SPEAKEASYSTAGE.COM 617-933-8600 SPEAKEASY STAGE COMPANY IS THE STANFORD CALDERWOOD PAVILION RESIDENT THEATRE COMPANY AT THE BOSTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS.
@speakeasystage #PinkUnicornBOS @speakeasystage #MenOnBoatsBOS
The Calderwood Pavilion Resident Theatre Company at the Boston Center for the Arts Paul Daigneault, Producing Artistic Director
PRESENTS
by Elise Forier Edie Directed by M. Bevin O'Gara† Starring Stacy Fischer* Associate Direction by Shira Helena Gitlin Video Production Design by Ari Herzig Music by John-Allison Weiss Asst. Technical Production by Robert Kropf Dialect Coaching by D'Arcy Dersham Adele Nadine Traub*, Production Stage Manager Miranda McLean, Assistant Stage Manager *Member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States **Member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829 †Member of The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
This production is sponsored in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
CONTENT ADVISORY: The Pink Unicorn follows one mother’s journey to accept her genderqueer teenager. In telling this story, this play contains multiple instances of transphobia and misgendering as well as ableist and fatphobic language. If you have additional questions about content please call or email Alex Lonati, our Community Programs & Events Manager, at alexlonati@speakeasystage.com or at 617-482-3279. 3
SpeakEasy 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.
SPEAKEASY MAINSTAGE: We create dynamic seasons full of Boston-premiere plays and musicals that explore the relevant and timely issues we face in today’s complicated society. We present our award-winning, top-notch productions in the Calderwood Pavilion for 30,000+ patrons each season. CREATING CONVERSATIONS: We believe in the power of theatre to not only foster a sense of connection and belonging by reflecting our experiences on stage, but to build empathy and compassion as we come to understand the stories of others as well. We choose work that will compel thoughtful conversation and provide post-show discussions, educational panels, and community events that serve to engage our audiences. CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN MUSICAL INITIATIVE: We excel in presenting unique musical theatre productions that are cutting-edge and relevant in both form and subject. THE BOSTON PROJECT: We commission and provide dramaturgical support for Boston-based playwrights to develop new plays that explore what it means to live in our great city today. FELLOWSHIPS & TECHNICAL APPRENTICESHIPS: We train tomorrow's arts leaders by providing real work experience for high school and college students as well as recent graduates. LAUNCHING EMERGING ARTISTS: We cultivate the next generation of theatre artists by hiring new talent to begin their professional careers working alongside the best actors, directors, stage managers, and designers Boston has to offer. ACCESS PROGRAM: We strive to make our programs accessible to Boston’s diverse and vibrant population through multiple community partnerships and collaborations. 4
LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY 2020-2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Michael Appell Alex Baker, Chair Cathy Cotton Paul Daigneault, President Richard Davies Danné Davis Kerry A. Dowling Jonathan Dyer Andrew Fullem Susan Irvings Melissa Langa Peter Palladino Joey Riddle Nancy Roberts Alejandro Simoes Jim Stiles Ann Teixeira Clea Winneg
BOARD OF ADVISORS Michael Appell, Chair Robert Band Gene Bauer & Ellen Shortell Susan Black Jon & Dixie Lee Borus Brian Bourquin & Paul Mataras Gregory Bulger & Richard Dix A. Joseph Castellana & Jim Seligman David F. Coleman Stacey & Chris Constas Anne d'Avenas Tom Formicola & Lenny Goldstein Joe Gimbel & Jo Strobel Meegan Gliner Curly Glynn Laura Haas Ken Hirschkind Robby Morse Levy Keith MacDonald & Thomas Webber Benjamin Manthei Jeffrey Mello Roberta Orlandino Grace Parker Jackie & Robert Pascucci Ellen Piccioli Kenneth & Rise Shepsle Hal Tepfer Sandra Weinstein Hannah Weisman Neal Winneg Angela Yarde Julianne Yazbek
SpeakEasy Producing Artistic Director
Paul Daigneault
Since the start of the pandemic, our goal at SpeakEasy has been to stay connected with you, our audience. From the moment the lights dimmed last March, we have enjoyed finding new ways, like Play Discussion Club, The Boston Project Podcast, and our 30th Anniversary Concert, to stay in touch and entertain. But when it became clear we could not be together in the theatre this spring, we decided it was time to get back to doing what we do best: producing plays. Thus we hope you enjoy this exciting series of three New England Premiere shows that we have specifically envisioned for your home theater screens.
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Why did you select The Pink Unicorn to be the first production in your Spring 2021 Line-Up? It was important to me, as we embarked on this effort, to first continue our mission of telling stories that create conversation. I also wanted to be sure that we could do the story justice through this new virtual medium. Having met both those criteria, The Pink Unicorn resonated with me because, as a parent, I connected with Trisha Lee’s longing to love their child completely while not always understanding the journey their child was on. I also was intrigued by questions the play raises around faith. And while I realize that the play is told from a parent’s perspective, I am excited by the engagement opportunities to highlight and amplify gender diverse voices, both with the dynamic panel discussion after the play, and our Play Discussion Club, featuring the works of Trans and Nonbinary Playwrights, which you can learn more about on Page 10 of this program.
