MAGAZINE
EQUIVOCATION
FROM THE PRODUCING DIRECTOR
WELCOME TO THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE EQUIVOCATION ACHIEVES THE EXTRAORDINARY GOAL OF being a contemporary play that feels like classical drama. It is not so much its placement in Shakespeare’s London that makes it so, but rather Bill Cain’s adept style at writing a play of such epic scope that it straddles the past and the present seamlessly. Further, Cain has explored the ever-present dilemma of our nation’s propensity to scapegoat and suggested that, as always, the winner writes history.
Our desire to produce this wonderful play was twofold. First, we loved the piece and knew that our audiences would revel in the glance into Shakespeare’s backstage life, even if the tale is a fictitious one. Additionally, we get to continue our mission of developing new plays. For us, this means not only premiering plays such as Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas, but also includes continuous work on new plays by giving them a second production. Oftentimes, when a world premiere reaches opening night and the script is frozen, the writer can still see the work that needs to be accomplished. This is where the second incarnation comes in. This is an opportunity to revisit the play with invaluable hindsight. In this case, Bill Cain also gets to see the work through the eyes of a new director, our friend and colleague, David Esbjornson. With the added support of the Edgerton Foundation, which has generously funded two additional weeks of rehearsal, Bill Cain was able to revisit the play, rewrite to his heart’s content, and land upon a production that we believe has enhanced the beautiful work done this summer by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. David Esbjornson, his extraordinary cast and his stellar team of designers have truly explored the timelessness of this play. All aspects of this production examine the idea of time as a malleable concept. Every show we select is done with a considerable amount of thought to striking a balance in the season as well as helping to set the tone for new American drama. As our subscribers and patrons, you participate in the landscape of new work in an invaluable way by supporting its production and by offering your feedback. We hope you will continue to inform the work with your thoughtful responses and your unwavering support of new material. Thanks for that. See you at the theater,
Gilbert Cates Producing Director
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FROM THE CHAIRMAN FRANK G. MANCUSO
TRADITIONALLY I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND you, our treasured patrons and friends, of the importance of supporting the Geffen Playhouse. It is with deep gratitude that I thank each of you for coming out and supporting the playhouse. Please take a look at the special donor benefits page in the program. In addition, I am thrilled to remind you all to save the date for our upcoming Backstage at the Geffen event on March 22, 2010. This is truly my favorite event of the year!
We need your help and support more than ever to continue and expand our socially vital programs that serve our city. Your support will help us continue our commitment to bring diverse, provocative and entertaining productions to Los Angeles. Call our Development Department at 310.208.6500 and get involved. Indeed, one individual can make a difference. Respectfully yours,
Frank G. Mancuso Chairman, Geffen Playhouse
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Frank G. Mancuso Chairman Gilbert Cates President RANDALL ARNEY DONALD BERGHOFF PETER W. BLACKMAN GENE BLOCK HAROLD A. BROWN SUZANNE DEAL BOOTH † MARY ANN CLOYD KIRSTEN COMBS ROBERT A. DALY † DENNIS DOTY JOHN EBEY
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MARK FLEISCHER DAVID GEFFEN † HERBERT M. GELFAND CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
PATRICIA L. GLASER ADI GREENBERG ARTHUR GREENBERG PAMELA ROBINSON HOLLANDER QUINCY JONES † JOAN KALOUSTIAN JEFFREY KATZENBERG † GLORYA KAUFMAN MICHAEL B. KONG DR. GERALD S. LEVEY KARL MALDEN †* SUSAN MALLORY
GINNY MANCINI SUSANNA MIDNIGHT RON MEYER † LESLIE MOONVES † JERRY MOSS † KEN NOVICE STEVEN A. OLSEN JERRY PERENCHIO BRUCE M. RAMER † FOUNDING CHAIRMAN
LAWRENCE RAMER LOREN ROTHSCHILD LINDA BERNSTEIN RUBIN TERI SCHWARTZ RICHARD SHERMAN VICTORIA MANN SIMMS †
ANDY SPAHN FRED SPECKTOR STEVEN SPIELBERG † CYNTHIA P. STAFFORD HOWARD TENENBAUM STEVE TISCH † DR. CHARLES E. YOUNG CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
DAVID GOLDBERG LEGAL COUNSEL, LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
† FOUNDING TRUSTEE * IN MEMORIAM
EQUIVOCATION
FROM THE WRITER BILL CAIN
EQUIVOCATION CAME TOGETHER
as a play while I was standing in the Tower of London, but it’s real origin was a few years earlier as I stood on 14th Street and Fifth Avenue and watched two other Towers fall. But London’s Tower first. I had taken a couple of years off from writing to teach Language Arts in a middle school in the South Bronx. I was always in awe of the kids’ writing. They were incapable of anything less than truth. There were times it felt like they were also incapable of complete sentences, capitalization and proper punctuation, but the writing itself – the sheer honesty of it - invariably knocked me to my knees. After a couple of years of awe and a whole lot of double negatives, I treated myself to a two-week trip to London to see some theater. At the reconstructed Globe, I saw Mark Rylance’s company do Shakespeare as often as I could. I had directed the Boston Shakespeare Company for 7 years and had done most of the plays - many repeatedly - but the immediacy of the Globe was an absolute revelation to me. Seeing the plays done as they had been done exactly where they had been done made the past absolutely present. Right across the river – walking distance – is the Tower. I had been there before, but hadn’t gone in recent trips, so I thought I’d stop by. In days gone by, the yeoman warders had done funny riffs on beheadings and dungeons, but
this time – with Abu Ghraib in the immediate past – the darker events of the Tower were treated with more reverence. Even so, one disturbing element caught my eye. There was a sign over the rack that said something like – and I wish I had the exact words – something like no one was ever tortured in the Tower because of religion. I know this is technically true. People were tortured because they were traitors, but, if you had not followed Henry 8’s religious predilection, you were – de facto – traitorous and, consequently, however you want to put it, you were in fact tortured because of your religion. This technicallytrue-but-profoundly-false official message set off alarms in my brain. This was about the time that it was
becoming clear that there were no weapons of mass destruction in the weapons-of-mass-destruction based war both England and the United States were engaged in. This was especially distressing as the number of young men and women who were dying for that lie was mounting daily. And I began to wonder about the relationship between the Tower and the Globe Theater. The Globe was the official entertainment branch of the government at the time and I began to wonder what Shakespeare would be writing now if he were in the same position. If he were the government’s playwright now as he was then, what would he be writing in a time of terror? Continued on next page >> 3
FROM THE WRITER
A TIMELINE OF PLAYERS AND PLAYS, 1483-1616 1483
BILL CAIN
And I knew I actually didn’t have to wonder about this a great deal because he was, in his lifetime, right in the middle of an act of terrorism and wrote a play that dealt with it. When I moved on to the cells of the Tower, the first thing I saw in the first cell was an inscription chiseled into the wall by someone from Shakespeare’s time – a last statement from a prisoner of conscience who was about to be tortured to death for his religion. And then I realized that the walls of the cell were covered with such inscriptions. In fact, the walls in all the cells. And this knocked me to my knees. And I knew what I wanted to write. I wanted to write one word as true as a last wish hammered into a prison wall by a man trying to be true to his conscience in the last days of his life. This effort has turned out to be not one word, but many. It turned out to be the play Equivocation. It is the story of “how to tell the truth in difficult times” – based on real events and real people of almost exactly 400 years ago – living in times very similar to our own. When my two weeks were up, as soon as I got off the plane, I booked a flight back to London and spent many months reading about the period, learning every detail I could about the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 and walking what became the geography of the play – the path between the Globe and the Tower. Now – those other Towers. Continued on next page >> 4
1483 Richard III ascends the throne 1509 Henry VIII ascends the throne 1534 Henry VIII severs England’s ties with the Catholic Church 1553 Mary I ascends the throne and attempts to return England to Catholicism 1558 Elizabeth I ascends the throne and recommits England to Protestantism 1593 Shakespeare writes Richard III 1600 Shakespeare writes Hamlet 1602 Shakespeare writes Othello
1603 James I ascends the throne
1603 Shakespeare writes Measure for Measure
1605 King James learns of the Gunpowder Plot
1605 Shakespeare writes King Lear and begins writing Macbeth
1616 Shakespeare dies 1616
THE CHARACTERS OF EQUIVOCATION Within Equivocation many of the actors are called upon to play numerous roles because, like any good treasonous plot, there are a great many people involved. Below is what I like to call a character cheat sheet. To each actor’s left, is the character he assumes in the scenes taking place at the Globe Theater (in addition to his roles in Shag’s plays); and to his right, are the characters he assumes in the scenes taking place in the world outside of the Globe – whether that be the King’s court, his prisons or anywhere in between... — Amy Levinson, Dramaturg
AT THE GLOBE
IN THE WORLD
SHAG
JUDITH
RICHARD
KING LEAR, MACBETH
FATHER HENRY GARNET
EQUIVOCATION
FROM THE WRITER BILL CAIN
As I saw the Towers burning in the city I grew up in, the city that I love, I was so angry that all I wanted to do was answer destruction with destruction. Even then I knew that answering rage with more rage gets you nowhere. I knew that such a colossal act of anger could only be adequately answered by a tenderness equally as passionate, equally as committed. That also became the journey of Equivocation – from angry despair to something that I hope is at least somewhat better. Henry Garnet in the play defines equivocation as “telling the truth in difficult times.” I don’t know that I have done that. I have tried, but, as Shag says, “Truth defies dramatic formula.” In any case, I hope this text allows us to explore the questions of our time by looking at another time above the timeless question of what it means, finally, to be human in a time of inhumanity. To see through the lies – private and public - to the astonishing truth that is hidden in plain sight before us.
