MaryArchie-TorontoMississippi

Richard Cotovsky Artistic Director

Carlo Lorenzo Garcia Producing Director

Presents

The Chicago Premiere of

TORONTO, MISSISSIPPI

By Joan MacLeod Toronto, Mississippi premiered at Tarragon Theatre in Toronto in October 1987

Directed by Carlo Lorenzo Garcia Scenic Design by William Anderson Lighting Design by Matthew Gawryk Costume Design by Stefin Steberl Sound Design by Carlo Lorenzo Garcia Paint Charge by Coco Lee Remery Stage Managed by Mary Patchell

This program is partially funded by grants from The Illinois Arts Council,The Alphawood Foundation and The Richard H.Driehaus Foundation Toronto, Mississippi is staged by arrangement with Pam Winter, Gary Goddard Agency, 10 St. Mary St. #305, Toronto, Canada M4Y 1P9 goddard@canadafilm.com Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. 1

CAST (in

or der of appe ar ance)

Jhana...............................................................................................................................Eve Rydberg Bill............................................................................................................................ Daniel Behrendt Maddie........................................................................................................................... Laura Sturm King.....................................................................................................................................Luke Renn SET TING A middle-class living room in Toronto. October 1987.

SPECIAL THANKS Joan MacLeod, Pam Winter, Meaghan Denomme, Gary Godard Agency, Guy Van Swearingen, Steppenwolf Theatre, A Red Orchid, Justins, University of Chicago, and Katherine Greenleaf P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F Director......................................................................................................... Carlo Lorenzo Garcia Stage Manager .........................................................................................................Mary Patchell Set Design.......................................................................................................... William Anderson Lighting Design................................................................................................ Matthew Gawryk Costume Design.......................................................................................................Stefin Steberl Sound Design............................................................................................. Carlo Lorenzo Garcia Paint Charge.......................................................................................................Coco Ree Lemery Graphic Design........................................................................................... Carlo Lorenzo Garcia Public Relations............................................................................................................Susan Jodry Literary Manager .............................................................................................Shannon Clausen D I R E C TO R ’ S N O T E In high school, I spent a lot of my time volunteering for a variety of organizations from the Ronald McDonald House to soup kitchens to Marklund’s Children Home.

When I was 17, I was telling my mother about my experience at Marklund and the autistic children I met. She told me that I had an aunt who was born with Down Syndrome that was given to a home for fear of the shame it might bring. I was shocked, emotionally floored that I had a family member I never knew existed, whom I never met, and was never talked about by my parents or grandparents.

My mind and heart raced and I was filled with questions. I couldn’t understand why or how a parent could do that, give up their child. It was from that moment that I became interested in those with developmental disabilities. I made attempts to write a story, to write words for my aunt who never had a voice in my life, but I was never truly able to capture it. I wanted so much for her to have a voice, for her to tell her story.

When I first read Toronto, Mississippi, it immediately made me think of my aunt, I was moved by Jhana’s drive and struggle for love and to be accepted. Jhana is full of life, intelligent, with all the dreams and desires of any other 18 year old girl. She is just a lovely human being. I wanted to direct this play, in hopes that my aunt’s voice could be channeled through Jhana, so that her story may live on. She will not be hidden or forgotten by me.

I dedicate my work on this production to the loving memory of my aunt, Suzie Rampa. As part of my Living Philanthropic mission, I will be donating $1 to Marklund’s Children Home for every ticket purchased for Toronto, Mississippi. For more information, please visit: www.livingphilanthropic.com 2 Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co.

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BIOGR APHIES Daniel Behrendt (Bill) is thrilled to to be working with such a talented cast and crew on Toronto, Mississippi. Dan is a Mary-Arrchie company member and has acted in past shows such as Cherrywood, Mud People, Our Bad Magnet (Jeff Nomination 2009-Best Ensemble) and Beggars In The House Of Plenty (Top Five Male Performances 2008-NewCity). He has also worked on plays at Court Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, American Theatre Co., GreasyJoan and Signal Ensemble.

Dan received a B.A. in Acting from Illinois State University and is a proud graduate of The School at Steppenwolf and a student of BlackBox. Dan would like to thank his family and Sadieh for their love and support, as well as a special thank you to Carlo for being the best partner in crime imaginable.

Luke Renn (King) is delighted to be making his debut at Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company. Other Chicago area credits include The Philadelphia Story (Circle Theatre), The Hiding Place and The Time of Your Life (Provision Theater) The Nerd (Metropolis), Kissing (Bailiwick), Number the Stars and Where the Red Fern Grows (TYA /Apple Tree). Luke also performs in a Corporate Outreach Program with About Face Theatre.

