BURYING THE BONES By M.E.H. Lewis
Mae ........................................................................................... Malkia Stampley * James ....................................................................................Di’Monte Henning Cassandra ............................................................................................ Bria Cloyd Gideon ............................................................................................ Mark Corkins * Director ............................................................................................ Chris Flieller Stage Manager ........................................................................Alan Piotrowicz Costume Designer ...........................................................Pamela J. Rehberg Set Design ......................................................................................Steve Barnes Light Design ............................................................................Holly Blomquist Board Operator .....................................................................Colin Gawronski Dramaturg ................................................................. Laura Lynn MacDonald Time: Circa 1990 Place: South Africa There will be one 15-minute intermission. * Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, appearing under a Special Appearance Contract. Originally produced at Stage Left Theatre, Chicago (2004). Burying the Bones is presented by special arrangement with the author. The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited including camera phones. This project is supported, in part, by a grant from the Milwaukee Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts, the United Performing Arts Fund, and CAMPAC (County Funding). The opening night reception for Burying the Bones is courtesy of Konrad Kuchenbach. We thank him for his support! Burying the Bones
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BIOGR APHIES Chris Flieller (Director/ Artist Director, In Tandem Theatre) A fixture both on and backstage for more than three decades in Milwaukee, Chris has numerous credits to his name. Among the companies Chris has acted with in his long career are In Tandem Theatre, Skylight Opera Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Theatre X, First Stage Children’s Theatre, and the Marcus Center/ Milwaukee Repertory. In addition to playing Stasch Zielinski in over two hundred performances for In Tandem’s smash hit holiday show, A CUDAHY CAROLER CHRISTMAS, Chris was most recently seen as the father in W. B. Yeats’ PURGATORY for Irish Fest. His many directing credits include WONDER OF THE WORLD, nine years of SHAW SHORTS (in collaboration with Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s Annual Shaw Festival), THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES, HOLIDAY HELL, THE CHOSEN, HOME, the world premier of STUCK, EQUUS (in a co-presentation with the UWM B.F.A. acting program), OLD WICKED SONGS and most recently, the American premier of THE NIGHTMARE ROOM. Jane Flieller (Managing Director, In Tandem Theatre) A former stage manager, Jane toured nationally with the Great American Children’s Theatre Company and has worked locally for Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, First Stage Children’s Theatre, Theatre Tesseract, Next Act Theatre and Next Generation Theatre. For several years, Jane was the stage manager for ComedySportz, a position she originated. She co-founded In Tandem Theatre in 1998 and now unleashes her creative energies on all aspects of running a small arts organization. Jane’s directing credits include In Tandem, Whitefish Bay High School, Carroll College, Broadway Baby Dinner Theatre, South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, and most recently, Marquette University. Jane looks forward to once again bringing the Cudahy Carolers back together when she directs A CUDAHY CAROLER CHRISTMAS in December. As always, she gives thanks to her beloved husband, partner and best friend, through whom all things are possible. Alan Piotrowicz (Rehearsal Stage Manager) has worked in the Tenth Street Theatre many times, including rehearsal stage managing MRS. MANNERLY and designing lighting for 2
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VERONICA’S POSITION for In Tandem Theatre a couple seasons ago. He primarily freelances as a lighting designer and stage director throughout the greater Milwaukee area and is proud to have worked for several fine companies, including Bunny Gumbo Theatre Company, Danceworks, Falls Patio Players (resident designer), First Stage, Four Seasons Theatre, In Tandem Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Next Act Theatre, T.I.M.: The Improvised Musical (resident designer), UPROOTED Theatre, and Youngblood Theatre, among others. He received his training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and The Santa Fe Opera. www.alanpiotrowicz.com Pamela J. Rehberg (Costume Design) Ms. Rehberg is happy to be returning to In Tandem for BURYING THE BONES. Other In Tandem productions have included VERONICA’S POSITION, THRILL ME, THE APPLE TREE, and EQUUS. Ms. Rehberg is a professor at UWM, teaching courses in draping, patternmaking, and costume design. Her work has been seen at Peninsula Players, First Stage Children’s Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, The Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Rocky Mountain Repertory, and the Milwaukee Ballet. Recent design work includes SALOON at Peninsula