A Class Act-Porchlight

MICHAEL WEBER Managing Artistic Director

Presents

Music and Lyrics by Edward Kleban

Book by Linda Kline and Lonny Price

Originally directed on Broadway by Lonny Price A Class Act was originally produced by Manhattan Theatre Club and previously developed by Musical Theatre Works

Featuring John Francisco, Michael Glenn, Tina Gluschenko, Sharriese Hamilton, Jessica Joy, Zach Spound, Dana Tretta and Bill Larkin as “Ed Kleban�

Set Design Angela Weber Miller

Costume Design Bill Morey

Sound Design Victoria Delorio Assistant Director Bil Ingraham

Music Supervisor Doug Peck

Music Direction by Beckie Menzie

Lighting Design Dustin L. Derry Properties Design Julia Eberhardt

Production Management Stage Management Patrick Fries Christopher N. Tisone

Direction & Choreography by Stacey Flaster

A Class Act is presented through special arrangement with R&H Theatricals: www.rnh.com A Class Act

1

CAST

in order of appearance

Bobby/Michael Bennett...............................................................................................JOHN FRANCISCO Lucy.............................................................................................................................................DANA TRETTA Ed Kleban...................................................................................................................................BILL LARKIN~ Felicia.........................................................................................................................SHARRIESE HAMILTON Charley/Marvin Hamlisch/Dr. Nodine/ Jean Claude Chevray.............................. ZACH SPOUND Lehman Engel....................................................................................................................MICHAEL GLENN Mona........................................................................................................................................... JESSICA JOY~ Sophie.......................................................................................................................... TINA GLUSCHENKO~ ~Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in America ^Denotes member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society ^^Denotes member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829 +Denotes Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Associate UNDERSTUDIES Ed & Lehman - ELI BRANSON, Lucy & Mona - AMANDA KAHN Michael & Marvin – ALEX NEWKIRK, Sophie & Felicia – KHAKI PIXLEY Understudy performances will occur only with an announcement to the audience prior to the show.

PLEASE NOTE: A Class Act is presented in two acts with one intermission SET TING AND TIME The stage of the Shubert Theatre, New York and other locations, 1988 -1966 D I R E C TO R ’ S N O T E We’ve all heard of one-hit wonders: artists known for a single work. In rock ‘n’ roll we had The Penguins hit Earth Angel, The Hollywood Argyles’ Alley Oop, Macy Gray’s I Try. In literature, Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird and Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye. In music theatre there is Jonathan Larson who wrote Rent and died just before opening night. And there is Ed Kleban who died at the age of 48.

Ed Kleban? The lyricist and Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winner for A Chorus Line.

Ed Kleban wrote one great show and then he struggled. What does it feel like to be a one-hit wonder—to see friends succeed and then to keep trying without achieving that success again?

To me, who had the privilege of dancing in several productions of A Chorus Line, the lyrics resonated. It was as if Ed Kleban knew our souls. But until I began work on A Class Act I knew nothing about Kleban’s own life, his ambitions, his soul.

It was an honor to have performed in A Chorus Line. And it is even more of an honor to get to know the man behind the lyrics—to get a glimpse of his soul. I hope that through A Class Act we have opened that window.

2

--Stacey Flaster, Director Porchlight

MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT 1 Light on My Feet*.......................................................................................................Ed and the Company Beside the Fountain in the Garden of the Hospital.........................................................The Company One More Beautiful Song......................................................................................................Ed and Sophie Fridays at Four..........................................................................................................................The Company Bobby’s Song............................................................................................................................................Bobby Charm Song.....................................................................................................Lehman and the Company Paris Through the Window**............................................................................... Ed, Bobby and Charley Mona........................................................................................................................................................... Mona Under Separate Cover................................................................................................. Lucy, Sophie and Ed Don’t Do it Again...................................................................................................................... Felicia and Ed Gauguin’s Shoes.........................................................................................................Ed and the Company Don’t Do it Again (Reprise).............................................................................................................. Lehman Light on My Feet (Reprise #1)...............................................................................................Ed and Bobby Follow Your Star.......................................................................................................................Sophie and Ed ACT 2 Entr’Acte........................................................................................................ Bobby, Ed and the Orchestra Better***.........................................................................................................Ed, Felicia and the Company Scintillating Sophie........................................................................................................................................Ed The Next Best Thing to Love................................................................................................................Sophie Light on My Feet (Reprise #2).....................................................................................................................Ed Broadway Boogie Woogie....................................................................................................................... Lucy A Chorus Line Excerpts****...................................................................................................The Company Better (Reprise)...........................................................................................................Ed and the Company I Choose You..................................................................................................................................Ed and Lucy Light on My Feet (Reprise #3).....................................................................................................................Ed Say Something Funny.............................................................................................................The Company When The Dawn Breaks................................................................................................................................Ed Self-Portrait......................................................................................................................................................Ed Finale (Self-Portrait)...............................................................................................................The Company *Additional lyrics by Brian Stein **Additional lyrics by Glenn Slater ***”Better” used with permission of The Kleban Foundation, Inc. ****From A Chorus Line: Conceived, Choreographed and Directed by Michael Bennett; Book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante; Music by Marvin Hamlisch; Lyrics by Edward Kleban MUSICIANS Conductor/Keyboard.........................................................................................................BECKIE MENZIE, (alternate) DOUG PECK+

