MAGAZINE
welcome to the geffen playhouse
Photo by Andrew Southam
coney island christmas
From the artistic Director Happy holidays and welcome to the world premiere of Donald Margulies’ Coney Island Christmas. This particularly special project began a couple of years ago when the idea for a holiday show started to percolate in the artistic office. After considering many plays for which we had nostalgic fondness, we ultimately decided that we needed something entirely new. Geffen Playhouse founder Gil Cates was struck with the less than obvious but ingenious idea to approach Donald Margulies to create a holiday show for Los Angeles. And the rest is another piece of Geffen history. Margulies tells a universal story with Coney Island Christmas, a portrait of American life that turns tradition on its head while crossing generational and religious lines. The play’s poignancy resides in the reminder that the spirit of a holiday is about coming together while still celebrating each other’s differences. We are so pleased to reunite Margulies and director Bart DeLorenzo. The two artists previously collaborated on Shipwrecked!, which appeared on the Geffen stage in 2008. As he did with the fantastical world DeLorenzo brought to life in that production, he has once again gathered a team of amazing designers and a powerhouse ensemble to guide us through the Coney Island of the 1930s. I have always believed that what makes a holiday story — be it a play, a film or a book — is its ability to transport us to a happier, simpler time. When the story works and we are in fact transported, there is an inevitability of remembering what we have lost and truly appreciating what we continue to have. Good will towards humankind, a spirit of generosity, nostalgia — these are the things the holidays are about, and Margulies captures them all as only a writer of his caliber can. The Geffen family wishes you and yours a very happy holiday season.
Randall Arney Artistic Director PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P1
letter from the chaiRman
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Frank G. Mancuso Chairman
Patricia Kiernan Applegate Randall Arney Behnaz Ataee dr. Gene d. Block Harold A. Brown Gil Cates jr. Mary Ann Cloyd Dennis Doty John Ebey Mark Fleischer Herbert M. Gelfand Chairman Emeritus
FRANK G. MANCUSO It is my pleasure to welcome you to the second show of the season in the Gil Cates Theater. It is with great pride and joy that we bring you Coney Island Christmas. It was my dear friend Gil Cates’ dream to create an annual holiday show for the Geffen Playhouse, and through our new play development program, we were able to commission Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies to create just that. Gil and Donald worked closely as they brainstormed ideas and inspiration for what this new play would become, and were both thrilled to find Grace Paley’s short story as inspiration. Sadly, Gil passed away before he was able to see Coney Island Christmas fully realized on our stage. As such, Donald chose to dedicate this show to Gil, and we are all touched by that thought and join him in remembering our founder and celebrating his dream coming true. The holidays are a time for gratitude as well as celebration. With that in mind, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you who support our work here at the Geffen Playhouse. It has allowed us to create remarkable growth both on our stages as well as within our community outreach programs. We now produce eight shows between our two stages to entertain, educate and engage you. Our reach into the community now extends to children, students, seniors and veterans, bringing the number of people we serve to more than 22,500. None of this would be possible without your support, generosity and good wishes — and for that we are grateful. I wish you and your families a joyful holiday and look forward to seeing you at the theater in the new year. Respectfully yours,
Patricia L. Glaser Adi Greenberg Arthur Greenberg Martha Henderson Pamela Robinson Hollander Joan Kaloustian Glorya Kaufman Loretta Kaufman Dr. Gerald S. Levey carla malden Susan Mallory Ginny Mancini Susanna Midnight Regina Miller Ken Novice Steven A. Olsen Loren Rothschild Linda Bernstein Rubin Teri Schwartz Richard Sherman Fred Specktor deeanna staats Cynthia P. Stafford Howard Tenenbaum michael walsh
FOUNDING TRUSTEES Suzanne Deal Booth Kirsten Combs Robert A. Daly David Geffen Quincy Jones Jeffrey Katzenberg 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
Frank G. Mancuso Chairman, Geffen Playhouse
marcia israel-curley audrey skirball kenis charles kenis Karl Malden Edie wasserman lew wasserman Peter rosen
LEGAL COUNSEL, latham & watkins LLP
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three new works in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the geffen playhouse delgaudio & guimarães have
“Forget what you think you know about ‘magicians.’ DelGaudio and Guimarães will amaze, bewilder and utterly blow your mind hole — a truly magical and transformative experience.” — Neil Patrick Harris
directed by
neil patrick harris
Part of the Geffen Playhouse Spotlight Entertainment Series
An unlikely series of events has led two of the world’s most gifted sleight-of-hand artists, Derek DelGaudio (2011 Close-Up Magician of the Year) and Helder Guimarães (2011 Parlour Magician of the Year), to share a stage. Fresh from sold-out performances at the Magic Castle, DelGaudio and Guimarães have joined forces with director Neil Patrick Harris to present Nothing to Hide, a unique and unprecedented theatrical event. Abandoning the antiquated notions of a traditional magic show, Nothing to Hide takes the audience on an imaginary journey through a series of diverse and engaging vignettes brought to life solely from the words and hands of the two masterful magicians.
must close january 6, 2013
February 26 — April 7, 2013
May 7 — June 16, 2013
Written by August Strindberg Adapted & Directed by Neil LaBute a daring world premiere adaptation
the judy show — my life as a sitcom
MISS JULIE
Geffen Playhouse by special arrangement with Daryl Roth and Eva Price presents
Starring Judy Gold Written by Judy Gold & Kate Moira Ryan Directed by Amanda Charlton west coast premiere comedy
LIMITED SINGLE TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE: geffenplayhouse.com | 310.208.2028
Photo by Lee Salem
A Tale of Two Mensches:
Why (and How) Donald Margulies wrote a Christmas play by amy levinson
Geffen Playhouse founder Gil Cates and Playwright Donald Margulies
ACT I The birth of an idea Often when I speak to writers about the genesis of their plays, I am surprised at what inspires their ideas. But this idea, to have one of America’s preeminent Jewish playwrights — a writer who often explores Jewish themes in his work — write a Christmas play, was an idea that started with our late founder and producing director Gil Cates. Of course, the seeds for this unlikely commission were planted long ago, when Cates directed Margulies’ play P4 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe
Collected Stories. This production, which went on to become a film for PBS, marked the first of many collaborations and the beginning of a profound friendship between the two men. Following the extraordinary success of that play, the theater produced Dinner with Friends, Shipwrecked! An Entertainment: The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont and Time Stands Still, which was commissioned by the Geffen and had its world premiere here before opening on Broadway. The question Margulies couldn’t help but ask in regards to a Christmas commission, though, was, “Why me?” And for Gil and the Geffen, that answer was crystal clear. The idea arose during the run of Margulies’ play Shipwrecked! The play was originally commissioned by South Coast Repertory to be
a tale of two mensches coney island christmas
part of their theater for young audiences, but it ultimately evolved into a fairytale far more suited for adults. It explored the life of Louis De Rougemont, an infamous teller of tall tales who was later called forward to defend the truth of his adventures. It was this play, at once so whimsical and deeply felt, that struck a chord — the likes of which an audience had never seen from Donald Margulies. This was the kernel that lead to Coney Island Christmas. Now while the artistic team at the Geffen saw the obvious correlation between the two, Margulies didn’t quite see the request for this play coming. When asked to tell the story of the phone call he got from Cates about this particular commission, he recounts it as follows:
Samantha Mathis and Linda Lavin in Collected Stories by Donald Margulies. Photo by Craig Schwartz Photography.
Gil: Donald — I’ve been thinking about commissioning a play for the Geffen to run during the holidays, and I want you to write a big Christmas show for the whole family. Donald (joking): Gil, if I’m going to write you a Christmas show, you know it’s going to be a Jewish Christmas show, right? Gil (serious): Perfect! And go ahead and make it really big … a spectacle! Tasked with that direction, Margulies was essentially set loose to find the idea that would launch his writing process. In culling material, he was reminded of a short story called The Loudest Voice by Grace Paley, an eight-page tale of a young Jewish girl named Shirley Abramowitz. Margulies took Paley’s gem and built upon it, creating an entire community who must learn to navigate the cultural melting pot that was New York in the 1930s — and during Christmas no less. Was it big? Yes — Margulies’ new work included musical numbers, two holiday pageants, 17 actors and a Coney Island skyline complete with a Ferris wheel.
ACT II you can take the jew out of brooklyn ... Jewish themes are abundant in the history of Margulies’ work, and the chance to write a holiday show that was not non-denominational, but rather multidenominational provided yet another opportunity to explore one of his favorite subjects. In one of his earlier works, The Model Apartment, Margulies examines what it means to be the child of Holocaust survivors. In Collected Stories his central character’s writing is defined by her Jewish experience in New York. In his adaptation of Sholem Asch’s God of Vengeance, he explores the complicated world of the Jewish immigrant
Joel Rooks and Marin Hinkle in Donald Margulies’ The God of Vengeance (2002) at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Photo by Richard Feldman.
Gregory Itzin in the Geffen Playhouse production of Donald Margulies’ Shipwrecked! An Entertainment, directed by Bart DeLorenzo. Photo by Michael Lamont.
experience in 1922 through the eyes of a brothel owner who wants nothing more than to raise a nice Jewish girl in the midst of his own seedy business practices. The Jewish identification of Margulies’ characters gives them roots in the past, sometimes positive associations of community and purpose, and sometimes negative ones such as persecution and an abandonment of belief. And in Coney Island Christmas, in the midst of holiday songs, humor and heartwarming stories of the past, Margulies still poses questions about assimilation and what it means to be both Jewish and American. Shirley, at twelve years old, is asked by her parents to recognize and honor her history and in turn, she asks her parents to see the difference between participating and assimilating. So having found his inspiration and agreeing on a deadline, all that was left was the writing of the play. The hard part. PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P5
Photo by Chelsey Rosetter
a tale of two mensches cont.
playwright donald margulies and director bart delorenzo during rehearsals of coney island christmas
ACT IIi A new play from the page to the stage Margulies let us know last November, after hearing about the sudden passing of Gil Cates, that he would have the play ready for the following holiday season, and further, that he was dedicating this work to his old friend. He set about writing and by January 2012 the Geffen received the first draft. Margulies’ writing process for all of his plays is as follows: He gets a draft out of his system, the one he calls the “bad rough draft.” Now, to most readers, this ‘bad’ draft is still a good play but what this means for him is that there are sections that are only in idea form — broad sketches rather than specific dialogue, characters who have only begun to be fleshed out, a general direction of the plot, but maybe not every beat. At this point, Margulies gives the draft to one or two people to critique and then goes into a rewrite. Gil was always struck with Margulies’ ability to sort through notes P6 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe
with a discerning ear. He takes what is useful and discards the rest, without being defensive or dismissive where his own work is concerned. After going through this process with Coney Island Christmas, Margulies set back to work on the second draft and emerged in March with a version that was read in front of an audience. In the months that followed we were able to schedule an additional reading that was attended by staff and close friends so that Margulies and director Bart DeLorenzo could continue to hone the script and make decisions about the future production. For Margulies, these readings are an essential part of his process wherein he learns what the play needs in order to be ready for first rehearsal. At the point at which this article goes to print, we have just begun the rehearsal process, where the work on this new play will surely continue. Having Margulies here for the fifth time in the Geffen’s short history is our own version of holiday joy, and we take the bitter with the sweet as Margulies points out that the man who commissioned the piece will never have a chance to see it. But within the play he inspired Margulies to write, Gil Cates will forever be remembered as the man who didn’t think twice about commissioning one of his favorite Jewish writers to pen a Christmas play.
Coney Island Christmas is dedicated to the memory of
Gil Cates with love and gratitude
Photo by Lee Salem
Geffen Playhouse founder Gil Cates and Playwright Donald Margulies
THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE presents
Written by
Donald Margulies Based on the short story The Loudest Voice by
Grace Paley
Scenic Designer
Costume Designer
Takeshi Kata
Ann Closs-Farley
Lighting Designer
Composer/Sound Designer
Production Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Lap Chi Chu
John Ballinger
Jill Gold
Casting by
Phyllis Schuringa
Kyra Hansen Dramaturg
Amy Levinson
Directed by
Bart DeLorenzo
Opening Night: Wednesday, November 28 , 2012 presenting sponsor
OPENIN G NI G HT SPONSOR s
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(In order of appearance)
Shirley Abramowitz..................................................................................................................Angela Paton Clara......................................................................................................................................... Grace Kaufman Young Shirley............................................................................................................................Isabella Acres Evie Slotnick............................................................................................................................Kira Sternbach Mrs. Kornblum..........................................................................................................................Eileen T’Kaye Mr. Abramowitz............................................................................................................................. Arye Gross Mrs. Abramowitz......................................................................................................... Annabelle Gurwitch Jackie Sauerfeld..................................................................................................................... Andrew Walke Ira Pushkov.....................................................................................................................................Joe Gillette Henry Brown.................................................................................................................................Julian Evens Anna Ling.....................................................................................................................................Maya Erskine Mr. Hilton.......................................................................................................................................... John Sloan Miss Glacé.................................................................................................................................. Lily Holleman Ensemble......................................................................................................Elitia Daniels, Ty Freedman, Rachel Hirshee, Sequoia Houston, Jim Kane, Richard Realivasquez
Time/setting Los Angeles, California in the present Brooklyn, New York during the Great Depression running time 85 minutes There will be no intermission
The Geffen Playhouse gratefully acknowledges the following media sponsors for their generous support of Coney Island Christmas.
The 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. The Geffen Playhouse, a non-profit theater company, is proudly affiliated with the University of California at Los Angeles.
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coney island christmas
cast of characters
production biographies School of the Arts and the International Theatre Workshop in Amsterdam. She feels deep gratitude for all the support and love from family and friends.
ISABELLA ACRES (Young Shirley) When she was a toddler, Isabella repeatedly attempted to climb onto the stage at a concert, proclaiming that she wanted to be a part of the show. Her journey as an actor began soon after that. At age seven, Isabella landed a series regular role on ABC’s office comedy Better Off Ted. She later recurred on Desperate Housewives. Isabella’s big screen premiere was in Miranda July’s The Future. Her other television credits include roles on The Middle, The Event, The Mentalist, Monk and Hallmark’s Beyond the Blackboard. She is currently playing Soleil Friedman on season two of the Fox series Touch, and she continues to voice characters in several animated shows including Adventure Time, Scooby Doo Mystery Inc., Phineas and Ferb, and Sofia the First. Isabella is excited to be making her stage debut at the Geffen Playhouse as young Shirley Abramowitz.
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ELITIA DANIELS (Ensemble) Elitia is thrilled to be performing on the Geffen Stage. A recent graduate of the Theatre, Film and Television School at UCLA, Elitia is grateful to be consistently performing and studying in Los Angeles. Proud to be part of the Illyrian Players Theatre Co. ensemble, she was most recently seen as Maud/ Victoria in their production of Cloud 9. Elitia is looking forward to building a lasting career and thanks her mom and dad for their love and support.
MAYA ERSKINE (Anna Ling) Maya is thrilled to be making her Geffen Playhouse debut. Other theater credits include: Hamlet (Ophelia at ZJU), Snow Falling on Cedars (Hatsue at TheatreWorks), Crimes of the Heart (Babe at East West Players), and A Winter’s Tale (Autolycus at Theatre 80 St. Marks). She trained with the Experimental Theatre Wing at NYU Tisch
JULIAN EVENS (Henry Brown) Julian Evens is thrilled to be making his Geffen Playhouse debut. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Since first studying acting at LaGuardia High School and then graduating from California Institute of the Arts in 2010, he has been living and working in Los Angeles and enjoying every moment of it. He has worked in film (Project X, Things Never Said) and commercials while still keeping his love for theater alive. Theater credits include: Shoe Story at Theater of NOTE and The Exile of Petie DeLarge at Son of Semele. Coney Island Christmas is his first Equity production and he is immensely excited to work with this talented cast and crew.
TY FREEDMAN (Ensemble) Ty Freedman, a proud Bostonian, is thrilled to be a part of this fantastic production. Ty spent the last seven years in Chicago where he had the very lucky opportunity to work with some amazing theaters including Steppenwolf Theatre, Looking Glass Theatre and Emerald City Theatre. Ty began his theatrical career very early by playing the coveted and challenging role of Moses when he was three at his grandmothers Passover Sader. He later went on to train at Walnut Hill Arts High School, DePaul University and even ran away to clown school in London when he was 18. Most recently Ty performed in the world premiere musical Bend in the Road at Pasadena Playhouse. Merry Chanukkah everyone!
JOE GILLETTE (Ira Pushkov) Joe Gillette is honoroed to be making his Geffen Playhouse debut. Hailing from Northern California,
production biographies
ARYE GROSS (Mr. Abramowitz) Theater credits – Broadway: Brooklyn Boy by Donald Margulies (MTC). Regional: Circle Mirror Transformation, Our Mother’s Brief Affair, Brooklyn Boy, Let’s Play Two (South Coast Repertory), The Square (MTF Asian Theatre Workshop), M. Butterfly (East/West Players), Room Service (Pasadena Playhouse), Three Sisters (LATC), Rose of the Rancho and Bandito! (El Teatro Campesino), La Bete (Stages Theatre at The Ford). Arye frequently works with The Antaeus
Company, where he is a member of the Ensemble. Film and TV include: Grey Gardens, Minority Report, Big Eden, Harvest, The Riches, the soon to be released Commencement (playing opposite his frequent collaborator Marin Hinkle) and the recurring role of Sidney Perlmutter, M.E., on ABC’s Castle. Arye is very proud to have appeared with James Earl Jones in the TV Movie Confessions: Two Faces of Evil, directed by the late Gil Cates.
ANNABELLE GURWITCH (Mrs. Abramowitz) Stage credits include the title role in Murray Mednick’s Joe and Betty, for which she was included in the New York Times Top Ten Performances of 2002 and the Los Angeles Times Top Ten of 2001, the 20th Anniversary production of Uncommon Women and Others Off Broadway at Second Stage and Our Lady of 121st Street and Sixteen Wounded at L.A. Theatre Works. Television credits include seven seasons of Dinner and Movie, Dexter, Boston Legal, Medium and Seinfeld. Films: Melvin Goes to Dinner, Shaggy Dog and her documentary Fired!, which premiered as a Showtime Comedy Special. A former NPR
commentator, she’s authored two books, Fired! (S&S) and You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up (Random House), cowritten with her husband Jeff Kahn. Tomato the play is currently receiving its second national tour. Autumn Leaves, an e-book single from her forthcoming comedic memoir is currently available exclusively at the new literary site www.zolabooks.com.
RACHEL HIRSHEE (Ensemble) Having recently graduated from UCLA’s Ray Bolger Musical Theater Program in the School of Theater, Film and Television, Rachel is delighted to be making her Geffen Playhouse debut. Favorite performances include: Cabaret (UCLA), Classic Jazz with a Twist (Catalina Jazz Club) and the Ovation nominated NeverWonderLand (BoomKat Dance Theatre). Besides performing, Rachel can also be found teaching musical theater to kids at Fifth Row Center in Manhattan Beach. A huge thank you to her family, friends, teachers and especially her parents and wonderful boyfriend for their unending love and encouragement.
SEQUOIA HOUSTON (Ensemble) Sequoia is truly excited to make her Geffen Playhouse debut in Coney Island Christmas. A classically trained actress, she has graced the stage in an array of theatrical productions, from classic pieces such as The Colored Museum, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Black Nativity to independent productions like Traumnovela, Love Don’t Live Here Anymore and Torn: The Willie Lynch Letter. Her film credits include Fire From Below, Fat Planet and Legend of Love, among several other projects. She is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity Association’s EMC program. She dedicates this performance to her mother, Tonya Houston, who has always been a guiding light and encouraged her to follow her dreams.
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coney island christmas
he headed south and studied theater at Cal State Fullerton, where he received his B.A. Favorite roles there include: Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Swiss Cheese in Mother Courage. He was last seen on stage in Courage Theatre Company’s production of Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. Television: Desperate Housewives. Also an accomplished singer/songwriter, Joe’s music will be featured in the upcoming indie film The Fortune Theory (Blackboard Pictures) and his self-titled EP can be found on iTunes.
production biographies
LILY HOLLEMAN (Miss Glace) Los Angeles theater credits include: Where the Great Ones Run (Rogue Machine Theatre), Circle Mirror Transformation (South Coast Repertory), The Trip To Bountiful (SCR), Bleed Rail (The Theatre at Boston Court; Ovation and LA Weekly Award nominee), All About Walken (The Dragonfly), God Save Gertrude (Boston Court), Doomsday Kiss (Bootleg Theater), Crumble: Lay Me Down Justin Timberlake (Moving Arts), A New War (Theater 68). Film: @ urFRENZ (Winner: Method Fest and Flagstaff Film Festival Best Actress Award, available now on itunes, VOD and Hulu), The Den, Tenure and How I Got Lost. Television: Captain Daddy (animated pilot), Key & Peele, Southland, Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union, Queen Sized, Sonny with a Chance, Lewis Black’s Root of All Evil, and Campus Ladies. Follow Lily on Twitter @lilyholleman.
