ON STAGE AND OFF
MARCH 31 THROUGH APRIL 30, 2017
g tin ra eb el
C th
0 r1 ou
PHIL ADELPHIA THEATRE COMPANY
on as Se
at the
e th at
PH IL AD E L P H I A TH E ATR E CO M PANY at the
Sara Garonzik
Executive Producing Director
Amy Kaissar
presents
Interim Managing Director
Written by
ROBERT ASKINS featuring
GRACE GONGLEWSKI ALEX KEIPER AUBIE MERRYLEES MATTEO SCAMMELL WILLIAM ZIELINSKI Scenic Design Costume Design BRIAN SIDNEY BEMBRIDGE ALISON ROBERTS Puppet Designer and Puppet Movement Director ROBERT SMYTHE Director of Production ROY W. BACKES
Lighting Design THOM WEAVER
Composer & Sound Design DANIEL PERELSTEIN
Fight Director J. ALEX CORDARO
Production Stage Manager ANNIE HALLIDAY
Production General Manager Dramaturg BRIDGET A. COOK CARRIE CHAPTER
Casting AMY DUGAS BROWN
Directed by
MATT PFEIFFER Originally produced on Broadway by Kevin McCollum Broadway Global Ventures CMC Morris Berchard Mariano V. Tolentino Jr. Stephanie Kramer LAMS Productions DeSimone/Winkler Joan Raffe & Jhett Tolentino Timothy Laczynski Lily Fan Ayal Miodovnik JAM Theatricals Ensemble Studio Theatre MCC Theater HAND TO GOD is produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.
We put our energy into the arts. Arts and culture organizations have an impact of more than $1 billion on our local economy. Through PECO-sponsored programs we help people of all ages and backgrounds enjoy and experience the arts throughout our region. PECO is proud to support Philadelphia Theatre Company. Thank you for presenting entertaining and imaginative contemporary theater, focused on the American experience, that ignites the intellect and touches the soul. Find out more at www.peco.com/community Š PECO Energy Company, 2015
FROM THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCING DIRECTOR Dear Friends of Philadelphia Theatre Company, With this production of Hand to God, I bid a grateful farewell to our wonderful audiences who have been the heart and soul of PTC over the thirty-five years that I have led this company. No matter how satisfying it has been to produce the new American plays that have formed the core of our mission, it would have meant nothing were it not for our many subscribers who rewarded us with their loyalty, enthusiasm, and willingness to take a risk on the feisty and brilliant playwrights we have brought to Philadelphia. While I was packing up my office the other day, I came across something that I had taped to my computer several years back, which I had long ago stopped noticing. It was a quote that Terrence McNally had sent me by Eleanor Roosevelt that said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” I suddenly recalled my initial impulse to keep those words in close range, believing that, in the world of art -making, losing that underlying current of fear often signals complacency, and complacency is not a medium in which great art can exist. So, I taped up this literal reminder as a hedge against creeping nonchalance. As it turns out, nonchalance never entered the picture. In fact, just getting out of bed in the morning and going to work to help insure PTC’s place in the world has been an act of both faith and courage, not only for me but also for all of us in our field who believe that powerful theater, skillfully done, is an essential, non-negotiable component of life - and one worth fighting for. The trick, though, is to harness that healthy dose of daily fear and use it to propel you forward, making certain to never look down or back, but rather... straight ahead. Throughout its forty-two years, Philadelphia Theatre Company has experienced four phases of institutional transformation, beginning with the start-up years led by founders Robert Hedley and Jean Harrison and going right up to our last ten at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Now, amazingly, we are entering a fifth exciting phase with the hiring of Paige Price as our new Producing Artistic Director. So our legacy of powerful theater, risk, and adventure continues under Paige’s firm direction. You can bet that her eyes will be firmly fixed on the horizon, which will be all to the benefit of PTC audiences and the community. I am especially pleased that my final production here is led by Philadelphia’s busiest director, the talented Matt Pfeiffer, who has assembled a gifted creative team, including master puppet artist, Robert Smythe, and a cast of Philadelphia’s most dazzling actors. Robert Askins’ play is audacious, funny, and a little bit scary, so it feels right at home on our stage. I can honestly say that I have loved every minute of my time spent at PTC, even when the going was tough, and I look forward to exploring new ways and new places to keep making theater. Most importantly, I thank you for being my compass and my touchstone for all of these years, and I hope to see you again - in this lobby and in others.
Supporting our communities. We help people experience the most exciting places in the world. But no place is closer to our hearts than home. Every day, in neighborhoods just like yours, we give back to help make our communities the best they can be.
American Airlines, the Flight Symbol logo and the Tail Symbol are marks of American Airlines, Inc. oneworld is a mark of the oneworld Alliance, LLC. Š 2016 American Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HAND TO GOD Welcome to Hand to God! I’m thrilled to be working here at Philadelphia Theatre Company, in this, Sara Garonzik’s final season as Executive Producing Director. I grew up in Philly and have been making theatre in this community for 18 years. In my time here, the work Sara has cultivated at PTC offered Philadelphia audiences some of the most exciting plays and playwrights of the 21st century. It’s an honor to be bringing one of those voices to you tonight. Robert Askins has a unique voice that has resonated across the country. Hand to God is the most produced play in America this year. A modern-day morality play, Hand to God is irreverent and absurd, but all the while asks pointed questions about faith and family. Everyone involved with our production has deep roots in the Philadelphia theatre family, most notably the world-renowned puppet artist, Robert Smythe. Robert’s company, Mum Puppet Theatre, played a major role in the Philadelphia theatre renaissance. It’s thrilling to have his work in our production. One of the joys of making art in your hometown is familiarity. And while many of us are working together for the first time, we have a common understanding - a second hand if you will - about making theatre. It’s great to have a play and a theatre company that affords you the opportunity to use that collective will on something as insanely fun as Hand to God. Right now, our company is hard at work unpacking and exploring in Askins’ playland. There’s too much fun to be had to spoil it for you. Instead, I’ll leave you with a quote from the great William Shakespeare; “The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly apple rotten at the heart. O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!” Thanks for being here! Matt Pfeiffer
cast
GRACE GONGLEWSKI
ALEX KEIPER
MATTEO SCAMMELL
AUBIE MERRYLEES
WILLIAM ZIELINSKI
cast ................................................................................ GRACE GONGLEWSKI* jessica ..................................................................................................... ALEX KEIPER* jason/tyrone ............................................................................. AUBIE MERRYLEES* timothy .............................................................................. MATTEO J. SCAMMELL* pastor greg .............................................................................. WILLIAM ZIELINSKI*
margery
* Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association
Hand to God will have one fifteen-minute intermission. SETTING/TIME Cypress, Texas/the present
The video and/or audio recording of this performance by any means whatsoever is strictly prohibited. All electronic devices such as beepers, cell phones, and watch alarms must be turned off prior to the performance. THE ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS EMPLOYED IN THIS PRODUCTION ARE MEMBERS OF ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, THE UNION OF PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE SCENIC, COSTUME, LIGHTING AND SOUND DESIGNERS IN LORT THEATERS ARE REPRESENTED BY UNITED SCENIC ARTISTS LOCAL USA-829, IATSE. PRODUCTION EMPLOYEES ARE REPRESENTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF THEATRICAL STAGE EMPLOYEES, MOVING PICTURE TECHNICIANS, ARTISTS AND ALLIED CRAFTS OF THE UNITED STATES, ITS TERRITORIES AND CANADA, LOCAL 8. PHILADELPHIA THEATRE COMPANY IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE OF REGIONAL THEATRES (LORT), A CONSTITUENT MEMBER OF THEATRE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC. (TCG), A MEMBER OF THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA CULTURAL ALLIANCE (GPCA), THEATRE ALLIANCE OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA (TAGP), THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ONE OPEN CAPTION PERFORMANCE IS PROVIDED FOR EVERY PRODUCTION TO OUR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PATRONS. ONE AUDIO DESCRIPTION PERFORMANCE IS PROVIDED FOR OUR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PATRONS. LARGE PRINT, AND AUDIO CASSETTE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
SUPPORT FOR PHILADELPHIA THEATRE COMPANY’S ACCENT ON ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM COMES FROM: Independence Foundation Louis N. Cassett Foundation Wells Fargo Foundation
ADAPT!
A WORLD PREMIERE WRIttEn AnD DIREctED by Blanka Zizka March 22 – April 22, 2017
SUPPORTED BY
Aneta Kernová, ross Beschler, Steven rishard, and Sarah gliko Photo by Michaela Zemcikova and Matt Saunders
Summer of 1977, a young woman f lees Czechoslovakia for the United States and finds herself on a surreal journey where past and future meet.
TICKETS AVAILABLE
wILmAThEATEr.org 25-$45 $10 (215) 546 -7824
$
GENERAL PUBLIC
STUDENTS
The following interview was originally featured in DigBoston on January 3, 2017. It has been edited and reprinted here with permission from Christopher Ehlers and DigBoston.
