Richard Barletta & William Massolia Artistic Directors present
SPRING AWAKENING Book and Lyrics by Steven Sater Music by Duncan Sheik Based on the play by Frank Wedekind Directed by Jonathan Berry Music Direction by Allison Kane Associate Direction by Jess McLeod Lighting Design: Lee Keenan Costume Design: Izumi Inaba Set Design: Marianna Csaszar Sound Design: Rick Sims & Josh Horvath Choreography by Nicole Pellegrino Stage Manager: Jon Ravenscroft Casting Coordinator: Elana Boulos Featuring: Larry Baldacci, Matt Babbs, Harter Clingman, Paige Collins, Adam Fane, Matthew Fletcher, Vanessa Greenway, Lindsay Leopold, Adam Molloy, Lauren Paris, Amber Robbin, Josh Salt, Aja Wiltshire The Griffin Theatre Company is a member of the League of Chicago Theatres, the Theatre Communications Group and is partially supported by grants from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, CityArts and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
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CAST (in
or der of appe ar ance)
Aja Wiltshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wendla Vanessa Greenway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adult Women Lindsay Leopold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ilse Paige Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Martha Amber Robbin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anna Lauren Paris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thea Josh Salt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melchior Matthew Fletcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Moritz Adam Fane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hanschen Adam Molloy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ernst Harter Clingman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Georg Matt Babbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Otto Larry Baldacci . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adult Men SPRING AWAKENING is performed with one ten minute intermission. UNDERSTUDIES: Tyshaun Lang, Brittany Bookbinder, Daniel Desmarais, Todd Kiech Keyboard/Violin 2/Conductor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allison Kane Percussion/Assistant Music Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Justin Kono Guitars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Owen Cooper Violin 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julia Kane Cello . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hillary Pennella A D D I T I O N A L P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F Elana Boulos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Casting/Assistant Director Justin Kono . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Music Director Joe Schermoly, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technical Director Joseph deBettencourt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fight Choreography SPRING AWAKENING is produced by special arrangement with Music Theater International Inc., New York, NY. Special Thanks to Morgan Maher MUSICAL NUMBERS Act I “Mama Who Bore Me” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wendla “Mama Who Bore Me (Reprise)” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wendla and Girls “All That’s Known” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melchior “The Bitch of Living” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Moritz, Melchior and Boys “My Junk” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Girls and Boys “Touch Me” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boys and Girls “The Word of Your Body” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wendla and Melchior “The Dark I Know Well” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Martha, Ilse and Boys “And Then There Were None” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Moritz and Boys “The Mirror-Blue Night” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melchior and Boys “I Believe” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boys and Girls
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M U S I C A L N U M B E R S ( c o n t .) Act II “The Guilty Ones” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wendla, Melchior, Boys and Girls “Don’t Do Sadness/Blue Wind” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Moritz and Ilse “Left Behind” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melchior, Boys and Girls “Totally Fucked” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melchior and Full Company (except Moritz) “The Word of Your Body (Reprise)” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hanschen, Ernst, Boys and Girls “Whispering” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wendla “Those You’ve Known” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Moritz, Wendla and Melchior “The Song of Purple Summer” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ilse and Full Company
S P R I N G AWA K E N I N G B I O S MATT BABBS (Otto) is a graduate of Cornell College and more recently the School at Steppenwolf. He is so proud to be making his Griffin Theatre debut, with this wonderful cast and backstage team. Matt has previously appeared at Rendition Theatre and worked with Redtwist but this is his first professional musical. Check out his upcoming web series No Respawn (google it!). Matt would like to thank his family for supporting him, particularly his Grandma Joyce. LARRY BALDACCI (Older Men) is honored to be working with the good folks at Griffin Theatre again, having previously appeared in their production of Company. Other Chicago credits include The Front Page and The Farnsworth Invention (both Equity Jeff nominees for Best Ensemble) with TimeLine Theatre, 1776 (Non-Equity Jeff winner for Best Musical) with Signal Ensemble, Spinning Into Butter and Democracy with Eclipse Theatre, Pangs of the Messiah with Silk Road Theatre, and The Mark of Zorro (After Dark Award winner for Best Production) with
Lifeline Theatre. Larry is a founding member of The Free Readers Ensemble, currently celebrating its 19th season of readers theatre. Many thanks to Jon for the opportunity to work with such an amazing cast, crew and staff. And, as always, this is for Ray. HARTER CLINGMAN (Georg) is a BFA Theater graduate from Columbia College Chicago, originally hailing from the village of Ottumwa, Iowa. At Columbia, he was in many productions, which include Floyd Collins, Michael John Lachiusa’s The Wild Party, The Pirates of Penzance, The Winter’s Tale, and Jonathan Berry’s Of Mice and Men. He has also been involved with Dragoncello Theater Company and Fury Theater Company’s Shakespeare All-Stars. He is very excited to make Griffin his first collaboration out of college. Shout out to his three, angst-filled, teenaged siblings. Love you guys! PAIGE COLLINS (Martha) is very excited to be working with Griffin for the first time! In Chicago, you may have seen her in Freedom, NY with Teatro Vista, Eclipsed Griffin Theatre 3
S P R I N G AWA K E N I N G B I O S ( c o n t .) at Northlight Theatre, Hunting and Gathering and We Live Here with Theatre Seven of Chicago, and The Twins Would Like To Say with Dog + Pony Theatre as a part of Steppenwolf’s Garage Repertory. She is a proud graduate of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she was seen in (Anon)ymous, Necessary Targets, and In the Continuum. ADAM FANE (Hanschen) is honored to be a part of this nurturing company of artists. He could not ask for a more fantastic opportunity. Favorite credits include: Young Thing in Hello Again at BoHo, Ensemble in Chicago at Mason Street Warehouse, and Male Swing in Cats at Theo Ubique. This Spring Adam will be a graduate of Roosevelt University (CCPA). He sends love and thanks to his friends and family. Chicago theatre is where it’s happening! MATTHEW FLETCHER (Moritz) Matthew Fletcher is a senior voice and musical theatre major at Northwestern University from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Northwestern: Into The Woods, Second Breath, Presidential Roulette, Bernstein’s Mass, Side Show, Bare: A Pop Opera, Bent. Professional: Rich (Manitoba Theatre Young People), The Snow Queen (The Little Opera Company), The Secret Garden (Dry Cold), The Magic Flute (Manitoba Opera), The Sound of Music, Beauty and the Beast, The King and I, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Big-The Musical,The Music Man (Rainbow Stage). Television: Triple Sensation (CBC). Thanks to family and friends for all of their support.
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VANESSA GREENWAY (Older Women) Vanessa Greenway was last seen as Rosaura in Vitalist Theatre’s Life is a Dream by Calderón de la Barca, in a new version by Helen Edmunson. She won a Best Supporting Actress Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson award in 2010 for her performance in The Night Season with Vitalist Theatre; in 2008 she won the Best Actress Non-Equity Jeff for her performance in The Constant Wife produced by the Griffin Theatre. Vanessa is an artistic associate with the Griffin and appeared in Stardust and Ella Enchanted. She has worked with numerous companies around Chicago including Porchlight, The Hypocrites, Chicago Children’s Theatre, City Lit, Live Bait, Eclipse, Noble Fool and Chicago Shakepeare. She received her BFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University and is a certified Pilates instructor. LINDSAY LEOPOLD (Ilse) Lindsay is happy to be making her Griffin Theatre debut. Around town, Lindsay has worked with American Theatre Company in The Big Meal (Jeff Nomination, Ensemble) The Hypocrites in Cabaret (Jeff Nomination, Principle Actress) as well as Lifeline Theatre, First Folio Theatre and Redtwist Theatre. Originally from Cape Cod, Lindsay has worked with Provincetown Theatre Company and Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre. She holds an MFA from DePaul University and a BFA from The Boston Conservatory. We’ve all got our junk, and her junk is Malachi Leopold.
S P R I N G AWA K E N I N G B I O S ( c o n t .) ADAM MOLLOY (Ernst) is thrilled to be making his Griffin Theatre debut with Spring Awakening. He is a recent graduate of the Theatre Conservatory at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Favorite credits include George in The Drowsy Chaperone, Tobias in Sweeney Todd, Gus Field in Babes in Arms, Hot Blades Harry in Urinetown, Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Tony in West Side Story, and Will in Oklahoma. Many thanks to his friends, family, CCPA faculty, and the production team. LAUREN PARIS (Thea) is elated to be part of one of those elusive ‘dream shows’. Originally from Seattle, Lauren is a proud 2011 graduate of Loyola University Chicago. Favorite roles there include Jo March in Little Women The Musical and Isabel in The Pirates of Penzance. Professionally, Lauren’s been seen with Chicago Cabaret Project, Emerald City Theatre, and Canterbury Summer Theatre. To Mom and Dad (as always), for being parents whom never hesitated to share with her “the wonder of purple summer”. AMBER ROBBIN (Anna) is delighted to be performing again in her hometown of Chicago after recently graduating with a BFA in Musical Theatre from the Conservatory at Point Park University. Her favorite roles include Mary Phagan in Parade (Bailiwick/Mercury Theatres), Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (Quest Theatre Ensemble) and Ado Annie in Oklahoma! She has also been fortunate to play a part in three world premieres: Aline in Gauguin (dir. Clayton Phillips),
Victorian Victim in Time After Time (dir. Gabriel Barre) and Caitlin in A Child’s Christmas in Wales. She would like to thank the cast and creative team for making this experience so enjoyable, and especially Jon, Jess, Elana and Allison for giving her this opportunity. Wedekind called Spring’s Awakening “a tragedy of childhood”, yet always stressed the humor in his play. Here’s to celebrating life and all its heartache; one would be dull without the other. JOSH SALT (Melchior) is thrilled to be making his Griffin Theatre debut with this production. A native of Menomonie, Wisconsin, Josh has been active in theatre since early childhood, and is currently enrolled as an acting major at Columbia College Chicago. Josh’s first production in Chicago was under Jonathan Berry’s direction in Of Mice and Men at Columbia and he is humbled by the chance to work with him again. Other Columbia credits include The Space Between (Austin), The Lonesome West (Father Welsh), The Normal Heart (Felix), and Equus (Alan Strang). Some non-Columbia credits include Zoo Story (Jerry), Midsummer Night’s Dream (Demetrius), Brighton Beach Memoirs (Eugene), and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Finch). Special thanks to Jeff Ginsberg for being my mentor and friend. Dedicated to Ann and Bob Salt; for always allowing me the freedom to think for myself. AJA WILTSHIRE (Wendla) is an Oklahoma City University graduate and is super stoked to be a part of this production. Previous credits include Closer (Aston Rep) and some things in the Dallas and Griffin Theatre 5
S P R I N G AWA K E N I N G B I O S ( c o n t .) Oklahoma City areas that you most likely didn’t see. Thanks to the family, the Griffin team, the cast and crew and the lovely Chicagoans supporting us. JONATHAN BERRY (Director) is a director and teacher in Chicago. Recent Directing credits include: Andrew Hinderaker’s Suicide, Incorporated for the Roundabout Theatre in New York and David Eldridge’s Festen for Steep Theatre (Chicago Tribune, 4 Stars) . His Steppenwolf productions include Nancy Gilsenan’s adaptation of A Separate Peace, and the world premiere of Melinda Lopez’s Gary as well as the staged reading of Suicide, Incorporated for their First Look Festival of New Work. As a Griffin Company artistic associate, productions include: The North American premieres of Simon Stephens Port, and On the Shore of the Wide World, Stephen Sondheim’s Company, William Inge’s Picnic, JB Priestely’s Time and the Conways (Jeff nom – director/ensemble), Sidney Kingsley’s Dead End, Brendan Behan’s The Hostage and R.C. Sheriff’s Journey’s End. Other work includes: Gift Theatre: Andrew Hinderaker’s Suicide, Incorporated, Steep Theater: Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Chicago Sun Times and Chicago Tribune Top 10 lists for ’06-’07) , and the mid-west premiere of Howard Korder’s The Hollow Lands. At Remy Bumppo, the American premiere of Ranjit Bolt’s adaptation of Beaumarchais’s The Marriage of Figaro, Theatre Mir: Brecht’s Caucasian Chalk Circle, for Lifeline Theater: A world premiere adaptation of Daniel Mason’s novel The Piano Tuner (Afterdark award – Best Production) He pursued his MFA in directing from Northwestern University and received his BFA from the University of Michigan. He has taught acting, directing, and viewpoints at Northwestern University, University of Chicago, Act One Studios and The School at Steppenwolf.
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ALLISON KANE (Music Direction) is thrilled to be working on her first show with Griffin, and even more so to be back at it in Chi-town. For the last 15 months Allison spent time in NYC and was honored to work on the Broadway Revival of Finian’s Rainbow and the Broadway hit Rock of Ages as an assistant orchestrator and copy editor. She also music directed the first concert reading of Ewalt & Walker’s upcoming musical Bromance and most recently appeared Off-Broadway as “Celeste” in the long running hit Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding. Allison is also the keyboardist for Broadway veteran Kathy Deitch’s Heart cover band All Heart. Favorite shows as a music director/arranger in Chicago include Urinetown (University of Chicago University Theatre); Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Can-Can (Circle); Bye Bye Liver (Pub Theatre); Monday Night’s New Voices: Chicago (Andrew Lippa; Brian Mazzaferri); Barenaked Lads (Bailiwick: Chicago, Dublin, and Provincetown); Blue Nativity, Pinocchio, The Drunkard (Quest). Allison is a Chicago native by way of Boston (Berklee ‘04) and looks forward to what’s next to come. Huge thanks to Jon for working with her again and so much love to her amazing, incredibly supportive parents. JESS MCLEOD (Associate Director) just finished her graduate coursework in directing at Northwestern. NU: Venus (co-produced by Steppenwolf ), In Trousers, Mourning Becomes Electra, several new plays through “Master Clash,” the MFA Writer/Director short play festival she co-created. NY: Joyce Carol Oates’s The Corn Maiden, Mr. Kolpert, Rachel Axler’s Kitchen Sink, Joe Keenan’s The Times. From 2005-08, Jess served as Director of Programming for The New York Musical Theatre Festival, where she oversaw all curating and directed pop/ musical theatre fusion concerts like The Unauthorized Musicology of Ben Folds. In the pipeline: new musical The 1, the utterly non-musical Untitled Ayn Rand/ Alan Greenspan Project and Zanna,
S P R I N G AWA K E N I N G B I O S ( c o n t .) Don’t! with The Music Theatre Company’s Young Artists’ Program. LEE KEENAN (Lighting Design) has designed lights for The House Theatre of Chicago (Company Member), Lookingglass Theatre, 500 Clown, Court Theatre, Centerstage Baltimore, Kansas City Rep, Chicago Shakespeare, Next Theatre, Silk Road Theatre Project (Artistic Associate), Circle Theatre,, Apple Tree, Milwaukee Repertory, and The Building Stage. With Griffin Company, The Hostage, Be More Chill, Time and the Conways. Lee is Instructor of Lighting Design at Loyola University Chicago. MARIANNA CSASZAR (Set Design) is happy to be returning to the Griffin this season after having designed sets for On the Shore of the Wide World, The Hostage, and Stage Door in previous years, and she is thankful for Jon and Jess for the opportunity to collaborate with them on this show. Other Chicago design credits include Cabaret with the Hypocrites, Peter and the Wolf with Lookingglass at the CSO, “Boojum” with Caffeine Theatre, and Bordello with the Chicago Dramatists. She is looking forward to her upcoming show at the Next and returning to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to design Pulcinella in the winter. IZUMI INABA (Costume Design) Izumi is so excited to be working again with Griffin Theatre Company after designing costumes for Stage Door. Her recent design credits include The Kid Thing (About Face Theatre and Chicago Dramatists), Moby Dick (Building Stage), and The Ugly One (Sideshow Theatre). Past projects include works with A Red Orchid, Red Tape, Chicago Shakespeare, Mary-Arrchie, Steep, The Hypocrites, and many others. Izumi is a recipient of a Non-equity Jeff Award 2011 Artistic Specialization for Cats makeup design for Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. M.F.A. in stage design, Northwestern University.
RICK SIMS (Sound Designer/Composer) Rick has composed and designed sound for numerous Lookingglass productions and many other Chicago area theatres such as Steppenwolf, Congo Square, Writers Theatre, Lifeline, Griffin, The House, Court, ATC, Victory Gardens, The Raven, Steep and About Face. Out of town credits include Icarus at the Getty in L.A. with Lookingglass, and Gary at Boston Playwrights. Rick won a Jeff Award for lyrics in Hepheastus and was nominated for another for musical direction for The Shaggs both at Lookingglass. Rick also has two BTAA award nominations. Rick is an artistic associate of Lookingglass Theatre Company and an associate designer with Aria Music Designs (Ray Nardelli and Josh Horvath). Rick also wrote the book, music and lyrics for Lookingglass’ Hillbilly Antigone. NICOLE PELLIGRINO (Choreography) Nicole is thrilled to return to the Griffin as part of the Spring Awakening team! Nicole is a founding company member and the Director of Educational Development of rhythmic performance ensemble Be the Groove, with whom she has choreographed and performed across the Midwest since 2006. With strong foundations in dance, physical theatre, and circus/aerial arts, her professional Chicago credits includes work at the Pritzker Pavillion, Navy Pier, Taste of Chicago, the Actors Gymnasium, Victory Gardens, The New Colony, Drury Lane, Lifeline, Chicago dell’Arte, The Vittum, BoHo, Backstage, and her alma mater Northwestern. Additionally, Nicole is an actress, improviser, and proud long-time teaching artist for Lookingglass and the Actors Gym. She dearly thanks her family and loved ones, always. JUSTIN KONO (Assistant Music Director) is happy to be making his third appearance playing along side Allison Kane and Jon Berry. Justin is a Chicagobased percussionist, music director, Griffin Theatre 7
S P R I N G AWA K E N I N G B I O S ( c o n t .) conductor, and recording artist of uncommon range. Since entering the business in high school, he has been in the bands and orchestras of over four dozen professional productions in the Chicago area including rock legend Dennis DeYoung’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame and other world premiere musicals. Justin also frequently played with recording artist Keith Harrison and can be heard on the singles Counterculture Angel and Blago which was featured in the Chicago Red Eye and WGN News. Justin will be graduating from DePaul University’s School of Music in the winter of 2012 and was a member of the Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble 20+ and the DePaul University Symphony Orchestra, appearing at Symphony Center several times. Justin currently serves as the founder, artistic director, and conductor of the Independent Gamers Orchestra. ELANA BOULOS (Assistant Director/Casting Director) feels blessed to have been a part of this ridiculously rewarding process. She was the Casting Apprentice at Steppenwolf for the 2009-2010 Season. Currently, Elana is a Casting Administrator with Two Birds Casting (check ‘em out - twobirdscasting.com). Love to Jon and Jess for being the best directors an assistant could ask for. Thanks to the support system of friends, family, the Murphys and JBM. JON RAVENSCROFT (Stage Manager) has worked with the Griffin twice before and is pleased to be back. Previously with the Griffin, Jon has Stage Managed Port and Company last season. Other Chicago credits include Pornography and Harper Regan at Steep Theatre, St. Crispin’s Day at Strawdog, last year’s Fillet of Solo festival at Lifeline and Live Bait Theatres and Production Stage Managing last fall’s In The Works theatre lab series at Millennium Park as well as work with Hypatia Theatre Company, Lifeline Theatre, Caffeine Theatre, Theatre 7 of Chicago, Dog & Pony theatre co., Chicago Children’s Theatre and The Sweat Girls. 8 Griffin Theatre
WILLIAM MASSOLIA (Artistic Director) is a founding member of the Griffin Theatre Company. He is the author of over 30 plays and adaptations including, Be More Chill, Little Brother, Stardust, Loving Little Egypt, Shakespeare’s Dog, Ash Can Alley, and The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. His play Letters Home recently completed a 12 city National Tour of North America and his children’s play, Frindle was presented in 35 US cities in the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 season. Massolia is a 7-time Joseph Jefferson Award nominee for his work as a playwright. A graduate of Southern Illinois University, Mr. Massolia is a past member of the League of Chicago Theatres Board of Directors, a recipient of an IAC Playwriting Fellowship Award and currently sits on the theatre advisory panel for the Illinois Arts Council. RICHARD BARLETTA (Artistic Director) is a founding member of the Griffin Theatre Company. In his almost 30 years of theatre he’s directed over 125 productions, many of these with the Griffin. Some of his favorites would include: Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, All The Way Home, Ah, Wilderness!, Shake Your Groove Thing, Shakespeare’s Dog, Ash Can Alley, Henry and the Second Gunman, A Night in Mantua, The Whipping Boy, There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom, Frindle, There’s a Girl in my Hammerlock and Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging, for which he received a Joseph Jefferson Award nomination for direction. Richard holds an MFA in Directing from the Goodman School of Drama and a BS in theatre from the University of Evansville. In addition he has directed productions at the Theatre School, DePaul University and Loyola University in Chicago. He received Joseph Jefferson Awards for both directing and ensemble with the Midwest premiere of Stags and Hens.
L O O K I N G F O R C O R P O R AT E S P O N S O R S H I P O P P O R U N I T I E S ? Next Season the Griffin Theatre Company’s National Touring Program will be seen by over 100,000 audience members nationwide. Griffin’s artistic properties can give sponsors broad and premium visibility, and brand exposure to thousands of people coast to coast. Corporate sponsorships and foundation gifts ensure that Griffin is able to maintain artistic excellence on stage, enhance education programs and continue our conversation with our community, contributing to the quality of life in the Chicago Area and nationwide. To find more about how to become a corporate sponsor call Bill Massolia at 773-769-2228, ext 3. GRIFFIN THEATRE COMPANY 2011/2012 Touring Schedule LETTERS HOME September 20-21, 2011 - Hulman Center, Indiana State University October 21-24, 2011 – Crockett Civic Center, Crockett, Texas October 25, 2011 – Alma Center for the Performing Arts, Ft. Smith, Arkansas October 29, 2011 – Ross Ragland Theatre, Klamath Falls, Oregon November 1, 2011 – Saint Mary’s University, Winona, Minnesota November 3, 2011 – Stockton College, Galloway, New Jersey November 7-8, 2011 – Peace Center for the Performing Arts, Greenville, South Carolina November 9, 2011 – Florida State College-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida November 10, 2011 – Palm Beach College, Lake Worth, Florida November 14, 2011 – Greater Latrobe Community High School, Latrobe, Pennsylvania March 27, 2012 – Bentley College, Waltham, Massachusetts March 30, 2012 – Criterion Center, New Bedford, Massachusetts FRINDLE November 2, 2011 – Fox Cities Center, Appleton, Wisconsin November 9-12 – International Children’s Festival, Woodlands, Texas November 14, 2011 – Vilar Performing Arts Center, Beaver Creek, Colorado February 7, 2012 – Pittsfield Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield, Massachusetts February 8, 2012 – Chelmsford Performing Arts, Chelmsford Massachusetts February 9, 2012 – Colden Auditorium, Queens College, Flushing New York February 10, 2012 –Paramount Theater, Charlottesville, West Virginia February 13 – 19, 2012 – Metropolis Center for the Performing Arts March 6-8, 2012 – Smith Center, Las Vegas, Nevada THE STINKY CHEESE MAN & OTHER FAIRLY STUPID TALES October 5 – 6, 2011 – La Tourneau Performing Arts Center, Longview Texas October 9-15, 2011 – Florissant Civic Center Theater, Florissant, Missouri October 24, 2011 – Clowes Hall at Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana October 25, 2011 – Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois January 6, 2012 – Children’s Theater of Winston-Salem, Winston-Salem, North Carolina January 9, 2012 – Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro, North Carolina January 22, 2012 – Friend Center Theatre, San Francisco, California January 24, 2012 - Popejoy Hall, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico January 26, 2012 – Gallo Center, Modesto, California January 28, 2012 – Emelin Theatre, Mamaroneck, New York January 29, 2012 – Westport Country Playhouse, Wesport, Connecticut January 30, 2012 – Colden Auditorium, Flushing, New York January 31, 2012 – Capital Center for the Arts, Concord, New Hampshire February 4, 2012 – Victoria Theater, Dayton, Ohio February 8, 2012 – Eau Claire Regional Arts Center, Eau Claire, Wisconsin March 23, 2011 – Raue Center for the Arts, Crystal Lake, Illinois
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A N N UA L F U N D The Griffin Theatre Company would like to gratefully acknowledge the contributions made by individuals, corporations, foundations and government agencies throughout the year, which have enabled our arts organization to continue to produce quality arts programming for young and old. If you would like to find out more about supporting the Griffin Theatre Company please call 773-769-2228 or use the form attached. $10,000 and up Alphawood Foundation The Chicago Community Trust The California Community Foundation Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation I.A. O’Shaughnessey Foundation David & Elizabeth McFadzean $5,000 - $10,000 The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation The Illinois Arts Council The Mayer and Morris Kaplan Family Foundation Polk Bros. Foundation $2,500 - $4,999 City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs The Saints $1,000 - $2,499 David Aitken Diane Aitken Richard Barletta Claire Conley FMC Foundation James Denton Jeff Graves Bill & Mary Lou Griffin Jordan Humberstone Illinois Switchboard Corporation Paul Klaeysen Terry A. Kozlowski Helmut Mlakar Maureen Murnane Northside Federal Savings 10 Griffin Theatre
Square D Foundation Teresa Sullinger Weldy-Lamont Associates $500 - $999 AOL Time Warner Mr. & Mrs. Frank Barletta James Donnelley Timothy Fox Karen and David Larson Thomas & Barbara Leopold Mr. & Mrs. William Massolia Doris McGee The Playboy Foundation Sue & Tim Reardon Hugh Spencer Wellington Mortgage Corporation $250 - $499 Thomas & Linda Berk Duane Carter Tyrell Funkhouser William Massolia Vanguard Archives Inc. Mary Williams $100 - $249 Marge Adreani Alamo Shoes Paul & Kathy Boyd Chris Bruzzini Bill & Kathy Burnett Megan Byrne Café Boost Russell Carr Mary Carra DK’s Corporation Dan Cherry Richard Christiansen Carol Corski Carol Crisci Sandra deBettencourt Farraguts on Clark Michelle Fire Mr. & Mrs. David Flahive Timothy R. Fox
John W. Fritz CPA Kathy & David Gemperle Dean Giordano Mary Grover Bill & Mary Claire Hersh Suzanne Hoffman Beth & Bruce Holmquist Liz & Michael Howard Mark Hudson David W. Ives IBM Corporation Dixie P. Johnson Madeline Kahn Mari Louise Kailing Jane Kroner Dennis & Pat Lamont Bruce Leep Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Lundberg John & Kathryn Lutz Stephen Maclean K. F. Mazurek Joan Mazzonelli Michael McNamara Margaret Mell Walter S. & Arlene Mikol Thomas & Cecilia Murphy Pepsico Jerry Proffit Linda & Frank Runnfeldt Mark Schulte Bruce Siewerth Susan Solomon Terence Stevenson The Swedish Bakery Mark & Julie Weber Paul and Denise Wilkinson Don & Karen Zastawny Patricia Zastawny $1-$99 Jackie Aicher Janet Ahlgren Christopher Alvarado The Andersons Betty Barclay Deborah & Mark Berry Anne Basye
A N N UA L F U N D ( c o n t .) Susan Baum Archie & Vivian Benfield Kari Bellinaso Jane E. Betkus Michele Greco & Robert Blonski Jerry Blumenthal Boyle Design Michael & Ellen Brottman Verlee J. Buchholz Delano J. Busczynski Christina Calvit Monina Canete Russell & Catherine Cangelosi Donna & Michael Cavan Joan Centano Rae Ann Cerle The Christiansons Ian & Donna Cohen James Covello Mary Ann & Leonard Cowherd Marie E. Cristol Erica Danos & Joseph Schwartz Sydney Daniels Erica Danos Eddie Dekel-Tabak Jill DeVaney Alan Donahue Patricia Donegan Brendan Donnelly Mark Dougherty Natalie Dubs Chuck Elliott Herbert & Nancy Ferguson Sally Fermaint Roger & Delores Flaherty Lew Fox Fernanda Franchini Pat & Jack Frank Don & Sue Summerton Gamble Donald Gecewicz Michelle Geoga Richard Gertz Jinine Giese Margaret Givhan Mandel Goodkin Michael Goodkin Mark & Cynthia Greenwood
Martha & Ramon Greenwood Shonah Greer Karen Grost Caroline Guenette Kenneth Hager Barbara Hale Marion Hank Christine Haught Barbara Heathfield Lenore W. Hervey Carole Hilkin Annalee Letchinger & David Hoppe Ellen Horan Susan D. Imus Victoria Jackson Gregoire Klees-Johnson Kristin Johnson Leah Kaiser Mike Kaiser & Dale Royer Cheryl & Mark Kaplan Leonard Kaplan Madaline & Ted Kiedysz Samantha Kittle Jeffrey Koblish Jamie Kosinski Ruth Kurczewski Barbara Lanctot Robert Lanum Dolores & Bob Lathan Mary Lauren Karen Layer Sean Le Lori Lee Marvin & Ann Leiner Vincent Lengerich Loretta Lodestro Betty & Ara Mayian Maritime Canvas Mary Marnell Dr. Fredrick & Susan Mausolf Frank McCarthy Richard McGuire Timothy Michel Dorothy Milne Lori Mitchell John & Sandra Moore Mary Mullaney Lisa Murphy Frank Nagorka Annette & Steve Newby R.J. Niller Herbert Nipson
Dorothy J. Nygren Catherine O’Brien Patsy and David Oser Mack & Sara Overton Phil & Julie Ow Ronald Payne Janie Petkus Christopher Piatt Allen and Rita Pomerance Quaker Oats Foundation Carolyn & Bill Redding Bob and Katie Remer Sandra Remis Melissa & Jeff Riemer Jerry & Sue Ring Ed Ripp Elizabeth Roach Barbara Madej Roos Alan Saleski Heather Salisbury Udo Schaefer Heddi Schellbach R.E. Schingoethe Susan & Ian Schwartz Vladimir Seizovic Lynda Shadrake Kathleen L. Shannon Frank Sherman Carol Shrailberg Pam & John Simmons James B. Smith Meg Givhan & J. Sollberger Ms. Mary Ann Sorokie Donald Sprague Dr. Mrs. John Stankiewicz Seth Stein Andrea Sullivan Elisabeth Wilcox Szegho Jacqueline Thebaud Richard & Sally Thomas Kelly Webster Tracy & Tony Weisman Cary Weldy Diane Wesolokowski Marcia Whitney-Schenck Gail & Linda White Julie Whyte Ginger Williams Karen & Mike Williams Howard Witt Toby Wright Sayward Wyatt Jody Yohanna Jan Yusk Griffin Theatre 11
A B O U T T H E C O M PA N Y Our mission: The Griffin Theatre Company exists to create extraordinary and meaningful theatrical experiences for both children and adults by building bridges of understanding between generations that instill in its audience an appreciation of the performing arts. Through artistic collaboration the Griffin Theatre Company produces literary adaptations, original work and classic plays that challenge and inspire, with wit, style and compassion for the audience. The Griffin Theatre Company Artistic Directors - Richard Barletta and William Massolia
Board of Directors Claire Conley - Chairperson Richard Barletta Duane Carter Jeff Graves Paul Klaeysen Terry Kozlowski William Massolia Joan Mazzonelli David Aitken - Emeritus Diane Aitken - Emeritus
Advisory Board Lynn Auerbach Bill Burnett Peggy Gormley Mitch Kohn Marian Kulesz Liz Livingston Tom Leopold Rick Levine John David Lutz Kevin MacKinnon Virginia Madsen David McFadzean Helmut Mlakar Denise Stewart Harriet Wasserman
Artists In Residence Jonathan Berry Joey deBettencourt Vanessa Greenway Paul S. Holmquist Kevin Kingston Dylan Lower Bill Morey Karyn Morris Edward Paul Ian Novak Robin Witt
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