®
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS THEATER
N PLAYHOUSE E F F E G
G L N I I Z K
WELCOME TO
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
PHOTO BY JEFF LORCH
MATT SHAKMAN
Welcome to the final offering in the Audrey
also grateful to our staff for their unceasing
Skirball Kenis Theater season—Fernanda
efforts to bring beautiful productions to life
Coppel’s King Liz, a witty and moving explo-
while keeping our patrons safe and comfort-
ration of the harsh world of sports and how
able. All of us have been heartened by the
young athletes are exploited for their extraordi-
enthusiasm you have shown in returning to the
nary talent.
theater—it has been a much-needed reminder
This is a play I’ve long been a fan of and I am grateful it is in the talented hands of director Jesca Prudencio, who is making her Geffen debut. Along with an amazing cast and top-notch designers, Jesca has crafted the world of cutthroat sports agents beautifully and brought to life Fernanda’s fast-paced, heart-felt ride through a ruthless world. As we close out our first season back inside the walls of the Playhouse, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support. I am 2 P L AY B I L L
of the power and joy of live performance. We look forward to seeing you in the Fall for the West Coast premiere of The Inheritance. And now, please enjoy King Liz! Matt Shakman Artistic Director
NOW ON DISPLAY IN THE LOBBY
ART LIVES HERE
As part of Geffen Playhouse’s inaugural Art Lives Here project, four Los Angeles artists have been invited to create original art works to be displayed in our lobby welcoming back audiences during our 25th Anniversary Season. We celebrate the diversity in our audiences and our productions, and it is our mission to create, foster, and nourish an environment that is open and welcoming for all. We are a home for the arts, and we believe our physical space should also reflect and be representative of our ongoing commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do and the communities we support.
FEATURED WORK #4 Play, Art, Life ARTIST Yeu “Q” Nguyen ON DISPLAY Jun. 23 – Aug. 14, 2022
Using heirloom tapestry weaving as an allegory to the communal nature of theatre production, this work embodies the magic of theatre in form, material, and process. Fabric remnants of different texture and colors, some sourced directly from the Geffen’s costume department, ripple with energy as they flow seamlessly together to create a new whole. Featuring actors’ signatures from past Geffen productions, the title words, dazzling with costume gems and read like a backstage cheer, celebrate stage life and those who live it. Like a performance, this work is incomplete without audience presence. Please help me fully realize this work’s intention by attaching your ticket to the tapestry using the loose ribbon ends.
lations and intricately crafted objects rich in symbolism, Q has exhibited at notable venues such as the SouthWest Museum, the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, and the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery. “The Resilience Archive,” a retrospective of Q’s expansive work circa 2016-22, is currently on view at Stay Gallery in Downey. Upcoming
ABOUT THE ARTIST
projects include “At The Table” group exhibition at the Armory Center for the Arts and an
Born in Saigon, Yeu “Q” Nguyen is a multi-
art commission with Santa Monica city. More
disciplinary artist working in Los Angeles.
on Q can be found at www.yeuqart.com and
Known for her vibrant, interactive instal-
Instagram @yeuqart.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT VISIT GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.ORG/ARTLIVESHERE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
GIL CATES, JR.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Adi Greenberg CHAIR
Victoria Alonso Beth Behrs Dr. Gene D. Block Kevin Bright
PHOTO BY JEFF LORCH
Gil Cates, Jr. Executive Director
Bruce M. Ramer Founding Chair Victoria Mann Simms Andy Spahn Steven Spielberg Steve Tisch
Mary Ann Cloyd Vice Chair
Dr. Charles E. Young Chair Emeritus
Merle Dandridge
IN MEMORIAM
Dr. Brad Edgerton Bonnie E. Eskenazi
Gilbert Cates Founder
Mark Fleischer
Marcia Israel-Curley
Susan Nahley Fleishman
Audrey Skirball Kenis
Patricia L. Glaser
Karl Malden
Martha Henderson Chair Emeritus
Ginny Mancini
intriguing look behind-the-scenes of the professional
Loretta Everett Kaufman
Edie Wasserman
sports world.
Carla Malden
Welcome to the West Coast premiere of King Liz! As a lifelong Los Angeles Lakers fan and general lover of sports, it’s a pleasure to present this production, an
As we approach the close of our 2021/2022 season, we can’t help but reflect on the last 25 years of incredible and genuinely heart-warming memories. Not only are we celebrating our 25th Anniversary this
Brian Mann Tiffany Mayberry Danny Passman Holly Rice
Charles Kenis
Jerry Perenchio Lew Wasserman
LEGAL COUNSEL Nikki Kerman Venable LLP
season, but we are excited to announce the estab-
Pamela Robinson Chair Emeritus
ADVISORY BOARD
lishment of the Geffen Playhouse Fund for the Future
Linda Bernstein Rubin
Endowment with a goal of $25 million. This newly
Matt Shakman Artistic Director
Miranda Tollman Chair
created fund will make certain Geffen Playhouse can continue to produce provocative reimagined classics and world premiere productions, share our vital
Richard Sherman Cynthia P. Stafford
Stephanie Carson Lori Collins Ellyce R. Cooper Debra Davis
education and community engagement programs,
Howard Tenenbaum Chair Emeritus
and invest in the next generation of audiences, play-
Marc Weinstock
Brenda Garcia
wrights, actors, and theatrical professionals.
Kevyn Wynn
Ann Gianopulos
Now that we are entering the public phase of the
FOUNDING TRUSTEES
Fund for the Future campaign, we invite you to join the future of Geffen Playhouse and consider donating in order to carry on our legacy for the next 25 years and beyond. Join us in ensuring a permanent home for the arts in Los Angeles for generations to come. Thank you for being a part of the Geffen Playhouse family. Enjoy the show! Gil Cates, Jr. Executive Director
4 P L AY B I L L
Harold A. Brown Kirsten Combs Robert A. Daly David Geffen Herbert M. Gelfand Chair Emeritus Quincy Jones Jeffrey Katzenberg
Giovanna Desselle
Priscila Giraldo Kirsten Hansen Eric Heer Laura Kennedy Wendy Kurtzman Hannah Linkenhoker John McCrite Audrey Povar Eric Rollins Scott Sandler
Glorya Kaufman
Allen Shay
Frank G. Mancuso Chair Emeritus
John Sonego Cela Devine Sutton
Ron Meyer
Rebecca Vail
Jerry Moss
Laurie Ziegler
THANK YOU!
BACKSTAGE AT THE GEFFEN THANK YOU TO OUR 2022 SPONSORS, HONOREES & STORYTELLERS TITLE SPONSOR
PRESENTING SPONSORS
THE ADI & JERRY GREENBERG FOUNDATION GOLD SPONSORS
LORETTA EVERETT KAUFMAN & VICTOR KAUFMAN t e ll e r & P e r f o r m e
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SIGN-UP TO BE NOTIFIED FOR NEXT YEAR’S EVENT GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.ORG/BACKSTAGE
PHOTOS BY JORDAN STRAUSS
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LINDA BERNSTEIN RUBIN & TONY RUBIN
THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE PRODUCTION OF
KING LIZ WRITTEN BY
FERNANDA COPPEL DIRECTED BY
JESCA PRUDENCIO SCENIC & VIDEO DESIGNER
COSTUME DESIGNER
JUSTIN HUMPHRES
DEVARIO D. SIMMONS
LIGHTING DESIGNER
SOUND DESIGNER
REBECCA BONEBRAKE
MELANIE CHEN COLE FIGHT DIRECTOR
STEVE RANKIN PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
CASTING DIRECTOR
LIZZIE THOMPSON*†
PHYLLIS SCHURINGA, CSA OPENING NIGHT
THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022 King Liz is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com King Liz was Produced by Second Stage Theatre, New York, 2015; Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Christopher Burney, Curator/Associate Artistic Director
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS CIRCLE MEMBERS Adi & Jerry Greenberg
Jerry & Terri Kohl
Martha Henderson
Linda Bernstein Rubin & Tony Rubin
Pamela Robinson Hollander & Robert Hollander Loretta Everett Kaufman & Victor Kaufman
6 P L AY B I L L
Miranda & Brett Tollman
KING LIZ CAST OF CHARACTERS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
RAY ABRUZZO* * COACH JONES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OSCAR BEST * BARBARA FLOWERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NANCY LINARI FREDDIE LUNA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EVAN MORRIS REISER † GABBY FUENTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MICHELLE ORTIZ * LIZ RICO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SABRINA SLOAN MR. CANDY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
†Fight Captains *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.
TIME/SETTING
PLEASE NOTE
2022, New York City
There is no photography or filming of any kind allowed during the performance. Please turn off all electronic devices, including cell phones. Thank you!
RUNNING TIME
2 hours and 15 minutes Including one 15 minute intermission.
25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON SPONSOR
OPENING NIGHT SPONSORS
G E F F E N P L AY H O U S E 7
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES
R AY A B R U Z ZO
Mr. Candy
Ray Abruzzo starred in The Mystery of Love & Sex at Seattle’s ACT Theatre, Dinner with the Boys at the Acorn Theatre on Theatre Row, The Guys at the Malibu Playhouse, and played the title role of Lombardi at Florida’s Mosaic Theatre. Additional theater credits include Mauritius at Pasadena Playhouse, Louis LaRusso II’s Vespers Eve and Stooplife, the world premiere of John Patrick Shanley’s Italian American Reconciliation, Robert Dubac’s one-man show The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron in Chicago and Boston, and 10 years with L.A.’s Playwrights’ Kitchen Ensemble as a director/ actor. Television guest star: NYPD Blue, various Law & Orders, NCIS, House, Criminal Minds, Ray Donovan, and dozens more. He was a series regular or recurring on L.A. Law, Dynasty, Night Court, Doogie Howser M.D., The Practice, Boston Legal, Mad Men, most notably as Little Carmine on The Sopranos and as “trans-amorous” Sal on Transparent. Ray was Allison Janney’s husband in the film Bad Education.
O S CA R B ES T
Coach Jones
Oscar Best started his stage career as a dancer, dancing with 8 P L AY B I L L
the Dance Theater of Harlem. Coming to L.A., he performed as Captain Richard Davenport in A Soldier’s Play at Malibu Stage Company, and in Stick Fly at PlayMakers Repertory Company. Oscar was awarded Best Lead Actor by the NAACP in his role as Zachariah in Blood Knot. He is a lifetime member of the famed Actors Studio. Film: Arthur the King with Mark Wahlberg and Nathalie Emmanuel, When We Kill the Creators with Shelby Lynne. Oscar would like to thank his mentor Dick Van Dyke who gave him his first acting job, but more importantly his friendship.
N A N CY L I N A R I
Barbara Flowers
Nancy Linari began her career in Chicago performing with the famed improv comedy group The Second City. A few of her notables from TV/Film include: American Auto, This Is Us, Gilmore Girls, Bosch, the L.A Law pilot, and the Academy Award– winning The Social Network. Selected theatre performances: Ruthless! The Musical at the Canon Theatre, I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road with Gretchen Cryer and Donna McKechnie, I’m Not Rappaport with Shelly Berman and Garrett Morris, and Last Summer at Bluefish Cove with Jean Smart. Nancy joined the Marvel Universe as the iconic Aunt May in Insomniac’s hit Spider-Man on PS4, as well as in the animated series Marvel’s Spider-Man. She is also an award-winning audiobook narrator who once appeared on The $25,000 Pyramid, winning a trip to Hong Kong and a 10-year supply of rice.
MICHELLE ORTIZ
Gabby Fuentes
Michelle Ortiz is thrilled to be making her Geffen Playhouse debut! You can catch her later this summer as a series regular in the Hulu Original series This Fool as Maggie, premiering August 12th. Ortiz was previously a series regular on CW’s MADtv, and recurred on such shows as Gentefied (Netflix), Tacoma FD (truTV), Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn (Nickelodeon). Other recent guest stars include I Think You Should Leave (Netflix), Mr. Corman (Apple TV+), B Positive and Mom (CBS). Upcoming, she will be seen opposite Jaime Camil in the feature Snag for Paramount+ and a voice in Primos, an animated series for Disney+.
E VA N M O R R I S R E I S E R
Freddie Luna
Evan Morris Reiser was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Performing Arts, he went on to study at The Neighborhood Playhouse Conservatory in New York. Evan went on to perform in many theatre projects including roles at Lynn Redgrave Theatre in Sweety, The Metropolitan Opera in Othello, and The Soho Playhouse in Black
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES Magic. Some of his television roles include Shades of Blue and Deception. After moving to Los Angeles, he landed the role of Solo in the short film Peacocking which premiered at the Mammoth Film Festival. Evan is also musically talented, playing in bands as a singer, guitarist, drummer and has performed solo on many city stages.
SA B R I N A S LOA N
Liz Rico
Fresh off a four-year run as Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton, performing opposite Lin-Manuel Miranda in Puerto Rico, Sabrina is thrilled to be back home and making her Geffen debut with King Liz. A native of Southern California, she spent a decade in New York in the original Broadway companies of Hairspray and Catch Me If You Can, Motown, and the first national tour of In the Heights—where she also played opposite Lin-Manuel Miranda at the Pantages here in Los Angeles. Regionally, Sabrina has been a part of new works at the Pasadena Playhouse (Sleepless in Seattle and Ray Charles Live!) and Boston Court (Gulls), and has starred in Rent, Children of Eden, and Ain’t Misbehavin’. She is a graduate of Northwestern University’s prestigious acting program and her TV and film credits include HBO’s Hacks, All Rise, Ode to Joy, Blindspot, The Mysteries of Laura, and Boston Legal. Grateful for every opportunity to create and share space in live theater. Thank you to my family always for allowing me to go play.
F E R N A N DA C O P P E L
J E S CA P R U D E N C I O
Playwright
Director
Fernanda Coppel is a Mexican/ American playwright and screenwriter. Her play King Liz received its world premiere at Second Stage Theater in 2015. King Liz was published by Samuel French and has recently been optioned by ABC Signature and 42 for television. Fernanda will be penning the pilot. Her professional New York debut, Chimichangas and Zoloft premiered at the Atlantic Theater Company in 2012 and is published by Samuel French. Fernanda received the New Play Commission from Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2015 where she wrote her latest play: AYA or Dear Lover. She’s currently working on a commission for La Jolla Playhouse of a new play entitled: Friendship Park. Fernanda’s work has won the 2012 HOLA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Playwriting and the 2012 Helen Merrill Award. She’s an alum of: The Juilliard School, NYU (M.F.A.), and UC Santa Cruz (B.A.). Fernanda’s also written for TV shows such as: Shonda Rhimes-produced How to Get Away with Murder, Jason Katims’s Rise, USA Network’s adaptation of Queen of the South, among others. In feature film, Fernanda co-wrote No One Gets Out Alive which was produced by Netflix and Andy Serkis’ UK-based Imaginarium Productions and premiered on Netflix in fall 2021.
Jesca Prudencio is a director and choreographer dedicated to developing new theatrical works that humanize issues nationally and internationally. Recent works: Can We Now? (La Jolla Playhouse WOW Festival), Interstate by Kit Yan and Melissa Li (currently at East West Players), It’s a Ship Show (Virgin Voyages), and the award-winning short film American Quartet (Filmelodic, NYC). Other credits include The Great Leap by Lauren Yee (Steppenwolf Theatre), Vietgone and Actually (San Diego Rep), Calling (La MaMa E.T.C.), Man of God (East West Players), A&Q (Pineapple Lab, Philippines), and FAN (B-Floor Theatre, Thailand). Jesca is Head of Directing at SDSU’s School of Theatre, Television, and Film. She is a recipient of The Drama League Fellowship and the inaugural Julie Taymor World Theater Fellowship. B.F.A. NYU Tisch, M.F.A. UC San Diego. www.jescaprudencio.com JUSTIN HUMPHRES
Scenic & Video Designer
Justin is a scenic and media designer who strives to make worlds that are playful, kinetic, and immersive. His designs have been presented at venues nationwide and internationally across Europe and Asia. Justin is excited to be working with the Geffen Playhouse for the first time. Recent credits: It’s a Ship Show (Virgin Voyages); The Great Leap (Steppenwolf G E F F E N P L AY H O U S E 9
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES Theatre); Man of God (East West Players); Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Diversionary Theatre); Actually, Vietgone (San Diego Repertory Theatre). Broadway associate credits include: Thoughts of a Colored Man; Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations; Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. Justin holds a B.F.A. from Western Michigan University and an M.F.A. from the University of California, San Diego. D E VA R I O D. S I M M O N S
Costume Designer
Broadway: Thoughts of a Colored Man; Off-Broadway: Tumacho, Between the Bars, EMERGENCY!, and P.S. Additionally, Simmons has had the pleasure of working regionally at: Center Theatre Group, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Jean’s Playhouse, Syracuse Stage, and Baltimore Center Stage. Other credits include: Rustin (Netflix), three seasons of AMC’s television show Turn: Washington’s Spies, the second national touring production of In the Heights, and two seasons of PBS television series Mercy Street. Member of United Scenic Artist 829. Website: www.devariosimmons.com IG: @devariosimmons R E B EC CA B O N E B R A K E
Lighting Designer
Rebecca Bonebrake is excited to be making her Geffen Playhouse debut. A Los Angeles based lighting designer, her recent credits include The Great Leap (Pasadena Playhouse in association with East West Players), Hannah and the Dread Gazebo (The Fountain Theatre in association with East West Players), Man of God (East West Players), and Death and Cockroaches (Chalk Rep). Bonebrake is a member of the Artistic Circle at Chalk Rep and holds an M.F.A. in Lighting Design from UC San Diego. Be1 0 P L AY B I L L
yond her theater work, she is an architectural lighting designer, primarily working on themed entertainment projects. Notable recent projects include Aquarium at the Boardwalk (Branson, MO) and spaces within Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station (Denver, CO). For more words and pictures visit www.rebeccabonebrake.com. MELANIE CHEN COLE
Sound Designer
Melanie Chen Cole (she/her/ hers) is thrilled to be making her debut at the Geffen with this production. Select regional credits include: The Sound of Music, Trouble in Mind, Clue (Utah Shakespeare Festival); Mud Row (Cygnet Theatre in San Diego); Zoey’s Perfect Wedding (TheaterWorks Hartford); Steel Magnolias (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park/Indiana Repertory Theatre co-production); Little Shop of Horrors, Macbeth, A Christmas Carol, Alabama Story, Buzz, Romeo & Juliet (Alabama Shakespeare Festival); High School Play: A Nostalgia Fest (Alley Theatre); The Supreme Leader, Steel Magnolias (Dallas Theater Center); Witch (Huntington Theatre Company); Ohio State Murders (Goodman Theatre); Mrs. Harrison, Tuesdays with Morrie (Indiana Repertory Theatre); Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (South Coast Repertory); Noura, Tiny Beautiful Things, The Imaginary Invalid (The Old Globe); At the Old Place (La Jolla Playhouse). Education: M.F.A. in Theatre and Dance from UC San Diego. www.melaniesound.com, @melaniechencole on Instagram STEVE RANKIN
Fight Director
Most recently at Geffen Playhouse: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Paradise Blue, Key Largo, Witch, Big Sky.
