia
with B.A.s in English and Theatre. All my love to Coco and the boys. IG: @shellidelgado
SARAH BETH “ESSBEE” HESTER (Patients) [they/ she] is thrilled to make their Alliance Theatre debut! As a puppeteer, actor, musician, and teaching artist, Essbee is an active member of the Atlanta theatrical community, since graduating the apprentice program with the Shakespeare Tavern in 2015. Sarah Beth was a head puppeteer for BBC’s Moon and Me and performs the titular character in The Center for Puppetry Art’s annual production of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Some recent credits include: Principal Performer, Sesame Street the Musical (CPA); Shmoopy Lou, Just Another Play About Rainbows (Havoc Movement); Diafoirus/Puppet Fabrication, Le Malade Imaginaire (Théâtre du Rêve); Benvolio, Romeo and Juliet (ASC); Puppet Captain/ Performer, Tesla vs Edison (CPA, World Premiere); Puppet Fabrication for Havoc Movement; Blood Design, Dracula: The Failings of Men (Havoc & ASC); Musical Composition and puppet fabrication, The Mad Hatterpillar (a new puppet musical); National Puppetry Conference, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. You can find EssBee’s newly released album I’M FINE. anywhere that music streams. Sarah Beth hopes you find a little extra whimsy today and sends thanks to all who have supported their journey.
BETHANY ANNE LIND
(Fox) [she/her] is best known to young audiences for her favorite role as “Waylon and Rozzy’s Mom.” Alliance Theatre: Everybody, Shakespeare in Love, Edward Foote, Troubadour, August: Osage County, Carapace, 26 Miles. LaJolla Playhouse: His Girl Friday. Signature Theatre: Really Really Arena Stage: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and Our Town. Synchronicity Theatre: Home, I’m Darling and Julie B. Jones. Other theatre credits include: Florida Stage, Georgia Shakespeare, North Carolina Shakespeare, and more. Her film and TV credits include recurring roles on Ozark, Doom Patrol, Reprisal, Alert, Turn, and Greenleaf, guest roles on Magnum PI, Stranger Things, Kindred, Rectify, The Walking Dead, and roles in indie hits such as His Mother, Blood On Her Name, Lilly, A Carpenter’s Prayer,
The Wheel, and Through the Glass Darkly She writes at BethanyAnneLind.substack. com. Thank you for being the kind, brave human you are!
SHAUN MACLEAN (Doctor De Soto/Patients/Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to cheese the day with you here at the Alliance Theatre! His favorite credits include: Mouse Ado About Nothing, A Streetcar Named Gruyere, Les Micerables, Cheddar Under the Elms (Animals Express); The Play That Goes Rodent, The Glass Micery, Our Den *Squirrely Bass Award Winner,* Who’s Afraid of Virgina Mouse? (Mammal Outfit); Hamster on a Hot Tin Roof, Almost Mice, MEASE, Into The Parm, Shrewssical The Musical (Scamper City Theatre); Twelve Angry Mice, Peter and the Ratcatcher, Little Shop of Vermin (The Mouse Door Theatre). Shaun is an Atlanta native, holds a degree from University of Georgia, and has no relation to Peter Pettigrew. Learn more about him and his real human life at ShaunMacLean.com and follow @Shaun__MacLean.
CHRIS MCKNIGHT (u/s Patients) [he/him] is excited to be making his debut with The Alliance Theatre in Doctor De Soto. He is a local performer & puppeteer whose favorite recent credits include Special Guest Star in Sesame Street the Musical (Center for Puppetry Arts, ‘24), Benny understudy in Rent (Atlanta Opera, ‘24), Trent Oliver in The Prom (Out Front Theatre, ‘23), and “Lady Who Lunched” in Strictly Sondheim Cabaret (Voices of Note, ‘23 revival), among others. Chris is a graduate of Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts focused in both film production and vocal performance... ooh ooh he was also once the opening act for Jennifer Holliday at the East Point Drag Down South Festival; ask him for pictures! :) Chris feels so blessed to have the support of his family and friends throughout this amazing journey, and he thanks God for you all! (Oh and feel free to follow Chris on Instagram. He doesn’t post often — hardly ever really — but he’s always happy to make new friends @cadamck)
ERIN NORTH (u/s Fox) is beyond excited to be making her Alliance Debut with Doctor De Soto! Atlanta: Amanda in The Student Body (Destination Theater), Jean Ruby in Oh, To Be Pure Again (Actor’s Express), Abigail Paisley in The Paisley Sisters (ART Station), Agatha/Sarah Brown U/S in Guys & Dolls (Atlanta Lyric Theatre), & more. Erin holds her BA in Theatre & Performance Studies, Minor in Dance from Kennesaw State University (2022). She would love to express all the love to the cast & crew, her supportive friends, and to her family for their endless support.
Instagram: @erin.nrth
KALA ROSS (Mrs. De Soto/ Patients [1/18—2/23]) is thrilled to return to the Alliance Theatre! Her recent credits include The Preacher’s Wife (Alliance), for colored girls (Broadway), Show Way the Musical (Kennedy Center Tour), The Gospel Woman (Off-Broadway), and Hands Up (Alliance). A Georgia native, she earned an M.F.A. in performance from the University of Louisville and a bachelor’s in theatre from Tennessee State University. Kala was a finalist in the True Colors Theatre August Wilson Monologue Competition and an Irene Ryan Award Winner. She is the creator of the web series Welcome to NY and a former theatre teacher at Luella High School. Kala is grateful to Hudson Artists Agency, her family, friends, castmates, and the production team. With hard work and faith, any dream is possible. Connect with Kala on Instagram @KalaRoss or visit www.kalaross.com.
