GIL CATES THEATER AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE Geffen Playhouse is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enriching the cultural life of Los Angeles through plays and educational programs that inform, entertain and inspire.
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Photo by Jeff Lorch Photography
BIG SKY
FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR PLAYS ARE A CONDUIT THROUGH WHICH WE learn larger truths about ourselves and each other. Often, they are truths we already know, but there is something about having them illuminated before our eyes that reconnects us to them and, when done elegantly, ushers us out of the theater with a feeling of catharsis. Some plays take it one step further and are constructed on the basis that what is true at the end of a play is identical to what is true at the start. What drives the action is unearthing these revelations and watching the chips fall where they may. As we enter a luxurious Aspen chalet in Big Sky, we immediately recognize a typical, affluent American family. But Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros’ play explores the all-too-current idea of the precariousness of life in America after a nationwide financial crisis. This undercurrent propels this very funny and wry play into a rather profound place. Our pleasure is to welcome Alexandra to the Geffen and to welcome back John Rando, who has directed here on many occasions. Together with a stellar cast and world-class designers, they have brought to life a story to which we can all surely relate. What does a family do when faced with challenges? Do they bond together to fight the elements, or is the wreckage insurmountable — one from which no recovery is possible? As we close out our 20th anniversary season, we are so pleased to have had so many gifted artists, both alums and new additions, join the Geffen family. These partnerships that we have built over the last two decades are the foundation upon which great work flourishes. We strive to keep welcoming more artists and patrons into the fold as we continually expand the scale and scope of what we do. Here’s to the next 20! Enjoy the show! Randall Arney ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P1
LETTER FROM THE CO-CHAIRS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MARTHA HENDERSON CO-CHAIR
PAMELA ROBINSON CO-CHAIR PATRICIA KIERNAN APPLEGATE RANDALL ARNEY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
BETH BEHRS DR. GENE D. BLOCK KEVIN BRIGHT HAROLD A. BROWN GIL CATES JR.
Photo by Bobby Quillard
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MICHAEL CENTENO MARY ANN CLOYD MERLE DANDRIDGE DR. BRAD EDGERTON MARK FLEISCHER HERBERT M. GELFAND CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
MARTHA HENDERSON
PAMELA ROBINSON
THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR LANDMARK 20TH anniversary season in the Gil Cates Theater! We’ve seen a vibrant collection of saucy Shakespearean comedy, sweet Irish romance and seductive new works onstage. Thank you for joining us for today’s performance of Big Sky, the provocative world premiere written by the enormously talented Pulitzer Prize finalist Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros. We’d like to highlight the extraordinary generosity and commitment of the Edgerton Foundation, whose major support of this world premiere production has given the artistic team the opportunity to workshop Big Sky in ways that had a profound impact on the play. Our deepest gratitude to the Edgerton Foundation for giving us the room to make bold creative choices and bring new work to the American stage. This season has been exhilarating, not only artistically but educationally as well. Our Geffen Playhouse Teaching Artists have spent over 850 hours in the classrooms of our high school partners, leading pre- and post-show sessions and theater workshops, and working with our partnering community organizations through pre- and post-show sessions and improv workshops. We look forward to sharing more with you in the fall about the overall impact students and community members have experienced this year. Cheers to a spectacular 20th anniversary season!
Martha Henderson
Pamela Robinson
CO-CHAIR, GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
CO-CHAIR, GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
PATRICIA L. GLASER SAM GORES ADI GREENBERG ARTHUR GREENBERG JOAN KALOUSTIAN LORETTA EVERETT KAUFMAN DR. GERALD S. LEVEY CARLA MALDEN SUSAN MALLORY GINNY MANCINI BARRY MEYER SCOTT MINERD STEVEN A. OLSEN HOLLY RICE LINDA BERNSTEIN RUBIN TERI SCHWARTZ RICHARD SHERMAN FRED SPECKTOR LORRAINE SPURGE CYNTHIA P. STAFFORD HOWARD TENENBAUM VICE CHAIRMAN
FOUNDING TRUSTEES KIRSTEN COMBS ROBERT A. DALY DAVID GEFFEN QUINCY JONES JEFFREY KATZENBERG GLORYA KAUFMAN FRANK G. MANCUSO CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
RON MEYER LESLIE MOONVES JERRY MOSS JERRY PERENCHIO BRUCE M. RAMER FOUNDING CHAIRMAN
VICTORIA MANN SIMMS ANDY SPAHN STEVEN SPIELBERG STEVE TISCH DR. CHARLES E. YOUNG CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
IN MEMORIAM GILBERT CATES FOUNDER
MARCIA ISRAEL-CURLEY AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS CHARLES KENIS KARL MALDEN EDIE WASSERMAN LEW WASSERMAN PETER ROSEN LEGAL COUNSEL, LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
P2 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
“Might be the best piece of theater you’ll see this year. Magic has been officially redefined!” — Los Angeles magazine
Derek DelGaudio in In & Of Itself. Photo by Jeff Lorch Photography.
FROM THE WRITER AND PRODUCERS OF THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED NOTHING TO HIDE
IN & OF ITSELF WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY
DEREK DELGAUDIO DIRECTED BY
FRANK OZ PRODUCED BY
GLENN KAINO
ORIGINAL MUSIC BY
MARK MOTHERSBAUGH
PRODUCED BY
TOM WERNER
EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND! NOW ON STAGE AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS THEATER AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
#INANDOFITSELF
GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.ORG | 310.208.5454
FIRST DRAFT TO FINAL DRESS THE MAKING OF A WORLD PREMIERE
BY EVAN HENERSON Big Sky director John Rando and playwright Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros
THERE IS NO BLUEPRINT, NO RECIPE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW PLAY.
Urinetown, had directed three previous productions
The process can begin with a phone call, a relationship,
the playwright could hear it being read aloud and
an idea or a collaborative history. A year — more or less
subsequently do extensive revisions.
at the Geffen including The Underpants in 2004. Having developed new plays both in New York and regionally, Rando thought that Big Sky belonged at the Geffen. A draft of the play already existed, and Rando
— after the seed has been germinated, Geffen Playhouse
“I suggested at that time that it needed to be
audiences may be watching the first production of a
incubated in a good, nurturing theatrical environment,
new play by an award-winning playwright.
and the Geffen Playhouse is a kind of home for me,” said
In its 20 year history, Geffen Playhouse has produced
Rando. “I’ve done a lot of work here and I received my
31 world premieres, eight of them commissioned and
M.F.A. at UCLA, so I had a nice connection here. I called
nurtured along by the Geffen’s literary department with
Randy [Arney] and said, ‘I think you might be interested
the help of targeted grant money from the Edgerton
in this play. I’m not saying you should do a production
Foundation
but I’d love it if we could develop it with you guys.’”
and
the
Harold
and
Mimi
Steinberg
Charitable Trust. Donald Margulies and Jane Anderson
Arney knew Gersten-Vassilaros from when he
have premiered new plays at the Geffen, as have Neil
commissioned her play My Thing of Love at the
Simon, Joan Rivers, Carrie Fisher and Alan Alda.
Steppenwolf Theatre Company. He shared Rando’s
Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros’ Big Sky “arrived” at
enthusiasm. Big Sky would receive three workshops,
the Geffen via an exploratory phone call that director
two at the Geffen and one at New York Stage and
John Rando made to Geffen Artistic Director Randall
Film (all featuring Jon Tenney), leading up to its world
Arney. Rando, the Tony Award-winning director of
premiere production.
P4 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
Photo by Kevin O’Brien
envisioned a safe, pressure-free environment in which
FIRST DRAFT TO FINAL DRESS “I like the idea of trying to plug into how a writer
would later move to New York for a Broadway run.
works and how we can best serve their process,
“Donald likes to hear what he calls his ‘‘very rough’
whether a reading or a workshop is part of that,” Arney
rough draft’ out loud. It gives him a sense of where it’s
said. “John and Alex came to us with the play already
going to go,” Levinson said. “In almost every case, I
written, but I knew Alex would love the opportunity to have some workshops and to be able to gather some people together in a room and hear the play.” The Edgerton Foundation supported the development of Big Sky through a grant that funded extra production costs and workshops. “It’s a big gift for a new play,” said GerstenVassilaros, who was thrilled to receive the grant. “We
read it before it’s read aloud, and then we chat about it. He goes back to work and does a little futzing with it and then we sit down with a small group of trusted folks to hear a draft. After that, he’ll write for three to six months and come back to hear it again. Then he likes to just get into rehearsal and see what he has. Of course, the rewrites continue until opening.”
get more time to ask, ‘OK, is this really working?’ and
“He wrote Coney Island Christmas very quickly and
then work on it and come back. By the time we go
learned an enormous amount in the first reading —
into rehearsal, it will be pretty close to what we end up
things one can only learn in the hearing of it,” Levinson
putting onstage on opening night.” The company’s concept-to-stage pipeline is a testament to the groundwork laid by the Geffen’s late founder and producing director, Gil Cates, whose vision for the not-for-profit theater included making the
added. “Another example: Time Stands Still. Originally titled The Elephant in the Room, Donald had written in a character and in hearing/seeing the reading, he realized the character held more power being entirely
Geffen a home for new work. In the mid-1990s, when the
absent. He made significant changes and by the
Geffen started gearing up to offer its first commissions,
second rewrite was ready to go into rehearsal with the
Literary Director Amy Levinson interviewed more than
additional week.”
a dozen established playwrights, informally asking
Carrie Fisher’s solo show Wishful Drinking, another
them what they considered an ideal environment for
huge success, came about after Fisher and her co-
developing a new play.
writer and director Joshua Ravetch told a few stories
The answers were consistent. The playwrights longed for a place where they could bring their work in rough form and work on it for an extended period of time. They wanted the freedom to write combined with institutional artistic support. Given the Geffen’s proximity to Hollywood and the
Fisher felt would be a good basis for a play. “She’s such a fantastic storyteller that we really committed on the spot,” Levinson said. Artistic administrators concede that balancing new works and revivals of audience favorites is a constant
fact that many established playwrights have also tried
challenge. The recently announced 2016/2017 season
their hand at screenwriting, nobody wanted to see new
has at least one world premiere, Alena Smith’s Icebergs,
works get bogged down in the theatrical equivalent of
and Geffen audiences can expect the numbers of new
“development hell.” A full production is the endgame,
play commissions and world premieres to increase
and the Geffen has historically produced a majority of
significantly in the coming seasons, thanks in part to a
the plays it commissions, according to Levinson.
grant from the Edgerton Foundation.
