Michael Weber, Managing Artistic Director Presents
by Lanie Robertson Musical Arrangements by
Danny Holgate Starring
Alexis J. Rogers as Billie Holiday
Set Design Jeffrey D. Kmiec
Costume Design Alexia Rutherford
Sound Design Victoria DeIorio
Music Supervisor Doug Peck
Lighting Design Nick Belley
Properties Design Sara Engel
Production Management Patrick Fries
Stage Management Jenn A. Kincaid
Music Direction by
Direction by
Jaret Landon
Rob Lindley
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill is presented through special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. and was first produced in New York by the Vineyard Theatre. Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill is made possible in part through the generous support of Willa J. Taylor & Mary F. Morten and Amy Jackson & Kevin Depinet Is the official media sponsor of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
1
musical numbers Crazy He Calls Me by Rob Russell and Carl Sigman. Copyright by Major Songs Co. and Harrison Music Corp. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. God Bless the Child by Arthur Herzog, Jr. and Billie Holiday. © 1941Edward B. Marks Music Co. Copyright renewed. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. Somebody’s On My Mind by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog, Jr. © 1947 Edward B. Marks Music Co. Copyright renewed. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. Strange Fruit by Lewis Allan. © 1939 Edward B. Marks Music Co. Copyright renewed. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. What a Little Moonlight Can Do by Harry Woods © 1934 Harms, Inc. Copyright renewed. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission of publisher Warner Bros. Music. I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone by Woodrow Johnson All Rights Reserved. Used by permission of the publisher Music Sales Corp. Easy Livin’ by Robin & Ralinger Published by Famous Music Corp. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. When a Woman Loves a Man by Bernard Hanighen, Gordon Jenkins & Johnny Mercer. © 1938. All Rights Reserved. Used with the permission of Chappell & Co., Inc. and Intersong-USA, Inc.
2
Porchlight Music Theatre
Foolin’ Myself by Jack Lawrence and Peter Tinturin. All Rights Reserved. Used with the permission of Chappell & Co., Inc., Intersong-USA, Inc. and M.P.L. Communication, Inc. Don’t Explain by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog, Jr. Published by Duchess Music Corp. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission of MCA Music, a Div. of MCA, Inc. Deep Song by Douglas Cross & George Cory. Published by Northern Music Co. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission of MCA Music, a Div. of MCA, Inc. Gimme a Pig Foot by Wesley Wilson. Published by Northern Music Co. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission of MCA Music, a Div. of MCA, Inc. Taint Nobody’s Biz-ness by Porter Grainger & Everette Robbins. Published by MCA Music, a Div. of MCA, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. Baby Doll by Bessie Smith © 1927 Empress Music, Inc. © Renewal exclusively Empress Music, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Use by permission of Frank Music Corp.
t i m e a n d p l ac e A small bar in south Philadelphia, around midnight sometime in March, 1959 during the last year of Billie Holiday’s life. Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill is presented without intermission and will run approximately 90 minutes. d i r e c to r ’ s n o t e Judy Garland. Janis Joplin. Kurt Cobain. John Belushi. Billie Holiday is certainly one of the biggest stars in the “taken before their time” pantheon. And like recent additions to this tragic hall of fame, Amy Winehouse and Whitney Houston, Billie never seemed to be quite able to stay out of trouble and win the wrestling match with her inner demons. Although some might argue that with many of these names it was their untimely death that heightened their legendary status, while preparing for Lady Day I’ve become increasingly interested in the emotional – and sometimes physical – cost of being an artist of such depth. Walking through the emotional valley of singing God Bless the Child and Strange Fruit at each gig, which she was often contractually required to do, takes a piece of you. It seems many artists don’t find a way to fill that void – to refuel – and eventually burn out. Add to that the easy accessibility of drugs and alcohol for a musician of great celebrity, and in Billie’s case, cast it in a world of such racism that you may get top-billing but you can’t eat at the club and you have to enter through the kitchen, and well... you have a perfect storm. Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill is set just four months before her death, and we are hoping to honor this amazing, complex artist and give each of you a feeling of what one of Billie’s last shows might have been like. I should also say how thrilled and lucky I feel to be working with Jaret Landon and the stunning Alexis J. Rogers. Enjoy! Rob Lindley cast Billie Holiday....................................................................................................................ALEXIS J. ROGERS~ Billie Holiday Understudy..........................................................................Brittani Arlandis Green Understudy performance will occur only with an announcement to the audience prior to the show.
musicians Conductor/Keyboard.........................................................................................................Jaret Landon Percussion....................................................................................................... Michael Weatherspoon Bass........................................................................................................................................... CHRIS THIGPEN
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
3
GET TALKING. (Just not during the performance)
Footlights is where you are - on Facebook, Twitter, the web, the blogosphere. Keep up with what’s happening in the arts and get special offers!
