In Mother Words Program by Geffen Playhouse

MAGAZINE

THE AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS THEATER AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE

in mother words

From the Producing Director

WELCOME TO THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE When Joan Stein and Susan Rose, the creators of In Mother Words, approached the Geffen a few years back to discuss the concept of this evening, it was still very much in its infancy. An ever changing piece of material that involved some of the greatest writers in American theater, In Mother Words has been like raising a child in its own right. Through the dedication of Stein and Rose, a roster of writers including Leslie Ayvazian, David Cale, Jessica Goldberg, Beth Henley, Lameece Issaq, Claire LaZebnik, Lisa Loomer, Michele Lowe, Marco Pennette, Lisa Ramirez, Theresa Rebeck, Luanne Rice, Annie Weisman and Cheryl L. West has come to life with extraordinary passion and promise. From the outset, Rose and Stein hoped to create something that explored the idea of motherhood on many levels. What does it mean to have a child? To adopt a child? To raise a child with special needs? To parent as a same sex couple? Each writer chose a topic that resonated with them and created a playlet capable of standing on its own. Just like motherhood - no two experiences are the same and therefore no two writers would tackle it the same way. With that being said, the tone of the entire show became essential. Lisa Peterson has directed this project since its inception and she has helped mold each piece with the writers to create a beautifully fluid evening that weaves from one story to another seamlessly. With performers taking on numerous roles, these transitions from character to character became that much more important. Together with her designers and a rotating cast, Peterson has given us a rich and textured evening filled with moving and funny stories of what it is to morph into a mother. In Mother Words is yet another play that helps us further what it is we hope to accomplish in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. As we continue to champion new plays and help them in various stages of their development, we continue a crucial part of our artistic mission: contributing to the canon of new plays. So in honor of those who have mothers, who are mothers or who someday hope to be mothers – this evening is dedicated to us all. See you at the theater,

Gilbert Cates Producing Director

PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P1

FROM THE CHAIRMAN FRANK G. MANCUSO

welcome to In Mother Words, our first play of the new year in our Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. The new year is a time to reflect on the past and make resolutions and goals for the year ahead. My goal this year is to make certain we do a better job of letting all of Los Angeles know of the great work we do here at the Geffen, not just on our stages but in our community as well. Did you know that in our 2009/2010 season • 8,251 youth and adults were served through our School Tours Program, which targets underserved students in public schools that have little or no arts funding/programs. • 2,540 people benefited from our CREATE program, which provides a season long exploration and analysis of live theater for those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience theater. • 462 youth, young adults and teachers were given free tickets and transportation to see Thurgood. We targeted Title One, low-performing high schools and disadvantaged youth served through non-profit organizations. • 3,500 were served through Talk Back Tuesdays, which gives audience members the opportunity to learn more about the playwright, actors and production through a Q&A session. • 400 tickets were donated to non-profit organizations to support their mission, programs and fundraising efforts. • In all, over 19,000 underserved students, seniors and veterans were inspired by the work on our stage through our education programs in our 2009-2010 season. Each of you as members of the Geffen Playhouse family can help us spread the word. It is only with your involvement and generosity that we can continue to strengthen and grow our programs. Thank you for your continued support in helping us to provide hope and inspiration to those who need it most. Now sit back, relax and enjoy In Mother Words. Respectfully yours,

Frank G. Mancuso Chairman, Geffen Playhouse

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Frank G. Mancuso Chairman Gilbert Cates President Randall Arney Donald Berghoff Gene Block Harold A. Brown Suzanne Deal Booth † Mary Ann Cloyd Kirsten Combs Robert A. Daly † Dennis Doty John Ebey P2 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe

Mark Fleischer David Geffen † Herbert M. Gelfand

Chairman Emeritus

Patricia L. Glaser Adi Greenberg Arthur Greenberg Martha Henderson Pamela Robinson Hollander Quincy Jones † Joan Kaloustian Jeffrey Katzenberg † Glorya Kaufman Michael B. Kong Dr. Gerald S. Levey carla malden

