A STREETSIGNS PRODUCTION
TEMPLES OF LUNG AND AIR WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY DIRECTED BY
KANE SMEGO
JOSEPH MEGEL
SEP 28–OCT 11, 2020 Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Art
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919.962.7529
TEMPLES OF LUNG AND AIR
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Letter from Vivienne Support PlayMakers Who We Are Message from Kane Title Page Bios General Information PlayMakers Staff Friends of PlayMakers Corporate and Foundation Partners Advertisers
Photo of Kane Smego by HuthPhoto
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
VIVIENNE BENESCH
Dear Friends, Thank you for joining us. As we all continue to adapt to our given circumstances, theatre artists across the globe are finding ways to do what we do best: tell transformational stories in the face of any circumstances. And so it is with great pride that we open our 45th season—a virtual one—with an encore presentation of Kane Smego’s Temples of Lung and Air. As both creator and citizen, Kane is a living embodiment of how art can make a tangible difference in people’s lives. Which is why, despite a totally sold out premiere of this piece as part of our PRC2 series in 2018, we were so disappointed that more of our community was not able to see the show. We are thrilled and eager, therefore, for audiences near and far to now have access to this singular piece. In fact, at this moment when we are so isolated, Kane’s story of finding connection and intersection feels even more vital than when we presented it two years ago. As a Next Level Artist supported by the U.S. Department of State, Kane Smego has spent years traveling to Zimbabwe, Thailand, Brazil, and Morocco to promote understanding and conflict resolution through hip hop, and to support the professional development of artists in those communities. As a theatre artist, Kane is an heir to Shakespeare, Molière, and Lope de Vega—and I’m not exaggerating. Kane’s extraordinary gift is to bend, turn, twist, and massage words in ways that make them feel entirely new again, and to arrange them into sentences, stanzas, images, and metaphors that drop our jaws and leave us panting to keep up. So you’re in for a treat. If you’re already a member of our PlayMakers family, welcome home. If you’re new to PlayMakers, we hope you’ll consider us a resource and a hub for the highest quality entertainment and dynamic, provocative, and inspiring discussion. We’ve got an amazing lineup of theater for you this season, even though you may experience it differently than if we were able to gather. Until then, all we ask of you is to settle yourselves into your couch and let yourself be transported and transformed. Warmly,
Vivienne
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ADVISORY COUNCIL Amy Guskiewicz Chair
Betsy Blackwell Vice Chair
Duncan Lascelles Vice Chair
Joanne Garrett Deborah Gerhardt Joan H. Gillings Bobbi Hapgood Lisa Hazen Tom Hazen Janelle Hoskins
Betty Kenan, emeritus Stuart Lascelles Robert Long Graig Meyer Julie Morris Florence Peacock Diane Robertson
Wyndham Robertson Carol Smithwick David Sontag Jackie Tanner Mike Wiley Lisa Yarborough
The magic of live theatre is its ability to bring together people from all walks of life in order to experience beautiful stories as a community. Until we are safely able to gather again, we have created PlayMakers (Keeping You) Company, an online series of artist conversations, master classes, and yes, eventually, performances.
SEE WHAT WE HAVE FOR YOU AT playmakersrep.org/keeping-you-company 6
SUPPORT US It is my pleasure to serve another year as the chair of the PlayMakers Advisory Council and welcome you to our 2020/21 season. Our fully virtual All Too Human season was born out of the need to adapt, learn, and change in the face of personal and national upheaval. In addition to an impressive lineup of virtual performances, PlayMakers continues its work serving the Triangle community. We are privileged to provide unique learning opportunities for K–12 classrooms and UNC students, create new ways to engage with our local artists and advocates, and make the magic and power of theatre accessible to underserved communities. Living in Chapel Hill for the past 25 years and raising our family here has created many fond memories sitting alongside family, friends, and visitors at PlayMakers. This year, I look forward to experiencing PlayMakers’ signature variety of shows, which often challenge my thinking, entertain, and move me, from the comfort of my living room! While this season will look a little different than what we are used to, I remain thankful for the gift this innovative, award-winning theatre provides. Though we may be physically distanced this season, theatre is and always will be a place for community. And it is up to us—the community—to ensure that PlayMakers continues to thrive. This year, we have a goal to raise $1.5 million to help recover from the impact of the past six months, maintain our current operations, and emerge strong for the future. If you enjoy and believe in the power of the theatre as I do, I invite you to become a Friend of PlayMakers. Please make a tax-deductible contribution to the annual fund, pledge a monthly donation as a Sustainer, or offer a campaign gift to strengthen and sustain PlayMakers’ vision for the future. There has never been a more important time to support the arts. Join me in championing our local theatre—an organization that makes a difference in our community. As Joan Gillings often says, “You will sit a little taller in your theatre seat, knowing you made a difference, too.” Thank you! Warmly, Amy Guskiewicz
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PlayMakers is... “One of America’s Best Regional Theatres” (American Theatre Magazine), PlayMakers Repertory Company is North Carolina’s premier professional theatre company, proudly in residence on the dynamic campus of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. The professional company was founded in 1976, growing out of a storied 100 year tradition of playmaking at Carolina. Our mission is to produce relevant, courageous work that tells stories from and for a multiplicity of perspectives. We believe that theatre can have a transformational impact on individuals and entire communities, and we are committed to the work of becoming an anti-racist organization whose work is accessible to all. For the past several years, PlayMakers has produced ten shows on two stages each year in our home venue, the Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Art, bringing the transformative power of theatre to more than 50,000 audience members annually, from over 50 counties. At the very heart of the PlayMakers experience is one of the nation’s last remaining resident theatre companies, made up of accomplished performers, directors, designers, artisans, and technicians, and supported by exceptional graduate students in UNC’s Department of Dramatic Art. Our company works side by side with guest artists from all over the world and our alumni include Pulitzer Prize, Tony®, Emmy®, and Grammy Award® winners.