Players, THE DETECTIVE’S WIFE at Chamber Theatre, and THE SOUND OF MUSIC at the Skylight Music Theatre. As always, love to Randy, Josh, Amanda and Matt, who help keep the world in balance. Steve Barnes (Set Design) Steve is happy to be back at In Tandem Theatre. You may have seen his previous work on A CUDAHY CAROLER CHRISTMAS, ROMANTIC FOOLS and STUCK. Steve has done numerous designs in the Milwaukee area, including JEEVES IN BLOOM and DRIVING MISS DAISY at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, EDUCATING RITA and AMERICAN FIESTA at Renaissance Theatreworks, and PEARL BAILEY ... BY REQUEST and YANKEE TAVERN (co- designer) at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. He has also designed for First Stage Children’s Theater, Optimist Theatre, Ka-Tet Theatre Company, Racine Theatre Guild, and KOHL’S Wild Theater at the Milwaukee Zoo. www.stevebarnesdesign.com Holly Blomquist (Lighting Design) Holly is pleased to return to In Tandem Theatre after designing past productions of TEA AT FIVE, OLD WICKED SONGS, THRILL ME, and THE NIGHTMARE ROOM. Upcoming work this season includes IN THE HEIGHTS at the Skylight Music Theatre, and THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER at First Stage. Past favorites include RABBIT
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HOLE (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre) and THE INTERNATIONALIST (Boulevard Ensemble). In addition to lighting for theatre productions, Holly designs lighting for architectural projects around the city and state and volunteers as the Board President for the Boulevard Ensemble. Thanks Chris and Jane for asking me back, and thank you for supporting local live theatre! Malkia Stampley (Mae) Malkia is delighted to make her In Tandem debut in BURYING THE BONES. She was recently in Forward Theater’s GOOD PEOPLE and First Stage’s RUDOLPH. Malkia attended Marquette University for Theater Arts, served as a Resident Artist with Skylight Music Theater, and was an acting intern with Milwaukee Rep. Some favorite productions include Beneatha in RAISIN at Court Theatre in Chicago, TAMING OF THE SHREW with Manhattan Theatre Project, two years of BLACK NATIVITY and TALENTED TENTH with Congo Square Theater, and the Japan concert tours of THE LION KING and DREAMGIRLS with St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre, where she received the Woodie King Jr. award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. Malkia is a founding member of Bronzeville Arts Ensemble, a new Milwaukee theater company and the Community Partnership Coordinator for First Stage. She will next be seen in First Stage’s A MIDNIGHT CRY in January. Malkia dedicates her performance to her partner, Chike, and their three spawns, Kwasi, Nafia and Zaria. Di’Monte Henning (James) Di’Monte attends UWM where he studies Business and minors in Theatre. He is humbled and grateful to share his performance in BURYING THE BONES with you. Di’Monte’s previous credits include Cliff in THE PROMISED LAND at First Stage Children’s Theatre; Youngblood in August Wilson’s JITNEY, and Seaweed J. Stubbs in HAIRSPRAY, among others. Di’Monte believes the rich history and obstacles each character faces in BURYING THE BONES can teach Milwaukee’s community about ourselves and in turn, teach those around us. Thank you to In Tandem Theatre and a special thanks and love to my family and friends. Enjoy!
Bria Cloyd (Cassandra) Bria is excited to be a part of the phenomenal cast of BURYING THE BONES. Her theatre credits include: SPUNK, THINGS WE CAN’T DO ONSTAGE, NUNSENSE, and MARCH TO KOSCIUSZKO PARK. When she’s not onstage, Bria enjoys playing the piano, singing, and spending time with family. Bria would like to thank In Tandem for their kindness and her mother for all of her love and support. Mark Corkins (Gideon) Mark is excited to be making his In Tandem debut. He most recently played Claudius in Cooperative Performance Milwaukee’s production of HAMLET at Villa Terrace. Mark has performed with many local theatre’s including Next Act, Chamber Theatre, Milwaukee Shakespeare, and First Stage. Over many seasons as a resident actor with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, favorite roles include Lee in TRUE WEST, Owen in THE FOREIGNER, Hamm in END GAME, Jacob Marley in A CHRISTMAS CAROL, and title roles in KING LEAR and DRACULA. Mark also spent twelve summers in Spring Green with American Players Theatre. Highlights include Sir Andrew in TWELFTH NIGHT, The Mayor in THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR, Jack in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, and Mark Antony in ANTONY & CLEOPATRA. Mark’s next Milwaukee project will be A MIDNIGHT CRY with First Stage. Colin Gawronski (Board Operator) Colin is a graduate of UWM’s Theatre Program and a Milwaukee native. He is excited to be back at In Tandem again. Colin has worked with such local companies as Your Mother Dances, UWM Dance, Danceworks Inc., Next Act, Chamber Theatre, Carter Productions, Kohl’s Wild Theater, PrideFest Milwaukee, and Youngblood. Colin has also worked with the Sacramento Music Circus, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival and with the Indianapolis and Chicago Fringe Festivals. Favorite productions include: SERENDIPITY, MAURITIUS, THRILL ME, ADVENTURES OF LITTLE MISFIT, IN A BLACK MOOD, WINTERDANCES 2012, EXONERATED, THE FLU SEASON, GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES, and DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE. Give Love Always.
