Applause -- My Fair Lady, November 15-27, 2022

BY JANICE SINDEN

HHello and welcome to the Denver Center! Thank you for joining us this holiday season. We’re glad you’re here.

As we look forward to 2023 and beyond, we have recommitted to developing a five-year Strategic Plan. Prior to the pandemic, we listened to our Trustees, team members and community about the DCPA’s strengths and opportunities. Now, we are diving back into that work to set a path toward our 50th anniversary season in 2028/29. We look forward to sharing this important work with you and our broader community so that we can deepen our connections, enrich our neighborhoods, and continue to share stories that reflect humanity.

The backbone of this work is our Board of Trustees and I’m happy to share with you some recent leadership changes. Hassan Salem, Head of Commercial Banking at U.S. Bank, has succeeded Martin Semple as Chair of the Board of Trustees. Additionally, Ruth Krebs has succeeded Robert Slosky as the DCPA’s first female Vice Chair and Robert Newman has succeeded Dean Singleton as Secretary/ Treasurer. A tremendous word of appreciation for Martin Semple, Bob Slosky and Bob Newman for their years of leadership and service to the DCPA.

Our Board will implement a Strategic Plan that is based on a very firm foundation. Given the turmoil of the past several years, I am pleased to share with you a summary of our 2021/22 season. Despite a delayed start to our typical concurrent programming, we ultimately presented 30 ticketed events; offered nearly 2,300 classes and in-school programs, and shared 703,000 guest experiences with our community.

Your overwhelming support has bolstered us through the past 2 ½ years and will help us achieve our goals in upcoming seasons. As you make your end-of year gifts, please consider the value you place on the joy of live theatre. Together we will engage new audiences, inspire budding actors, and transform our community through the power of live theatre.

From our family to yours, happy holidays. May they be merry and bright!

Warm regards,

Janice Sinden, President & CEO

P.S. To make a year-end gift, please visit denvercenter.org/support-us. Thank you.

APPLAUSE MAGAZINE

VOLUME XXXIII • NUMBER 3 • NOV 2022 - JAN 2023

EDITOR: Suzanne Yoe

DESIGN DIRECTOR: Kyle Malone

DESIGNER THIS ISSUE: Brenda Elliott

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS: Paul Koob, Lucas Kreitler

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Heidi Bosk, Emma Hunt, John Moore, Joanne Ostrow

Applause is published seven times a year by Denver Center for the Performing Arts in conjunction with The Publishing House, Westminster, CO. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Call 303.893.4000 regarding editorial content.

Applause magazine is funded in part by

Angie Flachman, Publisher

For advertising 303.428.9529 or sales@pub-house.com coloradoartspubs.com

Denver Center for the Performing Arts is a non-profit organization that engages and inspires through the transformative power of live theatre.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Hassan Salem, Chair

Martin Semple, Immediate Past Chair Ruth Krebs, Vice Chair Robert C. Newman, Secretary/Treasurer

Dr. Patricia Baca

Brisa Carleton

Fred Churbuck Navin Dimond David Farahi Kevin Kilstrom

Susan Fox Pinkowitz Manny Rodriguez Alan Salazar

Richard M. Sapkin William Dean Singleton Robert Slosky June Travis Ken Tuchman Tina Walls

Dr. Reginald L. Washington Judi Wolf Sylvia Young

HONORARY TRUSTEES

Margot Gilbert Frank Jeannie Fuller Daniel L. Ritchie Cleo Parker Robinson

HELEN G. BONFILS FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES

William Dean Singleton, President

Martin Semple Vice President

Dr. Reginald Washington, Secretar y/Treasurer

Ruth Krebs

David Miller

Robert C. Newman Hassan Salem Robert Slosky June Travis Judi Wolf

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT

Janice Sinden, President & CEO Jamie Clements, Vice President, Development Chris Coleman, Artistic Director, Theatre Company

John Ekeberg, Executive Director, Broadway & Cabaret Lydia Garcia, Executive Director, Equity & Organization Culture

Gretchen Hollrah, Chief Operating Officer

Laura Maresca, Vice President, Human Resources

Charlie Miller, Executive Director & Curator, Off-Center

Lisa Roebuck, Vice President, Information Technology

Charles Varin, Managing Director, Theatre Company

Allison Watrous, Executive Director, Education & Community Engagement

Jane Williams, Chief Financial Officer

Through January 22, 2023

Saints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools: 300 Years of Flemish Masterworks is co-organized by the Denver Art Museum and The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp (Belgium). It is presented by the Birnbaum Social Discourse Project. Support is provided by the Tom Taplin Jr. and Ted Taplin Endowment, Keith and Kathie Finger, the Kristin and Charles Lohmiller Exhibitions Fund, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, Christie’s, the donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign, and the residents who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine and CBS4.

IMAGE: Catarina Ykens II, Vanitas Bust of a Lady (detail), 1688. Oil paint on panel; 12 1⁄2 × 12 3⁄8 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp

Katy Tang. Photo by Adams VisCom

HOME TO THE INDUSTRY’S FRESHEST PLAYS

Art Basel is about to begin and Mariana, the director of a swanky modern art gallery, has a serious problem on her hands. Her showroom is an active crime scene. Stylish and vibrant, this world premiere play is a hilarious snapshot of Cuban and Colombian-American culture set in the heart of Miami’s Wynwood arts district.

Jan 27 – Mar 12 | Singleton Theatre

GET TICKETS

Hailed as an audience favorite at the 2020 Colorado New Play Summit, Hotter Than Egypt is the captivating tale of an American couple’s own personal revolutions. Drawing from the political, cultural, and religious realities of the region, this quick-witted dramedy pits loyalty against attraction as its characters grapple with the ever-changing struggle of staying committed to their partners.

Feb 10 – Mar 12 | Kilstrom Theatre

GET TICKETS

Illustrations by Kyle Malone

FINDING THE “SUNSHINE OF THE SPIRIT” IN

BY JOHN MOORE

AAnthony Powell is the ghost of A Christmas Carol past, present and future.

Powell, the new director of the DCPA Theatre Company’s seasonal favorite, has himself performed as an actor in five Denver Center holiday stagings going all the way back to 1992. He played Bob Cratchit three times, Old Joe once and finally, in 2001, the jovial Mr. Fezziwig. Powell believes all those iconic Dickens characters live inside him still –  and more.

Friends can easily see Fezziwig’s festiveness and Cratchit’s earnestness in Powell’s daily demeanor. Powell leans more toward Marley, the ghost determined to save Scrooge’s soul, as well as the cheerful nephew Fred, who steadfastly invites his miserly uncle to Christmas dinner each year despite the near certainty that he will be rebuffed.

“On a bad day, I relate to Jacob Marley the most, and on a good day…Fred,” said Powell. “Of course, we all have our Scroogey days, and we have to fight against that. But to me, Marley is just the most heartbreaking of them all. I mean, this is more than a last-ditch effort to save his best friend’s soul – his own redemption is at stake, too.”

It can’t be overstated how much Dickens’ classic holiday story means to Powell. “To me, A Christmas Carol is Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanza and December 25 all rolled into one,” he said. “It covers all the bases.”

Powell holds dear to childhood memories of hunkering down on the couch with his mom to watch the 1951 British film version of A Christmas Carol starring Alastair Sim. “We didn’t do The Nutcracker at Christmas,” he said. “We would gather together and watch A Christmas Carol on TV every year, and that really was our family holiday celebration.”

Powell has directed 36 mainstage productions for the DCPA Theatre Company, most under the venerable Artistic Director Donovan Marley from 1990-2005 – and acted in 18 more. But even since becoming Artistic Director of the popular Stories on Stage live storytelling series, Powell has remained active in the Denver Center community, directing acclaimed productions including Lord of the Flies and All the Way while also teaching for DCPA Education.

When Artistic Director Chris Coleman recently asked Powell to direct A Christmas Carol for the first time, Powell said, “It was like the cartoon where the jaw drops and hits the table. I was shocked but thrilled because I love this story and this company so much.”

This year will mark the Denver Center’s 27th not-quite annual staging of A Christmas Carol, which Powell is dedicating to the legendary Laird Williamson, who died in 2020. The tradition began in 1990 with an adaptation written by Williamson and Dennis Powers. In 2005, the company switched to the current version written by Richard Hellesen and David de Berry.

Williamson was a seminal figure in Denver Center history, directing more than 40 plays from 1981-2005, including 14 stagings of A Christmas Carol. Powell had never seen A Christmas Carol as a live play until he came to work here in 1990.

“It really blew my mind what a live audience experiencing that story together in community means, and how different that is from watching a film,” he said.

What has stayed with him more than anything else, he added, was Williamson’s opening-night address reminding the cast and crew that Scrooge’s redemption is indelibly tied to the winter solstice and its promise of new beginnings, longer days and more sunlight.

“That speech stayed the same every year, and it would choke me up every time,” Powell said. “He would talk about how Scrooge’s heart had become frozen and that he had locked himself away from what he called ‘the sunshine of the spirit,’ which is an expression I dearly love. Laird would talk about how our tradition of putting up holiday lights and lighting fires is all about bringing the light back in the darkest days of winter – and that is literally what happens to Scrooge.”

Powell is humbled, resolute and a little bit daunted about not only returning to the Denver Center’s seasonal tradition, but assuming the overall direction of it. He knows what this production has meant to the company and to the community over the years. At its current pace, A Christmas Carol is about two years from crossing the 1 million attendance threshold.

— ANTHONY POWELL, DIRECTOR

Powell likens his new role to that of a train conductor keeping a locomotive on the track it has been riding strong for decades.

“A big part of my job is to really be a good steward, because not only have we inherited a wonderful production and a great adaptation of the play, but also that incredible set designed by Vicki Smith and Kevin Copenhaver’s marvelous costumes,” he said. So Powell did not plan big changes.

“I don’t think audiences will be shocked,” he said. But regular visitors will be somewhat surprised, he admitted, to see only a handful of familiar faces in recurring roles. “The good news is that almost everybody is going to be new to this production,” Powell said. “And the not-as-good news is that almost everybody is going to be new to this production.”

The new Scrooge is none other than Michael Santo, who will be making his 14th appearance in a mainstage DCPA Theatre Company production dating back to 1992.

“For Scrooge, you need to find an actor who can play both the beginning of the show, which is Scrooge as a frozen-hearted miser, as well as the redemption and being reborn at the end,” Powell said. “Michael also has a lovely sense of humor, and that is so important because Scrooge may be an old meanie, but I think he enjoys psyching people out.”

Powell knows how the story ends, of course – and chances are you do, too. But he’s approached things as if he doesn’t. He wants to maintain an innocence to the storytelling, knowing well that people need the replenishment this fable offers coming out of the pandemic.

“The last few years, every single person on planet Earth has been through a lot, and one senses that the world is getting meaner by the second,” Powell said. “At the risk of sounding incredibly corny, I think we need this story now more than ever because kindness is a muscle you have to exercise. This story illustrates in a beautiful way what it means to be a human being.

“We are not alone. We have got to do this thing called life together.”

I think we need this story now more than ever because kindness is a muscle you have to exercise. This story illustrates in a beautiful way what it means to be a human being.

IIn 1939, retailer Montgomery Ward asked Robert L. May to develop a Christmas story for publication. Titled “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” the story was adapted into a song by May’s brother-inlaw and radio producer, Johnny Marks. Ten years later, the song was first sung commercially by Harry Brannon a month before Gene Autry’s No. 1 recording was released. Then, in 1964, Burl Ives re-recorded the song as the soundtrack to accompany the television episode that has become the longest-running Christmas TV special in history.

Now, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical is delighting audiences across the nation. Test your memory by answering “Who Said It?” in this musical-inspired crossword puzzle.