Broadway: Ain’t Too Proud, All My Sons, Carousel (Drama Desk Outstanding Fight Choreography), Summer, Memphis, Jersey Boys, Henry IV, Twelfth Night, The Who’s Tommy, Anna Christie, The Real Inspector Hound, Macbeth, The Farnsworth Invention, Guys and Dolls, Dracula, Doctor Zhivago, Bonnie and Clyde, Getting Away With Murder, Two Shakespearean Actors. Off-Broadway: Pig Farm, The Third Story, The Night Hank Williams Died, Below the Belt. Public Theater: CORIOLANUS. Shakespeare Los Angeles: Henry IV (with Tom Hanks). Stratford Shakespeare Festival: Romeo and Juliet, Caesar and Cleopatra, The Who’s Tommy, Macbeth, Henry V. Metropolitan Opera: Faust, Rodelinda, Boris Godunov, Iphegenie at Tauride. Regional: Kennedy Center, Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theatre, The Old Globe (Associate Artist), La Jolla Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Actors Theater of Louisville, et al. Mr. Rankin also plays mandolin and guitar with The Susie Glaze New Folk Ensemble. Steve is a proud member of SDC. LIZZIE THOMPSON
Production Stage Manager
Lizzie Thompson is thrilled to be back stage managing again at the Geffen Playhouse. She has previously worked at the Geffen on Power of Sail, The Enigmatist, Revenge Song: A Vampire Cowboys Creation, Key Largo, Skintight, Mysterious Circumstances, Black Super Hero Magic Mama, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Significant Other, and Ironbound, among others. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she received her B.S. from Allegheny College and her M.F.A. in Theater from Long Island University. Lizzie would like to thank her mom and dad for always believing in her, and her Geffen family.
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES P H Y L L I S S C H U R I N G A , C SA
Casting Director
Phyllis is an Artistic Associate and the Casting Director for Geffen Playhouse. Recent casting includes Power of Sail, Paradise Blue, Mysterious Circumstances, Black Super Hero Magic Mama, Skeleton Crew, The Legend of Georgia McBride, Guards at the Taj, and American Buffalo at the Geffen, and Put Your House in Order at La Jolla Playhouse. She has received 6 Artios nominations: Witch, Significant Other, Actually, Barbecue, Barcelona, The Country House. Before joining the Geffen, she was the Casting Director for Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago where her favorites include Frank Galati’s adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath (also La Jolla Playhouse, National Theatre in London and Broadway, where it received the Tony Award for Best Play), the original production of Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile (and subsequent productions including Westwood Playhouse and Briar Street Theater in Chicago), Austin Pendleton’s Orson’s Shadow, and Charles L. Mee’s Time to Burn. Broadway transfers include One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Tony Award for Best Revival), The Song of Jacob Zulu, and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. She is a member of the Casting Society of America.
Circumstances for the Geffen in 2019 and prior to joining as Artistic Director in 2017, Shakman directed three acclaimed productions at the Playhouse: the West Coast premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Good People (2012), the world premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher’s new adaptation of Wait Until Dark (2013), and Joshua Harmon’s Bad Jews (2015). Matt founded and was the artistic director of the Black Dahlia Theatre in Los Angeles, which was named “one of a dozen young American companies you need to know” by American Theatre magazine and “Best Small Theatre” by Los Angeles magazine. Matt is a director and producer for FX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and has directed episodes of Game of Thrones (DGA nomination), Mad Men, Fargo, The Good Wife, and Succession. He helmed the pilot episode for Hulu’s The Great (Emmy nomination) starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult and produced and directed all episodes of WandaVision (Emmy nominations for Direction and Limited Series, DGA nomination), a Marvel Studios event series for Disney+ starring Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen. Matt is currently directing Star Trek for Bad Robot and Paramount Studios.
for managing the Geffen’s day-to-day operations; developing new, ongoing theater partnerships and leading its mission to inform, entertain and inspire diverse audiences with live theater of the highest caliber. Prior to being named Executive Director in 2015, Cates served as Geffen Playhouse Board Vice Chairman since 2012 and served as a producer and director in theater, film and television. His theater credits include the award-winning Names (Matrix Theatre Company) and Three Sisters and David Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre (both at Syracuse Stage). Cates’ 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 and Ann-Margret). In addition, Cates co-produced and co-directed the critically acclaimed Life After Tomorrow, featuring Sarah Jessica Parker, which premiered on Showtime. His other films include Deal (starring Burt Reynolds, Bret Harrison and Charles Durning) and The Mesmerist (starring Jessica Capshaw and Geffen Playhouse alumnus Neil Patrick Harris). Cates’ television directorial debut was an episode of the NBC comedy Joey, starring Emmy winner
M AT T S H A K M A N
G I L CAT E S, J R .
Matt LeBlanc. He studied at
Artistic Director
Executive Director
the National Theatre Institute
Matt Shakman is Artistic Director of Geffen Playhouse. Matt last helmed Mysterious
Gil Cates, Jr. is Executive Director of Geffen Playhouse. In this role, he is responsible
holds a B.F.A. in Drama from
in Waterford, Connecticut, and Syracuse University. G E F F E N P L AY H O U S E 1 1
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES for accounting functions of the
CPA, after holding the position
theater, including operating and
of Director of Accounting at
capital budgets. In addition,
FABS Management, where she
she supports all IT and HR activ-
was responsible for overseeing
ities. Behnaz was named Chief
the finances of more than 25
Financial Officer in 2015 after
non-profit organizations. As
serving as General Manager
a financial professional with
since 2002. She first joined
more than 30 years’ experience
Geffen Playhouse in 1999. Previ-
in for-profit and non-profit
ously, Ataee worked as a senior
financial management and au-
financial analyst for Ultratech
diting, Ataee began her career
Behnaz “Nazy” Ataee is Chief
Inc., an international semicon-
in the Bay Area as a partner in
Financial Officer of Geffen
ductor company based in San
a small tech startup. She holds
Playhouse. In this role, she
Jose. Prior to Ultratech, she
a master’s degree from Pepper-
has oversight responsibility
was an auditor for Van Sloten
dine University.
B E H N A Z ATA E E Chief Financial Officer
THE NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Supporting artists is central to the mission of the Geffen Playhouse, and play commissions are a cornerstone of that support. To commission a playwright to write a play means making a commitment to their voice, craft and vision, with the hope of sharing the fruits of their work on our stage. The Geffen Playhouse’s New Play Development Program is made possible, in large part, through the leadership and generosity of donations from: The Edgerton Foundation, The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Fay & Frank Mancuso, Sandra Krause & William Fitzgerald, Hilary & Jack Angelo and Mary Bianco, The MOCA Foundation. We are proud to have the following artists under commission: RACHEL BONDS COLMAN DOMINGO MICHAEL GOLAMCO MEGHAN KENNEDY MATTHEW LOPEZ MARTYNA MAJOK
CHELSEA MARCANTEL STACY OSEI-KUFFOUR JIEHAE PARK JOHN POLLONO ZOE SARNAK ROBERT SCHENKKAN
JEN SILVERMAN DAVID WIENER LAUREN YEE ANNA ZIEGLER
For more information on this program, please visit geffenplayhouse.org/newplays.
THE WRITERS’ ROOM A group for Los Angeles-based playwrights, The Writers’ Room is a product of the Geffen’s deep commitment to supporting new plays and specifically to fostering bold, relevant work by the vibrant artistic community of this city. During this one-year residency, playwright members gather monthly at the Geffen to share their work and receive feedback from their peers and the Geffen’s artistic staff, culminating in a play reading series. VIVIAN BARNES LISA SANAYE DRING WESTON GAYLORD
ALEXANDRA KALINOWSKI, TOVA KATZ, & KATIE LINDSAY
NICHOLAS PILAPIL MICHAEL SHAYAN
The Writers’ Room 2021/2022 is made possible through the generous support of Jerry and Terri Kohl. For more information on this program, please visit geffenplayhouse.org/thewritersroom.
1 2 P L AY B I L L
GEFFEN AT A GLANCE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CONTACT
PRODUCTION STAFF FOR KING LIZ
Geffen Playhouse 10886 Le Conte Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90024
Assistant Director Lauren Stevens
Lead Carpenters Melissa Hartman, Philip Rossi
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
Rehearsal Stage Manager Liv Scott Intimacy Director Mia Schachter
Carpenters Austin Bosley, Christopher Bowe, Casey Braxton, James Chew, Chris Cowan, Ryan Fischer, Rob Hille, Sarah King, Vanessa Lara, Chandish Nester, James Stanley, Sam Stein-De Turck, Eiden Weissblum
310.208.6500 Monday through Friday, 10:00am – 6:00pm AUDIENCE SERVICES
310.208.2028 Tuesday through Sunday, 12:00pm – 6:00pm Please visit geffenplayhouse.org for hours, parking and more information.
BOX OFFICE The box office window is open Tuesday through Sunday from 12:00pm – 6:00pm, as well as on performance days up until 15 minutes after curtain during the run of a show. Please note: the box office window is unable to process exchanges and future sales one hour prior to curtain time on any performance day.
ACCESSIBLE ACCOMMODATION Geffen Playhouse is fully committed to providing access to patrons with mobility, visual and hearing impairments. Parking spaces directly outside the theater are zoned for drop off and pick up, as well as disabled parking spots for patrons with appropriate placards and plates. For more information about our Accessibility services and programs, visit geffenplayhouse.org/ access or call our box office.
LATE SEATING Should you arrive late to the theater or vacate your seat during the performance, please expect to be held in the lobby until an appropriate pause in the action on stage. To minimize disturbance to other patrons, you may be seated in the first available location by the house staff even if it is different from your assigned seat. Be advised that some productions or circumstances may not allow for late or return seating.
NO PHOTOGRAPHY There is no photography or filming of any kind allowed during the performance. Please turn off all electronic devices, including cell phones.
Assistant Scenic Designer Yi-Chien Lee Assistant Lighting Designer Zo Haynes Production Assistants Raven Chatt, Juliet Park Stage Supervisor & Automation Operator Tyler Brogla Deck Crew Oliver Brink Production Electrician Emma Inglehart A1 Matthew Colleran Wardrobe Supervisor Meghan Gottschalk
Properties Assistant Sarah Nearhoff Properties Artisans & Carpenters Christopher R. Baab, Sigourney Chin, Danny Dolan, Alec Long Electricians Sean Allinson, Ezra Fisher, Justin Kelley-Cahill, Alannah Lasiter, Juan Lozano, Skye Mahaffie, Melanie Miller, Keanu Ross-Cabrera, Christiana Saldibar, James Tatsch, Kyle Wurtz COVID-19 Compliance Manager Bella Luna COVID-19 Safety Managers Cecelia Bonner, Phil Gold, Bethany Koulias, Juliet Park, Bradley Pierce
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Scenery Provided by Scenic Highlights, AAA Flag & Banner
Production Photographer Jeff Lorch
Lighting Equipment Provided By Kinetic Lighting, Inc.
Media Filming Ramon Garcia
Sound Equipment Provided By DnB Design
Photography Justin Bettman
Video Equipment Provided By Launch
SPECIAL THANKS UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television Scene, Prop, Sound, and Costume Shops; London Cleaners; Chalk Repertory Theater
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 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.
RECORDING NOTICE The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production and distributing recordings or streams in any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author(s)’s rights and actionable under United States copyright law. For more information, please visit: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists
This theater operates under agreement between the League of Resident Theaters and Actors Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. The Actors and Stage Managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. This theater operates under agreement between the League of Resident Theaters and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, an independent national labor union. The Director is a Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union. The scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT theaters are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE. G E F F E N P L AY H O U S E 1 3
BEHIND THE SCENES Q&A
HOW TO PLAY THE GAME
PHOTO BY ANGELA DAWN
AN INTERVIEW WITH PLAYWRIGHT FERNANDA COPPEL
Playwright Fernanda Coppel
BY AMY LEVINSON, GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
A M Y L E V I N S O N : Can you talk a bit about the genesis of the play, and its evolution? F E R N A N DA C O P P E L : The play is very personal, but it’s not necessarily autobiographical. King Liz is very much about one’s journey towards a commercial sense of success. My journey towards writing was very tough. As a Mexican immigrant, I didn’t grow up around theater and being a writer wasn’t a viable career option. I had to blaze a trail for myself which took a lot of bravery and hard work. I discovered theater by accident as an undergrad and upon graduation promptly moved to New York to become a playwright. At 21, I was broke and living in a bedroom that was 5’ by 7’ but I was thrilled to be pursuing my dream. Eventually, I signed with these snazzy agents, who helped me get Off-Broadway productions. And the next step in my career, they claimed, was, “You need to go to Los Angeles now to write for TV.” So, I did, and suddenly found myself in writers’ rooms which were so foreign to me. I felt like I didn’t belong and that I didn’t have the tools to succeed. There was no guidance, rather I was met with a lot of “figure 1 4 P L AY B I L L
it out yourself because you’re very replaceable.” It was a hard adjustment. After my second staffing job, I started to have terrible anxiety attacks and one day I walked out of the writers’ room, went to the parking lot, and called my agent Scott Chaloff, who was also my friend, and I said, “Hey, I don’t know what I’m doing here. I’ve lost track of my love for writing and myself.” And he said, “Sounds like a good time to write a new play.” So, that’s what I did: I put that dilemma into this play. I started thinking about art and commerce, and how to maintain your identity— who you are and what you stand for—within a commercial setting. How can I make a living while not letting go of that excited 21-year-old who loves to write? So that crossroads is what inspired the play. That was back in 2014. A L : 2014. And now here you are—and all of these things have happened. I know you have made recent changes to the play. What drove you to make these changes and can you speak about some of them? F C : It’s been fascinating. Reading it now as a new mom and as a writer who’s constantly strug-
BEHIND THE SCENES Q&A
gling to find work that’s meaningful while balancing the work that pays the mortgage, I have a totally new perspective on King Liz. Although it’s taken a lot of trial and error, I have found a way to exist within this world of commerce while staying authentic to who I am (although it’s a constant struggle). But also, in revisiting the play, it’s clear that there were some breadcrumbs that my 29-year-old self left behind for me to think about now. I actually now identify with different characters than I did when I originally wrote it. The Mr. Candys, the Coach Joneses, and the Barbara Flowerses of the world seem even more complicated to me rather than black and white. But, I still stand by the message of the play and still root for Liz Rico finding her way after the play ends. The main reason I chose to update King Liz for this production is because the NBA, not unlike the entertainment industry, is so rapidly changing that absolutely none of the references from the 2014/2015 draft are applicable today. Absolutely none. So, to begin with, I just jumped in to do that. A L : Because you write in different mediums, when you have an idea about something, how do you know what form the idea ought to take? F C : I’ve been doing a lot of TV development and film. In film, the plot is king. We need to know what happens and we need to get there. TV is more character driven, but an extremely concise type of writing. When writing for TV you end up making a lot of cuts, and sometimes those cuts are heartbreaking. In fact, my new play, Friendship Park, was borne out of a scene from a pilot that I was trying to develop. Everyone was really excited about this one scene that I wanted to be about 5 pages long— which for TV is like a novel. As I continued to develop the pilot, I kept obsessing about THAT scene. I just knew as I worked on it, that it was meant to be a play because I wanted to spend all of my time in that scene. TV is dictated by pace and the structure— so much of what you write is about how much time you have between commercial breaks and peoples’ attention spans. So, if you find yourself writing 5-7 page scenes in a pilot or a screenplay, that usually means you’re starting a new play. Playwrighting is more meditative and messier. It’s about recreating the human experi-
ence that’s full of pauses, people saying the wrong thing, fights over the dinner table, etc. A L : On the first day of rehearsal, I heard you mention that this is your first time back in a rehearsal room post-pandemic. A) How do you feel about that and B) having been away from it, is there any sort of marked difference as a theatergoer or as a theatermaker that you have observed? F C : I’m thrilled to return to the theater. I forgot that when I’m in a rehearsal room, I’m usually a very quiet collaborator. I like to watch the actors/director and listen. If you listen closely enough, you can immediately tell what works in the script and what needs some re-writing. But also, while we’re at the table, I tend to get a lot of ideas for other plays. I don’t know why; I just start scribbling and thinking about new plays. It may be because there are so many creative people around a table and that inspires my creative brain, but that’s a feeling I had forgotten. Writing is a solitary art form—your process is just you and your thoughts. So, it’s just nice to be around artists again, post-pandemic when a lot of people experienced the solitary lifestyle of a writer. The difference in my theater practice is that now more than ever, I’ve realized that my job as the playwright is to bring a quality script to the table, and then my collaborators take it where it needs to go from there. And watching that process inspires me, but I also don’t have the patience for all the details that the director’s job entails, and I don’t have the bravery to do what these actors do every night. And I’m totally okay with that. My gratitude for the strengths of my collaborators is even more immense. My focus is always on the script and seeking out collaborators who can bring that idea to life. I also missed the connection between the live audience and the performers: the call and response. Nothing can replicate it. You can feel when people are on the edge of their seats. You can feel when they’re bored and restless. For me, theater is the process of creating a moment in time with the audience. A moment so well-crafted that it makes both the performers and the audience forget that it’s make-believe. That’s something I’m thankful to be a part of. To read the full interview with Fernanda, visit geffenplayhouse.org/blog. G E F F E N P L AY H O U S E 1 5
2 5B TE HH IANNDN IT VH EE R SS CA ER NY E SS E QA &S AO N
25 YEARS AND COUNTING Founder Gilbert Cates with Trustee Kristen Combs at the soon-to-be Geffen Playhouse (formerly Westwood Playhouse)
“ONWARD AND UPWARD WITH THE ARTS.” That was the mantra of Geffen Playhouse Founder and Producing Director Gilbert (Gil) Cates, a visionary and a showman who brought this theater to life a quarter of a century ago. And it remains our mantra today. With the launch of our 2021/2022 season, we celebrate 25 years of storytelling, opening nights, world premieres, standing ovations, and all the artists and audiences who have passed through our doors since we first raised our curtain with Four Dogs and a Bone in 1995. We did not just begin life as Geffen Playhouse—there’s more to our story. It was the early 1990s and, as a lover of the arts, then-Dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Gil Cates had a dream and a vision. The goal was to create a new non-profit professional theater company that 1 6 P L AY B I L L
OCT 10, 1995 — John Patrick Shanley’s Four Dogs and a Bone, directed by Lawrence Kasdan, featuring Brendan Fraser, Elizabeth Perkins, Parker Posey, and Martin Short opened the Geffen Playhouse
Founder Gilbert Cates with philanthropist David Geffen and UCLA Chancellor Emeritus Charles E. Young
Geffen Playhouse is excited to celebrate 25 years with its 2021/2022 Anniversary Season
would enrich the cultural life of Greater Los
of an endowment gift from philanthropist
Angeles and the UCLA community through
David Geffen) to begin the creation of a
plays and educational programs that in-
permanent professional non-profit theater
form, entertain and inspire.
in Westwood. The university created an
UCLA had a long history of working closely with professional theaters as an extension of its academic mission and, for many
independent board, helmed by Cates, which would assume all costs and risks of operating the theater. And the rest is history.
years, owned and operated the Doolittle
Since opening, Geffen Playhouse has
Theater in Hollywood to fulfill this mission.
staged nearly 200 productions, held more
Cates recognized the Doolittle’s geographic
than 9,000 performances, and entertained
distance from campus created a barrier to
countless audiences from around the world
any meaningful relationship with UCLA and
and every walk of life. Each year has brought
argued a better partner would be the West-
with it new stories, new artists, new laugh-
wood Playhouse, located right across from
ter, new tears and new challenges—and we
campus. Compelled by the proximity and
grow as a theater, and as a family, with every
potential of the historic theater, Chancellor
one of them.
Charles Young agreed to sell the Doolittle and pledged the proceeds of the sale to assist Cates with the purchase and refurbishment of the Westwood Playhouse.
It has been an honor to be a home for the arts in this remarkable city of Los Angeles, and we are excited for what the next 25 years will bring. We hope you will continue
UCLA leased the theater to the newly
to join us on this journey, as we go onward
named Geffen Playhouse (in recognition
and upward with the arts. G E F F E N P L AY H O U S E 1 7
EDUCATION & COMMUNITY
THEATER IN EDUCATION HAS THE POWER TO IGNITE CHANGE
Geffen Playhouse is deeply committed to creating powerful and impactful arts education and engagement experiences that amplify, inspire, and encompass our diverse Los Angeles community. Our programs provide unique, in-depth access to theater and the arts for under-resourced and under-represented groups of youth and adults. the continued growth and expansion of our programs.
DONATE TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.ORG/DONATENOW
PHOTO BY JEFF LORCH
We invite you to support the vitality of education by contributing to
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 January 1, 2021, and June 15, 2022. In appreciation, donors enjoy a host of special benefits including house seats, complimentary drinks, receptions, and much more. For more information, please call Tracy Reich at 310.208.6500 ext. 113. ANGELS
ARTISTIC CIRCLE
Anonymous (2)
Anonymous (2) Jack & Hilary Angelo City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Robin Dearden & Bryan Cranston The Walt Disney Company Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer & Melvin Keefer Carol & Paul Frimmer Herbert M. & Beverly Gelfand The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Patty Glaser & Sam Mudie Samantha & Eric Heer Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation Cindy & Alan Horn Stanley Iezman & Nancy Stark Marcia Israel Foundation, Inc. Erich and Della Koenig Foundation LA County Department of Arts and Culture Laurents / Hatcher Foundation Paramount Pictures The Edward A. & Ai O Shay Family Foundation State of California, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development Judith & Bruce Stern STK Steakhouse
$100,000+
Kevin & Claudia Bright City National Bank Mary Ann Cloyd Kelly Coffey Edgerton Foundation Louise & Dr. Brad Edgerton David Geffen Foundation The Adi & Jerry Greenberg Foundation Karen & Russell Goldsmith Martha Henderson Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg Fund for Arts Education at the Geffen Playhouse Loretta Everett Kaufman & Victor Kaufman Jerry & Terri Kohl Linda Bernstein Rubin & Tony Rubin Matt Shakman & Maggie Malone Shubert Foundation Kate Capshaw & Steven Spielberg Jodi & Howard Tenenbaum UCLA UCLA Health
CHAIRMANʾS CIRCLE $50,000 – $99,999
California Arts Council Elizabeth & Gil Cates, Jr. Dwight Stuart Youth Fund Ben/Joyce Eisenberg Foundation Fay & Frank Mancuso John McCrite & Juan Lopez Donna McKenna & Flynn Chernos Tina & Jerry Moss / The Moss Foundation Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Madeline & Bruce Ramer Holly Rice & Vince Gilligan Allen Blue & Kira Snyder Shel & Cynthia Stone Ken Willner & Jim Stine The Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation Judy & Chancellor Charles E. Young Dirk & Natasha Ziff
$25,000 – $49,999
PRODUCER
$10,000 – $24,999 Anonymous Eva Aaronson In Memory of Bucky Hazan Katie McGrath & J.J. Abrams Pat & Sandy Adams Patricia Kiernan Applegate Audi of America, Inc. Cathy & Shel Bachrach Berlanti Family Foundation Mary Bianco & The MOCA Foundation The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation Cindy & Bob Broder Eileen & Harold Brown Stephanie & Jonathan Carson Comcast NBCUniversal Merle Dandridge Martha De Laurentiis & Randy Sherman M.D. Dr. & Mrs. Paul Eisenberg
Bonnie E. Eskenazi Eric Flamholtz & Yvonne Randle Susan & Mark Fleischer Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea Fox Entertainment Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman, Inc. Ann & Jim Gianopulos Goldman Sachs Manuela & James Goren Marcy & Edgar Gross Bryan Hawkins In Memory of Morris A. Hazan ICM Partners Liberty Ross & Jimmy Iovine Peggy Jones & Parise Livanos Kat Judd David & Martha Kadue Glorya Kaufman Julie & David Kavner Kathleen Kennedy & Frank Marshall Laura Kennedy Willette & Manny Klausner LA Unified School District Lyn & Norman Lear Carla Malden & Norman Beil Wendy & Barry Meyer Ron Meyer Conan & Liza O’Brien Mo Ostin Carol & Bill Ouchi Soundis & Danny Passman Judith Reichman, MD Pamela Robinson Hollander & Robert Hollander Fredric D. Rosen & Nadine Schiff-Rosen Family Foundation Thomas L. Safran Hon. Nicole A. Avant & Ted Sarandos Carol ‘Jackie’ & Charles Schwartz Jessica & Jerry Seinfeld Richard & Barbara Sherman Marcia & Robert Shuwarger The Simms/Mann Family Foundation Sitrick Group, LLC Sony Pictures Entertainment Wendy Stark Steve Tisch Miranda & Brett Tollman U.S. Bank Foundation Dannelle Ward/Acropolis Investment Management Joanne & Ken Weinman Aurora & Marc Weinstock Kevyn Wynn G E F F E N P L AY H O U S E 1 9
ANNUAL DONORS DIRECTOR
$5,000 – $9,999 Jehan F. Agrama & Dwora Fried In Honor of Laura Alpert Aversa Foundation The Hilaria & Alec Baldwin Foundation Bank of America David Bartman Pamela & Dennis Beck Judith & Thomas Beckmen Carolyn Benson Jana Bezdek Mara W. Breech Foundation Robert Brook & Jacqueline Kosecoff Butterfly Equity Captive8 Glenn & Lynn Cardoso Marcy Carsey In Loving Memory of Ed Cypert Mary Jo & Caleb Deschanel Susan & Jonathan Dolgen Lauren Shuler Donner Fielding Edlow & Larry Clarke Lisa Field / Field Family Foundation Robyn Field & Anthony O’Carroll Erika Fiore Susan Nahley Fleishman Sonia & Robert Freedman and Family Steve Freedman & Helen Sideris Bob & Diana Friedman Larry Gagosian Kiki & David Gindler Waterman & Glicksteen Families Sue & Steve Glusker MaryAnn & Irwin Gold Dr. Irene Goldenberg Lori & Ken Goldman Greenberg Traurig Alexander & Katie & Grey Grosvenor Star Gutman Noble & Jacquelynn Hansen Cindy Hanson Mellody Hobson / Ariel Investments, LLC Ann Husvar Sir Elton John & David Furnish David & Martha Kadue Barbara & Ronnie Kahn Mannon Kaplan Marla & Daniel Klein Kling Family Foundation / Allen & Jessica Kling Wendy Kurtzman Sherry Lansing Foundation Karen & Walter Loewenstern Padma & Rao Makineni Stewart Mayeda Merle & Jerry Measer Hillary Messenger Microsoft Marcia & Brett Molotsky 2 0 P L AY B I L L
Rio & Frank Morse Benedicta & Geoffry Oblath Laurie MacDonald & Walter Parkes Shana & Don Passman PCCP, LLC Cheryl Petersen & Roger Lustberg Allison & Birk Rawlings The Michael Schwab Family Gussie Paster Sitkin Jane Rissman & Richard Sondheimer Nancy Heller & Fred Specktor Heather Thomas & Skip Brittenham Karen Zoller, M.D. & David Tillman, M.D. William & Karen Timberlake Olympus Theatricals Town & Country Event Rentals Gayle & Barry Tyerman Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz Michael E. Walsh The Waterman Family Foundation Benjamin Weisman Sandra Willen Rita Wilson & Tom Hanks Karen & Rick Wolfen YPO Golden West Gold In Loving Memory of Herman Ziegler
SPONSOR
$3,000 – $4,999 Anonymous Janis Adams & John Lyons Alligator Pear Catering Robert E. & Maria H. Barron Beam Suntory Madelyn Bennett & Eric Gibson Paula & Bruce Bennett Shelly & Libby Bergen Laurie Bernhard Susan Bloch-Kay & Stephen Kay Thomas & Nancy Boxwell VJ Boyd The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation Noora Raj Brown Linda & Jerry Bruckheimer Carillon Miami Wellness Resort Marissa Caudill & David Merrill Adam & Lin Cheyer Ellyce R. Cooper & Barry Cohen / Sidley Austin LLP Anne Dougherty Lawrence N. Field Lisa Firestone & Caspar Von Winterfeldt Lynn T. Franklin Karney Guren Family Foundation John & Ann Daly Gustafson Deidre Hall Michael Hayden Gallery Alan & Michelle Heilpern Stephen Sass & Steven Hochstadt Vicki Iovine & David Coiro Gerald Katell
Thea & Neal Koss Nancy Koven Renee & Meyer Luskin Ginny Mancini Jane & Rand Marlis Cara Gardenswartz & David Melnick Robin Mitchel & Kathleen Marshall Morgan Stanley Michael R. Oppenheim Carolyn A. Poer & John M. Poer Jennifer von Schneidau Jerome & Joan Snyder Eric Strom & Eileen Goodis Peter & Denise Walsh Julie & Peter Weil Leslie White & Al Limon Susan & Dan White
PARTNER
$1,500 – $2,999 Anonymous Elena Abramson Miriam Aguiar Dr. & Mrs. Bruce Allen Basch Family Foundation Shelley & Rick Bayer Patricia & Mark Benjamin Yvette Bergeron & Dean Bailey Susan J. Booth & Christopher Wadden Dr. Wallace P. Brithinee Diana Buckhantz and the Vladimir and Araxia Buckhantz Foundation Jay Butterfield & Susan Ewert Kristen & Jake Carlson Lexy & John Carroll Kasey Carrothers Steven Cerasale & Mary Katherine Cocharo Caroline Choi The Christal Family Cindy Clark Linda & John Coleman Lori & Jerry Collins Tim Curtis & Shandon Youngclaus Phil Davis Noah Dinkin Rich & Christina Doren Jacki & Murray Drechsler Edward Avedis David & Joyce Evans Barbara Fairchild Anita Dann Friedman & Harvey Friedman G2 Graphic Service, Inc. Charlotte Gold Linda & Louis Goldsman Kelly Gonda Jack Grossbart & Marc Schwartz Penny Grosz & Eugene Korney The Guerin Foundation Zvia Hempling
ANNUAL DONORS Rand Hoffman & Charlotte Robinson David Israeli & Dr. Marie Mazzone Freya & Marc Ivener Deborah & Ivan Kallick Katherine Kleindienst & Marc Goldsmith Carol Krause Carol Leif & Jeff Parker Lydia & Chuck Levy Elisabeth & Jeff Lipsman Judith Locke The Malins Family Foundation Sue & Anthony Marguleas Sue McHugh & Herb Seese Cookie Miller Joan & Phil Miller Laurie & Chuck Mondrus Deborah & Stacey Olliff Tal Oren & Liana Morgado-Oren Carol & Alan Ostroff Michael Parks & Judith Hayward In Memory of Robert & Stephen Paskus Daniel & Denise Perlstein Ruth Popkin Clark & Kathryn Porter Drs. Laurence & Isabell Purdy Gary & Gail Rachelefsky Richard Rasiej & Joan Herman Joyce & Harvey Reichard Pamela Ribon Louis & Laura Rohl Wil Rosser Amy & Andy Schwartz Susan Schwarz & Stuart Berton Snyder Family Foundation Tom & Melanie Staggs Andrew Stearn Mitch & Sherry Stein Deborah Tavlin Franklin David Tell Catherine & Leonard Unger Union Bank Susan & Peter Van Haften Kathryn & Alan Van Vliet Gelena & Seth Weissman Alison Whalen & Steve Marenberg David Young Alissa & Jordan Zachary Ellen & Arnold Zetcher
EDUCATION ADVOCATE $1,000 – $1,499
Anonymous (4) Dr. Richard Ackerman & Miriam Shakter Jan & David Altemus Bonnie R. Arnold Margaret Campbell Arvey Elissa & Scott Ashwood Karen Bell & Robb Cox Lydia & David Bell Dr. Joan Denson & Dr. Victoria Berck
Wendy & John Bergquist Diane & James Berliner Mrs. Carol K. Block & Chancellor Gene D. Block Pamela & Bill Bohnert Paula Brand Broadway Wine Club Janet & Mark Brown Katherine Brown & Rene Mendoza Chancellor Albert Carnesale & Mrs. Robin Carnesale Margaret Casey Jane Cates Shelby & Lee Chaden Danny & Lisa Charnes-Sarokin Sachiko T. Cochran M.D. & Joseph T. Araki Stephen Cook Honorable Candace Cooper Jen Crittenden & Bill Wrubel Regina Miller, In Honor of Development Jan & Thea Drayer Ed & Barbara Dreyfus Dr. & Mrs. William M. Duxler Terri & David Elston Elizabeth A. Evans Bill Fagerbakke Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Lynne & Michael Feldman Dr. Kimberly Finney Shari Foos Burt & Nanette Forester Steven Forness In Honor of Frank & Betty Fouce Dennis & Jackie Fox Tomas Fuller & William Kelly Pat & Sandy Gage The Glass Family Hannah & Barrie Godwin Roz & Abner Goldstine Ellie Goodman Jill Grigsby & Rett Bull Deidre Hall Harris Family Foundation Scott Hartle Murray & Gail Heltzer Jackson Henry Michael & Candie Herman Robin and Edgar Hirst Dr. John D. Hofbauer & Dr. Laura E. Fox Rob & Cassie Holmes William Hoover & Jon Rupp Lynn Hunt & Margaret Jacob Gary T. Izumi Brenda Marie Izzi Victoria Jackson & Bill Guthy Marcie & Marc J. Jacoby Nancy & Len Jacoby Carrie Johnson Linda & David Kagel Mark Kaplan
Sally & Dr. Manny J. Karbelnig Patricia Keating Trisha Kelley King Nutronics Corporation Barton H. Kogan Norman Koplof & Leslie Falick Lena & Mark Labowe Carl Levinger Steven & Nancy Lippman In Memory of Effie Lucero & Anne Ettinger Eric James Lund Martin S Appel Survivors Trust Sheri & Jim McCashin James and Ana Miles Family Foundation Mintz Family Fund Andrew & Laura Mintzer Thaine & Elizabeth Morris Craig Morrison Lon Morse & Toni Hollander Morse Dr. Paula C. Moseley Ron Myrick Mieke & Spencer Neumann Albert & Barbara Nichols Ornest Family Foundation London, Alex & Marty Padilla Jacalyn & Paul Pepperman Peters Family Fund at Chicago Community Foundation Dolores Rogers Allison & Bennett Rosenthal Nancy Stephens & Rick Rosenthal and The Rosenthal Family Foundation Peymaneh Rothstein & Emad Asfoury Lori & David Rousso David A. & Karen Richards Sachs Nancy & Ted Sanborn Gerald Sauer Jane & Bill Schopf Peggy & Robert Shapiro John Shaw Rita & Jose Sigal Robin & Robert L. Sills Ron Silverman & Soraya Ross Aaron & Ross Smith-Knight John Sonego & Thomas Faughnan Lisa Stonich Melora Sundt & Rob Kadota Rose Tarlow The Tatasciore Family Anne C. Taubman & David Boyle John M. Teeples & Nicolas Martinez, Jr. Marjorie Thomson Tito + Craig John Turmes Leon & Stephanie Vahn Daniel & Shauna Valenzuela Marcia & Charles Wasserman Ph.D In Honor of Sid & Sheila Weiss Westmount Asset Management John & Connie Weston G E F F E N P L AY H O U S E 2 1
ANNUAL DONORS In Loving Memory of Gareth Wigan Judith & Philip Winik Cherie Wrigley Richard Yaffe Linda Yellin Elena & Drew Zager Arnold & Tricia Zane Bobbi & Walter Zifkin
ARTISTIC ADVOCATE $500 – $999
Anonymous (5) Toshka & Norman Abrams Allan Africk Sylvia Almstadt Henry Alpert Laura and Harvey Alpert Charitable Foundation Patti Amstutz Audrey & Martin Appel Don Bacigalupi Marjorie Blatt The Bordy & Leibovic Families Carol J. Bradshaw Steven Briggs Marlene Bronson Mary Ellen Callahan Anthony Carbone Sean & Martha Carey Family Sylvie & Peter Cartmell Julianna & William Cellini Julie Chait James Clark Laurel & Aaron Clark The Clements Family Dr. Mara Cohen Devorah Colker Ginger Conrad Ted Cordes & Bill Derby Muriel Dance & Alvin Martin Zoud Danko Hedva & Dr. Dudley Danoff Susan Dashe Joanna Davis Julie & Don Davis Brock Dewey Dale Dickey Linda Dozier Jane DuBovy Stephen Duncan Jeff Eckerle Colleen M. Ellis Terry Feuerborn Brian & Krista Fleming Charles Flippen Carol & John Fox Diane Futterman Gordon Gerson Benita & Bert Ginsberg Priscila Giraldo Tina & Michael Gittelson 2 2 P L AY B I L L
Linda & Tom Givvin Ellen & Reginald Golla Howard Gradet Adrienne Grant & Paul Jennings Gaby Allen & Rob Greenberg Vera & Paul Guerin Dean Haas Lonnie Hamerman & Kenneth Freundlich Mary Hartley Drex Heikes Hella Hershson Winifred C. Hervey Jack Hileman & Roxanne Huddleston Robin & Edgar Hirst Mrs. Dorothy Hoffman Paul Gordon Hoffman & Sue Caren Hoffman In Loving Memory of Stan Hollander Drs. Sharon & Lou Ignarro Robert & Gail Israel Dr. Carole & David Jones Judith & Steaven Jones Linda Kaplan Nancy Kenney William & Renee Kendall Sharon Kerson Dr. Leonard & Stella S. Kleinrock Dorothy Klinger Patricia Klous Sharon & Joel Koppelman Millicent Sanchez Hisao Kushi Deborah Lacusta & Daniel Castellaneta Lynne Lainer John & Sandra Langfitt Rhonda K. Lawrence Christo & Jeanne Lavagnino David Lee Rena & Craig Leeds Julie Leeds Ann Leland Gina Maria Leonetti Marla E. Levine Hannah Linkenhoker & Carter Cohn Jeffrey Lipp Eric & Eva Plaza Mandel Michael N. Marks Deborah Marsten Kathy & Jim McCaffery Vickie McCorkendale Cynthia Melville Nick & Vaughan Meyer Norma & Larry Meyers Mona D. & Steven J. Miller Lee & Jeff Milman Thomas Mitchell John Moschitta, Jr. Mark & Diane Neubauer Robert Nelson & Marguerite Renner Sabine Oishi
Charles Owens Ralph Page Naidu & Jane Permaul Tami Pflug The Poker People Jeanne McDonald-Powers & Travis Powers Ron Rafay Catherine Raneri Lise Ransdell & Eric Augusztiny Jennifer Redner Fred & Denise Reimer Carol Risher Ronda & Fred Rose Peter Rose Barry Rosen & Neil Bokal Dr. Martin & Lorraine Ross Arlene & Peter Sacks Susan & Kenneth Sarno Cliff & Linda Schaffer Mary Lou Schanche Mr. Bernard Schiffer Gary & Karen Schneider Joel & Sonia Schneider Nancy & Steven Schneider Donna Shapiro & Angel Castillo Melanie Sharp & Kevin Miller In Memory of Michael Sherman Robert M. Shore & Diane M. Young Karen & Bill Skinner Amy Jo & Jeff Smith Diane Good & Frank Smith South Pasadena Arts and Music Academy Jill & Scott Spiwak Sarah Stegemoeller Sandra Stewart Dr. Margaret Stuber Robert & Kristie Svaleson Mr. & Mrs. David Tann Barbara & Larry Tenan Audri & Stan Tendler David & Cathy Thomas Brigitta Troy Richard Vance Bradley & Natalie Wallace Jennifer Weiser Elizabeth Wheat Gia & Michael Wise Herbert Wolas Delores Komar & Susan Wolford Marc Zachary
ASSOCIATE $250 – $499
Anonymous (7) Terry & Richard Abrams James Ach Elaine & Michael Agran Shannon Ahl Carol & Silvy Alcalay Geraldine & Harold Alden
ANNUAL DONORS Charles & Annick Allen Eden Alpert Robert C. Anderson Peter Anderson Bonnie Ank Claudia Apelfeld Eloise & Mark Appel Joseph D. Argilagos Barbara & Ethan Aronoff Behnaz Ataee David & Linda Atkinson Lisa Austin Ross & Lindsey Avner Elizabeth & Marc Axelrod Christopher & Azita Baffa Cecilia Ball Cindy & Jeff Ballard Donald Balzano Randy & Michael Bayard Patricia Beals Anthony Bellasalma & Susan B. Katz Jeme Benadon Karen Berko-Gibson Barbara Berkowitz Marsha C. Berkowitz Marilyn R. Blacker Bonnie & Cary Blume Toby Bornstein Christopher Bower Jill Boyd & Jarid Sumner Doug & Arlene Braun Howard Brightman Lonni Brill Mr. & Mrs. Todd Brown & Family Katherine Browning The Broderick Family Ms. Leah Lynn Broidy Laurrie Brooke Raegan Brunson George & Nadine Buck Renee & Seth Burton Laura D. Campbell Karla Campbell Marlene & David Capell Lorena Carlson Ellen Castleman The Claman/Cates Family Carrie Certa Sandra Chan & Richard Pezner Diane Chernansky Nancy Chess The Chisolm Family Lori Christopher Shirley Churgin Pam Coats Carl Cohn Kenneth Cohn Jennifer Colantuoni Lynn Comer Nessa Cooper Michael Connelly Heidi Jo Corey Gail Cottingham
Shawn Cunningham Alex & Ben Dashwood Steven & Linda Darling J. Jason Daunter Jeffrey & Louise Davis Judith Delafield Hal & Roberta Delevie Rosette Delug Dr. & Mrs. Darin Detwiler Gayle & Dan Devin Dr. Joseph Demer & Dr. Melissa Reider-Demer Elizabeth De Oliveira & Moacyr Da Silva Kristin Diehl Dr. Glorya Dixon Robin Donzis Tom & Diane Duralde Michael East & Tanisha Gonzalez Ken Egel & Liz Wiegardt Joan & Jerry Elledge Ronald Eng A.W. England Carl & Courtenay Enright Lidia & Mauricio Epelbaum Katherine A. Evans Rena & Peter Falk Stephen Falk Carol Fatuzzo Wilbur Faulk Diedre Feehan Lisa & William Finkelstein Ruth Fisher Geralyn Flood Melissa Ford Christopher & Claire Forsyth Rosella Forte Lora Fremont Elaine & Larry Friedman Jean & Jerome Friedman Lynn & Barry Friesen Laurelle Frome & Brady Frome Joyce & Jeff Gampel Mr. Scot McIntosh & Dr. Ruchira Garg Barbara & Jack Garrett Corinne B. Garson Daniel Giesberg Jarrod Gilbreath Bert & Benita Ginsberg Dr. Diane & Michael Glazer Lori Glickman Lorain Goldberg Mark & Molly Goldberg Francine Golden & Marvin Schlossman The Goldfarbs Ronald Goldman Gretchen Goldsmith Dina Goldstein AnaAlicia Gonzalez Roger Gordon Liz Gottainer & David Sadkin Andrea Gozali Michael A. Green
Trudi Green Jana & Randall Greer Kimberly Grieger Annika Guy Eve Haberfield & David N. Johnson Estrella Hacker Louise Halevy & Kenneth Erlich Keith Hall Pamela Halle Jeff Haller Amy Halpern Maurice Hamilton Chris Hardeman Lorraine Hartman Brian & Karen Hatch Erica & Madison Hatchett Diane Haun Kam Hekmat Jacqueline Heller & Gabriel Kahana Sue Herbers Carla & Alan A. Herd Gary & Jane Hewer Karen Higgins Diana & Joe Hilberman Penny Hildebrand Melvin Horowitz Tamara Horwich & Gerry Lipshutz Roger & Linda Howard Kevin Huvane Michael Infiesto Jackie & Warren Jackson In Memory of Joseph Jacobs Frederic A. & Nancy Jacobus Stephen & Erica Jamieson Linda Janger Sheila Johnson-Brousseau Philip Angerhofer & Stephen A. Jones Arlene Kageyama Jessica Kaltman & Robert Reznik Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Kamine Julia Kantrowitz Victoria Kapitany Harris Katleman Owen Kato Jim Keily Rachael Kelley Stuart Kessler Sarah Kilpatrick Cynthia King Ann & Jonathan Kirsch Phyllis H. Klein Leana Kleinman & Jerald Johnson Allison Krensky The Kriloff Family The Krischer Family Charles Kristenson Barbara Kroll & Ruth Spielman Mona Lands Sheila & Norman Lane Donald LaPlante Joan Larkin Jill & Michael Lasky Mindy Lauerlevin & Ed Levin G E F F E N P L AY H O U S E 2 3
ANNUAL DONORS Alyce LaViolette Pamela Lawler Rhonda Lawrence Miriam & Eli Lebental Doreen & Bruce Leddy Cheryl & Steve Leff Johanna Leovey Jerry & Eve Lerman Suzann & Jimmy Levine Lawrin & Linda Lewin Mae & Hugh Lichtig Joanne Lindsay Hugh & Gail Linstrom Andria Litto The Taylor Family Foundation Leslie & Adam Lobel Karen & Peter Locke Fran & David Loew Renee Lonner Bryan Lourd Michelle & Tony Maiden Mactarun & Risha Malik Jain Malkin Beatrice & Leonard Mandel Phillips & Emily Marshall Tracey Martin Gina Martino Laura Maslon Phyllis & Bert Massing George Mayer Kathleen McCarthy John McClure Aimee McDaniel Kelly McDevitt Joel & Sherry McKuin Kathleen McMullin Sharon McQueen Anupama Menon Eileen & Paul Meshekow For Everett Mikelich In Memory of Gregory Millar Julie Miller-Phipps Bart Mills Leslie Mitchner Denise V. Moore Marvin & Jean Moore Dr. Gail Devlin Moradi Howard J. Morris Linda Muccitelli Bill Mullins Anita Nagler Michael & Delight Nasatir Bonnie Nash Stephen Nathan David Neilan Sherri & Arnie Nelson Dan Newman Andrew Newman Helen Nightengale Robert & Anita Nitta Steven & Lori Nolls 24 P L AY B I L L