HAYDEN ROWE (u/s Doctor De Soto, Patients) [he/him] is so excited to be a part of the amazing cast of Doctor De Soto! Hayden is so excited to be making his Alliance Theatre debut! Favorite credits include The Emcee in Cabaret at Actor’s Express, Andrey/Violinist in Natasha, Pierre… 1812 at Horizon Theatre, and Andrej in Once at Horizon Theatre. Hayden attended Kennesaw State University where he pursued Musical Theatre. In his time off stage Hayden is a working drag queen in the Atlanta area! Thank you to Mom and Dad for all the love and support! Enjoy the show! @siberiathequeen
MAIA SANAA (u/s Mrs. De Soto, Patients) [she/her] is an actor, poet, writer, and multidisciplinary visionary artist raised in West Metro Atlanta, with roots in Washington, D.C., and Maryland. This past May, Maia graduated from Boston University’s School of Theatre, earning her BFA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Performance and a certificate in Classical Acting from the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Maia is thrilled to make her professional theatre debut at the legendary Alliance Theatre, understudying Mrs. De Soto and the Patients in Doctor De Soto. It is such a dream for her first professional production to be at the Alliance Theatre, located in the heart of Atlanta, GA — her beloved hometown. Her recent stage credits include starring roles in One Penny Down, Titus Andronicus, Everybody, and She Stoops to Conquer She fondly recalls her first-ever stage debut at age 7, swaddled as a penguin in a local production of Happy Feet alongside her siblings. Beyond the stage, Maia’s artistry extends into writing and poetry. At 18, her spoken word pieces were published in The New Yorker and Pitchfork Review. True to the meaning of her name, “Beautiful Art” in Swahili, Maia finds joy in creativity, from visual montages to the freedom of roller skating. She believes in the transformative power of storytelling, especially through acting and writing for both stage and screen, to connect people and inspire change. Maia is honored to help bring this adapted story to life and feels deeply inspired to collaborate with such a talented cast and crew. You can find her on Instagram at @themaiasanaa and explore more of her work at www.maiasanaa.com.
BRIE WOLFE (u/s Young De Soto) [she/her] is delighted to join the cast of Doctor De Soto at the Alliance Theatre! An Atlanta-based actor, performer, and teaching artist, Brie is a proud graduate of Aurora Theatre’s Apprentice Company and the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!). Her recent work includes a Suzi Bass Award nomination for her performance in The Mad Hatterpillar and Her Many Heads at Stage Door Theatre. Other favorite credits include Knock, Knock (Alliance Theatre), Rathskeller (SheATL Arts Festival/Theatrical Outfit), She Persisted, the Musical (Georgia Ensemble Theatre), Dragons Love Tacos (Georgia
Ensemble Theatre), and Cinderella (Aurora Theatre). Follow her on Instagram: @briewolfeee.
MARK VALDEZ (Director) is the Artistic Director of Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis. His work has been seen at the Alliance Theatre, Cornerstone Theater Company, La Peña Cultural Center, MACLA, Mixed Blood, the Ricardo Montalban Theater/Center Theater Group, and Trinity Rep, among others. Past projects include the animated short film The Curious Cardinal, which he wrote and directed and adapted into a children’s picture book; Detained by France-Luce Benson, and The Most Beautiful Home…Maybe, an interactive performance which toured across the U.S., and Into The Burrow: A Peter Rabbit™ Tale, which he wrote and directed for the Alliance Theatre. Recently, he directed The Ally by Itamar Moses at Mixed Blood. Mark was the founding Executive Director of the Network of Ensemble Theaters, a collective of artists committed to co-creation. Mark is the recipient of various grants and awards including a Princess Grace Award, the Zelda Fichandler Award, and the Johnson Fellowship for Artists Transforming Communities. He is an inaugural awardee of the California Arts Council’s Legacy Artist Fellowship.
IDRIS GOODWIN (Playwright/Original Music) is an award-winning creative driven by a passion for impactful storytelling. Currently serving as Artistic Director of Seattle Children’s Theater, Idris writes, directs, programs and/or produces relevant content for intergenerational audiences. Recognized as a culture bearer who celebrates community values and cultivates histories with care, Goodwin’s impact spans generation and artistic mediums, with well over 60 original plays produced coast to coast, from Oregon Shakespeare Festival to The John F. Kennedy Center. Several of these works are published, as are his forays into poetry and prose, including the collections Can I Kick It and These Are The Breaks. Harper Collins Clarion released his first picture book, Your House is Not Just A House; King Of The Neuro Verse, his first novel, will be released in 2025. A performer and recording artist, he’s created original video content for and/or appeared on Wondery, Nickelodeon, HBO Def Poetry, “Sesame Street,” NPR, BBC Radio, and the Discovery Channel. Before stepping into his current tenure with SCT, Idris served as Artistic Director of StageOne Family
Theatre in Louisville, as well as Executive Director of The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, where he also taught as a professor in The Department of Theater and Dance. As Board President of Theater For Young Audiences/USA, he is a champion for theater makers and institutions with a stated focus on cultivating the arts patrons of tomorrow.
WILLIAM STEIG (Original Book) was a cartoonist, illustrator and author of awardwinning books for children, including Shrek!, on which the DreamWorks movies are based. Steig was born in New York City. Every member of his family was involved in the arts, and so it was no surprise when he decided to become an artist. He attended City College and the National Academy of Design. In 1930, Steig’s work began appearing in The New Yorker, where his drawings have been a popular fixture ever since. He published his first children’s book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968. In 1970, Steig received the Caldecott Medal for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. His books for children also include Dominic; The Real Thief; The Amazing Bone, a Caldecott Honor Book; Amos & Boris, a National Book Award finalist; and Abel’s Island and Doctor De Soto, both Newbery Honor Books. Steig’s books have also received the Christopher Award, the Irma Simonton Black Award, the William Allen White Children’s Book Award, and the American Book Award. His European awards include the Premio di Letteratura per l’infanzia (Italy), the Silver Pencil Award (the Netherlands), and the Prix de la Fondation de France. On the basis of his entire body of work, Steig was selected as the 1982 U.S. candidate for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Illustration and subsequently as the 1988 U.S. candidate for Writing. Steig also published thirteen collections of drawings for adults, beginning with About People in 1939, and including The Lonely Ones, Male/Female, The Agony in the Kindergarten, and Our Miserable Life. He died in Boston at the age of 95.
KAT CONLEY (Scenic Design) has designed the scenery for more than 30 Alliance productions over the past 20 years, from 2003’s Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse to last season’s Into The Burrow: A Peter Rabbit™ Tale. Kat has designed scenery for Arena Stage, Orlando Shakespeare, the Kennedy Center, Georgia Shakespeare, Marin Theatre Company, Actor’s Express, The Atlanta Ballet, The Center for Puppetry Arts, 7 Stages, Theatrical Outfit,
Synchronicity Theatre, Theatre in the Square, and Aurora Theatre. She continues to be the Charge Scenic Artist for the Alliance Theatre. Whether dramatically challenging, visionary, or escapist, all theater and art is important; thank you for supporting it in our community.