The funds to support new work have allowed the Geffen to tailor the development process to each playwright’s specific needs. Some may use workshops early on to collect diverse opinions. Others may prefer that a draft be much closer to completion before
“We have continued to build on our commitment to new plays and feel strongly that the way to appeal to a broader audience is to tell stories that are new, diverse and very much of this moment. What better way to
hearing it read aloud. Levinson recalls the experience
generate that work than through commissions? So,
of working with Donald Margulies on commissions
stay tuned,” Arney said. “If we continue to do our job
of Coney Island Christmas and Time Stands Still, a
supporting and nurturing the work of writers, we are
production which premiered at the Geffen in 2010 and
sure to have plenty of premieres for years to come.” PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P5
THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE PRODUCTION OF
Written by
Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros Scenic Designer
Costume Designer
Derek McLane
Denitsa Bliznakova
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Jaymi Lee Smith
Jon Gottlieb
Fight Director
Dramaturg
Steve Rankin
Production Stage Manager
Elizabeth A. Brohm
Amy Levinson
Assistant Stage Manager
Maggie Swing
Casting Director
Phyllis Schuringa, CSA
Directed by
John Rando Big Sky is co-produced by Dede Harris Productions Recipient of the Edgerton Foundation New Play Award Major support for this world premiere production provided by the Edgerton Foundation New Play Production Fund EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS CIRCLE MEMBERS
Laurie & Bill Benenson • Martha Henderson • Pamela Robinson Hollander & Robert Hollander Loretta Everett Kaufman & Victor Kaufman • Jason & Yvonne Lee • Gail & Andrew Roth Linda Bernstein Rubin & Tony Rubin • Miranda & Brett Tollman
Opening Night: Wednesday, June 15, 2016 OPENING NIGHT SPONSORS
MEDIA SPONSOR
P6 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
(In alphabetical order)
Jonathan ............................................................................................................................................ Arnie Burton Tessa .............................................................................................................................................. Emily Robinson Jack ......................................................................................................................................................... Jon Tenney Jen ........................................................................................................................................... Jennifer Westfeldt
SETTING/TIME Ritz-Carlton Condo. The Present. RUNNING TIME Approximately 95 minutes There will be no intermission.
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P7
BIG SKY
CAST OF CHARACTERS
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES
ARNIE BURTON (Jonathan) Broadway: The 39 Steps, Peter and the Starcatcher, Machinal, A Free Man of Color, Amadeus. Off-Broadway highlights include Lives of the Saints and Mere Mortals, both by David Ives and directed by John Rando. Also The Temperamentals (Drama Desk Award), 30th anniversary revival of The Mystery of Irma Vep (Drama League Award), The Last Sunday in June, The Explorers Club, Tail! Spin!, The Merchant of Venice/The Jew of Malta. England: The Merchant of Venice at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Regional highlights include the L.A. premiere of All in the Timing at the Geffen Playhouse and the world premiere of A Confederacy of Dunces at the Huntington Theatre Company, Boston. Other theaters include the Old Globe, Berkeley Rep, Alley Theatre, A.R.T., Philadelphia Theatre Company, Berkshire Theatre Festival. Television appearances include The Blacklist, Flesh and Bone (recurring), Frasier, Blue Bloods, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, White Collar, Caroline in the City, Life on Mars, Faith and Hope, 6 Degrees and Sister, Sister. Film: The Real Meaning of Things, Igby Goes Down, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee and Game 6.
EMILY ROBINSON (Tessa) Emily made her Off-Broadway debut in Horton Foote’s epic, The Orphans’ Home Cycle at Signature
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Theatre in New York, directed by Michael Wilson, (Drama Desk Special Award) and is delighted to be making her L.A. theater debut at the Geffen Playhouse in Big Sky. Upcoming films include Behold My Heart, Going Under and Broken Vows. Television credits include Amazon’s Golden Globe-winning Transparent (Screen Actors Guild Award Nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series), Criminal Minds (CBS), Rizzoli and Isles (TNT), Scorpion (CBS), A.N.T. Farm (Disney), Girl Meets World (Disney), The Following (FOX), CSI:NY (CBS), Person of Interest (CBS), Saturday Night Live (NBC), Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC) and The Guiding Light (CBS). Emily also recently wrote, directed and starred in her first short film, Virgin Territory. Emily is represented by UTA, Perlman Management Group, and Marilyn Zitner Management.
JON TENNEY (Jack) Previously at the Geffen: David Lindsay-Abaire’s Good People and David Mamet’s Speed-thePlow. Broadway credits include: the Tony Award-winning revival of The Heiress (opposite Cherry Jones), Biloxi Blues, Brighton Beach Memoirs and Sweet Sue, as well as the national tour of Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing directed by Mike Nichols. OffBroadway credits include: Jon Robin Baitz’s The Substance of Fire (Playwrights Horizons and Lincoln Center Theater), John Guare’s Chaucer in Rome (Lincoln Center Theater), John Patrick Shanley’s Beggars in the House of Plenty and David Marshall Grant’s Current Events (Manhattan Theatre Club), Beth Henley’s Impossible Marriage (opposite Holly Hunter at Roundabout
Theatre Company) and Tuesdays with Morrie (opposite Alvin Epstein at New York Stage & Film and The Minetta Lane Theatre). Television credits include seven seasons starring opposite Kyra Sedgwick on TNT’s The Closer, reprising his role in Major Crimes and directing episodes of both. Tenney played Vice President Andrew Nichols on ABC’s Scandal and recurs on Amazon’s Hand of God. Film credits include You Can Count on Me, Tombstone, Fools Rush In, Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World and Rabbit Hole. A Vassar graduate and trained at The Juilliard School, Tenney will next be seen in the film adaptation of Chekhov’s The Seagull opposite Annette Bening and Saoirse Ronan.
JENNIFER WESTFELDT (Jen) An actress and filmmaker, Jennifer is perhaps best known for writing and starring in the indie films Kissing Jessica Stein, Ira & Abby and Friends With Kids, which also marked her directorial debut. Jennifer made her Broadway debut in Wonderful Town, directed by Kathleen Marshall, for which she received a Tony nomination, a Theater World Award and a Drama League Award. Recent stage work includes the world premieres of Nicky Silver’s Too Much Sun at The Vineyard Theatre, directed by Mark Brokaw; Scott Z. Burns’ The Library at the Public Theater, directed by Stephen Soderbergh; Nell Benjamin’s The Explorers Club at Manhattan Theatre Club, directed by Marc Bruni; Cusi Cram’s A Lifetime Burning at Primary Stages, directed by Pam McKinnon; and Stephen Belber’s The Power of Duff at the Huntington Theatre Company and at the Powerhouse Theater,
directed by Peter DuBois. Recent television credits include Girls, 24, Grey’s Anatomy, Notes From the Underbelly and Children’s Hospital. ALEXANDRA GERSTEN-VASSILAROS (Playwright) Her play Omnium Gatherum (2004 Pulitzer Prize Finalist, co-written with Theresa Rebeck) premiered at the Humana Festival and moved Off-Broadway with subsequent regional and international productions. Her controversial play The Argument (Vineyard Theatre) had a recent “revised” production at Theatre J in Washington, D.C. The Ordinary Yearning of Miriam Buddwing (directed by Anna Shapiro), My Thing of Love (directed by Terry Kinney; Broadway, directed by Howard Davies) and Supple in Combat (directed by Max Mayer) were commissioned by and premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Mother of Invention (directed by Nicholas Martin) premiered at the Williamstown Theatre Festival starring Estelle Parsons. Mean Time, about the fracturing effects of war on soldiers and their families, was workshopped at Juilliard, NYU Grad Theatre Program and New York Stage and Film Co. (directed by Daniel Aukin). Her plays are published by Smith & Kraus and Samuel French. Radio: Playing On Air is currently featuring two of her short plays for public radio: Two Jewish Men in Their Seventies with Jerry Stiller and Open Arms with Julie White and Bill Irwin. She has developed several television projects with co-writer Carl Capotorto for HBO (Executive Producers Will Scheffer and Mark Olsen), and for KILLER/MOXIE films. Alexandra is a graduate of the NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and a member of PEN. She leads writing workshops for veterans and women at The Bowery Mission in N.Y.C. Special thanks to my theater family at New York Stage & Film and to Michael Hoffmann. Alex dedicates Big Sky to her three boys Tonio, Luka and Stefano and to her husband Johnny.
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES
DEREK McLANE (Scenic Designer) Derek McLane’s Broadway designs include Noises Off, Fully Committed, Beautiful, Gigi, The Heiress, Nice Work, The Best Man, Follies, Anything Goes, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Million Dollar Quartet, Ragtime, 33 Variations, The Pajama Game and I Am My Own Wife. Off-Broadway: Into The Woods, Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Spoils, Sticks and Bone, The Last Five Years, Ruined, Lie of the Mind and Hurlyburly. He designed the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Academy Awards. Awards: winner of 1997, 2004 OBIE Awards; 2004, 2005, 2007 Lortel Awards; 2009 Tony Award; 2011 Drama Desk Award; 2015, 2016 Art Directors Guild Award; and 2014 Emmy Award.
DENITSA BLIZNAKOVA (Costume Designer) Denitsa is happy to return to the Geffen Playhouse, having previously worked on Guards at the Taj. Her work has been seen at venues such as Denver Center for the Performing Arts, San Diego Opera, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Cleveland Play House, Old Globe Theatre, A Noise Within, Falcon Theatre, New Repertory Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival and others. Costume design and stylist credits for other media include music videos for various artists and films. Denitsa is a professor in the School of Theatre, Television and Film at San Diego State University and is also the head of the graduate Design and Technology program there. Her work may be viewed at www.Denitsa.com. JAYMI LEE SMITH (Lighting Designer) Jaymi is thrilled to be designing her first show at the Geffen Playhouse. She has been designing around the country for the last twenty years at theaters such as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Dallas Theater Center, Alley Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, La Jolla Playhouse, Goodman Theatre, Court Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, Hartford Stage, Alliance Theatre, Getty Villa, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Repertory and Lookingglass Theatre, among others. Some of her most recent favorites have included The Nether at Alley Theatre, Rocky Horror Picture Show at Dallas Theater Center, The Who and the What at La Jolla Playhouse, Peter and the Starcatcher and Vietgone at South Coast Repertory and The Daughter of the Regiment at the Mill City Opera. Her work has also been seen in China, Italy, Spain, Scotland and Ireland. Previous awards have included the 2003 Michael Merritt/Michael Maggio Emerging Designer Award, a 2014 Column Award and a 2010 Joseph Jefferson Award. She is currently an associate professor of lighting design
and associate head of design at University of California, Irvine. Her work can be seen online at jaymismith.com. JON GOTTLIEB (Sound Designer) Jon’s design work at the Geffen Playhouse includes The Country House, Equivocation and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (directed by Gil Cates). He most recently designed Twelve Angry Men and Kiss Me Kate for Pasadena Playhouse as well as Master Class with Tyne Daily at the Vaudeville Theatre in London and Manhattan Theatre Club on Broadway. Other Broadway credits include Neil Simon’s Dinner Party, Terrance McNally’s Master Class and QED with Alan Alda at Lincoln Center. Center Theatre Group credits include iWitness (L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award), The Flower Drum Song (Ovation Award) and Hughie with Al Pacino. Jon has received eight LADCC Awards, three L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, and over 60 Drama-Logue, LA Weekly and NAACP Theater awards. Jon also serves as the head of the Sound Design program for the School of Theater at California Institute of the Arts. STEVE RANKIN (Fight Director) Most recently at the Geffen: Mathew Modine Saves the Alpacas. Broadway: Memphis, Jersey Boys, Henry IV, Twelfth Night, The Who’s Tommy, Anna Christie, The Real Inspector Hound, Macbeth, The Farnsworth Invention, Guys and Dolls, Dracula, Doctor Zhivago, Bonnie and Clyde, Getting Away With Murder, Two Shakespearean Actors. OffBroadway: Pig Farm, The Third Story, The Night Hank Williams Died, Below the Belt. Regional: Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theatre, Old Globe (Associate Artist), La Jolla Playhouse, Berkeley Rep, Actors Theater of Louisville, Center Stage, Geva Theatre Center, Virginia Stage Company, Asolo, et al. Stratford Shakespeare Festival: Romeo and Juliet, Caesar and Cleopatra, The Who’s Tommy,
Macbeth, Henry V. Metropolitan Opera: Faust, Rodelinda, Boris Godunov, Iphegenie at Tauride. Future projects: The Front Page (Broadway), Hunchback of Notre Dame (Japan). Mr. Rankin also plays mandolin and guitar with The Susie Glaze Quintet. AMY LEVINSON (Dramaturg) Amy is the Artistic Associate and Literary Director at the Geffen Playhouse. Dramaturgy credits include the commissions and world premieres of Donald Margulies’ Time Stands Still and Coney Island Christmas, Jane Anderson’s The Quality of Life and The Escort and Jeffrey Hatcher’s new adaptation of Wait Until Dark. Other credits include The Weir, Extraordinary Chambers, Build, Equivocation and Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress. At the Geffen she has helped to build programs for the purpose of fostering new work including the commissioning and development of plays. Also a translator of Yiddish drama, she holds an M.F.A. in Dramaturgy from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. ELIZABETH A. BROHM (Production Stage Manager) Geffen Playhouse: Barcelona; Thom Pain (based on nothing); Bad Jews; The Night Alive; Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin; Ruth Draper’s Monologues; Yes, Prime Minister; By the Waters of Babylon; Shipwrecked! An Entertainment — The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as Told by Himself); Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress; Boy Gets Girl; The Unexpected Man; Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks; Looking for Normal; The Weir; Dinner With Friends; Defiled; Wit; It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues. National Tour/Kennedy Center: Wit. Other: Production Coordinator, Geffen Playhouse 2001-2007; Cup Coordinator, X-Prize Foundation; Adjunct Professor in Stage Management, UCLA since 2005. M.F.A. in Stage Management from UCSD. Love to Gino & Mack.
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P9
BIG SKY
JOHN RANDO (Director) Big Sky is John’s fifth production for the Geffen. Other Geffen shows are: All in the Timing (Ovation Award), Merton of the Movies, The Underpants and Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas. Broadway credits include Penn & Teller on Broadway, On The Town (Tony Nomination for Best Direction of a Musical), A Christmas Story, The Wedding Singer, Urinetown (Tony and Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Director), A Thousand Clowns and Neil Simon’s The Dinner Party. His recent OffBroadway credits include Lives of the Saints (Primary Stages), The Heir Apparent (2014 SDCF Calloway Award for Direction — Classic Stage Company), All in the Timing (Primary Stages — 2013 Obie Award for Direction), and The Toxic Avenger, among many others. He directed the Encores! Productions of Annie Get Your Gun, Little Me, It’s a Bird... It’s a Plane... It’s Superman, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, On the Town, Damn Yankees, Face the Music, Strike Up the Band, Do Re Mi, The Pajama Game and Of Thee I Sing. He also directed Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel with the New York Philharmonic. M.F.A. from University of California, Los Angeles.
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES MAGGIE SWING (Assistant Stage Manager) Geffen Playhouse: Barcelona, Guards at the Taj, Discord, The Country House, The Judy Show: My Life as a Sitcom, American Buffalo. European Tour of The Apple Family Plays. OffBroadway: Regular Singing, Sorry, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Sweet and Sad, Knickerbocker, Compulsion, That Hopey Changey Thing (Public Theater), Slowgirl (Lincoln Center), Blood Knot, The Orphans’ Home Cycle (Signature Theatre). Regional: Discord (Arizona Theatre Company), Bell, Book and Candle (co-production with Long Wharf), The Orphans’ Home Cycle, Dividing the Estate, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Christmas Carol, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore, The Bluest Eye, Our Town (Hartford Stage Company). PHYLLIS SCHURINGA, CSA (Casting Director) Phyllis has been the casting director at Geffen Playhouse for 12 years and now is also the Artistic Associate. Recent plays at the Geffen include Outside Mullingar, These Paper Bullets!, Bad Jews, The Night Alive, Switzerland, The Country House, Wait Until Dark and American Buffalo. Before joining the team at the Geffen, she was the casting director for Steppenwolf Theatre 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. P10 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
RANDALL ARNEY (Artistic Director) Randall Arney has been a theater professional for over 30 years and has served as Artistic Director of the Geffen Playhouse since 1999. In addition to his artistic programming and oversight at the Geffen, Arney has helmed many productions for the theater, most recently Outside Mullingar, The Night Alive, Reasons to Be Pretty, Slowgirl, American Buffalo, Superior Donuts, The Female of the Species, The Seafarer, Speed-the-Plow and All My Sons. Arney is an ensemble member and former Artistic Director of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre where his directing credits include: Slowgirl, The Seafarer, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Death and the Maiden, Curse of the Starving Class, Killers and The Geography of Luck, among others. Arney also directed Steppenwolf’s world premiere of Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile, as well as the subsequent national and international acclaimed productions. Mr. Arney’s acting credits with Steppenwolf include Born Yesterday, Ghost in the Machine, The Homecoming, Frank’s Wild Years, You Can’t Take it with You, Fool for Love, True West, Balm in Gilead and Coyote Ugly. As the Artistic Director for Steppenwolf from 1987 to 1995, he oversaw the creation of a new state-of-the-art theater which is Steppenwolf’s current home. Broadway transfers under his leadership include The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, The Song of Jacob Zulu (six Tony Award nominations) and The Grapes of Wrath (1990 Tony Award, Best Play). Mr. Arney has an M.F.A. degree in Acting from Illinois State University and has taught master classes and workshops at UCLA, Steppenwolf, around the U.S. and in Tokyo.
GIL CATES, JR. (Executive Director) Gil Cates, Jr. has proudly served on the Geffen Playhouse Board since 2012 and has years of producing and directing experience in theater, film and television. Gil’s theater credits include the award-winning Names (Matrix Theatre) starring Dixie Carter and Greg Mullavey, The Night I Knocked Out Joe Frazer and Lost 90 Pounds (Gardner Stage Theater), as well as 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, AnnMargret and Golden Globe winner Jeffrey Tambor). In addition, Gil produced and directed the critically acclaimed Life After Tomorrow, featuring Sarah Jessica Parker, which won best documentary at the Phoenix Film Festival and later had its premiere Christmas Eve on Showtime. His other films include Deal (starring Burt Reynolds, Bret Harrison and Charles Durning), The Mesmerist (starring Geffen Playhouse alumnus Neil Patrick Harris), and the critically acclaimed independent film Order of Chaos. Gil also made his television directorial debut with 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 in 1991.
