presents
by Suzan-Lori Parks Director – Reshmi Hazra Dramaturg – Karly Bergmann Vocal Coach – Phil Timberlake Fight Choreographer – Nick Sandys Scenic Designer – Ingrid Larson Costume Designer – Holly Haupert Lighting Designer – Joe Watrach Sound Designer/Composer – Mikey Moran Stage Manager – Sarah Geis
February 10-19, 2012
Greenhouse Theatre Center 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue Chicago, IL 60614 Email: theatreboxoffice@depaul.edu theatreschool.depaul.edu (312) 922-1999
Venus 1
CAST (in
order of appear ance)
Miss Saartjie Baartman, a.k.a. The Girl and later The Venus Hottentot ......Kelly Sloan The Negro Resurrectionist ................................................................................... Josh Moaney The Man, later The Baron Docteur .......................................................................Noah Simon The Mans Brother, later The Mother-Showman, later The Grade-School Chum ..................................................................................... Lisandra Tena Chorus, the Young Man ...................................................................................Matthew Sherrill Chorus, the Uncle ...................................................................................................... Manny Ortiz Chorus, the Father .........................................................................................................Eric Staves Chorus, the Bride-to-Be ............................................................................................. Sonaz Izadi Chorus, the Mother ....................................................................................... Katherine Kerman Chorus ...................................................................Ruben Adorno, Will Gillespie, Mike Foster There will be one 15-minute intermission. Venus is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York. Special Thanks Ian Frank, Kevin Kingston, Julia Neary, Michael Osinski, Marc Pinate, Lisa Portes, Ryan Semmelmayer, and Krissy Vanderwarker.
2 DePaul University
P R O D U C T I O N S TA FF Faculty Advisor...........................................................................................................Damon Kiely Assistant Director .......................................................................................Devon Mary Doherty Assistant Dramaturg.............................................................................. Francesco DeSalvatore Assistant Stage Manager ....................................................................................... Dana Stringer Assistant Scenic Designer ............................................................................................Emily Boyd Assistant Lighting Designer ...................................................................................... Zak Malsich Director of Production............................................................................................Chris Hoffman Production Coordinator...............................................................................................Alexis Links Technical Director ......................................................................................................... Tim Combs Reskin Technical Director ...............................................................................................Jen Leahy Reskin Assistant Technical Director......................................................................Max Raynolds Technical Assistant............................................................................................ Aaron Pijanowski Scene Shop Foreman ........................................................................................... Gerry Reynolds Scenic Artist ................................................................................................................Joanna White Master Carpenter .................................................................................................Wil Deleguardia Property Master ....................................................................................................Wayne W. Smith Costume Shop Manager...........................................................................................Myron Elliott Draper/Cutter ..............................................................................................................Elise Petrucci Master Electrician.............................................................................................. Daniel Friedman Reskin Master Electrician .............................................................................................Ron Seeley Make-up Assistant .............................................................................................Jessica Burgwald Scenery and Property Crew .................... Elyse Balogh, Shannon Daly, Kimberly Kidders Costume Crew ..............................................................................Audrey Gladson, Asia Martin, Jessica Vodnik, Samantha Watzek Make-up Crew ....................................................................................................... Cristian Esparza Lighting Crew ..................................................................... Leila Abdelrazaq, Michael Conroy, Francesco Stornaiuolo, Lindsey Tindall Sound Crew.................................................................................................................. Cecilia Falter Director of Marketing and PR.....................................................................................Anna Ables Manager of PR and Special Events.........................................................................Andrea Tichy Publicity/Production Photos................................................... Anna Ables, Michael Brosilow Publicity and House Crew.................................... Lydia Brown, Denzel Irby, Erika Miranda, Lakeidrick Wimberly Box Office Manager........................................................................................................ Julia Curns House Manager ...................................................................................................Allison Tiagonce Theatre Manager.........................................................................................................Leslie Shook
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D I R E C TO R ’ S N O T E I first read Venus as an undergrad, in a class in which we were studying Suzan LoriParks. Venus is the story of one African woman’s struggle to make something of herself in 1810, in a European culture: one in which a black woman is less than human. Parks used humor and theatricality to get at this very distressing idea. She changed my mind about what theatre could be. Before, it was high school Shakespeare. Suzan Lori-Parks made me realize that spectacle and clowning could be part of a play: that laughing is the best way to dig into a painful topic. The story itself had a separate impact on me. At the time, I thought, this used to be important; I could not imagine how this mattered in today’s society, when we have come so far. I was 17 years old and had just moved to New York City. Nine years later it has become incredibly clear to me. We have learned to applaud the richest members of society and tried to brush away the stories that show how little we have actually progressed. Sara Baartman’s story reminds us that people are still being marginalized. Centuries later, we are still struggling to realize the American dream. Venus serves to remind us that life is not always what we make of it: sometimes it is what the world does to us in the process. Can we still strive or does the world shut us down? What are the ways we have to debase ourselves to get what we want? And can we change the way the world operates? So step into the theatre, make yourself comfortable, and we hope you enjoy the show! ~ Reshmi Hazra, 3rd year MFA/Directing
D R A M AT U R G Y N O T E What constitutes a great ass? Sarah Baartman had an average ass, hardly worth a second glance among her people in South Africa. It wasn’t until she presented her posterior in England that her butt became the legend it remains today. In England, there were mobs of people lining up and paying to see it. In England, there were cartoons of her in every major newspaper. In England, she had her first audience. By the time she made it to France, her body had become a national treasure, another wonderfully exotic memento brought home by colonialists. She died in France, but a body cast was made so that the rear end would live forever. The body cast, along with her skeleton, and a jar containing her pickled labia, were displayed, lost, and then displayed again for the millions of curious observers who visited the Musee de l’Homme in Paris. Until 1994. Apartheid ended in South Africa and Nelson Mandela made Baartman’s ass one of his first matters of business, requesting that the French return her remains so that she could be buried in her home country. Eight years and the play Venus later, the remains received a state funeral back in South Africa. The world watched. So, what constitutes a great ass? This play doesn’t answer that question. With Venus, Parks redirects our attention to the story—and not the ass—behind, so to speak, Sarah Baartman. That being said, there’s no reason to ignore why her story has been preserved in history. To quote Josephine Baker, another woman known for displaying her remarkable bottom, “The rear end exists. I see no reason to be ashamed of it.” ~ Karly Bergmann, 3rd year BFA Dramaturgy/Criticism 4 DePaul University
BIOGR APHIES Ruben Adorno (Chorus) 3rd Year BFA/ Acting. Ruben comes from Woodbridge, Virginia. Previous Theatre School credits include Puto directed by Marc Pinate, Marriage directed by Meghan McCarthy, DNA directed by Ernie Nolan, and A Mouthful of Birds directed by Patrice Egleston.