GARRY LENNON (Costume Design) [he/ him] is excited to be back at the Alliance after last year’s production of Into The Burrow: A Peter Rabbit™ Tale. Recent work includes The Ally at Mixed Blood in Minneapolis and The Skin of Our Teeth at A Noise Within in Pasadena. Other works include Macbeth, Richard III, and A Winter’s Tale, among others for Independent Shakespeare in Los Angeles. Plus, he has designed multiple productions at A Noise Within including Metamorphosis, A Winter’s Tale, and Frankenstein. He has also worked for Cornerstone Theatre Company, South Coast Repertory, The Geffen Playhouse and Trinity Repertory, to name a few. Garry is the Costume Design professor at California State University, Northridge and serves as the Executive Director for Teenage Drama Workshop. Garry’s work can be found at garrylennon. com. Thanks for supporting live theater!
LYNN JEFFRIES (Puppet Design) is a puppet designer based in Los Angeles. She has made puppets out of paper, cardboard, foam, plastic bottles, things she found growing in her back yard, hundreds of old socks, a toilet float, palm fronds, motorcycle tires, abalone shells, strawberry baskets, vacuum hoses, Pez dispensers, eggshells, and a bagpipe. Here are some places she has worked: Honolulu Theatre for Youth, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, South Coast Repertory, the Getty Villa, the Mark Taper Forum, the Bootleg Theater, Great Plains Theater Conference, Sautee Nacoochee Center, and Cornerstone Theater Company, of which she was a founding member. She has performed shadow puppet shows in nightclubs and coffee shops with the band, The Ditty Bops. In an ongoing collaboration with puppeteer/performance artist Paul Zaloom, she has built puppets, dramaturged, designed, and puppeteered on numerous touring spectacles, a handful of satirical YouTube videos, and one feature film.
BRANDON BUSH (Original Music) has performed on GRAMMY® Award-nominated and winning releases by John Mayer, Sugarland, Little Big Town, and Train. Recent composing credits include Into
The Burrow: A Peter Rabbit™ Tale (Alliance Theatre), “Good Eats” (Food Network), Approve Junkie (Minetta Lane Theatre, Audible Originals), and podcasts Broadway Revival, Gangster House, and Baron of Botox. Music Direction credits include Working (Alliance Theatre), Shakespeare In Love (Alliance Theatre), and the world premiere musicals Darlin’ Cory (Alliance Theatre) and Troubadour (Alliance Theatre). Currently, Bush is touring as the music director for his brother Kristian Bush. He also manages the Atlanta-based creative studio Songs of the Architect, where he composes for new media.
BEN RAWSON (Lighting Design) is an Atlanta based Lighting Designer for Dance, Theatre, and Opera, member USA 829. Regional Theatrical/Opera design work can be seen at The Alliance Theatre, Detroit Opera, Florida Studio Theatre, Glimmerglass Opera, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Utah Opera, Atlanta Opera, Center Repertory Company, Theatrical Outfit, Aurora Theatre, Actors Express, and others. Dance design work includes collaborations with choreographers Johan Kabborg, Ana Maria Lucaciu, Claudia Schreier, Jennifer Archibald, Troy Schumacher, Remi Wörtmeyer, Kiyon Ross, Bruce Wells, Danielle Agami, Garrett Smith, Omar Roman De Jesus, Tara Lee, and Heath Gill, as well as with companies such as Atlanta Ballet, BalletCollective, Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre, Prisma Dance Festival - Panama, BocaTuya, 92Y, Riverside Dance Festival, Fly On A Wall, and others. www.benrawsondesign.com
BAHAR ROYAEE (Sound Design) The acoustic and electro-acoustic music of Iranian composer/sound designer Bahar Royaee has been acclaimed as “succeed(ing) as a poetic incantation, brimming with ideas and colors” (Classical Voice North America) and “haunting” (Boston Arts Review). Recipient of the prestigious Fromm Foundation Commission Awards 2024, Bahar writes music for various genres, from opera, theater, and film to chamber music. Her work has been performed by luminaries such as Claire Chase, International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble der gelbe Klang, Jack Quartet, Fabrique Quartet, Splice Ensemble, and Lamnth. Significant chamber music performances include Biennale Venice 2024 with Hannah Levinson, Festspiele festival in Germany with Opus21 ensemble (2024), Composer Conference Gala 2024 with Talea Ensemble,
Ultraschall Berlin with Muriel Razavi (2023), Berlin Prize for Young Artists with Adam Woodward (2023), ICE Festival Germany with ensemble Tempus Konnex (2022), Tehran Electroacoustic Music Festival (2022) and Time: Spans Festival (2020) with International Contemporary Ensemble and Suzanne Farrin. In the realm of theater, Royaee has worked for various theater production companies like Alliance Theatre, Golden Thread Production, Kitchen Theater, Rattestick Theater, Gloucester Stage Company, and Tank. Bahar is grateful to be back on the Hertz Stage at Alliance Theatre.
JODY FELDMAN (Casting) began her theater career as an actress in Atlanta before moving into administration as the Assistant General Manager at Frank Wittow’s Academy Theatre. It was at the Academy that Jody realized the importance of theatre to a city’s cultural values and identity. Feldman started her career at the Alliance as casting director in 1991 and added producer to her title and responsibilities in 2001. She has cast and produced more than 250 productions at the Alliance, encompassing a range of world premieres that include The Last Night of Ballyhoo by Alfred Uhry, Blues for An Alabama Sky by Pearl Cleage, The Geller Girls by Janece Shaffer, In the Red and Brown Water by Tarell Alvin McCraney, more than 20 years of Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition-winning plays, such world and regional premiere musicals as Aida; The Color Purple; Sister Act: The Musical; Bring It On: The Musical; Tuck Everlasting; Ghost Brothers of Darkland County; Harmony, A New Musical; The Prom; Trading Places, and exciting new plays developed specifically for children and families, which is integral to the expansion of audience and mission for the Alliance. Jody is most proud of the thriving Alliance community engagement and partnerships that recognize theatrical work as a catalyst for civic conversation and connection.