Karl Malden †* Susan Mallory Ginny Mancini Susanna Midnight Ron Meyer † Leslie Moonves † Jerry Moss † Ken Novice Steven A. Olsen Jerry Perenchio Bruce M. Ramer †

Richard Sherman Victoria Mann Simms † Andy Spahn Fred Specktor Steven Spielberg † Cynthia P. Stafford Howard Tenenbaum Steve Tisch † Dr. Charles E. Young

Founding Chairman

David Goldberg

Lawrence Ramer Loren Rothschild Linda Bernstein Rubin Teri Schwartz

LEGAL COUNSEL, LATHAM & WATKINS LLP

† Trustee * in memoriam

Chairman Emeritus

in mother words

SCENE AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE Donors to our 2010 Fall Campaign enjoy the Opening Night of Broadway Holiday, a benefit of their giving

Photos by Kevin Sharp

Broadway Holiday cast members and musicians Mickey Hachey, Jeffry Denman, Rita Harvey, Ivan Rutherford, Carter Calvert, Roger Cohen & Mark Kudisch

Thank you for your generous support! PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P3

Gilbert Cates PRODUCING DIRECTOR

Randall Arney ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Ken Novice MANAGING DIRECTOR

THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS

Written by

Leslie Ayvazian, David Cale, Jessica Goldberg, Beth Henley, Lameece Issaq, Claire LaZebnik, Lisa Loomer, Michele Lowe, Marco Pennette, Lisa Ramirez, Theresa Rebeck, Luanne Rice, Annie Weisman & Cheryl L. West Conceived by

Susan Rose & Joan Stein Set Design

Costume Design

Lighting Design

Rachel Hauck

David C. Woolard

Christopher Kuhl

Original Music & Sound Design

Projection Design

Animation Design

Jill BC DuBoff

Associate Director

Jenny Sullivan

Jan Hartley

Dramaturg

Janice Paran

Emily Hubley

Stage Manager

Young Ji

Directed by

Lisa Peterson World Premiere production by Hartford Stage Michael Wilson Artistic Director • Michael Stotts Managing Director Special Thanks to Renee Landegger, Jon Murray, Harvey Reese and Judith Resnick

P4 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe

Casting Director

Phyllis Schuringa

IN MOTHER WORDS

scene breakdown (Subject to change)

CHAPTER ONE: NEW MOMS

CHAPTER FOUR: ON THEIR OWN

FAST BIRTHS FUGUE by Michele Lowe

GRADUATION DAY FUGUE by Michele Lowe

SQUEEZE, HOLD, RELEASE by Cheryl L. West

THREESOME by Leslie Ayvazian

BABY SOPHIE’S FIRST STEP by Lisa Ramirez NEW IN THE MOTHERHOOD by Lisa Loomer CHAPTER TWO: REAL PEOPLE FIRST DAY FUGUE by Michele Lowe QUEEN ESTHER by Michele Lowe

CHAPTER THREE: TEENAGE YEARS SEXTALK FUGUE by Michele Lowe NOOHA’S LIST by Lameece Issaq MY ALMOST FAMILY by Luanne Rice MICHAEL’S DATE by Claire LaZebnik

BRIDAL SHOP by Michele Lowe STARS AND STRIPES by Jessica Goldberg CHAPTER FIVE: COMING HOME THANKSGIVING FUGUE by Michele Lowe ELIZABETH by David Cale

BABY BIRD by Theresa Rebeck

REPORT ON MOTHERHOOD by Beth Henley

IF WE’RE USING A SURROGATE by Marco Pennette

MY BABY by Annie Weisman

Running Time

90 minutes There will be no intermission

Opening Night: February 23, 2011 O P ENING NIGHT S P ONSORED B Y :

PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P5

production biographies Susan R. Rose (Co-Conceiver) Broadway: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, (Tony Award nomination, Best Musical); Hurlyburly (Tony Award nomination, Best Play); Athol Fugard’s Bloodknot (Tony Award nomination, Best Revival of a Play); Larry Shue’s The Nerd. Off-Broadway: The Last Five Years (Drama Desk Award, Best Musical); The Secret Letters of Jackie and Marilyn (Pittsburgh Public Theater). She has produced a number of movies for television including the Emmy nominated Cooler Climate starring Sally Field and Judy Davis and the Emmy award winning Jack starring Stockard Channing. Love to Samantha, the inspiration for In Mother Words. Joan Stein (Co-Conceiver) Producer: Broadway: Catch Me If You Can, Enron, 9 to 5 (Drama Desk nomination, Outstanding Musical), The Elephant Man, The Lonesome West (Tony Award Nomination, Best Play), Side Man (Tony Award winner, Best Play), The Nerd. Off-Broadway: Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Outer Critics’ Circle Award), Table Settings, The Miss Firecracker Contest, The Middle Ages, Los Angeles: Executive Director/ Canon Theatre; Love Letters, Forever Plaid, Ruthless!, bash: latterday plays, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Promises Promises, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Back to Bacharach & David; Baby It’s You; Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays. I dedicate In Mother Words to my family. LISA PETERSON (Director) New York: The Model Apartment by Donald Margulies (Primary Stages); Slavs! by Tony Kushner, Traps and Light Shining in Buckinghamshire by Caryl Churchill (Obie Award for Direction), The Waves adapt. from Virginia Woolf (two Drama Desk nominations), all at New York Theatre Workshop; The Scarlet Letter adapt. by Phylis Nagy (CSC, world premiere). Regional: Collected Stories by Donald Margulies (South Coast Rep, world premiere, DramaLogue Award); Ikebana by Alice Tuan (East West Players, world premiere, DramaLogue Award); The Batting Cage by Joan Ackermann, July 7, 1994 by Donald Margulies, Tough Choices for the New Century by Jane Anderson, Slavs! by Tony Kushner, Trip’s Cinch by Phylis Nagy (Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival, world premieres); Good Person of Setzuan adapt. by Tony Kushner, Triumph of Love adapt. by James Magruder, Arms and the Man by G.B. Shaw, The Swan by Elizabeth Egloff (La Jolla Playhouse); A Moon for the Misbegotten by O’Neill, My Children! My Africa! by Athol Fugard, Slavs! by Kushner (Baltimore Center Stage); Fefu and Her Friends by Irene Fornes (Yale Rep); Reckless by Craig Lucas (Hartford Stage). New Play Development:

P6 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe

Sundance, The Playwrights’ Center, New Dramatists, Young Playwrights’ Festival, Taper New Works Festival, Audrey Skirball Kenis, New York Stage and Film, Royal Court London. Rachel Hauck (Set Design) Recent New York work: Orange, Hat and Grace (SoHo Rep); This Wide Night (Naked Angels); Creature (Page 73/New Georges) A Boy and His Soul (Vineyard), Ethel: TruckStop (BAM Next Wave Festival); Beebo Brinker Chronicles (Hourglass/37 Arts); The Fever Chart, The Poor Itch (Public Lab), 100 Saints You Should Know (Playwrights Horizons); 1001 (Page 73 and DCPA); Cataract, Antigone Project (Women’s Project). Regional work includes Palestine NM, Water and Power, Chavez Ravine, Electricidad, Bernarda Alba (Mark Taper Forum); An Iliad (McCarter and Seattle Rep) The Music Man, Othello, Cherry Orchard, Winters Tale, Richard III, Hedda Gabler (OSF); Surf Report (La Jolla Playhouse) Ion (Shakespeare Theater DC); The Road to Mecca (Seattle Rep); Mother Courage (Berkley Rep/La Jolla Playhouse); Motherhood Out Loud, Midsummer Night’s Dream and Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (Hartford Stage); Sleeping Country (Cincinnati Playhouse). Recipient of the Princess Grace Award for Theater; NEA/TCG Design Fellow, Teaching at Vassar, Resident Scenic Designer for the O’Neill Playwrights Conference since 2005. DAVID C. WOOLARD (Costume Design) Broadway credits include West Side Story, Jane Fonda’s clothing for 33 Variations, Dividing the Estate, The Farnsworth Invention, Old Acquaintances, Ring of Fire, All Shook Up, 700 Sundays, The Smell of the Kill, The Rocky Horror Show (2001 Tony Award nomination) Voices In the Dark, The Who’s Tommy (1993 Tony and Olivier Award nominations) Bells Are Ringing, Marlene, Wait Until Dark, Horton Foote’s The Young Man From Atlanta, Damn Yankees, A Few Good Men. Recent credits include Orphans Home Cycle (Signature Theatre) (Drama Desk, Hewes Award) Midsummer Night’s Dream (La Jolla Playhouse), Death and The Powers (Opera Monte Carlo). Romance (Bay Street Theatre). Cosi Fan Tutti; Santa Fe Opera. The Donkey Show (A.R.T). CHRISTOPHER KUHL (Lighting Design) Christopher is a Los Angles and Portland, Oregon based lighting and scenic designer of theatre, dance and opera. Recent work includes The Author, Eclipsed, Next Stop Amazingland (Center Theatre Group); ABACUS (EMPAC Troy NY); Under Polaris (REDCAT, EXIT Festival Paris, Fusebox Festival Austin); Monster of Happiness (Ovation Award Nomination), Model Behavior (Theatre Movement

Bazaar); Everyone Who Looks Like You, Uncanny Valley, Undine, My Mind Is Like A Open Meadow, Project X at the Bumbershoot Festival (Hand2Mouth Theatre); Trembler/Shifter (Meg Wolfe, REDCAT) Tov (Rosanna Gamson, (REDCAT); There is a Elephant in this Dance (Lionel Popkin, REDCAT); Monster (Pappas and Dacners, UCLA). Associate Design for Madame White Snake (Opera Boston) and Mycenaean (BAM Next Wave). Lighting Director for Ralph Lemon How Can You Stay in the House All Day and Not Go Anywhere; The Actors Gang The Exonerated; Victoria Marks Not about Iraq, and David Rousseve Saudade. Chris has also had the pleasure of working and making art at REDCAT, On the Boards, The Walker, UCLA live, BAM, Jacob’s Pillow, The Krannert Center, YBCA, Columbia College and Duke University. Chris is originally from New Mexico and a graduate of Calarts. Jill bc DuBoff (Original Music and Sound Design) Broadway: Good People, The Constant Wife, The Good Body, Bill Maher: Victory. Off-Broadway; Lincoln Center, Atlantic, MTC, MCC, Playwrights Horizons, Public, Vineyard, Second Stage, NYTW, WP, New Georges, Flea, Cherry Lane, Signature, Clubbed Thumb (Affiliate Artist), Culture Project, Actor’s Playhouse, New Group, Promenade, Urban Stages, Houseman, Fairbanks, Soho Rep, Adobe. Regional: Minneapolis Children’s Theatre, Bay Street, La Jolla Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse, Westport Country Playhouse, Berkeley Rep, Portland Stage, Longwarf, The Alley, Kennedy Center, NYS&F, South Coast Rep, Humana, Williamstown, Berkshire Theatre, ATF. Film: We Pedal Uphill. TV: Comedy Central, NBC. Radio: Studio 360, WNYC News. Nominations: Drama Desk, Henry Hewes. Ruth Morley Design Award. Adjunct Professor at Sarah Lawrence College. JAN HARTLEY (Projection Design) Ms Hartley is currently working on Götterdämmerung with Francesca Zambello culminating the complete Ring Cycle for San Francisco Opera in 2011. She recently completed The Orphans Home Cycle for Hartford Stage and Signature Theatre Company, and Finding Nemo, The Musical for Walt Disney Entertainment. Ms Hartley has worked with Michael Wilson, Mark Brokow, Tina Landau, Doug Hughes, Jack O’Brien, Jerry Zaks, Christopher Ashley, Michael Mayer, Simon McBurney, and Ping Chong. She has worked on the West End in London, Broadway, off-Broadway and in many Regional theaters. Ms Hartley has received two Drama Desk awards for Bunny, Bunny and The Orphan’s Home Cycle, a Henry Hewes Design Award for The Orphan’s Home Cycle, and an OBIE for sustained excellence in Projection Design.

