®
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE GIL CATES THEATER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GIL CATES, JR.
WELCOME TO THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE Photo by Jeff Lorch
INSPIRED BY THE NEW YORKER ARTICLE “MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES: The Strange Death of a Sherlock Holmes Fanatic” by David Grann, this world premiere production of Mysterious Circumstances has been a long time in the making. Years before our own Matt Shakman was Artistic Director, he pitched the idea of turning this fascinating article into a play. Playwright Michael Mitnick, raised by a Conan Doyle aficionado, applied his own enthusiasm for the subject. Together, he and Matt have created the fictionalized world of Richard Lancelyn Green. Traversing time and space, the play seeks to uncover the mystery of the passions that drive us and what causes the tipping point into obsession, and we are thrilled to bring this wonderfully strange and curious story, under the direction of Matt, to the stage. As we conclude the 2018/2019 season, I’d like to take a moment to thank all those who participated in this year’s Backstage at the Geffen honoring Harry Belafonte and Lily Tomlin, which raised critical funds to help support our growing Education and Community Engagement programs. Your generosity makes these programs possible. Mysterious Circumstances, along with Invisible Tango next door in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, caps off a remarkable season, and I thank you for taking the ride with us. If you have yet to check out what’s coming in the new season, I encourage you to do so. Filled with new plays and adaptations, wild theatrical experiences and our first Shakespeare production in the theater’s almost 25-year history, it promises to provoke, inspire and entertain. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!! Gil Cates, Jr. Executive Director
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Howard Tenenbaum CHAIR
Patricia Kiernan Applegate
Bruce M. Ramer
Beth Behrs
Victoria Mann Simms
Dr. Gene D. Block
Andy Spahn
Kevin Bright
Steven Spielberg
Harold A. Brown
Steve Tisch
Gil Cates Jr.
Dr. Charles E. Young
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOUNDING CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
Mary Ann Cloyd Merle Dandridge
IN MEMORIAM
Dr. Brad Edgerton
Gilbert Cates
Mark Fleischer Sue Fleishman Patricia L. Glaser Adi Greenberg
FOUNDER
Marcia Israel-Curley Audrey Skirball Kenis Karl Malden
Arthur Greenberg
Jerry Perenchio
Martha Henderson
Edie Wasserman
Loretta Everett Kaufman
Lew Wasserman
Jason Delane Lee
LEGAL COUNSEL
Carla Malden
Peter Rosen
Barry Meyer
Latham & Watkins LLP
Holly Rice Pamela Robinson
ADVISORY BOARD
Linda Bernstein Rubin
Miranda Tollman
CHAIR EMERITUS
Teri Schwartz
CHAIR
Matt Shakman
Stephanie Carson
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Richard Sherman Fred Specktor Lorraine Spurge Cynthia P. Stafford Kimberly Steward Marc Weinstock
FOUNDING TRUSTEES
Lori Collins Ellyce R. Cooper Debra Davis Ann Gianopulos Priscila Giraldo Natasha Gross Kirsten Hansen Eric Heer Laura Kennedy
Kirsten Combs
Wendy Kurtzman
Robert A. Daly
Yvonne Lee
David Geffen
Hannah Linkenhoker
Herbert M. Gelfand
Tiffany Mayberry
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
Quincy Jones Jeffrey Katzenberg Glorya Kaufman Ginny Mancini Frank G. Mancuso
Photo by Jeff Lorch
Charles Kenis
VICE CHAIR
CHAIR EMERITUS
BOARD CHAIR HOWARD TENENBAUM
WELCOME TO THE WORLD PREMIERE OF Mysterious Circumstances in the Gil Cates Theater! It has been an exhilarating season of ambitious, highly technical productions that have pushed the boundaries of what we have traditionally produced on stage in past seasons. We are proud to have taken these risks in order to reach new audiences and build connections with more communities throughout Los Angeles, thanks to the support and engagement of our loyal Board members, donors and subscribers. On behalf of the Board and Advisory Board, a special thank-you to those who have supported our robust Education & Community Engagement Programs that provide access to impactful theater and education programming in underserved communities across Los Angeles. Thank you for being here to explore new artistic works and to dive into the critical social issues addressed in each play. We hope that you leave the theater feeling inspired, empowered and connected to the community in a powerful way. With gratitude, Howard Tenenbaum Chair
John McCrite Danny Passman Jessica Queller Eric Rollins Allen Shay
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
John Sonego
Ron Meyer
Kevyn Wynn
Jerry Moss
Laurie Ziegler GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE 3
THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE PRODUCTION OF
WRITTEN BY
Michael Mitnick INSPIRED BY THE NEW YORKER ARTICLE “MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES: THE STRANGE DEATH OF A SHERLOCK HOLMES FANATIC” BY
David Grann DIRECTED BY
Matt Shakman SET DESIGNER
COSTUME DESIGNER
LIGHTING DESIGNER
ORIGINAL MUSIC & SOUND DESIGN BY
Brett J. Banakis
E.B. Brooks
Elizabeth Harper
Jonathan Snipes
PROJECTION DESIGNERS
ILLUSION DESIGNERS
Kaitlyn Pietras Jason H. Thompson
Francis Menotti David Kwong DRAMATURG
Amy Levinson PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Brooke Baldwin
Lizzie Thompson
CASTING DIRECTOR
Phyllis Schuringa, CSA
OPENING NIGHT WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2019 This play was commissioned as part of the Geffen Playhouse’s New Play Development Program thanks to the generosity of The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust Recipient of the Edgerton Foundation New Play Award Major support for this world premiere production provided by the Edgerton Foundation New Play Production Fund EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS CIRCLE MEMBERS
Laurie & Bill Benenson • Martha Henderson • Pamela Robinson Hollander & Robert Hollander Loretta Everett Kaufman & Victor Kaufman • Linda Bernstein Rubin & Tony Rubin Kimberly Steward & Josh Godfrey • Miranda & Brett Tollman 4 PLAYBILL
CAST OF CHARACTERS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER) The American and others ������������������������������������������ Hugo Armstrong* Chester and others .................................................................. John Bobek* Conan Doyle and others �������������������������������������������������� Austin Durant* Smith and others ......................................................................... Leo Marks* Watson and others .............................................................. Ramiz Monsef* Touie and others .................................................................... Helen Sadler* Richard Lancelyn Green/Sherlock Holmes ..................... Alan Tudyk* *Indicates member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
TIME/SETTING Based on true events that occured in 1894 and 2004.
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!
OPENING NIGHT SPONSORS GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE 5
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES
HUGO ARMSTRONG (The American, Gibner, Geppetto, Guy 1, Guy 3 and others) Hugo Armstrong has been a part of productions at Mark Taper Forum, Sacred Fools Theatre Company, Theatre of Note, The Kennedy Center, Ahmanson Theatre, LA Theatre Works, South Coast Rep, Kirk Douglas Theatre, RedCat, Walt Disney Concert Hall and here at the Geffen Playhouse. Recent television work includes Room 104, For The People, Into The Dark, Fear The Walking Dead and the upcoming Netflix series Messiah. Movie productions include Lucky with Harry Dean Stanton; Jim Byrkit’s Coherance; Roman J. Israel, Esq. with Denzel Washington; Daniel Martinico’s OK, Good; as well as the upcoming Horse Latitudes; Cuck; Dark Cloud; Grace and WE LOVE YOU DRAGO!, starring the indomitable Drago Sumonja. Hugo is a CalArts grad.
JOHN BOBEK (Chester and others) Mysterious Circumstances is his Geffen Playhouse debut. 6 PLAYBILL
With Antaeus Theatre Company: Diana of Dobson’s, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Three Days In The Country, As You Like It, The Hothouse. L.A. theater: Skullduggery: The Musical Prequel to Hamlet, DISASTEROID! (Sacred Fools Theater Company); Stupid F**king Bird (Theatre @ Boston Court, U/S); Mental: The Musical (Edgemar Center for the Arts). Television: A Series of Unfortunate Events, American Crime, Longmire, Battle Creek, The West Wing, Rizzoli & Isles, Criminal Minds, How I Met Your Mother, Happy Endings, Castle. Film: When a Stranger Calls, Stomping Ground, Freshwater, Recoil. His original music is available under John Bobek on iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Spotify, BandCamp. B.A. Theatre Arts, Marquette University. Proud member of The Antaeus Company, Sacred Fools and The Collaborative. Represented by The Glick Agency. Managed by Perry Zimel. johnbobek. com or imdb.me/johnbobek
AUSTIN DURANT (Conan Doyle, Chief Investigator and others) Broadway: Macbeth; War Horse; You Can’t Take It With You. Public Theater: Much Ado About Nothing; A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Classic Stage Company: Nathan The Wise.
LCT3: War. Yale Repertory Theatre: Assassins; Hamlet; Death of a Salesman; Passion Play; American Night. The Old Globe: Anna Christie; Comedy of Errors. Intiman Theatre: A Doctor In Spite of Himself. The Prototype Festival 2019: The Infinite Hotel. Berkshire Theatre Group: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; The Illusion; Oklahoma! Television: Search Party, Succession, The Good Fight, Elementary, Nurse Jackie, Person of Interest. B.A. Temple University. M.F.A. Yale School of Drama.
LEO MARKS (Smith, Superintendent, Taxi Driver, Private Eye, Dentist, Edwin, Policeman and others) Leo Marks recently appeared as Shylock in Sarah Mantell’s Everything That Never Happened at the Theater @ Boston Court, directed by Jessica Kubzansky. Other world premieres include Bill Cain’s How to Write a New Book for the Bible (Berkeley Rep and Seattle Rep), Charles Mee’s A Perfect Wedding (Kirk Douglas Theatre), Julia Cho’s The Language Archive (South Coast Repertory), Noah Haidle’s Smokefall (South Coast Repertory) and John Strand’s Lincolnesque (Old Globe). Other credits include Cymbeline (Shakespeare Theatre Company), The Royale
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES (Cleveland Play House), Love and Information, (A.C.T.’s The Strand), Jack Burden in All the King’s Men (Intiman Theater), Dead End (Ahmanson Theatre) and productions at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Playwrights Horizons, Pasadena Playhouse and Alley Theater. He’s a member of LA’s Antaeus Theater Company and a founding member of NYC’s Elevator Repair Service. Obie Award, Heather Woodbury’s Tale of 2Cities. LA Ovation and Stage Raw nominations, The Hothouse. Television/ film credits include The Last Tycoon and the lead in the indie feature film The Maestro.
RAMIZ MONSEF (Watson, Henry, Guy 2, Guy 4 and others) Ramiz is honored to be returning to the Geffen Playhouse where he previously appeared in Guards at the Taj, which won the Ovation Award for Best Production. Locally, he has also appeared in Archduke (Mark Taper Forum) and Vicuña (Kirk Douglas Theatre). He co-wrote the hit musical The Unfortunates, which ran at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and at A.C.T. in San Francisco. He also co-wrote The Many Deaths of Nathan Stubblefield, which was a part of the 2015 Humana Festival. In New York, he has appeared
at Second Stage Theatre (Eurydice), The Culture Project (Betrayed) and New York Theatre Workshop (Alan Ball’s All That I Will Ever Be). He also appeared in regional theaters throughout the country including Yale Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville, A.C.T., Seattle Repertory, Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Lookingglass Theatre Company, and was a company member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for seven seasons. He is appearing in the upcoming film Synchronic, as well as the shows NCIS, Law & Order, SEAL Team, SWAT, Training Day and Modern Family.
HELEN SADLER (Touie, Dame Jean, Carol, Policeman, Coroner Bartleby and others) Helen Sadler recently appeared in Photograph 51 at South Coast Repertory, playing “Dr. Rosalind Franklin.” Other credits include One Man, Two Guv’nors, a co-production with Berkeley Rep, and The Whale (South Coast Repertory); The Night Alive and Tribes (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Blood Wedding (Lookingglass Theatre Company); Daniel Deronda (L.A. Theatre Works); Cymbeline (A Noise Within); Sense and Sensibility (Actors The-
atre of Louisville and Northlight Theatre); The Maids (Writers Theatre); Blasted (A Red Orchid Theatre); Buried Child and A Taste of Honey (Shattered Globe Theatre); War (Chicago Irish Theatre). Television/film: “Sonnie” in Love, Death and Robots: Sonnie’s Edge (Netflix); Criminal Minds; NCIS; Revenge; True Blood; Thrill Ride; Too Late; Contagion. Voice: “Jyn Erso” in Star Wars: Forces of Destiny (LucasFilm) and “Rey” in Lego Star Wars: Rey Strikes Back (Disney XD), and multiple video games.
ALAN TUDYK (Richard Lancelyn Green and Sherlock Holmes) Alan Tudyk could be seen on Broadway in Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of Prelude to a Kiss; Spamalot playing Lancelot with the original cast, minus the actor who previously played Lancelot; and Epic Proportions with Kristin Chenoweth. Off-Broadway credits include: David Lindsay-Abaire’s Wonder of the World, The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Misalliance and Bunny Bunny. Alan’s film credits include K-2SO in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Death at a Funeral, 3:10 to Yuma, Knocked Up, A Knight’s Tale and DodgeBall: A True GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE 7
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES Underdog Story. Alan won an Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production for his work as King Candy in Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph, and has voiced roles in Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Moana and Ralph Breaks the Internet. Television: Firefly, Suburgatory, Powerless and Con Man, for which he earned an Emmy nomination. In death, Alan will be survived by his beautiful, loving wife Charissa and two of his three dogs.
MICHAEL MITNICK (Playwright) Michael Mitnick’s plays include Sex Lives of Our Parents directed by Davis McCallum (Second Stage Theater), The Siegel directed by Casey Stangl (South Coast Repertory), Ed, Downloaded directed by Sam Buntrock (Denver Center for the Performing Arts) and Spacebar: A Broadway Play by Kyle Sugarman directed by Maggie Burrows (The Wild Project). He cowrote the musical Fly by Night directed by Carolyn Cantor (Drama Desk-nominated for Best Musical, Playwrights Horizons). His songs have been sung at Lincoln Center, The Guggenheim, Joe’s Pub, 54 Below and on HBO. Films include The Giver directed by Phillip Noyce, The Staggering Girl directed by Luca Guadagnino 8 PLAYBILL
and The Current War directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. Upcoming: Scotland, PA at Roundabout Theatre Company this fall. M.F.A. in Playwriting from The Yale School of Drama. He was born and raised in Pittsburgh.
DAVID GRANN (Author of The New Yorker article “Mysterious Circumstances: The Strange Death of a Sherlock Holmes Fanatic”) David Grann is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and a staff writer at The New Yorker magazine. He is the author of The Lost City of Z and a National Book Award finalist for Killers of the Flower Moon, both of which were chosen as one of the best books of their respective years by The New York Times, The Washington Post and other publications. He is also the author of The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession and Old Man and the Gun: And Other Tales of True Crime. Several of his stories, including The Lost City of Z and Old Man and the Gun, have been adapted into major motion pictures. And his work has garnered several honors for outstanding nonfiction, including a George Polk Award, an Edgar Award, and a Spur Award.
MATT SHAKMAN (Director / Artistic Director) Matt Shakman has directed three acclaimed productions for the Geffen Playhouse: the West Coast premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Good People, the world premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher’s new adaptation of Wait Until Dark and Joshua Harmon’s Bad Jews. 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 & producer for FX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and has directed episodes of Game of Thrones (DGA nomination), Mad Men, Fargo, Good Wife and Succession. He recently helmed the pilot episode for Hulu’s The Great starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult, airing in 2020. BRETT J. BANAKIS (Set Designer) Brett J. Banakis is a set designer for theater, opera and live performance based in Brooklyn, NY. Brett is thrilled to be returning to the Geffen Playhouse to make his design debut after working here as an assistant designer on many shows in the early 2000s.
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES Previous Geffen work includes: Wishful Drinking, A Picasso, You Can’t Take It With You, Paint Your Wagon, Speed the Plow, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Take Me Out. Brett currently serves as International Scenic Supervisor for all worldwide productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Broadway, West End, Australia). Additional Broadway: The Cher Show (Neil Simon Theater). Recent NYC: Renascence (Transport Group, Abrons Art Center), Ghost Light (LCT3), Big Love (Signature Theatre), and The Enigmatist, a magic/ puzzles/cryptology show featuring David Kwong, which will be transferring to the Geffen Playhouse next season. Brett is a faculty member at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. E.B. BROOKS (Costume Designer) Geffen Playhouse: The Legend of Georgia McBride (2018 Ovation Award Large Theater, Drama Critics’ Circle Award and NAACP Nomination) Bad Jews, Wait Until Dark, Good People and Build. Regional theater: Off The Rails, Manahatta (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), La Jolla Playhouse, Perseverance Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, Artists Repertory Theater of Portland. Los Angeles theater: Secrets of The Trade, Finally, Forgiveness and The Last Days of Judas Iscariot directed by Matt Shakman at the Black Dahlia Theatre; Hit The Wall (L.A. LGBT Center 2016 Best Costume Design Nominee); Invisible Cities (The Industry L.A.); Nightwalk in the Chinese Garden, Fantomas, Brewsie and Willie, What to
Wear (Center for New Performance); Native Voices at The Autry, East West Players, Celebration Theater and IAMA. She also designs for film, television, commercial, game developers and events. She received her M.F.A. from California Institute of the Arts and has taught at USC, CalTech and Willamette University. She is a member of United Scenic Artists 829 and Costume Designers Guild 892. ELIZABETH HARPER (Lighting Designer) Regional: Between Two Knees (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); The Cake (La Jolla Playhouse); The Invisible Hand (Kansas City Rep); Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Immediate Family directed by Phylicia Rashad (Mark Taper Forum); Quack, Woman Laughing Alone With Salad (Kirk Douglas Theatre); Wait Until Dark, Long Day’s Journey into Night and Play Dead directed by Teller (Geffen Playhouse); Rock of Ages (The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle); Office Hour starring Sandra Oh, Little Black Shadows (South Coast Repertory); Crescent City directed by Yuval Sharon (The Industry). Corporate events include projects for Microsoft, Under Armour, AirBnB and Universal Studios. Elizabeth is a professor of lighting design at the University of Southern California. JONATHAN SNIPES (Original Music & Sound Design) Jonathan Snipes is a composer and sound designer for film and theater living in Los Angeles. Theater credits include The White Album (Lars Jan, Early Morning Opera), A Jor-
dan Downs Illumination (Cornerstone Theater Company), Marshmallow Sea and moon& (szalt dance company), Good People and Wait Until Dark (Geffen Playhouse), Nocturne (Black Dahlia Theatre) and Meditations on Virginity (National Theater in Warsaw, Poland). Film credits include Room 237 (IFC), Starry Eyes (Dark Sky), Mope (Sundance 2019), The El Duce Tapes (Hot Docs 2019). He teaches sound design in the theater department at UCLA, and is a member of the rap group “clipping,” currently signed to Sub Pop Records. KAITLYN PIETRAS (Projection Designer) Geffen Playhouse debut. Other recent credits: Mother Road, UniSon, Mojada (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Lost Highway (Frankfurt Opera); A Trip to the Moon, Young Caesar (L.A. Philharmonic); Vietgone (East West Players, LADCC award), Smart People (Denver Center for the Performing Arts); Flora & Ulysses and OZ 2.5 (South Coast Repertory); Breaking Through (Pasadena Playhouse); Cuba Libre (Artists Repertory Theatre); A Fable (Cherry Lane Theatre); The Gin Baby (IRT Theatre); Do Like the Kids Do, Shiner (IAMA Theatre Company); RII (Theatre @ Boston Court); Thieves, Slipping (Rattlestick West). pxtstudio. com @pxtstudio JASON H. THOMPSON (Projection Designer) Designs projections for opera, dance, theater, theme parks, commercial, architecture and corporate events. Geffen PlayGEFFEN PLAYHOUSE 9
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES house: Underneath the Lintel, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, By the Waters of Babylon, The Quality of Life, The God of Hell. Other recent credits: Lost Highway (Frankfurt Opera), A Trip to the Moon (L.A. Philharmonic), Die Walküre (Karlsruhe, Germany), Tri Sestri (Vienna State Opera), Hopscotch (The Industry), Cunning Little Vixen and Pelléas et Mélisande (Cleveland Orchestra/Vienna), Young Caesar (L.A. Philharmonic), Grey Gardens (Center Theatre Group), Tarzan: Call of the Wild and Frozen: A SingAlong Celebration (Disney Shanghai Resort), Cage Songbooks (Carnegie Hall, San Francisco Symphony and New World Symphony), Vietgone (East West Players, LADCC award), Tales from Hollywood (Guthrie Theater), The Steward of Christendom (Mark Taper Forum), Great Immensity and Venice (Public Theater), Chavez Ravine (Kirk Douglas Theatre, Ovation Award), Stars on Ice (2007-2019) and Scott Hamilton CARES. He’s also created two video installations for the Petersen Auto Museum and co-designed a Chagall exhibit at LACMA with Yuval Sharon. pxtstudio.com FRANCIS MENOTTI (Illusion Designer) Francis Menotti is a magician, through and through. With two decades of professional performance and creation of illusions, Menotti specializes in original, made-to-order magic experience for film, theater and television. Considered one of the most creative minds in magic today, he’s had his hand in productions like The 10 PLAYBILL
Immigrant and The House with a Clock in its Walls, and was the full-time on-set magic consultant for ABC’s magic crime drama, Deception. In 2015, Menotti became one of the first to fool Penn and Teller on their hit show, Fool Us. He currently resides in Philadelphia with his performance and life partner, Lindsey Noel. DAVID KWONG (Illusion Designer) With his expertise in puzzles and illusions, David Kwong delights and challenges audiences around the world with his intellectual brand of magic. A veteran “cruciverbalist” (crossword puzzle constructor), Kwong creates puzzles for The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal. His consulting work in film and television includes Now You See Me, The Imitation Game and NBC’s Blindspot. He produced ABC’s Deception, one of many collaborations with Francis Menotti. A TED Talk favorite, Kwong routinely speaks at corporate events about the science of illusion. His book Spellbound: Seven Principles of Illusion was published by HarperCollins in 2016. Kwong’s one-man show, The Enigmatist, “an immersive evening of puzzles, cryptology and illusions,” has enjoyed a sold-out run in New York and will be coming to the Geffen Playhouse in May 2020. AMY LEVINSON (Dramaturg) Amy is the Associate Artistic Director at the Geffen Playhouse. Dramaturgy credits include the commissions and
world premieres of Donald Margulies’ Time Stands Still and Coney Island Christmas, Jane Anderson’s The Quality of Life and The Escort, Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation of Wait Until Dark, Amanda Peet’s Our Very Own Carlin McCullough and Helder Guimarães’ Invisble Tango. Other dramaturgy credits include Extraordinary Chambers, Build, Equivocation, Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress, Guards at the Taj and Actually. At the Geffen, she has helped to build programs for the purpose of fostering new work including the commissioning and development of plays. She holds an M.F.A. in Dramaturgy from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. BROOKE BALDWIN (Production Stage Manager) Brooke is thrilled to return to the Geffen Playhouse, where her professional career began. She worked on the stage management teams of Shipwrecked, Time Stands Still, Through the Night and Love, Loss and What I Wore many years ago and then her career picked up momentum around Southern California. Other select credits include: For The Love Of (or, the Roller Derby Play), School Girls, Or, The African Mean Girls Play, Bloodletting, Spamilton, Big Night, Good Grief, Vicuña, Disgraced, Women Laughing Alone With Salad, Kansas City Choir Boy, Girlfriend, Chavez Ravine, Luna Gale, Race, different words for the same thing, The Nether, The Convert, Second City’s A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens (Center Theatre
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES Group); Europeras 1 & 2 (L.A. Philharmonic & The Industry); Duck Commander Musical (Rio Hotel in Las Vegas); Newsies, The Little Mermaid, Wizard of Oz, Cats (Moonlight Stage Productions); Bye Bye Birdie, In the Heights, Kiss Me Kate (Cabrillo Music Theatre). She’s also worked at Universal Studios Hollywood and many small theaters all around Los Angeles. Thank you for supporting the arts! Love to my family and fiancé Cullen! LIZZIE THOMPSON (Assistant Stage Manager) Lizzie Thompson is honored to be stage managing again at the Geffen Playhouse. She has previously worked at the Geffen on 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, Charley for putting up with her (especially during tech week) and her Geffen family. PHYLLIS SCHURINGA, CSA (Casting Director) Phyllis is an Artistic Associate and the Casting Director for the Geffen Playhouse. Recent casting includes Black Super Hero Magic Mama, Skeleton Crew, The Legend of Georgia McBride, Guards at the Taj and American Buffalo at the Geffen, and Shiv at The Theatre @ Boston Court. She has received 5 Artios nominations: Signifi-
cant Other, Actually, Barbecue, Barcelona, The Country House. Before joining the Geffen, she was the Casting Director for Steppenwolf Theatre 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) and The Song of Jacob Zulu. She is a member of the Casting Society of America and the Ovation Rules Committee.
GIL CATES, JR. (Executive Director) As Executive Director, Gil Cates, Jr. leads the Geffen Playhouse in its mission to inform, entertain and inspire diverse audiences with live theater of the highest caliber—both within and beyond the non-profit theater’s walls. He has proudly served on the Geffen Playhouse Board since 2012. Gil’s theater credits include the
award-winning Names (Matrix Theatre Company) starring Dixie Carter and Greg Mullavey, Three Sisters and David Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre (both at Syracuse Stage). Gil’s film credits include The Surface (starring Sean Astin and Geffen Playhouse alumnus Chris Mulkey), Jobs (starring Ashton Kutcher, Josh Gad, Dermot Mulroney, as well as Geffen Playhouse alumni Matthew Modine and Ron Eldard) and the 2011 feature film Lucky (starring Colin Hanks, Ari Graynor, Ann-Margret and Golden Globe winner Jeffrey Tambor). In addition, Gil produced and 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 Geffen Playhouse alumnus Neil Patrick Harris). Gil’s television directorial debut was an episode of the NBC comedy Joey, starring Emmy winner Matt LeBlanc. He studied at the National Theatre Institute in Waterford, Connecticut, and holds a B.F.A. in Drama from Syracuse University.
REGINA MILLER (Chief Development Officer) Regina Miller has advised non-profit institutions, foundaGEFFEN PLAYHOUSE 11
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES tions and corporations on strategy, analysis and fundraising. She has consulted for Array Alliance, The Entertainment Industry Foundation, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Charlize Theron’s Africa Outreach Project and Kershaw’s Challenge, among others. Prior to the Geffen, Regina worked for the Simon Wiesenthal Center/Museum of Tolerance, where she produced an innovative human rights exhibition that traveled to 14 international destinations around Europe, Asia and the
U.S. She also served as the Director of Partnerships for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and the Inland Empire, where she led strategic planning and development while executing policies that advanced the organization’s visibility and growth. Additionally, Regina has a strong passion for teaching. After graduating from University of North Carolina School of the Arts, she taught in preschools and kindergartens in New York. From the age of 13, Regina worked as a professional dancer on
Broadway as well as with a number of prominent modern dance ensembles. Fusing two of her interests, she created a highly successful program that incorporated dance therapy and creative movement into an early childhood curriculum as well as writing and producing a television show based on this concept. In addition to being a published author and photographer with Tallfellow Press and Prometheus Books, Regina has taught and lectured at numerous schools in New York, Los Angeles and abroad.
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
Jiehae Park John Pollono Zoe Sarnak Robert Schenkkan Erika Sheffer Jen Silverman
Qui Nguyen & Vampire Cowboys 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. The Writers’ Room is made possible through the generous support of Patricia Kiernan Applegate. Angelica Chéri Dipika Guha
Chelsea Marcantel Brian Otaño
Liza Powel O’Brien Matt Schatz
For more information on this program, please visit geffenplayhouse.org/thewritersroom. 12 PLAYBILL
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
GEFFEN AT A GLANCE
PRODUCTION STAFF FOR MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES
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Fight Choreography Ned Mochel Assistant Set Designer Mia Cook Assistant Sound Designer Katie Jost Associate Projection Designer Anna Robinson Associate Costume Designer Suzanne Scott Assistant Costume Designer Annie Szeliski Wardrobe Supervisor Liz Rose Dressers Audrey Lastar, Sarah Lindsley Draper Mia Gyzander Tailor Alisturk E. MacNanty Wig and Make-Up Design Janell Turley Wig Design Associate Danielle Richter Hair and Make-up Crew Morgan Sellers, Sylvana Gibson Properties Carpenter Patrick Squibb Properties Artisans Alexandria Flynn, Miriam Levenson, Josh Shelden, Cami Viand Sound Board Operator Anna Grossman Automation Operator Alex Norkus Audio Technician Jackson Campbell Stage Crew Austin Bosley, Oliver Brink, Joshua Shelden Production Assistant Kymberli Skye
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Set provided by F&D Scene Changes Ltd. Lighting Equipment provided by Kinetic Lighting, Inc. Sound Equipment provided by Jon Sound Inc. Video Equipment provided by PXT Studio Illusions built by Paper Mâché Monkey Production Photographer Jeff Lorch Media Filming Ramon Garcia Artwork Gravillis Inc. Key Art Photography Jeff Lorch Music contains themes from “Lieder ohne Worte” by Felix Mendelssohn Violin Rhea Fowler Score Preparation John W. Snyder Recorded by Steve Kaplan
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SPECIAL THANKS UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Scene, Prop, Sound and Costume Shops; London Cleaners UCLA SCHOOL OF THEATER, FILM AND TELEVISION Geffen Playhouse is affiliated with the University of California at Los Angeles, specifically the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Geffen Playhouse values its role as an important educational resource by providing students with master classes, workshops and internships. Students are also able to work and learn from distinguished visiting Geffen artists such as Alan Ayckbourn, Jon Robin Baitz, Annette Bening, Ed Harris, David Ives, Neil LaBute, David Mamet, Donald Margulies, Terrence McNally, John Rando and Kathleen Turner in areas of directing, playwriting, acting, design, dramaturgy, management and production. Geffen Playhouse also draws upon the distinguished experts in the university to enhance the theater’s programs and research.
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AT THE THEATER 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.
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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 scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT theaters are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE. GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE 13
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PHOTOS BY JEFF LORCH
— Participant, Veterans Writing & Performance Project
TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION Bringing the true story of a Sherlock Holmes fanatic to the stage Director Matt Shakman with playwright Michael Mitnick. Photo by Jeff Lorch.
IN A RECENT INTERVIEW, DIRECTOR MATT SHAKMAN AND PLAYWRIGHT MICHAEL MITNICK
The Geffen Playhouse worked with me to option the article and we found the perfect writer. Enter Michael Mitnick.
discussed Richard Lancelyn Green, fictionalizing non-fiction and how magic lives in the world of Mysterious Circumstances.
AL: And Michael, how did you become involved in the project and what attracted you to the material?
Amy Levinson: Matt, would you talk a bit about the genesis of this project? Matt Shakman: Shortly after the death of Richard Lancelyn Green, David Grann wrote an amazing article about the case in The New Yorker called “Mysterious Circumstances: The Strange Death of a Sherlock Holmes Fanatic.” I’m a big fan of Grann’s, so I pay attention to anything he writes because I know it will be an amazing true story. Mysterious Circumstances was that, and then some, because it had the added factor of Sherlock Holmes, a subject I’m passionate about. It stuck with me after reading it and I wondered, “Is this a film, a TV show?” I wasn’t sure. It wasn’t until a few years later that it occurred to me that the best way to tell this story was through theater since the play needed to enter fully into the imaginary life of the central character. 16 PLAYBILL
Michael Mitnick: After Matt optioned the article, he met with writers to see who might be interested and share the same vision. I did a lot of begging. In truth, the moment I read the original article I was hooked. I’m fascinated by the difference or non-difference between a scholar and a fanatic. I have a few collections that border on obsessive— magic ephemera and other embarrassing things. Still, I felt I understood the nature of a person like Mr. Green. The central question to me became: can falling in love with an idea be as strong or stronger than falling in love with a person? MS: And you were able to perfectly capture this story of love bordering on madness and to explore the delicate line between those things. Here’s a man [Richard Lancelyn Green] who loved something so completely that it led to his own death. So, at the heart of it, it’s a love story be-
tween a man and an author and a character. And it’s important to recognize that there’s as much validity to that kind of love as there is in a love between two people. AL: You brought up magic ephemera—without giving anything away, this production has various types of magic built into the story. Why did you feel those elements belonged in this particular story? MM: While theater asks us to suspend our disbelief, magic commands it. Otherwise it’s not a successful trick. It compels the element of surprise, which is crucial to drama. The playworld of Mysterious Circumstances is bursting with surprises, so magic felt like a natural and novel approach, as opposed to something a bit more traditional. MS: One of the first things we talked about was the story’s inherent theatricality. Green retreated from the real world and lived in a life of the imagination. How do you get to know someone who doesn’t really want you to know them? We thought the answer was to try and see his life from the inside out. So it made sense that Sherlock Holmes would
investigate the death of his own expert. And magic seemed like an ideal way to express the interior life of Green. I personally love magic, and we do a bit of it here at the Geffen because it’s an ideal metaphor for what theater is trying to do. As Michael said, it demands your suspension of disbelief, and, if done right you, fully give yourself over to a theatrical experience. We use magic to see the world through Green’s eyes. In his everyday life, he might pass you in the pub and be unable to even say hello, but in his mind he is capable of solving any crime in the world. AL: Because this is inspired by a true story [as detailed in David Grann’s article “Mysterious Circumstances: The Strange Death of a Sherlock Holmes Fanatic”], how do you navigate truth vs. fictionalization for dramatic purposes? MM: It’s difficult. Richard Lancelyn Green was a real person of flesh and blood and there are many living people who knew and loved him. I feel a sense of duty to him. At the same time, it isn’t documentary-theater. The play must be absorb-
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE AND THE GREAT HIATUS
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
In March 1886, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle started writing a novel that would change his literary career, and indeed his life, forever. Initially entitled A Tangled Skein, it featured two main characters by the names of Sheridan Hope and Ormond Sacker. Two years later, the novel was published in Beeton’s Christmas Annual, under the title A Study in Scarlet and Hope and Sacker were transformed into Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. From 1887 to 1893, Doyle wrote numerous Sherlock stories but grew frustrated since he believed them to be trifles. Wishing to devote more time to his historical novels, Conan Doyle did the unthinkable and killed off Holmes in The Final Problem (published in 1893, but set in 1891). Legend has it that fans were so distraught about Holmes’ death that they wore black armbands in mourning. So began what was known as The Great Hiatus. Conan Doyle did as he had promised and focused on what he deemed more serious work—British history and poems. Finally at the end of eight long years, he caved to popular pressure and wrote The Hound of the Baskervilles, a story that predated Sherlock’s death. In 1903, Conan Doyle wrote The Adventure of the Empty House (set in 1894), in which Holmes reappears. Holmes’ explanation to Watson is that he had faked his death to deceive his enemies. This story would mark the beginning of the second set of Sherlock Holmes stories.
ing in its own right and the fact that it was based on a true story is the icing. So, timelines have been condensed, some hyper-specific details changed for narrative purposes. It’s just about where to draw the line. I’d like to think that people will leave the play feeling that they received, essentially, the full story and the truth. But the article will always be there for folks who want to know exactly what was “in the lost box.” AL: I know that people have their favorites when it comes to the Sherlock stories. You have a few woven into the play. Why did you select the ones you did? MM: On a practical level, having chosen a version of Conan Doyle who lives in 1894, I had to stick with the first half of the Sherlock canon. Also, we circled a particular story called “The Problem of Thor Bridge” whose plot closely mirrors the events surrounding the death of Mr. Green. It’s a story that is discussed, deciphered and batted back and forth over the course of the play as a possible solution to the protagonist’s death.
AL: The infusion of magic into this already large play must have involved many collaborators. Would you talk about the design process and partners who helped create the production? MS: Behind all great magic are many magicians. To bring this world to life we needed a scenic designer who knew the world of illusion inside and out. We found in Brett J. Banakis—who was a co-designer on the Harry Potter play that’s taking over the world—someone who has intimate knowledge of black art and magic. We partnered with David Kwong and Francis Menotti, who are fabulous magicians, to design the illusions you see in the play. They have also trained us in sleight of hand and misdirection, which we employ in the staging. And our costume designer E.B. Brooks is a magician in her own right, figuring out how to take six actors and turn them into the entirety of London in 1894 and 2004. Working with this team has been a blast. To read more about Mysterious Circumstances, please visit blog.geffenplayhouse.org.
RICHARD LANCELYN GREEN
Richard Lancelyn Green
Richard Lancelyn Green was considered one of the preeminent scholars of Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. His passion for the subject began at age seven. By the time of his premature death in 2004, he had amassed the largest private collection of Sherlockiana that has ever existed. His fervor encouraged a nearly encyclopedic knowledge that made him well-respected among his scholarly peers. He co-wrote the complete bibliography of Arthur Conan Doyle and numerous collections of Doyle’s work that had never been published in book form. Most famously, he curated a book entitled Letters to Sherlock Holmes, a collection of letters that had been written to Sherlock Holmes and arrived at the headquarters of the Abbey National Building Society (the address closest to the fictional 221B Baker Street address where Holmes and Watson presided). Green was the chairman of the Sherlock Holmes Society from 1996-1999 and was known to dress as a 19th century music hall master of ceremonies when the society donned period costumes and made pilgrimages to Reichenbach Falls, the location of Sherlock’s untimely death at the hands of James Moriarty. Green died under strange circumstances in 2004—as it was unable to be ruled a murder or suicide, the case remains unsolved. The subject of Green’s life’s work and the circumstances surrounding his death caught the attention of writer David Grann, whose investigative narrative inspired this play.
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ARTISTIC ADVOCATE $500 - $999 Anonymous (3) Norman & Toshka Abrams Geraldine & Harold Alden Sylvia Almstadt Robert C. Anderson Eloise & Mark Appel Irene Baron The Belles Family Yvette Bergeron & Dean Bailey Laurie Bernhard Michael J. Bordy Krisena & Scott Borenstein Carol J. Bradshaw Shelby & Lee Chaden Sandra Chan & Richard Pezner Laurel & Aaron Clark Lalique Cohen Ginger Conrad Ms. Candace Cooper Bruce Cormicle Shawn Cunningham Ingrid Curtiss MD In Loving Memory of Ed Cypert Robert Daseler Valerie de la Garza & Michael Centeno Dale Dickey John Dominguez Joan & Jerry Elledge Roni & Ethan Eller Elizabeth A. Evans Helen Fielding Marjorie & Arthur Fine Lynne & Michael Flynn
Judith R. Forman & Richard N. Weiner Lois Gallop Sharlene & Sol Galper Carla & Robert Garfield Benita & Bert Ginsberg Linda & Louis Goldsman Lori & Robert Goodman Vicki Greene Beverly Hanson Richard Hart Mary Hartley Sheila & Chester Hasday Mrs. Dorothy Hoffman Paul Gordon Hoffman & Sue Caren Hoffman Kelley M. Hogan Mr. and Mrs. Robert Holmes Brenda Izzi Robert Jones Kallis Family Charitable Foundation Avi Kamienny Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Kamine Marcy Kaplan & Eric Gold Michele Kaufman Patricia Keating Nancy Kenney Joel Koppelman Deborah Lacusta & Daniel Castellaneta Cristo & Jeanne Lavagnino In Memory of Katie Layman Marla E. Levine Lola Levoy Lawrin & Linda Lewin Robin Lewin Tracey Lewin Marcus Mancini Michael N, Marks Mr. & Mrs. Phillips H. Marshall Ana & James Miles Thomas Mitchell Sue & Monty Mohrman John Moschitta Paula Moseley, EdD Bill Mullins Norma Myers Mark & Diane Neubauer Robert & Anita Nitta Justin Okin Orlando Hotel Carol Parry & John Fox Karen Peter Astrid & Howard Preston Redbury New York Mildred Reid Carlene Ringer Ronda & Fred Rose Joyce & Dean Ross Anne Sacks Joel & Sonia Schneider Nancy & Steven Schneider Susan & Peter Schwab Janet & Michael Schwartz John H. Scott Ed Shaughnessy Manish Singh Leah Sklar Trudy Sokol Donald B. Spradlin Arthur Stern Stevens & Associates Cost Reduction Specialists. Inc.
Frances & Sy Strasberg Mr. & Mrs. David Tann James Tillman In Memory of Ginny Truesdale Baron Vaughn Valerie Vetters Ira & Laurie Waldman Bill & Kate Walsh Polly & Herb Weinberg Pat West Bruce & Marci Wiseman Delores Komar & Susan Wolford Christina Wren Harriet Zaretsky Sandy Zwirn
ASSOCIATE $250 - $499 Anonymous (11) Terry & Richard Abrams Barbara Adams Ioe Adler Elaine & Michael Agran Geraldine & Harold Alden Mr. Arthur Alisi Helen Allan Charles & Annick Allen Robert C. Anderson Val Andler Philip Angerhofer & Stephen A. Jones Eloise & Mark Appel Jc & Jack Appelbaum Joseph D. Argilagos Barbara & Ethan Aronoff David Atkinson Marc & Elizabeth Axelrod Lynne Babbitt Robert Baker Cecilia Ball Mr. and Mrs. Donald Balzano Thomas Barad Irene Baron June Bartczak Jonathan Baruch Judith & Thomas Beckmen Patricia Belcher Richard N. Berger Karen Berko-Gibson Marsha C. Berkowitz Joane Berlin Adam Bialow Ellen & Jay Bienfeld Susan Block-Kay Brian Borello Dr. Clarence Braddock Ms. Leah Lynn Broidy Laurrie Brooke Mitchell Brown Diana Buckhantz David & Kathy Burke Marcia Burnam Melissa Burton Michelle Butler & Mark Blackham Steven Bushong Laura D. Campbell Marlene & David Capell Anthony Carbone Richard Cassese Ling Chan Thomas Chappell Barry Charles
Martha Chase Doryann Chasen Mr. Chavoshan Diane Chernansky Anselm Clinard Pam Coats Larry Conover Heidi Jo Corey Gail Cottingham Susan Georgine Craig Norman & Nancy Cravens Valerie & Donald Cravitz Shawn Cunningham Ingrid Curtiss, MD Muriel Dance & Alvin Martin Hedva & Dr. Dudley Danoff Steven & Linda Darling Jeffrey S. Davidson & Susan Dashe Elizabeth De Oliveira & Moacyr Da Silva Bert Deixler Hal & Roberta Delevie Dr. Udayakumar Devaskar Bernard & Deborah Diamond Chelsea Dinsdale Carol Jean Doehring Fred & Marilyn Dorer Sandy & Gerry Dorfman Daryl & Paul F. Doucette The Milton L. & Betty J. Dranow Family Foundation Jacki & Murray Drechsler Lorraine Eastlake Jeff Eckerle Chiedu Egbuniwe Arlyne Elliot Interiors Ronald Eng Kerry English Lidia & Mauricio Epelbaum Jim Esserman Rena & Peter Falk Judy & Mike Fantasia Dr. Francesco Federico Jo & Larry Feldman Mimi Alpert Feldman Abby & Malcolm Field Paul and Karen Finkel Dr. Linda Maeder Lisa Finkelstein Steven Fleenor Fran Fredella & Scott Rubin Dr. Renee Fraser Carolyn Fried Kenneth J. Friedman & Marilynn J. Friedman Family Foundation Catherine Froloff Laurelle Frome & Brady Frome Gina Furth Diane Futterman Lee Gardenswartz Corinne B. Garson Patricia Geffner Leslie & Mort Gerson Seth Gettleson Linda & Tom Givvin Jill Glasband Charles Gherardi Amy Glickman Carol & Neil Goldberg Lorain Goldberg Mark & Molly Goldberg Francine Golden & Marvin Schlossman GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE 23
ANNUAL DONORS Les Goldman Ellie & Barry Goldstein Dina Goldstein Jay Gordon & Meyera Robbins Roger Gordon Howard Gradet Liz Gottainer & David Sadkin Julie C. Graham, Olivia C. Zeiden, Liam D. Zeiden Shelley Hill Grant Debbie & Glenn Gray Madelyne Green Jana & Randall Greer Roslyn & David Grinberg Marcy & Edgar Gross Vera & Paul Guerin Eve Haberfield & David N. Johnson Beach Cities Child Development Center Kambiz & Sylvia Hakim Mary & Alan Halkett Carol & Fred Halperin Roberta & Marc Hamilton Padraic Hannon Brian & Karen Hatch Hanna Heiting Dr. Jacqueline Heller Dr. Felicia D. Henderson Jackson Henry Michael & Candie Herman Matthew Herrmann Winifred C. Hervey Diane Hight Gabrielle & David Hill Jan Hines Carol & Alan Herd Hella Hershon Edgar Hirst Cina Hodges Melvin Horowitz Roger & Linda Howard Anne Ichuji & Todd Humphrey Robert & Gail Israel Jackie & Warren Jackson Barbara Jacobs Frederic A. & Nancy Jacobus Mary James Carla Janzen Jeanne Johnson Judtih & Steaven Jones Yvonne & Damien Jordan Roz & Jerry Joseph Martha Kadue Adriana Kahane Jessica Kaltman & Robert Reznick David Kaminow Jean Kaplan Linda Kaplan Owen Kato Dana Katz Morgan Kay Michael Keir Jim Kelly Nancy Kenney William & Renee Kendall Cathy & Bill Kirkpatrick Cynthia King & John Graul Ann & Jonathan Kirsh Donna & Jeffrey Klein Joanna Klein Leana Kleinman & Jerald Johnson 24 PLAYBILL
Dr. & Mrs. Klausner Laurie & Milton Klorman Charles Kristenson Barbara Kroll & Ruth Spielman Kimberly Kruse Cheryl & Steve Laff Carol D. Lande Alyce LaViolette Joan Larkin Rhonda Lawrence Linda Lawson Alyce LaViolette Learning Encounters Ann Leland Adam Lesh Don Lettiere Joan & Stuart Levin Maxine & Gary Levine Suzanne & Jimmy Levine Karen & Ron Levine Anita & Burton Levinson Harla Levitt Rick & Vivian Levy June Lewin Katia Benthale & Josh Lewensohn Victor & Madeline Lindenheim Joanne Lindsay Leslie & Adam Lobel Alex Loewenthal Renee Lonner Mr. Eric Lund Loris & Kory Lunsford Anne L. Lynch Barbara Marcus Dean S. Marks Michael N. Marks Annette Marmalefsky Gina Martino Phyllis & Bert Massing Douglas Mcavoy, Jr. Kathleen McCarthy Kathy & Jim McCaffrey Sheri and Jim McCashin Derrick McCray Christina Medigovich Marcie & Steven Medof Cynthia Melville Bhaskar & Sumi Menon Robert Mercer & Carol Chanel Mercer Eileen & Paul Meshekow Lois Miller Lee & Ron Miller Judith & Jeff Milman Teddie J. Milner Thomas Mitchell Marvin & Jean Moore Dr. Brian Morrow Bill Mullins Charlotte C. Myers Robert M. Nelson Sarah & Clifford Nelson Sherri & Arnie Nelson Paulette & Ron Nessim Mark & Diane Neubauer Dennis Nollette Doreen & Donald Nortman Adrienne & Arthur Omansky Dr. Ronald & Iris Onkin Martin Ordman Janie Orenstein Patricia O’Toole Sharon Oxborough
Ron Ozur Cynthia & Todd Palm Sylvia & Robert Paris Edward Parker Lawrence Parker InSight Consulting Partners In Memory of Robert & Stephen Paskus Abhilash and Kelly Patel Dr. Kristine Penner & Steven Klein Naidu & Jane Permaul Dr. David B. Peterson Carol F. Phillips Leo & Nina Pircher Berta & Lou Pitt Jack & Jane Pollock Matthew Pomerantz Naveena Ponnusamy Zazi Pope Cheryl & Mel Posner Susan Poulson Eric Powers Patricia Price Dr. Stephen & Lani Rabin Marvin Rapaport Michael & Gloria Rausch Marianne Reynolds Amy Richards Linda & Erin Rice Linda & Steve Richman William & Polly Ridgeway Linda Rodriguez Barbara & David Rognlien Louis Rohl Amy Roland Peter Romwall Robert Rosania Barry Rosen & Neil Bokal Donna Rosen Mary Ann Rosenfeld & Sheldon Kaddish Adrienne Rosenthal Beverly & Mel Rosenthal Brad Ross Lawrence Ross & Linda Nussbaum Cathy Ross Terry Ross Dr. Diane & Michael Glazer In Honor of Eric Chown Sylvia Ruiz Rand Rusher Terry Ryan Anne Sacks Noriko Salamon Jay & Linds Sandrich Susan & Kenneth Sarno Maxine Savitz Linda & Cliff Schaffer Melanie Scher Chris T. Schmidt Malcolm Schneer & Cathy Liu Gary & Karen Schneider Joel & Sonia Schneider Stanley Schneider Myrna Schwam Dean Teri Schwartz Brandon Scott
Marc Seltzer Annette & Leonard Shapiro Barbara Vickery & Martin Shapiro Melanie Sharp & Kevin Miller George Shohet Steven & Annabelle Shulman Seymour & Dorothy Siegel Randi & Rand Singer Leah Sklar Diane Good & Frank Smith Marcia L. & Mark J. Smith Ronald Smith Karen Smits Joan & Jerry Snyder Christine Sorgi Stephanie Sourapas Melvin Spears Debra Spector Lois Spector Irina & Alex Stavchanskiy M Leslie Stearns Holly Strom Penny Strowger Mr. Kayser Sume & Dr. Renee Sabshin Miriam & Gene Summ Ann Sunderland Robin & David Swartz Lance & Maureen Tan Deborah Tavlin David & Cathy Thomas Natalie & Matthew Thompson Ann Thorvik Joyce & Josh Trabulus Brigitta Troy Dr. Gerald D. Turbow Dr. Harold Urman Erich Van Lowe Anthony Vasek Valerie Vetters The Vig Family Bobette Vikan Carole Wagner-Vallianos & Peter Vallianos William Wallace Louise Wannier Barry Ward Elisa Wayne Seth Freeman & Julie Waxman Sherry Weinman & Michael Umansky Travis Webb Marsha & Steven Weiss Karen White Teresa White Janet Whitman Bruce Whizin Rae Jean Williams Susan Williams Karen & Gary Winnick George & Diane Wolfberg Dr. Joseph Wu Marlow Wyatt Lisa Yen & Thomas Bajoras Kimberly & Andrew Zakanych Arnold & Tricia Zane David Zimmerman
HAVE WE MADE AN ERROR? To report a misspelling or omission in these listings, please contact the Development department at 310.208.6500 ext. 128
Matt Shakman
Gil Cates, Jr.
Artistic Director
Executive Director
ARTISTIC Amy Levinson Associate Artistic Director Daniel Ionazzi Producer Phyllis Schuringa Artistic Associate / Casting Director Young Ji Artistic Coordinator / Company Manager Rachel Wiegardt-Egel Manager of New Play Development Sarah Mankoff Artistic Intern Talia Sommer Artistic Intern
PRODUCTION Liz Brohm Hanrahan Production Manager Jill Barnes Associate Production Manager / Company Manager Evan Friedman Technical Director Brandon Mendoza Assistant Technical Director Alex Norkus Gil Cates Theater Stage Supervisor Rich Gilles Properties Master James Grabowski House Sound Supervisor Ramine Ameli Lighting & Projection Supervisor Brandon Paul Production Electrician Liz Rose Wardrobe Supervisor
ADMINISTRATION Behnaz Ataee Chief Financial Officer Peter Banachowski Senior Accountant & Financial Analyst Nova George Staff Accountant & Payroll Specialist Clay Dzygun Office Coordinator Marguerite Harris Receptionist
DEVELOPMENT Regina Miller Chief Development Officer Ellen Catania Senior Vice President of Development
Jessica Brusilow Rollins Director of Education Partnerships & Donor Relations Jamie Mikelich Director of Individual Giving Mark San Filippo Director of Donor Stewardship Christine Drew Benjamin Development Manager Austin Merrill Development Intern
EDUCATION Jennifer Zakkai Director of Education & Community Engagement Joannarae Ibañez Manager of School & Community Programs Brian Allman Manager of Theater Education Celia Rivera Community Engagement Coordinator Brian Majestic Veterans Project Coordinator Darien Battle, Ramy El-Etreby, David Guerra, Michael McClain, Robert Paterno, Carissa Pinckney, Tara Ricasa, Celia Rivera, Jessica Winward 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 Ramon Garcia Video Producer Kristina Leach Social Media Associate Wendell Pascual Production Artist Janice Bernal Box Office Manager
Alyssa Tyson Box Office Manager Celia Rivera Assistant Box Office Manager Clifton Adams, Kelsey Arlington, Vaneh Assadourian, Rebecca Connolly, Jamie Dawson, Sarah Handler, Lexy McAvinchey, Sam Peurach, Jonathan Ramos, Cameron Reck, Bryn Woznicki Box Office Staff Sue Fleishman Communications Consultant
FRONT OF HOUSE Jeni Pearsons Director of Special Events Mel Yonzon Front of House Manager Amy Farkas Lead Concierge Isaac Jay, Anya Pryjmak, Madison Shamoun House Managers Ryan Brophy, Lee Conrads, Jada Harris, Elza Hofeld, Lucy Houlihan, Otniel Henig, Hunter Lowden, Olivia Lowe, Austin Merrill, Keith Mitchell, Sidne Phillips, Brandon Root, Remy Soloman, Chuck Soo-Hoo, Charmee Taylor, Caragh Tiernan, Adam Turney, Isaac Vaughn, Robin Vega, Emir Yonzon Ushers Rob Mersola Bar Manager & Mixologist Adam Carr Bar Captain Manuel Mayorga Weekend Bar Manager Skylar Adams, Brenda Davidson, Sarah Drescher, Ryan Turner Bartenders/Event Staff
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Karim Bouzzit System Administrator
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT Miguel del Castillo Facility Manager Mario Santillan-Perez Custodial Juan Carlos Umaña Cleaning Custodial 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.
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE 25