ACROSS

2. Never knew a Bumble yet who’d turn down a pork dinner for deer meat…do your stuff.

3. I’m the official Sentry of the Island of the Misfit Toys!

4. What? You don’t like to make toys?

6. I just don’t like to make toys.

7. I think it’s a handsome nose. Much better than that silly false one you were wearing.

8. Well, this is it. The storm won’t subside by tonight. We’ll have to cancel Christmas.

9. Come here…open your mouth – oh dear. I’d better set up an appointment, week from Tuesday. Four-thirty – sharp.

11. How can you overlook that? His beak blinks like a blinkin’ beacon!

13. A toy is never truly happy until it is loved by a child

15. It sure is! It’s SANTA!! And look, Rudolph is leading the way!

DOWN

1. Who ever heard of a skinny Santa? Eat!

5. Well, they are all very sad at the loss of their friend — but they realize that the best thing to do is to get back to Christmastown.

10. Gadzooks! The Bumble strikes again! Whoopeeee!

12. Looks like we’re forgotten again.

14. I’m cude. I’m cude!

WHO SAID IT? IN RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL

DEC 16 – 18 • BUELL THEATRE

ASL Interpreted, Audio Described and Open Captioned performance: Dec 17 at 3pm

Rudolph Family and Santa

BARTLETT SHER REINVENTS A CLASSIC IN MY FAIR LADY

BY JOANNE OSTROW

MMy Fair Lady, a famously sumptuous spectacle overflowing with a long list of favorite songs, has been called the perfect musical. The Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe original ran on Broadway starting in 1956, setting records for the longest Broadway run at the time.

The 1964 movie adaptation likewise became a classic, with Rex Harrison putting a defining stamp on the role of Henry Higgins, the stodgy professor who remakes a poor flower seller into a lady, on a dare, by cleaning her up and teaching her proper elocution.

He then more or less falls for her — or at least grows accustomed to her face. A slew of romantic comedies from Pretty Woman to Miss Congeniality have cashed in on this magic makeover formula ever since.

But this revival isn’t a nostalgic replay of a frothy film or theater piece. It represents an effort to make this lovely fantasy more relevant to modern sensibilities. The revival by director Bartlett Sher aims to fashion My Fair Lady as less rom-com, more social critique.

“It is helpful to look at the original source material,” Sher said in a telephone interview ahead of the Lincoln Center Theater production’s national tour arrival in Denver.

After all, he said, “Shaw was a radical socialist writer, very interested in the suffragette movement, hanging out with Sylvia Pankhurst and a part of a lot of new thinking about women in society.” The themes of the piece are class divisions and the constraints put on women.

With an outlook that can be considered quite progressive for his time, Shaw devised the plot of Pygmalion to test the idea of upward mobility in a culture defined by strict social class distinctions and misogyny.

Spoiler alert: The ending has been altered to evoke Shaw’s clearly feminist, not so romantic intention.

To understand how he arrived at this new take, Sher said, you have to know the history. Of course My Fair Lady is based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, written in 1911 with the suffragettes in mind.

“Shaw was quite the radical thinker, heavily influenced by Ibsen and A Doll’s House. He was dead set against the idea of romantic comedy,” Sher said.

In 1938, a movie starring Leslie Howard was produced, written by Shaw from his Pygmalion. “But the studio was unhappy with the ending. They took the screenplay away from him and demanded a reshoot.” Cue the first steps toward a rom-com crowd pleaser.

Some 20 years later, the musical theater got the rights to the early movie and “kept the happy ending,” suggesting the pair get together in the end.

“By the time I got to it,” Sher said, “I reinstated a sense of the original ending.”

In this production, Henry Higgins does not sculpt Eliza Dolittle into his idea of a proper lady; rather, Eliza uses her bravery and pluck to imagine a better life for herself. At the close, this Eliza does not run to Higgins in a suggestion of happy-ever-after coupledom, but instead finds the strength to turn away and face her future, solo.

Sher sees the relationship between Eliza and Higgins as “profound and close but not romantic.” Shaw’s intention, Sher said, was to write the opposite of a romantic comedy.

Younger, more openminded theatergoers may cheer when Eliza stands up to the arrogant, narcissistic Prof. Higgins. Older, perhaps more nostalgic fans of the Julie Andrews and Audrey Hepburn versions may be stunned.

But Sher is resolute. “The purpose of a revival is not to make people happy, but to provoke discussion.”

His work has been hailed a success to the tune of 10 Tony nominations.

The show’s musical numbers are here in all their glory — from “I Could Have Danced All Night” to “On the Street Where You Live” to “The Rain in Spain.” The glamour is intact. But the tale exits on a note that pays allegiance more to Shaw than to Lerner.

Classic works like My Fair Lady are “very much of their time and require investigation and rethinking,” Sher said, noting that Shaw also struggled with the ending in his day.

The idea, according to the director, is that “these are living texts.” Sher is known for successfully reinterpreting and reworking such classics as South Pacific and The King and I, both of which contain troubling and outdated racial elements. With My Fair Lady, he’s made a classic from a classic for our more egalitarian era but, he asks, “Who knows, 20 years from now…?”

Lerner picks up from Shaw, Sher picks up from Lerner, but who picks up from Sher?

(“Atticus Finch”) and Yaegel T. Welch (“Tom

ALL RISE FOR TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork, To Kill a Mockingbird, is much beloved...a story of race, prejudice, and courage well-known throughout the United States. Academy and Emmy Award-winning writer and director Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, “The West Wing”) has adapted this bestseller and given us a new play for our times. The verdict? A smash success on Broadway now coming to Denver.

Adapting a classic is no easy feat, but the stage version of To Kill a Mockingbird achieves the unimaginable. Two exceptional storytellers, Harper Lee and Aaron Sorkin, have come together with magical results. New York Magazine calls it “a real phenomenon. Majestic and incandescent, it’s filled with breath and nuance and soul.”

The star-studded production, directed by Tony Award-winning Bartlett Sher (South Pacific), features Emmy Award-winning Richard Thomas (“The Waltons”) as Atticus Finch. Audiences will also see Mary Badham, who played Scout Finch in the 1962 feature film, in the role of Mrs. Henry Dubose.

Witness this courtroom drama at The Buell Theatre from January 24 through February 5. You won’t want to miss “one of the greatest plays in history” (NPR).

MY FAIR LADY

NOV 15 – 27 • BUELL

THEATRE

ASL interpreted, audio-described and open captioned performance: Nov 27 at 2pm

The purpose of a revival is not to make people happy, but to provoke discussion.

— BARTLETT SHER, DIRECTOR

Richard Thomas

Robinson”).

Photo by Julieta Cervantes My Fair Lady . Photos by Joan Marcus.

BROADWAY SHOWS TO BRIGHTEN

SEASON

Finish your 2022 with flair and treat your loved ones to an unforgettable experience in the new year! Make a return trip to the theatre and catch your favorite shows, live and up close. Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift for the person who has everything, or you’re inclined to treat yourself, we’ve got options for everyone!

A GAYLORD HOTELS ORIGINAL EXPERIENCE

Find everything you’re looking for this holiday season – dozens of Christmas activities, themed dining, and the spectacular acrobatic feats of the all-new Cirque Spirit of Christmas. It’s all part of So. Much. Christmas. at Gaylord Rockies.

NOV. 18 - JAN. 1 ChristmasAtGaylordRockies.com

TROIKA ENTERTAINMENT LLC Present THE LINCOLN CENTER THEATER PRODUCTION OF LERNER & LOEWE’S

Book and Lyrics Alan Jay Lerner Music Frederick Loewe

Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s play and Gabriel Pascal’s motion picture “Pygmalion” with Madeline Powell Jonathan Grunert

John Adkison Madeline Brennan Michael Hegarty Cameron Loyal Becky Saunders

Ashley Agrusa Anna Backer Blair Beasley Nick Berke Sophie Braud Timothy Scott Brausch Daniel James Canaday William Warren Carver Richard Coleman

Diana Craig Andrew Fehrenbacher Allyson Gishi Sam Griffin Zoey Lytle Jesse McFarland

Mark Mitrano Maeghin Mueller Sami Murphy Torinae Kevin D. O’Neil Cullen J. Zeno

Scenic Design Michael Yeargan

Lighting Design Donald Holder Sound Design Marc Salzberg Beth Lake Musical Arrangements Robert Russell Bennett & Phil Lang Dance Arrangements Trude Rittmann

Costume Design Catherine Zuber

New Orchestrations Josh Clayton Larry Blank Music Direction David Andrews Rogers Music Coordination Talitha Fehr

Casting Binder Casting Chad Eric Murnane, CSA

Hair & Wig Design Tom Watson

Associate Set Designer Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams

Associate Costume Designer Patrick Bevilacqua

Exclusive Tour Direction The Booking Group Social Media ThinkTank Marketing Randy Blevins

Executive Producer Kori Prior

Marketing Consultation Bond Theatrical

General Manager Andrew Terlizzi Production Manager Gregg Damanti

Associate Director Samantha Saltzman

Production Stage Manager Rebecca Radziejeski

Tour Marketing & Press Anita Dloniak Melissa A. Hazek

Company Manager Soldanera Rivera

Associate Choreographer Jim Cooney

Music Supervision Ted Sperling

Choreography by Christopher Gattelli

Directed by Bartlett Sher

Madeline Powell Jonathan Grunert

John Adkison Madeline Brennan Michael Hegarty

Cameron Loyal

Ashley Agrusa Anna Backer Timothy Scott Brausch

Mark Mitrano

Maeghin Mueller

William Warren Carver

Cullen J. Zeno

Diana Craig

Becky Saunders

Sam Griffin Zoey Lytle

Andrew Fehrenbacher

Richard Coleman Allyson Gishi

Jesse McFarland

Blair Beasley

Sami Murphy

Nick Berke

Daniel James Canaday

Kevin D. O’Neil

Torinae

Sophie Braud

CAST

(in order of appearance)

Eliza Doolittle MADELINE POWELL

Freddy Eynsford-Hill CAMERON LOYAL Mrs. Eynsford-Hill TORINAE Ms. Clara Eynsford-Hill BLAIR BEASLEY Colonel Pickering JOHN ADKISON Selsey Man DANIEL JAMES CANADAY Professor Henry Higgins ....................................................................................................... JONATHAN GRUNERT Hoxton Man RICHARD COLEMAN The “Loverly” Quartet WILLIAM WARREN CARVER, RICHARD COLEMAN, MARK MITRANO Frank, The Bartender ANDREW FEHRENBACHER Harry KEVIN D. O’NEIL Jamie .................................................................................................................................................. RICHARD COLEMAN Alfred P. Doolittle MICHAEL HEGARTY Flower Girl ASHLEY AGRUSA Mrs. Pearce MADELINE BRENNAN Mrs. Hopkins MAEGHIN MUELLER Higgins’ Butlers ......................................................................................... MARK MITRANO, JESSE McFARLAND Higgins’ Maids ANNA BACKER, ALLYSON GISHI, MAEGHIN MUELLER Mrs. Higgins BECKY SAUNDERS Charles SAM GRIFFIN Stewards WILLLIAM WARREN CARVER, ANDREW FEHRENBACHER

Lord Boxington JESSE McFARLAND Lady Boxington SAMI MURPHY Constables WILLIAM WARREN CARVER, CULLEN J. ZENO Professor Zoltan Karpathy DANIEL JAMES CANADAY Footmen ............................................................................. WILLIAM WARREN CARVER, JESSE McFARLAND

Queen of Transylvania DIANA CRAIG Mrs. Higgins’ Servant TIMOTHY SCOTT BRAUSCH Ensemble ASHLEY AGRUSA, ANNA BACKER, BLAIR BEASLEY, NICK BERKE, TIMOTHY SCOTT BRAUSCH, DANIEL JAMES CANADAY, WILLIAM WARREN CARVER, RICHARD COLEMAN, DIANA CRAIG, ANDREW FEHRENBACHER, ALLYSON GISHI, SAM GRIFFIN, ZOEY LYTLE, JESSE McFARLAND, MARK MITRANO, MAEGHIN MUELLER, SAMI MURPHY, TORINAE, KEVIN D. O’NEIL, CULLEN J. ZENO

SWINGS

NICK BERKE, SOPHIE BRAUD, SAM GRIFFIN, ZOEY LYTLE

DANCE CAPTAIN/FIGHT CAPTAIN NICK BERKE

ASSISTANT DANCE CAPTAIN ASHLEY AGRUSA

UNDERSTUDIES

Understudies never substitute for listed performers unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the performance.

