MKE Rep - Ring of Fire

Now in its 59th season, Milwaukee Repertory Theater is dedicated to providing the highest level of professional theater to Milwaukee and Wisconsin in addition to offering a wide range of educational and community programs.

Located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, the Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex is a cleverly-converted power generation plant that houses Milwaukee Repertory Theater consisting of three theaters: the Quadracci Powerhouse (720 seats), the Steimke Studio (205 seats) and the Stackner Cabaret (118 seats), which is also a full-service restaurant and bar. Together, these spaces offer a variety of staging options from compelling dramas, powerful classics, award-winning contemporary works to full-scale musicals and comedies.

Photo by Michael Brosilow.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater is committed to creating plays that are meaningful and relevant to the society we live in – plays that are challenging, visceral and engage the community through the issues they explore.

With the start of the 2012/13 Season, The Rep expanded its Artistic Family to 19 Associate Artists. This new creative initiative will build upon the indelible legacy of The Rep’s Acting Company and now will expand to include directors, writers, designers, musicians and actors. This group will help participate and advise in choosing plays The Rep produces as well as other initiatives. They will contribute to the work seen on all Rep stages, read scripts, engage in education projects, along with other duties as well as serve as advocates for The Rep in their home communities across the nation. The Rep has long been committed to a core group of artists and this new ensemble will continue The Rep’s commitment to giving voice to a broad spectrum of cultural, educational and community experiences that serve and reflect the diversity of perspectives found in this region.

1 – Ring of Fire

Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex Stackner Cabaret Mark Clements Artistic Director

Created by Richard Maltby, Jr. Conceived by William Meade (adapted from the Broadway production by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Jason Edwards)

Orchestrations by Steven Bishop and Jeff Lisenby Directed by Richard Maltby, Jr. Musical Direction by Jeff Lisenby

Scenic Designer Megan Truscott

Costume Designer Holly Payne

Lighting Designer Lee Fiskness

Sound Designer Ray Nardelli Choreographer Emily Maltby

Casting Director Sandy Ernst

Stage Manager Rebecca Lindsey*

Stage Manager Briana J. Fahey*

Assistant Director Jason Edwards*

Production Manager Melissa Nyari Vartanian

Lighting & Sound Director Craig Gottschalk

Assistant Sound Supervisor Erin Paige

Technical Director Tyler Smith

Properties Director James Guy

Charge Scenic Artist Jim Medved

Costume Director Holly Payne

Resident Crew Rick Grilli Wardrobe Carrisa Sexton Ring of Fire was originally produced on Broadway by William Meade, CTM Productions, Bob Cuillo, GFour Productions and James B. Freydberg. The director and choreographer of this show are members of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, an independent national labor union. *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Ring of Fire – 2

CAST LIST Trenna Barnes* Eddie Clendening* Jason Edwards* David Miles Keenan Mark W. Winchester Place: Throughout the U.S.A. Time: Johnny Cash’s life (1932 – 2003) There will be one intermission. *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

CAST BIOGR A PHIES Trenna Barnes, Performer Trenna Barnes is happy to be making her Milwaukee Rep debut with Ring of Fire. She has also performed the role of June Carter at Denver Center Theatre Company, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Cabrillo Music Theatre, Fox Riverside Performing Arts and Casa Mañana Theatre. Trenna also performed as the lead singer/main songwriter for the all-girl band Cowboy Crush (Curb Records), and has appeared with Charlie Daniels, Huey Lewis, Kid Rock, Big & Rich, Jason Aldean, Sugarland, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Trace Adkins, Kellie Pickler, Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley and Gretchen Wilson.

Her TV credits include: Country Music Television, Great American Country, NBC’s Today Show, Budweiser Shootout (NASCAR); Pike’s Peak race Opening Ceremonies (NASCAR); Special Olympics World Winter Games Closing Ceremonies (NBC-TV) and The Geoffrey Bodine Bobsled Challenge (ESPN and SPEED). Radio credits include: Tony Stewart Show, G. Gordon Liddy Show and the Big D & Bubba Show.

Radio performances include Billboard Reporting stations, R&R Reporting 3 – Ring of Fire

stations and Europe’s HotDisc Chart where Trenna’s “Hillbilly Nation” maintained a number one spot for seven weeks. www.TrennaBarnes.com.

Eddie Clendening, Performer Eddie Clendening brings with him well over a decade of stage experience. He has played alongside scores of original Rock & Roll and Country pioneers from the ’50s and ’60s, and toured as a featured guitarist/ vocalist in several internationally-known combos. His band, Eddie Clendening & the Blue Ribbon Boys, are in heavy demand all across the United States, Europe, Asia and the Subcontinent. His theater credits include originating and starring as Elvis Presley in the Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet from its beginning in Chicago to its closing in New York as well as its national tour. www.eddieclendening.com.

