Carthage College - Rail Splitter

Carthage College Theatre Presents

A new play written by Rick Cleveland CAST (in

alphabetical order)

Brea Beelow..................................................................................................................... Brea Beloff Lauren Bianchi........................................................................................................ Lauren Batucci Courtney Matula.............................................................................................Courtney Machula Derek Nelson.............................................................................................................Derek Neilson Brett Robertson......................................................................................................Brett Robinson Slim Simonini........................................................................................................Wes Manderson Andrew Stachurski...................................................................................... Andrew Stuckowski Maureen Toomey..................................................................................................Maureen Toody Understudies: Kaylee Annable Jenna Payne Time: The present day, two years ago, and the nineteenth century Place: The Wartburg Theatre at Carthage College, a log cabin with the winter wind blowing through the cracks, Springfield Illinois, the steps of the Capital Building in Washington D.C., the cemetery at Gettysburg, the White House, a region beyond our earthbound reality There will be one 15-minute intermission

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PRODUCTION TEA M Director............................................................................................................. Martin McClendon Production Stage Manager..................................................................................Nicole Werner Assistant Stage Manager...................................................................................Matthew Gehrz Scenic Designer......................................................................................................... Marcie Swan Costume Designer.............................................................................................. Colleen Geddes Sound Designer/Operator..............................................................................Thomas J. Novak Lighting Designer......................................................................................... Martin McClendon Properties........................................................................................................................Caitlin Zant Dramaturge......................................................................................................................Lizz Zitron Historical Lobby Display.................................................. Abigail Brown, Carthage College Hedberg Library Archives Choreographer...................................................................................................... Stacy Pottinger Technical Director......................................................................................... Martin McClendon Assistant Technical Director........................................................................ William Newcomb Student Master Carpenter:...........................................................................Mitchell Weindorf Light Board Operator.....................................................................................Mitchell Weindorf Run/Props Crew......................................................................................................Elodie Senetra House Managers.............................................................................Jane Burkitt, Mikaley Osley Scenic construction/painting, costume and prop construction, lighting and sound.......................................... the students of Carthage College Theatre Curtain Call Lyrics........................................................................................................Mark Harley

SPECIAL THANKS F. Gregory Campbell, president of Carthage College Leonard Schulze, Fine Arts Division Chair, Carthage College Herschel Kruger, Theatre Department Chair, Carthage College The Kenosha Civil War Museum Mike Love, Carthage College Media Services Mike Michaud, Facilities Management, Carthage College Elizabeth Young, Carthage Website Team Kristyn Taggart Tess Beltran, Carthage Art Direction Team D I R E C TO R ’ S N O T E S - M a r t i n M c C l e n d o n , D i r e c t o r Martin McClendon, Director Congratulations: you are about to see the most important play ever written in this, or possibly any other, time and place. Remember this moment because you will want to tell your grandchildren.

The Rail Splitter is truly a unique work: it was generated by a college theatre department specifically for a college audience, as an attempt to somehow come to terms with the brutal and largely fictitious slaying of a great artist. And along the way it also re-evaluates our relationship to the great figures of history by revealing the utterly lurid and unbelievable hidden facts behind the life of our greatest president.

But maybe the most important thing you need to know about this show is that it isn’t finished yet. I don’t just mean that in an artistic sense: I mean we just got another set of re-writes last night. The production you see tonight will be 2 The Rail Splitter

D I R E C TO R ’ S N O T E S ( c o n t . ) different than the one we presented at Carthage in February. That show went through several serious re-writes before its premiere. And it will change again after we leave here, based on the way it goes tonight. If Rick were here, which he probably is, he would want you to know that a play is never finished; there is always something more to work on. And if Abraham Lincoln were here, he would be jumping up and down on my windpipe.

So thank you, ACTF attendees. Thank you for being part of the filthiest, boldest, dirtiest, funniest, truthful-est, sexiest, exciting-est, raunchiest hipping-est, hopping-est look at American history ever to take to the stage.

D R A M AT U R G I C A L N O T E S Lizz Zitron, Outreach Librarian, Carthage College Five years after Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves in 1863, an American military cutter was traveling the newly-purchased Alaskan coastline. The ship’s inhabitants came across two warring factions of the native Tlingits, who practiced the custom of enslaving the losers in battle. As the cutter happened upon Tlingits victors about to enslave the defeated, the captain broke up the fight, announcing that they were now living in the United States. In the United States a president named Abraham Lincoln had freed the slaves and so there could be no more slavery in Alaska. So the newly-liberated losers erected a totem pole to honor THEIR emancipator, Lincoln. This totem pole stands today still in the Saxman Native Village Totem Park.

Actually, no, not really. The totem pole does exist in the Park, but wildly varying stories abound as to why the Tlingit people built it. They range from commemorative to a big telling off to Lincoln for taking away their right to enslave each other after battle. This particular story appeared in Sunset magazine in 1924. It’s just one of many stories, statues, paintings, photographs, cast of his hands, museums, movies, songs, plays, blog posts and impersonators to mythologize/ codemn/represent/revise/misrepresent/co-opt/fetishize/canonize Lincoln.

Lincoln emerged from his presidency (and assassination) as Über Poster Boy for just about any cause or issue. Whomever Lincoln the Man was, Lincoln the Myth quickly became an important symbol both for and against deeply-held beliefs.

Starting with his campaign for the presidency--during which he grew his iconic facial hair--Lincoln captured the attention of the American people. They attached to him those qualities which they wanted to see. He was our nation’s savior or greatest enemy, depending upon which view you held. In becoming the leader who would end slavery and see the United States through its bloodiest war, Lincoln the man was absorbed into the fabric of our nation as legend. Though held up as a great individual, he lost his individuality in this process. John Hay, his personal secretary and the guy in the statue out front, remarked on the building of the Lincoln Memorial, “Lincoln was of the immortals. You must not approach too close to the immortals.”

It might seem that revisionist history and the Internet paved the way for Lincoln conspiracy theories and reinterpretations. While his questionable heterosexuality is a twentieth-century hypothesis, conspiracy theories about Lincoln date back to Lincoln himself. From rumors about his parentage up to his assassination, Lincoln was someone people talked about. Revisionist history and the Internet have allowed new pieces of information and perspectives to enter the conversation about Lincoln. They’ve broadened and deepened our mythology, but not Carthage College 3

D R A M AT U R G I C A L N O T E S ( c o n t . ) necessarily informed our critical eye. Competing theories about Lincoln’s sexuality use nearly the same evidence to prove their points. The Internet and freedom of information allow us to access Lincoln’s original letters, speeches and notes in his handwriting. They also allow us to view just as immediately theories that Thomas Lincoln was not his baby daddy and that he lived out his days as Billy Bob Hamilton, working at a feed store in rural Texas.

So, just who was Lincoln? Maybe the better question is, “why do we care so much?” Is it that he helped end slavery and changed the course of our nation? Or maybe his extreme height and penchant for salty jokes? Does his brutal, senseless death at the end of the Civil War haunt our imaginations? Currently over 9,300,000 (and growing literally every day by the thousands) Google entries on “Abraham Lincoln” claim to hold some truth on Honest Abe. Because that is what we want from our gods: some truth about them which we can hold up to the light like a precious ring. Like Henry David Thoreau said, “rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.” Yeah, good luck with that.

BIOGR APHIES Kaylee Annable (Understudy): Kaylee, a junior musical theatre and theatre major with a dance minor, is honored to be a member of this production. Any part that she has had in this show has been a fantastic experience. Carthage roles include Almost, Maine, Urinetown, Cabaret, (Title of Show), and Biloxi Blues among others. She would like to thank Martin McClendon, the cast, and the entire department for this opportunity and for welcoming her into the production.

Slim Simonini (Ensemble): Slim is honored to be representing Carthage College with this fine ensemble. Slim is a senior who will graduate this spring with a double major in political science and theatre. Favorite roles include Georgie in Last Mass at St. Casimir’s, Gordon Miller in Room Service, Hennesy in Biloxi Blues and Larry in Inspecting Carol. When not studying, Slim goes back to his family home in Antioch, IL, to do woodturning at the Turtle Cove Exotic Wood Shop.

After graduation, Slim hopes to get his piece of the American pie and live simple and free: raising rabbits, keeping bees, splitting wood, and gardening.

Brea Beelow (Ensemble): Brea is a junior with a double major in musical theatre and theatre performance. Roles at Carthage include: Inspecting Carol, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Sunday in the Park with George, I Love You, You’re Perfect, 4 The Rail Splitter

Now Change, and Lysistrata. She is very excited to be a part of The Rail Splitter.

It has been a very fun and interesting experience, and she hopes everyone enjoys the show.

Lauren Bianchi (Ensemble): Lauren graduated from Carthage last spring with a double major in theatre and education.

Last fall she directed Doubt: A Parable in the Carthage Studio Theatre. Some of Lauren’s favorite past roles include Izzy in Rabbit Hole, Naked Man in Lysistrata, Sherry in Independence, and working with the ensemble in The Serpent: A Ceremony.

Lauren would like to thank her family and friends for all of their support, especially her Chi Omega girls and her wonderful fiancé Eric. Enjoy the show!

Courtney Matula (Ensemble): Courtney is a sophomore theatre performance major who is extremely ecstatic to be a part of The Rail Splitter! Courtney was recently seen at Carthage in Inspecting Carol and Doubt: A Parable (Carthage Studio Theatre). She is so happy she got to experience this process! Thank you to the cast, crew, my friends, family, and Dan for your support and love! P.S: there are 13 unicorns hidden onstage, 14,000 points if you find them!

Derek Nelson (Ensemble): Derek is a theatre performance major and is very excited to be working on a brand

B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) new play. Derek recently appeared at Carthage in Almost, Maine and Biloxi Blues, as Prior in Angels in America (College of Lake County), and as a Council Member in Hairspray (VAC Theatre).

After Carthage he plans on working extensively as a waiter. Derek would like to thank his Mom for her endless support.

Enjoy the show.

Jenna Payne (Understudy): Jenna is honored to be a part of this hilarious show. She is a sophomore double majoring in music theatre and theatre.

Past roles at Carthage include Inspecting Carol, and See What I Wanna See (Carthage Music Theatre Workshop). At Maine West High School she appeared as the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Maggie in The Man Who Came to Dinner, Izzy in Rabbit Hole, and Agnes in Meet Me In St. Louis.

When not onstage, she manages the Carthage Theatre Box Office.

Brett Robertson (Ensemble): Brett is thrilled to be performing on the Carthage stage again, and is honored to be a part of the premiere of The Rail Splitter.

Brett’s most recent roles include Phil/ Pete/Jimmy in Almost, Maine, Gordon/ Dwight in Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Kalidas in the American College Theatre Festival regional presentation of One Day in the Season of Rain, Todd in Far Away, and Hamish in General of Hot Desire, as well as participating in Space Magic: the NeilFuturist show. Brett would like to thank his family for their undying support.

Andrew Starchurski (Ensemble): Andrew is very excited to be a part of The Rail Splitter. He is a sophomore majoring in theatre performance. He was Phil in Inspecting Carol, Vilom in the American College Theatre Festival regional presentation of One Day in the Season of Rain, and also played Joseph Wykowski in Biloxi Blues. Andrew would like to thank the Lisle Lizards, and his family. He would like to thank Martin for the opportunity and Rick for writing this show. Enjoy!

Maureen Toomey (Ensemble): Maureen feels honored to be a part of The Rail Splitter and to have the opportunity to play “Toody with a booty.” She is

a graduate of Carthage who double majored in theatre and music theatre, currently residing in Brooklyn with her six cats. Roles at Carthage: Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Christine Marlowe in Room Service, Nurse in Sunday in the Park with George, Jo in Little Women, and Hermia in Dead Man’s Cell Phone.

She would like to thank her family and friends, Martin, Rick, Huey, Mr. Sprinkles, Bootsy, Whiskers II, Tiger, Sir Purrs-a-Lot, Magic Paws, and this amazing cast.

Rick Cleveland (Author): Rick is an Emmy winning writer/producer whose television credits include “The West Wing,”“Six Feet Under,”“Mad Men,” and most recently “Nurse Jackie.” His screenplay credits include “Runaway Jury” starring John Cusack, Gene Hackman, and Dustin Hoffman, and “Jerry and Tom,” starring Joe Mantegna and Sam Rockwell. Rick won the Best Solo Performance Award at the HBO Comedy Arts Festival in 2006 for his one man show My Buddy Bill, which he also performed at the 92nd Street Y in New York City for a one hour Comedy Central special in 2007. As a playwright Rick has earned playwriting grants and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Kennedy Center’s Fund for New American Plays. He received his MFA from the University of Iowa’s Playwrights’ Workshop.

Martin McClendon (Director/Lighting Designer/Technical Director): Martin is an assistant professor of theatre at Carthage. Before he began teaching he spent 10 years working as a professional actor, carpenter, and scene designer in Chicago and Los Angeles. He designed more than a dozen sets for Chicago’s Defiant Theatre, twice receiving Joseph Jefferson Citation nominations for his scenic work. As an actor he has appeared on the stages of Chicago’s Steppenwolf, Northlight, and Victory Gardens theatres among others. Martin has also worked in television, appearing in national and regional commercials, episodes of “ER” and “Early Edition,” and several pilots, as well as independent films, including a movie about camping written by Rick Cleveland.

Seriously. He would like to thank Jennifer, Arabella, and Horatio for their support.

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B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .)

William Newcomb (Assistant Technical Director): William holds a B.F.A. degree in technical theatre from Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas, and an M.F.A. degree in arts administration from Southern Utah University. He was assistant manager of the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre for five years before coming to Carthage. Other credits include technical director of the Wells Fine Arts Center at Tarleton State University, assistant technical director at Oberlin College, scene shop foreman at Ohio Light Opera, and assistant production manager of the Utah Shakespearean Festival. He would like to thank his wife Alison for her continued love and support.

Lizz Zitron thinks that the best person to play Abraham Lincoln is Abraham Lincoln because he is a tall cool drink of water all on his own. She is Outreach Librarian at Carthage and greatly enjoys her partnership doing dramaturgy with the Theatre crew because it marries her mutual loves of the arts and research.

When she’s not attending outdoor music festivals, Lizz enjoys trolling the Internet for obscure historical tidbits and bad videos. Thanks to my homies Martin and Rick for giving me this amazing opportunity to be part of something I hope I won’t regret in 10 years.

Nicole Werner (Production Stage Manager): Nicole is a Carthage graduate who majored in technical theatre with a minor in studio art. She was the production stage manager for Carthage’s American College Theatre Festival regional presentation of One Day in the Season of Rain, and she was the technical director for Doubt: a Parable in Carthage’s Studio Theatre. She would like to thank her family friends, and Dan for all their love and support, as well as Martin and Rick for such a great opportunity. Break a leg, cast and crew!

Matthew Gehrz (Assistant Stage Manager): Matt is a senior pursuing a double major in theatre and graphic design. Previous stage management credits include production stage manager for Carthage’s spring dance concert, stage managing the Studio 6 The Rail Splitter

Theatre productions of Doubt: a Parable and Rabbit Hole, as well as assistant stage managing Room Service. Matt would like to thank Martin and Rick for the opportunity to be a part of this experience. He also thanks his loving family and friends.

Marcie Swan (Scenic Designer): Marcie is a Carthage graduate with a major in technical theatre, specifically scene design. Some of the Carthage shows she has worked on include Doubt: A Parable (scenic designer), Biloxi Blues (properties), and One Day in the Season of Rain (assistant scenic designer). This has been a great way to end her Carthage career.

“The sound of a phone being replaced in its catch followed.”--J.D. Salinger Caitlin Zant (Properties): Caitlin is majoring in history and geography. She is really excited to be involved with The Rail Splitter. Previously Caitlin was props master for Carthage’s production of Far Away. Caitlin was last seen onstage in Almost, Maine, and also acted in the Carthage productions of Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Rabbit Hole, Room Service, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. She hopes everyone enjoys the show!

Colleen Geddes (Costume Design): Colleen is a Carthage graduate who worked on many, many, many productions. Her lighting design for Carthage’s production of One Day in the Season of Rain received a national commendation from the American College Theatre Festival. She has acquired a bunch of fans to whom she says “FrumpGirl loves you all!”

Thomas J. Novak (Sound Design): Thomas is a Carthage graduate who double majored in theatre performance and directing, with a minor in dance. Favorite past productions include Biloxi Blues, W;t, Room Service, Doubt: A Parable, The Serpent, and Post Mortem.

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T H E AT R E FAC U LT Y Kim Instenes........................................ Costume Designer, Assistant Professor of Theatre Brian Gill........................................................................................Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Laura Gordon..............................................................................Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Annie Hackett............................................................................... Adjunct Instructor of Dance Laura Jacqmin............................................................................Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Herschel Kruger.................................Department Chair/Associate Professor of Theatre John Maclay.................................................................................Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Martin McClendon............................ Technical Director/ Assistant Professor of Theatre Corinne Ness................................................................................Assistant Professor of Music/ Director of Music Theatre Studies William Newcomb........................................................................Assistant Technical Director Stacy Pottinger............................................................................ Assistant Professor of Dance Neil Scharnick............................................................................Assistant Professor of Theatre

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival sponsored in part by Stephen and Christine Schwarzman The Kennedy Center Corporate Fund U.S. Department of Education The National Committee for the Performing Arts Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation This production is entered in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). The aims of this national theater education program are to identify and promote quality in college-level theater production. To this end, each production entered is eligible for a response by a regional KCACTF representative, and selected students and faculty are invited to participate in KCACTF programs involving scholarships, internships, grants and awards for actors, directors, dramaturgs, playwrights, designers, stage managers and critics at both the regional and national levels.

Productions entered on the Participating level are eligible for inclusion at the KCACTF regional festival and can also be considered for invitation to the KCACTF national festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC in the spring of 2012.

Last year more than 1,300 productions were entered in the KCACTF involving more than 200,000 students nationwide. By entering this production, our theater department is sharing in the KCACTF goals to recognize, reward, and celebrate the exemplary work produced in college and university theaters across the nation.

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