2023 ANNUAL REPORT Abriel Coleman and Liesie Kelly with the cast of The Prom. Photo by Nile Scott Studios.
BOSTON’S HOME FOR THE BOLD WHO WE ARE We are SpeakEasy Stage - driving Boston theatre forward and sparking dialogue with courageous, contemporary productions made by and for our community.
OUR MISSION SpeakEasy Stage Company produces intimate, entertaining plays and musicals that are new to Boston and compel thoughtful conversation. We champion new talent and future arts leaders, alongside a diverse community of experienced local theatre professionals who share our devotion to excellence. We treat our artists, audiences, and supporters as collaborators, working with us to make Boston a city that is sustainable for artists.
FACTS ABOUT SPEAKEASY’S SEASON 134 LIVE PERFORMANCES 5 NEW ENGLAND PREMIERES 19,871 TOTAL ATTENDEES 2
5 ELLIOT NORTON AWARD NOMINATIONS
FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Friends and Supporters of SpeakEasy, We are honored to present to you the Annual Report for our incredible 32nd season, which covers the period of July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023. We are incredibly excited to be working together and ushering in a new period of growth for SpeakEasy as we emerge into a new era - artistically and financially - post-pandemic. At a time in which the future of the theatre industry as a whole can seem uncertain, we have fully invested in being Boston’s Home for the Bold for years to come. We accomplish that goal by telling a diverse range of compelling and thought-provoking stories. Each of our productions this season brought captivating accounts of people from all over the world fighting to relate to each other on a personal level. That is what our art is meant to do - bring people together and provide a cathartic and evocative moment in which storytelling leads to conversations that make way for connections. It is essential to the human experience and ultimately healing for our audiences.
We are seeking to expand programs that make it easier for people to enjoy theatre regardless of income level or disability, and we are thrilled to explore new ways of working with our community, including our ongoing partnership with cultural consultants who advise our storytelling and help us make important connections within relevant Boston communities. We would be nothing without our SpeakEasy family—our artists, production teams, staff, board, and, of course, our audience members—who make SpeakEasy an artistic home for so many in Boston. We would not be able to produce our art without your excellence. Each and every one of you has left an indelible mark on SpeakEasy, and we are eternally grateful for you. So from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU! We look forward to celebrating this season—and many upcoming seasons—with you. Warm regards,
Paul Daigneault Artistic Director
David Beardsley Executive Director Photos by Nile Scott Studios.
3
EQUITY & ANTI-RACISM AT SPEAKEASY STAGE SpeakEasy’s efforts to become a fully equitable and anti-racist theatre company are an essential part of our organization’s identity, and we acknowledge that our education is ongoing. In Fall 2022, we published the second progress report for our SpeakEasy Equity & AntiRacism Action Plan (SEARAP). Some changes implemented throughout our 2022-2023 season include: ● Contracting Kira Troilo of Art & Soul Consulting as our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Consultant for the season to work with Staff, Board, and artists. Kira facilitaed dialogues around difficult issues, and collected feedback. ● The responsibility of “Artist Liaison,” a role that acts as an advocate and resource for artists working on our projects, was added to Community & Artistic Programs Manager Alex Lonati’s job description. ● We made significant changes to production schedules, effectively eliminating demanding “10 out of 12” technical rehearsals to ease the tech process for artists. ● We continue to provide opportunities for the personal and professional development of our staff and Board of Directors in matters of equity, diversity, and inclusion through training and educational material.
4
We understand this work is never done and will continue to update our commitments and timelines as we learn and grow. SEARAP 2.0 is anticipated to be released early 2024. To read the originally published version of SEARAP, as well as the progress reports that have followed it, visit www.SpeakEasyStage.com/SEARAP.
n ra Troilo. To lear n Consultant Ki tant, read this io us cl In d an , EDI Consul Baldeck Equity, Diversity t Kira does as an Photo: Brian | e tr more about wha ea erican Th piece from Am
OUR LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT SpeakEasy Stage and the Calderwood Pavilion reside on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Massachusett people. We acknowledge the truth of violence perpetrated in the name of this country and commit to uplifting the voices of those who have historically been left out of the conversation. We encourage you to learn more about the Massachusett people, their history, and their living traditions at www.massachusetttribe.org.