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Laura Lynn MacDonald (Dramaturg) Laura Lynn is a Milwaukee-based playwright, screenwriter, and dramaturg. Cindy Thomas (Administrative Associate, In Tandem Theatre) Cindy has been with In Tandem Theatre since August 2008. She has been involved with the arts, especially music, since she can remember. After graduating in 1981 from Silver Lake College with a BA in Voice and a minor in Music Business, she moved to Milwaukee where she managed the print music departments of two local music stores and worked in sales/marketing for a print music publishing company. Cindy has performed with the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, Music Under the Stars, Bel Canto Chorus, and is currently a
member of the Florentine Opera Chorus. Jason Altobelli (Gallery Curator, In Tandem Theatre’s Tenth Street Gallery). A transplant from New Hampshire, Altobelli arrived in the Midwest in 2007 and has found a home in Milwaukee. He received his BFA in Fine Art Photography from the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York in 2004, accompanied by a minor in Psychology. Altobelli completed an Artist in Residency Program at the Tenth Street Gallery during the 2011-2012 year, and was part of the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network’s Mentor/ Protégé Program for the 2012-2013 season. His artwork has been shown in various solo and group exhibitions in both Milwaukee and Chicago.
S TA F F A N D B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R S BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ellen Maxey, President Dennis Kois, Vice President Scott Berkes, Secretary Dan Glaser, CPA, Treasurer Milt Flieller Richard Ippolito Greg Kliebhan Sharveta Parker Leigh Wallace Tabak
ADVISORY BOARD Charles Kakuk Dan Kattman Claude Krawczyk IN TANDEM THEATRE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Chris Flieller, Artistic Director Jane Flieller, Managing Director Cindy Thomas, Administrative Associate Jason Altobelli, Gallery Curator
SPECIAL THANKS Brad McKendry, Mario and Lynn Constantini of La Lune Collection, Lance Lamont, Racine Theatre Guild, Gretchen Makhorn, Jason Waszak, Ross Zentner, James Clark, Select Sound, Melia (Mel) Gonzalez and Melanie Liebtrau
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ABOUT THE PL AY WRIGHT M.E.H. Lewis is an award winning playwright and writing teacher, based in Chicago. Lewis’s plays have been seen at Cherry Lane Theatre in New York, Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles, Detroit Repertory Theatre, Next Theatre in Evanston, Stage Left Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, and The New Theatre in Melbourne, Australia, among others. Her first play, CHARMS FOR PROTECTION, won the Julie Harris Playwriting Award. Since then, Lewis has been awarded many honors, including the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Work, two Illinois Arts Council Fellowships, three Ragdale Foundation Residencies, a Tremain Grant, and the FutureFest Outstanding Playwright Award. Lewis’s first production in Chicago was Stage Left’s critically acclaimed BURYING THE BONES, which was nominated for three Joseph Jefferson Awards, including Best New Work. BURYING THE BONES received a ten-week revival in 2012 at Detroit Repertory Theatre, where it garnered critical acclaim and enjoyed sold-out performances.
Other productions include: HERE WHERE IT’S SAFE and FELLOW TRAVELLERS (winner of the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Work), both at Stage Left, FRESHLY FALLEN SNOW at Chicago Dramatists (Joseph Jefferson Award nominee), CREOLE at InFusion Theatre (nominated for five Black Theatre Alliance Awards), SECRET LANGUAGE at Next Theatre, FLOAT at The New Theatre in Melbourne, and PERFECT WORLD at Infamous Commonwealth. Her plays have been included in multiple festivals, workshops and readings, including Stage Left’s LeapFest, American Blues’ Ripped - The Living Newspaper Project (based on the 1930’s WPA era program that brought the works of Orson Welles, Arthur Miller and Clifford Odets into the public eye), and Reverie Productions’ Next Generation readings in NYC. Lewis’s plays, SMALL WORLD and THIRST (co-authored with Anita Chandwaney), were presented at the 2012 International Women’s Theatre Festival in Stockholm, Sweden. Lewis is a Resident Dramatist at Chicago Dramatists, a member of The Dramatists Guild, a Dramatists Guild Fellow, a member of the Women’s Theatre Alliance, and an emeritus ensemble member at Stage Left Theatre.