4
Porchlight Music Theatre
a r t i s t i c s ta f f Managing Artistic Director.........................................................................................MICHAEL WEBER^ Director.....................................................................................................................................ROB LINDLEY+ Music Director......................................................................................................................JARET LANDON Music Supervisor..................................................................................................................... DOUG PECK+ Scenic Designer............................................................................................................... JEFFREY D. KMIEC Costume Designer.................................................................................................. ALEXIA RUTHERFORD Lighting Designer.....................................................................................................................NICK BELLEY Sound Designer....................................................................................................... VICTORIA DEIORIO^^ Properties Designer..................................................................................................................SARA ENGEL Dramaturgy Intern............................................................................................DEBORAH BLUMENTHAL p r o d u c t i o n s ta f f Production Stage Manager..................................................................................... .JENN A. KINCAID~+ Production Manager...........................................................................................................PATRICK FRIES+ Assistant Stage Manager........................................................................................................ EMILY DAVIS Technical Director...................................................................................................................... RICK JULIEN Scenic Artist...............................................................................................................................Mikah Berky Wig Styling and Maintenance......................................................................................Scott SowinSKi Wardrobe Supervisor........................................................................................................... CLARE DOLAN au d i e n c e s e r v i c e s House Manager...................................................................................................................... CLARE DOLAN m a r k e t i n g s ta f f Marketing & Press Representative............................ SHOUT MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS: JAMES JULIANO & JILL EVANS Promotional Photographer......................................................................................... KELSEY JORISSEN Promotional Video Producer................................................................................................CHRIS GEKAS Promotional Video Director...........................................................................DEBORAH BLUMENTHAL Website Design...............................................................JONNY RUNNFELDT+, LAB OF LIFE DESIGN Logo Design...............................................................................................................................JEN LONDON Graphic Design.............................................................................................................................JEFF MEYER a d m i n i s t r at i v e s ta f f Administrative & Marketing Associate........................................................... NATE C. GROONWALD Grant Coordinator & Development Officer.........................................................DONALD SPRAGUE Administrative/Production Interns.................................................. KORY PULLAM, CLARE DOLAN ~Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in America ^Denotes member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society ^^Denotes member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829 +Denotes Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Associate Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
5
Auto insurance through AAA. From the peace of mind experts. For generations, we’ve provided countless policyholders with the protection and security of auto insurance through AAA. Customers who’ve switched to insurance through AAA have saved up to $358 a year with our exceptional rates. Discounts are also available for AAA Members, bundling with AAA home and life insurance, safe driving records, air bags, car alarms and more.
FAST, EASY, HASSLE-FREE QUOTE: 877-AAA-SAVE or AAA.com/GetaQuote
Insurance underwritten by Auto Club Insurance Association or MemberSelect Insurance Company.
Insurance Auto • Home • Life
profiles Alexis J. Rogers (Billie Holiday) is honored to be returning to the Porchlight Music Theatre stage. Her last production with Porchlight was as “Sarah” in Ragtime. Alexis proudly reps Chicago, though she obtained her BFA at Howard University in Washington, DC. Her Chicago credits include Dreamgirls (Marriott Theatre Lincolnshire); “Charlaine Woodard” in Ain’t Misbehavin’, “Jeanette” in Crowns (Goodman Theatre); “Dynamite” in Hairspray (Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre); “Leata” in Hair (Paramount Theatre); “Bess” in Porgy and Bess, “Blues Speak Woman” in Spunk, “Grace” in The Piano Lesson (Court Theatre); “Lou Bessie Preston” in The Old Settler (Writer’s Theatre; 2010 BTAA Winner, Best Featured Actress In A Play); “Ruby” in Seven Guitars, “Ethel/Mama/Topsy” in The Colored Museum, “Gabriel” in The Nativity (Congo Square Theatre Company); “Addaperle” in The Wiz (Theatre at the Center); “Dionne #3” in Don’t Make Me Over: A Tribute To Dionne Warwick (Black Ensemble Theater); and several others, including MPAACT and Chicago Children’s Theatre. Alexis is a proud ensemble member of Congo Square Theatre Company. She is represented by Paonessa Talent and Innovative Artists’ Chicago. “Thank God for His gifts and for the fantastic support system He’s blessed me with. I love you all and could never do this without you!” Brittani Arlandis Green (Billie Holiday, Understudy) is proudly from Baltimore, MD where she grew up and fell in love with performing. Brittani chose to study Acting at The Baltimore School for the Arts High School and continued her studies in Chicago, where she received her BFA in Acting at The Theatre School of DePaul University. Brittani has worked with theatre companies such as Remy Bumppo, Dog & Pony, and Porchlight, portraying the role of “Alice” in A Catered Affair. Brittani feels very happy to be working with Porchlight Music Theatre again. Lanie Robertson (Author) In addition to Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, Mr. Robertson’s other plays include Alfred Stieglitz Loves O’Keeffe, Back County Crimes, Bringing Mother Down, Cannibal’s Waltz,