CE: You’ve had amazing success with Hand to God [...] and now [...] this is one of the most produced plays of the year. Is that a unique kind of gratification for you?
RA: There’s less control over it, you know? I’m not in the room, I’m not watching the audience[...]. But it’s also really satisfying because it does, I think, expose a kind of hunger in the American theater that was there in me. I wanted things that were aggressive, I wanted things that were louder, and I wanted things that were funny; I was not seeing that work getting out there. [...] Hand to CE: You were raised Lutheran, but God embodies the thing that I want to offer the world in are you an atheist now? the space of the theater. And sometimes I feel like you RA: I’m, if anything, a striving agnostic. do that and nobody agrees with you [...], and then every I can’t call myself a Christian in all good once in a while people are like, “Yes!” [...] This is the conscience, but I do think that the thing that lights me up. And then to have it go through gestures of my religious upbringing are the ranks of the New York stage and then to find a home still with me, and I do love parts of the in 43 theaters across America is a miracle. It’s just nice to service, and I love parts of the doctrine, know that you’re not crazy. parts of the liturgy. I have very little use for the cultural Christianity, and the certain brand of American Christianity that we practice at this moment I find particularly disgusting. CE: This play puts forth [...] the question of “are we good but sometimes slip?” or “are we bad and sometimes behave?” Has writing this play helped you navigate those questions? CE: One of the play’s original actresses said Hand to God is something only an American from the South could have created. What does that mean? RA: My mother grew up in a small town in Vernon, Texas, and there is nothing in that town. [...]The church was the center of your social life, romantic life, intellectual life, and your theatrical life—it was everything. And I think people have trouble sometimes understanding that mono-focus. Some of the stresses that are present in Hand to God are about children who have been very strictly churched being confronted with a secular culture, and the cultural osmosis of bringing in puppets from popular entertainments into the sacred space, and popular music into the sacred space, and the madness that that creates, and trying to shuttle between your deep, deep religious family and a world that you’re immersed in before you have access to public school. So the intensity of that relationship—I don’t think it’s singular, but it has a very specific flavor in the South.
RA: There’s a passage in T.S. Eliot’s “Gerontion” about the inability to know the effect of our actions. There are three lines that essentially say, “You don’t know, asshole.” The thing that you think [is good] can destroy the world and the thing that you think is bad can save it. I think that’s absolutely accurate—so much of what we think is deeply right and wrong is simply etiquette, state-sponsored etiquette, so the insufficiency of that is problematic. With all that, how does one then pretend to be good? If there’s anything to be said about the play it is that it does attempt to show what I think most of America finds a problematic subculture: one that is striving for goodness.
WHO’S WHO Grace Gonglewski (Margery) Off-Broadway: The Flea Theatre, The Guys with Tom Wopat, directed by Tommy Kail. Regional: Philadelphia Theatre Company (‘Masha’ in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, The Laramie Project – Barrymore/Best Ensemble), Arden Theatre Company (26 roles including ‘Emma’ in Stupid F**king Bird, ‘Desiree’ in A Little Night Music, ‘Barbara’ in August: Osage County, Hedda Gabler, Candida, ‘Maggie’ in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and ‘Josie’ in Moon for the Misbegotten), Arena Stage, Walnut Street Theatre (The Heiress, Three Tall Women, Vohsey Inheritance, The Rivals, The Last Flapper, Shooting Simone, Street Car Named Desire), Cape Cod Playhouse (The Beard Of Avon with Juliet Mills, directed by Russ Treyz), Cape May Stage (Owl and the Pussycat, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Private Lives, Going to St. Ives), Delaware Theatre Company (As You Like It, Design For Living, Inspecting Carol), Mt. Gretna Theatre (Gaslight), Pennsylvania
Shakespeare Festival (10 seasons - ‘Portia’ in Julius Caesar (twice), ‘Josie’ in Moon For The Misbegotten, Titania, ‘Kate’ in Taming of the Shrew (twice), Adrianna, Lady Anne, ‘Elvira’ in Blythe Spirit, ‘Mistress Ford’ and ‘Mistress Page’ in separate Merry Wives), Orlando Shakespeare Festival (‘Rosalind’ in As You Like It, Lady Capulet), Wilma Theatre (Travesties, Galileo, Body Awareness - Barrymore/Best Ensemble), Theatre Exile (Bug), 1812 Productions (Daughters of Genius, Boston Marriage), and a tour of Ireland with Interact Theatre Company. Five Barrymore Awards, F. Otto Haas Award, Dorothy Haas Fellowship, Independence Foundation Recipient, BFA North Carolina School of the Arts. Grace is the voice of Tums, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Carsense, and many banks, casinos, hospitals, and politicians around the country, including Hillary Clinton last election season. Alex Keiper (Jessica) Is thrilled to be making her PTC debut! Recent credits: LIZZIE
Host your next event at the beautiful
SUZANNE ROBERTS THEATRE
For more information, contact Vince Karlen, Rental Manager 215.985.0420 x104 vkarlen@philadelphiatheatrecompany.org Photo by Peter Aaron Esto.
WHO’S WHO (11th Hour), Stupid F**king Bird, The Secret Garden, Metamorphoses (Arden), and Moon Over Buffalo (Gulfshore Playhouse). A 2013 Independence Fellow (sent to train at The Atlantic Acting School) and a proud UArts Grad (’07). Thank you to Pfeiff, the phenomenal PTC staff, beautiful design team, and powerful actors. Love to M, D, R, M&D. Up next: Buzzer at Theatre Exile. www.alexkeiper.com. Aubie Merrylees (Jason/Tyrone) PTC debut! Aubie most recently played ‘Con’ in Stupid F**king Bird at the Arden. Also in Philadelphia: The Aliens (Theatre Exile); Charlotte’s Web, Rachel Bonds’ At the Old Place (Arden); The Liar (Lantern); My Romantic History (Inis Nua); A Bright New Boise (Simpatico). Regionally: Caucasian Chalk Circle (Yale Rep) and Dmitry Krymov’s The Square Root of Three Sisters (Krymov Lab). Aubie is also a company member at People’s Light & Theatre, where his credits include End Days, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Beautiful Boy, and Stargirl. He is a graduate of Brown University and the Yale School of Drama. Thanks to Matt! For Mom, always. Matteo J. Scammell (Timothy) Past PTC credit includes the 2014 production of Detroit. Philadelphia credits include: The Arden Theater, The Wilma Theater, The Walnut St. Theater, Theatre Exile, Pig Iron, 11th Hour, Theatre Horizon, and EgoPo. In 2016, Matteo performed as the title character in The Legend of Georgia McBride (Arden) as well as on stages in New York City (George & Co.), Saratoga Springs (Gentlemen Volunteers), Philadelphia (Smoke, O Monsters), and Scranton (Much Ado About Nothing, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum). He has been a company member of Obie Award Recipient New Paradise Laboratories (NPL) since 2012. Matteo has co-created original theatrical and musical material for NPL as well as for Pig Iron Theatre Company, George & Co., Lear deBessonet, Marcel Williams Foster,
Martha Stuckey, and Sam Tower. Feature Films: The Bhakti Boy, Traffickers (2015 Philadelphia Independent Film Festival “Best Local Feature”), and I Am That (2017). Guitar player of pop-funk-rock band, Red 40 & The Last Groovement. 2015 Theater Critic’s Award for “Best Actor” as ‘Yank’ in The Hairy Ape. 2016 Barrymore Nomination for “Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play” for Smoke. BFA: UARTS Ira Brind School. Up Next: Buzzer at Theatre Exile, Hello Blackout at NPL. William Zielinski (Pastor Greg) has been performing in film, TV, and theatre for over twenty years and is thrilled to be back at PTC, having last been seen in Trumbo. A native of Northport, Long Island, he spent his formative years performing in the likes of South Pacific, The Music Man, and West Side Story, singing sacred choral music, and dropping four-part harmonies on the local library with his barbershop quartet, The Cow Harbor Kids, with the wild aspiration of one day turning those experiences into a career. (His father still hopes he has something to fall back on.) Recent theatre credits include: They Don’t Pay, We Won’t Pay (Portland Stage Company); Henry V (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival); Row After Row (People’s Light and Theatre); Down Past Passyunk (InterAct Theatre); The Exonerated (Delaware Theatre Company); and The Sisters Rosensweig (Portland Stage Company). Film and TV: Dead Man Down, Do No Harm, Flikken Maastricht, Night Catches Us, The Wire, and Shot in the Heart. He is a seven-time Barrymore nominee and a member of four Barrymore-winning ensembles. He received his MFA from the Theatre School at Temple University. He splits his time between Philly and Amsterdam. His good friends call him Billy. Robert Askins (Playwright) was born in Cypress, Texas. His Tony-nominated, Obie Award-winning play Hand to God ran on London’s West End (Olivier-nominated for Best New Comedy) after it opened on
WHO’S WHO Broadway in April 2015, following two critically-acclaimed runs at Ensemble Studio Theatre and MCC Theater, where it was named a NY Times Critics’ Pick and called “the most entertaining show of 2014.” His newest play, Permission, made its world premiere Off-Broadway in spring 2015 at MCC Theater. His play Fish Display was part of the 2012 Ojai Playwrights Conference and Permission was part of the 2014 conference. Rob has received two EST/ Sloan grants, the Helen Merrill Emerging Playwrights Award, and an Arch and Bruce Davis Award for Playwriting. Rob is an I-73 and Youngblood alum and a graduate of Baylor University. He’s currently at work on two feature film projects and an original comedy series for HBO. Matt Pfeiffer (Director) is a Philly-born actor and director who serves as the Associate Artistic Director of Theatre Exile. Matt is thrilled to be making his PTC debut. Credits include: Arden Theatre, InterAct,
Walnut St.,1812 Productions, Lantern Theatre, Delaware Theatre Co. The Gulfshore Playhouse, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, UArts, and 18 seasons with the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. Matt is a twelvetime Barrymore nominee and winner for his direction of The Whale and The Invisible Hand, both with Theatre Exile. He’s also a recipient of the F. Otto Haas Award. Matt is a proud graduate of DeSales University. Love to Kim and John. Brian Sidney Bembridge (Scenic Designer) Philadelphia: Arden Theatre, Theatre Exile, Quintessence Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company, Off-Broadway: The Public Theatre, Second Stage Theatre, The Flea, Jean Cocteau Repertory Theatre, Kids With Guns, and Theatre at St. Clements. International: Theatre Royal Stratford East in London, Town Hall Theatre in Galway, Ireland, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, and Platform Hip Hop Festival in Sydney, Australia, among others. Regional: Guth-
WHO’S WHO rie Theatre, Children’s Theatre Company, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, Chicago, Pennsylvania, and California Shakespeare theaters, Lookingglass Theatre Company (Artistic Associate), The Second City, Court Theatre, Writers Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Northlight Theatre, Drury Lane Theatres, Ravinia Festival, Luna Negra Dance, Visceral Dance, Timeline Theatre Company (Artistic Associate), Asolo, Milwaukee, St. Louis,and Madison repertory theaters, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Alliance Theatre, City Theatre Company, Geffen Playhouse, Circle X Theatre (Artistic Associate), Opera Omaha, and Virginia Opera. He has received seven Jeff Awards, three Garland Awards, two Gregory, LA Drama Critic Circle, and LA Weekly Awards, and an Ovation Award. Brian represented the United States at the Prague Quadrennial in 2011 with his design of The Elaborate Entrance Of Chad Deity. briansidneybembridge.com Alison Roberts (Costume Designer) is thrilled to join the Hand to God design team for her first show at PTC. She has a BA in Theatre Arts from Rowan University and an MFA in Costume Design and Technology from Illinois State University. She has been freelance designing in the Greater Philadelphia Area for the last fifteen years. She has worked with the Arden Theatre Company, Theatre Exile, Delaware Theatre Company, InterAct Theatre, 1812 Productions, Theatre Horizon, and Philadelphia Young Playwrights. For more information, visit www.alisonrobertsdesign.com. Thom Weaver (Lighting Designer) For PTC: Exit Strategy, Disgraced, 4,000 Miles, and Venus in Fur. Other credits include: Signature Theatre, Roundabout, NYSF/Public, Primary Stages, Pilobolus, Chicago Shakespeare, Milwaukee Rep, Arden, New Paradise Laboratories, Wilma, Theatre Exile, PLTC, Azuka, EgoPo, Shakespeare Theatre, George St., Huntington, Syracuse Stage,
Cal Shakes, Children’s Theatre Company, CenterStage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Hangar Theatre, Roundhouse, Folger, Cleveland Playhouse, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Williamstown, Lincoln Center Festival, Spoleto, Pittsburgh Public, and Yale Rep, among others. 3 Barrymores (21 nominations), Jeff Award, 4-time Helen Hayes nominee, and 2 AUDELCO Awards. Education: Carnegie Mellon and Yale. Daniel Perelstein (Composer/Sound Designer) is a freelance sound designer, composer, and musical director in Philadelphia. At PTC: Hillary & Clinton, Exit Strategy, Detroit, and Mothers & Sons. Recent designs and original music at Roundabout Theatre Company, Primary Stages, McCarter Theatre, Opera Philadelphia, Geva Theare, Wilma Theatre, Arden Theatre, People’s Light, and others. Daniel is an Associate Artist at the Wilma Theater and the resident sound designer for the Bearded Ladies Cabaret. He received Barrymore Awards for Don Juan… at the Wilma Theatre and Knives in Hens at Theatre Exile with Christopher Colucci, and fourteen Barrymore Award nominations in three categories. Independence Foundation Fellowship, 2013. B.S. Engineering, B.A. Music, Swarthmore College. In memory of Dad. Robert Smythe (Puppet Designer and Puppet Movement Director) is considered one of Philadelphia’s most creative and imaginative directors and producers. According to Philadelphia City Paper, his work as the founder of Mum Puppettheatre, the only regional theater in the United States dedicated to puppetry, “sparked the theater renaissance in Philadelphia that continues to this day.” In his 23 years at Mum, Smythe wrote and directed over 20 original productions using puppets, masks and human actors. He is the recipient of prestigious fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the National Endowment for
WHO’S WHO the Arts, as well as six Solo Performer Fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and he has won six Barrymore Awards, including the 2011 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Collaboration for his production of Stravinsky’s l’Histoire du Soldat with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. He has directed and designed puppet work for theaters throughout the region and across the country, including the Goodspeed Opera House, the Wilma Theater, Arden Theater, Interact Theater Company, People’s Light and Theater Company, and the Minneapolis Children’s Theater. His work as a voice-over artist can be heard on commercials nationwide, and he performs his cabaret act fairly regularly at L’Etage in Philadelphia. J. Alex Cordaro (Fight Director) has been studying, performing, and directing Theatrical Violence for the past thirty years. Alex has directed fights for The McCarter, The Actors Theater, The Wilma, Philadelphia Theatre Company, The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival, The Lantern, Theater Exile, Inis Nua, The Arden, Philadelphia Artists Collective, Amaryllis Theater Company, Philadelphia Opera Company, Forensic Files on TRU TV, and others. Alex’s choreography has been sailing all across Europe and the Caribbean for the past seven years in Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s productions of Saturday Night Fever, and Columbus, Return to the Caribbean! Alex has directed numerous fights for Philadelphia area dance companies and colleges. Alex is a Certified Teacher and Theatrical Firearms Safety Instructor with the Society of American Fight Directors, a three-time Barrymore Award Nominee, and was featured on the Discovery Channel’s “Project Discovery” series: Careers in the Arts; Fight Director. Annie Halliday (Production Stage Manager) This is Annie’s fourth season here at Philadelphia Theatre Company! Recent
stage management credits include Having Our Say (PTC), Rizzo (PTC), Two Gentlemen of Verona (SCP), and Underground Railroad Game (Lighting Rod Special). UArts, BFA. A huge thank you to the cast, staff, designers, and crew of Hand to God. Love to Jay, my family, and my friends. Roy W. Backes (Director of Production) is a top honors graduate of Point Park University’s BFA Conservatory Theater Program in his hometown of Pittsburgh. He began his career as Prop Master for the late, great Fred Rogers on the landmark PBS show, Mister Rogers Neighborhood. Mr. Backes has spent over three decades in the professional theater, working as a Production Stage Manager, Production Manager, and General Manager, both on and Off-Broadway and at regional theaters throughout the country, including Pittsburgh Public Theater, Philadelphia Drama Guild, Roundabout Theatre Company, Freedom Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Bay Street Theatre, Hartmann Theater, Prince Music Theater, Wilma Theater, Walnut Street Theatre, and many more. Roy is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and The Production Managers Forum. Roy thanks his wife, Lisbeth, and son, Oliver, for their love and undying support. Accept grace. Carrie Chapter (Literary Manager/Dramaturg) is a graduate of Washington College and Villanova University. Her workshop and production credits include the National Music Theatre Conference and the National Playwrights Conference at the O’Neill Theater Center, PlayPenn New Play Development, Geva Theatre Center, Playwrights Horizons, Primary Stages, and Inis Nua Theatre Company. Ms. Chapter has provided workshop dramaturgy for Broadway’s The Book of Mormon. She is also an instructor at Temple University. Ms. Chapter is a member of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA).
WHO’S WHO Sara Garonzik (Executive Producing Director) has led Philadelphia Theatre Company (PTC ) since 1982. Now celebrating its 42nd Season, PTC is a nationally-respected theatre with a mission dedicated to producing and developing new American plays and musicals. She has introduced more than 140 world and regional premieres, including new work by Terrence McNally, Bill Irwin, Anna Deavere Smith, Christopher Durang, Tracey Scott Wilson, John Henry Redwood, Naomi Wallace, Jeffrey Hatcher, Bruce Graham and others. These productions have garnered 59 Barrymore Awards and 189 nominations. In 2007, PTC opened the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, a universally-designed, fully-accessible, state-of-the-art facility on the Avenue of the Arts. PTC now serves a diverse audience of more than 60,000, including thousands of Philadelphia public high school students through its award-winning Drama Contact program, established in 2004. PTC has won two awards from the Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia—one for Arts Management Excellence (1997) and the other for its partnership with developer Carl Dranoff in creating the Suzanne Roberts Theatre/ Symphony House development (2008.) In 1991, Sara was named to PTC ’s Board of Directors. She has also served as President of the Board of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund (2009-12) and is a current member of the Mayor’s Advisory Council. Other previous board service includes Artreach, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (GPCA), and the Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia. She currently sits on the Advisory Board of PlayPenn, a new play development organization. In addition to board service, she has reviewed grant proposals on a number of theater panels for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio State Arts Councils as well as for the Knight Foundation Arts Challenge in Philadelphia, the TCG Fox Foundation Actor Fellowships, the McKnight Founda-
tion Advancement Awards for Playwriting, the O’Neill Playwrights Conference, The Philadelphia Theatre Initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. She is listed in Who’s Who of American Women and was named one of Business Philadelphia’s and Philadelphia Magazine’s “People to Watch.” In 2010, she became a Distinguished Daughter in the Court of Honor at Philadelphia High School for Girls. Other honors include the President’s Award from Philadelphia Young Playwrights, the Achievement Award from the American Association of University Women - an honor she proudly shared with Dawn Staley and Terry D’Alessandro - and Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown’s Arts Pioneer Award. She has lived and worked in Center City Philadelphia since graduating from Temple University. Amy Kaissar (Interim Managing Director) is delighted to have joined the PTC family. She served as the Managing Director at Bristol Riverside Theatre from 2009-2014. Prior to that, she was Associate Producer at New York’s Foundry Theatre. From 1999-2008, as Producing Director of the Epiphany Theatre Company, which she co-founded, she supported the work of over two hundred emerging artists, including future winners of the Tony, Richard Rodgers, Jonathan Larson, and other awards. More recently, she was a co-producer of The Heidi Chronicles on Broadway and raised funds for the Broadway productions of Fun Home, winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, and Shuffle Along (10 Tony nominations). Kaissar also teachers Theatre Management at University of Pennsylvania. She is a current or previous board member of the Bucks County Arts and Culture Council, the Bucks County Commissioner’s Economic Development Committee, the Bristol Riverside Theatre, and the Third Rail Projects. MFA Columbia, BFA Carnegie Mellon.
GENERAL INFORMATION Box Office Hours During Productions: Mon. - Sun.: 12:00 pm - curtain Between Productions: Mon. - Fri.: 10:30 am - 5:30 pm; Sat. & Sun.: Closed
for archival and publicity purposes. If you prefer that your likeness not appear in PTC materials, please notify a House Manager
Audio Description Performance & Sensory Workshop 4/26 at 1pm For audience members who are blind or low vision. Through provided assisted listening devices, a trained audio describer fills in the visual details and action on stage while it is performed live. A sensory workshop is provided before the show in which teaching artists provide in depth explanations of the visual aspects of the show, with patrons often invited on stage to touch and experience the set and costumes. Large print programs available upon special request. Contact the box office to make a reservation for this workshop and/or performance.
vkarlen@philadelphiatheatrecompany.org
Open Caption Performance 4/29 at 2pm For audience members who are hearing impaired. A large LED captioning screen, positioned beside the stage, scrolls text of the lyrics/dialogue in tandem with the lyrics/ dialogue of the performance. Assisted Listening Devices State-of-the-Art assisted listening headsets that wirelessly deliver all dialogue, music, and sound from the show at a personally adjustable volume are available for free at every PTC performance through the House Manager or concessionaire. Support for Philadelphia Theatre Company’s Accent on Accessibility program comes from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts’ Accessibility to the Arts in Pennsylvania for Individuals with Disabilities Program, VSA arts of Pennsylvania, Barra Foundation, Louis N. Casset Foundation, Independence Foundation, Lincoln Financial Foundation, Philadelphia Cultural Fund, R.K. Mellon Family Foundation, William Penn Foundation, and The Pew Charitable Trusts. Photography The use of photographic/recording devices is strictly prohibited. Please note: The audience may be photographed by PTC staff
Group Ticketing & Events Vince Karlen, Rental Manager 215.985.0420 x104, or
Student Matinees, In-School Workshops & Summer Camp Brandi Burgess, Education Programs Manager, 215.985.1400 x122, or bburgess@philadelphiatheatrecompany.org
Facility Rentals Vince Karlen, Rental Manager 215.985.0420 x104, or vkarlen@philadelphiatheatrecompany.org
Volunteer Opportunities Alexander Rioh, Audience Services Coordinator, 215.985.0420 x105, or arioh@philadelphiatheatrecompany.org
Advertising Opportunities Carol Flannery, Director of Marketing 215.985.1400 x102 cflannery@philadelphiatheatrecompany.org
Parking and Public Transportation The theatre is easily accessible by the Walnut/Locust and Lombard/South SEPTA, Broad Street Subway stations, 15th/16th PATCO station, Route “C” bus, or taxi. On-site parking is available at the LAZ lot, as well as at nearby garages along Broad Street. PTC Subscribers can pick up $2-off parking vouchers for the Interpark at the Box Office. Rest Rooms, Elevator, Water Fountains LADIES’ & MEN’S ROOMS are located on the orchestra level of the theatre. All rest rooms are ADA compliant. The ELEVATOR is located to the left of the concession stand which may be used to reach the mezzanine level. WATER FOUNTAINS are located outside the rest rooms. Lost & Found If you have lost or found an item, please see the Box Office or House Manager. PTC is not responsible for loss or theft of personal belongings.
ANNUAL FUND 2016-2017 Philadelphia Theatre Company is deeply grateful for the support it receives from the many generous individuals, corporations, foundations and government partners who contribute to the Annual Fund. For more information about PTC’s artists, productions, and programs, please call the Development Office at 215-985-1400 ext. 117. This list acknowledges donors as of March 7, 2017.
THE ARTISTS CIRCLE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS CIRCLE ($25,000+) Rhonda and David Cohen David and Nancy Colman Julia & Eugene Ericksen Dale Penneys Levy & Richard Levy Suzanne Roberts Victor Keen and Jeanne Ruddy Alan & Janet Widra PRODUCERS CIRCLE ($10,000 - $24,999) Teresa Gavigan & Larry Besnoff Linda and David Glickstein Glenn Gundersen & Susan Manix Sally Lyn Katz Monika Krug Stephen McConnell Susan & James Meyer Elliot Schwartz DIRECTORS CIRCLE ($5,000-$9,999) Anonymous (1) Tracy & Rick Burke Alice L. George John & Meredith Hanamirian Christine Kanter James T. Smith & Debra Klebanoff Carol Saline & Paul Rathblott Jerry & Cookie Riesenbach Don & Lynne Rosenblit Joan Gubernick and Alan Ruttenberg Laura & Richard Steel Shel & Karen Thompson Stephen and Rosalyn Weinstein DESIGNERS CIRCLE ($2,500-$4,999) Anonymous (1) Dr. Peter H. Arger Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Block
Linda & Jonathan Chorney Dr. Dorothy J. del Bueno Ms. Lee Ducat Jane and Joe Goldblum Harmelin Media Lynn & Joe Manko David Lerman & Shelley Wallock Bettyruth Walter, Ph.D. June and Steve Wolfson PLAYWRIGHTS CIRCLE ($1,000-$2,499) Sandra A. Bloch Arthur & Janice Block Louis Bluver Beverly & Berny Brownstein Michael & Ellen Singer Coleman Mr. and Mrs. Alan S. Fellheimer Mr. and Mrs. Steve G. Filton Phyllis & Howard Fischer Esther Flaster Henry & Sheila Gladstone Tom & Wendy Hibberd Marjorie & Jeffrey Honickman Diane Cribbs & Arthur M. Mann Seymour Millstein Frank & Barbara Osinski Robin Palley Helen and David Pudlin Maureen E. Pugh Sue Perel Rosefsky Vesna & Howard Sacks Bryna & Andrew Scott Paul & Aviva Silberberg Marjorie & Howard Silverman Gayle & David Smith Bernie & Marilyn Weidenaar Harriet & Larry Weiss PTC PERFORMERS IMPRESARIOS ($500-$999) Anonymous (1)
Helen and David Braverman Lois Elkman Marjorie & Sidney Gable Kenneth L. George Lynn & Don Haskin Marc & Susan Howard Geoffrey and Susan Kahn George F. Koch, Jr. and Santo A. DiDonato Jim & Nina Korsh William Lake Leonard Edy & Bob Mazer Chris & Cecelia Ross Patricia Saddier Neal & Sheila Schneider Joy Tartar Suzanne Walker & Thomas Gilmore Bruce McKittrick & Wendy E. Wilson Tom and Jackie Zemaitis STAR PERFORMERS ($250-$499) Anonymous (1) Mr. and Mrs. Bennett Aaron Dr. Ronald Abraham Barbara Abrahams Dr. Victor & Arlene Adlin Charlotte & Dirk Ave Udi Bar-David Drs. Alice Hausman & Jesse Berlin Andrea Biondo Larry and Susan Chane Mr. Elijah Dornstreich Barry Freedman Mark Garvin Edwin & Judy Gerber Ron & Marcia Goldstein Joel Greenberg & Marcy Gringlas Nicole Jacks Donald and Dorothy Kardon Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kleinman Seth & Ellyn Lehr Ms. Maryanne Lyons David S. Miller
Jennifer Orosco Mary Jo Reilly Michael Loughran & Jim Leach Phyllis & Manley Mincer Avery Rome and Jeff Price Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Sager Antoinette F. Seymour Morton Simon and Claudia Pine-Simon Kathleen Stephenson, Esq. ENSEMBLE PERFORMERS ($100-$249) Anonymous (5) Alan Aarons Stuart Adair Howard and Myrna Asher Ann Auerbach Mrs. Liesel Baker Dr. Donald Bakove & Margaret G. McLaughlin Rochelle & Herbert Bass Mark and Linda Baum Ann & Tom Blackburn Jonathan Block Elliot and Lori Braunstein Mr. Charles Brennan Mr. Alvin Brothers David & Ann Brownlee Bernard & Pamela Brownstein Ms. Carol Buettger Stephen & Eleanor Bulova Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Carozza John and Teresa Cavenagh Scott & Nelly Childress Robert & Sandy Clay Bauer Matt & Barbara Cohen Norman U. Cohn Darlene & John Cooke Mr. David J. Cooper Sharon Corbin Elizabeth P. Cornman Marvin and Frieda Cotler Neil and Julie Courtney John and Carol Culhane Dr. and Ms. John A. DeFlaminis Mr. and Mrs. Anthony C. Demarco Emilia DeMarco & James F. Giblin Ms. Patricia Dengler Luis DeVelasco
Ellen Dooneief Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Dorsey Liz Dow John H. Erickson & Harry I. Zaleznik Leonard Feldman Mr. and Mrs. H. Robert Fiebach Arthur and Barbara Fields Elliott Footer Mr. and Mrs. John R. Fulton III David Furniss Bernardo C. Garcia, PhD Ms. Harriet Gelbart Bernard and Joyce Gelman Suresh Ghosh and Eva Ray Dr. and Ms. Alex Glijansky Joan Gmitter Bill Goldberg Toni Alperin Goldberg Judy & Joel Golden Margaret Goodman & Jack Nachamkin Drs. Paul and Judith Goode Ms. Sandra S. Gordon Rick & Diane Graboyes David Grande Marshal and Tamar Granor Ms. Susan Grater Susan V. Greene Marsha Gross Marcia O. Halbert Ms. Margaret C. Hallenbeck Elaine Hamilton Sharon Harris Karen & Bruce Harrison Ms. Gail Hauptfuhrer Mr. Richard Hausch John E. Holohan Mr. and Mrs. Millage Holloway Jr. Ms. Carol B. Jessup Anne Jorgensen Sandy & Richard Josephs Keneseth Israel Dr. Ernest & Mrs. Marcia Kahn Tudy & Hy Kahn Doug & Ruth Keating Rhena & Steven Kelsen Mr. and Mrs. David H. Kilmer Alan King Dr. and Mrs. David Koch Mr. and Mrs. Don Kramer
Selma & Goncer Krestal Carol LaBelle Magdalyn Y. Lawton Mr. Daniel T. Lee Mrs. Ilene Lefko Joe & Virginia Leonard Natalie Levkovich Drs. Selina Luger & Michel Hoessly Dr. Edward Lundy & Debbie Reiff Ronnie & Larry Margel Alexis & Joel Marmar Jim and Cheryl Marple Frances Martin, Ph.D. Dr. Rosalie Matzkin Lynne Maxwell Jim McCaffery Mr. Michael K. McClure Judith & Martin Miller Mr. and Mrs. Paul W. Miller Mr. Richard Mitchell Elizabeth Montserat Jeff & Maxine Morgan Mr. James R. Murray Jr. Kenneth and Susan Myers Larry and Stephanie Ness Eliot & Bonnie Nierman Etta and Charles Nissman Stuart & Carol Ockman Linda L. Osler Larry Pace John & Sandi Packel Lanny and Ann Patten John & Jo Anne Pinto Bob Hedley & Harriet Power Steven Prigohzy and Suzanne Fraley F. Jerome and Joan Purcell Donald Quiring Mr. and Mrs. Michael Rathmill Joyce Harwood Ratner Robert & Wanda M. Rauch Lorraine & Marvin Riesenbach Ellen Rosen Rogoff Dulcie Romm Tony & Barbara Rooklin Joel Rosenbloom Dan & Barbara Rottenberg Lisette & Jerry Ruderman Mr. and Mrs. James Santangelo Arlene D. Schaller Carl & Mary Ellen Schneider
Dr. Louis & Linda Schwartz Mr. and Mrs. David Scott Marilyn & Jerome Segal Eric & Robin Settle Toby Simon Ms. Julie Sinclair Anne C. Singer Mr. Israel Skolnick Jay K. Snyderman Lucille B. Stein Bette Steinberg Philip & Doris Steinberg Ethan and Patricia Stenger Robert Stern Barbara Barnett-Stewart & Robert Stewart Paul Stone Mr. and Ms. Jim Sumerson Danielle Sutherland Edward Tierney Drs. Marc and Susan Trager Tom & Joan Tropp Mr. and Mrs. Norman A. Trudel Gaylen Uhlich Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Van Laar Deborah McColloch & Charles Valentine Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Vogel Linda & Alan Warshaw Thoman E. Watkins Eileen Weinberg
Richard Weisbrot Mr. and Mrs. Harold B. Wells Jr. Leslie & Ellen Welson Carolyn L. Whitaker Howard Wiener Doris Williams Sherry Shamansky & Wallace Wing Kuna & Sam Yankell Roger & Lillian Youman Mr. and Mrs. William Zeidner Mr. and Ms. Richard Zeitlin Raezelle Zinman & Brian Hanna GIFTS IN MEMORY Ginny Mark Garvin Kenneth S. Kaiserman Susan Balder Susan Kaiserman Joel Greenberg and Marcy Ginglas Kenneth and Susan Kaiserman Jim and Nina Korsh Donald Stanley Wilf and in Honor of Dr. Peter Arger Elaine W. Baer and Gloria A. Moskowitz
GIFTS IN HONOR Sara Garonzik Stuart Adair Mr. David J. Cooper Joel Rosenbloom Priscilla M. Luce Nancy R. Newman Jerry Riesenbach Marjorie & Jeffrey Honickman Don & Lynne Rosenblit’s 60th Anniversary Lois Elkman Bernard and Joyce Gelman Gilbert & Gabrielle Herer Monika Krug Anthony Mauro Francine Rebhun RTD Financial Advisors, Inc. Staci Schwartz Drs. Marc and Susan Trager Alan and Janet Widra Ms. Barbara Shaiman Mr. Richard Weisbrot Monika Krug Mojdeh Keykhah
Donald Stanley Wilf Dr. Peter Arger
Thank you to our donors to the
KENNETH S. KAISERMAN FUND FOR ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE
Sue Perel Rosefsky Larry & Susan Chane Jim & Nina Korsh
Harmelin Media Frank & Barbara Osinski
A LEGACY OF THEATRE The aspirations of Philadelphia Theatre Company have always been fueled by the generosity of theatre enthusiasts from the region. The Visionary Society, named after the theatre’s founders, was formed to pay tribute to the special group of visionary supporters who have remembered Philadelphia Theatre Company in their wills or in other gift plans. When you join the Society you help ensure that PTC’s rich tradition of artistic excellence will be preserved for generations to come. If you have included PTC in your estate plans, please notify us. For more information regarding The Visionary Society and how to include PTC in your estate plans, please contact: Gina Range | Director of Institutional Advancement 215.985.1400 x115 | grange@philadelphiatheatrecompany.org
BECOME A MEMBER TODAY! Ticket prices cover only a fraction of the cost of what you see on stage, and we must make up the difference with gifts from individuals like you who most appreciate the work we do.
Support the work at Philadelphia Theatre Company that you know and love!
YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO PTC BENEFIT THE FOLLOWING: EXCITING NEW AMERICAN PLAYS AND MUSICALS brought to life by the finest creative teams at our beautiful Suzanne Roberts Theatre on the Avenue of the Arts
PTC@PLAY our Annual New Play Festival DRAMA CONTACT EDUCATION PROGRAM that serves hundreds of Philadelphia students every year
P H I L A D E L PH I A T H EAT R E CO M PAN Y at the
2016/17 MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS $50 STAGEHAND •
Quarterly E-Newsletter
$500 IMPRESARIO ($450 tax-deductible) •
$100 ENSEMBLE ($80 tax-deductible) • • •
Invitation for two to attend the Terrence McNally New Play Award Ceremony Donor listing in Playwise performance programs Voucher for two complimentary glasses of wine at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre Lobby Café
$250 STAR ($220 tax-deductible) •
Invitation and reserved seating for PTC Education Program’s Philly Reality student showcase, original theatrical pieces created by Philadelphia High School students
•
Invited Dress Rehearsal: See how it all comes together with your invitation for two to attend a special look-in at a PTC dress rehearsal Invitation to attend PTC’s Season Celebration Party
$1,000+ THE ARTISTS CIRCLE MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ENJOY THE CLOSEST ACCESS The Artists Circle is for our loyal patrons who share our passion for the very best theatre and artists. As a member of the Artists Circle, you will not only play a major role in our success, but you will also become a part of the close group of donors who call PTC home. For a complete list of Artists Circle benefits, visit philatheatreco.org/ donate/artistscircle.
PATRON ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS (PEP) that bring audiences closer to the artists they love
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH THEATRE
ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAMS that ensure that everyone has access to our productions and programs
Send your gift in the envelope inside this program, make a gift online, or call our office 215-985-1400 x117.
CORPORATE PARTNERS
Let Philadelphia Theatre Company put your business in the spotlight. For more information about corporate memberships, sponsorships and inkind support, please call 215.985.1400 x117 SEASON SPONSORS
CORPORATE SPONSORS ($25,000+) LG Arts Marketing PECO PREIT CORPORATE PARTNERS ($5,000 - $9,999) AllRisk Property Damage Experts Cozen O’Connor Dranoff Properties, Inc. Holman Automotive The Sunoco Foundation CORPORATE GIFTS AmazonSmile Foundation Masque Sound Harmelin Media The Safegard Group Inc. Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program Whole Foods
MATCHING GIFTS Alliance Bernstein Alliance Data Corp. Bank of New York Mellon GE Foundation Matching Gifts Program GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Matching Gifts Program JPMorgan Chase Lincoln Financial Foundation Matching Gift Program Merck Partnership for Giving Sunoco Foundation UBS Employee Giving Program FOUNDATION SUPPORT The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation Ann B. Ritt Charitable Foundation AYCO Charitable Foundation Chatham Foundation The Charlotte Cushman Foundation CHG Charitable Trust The Civic Foundation, Inc. Fund for Children of The Philadelphia Foundation Glazer Family Foundation Horance W. Goldsmith Foundation The Hamilton Family Foundation Independence Foundation Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia June and Steve Wolfson Family Foundation Knights Arts Challenge of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater The Lida Foundation Maxwell Strawbridge Foundation The Miller-Worley Foundation Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. National Philanthropic Trust
The Shubert Foundation The Suzanne F. and Ralph J. Roberts Foundation United Way of Southeast Pennsylvania The Victory Foundation Widra Family Foundation The William Penn Foundation The Wyncote Foundation GOVERNMENT SUPPORT Philadelphia Theatre Company receives State arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a State agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Philadelphia Theatre Company is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Philadelphia Theatre Company gratefully acknowledges the support of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund. This list acknowledges donors as of 3/7/17. PTC strives for accuracy in its donor listings. If there is a misprint or your name has been inadvertently omitted, please call 215.985.1400 x117.
Contact the Development Department: 215.985.0420 x117
MAJOR GIFTS Philadelphia Theatre Company is grateful to the following major donors for their foresight in helping us in achieving a bright future. It is because of their commitment, good will, and continued generosity that PTC has grown to become one of the finest theatres in the region. Thank you!
$1,000,000+ Suzanne F. and Ralph J. Roberts $100,000 to $999,999 Dr. Peter H. Arger* David and Nancy Colman Julia & Eugene Ericksen The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation The Kaiserman Family Kaiserman Company, Inc. Victor Keen and Jeanne Ruddy H.F. and Marguerite Lenfest The Miller Worley Foundation Daniel M. Ritt William Penn Foundation
$50,000 to $99,999 Dorothy J. del Bueno Sue Perel Rosefsky** Harriet & Larry Weiss Alan and Janet Widra $20,000 to $49,999 Tracy and Rick Burke Alice L. George Estate of Ellis K. Ginsberg Patricia Imbesi Sally Lyn Katz Monika Krug Dale Penneys Levy & Richard Levy Susan & James Meyer Carol Saline and Paul Rathblott
Ann B. Ritt Charitable Foundation Ronald and Marcia Rubin Bryna and Andrew Scott James T. Smith and Debra Klebanoff June and Steve Wolfson Family Foundation *The Peter Arger and Donald Wilf New Play Fund **Kenneth S. Kaiserman Fund for Artistic Excellence This list acknowledges major gifts from 1/01/10 through 3/7/17
Capital Campaign Contributors 2004-2009
Philadelphia Theatre Company applauds these major donors for their generous support of the campaign to help bring Philadelphia Theatre Company and the Suzanne Roberts Theatre to the Avenue of the Arts.
LEAD DONORS
Aileen K. and Brian L. Roberts
The Arcadia Foundation
Diane and Douglas A. Roberts
Marilyn and J. Robert Birnhak
Sue Perel Rosefsky
City of Philadelphia
Lisa S. Roberts and David Seltzer
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Anita and Terry Steen
The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation The Kaiserman Family
Shel and Karen Thompson U.S. Airways Community Foundation
THE CORNERSTONE SOCIETY PATRONS Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Tracy and Rick Burke Citibank Michael M. Coleman David and Nancy Colman Dorothy J. del Bueno
Harriet and Larry Weiss
Roberta and Carl Dranoff
Alan and Janet Widra
Ernst & Young
Suzanne F. and Ralph J. Roberts
THE CORNERSTONE SOCIETY BENEFACTORS
Donna and Barry Feinberg
Weight Watchers of Philadelphia, Inc.
Ken and Edna Adelberg
Independence Foundation Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest
June and Steve Wolfson The William Penn Foundation
THE FOUNDERS CLUB
Valla Amsterdam Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Beneficia Foundation
Debbie and Bob Fleischman Matt and Marie Garfield Teresa Gavigan and Larry Besnoff Hamilton Family Foundation Independence Blue Cross
Blank Rome LLP
Eleanor M. and Herbert D. Katz Family Foundation
The Comcast Family
Connelly Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Maher
Cozen O’Connor
Will and Lucille Daniel
The Dietrich Foundation
Sir David Bruce Duncan and Lady Deana Pitcairn Duncan
Richard and Alice Norman Mandel
Catherine Roberts Clifton and Anthony A. Clifton
Linda and David Glickstein Daniel B. and Florence E. Green Family Foundation Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust A at the recommendation of Carole Haas Gravagno Mr. and Mrs. Jon Harmelin KieranTimberlake Associates Monika Krug Richard and Dale Levy Kim and Rob Roberts The Fulcrum Foundation Lincoln Financial Foundation Susan and James Meyer
Frank and Barbara Osinki
Samuel S. Fels Fund
PNC
Otto Haas Charitable Trust #2 at the recommendation of Leonard C. Haas
Don and Lynne Rosenblit
Sally Lyn Katz
Neal and Sheila Schneider
The Lida Foundation
Shire Pharmaceuticals
Jerry and Cookie Riesenbach
James T. Smith and Debra I. Klebanoff
Carol Saline and Paul Rathblott Bryna and Andrew Scott
Kenneth M. Rutherford
Laura and Richard Steel
Ruth W. and A. Morris Williams, Jr.
Tracey B. Weiss and William I. Goldberg
Leslie MIller and Richard Worley
Special thanks to our many other donors.
PHILADELPHIA THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTIONS Key Code
All productions are Philadelphia premieres unless otherwise noted. v
World Premiere
l Co-Production n East Coast, Professional or American Premiere m
Production moved on to NY or other regional theater.
THE SUZANNE ROBERTS THEATRE
(2007 - Present)
2016 - 17 RIZZO (Theatre Exile Production by Bruce Graham FOUND Book by Hunter Bell and Lee Overtree, Music & Lyrics by Eli Bolin HAVING OUR SAY A play by Emily Mann 2015 - 16 DISGRACED by Ayad Akhtar BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY by Ken Ludwig lmnEXIT STRATEGY by Ike Holter l SEX WITH STRANGERS by Laura Eason n HILLARY AND CLINTON by Lucas Hnath 2014 - 15 DETROIT by Lisa D’Amour OUTSIDE MULLINGAR by John Patrick Shanley MOTHERS AND SONS by Terrence McNally l brownsville song (b-side for tray) by Kimber Lee MURDER FOR TWO Book & Lyrics by Kellen Blair, Book & Music by Joe Kinosian 2013 - 14 4000 MILES by Amy Herzog m NERDS Book & Lyrics by Jordan Allen-Dutton and Erik Weiner, Music by Hal Goldberg nlTRIBES by Nina Raine VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE by Christopher Durang COLIN QUINN UNCONSTITUTIONAL 2012 - 13 mvSTARS OF DAVID book by Charles Busch adapted from book by Abigail Pogrebin, Various composers THE MOUNTAINTOP by Katori Hall SEMINAR by Theresa Rebeck l VENUS IN FUR by David Ives LOVE LOSS AND WHAT I WORE A collection of stories by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, Based on the book by Ilene Beckerman
book by David Thompson n THE OUTGOING TIDE by Bruce Graham REASONS TO BE PRETTY by Neil LaBute 2010 - 11 THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE book by Rachel Sheinkin Music and lyrics by William Finn RACE by David Mamet LET ME DOWN EASY Written and performed by Anna Deavere Smith mvBELLA: THE COLOR OF LOVE by Theresa Tova and Mary Kerr RUINED by Lynn Nottage COLIN QUINN: LONG STORY SHORT 2009 - 10 HUMOR ABUSE by Lorenzo Pisoni and Erica Schmidt THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA by Craig Lucas and Adam Guettel mvGOLDEN AGE by Terrence McNally mvRED HOT PATRIOT: THE KICK-ASS WIT OF MOLLY IVINS by Margaret Engel & Allison Engel MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM by August Wilson TH CHICAGO’S THE SECOND CITY 50 ANNIVERSARY TOUR 2008 - 09 mvUNUSUAL ACTS OF DEVOTION by Terrence McNally 25 QUESTIONS FOR A JEWISH MOTHER by Kate Moira Ryan & Judy Gold RESURRECTION by Daniel Beaty AT HOME AT THE ZOO by Edward Albee GREY GARDENS book by Doug Wright, Music by Scott Frankel, Lyrics by Michael Korie lvTHE CITY OF NUTTERLY LOVE co-production with Chicago’s The Second City
Christopher Durang, music by Peter Melnick BEN FRANKLIN: UNPLUGGED by Josh Kornbluth in collaboration with David Dower AFTER ASHLEY by Gina Gionfriddo INTIMATE APPAREL by Lynn Nottage vmSOME MEN by Terrence McNally 2004 - 05 TRUMBO by Christopher Trumbo with Bill Irwin THE STORY by Tracey Scott Wilson ELEGIES: A SONG CYCLE by William Finn TAKE ME OUT by Richard Greenberg 2003 - 04 TOPDOG/UNDERDOG by Suzan-Lori Parks NICKEL AND DIMED by Joan Holden v ACCORDING TO GOLDMAN by Bruce Graham THE GOAT OR, WHO IS SYLVIA? by Edward Albee 2002 - 03 FULLY COMMITTED by Becky Mode KING HEDLEY II by August Wilson THE LAST FIVE YEARS by Jason Robert Brown vmA PICASSO by Jeffrey Hatcher 2001 - 02 DINNER WITH FRIENDS by Donald Margulies n THE INFIDEL by Bruce Norris THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY by Edward Albee BARBRA’S WEDDING by Daniel Stern 2000 - 01 m COMPLEAT FEMALE STAGE BEAUTY by Jeffrey Hatcher vmNO NIGGERS, NO JEWS, NO DOGS by John Henry Redwood THIS IS OUR YOUTH by Kenneth Lonergan THE LARAMIE PROJECT by Moisés Kaufman and Members of the Tectonic Theater Project
1999 - 00 l DINAH WAS: THE DINAH WASHINGTON MUSICAL by Oliver Goldstick 2007 - 08 v WHITE PEOPLE by J.T. Rogers v BEING ALIVE music & lyrics by Stephen WIT by Margaret Edson Sondheim, conceived and directed by Billy Porter SIDE MAN by Warren Leight M. BUTTERFLY by David Henry Hwang THIRD by Wendy Wasserstein 1998 - 99 v THE HAPPINESS LECTURE by Bill Irwin HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE by Paula Vogel PLAYS & PLAYERS THEATER (1982 - 2007) 2006 - 07 n MURDERERS by Jeffrey Hatcher THE FROG BRIDE by David Gonzalez mvNERDS://A MUSICAL SOFTWARE SATIRE by Jordan Allen-Dutton, Erik Weiner, music by Hal Goldberg l IN THE CONTINUUM by Danai Gurira & Nikkole Salter ORSON’S SHADOW by Austin Pendleton
2011 - 12 RED by John Logan 2005 - 06 THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS music and Lyrics by vmADRIFT IN MACAO book & lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb
vmLIVES OF THE SAINTS by David Ives
GROSS INDECENCY: THE THREE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE by Moisés Kaufman THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE by Martin McDonagh
1997 - 98 FULL GALLOP by Mark Hampton and Mary Louise Wilson MINUTES FROM THE BLUE ROUTE by Tom Donaghy A QUESTION OF MERCY by David Rabe nmBIRDY by William Wharton, adapted by Naomi Wallace
PHILADELPHIA THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTIONS 1996 - 97 vmBUNNY BUNNY by Alan Zweibel MOLLY SWEENEY by Brian Friel l SYLVIA by A.R. Gurney SEVEN GUITARS by August Wilson 1995 - 96 THREE VIEWINGS by Jeffrey Hatcher I AM A MAN by Oyamo BROKEN GLASS by Arthur Miller LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! by Terrence McNally 1994 - 95 ALL IN THE TIMING by David Ives KEELY AND DU by Jane Martin THE WOODS by David Mamet vmMASTER CLASS by Terrence McNally 1993 - 94 SIGHT UNSEEN by Donald Margulies THE WORLD GOES ‘ROUND by John Kander and Fred Ebb n “2” by Romulus Linney NIGHT SKY by Susan Yankowitz
LEXIE by Eudora Welty, adapt. by Brenda Curran; and From The Mississippi Delta by Endesha Ida Mae Holland vmHOSPITALITY by Allan Havis OUT! by Lawrence Kelly First fully-mounted production 1986 - 87 WILLIAMS & WALKER by Vincent D. Smith vlCITIZEN TOM PAINE by Howard Fast with Richard Thomas, co-produced with The Kennedy Center DAYS AND NIGHTS WITHIN by Ellen McLaughlin AS IS by William M. Hoffman 1985 - 86 PAINTING CHURCHES by Tina Howe l SPLIT SECOND by Dennis McIntyre. Co-produced with Freedom Theatre. Original commissioned from Grover Washington, Jr. GREAT AMERICAN SIDESHOW: ONE ACTS by Romulus Linney, Alan Zweibel and Robert Pine EXTREMITIES by William Mastrosimone
1992 - 93 1984 - 85 PRELUDE TO A KISS by Craig Lucas TERRA NOVA by Ted Tally MOUNTAIN by Douglas Scott with Len Cariou GENIUSES by Jonathan Reynolds v TINY TIM IS DEAD by Barbara Lebow TO GILLIAN ON HER 37TH BIRTHDAY LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART by Michael Brady by Terrence McNally FOOL FOR LOVE by Sam Shepard 1991 - 92 NATIONAL ANTHEMS by Dennis McIntyre MISS EVERS’ BOYS by David Feldshuh n LADY-LIKE by Laura Shamas vmNAGASAKI DUST by W. Colin McKay
1983 - 84 GETTING OUT by Marsha Norman TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard STRANGE SNOW by Steve Metcalfe FIFTH OF JULY by Lanford Wilson
1990 - 91 SPEED-THE-PLOW by David Mamet THE COCKTAIL HOUR by A.R. Gurney with Celeste Holm n PILL HILL by Samuel Kelley
1982 - 83 WINGS by Arthur Kopit LONE STAR/LAUNDRY & BOURBON by James McLure FINAL PASSAGES by Robert Schenkkan DYLAN THOMAS by Jack Aranson with Jack Aranson
1989 THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE songs by Randy Newman and Tracy Friedman 1981 - 82 WHEN YOU COMIN’ BACK, RED RYDER 1988 - 89 by Mark Medoff ELAINE’S DAUGHTER by Mayo Simon THE VIETNAMIZATION OF NEW JERSEY THE VOICE OF THE PRAIRIE by John Olive by Christopher Durang FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE NUTS by Tom Topor LUNE by Terrence McNally GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS by David Mamet VARIOUS THEATRES HANNAH SENESH by Lori Wilner and David (1975 - 1981) Schechter adapt: of Senesh diaries AVNER THE ECCENTRIC with Avner Eisenberg 1980 - 81 THE RIMERS OF ELDRITCH by Lanford 1987 - 88 Wilson vlSTAUF by Eric Saltzman and Michael Sahl ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS co-produced with the American Music company developed by Lewis Carroll Theater Festival HOOTERS by Ted Tally ORPHANS by Lyle Kessler JESSE AND THE BANDIT QUEEN n SOUTHERN EXPOSURE: SISTER AND MISS by David Freeman
GETTING OUT by Marsha Norman 1979 - 80 STREAMERS by David Rabe v THE INSANITY OF MARY GIRARD by Lainie Robertson THE EMPEROR JONES by Eugene O’Neill v DEMENTIA 80 by Don Steele 1979 ASHES by David Rudkin v THE EXHIBITION by Thomas Gibbons v SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE WOMEN by Don Steele and Edward Earle 1978 THE SEAGULL by Anton Chekhov THE TRANSFIGURATION OF BENNO BLIMPIE by Albert Innaurato v THE PERSECUTION OF EUGENE WATERMAN by Louis Lippa v THE FINAL CONCERT TOUR OF MICKEY COLOSSUS by Peter Mattaliano A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by William Shakespeare v CENTER CITY SOAP by Dorothy Louise 1976 - 77 v THE LION AND THE LAMB by Joseph Orazi v FUTURE TENSE by John Sevcik v THE KEEPER by Karolyn Nelke 27 WAGONS FULL OF COTTON by Tennessee Williams v MARS by Clay Goss SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER by Oliver Goldsmith (Theatre in the Court) TWELFTH NIGHT by William Shakespeare (Theatre in the Court) 1976 v MARLOWE by John Yinger RAIN by W. Somerset Maugham, adapted by Colton and Randolph v THE CROSSING/AS I LAY DYING A VICTIM OF SPRING by David Rabe & Leslie Lee v THE THREE DAUGHTERS OF M. DUPONT by E. Brieux, translation by Pauline Jones TWELFTH NIGHT by William Shakespeare (NewMarket)
1975 THE ADDING MACHINE by Elmer Rice SARGEANT MUSGRAVE’S DANCE by John Arden v BETWEEN NOW AND THEN by Leslie Lee
ABOUT OUR THEATRE The Suzanne Roberts Theatre, designed by Kieran Timberlake Associates, is owned and operated by Philadelphia Theatre Company and is the Company’s first permanent home. PTC is proud that the creation and development of its home, in partnership with Symphony House Developer, Carl Dranoff, has become a model for civic redevelopment - one that capitalizes on the ability of the arts to reinvigorate districts for residential and commercial revival. The space is contemporary, elegant, and urbane, and features a 160’ double-height glass facade on the Avenue of the Arts. The interior is defined by a uniquely warm and sculptural, 365-seat main stage auditorium with a proscenium arch of interlocking leather tiles, a spacious and contemporary mezzanine, and a planned 100-seat, flexible second stage for new play development, intimate performances, and educational programming. Our stage house significantly enhances our ability to respond to the most imaginative visions of our creative teams with its spacious wings, soaring fly gallery, and trapped stage. The Theatre offers a full range of public amenities with an on-site box office, an ample amount of public rest rooms, a concession stand, and multiple lobbies designed for patron comfort and engagement with the City, visible through large expanses of glass. The grand staircase leads from the main floor to the double-height mezzanine lobby. The Theatre’s contemporary, universal design makes it one of the country’s most accessible performing arts venues and supports one of PTC’s core values to ensure that our artistry is accessible to everyone in our community.
ABOUT SUZANNE ROBERTS Philadelphia Theatre Company is honored to name its home after Suzanne Roberts--actress, playwright, director, educator, producer, and philanthropist. For more than 40 years, Suzanne has been a leading champion of the Philadelphia theater community. An actress by training, Suzanne has engaged as an artist in meaningful public service with projects as diverse as performing in dramas to inspire the purchase of war bonds during World War II to national appearances in plays discouraging racism and alcoholism. Demonstrating the breadth of her artistry, Suzanne has performed on many stages throughout our region in plays from Shakespeare to A.R. Gurney. She has also performed in a variety of media including radio and television and is well known to audiences as the creator and host of the Emmy AwardWinning Seeking Solutions with Suzanne. One of Suzanne’s lifelong passions has been using theater to improve the lives of young people. Through the Suzanne Roberts Cultural Development Fund, she has supported the outreach work of theater and dance companies in sharing their creativity with school children and young adults. Portrait of Suzanne Roberts by Alan Kole. Photo of Mainstage of Suzanne Roberts Theatre, home of Philadelphia Theatre Company, by Mark Garvin
2016/17 BOARD OF DIRECTORS E. Gerald Riesenbach, Esq., Chairman David L. Cohen, Vice Chairman Elliot Schwartz, President Julia Ericksen, Ph.D., Executive Vice President David L. Colman, AIA, Vice President Glenn Gundersen, Vice President
Victor F. Keen, Vice President John M. Hanamirian, Treasurer Carol Saline, Secretary Brigitte F. Daniel Corbin, Esq. Sara Garonzik, Ex-Officio Teresa Gavigan Joan Gubernick Sally Lyn Katz Monika Krug Dale Penneys Levy
MEMBERS EMERITUS Joanne Harmelin Sheldon L. Thompson Bettyruth Walter, Ph.D. Tracey Weiss, Ph.D.
Stephen J. McConnell James M. Meyer, CFA Donald Rosenblit, Chairman Emeritus James T. Smith, Esq. Blair A. Thompson Alan Widra
FORMER BOARD PRESIDENTS Kenneth Kaiserman* Robert Greenfield* Thomas M.S. Wheelock Lewis C. Ross Carole Phillips* John Friedman
Donald Rosenblit William F. O’Donnell Monika Krug Cheryl Green Bernard A. Weidenaar Sheldon L. Thompson
E. Gerald Riesenbach, Esq. Michael M. Coleman Priscilla M. Luce
*deceased
PHILADELPHIA THEATRE COMPANY STAFF LEADERSHIP
Executive Producing Director Sara Garonzik Interim Managing Director Amy Kaissar ARTISTIC/ PROGRAMMING STAFF
Literary Manager & Dramaturg Carrie Chapter Director of Education Maureen Sweeney Education Programs Manager Brandi Burgess Albert M. Greenfield Teaching Artist Fellows Olivia Harris, Michelle Pauls Resident Teaching Artists Raven Buck, Griffin Stanton-Ameisen Teaching Artists Anthony Adair, Madison Auch, Carly Bodnar, Joseph DiOrio, Ah-Keisha McCants, Jarrett McCreary Education Intern Jayden Hawkins ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Manager of Board & Administrative Services Sharon Kling Director of Institutional Advancement Gina Range Development Manager Jessica Pasquariello Development Associate Colleen Gill Business Manager Petal Miller Bookkeeper Carol Nitzberg Director of Marketing Carol Flannery Graphic Designer & Marketing Coordinator Christina Mastrull Marketing Associate Katey O’Connor Audience Services & Marketing Tessitura Manager Kristen Norine Rental Manager Vince Karlen Publicist Deborah Fleischman Audience Services Coordinator Alexander Rioh Audience Services Supervisors Jane Sorensen, Erin Washburn
Audience Services Associates Katey Badey, Lydia Di lorio, Jarrett McCreary, Alix Rosenfeld House Managers Aaron Bell, Ben Coppola, Ben Deivert, Arlen Hancock, Randi Hickey, Kelsey Hodgkiss, Antoine Jones, Rebecca Macy, Jennifer MacMillan, Jarrett McCreary, Frank Shierloh, Jack Tamburri Jr. Administrative Staff Yvonne Reynolds PRODUCTION STAFF
Director of Production Roy W. Backes Production General Manager Bridget A. Cook Production/Operations Manager Matthew F. Lewandowski II Assistant Stage Manager Anne Ketcham Assistant Sound Designer Mary Kate Smyser Puppet Construction Susan Smythe, Crooked Dog Designs Carpentry/Rigging Supervisor Jay Wojnarowski Props Master Jeffery Bazemore Production Electrician Terry Smith Sound Supervisor Chuck Hillwig Lighting Supervisor Travis Johnson Video Supervisor Jeremy Theopulos Assistant Carpenter Max Durkin Wardrobe Supervisor Mark Mariani Custodians Marvin Smith, Dorene Hobbs RUN CREW
Lighting Board Operator Travis Johnson Sound Board Operator Chuck Hillwig Wardrobe Mark Mariani, Danielle Joh, Stacie McBride SPECIAL THANKS
12th Street Gym Enterprise Rent-a-Car Show Art/Cover Illustrations by Christina Mastrull ©2017
WELCOME SPECIAL GUES TS
THE
1 0 TH A N N I V E R S A R Y
OF THE
S U Z A N N E R O B E R T S T H E AT R E
PHILADELPHIA T H E AT R E CO M PA N Y at the