Performances Magazine | Pasadena Playhouse, September 2023

AMY BRENNEMAN

WITH ANDERS KEITH

by ADAM RAPP

CAMERON WATSON

Directed by

tication

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Dave Matthews Band

Kali Uchis

contents

P1 Program

Cast, performances, who’s who, director’s notes and donors

6 In the Wings

On the Westside: inaugural season at UCLA's Nimoy Theater and Made in L.A.: Acts of Living at Hammer Museum. L.A. Opera begins its season with spectacular Don Giovanni

12 Call of the Wild Arts al fresco: Whether wildlife, weather or other factors, performances at outdoor venues such as the Rady Shell in San Diego, the L.A. Arboretum and the Hollywood Bowl have special considerations.

18

L.A. Confidential

Designer Jaqui Seerman celebrates L.A.’s indooroutdoor lifestyle; she also values a client-driven experience over burnishing a brand.

24 Valle del Vino

Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe is a wine-and-foodie wonderland 90 minutes south of San Diego; it’s home to more than 150 wineries and dozens of top-notch restaurants.

32 Parting Thought

Performances’ new program platform for shows and concerts can be accessed from any digital device.

FROM TOP: COURTESY ENCUENTRO GUADALUPE; HOLLYWOOD BOWL, CARLOS VIVES; WU MAN, CALL THE SHOTS

This summer, embark on your L.A. adventure in Marina del Rey. From water sports and sunset sailing regattas to coastal dinner cruises, our waterfront hotels, dockside restaurants and party-ready yachts make it easy to stay and play like a local.

Start planning at VisitMDR.com

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WHERE L.A. COMES TO

One of the most extraordinary productions in the world!

Under the stars in a beautiful outdoor amphitheater, you’ll experience 90 minutes of the most incredible re-creations of classical art. Watch as art comes to life as real people are posed to look exactly like the figures in the original masterpieces in this summer’s show, “Art Colony: In the Company of Artists.”

JULY 7 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

800-487-3378 / PageantTickets.com

Two shows for the price of one!

From July 5 to September 1, enjoy the artwork of over 100 artists, art tours, classes, live music, events and more in a large, open-air art gallery!

The Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters are generously supported by:

UCLA UNVEILS THE NIMOY

UCLA’S CENTER FOR the Art of Performance

(CAP UCLA) announces its inaugural season at the UCLA Nimoy Theater, aka the Nimoy. The former Crest Theatre has been reimagined, renovated and transformed into a 300-seat off-campus performingarts space. Named for artist, actor, director and philanthropist Leonard Nimoy, it was acquired in 2018 and presents a rich tapestry of music, dance, theater, literary arts and multidisciplinary collaborations. Grammy Award-winning poet, spoken-word artist and songwriter J. Ivy opens the season with performance poetry

Sept. 23. The ensemble Ethiocolor blends contemporary influences with traditional instruments and dances of Ethiopia’s Azmari culture Sept. 29. Choreographerdancer Caleb Teicher collaborates with pianist-composer Conrad Tao on Tao’s Counterpoint Sept. 30. Pipa player and Chinese music ambassador Wu Man appears Oct. 15. Omar Offendum’s The Little Syria Show (Nov. 3-4) spans hip-hop, Arabic instrumentation and Levant oral storytelling to imagine early 20th-century life in lower Manhattan’s Arab-American community.

1262 Westwood Blvd, L.A., 310.825.4401, cap.ucla.edu

COURTESY CAP UCLA. OPPOSITE FROM TOP LEFT: CALL THE SHOTS, EM WATSON, MIKI MAC

Clockwise from left: pipa player Wu Man; pianistcomposer Conrad Tao and dancerchoreographer Caleb Teicher; ensemble Ethiocolor. Opposite: Omar Offendum’s The Little Syria Show.

Mozart’s Master Wooer

L.A. OPERA LAUNCHES its 38th season with what many consider to be the greatest of all operas: Mozart’s Don Giovanni. James Conlon, in his 18th season as the company’s music director, leads a spectacular new-to-Los Angeles production by director Kasper Holten. Scenery is by Es Devlin, known for her innovative stage

designs for Beyoncé, Adele and U2. Grammy Award-winning baritone Lucas Meachem takes the title role; also starring are Guanqun Yu, Isabelle Leonard, Anthony León, Craig Colclough and, in her company debut, Meigui Zhang. It’s a coproduction of Houston Grand Opera, Royal Opera House, Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu and the Israeli

Opera. Performances begin Sept. 23 and continue Oct. 1, 4, 7, 12 and 15. Next, on select dates Oct. 21-Nov. 12, is Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. Louis Lohraseb conducts and Tony Award winner Rob Ashford directs; Emmett O’Hanlon, Isabel Leonard and Luca Pisaroni star. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.972.8001, laopera.org

OPERA

Kasper Holton production of Don Giovanni as seen at Royal Opera House

L.A. Biennial at the Hammer

THE HAMMER MUSEUM presents 39 artists, collectives and organizations at its Made in L.A. 2023: Acts of Living, the sixth iteration of the biennial exhibition, opening Oct. 1.

According to curator Pablo José Ramírez, the show takes its cues from the ethos of Los Angeles, “a place where a multiplicity of cultures coexist and where, as an artist said to us, ‘one is always a visitor.’ ”

Made in L.A. features mostly new works by artists including Marcel Alcalá, Sula Bermúdez-Silverman, Jibz Cameron, Ishi Glinsky, Young Joon Kwak, Tidawhitney Lek, Maria Maea, Roksana Pirouzmand, Ryan Preciado, Guadalupe Rosales and Chiffon Thomas. They work across mediums encompassing sculpture, assemblage, paintings, drawing, ceramics, performance and instal-

lation. The exhibition also includes presentations by artists working for more than four decades, among them Victor Estrada, Nancy Evans, Akinsanya Kambon, Jessie Homer French and Teresa Tolliver. 10899 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 310.443.7000, hammer.ucla.edu

Melissa Cody, Untitled, 2022, left, and Maria Maea, Untitled (Nephew), 2020, at the Hammer Museum’s Made in L.A.

CALL OF THE

Arts al fresco: Whether wildlife, weather or other factors, outdoor performances have special considerations.

/

BY LIBBY SLATE /

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE a peacock’s call to add even more sparkle to an evening of Mancini, Minnelli or Bernstein.

That’s what Michael Feinstein discovered as principal pops conductor of the Pasadena Pops. Launching his conducting career with the orchestra a decade ago, the singer-pianist learned to adjust to the presence at concerts of the colorful—and vocal—peacocks that strut the grounds of the Pops’ home, the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia.

