Dexter Bullard, Artistic Director presents
by Euripides translated by Frederic Raphael and Kenneth McLeish
Director – Damon Kiely Dramaturg – Jacob Shuler Scenic Designer – Megan Truscott Costume Designer – Holly Haupert Lighting Designer – Kaitlyn Myers Projection Designer - John Boesche Sound Designer/Composer – Jeff Gary Stage Manager – Rebecca Rowlett
April 15 – 24, 2011
DePaul’s Merle Reskin Theatre 60 E. Balbo Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 Email: theatreboxoffice@depaul.edu http://theatreschool.depaul.edu (312) 922-1999
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CAST (in
or der of appe ar ance)
Nurse......................................................................................................................Aislinn Kerchaert Tutor/Aigeus..........................................................................................................Camden Brown Chorus ..................................................................................Celeste M. Cooper, Olivia Douglas, Olivia Dustman, Kelsey Jorissen, Ariel Rubin Medea............................................................................................................................ Kristin E. Ellis Kreon.........................................................................................................Joseph Fitzgerald Flynn Jason ....................................................................................................................Christopher Allen Servant ............................................................................................................................Alex Seeley Children ....................................................................John Babbo, Roman Harris MacDonald
Place: Corinth Time: 2011 The play will be performed without intermission. Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., New York City
SPECIAL THANKS Domain Condominiums, Shane Kelly, Mayra Lowry
Ticket SPECIALS Visit Footlights.com to check out the latest event discounts.
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P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F Assistant Directors........................................................................Joshua Jaeger, Nicole Prahin Assistant Stage Managers.......................................................................Liz Fiala, Belinda Bing Fight Choreographer.................................................................................................. Nick Sandys Assistant Scenic Designer.....................................................................................Rachel Watson Assistant Costume Designer.................................................................................. Lissa Lamona Assistant Lighting Designer................................................................................ Zachary LeDuc Assistant Sound Designer..............................................................................................M.E. Moran Assistant Dramaturg......................................................................................................Alexis Links Director of Production.......................................................................................... Chris Hofmann Production Coordinator.......................................................................................Jeanne Williams Technical Director.................................................................................... Todd Peacock-Preston Reskin Technical Director.................................................................................................Jen Leahy Reskin Assistant Technical Director..................................................................... Max Raynolds Technical Assistant.........................................................................................................Jacob Josef Scene Shop Foreman ............................................................................................ Gerry Reynolds Scenic Artist................................................................................................................Joanna White Property Master....................................................................................................... Chuck Jarasek Costume Shop Manager......................................................................................Deanna Aliosius Draper/Cutter.......................................................................................................Hannah Tricamo Assistant Draper/Cutters........................................................Jessica Burgwald, A.J. Littlefield Staff Stitcher..............................................................................................................So Hui Chong Master Electrician..........................................................................................................Joe Watrach Assistant Master Electrician........................................................................................Sam Hillyer Reskin Master Electrician...............................................................................................Ron Seeley Make-up Supervisor.................................................................................................Nan Zabriskie Scenery and Property Crew.......................................... Jessica Allison, Meredith Grossbart, John Humiston, Anne Stebbins, Zoe Tyson Costume Crew...............................................................................Michael David, Lauren Lundy, Francesco de Salvatore Make-up Crew...........................................................................................................Adam Stephan Lighting Crew ..................................................................................... William Deleguardia Reskin Sound Technician...............................................................................................Tim Jarrell Sound Crew.................................................................................................................Jack Hawkins Child Wranglers..................................................................................Sean Wiberg, Louis Rinaldi Sign Language Interpreter Coordinator................................................................David Jones Sign Language Interpreters..........................................................Bonnie Koss, Susan Sotnick Director of Marketing and Public Relations.............................................................Anna Ables Manager of PR and Special Events........................................................................ Andrea Tichy Publicity/Production Photos.................................................... Anna Ables, Michael Brosilow Publicity and House Crew.....................................................................Tara Healy, Rachel Long, Benjamin Ross, Awate Serequeberhan Box Office Manager......................................................................................................Kim Van Tuyl House Managers................................................................... LaKisha Jackson, Juliet W. Trieloff Theatre Manager..........................................................................................................Leslie Shook
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D I R E C TO R ’ S N O T E “It looks old and new!” That’s what one of our eight-year-old actors playing Medea and Jason’s son said when he saw the model for our set. We were thrilled because as a team we’ve been trying to honor the power of the original by bringing it into the modern day. We’ve set the play in a fictional ultra-modern Corinth. In researching modern day equivalents we found a surprising number of similarities to modern Dubai: an underground work force, a royal family with an iron hand, and women treated as second class citizens. But our play is set in Corinth, not Dubai. Our chorus worships Zeus and Artemis, not Allah. The people of Corinth still look to oracles for wisdom. And private grief is played out on a very public stage. Every Greek play has the all-seeing eyes of the chorus at its center. We have the video camera. Famous people have their most private moments caught on video and projected out to the world. The women of Corinth act like an ancient chorus: they sing about what they see, talk to the gods and the audience, advise Medea. But they also wield a camera. Jason and Medea were mythic figures 2500 years ago. Today: celebrities. Everyone knows their story and everyone wants to see them fight it out in public. And tonight their private grief becomes public myth. -- Damon Kiely, director
D R A M AT U R G Y N O T E Corinth, days of myth: A mournful nurse cries out in regret: if only such things hadn’t happened. If only such things were not yet to come. Betrayed by her husband for the prospect of power, Medea too cries out—but she is thirsty for blood and vengeance. A chorus of women look on in horror; they dare not take action. To stop Medea would be to turn their backs on the unspeakable wrongs done to their sex. Yet to let this foreigner commit her murderous deeds would bring disgrace to their country. They see her either as a hero or a witch. And so, caught between sympathy and fear, they anticipate the likelihood of disaster. Athens, 431 B.C.E. Euripides writes Medea from his secluded cave on the island of Salamis, near Athens. He reflects on a society where battle comes too often and far too easy. Men can fight for manliness, but women can do nothing. Here in the wealthiest corner of the ancient world, men are given all the power and women (not even legal citizens) are prisoners to domesticity. This poet’s drama reexamines the Medea myth to favor neither the hero nor the witch, but to analyze how gender roles drive this tragedy. Euripides observes how men are quick to restrict what a woman can and cannot do yet refuse to confine themselves. Euripides gave Medea male qualities so the audience of men might first judge her and then recognize their own wrongs. It did not happen. Medea was a flop and within the year, all Greece was at war. Chicago, 2011. Tonight in a dark theatre, the curtain rises on a Medea set in a Corinth that never fell—a city untouched by disaster, recognition or change. In this cozy cave with its velvet chairs and elegant molding, an ancient society fits all too well on this contemporary stage. The faces of these chorus members are as familiar as the faces of women on the news every day, and the mythologies of Corinth or Athens seem only as distant as the uprisings in Egypt, Libya or Bahrain. Now we, the audience, are left between a chorus frozen in fear and a poet with a voice that won’t be heard—praying a Medea will not emerge from the crowd of oppression in a society still unable to see its own errors. -- Jacob Shuler, 3rd year BFA/Playwriting 4 DePaul University
BIOGR APHIES CHRIS ALLEN (Jason) 4th year BFA/ Acting. Christopher hails from Norwalk, Connecticut. His Theatre School credits include The Underground Lovers directed by Anne Wakefield, You Never Can Tell, directed by Don Ilko; Bus Stop, directed by Daniel Kerr-Hobert; Cousin Alice in the Aquarium, directed by Barry Brunnetti; The Three Musketeers, directed by Stephen James Anderson; The Boys in the Band, directed by Don Ilko; The Secret Garden, directed by John Jenkins; and A View from the Bridge, directed by Krissy Vanderwarker. JOHN BABBO (Child) makes his Merle Reskin Theatre debut. Chicago credits include Tiny Tim/Ignorance in Goodman Theatre’s A Christmas Carol, Alastair in Tom Stoppard’s Night and Day with Remy Bumppo Theatre , Ollie Herdman in Provision Theatre’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance, Jr. and Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka, Jr. with Concordia University Chicago, and Mowgli in Jungle Book with BRAVO Performing Arts. John recently played a lead role in The King, a Project Bluelight Film with DePaul University, and starred in the student film Mr. Babbo, which won the DePaul University Campus Movie Fest. John is in the fourth grade, plays travel soccer and studies piano and violin. CAMDEN BROWN (Tutor/Aigeus) 3rd year BFA/Acting. Camden originates from Durham, New Hampshire, where he was last seen as Frank N. Furter in Rocky Horror Live at the Player’s Ring. His Theatre School credits include Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Catherine Weidner; Cabaret, directed by Barry Brunetti; The Lady in the Van, directed by Ann Wakefield; Reasons to be Pretty, directed by Jane Drake Brody; and the Old Greek Man in Iphigenia 2.0, directed by Thomas Weitz. CELESTE M. COOPER (Chorus) 2nd year MFA/Acting. Celeste received her BA in Theatre from Tennessee State University, where she was the recipient of the Most Multi-Talented Award and Best Actress Award from the Thomas Edward Poag Players Guild in 2009. Some of her credits include Jeannie in The American in Me, Adam in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Pecola in The Bluest Eye, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Mrs. Levi in The Matchmaker, Shango (band) in Blood Pudding, and Ursula and Sexton in Much Ado About Nothing.
OLIVIA DOUGLAS (Chorus) 3rd year BFA/Acting is originally from Louisville, Kentucky. Previous Theatre School credits include the original collaboration Women and War; columbinus; Antigone; The Lady in the Van; Almost, Maine. OLIVIA DUSTMAN (Chorus) 4th year BFA/Acting. Olivia hails from Salt Lake City, Utah. Her past Theatre School credits include The Underground Lovers, Summer and Smoke, The Cherry Orchard, Holes, Four Twins and Inky. Most recently she appeared as Lily in The Skriker and Catherine in A View from the Bridge. KRISTIN E. ELLIS (Medea) 4th year BFA/ Acting. Kristin’s Theatre School credits include Rose in Objects Lie on a Table, Bacchae in The Bacchae, Beneatha in A Raisin in the Sun, Soraya in Haroun and the Sea of Stories, Marian in The Miser, Varya in The Cherry Orchard, Debora in Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and Ms. Jenny in De Turkey and de Law. JOSEPH FITZGERALD FLYNN (Kreon) 2nd year MFA/Acting. Joseph received his B.A. from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film & Television. Some favorite roles have been Arthur Goring in Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband and John Proctor in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, both produced in his hometown of Sacramento, California. Los Angeles credits include productions of Irwin Shaw’s Bury the Dead and David Auburn’s Skyscraper. Theatre School productions include Hedda Gabler, the world premiere of Rebecca Gilman’s The American in Me and Steve Martin’s The Underpants. ROMAN HARRIS-MACDONALD (Child) Roman moved to Chicago from the mountains of western North Carolina a year ago and has embraced acting and the electric guitar. He has worked as a voice-over talent on several national radio spots and was a lead in a short film produced last year. He practices Jiu Jitsu (grappling) and will compete in his first tournament at the end of April. He is represented by Paonessa Talent Agency. KELSEY JORISSEN (Chorus) 4th year BFA/Acting. Kelsey hails from Cottage Grove, Minnesota. Her Theatre School credits include Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Nina in The Nina Variations, Cherie in Bus Stop, Fraulein Kost/Fritzie in Cabaret, and Frau Kurten in Normal.
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B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) AISLINN KERCHAERT (Nurse) 3rd year BFA/Acting. Aislinn hails from West Hartford, Connecticut. She has appeared in Almost Maine, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Antigone at The Theatre School. ARIEL RUBIN (Chorus) 3rd year BFA/ Acting. Born and raised in Chicago, Ariel is a vocalist for the trip-hop band “thuMp” and was assistant director/ stage manager for Connect Force’s Uptown Stories. Her recent Theatre School credits include ensemble member in Lonely Soldiers directed by Rivendell’s Artistic Director Tara Maellen and Gre Gre Girl in Blood Pudding written and directed by Jazz Aesthetic Artist/Mentor Sharon Bridgeforth. ALEX SEELEY (Servant) 3rd year BFA/ Acting. Alex hails from the great states of Connecticut and New York and is a graduate of The Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in Hartford, Connecticut. He was last seen in Caryl Churchill’s The Skriker and most recently in Hedda Gabler as Judge Brack. EURIPIDES (Playwright) was the last of the great tragedians of classical Athens. He is believed to have written approximately ninety-five plays, of which eighteen have survived complete. Euripides is known primarily for having reshaped the formal structure of Athenian tragedy by portraying strong female characters and intelligent slaves and by satirizing many heroes of Greek mythology. His plays seem modern compared to the work of his contemporaries because Euripides focused on the inner lives and motivations of his characters in a way previously unknown to Greek audiences. DAMON KIELY (Director) Damon Kiely served as the Artistic Director of American Theater Company from 2002 to 2007. Directing credits at American Theater Company 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, Kid-Simple, A View from the Bridge, Strictly Dishonorable and The Hairy Ape. He has also directed for Next Theatre Company, Route 66, and TimeLine Theatre Company. His world premiere adaptation of Thieves Like Us was produced by the House Theatre of Chicago. He is now a full time professor of Directing and Acting at 6 DePaul University
The Theatre School at DePaul. At The Theatre School he has directed There’s a Boy in the Girls Bathroom, Hurrah for the Next Who Dies, A Streetcar Named Desire and Haroun and the Sea of Stories. Next year he will direct his own adaptation of Nancy Drew and the Sign of the Twisted Candles. Prior to moving back to Chicago he produced, directed and taught in New York City. In New York he directed for the Public Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, the Ontological Theater, Adobe Theater Company, PS122, Ensemble Studio Theater and New Dramatists. Damon also served as the Artistic Director for Real Time Theater and was a Producing Director at the Ontological-Hysteric Theater as well as the Associate Artistic Director for the Children’s Theater of Maine. 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. JACOB SHULER (Dramaturgy) 3rd year BFA/Playwriting. Jacob hails from Upstate New York. Past Theatre School credits include Assistant Director for The Boys in the Band, Assistant Dramaturg for A Raisin in the Sun, and most recently the Dramaturg for Hedda Gabler. ALEXIS LINKS (Assistant Dramaturg) 4th year BFA/Theatre Arts. Alexis hails from Northern California. Her Theatre School credits include Puss ‘N Boots (Stage Manager), A Raisin in the Sun (Dramaturg), Cabaret (Assistant Director), A View From the Bridge (Assistant Director), and Closer (Actor: Larry). She served as an Artistic Intern at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company where she led postshow discussions. Her upcoming work includes: 4.48 Psychosis (Director) and Milewalkers 2011 (Assistant Director). PHIL TIMBERLAKE (Vocal Coach) Phil is an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework and was an Annette Kade Fulbright Fellow to France, studying “extended voice” work at the Roy Hart International Arts Centre. 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, Brandeis University, Roosevelt University, Purdue University, Barat College, First Folio Theatre and the Modjeska Youth Theatre. Phil is an ensemble member of Lifeline Theatre
B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) 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 (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). MEGAN TRUSCOTT (Scenic Designer) 3rd year BFA/Scenic Design. Megan is originally from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Recent design credits include The Skriker and Pygmalion, both directed by Jessica Jung, as well as designing the Explore Event for Steppenwolf’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Assistant design credits include 1001 and Electricidad. HOLLY HAUPERT (Costume Designer) 3rd year BFA/Costume Design, comes from Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Holly has assisted in three DePaul productions: 1001, The Three Musketeers, and Haroun and the Sea of Stories. Holly made her design debut with DePaul’s fall production of The Secret Garden. KAITLYN MYERS (Lighting Designer) 4th year BFA/Lighting Design. Kaitlyn is originally from Dallas, Texas. She has designed Blood Pudding, Pygmalion, and I’m Spiritual Dammit. She has assisted in Much Ado About Nothing, Electricidad, and Holes. JEFF GARY (Sound Designer/Composer) 3rd year BFA/Sound Design. Jeff is originally from Seattle, Washington. His design credits at The Theatre School include: Much Ado About Nothing, The Skriker, Cabaret, Inky, Four Twins, Romeo & Juliet, Pygmalion, and Loose Knit. Assistant credits include: Electricidad, A Raisin in the Sun, 1001, and The Pillowman. Mr. Gary has also been the master studio engineer on several musical projects involving, Sobriquet’s Everything Ends, and Katie Kuffel’s Weather Rods. JOHN BOESCHE (Projection Designer) John Boesche’s scenic and projection designs have been seen by Chicago audiences at the Chicago Shakespeare
Theater, Goodman Theatre, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lookingglass Theatre, Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre, Royal George Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Victory Gardens and others. Broadway credits include The Glass Menagerie at Roundabout Theatre, directed by Frank Galati. Regionally his work has been seen at Arizona Theatre Company, Asolo Theatre (Sarasota), Denver Center Theatre Company, Geffen Playhouse (Los Angeles), McCarter Theatre (Princeton), Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, New York Shakespeare Festival (NYC), Seattle Repertory Theatre, Shakespeare at the Folger (Washington D.C.), South Coast Repertory (Costa Mesa) and Theater On The Square (San Francisco) among others. Mr. Boesche received a Joseph Jefferson Special Award for projection design in 2005. In addition to his work in theatre Mr. Boesche designs media for his own gallery installations, history museums, and outdoor events. REBECCA ROWLETT (Stage Manager) 3rd year BFA/Stage Management. Rebecca comes to DePaul from her Pacific Northwestern roots of Hillsboro, Oregon. Her past Theatre School credits include assisting on Still Life with Iris, Dancing at Lughnasa, Holes, and Cabaret and stage managing Macbeth and The Civic. JOSHUA JAEGER (Assistant Director) 4th year BFA/Theatre Arts. Joshua Jaeger originally hails from Louisville, Kentucky. This fall, he directed a Theatre Arts Lab production of Naomi Iizuka’s Language of Angels. While at The Theatre School, Josh has also served as Assistant Director on Azar Kazemi’s production of Crave and as Assistant Dramaturg on The Three Musketeers. Josh is a Contributing Editor at Flavorpill Chicago. NICOLE PRAHIN (Assistant Director) 4th year BFA/Theatre Arts. Nicole hails from Sugar Land, Texas. Her Theatre School credits include working as a dramaturg for The Pillowman and The Skriker, as well as serving as Assistant Director for The Four Twins. Nicole has worked with Redmoon Theater helping develop shadow shows with students, as well as interned with the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas. She is currently working on Redmoon’s upcoming youth spectacle at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
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B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) CHUCK JARASEK (Properties Master) 4th year BFA/Theatre Technology. TODD PEACOCK-PRESTON (Technical Director) 3rd year BFA/ Theatre Technology. Todd is from Jacksonville, Florida. Most recently at The Theatre School, he worked as the technical director for Hedda Gabler and assistant technical director for A Raisin in the Sun. Todd has also worked for Williamstown Theatre Festival and Timeline Theatre Company. JOE WATRACH (Master Electrician) 3rd year BFA Lighting Design. Previous credits at The Theatre School include Assistant Lighting Designer for Hedda Gabler and Blood Pudding and The Lover. Design credits include Crave, Original Recipe, and Twelfth Night. Joe has also designed multiple shows for the CAST Theatre Company in Oak Park including Stage Door and My Fair Lady. Joe works outside of The Theatre School with Performance Lighting Inc. as an electrician and programmer in his spare time. ZACHARY LEDUC (Assistant Lighting Designer) 4th year BFA/Lighting Design. JESSICA BURGWALD (Assistant Draper/Cutter) 3rd year BFA/Costume Technology. Jessica Burgwald is a third year at The Theatre School. She was assistant costume designer for Holes, A Raisin in the Sun and Thieves Like Us. She designed costumes for The Skriker this fall and worked as an assistant cutter/draper on Much Ado About Nothing this winter. DEXTER BULLARD (Head of Graduate Acting/Showcase Season Artistic Director) is an award-winning director dedicated to directing new plays and creating original improvisational and experimental theater for Chicago and beyond. Recent directing credits would include Circle Mirror Transformation at Victory Gardens, Big Meal at American Theatre Company, Odradek at The HOUSE Theatre, Mistakes Were Made at Barrow Street Theater Off-Broadway and with A Red Orchid Theatre, The DIALogues at Links Hall and MCA, Reverie with Second City at The Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, Lady at Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre Off-Broadway, and Gas for Less at the Goodman Theatre. In 2004,
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Dexter was awarded the Lucille Lortel Award for Tracy Letts’ Bug at The Barrow Street Theater, as well as a Drama Desk Nomination. In 1995 Dexter co–founded Plasticene, a physical theater company whose critically–acclaimed experimental works have been featured at The Steppenwolf Studio, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Storefront Theatre, Performing Arts Chicago, MCA, and in New York City. Back in 1990, Dexter founded The Next Lab at The Next Theatre where he directed Bouncers, for which he received a Jefferson Citation and an After Dark award for his direction. He received a B.S. with three Departmental Excellence Awards in Theatre at Northwestern and then received his MFA in Performance from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has taught acting, improvisation and physical theater nationally including at University of Illinois-Chicago, Roosevelt University, Columbia College, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Second City Training Center, University of Miami Ohio, Wesleyan University, The Naropa Institute, New York Film Academy, Northwestern University, ATHE Conferences, Pfeiffer University, The Audition Studio, and The Actors’ Center. JOHN CULBERT (Dean). In Chicago, John has designed scenery and/or lighting for the Buckingham Fountain, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Garfield Conservatory, Chicago Park District, Field Museum of Natural History, Goodman Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Chicago Opera Theatre and more than thirty productions at Court Theatre. At the Court Theatre, he received several Joseph Jefferson nominations and a Jeff Award for The Triumph Of Love. Other Chicago productions include Regina for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Hughie for the Goodman Theatre, Glass Menagerie, Man Of La Mancha for Court Theatre and A Year With Frog And Toad for Chicago Children’s Theatre. John has designed scenery and/or lighting for the Boston Lyric Opera, St. Louis Opera, Baton Rouge Opera, Southern Repertory, Cleveland Orchestra, McCarter Theatre and Bristol Riverside Theatre. At The Theatre School he has designed productions of The Misanthrope, Streetcar Named Desire, The Rose Tattoo, The Women, The Snow Queen, Rip Van Winkle and Stage Door.
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 longterm 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. DePaul University 9
T H E T H E AT R E S C H O O L B OA R D Sustaining Members Patricia Costello Slovak, Chair Sondra Healy, Chair Emeritus Joseph Antunovich Kathleen M. Bette Mary Spalding Burns Kyle DeSantis David Dunning James Fitzpatrick John M. Lenckos Catherine McBreen Don McLean Irene Michaels
Carol Morse Penny Obenshain Vonita Reescer Merle Reskin John Samolis Msgr. Kenneth Velo
Paula Lisbe Amy K. Pietz John C. Reilly Bernard Sahlins Charlayne Woodard Dennis Zacek
Professional Associates Scott L. Ellis, Hon. Co-Chair Samantha Falbe Scott Falbe Zach Helm Criss Henderson Paul Konrad
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 L U 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 DePaul University
$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 +Edes Foundation 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
D O N O R S ( c o n t .) *+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 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 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 DePaul University 11
T H E AT R E S C H O O L FAC U LT Y / S TA F F 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 John Bridges - Assistant Dean, Director of Administration, Alumni Relations Tessa Craib-Cox – Director of Development Mitsu Gee – Executive Assistant Anastasia Gonzalez – Budget Manager Joshua Mangilia - Technical Operations Manager Meghan Beals McCarthy – Coordinator of Academic Services Andrea Tichy - Manager of PR and Special Events Melissa Tropp – Admissions Assistant Jeanne Williams – 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 Janet Louer Jennifer Avery Susan Messing Jane Drake Brody Matt Miller Linda Gillum Rachel Patterson Noah Gregoropolous Joseph Slowik, Bella Itkin, emeritus emeritus Nick Johne Ann Wakefield Damon Kiely Catherine Weidner MOVEMENT Patrice Egleston – Head of Movement Chuck Coyl Laura Dixon Gabriel Halpern Natasha Julius Neil Massey Alie McManus
Kimosha Murphy Julia Neary Nick Sandys Pullin Clifton Robinson Mary Schmich Natalie Turner-Jones
VOICE AND SPEECH Claudia Anderson – Head of Voice and Speech Eva Breneman Mark Elliott Phyllis E. Griffin Trudie Kessler
Kathy Keyes Jason Martin Diane Robinson 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 Jack K. Magaw John Boesche Joe Nieminski Rachel Healy Birgit RattenborgTodd Hensley Wise Jason Knox Kimberly Senior TECHNICAL THEATRE Shane Kelly – Head of Theatre Technology Janet C. Messmer – Head of Costume Technology Frank Wukitsch – Head of Stage Management Claude Binder Russel 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 Neena Arndt Chris Jones Suzanne Bizer Jan Kallish Sharon Bridgforth Ernie Nolan Richard Corley Bill O’Connor Dean Corrin Tanya Palmer Alan Donahue Roche Schulfer Criss Henderson Sandy Shinner Jim Jensen Dan Smith LIBERAL STUDIES Bea Bosco Lou Contey Shanesia Davis Jen Goode Carolyn Hoerdemann
Reggie Lawrence Dan Moser Chris Peak James Sherman Rachel Slavick
TECHNICAL STAFF Deanna Aliosius – Costume Shop Manager So Hui Chong – Stitcher Tim Combs – Technical Director Chris Hofmann – Director of Production Tim Jarrell – Reskin Sound Technician Jacob Josef – Technical Assistant Jen Leahy – Reskin Technical Director Dawn G. McKesey – Assistant Costume Shop Manager Max Raynolds – Reskin Assistant Technical Director 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: http://theatreschool.depaul 12 DePaul University
ANNOUNCING OUR 2011-2012 SEASON THE THEATRE SCHOOL SHOWCASE Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage directed by Phyllis E. Griffin September 30 – October 9, 2011 (previews 9/28 & 9/29) 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) MFA12, TBA An ensemble piece to be performed by MFA III actors, to be directed by a guest from the Chicago theatre community. May 11 - 20, 2012 (previews 5/9 & 5/10) CHICAGO PLAYWORKS FOR FAMILIES AND YOUNG AUDIENCES The Witches by Roald Dahl, adapted by David Wood directed by Ernie Nolan October 25 – December 3, 2011 (Recommended for ages 7 and up) 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 (Recommended for ages 8 and up) Barrio Grrrl book and lyrics by Quiara Alegría Hudes music by Bill Sherman, directed by Lisa Portes March 27 – May 19, 2012 (Recommended for ages 7 and up) All dates are subject to change.
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The Theatre School’s 2010-2011 Season THE THEATRE SCHOOL SHOWCASE Medea by Euripides • translated by Frederic Raphael and Kenneth McLeish directed by Damon Kiely April 15 - 24, 2011 (previews 4/13 & 4/14) Mayday Mayday Tuesday by Carlos Murillo • directed by Dexter Bullard featuring the class of 2011 Master of Fine Arts in Acting candidates May 13 - 22, 2011 (previews 5/11 & 5/12) NEW PLAYWRIGHTS SERIES The Ernie Play by Melanie Plank, Class of 2011 director Shade Murray May 6 – 15, 2011 (previews 5/4 & 5/5) CHICAGO PLAYWORKS FOR FAMILIES AND YOUNG AUDIENCES Pinkalicious book by Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann – Music by John Gregor, lyrics by John Gregor, Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann, musical direction by Mark Elliott – directed by Lisa Portes based on the book “Pinkalicious” by Victoria Kann & Elizabeth Kann March 29 – May 21, 2011
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M E R L E R E S K I N T H E AT R E S TA F F 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.......................................................................... Jake Kvanbeck, Meredith Matthews, Jenna Moran, Shannon Sullivan Webmaster.................................................................................................................................Joshua Maniglia Box Office Manager.........................................................................................................................Kim Van Tuyl Assistant Box Office Manager...............................................................................................Stefanie Rahaim Ticket Agents................................................................................................ Michael Herring, Brandon Mack, Meghan Owen, Anastasia Schriber, Tara Smithberger Group Sales Representative..................................................................................................... Linda RM Jones Group Sales Assistant.................................................................. Christopher Knoerzer, Shane Sweeney Administrative Assistant.................................................................................................................... Liz Calvert Office Assistant....................................................................................................................Meghan McDonald Chicago Playworks House Manager....................................................................................LaKisha Jackson Theatre School Showcase House Manager........................................................................ Juliet W. Trieloff Reskin Technical Director.................................................................................................................... Jen Leahy Reskin Assistant Technical Director.......................................................................................... Max Raynolds Technical Assistant............................................................................................................................ Jacob Josef Master Electrician............................................................................................................................... Ron Seeley Reskin Sound Technician....................................................................................................................Tim Jarrell
T H E T H E AT R E S C H O O L S T U D E N T WO R K E R S Faculty Assistants.............................................................. Brent Beavers, Mitchel Civello, Reshmi Hazra, Jessica Jung, Constance Lee, A.J. Links, Kelly Montgomery, Lauren Pizzi, Nicole Prahin, Chris Rickett, Brae Singleton, Rose Streit Admissions Assistants............................................................................................... Anna Bosy, Chris Boykin, Azar Kazemi, Sally LaRowe Administration Assistants ........................................................................ Amanda Abney, Micaela Alaniz, Sasha Alekseyeva, McKenzie Chinn, Amy Eingold, David Daniels, Pamela Davis, Molly Hartman, John Kristoff, Jake Kvanbeck, Mark Lancaster, Brittany Squier, Shannon Sullivan Costume Shop................................................................................................. Cara Adams, Jessica Burgwald, Kara Dent, Camilla Hansen, Elizabeth Lamona, Constance Lee, Adrienne Littlefield, Kelly Neuls, Elise Petrucci, Molly Ryan, Greta White Door Monitors........................................................................................................Jacob Abbas, Liz Dabulskis, Carmen Dutton, Lauren Genta, Lorena Gomez, Lauren Lundy, Morgan Madison, Dan Smeriglio, Tara Smithberger Make Up Shop............................................................................................ Carmen Briwa, Jessica Burgwald, Dan Dvorkin, Kelsey Jorissen, Taylor Payne, Colin Sphar, Kristy Staky, Rose Streit, Megan Truscott, Williams Wever, Sarah Jo White Mat Cleaners........................................................................................................ Jared Green, Patricia Lavery, Manuel Ortiz, Sean Parris Prop Shop.................................................................................... Charles Jarasek, Toni Kenrick, Tierra Novy, Thomas Peacock-Preston, Jillian Rothman, Megan Truscott Merle Reskin Theatre Crew.................................................................... Quentin A. Brown, Kelly Claussen, Will Deleguardia, Michael Dodge, Rachel Claxton, Mateusz Gajowniczek, Sam Hillyer, Kelly Montgomery, Thomas Peacock-Preston, Mike Ross, Sarah Schultz, Brae Singleton, Elizabeth Smith, Shawn Watson Scene Shop......................................................Ian Blinstrup, Kelly Claussen, Nickolas Falconer Fleming, Vanessa Fusi, Noah Hayman, Alex Long, Andrew McCarthy, John Ofori, Claudia Peterson, Seth Randall-Tapply, Anders Wahl, Jon Woelfer Studio Coordinator............................................................... Matt Baca, Nicole Prahin, Elizabeth Thomas DePaul University 15
G E N E R A L I N F O R M AT I O N BOX OFFICE TELEPHONE (312) 922-1999 REGULAR BOX OFFICE HOURS Tuesday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. PERFORMANCE BOX OFFICE HOURS Evening performance days: Open until 8 p.m. Saturday matinee days: 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinee days: 12 - 2:30 p.m. NO SMOKING In compliance with the City of Chicago Clean Air Ordinance, smoking is prohibited in the Merle Reskin Theatre. We appreciate your cooperation. EMERGENCY EXITS Please note the location of emergency exits in the theatre. CELLULAR PHONES, TEXT MESSAGING, RECORDING DEVICES, PHOTOGRAPHY, PAGERS, FOOD AND BEVERAGES Please do not use the above listed items in the theatre. Patrons with electronic pagers or cellular telephones are asked to either turn off their equipment in the theatre or check them with the House Manager prior to curtain. We discourage text messaging during the performance. The light from the screen can bother other patrons. We allow photographs to be taken before and after but never during the performance. You may also check cameras and recording equipment with the House Manager who will secure them until final curtain. As a special favor, we ask that young people do not chew gum. Water fountains are located in the lower lobby and in the lobbies of the mezzanine and balcony. RESTROOMS Restrooms are located in the lower lobby, the mezzanine, and balcony. A new accessible restroom is located on the main floor inside of the theatre. LOST AND FOUND If you find an item or have lost an item, please contact the House Manager. You may also call (773) 325-7968 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, (312) 922-1999. After Box Office hours, use (773) 325-7968 as an emergency number. PARKING ARRANGEMENTS We have arrangements with two parking lots: Multi-Park, 635 S. Wabash at Balbo, and LAZ Parking, One East 8th Street at State. Please ask the Box Office for details about rates and payment. SENNHEISER INFRA-RED LISTENING SYSTEM FOR OUR HEARING-IMPAIRED PATRONS We require the security deposit of a driver’s license or other identification during the performance. The I.D. will be returned when you return the headset. LARGE PRINT PROGRAMS You may request a large print program from the ticket taker or the House Manager. SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING Selected performances at the Merle Reskin Theatre will be interpreted in American Sign Language. Call the Box Office or see the website for the schedule. 16 DePaul University