Director
M. Bevin O'Gara What attracted you to direct The Pink Unicorn? When I first encountered the play a year ago, I found it to be a touching piece written from a perspective I hadn’t heard before; and I’m always looking to hear about a life experience that isn’t my own. Unlike Trisha, I’m not a very religious person, but adherence to one's faith seems to be such a driving factor in America these days that I wanted to understand that better. And now as a mother myself (I had a baby about nine months ago), I find the questions the play asks about parenting and acceptance to be very poignant, both on a personal level and a more universal one. How do we meet our child (or others) where they need to be met? How can we continue to lead with love in the face of adversity? What are we willing to lose in order to be the parent (or person) we want to be? What do you hope audiences take away after viewing The Pink Unicorn? I hope that audiences will be a little more open to listening after viewing The Pink Unicorn. I hope they will have heard a point of view that will change their own. I hope people leave wanting to try, however flawed that attempt might be. There is a power in stumbling and falling, and I hope this piece might act as an invitation to make mistakes. Reaching out can be scary and hard, but I hope this story will inspire others to try and understand someone else. We could all gain by challenging ourselves to see differently these days. 5
“If a child lives with
Acceptance, he learns to
Love” - Dorothy Nolte
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SPEAKEASY'S EQUITY & ANTI-RACISM ACTION PLAN Dear SpeakEasy family, On behalf of the SpeakEasy staff and board, I am pleased to let you know about SpeakEasy's Equity and Anti-Racism Action Plan, the culmination of months of vital and deliberate work spurred on by the events of the last year. You can find the full document on our website. At SpeakEasy Stage, we stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and those calling for justice and radical change. The appalling events of 2020 exposed the inherent racism and inequity in our nation, our city, and our community. We witnessed the murders of innocent Black individuals at the hands of police officers; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); as well as the inequities in our industry as pointed out by a collective of BIPOC theatre-makers in We See You, White American Theatre. On our stage and throughout our programming, we tell stories that invite us to understand ourselves and the world around us more deeply; to uplift the voices of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, economic statuses, and abilities; and envision the changes we wish to see in our society. We acknowledge that this alone is not enough, and that we must actively and deliberately reduce harm and combat systemic oppression in all forms, both on and off our stage. In June, we began an intentional journey to examine our own inequitable practices and complicity in systemic racism and systems of oppression that are based on ethnicity, gender, economic status, and ability. To further address and undo these wrongs, our board and staff developed an equity and anti-racism commitment statement as well as a specific and detailed action plan to guide this on-going work. We recognize that this work will not end with the accomplishment of any particular objective. This plan is a living, breathing document that will evolve as our learning evolves and as the environment around us continues to change. We are committed to updating this plan annually and sharing it with you, and with the greater Boston community on our website as well. We will hold ourselves accountable to this work, and we expect that you will, too. I look forward to hearing from you about this plan, and invite you to share your thoughts through this form. I know that together, we can build a more equitable, just, and inclusive community where everyone can thrive. Sincerely,
Paul Daigneault Producing Artistic Director
Our Land Acknowledgment SpeakEasy Stage Company is built on the power of storytelling and the transformative way the arts can be used to amplify voices of those historically silenced. In that spirit, we would like to acknowledge that SpeakEasy Stage and the Calderwood Pavilion, which we call our artistic home, reside on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Massachusett people, whose name was appropriated by this Commonwealth. We pay respect to the Massachusett elders past and present and recognize the truth of violence perpetrated in the name of this country. We commit to educating ourselves about the stories of indigenous people and to uplift the voices of those who have been left out of the conversation. We encourage you to learn more about the Massachusett people, their history and their living traditions at massachusetttribe.org. Learn more about what a land acknowledgement is and find more resources on our website. 7
ADDITIONAL READING & RESOURCES The Pink Unicorn explores a lot of complex topics surrounding gender - but an 80-minute performance can only be the beginning of the conversation. In addition to the panel following the performance, we hope you'll use these resources as a jumping-off point for further learning about breaking through the gender binary.
On Trans/Nonbinary Identity Killermann, Sam. "A Comprehensive* List of LGBTQ+ Vocabulary Definitions." It's Pronounced Metrosexual. Meagley, Desmond. “All Your Questions About Gender-Neutral Pronouns Answered.” Teen Vogue, 10 Dec. 2019. Medley, Shayna. “Trans and Non-Binary People Continue to Fight for Their Right to Exist in Public Spaces.” American Civil Liberties Union, 23 May 2018. The Trevor Project. "Trans + Gender Identity." Trevor Support Center. Rajunov, Micah. “Explaining Genderqueer to Those Who Are Not.” The Huffington Post, 7 Dec. 2017. Retta, Mary. “What's the Difference Between Non-Binary, Genderqueer, and GenderNonconforming?” VICE, 13 Sep. 2019. Tannehill, Brynn. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Trans (But Were Afraid to Ask). Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2019. Thorn, Abigail. “Coming Out As Trans - A Little Public Statement.” PhilosophyTube, 31 Jan. 2021.
On Being a Supportive Parent for Trans/Nonbinary Youth Compton, Julie. “How to Talk to Transgender Youth, According to Experts and Their Parents.” NBC News, 31 Dec. 2018. Hassouri, Paria. “What I Learned as a Parent of a Transgender Child.” The New York Times, 8 Sept. 2020. Jorgenson, Sarah. "The Hardest Part of Having a Nonbinary Kid Is Other People." The New York Times, 1 Jun. 2020. The Trans Youth Equality Foundation. "For Parents."
On the Intersection of LGBTQ+ Issues and Faith Johnson, Joshua. "Beyond Adam And Eve: Religion And The Gender Binary." 1A, National Public Radio, 12 Dec. 2019. Meyer, David J. “What the Torah Teaches Us About Gender Fluidity and Transgender Justice.” Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, 21 Jan. 2021. Smith, Taj M. "Scriptural & Theological Affirmation | Trans & Gender-Expansive Identities." Q Christian Fellowship, 27 Apr. 2020.
On Transphobia Feder, Sam, director. Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen. Netflix, 2020. Sun, Simón(e) D. “Stop Using Phony Science to Justify Transphobia.” Scientific American, 13 Jun. 2019. Thorn, Abigail. "Transphobia: An Analysis.” PhilosophyTube, 12 Oct. 2018. 8
Local & National Resources Due to the subject matter of The Pink Unicorn, we have provided below a few of the many resources in the area for exploring these issues outside our walls.
