Seanachai - The Seafarer

Presents

The Seafarer By Conor McPherson Directed by Matt Miller

Assistant Director Production Stage Manager Stage Manager Dialect Design Costume Design Lighting Design Sound Design Set Design

Rebecca Willingham Jeff Christian+* Andrew C. Donnelly Elise Kauzlaric Beth Laske-Miller Julian Pike** Stephen Ptacek Joe Schermoly

This program is partially supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, the City Arts I Program of the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Richard H. Dreihaus Foundation, and the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation. +Denotes member of Seanachaí Theatre Company *Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association **Denotes member of United Scenic Artists Local 829

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CAST (IN ORDER OF APPEAR ANCE) Sharky...........................................................................................................................................Dan Waller+* Richard.................................................................................................................................Brad Armacost+* Ivan......................................................................................................................................................Ira Amyx+ Nicky........................................................................................................................................Shane Kenyon+ Mr. Lockhart...............................................................................................................................Kevin Theis+* “Understudies: John Crosthwaite (Mr. Lockhart), Matthew Isler (Nicky), Ian Jerome (Ivan), Brett Radford (Sharky), H.B. Ward (Richard).

The play takes place on Christmas Eve, 2006.

There will be one ten-minute intermission.

The Seafarer is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

T H E S E A N AC H A Í E N S E M B L E Ira Amyx, Brad Armacost*, Jeff Christian*, Erin Diener*, Jeff Duhigg, Barbara Figgins, Jacquelyn Flaherty, Jeri Frederickson, Coburn Goss*, Michael Grant*(Artistic Director), Robert Kauzlaric, Shane Kenyon, Carolyn Klein, Anne Sunseri, Kevin Theis*, Dan Waller* and Sarah Wellington S E A N AC H A Í W E S T Mac Brandt, Thomas Vincent Kelly, Ann Noble, Catherine O’Connor and Andrew Turner S E A N AC H A Í E N S E M B L E E M E R I T U S Matt Gibson, Dan Michel, Karen Tarjan T H E S E A N AC H A Í B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R S Amie Marks (President), Marlena Ascher, Jack Blakey, Michael Cox, Michael Grant.

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SPECIAL THANKS Conor McPherson, Billy Roche, Mike Nussbaum, Ora Jones, John Mahoney, Brian Shaw, Kevin Fox, Sam Harrod, Leslie Spiller, Dane Bolinger, Matt Byrne, Indiana University, Noel Rice and the Academy of Irish Music, John Halliburton, all the folks at The Den Theatre, Nikki Spencer, Northwest Arts Connection, Northeastern Illinois University, Stuart Ritter, Mo Wagdy Jim Hoban and the Four Corners Tavern Group, Ian Miller, Joe Mazza with Brave Lux Photography, Jackie Jasperson, Shokran restaurant, Hot Woks Cool Sushi, Eli’s Cheesecake, Alibi Fine Art, Sara Wetzel, Mike and Carol Trotter, Martin Murray, Joel Klaff, Brenda Dubov, Carl and Susanne Hamaj, Carol Preybil, Adam Holtzman, Heather and John Aitken, George and Pat Clark, Paul Robertson, John Grant, Lynne Jordan, The Shivers, Sam Martorina, A 2 B Rentals, Jay Neander, Dan Dreesen, Scott Coleman, Propabilities, Jack Callahan, Bill Rogers, John & Dawn Palmer, Thad King, Al Wyatt, Jetpack Advertising, Utopic, Jim Hoffman, the Driehaus Foundation, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the City Arts Program and the City of Chicago, the Illinois Arts Council, Charles River Associates, The Red Lion Lincoln Square, The Atlantic Bar & Grill, Kathy O’Neill, the staff of the Fifth Province pub at the Irish American Heritage Center, Raymond James Financial Services and Women in the Know, Barbara Figgins, Ira Amyx, Sarah Wellington and our Board of Directors. A special thank you to Brianne and Matthew Claeys, Jennifer Marsico, Jeffrey and Kelly Brincat, Jerome and Barbara Claeys, Walt and Fran Sunseri, Market House Restaurant - Lake Forest IL, Bella Via Restaurant - Highland Park IL, Sunset Foods - Lake Forest IL, COZ Bar - Highland Park IL, Longitud315 Highland Park.

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CAST BIOGR APHIES Dan Waller+* (Sharky) Dan’s first production with Seanachaí was Journey’s End directed

by David Cromer.

Others include Mojo Mickybo, Our Father, and A Whistle in the Dark all directed by fellow Seanachaí ensemble member Jeff Christian. Waller most recently appeared onstage in the world premiere of Will Eno’s GNIT directed

by Les Waters at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. Other theatrical credits include: Three Sisters (Steppenwolf ); Sweet Bird of Youth, The Good Negro, Ghostwritten and Talking Pictures (Goodman Theatre); The Pitmen Painters (Timeline); Grapes of Wrath (Cardinal Stage); Coast of Chicago (Walkabout/Lookingglass); To the Green Fields Beyond and Our Town (Writers’); MOJO (Mary-Arrchie); Romeo and Juliet and Two Gentlemen of Verona (Lakeside Shakespeare); The Killer Angels (Lifeline); The Cider House Rules: Parts I & II (Famous Door); Short Eyes and Streamers (Blindfaith).

Film credits include: Barefoot to Jerusalem, Repetition, Of Boys and Men, Devil’s Dominoes, Witless Protection, Transformers 3, At Any Price and Precious Mettle.

Television credits include: Our Little Science Story for the Starz network, TNT’s Leverage, A&E’s The Beast, FOX’s Chicago Code, and Crisis on NBC. Brad Armacost+* (Richard) is an Ensemble member of Seanachaí Theatre Company (Chicago’s Irish Theatre) where he recently performed in Eugene O’Neill’s Hughie. He has a long association with Irish theatre in Chicago, garnering multiple Jeff nominations for his work in The Weir, Aristocrats and A Moon for the Misbegotten.

He received the Joseph Jefferson Award for the role of Teddy in Brian Friel’s Faith Healer at Steppenwolf Studio/TurnAround Theatre. Other Friel projects include 4

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Wonderful Tennessee, Lovers and Dancing at Lughnasa. He appeared in Synge’s Playboy of the Western World and The Seafarer with John Mahoney, also at Steppenwolf. Other credits include A Touch of the Poet at the Goodman Theatre with Brian Dennehy, Waiting for Godot with Remy Bumppo and at Northlight Theatre (again with Mr. Mahoney) in A Life. Brad has appeared numerous times at Chicago Shakespeare, including the Jeff Award winning Best Production, The Madness of George III. He is an Artistic Associate with Provision Theatre where he received Jeff nominations for his work in A Christmas Carol, CS Lewis, Onstage and Shadowlands. His television credits include Chicago Fire, Mind Games, Missing Persons, Angel Street, The Untouchables and Early Edition. Film credits include Warren, Robert Altman’s The Company, Barbershop 2, Repetition, Eight Men Out and Backwoods.

He has appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Memphis Symphony Orchestra in the Beyond the Score presentation of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring and with the CSO in The Tristan Effect, Strauss’ Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme and as Pablo Neruda for Bedoya’s Caminos del Inka.

Ira Amyx+ (Ivan) most recently appeared on stage in Seanachaí’s World Premiere production of In Pigeon House, Ira’s first performance as a Seanachaí Ensemble member. He previously appeared as Noel in Seanachaí’s production of That Was Then, for which he received a Joseph Jefferson nomination (Actor in a Supporting Role). He has co-designed two sets for Seanachaí, Hughie and A Moon For The Misbegotten, (Jeff Nomination - Scenic Design). He directed and co-produced the world premiere of Shakespeare’s King Phycus at The Building Stage in 2010 (winner of the Non-Equity Jeff Award - Best Ensemble). He performed for five seasons at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Other

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favorite credits include WildClaw Theater’s The Life of Death, Chris in All My Sons, Vladimir in Waiting For Godot, Owen in Translations, and James Tyrone Jr. in A Moon For the Misbegotten. He holds a B.A. in Dramatic Writing and Acting from Boise State University and an M.F.A. in acting from Indiana University.

Shane Kenyon+ (Nicky) is a proud member of the Seanachaí Ensemble.

His previous Seanachaí credits include, Shadow Of a Gunman, Our Father and Scenes From the Big Picture. Some other Chicago credits include Big Love at Strawdog Theatre Company; Trainspotting USA with Book and Lyrics Productions; Kin with Griffin Theatre; Where We’re Born, Sex With Strangers (understudy), Dublin Carol (understudy), and Last of the Boys at Steppenwolf Theatre Company; Jailbait at Profiles Theatre and Mary’s Wedding with Rivendell Theatre Company. Regionally, Shane is a company member with Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre where his notable credits include: Hamlet (Hamlet), Romeo and Juliet (Romeo), Macbeth (Malcolm), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lysander). Shane is a member of Screen Actors Guild and his film and TV credits include Jessica with Folded Rose Productions, and Chicago Code on

FOX and the upcoming Mind Games on ABC. This spring Shane will be making his Goodman Theatre debut in Buzzer. All his love and thanks to Mom and Dad, Jeff and BLR. Kevin Theis+* (Mr. Lockhart) Kevin has been a Seanachaí ensemble member since 2001, but his work with the company goes all the way back to 1995 when he directed their second show, Helen Edmundsen’s The Clearing. Since then, he has directed three more shows for the company, the latest of which was Eugene O’Neill’s A Moon for the Misbegotten. As a performer, Kevin has appeared in Dancing at Lughnasa, Our Father and The Weir under Seanachaí’s banner. He has also performed at the Goodman Theatre, Next Theatre, City Lit, Peninsula Players, Lifeline and the Oak Park Festival Theatre, among others. In 2014, Kevin will direct Monstrous Regiment for Lifeline and The Importance of Being Earnest for the Oak Park Festival. He has received three Joseph Jefferson nominations for his directing work and received an acting nomination this year for his performance as Edward in Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, also at Festival Theatre.

PRODUCTION TEA M BIOGR APHIES Conor McPherson (Playwright) is one of Ireland’s premier contemporary playwrights, currently produced worldwide, in London’s West End and on Broadway, to both critical and audience acclaim. The New York Times proclaimed him “the finest playwright of his generation.” His plays include an adaptation of Strindberg’s The Dance of Death (2012), The Veil (premiered at the Royal National Theatre October 2011,

directed by the author), St. Nicholas, The Weir, Shining City, Port Authority, This Lime Tree Bower and Dublin Carol. His new play, The Night Alive, premiered at the Donmar in June 2013. Conor also writes for film and in 2008 he began production on The Eclipse, which marked his debut as a screen director. The Eclipse was adapted by Conor from a ghost story by Billy Roche and stars Aidan Quinn and Ciaran Hinds. He also developed Strangers for Number 9 Films The Seafarer

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PRODUCTION TEA M BIOGR APHIES based on the novel by Taichi Yamada.

Most recently, he has worked on the new BBC series Quirke, based on the books by Benjamin Black.

Matt Miller (Director) Originally from Kent, Ohio, Matt is a Chicago based director and teacher. Recent stage credits include The Killer Angels with Lifeline Theatre, Superior Donuts with Mary Arrchie Theatre Company (4 Jeff Nominations), The Weir for Seanachaí Theatre Company (2 Jeff Nominations), Oblivion and 4000 Miles (staged reading with Deanna Dunagan) for Steppenwolf’s First Look Repertory, the world premiere of A Girl With Sun In Her Eyes for Pine Box Theater, and the world premiere of Graceland for Profiles Theatre (Jeff Winner Best New Work). Matt is also a proud fifteen-year company member with Barrel of Monkeys, a theatre group that provides creative writing workshops for Chicago Public Elementary Schools that lack arts funding.

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Rebecca Willingham (Assistant Director) is pleased to be working with Seanachaí Theatre for the first time. Her previous assistant directing credits include The Land of Smiles (Chicago Folks Operetta), The Chimes (Remy Bumppo), The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey (Provision Theater), and The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (Lyric Stage Company of Boston). Rebecca is a graduate of Emerson College and the National Theatre Institute.

Jeff Christian+* (Production Stage Manager) An ensemble member since 2003, Jeff directed Mojo Mickybo, Our Father and A Whistle in the Dark for the company, and appeared in The Shadow of a Gunman, The Weir, Our Father, Scenes From The Big Picture, War, and David Cromer’s production of Journey’s End. Film and television credits include Batman Begins, Witches’ Night, The Express, The Poker House, Helix, Pickman’s Muse, Cyrus, The Last Rider, Good People and Showtime’s Shameless.

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He is on the faculty in the Cinema Art + Science department of Columbia College, where he was named a finalist for the Excellence In Teaching Award.

World, Non-Equity Jeff nomination for Supporting Actress). Next up at Lifeline she will direct the spring production of A Tale of Two Cities.

Andrew Donnelly (Stage Manager) is a proud company member of Mary Arrchie, having the pleasure to manage Superior Donuts and The Glass Menagerie. He has also worked with Pine Box Theater, EX-Pats Theatre, Prop Thtr, and Underscore Theatre.

Beth Laske-Miller (Costume Designer) Beth’s Seanachaí design credits include In Pigeon House, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Shadow of a Gunman and That was Then.

Other Chicago-area design credits include Romeo & Juliet at Midsommer Flight, A Study in Scarlet and The Caucasian Chalk Circle at Promethean Ensemble Theatre, L’Imitation of Life at Hell in a Handbag and Take Her to See the Maco Lights at Prologue Theatre Co. Film credits include boy.girl. drum by Chris Olsen and Citizen in the Temple for TenWing Films. Beth holds a BA in Costume/Fashion Design from Indiana University – Bloomington, and an MFA in Costume Design from CalArts.

Ashley Irons (Properties Designer) graduated from Columbia College in 2011 with a Fine Arts Degree. The Seafarer is Ashley’s second show with Seanachaí, having previously designed props for the world premiere of In Pigeon House. She has been working in the film industry for 3 years making props and decorating sets. Her interests include making little creatures and taking her pet hedgehog, Peekul to the park.

Elise Kauzlaric (Dialect Designer) is happy to be working with Seanachaí again after coaching dialects for Shadow of a Gunman and Mojo Mickybo and directing Dancing at Lughnasa. She is a member of the artistic ensemble of Lifeline Theatre where she has coached numerous productions including The Killer Angels, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Mark of Zorro, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Piano Tuner, and Busman’s Honeymoon. Around town and regionally she has coached for Timeline, Signal Ensemble, Pegasus Players, Backstage Theatre, the hypocrites, Griffin Theatre and The Michigan Shakespeare Festival.

She has been twice nominated by the Jeff Committee for her dialect work on Busman’s Honeymoon (Lifeline Theatre) and Punk Rock (Griffin Theatre). Elise also works as a director: Pride and Prejudice, The Woman in White, Wuthering Heights, and Mariette in Ecstasy (Lifeline Theatre, Non-Equity Jeff nomination – Director).

As an actor, she has worked with The Goodman, Lifeline, City Lit, Circle Theatre, First Folio Shakespeare, Apple Tree and Griffin Theatre (On the Shore of the Wide

Julian Pike** (Lighting Designer) Julian is a freelance Lighting Designer based in Chicago. Design credits include The Magic Flute, Moscow, Cheryomushki, Teseo, Medee, and He/She for Chicago Opera Theater and two seasons as Lighting Supervisor/ Assistant Lighting Designer. Julian was the Lighting Apprentice at the Lyric Opera of Chicago from 2008 – 2011, where he had the opportunity to assist several worldrenowned Lighting Designers. Lighting Designer for Opera in the Ozarks under Vern Sutton’s direction from 2002-2005, and Roger Cantrell in 2009. Other Lighting Design credits include Chamber Opera Chicago, Chicago Folk’s Operetta, South Shore Opera, Porchlight Music Theatre, Lifeline Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre Company, Bailiwick Chicago, The Strange Tree Group, Aloft Aerial Dance, Inaside Chicago Dance, Mordine & Co. Dance Theatre, Joe Hall Dance Company, Wild Claw Theater, Pine Box Theatre, Piccolo Theatre Company, Genesis Theatrical Productions, and Evanston Children’s Theatre, among others. He holds an M.F.A. in Theatrical Design & Technology from the University of Missouri- Kansas City and is member of United Scenic Artists Local 829.

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PRODUCTION TEA M BIOGR APHIES Stephen Ptacek (Sound Designer) is a Chicago-based Composer, Sound Designer, Musician and Playwright. The Seafarer is his first collaboration with Seanachaí. Stephen is a company member with Dog & Pony Theatre company and Collaboraction, and has worked with a large host of Chicago’s theatre producing organizations over the past eight years.

He won a Jeff award for his sound design in Faster by Adam Rapp in 2008. Stephen’s next projects include Breach by Dog & Pony here at The Den Theatre, directed

by Krissy Vanderwarker and an upcoming workshop of The Education Project with Collaboraction. Outside of the theatre, he composes music for films and is a percussionist with the Astromusicology ensemble EL IS A SOUND OF JOY. Every Tuesday morning from 7:30am to 10:00am you can hear him spin awesome Jazz records on his radio show FREE ASSOCIATION (on 89.3fm/WNUR.org).

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Joe Schermoly (Set Designer) is so glad to be working with Seanachaí for the first time. Joe is a set designer, technical director and proud Griffin Theatre company member working across Chicago.

His design work has been seen at Griffin Theatre (Spelling Bee, Flare Path, Punk Rock, No More Dead Dogs, Port, Constant Wife), Theatre Wit (Completeness), Strawdog Theatre (Duchess of Malfi, Master and Margarita, Richard III), Lifeline Theatre (The Count of Monte Cristo, The City and The City), Sideshow Theatre (Idomeneus, The Ugly One), Eclipse (Beyond the Horizon, The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek) and more.

He has also designed and built shows in London for The Finborough, Bush and Gate theatres among others. Joe studied set design at Northwestern University and is the Technical Director at Lifeline Theatre.

He has received two After Dark Awards and two Jeff Nominations. See more of his work at www.joeschermoly.com.