For Eliza Doolittle: ALLYSON GISHI, TORINAE; for Freddy Eynsford-Hill: JESSE McFARLAND, MARK MITRANO; for Colonel Pickering: DANIEL JAMES CANADAY, ANDREW FEHRENBACHER; for Professor Henry Higgins: DANIEL JAMES CANADAY, ANDREW FEHRENBACHER; for Alfred P. Doolittle: RICHARD COLEMAN, KEVIN D. O’NEIL; for Mrs. Pearce: DIANA CRAIG, MAEGHIN MUELLER; for Mrs. Higgins: DIANA CRAIG, MAEGHIN MUELLER.

The use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs, either with or without flash, is strictly prohibited.

SCENES & MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT I

Overture .................................................................................................... Orchestra

Scene 1: Outside the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden “Why Can’t the English?” Higgins “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?” Eliza & The “Loverly” Quartet

Scene 2: Tenement section—Tottenham Court Road “With a Little Bit of Luck” ....................................Doolittle, Harry & Jamie

Scene 3: Higgins’ study “I’m an Ordinary Man” Higgins Scene 4: Tenement section—Tottenham Court Road “With a Little Bit of Luck” (reprise) Doolittle & Company Scene 5: Higgins’ study

“Just You Wait” Eliza “The Servants’ Chorus” Mrs. Pearce, Higgins’ Butlers & Maids “The Rain in Spain” Higgins, Eliza & Pickering “I Could Have Danced All Night” Eliza, Mrs. Pearce & Higgins’ Maids

Scene 6: Outside a club tent, Ascot “Ascot Gavotte” Company

Scene 7: Outside Higgins’ house, Wimpole Street “On the Street Where You Live” Freddy Scene 8: Higgins’ study

ACT II

Scene 1: The ballroom of the Embassy “The Embassy Waltz” Orchestra Scene 2: Higgins’ study “You Did It” .......... Higgins, Pickering, Mrs. Pearce & Higgins’ Servants “Just You Wait” (reprise) Eliza Scene 3: Outside Higgins’ house, Wimpole Street “On the Street Where You Live” (reprise) Freddy “Show Me” Freddy & Eliza

Scene 4: Flower market of Covent Garden “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?” (reprise) Eliza & The “Loverly” Quartet “Get Me to the Church on Time” Doolittle, Harry, Jamie & Company Scene 5: Upstairs hall of Higgins’ house “A Hymn to Him”.......................................................................................... Higgins Scene 6: The Conservatory of Mrs. Higgins’ house “Without You” Eliza & Higgins Scene 7: Outside Higgins’ house, Wimpole Street “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face” Higgins Scene 8: Higgins’ study

The place is London, the time is 1912.

THERE WILL BE ONE 15-MINUTE INTERMISSION

MY FAIR LADY ORCHESTRA

Music Director/Conductor: DAVID ANDREWS ROGERS

Reed 1: VICTORIA CARCHIETTA, Reed 2: ANDREW CLARK

French Horn: EILEEN COYNE, Percussion: LAURA HAMEL

Trombone: ISAAC KRAMER, Bass: ABRAHAM MASSO Concert Master: DMITRIY MELKUMOV

Cello: ROCIO MENDOZA-SILVA

AMD/Keys: GREG PALADINO, Trumpet: MAX RICHARDSON

Additional Arrangements: TED SPERLING Music Coordinator: TALITHA FEHR

PROGRAM NOTE

After tryouts in New Haven and Philadelphia, My Fair Lady, starring Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews, opened on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on March 15, 1956. Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe wrote the book and the score, adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s famous play and Gabriel Pascal’s motion picture Pygmalion. The original produc tion, one of the most distinguished in the history of the musical theater, was directed by Moss Hart. When My Fair Lady closed on September 29, 1962, it had played 2,717 performances, more than any other musical up to that time.

WHO’S WHO

MADELINE POWELL (Eliza Doolittle). National tour debut! Regional: Kristin Chenoweth’s For The Girls. Proud 2021 graduate of Oklahoma City University. Immense gratitude to Hudson Artists, Bartlett Sher, Jeff Picón, and her precious Family. For Pop & Mr. Gillas. @madpowww

JONATHAN GRUNERT (Professor Henry Higgins). National tour debut! Favorite credits include: Murder on the Orient Express (Arbuthnot), Shakespeare in Love (Wessex), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Trevor Graydon), Romeo & Juliet (Mercutio), Evil Dead: The Musical (Ash). MFA FSU/ Asolo Conservatory, BFA Southern Methodist University. Learn more at JonathanGrunert.com.

JOHN ADKISON (Colonel Pickering). National tours: A Christmas Story, Elf, The Music Man. Regional: Laguna Playhouse, People’s Light & Theatre Co., Sierra Repertory Theatre. Stock: Little Theatre on the Square, Theatre by the Sea, Barn Theatre. More at johnadkison.com. This one’s for mom.

MADELINE BRENNAN (Mrs. Pearce) is living a dream in the My Fair Lady Tour! Off-off Broadway: Little Women (Aunt March), Steel Magnolias (Clairee), Five Women (Elaine), 451 (Faber), Regional: Evita! (Eva), The Sound of Music (Elsa), Much Ado About Nothing (Dogberry).

MICHAEL HEGARTY (Alfred P. Doolittle) is right chuffed to be part of this pro duction, having recently appeared in the First National Tour of Bartlett Sher’s Fiddler on The Roof. Theatre: The Producers, Les Miserables, Footloose, Kinky Boots. TV/Film: “Tommy” (with Edie Falco), Better Nate Than Ever. More at michaeljhegarty.com

CAMERON LOYAL (Freddy EynsfordHill) is beyond grateful to be touring with My Fair Lady! National Tours: An

Officer and a Gentleman: The Musical (Sid Worley). Regional: Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Ivoryton Playhouse), Aida (White Plains), Legally Blonde (ARTSHHI). Workshops: An Officer and a Gentleman. Special thanks to the fam, a great mentor, Binder Casting, and his agents at The Collective. IG: @cameronloyal

BECKY SAUNDERS (Mrs. Higgins). Tours: Bye Bye Birdie (Mrs. Merkle), Golf: The Musical (Principal). New York: A Little Night Music (Madame Armfeldt). Regional: Always…Patsy Cline (Louise Seger, Dir. Ted Swindley), White Christmas (Martha Watson, Dir. Rob Baron), Anne of Green Gables (Marilla Cuthbert, Dir. Jessica Kubzansky).

ASHLEY AGRUSA (Assistant Dance Captain, Flower Girl, Ensemble) is a proud graduate of Cap 21! Select regional: The REV(Catch Me If You Can), Tuacahn (A Christmas Story, Beauty and the Beast, Annie), Surflight (Holiday Inn). Tours: The Elf on the Shelf. Thank you family/friends for the support! IG: @ashley_agrusa

ANNA BACKER (Higgins’ Maids, Ensemble). Off-Broadway: Broadway by the Year. Regional: Peter Pan, Anything Goes, Mame (Music Theatre Works), Pippin (Summer Theatre of New Canaan), CHICAGO (Big Noise Theater) A Christmas Carol (WPPAC). Excessive tap dancer. Love to Roux, Mom, and Dad. @annabackertap

BLAIR BEASLEY (Ms. Clara EynsfordHill, Ensemble). Blair is thrilled to be making her national tour debut! Regional: Sister Act, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Little Shop of Horrors, Gypsy & South Pacific. Gratitude to Binder Casting, JHA Management & the entire My Fair Lady team for an amazing opportunity. For my Beehive, heavenly bestie & Gladys. @misssbeasley www.blairbeasley.com

NICK BERKE (Dance Captain, Swing) is thrilled to be back on the road in his second Bartlett Sher production. Tours: Fiddler on the Roof -1st National (Swing), A Chorus Line North America & Japan (Greg). Regional: Spamalot (Swing, Ogunquit Playhouse), Singin’ in the Rain (u/s Don Lockwood, STONC), and too many West Side Story’s and A Chorus Line’s to count. BFA NYU/Tisch. @nickberke.

SOPHIE BRAUD (Swing). Sophie is ecstatic to be back on tour! Recently seen in the First National Tour of Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville. Other credits include: West Side Story, On the Town, Hello Dolly, Mamma Mia! OCU Grad. Immense thanks to God, fam ily, friends, LDC, and Binder Casting. @sophie_braud #loveforLorna

TIMOTHY SCOTT BRAUSCH (Mrs. Higgins’ Servant, Ensemble). Timothy Scott is so excited to be making his national tour debut with this stellar company! He is so grateful to every sin gle teacher, mentor, friend, and family member who has ever supported and encouraged his journey here. Special shoutout to Elon MT 22’ and his rat pack at home!

DANIEL JAMES CANADAY (Professor Zoltan Karpathy, Selsey Man, Ensemble, u/s Colonel Pickering, u/s Professor Henry Higgins). Off-Broadway: A Christmas Carol (Ebenezer Scrooge, NYIT Award nom). National Tour: 42nd Street (u/s Julian Marsh), A Christmas Carol (Fred). Regional: BroadwayWorld Award nominations for portrayals of Prospero, Claudius, The Baker, Harold Hill (twice!), and Henry Higgins. For old Jo, with love.

WILLIAM WARREN CARVER (The “Loverly” Quartet, Steward, Constable, Footman, Ensemble). TN native, William’s thrilled to make his return back to the “Golden Age” musical in My

Fair Lady! He recently made his touring debut in An Officer and a Gentleman. William thanks his family, friends, and God for all the support in the world!

IG: @williamwcarver18

RICHARD COLEMAN (Hoxton Man, The “Loverly” Quartet, Jamie, Ensemble, u/s Alfred P. Doolittle). Favorite cred its: Aida, Ragtime, Joseph...Dreamcoat, La Traviata, and Don Giovanni. Film: Pitch Perfect. Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from LSU and FSU. Geaux Tigers!!! Thanks to God, my family, and so many others for all the support and love. This is for you!!

DIANA CRAIG (Queen of Transylvania, Ensemble, u/s Mrs. Higgins, u/s Mrs. Pearce) started her acting career per forming pantomime in Paris, France. For many years she performed a one woman cabaret show with musical direction by Stephen Flaherty. She is a member of the Aching Dogs Theatre Company, acted regionally and has also appeared on TV, most recently in “Junction,” a feature film regarding the Oxycontin epidemic.

ANDREW FEHRENBACHER (Frank the Bartender, Steward, Ensemble, u/s Professor Henry Higgins, u/s Colonel Pickering). National tour debut! Select regional: The Sound of Music, Clue, A Bronx Tale, Ring of Fire, Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Carol. Endless thanks to Dr. Perna, Brian at HKA, and the My Fair Lady team! Love to Mary and family.

