NOVEMBER 2023
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NOVEMBER 2023
N Y Y
MAGAZINE
W o te th re
contents P1 Program
6 In the Wings Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde at North Coast Rep; San Diego Symphony concerts at The Rady Shell; San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival; Broadway musical Mamma Mia!; and more.
12 Feature: Local Theater Spotlight Actor Matthew Broderick is in town, starring in La Jolla Playhouse’s world-premiere play opening Nov. 7, Babbitt, written by Joe DiPietro.
18 Travel Sedona, Arizona shines yearround with majestic scenery, exciting outdoor activities, a vibrant arts & culture scene, world-class resorts and spas, and fabulous festivals.
18 6
32 Parting Shot “Lovers in a Park,” an oil painting by Francois Boucher in 1758, is being restored at Timken Museum of Art.
12
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: SEAN PAVONE; MATTHEW BRODERICK BY TAWNI BANNISTER; MAMMA MIA! BY BRINKHOFF MÖGENBURG
Cast, performances, who’s who, director’s notes, donors and more.
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NATURE’S EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK. WE’LL HELP YOU SEE. We live in a special place. With an amazing variety of plants and wildlife, all with a special story to tell. We help tell those stories through exhibits at the Museum, our outdoor programs, and by doing research that supports local conservation.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: SEAN PAVONE; MATTHEW BRODERICK BY TAWNI BANNISTER; MAMMA MIA! BY BRINKHOFF MÖGENBURG
Nature’s everywhere we look, and that’s why we’re here for nature. See for yourself at sdnat.org.
WE’RE HERE FOR NATURE.
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Our work spans Southern California and the Baja California Peninsula. Pictured here, Tecolote Canyon, San Diego County.
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MAGAZINE
PUBLISHER
Jeff Levy EDITOR
Sarah Daoust ART DIRECTOR
Carol Wakano PRODUCTION MANAGER
Glenda Mendez PRODUCTION ARTIST
Diana Gonzalez CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Sherry Stern ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Kerry Baggett ACCOUNT DIRECTORS
Walter Lewis, Jean Greene, Tina Marie Smith CIRCULATION MANAGER
Christine Noriega-Roessler BUSINESS MANAGER
Leanne Killian Riggar MARKETING/ PRODUCTION MANAGER
Dawn Kiko Cheng DIGITAL PROGRAM MANAGER
Audrey Duncan Welch
v
DIGITAL MANAGER
Lorenzo Dela Rama Contact Us ADVERTISING Kerry.Baggett@ CaliforniaMediaGroup.com WEBSITE Lorenzo.DelaRama@ CaliforniaMediaGroup.com
“T
CIRCULATION Christine.Roessler@ CaliforniaMediaGroup.com HONORARY PRESIDENT
Ted Levy For information about advertising and rates contact California Media Group 3679 Motor Ave., Suite 300 Los Angeles, CA 90034 Phone: 310.280.2880 Fax: 310.280.2890
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Visit Performances Magazine online at socalpulse.com
Explore connections between people, instruments, and the music we make.
Performances Magazine is published by California Media Group to serve performing arts venues throughout the West. © 2023 California Media Group. All Rights Reserved.
Open Tuesday - Sunday, 10am - 5pm. Closed Mondays. 5790 Armada Dr, Carlsbad • museumofmakingmusic.org • 760.438.5996
Printed in the United States.
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CHINA BEFORE COMMUNISM
“It’s like being in heaven!” —Paul Behrends, consultant
T
“It is breathtaking! I am walking away deeply inspired and profoundly moved!” —Rita Cosby, Emmy Award-winning journalist
“The energy, the precision, the beauty... I’m just overwhelmed. It’s so beautiful!” —John Anthony, retired judge
“ I’ve reviewed about 4,000 shows. None can compare to what I saw tonight.” —Richard Connema, Broadway critic
hroughout history, artists in almost every culture looked to the divine for inspiration. Art was meant to uplift, bringing joy to those who created and experienced it. Today, Shen Yun Performing Arts pays homage to this tradition, weaving the wisdom and virtues of Chinese civilization with ancient legends and modern heroic tales on stage. Shen Yun brings to its audiences a whole new experience, revealing a China untainted by communist rule. Be prepared to traverse time and space and be mesmerized by the action, humor, and beauty of five millennia. It’s an experience that will uplift your spirit and touch your heart.
A Perfect Holiday Gift. Get Tickets Today! JAN 16–18 (Tue-Thu) California Center for the Arts, Escondido
JAN 19–21 (Fri-Sun) San Diego Civic Theatre
ShenYun.com/SD 1.888.973.7469
Early Bird Special: Use code iLoveSY to waive ticketing fees (offer expires 11/30). Call for Group Tickets.
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IN TH E W I N G S
MAESTRO RAFAEL Payare leads MUSIC the San Diego Symphony in two special November concerts at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. The first, Nov. 10-11, comprises two evenings that showcase a new, Symphony-commissioned piece by Grammy-nominated composer and activist Carlos Simon: Wake Up: A Concerto for Orchestra; and Richard Wagner’s The Ring Without Words. On Nov. 17-18, Payare and the Symphony will perform Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring; as well as pieces by Bartók, Villa-Lobos and Tarnopolski. theshell.org Get into the holiday spirit on Dec. 1 and 3, when the San Diego Opera presents El Milagro del Recuerdo (The Miracle of Remembering) at San Diego Civic Theatre. Sung in Spanish, it’s an endearing holiday mariachi opera centered on two women in Michoacán, Mexico, whose husbands work as braceros in the U.S. and aim to make it home in time for Christmas; featuring music by Javier Martinez and libretto by Leonard Foglia. sdopera.org
COURTESY IMAGES
HIGH NOTES
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COURTESY IMAGES
Maestro Rafael Payare. Opposite, clockwise from top: composer Carlos Simon; mezzosoprano Claudia Chapa; mezzo-soprano Sishel Claverie (the latter two sing in El Milagro del Recuerdo).
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 7
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IN TH E W I N G S
Museum Marvels
SPECIAL EVENT
Wine & Cuisine Bayside AS THE WEST Coast’s biggest wine and culinary event (among the largest of its kind in the U.S.), the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival returns for its 19th year, Nov. 6-12—named “Best Wine Festival” in 2023 by USA Today. Foodies and oenophiles will enjoy a palate-pleasing array of festivities, including the Grand Decant, Grand Fiesta and much-anticipated Grand Tasting at Embarcadero Marina Park North—where guests can stroll (and sample) among dozens of wines, beers, spirits and food stations along
San Diego Bay. The fun also includes educational wine, tequila and mezcal tastings; plus special pairing dinners, a Baja culinary expedition and other events. The weeklong celebration will feature myriad local, regional and Baja wineries, breweries and spirits purveyors; more than 60 of San Diego’s best restaurants; and 11,000 wine and food aficionados from across the U.S. Featured chefs include Roberto Alcocer, Travis Swikard, Claudia Sandoval, Brad Wise, Brian Redzikowski and many more. sandiegowineclassic.com
COURTESY IMAGES
FOR THE FIRST time in its 58-year ART history, the Timken Museum of Art is giving the public a chance to see an iconic artwork undergo an extensive conservation treatment. Francois Boucher’s ethereal 1758 “Lovers in a Park” oil painting (whose protective varnish layer naturally yellowed over time) is being restored onsite in the gallery space—a collaboration between Timken and the Balboa Art Conservation Center. And visitors get to watch. (Painting is pictured on p. 32). timkenmuseum.org At Mingei International Museum, Over/Under: Woven Craft at Mingei opens Nov. 4. Showcasing woven works from the museum’s permanent collection, the exhibition explores the cultural significance and different techniques used to create woven works. mingei.org
San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival; woven glass by Dan Friday at Mingei International Museum.
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©LITTLESTAR
COURTESY IMAGES
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IN TH E W I N G S
NOTABLE NOVEMBER SHOWS EXPLORING THE conflict between good and evil, Robert Louis Stevenson’s famed novella has been reimagined at North Coast Rep—which presents Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde through Nov. 12. Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, the psychological thriller centers on a London legal practitioner who investigates a series
of strange occurrences between his old friend Dr. Henry Jekyll and a murderous criminal named Edward Hyde. Also running through Nov. 12, Lamb’s Players Theatre brings us the world premiere of JANE: A Ghost Story. Set in the 1920s, it’s David McFadzean’s new adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s novel, Jane Eyre.
Broadway San Diego hosts the touring smash hit musical Mamma Mia!, with performances slated for Nov. 7-12 at San Diego Civic Theatre. The popular family-friendly production created by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus combines their Swedish music group ABBA’s greatest hits—including “Dancing
Queen,” “S.O.S.,” “The Winner Takes it All” and “Take A Chance on Me”—with an enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship. Set in a beach resort in the Mediterranean, Mamma Mia! portrays bride-to-be Sophie, who wishes for her absent father to walk her down the aisle. (A fun fact: San Diego local
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FROM LEFT: BRINKHOFF MÖGENBURG; AARON RUMLEY; KARLI CADEL PHOTOGRAPHY
THEATER
COMING SOON TO SAN DIEGO
Mon, Dec 11 & Tue, Dec 12 @ 7:30P
JOSH GATES LIVE!
FROM LEFT: BRINKHOFF MÖGENBURG; AARON RUMLEY; KARLI CADEL PHOTOGRAPHY
An Evening of Legends, Mysteries, and Tales of Adventure
From left: Mamma Mia!; Christopher M. Williams as Edward Hyde; costume designs for The Little Fellow.
Alísa Melendez portrays the role of Sophie!) At Old Town Theatre, Cygnet Theatre stages the world premiere of The Little Fellow (Or the Queen of Tarts Tells All), playing through Nov. 19. The comedic drama is loosely based on the life and memoirs of Harriette Wilson, the 19th century’s most famous courtesan.
Sun, Jan 28 @ 7:00P
AN EVENING WITH ELIZABETH GILBERT Author of “Eat Pray Love”
Thu, Feb 22 @ 7:30P
Sat, Feb 17 @ 7:30P
Sat, Mar 23 @ 7:30P & Sun, Mar 24 @ 2:00P
SANDIEGOTHEATRES.ORG | TICKETMASTER.COM BALBOA THEATRE - 868 4TH AVENUE, SAN DIEGO
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 11
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FEATUR E
Broderick
Becomes
Babbitt
From top: Matthew Broderick; the 1923 Sinclair Lewis novel, Babbitt.
“WHY DID I want to do a play about a boring person?” says actor Matthew Broderick of Babbitt, the title character he’ll be creating in the world premiere by that name at La Jolla Playhouse this month. “But he isn’t boring, once you get inside his head. He’s like everybody else—he has an outside person and an inside person. He’s a middle-class, successful conformist, loved by his community, who decides to just take a few steps into what he really is. He steps outside of consumerism and con-
formity. It’s his journey of trying to escape. That’s a good story.” The American reading public certainly thought so. In 1923, the popular author Sinclair Lewis published the satirical novel Babbitt—a critique of middle-class life and the social pressure toward conformity that examined American culture and society. The novel was such a hit that the word “Babbitt” entered the language as a way to describe someone, especially a businessman or professional, who conforms unthinkingly to
TAWNI BANNISTER
Matthew Broderick, Still in Love with Live Theater, Embraces the Title Role of Babbitt in La Jolla Playhouse’s World Premiere by STEPHANIE SAAD THOMPSON
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MESSIAH EL MESíAS vis á vis
G.F. Handel December 9, 2023 (English) December 10, 12, 2023 (Spanish)
Handel’s beloved oratorio, with full performances in English and Spanish in San Diego and Tijuana (CECUT), featuring BCSD’s commissioned Spanish libretto.
A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS FEATURING DONA NOBIS PACEM BY RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Tickets/info: www.bachcollegiumsd.org
FRIDAY, DEC. 15, 7:00 P.M.
BCSD TWENTYONE
SAINTS CONSTANTINE AND HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 3459 MANCHESTER AVE, CARDIFF, CA 92007
Ruben Valenzuela, Artistic Director
Yesterday’s Sound Today
BACH COLLEGIUM SAN DIEGO
TICKETS $10-$35 AT SACRAPROFANA .ORG
2023-24 SEASON
TAWNI BANNISTER
SD MASTER CHORALE
tickets are on sale now! Tickets and details at SDMASTERCHORALE.ORG
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 13
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FEATUR E
From left: director Christopher Ashley; playwright Joe DiPietro.
prevailing middle-class standards. Lewis would go on to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1930. The novel was filmed twice—once as a silent film in 1924 and again as a talkie in 1934. But no one ever made it into a play for live theater—until now. La Jolla Playhouse presents the world premiere of the play Babbitt— written by Joe DiPietro,
directed by Christopher Ashley and starring Matthew Broderick in the title role—opening on Nov. 7. DiPietro says it may have taken almost a century before someone wanted to write Babbitt as a play because of the nature of the source material. “Sinclair Lewis was a great writer, funny and perceptive; but no one
would argue plots were his strong point,” he says. “The first third of the novel [is] basically just a day in the life of this average man.” That’s why, with La Jolla Playhouse’s Ashley as dramaturg, DiPietro sought to emphasize the drama inherent in the novel. “It was a case of taking the characters and the basic plot in the
second half and making it dramatic. Cutting some things and including new ideas, but all the while staying true to Lewis’ original vision. “When you’re writing about a middle-aged, middle-class white businessman, though, you need to tell the story through modern eyes,” he adds. “The rest of the cast reflects our current
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L-R: BECCA BATISTA; COURTESY LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
“When you’re writing about a middleaged, middle-class white businessman, though, you need to tell the story through modern eyes ... The rest of the cast reflects our current day, cutting through the boundaries of age, gender and race.” —Joe DiPietro
L-R: BECCA BATISTA; COURTESY LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
day, cutting through the boundaries of age, gender and race.” It isn’t the first time DiPietro and Ashley (both Tony Award winners) have collaborated to bring a new work to the stage. Babbitt will be the fifth play by DiPietro to receive its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse—following Diana (2019), Hollywood (2016), Chasing the Song (2014) and Memphis (2008). All were directed by Ashley, who calls DiPietro “a fantastic collaborator. I really appreciate the boldness of his vision. He picks stories that are very stage-worthy; he has a great nose for a story that will interest and move people. And he has a great sense of humor onstage and off.” Unlike his other plays, however, DiPietro specifically had Broderick in mind when he wrote Babbitt. He says the inspiration to write the play came after Ashley, DiPietro and Broderick had dinner in New York in 2017 and started discussing novels. “At dinner, we were talking about things we might work on. I asked them if they knew Babbitt, and Matthew said it was one of his favorites,” DiPietro says. “Matthew said, ‘Maybe you can write me a play or some/CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
“McDonald and McGloin are incredibly accomplished pianists and also very funny comedic actors.” — BROADWAYWORLD
They are back again! Get ready for an interlude of riotous laughter as Jefferson McDonald and Matthew McGloin take us on a musical comedic journey about their would-be careers as concert pianists. The talented duo trade stories about piano lessons, pushy parents, and eccentric teachers while playing everything from Bach to Billy Joel.