C A S T/C R E AT I V E T E A M B I O G R A P H I E S Jason Edwards, Performer Broadway credits include: Ring of Fire (original cast and recording). OffBroadway: Of Mice and Men and Johnny Guitar (original cast and recording). Directing credits: Denver Center Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Virginia Stage Company, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre, La Mirada Theater, FCLO Music Theatre and Cabrillo Music Theatre. Regional credits include leading roles at Denver Center Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park, Arizona Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Marriott Theatre, Barter Theatre, Northlight Theatre and Merrimack Repertory Theatre. Awards: Florida Theatre Award for The Music Man, Chicago Jeff Award nomination for The Will Rogers Follies and Los Angeles Ovation Award nomination for Ring of Fire. Originally from North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Jason now resides in New York City. He is pleased to be working once again with Richard Maltby, and to be making his Milwaukee Rep debut.

David Miles Keenan, Performer David Miles Keenan has been playing music since he was 8 years old and performing since the age of 12. He performs in his home town of Seattle with several bands in a variety of styles; co-music directed Woody Guthrie’s American Song for the Arizona Theatre Company; was featured instrumentalist in Mama Hated Diesels for The Denver Center for the Performing Arts and he teaches banjo, guitar and mandolin at many camps throughout the summer. He also composes for film and background music, and is currently writing a musical with creative partner Nova Karina Devonie. For all things Dave, check out www.davekeenan.com.

Mark W. Winchester, Performer Mark W. Winchester is a singer, hit songwriter and award-winning upright bass player.

He is a founding member of the Planet Rockers (which included the legendary Sonny George and Los Straitjackets’ Eddie Angel), forerunners of Nashville’s roots rock revival. Following his run with The Planet Rockers, Emmylou Harris enlisted Mark W. to “slap” the upright bass in her Grammy Award-winning all acoustic band, the Nash Ramblers. Mark W. also played bass on the multi-million selling, Grammy-winning, “Jump, Jive, and Wail,” by former Stray Cats frontman Brian Setzer, while a full-time member of the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Mark W. is featured singing his own composition “Rooster Rock” on Setzer’s album Ignition. An accomplished songwriter, Mark W.’s song “Would I?” was covered by Randy Travis, and ranked in the top 20 of the Billboard Country Charts. Mark W. just released a new CD called Upright. www.cdbaby.com/ markwwinchester.

Richard Maltby, Jr., Director/Creator Conceived/directed two Tony Awardwinning musicals: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1978 Tony, N.Y. Drama Critics, Outer Critics and Drama Desk Awards; Tony Award for Best Director); Fosse (1999 Tony, Outer Critics and Drama Desk Awards); as well as Ring of Fire (2006). With composer David Shire: director/lyricist: Baby, (1983, book by Sybille Pearson; seven Tony nominations); lyricist: Big, (1996, book

by John Weidman; Tony nomination: Best Score); lyricist/conceiver: Take Flight (2010, book by John Weidman); with Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, co-lyricist: Miss Saigon (Evening Standard Award 1990; Tony nomination: Best Score 1991); coRing of Fire – 4

C R E AT I V E T E A M B I O G R A P H I E S bookwriter/lyricist: The Pirate Queen, 2007; director: The Story of My Life, 2009; director/co-lyricist: Song & Dance, (1986, Tony Award for star Bernadette Peters). Off-Broadway credits include: director/lyricist for Starting Here, Starting Now (1977, Grammy nomination) and Closer than Ever (1989, two Outer Critics Circle Awards: Best Musical, Best Score), both written with composer David Shire. Regional theater credits include: director, Mask (2008, Pasadena Playhouse) and director, The 60’s Project (2006, Goodspeed). Film credits include: Screenplay for Miss Potter (2007, Christopher Award, best screenplay). He contributes crossword puzzles to Harper’s Magazine. Richard is the son of a well-known orchestra leader and has five children: Nicholas, David, Jordan, Emily and Charlotte.

Jeff Lisenby, Musical Director Jeff Lisenby performed in Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash on Broadway, and with the touring shows of Wicked and Jersey Boys. He has toured with Boots Randolph and Brenda Lee, and has accompanied Pavarotti, Blake Shelton, Dolly Parton, Lee Greenwood and Donna Summer. Lisenby twice won silver medals in international accordion championships. iTunes carries his jazz accordion CD A Spy in Tortuga.

Jeff instructs singers for cruise ship shows, and he is happy to get to travel the world. Lisenby plays on many recordings, including the Grammywinning Songs from the Neighborhood: The Music of Mister Rogers.

Megan Truscott, Scenic Designer Megan Truscott is a Chicago-based scenic designer. This is her second show at The Rep’s Stackner Cabaret after recently designing Blues in the Night. Recent works include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Bailiwick Chicago), The Happy 5 – Ring of Fire

Elf and The Hobbit (Pennsylvania Youth Theatre) and Next To Normal (TheatreSquared). She is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University. Megan would like to thank her family and friends for their support and the incredible staff of The Rep for yet another amazing show.

Holly Payne, Costume Designer Currently the Costume Director at The Rep, Holly graduated with an MFA in costume design and technology from the University of Arkansas. Holly has also designed at Skylight Music Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, Milwaukee Shakespeare, University of Tulsa, American Players Theatre, Florentine Opera, Delaware Theatre Company, First Stage Children’s Theater, 11th Hour Theatre Company in Philadelphia and Theatre Squared in Fayetteville, AK. Some of her favorite designs at The Rep have been Lombardi in the Quadracci Powerhouse, The Bomb-itty of Errors in the Stackner Cabaret and Speaking in Tongues in the Stiemke Studio. Thanks to The Rep’s fantastic costume shop for all their great work and much love to ACB for being a fantastic husband.