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JIM KANE (Ensemble) Jim Kane is thrilled to be working at the Geffen Playhouse. He is an Antaeus A2 company member where he appeared in The Malcontent, Lysistrata and Richard III. New York Theater: Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Playwright’s Horizons), 365 Days/365 Plays (SITI Co. at The Public), Death and the Maiden, Pheadra’s Love (One Year Lease), Waiting for Lefty (The Knitting Factory), The Good Thief (The Zipper). Regional Theater: Candles to the Sun (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Under Milk Wood, One for the Road (Williamstown Theatre Festival). Jim is a proud graduate of the Atlantic Theater Company Acting Conservatory.
GRACE KAUFMAN (Clara) Grace Kaufman is 10 years old and enjoying life as a 5th grader and young actress. Most recently seen as Betty Parris in The Crucible at the Lillian Theatre, her other theater credits include: Annie (as Molly, starring with Andrea McArdle) and Meet Me in St. Louis (Tootie) for Musical Theatre West at the Carpenter Center (Outstanding Featured Actress, Stage Scene LA & Most Promising Newcomer, SoCal Motion Picture Council). Film/TV credits include: The TNT pilot The Last Ship; Buttons in the Ground (Best Actress winner, 2012 Hollyshorts Film Festival); Kaylien (directed by Zoe Saldana); Deadtime Stories: Grave Secrets; guest starring roles on TNT’s The Closer (with Kyra Sedgwick), NBC’s Free Agents (as Hank Azaria’s daughter) and Disney Channel’s Jessie; and voicing lead roles in several major animated series for Disney (Mickey Mouse Club) and Nickelodeon (Bubble Guppies). Grace loves books, animals, her parents and her little brother, Henry. She’s thrilled to be making her debut at the Geffen Playhouse, and thanks Mr. Margulies, Mr. DeLorenzo, Ms. Schuringa and the rest of the cast and crew for the opportunity to be a part of this great production.
ANGELA PATON (Shirley Abramowitz) Angela Paton was recently seen on Broadway in Harvey. Her long theatrical career includes two other Broadway runs plus many roles at regional theaters; i.e., San Francisco’s ACT, Washington’s Arena Stage, Mark Taper Forum, LATC and South Coast Rep. In Berkeley, where she lived for 25 years, she worked as actress and director at The Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Magic Theatre and founded the Berkeley Stage Company where she was the artistic director for 10 years. Her favorite roles were Mary Tyrone, Mother Courage, Cleopatra, the Beauty Queen’s mother and Peg O’ My Heart. Her favorite film roles were in Groundhog Day, American Pie, The Con and Red Eye. She has appeared in more TV shows than she can remember. She has translated and adapted plays by Marivaux, Sardou and Molière. She is very proud of her three children, five grand children, and her husband, Robert W. Goldsby, and his newly published book Moliere on Stage: What’s So Funny?
production biographies
JOHN SLOAN (Mr. Hilton) Coney Island Christmas marks Jon Sloan’s debut at the Geffen Playhouse. Elsewhere in Los Angeles he has performed at The Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Repertory, Theater at Boston Court and The Odyssey. John is currently the co-artistic director of The Antaeus Company where he has been a
Eileen T’Kaye (Mrs. Kornblum) Eileen T’Kaye just starred as Ruth in Collected Stories (CV Rep) and is thrilled to be working on another Donald Margulies play. Other recent credits include Osif in The Government Inspector (Theatre @ Boston Court), Zinaida in Ivanov (Odyssey Theatre with Bart DeLorenzo), Frieda in The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife (La Mirada Theatre) and Hucklebee in the Reprise! production of The Fantasticks (Freud Playhouse). The recipient of an LADCC, three L.A. Weekly, one OOBR and three Drama-Logue Awards,
other acting credits include Beatrice in Don’t Talk to the Actors (Laguna Playhouse), Mrs. Peachum in Threepenny Opera (ICT), Mattie in They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (Greenway Court) and Penny in You Can’t Take It With You (Colony Theatre). Ms. T’Kaye is also an awardwinning producer and the Founding Producing Director of The Theatre @ Boston Court in Pasadena. Thank you, Bart, the Geffen, David and her bubbies.
KIRA STERNBACH (Evie Slotnick) Kira is beyond delighted to be at the Geffen Playhouse. Theater: The Seagull (LA Theatre Works), You and I (PPF South Coast Rep), Alligator (The O’Neill), In A Dark Dark House (Almeida Theatre, London), Enjoy (59E59, NY), End Days (Odyssey Theater), How I Learned to Drive (Terry Schreiber Studio, NY), American Girls (45th St. Theatre, NY), The Shape Of Things (Edinburgh Fringe), Gerald’s Method (Center Stage, NY), Beef (Crowne Point Festival, NY), Raised By Lesbians (Barrow St. Theatre, NY), Surgery (MITF, NY), One Night (East Coast Tour) and Pains Of Youth (Cal Rep Theatre). Film and television credits include The Closer, CSI Las Vegas,
The Prisoner, My Normal, Three Windows, Anyone But Me, Lately, and Virgin. Represented by Susie Schwarz and Kasra Ajir. www.kirasternbach.com.
ANDREW WALKE (Jackie Sauerfeld) Andrew Walke is thrilled to be making his debut at the Geffen Playhouse in Coney Island Christmas. A native of Fresno, CA, Andrew holds a BFA in Acting from CalArts. Some past productions include Henry V, Piedra de Sol at The Getty Villa, Our Town, The Diviners and That Untraveled World. Andrew thanks his family, Bart DeLorenzo, Donald Margulies and Mary Lou Rosato. BART DeLORENZO (Director) Founding Artistic Director of the Evidence Room theater in Los Angeles. At the Geffen, he previously directed Donald Margulies’ Shipwrecked: An Entertainment and the world premiere of Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress. Recent credits for the Evidence Room include Chekhov’s Ivanov and Len Jenkins’s Margo Veil produced with the Odyssey Theater. Other recent directing includes Shakespeare’s Cymbeline at A Noise Within, the world premiere of Justin PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P13
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Richard Realivasquez (Ensemble) Richard is thrilled to be making his Geffen Playhouse debut. A native of Los Angeles, Richard recently graduated from The American Musical & Dramatic Academy with a B.F.A. in Musical Theater. While there, he performed in such shows as Rent, Into the Woods, Spring Awakening, The Rocky Horror Show and Side Show. He can also be seen on TV in Entourage, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and The Mentalist. Richard would like to thank his parents and a special thank you to Jill Gold.
member since 2005. Other credits from New York and around the country include Soho Playhouse, La Mama Etc., American Jewish Theater, The Mint Theater Company, Denver Center Theater Company, The Intiman (Seattle) and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. His television appearances include leading roles in the Sci-Fi mini-series The Triangle, Happy Hour on FOX and the Hallmark movie The Seven Year Hitch. Other credits include Liz & Dick, Private Practice, Gray’s Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother, The Glades and CSI: NY. John graduated from Skidmore College with a degree in English Literature.
production biographies Tanner’s Day Drinkers at the Odyssey, Karen Zacarias’ Legacy of Light and Around the World in 80 Days at the Cleveland Playhouse, King Lear for the Antaeus Company, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s Doctor Cerberus and Sarah Ruhl’s Dead Man’s Cell Phone at South Coast Repertory, and Michael Sargent’s The Projectionist at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. He is on the faculty at Calarts. For his work, he has received six LA Weekly awards, three Backstage Garlands, three LA Drama Critics Circle Awards, and is the 2012 recipient of TCG’s Alan Schneider Director Award. DONALD MARGULIES (Playwright) Donald Margulies’ plays include Time Stands Still (Geffen Playhouse), Shipwrecked! An Entertainment (Geffen Playhouse), Brooklyn Boy, Dinner with Friends (Geffen Playhouse), Sight Unseen, Collected Stories (Geffen Playhouse), The Loman Family Picnic, God of Vengeance, The Model Apartment, What’s Wrong with this Picture?, and Found a Peanut. He has won a Lucille Lortel Award, an American Theatre Critics Award, two Los Angeles Drama Critics Awards, two OBIE Awards, two Dramatists Guild HullWarriner Awards, one Tony Award nomination, five Drama Desk Award nominations, two Pulitzer Prize nominations and one Pulitzer Prize. His works have been performed on and off Broadway; at major theatres across the United P14 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe
States including South Coast Repertory, Manhattan Theatre Club, Primary Stages, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Long Wharf Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Old Globe Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse and Joseph Papp’s New York Shakespeare Festival; and in Paris, London, Rome, Madrid, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Sydney, Berlin, Vienna and many other cities around the world. Mr. Margulies has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, The New York Foundation for the Arts, and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. In 2005 he was honored by the American Academy of Arts and Letters with an Award in Literature, by the National Foundation for Jewish Culture with its Cultural Achievement Award, and was the recipient of the 2000 Sidney Kingsley Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Theatre by a playwright. Mr. Margulies is an alumnus of New Dramatists and serves on the council of The Dramatists Guild of America. He is an adjunct professor of English and Theatre Studies at Yale University. TAKESHI KATA (Scenic Designer) Geffen: Female of the Species, The Seafarer, Boston Marriage. LA: November, Other Desert Cities (Taper), Bones, 2 Unrelated Plays by David Mamet, Palomino (Kirk Douglas). NY: Through a Glass Darkly, Storefront Church, The Intelligent Design of Jenny
Chow (Atlantic Theatre Company), Adding Machine (Minetta Lane), Barrow Street Theatre, Playwright’s Horizons, Vineyard Theatre, Rattlestick. Regional: Alley, American Players Theatre, Dallas Theater Center, Ford’s Theatre, Goodman, Hartford Stage, Long Wharf, Nashville Opera, Old Globe, Resident Ensemble Players, Steppenwolf, Yale Rep. He is an Assistant Professor at University of Southern California, School of Dramatic Arts. ANN CLOSS-FARLEY (Costume Designer) Recent credits include Eric Idle’s What About Dick?, The Pee-wee Herman Show: Broadway, Disney’s Toy Story: The Musical, An Evening Without Monty Python, Gronholm Method, Beat Goes On, Around The World in 80 Days, Margo Veil, Pinocchio, Girls Talk, Having It All, The Receptionist, Bewildered Herd, The Fool and The Red Queen, Naked Before God, Land of the Tigers, and James and the Giant Peach, as well as The Projectionist. She received a 2009 Ovation Award for Ken Roht’s 99Cent Only Calendar Girl Competition, and L.A. Weekly and Garland Awards for her work on Bat Boy: The Musical, When Tigers Smoked Long Pipes, and Echo’s Hammer, among many others. Closs-Farley is a long time member of the Los Angeles Actors’ Gang and evidEnce room companies. She currently styles the World Poker Tour on television, is an Art
Director for Big Machine Productions and teaches costume design for the HeArt Project, Turning Pages and local Los Angeles elementary and high schools. Ann has recently won the Center Theatre Group’s 2010 Richard E. Sherwood Award. LAP CHI CHU (Lighting Designer) Regional designs include Mark Taper Forum, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Goodman Theater, The Shakespeare Theater, Arena Stage, Hartford Stage, San Jose Repertory Theatre, Dallas Theater Center, Portland Center Stage and Evidence Room. New York design credits include The Public Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, Second Stage Theatre, Performance Space 122 and Kitchen Theatre Company. He is the lighting/video designer for ChameckiLerner Dance Company (Costumes by God, Visible Content, Hidden Forms, I Mutantes Seras, Por Favor and Não Me Deixe), which has performed in the United States and Brazil. Awards have included the LA Drama Critics Circle Angstrom Award for Career Achievement in Lighting Design, multiple Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards, a “Drammy” for best lighting, as well as a Lucille Lortel nomination for The Good Negro at The Public Theater. Mr. Chu is on the lighting design faculty at California Institute of the Arts.