THE BOSTON ALLIANCE OF GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER YOUTH (BAGLY)
Address: 28 Court Sq., Boston, MA 02108 Phone: (617) 227-4313 Website: bagly.org
BOSTON GLASS (GAY & LESBIAN ADOLESCENT SOCIAL SERVICES)
Address: 75 Amory St., Boston, MA 02119 Phone: (857) 399-1920 Website: jri.org/services/health-and-housing/health/boston-glass
CENTER FOR TRANSGENDER MEDICINE AND SURGERY
Boston Medical Center Address: One Boston Medical Center Pl., Boston, MA 02118 Phone: (617) 638-1833 Website: bmc.org/center-transgender-medicine-and-surgery
GENDER EXPLOSION INITATIVE
StageSource Address: 15 Channel Center St Suite 103, Boston, MA 02210 Phone: (617) 350-7611 Website: stagesource.org/page/GenderExplosion
GREATER BOSTON PFLAG
Address: P.O. Box 541619, Waltham, MA 02454 Phone: (781) 891-5966 Website: gbpflag.org
MASSACHUSETTS TRANSGENDER POLITICAL COALITION (MTPC)
Address: PO Box 960784, Boston, MA 02196 Phone: (617) 778-0519 Website: masstpc.org
MASSEQUALITY EDUCATION FUND
Address: 100 Grove Street Suite #313, Worcester, MA 01605 Phone: (617) 878-2300 Website: massequality.org
TRANS LIFELINE
Address: 195 41st St #11253, Oakland, CA 94611 Phone: (877) 565-8860 Website: translifeline.org
THE TREVOR PROJECT LIFELINE
Phone: (866) 488-7386
Website: thetrevorproject.org
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PLAY DISCUSSION CLUB: SERIES 6 For our sixth series of SpeakEasy’s Play Discussion Club, and in conjunction with our virtual production of The Pink Unicorn by Elise Forier Edie, we will be reading three plays by transgender, nonbinary, and two-spirit playwrights. Scripts are available for purchase and will be distributed electronically. And thanks to a generous donation, we are able to offer some scripts for free to those who would not be able to otherwise participate. Requests can be made on the registration form. SpeakEasy will be able to provide a limited number of complimentary scripts per week. If you require one of these scripts, please email alexlonati@speakeasystage.com. Complimentary scripts will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
WEEK 1: Sensitive Guys by MJ Kaufman (they/them) Thursday, March 11 from 5:30-6:30pm Sign Up Here! | Purchase the Script!
Will is a freshman at Watson College. Jordan is a senior film major. Tyler is writing a novel for his thesis. They are all members of the Men’s Peer Education group. At meetings, they spend hours unpacking questions like: “What is male privilege? And what can we do about it?” They love each other and the group, until some accusatory posters start appearing around campus suggesting that a member of the group committed sexual assault. Could it be that even sensitive guys, guys working on their privilege, sometimes turn violent or aggressive? In this play, women and gender non-conforming people play men trying to understand the intricacies of masculinity and violence.
WEEK 2: The Interrobangers by M Sloth Levine (they/them) Thursday, March 18 from 5:30-6:30pm Sign Up Here! | Purchase the Script!
Four groovy teens and a dog search the woods in their van to solve a mystery while exploring drugs, queerness, and the fear that men in rubber masks are scarier than monsters. The four question the world they know, looking into the parts of their history they would rather avoid.
WEEK 3: Firebird Tattoo by Ty Defoe (he/him) Thursday, March 25 from 5:30-6:30pm Sign Up Here! | Script Available Soon!
Sky Red Rope goes on a quest to find her father, ultimately finding out she is queer by getting a tattoo. This play features themes of queer two-spirit identity on the Indigneous reservation in Anishinaabe territory.
For more information on this program or any of the plays included, visit our website or email Alex Lonati at alexlonati@speakeasystage.com. Happy reading! 10
SETTING Sparkton, Texas. Present Day.
THE PINK UNICORN'S POST-SHOW PANEL At SpeakEasy, we believe theatre is just the beginning of the conversation. That is why, after viewing The Pink Unicorn, you will find a pre-recorded panel discussion hosted by writer, coach, and speaker Taj M. Smith. This panel, entitled "Learning the Impact of Language", explores the issues of the play from the perspective of some transgender and nonbinary individuals. The panelists are: Taj M. Smith (he/him) Katie Omberg (she/they) Mx. Chris Paige (they/them) Leo Austin-Spooner (he/they) We hope you will stick around after the performance and hear what these four have to say about the show!
SPEAKEASY STAGE COMPANY STAFF Producing Artistic Director ....................................................................................... Paul Daigneault General Manager / Production Manager ................................................................... Paul Melone Director of Marketing & Communications ..................................................................... Jim Torres Director of Development ................................................................................................... Cathi Ianno Community Programs & Events Manager .................................................................... Alex Lonati Creative Services & Social Media Manager ............................................................. Evan Turissini Associate Manager of Production & Operations .................................. Dominique D. Burford Development Coordinator ............................................................................... Frankie Concepcion Artistic Fellow .......................................................................................................... Dwayne P. Mitchell
SPECIAL THANKS StageSource, the Gender Explosion Initiative, Michelle Benedict-Jones, Pam Bleiwas, Thom Dunn, Fred and Jackie Dunn, Lesley Greene, Christian Henry, James and Lisa O'Gara, Christian Q, Taj M. Smith, Erica Steinhagen, Tyler Struble, and Summer Steinhagen for lending her voice so Jo could be a part of our production.