“They’re very musical,” Feinstein says. “People absolutely love the peacocks, and the peacocks interact in different ways, different nights. Sometimes they’re very interactive with people ... and it’s always fun to hear what musical selections they’ll decide to accompany. They create great merriment in the audience [and] make the Arboretum more of a party atmosphere.”

Peacocks are but one of numerous elements that set apart outdoor performances from their indoor counterparts—for performers, production and tech teams, and

WILD

The Rady Shell in San Diego. Opposite: Michael Feinstein leads the Pasadena Pops.

audiences alike—at venues such as the Arboretum, the Rady Shell in San Diego and the Hollywood Bowl.

Weather, sound vagaries, audience response and other factors figure into the outdoor equation.

The greatest difference for Feinstein, a veteran of such venues including the Bowl, is “the energy of the audience. An outdoor setting is inherently more casual. People are more relaxed—it’s like they’re coming to a picnic or a party.”

IN SAN DIEGO, the two-yearold Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is a stunning bayfront addition. It’s inspired by a seashell and set on a peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water—picturesque but a concern, says Travis Wininger, vice president of venue operations for the San Diego Symphony.

“Salt water is a real enemy of electronics,” Wininger says. “The potential problems are not so much with waterproof equipment, but with sound and lighting and computers…. The salt water can affect that equipment quickly. Even the marine layer rolling in at night … leaves behind a film of salt over everything.” In addition to routine maintenance, all light fixtures and speakers are dismantled and thoroughly cleaned annually.

Rady Shell administrators subscribe to a weather service that affords constant updates. Sun can damage equipment—and seatcushion fabric—even more quickly than salt water, Wininger notes; seats got more durable cushion materials after the first season.

The Rady sound systems are designed to make amplified

music sound as natural as possible, but levels are constantly monitored. Audio can sound louder traveling across the water to nearby Coronado Island, and levels change depending on the weather.

Bunnies in the vicinity venture out at concerts’ end to see if departing patrons have left any treats. And birds have prompted fascinating measures.

“During avian migratory season [in fall and spring], we limit our lighting on the exterior of the

Shell to short-wavelength light,” Wininger says. “We only use colors such as violet, blue, cyan, green and their mixtures. Lights of longer wavelengths would attract the birds and prevent them from going further.”

MANY PERFORMANCE considerations at the Hollywood Bowl are the same as indoors, according to L.A. Phil director of production Michael Vitale. But, he says, “you’re dealing

with an uncontrolled situation. You just never know what the weather’s going to be like, what the temperature is going to be—is it going to rain, be windy, is someone grilling a steak somewhere and you start getting odors, all that stuff.

“You’re open to the elements.”

The Bowl is a rain-or-shine venue—the show goes on whatever the weather. Bowl staffers hand out ponchos to patrons in inclement weather; umbrellas are banned both for safety /CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

The Hollywood Bowl and, below, the Without Walls Festival at the Rady Shell.

NOV 1 – NOV 26, 2023

INHERIT THE WIND

By Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee

DEC 7 – DEC 23, 2023

PASADENA PLAYHOUSE HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

Conceived and Directed

by Sam Pinkleton

JAN 17 – FEB 11, 2024

KATE

By Kate Berlant

MAR 13 – APR 7, 2024

ONE OF THE GOOD ONES

By Gloria Calderón Kellett

MAY 28 – JUN 23, 2024

JELLY’S LAST JAM

Book by George

WELCOME TO YOUR 2023/24 SEASON!

Whether this is your first time here or if you’ve been coming for decades, welcome! We’re glad you’re here.

Last season was one for the history books! From an epic Sondheim Celebration (the most ambitious project in our 106-year history) to thrilling productions of two new plays, and of course our Regional Theatre Tony Award, we have so much to be grateful for. How do we follow one of our most successful years ever?

Here at the Playhouse we have always been passionate about bringing extraordinary stories to life on our stage. We are doubling down on that commitment with our 2023 – 2024 Season.

We start tonight with Adam Rapp’s masterful The Sound Inside, a breathtaking new play. We have brought together some of the top theatermakers in Los Angeles to create this production just for you, here at the Playhouse.

We also hope you’ll consider joining us for all of our work this season including our next production, Inherit the Wind, the classic play boldly reimagined for today.

C. Wolfe

Music by Jelly Roll Morton

Lyrics by Susan

Birkenhead

This is a challenging time for all theaters and we urge you to consider helping in any way you can, not just here at the Playhouse, but at all of our theaters in Los Angeles. You can help by volunteering, continuing to buy tickets (and encouraging others to do so as well!), making a donation, or by becoming a Member to provide continued, sustained support.

The Playhouse has a wonderful community of Members who see all of our shows and make it all possible. We hope you’ll consider joining us as a Member today so you can enjoy great nights out all year long while supporting local artists and our community and learning programs.

Enjoy the show!

DANNY FELDMAN Producing Artistic Director

Packages start at $150

Conceived and Directed by SAM PINKLETON

DANNY FELDMAN

Producing Artistic Director

Opening Night: SEP 10, 2023

AMY BRENNEMAN IN

By

ADAM RAPP with ANDERS KEITH

Casting

RBT CASTING

RYAN BERNARD TYMENSKY, CSA

Technical Director/ Production Supervisor BRAD ENLOW

Stage Manager ALYSSA ESCALANTE

Press Representative DAVIDSON & CHOY PUBLICITY

Associate Producer JENNY SLATTERY

Directed by

CAMERON WATSON

Original Broadway Production Produced by Jeffrey Richards, Lincoln Center Theater, Rebecca Gold, Evamere Entertainment, Eric Falkenstein, Salman Vienn Al-Rashid, Spencer Ross, FilmNation Entertainment/Faliro House, Jane Bergère, Caiola Productions, Mark S. Golub and David S. Golub, Ken Greiner, Gemini Theatrical Investors, Scott H. Mauro, Jayne Baron Sherman, Czekaj Productions, Wendy Morgan-Hunter, Kristin Foster, Jacob Soroken Porten, and Williamstown Theatre Festival, Mandy Greenfield, Artistic Director.

The World Premiere of The Sound Inside was produced by Williamstown Theatre Festival in July 2018. The Sound Inside was originally commissioned by Lincoln Center Theater.

The Sound Inside is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Pasadena Playhouse sits on the land of the Gabrielino-Tongva and Kizh people, who historically inhabited the area around present-day Pasadena. We honor their contribution to this region and give thanks for the opportunity to live, work, and perform on their unceded ancestral lands.

CAST

Bella AMY BRENNEMAN

Christopher ANDERS KEITH

STAGE MANAGEMENT

Stage Manager

Assistant Stage Manager

ALYSSA ESCALANTE

DAVID S. FRANKLIN

The Sound Inside is performed without an intermission.