A Class Act

3

A R T I S T I C S TA F F Managing Artistic Director........................................................................................ MICHAEL WEBER^ Director/Choreographer............................................................................................. STACEY FLASTER^ Musical Director................................................................................................................... BECKIE MENZIE Assistant Director..............................................................................................................BIL INGRAHAM+ Music Supervisor.....................................................................................................................DOUG PECK+ Scenic Designer.................................................................................................. ANGELA WEBER MILLER Costume Designer..................................................................................................................BILL MOREY+ Lighting Designer............................................................................................................DUSTIN L. DERRY Sound Designer......................................................................................................VICTORIA DELORIO^^ Properties Designer...................................................................................................... JULIA EBERHARDT Associate Sound Designer............................................................................................... JENNA MORAN Dramaturgy Intern........................................................................................... DEBORAH BLUMENTHAL Dance Captain.......................................................................................................................ALEX NEWKIRK Casting Team Members..............................................BRENDA DIDIER+ & HEATHER TOWNSEND+ P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F Production Stage Manager.........................................................................CHRISTOPHER N. TISONE~ Production Manager.............................................................................................................PATRICK FRIES Technical Director................................................................................................. MATTHEW BUETTNER Carpenters................................................................................................................................... JIM MOORE Electricians................................................................................ SARAH LACKNER, JACOB SNODGRASS Scenic Artist.............................................................................................................................. MIKAH BERKY Sound Engineer......................................................................................................... THOM VAN ERMEN+ Wardrobe Assistant....................................................................................KATE SETZER KAMPHAUSEN Wardrobe Supervisor........................................................................................................... PEGGY CLUNE Stage Management Interns........................................................RYAN HAMMAN, CHARLES MATCH M A R K E T I N G S TA F F Marketing & Press Representative............................SHOUT MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS:

JAMES JULIANO & JILL EVANS Promotional Photographer................................................ BRANDON DAHLQUIST+, JEREMY RILL Promotional Video Producer............................................................................................... CHRIS GEKAS Promotional Video Director.......................................................................... DEBORAH BLUMENTHAL Promotional and Archival Video Producer..................................................... THE STAGE CHANNEL Website Design.............................................................. JONNY RUNNFELDT+, LAB OF LIFE DESIGN Logo Design.............................................................................................................................. JEN LONDON Graphic Design.....................................................................................................................GINA GUARINO A D M I N I S T R AT I V E S TA F F Interim Operations Manager............................................................................... JONATHAN HEURING Administrative & Marketing Associate...........................................................NATE C. GROONWALD Grants Coordinator..................................................................................................... DONALD SPRAGUE Administrative Intern................................................................................. JEFF MEYER, KORY PULLAM

4

Porchlight

CAST BILL LARKIN (Ed Kleban) is thrilled to be making his Porchlight Music Theatre debut with A Class Act. Past Chicago credits include Disney’s Aladdin (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Drury Lane Water Tower Theatre), Mere Fluff (Annoyance Theatre), Poppyseed Lane (Theatre Building Chicago), and Bill’s Family Funtime, his one-man show of comedy songs. He co-wrote The Ten Commandments: the Musical for the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus with artistic director Patrick Sinozich. He performs regularly at the Howl at the Moon dueling piano bar.

Television credits include Premium Blend (Comedy Central). www.billlarkin.com JOHN FRANCISCO (Bobby/ Michael Bennett/et al.) is excited to return to Porchlight Music Theatre in A Class Act. Previous shows here include Sunday in the Park with George and a brief stint in The King and I. He has worked with many local theatre companies including Victory Gardens, ShawChicago, Peninsula Players, Piven Theatre Workshop, Strawdog Theatre, Scooty and Jojo Productions, House Theatre, Fox Valley Rep and Pegasus Players. John is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf and an artistic associate at About Face Theatre. He is a teaching artist with Chicago Children’s Theatre and the Old Town School of Folk Music, providing music and drama education for children with autism and behavioral difficulties across the Chicagoland area.

MICHAEL GLENN (Lehman Engel) is thrilled to be making his Chicago debut at Porchlight Music Theatre.

He has previously appeared at the Sir John Falstaff Theatre in Barefoot in the Park, Visit to a Small Planet, Where Did We Go Wrong, A Christmas Carol and Everybody Loves Opal with Martha Raye.

Favorite regional productions include Man of La Mancha (Quixote), I’m Not Rappaport (Nat), Annie Get Your Gun (Buffalo Bill), I Never Sang for My Father (Gene), Meet Me in St. Louis (Father) Hedda Gabler (Tesman), and Big River (Judge

Thatcher). During his 30 year career as a teacher and administrator he directed many productions with children, including several productions of a ballet/pantomime which he created, designed and directed utilizing Saint-Saen’s musical work, Carnival of the Animals. His favorite role of all time is that of “Grampy” and he thanks his supporting cast of Melissa, Michael Aaron, Beth, Clark and Parker for making that endeavor possible.

TINA GLUSCHENKO (Sophie) is pleased to make her Porchlight Music Theatre debut in A Class Act. Chicago theatre credits include: Randy Newman’s Faust and The House of Martin Guerre, Goodman Theatre; Ghost in the Machine, Steppenwolf Theatre; Away, Northlight Theatre; Hamlet the Musical, Chicago Shakespeare/Second City; Sex and The Second City and Songs of The Second City. Outside of Chicago she appeared in Melancholy Baby in New York and toured nationally with Into the Woods and The Secret Garden. Tina is an ensemble member with Wavelength, performing sketch comedy/ improv keynote presentations for professional staff development training for educators, as well as for corporate meetings and events. She also enjoys singing and playing the tin whistle with a Southside Irish band, The Grace Notes.

SHARRIESE HAMILTON (Felicia, et al.) is pumped to be making her Porchlight debut. Although she is now based in Chicago, she hails from Okemos, Michigan, receiving her B.A. in Theatre from Michigan State University. Favorite credits include Passing Strange (Mariana, Sudabey), Little Shop of Horrors (Crystal), …Spelling Bee (Rona Lisa Perretti), The People vs Friar Laurence (Benvolio), The Last Five Years (Cathy), Hymn and Carol (Mother), The Life (Queen), Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice), Twelfth Night (Maria), See What I Want To See (Wife), The All Night Strut (Alto), The Book Of Liz (Mrs. Butterworth) and various roles with the Chicago based children’s theatre company, Great Works Theatre. Huge hugs and thanks to family and friends and to YOU for supporting theatre!

A Class Act

5

CAST

c o n t.

JESSICA JOY (Mona, et al.) is thrilled to be making her Porchlight Music Theatre debut after many years at The Second City, most notably writing and performing in the Jeff Award-winning “etc” revue, Sky’s the Limit (Weather Permitting) (Best New Work, Best Revue). You may have also seen her in various commercials and in the movie Janie Jones, but probably not as Bunny Mildred on NBC’s The Playboy Club, because no one watched it and it got canceled. Jessica loves and thanks her family, Innovative Artists and her costume designer/stylist sister Clare (kclare.com). www.JessicaJoy.com ZACH SPOUND (Charley/ Marvin Hamlisch/et al.) is thrilled to return to Porchlight Music Theatre, where he recently understudied Jon in tick, tick…BOOM! Other regional credits include Othello, La Ronde, and Love’s Labors Lost at Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Roles at Northwestern University include Danny and the Deep Blue Sea (Danny), The Edge of Peace (Tuc), Assassins (John Wilkes Booth), Twelve Angry Men (Juror 10), Sunday in the Park With George (Boatman), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Egeus). Thanks to Michael, Stacey, Beckie, and my family for their neverending love and support.

DANA TRETTA (Lucy, et al.) is thrilled to make her Porchlight Music Theatre debut! She was most recently seen in Hair at the Paramount Theatre (Jeanie). Other Chicago credits include work with About Face Theatre (The Homosexuals), Griffin Theatre (Company - Jeff nomination), Theo Ubique (Some Enchanted Evening, Side by Side

by Sondheim and Cabaret - Jeff nomination), Route 66 Theatre (High Fidelity), Fox Valley Rep (It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play), The Hypocrites (Cabaret), The House Theatre (Rose and the Rime), TimeLine Theatre (Fiorello!), the Bailiwick (The Hunchback of Notre Dame), Boho Theatre (The Life and The Glorious Ones - Jeff nomination), and White Horse Theatre (The Cradle Will Rock and I Sing! - Jeff nomination).

6

Porchlight

In June, she was honored to receive a Non-Equity Jeff Award for playing Catherine in Pippin, and became an auntie for the first time!

Many thanks to Michael, Stacey and Beckie for this opportunity.

ELI BRANSON (Understudy Ed & Lehman) is delighted to be at Porchlight Music Theatre as a member of this fantastic company! Eli last was seen doing his best Gabby Hayes impersonation as California Cassidy in Oracle Theatre’s Radio Goggles (Hopalong Cassidy). Other Chicago credits include Snapshots (Northlight Theatre), Girl You Know it’s True (Pavement Group), Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer (Hell in a Handbag Productions), Meet John Doe (Porchlight Music Theatre), as well as productions with First Folio Theatre, Oracle Theatre and Hobo Junction Productions. Eli can currently be seen in the title role in Provision Theatre’s Jack and the Beanstalk. Love and thanks to his family and friends and an especially big hug for Sean.

AMANDA KAHN (Understudy Lucy & Mona) is thrilled to be working with Porchlight Music Theatre on this production. Past Chicago credits include Residue (Buzz22 Chicago), The People’s Four Seasons (Quest Theatre Ensemble), Hooters (Buzz22 Chicago), and Carpenter’s Halloween (Jonny Staxx Presents, Inc.). Amanda holds a Bachelor of Science in Theatre and a Certificate in Music Theatre from Northwestern University. She is also proud to be a founding member and director of development of a non-for-profit Theatre company, Buzz22 Chicago.

ALEX NEWKIRK (Understudy Michael & Marvin) is so excited to be working with Porchlight Music Theatre for this production! A native of Iowa, he has lived in Chicago since 2008. He is a Columbia College graduate (‘11) holding a BFA in musical theater performance. He was most recently seen in The March at Steppenwolf and also worked at Drury Lane Oakbrook as Ensemble/Anthony Understudy in

CAST

c o n t.

Sweeney Todd. He has also music directed with Broadway In Chicago (TYA Workshops), Chicago Dramatists, Lantern Theatre, JPAC, and Columbia College.

KHAKI PIXLEY (Understudy Sophie & Felicia) is excited and grateful to be working with Porchlight Music Theatre for the first time!

Some recent Chicago credits include: Time after Time at

Theo Ubique, Illinois Theatre Center’s farewell production of Showtune!, The Bakers Wife (Genevieve/Circle Theatre) The Rose of Stambul (Guzela/Chicago Folks Operetta), and A Little Night Music (Petra/Circle Theatre) for which she received a 2012 Jeff Nomination. She has been fortunate enough to live and perform in Germany and to sing the National Anthem at Wrigley Field. Love to family and friends!

AU T H O R S EDWARD KLEBAN (Music & Lyrics) wrote the lyrics for A Chorus Line for which he was honored with the Tony, The Pulitzer, The Olivier, The Drama Desk, and an Obie. His A Chorus Line songs “One,” “What I Did For Love” and “At The Ballet,” written with composer Marvin Hamlisch, are an iconic part of the American musical theatre canon.

The Kleban-Hamlisch song, “Surprise, Surprise,” written for the movie of A Chorus Line, was nominated for an Oscar. Kleban’s music as well as his lyrics form the score of the musical A Class Act, produced on Broadway in 2001. A Class Act tells the story of Kleban’s life in his own music as well as his lyrics. A Class Act was nominated for five Tonys including best score; Kleban also received an Obie and a Drama Desk nomination.

The Kleban Foundation, created in accordance with his will, gives two $100,000 awards each year to promising theatre lyricists. Since 1988, the Kleban Foundation has made grants totaling over two million dollars. Kleban winners have gone on to write several Broadway musicals including Robert Lopez (Avenue Q), Michael Korie (Grey Gardens) and David Lindsay-Abaire, (Shrek). A new musical, Saving The Muse, based on Kleban’s unproduced musical, Gallery, is being developed by Linda Kline with director Michael Bush.

LINDA KLINE (Book) received a 2001 Tony nomination for Best Book for a Musical for A Class Act. Ms Kline wrote the book for My Heart is in the East, produced by The Jewish Repertory Theatre, and for Cut the Ribbons, produced at Eighty Eight’s (1992 MAC nomination). She co-wrote the book for Theatreworks/U.S.A.’s musical, The Secret Garden. Her play, The Laundry Workers Present Hatpin Bassie, was produced the Westbeth Playwrights Feminist Collective.

