The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Playbill

WELCOME

Welcome to TTF’s second theatrical production for the 22/23 season. Several hours, days and months have gone into production planning and rehearsals to bring this effort to the stage. There have been untold difficulties and technical challenges which the cast and crew have had to overcome. The one thing which this team must be commended for is the tenacity and willingness to go above the call of duty.

We are indeed grateful for the anticipated opening of a new and modernized auditorium, but we still face the challenges of modernizing the entire stage, to include its apparatus and machinery. This is where the magic happens, and where all the learning and laboratory work occurs. We cannot take strides and make progress without your support. The stage is not simply a wooden platform that we present performances on. The mechanization that keeps the stage functioning is in dire need of refurbishment. We need your continued patronage and assistance to keep on functioning and teaching at highly contemporary standards. We cannot score goals and mark these achievements without you.

Congratulations to the cast and crew for all their tireless efforts and sacrifices. Thank you for being here to support us, and please enjoy the work.

‘Niyi Coker, Jr., Director School of Theatre, Television, and Film

Poster design by Heather Larsen°

Produced through Special Arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

Originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine. Originally produced on Broadway by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo, Barrington Stage Company, Second Stage Theatre. This production contains theatrical fog/haze and strobe lighting.

+MA in Theatre Arts

*MFA in Musical Theatre

°MFA in Design and Technology for Theatre, Television, and Film

^Qualifying or Thesis/Capstone Production

SPELLING BEE: More than Meets the Eye

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is more than what meets the eye: on the surface, it’s a seemingly simple, fun and humorous musical about kids competing in a spelling bee. But as the stories and songs unravel, we realize that Spelling Bee has relevant messages about the challenges of growing up, of life, and of American culture, especially in families and schools.

Spelling Bee touches on issues such as mental health, family dynamics, and the social pressures of succeeding in life. These heavy and very real issues are juxtaposed against the event of a spelling bee among school-age children, making the show’s message easily understandable and relatable for audiences of all ages.

Each of the characters in the show have traits that point to their personal struggles which, in turn, affect their mental health, how they see themselves, and how they perceive their future. We get a glimpse into events even outside the spelling bee, showing their family dynamics and the events leading up to the competition. Even more, Spelling Bee’s characters can be seen as a physical manifestation of our own vulnerabilities when we deal with the social pressure to meet the expectations of other people and of the world around us.

These are universal experiences that can make people feel very alone, so Spelling Bee is a compassionate and graceful way of opening up the conversation about these issues.

Spelling Bee also provides a notable experience involving audience members in the production, which makes every performance unique. This kind of participation is key to transporting you to the world of Putnam County, and for a moment, you are transformed into members of the Putnam County community – friends, the characters’ family members, spelling bee competitors – instead of mere spectators of a musical.

As our quirky characters make their way through the competition through song and dance, they discover new and valuable realizations about themselves, their relationships, hopes, dreams, struggles and passions – and we realize, alongside them, that genuine success and happiness in life lies not in achieving what other people and what society expects of us. Instead, it lies in being faithful to our strengths, passions, and the beautiful idiosyncrasies distinctive to our true colors which, in turn, defines what “winning” can really mean.

—Dey Ilagan, Dramaturg

DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER

—Jesca Prudencio

Jesca Prudencio is a director and choreographer dedicated to developing new theatrical works that humanize issues nationally and internationally. Recent works: King Liz (Geffen Playhouse, LA), Can We Now? (La Jolla Playhouse WoW Fest), Interstate by Kit Yan and Melissa Yi (Mixed Blood World Premiere, upcoming East West Players), It’s a Ship Show (Virgin Voyages), and the award-winning short film American Quartet (Filmelodic, NYC). Other credits include: The Great Leap by Lauren Yee (Steppenwolf), Vietgone and Actually (San Diego Rep), Calling (La MaMa ETC), Man of God (East West Players), A&Q (Pineapple Lab, Philippines) and FAN (B-Floor, Thailand).

Jesca is an associate professor and Head of Directing at SDSU’s School of Theatre, Television, and Film, where she has directed The Wolves, Cloud 9, and Metamorphosis. She is a recipient of The Drama League Fellowship and the inaugural Julie Taymor World Theater Fellowship. BFA: NYU Tisch, MFA: UC San Diego.