A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SpeakEasy was founded on the fundamental belief that the arts are for all. We continue to supplement our mainstage productions with programming that not only speaks to issues that affect our community, but makes it possible for patrons to join us and enjoy our art regardless of income status or ability. Accessibility Programming Speakeasy continues to offer a full breadth of accessibility resources. This includes Audio Description and Open Captioning for select performances of every production and one Sensory Friendly performance each season. Through this programming, as well as Assisted Listening Devices and distribution of Braille playbills, we have been able to welcome audiences that may not have otherwise been able to enjoy our productions.
Additional Theatrical Experiences Our mission articulates our commitment to both fostering conversations about topical issues relevant to our community and supporting local artists. This season, we offered two performances in addition to our mainstage season: My Body, No Choice – a one-night only staged reading of a specially curated evening of monologues written in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022. This special event, directed by Alex Lonati, featured eight local female actors and was an emotional and breathtaking night of theatre.
This year’s Spring Gala was fully accessible, with ASL interpretation and live captions provided in real-time throughout the main program and performances. We plan to not only continue this work, but to increase the amount of accessible programming we are able to provide.
21 ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES
53.4% DISCOUNTED TICKETS
Museum Piece by John J King – a revival of our new play development program, The Boston Project. This workshop and staged reading was directed by Dawn M. Simmons and featured a hilarious cast of actors exploring this brand-new play.
134 TOTAL “THE JOY IN THE THEATER WAS PALPABLE. EVERYONE COULD FEEL THE THRILL OF SHARING IN LIVE THEATER WITH PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE DON’T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.” - Sensory Friendly Consultant Rhoda Bernard on The Prom’s Sensory Friendly Performance
5
HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING SEP 9 - OCT 8, 2022 WRITTEN BY
WILL ARBERY DIRECTED BY
“Consistently compelling [and] bracingly original… Heroes is one you’ll talk about on the way home from the theater...” - The Boston Globe
TWO ELLIOT NORTON AWARD NOMINATIONS
MARIANNA BASSHAM
Kicking off our widely successful 32nd Season, Will Arbery’s Heroes of the Fourth Turning was a new frontier for SpeakEasy Stage, as it highlights a population rarely seen in the theatre: the conservative alt-right. The play, set one week after the Charlottesville riots in 2017, centers four young conservatives as they gather in a Wyoming backyard to gossip and reminisce. Heroes of the Fourth Turning was a daring look at the heart of a country at war with itself and explored the nuances of the intersection of religion, morality, and one’s upbringing. Heroes challenged audiences to think deeply on the roots of political and ideological beliefs, confronting the interpersonal layers - and people - behind them.
Producing a piece of this nature was a challenge, particularly after a year of heightened widespread political and social unrest. We were excited to take this work on and begin our season with this play, helmed by acclaimed SpeakEasy mainstay Marianna Bassham (last seen on stage in People, Places & Things). Bassham handled the complicated script with nuance and care, embodying the spirit needed to bring life to its complex Karen acting Bass performances characters. Heroes was hailed for its incredible and- specific from both SpeakEasy alums - Nathan Malin, Karen MacDonald, and Jesse Hinson - to SpeakEasy newcomers, Dayna Cousins and Elise Piliponis.
6
Elise Piliponis, Karen MacDonald, Jesse Hinson, Dayna Cousins and Nathan Malin in Heroes | Nile Scott Studios
ENGLISH OCT 21 - NOV 19, 2022 WRITTEN BY
DIRECTED BY
SANAZ TOOSSI MELORY MIRASHRAFI
“I have become increasingly convinced that SpeakEasy is the only Boston-area theater company that sees where theater is headed.” - Audience Member
The stunning and intimate English by Sanaz Toossi told the story of four Iranian adults preparing to take the English language exam in a classroom near Tehran. The play explored the intersection of language with identity, and begged audiences to ask the question: how does the way we speak play into societal and self-perception?
