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Author’s Note I wanted to write a play that captured what is for me the true spirit of the American West, the sense of hope and hopelessness, a stark landscape that inspired generations of stories and storytellers and captured the imaginations of so many. For me, this play could take place in almost any setting; it is a universal story of love, pride and sacrifice - the Wild West simply offers the well-known and much loved canvas onto which these character and their struggles are drawn. In a world where life is short and full of danger, the genre offers a unique opportunity for bold characters and bolder conviction. Twotrees is a town where people speak their mind and live their lives at the pace of a bullet -- for a storyteller, what could be more satisfying? ~ Jethro Compton from the acting edition of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance DOROTHY M. JOHNSON, writer of the original short story, was born in 1905 in Iowa, but grew up in Whitefish, Montana. She attended Montana State University and graduated with a degree in English in 1929. By the time she finished at the University, Johnson was already a published author. Johnson wrote The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance in 1953. She taught and worked for the Montana Press Association for many years. In addition to her work as an editor and teacher, Johnson had a prolific career as a published author, specializing in stories set on the American frontier during the nineteenth century. She wrote 17 books, more than 50 short stories, and countless magazine articles. Three of her stories were adapted for the screen: The Hanging Tree, A Man Called Horse and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Scholars have called Johnson “the dean of women writers of Western fiction.” Johnson died in 1983.
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The Kent Singers 2016 - 2017 Concerts x
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Matthew Travis, Music Director BACH AT CHRISTMAS: Wachet Auf
Sunday, December 11th, 2016 at 2:00 p.m St. Andrew’s Church, Kent, CT AMERICAN SONG: Corigliano, Copland, Gershwin Sunday, March 19, 2017 w. Soprano & Chamber Orchestra St. John’s Church, New Milford, CT
MOZART: REQUIEM
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presents
The Man Who Shot
Liberty Valance Written by Jethro Compton
Based on the short story by Dorothy M. Johnson
directed by Richard Pettibone
The Cast Ransome Foster Hallie Jackson Bert Barricune Jim Mosten Liberty Valance Marshal Johnson Jake Dowitt Townsfolk/Outlaws Narrator (Voice)
James Dietter Ali Bernhardt Mark Feltch Gary Cook Francis A. Daley Jonathan Ross Tom Libonate John Bolster, Rufus de Rahm Robert Vaughn
Setting The Prairie Belle Saloon, Twotrees, America. 1890 and 1910 There will be one 15-minute intermission The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
is presented through special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
Production Staff
Director........................................................................................ Richard Pettibone Assistant Director............................................................................ Sonnie Osborne Stage Manager....................................................................................Kathy Bolster Composer................................................................................................Jonny Sims Guitar ................................................................................................... John Bolster Costume Design................................................................ Lesley Neilson-Bowman Set Design...................................................................................... Scott Wyshynski Builders...... Rich Pettibone, Scott Wyshynski, Frank Russo, Jay & Jared Novicky, ...... Sonnie Osborne, John Bolster, Glenn Couture, Mark Feltch, Francis A. Daley Lighting Design.............................................. Richard Pettibone, Scott Wyshynski Sound Design............................................................................... Richard Pettibone Props & Painting...........................................................................Glenn R. Couture Running Crew..................................................................................... Steve Larson House Managers.......................................Mary Kimball, Christine Daley, Jill Pace Publicist..............................................................................................Tom Libonate Photography....................................................................... Ghostlight Photography Web Site................................................................................printplusdesignllc.com Producers.......................................................... Sonnie Osborne, Richard Pettibone Special Thanks • Kevin Sosbe • Suzi Pettibone • Brian Gleissner • Hunter Pettibone • Jan Desiato • Cocktails & Curtain Calls with Matt Austin and Elizabeth Young • Jethro Compton • Jonny Sims • Oli Gordon • Sarah Wolf • Sarah Weber • Bette Lou Emmons • FM97.3 WZBG Backstage with Johnny O
WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST
JAMES DIETTER (Ransome Foster) stumbled into acting October of 2015, landing the role of Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show at the Sherman Playhouse, directed by the venerable Francis A. Daley. The experience stoked a flame of passion for the performing arts. This passion led him to TheatreWorks last March, in Seminar, directed by Alicia Dempster. Now he finds himself back on stage in New Milford, scruffier, well-worn from the trail and a little sun burned. Jim is thrilled to explore this story of good and evil along with a committed and experienced cast of cowboys, maidens and outlaws, under the high-noon direction of Rich Pettibone. Yee-haaw! ALI BERNHARDT (Hallie Jackson) is ecstatic to be back at Theatre Works New Milford. Her last appearance here was as Slippy Helen in The Cripple of Inishmann. She recently performed down at The Depot in Garrison, NY as a sixty year old woman in Richard Knipes’ Grey Areas. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Marymount Manhattan College. She would like to thank her husband for his love, support and wonderful dinners, especially during rehearsals. She dedicates this show to her daughter, Audrey, who will be seeing Mom live on stage for the first time. MARK FELTCH (Bert Barricune) Previous roles at TheatreWorks include Sweeney in SweeneyTodd, Mick Dowd in A Skull in Connemara, Billy Flynn in Chicago, Herr Schultz in Cabaret, Carl Magnus in A Little Night Music, Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came To Dinner, Tilden in Buried Child, King Berenger in Exit the King, and
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WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST
Harry in The Sum of Us. Regional credits in Cyrano de Bergerac and A Christmas Carol at the Dallas Theater Center, The Front Page at the Alley Theatre, and Little Egypt at Stages Rep. Film roles in Bad Girls with Drew Barrymore, The Underneath with Peter Gallagher, and the independent films Neurotic Cabaret, Into the Spider’s Web, and The Man With the Perfect Swing. GARY COOK (Jim ‘The Reverend’ Mosten) is thrilled to be making his TheatreWorks debut with such a talented ensemble of actors. When not managing the saloon, he is a recent alumni of St. John’s University’s Television and Film program and currently creating his own web series. Gary also does Improvisation Comedy with his troupe “Bad Astronauts” in New York City, performing at the UCB Theatre as well as the annual Del Close Marathon. He would like to thank his youngest brother Jayden for constant inspiration and his friends and family for their endless love and support. FRANCIS A. DALEY (Liberty Valance) As near as we can reckon Mr. Daley has acted some, directed a bit, and built a bunch of sets. When he is not engaged in theatrical pursuits he builds things out of wood. He was last seen on this stage a number of years back in Our Country’s Good, Eleven Zulu, and Devour The Snow. We know he is looking forward to directing a production of Hair for The Sherman Playhouse next summer. Danbury is the town he resides in with his ever loving wife, Christine and daughters Noelle and Maya. Mr. Daley recognizes the strength and value of TheatreWorks and in particular, this cast and crew. “A unique pleasure” is what he said. JONATHAN ROSS (Marshal Johnson) has performed over 25 roles at TheatreWorks. Among these are Pale in Burn This, Frank Strang in Equus, Andrew Rally in I Hate Hamlet, Eberhard Badgerwick in Ghost Of A Chance, Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, The Warden in Kiss Of The Spider Woman, Hortensio in Taming Of The Shrew, Reverend Shandy in The Lying Kind, Victor Fleming in Moonlight and Magnolias, Harrison Howell in Kiss Me, Kate, Joseph Flaherty in The Irish Curse, and The Telephone Man in Barefoot In The Park.. He has appeared at many other area theaters, including Musicals at Richter Park, Thomaston Opera House, Hole In The Wall, Coachlight Dinner Theater, Playhouse On Park, Seven Angels, and most recently multiple roles in The Dining Room at Phoenix Stage Co. TOM LIBONATE (Jake Dowitt) is, as always, thrilled to be back on the TheatreWorks boards – last performing here in The Cripple of Inishmaan in 2013. More recently, Tom portrayed Cmdr. Harbison in last year’s sold-out run of South Pacific at The Ivoryton Playhouse. TheatreWorks credits include: President Charles Smith (November), David O. Selznick (Moonlight & Magnolias), Coleman Connor (The Lonesome West), and Thomas Hanlon (A Skull in Connemara). Equity productions include Barefoot in the Park and Arsenic and Old Lace (Ivoryton Playhouse) and To Kill a Mockingbird and Our Town (Hartford Stage), starring Matthew Modine and Hal Holbrook, respectively. Tom is honored to be reunited with director and friend Richard Pettibone for the sixth, and possibly last, time. He’s thankful for such a wonderful script, an outstanding cast and crew (all of whom are friends, both old and new), and for everything TheatreWorks has meant to him for the past 15 years. Giddy up and God Bless.
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WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST
JOHN BOLSTER (Townsfolk/Outlaw/Guitar) has been part of the TheatreWorks family for the past several years working mostly where one is not seen – building sets and working with lights and sound. Happy to be back on stage again - especially in what dad called a “horse opera.” Thanks to everyone in the cast and crew. Most of all, thanks and love to Ian, Chris, Kimberly and my favorite stage manager. RUFUS DE RHAM (Townsfolk/Outlaw) is honored to step onto TheatreWorks stage for the first time. Before picking up the gun in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, he used the pen as a weapon while teaching High School English, journalism and drama (New Milford and Housatonic). He is now retired and contemplating his next career! He has appeared on stage in Danbury, Sherman, Brookfield and Kent where he also built sets, designed the lighting and directed. He thanks Rich and Sonnie for rekindling the theatre bug, and the rest of the cast for their dedication. ROBERT VAUGHN (Narrator) is an American actor noted for his stage, film and television work. His best-known TV roles include suave spy Napoleon Solo in the 1960s series The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; wealthy detective Harry Rule in the 1970s series The Protectors; and formidable General Hunt Stockwell in the 5th season of the 1980s series The A-Team. In film, he portrayed quiet, skittish gunman Lee in The Magnificent Seven, Major Paul Krueger in The Bridge at Remagen, the voice of Proteus IV, the computer villain of Demon Seed, Walter Chalmers in Bullitt, Ross Webster in Superman III, and war veteran Chester A. Gwynn in The Young Philadelphians which earned him a 1960 Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. More recently he appeared as a grifter and card shark Albert Stroller, in all but one of the 48 episodes of the British television drama series Hustle (2004–2012). He lives in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Jonny Sims (Composer) is a music composer and sound designer for visual arts and media. He has written music for film, television, theatre, flash mobs and interactive online media. He has also worked extensively on projects for the BBC and ITV as an assistant to the BAFTA winning composer Rob Lane, writing music for the BBC show Atlantis, ITV’s Beowulf and contributing to the scores for Merlin, Spies of Warsaw starring David Tennant, and Hidden starring Philip Glenister. Mr. Sims is also an associate and regular collaborator with Jethro Compton Productions for whom he has composed scores for The Bunker Trilogy, The Capone Trilogy, The Frontier Trilogy, Sirenia, and Belt Up Theatre’s A Little Princess. He originally composed this score for the 2014 London production of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. http://www.jonnysims.com/ KATHY BOLSTER (Stage Manager) John Wayne said, “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.” Thanks to my show pardners for having the courage to give of themselves so generously on the stage. Thank you to Sonnie for her organization and attention to detail. Many thanks to Rich for allowing me to become part of this East Coast Premiere production. Much love to Chris, Kimberly, Ian, and outlaw/deputy/strummer husband, John. Lesley Neilson-Bowman (Costume Design) received a BFA in Fine Arts and Art History from Syracuse University, and a MFA in Theater Design from the University of Connecticut and has designed costumes for numerous professional theatrical productions for more than 25 years. Lesley is currently one of the resident costume designers for the Downtown Cabaret Theater in Bridgeport, where she has designed more
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WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST than 100 productions for both the DCT Children’s Company as well as the Cabaret’s main stage. Additional costume design credits include the Broadway premier of One for My Baby at The Duke Theater. Off Broadway credits include costume designs for SOHO Repertory Theater, The Judith Anderson Theater, Blue Heron Theater, and NY Play Exchange. Regional Theater credits include The Hartt Opera Theater, The Hartt School, Syracuse Stage, the Connecticut Repertory Theater, University of Connecticut, Long Wharf Stage Two, Boston Post Road Stage Company, Centennial Theater Festival, Warner Stage Company, The Gary and Olivia, Pilobolous, and the Boston Conservatory, Lesley’s affiliation with Theaterworks New Milford began in 1992. She is thrilled to be part of the production team for The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence. SCOTT WYSHYNSKI (Set Design) has been involved with TheatreWorks for over the past 22 years in the technical aspect of design and execution of well over 100 productions. A few of his favorite productions to date have been Urinetown The Musical, November, Lobby Hero, Rabbit Hole, A Skull In Connemara, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Moonlight and Magnolias, The Game’s Afoot and Season’s Greetings. Along with running his own graphic design and web site business; Print Plus Design, he also spends his time working with Habitat for Humanity building homes. He would like to thank Rich and this talented cast and crew the opportunity to work on such an amazing production! SONNIE OSBORNE (Assistant Director) has had a long-standing association with TheatreWorks and is a member of our artistic committee. As an accomplished actress, she has appeared on the TheatreWorks’ stage in numerous roles, most recently as Kate in The Cripple of Inishmaan and as Golda Meir in the critically acclaimed, Golda’s Balcony. Directorial credits include Time Stands Still, Souvenir, Mauritius, The Fourth Wall, Moonlight and Magnolias, and Lobby Hero. Stage Manager and Assistant Director credits: November, Molly Sweeney, Shakespeare for My Father, Exit the King, The Shape of Things, The Beauty Queen of Leenane and The Lonesome West. Off stage, Ms. Osborne records audio books for the Connecticut Library for the Blind. “It’s been a joy to work with this spirited and talented cast.” RICHARD PETTIBONE (Director) After some 27 years of working at TheatreWorks, Rich is riding into the sunset with this show. Directing work includes: The Uninvited, Eleven-Zulu, Cat’s-Paw, Macbeth, It’s A Wonderful Life, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, The Diary of Anne Frank, Brilliant Traces, A Christmas Twist, Down the Road, Two Rooms, Burn This, Sylvia, The Woman in Black, Buried Child, Never The Sinner, This is a Play, Never Swim Alone, A Skull In Connemara, The Lonesome West, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Lying Kind, Molly Sweeney, November, and The Cripple of Inishmaan. Jethro Compton (Playwright) is a writer, director and independent theatre producer. His most notable production is the stage adaptation of the classic Western, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. His most recent theatre work includes Blood Red Moon, The Clock Strikes Noon and The Rattlesnake’s Kiss, three original Western plays under the title, The Frontier Trilogy. Previous work includes the internationally acclaimed First World War triptych, The Bunker Trilogy. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance premiered at The Park Theatre in London in May 2014, under his direction. http://www.jethrocomptonltd. co.uk/
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