Return Engagement by Popular Demand
DECEMBER 15–31
NorthCoastRep.org | 858-481-1055 GROUP SALES: 858-481-2155, X202
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heart transplant Patient learn about Mario's story
Mario went to the hospital with a stomachache. He ended up needing a new heart. After just two days on the donor waitlist and four months of recovery, this eighth grader is back on track to being a kid.
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The Artistic Director's Circle Roberta C. Baade Charitable Fund Theodor S. and Audrey S. Geisel Fund Hanna and Mark Gleiberman Kay and Bill Gurtin Jeanne L. Herberger, Ph.D. Debby and Hal Jacobs Joan and Irwin Jacobs Sheri L. Jamieson La Atalaya Fund Rebecca Moores Foundation Jordan Ressler Charitable Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Season Sponsors
Weston Anson - In Loving Memory of Susan Bailey Anson, Michael Bartell and Melissa Garfield Bartell, Denise and Lon Bevers, Gail and Ralph Bryan, Brian and Silvija Devine, The Estate of Pauline Foster, Laurie Gore and Julie Osman - Mission Valley Community Foundation, Lynn Gorguze and Scott Peters, Perlmeter Family Foundation, Karen and Jeff Silberman, Molli Wagner, Mandell Weiss Charitable Trust
NOVEMBER 7 – DECEMBER 10, 2023 PRODUCTION SPONSORS Laurie Gore and Julie Osman – Mission Valley Community Foundation Kay and Bill Gurtin
Sheri L. Jamieson
Karen and Jeff Silberman
Recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P1
La Jolla Playhouse’s 2023/2024 subscription season is dedicated to Jeffrey Ressler.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Dear Friends, Several years ago, in the Before Times, I was in an Upper West Side diner with Joe DiPietro and Matthew Broderick. As the conversation turned towards our favorite novels, we found we had something unexpected in common: Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis. We were all huge admirers of Lewis’s satirical novel about the search for a moral compass – both in ourselves and as a society. Though it’s not as widely read today as it was in the first few decades after its publication in 1922, Matthew, Joe and I re-discovered that so many of Babbitt’s questions about culture, politics and conformity are just as urgent today. We decided the “now” and the “then” will co-exist throughout the show; our production design foregrounds a modern library in which our characters are contemporary readers, all happening upon Lewis’s novel and bringing its story to life. The core of that story is George F. Babbitt, a complacent middle-class real estate agent whose life is filled with navy blue ties, top-of-the-line appliances…and the crushing realization that his life has amounted to nothing of meaning. Babbitt’s resulting rebellion against social mores upends his life – and sparks similar rebellions in his wife Myra and his son Ted. But Babbitt also shows us that while the impulse to re-define ourselves and realize our fantasies can be strong, the societal forces that may restrict those changes can be equally powerful. The extreme disruptions of the last few years have challenged us all to examine what’s truly important to us and how we might do things differently. By returning to Babbitt and other indelible stories, we can better understand the way that the past continues to be prologue, and how we might invent fresh ideas for how we live our lives.
CHRISTOPHER ASHLEY THE RICH FAMILY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT La Jolla Playhouse acknowledges the land on which our theatres sit as the unceded territory of the KUMEYAAY NATION. Today, the Kumeyaay people continue to maintain their political sovereignty and cultural traditions as vital members of the San Diego community. Their contributions to our region are tremendous and we thank them for their stewardship. P2 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
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LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS Christopher Ashley The Rich Family Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse
Debby Buchholz Managing Director of La Jolla Playhouse
BY
BY JOE DIPIETRO ADAPTED FROM THE NOVEL BY
SINCLAIR LEWIS
CHOREOGRAPHED BY
STEPHEN BUESCHER DIRECTED BY
CHRISTOPHER ASHLEY FEATURING
GENEVIEVE ANGELSON*, MATTHEW BRODERICK*, ANNA CHLUMSKY*, JALEN DAVIDSON‡, IRIS (LITING) FENG‡, VICTOR FLORES‡, JULIE HALSTON*, ANN HARADA*, FRANCIS JUE*, KYA LEE‡, LINDA LIBBY*, MATT MCGRATH*, CHRIS MYERS* SCENIC DESIGN COSTUME DESIGN LIGHTING DESIGN SOUND DESIGN ORIGINAL MUSIC HAIR AND WIG DESIGN DRAMATURG CASTING STAGE MANAGER ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER GENERAL MANAGER EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
WALT SPANGLER LINDA CHO CHA SEE LEON ROTHENBERG MARK BENNETT, WAYNE BARKER CHARLES G. LAPOINTE GABRIEL GREENE TBD CASTING CO.; STEPHANIE YANKWITT, CSA/JACOLE KITCHEN MARTHA DONALDSON* KELLY A. MARTINDALE* BENJAMIN SEIBERT RYAN MEISHEID ERIC KEEN-LOUIE
This production of BABBITT is dedicated to Michael McGrath. PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P3
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THE CAST (in alphabetical order)
Tanis Judique/Zilla Riesling/Eunice Littlefield/Storyteller 5....................................................... Genevieve Angelson* George Babbitt................................................................................................................................Matthew Broderick* Seneca Doane/Tinka Babbitt/Lucille McKelvey/Storyteller 4...............................................................Anna Chlumsky* Mrs. Frink/Mrs. Bumbleworth/Opal Mudge/Miss McGoun/Storyteller 6................................................ Julie Halston* Myra Babbitt/Storyteller 1........................................................................................................................... Ann Harada* Paul Riesling/Doc Littlefield/Storyteller 2................................................................................................... Francis Jue* Charles McKelvey/PJ Maxwell/Storyteller 3.......................................................................................... Matt McGrath* Ted Babbitt/Stanley Graf/Fabio/Storyteller 7..............................................................................................Chris Myers* Babbitt will be performed with a 15-minute intermission.
UNDERSTUDIES Ted Babbitt/Stanley Graf/Fabio/Storyteller 7 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Jalen Davidson‡ Tanis Judique/Zilla Riesling/Eunice Littlefield/Storyteller 5 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Iris (Liting) Feng‡ Paul Riesling/Doc Littlefield/ Charles McKelvey/PJ Maxwell/Storyteller 2 & 3.................................................................Victor Flores‡ Seneca Doane/Tinka Babbitt/Lucille McKelvey/Storyteller 4.......................................................................................................Kya Lee‡ Mrs. Frink/Mrs. Bumbleworth/Opal Mudge/Miss McGoun/Myra Babbitt/Storyteller 1 & 6................................................Linda Libby* Understudies are never substituted for listed roles unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the performance.
ADDITIONAL STAFF Assistant Director.......................................Rosie Glen-Lambert
NYC Props Coordinator................................................Amber Ink
Associate Costume Designer...................................Bella Rasdal
Rehearsal Assistant Stage Manager.......................Tyler Larson*
Assistant Lighting Designer............................... Joshua Heming
Production Assistant............................................Nina Schantell
Assistant Sound Designer.............................. Salvador Zamora
Production Assistant........................................Misha Fristensky
Associate Wig Designer.............................................Kyle Skillin
People and Culture Consultants....Cornerstone Consulting HR
Intimacy Coordinator..................................................Ann James
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Arel Studios • Prop Star • New 42 Studios • PRG • Boulevard Carrol Entertainment Group • The Araca Group Julianne Carneys • Giliberto Designs Inc. • The Old Globe Prop and Scenery Department
of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and * Members Stage Managers in the United States. The theatre operates under an agreement
This theatre operates under an agreement between La Jolla Playhouse and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 122.
between La Jolla Playhouse and Actors’ Equity Association.
La Jolla Playhouse is a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for the nonprofit professional theatre.
The Director and Choreographer are members of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union. This theatre operates under an agreement between La Jolla Playhouse and
United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE. P4 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
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‡
UC San Diego M.F.A. Candidates in residence at La Jolla Playhouse.
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THE COMPANY GENEVIEVE ANGELSON*, Tanis Judique/Zilla Riesling/Eunice Littlefield/Storyteller 5 La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Broadway: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Off Broadway/ Regional: The Cake (Manhattan Theatre Club), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Drury Lane, Broadway World Best Actress), Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (McCarter Theatre). TV includes: The Handmaid’s Tale, New Amsterdam, The Afterparty, Flack, This Is Us, Titans, House of Lies, Backstrom. Film: The Upside, True Story, Top Five, Spare Room and the upcoming Which Brings Me to You. M.F.A.: NYU Grad Acting. IG: @genevieveangelson MATTHEW BRODERICK*, George Babbitt La Jolla Playhouse: How to Success in Business... Broadway: Plaza Suite, Brighton Beach Memoirs (Tony, OCC, Theatre World Awards), Biloxi Blues, How to Succeed in Business… (Tony, DD, OCC Awards), Night Must Fall, Taller Than a Dwarf, The Producers (Tony, DD, OCC nominations), The Foreigner, The Philanthropist, The Odd Couple, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Sylvia and It’s Only a Play. Off-Broadway: The Seafarer, The Closet, Evening at the Talk House, Shining City (Obie Award), Torch Song Trilogy (OCC, Villager Awards), The Widow Claire and Valentine’s Day. West End: The Starry Messenger. Upcoming: Plaza Suite in the West End. Television: Painkiller, Daybreak, The Music Man, “Master Harold”…and the Boys. Films include: No Hard Feelings, Max Dugan Returns, War Games, Ladyhawke, On Valentine’s Day, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Biloxi Blues, Glory, The Freshman, The Lion King, The Cable Guy, Infinity, Election, You Can Count on Me, Wonderful World, Margaret, Tower Heist, Rules Don’t Apply, Manchester by the Sea and To Dust. ANNA CHLUMSKY*, Seneca Doane/Tinka Babbitt/Lucille McKelvey/Storyteller 4 Broadway: Living on Love, You Can’t Take It with You. Off-Broadway: Cardinal (Second Stage); 3C (Rattlestick); Love, Loss, and What I Wore (Westside Theatre); So Help Me God (Mint); Unconditional (Labyrinth Theater). Regional: Living on Love (Williamstown); Darwin in Malibu (Bay Street). Television: Inventing Anna (Emmy Award nominee for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series), Veep (6x Emmy nominee for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy), Rugrats, Halt and Catch Fire, Hannibal, Law & Order: SVU, White Collar, Covert Affairs, Cupid, 30 Rock, Law & Order. Film: The End of the Tour, The Pill, In the Loop, Bert and Arnie’s Guide to Friendship, The Good Guy, Blood Car, Gold Diggers, My Girls I and II, Hala, They/Them and the upcoming movie, Bride Hard.
IRIS (LITING) FENG‡, (she/her) Understudy: Tanis Judique/Zilla Riesling/Eunice Littlefield/Storyteller 5 La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. UC San Diego: Grippy Sock Vacation, The Winter’s Tale, Dance Nation, Fifty Boxes of Earth, Everybody. Select Credits: Romeo and Juliet and Blank (Guildhall School of Music and Drama), Cymbeline (RADA), Aloha Attire (Kumu Kahua Theatre), Sganarelle (Hawaii Shakespeare Festival). Education: M.F.A. Candidate from UC San Diego; B.A. from Harvard College. @iris__feng VICTOR FLORES‡, (he/him) Understudy: Paul Riesling/Doc Littlefield/ Charles McKelvey/ Storyteller 2 & 3 La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. UCSD: A Flea in Her Rear, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Machinal, Thicker Than, Fifty Boxes of Earth. SHSU: Richard III, Cloud Tectonics. Education: M.F.A Acting Candidate UC San Diego; B.F.A. Sam Houston State University. Instagram: @Victor.J.Flores JULIE HALSTON*, Mrs. Frink/Mrs. Bumbleworth/ Opal Mudge/Miss McGoun/Storyteller 6 La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Broadway: Tootsie, You Can't Take It with You (Richard Seff Award), Gypsy, Hairspray, Anything Goes, On the Twentieth Century and others. Founding member of Charles Busch's legendary theatre company. Four Drama Desk Award nominations, 2021 recipient of the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award. Television credits include Gossip Girl (Sharon, recurring), Law & Order: SVU (Cassie Muir), Divorce (Sharon), The Good Fight (Rita). She is most known, however, as Bitsy Von Muffling on Sex and the City and And Just Like That.... Recent Films: The Sixth Reel, Simchas and Sorrows and Chosen Family with Heather Graham. @actressjuliehalston on Instagram. ANN HARADA*, (she/her) Myra Babbitt/ Storyteller 1 La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Broadway: Avenue Q (also London’s West End), Into the Woods, Cinderella, Les Miserables, 9 to 5, Seussical and M. Butterfly. Recent Off-Broadway: Dear World, Fairycakes, Emojiland, I Married an Angel, Pacific Overtures, Brooklynite, Falsettoland. TV: Schmigadoon! (Florence Menlove and Madam Frau), Smash (Linda), Blue Bloods, House of Cards, Master of None, Younger, 30 Rock, The Good Wife, Jim Gaffigan Show. Film: Sisters, Hope Springs, Admission, Jerry and Marge Go Large, Disenchanted. Insta: @iamannharada
JALEN DAVIDSON‡, Understudy: Ted Babbitt/ Stanley Graf/Fabio/Storyteller 7 La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. UC San Diego: Boxed, Raja Feather Kelly’s Bunny Bunny, Dance Nation, Nona Kills the President, In the Red and Brown Water. Education: M.F.A. Acting Candidate, UC San Diego, B.A. from Kennesaw State University.