Studio BE N.F.P.T., and Hesperidian Productions. Some of Manny’s favorite roles include Diosita in Puto, Ben in The Monster Under the Bed and Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest.
Katherine Kerman (Chorus/The Mother) 3rd Year BFA/Acting. Theatre School credits include Yvonne in A Mouthful of Birds by Caryl Churchill, directed by Patrice Eglestion; Married Woman in The Blue Room by David Hare, directed by Ann Wakefield; Mrs. Loomis in Splendor in the Grass by William Inge, directed by Jimmy McDermott; and Stubb in Moby Dick, directed by Ian Frank.
Eric Staves (Chorus) 3rd Year BFA/Acting. Eric is an award-winning actor from Liberty, Missouri. In 2009, Eric won Best Supporting Actor for his role as George Deever in Arthur Miller’s All My Sons. Past Theatre School credits include The Diary of Anne Frank (Peter), DNA (Phil), The Glass Menagerie (Tom), and Synergy (The Devil).
Matthew Sherrill, (Chorus) 3rd Year BFA/ Acting. Matthew comes from Monterey, California. Previous Theatre School Mike Foster (Chorus) 3rd Year BFA/ credits include Puto directed by Marc Acting. Originally from Sarasota, Florida. Pinate, Marriage directed by Meghan He was last seen as Ishmael in Moby Dick. McCarthy, The Blue Room directed by Ann Wakefield, and A Mouthful of Birds Will Gillespie (Chorus) Since graduating directed by Patrice Egleston. He was also from The Theatre School in 2010, Will has a Mile Walkers troupe member in 2011, been busy as a writer, singer, producer, directed by Dexter Zollicoffer. as well as performer. His Theatre School credits include: Puck in A Midsummer Noah Simon (The Man/The Baron Night’s Dream, Romeo in Romeo and Docteur)2nd Year MFA/Acting. Noah has Juliet, and Joe in Waiting for Lefty. Will been acting in Chicago since 1997 and has worked with Steppenwolf Garage, has worked with such companies as Vitalist Theatre, The Inconvenience, New Goodman Theatre, Factory Theater, The Leaf Theatre, and is a founding member Hypocrites, American Theatre Company, of The Blind Owl. He is published and Strawdog Theatre Company, where on wordthatproject.com. Next, Will he is an emeritus ensemble member. is performing as Walt in Infusion Theatre’s premier of The Improv Play Kelly Sloan (Miss Saartjie Baartman and producing A Movement to Music a.k.a The Girl/The Venus Hottentot) 4th Documentary in the Spring. Year BFA/Acting. Kelly is from Southfield, Michigan. Her past Theatre School Sonaz Izadi (Chorus/ The Bride-to-Be) 3rd credits include The Importance of Being Year BFA/Acting. Previous credits include Earnest (Cecily), Gem of the Ocean (Aunt Lena in A Mouthful of Birds, Dani in DNA, Esther), Cabaret (Frenchie), Objects Lie on Deanie in Splendor in the Grass, and a Table, Pinkalicious (Pinkalicious), and Helena in Faustus. Intimate Apparel (Mayme).
Joshua Moaney (The Negro Resurrectionist) 2nd Year MFA/Acting. Manuel Ortiz (Chorus) 4th Year BFA/ Acting. Manny hails from Chicago’s North Side and has worked with both Teatro Vista and Teatro Luna. Manny has also worked and contributed to shows at the Goodman Theatre, Next Theatre,
Lisandra Tena (The Mans Brother/The Mother-Showman/The Grade-School Chum) 4th Year BFA/Acting. Lisandra is a Mexican-American from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Suzan-Lori Parks (Playwright) Named one of TIME magazine’s “100 Innovators for the Next New Wave,” Suzan-Lori Parks is one of the most exciting and Venus 5
B I O G R A P H I E S (c o n t. ) acclaimed playwrights in American drama today. She is the first African American woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for the Broadway hit Topdog/Underdog and is a MacArthur “Genius” Award recipient. She has also been awarded grants by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York Foundation for the Arts. She is recipient of a Lila-Wallace Reader’s Digest Award, a CalArts/Alpert Award in the Arts (Drama) for 1996, a Guggenheim Foundation Grant and is an alumnae of New Dramatists. Her work is the subject of the PBS Film “The Topdog Diaries.” Suzan-Lori Parks’ talks are part performance, part storytelling – always high energy, with an inspired sense of humor. Reshmi Hazra (Director) 3rd Year MFA/ Directing. Reshmi has her BFA in drama from New York University. After graduation, she received the Robert Moss Directing Residency at Playwrights Horizons Theater. Following that, she received the Artist of Color Fellowship at New York Theatre Workshop. Her Theatre School productions include A Body of Water by Lee Blessing, Blood Wedding by Federico Garcia Lorca, Normal by Anthony Neilson, The Underpants by Steve Martin, and Inky by Rinne Groff. Past productions include Monster by Neal Bell, Mud by Maria Irene Fornes, What Will I Do When You’re Gone? by Neal Bell. She has also directed many readings at numerous theaters in various stages of development. Devon Mary Doherty (Assistant Director) 4th year BFA/Theatre Arts. Devon hails from Toronto, Canada. Previous Theatre School credits include Normal and Blood Wedding, Ernie Nolan’s production of The Witches (Witch Ensemble), and directing Silence in the 2011 10-Minute Play Festival. Later this year, Devon will be dramaturg for Lisa Portes’ production of Barrio Grrrl! A Musical, and will direct Leave the Balcony Open as a Theatre Arts Lab in the Spring.