D I R E C TO R ’ S N O T E S Welcome to In Tandem’s 2013-14 season, which begins with M.E.H. Lewis’s powerful play, Burying the Bones. This provocative play offers an intensely personal story drawn with complex characters that will constantly surprise you. You may be thinking that a play set in South Africa during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings will involve an examination of institutionalized racism, or a history lesson on racial equity and war crimes. Nothing could be further than the truth. As someone once said, all politics is personal. Burying the Bones allows us to experience a rich personal story set against the
political debris of the old Apartheid system. Mae’s journey in the play is fraught with twists and turns, as she’s challenged to discover the truth about her husband, and reconcile the past. On her way, she discovers that the line between right and wrong is a blurred one, constantly shifting depending on where you stand. To find the clarity she’s searching for, to see the truth in all its colors - Mae has to travel a circuitous road; a road that takes her beyond grief and pain - to mercy. Mercy is what makes atonement possible. Mercy is what restores humanity to our politics, our allies and adversaries, and ultimately our selves.
I N TA N D E M ’ S 2 013 - 2 014 S E A S O N BURYING THE BONES By M.E.H. Lewis October 4 - 27, 2013 A suspenseful account of one woman’s journey to find the truth.
CHESAPEAKE By Lee Blessing February 21 - March 16, 2014 A funny one-man “tail” about coming together for the common good.
A CUDAHY CAROLER CHRISTMAS By Anthony Wood November 29, 2013 - January 5, 2014 A hilarious homage to beer, bowling, friendship and forgiveness.
1959 PINK THUNDERBIRD By James McLure April 25 - May 18, 2014 An amusing slice-of-life story set in rural West Texas in the late 1970’s. Burying the Bones
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GLOSSARY OF TER MS Here are a few words or phrases you will hear in this production. For more information, see the Discovery Guide at www.intandemtheatre.org. Doepa: A medicinal charm A Slam: Term for a witch doctor or a traditional healer - Diviner Slutty Jentoe: A term used in the Cape region for a prostitute ANC: African National Congress. A political party, founded in 1912 as an African nationalist movement. The ANC was banned from 1960 to 1990 because of its active opposition to Apartheid. In 1994, the ANC won South Africa’s first multiracial election. Catweed Tea: Commonly referred to as Valerian Root. This tea is used as a nerve tonic or to promote sleep. Advocates: Advocates were hired by lawyers to represent parties in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings. Interrogators: Interrogators in the TRC could be legal representatives questioning victims and perpetrators as well as victims given the opportunity to interrogate (question) their oppressors.
I N TA N D E M N E E D S YO U ! We’ve accomplished a great deal for a small company since we began in 1998 and we are excited about the possibilities the future holds. As a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization, In Tandem Theatre relies on the generosity of our patrons and friends to keep moving forward. Ticket sales, which we try to keep as reasonable as possible, can’t cover the entire costs of producing professional quality theatre. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to our annual campaign and see your contribution go directly toward productions costs (actor and designer salaries; props, costumes, sets, lights; script royalties and marketing). We appreciate your patronage very much and hope you can help us out! Superstars ($10,000 and up) Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the Mary L. Nohl Fund United Performing Arts Fund Sally Marks Platinum ($5,000 - $10,000) Johnson Controls Foundation Milwaukee Arts Board Solid Gold ($1,000 - $4,999) CAMPAC (County Funding) Greg Chrisafis Patti and Patrick Doughman Dan and Kathy Glaser Richard Ippolito and Pamela Frautschi Johnson Controls Matching Gift Program Dennis Kois Marilyn Nelsen Mark Sell Wisconsin Arts Board Heart and Soul ($250 - $999) Nick A. Akgulian Bob and Vicki Bonadurer Dave Glenn, Glenn Consulting, LLC John E. Holland Greg and Linda Kliebhan Susan Klingman Konrad Kuchenbach Lee Marquardt Ellen M. Maxey Howard and Sara Miller 6
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Julianna L. Olson Leigh E. Wallace Rhythm Section ($100 - $249) Sally and John Anello Anonymous Michael and Thia Arkens Mickey and Mary Ann Armour Assurant Health Foundation Matching Gift Program David Flores Tom and Barbara Forbes Sarah J. Ford and Randall Klumb Laurence and Stephanie Govin-Matzat Rachel and Dennis Hafemann Joel Herringa (In Memory of Julie Wichman) Stan and Mary Birdsall Jay Allen and Sharon Johnson Mary Johnson and Bruce Miller Sues Johnson Annie Jansen Jurczyk and John Jansen Charles Kakuk Richard Kalinoski Renee’ and Don Kielich Gary and Sarah Krenz Bill and Marlene Listwan Timothy McElhatton and Barbara Armstrong Janet and Jim McMahon Michael and Shirley Mosesson Rick Neeley Jane O’Connell
Claudette and Mark Robinson Jean Ross Susan J. Salnajs Kathy Sarandos Linda Schmidt Quartaro David A. and Ruth Ann Schneider Carol O. Smart Joe Stanke Eileen and George Stone Jessica Thibodo-Johnson Jack and Marlene Udovich Nancy Weiss-McQuide and Mark McQuide Steven Whitsitt and Cathy J. Munz Mary Ellen Winter Wisconsin Energy Corporation Foundation Employee Gift Program Lori Wucherer Daniel Zimmerman Roots (Up to $99) Anonymous George R. Affeldt Pat Anderson Mary Benes-Malone Tiger Beyer and Teri Kieffer Frits Broekhuizen Leon Burzynski Timothy Craft Diane Cristina Mitzi Dearborn, PhD Lynda M. DiPierro Kathleen Falk Douglas and Kristen Fischer Chris and Jeanne Grenda
I N TA N D E M N E E D S YO U ! Susanne Horn Kelley Johnson Diane Kercheck Angie Kopf Claude and Sue Krawczyk Pam Kriger Ruth Krossin Sandra L. Laedtke Karen and Dennis Leyer Rita McDonald Julie S. McHale Merchant Services/Auto Doc Mary Mueller Deborah Neeley
Bill and Loretta O’Boyle Terry Ann Peterson Simon and Sarah Provan Michael and Susan Schall Maureen Schroeder Dawn Tessman Sheila Tobin Clancy Max Tolzman Jack and Marlene Udovich Robert and Ellen Venable (In Honor of Julie Wichman and her Family) Anna Walls Mark and Yvonne Wagner Mary M. Wegener
Roe Wiers Galla Terry and Dorothy Wobick Barry Zalben and Marianne Walsh Melody Zellner In-Kind Support Mark Frohna Photography Daniel Glaser, CPA/Lora Murray Betsy Mancosky Brad McKendry Sherry Turnacliff Ross Zentner
This list represents donations received since July 2012. We are grateful to all our donors whose generous contributions are vital to the continued growth of In Tandem Theatre. We appreciate your support and commitment. If we have inadvertently omitted or misspelled your name, please accept our sincere apologies and contact us immediately at 414-271-1371 so that we can make the correction.
IN MEMORIUM Sally Marks was a great friend to the Milwaukee theatre community and to us. Her love of the performing arts was truly inspiring and we will miss her very much. A generous gift from Sally will be used toward our artistic programming in the 2013-2014 season and we hope to continue to make her proud of the work we do.
M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T In Tandem Theatre is committed to producing exciting, innovative theatre, presenting a creative and eclectic program that enlightens, inspires, provokes, and entertains a diverse audience. In Tandem Theatre, Tenth Street Theatre 628 N. 10th Street Milwaukee, WI 53233
414/271-1371 www.intandemtheatre.org info@intandemtheatre.org
ABOUT THE 10TH STREET GALLERY AND OUR ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM Did you know? • In Tandem Theatre’s spacious lobby doubles as the 10th Street Gallery, displaying a number of exhibitions throughout the year? • The 10th Street Gallery hosts up to four local artists in a year-long Artist-In-Residence Program thanks in large part to the Mary L. Nohl Fund? • Artists are given complimentary studio space in the building to create their work. Each artist is given their own exhibition to coincide with one of In Tandem’s shows. • Two MPS schools with little or no access to visual arts education are treated to workshops with the artists and the opportunity to create artwork in several types of artistic media. The students then have a “gallery opening” to show off their creations. • This unique program allows local artists to showcase their work in a creative, nurturing environment, providing them with a built-in audience. They learn administrative skills in terms of installation, marketing, and selling their work and valuable teaching experience. Burying the Bones
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