BARBARA GANTT O’HALEY (Stage Manager) [she/her] is delighted to be working with this wonderful team bringing this show to you all. Previous Alliance credits include: Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard, Into the Burrow: A Peter Rabbit™ Tale, Slur, Tell Me My Dream, Courage, Grimm Lives of the InBetweens, ASM: Tale of Two Cities, Hot Wing King, Everybody. Other Atlanta credits include: Big Fish, Lady Day at
Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Simply Simone, In the Heights, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Perfect Arrangement, Indecent, Slow Food, Ms. Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, The Wickhams, Our Town, 110 in the Shade, Pitmen Painters, An Iliad (Theatrical Outfit); Support Group for Men (Horizon Theatre), as well as My Fair Lady, Cats, Young Frankenstein (Atlanta Lyric Theatre). Love to Patrick, Elliana, and Keeva! Proud Member AEA.
SAMANTHA HONEYCUTT (Stage Management Production Assistant) studied Stage Management at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro before beginning her career working across the country. Her credits include: Year of the Rooster, When January Feels like Summer, and Five Times in One Night (Ensemble Studio Theater). Legally Blonde, Cabaret, Hello! Dolly, My Fair Lady, and Music Man (Cape Playhouse). Frankenstein, Hairspray, Penny Candy, American Mariachi, Supreme Leader (Dallas Theater Center). Angry, Raucous and Shamelessly Gorgeous (Hartford Stage), and Trading Places, Everybody, A Gift of Love with Adam L. McKnight, Hot Wing King, The Boy Who Kissed The Sky, Water For Elephants, Into The Burrow: A Peter Rabbit™ Tale, Furlough’s Paradise, The Preacher’s Wife, and The Mountaintop (Alliance Theatre)
TINASHE KAJESE-BOLDEN (Jennings Hertz Artistic Director) began her tenure at the Alliance in 2016 as the BOLD Associate Artistic Director, assuming her current role in 2023. Originally from Zimbabwe, KajeseBolden combines her commitment to great art, deep education and community empowerment with an agile enthusiasm and unflappable, calm energy to inspire new possibilities. Kajese-Bolden honed her directing and producing skills as a freelance director working in regional houses across the country and on set. As a director and actor, she fosters deep ongoing collaborations with playwrights and has mounted innovative and critically acclaimed productions that merge elegant, theatrical designs with complicated human stories. A Princess Grace Award 2019 Winner for Directing, and Map Fund Award recipient as a director and actor, she has worked on and Off-Broadway as well as recurring roles in the Marvel universe “Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special,” Suicide Squad, “Hawkeye,” and CW’s “Valor,” “Dynasty,” HBO’s “Henrietta Lacks,” Ava Duverney’s “Cherish the Day,” among others. Up next, she is developing
a new Opera, Forsythe is Flooding: The Joy of Lake Lanier, and proudly serves on the ARTS-ATL Artist Advisory Council. “My mission is the pursuit of what connects our different communities and how we create art that liberates us to imagine a more inclusive future.”
CHRISTOPHER MOSES (Jennings Hertz Artistic Director) has been working in professional theatre for twenty years and in 2022 was given the Governor’s Award for Arts in Humanities for his body of work. In January of 2011, Chris took on the position of Director of Education at the Alliance Theatre, overseeing the Alliance Theatre Institute (twice recognized as an Arts Model by the Federal Department of Education), Theatre for Youth & Families, and the Acting Program. Since taking over this position, Chris has expanded the reach and impact by making the Alliance Theatre Education department a vital resource for advancing the civic agenda of Atlanta. This work is accomplished through deep and sustained partnerships with social service organizations throughout the city. Under his leadership, the Alliance launched its Kathy & Ken Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young program, which provides fully interactive professional theater experiences for children of all abilities from ages newborn through five years old; the Alliance Teen Ensemble, which performs world premiere plays commissioned for and about teens; the Palefsky Collision Project, where teens produce a new work after colliding with a classic text; expanded the Alliance’s summer camp program to include over 3,000 children in multiple locations across Atlanta; and Alliance@ work, a professional development program designed for the business sector — the latest offering of which uses theatre practice to create a culture of civility in the workplace. In 2014, Chris added the title Associate Artistic Director, and has continued to expand the Alliance’s education offerings. During his tenure in this position, the Alliance has produced over a dozen world premiere plays for young audiences, including Pancakes, Pancakes! by Ken Lin, The Dancing Granny by Jireh Breon Holder, Max Makes a Million by Liz Diamond, and The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Madhuri Shekar. Currently, the Alliance serves over 100,000 students pre-k—12 each season, as well as over 4,000 adults through its extensive education offerings. In 2023, he was named Artistic Director of the Alliance Theatre.
MIKE SCHLEIFER (Managing Director) joined the Alliance Theatre in 2014 as the General Manager and in 2016, assumed the role of Managing Director. During his time at the Alliance, Mike has led the administrative and producing team on over 100 productions including bringing Tuck Everlasting and The Prom to Broadway. He was one of the architects of the “On the Road” season while a multi-million dollar renovation of the Coca-Cola Stage was underway. Mike is excited to have started the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee at the Alliance and to serve on the board of the League of Resident Theatres and True Colors Theatre Company. Prior to Atlanta, he spent 13 years at Baltimore’s Center Stage working in several roles including Associate Producer, Production Manager and Resident Stage Manager. While in Baltimore, Mike was an adjunct faculty member at Towson University and has guest-lectured all over the country. Mike began as a Stage Manager and has dozens of stage management credits between his time in New York and working regionally.
Mike is married to theater director and educator Laura Hackman and the proud father of two boys, Jack and Ben.
ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA)
Founded in 1913, AEA is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional Actors and Stage Managers. Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. www.actorsequity.org
Using Storytelling to Teach Tolerance to Children
Mirrors. Windows. Sliding glass doors.
In children’s literature, this is the metaphorical framework that is often used to describe a young person’s interaction with what they are reading or what is being read to them. Books can serve as mirrors, or a reflection of that reader’s own experience. Books can be windows, or an opening to view another’s experience. When a book acts as a sliding glass door, the reader is able to step into another’s experience and then feel empathy or tolerance for a character.
A good children’s book invites the reader into a shared experience, helping to nurture empathy and compassion for others. Through both the words and illustrations, picture books, in particular, offer powerful points of connection; sharing a book at bedtime or in the classroom allows for children to talk through the ideas and emotions churned up by a good book and to then think about the larger world around them and their place in it.
As a picture book, many adults might pass Doctor De Soto off as a simple tale, but the various characters are portrayed with complex layers of ethical questions and decisions. Upon hearing the story, children may first see themselves as the vulnerable mouse, but as the story unfolds, they, like the mouse, are able to feel empathy for the fox with the painful, rotting tooth. Now they find themselves in a position to question the choices the fox makes, as well as the decisions of the mice. They can connect to Doctor De Soto’s feelings of sympathy, commitment, and caution. They can also see how the fox evaluates a growing sympathy for the mice against a hunger for them.
At Little Shop of Stories, we believe, in all earnest, that children’s books will save the world. If we want to teach tolerance, empathy, and compassion to our youngest citizens, we can’t think of a better place to start than with a book!
Diane Capriola Co-Owner
Little Shop of Stories
Alliance Theatre Sets Wonder Free.
And what delights during performances ignites a brighter future. You can invest in better tomorrows by supporting access for youth to experience world-class theatre on a stage that’s all their own. Now is the time.
Introducing The Goizueta Stage For Youth And Families,
a transformative new space designed to inspire young audiences year-round. Research shows that early access to live theater can significantly combat critical issues like low literacy rates and the urgent youth mental health crisis. To fulfill this promise, the Alliance Theatre is launching a $10 million Imagine Endowment to expand our capacity to serve more young people and sustain these enriching experiences in perpetuity. With this endowment, the Goizueta Stage will be a beacon of accessibility, welcoming children from all backgrounds and removing economic, geographic, and physical barriers to ensure that every child can engage with the magic of theatre for generations to come.
Support The Imagine Endowment
For more information about the Alliance’s Imagine Campaign or to make an endowment contribution, please contact:
Trent Anderson, Director of Development trent.anderson@alliancetheatre.org (404) 733-4710
Scan here to learn more, contribute, or view our full donor listing alliancetheatre.org/imagine
Despite the sign outside stating that they do not treat predators, Doctor De Soto and Mrs. De Soto take pity on a suffering fox with a rotten tooth. But once he opens his jaws and they must step inside, they begin to rethink their decision. Full of excitement and laughter, this modern-day fable proves that even the smallest creatures can make a big difference with kindness and a little quick thinking.
GET SOCIAL
Connect with us and other audience members on your Alliance Theatre experience. Share your comments and photos on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok with hashtags #DoctorDeSoto and #AllianceTheatre. Plus, search your social media platforms with those hashtags for fun, behind-the-scenes content from our cast, crew, and creative team.
www.alliancetheatre.org
Commit to 20 hours of ushering at the Alliance and receive:
• Alliance Theatre swag!
• 15% off current ticket prices for all Alliance Theatre productions
• 20% off Alliance Theatre Acting Classes
• ONE complimentary ticket for ANY production in the current season
Ever wanted to be a part of the Alliance team? Here’s your chance! Join our volunteer ushers! Visit alliancetheatre.org/usher for details.
ABOUT THE ALLIANCE THEATRE
Founded in 1968, the Alliance Theatre is the leading producing theatre in the Southeast, reaching more than 165,000 patrons annually. The Alliance is led by Jennings Hertz Artistic Directors Tinashe Kajese-Bolden and Christopher Moses, and Managing Director Mike Schleifer. The Alliance is a recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award® for sustained excellence in programming, education, and community engagement. In January 2019, the Alliance opened its new, stateof-the-art performance space, The Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre. Known for its high artistic standards and national role in creating significant theatrical works, the Alliance has premiered more than 135 productions including eleven that have transferred to Broadway. The Alliance education department reaches 90,000 students annually through performances, classes, camps, and in-school initiatives designed to support teachers and enhance student learning. The Alliance Theatre values community, curiosity, collaboration, and excellence and is dedicated to representing Atlanta’s diverse community with the stories we tell, the artists, staff, and leadership we employ, and audiences we serve.
OUR MISSION
To expand hearts and minds onstage and off.
OUR VISION
Making Atlanta more connected, curious, and compassionate through theatre and arts education.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
In the sincerest efforts to gain further understanding of the history that has brought us to reside on this land and to accept the knowledge that colonialism is a current and ongoing process under which we need to build our mindfulness of our present participation, we hereby acknowledge this native land of the Muscogee Creek Nation.
OFFICERS
Chair
E. Kendrick Smith
Vice Chair
Allison O’Kelly
Treasurer
Glenn Weiss
Secretary
Jennifer Boutté
Immediate Past Chair
Jocelyn Hunter
Ex-Officio
Hala Moddelmog
LIFETIME
DIRECTORS
Rita Anderson
Ken Bernhardt
Frank Chew
Ann Cramer
Linda Davidson
Laura Hardman
Hays Mershon
Richard S. Myrick
Helen Smith Price
Bob Reiser
Jane Shivers
H. Bronson Smith
Ben White
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kristin Adams
Norman Adkins
Kimberly Ajy
James Anderson
Farideh Azadi
Marc Balizer
Deisha Barnett
Alba Baylin
Maggie Blake Bailey
Bridget Blake
Kenny Blank
Terri Bonoff
Jennifer Boutté
Traci Bransford
Kristen Burke
Jeff Cashdan
Madeline Chadwick
Bruce Cohen
Miles Cook
LeighAnn Costley
Joe Crowley
Kelly Estrella
Katie Fahs
Reade Fahs
Howard Feinsand
Rick Gestring
Richard Goerss
Claire Gotham
Lila Hertz
Jocelyn Hunter
Malvika Jhangiani
Alexander Johnson
Jane Jordan Casavant
Anne Kaiser
John Keller
Matthew Kent
Andjela Kessler
Jim Kilberg
Jesse Killings
Carrie Kurlander
Allegra Lawrence-Hardy
Jean Ann McCarthy
Alan McKeon
Dori Miller
Jeffrey Miller
Hala Moddelmog
Phil Moïse
Allison O’Kelly
Victoria Palefsky
Jackie Parker
Paul Pendergrass
Anne Rambaud Herren
Stephanie Ray
Patty Reid
Margaret Reiser
Matthew Richburg
Robyn Roberts
Maurice Rosenbaum
Steve Selig
Kim Sewell
Mital Shah
Bill Sleeper
E. Kendrick Smith
Chandra Stephens-Albright
Charlita Stephens
Mark Swinton
Julie Teer
Lisa Bigazzi Tilt
Richard Valladares
Benny Varzi
Rebekah Wasserman
Glenn Weiss
Cristel Williams
Wai Wong
Todd Zeldin
ADVISORY BOARD
Advisory Board Co-Chair
Laura Hardman
Advisory Board Co-Chair
Phil H. Moïse
Luis Andino
Andrew Barrow
Chris Brodnan
Johanna (Toni) Brookner
Maranie Brown
Carol Caines
La’Keitha Carlos
Mamie Dayan-Vogel
Candice Dixon
Malaika Dowdell
Brandon Fleming
Les Flynn
Allen Fox
Natalia Garzón Martínez
Lydia Glaize
Emmanuel Glaze
Caroline Gold
Meghan Gordon
Tevin Goss
Jeff Graham
Aulona Graham-Simms
Dr. Eve Graves, Ph.D.