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Karly Bergmann (Dramaturg) 3rd year BFA Dramaturgy/Theatre Criticism. Past Theatre School credits include CAT LAB (Director), Doubt (Dramaturg), and Much Ado About Nothing (Assistant Dramaturg). She will be the dramaturg for The Rivals this Spring. Phil Timberlake (Vocal Coach) Phil is an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework and is a diploma candidate in the Roy Hart Theatre Voice Teacher program. He previously taught at Northern Illinois University and Virginia Commonwealth University. He also taught at The Actor’s Gymnasium and The Actors Center in Chicago, and has led workshops with Lookingglass Theatre. In 1996, Phil was an Annette Kade Fulbright Fellow to France, studying at the Centre Artistique International Roy Hart. Phil is an ensemble member of Lifeline Theatre where he received Non-Equity Jeff Nominations for Busman’s Honeymoon (Best Supporting Actor-Play) and Queen Lucia (Best Supporting Actor-Musical). Other Chicago acting credits include First Folio Theatre (Romeo & Juliet, The Tempest), Lifeline (Neverwhere, The Island of Dr. Moreau [Non-Equity Jeff Award- Best Production], The Two Towers), Apple Tree (Violet), Powertap (The Beaux’ Stratagem), Shaw Chicago (Misalliance), City Lit (Playboy Stories), and Shakespeare’s Motley Crew (Twelfth Night, Midsummer Night’s Dream, King Lear). He is a member of VASTA (Voice and Speech Trainers Association) and SAG (Screen Actors Guild). Nick Sandys (Fight Choreographer) Nick Sandys has been adjunct faculty at The Theatre School since 1994, teaching stage combat and choreographing violence for many shows. He is a Certified Teacher and Fight Director with the Society of American Fight Directors. His Jeff Award winning fight direction has been seen all over Chicagoland (including over 35 productions at Lyric Opera where he is the Resident Fight Director, and over 25 at the Goodman Theatre), as well as regionally and at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC. Nick is also an award-winning actor and
B I O G R A P H I E S (c o n t. ) director. He is an Artistic Associate at both Remy Bumppo Theatre and at First Folio Theatre, has received eight Joseph Jefferson Nominations, and he was named Best Actor or 2011 by Chicago Magazine. Nick holds MAs from both Cambridge University and Loyola University Chicago, and he is the recipient of a 2011 Achievement Award from The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier Charitable Foundation For The Arts. Ingrid Larson (Scenic Designer) 3rd Year BFA/Scenic Design. Ingrid is from Sioux City, Iowa. Ingrid has served as an assistant scenic designer for The Theatre School at DePaul University’s productions of The Ernie Play and The Witches. Holly Haupert (Costume Designer) 4th year BFA/Costume Design. Holly comes from Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Her credits at DePaul include Costumer Designer for The Secret Garden and Medea. Her Assistant Costume Designer credits include 1001, The Three Musketeers, and Haroun and the Sea of Stories. Recently, Holly served as Assistant Costume Designer for Or, at the Collaboraction Theater, Chicago. Jessica Burgwald (Makeup Assistant) 4th year BFA/Costume Technology. At The Theatre School, Jessica served as the draper/cutter on The Witches and Medea, assistant draper/cutter on Much Ado About Nothing, and costume designer for The Skriker. She was the 2011 Costuming Intern at In the Heart of Beast Theatre in Minneapolis. She also served as makeup lead for The Ernie Play, The Monster Under the Bed, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Theatre School. Joe Watrach (Lighting Designer) 4th year BFA/Lighting Design. Past credits at The Theatre School include lighting design for Crave, Original Recipe, and Twelfth Night. Outside designs include El Stories for Waltzing Mechanics, and Stage Door and My Fair Lady for CAST. He designed
and ran lights for numerous bands at Lollapalooza this year, including City and Colour and The Black Lips. Joe recently spent a term studying lighting design in London at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Mikey Moran (Sound Design and Composition) 3rd year BFA/Sound Design. Theatre School credits include sound design for The Witches, Original Recipe and A View From The Bridge. As a pit musician, he has performed at DePaul in Cabaret. A self-taught musician, Mikey learned composition through trial and error. Sarah Geis (Stage Manager) 2nd year BFA/Stage Management. Sarah hails from Jackson Township, Ohio. She has served as an assistant stage manager for Cabaret, Hedda Gabler, and Pinkalicious. Damon Kiely (Faculty Advisor) He has directed for Next Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, A Red Orchid Theatre, American Blues Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, and Route 66. His world premiere adaptation of Thieves Like Us was produced by the Theatre School and the House Theatre of Chicago last year. He served as the Artistic Director of American Theater Company from 2002 to 2007. Directing credits at ATC include Oklahoma! (Nominated for 6 Jeff Awards including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical), The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, Orpheus Descending, A View from the Bridge, Strictly Dishonorable and The Hairy Ape. At The Theatre School he has directed There’s a Boy in the Girls Bathroom, A Streetcar Named Desire, Medea, and Haroun and the Sea of Stories and adapted/directed Nancy Drew and the Sign of the TWisted Candles. Prior to moving back to Chicago he produced, directed and taught in New York City. He is a winner of the 2000-02 NEA/TCG Career Directing Program, the 2000 Drama League Fall Directing Program and the 1997 Princess Grace Award.
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The Theatre School’s 2011-2012 Season THE THEATRE SCHOOL SHOWCASE A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard directed by Carlos Murillo February 3 - 12, 2012 (previews 2/1 & 2/2) The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan directed by Catherine Weidner April 13 - 22, 2012 (previews 4/11 & 4/12) I Am Bradley Manning by Sarah Gubbins directed by Geoff Button An ensemble piece to be performed by MFA III actors. May 9 – 13, 2012 CHICAGO PLAYWORKS FOR FAMILIES AND YOUNG AUDIENCES Nancy Drew and the Sign of the Twisted Candles based on the book by Carolyn Keene adapted and directed by Damon Kiely January 14 – February 28, 2012 Barrio Grrrl! A Musical book and lyrics by Quiara Alegría Hudes music by Bill Sherman, directed by Lisa Portes musical direction by Mark Elliott March 27 – May 12, 2012 NEW DIRECTORS SERIES Venus by Suzan-Lori Parks directed by Reshmi Hazra February 10 – 19, 2012 (previews 2/8 & 2/9) NEW PLAYWRIGHTS SERIES The Death of Gaia Divine by Jacob Schuler directed by John Jenkins May 4 – 13, 2012 (previews 5/2 & 5/3)
8 DePaul University
T H E AT R E S C H O O L FAC U LT Y / S TA FF John Culbert – Dean Dean Corrin – Associate Dean Linda Buchanan – Associate Dean for Curriculum Christine Binder – Chair, Design and Technical Theatre Barry Brunetti – Chair of Theatre Studies Trudie Kessler – Chair, Performance Department ADMINISTRATION Anna Ables — Director of Marketing and Public Relations Jason Beck — Director of Admissions Mitsu Beck – Executive Assistant John Bridges — Assistant Dean, Director of Administration, Alumni Relations Tessa Craib-Cox – Director of Development Anastasia Gonzalez – Budget Manager Joshua Mangilia - Technical Operations Manager Andrea Tichy — Manager of PR and Special Events Melissa Tropp – Admissions Assistant Jeanne Williams – Coordinator of Academic Services AJ Links – Production Coordinator Dexter Zollicoffer – Diversity Advisor ACTING & DIRECTING Dexter Bullard – Head of Graduate Acting, Artistic Director/The Theatre School Showcase John Jenkins – Head of Undergraduate Acting Lisa Portes – Head of Directing, Artistic Director/ Chicago Playworks Greg Allen Jane Drake Brody Linda Gillum Noah Gregoropolous Nick Johne Damon Kiely
Susan Messing Matt Miller Joseph Slowik, emeritus Ann Wakefield Catherine Weidner
MOVEMENT Patrice Egleston – Head of Movement Laura Dixon Julia Neary Gabriel Halpern Nick Sandys Pullin Natasha Julius Clifton Robinson Alie McManus Mary Schmich Kimosha Murphy VOICE AND SPEECH Claudia Anderson – Head of Voice and Speech Eva Breneman Kathy Keyes Mark Elliott Jason Martin Phyllis E. Griffin Diane Robinson Trudie Kessler Phil Timberlake
DESIGN Christine Binder – Head of Lighting Design Linda Buchanan – Head of Scene Design Nan Cibula-Jenkins – Head of Costume Design Victoria DeIorio– Head of Sound Design Nan Zabriskie- Head of Make Up Jeff Bauer John Boesche Rachel Healy Jason Knox
Jack K. Magaw Birgit RattenborgWise Joanna White
TECHNICAL THEATRE Shane Kelly – Head of Theatre Technology Janet C. Messmer – Head of Costume Technology Narda E. Alcorn – Head of Stage Management Claude Binder Russell Poole Jason Brown Michael Rourke Richard Bynum Jim Savage David Castellanos Alden Vasquez Kevin Depinet Laura Whitlock David Naunton THEATRE STUDIES Barry Brunetti – Head of Theatre Arts Carlos Murillo – Head of Playwriting Alan Salzenstein – Head of Arts Leadership Marcie McVay – Interim Head of Theatre Management Rachel Shteir – Head of Dramaturgy Sharon Bridgeforth– Visiting Multicultural Faculty Member Suzanne Bizer Alan Donahue Criss Henderson Jim Jensen Chris Jones Jan Kallish LIBERAL STUDIES Bea Bosco Lou Contey Shanesia Davis Jen Goode Carolyn Hoerdemann
Ernie Nolan Bill O’Connor Coya Paz-Brownrigg Roche Schulfer Sandy Shinner
Reggie Lawrence Dan Moser Chris Peak James Sherman Rachel Slavick
TECHNICAL STAFF So Hui Chong – Stitcher Tim Combs – Technical Director Myron Elliott - Costume Shop Manager Chris Hofmann – Director of Production Jen Leahy – Reskin Technical Director Dawn G. McKesey – Assistant Costume Shop Manager Max Raynolds– Reskin Assistant Technical Director Aaron Pijanowski – Technical Assistant Gerry Reynolds – Scene Shop Foreman Ron Seeley – Master Electrician Wayne W. Smith – Property Master, Safety Officer Joanna White – Scenic Artist
For more information, check our Web site: theatreschool.depaul Venus 9
M E R L E R E S K I N T H E AT R E S TA FF Dean ....................................................................................................................................... John Culbert Theatre Manager ................................................................................................................ Leslie Shook Director of Marketing and Public Relations .................................................................Anna Ables Manager of Public Relations and Special Events ................................................... Andrea Tichy Marketing Assistants ................................ Jean Compton, Meredith Matthews, Jenna Moran Webmaster .....................................................................................................................Joshua Maniglia Box Office Manager ...............................................................................................................Julia Curns Assistant Box Office Manager .................................................................................Stefanie Rahaim Ticket Agents ........................................................ Brent Beavers, Michelle Burton, Cecilia Falter, Brandon Mack, Meghan Owen, Anastasia Schriber Group Sales Representative ..................................................................................... Linda RM Jones Group Sales Assistants .................................................................................... Christopher Knoerzer Administrative Assistant .......................................................................................................Liz Calvert Office Assistants ................................................................................................................. Jourdi Waller Chicago Playworks House Manager ..................................................................... LaKisha Jackson Theatre School Showcase House Manager .................................................................... Alicia Graf Reskin Technical Director ......................................................................................................Jen Leahy Reskin Assistant Technical Director ...........................................................................Max Raynolds Technical Assistant ....................................................................................................Aaron Pijanowski Master Electrician .................................................................................................................. Ron Seeley
T H E T H E AT R E S C H O O L S T U D E N T W O R K E R S Faculty Assistants ..................................................................... Brent Beavers, Belinda Bing, Todd Boger, Celeste Cooper, John Crosthwaite, Devon Doherty, Liz Fiala, Joseph Flynn, Reshmi Hazra, Emily Hitmar, Garvin Jellison, Toni Kendrick, Constance Lee, Jillian Rothman, Brae Singleton, Kelly Sloan, Krenee Tolson, Krissy Vanderwarker, Olivia Wallace Admissions Assistants ............................................................Nick Belley, Karly Bergmann, Taylor Blim,. Anna Bosy, Dan Johnson, and Morgan Madison Administration Assistants ...............................................Jacob Abbas, Olga Aguilar, Cameron Benoit, Meredith Boe, Mark Bonham, Bella Coelho, Brian Crawford, Pamela Davis, Caroline Donnelly, Rhiannon Falzone, Holly Haupert, Jerry Kurian, Mark Lancaster, Ariel Rubin, Brittany Squier, Suneel Tripuraneni, Jess Troy, Sean Wiberg Costume Shop .............................................................................Olivia Ball, Jessica Burgwald, Kara Dent, Constance Lee, Adrienne Littlefield, Chloe Patten, Taylor Payne, Elise Petrucci, Megan Turner Door Monitors ......................................................................... Lorena Gomez, Lauren Lundy, Jacob Lyle, Morgan Madison, Awate Serequeberhan, Ceci Settles Make Up Shop......................................................................Jessica Burgwald, Belinda Bing, Todd Boger, Taylor Payne, Sarah Jo White, Sarah Price, Matt Sherrill, Molly Ryan, Megan Truscott Mat Cleaners ....................................................Jared Green, Patricia Lavery, Manuel Ortiz, Sean Parris Prop Shop ..................................................................................Michael David, Toni Kendrick, Tierra Novy, Jillian Rothman, Megan Truscott, Rachel Watson Merle Reskin Theatre Crew .....................................................Chris Barker, Belinda Bing, Claire Cleary, Jean Compton, Sam Hillyer, Garvin Jellison, Brae Singleton, Elizabeth Smith, Aimee Sweet, Shawn Watson Scene Shop ........................................................................ Ian Blinstrup, Quentin Brown, Kelly Claussen, William Deleguardia, Nicholas Fleming, Jared Gooding, Toni Kendrick, Alexander Long, Andrew McCarthy, Claudia Peterson, Seth Randall-Tapply, Kyle Vanover, Anders Wahl, Shawn Watson Studio Coordinators .....................................................Janie Killips, Jacob Stanton, Elizabeth Thomas 10 DePaul University
G E N E R A L I N F O R M AT I O N /G R E E N H O U S E T H E AT E R C E N T E R S TA FF BOX OFFICE TELEPHONE 773.404.7336 REGULAR BOX OFFICE HOURS Wednesday-Saturday: 12pm-8pm Sunday: 12pm-4pm PERFORMANCE BOX OFFICE HOURS Open until 30 minutes past curtain for all shows. NO SMOKING In compliance with the City of Chicago Clean Air Ordinance, smoking is prohibited in the Greenhouse Theater Center. We appreciate your cooperation. EMERGENCY EXITS Please note the location of emergency exits in the theatre. CELLULAR PHONES, RECORDING DEVICES, PHOTOGRAPHY, PAGERS, OUTSIDE FOOD AND BEVERAGES All of the above are prohibited in the theatre building. You may check cameras and recording equipment with the House Manager who will secure them until final curtain. Water coolers are located in both lobbies. RESTROOMS Restrooms are located in the lower lobby. Restrooms are accessible. LOST AND FOUND If you find an item or have lost an item, please contact the House Manager. You may also call 773.404.7336 the next day to determine if an item has been found. EMERGENCY TELEPHONE CALLS Patrons with electronic pagers are requested to either turn off their pagers in the theatre or check them with the House Manager prior to showtime. Should you need to give an emergency telephone number where you can be reached during a performance, please alert the House Manager of your seat location and give the Box Office telephone number for emergencies, 773.404.7336.
G R E E N H O U S E T H E AT E R S TA FF General Manager ................................................................................................Jennifer Kincaid Box Office Manager ......................................................................................... Maureen Strobel Box Office Staff ............................................................................................................Joe Wescott House Managers ................................................................................ Ann Schumin, Chris Lysy Bartender ..................................................................................................................Avella Holling Theater Technician ..................................................................................................Jason Shivers Maintenance Engineer .................................................................................... Joseph Edwards Usher Coordinators ........................................................................ Bobbie Heiman, Miram Ex Ushers ................................................................................................................................ The Saints
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T H E T H E AT R E S C H O O L AT D E PAU L U N I V E R S I T Y Mission Statement The Theatre School at DePaul University educates, trains, and inspires students of theatre in a conservatory setting that is rigorous, disciplined, culturally diverse and that strives for the highest level of professional skill and artistry. A commitment to diversity and equality in education is central to our mission. As an integral part of the training, The Theatre School produces public programs and performances from a wide repertoire of classic, contemporary and original plays that challenge, entertain, and stimulate the imagination. We seek to enhance the intellectual and cultural life of our university community, our city and the profession. For admissions information, telephone (773) 325-7999 or 1-800-4-DEPAUL. Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences Chicago Playworks offers a live theatre experience to students, teachers and parents in the Chicago metropolitan area. It is our mission to provide theatre for children that reflects their experiences in a contemporary, multi-ethnic, urban environment. Founded as the Goodman Children’s Theatre in 1925, Chicago Playworks is the city’s oldest continuously operating children’s theatre. It has been the first theatre experience for audiences of Chicago’s young people for more than seven decades and was one of the first major theatres for children in the United States. In 1997 and again in 2003, Chicago Playworks was honored by the Illinois Theatre Association with the Children’s Theatre Division Award, for its outstanding long-term contribution to children’s theatre. In 1980, Chicago Playworks was awarded the prestigious Sara Spencer Award by the Children’s Theatre Association of America (now the American Alliance for Theatre and Education). Chicago Playworks is a vital aspect of the training at The Theatre School at DePaul University. Students gain pre-professional experience in an extended run before a most demanding and appreciative audience. Chicago Playworks presents three unique productions to more than 35,000 young people each season and has entertained more than 1 million schoolchildren and families since 1925. The Theatre School Showcase Contemporary Plays and Classics Presenting diverse and exciting productions, The Theatre School Showcase blends imagination and cultural impact with three plays, and rounds-out the season with a fourth production featuring the graduating MFA in Acting candidates. The Theatre School Showcase offers a unique opportunity to see tomorrow’s industry leaders today, by introducing the raw creativity and dedicated collaborations of artists at the beginning of their careers. Their work is powerful, imaginative, and new. Merle Reskin Theatre Celebrating a century of performances this season, the Merle Reskin Theatre, built as the Blackstone Theatre in 1910, was designed by Chicago architects Marshall & Fox. The stone façade and mansard roof of the Beaux-Arts style building have been modified only slightly over the years. The interior finish of French walnut and gold was designed by Plamondon & Tetze to give the appearance of a European opera house. Prior to DePaul’s purchase of the theatre in 1988, it had been home to vaudeville, the Federal Theatre Project and the touring productions of the Shubert Organization. The Theatre School brings an audience of more than 35,000 people to the theatre each season. 12 DePaul University
T H E T H E AT R E S C H O O L B OA R D Sustaining Members David Dunning, Chair Sondra Healy, Chair Emeritus Joseph Antunovich Kathleen M. Bette Mary Spalding Burns Kyle DeSantis James Fitzpatrick John M. Lenckos Catherine McBreen Irene Michaels Carol Morse Penny Obenshain Vonita Reescer
Merle Reskin John Samolis Patricia Costello Slovak Msgr. Kenneth Velo Professional Associates Scott L. Ellis, Hon. Co-Chair Zach Helm Criss Henderson Paul Konrad Paula Lisbe Amy K. Pietz John C. Reilly
Bernard Sahlins Charlayne Woodard Dennis Zacek Honorary Board Dr. John Ransford Watts, Dean Emeritus Dr. Bella Itkin-Konrath, Faculty Emeritus Joseph Slowik, Faculty Emeritus Lord Piers Wedgwood
D E PAU L U N I V E R S I T Y A LU M N I The Office of Alumni Relations provides many opportunities to help graduates maintain a lifelong connection to classmates and the university. Alumni can connect with current students, participate in volunteer opportunities and attend a variety of events and programs throughout the year and across the country. For more information about the alumni community, please visit alumni.depaul.edu or call (800) 437-1898.
DONORS Listings in the honor roll reflect contributions and pledge payments made to The Theatre School between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010. President’s Club Gifts of $1,000 and above annually qualify for membership in the President’s Club, DePaul’s honor society of donors. The President’s Club comprises giving circles named for former university presidents. *$1,000,000 lifetime giving + Donor has made a special philanthropic pledge to DePaul University between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010 ~ Denotes President’s Club membership, Fr. Richardson Circle, for recent graduates $50,000 + Fr. McCabe Circle *Dr. Dominic Parisi & Helen Parisi *+Merle Reskin $25,000-$49,999 Fr. Levan Circle +Gerhard Bette & Kathleen Bette +Lawrence Bundschu *Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Geico *+ Sondra Healy, GSD ‘64 (Life Trustee) & Denis Healy +William Obenshain & Penny Obenshain Turtle Wax, Inc. $10,000-$24,999 Fr. Corcoran Circle American Airlines Antunovich & Associates Joseph Antunovich & Leslie Antunovich ComEd
*Richard H. Driehaus Charitable Lead Trust *Richard Driehaus, COM ‘65; MBA ‘70; DHL ‘02 (Life Trustee) & Inese Romanovska +Nik Edes Scott Ellis, GSD ‘78 Exelon Corporation Health Care Service Corporation Magellan Corporation +Power Construction Company, LLC +Claire Rosen & Samuel Edes Foundation John Samolis Gordon Segal & Carole Segal *+Father Charles Shelby, C.M., MS ‘72 $5,000-$9,999 Fr. O’Connell Circle Bank of America Barclays Bank PLC
Bulley & Andrews, LLC Joseph Burns & Mary Burns Chicago Drama League The Cleveland Foundation James & Catherine Denny Foundation *+James Denny Sr. (Life Trustee) & Catherine Denny +David Dunning & Toni Dunning Edgewater Management, Inc. Fifth Third Bank Illinois Tool Works, Inc. John Lenckos Paul Mc Breen, JD ‘86 & Catherine McBreen, JD ‘86 Carol Morse Mortenson Construction Northern Trust Corporation Kathy O’Donnell R4 Services Patrick G. & Shirley W. Ryan Foundation Andrea Saccone Venus 13
D O N O R S (c o n t . ) Sarah Siddons Society, Inc. Patricia Slovak Staples, Inc. Steppenwolf Theatre Co. Walsh Construction Co. of Illinois W. E. O’Neil Construction Co. $2,500-$4,999 Fr. O’Malley Circle Rochelle Abramson, MED ‘89 & Elliott Abramson David Blowers Emma Byrne Katherine Frekko Kenneth A. Lattman Foundation, Inc. Daniel Lyons, MUS ‘83; MM ‘91 & Monica Abramson-Lyons, THE ‘87 National Restoration Systems, Inc. Northern Trust Charitable Giving Program Ann O’Brien Terry Perucca Schiff Hardin, LLP Robert Segal Maureen Huntley, GSD ‘82 & Paul Sheahen Robert Shook, GSD ‘72 & Leslie Shook Richard Sieracki & Linda Sieracki Thornton-Tomasetti Group, Inc. $1,000-$2,499 Fr. Richardson Circle Teresa Aguilera, THE ‘98 Alpine Pictures, Inc. Suzanne Bizer Lois Brennan Broadway in Chicago Paul J. Byrne, MFA ‘99 & Jaime Byrne Ryan Carroll, GSD ‘82 Chapman & Cutler, LLP *Philip H. Corboy Foundation Tessa Craib-Cox John Culbert & Kitty Culbert Dell USA, LLP *Mary Dempsey, JD ‘82 (Trustee) & Philip Corboy Sr. William Devers Ernst & Young Foundation William Ibe, LAS ‘80 J. C. Anderson, Inc. Anthony Johnson, THE ‘95 & Candace Johnson Jack Karp Bob & Linda Kozoman Larry Kugler James Luebchow Irene Michaels 14 DePaul University
Millard Group, Inc. Susan & Bob Morrison Mason Parson Family Foundation Patricia Parson, SNL ‘78 (Trustee) The Peoples Gas Light & Coke, Inc. Phil Varchetta & Associates Roger Plummer (Trustee) & Joanne Plummer PSEG Thomas Reedy Bernard Sahlins & Jane Sahlins Rosemary Schnell Segal Family Foundation Mr. & Mrs. R. Michael Shehorn Charles Smith Phil Varchetta, COM ‘49 Susan Vargo, THE ‘98 Monsignor Kenneth Velo Wedgwood USA Bonnie Zimmer $500-$999 Katherine Abelson Rosemary S. & John F. Bannan John Bowab John Bridges Russell Bruzek, GSD Child’s Play Touring Theatre Patricia Cox Joseph Cushing James Fitzpatrick Arny Granat Mark L. Hawkins, COM ‘01; MBA ‘06 John & Kelly Hoogenakker KI Mark Kijek, MD & Barbara Kijek, MD Kirkegaard Associates Virginia Larson Gerald McLaughlin Dr. Richard Meister & Joan Meister Elizabeth Soete & Raymond Narducy Henry Nord, JD ‘49 (Life Trustee) Professional Decorating & Painting, Inc. Schuler & Shook, Inc. Beverly Shaw Weiss & Company, LLP $250-$499 Rebecca Borczon, GSD ‘78 Linda Buchanan Herbert Felsenfeld, GSD ‘63; GSD ‘65 Hobart Senior High School James Jensen BJ Jones Shane Kelly
Donald Livesay Janet Messmer David Mold, MFA ‘97 Gregory Reger, COM ‘73 David Saltiel ~Ronald Seeley Jr., THE ‘06 Showtime Network Norbert Sieracki, COM ‘49 Stearns Family Charitable Fund Neele & Bonnie Stearns Joanne Velasquez (Trustee) & Arthur R. Velasquez Catherine Weidner Dennis Zacek, LAS ‘63 $100-$249 Anonymous (1) Linda Boskelly Nicholas Bowling, MFA ‘96 Jane Brody Jeffrey Bruckerhoff, THE ‘94 Mark & Linda Burns Dean Corrin Carole Doris, JD ‘76 & Dr. Peter Doris Dr. William Dumbleton & Susanne Dumbleton, PhD Charles Gerace, GSD ‘66 & Brigid Duffy, GSD ‘65 Gilbert Gonzalez & Anastasia Gonzalez Dr. Donald Ilko John Jenkins & Nan CibulaJenkins Anida Johnson Cohen Damon Kiely Yasmine Kiss, THE ‘98 David Lively & Elizabeth Gillette Lively William McKenna & Marilyn McKenna Dawn McKesey Zorine Morton, GSD Janine Poronsky, JD ‘86 Lindy Russell-Heymann, THE ‘00 Alan Salzenstein James Sieracki & Linda Sieracki Steven Sieracki & Mary Sieracki Joseph Slowik, GSD ‘53 & Patricia Slowik Jennifer Smith, THE ‘91 Carri Speicher Dr. John Ransford Watts & Joyce Watts Matching Gifts The Peoples Gas Light & Coke, Inc. Ernst & Young Foundation PSEG
S C H O L A R S H I P I N F O R M AT I O N A priority at The Theatre School is to make sure any student who has the talent to be admitted to our conservatory training program, can attend regardless of their financial means. For the vast majority of our students, pursuing their passion for the theatre profession is a financial struggle. We work hard every year to make funding available to help our students reach their professional goals. NEW ENDOWED AND EXPENDABLE SCHOLASHIPS The total in endowed scholarship accounts is $1,997,080.81. EXPENDABLE SCHOLARSHIPS The Gala Live Auction at The Theatre School Gala added another 5 expendable $10K scholarships to be awarded in the 2010-11 academic year. Donors: Joseph and Leslie Antunovich Sondra and Denis Healy A scholarship in memory of Deborah Ann Goldwater John Simon and Millie Rosenbloom Richard Driehause The Evans, Kozoman and Obenshain Scholarship DONATIONS TO EXISTING SCHOLARSHIPS Merle Reskin made a $15,000 pledge payment to the Merle Reskin Endowed Scholarship. Alum Scott Ellis made a pledge payment of $10,000 to the Joseph Slowik Scholarship and to an expendable scholarship for 10-11. Alum Robert Shook and Leslie Shook made a pledge payment to the Lighting Design Scholarship. Andrea Ganzel Saccone made an additional gift to the Mark Ganzel Memorial Scholarship. Gerald McLaughlin made additional gifts to the Michael Maggio Endowed Scholarship. The following alums and friends made donations to the Itkin and Slowik Endowed scholarships: Becky Borczon, Richard and Barbara Bull, John Castaneda, Nancy Costikyan, Tessa Craib-Cox, Joan and Michael Dry, Herbert Felsenfeld, Al Fenske, Charles Gerace and Brigid Duffy Gerace, Michelle Gross and Betty Bayard, Patricia and Christopher Hoffman, William Hollis and Coleen Maloney-Hollis, Christina James, Sandi Juhlin, , Betty Martinez , Denise McCauley, William McDonnell, Dawn McKesey, Cynthia McWilliams, Janet Messmer, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Million, Jeffrey Neal, Rich Pierrelouis, James Rau, Kenneth Ruta , Maureen Huntley Sheahen and Paul Sheahen, Robert and Leslie Shook, Carlo da Silva, Kevin Slaughter, Ted Wass, Kevin White, Jann Wilson. If you are interested in making a gift to support student scholarships or a program at The Theatre School, please call Tessa Craib-Cox, Director of Development at 773-325-7929
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A LU M N I FAC T S Participation: Over 700 alumni were listed in Theatre School News during its fourteenth year of production. TSN is an electronic alumni activity newsletter published monthly (except July). Though originally created as a vehicle to communicate alumni activities among alumni, it is now also used for admissions, recruitment, fund raising, advertising and promotion. It is also responsible for gradually increasing the number of alumni within the school’s database with active electronic and snail-mail addresses and phone numbers. The statistics below are based on issues between August 2010 and June 2011. http://theatreschool.depaul.edu/tsn The listings included the following selected alumni activities: Alumni worked at 119 different Chicagoland area theatre companies including Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare, Goodman, Victory Gardens, TimeLine, Next Theatre and The Second City. Alumni worked at 55 different theatre and film festivals internationally including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, West Hollywood International Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, the 46th Annual Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago Humanities Festival, Just For Laughs Festival, and the San Francisco Film Festival. Alumni have worked at 104 different schools including NYU, Yale, Notre Dame, University of Chicago, UC Irvine, University of Houston School of Theatre, USC School of Theatre, The Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia University, Columbia College, Harvard, School at Steppenwolf , The American Film Institute, and Oakland University. Alumni worked on 63 Broadway/touring shows including Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, Chinglish, That Face, 1001, Middletown, Twelfth Night, Peter Pan, Educating Rita, Puppet Up Uncensored, Logengrin, Hercules, The Front Page, The Seagull, Memory, Hot L Baltimore, Pinkalicious, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, House of Blue Leaves, The Tempest. Alumni worked at 88 other theatres on the East Coast. Alumni worked at 71 different theatres on the West Coast. Alumni worked in 40 different states. Alumni worked in 14 countries other than the United States including Sweden, Canada, Honduras, New Zealand, Portugal, Japan, Switzerland, England, Korea, Amsterdam, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Germany. Alumni worked on 104 films this year including Horrible Bosses, Unstoppable, The Other Guys, Cedar Rapids, Love and Other Drugs, Tron: Legacy, The Dilemma, Conviction, Hop, The Crazies, Dinner for Shmucks, Terri, Jack and Jill, and We Need to Talk About Kevin. Alumni worked on 415 theatre productions. Alumni worked on more than 28 different television channels ABC, FX, Disney, CBS, Nickelodeon, CW, Bravo, MTV, Showtime, SyFy, TBS, NBC, VH1, and HBO, on 50 different programs including Boardwalk Empire, Southland, Vampire Mob, Bones, Desperate Housewives, Castle, True Blood, HawthoRNe, Rookie Blue, The Glades, The Event. Alumni have multiple television shows in syndication or online including Weeds, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Sopranos, and The X-Files. Alumni worked on 62 commercials or voiceovers for products Butterfinger, Budweiser, Kraft, McDonald’s, Dannon, Cartoon Network, Crown Royal, Zest, Pillsbury, L’Oreal, Verizon, Staples, Illinois Lottery, Panasonic, Hall’s Fruit Breezers, and Pringles. Alumni worked at more than 25 production companies including Warner Brothers Pictures, Miramax, Tribeca Productions, Saturn Films, Spyglass Entertainment, MGM, 20th Century Fox Productions, Sony Pictures, Disney and New York Stage and Film. 45 alumni are Artistic or Co-Artistic Directors of theatres. Alumni were featured in numerous articles in publications including Time Out Chicago, The Advocate, Esquire, USA Today, gay.com, New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, Chicago Sun-Times, American Theatre Magazine, and The New Yorker. Alumni were recognized with 28 awards or award nominations, including Tony Award, Fullbright Scholarship, Humanitas Prize Fellowship, Pulitzer Prize, After Dark Award, Lumen Award, Network One-Act Festival, the Claire Rosen and Samuel Edes Foundation Prize for Emerging Artist. Mini Versions of Theatre School News: Mini versions of Theatre School News were created for each admissions‑related festival, conference and open house, and for the eight regional audition/ interview locations.
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