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WHO’S WHO - PLAYWRIGHT ELISE FORIER EDIE (Playwright) is an award-winning author and playwright based in Los Angeles. Her plays have been performed all over the US and Canada, in big cities, like New York and Los Angeles, but also in far flung places, like Tucson and Saskatoon. Her onewoman show The Pink Unicorn opened Off Broadway in 2019, with Tony Award-winning actress Alice Ripley in the role of Trisha Lee. In addition to scripts, Elise writes original fairytales and horror stories. These can be found in diverse publications and books, in the US, Canada and the UK. She is currently developing an interactive, alternate history novel with Choice of Games that fuses Slavic folklore with Napoleon's invasion of Russia. She is also developing a podcast "The War in Sparkton," based on the events described in The Pink Unicorn. You can find out more about her at her website, EliseForierEdie.com. (she/her)
WHO’S WHO - DIRECTOR M. BEVIN O'GARA† (Director) returns to SpeakEasy, having previously directed Small Mouth Sounds, The Bridges of Madison County, appropriate, A Future Perfect, Tribes, and Clybourne Park. A director and producer, Bevin most recently served as the Producing Artistic Director for Kitchen Theatre Company in Ithaca, New York. Prior to that, she worked with the Huntington Theatre Company, where she oversaw dozens of productions, workshops, and readings, and played an active role in realizing new work by such writers as Craig Lucas, Kirsten Greenidge, Melinda Lopez, Stephen Karam, Lydia R. Diamond and A. Rey Pamatmat. In addition, Bevin’s work in casting allowed for numerous local actors to be showcased across Huntington and Boston stages. Bevin’s directing credits include productions for the Huntington Theatre Company, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Cleveland Playhouse, Kitchen Theatre, Company One, Geva Theatre Center, Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Lyric Stage, Nora Theatre, Bad Habit Productions, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, New Repertory Theatre, and Holland Productions. Bevin is also the proud recipient of the Lois Roach Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Boston Theatre Community, and was recognized by the Massachusetts State Association of the Deaf for her commitment to D/deaf and hard of hearing artists. She holds a BFA from Boston University and is a member of SDC. (she/her)
WHO’S WHO - ACTOR STACY FISCHER* (Trisha Lee) was last seen at SpeakEasy in Necessary Monsters. Her most recent Boston-area credits include: Photograph 51 (Central Square Theater); Three Sisters (Harbor Stage Company); and Ripe Frenzy (New Repertory Theatre). Stacy has performed in numerous theatres in the Boston area including Gloucester Stage Company, Huntington Theatre Company, Lyric Stage Company, North Shore Music Theatre, and Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater. She’s the recipient of an Elliot Norton Award for Best Actress, and is a founding member of Harbor Stage Company in Wellfleet, MA. (she/her) 13
WHO’S WHO - PRODUCTION STAFF PAUL DAIGNEAULT (Producing Artistic Director) was the recipient of the 2014 Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence presented by the Boston Theater Critics Association. Since founding SpeakEasy in 1992, he has produced over 100 Boston premieres. SpeakEasy directing highlights include Admissions; The View UpStairs; Fun Home; Allegiance; The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time; The Scottsboro Boys; Significant Other; Dogfight; Violet (2016); Mothers and Sons; Big Fish; The Color Purple; In the Heights; Xanadu; Next to Normal; Nine; Body Awareness; The Great American Trailer Park Musical; [title of show]; The Savannah Disputation; Jerry Springer: The Opera; The New Century; Some Men; Zanna, Don't!; Parade [Elliot Norton Award—Outstanding Director]; Almost, Maine; Caroline, or Change; Take Me Out; Company; A Man of No Importance (co-production Súgán); Bat Boy: The Musical [Elliot Norton Award—Outstanding Director]; Passion; Violet (2000); A New Brain; Songs for a New World; Floyd Collins; Love! Valour! Compassion!; and Jeffrey. Regional credits: Grand Hotel and Nine (The Boston Conservatory and Cincinnati Conservatory of Music); Rent, City of Angels, Sunday in the Park with George, Merrily We Roll Along (The Boston Conservatory); Evita, Into the Woods, Urinetown (Boston College). Paul is a Professor of Musical Theater at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. He was honored in 2007 with the Boston College Art's Council's Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement and served as the 2011-2012 Rev. J. Donald Monan S. J. Professor in Theatre Arts. (he/him) D’ARCY DERSHAM (Dialect Coach) is happy to join SpeakEasy Stage for the first time. A Philly-based actor and coach, she taught Speech at the Brown/Trinity Rep MFA program, and most recently at the Yale School of Drama. Coaching credits include productions at Cleveland Play House, Delaware Theatre Company, Trinity Repertory Company, Hangar Theatre, InterAct, Summer Theatre at Salem, Perishable Theatre, and The Wilbury Group, as well as many graduate and undergraduate productions. She holds an MFA in Acting from Trinity Rep, and studied physical theater under Jacques Lecoq at L’École Internationale de Théâtre in Paris. More at www. darcydersham.com. (she/her) SHIRA HELENA GITLIN (Associate Director) returns to SpeakEasy having served as the 2019-20 Artistic Fellow. Directing: This Sucks (Homesick Play Project); Tales from Camp Strangewood: Mr. Champagne (Sparkhaven Theatre); 14
Lost Season (Playwrights’ Platform); Deep Blue (Boston Theatre Marathon); Shrek: The Musical (Mohawk Trail); 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Hampshire College). Assistant Directing: ReconFIGUREd (Honest Accomplice). Upcoming: WTFringe Festival 2021. (they/ them) ARI HERZIG (Production Design) returns to SpeakEasy having previously designed projections/video for The Bridges of Madison County and Tribes. Other design credits include ArtsEmerson (Kiss, Mala, Sugar); Kitchen Theatre Company (Grounded, Tribes); Revels Inc. (Christmas Revels 2016 and 2018); Lyric Stage Company (Fast Company, Dear Elizabeth, Chinglish); New Repertory Theatre (The Snow Queen); Poets' Theatre (Albatross); and the Huntington Theatre Company (Ryan Landry's M). In 2016, they received an IRNE Award for Projection Design for a Small Stage for Albatross at New Rep. Ari works as the Lighting and Projection Supervisor for the Office of the Arts at Emerson College. ariherzig.com (they/them) PAUL MELONE (General Manager/Production Manager) has managed over 100 plays, musicals, concerts, cabarets, and special events for SpeakEasy. His SpeakEasy directing credits include Once; Carrie: The Musical; Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson [2013 Elliot Norton Award–Outstanding Director]; reasons to be pretty; Adding Machine: A Musical [2010 Elliot Norton Award–Outstanding Director]; The Little Dog Laughed; Fat Pig; The Moonlight Room; Our Lady of 121st Street; and The Shape of Things. Local directing credits include Rent (Suffolk University); The Apple Tree (The Boston Conservatory); and Curse of the Starving Class (Apollinaire Theatre Company). Paul is a graduate of Boston University’s Theatre Department. (he/him) ROBERT KROPF (Technical Production Assistant) has worked with the American Repertory Theatre, the Harvard Playwrights' Festival, New Repertory Theatre, Wellfleet Harbor Actors' Theatre, and The Boston Center for the Arts. A graduate of The A.R.T. Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University, Robert is the Artistic Director of Harbor Stage Company in Wellfleet, MA. (he/him)
WHO’S WHO - PRODUCTION STAFF (continued) MIRANDA MCLEAN (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back with SpeakEasy for a third season, having previously been a part of Admissions, Choir Boy, Once, and Between Riverside and Crazy. She has worked with a variety of professional and educational institutions in the Greater Boston area, including Company One, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, New Repertory Theatre, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Harvard University, and Broadway in Boston. Miranda holds a BS in Neuroscience and Theater Arts from Emmanuel College. (she/her)
*MEMBER OF ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA) was founded in 1913 as the first of the American actor unions. Equity’s mission is to advance, promote, and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Today, Equity represents more than 49,000 actors, singers, dancers, and stage managers working in hundreds of theatres across the United States. Equity members are dedicated to working in the theatre as a profession, upholding the highest artistic standards. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions and provides a wide range of benefits including health and pension plans for its members. Through its agreement with Equity, this theatre has committed to the fair treatment of the actors and stage managers employed in this production.