The Actors and Stage Managers employed in this production are members of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

AMY BRENNEMAN ANDERS KEITH CAST

Adam Rapp’s first words on the first page of this play are, “Bella emerges from the darkness.” That is a rather simple thing, emerging from the darkness. I was struck immediately before reading the next words of the play by the question, “Where is she emerging from and where is she going to?” I think that could be asked by any of us and at any moment of our day. We are always emerging from somewhere and stepping into someplace. For Bella, that new place is not only unknown, but it is uncertain, unresolved, and unsettling.

This play tells the story of two people who normally would not be engaged in an intense relationship of any kind, and then they somehow get smashed together. These two people have self-isolated in their own ways. Both are brilliantly smart and deeply talented, yet both are at points in their lives where they have begun to become untethered from the earth. What do you do when the pull of gravity lessens and you are suddenly floating away into a darkness you have never known before? Who or what do you grab onto?

Bella and Christopher, two writers at opposite ends of their journeys, find each other as they emerge from the darkness. But life tends to write our own stories for us, no matter how hard we try to control it. Whether the need to reach out for help is abrupt or a slow cry, we all know how difficult that act can be. Having come through an extremely challenging period in all our lives where isolation was necessary and loneliness often followed, there is an additional layer of “needing to connect” that resonates within us now more than ever. The Sound Inside takes us on a gripping and mysterious exploration of that quest of reaching out to someone in the dark. Who will be there to take my hand? And how much can I ask of them?

Bella and Christopher are in two different places in their lives and careers, yet they quickly bond over their shared passion for literature. Through their mutual admiration for many Classic works, they discover a need to connect. To pave the way for the mysterious journey ahead, here are some quotes about human connectedness from the authors mentioned in The Sound Inside.

“It would be very nice to come home and be in the wrong house. To eat dinner with the wrong people by mistake, sleep in the wrong bed by mistake, and kiss everybody good-bye in the morning thinking they were your own family.”

– J.D. Salinger

“Friendship is a serious affection; the most sublime of all affections, because it is founded on principle, and cemented by time.”

Mary Shelley

–

“The real loneliness is living among all these kind people who only ask one to pretend!”

– Edith Wharton

“The

“We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken.”

– Fyodor Dostoevsky

tears of the world are a constant quantity. For each one who begins to weep somewhere else another stops. The same is true of the laugh.”

– Samuel Beckett

“But it was easier, somehow, to reflect on them all from a distance than to be struggling for room in their midst.”

– Anne Tyler

“Some day you will find out that there is far more happiness in another's happiness than in your own.”

– Honoré De Balzac

WHO’S WHO

PASADENA PLAYHOUSE

Pasadena Playhouse, the official State Theater of California and recipient of the 2023 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is internationally recognized for its significant role in the development of American theater. One of the most prolific theaters in the country, the Playhouse has staged thousands of original productions since its founding in 1917 including premieres of works by Tennessee Williams, Eugene O’Neill, Suzan Lori Parks and hundreds more. For decades, its pioneering School for Theater Arts was a training ground for actors and theatermakers who went on to make significant contributions to the entertainment industry. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Danny Feldman since 2016,  Pasadena Playhouse’s productions and community programs are centered on its founding idea of being a living force in its community, making theater for everyone. Today, the Playhouse continues to advance the American theater and serves as a hub for the top theatermakers of our time.

AMY BRENNEMAN

Bella

Amy is an accomplished actress, director, producer, and activist. America first took notice of Amy during her time as a recurring regular on NYPD Blue where her performance earned her two Emmy Award nominations. She went on to co-create, star, and produce the hit drama series Judging Amy, for which she garnered three Golden Globe Award nominations, three Emmy Award nominations, a People's Choice Award nomination, as well as a SAG Award nomination. Previous television credits include Amazon Prime’s Tell Me Your Secrets, HBO’s The Leftovers, Amazon Prime’s Goliath, and Shonda Rhimes’ Private Practice. Amy can be seen in Apple TV+’s Shining Girls with Elisabeth Moss and FX’s The Old Man opposite Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow, which was renewed for a second season.

ANDERS KEITH

Christopher

Anders hails from South Pasadena and found an early love for theater at the local Pasadena children’s theater, Theater 360. After attending South Pasadena High School, he went across the country to NY, where he studied at the prestigious Drama Program at Juilliard. Shortly after graduating, he booked his first professional job as a series regular on the Paramount+ reboot of the hit sitcom, Frasier Anders will play Frasier's nephew and the show will premiere this fall. Anders currently resides in Los Angeles.

ADAM RAPP Playwright

Adam is the author of numerous plays, which include Nocturne (American Repertory Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop), Finer Noble Gases (26th Humana Festival), Stone Cold Dead Serious (American Repertory Theatre), Blackbird (Bush Theatre, London), Essential Self-Defense (Playwrights Horizons/ Edge Theatre), Kindness (Playwrights Horizons), The Metal Children (Vineyard Theatre), The Hallway Trilogy (Rattlestick Theater), The Edge of Our Bodies (36th Humana Festival), Dreams of Flying Dreams of Falling (Atlantic Theater Company), Through the Yellow Hour (Rattlestick Theater), Wolf in the River (The Flea Theater), The Purple Lights of Joppa Illinois (Atlantic Theater Company), and Red Light Winter (Steppenwolf Theatre, Barrow Street Theatre), for which he won Chicago’s Jeff Award for Best New Work, an Obie Award, and was named a finalist for the 2006 Pulitzer Prize. He made his Broadway debut with The Sound Inside (Studio 54), which received a 2020 Outer Critics Circle Honor for Outstanding New Broadway Play. The Sound Inside was commissioned by Lincoln Center and received its world premiere at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

His playwriting honors include Boston’s Elliot Norton Award, The Helen Merrill Prize, The 2006 Princess Grace Statue, a Lucille Lortel Playwright’s Fellowship, the PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation Award, and The Benjamin H. Danks Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

WHO’S WHO

CAMERON WATSON Director

Cameron, a multiple award-winning theater director and filmmaker, has carved a unique career that crosses over many genres and formats. He helmed the American premiere of Daf James’ On the Other Hand, We’re Happy at Rogue Machine Theatre, which was named “Best Theatre of 2022” by the Los Angeles Times and won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Production. Cameron returns to Pasadena Playhouse having directed It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street. At Antaeus Theatre Company, Cameron directed The Little Foxes, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Picnic, and Top Girls, and will be directing Nora there next spring. Other credits include Beloved and Stupid Kid at The Road Theatre; The City of Conversation at Ensemble Theatre Company; All My Sons at the Matrix Theatre; Trying, On Golden Pond, The Savannah Disputation, and Grace & Glorie at the Colony Theatre; I Never Sang for My Father at the New American Theatre; I Capture the Castle at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey; and Rolling with Laughter in London’s West End. He is a recent recipient of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Achievement in Directing. Cameron wrote and directed the Miramax feature film Our Very Own, starring Allison Janney in an Independent Spirit Award-nominated performance. He created, wrote, and directed the hit comedy series Break a Hip, which garnered Christina Pickles a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actress.

TESSHI NAKAGAWA Scenic Design

Tesshi is excited to return to Pasadena Playhouse, where he previously designed Uncle Vanya. Hailing from Tokyo, Japan, Tesshi has been working in Theater, Film, and Commercial industry as a Scenic Designer/ Art Director. His theater work has been seen at A Noise Within, Boston Court Pasadena, South Coast Repertory, Lewis Family Playhouse, Sierra Madre Playhouse, East West Players, Los Angeles Theater Center, and International City Theater. He is currently an adjunct professor at East Los Angeles College. Graduate of UCLA. www.tesshi.com

DANYELE E. THOMAS Costume Design

Danyele is a Los Angeles based Costume Designer, Assistant Costume Designer, Wardrobe Stylist, and Jewelry Designer with design credits and collaborations at Pasadena Playhouse, Los Angeles Opera, Kirk Douglas Theatre, Robey Theatre Connect, and others. She is also a member of the Theatrical Wardrobe Union Local 768.

JARED A. SAYEG Lighting Design

Jared recently designed A Little Night Music for Pasadena Playhouse. He is a recipient of the Ovation and Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Kinetic Lighting Award, and his designs for theater, opera, musicals, ballet, themed attractions, exhibits, and architectural installations have been seen throughout the world. Jared designed The Illusionists on Broadway and National Tours. Regionally, he’s designed for Center Theatre Group, South Coast Repertory, McCoy Rigby Entertainment, International City Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, 5-Star Theatricals, Phoenix Theatre Company, Reprise Theatre Company, Ensemble Theatre Company, Laguna Playhouse, Virginia Stage Company, 5th Avenue Theatre. Notable projects include four seasons with LA Opera, lighting Pope Benedict XVI in New York City, and the USA International Ballet Competitions. Jared became the youngest member of the United Scenic ArtistLocal 829 and serves as Vice Chair to the executive board. www.jaslighting.com

For Pasadena Playhouse: A Little Night Music; Sunday in the Park with George; Ragtime; Gather; Our Town; It’s A Wonderful Life; Shout Sista Shout; Ham!; Casa Valentina; Breaking Through; Kiss Me, Kate; Under My Skin; Art; Blues for An Alabama Sky; South Street.

WHO’S WHO

JEFF GARDNER Sound Design

Jeff is an award-winning sound designer, foley artist, and actor. Pasadena Playhouse: Miracle On 34th Street, It's A Wonderful Life Select credits include; Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992; The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in The Universe at the Mark Taper Forum; In the Upper Room at Denver Center for the Performing Arts; Paradise Blue at Geffen Playhouse. Elsewhere: Williamstown Theatre Festival, Cleveland Playhouse, Baltimore Center Stage, Shakespeare Theatre Company (Washington, DC), Arena Stage, The Kennedy Center, Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Los Angeles: Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, A Noise Within, Circle X Theatre, Echo Theater Company, Antaeus Theatre Company, IAMA Theatre Company. Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award, Stage Raw and Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award winner. Jeff can be seen at L.A. Theatre Works where he regularly performs live sound effects. jeffthomasgardner.net.

ALYSSA ESCALANTE Stage Manager

Alyssa is thrilled to return to Pasadena Playhouse. Previous Pasadena Playhouse credits: Stew and Hold These Truths. Other credits: The Mountaintop, The First Deep Breath, A Wicked Soul in Cherry Hill (Geffen Playhouse); What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank (The Old Globe); Spamilton (Musical Theatre West); All’s Well That Ends Well (A Noise Within); Lizastrata (Troubadour Theatre Company); Hamilton (Eliza Tour at the Pantages); The Bacchae (SITI Company); Fireflies, M. Butterfly, Photograph 51, Culture Clash (Still) in America (South Coast Repertory); A Streetcar Named Desire, Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles, Happy Days (Boston Court Pasadena). Alyssa is based in Los Angeles and a proud alumnus of Occidental College. Thanks to Mom, Dad & Minerva!

DAVID S. FRANKLIN Assistant Stage Manager

David is thrilled to be returning to the Playhouse, where past productions include The Father, Stoneface, Defiance, Showtune (The Music of Jerry Herman), and Sisterella, to name a few. Over at Center Theatre Group, highlights include: An Enemy of the People, Baz Luhrmann’s La Bohème, Curtains, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Two Unrelated Plays by David Mamet, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, God of Carnage, Red, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Bent, Zoot Suit, Archduke, Linda Vista, King James, The Old Man and the Pool, The Secret Garden, and A Transparent Musical. Other Los Angeles: Los Angeles Theatre Center in its heyday from 1985–1990, the Geffen Playhouse. Regional: Seattle Rep, Intiman Theatre. New York: The Public Theater. Tours: Europe – Quotations from a Ruined City, The Law of Remains (with Reza Abdoh’s Dar a Luz company).

RYAN BERNARD TYMENSKY, CSA RBT Casting

Ryan has had the pleasure of casting over ten shows at the Playhouse in the last six years, showcasing a diverse range of productions such as Sunday In The Park With George, Little Shop of Horrors, Head Over Heels, Sanctuary City, Ragtime, and many more. In addition to theater, Ryan has also made significant casting contributions to the film and television industry. Their portfolio includes notable TV and film projects such as the Wicked movies, This Is Us, Atypical, Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration, And Just Like That.., and Dear Evan Hansen. Ryan puts inclusion and diversity at the heart of everything they do. Their mission is to celebrate and actively advocate for performers who reflect the full spectrum of human diversity to help expand a multiplicity of narratives; narratives that reflect the real world we live in and challenge conventional boundaries that currently exist in the entertainment industry. @ryantymensky