NATE
KENT, BANQUO
SIR ROBERT CECIL
To have the courage to tell the truth as well as sixth graders in the South Bronx do. To embody all the possibilities of being human as fully as our actors do.
SHARPE
EDGAR, MACDUFF
ARMIN
FOOL, LADY MACBETH
TOM WINTOUR, KING JAMES I
ROBERT CATESBY, SIR EDWARD COKE
To carve a single word in a wall and let that word be as close to truth as is humanly possible. To answer the question really being asked and to answer it with our lives. And, as Shag says, to write a new soul into a nation. — Bill Cain 5
Gilbert Cates PRODUCING DIRECTOR
Randall Arney ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Ken Novice MANAGING DIRECTOR
THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS
Written by
Bill Cain
Set Design
David Esbjornson
Costume Design
Lighting Design
Frances Kenny
Scott Zielinski
Production Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Jill Gold
Casting Director
Phyllis Schuringa
Sound Design
Jon Gottlieb
Nate Genung Dramaturg
Amy Levinson
Directed by
David Esbjornson
Opening Night: November 18, 2009 OPENING NIGHT SPONSORED BY:
This play premiered at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and was developed at TheatreWorks (Palo Alto) and Ojai Playwrights' Conference. Equivocation is a 2008 recipient of the Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award 6
EQUIVOCATION
CAST OF CHARACTERS Sharpe................................................................................................................ Judith.................................................................................................................. Richard............................................................................................................... Armin.................................................................................................................. Shag..................................................................................................................... Nate....................................................................................................................
Patrick J. Adams Troian Bellisario Harry Groener Brian Henderson Joe Spano Connor Trinneer
SETTING London, 1605-1606
RUNNING TIME Act 1 Approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes There will be a 15 min intermission Act 2 Approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes
The Geffen Playhouse gratefully acknowledges the following media sponsors for their generous support of Equivocation.
The Geffen Playhouse is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.
The Geffen Playhouse, a non-profit theater company, is proudly affiliated with the University of California at Los Angeles.
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WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST ABOUT THE PLAYERS
PATRICK J. ADAMS (Sharpe) Canadian native Patrick Adams has lived and worked in Los Angeles since he came here to pursue his BFA in Acting at USC, where he was honored with several awards including the Jack Nicholson Award for performance in his senior year. Days after graduating Patrick moved into the rehearsal room at the Center Theatre Group for the Mark Taper Forum’s Ovation Award Winning production of Edward Albee’s The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? Other theatre credits include: Paul Grellong’s Manuscript (Tall Blondes, Elephant Theatre), Eva Anderson’s The Epic of Gil (Calamity Theatre), Jessica Goldberg’s Good Thing and Garcia Lorca’s Blood Wedding (USC School of Theatre). He is a yearly participant at the Ojai Playwright’s Conference where he has had the honor of work-shopping a number of Bill Cain’s plays, including Equivocation. He also produced and directed a production of Peter Weiss’ Marat/Sade with the Blue House Theatre Company, which was awarded LA Weekly’s Best Production of the Year award for 2007. Film credits include: Old School, Sally Potter’s RAGE, Weather Girl, and The Waterhole. Television credits include recurring roles on ABC’s FlashForward and Commander in Chief as well as roles on Lost, Friday Night Lights, Without a Trace, Ghost Whisperer, Cold Case, NCIS, Lie to Me and Raising the Bar. Patrick would like to dedicate this run to his grandmother, Patricia Marsh, who has taught him the value of stories and the practice of living to tell them. Online: www.halfadams.com
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TROIAN BELLISARIO (Judith) Theatre Credits include Farragut North (u/s the Geffen Playhouse). A Sam Shepard Double Feature: Fool for Love & True West and an exclusive engagement of Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman both of which she performed with the Casitas Group; a fledgling theatre company of which she is also a founding member. Troian recently graduated from USC School of Theatre with her B.F.A. in Acting. Film Credits: Consent and Peepworld. Television Credits: NCIS, JAG, and Quantum Leap. She is thrilled to be a part of Equivocation and to be back at the Geffen Playhouse. She is a proud new member of Actors’ Equity and she would like to thank her family, friends, and teachers for their endless support.
HARRY GROENER (Richard) Broadway credits include: Crazy For You (Tony nomination), Oklahoma! (Theatre World Award, Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations), Cats (Tony Award nomination), Harrigan and Hart with Mark Hamill (Drama Desk Award nomination), Oh Brother!, Is There Life After High School, Sleight Of Hand, George in Sunday In The Park With George, Imaginary Friends, and, in 2006, King Arthur in Spamalot. Lincoln Center: Twelve Dreams by James Lapine. Off-Broadway: Picasso At The Lapin Agile by Steve Martin, and If Love Were All with Twiggy.
South Coast Repertory: Putting It Together. Reprise Theatre Company: The Fantasticks. Over 60 TV credits include: The Mayor in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ralph in Dear John, and episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Voyager, and Enterprise, Medium, Bones, Las Vegas, CSI, Mad About You, Breaking Bad, The West Wing. Film: About Schmidt with Jack Nicholson, Road To Perdition with Tom Hanks, Amistad, Dance With Me with Vanessa Williams, Patch Adams with Robin Williams, Burbaker with Robert Redford, Manna From Heaven, Role Of A Lifetime with Scott Bakula, and The Day The World Ended. He is a member of Actors’ Equity and an Associate Artist of the Globe Theatre in San Diego. He is also a proud member of The Antaeus Company in Los Angeles and is happily married to his wife of 31 years, Dawn Didawick.
BRIAN HENDERSON (Armin) Broadway- The Little Dog Laughed (TONY nom. Best Play, dir. Scott Ellis) Off-Broadway- Getting Home (Second Stage), Mistakes Madeline Made (Naked Angels), As You Like It (Shakespeare in Central Park), Election Day (Second Stage), In the Wings (Promenade Theatre). Regional- The Little Dog Laughed (Kirk Douglas Theatre), The Shape of Things (Barrington Stage Co.), The Winter’s Tale (Shakespeare on the Sound), Benched (Sacramento Theatre Co.). Film/TV- Don’t Look Up, dir. Fruit Chan (2010), Samantha, dir. Lilian GreenfieldSaunders, The Guiding Light, CBS. Upcoming web series Point Dume. Training- M.F.A. from NYU Graduate Acting Program, Clowning from Ronlin ForemanDell Arte’ Intl School. Thanks to Em, the Fam, and Cat. Mr. Henderson would especially like to thank Mr. Cain for giving him multiple personality disorder. As if he doesn’t have enough problems.
JOE SPANO (Shag) Joe Spano is a founding member of three theater companies, including the Berkeley Repertory Theater, and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity. He has most recently made his theatrical home at the Rubicon Theater in Ventura, playing General Burgoyne in Shaw’s Devil’s Disciple, Greg in A. R. Gurney’s Sylvia, Vladimir in Waiting for Godot, the title (and only) character in Doug Jacobs’ R.. Buckminster Fuller: the History [and Mystery] of the Universe (Ovation Award) and George in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? An Emmy Award winner (for Midnight Caller) Joe starred for seven years as Lt. Henry Goldblume on the series Hill Street Blues. He also starred in the series Mercy Point, Amazing Grace, Murder One and NYPD Blue. He has starred in 20 films made for television and guest-starred on 38 television shows. For the last six years he has played FBI Agent Tobias Fornell on NCIS. He has appeared in 30 feature films, including Hart’s War, Primal Fear, Apollo 13, American Graffiti, Hollywoodland, Fracture and, most recently, Frost/Nixon. A past director and current email coordinator of the Southern California chapter of Families with Children from China, he and Joan Zerrien are the parents of 14 year old Liana Clare Xiaohe Spano and 11 year old Meili Qing Spano.