Jescaprudencio.com

MUSIC DIRECTOR

—Robert Meffe

Broadway: Associate Conductor of Little Women and the last six years of Les Misérables, keyboards for Evita (2012 revival), Newsies, The Phantom of the Opera, Avenue Q, Spelling Bee, Grey Gardens and Bombay Dreams. National Tours: Music Director of Evita, The Phantom of the Opera, Associate Conductor of Les Misérables, Sunday in the Park with George. Off-Broadway: Myths & Hymns, Violet, The Prince and the Pauper, and Gutenberg! The Musical!. TV: Encore! (Disney+), Earth to America (TBS), Renee Fleming—Live at Lincoln Center (PBS).

Mr. Meffe is currently the Head of the MFA Musical Theatre Program at San Diego State University. At SDSU, he has music directed Little By Little, Pal Joey, Les Misérables, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Into the Woods, The Drowsy Chaperone, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Full Monty, Enchanted April, Company, James and the Giant Peach, She Loves Me, Chess, Pippin, Postcard American Town, and Pippin.

SCENIC DESIGNER

H EATHER LARSON is a second-year graduate student at San Diego State studying Scenic Design. She is excited to be designing her second production with SDSU, the first being A Raisin in the Sun last season. Additional credits include scenic design for The 39 Steps, Sabrina Fair, and Beau Jest at The Master’s University and production design for the 2021 feature film The Man From Nowhere. In conjunction with her design experience, she has worked professionally as a scenic carpenter with Scenic Highlights, a company with clients such as The Academy Awards, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Disneyland Heather received her BA in Cinema & Digital Arts from The Master’s University and is currently working towards her MFA, expected graduation May 2024.

COSTUME DESIGNER

M IRANDA SIEBER is thrilled to be finishing her graduate career as the Costume Designer for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She is originally from South Bend, IN, and came to San Diego by way of Kalamazoo, MI, and Orlando, FL. Miranda spent many years in her childhood attending spelling bees hosted by her father, Gary, and was delighted to bring that experience to this production. She would like to thank her wonderful family, friends, and mentors for helping and encouraging her throughout her career. To follow her work, visit https://mirandasieber.com

LIGHTING DESIGNER

M AILE VARIAN is a Lighting Designer in her third year of the MFA Design and Technology program at SDSU. You may have seen her work last semester as the Lighting Designer for Miku, and the gods. Currently she has been working as a Teaching Assistant in Theatre 240, working freelance teaching console programming classes for ETC, and working locally at Pro Systems AV as a Lighting and Show Technician working on concerts and events around San Diego. She also was the Wally Russell Intern at LA Opera on Tannhauser and Trovatore in Fall of 2021. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point in Spring of 2020 with a BFA in Theatrical Design and Technology. Maile is also a graduate of the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas and was a Lighting Controls Research Intern at The National Theatre of London. She would like to thank her partner Alex, family, and her dog Beans for their endless love and support.

Acknowledgments & Special Thanks To

The Old Globe, Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC.), Cosmo and Kali

SOUND DESIGNER

P AUL PETERSON San Diego State MFA Musical Theatre Program: Postcard American Town. The Old Globe: over 100 shows, including The Taming Of The Shrew, Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Brothers Size, Nobody Loves You, Kingdom, Hold Please, Restoration Comedy, Pig Farm, Moonlight and Magnolias, Lucky Duck, The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow, Blue/ Orange, Time Flies, Pentecost, Compleat Female Stage Beauty and many more. Regional: Milwaukee Repertory Theater, San Jose Repertory Theatre, Center Stage, La Jolla Playhouse, Sledgehammer Theatre (Associate Artist), San Diego Repertory Theatre. Radio Plays: Hamlet: On the Radio. Podcasts: Gather Round, Cocktails with the Canon. Film: Krapp’s Last Tape. Education: B.A. in Drama with an emphasis in Technical Design from San Diego State University.

DRAMATURG

D EY ILAGAN is a first year MA Theatre Arts student at SDSU. She is a public relations account manager from the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), and a member of the Tag-ani Performing Arts Society community theater. She earned her BA in Broadcast Communication from the University of the Philippines (UP) in 2018. In the Philippines, Dey has performed for PETA, Tag-ani, Surian ng Sining, the UP Streetdance Club, the UP College of Music Extension Program, Ridgepointe Ballet Conservatoire, the Concerned Artists of the Philippines, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is her first work in dramaturgy.