Creating Tomorrow’s Classics, Today
Producing Artistic Director Vivienne Benesch is continuing PlayMakers’ tradition of producing vibrantly reimagined classics, large-scale musical theatre, and significant contemporary work, but is also broadening the company’s reach to become a home for new play development and a true hub of social and civic discourse in the region. Her first four seasons have already given life to eight important new American plays.
Provoking Conversation
PlayMakers seeks to provoke thought, stimulate discussion and push the boundaries of the theatrical form in everything we do. Whether through our intimate PRC2 series, our mainstage offerings or i our virtual line-up, we look for opportunities for direct, dynamic engagement between audiences, artists and subject matter experts.
Theatre for the People
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PlayMakers Mobile is an initiative that seeks to contribute positively to the civic and social life of our region by taking world-class theatre out of our building and into the community. We create a streamlined production a play each year and take it to schools, transitional housing facilities, and long-term treatment facilities around the Greater Triangle area. It’s all free of charge, since too often the people who can benefit from theatre the most are the ones who don’t have access to it.
WHO WE ARE
Leaving Eden, 2018. Photo by HuthPhoto
A Hub of Engagement
Beyond being the region’s go-to for dynamic and entertaining stories, PlayMakers is a home for memorable conversations that allow us to make connections with the work and with each other well beyond the experience of a production. A host of unique engagement opportunities enrich our audience's experience of the live arts. This season, alongside our six theatrical offerings check out our PlayMakers Keeping You Company content at playmakersrep.org/keeping-you-company/
Passing the Torch
PlayMakers’ award-winning Summer Youth Conservatory is the only professionally supported training program of its kind in the region. The Theatre Quest program provides camps to area middle school students, while the Theatre Intensive and TheatreTech programs allow Triangle high schoolers to apprentice directly with professional directors, choreographers, musical directors, and technicians, culminating in a professional quality production on the PlayMakers mainstage for the whole community to enjoy.
Eliminating Barriers
With a commitment to eliminating barriers for attendance when we host live events, PlayMakers offers All Access performances for our patrons living with disabilities, Community Nights where all tickets are just $15, and tickets reduced to just $10 for UNC students and $12 for all other students. Our Spotlight on Service program also offers complimentary tickets to local service organizations. This virtual season, we are offering captioning to all of our streaming programs as well as free tickets to UNC students and front-line workers.
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A NOTE FROM KANE Temples of Lung and Air is my offering to you, in a moment when the truths of our country’s legacies have once again risen feverishly to the forefront of our consciousnesses, and the only way forward from here is to face hard truth, head-on. This piece is my gift and testimony, one I hope will make you dance and contemplate. It is a critical examination of my racial identity as a white man in the American South, within the culture of hip hop–one of the great expressions of Blackness in our nation’s history, an alloy of resistance and celebration. It is only fitting that this work mirror that duality. Belted out, whispered, screamed, hummed from atop the shoulders of all those who have been kin or mentor to me, this is an invocation for the tough conversations, the unlearning and relearning that comprise growth, and the joy we find when we dare to move beyond our comfort toward something better.
PASS THE MIC–OCT 11 In the tradition of our “Act Two” post show discussions—JOIN US October 11th at 4pm—for a conversation with Kane and a special Pass The Mic event with Kane and a couple of incredible Triangle area artists. We’ll be sending you information on how to register for this event to the same email address you used to purchase your PlayMakers Pass or ticket! Providing deep, courageous engagement with and around our work is a vital part of our mission to create transformational impact in our immediate and extended communities.
PLAYMAKERS PRESENTS A STREETSIGNS PRODUCTION
Temples of Lung and Air written & performed by
Kane Smego Directed by
Joseph Smego Scenic Designer Torry Bend
Lighting/Projection Designer Dominic Abbenante
Sound Designer Eric Alexander Collins
Beat Boxer Brentton Harrison
Dramaturg Elisabeth Corley
Stage Manager Elizabeth Ray*
SEP 28–OCT 11, 2020 Special Thanks to Armen "Armenhammer" Melikian The original project was supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. www.NCARTS.org. The original project was also supported by a grant from the Paul Green Foundation, Inc. — Serving the Arts and Human Rights since 1982. *Indicates members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
The Professional Theatre of the Department of Dramatic Art Adam Versényi, Chair Vivienne Benesch, Producing Artistic Director Produced in association with The College of Arts & Sciences The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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BIOS Kane Smego Writer, Performer
PlayMakers: Debut with sold out run of Temples of Lung and Air as part of the 2018/19 PRC2 series. Kane Smego is a spoken word and hip hop artist, a National Poetry Slam finalist, and co-founder of the youth arts and education nonprofit Sacrificial Poets. He is also an international touring artist, performing and teaching all across the U.S. and abroad. Kane helped create the Poetic Portraits of a Revolution (PPR2011) project that gathered stories from Egypt and Tunisia’s popular revolutions and adapted them for an eight-week radio series on WUNC and a full-length theatrical performance for The Process Series. Other projects include work with: Next Level Zimbabwe, Next Level Thailand, Next Level Brazil; touring with Black Ice from Def Poetry Jam; guest artist on Grammy-award winning rapper King Mez’s debut album, My Everlasting Zeal; presenter at TEDX, the Shriver Report, Global Young Leaders Conference, and National Association of Social Workers Convention; primary author of the YouTHink curriculum that uses poetry and hip hop to help youth and adults tell their own stories, and challenges them to transform themselves and their communities through the use of the spoken and written word.