ALLYSON GISHI (Higgins’ Maids, Ensemble, u/s Eliza Doolittle). Recently on the national tour of Emojiland Other credits include The College Light Opera Company, Arts Express, and the Hollywood Bowl performing with Kristen Chenoweth. AMDA grad! She is beyond excited to be on tour with My Fair Lady! Joshua 1:9

SAM GRIFFIN (Charles, Ensemble, Swing) is excited to join the cast of My Fair Lady! Regional credits: Hello, Dolly!, Newsies (Marriott Theatre), The Inheritance (SpeakEasy Stage Company), and West Side Story (Reagle Music Theatre). Sam received his BFA in Musical Theater from the Boston Conservatory. This one is for M & J.

ZOEY LYTLE (Ensemble, Swing) is thrilled to be making her national tour debut! She is a graduate of SJSU

Dance and Broadway Dance Center’s ProSem. Recent: Margaritaville at Sea Paradise inaugural cast. Regional: Sophie (Mamma Mia), Jean (American Psycho), Hunyak (Chicago). OffBroadway: Phoenix (Non-Essentials). TikTok/Instagram: @zoeylytle. Thank you Mumma and Papa!

JESSE McFARLAND (The “Loverly” Quartet, Lord Boxington, Higgins’ Butlers, Footman, Ensemble, u/s Freddy Eynsford-Hill). Jesse most recently worked with Post Playhouse in Nebraska where he portrayed Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees. He was also recently nominated for a Henry Award for his performance in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. He would like to thank his family for their love and support!

MARK MITRANO (The “Loverly” Quartet, Ensemble, Higgins’ Butlers, u/s Freddy Eynsford-Hill) is making their national tour debut with My Fair Lady! Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Mark is fresh out of college with a BFA in Musical Theatre from The University of Michigan. Shoutout to Boals, Winnett and Associates and a special thanks to their family and friends. @mark_mitrano

MAEGHIN MUELLER (Mrs. Hopkins, Higgins’ Maids, Ensemble, u/s Mrs. Pearce, u/s Mrs. Higgins). Most recently played the Poo Emoji in Emojiland the Musical. An Orlando native, some regional credits include Blanche in Bonnie & Clyde and Jack’s Mother in Into the Woods. Many thanks to her family, friends, and Jose for their support!

SAMI MURPHY (Lady Boxington, Ensemble). Sami, NJ native, is beyond thrilled to join My Fair Lady! Credits: CoComelon Live! (Tour), 42nd Street (REV Theatre), Mamma Mia! (North Shore MT), Footloose (Theatre By The Sea), & RCCL dancer/vocalist. Huge thanks to her mom, dad, family, church, & mentors for their continued love and support. @samimurph34

KEVIN D. O’NEIL (Harry, Ensemble. u/s Alfred P. Doolittle). This is Kevin’s second tour with Troika Entertainment, the first being a Southeast Asian tour of Sister Act in 2016. He is happy to renew his professional affiliation with this excellent organization.

TORINAE (Mrs. Eynsford-Hill, Ensemble, u/s Eliza Doolittle) is thrilled to make her national tour debut! She recently earned her BM from Manhattan School of Music. Theatre: Paper Boy (Rain), Missed:Connections (Featured Singer), Le Comte Noir (Alexandre Dumas). Concerts: New Writers at 54! (Featured Singer). She’d like to thank her friends and family for their support!

@Tori_Normz

CULLEN J. ZENO (Constables, Ensemble) is a proud graduate of Elon MT ‘22. He made his first professional bow in July, at the Hangar Theatre. He is excited to be continuing his post grad journey with My Fair Lady, making this his national tour debut.

ALAN JAY LERNER (Book and Lyrics) wrote some of America’s best loved and enduring stage and movie musicals with Frederick Loewe over a period of more than 25 years: Life of the Party, What’s Up, The Day Before Spring, Brigadoon, Paint Your Wagon, My Fair Lady, Camelot and Gigi. He also wrote Love Life with Kurt Weill, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and Carmelina with Burton Lane, Coco with Andre Previn, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with Leonard Bernstein and Dance a Little Closer with Charles Strouse. He wrote the libretto and/or lyrics for the following films: An American in Paris, Gigi, The Little Prince, Royal Wedding and film versions of his plays. He wrote two books: The Street Where I Live and The Musical Theatre: A Celebration During his life he received multiple Tonys, Oscars, Grammys and Golden Globes and a Kennedy Center Honor. Mr. Lerner died in 1986.

FREDERICK LOEWE (Music), a classically trained musician, wrote the scores for some of America’s most memorable musicals including My Fair Lady, Camelot, Brigadoon, Paint Your Wagon and Gigi. Among his most famous songs with lyricist- partner Alan Jay Lerner are “Almost Like Being in Love,” “I Could Have Danced All Night” and “Thank Heaven for Little Girls.” A musical prodigy, Loewe was born in Berlin in 1901 and, at 13, was the youngest piano soloist to play with the Berlin Philharmonic. His popular song “Katrina,” written when he was 15, sold more than a million copies across Europe. Struggling to find work on Broadway after arriving in the U.S. in 1924, Loewe worked at such odd

WANT MORE BROADWAY IN YOUR LIFE?

We’ve got you covered with a massive lineup of the hottest shows direct from NYC. Next season, we’re bringing you a selection of music and nostalgia-filled spectacles that celebrate cultural megastars like Tina Turner, Alanis Morissette, Sting, MJ, all six wives of Henry VIII, Beetlejuice, and more! And we’re doing it all for you — our beloved patrons — so you can savor every heart-pounding, tear-inducing, stand-up-and-cheer moment of the season.

1776 Mar 21 – Apr 2, 2023

Buell Theatre

What will it take to get two dozen powerfully passionate, exceedingly complicated, and all-too-human individuals to settle their di erences, while they hold the very future of a nation in their hands? American Repertory Theater at Harvard University/ Roundabout Theatre Company’s new production of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, 1776, is a tuneful, witty, and constantly surprising reexamination of a pivotal moment in American history from directors Je rey L. Page (Violet) and Diane Paulus (Waitress). 1776 comes to Denver with the celebrated Broadway cast that reflects multiple representations of race, gender, and ethnicity. You may never think about our country—who we are and why—the same way again.

SIX

Dec 5 – 24, 2023

Buell Theatre

From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over!

Featuring an all-woman cast and all-woman band, SIX has won 23 awards in the 2021/2022 Broadway season, including the Tony Award® for Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics) and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.

The New York Times says SIX “TOTALLY RULES!” (Critic’s Pick) and The Washington Post hails SIX as “Exactly the kind of energizing, inspirational illumination this town aches for!”

The SIX: LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT Broadway album debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard cast album charts and surpassed 6 million streams in its first month.

Cabaret Show

To Be Announced • Garner Galleria Theatre

In our acclaimed Garner Galleria Theatre, we’ve brought you some of the best musicals and comedies in Denver Center history, including Always...Patsy Cline, Forbidden Broadway, An Act of God, Xanadu, The Other Josh Cohen, and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. This season we’ll bring another great cabaret title to the Galleria stage and as a valued subscriber, we’ll make sure you hear about this show first!

Jagged Little Pill

Aug 16 – 27, 2023

Buell Theatre

SOME SHOWS YOU SEE. THIS SHOW YOU FEEL. Joy, love, heartache, strength, wisdom, catharsis, LIFE— everything we’ve been waiting to see in a Broadway show— is here in the exhilarating, fearless new musical based on Alanis Morissette’s world-changing music.

Directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Waitress, Pippin, upcoming 1776) with a Tonywinning book by Diablo Cody (Juno) and Grammy-winning score, this electrifying production about a perfectly imperfect American family “vaults the audience to its collective feet” (The Guardian). “Redemptive, rousing and real, Jagged Little Pill stands alongside the original musicals that have sustained the best hopes of Broadway” (The New York Times).

You live, you learn, you remember what it’s like to feel truly human… at Jagged Little Pill

Message In A Bottle

Feb 13 – 25, 2024 Buell

Theatre

Message In A Bottle is a spectacular new dance-theatre show from triple-Olivier Award nominee, Kate Prince inspired by and set to the iconic hits of 17-time Grammy Award-winning artist Sting, including Every Breath You Take, Roxanne, Walking On The Moon and more.

With a mix of exhilarating dance styles, high-energy footwork and breathtaking athleticism, Message In A Bottle tells a unifying and uplifting story of humanity and hope. The peaceful village of Bebko is alive with joyous celebrations. Suddenly, under attack, everything changes forever. Three siblings, Leto, Mati and Tana, must embark on perilous journeys in order to survive.

Message In A Bottle is the latest masterpiece from the groundbreaking choreographer behind several West End hits including Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and features the astonishing talents of dance storytelling powerhouse, ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company.

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

Beetlejuice

Sep 5 – 17, 2023

Buell Theatre

He earned his stripes on Broadway…now the ghost-with-the-most is coming to Denver.

It’s showtime! Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. With an irreverent book, an astonishing set, and a score that’s out of this Netherworld, Beetlejuice is “SCREAMINGLY GOOD FUN!” (Variety). And under its uproarious surface (six feet under, to be exact), it’s a remarkably touching show about family, love, and making the most of every Day-O!

TINA – The Tina Turner Musical

Oct 18 – 29, 2023

Buell Theatre

HER VOICE IS UNDENIABLE. HER FIRE IS UNSTOPPABLE. HER TRIUMPH IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER.

An uplifting comeback story like no other, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll.

One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Tina Turner has won 12 Grammy Awards and her live shows have been seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history.

Featuring her much loved songs, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by the internationally acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd.

MJ

Apr 10 – 28, 2024

Buell Theatre

The music. The showmanship. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time comes to Denver as MJ, the Tony Award®winning new musical centering on the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. Created by Tony Award®-winning Director/ Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, o ering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status. MJ is startin’ somethin’ as it makes its Colorado premiere at the Buell Theatre in April 2024.

Company May/Jun 2024 Buell Theatre

PHONE RINGS, DOOR CHIMES, IN COMES COMPANY.

Winner of 5 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical, Company is “sophisticated, intimate and in-tune with the currents of modern life—brilliantly conceived and funny as hell.” (Variety).

Helmed by three-time Tony Award-winning director Marianne Elliott (War Horse, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Angels in America) this revelatory new production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s groundbreaking musical comedy is boldly sophisticated, deeply insightful, and downright hilarious.

It’s Bobbie’s 35th birthday party, and all her friends keep asking, why isn’t she married? Why can’t she find the right man and isn’t it time to settle down and start a family? As Bobbie searches for answers, she discovers why being single, being married, and being alive in the 21st-century could drive a person crazy.

jobs as cow punching, boxing and accompanying silent films on the piano. He wrote with several other lyricists until approaching Lerner at New York’s Lambs Club in 1942 about collaborating on a show—thus beginning one of Broadway’s most extraordinary partnerships. The recipient of multiple Tony and Academy awards, Loewe died in Palm Springs in 1988.

BARTLETT SHER (Direction) is a Resident Director at Lincoln Center Theater, where he won a Tony Award for his production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific (which he also directed in London and Australia); and was nominated for Tony Awards for his LCT productions of My Fair Lady, Oslo (2017 Tony Award for Best Play, Obie Award, also National Theatre, London), Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I (also London), Golden Boy, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Awake and Sing!, and The Light in the Piazza

His other LCT productions include Intimate Apparel, Blood and Gifts and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (also London). Broadway: Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird (Tony nom.), Fiddler on the Roof (Drama Desk Award), The Bridges of Madison County. OffBroadway: Waste (Best Play Obie Award), Cymbeline (Callaway Award, also Royal Shakespeare Company), Don Juan, Pericles (TFANA, BAM). He was the Artistic Director of Seattle’s Intiman Theatre (2000–2009) and was previously Company Director for the Guthrie Theater and Associate Artistic Director at Hartford Stage. Opera: Rigoletto (Metropolitan Opera, Staatsoper); Roméo et Juliette (Metropolitan Opera, Salzburg, Milan, Chicago); Faust (Baden Baden); Two Boys (ENO, Metropolitan Opera); Barbiere di Siviglia (Baden Baden, Metropolitan Opera); Otello, Il Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Le Comte Ory, L’Elisir d’Amore (Metropolitan Opera); Mourning Becomes Electra (Seattle Opera, New York City Opera). He serves on the board of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. His production of To Kill a Mockingbird is currently running at the Gielgud Theatre in the West End. His film of Oslo premiered on HBO last year and was nominated for two Emmy Awards and won a Critics Choice Award. Upcoming work includes a revival of Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot at Lincoln Center, with a book by Aaron Sorkin.