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Chair

Erin Baker

Vice Chair

Julie A. Gutierrez

Treasurer

Bonnie Wongtrakool

Secretary

Leigh T. Olivar

TRUSTEES

Erin Baker

Sheri Ball

MaryLou Boone

Dennis Cornell

Brandon Dickerson

Peggy Ebright

Danny Feldman

Beth Fernandez

Julie A. Gutierrez

Cristina Hernandez

Melanie Holden

Y-Vonne Hutchinson

Jane Kaczmarek

Brad King

Harmon Kong

Brandon Levin

Jim McCarthy

Ken McCormick

Alfred Molina

Leigh T. Olivar

Bingo Roncelli

Jeff Smith

Lilah Stangeland

Ann Sunshine

Patricia Barajas Tavera

Bernhard von Thaden

Bonnie Wongtrakool

CHAIR EMERITI

David M. Davis

David DiCristofaro

Michele Dedeaux Engemann

Sheila Grether-Marion

Kerry McCluggage

BOARD MEMBERS EMERITI

Valerie Amidon

Carol Burnett

Linda Griffey

Ralph Hirschmann

Frank Kleemann

Dennis Lowe

Tad Lowrey

Rao Makineni

Abel Ramirez

Kathy Arntzen Roat

Anne Rothenberg

Lyn Spector

Elliot Stahler

Corky Hale Stoller

Mike Stoller

Greg Stone

Leslie Tolan

Martha Williamson

IN MEMORIAM

David Angell

Theodore Fitch Behr

Betty Ann Koen Brooks

Albert Lowe

Margaret Sedenquist

Roger Stangeland

James Watterson

Bill Galloway

MEMBERS

Donations reflect gifts given between August 8, 2022, and July 6, 2023. Contributions received after July 6, 2023 will be acknowledged in the next program.

$100,000+ Anonymous

Apriem Advisors

Erin & Jeremy Baker

Brad & Pamela King

Ellen & Harvey Knell

Terri & Jerry Kohl

$50,000+ Anonymous

Leigh T. & Harry Olivar

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Van de Bunt Fox Family Foundation

$25,000+

Avery & Andrew Barth

Dennis Cornell

Michele & Roger Engemann

Cristina Hernandez & Jeffrey Bernstein

Julie & Don Hopf

Jane Kaczmarek

Michael Mackness & Eric Sigg

Tracy & Ken McCormick

Bingo & Gino Roncelli

Diana J. Sedenquist / Sedenquist Family Trust

Lilah Stangeland

Ann & Steven Sunshine

$10,000+ Anonymous

Chantal & Steve Bennett

The Sahan Daywi Foundation

Susan Dietz & Lenny Beer

Brenda & Bill Galloway

Heather & Paul Haaga

Elisabeth Hunt

Jennifer Lee & Alfred Molina

Donna J. Leonhard

Tad Lowrey

Sheila Grether-Marion & Mark Marion

Sarah & Eric Miller

Robert J. Muehlhausen

Wendy Munger & Lenny Gumport

Shine Wang in honor of my parents, Mr. & Mrs. Ling Lang Wang

Judith & Wes Whitmore

Dr. Frank & Shelley Williams

$5,000+

Barajas Tavera Family

The Babb-Hutchinson Family

Carlton Calvin & Mary Blodgett

Johnny Buss

The Caplin Foundation

Stephanie & Leo Dencik

Brandon & Chelsea Dickerson

Gail & Jim Ellis

Dorothy Falcinella

Judith & Stanley Farrar

Beth Gertmenian

Kate & Kristopher Good / WHH Foundation

Debra L. Grieb & John Mickus

Elizabeth & Brian Hall

Alan Keith & Richard Brand

Christopher Kreiling & Ruben Hassel

Anita & Vince Lawler

Janet & David Lazier

Greta & Peter Mandell

Megan Mekjian & Christian Hall

David Nagy

Dr. Stephen Henry & Rudy O’Claray

Garrett Paine & June Thurber Paine

Rogolsky Family Foundation

Sarah & Daniel Rothenberg

Laurie & Jeffrey Smith

Lyn Spector

Karin & Sean Stellar

Rober & Lynn Traver

Mary Urquhart

Judy Waller

Mickey & Nickie Williams

Bonnie Wongtrakool & Beong-Soo Kim

$2,500+

JoJeanne Angeloff

Jarrett Barrios & Danny Feldman

Sheri & Andy Ball

Carol M. & Barrett P. Bingaman

Meta & Jay Berger

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Mary Lou Byrne & Gary W. Kearney

Kevin Callahan & John Sims

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Anne Dougherty & David Dobrikin

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Charitable Foundation

Donor Advised Fund

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Terry Solis

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Marianne Wallace

Steven Warheit & Jean Christensen

Robert & Deborah Wycoff

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$1,000+ Anonymous

Andy Abowitz

Nancy McAniff Annick

Ellen & Lewis Anten

Linda Antonioli in loving memory of Kenny Antonioli

Alison Ashford

Deborah Beveridge

Susan Bleecker

Suzanne Boone

Paula Brand

E. Thomas Brewer

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$500+

Anonymous

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Charlie and Sandra Plowman

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Lorelle Pouncey

Jennifer Price-Letscher

Winnie Reitnouer

Theresa Reyes

Ed & Linda Richmond

Tim & Jeanne Sakata Patterson in honor of Gordon

Hirabayashi

San Marino Rotary Charities

Lorraine Schield

John Scott

Betty & John Seinfeld

Robert Sepulveda

Joel Sheldon

Scott Sigman

Adele Skibba

Mark Swenson & Craig Coburn

Hamed Tavajohi

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Greg Vanni

Audrey & George D. Voigt

Carrie Walker

The Wang Family

Jim & Mary Weidner

Laura Zucker

Want to add your name to the list? Scan the QR code to donate today or visit pasadenaplayhouse.org to learn more.

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS

Ahmanson Foundation

The David Lee Foundation

Fitzberg Foundation

The Helen & Will Webster Foundation

Jess & Palma Morgan Foundation

L.L. Foundation for Youth

Milo W. Bekins Foundation

National Endowment for the Arts

Perenchio Foundation

The Rose Hills Foundation

San Marino Rotary Club

Shekels Charitable Foundation

CORPORATE SPONSORS

Haute Picnic

J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Vroman's Bookstore

Contributions received after July 6, 2023 will be acknowledged in the next program.

GILMOR BROWN SOCIETY

The Gilmor Brown Society recognizes legacy givers who have honored the Playhouse by including the theater in their own will or trust. We are grateful for the legacy of the following individuals whose generosity allows this organization to continue serving our community.

Anonymous

Lenore Almanzar

Ellen Bailey*

In Memory of Judie Bartell

Estate of Evelyn Bray

Darrell Brooke

Marjorie Cates

Ross Clark

Gary Dahle & Derek Whitefield

Estate of Agnes Duncan

Peggy Ebright

Estate of Harriet L. Freeman

Estate of Ada Gory

Linda & Jay Griffey

Virginia Hawkins

Sue Haynie-Horn & John

Horn*

Sheila Grether-Marion & Mark Marion

Doug Jones & John Sanger*

Annelies Kischkel

Estate of Pauline Ledeen*

The Joanie Marx Trust

Adele Morse

William & Adele Nevins

Shirli Nielson*

Estate of Charles Pierce

Shirley Reed Trust*

Frederick Ricci*

Estate of Constance Ropolo

A. Jerald Saldana

Estate of Margaret H. Sedenquist*

Sandra Shaw*

Lyn Spector

Lilah & Roger* Stangeland

Estate of Bill Watters

Jim Watterson

Barbara Jean Wolpert

*Gift Realized

LEADERSHIP

Danny Feldman

Producing Artistic Director

Kory P. Kelly

Chief Marketing & Communications Officer

Jenny Slattery

Associate Producer

Alex Wang

Chief Development Officer

Thomas Yamamoto

Chief Financial & Administrative Officer

ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE

Kristen Hammack-Eaton Executive Assistant & Board Liaison

Czarina Luna

Controller

Vanessa Mejia

Business Manager

DEVELOPMENT

Sam Palmer

Director of Events

Rachel Park

Assistant Director of Grants & Development Communication

Matt Tornero

Development Associate

EDUCATION

Arie Levine

Education Manager

FACILITIES

Pita Cervantes

Custodian

Bill Farrahi

Facilities Manager

Maria Lupe Flores

Custodian

Rosa Salcedo

Lead Custodia

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Omar Avedanke

Director, Creative & Content

Spencer Berry

Graphic Designer

Davidson & Choy Publicity

Press Representative

Abby Green

Marketing Manager, Education & Engagement

Brandon Karrer

Communications Manager, Content & Media Relations

Nelly Mueller

Director, Advertising & Audience Development

Nathaniel Peterson

Video Production Specialist

PATRON SERVICES

Shelby Amses

Patron Services Supervisor

Sam Ciavarella

House Manager

Rafael Goldstein

Patron Services Associate

Noah Grater

Patron Services Associate

Matthew Iannantuoni

Patron Services Associate

Amanda Kochey

Patron Services Associate

Kevin Lauver

Patron Services Manager

Emily Minnotte

House Manager

Carol Osborn

Audience Engagement

Gaby Ostrove

Patron Services Associate

Rachyl Spacca Director,

Patron Experience & Sales

Tammi Steren

House Manager

PRODUCTION/ARTISTIC

Brad Enlow

Technical Director / Production Supervisor

David Kahawaii IV

Production Assistant

Bonnie McHeffey

Company Manager

Amanda Tralle

Producing Assistant

THE SOUND INSIDE

PRODUCTION STAFF

Stage Manager

Alyssa Escalante

Assistant Stage Manager

David S. Franklin

Production Assistant

Max Tel

Assistant Director

Fiona Stayton

Associate Lighting Design

Meghan Hong

Associate Sound Design

Andrea Allmond

Deck Chief

Matt Petosa

Head Electrician

Vsev Krawczeniuk

Lead Audio

Corey Charness

A2

Marcos Friedman

LX Programmer

Keannak Parvaz

Wardrobe Supervisor

Liz Rose

Props Head

Douglas Puskas

Lead Scenic Painter

Johnny LeBlanc

Head Carpenter

Anthony Arevalo

Deck Carpenter

Nicolas Chamberlin

Carpenters

Kenny Arrincon, Nicolas Chamberlin, Isa Mitsuharu, Jacob

Nava, Dwight Ortiz, John Povilaitis

Electricians

Kyle Gundlach, Keanu

Ross-Cabrera, Evan

Drane, Fiona Jessup, Charles Millican, Matt

Petosa, John Povilaitis, Vanessa Rodriguez

Riggers

Nicolas Chamberlin, Dwight Ortiz

FRIENDS OF THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE

Board of Directors

President

Beth Fernandez

1st Vice President

Barbara Cruse

2nd Vice President

Nancy Ashcraft

Treasurer

Lawrence Yu

Secretary

Sharon Zaslaw

Directors

Doris Arima, Raquel Burgess, Maggie Chatman, Ross Clark, Charles Hay, Karie

Henley, Barbara Jacoby, Lillias Krezel, Patti La Marr, Emily Minnotte, Art Leos, Beverly Meissner, Shirley Miller, Patrick Oliva, Fran Olson, Betty Parnell, Natalya Pashkova, Sienna Salce, Tammi Steren, Valerie Vallas, Lawrence Yu Advisory Lenore Bond Almanzar, Carolyn Di Pane

IN THE THEATER

FOR EVERYONE’S ENJOYMENT

As a courtesy to the artists and patrons, we ask you to please turn off cell phones, all electronic devices and anything that may light up the area around you prior to the performance. Please refrain from talking and any disruptive noise-making during the performance. Neither photography nor the use of electronic recording devices is allowed during performances.

LATE ARRIVALS

In consideration of our artists and patrons, late seating will take place during the first appropriate break in the performance at the discretion of Management. House Management may need to direct late arrivals to alternate seats. For the convenience of latecomers, the performance in progress may be viewed and heard on the monitors in the lobby.

RESTROOMS

Restrooms, including accessible facilities, are available in the lobby 45 minutes before each performance. We invite you to use whichever restroom you are comfortable using. We offer all-gender restrooms upstairs in the Carrie Hamilton lobby. Please see House Management if you would like to be directed to these restrooms at any time during your visit.

CONTACT PATRON SERVICES

Email boxoffice@pasadenaplayhouse.org

Phone 626-356-7529

PHONE HOURS

Tuesday - Saturday 12 PM - 6 PM

Sunday 12 PM - 4 PM

@pasadenaplayhouse

is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union. This theater operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

AGE RESTRICTIONS

The technical employees of the Pasadena Playhouse are represented by the INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF THEATRICAL STAGE EMPLOYEES, MOVING PICTURE TECHNICIANS, ARTISTS AND ALLIED CRAFTS, OF THE UNITED STATES, ITS TERRITORIES AND CANADA, AFL-CIO,CLC: Local 33 Stagehands, Local 706 Make-up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Local 768 Theatrical Wardrobe Local 800 Art Director’s Guild. The scenic, costume, lighting, and sound designers in LORT Theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE.

Scenic materials provided by A&G Lumber. Scenic rentals provided by Sew What? Rigging equipment provided by Jack Rubin & Sons. Fabric furnished by Studio Productions Inc. Lighting Rentals furnished by PRG.

Children under age 6 will not be admitted into the theater. We ask that everyone in your party, regardless of age, be able to sit quietly through a performance without disrupting other patrons or the artists. Patrons of all ages must have a ticket to enter the theater and must sit in the seat indicated on the ticket.