ADELE NADINE TRAUB* (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to return to SpeakEasy Stage after stage AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an managing Small Mouth Sounds, appropriate, A Future international organization of performing arts unions. For more Perfect, Tribes, and Clybourne Park, all with M. Bevin information, visit actorsequity.org. O’Gara at the helm. Adele is a founding company member at Actors’ Shakespeare Project, where she stage managed **Member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829. over 25 productions. Other stage management credits include A Guide for the Homesick and I Was Most Alive † With You at the Huntington Theatre Company, plus work The Director and/or Choreographer is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers with the A.R.T., Israeli Stage, Boston Playwrights Theatre, Society, a national theatrical labor union. Lyric Stage Company, Capital Repertory in Albany, NY, and Playwrights’ Horizons in NYC. Adele teaches Stage Management at Boston College, is the Marketing Manager for J.P. Licks, and is a professional quilter. (she/her) SPEAKEASY STAGE COMPANY operates under the NEAT rider to the Small Professional Theater contract with Actors’ Equity Association and is a member of NEAT (The Producer’s Association of New England Area Theatres). SpeakEasy is also proud to be the Pavilion Resident Company at the Boston Center for the Arts, and is a member of ArtsBoston, BAMA, StageSource, TAMA, and the Theatre Communications Group. www.SpeakEasyStage.com THE BOSTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS (BCA) is a not-for-profit performing and visual arts campus that supports working artists to create, perform, and exhibit new works; develops new audiences; and connects the arts to community. For more information, visit bcaonline.org.
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THANK YOU TO OUR ANNUAL FUND DONORS We are grateful to our leadership donors for their annual contributions to the company. Their gifts make it possible for SpeakEasy to continue growing and flourishing in the South End of Boston. We deeply appreciate the amazing support and participation of this generous community.
Institutional Donors $50,000+
Barr-Klarman Massachusetts Arts Initiative Boston Center for the Arts*
$20,000-$49,999
Mass Cultural Council The Shubert Foundation
$10,000-$19,999 Bank of America
$5,000-$9,999
Bove & Langa, P.C. City of Boston, Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture George & Alice Rich Charitable Foundation Office of MassHousing
$2,500-$4,999
Boston Veterinary Clinic Madison Food Corp.
$1,000-$2,499
Barbershop Deluxe John Snow, Inc. Cathy Marotta, Sotheby's Real Estate Roberta Orlandino, Coldwell Banker Seligman Dental Designs St. Paul's Episcopal Church Wilson Butler Architects *in-kind donor
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BENEFACTORS - $25,000+ Fulton Charitable Trust Nancy & Ed Roberts
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - $10,000-$24,999 Alex Baker & Butch Chilton The Gregory E. Bulger Foundation/ Gregory Bulger & Richard Dix David S. Godkin & Pamela Haran Keith MacDonald & Tom Webber Nick Scandalios Sam Yin Anonymous
PRODUCER - $5,000-$9,999 Carol Deane Kerry A. Dowling Jonathan Dyer & Thomas Foran Lucia & Bruce Field Andrew Fullem David Halstead Peter & Christine Palladino Erik & Ranesh Ramanathan Dawn & Doug Saglio Paul & Jennifer Walsh Dana & Daniel Wolf Julianne Yazbek & JD Paul
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER - $2,500-$4,999 Rick Bankhead & Kemper Thompson Catherine & Harvey Cotton Paul Daigneault & Jeff Mello Mary E. Darmstaetter Anne d'Avenas & Jerry Brody Richard Davies & Alexander Albregts Danné Davis Lindsay & Garth Greimann Wendy Bailey Hamilton Ken Hirschkind Peter Hornstra Susan & Mark Irvings Terence Janericco Melissa Langa & Jeff Wulfson Jeanne Leszczynski & Diane Dicarlo Randi & Paul Levine Malcolm MacDonald in honor of Keith MacDonald & Tom Webber Bill & Barbara Melone
THANK YOU TO OUR ANNUAL FUND DONORS ASSOCIATE PRODUCER - $2,500-$4,999 (CONT.) Joan & Paul Nunes Faith & Glenn Parker Bob & Jackie Pascucci Joey Riddle & Paul Miller Robert & Raeanne Sarazen
Alejandro Simoes & Gigi Watson Ann Teixeira Stacie Simon & Hal Tepfer & the Puppies
Donna & Steve Tritman Jean Walsh & Graham Davies Hannah Weisman & Mike Peluse Clea & Neal Winneg