SAMANTHA SALTZMAN (Associate/ Resident Director). The Color Purple (2nd National), Matilda the Musical (1st National), Lady in the Dark (NYCC), Southern Comfort (The Public Theatre), Sarah Brightman’s Dreamchaser World Tour. Assistant Resident Director: Matilda the Musical (Broadway), The King & I (2nd National). Director (Select Credits): LadyShip, Drama League Gala Honoring Steve Martin. TV/Film: Adulting with Jane. Drama League Directing Fellow Alumni. www.samanthasaltzman.com.

CHRISTOPHER GATTELLI (Choreography).

LCT: My Fair Lady (Tony, Outer Critics Circle nominations), The King and I (Tony nom.), South Pacific (Tony, OCC noms.), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Broadway: The Cher Show (also Chicago), War Paint, Newsies (Tony, DD, OCC awards for Best Choreography), SpongeBob SquarePants (Tony nom.), Sunday in the Park With George, Casa Valentina, Godspell, 13, The Ritz, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, High Fidelity. West End: SILENCE! The Musical!, Sunday in the Park With George. OffBroadway: Dogfight (Lortel Award); Altar Boyz (Lortel, Callaway awards; DD nom.); Bat Boy: The Musical (Lortel Award); tick, tick…BOOM! Film: Hail, Caesar!; Newsies; Isn’t It Romantic? TV: “Schmigadoon!”

JIM COONEY (Associate Choreographer) is a NYC-based director/choreographer. Highlighted credits include Between the Sea and Sky (Best Musical winner, Best Choreography nom), Shooting Star (Best Choreography award), A Chorus Line (Best Musical and Best Choreography awards), Broadway Bares (directed by Jerry Mitchell), and Sweet Charity (directed by Michael Rupert). Jim is the founder of Amplified Artists, a membership community for theater professionals and is the host of the Theater Life Uncensored podcast. Learn more at JimCooney.me.

TED SPERLING (Music Supervisor). Director: The Other Josh Cohen, Red Eye of Love, Striking 12 (Off B-way); She Loves Me (Caramoor); The Pirates of Penzance, See What I Wanna See (Public Theater); Show Boat (NY Phil); Myths and Hymns, Lady in the Dark, Of Thee I Sing, Babes in Toyland, Knickerbocker Holiday (MasterVoices) Musical Director: My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, The King and I, South

Pacific, The Light in the Piazza (Tony Award), The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Floyd Collins, A Man of No Importance, A New Brain, My Favorite Year. Actor: Titanic, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Artistic Director of MasterVoices. www.tedsperling.net

MICHAEL YEARGAN (Scenic Design). LCT: My Fair Lady (Tony, Outer Critics Circle nominations), Oslo (Tony nom.), The King and I (Tony, OCC noms.), Golden Boy (Tony nom.), Blood and Gifts, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (Tony nom.), South Pacific (Tony, Drama Desk awards; OCC nom.), Cymbeline, Awake and Sing! (DD Award, Tony nom.), Edward Albee’s Seascape, The Light in the Piazza (Tony, DD awards). Broadway: The Ritz, Bad Habits, A Lesson From Aloes, The Road to Mecca (Roundabout), Fiddler on the Roof (B’way revival) Credits OffBroadway, in regional theater, London, ten productions at the Metropolitan Opera and work at major opera com panies throughout the United States, Europe and Australia.

MIKIKO SUZUKI MacADAMS (Associate Set Designer) Her design work has been seen Off Broadway and regional the atres all around the U.S. As an Associate set designer, she has worked on several Broadway, West End and US, UK and International tours. For her full credits, please visit mikikosmacadams.com. Currently, she is a faculty member of Geffen Drama School at Yale.

CATHERINE ZUBER (Costume Design). Broadway: Moulin Rouge, (Tony Award, Olivier Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), Mrs. Doubtfire, My Fair Lady, (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), Oslo, The Father, War Paint (Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), King & I, (Olivier Award, TonyAward), Fiddler on the Roof, Golden Boy, South Pacific (Tony Award); The Coast of Utopia (Tony Award); The Light in the Piazza (Tony Award); Awake and Sing! (Tony Award); The Royal Family (Tony Award); Edward Albee’s Seascape; Gigi (Drama Desk Award) Doubt; Dinner at Eight Metropolitan Opera: Rigoletto, Porgy and Bess, Il Barbieri di Siviglia, Les Contes d’Hoffman, Comte Ory, L’elisir d’Amore, Otello, Dr. Atomic, Roméo et Juliette. 2016 Induction: Theater Hall of Fame. Oslo, film HBO.

DONALD HOLDER (Lighting Design).

Broadway: Over fifty productions, two Tony awards (The Lion King and South Pacific) and fourteen Tony nomina tions. Recent projects include: Paradise Square, Tootsie, Kiss Me Kate, My Fair Lady, Oslo, Anastasia, She Loves Me, Fiddler On The Roof, The King and I, The Bridges Of Madison County, Golden Boy, Spiderman, many others. Film/TV: “Spirited” (Apple Studios), “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon Studios), Oceans 8 (Warner Bros. Pictures), “Smash” (NBC/Dreamworks). Graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Head of Lighting Design: Rutgers University.

MARC SALZBERG (Sound Design).

Broadway: My Fair Lady (also London, UK and US tours), The Great Society (co-design with Paul James Prendergast), Oslo, Golden Boy (Tony nomination), Awake and Sing! (the latter three co-designed with Peter John Still), Fiddler on the Roof (1981 revival), Larry Gelbart’s Mastergate Off-Broadway: The Hard Problem, Forever Plaid, Intimate Apparel. He sat behind the mixing desk as Production Soundman at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at New York’s Lincoln Center for 20 years, mixing 29 shows, includ ing South Pacific, The Coast of Utopia, and The Light in the Piazza.

BETH LAKE (Sound Design) is free lance Sound Designer and theater practitioner based in NYC. Recent credits: Kinky Boots (Bucks County Playhouse), Kiss My Aztec (Hartford Stage, with Jessica Paz), A Thousand Splendid Suns (US Tour), American Girl, Live! (US Tour), The Revolutionists, An Iliad (Gulfshore Playhouse). Broadway Associate: Pass Over, Is This a Room?, Dana H, My Fair Lady, The Sound Inside, Intimate Apparel. M.F.A. UC-Irvine; Member USA829.

TOM WATSON (Hair & Wig Design) headed the wig/makeup department at the Metropolitan Opera for 17 years. He has designed more than 90 Broadway productions including Wicked, Rock of Ages, The King & I, Fiddler on the Roof, Oslo, Falsettos, The Little Foxes, Junk, The Parisian Woman, My Fair Lady, King Kong, All My Sons and Great Society.

BINDER CASTING (Casting) was founded 40 years ago and is now a part of RWS Entertainment Group. The office has cast 150+ Broadway,

Off-Broadway, and National Touring productions, in addition to count less national and international proj ects spanning both stage and screen. The office holds a deep respect for their legacy, as well as a com mitment to growth. To facilitate this growth, Binder has partnered with the Disruptive Equity Education Project (DEEP) to dismantle harmful practices. www.bindercasting.com

ROBERT RUSSELL BENNETT (Orchestrations 1894-1981) orches trated more than 300 Broadway musi cal scores including Show Boat; No, No, Nanette; Of Thee I Sing; Face the Music; Oklahoma!; Carmen Jones; Finian’s Rainbow; Kiss Me, Kate; South Pacific; The King and I; My Fair Lady; and Camelot. His arrangements for the 1955 film version of Oklahoma! earned him an Academy Award. He also orches trated and arranged Richard Rodgers’ TV documentary score for “Victory at Sea.” A classically trained composer, Bennett’s prolific output of original compositions includes symphonies, sonatas, a ballet, a concerto and an opera.

PHILIP J. LANG (Orchestrations, 19111986) was a musician, composer and music educator who taught at the grad uate schools of music at the University of Michigan and the University of Colorado and was the orchestrator of more than 50 Broadway musicals including My Fair Lady and Camelot (with Robert Russell Bennett); Annie Get Your Gun; Applause; Hello, Dolly!; Carnival; and 42nd Street. Mr. Lang was an orchestrator for the Metropolitan Opera and a frequent musical arranger for television including Hallmark Productions, David Susskind, Radio City Music Hall and “The Tonight Show.”

TRUDE RITTMANN (Dance Arrangements) amassed more than 50 Broadway credits as a choral and dance arranger including The Sound of Music, The King and I, South Pacific, My Fair Lady, Carousel, Finian’s Rainbow, Brigadoon, Paint Your Wagon and Peter Pan. A composer in her own right, she provided music for such shows as “Omnibus” and “Seven Lively Arts.”

JOSH CLAYTON (New Orchestrations) recently collaborated with Jonathan Tunick on the National Theatre of London’s revival of Follies. He pro vided new orchestrations for the US

national tour and London produc tions of Lincoln Center’s Tony awardwinning revival of The King and I Other orchestration credits include: Titanic (Signature Theatre), Brigadoon (Goodman Theatre), The New Yorkers and The Cradle Will Rock (New York City Center), On A Clear Day, Finian’s Rainbow, and Donnybrook (Irish Repertory Theatre). He is currently the Supervisor of Music Administration & Score Restoration for the New York City Center Encores! Series.

LARRY BLANK (New Orchestrations) Larry’s career has taken him across Theatre, TV and Film. He is a 3 time Tony Nominee for his orchestrations on Catch Me If You Can, White Christmas and The Drowsy Chaperone. To date he has received 6 Drama Desk Award nominations. Larry orchestrated and conducted FX’s “Fosse/Verdon” and was Musical Director providing arrange ments, orchestrations, and conduct ing Dolly Parton’s “Christmas On The Square” for Warner Brothers/Netflix.

TALITHA FEHR (Music Coordinator) has worked on over 75 national and international productions and tours since 2005. Highlights include: Sister Act, Mamma Mia!, School of Rock, Come Fly Away, Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, and Priscilla Queen of the Desert as well as the 2010 Olympic Ceremonies in Vancouver. She dedi cates her work on My Fair Lady to the memory of her mentor, Sam Lutfiyya.

DAVID ANDREWS ROGERS (Music Director/Conductor) is thrilled to be Music Director and Conductor for this tour of My Fair Lady. His other touring experience includes The Phantom of the Opera (world tour), An American in Paris, The Wizard of Oz, Fiddler on the Roof, Chicago, Cats, Show Boat, and Les Misérables. In Paris and Brussels, he was Music Director and Associate Music Supervisor for Le Magicien d’Oz. David’s additional conducting cred its include Carnegie Hall (New York Pops), New York’s Lincoln Center, and Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theatre. He has conducted and/or written orches trations for Broadway stars and pop artists including Harvey Fierstein, Patti LuPone, Joel Grey, Sutton Foster, Kristin Chenoweth, Topol, Nell Carter, Debbie Gibson, Sheena Easton, Olivia Newton John, and Theodore Bikel. His other credits include over 150 pro ductions in US regional theatre, sym phony pops concerts, recordings, and

numerous readings of new musicals. MaestroDAR.com

REBECCA RADZIEJESKI (Production Stage Manager). Selected credits include inaugural programming for Valiant Lady (Virgin Voyages), TEDx (Topeka Civic Theatre), Toxic Avenger (Helen Hocker Theater), The Big Easy (Carnival), The Sound of Music (Topeka Performing Arts Center); BA Washburn University, Université Blaise Pascal.