current events, while Suraiya Ali aided our marketing team in crafting messaging with appropriate language and led our post-show conversations. Our consultants, cast, and creative team met the rehearsal room with open hearts and a willingness to facilitate crucial conversations, creating a process that was filled with an immense amount of respect. It was important to us that this story be told authentically, with Iranian identity SpeakEasy’s production of this Pulitzer Prize-winner marked a new chapter in the at the forefront and heart of both the actors and production team, who were thus given company’s commitment to bold and authentic storytelling. English was SpeakEasy’s the opportunity to embrace their heritage fully and legitimately on stage. This practice first production for which we hired cultural consultants to bring honest and lived has since been replicated in multiple productions. experience into the work. Consultants Vahdat Yeganeh and Donya Poole Yeganeh Deniz Khateri, Josephine Moshiri Elwood, Lily Gilan James, Zaven Ovian, and Leyla Modirzadeh in English | Nile Scott Studios led the team in dialect coaching, dramaturgy, and conversations about global
FAIRVIEW
FEB 17 - MAR 11, 2023
“Without SpeakEasy, would titles like this even be produced in Boston?!”
WRITTEN BY
- Audience Member
JACKIE SIBBLIES DRURY DIRECTED BY
PASCALE FLORESTAL
THREE ELLIOT NORTON AWARD NOMINATIONS
Jackie Sibblies Drury’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Fairview pushed boundaries and broke barriers in structure, theme, and expectation, making it one of SpeakEasy’s most thought-provoking productions yet. Revolving around a Black, middle-class family as they come together to celebrate their matriarch’s birthday, the world of the play is quickly infiltrated by the voyeurism of the white gaze. Wrestling with the challenging themes of race in the American Theatre, Fairview became an opportunity for SpeakEasy to expand its collaboration with Art & Soul Consulting EDI Coordinator: Kira Troilo. In addition to the artistic leadership and the openhearted ensemble, Troilo was integral to the production of this piece. She worked tirelessly in the rehearsal and performance processes to facilitate important conversations and ensure the emotional safety and comfort of the artists as they took on this play with bravery.
The power of the play came largely from the sudden and surprising turns it took. The level of audience participation the play required was groundbreaking for us as an organization, as Fairview ultimately asked our audiences - particularly our white audience members - to participate in a level of accountability rarely expected in theatre. We knew this would challenge our audiences to confront their own discomfort with an open mind, courage, and profound reflection. Fairview evoked a wide range of reactions and conversations and was one of SpeakEasy’s most provocative and polarizing productions to date. Lyndsay Allyn Cox, Yewande Odetoyinbo and Victoria Omoregie in Fairview | Nile Scott Studios
WILD GOOSE DREAMS MAR 17 - APR 8, 2023 WRITTEN BY
HANSOL JUNG DIRECTED BY
SEONJAE KIM
“Seeing a show with so [many] AAPI artists in the production team and acting was amazing and it helps me see myself and motivates me to keep going in my arts journey.” - Audience Member
Wild Goose Dreams by Hansol Jung explored the beautiful interplay between isolation and connectivity, and the juxtaposition of intimacy and loneliness that can be found through technology. The play follows Nanhee, a North Korean defector, and Minsung, a “Goose Father” working in Seoul to send money to his family in the US, after they meet by chance on the internet. Both distanced from their families in different ways, Nanhee and Minsung explore what true connection feels like. Through Wild Goose Dreams, we were able to program a visually stunning and nuanced production that explored the rich history of Korean folklore, the complexities
of internet culture and its effects on mental health, and the political status between North and South Korea. Furthermore, we embraced the themes of isolation and connectivity through innovative design choices from Crystal Tiala (Scenic), Machel Ross (Costumes), Kat C. Zhou (Lighting), and George Cooke (Sound), bringing life to a unique script through song, color, and images from pop culture. Wild Goose Dreams served as a reminder that healing is a process and that comfort can be found in the most surprising places as we learn what it means to love and hold onto hope through loneliness. Eunji Lim and Jeffrey Song in Wild Goose Dreams | Nile Scott Studios
THE PROM
“A musical with heart, exuberance, and an important reminder for the here and now… The Prom does your heart good.”