Joseph Megel Director
PlayMakers: 2018 Production of Temples of Lung and Air. Off-Broadway/ New York: Howard L. Craft’s Freight: The Five Incarnations of Abel Green, Guillermo Reyes’s Men on the Verge of a Hispanic Breakdown (Outer Critics Circle Award), Dean Gray’s The Pattern at Pendarvis. Regional: Jennifer Maisel’s The Last Seder (EST West,Theatre J,The Organic Theatre); Elisabeth Lewis Corley’s adaptation of The Miser (Duke University); Derek Goldman’s adaptation of Will The Circle Be Unbroken (Chapel Hill); A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney, Best of Enemies, The Brothers Size, The Goat, and Nixon’s Nixon (Manbites Dog Theater). Joseph is artist in residence in Performance Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Department of Communication, where he runs The Process Series: New Works in Development. He is Artistic Director of StreetSigns and Co-Executive Director of Harland’s Creek Productions, producer of new plays, screenplays, and short films. Recent direction for StreetSigns includes: Closer Than They Appear, Freight: The Five Incarnations of Abel Green, Trojan Barbie, Blood Knot, Poetic Portraits of a Revolution, Dream Boy, and White People.
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Torry Bend Scenic Design
PlayMakers: 2018 Production of Temples of Lung and Air. Off-Broadway/ New York: Are They Edible (La Mama, Incubator Arts Project, Dixon’s Place). Regional: Animal Dance (The Children’s Theatre Company, Circle Course, Katmandu); Pygmalion (Southwest Shakespeare Co.); Stephen Wadsworth’s Agamemnon (Getty Villa); References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot (Empty Space Theatre); Omnium Gatherum, The Bald Soprano/ The Lesson and Brilliant Traces (Oregon Repertory Theater); The Elephant (Disney Music Hall’s International Toy Theater Festival 2008, Jumbo Shrimp Circus). Creator & director of The Paper Hat Game (3LeggedDog Art and Technology Center, Manbites Dog Theater, The Great Small Works Toy Theater Festival, The Den Theater, Open Eye Figure Theater); Nesting (Great Small Works International Toy Theater Festival, The Port City Puppetry Festival, Douglas Paasch Puppet Festival, Open Eye Figure Theater); Loser, Love’s Infrastructure (Duke Performances). Education/ Other: Set designer, puppet artist, and Associate Professor at Duke University.
Dominic Abbenante Lighting/Projection Design
PlayMakers: Dominic was the Lighting Director and a resident Lighting and Media Designer at PlayMakers for six seasons. Recent designs include The Christians, A Christmas Carol, and Intimate Apparel. Off-Broadway: Assistant Design for Max Mavin: Thinking In Person. Regional: Triad Stage, Guilford College, and UNCSA, San Diego Asian American Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Jean Isaacs Dance Theatre, San Diego Repertory Theatre, Cygnet Theater, Diversionary Theatre, The Hudson Theater. Education/Other: Professor in the Department of Dramatic Art at UNC-Chapel Hill. MFA in Lighting Design from San Diego State University.
Eric Alexander Collins Sound Design
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PlayMakers: Ragtime, Leaving Eden, The Crucible, Peter and the Starcatcher, We Are Proud To Present…. Eric Collins has served the industry for over 25 years, where he has worked across the U.S., Europe, and Australia, including the iconic Sydney Opera House. In 2015, Eric was awarded Best Sound Design by BroadwayWorld for North Carolina Theatre’s Billy Elliot: The Musical. Recent credits include: North Carolina Theatre: Mary Poppins,
Wit, Grease, Into the Woods, Next to Normal, Les Miserables, Cats, The Drowsy Chaperone (awarded 2013 Best Sound Design), and NERDS: The Musical (Broadway preview). Theatre Raleigh: Light In the Piazza, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Carousel in concert, Sleuth, Urinetown (awarded 2013 Best Sound Design), Avenue Q, August: Osage County, Violet. Carolina Ballet: Macbeth (2015 world premiere), The Nutcracker, Lynne Taylor-Corbett’s Dracula and The Little Mermaid (both world premiere ballets). North Carolina Symphony: The Music Man, Idina Menzel (in concert), Natalie Merchant (in concert).
Elisabeth Corley Dramaturg
PlayMakers: 2018 Production of Temples of Lung and Air. Off-Broadway/ New York: Four seasons with Signature Theatre Company, 47th Street Theatre, Harland’s Creek Productions, and Triangle Theatre. Regional: Founding artistic director of the Atlanta Shakespeare Company. Freight: The Five Incarnations of Abel Green, The Pattern at Pendarvis, The Turn of the Screw, As You Like It, Dream Boy, Jim Grimsley’s White People (StreetSigns); The Best of Enemies, The Goat, A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney (Manbites Dog Theater); Steel Magnolias (Triad Stage); Mother Courage ( Justice Theater Project). Education: MFA in Poetry from the Warren Wilson Program for Writers and a BA with Highest-Honors-in-Poetry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she has taught screenwriting and performance of poetry. Elisabeth is a member of the Dramatists Guild, Actors’ Equity Association, and SAG/AFTRA.
Elizabeth Ray Stage Manager
PlayMakers: Company member in her fourth full season. Everybody, Dairyland, No Fear & Blues Long Gone: Nina Simone, How I Learned to Drive, Jump, Skeleton Crew, Temples of Lung and Air, "A" Train, Tartuffe, Dot, The Cake, Into the Woods, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Private Lives. New York: Shows for Days (Lincoln Center Theater), In the Secret Sea (Theatre Row), Wallenberg, Requiem for Mr. B, Presto Change-O (Frankel Green Production Company), and Welcome to Shoofly (Playwrights Horizons). Work at other regional theatres includes productions at North Carolina Theatre, Theatre Raleigh, Palm Beach Dramaworks, and Cape Fear Regional Theatre. Elizabeth is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
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StreetSigns Producer
StreetSigns Center for Literature and Performance is an awardwinning professional performing arts and educational center. Founded in Chicago in 1992, StreetSigns has presented more than fifty productions in its more than twenty-five-year history. StreetSigns has worked in partnership with Northwestern University, the Department of Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Georgetown University, always dedicated to the development and presentation of new literary adaptations, company created theatrical works, innovative new plays, and bold re-imaginings of classics. StreetSigns is committed to celebrating its region’s rich oral and written traditions, and to engaging cultural and political issues through performance. www.PiedmontPerformanceFactory.org
Vivienne Benesch Producing Artistic Director
Vivienne is in her fifth full season as a company member and Producing Artistic Director at PlayMakers, where she has helmed productions of Dairyland, Life of Galileo, Leaving Eden, The May Queen, Three Sisters, Love Alone, RED, and In The Next Room. For 12 seasons, she served as Artistic Director of the renowned Chautauqua Theater Company and Conservatory, presiding over the company’s transformation into one of the best summer theatres and most competitive summer training programs in the country. She directed more than fifteen productions at CTC including an acclaimed reimagining of Romeo and Juliet featuring the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Theatre, Opera and Dance companies. She brought CTC’s production of Amadeus, performed with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra and Buffalo Philharmonic, to the Virginia Arts Festival featuring PlayMakers company member Ray Dooley. Vivienne has also directed for the Folger Shakespeare Theatre (Helen Hayes nomination for best direction 2019), The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Trinity Repertory Company, and Red Bull Theatre, among others. In 2018, she directed the world premiere of Noah Haidle’s Birthday Candles for Detroit Public Theatre and will be directing it again on Broadway in 2021, starring Debra Messing. As an actress, Vivienne has worked on and off-Broadway, in film and television, at many of the country’s most celebrated theatres, and received an OBIE Award for her performance in Lee Blessing’s Going to St. Ives. Vivienne is a graduate of Brown University and NYU’s
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Graduate Acting Program. As an educator, she has directed for and served on the faculty of some of the nation’s foremost actor training programs, including The Juilliard School, UNC-Chapel Hill’s Professional Actor Training Program, Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Program, and at her alma mater, NYU’s Graduate Acting Program. She is the 2017 recipient of the Zelda Fichandler Award given by the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation.
Michael Rolleri Production Manager
Michael is in his 34rd season with PlayMakers Repertory Company. He has been Technical Director, Project Manager, Exhibition Technician, and Lighting Designer for industrial shows in the Southeast region, as well as lead carpenter for films, the U.S. Olympic Festival, and scenic studios. He has also been a rigger in the Southeast region and has served on the executive board and as President of IATSE Local 417. Michael is a 30 year Gold Pin member of IATSE. An active member of United States Institute For Theatre Technology (USITT), he is a three-time winner at USITT's Tech Expo. He is a full Professor/Head of the Technical Production Program at UNC-Chapel Hill and was an instructor at High Point University and Tufts University. Education: MFA in Design and Technical Production, UNC-Greensboro.
UP NEXT: THE STORYTELLER by Sara Jean Accuardi
18 A Staged Zoom Reading of the Inaugural Thomas Wolfe International Playwrighting Prize Winner
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Italian Culinary Experience in the Heart of Chapel Hill. THOUGHTFULLY PREPARED. SIMPLY SERVED. DEEPLY CONNECTED.
GENERAL INFO
Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Art CB# 3235, UNC-Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3235 Box Office: 919.962.7529 Website: www.playmakersrep.org facebook.com/playmakersrep @playmakersrep instagram.com/playmakersrep playmakersrep.org/blog
WHAT WILL SHOWS LOOK LIKE THIS YEAR? The 20/21 season will feature six streamed performances ranging from audio dramas to film, ensemble to solo work, all enjoyed in the safety of home until we can gather again as a community.
HOW WILL AUDIENCES BE ABLE TO WATCH PLAYMAKERS THIS SEASON? Following health and safety guidelines set by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, PlayMakers will take to the virtual stage with our signature mix of timely new works alongside classic tales reimagined. Our six theatrical experiences will be streamed via online platforms like Vimeo or Zoom. Specific details and instructions about each experience will be sent to ticket holders before each experience.
HOW DO I BUY TICKETS? This season will be a little different from past seasons because of our virtual experiences. You can buy a PlayMakers Pass, which will allow your entire household to view all six theatrical experiences. Pass holders have the ultimate 20
PLAYMAKERS flexibility of a 2-week viewing period. Approximately 4 weeks before each experience begins, we will also make individual tickets available. Individual ticket holders will have a 48-hour viewing period.
HOW MANY TICKETS DO I NEED TO BUY? For our streaming season, one PlayMakers Pass gives your entire household access to the full 20/21 digital season, which includes all the engaging entertainment you love to explore at PlayMakers—this season coming to you from the comfort of your own couch! Stream all six of our events anytime—and any number of times!—during the two weeks each production is available.
I’M A SEASON SUBSCRIBER, WHAT HAPPENS TO MY SEATS THIS SEASON? Don’t worry! When we are allowed to gather again in our theatre spaces, Mainstage and Full Season subscribers will have their same seats waiting for them.
HOW DO I WATCH THE SHOWS? Within one business day of your purchase, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from prcboxoffice@unc.edu. Can’t find your e-mail confirmation? Be sure to check your junk/spam folder! Contact us at prcboxoffice@unc.edu for help or questions. For all single-ticket holders, the video expires 48 hours from the time of purchase, but can be stopped and restarted, rewound and fast-forwarded, and watched an unlimited amount until it expires. Access for PlayMakers Pass holders expires at 11:59pm on the final day of the run of each show. Please note, this link is unique to you, and non-transferrable. Each ticket purchased allows access for one household to view the stream. Log in to your PlayMakers account at tickets.playmakersrep.org. Once you’ve logged in, you should see a list of the digital content you’ve purchased.
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PLAYMAKERS Administration
Vivienne Benesch, Producing Artistic Director
ARTISTIC OFFICE
DEVELOPMENT
Tracy Bersley, Movement Coach/Choreographer Kathryn Hunter-Williams, Company Artistic Associate Tia James, Vocal Coach Gregory Kable, Dramaturg Jacqueline E. Lawton, Dramaturg Michael Perlman, Associate Artistic Director Mark Perry, Dramaturg Jeri Lynn Schulke, Engagement Associate Gwendolyn Schwinke, Vocal Coach Adam Versényi, Dramaturg
Shea Fitzgerald, Assistant Director of Development Amelia Stanley, Director of Development
MARKETING & AUDIENCE SERVICES Brittany Petruzzi, Marketing & Comm. Associate Diana Pineda, Director of Sales & Marketing Thomas Porter, Box Office Manager Rosalie Preston, Associate Director of Marketing
ADMINISTRATION
Joe Emeis, General Manager Lisa Geeslin, Accountant
Department of Dramatic Art Adam Versényi, Professor and Chair
FACULTY Vivienne Benesch, Professor of the Practice Tracy Bersley, Assistant Professor Jan Chambers, Professor McKay Coble, Professor Jeffrey Blair Cornell, Assoc. Chair, Teaching Prof. Ray Dooley, Professor Samuel Ray Gates, Assistant Professor Julia Gibson, Associate Professor Jennifer Guadagno, Teaching Assistant Professor Kathryn Hunter-Williams, Teaching Assoc.Professor Tia James, Assistant Professor Gregory Kable, Teaching Professor Jacqueline E. Lawton, Assistant Professor Adam Maxfield, Teaching Associate Professor Triffin Morris, Professor of the Practice
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David Navalinsky, Associate Professor Bobbi Owen, Distinguished Professor Laura Pates, Teaching Assistant Professor Mark Perry, Teaching Assistant Professor Rachel E. Pollock, Teaching Assistant Professor Michael Rolleri, Professor Gwendolyn Schwinke, Assistant Professor Aubrey Snowden, Teaching Assistant Professor
STAFF Betty Futrell, Student Services Specialist Lisa Geeslin, Accounting Technician John Rawlings, KTC Technical Director Karen Rolleri, Business Coordinator Jamie Strickland, Business Officer
OUR 2020/21 SEASON Production
Michael Rolleri, Production Manager
COSTUMES
Jennifer Bayang, Assistant Costume Director Amy Evans, Wardrobe Supervisor Marissa Lupkas, Costume Collection Coordinator Triffin Morris, Costume Director Rachel Pollock, Costume Craftsperson Costume Production Graduate Students: Ellen Cornette, Alex Hagman, Lou Pires, Erin Rodgers, Lauren Woods, Athene Wright, Sherry Wu
LIGHTING
Benjamin Bosch, Master Electrician
SCENIC
Adam Maxfield, Technical Director Laura Pates, Assistant Technical Director Donald Quilinquin, Master Carpenter Jessica Secrest, Scenic Artist Technical Production Graduate Students: Brock Burton, Gregory Condon, Paul Edghill, Patrick Hardison, Kevin Pendergast, Luke Robinson, Garrett Weeda Aaron Boles, Undergraduate Assistant–Scenery
PROPS
SOUND
Brandon Reed, Audio Designer/Engineer Samuel Henry, Undergraduate Assistant
Andrea Bullock, Properties Master Matthew Barth, Props Artisan
STAGE MANAGEMENT Charles K. Bayang, Stage Manager Elizabeth Ray, Stage Manager
PlayMakers’ Resident Acting Company
Jeffrey Blair Cornell Julia Gibson
Ray Dooley Kathryn Hunter-Williams
Samuel Ray Gates Tia James
Professional Actor Training Program: Sergio Mauritz Ang, Anthony August, Tori Jewell, Khalil LeSaldo, Adam Poole, AhDream Smith, Omolade Wey
From the 2018 Production of Temples of Lung and Air
Kyle Spens, Technical Director Nick Guariglia, Light/Video Operator Ashleigh Streiff, Deck Crew
PRODUCTION Kelly Anne Johns, Wig & Wardrobe Supervisor Dominic Abbenante, Lighting/Video Supervisor Adrienne Call, Props Artisan Derek Graham, Audio Designer/Engineer Alex Ruba, Costume Collection Coordinator
STUDENTS Technical Production: TJ Hansen, Rocky Love, Nate Pohl, Kyle Spens Costumes: Ellen Cornette, Cami Huebert, Samantha Reckford, Jane Reichard, Erin Rodgers, Danielle Soldat, Erin Torkelson, Lauren Woods
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PlayMakers Repertory Company is a program of the Department of Dramatic Art, The College of Arts and Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, recognizes PlayMakers as a professional theatre organization and provides grant assistance to this organization from funds appropriated by the North Carolina General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. PlayMakers is a beneficiary of the Elizabeth Price Kenan Endowment and the Lillian Hughes Prince Endowment. PlayMakers Repertory Company is a Member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre. This Theatre operates under an agreement between the League Of Resident Theatres (LORT) 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. The Director and Choreographer are members of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union. PlayMakers is a proud partner of The Drama League, which advances the American theatre by providing a life-long artistic home for directors and a platform to dialogue with and between audiences.