Lee Fiskness, Lighting Designer Lee Fiskness is a freelance lighting designer based in Chicago. Here at The Rep he has designed Song Man Dance Man, Liberace! and Soultime: At The Apollo. He has designed with Lookingglass Theatre Company, Northlight Theatre, American Blues Theater, About Face Theatre, American Music Theatre, Two River Theater Company in New Jersey and others. He has also worked at the Santa Fe Opera as a Lighting Supervisor for ten years.

Ray Nardelli, Sound Designer Past Milwaukee Rep credits include: Radio Golf, The Government Inspector, Trouble In Mind, The Night Is A Child, Cyrano de Bergerac and The Story. OffBroadway credits include Lookingglass

C R E AT I V E T E A M B I O G R A P H I E S Alice at The New Victory Theater.

Regional theaters include Steppenwolf Theatre Company, McCarter Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Court Theatre, Hartford Stage, Congo Square Theatre Company, Buffalo Arena Stage, Alley Theatre, American Theater Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Northlight Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Victory Gardens Theater, Meadow Brook Theatre, The Gift Theatre Company, American Girl Theatre (New York, Chicago), Skylight Opera Theatre and Wright State University Theatre.

Ray has over 400 film, DVD and computer game credits worldwide.

His memberships include USA #829, ASCAP and IATSE #2.

Emily Maltby, Choreographer Emily Maltby is thrilled to be working on Ring of Fire (with her dear old dad!).

As a director and choreographer recent credits include: Fiction in Photographs (New World Stages); Eastland (Lookingglass Theatre Company); A Wind in the Willows Christmas (Two River Theater Company); Call My Name (Smithsonian Folklife Festival); 42nd Street and Ragtime (Northwestern University). She has also worked with the Signature Center, CAP21, Stage Entertainment and Goodspeed Musicals, among others. She is a proud graduate of Northwestern University.

Sandy Ernst, Casting Director/ Associate Artistic Director Sandy made her first casting trip to New York City with American Players Theatre founders Randall Duk Kim and Annie Occhiogrosso over 30 years ago, and continued with APT as both a member of the directing staff and as the Production Stage Manager for the next 15 years. She has served as Milwaukee Rep’s Casting Director for over a decade, seeing up to a thousand auditions each season. She is also the Artistic Intern Company Director, teaches professional audition technique and auditions emerging artists for The

Rep’s Acting Internship in colleges and universities throughout the country.

Sandy was Casting Director for the independent feature films Baraboo and Waterwalk.

Rebecca Lindsey, Stage Manager Becca happily returns to Milwaukee Rep, where she started off her professional career with an internship during the 2005/06 Season. Since then, she has been delighted to work on a variety of projects, including Sense and Sensibility, Next to Normal, Half Life and Guys on Ice. Becca has also enjoyed six seasons at American Players Theatre.

Recent favorite credits there include The Admirable Crichton, Of Mice and Men and Heroes, and, elsewhere, The Wiz with Arkansas Repertory Theatre and three seasons touring with the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

Briana J. Fahey, Stage Manager Briana has been graced with the pleasure of calling The Rep home for ten seasons. Previously this year she stage managed A Christmas Carol and Assassins. Other regional theaters include California Shakespeare Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Magic Theatre and Center REPertory Theatre.

Much love to her amazing husband.

Kaitlin Kitzmiller, Stage Management Intern Kaitlin Kitzmiller attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha where she graduated in the spring of 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Technical Theatre with an emphasis in Stage Management. Since graduating, Kaitlin has stage managed for Ballet Nebraska, BravO! National Dance and Talent Competition. In addition, she has spent the past seven summers assistant stage managing and stage managing with Nebraska Shakespeare. Kaitlin is honored and beyond excited to be part of the 2012/13 season here at The Rep.

Ring of Fire – 6

SONG LIST ACT ONE

ACT TWO

“Let the Train Blow the Whistle”

“Entr’acte”

“Country Boy”

“I’ve Been Everywhere”

“Straight A’s In Love”

“Sunday Morning Coming Down”

“While I’ve Got It On My Mind”

“All Over Again”

“Five Feet High”

“Going to Memphis”

“In the Sweet Bye and Bye”

“Delia’s Gone”

“Daddy Sang Bass”

“Folsom Prison Blues”

“Flesh and Blood”

“Man In Black”

“I Was There When It Happened”

“I Walk the Line”

“Cry! Cry! Cry!”

“Far Side Banks of Jordan”

“Big River”

“Why Me, Lord?”

“I Still Miss Someone”

“Hey Porter”

“Get Rhythm”

“Encore”

“Egg Suckin’ Dog” “Oh Come, Angel Band” “Flushed from the Bathroom of your Heart” “If I Were a Carpenter” “Ring of Fire” “Jackson”

7 – Ring of Fire