Closing The Halls Where Once Fatima Stood, In Separate Chambers, The Insanity Of Mary Girard, Last Gas Till Turnpike, Nasty Little Secrets, Nazi Women, Nobody Lonesome For Me, A Penny For The Guy, The Silver Skates, Stringbean, What Does A Blind Leopard See? and Woman Before a Glass. TV works include The American Playhouse production Journey Into Genius and Diana Ross: Red Hot Rhythm and Blues. Rob Lindley (Director) is honored to be directing for Porchlight Music Theatre again after directing the 2007 production of A Wonderful Life. Rob has been an Artistic Associate with Porchlight for over eight years, having performed in Children of Eden, A New Brain, Sweeney Todd, and Closer Than Ever (Jeff Nomination Best Ensemble, After Dark Award Best Ensemble). Annually, Rob produces and directs Chicago Sings... (an all-star revue benefiting Porchlight), along with his partner Doug Peck. Rob has also directed large-scale concerts for The Chicago Humanities Festival, Court Theatre, Writers’ Theatre, and Apple Tree Theatre. Rob is an improv actor and cabaret performer as well, but is perhaps best known as an actor. Acting credits include: “Prior Walter” in Angels in America: Parts 1 & 2, Caroline or Change, Carousel, James Joyce’s The Dead (Court Theatre); Bach At Leipzig, Oh Coward - which earned him a Jeff Award for Best Actor in a Revue (Writers’ Theatre); Candide (Goodman Theatre); My Fair Lady (Asolo Rep); Wings (Apple Tree Theatre); Urinetown (Mercury Theatre). Rob can be heard on Bright Young People: The Songs of Noel Coward and with his vocal trio on Foiled Again: Live. Special thanks to everyone in the Porchlight family for continually making this an artistic home for him, especially Jeannie, Michael, and Bil. Jaret Landon (Music Director) is a composer, arranger, vocalist, pianist and educator. He has Bachelor and Master degrees in both Music Performance and Music Education. Landon has composed and arranged scores for various independent films, musicals and recorded albums. He is employed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and serves as the music director at Pullman Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
7
profiles
c o n t.
Christian Reformed Church. Landon is resident music director for Congo Square Theatre’s production of The Nativity by McKinley Johnson for which he composed and arranged the music. In 2009, Landon received the BTAA Duke Ellington Award for “Best Musical Direction” for Sanctified by Javon Johnson. Landon has had the opportunity to play for nationally known recording artists, including Faith Evans and five-time Grammy-nominated artist, LEDISI. Currently he is writing and producing music for Pauletta Washington, wife of actor Denzel Washington, and is composing a new orchestral work entitled Fortitude. MICHAEL WEATERSPOON (Percussionist) has been a concert, session and touring drummer for over 20 years, performing with such artists as Ben Tankard, Bill Dickens, Steve Cole, George Duke, Phil Tarver, Donald Lawrence, Daniel Weatherspoon, Kim Burrell and Yolanda Adams, to name a few. With over 80 albums and DVD’s to his credit, Michael has been able to provide artists large and small with the musical interpretation needed to bring their vision to fruition. In addition, Michael has worked with Congo Square Theater Company and The Goodman Theater for four years on their Langston Hughes production of The Nativity. For a full scope of Michael Weatherspoon’s album credits, please visit www.michaelweatherspoon.com.
he also conducted at Connecticut’s Long Wharf Theatre. Peck also received a Jeff Citation for TimeLine’s production of Fiorello!. At Porchlight Music Theatre, Doug was very proud to music direct Assassins, as well as the reviews After Sondheim: Broadway’s New School of Composers; Hit Factory: Songs of the Brill Building; aFINNity: Chicago Sings William Finn; A Place for Us: Chicago Sings Bernstein; and Chicago Sings Sondheim - all in collaboration with fellow artistic associate Rob Lindley. Other Chicago credits include Raisin, Guys and Dolls (After Dark Award), James Joyce’s The Dead, and The Importance of Being Earnest at Court Theatre; Shenandoah (Jeff nomination), The All Night Strut (Jeff nomination), State Fair, and Marc Robin’s Beauty and the Beast for the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire; Dessa Rose (Jeff nomination) and Hello Again (Jeff nomination, After Dark Award) at Apple Tree Theatre; The Most Happy Fella at the Ravinia Festival; Seussical! for Chicago Shakespeare Theatre; and Into the Woods at Peninsula Players. He was musical director at Wagon Wheel Theatre in Warsaw, Indiana, for four seasons, where favorites included Pirates of Penzance, Titanic, Kiss Me, Kate, Hello, Dolly!, and Cats. He played keyboards for About Face Theatre’s production of Stephen Flaherty and Frank Galati’s Loving Repeating: A Musical of Gertrude Stein, including the original cast album. He is a proud Northwestern University graduate who also trained at Interlochen Center for the Arts. He resides in Chicago, where he is also active as a voice teacher, vocal coach, and cabaret pianist, most notably with the acclaimed vocal trio Foiled Again, in addition to serving as musical director for Unity in Lincoln Park. Doug’s dream productions are Lady in the Dark starring Rebecca Finnegan and Rob Lindley and an all-star cast of Michael John LaChiusa’s The Wild Party.