REGINA MILLER (Chief Development Officer) Regina has been a development professional for over 18 years, working with non-profit institutions, foundations and corporations on strategy, analysis and fundraising. She has worked for Simon Wiesenthal Center, The Clinton Foundation, Ben Affleck’s Eastern Congo Initiative, Hank Azaria’s Determined to Succeed, Charlize Theron's Africa Outreach Project, Water. org, Codenow.org among others. Prior to the Geffen, Regina 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. Regina also 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 which incorporated dance therapy and creative movement into an early childhood curriculum as well as wrote and produced 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.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
GEFFEN AT A GLANCE
PRODUCTION STAFF FOR BIG SKY
ADDRESS
Assistant Set Designer Erica Hemminger Assistant Costume Designer Beatrice Collins Assistant Lighting Designer Sarah Elizabeth Resch Assistant Sound Designer Dan Gower Wardrobe Supervisor Liz Rose Properties Artisan Cami Viand Properties Artisan Lilian Bartenstein Production Assistant Vaneh Assadourian
Geffen Playhouse 10886 Le Conte Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90024
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Set provided by Scenic Highlights Lighting Equipment provided by 4Wall Entertainment Lighting Sound Equipment provided by Jon Sound Inc. Production Photographer Michael Lamont Media Filming Four Leaf Media Key Art Stockholm Design SPECIAL THANKS UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Scene, Prop, Sound and Costume Shops; London Cleaners 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.
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 Subscriber Hotline . ......... 310.208.2028 Daily .......................... 12:00 pm — 6:00 pm Please visit geffenplayhouse.org for hours, parking and more information
TICKET SERVICES BOX OFFICE WINDOW When shows are not in performance, the box office window is open: Daily .......................... 12:00 pm — 6:00 pm During the run of a show, the window will be open until curtain. Please note: the box office is unable to process exchanges and future sales one hour prior to curtain time on any performance day.
ACCESS
ASL
ACCESSIBLE ACCOMMODATION Geffen Playhouse is fully committed to ensuring a satisfying theater experience for our patrons with special needs or disabilities. Please contact the box office or an usher to discuss your needs.
AT THE THEATER
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.
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 different from your assigned seat. Be advised that some productions or circumstances may not allow for late or return seating.
SCENE AT THE GEFFEN
The cast of Stage Kiss with Artistic Director Randall Arney, director Bart DeLorenzo and Executive Director Gil Cates, Jr.
Opening Night of Stage Kiss Sponsored by Audi of America, Inc., Hint Water, KIND, Los Angeles magazine, Napa Valley Grille and Richard Ruskell Pastries
Conan O’Brien and Liza Powel O’Brien with director Bart DeLorenzo
Geffen Board Co-Chair Pamela Robinson with Board member Loretta Everett Kaufman
Geffen Board member and alum Merle Dandridge with her friend Kim
Geffen alum Laurie Metcalf with Artistic Director Randall Arney
Donors Steve and Paula Mae Schwartz
BE A PART OF THE SCENE AT THE GEFFEN AND ATTEND OUR OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATIONS CALL THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AT 310.208.6500 EXT. 128
P12 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
Photos by Jordan Strauss Photography and Jeff Lorch Photography
Ron Simms, Geffen Trustees Victoria Mann Simms and Glorya Kaufman and guest
SOCIALIZE @TEAROSE777
Stage Kiss was brilliant fun! I laughed until I cried! The cheeky/cheesy plays within-ina-play were @tcm & 1970s mod hysterics! #STAGEKISS LYNN MARKS
It was fun, magical, and so entertaining. The audience participation was the perfect ingredient to add to this show. Fantastic. You must see this! @NINONAPREA
#INANDOFITSELF
@_AMANDAWYSS
#INANDOFITSELF
Saw Stage Kiss at @GeffenPlayhouse. It was so funny. Great cast — with the always amazing Stephen Caffrey! #STAGEKISS @JACOBMMXVI
Wonder and mystery and affirmation evoked by @derek_del with In & Of Itself is what a live performance is all about. Get out and see it! #INANDOFITSELF #STAGEKISS
@FROZNMBRYO
@MOLLYEPHRAIM
Congratulations to professional adorable-funny-person/scary-kisser @irobotyoujane on the opening of Stage Kiss last night @GeffenPlayhouse! #STAGEKISS
ENGAGE WITH THE GEFFEN! Post, tweet and share during your next visit! @LACEYNOE
@GEFFENPLAYHOUSE #BIGSKY PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P13
BIG SKY
#STAGEKISS
20 YEARS OF STORIES THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE’S STORY for the past 20 years and for sharing what the theater means to you. We have loved hearing from you and look forward to more stories in the next 20 years and beyond. Enjoy this story by Delphine Frost, who, along with her husband Richard, has been a long-time supporter of the Geffen.
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE SUPPORTERS
DELPHINE & RICHARD FROST SEARCHING FOR A GHOST. That’s
my
first
memory
of
the
Geffen
Playhouse. In 1993 I was blessed to be one of the members of Gil Cates’ team that would help acquire and reshape the Westwood Playhouse into the beautiful theater it is today. On that particular afternoon, Gil, Westwood Playhouse owner Kirsten Coombs and I were taking a casual tour of the theater and its adjoining spaces. As we explored offices, peered into closets and climbed up and down stairs, it was a great joy to observe the warmth and professionalism of a man who always seemed to combine just the right amount of show biz savvy with the sensitivity of a kindly rabbi. Gil understood how much it meant to Ms. Coombs to share the history of a theater she so obviously of responsibility be handled with sensitivity and
way with much enthusiasm to search under the
deference.
stage where this apparition apparently resides.
So there I was with these two kind souls…
The eternal optimist, Gil was certain that we’d
one who represented the theater’s respected
come face-to-face with our own phantom of
past and one who would shepherd its dynamic
Westwood but we were out-foxed. Instead we
future…when I felt a cold breeze along my spine.
found our way on to the stage looking out to
I shivered slightly and Gil noticed. “Everything
an imaginary audience — with the excitement of
OK, Delsy?” he asked. “Sure,” said I. But Kirsten
possibility that only live theater can provide.
just smiled and mentioned that every theater
And the ghost? Well, every once in a while
had a ghost and this one had made its presence
during a performance, if you look in the shadows,
known. And with that, we were off. Gil led the
stage right...
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P14
Photos by Jeff Lorch Photography
loved and how important it was that this transfer
SEASON SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
THANK YOU TO THE LUXURY BRANDS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US IN THE 2015/2016 SEASON WITH IN-KIND DONATIONS
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P15
DONATE
We invite you to help give youth from Los Angeles’ most underserved communities the opportunity to experience live theater and to work with world-class artists who inspire and educate them like nothing else can. Together with the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, we engage more than 500 underserved high school students from the lowest-performing high schools in Los Angeles in a season-long program. Profoundly disadvantaged youth gain access to year-round opportunities to experience world-class live theater. This is not just one-time access, but a deeply impactful program.
1 MONTH PRIOR TO EACH MATINEE Our Director of Education and Community Engagement creates a detailed study guide to help students more fully understand the themes of the play.
1 WEEK PRIOR TO EACH MATINEE Geffen Playhouse teaching artists go into classrooms to explore the play with students and prepare them for the matinee, using theater activities and the study guides as tools.
DAY OF EACH MATINEE
1 WEEK AFTER EACH MATINEE Geffen Playhouse teaching artists go back into classrooms to guide students as they reflect on the play, its themes and the impact of the overall theater-going experience.
SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM NOW AND HELP US CHANGE LIVES THROUGH LIVE THEATER VISIT GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.ORG/DONATE
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P16
Photos by Jeff Lorch Photography
Buses bring students to the Geffen, where they enjoy a snack before the show. The matinee performance is followed by a moderated talkback with the cast. After the performance, buses take students back to their schools.
DONATE
SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AND ALL THE WORK WE DO AND ENHANCE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THESE BENEFITS EDUCATION ADVOCATE $1,000+ ALL BENEFITS AT LOWER LEVELS PLUS… • Access to the Marcia Israel-Curley Founders Room, featuring complimentary drinks, coffee, snacks and private restrooms. • Recognition on a glass panel in our lobby. • Personalized assistance with renewing your subscription from a member of our Development office. • Ability to upgrade single tickets or subscription seats into house seats. Subject to availability.
DIRECTOR $5,000+ ALL BENEFITS AT LOWER LEVELS PLUS… • Join us at Opening Nights! 2 tickets to all Opening Nights in the Gil Cates Theater. Opening Nights are by invitation only and include complimentary valet parking, a pre-show cocktail reception with drinks and appetizers and a post-show party where you can meet the cast and enjoy a fun party!
ARTISTIC ADVOCATE $500+ ALL BENEFITS AT LOWER LEVELS PLUS… • Parking will be a breeze! VIP parking at a lot directly across the street from the Geffen. • A Geffen Playhouse script from the current or past season signed by the cast of the show.
SPONSOR $3,000+ ALL BENEFITS AT LOWER LEVELS PLUS… • VIP Flex Pass subscription — 2 house seats to all shows in the Gil Cates Theater season and the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater season. Just call the Development office and tell us when you want to see the shows, and we’ll find you great seats! • A unique behind-the-scenes experience for one show in the season personalized for you. Possibilities include attending a rehearsal, design presentation, or set tour.
ASSOCIATE $250+ PARTNER $1,500+
Photos by Jeff Lorch Photography
ALL BENEFITS AT LOWER LEVELS PLUS… • Let us help you book house seats at theaters nationwide. Simply call our VIP theatrical concierge. • Unlimited drinks are on us! Bar card for unlimited drinks at the Geffen Playhouse bar.
ALL BENEFITS AT LOWER LEVELS PLUS… • Recognition in the house program. • Caffeine is on us! Coffee card good for unlimited coffee and tea at the Geffen Playhouse bar. • A toast! 2 complimentary glasses of champagne at the Geffen Playhouse bar. • Come celebrate with us! Invitation to the “Season Finale Reception” at Tanzy Restaurant on July 27, 2016, where you will mingle with Geffen artists, Board members and staff. Enjoy complimentary cocktails and appetizers, music and a photo booth.
AFFILIATE $150+ • Drinks are on us! 2 complimentary drinks at the Geffen Playhouse bar. • Dessert is on us! A complimentary cookie at the Geffen Playhouse bar.
SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM NOW AND ENHANCE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THESE BENEFITS AT GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.ORG/DONATE
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P17
EDUCATION
HUNDREDS MORE HIGH SCHOOLERS SERVED THANKS TO A GENEROUS CHALLENGE GRANT BY THE EDWARD A. & AI O. SHAY
This additional matinee performance effectively doubled the number of students served, as the High School Partnerships Program currently supports 500 students from 4 different high schools. Many of these students are living in some of the most low-income, isolated neighborhoods of East Los Angeles, South Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. The depth of this program, which includes pre- and post-show workshops, coupled with exposure to a full season of Gil Cates Theater productions, yields a strong, lasting impact on the students. Their progress as thoughtful theatergoers has been witnessed on a continual basis by teachers, principals and parents. Through your gracious spirit, your generosity and your commitment to the entire Los Angeles community, Geffen Playhouse has been able to build new partnerships with these underserved high schools, extending the program’s impact into 2016. However, the job is far from over. There are still more than 10 high schools on a year-long waiting list for this extraordinary High School Partnerships Program. While the addition of a second student matinee for a single production is exciting, Geffen Playhouse aims to add a second student matinee for every Gil Cates Theater production in the 2016/2017 season! Please consider a tax-deductible gift to Geffen Playhouse to allow these schools to experience the magic of live theater with a second series of student matinees. CONTACT THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS AT 310.208.6500 EXT. 141 TO HELP THE GROWING NEEDS OF THE GREATER LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P18
Photos by Jeff Lorch Photography
Family Foundation and individual donors, Geffen Playhouse was able to add a second all-student matinee for the 2015/2016 production of Barcelona. 500 students experienced theater for the first time, as well as in-class sessions with Geffen Playhouse Teaching Artists before and after the show.
ANNUAL DONORS
In appreciation, donors enjoy a host of special benefits including house seats, complimentary drinks, receptions and much more. For more information, please call Jamie Mikelich at 310.208.6500 ext. 128.
CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE $50,000+ Anonymous Audi of America, Inc Ben/Joyce Eisenberg Foundation Mrs. Carol K. Block & Chancellor Gene D. Block Claudia & Kevin Bright City National Bank Elizabeth & Gil Cates, Jr. Mary Ann Cloyd David Geffen Foundation Douglas Elliman Real Estate Edgerton Foundation The Edward A. & Ai O. Shay Family Foundation Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer & Melvin Keefer Herbert M. & Beverly J. Gelfand In Memory of Alice Ghostley & Felice Orlandi Sam Gores The Adi & Jerry Greenberg Foundation Guggenheim Partners Investment Management Holdings, LLC Carole & Bill Haber Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust Martha Henderson Rabbi Uri D. Herscher & Dr. Myrna Herscher Cindy & Alan Horn Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg Glorya Kaufman Loretta Everett Kaufman & Victor Kaufman Kenneth T. & Eileen L. Norris Foundation Keyes Automotive Group Sandra Krause & William Fitzgerald L&N Andreas Foundation Latham & Watkins LLP The Lauder Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Jason & Yvonne Lee Susan & David Leveton Ginny Mancini Fay & Frank Mancuso John McCrite & Juan Lopez Donna McKenna & Flynn Chernos Kelly & Ron Meyer Scott Minerd Ann & Jerry Moss Moss Foundation Paradigm Talent Agency Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Participant Media PricewaterhouseCoopers Madeline & Bruce Ramer Pamela Robinson Hollander & Robert Hollander Linda Bernstein Rubin & Tony Rubin Richard & Barbara Sherman Shubert Foundation
Skirball Foundation Karen & Vic Smith Cynthia P. Stafford Jodi & Howard Tenenbaum Miranda & Brett Tollman UCLA The Walt Disney Company Ken Willner & Jim Stine Judy & Chancellor Charles E. Young Dirk & Natasha Ziff
ARTISTIC CIRCLE $25,000 - $49,999 Anonymous (2) Aegon Transamerica Foundation Patricia Kiernan Applegate Aria Resort & Spa Robert C. Baral Laurie & Bill Benenson Valarie De La Garza & Michael Centeno CenterStaging Kathy & Mitch Clark Classic Party Rentals Clay Lacy Aviation DreamWorks Animation Dwight Stuart Youth Fund Carol & Paul Frimmer Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, Inc. Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association Mellody Hobson 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 Lynda & Stewart Resnick Holly Rice Judith & Bruce Stern Shel & Cynthia Stone
PRODUCER $10,000 - $24,999 Anonymous Ariel Investments Beth Behrs Georgette Bennett & Leonard Polonsky Charles A. Black, Jr. Board of Supervisors County of Los Angeles Brotman Foundation of California Eileen & Harold Brown Bulgari Corporation of America Roma Downey & Mark Burnett The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation Capricorn Investment Group
Marcy Carsey Stephanie & Jonathan Carson The Chatwal City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Carole Bayer Sager & Robert A. Daly Edward Avedis Dr. & Mrs. Paul Eisenberg Evolution Media Capital Susan & Mark Fleischer Susan & Eric Fleishman Fox Entertainment Group The Friedman Group Gagosian Gallery, Inc Dr. Hilary Garland Ghurka Ann & Jim Gianopulos The Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Foundation Patty Glaser & Sam Mudie Goldman Sachs Andy & Carlo Brandon-Gordon Manuela & James Goren Arthur Greenberg Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP C. Curtis Grisham In Memory of Morris A. Hazan HBO Samantha & Eric Heer Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa Stanley Iezman & Nancy Stark Joseph Drown Foundation Joan Kaloustian The Kinloch Club, New Zealand Bobby Kotick Janine & Peter Lowy Carla Malden Mona Malden Malibu Family Wines Susan & Peter Mallory Nancy & Michael McClelland Wendy & Barry Meyer MOCA Foundation Marcia & Brett Molotsky Leslie Moonves & Julie Chen Morgan Stanley James L. Nederlander & Margo MacNabb Nederlander Northern Trust, NA Mo Ostin Carol & Bill Ouchi Palomino Laurie MacDonald & Walter Parkes Popland Studios Red Granite Pictures Judith Reichman, MD Gail & Andrew Roth Richard Ruskell Pastries Ronen Levy Events Rouse Appraisals The Simms/Mann Family Foundation Skoll Foundation Fred Specktor & Nancy Heller Sugarfish Elizabeth Guber Sugarman & Jason Sugarman Thompson Coburn LLP Steve Tisch
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P19
BIG SKY
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 March 10, 2015 and May 10, 2016.
ANNUAL DONORS U.S. Bank Union Bank Uniworld River Cruises Inc Warner Bros. Entertainment Well Done Catering Westfield Group Rita Wilson & Tom Hanks Linda Yellin Ruth Ziegler Richard & Mae Ziman
DIRECTOR $5,000 - $9,999 Anonymous Katie McGrath & J.J. Abrams Jehan F. Agrama & Dwora Fried Paul G. Allen AMC Amgen Foundation Hilary & Jack Angelo Cathy & Shel Bachrach The Alec Baldwin Foundation The Baxter International Foundation Belmond La Samanna Annette Blum Mara & Jonathan Blum Heather Thomas & Skip Brittenham The Eli & Edythe L. Broad Foundation Cindy & Bob Broder Amanda Brown & Justin Chang Linda & Jerry Bruckheimer Maya Burkenroad & Tai Lopez Glenn & Lynn Cardoso Beate & Christopher Chee Comcast | NBC Universal Creative Artists Agency Merle Dandridge & Christopher Johnston Debra Davis Winnie Holzman & Paul Dooley Dream Warrior Group Fielding Edlow & Larry Clarke Jo & Larry Feldman Susanna Felleman & Erik Feig Fendi Lawrence N. Field Eric Flamholtz & Yvonne Randle Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea Kiki & David Gindler Priscila Giraldo Sue & Steve Glusker Gloria & Peter Gold Mary Ann & Irwin Gold Leo S. Guthman Fund Gail & Stanley Hollander Vicki Iovine & David Coiro Bernice & Wendell Jeffrey Yvonne & Damien Jordan Marvin Jubas & Janet Wald Mannon Kaplan Sally & Dr. Manny J. Karbelnig Julie & David Kavner KIND Bars Alex Kurtzman & Samantha Kurtzman-Counter Wendy Kurtzman La Valencia Eileen & Kase Lawal Drs. Gerald & Barbara Levey Lucques Catering
P20 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
Padma & Rao Makineni Anne Stringfield & Steve Martin Merle & Jerry Measer Hillary & Lance Milken Judy Zaban Miller & Lester Miller Kate Moran & Mikki Rosenberg Liza & Conan O’Brien Christine Marie Ofiesh Maura O’Neill Pottash/Ferguson Family Foundation Pure Cheesecakes Kay & Bob Rehme Joyce Rey The Richenthal Foundation Jane Rissman & Richard Sondheimer Eden & Steven Romick Howard Rose Rikki Rosen Thomas L. Safran Hon. Nicole A. Avant & Ted Sarandos Judi & Bruce Schindler Jody & Arthur Schmid Ken & Carol Schultz Foundation Janet & Michael Schwartz Steve & Paula Mae Schwartz Tina & David Segel Michael & Glenda Shaw Sidley Austin LLP The Simon-Strauss Foundation Singer Family Foundation Lorraine Spurge & Patrick Mitchell Susan & Don Starr Arnold Stiefel Tanino Ristorante Tanzy Restaurant Barbara & Larry Tenan Lynda Thomas Thomas Safran & Associates Theatre Communications Group Todd Reed, Inc. Karen Zoller, MD & David Tillman, MD The Travel Corporation Alice & Norman Tulchin Jennifer von Schneidau Michael E. Walsh West LA Poker William Morris Endeavor Entertainment Karen & Rick Wolfen Jennifer Young & Katrina Nason Diva Zappa Ruth & Stan Zicklin In Loving Memory of Herman Ziegler Ellen & Ken Ziffren Ziffren Brittenham LLP
SPONSOR $3,000 – $4,999 Janis Adams & John Lyons Pat & Sandy Adams Shelly & Libby Bergen Susan Booth & Christopher Wadden Bora Bora Pearl Van Boyd Robert Brook & Jacqueline Kosecoff Dr. Fanya Carter, PhD Scott, Susan & Joshua Corwin Mica Ertegun Marion Goldenfeld Bucky Hazan, Teles Properties Stephen Sass & Steven Hochstadt
Dora & Neil Kadisha Barbara & Ronnie Kahn Deborah & Ivan Kallick Thea & Neal Koss Renee & Meyer Luskin Vicki Magasinn & Robert Somer Sherry Martin Rio & Frank Morse Benedicta & Geoffry Oblath One & Only Palmilla Judi & Tim Ritchie Craig E. Rogers Maria Rodriguez & Victoria Bullock Sue Rosenwasser Lori & David Rousso Judy & Mike Sapir Leigh Silverton Allen Blue & Kira Snyder Karen & William Timberlake Triada Palm Springs Vernon, Barry & Dale Tyerman in Honor of Ruth Tyerman Lentz The Waterman Family Foundation Joanne & Ken Weinman Leslie White & Al Limon Patricia Youngman
PARTNER $1,500 - $2,999 Anonymous (2) Miriam Aguiar Olga S. Alderson Margaret Campbell Arvey Aversano Family Trust Kathy Baker & Steven Robman Robert E. & Maria H. Barron Richard Bautzer & David McDowell Patricia & Mark Benjamin John Bjorge & Mary McKelvey Carolyn & Martin Bloom Dr. Wallace P. Brithinee Debra Cappos Pat & Bill Chin Darcy Christal Laurel & Aaron Clark Linda & John Coleman David Conney, M.D. Shelley Wike Cranley Elizabeth Dalling Pam Dawber Susan & Jonathan Dolgen Victoria Dummer Carol & J.B. Esterkin Robert & Sonia Freedman Helen & Arthur Geoffrion Sunny & Alvin Grossblatt Craigar Grosvenor The Guerin Foundation Alan & Michelle Heilpern Dr. John D. Hofbauer & Dr. Laura E. Fox In Honor of Development Roger & Linda Howard Brian Irving & Dayna Cussler Nancy & Len Jacoby Carrie Johnson Manny Klausner Katherine Kleindienst Lynn Marks Eduardo Martinez Janis B. McEldowney
James & Patrice Mitchell Patricia Mitchell Shulamit Nazarian The New York Palace Olympus Theatricals Michael R. Oppenheim Carol & Alan Ostroff Cheryl Petersen Tara & Robert Pietri Herbert & Marilyn Piken Ruth Popkin Lindy Robbins Sonny & Cynthia Rodriguez Wil Rosser Ari Schapiro Susan Schwarz Berton Jackie & Charles Schwartz Matthew Shakman Dominique Shelton Snyder Family Foundation Mitch & Sherry Stein Lisa Stonich Surf Air Audri & Stan Tendler Paul Tetreault Daniel Tongbai Susan & Peter Van Haften Denise & Peter Walsh Roberta Weintraub Gelena & Seth Weissman Cherie Wrigley Barbara & Stanley Zax Marcie & Howard Zelikow Leslie & Robert Zemeckis Ellen & Arnold Zetcher David Zuckerman & Ellie Kanner-Zuckerman
EDUCATION ADVOCATE $1,000 - $1,499 Anonymous (2) Harry & Gay Abrams/Abrams Artists Agency Dr. Richard Ackerman & Miriam Shakter Laura & Harvey Alpert Charitable Foundation Merryl & David A. Alpert Bonnie & Bill Apfelbaum AudioQuest Russ, August & Kabat Carol Ann & D.C. Bakeman Richard & Shelley Bayer Jerry Beckman Susan & Eric M. Bender Peter & Barbara Benedek Paula & Bruce Bennett Wendy & John Bergquist Jim & Diane Berliner Sharon & Artie Berrick Joe Blackstone & Jamie Mohn The Bordy & Leibovic Families Brenda & Alan Borstein Helen Breitwieser & James Jacks Wendy & David Brotman Chancellor Albert Carnesale & Mrs. Robin Carnesale Scott Carter & Bebe Johnson Peg Casey David Cates & Christine Vavak Jane Cates Jonathan & Elena Cates
ANNUAL DONORS Eric G.C. Mark Sue McHugh & Herb Seese Joel & Sheila Mendelsohn The Miles Family Barbara & Fred Miller Andrew & Laura Mintzer Joanne & Joel Mogy Montage Hotels and Residences In Loving Memory of Harvey S. Morse Lon Morse & Toni Hollander Morse Joan & Fred Nicholas Albert & Barbara Nichols John Nickoll Michael Nicklin Deborah & Stacey Olliff Ornest Family Foundation Gia Paladino & Michael Wise Carol Parry & John Fox Philip & Leslie Paton Amanda Crick & Glenn Pfeffer Pier South Craig Piligian Berta & Lou Pitt Jane Rascoff Richard Rasiej & Joan Herman Harvey & Joyce Reichard Sandra C. Ribble Donald B. & Susan F. Rice In Memory of Frances Richman Esther & Howard Richmond Beth Roberts & Warren Smith Richard Roberts Dolores Rogers Brad & Nancy Rosenberg Nancy Stephens & Rick Rosenthal and The Rosenthal Family Foundation David A. & Karen Richards Sachs Susana Salazar Mark San Filippo Nancy & Ted Sanborn Savitsky Satin & Bacon Toni & John Schulman Dr. Daniel Schwartz David Schwartz Foundation, John S. Schwartz Don & Cynthia Schwartz Joanna & Jonathan Schwartz Peggy and Robert Shapiro John & Lori Shaw Phyllis & Martin Shephard Doris & Michael Sherman Holly & Larry Shulman Steven Siegel & Lily Carey Rita & Jose Sigal Ron Silverman & Soraya Ross Joan & Jerry Snyder Drs. Matthew & Marion Solomon The Somaini Family Marcella, Joy & Grant Stanley Christine Taylor & Ben Stiller Jordan Strauss Photography Barbra Streisand & James Brolin David & Katherine Stritzinger Eric Strom & Eileen Goodis Aaron & Melissa Stroud Sunrise Springs Katy Sweet The Tatasciore Family Anne C. Taubman & David Boyle John Teeples & Nicolas Martinez, Jr. John C. Turmes Catherine & Leonard Unger Daniel & Shauna Valenzuela Alan Van Vliet Doris Weinberg
Alison Whalen & Steven Marenberg Marcia Williams & Gene Lucero Philip & Judith Winik David Wong Anna & Stephen Yallourakis Debra Zavala
ARTISTIC ADVOCATE $500 - $999 Anonymous (6) Laurence & Ilene Abramson Betsy Alevy Patti & Harlan Amstutz Nancy Antoniou Eloise & Mark Appel Ares Management LLC Bonnie Arnold Jeanne Bailey Janet & Irwin Barnet Irene Baron Sigrid & Alan Belinkoff Joanne & Miles Benickes Madelyn Bennett & Eric Gibson Yvette Bergeron & Dean Bailey Kristen Bird Diane & Richard Birnholz Black Market Gelato Larry & Julie Blivas In honor of Phyllis Blivas Pamela & Bill Bohnert Michael J. Bordy Janet & Mark Brown Laura D. Campbell Andrew Carlberg Lee & Shelby Chaden Elsbeth Collins & James Greene Ginger Conrad Ted Cordes Donald & Zoe Cosgrove Culver Hotel Morgan Dameron Geraldine Darrow Dr. Udayakumar Devaskar The Milton L. & Betty J. Dranow Family Foundation Roni & Ethan Eller David & Joyce Evans Marjorie & Arthur Fine The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Fund Michael & Lynne Flynn Myrna Forest Burt & Nanette Forester Judith R. Forman and Dr. Cynthia Pikus Lois & Gerald Gallop Sharlene & Sol Galper The Gewecke Family Benita & Bert Ginsberg Annie & Tom Goepel Louis & Linda Goldsman Marcy Goldstein Ellie Goodman Lori & Robert Goodman Diana & Ronald Granit Gigi & Don Grant Gaby & Rob Greenberg Marcy & Edgar Gross Madeline Gussman Carolyn & Bernie Hamilton Kay Harrington Arlene S Harris Richard Hart Sheila & Chester Hasday Zvia Hempling Jack Hileman & Roxanne Huddleston Mrs. Dorothy Hoffman
Kelley M. Hogan Gerald Isenberg Terry & Marc J. Jacoby Brad & Kay Jensen Brett Johnson Robert Jones Drs. Elaine & Jeff Kamil Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Kamine Christine Kaplan Stan Kasten Patricia Keating Nancy Mette & Barnet Kellman Beverlee Bickmore & James Kelly Marlene & Donald Kottler Jeffrey Kramer Tam & David Lachoff Joan & Christopher Larkin Jeanne & Christopher Lavagnino Sandi Lawless Joyce Lederer Brenda & Warren Lincoln Wendy Lindley Neil L. & Ora D. Macfarlane George Manet Elizabeth Marcellino Mr. & Mrs. Phillips H. Marshall Stewart Mayeda Richard Milling Teddie J. Milner Sue & Monty Mohrman Paula Moseley, EdD Sandra Moss Carol & Jerry Muchin Sherri & Arnie Nelson Robert & Anita Nitta Doreen & Donald Nortman Shelby Notkin Sylvia & Robert Paris Barbara & Peter Patman Jonna & Alfred Peguero In Memory of Michael Piller Ruth Pilot Rabbi Steven & Didi Carr Reuben Carrie Richman Linda & Manny Rider Carlene Ringer Ronda & Fred Rose Blanche & Bruce Joel Rubin Tyler Rubin Crystal Salapatas In memory of Hon. Maxwell Salter Jay Sandrich Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers Nancy & Steven Schneider Susan & Peter Schwab David & Margaret Schwanke Traci Shelton Carol & Arthur Silbergeld Robin & Robert Sills Martin & Leah Sklar Dr. Jerry & Marci Smith Trudy Sokol Sold Out Crowd Rita Spiegel Sharon Suarez Alec Sulkin Mr. & Mrs. David Tann Nancy Thomas Ira & Laurie Waldman Marcia & Dr. Charles Wasserman Julie & Peter Weil David Weiss Pat West Connie & John Weston In Memory of Milton A. Williams, Jr. Charlie Wilson Jay Weinstein & Lori Woldar
PERFORMANCES  MAGAZINE P21
BIG SKY
Melissa Cates & Roger Claman Steven Cerasale & Mary Katherine Cocharo Martha Chase Sachiko T. Cochran MD & Joseph T. Araki Janine Cristiano Culver Hotel Ruth Daugherty Deluscious Cookies Carolyn Dirks/Brett Dougherty Dennis & Jeralyn Doty Jan & Thea Drayer Gerald & Sally Ducot William Duncan Marilyn P. Dunn Dr. & Mrs. William M Duxler In Honor of Education & Community Engagement Colleen M. Ellis Terri & David Elston The English Language Center Carl & Courtenay Enright Michael & Lynne Feldman Donnovan Field Sydney M. Finegold, M.D. Steve Freedman Ben & Susan Friedman G2 Graphic Service, Inc. Pat & Sandy Gage Jeanne & Arnold Geffner Diane & Bruce Gewertz The Gibbs Family Cherna & Dr. Gary Gitnick Charlotte Gold Dr. Irene Goldenberg Abner & Roz Goldstine Helene Gordon Adrienne Grant & Paul Jennings Jack Grossbart & Marc Schwartz Michael Grunwald Deidre Hall Monty & Marilyn Hall Salli Harris Michael Parks & Judith Hayward Murray & Gail Heltzer Lynda Klein & Neal Hersh David Coleman & Jean Himmelstein Coleman Rand Hoffman & Charlotte Robinson Tamara Horwich & Gerry Lipshutz Toni Hoyt Lynn Hunt & Margaret Jacob Linda Janger Joseph B. Gould Foundation J.W. Hulme Co Linda & David Kagel Joyce & Don Kaiserman Marcy Kaplan & Eric Gold Karney Guren Family Foundation In Honor of Judi Kaufman Lenny & David Kelton Barbara & Stuart Klabin Kent Klavens & Judy Vourlas Judy Knapp Leslie & Norman Koplof Carol Krause Deborah Lacusta & Daniel Castellaneta Bethany Joy Lenz Lydia & Chuck Levy Steven & Nancy Lippman Jeffrey & Elisabeth Lipsman Judith Locke & Dennis Massie London Cleaners, Inc Karen & Frederick Lorig The Jennifer and Greg Malins Foundation
ANNUAL DONORS ASSOCIATE $250 - $499 Anonymous (10) Emanuel & Nancy Abrams Norman & Toshka Abrams Patricia Abrams Terry & Richard Abrams Actors Equity Foundation, Inc Anne Adair & Steve Ganzberg Barbara Adams Elaine & Michael Agran Charles & Annick Allen Sylvia Almstadt Jan & David Altemus Paul Alter Peter Anderson Robert C. Anderson Philip Angerhofer & Stephen A. Jones Debra & Benjamin Ansell Jc & Jack Appelbaum Mark Archer Steven D. Arias Barbara & Ethan Aronoff Marc & Elizabeth Axelrod Ross & Lindsey Avner Lynne & Lee Babbitt Cecilia Ball Edward Barad & Carol McCully Linda Barnett Victoria Bates Randy Bayard Judith & Thomas Beckmen Dawn & Marshall Bein Dr. Timothy Belavich & Bernie Knobbe Marshall Bell Richard N. Berger JoAnn Bernard Karen Berko-Gibson Barbara Berkowitz Karen Berkowitz Marsha C. Berkowitz Beverly Bierer William Bigelow & Bridget Karlin Claudia & Ronald Bitzer Marjorie Blatt Jeff Boland Frances & Thomas Booth Toby Bornstein Judge & Mrs. Anthony Borwick Deanne Bosnak Burt Boyar Carol J. Bradshaw Paula Brand Mona Brandler John & Debbie Brincko Leah Lynn Broidy Mitchell Brown Marshall Bull David & Kathy Burke Marcia Burnam Marlene & David Capell Phil Carlin Miss Irene Castaldo Ellen & Jeff Catania In Memory of Gil Cates Ling Chan Sandra Chan Barry Charles Diane Chernansky Mike Clements Anselm Clinard Ken Coelho Donell Cohen Ivan Contreras Lionel Conway Linda Covette Jon Cowan Susan Georgine Craig Norman & Nancy Cravens Valerie & Donald Cravitz
P22 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
Shawn Cunningham Ingrid Curtiss, MD Ames Cushing In Loving Memory of Ed Cypert Muriel Dance & Alvin Martin Col. Tony, Donna & Taylor Daniell Hedva & Dr. Dudley Danoff Jeffrey S. Davidson Ruth B. Davis & Pearl Schultz Elizabeth De Oliveira Hal & Roberta Delevie Brian Demsey Robert Ditullio Suzanne & Bruce Dodds Carol Jean Doehring Fred & Marilyn Dorer Sandy & Gerry Dorfman Daryl & Paul F. Doucette Paul Dowling Helina Dreicer Jacki & Murray Drechsler Earthlings.com Michael East Mona & Barry Edwards Chiedu Egbuniwe Larry & Elke Ereshefsky Janet Fattal Francesco Federico Mimi Alpert Feldman Judy & Jerry Felsenthal Abby & Malcolm Field Paul & Karen Finkel Donna Finley Evaline Fishman Margaret Flanders William & Elisabeth Fleischman Myrna ‘Pepper’ Forest Rosella Forte Sandy & Mitch Francis Dolores Franco Gilbert & Marilyn Frank Julia Franz Fran Fredella & Scott Rubin Donald & Sandy French Kenneth J. Friedman & Marilynn J. Friedman Family Foundation Laurelle Frome & Brady Frome Yuri & Yelena Furman Gina Furth Lee Gardenswartz Larry & Judith Garshofsky Russell Gersten Dr. Diane & Michael Glazer Richard & Lori Glucksman Hannah Godwin Lorain Goldberg Mark & Molly Goldberg Francine Golden & Marvin Schlossman Dr. Peter Goldman Dina Goldstein Ellie & Barry Goldstein Jo-Ann Gordon Roger Gordon David Goren Liz Gottainer & David Sadkin Joan Green Madelyne Green Paul & Louise Greenberg Randi & Jerome Greenberg Larry Guli Eve Haberfield & David N. Johnson Janet S. Hadley Roberta L. Haft Kambiz Hakim Mary & Alan Halkett Roberta Hamilton Tess Harper Marcia Harrow Judy L. Hartley Dr. & Mrs. Samuel Haveson Allan Heinberg Carla & Alan A. Herd Michael & Candice Herman