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Proud Sponsors of the PlayMakers Repertory Company
Extended Stay Suites Chapel Hill
101 Erwin Road, Chapel Hill, NC 919.933.4848 ResidenceInnChapelHill.com
SummitHospitality.com
Online
playmakersrep.org/give
Phone or Email
Shea Fitzgerald Asst. Director of Development shea.fitzgerald@unc.edu 919.962.2481
Send your check to: PlayMakers Repertory Company Development Department Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Art CB 3235 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3235
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TO
Ways to Give
There’s never been a more important time to support PlayMakers and the arts.
As a patron of PlayMakers, you understand the value of the work we do – both onstage and throughout our community. You’ve shown a commitment to that work by purchasing tickets, engaging in community dialogue, and sharing your excitement for our theatre with friends and family. Now we invite you to deepen your commitment to the theatre you love by making a tax-deductible donation. There has never been a more important time to support PlayMakers and the arts. Over the next year, we need to raise $1.5 million to ensure that we can keep creating innovative, inclusive, and entertaining theatre; continue to employ our amazing artists and staff; and have the flexibility to tackle whatever challenges come our way. Your support will help ensure that when we do welcome you back to our theaters, we will be stronger than ever. Every gift, big or small, makes a huge difference!
FRIENDS OF PLAYMAKERS PlayMakers is grateful to the members of the Friends of PlayMakers for their generous support. For more information about how to join this dynamic group of supporters, call the PlayMakers Development Office at 919.962.2481 or visit us at playmakersrep.org.
Director’s Circle ($10,000+)
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Angel ($5,000–9,999)
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Investor ($2,500–4,999)
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Anonymous (3) David and Judy Adamson Vivienne Benesch + Steve Benezra ^ Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Breaks Cindy and Thomas Cook David Howell Joanna Karwowska and Hugon Karwowski ^ Carole L. Shelby David Sontag * The Rev. Wendy R. and Mr. W. Riley Waugh Roger and Marlene Werner Jesse L. White, Jr.
Partner ($1,000–1,499)
Anonymous (3) Stephen S. Birdsall June Clendenin Joy and Chet Douglass Dr. and Mrs. John P. Evans John and Diane Formy-Duval Mr. and Mrs. Peter and Kim Fox * Bitty and Bill Holton Dr. Lyle V. Jones Dr. Catherine Kuhn and Glenn Tortorici Shirley and Tom Kunkel Carol Hazard and Winston Liao Janet McCarthy Holly and Ross McKinney Mark and Julie Morris Lee and Barbara Pedersen Rich and Marilyn Jacobs Preyer Rif Riddick James and Janet Robles John and Kathryn Schmidt Trey and Jackie Tanner Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation Endowment Fund, in honor of Carol Vorhaus Sarah West and Thomas Dominick
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(919) 929-4775
thecateringcompanych.com
Backer ($500–999)
Virginia Aldige Howard and Penny Aldrich Pete and Hannah Andrews John and Patti Becherer Diane Beckman + John W. Becton and Nancy B. Tannenbaum Betsy Blackwell and John Watson Harold E. Burch David Burr and Rustine Unger Keith Burridge and Patricia Saling Ann Campbell Rosalie M. Cassidy Dr. Carrie Donley Carolyn and John Falletta Drucie French and Steve Cumbie W. Patrick Gale ^ Galloway Ridge at Fearrington Toby and Cheryl Harrell C. Hawkins ^ Charles and Ellen Johnson Brenda W. Kirby Lois Knauff and Mike Maness Kyser Foundation Anand and Sandhya Lagoo, In memory of Dr. Shreeram Lagoo Douglas and Nelda Lay Javey Lowe and Billy Simpson Douglas MacLean and Susan Wolf James and Susan Moeser Cecelia D. Moore ^ Mary N. Morrow Karl Nordling Pat and Mary Norris Oglesby Jodi and Glenn Preminger David and Lisa Price Vikram Rao and Susan Henning Pam and Mike Reed * Vicki Shinoda Dr. and Mrs. William Stewart Robert and Cindy Stoothoff Tim and Judy Taft Scott M. Taylor
Supporter ($250–499)
Anonymous David Ball and Susan Pochapsky Reginald M. Barton Jr. Adam Beck ^
Shula and Steve Bernard Frank and Sally Binkowski Dr. Stanley Warren Black, III Julie Blatt and Arthur Greenberg William and Patricia Blau Peter Bleckner Julia Borbely-Brown ^ Glenn and Patricia Camp Philip and Linda Carl Jeffery and Linda Charles Dennis Clements and Martha Ann Keels Bill Cobb and Gail Perry Adrienne and John Cox Nancy and Mark Dewhirst Alec and Georgia Donaldson Kathleen DuVal and Marty Smith Claire Ebbitt ^ Glen H. and Sandy T. Elder George Evans Mr. and Mrs. Philip W. Ewing Barbara and Chris Exton James Faber and Mary Musacchia Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Falvo Robert Farmer Pat Fischer Jody Forehand Dr. Catherine Forneris James and Beverly Foster Kim and Stephen Fraser Gunter Glass Ugo Goetzl Raymond and Susan Goodmon Albert and Mary Guckes Priscilla Guild Carol and Nortin Hadler Bruce Hamilton and Jennifer Weiss Carolyn and Jim Harris David and Lina Heartinger Scott and Emilee Hendrix Karen Hills Don and Kay Hobart Ann Holloman Mr. and Mrs. David G. Hubby Gerda G. Hurow * Lynne and Walter Jacobs ^ Kathleen Johnson Brian and Moyra Kileff Richard and Lynne Kohn Dr. Leonard and Ruth Kreisman ^
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Diana and Bob Lafferty Carol and Alexander Lawrence Mort and Cheryl Malkin Jeff Mason Sharon and Alan McConnell Larry McManus and Pamela Nielsen Steven Melamut Herbert and Jeanne Miller Dori Mitzi Karen Monaco and George Evans Charles Mosher and Pamela St. John Mary Napier Linda W. Norris Paul and Sherrie Norton Lois Oliver James and Michelle Pendergast Robert and Marilyn Pinschmidt Gordon and Jo Ann Pitz Mark and Eugenea Pollock Robert and Joyce Anne Porter Sandra and Stephen Rich Linda and Alan Rimer Victor and Linda Roggli Margaret Anne Rook Patricia Roos
Dr. Michael Salemi Jan F. and Anne P. Sassaman Stephanie Schmitt Gwendolyn Schwinke Douglas and Joan Shier Stephanie Shipman and Walter Travers Barry Slobin and Carol Land Kyle and Jenn Smith Paul Snow John and Carol Stamm Roy and Donna Swaringen Nick and Sally Taylor Margaret Griswold Teasley Dr. and Mrs. Robert Thompson Bruce Tomason Mary E. Traer Phil Washburn and Mary Jenne George Weinhouse Nan Weiss Sandy and Jennifer Williams Edward and Phyllis Wright
Patron ($100–249)
Anonymous (4) Dwight and Robin Allen Mary Altpeter Mary R. Amend Matthew and Linda Arnold William and Michael-Ann Ashman Phil and Ellen Baer Jill and John Balogh Jarrett and Robin Barnhill Tony and Susan Barrella Judith Barton Barry Bayus and Anna Chao Larry and Sheila Benninger Stephen Berenson and Brian McEleney Kitty Bergel Sandy Berman Robert A. and Christine S. Berndt Patricia C. Beyle Katherine L. Bick Dorothy and Justin Biddle Mr. and Mrs. David Birnbaum Jill and Dick Blackburn Joseph Blair and Sandra Peyser Roxana Bossen Scott and Victoria Bouldin Donald A. Boulton Lauren Kennedy Brady and Charlie Brady David Brehmer and Megan Matchinske Philip Breitfeld and Susan Kreissman William Brettmann ^ Lyndon E. Brown, PhD
Renee A. Brown Patricia Bryan and Tom Wolf Robert and Jen Buckmire Bates Buckner Edward and Sheila Burgard ^ Jim and Janie Craige Butler Douglas Call and Susan Warwick Dr. Leigh Fleming Callahan Donna Carroll and Gale Lackey Clara Cazzulino Dr. Margaret Champion Beverly Long Chapin Lata Chatterjee and Tiruvarur Lakshmanan Norm and Portia Christensen Marshall and Phyllis Clements Sandra Clemons Ellen Clevenger-Firley Gary and Dianne Clinton Anne F. Coenen Robert F. Coleman, III In memory of Susan Hurst Rappaport Geneva Collins and Theodore Fischer ^ Jenn Collins and Paul Runkle Mrs. Michael Colvin Marcella Congdon Tracy Larsen Cooke and Benjamin Cooke Jay and Barbara Cooper Brian Copenhaver Greg Copenhaver Dr. Mary Covington and Mike Patil Julie Daniels Bronwyn and John de Figueiredo Mrs. Robert Bigelow DeMaine Christine Devita Todd Dickinson and Helen Kalevas Dail and Artie Dixon Kerry and Julia Draeger Claude and Anna Marie Drake Jo Anne and Shelley Earp Bobette Eckland and Richard Kamens Elon and Elizabeth Eidenier Tori Ekstrand Jan Elliott Paul and Pat Elstro Sarah and Peter Englis Donald and Audrey Esposito Jerry and Adelia Evans Melinda and Jim Evans Shauna and Tom Farmer Ethan Ferguson Laurice Ferris ^ Nicole and Bruce Fine Karen Fisher and Robert Warren Bonnie and Ed Fuchs John and Ann Gabor Betty and Franklin Garland
Mr. and Mrs. Pete Gaskell Tom and Victoria Gerig Eve Benesch Goldschmidt Andreya Gomez Ronnie K. Graham John and Lucy Grant Christina Graybard and Nicholas Mirra Terry Greenlund Elizabeth Grey Karolyn Griffith Linda Grimm Gail and Steve Grossman Kay Gruninger Pickett Guthrie Betsy and Joe Hackney Gayla Halbrecht Joanne Harrell Barbara L. Harris Jim and Mary Hayes Charlotte Henshaw Ellen Herron Scott and Richard Hill Angelica and Richard Hinchcliff Catherine Holcombe Holly Holland Joyce Holland In Memory of Dr. J. Kimball King Joyce Horn
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John and Joyce Hren Tamsie and Staples Hughes Maria Hunter Abby Jablin Betty James Robert and Cecelia Jolls Ann Moss Joyner Dan and Linda Kaferle Richard and Sally Kahler Lynne Kane Peter Karpen Naomi Kaufman Jean and Lawrence Keene Charles R. Keith and Muki W. Fairchild Marie-Beatrice and Robert Keller Sally P. Kennedy Jane Kiernan Ted and Marilyn Koenig Mary Kraft Lloyd Kramer and Gwynne Pomeroy Dave and Doris Krepp Shrawan Kumar Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Kuntzman Joseph Labenson Ted and Debbie LaMay Benjamin Landman and Jen Feldman In honor of Ms. Betty-Ann Landman Robert Lauterborn In memory of Sylvia Lauterborn Philip and Nancy Leinbach John and Ruth Leopold Lucy Leuchtenburg Arnold and Annette Levine Joy Lewis and Frederick Annand Betty and John Leydon Judi Lilley Erika Lindemann James and Mary Lou LoFrese Karen E. Long and Arlon Kemple Mildred and Patrick Long Robert and Anne Long Clark Lovelace Carol Lucas Steve Clark and Becky Luce-Clark John Ludlow and Kathy Davies Samuel Magill and Eunice Brock Phil Malinosky H.R. and Betsy Malpass Raleigh and Betsy Mann Lee and Elaine Marcus Rosalie Marcus Shelley J. Masters Bill and Susan Mattern Wanda McArn Dr. and Mrs. Robert N. McCall
Ed and Connie McCraw Patrick Joseph McLane ^ Lee McLean Larry and Jerri Meisner Carol and Eric Meyers Roy and Bev Milton Erik and Natalia Milz Susan Minnix and Ronald Manka Gustavo and Joan Montana Merry-K Moos Rick Muise Margaret B. Mullinix Kate Murphy Seth Murray and Jamie Newman Nancy D. Myers Barbara Nettesheim Michele and Klaus Nettesheim Betty Nies Nancy Oates Marilyn and Peter Ornstein Barry and Lois Ostrow George and Susan Outterson Norman and Roberta Yule Owen ^ Rob Parker and Sarah Taylor Josie Patton Ron and Julie Paxton Arnold Pender Carol and Al Perlman Stephen and Lyn Pizer Christina and Michael Plaks Dr. Martin and Barbara Poleski Gary and Susie Pratt James and Barbara Putney Margaret Quinlan George and Carol Retsch-Bogart Louise A. Robinson Judith L. Ruderman Mary Ann Ruegg Nicholas Ryan Dale Sandler Celia Sandford and Stephen Perrin Allie and Ian Scales ^ Carol Schachner ^ Laura Schanberg Jeffrey Schlosser Ernest and Mary Schoenfeld Janice and Richard Schulke John and Lucia Sehon Pat Shane Barbara Sharf William N. Sharpe, Jr. Robert and Sandra Shreve Sim Sitkin and Vivian Olkin Paige and Jason Smith Dr. Richard L. Smith and Dr. Amy Grady
Dr. and Mrs. Stuart Solomon ^ Pamela Somers Kimberly and David Spurr Susan F. Stedman Adam and Jane Stein Andy Stewart and Peggy Kinney ^ Raquel Strauss Jeannie Pfister Stroupe Dr. Lishan Su ^ Ed and Lynne Sullivan Beverly Taylor David C. Taylor Charles Thomas and Suzanne Maupin Estelle and Edward Thomas Mary and Thomas Trabert ^ Jeff and Nancy Tudor Nancy Tunnessen Nancy Tusa and Andy Brawn John and Donna van Arnold ^ Mary Van Bourgondien and Susan Lombardo
Jerry and Sondra Van Sant Barney and Vivian Varner Robin Visser Carol and Jim Vorhaus Deborah and Jonathan Wahl Angela Walter David and Marsha Warren Mr. and Mrs. Robin H. Wendell Ernest Thomas Wilkes III Michael Wilson Jane Pettis Wiseman Jerry Worsley Janice and Richard Woychik David and Dee Yoder Justin Yung ^ ^ Sustainers Club Member + Women’s Point of View (WPOV) Supporter * PlayMakers Gala Supporter
This list is current as of September 13, 2020. If your name is listed incorrectly or not at all, please contact PlayMakers Development Office at 919.962.2481. We will ensure you are recognized for your thoughtful support.
ist
OUR PARTNERS PlayMakers’ 2020/21 Season is Made Possible in Part by Grants from
Foundation Support The Educational Foundation of America, Fund for the Triangle – Support for the Arts of Triangle Community Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, North Carolina Arts Council, Orange County Arts Commission, Shakespeare in American Communities: National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, The Shubert Foundation, Theatre Communications Group Additional Funding for Guest Artists is Provided by
Robert Boyer and Margaret Boyer Fund, Louise Lamont Fund, Emeriti Professors Charles and Shirley Weiss Fund
Producing Council
American Party Rentals, Glasshalfull, Jujube Restaurant, Linda’s Bar and Grill, Mebane Lumber, Residence Inn Chapel Hill, Spoonflower, Hyatt Place Durham/Southpoint, The Siena Hotel/Il Palio Restaurant
Corporate Council
Aloft, DeMaison Selections, Inc., University Florist
Associates
Cambria Suites, Craven Allen Gallery/House of Frames
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OUR ADVERTISERS
2 American Party Rentals 28 The Catering Company 30 Craven Allen Gallery/ 35 19 3 16 12 31 25 33
House of Frames Glasshalfull Il Palio Jujube Larry’s Coffee Linda’s Bar & Grill North Carolina Estates Residence Inn University Florist and Gifts
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THE SHOW WILL GO ON VIRTUALLY
919.962.7529 | playmakersrep.org