EMILY HUBLEY (Animation Design) Hartford Stage: Motherhood Out Loud. Emily Hubley has been making short animated films for over thirty years. Her feature, The Toe Tactic premiered theatrically at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and was released on DVD by Kino International. She has contributed animation to the films: William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe, Blue Vinyl and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, among others. She lives in South Orange, NJ. JENNY SULLIVAN (Associate Director) Rubicon Theatre: Doubt, Trying, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Indie Award) with Joe Spano and Karyl Lynn Burns; Spit Like A Big Girl; You Can’t Take It With You; Hamlet (Indie Award) with Joseph Fuqua; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Tuesdays with Morrie; Defying Gravity; Happy Days; Art; Dancing at Lughnasa (Indie Award); The Rainmaker; Little Foxes; Love Letters with Jack Lemmon and Felicia Farr; Old Wicked Songs with Harold Gould. Manitoba Theatre Centre: The Dresser with Len Cariou and Granville Van Dusen; Ensemble Theatre of Santa Barbara: Tea At Five with Stephanie Zimbalist; The Clean House (Indie Award); Dublin Carol and The Memory of Water; Other theaters: West Coast premiere of Jane Martin’s Flags; Death of a Salesman with Stuart Margolin and Wendy Phillips at AUM in Montgomery; The Falcon Theatre: The Memoirs of Abraham Lincoln with Granville Van Dusen; Jenny was Associate Director for the Los Angeles production of The Vagina Monologues and also directed the premiere of Vince McKewin’s Ad Wars; Her world premiere of Jane Anderson’s The Baby Dance began at Pasadena Playhouse and then moved to Williamstown Theatre Festival, Long Wharf Theatre (CT Critics’ Directing Award) and the Lucille Lortel Theatre Off-Broadway. In six seasons at Williamstown: MACS (A Macaroni Requiem), Defying Gravity, Hotel Oubliette, Dirt and The Ferry Back. Film credits: Access All Areas and The Next Best Thing (in which she had the good fortune to direct her father Barry). Jenny is most proud of the world premiere of her play J for J with Jeff Kober and the late great John Ritter. YOUNG JI (Production Stage Manager) Geffen Playhouse: Ricky Jay: A Rogue’s Gallery; Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara. Center Theatre Group: The Cherry Orchard (Taper); Wrecks, Trial of the Catonsville Nine, Pyrenees, A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings, Apollo, Flight, New Works Festival (Kirk Douglas Theatre); Speak to Me (CTG P.L.A.Y. in-school

in mother words

production biographies program). Other Los Angeles: with The Antaeus Company: Cousin Bette, American Tales, Tonight at 8:30, Phaedra (Getty Villa), ClassicsFests 04, 06, 08, 10, Mother Courage and Her Children, Pera Palas, The Dickens Project, Chekhov X 4; LA Theater Works: Secret Order, Sonia Flew, Work Song; Matrix Theater: Dealing with Clair; Theatre@Boston Court: A Winter People. Tour: Jerry Quickley’s Live from the Front; Finland: Urban Festival, NYC: Public Theater, Apollo Theater; Portland: TBA Festival; Seattle: Bumbershoot Festival; and others; Mariachi Los Camperos De Nati Cano; Fiesta Navidad ’06. Member of the Matrix and the Antaeus Theater Companies. Phyllis Schuringa (Casting Director) Phyllis is in her seventh season as Casting Director at the Geffen Playhouse. Recent plays include: Equivocation, Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas, Farragut North, The Seafarer, Time Stands Still, By the Waters of Babylon, The Quality of Life and Third. Prior to the Geffen, Phyllis served as casting director for the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. Her favorites include Frank Galati’s adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath (also La Jolla Playhouse, National Theatre in London, and Broadway, where it received the Tony Award for Best Play), the original production of Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile (and subsequent productions including Westwood Playhouse and Briar Street Theater in Chicago), Austin Pendleton’s Orson’s Shadow and Charles L. Mee’s Time to Burn. Broadway transfers include One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Tony for Best Revival) and The Song of Jacob Zulu. She teaches auditioning at Steppenwolf West. Janice Paran (Dramaturge) Hartford Stage: Motherhood Out Loud. Theatre: New Jersey-based Dramaturg and an Artistic Associate of the Sundance Institute Theatre Program. From 1991 to 2005, she was the Director of Play Development at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton. She has worked closely with numerous writers and artists, including Annie Baker, the Civilians, Tracey Scott Wilson, Beth Henley, Christopher Durang, Nilo Cruz, Doug Wright, Dael Orlandersmith, Stephen Dietz, Regina Taylor, Stephen Wadsworth, Emily Mann and Polly Pen, in the development of new work for the theatre. She is an artistic advisor to the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company in Weston, Vermont and a site visitor for the Philadelphia Theatre Initiative. Professional Positions: Teaches in Princeton University’s Program in Theater and Dance. Education: M.F.A. degrees from Catholic University and the Yale School of Drama.