ERIN MITTMAN (Assistant Stage Manager) She/Her is thrilled to be on the road with the My Fair Lady fam ily! National tour: Fiddler on the Roof Regional: MTWichita (Stage Manager). BFA: Wichita State University (2021).

SOLDANELA RIVERA ( Company Manager). Theater credits: Celia Cruz the Musical, The Red Rose. Music cred its in public relations and production in Latin music Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, Victor Manuelle, Pedro Capó. Film credits: El Cantante, Sugar, Hobo with a Shotgun.

JOANNE HOLDEMAN (Assistant Company Manager/Covid Safety Manager) is thrilled to be making her touring debut with My Fair Lady. Past regional company management work includes the Utah Shakespeare Festival, San Diego Dance Theater, and Coronado Promenade Concerts. She received her BS in Arts Management from Oklahoma City University.

ANDREW TERLIZZI (General Manager) is currently in his 10th season with TROIKA Entertainment. GM Tour Credits: Tootsie, My Fair Lady. CM Tour Credits: Tootsie, Escape to Margaritaville, Kinky Boots, Bodyguard the Musical, Cheers Live on Stage, The Wizard of Oz, Sister Act the Musical, Ghost: The Musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, West Side Story. Regional Credits: Williamstown Theatre Festival; Studio Theatre. Other Credits: Disney Live On Stage; Royal Caribbean Cruise Line; Starquest. He holds a BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

GREGG DAMANTI ( Production Manager) has been working in theater for over 22 years. His career began as a Production Stage Manager for Busch Gardens Williamsburg. He later became the Production Manager for Blue Man Group in New York City. National tours include On Your Feet!, CATS, & My Fair Lady. Thanks to my

family, Jen, and Ripley, for your love and support!

THE BOOKING GROUP (Tour Booking Agency) has represented 27 Tony Award® winning Best Musicals and Plays. Current tours include: Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, The Book of Mormon, 1776, Hadestown, Mean Girls, MJ The Musical, Pretty Woman, Six, Tina, To Kill A Mockingbird, Anastasia, Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, Hairspray, My Fair Lady, R.E.S.P.E.C.T., and Tootsie. Future tours include: Almost Famous, Funny Girl, Mamma Mia!, Mrs. Doubtfire, A Strange Loop, The Devil Wears Prada, and The Wiz.

NEURO TOUR (Physical Therapy). Carolyn Lawson PT, founder and CEO of NEURO TOUR and Neurosport Physical Therapy, leaders in performing arts and live entertainment medicine. We are honored to be part of the Cats, My Fair Lady, Tootsie, Annie, and The Grinch tours! Grateful.

LINCOLN CENTER THEATER, under the direction of André Bishop, is one of New York’s favorite not-for-profit theaters. Now in its 35th year, LCT has produced over 200 plays and musi cals at the Vivian Beaumont, Mitzi E. Newhouse, and Claire Tow Theaters at Lincoln Center and other theaters on and off-Broadway, as well as touring productions nationally and around the world. LCT encourages emerging art ists through play readings, workshops, an annual Directors Lab, and LCT3, which is devoted to producing the work of new playwrights, directors, and designers. Open Stages, LCT’s educa tion program, reaches thousands of public school students annually with curriculum-related projects, tickets to LCT productions, and a Shakespeare Program. The theater is also the pub lisher of the Lincoln Center Theater Review, which explores subjects related to its productions.

TROIKA ENTERTAINMENT (Producer).

For more than 30 years, TROIKA Entertainment has been producing, managing, booking, and bringing the Broadway experience to audiences in over 450 markets throughout the United States and around the world. Theatre is, at its heart, a profession of people. We believe diversity makes us stronger and we’re committed to being a company that creates an inclusive, global, and welcoming home for all

our touring companies, partners, and employees. Current and upcoming productions include Annie, CATS, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, My Fair Lady, The Phantom Of The Opera, and Tootsie www.TROIKA.com

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

TROIKA ENTERTAINMENT LLC KORI PRIOR GENERAL MANAGEMENT & PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

TROIKA ENTERTAINMENT

GENERAL MANAGER

ANDREW TERLIZZI

PRODUCTION MANAGER GREGG DAMANTI TECHNICAL DIRECTOR DAVE BURCH

COMPANY MANAGER

SOLDANELA RIVERA Assistant Company Manager...Joanne Holdeman

TOUR MARKETING & PRESS ANITA DLONIAK & ASSOCIATES, INC Anita Dloniak Melissa A. Hazek

MARKETING CONSULTATION

BOND Theatrical Bond Theatrical.com DJ Martin Marc Viscardi Melissa Cohen

CASTING

Binder Casting Mark Brandon, CSA Chad Eric Murnane, CSA; Amber Snead, CSA Jarrett Reiche; Kyle Coker; Anthony Picette Part of RWS Entertainment Group Ryan Stana, CEO

EXCLUSIVE TOUR DIRECTION

The Booking Group Meredith Blair Rich Rundle and Brian Brooks

PRODUCTION STAGE

MANAGER

REBECCA RADZIEJESKI

Assistant Stage Manager Erin Mittman

Vocal Dialect Coach Susan Finch

Assistant Director Ellie Handel

Assistant Choreographer Sierra Lai Barnett

Associate Scenic Designer Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams

Assistant Scenic Designers Chen-WeiLiao

Joo Hyun Kim, Bridget Lindsay

Associate Lighting Designers Vivien Leone Karen Spahn

Assistant Lighting Designer Colleen Doherty

Moving Light Programmer Colin Scott

Production Electrician Barrett Roberts

Associate Sound Designer Megan Culley

Production Audio Adam Fitchett

Costume Coordinator Kaitlyn Fae Barrett

Hair & Wig Coordinator Elizabeth Printz

Production Supervisor Scott Seidl

Production Assistant Angel Carper

Keyboard Programer Stuart Andrews

Music Preparation Adam Beskind

Dance Captain Nick Berke

Assistant Dance Captain Ashley Agrusa

Rehearsal Piano Paul Staroba

MY FAIR LADY TOUR STAFF

MY FAIR LADY

HEAD CARPENTER

BLAIR CARPER

Automation Carpenter James McKenna

Flyperson Nathan Lewis

Head of Props Rico Slominski

Assistant Props Joanna Chun

Head Electrician Javier Calderon

Assistant Electrician Jeremy Diamond

Head of Audio James Garrett

Assistant Audio Thomas White

Head of Wardrobe Emily-Elizabeth Glover

Assistant Wardrobe Katy Reko

Star Dresser Lucy Rodriguez

Head of Hair & Makeup Tim Bohle

Assistant Hair & Makeup Ashley Adams

Physical Therapy NEURO TOUR Physical Therapy

Payroll Services PEOPLE HRO

Insurance The Arts Insurance Program, LLC.

Video HMS Media

Advertising Spotco, Travis Moser

Social Media ThinkTank Marketing

Randy Blevins

Production Photography Jeremy Daniel Merchandise Provider Creative Goods Merchandise LLC

Merchandise Manager Mary Fehrenbacher

For TROIKA ENTERTAINMENT

Chief Executive O cer Angela Rowles

Chief Operating O cer Kori Prior

Vice President, Finance Brian Jacob

Vice President, Marketing Michael Yuen-Killick

General Counsel Sara Jane Baldwin

General Managers Tegan Meyer, Tyler Solis, Andrew Terlizzi

General Management Assistant Emily Miu

Director of Production Heather Chockley

Production Manager Gregg Damanti

Technical Supervisor Dave Burch

Assistant Production Manager Drew Neitzey

Director of Operations Melanie Cahill

Director of Engagements Barrett Newman

Senior Production Accountant Sheila Lewis Production Accountant Travis Huebel Sta Accountant Electra Walker

O ce Manager Shaquille Stewart Warehouse Manager Coree Howard www.troika.com

CREDITS

Scenery, painting, and automation by HUDSON SCENIC STUDIO, INC. Costumes by ANGELS COSTUMES, London; EUROCO COSTUMES; PARSONS-MEARES, LTD.; John Cowels; DAS GEWAND; TIMBERLAKE STUDIOS, INC.; AREL STUDIO; PERIOD CORSETS; ARNOLD LEVINE MILLINERY; RODNEY GORDON MILLINERY; LADUCA SHOES. Hosiery and undergarments by BRA*TENDERS. Principal and Embassy Ball jewelry by LARRY VRBA. Additional costume jewelry by SANDY BINION. Lighting equipment from PRG LIGHTING and HDL, LLC. Sound equipment by MASQUE SOUND. Rigging by CHRISTIE LITES. Production Travel & Housing by ROAD REBEL ENTERTAINMENT GLOBAL, San Diego, CA

SPECIAL THANKS

Rehearsed at - The Carson Center, Paducah, KY Technical Rehearsals and Previews held atThe Carson Center, Paducah, KY

Backstage and Front of the House Employees are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (or I.A.T.S.E)

The Director-Choreographer is a member of the STAGE DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS SOCIETY, a national theatrical labor union.

United Scenic Artists represents the designers and scenic painters for the American Theatre.

PLEASE BE ADVISED

• LATECOMERS and those exiting the theatre are seated at predetermined breaks in designated areas.

• PHOTOS, RECORDING & CELL PHONE USE are prohibited.

• CHILDREN 6+ are welcome in our theatres and must be ticketed.

• DRINKS are allowed in provided containers.

• ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES, LARGE PRINT PROGRAMS & BOOSTER SEATS are available in most theatres. Ask an usher to direct you.

• BRAILLE PROGRAMS are available with 2 weeks’ notice to amcmullen@dcpa.org or 303.446.4836

Members of Denver Theatrical Wardrobe, Wigs, Hair and Make-up, Union 719

Linda Ackerschott

Robin Appleton

Julie Bassignani

Carrie Breidenbach

Vonnie Clough

Leslie Lambert

Taylor Malott

Anthony Mattivi

Sharon Millikan-Hale

Callie Morrow

Tim Nelson

The Denver Performing Arts Complex is owned and operated by Denver Arts & Venues for the City and County of Denver.

City and County of Denver Michael B. Hancock, Mayor

Denver Arts & Venues

Ginger White, Executive Director Molly Wink, Deputy Director

Denver Arts & Venues, Arts Complex Operations Mark Heiser, Venue Director

Jody Grossman, Assistant Venue Director, Booking Todd Medley, Facilities Superintendent Kelly Graham, Safety, Security and Garage Operations Manager Carol Krueger, Patron Services Manager artscomplex.com | (720) 865-4220

For immediate assistance & security (720) 865-4200

Craig Cory Cyndie Cory

Laura Cotugno

Steve Davies Anne Davis

Amber Donner

Carolyn Dore Deborah Guess

AnnSue Gunter

Judy Holabird

Amoreena Knabb

Lisa Parson

Laura Payne

Yolanda Pollock Dave Poole

Alen Richardson

Liz Spadi Amy Tepel

Marybeth Tscherpel Eliza Vlasova Barb Wilson

DPAC House Crew

Mark Anthony Perry Elliot James R. Gralian Allen Olmstead

Albert Sainz, Sr Derek Tovar David A. Wilson

DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE FOLLOWING SUPPORT IN ITS 2022/23 BROADWAY SEASON

Photos by McLeod9 Creative

ADD SOME SPARKLE TO YOUR SEASON

Created by DAVID BYRNE & MALA GAONKAR

Created By Lonnie Hanzon

MAKING IT THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL WITH

BY JOHN MOORE

FFor millions of us, high school was no laughing matter. More like downright grotsky. Until there was Tina.

Celebrated comedy writer Tina Fey found fetch in your mom’s chest hair when she wrote the catchphrase-rich screenplay for Mean Girls, which rocketed from teen cult fave to bona-fide box-office pink in 2004, grossing more than $128 million. Fey’s take on the well-worn subject of cliques who rule the school was different from its many pop-culture predecessors, her husband says, “because she’s funny – and she’s funny in a way that holds up.”

Fey adapted Mean Girls into a stage musical that has found widespread audience appeal because unlike, say, Stephen King’s Carrie, the nasty kids don’t end up fried in the high-school gym. They are redeemed. That’s because Mean Girls is about more than just the mean girls.

“Oh, there are many mean people in high school,” said Jeff Richmond, an Emmy-winning composer who married Fey in 2001 and wrote the music for the Mean Girls musical. “But there are also very sweet people, and very broken people, and very hurt people, too. And with this musical, we are trying to give all of them a voice and a sense of self-importance.”

The irony of the musical’s title, Richmond said, “is that the show is so joyful and so much fun. The title does hang on that one word – Mean – but there’s so much more to it than that.”

Fey based her film on the self-help book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman. The story follows

a homeschooled girl who joins a girl group called The Plastics, only to learn first-hand the price of sacrificing your true self for a spot at the top of the popularity food chain. Fey’s script produced one classic line after another, some that theatregoers now shout out during live performances. (“Gretchen, stop trying to make fetch happen! ”)

Successfully adapting that proven source material to the stage largely depended on how the music of Richmond and lyricist Nell Benjamin would enhance the show’s overall message of acceptance. Their versatile score produced multiple anthems, among them “I’d Rather Be Me (Than Be With You)” and “Where Do You Belong?”

Richmond cites “I See Stars” as a song that strikes to the heart of Mean Girls. “That’s a song that says everybody is a star, in their own right, no matter what group you are in,” he said. “The song contains an important line that says: ‘I see you there. I see you.’ People in high school – or really anyone at any time in their lives – might feel like they disappear amongst all the noise and glitz of the world. Just being seen is important.”

When Richmond was in high school in Ohio, he was not an athlete. But he was funny, and he navigated adolescent tribulations using comedy as a defense. He found his way into choir and singing groups and marching band, all of which pointed him in the direction of a musical career that has run through “Saturday Night Live,” where he spent five seasons composing original songs for stars such as Jack

(L-R): English Bernhardt (Cady Heron), Jasmine Rogers (Gretchen Wieners), Nadina Hassan (Regina George),Morgan Ashley Bryant (Karen Smith), Lindsay Heather Pearce (Janis Sarkisian) and the National Touring Company of Mean Girls Credit: © 2022 Jenny Anderson

Black, Queen Latifah and Catherine Zeta-Jones; “30 Rock,” with his wife; and most recently “Girls5eva,” for musical comedy on Peacock.

If they had prepped together, Richmond said, he and Fey might have been high-school sweethearts. “Actually, no, that would have been terrible,” he self-corrected with a laugh. “We would have broken up by junior year for sure.”

It’s probably no coincidence that the motto of Fey’s Pennsylvania high school was, “Where Every One Is Royalty.” Like Richmond, Fey found the funny people at her Upper Darby High School. “She played tennis, but she wasn’t really an athlete,” Richmond said. “She did drama, but she also loved being on the stage crew, and she loved any opportunity for writing. I think she found her way through high school with her caustic wit.”

Richmond and Fey met at Chicago’s famed Second City, and now have two children. When Fey left “SNL” to develop “30 Rock” in 2006, Richmond composed the theme song, appeared as the character “Alphonso Disperioso” and directed five episodes.

HONORING OUR ELDERS

— JEFF RICHMOND, EMMY-WINNING COMPOSER AND HUSBAND TO BOOK WRITER TINA FEY

Now 18 years since the Mean Girls film, Richmond isn’t surprised that the story is still speaking not only to a new generation of girls but to their parents and grandparents as well.

“There is just a very universal feeling about the whole thing,” he said. “Everyone knows how it feels to be bullied, and that transcends high school. Bullying certainly has gotten into our day-to-day culture, especially in the past 10 years. But Mean Girls asks, ‘If you’re bullying somebody, why are you doing that? Are you hurt also?’”

And Fey is asked by young people all the time for her advice on making it through high school.

“Tina will remind any kid that, yes, four years feels like eternity, but it’s really not,” Richmond said. “You will come out the other side ready to face life, and all those problems you had before will be behind you.

“There’s a line in the opening number where Damien says, ‘And no one died.’ For a while, we had that as the last line in the show. Because the whole idea is that you’re going to get through this. I actually liked high school very much, and I have to say: Life just keeps getting better as you get past all that. And you do get past it.”

MEAN GIRLS

DEC 20 – JAN 1 • BUELL THEATRE

ASL Interpreted, Audio Described and Open Captioned performance: Dec 30, 2pm

We invite our audiences to join the DCPA as we honor our Elders for the care of the land on which we perform with an official land acknowledgement. These words are shared at company meetings, first rehearsals, public forums and in the pages of Applause to recognize and respect Indigenous Peoples, their traditional territories and the care they have shown to all who reside here.

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts honors and acknowledges that it resides on the traditional and unceded territories of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Peoples. We also recognize the 48 contemporary Indigenous Tribes and Nations who have historically called Colorado home.

We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future, and to all those who have stewarded the land and water for generations.

May this acknowledgment express the DCPA’s commitment to grow and deepen its relationships with the vibrant Indigenous communities who continue to thrive and uphold their sacred relation to this land.

Learn more about land acknowledgements.

“Bullying certainly has gotten into our day-to-day culture…. But Mean Girls asks, ‘If you’re bullying somebody, why are you doing that? Are you hurt also?’ ”

Mean Girls Creative Team (L-R) Casey Nicholaw, Tina Fey, Jeff Richmond, Nell Benjamin. Photo by Jenny Anderson.

Ever dreamed of acting on stage? Have ideas for that next great play?

DCPA Education has a class for you! Led by professional instructors who are active in the field, we offer everything from intro classes to master-level instruction.

ducation & Community Engagement

LITTLE RED Book, Music, and Lyrics by Chad Henry Directed by Allison Watrous Music Direction by Trent Hines Choreography by Jake Mendes

SPOTLIGHT SPONSORS: The Oscar & Elsa Mayer Family Foundation Al & Carol Meny Tomblin Family Foundation

Photo

SPECTACULAR EVENTS. SIMPLIFIED.

DCPA Event Services

The DCPA Event Services team is here to partner with you for every aspect of your next big event! Create an experience for the record books with immaculate catering, dramatic lighting design, our theatre-quality A/V system, professional staffing — the works — all coordinated by one team under one roof.

BE A PART OF THE

CREATIVE PROCESS

At the Colorado New Play Summit, we workshop new plays by some of the industry’s most talented artists. We offer them our resources. We recruit professional actors for readings in front of a live audience. And that’s the key. Your participation is the most important part of the Summit. Your reaction to every punchline. Your comments after each performance. Your ideas for improving the script.

Our New Play Summit audiences were instrumental in bringing last season’s In the Upper Room and Rattlesnake Kate to life. In 2020, they fine-tuned Yussef El Guindi’s Hotter Than Egypt, which makes its Denver Center debut in February. With your help, who knows what we might discover next?

LEARN MORE

SPONSOR SEASON SPONSORS

LEARN MORE DENVERCENTER.ORG/VENUE-RENTALS

SPOTLIGHT

PREMIERE SPONSORS: Robert & Carole Slosky

Geoffrey Kent and Dana Green. Photo by Michael Martin Photography

BUILT IN DENVER

SHARED WITH THE

WORLD

Want to see a real impact from investing in the arts?

Become a production or season sponsor and watch the inspiration unfold!

SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR - $10,000+

Sponsor a show of your choice and get access to exclusive Opening Night festivities, meet-and-greets with the cast and crew, recognition in Applause magazine, and more sponsor perks!

PREMIERE SPONSOR - $25,000+

Get everything included in a Spotlight Sponsorship, plus behind-the-scenes tours, access to rehearsals, and invitations to a sponsor dinner with the show’s Director and Managing Director.

HONORARY PRESENTING SPONSOR - $50,000+

Get everything included in a premiere sponsorship, plus a guided tour of the DCPA costume, prop, or scene design workshop. You’ll also get a two complimentary Directors Society memberships, private meet-and-greets with the creative team, and a private luncheon with the company’s Artistic Director.

HONORARY SEASON SPONSOR - $100,000+

Sponsor the entire season and experience theatre like never before! The DCPA will build a customized theatre experience for you and your guests. And you’ll get unprecedented access to every step of the play’s development, from first rehearsal to final product. Almost anything is possible!

GET INVOLVED

(Top photo) Amanda Robles, Jennifer Paredes, Natalie Camunas, Crissy Guerrero and Heather Velazquez in American Mariachi (Inset photo) Rakeem Lawrence and Mercedes Perez in Goodnight Moon

DCPA

Janice Sinden President & CEO

Gretchen Hollrah COO

Lydia Garcia Executive Director, Equity & Organization Culture

Donna Hendricks President & CEO Executive Assistant

Lisa Prater Production COVID Safety Officer

Julie Schumaker Manager, Board Relations & COO Executive Assistant

BROADWAY & CABARET

John Ekeberg Executive Director

Administration

Ashley Brown Business Manager

Alicia Bruce General Manager

Garner Galleria Theatre

Abel Becerra Technical Director

Jason Begin+, Anna Hookana+ Core Stagehands

DEVELOPMENT

Jamie Clements Vice President

Daniel Escobar Manager, Corporate Partnerships

Amanda Gomez Manager, Annual Fund

Kaylie Groff Manager, Grants & Reports

Marc Ravenhill Associate Director, Donor Relations

Megan Stewart Manager, Events Erin Walker Senior Director

EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Allison Watrous Executive Director

Stuart Barr Technical Director

Claudia Carson Teaching Artist & Manager, Playwriting & Bobby G

Leslie Channell Director, Business Operations

Emily Doherty Teaching Artist & Manager, Theatre for Young Audiences Programming

Patrick Elkins-Zeglarski Director, Education & Curriculum Management

Emma Kimball Assistant Registrar

Jesús Quintana Martínez Director, Community Engagement

Timothy McCracken Head of Acting

David Saphier Teaching Artist & Manager, In-School Programming

Elizabeth Schmit Executive Assistant & Community Engagement Manager

Melissa Sumner Registrar & On Site Class Manager

Charlotte Talbert Librarian

Rachel Taylor Teaching Artist & Manager, Literary Engagement & Resiliency

Justin Walvoord Teaching Artist & Manager, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot

Samuel Wood Teaching Artist & District Liaison

FACILITIES

Glen Lucero Director

Dwight Barela, Mark Dill, John Howard, Zak Merten Engineers

Calum Abeywickrema, Jodi Benavides, David Bright, Benjamin Koenig, Gabe McNally-Nakamura, Anthony Saavedra Security Specialists

Judy Briggs Front Desk

Quentin Crump Manager, Security & Guest Relations

Merry Davis Financial Manager

Jane Deegan Administrator

Michael Kimbrough Manager, Engineering

Brian McClain Manager, Custodial Casey Meschievitz Manager, Environmental Health & Safety

Steven Bilbao, Lindsey Cervantes, Carmen Molina, Judith Primero Molina, Juan Loya Molina Custodians

EVENT SERVICES

Savanna Campbell, Samantha Egle, Phillip Rohrbach, Alex Skaar Event Managers

Thomas Duffin Manager, Event Technology

Stori Heleen-O’Foley Lighting, Team Lead

John Hess Manager, Sales & Business

Shane Hotle Audio Engineer

Samuel Kisthardt Lighting

David Mandlowitz, Ben Peitzer Video Engineers

Tara Miller Manager, Event Operations

Brook Nichols Technical Director Brooke Wyatt Manager, Event Logistics

MARKETING, SALES & PATRON SERVICES

Marketing

Giorgio Ausenda Media Producer

Heidi Bosk Associate Director, Press & Promotions, Broadway & Cabaret

Sofia Contreras Graphic Designer

Emmy Cook Coordinator, Broadway & Cabaret

Brenda Elliott, Paul Koob Senior Graphic Designers

TJ Forlenza Copywriter

Michael Garcia Manager, Web Content

Claire Graves Director, Produced Programs

Brittany Gutierrez Manager, Communications

Jeff Hovorka Director, Sales & Marketing, Broadway & Cabaret

Emma Hunt Coordinator, Communications & PR

Emily Kent Director, Insights & Strategy

Lucas Kreitler Junior Graphic Designer

Linda Lang Project Manager

Michael Ryan Leuthner Director, Digital Marketing

Emily Lozow Manager, Broadway & Cabaret

Kyle Malone Director, Design

Katie Mount Manager, Email Marketing

Whitney Testa Executive Assistant, Marketing & Broadway

Kong Vang Social Media Coordinator

Julie Whelan Associate, Produced Programs

Suzanne Yoe Director, Content & Communications

Ticketing & Audience Services

Jennifer Lopez Director

Christina Adamoli*, D.J. Dennis*, Edmund Gurule*, Chris Leech*, Elias Lopez*, Hayley Solano*, Sam Stump* Counter/Show Leads

Kirsten Anderson*, Scott Lix*,

Liz Sieroslawski*,

Greg Swan* Subscription Agents

Wisline Cledgett*, Elliot Davis*, Jen Gray*, Chántel Healy*, Natalie Jaramillo*, Genevieve Gionet, Phi Johnson-Grimes, Noah Jungferman*, Lane Randall*, Andrew Sullivan*,

Dewey Tran* Ticket Agents

Jon Collins Manager, Subscription

Katie Davis Coordinator, VIP Ticketing

Billy Dutton Associate Director, Operations

Danielle Freeman Manager, Customer Service

Roger Haak Manager, VIP Ticketing

Claire Hayes, Ella Mann Managers, Box Office

Katie Spanos Associate Director, Subscriber Services

Group Sales

Jessica Bergin Associate Director

Brad Steinmeyer Coordinator

Maddie Young Education & Group Sales Associate

Theatre Services

Evan Gendreau Associate Director Elliot Shields Manager

Bryan Faciane, Kaylyn Kriaski, Leilani Lynch, Aaron McMullen, Stacy Norwood, Valerie Schaefer Assistant Managers

Nora Caley, Teresa Gould, Robin Lander, Myrisa Martin, Barbara Pooler, Wendy Quintana House Managers

ACCOUNTING & FINANCE

Jane Williams CFO

Sara Brandenburg Director, Accounting Services

Michaele Davidson Treasury Accountant

Jennifer Jeffrey Director, Financial Planning & Analysis

Valerie Lingbloom General Ledger Accountant

Kristina Monge Accounts Payable Specialist

Jennifer Siemers Director, Accounting

HUMAN RESOURCES

Laura Maresca Vice President Brian Carter, Lizette Collazos Directors

Kate Faust Coordinator

Paul Johnson Payroll Specialist

Monica Robles Supervisor, Mailroom Kinsey Scholl Operations Specialist

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Lisa Roebuck Vice President

For security purposes, the IT team has been omitted.

OPERATIONS

Vincent Bridgers Senior Analyst

Adam Busch Junior Analyst

Aaron Chavez Lead Ruben Cruz Engineer

Simone Gordon Associate Director

Kyle Greufe Analyst

Brandon LeMarr Manager

Sarah Martinez Analyst

Jacob Parker Associate Director

Joseph Reecher Senior Engineer

Chris Robisch Analyst

Cordelia Taylor Coordinator Allyssa Welker Administrator

OFF-CENTER

Charlie Miller Executive Director & Curator

THEATRE COMPANY

Administration

Charles Varin Managing Director

Madysen Hunter Business Admin/ Assistant Company Manager

Ann Marshall General Manager

Sabina Rivera Company Manager

Artistic

Chris Coleman Artistic Director

Melissa Cashion Artistic Producer Grady Soapes Artistic Producer & Director of Casting

Leean Kim Torske Director of Literary Programming

Production

Jeff Gifford Director

Julie Brou Administrative Assistant/ Office Manager

Matthew Campbell Production Manager

Peggy Carey Associate Production Manager

Scenic Design

Lisa Orzolek Director

Kevin Nelson, Nicholas Renaud Assistants

Lighting Design

Charles MacLeod Director

Lily Bradford Assistant Joseph Price+ Production Electrician Sound Design

Alexander Billman Supervisor Meagan Holdeman+, Timothy Schoeberl+ Technicians

Stage Management

Michael Morales Production Stage Manager

Martinique Barthel, Corin Davidson, Rachel Ducat, Wendy Blackburn Eastland, Stephanie Holmes, Anne Jude, Rick Mireles, Nick Nyquist, Katie An Siegel, Malia Stoner, Kristin Sutter, Christine Woods Stage Managers

Angie Salazar, Devon Weisnsch Stage Management Apprentices

Anna Cordova, Katy Gentry, Harper Hadley, Sage Hughes, Katie Liguori, Kaden Dolph, Kelsea Sibold, Alex Koszewski, Tristan Andersen TOTM Experience Attendants

Scene Shop

Eric Moore Technical Director

Albert “Stub” Allison, Robert L. Orzolek, Josh Prues Associate Technical Directors Tyler D. Clark, Amy Wynn Pastor, Kyle Scoggins Scenic Technicians Louis Fernandez III Lead Scenic Technician Brian “Marco” Markiewicz Lead Carpenter

Prop Shop

Meghan Markiewicz Supervisor Jamie Curl, Georgina Kayes, Ashley Lawler Artisans Cat V Kerr Associate Props Supervisor Andrew McGlothen Prop Carpenter

Paint Shop

Jana Mitchell Charge Scenic Artist Kristin Hamer MacFarlane, Melanie Rentschler Scenic Artists

Costume Shop

Janet Macleod Director/Design Associate Meghan Anderson Doyle Design Associate Stephanie Cooper, Ingrid Ludeke, Carolyn Plemitscher Draper Costume Crafts

Kevin Copenhaver Director Chris Campbell Assistant

Wigs

Diana Ben-Kiki Supervisor

House Crew

Douglas Taylor+ Supervisor James Berman+, Forest Fowler+, William Loving+, Dave Mazzeno+, Kyle Moore+, Matt Wagner+ Stagehands Calli Lavarnway+ Kelley “Reznik” Russell+ Assistants

Wardrobe

Heidi Echtenkamp Supervisor Robin Appleton^, Amber Krimbel^, David La Beaux^, Lauren LaCasse , Lisa Parsons Wagner , Kami Williams^ Dressers Jerome Horng^, Marisa Sorce^ Wig Assistants

* Member, I.A.T.S.E. Local B-7

+ Member, I.A.T.S.E. Local

^ Member, I.A.T.S.E. Local

LLocated in the heart of Denver, BMW of Denver Downtown has always had its fingers on the pulse of the city. Denver is such a unique and exciting place to live and do business and BMW of Denver Downtown has made giving back to such a vibrant community its preeminent goal. From the very beginning, they’ve made it their duty to ensure that they made a difference with how they did business.

From the moment one walks into the state-of-the-art showroom, there’s no doubt that this will be a different experience. One that is just as elegant and powerful as the German-engineered vehicles sold and serviced at the dealership. More than that, the promise of transparency that BMW of Denver Downtown makes to all customers is what has made it such a fixture in the lives of Denver’s citizens.

Never pay dealer handling fees, never pay over MSRP, never pay addendums or market adjustments to pricing, always pay less for a new BMW compared to the competition. These few words speak for themselves on why more people have chosen to do business with BMW of Denver Downtown – they are a dealership whose mission is to provide an experience that their guests want and deserve.

This commitment to excellence and a higher call to the community are things that come naturally to BMW of Denver Downtown. It’s an experience that everyone should be able to enjoy, just like the impressive outreach made possible by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, which is why BMW of Denver Downtown has partnered with the DCPA.

Both are proud members of the Denver community and share a passion for turning the unattainable into very much attainable for everyone. It’s a passion that goes so much further beyond and into making Denver a city everyone wants to live in.

To learn more about all the ways BMW of Denver Downtown is helping the greater Denver community, visit BMWofDenverDowntown.com and see why more people choose BMW of Denver Downtown for their next luxury vehicle.

BMW of Denver Downtown has made giving back to such a vibrant community its preeminent goal.

PROUD SPONSOR OF CAMP CHRISTMAS AND DCPA BROADWAY’S GOLDEN CIRCLE

FEBRUARY 3 – 12,

MARCH 10 – 19,

ASUKA SASAKI & JONNATHAN RAMIREZ BY RACHEL NEVILLE TICKETS

2023

presented by LYNNETTE MORRISON

2023

presented by MidFirst Bank

JENNIFER GRACE BY RACHEL NEVILLE

At the Ellie Caulkins Opera House with live music featuring the Colorado Ballet Orchestra Supported by:

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

— THE DENVER POST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

TThe Denver Post is proud to support the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, both through sponsorship of its acclaimed theatre productions as well as with grant funding through The Denver Post Community Foundation. Our longstanding partnership with DCPA has given countless individuals of all ages, the opportunity to experience and develop a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

The Denver Post Community believes in giving back to the communities in which it serves and proudly supports hundreds of nonprofits’ programs and events. Support is given in many ways: through The Denver Post Community Foundation, employee volunteering, and in-kind advertising.

The Denver Post Community Foundation, a recognized 501 (c)(3) nonprofit agency, raises funds through individual and corporate donations, through its unique signature events and programs and through the annual holiday Season To Share campaign. The overall mission is to improve and enrich the lives of those in our community through support of programs that benefit arts and culture; children and youth; education and literacy, and the provision of basic human services. To date, over $8,377,750.00 has been raised and distributed.

· Signature Events and Programs

These well-established events and programs have become staples in the community. They offer partners, participants and volunteers something unique each year. They include: Pen & Podium Literary Lecture Series, Passport To The Arts, and the Colorado State Spelling Bee

· The Denver Post Season To Share

The Denver Post Season To Share holiday fundraising campaign kicks off on October 30 and runs through December 31, 2022. Donations up to $1,000,000 will be matched at $.50 per dollar, by our matching partner the Denver Children’s Foundation, making an even greater impact for our neighbors in need. These funds will support more than 50 local nonprofit agencies working to nourish those who experience hunger, house those in need of a permanent home, prepare children and youth for success in the classroom and in life and protect children and families in need with medical care. Visit seasontoshare.com for more information.

Together We Can Make A Difference denverpostcommunity.com

We are so grateful to our partners and to the thousands of donors and event participants over the years that have helped to improve and enrich the lives of those in our community.

The Denver Post Pen & Podium Series

(right) Author Colm Toibin

The Denver Post Season To Share

“CBS Colorado is here to bring you the news about what’s happening at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and arts and culture in your neighborhood, because your community is our community too. We cover Colorado first and we care about continuing to make Colorado a great place to live, work and play. Enjoy the show and tune in to CBS Colorado or visit www.cbscolorado.com for regular updates on performances in your community.”

COMMITTED TO COVERING ARTS AND CULTURE AND PROUD PARTNER OF THE DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

— CBS COLORADO GENERAL MANAGER TIM WIELAND

TOP: CBS4 The ARTS | (l-r) Actor Gareth Saxe, Multi-Media Journalist Dillon Thomas & Actress Desirée Mee Jung in a choreography rehearsal for Much Ado About Nothing | BOTTOM: 20th Chalk Art Festival