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P5
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THE COMPANY FRANCIS JUE*, (he/him) Paul Riesling/Doc Littlefield/Storyteller 2 La Jolla Playhouse: Wild Goose Dreams, Thoroughly Modern Millie. Broadway: Pacific Overtures, Thoroughly Modern Millie, M. Butterfly. National tours: Cambodian Rock Band, M. Butterfly. Recent Off-Broadway: Good Enemy, Cambodian Rock Band (Lucille Lortel Award), Soft Power (Outer Critics Circle Award), Twilight: Los Angeles 1992, Wild Goose Dreams (Obie Award). Recent regional: Today Is My Birthday (Yale Rep), The Language Archive (TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Bay Area Critics Circle Award), King of the Yees (SF Playhouse, Bay Area Critics Circle Award). TV/Film: Madam Secretary, Hightown, Law & Order: SVU, White Noise, Our Son, Joyful Noise. KYA LEE‡, Understudy: Seneca Doane/Tinka Babbitt/Lucille McKelvey/Storyteller 4 Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Kya Lee is excited to make her La Jolla Playhouse debut. Regional: From Out Beyond My Shame (Garry Marshall Theatre). UC San Diego credits: Thicker Than, Black Girl Joy, Bunny Bunny, Limp Wrist on the Lever. Education: M.F.A. Candidate from UC San Diego. LINDA LIBBY*, Understudy: Mrs. Frink/Mrs. Bumbleworth/Opal Mudge/Miss McGoun/Myra Babbitt/Storyteller 1 & 6. La Jolla Playhouse: Put Your House in Order, Ether Dome. Regional: Guys & Dolls (The Old Globe); Cabaret, Gypsy, Company, The Importance of Being Earnest (Cygnet); Handbagged (Moxie); An Iliad (New Village Arts); Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Diversionary); A Doll's House Part 2 (San Diego Rep); Grey Gardens, Gypsy, Request Programme (Ion); How I Learned to Drive (Arizona Theater Co. & San Diego Rep). Linda is proud to be a San Diego-based theatre artist and she is delighted to be on the Babbitt team. Look for her in Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 at Cygnet Theater this spring. https:// lindalibby.wixsite.com/lindalibby MATT MCGRATH*, Charles McKelvey/PJ Maxwell/Storyteller 3 La Jolla Playhouse: His Girl Friday. Broadway: Girl from the North Country, Cabaret, A Streetcar Named Desire. Robert Wilson’s The Black Rider in LA, SD, London and Sydney. Recent Off-Broadway: Jerry Springer Opera, Lonely Planet, The Legend of Georgia McBride (Lucille Lortel Award), Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Film: The Chaperone, Full Grown Men, Boys Don't Cry, The Notorious Bettie Page, The Anniversary Party, The Broken Hearts Club, The Impostors. TV: The Undoing, Pose, Modern Family, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Cruel Doubt. Award: Lucille Lortel.
CHRIS MYERS*, Ted Babbitt/Stanley Graf/Fabio/ Storyteller 7 La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Broadway: How I Learned to Drive (MTC). Selected NY Theatre: Where the Mountain Meets the Sea (MTC); BLKS (MCC); An Octoroon (Soho Rep; Obie Award); Whorl Inside a Loop (Second Stage); The Winter's Tale, On the Grounds of Belonging (The Public); Little Children Dream of God (Roundabout); Julius Caesar (Shakespeare in the Park); War, Brownsville Song (LCT3). Selected regional: Henry IV (Shakespeare Center LA with Tom Hanks), Fences (McCarter/ Long Wharf; dir. Phylica Rashad), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare Theatre DC). TV: Merry Happy Whatever (Netflix), The Resident (FOX), Sneaky Pete (Amazon), The Good Fight (CBS), She's Gotta Have It (Netflix; dir. Spike Lee), The Breaks (VH1). Training: Juilliard. @chrismyersinc JOE DIPIETRO, Playwright has won two Tony Awards, a Drama Desk Award and three Outer Critics Circle Awards. He is thrilled to return to La Jolla Playhouse. His newest musical, Sinatra, recently premiered at Birmingham Rep to critical acclaim. Some of his other shows include Memphis (2010 Tony Award for Best Musical); Nice Work If You Can Get It (which starred Matthew Broderick and received 10 Tony nominations); The Toxic Avenger (OCC Award - Best OffBroadway Musical); Ernest Shackleton Loves Me (Off-Broadway Alliance Award - Best Musical); I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (longest-running musical revue in off-Broadway history); as well as the much-produced comedies Clever Little Lies and Over the River and Through the Woods, among others. His last LJP premiere, the musical Diana, can be seen on Netflix and will make its UK premiere in a special concert presentation this December in the West End. CHRISTOPHER ASHLEY, Director See full bio on page 9. STEPHEN BUESCHER, (he/him) Choreographer La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Stephen recently directed the developmental workshop of York Walker’s Soul Records at the Vineyard Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club. Off Broadway choreography credits include Covenant (Roundabout). Regional credits include Twilight: Los Angeles 1992 (Center Theatre Group); A Thousand Splendid Suns, Hamlet, The Orphan of Zhao, Monstress, Underneath the Lintel, Let There Be Love, Stuck Elevator (ACT); Copper Children (OSF); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Private Lives (Long Wharf); Imaginary Invalid (Fiasco); Blues for an Alabama Sky (Lorraine Hansberry Theater); The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (San Diego Rep). Stephen graduated from CalArts, Dell’Arte, and is a member of SDC.
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THE COMPANY WALT SPANGLER, Scenic Designer designs for theatre, opera and dance across the nation and around the globe. He is delighted to be back at La Jolla Playhouse, where he previously designed the world premiere of Jimmy Buffett's Escape to Margaritaville. On Broadway Walt designed the critically-acclaimed Between Riverside and Crazy, Desire Under the Elms, Tuck Everlasting, A Christmas Story The Musical, Escape to Margaritaville, Scandalous and Hollywood Arms. LINDA CHO, Costume Designer Most recently at La Jolla Playhouse: Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord and Bhangin’ It. Broadway: Harmony; Summer, 1976; Take Me Out; Grand Horizons; Anastasia (Tony nomination); The Great Society; A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder (Tony & Henry Hewes Design Awards, Outer Critics Circle nomination); The Lifespan of a Fact; Velocity of Autumn. Her extensive body of work includes productions at acclaimed theatres and opera companies across the country and around the world. Currently residing in New York City, this Korean-born designer is on the Advisory Committee of the American Theatre Wing. Education: M.F.A., Yale School of Drama. CHA SEE, Lighting Designer From Manila, Philippines. Obie Award Grantee, Lucille Lortel and Drama Desk nomination. As You Like It and Is It Thursday Yet? (La Jolla Playhouse). Off-Broadway: On That Day in Amsterdam (Primary Stages); You Will Get Sick (Roundabout Theatre Company); The Seagull/Woodstock, NY, One in Two (The New Group); Wet Brain (Playwrights Horizons); The Fever, Lucy, Sorry for Your Loss (Audible Theater); Exception to the Rule, Covenant (Roundabout Underground); What to Send Up When It Goes Down (Playwrights Horizons, BAM); Soft (MCC). Regional: Rent (Paper Mill Playhouse), among others. Upcoming: Becoming A Man (A.R.T), LOVE LOVE LOVE (Studio Theatre, DC), Oh Mary! (Lucille Lortel). Training: M.F.A. from NYU Tisch. seelightingdesign.com, @seethruuu. LEON ROTHENBERG, Sound Designer Broadway: Hillary and Clinton, The Waverly Gallery, Mike Birbiglia’s The New One, The Boys in the Band, A Doll’s House, Part 2, others. Regional: La Jolla Playhouse, Westport, Geva, The Old Globe, Barrington Stage, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Arizona Theatre Company, Huntington Theatre, Arena Stage, ACT, Pasadena Playhouse, Geffen Playhouse, Portland Center Stage, Seattle Rep, Two River Theater, City Theatre. NY: Playwrights Horizons, Classic Stage Company, NYCC, Primary Stages, Second Stage, Manhattan Theatre Club, Public Theater, others. International: Cirque du Soleil, National Theatre of Cyprus, Dijon International Festival. Interactive: MSG’s The Sphere, Spryfox/Netflix. Tony Award for Sound Design: The Nance. Info at klaxson.net.
CHARLES G. LAPOINTE, Hair and Wig Designer La Jolla Playhouse: Over 10 productions including Side Show, SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical, Blueprints to Freedom, Fly, His Girl Friday. Numerous Broadway, Touring, West End and International productions, including: Hamilton (Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylist Guild Award), MJ The Musical, SIX, How to Dance in Ohio (upcoming), The Cher Show (Drama Desk Award), The Band’s Visit, Beautiful, Ain’t Too Proud, Beetlejuice, SpongeBob SquarePants (Drama Desk Award), Jersey Boys, A Gentleman’s Guide…, Anastasia, In the Heights. Television: The Wiz Live! (Emmy Award nomination), Jesus Christ Superstar Live! (Emmy Award nomination and Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylist Guild Award). MARK BENNETT, Original Music La Jolla Playhouse (partial): Queens, His Girl Friday, A Midsummer’s Night Dream (Craig Noel Award), An Iliad (Craig Noel Award), Most Wanted (commission), Dogeaters, Wonderland, The Country, Cloud Tectonics, The John Birch Society Musical (commission). Broadway (partial): JUNK, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Driving Miss Daisy, The Coast of Utopia (Drama Desk Award), Golda’s Balcony, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. BAM/Old Vic: THE BRIDGE PROJECT: The Cherry Orchard, A Winter’s Tale, As You Like It, The Tempest and Richard III. West Coast: Romeo and Juliet, Arms and the Man, Pygmalion, Twelfth Night (The Old Globe), King Charles III, Yerma (A.C.T commission), The Good Book, Our Town, Mad Forest (Berkeley Rep). Awards: 1998 OBIE (Sustained Excellence in Sound Design), Ovation and Garland Awards, 14 Drama Desk nominations. WAYNE BARKER, Original Music La Jolla Playhouse: Peter and the Starcatchers, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hollywood. New York: Dame Edna: Back with a Vengeance!; Peter and the Starcatcher (Tony nomination, Drama Desk Award); Sister’s Follies (Basil Twist); I Love Bob (Parallel Exit). Regional: A Confederacy of Dunces (Huntington Theater); Laugh (Studio Theater); Sing for Your Shakespeare (Westport Country Playhouse); The Primrose Path, The Great Gatsby (Guthrie); Twelfth Night, The Three Musketeers (Seattle Rep); Mr. Holland’s Opus (Ogunquit Playhouse). Television: A Little Curious (HBO Family). Frequent soloist with the San Francisco Silent Film Festival (2018-present). Concert music: Encyclopedia Pandemica; Hotel Galapagos. waynebarkercomposer.com. GABRIEL GREENE, Dramaturg joined La Jolla Playhouse’s artistic staff in 2007 and currently serves as Director of Artistic Development. He has dramaturged more than thirty new plays and musicals for the Playhouse, in addition to shows at Berkeley Rep, New York Stage & Film, NYTW, Playwrights Horizons, Steppenwolf, and on Broadway and the West End. Goosebumps Alive, his immersive adaptation of R.L. Stine’s best-selling novels (co-written by Tom Salamon) premiered in 2016 at The Vaults (London). With Alex Levy, he co-wrote Safe at Home, which premiered at Mixed Blood Theatre in 2017 (Ivey Award) and has since been produced at Arizona State University and Kitchen Dog Theatre (upcoming). B.A.: University of Michigan. M.Phil: Trinity College Dublin. B.F.F.: Mia Fiorella. www.gabrielgreene.com. PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P7
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THE COMPANY TBD CASTING CO.; STEPHANIE YANKWITT, CSA, Casting Casting for La Jolla Playhouse includes the world premieres of The Coast Starlight, to the yellow house, Here There Are Blueberries, SUMO and Babbitt, and multiple staged readings/ workshops. Current/upcoming: The Fires (Soho Rep), Here There Are Blueberries (Tectonic Theater Project & New York Theatre Workshop), Sanctuary City (TheaterWorks Hartford) and Public Obscenities (Woolly Mammoth & TFANA). Film/TV includes In the Summers (Exile/Lexicon), ReEntry (PlotNaut), and Ladies First (Culture House/Netflix). Stephanie sits on the CSA's Equity in Entertainment committee.
MARTHA DONALDSON*, Stage Manager La Jolla Playhouse: Diana: The Musical, Come From Away. Broadway: Leopoldstadt, Diana: The Musical, The Lifespan of a Fact, The Children, The Glass Menagerie, The Crucible, A View from the Bridge, You Can’t Take It with You, Next to Normal, [title of show], Top Girls, The Year of Magical Thinking. Off Broadway: Shows at New York Theater Workshop, The Public Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, and many others. KELLY A. MARTINDALE*, Assistant Stage Manager Broadway (selected): KPOP; Slave Play; Matilda, the Musical; Jesus Christ Superstar; The Farnsworth Invention; Dracula the Musical, Baz Luhrmann’s La Bohème; The Who’s Tommy. OffBroadway (selected): Boseman & Lena; Let Me Down Easy; Hedwig & the Angry Inch. Regional: Many productions at La Jolla Playhouse, including Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Memphis and The Wiz.