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 Awardwinning 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 newly-renovated 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 80 th 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.

RANDALL ARNEY (Artistic Director) Randall begins his eleventh season as Artistic Director at the Geffen where he has directed The Female of the Species, 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 managed 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.

PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P7

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PRODUCTION STAFF FOR IN MOTHER WORDS Wardrobe Supervisor HOLLY VICTORIA Master Electrician and Lightboard Operator dan tuttle Sound Board Operator michael gunderson Associate Sound Designer REBECCA KESSIN Assistant Lighting Designers Adam Blumenthal and Tony Shayne Production Assistant KYRA HANSEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Lighting Equipment provided by Entertainment Lighting Services Sound Equipment provided by Jon Sound Inc. SPECIAL THANKS UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Scene, Prop, Sound and Costume Shops, London Cleaners, peet’s coffee and tea 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. The Geffen Playhouse gratefully acknowledges the following media sponsors for their generous support of In Mother Words

The Geffen Playhouse is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. This project was also funded in part by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles. The Geffen Playhouse, a non-profit theater company, is proudly affiliated with the University of California at Los Angeles.

P8 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe

IN MOTHER WORDS

EXPANDING ON EDUCATION The Geffen Playhouse recently diversified and expanded its education and outreach programs. Knowing that exposure to the arts significantly improves the learning experience of all students across educational disciplines, the Geffen increased vital programming to serve more than 19,000 students, seniors and veterans last year. At a time when public and nonprofit arts education budgets are shrinking, this work becomes even more important. In the coming months, a series of articles and photographs in the Geffen Playhouse programs will highlight this work. The series begins with a look at one of these efforts: the Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates.

story pirates

An unsuspecting author’s story is announced.

The Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates

The Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates program was formally launched in the 2010/2011 season but has roots going back several years. Looking for ways to expand its in-school initiatives, the Geffen partnered in 2009 with the Story Pirates, a nationally recognized arts and literacy organization founded in New York in 2003. The program engages students in under-resourced public schools by showing them that their ideas, words and stories are important. The Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates program now visits over 20 Title One Los Angeles public schools each year in addition to performing for the general public as part of the Geffen Playhouse’s Saturday Scene program. This unprecedented educational effort proved so successful that it required additional space to organize the nearly daily in-school efforts. The Geffen Playhouse Kinross Annex was unveiled on November 5, 2010 in the heart of Westwood Village. The Annex serves as headquarters for the Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates to rehearse their in-school creative writing and drama programs. The Annex is also home to a variety of classes, performances written by local school children and workshops that are open to the community.

JOIN THE FUN!

Any child under twelve years old may submit a story to the Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates! Information on submitting new stories can be found at geffenplayhouse.com/story. “The Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates Program is an experience our students will never forget. They were captivated by the Story Pirates’ ability to bring the students’ ideas and stories to life on stage... many of these youngsters will use the inspiration they found from your programs to inspire them to attend college.” — Dennis Hagen-Smith, 5th grade teacher, Toluca Lake Elementary

“Our students loved this program! After completing the Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates workshops, their attitudes and skills in creative writing, reading, using their imaginations and expressing themselves improved A LOT.” — Michael Popovac, 3rd grade teacher, Braddock Drive Elementary

“Our school children never have the opportunity to see their creativity their own stories - transformed into a live performance. This greatly inspired and motivated them. For them, the Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates created an authentic purpose for writing. The program increased their vocabulary, writing skills, and exposed them to totally new experiences and thinking.” — Elizabeth Martinez, 3rd grade teacher, Lorena Street Elementary

PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P9

YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WILL SHOW UP ON THIS AMAZING NIGHT! Past Geffen Playhouse artists and friends who came out to support and perform include: Christina Applegate Hank Azaria Annette Bening Carol Burnett Sarah Chang Kristin Chenoweth Alan Cumming Dana Delany Brendan Fraser Tom Hanks Jane Lynch Helen Mirren Matthew Morrison Ray Romano Martin Short Dick Van Dyke Rita Wilson

be part of the show For more information on tickets and sponsorships, please contact Development at 310.208.6500 x128

Geffenplayhouse.com/backstage P10 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe

The art isn’t only on our stage... It’s in everything we do THANK YOU TO RICHARD RUSKELL

CAKE ARTIST EXTRAORDINAIRE AND EXECUTIVE PASTRY CHEF – MONTAGE BEVERLY HILLS

THURGOOD Laurence Fishburne

MATTHEW MODINE SAVES THE ALPACAS Geffen Playhouse donors

BROADWAY HOLIDAY

RUINED

FEMALE OF THE SPECIES Richard Ruskell with Annette Bening

One of Richard’s creations for the Montage: Beverly Hills PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P11