Chris Thigpen (Bassist) started playing bass at the age of 16. He then went on to college and started to pick up the upright bass. Chris has played for some small productions such as Spring Awakening at Stage 773 and Rent at American Theater Company. He has also done some sub work for the production Crowns at the Goodman Theater. Chris is currently a Jazz Studies major at Columbia College Chicago. You can Jeffrey D. Kmiec (Scenic Designer) catch him playing at Salem Baptist Church and other various local gigs around Chicago. is thrilled to be a part of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, his first Porchlight Music Theatre production. Jeffrey recently Doug Peck (Music Supervisor) is one received his MFA in Scenic Design from The of Chicago’s leading musical directors, University of Virginia and has designed with having won the Joseph Jefferson Award for various companies including The Illinois Best Musical Direction for Court Theatre’s Shakespeare Festival, Children’s Theatre production of Man of La Mancha, which 8
Porchlight Music Theatre
profiles
c o n t.
of Charlotte North Carolina, The Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, and The Kentucky Shakespeare Festival. Recent and upcoming designs include The Red Badge of Courage at CTC Charlotte, Clybourne Park at LiveArts of Charlottesville Virginia, and the 2013 Kentucky Shakespeare Festival Season. Jeffrey’s Designs have received awards from the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival and The Southeastern Theatre Conference. Jeffrey is also the assistant set designer to Kevin Depinet. Recent and upcoming productions include, Camelot at Glimmerglass Opera, New Stages Amplified at the Goodman Theatre, and Singin’ In the Rain at Drury Lane. Special thanks to Kevin Depinet and Amy Jackson for their continued support. Nick Belley (Lighting Designer) is elated to make his Porchlight Music Theatre debut with Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. Selected Chicago design credits include: The Altruists, November, The Train Play, Spring Awakening, Or, The Oxford Roof Climber’s Rebellion, Tartuffe, Synergy, The Lonely Soldier Monologues, Normal, Aci, Galatea e Polifemo. Assistant/Associate: James Joyce’s The Dead, Sweet Charity, Sita Ram, Illegal Use of Hands, Woody Sez, Wrens, Last Smoker in America, [Title of Show], Pippin, Falling: A Wake, Precious Little, The Rivals, Snapshots. www.nickbelley.com Alexia Rutherford (Costume Designer) is delighted to join the Porchlight Music Theatre team for the first time on Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. She is a graduate of Northern Michigan University and has spent the last five years building costumes for Court Theatre, The Goodman, Steppenwolf, and Writers’ Theatre. Her most recent costume design was Showgirls: The Musical for A Touch Too Much Productions at Stage 773. The last two summers she has been the costume shop manager for the Cherubs program at Northwestern. She would like to thank Rob Lindley for making her a part of this fabulous production and to dedicate her work to Frank Rutherford. Victoria “Toy” DeIorio (Sound Designer) is thrilled to be back with
Porchlight Music Theatre after designing The Gifts of the Magi, A Class Act and A Catered Affair. Off-Broadway Productions: Cassie’s Chimera (Joe’s Pub), The Public Theatre, The Bluest Eye (Steppenwolf Theatre at The Duke Theatre) and Ophelia (NYC Fringe Festival). National Tour: Private Lives (LA Theatre Works). Regional: Northlight Theatre, Indiana Rep, Cleveland Playhouse, Syracuse Stage, Center Stage, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Florida Stage, Milwaukee Shakespeare, Milwaukee Rep, and others. Chicago: Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre, Writers’ Theatre, Next Theatre, Remy Bumppo, and countless other theatres in and around Chicago, NY, and LA. Victoria is a founding member of Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, an artistic associate at The Next, and an ensemble member at Lifeline Theatre. She has been nominated for 10 and has received six Joseph Jefferson Awards, as well as two After Dark Awards. She is the head of Sound Design for The Theatre School at DePaul University. For more information visit www. victoria-sound-design.com. Sara Engel (Properties Designer) is a freelance Production Designer and Property Master working in both the film and theater industries in Chicago. She received her BFA in sculpture and installation art from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Her most recent credits include modular set design and construction for Charley’s Sonata, modular set design and construction, production design, and prop management for the full length film The Poisoner, and production design and prop management for the full length film High on the Hog. She is currently in pre-production for three films this year, and will be working as prop designer and set dresser with Porchlight Music Theater on Pal Joey. Patrick Fries (Production Manager) is thrilled to be working with Porchlight Music Theatre again. Pat has previously worked with Porchlight on The Gifts of the Magi, A Class Act and tick, tick...Boom!. Some of Pat’s other credits include Crooked, Falling: A Wake, Precious Little, These Shining Lives, The Walls, Mary’s Wedding, and 26 Miles Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
9
profiles
c o n t.
(Rivendell Theatre Ensemble); Momma’s Boyz and I Put the Fear of Mexico in ‘Em (Teatro Vista), The UN Inspector, Dying City, Boom, End Days, War With The Newts, The Piano Teacher, and Madagascar (Next Theatre) and Welcome Yule! 2009 and 2010 (Chicago Symphony Orchestra). Pat is also the Programming Manager for 2nd Story. Jenn A. Kincaid (Stage Manager) is happy to return to Porchlight Music Theatre for her 9th show with the company. Her past Porchlight stage management credits include: Falsettos, as part of the William Finn Festival; The Teapot Scandals; Phantom!; the St. Louis tour of A Wonderful Life; Pacific Overtures; Into The Woods; Sunday In The Park With George; and The King & I. Jenn is a Porchlight Artistic Associate, Chair of the Porchlight Benefit Committee, co-produces the weekly Kiss Kiss Cabaret, stage manages for Blue Man Group, and in her “free time” is the General Manager of the Greenhouse Theater Center in Lincoln Park. Phew! And now, on with the show… Deborah Blumenthal (Dramaturgy Intern) is thrilled to be working with Porchlight for the 2012-2013 season. Chicago credits include Angels in America (Production Dramaturg) and An Iliad (Assistant Director), both directed by Charles Newell at Court Theatre. Deborah originally hails from New York, where she has worked with Clubbed Thumb (Dramaturg for Jordan Harrison’s Amazons and Their Men), and in the literary departments of Second Stage Theatre, The Public Theatre, Ars Nova, and Voice & Vision. Deborah holds a BA in
10
Porchlight Music Theatre
American Studies from Barnard College of Columbia University and an MA in Humanities from the University of Chicago, where she studied with David Bevington. Michael Weber (Managing Artistic Director) previously served as Artistic Director for the inaugural season of Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place (2005) and Theatre at the Center (1998-2004). Directing credits include Fifth of July and Talley’s Folly at the Oak Park Festival Theatre, The Petrified Forest at Theatre at the Center, Over the River and Through the Woods at The Mercury Theater, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Pheasant Run Theatre, and Cirque du Symphony at Sears Center Arena. His productions of Assassins at Porchlight Music Theatre, Grand Hotel at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place and She Loves Me at Theatre at the Center were each nominated for a Jeff Award for Best Production-Musical. He has written and directed the past seven Joseph Jefferson Awards ceremonies. Weber’s regional acting credits include Annie Get Your Gun and Gypsy (starring Patti LuPone) at Ravinia; Disney’s My Son; Pinocchio at First Stage Milwaukee; Around the World in 80 Days at Cleveland Playhouse; The Winter’s Tale and Henry V at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre; It Had To Be You (starring Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka) at Little Theatre on the Square; Angel Street at First Folio Shakespeare; The Gifts of the Magi at Indiana Repertory; and, most recently, For the Boys and White Christmas at Marriott Theatre. Weber is author of the new play, WAR of the WELLeS.
Book by Neil Simon, Music by Cy Coleman, Lyrics by Dorothy Fields Based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Flaiano Produced for the Broadway stage by Fryer, Carr and Harris Conceived, Staged and Choreographed by Bob Fosse
Musical Direction by Doug Peck Choreographed by Jessica Redish Directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam
Performed at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe
JANUARY 22 - MARCH 31, 2013 The classic dance musical scored for a live jazz combo!
By John W. Lowell Directed by Kimberly Senior Featuring Kate Fry and Mark L. Montgomery
Performed at 664 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe
NOW PLAYING!
An edge-of-your-seat political thriller, staged in the most intimate of spaces!