production biographies
JILL GOLD (Production Stage Manager) Jill is thrilled to be celebrating the holidays at the Geffen! She has stage managed over 150 Equity shows for the Pasadena Playhouse, Reprise
Theatre Company, McCoy Rigby Entertainment, the Hollywood Bowl, LATC, the Mark Taper Forum and many others. She toured the US with Les Miserables, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, City of Angels, Wicked, and Not The Messiah, as well as Germany and Austria with Sisterella. She dedicates this show to her theatrical daughters Hailey and Colleen, musical husband Phil, and Christmas dog, Kringle. KYRA HANSEN (Assistant Stage Manager) Kyra is happy to be joining the cast and crew of Coney Island Christmas. Past Geffen Playhouse credits include: Good People, The Jacksonian, Radiance: The Passion of Marie Curie, Extraordinary Chambers, and Love, Loss, and What I Wore. Other credits include assistant stage manager for Tosca, Arabella, The Magic Flute, La Boheme, La Traviata, Maometto II, Elixir of Love, and Don Giovanni at The Santa Fe Opera, and stage manager for Beneath the Veil at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. She’d like to thank her husband Adam for his love and support. PHYLLIS SCHURINGA, CSA (Casting) Phyllis is in her ninth season as Casting Director at the Geffen Playhouse. Recent plays include: The Escort, Ruined (LA Casting), Equivocation, Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas, Farragut North, The Seafarer, Time Stands Still, By the Waters of Babylon, The Quality
of Life and Third. Prior to the Geffen, Phyllis served as casting director for the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. 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 for Best Revival) and The Song of Jacob Zulu. She teaches auditioning at Steppenwolf West. AMY LEVINSON (Dramaturg) Amy Levinson is the Artistic Associate and Literary Director at the Geffen Playhouse. As dramaturg, Amy has overseen over 40 productions including the commissions and world premieres of Donald Margulies’ Time Stands Still and Jane Anderson’s The Quality of Life. She has also had the privilege of working with numerous writers on premiere productions including Neil Simon, Neil LaBute, Bill Cain, Joanna Murray-Smith and David Weiner, among others. Production dramaturgy credits include: The Weir, Boy Gets Girl, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Extraordinary Chambers, The Escort and Equivocation. As Artistic Associate and Literary
Director, she has helped to build programs for new play development including the commissioning and development of emerging and established playwrights. Also a translator of Yiddish drama, she holds an MFA in dramaturgy from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
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 more than 10 productions for the theater, most recently 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: 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 PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P15
coney island christmas
JOHN BALLINGER (Composer/Sound Designer) John is an award winning composer/sound designer based in Los Angeles. He studied privately with Arnold Schoenberg protégé Leonard Stein and is a CalArts alumnus. Since 1987, he has been a freelance musician, recording, performing or touring with Pato Banton, Tracy Bonham, Rufus Wainwright, Van Dyke Parks, Moira Smiley, the Dreaming Ferns and Dancing with the Stars. His work as a composer includes scores and songs for TV, independent films, theater and live events. Notable collaborations include scores and sound design for Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress at the Geffen, O-lan Jones’ epic Songs & Dances of Imaginary Lands, Cymbeline at A Noise Within, Ken Roht’s 99cent Only Holiday shows, Echo’s Hammer, 1001 and The Government Inspector at Theater @ Boston Court. John recently cowrote the musical F***ing Hipsters with Keythe Farley (BatBoy: the musical) and Lori Scarlett (The Break Up Notebook). Hipsters was a selection of the New York Musical Theater Festival’s (NYMF) 2011 Next Link Project.
production biographies 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 stateof-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 MFA degree in Acting from Illinois State University and has taught master classes and workshops at UCLA, Steppenwolf, around the U.S. and in Tokyo.
KEN NOVICE (Managing Director) Ken Novice’s career in the professional theatre spans 25 years and over 250 productions. Prior to joining Geffen Playhouse, he served as Managing Director and Director of External Affairs at Pasadena Playhouse where his credits include the revival of Fences starring P16 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe
Laurence Fishburne and Angela Basset and the world premieres of Sister Act the Musical, Ray Charles Live, Stormy Weather starring Lesley Uggams and many others. He was Director of Marketing and Public Relations for San Diego’s Tony Award-winning Old Globe Theatre where his credits include Jack O’Brien’s acclaimed revival of Damn Yankees, the Tony Award-nominated musical The Full Monty, Henry IV starring John Goodman and Sheldon Epp’s Tonynominated hit Play On! among many others. His credits also include marketing and public relations for the Tony Award-winning Denver Center Theater Company and New York’s Circle Repertory Company. As Director of Programming for YouthStream Media Networks he developed national marketing and public relations programs for most of Hollywood’s major motion picture studios. Novice also served as Head of the Theatre Management MFA/MBA program at California State University, Long Beach and has been a guest lecturer at San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego. He holds a BA from the Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from San Diego State University.
BEHNAZ ATAEE (General Manager) Behnaz Ataee is a financial professional with more than 25 years of experience in for-profit and nonprofit financial management and auditing. Behnaz joined the Geffen Playhouse in 1999 and this marks her ninth season as the theater’s General Manager. She began her career in the Bay Area as a partner in a small family start-up before joining FBS Management where she acted as Director of Accounting, overseeing the finances of more than 25 non-profit organizations. Behnaz continued her work with non-profits as an auditor for Trump and Van Sloten CPA and then returned to the for-profit sector at Ultratech, before ultimately landing at the Geffen Playhouse. Behnaz has a Master’s degree from Pepperdine University.
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, The Millan Foundation and Whole Child International, 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 ADDRESS
PRODUCTION STAFF FOR CONEY ISLAND CHRISTMAS Properties Master Rich Gilles Sound Master James Grabowski Wardrobe Supervisor Leah A. Lewis Production Electrician Yelena Babinskaya Wig Designer April Metcalf Automation Operator Eric Svaleson Stage Crew Brad Ashten Stage Crew Boude Moore Props Artisan Devin Lennon-Davey Props Artisan Tina Grant Props Draper Cami Viand Assistant Set Designer Yuki Izumihara Assistant Costume Designer Michelle Matteo Assistant Costume Designer Kharen Zuenert Assistant Lighting Designer Elizabeth Harper Production Assistant Taylor Ruge ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Set provided by Scenic Highlights Lighting Equipment provided by Entertainment Lighting Services Sound Equipment provided by Jon Sound Inc.
Geffen Playhouse 10886 Le Conte Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90024 Administrative Offices.......... 310.208.6500 Weekdays.........................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 Weekdays.........................10:00 am — 6:00 pm Weekends........................ 12:00 pm — 6:00 pm Please visit geffenplayhouse.com for hours, parking and more information TICKET SERVICES Box Office Window When shows are not in performance, the box office window is open: Weekdays.........................10:00 am — 6:00 pm Weekends........................ 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.
SPECIAL THANKS UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Scene Prop, Sound and Costume Shops; London Cleaners; Peet’s Coffee & Tea; Gary Andrews and John Burton
access
UCLA SCHOOL OF THEATER, FILM AND TELEVISION The Geffen Playhouse is affiliated with the University of California at Los Angeles, specifically the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. The 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. The Geffen Playhouse also draws upon the distinguished experts in the university to enhance the theater’s programs and research. 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. The director is a member of the society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Inc., an independent national labor union.
ASL
Accessible Accommodation The 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 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 sat into 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.
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SUBSCRIBE TO AN UNPRECEDENTED GEFFEN
gil cates theater at the geffen playhouse
January 29 — March 10, 2013
THE GIFT
Written by Joanna Murray-Smith Directed by Maria Aitken american premiere from the playwright ofthe geffen hit, The female of the species
Acclaimed Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith brings this comedic American premiere to the Geffen Playhouse. When two couples meet while vacationing at a ritzy resort, they instantly transition from strangers to the best of friends. Despite their almost comical differences — Ed and Sadie are middle-aged, rich and traditional, while Martin and Chloe are young artists glowing with their potential to change the world — they find themselves spending the rest of their week together. When one seemingly inconsequential event throws both their lives into a tailspin, the couples find themselves wrestling with a moral dilemma: while it’s human nature to want what you don’t have, is it unnatural to abandon something that you do? This provocative new work draws audiences in with a beguiling hilarity that gives way to an unsettling twist, posing searing questions rather than providing comfortable answers.
Complimentary parking, easy exchange privileges and more for season ticket h
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE SEASON in TWO THEATERS
audrey skirball kenis theater at the geffen playhouse
gil cates theater at the geffen playhouse
February 26 — April 7, 2013
April 2 — May 12, 2013
Written by August Strindberg Adapted & Directed by Neil LaBute a daring world premiere adaptation
Written by david mamet Directed by randall arney pulitzer prize winning playwright
August Strindberg’s classic play about sex, greed and manipulation is adapted by the modern master of such tantalizing topics: Neil LaBute. This scandalous work chronicles the flirtation and seduction between the wealthy lady of the house and one of her father’s footmen, capturing the timeless consequences of passion and power.
Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Randall Arney takes a fresh look at Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet’s groundbreaking work about three misguided misfits plotting the theft of a rare coin collection. This defining work negotiates explosive humor, frenetic energy and surprising tenderness and has not seen a major Los Angeles production in over a decade.