She was Head Writer of ABC-TV’s FYI starring

Hal Linden (Emmy nomination) and she was a staff writer for Captain Kangaroo. Ms Kline is a graduate of The High School of Performing Arts and Barnard College. She was a member of Lehman Engel’s libretto class at The BMI Musical Theatre Workshop.

LONNY PRICE (Book) won an Emmy for his film of Sweeney Todd (broadcast on PBS), directed the original cast reunion performances of Falsettos that inaugurated Playwrights Horizons’ new complex on Theatre Row and staged for Broadway Urban Cowboy, 110 in the Shade and Master Harold…and the Boys. Previously on Broadway, he directed Joan Rivers in her Tony-nominated turn as Lenny Bruce’s mother in Sally Marr...and her escorts (co-authored with Ms. Rivers and Erin Sanders). Off Broadway, he supervised the Manhattan Theatre Club’s remounting of Athol Fugard’s Valley Song and directed Jules Feiffer’s Grown Ups, Jeff Baron’s Visiting Mr. Green (starring Eli Wallach) and revivals of The Rothschilds and Juno. He has worked with Patti LuPone on a series of staged concert versions of musicals including Pal Joey (Encores!, with Peter Gallagher), Annie Get Your Gun (Lincoln Center with Mr. Gallagher), Sweeney Todd (Lincoln Center with George Hearn and the N.Y. Philharmonic) and A Little Night Music (the Ravinia Festival with Mr. Hearn and Zoe Caldwell). He was staff director of ABC’s One Life to Live (Emmy nomination) and is the former Artistic Director of Musical Theatre Works, where he is currently resident director. As an actor, he has appeared on and Off-Broadway in a variety of plays and musicals including Burn This, The Immigrant, Master Harold...and the boys, A Class Act and Merrily We Roll Along, receiving an Obie, Theatre World and Drama-Logue Awards.

A Class Act

7

A R T I S T I C S TA F F STACEY FLASTER (Director/Choreographer) with A Class Act marks her directing debut at Porchlight Music Theatre. For Theatre at the Center Stacey directed and choreographed Little Shop of Horrors, The Wiz, Jesus Christ Superstar (Broadway World Award-best musical and best choreography), Footloose, Cats (Jeff Nominationchoreography), A Wonderful Life and Nunset Boulevard, and choreographed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Jeff Nomination-choreography), among many others.

Recently, Stacey directed and choreographed Joseph…Dreamcoat and Route 66 for Paramount Theatre and Married Alive for Metropolis. She directed and choreographed the critically acclaimed Carousel and The Secret Garden for Light Opera Works. Choreography credits: My Fair Lady, Carnival, Oklahoma! and Darling of the Day (Light Opera Works), Miss Saigon and Something’s Afoot (Drury Lane Oakbrook), Willy Wonka (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Marriott Theatre), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Noble Fool Theatricals), The Spitfire Grill and Smoke on the Mountain (Provision Theatre), Master Harold…and the boys (Steppenwolf Theatre), and Madame X (Alley Cat Productions). Stacey worked on the film The Dilemma, directed by Ron Howard. She will be directing Jesus Christ Superstar for Big Noise Theatre this fall.

BECKIE MENZIE (Music Director/Conductor) has appeared at some of the nation’s top nightclubs and concert venues including the legendary Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre and Park West, and at concert halls and art series across the country.

Hailed by Chicago’s WGN Radio as “one of the city’s finest cabaret performers,” Beckie was featured in Michael Feinstein’s Now & Then series for her Carnegie Hall debut. She has been a featured performer at many of the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Conventions in New York, The Hamptons and in Chicago, as well as many performances for the Chicago Humanities Festival, where she has served as a performer, director and musical director. She was Musical Director for the Marriott Lincolnshire production of Nunsense and many productions at the Wagon Wheel Theatre, where she also starred as Miss Mona in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Reverend Mother in Nunsense. She performs regularly with Tom Michael and as a duo they are the 2007 After Dark recipients of the Outstanding Cabaret Artist award. Their award-winning duo CD Better Two-gether showcases their unique “2 Singers – 1 Voice” duo style that has made them what 8

Porchlight

the Chicago Tribune calls “one of the most compelling duos in cabaret.” Their acclaimed shows have consistently been named among the year’s best by After Dark Chicago and New York’s Cabaret Scenes magazine. Beckie is an award-winning songwriter and teaches in the musical theatre department of Northwestern University. www.beckiemenzie.com BIL INGRAHAM (Assistant Director) is thrilled to be working with this amazing group of artists on the Chicago Premiere of A Class Act. Last season he was Assistant Director for Porchlight Music Theatre’s box office hit and critically acclaimed production of Putting It Together. Prior directing and producing credits include numerous staged readings for the Off The Porch series where he was Workshop Director for the world premiere musical The Teapot Scandals which he ultimately assistant directed along side the Goodman’s Steve Scott. Other off stage credits include Assistant Director for Porchlight’s A New Brain and Choreographer for Emerald City Theatre’s productions of The Last Dragon of Camelot and Winnie The Pooh. He has appeared onstage in over 25 productions throughout Chicagoland and is a long time Artistic Associate and board member here at Porchlight. Thank you for supporting Chicago’s “thinking man’s music theatre.”

Enjoy the show!

DOUG PECK (Music Supervisor) is thrilled to work with Porchlight Music Theatre as Music Supervisor, helping each production find its music director, musicians, and unique sound.

For Porchlight, Peck has music directed A Catered Affair and Assassins, as well as the yearly Chicago Sings… concert. Peck is the winner of five Joseph Jefferson Awards and two After Dark Awards for his work at Court Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Writer’s Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, Paramount Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre, and Ravinia Festival. Regional credits include productions with Huntington Theatre, D.C.’s Shakespeare Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre and Peninsula Players. His concert collaborations with his husband Rob Lindley include galas for many theaters listed above, as well as Follies in Concert, and an evening of every song that won the Academy Award for the Chicago Humanities Festival. He can be heard on the recordings Bright Young People: The Songs of Noël Coward, Foiled Again: Live, and Loving Repeating: A Musical of Gertrude Stein. Peck studied at Northwestern University and Interlochen

A R T I S T I C S TA F F

c o n t.

Center for the Arts. Upcoming credits include: James Joyce’s The Dead (Court Theatre), Sweet Charity (Writers’ Theatre), Pal Joey (Porchlight Music Theatre) and The Jungle Book (Goodman).

ANGELA WEBER MILLER (Set Designer) is making her Porchlight Music Theatre debut with A Class Act. She is an Artistic Associate at First Folio Theatre where she has designed nearly twenty shows including this summer’s production of The Merchant of Venice, Tea at Five, Romeo and Juliet, The Woman in Black, Blithe Spirit, Twelfth Night, Will Rogers An American Original, Jeeves in Bloom (Jeff Nomination), The Castle of Otranto, Macbeth, and A Moon for the Misbegotten (Jeff Nomination). She recently designed Making God Laugh at Theatre at the Center, where she also designed Jolson & Company, The Thing About Men, Almighty Bob, Over the River and Through the Woods, A Christmas Story, I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change, High Society, Gigi, and Little Shop of Horrors. She recently designed Route 66 for the Paramount Theatre and looks forward to opening Seascape at Remy Bumppo.

BILL MOREY (Costume Designer) has designed the costumes for Porchlight Music Theatre’s productions of A Catered Affair, The King and I (Jeff Award, BroadwayWorld Chicago Award), Into the Woods (Jeff Nomination), Candide (Jeff Nomination), Nine (Jeff Award), Macabaret, Ragtime (Jeff Award—Best Musical), Gypsy (After Dark Award), Elegies, Company and A New Brain (After Dark Award). Other recent work includes A Light in the Piazza (Non Equity Jeff Award—Best Musical), Time After Time at Theo Ubique, and Pride and Prejudice at Lifeline. He made recently his Off-Broadway debut doing costumes for Tomorrow Morning at the York. Bill has worked with Boho, TimeLine, Griffin, Piven, Hell in a Handbag, The Scooty and JoJo show and others. www.billmorey.com DUSTIN L. DERRY (Lighting Designer), or simply ‘D’ as most people know him, is a Chicago area native and is thrilled to be joining Porchlight Music Theatre for the first time. Dustin studied at National-Louis University in Evanston. ‘D’ has most recently returned to Chicago from a onemonth tour of Japan with Trinity Irish Dancers for whom he served as the Lighting Design and Production Stage Manager. Some of his other more notable credits include designing lights and production managing for internationally acclaimed Muntu Dance Theatre, Natya Dance Theatre, and DanceWorks Chicago as well as

serving as the Lighting Director for the Dance Chicago Festival. African Arts Alliance awarded ‘D’ with the honor of ‘Best Lighting Design 2009’ for his work on Muntu Dance’s A Bride From the South. While ‘D’ is well versed in dance lighting you will also find his work lighting on the U.S. National Touring Show, The Magic of Bill Blagg LIVE!, The String Music Festival in Colorado, and North Shore Center for Performing Arts in Skokie, where he has designed productions for a variety of acts from around the globe. Dustin would like to thank his mom, grandmother, and Godmother for always pushing him to pursue his passions and dreams of a life in the arts and instilling in him the tenacity to never give up and see everything through to the end.

VICTORIA DELORIO (Sound Designer) is thrilled to be back with Porchlight Music Theatre after designing A Catered Affair. OffBroadway Productions: Cassie’s Chimera – Joe’s Pub, The Public Theatre, The Bluest Eye – Steppenwolf Theatre @ The Duke Theatre, and Ophelia – NYC Fringe Festival. National Tour: Private Lives – LA Theatre Works. Regional: Northlight Theatre, Indiana Rep, Cleveland Playhouse, Syracuse Stage, Center Stage, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Florida Stage, Milwaukee Shakespeare, Milwaukee Rep, and others. Chicago: Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Writers’ Theatre, Next Theatre, Remy Bumppo, and countless other theatres in and around Chicago, NY, and LA. Victoria is a founding member of Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, an artistic associate at The Next, and an ensemble member at Lifeline Theatre. She has been nominated for 10 and has received six Joseph Jefferson Awards, as well as two After Dark Awards. She is the head of Sound Design for The Theatre School at DePaul University. For more information visit www.victoria-sound-design.com.

JULIA EBERHARDT (Properties Designer) has been props and scenic designing in Chicago since 2005. She currently serves as props master at Loyola University Chicago, where she received a B.A. in Theatre Design. She is also resident props designer and artistic associate at TimeLine Theatre. Some TimeLine credits include The Pitman Painters, Mastering the Art, Frost/Nixon, The Farnsworth Invention, The History Boys and Fiorello! Julie is also owner and producer of proppapers.com. You can see her full portfolio at www.julieprops.com.

A Class Act

9

A R T I S T I C S TA F F

c o n t.

MICHAEL WEBER (Managing Artistic Director) begins his second season as Porchlight’s Artistic Director. Weber has won two Jeff Awards and has been nominated for seven. He directed the past six Joseph Jefferson Awards ceremonies and previously served as Artistic Director for the inaugural season of Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place (2005) and Theatre at the Center (1998-2004). He has also been a successful actor at venues including Ravinia, Chicago Shakespeare and Marriott Theatre, where he most recently appeared in For the Boys and White Christmas. Weber’s directing credits include Fifth of July and Talley’s Folly at the Oak Park Festival Theatre, The Petrified Forest at Theatre at the Center, Over the River and Through the Woods at The Mercury Theater, A Funny Thing Happened on

the Way to the Forum at Pheasant Run Theatre, and Cirque du Symphony at Sears Center Arena.

His productions of Assassins at Porchlight Music Theatre, Grand Hotel at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place and She Loves Me at Theatre at the Center were each nominated for a Jeff Award for Best Production-Musical. Weber’s regional acting credits include Annie Get Your Gun and Gypsy (starring Patti LuPone) at Ravinia, Disney’s My Son, Pinocchio at First Stage Milwaukee, Around the World in 80 Days at Cleveland Playhouse, The Winter’s Tale and Henry V at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, It Had To Be You (starring Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka) at Little Theatre on the Square, Angel Street at First Folio Shakespeare, and The Gifts of the Magi at Indiana Repertory. Weber is author of the new play, WAR of the WELLeS.

P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F CHRISTOPHER N. TISONE~ (Stage Manager) is a freelance stage manager, actor, and designer and has been active in the Chicago theatre arena for over 20 years. Previous Porchlight Music Theatre credits include Company, Nine, Candide and, most recently, The Fantasticks. Chris is the resident stage manager for Northbrook Theater For Young Audiences, where he is currently beginning his third season with the program. Chris is a graduate of Columbia College’s Performing Arts Management program, and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.

PATRICK FRIES (Production Manager) is thrilled to be working again with Porchlight Music Theatre. Some of Pat’s most recent credits include Falling: A Wake, Precious Little, These Shining Lives, The Walls, Mary’s Wedding, and 26 Miles (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble); Momma’s Boyz (Teatro Vista) The UN Inspector, Dying City, Boom, End Days, War With The Newts, The Piano Teacher, and Madagascar (Next Theatre); Generic Latina 2010 and Lunatic(a)s (Teatro Luna); and Welcome Yule!

2009 and 2010 (Chicago Symphony Orchestra).

A B O U T P O R C H L I G H T M U S I C T H E AT R E Mission Statement Porchlight is Chicago’s music theatre. By uniting the arts of music, drama, dance, and design we transform stories into passionate and relevant events, which affect the lives of artists and audiences alike. As professionals and leaders in this field, we nurture and develop new artists and works, expanding and redefining the music theatre genre while matching artistic vision with fiscal responsibility.

PMT Board of Directors JEANNIE LUKOW - President - Owner, Bespoke Cuisine MARY KAY CONLEY - Vice President / Secretary - Director of Labor Relations & H.R., Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Co. RON ZOROMSKI - Treasurer – CFO, Kaplan University CHERYL COONS - Resident Playwright, Chicago Dramatists BILL CROWTHER - President, Commodity Consulting Inc. TOM HARTMAN - Assistant Director of External Affairs and Fundraising, RefugeeOne BIL INGRAHAM - Senior Director/Partnership Marketing, Westfield Group JAMES JENSEN - Concert Producer & Manager of Special Projects, Drury Lane Theatre/Adjunct Faculty, DePaul University RHODA REELING - President Emerita (retired) GREG VITI - Distributor, Call One/Realtor, The Viti Group-Prudential Rubloff Properties MICHAEL WEBER - ex officio 10

Porchlight

A B O U T P O R C H L I G H T M U S I C T H E AT R E

c o n t.

PMT Artistic Associates Christin Boulette, Brandon Dahlquist, Brenda Didier, Eugene Dizon, Sarah Hayes, Bil Ingraham, Jenn Kincaid, Rob Lindley, Bill Morey, Doug Peck, Christopher Pazdernik, Gerald Richardson, Jonny Runnfeldt, Heather Townsend, Thom Van Ermen PMT Advisory Board ERIC BRAMLETT - Naperville, IL - Creative Arts Director, Community Christian Church and former Porchlight Artistic Director JOHN BUCCHINO - New York, NY – Award-winning Broadway and film Composer/Lyricist BRENDA DIDIER - Lincolnshire, IL - Freelance Choreographer and Owner, Lincolnshire Academy of Dance WILLIAM FINN - New York, NY - Tony Award-winning Composer/Lyricist SEAN ALLAN KRILL - New York, NY - Chicago Theater and Broadway Actor JILL MOORE - Burbank, CA – Founding Artistic Director, Porchlight Music Theatre HOLLIS RESNIK - Chicago IL - Multi award-winning actress L. WALTER STEARNS - Chicago, IL - Executive Director, The Mercury Theater and former Porchlight Artistic Director MAURY YESTON - New York, NY - Tony Award-winning Composer/Lyricist PMT BenefIt Committee Christin Boulette, Kyle Burke, Dina DiCostanzo, David Dorton, Elana Ernst-Silverstein, Jon Heuring, Jenn Kincaid - Chair, Elizabeth McKevitt Knollman, Linda Lyons, Steve Multer, Blair Robertson, Suzy Thomas PMT Development Committee Cheryl Coons, Mary Kay Conley - Chair, Tom Hartman, Elizabeth Gelman, Jeannie Lukow PMT Finance Committee Cheryl Coons, Bill Crowther, Tom Hartman, James Jensen, Jeannie Lukow, Rhoda Reeling, Greg Viti, Michael Weber, Ron Zoromski – Chair PMT Marketing Committee Eric Bramlett, Bil Ingraham, James Jensen – Chair, Jeannie Lukow, Brad McCormick, Michael Weber

SPECIAL THANKS To Theater Wit and to our subscribers and audience members who maintain a continuing commitment to our work.

To our special dining partner Cooper’s—A Neighborhood Eatery, critically acclaimed for their good food, extensive beer list, and good value. Located across the street from the theater, Coopers offers 10% off to Porchlight patrons, and free parking to patrons who dine there before the show. We are grateful to Coopers for their food donation for the opening reception of each show. Please patronize them!

1232 West Belmont / Chicago, IL 60657 / 773.929.COOP (2667)

Porchlight Music Theatre is a proud member of the League of Chicago Theatres, Theatre Communications Group, Producing Area Chicago Theatres and the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce.

A Class Act

11

A N N UA L S U P P O R T Prochlight Music Theatre gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the following individuals, businesses, foundations and corporations. This list includes gifts received September 1st, 2011 through August 15th, 2012. We apologize to donors whose commitment is secured after the printing of this program and we regret any errors in the listing of contributors’ names. If you would like your name to appear differently or prefer to remain anonymous please contact us at info@porchlightmusictheatre.org or 773.777.9884.

Individuals can support Porchlight Music Theatre with gifts to the annual fund and with ticket purchases to the benefit concerts and annual auction gala. More than 70% of all donations in America come from individuals. Please consider making a gift to Chicago’s leader in music theatre, the company acclaimed for nurturing young talent and talent new to Chicagoland.

Foundations/Corporate Sponsors A.R.T. League Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development Baxter Bespoke Cuisine Chase Bank CityArts Program/City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation Illinois Arts Council – A State Agency The MacArthur Fund for Art & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation National Association of Realtors Peoples Energy FRIEND $25-$49 Robert Austin Nan Birmingham Lili-Anne Brown Marcy Carrington Major George F. & Mary Dempsey Louise Dieterle David Fink Jack Hakman Deanna Haverty Thomas Moore Caroline Overman Marcel Pasciak Susan & Pat Pastin Barbara Plona Leigh Ann Reichenbach In Honor of Stephen B. Lewis Jan Wellspeak Caroline West PATRON $50-$99 Jim Anderson James Barrett Heather Behanna David Belew 12

Porchlight

Alice Brandee David Chinitz Diane Claussen Magdalyn Cohn Diane Dorsey Brigid Duffy Lori Dunn Peter Eldridge Cardi Fleck Ann Followill Eric & Marilyn Fors Patricia Fort Charles Giglio Cindy Gold David & Ilise Goldberg David Gould Joseph & Linda Grear Michael Hamilton Chris Hodak Lavella Jones Marian Kanderbek Alexa Karkazis Brad Kemp Jenn Kincaid Caroline Lee Makena Levine Susan Lieberman Krystan Lordahl Paula Lyons Frances Maggio Henry & Florine Marks Diana Martinez Sonia Mauseth Megon McDonough Johann McKenzie Miller Beckie Menzie David Michael Scott Mikita Arlene Mikol Madeline Moon Tom Mullen Richard Murphy Julia Neary Nancy Nickel Charles O’Connor Jeff Perry Jane Purdy

Jeff Richey Mark Satter Linda Shore Jack Short Scott Silberstein Martha Spaulding Gerald Sherman Dariel Stack Sara Stern Mary Pat Studdert Richard Terrett Sean Thomas Denise Tracy Jaret Williams Larry Wyatt ARTIST $100-$249 Jennifer Aguilar Larry Baker Frances & Mona Barth Steven Bashwiner Richard Boyum & Louie Chua Richard Brannegan Brigid Brown Noreen Burke Leslie Cason Caryn Coons Matt DeCaro Elizabeth Derrico Mary Anne Doran Fred Drucker Deanna Dunagan Michael Elkow Jr. Patricia Fort Larry & Eileen Frederick Tony Gibson Jack Goes Jeffrey Glenn Jason Groh Thomas Guerra Paul Guse Joan & Guy Gunzberg Susan & Harlan Haimes Lynn Hamilton Jon & Darcy Heuring William & Winfred Heuring Kevin & Jan Holland

A N N UA L S U P P O R T David Jablonowski Louis Kersten Wayne Koepke Karen Kozlow Linda Kraft John Langfeld Thomas & Kathy Lengacher Krystan Lordahl Marty Higginbotham Bill Marovitz Sonia Mauseth Corinne McArdle Jerry McCann John & Linda Michael Anne Michka Paul Motondo Richard Murphy Drs. Shelly & Maris Nasatir Charlotte Newfeld Jeffrey Parker Angela & Charlie Platt Anthony Riviello Michael Rola Katherine Ruff Mary Shilling-Martin Rosemary Schnell Randy Smith Neil Simmons Donald E. Sprague Gardener Stevens Brad Thien Suzy Thomas Lolly Trauscht Keeley Vasquez

c o n t.

Mark Weston Roberta Zabel STAGE MANAGER $250-$499 Lisa Bierly Michael Camp Carla Dawley Sylvia Friedman Barbara Gaines Scott Goldstein Barbara Goodman David Marker & Georgann Joseph Steve & Karen Multer Charles Peng Marc Robin Cassie Brooks & Sumit Sengupta Jay & Tamara Sims Lauren Taslitz Christopher Tisone Thom & Christa Van Ermen Dennis & Tina Vaughn Sandra Barnett White Susan Wishnick & Allen Steinberg CHOREOGRAPHER $500-$999 Eric & Kristi Bramlett Maureen B. Daw, Ph.D.* Frank & Susan DiCostanzo David Dorton & Christin Boulette Freda Friedman Tom Hartman* Yvette Ingraham

Jeannie Lukow* Keith Olenik* John & Suzanne Shambrook* Kimberly Shambrook & Angela Johnson Seymour Zitomersky & Barbara LaSpesa DIRECTOR $1000+ Mary Kay Conley* Cheryl Coons* Leonora Dickson* Judith Friedman* Patrick & Laura Lederer* Carl Tisone* Mary Alice Wheeler* Greg & Susan Viti* PRODUCER $2500-$4999 William Ingraham & Brad McCormick* Jean Klingenstein* Ron & Judie Zoromski* EXECUTIVE PRODUCER $5000+ Bill Crowther & Diane Hires* James Jensen* Kathryn Michael* Brenda Didier* Rhoda Reeling* L. Walter Stearns & Eugene Dizon* *denotes inaugural member of the PMT Annual Giving Society

A B O U T T H E A N N UA L G I V I N G S O C I E T Y With the arrival of new Artistic Director Michael Weber, Porchlight is more vibrant than ever, but we truly cannot grow and achieve our vision without you. Please take your place, as many others, recognizing the dedication of stars who contribute $500 or more each season. For more information, or to give your gift, please call 773.777.9884 or visit www.porchlightmusictheatre.org.

IN-KIND GIFTS We would like to thank the following individuals and organizations in the past year who donating goods and services to enhance our productions and to improve and equip our new office space.

Mike Accardo Brianna Aguilar Jennifer Aguilar Charissa Armon Jane Blass Carpets of Highwood Ian Paul Custer Brandon Dahlquist Fox Theatricals David Girolmo & Heidi Kettenring Greenhouse Theatre Center

Tom Hall Sarah Hayes Jon & Darcy Heuring Bil Ingraham Matthew Lew Jeannie Lukow Brad McCormick Kathryn Michael Steve & Karen Multer Next Day Toner Rhoda Reeling

Gerald Richardson Jonny Runnfeldt – Lab of Life Design Thom Van Ermen Greg Viti Michael Weber And our entire Board of Directors and Artistic Associates for their hours of work in making our office move happen.

A Class Act

13

MISSION: SMART ART Theater Wit’s vision is to be the premier “smart art” theater in Chicago by consistently delivering humorous, challenging, and intelligent productions in an environment that provides a personal and collaborative experience for both audiences and artists.

THEATER WIT VALUES LAUGHTER AGILITY We believe that laughter has a profound We are confident that operating flexibility ability to reveal our common humanity. will lead to great theater and a sustainable EMPATHY organization.

We are dedicated to the aspirations of our RELEVANCE artists, our audiences, our colleagues, and We are committed to theater that resonates our community. with the issues of the contemporary world.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT Theater Wit’s values perfectly capture the particular relationship we seek to forge with the audience. We ask them to unlock their empathy through laughter; to maintain an agile wit so they can dance along with the experience; and to relate that experience to contemporary life. Our preference is to focus on local and world premieres but does not preclude revisiting classic plays from new perspectives.

Ultimately, our work must focus not just on the new and relevant, but possess at its core the honesty and humanity to genuinely move audiences. We come to the theater for contact and connections: with characters, audience members, and the mind of the playwright.

We will use humor, intelligence, and surprise as the keys to open ourselves to the shared human experience. At Theater Wit, the path to our hearts is through our minds—therefore, if our work changes the emotional life of the audience, their minds will follow.

Meet our local business partners! Your Theater Wit membership doesn’t just get you great theater all year long, it can also get you discounts on all kinds of stuff all over Lakeview. Currently participating businesses are:

Giordano’s The Bagel Cheesies Chicago Bagel Authority Flat Top Grill Crisp Looseleaf Lounge Matilda’s

14

Porchlight

Wine Styles Something Old, Something New Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers Around the World Tobacco Suburban Secrets Witt’s Bourgeois Pig Cafe

MORE THEATER. MORE!!!

TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE PRODUCTIONS AT THEATER WIT FLEXPASS Theater Wit’s FlexPass allows you see anything in the building at a dramatically reduced price: »» Your FlexPass gives you 10 tickets for any shows at Theater Wit to be used any way you want for only $200. See 10 shows, go on 5 dates or just bring your 9 closest friends with you to a show. »» After ordering, you get a card in the mail within a week with your FlexPass code which can be used online, over the phone or at the box office.

MEMBERSHIP With a Theater Wit Membership, you can see as many plays as you want, year round, for $36/month: »» Reserve a ticket for any production in our facility. Do it in advance or just drop by on impulse. »» Free ticket exchanges and replacement tickets. »» Attend as many different shows as you want each month. Come once, twice or five times a week at no additional charge. »» No initiation or startup fee, but members must agree to a three-month minimum. »» Twice a year, bring a friend for free. »» Great deals at local businesses!

more info at theaterwit.org/membership

RESIDENT AND VISITING SHOWS COMING TO THEATER WIT Impenetrable Stage Left September – October

Trainspotting USA Book & Lyrics Theatricals October – December

A Class Act Porchlight Music Theatre September – October

The Burnt Part Boys Griffin Theatre November – December

Moment Steep Theatre Company September – October

The Santaland Diaries Theater Wit November – December

A Class Act

15

THEATER WIT STAFF Jeremy Wechsler...................................................................................................................... Artistic Director David Wechsler.................................................................................................................. Company Manager Mercedes Rohlfs.......................................................................................................................... Grant Director Mikey Laird.........................................................................................................................Box Office Manager Josh Nordmark.................................................................................................................................... Box Office Majel Cuza........................................................................................................................................ Bar Manager Ryan Wesneski................................................................................................................................................... Bar Jennifer Howard, Caitlin Body...............................................................................................................Interns Jay Kelly, L.C. Williams & Assocs............................................................................................ Press Relations BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kathryn Stieber.....................................................................................................................................President Paul Danao....................................................................................................................................Vice-President Charles Hornewer, Todd Goldberg................................................................................................. Treasurer Neal Smyth, Bruce Wechsler With so much going on at Theater Wit, we recommend you get our e-newsletter to keep up. Get updated news on our resident companies, pre-production insights, interviews and photos. You can also be our bestest ever e-pals by visting us at facebook.com/theaterwit.

Fill out a mailing list insert and give to any bartender, usher or house manager to get a free piece of chocolate, or sign up online at theaterwit.org/join.

WITRESIDENCE PROVIDING A HOME TO CHICAGO’S THEATERS Each season, Theater Wit offers its space to one or more companies to produce in year round. The WitRESIDENCE program combines the principles of a cooperative and a traditional rental house to create a more cohesive, professional, and efficient nonprofit environment. In its facility, Theater Wit will play host to other Chicago theater companies on a minimum two-year basis. The resident companies will volunteer their time for space maintenance, share audience development initiatives, and gain a home under one roof. Meet our resident companies for 2012-2013!

STAGE LEFT THEATRE Stage Left Theatre’s mission is to develop and produce plays that inspire debate about political and social topics. We focus on presenting complicated issues in the context of an engaging story, without prescribing a single point of view. We attempt to spark respectful debate about the issues most relevant to our community, and activate audiences to continue those conversations beyond the walls of the theatre. Stage Left also works to inspire playwrights to address political and social themes through our Downstage Left new work development program.

NEW MILLENNIUM THEATRE COMPANY New Millennium produces a varied season which focuses on new and non-traditional approaches to theater. They create plays geared to audiences who have been reluctant to attend traditional theatre offerings, producing shows that are fun and relevant to today’s complex audiences.

16

Porchlight