PRODUCERS CIRCLE - $1,000-$2,499 Helen & Robert Alkon George Andreadis Michael Appell & Guy Ronen Linda Aronson, in honor of Steven Aronson Charles Baker, Sr. The Honorable Governor Charlie & Lauren Baker Bob Band Gene Bauer & Ellen Shortell Susan Black & Richard O'Neal Don & Susan Casey Joe Castellana & Jim Seligman Richard & Beth Compson Stacey & Chris Constas Ellen Davis & John Sullivan Sarah Delaney Dana Dilworth & Joseph O'Donnell Jeff & Erica Drazen Zach Durant-Emmons & Willis Emmons FJN Charitable Foundation Tom Formicola & Lenny Goldstein Temple V. Gill & Christopher R. Yens
Cindy & Roger Goldstein Suzanne Greenberg Gretchen S. Grimshaw & Thalia Meehan Steve & Barbara Grossman Dorothy Hebden-Heath Mark Hickey & Jack Cornwell Roz & Herb Hill Paul & Elizabeth Kastner Bill Kelly Marion Kuntz Nathan Levenson Roberta & Geoffrey Levy Marianne Lonati Lou & Alyson Magliozzi Benjamin & Michael Manthei H. Betsy Munzer Ann Noble & Valerie Grande Thomas Norris Robert Oldshue Derek Osterman & Erik Johnson Mark & Patricia Ostrem Grace Parker Richard Parritz Bruce Posner & Betsy Rudnick Debby Raboy Michael Roitman
Susan & Stephen Root Bradley Seeman Kenneth & Rise Shepsle Robert Siefert & Maureen Shea-Siefert Gerald & Susan Slavet Somerled Charitable/ Macdonald CGF Nancy & Edward Stavis Jim Stiles & Randy Bird Karen Suyemoto Bob & Nancy Tucker Carl & Sharon Turissini Jerry Wheelock Angela Yarde Jim Young Anonymous (2) The lists on Pages 16-17 recognize donors with gifts to our Annual Fund program of $1000+ from 2/9/20-2/9/21.
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THANK YOU TO OUR ANNUAL FUND DONORS FRIENDS CIRCLE
Thank you to these generous donors who have made a gift in the past year to support our season. We are inspired by their continued commitment to our mission. SPONSOR - $500+ Jeannine Ayotte Clara & James Batchelor Kathy & Marshall Berenson Vijay Bettada Edward Boesel Paul Boutin & Rich Gurney Jim Bracciale & Richard Kestler Amy Brodesky Carol Carroll Bob Chabot & Glen Doerr Sandra & Arnold Chase Kristine Clerkin & Catherine Hay Christine Coakley Ellen Colton David Cucinotta & Jim Cove Jon & Kim Davis Jim deVeer Ms. Deborah Doktor Katherine & Robert Eyre Mark Finklestein Michael Flier & David Trueblood Foley Fiore Architecture Arlene Franklin & Ray Jacques Meegan Gliner Anne Gottlieb & Robert Pemberton Shelly F. Greenfield & Allan M. Brandt Grace & Bill Gregor Mark & Cindy Haddad J. William Harris & Terry Rockefeller Jennifer Harris & David Condon Kevin Hemenger Amy & Simon Horsburgh Joy Howard & Pamela Werntz Richard & Ilene Jacobs Frederic S. Johnson Peggy Johnson Kate & Steve Kelley Eric Levenson Will & Anastasia Lyman Stuart & Yvonne Madnick Esther Messing Joseph Misdraji Peter & Beatrice Nessen Mary E. O'Connor Suzanne Oesterreicher John Parisi Vasily Petrishin Catherine Phillips 18
Sharon & Howard Rich Lee Ridgway & Donald Vaughan Larry Rosenberg Leah Rugen & Anthony Boral Pito & Chris Salas Mark Saperstein & Eric Karnowski Chuck Schwager & Jan Durgin Jane & Benjamin Siegel Artan Simeqi Mark Smith & John O'Keefe Mark Staloff & Greg Bowne Martha Stearns Rick Summers & Bill Thompson The Daughters Fund Crystal Tiala Catherine & David Tomey Patrick Turner Brian Wagner & Tim Carlson Gregory Ward & Charles Murphy Rob Wilson & Sergio Mazon Anonymous PATRON- $250+ James Alexander & Tom Stocker Sara & Stuart Altman Rebecca Backman & Stephen Cotton Michael & Julie Bailit Laura Barooshian Lisa Beaulieu Kathleen Beckman Paul Blackborow & Jessica Daniels Donald Bloch Melanie Blower Don & Melinda Boroson Jon & Dixie Lee Borus Sandra Bower Paul Sanborn Boynton Bernice Buresh Marianne Callahan Laura Carney & Andy Clarkson John Cini & Star Lancaster Jennifer Coplon & Robert Frank Susan & Bill Cotter David Crowley & Francis Pelletier Sandra Cullison David Dalena & Brian Patton Kim Damokosh Albert Digregorio Aliisa Dimartinis Joseph-Rocque Dion & David Bruce Wright
Glenn Edelson Ken & Claire Edmondson Maggi Farrell Diane Fassino Harry Fatkin Kathryn & Peter Feinmann The Fife Family Foundation Bruce Fortin Jessie & Steven Foster Jim Freiman & Josh Peary David & Melissa Fristrom Shantel Fujiwara Sterling B. Giles, in memory of Rudy Kikel Karen & Geoffrey Gill Laura Haas & Richard Wood Peter Haydu Chris Herring Megan & Chris Holding Dennis A. Humphrey Cynthia Kagno & David Wittenberg Alfred Kaplan & Ruth Sherman David & Harriet Kaufman Thomas H. Kean Laurie Kelley George Klauber & Jo-Ann Ross Julie Arvedon Knowlton & Scott Knowlton Barbara Kroft David Kronman Stewart Landers Christopher Lawrence & Philip White Lynda Leahy David Linsky Carleen M. Loper David Lucey, Jr. Martha Markowitz Richard McCarthy Walt & Annie McGough Kate & Mark McKone-Sweet Lindsay McNair Peg Merzbacher Ellen & Jonathan Miller Helaine Miller Lynne & Richard Montross Joan Moynagh & Adam Sholley Pam Noble Thomas Novak Aaron J. Nurick & Diane M. Austin Jeff O. Kevin Petrovek & Nancy Cantella Ted Pietras
Maureen & Stephen Pike The PlayMates Wendy & Robert Reasenberg Glenn Rizzo & Paul Simpson Pamela Roberts & Scott McInturff Liz Ross & Bill O'Reilly Jane Ruzanski Peter Sadow Brian Sands Dick & Dorothy Santos Amy Schoenbaum Philip & Tracy Schroeder Henry Servinskas & Roy DuBois Andrea Shirley & Joyce Richmond Mark Shura & Dan Harvey Jill Silverstein Douglas & Karen Skillins Ethie Slate Nancy Snidman Donna Steele Bob & Bobbie Steinbach David R. Sunderland Jenna Thrash Alexander Turchin Stacy Vandeveer Steve & Pat Vinter Davin & David Wedel Kerry Weiss-Pena & Gustavo Pena Lawrence White Jeffrey Wildstein & Andrea Dine Frances Winneg Jared Wolf Simon & Paula Young Andrew Zucker Anonymous (2)
RAVEIS
FRIEND - $100+ Jon Abbott & Shari Malyn Cindy Aber, in memory of Jack Aber Irene Abrams & Jonathan Solomon Lenny Alberts Jordana Alford Mark Alpert & Bill Gustat Katie Shinay Ames John Amodeo & Brian De Lorenzo Rebecca M Anders Diane M. Aramony Martin & Judy Arick Lynn T. Armstrong Jill Arnow Richard Arsenault & Joe Lachimia
Bennett Aspel & Joyce Plotkin Jill Axelrod Lucille & Robert Azanow Jane & Frank Bachner Aaron Badilla Sharyn Bahn Jonathan Baker Amy Barker Denise Barreira Sherry Bauman Carol Becker Keith Bell & Brian Shannon Madelyn Bell Rhoda Bernard Stuart & Janice Bernstein Rose Ann Berwald & George Chism Michael Biales John Biderman Ben & Josette Blake Brad Blake Libby Blank Robert Blum & Brian Haines Danny Bolton Daniel Borges Brian Bourquin & Paul Mataras Edith Bowers Jane Brady Jeremy Branstad Andrew & Nancy Branz Linda Breen Barbara Brilliant Lynne Brilliant & Wanda Shelton Jerry & Phyllis Briskin Peter Britton Jason Bromberg Marcia Bromfield Mark Bronson Donald Bronstein Paul Brouillette Barbara Brown Carolyn Brzezinski David Buckle Deborah Bower Burke Samantha Burns Scott Burson & Wendy Liebow Paris Burstyn Paul Butterworth Margaret Cain Donald & Sondra Caplin Richard J. Carey Stephanie Cave John Ceballos Judith Chaffee Fran Charnas Lee Chelminiak & Doug Herberich Barbara Christman Brian Chuang & Bruce Stewart Gerald Chuplis Jay Clark Jonathan Clark
Edward Clasby Macy Coffey Laurence Cohen Sarah Cole Cynthia Conklin Kevin & Jane Connolly Jenna Corcoran Barbara & Richard Corkey Julie Craven German Crisostomo & Michael Askins Matthew Croak Harold Crowley, Jr. Jackie Crowley Will Crumbley Susan Daley Sally & Hebert Dane Kate Dare-Winters Susan & Tom Darnell Agus Darwanto Ronald & Nancy Davids Nuria de las Casas Mary Dill Glenn Dodge Terry Dolan McCaela Donovan Meghan Dorian Joan Doucette Thom Dunn Greg Durkin & Jeff Goldsmith Ashley Eaton Judith Eissenberg Lee W. Ellenberg & Ken Mitchell Anne-Marie Enderby Jane Epstein Kelly Epstein Catherine Esser Beverly Estes-Smargiassi Lois & Ted Everett Paul Fallon Judith Fanger Orna Feldman Matthias & Rebecca Ferber Ricardo Ferrer Susan Fish Sydney Fisher Carol L. Fishman Carol Fishman Colleen Fitzpatrick Ed Ford & Gilbert Arenaza Merrill Forman Frank Fornaro Kevin Forster Steven Fossella & Daniel Bolton Dorr Fox Marian Fox Linda Freeman Leslie Friedman Nina Friedman Rolf Fuessler & Norman Goulet
Bill Furmanski Nancy Gaden Mary Gaffney Galejs Warren Family Fund Jared Galvan Regina Gavin Walter Gee Paula Georges Karen Gill Paul Giragos & Susan Snyder Amy Gitlin Herbert Glickman Dan & Carol Goldberg Paul Goldberg Betty Goldstein Gary Goldstein Greg Gordon & Freya Emspak Robert Gordon Charlene Grant & Carol Rosensweig Bob Greene Daniel Greenwood Eric R. Greimann James Griffin Nancy E. Grissom Debra Grossman & Kate Tyndall Constance Gist Guindo Julie Hackett Gary Hall Michael Hallor Mary Hamilton Rich Hanson Ellen & Mark Harmon Nancy Pendarvis Harris Carolyn & Alden Hart Gregory & Kathleen Haugh Frederick Heinrichs & David Heckert Jill Herold Mary Hewson Deborah Hicks Robin Hicks Ellen Hilly Kathleen Hodges Ted & Martha Holmes Howard Howell & Jeffrey Stevens Barbara Howland Chobee Hoy Audrey Huang Cathi Ianno Victor Ianno Annette Jacobs Jamie Jaffe Dania & Solomon Jekel John & Elaine Jepson Daniel John Diane Fallon Johnson Tami Kaplan Jerrold Katz Paul Kelly & Edward Dusek Paul & Sue Kilrain David S. King
Lee & Steve Kleinman Stephen Knowlton & Joseph Pettigrew Edgar Knudson & Louis Mula Stanley Kramer Andrea Kreitman Mitzi Kuroda Jackie Laberge Ann-Mara & John Lanza Joan & Mark Lappin Pam LaRue Catherine Laurent Daphne Layton Stephen Leahy Jonathan & Virginia Leavy Debra Lefkowitz Richard E. Lemire Sandra Y. Levine David & Audrey Levington Jon Levy Anne & Christopher Lewis Lisette Beauregard Lewis Terry Lighte SML-W Ginny Lima Lois Lindauer & Bill Seltz Matthew List Doug, Antonio, & Max Lockwood Virginia Loeb & James Sperling Heidi Logan Louise Lonabocker Marie Longo & Allison Bauer Monica Luke Mark Lunsford Tracy MacNeal Danielle Maddon Mal Malme & Meg Stone Susan & Tom Mann Hope Marandola Paul Marchesiani Cathy Marotta Barbara Martin Suzette & Paul Martin Ms. Bonnie McBride James McCahill Susan McCalley Mary McCarthy Tom McDonald Brian McDonnell Laurie McTeague Julia McVay & Stan Gross Sherri Meade Karole Mendelsohn Marty Milkovits Gail Miller Cheryl Mitchell Donald Mitchell Katalin Mitchell Leland Monk Christopher Montani 19
THANK YOU TO OUR ANNUAL FUND DONORS (continued) Jim Mootos Jennifer Morris Amanda Mujica & Kim Slack Robert Mullen Julie Nadal Gail Neff Katie Neff Leslie Nelken Nancy Nelson M.B. Nelting Ethan Nessen Jackie Norton Stephen & Margaret Ober Nicole O'Brien Kim O'Byrne Michael J. O'Leary Paula Ogier Roberta Orlandino Sanford Ostroy Carol & Gene Ott Caryn & Paul Parnell Gordon Parry Elaine & Joe Paster Leslie Pasternack Dossy Peabody Nicholas Pepe Martha Pereli Corey Perks Barry Perlman Karen Perlow & Dale Place David Perreault Stephen & Mary Linton Peters Susan Petrlik Beth Pinals Jennifer Pinkus Anne Marie Plasse Robert Poirier & Jeffrey Clifford Marion & David Pollock Frank Posluszny, in memory of Karen Alice Yelin Norman & Susan Posner Lisa Primavera Philip Pryor Guy Pugh & Steven Yakutis Catherine Racer Larry Raff Jim Rebitzer & Kathleen Engel Karen Reece & Mike Carvalho Robin D. Redding Memorial Trust Fund - The Bretschneider Family Suzanne E. Ricco Judy Rice Mark & Megan Richardson Charles Rippberger A. Gregory Rocco Margaret Rocco Ann Marie Rocheleau Stephen Romano & Pat Capozzi 20
Meredith Rosenthal Robert Ross & John Argos Sarah Rowley Roland Roy & Bruce McCarthy Debra Ruder Robert Ruggiero & Bruce Law Josh Ruman Joseph Russo Sakowitz Family Robert Saoud & Christopher DiMeo Leslie Sargent Jean Scarrow Michael Schatz Adam Schepp Raymond Schmidt & Stephen Skuce Anne & Neil Schneider Marlene Schultz Gerald Schwartz Susan Scofield Mary Scott & John Dempsey Mary Margaret Segraves & Paul A. McLean Robert Seiler Kim Shanks Marci Shaw David Shuckra Cindy Shulak-Rome Norma Shulman Sherry & Robert Shulman Bert Silverberg Risa Silverston Peter Simkin Charlotte Simmons Regenia Sims Laura Sitterley & Mark Baumgartner Jane Sloan Georgia & Christopher Smith Jim & Meg Smith Valerie Smith Kate Snodgrass Anne Snyder Elinor Socholitzky Diane T. Spencer & Robert H. Scott Paula Spencer Mark Spiegel & Faith Rafkind Kathy St. George Edward Stanley Robert Stavins Derek Stearns Julie Stets Shannon Stiles Alan & Kristi Strahler Eugene & Madeline Straussberg Dave Sullivan & Dave Nuscher Eleanor Sullivan Valarie Sullivan
Nilsa Sweetser Michael Tabak Douglas Talhelm & Ashley Eaton Nambini Talwar Ross Taylor Wesley L. Taylor Cynthia Telingator Sarah Tenney Margaret Thomas Viola Thomas Maura Tighe Daniel & Harriet Tolpin Dana D. Torrey Dawn Tucker Evan Turissini Jill Turk Laurence Turka Susan Turner Lanci Valentine Paula Vassallo Robert Volante Rebecca Vose Donna Wade Dalit Waller George Walmsley Gerard Walsh Meredith Walsh
Warm Leatherette Virginia Watkins Weathervane Theatre Michael Weingart Barnet & Sandra Weinstein Steven Weinstein & Joellen Gavin Tom Weisend & Daniel Faucher Julie & Doug Weisman Arnold & Lois Weiss Irwin Weiss Emily & Jon Welch Julia Whelan Tim Williamson Mark & Rachel Winkeller Peter Wulsin Todd Yard Jim Yeaton Stephen H. Zinner Aileen & Matthew Zogby Anonymous (14) The lists on Pages 18-20 recognize donors with gifts to our Annual Fund program of $100-$999 from 2/9/20-2/9/21.
Like what you see on stage? TCBF has their backs! All these Actors, Directors, Designers, Crew, Stage Managers, Playwrights, and Administrators, both current and former. Since 1997, THEATRE COMMUNITY BENEVOLENT FUND provides financial relief to individual and non-profit organizational members of the GREATER BOSTON THEATRE COMMUNITY who suffer urgent, often catastrophic, losses. And we do this in a discrete, respectful manner.
TO APPLY for funding, go online to www.tcbf.org to find guidelines for application. TO DONATE, please send your tax-deductible contributions to: THEATRE COMMUNITY BENEVOLENT FUND PO BOX 327 411A Highland Avenue Somerville, MA 02144 Thank you! TCBF is a 501c3 non-profit organization. TCBF is a GOLD RATED member of GUIDESTAR. See our profile online in the world’s largest directory of nonprofit organizations.
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