EQUIVOCATION
WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST ABOUT THE PLAYERS seven seasons. He is very grateful to the Ojai Playwrights Conference for its support.
CONNOR TRINNEER (Nate) Audiences may best remember him as Trip on Star Trek: Enterprise; or Michael, on StarGate: Atlantis. Most recently and closer to earth, Connor has appeared in 24, NCIS, Lincoln Heights, Without a Trace, and many other guest spots on television. Theatrically he’s been all over the map. His favorite roles include Bob in Far East at Lincoln Center, Septimus in Arcadia at the Huntington Theatre in Boston, and Laertes in Hamlet at Virginia Stage. Connor has been a company member with Circle X Theatre Company here in Los Angeles, performing in Edward II as Edward, Belville in The Rover and Philip Morrison in The Louis Slotin Sonata. He is thrilled to be making his Geffen debut and is proud to be a member of Actors’ Equity. Love to A & J. BILL CAIN (Playwright) Bill Cain’s widely-produced play Stand-Up Tragedy earned six LA Critics Awards in its premiere at the Mark Taper Forum. Stand Up later garnered four Helen Hayes Awards at Arena Stage in Washington, DC before its 1990 Broadway engagement, where it received the Joe A. Callaway Playwriting Award. He wrote the television adaptation of the play for TNT, under the title Thicker Than Blood (Writers’ Guild nomination). He is the recipient of a George Foster Peabody Award for Outstanding Achievement in Television for the series Nothing Sacred, which he co-created, wrote and produced for ABC. He wrote the critically acclaimed screen adaptation of Nightjohn for Hallmark/ Touchstone, which was named best American film of the year by The New Yorker and given a special citation for excellence by the National Society of Film Critics. His work for television has won Writers Guild, Humanitas, Christopher and Alma awards, among others. He is the founder of the Boston Shakespeare Company, where he was Artistic Director for
DAVID ESBJORSON (Director/Set Designer) David is the former artistic director of Seattle Repertory where he directed premieres of Ariel Dorfman’s Purgatorio, Kevin Kling’s How? How? Why? Why? and the first major revival of Albee’s The Lady From Dubuque. Other recent works include Hamlet for Theater For A New Audience; the premiere of Peter Parnell’s Trumpery; The Great Gatsby at the Guthrie; the London Royal Haymarket production of A Few Good Men by Aaron Sorkin; Much Ado About Nothing at the Delacorte; Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart; Kathleen Tolan’s Memory House at Playwrights Horizons; and the world premieres of Tuesdays With Morrie by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom, In the Blood by Suzan-Lori Parks at The Public, My Old Lady by Israel Horowitz at the Promenade Theatre and Neil Simon’s Rose and Walsh at the Geffen. Mr. Esbjornson worked with Arthur Miller on two premiere productions: The Ride Down Mt. Morgan at The Public and on Broadway, and the world premiere of Resurrection Blues at the Guthrie Theater. He has also had a long-standing relationship with Edward Albee, directing the Tony Award-winning play The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?; The Play About the Baby at the Century Theatre: and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? FANCES KENNY (Costume Designer) Frances’ interest in theater costume design grew out of her love of contemporary fashion and the study of costume in art history. When these two interests met the literature of theater, a perfect match occurred. Frances has designed extensively in Seattle, where she is based, at the Seattle Repertory Theater, A Contemporary Theater, Seattle Children’s Theater, Seattle Shakespeare, the Pat Graney Dance Company, etc. Her work has been regionally seen at the Long Wharf, Denver Center, Actor’s Theater of Louisville, Honolulu Theater for Youth, South Coast Rep, San Jose Rep and the Oregon Shakespearean Festival. In Los Angeles, she designed The Goat for the Mark Taper and The Kentucky Cycle which went on to the Kennedy Center and Broadway. Her last show at the Geffen Playhouse
was By the Waters of Babylon where she designed the most perfect of imperfect dresses. When not doing theater, Frances styles wardrobe for commercials and print. SCOTT ZIELINSKI (Lighting Designer) Scott’s New York credits include Topdog/Underdog on Broadway, Classic Stage Company, Joseph Papp Public Theater, Lincoln Center Festival, Manhattan Theater Club, New York Theater Workshop, Playwrights Horizons, Signature Theater, and Theater for a New Audience, among others. Scott has also worked extensively at many regional theaters throughout the United States. He has designed internationally in Adelaide, Amsterdam, Berlin, Edinburgh, Fukuoka, Goteborg, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Linz, London, Luang Prabang, Lyon, Orleans, Oslo, Ottawa, Paris, Reykjavik, Rotterdam, Singapore, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Tokyo, Toronto, Vienna, Vilnius, and Zurich. Highlights of his dance lighting include American Dance Festival, Joyce Theater, Kennedy Center (all with Twyla Tharp), American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Centre National de la Danse, Houston Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, and San Francisco Ballet. His opera designs include Arizona Opera, Brooklyn Academy of Music, English National Opera, Gotham Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Lithuanian National Opera, Minnesota Opera, Nederlandse Opera, New York City Opera, Opera Colorado, Pittsburgh Opera, San Francisco Opera, Spoleto Festival USA, and Toronto Opera. JON GOTTLIEB (Sound Designer) Jon Gottlieb is an award-winning Sound Designer who currently serves as Assistant Dean and Head of the Sound Design program for the School of Theater at the California Institute of the Arts. A Los Angeles-based artist, his recent design work at the Geffen includes: Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas, Time Stands Still, By the Waters of Babylon, George Gershwin, Alone (2007 Ovation Award), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Collected Stories directed by Gil Cates, Hedda Gabler with Annette Bening directed by Daniel Sullivan, and Four Dogs and a Bone with Martin Short directed by Lawrence Kasdan. He has been heard regionally, internationally and on and off- Broadway. Recent Broadway credits include QED with Alan Alda at
Lincoln Center, Neil Simon’s Dinner Party and Terrence McNally’s Tony award-winning Master Class, starring Zoe Caldwell and later Faye Dunaway in the national tour. During his 15 year tenure as resident sound designer for Center Theater Group his designs included Taper productions of iWitness (LA Drama Critics Circle Award), The Flower Drum Song (Ovation Award), Distracted, Hughie with Al Pacino, Enigma Variations with Donald Sutherland, Putting It Together with Carol Burnett, in association with Cameron Mackintosh, The Cider House Rules directed by Tom Hulce and Jane Jones, Nine Armenians directed by Gordon Davidson, Master Class (Ovation award) and Henceforward (LA Drama Critics Circle Award). His designs at the Ahmanson Theater include The History Boys, Cinderella (LA Drama Critics Circle Award) and Measure For Measure and A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Sir Peter Hall. Jon has received eight LADCC Awards, three LA Theater Alliance Ovation Awards, over 60 Drama-Logue, L.A. Weekly and NAACP Theater awards, Career Achievement awards from The Los Angeles Theater Alliance, the LA Weekly and the Los Angeles Theater Center, and the Distinguished Artist Award from the Music Center Club 100. He served for five years as the resident sound designer at the Los Angeles Theater Center, fifteen years as resident sound designer at Center Theater Group, and prior to teaching at CalArts was a member of the teaching faculty at both the USC and UCLA Schools of Theater. For Disney Imagineering, he created original sound effects and design for two attractions at Walt Disney World in Florida. JILL GOLD (Production Stage Manager) Jill is proud to be celebrating her 25th year as an Equity stage manager by returning for her 5th show at the Geffen. She has filled the past 25 years with productions at the Pasadena Playhouse (26 shows), Reprise (16 shows), McCoy Rigby (13 shows), the Hollywood Bowl (4 shows), LATC (16 shows), the Taper (10 shows), and many more. In other time zones, Jill toured the US with Les Miserables, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, City of Angels, and Wicked; in Europe she killed time in Germany and Austria with Sisterella. She is happiest during the hours spent with her daughters Hailey and Colleen, and husband Phil.
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WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST ABOUT THE PLAYERS NATE GENUNG (Assistant Stage Manager) Nate is grateful to be at the Geffen for the first time and thankful to Jill for having him back. His recent work includes Medea with Annette Bening (UCLA Live), Ring of Fire (McCoy Rigby), Pippin (Mark Taper Forum), the world premieres of Life Could Be a Dream (Hudson Theatre), Norman’s Ark (dir. Peter Schneider, Ford Amphitheatre), Dawn’s Light (East West Players), Stories by Shel (Deaf West Theatre) and Unfinished American Highwayscape #9 & 32 (Theatre @ Boston Court) and the American premiere of Maria Cassi in Crepapelle (Pasadena Playhouse’s Carrie Hamilton Theatre). He also served as Theatre @ Boston Court’s Technical Director for Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings and Dark Play, or Stories for Boys in 2007. He holds a BA in Theater and Economics from Occidental College. Love you, M & M. PHYLLIS SCHURINGA (Casting Director) Phyllis is in her seventh season as Casting Director at the Geffen Playhouse. Recent plays include: 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 The Briar Street 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 Literary Manager and Dramaturg of the Geffen Playhouse. Her dramaturgy credits at the Geffen Playhouse include The Weir, Looking for Normal, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, Under The Blue Sky, Rose and Walsh, Boy Gets Girl, I Just Stopped By To See The Man, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Third, and The Quality of Life among others. Also a translator of Yiddish drama, she holds an MFA in Dramaturgy from the
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University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she taught until 1997. She has worked in literary offices at Hartford Stage and The Mark Taper Forum.
RANDALL ARNEY (Artistic Director) Randall begins his ninth season as Artistic Director at the Geffen where he has directed The Seafarer, Atlanta, David Mamet’s Speed-The-Plow, Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, Richard Greenberg’s Take Me Out, Stephen Jeffreys’ I Just Stopped by to See the Man, Rebecca Gilman’s Boy Gets Girl, David Rambo’s God’s Man In Texas and Conor McPherson’s The Weir. An ensemble member of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1984, Arney also acted as the company’s artistic director from 1987 to 1995. 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 (Tony Award winner). 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, Coyote Ugly, True West and Balm in Gilead. Film/TV credits include Normal, Weapons of Mass Distraction (both for HBO), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) and Judging Amy (CBS)
KEN NOVICE (Managing Director) Prior to joining Geffen Playhouse Novice served as Managing Director and Director of External Affairs at Pasadena Playhouse. Prior to that he was Director of Marketing and Public Relations for San Diego’s
Tony Award-winning Old Globe Theatre developing marketing and public relations programs for Jack O’Brien’s revival of Damn Yankees, the Tony Award-nominated musical The Full Monty, Henry IV starring John Goodman as well as the Tonynominated hit Play On! among many others. Novice’s credits also include marketing and public relations with 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 major motion pictures from Columbia Pictures, DreamWorks S.K.G., Buena Vista Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Fox Broadcasting, 20th Century Fox, MGM, New Line Cinema and Warner Brothers Pictures. He also currently manages Ken Novice Entertainment Marketing, working with such clients as The Salvation Army, Sephra Fountains LLC, and promotional partners including Warner Brothers, American Express and Gelson’s among others. Novice served as Head of Theatre Management for the California State University Long Beach theatre management M.F.A./M.B.A. degree program and has been a guest lecturer at San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego. He holds a B.A. from the Pennsylvania State University and an M.B.A. from San Diego State University.
GILBERT CATES (Producing Director) Gilbert Cates is recognized as a leader in television, film and theater. Currently presiding as the Producing Director of the Geffen Playhouse, he is dedicated to enriching the Los Angeles theatrical spectrum by presenting the finest in contemporary and classical theater. In November 1996, Cates was the recipient of the Jimmy Dolittle Award for Outstanding Contribution to Los Angeles Theater. He received the 1999 Ovation Award for best play for Collected Stories, starring Linda Lavin and Samantha Mathis, which he directed
at the Geffen. The accolades for Cates expand into other areas of the entertainment industry. He produced and directed the 1970 film version of the Broadway hit I Never Sang for My Father, starring Melvyn Douglas, Gene Hackman and Estelle Parsons. The movie earned three Academy Award nominations. Cates also directed Joanne Woodward and Sylvia Sidney in the 1973 film Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams, which received two Oscar nominations. Other film directing credits include: The Promise, One Summer Love, The Last Married Couple in America, Oh! God Book II and Backfire. He further distinguished himself as director and/ or producer of a number of television dramatic specials. These include NBC’s 1972 Emmy Award-winning To all My Friends on Shore, starring Bill Cosby, ABC’s 1974 The Affair starring Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner, NBC’s 1975 After the Fall starring Faye Dunaway and Christopher Plummer. Other credits include: Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye, The Kid from Nowhere, County Gold, Faerie Tale Theater’s Rapunzel and Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hobson’s Choice, Burning Rage, Consenting Adults, Fatal Judgment, Do You Know the Muffin Man, Call Me Anna, Absolute Strangers, In My Daughter’s Name, and Tom Clancy’s Netforce (Cates directed James Agee’s A Death in the Family for Masterpiece Theater’s American Collection of PBS and Donald Margulies’ Collected Stories for PBS Hollywood Presents). In September 2002, he directed David Eldridge’s Under the Blue Sky for The Geffen Playhouse and directed Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 2005, the inaugural production in the newlyrenovated Geffen Playhouse. In February 2007 he directed Jeffrey Hatcher’s A Picasso in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. He served two terms as President of the Directors Guild of America from 1983 to 1987. In 1989, he received the Guild’s Robert B. Aldrich Award for extraordinary service and, in 1991, he received the DGA’s Honorary Life Membership. He also served as Dean of the UCLA School of Theater Film and Television (which he founded) from 1990—1998. In 2008, Cates produced the 80th Annual Academy Awards show for ABC, his 14th occasion producing the Awards, for which he has already garnered 84 nominations and 17 Emmy Awards. Mr Cates was born in New York City and attended Syracuse University. Married to Dr. Judith Reichman, he has four children, two stepchildren and six grandchildren.
EQUIVOCATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PRODUCTION STAFF FOR EQUIVOCATION Properties Supervisor kis knekt Deck Supervisor Dwayne Barnes Master Electrician Darren Rezowalli Sound Master James Grabowski Wardrobe Supervisor Leah A. Lewis Production Assistant jenny koblosky Associate Set Designer MIKIKO SUZUKI MACADAMS Assistant to Costume Designer kimberly newton Assistant to Lighting Designer John Ryman Assistant to Master Electrician Jenna Pletcher Stage Crew juan lozano Stage Crew canyon prince UCLA Directing Intern Angela Scott Director’s Assistant Jack Nicolaus Fight Choreographer Bo foxworth ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Scenery provided by scenic highlights Lighting Equipment provided by Entertainment Lighting Services Sound Equipment provided by Jon Sound Inc. Flying Effects provided by zfx, inc. SPECIAL THANKS UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Scene, Prop, Sound and Costume Shops, London Cleaners 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 Donald Margulies, Annette Bening, Terrence McNally, Alan Ayckbourn, David Mamet, David Ives and Jon Robin Baitz 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.
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SCENE AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE Opening Night of Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas Sponsored by Los Angeles magazine
Geffen Playhouse Managing Director Ken Novice, Board Member Pamela Robinson Hollander, Robert Hollander, and Board Member Adi Greenberg
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Fay Mancuso, Marie Demirdjian, Geffen Playhouse Chairman Frank Mancuso, and Martha Henderson of City National Bank
Cami Starkman, Carla Malden, and long-time supporter of the Geffen Playhouse Mona Malden
Charlie Midnight, Geffen Playhouse Board Member Susanna Midnight, and French Stewart
Lynne Williams and Geffen Playhouse Education Advisory Board Member Priscila Giraldo
Geffen Playhouse Opening Night Donors Jonathan and Mara Blum
Geffen Playhouse Annual Donors Melvin Keefer and Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer
Geffen Playhouse Board Member Susan Mallory and Laura Zucker of the LA County Arts Commission
EQUIVOCATION
SCENE AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE Opening Night of Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas Sponsored by Los Angeles magazine
Renee and Alan Cruciani of Audi
Geffen Playhouse Board Member Dr. Charles Young and Judy Young
Geffen Playhouse Board Member Herbert Gelfand and Beverly Gelfand
Dolores Nemiro and Geffen Playhouse Board Member Ginny Mancini
Geffen Playhouse Education Advisory Board Supporter Allan Shay, Ai O. Shay, and Kirsten Hansen
Kirk and Anne Douglas
Geffen Playhouse Producing Director Gilbert Cates and Ernest Dillihay of the Department of Cultural Affairs
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SATURDAY SCENE
THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS
SATURDAY SCENE
THEATER FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES On select Saturday mornings enjoy an interactive journey into the world of plays, music, puppetry and storytelling. Share in the excitement of your child’s imagination! Saturday mornings at 11am. Ages 2-12*. THE STORY PIRATES
MAKE SATURDAY SCENE PART OF YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON
AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES SINGLE TICKETS ARE JUST $15. SUBSCRIBE NOW AND SAVE 20%! GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.COM/FAMILY OR CALL 310.208.5454 NOVEMBER 21, 2009
FERDINAND THE BULL
SHUSHYBYE DREAM BAND
FERDINAND THE BULL CHILDSPLAY NOVEMBER 28, 2009 TOM SAWYER WILL AND COMPANY DECEMBER 5, 2009
SHUSHYBYE DREAM BAND DECEMBER 12, 2009
THE STORY PIRATES
AGES
5+ AGES
5+ AGES
2+ AGES
4+
THIS GEFFEN STAGE FOR ANY AGE EDUCATION & OUTREACH PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF: Audi of America, Brotman Foundation of California, Capital Group Companies Foundation, CBS, Citigroup Foundation, City National Bank, ClearEdge Power, Creative Artists Agency Foundation, Dan Hartman Arts & Music Foundation, Edgerton Foundation, Fox Entertainment Group, HBO Films, Joseph Drown Foundation, Keyes Automotive Group, Leo S. Guthman Fund, Lincy Foundation, Los Angeles City Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Maurice Amado Foundation, Montage Hotels and Residences, Norris Foundation, Northern Trust, Occidental Petroleum, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Queen Nefertari Productions, Roll International, Saban Family Foundation, Shay Family Foundation, Simon Strauss Foundation, Skirball Foundation, Stone Family Foundation, The Walt Disney Company, Ticketmaster, TransAmerica Foundation, Universal Studios, Vidal Sassoon Family Foundation, Warner Bros. Entertainment, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
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*Every patron, regardless of age, must receive a ticket and be able to sit alone in a seat. The Geffen Playhouse has limited facilities for infants, and suggests that children under the age of 18 months not attend Saturday Scene events.