Erica Greenblatt
Della Guidry
Dr. Lindsey Hardegree
Campbell Hastings
Mallika Kallingal
Jodi Kalson
Dr. Laura Kelly
January LaVoy
Jennifer Lee
JoJasmin “Jo” Lopez
Carlton Mackey
Nelly Mauta
Tre’Von McKay
Robbie Medwed
Juan Mejia
Aprille Moore
Jane Morgan
Zach Nikonovich Kahn
Amy Norton King
Susan Sim Oh
Kathy Palumbo
Kisan Patel
Pedro Pavón
Marion Phillips
Daniel Regenstein
Michelle Robinson
Daniella Sandino
Wendy Schmitt
Dr. Shenara Sexton
Sarah Anne Smith
Alicia Thompson
Ana Urrego
Christopher Walker
Emily Washburn
Melinda Weekes-Laidlow
Angie Weiss
Joni Williams
ALLIANCE SPONSORS
Alliance Sponsors are businesses, corporations, and institutions that have supported the work of the Alliance Theatre. We thank them for their generosity and support.
$500,000+
Chick-fil-A Foundation | Rhonda & Dan Cathy
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Lettie Pate Evans Foundation
Robert W. Woodruff Foundation
$250,000+
Anonymous
The Coca-Cola Company
Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
Shubert Foundation
WestRock
$100,000+
Accenture
Chestnut Foundation
Helen Gurley Brown Foundation
Georgia Power
The Home Depot Foundation
Invesco QQQ
John H. and Wilhelmina D. Harland Charitable Fund
King & Spalding
Norfolk Southern
PNC
The Rich’s Foundation
Truist
Warner Bros. Discovery
Zeist Foundation
$50,000+
AT&T Foundation
Bank of America
Cadence Bank
City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs
Edgerton Foundation
Georgia Council for the Arts
Georgia Natural Gas
Google
Jones Day
Kendeda Fund
Liz Blake Giving Fund
Molly Blank Fund of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts
National Vision
Wellstar Foundation
$25,000+
Anthem
Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition, powered by AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Comcast
Fulton County Board of Commissioners
Graphic Packaging
The Imlay Foundation, Inc.
Johnny Mercer Foundation
Kaiser Permanente
Northside Hospital
Peach State Health Plan
Southwire
$10,000+
AEC Trust
Alexander Babbage
Alston & Bird
Do a Good Day Foundation
Eversheds Sutherland
George M. Brown Trust of Atlanta
Georgia-Pacific
John & Mary Franklin Foundation
SCANA Energy
South Arts
The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust
$5,000+
American Institutes for Research
Anonymous
Frances Wood Wilson Foundation
Osiason Educational Foundation
Perkins&Will
Publix Super Market Charities
By attending our theater, you have made a powerful statement about how important the arts are to you. Make another statement of support louder than any standing ovation. Visit alliancetheatre.org and click on Donate.
Individual, foundation, and corporate donors contribute more than $10 million to the Alliance Theatre so that we are able to present exceptional theater and educational programming to our community. We are deeply grateful for your support. To find out more about the benefits of giving or to make your gift, visit us at alliancetheatre.org/waystogive or call 404-733-5157.
Listed below are pledges and gifts to the Alliance Theatre Annual Fund.
PREMIERE SUPPORT
Spotlight $100,000+
Mr. James E. Gay*
The SKK Foundation
Dan & Garnet Reardon
Artistic Director’s Circle
$50,000+
Ms. Stephanie Blank
Starr Moore & the James Starr Moore Memorial Foundation
Chairman’s Circle
$25,000+
The Antinori Foundation
Around the Table Foundation
Ann & Jeff Cramer
Heidi & David Geller
David & Carolyn Gould
Jocelyn J. Hunter
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Ivester
Jesse Killings
Daniel Marks & Keri Powell
Rosemarie & David Thurston
Leadership Circle
$15,000+
Ali and Farideh Azadi
Maggie Blake Bailey & Andrew Bailey
Brian & Jennifer Boutté
Jane Jordan Casavant
Roxanne & Jeffrey Cashdan
Barbara & Steve Chaddick
Katie & Reade Fahs
Ellen & Howard Feinsand
Doris & Matthew Geller
Anne & Scott Herren
Jane & J. Hicks Lanier
Kristie L. Madara
Barry & Jean Ann McCarthy
Phil & Caroline Moïse
Allison & Shane O’Kelly
Victoria & Howard Palefsky
Patty & Doug Reid
Bob & Margaret Reiser
Patricia & Maurice Rosenbaum
Linda & Steve Selig
Ms. Mital Shah
William & Margarita Sleeper
Dr. & Mrs. Dennis Lee
Spangler
Mark Swinton
Tim & Maria Tassopoulos
Benny & Roxanne Varzi
Mr. & Mrs. Art Waldrop
Ramona & Ben White
Amy & Todd Zeldin
Director’s Circle
$10,000+
Ms. Kristin Adams
Mr. & Mrs. Norman Adkins
Mr. & Mrs. George Ajy
James Anderson
Deborah L. Bannworth & Joy Lynn Fields
Deisha Barnett
Alba C. Baylin
Brian & Bridget Blake
Terri Bonoff & Matthew Knopf
Judge JoAnn Bowens
Martha & Toby Brooks
Madeline Chadwick
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas C. Chubb III
Mr. Bruce R. Cohen
Ezra Cohen Charitable Fund
Miles & Nicole Cook
LeighAnn & Chad Costley
Joe Crowley & Phil Mack
Rick Gestring
Marsha & Richard Goerss
Claire Gotham
Doug & Lila Hertz
Malvika Jhangiani
Anne & Mark Kaiser
John C. Keller
Mr. Matthew D. Kent & Mr. Joseph C. Miller
Mr. James Kieffer
James & Lori Kilberg
Brian & Carrie Kurlander
Timothy Hardy & Allegra
Lawrence-Hardy
Ms. Evelyn Ashley & Mr. Alan B. McKeon
Dori & Jack Miller
Jeffrey Miller
Paul Pendergrass & Margaret Baldwin
Diane & Mark Perlberg
Wade Rakes & Nicholas Miller
Matt Richburg
Robyn Roberts & Kevin Greiner
Mr. George Russell, Jr. & Mrs.
Faye Sampson-Russell
Dean DuBose & Bronson
Smith
Mr. & Mrs. E. Kendrick Smith
Lynne & Steve Steindel
Lisa Tilt
Carol & Ramon Tomé Family Fund
Richard and Melissa Valladares
Waffle House
Ms. Kathy Waller & Mr. Kenny Goggins
Mark & Rebekah Wasserman
Ms. Cathy Weil
Suzy Wilner
R. Wai Wong
BENEFACTORS
$5,000+
Anonymous
Russ & Cam Still
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh S. Asher
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas* J. Asher
Mr. & Mrs. Roland L. Bates
Ken Bernhardt & Cynthia Currence
Natalie & Matthew Bernstein
Traci Bransford
Franklin & Dorothy Chandler
Ann & Jim Curry
Diane Durgin
Kathy & Jason Evans
Dr. Cynthia J. Fordyce & Sharon Hulette
Dr. & Mrs. Marvin Goldstein
Tad & Janin Hutcheson
Jason & Laurie Jeffay
Mr. Charles R. Kowal
Dr. & Mrs. John Lee
Burrelle Meeks
Alan & Cyndy* Schreihofer
Charlita Stephens & Delores
Stephens
Susan & Alan* Stiefel
Maria-Ruth Storts
Chuck Taylor & Lisa CannonTaylor
Marjan & Navid Yavari
$2,500+
Anonymous (2)
Dr. & Mrs. Raymond Allen
Mr. Andrew Benator
Ms. Raluca Bighiu
Kim Boldthen & Carolyn Wheeler
Ron & Lisa Brill Charitable Trust
Mr. & Mrs. W. Kent Canipe
Candace Carson
Melodie H. Clayton
Rita & Ralph Connell
Linda & Gene* Davidson
Marcia & John Donnell
Eve Joy Eckardt
Mr. Fredric M. Ehlers & Mr. David Lile
Mrs. Anuja Gagoomal & Dr. John Stites
The Robert S. Elster Foundation
Karen & Andrew Ghertner
Mr. David F. Golden
Sandeep Goyal & Taylor England
Shauna Grovell
Dr. & Mrs. John B. Hardman
Ariana Hargrave
Henry & Etta Raye Hirsch Heritage Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. J. Michael Hostinsky
Linda & Richard Hubert
Alexander Johnson and Susan Somersille Johnson
Mr. & Mrs. Wyatt T. Johnson
Judith Lyon & Ron Bloom
Lloyd & Mary* McCreary
Hala & Steve Moddelmog
Clair & Thomas Muller
Joan Netzel & John Gronwall
Sam & Barbara Pettway
Ali & Layla Rahimi, ALYKA Health
Don & Rosalinda Ratajczak
Ms. Kristin L. Ray
Dana Rice
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Rosenberg
Jane & Rein Saral
Ms. Donna Schwartz
Kashi Sehgal
Ms. Mallie Abdsharafat
Mr. & Mrs. S. Albert Sherrod
Mr. David C. Shih
Brian Shively & Jim Jinhong
Henry N. & Margaret P. Staats
Chandra Stephens-Albright & Warren Albright
Julie Teer
Kathy Gillespie Tomajko
Dana Weeks Ugwonali & Obi Ugwonali
Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Weiss
Bryan & Carrie Williams
The Zaban Foundation
$1,500+
Anonymous
Judge Gregory A. Adams & Wanda C. Adams
Mr. E. Scott Arnold
Ellen Arnovitz
Mr. & Mrs. Marc Balizer
Ms. Johanna Brookner
Aubrey & Carol Bush
Susan & Edward Croft
Gail Crowder & Claude Wegscheider
Tim & Tina Eyerly
Mr. & Mrs. Paul A. Flexner
Marie & Brad Foster
Ms. Tiffany Rosetti
Della & Theo Guidry
Warren M. Gump
Mrs. Elaine L. Hentschel
Ashley & Elton James
Boland & Andrea Lea Jones
Mark Keiser
Andjela & Michael Kessler
David Long & Starane Shepherd
Ms. Addie P. Mathes & Mr. Richard Knittel
Greg & Gillian Matteson
Burt & Ruth Mirsky
Fabienne Moore
Dennis & Debra Murphy
Denis Ng & Mary Jane Panzeri
John & Helen Parker
Mr. & Mrs. Armond Perkins
Peg Petersen
Dr. Denise Raynor
Dr. & Mrs. Fredric Rosenberg
Mr. & Mrs.* Charles B. Shelton III
Ms. Amy Speas
Dr. & Mrs. Harry Strothers
Judith & Mark Taylor
Stan & Velma Tilley
Valerie & Anthony Thomas
Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Vazquez
Ms. Avril Vignos
Mamie Dayan-Vogel & Steven Vogel
John T. & Patricia Walsh
Adrienne Whitehead
William & Nancy Yang
Noam Zelman & Susan Hirsch
PATRONS
$1,000+
Anonymous (2)
Mr. Reza Abree
Mr. George T. Baker
David Cofrin & Christine
Tryba-Cofrin
Richard & Grecia Cox
Celeste Davis-Lane
Drs. Bryan & Norma Edwards
Howard & Ellen Eisenberg
Dr. Azy Esfandiari, City Springs Dental Studio
Dr. Marla Franks & Rev.
Susan Zoller
Louise S. Gunn
Monique and Justin Honaman
Drs. Cathie & Hugh Hudson
Ms. Floria Izadi
Veronica Kessenich
Ivory D. Kimbrough
Amy & Jeremy King
Christina Kramer
Mr. & Mrs. Asghar
Memarzadeh
Anna & Hays Mershon
Mr. Kasra Naderi & Mrs. Arezoo Akhavan
Debbie & Lon Neese
Deborah W. Royer
Mike Schleifer
Jane E. Shivers
Nossi Taheri & Hope Vaziri
Mr. and Mrs. Alex Taylor
Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth G. Taylor
Lynne Winship
Mr. and Mrs. Brent Yamaato
ALLIANCE THEATRE MONTHLY SUSTAINER SOCIETY
We would like to thank our donors who have committed to giving us a recurring monthly donation to the Alliance Theatre Annual Fund. Join today: www.alliancetheatre.org/sustainer
Dr. & Mrs. Marshall Abes
Mr. Faraz Ahmed
Mr. E. Scott Arnold
Dr. Evelyn Babey
Christine Brodnan
Maranie Brown
Dr. Deloris Bryant-Booker
Dean Jordan & Lee Burson
Karen & Harold Carney
Mr. Quentin David Cashman
Elizabeth Corrie
Christopher Cox & Draco Bohannon
Gray & Marge Crouse
Nash Ditmetaroj
Malaika Dowdell
Les Flynn
Christine & Andrew Fry
Emmanuel Glaze
Caroline Gold
Erica Greenblatt
Bryant Gresham & Alexander Bossert
Ms. Jo Ann Haden-Miller & Mr. William Miller
Lindsey E. Hardegree
Ms. Linda Hare & Mr. Gerald Barth
Becca Hogue
Karen Jones
Kelley J. Jordan-Monné
Amy & Jeremy King
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Kraft
Dr. Andrea W. Lawrence
January LaVoy
Joyce Lewis
Ms. Lauren Linder & Mr. Jonathan Grunberg
Christian & JoJasmin Lopez
Stephen Lynch
Alison Main
Heather & Jim Michael
Tracy Moore
Lori & Jonathan Peterson
Ms. Kendrick Phillips
Marion Phillips
Marc & Jean Pickard
Deborah G. Robinson
Mr. Howard Rowe
Barbara Schreiber
Tom Slovak & Jeffery Jones
Sarah Anne Smith
Charles Thompson
Ms. Stephanie Van Parys & Mr. Robert A. Cleveland
Ben Warshaw
Caitlin Way
Mr. & Mrs. Napoleon A. Williams
do Theatre for Young Audiences and the dentist have in common?
| matchinggifts&legacysociety
MATCHING GIFT COMPANIES
Many companies offer a matching gifts program for employees and retirees. You can double, or even triple, your gift at no additional cost to you simply by asking your employer! Think of how much further your donation can go.
We would like to thank the following companies who have matched contributions to the Alliance Theatre Annual Fund. To find out more about matching gifts, contact Emma Seif at emma.seif@alliancetheatre.org.
AIG Corporation
American Express
Aon Risk Solutions
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
AT&T
Bank of America/Merrill
BlackRock
Bryan Cave-Powell
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Chubb Charitable Foundation
The Coca-Cola Company
Deloitte
Equifax Inc. Foundation
John and Mary Franklin Foundation
LEGACY SOCIETY
GE Energy
Georgia Power
Goldman Sachs Matching Gift
Goldstein
Google
Hearst Foundations
Home Depot Foundation
Honda Motor Co.
IAC, Inc
IBM
JPMorgan Chase
Kimberly-Clark
Lynch
MacArthur Foundation
Macy’s Foundation
McDonald’s Corporation
McMaster-Carr Supply
Microsoft Corporation
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Principal Financial Group Foundation
Prudential Financial
Publix Super Markets
Salesforce.com, Inc.
Sprint
Truist
Thrivent Financial for Lutherns
Veritiv Corporation
Verizon Corporation
The Walt Disney Company
Wells Fargo
Yahoo!
Celebrating our supporters who have made a legacy gift to the Alliance Theatre.
The Legacy Society celebrates individuals who have made a planned gift to the Alliance Theatre. Making a planned gift is a wonderful way to show your support and appreciation for the Alliance Theatre and its mission, while accommodating your financial, estate planning and philanthropic goals. With smart planning, you may increase the size of your estate and/or reduce the tax burden on your heirs. Just as important, you will know that you have made a meaningful and lasting contribution to the Alliance Theatre.
To learn more about the Legacy Society, please contact Lindsay Ridgeway-Baierl at lindsay.ridgeway-baierl@alliancetheatre.org.
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Rita M. Anderson
Roland & Linda Bates
Kathy* & Ken Bernhardt
Anne & Jim Breedlove
Ezra Cohen
Ann & Jeff Cramer
Susan & Edward Croft
Sallie Adams Daniel
Linda & Gene Davidson
Terry & Stacy Dietzler
Diane Durgin
Elizabeth Etoll
Ellen & Howard Feinsand
Dorie Gallagher
James Edward Gay*
Laura & John Hardman
Nancy & Glen Hesler
P.J. Younglove Hovey
David A. Howell*
Lauren & David Kiefer
David Kuniansky
Virginia Vann* & Ken Large
Edith Love*
Lauren & John McColskey
Anna & Hays Mershon
Caroline & Phil Moïse
Winifred & Richard Myrick
Victoria & Howard Palefsky
Armond & Sharon Perkins
Jam Pomerantz
Helen M. Regenstein*
Margaret & Robert Reiser
Betty Blondeau-Russell*
Tricia & Neal Schachtel
Debbie* & Charles Shelton III
Jane E. Shivers
Roger Smith & Christopher Jones*
Ron* & Kathy Tomajko
Lee Harper & Wayne Vason
Terri & Rick Western
Ramona & Ben White
* deceased
ARTISTIC
Jennings Hertz Artistic Directors Tinashe Kajese-Bolden, Christopher Moses
Producer & Casting Director
Producing & Casting Assistant
Distinguished Artist in Residence
BOLD Associate Artistic Director
Director of New Work
BOLD Producing Associate
Jody Feldman
Brant Adams
Pearl Cleage
Marie Cisco
Amanda Watkins
Abrianna Belvedere
Director of Community Engagement, Partnership, & IDEA Daviorr Snipes
