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GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE GIL CATES THEATER
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GIL CATES, JR.
WELCOME TO THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE Photo by Jeff Lorch Photography
I AM THRILLED TO WELCOME YOU TO A FUNNY THING HAPPENED on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York City, the first production of our 2017/2018 season at the Geffen Playhouse. It is with great pleasure that I also welcome our new Artistic Director, Matt Shakman. Many of you will remember Matt from the three shows he has directed for the Geffen stages. From David Lindsay-Abaire’s Tony Award-nominated Good People (2012) to Jeffrey Hatcher’s World Premiere adaptation of Frederick Knott’s Wait Until Dark (2013) and Joshua Harmon’s Bad Jews (2014), our audiences have enjoyed the range and depth of Matt’s directing talents. His artistic leadership is sure to be infused with the same strong creative instincts, gift for working with artists, and desire to provide you, our audiences, with an inspired experience. In addition to this season’s exciting lineup of plays, we are delighted to continue our partnerships with BroadwayHD and PodcastOne to bring the work from our stages to audiences around the world. Our weekly podcast, Geffen Playhouse Unscripted, features conversations on craft with creators including Bryan Cranston, Dana Delany and Norman Lear. Our 2017 production of Long Day’s Journey Into Night is now available to audiences worldwide on BroadwayHD, and a number of other projects are in the works. I hope you will take advantage of these opportunities to extend your Geffen experience beyond the stage! Thank you for joining us as we open our season, and as we look forward to a new chapter for our beloved institution. Our donors, subscribers and patrons are the lifeblood of the Geffen Playhouse, and we look forward to seeing you at the theater! Gil Cates, Jr. Executive Director
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Written & Directed by JOSH RAVETCH Lyrics by ALAN & MARILYN BERGMAN Featuring TYNE DALY & ROBERT FORSTER Additional casting to be announced. In this world premiere with songs written by legendary lyricists Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Tyne Daly stars as a woman not quite ready to let go of the life she’s loved and the love of her life. Recipient of the Edgerton Foundation New Play Award Major support for this world premiere production provided by the Edgerton Foundation New Play Production Fund
ON STAGE NOVEMBER 7 – DECEMBER 10 GIL CATES THEATER AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Martha Henderson Co-Chair
Pamela Robinson Co-Chair
Patricia Kiernan Applegate
Jerry Moss
Beth Behrs
FOUNDING CHAIRMAN
Dr. Gene D. Block
Victoria Mann Simms
Kevin Bright
Andy Spahn
Harold A. Brown
Steven Spielberg
Gil Cates Jr.
Steve Tisch
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Michael Centeno
BOARD CO-CHAIRS MARTHA HENDERSON & PAMELA ROBINSON
Dr. Charles E. Young CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
Mary Ann Cloyd
Photo by Bobby Quillard
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE 2017/2018 season in the Gil Cates Theater. As the new season commences, we are proud to welcome Matt Shakman as our new Artistic Director, who will lead the organization in partnership with our beloved Executive Director, Gil Cates, Jr. In addition, we look forward to passing the baton to new leadership on the Board this fall, as esteemed Board member Howard Tenenbaum has been elected Chairman of the Board. It has been an extraordinary four years serving as Co-Chairs of the Board. During this time, we’ve seen the organization grow and change in countless ways. This includes producing eleven World Premieres on our stages, building highly impactful education programs in some of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods of the city, deepening our partnership with UCLA and establishing a new vision for making our world-class productions and artists available to audiences across the country through filming, streaming online and our podcast, Geffen Playhouse Unscripted. Thank you for graciously welcoming us into our Co-Chair roles four years ago and for your ongoing patronage and support of the Geffen Playhouse. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for this inspiring theater, which we hold near and dear to our hearts, along with each and every audience member who makes it so special. Cheers to the future, Martha Henderson Pamela Robinson Co-Chair Co-Chair 4 PLAYBILL
Bruce M. Ramer
Merle Dandridge
IN MEMORIAM
Dr. Brad Edgerton
Gilbert Cates
Mark Fleischer
FOUNDER
Sue Fleishman
Marcia Israel-Curley
Patricia L. Glaser
Audrey Skirball Kenis
Sam Gores
Charles Kenis
Adi Greenberg
Karl Malden
Arthur Greenberg
Jerry Perenchio
Loretta Everett Kaufman
Edie Wasserman
Jason Delane Lee
Lew Wasserman
Dr. Gerald S. Levey Carla Malden
LEGAL COUNSEL
Susan Mallory
Peter Rosen
Barry Meyer B. Scott Minerd
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
Steven A. Olsen
ADVISORY BOARD
Holly Rice
Miranda Tollman
Linda Bernstein Rubin
CHAIR
Teri Schwartz
Ali M. Banki
Richard Sherman
Natasha Barritt
Fred Specktor
Annette Blum
Lorraine Spurge
Stephanie Carson
Cynthia P. Stafford
Lori Collins
Howard Tenenbaum
Ellyce R. Cooper
VICE CHAIR
Crystal Zehetner
FOUNDING TRUSTEES
Debra Davis Ann Gianopulos Priscila Giraldo Kirsten Hansen
Kirsten Combs
Eric Heer
Robert A. Daly
Melina Kanakaredes
David Geffen
Wendy Kurtzman
Herbert M. Gelfand
Yvonne Lee
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
Quincy Jones Jeffrey Katzenberg Glorya Kaufman Ginny Mancini Frank G. Mancuso
Hannah Linkenhoker John McCrite Danny Passman Eric Rollins Allen Shay
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
John Sonego
Ron Meyer
Laurie Ziegler
Leslie Moonves
Tony Zinge
Written by GLEN BERGER Directed by STEVE ROBMAN Featuring ARYE GROSS When a reclusive librarian discovers a 113-year overdue book in the night slot, curiosity compels him to pursue the borrower. His search for answers leads to a worldwide, whirlwind journey, where he discovers instead the great mysteries of humanity.
ON STAGE OCTOBER 10 – NOVEMBER 19 AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS THEATER AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
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PLAYWRIGHT & ACTOR HALLEY FEIFFER
LEADING WITH HUMOR An interview with A Funny Thing Happened... playwright and actor Halley Feiffer By Amy Levinson
HALLEY FEIFFER SEEMS INTENT ON FACING HER FEAR as she tackles the lead role in her play A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York City. I had the opportunity to chat with her about comedy, tragedy and, as in life, fluctuating between the two. Before this, have you ever played a role in one of your own plays, and, after watching another actor take on this role, what is your experience stepping into the role of Karla? Do you find that there’s any push and pull between the actor and the playwright while you rehearse the role? Halley Feiffer: I’ve never acted in one of my own plays before. I acted in a movie I co-wrote with a friend of mine years ago and that was really fun 6 PLAYBILL
and exciting. But I never felt I could act in one of my plays. I had all these good “reasons” such as, I can’t do a good job as a playwright if I’m also an actor. You can only do one thing well at a time. I have undiagnosed ADD. But when this opportunity arose, I realized all these “reasons” were just excuses because I was afraid of failing. I was afraid of looking stupid, and I was afraid of what people would think. And for whatever reason, this year I suddenly became much more willing to walk through that fear. I’m really excited to do that. That said, I do feel that everything has worked exactly as it was supposed to. I’m really grateful I did not originate the role in New York. Beth Behrs, the actress who played the role in New York, was absolutely stunning. She did such a beautiful job and she created such a three-dimensional, moving portrait of this character and it’s something I don’t feel I can replicate, nor do I want to. So that’s my
challenge here—finding Karla for myself, which should be easier than it is because I wrote her. But, in a way, that makes it harder because I have to view her from the inside out now in a way that’s different than when I’m writing. As the writer, I’m looking at the entire play as a whole and keeping all of the characters in mind as well as the general story. Acting the role, I have to focus on this one character and view her as if I didn’t write her—I think—sort of investigate it as if someone else wrote it, which is scary and hard but pretty exciting. I’m seeing it from a different angle—like the difference between flying over a piece of land in a helicopter and then exploring it on foot. That’s a great metaphor. HF: That’s what it really feels like. I feel like gosh, I’ve flown over this land so many times in a helicopter, how come I’ve never noticed these flowers? And how come I’ve never noticed that this plot of land needs to be weeded? So I’m already making a few changes to the text because I’m getting a new angle on it. Also, I wrote the play years ago so I have more insight into it and into the craft of writing as a whole. The balance of what is true and what is funny in this play is balanced beautifully. Some consider laughter around the subject of death inappropriate but I think there’s nothing more inappropriate than death, so of course we’re going to have an inappropriate reaction to it. HF: That’s so funny, I love that. So when you began the process of writing this play, had you formulated what the emotional core was, or did you start from a place where you had a funny character in mind and came at it from a place of humor? HF: Amazingly, when I sat down to write this play, I really thought of it as a comedy. And it was working with Trip [Cullman] that inspired me to dig deeper. This is why I love working with him—this is our fifth collaboration and he knows me really well and we trust each other. He kept suggesting that there was a deeper, darker story here that I was likely afraid of exploring, and he was right. So when I did a major rewrite of it, that’s when I really explored the darkness in the play. It used to be a lot fluffier and I was reluctant to dive deeper. I wanted it to be more of a simple rom-com. And
the more honest I got with myself, the more I got to see that I was doing what the characters do, which was deflecting away from the painful truth and sort of dancing on the surface of it. So it was a sweet and fun and funny play but it wasn’t terribly wrenching or all that deep. With the guidance of Trip as a director and dramaturg, we got to the core of these characters and—I hope—in doing so, made it simultaneously funnier and more heartfelt. I’ve had numerous people ask me this—do you have a background in stand-up comedy? HF: Oh! No! Not at all. No. I always wanted to and I was afraid to. And now I don’t regret that because I feel like I can only do a couple things well at once and I’m kind of at capacity. But I think this is my way of experimenting with it while not having to actually go do it. You act and write in numerous mediums. What are some of the things that you’re drawn to in each medium? HF: I really like this question. I think a lot about television because I make my living mostly as a television writer now. It’s hard, if not impossible, to make a living exclusively as a playwright. I started off in theater and it really is my heart and the love of my life. For me, and I think a lot of people, it is a spiritual experience. I have a friend who says, “the theater is my church,” and I know what she means and I feel similarly. It feels really spiritual because it’s a group of people who are all setting the intention to be present and focus on a living, breathing, changing experience at the same time. I don’t know if I ever feel more present than when I’m in a theater watching a play—either as a writer or an audience member—or acting in a play. You’re forced to be utterly present and available and to surrender. You’re powerless over almost all of it and the key—and the paradox—is that the more you surrender, the better it is. You’re telling a story and subsuming your own needs and wants and desires for the sake of the story and it’s very, very hard. It’s like creating a Tibetan sand mandala where it’s impossible to get it perfect, but you do your best, and then it’s gone. It’s absolutely thrilling, and it’s the most pure form of art that I know how to engage in. Also, it’s just really, really fun. To read the full interview with Halley Feiffer, please visit blog.geffenplayhouse.org. GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE 7
THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE PRODUCTION OF
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY UNIT AT MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER OF NEW YORK CITY WRITTEN BY
Halley Feiffer SCENIC DESIGNER
COSTUME DESIGNER
Lauren Helpern
David Kay Mickelsen
LIGHTING DESIGNER
SOUND DESIGNER
Matthew Richards
Darron L West
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Ross Jackson
Jade Cagalawan
CASTING DIRECTOR
Phyllis Schuringa, CSA DIRECTED BY
Trip Cullman OPENING NIGHT WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York City is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York. World Premiere at the MCC Theater June 7, 2016 Artistic Directors: Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, & William Cantler Executive Director: Blake West EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS CIRCLE MEMBERS
Laurie & Bill Benenson • Martha Henderson • Pamela Robinson Hollander & Robert Hollander Loretta Everett Kaufman & Victor Kaufman • Jason & Yvonne Lee • B. Scott Minerd Linda Bernstein Rubin & Tony Rubin • Kimberly Steward & Josh Godfrey • Miranda & Brett Tollman 8 PLAYBILL
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED
ON THE WAY TO THE GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY UNIT AT MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER OF NEW YORK CITY CAST OF CHARACTERS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER) Karla ................................................................................................ Halley Feiffer* Don .................................................................................... Jason Butler Harner* Geena ............................................................................................. Eileen T’Kaye* Marcie ....................................................................................... JoBeth Williams*
UNDERSTUDIES (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER) Karla ................................................................................ Jenna Anne Johnson* Don ........................................................................................... Sean McConaghy Geena/Marcie ................................................. Sarah Underwood Saviano* *Indicates member of Actor’s Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Understudies never substitute for listed players unless specified.
SETTING A hospital room in the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York City.
RUNNING TIME Approximately 80 minutes. There will be no intermission.
PLEASE NOTE There is no photography or filming of any kind allowed in the theater. Please turn off all electronic devices including cell phones. Thank you!
2017/2018 SEASON SPONSOR OPENING NIGHT SPONSORS
MEDIA SPONSOR
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE 9
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES films The Squid and the Whale, Margot at the Wedding, Gentlemen Broncos and He’s Way More Famous than You, which she co-wrote. She is a graduate of Wesleyan University and teaches playwriting at NYU.
HALLEY FEIFFER (Playwright / Karla) Halley Feiffer is a writer and actor. Plays include I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard (Atlantic Theater Company, Outer Critics Circle Nomination), Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow (Williamstown Theatre Festival), How To Make Friends and Then Kill Them (Rattlestick Playwrights Theater) and this play, originally produced at MCC Theater. Her plays have been produced around the country and in the U.K., and have been developed by Second Stage Theater, New York Theatre Workshop and the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. She has been commissioned by Playwrights Horizons, Atlantic Theater Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival and three times by Manhattan Theatre Club. Television writing credits include The One Percent (Starz), Purity (Showtime), Mozart in the Jungle (Amazon) and original pilots for FX and TNT. Acting credits include the Broadway revivals of The Front Page and The House of Blue Leaves (Theater World Award), as well as numerous Off-Broadway productions including Tigers Be Still (Roundabout Theatre Company, Drama League Nomination). Television and film work includes recurring roles on HBO’s Mildred Pierce and Bored to Death and the 10 PLAYBILL
JASON BUTLER HARNER (Don) Jason Butler Harner was most recently seen in the Tony-nominated revival of The Crucible. Stage appearances on the West End, on and Off-Broadway, and in theaters across the country include American premieres (The Coast of Utopia, The Village Bike, COCK, The Paris Letter) and reinterpretations of classics (Hamlet, Hedda Gabler, Long Day’s Journey Into Night). Productions of personal note include The Glass Menagerie with Sally Field, Invention of Love with James Cromwell and Through a Glass Darkly with Carrie Mulligan. He can currently be seen on Netflix’s hit series Ozark with Jason Bateman and Laura Linney. Recent television arcs include This Is Us, Ray Donovan, Scandal and Homeland, as well as a full season on Alcatraz. Films include the Oscar-nominated Changeling, The Family Fang, Non-Stop, Blackhat, The Extra Man, Letters from the Big Man and The Green, for which he won numerous awards. He has also earned two Drama
Desk nominations, an OBIE Award and a Masters degree from NYU.
EILEEN T'KAYE (Geena) Eileen T’Kaye has been acting, general managing and producing theater for 40 years. Acting credits include Coney Island Christmas (Geffen Playhouse), The Rehearsal (Disney Hall), Doubt and Other Desert Cities (International City Theatre), A Parallelogram (Mark Taper Forum), The Government Inspector (Boston Court), You Can’t Take It with You (Colony Theatre, L.A. Weekly Award), Collected Stories (Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre), Ivanov (Odyssey Theatre Ensemble), The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife (La Mirada Theatre), The Fantasticks (Reprise!) and They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (Greenway Court, LADCC and L.A. Weekly Awards). Producing credits include The Elephant Man (2002 Broadway Revival at The Royale), Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn (New World Stages, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Nominations) and Shiva Arms (Coast Playhouse, Ovation Award for Best World Premiere). T’Kaye was the Project Manager for the creation of Boston Court Performing Arts Center and its Founding Producing Director. She thanks her husband David for his loving support.
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES Suzi Bass awards), The Old Globe, South Coast Repertory, La Jolla Playhouse, Bay Street Theater, Williamstown Theatre Festival. Upcoming: Lobby Hero (Broadway), This Ain’t No Disco (Atlantic Theater Company). JoBETH WILLIAMS (Marcie) JoBeth Williams is returning to the Geffen Playhouse, having starred in Jane Anderson’s The Quality of Life with Laurie Metcalf. Additional Los Angeles stage credits include Other Desert Cities (Mark Taper Forum), The Night is a Child (Pasadena Playhouse) and The Fall to Earth (Odyssey Theatre Ensemble). In New York, she starred in Annie Baker’s Body Awareness (Atlantic Theater Company), Last Dance (Manhattan Theatre Club), Moonchildren, Lady House Blues, A Couple of White Chicks and Gardenia. Her regional credits include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (McCarter Theatre Company), Idiot’s Delight (The Kennedy Center) and Antony and Cleopatra (The Old Globe). Williams’s film credits include Poltergeist, The Big Chill, Kramer vs. Kramer, Switch, Stir Crazy, American Dreamer and Fever Pitch. Television credits include Payne, The Client, Private Practice and Marry Me. She has been nominated for three Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and an Oscar for directing the short film On Hope.
TRIP CULLMAN (Director) Broadway: Six Degrees of Separation, Significant Other. Select Off-Broadway: Punk Rock (Obie Award), Yen, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York City (MCC Theater); The Layover, Lonely I’m Not, The Substance of Fire, Bachelorette, Swimming In The Shallows, Some Men (Second Stage Theater); A Small Fire (Drama Desk nomination), Assistance, The Drunken City (Playwrights Horizons); I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard (Atlantic Theater Company); Significant Other (Roundabout Theatre Company); Choir Boy (Manhattan Theatre Club); Murder Ballad (Manhattan Theatre Club and Union Square Theater); Roulette (Ensemble Studio Theatre); The Hallway Trilogy: Nursing (Rattlestick Playwrights Theater); Dog Sees God (Century Center); The Last Sunday In June (Rattlestick Playwrights Theater and Century Center); US Drag (stageFARM); and several productions with The Play Company. London: The Colby Sisters of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Tricycle Theatre). Select regional: Geffen Playhouse (Ovation nominations), Alliance Theatre (NAACP and
LAUREN HELPERN (Scenic Designer) Los Angeles: Always…Patsy Cline (Coronet Theatre), Hamlet: The First Quarto (Theatre of NOTE). Selected New York City: Halley Feiffer’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York City (MCC Theater and Stella Adler), 4000 Miles (Lincoln Center Theater, Lortel Award), Bad Jews (Roundabout Theatre Company), BUG (Barrow Street Theatre, Obie Award), Disgraced (LCT3), The Model Apartment and Poor Behavior (Primary Stages), also Atlantic Theater Company, Playwrights Horizons, Manhattan Theatre Club, Second Stage Theater, La Mama, Ars Nova, Women’s Project Theater, New Georges, Theatreworks USA, Little Orchestra Society and on Broadway. Selected regional: At the Old Place and Tiger Style! (La Jolla Playhouse); Curve of Departure (upcoming South Coast Repertory); An Act of God and Chapter Two (Arizona Theatre Company); Blue Man Group/Live at Luxor (Eddy Award, also Boston and Chicago); The Old Globe; Cleveland Playhouse; Syracuse Stage; Portland Center Stage; Huntington Theatre Company and Anchorage Opera. Web series: Janice Gunter: Ghost Hunter. GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE 11
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES DAVID KAY MICKELSEN (Costume Designer) Mr. Mickelsen returns to the Geffen Playhouse having previously designed Icebergs, Stage Kiss, Outside Mullingar, The Night Alive, Reasons to Be Pretty, The Female of the Species, All My Sons and Paint Your Wagon. He has designed over 400 productions at many regional theaters across the country. Companies include South Coast Repertory; Pasadena Playhouse; The Old Globe; Laguna Playhouse; Guthrie Theater; Ford’s Theatre; Berkeley Rep; Seattle Rep; Denver Center for the Performing Arts; Northlight Theatre Company; the Oregon, Colorado, Illinois and Utah Shakespeare Festivals; Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Arizona, Pioneer, and Geva Theatre Companies; Tennessee, San Diego, New Mexico, Missouri, and St. Louis Repertory Theatres; Williamstown and Sundance Theatre Festivals; and the Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis. David recently began work as the Creative Director of Theatre Costume Design at The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM). Originally from Canby, Oregon, Mr. Mickelsen now makes his home in Long Beach, California. MATTHEW RICHARDS (Lighting Designer) Geffen: Rabbit Hole. Broadway: Ann. Off-Broadway: The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey and The Curvy Widow at Westside Theatre; The Killer, Tamburlaine and Measure For Measure at Theatre For a New Audience; Atlantic Theater Company; B.A.M.; MCC Theater; Playwrights Horizons; Play Co.; 12 PLAYBILL
Primary Stages; Rattlestick Playrights Theater; Second Stage Theater. Regional: Actor’s Theater of Louisville, Arena Stage, Baltimore’s Center Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Cleveland Playhouse, Dallas Theater Center, Ford’s Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Hartford Stage, The Hangar, Huntington Theatre Company, La Jolla Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, New York Stage and Film, The Old Globe, Shakespeare Theatre, Westport Playhouse, Williamstown Theatre Festival and Yale Repertory Theatre. Graduate: University of Massachusetts, Yale School of Drama. matthewrichardsdesign.com. DARRON L WEST (Sound Designer) Darron L West is a Tony and Obie Award-winning sound designer whose work for dance and theater has been heard in over 600 productions all over the United States and internationally in 14 countries. His accolades include the Drama Desk, Lortel, Audelco and the Princess Grace Foundation Statue Award. ROSS JACKSON (Production Stage Manager) Ross Jackson is excited to take on his first show at the Geffen Playhouse! A native of New Orleans, LA, Ross is now based in Los Angeles. His recent credits include: Five Guys Named Moe (Ebony Repertory Theater); The Tempest and Deferred Action (Dallas Theater Center); The Crucible and A Lesson Before Dying (Clarence Brown Theatre); Sleeping Beauty and Her Winter Knight (Lythgoe Family Panto); Nickel Mines (New York Musical Theatre Festival); The Lady Onstage,
Orlando and True West (Profile Theater); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (New Swan Shakespeare Festival) and several productions with the University of California, Irvine, from which he holds his Master of Fine Arts degree in stage management. Ross is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Love to Mom, Tom and Megan. JADE CAGALAWAN (Assistant Stage Manager) Jade received her B.A. in theater from Cal Poly Pomona, and her M.F.A. in stage management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She’s stage managed in a variety of capacities, but her favorite is the Bond Bar at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, where she had to defend go-go dancers from drunk guests. On top of all of that, she is also a production manager for Cal Poly Pomona’s Department of Theatre and New Dance. Credits include: stage manager for King Lear (A Noise Within Theatre), stage manager for Impractically Speaking with the Impractical Jokers (Comic-Con), assistant stage manager for 24 Hour L.A. Musical Benefit, stage manager for Twisted Vegas (Feel Goude Productions) and TEDxTalks independently held at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She would like to thank the Geffen for welcoming her into the company, and her family and friends for fighting through L.A. traffic to see this. PHYLLIS SCHURINGA, CSA (Casting Director) Phyllis is an Artistic Associate and the Casting Director for the Geffen Playhouse. Recent casting includes The Legend of Georgia McBride,
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Icebergs, Barbecue, Big Sky, Guards at the Taj, Barcelona (Artios nominated), Outside Mullingar, Bad Jews, The Night Alive, Switzerland, The Country House (Artios nominated) and American Buffalo at the Geffen, and Shiv at The Theatre @ Boston Court. Before joining the Geffen, she was the Casting Director for Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago where her favorites include Frank Galati’s adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath (also La Jolla Playhouse, National Theatre in London and Broadway, where it received the Tony Award for Best Play), the original production of Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile (and subsequent productions including Westwood Playhouse and Briar Street Theater in Chicago), Austin Pendleton’s Orson’s Shadow and Charles L. Mee’s Time to Burn. Broadway transfers include One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Tony Award for Best Revival) and The Song of Jacob Zulu. She teaches auditioning at Steppenwolf West and is a member of the Casting Society of America and the Ovation Rules Committee.
MATT SHAKMAN (Artistic Director) Matt Shakman was named Artistic Director of the Geffen Playhouse in September 2017,
having previously directed three highly acclaimed productions for the theater: the West Coast premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Good People, the world premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher’s new adaptation of Wait Until Dark, and Joshua Harmon’s Bad Jews. His theatrical work has also been seen at Primary Stages in New York and South Coast Repertory. Matt founded and was the artistic director of the Black Dahlia Theatre in Los Angeles, which was named “one of a dozen young American companies you need to know” by American Theatre magazine and “Best Small Theatre” by Los Angeles magazine. Under his leadership, the Black Dahlia garnered numerous Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle and LA Stage Alliance nominations and awards. In 2011, the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle awarded him the Milton Katselas Award for Career Achievement in Direction. Matt is also well-regarded for his achievements in television and film. He is a director and producer for FX’s long-running show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and has directed episodes of Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Fargo and The Good Wife. His feature film debut, Cut Bank, starring John Malkovich, Billy Bob Thornton and Bruce Dern, premiered at the Toronto International and Los Angeles Film Festivals and was released by A24. Shakman is a graduate of Yale University and holds a B.A. in History of Art and Theater.
GIL CATES, JR. (Executive Director) As Executive Director, Gil Cates, Jr. leads the Geffen Playhouse in its mission to inform, entertain and inspire diverse audiences with live theater of the highest caliber — both within and beyond the non-profit theater’s walls. He has proudly served on the Geffen Playhouse Board since 2012. Gil’s theater credits include the award-winning Names (Matrix Theatre Company) starring Dixie Carter and Greg Mullavey and Three Sisters and David Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre (both at Syracuse Stage). Gil’s film credits include The Surface (starring Sean Astin and Geffen Playhouse alumnus Chris Mulkey), Jobs (starring Ashton Kutcher, Josh Gad, Dermot Mulroney, as well as Geffen Playhouse alumni Matthew Modine and Ron Eldard) and the 2011 feature film Lucky (starring Colin Hanks, Ari Graynor, Ann-Margret and Golden Globe winner Jeffrey Tambor). In addition, Gil produced and directed the critically acclaimed Life After Tomorrow, featuring Sarah Jessica Parker, which premiered on Showtime. His other films include Deal (starring Burt Reynolds, Bret Harrison and Charles Durning), and The Mesmerist (starring Geffen GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE 13
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES Playhouse alumnus Neil Patrick Harris). Gil’s television directorial debut was an episode of the NBC comedy Joey, starring Emmy winner Matt LeBlanc. He studied at the National Theatre Institute in Waterford, Connecticut, and holds a B.F.A. in Drama from Syracuse University.
REGINA MILLER (Chief Development Officer) Regina Miller has advised non-profit institutions, foundations and corporations on strategy, analysis and
fundraising. She has consulted for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Eastern Congo Initiative, Charlize Theron’s Africa Outreach Project and Kershaw’s Challenge, among others. Prior to the Geffen, Regina worked for the Simon Wiesenthal Center/Museum of Tolerance, where she produced an innovative human rights exhibition that traveled to 14 international destinations around Europe, Asia and the U.S. She also served as the Director of Partnerships for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and the Inland Empire, where she led strategic planning and development while executing policies that advanced the organization’s visibility and growth. Additionally, Regina has a strong passion
for teaching. After graduating from University of North Carolina School of the Arts, she taught in preschools and kindergartens in New York. From the age of 13, Regina worked as a professional dancer on Broadway as well as with a number of prominent modern dance ensembles. Fusing two of her interests, she created a highly successful program that incorporated dance therapy and creative movement into an early childhood curriculum as well as writing and producing a television show based on this concept. In addition to being a published author and photographer with Tallfellow Press and Prometheus Books, Regina has taught and lectured at numerous schools in New York, Los Angeles and abroad.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
GEFFEN AT A GLANCE
PRODUCTION STAFF FOR A FUNNY THING HAPPENED... Assistant Director Susanna Wolk Assistant Scenic Designer Anne Sherer Associate Lighting Designer Eric Larson Associate Sound Designer Stephen Dee Wardrobe Supervisor Liz Rose Properties Artisan Hazel Kuang Properties Artisan Devin Lennon-Davey Stage Crew Alex Norkus Production Assistant Kelly Merritt
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Set provided by F&D Scene Changes Ltd. Lighting Equipment provided by 4Wall Entertainment Lighting Sound Equipment provided by Jon Sound Inc. Production Photographer Chris Whitaker Media Filming Ramon Garcia Key Art Stockholm Design
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SPECIAL THANKS
During the run of a show, the window will be open until curtain.
UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Scene, Prop, Sound and Costume Shops; London Cleaners; Jenny Allen; Beth Behrs; Erik Lochtefeld; Lisa Emery; Jacqueline Sydney; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Emily O’Donnell at MSKCC; Dr. Alexandre Buckley de Meritens; Dr. Caitlin Baptiste; Dr. Nadeem Abu-Rustum; Dr. Keith Brunkhorst; Kenneth Lonergan; Amber Tamblyn; Kip Fagan; Danielle Slavick; CJ Wilson; Rising Phoenix Rep; Daniel and Addie Talbott; Jaime Castaneda; Tom Oppenheim; Steve White; Don Williams; Johnny Yoder; Stella Adler Studio of Acting; Art of Acting Studio
UCLA SCHOOL OF THEATER, FILM AND TELEVISION Geffen Playhouse is affiliated with the University of California at Los Angeles, specifically the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Geffen Playhouse values its role as an important educational resource by providing students with master classes, workshops and internships. Students are also able to work and learn from distinguished visiting Geffen artists such as Alan Ayckbourn, Jon Robin Baitz, Annette Bening, Ed Harris, David Ives, Neil LaBute, David Mamet, Donald Margulies, Terrence McNally, John Rando and Kathleen Turner in areas of directing, playwriting, acting, design, dramaturgy, management and production. Geffen Playhouse also draws upon the distinguished experts in the university to enhance the theater’s programs and research.
Geffen Playhouse 10886 Le Conte Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90024 Administrative Offices ................. 310.208.6500 Mon – Fri ................................. 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Box Office Phone Line ................. 310.208.5454 Daily ............................................. 7:00 am –6:00 pm Audiences Services ...................... 310.208.2028 Daily .......................................... 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
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AT THE THEATER LATE SEATING Should you arrive late to the theater or vacate your seat during the performance, please expect to be held in the lobby until an appropriate pause in the action on stage. To minimize disturbance to other patrons, you may be seated in the first available location by the house staff even if it is different from your assigned seat. Be advised that some productions or circumstances may not allow for late or return seating.
NO PHOTOGRAPHY There is no photography or filming of any kind allowed in the theater. Please turn off all electronic devices including cell phones.
This theater operates under agreement between the League of Resident Theaters and Actors Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. The Actors and Stage Managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States This theater operates under agreement between the League of Resident Theaters and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, an independent national labor union. The scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT theaters are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE. GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE 15
In her new solo show, Tony Award-winning writer/performer and true chameleon comedian Sarah Jones brings to life an entire cast of characters, all of whom have something to say about gender, sex work and the time in which we are living.
ON STAGE FEBRUARY 27 – APRIL 8, 2018 AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS THEATER AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
@GEFFENPLAYHOUSE | 310.208.5454
GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.ORG/SELLBUYDATE
Photo by Zachary Maxwell Stertz
Written & Peformed by SARAH JONES Directed by CAROLYN CANTOR
ANNUAL DONORS Geffen Playhouse recognizes the following individuals and organizations for their generous support of our Annual Fund and Backstage at the Geffen. Donors are listed at the Associate level and higher for gifts made between June 1, 2016 and August 1, 2017. In appreciation, donors enjoy a host of special benefits including house seats, complimentary drinks, receptions and much more. For more information, please call Scott Kriloff at 310.208.6500 ext. 136.
ANGELS $100,000+
Anonymous (2) Patricia Kiernan Applegate Natasha Barritt & Nick Gross Claudia & Kevin Bright City National Bank Mary Ann Cloyd David Geffen Foundation Louise & Dr. Brad Edgerton Edgerton Foundation Find Your Grind Foundation The Adi & Jerry Greenberg Foundation Martha Henderson K Period Media Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg Fund for Arts Education at the Geffen Playhouse Loretta Everett Kaufman & Victor Kaufman Keyes Automotive Group L&N Andreas Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Jason & Yvonne Lee Nancy & Howard Marks Shubert Foundation Kimberly Steward & Josh Godfrey Jodi & Howard Tenenbaum UCLA
CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE $50,000 - $99,999 Anonymous (2) Audi of America, Inc Ben/Joyce Eisenberg Foundation Mrs. Carol K. Block & Chancellor Gene D. Block Elizabeth & Gil Cates, Jr. Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer & Melvin Keefer Herbert M. & Beverly J. Gelfand In Memory of Alice Ghostley & Felice Orlandi
Karen & Russell Goldsmith Sam Gores, Alec Gores & Tom Gores, The Gores Family Guggenheim Partners Investment Management Holdings, LLC Carole & Bill Haber Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust Rabbi Uri D. Herscher & Dr. Myrna Herscher Cindy & Alan Horn Glorya Kaufman Kenneth T. & Eileen L. Norris Foundation Sandra Krause & William Fitzgerald Latham & Watkins LLP Susan & David Leveton Ginny Mancini Fay & Frank Mancuso John McCrite & Juan Lopez Donna McKenna & Flynn Chernos Kelly & Ron Meyer B. Scott Minerd Ann & Jerry Moss Paradigm Talent Agency Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Plaza La Reina PricewaterhouseCoopers Madeline & Bruce Ramer Pamela Robinson Hollander & Robert Hollander Linda Bernstein Rubin & Tony Rubin Richard & Barbara Sherman Edie Brickell & Paul Simon Skirball Foundation Karen & Vic Smith Cynthia P. Stafford Miranda & Brett Tollman The Walt Disney Company Ken Willner & Jim Stine Elaine Wynn Judy & Chancellor Charles E. Young Dirk & Natasha Ziff GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE 17
ANNUAL DONORS
ARTISTIC CIRCLE $25,000 - $49,999 Anonymous (2) Aegon Transamerica Foundation Robert C. Baral Laurie & Bill Benenson Valarie De La Garza & Michael Centeno City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Classic Party Rentals Dwight Stuart Youth Fund The Edward A. & Ai O. Shay Family Foundation Carol & Paul Frimmer Mellody Hobson & George Lucas The Lear Family Foundation Los Angeles County Arts Commission Los Angeles magazine George Lucas Family Foundation Marcia Israel Foundation, Inc. Sandra E. Milken Napa Valley Grille Popland Studios Holly Rice & Vince Gilligan Daryl & Steven Roth Samsung Electronics America Judith & Bruce Stern STK Los Angeles Shel & Cynthia Stone
PRODUCER $10,000 - $24,999 Anonymous (2) Ariel Investments Beth Behrs & Michael Gladis The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation Charles A. Black, Jr. Board of Supervisors County of Los Angeles Eileen & Harold Brown Roma Downey & Mark Burnett The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation Marcy Carsey Stephanie & Jonathan Carson Janice & Billy Crystal Carole Bayer Sager & Robert A. Daly Edward Avedis Dr. & Mrs. Paul Eisenberg Eric Flamholtz & Yvonne Randle Susan & Mark Fleischer Susan Fleishman The Friedman Group Gagosian Gallery, Inc Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, Inc. Ann & Jim Gianopulos 18 PLAYBILL
The Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Foundation Patty Glaser & Sam Mudie Goldman Sachs Andy & Carlo Brandon-Gordon Manuela & James Goren Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association Arthur Greenberg Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger, LLP C. Curtis Grisham In Memory of Morris A. Hazan Samantha & Eric Heer Jean Himmelstein Stanley Iezman & Nancy Stark Liberty Ross & Jimmy Iovine Joseph Drown Foundation Julie & David Kavner Kathleen Kennedy & Frank Marshall Bobby Kotick The Lowy Family Padma & Rao Makineni Carla Malden & Norman Beil Mona Malden Susan & Peter Mallory Anne Stringfield & Steve Martin Nancy & Michael McClelland Wendy & Barry Meyer MOCA Foundation Moss Foundation Marcia & Brett Molotsky Morgan Stanley National Endowment for the Arts James L. Nederlander & Margo MacNabb Nederlander Northern Trust, NA Christine Marie Ofiesh Mo Ostin Palomino Paramount Pictures Laurie MacDonald & Walter Parkes Judith Reichman, MD Monica & Philip Rosenthal, Rosenthal Family Foundation Richard Ruskell Pastries George Shapiro The Simms/Mann Family Foundation Nancy Heller & Fred Specktor Sugarfish Thompson Coburn LLP Steve Tisch Twentieth Century Fox U.S. Bank Foundation Uniworld River Cruises Inc Well Done Catering Westfield Group Richard & Mae Ziman David Zuckerman & Ellie Kanner-Zuckerman
ANNUAL DONORS
DIRECTOR $5,000 - $9,999 Anonymous Katie McGrath & J.J. Abrams Page & Lou Adler Jehan F. Agrama & Dwora Fried Karla & Bill Ahmanson, Ahmanson Foundation Paul G. Allen Amgen Foundation Hilary & Jack Angelo Cathy & Shel Bachrach Hilaria & Alec Baldwin Pamela & Dennis Beck Leslie & Roger Birnbaum Bliss Spa Annette Blum Mara & Jonathan Blum Heather Thomas & Skip Brittenham The Eli & Edythe L. Broad Foundation Brotman Foundation of California Amanda Brown & Justin Chang Glenn & Lynn Cardoso Dr. Fanya Carter, PhD Beate & Christopher Chee Comcast | NBC Universal Ellyce R. Cooper & Barry Cohen Creative Artists Agency
Merle Dandridge & Christopher Johnston Debra Davis Robin Dearden & Bryan Cranston Deutsche Bank Dream Warrior Group Fielding Edlow & Larry Clarke Lawrence N. Field First Republic Bank FOURSQUARE Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea Kiki & David Gindler Priscila Giraldo Sue & Steve Glusker Gloria & Peter Gold Mary Ann & Irwin Gold Craigar Grosvenor Leo S. Guthman Fund Ellen Bronfman Hauptman & Andrew Hauptman Jackson Henry Gail & Stanley Hollander Mira & Terrence Howard Bernice Jeffrey Sir Elton John & David Furnish Marvin Jubas & Janet Wald Jubas Mannon Kaplan Sally & Dr. Manny J. Karbelnig KIND Bars Samantha Kurtzman-Counter & Alex Kurtzman
BE A PART OF OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATIONS THIS SEASON! To become a donor and learn more about exclusive benefits including Opening Night tickets, contact Jessica Brusilow Rollins (jessicab@geffenplayhouse.org) or visit us online at geffenplayhouse.org/donate.
Constellations cast members Ginnifer Goodwin and Allen Leech at Opening Night Photo by Jordan Strauss
ANNUAL DONORS Wendy Kurtzman Susan & Yair Landau Cody Lassen & Nitzan Mekel Drs. Gerald & Barbara Levey Lucques Catering Sherry Martin Jill Mazursky Merle & Jerry Measer Hillary & Lance Milken Kate Moran & Mikki Rosenberg Rio & Frank Morse Newmeyer & Dillion LLP Benedicta & Geoffry Oblath Liza & Conan O’Brien Michelle & Guy Oseary Carol & Bill Ouchi Shana & Don Passman Pottash/Ferguson Family Foundation Nina & Mitchell Quaranta Kay & Bob Rehme Joyce Rey The Richenthal Foundation Mayor Richard Riordan Jane Rissman & Richard Sondheimer Ronen Levy Events Nadine & Fred Rosen Rikki Rosen Thomas L. Safran Dr. Bernard & Gloria Salick Dawn & Joel Scherer Jody & Arthur Schmid The Michael Schwab Family Steve & Paula Mae Schwartz Tina & David Segel Jane & Terry Semel Michael & Glenda Shaw Sidley Austin LLP The Simon-Strauss Foundation Singer Family Foundation Gussie Sitkin Claudia Falkenburg & Andrew Solt Lorraine Spurge & Patrick Mitchell Arnold Stiefel Rose Tarlow Lauren & Benedikt Taschen Thomas Safran & Associates Karen & William Timberlake Theatre Communications Group Karen Zoller, MD & David Tillman, MD The Travel Corporation The Tuck Room & Tavern Alice & Norman Tulchin Denise & Peter Walsh Michael E. Walsh 20 PLAYBILL
Warner Bros. Entertainment Aurora & Marc Weinstock West LA Poker Lynn & Mark Williams Samantha & John Williams Rita Wilson & Tom Hanks Karen & Rick Wolfen Jennifer Young & Katrina Nason In Loving Memory of Herman Ziegler Ruth & Stan Zicklin Ziffren Brittenham LLP Tami & Marc Zussman
SPONSOR $3,000 – $4,999 Janis Adams & John Lyons Aversa Foundation Belmond La Samanna Annette Bening & Warren Beatty Madelyn Bennett & Eric Gibson Paula & Bruce Bennett Shelly & Libby Bergen Susan J. Booth & Christopher Wadden VJ Boyd Robert Brook & Jacqueline Kosecoff Scott, Susan & Joshua Corwin Shelley Wike Cranley Gayle & Dan Devin Sonia & Robert Freedman and Family The Galin Family Marion Goldenfeld Mary Lynn & Howard Gottfried Madeline Gussman Stephen Sass & Steven Hochstadt Dora & Neil Kadisha Barbara & Ronnie Kahn Deborah & Ivan Kallick Lenny & David Kelton Peggy Crosby Klugman & Jack Klugman Thea & Neal Koss La Valencia Renee & Meyer Luskin Vicki Magasinn & Robert Somer Stewart Mayeda Sheila & Joel Mendelsohn Liza & Conan O’Brien Cheryl Petersen & Roger Lustberg Craig E. Rogers Sue Rosenwasser Lori & David Rousso Paula & Allan Rudnick
Judy & Mike Sapir Carol ‘Jackie’ & Charles Schwartz Vanessa & Dr. Stephen Shew Leigh Silverton Allen Blue & Kira Snyder Jennifer von Schneidau Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort The Waterman Family Foundation David Weber & the Arnold and Edna Weber Foundation Joanne & Ken Weinman Leslie White & Al Limon
PARTNER $1,500 - $2,999 Anonymous (4) Pat & Sandy Adams Miriam Aguiar Olga S. Alderson Debbie Allen AMC Nancy & Peter Antoniou Bonnie & Bill Apfelbaum Allison Balson Irene Baron Robert E. & Maria H. Barron Richard Bautzer & David McDowell Patricia & Mark Benjamin Dr. Wallace P. Brithinee Marla Campagna Chancellor Albert Carnesale & Mrs. Robin Carnesale William & Patricia Chin Darcy Christal Laurel & Aaron Clark Linda & John Coleman David Conney, M.D. Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Ted Cordes Janine Cristiano Pam Dawber Dana Delany Danny DeVito & Rhea Perlman Deborah Divine Janie Docter Susan & Jonathan Dolgen Anne Dougherty Victoria Dummer Natalie Eshaya Carol & J.B. Esterkin Judy & Mike Fantasia Lisa Field, Field Family Foundation Carrie Frazier G2 Graphic Service, Inc. Helen & Arthur Geoffrion Tina & Michael Gittelson Sunny & Alvin Grossblatt Michael Grunwald The Guerin Foundation Vera & Paul Guerin Melissa Harman Teri Hatcher
ANNUAL DONORS Bucky Hazan, Teles Properties Alan & Michelle Heilpern Faith & Mel Henkin Dr. John D. Hofbauer & Dr. Laura E. Fox In Honor of Development Roger & Linda Howard Lynn Hunt & Margaret Jacob Brian Irving & Dayna Cussler Nancy & Len Jacoby Carrie Johnson Willette & Manny Klausner Kent Klavens & Judy Vourlas Katherine Kleindienst Tatiana & Howard Lipson Mary & John Lithgow Lotte New York Palace Eduardo Martinez Janis B. McEldowney Sue McHugh & Herb Seese Philip & Joan Miller Patrice & James Mitchell Patricia Mitchell The New York Palace Michael Nicklin Debbie & Norman Nixon Suzanne & Richard Norton Deborah & Stacey Olliff Michael R. Oppenheim Carol & Alan Ostroff Soundis & Danny Passman Tara & Robert Pietri Herbert & Marilyn Piken Ruth Popkin Robert Quayle Lee Ramer Joyce & Harvey Reichard In Memory of Frances Richman Lindy Robbins Sonny & Cynthia Rodriguez Rose Brand Rosa Rosenberg Nancy Stephens & Rick Rosenthal and The Rosenthal Family Foundation Wil Rosser Hon. Nicole A. Avant & Ted Sarandos Michael Schlesinger Susan Schwarz Berton Dean Teri Schwartz Sempra Engergy Foundation Matthew Shakman Peggy & Robert Shapiro Dominique Shelton Robert Siew & William Mark Hafeman Snyder Family Foundation Bruce & Patti Springsteen Ray Stark Susan & Donald Starr Mitch & Sherry Stein Meghan Strange Tanino Ristorante Audri & Stan Tendler
Paul Tetreault Daniel Tongbai Sue Tsao Jane & Theodore Valentine Karen & Francesco Vanderbaan Deborah Walsh Gelena & Seth Weissman Connie & John Weston Cherie Wrigley Elena & Drew Zager Barbara & Stanley Zax Marcie & Howard Zelikow Leslie & Robert Zemeckis Ellen & Arnold Zetcher
HIGH SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM Bring the transformative power of live theater to youth across Los Angeles and open their eyes to a whole new world of artistic experiences, diverse perspectives and possibilities in life beyond their own communities.
EDUCATION ADVOCATE $1,000 - $1,499 Anonymous (2) Eva Aaronson Harry & Gay Abrams/Abrams Artists Agency Dr. Richard Ackerman & Miriam Shakter Laura & Harvey Alpert Charitable Foundation Patti & Harlan Amstutz Bonnie R. Arnold Margaret Campbell Arvey AudioQuest Russ, August & Kabat Richard & Shelley Bayer Jerry Beckman Sigrid & Alan Belinkoff Susan & Eric M. Bender Joanna & Miles Benickes Wendy & John Bergquist Diane & Jim Berliner John Bjorge & Mary McKelvey Joe Blackstone & Jamie Mohn The Bordy & Leibovic Families Brenda & Alan Borstein Helen Breitwieser & James Jacks Wendy & David Brotman Linda & Jerry Bruckheimer Peg Casey David, Christine & Leah Cates Jane Cates Elena & Jonathan Cates & Family Melissa Cates, Roger Claman & Family Steven Cerasale & Mary Katherine Cocharo Martha Chase Sachiko T. Cochran MD & Joseph T. Araki In Recognition of Carl & Barbara Cohen Ruth Daugherty Phil Davis Suzanne Deal Booth & David Booth Deluscious Cookies
Students participate in a Talk Back with the cast of The Legend of Georgia McBride Photo by Jeff Lorch Photography
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ANNUAL DONORS Carolyn Dirks/Brett Dougherty Steven Doren Jan & Thea Drayer Ed & Barbara Dreyfus Dr. & Mrs. William M Duxler In Honor of Education & Community Engagement Colleen M. Ellis Terri & David Elston Carl & Courtenay Enright Lynne & Michael Feldman Susanna Felleman & Erik Feig Sydney M. Finegold, M.D. Joan & Charles Fox Sterling Franklin Steve Freedman Ben & Susan Friedman Jeanne & Arnold Geffner Diane & Bruce Gewertz The Gibbs Family Cherna & Dr. Gary Gitnick Charlotte Gold Dr. Irene Goldenberg Louis & Linda Goldsman Roz & Abner Goldstine Ellie Goodman Helene Gordon Adrienne Grant & Paul Jennings Jack Grossbart & Marc Schwartz Deidre Hall Kay Harrington Salli Harris Michael Parks & Judith Hayward Murray & Gail Heltzer Zvia Hempling Lynda & Neal Hersh Hella Hershon Rand Hoffman & Charlotte Robinson Tamara Horwich & Gerry Lipshutz Toni Hoyt Victoria Jackson Linda Janger Judith & Steaven Jones Joseph B. Gould Foundation Linda & David Kagel Joyce & Don Kaiserman Jo Ann & Charles Kaplan Marcy Kaplan & Eric Gold Karney Guren Family Foundation In Honor of Judi Kaufman Barbara & Stuart Klabin Leslie & Norman Koplof Jeffrey Kramer Carol Krause Lena & Mark Labowe Deborah Lacusta & Daniel Castellaneta Stephanie & Robert Lakin Helene Laub Joyce Lederer Steven & Nancy Lippman 22 PLAYBILL
Elisabeth & Jeffrey Lipsman Judith Locke & Dennis Massie Karen & Peter Locke Karen & Frederick Lorig The Jennifer and Greg Malins Foundation Eric G.C. Mark The Miles Family Barbara & Fred Miller Cookie Miller Andrew & Laura Mintzer Joanne & Joel Mogy In Loving Memory of Harvey S. Morse Lon Morse & Toni Hollander Morse Carol & Jerry Muchin Joan & Fred Nicholas Albert & Barbara Nichols Olympus Theatricals Ornest Family Foundation Gia Paladino & Michael Wise Philip & Leslie Paton Amanda Crick & Glenn Pfeffer Alex Phillips Craig Piligian Jane Rascoff Richard Rasiej & Joan Herman Rabbi Steven & Didi Carr Reuben Sandra C Ribble Donald B. & Susan F. Rice Esther & Howard Richmond Judi & Tim Ritchie Beth Roberts & Warren Smith Dolores Rogers Brad & Nancy Rosenberg David A. & Karen Richards Sachs Mark San Filippo Nancy & Ted Sanborn Jay Sandrich Gerald Sauer Toni & John Schulman David Schwartz Foundation, John S. Schwartz Dan & Cynthia Schwartz John Schwartz Carole Server & Oliver Frankel John & Lori Shaw Phyllis & Martin Shephard Doris & Michael Sherman Holly & Larry Shulman Rita & Jose Sigal Robin & Robert Sills Ron Silverman & Soraya Ross Joan & Jerry Snyder Drs. Matthew & Marion Solomon The Somaini Family Jordan Strauss Photography Barbra Streisand & James Brolin David & Katherine Stritzinger Eric Strom & Eileen Goodis Aaron Stroud Sugarfina
Katy Sweet The Tatasciore Family Anne C. Taubman & David Boyle John Teeples & Nicolas Martinez, Jr. Nancy Thomas Marjorie Thomson Triada Palm Springs Dr. Gerald D. Turbow John Turmes Catherine & Leonard Unger Leon & Stephanie Vahn Daniel & Shauna Valenzuela Susan & Peter Van Haften Kathryn & Alan Van Vliet Alison Whalen & Steve Marenberg Julie & Peter Weil Marcia Williams & Gene Lucero Judith & Philip Winik Anna & Stephen Yallourakis Patricia Youngman Zoetic Travel
ARTISTIC ADVOCATE $500 - $999 Anonymous (2) Ross & Lindsey Avner Jeanne Bailey Linda Barnett Irene Baron Teddi Berger & Lionel Sanders Yvette Bergeron & Dean Bailey Diane & Richard Birnholz Black Market Gelato Larry & Julie Blivas in Honor of Phyllis Blivas Pamela & Bill Bohnert Michael J. Bordy Paula Brand Janet & Mark Brown Laura D. Campbell Andrew Carlberg Scott Carter & Bebe Johnson Lee & Shelby Chaden Cindy Clark Ginger Conrad Phil Johnston & Jill Cordes Norman & Nancy Cravens Culver Hotel In Loving Memory of Ed Cypert Greg & Leslie Dannon Daryl & Paul F. Doucette Roni & Ethan Eller David & Joyce Evans Elizabeth A. Evans Marjorie & Arthur Fine The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Fund Myrna Forest Judith R. Forman & Richard N. Weiner
Gwen & Jacob Friend Lois & Jerry Gallop Sharlene & Sol Galper The Gewecke Family Benita & Bert Ginsberg Linda & Louis Goldsman Marcy Goldstein Lori & Robert Goodman Gabi & Rob Greenberg Marcy & Edgar Gross Carolyn & Bernie Hamilton Sheila & Chester Hasday Dr. Jacqueline Heller Noreen & Doug Herzog Carol Ann & Rick Hess Jim Hliboki & Hildi Snodgrass Dorothy Hoffman Kelley M. Hogan Brett Johnson Robert Jones Avi Kamienny Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Kamine Christine Kaplan Dean Kauffman & Carlos Andres Mosquera-Tangarife Patricia Keating Beverlee Bickmore & James Kelly Leana Kleinman & Jerald Johnson Marlene & Donald Kottler Tam & David Lachoff Joan & Christopher Larkin Marla E. Levine Suzann Levine Betsy Levy Brenda & Warren Lincoln Neil L. & Ora D. Macfarlane Marcus Mancini George Manet Mr. & Mrs. Phillips H. Marshall David Israeli & Dr. Marie Mazzone Kathy & Jim McCaffery Patrick McDivitt Julia McIlvaine Sue & Monty Mohrman Paula Moseley, EdD Robert & Anita Nitta Shelby Notkin Justin Okin Carol Parry & John Fox Barbara & Gary Pasquinelli Barbara & Peter Patman Pier South Drs. Laurence & Isabell Purdy Gary & Gail Rachelefsky David Rambo & Ted Heyck Sandra Rapke Mildred Reid Carl Reiner Simon Renshaw Carrie & Ken Richman Linda & Manny Rider Eden & Steven Romick
ANNUAL DONORS Ronda & Fred Rose Kathleen & Dale Rosenbloom Allison Rosenthal Joyce & Dean Ross Blanche & Bruce Joel Rubin Anne Sacks Ajay Sahgal Janet Salter, In Memory of Hon. Maxwell Salter Tawny & Jerry Sanders Nancy & Steven Schneider Jane & Bill Schopf Susan & Peter Schwab Melinda & Yossi Sidikaro Carol & Arthur Silbergeld Manish Singh Martin & Leah Sklar Dr. Jerry & Marci Smith Trudy Sokol Arthur Stern Mr. & Mrs. David Tann Meg Thomas W Hotel West Beverly Hills Ira & Laurie Waldman Bill & Kate Walsh Marcia & Dr. Charles Wasserman Jay Weinstein & Lori Woldar David Weiss Pat West Paul Whitman Bruce Whizin Wright Maritime Group Karen & Frank Wurtzel The Yarkins Kimberly & Andrew Zakanych Crystal Zehetner & Julia Ramadan Anthony P. Zinge
ASSOCIATE $250 - $499 Anonymous (13) Nancy & Emanuel Abrams Norman & Toshka Abrams Terry & Richard Abrams Barbara Adams Elaine & Michael Agran Charles & Annick Allen Sylvia Almstadt Merryl & David A. Alpert Jan & David Altemus Robert C. Anderson Philip Angerhofer & Stephen A. Jones Eloise & Mark Appel Jc & Jack Appelbaum Barbara & Ethan Aronoff Marc & Elizabeth Axelrod Lynne Babbitt Cecilia Ball Elizabeth & Barry Bar-El Janet & Irwin Barnet Randy Bayard Judith & Thomas Beckmen Dawn & Marshall Bein
Dr. Timothy Belavich & Bernie Knobbe Patricia Belcher JoAnn Bernard Karen Berko-Gibson Barbara Berkowitz Marsha C. Berkowitz Edward Blume Virginia Bohrer Toby Bornstein Nina & Hon. Anthony Borwick Carol J. Bradshaw Mona Brandler Armida Brashears Arlene Braun Leah Lynn Broidy Lionel Brown Mitchell Brown Diana Buckhantz David & Kathy Burke Marcia Burnam Marlene & David Capell Anthony Carbone Phil Carlin Miss Irene Castaldo Ling Chan Richard Pezner & Sandra Chan Barry Charles Diane Chernansky Becky & Mike Clements Anselm Clinard Gail Cottingham Susan Georgine Craig Valerie & Donald Cravitz Shawn Cunningham Ingrid Curtiss, MD Beverly D’Angelo Col. Tony, Donna & Taylor Daniell Hedva & Dr. Dudley Danoff Jeffrey S. Davidson Elizabeth De Oliveira & Moacyr Da Silva Hal & Roberta Delevie Brian Demsey Robert Ditullio Carol Jean Doehring Sandy & Gerry Dorfman Linda Dozier The Milton L. & Betty J. Dranow Family Foundation Jacki & Murray Drechsler Chris Easley Michael East & Tanisha Gonzalez Susan & John Ebey Barry & Mona Shafer-Edwards Ronald Eng Lidia & Mauricio Epelbaum Jim Esserman Rena Falk The Farwell Family Lisa Feintech, M.D. Mimi Alpert Feldman Abby & Malcolm Field Donnovan Field Lisa & William Finkelstein Donna Finley William & Elisabeth Fleischman
VETERANS WRITING AND PERFORMANCE PROJECT Give veterans the opportunity to write and perform their own work on the Gil Cates Theater stage, creating a vibrant, one-of-a-kind performance of resilience, empowerment and live storytelling.
Veterans take a final bow after performing their original monologues Photo by Jeff Lorch Photography
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ANNUAL DONORS Lynne & Michael Flynn Myrna ‘Pepper’ Forest Deveen Fox Dolores Franco Fran Fredella & Scott Rubin Sandy & Donald French Elaine Friedman Kenneth J. Friedman & Marilynn J. Friedman Family Foundation Lynn & Barry Friesen Catherine Froloff Laurelle Frome & Brady Frome Gina Furth Wendy Furth Lee Gardenswartz Russell Gersten Linda & Tom Givvin Jill Glasband Dr. Diane & Michael Glazer Richard & Lori Glucksman Hannah Godwin Michael Golamco Carol & Neil Goldberg Lorain Goldberg Mark & Molly Goldberg Francine Golden & Marvin Schlossman Dr. Peter Goldman Liz Gottainer & David Sadkin Gigi & Don Grant Russell Grant Debbie & Glenn Gray Madelyne Green Paul & Louise Greenberg David Greenwalt Penny Grosz-Salomon & Eugene Korney Eve Haberfield & David N. Johnson Roberta L. Haft Hanif Haji Mary & Alan Halkett Jane Hall Roberta Hamilton Tess Harper Judy L. Hartley Hanna Heiting Michael & Candie Herman Hernand Family Winifred C. Hervey Penny Hildebrand In Memory of Ross Hunter & Jacque Mapes Robert & Gail Israel Brenda Izzi Frederic A. & Nancy Jacobus Janice Jerde Martha Jones & Paul Zerella Robert Jones & Julie Anne Robinson Jerry Joseph Adriana Kahane Joanne & Larry Kahn Jessica Kaltman Linda Kaplan Eran & Raquel Karoly Susie Kater & Tom Chappell 24 PLAYBILL
Donald Kates Harris Katleman Family Owen Kato Dana Katz Morgan Kay Michael Keir William & Renee Kendall Louanne Kennedy Cathy Kirkpatrick Irwin Kishner Donna & Jeffrey Klein Dr. Phyllis Klein Laurie & Milton Klorman Dolph Kornblum & Florence Robins Charles Kristenson Kimberly & John Kruse Jill & Michael Lasky Ana Launes Susan Lava Sharon & Lawrence Lavenberg Rhonda Lawrence Learning Encounters Ginger Leibovitz Ann Leland Adam Lesh Maxine & Gary Levine Anita & Burton Levinson Dr. & Mrs. Isaac Levy Lawrin & Linda Lewin Angela Light Victor & Madeline Lindenheim Joanne Lindsay Bonnie Lisle Leslie & Adam Lobel Alex Loewenthal Lori & Tom Low Anne L. Lynch Dr. Linda Maeder Marcus Mancini Carol & Doug Mancino Pauline Marks Annette Marmalefsky Goran Marnfeldt Phyllis & Bert Massing Douglas Mcavoy, Jr. Jeanne McDonald-Powers & Travis Powers Cynthia Melville Sumitra Menon R.G. Mercer Eileen & Paul Meshekow Erik & Melanie Messerschmidt Reed & Linda Metzger Cathleen Meyers Lori Meyers & James Marano Sara Michrowski Judith & Jeff Milman Teddie J. Milner Laurie & Chuck Mondrus Marvin & Jean Moore Shelagh Moriarty John Moschitta Alexander Levine & Catherine Nameth Jason Neidleman Robert M. Nelson
Sherri & Arnie Nelson Tom Nevermann Charna & Allen Nissenson Doreen & Donald Nortman Lawrence Ross & Linda Nussbaum Doron Ofir Sandy & Alan Olick Adrienne & Arthur Omansky Dr. Ronald & Iris Onkin Janie Orenstein Edward Parker Paul Pepperman Naidu & Jane Permaul Susan Petelik Fran & Bruce Peters Berta & Lou Pitt Jack & Jane Pollock Zazi Pope Susan Poulson Lance Powell Philip Pritchett Neil & Lisa Greer Quateman Fred & Rebecca Raskin Michael & Gloria Rausch Andy Relis Marianne Reynolds Linda & Erin Rice Elaine Richards In memory of Robert J. Richards William & Polly Ridgeway Alan Robinson Barbara & David Rognlien Janis & Avi Rojany Robert Rosania Barry Rosen & Neil Bokal Mary Ann Rosenfeld & Sheldon Kadish Priscilla Rosenfeld Adrienne B. Rosenthal Beverly & Melvin Rosenthal Dr. Martin & Lorraine Ross Virginia Ross Michael, Michon & Jackson Roth Terry Ryan Leslie & Daniel Sackheim Lori Sanchez Nan Sarno Susan & Kenneth Sarno Janet Sasson Maxine Savitz Linda & Cliff Schaffer Joel & Sonia Schneider Gary & Karen Schneider Stanley Schneider Christine Schultz Janet & Michael Schwartz Lester Schwartz John H. Scott Marc Seltzer Scott Shagrin Elise Shanfeld
Barbara Vickery & Martin Shapiro Leonard & Annette Shapiro Judy & Tom Sharp Melanie Sharp & Kevin Miller Netta & Uri Shohet Lisa Siegel Seymour & Dorothy Siegel Linda & Ronald Slates Diane Good & Frank Smith Barbara & Hal Smith Marcia L. & Mark J. Smith Jean Smith-Moore Karen Smits Christine Sorgi Dr. Robert & Margo Sorrentino Stephanie Sourapas Bruce Spector Debra Spector M Leslie Stearns Christy Stevens Frances & Sy Strasberg Penny Strowger Alec Sulkin Mr. Kayser Sume & Dr. Renee Sabshin Ann Sunderland Lance & Maureen Tan Phyllis & Franklin Tell Cathy Thomas Courtney & Jay Tobin Judy & Art Tompkins Joyce & Josh Trabulus Miriam Trogdon Brigitta Troy Richard Turner Deborah Valdez Lorraine & Erich Van Lowe Anthony Vasek Bobette Vikan Carole Wagner-Vallianos & Peter Vallianos Ann W. Wang Marvin Wasserman Elisa Wayne Myrna & Art Weiner Sherry Weinman & Michael Umansky Ben & Rose Weinstein Marsha & Steven Weiss Jacqueline Weitz Rae Jeane Williams Karen & Gary Winnick Bruce & Marci Wiseman Susan Wolford Jan & Edward Woods Joseph Wu Arnold & Tricia Zane Harriet Zaretsky Lynn & Meir Ziv Sandy Zwirn
HAVE WE MADE AN ERROR? To report a misspelling or omission in these listings, please contact the Development department at 310.208.6500 ext. 136
Matt Shakman
Gil Cates, Jr.
Artistic Director
Executive Director
ARTISTIC Amy Levinson Artistic Associate / Literary Director Phyllis Schuringa Artistic Associate / Casting Director Young Ji Artistic Coordinator / Company Manager Rachel Wiegardt-Egel Literary Associate
PRODUCTION Daniel Ionazzi Production Manager Jill Barnes Associate Production Manager / Company Manager Sam Craven-Griffiths Technical Director Evan Friedman Associate Technical Director Rich Gilles Properties Master James Grabowski House Sound Supervisor Darren Rezowalli Lighting & Video Supervisor Ramine Ameli Production Electrician
ADMINISTRATION
Mark San Filippo Associate Director of Planned Giving & Donor Relations Scott Kriloff Development Concierge & Database Manager Taylor Cerny Development Associate Jessie Sherman Development Assistant Taylor Dearden Development Assistant Annika Patton Development Intern
EDUCATION Jennifer Zakkai Director of Education & Community Engagement
Brian Allman, Ramy Eletreby, David Guerra, McKenna Kerrigan, Robert Paterno Teaching Artists Sydney Tennant Education Intern
Kisha Wilson Payroll Specialist & Staff Accountant
Karen Gutierrez Director of Advertising & Audience Development
Ellen Catania Senior Vice President of Development Jessica Brusilow Rollins Director of Education Partnerships & Donor Relations Jamie Mikelich Director of Individual Giving & Spotlight Manager
FRONT OF HOUSE Jeni Pearsons Director of Special Events David Gerhardt Supervising House Manager Amy Farkas Lead Concierge
Claudia Baffo, Rebecca Birstock, Kailey Bray, Jensen Chambers, Vianney Cossyleon, Danie Hakimi, Ida Herndon, Isaac Jay, Olivia Lowe, Aaron Newman, JoJo Nwoko, Madison Shamoun, Charmee Taylor, Adam Turney, Jenna Wilcox, Cody Williams Ushers
Jessica Buzzard Director of Marketing & Communications
Regina Miller Chief Development Officer
Sue Fleishman Communications Consultant
Brandon Drea Education Assistant
Peter Banachowski Staff Accountant
DEVELOPMENT
Vaneh Assadourian, Britney Campbell, Kaitlin Huwe, Richard Martinez, Cameron Reck, Celia Rivera, Alyssa Tyson Box Office Staff
Sarah Lyddan, Nathaniel Meek, James Porter, Dennis Woullard House Managers
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Marguerite Harris Receptionist
Bryan Martin Box Office Manager
Carolyn Marie Wright Manager of Education & Community Engagement
Behnaz Ataee Chief Financial Officer
Clay Dzygun Office Coordinator
Janice Bernal Box Office Manager
Brian Dunning Director of Content & Creative Ashley Bodul Director of Public Relations Zack Hamra Associate Director of Audience Services & Ticketing
Rob Mersola Bar Manager & Mixologist Manuel Mayorga Weekend Bar Manager Skylar Adams, Adam Carr, Brenda Davidson, Sarah Drescher, Ryan Turner Bartenders/Event Staff
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Karim Bouzzit System Administrator
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
Kevin O’Brien Marketing Manager
Miguel del Castillo Facility Manager
Quinn Francis Outreach Coordinator
Mario Santillan-Perez Custodial
Ramon Garcia Video Producer
Juan Carlos Umaña Cleaning Custodial
Kristina Leach Social Media Associate
Camerina Martinez Cleaning Custodial
Geffen Playhouse is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. This project was also funded in part by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles. Geffen Playhouse, a not-for-profit theater company, is proudly affiliated with the University of California at Los Angeles.
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