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EVENTS BABBITT Talkback Tuesdays Participate in a lively discussion with performers and Playhouse staff members immediately following these performances. Tuesday, November 14 and November 21 after the 7:30 pm performances
Access Performance On select performances, La Jolla Playhouse provides American Sign Language interpretation for audience members who are d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing and audio description for patrons who are blind or have low vision. Saturday, December P8 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE2 at 2:00 pm
Discovery Sunday Join special guest speakers post-performance as they engage audience members in a moderated discussion exploring the themes in the play. Sunday, December 3 after the 2:00 pm performance P8 P8 PERFORMANCES PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE MAGAZINE
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PLAYHOUSE LEADERSHIP CHRISTOPHER ASHLEY, (he/him) The Rich Family Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse has served as La Jolla Playhouse’s Artistic Director since 2007. During his tenure, he directed the world premieres of Come From Away, The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical, Diana: The Musical, Memphis, Escape to Margaritaville, The Squirrels, A Dram of Drummhicit, Restoration and Chasing the Song, as well as As You Like It, His Girl Friday, Glengarry Glen Ross, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Freaky Friday and Xanadu. He also spearheaded the Playhouse’s Without Walls (WOW) initiative, the DNA New Work Series and the Resident Theatre program. Mr. Ashley recently directed Come From Away for AppleTV+ and Diana: The Musical for Netflix. Other screen credits include the feature films Jeffrey and Lucky Stiff, and the American Playhouse production of Blown Sideways Through Life for PBS. Mr. Ashley’s Broadway credits include Come From Away (Tony and Outer Critics Circle Awards), Diana: The Musical, Escape to Margaritaville, Memphis (Tony Award nomination), Xanadu, Leap of Faith (Drama Desk Award nomination), All Shook Up and The Rocky Horror Show (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award nominations). He also helmed productions of Come From Away in London (Olivier Award nomination), Toronto, Australia and on national tour. Other national tours include Escape to Margaritaville, Memphis, Xanadu, All Shook Up and Seussical: The Musical. Additional New York stage credits include Blown Sideways Through Life, Jeffrey (Lucille Lortel and Obie Awards), The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Valhalla (Lucille Lortel Award nomination), Regrets Only, Wonder of the World, Communicating Doors, Bunny Bunny, The Night Hank Williams Died and Fires in the Mirror (Lucille Lortel Award), among others. Mr. Ashley is the recipient of the Princess Grace Award, the Drama League Director Fellowship and an NEA/TCG Director Fellowship. DES McANUFF, (he/him) Director Emeritus is a two-time Tony Award-winning director and served as La Jolla Playhouse’s Artistic Director from 1983 through 1994, and from 2001 through April 2007 where he staged over 30 productions of classics, new plays and musicals. Under his leadership, the Playhouse garnered the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. He is also the former Artistic Director of Canada’s Stratford Festival and co-founder of Broadway’s Dodgers. Broadway: Ain’t Too Proud, Summer, Doctor Zhivago, Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls, Aaron Sorkin’s The Farnsworth Invention, Jersey Boys (Tony and Olivier Awards: Best Musical), Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays (Tony Award: Best Special Theatrical Event), Dracula the Musical, How to Succeed..., The Who’s Tommy (Tony and Olivier Awards: Best Director), A Walk in the Woods, Big River (Tony Awards: Best Director, Best Musical). Selected New York: Fetch Clay, Make Man (NYTW); multiple productions at The Public and BAM. Stratford highlights: A Word or Two, Caesar and Cleopatra, The Tempest (all with Christopher Plummer), Twelfth Night (with Brian Dennehy). Opera: Faust (The Met, ENO). TV: 700 Sundays (HBO). Film: Cousin Bette (director, with Jessica Lange), The Iron Giant (producer, BAFTA Award) and Quills (executive producer). He has an honorary doctorate from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), and in 2012, he was awarded Canada’s Governor Generals National Arts Center Award and the Order of Canada. His new version of The Who’s Tommy will be on Broadway in 2024.
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DEBBY BUCHHOLZ, (she/her) Managing Director of La Jolla Playhouse joined the Playhouse in 2002, serving first as General Manager before becoming Managing Director. She is a Vice President of the League of Resident Theaters (LORT) and a member of its Executive Committee. She is a recipient of a San Diego Women Who Mean Business Award from The San Diego Business Journal. Prior to joining La Jolla Playhouse, she served as Counsel to The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. She was a faculty member of the Smithsonian Institution’s program on Legal Problems of Museum Administration. Prior to The Kennedy Center, she served as a corporate attorney in New York City and Washington, D.C. She is a graduate of UC San Diego and Harvard Law School. Ms. Buchholz and her husband, noted author and White House economic policy advisor Todd Buchholz, live in Solana Beach and are the proud parents of Victoria, Katherine and Alexia. ERIC KEEN-LOUIE, (he/him) Executive Producer joined the Playhouse in 2018 as Producing Director, before becoming Executive Producer in 2021. He previously worked at The Old Globe (Associate Producer and Associate Artistic Director) and The Public Theater (Assistant to the Associate Producer and Director of Special Projects). He assisted Broadway producer Margo Lion on Hairspray and Caroline, or Change. He is a graduate of Columbia University where he received his M.F.A. in Theatre Management & Producing as a Dean’s Fellow and New York University where he earned a B.A. in Dramatic Literature. He serves as Secretary on the National Alliance of Musical Theatre’s Board of Directors. He is a proud third-generation Chinese-American and is married to Anthony Keen-Louie, a local mediator and Associate Ombuds at UC Santa Cruz. LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE is a place where artists and audiences come together to create what’s new and next in the American theatre, from Tony Award-winning productions, to imaginative programs for young audiences, to interactive experiences outside our theatre walls. Founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Mel Ferrer, the Playhouse is currently led by Tony Award winner Christopher Ashley, the Rich Family Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse, and Managing Director Debby Buchholz. The Playhouse is internationally renowned for the development of new works, including mounting 110 world premieres, commissioning more than 60 new works, and sending 33 productions to Broadway – among them the hit musical Come From Away – garnering a total of 38 Tony Awards, as well as the 1993 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre.
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VALUES STATEMENT Welcome to La Jolla Playhouse, where we believe that stories enhance the human experience, instill empathy and help us see the world in new ways. We respect all races, ethnicities, cultures, physical/cognitive abilities, ages, genders and identities, and endeavor to be an anti-racist and accessible organization that removes barriers to engagement. As a community of life-long learners who celebrate the spirit of play, we innovate and collaborate to bring theatre to life. We practice empathy by listening, challenging our assumptions and staying open to all perspectives. We respect and recognize the complexities of all lived experiences, identities and cultural backgrounds. We honor the Kumeyaay Nation, the original caretakers of the land on which our theaters sit. We will fight against anti-blackness, the many forms of racism directed at BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and all types of discrimination and harassment, to be a more inclusive space where everyone feels welcome onstage and off. We work with our community to identify, understand and address ways to make our theatre more equitable and accessible. We infuse the spirit of play into everything we do, sparking creativity, fun and life-long learning. We innovate and take risks to propel theatre as an art form and as a pathway toward fostering belonging and enhancing human connection. We collaborate by prioritizing inclusive practices from which diverse voices, talents and ideas can strengthen engagement and creative thinking. We vow to grow and embrace these values. When we falter, we will hold ourselves accountable through transparent communication, measurable outcomes, selfreflection and humility. With great joy and a strong sense of responsibility, we commit to these values in every aspect of our work.
MISSION STATEMENT La Jolla Playhouse advances theatre as an art form, telling stories that inspire empathy and create a dialogue toward a more just future. With our intrepid spirit and eclectic, artist-driven approach we will continue to cultivate a local, national and global following with an insatiable appetite for audacious work. We provide unfettered creative opportunities for a community of artists of all backgrounds and abilities. We are committed to being a permanent safe harbor for unsafe and surprising work, offering a glimpse of the new and the next in American theatre. PERFORMANCES PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE MAGAZINE P11 P11
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BABBITT: DESIGNER'S NOTEBOOK WALT SPANGLER, SCENIC DESIGN As soon as I got the script and read that it’s set in a library, I started visiting libraries in person and online. When we landed upon the idea of a contemporary library, that seemed perfect, because one of the things that I love about Babbitt is how both the novel and the play begin with a celebration of skyscrapers. I liked the parallel to contemporary architecture in some libraries: wondrous, awe-inspiring spaces that suggest height. At the same time, this play has so many locations, and it became clear we wouldn’t have big set transitions, but something more fluid. It’s a very clean, modern space, and the furniture items that you see – a sofa, two armchairs, two ottomans, a couple of café tables, etc. – are the only things we’re using to create all the different locations. You can see the whole space the whole time, so we’re always aware of the present even when we’re in the past.
LINDA CHO, COSTUME DESIGN Our idea was that all the characters except for George Babbitt are contemporary patrons in the library, in everyday street clothes. We’re not trying to re-create history, we’re re-telling it, always rooted in the present day. When they embody different characters within the story, we add a costume piece or two that evokes the 1920s: white with an accent of blue. The reason I chose that color is I was struck by the part in the play when Babbitt is given a tie of a different shade of blue. It immediately made me think of the work of artist Yves Klein, who uses an intense, unearthly blue pigment in his work. The use of this color in his work makes you reexamine objects you thought knew and might take for granted. P12 you PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
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K
Some of Babbitt’s designers share their thoughts about creating a world in which the 1920s and the 2020s collide.
CHA SEE, LIGHTING DESIGN I can’t wait to dance with the music. There’s something about lighting and music, we can accelerate everything or slam on the brakes – there’s that movement on how fast or how slow we want to tell the scenes. Since Babbitt is about a series of rebellions against the status quo, I wanted to explore the idea of lighting as a form of rebellion, and rebellion for me means breaking the expectation of the spectators – if you think you know what’s about to happen, maybe you don’t?
MARK BENNETT AND WAYNE BARKER, ORIGINAL MUSIC We’re mind-melding a series of worlds in this show – it’s very exciting. There’s George’s fantasy world as he thinks about Tanis, the world of 1920s as heard from “needle drops” of period recordings and baked into our original music in that style. Then there’s a more contemporary scoring for the world of our library landscape and our readers, and how they can be musically woven into the story. In many sections in this show, the music acts as a container. A pulse carries us through scene transitions, with little hints of melodies as we move from one place to another, and it’s the world of suspension and fantasy that Babbitt finds himself drifting into. We’re using a combination of cinematic and musical theatre techniques that amplify the themes in Joe’s powerful script, but still staying in the world of “a play with music.” On a final note, this show is a delicious La Jolla Playhouse reunion for us! Back in 2010, Mark composed, and Wayne orchestrated, the score for the live chamber orchestra in Chris’s A Midsummer's Night Dream, and Wayne composed and performed the original live piano score for Joe’s and Chris’s Hollywood in 2016. We’re old pals and have been a part of a number of other Playhouse productions, workshops, and readings, but this is the first time we’re co-composing a score and we’ve had a great time! It’s lovely to be a creative duo working with Chris, Joe, our amazing design team and brilliant cast!
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P13
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LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHERI L. JAMIESON Chair
HONORARY TRUSTEES Peter Cowhey, Ph.D.
DENISE BEVERS First Vice-Chair
Ivan Gayler John Goodman Jeanne Jones Julie Potiker Steven M. Strauss* Geri Ann Warnke* Gary Wollberg* Robert Wright, Esq.
MICHAEL FLASTER Second Vice-Chair ANNIE ELLIS Secretary SCOTT M. STANTON, Mintz Treasurer
Top row: Randy Camp, Larry and Robin Rusinko, Rosemary Perlmeter and Dwight Hare; Ralph and Gail Bryan. Bottom row: (Back) Tim Scott, Debby Jacobs, Denise Bevers, Debby Buchholz, Christopher Ashley, (Front) Joan Jacobs, Irwin Jacobs; Michael Flaster, Rosanne Holliday, Debby Buchholz, Dean Haas and Steve Strauss
BOARD SPOTLIGHT
WHY I SUPPORT THE PLAYHOUSE I have been a subscriber to the Playhouse for many years and have had the privilege of serving as a member of the Board of Trustees. As a Trustee, I’ve had the unique experience of witnessing how theatre productions are developed — over years in many cases — and hearing from writers, directors and actors about their respect for and appreciation of the Playhouse as a catalyst for new work. The Playhouse’s multi-talented team is dedicated to bringing artists and the community together to inspire, challenge and uplift us. The enduring relationships that the Playhouse has fostered allows them to attract the best of the best, such as the team behind this extraordinary world-premiere play, Babbitt. The Playhouse also plays an important role in San Diego beyond the theatre walls. Programs such as the POP Tour and Without Walls (WOW) bring the theatre experience into the community to engage and motivate new audiences. The DNA New Work Series and teacher/ student workshops and residencies provide a supportive, educational environment for the development of artists and their work. In my mind, La Jolla Playhouse is a true San Diego treasure.