MAY 5 - JUN 10, 2023 BOOK & LYRICS BY
DIRECTED BY
CHOREOGRAPHED BY
CHAD BEGEULIN
PAUL DAIGNEAULT TAAVON GAMBLE
BOOK BY
MUSIC DIRECTED BY
BOB MARTIN
- Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices
PAUL S. KATZ
MUSIC BY
MATTHEW SKLAR BASED ON AN ORIGINAL CONCEPT BY
JACK VIERTEL
When considering how to conclude this season, Artistic Director Paul Daigneault knew he wanted to end with a bang. The Prom was a perfect example of “last, but certainly not least.” As four washed-up Broadway stars attempt to save their image and prove to the world that they care about real issues, they learn of the Edgewater, Indiana PTA’s attempt to block Emma, a young lesbian, from attending the high school prom with her girlfriend. They pack their bags and head down to “zazz” up the Midwest and fight for her rights.
The musical proved more timely than ever, as efftorts to pass anti-LGBTQ legislation gained traction across the country during the production. The outpouring of support for the LGBTQ community that was felt in reaction to this legislation made the production’s core messages of joy and love more important than ever. The majority of the lauded ensemble was composed of emerging artists from Boston - Karen Bass Conservatory, many of whom will now remember The Prom as their first professional production. The Prom was “SpeakEasy to its core” and audiences and critics alike praised the production for its beautiful representation of queer joy and inclusion. The Cast of The Prom | Nile Scott Studios
2023 GALA
Every year the gala serves as a way to bring the SpeakEasy family, old and new, together to celebrate the art that we love so deeply. On Friday, April 14, 2023, SpeakEasy friends and supporters gathered at Boston’s Park Plaza Hotel for a night of joyous celebration. Hosted by the wonderful Lovely Hoffman, the 2023 Spring Gala served as our largest fundraiser of the year, raising over $200,000, with all proceeds benefiting the 20222023 season. It was an incredible night filled with performances, videos, and speeches, all of which were made accessible through the use of ASL interpreters and live captioning services. We were honored to present Kerry A. Dowling with the Mayor Thomas M. Menino Memorial Award; James “Joey” Caverly with the Artistic Excellence Award; and Amanda E. Fallon, Melory Mirashrafi, and Victoria Omoregie with the Thomas Derrah Emerging Artist Award.
Lovely Hoffman and Abriel Coleman
As we look back on this year’s gala, we are humbled by the incredible support given to us by our community and cannot wait to see you all again at the next one. For more information on how you can get involved with the 2024 Spring Gala, please reach out to Randy Biagas-Hill at randybiagashill@speakeasystage.com.
THOMAS DERRAH AWARD
James “Joey” Caverly, Artistic Excellence Award Recepient Kerry A. Dowling, Mayor Thomas M. Menino Memorial Award Recepient
Photos: Niko Alexander
In recognition of Thomas Derrah’s eternal dedication to teaching and the inspiration he provided to hundreds of students and young artists every day, SpeakEasy Stage Company – in partnership with Tommy’s husband John Kuntz – created The Thomas Derrah Emerging Artists Fund. The Fund will ensure that Thomas’ vibrant and influential legacy can live on, continuing to inspire new talent for years to come. At this year’s Gala, we were thrilled to honor three incredible emerging artists:
Amanda E. Fallon - Lighting Designer, English
Melory Mirashrafi - Director, English
Victoria Omoregie - Keisha, Fairview
INSTITUTIONAL DONORS
FROM THE CO-CHAIRS OF THE BOARD
Barr-Klarman Massachusetts Arts Initiative Massachusetts Cultural Council
It is an honor for us to share a look back at the results of SpeakEasy’s 32nd Season.
$100,000+
$50,000-99,999
Boston Center for the Arts*
$25,000-49,999
The Shubert Foundation Yawkey Foundation
$10,000-24,999
Bank of America Liberty Mutual Foundation National Endowment for the Arts Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitale Trust
$5,000-9,999
Boston Veterinary Clinic Google Matching Gifts Program MassHousing The George & Alice Rich Foundation Wynn Employee Foundation
$2,500-$4,999
Berkshire Bank Cathy Marotta, Sotheby’s Real Estate Merck Foundation O’Brien Wealth Partners
$1,000-$2,499
American International Group (AIG) Apple Inc. Barbershop Deluxe Bove & Langa, P.C. MIDA* Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Inc Reunion BBQ* Glenn Rigoff *in-kind donor
Dear Friends,
The 2022-2023 season was a year of artistic excellence and rewarding community engagement. We were pleased to produce another wonderful season of compelling theater, which highlighted a diverse range of stories and characters, featuring incredible work by many talented local artists and theatre professionals. The artistic year concluded with SpeakEasy’s recognition by the Elliot Norton Awards for our 2021-2022 production of The Inheritance, which won Best Play Staged by a Midsize Theater and Best Ensemble Performance of the Year. We are thrilled that David Beardsley has joined our team as our first Executive Director, and pleased to have him leading the organization alongside Founding Artistic Director Paul Daigneault. The partnership between David and Paul marks an important and exciting investment in SpeakEasy’s future. At a time when theatre companies across the country face a myriad of challenges, SpeakEasy is expanding its capacity for innovation and excellence. With David’s background in organizational
operations, strategy, and marketing, we will seek creative new ways to engage audiences and operate efficiently. This new shared-leadership model will also allow Artistic Director Paul Daigneault to focus on the most fundamental aspects of our mission: artistic excellence and bringing engaging and thought-provoking stories to our stage. We continued to expand the Board of Directors, bringing new and diverse voices and experiences to shape the work and broaden the perspectives of this governing body. We are also pleased to recognize the work that we have been able to do in focusing our board leadership to work towards the future of the organization together as Co-Chairs. Reflecting on this past year has left us excited for what is to come. The 2023-24 season features another exciting slate of plays and musicals as well as coproductions with both The Huntington and the Front Porch Arts Collective. We are also taking over the administration of the Prop Co-op, a central repository for theatrical props that is an important resource for performing arts organizations across the region, previously managed by StageSource. None of this would be possible without all of you.
Your contributions, participation in the gala, subscriptions, and presence at the theater allow SpeakEasy’s incredible staff to do what it does best: tell compelling stories that engage us all in interesting and important conversations. As we continue to adapt to this post-pandemic world, we look forward to collaborating with our community. We cannot thank our SpeakEasy family enough, and look forward to another wonderful year, and beyond, with all of you. Many Thanks,
FINANCIALS Statement of Activities EARNED REVENUE Subscription Single Tickets Other Total Earned Revenue EXPENSES Programs General & Administrative Fundraising Total Expenses
$ 1,078,862 $ 883,485 $ 95,551 $ 2,057,899
Operating Deficit Before Contributions and Fundraising CONTRIBUTIONS AND FUNDRAISING Individual Giving Foundations & Business Special Events Total Contributed Revenue
($ 1,278,896)
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS
Constance Gist Guindo Co-Chair of the Board
Andrew Fullum Co-Chair of the Board
Are you interested in becoming a strategic voice for SpeakEasy Stage? We are looking for dynamic and thoughtful individuals to join both our Board of Directors and our Board of Advisors. Board members participate in a range of activities for the company — from governance and strategic planning to event planning and donor stewardship. For more information about our Boards, you can check out this page. If you are interested in exploring the opportunity further, please fill out this form. If you have any questions, you can contact board@speakeasystage.com.
$ 294,268 $ 460,920 $23,815 $ 779,003
$ 362,060 $ 443,458 $ 199,864 $ 1,005,472 ($ 273,424)
Statement Of Financial Position ASSETS Current Assets Fixed Assets Other Assets Total Assets
$ 838,527 $ 5,347 $0 $ 843,874
LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS Current Liabilities Net Assets - Unrestricted Total Liabilities & Net Assets
$ 36,006 $ 807,868 $ 843,874 Fiscal year: July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023 Preliminary Statements as of 11/8/23
60% OF TOTAL EXPENSES WENT TO PAYING EMPLOYEES, ARTISTS, AND TECHNICIANS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
PRODUCERS CIRCLE $20,000+ Paul Kastner Sam Yin Anonymous (1)
$10,000-19,999
Susan & Mark Irvings Pete & Christine Palladino Joey Riddle & Paul Miller Ann B. Teixeira Stacie Simon & Hal Tepfer & The Puppies Hannah Weisman & Mike Peluse Dana & Daniel Wolf Julianne Yazbek & JD Paul
Alex Baker & Butch Chilton The Gregory E. Bulger Foundation/ Gregory Bulger & Richard Dix Stacey & Chris Constas Jonathan Dyer & Thomas Foran $2,500-$4,999 David S. Godkin & Pamela Haran Bernice Buresh* Keith MacDonald & Tom Webber Somerled Charitable/Macdonald CGF Joe Castellana, PH.D. & James Seligman, D.M.D. Nick Scandalios Linda Chin* Sudarsky Family Foundation Susan Culman* $5,000-9,999 Anne d’Avenas Susan Black & Richard O’Neal Carol G. Deane Beth & Linzee Coolidge Matthew Fox & Larry Paterson Catherine & Harvey Cotton Constance Gist Guindo Richard Davies & Alexander Albregts & Chirfi Guindo Sarah Delaney Curly Glynn Kerry A. Dowling Garth & Lindsay Greimann Lucia & Bruce Field Mark Hickey & Jack Cornwell Andrew Fullem Ken Hirschkind David Halstead Jeanne Leszczynski Peter Hornstra & Diane Dicarlo
14
Russel Lopez & Andrew Sherman Suzette & Paul Martin Lori & David McWeeney Joan & Paul Nunes Faith & Glenn Parker** Jackie & Bob Pascucci Susan & Stephen Root Leah Rugen & Andy Boral Dawn & Doug Saglio Bob Siefert & Maureen Shea Siefert** Benjamin & Jane Siegel* Starr Coggeshall Household* Jean Walsh & Graham Davies** Clea & Neal Winneg
$1,000-2,499 Michael Appell & Guy Ronen Linda Aronson in Honor of Steven Aronson Julita Bailey-Vasco & Dale Vasco Julie & Michael Bailit Bob Band Gene Bauer & Ellen Shortell David Beardsley & Laura Tomasetti Vijay Bettada Kevin Bleyle & Jasen W. Coole Jon & Dixie Lee Borus Dr. Brian Bourquin & Paul Mataras Kristina & Doug Brendel David Brown & Benjamin Perkins Gary Buseck Carol & William Carroll Selene Chew Richard and Beth Compson Family Fund Paul Daigneault & Jeffrey Mello Tom & Midge DeSimone Dana Dilworth & Joseph O’Donnell
John & Jane Dowling Peg & Jack Dowling Jeff & Erica Drazen Willis Emmons & Zach Durant-Emmons Glenn Edelson Peter & Kathryn Feinmann Kevin & Mark Fitzforry FJN Charitable Foundation Temple V. Gill & Christopher R. Yens Betty Goldstein Barbara & Steve Grossman Steve Guariglia & Adam Tanner Evan Michael Haas & Esteban Esquivel Laura Haas & Richard Wood Julie Hackett Mark & Cynthia Haddad Jay Hanflig & Donna Sinden Joy Howard & The Rev. Pamela Werntz Peggy Johnson Bill Kelly Alfred Kyrollos John & Ann-Mara Lanza Eric Levenson The Nathan & Leslie Levenson Charitable Fund Lois Lindauer & Bill Seltz Matthew and Andrea List Marianne Sarazen Lonati William & Anastasia Lyman Malcolm MacDonald in honor of Keith MacDonald & Tom Webber
Cathy Marotta, Sotheby`s Real Estate Esther Messing Betsy Munzer
Ann Noble & Valerie Grande Thomas Norris Bob Oldshue & Nina Calabresi Derek Osterman & Erik Johnson Mark Ostrem Ellen & Lou Piccioli Glenn Rigoff Michael Roitman LARS Charitable Fund** Kenneth & Rise Shelpsle Andrew Shirley & Joyce Richmond Alejandro Simoes & Gigi Watson Mark Smith & John O’Keefe Mark Staloff & Greg Bowne Nancy Stavis in memory of Edward Stavis
Ellen Davis Sullivan & John Sullivan Richard G. Summers & Bill Thompson Crystal Tiala Donna & Steve Tritman Bob & Nancy Tucker Carl & Sharon Turissini Paul & Jennifer Walsh Anonymous (2)
FRIENDS CIRCLE $500-999 Mark Alpert in memory of Bill Gustat Micki Avery Jeannine Ayotte Rick Bankhead & Kemper Thompson John Basile Clara & James Batchelor Kathy & Marshall Berenson** Edward Boesel Drs. Paul Boutin & Rich Gurney Sandra Bower
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Jim Bracciale & Richard Kestler Marianne Callahan Bob Chabot & Glen Doerr Sean Conroy Jim deVeer Joseph-Rocque Dion & David Bruce Wright Debby Doktor & Marc Fisher Jackie Drapeau Maggi Farrell Allen Feinstein & Andrea Campbell The Fife Family Foundation Glenda & Bob Fishman Jim Freiman & Josh Peary Suzanne Greenberg Rev. Gretchen Grimshaw & Thalia Meehan J. William Harris & Terry Rockefeller Roberty Henry Roz & Herb Hill Ilene & Richard Jacobs Terence Janericco Frederic S. Johnson Jeff Kaplan Kate & Steve Kelley William A. Korman David Kronman Midge Kuntz Roberta & Geoffrey Levy Russell Lopez & Andrew Sherman Mark & Mary Lunsford Dr. Stuart Madnick Mike Maynard
Erin Meyer Jackie Norton David O’Brien Ross Ozer & Scott Gortikov Jill Pearson & Dan Ramirez Marna Peters Paula Plum & Richard Snee Suzanne Priebatsch Sharon Rich in memory of Nancy E. Carroll & Alice Duffy Lee Ridgway & Donald Vaughan Marco Rodrigues Larry Rosenberg Betsy Rudnick & Bruce G. Posner Timothy J. Rupert Jeremy Ryan Dick & Dorothy Santos Anne & Neil A. Schneider Ms. Judith W. Semonoff & Rabbi Alan C. Flam Henry Servinskas & Roy Du Bois David Shuckra Mark Shura & Dan Harvey Peter Smikin Ellen L. Simons Candice Springer Robert & Joanna Stavins Shannon Stiles Dennis Trainor Patrick Turner The Tzedek Social Justice Fund Tom Weisand & Daniel Faucher
Ricardo Ferrer Steven & Jessie Foster Rolf Fuessler & Norman Goulet James R. Golden in honor of Andrew Fullem Shelly F. Greenfield & Allan M. Brandt $250-499 James Alexander & Thomas J. Stocker Grace & Bill Gregor Diane M. Austin & Aaron J. Nurick Todd Michael Hall Rebecca Backman & Stephen Cotton Jennifer Harris & David Condon Michèle A. Balm Rob Harris Henry & Sue Bass Vina Harvey & Alexander Omeregie Kathleen Beckman & Theodore Postol Peter Haydu & Dona Sommers Bender Hatch Insurance Chris Herring Alan Benefeld & Dan Sarmiento Kathleen Hodges Daniel J. Biros Megan & Chris Holding Paul Blackborow & Jessica Daniels Dennis Humphrey Melanie Blower George Klauber & Jo-Ann Ross Denise Bordonaro & David P Johst Stephen Knowlton & Joseph Pettigrew Daniel Borges Nancy F. Korman Don & Melinda Boroson Courtney McCombs Matthew J. Carr Mark & Kate McKone-Sweet Cathy Cesario Peg Merzbacher F. Charnas Ellen & Jonathan Miller Carole Charnow Helaine Miller Lee Chelminiak & Doug Herberich Julie Nadal John Cini & Star Lancaster Lowell Partridge Nina Cohen & Craig Barrows Nicholas Pepe Pam Constantine Lewis Perkins Michael Cummings Bill Rauch Paul Curtis Matthew Rehrig Vinny Damaceno Sheila Rehrig Andrea Dine & Jeffrey Wildstein Glenn Rizzo & Paul Simpson Coleen Dowling Peter A. Rombult & Sean N. Murphy Kerry Weiss-Pena & Gustavo Pena Wendy & Larry White Rob Wilson & Sergio Mazon Anonymous (1)
Jean Rosenberg Roland W. Roy Ann Sanders & Deborah Heller Mark Saperstein & Eric Karnowski Chuck Schwager & Jan Durgin Paula Spencer Jill Stauffer & Cyd Berry Martha Stearns Bob & Bobbie Steinbach* Jim Stiles & Randy Bird Valerie Sullivan Karen & Bob Sweet Douglas Talhelm & Ashley Eaton Jim Torres & Bryce Avery in memory of Dotte Winer Pat & Steve Vinter Donna Wade Christine & Richard Wellman Frances Winneg Sally Withington Maureen Yoder Linda Zindler Anonymous (2) * in-kind donor **Contributors to the Thomas Derrah Emerging Artists Fund
This list recognizes donors with gifts of $250+ to our Annual Fund and Sponsorship program from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. For questions about your giving or changes to your recognition name, please contact Randy Biagas-Hill at randybiagashill@speakeasystage.com
Your donations help set the stage for future seasons of Boston’s most intimate, entertaining and provocative plays and musicals. Our shows have a powerful impact on our audiences– and they are only possible because of you! Because ticket sales cannot cover all of the costs associated with operating a professional theatre company, we are deeply grateful for the generous support of patrons to make it happen. If you are interested in making a tax-deductible gift to SpeakEasy Stage, please visit www.speakeasystage.com/donate. 15
SPEAKEASY LEADERSHIP Board of Directors Michael Appell Julita Bailey-Vasco David Beardsley, Executive Director David Winfield Brown Catherine Cotton Paul Daigneault, Artistic Director
Kerry A. Dowling Jonathan Dyer Andrew Fullem, Co-Chair Constance Gist Guindo, Co-Chair Evan Michael Haas Lovely Hoffman
Susan Irvings Suzette Martin Joey Riddle, Treasurer Alejandro Simoes Douglas Spencer Candice Springer Ann Teixeira
Hannah Weisman Clea Winneg, Clerk Angela Yarde
Board of Advisors Michael Appell, Chair Bob Band Gene M. Bauer & Ellen Shortell Susan Black Dr. Brian Bourquin & Paul Mataras Kirstina Brendel Greg Bulger & Richard Dix
A. Joseph Castellana & James Seligman David Freeman Coleman Christopher & Stacey Constas Anne d’Avenas Richard Davies
Joseph Gimbel & Jo Strobel Curly Glynn Laura Haas Ken Hirschkind William E. Kelly Marie Longo Keith MacDonald & Tom Webber Jeffrey Mello
Roberta L. Orlandino Robert & Jackie Pascucci Ellen Piccioli Kenneth & Rise Shepsle Hal Tepfer Julianne Yazbek
SpeakEasy Staff Paul Daigneault*, Artistic Director David Beardsley*, Executive Director Kyler Taustin, Interim General Manager Jim Torres*, Marketing & Communications Director Ben Walsh*, Director of Development Alex Lonati*, Community & Artistic Programs Manager Dominique Burford*, Production Manager Claudia Bennett*, Associate Production Manager Evan Turissini, Creative Services and Social Media Manager Jenna Rehrig, Development Coordinator Randy Biagas-Hill*, Development Coordinator – Operations and Events Erin Davis*, Development Associate – Grants and Annual Fund Paulina Martz*, Creative Services Coordinator, Community Engagement & Artistic Fellow 22-23 Christian Krenek*, Social Media & Digital Marketing Coordinator Jolie Frazer-Madge, Operations Coordinator Alex Leondedis, Literary & Artistic Fellow 22-23 Huan Bui*, Literary & Artistic Fellow 23-24 Annalise Guirdy*, Community Engagement & Artistic Fellow 23-24 Interns: Josephine Glass, Samantha Duggan, Kaitlin Rose, Rose Beardmore, Isaac Tardy, Genevieve Sull, Rose Hanish*, Eran Zelixon* *Staff as of date of publication, 11/20/23