AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS THEATER AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
WELCOME TO THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
Photo by Jeff Lorch Photography
GUARDS AT THE TAJ
FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR I HAVE BEEN A FAN OF RAJIV JOSEPH’S PLAYS FOR some time. A prolific and poetic writer, Rajiv has brought us plays that shed light on dark subjects and make us laugh at the follies of being human. Set in Agra, India in 1648 and employing anachronistic language, Guards at the Taj tells a story both contemporary and timeless. Combining the formal with the familiar and the regal with reality, the play shows us a full, rich picture of the lives of two young men finding their way in a complicated world of rules. We welcome director Giovanna Sardelli who, as a long-time collaborator of Rajiv’s, has directed this piece with the elegance and beauty the play requires. Guards at the Taj is, among other things, a play that questions the fragility of beauty while juxtaposing it against terrible pain and violence. Rajiv’s assertion seems to be that in order to see what is right in the world, we must also recognize what is terribly wrong, and that our moral imperative is to protect beauty at any cost. This beauty and violence at the center of Rajiv’s play had to be deftly navigated by a team of brilliant designers who have created both the splendor and degradation that live side by side in so many stories. With an amazing cast of two, Guards at the Taj has proven to be a profound journey for all who have had the pleasure of working on it. I am thrilled to welcome you back to the Geffen and to launch our 20th anniversary season with this exciting new play in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. Enjoy the show! Randall Arney ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
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LETTER FROM THE CO-CHAIRS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MARTHA HENDERSON CO-CHAIR
PAMELA ROBINSON HOLLANDER CO-CHAIR PATRICIA KIERNAN APPLEGATE RANDALL ARNEY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
BETH BEHRS DR. GENE D. BLOCK HAROLD A. BROWN GIL CATES, JR. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Photo by Bobby Quillard
MICHAEL CENTENO MARY ANN CLOYD DR. BRAD EDGERTON MARK FLEISCHER HERBERT M. GELFAND CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
MARTHA HENDERSON
PAMELA ROBINSON HOLLANDER
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE FIRST AUDREY Skirball Kenis Theater show in the Geffen Playhouse’s 20th anniversary season. We are delighted to welcome you to the West Coast premiere of Guards at the Taj, written by the provocative Rajiv Joseph and directed by the talented Giovanna Sardelli. We hope this philosophical new work will inspire conversation among audience members long after the actors take their final bows and the applause ends. We are also proud to announce that long-time Board member Howard Tenenbaum has been named Vice Chairman of the Board. Since joining the Board of Directors in 2009, Howard has been a passionate supporter and advocate of our Education and Community Engagement programs, in addition to going above and beyond for the art on stage. Join us as we welcome Howard into his new leadership role as Vice Chairman. We look forward to celebrating our 20th anniversary with each and every one of you. To kick off this celebratory year, we would love nothing more than to hear your story of how you fell in love with our theaters and what your dreams are for this place that has become the artistic home for so many artists, donors, subscribers and patrons over the past 20 years. Please send your favorite Geffen Playhouse story, photo or memory to development@geffenplayhouse.com. Our sincere thanks to all of you for joining us for today’s performance and for being part of our Geffen Playhouse family. Here’s to the next 20 years!
PATRICIA L. GLASER SAM GORES ADI GREENBERG ARTHUR GREENBERG JOAN KALOUSTIAN GLORYA KAUFMAN LORETTA EVERETT KAUFMAN DR. GERALD S. LEVEY CARLA MALDEN SUSAN MALLORY GINNY MANCINI BARRY MEYER SCOTT MINERD STEVEN A. OLSEN HOLLY RICE LOREN ROTHSCHILD LINDA BERNSTEIN RUBIN TERI SCHWARTZ RICHARD SHERMAN FRED SPECKTOR LORRAINE SPURGE CYNTHIA P. STAFFORD HOWARD TENENBAUM VICE CHAIRMAN
FOUNDING TRUSTEES KIRSTEN COMBS ROBERT A. DALY DAVID GEFFEN QUINCY JONES JEFFREY KATZENBERG FRANK G. MANCUSO CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
RON MEYER LESLIE MOONVES JERRY MOSS JERRY PERENCHIO BRUCE M. RAMER FOUNDING CHAIRMAN
VICTORIA MANN SIMMS ANDY SPAHN STEVEN SPIELBERG STEVE TISCH DR. CHARLES E. YOUNG CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
Enjoy the show!
IN MEMORIAM GILBERT CATES
Martha Henderson
Pamela Robinson Hollander
CO-CHAIR, GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
CO-CHAIR, GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
FOUNDER
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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“A CLASSY NEW SHOW!” — Chicago Tribune
Written by VANESSA CLAIRE STEWART TAYLOR HACKFORD & JAKE BRODER Directed by TAYLOR HACKFORD Features Tony Award Winner ANTHONY CRIVELLO as Louis Prima & VANESSA CLAIRE STEWART as Keely Smith
LIMITED ENGAGEMENT DECEMBER 30 – JANUARY 17 GIL CATES THEATER AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
#LOUISANDKEELY
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DURING ONE OF DIRECTOR GIOVANNA SARDELLI’S conversations with playwright Rajiv Joseph about Guards at the Taj, which is set in 1600s India, he proposed an unorthodox suggestion. “’There’s a version of this play that can so be done with the two characters dressed as Laurel and Hardy,’” Sardelli remembers, laughing. “He quickly followed that up with, ‘Not this one! But it could be done.’” That Sardelli chuckled instead of freaking out is a testament to the level of trust the two have established over their frequent collaborations. She directed Joseph’s first professional production, Huck & Holden, as well as the world premieres of several of his other plays. “Rajiv has one of the most fertile imaginations. He can take you to places you just didn’t think possible,” she says. Here, we discuss their collaborative process, the inequality women face in theater and why Guards at the Taj is such an important play for right now. What drew you to this play in particular? For the longest time, I just knew Rajiv was working on the play and was passionate about it. I didn’t know much about it, but his passion for this play and the development he did with the two guys from New York, really started intriguing me. I think the writing is so fine — it’s a different style of writing than anything I’ve encountered of his. What’s he’s exploring and the possibilities of these two characters and the story
INSIDE THE VIOLENTLY BEAUTIFUL, VIOLENTLY FUNNY WORLD OF GUARDS AT THE TAJ BY REBECCA HAITHCOAT
What were the conversations you and Rajiv had around the play and its direction? [Laughs] I’m laughing because very little, in some regard! It’s tricky — I don’t want to give away too much! What we talked about in the direction was curiosity, stretching the truth, what’s possible in this world. Could it do this other thing? So really the conversation was just questions about: “I’m curious if the play I wrote can do ___.” I’m sorry to be so vague! That’s true with any play with a shocking development, or reveal — how do you talk about it without talking about it? Right — what if we decide the play can’t be funny and change it two previews in? Then it’s a weird program note. I
think
that
speaks
to
something
interesting
theatergoers don’t always know — how much does the script change throughout the rehearsal process?
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Photo by Amanda Embry
“THE WORLD OF THIS PLAY KEEPS CRACKING OPEN”
intrigue me.
INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR Typically, it would change a lot. But this one is in such good shape. He had so much development before it went in production and it changed throughout that rehearsal. But it’s already been published, so there have been no changes in these rehearsals at the Geffen. And I’ve never done a Rajiv Joseph play where that’s the case. So this is a first! Speaking of that, you two have worked together on so many projects. In what ways has this collaboration been different? It’s a little different because he was here in the beginning and we talked about things he wanted to explore, questions he had — and then he left. The next time he’ll see it is with an audience. And that comes from our years of working together. I know his taste. He knows that what he sees will be within his world. That’s from years and years of my finding out what he likes and doesn’t like and what he believes is possible in theater. Besides the “reveal” we were just talking about, what are some of the special challenges you’ve encountered with this play? The deceptive size of it. There’s a cast of two and at its core, it’s about something “simple.” But then the world of this play keeps cracking open and asking more and more of every single person involved in the telling of the story as well as the audience. This play asks everybody to go on the journey. How does your personal process work? I very much sign on to the story. I feel like I have a sense of the dynamic of the story. And then, because my training is as an actor, I trust actors so much. I love to watch them play. Part of the process is unleashing their curiosity and keeping everyone in the room invested in creating options for storytelling, for relationships. My preference is hopefully to invite everyone to imagine and play and keep taking the best ideas in the room, wherever they come from. What’s it been like in the room with Ramiz and Raffi? I’ve never seen actors pick up signals as fast as these two do. One says something, the other says yes and they run with it. We’re so lucky. The actors in New York were so great and that tradition will continue here in L.A. — and that excites Rajiv, to know it won’t be the same as it was in New York, but it will be just as good.
A play’s success is so contingent on who you invite to tell the story. Casting is always so important, but especially in a two hander — their dynamic is your story. Ramiz is an actor Rajiv and I worked with early in our careers, in The Leopard and the Fox, and he was stunning. He’s a goofball, a big kid. We always marveled how he would come to rehearsal in these big baggy pants and then become believable as Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan. So when it came time to cast this, we said, “Oh yeah, we want him.” Then we asked him who he liked to play with. He gave us some names, and Raffi was one of those. Raffi had to audition by tape, and I have never cast someone solely off tape. But you can see even from the tape that he’s cut from the same cloth as Ramiz. Very playful, yet still able to go where he needs to go. There’s a huge uproar right now in L.A. about the inequality women face in Hollywood. Do you see that in theater? Oh, yeah. Of course. It’s why they started The Kilroys List for women writers, a list of female playwrights whose work is ready to be produced. Women have to work harder to move ahead, harder to keep their careers moving. I think I’ve been really lucky that one of my collaborative partners is Rajiv. Do you think being a woman is helpful in telling this particular play? You know, I feel like human beings can direct stories about human beings. I don’t think gender has anything to do with how well you can tell a story. There are people who would’ve said, “Oh, a man has to direct The Hurt Locker.” This is a play where somebody could believe a man should direct it — but nobody can ever say that because so far, it’s been Amy [Morton, director of the New York production] and me. The precedent has been set! Finally, why is Guards at the Taj an important play right now? I think this play is so important because there are these timeless questions of what is beauty, what do we preserve, what do we sacrifice in the pursuit of whatever we believe is more important? And often, those sacrifices are human. I think this play really explores what’s lost in the choices we can make.
FOR FEATURES, INTERVIEWS AND OTHER STORIES ON GUARDS AT THE TAJ AND THE GEFFEN’S SEASON PRODUCTIONS, PLEASE VISIT GEFFENPLAYHOUSEBLOG.COM
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P5
THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE PRODUCTION OF
Written by
Rajiv Joseph Scenic Designer
Costume Designer
Tom Buderwitz
Denitsa Bliznakova
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer & Original Music by
Lap Chi Chu
Vincent Olivieri
Violence Designer
Ned Mochel
Dramaturg
Amy Levinson
Production Stage Manager
Maggie Swing
Casting Director
Phyllis Schuringa, CSA
Directed by
Giovanna Sardelli Developed at the Lark Play Development Center, New York City. World premiere presented by Atlantic Theater Company, New York City, 2015.
Opening Night: Wednesday, October 14, 2015 OPENING NIGHT SPONSORS
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(In alphabetical order)
Humayun ................................................................................................................................... Raffi Barsoumian Babur ................................................................................................................................................. Ramiz Monsef
UNDERSTUDIES (In alphabetical order)
Babur ................................................................................................................................................... Danvir Singh Humayun ............................................................................................................................................. Naren Weiss
TIME 1648 SETTING Agra, India RUNNING TIME Approximately 90 minutes There will be no intermission.
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GUARDS AT THE TAJ
CAST OF CHARACTERS
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES
RAFFI BARSOUMIAN (Humayun) New York: Pericles (The Public Theater); King Lear, Arok of Java (Exit, Pursued By a Bear). Regional: The Count of Monte Cristo, Antony and Cleopatra, King Lear, Cymbeline, Troilus and Cressida, Henry V (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Red Noses (The Actor’s Gang); Sedimenti (Compagnie Du Faubourg); Zoo Story, Counting the Ways (Luna Playhouse); The Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice (American Shakespeare Center); As You Like It, King John (Actor’s Shakespeare Company); Restoration Comedy, Don Juan (Stanford Theater). Television: The Vampire Diaries, NCIS. Training: École Jacques Lecoq, Carnegie Mellon University.
RAMIZ MONSEF (Babur) Ramiz is honored to be making his Geffen Playhouse debut. New York credits include: Second Stage, New York Theatre Workshop, Culture Project and more. Regionally, Ramiz has worked with Oregon Shakespeare Festival (The Unfortunates,
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Measure for Measure and many others), ACT (The Time of Your Life), Berkeley Rep (Eurydice), Actors Theatre of Louisville (Glory of the World, Chad Deity), Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Yale Repertory Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre (Mary Zimmerman’s Arabian Nights) and The Studio Theatre (Guantanamo). Ramiz has appeared on Law and Order and The Watchlist on Comedy Central as well as various College Humor videos. He is a co-creator of the hit musical The Unfortunates which will run at ACT this spring. RAJIV JOSEPH (Playwright) Rajiv Joseph's Broadway play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo was a 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist for drama, and also awarded a grant for Outstanding New American Play by the National Endowment for the Arts. Joseph's New York productions include Guards at the Taj (Atlantic Theater Company, 2015), The North Pool (Vineyard Theater, 2013), Gruesome Playground Injuries (Second Stage Theatre, 2011), Animals Out of Paper (Second Stage Theatre, 2008), The Leopard and the Fox (Alter Ego, 2007), Huck & Holden (Cherry Lane Theatre, 2006) and All This Intimacy (Second Stage Theatre, 2006). Other recent plays include Mr. Wolf (South Coast Repertory, 2015), The Lake Effect (Crossroads Theatre in New Jersey, 2013) and Monster at the Door (Alley Theatre in Houston, 2011). He received his BA in Creative Writing from Miami University and his MFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He served
for three years in the Peace Corps in Senegal and now lives in Brooklyn. GIOVANNA SARDELLI (Director) Giovanna Sardelli is an award-winning director who has worked on world premieres of plays by Rajiv Joseph, Matthew Lopez, Theresa Rebeck, Lynn Rosen, Joe Gilford, Jeff Augustine, Lauren Yee and Zoe Kazan among others. She has worked Off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre, Second Stage, Vineyard Theatre, Playwrights Realm, The Women’s Project, Ensemble Studio Theatre and Roundabout Theatre Company. She has directed numerous productions for Dorset Theatre Festival, where she is the Resident Director, Barrington Stage Company, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, The Old Globe, Hartford Stage Company, Cleveland Play House, Cincinnati Playhouse, CTG, Hudson Stage Company, San Francisco Playhouse and TheatreWorks Silicon Valley among others. She received her MFA in acting from NYU and is also a graduate of their Director’s Lab. Though based in NYC, she is the Director of New Works for TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Upcoming: Mr. Wolf by Rajiv Joseph (Cleveland Play House) and Velocity of Autumn by Eric Coble (TheatreWorks SV). TOM BUDERWITZ (Scenic Designer) Tom previously designed Play Dead, Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress and Under the Blue Sky for Geffen Playhouse. Tom has designed for South Coast Repertory, Center
Theatre Group, Pasadena Playhouse, Goodman Theatre, Berkeley Repertory, The Shakespeare Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Denver Center Theatre Company, Indiana Repertory Theater, Laguna Playhouse, Chautauqua Theater Company, Arizona Theatre Company, San Diego Repertory, Artist Repertory Theatre, The Antaeus Company, Reprise Theatre Company, The Theatre @ Boston Court, P.C.P.A. Theaterfest, Riverside Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Rubicon Theatre Company, Rogue Machine, Deaf West Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre LA and A Noise Within, among many others. Tom has been honored with four L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Awards (26 nominations) and three L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards. For Television, Tom has designed specials and series for every major broadcast and cable network and has three Emmy Award nominations and an Art Director’s Guild Award nomination. tombuderwitz.com DENITSA BLIZNAKOVA (Costume Designer) Denitsa is happy to make her debut at the Geffen Playhouse. Her work has been seen at venues such as Denver Center for the Performing Arts, San Diego Opera, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Cleveland Play House, Old Globe Theatre, A Noise Within, The Falcon Theatre, New Repertory Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival and others. Costume design and stylist credits for other media include music videos for various artists and films. Denitsa is a Professor in the School of Theatre, TV
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES
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, and Portland Center Stage. New York design credits include The Public Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, Signature Theater, 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 Critic’s 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. VINCENT OLIVIERI (Sound Designer / Original Music) Broadway: High. OffBroadway: The Water’s Edge, Omnium Gatherum and Fatal
Attraction: A Greek Tragedy. Geffen Playhouse: Miss Julie, Build, Extraordinary Chambers. Southern California: Five-Mile Lake, In a Garden, Emilie, Noises Off, The Heiress and A Feminine Ending at South Coast Repertory; Jitney at Pasadena Playhouse; Clownzilla: A Holiday Extravaganza at Rude Guerrilla. New York and regional: Barrington Stage Company, Center Stage (Baltimore), Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Juilliard School, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Portland Center Stage, The Public (New York), Syracuse Stage, Theatre Novi Most (Minneapolis), Woolly Mammoth, Virginia Stage Company and Yale Repertory Theatre. World premieres: Roberto AguirreSacasa, Rachel Bonds, Michael Golamco, Kirsten Greenidge, Lauren Gunderson, Howard Korder, Neil LaBute, Matthew Lombardo, Charles L. Mee, Kira Oblensky, Tira Palmquiest, Adam Rapp, Theresa Rebeck, Sarah Treem and August Wilson. For three seasons, he was the Resident Sound Designer at Actors Theatre of Louisville. International work: Romania, Italy, China, South Korea, and the Czech Republic. Mr. Olivieri is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and serves on the faculty at University of California-Irvine. NED MOCHEL (Violence Designer) At Geffen Playhouse Ned created fight/violence design for Bad Jews, The Gift, The Jacksonian (both in LA and Off-Broadway), The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Superior Donuts, Next Fall, Ruined, Fat Pig, American
Buffalo, Miss Julie, Wait Until Dark, The Country House and Reasons to Be Pretty. Additional fight choreographer credits include The Song of Jacob Zulu for Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Chicago and Broadway), and The Lyric Opera’s production of McTeague, directed by Robert Altman. Ned was stunt coordinator/fight choreographer on numerous feature films including A Marine Story from Final Battlefield productions, Jack Slash from Chicago Action Theatre and Hit Parade from Man of Action Studios. In 2009 and 2014 Ned was awarded LA Drama Theatre Critics’ awards for fight choreography for the VS. Theatre productions of On An Average Day and Cops and Friends of Cops. Ned is certified by the Society of American Fight Directors. AMY LEVINSON (Dramaturg) Amy is the Artistic Associate and Literary Director at the Geffen Playhouse. Dramaturgy credits include the commissions and world premieres of Donald Margulies’ Time Stands Still and Coney Island Christmas, Jane Anderson’s The Quality of Life and The Escort and Jeffrey Hatcher’s new adaptation of Wait Until Dark. Other credits include The Weir, Extraordinary Chambers, Build, Equivocation and Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress. At the Geffen she has helped to build programs for the purpose of fostering new work including the commissioning and development of plays. Also a translator of Yiddish drama, she holds an MFA in Dramaturgy from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
MAGGIE SWING (Production Stage Manager) Geffen Playhouse: Discord, The Country House, The Judy Show, American Buffalo. European Tour of The Apple Family Plays. Off-Broadway: Regular Singing, Sorry, Love’s Labors Lost, Sweet and Sad, Knickerbocker, Compulsion, That Hopey Changey Thing (The Public Theater), Slowgirl (Lincoln Center), Blood Knot, The Orphans’ Home Cycle (Signature Theatre Company). Regional: Bell, Book and Candle (co-production with Long Wharf), The Orphans’ Home Cycle, Dividing the Estate, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Christmas Carol, A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore, The Bluest Eye, Our Town (Hartford Stage Company). PHYLLIS SCHURINGA, CSA (Casting) Phyllis has been the casting director at Geffen Playhouse for 12 years and now is also the Artistic Associate. Recent plays at the Geffen include Bad Jews; The Night Alive; Switzerland; The Country House; Wait Until Dark and American Buffalo. Before joining the team at the Geffen, she was the casting director for Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago where her favorites include Frank Galati’s adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath (also La Jolla Playhouse, National Theatre in London, and Broadway, where it received the Tony Award for Best Play), the original production of Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile (and subsequent productions including Westwood Playhouse and Briar Street Theater in Chicago), Austin Pendleton’s
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GUARDS AT THE TAJ
and Film at San Diego State University and is also the Head of the graduate Design and Technology program there. Her work may be viewed at www.Denitsa.com.
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES Orson’s Shadow and Charles L. Mee’s Time to Burn. Broadway transfers include One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Tony Award for Best Revival) and The Song of Jacob Zulu. She teaches auditioning at Steppenwolf West and is a member of the Casting Society of America.
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 The Night Alive, Reasons to Be Pretty, Slowgirl, American Buffalo, Superior Donuts, The Female of the Species, The Seafarer, Speed-the-Plow and All My Sons. Arney is an ensemble member and former Artistic Director of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre where his directing credits include: Slowgirl, The Seafarer, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Death and the Maiden, Curse of the Starving Class, Killers and The Geography of Luck, among others. Arney also directed Steppenwolf’s world premiere of Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile, as well as the subsequent national and international acclaimed productions. Mr.
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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.
GIL CATES, JR. (Executive Director) Gil Cates, Jr. has proudly served on the Geffen Playhouse Board since 2012 and has years of producing and directing experience in theater, film, and television. Gil’s theater credits include the award winning Names (Matrix Theatre) starring Dixie Carter and Greg Mullavey, The Night I Knocked Out Joe Frazer and Lost 90 Pounds (Gardner Stage Theater), as well as Three Sisters and David Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre (both at Syracuse Stage). Gil’s film credits
include The Surface (starring Sean Astin and Geffen Playhouse alumnus Chris Mulkey), Jobs (starring Ashton Kutcher, Josh Gad, Dermot Mulroney, as well as Geffen Playhouse alumni Matthew Modine and Ron Eldard) and the 2011 feature film Lucky (starring Colin Hanks, Ari Graynor, Ann-Margret and recent Golden Globe winner Jeffrey Tambor). In addition, Gil produced and directed the critically acclaimed Life After Tomorrow, featuring Sarah Jessica Parker, which won best documentary at the Phoenix Film Festival and later had its premiere Christmas Eve on Showtime. His other films include Deal (starring Burt Reynolds, Bret Harrison and Charles Durning), The Mesmerist (starring Geffen Playhouse alumnus Neil Patrick Harris), and the critically acclaimed independent film Order of Chaos. Gil also made his TV directorial debut with an episode of the NBC comedy, Joey, starring Emmy winner Matt LeBlanc. He studied at the National Theatre Institute in Waterford, Connecticut, and holds a BFA in Drama from Syracuse University in 1991.
REGINA MILLER (Chief Development Officer) Regina has been a development professional for over 18 years, working with non-profit institutions, foundations and corporations
on strategy, analysis and fundraising. She has worked for Simon Wiesenthal Center, The Clinton Foundation, Ben Affleck’s Eastern Congo Initiative, Hank Azaria’s Determined to Succeed, Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, Water. org, Codenow.org among others. Prior to the Geffen, Regina served as the Director of Partnerships for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and the Inland Empire where she led strategic planning and development while executing policies that advanced the organization’s visibility and growth. Regina also has a strong passion for teaching. After graduating from University of North Carolina School of the Arts, she taught in preschools and kindergartens in New York. From the age of 13, Regina worked as a professional dancer on Broadway as well as with a number of prominent modern dance ensembles. Fusing two of her interests, she created a highly successful program which incorporated dance therapy and creative movement into an early childhood curriculum as well as wrote and produced a television show based on this concept. In addition to being a published author and photographer with Tallfellow Press and Prometheus Books, Regina has taught and lectured at numerous schools in New York, Los Angeles and abroad.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
GEFFEN AT A GLANCE
PRODUCTION STAFF FOR GUARDS AT THE TAJ
ADDRESS
Assistant Scenic Designer Dreem Qin Assistant Costume Designer Valerie Henderson Assistant Lighting Designer Meghan Hong Assistant Sound Designer Ben Scheff Illusion Creator Dominik Krzanowki Wardrobe Supervisor Jenny Foldenauer Light Board Operator Austin Burkett Sound Board Operator Mitchell Hampton Production Assistant Kristen Osborn Automation Operator/Stage Crew Joel Fullerton Stage Crew Bret Weinberger Properties Artisan Cami Viand Properties Artisan Lillian Bartenstein
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Set provided by Scenic Highlights Lighting Equipment provided by Entertainment Lighting Services Sound Equipment provided by Jon Sound Inc. Production Photographer Michael Lamont Media Filming Four Leaf Media SPECIAL THANKS UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Scene, Prop, Sound and Costume Shops; London Cleaners UCLA SCHOOL OF THEATER, FILM AND TELEVISION Geffen Playhouse is affiliated with the University of California at Los Angeles, specifically the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Geffen Playhouse values its role as an important educational resource by providing students with master classes, workshops and internships. Students are also able to work and learn from distinguished visiting Geffen artists such as Alan Ayckbourn, Jon Robin Baitz, Annette Bening, Ed Harris, David Ives, Neil LaBute, David Mamet, Donald Margulies, Terrence McNally, John Rando and Kathleen Turner in areas of directing, playwriting, acting, design, dramaturgy, management and production. Geffen Playhouse also draws upon the distinguished experts in the university to enhance the theater’s programs and research.
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AT THE THEATER
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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.
The scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT theaters are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE.
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ANNUAL DONORS Geffen Playhouse recognizes the following individuals and organizations for their generous support of our Annual Fund and Backstage at the Geffen. Donors are listed at the Associate level and higher for gifts made between July 20, 2014 and September 20, 2015. In appreciation, donors enjoy a host of special benefits including house seats, complimentary drinks, receptions and much more. For more information, please call Jamie Mikelich at 310.208.6500 ext. 128.
CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE $50,000+ Anonymous Audi of America, Inc Ben/Joyce Eisenberg Foundation Mrs. Carol K. Block & Chancellor Gene D. Block Claudia & Kevin Bright City National Bank Elizabeth Lacey & Gilbert Cates, Jr. Mary Ann Cloyd David Geffen Foundation Edgerton Foundation Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer & Melvin Keefer Herbert M. & Beverly J. Gelfand In Memory of Alice Ghostley & Felice Orlandi Sam Gores The Adi & Jerry Greenberg Foundation Guggenheim Partners Investment Management Holdings, LLC Carole & Bill Haber Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust Martha Henderson Rabbi Uri D. Herscher & Dr. Myrna Herscher Cindy & Alan Horn HSBC Private Bank USA Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg Glorya Kaufman Loretta Everett Kaufman & Victor Kaufman Kenneth T. & Eileen L. Norris Foundation Keyes Automotive Group Robert K. Kraft Sandra Krause & William Fitzgerald L&N Andreas Foundation Latham & Watkins LLP The Lauder Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Jason & Yvonne Lee Susan & David Leveton George Lucas Family Foundation Ginny Mancini Fay & Frank Mancuso Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg Fund for Arts Education at the Geffen Playhouse John McCrite & Juan Lopez Donna McKenna & Flynn Chernos Kelly & Ron Meyer Scott Minerd Ann & Jerry Moss Moss Foundation Paradigm Talent Agency Ralph M. Parsons Foundation PricewaterhouseCoopers Madeline & Bruce Ramer P12 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
Pamela Robinson Hollander & Robert Hollander Linda Bernstein Rubin & Tony Rubin Richard & Barbara Sherman Shubert Foundation Skirball Foundation Karen & Vic Smith Cynthia P. Stafford Jodi & Howard Tenenbaum UCLA The Walt Disney Company Ken Willner & Jim Stine Elaine Wynn Family Foundation Judy & Chancellor Charles E. Young Dirk & Natasha Ziff
ARTISTIC CIRCLE $25,000 - $49,999 Anonymous Katie McGrath & J.J. Abrams Aegon Transamerica Foundation Patricia Kiernan Applegate Aria Resort & Spa Ariel Investments Robert C. Baral Valarie De La Garza & Michael Centeno CenterStaging Kathy & Mitch Clark Classic Party Rentals Clay Lacy Aviation DreamWorks Animation Dwight Stuart Youth Fund The Edward A. & Ai O. Shay Family Foundation Fox Entertainment Group Carol & Paul Frimmer Jim & Ann Gianopulos Goldman Sachs Andy & Carlo Brandon-Gordon Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association Mellody Hobson The Lear Family Foundation Los Angeles County Arts Commission Los Angeles magazine Marcia Israel Foundation, Inc. Napa Valley Grille Judith & Bruce Stern Shel & Cynthia Stone Warner Bros. Entertainment Samantha & John Williams Anthony P. Zinge
PRODUCER $10,000 - $24,999 Anonymous Beth Behrs Laurie & Bill Benenson Charles A. Black, Jr. Board of Supervisors County of Los Angeles Heather Thomas & Skip Brittenham Brotman Foundation of California Amanda Brown & Justin Chang Eileen & Harold Brown Bulgari Corporation of America Roma Downey & Mark Burnett The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation Stephanie & Jonathan Carson The Chatwal City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Carole Bayer Sager & Robert A. Daly Edward Avedis Dr. & Mrs. Paul Eisenberg Susan & Mark Fleischer The Friedman Group Sarinda & Gian Fulgoni Gagosian Gallery, Inc Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, Inc. Dr. Hilary Garland Ghurka The Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Foundation Patty Glaser & Sam Mudie Manuela & James Goren Arthur Greenberg C. Curtis Grisham In Memory of Morris A. Hazan HBO Samantha & Eric Heer Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa Stanley Iezman & Nancy Stark Vicki Iovine & David Coiro Joseph Drown Foundation Joan Kaloustian Fred Latsko Janine & Peter Lowy Carla Malden Mona Malden Malibu Family Wines Susan & Peter Mallory Nancy & Michael McClelland Wendy & Barry Meyer Sandra E. Milken MOCA Foundation Marcia & Brett Molotsky Leslie Moonves & Julie Chen James L. Nederlander & Margo MacNabb Nederlander Northern Trust, NA Laurie MacDonald & Walter Parkes Popland Studios
ANNUAL DONORS
DIRECTOR $5,000 - $9,999 Anonymous Jehan F. Agrama & Dwora Fried AMC Amgen Foundation Hilary & Jack Angelo The Alec Baldwin Foundation AVID The Baxter International Foundation Ruth & Jake Bloom Annette Blum Mara & Jonathan Blum The Eli & Edythe L. Broad Foundation Glenn & Lynn Cardoso Marcy Carsey Comcast | NBC Universal Debra Davis Dream Warrior Group Fielding Edlow & Larry Clarke Jo & Larry Feldman Lawrence N. Field Eric Flamholtz & Yvonne Randle Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea Kiki & David Gindler Priscila Giraldo Gloria & Peter Gold Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort Bucky Hazan, Teles Properties Gail & Stanley Hollander Bernice & Wendell Jeffrey Yvonne & Damien Jordan Marvin Jubas & Janet Wald Mannon Kaplan Sally & Dr. Manny J. Karbelnig Julie & David Kavner Kissick Family Foundation Wendy Kurtzman La Valencia Alan & Cindra Ladd Eileen & Kase Lawal Drs. Gerald & Barbara Levey Padma & Rao Makineni
Merle & Jerry Measer Judy Zaban Miller & Lester Miller Kate Moran & Mikki Rosenberg Liza & Conan O’Brien Christine Marie Ofiesh Mo Ostin Pure Cheesecakes Kay & Bob Rehme Gary Reisman | LEAP Media Investments Joyce Rey Jane Rissman & Richard Sondheimer Howard Rose Rikki Rosen Thomas L. Safran Sheri Salata Hon. Nicole A. Avant & Ted Sarandos Judi & Bruce Schindler Jody & Arthur Schmid Ken & Carol Schultz Foundation Steve & Paula Mae Schwartz Helen & Martin Scorsese Sidley Austin LLP The Simon-Strauss Foundation Singer Family Foundation Sondheimer Foundation Lorraine Spurge & Patrick Mitchell Susan & Don Starr Arnold Stiefel Eric Stonestreet Tanino Ristorante Tanzy Restaurant Barbara & Larry Tenan Lynda Thomas Thomas Safran & Associates Janet & Michael Schwartz Karen Zoller, MD & David Tillman, MD The Travel Corporation Alice & Norman Tulchin Jennifer von Schneidau Deborah & Michael E. Walsh West LA Poker Rita Wilson & Tom Hanks Karen & Rick Wolfen Paula Wolff, Ph.D. & Wayne W. Whalen Jennifer Young & Katrina Nason Gail Zappa Leslie & Robert Zemeckis Ruth & Stan Zicklin In Loving Memory of Herman Ziegler Ellen & Ken Ziffren Ziffren Brittenham LLP
SPONSOR $3,000 – $4,999 Janis Adams & John Lyons Pat & Sandy Adams Shelly & Libby Bergen Susan Booth & Christopher Wadden Robert Brook & Jacqueline Kosecoff Dr. Fanya Carter, PhD Scott, Susan & Joshua Corwin Mica Ertegun Susan & Eric Fleishman Perry Goldberg Dora & Neil Kadisha
Barbara & Ronnie Kahn Thea & Neal Koss Renee & Meyer Luskin Sherry Martin Rio & Frank Morse Benedicta & Geoffry Oblath Judi & Tim Ritchie Sue Rosenwasser Lori & David Rousso Judy & Mike Sapir Leigh Silverton Allen Blue & Kira Snyder Karen & William Timberlake Vernon, Barry & Dale Tyerman In Honor of Ruth Tyerman Lentz Uniworld River Cruises Inc The Waterman Family Foundation Leslie White & Al Limon Lynn & Mark Williams Patricia Youngman
PARTNER $1,500 - $2,999 Anonymous (3) Miriam Aguiar Olga S. Alderson Margaret & Howard Arvey Aversano Family Trust Robert E. & Maria H. Barron Richard Bautzer & David McDowell Laurel & Aaron Clark Linda & John Coleman David Conney, M.D. Shelley Wike Cranley Phil Davis Susan & Jonathan Dolgen Victoria Dummer Kitzia & Richard Goodman The Guerin Foundation Michael Parks & Judith Hayward Alan & Michelle Heilpern Mel & Faith Henkin Roger & Linda Howard Carrie Johnson Janis B. McEldowney Richard Milling Lisa Pierozzi Herbert & Marilyn Piken Joseph & Cynthia Rodriguez Dominique Shelton Doris & Michael Sherman Rita & Jose Sigal Snyder Family Foundation Bruce & Patti Springsteen Mitch & Sherry Stein Paul & Margaret Stein Audri & Stan Tendler Paul Tetreault Daniel Tongbai Susan & Peter Van Haften Roberta Weintraub Gelena & Seth Weissman Barbara & Stanley Zax Marcie & Howard Zelikow Ellen & Arnold Zetcher David Zuckerman & Ellie Kanner-Zuckerman PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P13
GUARDS AT THE TAJ
Rollin Ransom & Chris Lacroix Judith Reichman, MD Holly Rice Gail & Andrew Roth Richard Ruskell Pastries The Richenthal Foundation Ronen Levy Events Loren Rothschild & Hon. Frances Rothschild The Simms/Mann Family Foundation Fred Specktor & Nancy Heller Sugarfish Steve Tisch Miranda & Brett Tollman U.S. Bank Union Bank Well Done Catering Westfield Group William Morris Endeavor Entertainment Linda Yellin Ruth Ziegler Richard & Mae Ziman
ANNUAL DONORS EDUCATION ADVOCATE $1,000 - $1,499 Anonymous (3) Harry & Gay Abrams/Abrams Artists Agency Dr. Richard Ackerman & Miriam Shakter Laura & Harvey Alpert Charitable Foundation Merryl & David A. Alpert Bonnie & Bill Apfelbaum AudioQuest Carol Ann & D.C. Bakeman Richard & Shelley Bayer Jerry Beckman Peter & Barbara Benedek Patricia & Mark Benjamin Paula & Bruce Bennett Wendy & John Bergquist John Bjorge & Mary McKelvey Joe Blackstone & Jamie Mohn The Bordy & Leibovic Families Brenda & Alan Borstein Dr. Wallace P. Brithinee Wendy & David Brotman The Busch-Schifino Family Chancellor Albert Carnesale & Mrs. Robin Carnesale Scott Carter David Cates & Christine Vavak Jane Cates Jonathan & Elena Cates Melissa Cates & Roger Claman Steven Cerasale & Mary Katherine Cocharo Martha Chase Sachiko T. Cochran MD & Joseph T. Araki Janine Cristiano Ruth Daugherty Deluscious Cookies Carolyn Dirks/Brett Dougherty Dennis & Jeralyn Doty Jan & Thea Drayer Gerald & Sally Ducot William Duncan Marilyn P. Dunn Dr. & Mrs. William M Duxler Colleen M. Ellis Terri & David Elston The English Language Center Carl & Courtenay Enright Carol & J.B. Esterkin Michael & Lynne Feldman Donnovan Field Barbara Fodor Joan & Charles Fox Steve Freedman Ben & Susan Friedman G2 Graphic Service, Inc. Pat & Sandy Gage Kathleen Garfield Jeanne & Arnold Geffner Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Geoffrion Diane & Bruce Gewertz Charlotte Gold Dr. Irene Goldenberg Marion Goldenfeld Helene Gordon Adrienne Grant & Paul Jennings
P14  PERFORMANCES  MAGAZINE
Jack Grossbart & Marc Schwartz Sunny & Alvin Grossblatt Michael Grunwald Monty & Marilyn Hall Salli Harris Murray & Gail Heltzer Lynda Klein & Neal Hersh Jean Himmelstein & David Coleman Dr. John D. Hofbauer & Dr. Laura E. Fox In Honor of Development Tamara Horwich & Gerry Lipshutz Toni Hoyt Lynn Hunt & Margaret Jacob Nancy & Len Jacoby Linda Janger Joseph B. Gould Foundation Linda & David Kagel Joyce & Don Kaiserman Marcy Kaplan & Eric Gold Karney Guren Family Foundation Sabrina Kay Charitable Foundation Lenny & David Kelton Barbara & Stuart Klabin Kent Klavens & Judy Vourlas Leslie & Norman Koplof Carol Krause Deborah Lacusta & Daniel Castellaneta Bethany Joy Lenz Lydia & Chuck Levy John Liebes Steven & Nancy Lippman Judith Locke & Dennis Massie Karen & Frederick Lorig The Jennifer and Greg Malins Foundation Eric G.C. Mark Marlene Matlow & Family Sue McHugh & Herb Seese The Miles Family Craig & Catherine Miller Andrew & Laura Mintzer Joanne & Joel Mogy Lon Morse & Toni Hollander Morse Albert & Barbara Nichols John Nickoll Deborah & Stacey Olliff Michael R. Oppenheim Ornest Family Foundation Anne Osberg Gia Paladino & Michael Wise Carol Parry & John Fox Philip & Leslie Paton Amanda Crick & Glenn Pfeffer Craig Piligian In Memory of Michael Piller Berta & Lou Pitt Ruth Popkin Richard Rasiej & Joan Herman Harvey & Joyce Reichard Rabbi Steven & Didi Carr Reuben Donald B. & Susan F. Rice In Memory of Frances Richman Esther & Howard Richmond Beth Roberts & Warren Smith Richard Roberts Craig E. Rogers Brad & Nancy Rosenberg David A. & Karen Richards Sachs Mark San Filippo Nancy & Ted Sanborn
Savitsky Satin & Bacon Dawn & Joel Scherer Lizbeth Schiff Toni & John Schulman Joanna & Jonathan Schwartz Susan Schwarz Berton In Memory of Diane Barnett-Shapiro John & Lori Shaw Michael & Glenda Shaw Phyllis & Martin Shephard Holly & Larry Shulman Steven Siegel & Lily Carey Ron Silverman & Soraya Ross Joan & Jerry Snyder Drs. Matthew & Marion Solomon The Somaini Family Marcella, Joy & Grant Stanley Susan Stockel Jordan Strauss Photography David & Katherine Stritzinger Eric Strom & Eileen Goodis Katy Sweet The Tatasciore Family John Teeples & Nicolas Martinez, Jr. Joyce & Josh Trabulus Catherine Unger Daniel & Shauna Valenzuela Alan Van Vliet Peter & Denise Walsh Julie & Peter Weil Doris Weinberg Joanne & Ken Weinman Alison Whalen & Steven Marenberg Marcia Williams & Gene Lucero Cherie Wrigley Anna & Stephen Yallourakis
ARTISTIC ADVOCATE $500 - $999 Anonymous (3) Laurence & Ilene Abramson Sylvia Almstadt Patti & Harlan Amstutz Ares Management LLC Janet & Irwin Barnet Alan Belinkoff Joanne & Miles Benickes Jim & Diane Berliner Black Market Gelato Janet & Mark Brown Lee & Shelby Chaden William & Patricia Chin Elsbeth Collins & James Greene Ted Cordes Donald & Zoe Cosgrove Morgan Dameron Geraldine Darrow Diana Davidow & Deborah Constance Daniel & Gayle Devin The Milton L. & Betty J. Dranow Family Foundation Roni & Ethan Eller David & Joyce Evans Marjorie & Arthur Fine Sydney M. Finegold, M.D. The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Fund Michael & Lynne Flynn Myrna Forest
Burt & Nanette Forester Lois & Gerald Gallop Sharlene & Sol Galper Russell Gersten The Gewecke Family Benita & Bert Ginsberg Dr. Diane & Michael Glazer Annie & Tom Goepel Louis & Linda Goldsman Abner & Roz Goldstine Lori & Robert Goodman Roger Gordon Marcy & Edgar Gross Madeline Gussman Carolyn & Bernie Hamilton Kay Harrington Richard Hart Steven Hochstadt Mrs. Dorothy Hoffman Rand Hoffman & Charlotte Robinson Kelley M. Hogan Gerald Isenberg Terry & Marc J. Jacoby Robert Jones Drs. Elaine & Jeff Kamil Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Kamine Patricia Keating Donald Kottler Jeffrey Kramer Tam & David Lachoff Eleanor & Mark Lainer Joan & Christopher Larkin Jeanne & Christopher Lavagnino Sandi Lawless Joyce Lederer Brenda & Warren Lincoln Wendy Lindley Neil L. & Ora D. Macfarlane George Manet Elizabeth Marcellino Joel Mendelsohn Allan M. Mohrman Jr. Paula Moseley, EdD Sandra Moss Erika & James Muhlfeld Sherri & Arnold Nelson Chris & Richard Newman Shelby Notkin Donna & Paul Pekar Amy Richards Linda & Manny Rider Dolores Rogers Ronda & Fred Rose Blanche & Bruce Joel Rubin Nancy & Steven Schneider David & Margaret Schwanke Dr. Daniel Schwartz Traci Shelton Robin & Robert Sills Martin & Leah Sklar Sold Out Crowd Dr. Jerry E. Spicer & W. Todd Stevens Alec Sulkin Mr. & Mrs. David Tann Nancy Thomas Marcia & Dr. Charles Wasserman Connie & John Weston Geoffrey & Susan Wharton Philip & Judith Winik Jay Weinstein & Lori Woldar Debra Zavala
ANNUAL DONORS $250 - $499 Anonymous (6) Norman & Toshka Abrams Terry & Richard Abrams Anne Adair & Steve Ganzberg Barbara Adams Elaine & Michael Agran AKW Charles & Annick Allen Paul Alter Robert C. Anderson Philip Angerhofer & Stephen A. Jones Eloise & Mark Appel Mark Archer Steven D. Arias Bonnie Arnold Barbara & Ethan Aronoff Bert & Ruth Arons Marc & Elizabeth Axelrod Lynne & Lee Babbitt Deborah Baine Aimee Bakhshandehpour Linda Barnett Irene Baron Randy Bayard Dawn & Marshall Bein Marshall Bell Joel Berger Yvette Bergeron Karen Berko-Gibson Barbara Berkowitz Marsha C. Berkowitz Ellen Bienenfeld Beverly Bierer William Bigelow & Bridget Karlin Claudia & Ronald Bitzer Marjorie Blatt Pamela & Bill Bohnert Michael J. Bordy Toby Bornstein Judge & Mrs. Anthony Borwick Deanne Bosnak Burt Boyar Carol J. Bradshaw Paula Brand John & Debbie Brincko Leah Lynn Broidy Mitchell Brown David & Kathy Burke Colin Campbell Laura D. Campbell Marlene & David Capell Andrew Carlberg Phil Carlin Tia Carrere Miss Irene Castaldo Barry Charles Diane Chernansky Nancy Clark Ken Coelho Donell Cohen Ginger Conrad Ivan Contreras Gail Cottingham Norman & Nancy Cravens Valerie & Donald Cravitz
Ingrid Curtiss, MD Ames Cushing In Loving Memory of Ed Cypert Muriel Dance & Alvin Martin Beverly D’Angelo Col. Tony, Donna & Taylor Daniell Hedva & Dr. Dudley Danoff Bonnie & Brian Davidoff Jeffrey S. Davidson Ruth B. Davis & Pearl Schultz Suzanne & Bruce Dodds Carol Jean Doehring Penelope Donnelly Fred & Marilyn Dorer Sandy Dorfman Daryl & Paul F. Doucette Paul Dowling Helina Dreicer Jacki & Murray Drechsler Larry & Elke Ereshefsky Ellen Farwell Janet Fattal Aleyne Larner Fawcett Mimi Alpert Feldman Judy & Jerry Felsenthal Abby & Malcolm Field Donna Finley William & Elisabeth Fleischman Edward Flores Rosella Forte Sandy & Mitch Francis Dolores Franco Gilbert & Marilyn Frank Donald & Sandy French Kenneth J. Friedma & Marilynn J. Friedman Family Foundation Laurelle Frome Gina Furth Lori Galin Lee Gardenswartz Larry & Judith Garshofsky Linda M Gibbs Andrew Glassman & Pilar Frausto-Glassman Richard & Lori Glucksman Hannah Godwin Mark & Molly Goldberg Marshall & Patti Goldberg and Family Francine Golden & Marvin Schlossman Denise Goldfarb Dr. Peter Goldman Julie Clayton Goldsmith Dina Goldstein Mae Goodson Jo-Ann Gordon David Goren Liz Gottainer & David Sadkin Joan Green Randi & Jerome Greenberg Eve Haberfield & David N. Johnson Roberta L. Haft Kambiz Hakim Mary & Alan Halkett Jane Hall Susan Hallman Katherine Hardie
Tess Harper Eugene Harris Sheila & Chester Hasday Dr. & Mrs. Samuel Haveson Allan Heinberg Carla & Alan A. Herd Matthew Herrmann Cina Hodges Mr. & Mrs. Rob Hollman Dale & John Hopmans Lynn & David Horowitz Jonathan Howard Mr. & Mrs. John Huber Brian Irving & Dayna Cussler Jackie & Warren Jackson Frederic A. & Nancy Jacobus Barbara & Buford James Martha Jones & Paul Zerella Carolyn & Dan Jordan Jerry Joseph Trudy & Albert Kallis Pat & Stan Kandel Jean Kaplan Jo Ann & Charles Kaplan Owen Kato Beverlee Bickmore & James Kelly William & Renee Kendall Irwin Kishner Annette & Charles Kleeman Donna & Jeffrey Klein Dr. Phyllis Klein Laurie & Milton Klorman Corie & Michael Koss John & Kimberly Kruse Doctors Mark & Lena Labowe Lynne Lainer Carol D. Lande Elizabeth Lande Jill & Michael Lasky Helene & Arthur Laub Ginger Leibovitz Ann Leland Charles Letzgus Steve & Valerie Lev Ron & Marcia Levenson Donna Levi Marla E. Levine Suzann Levine Beth Levy & Lloyd Bookman Rick & Vivian Levy Lawrin & Linda Lewin Lee & Therese Linden Victor & Madeline Lindenheim Leslie & Adam Lobel Mireya Lund Marilyn Luneberg Anne L. Lynch Dr. Linda Maeder Carol & Doug Mancino Mr. & Mrs. Phillips H. Marshall Stewart Mayeda Tracy & Noah Maze David Israeli & Dr. Marie Mazzone Douglas Mcavoy, Jr.
Jim & Kathryn McCaffery Cheryl McCormick Patrick W. McDivitt Maria McDowell Marlene McRae & Terry Winter In Memory of Gil Cates Reed & Linda Metzger Norma & Larry Meyers Philip & Joan Miller Teddie J. Milner Peter Minarik & Sharon Vera Farbod Mirfakhrai Matlin & Robert Mirman Carol & Jerry Muchin Bill Mullins Alex Levine & Catherine Nameth Murray & Lenore Neidorf Mark & Diane Neubauer Tom Nevermann Joan & Fred Nicholas Robert & Anita Nitta Roberta Novick Adrienne & Arthur Omansky Dr. Ronald & Iris Onkin Mr. & Mrs. Irving Ostrow Cynthia & Todd Palm Edward Parker Joanne Patten Kathy & Jeff Perkins Rebecca Perlow Naidu & Jane Permaul Zazi Pope Michael & Rose Porterfield Diane & Michael Poryes Sarah & Christopher Priore Philip Pritchett Neil & Lisa Greer Quateman Joyce S. Rich James Richards Carlene Ringer Lindy Robbins Charles Robertson Maria Rodriguez & Victoria Bullock Janis & Avi Rojany Robert Rosania Barry Rosen & Neil Bokal Adrienne Rosenthal Beverly & Melvin Rosenthal Joyce & Deane Ross Lawrence Ross & Linda Nussbaum Georgina & Alan Rothenberg Bert Royal Tyler Rubin Penny Grosz Salomon & Eugene Korney Tawny & Gerry Sanders Susan & Kenneth Sarno Maxine Savitz Clifford Schaffer Laurie Schechter Joel & Sonia Schneider Gary & Karen Schneider
Elaine Carey & Vincent J. Schodolski Jane & Bill Schopf Susan & Peter Schwab John H. Scott Michele & Peter Serchuk Andrea Sexton Bob & Sue Shadur Scott Shagrin Annette & Leonard Shapiro Steven & Annabelle Shulman Melinda & Yossi Sidikaro Seymour & Dorothy Siegel Nancy & Bruce Silverman Adam Singer Evelyne & Joel Smason Diane Good & Frank Smith Barbara Meissner & Hal Smith James Smith & Loreen Ayer Dr. Jerry & Marci Smith Jimmie Smith & Tommy Garceau Marcia L. & Mark J. Smith Jean Smith-Moore Karen Smits Debra Spector Lynette Sperber Roger K. Stewart William Stringer Kathryn & Mark Sullivan Mr. Kayser Sume & Dr. Renee Sabshin Ann Sunderland Keith & Judy Swayne Lance & Maureen Tan Phyllis & Franklin Tell Robyn Tenenbaum Troy Thompson Jay & Courtney Tobin Brigitta Troy Beryl Turner Leon & Stephanie Vahn Anthony Vasek Bobette Vikan Arnold & Carol Vinstein Carole Wagner-Vallianos & Peter Vallianos Dr. & Mrs. William Walsh Seth Freeman & Julie Waxman Ben & Rose Weinstein Terri Weiss Pat West Haskell & Rita Wexler Rae Jeane Williams Patrick Wilson Bruce & Marci Wiseman Marc Wishingrad Jess Womack Diana Lynn Woods Karen & Frank Wurtzel The Yarkins Gerald Yoshitomi Harriet Zaretsky Sandy Zwirn
HAVE WE MADE AN ERROR? To report a misspelling or omission in these listings, please contact the Development Department at 310.208.6500 ext. 128
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P15
GUARDS AT THE TAJ
ASSOCIATE
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE STAFF Randall Arney Artistic Director ARTISTIC
Gil Cates, Jr. Executive Director MARKETING & SALES
Amy Levinson
Artistic Associate / Literary Director
Phyllis Schuringa
Artistic Associate / Casting Director
Joseph Yoshitomi
Director of Marketing & Communications
Young Ji
Artistic Coordinator / Company Manager
Karen Gutierrez
Director of Advertising & Sponsorships
Rachel Wiegardt-Egel
Literary Associate
Brian Dunning
Graphic Design Manager
Kevin O’Brien
Marketing & Graphics Coordinator
Mark San Filippo
Ticket Services Director & Database Administrator
Stephanie Strand
Audience Services Manager
Janice Bernal
Box Office Manager
Bryan Martin
Box Office Manager
Zack Hamra
Box Office Assistant Manager
DEVELOPMENT Regina Miller
Chief Development Officer
Ellen Catania
Director of Major Gifts & Corporate/Foundation Partnerships
Jessica Brusilow Rollins
Director of Education Partnerships & Donor Relations
Korie Benavidez, Kaitlin Huwe, Richard Martinez, Cameron Reck, Celia Rivera, Christine Rivera, Celeste Russi, Alyssa Tyson Box Office Staff
Jamie Mikelich
Associate Director of Individual Giving & Spotlight Manager
Kristen Smith Eshaya
Development & Education Programs Coordinator
Scott Kriloff
Development Associate & Donor Database Administrator
Clay Dzygun
Development Associate
Ava Bogle
Development Assistant
Katy Sweet, Pam Giangregorio, Carly Yates Katy Sweet & Associates Public Relations
Taylor Dearden
Development Assistant
Rebecca Haithcoat
COMMUNICATIONS
Communications Editor
FRONT OF HOUSE
EDUCATION Jennifer Zakkai
Director of Education & Community Engagement
Jeni Pearsons
Director of Special Events
David Gerhardt
Supervising House Manager
Carolyn Marie Wright
Manager of Education & Community Engagement
Jane Phillips Harper
Deputy Supervising House Manager
ADMINISTRATION Behnaz Ataee
Chief Financial Officer
Frankie Ocasio
Executive Assistant
Peter Banachowski
Accounting and Payroll Manager
Diana Chang
Accounts Payable
Marguerite Harris
Receptionist
Michelle Cantrell, Josiah Davis, Amy Farkas, Roxana Meyers House Managers Ally Aberrotman, Rebecca Birstock, Kailey Bray, Christopher Caron, Taylor Cerny, Vianney Cossyleon, Taylor Dearden, Brett Donaldson, Megan Fitzgerald, Chelsea Fryer, Netta Lee Joseph, Erica Keller, Caroline Harrison Kohler, Nathaniel Meek, Keith Mitchell, JoJo Nwoko, Luis Ruiz, Jonathan Schwartz, Oliver Vaughn, Dennis Woullard Ushers Rob Mersola
Bar Manager
PRODUCTION
Manuel Mayorga
Weekend Bar Manager
Daniel Ionazzi
Production Manager
Jill Barnes
Associate Production Manager / Company Manager
Adam Carr, Brenda Davidson, Mariel Higuera, Lyndsi LaRose, Kimberly Legg Bartenders
Evan Friedman
Technical Director
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
Rich Gilles
Properties Master
Miguel del Castillo
Facility Manager
James Grabowski
Sound Master
Mario Santillan-Perez
Custodial
Darren Rezowalli
Master Electrician
Juan Carlos Umaña
Cleaning Custodial
Geffen Playhouse is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. This project was also funded in part by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles. Geffen Playhouse, a nont-for-profit theater company, is proudly affiliated with the University of California at Los Angeles.
P16 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE