1The Devil’s Music -
2 - The Devil’s Music Mark Clements Chad Bauman Artistic Director Managing Director By Angelo Parra Conceived and Originally Directed by Joe Brancato Musical Arrangements by Miche Braden Directed by JC Clementz January 22-March 20, 2016 Stackner Cabaret Executive Producers David and Camille Kundert The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith had its world premiere at Penguin Rep Theatre (Joe Brancato, Artistic Director, and Andrew Horn, Executive Director) The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith was produced Off Broadway at St. Luke’s Theatre by Penguin Rep Theatre & Edmund Gaynes in association with Lizanne & Don Mitchell ± Rep Associate Artist * Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Lighting Designer Aimee Hanyzewski Dialect Coach Jill Walmsley Zager Casting Director JC Clementz Sound Designer Christian Gero Stage Movement Director James Zager Stage Manager Anne M. Jude* Musical Director Dan Kazemi ± Scenic Designer Joe C. Klug Costume Designer Jason Orlenko
3The Devil’s Music -3 Bessie Smith Zonya Love* Pickle .................................................................................................................................................. DeMone* THE CAST Assistant Director ......................................................................................................................... Jeff Jones Stage Management Resident................................................................................... Miriam Michaels The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. * Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Production Manager ................................................................................................... Kaitlyn Anderson Technical Director Tyler Smith Properties Director James Guy Charge Scenic Artist ............................................................................................................... Jim Medved Costume Director .....................................................................................................................Sara Seavey Lighting & Video Director ..................................................................................................... Sean Nicholl Sound Director .............................................................................................................................. Erin Paige Interim Production Stage Manager ........................................................................Kimberly Carolus PRODUCTION SUPPORT PRODUCTION STAFF Milwaukee Repertory Theater operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. The scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers in LORT Theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE and our stagehands and carpenters are members of Milwaukee Theatrical Stage Employees’ Union IATSE Local 18. The Rep is an equal opportunity employer. The Rep is proud to be a member of The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), which provides major annual financial support.
4 - The Devil’s Music
Jubilant gospel music propels this rousing coming-of-age tale about an African-American girl discovering her identity told through the powerful rituals associated with dazzling hats (aka Crowns).
Milwaukee Premiere!
CAST & CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES
Don’t miss this joyful musical that has wowed audiences across the country!
The Devil’s Music - 4 Zonya Love, Bessie Smith Zonya is super excited to re turn to MRT as Bessie Smith in The Devil’s Music. She had the privilege of performing in 2014 for MRT’s production of The Color Purple as Celie, and in 2012 in Blues in the Night. Some other credits include: Broadway: The Color Purple (Ce lie), First National Tour and Off Broadway: Avenue Q (Gary Coleman u/s and Ensemble), Region al: Show Boat, Kiss Me, Kate, Side Show, Intimate Apparel. Thank you MRT for welcoming me with open arms. Romans 8:38 DeMone, Pickle DeMone is excited to play with such a talented crew!
Broadway, national and international credits include: Ragtime, Miss Saigon, RENT, Jesus Christ Superstar, Once on This Island and Two Gentlemen Of Verona. Regional credits include Crowns, Big River, Miss Saigon, Sweet Charity, The Best of Both Worlds, Side Show (Jeff Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical), The Great MacDaddy, The Full Monty, Othello, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow, Grand Hotel, and Black Na tivity. Film and T.V. credits include: Law and Order SVU, Person of Interest, Bad Street, The Magic Door, In The Eyes Of God, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete and California Dreams. DeMone is the founding artistic director of The New American Theatre Company, New York. Directing credits include: Songs For A New World, Joe Turners Come And Gone, Having Our Say, Closer, Diedre Murray’s Patient Zero, Split Second, The Winters Tale, Jitney, Barnum, The Mountaintop and Crowns. DeMone is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. I can do all things through Christ who strength ens me!
158 N. 414.291.7800Broadway skylightmusictheatre.org music theatre
CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES
Joe C. Klug, Scenic Designer Joe is delighted to be back working with Milwaukee Rep on this production. His work was last seen for The Doyle and Debbie Show in the Stackner Cabaret. His other design credits include, Our Class (Remy Bumppo Theatre), Art (Dear Stone Theatre Company) in Chicago, Merry Wives of Windsor (Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, Conway), Black Comedy and What the Butler Saw (Bristol Valley Theatre, NY), and the world Premiere of Little Man (LA New Court Theatre, L.A.). He currently is the Visiting Professor of Scenic Design at Florida International University in Miami and holds an M.F.A. from the University of Illinois. Jason Orlenko, Costume Designer Jason is delighted to return to The Rep where he designed Forever Plaid in 2013. A Milwau kee based designer, favorite designs include A Charlie Brown Christmas at First Stage Children’s Theater, The Snow Dragon at Skylight Music Theatre and Opera Siam, Lettice and Lovage at Renaissance Theaterworks, and The Glass Me nagerie at In Tandem Theatre. His designs have been seen at the Rep of St. Louis, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Indiana Festival Theatre, Chil dren’s Theatre of Madison, Kohl’s Wild Theatre for the Milwaukee County Zoo, UW-Milwaukee and Marquette University. Other professional credits include American Players Theatre, the Florentine Opera, the Hangar Theatre, and the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Upcoming designs include Fallen Angels at Milwaukee Chamber. Jason holds an MFA in Costume Design from Indiana University. www.jasonorlenko.com Aimee Hanyzewski, Lighting Designer Aimee is glad to be back working with Milwau kee Repertory Theater. Aimee is the Resident Lighting Designer at Edgewood College in Madison, WI. She has designed in the Stackner Cabaret for such hits as Liberace, Debbie and Doyle, Ain’t Misbehavin’, From My Hometown, Fire on the Bayou, Grafton City Blues, and many others. Moreover, she designed the lighting for Venus in Fur and The Year of Magically Thinking in the Stiemke Studio. Other theaters Aimee has designed for are In Tandem Theatre, Next Act Theater, Forward Theater, and Oak Park Festival Theater.
- The Devil’s Music5 JC Clementz, Director JC is the Artistic Associate: Casting Director & Director of the Emerging Professional Resi dency now in his fifth season with Milwaukee Repertory Theater. In addition to casting over 25 productions here, JC directed last season’s The Doyle and Debbie Show as well as Forever Plaid in the Stackner Cabaret. Next up, he will be direct ing Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike for Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. Prior to his time in Milwaukee, JC traveled throughout Europe as the Assistant Stage Manager for New York Harlem Productions’ international tour of Porgy and Bess, and spent four summers working at Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts in the moun tains of Colorado. JC holds an MFA in Directing from Western Illinois University. Dan Kazemi, Musical Director Dan is a New York based composer, actor, music director and educator, and is an Associate Artist at The Rep. Dan was Musical Director for The Rep’s recent productions of Dreamgirls, The Color Purple, End of the Rainbow, A Christmas Carol, Forever Plaid, Ragtime, Blues in the Night, Assassins, Always . . . Patsy Cline, Next to Normal, Cabaret and made his directorial debut with The Rep’s critically acclaimed production of Ain’t Misbehavin. In Philadelphia, Dan recently mu sically directed Herringbone (Barrymore Nom), and orchestrated and musically directed the world premiere musicals, Field Hockey Hot (Bar rymore Nom) and Tulipomania. Dan musically directed Tick, Tick . . . Boom!, Austentations, The PhillyRocks! concerts, The World Goes Round (Bar rymore Nom), Reefer Madness, Little Shop of Hor rors, Rooms and The Great American Trailer Park Musical for 11th Hour Theatre Company. He also received a Helen Hayes Nomination for his work on the D.C. premiere of The Musical of Musicals: The Musical, a Barrymore Nomination for The Flea and the Professor(Arden Theatre Company), and received a Barrymore Award for 11th Hour’s Ave nue X. At the Walnut Street Theatre, Dan musical ly directed, arranged and performed in The Irish . . . and How They Got That Way (Two Barrymore Nominations). Dan’s music has been performed at the Cirque de Demain in Paris, Ballet Fleming and in 213 Productions collaborationsUntitled Project #213 and Your Attention Please!. Dan is also the composer of a new musical, The Tapioca Miracle (thetapiocamiracle.com).
CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES
MILWAUKEE: Guys On Ice (Milwaukee Rep); Boe ing Boeing (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre). CHI CAGO: columbinus (Jeff Award winner: Outstanding Sound Design) (american theatre co.); Flare Path (Jeff Award winner: Outstanding Sound Design), 25th Annual...Spelling Bee, Punk Rock, Port (Griffin); The Good Book, Spunk, Invis ible Man (Court).
The Devil’s Music - 6 Christian Gero, Sound Designer
REGIONAL: Angels In America Parts 1 & 2 (Kansas City Repertory Theatre). NEW YORK: Music Hall (59E59). As a post production audio editor, Christian has produced advertising spots for clients including the Milwaukee Bucks, WI Dept. of Justice, and Metra. Additionally, he has toured with The Allman Brothers Band, and has worked with artists including Eric Clap ton, Carlos Santana, Bob Weir, Steve Winwood, The Black Crowes, O.A.R., Buddy Guy, Wide spread Panic, and Arlo Guthrie. He has received an NAACP Image Award nomination for his work as an audio engineer www.ChristianGero.com Jill Walmsley Zager, Dialect Coach Jill is the resident Voice and Dialect coach at Mil waukee Repertory Theater. She has coached pro ductions at regional theatres across the country and served as Co-Head of Voice and Dialects and the Company Coach at the American Conserva tory Theater in San Francisco. Regionally, she has worked at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Step penwolf Theatre Company, Lyric Opera of Chica go, Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Drury Lane Water Tower, Arizona Theater Company, Apple Tree Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace, Utah Shakespeare Festival and Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. She has taught at the University of Illinois and Northwestern University. She earned her Master’s Degrees in Voice and Dialects from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (London) and Northwestern University.
James Zager, Stage Movement Director James Zager, an associate member of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC), has been directing, choreographing, and designing move ment in professional theaters throughout the United States for the past 25 years garnering nu merous awards for his work. Zager has directed and/or choreographed for Drury Lane Oakbrook, Marriott’s Lincolnshire Theatre, Phoenix Theatre, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, West Virginia Public Theatre, the Barn Theatre in Augusta, MI, the Fireside Theatre in Ft. Atkinson, and last season served as drama coach for Milwaukee Ballet’s innovative production of Giselle. He is currently coordinating the Theatre & Arts Management program at Carroll University and recently celebrated his 30th wedding anniversa ry with Jill Walmsley Zager the voice and dialect coach here at The Rep. Anne M. Jude, Stage Manager Anne is thrilled to be back at The Rep after working on Dreamgirls earlier this season, and Harvey, The Beautiful Music All Around Us, and Peter and the Starcatcher last season. National Tours: Mary Poppins, Elf the Musical. Regional Theaters: Fulton Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre, Goodspeed Opera House, Walnut Street Theatre and First Stage Children’s Theatre. Orig inally from Minnesota, Anne received her BFA in Arts Administration from Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. Proud AEA Member. So much love to Dad, Charlie, her amazing husband Joe, and her sweet baby boy, James. For Mom, Always. Jeff Jones, Assistant Director Jeff is thrilled to be working at Milwaukee Rep for the first time. His mom really loves Bessie Smith so this is exciting for her as well. He is currently in his last year at Carthage College and in his free time volunteers at the Neo Futurarium back home in Chicago. He hopes you all enjoy the production! Miriam Michaels, Stage Management Resident Miriam is thrilled to be working on her second production with Milwaukee Rep. Prior to A Christmas Carol (Children’s SM) with The Rep, she most recently stage managed Comes A Faery for Nylon Fusion Theatre Company and The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (concert production) for ALT NYC in New York City. Regional credits include: Ballad of Baby Doe (ASM), Peter Grimes, Falstaff, Madame Butterfly (Child Guardian), Assistant to the Director of Production at the Chautauqua Opera Institute; Technical Intern at The Space London; Journeyman Electrician at Spoleto Festival USA; Lighting Design Intern at Williamstown Theatre Festival. mshmichaels.com
- The Devil’s Music7 CREATIVE TEAM
MarkBIOGRAPHIESClements, Artistic Director
Mark began his tenure as Milwaukee Rep’s Artistic Director with the 2010/11 Season. He is an internationalaward-winningtheater director whose work has appeared in over 100 major theaters throughout Europe and the United States. Recent productions include: Dreamgirls, Five Presidents, The Color Purple, The History of Invulnerability, End of the Rainbow, Ragtime, Clybourne Park, Assassins,Othello, Next to Normal, Death of a Salesman, Bombshells and Cabaret at The Rep; Oliver!, Born Yesterday, Great Expectations, Les Misérables (2008 Barrymore Award – Best Production of a Musical) and Of Mice and Men (2007 Barrymore Award – Best Director and Best Productionof a Play), all for Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia; The Milliner (Off-Broadway, World Premiere), CSC, New York; My Fair Lady, Copenhagen; The Browning Version (Barclays/TMA Regional Theatre Award) at Derby Playhouse and Blunt Speaking (World Premiere), Chichester Festival Theatre U.K. and Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York. Other productions include: Speaking in Tongues (U.S. Premiere), Roundabout Theatre Company; Speaking in Tongues (European Premiere; Barclays/TMA Best Director Nomination), Hampstead Theatre, London; Creator/Director – Soul Train, West End and three U.K. national tours; and the U.K. national tours of The Glass Menagerie, The Gingerbread Lady and Love & Marriage, all for Bath Theatre Royal productions. Mark served as an Associate Artistic Director for Moving Theatre Company, the production company founded by Vanessa and Corin Redgrave. He has also been Associate Director for New End Theatre and New Players Theatre, both in London, Royal Theatre in Northampton and Torch Theatre in Wales. Additionally, Mark served as Artistic Director of the award-winning Derby Playhouse in the U.K. from 1992 to 2002. He serves on the National Advisory Board for the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program at Ten Chimneys.
Chad Bauman, Managing Director Chad Bauman was appointed Milwaukee Rep’s Managing Director in 2013. Previously, he worked at Arena Stage since 2007 and was instrumental in the 2010 opening of the Mead Center for American Theater, the largest performing arts center to open in the nation’s capital since the Kennedy Center. While at Arena Stage, he more than doubled earned revenue, reversed a decline in subscriptions by almost doubling the base, and shattered several company sales records that dated back almost 60 years. Besides his marketing acumen, he has considerable experience in business and strategic planning, operations and fundraising, as well as facilities management and information systems. Prior to Arena Stage, he was Director of Marketing and Communications for Americans for the Arts as well as at Virginia Stage Company in Norfolk, VA. He is a frequent speaker and consultant to theater groups, with past clients that include the Pew Charitable Trust, Carnegie Hall, EmcArts Innovation Labs, Arts & Business Council and Americans for the Arts. He serves as an adjunct professor at American University in Washington, D.C. and at Drexel University in Philadelphia. In addition to teaching, he is currently a Board member of the Contemporary American Theater Festival and sits on the advisory board of ArtsMarketing.org. Bauman earned a Master of Fine Arts in producing and theater management from the California Institute of the Arts after earning a Bachelor of Science in speech and theater education from Missouri State University.