MISS JULIE
audrey skirball kenis theater at the geffen playhouse
May 7 — June 16, 2013
Geffen Playhouse by special arrangement with Daryl Roth and Eva Price presents
the judy show — my life as a sitcom Starring Judy Gold Written by Judy Gold & Kate Moira Ryan Directed by Amanda Charlton west coast premiere comedy The acclaimed comic broadcasts her hilarious life story through the sitcoms we all knew and loved growing up. Infused with pop-culture references and her signature irreverent humor, The Judy Show unabashedly recounts the mix of riotous, touching and otherwise embarrassing moments that taught Gold The Facts of Life.
american buffalo
gil cates theater at the geffen playhouse
June 4 — July 14, 2013
YES, PRIME MINISTER Written by Antony Jay & Jonathan Lynn Directed by Jonathan Lynn west end smash comedy Join the Prime Minister and an always hilarious cast of characters as they lurch from crisis to crisis, trying to survive a disastrous weekend that teeters on the edge of catastrophe despite their best (and worst) intentions. Will they manage to save the Euro from collapsing, resolve the energy crisis, solve the debt crisis, control the media and avoid public humiliation? Brits and Yanks alike can bank on the laughs in the American premiere of this uproarious satire fresh from an acclaimed West End run.
holders. subscribe NOW: geffenplayhouse.com/subscribe | 310.208.2028
Donor Spotlight
The Geffen Playhouse proudly acknowledges
For being the Presenting Sponsor of
Thank you for helping us bring this world premiere production to life, and for helping us share this very special play with middle and high school students from the most underserved and under-resourced schools in Los Angeles County. In addition, OneWest Bank’s grants to the Geffen Playhouse over the last two years have provided major support to our education and outreach programs that serve more than 22,500 children and adults each year. OneWest Foundation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation established in 2009 with a $10 million contribution from OneWest Bank, FSB. OneWest Foundation priorities include the provision of affordable housing, healthcare, education and financial literacy, as well as other important community development efforts that develop, stabilize or rehabilitate underserved communities. Our deepest appreciation to OneWest Bank and the OneWest Foundation for its outstanding support of the arts and education. P20 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe
SCENE AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE coney island christmas
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Opening Night of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark Sponsored by Audi of America, Inc., Los Angeles magazine, Malibu Family Wines, Napa Valley Grille and Richard Ruskell Pastries 2
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1. The cast of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark with Artistic Director Randall Arney and Director Jo Bonney 2. Lynn Alvarez, Steve Nissen, Geffen Board member Carla Malden and Norman Beil 3. Geffen partner Audi of America’s Arlene Orona and Nicole Kwak
Photos by Jordan Strauss
4. Geffen Advisory Board members Jason and Yvonne Lee 5. Managing Director Ken Novice and Geffen Board member Gil Cates, Jr. 6. Geffen Board member Susanna Midnight with Charlie Midnight and friends Kelliann Ladd and John Gatti 6
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
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Photos by Craig Johnson Photography
education and outreach
members of urban possibilities attend a talk back tuesday performance of by the way, meet vera stark
endless possibilities:
shining a light on our communities Being an integral part of the greater Los Angeles
community has been a priority since the Geffen Playhouse’s inception. Our founder, Gil Cates, envisioned a professional theater space where everyone was not only welcomed, but genuinely encouraged to attend regardless of their circumstances and resources. This commitment to access still serves as the primary driving force behind one of the Geffen’s most robust outreach programs: Lights Up. Lights Up, which was designed to engage populations who have the least access to the arts, currently works with more than 45 community organizations, serving constituents ranging from veterans to seniors, ESL classes to group homes and victims of abuse to Skid Row residents. Every year, this program has expanded both in breadth and depth; while we continue to welcome new organizations as community partners, we are also identifying already existing partners with whom we can develop more comprehensive relationships. All of our participating groups receive complimentary tickets to Geffen Playhouse’s world-class performances, along with study guides unique to each production. An example of a collaboration going more in depth is our work with Urban Possibilities (UP), a non-profit that uses the power of art and culture to change the lives of homeless and working poor people in Los Angeles. In addition to inviting the UP community to attend performances and providing show-specific study guides, Geffen Playhouse teaching artists are attending UP meetings and teaching improvisation classes focusing on the development of life skills like being present in the moment, speaking confidently in public, thinking on your feet and collaborating creatively with a partner. Together with UP and dozens of other Lights Up groups, the Geffen Playhouse continues to take the merits of live theater beyond the stage and into the diverse populations of our community. P22 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe
Lights Up is far more than entertainment for the men and women of Urban Possibilities — it is a license to dream beyond the pain of living on Skid Row and the mistakes of the past. Being welcomed through those doors, makes us all stand taller and feel connected to something greater than ourselves no matter what our circumstances or zip code may be. Lights Up is helping us change lives, and we are deeply grateful to be a partner in this program. — Eyvette Jones-Johnson, Founder & Executive Director, Urban Possibilities
Current lights up community partners include Alternative Living for the Aging Being Alive Beverly Hills Adult School California Lawyers for the Arts Challengers Boys and Girls Club Choreographer’s Theater Ensemble Claude Pepper Senior Community Center Country Villa Terrace Create Now Cultural Education Project East Los Angeles College Felicia Mahood Senior Recreational Center Fifty-Fifty Leadership Heal the Bay Hollywood Arts Holman United Methodist Church Arts Council Inside Out Community Arts Israel Levin Service Center It’s Time for Kids Mar Vista Gardens Recreational Center Mokichi Okada Association Mutual Amputee Aid Foundation New Directions 116 & 257 urban possibilities member badonna jarvis with by the way, meet vera stark cast member Kevin T. Carroll
New You Foundation Oasis West LA Operation MEND Reading is Fundamental of Southern California
The character I identify with is Leroy Barksdale (played by kevin t. carroll). He has so many characteristics in his favor, but his one lack — self control in his anger — proves to be his undoing. All of him is buried by it in a moment, like a tall fine structure completely demolished in a moment by the wrecking ball. His pieces are scattered far beyond the reach and scope of his most savory ambitions. This is where I am he. His story is my story, but his ending won’t be mine. — urban possibilites member Badonna Jarvis on her experience at by the way, meet vera stark
Russian American Choir Santa Monica Emeritus College Self-Realization Fellowship Sheenway School and Cultural Center Silvercrest Senior Residence SRO Housing St. Monica’s Catholic Church Senior Ministries Step Up on Second Sunset Hall Thomas Safran and Associates United States Veterans’ Artists Alliance Urban Possibilities West Valley Occupational Center – AEWC & ESL Venice Service Center Zeta Rho
GET INVOLVED If you are part of an organization that would like to apply to the Lights Up program, visit the outreach section of our website at geffenplayhouse.com/outreach or call 310.208.6500 ext. 156. If you are interested in supporting the Lights Up program with a donation, please contact: 310.208.6500 ext. 141. PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P23
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KIDS’ STORIES WANTED The Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates put on shows with stories written by and for kids. Whether in the classroom or at the theater, the Pirates encourage kids to be creative in their writing and performance! You can write a story about anything; dinosaurs, vampires, Kung-Fu fighting ninja girls, dogs, cats — even loaves of bread — have been featured in Pirates productions. Encourage kids’ creativity by submitting stories written by those in your life. All stories will be read, most will receive a response and some will be performed live! Visit geffenplayhouse.com/story for submission guidelines and more.
Want to see some favorite stories performed live? The Flagship Show Select Saturdays now in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse The Flagship Show is the Story Pirates at their best: kids write stories, the Pirates act them out and kids write more! “It’s crazy entertaining!” – Jon Stewart
Photo by Jordan Strauss
November 10, December 15 plus two performances in 2013!
Visit geffenplayhouse.com/family or call 310.208.5454 to purchase tickets
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2013 girls night out dates now on sale THE GIFT
Written by Joanna Murray-Smith Directed by Maria Aitken Valentines Day • February 14, 2013 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm A one-time pre-show Valentines celebration held at the Geffen featuring an Echelon Vineyards wine bar, dessert bar, photo booth and Simone Elum fashion illustrations!
american buffalo
Written by david mamet Directed by randall arney april 18, 2013 Girls Night meets Guys Night Out for a perfect evening to bring the man in your life to the theater. Beer tastings, strolling magic, Martian Ranch & Vineyard wine bar, photo booth and more at an exclusive after-party held at Skylight Gardens in Westwood Village.
YES, PRIME MINISTER
Written by Antony Jay & Jonathan Lynn Directed by Jonathan Lynn June 20, 2013
Photos by Vivian Frerichs
Discover the latest British fashions and trends at this summer after-party held at the Geffen. Delicious buffets, a Martian Ranch & Vineyard wine bar, photo booth and more! sponsored by
Donor Spotlight
Photo by Jordan Strauss
coney island christmas
Linda Bernstein Rubin and her husband, Tony Rubin
I love being on the Geffen Playhouse Board. I believe passionately that theater can transform lives, and I have seen the Geffen Playhouse do just that as they expose and introduce the wonder and joy of this art form to so many… — linda bernstein rubin, geffen playhouse board member
Linda Bernstein Rubin is a wonderful person and an incredibly valued member of the Geffen Playhouse Board as well as an inaugural member of the Chairman’s Circle. We sincerely thank Linda and her husband Tony for their extraordinary support of the Geffen Playhouse! Linda Rubin graduated from NYU’s Gallatin Division having studied with Larry Moss and Stella Adler. She then appeared in the Broadway production of Dance with Me, directed by Joel Zwick (whose work was also seen at the Geffen Playhouse when he helmed Hershey Felder’s composer trilogy). She appeared in numerous off-Broadway productions before moving to Los Angeles to appear in movies and other productions, all while continuing her studies with Ms. Adler. For many years, Ms. Rubin was a co-producer with Appian Way Productions, whose mission was to mount West Coast premieres of exciting theatrical works. These days, Ms. Rubin devotes much of her time to her children and their school (Windward) along with other charitable and community organizations about which she is passionate, among them Violence Intervention Program (Board Member), a Los Angeles based organization that provides aroundthe-clock support services to abused and assaulted women, children and the elderly; the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.; American Friends of the Israel Museum; The Everychild Foundation (founding and former Board Member). When asked what she loves about the Geffen Playhouse, Ms. Rubin had a number of wonderful things to say: “I love being on the Geffen Playhouse Board. I believe passionately that theater can transform lives, and I have seen the Geffen Playhouse do just that as they expose and introduce the wonder and joy of this art form to so many.” In addition, Linda loves Backstage at the Geffen. The evening raises funds for the theater’s education and outreach programs, which provide underserved children, seniors and veterans the opportunity to come to the theater, often for the first time. PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P27
annual donors The 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, 2011 and October 15, 2012. In appreciation, donors enjoy a host of special benefits including house seats, complimentary drinks, receptions and much more. For more information, please call Jamie Sherman at 310.208.6500 ext. 128.
CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE $50,000+
Anonymous Patricia Kiernan Applegate Aria Resort & Spa Audi of America, Inc Ben/Joyce Eisenberg Foundation City National Bank Mary Ann Cloyd Creative Artists Agency Susan & John Ebey Edgerton Foundation Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer & Melvin Keefer Fox Entertainment Group Herbert M. & Beverly J. Gelfand Jim & Ann Gianopulos Adi & Jerry Greenberg Guggenheim Partners Carole & Bill Haber Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust Martha Henderson J.P. Morgan Private Bank Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg Glorya Kaufman Keyes Automotive Group Sandra Krause & William Fitzgerald Latham & Watkins LLP Lincy Foundation Los Angeles County Arts Commission Ginny Mancini Fay & Frank Mancuso Donna McKenna & Flynn Chernos Ron & Kelly Meyer Ann & Jerry Moss Moss Foundation News Corporation OneWest Bank PricewaterhouseCoopers Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Madeline & Bruce Ramer Linda Bernstein Rubin & Tony Rubin Richard & Barbara Sherman Shubert Foundation Skirball Foundation Kate Capshaw Spielberg & Steven Spielberg DeeAnna Staats, Staats & Co. Cynthia P. Stafford & Lanre Idewu Jodi & Howard Tenenbaum The UCLA Dream Fund Deborah & Michael E. Walsh The Walt Disney Company Westfield Group Judy & Chancellor Charles E. Young Dirk & Natasha Ziff
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
$25,000 — $49,999 Anonymous A&E Television Networks Arlene & Alan Alda The Backyard Belvedere & Grand Marnier Stephanie & Jonathan Carson CBS Corporation Classic Party Rentals Dan Hartman Arts & Music Foundation The Douglas Foundation DreamWorks Animation The Edward A. & Ai O Shay Family Foundation Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation
P28 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe
The Lear Family Foundation Los Angeles magazine Susan & Peter Mallory Marcia Israel Foundation, Inc. Susanna Midnight & Charlie Midnight Montage Hotels & Residences Leslie Moonves & Julie Chen Napa Valley Grille Northern Trust, NA Sony Pictures Entertainment Judith & Bruce Stern Shel & Cynthia Stone Transamerica Insurance & Investment Group Universal Studios Vomo W Hotel Westwood Warner Bros. Entertainment
PRODUCER
$10,000 — $24,999 Ariel Investments, LLC Charles A. Black, Jr. Annette Blum James L. Brooks Brotman Foundation of California Eileen & Harold Brown Linda & Jerry Bruckheimer Mark Burnett & Roma Downey James Cameron Capital Group Companies Celine Dion Foundation Valarie de la Garza & Michael Centeno City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Shelley Wike Cranley Carole Bayer Sager & Robert A. Daly Destination Fit4LA Dean & Lisa Devlin Barry Diller DreamWorks Studios Dwight Stuart Youth Fund Electric Entertainment The Eli & Edythe L. Broad Foundation Susan & Mark Fleischer G.E. Foundation Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, Inc. Patty Glaser & Sam Mudie Arthur Greenberg C. Curtis Grisham In Memory of Morrie Hazan HBO Films Eric & Samantha Heer Mellody Hobson Cindy & Alan Horn InterActive Corp (IAC) Just for Kids Catering Joan Kaloustian Kenneth T. & Eileen L. Norris Foundation Jason & Yvonne Lee Leo S. Guthman Fund Peter & Janine Lowy LucasFilm LTD Carla Malden Mona Malden Malibu Family Wines Nancy & Michael McClelland Sandra E. Milken Hope Mineo & Jeffrey Kitchen Occidental Petroleum Corp Christine Marie Ofiesh Lee & Lawrence J. Ramer Rollin Ransom & Chris Lacroix Readers Fine Jewelers Dr. Judith Reichman Resnick Family Foundation Pamela Robinson Hollander & Robert Hollander
Loren Rothschild & Hon. Frances Rothschild Richard Ruskell The Simms/Mann Family Foundation Fred Specktor & Nancy Heller Tanino Ristorante Heather Thomas & Skip Brittenham Steve Tisch Tribune Direct Union Bank The Vidal Sassoon Foundation Wells Fargo Foundation William Morris Endeavor Entertainment Rita Wilson & Tom Hanks Ruth Ziegler Ziffren Brittenham LLP Ken & Ellen Ziffren
DIRECTOR
$5,000 — $9,999 Jehan F. Agrama & Dwora Fried Jack & Hilary Angelo Anschutz Film Group/Walden Media Neal Baer & Gerrie Smith Mara & Jonathan Blum Bobcat Productions, Inc. Creative Intelligence Incorporated Jeanne Cunicelli John Davis Directors Guild of America Fielding Edlow & Larry Clarke Dr. & Mrs. Paul Eisenberg Nora Ephron Melinda & Peter Farrelly Fisker Eric Flamholtz & Yvonne Randle Four Seasons George Hoag Family Foundation Priscila Giraldo Gloria & Peter Gold Jay Gordon & Meyera Robbins Barbara Grenell Rabbi Uri D. Herscher & Dr. Myrna Herscher Lynne & Michael Heslov Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa Stanley Iezman & Nancy Stark Wendell & Bernice Jeffrey Mannon Kaplan Sally & Dr. Manny J. Karbelnig L & N Andreas Foundation Paul Lester Drs. Gerald & Barbara Levey Shawn Levy Michael Lewis Jennifer LoPata Lost Iguana Resort & Spa Marlene & Sandy Louchheim Michael & Summer Mann MOCA Foundation Todd Morgan & Rosanna Arquette Morgan Stanley Morris & Libby Singer Foundation Neda Nobari Foundation Anna K. Nupson Kay & Bob Rehme Mayor Richard Riordan Jane Rissman & Richard Sondheimer Jay D. Roth & Sherry E. Grant Paula & Allan Rudnick Thomas L. Safran Jody & Arthur Schmid Gabi & Lowell Sharron Sidley Austin LLP Simon Strauss Foundation Sondheimer Foundation St. Regis Princeville Resort
Ben Stiller & Christine Taylor Tanaz Assil Jewelry Thomas L. Safran & Associates David Tillman, MD & Karen Zoller, MD Miranda Tollman Daniel Truly U.S. Bank Tony & Tanya Vincent Richard & March Wiseley Gail Zappa Ruth & Stan Zicklin
sponsor
$3,000 — $4,999 Janis Adams & John Lyons Chancellor Gene D. Block & Mrs. Carol Block Marcy Carsey & Leo Yoshimura Terri ann Cooper Konheim Christopher Gorelik Dora & Neil Kadisha Robin & Seth Kugler Pam, Amanda, Lianna & Eddie Robert Luketic Renee & Meyer Luskin Susan Bay Nimoy & Leonard Nimoy William & Karen Timberlake W Fort Lauderdale Leslie White & Al Limon Karen & Rick Wolfen Mimi & Werner F. Wolfen
EDUCATION ADVOCATE $1,000 — $2,999
Anonymous (3) 23rd Street Jewelers Harry & Gay Abrams/Abrams Artists Agency Dr. Richard Ackerman & Miriam Shakter Richard Acosta Tamara Aden-Llewellyn Miriam Aguiar Olga S. Alderson Richard Alonso Nicole Alpe Merryl & David A. Alpert Amgen Foundation Patti & Harlan Amstutz Arizona Biltmore Margaret & Howard Arvey Asics Avion Tequila Hank Azaria D.C. & Carol Ann Bakeman Robert E. & Maria H. Barron Richard & Shelley Bayer Robert Beitcher Susan & Eric M. Bender Peter & Barbara Benedek Patricia & Mark Benjamin Shelly & Libby Bergen Wendy & John Bergquist Susan Booth The Bordy & Leibovic Families Brenda & Alan Borstein Brentwood School Dr. Wallace P. Brithinee Carolyn & Gerald Bronstein Robert Brook & Jacqueline Kosecoff Wendy & David Brotman Mr. & Mrs. Todd Brown & Family Scott Carlberg Chancellor Emeritus Albert Carnesale & Mrs Robin Carnesale
annual donors Linda & David Kagel Carol Kahn Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Kamine Karney Guren Family Foundation Loretta Kaufman Julie & David Kavner Sabrina Kay Charitable Foundation Patricia Keating Lenny & David Kelton Tamara Keough Barbara & Stuart Klabin Kent Klavens Lisa Klingenberg Leslie & Norman Koplof Thea & Neal Koss Carol Krause Krol Vodka Eric & Melissa Kurtzman Despina Gianopulos Landers & Jay Landers Helene & Arthur Laub Joyce Lederer Phyllis & Ken Lemberger Mae & Hugh Lichtig John Liebes Christine & David Lindsay-Abaire Steven & Nancy Lippman Gerald & Dorothy Lipsky Judith Locke & Dennis Massie Marcia E. Williams & Gene Lucero Neil L. & Ora D. Macfarlane The Jennifer & Greg Malins Foundation Brian & Renee Mann Eric G.C. Mark Lesia & William Maxwell John McCrite & Juan Lopez Janis B. McEldowney Sue McHugh & Herb Seese Melia Cozumel All Inclusive Golf & Beach Resort Dianne & Burton Merrill Mona Metwalli Tobias Meyer Andrew & Laura Mintzer Joanne & Joel Mogy Laurie & Chuck Mondrus Richard & Kioko Morganstern Lowell & Jackie Morgen Gail Morino In Loving Memory of Harvey S. Morse Rio & Frank Morse Lon Morse & Toni Hollander Morse Music Express, Inc. Joan & Fred Nicholas Albert & Barbara Nichols Occidental Grand Cozumel Steve & Judy Orich Ornest Family Foundation Carol & Bill Ouchi London, Alex & Marty Padilla Laurie MacDonald & Walter Parkes Michael Parks & Judith Hayward Philip & Leslie Paton Jennifer Peltz Julie Piepenkotter Herbert & Marilyn Piken In Memory of Michael Piller Paula, Lauren, Nicole, & Joseph Pinhas Jack & Jane Pollock Ruth Popkin Popland Studios Jeanne McDonald-Powers & Travis Powers Pure Cheesecakes Daniel Rappaport Richard Rasiej & Joan Herman Harvey & Joyce Reichard Michele Reiner Donald B. & Susan F. Rice Esther & Howard Richmond Beth Roberts & Warren Smith Ric Robertson Ron Robinson Brad & Nancy Rosenberg Sue Weiss Rosenwasser Lori & David Rousso
Russ August & Kabat David A. & Karen Richards Sachs Richard & Amber Sakai Daphna Salimpour Mark San Filippo Joseph Schrage Jonathan Schwartz Steve & Paula Schwartz Screen Engine, LLC Lillian Seidman-Davis Alex & Danielle Shahidi Matthew Shakman Tony Shalhoub & Brooke Adams In Memory of Diane Barnett-Shapiro Traci Shelton Diane Sherman-Smith Showtime Networks Inc. Holly & Larry Shulman Rita & Jose Sigal Greg & Amanda Silverman Ron Silverman & Soraya Ross Snyder Family Foundation Drs. Matthew & Marion Solomon Bruce & Patti Springsteen Sprinkles Cupcakes Mitch & Sherry Stein Joannie Stern Barbra Streisand & James Brolin Eric Strom & Eileen Goodis Mr. Alec Sulkin Kathryn & Mark Sullivan Elaine & Radoslav Sutnar Fred Tatasciore Family Anne C. Taubman & David Boyle John Teeples & Nicolas Martinez, Jr. Larry & Barbara Tenan Audri & Stan Tendler Green Dot Films Daniel Tongbai Jenno Topping The Lodge at Torrey Pines Laura Trice, M.D. Peter & Susan Van Haften Alan Van Vliet Paula Wagner Peter & Denise Walsh Craig Ali Sander Weiner & Marcia Gilbert Joanne & Ken Weinman Roberta Weintraub Gelena & Seth Weissman Pat West Alison Whalen & Steven Marenberg Ms. Patricia Youngman Marcie & Howard Zelikow Ellen & Arnold Zetcher David & Ellie Zuckerman
ARTISTIC ADVOCATE $500 — $999
Anonymous Dale Adrion Geraldine & Harold Alden Robert C. Anderson Dr. Sandra & Dr. Charles Aronberg Sheila & Raymond Bangs Janet & Irwin Barnet Dawn & Marshall Bein Roger P. Berg Stu & Lucy Billet Ruth & Jake Bloom Sherry Borkgren Deanne Bosnak Janet & Mark Brown Dr. R.W.G. Bugental David & Kathy Burke Bush Gottlieb Singer Lopez Kohanski Adelstein & Dickinson Bruce Carr Ms. Martha Chase David Copperfield
Ted Cordes Donald & Zoe Cosgrove Robert Cushnir & Perry Lewis James Dixon Carol Jean Doehring Good Works Foundation Richard & Lauren Donner Paul Dowling Patricia L. Eisenberg Marjorie & Arthur Fine Sydney M. Finegold, M.D. Dr. Barbara Fish Michael & Lynne Flynn Burt & Nanette Forester Glenn & Jane Fowler Fran Fredella & Scott Rubin Lora Fremont Lois & Gerald Gallop Sharlene & Sol Galper Benita & Bert Ginsberg Richard & Lori Glucksman Dr. & Mrs. Lee B. Gold Louis & Linda Goldsman Abner & Roz Goldstine Lori & Robert Goodman Julie C. Graham, Olivia C. Zeiden, Liam D. Zeiden Diana & Ronald Granit Peter E. Hall Ms. Linda Hanada Ms. Tess Harper Salma Hayek Murray & Gail Heltzer Diana & Joe Hilberman Marion & Todd Hindin Rand Hoffman & Charlotte Robinson Kelley M. Hogan Paula Holt Carol Hove-Ahmanson Gerald Isenberg Robert & Gail Israel Susan & Greg Kay Milly & Robert Kayyem Ann & Jonathan Kirsch Irwin Kishner Annette & Charles Kleeman Gwen & Jacob Friend Carol & Richard Kurland Rick Kurtzman Bill & Tiiu Jacobson Burton & Anita Levinson Jordan & Sheri Levy Lydia Levy Loris & Kory Lunsford Sacha Malin & Dori Levanoni Cindy Mediavilla Robert Mercer Philip & Joan Miller Allan M. Mohrman Jr. Carol Moran John & Sandy Murdock Ms. Sherri Nelson Vicki Niemi Dr. Ronald & Iris Onkin Palace Head Foundation Carol F. Phillips Lisa Pierozzi Gary & Gail Racheletsky Lynda Rick Linda & Manny Rider Richard Robertson Randy Rode Dolores Rogers Ronda & Fred Rose In Memory of Gil Cates Lawrence Ross & Linda Nussbaum Samantha Roth Nadine Schiff Malcolm Schneer & Cathy Liu David & Margaret Schwanke Bob & Susan Schwartz Michele & Peter Serchuk Dora R. Sher Danelle Sherrod
PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P29
coney island christmas
Dr. Fanya Carter & Dr. Harold J. Delchamps David Cates & Christine Vavak Gilbert Cates, Jr. & Elizabeth Lacey Jane Cates Melissa Cates & Roger Claman Lisa, Michael & Rachel Chalfin Frank Chiocchi & Jessica Rich Laurel & Aaron Clark Linda & John Coleman Lou Colen Tim & Charlene Conway Janine Cristiano In Loving Memory of Ed Cypert Daedalus Foundation, Inc Ruth Daugherty Shirley Lu & Norman Davidson Roger Davis Pam Dawber Gavin de Becker Deluscious Cookies Daniel & Gayle Devin Dennis & Jeralyn Doty Michael Douglas & Catherine Zeta-Jones Dr. Laura’s Wholesome Junk Food Jan & Thea Drayer Dream Warrior Group Gerald & Sally Ducot William Duncan Colleen M. Ellis Terri & David Elston Kevin Watts & Christine Enlow Carl & Courtenay Enright Carol & J.B. Esterkin Stacey Feinberg Susanna Felleman & Erik Feig Gloria & Morton Field Michael Filerman Joan & Charles Fox Steve Freedman Fresh Tom & Kathy Freston Carol & Paul Frimmer Tomas Fuller & Bill Kelly Future Lighting G2 Graphic Service, Inc. Jim Garfield Kathleen Garfield Jeanne & Arnold Geffner Harry A. Gilbert Rose Gilbert Kiki & David Gindler Cherna & Dr. Gary Gitnick Charlotte Gold Dr. Irene Goldenberg Adrienne Grant & Paul Jennings Ken Greenblatt & Peter Walsh Jack Grossbart & Marc Schwartz Allen & Deborah Grubman Michael Grunwald The Guerin Foundation Madeline Gussman Andrea & Marc Guth Monty & Marilyn Hall Alan & Michelle Heilpern Mr. & Mrs. William Hellman Mel & Faith Henkin David & Lisa Hernand Herradura Tequila Grant & Lysa Heslov Jean Himmelstein & David Coleman Stephen Sass & Steven Hochstadt Dr. John D. Hofbauer & Dr. Laura E. Fox Mrs. Dorothy Hoffman Gail & Stanley Hollander Roger & Linda Howard Vicki Iovine Terry & Marc J. Jacoby Jerome & Linda Janger Lori Johnson Jack & Cindy Jones Mr. & Mrs. Vernon D. Jones Jordan Strauss Photography Joseph B. Gould Foundation
annual donors Pearl Shultz Steven Siegel & Lily Carey Carol & Arthur F. Silbergeld Robin & Robert Sills Martin & Leah Sklar Karen Smits Trudy Sokol Michael & Millie Sondermann Melvin Spears Roberta Spero Ms. Rita Spiegel Staples Center Foundation Cori Steinberg Thomas & Lisa Stern Mr. & Mrs. Robert Sugar Jerry & Diana Swartz Lance & Maureen Tan Mr. & Mrs. David Tann Deborah Valdez Ira & Laurie Waldman Jay Weinstein & Lori Woldar Rae Jeane Williams Herb Wise Ben & Anne Youngblood Andrew & Kimberly Zakanych Debra Zavala & Alpha Zavala
ASSOCIATE $250 — $499
Anonymous (5) Herbert Ehrmann & Constance Abell Terry & Richard Abrams Norman & Toshka Abrams Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Irwin & Helene Adler Elaine & Michael Agran Charles & Annick Allen Sylvia Almstadt Arthur Alper Jan Altemus Suzanne Altfeld Irving Anderson Clayton Anderson Elise Andrews Philip Angerhofer & Stephen A. Jones Eloise Appel Barbara & Ethan Aronoff Marc & Betsy Axelrod Charles & Kayatana Axelrod Lynne & Lee Babbitt Billie Baron & Edward Marcinko Irene Baron Cecile Bartman Arnold & Susan Becker Terry & Lionel Bell Laurie & Bill Benenson Carole A. & Charles Bennett Richard N. Berger James & Diane Berliner Mr. & Mrs. William Birnkrant Adrienne & Michael Blackman Ronald & Jamie Blackstone Joe Blackstone & Jamie Mohn Pamela & Bill Bohnert Frances & Thomas Booth Mary Bosak Mary Boulware Paula Brand Helen Breitwieser & James Jacks Shelli & Bill Broder Lionel Brown Dennis & Bobbi Brown Marcia Burnam The Schifino Family Laura D. Campbell Marlene & David Capell Barry Charles Marjore Chronister Wilma Chung Ken Coelho Dr. Judy Cohn David Conney, M.D. Dino Conte Susan Georgine Craig
P30 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe
Whitney Cummings Randall & Diane Daniel Sarah Daniels Diana Davidow & Deborah Constance Ruth B. Davis & Pearl Schultz Gregory Dawley Dr. Udayakumar Devaskar Virginia DiBona Suzanne & Bruce Dodds Fred & Marilyn Dorer Steven & Beverly Dorfman Daryl & Paul F. Doucette Ms. Susan Downey Mr. Chris Easley Roni & Ethan Eller Lisa Erspamer Norma Lorene Evans Phyllis Factor Alan & Barbara Faiola Marc Feldman Mimi Feldman Gladys Fellman Abby & Malcolm Field Lila & Fred Fink William & Elisabet Fleischman Edward Flores Janet Fourticq Lorraine Frankel Kenneth J. Friedman & Marilynn J. Friedman Family Foundation L.T. Friesen Ms. Laurelle Frome Yury & Yelena Furman Lee Gardenswartz Karen Berko Gibson Diane Glazer David & Denise Goldberg Ann M. Goldberg Francine Golden & Marvin Schlossman Marilyn & Allen Golden Barry Goldstein Ellie Goodman L. Newton Goodwell Mark Gordon Roger Gordon Susie & Bruce Goren Tiki Greenberg Alan Greenstadt In Loving Memory of Frank & Eileen Flood Eve Haberfield & David Johnson Lance Hagenbuch Ross & Lindsey Avner Mary & Alan Halkett Mark & Monica Haloossim Kay Harrington Sheila Hasday Dr. & Mrs. Samuel Haveson Lois Haytin Penny & Steve Held Jackson Henry Carla & Alan A. Herd Robert Herman Gunter Herman Cina Hodges Jackie & Dr. Irwin Hoffman Dr. Sharron Holman Ada & Jim Horwich Fred & Nancy Jacobus Daniel & Carolyn Jordan Nancy Josephson Seymour Kahn Joyce Kaiserman Ruth & Marvin Kalin Trudy & Albert Kallis Drs. Elaine & Jeff Kamil Anita Karbelnig Harris Katleman Owen Kato Mr. & Mrs. William Keast William & Renee Kendall Stuart Kessler Phyllis Klein Dr. Phyllis Klein Donna & Jeffrey Klein Laurie & Milton Klorman Judy Knapp
In honor of Leni Jane Knapp Charles Kolstad Donald Kottler Richard Kraft Barbara & Stan Krasnoff Howard & Vivian Krepack Janice White & Eugene Krieger Frumeh Labow Doctors Mark & Lena Labowe Joan & Christopher Larkin Jill & Michael Lasky Jeanne & Christopher Lavagnino Ann Leland Gail J. Levine Marla E. Levine Mr. Warren Lincoln Lee & Therese Linden Victor & Madeline Lindenheim Irma & Allen Lipin Donald Lipschutz Leslie & Adam Lobel Lori & Tom Low Ann & Bill Lucas Dianne Lum Liz Lytle Teresa L. Maguire Guillaume Maillet Mike & Millie Maloney Jeannette & Mervyn Mandelbaum Connie & Leslie Martinson Phyllis & Bert Massing Stewart Mayeda Cheryl McCormick William E. & Marcela H. McKenna Kimberly Meye Bettina Michaels Teddie J. Milner Ankica Milosavljevic Andrew Molasky Catherine Nameth Bonnie Nash David Neilan Mark & Diane Neubauer Sheila Newman Napoleon & Afra Nobay Nothing Bundt Cakes Shelby Notkin Elad Offer Adrienne & Arthur Omansky Martin Ordman Donald Ott Allen Pack & Rikki Gordon Michael Pannullo Bob Paris Edward Parker Mr. & Mrs. Herman Pass David Paymer Kathy & Jeff Perkins Michael & Leslee Perlstein Naidu & Jane Permaul William Pesetski Fran & Bruce Peters Frank J. Pfizenmayer & Josh Brown Gloria Pink Frank Piontek Dr. Ronald & Alyson Podell Lily & Rick Pollack Ms. Kim Pompey Zazi Pope Nancy Porter Mr. David Posner Andrea Pourmoradi Philip Pritchett Mr. & Mrs. Howard Privette Drs. Laurence & Isabell Purdy Lisa Quateman Edward B. Rasch Mildred Reid
Vicki Reiss Linda & Steve Richman William Ridgeway Carlene Ringer Jill Schary Robinson Barbara & David Rognlien Mr. & Mrs. Avi Rojany Beverly & Melvin Rosenthal Adrienne Rosenthal Joyce & Deane Ross Blanche & Bruce Joel Rubin Terry Ryan Joyce Hokin Sachs Janet Salter In Memory of Hon. Maxwell Hillary Salter Charlene & Victor Sands Susan & Kenneth Sarno June & Melvin Sattler Maxine Savitz Carole Scherzer Gary & Karen Schneider Nancy & Steve Schneider Elaine Carey & Vincent J. Schodolski Jane & Bill Schopf Stacy Schrier Dr. & Mrs. Jack Schwartz Mr. Charles Schwartz & Mrs. Carol Schwartz Arlene & Arthur Schwimmer Rodolfo Segovia Mary & Paul Shane Thom & Judy Sharp Jeff Sherman Yossi Sidikaro Seymour & Dorothy Siegel Chuck Simon Don & Marie Sirney Marcia L. & Mark J. Smith Dr. Jerry & Marci Smith Diane Good & Frank Smith Fanya & Sidney Soll Debra & Bruce Spector Kalee St. Clair Ms. M.L. Stearns Mr. & Mrs. Tom Stempel Arthur Stern Sally Stevens Chambers Stevens Holly Strom Katherine Sung Robin & David Swartz The Tauber Family Cheryl Tiano & Frank Gerechter Mr. & Mrs. Art Tompkins Joan Townsend Brigitta Troy Pia & Steve Vai Anthony Vasek Carole Wagner-Vallianos & Peter Vallianos Andrew Kevin Walker Ann W. Wang Berna Lynn Warner Marcia & Dr. Charles Wasserman Annette Weil Jackie & Fred Weintraub Marsha & Steven Weiss Elayne & Walter Wentz The Wexler Family Richard & Joyce Wickline Dara & Greg Payne Rowie & Jeffrey Wolf George Wolfberg Kenneth & Teresa Worley Karen & Frank Wurtzel Barbara & Stanley Zax Lynn & Meir Ziv Dayle & Abram Zukor
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
Coming up at the geffen playhouse
MONDAY
saturday, december 1 & 15 11:00am
25
26
TUESDAY november
SUNDAY
audrey skirball kenis theater at the geffen playhouse
20
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
21
22
8:00pm
8:00pm
coney island christmas
27
coney island christmas
8:00pm
coney island christmas
2
8:00pm
3 2:00/7:00pm 7:00pm
2:00/7:00pm 7:00pm
16 2:00/7:00pm 7:00pm
23 2:00/7:00pm
coney island christmas 7:00pm
nothing to hide
8:00pm
nothing to hide
8:00pm
8 8:00pm
coney island christmas 8:00/10:30pm
3:00/8:00pm
coney island christmas 8:00/10:30pm
nothing to hide
11
12
13
14
15
8:00pm
coney island christmas 8:00pm
8:00pm
8:00pm
coney island christmas 8:00pm
coney island christmas 8:00/10:30pm
3:00/8:00pm
coney island christmas 8:00/10:30pm
nothing to hide
nothing to hide
nothing to hide
nothing to hide
nothing to hide
18
19
20 2
21
22
8:00pm
coney island christmas 8:00pm
8:00pm
extraordinary 8:00pm chambers coney island
8:00pm
christmas 8:00pm
coney island christmas
superior 8:00pm
8:00/10:30pm
3:00/8:00pm
coney island christmas 8:00/10:30pm
nothing to hide
nothing to hide
nothingdonuts to hide
nothing to hide
nothing to hide
25
26
27
28
29
8:00pm
coney island christmas
8:00pm
coney island christmas
8:00/10:30pm
nothing to hide
nothing to hide
8:00pm
24
8:00pm
7
3:00/8:00pm
coney island christmas
nothing to hide
coney island christmas
nothing to hide
8:00pm
8:00/10:30pm
1
nothing to hide
8:00pm
coney island christmas
nothing to hide
superior 8:00pm
coney island christmas
nothing to hide
8:00pm
17
coney island christmas
6 coney island christmas
8:00pm
christmas 8:00pm
5
coney island christmas
nothing to hide
extraordinary 8:00pm chambers coney island
4
8:00pm
coney island christmas
30
nothingdonuts to hide
8:00pm
10
8:00pm
3:00/8:00pm
coney island christmas
8:00pm
nothing to hide
coney island christmas
nothing to hide
coney island christmas
24 8:00pm
thanksgiving day
nothing to hide
8:00pm
coney island christmas
9
8:00pm
coney island christmas
2:00/7:00pm
SATURDAY
23
29 2
28
FRIDAY
december
gil cates theater at the geffen playhouse
8:00pm
christmas day
coney island christmas 8:00pm
nothing to hide
8:00pm
8:00pm
coney island christmas 8:00pm
nothing to hide
coney island christmas 8:00/10:30pm
nothing to hide
3:00/8:00pm
coney island christmas 8:00/10:30pm
nothing to hide
30 2:00/7:00pm
coney island christmas 7:00pm
nothing to hide
talk back tuesdays
girls night out
lounge fridays
wine down sundays
Please visit geffenplayhouse.com/signatureseries for more event details.
PErFORMANCEs  MAGAZINE P31
geffen playhouse staff Randall Arney Artistic Director
Ken Novice Managing Director
ARTISTIC
Behnaz Ataee General Manager
Regina Miller Chief Development Officer
PRODUCTION
Mary Garrett Amy Levinson Phyllis Schuringa Shannon Noel Kristina Leach
Artistic Manager Artistic Associate / Literary Director Artistic Associate / Casting Director Artistic Coordinator Literary Associate
DEVELOPMENT Ellen Catania Director of Major Gifts & Corporate/Foundation Partnerships Jessica Brusilow Rollins Associate Director of Donor Relations & Strategic Partnerships Jamie Sherman Associate Director of Individual Giving Kristen Smith Grants Manager & Major Gifts Executive Assistant Scott Kriloff Development Associate & Database Manager Ava Bogle Development Assistant Jessie Sherman Development Assistant
Daniel Ionazzi Jill Barnes Matthew Carleton Rich Gilles James Grabowski Darren Rezowalli Leah A. Lewis
Production Manager Associate Production Manager Technical Director Properties Master Sound Master Master Electrician Wardrobe Supervisor
COMMUNICATIONS Allison Rawlings Chelsey Rosetter
Director of Communications Communications Coordinator
MARKETING & SALES
Connor White Resident Teaching Artist & Education Associate Benjamin Salka Story Pirates CEO Duke Doyle Story Pirates Producing Director Lee Overtree Story Pirates Artistic Director Quinton Johnson Story Pirates Education Director Gabe Jewell Story Pirates Producer
Joseph Yoshitomi Marketing Director Karen Gutierrez Associate Marketing Director Mark San Filippo Ticket Services Director & Database Administrator Stephanie Strand Audience Services Manager Brian Dunning Graphics / Production Artist Jodi Feigenbaum Advertising & Promotions Assistant L.J. Stevens Group Sales Janice Bernal Associate Box Office Manager Bryan Martin Associate Box Office Manager Janet Huynh Assistant Box Office Manager Korie Benavidez, Audrey Cain, Zack Hamra, Richard Martinez, Lilach Mendelovich, Martin Wurst Box Office Staff
ADMINISTRATION
FRONT OF HOUSE
Frankie Ocasio Executive Assistant to the Managing Director Maryam Meehan Staff Accountant Janet Huynh Staff Accountant Marguerite Harris Receptionist
Jeni Pearsons Events Coordinator David Gerhardt Supervising House Manager Michelle Cantrell, Adam Carr, Amy Farkas, Tommy French, Kimberly Legg, Julianne Tveten, Zack Schultz House Managers Abdoulaye N’Gom Head Usher Caroline Harrison, Sean Jones, Matt Jones, Lyndsi Larose, Rebecca Leigh, Nathaniel Meek, Katie Mitchell, Leah Munson, Lindsay Nyman, Erik Odom, Jonathan Schwartz Ushers Rob Mersola Bar Manager Manuel Mayorga Weekend Bar Manager Adam Carr, Jared White, Kimberly Legg, Lyndsi LaRose Bartenders
EDUCATION
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT Miguel del Castillo Victor Cueva De Loera Mario Santillan-Perez
Facility Manager Maintenance Custodial
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 scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT theaters are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE. P32 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe