Mindplay Program

GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS THEATER

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MATT SHAKMAN

Geffen Playhouse has a long and rich history with magic. We believe it is an incredibly theatrical art form and therefore lives beau tifully in our intimate Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. In continuing this tradition, we are so pleased to welcome Vinny DePonto, who brings us something entirely different—magic rooted in mentalism. After a delayed season, it is particularly sweet to finally have him here opening the ASK season in style. He is sure to amaze as he sets his mind to read ing yours, uncovering surprises for even the deepest of skeptics.

Partnering with playwright Josh Koenigsberg, Vinny tells a story of the fragility and expan siveness of the human mind. Under the deft direction of Andrew Neisler and a design team that has created a world to match Vinny’s wild

imagination, Mindplay exists in a hybrid state: part play, part magic show, all mind-boggling entertainment. There is something for every one to enjoy and ruminate on as you leave the theater in a state of wonder.

A warm thank you to Eva Price and her team at Maximum Entertainment Productions for their co-producing partnership. And most of all, thank you. A show like this is never complete until the audience arrives. Your participation brings the room to life in a way that nothing else can. Enjoy the show.

Matt Shakman Artistic Director

PHOTO BY JEFF LORCH

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CATES, JR.

PHOTO BY JEFF LORCH

Welcome to the Geffen Playhouse 2022/2023 Season and the world premiere of Mindplay. In the spirit of the Geffen’s long tradition of magic, we’re thrilled to have this entirely new theatrical event from mentalist Vinny DePonto and playwright Josh Koenigsberg open our Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater lineup!

With the launch of this season, we continue to forge new creative paths in our evolution as a home for the performing arts in Los Angeles. Ensuring the Geffen can continue to thrive while reinforcing our ability to weather any storm is critical to our future. That is why we recently launched the Geffen Playhouse Fund for the Future, a $25 million endowment that will support our general operations for decades to come. These monies will ensure Geffen Playhouse can continue to produce engaging classic and contem porary plays, provocative world premiere produc tions, and share our vital education and community engagement programs. In addition, the endowment will support our ongoing investment in nurturing and empowering the next generation of theatermakers.

If you would like to be a part of sustaining the performing arts for future generations, we invite you to consider making a donation to the Fund for the Future campaign. For more information, please contact Sarah Weinberg, Director of Development, at 310.208.6500 or sarahw@geffenplayhouse.org.

We are so happy to have you here. Enjoy the show!

Gil Cates, Jr. Executive Director

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Adi Greenberg CHAIR

Victoria Alonso Beth Behrs

Dr. Gene D. Block

Gil Cates, Jr. Executive Director

Mary Ann Cloyd Vice Chair

Merle Dandridge Dr. Brad Edgerton

Bonnie E. Eskenazi Mark Fleischer

Susan Nahley Fleishman Patricia L. Glaser

Martha Henderson Chair Emeritus Loretta Everett Kaufman Carla Malden Brian Mann Tiffany Mayberry Mary Osako

Danny Passman Holly Rice Pamela Robinson Chair Emeritus Linda Bernstein Rubin

Matt Shakman Artistic Director Richard Sherman Cynthia P. Stafford Howard Tenenbaum Chair Emeritus Marc Weinstock

FOUNDING TRUSTEES

Harold A. Brown

Kirsten Combs

Robert A. Daly

David Geffen

Herbert M. Gelfand Chair Emeritus

Quincy Jones

Jeffrey Katzenberg Glorya Kaufman

Frank G. Mancuso Chair Emeritus

Ron Meyer Jerry Moss

Bruce M. Ramer

Founding Chair

Victoria Mann Simms Andy Spahn Steven Spielberg Steve Tisch

Dr. Charles E. Young Chair Emeritus

IN MEMORIAM

Gilbert Cates

Founder

Marcia Israel-Curley Audrey Skirball Kenis Charles Kenis Karl Malden Ginny Mancini Jerry Perenchio Edie Wasserman Lew Wasserman

LEGAL COUNSEL Nikki Kerman Venable LLP

ADVISORY BOARD

John Sonego Chair

Stephanie Carson Lori Collins Ellyce R. Cooper Debra Davis

Giovanna Desselle Brenda Garcia Ann Gianopulos Priscila Giraldo Kirsten Hansen Eric Heer Laura Kennedy Wendy Kurtzman John McCrite Audrey Povar Eric Rollins Scott Sandler Allen Shay Cela Devine Sutton Miranda Tollman Rebecca Vail Laurie Ziegler

ART LIVES HERE

As part of Geffen Playhouse’s Art Lives Here project, four Los Angeles artists have been invited to create original art works to be displayed in our lobby welcoming audiences during our 2022/2023 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 #5 Portal ARTIST Flora Kao ON DISPLAY Sep. 13 – Dec. 18, 2022

Portal consists of a large-scale origami lotus, the Buddhist color of enlightenment. In Taiwan’s Buddhist tradition, grieving family members fold 108 origami lotus blossoms each week for seven weeks. Each week, the 108 paper lotuses are ceremonial ly burned until the cremation of the lotus covered-body on the forty-ninth day. Forced to mourn the death of my grandparents from afar during COVID-19, I was struck by the powerful symbol of the ritual burning of

origami lotus, as a portal for the dead to the afterlife, and as a portal for those mourn ing to solace. The death of a loved one is a shattering of life as we know it. As Arund hati Roy writes, “pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine their world anew... It is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next.” Through meditative labor, this fragile paper bloom becomes a symbol of hope and rebirth in the face of loss.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Working in installation, painting, photogra phy, and video, artist Flora Kao explores the poetics of human relationship with environ ment. Examining the psychological potential of constructed space, Kao transforms every day structures into systems of beauty. Kao examines our impulse to order and preserve in the face of the unknown and uncontrolla ble. In mapping presence and absence, Kao meditates on memory, mortality, displace ment, and decay. Hovering between restraint and collapse, Kao’s work anchors moments of intense emotion through repeated action. Kao’s art responds to our contemporary dislocation from environment. In construct ing moments of poetic beauty, Kao chal lenges the rote experience of space through unexpected sensory encounters with the organic and handmade.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT VISIT GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.ORG/ARTLIVESHERE

THE MIND IS A FUNNY PLACE

NOTE FROM VINNY DEPONTO

The mind is a funny place. And it is. A place, that is.

There is this technique called the “memory palace” that can be used to help us store a lot of things inside of our minds. You picture places that look like places you’ve been, where you can tuck away memories, stories, ideas, and many other things. You can use that mental image as sort of a map to hide and retrieve these things.

The Greek poet Simonides created this technique. One evening, moments after leaving a party, he watched the building he’d just exited collapse, crushing everyone inside beyond recognition. He was later able to recall the layout of the entire room and in doing so, the exact location of each person, helping families locate their lost loved ones. Through this tragedy, he discovered that by imagining a physical space, he could carefully arrange images inside of it and remember enormous amounts of information. Also, he probably never went to another party again.

These palaces can be old like that bowling alley you used to go to as a kid. Or they can be sprawling and full of cat hair like your Aunt’s house. Or they can be cozy like your childhood bedroom. Or they can be tidy like your Mom’s kitchen. Someone once stuffed 70,000 digits of pi in their pantry. That’s a lotta pi.

Our memories are pillars on which we base our reality. They help us navigate the world—but sometimes we get stuck inside them. I have many palaces in my head; this is but one of them. Let’s party.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN BETTMAN

MINDPLAY

CREATED & PERFORMED BY VINNY DEPONTO

WRITTEN BY

VINNY DEPONTO & JOSH KOENIGSBERG

DIRECTED BY ANDREW NEISLER

PRODUCED WITH EVA PRICE

SCENIC DESIGNER SIBYL WICKERSHEIMER

LIGHTING DESIGNER PABLO SANTIAGO

COSTUME DESIGN CONSULTANTS AUDREY LASTAR SARAH LINDSLEY

DRAMATURG AMY LEVINSON

SOUND DESIGNER EVERETT ELTON BRADMAN

CREATIVE CONSULTANT ENRICO DE LA VEGA

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER JULIE ANN RENFRO

The Stage Manager employed in this production is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

OPENING NIGHT

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

OPENING NIGHT SPONSORS

RUNNING TIME

80 minutes

There will be no intermission.

PLEASE NOTE

There is no photography or filming of any kind allowed in the theater.

Please turn off all electronic devices, including cell phones. Thank you!

Major support for this world premiere production provided by the Edgerton Foundation New Play Production Fund.

VINNY D e PONTO (he/him) Creator, Playwright & Performer

The work of theatre-maker and mentalist Vinny DePonto uses a combination of psychological tricks, visual art, and immersive storytelling. His off-Broadway show Charlatan was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for “Unique Theatrical Experience.” He is also a member of the Bessie Award–winning theatre group Third Rail Projects. His solo work has been presented by Ars Nova, American Con servatory Theater, American Repertory Theater at Harvard, and The Orchard Project. In addition to his live perfor mances, DePonto’s consulting work was featured in the most recent production of Angels in America on Broadway, in Lincoln Center’s Ghostlight, and in hit television shows on the Discovery Channel, NBC, and Netflix. He enjoys burrata, colorful socks, and your deep, dark secrets. He currently lives in upstate New York. @VinnyDePonto

JOSH KOENIGSBERG (he/him) Playwright

Josh Koenigsberg is a Drama Desk–nominated playwright and screenwriter. His work has been produced at Ars Nova, Atlantic Theater Company, The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Naked Angels, The Old Vic, Primary Stages, The Public Theater, Second Stage Theater, SPACE on Ryder Farm, Theatre Row, Williamstown Theater Festival, The 24 Hour Plays/Musicals, and more. Josh’s plays include Al’s Business Cards, Dance Lessons, The Mnemonist of Dutchess County—all published by Samuel French—as well as Herman Kline’s Midlife Crisis, The Rise and Fall of Marcus Monroe, Charlatan starring award-win ning mentalist Vinny DePonto, and VROOM VROOM, which he adapted and directed as an Audible Original series. Josh has written screenplays for Disney, Hulu, Lionsgate, Netflix, and Paramount, among others. TV/ Film credits include the Emmy–winning series Orange Is the New Black (Netflix/Lionsgate), High Fidelity (Hulu/ABC Signa ture), and Secret Headquarters (Paramount/Jerry Bruckheimer Films). Josh is currently writing the film adaptation of the popular videogame Mega Man for Netflix and Chernin Entertainment. His burrito recipe “Josh’s Famous Burritos” is published by The New York Times

ANDREW NEISLER (he/him) Director

Andrew Neisler is a Geor gia-raised, New York-based theatre maker, director, and producer with a passion for joy-forward, laughter-filled, queer-affirming art, as well as a deepening interest in ecological theatre that works to restore our connection with the Earth. Select directing credits include the immer sive nightclub show Another Rose for Virgin Voyages, the critically acclaimed musical Folk Wandering which he also co-authored with playwright Jaclyn Backhaus (Pipeline Theatre Company), the world premiere of César Alvarez’s The Elementary Spacetime Show (Philadelphia’s FringeArts Cu rated Series), New York Times Critic’s Pick Clown Bar (The Box), and Drama Desk–nom inated Charlatan (Ars Nova). He has developed new projects with The Public Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, Ars Nova, Playwrights Horizons, HERE Arts Center, Primary Stages, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, NYU, University of the Arts, Colgate University, Williams College, and more. He is a co-Founder and Creative Director of the arts incubation company Fresh Ground Pepper (www.fgpnyc.com), where he

has cultivated over 750 artists in a series of development opportunities, residencies, and retreats over the past 12 years. He is currently serving as the Interim Associate Artistic Director at Ars Nova. www.andrew-neisler.com

EVA PRICE (she/her) Producer

Eva Price is an Olivier, Emmy, and Tony award-winner and ACLU Honoree. Broadway: & Juliet; Jagged Little Pill (2 Tony Awards); Oklahoma! (Best Musical Revival); Mr. Saturday Night; Tina: The Tina Turner Musical; What the Constitution Means to Me; Angels in Amer ica (Best Play Revival); Dear Evan Hansen (Best Musical); On Your Feet!; Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on Broadway!; Peter and the Starcatcher (5 Tony Awards); Colin Quinn

Long Story Short (directed by Jerry Seinfeld); Annie; The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino; Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking; The Addams Family; as well as several solo shows and concerts starring The Temptations & the Four Tops; Kathy Griffin; Lewis Black; and Hershey Felder. Off-Broad way and touring: Titanique (off-Broadway world pre miere); Sanctuary City; Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical; Found; The Lion; Small Mouth Sounds; The Hip Hop Nut cracker (Emmy Award for PBS Special); The Magic School Bus Live!; and Ella.

SIBYL WICKERSHEIMER Scenic Designer

Sibyl’s interests span design for live performance, installations, exhibitions, and design for mental health care initiatives. Her foundation as a theatrical set designer led Sibyl to co-au thor the book Scene Shift: U.S. Set Designers in Conversation with scenographer Maureen Weiss, published by Routledge/ Taylor & Francis in August of 2022. Sibyl has designed for theatrical stages across the country, including A.C.T., Theatre for a New Audience, Steppenwolf Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Looking glass Theatre Company, Seattle Rep, Portland Center Stage, and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. In the L.A. area, she has designed at Kirk Douglas Theatre, Geffen Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, The Industry, Circle X Theatre Co., A Noise Within, The Actors’ Gang, and many more. Unique projects have included art installations in SoCal art galleries, Eric Idle’s What About Dick? (Orpheum/Netflix), and the stage for the daily giant dinosaur puppet performances at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. Sibyl is also an Associate Professor at USC in the School of Dramatic Arts.

PABLO SANTIAGO (he/him) Lighting Designer

Pablo Santiago is a Mexican American lighting designer. Born in Chiapas, Mexico, Pablo moved to the United States as a teenager and studied film making at University of Califor nia, San Diego. After spending

fifteen years working on major motion pictures, Pablo returned to school to earn his M.F.A. in Theatrical Lighting Design from UCLA. He is the winner of the Richard E. Sherwood Award and Stage Raw Award. His most recent work was seen at LA Opera on the West Coast premiere of Omar. Pablo is proud to have long standing collaborations with many great artists incuding James Darrah (Breaking the Waves), Ellen Reid (Pulitzer Prize winner p r i s m), José Luis Valenzuela (Des tiny of Desire and Macbeth), Missy Mazzoli (Proving Up), Bill Rauch (Mother Road), Patricia McGregor (Skeleton Crew, Place, and Good Grief), Ted Hearne (Place), Adam Rigg (The Lord of Cries), and Yuval Sharon (War of the Worlds and Die Walküre). Pablo has designed for companies such as Santa Fe Opera, Geffen Playhouse, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Some of the amazing venues he has worked at include Theatro Municipal São Paulo, Kennedy Center, BAM Harvey Theater, Goodman Theatre, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and Arena Stage in DC.

EVERETT ELTON BRADMAN (he/him)

Sound Designer

Everett Elton Bradman’s 2021-2022 composer/sound designer credits include world premieres (Lear at Cal Shakes), West Coast premieres (TRAYF at Geffen Playhouse), audio dramas (Aurora Theater Com pany’s The Bluest Eye), student productions (UC Riverside’s Red Oleanders), Zoom theater (Actors Theatre’s Romeo & Ju

liet: Louisville 2020), podcasts (Z Space/Word for Word’s Retablos trilogy), filmed theater (San Francisco Playhouse’s [hieroglyph]), hybrid visual/au dio (New Conservatory Theatre Center’s Interlude), and outdoor performances (Oakland Theater Project’s The Waste Land). Oth er recent adventures include teaching a sound design class and co-writing a musical for Bay Area Children’s Theatre and The Rose Theater in Oma ha, Nebraska. Stop by and say hello at eltonsounds.com!

AUDREY LASTAR

Costume Design Consultant

Audrey Lastar, a costume cre ative, hails from San Diego and is currently head of costumes at the Geffen Playhouse. She has been a member of the Geffen for five years and has worked on several shows including Myste rious Circumstances and Skin tight, to name a few. Previously she was head of wardrobe for national tours including Cabaret and Finding Neverland. Other credits around the country in clude time at Arizona Broadway Theater (AZ), Arizona Theatre Company (AZ), Atlas Perform ing Arts Center (DC), Adventure Theatre MTC (MD), Imagination Stage (MD), and many others. She is thrilled to be part of this team and is thankful for her crew and her dog Lady for all her love and support.

SARAH LINDSLEY (she/her)

Costume Design Consultant

Sarah Lindsley is the Cos tume Shop Supervisor for the Geffen Playhouse. Previously, her Geffen credits include:

Head of Wardrobe for Power Of Sail, Wardrobe on Mys terious Circumstances, and Wardrobe/Wigs for Key Largo and Black Super Hero Magic Mama. She was also Head of Wigs/Assistant Costumes for the international tour of Finding Neverland: The Musical, Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University, and costume designed three of their operas: Le nozze di Figa ro, Die Fledermaus, and The Pirates of Penzance. During the pandemic, Sarah was commissioned by Pepperdine to illustrate the virtual operatic production of Cendrillon. You can see Sarah’s stitching work in American Horror Story: Roa noke, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Universal Studios Hollywood, Kanye West’s Saint Pablo Tour, Disney Channel, and more. She would like to thank her family and friends for being a constant well of in spiration, and a special thanks to her teammate, Audrey, for her continued support.

ENRICO DE LA VEGA (he/him) Creative Consultant

Creator, consultant, produc er, designer, and director of magical effects and illusions for television, film, and live per formances. From the stages of Coachella to the theaters of Las Vegas, from Netflix originals to the television specials of David Blaine; magicians, performers and productions across the globe have sought to have Enri co on their creative team.

AMY LEVINSON (she/her) Dramaturg

Amy is the Associate Artistic Director at the Geffen Play house. During her tenure at the Geffen, she has spearhead ed numerous programs for commissioning and developing new plays. Dramaturgy credits include the commissions and world premieres of Donald Margulies’ Time Stands Still and Coney Island Christmas, Jane Anderson’s The Quality of Life and The Escort, Amanda Peet’s Our Very Own Carlin Mc Cullough, and Michael Mitnick’s Mysterious Circumstances

Other dramaturgy credits in clude Actually, Invisible Tango, Extraordinary Chambers, Build, Equivocation, Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress, Guards at the Taj, and Geffen Stayhouse virtual shows including Helder Guimarães’ The Present and The Future, and David Kwong’s Inside the Box. She holds an M.F.A. in Dramaturgy from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

JULIE ANN RENFRO (she/her) Production Stage Manager

Julie is grateful to return to the Geffen for Mindplay! Previ ous Geffen credits include: A Wicked Soul in Cherry Hill, The Future, Revenge Song, Witch, Invisible Tango, The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki Corona, Sell/Buy/Date, Letters from a Nut, and The Legend of Georgia McBride. Additional theatre credits: Los Angeles Opera, South Coast Repertory, McCoy Rigby Entertainment, Pasadena Playhouse, Lythgoe Family Productions, Shake

speare Orange County, Sydney Independent Theatre Company, Ojai Playwrights Conference, Long Beach Shakespeare Company, and the 2018 North American West Coast tour of A Night with Janis Joplin. Some favorite events include West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, Warner Bros. International Television Gala, VidCon, and Made in America Festival. Julie is from Orange County, CA where she received her B.A. from Vanguard University, and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. LYBNC!

Theatre magazine and “Best Small Theatre” by Los Angeles magazine. Matt 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 direct ed all episodes of WandaVision (Emmy nominations for Direc tion and Limited Series, DGA nomination), a Marvel Studios event series for Disney+ star ring Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen. Matt recently produced and directed The Consultant for Amazon starring Chris toph Waltz and Welcome to Chippendales for Hulu starring Kumail Nanjiani, Murray Bart lett, and Annaleigh Ashford. He is currently directing Fantastic Four for Marvel Studios.

Artistic Director

Matt Shakman is Artistic Director of Geffen Playhouse. Matt last helmed Mysterious Circumstances for the Geffen in 2019 and prior to joining as Artistic Director in 2017, Shak man directed three acclaimed productions at the Playhouse: the West Coast premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Good People (2012), the world pre miere 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

GIL CATES, JR. Executive Director

Gil Cates, Jr. is Executive Director of Geffen Playhouse. In this role, he is responsible for managing the Geffen’s day-to-day operations; devel oping new, ongoing theater partnerships and leading its mission to inform, entertain and inspire diverse audienc es with live theater of the highest caliber. Prior to being named Executive Director in

2015, Cates served as Geffen Playhouse Board Vice Chair man 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 Gef fen 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 Show time. 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 Matt LeBlanc. He is currently directing a documentary short chronicling the journey of one of the first refugee families to flee Ukraine and arrive in the U.S. after escaping the Russian invasion, set for release in 2023. He studied at the National Theatre Institute in Waterford, Connecticut, and holds a B.F.A. in Drama from Syracuse University.

MATT SHAKMAN

BEHNAZ ATAEE

Chief Financial Officer

Behnaz “Nazy” Ataee is Chief Financial Officer of Geffen Playhouse. In this role, she has oversight responsibility

for accounting functions of the theater, including operating and capital budgets. In addition, she supports all IT and HR activ ities. Behnaz was named Chief Financial Officer in 2015 after serving as General Manager since 2002. She first joined Geffen Playhouse in 1999. Previ ously, Ataee worked as a senior financial analyst for Ultratech Inc., an international semicon ductor company based in San Jose. Prior to Ultratech, she was an auditor for Van Sloten

CPA, after holding the position of Director of Accounting at FABS Management, where she was responsible for overseeing the finances of more than 25 non-profit organizations. As a financial professional with more than 30 years’ experience in for-profit and non-profit financial management and au diting, Ataee began her career in the Bay Area as a partner in a small tech startup. She holds a master’s degree from Pepper dine University.

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:

LUIS ALFARO RACHEL BONDS COLMAN DOMINGO MICHAEL GOLAMCO MEGHAN KENNEDY MATTHEW LÓPEZ

MARTYNA MAJOK CHELSEA MARCANTEL QUI NGUYEN STACY OSEI-KUFFOUR JIEHAE PARK JOHN POLLONO

ZOE SARNAK ROBERT SCHENKKAN JEN SILVERMAN DAVID WIENER CRAIG WRIGHT LAUREN YEE

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.

We are proud to have the following artists in The Writers’ Room 2021/2022:

VIVIAN BARNES

LISA SANAYE DRING WESTON GAYLORD

ALEXANDRA KALINOWSKI, TOVA KATZ, & KATIE LINDSAY

NICHOLAS PILAPIL MICHAEL SHAYAN

The Writers’ Room is made possible through the generous support of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and Jerry and Terri Kohl. For more information, please visit geffenplayhouse.org/thewritersroom.

GEFFEN AT A GLANCEACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FOR

Assistant Scenic Designers

Jesus Hurtado, Cindy Lin

Associate Sound Designer Stephanie Lynn Yackovetsky

Production Assistant Gabrielle Bruno

Lighting Programmer Nicole Jaja

Light Board Operator

Benjamin Wendel

Light Board Operator Swing Erica Ammerman

Sound Board Operator Michael Svolos

Lead Carpenter Philip Rossi

Carpenters

Austin Bosley, James Chew, Chris Cowan, Dave Foubert, Shadow LaValley, Claudia Peterson, Lila Schmitz, James Stanley, Eiden Weissblum

Deck Crew

Austin Bosley, Stephanie Castro, Eiden Weissblum

Properties Artisans

Christopher R. Baab, Sigourney Chin, Danny Dolan Electricians

Erica Ammerman, Shannon Barondeau, Ezra Fisher, Miri Henerson, Nicole Jaja, Ezra Muthiah, Keannak Parvaz, Keanu Ross-Cabrera, James Tatsch

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Scenery Provided By Pfinix Creative Group

Rigging & Drapery Provided By Rose Brand

Lighting Equipment Provided By Kinetic Lighting

Sound Equipment Provided By Jon Sound Inc., DnB Design

SPECIAL THANKS

Production Photographer Jeff Lorch

Media Filming Ramon Garcia Design + Art Direction Base Design Photography Justin Bettman

UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television Scene, Prop, Sound, and Costume Shops; London Cleaners; Mom & Dad DePonto; Elizabeth DeBlasi; Matt Cooper; Alex Harris; Geoff Kanick; Justin Willman; Derren Brown; Joshua Jay; Michael Weber; Zach Morris; Marc Kerstein; Nonnie & Poppie

VINNY D e PONTO WOULD LIKE TO THANK:

Mom & Dad DePonto, Elizabeth DeBlasi, Matt Cooper, Alex Harris, Geoff Kanick, Justin Willman, Derren Brown, Joshua Jay, Michael Weber, Zach Morris, Marc Kerstein, Nonnie & Poppie

CONTACT

Geffen Playhouse

10886 Le Conte Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90024

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES

310.208.6500

Monday – Friday, 10:00am – 6:00pm

AUDIENCE SERVICES

310.208.2028

Tuesday – Sunday, 12:00pm – 6:00pm

Please visit geffenplayhouse.org for hours, parking and more information.

BOX OFFICE WINDOW

Tuesday — Sunday, 12:00pm – 6:00pm, as well as on performance days up until 15 minutes after curtain.

Please note: the box office window is unable to process exchanges or future sales one hour prior to curtain time on performance days.

ACCESSIBILTY

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, visit geffenplayhouse.org/access or call Audience Services.

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. Some productions or circumstances may not allow for late or return seating. To minimize disturbances 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.

NO PHOTOGRAPHY

There is no photography or filming of any kind allowed in the theater. Please turn off all electronic devices, including cell phones.

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 Stage Manager employed in this production is a member 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 scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT theaters are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE.

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.

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 determined and ambitious youth and adults coming from historically excluded communities. We invite all Angelenos to come home here. When you support our education and community engagement programs, you create a world of greater understanding, increased expression, and deeper compassion while enjoying your home away from home at this historic playhouse.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.ORG/EDUCATION

PHOTO BY JEFF LORCH

I’ve been working tirelessly to raise awareness about diabetes and its contributions to kidney disease, heart disease and more. It’s plagued my family for generations.

I am thrilled that UCLA Health is partnering with the Geffen because there is nothing like the arts to help address situations that need our attention, like health and wellness. The performing arts, like dance and theater, are transformative. I applaud UCLA Health and the Geffen Playhouse for coming together to help people.

“

—DEBBIE ALLEN

Award-winning actress, dancer, choreographer, director, producer, and Geffen Playhouse alum

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 Partner’s Circle level and higher for gifts made between August 1, 2021, and September 30, 2022.

Geffen Playhouse Board of Directors

Geffen Playhouse Founding Trustees

Geffen Playhouse Advisory Board * Backstage at the Geffen Supporters

In appreciation, Annual Fund donors enjoy a host of special benefits including house seats, compli mentary drinks, receptions, and much more.

For more information, please call Tracy Reich at 310.208.6500 ext. 113.

PREMIERE CIRCLE

$100,000+

Anonymous (3)

Kevin† & Claudia Bright*

California Arts Council

City National Bank*

Mary Ann Cloyd†

Edgerton Foundation

Louise & Dr. Brad Edgerton†*

David Geffen^ Foundation

The Adi† & Jerry Greenberg Foundation*

Martha Henderson†

Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg^

Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg Fund for Arts Education at the Geffen Playhouse

Loretta Everett Kaufman† & Victor Kaufman*

Elizabeth & David Kerman

Jerry & Terri Kohl

Linda Bernstein Rubin & Tony Rubin†*

Shubert Foundation

Jodi & Howard Tenenbaum†*

UCLA UCLA Health*

INNOVATOR CIRCLE

$50,000 – $99,999

John McCrite§ & Juan Lopez

Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation

The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation

The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation

Holly Rice† & Vince Gilligan* Matt Shakman† & Maggie Malone* Shel & Cynthia Stone

Kevyn Wynn†

The Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation*

ARTISTIC CIRCLE

$25,000 – $49,999

Anonymous (3)

Victoria Alonso†* City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs

Merle Dandridge†*

The Walt Disney Company* State of California, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development

Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer & Melvin Keefer

Carol & Paul Frimmer

Patty Glaser† & Sam Mudie* Cindy & Alan Horn* Marcia Israel-Curley Foundation

Erich and Della Koenig Foundation

Donna McKenna & Flynn Chernos

Paramount Pictures* Judith & Bruce Stern

PRODUCER’S CIRCLE

$10,000 – $24,999

Eva Aaronson

In Memory of Bucky Hazan*

Katie McGrath & J.J. Abrams*

Pat & Sandy Adams Cathy & Shel Bachrach*

Beth Behrs† & Michael Gladis

The Berlanti Family Foundation*

The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation

Mrs. Carol K. Block & Chancellor Gene D. Block†* Eileen & Harold Brown^

Capital Group Companies

Marcy Carsey*

Ellyce R. Cooper & Barry Cohen / Sidley Austin LLP§* Ms. Carole B. Sager & Mr. Robert A. Daly^ Dr. & Mrs. Paul Eisenberg* Bonnie E. Eskenazi†* Eric Flamholtz & Yvonne Randle Susan & Mark Fleischer†*

Susan Nahley Fleishman†*

Manuela & James Goren*

Marcy & Edgar Gross*

Bryan Hawkins

In Memory of Morris A. Hazan

Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation*

ICM Partners

Peggy Jones & Parise Livanos* David & Martha Kadue Glorya Kaufman^

Julie & David Kavner

Laura Kennedy§*

Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman, Inc.

Lyn & Norman Lear*

Carla Malden & Norman Beil†*

Fay & Frank Mancuso^

Brian & Renee Mann†

Tiffany Mayberry†

U.S. Bank Foundation

Ron Meyer^

Tina & Jerry Moss / The Moss Foundation†*

Mary Osako†

Carol & Bill Ouchi

Soundis & Danny Passman†

Cheryl Petersen & Roger Lustberg

Madeline & Bruce Ramer^

Judith Reichman, M.D.

Pamela Robinson Hollander & Robert Hollander†

Thomas L. Safran

Carol ‘Jackie’ & Charles Schwartz Jessica & Jerry Seinfeld* Richard & Barbara Sherman†* Marcia & Robert Shuwarger

The Simms/Mann Family Foundation^

Sitrick Group, LLC

Sony Pictures Entertainment* Kate Capshaw & Steven Spielberg^ Cynthia P. Stafford†

Deborah Tavlin

Steve Tisch†*

Miranda & Brett Tollman§*

Joanne & Ken Weinman*

Aurora & Marc Weinstock† Ken Willner & Jim Stine

PLAYWRIGHT’S CIRCLE

$5,000 – $9,999

Anonymous

Jehan F. Agrama & Dwora Fried Mellody Hobson / Ariel Investments, LLC*

Audi of America*

Aversa Foundation David Bartman*

Judith & Thomas Beckmen Madelyn Bennett & Eric Gibson

Jana Bezdek*

VJ Boyd

Mara W. Breech Foundation

Robert Brook & Jacqueline Kosecoff

Glenn & Lynn Cardoso

Comcast NBCUniversal*

Robin Dearden & Bryan Cranston

In Loving Memory of Ed Cypert* Mary Jo & Caleb Deschanel Susan & Jonathan Dolgen* Lauren Shuler Donner*

Robyn Field & Anthony O’Carroll

Mimi & Marvin Freedman

Sonia & Robert Freedman and Family Steve Freedman & Helen Sideris

Bob & Diana Friedman Larry Gagosian*

Herbert M.^ & Beverly J. Gelfand* Brian Ghodsian

Ann§ & Jim Gianopulos* Kiki & David Gindler

The Waterman Family Foundation Sue & Steve Glusker*

MaryAnn & Irwin Gold* Dr. Irene Goldenberg

In Honor of Richard Sherman From Ken & Lori Goldman

Alexander & Katie & Grey Grosvenor Noble & Jacquelynn Hansen Mellody Hobson*

Sir Elton John & David Furnish* Barbara & Ronnie Kahn Mannon Kaplan

Kathleen Kennedy & Frank Marshall* Willette & Manny Klausner* Marla & Daniel Klein** Wendy Kurtzman§* David Kwong*

Sherry Lansing Foundation* Karen & Walter Loewenstern Jane & Rand Marlis Stewart Mayeda Merle & Jerry Measer

Robin Mitchel & Kathleen Marshall Rio & Frank Morse

Benedicta & Geoffry Oblath

Laurie MacDonald & Walter Parkes* Shana & Don Passman* Allison & Birk Rawlings

The Michael Schwab Family* Gil Schwartz Foundation 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 Marjorie Walsh Michael E. Walsh*

Leslie White & Al Limon

Susan & Dan White

Rita Wilson & Tom Hanks* Karen & Rick Wolfen

DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE

$3,000 – $4,999

Janis Adams & John Lyons Robert E. & Maria H. Barron G2 Graphic Service, Inc.

Patricia & Mark Benjamin Shelly & Libby Bergen

Susan Bloch-Kay & Stephen Kay Philip Blumenshine

Noora Raj Brown Marissa Caudill & David Merrill

Adam & Lin Cheyer Don Dorsey Anne Dougherty* Jacki & Murray Drechsler Lawrence N. Field Lynn T. Franklin Jennifer von Schneidau Karney Guren Family Foundation Deidre Hall

Michael Hayden Gallery* Samantha & Eric Heer§* Alan & Michelle Heilpern Stephen Sass & Steven Hochstadt Jerry Katell* Nancy Koven Cathleen Fitzpatrick Linder Renee & Meyer Luskin Martha Messineo

Michael R. Oppenheim

Carolyn A. Poer & John M. Poer Joyce & Harvey Reichard Neil Selman

Jerome & Joan Snyder* Zackery Alexzander Stephens Eric Strom & Eileen Goodis

Susan & Peter Van Haften Peter & Denise Walsh Julie & Peter Weil

In Loving Memory of Herman Ziegler

CREATOR’S CIRCLE

$1,500 – $2,999

Anonymous (4)

Miriam Aguiar

Dr. & Mrs. Bruce Allen Henry Alpert

AnonyMoose Foundation Margaret Campbell Arvey Edward Avedis*

Basch Family Foundation Paula & Bruce Bennett

Yvette Bergeron & Dean Bailey Wendy & John Bergquist Susan J. Booth & Christopher Wadden Dr. Wallace P. Brithinee Janet & Mark Brown

Katherine Brown & Rene Mendoza

Diana Buckhantz and the Vladimir and Araxia Buckhantz Foundation

Jay Butterfield & Susan Ewert

Lexy & John Carroll

Kasey Carrothers

Stephanie§ & Jonathan Carson

Steven Cerasale & Mary Katherine Cocharo Caroline Choi*

The Christal Family

Cindy Clark

Larry Coben

Linda & John Coleman

Lori & Jerry Collins§*

Tim Curtis & Shandon Youngclaus Debra Davis§

Phil Davis

Pam Dawber & Mark Harmon

Giovanna Desselle§

Dr. & Mrs. William M. Duxler

David & Joyce Evans

Lisa Field, Field Family Foundation

Anita Dann Friedman & Harvey Friedman

Brenda Garcia§

Priscila Giraldo§*

The Glass Family

Jill Grigsby & Rett Bull

Jack Grossbart & Marc Schwartz

Penny Grosz & Eugene Korney

The Guerin Foundation

Harris Family Foundation

Zvia Hempling

Michael & Candie Herman Jean Himmelstein

Robin & Edgar Hirst

Dr. John D. Hofbauer & Dr. Laura E. Fox Freya & Mark Ivener

Gary T. Izumi

Brenda Marie Izzi

Victoria Jackson & Bill Guthy Deborah & Ivan Kallick Katherine Kleindienst & Marc Goldsmith Carol Krause

Lena & Mark Labowe

Lydia & Chuck Levy

Hannah Linkenhoker§* & Carter Cohn

The Malins Family Foundation

David Israeli & Dr. Marie Mazzone

Cookie Miller

Joan & Phil Miller

Andrew & Laura Mintzer

Laurie & Chuck Mondrus

Ron Myrick

Robert Nelson & Marguerite Renner

Albert & Barbara Nichols

Conan & Liza O’Brien* Carol & Alan Ostroff

Michael Parks & Judith Hayward

In Memory of Robert & Stephen Paskus

Daniel & Denise Perlstein

Phil & Agnes Peters

Ruth Popkin

Audrey Povar§

Gary & Gail Rachelefsky

Dolores Rogers Eric Rollins§

Wil Rosser

Gena Rubin

Amy & Andy Schwartz

Susan Schwarz & Stuart Berton Snyder Family Foundation

John Sonego§ & Thomas Faughnan Tom & Melanie Staggs Andrew Stearn

Mitch & Sherry Stein Cela Devine Sutton§

The Tatasciore Family*

John M. Teeples & Nicolas Martinez, Jr. Catherine & Leonard Unger

Kathryn & Alan Van Vliet Gelena & Seth Weissman

Westmount Asset Management

John & Connie Weston

Alison Whalen & Steve Marenberg

Judith & Philip Winik

Richard Yaffe

David Young

Alissa & Jordan Zachary Ellen & Arnold Zetcher

DESIGNER’S CIRCLE

$1,000 – $1,499

Dr. Richard Ackerman & Miriam Shakter

Jan & David Altemus Bonnie R. Arnold Karen Bell & Robb Cox*

Lydia & David Bell* Marjorie Blatt Carol J. Bradshaw Paula Brand Broadway Wine Club*

Samantha & Jack Brown Sean & Martha Carey Family Margaret Casey Elizabeth & Gil Cates, Jr.†*

Jane Cates

Shelby & Lee Chaden Martha J. Chase

Sachiko T. Cochran M.D. & Joseph T. Araki

Ginger Conrad Stephen Cook

Honorable Candace Cooper Jen Crittenden & Bill Wrubel*

In Honor of Development*

Jan & Thea Drayer

Ed & Barbara Dreyfus Terri & David Elston

Elizabeth A. Evans

Lynne & Michael Feldman Dr. Kimberly Finney

Shari Foos

Burt & Nanette Forester

In Honor of Frank & Betty Fouce Dennis & Jackie Fox

Joan & Charles Fox

Tomas Fuller & William Kelly Ellie Goodman

Murray & Gail Heltzer Jackson Henry Richard Rasiej & Joan Herman Mrs. Dorothy Hoffman

In Memory of Ross Hunter & Jacque Mapes Drs. Sharon & Lou Ignarro Lynn Hunt & Margaret Jacob Marcie & Marc J. Jacoby Carrie Johnson Quincy Jones^ Mark Kaplan Sally & Dr. Manny J. Karbelnig Patricia Keating Trisha Kelley Nancy Kenney King Nutronics Corporation Barton H. Kogan

Norman Koplof & Leslie Falick Richard & Cindy Koral Charles Kristenson

Carl Levinger Tania Lotia

In Memory of Effie Lucero & Anne Ettinger Eric James Lund Michael Ma Kathy & Jim McCaffery Sheri & Jim McCashin

Norma & Larry Meyers

James and Ana Miles Family Foundation

Lee & Jeff Milman

Mintz Family Fund

Thaine & Elizabeth Morris

Lon Morse & Toni Hollander Morse Mark & Diane Neubauer Michael Nicklin Deborah & Stacey Olliff

Tal Oren & Liana Morgado-Oren

Ornest Family Foundation London, Alex & Marty Padilla Jacalyn & Paul Pepperman

Clark & Kathryn Porter

Barry Rosen & Neil Bokal Allison & Bennett Rosenthal

Nancy Stephens & Rick Rosenthal and The Rosenthal Family Foundation

Lori & David Rousso

William Hoover & Jon Rupp

David A. & Karen Richards Sachs Nancy & Ted Sanborn Jane & Bill Schopf*

Marc Seltzer

Peggy & Robert Shapiro

The Edward A. and Ai O. Shay Family Foundation

In Memory of Michael Sherman

Rita & Jose Sigal

Ron Silverman & Soraya Ross

Ronald Smith

Lisa Stonich

Melora Sundt & Rob Kadota Rose Tarlow*

Anne C. Taubman

Franklin David Tell

Audri & Stan Tendler

Marjorie Thomson

Suzanne Tito Leon & Stephanie Vahn

Daniel & Shauna Valenzuela Marcia & Charles Wasserman Ph.D

In Honor of Sid & Sheila Weiss

Cherie Wrigley

Judy & Chancellor Charles E. Young^ Elena & Drew Zager

Arnold & Tricia Zane

Bobbi & Walter Zifkin

PARTNER’S CIRCLE $500 – $999

Anonymous (6) Terry & Richard Abrams

Toshka & Norman Abrams Allan Africk Charles & Annick Allen Sylvia Almstadt

Laura & Harvey Alpert Patti Amstutz Kris Andersson Martin Appel Behnaz Ataee*

Don Bacigalupi

The Baek Family Cindy & Jeff Ballard Barbara Berkowitz Pamela & Bill Bohnert

The Bordy & Leibovic Families Michael & Susan Bordy Toby Bornstein

Steven Briggs Howard Brightman Marlene Bronson

Mary Byrne

Anthony Carbone

Sylvie & Peter Cartmell

Shirley Churgin

James Clark

Laurel & Aaron Clark

The Clements Family Devorah Colker

Muriel Dance & Alvin Martin

Zoud Danko

Hedva & Dr. Dudley Danoff Susan Dashe Rosette Delug Maxwell DeMille* Brock Dewey

Linda Dozier

Jeff Eckerle & Marilyn Osborn

Colleen M. Ellis

Mary Herbers Eme

Barbara Fairchild

Terry Feuerborn

Kenneth J. Friedman & Marilynn J. Friedman Family Foundation

Laurelle Frome & Brady Frome Diane Futterman

Gordon Gerson Bert & Benita Ginsberg

Tina & Michael Gittelson Linda & Tom Givvin Dina Goldstein

Ellen & Reginald Golla Mitchell Goodman

Roger Gordon

Liz Gottainer & David Sadkin Howard Gradet

Gaby Allen & Rob Greenberg

Vera & Paul Guerin

Keith Hall Pamela Halle

Lonnie Hamerman & Kenneth Freundlich Mary Hartley

Diane Haun Yolanda Head Hella Hershson

Winifred C. Hervey

Jack Hileman & Roxanne Huddleston Paul Gordon Hoffman & Sue Caren Hoffman

In Loving Memory of Stan Hollander Robert & Gail Israel Dr. Carole & David Jones Linda Kaplan William & Renee Kendall Sharon Kerson Phyllis H. Klein Dr. Leonard & Stella S. Kleinrock Dorothy Klinger Patricia Klous Deborah Lacusta & Daniel Castellaneta Lynne Lainer

John & Sandra Langfitt Jill & Michael Lasky Christo & Jeanne Lavagnino Rhonda K. Lawrence

Julie Leeds

Rena & Craig Leeds

Gina Maria Leonetti

Marla E. Levine

Eric & Eva Plaza Mandel Michael N. Marks

Deborah Marsten Douglas McAvoy, Jr. Vickie McCorkendale

Jeanne McDonald-Powers & Travis Powers Cynthia Melville

Nick & Vaughan Meyer

In Memory of Gregory Millar Mona D. & Steven J. Miller Thomas Mitchell John Moschitta, Jr.