SUSAN DUBÉ LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE TRUSTEE P14 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
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TRUSTEES Christopher Ashley** Susan Gembrowski Baker** Michael Bartell Ralph Bryan* Debby Buchholz** Randy Camp Robert Caplan Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek
Ann Cathcart Chaplin Qualcomm
Randall Clark* Sempra
Mary Coleman** Stephen Coleman PNC Bank
Doug Dawson Edward A. Dennis, Ph.D. Brian Dovey (1941-2023) Susan Dubé Hal Dunning Emily Einhorn Ray Flores** Judy Garrett Justin Gleiberman Lynn E. Gorguze Luke Gulley, Show Imaging, Inc. Kay Gurtin Clark Guy
UC San Diego
Wright, L’Estrange & Ergastolo
EMERITUS TRUSTEES Rita Bronowski (1917-2010) David Copley (1952-2012) Ted Cranston (1940-2012) Milton Fredman (1920-2005) Ewart W. Goodwin, Jr.* (1938- 2019) Joel Holliday* (1939-2022) Jeffrey Ressler* (1943-2022) Marian Jones Longstreth (1906-1997) Hughes Potiker (1925-2005) Sheila Potiker (1930-2011) Ellen Revelle (1910-2009) Roger Revelle (1909-1991) Willard P. VanderLaan, M.D.* (1917-2012) Arthur Wagner, Ph.D. (1923-2015) Mandell Weiss (1891-1993) 1947 FOUNDERS Mel Ferrer Dorothy McGuire Gregory Peck *Past Chair of the Board **Ex-Officio List as of July 24, 2023
Bank of America Private Bank
Dean Haas Dwight Hare Osborn L. Hurston, US Bank Debby Jacobs Joan Jacobs Pradeep K. Khosla, Ph.D.** Chancellor, UC San Diego
Veronica Leff Bena Leslie** Lynelle Lynch* Margret McBride* Lorne Polger Karen A. Quiñones David I. Reynoso** Becky Robbins Shane Shelley, Morrison Foerster Karen Silberman Delicia Turner Sonnenberg** Suzi Sterner**, UC San Diego Andy Thomas, Evans Hotels Erin Trenda, Cooley, LLP Mary Walshok, Ph.D. UC San Diego
10/23/23 10:01 PM
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BABBITT PRODUCTION SPONSORS Laurie Gore and Julie Osman – Mission Valley Community Foundation
Babbitt is one of those novels that transcends its time to become timeless. The themes are refreshed with every generation. Babbitt can speak to our concerns, fears, and joys even after a century to force us to reflect on our own world view. We look forward to seeing it brought to stage with wit and enthusiasm.
Kay and Bill Gurtin
We are thrilled to sponsor Chris Ashley’s direction of the world premiere play, Babbitt. With a vivid tapestry of characters and strong book, this 100 year old story is timeless and it is uncanny how the themes are still fresh and relevant today. La Jolla Playhouse creates the “new and the next” even from a treasure like Lewis’ novel from the past.
Sheri L. Jamieson
As Chair of La Jolla Playhouse’s Board of Trustees, my north star is the promise we make in our mission statement: to be “a safe harbor for unsafe and surprising work.” That isn’t just deeply rooted in our core values, it reflects our commitment to understanding the human experience in new and relevant ways. I’m proud to be a sponsor of Babbitt, which re-unites Christopher Ashley and Joe DiPietro, a collaboration responsible for some of the most-loved Playhouse shows of the last fifteen years.
Karen and Jeff Silberman
It is our great pleasure to support this production of Babbitt, adapted from the Sinclair Lewis novel of the same name. We are great lovers of literature, as evidenced by our deep passion for another great San Diego nonprofit, Words Alive! The ability of books to help us view our world in new and different ways is exactly why Babbitt is the perfect merging of our passions, as this play reminds us that what is old is new again and new lessons can be gleaned from this story. This play is a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award which gives world premieres extra funds for an extended rehearsal time. The program rewards excellent scripts in the hope that with a more polished performance, they will join the American canon of frequently produced plays. Mintz is proud to partner with La Jolla Playhouse, and we applaud their commitment to developing new plays and musicals and to serving the community with award-winning education and outreach programs. Founded in Boston in 1933, our 600 attorneys span eight offices, including Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Toronto, ON, and Washington, D.C. Throughout them all, we are united with the same commitment to the highest quality legal services for clients large and small on their most important legal matters. From all of us at Mintz, thanks for supporting La Jolla Playhouse and enjoy the show! Morrison Foerster is proud to partner with La Jolla Playhouse, which brings people of all ages and backgrounds together to inspire discussion, experience new plays and musicals and serve the community with award-winning learning and engagement programs. Morrison Foerster offers a comprehensive platform of global legal services to clients, which include some of the largest financial institutions, Fortune 100 companies, and leading technology and life sciences companies. Morrison Foerster is honored to support La Jolla Playhouse’s work in the arts and we hope you enjoy the show. Univisión San Diego is a proud sponsor of La Jolla Playhouse, which welcomes directors, writers, actors in opening the doors to the arts and showcasing them to the community. It is an honor to support the development of the arts through the effort of everyone involved at La Jolla Playhouse.
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LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE CORPORATE CIRCLE SEASON SPONSORS
$25,000 +
$15,000 +
$10,000 +
$5,000 +
$2,500 + ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS FOUNDATION
IN-KIND AND MEDIA CIRCLE
CORPORATE MATCHING COMPANIES Astra Zeneca • Bank of America • Bristol Myers Squibb • Caterpillar • Goodrich • Google • Hewlett-Packard • IBM International • Intuit • Medtronic • Pfizer Qualcomm • Sempra Energy • Shell Oil Company Foundation • Texas Instruments • Union Bank • U.S. Bank • Walt Disney Company Foundation • Wells Fargo Opportunities for corporations to partner with La Jolla Playhouse are numerous and varied, each providing exclusive benefits and recognition. For information, please contact Corporate Relations Manager: James Skeet at jskeet@ljp.org List as of October 13, 2023
P16 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
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LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE: ANNUAL SUPPORT FROM INDIVIDUALS THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR'S CIRCLE - $100,000 AND ABOVE Roberta C. Baade Charitable Fund Theodor S. and Audrey S. Geisel Fund Hanna and Mark Gleiberman Kay and Bill Gurtin Jeanne L. Herberger, Ph.D. Debby and Hal Jacobs Joan and Irwin Jacobs Sheri L. Jamieson La Atalaya Fund Rebecca Moores Foundation Jordan Ressler Charitable Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation SEASON SPONSORS $50,000+ Weston Anson, in memory of Susan Bailey Anson Michael Bartell and Melissa Garfield Bartell Denise and Lon Bevers Gail and Ralph Bryan Brian and Silvija Devine Estate of Pauline Foster Laurie Gore and Julie Osman, Mission Valley Community Foundation Lynn Gorguze and Scott Peters Perlmeter Family Foundation Karen and Jeff Silberman Molli Wagner PLAYWRIGHTS CIRCLE $25,000+ The Paula Marie Black Endowment for Women's Voices in the Art of Theatre Doris and Peter Ellsworth, Legler Benbough Fund, San Diego Foundation Dwight Hare and Stephanie Bergsma Lynelle and William Lynch Maryanne and Irwin Pfister Peggy Ann Wallace
Pfizer Fargo
on.
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE $15,000+ Tony and Margaret Acampora Christopher Ashley and Ranjit Bahadur Stern Leichter Foundation Debby and Todd Buchholz Randy Camp and Susan Tousi Drs. Edward and Martha Dennis Elizabeth and Brian Dovey Susan E. Dubé Hal and Hilary Dunning Daniel and Emily Einhorn Annie and Charles Ellis The Fredman Family Michael and Susanna Flaster Bill and Judy Garrett Justin Gleiberman Jay Jeffcoat Jeff and Carolyn Levin Margret and Nevins McBride Lorne Polger and Lori Weiner Teresa and Byron Pollitt Becky Lynne Robbins Charitable Fund Robin and Larry Rusinko Tim and Emily Scott Mary Lindenstein Walshok, Ph.D. Philip and Margarita Wilkinson
DIRECTORS CIRCLE - $10,000+ Anonymous Joan and Jeremy Berg Gary and Barbara Blake Family Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation Pamela B. Burkholz Randall and Michael Clark Doug Dawson Jendy Dennis Endowment Fund Robin and Leo Eisenberg Family Dan and Phyllis Epstein JR and Terry Fox Wendy Gillespie Mrs. Ewart (Chip) Goodwin Dean J. Haas Rich and Kathi Henry Sherry and Larry Kline, Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Julie and Lowell Potiker Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation Brian and Paula Powers Judy Robbins Swanna and Alan Saltiel, Dan Cameron Family Foundation Pamela J. Wagner and Hans Tegebo CELEBRATION CIRCLE $5,000+ Anonymous Cindy and Steve Blumkin Robert Caplan and Carol Randolph Pamela and Edward Carnot Lisa and David Casey Gary and Marlene Cohen Leslie H. Coll Marty and Shel Diller Nina and Bob Doede Barbara Enberg Mrs. Valerie Ewell Armstrong and Mr. Sam Armstrong Drs. Bessie and Ron Floyd Fuson Family Fund at Schwab Charitable David Newman and Samantha Goldstein, The Jasada Foundation Beverly Goodman Starr and John Grundy David and Claire Guggenheim Gerald and Ingrid Hoffmeister Fund, The San Diego Foundation Rosanne and Joel* Holliday George and Maryka Hoover Doug and Gail Hutcheson Gina and Kent Johnson Rob and Kathy Jones Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Labowe, Labowe Family Foundation Brian and Joanna Leddin Veronica and Miguel Leff, Esq. Danya Lindenfeld, in memory of Jeffrey Ressler Patsy and David Marino Darlene and James Milligan, Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation Dr. Howard and Barbara Milstein Steve and Jerri Nagelberg Grant and Aradhna Oliphant, The Conrad Prebys Foundation Susan C. Parker Bernard Paul and Maria Sardina Karen Quiñones, The Quiñones Family Trust Gerry and Jeannie Ranglas Don and Stacy Rosenberg, Rosenberg Family Fund
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Rosenthal Family Fund, Commonwealth Charitable Foundation Dawn and Phil Rudolph Rick Sandstrom and Sandy Timmons Gad and Suzan Shaanan Dawn and Ira Smalberg Jeanette Stevens Iris and Matthew Strauss Elizabeth and Joseph Taft Revocable Trust Karen and Stuart Tanz Greta and Steve Treadgold Geri Ann Warnke Steven Strauss and Lise Wilson Richard Winkler Michael and Lisa Witz Diane and Robert Zeps ACTORS CIRCLE - $2,500+ Anonymous Dr. Kim E. Barrett Charles Bergan and Lisa Kanetake Liz Bernal and Suzanne LaTour Steve L. Black and Kristen Richards-Black Barbara L. Borden Julie Bronstein, The ARJ Fund of The San Diego Foundation Robert and Jaleh Brunst, Rancho Santa Fe Foundation Christa Burke John and Nancy Jo Cappetta Maureen and Lawrence Cavaiola Coral Courts Donor Advised Fund, Corinna Cotsen and Lee Rosenbaum Peter Cowhey and Margaret McKeown Ana De Vedia Marguerite Jackson Dill Karen B. Dow Inge Feinswog Dennis Field and Doug Galt Dr. Benjamin and Sue Frishberg Valerie and Gregory Frost Laura Galinson and Jodi Diamond Joyce M Gattas, Ph.D. Jim Gilmore Kimberly and Jeffrey Goldman Carrie and Jim Greenstein Julie Hall, Oklahoma City Community Foundation Judith and Chris Hamilton Koji and Angela Fukumura Nishma and John Held Dr. Warren and Karen Kessler Michael H Kossman Ms. Gale M. Krause, in memory of Jim Krause Linda Lenhard and Mark Kritchevsky Helen and Sig Kupka Dr. K.B Lim and Linda Lee Lim Foundation Sheila and Jeffrey Lipinsky and Family Lori and Joe Mahler Holley and Robert Martens, Sandstone Foundation Dennis A. McConnell Ilene Mittman, in memory of Dr. Charles Mittman Gregg and Cindy Motsenbocker Chandra Mukerji Arlene and Louis Navias Mark C. Niblack, MD Wendy S. Pincus
Janet and Larry Pollack Dr. Julie Prazich and Dr. Sara Rosenthal Jay and Julie Sarno Alan and Esther Siman Dr. Ed and Evelyn Singer Dr. Doris Trauner and Mr. Richard Stanford David and Tina Thomas Erin Trenda Jim and Kathy Waring Linda Rankin and Rod Whitlow Tanya Young and Dr. Michael McManus Howard and Judy Ziment Emma and Leo Zuckerman INNER CIRCLE - $1,000+ Anonymous Hon. Louise De Carl Adler Dede and Mike Alpert Lynell Antrim Stephen Miller Baird,MD and Carol Davidson Baird Francis and Diane Bardsley Barbara Y. Beebe Tina Belinsky, Ph.D. Joni and Miles Benickes Carolyn and Giovanni Bertussi Larry and Cindy Bloch Paige Bosacki Santos Michele Braatz John and Deborah Brincko Cheryl and Greg Carlson Kathleen and Joseph Carroll Gary and Lynette Cederquist Janet and Maarten Chrispeels Wayne Saville and Laura Colban Daniel E Collins and Nancy Shimamoto Stacy Cromidas and Ruth Gilbert Anne Daigle Denise and Gary David Wally and Linda Dieckmann Dr. Ralph B. Dilley and Brian Danielson Mark and Jenny Dowling Jacqueline and Stanley Drosch W. Byron and Pamela Dunn Dr. Robert and Mrs. Ann Dynes Toby Eisenberg Jennifer and Kurt Eve Karen and Steven Feitelberg Ray Flores Dr. Laurie Forrest Susan Forsburg and Lisa Churchill Maygan Fowler Robert and Mona Freels Catherine R. Friedman Jan and Helane Fronek Fran and Nick Frost, in memory of Joel Holliday Ira and Cheryl Gaines Steven and Cheryl Garfin Pat and Norm Gillespie Fred and Lisa Goldberg Drs. Tom and Cindy Goodman, In Honor of Whitney Goodman The Lloyd Gorcey Charitable Foundation, Inc. in memory of Lloyd Gorcey Bernard and Judith Greenspan Kendall Hall, Fred Jones Family Foundation Cherie Halladay Dr. Carol A. Harter and Mr. William D. Smith Marcia Hazan and Mark Cammell Jamie Henson and Robert Houskeeper
Diana and Michael Hill Ray and Kate Hong Osborn and Dea Hurston Nora Jaffe Neil and Vivien Joebchen Wendy Johnson Jeanne Jones Lewis and Patricia Judd David and Susan Kabakoff Angela and Matt Kilman Shirley King and Arthur Olson Jennifer Knisbell Samara and Paul Larson Frank and Jessica Lazarus Fund Michael Lee and Katharine Cline Arthur and Sandy Levinson Sally and Luis Maizel Edna and Daniel Maneval Jasna Markovac and Gary Miller Lisa Martinez and Jeff Harasha Valorie McClelland Bill and Mim McKenzie Rob McManus Dr. Ken Melville and Dr. Sabina Wallach Judith B. Morgan Ann L. Mound Stephen Cary Nagler Ann Nathan Lyn Nelson Dr. Walter Olsen and Dr. Zdenka Fronek F. Richard Pappas Drs. Kim Kerr and Paul Pearigen Lori and Kenneth Polin Family Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation Adele Rabin Dr. William and Marisa Rastetter Edward Richard, in memory of Warren P Kendrick-Richard Laura and RJ Romero Bingo and Gino Roncelli David A. Roth and Toni D. Wolinsky Joy Rottenstein Kristine and Denis Salmon Beverly Sanborn, in memory of Warren Sanborn Scarano Family Foundation at The San Diego Foundation Herb Schnall, In Memory of Ann Schnall Neil R. Senturia and Barbara Bry Teresa Shaffer Richard Shapiro and Marsha Janger Maureen Elizabeth Sheehan Mitchell and Elizabeth Siegler Dr. Robert Singer, in memory of Judith Harris Beth Sirull and Jon Shuster, Jewish Community Foundation Susan and Gerald Slavet Stacey Slichta Leslie Branman-Smith Rod and Dolores Smith John and Lynn Spafford Nancy and Alan Spector Dale and Mark Steele Michael and Pamela Swartout Stephanie and Alan Tarkington Marie Tartar and Steve Eilenberg Place D. Tegland Tom Templeton and Mary Ena Erlenborn Teresa Trucchi and Ray Lee CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P17
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LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE: ANNUAL SUPPORT FROM INDIVIDUALS Cynthia Walk Ruth Warburg Bobbi Warren Jo and Howard Weiner Graydon and Dorothy Wetzler Wayne Wilson Philip and Claire Wise Dr. Joseph Witztum and Ms. Mary Elinger Witztum Elaine Wolfe Howard and Christy Zatkin Barry and Barb Zemel the Helene and Allan Ziman Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation CENTER STAGE CLUB - $500+ Anonymous Robin Allgren, MD PhD Philip Anderson and Verónica Valdés Robert Baizer and Diane Jacobs Baizer Ginger and Ken Baldwin Mary and Jim Berglund, in memory of Joel Holliday Dusty and Lynn Bernard Anita Busquets and William Ladd Kyle Chan and Cathy Swindlehurst June Chocheles Kristen L. Churchill Sue Lasbury and John C. Cochran Denis M. Crane, in memory of Rilla Crane Bob Cunningham Don and Julie DeMent Beth and Stephen Doyne Bob Duffield James and Marti Eisenberg Ruth Elder Pamela Fair and Glen Sullivan Debroah and J Faulkner Paula Fitzgerald and Chris Nielsen Anne and Mark Smith Martha and Bill Gilmer Russell H Ginns Judi Gottschalk Stephen and Karen Gray Ed Greulich Terry Gulden and Renée Comeau Pat and Rick Harmetz Dana Harrel and Daniel Roemer Thomas Harvey and Bonnie Drolet Tom and Lynn Hawkins Dr. Peter and Mrs. Megan Hoagland Beth Hulsart and Stephen L'Heureux Kenneth Hunt Joyce Joseph Ginger Kantor Rick and Beth Kent Oskar and Judy Kirsten Jerry and Martha Krasne Karen Sage and Charles Laughlin Mick and Sherrie Laver Dixon and Pat Lee Rebecca Le Vasseur Zita Liebermensch Susan and Peter Mallory Scott Markus and Luci Lander Madonna Maxwell Omens Carol Mazzetti
Maggi McKerrow, in memory of Judie McDonald Christa McReynolds Ann Marie Miller Dr. and Mrs. Robert B Moore, in honor of Sheri L Jamieson Story Ann Moreno Esther R. Nahama Robert C. Nelson and Jean Fujisaki Robert Nelson and Suzanne Foucault Dr. William and Beth Penny Patrick and Evelyn Phillips Sheila and Ken Poggenburg Marc Poland and Ellie Werner Sanjiv Nanda and Urmi Ray Margaret Riel and Hugh Mehan Patrick Ritto Dr. Stephen and Cheryl Rockwood Jodyne Roseman Oliver Ryder Scott Sandel and James Marich John and Patricia Seiber Barbara and Guy Shaw Debbie and Dr. Darren Sigal Beverly and Howard Silldorf Leslie Simon Drs. Ron and Marilyn Simon Annie So Norman and Judith Solomon Gary and Susan Spoto Charles Stephens and Eric Meijer Nancy and Charles Stewart John and Gail Tauscher Kanani Titchen and Louis Seitchik Twardowski Family Chris and Rebecca Twomey Family Foundation Jennifer and Chris Wahl Ted Scott and Joan Weber Sharon Weremiuk Jean M Wilkinson Curry Wolfe Susan and Jock Wright Brendan and Kaye Wynne Debra Yellen OVATION CLUB - $250+ Anonymous Ladan Daneshmand Janet Ambrozek and Bruce Kimmich Rich and Mary Lou Amen Barbara and Charles Arledge Judith Bambace and Brian Trotier John Baril Beverly L. Bartlett The BenMichel Family Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation Michael Berg Arnold Berlin Gerlinde and Greg Beuerlein Nicholas and Samantha Binkley Eleanor and Harry Bluestein Peter and BJ Boland Deborah Booth Gregg Brandalise Cherisse Brantz Mary E. Brewer Alice W. Brown David Ingram Bruner Ruth Bunn
Burger Construction, Jack and Sue Burger Dr. and Mrs. Edgar D. Canada Rachel Caparelli Diane Clarke Judith Collier Bowers Jewelers Ambrose and Lucy Conroy Mary and Deni Cook Robert A Cooper Mary Corson Annette Cross Ronald L Diepenbrock Kim and A.T. Ditty Eric and Kristine Doan Virginia Dobias Anne and Chris Duhaime, in honor of Rebecca Duhaime Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Edelson Diane L. Edge DDS Barbara M. Finn Dieter Fischer's Mercedes Service, Inc. Lynsey Fitzpatrick Pamela and L. Michael Foley Gail Forbes Dr. Jim and Mrs. Jenna Foster Linda and Reginald Frank Pat Freeman Ellen Fujikawa Aruna and Sabodh Garg Diana and Murphy Glimm Michael and Brenda Goldbaum Lawrence Goldstone Lloyd and Dinia Green Harry Griswold and Stephanie Webber Pat and Pepper Guevara Rick and Tory Gulley Bettina Hahn Osborne Elsa and Keith Hall Diana and Dan Halvorson Prof Marc and Mr James Harden Blake Harper and Janice Deaton Nancy Hartley Margo Hebald Jerry and Linda Hirshberg Claudia Baranowski and Tom Horvath Hughes Family Foundation, in memory of Shannon Lisk Jenny Price and Tony Hunter Eric and Gay Hybertsen Randy and Carrol Jackson Dr Craig M and Mrs Beth Jackson Mark Jacobs Eric Juline George and Susan Kaplan, in memory of Jeffrey Ressler Michael and Linda Karin Cecil Keener and Cristie McGuire Mike Krupp Anne M and Richard C Kruse Robert and Elena Kucinski Alexis Lasheras Dr. and Mrs. Steven Leshaw Bena Leslie Pamela Hamilton Lester B. Leonard Levy Marshall and Judy Lewis Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation John Lomac and Jill Schmidt Eric and Lori Longstreet Barbara and Mathew Loonin Johnny Mah Russell Mangerie
Ann Manring Andrea and Michael Markopoulos Edith Matsushita Wallace McCloskey and Lynn Dolby Roger and Kristine McClung David and Patricia Meyers Eric and Laura Michelsen Norma and Scott Miller Pamela Miller Craig and Betsy Monsell Kelly and Mike Moore Elizabeth Morgante Greg and Andrea Moser Susan Muha Daniel Normandin, in memory of Brad Normandin Tanya and Thomas O'Donnell Phyllis and Jerrold Olefsky Bonnie Packert Beatrice E. Pardo Carol Parker Drs. Genevieve and Kelly Parsons Pamela Partlow and Bruce Maigatter John and Paula Peeling Kathleen Rae Cynthia and Gilbert Raff Richard and Paula Renkin David and Melissa Rewolinski Russ and Marty Ries Mark and Lia Robinson Joan Rothenberg Richard Roy and Celsa Spina George and Karen Sachs Frankie and Howard Schiffman Elizabeth Segil Amy Selich Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Selzer Dr. Morton and Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz Barbara Slater Ray Stainback Sylvia Steding and Roger Thieme Lisa Noelle Stone and Matthew A. Lab Tom and Patricia Stuart Mark and Christine Stuhmer Judy Sweet Alison Thomas Edward L. Threat, In Memory of Karin U. Threat Andrea Migdal and Mike Tierney Anne Walter Audrey and Byron WarfieldGraham Diane and John Watson Peter and Donna Worcester GALA 2023 SUPPORTERS Lisa and Steven Altman Wes Anson Jan and David Arnold Ascent Private Capital Management Christopher Ashley and Ranjit Bahadur Roberta Baade Bank of America Melissa and Michael Bartell Mary and Rolf Benirschke Eric Benson Cathy and Marc Bern Denise and Lon Bevers Barbara Borden Nancy and Matt Browar
Gail and Ralph Bryan Debby and Todd Buchholz Jacolyn and John Bucksbaum Pamela Burkholz Susan Tousi and Randy Camp Carol Randolph and Robert Caplan Lisa and David Casey Diana Loo and Ted Chan Ann Cathcart Chaplin Teresa Chartz Mary and Adam Cherry Kim and Richard Chesbrough CIBC Private Capital Management Lee Clark and Jerry Pikolysky Evan Clark Randy and Michael Clark Diane Clarke Liz and Dan Coden Karen and Don Cohn Jamie Colby and James Richardson Amy Corton and Carl Eibl Margaret McKeown and Peter Cowhey Doug Dawson Martha and Ed Dennis Susan and John DeNuzzio Silvija and Brian Devine Linda and Richard Dicker Jennifer Kagnoff and Brett Dickinson Jodi and Tom Dobron Betty and Brian Dovey Duane Morris LLP Susan Dubé Hilary and Hal Dunning Emily and Dan Einhorn Annie and Charles Ellis Margo Emami and Ed Lizano Marianne and Robert Engle Jill and Jeffrey Essakow Teri and Tom Evons Lori and Alvin Faierman Sonali and Eric Fain Dennis Field and Doug Galt Susanna and Michael Flaster Gail Fliesbach Geri Ann Warnke and Donald Frey Annette and Eddy Friedlein Brent Garcia and Alex Yanez Judy and Bill Garrett Joyce Gattas Kathy and Gregg Glaser Hanna and Mark Gleiberman Marleigh and Alan Gleicher Lynn Gorguze and Scott Peters Luke Gulley Grant Gurtin Kay* and Bill Gurtin Liza Gurtin Dean Haas Sheri Hallis Stephanie Bergsma and Dwight Hare Betty Hellstrom Jeanne Herberger Tammy and Larry Hershfield Pat and Robert Hughes Dea and Osborn Hurston Hilary and Selwyn Isakow Amy and Adam Jacobs Conner Jacobs Debby* and Hal Jacobs Annie and Jeff Jacobs CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
P18 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
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LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE: ANNUAL SUPPORT FROM INDIVIDUALS Jess Jacobs Joan and Irwin Jacobs Lindsey Jacobs Geneviève and Paul Jacobs Stacy Jacobs Sheri Jamieson Jay Jeffcoat Jewish Community Foundation Rise Johnson Jeanne Jones Samantha Keil Kali and Paul Kim Doug Kimmelman Amy and Bill Koman Evelyn and Bill Lamden Joy and Eric Laws Veronica and Miguel Leff Karen and Mark Leibowitz Lisa and Gary Levine Diana and Eliezer Lombrozo Lynelle and Bill Lynch Leilani Macedo Catherina and Michael Madani David Marchesani Patsy and David Marino
Margret and Nevins McBride Lisa and Richard Merage Silvana and Alberto Michan Glenn Miller Alice Mitchell Christy and Alan Molasky Emily Cole and Amanda Montgomery Alison Moore Becky Moores Marci and Ronnie Morgan Cheryl and Bill Naumann Margo and James Nederlander Nordstrom Diane and Randy Orley Pathfinder Partners Lisa and Chris Pedersen Monica and Ron Perlman PNC Bank Lorne Polger Teresa and Byron Pollitt Lee and Stuart Posnock Julie and Lowell Potiker Qualcomm Jeannie and Gerry Ranglas
Clare Redlinger Vanessa and Gary Ressler Vivien Ressler Sharon and Christopher Rhodes Becky Robbins Tammy and Cameron Rooke Marilyn and Michael Rosen Marti and Adam Rosenberg Stacy and Don Rosenberg Michael Rosenberg Laleh Roudi Colette and Ivor Royston Robin and Larry Rusinko Lynn Schenk Alex Seaver Christy and Ron Seaver Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek Sempra Energy Marsha and Mickey Shahon Jeffrey and Karen Silberman Elizabeth Simmons and Sekhar Chivukula Leslie Simon Robert Singer Miriam and David Smotrich
Spielman Family Foundation Scott Stanton Bob Steck Amanda and Rob Stewart Iris and Matt Strauss Lise Wilson and Steve Strauss Carol and Mark Tager Karen and Stuart Tanz Rachel and Doug Timmons Erin Trenda and Nick Ennis Debbie Turner UC San Diego UC San Diego Health Van Cleef & Arpels Carrie and Victor Vilaplana Pamela Wagner and Hans Tegebo Mary Walshok Nolan Weinberg Pattie and Jed Weinberg Wells Fargo Sheryl and Harvey White Margarita and Philip Wilkinson Jill and Bruno Wolfenzon
Meryl and George Young Debbie Zeligson *Gala Co-Chair
Reflects giving to annual fund from 4/1/22 – 9/29/23. We apologize for any errors or accidental omissions. Please contact the Individual Giving Office at (858) 550-1070 x134 if you would like to change your listing.
IN LOVING MEMORY Jordan Ressler, 1981-2004 A Film and Theatre graduate from Cornell University, Jordan was an adventurer with a passion for the arts. Here at La Jolla Playhouse, he served as an assistant to Des McAnuff on Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays and was the script supervisor for Jersey Boys. The Jordan Ressler Charitable Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation was established by his parents, Vivien and Jeffrey Ressler, to honor their son and his love of theatre and film.
IN MEMORIAM BRIAN DOVEY Brian Dovey was a long-time Playhouse Trustee who served on the Finance and Nominating Committees. Since 1998, Brian had been a partner at the venture capital firm Domain Associates, where he led investments in hundreds of innovative pharmaceutical and life sciences companies. In addition to the Playhouse, he served on the boards of numerous educational, research and non-profit organizations, including the Scripps Research Institute, the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. He and his wife Betty split their time between La Jolla and Philadelphia. Brian was always present and available for the Playhouse – a steady and constant supporter of our art and our mission, and we will dearly miss his good humor, curiosity and enormous intelligence. PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P19
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LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT $100,000 +
$50,000 - $99,999
$5,000 - $9,999
National Alliance for Musical Theatre John and Marcia Price Family Foundation
$1,000 - $4,999
Mandell Weiss Charitable Trust
$25,000 - $49,999
County of San Diego Laurents / Hatcher Foundation National Endowment for the Arts
$10,000 - $24,999
David C. Copley Foundation Dutch Culture USA Peggy and Robert Matthews Foundation Price Philanthropies Foundation San Diego Scottish Rite Community Foundation Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation
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City of Carlsbad’s Cultural Arts Office Samuel I. & John Henry Fox Foundation Netherland-America Foundation Arthur and Jeanette Pratt Memorial Fund San Diego County Employees’ Charitable Organization Sutherland Foundation Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF)
$250 - $999
Actors' Equity Foundation
In-Kind
Gary Sinise Foundation List as of September 15, 2023
10/23/23 10:02 PM
LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS Lead Supporters: California Arts Council | Qualcomm Foundation | San Diego Foundation
Community Programs The Playhouse partners with members of local affinity groups to create productions for, by, with and in the communities we serve. In addition, we provide creative opportunities for artistic development and growth for various community groups.
In-School Programs The Playhouse partners with school districts across San Diego County to place professional teaching artists in schools for intensive artist residencies aimed at providing young people with meaningful opportunities to learn about theatre. Through the Kennedy Center’s Partner in Education program, the San Diego County Office of Education and LJP team up to provide professional development for educators on how to enhance their existing lessons with theatre strategies.
JumpStart Theatre This three-year program provides curriculum and mentorship for a team of middle school teachers to produce musicals in their schools for the first time. After three years, the school receives continued support to maintain a viable theatre program. Supported by the Peggy and Roberts Matthews Foundation and the Sutherland Foundation.
Performance Outreach Program (POP) Tour Each year, the Playhouse commissions a new play that addresses real concerns of today’s youth and brings a professional production to schools and community centers across San Diego County. Supported by US Bank. Residencies and Partnerships • UCSD MFA Residencies: 3rd-year UCSD MFA students participate in a residency within the Playhouse’s 6-show season. • Resident Theatre Company: The Playhouse annually provides an artistic home and resources to a local theatre without a permanent space of their own. • Good Neighbor Partnerships: The Playhouse offers opportunities to artists, theatre companies and collectives to use our spaces and resources for special projects that may not be possible without outside support.
Student Matinees Special student matinees of selected mainstage productions are offered throughout the school year. An online engagement guide, pre- or post-show workshops, and a post-show talkback provides a deeper understanding on how a new play is uniquely developed with Playhouse staff. Supported by California Arts Council. Young Performers’ Conservatory (YPC) A 5-week intensive that prepares actors for serious college theatre programs; and Tech Theatre, which introduces young people to the various aspects of technical theatre. Supported by the Jordan Ressler Endowment Fund, and the Roberto Quiñones, Jr. Scholarship Fund.
Spotlight On Playhouse teaching artists lead classes for adults on Improv, Musical Theatre, Acting and Technical Theatre.
For more information on La Jolla Playhouse’s Learning & Engagement Programs, please email learningandengagement@ljp.org PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P21 and view our free resources for educators and families on our website.
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UP NEXT
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PATRON SERVICES ACCESSIBILITY
CONCESSIONS AND DINING
PARKING AND SHUTTLES For the latest parking and shuttle information, please go to lajollaplayhouse.org/parking
Designated wheelchair-accessible seating is available and accessible parking is provided by UC San Diego in the South Parking Structure (formerly known as Osler). Wheelchair seat locations are available for wheelchair users and a companion. Additionally, a golf cart is available to assist patrons with accessibility needs to and from the drop-off location. You may pull into the Passenger/Ride Share DropOff area and a greeter will assist you. The Playhouse offers assisted listening devices free of charge at the Patron Information Booth for any patron who would like amplified sound (subject to availability). Please provide a credit card or ID for temporary deposit.
Start your night off right with bar and concessions service from James' Place: serving beer, wine, sodas and individually-wrapped snacks. Additionally, James’ Place provides dining service starting at 5:00pm before evening performances.
PATRON SERVICES is located in the lobby or courtyard of each theatre. A volunteer is available to distribute assisted listening devices and answer questions.
COVID-19 SAFETY
PHOTOGRAPHY/RECORDING DEVICES Photography and video or audio recording of performances is strictly prohibited.
Listening Devices Provided in Part by
CHILDREN under the age of 6 are not permitted in the theatre during performances unless otherwise posted. Unaccompanied minors ages 12 and under are not permitted in the theatre. Out of respect for fellow audience members and the performers, babes in arms are not permitted in the theatre during performances.
The Playhouse continues to follow guidelines and strategies provided by San Diego County, California Department of Public Health, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for all in-person activities. Please go to lajollaplayhouse.org/ healthandsafety for our latest policy updates.
LATE SEATING Should you arrive late for any performance or need to leave your seat during the performance, you may be asked to wait in the lobby until an appropriate moment. To minimize any disturbance to actors or other patrons, you may stand or be seated in the first available location by House Management even if not your assigned location. Please be advised that some performances may not allow for late seating or return to your assigned seat.
PLEASE SILENCE or turn off all electronic devices, including cell phones and watches, before the performance. SAFETY IN THE THEATRE DISTRICT La Jolla Playhouse is constantly working with UC San Diego Police Department and Transportation and Parking Services to maintain a safe and secure environment in the parking lots. Patrons are welcome to use the UC San Diego escort service by contacting UC San Diego Community Service Officers (CSOs) at (858) 534-9255 (WALK). Further questions regarding security, please contact UC San Diego Police at (858) 534-4357 (HELP).
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P23
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LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
Christopher Ashley* The Rich Family Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse
STAFF
ARTISTIC Executive Producer Eric Keen-Louie Director of Artistic Development Gabriel Greene* Director of Experiences and Activations Mia Fiorella* Associate Producer Amy Ashton Executive Assistant to Christopher Ashley Rick VanNoy* Director Emeritus Des McAnuff Directing Fellow Kat Yen Artistic Interns Lauren Dong, Xiaoyu (Mary) Liu Commissioned Artists Todd Almond, Jeff Augustin, Keith Bunin, Sam Chanse, Fernanda Coppel, Kristoffer Diaz, Ava Geyer, Idris Goodwin, Mike Lew, Rehana Lew Mirza, Martyna Majok, Mona Mansour, Jess McLeod, MILCK, Lisa Peterson, Theresa Rebeck, Harrison David Rivers, Claudia Shear, Christopher Shinn, Octavio Solis, Benjamin Velez, Keith Wallace, Cheryl L. West, Kristina Wong, Lauren Yee Artist-in-Residence Maria Patrice Amon Theater-in-Residence Common Ground Theatre LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT Director of Learning Bridget Cavaiola Stone Director of Arts Engagement and In-House Casting Jacole Kitchen Learning and Engagement Manager Hannah Reinert Learning and Engagement Coordinator Danniel Ureña Learning and Engagement Intern Elena Sanchez Teaching Artists Julie Benitez, Lex Bezdeka, Desireé Clarke, Leticia De Anda, Farah Dinga, Shairi Engle, Kristen Fogle, Shawn Foote, Melissa Glasgow, Kirsten Giard, Jeffrey Ingman, Justin Lang, Grace Lehman, Wilfred Paloma, Vanessa Reibel, Kimberly Ross, Lorena Santana, Mike Sears, Gill Sotu, Emily Stamets, Marjorie Treger, Katie Turner, Bex Walker ASL Interpreters Lynn Ann Garrett, Anelia Glebocki, Candace Gordon, Billieanne McLellan, Geovanny Peña ASL Volunteer Esther Shen Audio Describers Mernie Aste, Brian Berlau, Tina Dyer, Shari Lyon, Deborah Sanborn, Sylvia Southerland, Michele Dixon, Lisa Illiana, Laurielynn Barnett ADMINISTRATION General Manager Ryan Meisheid Associate General Manager Erica Martin General Management Intern Emma Pollet Corporate/Legal Counsel Robert C. Wright, Wright & L’Estrange Theatre/Legal Counsel F. Richard Pappas, Esq. COMPANY MANAGEMENT Assistant Company Manager Mia Apalategui Company Management Assistants Grace Lehman, Austin Mahn Company Management Intern Angelica Garcia FINANCE Chief Financial Officer Laura Killmer Controller Jared Jackson Accounts Payable Manager Sharon Ratelle* Human Resources Manager Jennifer Boaz Payroll Matthew Zapata
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COMMUNICATIONS Director of Public Relations Becky Biegelsen* Director of Sales & Marketing Stephanie Zappala Associate Director of Sales & Marketing Sonia Diaz Interim Associate Director of Sales & Marketing Amanda Cantlin Communications Manager Grace Madamba* Senior Multimedia Designer Nancy Showers* Multimedia Designer Phyllis Sa Marketing Manager Kevin Taylor Social Media and Content Manager Samantha Laurent Marketing Database Analyst Dani Meister Marketing Assistant Mia Van Deloo Marketing and Communications Intern Katelin Shum Patron Services Sales Specialist Paul Preston* Sales Concierge William Guiney PATRON SERVICES Associate Director of Ticketing Services Pearl Hang* Senior Patron Services Manager Travis Guss* Patron Services Assistant Manager/Group Sales Specialist Bill Washington Lead Patron Services Representatives Rachel Lasker, Claire Michael Patron Services Representatives Kita Barrientos, Devon Gonzales, Atalaya Gonzalez OPERATIONS Director of Operations Ned Collins* Operations Manager John Craft* Network Systems Specialist Daryl “Scooter” Davis Office Administrator Amanda Casachahua FRONT OF HOUSE House Manager Braulio Fernandez-Flores Assistant House Managers Simonne Darbonne, Hannah Johnson, Emily Klemmetsen, Amy Marquez, Maria Torpey Audience Concierges Sara Delgado, Chris Ferreria, Katana Fox, Sashank Kanchustambam, Sam Lebedev, Angela Park, Teya Searles, Avery Simonian, Nare Terzyan, Mia Van Deloo PHILANTHROPY Director of Philanthropy Julia B. Foster Associate Director of Philanthropy Keely Daximillion Assistant Director of Philanthropy, Institutional Giving Rebecca Pierce Goodman Senior Manager, Philanthropy Operations Tony Dixon Special Events Manager Nil Noyan Corporate Relations Manager James Skeet Senior Coordinator, Institutional Giving Lyla Iannaccone Senior Coordinator, Stewardship Dominique Kaestner Senior Coordinator, Special Events Katie Wallace-Coppo Philanthropy Assistant Sam Dedal Philanthropy/Special Events Intern Aaronne LouisCharles
* Ten years or more with La Jolla Playhouse
@lajollaplayhouse
@LJPlayhouse
Debby Buchholz* Managing Director of La Jolla Playhouse PRODUCTION Senior Production Manager Benjamin Seibert Production Manager Becca Duhaime Assistant Production Manager Dacia Samilo Production Office Manager Caren Heintzelman Production/Stage Management Intern Olivia Huntley SCENE SHOP Scenery Supervisor Jonathan Gilmer Scenery Supervisor Kyle Pollitt Scenery Specialist David Weiner* Shop Foreman Christopher Chauvet Lead Stage Carpenter Molly Whittaker Production Carpenter Nicholas Savage Carpenters Michael Brodsky, Joel De La Torre, Jason Foster, Ryan Gordon, Keegan Graham, Nicholas Jackson, Marcus Laskey, Logan Little, Richard Madrigal, Nicholas Savage, Tanner Sohnleitner, Alex Torretti, Wally Wallace Charge Artist Jennifer Imbler Scenic Painters Caroline Kvaas, Marie Mateo, Melissa Nalbach, Courtney Ware PROPERTIES SHOP Prop Supervisor Deb Hatch* Prop Design Associate Zlatko Mitev Prop Lead Artisan Rai Feltmann Prop Artisan McKenzie Kiser, Ryan Lewis COSTUME SHOP Costume Supervisor Jennifer Ables Resident Costume Design Assistant Desiree Hatfield-Buckley* Costume Office Assistant Rebecca Rankin Costume Office Assistant Claire Peterson Draper Sara Lindsey First Hand Keira McGee Lead Crafts Artisan Tess Mattraw Stitchers Stephanie Gift, Sonya Levin, Faith Steenberger Wardrobe Supervisor Junior Bergman Hair/Make Up Supervisor Alberto “Albee” Alvarado ELECTRICS Production Electrician Kristyn Kennedy* Electricians Michelle Aguilar, Xavier Luevano, Jazzy Birdsong, Kevin Orlof, Jenner Price, Sandra Navarro, Arlene Banuelos, Michelle Luongo, Delaney McCowen, Hannah Beerfas SOUND/VIDEO Sound/Video Supervisor Dan Barsky Head of Sound Department Daniel Silva Sound Technicians Camille Houze, Mae Le, Alfredo Madrigal, Jeremy Nelson Video Tom Martinez BABBITT CREW Production Carpenter Michael Brodsky Automation Nicholas Savage Prop Runner (Lead) Kevyn Fernandez Prop Runner Isabella Horie Wardrobe Supervisor Junior Bergman Wig Supervisor Kim Parker Dressers Anna Campbell, Kate Morton, Miranda Sieber Swing Dresser Faith Steenberger Light Board Operator Michelle Aguilar Sound Engineer Daniel Silva A2 Mae Le Moving Light Programmer Meike Schmidt
LaJollaPlayhouse1947
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Perfect Pitch
Hilton San Diego Bayfront is a proud partner of The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park and we’re celebrating our 15th anniversary this fall. Stay with us on our Perfect Pitch Package the next time you enjoy an event at The Shell and enjoy complimentary parking and a $50 dining credit at Hudson & Nash.
hiltonsandiegobayfront.com 619.564.3333
SAN DIEGO BAYFRONT
Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Based on availability and length of stay. Please request the “Perfect Pitch” offer or plan code “P8”. Includes self-parking for one (1) vehicle per night and a $50 dining credit at Hudson & Nash per stay. A daily mandatory Destination Charge will be added to the room rate and includes: Premium WiFi; $15 daily food and beverage credit; 1-hour bike or kayak rental; bike locker rental; transportation to Coronado Island and beach; PressReader access; one reusable water bottle per registered guest. Not valid for groups. 72-hour cancellation policy.
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TRAVEL
SOJOURN TO SEDONA Simply put, Sedona, Arizona is a natural wonder. From its majestic red sandstone buttes that rise to meet a brilliant blue, cloud-tinged sky that stretches seemingly forever, to its dense pine forests, to its jaw-dropping, precipitous canyons—all of which are heaven for hikers and rock climbers—Sedona is considered by many to be a spiritual, even sacred place. Then there’s the town itself—a quaint campus of pueblo-style buildings housing
more than 40 art galleries, New Age shops, spas, wellness retreats and dining; along with nearby wineries and vineyards. With an elevation of roughly 4,300 feet and a mild, high-desert climate, Sedona lends itself to activities centered on the arts and the outdoors all year-round. Here are a few of my favorite reasons to visit. A cultural hub, Sedona hosts some fabulous festivals. The 30th annual Sedona International Film Festival,
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Arizona’s respite for stunning scenery, art and culture shines year-round. / by sarah daoust /
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2023/24 SEASON TICKETS START AT $25!
A Heartwarming Harmony of Mariachi and Opera
L'Auberge de Sedona
WHERE HOLIDAY MEMORIES UNFOLD AND MIRACLES TAKE FLIGHT
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t/
(sedonafilmfestival.org) Feb. 24-March 3, 2024, celebrates the best independent films from across the globe—with 160-plus movies being screened, filmmaker and celebrity appearances, and parties.
SAN DIEGO CIVIC THEATRE | DEC 1 & 3 | 2023 Sung in Spanish with English and Spanish text projected above the stage.
VISIT SDOPERA.ORG OR CALL PATRON SERVICES 619-533-7000
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Screenings take place at the popular Mary D. Fisher Theatre and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre. The Sedona Film Festival also presents the “Met Live Opera: Live in HD” series for the 2023-24 season, with live opera productions screened via satellite throughout the winter and spring, culminating with Puccini’s spellbinding opera Madama Butterfly next May. (See the film festival’s website for the full list of performances and dates.)
Also in full swing now (November) through April 2024: Chamber Music Sedona (chambermusicsedona.org), which is known for its classical music concerts comprising some of the world’s finest chamber musicians. The outfit celebrates its 41st anniversary season at the Sedona Performing Arts Center with a series of boutique concerts and salons—culminating with a duo performance by saxophonist Steven Banks and pianist Xak Bjerken on
April 28, 2024. And plan now for next year’s Sedona Winefest (sedonawinefest.com), slated for late September 2024—featuring wines from across Arizona, cuisine from local restaurants and live music at the historical Posse Grounds Park in the heart of town. There’s also the Sedona Arts Festival (sedonaartsfestival.org), scheduled for early October 2024, showcasing works by nearly 130 artists on the Sedona Red Rock High
School campus; along with a kids' art zone and a gourmet food gallery. An artsy must-visit, the Sedona Arts Center (sedonaartscenter.org) in town is a one-stop shop for one-of-a-kind finds. The fine art gallery and store showcases works by local artists—from paintings to sculptures to jewelry, fiber arts and photography—and hosts art classes, workshops, field exhibitions and exhibits year-round; as well as myriad special
EDWARD M. PRESTON
TRAVEL
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From top: Wet Beaver Wilderness, located south of Sedona; art for the film Accidental Truth, slated to be screened at the Sedona International Film Festival.
EDWARD M. PRESTON
George F. Babbitt is a middle-aged real estate broker in the Midwestern city of Zenith. By day, he has a respectable middle-class existence. By night, he’s plagued by the thought that he has amounted to nothing. Searching for more meaning to life, Babbitt leaps with abandon into a spectacular rebellion — one that could end up costing him everything.
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TRAVEL
The main lodge at L'Auberge de Sedona
arresting views of red sandstone canyons and rock formations at every turn. Nearby, the iconic Cathedral Rock offers its own steep hikes to the top if you dare. Just south of
Sedona, Bell Rock, with its jagged, bell-shaped layers and burnt red hues, is a popular destination and photo op, with a relatively easier hike to reach it. Lodging in Sedona
includes boutique hotels and five-star resorts. L’Auberge de Sedona (lauberge.com) is a favorite, nestled in the heart of red rock country on the banks of Oak Creek. Get
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events such as “Celebrate Sedona!,” held monthly. The Sedona Plein Air Festival (sedonapleinairfestival.org) is its signature annual event, slated for late October 2024. Watch more than two dozen master painters in action; along with a juried art competition, lectures, workshops and free community events. For nature seekers, Red Rock State Park is the epitome of the great outdoors. Living up to its name, the 286-acre nature preserve is home to hiking, biking and equestrian trails that deliver
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pampered at the natureinspired L’Apothecary Spa; enjoy alfresco fine dining at Cress on Oak Creek; and rest your head on luxury linens inside a posh cottage with every amenity imaginable (many have outdoor showers and fireplaces). In the morning, feed the ducks along the creek, take a complimentary yoga class, and go exploring amid the striking Sedona scenery just steps away. A truly magical escape, Enchantment Resort (enchantmentresort.com) just outside Sedona sits in (yes, in) Boynton Canyon, on more than 70 pristine acres surrounded by rugged red rock. Embracing the area’s Native American history and culture, the adobe-style resort offers film screenings about the Apache, Navajo, Hopi and Yavapai people; plus, solstice celebrations and the educational Camp Coyote program for kids. Enchantment also offers mountain biking, tennis, guided tours and hikes, golf, the Mii Amo Spa (voted the No. 1 “Domestic Destination Spa” by Travel + Leisure), four world-class restaurants and a wine bar. Accommodations include lavish casitas with private decks perfect for catching the sunset and stargazing over the canyon. You may never want to leave.
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CHARLES DICKENS’ TIMELESS TALE OF HOPE AND REDEMPTION.
A Holiday Tradition
!
A CHRISTMAS CAROL Adapted Adaptedand andDirected Directedby bySean SeanMurray Murray Score by Billy Thompson Score by Billy Thompson Musical MusicalDirection Directionby byPatrick PatrickMarion Marion
Dec. Dec.11--Dec. Dec.30, 30,2023 2023
Tickets: 619.337.1525 www.cygnettheatre.org
10/12/23 8:27 PM
F EA TURE
THE GLASS MENAGERIE TS TICKE T A T STAR 0 2 $
The mother of queer classics, this nostalgic story of love, regret, and letting go introduced a young Tennessee Williams to the world. This poetic and compelling memory play comes to stirring life at Diversionary for the first time, posing the question: What is the cost of personal freedom?
BOOK YOUR TICKETS TODAY: 619.220.0097 DIVERSIONARY.ORG
4545 PARK BOULEVARD, UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, SAN DIEGO
CONT’D. FROM PAGE 15
thing.’ And I thought, honestly, this is the perfect character for Matthew at this stage in his life—a sardonic, dry guy having a midlife crisis, who reacts in surprising ways.” Broderick agrees this is not a play he would have done when he was younger. “What happens to Babbitt happens when you’re at an age when you’re already stuck,” says the 61-year-old actor. “It feels like it’s too late to redo everything at this stage in life. It wouldn’t have felt right to play this part when I was in my 30s.” Ashley—who has been friends with Broderick since he directed Broderick’s wife, Sarah Jessica Parker, in 2001 in Wonder of the World at the Manhattan Theatre Club—says he was looking for opportunities to work with him since they
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COURTESY LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
By Tennessee Williams Directed by Lisa Berger
COURTESY LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
The talented cast of Babbitt. The world-premiere play runs Nov. 7-Dec. 3 at Mandell Weiss Theatre.
first met. “Matthew is so smart and fun to be with. He is unafraid to be everyman,” Ashley says. “He enjoys not being the red carpet guy, but being the regular Joe. He doesn’t need to look like the hero all the time. And he can be funny in such a dry way. I think people will be surprised how funny the play is, even as the script also digs for the humanity of the characters.” “Although the novel was written about the culture of the 1920s, things don’t really change that much or at all,” adds Broderick. “There is still this conflict of fitting in and doing your job, being a good husband and homeowner. One day you think, ‘I don’t want to take care of everything anymore. I have other ideas!’ Babbitt takes a step PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 25
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San Diego Holiday Classic!
F EA TURE
Music by Vince Guaraldi, arranged by Peter Sprague
DECEMBER 15 & 16 @THE CONRAD camarada.org
outside what his community decides he’s supposed to be, and his world falls apart.” Broderick may be best known as a film actor, with hits in every decade since the ’80s—from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Wargames and Ladyhawke; to Inspector Gadget and the voice of Simba in The Lion King. But he is also a committed stage actor who has been nominated for, and won, acting awards in every decade since he started working in the early 1980s. To this day, he’s still the youngest actor to win the Tony Award for “Best Featured Actor in a Play” (at age 21 for Brighton Beach Memoirs). “My career started in both fields, and then I got to a place where I could do back-to-back films, but I started to miss the theater,” says Broderick.
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Mandell Weiss Theatre
“Particularly as I get older, I find it’s easier for me to find material from the theater. As much as I enjoy filming, and I really do, there’s something about being in front of an actual audience and doing the whole thing all at once that is just a great experience, and I begin to miss it. If you’re in a play, as opposed to shooting a movie, right there and then you get the immediate reaction—you’re done, people cheer, you’re sweaty, and you feel like you did something.” In addition to theatrical awards, Broderick has been nominated more than once for his film work by the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild. His second Tony Award came in 1995 for How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying—a revival that premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse,
2023 76th Season Performances.pdf
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Nrityag ram Ense Danc mb e le
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“If you’re in a play, as opposed to shooting a movie, right there and then you get the immediate reaction— you’re done, people cheer, you’re sweaty and you feel like you did something.”
“Matthew is such an interesting combination of the light and the dark,” says Ashley. “In rehears als, he has an amazing nose for the unexpect ed—the ways in which his characters are such complicated people—with aspects about them to
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directed by Des McAnuff, before heading to Broadway. At the time, L.A. Times critic Laurie Winer wrote, “Matthew Broderick uses his famous tentativeness to create a comic timing and a Finch all his own—one whose backstabbing is a complete pleasure to behold.”
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admire or that are disappointing.” Although the character of Babbitt was created more than a hundred years ago, DiPietro says, “it’s stunningly prescient. Babbitt is not particularly political, but he embraces very extreme political views that suddenly appeal to the zeitgeist of
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AR
AWA R D -W I N N I N G D I N I N G , S H O P P I N G & E N T E R TA I N M E N T A R I T Z I A • D I N TA I F U N G • H A I D I L A O H O T P O T • L U C R E Z I A N O R D S T R O M • R A I S E D B Y W O LV E S
W E S T F I E L D.C O M
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F EA TURE
sei HERE’S TO YOU
97%
of audiences read the program.
6.2
million readers annually.
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support advertisers who support the arts. Contact us to advertise, we entertain great ideas. 858-442-7818 kerry.baggett@californiamediagroup.com
the time—the same views that sadly have reemerged in our times and tapped into our own zeitgeist for millions of people. Babbitt doesn’t have particularly well-thought-out political ideas, but he does have a colorful way of expressing them, and those make him popular, so he keeps doubling down on them. It sounds a lot like someone we know in our current politics; but Babbitt is more of an innocent— someone who was never noticed before and gets addicted to how people are finally noticing him for the first time.” “Imagine if you decided you needed to do something bold in your life and did it with no net beneath you,” adds Ashley. “All the politics and questions in the novel could have been written for today. You hear people say things happening today are unprecedented, but they’re not. Look at what was happening 100 years ago, and you’ll see how consistent the conversations have been about what’s good about our country and what’s wrong with our country.” The world premiere of Babbitt runs Nov. 7Dec. 3 at the Mandell Weiss Theatre. For tickets and more info: lajollaplayhouse.org
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YOU’RE HERE. Congrats, You’ve Picked a Great Performance!
Check out the interactive version of this theater program magazine and enjoy even more insight into the performers, creative talent and theater activities that are behind it all.
LINKS TO PERFORMERS’ SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS MULTI-MEDIA PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE. UNDERSTUDY UPDATES THEATER SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES UPCOMING SHOWS AND CONCERTS AROUND TOWN INSIDER SCOOPS FROM THEATER AND MUSIC PROFESSIONALS
It’s the new way to read the program, it’s
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“Lovers in a Park,” an oil painting by Francois Boucher in 1758, is being restored at Timken Museum of Art.
PUTNAM FOUNDATION / TIMKEN MUSEUM OF ART
PARTIN G SH O T
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