Photos by Jordan Strauss

EQUIVOCATION

February – march at the geffen playhouse audrey skirball kenis theater

gil cates theater

2:00pm/7:00pm

in mother words

2:00pm/7:00pm

THE BREAK OF NOOn

TUESDAY

february

MONDAY

march

SUNDAY

gil cates theater

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

8:00pm

25 8:00pm

8:00pm

in mother words

THE BREAK OF NOON

8:00pm

THE BREAK OF NOON

11 8:00pm

in mother words

8:00pm

2:00pm/7:00pm

in mother words

THE BREAK OF NOOn

THE BREAK OF NOON

3:00PM/8:00pm

THE BREAK OF NOON

in mother words

3:00PM/8:00pm

8:00pm

in mother words

8:00pm

3:00PM/8:00pm

in mother words

8:00pm

in mother words

8:00pm

SATURDAY

8:00pm

in mother words

2:00pm/7:00pm

FRIDAY

in mother words THE BREAK OF NOON

12 8:00pm

3:00PM/8:00pm

in mother words

SERGIO MENDES

8:00pm

LIVE IN CONCERT

8:00pm

LIVE IN CONCERT

in mother words

8:00pm

LIVE IN CONCERT

2:00PM/7:00pm

in mother words

8:00pm

LIVE IN CONCERT

2:00PM/7:00pm

23 8:00pm

in mother words

8:00pm

in mother words

SERGIO MENDES

in mother words

2:00PM/7:00pm

in mother words

P12 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe

24 8:00pm

in mother words

THE escort

8:00pm

in mother words

1 8:00pm 8:00pm

3:00PM/8:00pm

in mother words

26 8:00pm

in mother words

31 8:00pm

in mother words

8:00pm

in mother words

30 8:00pm

8:00pm

in mother words

3:00PM/8:00pm

in mother words

april at the geffen playhouse saturday scene 11:00am

gil cates theater

KINROSS ANNEX 2:00Pm

SATURDAY SCENE THEATER FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

april

SUNDAY

SATURDAY

2 8:00pm

3:00PM/8:00pm

8:00pm

3:00PM/8:00pm

in mother words THE escort

2:00PM/7:00pm

in mother words

the escort

THE escort

2:00PM/7:00pm

8:00pm

2:00PM/7:00pm

8:00pm

the escort

THE escort

2:00PM/7:00pm

8:00pm

3:00PM/8:00pm

opening night

THE escort

8:00pm

15 8:00pm

3:00PM/8:00pm

8:00pm

3:00PM/8:00pm

in mother words

THE escort

8:00pm

21 8:00pm

22 8:00pm

3:00PM/8:00pm

8:00pm

3:00PM/8:00pm

in mother words

the escort

THE escort

2:00PM/7:00pm

8:00pm

27 8:00pm

8:00pm

28 8:00pm

29 8:00pm

3:00PM/8:00pm

8:00pm

3:00PM/8:00pm

in mother words

the escort

THE escort

mar 5

8:00pm

apr 9 11:00am

how raven stole fire and other stories

the escort

8:00pm

in mother words

8:00pm

in mother words

2:00PM/7:00pm

the escort

8:00pm

in mother words

8:00pm

in mother words

2:00PM/7:00pm

the escort

in mother words

8:00pm

in mother words

8:00pm

in mother words

20 8:00pm

3:00PM/8:00pm

in mother words

8:00pm

in mother words

8:00pm

in mother words

THE escort

the escort

8:00pm

2:00PM/7:00pm

8:00pm

in mother words

the escort

apr 30 11:00am

prince rama and the monkey king

11:00am

GWENDOLYN AND THE GOODTIME GANG

PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P13

signature series DON’T MISS THE FUN!

GIRLS NIGHT OUT AT THE GEFFEN Grab friends, bring a date and turn an ordinary Thursday evening into a scintillating and one-of-a-kind night. These post show parties showcase a variety of food, drink and fashion partners with unique diversions sure to surprise and delight at NO EXTRA COST.

THE ESCORT Gil Cates Theater

IN MOTHER WORDS Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater

April 14, 2011 Bloomingdale’s Sunglasses Clinic held at Luxe Sunset Hotel.

SUPERIOR DONUTS Gil Cates Theater

EXTRAORDINARY CHAMBERS Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater

June 16, 2011 Celebrate summer poolside at Hotel Angeleno.

thank you to our gracious sponsors

P14 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe

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................................7 am — 6 pm The Box Office is 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 and Saturday and Sunday from 12 pm until 6pm.

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 Geffen Playhouse has negotiated a special $4 flat rate for ticket holders at the following location: Palazzo Parking 1030 Glendon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90024 Phone...............................................310.208.4549 Open 24 hours • 7 Days a Week Located less than 2 blocks away from the Geffen Playhouse and even closer to many restaurant partners. Validation tickets allowing a $4 flat rate are available upon presentation of your sameday ticket to the box office or concierge. * Please note this facility does not honor Donor Parking Passes. Rates and availability are subject to change.

PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P15

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 Shannon Noel Webb Executive Assistant to the Producing Director Phyllis Schuringa Casting Director & Assistant to the Artistic Director Kristina Leach Literary Associate

Daniel Ionazzi Matthew Carleton Jill Barnes Dwayne Barnes James Grabowski Darren Rezowalli Leah A. Lewis

DEVELOPMENT

COMMUNICATIONS

Regina Miller Development Director Ellen Catania Director of Major Gifts & Corporate/Foundation Partnerships Angela LaManna Annual Fund Manager Jessica Brusilow Associate Director of Donor Relations Ava Bogle Development Assistant Scott Kriloff Development Assistant Jamie Sherman Development and Events Manager

Allison Rawlings Tyler Tangalin

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

Behnaz Ataee General Manager

Production Manager Technical Director Production Coordinator Assistant Technical Director Sound Master Master Electrician Wardrobe Supervisor

Director of Communications Communications Intern

MARKETING & SALES Joseph Yoshitomi Marketing Director Karen Gutierrez Associate Marketing Director Mark San Filippo Ticket Services Director & Database Administrator Ivy Khan Marketing Coordinator Brian Dunning Graphics / Production Artist Stephanie Strand Audience Services & Subscription Manager Paul Millet Group Sales 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, Ryan Sandoval, Martin Wurst Box Office Staff Zack Hamra, Rodrigo Perez, Grace Resler, Ben Seay Audience Services

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, Tommy French, 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. P16 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe