24th Anniversary Season PRESENTS THE MIDWEST PREMIERE OF
Directed by Joe Jahraus Assistant Directed by Sarah Nutt Stage Managed by Jordan Muller
Featuring: Robert Breuler, Eric Burgher, Darrell W. Cox, Kristin Ford, Harmony France, Kate Harris “The strong forget.” -Herzog, Saul Bellow SWEET AND SAD premiered at the Public Theatre in New York on September 11, 2011.
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CAST Richard Apple.................................................................................................................. DARRELL W. COX* Uncle Benjamin Apple...............................................................................................ROBERT BREULER** Marian Apple............................................................................................................................KRISTIN FORD Barbara Apple............................................................................................................................KATE HARRIS Jane Apple.....................................................................................................................HARMONY FRANCE Tim Andrews........................................................................................................................ERIC BURGHER* *Denotes Profiles Ensemble Member **Member of the Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
SET TING The play takes place between approximately 2pm and 4pm on the afternoon of Sunday, September 11, 2011. Rhinebeck, New York; a small historic village one hundred miles north of New York City; once referred to in an article in The New York Times as “The Town That Time Forgot”. A room in Barbara Apple’s house, which she shares with Benjamin and Marian.
P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F ARTISTIC DIRECTORS.....................................................................................Joe Jahraus, Darrell W. Cox BOARD CHAIR............................................................................................................................Bruce Beatus BOARD MEMBERS..............................................................................................Matt Irvine, Marget Brue, Eric Burgher, Maryann Carlson, Greg Yeager DIRECTOR...................................................................................................................................... Joe Jahraus ASSISTANT DIRECTOR................................................................................................................. Sarah Nutt STAGE MANAGER....................................................................................................................Jordan Muller SET DESIGN............................................................................................................................... Shaun Renfro ASSISTANT SET DESIGN........................................................................................................Jacob Watson TECHNICAL DIRECTOR.................................................................................................................Rick Julien LIGHT DESIGN................................................................................................................................Mike Durst COSTUME DESIGN...................................................................................................................... Erica Griese SOUND DESIGN/ORIGINAL MUSIC......................................................................................Jeffrey Levin DRAMATURG................................................................................................................................Renee Keen CASTING DIRECTOR....................................................................................................... Two Birds Casting UNDERSTUDIES....................................................................................... Angela DeMarco, Jeff Gamlin, Jaimelyn Gray, Michelle McKenzie-Voigt, Scott Stockwell, Anthony Venturini LITERARY MANAGER ....................................................................................................... Michael Carnow ASSISTANT LITERARY MANAGER..................................................................................... Elise Spoerlein ADDITIONAL CARPENTER...................................................................................................Patrick Pasqua PUBLICIST.............................................................................................Cathy Taylor Public Relations Inc. POSTER ART.........................................................................................................................Christopher Carr WEBSITE DESIGN....................................................................................................................Justin Siddons INTERNS...................................................................................................... Carly Jo Geer, Grace Stratton, Joe Moore, Ben Hendren, Nate Dion Profiles Theatre is a not-for-profit equity theatre company and is partially supported by a CityArts Program One grant from the City of Chicago Dept. of Cultural Affairs, and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. General operating support is also provided by The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Baird Brown Charitable Fund of The Chicago Community Foundation and the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation.
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T
he family dinner. Probably not too much different than your childhood dinner, our evening meal went something like this - gather at the same time every day, wash your hands, pass the food, say a thankful prayer, talk about the day or complain about something, go for seconds if desired, talk some more, perhaps gossip about a neighbor, get dessert. Usually someone bickered about something petty and at the end, my dad often moaned, “I ate too much, why did I do that?” Then the grown-ups cleared the table while planning what they might serve the next night. You tried not to leave leftovers knowing they could come back as a stew or even worse – the dreaded “goulash.” The dinner ritual diminished quite a bit when I became an adult. Tight schedules led to more meals on the go and the idea of all that preparation often seemed so unnecessary for a couple. In my mid-twenties, I remember thinking, “Eating is such a waste of time. If I could just take a pill to survive, I’d rather have all those hours back to get something accomplished.” Yet when I visit home a few times a year, the family dinner tradition returns and it’s like I never left. Talk turns to health issues, how much everything costs, a cousin’s pending divorce, and some rotten politician who raised the tax on such and such while cutting the benefits of this and that. Of course now I’m participating in all of the complaining rather than just observing my parents. But now something feels different. When those funny stories come up for the millionth time about the day I wrecked the motorcycle or the time I refused to share those frog legs with my sister (yeah, that’s an odd one) – they seem to float on top of genuine fear concerning the direction of the world and a helpless feeling that there’s not much anyone can do to really change things. Then the most bittersweet feeling of all hits me - everyone keeps getting older and there are a finite number of dinners left to share together. Family dinners certainly feel uncomfortable or dysfunctional on occasion, but I now realize it’s not a waste of time. In fact, incredible power lies in this simplest of customs - the power to console, express your fears, celebrate your triumphs and somehow not feel so alone in the world. The power to heal. All of our plays this season take a look at the different meanings of “home”. Whether the home brings us together or tears us apart, each story invites reflection on how the home changes or endures, what it means to us and what we might do to preserve it. On behalf of the entire Profiles family, I welcome you to tonight’s dinner. Sincerely,
Joe Jahraus Artistic Director Profiles Theatre Sweet and Sad 3
CAST BIOGR APHIES ROBERT BREULER (Uncle Benjamin Apple) has been a member of Actor’s Equity Association for over forty years and is a member of the Steppenwolf Acting Ensemble. He has performed in regional theatres, Broadway, London, Canada and Australia but mostly in Minneapolis and Chicago. Favorite roles include Andre Botvinnik in A Walk In The Woods, Pa Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, Uncle Ben in Death of a Salesman, the Old Armenian in The Time of Your Life and with Mr. Cox in Wendall Greene. Robert has appeared in more than twenty feature films and various television series, including his favorite roles as Judge Hawthorne in The Crucible and Detective Walker in NYPD Blue. He has written five plays and numerous ten minute shorts. Robert has received a Jeff Award in Chicago, a Kudos Award in Minneapolis as well as grants from CAAP, Illinois Arts Council, a Rockefeller and a William and Eva Fox grant to visit numerous theatres in Northern Europe. He is married to Suzanne Petri and they are currently working on preparing a musical duo 1 is 1; 2 Is Math with a book by Bill C. Thomas and music composed by Elizabeth Doyle premiering in the spring of 2013 ERIC BURGHER (Tim Andrews) is an ensemble member of Profiles Theatre and was recently seen in the Midwest premiere of Bachelorette by Leslye Headland. Prior to that he appeared in Profiles’ Midwest premiere of A Behanding in Spokane by Martin McDonagh for which he received a Jeff Award Nomination for Supporting Actor, as well as the World premiere of A Beautiful Spell by Greg Kalleres, with Rare Terra Theatre at the Royal George. Eric’s previous appearances at Profiles include Jailbait, Kid Sister, Fat Pig, Graceland This is How It Goes, Body Awareness, “Land of the Dead” as part of Profiles’ Midwest premiere of LaBute shorts,Things We Said Today, autobahn, The Glory of Living, The 4 Profiles Theatre
Radiant Abyss and Noise. He is an Adjunct Faculty member at Columbia College Chicago where he teaches acting. DARRELL W. COX (Richard Apple) is Co-Artistic Director of Profiles Theatre where he most recently appeared in the American premiere of In a Forest, Dark and Deep by Neil LaBute. Prior to that, he appeared in Profiles’ Midwest premiere of A Behanding in Spokane by Martin McDonagh, as well as Profiles’ Midwest premiere of Fifty Words by Michael Weller. Darrell received his fourth Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role for his performance as Joe Cooper in Profiles production of Killer Joe by Tracy Letts. Darrell has appeared at Steppenwolf in the World premiere of Men of Tortuga (where he originated the role of Taggart), the Midwest premiere of Orange Flower Water (which traveled to the Galway Arts Festival), and the World premiere of Wendall Greene. He has also been seen at the Goodman in The Shawl and Home as part of the David Mamet Festival, American Theatre Company’s Speed the Plow and Oleanna as part of the Mamet Repertory, as well as Jim Jones in the Midwest premiere of The People’s Temple, and the World premiere of Martin Furey’s Shot at TimeLine, among others. He has won four Joseph Jefferson Awards for Principal Actor for his work in Profiles’ productions of Killer Joe, Blackbird, Some Voices, and Eye of God. In addition, he has received two After Dark Awards for Outstanding Performance for Profiles’ productions of Popcorn, and Carnal Knowledge. Darrell would like to thank Bobby Breuler for spending this time together at Profiles. KRISTIN FORD (Marian Apple) is making her Profiles and Chicago debut with Sweet and Sad. Last season, she was the understudy for Anne in Profiles’ production of Assisted Living. Kristin’s New York credits include Macbeth and The Private Life of the Master Race with
C A S T B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) Roust Theatre Company Off-Broadway, Lizzie Borden’s Tempest at The NYC Fringe Festival and Beirut Off-Broadway at Altered Stages. Regionally she has also appeared in The Boyfriend, Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma, Nunsense II and Man of La Mancha. HARMONY FRANCE (Jane Apple) is making her Profiles debut in Sweet and Sad. Most recently she was seen in Next Stop: A New Musical with Route 66 Theatre Company, Rise of the Numberless with The New Colony, and Violet: A Musical with Bailiwick Chicago for which she received a Joseph Jefferson nomination and a Broadway World Award for Leading Actress. She has also appeared in A Little Night Music with Peninsula Players, Man of La Mancha with Theatre at the Center, Meet John Doe with Porchlight Music Theatre, Bernarda Alba and Songs for a New World with Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, Oh Boy! and Wind in the Willows with City Lit Theatre, Reefer Madness and Trogg! A Musical with Hell in a Handbag Productions, Secret
Garden with Light Opera Works, and Tell Me on a Sunday and Jerry Springer: The Opera with Bailiwick Repertory. KATE HARRIS (Barbara Apple) is appearing with Profiles Theatre for the first time. In Chicago, she has worked with Steppenwolf, The Hypocrites, LifeLine, and Pyewacket where she served as Artistic Director for nine years. Regionally she has appeared with St. Louis Repertory Theatre, Lyceum Repertory Theatre, Play Makers Repertory Theatre and Off-Broadway at The Duplex, and 29th Street Repertory. Kate received four Joseph Jefferson nominations and won a Joseph Jefferson Award for Outstanding Actress for her work as Annie Wilkes in Pyewacket’s Misery and Outstanding Supporting Actress as Frau Schneider in The Hypocrites production of Cabaret. Her adapted production of Francis Ford Coppola’s screenplay The Conversation enjoyed a successful run in Chicago and Off-Broadway. She has an M.F.A. from UNC/Chapel Hill Professional Training School for Actors and a B.A. from Webster College Conservatory of Theatre Arts.
P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F RICHARD NELSON (Playwright) is an Honorary Associate Artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company, which has produced ten of his plays. His other plays include That Hopey Changey Thing, Conversations in Tusculum (The Public), Goodnight Children Everywhere (Olivier Award, Best Play), Two Shakespearean Actors (Tony Nomination, Best Play), Some Americans Abroad (Olivier Nominations, Best Comedy), Madame Melville, New England, Frank’s Home, Rodney’s Wife, Franny’s Way, The General From America, The Vienna Notes (Obie Award), and others. His musicals include James Joyce’s The Dead with Shaun Davey (Tony Nomination for Best Book of a Musical), My Life with Albertine with Ricky Ian Gordon, Paradise Found with Ellen Fitzhugh and Jonathan Tunick, and Unfinished Piece for a Player Piano with
Peter Golub. His films include Hyde Parkon-Hudson (Roger Michell, director), Ethan Frome (John Madden, director), and Sensibility and Sense (David Jones, director). Mr. Nelson is the recipient of the PEN/Laura Pels Master Playwright Award and an Academy Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is a past recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, two Rockefeller Grants for playwriting and two National Endowment for the Arts writing fellowships, including the first two-year grant given, an ABC Playwriting Award in 1986, a Lila Wallace Award, and has been an Obie Award winner twice. He has worked as Literary Manager of the BAM Company, was Dramaturg of the Guthrie Theatre and Associate Director of the Goodman Theatre. Sweet and Sad 5
P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F ( c o n t .) JOE JAHRAUS (Director) is the founder and Co-Artistic Director of Profiles Theatre. He most recently directed Profiles’ American premiere of In a Forest, Dark and Deep by Neil LaBute and the World premiere of Assisted Living by Deirdre O’Connor, recipient of the Jeff Award for New Work. Previously, he directed the Midwest premiere of Fifty Words by Michael Weller, the World premiere of Kid Sister by Will Kern, and the Midwest premieres of Jailbait by Deirdre O’Connor, The Mercy Seat by Neil LaBute, Great Falls by Lee Blessing and The Thugs by Adam Bock. Joe also directed the Midwest premieres of Neil LaBute’s In a Dark Dark House, Some Girl(s) and Fat Pig, for which he received a Jeff Award Nomination for Outstanding Director. Other directing credits for Profiles include the American premiere of Apple by Vern Thiessen, the award-winning Midwest premiere of Blackbird by Adam Rapp, Babylon Gardens by Timothy Mason, The Water Engine and Sexual Perversity in Chicago by David Mamet, and the award-winning Midwest premiere of Carnal Knowledge by Jules Fieffer, among others. SARAH NUTT (Assistant Director) is pleased to be a part of Sweet and Sad at Profiles. She graduated last year with a BFA in Theatre from Elon University and has been living in Chicago since. Her acting credits include Maria/Nathaniel in Love’s Labour’s Lost at American Shakespeare Center, Margaret in Mother Nature’s Son at The Folger Library, Dolly in Ravenscroft at Elon, and Ariel in The Tempest with The Blue Stage. JORDAN MULLER (Stage Manager) returns to Profiles Theatre where his stage managing credits include In a Forest, Dark and Deep, A Behanding in Spokane, and Fifty Words. Jordan is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and a recent transplant to Chicago. Some of his other stage management credits include The Petrified Forest with Strawdog Theatre in Chicago and The Vagina Monologues, Chicago, Some Things You Need to Know, and Rumors in Texas.
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SHAUN RENFRO (Set Design) is excited to be designing his first show at Profiles. Recently he was assistant set designer to Todd Rosenthal for Three Sisters at Steppenwolf, the current revival of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf on Broadway, and Mythbusters an Explosive Exhibit at MSI. Other Chicago credits include Voodoo Chalk Circle and Talk Radio with State Theatre, and Blues for an Alabama Sky and Yellowman for Greentree Productions. JACOB WATSON (Assistant Set Design) is thrilled to be working with Profiles Theatre for the first time. Recent set designs include Enola, Joan’s Laughter and The Promise for the side project, Fucking A with Urban Theatre Company, Dating Walter Dante with Raven Theatre, and the World premiere of HappyFoods for The Music Theatre Company. Up next, he will be directing A Matter of Time for Neapolitans Theatre Company’s The Seven festival. Jacob also works in public schools as a teaching artist through Redmoon and Urban Gateways. He is a graduate of Northwestern University. RICK JULIEN (Technical Director) is an Artistic Associate at Profiles Theatre where he previously served as Technical Director for Jailbait, Kid Sister, Reasons to be Pretty, Fifty Words, A Behanding in Spokane, Assisted Living, Bachelorette and In a Forest, Dark and Deep. Other recent Chicago credits include The Fisherman with Stage Left Theatre, The Improv Play with InFusion Theatre and many productions with BoHo Theatre, including I Am My Own Wife, which won the Jeff Award for Outstanding Set. Rick is also the Technical Director at the Beverly Arts Center. He has been involved in theatre and live productions for over 20 years. MIKE DURST (Lighting Design) is working with Profiles for the first time. His work includes designs for premieres by Jonathin Tollins, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Austin Pendleton, Rajiv Joseph, and Stephen Belber. In Chicago Mike has designed for Lookingglass Theatre, About Face Theatre, Shattered Globe, Chicago Public Radio, Adventure Stages, Pegasus Players, Theater Wit, and others. In Los Angeles,
P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F ( c o n t .) he is the resident lighting designer for Black Dahlia and Red Dog Squadron. Other credits include Pete Townshend in concert at La Jolla Playhouse, X, Live in Los Angeles at The House of Blues, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” The Nightman Cometh National Tour, Splitting Infinity Summer Play Festival and Stock Home for NYC Fringe. His OffBroadway credits include Extinction at Cherry Lane (Red Dog Squadron), Secrets of the Trade for Primary Stages at 59e59. Mike has received a Joseph Jefferson Award in Chicago, an Ovation Award in Los Angeles and a Craig Noel Award in San Diego. ERICA GRIESE (Costume Design) returns to Profiles Theatre after designing costumes for their Midwest premiere of Bachelorette and their World premiere of Assisted Living. Her upcoming design credits include Impenetrable with Stage Left, Hot ‘N’ Throbbing for Interrobang Theatre Project, and Macbeth at Juniata College. Recently, Erica has designed A Little Night Music, Clean House, An Ideal Husband, The Wild Party, and Metamorphoses at Indiana University, There Goes the Bride for Brown County Playhouse, Drawer Boy at Cardinal Stage, and the film Walk-In. As a Costume Design Assistant, Erica has worked with the American Players Theatre, Oregon Shakepseare Festival, and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Erica holds an MFA in Costume Design from Indiana University.
JEFFREY LEVIN (Original Music, Sound Designer) is an Artistic Associate of Profiles Theatre and has worked as their resident composer and sound designer for two seasons. Past Profiles productions include In a Forest, Dark and Deep, Bachelorette, Assisted Living, A Behanding in Spokane, Fifty Words, Reasons to be Pretty, Kid Sister, and Jailbait. In addition to his work with Profiles, Jeffrey composes music, creates sound designs, provides musical direction, and plays piano for various Chicago venues and theatre organizations. Outside of his theatre work, Jeffrey is pursuing a Masters of Music in contemporary classical composition at DePaul University and also teaches music theory and musicianship at DePaul, the Merit School of Music, and for private students. TWO BIRDS CASTING (Casting Directors) assists theatre companies and producing entities without an inhouse casting team by facilitating the casting process. Founded in 2010 by Hannah Fenlon, Erika Grammel, Jessica Lind and Erica Sartini, 2BC has served as casting directors for About Face Theatre, Collaboraction Theatre Company, New Leaf Theatre, Signal Ensemble Theatre Wit, and Immediate Theatre. CATHY TAYLOR PUBLIC RELATIONS, INC. (Publicist) was started in March 2007 to promote Chicago’s local non-profit theaters. For more about Cathy Taylor Public Relations and its clients, please visit www.information.cathytaylorpr.com.
SWEET AND SAD is produced through special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc. The script to this play may be purchased from BPPI at www.BroadwayPlayPubl.com
SPECIAL THANKS Laura Williams, Neil LaBute, Matthew Miller, Elise Spoerlein, Bob Schroeder and Donna Simon Dunn at Aria Talent, Cleve Carney, David Reed and the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Benjamin Theim, Ian Streicher, Myrna Petlicki, Jessica Antes, Justin Siddons, Cherryl Marcey, Scott Stockwell, The Burgher Family, The Saints, Pat Corirossi, Bob Chicoine, Jake Jahraus, Greg Yaeger, Michael Carnow, Marcia Festen, Bruce Beatus, Rick Snyder, Greg and Anne Taubeneck, Kassie Davis, Alderman James Cappleman, Caitlin Fuller and everyone at FOOTLIGHTS. Sweet and Sad 7
DONOR HONOR ROLE $1000 OR MORE Alderson, John, Phyllis & Birdwatch Beatus, Bruce Brue, Marget Carney, Cleve Davis, Kassie Graeff, Cheryl Henderson, Martha & Steve Michael’s Restaurant Stasiw, Barbara and John Taubeneck, Greg and Anne $300-$999 Blaylock, Chelsea Brandstetter, Susan and Russell Catch 35 Dekker, Melody Eglit, Howard Hartzel, Bud & Peggy Invision Carpet Systems Marcus, Marshall & Stitzer, Carol Raynonich, William Jason Rudstein, David S. The Saints Torem Family $200-$299 Anderson, Douglas The Burgher Family Ellis, Jeff Finger, James Freed, Harvey M., M.D. Gray, Vicki Hersh, Stephen McCracken, Peggy Miller, Matthew Pellegrino, James Mark Quads Gym Thorpe, Andrew Yaeger, Greg Zeddies, Judy
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$100-$199 Boss Bowman’s Restaurant Carlson, Mr. & Mrs. Dann, Jeremy DiCerbo, Louis P. Eisenberg, Maureen Gertz, Gwynne Gitskin, Brett Guenther, Robert Hamilton Communications Hebert, Joy King, Reginald Katz, Daniel Krause, Arnold & Natalie Lavrik, Viktor Liebman, Winifred Livnat, Miry & Alexander Lottero, H.B Nicholson, Toby & Juanita Princess Cleaners Razzi, Christina Robinson, Neal Rousseau, T. Marsall Savitt, Jan Simon, James & Andra The Dworak Family Uscian, Paula Walker, Bradley Washlow, Robert & Roberts $99 OR LESS Anderson, Courtney Antes, Jessica Bartolo, Brad Berti, Jonathan Boart, Jason Bratschie, Ian Bringley, Maureen Burgher, Cindi Coats, Janelle Collins, Kristin Cordileone, Lisa Cudd, Jeremey Danforth, Kathryn Dann, Jeremy Emil, Glenn
Fink, David Friedman, Erik Goggin, Erin Goldin, Nancy Goldin, Robert Goodloe, David Goodman, Brian Gray, Jamielyn Gray, Linda Hake, Ryan Harris, Boyd Irving, Anna Janowitz, Marla Michele Johson, Jill Latta, Caroline Lee, Eric Lessman, Steven & Ann Liston, Maggie Luke, Scott Allen Lumena, Dani Meadows, Gwendolyn McCabe, Jack McGregor, Corey Nagel, Charene & Dan Parenti, Brian Pinson-Rose, Will Plocinski, Jenn Poillen, Dr. William & Florence Price, Susan Pries, Bob Quill, Shana Renn, Luke Rodriquez, Haydee Rogers, Patricia Rosenbloom, Mark Schmidt, Lindsay Schnell, Dennis Scmtner, Caleb Sebahar, Mary Shallow, Mark Shereck, Mike Stix, David & Arlene Torbica, Dan Torres, Nikolia Urteaga, Bryan Walker, Brad Wilson, Brian E. Young, Helen
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A Note from Richard Nelson
S
weet and Sad is the second in a series of plays about The Apple Family, set in Rhinebeck, New York; where I live. The first was That Hopey Changey Thing which opened at the Public Theater on election night, November 2, 2010, the night it was set. Each of the following plays will follow this principle and will be written to open on the day they are set. In a note for Hopey Changey, I wrote that because these plays are ‘so completely tied to very specific times, [their] references and even concerns are certain to be soon out of date.’ And so, hence, they might be called ‘disposable’ plays. And I said, I accepted that. Since then, I have begun to hedge a little on this; and have wondered or fantasized that after the (imagined) four plays
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of this series are completed, that there might be something in putting them all together into one very long evening; the hope being that the very specificity of the plays combined with the over-riding arc of them covering the same people over several years, might tell a rich and compelling story. So instead of feeling dated, the plays, as a whole, might just feel true. We’ll see. As I say, it might all be a fantasy. But what I do know is that writing these plays, which are so incredibly specific in time and place, has been liberating for this writer. I feel I have found a way to address my questions of our society/culture/time/politics that derives not from ideas or (god help us) an ideology, but rather from human beings talking to human beings. I wrote in the earlier note: “We have become used to viewing our politics and our political landscape through the lens of journalists or commentators or, now, comedians. Their observations are certainly invaluable to us and the very best of them struggle valiantly to be a check on vanity, arrogance, ignorance and stupidity. However, what has been missing from our political forum is the individual’s voice.” And so I write it again, as this is as appropriate, I hope, for Sweet and Sad as it was for Hopey Changey.
The theater has a unique place in the history of societies. After all, the theater is the only artistic form that uses the entire live human being as its expression... The theater has a unique place in the history of societies. After all, the theater is the only artistic form that uses the entire live human being as its expression; and hence, carries within itself a very specific view of the world; and that view, Sweet and Sad 11
in a word, is humanistic. The individual is at the center of the play, and the world of the play revolves around the individual – that is simply what a play is. By a play’s very nature, the heart of any play is the individual voices of its characters. And in times like our own, when human voices seem more disembodied than ever, where words seem pulled from their meanings and turned into rants and weapons, the theater can, I believe, be a necessary home for human talk; that is, a place where humans beings talk about their worries, confusions, fears and loves. And where they also listen. So in one sense then, I’m hoping that these plays, both Hopey Changey and Sweet and Sad as well as those to come, are plays about the need to talk, the need to listen, and the need for theater. R.N. Rhinebeck
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PROFILES THEATRE WHATEVER THE TRUTH REQUIRES
Profiles Theatre, founded in 1988 by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus, joined shortly thereafter by Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox, was formed as an actor-driven theatre ensemble dedicated to creating provocative and emotionally truthful productions. Passionate about shaping an original vision for new works, they focused on performing World, American and Midwest premieres as well as rarely performed plays. Critically acclaimed hits, such as BLACKBIRD, FAT PIG, GRACELAND and the multiple Jeff Award-winning KILLER JOE, established Profiles as a destination for challenging and edgy theatre. Their unique collaboration with playwright Neil LaBute led the ensemble to perform an entire season of his plays in 20072008. Now a Resident Artist at Profiles, LaBute remains an unequivocal artistic influence on the ensemble. After performing at 4147 North Broadway for more than two decades, Profiles acquired an adjacent theatre at 4139 North Broadway in 2012. Profiles’ new theatre, The Main Stage, with its larger seating capacity, increased performance space and higher ceilings, accommodates more ambitious and technically demanding productions. Their long-time venue, renamed The Alley Stage, continues as the home for plays strengthened by a more intimate staging. Driven by an undiminished appetite for creating honest and resonant theatre, Profiles still seeks to present work that illuminates the determination and resiliency of the human spirit. Joe Jahraus and Darrell W. Cox, Artistic Directors Neil LaBute and Rick Snyder, Resident Artists Eric Burgher and Maryann Carlson, Ensemble Members Marget Brue, Development Director Thad Hallstein, Rick Julien, Michael Carnow, Jeffrey Levin Greg Yeager, Sal V. Armano and Wayne Karl, Artistic Associates
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P R O F I L E S T H E AT R E P R O D U CT I ON H I S TO R Y 2012 - IN A FOREST, DARK AND DEEP (AMERICAN PREMIERE) by Neil LaBute
2008 – THE THUGS (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Adam Bock
2012 - BACHELORETTE (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Leslye Headkand
2008 – MEN OF TORTUGA by Jason Wells
2011/2012 - ASSISTED LIVING (WORLD PREMIERE) by Deirdre O’Connor 2011 - A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Martin McDonagh 2011 - FIFTY WORDS (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Michael Weller 2011 – REASONS TO BE PRETTY (CHICAGO PREMIERE) by Neil LaBute 2010 – KID SISTER (WORLD PREMIERE) by Will Kern 2010 – JAILBAIT (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Deirdre O’Connor 2010 – BODY AWARENESS (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Annie Baker 2010 – KILLER JOE by Tracy Letts 2009 – THE MERCY SEAT (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Neil LaBute 2009 – GRACELAND (WORLD PREMIERE) by Ellen Fairey 2009 – THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA (AMERICAN PREMIERE) by Anthony Neilson 2009 – GREAT FALLS (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Lee Blessing
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2008 – IN A DARK DARK HOUSE (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Neil LaBute 2008 – THIS IS HOW IT GOES (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Neil LaBute 2007 – THINGS WE SAID TODAY (WORLD & MIDWEST PREMIERES) by Neil LaBute 2007 – SOME GIRL(S) (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Neil LaBute 2007 – APPLE (AMERICAN PREMIERE) by Vern Thiessen 2006/2007 – FAT PIG (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Neil LaBute 2006 – AUTOBAHN (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Neil LaBute 2005/2006 – THE GLORY OF LIVING by Rebecca Gilman 2005 – THE RADIANT ABYSS (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Angus MacLachlan 2005 - REPARATION (WORLD PREMIERE) by David Schulner 2004 - BLACKBIRD (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Adam Rapp 2004 - NOISE (MIDWEST PRMIERE) by Alex Jones
P R O F I L E S T H E AT R E P R O D U CT I ON H I S TO R Y ( c o n t .) 2003 - WONDER OF THE WORLD (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by David Lindsay-Abaire
1994 - REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Rod Serling
2003 – SNAKEBIT (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by David Marshall Grant
1994 - THE TWILIGHT ZONE: THE SERIES by Rod Serling (Remounted in 1995)
2002 – JUMP TO COW HEAVEN (AMERICAN PREMIERE) by Gill Adams 2002 – SOME VOICES (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Joe Penhall 2001/2002 – DOGS BARKING (AMERICAN PREMIERE) by Richard Zajdlic 1999/2000/2001 - POPCORN (AMERICAN PREMIERE) by Ben Elton 1999 - STRAY DOGS (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Julie Jensen 1998 - BABYLON GARDENS (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Timothy Mason 1997/1998 - EYE OF GOD (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Tim Blake Nelson 1997 - PADDYWACK (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Daniel Magee 1996/1997 - THE BABY DANCE (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Jane Anderson
1994 - HITTING TOWN by Stephen Poliakoff 1994 - HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES by Alan Ayckbourn 1993 - THE WATER ENGINE by David Mamet 1993 - MINOR DEMONS (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Bruce Graham 1992 - THE RUFFIAN ON THE STAIR by Joe Orton 1992 - ORPHANS by Lyle Kessler 1992 - CHARLIE THE CHICKEN By Jonathan Levy 1992 - CARNAL KNOWLEDGE (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Jules Feiffer 1991 - DOGG’S HAMLET by Tom Stoppard 1991 - INTERVIEW by Jean-Claude van Itallie 1991 - BATTERY (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Daniel Therriault
1996 - GEOGRAPHY OF A HORSE DREAMER by Sam Shepard
1990 - TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard
1995 - GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS by David Mamet
1990 - SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO by David Mamet
1995 - DEATH KNOCKS by Woody Allen
1989 - THE DAY ROOM (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Don DeLillo
1995 - ZARA SPOOK AND OTHER LURES (MIDWEST PREMIERE) by Joan Ackerman
1988 - THE FOREIGNER by Larry Shue Sweet and Sad 15
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