Eve Rydberg (Jhana) Eve Rydberg is an actor, writer, director, choreographer, model, wardrobe stylist, graphic designer, and player of the ukulele. She is originally from New York City, but spent the later half of her childhood in Minneapolis, MN. She is the daughter of a artists and for her going into theatre is much like following in the family 4 Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co.

business. She is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University where some of her credits include The Miser (dir. Stephan Anderson), Alice in Wonderland (dir. Sean Graney), Vinegar Tom (dir. Anne Filmer), A Clockwork Orange (dir. Ilesa Duncan), and Haroun and the Sea of Stories (dir.

Damon Kiely). Eve is an ensemble member of Abraham Werewolf, a local theatre collective.

Laura Sturm (Maddie) is delighted to be returning to Mary-Arrchie after last year’s Mud People and a brief stint in Beggars in the House of Plenty. Laura teaches acting and movement for actors at Act One Studios and has worked with such theatres as Bailiwick Repertory, Illinois Theatre Center, Northlight, Provision, Signal, Breadline, Raven, Apple Tree TYA, A-Squared and Remy Bumppo. She recently appeared as Blanche in Polarity Ensemble Theatre’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire.

For Polarity, with whom she is a company member, Laura also directed Sheridan’s 18th century comedy of manners, The Rivals, and is excited to be directing the world premiere of Bryce Wissel’s wacky space comedy Ephemera for Polarity in the spring (Mariachisinging robots and ape-men anyone?).

Laura received her M.F.A. from Northern Illinois University and also serves as a private acting and movement coach.

Richard Cotovsky (Artistic Director) is a founding member of Mary-Arrchie Theatre and serves as Artistic Director.

He has been involved in every aspect of the theater’s functions from the first production which was Cowboy Mouth/4-H Club in 1986. He has appeared in The Pawnbroker, The Curse of the Starving Class, Edmond, Buried Child for which he received a Jeff Nomination, Fool For Love, The Homecoming, The Birthday Party, Killers, and Beyond Mozambique to name a few. He has directed The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui,

B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .)

Insignificance, The Killer and the Comic for which he received a Jeff Nomination, The Freedom of the City for which he received a Jeff Citation, Beyond Mozambique, Saved, and most recently How To Disappear Completely and Never Be Found at Mary-Arrchie. He has appeared at other theaters including A Red Orchid, Strawdog, Latino Chicago, Steppenwolf, Remains, Blind Parrott, igloo, Americana, Blackbird, Prop, National Pastime, The Hypocrites, Steep, and Raven. He has directed at other theaters including A Red Orchid, Live Bait, Profiles, and The Shapeshifters.

Carlo Lorenzo Garcia (Director / Sound Design) serves as Producing Director for MaryArrchie Theatre Co and has been an active member since 2005 and most recently appeared in and sound designed for Cherrywood directed by David Cromer. Directing credits include Mud People and the Jeff Nominated Our Bad Magnet for Mary-Arrchie. Previous acting credits with Mary-Arrchie include: How To Disappear Completely and Never Be Found, Buried Child, MOJO. Other Chicago credits include work with Strawdog, Greasy Joan & Co, Collaboraction, Teatro Luna, and Walkabout Theater at Lookingglass.

Follow his journey at: www.livingphilanthropic.com

The Caretaker, Our Bad Magnet, Bartleby The Scrivener, Mud People, How To Disappear Completely and Never Be Found, here at Mary-Arrchie; and Dooby Dooby Moo at Lifeline Theater.)

William Anderson (Set Design) works as a set designer, prop designer and furniture carpenter. He is an Artistic Associate with Red Tape Theatre Company and is the properties designer for Lookingglass Theatre Company 201011 Season. Past designs include: Dead Letter Office (Dog and Pony), Obscura, Love of a Nightingale, Mouse in a Jar (Red Tape), Graceland (Profiles Theater), How to Disappear Completely and Never be Found, Mud People (Mary-arrchie), Artist Needs a Wife (The Side Project). Other companies include: Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The House, The Court, The Plagiarists, Stage Left and Florence International Theatre Company.

Coco Lee Remery (Paint Charge) is a scenic painter at night and court room sketch artist during the day. She has worked at numerous theaters including WNEP, Mary-Arrchie, Rivendell, Chicago Shakes, The House, Writers’ Theatre, Next, Victory Gardens, Timeline Theatre, Gift Theatre, The Lyric Opera House, Pegasus Players, Black Ensemble, and Chicago Fusion Theatre. Most importantly, she is grateful for the opportunity at Mary-Arrchie and looks forward to working with them again.

Joan MacLeod (Playwright) Joan MacLeod’s plays include Jewel, Toronto, Matthew Gawryk (‘mã-thyü ‘gou-rik) Mississippi, Amigo’s Blue Guitar, ‘The (lighting design): [noun] 1 an avid Hope Slide, Little Sister, The Shape artisan in the Chicago performing arts of a Girl, 2000 and Homechild. She is community • one in the field of stage the recipient of two Chalmers Canadesign, primarily of (but not excludian Play Awards and the Governor sive to) lighting • one who is artistiGeneral’s Award. All of her plays have cally associated with two local theatre been produced extensively. For seven companies; Sansculottes Co. and Dog & years she was a playwright-in-residence Pony Theatre. 2 an educational affiliate at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre. Her with Metropolis P.A.C. 3 an Electrician plays have been translated into eight who enjoys the practical aspect of an languages. Joan also writes poetry, ethereal art. • one who has toured prose and for television. She grew up domestically and internationally with in North Vancouver and lived for eight Hubbard Street Dance. (previous and years in Toronto and then ten years on upcoming uses: A Prayer for My Daughter, Bowen Island just outside Vancouver.

Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. 5

B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .)

In 2004 Joan took a position with the University of Victoria as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Writing. Her newest work, Another Home Invasion premiered last year at Alberta Theatre Projects to stellar reviews.

Mary Patchell (Stage Manager) a graduate of Columbia College Chicago, where she received her B.A. in Theater: Directing. She is thrilled to be back at Mary Arrchie! Favorite stage managerial credits include Beggars in the House of Plenty with Mary Arrchie, the Misanthrope with Greasy Joan and Co, and Hot N’ Throbbing with Pine Box Theatre. Mary would like to thank her family and friends for their unending love and support. And of course, Carlo, for rockin’ the house!

Stefin Steberl (Costume Designer) is once again at home with MaryArrchie. Mr. Steberl’s recent Chicago credits include Our Bad Magnet, Mud People, How to Disappear, Beggars in the House of Plenty, Bartleby The Scrivener (Mary-Arrchie) Too Much Memory Days of Late, Bible B Sides, Sweet Confinement (SiNNERMAN) Effie (Neopolitain) Polaroid Stories (Alrosa) Alice (NWAC) The White Airplane, Long Days Journey into Night (Polarity Ensemble) The Scarlet Ibis, Pull of the Moon (16th street theater) La Cage Aux Follies(Bohemian Ensemble)Rewind (Side Project) . And Many More... Mr. Steberl was previously the resident designer for Columbia College’s Spectacle Fortuna and is currently in residence with Neopolitan and is an ensemble member with SiNNERMAN.

T H E C O M PA N Y Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. is an ensemble-based theatre focusing on material, original as well as previously published, addressing the fears and passions of the human condition. This includes characters who are often misunderstood, societal outcasts, and victims of self-exile. Mary-Arrchie strives to give insight into these characters and their surroundings in order to better understand them and their relationship to themselves and to society. Mary-Arrchie is a strong believer in nurturing the Off – Loop theatre movement. It is imperative that small theatres are supported.

If you are interested in supporting Mary- Arrchie Theatre beyond the price of admission, donations are tax- deductible and can be made by any means you choose. You can talk to us at the box office, after the show, or call us at (773) 871.0442, or through our website:www.maryarrchie.com You can send a check payable to: Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. 7548 N Bell Chicago, IL 60645 Photo: Milwaukee Rep

Y O U R

O N L I N E

6 Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co.

G U I D E

T O

T H E

P E R F O R M I N G

A R T S

P R O D U C T I O N H I S TO R Y 1986 Cowboy Mouth/ 4-H Club by Sam Shepard

Beyond Mozambique by George F.Walker The Lover/A Night Out by Harold Pinter

1987 Curse of the Starving Class by Sam Shepard The Homecoming by Harold Pinter

1994 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins VI Standing On My Knees by John Olive [co-produced with Thunder Road Ensemble] Fool for Love by Sam Shepard Cabaret Freajque Steel Kiss by Robin Fulford [co-produced with The Journeymen]

1988 Gas Mask 101 by Arlene Cook Wild Dogs by Matt Berczon Unfair Arguments With Existence

by Lawernce Ferlinghetti 1989 The Mary-Arrchie Kids Show adapted

by Richard Cotovsky Panhandlers by Tom Hamilton Of All the Wide Torsos In All Wild Glen

by Paul Peditto Edmond by David Mamet Lonestar by James McClure Bitch with Rich [Ensemble Development] Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins Theater Festival Insignificance by Terry Johnson 1990 The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter* Cowboys #2 by Sam Shepard Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins II Detective Story by Sidney Kingsley** The Beard by Michael McClure 1991 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins III Modigliani By Dennis McIntyre Son of a Bitch_Skid Mark After Dark [Ensemble Development] End of the Night [An evening of one acts including Gas Masks 101, Wild Dogs and Slam

by Jane Willis] Screwtape by James Forsyth 1992 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins IV Femme Fatale by Michael Wolk Imagining Brad by Peter Hedges Prescribed But Not Refillable

by Richard Cotovsky Return of the Bitch_The 3rd Coming_ Skid Mark’s Nocturnal Excretions [Ensemble Development] The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui

by Bertholt Brecht 1993 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins V The Monologue Conspiracy Dirty Hands by Jean-Paul Sartre Adult/Dead Child by Claire Dowie

1995 Abbie Hoffman Died for Our Sins VII Cementville by Jane Martin Cabaret Freajque Tracers conceived by John DiFusco and written with Vietnam Veterans** The Petrified Forest by Robert Sherwood The Killer and The Comic

by Rooster Mitchell** 1996 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins VIII Never the Same Rhyme Twice

by Rooster Mitchell Small Craft Warnings by Tennessee Williams Cabaret Freajque The Last Good Moment of Lily Baker

by Russell Davis 1997 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins IX The Paradox of Insanity _I Mean Humanity

by Rick Almada [co-produced with Seventh Son Productions] Bitch Package by Scott Stuart Cut, Poison & Burn by Louis Cimino The Broken Museum by Chistopher Ellis The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertholt Brecht 1998 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins X Jimmy by J. Patrick Jr. Penguin Blues by Ethan Phillips The Gut Girls by Sarah Daniels Vaudeville Nights: The Voice of the City The Freedom of the City by Brian Friel ** 1999 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XI The Hairy Ape by Eugene O’Neill Europe by David Greig Imagining Brad by Peter Hedges The Pawnbroker from the novel

by Edward Louis Lewant Adapted by Patrick Kerwin

Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. 7

P R O D U C T I O N H I S TO R Y ( c o n t .)

2000 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XII Breakdown and Out by David Hauptschein

2006 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XVIII Killers by John Olive ***

2001 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XIII Birdsend by Keith Huff *** # The Difficult Hour by Par Lagerqvist A Bright Room Called Day by Tony Kushner * From Both Hips by Mark O’Rowe Clearing Hedges by Jennifer Barclay

2007 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XIX Saved by Edward Bond*** Cowboy Mouth/4-H Club by Sam Shepard A Prayer For My Daughter by Thomas Babe** 7 Blowjobs by Mac Wellman

2002 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XIV The Job by Shem Bitterman The Hot l Baltimore by Lanford Wilson*** Empty Bottles Broken Hearts

by Lance E. Adams The Mercutio Story The Altruists by Nicky Silver*** 2003 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XV Shakespeare Kung Fu by Will Kern When The Walls Have Ears

by David Hauptschein 2004 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XVI Mojo by Jez Butterworth

2008 The Caretaker by Harold Pinter*** Beggars In The House of Plenty

by John Patrick Shanley Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XX Our Bad Magnet by Douglas Maxwell* 2009 Bartleby, The Scrivener by Herman Melville adapted by R.L. Lane Mud People by Keith Huff Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XXI How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found by Fin Kennedy* 2010 The Rant by Andrew Case Cherrywood: The Modern Comparable by Kirk Lynn* Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XXII

2005 Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XVII Sea Marks by Gardner McKay Buried Child by Sam Shepard*

*Jeff Nomination **Jeff Citation ***Jeff Recommended #After Dark Award

OUR SUPPORTERS GUARDIAN ANGELS Richard H. Driehaus Foundation The Alphawood Foundation Illinois Arts Council Richard Cotovsky PLATINUM ANGELS Monte LaForti Anonymous GOLD ANGELS Sally Cotovsky Kathy Willhoite Four Moon Tavern Norm Sloan Maria Garcia Justins Bar SILVER ANGELS Marla Cotovsky Guy Van Swearingen Carlo Garcia Will Kern Michael Dice Jr. Ian Streicher 8 Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co.

Shaska Venumbaka Sara and Chris Keith Kathy Dice E.B. Smith Kelly, Paul, and Andrew Tyma Christine Tyma DeGrado Tina Teske Frank Carr Sarah Mills Jodie Kupsco Eloise and Cletus Robinson BRONZE ANGELS Jonathan Abarbanel Jonathan Fox Rita Smith David Alex Leon Walker Galen Bodenhausen Todd Lahrman Tom Parrett Sarah Charipar Penny Penniston & Jeremy Weschsler Mike McNamara Darice DaMata-Geiger

Michael Halberstam Josette DiCarlo Jeff Still Annoyance Theatre Jennifer Estlin James Allen Andrew Carter Danny Torbica Jake and Cindi McKinney Charlene Clausen David Liesse Scott Baker Lindsey Pearlman Shelly Daniels Bob Mason Christi DeBrauwere Len and Cindy Tobiaski Suzy and Marty Marta Vicki and Rich Dalle-Molle Alex and Sue Small Sharon and Mitch Gross Matthew McClellan Kyle Robinson Anonymous