Dr. Paula C. Moseley Swetha Movva David Neilan Rene Nourse Sabine Oishi

Janie & Allan Orenstein Charles Owens

Sharon Oxborough Naidu & Jane Permaul Tami Pflug

The Poker People* Cory & Bill Oppenheim Ron Rafay

Lise Ransdell & Eric Augusztiny Jennifer Redner

Fred & Denise Reimer Linda & Erin Rice Carol Risher Julie Rogers Eric Rolnick Peter Rose Douglas Ross Dr. Martin & Lorraine Ross Peter & Andrea Roth Arlene & Peter Sacks Scott Sandler§ Cliff & Linda Schaffer Mary Lou Schanche Jo Schiff Mr. Bernard Schiffer Gary & Karen Schneider Joel & Sonia Schneider Nancy & Steven Schneider Robin Schoenfeld William Schreiber Linda Schwarz John H. Scott

Donna Shapiro & Angel Castillo Robert M. Shore Nancy & Bruce Silverman Karen & Bill Skinner Marlene Sklar & Joel Moskowitz

Amy Jo & Jeff Smith

In Memory of Albert Sokol, M.D. Jill & Scott Spiwak Sarah Stegemoeller

Frances & Sy Strasberg

Robert & Kristie Svaleson Lance & Maureen Tan Mr. & Mrs. David Tann Gloria Tapanes

Barbara & Larry Tenan Brynn Thayer

David & Cathy Thomas Rebecca Vail§ Karen Van Kirk Bradley & Natalie Wallace Kelly Weber Williams

Jennifer Weiser Lisa Welch

Elizabeth Wheat

Gia & Michael Wise

Herbert Wolas

Delores Komar & Susan Wolford

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE

As we celebrate our 25th Anniversary, the leadership wishes to acknowledge the historical contributions of these individuals to the Geffen Playhouse who have made the original vision of our founder, Gil Cates, possible: Anonymous

Annenberg Foundation

Mrs. Carol K. Block & Chancellor Gene D. Block†* City National Bank*

Kirsten^ & Donald Combs

Maria Israel-Curley & Jim Curley Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman, Inc.

The David Geffen Foundation

Herbert M.^ & Beverly J. Gelfand*

Rabbi Uri D. Herscher & Dr. Myrna Herscher

Audrey & Charles Kenis Lincy Foundation

Fay & Frank^ Mancuso

Tina & Jerry^ Moss / The Moss Foundation

Perenchio Foundation

The Shubert Foundation

The Simms/Mann Family Foundation Skirball Foundation University of California, Los Angeles Wasserman Foundation Judy & Chancellor Charles^ E. Young

IN-KIND SPONSORS

Thank you to our year-round in-kind sponsors for their incredible generosity and support of the arts: Alligator Pear Catering*

Beam Suntory* Cicada Club

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea* Peroni Italia* Skylight Gardens Steinway & Sons*

STK | The ONE Group

W Los Angeles — West Beverly Hills

Donors at the $150 level and up are recognized on our website at geffenplayhouse.org/thankyou.

If your name has been misspelled or omitted from the list in error, please contact Tracy Reich, Director of Individual Giving at 310.208.6500 ext. 113.

Matt Shakman

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

ARTISTIC

Amy Levinson Associate Artistic Director

Daniel Ionazzi Producer

Phyllis Schuringa

Artistic Associate / Casting Director

Bella Luna Company Manager

Olivia O’Connor Literary Manager & Dramaturg

Lexy McAvinchey

Artistic Assistant

Carly Plasha

Assistant to the Artistic Director

PRODUCTION

Jill Barnes

Artistic & Production Administrator

Melissa Hartman Interim Technical Director

Patty Squibb Interim Technical Director

Alexandre Norkus Automation Supervisor

Rick Gilles Properties Master

Audrey Lastar Costume Supervisor

Sarah Lindsley Costume Shop Supervisor

Spencer Doughtie Lighting & Projection Supervisor

James Grabowski House Sound Supervisor

Bob Gilmartin Resident A1

ADMINISTRATION

Behnaz Ataee Chief Financial Officer

Erick R. López General Manager

Berenice Campos Director of Human Resources

Peter Banachowski Accounting Manager

Janice Gompers

Payroll Specialist & HR Admin

Youra Kim

Staff Accountant

Clay Dzygun Office Coordinator

Marguerite Harris Receptionist

Gil Cates, Jr.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DEVELOPMENT

Sarah Weinberg

Director of Development

Elizabeth Kegley

Director of Institutional Giving

Tracy Reich

Director of Individual Giving 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

Director of Education & Community Engagement

Rudy King Manager of Community Engagement

Paloma Nozicka Education Associate

Sean Michael Boozer, DeJuan Christopher Conner, Lyssa Deehan, Tara Ricasa, Kenzo Rice, 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

Zack Hamra Associate Director of Audience Services & Ticketing

Kevin O’Brien Marketing Manager

Isaak Berliner

Social Media & Communications Manager

Janice Bernal Box Office Manager

Alyssa Tyson Box Office Manager

Vaneh Assadourian

Part Time Box Office Manager & House Seat Manager

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.

Brianna Barrett, Jacob Feller, Rachel Jacoby, Sean James, Lauren Machain, Katie Sparks, Sarah Steuer, Sara Turken, Dennis Woullard

Box Office Staff

OPERATIONS

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

Sigourney Chin, Savanna Chute, Ki Duncan, Elizabeth Fritsch, Tony Jose Garcia, Alia Mahboob, Adam Simers

Guest Services

Brynn Allen, Lulu Altabbakh, Cristiana Barbatelli, Hannah Battersby, Blaire Battle, Avery Brown, Marlon Campos, Sofia Constantine, Lauren Curet, Enzo De Cunto, Cecily Dowd, Camille Edwards, Hector Eribez, Sydney Fleischman, Alejandro Hernandez, Aja Hinds, Danny Lindberg, Austin Merrill, Ana Nguyen, Autumn Oyemade, Elena Scaringe-Peene, Areany Tolentino, Lanae Wilks

Ushers

Cecilia Bonner, Bethany Koulias, Juliet Park, Bradley Pierce, Chloe Shi COVID-19 Safety Managers

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