Doreen & Donald Nortman Susan Oka Louise Olin Adrienne & Arthur Omansky Cory & Bill Oppenheim Sharon Oxborough Ron Ozur & Nancy Lahana Jorge Paganin The Palm Family Steven Papazian Sylvia & Robert Paris Edward Parker Sun Parmeshwaran Kelly & Abhilash Patel Mr. & Dr. Don Pestana Susan Petelik Carol F. Phillips Vanessa Pizzuto Darcy Pollack Jack & Jane Pollock Heather M. Porter Susan Poulson Mojgan Pourpak Paul Quaranto Gloria & Michael Rausch Kay & Bob Rehme Mike Resnick Marianne Reynolds Linda & Erin Rice Richard Rico Jason Ritter Lindy Robbins Susan & Steven Robbins Edwin Robinson Jaime & Linda Rodriguez Julie Rogers Eric Rolnick Robert Rosania Brad & Nancy Rosenberg Mary Ann Rosenfeld & Sheldon Kadish Margaret Rosenthal Brad Ross Lawrence Ross & Linda Nussbaum Laurie Ross Michael, Michon & Jackson Roth Becca Rothschild Liz Ryan Terry Ryan Nancy Sacks Noriko Salamon Susan & Wayne San Filippo Tawny & Jerry Sanders Jayne Santino Jennifer Saunders Maxine Savitz Carole & Michael Scheinberg Melanie Scher Chris T. Schmidt Marilyn Schmitter
Ian Schorvitz William Schreiber Toni & John Schulman Heidi & Mickey Schulman Linda Schwarz Michael Schiff Marc Scott Marc Seltzer Tony Sepulveda Morton & Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz Barbara Vickery & Martin Shapiro Robin Share Tom & Judy Sharp Phyllis Shephard Muriel F. Sherman Barbara Shum Elizabeth Silberlicht Nancy & Bruce Silverman Ken & Marinette Simon David B. Simons Sandra & Irwin Sitkoff Marlene Sklar & Joel Moskowitz Leah Sklar Steve Slaughter Gary Small Tricia Small Ethan & Joanna Smith Karen Smits Jon Snow Susan Solomon The Somaini Family Melvin Spears Donald Spradlin Reba St. Clair Andrea & David Stanley M Leslie Stearns Catherine Stern Ms. Sally Stevens Cydney Stewart Frances & Sy Strasberg Frances Strasberg Arthur Streeter Mr. Kayser Sume & Dr. Renee Sabshin Ann & Paul Sunderland Katherine Sung Neely & Larry Swanson Robin & David Swartz Andrea & Jay Swerdlow Saundra & Craig Szabo Susan Szambelan Moira Szilagyi Katherine Szopa
Joanne Takahashi Lance & Maureen Tan Ilisa E. Tanner Gloria Tapanes Tenenbaums & Schoenfelds The Thayer Family Allison Thomas Daniel Tongbai & Henry Clancy William Toth Robert & Tallah Tracy Barbara Tuchi Dr. Gerald D Turbow Sofia Vaisman Carole Wagner-Vallianos & Peter Vallianos Karen Van Kirk Richard Vane Robin Venturelli Paul Verdon & Michael Haight The Victor Family Steven Vlasak Todd Vonbastiaans Julia Wackenheim Albert & Helen Wade William Wallace Fern Wallach Chris Walther Andrea Wang Louise Wannier Barry Ward Marvin Wasserman Jill Waterman Andrew & Cathy Watts Teresa & Bill White Mr. & Mrs. Mark Whitman Kelly Weber Williams Donna Weiss Marsha & Steven Weiss Lisa Welch John & Sherry West Aaron Widera Norma & Nancy Wischhusen WME Albert Wolsky Karen Woo Jennifer & Randy Wooster Lisa Yen & Tom Bajoras Marian & Ted Zachary David & Christine ZeBrack Julie C. Graham, Olivia C. Zeiden & Liam D. Zeiden Will Miller & Anna Ziegler Steven Ziel Laura Zucker & Allan Miller
HAVE WE MADE AN ERROR?
To report a misspelling or omission in these listings, please contact the Development department at 310.208.6500 ext. 195
Matt Shakman
Gil Cates, Jr.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ARTISTIC
DEVELOPMENT
Daniel Ionazzi Producer
Elizabeth Kegley Director of Institutional Giving
Phyllis Schuringa Artistic Associate / Casting Director
Tracy Reich Director of Individual Giving
Amy Levinson Associate Artistic Director
Abby Weston-Mark Company Manager Olivia O’Connor Literary Manager & Dramaturg Lexy McAvinchey Artistic Assistant Carly Plasha Assistant to the Artistic Director
PRODUCTION Isaac Katzanek Production Manager
Jill Barnes Artistic & Production Administrator J. Jason Daunter Production Supervisor Evan Friedman Technical Director Patty Squibb Assistant Technical Director Alexandre Norkus Gil Cates Theater Stage Supervisor Tyler Brogla Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater Stage Supervisor Rick Gilles Properties Master Audrey Lastar Costume Supervisor Sarah Lindsley Wardrobe Supervisor Julie Cowger Assistant Lighting Supervisor
Sarah Weinberg Director of Development
Mark San Filippo Director of Donor Stewardship Christine Drew Benjamin Director of Donor Engagement Jessica Brusilow Rollins Grant Writing Consultant Allie Reasol Development Assistant
EDUCATION
Brian Allman Interim Director of Education & Community Engagement Rudy King Manager of Community Engagement Paloma Nozicka Education Associate Sean Michael Boozer, DeJuan Christopher Conner, Lyssa Deehan, Ramy El-Etreby, Tara Ricasa, Maddy Wagner Teaching Artists
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Patrick Brown Director of Marketing
Zenon Dmytryk Director of Communications Karen Gutierrez Director of Advertising & Audience Development Brian Dunning Director of Content & Creative
James Grabowski House Sound Supervisor
Zack Hamra Associate Director of Audience Services & Ticketing
Jake Delgado Associate House Sound Supervisor
Kevin O’Brien Marketing Manager
ADMINISTRATION Behnaz Ataee Chief Financial Officer
Berenice Campos Director of Human Resources Peter Banachowski Accounting Manager Kimberly Holloway Payroll Specialist Youra Kim Junior Accountant Clay Dzygun Office Coordinator Marguerite Harris Receptionist
Isaak Berliner Social Media & Communications Manager Janice Bernal Box Office Manager Alyssa Tyson Box Office Manager Vaneh Assadourian Assistant Box Office Manager & House Seat Manager
Brianna Barrett, Jacob Feller, Sean James, Alan Kistler, Lauren Machain, Sara Turken, Dennis Woullard Box Office Staff
FRONT OF HOUSE
Jeni Pearsons Director of Operations Mel Yonzon Front of House Manager Amy Farkas Lead Concierge Rob Mersola Event Manager Adam Carr Hospitality Captain Sarah Chute, Anya Pryjmak, Emir Yonzon Part Time House Managers Sam Baker, Ron Burch, Sigourney Chin, Savanna Chute, Ki Duncan, Elizabeth Fritsch, Tony Jose Garcia, Joe Maldonado, Simon Martin, Adam Simers, Kari Solum Guest Services Brynn Allen, Lulu Altabbakh, Anya Banerjee, Cristiana Barbatelli Hannah Battersby, Blaire Battle, Haley Bronzino, Marlon Campos, Enzo De Cunto, Cecily Dowd, Hector Eribez, Sydney Fleischman, Charlene Herrella, Alejandro Hernandez, Aja Hinds, Keo Lacebol, Alia Maboob, Meredith McClure, Clayton McInerney, Austin Merrill, Ana Nguyen, Autumn Oymade, Elena Scaring-Peene, Angel Tolentino, Areaney Tolentino, Steven Vargas, Ben Wendel, Lanae Wilks Ushers
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Karim Bouzzit Cloud System Administrator Dream Warrior Group System Administrator
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
Art Guillen Facilities Manager Martin Ayala, Felipe Ayala Building Maintenance Mario Santillan-Perez Custodial Juan Carlos Umaña, Camerina Martinez Cleaning Custodial
Geffen Playhouse is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. This project was also funded in part by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles. Geffen Playhouse, a not-for-profit theater company, is proudly affiliated with the University of California at Los Angeles. G E F F E N P L AY H O U S E 2 5