presents
by Jacob C. Shuler Director – John Jenkins Scenic Designer – Megan Truscott Costume Designer – Molly C. V. Ryan Lighting Designer – Ellie Humphrys Sound Designer – Mikey Moran Stage Manager – Jean E. Compton May 4th – 13th, 2012
Greenhouse Theatre Center 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60614 Email: theatreboxoffice@depaul.edu theatreschool.depaul.edu (312) 922-1999
The Death of Gaia Divine 1
CAST (in
or der of appe ar ance)
Gaia Divine..............................................................................................................Camden Brown Benji..................................................................................................................................Alex Seeley Tallulah.....................................................................................................................Daniela Colucci Place: All the world’s a stage. There will be one 10-minute intermission.
GREAT PERFORMANCES • Comprehensive Calendar of Events • Feature Articles • Timely Arts News • Celebrity Video Blogs • Dining Guide • And more!
YOUR ONLINE GUIDE TO THE PERFORMING ARTS 2 DePaul University
P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F Assistant Director........................................................................................ Matthew T. Messina Assistant Stage Manager...........................................................................................Abbie Betts Assistant Scenic Designer.....................................................................................Michael David Assistant Lighting Designer............................................................................... Patrick Stewart Director of Production......................................................................................... Chris Hofmann Production Coordinator...............................................................................................Alexis Links Technical Director............................................................................................. Claudia Peterson Assistant Technical Director............................................................................ Kelly A. Claussen Reskin Technical Director................................................................................................Jen Leahy Reskin Assistant Technical Director.................................................................... Max Raynolds Technical Assistant............................................................................................ Aaron Pijanowski Scene Shop Foreman ........................................................................................... Gerry Reynolds Costume Shop Manager...........................................................................................Myron Elliot Draper/Cutter..................................................................................................... Dawn G. McKesey Assistant Draper/Cutters..................................Taylor S. Payne, Jordan Nicole Wrobleske Stitcher.......................................................................................................................So Hui Chong Master Electrician.....................................................................................................Bailey L. Rosa Scenery and Property Crew.........Margaret Mohr, Lindsay Rosenfeld, Nathan Simpson Costume Crew................................................ Erinn Fredin, Rae Shuman, Stephanie Tomey Make-up Crew............................................................................................ Gregory Pinsoneault Lighting Crew.......................................................Lucy Blehar, Claire Meyers, Mark Mocarski Sound Crew...............................................................................................................Rachel Regan Director of Marketing and Public Relations............................................................Anna Ables Manager of PR and Special Events....................................................................... Andrea Tichy Publicity/Production Photos.......................................................................................Anna Ables Publicity and House Crew.........................................................Maddy LaRoche, Jack Schultz Box Office Manager........................................................................................................ Julia Curns House Manager.......................................................................................................Adam Stephan Theatre Manager.........................................................................................................Leslie Shook
The Death of Gaia Divine 3
PL AY WRIGHT’S NOTE We regret to inform you that the performance you’ve come out to enjoy this evening has been cancelled. Gaia Divine has left the building. Your tickets will be refunded, of course. Your lives will go on. But this show, I’m sorry to say, will not. You deserve an explanation: I fear that love has died. And without love, what could possibly keep our characters alive? The Death of Gaia Divine gestated as a response to an archeological study on the development of early hominoid compassion. A recent study of the Neanderthal species articulates four stages in the trajectory of human emotion. Essentially, these stages can be summarized as 1)Awakening of Empathy, 2)Compassion Infused with Rationale, 3)Commitment, and 4)Compassion Extending to Strangers. These stages range from an expanse of six million years ago to almost 120,000 years ago. It has always been my intention with The Death of Gaia Divine to take these ideas and explore them theatrically. The driving question behind the play has always been, for me: how have these steps brought humanity to where we are today? The answer, I have found, is that they haven’t. I would argue that recent advances in our civilization call for a fifth stage to be added to this track of emotional maturation. This step I would label as 5)The Censorship or Restriction of Human Emotion. It is interesting to note that each of the previous four stages progressed in an age where language did not exist. It is commonly assumed that recognizable language as a form of communication did not develop until 50-70 thousand years ago. Perhaps then, if we remain silent, we won’t have to confront these issues. So our script has been abandoned. The play will not be read. ~ Jacob Shuler, 4th year BFA/Playwriting
4 DePaul University
The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival-45, part of the Rubenstein Arts Access Program, is generously funded by David and Alice Rubenstein. Additional support is provided by the U.S. Department of Education, the Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation, The Honorable Stuart Bernstein and Wilma E. Bernstein, and the National Committee for the Performing Arts. This production is entered in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). The aims of this national theater education program are to identify and promote quality in collegelevel theater production. To this end, each production entered is eligible for a response by a regional KCACTF representative, and selected students and faculty are invited to participate in the KCACTF programs involving scholarships, internships, grants and awards for actors, directors, dramaturgs, playwrights, designers, stage managers and critics at both the regional and national levels. Productions entered on the Participating level are eligible for inclusion at the KCACTF regional festival and can also be considered for invitation to the KCACTF national festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC in the spring of 2013. Last year more than 1,300 productions were entered in the KCACTF involving more than 200,000 students nationwide. By entering this production, our theater department is sharing in the KCACTF goals to recognize, reward, and celebrate the exemplary work produced in college and university theaters across the nation.
The Death of Gaia Divine 5
BIOGR APHIES Camden Brown (Gaia Divine), 4th year, BFA/Acting. Camden, a native New Englander from New Hampshire, was last seen in Damon Kiely’s Nancy Drew: The Sign of the Twisted Candles. This summer he will be a company member of the Theater at Monmouth in Maine where he will be playing Valentine in Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Jim in The Glass Menagerie, as well as roles in Tartuffe and Henry IV Part I.
Megan Truscott (Scenic Designer), 4th Year BFA/Scenic Design. Megan is formerly from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Recent Theatre School design credits include Medea, directed by Damon Kiely and The Skriker, directed by Jessica Jung. This past year Megan was privileged to work on a devised production of As I Lay Dying at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London as assistant designer.
Daniela Colucci (Tallulah), 3rd year, BFA/ Acting. From Van, Texas. Theatre School credits include A Lie of the Mind, The Witches, The Marriage, The Blue Room, and The Diary of Anne Frank.
Molly C.V. Ryan (Costume Designer), 3rd year BFA/Costume Design. Molly hails from Wheaton, Illinois. Her DePaul credits include costume designer for The Witches, directed by Ernie Nolan, and assistant costume designer for The Skriker, The Monster Under the Bed, and Mayday Mayday Tuesday. In February, Molly assisted costume designer Meriem Bahri on Haymarket Opera Company’s production of La descente d’Orphée aux enfers. She spent this past summer working at Ohio Light Opera as the assistant costume designer on nine operettas. Molly interned with costume designer Anna Glowacki in the summer of 2010 where she worked on Redmoon’s J.O.E. Festival, Circuit Night Club’s Alien Queen, and Chicago Tap Theatre’s Tap Out Loud. In 2009, Molly’s painting was featured in the IARTISTS Foundation’s Imagine New Orleans art show, where it has been continually reproduced and donated to Hurricane Katrina victims’ rehabilitated homes in New Orleans. Molly currently works as a make-up assistant at The Theatre School.
Alex Seeley (Benji), 4th year, BFA/Acting. Alex has lived Ohio, Tennessee, Mexico, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York, and now Chicago. His Theatre School credits include The Skriker directed by Jess Jong, Hedda Gabler directed by Azar Kazemi, Medea directed by Damon Kiely, Roald Dahl’s The Witches directed by Ernie Nolan, and The Misanthrope directed by Marc David Pinate. Jacob C. Shuler (Playwright), 4th year BFA/ Playwriting. Jacob hails from Upstate New York. At DePaul, Jacob has served as head Dramaturg on Hedda Gabler, Medea, and The Witches, as well as Assistant Dramaturg on A Raisin in the Sun. His DePaul directing credits include assisting on The Boys in the Band and directing his own adaptation of August Strindberg’s The Stronger, a part of the Theatre Studies Lab Series. He interned in the literary department of Northlight Theatre where he worked on dramaturgy for A Civil War Christmas and Daddy Long Legs. John Jenkins (Director), Head of BFA Acting. John has performed and directed professionally in England, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia, as well as throughout the United States. As a member of the San Quentin Drama Workshop, he worked with Samuel Beckett as an actor in Mr. Beckett’s direction of Waiting for Godot and Endgame, and served as movement advisor for Mr. Beckett’s production of Krapp’s Last Tape. In Minneapolis, he worked for eight years as an actor, director and teacher for the Children’s Theatre Company. John’s film credits include a starring role in the independent feature film, Patti Rocks, which he co-wrote. He is a qualified teacher of the Alexander Technique. 6 DePaul University
Taylor S. Payne (Assistant Draper/ Cutter), 3rd Year BFA/Costume Design and Technology. Taylor is from Encinitas, California. She has served as an assistant costume designer for The Theatre School’s productions of The Secret Garden and Much Ado About Nothing. This summer Taylor received certificates in Wig Ventilating and Maintenance from the Wigs and Hair Chicago Program. Additionally, she practiced millinery craft with Jane Smith in Fullerton, California. Earlier this season she worked as the crafts person on The Witches, where she made several hats for the production and was the designer for the winter production of A Lie of the Mind. She currently works in the makeup shop and does wig, makeup, and blood work for various productions at The Theatre School.
B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) Jordan Nicole Wrobleske (Assistant Cutter/Draper), 3rd Year BFA/Costume Technology. Jordan hails from Houston, Texas, where she received numerous awards from her community. Her Theatre School credits include The Secret Garden, Hedda Gabler, Mayday Mayday Tuesday, Roald Dahl’s The Witches and A Lie of the Mind. Jordan has also worked as a stitcher for Chicago Children’s Theatre. Jordan is an intern at Ooh-La-La Couture Millinery and Accessories where she is constructing hats for the spring season. Jordan also works as a campus tour guide and a freelance artist and photographer. Ellie Humphrys (Lighting Designer), 4th year BFA/Lighting Design. Ellie moved to Chicago from Dayton, Ohio, to study at The Theatre School. Some past credits include Lighting Designer for Intimate Apparel, and Blood Wedding, Assistant Lighting Designer on The Misanthrope, and Cabaret, in addition to American Theatre Company’s world premiere of Disgraced. ellielightstheatre.com. Patrick Stewart (Assistant Lighting Designer), 4th Year BFA/Lighting Design. Patrick is currently working his sixth season with Six Flags Theme Parks (second season at Great America, Entertainment Show Support) where he will be continuing his career in Theme Park Entertainment. Past Theatre School Credits include Lighting Designer for Nancy Drew and the Sign of the Twisted Candles, Faustus, and Loose Knit, Assistant Lighting Designer for Alice in Wonderland, and Master Electrician for A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Barrio Grrrl! A Musical. www.patrickstewartdesigns.com. Mikey Moran (Sound Design and Composition), 3rd year BFA Sound Design. Theatre School design credits include The Witches, Venus, Original Recipe and A View From The Bridge. As a pit musician, he has performed at DePaul in Cabaret. A selftaught musician, Mikey learned to compose through trial and error. Claudia Peterson (Technical Director), 3rd Year BFA/Theatre Technology. Claudia is from Geneva, Illinois. This past summer she worked for the Dorset Theatre Festival in Dorset, Vermont. Theatre School credits include Assistant Technical Director for A Lie of the Mind and Hedda Gabler, and Master Carpenter for The Witches.
Kelly A. Claussen (Assistant Technical Director), 4th year BFA/Theatre Arts. Kelly works as the Assistant to the Technical Director at The Theatre School Scene Shop. She is the Vice Chair of Education and Outreach for USITT at DePaul. Additionally she works as a director, scenic carpenter, scenic painter, and stage manager. Besides her work at The Theatre School, Kelly has worked with Chicago companies including Piccolo Theatre, Endpoint Theatre, Inconceivable Theatre, and Theatre Wit, as well as LA producers Blue Velocity. Kelly is a proud native of Sherburn, Minnesota. Jean E. Compton (Stage Manager), 2nd year BFA/Stage Management. Jean is a Maryland native whose Theatre School credits include stage manager for Blood Pudding and assistant stage manager for The Monster Under the Bed, The Ernie Play, and Intimate Apparel. Other favorite credits include assistant stage manager for the Midwest premiere of Auctioning the Ainsleys with Dog & Pony Theatre Company and stage manager for The Magic Flute, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Animal Farm, and Incorruptible at Carroll Community College. 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. Most recently, John designed the set for Court Theatre’s production of Angels in America.
The Death of Gaia Divine 7
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. 8 DePaul University
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 Don McLean Irene Michaels Carol Morse Penny Obenshain
Vonita Reescer Merle Reskin Hank Richter Trisha Rooney Alden 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 Zach Helm Criss Henderson Paul Konrad
Honorary Board Dr. John Ransford Watts, Dean 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. $10,000-$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 The Death of Gaia Divine 9
DONORS 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 10 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 G. 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
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 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 Ernie Nolan Alan Donahue Bill O’Connor Criss Henderson Coya Paz-Brownrigg Jim Jensen Roche Schulfer Chris Jones Sandy Shinner Jan Kallish LIBERAL STUDIES Bea Bosco Lou Contey Shanesia Davis Jen Goode Carolyn Hoerdemann
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.edu The Death of Gaia Divine 11
The Theatre School’s 2011-2012 Season THE THEATRE SCHOOL SHOWCASE I Am Bradley Manning by Sarah Gubbins directed by Geoff Button May 9 - 13, 2012
CHICAGO PLAYWORKS FOR FAMILIES AND YOUNG AUDIENCES 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 PLAYWRIGHTS SERIES The Death of Gaia Divine by Jacob Shuler directed by John Jenkins May 4 – 13, 2012 (previews 5/2 & 5/3)
Announcing Our 2012-2013 Season THE THEATRE SCHOOL SHOWCASE Spring Awakening book and lyrics by Steven Sater, music by Duncan Sheik based on the play by Frank Wedekind directed by Damon Kiely, musical direction by Mark Elliott September 28 – October 7, 2012 (previews 9/26 & 9/27) Angels in America: Perestroika by Tony Kushner directed by Jane Drake Brody February 8 - 17, 2013 (previews 2/6 & 2/7) Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare directed by Catherine Weidner April 19 - 28, 2013 (previews 4/17 & 4/18)
CHICAGO PLAYWORKS FOR FAMILIES AND YOUNG AUDIENCES A Wrinkle in Time book by Madeleine L’Engle, adapted by John Glore directed by Ernie Nolan October 23 – December 1, 2012 Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy book by Gary D. Schmidt, adapted by Cheryl L. West directed by John Jenkins January 19 – March 2, 2013 The Coral King by James Ambrose Brown directed by Ann Wakefield April 2 – May 25, 2013
MFA13, TBA An ensemble piece to be performed by MFA III actors directed by Dexter Bullard May 17 - 25, 2013 (previews 5/15 & 5/16)
Details as of date of publication; subject to change. Check theatreschool.depaul.edu for more information. 12 DePaul University
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.
The Death of Gaia Divine 13
A L U 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 were created for each admissions‑related festival, conference and open house, and for the eight regional audition/interview locations. 14 DePaul University
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 ............................ Jean E. 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, Brandon Mack, Cecilia Falter, 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 WO 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, 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 The Death of Gaia Divine 15
G E N E R A L I N FO R M ATI O N / G R E E N H O U S E TH E ATR E C E NTE 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. GREENHOUSE THEATER CENTER STAFF 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
16 DePaul University