Matthew Herrmann Winifred C. Hervey Jim Hliboki & Hildi Snodgrass Cina Hodges Gayle Hooker Dale & John Hopmans Lynn & David Horowitz Jonathan Howard Mr. & Mrs. John Huber Lonnie Levi Israel Robert & Gail Israel Jackie & Warren Jackson Frederic A. & Nancy Jacobus Barbara & Buford James Martha Jones & Paul Zerella Robert Jones & Julie Anne Robinson Jerry Joseph Joanne & Larry Kahn Lesly Kahn Yolla Kairouz David Kaminow Jean Kaplan Jo Ann & Charles Kaplan Donald Kates Harris Katleman Owen Kato Dana Katz Dean Kauffman & Carlos Andres Mosquera-Tangarife William & Renee Kendall Louanne Kennedy Debra Kessler Dr. Ann Kirsch & Mr. Jonathan Kirsch Irwin Kishner Annette & Charles Kleeman Donna & Jeffrey Klein Dr. Phyllis Klein Laurie & Milton Klorman Dolph Kornblum & Florence Robins Corie & Michael Koss John & Kimberly Kruse Doctors Mark & Lena Labowe Eleanor & Mark Lainer Bruce Landau Carol D. Lande Jill & Michael Lasky Helene & Arthur Laub Susan Lava In Memory of Katie Layman Ginger Leibovitz Ann Leland Charles Letzgus Ron & Marcia Levenson Donna Levi Gail J. Levine Marla E. Levine Suzann Levine Beth Levy & Lloyd Bookman Rick & Vivian Levy Lawrin & Linda Lewin Reuben Lim Lee & Therese Linden Molly & Peter Lindgren Victor & Madeline Lindenheim Bonnie Lisle Cynthia Llaca Leslie & Adam Lobel Anne L. Lynch Guillaume & Crystal Maillet John & Susan Mamer Marcus Mancini Carol & Doug Mancino Pauline Marks David Israeli & Dr. Marie Mazzone Douglas Mcavoy, Jr. Jim & Kathy McCaffery
Cheryl McCormick Patrick W. McDivitt Jeanne McDonald-Powers & Travis Powers Robert Mercer Eileen & Paul Meshekow Erik & Melanie Messerschmidt Reed & Linda Metzger Norma & Larry Meyers Michael Michon & Jackson Roth Philip & Joan Miller Jeff Milman Peter Minarik & Sharon Vera Matlin & Robert Mirman Thomas Mitchell Andrew Molasky Henry Moon Shelagh Moriarty Carol & Jerry Muchin Bill Mullins My-Petite Alexander Levine & Catherine Nameth Murray & Lenore Neidorf Mark & Diane Neubauer Tom Nevermann Chris & Richard Newman Jeff Newman Charna & Allen Nissenson Myra Nourmand Adrienne & Arthur Omansky Dr. Ronald & Iris Onkin Cynthia & Todd Palm Edward Parker Abhilash & Kelly Patel Joanne Patten Kathy & Jeff Perkins Rebecca Perlow Naidu & Jane Permaul Jack & Jane Pollock Zazi Pope Michael & Rose Porterfield Diane & Michael Poryes Lance Powell Jeff Prater Sarah & Christopher Priore Philip Pritchett Neil & Lisa Greer Quateman Elyse Resch Mr. & Mrs. James Richards Steve & Linda Richman Lindy Robbins Barbara & David Rognlien Janis & Avi Rojany Robert Rosania Barry Rosen & Neil Bokal Adrienne Rosenthal Beverly & Melvin Rosenthal Joyce & Deane Ross Lawrence Ross & Linda Nussbaum Terry Ross Virginia Ross Georgina & Alan Rothenberg Susan Rovner Bert Royal Anne Sacks Mr. & Mrs. Simon Salloom Penny Grosz Salomon & Eugene Korney Tawny & Gerry Sanders Nan Sarno Susan & Kenneth Sarno Ellen Sassa Maxine Savitz Linda & Cliff Schaffer Chris T. Schmidt Joel & Sonia Schneider
Gary & Karen Schneider Stanley Schneider Elaine Carey & Vincent J. Schodolski Jane & Bill Schopf Christine Schultz John H. Scott Nell Scovell Michele & Peter Serchuk Scott Shagrin Elise Shanfeld Annette & Leonard Shapiro Sasha & Eugenia Shapiro Melanie Sharp & Kevin Miller Steven & Annabelle Shulman Melinda & Yossi Sidikaro Seymour & Dorothy Siegel Evelyne & Joel Smason Diane Good & Frank Smith Barbara Meissner & Hal Smith James Smith & Loreen Ayer Marcia L. & Mark J. Smith Jean Smith-Moore Karen Smits Caitlin & Donald Sohn Christine Sorgi Dr. Robert & Margo Sorrentino Debra Spector M Leslie Stearns Arthur Stern Roger K. Stewart Sy Strasberg William Stringer Penny Strowger Kathryn & Mark Sullivan Mr. Kayser Sume & Dr. Renee Sabshin Ann Sunderland Katherine Sung Keith & Judy Swayne Lance & Maureen Tan James Tate Phyllis & Franklin Tell Marjorie Thomson Jay & Courtney Tobin Jacqueline G. Tousley Joyce & Josh Trabulus Miriam Trogdon Brigitta Troy Beryl Turner Leon & Stephanie Vahn Deborah Valdez Sofia Vaisman Anthony Vasek Bobette Vikan Arnold & Carol Vinstein Carole Wagner-Vallianos & Peter Vallianos Dr. & Mrs. William Walsh Gloria Walther Marvin Wasserman Seth Freeman & Julie Waxman Sherry Weinman & Michael Umansky Marsha & Steven Weiss Richard & Joyce Wickline Rae Jeane Williams Patrick Wilson Gary & Karen Winnick Bruce & Marci Wiseman Marc Wishingrad Susan Wolford Shana Wong Diana Lynn Woods Joseph Wu Karen & Frank Wurtzel Arnold & Tricia Zane 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. 128
Anthony Crivello, Dan Castellaneta and Meredith Patterson in The Underpants. Photo by Michael Lamont.
TIMELINE
THE UNDERPANTS Steve Martin’s The Underpants, an adaptation of Carl Sternheim’s classic 1910 farce, had its West Coast debut in the spring of 2004 and was directed by Big Sky director John Rando. It was the final play to premiere at the Geffen Playhouse prior to a seventeen-month renovation that included a major redesign of the Gil Cates Theater and the addition of the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. MARCH 2004 – APRIL 2004
EXPERIENCE 20 UNFORGETTABLE SEASONS OF GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE PRODUCTIONS ONLINE AT GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.ORG/TIMELINE
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P23
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE STAFF Randall Arney Artistic Director ARTISTIC
Gil Cates, Jr. Executive Director MARKETING & SALES
Amy Levinson Phyllis Schuringa Young Ji Rachel Wiegardt-Egel Rebecca Birstock Isabel Espy DJ Woullard
Artistic Associate / Literary Director Artistic Associate / Casting Director Artistic Coordinator / Company Manager Literary Associate Artistic Intern Artistic Intern Artistic Intern
Jessica Buzzard
Director of Marketing
Karen Gutierrez
Director of Advertising & Sponsorships
Brian Dunning
Graphic Design Manager
Kevin O’Brien
Marketing & Graphics Coordinator
Mark San Filippo
Ticket Services Director & Database Administrator
Stephanie Strand
Audience Services Manager
DEVELOPMENT
Janice Bernal
Box Office Manager
Regina Miller Ellen Catania Jessica Brusilow Rollins Jamie Mikelich Kristen Smith Eshaya Scott Kriloff Clay Dzygun Adam Carr Taylor Cerny Jessie Sherman
Bryan Martin
Box Office Manager
Zack Hamra
Box Office Assistant Manager
Chief Development Officer Senior Vice President, Development Director of Education Partnerships & Donor Relations Associate Director of Individual Giving & Spotlight Manager Development & Education Programs Coordinator Development Concierge Manager Development Associate Development Assistant Development Assistant Development Assistant
Kaitlin Huwe, Richard Martinez, Cameron Reck, Celia Rivera, Celeste Russi, Alyssa Tyson Box Office Staff
COMMUNICATIONS Katy Sweet, Pam Giangregorio, Anna Yan Katy Sweet & Associates Public Relations Sue Fleishman
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Karim Bouzzit
EDUCATION Jennifer Zakkai Director of Education & Community Engagement Carolyn Marie Wright Manager of Education & Community Engagement Mariel Higuera Education Assistant Brian Allman, Corky Dominguez, David Guerra, McKenna Kerrigan, Kristina Leach, Connor White Teaching Artists
ADMINISTRATION Behnaz Ataee Frankie Ocasio Peter Banachowski Samone Watts Marguerite Harris
Chief Financial Officer Executive Assistant Accounting and Payroll Manager Accounts Payable Receptionist
PRODUCTION Daniel Ionazzi Jill Barnes Sam Craven-Griffiths Evan Friedman Rich Gilles James Grabowski Darren Rezowalli Ramine Ameli
Production Manager Associate Production Manager / Company Manager Technical Director Assistant Technical Director Properties Master House Sound Supervisor Lighting & Video Supervisor Production Electrician
Consultant
System Administrator
FRONT OF HOUSE Jeni Pearsons
Director of Special Events
David Gerhardt
Supervising House Manager
Jane Phillips Harper
Deputy Supervising House Manager
Josiah Davis, Brett Donaldson, Amy Farkas, Caroline Harrison Kohler, Nathaniel Meek, Roxana Meyers, James Porter, Jonathan Schwartz House Managers Rebecca Birstock, Kailey Bray, Christopher Caron, Taylor Cerny, Vianney Cossyleon, Taylor Dearden, Ida Herndon, Mariel Higuera, Isaac Jay, Sarah Lyddan, Aaron Newman, JoJo Nwoko, Madison Shamoun, Iain Thomas, Adam Turney, Oliver Vaughn, Cody Williams, Dennis Woullard Ushers Rob Mersola
Bar Manager and Mixologist
Manuel Mayorga
Weekend Bar Manager
Adam Carr, Brenda Davidson, David Gregory, Mariel Higuera, Lyndsi LaRose, Kimberly Legg, Ryan Turner Bartenders/Event Staff
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT Miguel del Castillo
Facility Manager
Mario Santillan-Perez
Custodial
Juan Carlos Umaña
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.
P24 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE