presents
Michael Sokoloff’s
Bend in the Road Directed by Laurence Bryan Music by Nathan Basinger *Artistic Director - Laurence Bryan *Managing Director - Keely Haddad-Null *Technical Director - Joseph Loffing Music Director - Robert Ayres Fight Choreography - R & D Choreography Choreography - Jennifer LaTurner Stage Manager - Jessica Whitington Scenic Design - Brian Sauer *Scenic Painter - David Denman Costume Design - Emily Beaudin Lighting Design - Daniel Lazar Properties Design - Josh Hurley Make Up Design - Matt Sergot Associate Lighting Designer - Danny Osburn Assistant Costume Design - Pamela Savell *Public Relations - Elayne LeTraunik *Graphic designer - Nolen Otts Photography - Giaphotos.com, Warren Winter / PSG *denotes National Pastime Company member. The New National Pastime Theater www.nationalpastimetheater.com Live theater must grab all generations and drag them–perhaps kicking and screaming–into an active role in our world.
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OUR MISSION The National Pastime Theater strives to fill thousands of empty theater seats with generations of new theater audience, to stop this audience dead in their comfortable tracks and spur them to take an active role in their neighborhoods, communities and world. For twenty years, The National Pastime Theater has insured progress by producing dynamic and masterful live theater. In addition to producing live theater, NPT has fostered over one hundred and fifty emerging and staple Chicago theater companies. In an effort to expand our mission, NPT supports those itinerant theaters that present a similar focus to that of NPT’s. WELCOME ! Welcome to the Grand Opening of The New National Pastime Theater. After nearly twenty years in the old speakeasy on Broadway, The National Pastime Theater unveils Chicago’s newest theatrical venue in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. You are now in The New National Pastime Theater. Originally intended to be a Masonic Hall when Preston Bradley commissioned the building in 1925, the room contains twenty-four foot ceilings, period murals, the original maple floors and Neoclassical architecture. Although Bradley intended the room as a meeting space for the Masons, this room was destined to be a theater. Used by the Chicago theater troop The Uptown Players from 1929 through the 1930s, the room was then closed until 1991 when the Chicago Actors Ensemble took over the space for their brief tenure until 1996. The space has been open to the public for only 15 years of it’s 87 year history. The New National Pastime Theater as part of the Preston Bradley Center is on the Federal Register of Historic Places. NPT is currently working to restore this historic space, maintaining its vintage charm while creating a technologically viable theatrical and performance facility. Due to the large scale of this project and NPT’s methodical attention to historical accuracy, this renovation will take place in phases over the next five years. NPT invites you to join in this unique project. NPT depends on the kindness of strangers, our patrons are quite strange and therefore quite kind. Please visit the Box Office or nationalpastimetheater.com to aid in our efforts to preserve, restore and enhance The New National Pastime Theater. 20TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON The inaugural production reunites NPT’s Founder and Artistic Director Laurence Bryan and NPT resident playwright Michael Sokoloff in the world premier of Bend in the Road. Sokoloff penned Red Dog Moon, the work that christened the former National Pastime Theater venue. 2012 marks the fourth anniversary of NPT’s annual summer festival Naked July: Art Stripped Down. NPT’s Keely Haddad-Null directs the headliner of this year’s festival, Jose Rivera’s References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot. The Living Canvas joins the festival along with a multitude of other acts which will be unveiled. To close out NPT’s 2012 season, the second annual holiday production of Grammy Award winner Terry Abrahamson’s Hannukatz The Musical will fill The New National Pastime stage with subversive musical delight. The new year rings in at The New National Pastime Theater with our annual masquerade ball at The Exact Center of the Universe. Tickets to all events available at nationalpastimetheater.com 2 National Pastime Theatre
CAST (in
or der of appe ar ance)
Potts...............................................................................................................................Robert Ayres Band/Soldier...................................................................................................... Darren Shepherd Band............................................................................................................................Sophie Senard Joe Buck................................................................................................................ Christopher Bott Billy Person..............................................................................................................Philip Canzano Mattie May Montana...................................................................................................Kaitlin Chin *Ensemble/Scout......................................................................................................Arch Harmon Ensemble.....................................................................................................................Elizabeth Ellis Ensemble...............................................................................................................Katie Bellantone Ensemble........................................................................................................................Matt Sergot Ensemble/Captain of the Guard...................................................................... Dennis Schnell Daphne Deere..................................................................................................................Molly Kral *Mountain Man...........................................................................................................Don Claudin *denotes National Pastime Company member The National Pastime Theater www.nationalpastimetheater.com SPECIAL THANKS *Rebekka James-Yost and The Dude, *Julie Welden, Radu and Gia Photography, James Cappleman, Brian Schipinski, The Preston Bradley Center, The People’s Church, Bob Ford, Jean Darling, David Resnick, Laurence Coe, Caitlin Overington, *Ann and Rollins Warden CAST BIOGR APHIES Robert Ayres (Potts) Musical Director of NPT’s Hannukatz the Musical and Resident Director with the Shapeshifters, previously acted extensively with the Organic, Court and Freedom Theatres and Midnight Circus (etc.). The Founding Director of Boston and Chicago’s Catbox Cabaret, Robert wrote or co-wrote 36: A Cabaret, Once Upon A Time . . . and Popcorn Girl.
Sophie Senard (Band/Ensemble) French artist living in Chicago for 17 years, writes songs in the rocking Space Folk band BELMONDOS, formed in early 2000. Has played in electronic, experimental and improvised music outfits (FIGMENT, MILKBABY) Has collaborated with the CURIOUS THEATER BRANCH on several projects, from recording soundtracks to performing songs live.
Darren Shepherd (Band/Soldier/ Ensemble) From Kingston-upon-Hull, England. He has been playing guitar, banjo and mandolin in bands for 23 years around D.C., Baltimore and Chicago. Current groups include Belmondos, Umbra & the Volcan Siege, Stroller. Composed and contributed to sound-design on several plays in Chicago.
Christopher Bott (Joe Buck) is thrilled to be working with The National Pastime Theater. He is a recent graduate from Nebraska Wesleyan University, playing such roles as Malvolio, Petruchio, and the Herald from Marat/Sade. Thanks to my family and friends for their continual support and Laurence for this opportunity. Thanks and Enjoy! Bend in the Road 3
C A S T B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) Philip Canzano (Billy Person) Welcome to the NEW National Pastime, a place Phil likes to call home. Damn it’s good to be back at NPT! Much love to his wife to be Jennifer. Special thanks to Rob O’Hara, Ripley, Severus, 6/23, and Geno the wonder pup, dad will be home soon. Kaitlin Chin (Mattie May Montana) Kaitlin is excited to be performing again with NPT! She played Queen Herodius in last year’s production of “Salome”, and has worked with companies such as Piccolo and ATC. She’s also the marketing director of The Seelie Players, a movement company specializing in environmental, high-spectacle theatre. Thanks to Penny and Neffi for being little shits. *Arch Harmon (Ensemble/Scout) Company member: The National Pastime Theater. Company member: Halcyon Theater. Company member: One Tear Film Production Company.
Elizabeth Ellis (Ensemble) BITR is Elizabeth’s first NPT production. She graduated from DePaul University and studied at London’s Royal National Theatre Studio. Elizabeth has performed with Bailiwick Repertory, Stage Left Theatre, Shapeshifters Theatre, Second City Children’s Theatre, and the Canal Cafe Theatre in London. Namaste, love, and thanks to my peeps. Katie Bellantone (Ensemble) is thrilled to be a part of The National Pastime Theater’s debut of Bend in the Road, and birth of a beautiful new space. She was also seen in Hannukatz the Musical last year, and is a graduate of The University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Matt Sergot (Ensemble) is happy to break his 2 year hiatus from theatre by helping The National Pastime Theater christen a new performance space. Bend in the Road is different than anything he has done before, considering one of his favorite roles is Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. He welcomes the change. Dennis Schnell (Ensemble/Captain of the Guard) is excited to return to NPT after performing in a staged reading of Michael Sokoloff’s “Where’s Tricky?” last summer at NPT’s 2011 Naked July: Art Stripped Down. Most recently you could have seen him as Guy
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C A S T B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) Proclo in “The Ritz,” Circle Theatre. A theatre graduate of UIUC, Dennis would like to thank family, friends, & Christyn for their support.
National Pastime Theater. Thanks to Mom, Dad, and the boys.
*Don Claudin (Mountain Man) is Molly Kral (Daphne happy to be part of Deere) is excited to NPT’s inaugural be part of Bend in show in the new the Road. Molly theater. Previous graduated with a roles at NPT include BFA from Nebraska the Emperor in The Emperor’s New Wesleyan University. Clothes and Frank Maurrant in Street Favorite roles include Aldonza in Man of Scene. Most recently appeared at the La Mancha, Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde, Prop Theatre as the holy person in Cinderella in Into the Woods and Syl in Aspect of God. Hannukatz the Musical – with the PRODUCTION TEA M BIOGR APHIES Michael Sokoloff (Playwright) Over thirty years in the Theatre, Michael Sokoloff has worked on Broadway in New York, on Broadway in Chicago, and venues large and small in between. Extensive regional credits include such top-tier theatres as Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, the Arena Stage, the Denver Center Theatre, the Goodman Theatre, and others. Sokoloff was the Fight Director for the Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Tony-winning production of The Grapes of Wrath starring Gary Sinise. He conceived and directed Judas Goat for the Organic Theatre in Chicago, where he was an Artistic Associate. Since returning to eastern Iowa, Sokoloff has been a fulltime Theatre Artist, Directing, Writing, and creating Stunts and Swordplay. He was an Artistic Associate at Riverside Theatre in Iowa City where he created Walking the Wire, a festival of original monologues. Directing credits at Riverside include Equus, Under Milkwood, The Memory of Water, Ruthless!, Sideman, Boy Gets Girl, and The Last 5 Years. As a playwright, Sokoloff’s work has appeared in festivals in Chicago, Kansas City, Des Moines, and Minneapolis. His long association with Chicago’s National Pastime Theater has included productions of his plays Red Dog Moon, Kirkos, Yuba City, and Mustapha’s Bride, as well as staged readings of Gods of the Deep, and Where’s Tricky.
Nathan Basinger (Composer) Composer Nathan Basinger’s music can be heard in all sorts of tv shows on the Bravo, MTV, CW, and PBS networks. He lives in Austin, Texas where he can be routinely seen playing the 400lb Hammond organ he moves all by himself. *Laurence Bryan (Director) is the founder of The National Pastime Theater in 1991. Laurence has directed over 60 plays. He has also directed television, industrial and trade video as well as film. He is a lifetime music producer and audio engineer. Thank you for coming to The National Pastime Theater. *Keely Haddad-Null (Production Manager) thanks her production team, cast, crew, interns, landlords, family, roommates, friends and all of you who came to see this show and break in NPT’s brand new old theater all over again. *Joseph Loffing (Technical Director) Joe spent his entire budget on bacon and ammunition setting out from Missouri, only to contract dysentery and die 10 miles short of Chimney Rock. He returns from the dusty grave in the hopes of lighting the way for those with stronger guts toward the Bend in the Road 5
P R O D U C T I O N T E A M B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) gold-fleck glory of California before winter sets in. However, he has instead haunted the Preston Bradley Center for the past several months: listen carefully and you might hear his moans... Jessica Whitington (Stage Manager) Jessie Lynn Whitington is about to enter into her second year of being a Chicago stage manager. She’s also worked with The State Theatre Co., The Black Ensemble, and The New Colony. In her free time she avid reader, writer, and Dungeon Master. She’s currently stuck on the Fire Temple in “Ocarina of Time”. Robert Ayres (Music Director) Music Director of NPT’s Hannukatz the Musical and Resident Director with the Shapeshifters, previously acted extensively with the Organic, Court and Freedom Theatres and Midnight Circus (etc.). The Founding Director of Boston and Chicago’s Catbox Cabaret, Robert wrote or co-wrote 36: A Cabaret, Once Upon A Time . . . and Popcorn Girl.
Jennifer LaTurner (Choreography) has performed around Chicago with The National Pastime Theater, Clock Productions, Consortium Project, Tantalus Theatre Group, Chicago Fusion Theater & The Factory Theatre to name a few and is a former professional ballet dancer. Much love to Phil C and all of you who support the arts. R&D Choreography (Violence Choreography) is jazzed to be at NPT again! Past shows with NPT include Julius Caesar, Alice of the House of Carroll, Salome, Street Scene. R&D was founded in 1997 by Rick Gilbert and David Gregory, who were joined by Victor Bayona in 2011. We are very proud to announce Bend in the Road our 200th show!
DESIGN TEA M BIOGR APHIES Brian Sauer (Scenic Design) *David Denman (Scenic Painter) is proud to be involved in The world premiere of Bend in the Road, The National Pastime Theater’s opening show at the new location. A Scenic Designer/Scenic Artist as well as a member of The National Pastime Theater. Mr. Denman is the founder and Artist Director of Clock Productions, a stage and film production company based in Chicago. Emily Beaudin (Costume Design) spends her days as head of the fabric and furniture departments at local event company, Event Creative. She is excited to be returning to National Pastime, where she has worked in the past on Naked July: Art Stripped Down, Street Scene and Hannukatz the Musical. 6 National Pastime Theatre
Daniel Lazar (Lighting Design) is a recent graduate of Northwestern University where he worked on over 40 productions in many different capacities, including Pro Wrestling Choreographer. Favorite past productions include Ragtime (The Dolphin Show), Sunday in the Park with George (Arts Alliance) WRESTLEPOCALYPSE II - V (Vertigo Productions). His Tech Otter, WhoopDee, prefers Rock Operas. Josh Hurley (Properties Design) has been very busy in the Chicago area since moving here last September, some of his credits include “Bard Fiction”,“Rent”, “Detours”,“Sizzle”,and “Mark Twain”.Josh has also served as Props master/supervisor for Stagedoor Manor performing arts camp in New York some of his major shows include Spring Awakening,The Wild Party, Joseph ..,
D E S I G N T E A M B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) and the world premire of the new FAME one act musical. He has also worked at Jenny Wiley theatre in Ky. Matt Sergot (Make Up Design)” is happy to break his 2 year hiatus from theatre by helping The National Pastime Theater christen a new performance space. Bend in the Road is different than anything he has done before, considering one of his favorite roles is Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. He welcomes the change. Pamela Savell (Assistant Costume/ Properties Designer) This is Pamela’s first production with National Pastime and she’s grateful for the experience. Pamela is a recent graduate of DePaul University and this is her first professional production. She would like to thank Laurence and Keely (and her Mom and Dad) for believing in her passion for the theatre.
*Elayne LeTraunik (Public Relations) is the Associate Artistic Director of Genesis Theatrical Productions. She is a native Chicagoan and has been involved in the Chicago theatre scene since the 1970s. Elayne currently works as a freelance grant writer and PR person for a number of small theater companies in Chicago. More information about her can be found at www.virtualelayne.com. *Christopher Merrill (Web Design) christophermerrill.com *The National Pastime Theater is: Laurence Bryan, Keely Haddad-Null, David S. Denman, Joe Loffing, Arch Harmon, Don Claudin, Larry Horne, Mark Habert, Rebekka James, Elayne LeTraunik, Christopher Merrill, Nolen Otts, Ann and Rollins Warden and Julie Welden.
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PRODUCTION HISTORY: THE NATIONAL PASTIM E THE ATER *denotes co-production in conjunction with Clock Production **denotes co-production in conjunction with Prop Theatre Hannukatz the Musical by Terry Abrahamson Directed by Brian LeTraunik
Firebugs* By Max Frisch Directed by Laurence Bryan
2011 Naked July: Art Stripped Down Festival Salome by Oscar Wilde Directed by Laurence Bryan
Dead Wrong By Darby Tillis and Laurence Bryan World Premiere Directed by Laurence Bryan
Kirkos World Premiere Written and Directed by Michael Sokoloff
Doo Lister’s Blues By Terry Abrahamson Directed by Laurence Bryan
Will He Bop Will He Drop By Robert Alexander World Premiere Directed by Laurence Bryan
AmphiGorious By Edward Gorey World Premiere Directed by Laurence Bryan
Julius Caesar By William Shakespeare Directed by Laurence Bryan
Rats By Israel Horowitz Directed by Laurence Bryan
The Adding Machine By Elmer Rice Directed by Dale Goulding
Red Dog Moon World Premiere Written and Directed by Michael Sokoloff
2010 Naked July: Art Stripped Down Festival The Emperor’s New Clothes By Keely Haddad-Null World Premiere Directed by Carolyne Anderson Street Scene * By Elmer Rice Directed by Laurence Bryan and Keely Haddad-Null 2009 Naked July: Art Stripped Down Festival Day on Which a Man Dies By Tennessee Williams World Premiere Directed by David Kaplan Also the headline production at the 2009 Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival Alice of the House of Carroll* By Laurence Bryan and Keely Haddad-Null World Premiere Directed by Laurence Bryan The Magician* By Igmar Bergman World Premiere Directed by Laurence Bryan
Thanatos By Ron Simonian World Premiere Directed by Dado
The Possessed** By Fyodor Dostoyevsky World Premiere Directed by Dado
The Orphan By David Rabe Directed by James Lynch
Yuba City By Michael Sokoloff World Premiere Directed by Laurence Bryan
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest By Ken Kasey Directed by Laurence Bryan
The Trial By Franz Kafka Adapted by Steven Berkoff US Premiere Directed by Roger Smart
National Pastime Children’s Theater:
Rhinoceros By Eugene Ionesco Directed by Laurence Bryan Servant of the People!! The Rise and Fall of Huey P Newton and the Black Panther Party By Robert Alexander Directed by Frank Pullin
Free to Be You and Me By Marlo Thomas and Friends Directed by Beth Lynch Giddings Aria De Capo By Edna St. Vincent Malay Directed by Don Haag A Midsummer Night’s Dream By William Shakespeare Directed by Laurence Bryan
The National Pastime Theater Ensemble is a 501(c)3 corporation and is supported, in part, by grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and also from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. The National Pastime Theater would like to extend the warmest thanks possible to company member David S. Denman and Clock Productions for almost twenty years of support and collaboration. We look forward to twenty more. Thank you David.
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