ACCESSIBILITY

We are committed to making theater accessible to all patrons. Assisted-listening devices can be checked out in the lobby before the performance using a photo ID. The third Sunday matinee performance for every Mainstage production offers Open Captioning. For more information regarding accommodations and services, please contact Patron Services or ask the House Manager.

PRODUCTION ADVISORY

We do not offer advisories about the subject matter for each production, as sensitivities vary from patron to patron. If you have any inquiries regarding the content, age-appropriateness or stage effects (such as strobe lights or theatrical fog) that may affect patron comfort, please contact Patron Services or a House Manager before the performance begins.

BOX OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday - Saturday 12 PM - 6 PM

Sunday 12 PM - 4 PM

On performance days, the Box Office windows will remain open 15 minutes after the show begins.

Please note hours are subject to change due to observed holidays.

The Director

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL

BEFORE ESTABLISHING HER eponymous firm, Jaqui Seerman worked for two iconic interior designers, Waldo Fernandez and Martyn Lawrence Bullard, on luxury projects here and around the world. Anxious to provide a genuine client-driven experience in a field where some designers focus on burnishing a brand, she founded Jaqui Seerman Design nearly a decade ago.

“Some designers known for a particular aesthetic are more interested in promoting that trademark look and less inclined to pursue clients’ ideas that may not align with their brand identification,” says Seerman. “My approach is to provide an extremely client-focused experience, but still challenge homeowners to take chances in a collaborative process that doesn’t feel too risky.”

Designer Jaqui Seerman’s residential portfolio celebrates the city's creative spirit and indoor-outdoor lifestyle. / by roger grody /

This page and opposite from above: modern but warm spaces created by designer Jaqui Seerman.

Because her practice is clientdriven, Seerman does not identify herself with a signature style—she’s as eclectic as her diverse clientele.

“The pinnacle of luxury is a style that’s bespoke to you,” she says, underscoring her priority of creating interiors tailored to her clients’ sensibilities. “Thankfully, I attract clients willing to take risks with me.”

Of her own sensibilities, she says, “I tend to be known as someone who doesn’t shy away from bold colors and patterns.”

Describing the early discovery process in a designer-client relationship, Seerman notes that the way clients currently live is an important—but not necessarily conclusive—indicator of what they might seek in a new living environment.

“It’s a very personal process.” she says. “I look for subtle clues from how they dress, how they wear their hair, what kind of jewelry or watches they wear…. I know I’ve succeeded when I introduce them to an element and see a kind of illumination occur, a recognition that the design is better than they could have imagined, yet still feels authentic.”

The Northern California native appreciates the creative spirit of her adopted city.

“In addition to the entertainment industry, there are creative people in technology, fashion, finance, and art who are not satisfied with the status quo,” Seerman says. “This alternative thinking is what

PHOTOS THIS SPREAD ANNIE MEISEL

This page and opposite: Jaqui Seerman introduced a masculine aesthetic to a home previously owned by Winona Ryder.

makes L.A. so constantly fresh, that results in trends adopted across the country and abroad.”

But creatives can also be demanding clients, Seerman notes: “This is a competitive field in which you have to stick the landing on the very first try.”

For a Beverly Drive residence previously owned by Winona Ryder, Seerman introduced an interior that retains the integrity

of the home’s Spanish Revival architecture without being constrained by it. She introduced a warm, masculine aesthetic; dining and living spaces effortlessly spilling onto tranquil patios enhanced the indoor-outdoor sensibilities.

In a home just off Benedict Canyon, whose prior owners were Hailey and Justin Bieber, the designer presents a more modern but equally warm aesthetic tempered with vintage pieces and natural materials. Clad in honey-hued white oak and Carrara marble, an approachably minimalist kitchen features floor-to-ceiling steel-and-glass walls with access to resort-like outdoor spaces.

Her typical client? “They’re usually in creative fields, have a strong sense of self and are looking for someone to push them into

doing something unique,” Seerman says; they include entertainment industry heavyweights. “The common thread is that they’re looking for a high level of customer service and are willing to take risks."

Out of This NEARBY

Anoushka Shankar

Ragamala Dance Company

Martha Graham Dance Company

Samara Joy

Vasily Petrenko

Isata Kanneh-Mason

Lisa Fischer

Eliades

Ochoa

Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles

VALLE DE VINO

Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe is a wine-and-foodie wonderland.

/ by BENJAMIN EPSTEIN /

Consider it Baja California’s answer to Northern California’s Napa. A mere 90 minutes south of San Diego, Valle de Guadalupe is home to more than 150 wineries from micro to mega, dozens of top-notch restaurants in often magical settings and an abundance of architecturally noteworthy accommodations. The rural paradise is up a hill from the coast but still within the greater Ensenada municipality. Amid skyrocketing visitor interest, efforts are afoot to maintain the region’s distinctive character, but one thing won’t change: The focus remains almost entirely on eating and drinking.

Eating > Arriving by day? Consider lunch on the half shell. Chef Drew Deckman may be best known for his eponymous Deckman’s en el Mogor, an open-air venue where he mans the grill. But the don’tmiss day spot is his more intimate Conchas de Piedra, where he

offers elevated “regional-responsible” Baja shellfish—e.g., abalone aguachile, oysters with fermented habaneros and harissa citrus— and sparkling wines.

As for magical, Fauna, the finedining destination at the Bruma ecoluxury resort and winery, is just that.

Its ceiling of intertwined twigs casts mesmerizing shadows; changing dishes by chef David Castro Hussong—yes, his family owns Ensenada’s famed cantina—are just as provocative; the venue is also ideal for a sunset with cocktails and “snacks.” Nearby is a 300-year-old

oak tree, extraordinary centerpiece below ground for the Bruma Vinicola tasting room and above ground for a dramatic reflecting pool.

Weekends at Wa Kumiai Tabita, chef Tabita Dominguez offers an indigenous brunch featuring dishes of the Kumiai people, who also staff the rustic restaurant. Start with acorn coffee and white menudo; whole lamb turns on a spit for the starring barbacoa. Find it beyond massive producer L.A. Cetto winery in the village of San Antonio Necua. The very modest Siñaw

Kuatay museum nearby focuses on the Kumiai, too.

At the valley’s other end, expect huge portions of delicious Baja fare, and lines, at famed breakfast destination La Cocina de Doña Esthela

For more casual culinary experiences at any time of day, both in the town of Francisco Zarco, consider a mulita or vampiro at Tacos del Valle

and sample superior salsas and marmalades at Alvéolo bakery-café.

Drinking > Valle de Guadalupe and its neighboring valleys produce 90 percent of Mexico’s wine. Tasting is in order!

Finca la Carrodilla, Mexico’s first certified organic and biodynamic vineyard, offers pours on

Clockwise: the ecopods at Encuentro Guadalupe; at Bruma, the bar at Fauna and reflecting pool with 300-yearold oak tree at Bruma Vinicole.

90 percent of

a beautiful view deck near El Porvenir. Finca la Carrodilla wines are also featured at Lunario Restaurante, set on a pond and known for chef Sheyla Alvarado’s innovative monthly menus.

El Cielo Winery offers elegant terrace and subterranean tastings and a wine-blending experience as well as golfcart vineyard tours and an upscale gift shop.

For a deeper dive into

the glass, the Museo de La Vid y El Vino—Museum of the Vine and the Wine—is in a striking modern building along Highway 3, aka La Ruta del Vino.

The entrance is below ground; above are an event space and a deck with spectacular panoramas. Exhibits throughout include one that traces the history of wine from Russia’s Georgia to Mexico; others that look at wine production and

Valle de Guadalupe and environs produce

Mexico’s wine. Below: Museo de La Vid y El Vino.

appreciation; and a gallery of wine-inspired art.

Outside > For a break from culinary pursuits, local ecotour leader Alejandro Solís Morán suggests Aguas Termales Valle de Guadalupe, a hike on a private ranch: about 4 miles roundtrip, with ponds and hot springs, and ruins at the end. It’s near San Antonio Necua and Wa Kumiai Tabita.

Accommodations >

Look up from the highway along Francisco Zarco and you’ll spot a series of freestanding cubes dotting the hillside—the distinctive accommodations of Encuentro Guadalupe. Guests are shuttled from the striking reception area up a narrow drive or can access their eco-pod

•

•

•

via a recently unveiled nature trail; new BajaMed restaurant and bar JAK is open to the public. Stay in larger cubes at half the price at tuckedaway Chateaux del Valle

El Cielo, cited above for its tasting opportunities, is also a resort offering nearly 100 luxurious CalTuscan suites, many of them lakeside, and dining at Polaris restaurant.

Know before you go > The Valle consists of two highways crisscrossed by dirt roads along which many of the best restaurants are located. Navigating can be an adventure; map routes carefully before setting out and avoid driving after dark. Make dinner reservations weeks in advance.

Know before you leave > Re-entering the U.S. in Tijuana generally means a long wait; consider instead continuing north on Highway 3 to the Tecate Port of Entry.

Each Home Instead® office is an independently owned and operated franchise of Home Instead, Inc.,an Honor Company. © 2023 Home Instead, Inc. HCO

Oysters with fermented habaneros and harissa citrus at Conchas de Piedra.

The bloody brilliant Tony Award-winning musical SWEENEY TODD: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

MUSIC AND LYRICS BY Stephen Sondheim

The joyous & heartwarming family holiday tradition

1–24,

2023

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/CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

FEATURE reasons and because they obstruct views. The audio mixing console has a retractable roof, and pop-up tents and other solutions are utilized for visiting technicians.

The Bowl has long been known for the many planes and helicopters that fly overhead during performances, but Vitale says flyovers no longer occur as often as people might think. Crossbeams projected over the audience and up into the sky, alerting pilots it’s a concert night, have become an audience favorite.

Mixing is designed to handle the outdoor sounds picked up on the microphones; string players have individual mics attached to their instruments. “You’re getting as much isolated sound out of that individual instrument as you possibly can,” Vitale explains.

On the ground, the Bowl’s inhabitants include deer, raccoons, skunks and coyotes.

Birds—likely sparrows, Vitale believes—live in the Bowl shell and add their own music to morning rehearsals.

OUTDOOR venues present theater and dance as well as music; this year, for the first time,

the La Jolla Playhouse staged its annual Without Walls (WOW) Festival at the Rady Shell; the event returns there in 2024.

Festival producer and Playhouse associate producer Amy Ashton believes the rewards of outdoor performances outweigh the risks—but that some material is better suited for indoor performances.

“If you’re going to have intricate language, a really wordy drama, where you want the audience to hear every beat and be really listening, that’s difficult outside,” Ashton says. “You never know when a car will drive by. You could hear birds or planes.

“If it’s something very verbal, very intimate, it can be a challenge. Inevitably, the environment will pull your focus.”

As for dance, Ashton says, “The biggest factor outdoors is that dancers have very specific movements and the surface they dance on is very important. If you put a Marley [floor covering to provide spring] on a stage floor, you have to shade it—a Marley is black, very absorbent, and gets hot.”

Whatever the venue and issues affecting outdoor performances, Wininger says, “there’s something about experiencing art and nature at the same time. It just has a magic to it.”

Fusako “Jonie” Aizawa stands by a barbed wire fence in an American concentration camp. Christmas 1944. Gift of Myrtle Joyce Barley Ward, (2003.12.14).

There’s no better place to celebrate the return of summer than Del Mar. Be there for world-class Thoroughbred racing and the best summer party in years.

reprogrammed !

Performances Magazine unveils a digital program platform for shows and concerts

SEARCH Find whatever it is you want to know—easily.

SIGN IN

Link to your performing-arts companies and venues.

CONTRIBUTORS

NO RUSTLING PAGES, no killing trees . . . Of all the innovations to have come out of the pandemic, the new Performances program platform, accessed on any digital device, may be least likely to disappear in the foreseeable future. Not only had its time come—it had been long overdue.

Performances provides the programs for 20 SoCal performingarts organizations, from the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Ahmanson to San Diego Opera, where the app made its debut.

The touchless platform provides cast and player bios, donor and season updates and arts-centric features. Audiences receive a link and code word that instantly activate the app; QR codes are posted, too.

Screens go dark when curtains rise and return with the house lights. Updates—repertory changes, understudy substitutions, significant donations—can be made right up to showtime, no inserts necessary.

Other features include video and audio streams, translations and expanded biographies.

WHAT’S ON

What’s coming at a glance and ticket information.

For those who consider printed programs keepsakes, a limited number, as well as commemorative issues for special events, continue to be produced. Collectibles!

Meanwhile, there is less deforestation, consumption of petroleum inks and programs headed for landfills. For the ecologically minded, the platform gets a standing ovation.

Theaters and concert halls reopened after a long intermission. Stages are live, the excitement is back. Activate your link and enjoy the shows. —CALEB WACHS

REGISTER Stay arts-engaged, access past programs.

THE ESSENTIALS Acts, scenes, synopses, repertory and notes.

Donors and sponsors who make it all possible—you!

THE PLAYERS Bios and background for cast, crew and creators.

DROP DOWN MENU Table of app contents.