10 Performances Only! December 29, 2009 – January 10, 2010 Subscribers Save 10%
Buy Tickets Before This Year’s New Production Sells Out!
THE STARS ARE ALIGNED FOR 2010! THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES February 2 — March 14, 2010 WRITTEN BY
JOANNA MURRAY-SMITH DIRECTED BY
RANDALL ARNEY Academy Award nominee Annette Bening returns to the Geffen Playhouse in this wildly wicked farce! Watch and laugh as a famed feminist author’s retreat is so rudely and hilariously interrupted by a host of unexpected guests: a disgruntled student, an impatient cabbie, her longtime publisher, her overlooked daughter and simplistic son-in-law. Writer’s block has never been so funny!
NIGHTMARE ALLEY April 13 — May 23, 2010 MUSIC, BOOK & LYRICS BY
JONATHAN BRIELLE DIRECTED BY
GILBERT CATES Step into Nightmare Alley and enter the titillating world of carnies, cons and clairvoyants. With a score as wild as a funhouse and as evocative as a beautiful tightrope walker, this world premiere musical tells the tale of a young carnie couple who tempt the fickle hand of fate.
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2009/2010 SEASON
THURGOOD
June 27 — August 8, 2010 WRITTEN BY
GEORGE STEVENS, JR. DIRECTED BY
LEONARD FOGLIA Laurence Fishburne transforms into Thurgood Marshall to tell the triumphant story of how a boy from the backstreets of Baltimore changed history as the first African-American Supreme Court Justice.
SPECIAL EVENT!
SUBSCRIBERS SAVE 10% RICKY JAY: A ROGUE’S GALLERY
TEN PERFORMANCES ONLY! December 29 — January 10, 2010 The Geffen Playhouse is the only Los Angeles theater to host this internationally lauded performer in a decade. Previous productions have sold out - don’t miss this innovative new show before it heads to New York! No one under 17 will be admitted. No late seating.
SUBSCRIBE FOR AS LOW AS $135* ORCHESTRA SEATS STILL AVAILABLE!
SUBSCRIBER HOTLINE: 310.208.2028 SUBSCRIBE ONLINE! GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.COM/SUBSCRIBE *Fees apply.
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Our Deepest Appreciation To ClearEdge ClearEdge Power: Powering the Arts—One Fuel Cell at a Time Geffen Playhouse would like to acknowledge the tremendous support of ClearEdge Power. Because of the company’s generous donation of a ClearEdge5 fuel cell energy system, the Geffen Playhouse will cut utility costs and significantly reduce our carbon emissions – making an impact for our theater, community and planet. Please join us in thanking ClearEdge Power for all that they do to support the Arts, and the environment. If you are interested in finding out more about the ClearEdge5 energy systems for your home or business, please contact us. ClearEdge Power is offering a special discount for 2009-2010 season ticket holders. Receive a special discount off the purchase of a ClearEdge5 clean energy system, and jumpstart your own savings today.*
*For more details on this offer, please contact Regina Miller at ReginaM@geffenplayhouse.com or call 310.208.6500 ext 112. Offer valid on signed ClearEdge5 purchase contracts dated on or before December 31, 2009. Offer valid for 2009-2010 Geffen Playhouse season subscribers only.
Producer $10,000
All benefits of a director, plus: • 4 tickets to Geffen Playhouse main stage opening nights — including valet parking, cocktail party, and post-show reception • 2 orchestra tickets to the opening night of Ricky Jay: A Rogue’s Gallery* (December 29, 2009. Non-exchangeable.)
• 2 tickets to all readings and workshops in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater
Director $5,000 • 2 tickets to Geffen Playhouse main stage opening nights — including valet parking, cocktail party, and post-show reception • 2 orchestra tickets to the opening night of Ricky Jay: A Rogue’s Gallery* (December 29, 2009. Non-exchangeable.)
• Season-long membership to the Marcia IsraelCurley Founders Room with complimentary snacks, beverages, and private restrooms • Special invitation to attend the end of season donor dinner with Geffen Playhouse artists • Season-long recognition on the lobby glass wall and in the program
NEW! 2010 corporate circle $2,500 • Logo or other listing on our Corporate Circle glass wall in the lobby and in the program • Recognition as an Education Partner having underwritten programs for underserved youth and low-income seniors to experience the Geffen Playhouse • 2 orchestra season tickets to 2010 main stage productions
2009/2010 ONLY
2009/2010 season annual donor benefits Education Advocate $1,000 • Recognition on the Herb & Beverly Gelfand Education Wall and in the program • 2 orchestra tickets to the opening night of Ricky Jay: A Rogue’s Gallery* (December 29, 2009. Non-exchangeable.)
• Concierge services for house seats at other local and nationwide theaters (subject to availability)
• Season-long membership to the Marcia IsraelCurley Founders Room with complimentary snacks, beverages, and private restrooms • Ability to exchange subscription tickets into house seats • Parking vouchers for each main stage show
Artistic Advocate $500 • 2 orchestra tickets to the opening night of Ricky Jay: A Rogue’s Gallery* (December 29, 2009. Non-exchangeable.)
• Parking vouchers for each main stage show • Unlimited, free ticket exchanges (subject to availability)
• Season-long recognition in the program
Associate $250 • 2 front mezzanine tickets to the opening night of Ricky Jay: A Rogue’s Gallery* (December 29, 2009. Non-exchangeable.)
• Season-long recognition in the program • 2 complimentary drinks at the Geffen Playhouse bar
Affiliate $150
• Season-long membership to the Marcia IsraelCurley Founders Room with complimentary snacks, beverages, and private restrooms
• 2 rear mezzanine tickets to the opening night of Ricky Jay: A Rogue’s Gallery*
• Significant employee discounts at the Geffen Playhouse
• 2 complimentary drinks at the Geffen Playhouse bar
• Parking vouchers for each main stage show
(December 29, 2009. Non-exchangeable.)
*No one under 17 will be admitted. No late seating.
Questions? Please call development 310.208.6500 x136
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ANNUAL DONORS The Geffen Playhouse recognizes the following individuals and organizations for their generous support of our Annual Fund. Donors are listed at the Associate level and higher for gifts between August 1, 2008 and October 1, 2009.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER $25,000+
Anonymous Suzanne Deal Booth & David Booth CBS Television Network City National Bank ClearEdge Power Edgerton Foundation Herbert M. & Beverly J. Gelfand Adi & Jerry Greenberg The Dan Hartman Arts & Music Foundation Latham & Watkins Lincy Foundation Los Angeles County Arts Commission Mona & Karl Malden* Ginny Mancini Fay & Frank Mancuso Maria Mancuso Gersh Marcia Israel Foundation, Inc. Ron & Kelly Meyer Susanna Midnight & Charlie Midnight Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation Moss Foundation PricewaterhouseCoopers Monica & Phil Rosenthal Cheryl & Haim Saban, Saban Entertainment Shubert Foundation The Simms/Mann Family Foundation Skirball Foundation Kate Capshaw Spielberg & Steven Spielberg Cynthia P. Stafford Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust Shel & Cynthia Stone Jodi & Howard Tenenbaum
PRODUCER
$10,000 - $24,999 Audi of America, Inc. Don & Vicki Berghoff Charles A. Black, Jr. Evelyn & Stephen Block Annette Blum Eileen & Harold Brown Mark Burnett & Roma Downey Stephanie & Jonathan Carson Mary Ann Cloyd Shelley Wike Cranley The Walt Disney Company Susan & John Ebey Susan & Mark Fleischer G.E. Foundation Fox Entertainment Group Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, Inc. Patty Glaser & Sam Mudie Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association
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Audrey & Arthur Greenberg Barbara Grenell C. Curtis Grisham In Memory of Morrie Hazan Dorothy & Allan Jonas Joan Kaloustian Glorya Kaufman Sabrina Kay Charitable Foundation Keyes Automotive Group Michael Kong & Anastasia Twilley Sandra Krause & William Fitzgerald Susan & Peter Mallory Nancy & Michael McClelland Northern Trust Occidental Petroleum Corp Lee & Lawrence J. Ramer Lynda & Stewart Resnick Joyce & Deane Ross Loren Rothschild & Hon. Frances Rothschild Tony & Linda Bernstein Rubin Carole Bayer Sager & Robert A. Daly Barry & Nancy Sanders The Vidal Sassoon Foundation The Edward A. & Ai O Shay Family Foundation Patricia & Stanley Silver Fred Specktor & Nancy Heller Judith & Bruce Stern Ruth Ziegler
Mannon Kaplan Beth & Kenneth M. Karmin Hope Mineo & Jeffrey Kitchen Leo S. Guthman Fund The Rose & Jay Phillips Family Foundation Meyer & Renee Luskin Laurie MacDonald & Walter Parkes Anne McGrail & Ann Donahue Donna McKenna Montage Hotels & Residences Morgan Stanley Garry Morris & Kent Harrison Hayes Mike Nichols & Diane Sawyer Christine Marie Ofiesh David Rambo & Ted Heyck Rollin Ransom Paula & Allan Rudnick DeeAnna Staats Ticketmaster Heather Thomas & Skip Brittenham Universal Studios Nia Vardalos & Ian Gomez Jon Alon Walz Warner Bros. Entertainment William Morris Endeavor Entertainment Dr. Charles & Judy Young Gail Zappa Ruth & Stan Zicklin Candice & Joel Zwick
DIRECTOR
INVESTOR
Jack & Hilary Angelo Evelyne & Louis Blau Mara & Jonathan Blum Brotman Foundation of California Capital Group Companies Citigroup Peggi Collins & Steve Cocks City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs Creative Artists Agency Laurie David Laura & Roger Davis Vin Di Bona & Erica Gerard Carolyn Dirks Family Tremecca D. Doss Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer & Melvin Keefer Daniel Erickson Priscila Giraldo Joseph B. Gould Foundation HBO Films Eric & Samantha Heer Dorothy & Stanley Hoffman Pamela Robinson Hollander Cindy & Alan Horn Toni Howard Wendell & Bernice Jeffrey Joseph Drown Foundation Dora & Neil Kadisha
Harry & Gay Abrams/Abrams Artists Agency Richard A. Ackerman Janis Adams & John Lyons Miriam Aguiar AIG SunAmerica Merryl & David A. Alpert Katherine Amber Patti & Harlan Amstutz Apatow Family Foundation, Inc. Jonathon Aubry In Memory of Tracy L. Axelrod DC & Carol Ann Bakeman Rick & Shelley Bayer Norman Beil Suzanne Beltramo Verheggen Barry R. Bernson Pamela & Bill Bohnert Brenda & Alan Borstein Paula Brand Kevin & Claudia Bright Carolyn & Gerald Bronstein Robert Brook & Jacqueline Kosecoff Homer. F. Broome Jr. Wendy & David Brotman Howard D. Browne Dr. R.W.G. Bugental Sue & Peter Bunzel Jolene & Robert Burk
$5,000 - $9,999
$1,000 - $2,999
Marlene Canter Chancellor Emeritus Albert Carnesale & Mrs. Robin Carnesale Dr. Fanya Carter & Dr. Harold J. Delchamps CBS Radio Martha Chase Laurel & Aaron Clark Dr. Stephen & Trudi Cohen In Memory of Irma Colen Tami G. Cooper Corday Family Foundation Arline Covell Marsha Brown & Michael Crosby Nancy Cypert In honor of Ed Cypert, Jr. Daedalus Foundation Nancy Daly Riordan* Glorya & Will Dixon Gerald & Sally Ducot William Duncan Rich S. Eisen Dr. & Mrs. Paul Eisenberg Colleen M. Ellis Kevin Watts & Christine Enlow In Loving Memory of Richard C. Field Michael Filerman Eric Flamholtz & Yvonne Randle Burt & Nanette Forester Joan & Charles Fox Dottie Frieband Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers Hilary Garland Harry A. Gilbert Kiki & David Gindler Karen Bobo & Alan Grosbard The Guerin Foundation Aliza & Marc Guren Brett & Gina Gurewitz Dina Merrill & Ted Hartley Mr. & Mrs. William Hellman Harriette Henderson Mel & Faith Henkin Jack Hileman & Roxanne Huddleston Gwen & Arthur Hiller Jim Hliboki & Hildi Snodgrass Jackie & Dr. Irwin Hoffman Elaine Hoffman & Jack Cherbo Bud & Mary Hoffman Angel Hovhanessian Roger & Linda Howard Terry & Marc J. Jacoby Quincy Jones Productions Jonny Appleseed Landscaping, Inc. Jacqueline & Marvin Jubas Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Kamine Sally & Dr. Manny J. Karbelnig Anita Karbelnig Donald Kates Julie & David Kavner Lenny & David Kelton Kent Klavens Thea & Neal Koss
EQUIVOCATION
ANNUAL DONORS Carol Krause Seth Krugliak Helene & Arthur Laub Jessica Laufer & Neal Halfon Jeanne & Christopher Lavagnino Ron & Pat Lebel Joyce Lederer & Family Doris & Mitchell Leit Paul Lester Ed Levine Mae & Hugh Lichtig Steven & Nancy Lippman Gerald & Dorothy Lipsky Tatiana & Howard Lipson Marlene & Sandy Louchheim In Loving Memory of Sunny Lowy Brady Majors & Michelle Brattson Ruth K. March Eric G.C. Mark Maurice Amado Foundation Lesia & William Maxwell Janis B. McEldowney Dr. James & Rose Meltzer Meschures, Campeas, Thompson, Snyder & Pariser, LLP Barbara & Fred Miller Ron Miller Nicole Behrstoc-Miner In Memory of Rae Behrstock & Celia Lew Andrew Mintzer Allison & Jeff Mirkin Joanne & Joel Mogy Rich & Michele Monosson Patricia & Wesley Moore Lawrence P. Murphy Patricia Nettleship Janet & Mark Newman Albert & Barbara Nichols Carol & Bill Ouchi Kirk & Sue Patrick Charles Phillips Herbert & Marilyn Piken In Memory of Michael Piller Richard & Ruth Popkin Mary K. Pringle Gail & Harold Provizer Richard Rasiej & Joan Herman Kay & Bob Rehme Donald B. & Susan F. Rice Esther & Howard Richmond Linda & Manny Rider Jane Rissman & Richard Sondheimer Carol & Ward Ritter Robert & Ann Ronus Lee Rosenblatt Marlene Rotblatt Jay D. Roth & Sherry E. Grant Blanche & Bruce Joel Rubin Michele & J. Nathan Rubin Thomas L. Safran Janet & Hon. Maxwell Hillary Salter Susan & Kenneth Sarno Jody & Arthur Schmid Susan & Martin Schmitt David Schwanke In Memory of Josephine Seegel Sempra Energy
Linda & David Shaheen George Shapiro Alexandra Sheldon In Memory of Sidney Sheldon Diane Sherman-Smith In Memory of Gordon A. Smith Rita & Jose Sigal Alvin Simon Simon Strauss Foundation In Memory of Ross Hunter & Jacque Mapes Nancy Sinatra Snyder Family Foundation Debra & Bruce Spector Rita Spiegel Joy, Marcella & Grant Stanley Mitch & Sherry Stein Cori Steinberg Richard & Pamela Sterman Joannie Stern Jack Sussman Dr. S. Jerome & Judith D. Tamkin Joy & David Taubman Anne C. Taubman & David Boyle John Teeples Audri & Stan Tendler Anita & Bill Thompson Jamie & Patrick Tierney David Tillman, MD & Karen Zoller, MD Karen & Bill Timberlake Transamerica Insurance & Investment Group Francine & James Travers United Talent Agency Daniel & Shauna Valenzuela Susan & Peter Van Haften Elaine & Boris Vanoff Joanne & Ken Weinman Werner Family Foundation Ellie & Tom Wertheimer Alison Whalen & Steven Marenberg Richard & March Wiseley Elaine & Donald Wolf Mimi & Werner F. Wolfen Karen & Rick Wolfen The Honorable Zev Yaroslavsky Young Presidents’ Organization, Inc Patricia Youngman Andrew & Kimberly Zakanych
PARTNER $500 - $999
Dale & Ruth Adams The Adams-Cohen Family Lauren Babior Janet & Irwin Barnet John & Helene Beal Walter Bennett Madelyn Bennett & Eric Gibson Wendy & John Bergquist In Loving Memory of Darnold Blivas Carol J. Bradshaw Barbara & Ray Brogliatti Janet & Mark Brown Bernice & Ray Charles Terry Conway Ted Cordes
Valerie & Donald Cravitz Bruce Cronander Merle Dandridge Celeste DeCuir Jeffrey Denker Dr. Udayakuma Devaskar Tracy Donnell Fred & Marilyn Dorer Anne Dougherty & David Dobrikin Elizabeth A. Evans Myrna & Howard Fabrick Rebekah & Howard Farber Helene W. Feldman Gloria & Morton Field Rabbi Harvey & Sybil Fields Geri Fisher Frances & Terry Flanagan William & Elisabet Fleischman Franky & Art Friedman Kenneth J. Friedman & Marilynn J. Friedman Family Foundation Peggy N. Furman Lois & Gerald Gallop Sharlene & Sol Galper Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Gardner Charles Gerber Elizabeth & Fereydoon Ghaffari Benita & Bert Ginsberg William & Charlene Glikbarg Mr. & Mrs. David Tann Peter Goldman Abner & Roz Goldstine Lori & Robert Goodman Gwen Grabb Louise Halevy & Ken Erlich Carolyn Hamilton Dr. & Mrs. Samuel Haveson Kamiz & Mahnaz Hekmat Murray & Gail Heltzer Hella Hershson Marion & Todd Hindin Rand Hoffman & Charlotte Robinson Kelley Hogan HSBC Bank USA Toni Hoyt Dorotea Humberstone Gerry Hundert Lynn Hunt & Margaret Jacob Alan Baral & Sharre Jacoby Trudy & Albert Kallis Teresa & Jerome Kamer Harris Katleman Mr. & Mrs. William Keast In Memory of Robert E. Oram Sarah H. Ketterer Bruce & Laura Klein Leslie & Norman Koplof Deborah Lachman Ron Lawler Sheelagh Boyd & Larry Layne Nancy & Michael Levin In Memory of Weeluang T. Lim Greg Malins Bob & Sue Mallory Jeannette & Mervyn Mandelbaum Phyllis Marell Jacqueline Mark In Loving Memory of Ronen Tidhar
Billie Marrow Allan M. Mohrman Jr. Laurie & Chuck Mondrus Arlene M. Monnar John & Sandy Murdock Janice B. Nelsen Diane & Mark Neubauer John & Marian Niles Leila & Robert Noel Lance O’Connor Mr. & Mrs. David Ostrove Phil & Leslie Paton Peggy & George Polinger Jack Pollack Nancy Porter Gary & Gail Rachelefsky Edward B. Rasch Frani & Daniel Ridder Carlene Ringer Richard Robertson The Rogers Group Kathleen & F.D. Rogers Dolores Rogers Raymond Rogowski Beverly & Mel Rosenthal Lawrence Ross & Linda Nussbaum Susan Sacchi David A. & Karen Richards Sachs Nancy & Ted Sanborn Maxine Savitz Nadya Scott Yossi Sidikaro Carol & Arthur Silbergeld Ronald I. Silverman Karen Smits Lev L. Spiro & Melissa Rosenberg Lana Stimmler William Stringer Sharon Strong John Sweet Teledyne Technologies Jane Thomas Sabrina Wind & Scott Tobis Peter & Carole Wagner Vallianos Seth Weissman & Gelena Nayberg Misty & Milt Widelitz Marcia E. Williams Herb Wise Arnold Zetcher Mr. & Mrs. Abram Charles Zukor
ASSOCIATE $250 - $499
Anonymous (5) Constance Abell Earnest Ach Elaine & Michael Agran Charlene Ahern Olga S. Alderson Doris Alexander Herb & Helen Allen Sylvia Almstadt Jan Altemus Amgen Foundation Irving Anderson Philip Angerhofer & Stephen A. Jones Eloise Appel
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ANNUAL DONORS Barbara & Ethan Aronoff Mr. & Mrs. Bert P. Arons Stuart Atkins Madhavan Balachandran Billie Baron & Edward Marcinko Jericho & Dr. Greg Bartlow Randall C. Bassett Dawn & Marshall Bein Millie & Julius Bendat Carole A. & Charles Bennett Ellen Bergeron & Gary Ottoson Andrea & Paul Bergman Alexander Berkeley & Sarah Clarke Joseph Berlin James & Diane Berliner Martin Berman Lucy & Stu Billett Barbara Billingsley Cherene Birkholz Joe Blackstone & Jamie Mohn Ken & Mindy Block Howard Levy & Nathalie Blossom Mr. Darian Bojeaux William Bondareff Frances & Les Boxer Robert Bramson Andrea Bricker & Ron Fischler Lionel Brown Hilary Byk Judy & Mike Fantasia Debra Colletti D. Constantine Conte Anthony Cookson Susan Craig Earle & Arlette Crandale Sandy & Alan Croll Ted Dane Stephen Dane Hedva & Dudley Danoff Jeffrey S. Davidson Ms. Tamra Dickerson Elizabeth Dill Carol Jean Doehring Marcia & David L. Dorsey Daryl & Paul F. Doucette N. R. Elson Betsy & Fred Evans Norma Lorene Evans Barbara Ewster Justice & Mrs. Robert Feinerman Abby & Malcolm Field Susan Fien Sydney M. Finegold, M.D. Barbara Fish Fionnula Flanagan Thomas Follosco Judith R. Forman & Dr. Cynthia Pikus Glenn & Jane Fowler Fran Fredella L.T. Friesen Tom Fuller Daniel Futterman Gilad Ganish Barbara & Jack Garrett Bobbie & John Gay Regina Gelpar Laura Gianni Karen Berko Gibson
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Rose Gilbert Joyce & Arnold Glassman Diane Glazer Herb Glazeroff Dr. Lee Gold & Donna Gold Ann M. Goldberg Francine Golden Marcie & Cliff Goldstein Elinor Goodman L. Newton Goodwell Bright Wise - Jeff Gordon, CEO Mark Gordon Celeste Gosnell Charles Grace Stanley Graham Diana & Ronald Granit Gigi & Don Grant Steve & Ruth Greenbaum Norma & Harvey Greenberg Nancy & Ron Greenberg Marcy & Edgar Gross Vera & Paul Guerin Eve Haberfield & David Johnson Nari Hacopian Lance Hagenbuch Mary & Alan Halkett Mark & Monica Haloossim Carol & Fred Halperin Evelyn & Nat Handel Stanley Handman Tess Harper Kay Harrington Judy Hartley Penny & Steve Held Marg Helgenberger Dr. Jacqueline Heller Frances Heller Gunter Herman David & Lisa Hernand Millie & Mike Hersh Stuart & Marion Hillman John Hofbauer, M.D. & Laura E. Fox, M.D. Joseph Horwitz www.InterimHealthCareExecs.com Anne Ichiuji & Todd Humphrey Jerry Isenberg Steven D. Jacobson In Memory of Wayne Jervis Jr. Ruth & Marvin Kalin Drs. Elaine & Jeff Kamil Owen Kato Mary Tower Megna Nancy Klein Laurie & Milton Klorman Ray & Barbara Klostermann Patricia Klous Candice Koral Lawrence & Elaine Kramer James & Sherrie Krantz Barbara & Stan Krasnoff In Memory of Felice Kurtzman Jill & Michael Lasky Jeff Levine Marla E. Levine Burton & Anita Levinson Evelyn & Barry Levitt Lydia Levy Peachy Levy
Victor & Madelyn Lindenheim Bernard Litten Leslie & Adam Lobel Karen & Peter Locke Lori & Tom Low Marcia E. Williams & Gene Lucero Dianne Lum Loris Kramer Lunsford Elizabeth Luster Timothy Macker Joseph Maestas & Elaine Grissom Mary L. Maloney Elizabeth Marcellino Stewart Mayeda Dr. Marie Mazzone & Mr. David Israeli Melinda McCune Sean McGhee & Carol Fan William E. & Marcela McKenna Brenda & Michael McNamara Teddie J. Milner Bradley Mindlin & Dayna Shulman Forrest & Jody B. Mosten James J. Murphy Diane Namm Fran Neiman Robert O’Hagan JoAnne M. Oram Edward Parker Frank J. Pfizenmayer & Josh Brown Beatrice Philips Carol F. Phillips Joy & Gerald Picus Jeanne Pocras Lily & Rick Pollack David & Lynn Posner Phillip L. Pritchett Mr. & Mrs. Howard M. Privette Mildred Reid Sharon L. Reisz Ellen Riley Ruth & Larry Rosen Shelley Roth, D.C. Tamara E. Rowland Kathleen Hughes Rubin & Stanley Rubin Heddy & Ron Safren V.F. Sahl Karen & Nate Sandler Laura Ziskin & Alvin Sargent W.S. Scharff Elaine Carey & Vincent J. Schodolski Jane & William Schopf John & Toni Schulman Stephanie & Norman Schulman, M.D. Susan & Peter Schwab Dr. & Mrs. Jack Schwartz Betty Seidmon Michele & Peter Serchuk Paul & Mary Jo Shane Lorelei Shark Madeline Sharples Renee Sherman
W. Robert Shilland Paul & Ann Siener Ms. Gerry Sinclair In Memory of Carrie Skaff Mr. & Mrs. Barbara & Hugh Smith Marcia L. & Mark J. Smith Dr. & Mrs. R.J. Smith Elizabeth J. Sperling Scot Lucas Spicer Christina & Jeff Spitz Carol & Paul Stager Arthur Stern Sally Stevens Sandy & Don Stewart Jane Stiglitz Mr. & Mrs. Robert Sugar John & Eva Sutton Keith Swayne Saundra & Craig Szabo David Trainer Marion Tumen Beryl Turner Leon & Stephanie Vahn Anthony Vasek Eva Wahlroos Laurie & Ira Waldman John J. Waller, Jr. Marcia & Charles Wasserman Dr. & Mrs. Samuel Waxman Julie & Peter Weil Annette Weil Donna & Jason Weiss Marsha & Steven Weiss Matt Weitzman Elayne & Walter Wentz Pat West Cindy Wexler David Wilzig Wirthwhile Fund Rowie & Jeffrey Wolf Patti & Art Worthington Jean & Trevor Wright Karen & Frank Wurtzel Seymour Wynn Joanne & Thomas Zaccaro Arnold Zane Carol Zelden Lynn & Meir Ziv Willy & Sandy Zwirn * In Memoriam
Have we made an error? To report a misspelling or omission in these listings, please contact Elliot in the Development Department at (310) 208-6500 x128
THE GEFFEN AT A GLANCE ADDRESS
SUPPORT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
Geffen Playhouse 10886 Le Conte Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90024 Administrative Offices.............310.208.6500 Box Office................................. 310.208.5454 Subscriber Hotline.................. 310.208.2028 geffenplayhouse.com
Become a Geffen Playhouse donor! Please contact Regina Miller: 310.208.6500, ext 112 or reginam@geffenplayhouse.com
TICKET SERVICES Box Office Window When shows are not in performance, the Box Office window is open: 7 Days a Week...............................12 pm— 6 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. Phone Center....................... 310.208.5454 If you are calling regarding single tickets or general information, the Box Office Phone Center is open: 7 Days a Week...............................12 pm— 6 pm The Box Office window and Phone Center are closed on major holidays. SUBSCRIBER SERVICES Subscriber Hotline............... 310.208.2028 If you are a Geffen subscriber, the Subscriber Hotline is available to assist you Monday through Friday from 10 am until 6 pm.
TICKET DONATIONS If you cannot use your tickets, you may release them to the Geffen prior to the date of your show, in time for resale, and you will receive an acknowledgement for a charitable contribution. Please mail to: Geffen Ticket Services 10886 Le Conte Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90024 or call the Box Office. REFUNDS It is the policy of the Geffen Playhouse not to issue refunds on subscriptions or on any single performance tickets. AT THE THEATER Accessible Accommodation The Geffen Playhouse is fully committed to ensuring a satisfying theater experience for our patrons with special needs or disabilities. The theaters have been designed to provide excellent seating for patrons in wheelchairs. Please call the Box Office to discuss your needs.
Listening Devices Infrared listening devices are available free of charge at all performances. Listening devices can be retrieved at the Theater Concierge Desk in the lobby. Please arrive early to obtain a listening device, they are subject to availability. Signed Performances When appropriate, each play of the season will have a special performance that will be sign-language interpreted for the deaf and hearing impaired. Call the Box Office for more info or email boxoffice@geffenplayhouse.com. 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 seating. To ensure you enjoy the performance in your assigned seat, please arrive at the theater early. PARKING The following parking facilities are convenient to the Geffen Playhouse; all facilities provide parking for patrons with special needs or disabilities: Westwood Plaza — 924 Westwood Blvd. Phone...............................................310.208.4474 Flat Rate of $7 after 5 pm* Hours of Operation: Monday—Thursday ........................7 am—12 am Friday ...................................................7 am—1 am Saturday ..............................................8 am—1 am Sunday..............................................10 am—11 pm Westwood Center — 1100 Glendon Ave. Phone...............................................310.208.8589 Flat Rate of $6 after 5pm* Hours of Operation: Monday—Friday............................... 8 am—1 am Saturday..............................................9 am—2 am Sunday................................................11 am—11 pm * Please note these facilities do not honor Donor Parking Passes. 23
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE STAFF Gilbert Cates Producing Director
Randall Arney Artistic Director
Ken Novice Managing Director
ARTISTIC
PRODUCTION
Mary Garrett Artistic Manager Amy Levinson Literary Manager/Dramaturg Heidi Snoe Assistant to the Producing Director Phyllis Schuringa Casting Director & Assistant to the Artistic Director Kristina Leach Literary Associate
Daniel Ionazzi Matthew Carleton Jill Davis Barnes Dwayne Barnes James Grabowski Darren Rezowalli Leah A. Lewis
Behnaz Ataee General Manager
Production Manager Technical Director Production Coordinator Assistant Technical Director Sound Master Master Electrician Wardrobe Supervisor
DEVELOPMENT Regina Miller Development Director Ellen Catania Director of Major Gifts & Corporate/Foundation Partnerships Angela LaManna Annual Fund Manager Elliot Hirsen Development Associate Jessica Brusilow Development Office Manager Ava Bogle Development Assistant
EDUCATION Debra Pasquerette Education Director Louise Hung Resident Teaching Artist & Education Associate Alex Rogals Education Coordinator
ADMINISTRATION Frankie Ocasio Executive Assistant to the Managing Director Maryam Kermani Staff Accountant Janet Huynh Staff Accountant Maureen Lestelle Human Resources/Benefits Manager Marguerite Harris Receptionist
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT Miguel del Castillo Victor Cueva De Loera Mario Santillan-Perez
Facility Manager Maintenance Custodial
COMMUNICATIONS Allison Rawlings Tyler Tangalin
Director of Communications Communications Intern
MARKETING & SALES Joseph Yoshitomi Director of Marketing Karen Gutierrez Associate Marketing Director Mark San Filippo Ticket Services Director Ivy Khan Marketing Coordinator Brian Dunning Graphics / Production Artist Stephanie Strand Audience Services & Subscription Manager Janice Bernal Associate Box Office Manager Bryan Martin Associate Box Office Manager Janet Huynh Assistant Box Office Manager Korie Benavidez, Audrey Cain, Ariel Goldberg, Scott Kriloff, Richard Martinez, Lilach Mendelovich, Rodrigo Perez, Ryan Sandoval, Ben Seay Martin Wurst Box Office Staff
FRONT OF HOUSE Jeni Pearsons Events Coordinator Tyler Tangalin Supervising House Manager Jessica Kummer, Sarah Rosenbloom, Zack Schultz House Managers Abdoulaye N’Gom Head Usher Beth Behrs, Adam Carr, Lindsey Cerny, Tiger Curran, Matt Jones, Sean Jones, Kimberly Legg, Katie Mitchell, Leah Munson, Jonathan Schwartz, Julianne Tveten Ushers
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.
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