FullSky-LocalWonders

FULL SKY PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

By Virginia Smith and Paul Amandes adapted from the book by Ted Kooser (U.S. Poet Laureate 2004-06) Original music and lyrics by Paul Amandes

Director Virginia Smith

Producer Mary Pat Sieck

Music Director Paul Amandes

Technical Director/Lighting Douglas Smith

Stage Manager Ray Vanek

Set Designer Holly Windingstad

Costumer Janice Stauffer

Props Mistress Zena Paice

Featuring PAUL AMANDES ANNE HILLS JAMES ROBINSON PARRAN An earlier version of Local Wonders was produced at the Nebraska Repertory Theatre in 2006. From the beginning of its development it has been generously supported by the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film, the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, a Layman Grant from The University of Nebraska Research Office, funding from the Nebraska Arts Council and, the Nebraska Humanities Council.

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CAST Ted........................................................................................................................ PAUL AMANDES* Kathleen..........................................................................................................................ANNE HILLS Musician............................................................................................JAMES ROBINSON-PARRAN *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers

SET TING Present, some past Nebraska, some Iowa SONGS On Hoarding* A Poetry Reading Memory Tiny Elephant* The Empty House* The Back Door Tectonics So This Is Nebraska Monarchs Toward the Fall* Push Back the Darkness*/Local Wonders All the songs in LOCAL WONDERS were composed by Paul Amandes and are direct settings of poems by Ted Kooser, except where noted*

P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F Press Representative........................................................... Noreen Heron & Associates, Inc. Noreen Heron Zautcke, Katharine Hughes, Lianne Wiker, Brenna O’Leary, Holly Gustavson Graphic Artists.......................................................................Grace Gaceta and Colm O’Reilly Production Photos................................................................................................ Douglas Smith Social Networking.................................................................. Patrick Cannon and Ray Vanek

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CAST PROFILES PAUL AMANDES (Actor/Playwright/ Music Director) is a Chicago-based director-actorplaywrightsongwriter-musicianteacher. Besides Local Wonders, he’s collaborated with Virginia Smith on many projects over the past 20 years including The Little Humpback Horse (University of Nebraska Lincoln), Judevine (UNL and Equity Library Theatre), Haunted by God (Stillpoint Theatre Collective), Female Transport (UNL), Uncle Vanya (University of Indiana-South Bend), Romeo and Juliet (Oak Park Festival Theatre) and several others. For Romeo and Juliet (2004; directed by Virginia), Paul composed a dozen songs, served as music director and performed the role of Lord Capulet. Paul directed the theatrical triptych imPerfect Balance at the Irish American Heritage Center (Women Artists Series) featuring Anne Hills in 2007. He directed Hello Dali (two After Dark Awards) for the Victory Gardens Theater’s Tony Award-winning season of 2000-01 and Scarlet Confessions in 2002 (with Anne, Michael Smith, and Jamie O’Reilly). Paul created the role of Andy Singleton in his own musical, Two-Fools Gold (a western romantic musical comedy) which he also directed at Columbia College Chicago and produced a CD of the songs. For 2011,

he’s been commissioned to expand his play TroubleShoot for The Theater Within of Indianapolis centered on military suicide. Paul is the Associate Chairperson of the Theater Department of Columbia College Chicago.

PAUL AMANDES AKNOWLEDGMENTS: There are not enough synonyms for “thank you” for: Beth Ann O’Reilly (eternally); Virginia & Doug Smith (!!); Anne Hills (where to start?!); The Angels of Encouragement (please see The List) especially Zena & Gary Paice (beyond motivating) & the early-onboard Paul & Ann Schreckenberger, Bob & Diane Ebert, Peter & Nancy Clark, & Meg Ross, along with the masterful/ tireless Full Sky Board (angels all): Susan Charrette, Rich White, and Tammy O’Reilly; my co-producer, Mary Pat Sieck (the kindest force of nature to hit you); James Robinson-Parran (“I can do that”); Larry Carpenter (“you gotta do this show!”); Jamie O’Reilly; George & Pat Sikorski who gave me a place to write (the Eberts too); Grace Gaceta; Colm O’Reilly; Terri Powell; Russ Tutterow & Brian Loevner of Chicago Dramatists; Kathleen Rutledge & Ted Kooser (who said “yes”); the St. Giles Community; and Michael & Sarah.

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C A S T P R O F I L E S ( c o n t .)

ANNE HILLS (Kathleen) is thrilled to return to the Chicago stage in this world premiere.

Primarily known within the folk music scene (founder of Hogeye Music in Evanston, IL), Hills has consistently built a reputation of merit with over 25 CDs, numerous awards and featured performances on NPR, WFMT, Sirius XM radio and with the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra. Her interest in poetry and lyric writing includes solo and collaborative work with recent recording projects (James Whitcomb Riley, Robert Graves) grant funded performances, as well as, her own published work (2nd Place, 1999 International Poetry competition, The Atlanta Review). She has also done music production (including the 2008 CD of Local Wonders). Having used her music for social work (benefit projects & concerts), she fulfilled a dream returning to school and earning her MSW in 2005. Her occasional theatrical performances include: Quilters (Buffalo’s Studio Arena and Chicago’s Northlight, 1985-86), The Courtship of Carl Sandburg with Bob Gibson & Tom Amandes (in 1984 at Chicago’s Apollo and Northlight and Lansing’s Boarshead), Lovers both acting and co-writing the music with Jay Ansill (Philadelphia’s Arden Theater 1995),

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Scarlet Confessions (Victory Gardens Theater July 2002) and The Heartsongs of Opal Whiteley (a multi-media production) at The Maureen Stapleton Theater in Troy, NY September 2007 and the Irish Heritage Center here in Chicago. She currently resides in Bethlehem, PA with her husband Mark Moss, editor and executive director of Sing Out! publications. Anne’s website is at http://www.annehills.com JAMES ROBINSONPARRAN (Musician) is the quintessential well rounded musician. He has been around music his whole life. showing promise on a variety of instruments, including piano, violin, organ, and harmonica. Born in Chicago, James began taking piano lessons at the age of five. James furthered his music studies at DePaul University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts.

He also holds a Masters of Arts in Music from Concordia University. James has been active as a composer, conductor, pianist, music teacher, songwriter, bandleader (lead vocalist, songwriter, and keyboardist for the band Justice Prevails!) and soloist.

PRODUCTION PROFILES MARY PAT SIECK (Producer) is so thankful for the opportunity to work with this incredible cast and crew and the wonderful people from Full Sky’s Board of Directors. In her other life, she is the Artistic and Managing Director for Open Door Repertory theater in Oak Park where she has directed 15 shows. Some of her favorites are: Good, The Laramie Project, Smokey Joe’s Café, Of Thee I Sing, A View From The Bridge and Daddy’s Home! Special thanks to her wonderful family and to Bill, who is always there.

DOUGLAS SMITH (Technical Director/ Lighting Designer) is currently the Program Manager for the Lincoln Arts Council in Lincoln, Nebraska. Doug has a background and training in technical theatre. For 25 years, he was a principal in Chicago Staging, producing and stage managing high visibility corporate events and tradeshows.

He has worked for most of the major AV Producers in the Chicago area, and many of the nationally known organizations, and with hundreds of corporate clients. He has extensive experience in event management, audio and video production, lighting design and all aspects of technical production. In the dim and foggy past, Doug worked as Technical Director in Chicago at the Court Theatre and St. Nicholas Theatre and was Production Manager at American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin in its first two years. Non-corporate lighting design credits include Ride Down Mount Morgan, Marisol, and Judevine for Equity

Library Theatre; and The Price of Bread and Rubber, Chippewa Valley Potluck, and several others for the Chippewa Valley Museum in Eau Claire, WI. VIRGINIA SMITH (Director/Playwright) is the Artistic Director of the Nebraska Repertory Theatre and the Head of Graduate and Undergraduate Directing at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Directing credits for NRT include: Vino Veritas, Santaland Diaries, Souvenir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins, Metamorphoses, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Omnium Gatherum, Crimes of the Heart and Dinnertime which performed at the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Theatre Festival in New York City. Other favorites include Oak Park Festival Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet; Equity Library Theatre’s Ride Down Mount Morgan, Hamlet, Judevine, and Marisol and Still Point Theatre Collective’s Haunted by God. JANICE STAUFFER(Costume Designer) is on the faculty of the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she designs and teaches curriculum on costume design and execution and stage makeup. She has designed forty productions for the Nebraska Repertory Theatre and has designed for the Flatwater Shakespeare Company in Lincoln since it was established 10 years ago. Her costume designs have also been produced at the Utah Shakespearean and Illinois Shakespeare Festivals. Recent productions have been Two Gentlemen of Verona,

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P R O D U C T I O N P R O F I L E S ( c o n t .)

The Humble Boy, Act a Lady and Dylan, a play about the American tours of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.

RAY VANEK(Stage Manager) has made Chicago home once again in order to work on Local Wonders, having complete faith in Paul and first-hand proof that if a show of his is a delight on paper it will be a dream on stage.

Ray worked with Paul on the first staged reading of his musical Two Fools’ Gold back in 2001, and his Open Door production of Lovers in 2004. Ray has identified as an actor, a theatre junkie, a musician, a writer, a story-collector, and a hobo at different times in life and hopes to be able to integrate all of these aspects into one role someday.

Ray is supremely honored to have been given the opportunity to work with this amazing and multi-talented cast and crew. Many thanks to Virginia for the vote of confidence sight unseen, and to Full Sky Productions for making this dream come true.

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HOLLY WINDINGSTAD (Set Design) is a freelance theatrical set and costume designer. In the Chicago area she has designed for Shakespeare on the Green, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Piven Theater Workshop, The Theatre School of DePaul University, Northwestern Summer Repertory, Footsteps Theater, Chicago Equity Library Theater, The Children’s Theatre of Western Springs and Still Point Theatre Collective. Regionally she has created designs for Nebraska Repertory Theatre, Childs Play (Tempe, AZ), Upstairs Theater (Tucson, AZ), Arizona Repertory Theater, Skylight Opera (Milwaukee, WI), Next Act (Milwaukee, WI), Indiana University at South Bend and Geva Theatre (Rochester, NY). Holly has also worked in association with The Goodman Theatre, Victory Gardens, Steppenwolf, Milwaukee Rep, Light Opera Works and Pegasus Theatre.

F U L L S K Y P R O D U C T I O N S B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R S Susan Charrette, President Richard P. White, Treasurer Tamara O’Reilly, MemberPaul Amandes, Artistic Director

T H A N K YO U ’ S Without the help and support of the following people this show would not have been possible

Board of Directors Eugene and Tammy O’Reilly, Ray and Karen Klemchuk - Founders Meagan Klemchuk Mary Marik Todd Combs Paul and Laura Jost Jamie O’Reilly, J.O’Reilly Production PR Peter Windingstad The Hosts for the Backers’ Auditions: Nancy and Peter Clark Eugene, Tammy, Phillip and Naomi O’Reilly Susan Beach and Richard P. White Muriel Quinn and Robert Pasin Paul and Ann Schreckenberger Zena and Gary Paice Meg Ross

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DONORS

Thank You to the incredible people whose contributions made LOCAL WONDERS a reality ARCHANGELS $5,000+ Nancy and Peter Clark Gary and Zena Paice Teresa Powell Paul and Ann Schreckenberger ANGELS $1,000- $4,999 Susan Charrette Edward C. and Wendy A. Haas Chris and Tammy Holzer Annette and Frank Hulefeld Bob Kent and Marian Sassetti-Kent

Ann and Marty Klest Tamara O’Reilly Muriel Quinn and Robert Pasin Charles and Cathy Ripp Meg Ross Marietta and Bob Walsh Richard P. White and Susan Beach SERAPHS $500 - $999 Tom Amandes Linda C. Bruno Karen A. Clark John and Jill Dortch Diane and Robert Ebert Lil Lewis

Bob and Judy Steed Ginny Tenzis Mary Catherine Wacker CHERUBS $50 to $499 Sarah and Terry Finnegan Mrs. Pat Johnson Stacy and Lou Kafkes Frank and Anita O’Hara Tim and Rachel Spitsberg Joyce T. Tjhio Bonnie Turucz Jim and Mary Ziegler

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