PURCHASE EARLY FOR BEST PRICES! FOR TICKETS: 847-242-6000│WRITERSTHEATRE.ORG 2012/13 SEASON SPONSOR
a b o u t p o r c h l i g h t m u s i c t h e at r e Mission Statement Porchlight is Chicago’s music theatre. By uniting the arts of music, drama dance, and design we transform stories into passionate and relevant events, which affect the lives of artists and audiences alike. As professionals and leaders in this field, we nurture and develop new artists and works, expanding and redefining the music theatre genre while matching artistic vision with fiscal responsibility. PMT Board of Directors Jeannie Lukow – President Mary Kay Conley – Vice President / Secretary Ron Zoromski – Treasurer Cheryl Coons, Bill Crowther, Tom Hartman, Bil Ingraham, James Jensen, Rhoda Reeling,Greg Viti, Tamara Sims, Sara Siegall, Michael Weber – ex officio PMT Artistic Associates Christin Boulette, Brandon Dahlquist, Brenda Didier, Eugene Dizon, Patrick Fries, Sarah Hayes, Bil Ingraham, Jenn A. Kincaid, Rob Lindley, Bill Morey, Doug Peck, Christopher Pazdernik, Gerald Richardson, Jonny Runfeldt, Heather Townsend, Thom Van Ermen PMT Advisory Board Wm. Eric Bramlett, John Bucchino, Kevin Depinet, Brenda Didier, William Finn, Linda Kline, Jesse Klug, Sean Allan Krill, Jill Moore, Lonny Price, Hollis Resnik, L. Walter Stearns, Maury Yeston
special thanks To Stage 773 and to our donors, subscribers and audience members who maintain a continuing commitment to our work. Our special dining partner is Cooper’s—A Neighborhood Eatery, critically acclaimed for their good food, extensive beer list, and good value. Located across the street from the theatre, Coopers offers 10% off the food bill to Porchlight patrons, and if you dine there and stay for our show, you can use their parking lot for free. We are grateful to Coopers for their food donation for the opening reception of each show. Please patronize them! 1232 West Belmont / Chicago, IL 60657 / 773.929.COOP (2667)
Porchlight Music Theatre is a proud member of the League of Chicago Theatres, Theatre Communications Group, Producing Area Chicago Theatres and the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce.
12
Porchlight Music Theatre
ANNUAL SUPPORT Prochlight Music Theatre gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the following individuals, businesses, foundations and corporations. This list includes cumulative gifts received September 1, 2011 through January 7, 2013. We apologize to donors whose commitment is secured after the printing of this program and we regret any errors in the listing of contributors’ names. If you would like your name to appear differently or prefer to remain anonymous please contact us at info@porchlightmusictheatre.org or 773.777.9884. Individuals can support Porchlight Music Theatre with gifts to the annual fund - with the Annual Giving Society recognizing donors of $500 or more - and with ticket purchases to the benefit concerts and annual gala. Please consider making a gift to Chicago’s leader in music theatre, the company acclaimed for nurturing young talent and Chicago’s finest music theatre artists. Foundations/Corporate Sponsors A.R.T. League Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development Baxter Bespoke Cuisine Charles Peng, CPA Chase Bank CityArts Program/City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation Illinois Arts Council – A State Agency The MacArthur Fund for Art & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation National Association of Realtors Peoples Energy PRODUCER $5000+ Bill Crowther* James Jensen* Kathryn Michael* Brenda Didier* Rhoda Reeling* L. Walter Stearns & Eugene Dizon* PRINCIPAL $2500-$4999 David & Ilise Goldberg William Ingraham & Brad McCormick* Jean Klingenstein* Keith Olenik* Ron & Judie Zoromski*
PLAYER $1000 - $2499 Mary Kay Conley* Devin Depinet* Leonora Dickson* Judith Friedman* Patrick & Laura Lederer* Jeannie Lukow* Willa Taylor & Mary Morten* Kim Shambrook* Jay & Tamara Sims Carl Tisone* Mary Alice Wheeler* Greg & Susan Viti* ASSOCIATE $500-$999 Eric & Kristi Bramlett Maureen B. Daw, Ph.D.* Frank & Susan DiCostanzo David Dorton & Christin Boulette Cheri Coons* Larry Dooley* Patricia Elwood Nancy Flaster* Freda Friedman Diane Graham Henry & Tom Hall* Tom Hartman* Yvette Ingraham Jerry McCann & Patricia Elwood* Bill Morey and Chris Tisone* William O’Malley* William Reulback & Lisa Bierly Reulback John & Suzanne Shambrook* Sara Siegall* Donald E. Sprague* Lauren Taslitz Seymour Zitomersky & Barbara LaSpesa
PATRON $250-$499 Lisa Bierly Michael Camp Carla Dawley Sylvia Friedman Barbara Gaines Scott Goldstein Barbara Goodman David Marker & Georgann Joseph Steve & Karen Multer Charlotte Newfeld Charles Peng Marc Robin Cassie Brooks & Sumit Sengupta Christopher Tisone Thom & Christa Van Ermen Dennis & Tina Vaughn Sandra Barnett White Susan Wishnick & Allen Steinberg SUPPORTER $100-$249 Jennifer Aguilar Larry Baker James Barrett Frances & Mona Barth Steven Bashwiner Michael Buenger & Cynthia Czech Thomas Chiola Richard Boyum & Louie Chua Richard Brannegan Brigid Brown Noreen Burke Leslie Cason Caryn Coons Michelle & Steven Cucchiaro Matt DeCaro Elizabeth Derrico Mary Anne Doran Fred Drucker Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
13
a n n ua l s u p p o r t Deanna Dunagan Gerald & Eileen Eisenstein Michael Elkow Jr. Malcom Ewen Patricia Fort Rhona & Julian Frazin Larry & Eileen Frederick Tony Gibson Jack Goes Jeffrey Glenn Jason Groh Thomas Guerra Paul Guse Joan & Guy Gunzberg Susan & Harlan Haimes Lynn Hamilton Jon & Darcy Heuring William & Winfred Heuring Marty Higginbotham Kevin & Jan Holland David Jablonowski Louis Kersten Wayne Koepke Steve Kolinski Karen Kozlow Linda Kraft John Langfeld Caroline Lee Thomas & Kathy Lengacher Charles Licht Marielle Lifshitz Krystan Lordahl Bill Marovitz Bob Mason Sonia Mauseth Corinne McArdle John & Linda Michael Anne Michka Steve Montner Paul Motondo Karen Muth Richard Murphy Drs. Shelly & Maris Nasatir Edward & Rebecca O’Connell Jeffrey Parker Suzanne & Abe Peck Angela & Charlie Platt Anthony Riviello Michael Rola Katherine Ruff Tamara Schiller & Charles Hoffman Mary Shilling-Martin Rosemary Schnell Randy Smith Neil Simmons Gardener Stevens Brad Thien 14
Porchlight Music Theatre
c o n t.
Suzy Thomas Lolly Trauscht Keeley Vasquez Mark Weston Roberta Zabel Kristi Zimmerman FRIEND $50-$99 In Honor of Rhoda Reeling Jim Anderson Heather Behanna David Belew Alice Brandee David Chinitz Diane Claussen Magdalyn Cohn Diane Dorsey Brigid Duffy Lori Dunn Peter Eldridge Cardi Fleck Ann Followill Eric & Marilyn Fors Patricia Fort Charles Giglio Cindy Gold David Gould Joseph & Linda Grear Michael Hamilton Chris Hodak Lavella Jones Marian Kanderbek Alexa Karkazis Brad Kemp Jenn Kincaid William Larkin Makena Levine Susan Lieberman Krystan Lordahl Paula Lyons Frances Maggio Henry & Florine Marks Diana Martinez Sonia Mauseth Megon McDonough Johanna McKenzie Miller Beckie Menzie David Michael Scott Mikita Arlene Mikol Madeline Moon Tom Mullen Richard Murphy Julia Neary Nancy Nickel Charles O’Connor Susan & Pat Pastin Jeff Perry
Jane Purdy Jeff Richey Laura Sachs Mark Satter Linda Shore Jack Short Scott Silberstein Martha Spaulding Gerald Sherman Dariel Stack Sara Stern Mary Pat Studdert Richard Terrett Sean Thomas Denise Tracy Jaret Williams Larry Wyatt In Honor of Kristi Zimmerman FRIEND $25-$49 Robert Austin Nan Birmingham Lili-Anne Brown Marcy Carrington Donna and Jerry Cody Maureen and Kevin Cogan Major George F. & Mary Dempsey Louise Dieterle David Fink Jack Hakman Deanna Haverty Bobbie and Bob Heiman Thomas Moore To Honor the Memory of Newtown, CT Caroline Overman Marcel Pasciak Barbara Plona Leigh Ann Reichenbach In Memory or Ryan Tisone In Honor of Stephen B. Lewis Jan Wellspeak Caroline West *denotes inaugural member of the PMT Annual Giving Society
UPCOMING ATTRACTIONS
Don’t miss these THREE exciting events ONLY at Porchlight Music Theatre
THE ALL NEW HILARIOUSNESS RETURNS
FEBRUARY 6, 2013
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
“This isn’t like any improv show you’ve ever seen Trust us, it’s funny” TIMEOUT CHICAGO
BEWITCHING CHICAGO ONCE MORE
APRIL 20 - MAY 26, 2013
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Starring Jeff Award-nominee ADRIAN AGUILAR (Porchlight’s tick, tick...BOOM!) and Broadway’s SUSIE McMONAGLE
CHICAGO SINGS JOHN KANDER & FRED EBB
DATE TBA
A celebration of the music of Cabaret, Zorba, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Funny Lady, Liza with a Z, and more
VISIT www.porchlightmusictheatre.org for tickets and more information
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
15
Can’t wait until showtime? At Footlights.com you can preview the program before opening night! Just visit our Companies and Venues page, find your event and start reading! 2012-2013 South Milwaukee Performing Arts Series
FORWARD THEATER COMPANY presents
Andrew Whiteʋ
Rachel E. Kraft
Artistic Director
44 Plays for 44 Presidents
Executive Director
Executive Director
proudly presents
MARY ZIMMERMANĘ‹
Lighting Designer Greg Hoffman Original Music Joe Cerqua**
Choreographer Maureen Janson
Assistant Director Annelise Dickinson
Stage Manager Mark Sahba*
Assistant Stage Manager Erin McConnell
Based on a translation by David Slavitt of Ovid’s Metamorphoses
Production Sponsor
Opening Night Sponsor
Additional support provided by Lisa Naparstek Green and Howard Green, Todd and Barbara Leland and The Pauls Foundation Daniel Ostlingʋ, USA Scenic Designer
Mara Blumenfeldʋ, USA Costume Designer
Andre Pluessʋ, USA 44 Plays for 44 Presidents is generously sponsored by: The Burish Group of UBS Financial Services Inc.
T.J. Gerckens, USA
Original Music Composition
Willie Schwarz
Maria DeFabo
Joel Hobson
Sean K. Walters
Production Stage Manager
Production Manager
Properties Designer Technical Director
Ceyx and Others..............................Usman Ally* Midas and Others......................Raymond Foxʋ* Myrrha and Others......................Anjali Bhimani* Phaeton and Others.......................Doug Haraʋ* Hermes and Others..........Lawrence E. DiStasiʋ* Erysichthon and Others...............Chris Kipiniak* Therapist and Others.........Marilyn Dodds Frank* Alcyon and Others..................Louise Lamsonʋ* Aphrodite and Others...................Anne Fogarty* Eurydice and Others.....................Lauren Orkus*
with funds from the Wisconsin Arts Board.
Season sponsors:
2012-2013 Season Sponsors
UNDERSTUDIES
Connie U’Ren and Jacky U’Ren
Matthew Q. Fahey*, Will Gillespie, Ashleigh Lathrop, Makha Mthembu, Tempe Thomas* and Coy Benning Wentworth
Emerald City
CATERiNG LLC
Richard Cotovsky
C. Michael Wright Producing Artistic Director
note that Metamorphoses includes a scene which contains male nudity. Carlo Please Lorenzo Garcia Producing *MemberDirector of Actors’ Equity Association, the union for professional actors and stage managers
Kirsten Mulvey and the Pleasant Rowland Great Performance Fund for Theater, Director Artistic Managing Director a component fund of the Madison Community Foundation
Official Cleaning Services of the SMPAC: TASC Services LLC
Ę‹/RRNLQJJODVV 7KHDWUH &RPSDQ\ (QVHPEOH 0HPEHU $UWLVWLF $VVRFLDWH RU 3URGXFWLRQ $IĂ€OLDWH
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers. ** Member, United Scenic Artists Local USA 829 IATSE
The South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center 2011-2012 Season was supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Opening Night Restaurant Sponsor
Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)
presents
44 Plays for 44 Presidents
Lookingglass Theatre Company is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for American Theatre, and of the League of Chicago Theatres, the local service organization for theatre. Metamorphoses
1
Presents
Lookingglass-Metamorphoses.indd 1
by Herb Gardner Jonathan West Director
By Sam Shepard
Brandy Kline* Stage Manager/Producton Manager/Company Manager Brandon Kirkham Scenic Designer
Kristina L.Van Slyke Costume Designer
Dana Fralick Properties Designer
Directed by Carlo Lorenzo Garcia
Scenic Design by Amanda Rozmiarek Lighting Design by Claire Sangster Costume Design by Stefin Steberl Fight Design by Ryan Bourque Prop Design by Gaby Labotka Sound Design by Laura Oleska Projection Design by Michelle Underwood Technical Direction by Dereck Garner Stage Management by Casey Peek Asst. Direction by Gaby Labotka
Eric Appleton Lighting Designer
Josh Schmidt** Sound Designer
*Performers appear courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
**Member of United Scenic Artists, local 829.
A THOUSAND CLOWNS is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
CO-SPONSORED BY: Briggs & Stratton Corporation Foundation, Inc. Lloyd & Mary Ann Gerlach George & Julie Mosher PREVIEW SPONSOR:
This program is partially funded by grants from The Illinois Arts Council, The Alphawood Foundation and The Richard H.Driehaus Foundation
MEDIA SPONSOR:
A Thousand Clowns
1
Geography of a Horse Dreamer
1
Or scan this QR code with your smartphone and be directed to the website!
Porchlight Music Theatre
1
9/5/12 11:29 AM
GEOGRAPHY OF A HORSE DREAMER
August 9-26, 2012
16
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Cynthia Cahill*
CAST
Sunday, September 9, 2012 6:30 pm
Official Caterer of the SMPAC
Edgar Dobie
Artistic Director
Written and Directed by
Costume Designer Monica Butler
John Gurda The history of the south shore region
Heidi Stillmanʋ
Artistic Director of New Work
Arena Stage
Molly Smith
Directed by Jennifer Uphoff Gray Set & Properties Designer Charles J. Trieloff II
Philip R. Smithʋ
Producing Artistic Director
in association with
By Andy Bayiates, Sean Benjamin, Genevra Gallo-Bayiates, ChloĂŤ Johnston, and Karen Weinberg