STAGE MANAGER

A MANDA GOUGELMANN is currently a student at San Diego State University studying Theatre Design and Technology. Past Credits include: Head Over Heels (Lighting Designer) at VillageTheatre. Swells (Production Stage Manager), Just A Phase (Production Stage Manager) at Malashock Dance. Heathers: The Musical (Lighting Designer), The Wolves (Stage Manager), Steel Pier (Assistant Stage Manager), Miku, and the gods (Assistant Production Electrician), Free Play Project (Assistant Lighting Designer) at San Diego State University. Legally Blonde (Lighting Designer), West Side Story (Lighting Designer), Mary Poppins (Lighting Designer), Bang Bang You’re Dead (Lighting Designer), A Chorus Line (Lighting Designer), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Lighting Designer), Beauty and the Beast (Assistant Lighting Designer), The Laramie Project (Assistant Lighting Designer) at Hendrick Hudson High School. To view some of her work, please visit https://gougelmanndesigns.myportfolio.com or @gougelmann.designs on Instagram.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

L ILLIAN JOHNSON is a theater director, performer and creator and she feels honored to have been able to be Assistant Director for this amazing team of creatives. She has performed in The Wolves and Miku, and the gods here at San Diego State. She also worked as a co-director on San Diego City College’s production of Mere Mortals. She’s blessed to have been a part of this process with all the laughter, honesty and tender moments it brings and she hopes you enjoy this production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as much as she has.

ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER

M ICHAEL CHRISTOPHER FLORES is a Theatre Arts, Performance major and is currently in his last year at San Diego State University. Transferring from the Central California area, Michael has directed and choreographed productions including Bring It On The Musical, The Rocky Horror Show, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Cabaret, and Head Over Heels. Furthermore, Michael has also choreographed productions, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame, In the Heights, Urinetown, and Spring Awakening. This past summer, Michael created a devised dance-theatre piece titled Memory: An Evening of Dance at the Selma Arts Center in Selma, CA, bringing together choreographers of color to showcase new work. In addition, Michael directed and choreographed Heathers the Musical last year for the Musical Theatre Club at SDSU. As a performer, Michael was last seen in SDSU’s mainstage production of Steel Pier last year. Visit michaelcflores.com for more information or Instagram: michaelchrxstopher.

CAST: WHO’S WHO

Wilfred Paloma (Chip Tolentino/Jesus)

Wilfred is an Actors’ Equity Association member with an M.A. in Theatre Arts from San Diego State University and a B.A. in Theatre Performance; graduate of the MCIT Acting Studio. MFA Musical Theatre candidate at San Diego State University. Past credits include: Light Years Away (La Jolla Playhouse), O Wondrous Night (SeaWorld), Full Monty (SDSU), and A Semicolon is a Double (Scripps Ranch Theatre). Directing credits include: Kasama (Southwestern College), Potion (Moxie Theatre), and School of Rock (Junior Theatre). Choreographer credits include: Hunchback of Notre Dame (Junior Theatre), Lion King Jr. (Young Actor’s Theatre), Shrek (Our Lady of Peace Academy), and Hall Pass (Blindspot Collective). Wilfred is an Adjunct Professor at Grossmont College and Southwestern College. In addition to this, Wilfred directs & facilitates Devised Theatre projects centering LGBTQIA+ issues, racial justice, and youth advocacy. Listen to Wilfred on Spotify featured in the original cast recording of The Things We Never Say written by Thomas Hodges. Instagram @wilfred_paloma; wilfredpaloma.com

Van Angelo (Leaf Coneybear/Carl Dad)

Van Angelo (they/them) is a current MFA candidate and a proud graduate of Westminster Choir College. Van is also a Teaching Artist for Moonlight Youth Theatre and New Village Arts. Select Regional Credits: Something Rotten, Memphis (Moonlight), Catch Me If You Can (SDMT), Seussical as Wickersham #1 (Candlelight), West Side Story, Tarzan, Hairspray as Seaweed (Performance Riverside), and The View UpStairs as Wes (Desert Rose Playhouse). Music Directing Credits: Leonard Bernstein’s New York (NVA), Moana Jr. (MYT), Little Shop of Horrors, Seussical, and The Little Mermaid (VVUSD). Van has performed with the New York Philharmonic, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Zelda Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Van is also featured on the recording of Bernstein’s MASS with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Van is a two-time Inland Theatre League Award winner, and a Desert Theatre League Award winner. IG: @vanangelo; vanangelo.com

call 619.594.4548 or visit psfa.sdsu.edu

CAST: WHO’S WHO

Justin Brill (Justin Brill)

Justin Brill (he/him/his) comes to SDSU after living in Chicago where he performed regionally, directed and was on the faculty of Columbia College Chicago for 4 years teaching mainly in the musical theatre program. Prior to his time in Chicago, Justin spent almost 3 years on the First National Tour of Wicked as Boq. Other credits include the original Broadway companies of All Shook Up and High Fidelity, a swing in the Broadway production of Rent, and a year playing Patsy in the Las Vegas company of Spamalot. Favorite hobbies include spending time with his niece and nephew now that he lives in San Diego, beach walks, yoga, eating breakfast food and finding laughter as much as he possibly can. “Let’s work together to find new pathways towards anti-racist theatre practices.” www.JustinBrill.com

Hannah Martinez-Crow (Marcy Park)

Hannah Martinez-Crow is currently working towards her BA in Theatre Arts, Performance, at San Diego State University. Hannah has performed roles including Elle Woods (Legally Blonde) and Wednesday Addams (The Addams Family). Hannah completed much of her training in the UK with St. Mary’s College, Hull Truck Theatre and The Royal Shakespeare Company as well as in the Bay Area at Ohlone College and Starstruck Theatre. She recently attended the Open Jar Institute in New York City.

Sarah Jane Salonga (Olive Ostrovsky)

Sarah Jane (she/her/hers) is thrilled to be part of the Bee! She is currently pursuing an MFA in Musical Theatre here at SDSU and has a BA in Education and BSc in Biochemistry. Sarah is a credentialed elementary school teacher and has taught voice, ukulele, dance, and theater to students of all ages. In addition, Sarah is a Registered Dental Hygienist and loves to apply her knowledge in dentistry to voice and singing. Some of her favorite credits include: Melanie in lit: a new musical, Pocahontas in Disenchanted! and Anna in High Fidelity (Canadian Premiere). Lots of love to her family and friends for their endless love and support!

CAST: WHO’S WHO

Lindsey Grant (Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere)

Lindsey Grant, born and raised in San Diego, is thrilled to be a part of SDSU’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! Lindsey received her BFA at NYU Tisch and is currently a master’s candidate in SDSU’s MFA Musical Theatre program. Lindsey performed in many off-Broadway productions while in NYC including Drowsy Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone, Miss Hannigan in Annie, and just recently finished performing for Netflix in the Stranger Things: The Experience. Lindsey has also enjoyed teaching and directing youth theatre around San Diego County. Thank you to everyone involved in this production!

Natalie McClure (Rona Lisa Perretti)

Natalie McClure is an MFA in Musical Theatre candidate and is thoroughly excited to be performing and collaborating with all of the amazing talent at SDSU. Natalie holds a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University. Natalie has performed in the Broadway sit-down of Mamma Mia!, multiple roles in regional theatres across the US, in tv/films, and in national commercials for Labatts, 1800

Contacts, Nike, Bissell and more. One of her favorite projects was starting an all female production team in New York where she created, produced, and starred in an award winning web series called Kid Friendly*. Thank you to everyone involved in this fantastic production and her scholarship donors for making this possible! Special thanks to Scott and Declan for holding down the fort. xo

Zakk Mannella

(Mitch Mahoney/Dan Dad/Olive’s Dad)

Zakk Mannella is proud to be a part of the wonderful MFA in Musical Theatre Class of 2024. Originating from Pittsburgh, he is a performer, educator, choreographer, and director that has worked professionally across the east coast. He is currently a teaching associate at SDSU where he teaches Musical Theatre Dance to an incredible class of undergraduate students. Recent credits include: Legally Blonde (Choreographer), Newsies (Albert), West Side Story (Riff), Side Show (Buddy), Into the Woods (Director), Peter and the Starcatcher (Ted), and American Idiot (Choreographer). He is an Equity Membership Candidate, and received his BA in Theatre Arts/Musical Theatre from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. He is thrilled that he has been awarded the opportunity to further his education at SDSU, and wanted to thank the generous scholarship donors that made his education possible. Endless thanks to his family for always supporting his dreams. Hear more at www.zakkmannella.com.

CAST: WHO’S WHO

Milo Mee

(Vice Principal Douglas Panch)

Milo Mee is a second year at SDSU majoring in Theater Performance. Some of his most recent roles have been Dom in Steel Pier (SDSU), Cole in The Free Play Project (SDSU), Mr. Lindner in A Raisin In the Sun (SDSU), Will in American Idiot (CMTSJ), Amos Hart in Chicago (CMTSJ), and the Minister, Grandmother, Grandfather, and Dancer in The Long Christmas Ride Home (SDSU). Milo was awarded Best Actor in the 2021 California High School Rita Moreno Awards, where he went on to represent the Bay Area at the Broadway League’s annual Jimmy Awards. He is so excited to perform alongside such a talented cast and hopes you enjoy the show.

Dante Batong (Bee A/Chip Tolentino/Mitch Mahoney Understudy)

Dante is a first year Theatre Arts, Performance major. He has performed as the lead in multiple high school productions including Sonny in Xanadu: The Musical, Che in Evita, and Kenicke in Grease.

Audrey Deubig (Bee B/Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere Understudy)

Audrey is excited to be at SDSU’s Don Powell Theatre and to share the stage with this amazing cast! Regional credit: Matilda the Musical (Ensemble) [Moonlight Stage Productions]. Memorable credits include Postcard American Town (Betty Treemount), Steel Pier (Hannah) [SDSU], Something Rotten (Portia), Matilda (Miss Honey), Crazy For You (Patsy) [Ovation Theatre], Freaky Friday (Torrey) [San Diego Musical Theatre], Little Women (Amy March), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Logainne) [Moonlight Youth Theatre], Legally Blonde (Elle Woods) [Escondido High]. Audrey was named San Diego’s 2020 Artist of the Year [NYA] and performed as Host of the 2021 Rising Stars Cabaret [CCAET]. Special thanks to Audrey’s teachers, coaches, mentors, family & friends who faithfully support her in the audience & in life. Enjoy the show!

CAST: WHO’S WHO

Cat Rojo

(Bee C/Leaf Coneybear/Mitch Mahoney Understudy)

Cat Rojo is a Theatre Arts, Performance major in her final year at San Diego State University. She is thrilled to be a part of another fantastic cast of students and to be back on the Don Powell Stage. She is also currently in the rehearsal process to perform as Mary Poppins at The Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Bella Brady (Bee D/Rona Lisa Perretti Understudy)

Bella Brady is a second-year Theatre Arts, Performance major and is hopeful to add a Religious Studies minor soon. She is exultant to be making her main stage debut at SDSU in such a marvelous show! You may have caught her last semester as Norma in Skull and Dagger’s Perfect Arrangement. Other favorite recent credits include Into the Woods (Cinderella), Kiss Me, Kate (Kate/Lilli), and Fugitive Songs. She would like to thank her three cats, chai tea oat milk lattes, and Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day for getting her through the rehearsal process. Enjoy the Bee!

Kylie Stucki (Bee E/Marcy Park Understudy )

Kylie Stucki is a sophomore here at SDSU, and she is so excited to Bee in this production! You may recognize her from last fall’s Steel Pier as Bette Becker. After 15 years of dance training, a year of teaching dance, and getting awarded “Best Choreography” two years in a row at the ICHSAs, Kylie is thrilled to be dancing on stage once again. When she’s not dancing, which is rare, she is singing along to her favorite swing/jazz music. She trained in a choir directed by Grammy Award winning Keith Hancock. Through that program she was able to perform with Jason Mraz for Quentin Tarantino, and in front of hundreds of Clippers fans singing the National Anthem. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Gabrielle Ocampo

(Bee F/Olive Ostrovsky Understudy)

Fresh out of the suburbs of the Bay Area, Gabby is a first year undergraduate double majoring in Theatre Arts, Performance and Environmental Security. She is so grateful to be a part of her first mainstage production, and hopes you enjoy the show! Special thanks to her roommate, Taryn, for always surprising her with ice cream to come home to after rehearsals.

Oct. 28nd-Nov. 3rd The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

7:30 p.m. Music and Lyrics by William Finn

2:00 p.m. Sun., Oct. 30th Book by Rachel Sheinkin, Directed by Jesca Prudencio

Don Powell Stage

$20 General Admission

An eclectic group of sixth-graders arrives at The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, each eager to win for very different reasons. In hilarious, touching, and catchy songs, each speller reveals his/her hopes, struggles, and passions as they make their way through the competition.

Oct. 28nd Howling Halloween Film Festival

Student Union Theatre

$10 General Admission

Dec. 2nd-11th

Creepy, crawly, scary fun! A spook-tacular selection of short horror films by student filmmakers from the San Diego State University Television, Film, and New Media Production program.

Love’s Labor’s Lost

7:30 p.m. By William Shakespeare, Directed by Dani Bedau2:00 p.m. Sun., Dec. 4th & 11th

Don Powell Stage

$20 General Admission

This play is a light romp set in a romanticized version of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Shakespeare’s original play is about four young men (one of them a king) who withdraw from the world for three years, taking an oath that they will have nothing to do with women. The King of Navarre soon learns, however, that the Princess of France and her ladies are about to arrive. Eventually, everyone falls in love, causing the men to abandon their oaths. Silliness, humor and disguises ensue! SDSU’s production will reference gender and racial politics of the counterculture and will include a soundtrack inspired by Motown, soul, folk, and psychedelic rock.

Dec. 14th-15th

Student Union Theatre

$10 General Admission

Emerging Filmmakers Showcase

Every semester, SDSU’s Program in Television, Film, and New Media showcases the best student work produced by undergraduates and MFA students in the program. Spread across two nights are two distinct lineups of short narrative and documentary films.

MISSION The School of Theatre, Television, and Film provides a high quality education for undergraduate and graduate students that emphasizes excellence in the arts and technology, grounded in conceptual and historical foundations.

support at psfa.sdsu.edu

Feb. 14th Valentine’s Day Film Festival Student Union Theatre

$10 General Admission

Feb. 17th-24th

7:30 p.m.

2:00 p.m. Sun., Feb. 19th

Don Powell Stage

$20 General Admission

If you love love (or love to hate love), this evening of short films is for you! A night of romantic films by SDSU student filmmakers for Valentine’s Day.

Bloodletting

By Boni B. Alvarez

Directed by Randy Reinholz

Siblings Farrah and Bosley Legazpi are forced to make a journey back to the Motherland. Their father’s last wish was for his ashes to be sprinkled in the newly minted ‘natural wonder’ – the Underground River of Palawan in the Philippines. During the tension-filled journey, the two must sort out their father’s affairs as well as their own relationship. When they discover that one of them is an aswang (a Filipino witch), 30+ years of feelings come to a boil. Is it easier to accept a sibling’s cruel nature if it is steeped in the supernatural? - New Dramatists

Mar. 17th-24th The Weight of Dreams

7:30 p.m.

2:00 p.m. Sun., Mar. 19th

Conrad Prebys Theatre

$20 General Admission

By Velina Hasu Houston

Directed by Peter James Cirino

In The Weight of Dreams, young Chencha Luna leaves behind her beloved Mexico to pursue a new life in the U.S., a journey of discovery and healing that illuminates the strength of ancestral ties and the power of hope. The play was devised from stories collected from SDSU students, alumni and the San Diego community that have lived the immigration experience.

Apr. 28th-May 4th Cabaret

7:30 p.m.

Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb2:00 p.m. Sun., Apr. 30th Book by Joe MasteroffDirected and Choreographed by Stephen BrotebeckThe Main Stage Theatre

$20 General Admission

May 9th-10th

Student Union Theatre

$10 General Admission

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome… to Cabaret, Kander and Ebb’s legendary musical about British nightclub singer Sally Bowles, American writer Cliff Bradshaw, and the decadence of 1929 Berlin. With mounting fear and uncertainty outside, the bawdy Emcee lures you into the world of the Kit Kat Club where your troubles are left at the door.

Emerging Filmmakers Showcase

Every semester, SDSU’s Program in Television, Film, and New Media showcases the best student work produced by undergraduates and MFA students in the program. Spread across two nights are two distinct lineups of short narrative and documentary films.

ttf.boxoffice@mail.sdsu.edu

ttf.sdsu.edu

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Endowed Funds

Ages of Drama - Live! Endowment

Allison Rossett Endowed Scholarship in Musical Theatre Bellinghiere Endowed Scholarship

Bolles Family Musical Theater Endowed Scholarship

Brita C. Davis and Richard R. Davis Musical Theatre Endowed Scholarship Carol Vassiliadis Endowed Scholarship in Musical Theatre

Chad Shelton Memorial Endowed Scholarship for Theatre Design and Technology

Chuck and Robin Luby Endowment for Musical Theatre

Clarence and Catherine Stephenson Musical Theatre Endowed Scholarship Clayton Brace Awards Endowment

Darlene and Donald Shiley Endowment for Student Excellence in Musical Theatre

Deborah M. Dexter Endowed Scholarship in Musical Theatre Denis Sanders Memorial Endowment

Denise Madruga Endowed Scholarship in Theatre Don Powell Interface Program Endowment Drama Circle Endowment Gordon J. Lusk Endowment

Hayes Anderson Student Excellence Endowment

Henry Edward and Gail Johnson McAdams Memorial Endowed Scholarship Henry Stanton Endowment Hunton D. Sellman Endowment

James Chris Nichols Memorial Endowment

Judith and Jack White Musical Theatre Endowed Scholarship Julia R. Brown Musical Theatre Endowed Scholarship

Mangan/Christensen Endowed Scholarship for Musical Theatre Marion Ross Endowed Scholarship

MFA Musical Theatre Endowed Professorship Musical Theatre Endowed Scholarship Nella Feldman Gross Endowment

Paulette Wilson Endowment for Musical Theatre Powell/SCE Design Endowed Chair Robert Shields Memorial Endowment

Ron and Sue Heller Musical Theatre Endowed Scholarship Roscoe-Tiffany MFA Musical Theatre Endowed Scholarship Ruth Anna, Louis F., Dorothy Cable Endowed Scholarship Sybil E. Jones Endowment

The McCabe Family Endowed Scholarship Theatre Endowment

An endowment can be established with a commitment of $50,000 or more. Thank you to these generous supporters.

Generous Supporters ($500+ in the Last 5 Years thru August, 2022)

Hayes L. and Marilyn J. Anderson Emmet G. Barton

Vince Bertoni and Damon Hein Louis and Elisa Betancourt-Ruvalcaba Thomas Bollard and Holly Martin-Bollard Ron K. and Reina Bolles James S. and Marilyn C. Brown Julia R. Brown Stephanie Brownyard Dorothy Ann Cable Stephen and Robin L. Ching Ben and Nikki Clay Sarah Coombs

Jeff Cotta and Pamela Cotta Michael J. and Judith M. Darweesh Adela de la Torre, Ph.D. and Stephen Bartlett Karen H. DeLaurier Alice and Doug Diamond Gregory C. Durbin David and Marilyn Eisenman John Ellison

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Jim A. and Deborah D. Marshall John Andrew Mateja Stewart Scott Mc Donald Timothy Mccalister McCulloch Family Charitable Fund Oliver R. McElroy Paul S. Mcintyre and Cynthia McIntyre Colin Mckearnan Randi and Thomas L. McKenzie, Ph.D. Margaret McKerrow, Ph.D. Martin McKerrow Toni B. McKerrow Kevin J. O’Connor and Katherine D. O’Connor Terry Lee O’Donnell Mike and Chris Pack Adam Parrocha Michael James Perkins Paula Perry James P. and Gale S. Petrie Richard Sellers and Ellen Porter Marshall A. Lewis and Judy M. Price-Lewis Linda J. Rankin and Rodney T. Whitlow Jon Carl Ringbom Dr. Patti Roscoe and James Tiffany Allison Rossett, Ed.D. Michele Schlecht and Richard Alan Covey The Shelton Family John A. Shelton Mike Shelton

Karen and Christopher (Kit) Sickels Fred and Sonia Silverstein Jeffrey H. and Malka Silverstein Emily Norine Smith Jane K. Smith

Nancy A. and Alan Richard Spector, M.D., Ph.D. Clarence E. and Catherine Ann Stephenson Charles J. and Nancy M. Stewart James J. Tarbox Ronald T. Thornton Seth and Cynthia L. Trostler C. Anne Turhollow Kenneth G. and Joyce Ulrich Edward Law Underwood Carol Vassiliadis Richard and Patricia Wagner Carey Gail Wall Debra Wanger Judith and Jack White Rodney T. Whitlow Carole Wilson Joshua A. Young The Conrad Prebys Foundation

SDSU SCHOOL OF THEATRE, TELEVISION, AND FILM FACULTY & STAFF

ADMINISTRATION

‘Niyi Coker Jr., Professor & Director of the School of Theatre, Television, and Film

Kristine White, School Coordinator

Melanie Dumont, Financial Coordinator

Bryan Martin, Box Office & Social Media Coordinator

TELEVISION, FILM, AND NEW MEDIA FACULTY/STAFF

Jose De Matos, Tech Engineer

Greg Durbin, Professor

Alex Farnsley, Lecturer

Mark Freeman, Professor

Brian Hu, Associate Professor

Martha M. Lauzen, Professor, Executive Director

- Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film

Stephanie Lee, TFM Shop Foreman

Jessica McGaugh, Assistant Professor

David Morong, Professor, Graduate Advisor

Greg Penetrante, TV/Film Studio Engineer

Mary Posatko, Assistant Professor

Timothy A. Powell, Professor, Area Head

Sam Shpigelman, Lecturer, Area Head of New Media Production

Rich Underwood, Lecturer

Stuart Voytilla, Lecturer, Undergrad Advisor

THEATRE FACULTY/STAFF

Adrian Alita, Associate Professor, Head of Acting

Dani Bedau, Associate Professor

Denitsa Bliznakova, Professor, Head of Costume Design & Technology

Stephen Brotebeck, Professor

Heather Canary, Professor, Dean of PSFA

Benjamin Clark, Assistant Professor

Peter Cirino, Associate Professor

Ronald Councell, Staff Accompanist/Vocal Coach

Kristen Flores, Scenic Charge Artist/Prop Master

Ralph Funicello, Don Powell Chair, Scene Design

Peter Herman, Wig Making, Make-up Costume Construction

D.J. Hopkins, Professor

Kat Makarushka Theatrical Lighting, Projection, & Sound Lead

Anne McMills, Associate Professor, Design/Technology MFA Graduate Advisor

Brian McVicker, Technical Director

Robert Meffe, Professor, Graduate Advisor, Head of Musical Theatre

Charles Murdock Lucas, Associate Professor, Head of Scenic Design & Integrated Media

Shelley Orr, Associate Professor, Graduate Advisor for MA Theatre Arts

Jesca Prudencio, Associate Professor Randy Reinholz, Professor Chad Reyes, Academic Advisor Jay Sheehan, Faculty Production Manager, Stage Management Advisor Teri McConnell Tavares, Costume Shop Manager

Katie (Laura) Turner, Lecturer, Undergraduate Advisor

Christopher Warren, Associate Professor Andrew Young, Scene Shop Foreman

EMERITUS FACULTY

Hayes Anderson, Professor Emeritus, Telecommunications and Film Carroll Blue, Professor Emerita, Telecommunications and Film Anne-Charlotte Harvey, Professor Emerita of Theatre Michael Harvey, Professor Emeritus of Theatre Elizabeth Heighten, Professor Emerita, Telecommunications and Film

Kaye Jameson, Professor Emeritus, Telecommunications and Film Paula Kalustian, Professor Emerita, Head of MFA Musical Theatre Program

Margaret Larlham, Professor Emerita Peter Larlham, Professor Emeritus Robert E. Lee, Professor Emeritus, Telecommunications and Film

Roy Madsen, Professor Emeritus, Telecommunications and Film Donald R. Martin, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus Margaret McKerrow, Professor Emerita of Theatre

Tom Meador, Professor Emeritus, Telecommunications and Film

Jack Ofield, Emeritus Professor of Film Michael Real, Professor Emeritus, Telecommunications and Film Beeb Salzer, Professor Emeritus of Theatre Loren Schreiber, Emeritus Professor, Director of Technology

Rick Simas, Lecturer Emeritus, Musical Theatre Carolyn “C.J.” Keith, Lecturer Emerita John Witherspoon, Professor Emeritus, Telecommunications and Film

Craig Wolf, Professor Emeritus

Take a Seat!

SDSU performing arts invites you to take part in an exciting opportunity to support its new Performing Arts District in a meaningful way by participating in the Take A Seat campaign.

have the opportunity to Take A Seat in the spotlight and enjoy having your name, a sentiment, anniversary date, or the name of another person you wish to honor laser-engraved on an elegant nameplate placed on one of the theater seats. Your sponsorship will support performances, students, faculty, and the greatest needs of the SDSU performing arts program.