21|22 Season February Performance Program by University of Florida Performing Arts

SPRING 2022

GATOR NATION GIVING DAY

02.17.22 G I V I N G D AY. U F L . E D U

MARCH & APRIL 2022 EVENTS PILOBOLUS — BIG FIVE OH! TUESDAY, MARCH 1 SPONSORED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF BOB SINGER, KEITH WATSON EVENTS, AND KET ENTERPRISES

QUARTET AMABILE SUNDAY, MARCH 13

BALLETX TUESDAY, MARCH 15 SPONSORED BY UF HEALTH

BLUE MAN GROUP WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 SPONSORED BY AUDACY

CHRIS BOTTI

INDIAN INK: MRS. KRISHNAN’S PARTY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30 THURSDAY, MARCH 31 FRIDAY, APRIL 1 SPONSORED BY HARRISON ESTATE LAW

GEORGE HINCHLIFFE’S

UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN FRIDAY, APRIL 8 SPONSORED BY LIMEROCK ROAD NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL

ALBERT CANO SMIT, PIANO TUESDAY, APRIL 12

TUESDAY, MARCH 22 SPONSORED BY BLUE WATER BAY AND OAK HAMMOCK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

ALL DATES, TIMES, AND VENUES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

TICKETS FOR UFPA’S SPRING PERFORMANCES ARE ON SALE NOW! ORDER ONLINE OR CALL THE PHILLIPS CENTER BOX OFFICE —

PERFORMINGARTS.UFL.EDU | 352.392.ARTS (2787)

presents

AN EVENING WITH LEMON ANDERSEN

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022 | 7:30 P.M. Squitieri Studio Theatre

Sponsored by

KET ENTERPRISES Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

A native New Yorker, Lemon Andersen is a Tony Award®-winning playwright, poet, performance artist, youth empowerment activist, brand creative, and television writer. His most recent play, ToasTwas, was commissioned by the Public Theater in New York City and developed by the Sundance Institute. Andersen’s performances and writing have been hosted in venues ranging from Theatre On The Square (San Francisco), to Gammage Performing Arts Center (Arizona), Spoleto Festival (Charleston), International Festival of Arts & Ideas (New Haven), The Chicago Theatre, and the Kodak Theatre (Los Angeles). County of Kings, Andersen’s coming-of-age autobiographical memoir produced by Spike Lee at the Public Theater, was met with critical acclaim by The New York Times and was awarded Grand Prize at the 2009 New York Book Festival. Lemon is an original member of the TONY Award-winning Def Poetry Jam on Broadway. He then went on to have the greatest number of appearances on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, which ran for six seasons. His book of poems, Straightrazor, was excerpted by actor and activist Hill Harper for his bestselling book, Letters to an Incarcerated Brother. The evening will include beloved, classic pieces from Lemon’s repertory along with excerpts from his newest work, When Aliens Fall From The Sky, directed and developed by renowned director and Lemon’s long-time collaborator, Elise Thoron. Inspired by the stylings of Spalding Gray, When Aliens Fall from The Sky will be a compilation of stories and poems from real citizens across the continental United States and Puerto Rico. Collected and shared by people who are both documented and undocumented, these journeys reveal a vast and colorful canvas of experiences from the small cities to the big towns of America, or as Lemon likes to call it, “the bone marrow of our nation.” Lemon weaves rhymes and speaks a harsh but witty truth through these complex characters with the intention to shine a spotlight on America’s identity crisis.

Photo © SpitKing Media

LEMON ANDERSEN

presents

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2022 | 7:30 P.M. Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Sponsored by

GUIDE TO GREATER GAINESVILLE | KEITH WATSON EVENTS

Funded in part by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County

A Note About the Plot

enny is Mark and Roger’s former roommate. With the help of his wealthy father-in-law, Benny has bought the building in which Mark and Roger live and the lot next door that is inhabited by a group of homeless people. Benny wants to build a high-tech cyber-arts studio on the property. Toward this end, he plans to clear the homeless from the lot and evict all the tenants from the building, including Mark and Roger. Mark’s former lover, Maureen, schedules a performance protest of Benny’s scheme for midnight on Christmas Eve. Benny offers a deal to Mark and Roger: if they convince Maureen to stop her protest, Mark and Roger can stay in the building rent-free. At the end of Act I, Maureen stages her performance. A riot erupts in the lot, which Mark videotapes. Then Benny padlocks the building, locking out all the tenants. Act II begins on New Year’s Eve as Mark, Roger and friends attempt to break back into the building. The rest of the act follows the events of the year.

Benny is married to Alison Grey of Westport (whom we never see)

BENNY

Benny used to live with Mark and Roger

MARK Mark used to date Maureen

MAUREEN JOANNE

Benny used to date Mimi

MIMI

ROGER

Mark and Roger are best friends and roommates

Mark and Roger are friends with ex-roommate Collins

COLLINS

ANGEL

WORK LIGHT PRODUCTIONS presents

Book, Music and Lyrics by

Set Design

Paul Clay

Jonathan Larson

Costume Book, DesignMusic and Lighting Lyrics Design by

Jonathan Larson

Angela Wendt

Jonathan Spencer

Original Concept & Musical Arrangements Additional Lyrics Design Set Design Costume Design Lighting

Sound Design

Keith Caggiano Dramaturg Sound Design

Steve Aronson Spencer Lynn Keith M. Thompson Paul ClaySkinner Angela WendtBilly Jonathan Caggiano Musical Direction Musical Arrangements Matthew DeMaria

Set Design Concept Adaptation Original & Additional Matthew E. Lyrics Maraffi

Casting Musical Direction

Tour Marketing Press Adaptation Set &Design

Steve Skinner

Billy Aronson

Wojcik|Seay Casting Matthew DeMaria

Production Stage Manager Dramaturg Gabrielle Norris

Lynn M. Thompson

Music Associate Supervisor Choreographer Production Stage Manager

Allied Matthew Global Marketing OwenNorris Johnston E. Maraffi Dave Pepin Gabrielle

Production Management

General Management Tour Marketing

Production Management

Additional Arrangements General Management

Manager Music Company Associate

Press ProductionsSupervisor Port Casting City Technical Work &Light KerrickChoreographer Dougherty Wojcik|Seay Casting Allied Global Marketing Dave Pepin Owen Johnston

Port City Technical

Tim Weil

Work Light Productions

Company Manager

Kerrick Dougherty

Choreography Additional Arrangements

Marlies Yearby Tim Weil Directed by Choreography

Evan Ensign Marlies Yearby

Based on Original by Directed Direction by

Michael Greif Evan Ensign

Originally produced Direction on Broadway Based on Original byby

Michael Greif

Jeffrey Seller Kevin McCollum Allan S. Gordon and New York Theatre Workshop Originally produced by on Broadway by EXCLUSIVE TOUR DIRECTION THE BOOKING GROUP Jeffrey Seller Kevin McCollum www.thebookinggroup.com Allan S. Gordon and New York Theatre Workshop

EXCLUSIVE TOUR DIRECTION by THE BOOKING GROUP www.thebookinggroup.com 3

CAST CAST

(in order of appearance) (in order of appearance) Roger Davis ...................................................................................... COLEMAN CUMMINGS Roger Davis ...................................................................................... COLEMAN CUMMINGS Mark Cohen .............................................................................................................. J.T. WOOD Mark Cohen .............................................................................................................. J.T. WOOD Tom Collins .......................................................................................................SHAFIQ HICKS Tom Collins .......................................................................................................SHAFIQ HICKS Benjamin Coffin III ...................................................................................JARRED BEDGOOD Benjamin Coffin III ...................................................................................JARRED BEDGOOD Joanne Jefferson ............................................................................................ RAYLA GARSKE Joanne Jefferson ............................................................................................ RAYLA GARSKE Angel Schunard.....................................................................................................JAVON KING Angel Schunard.....................................................................................................JAVON KING Mimi Marquez ............................................................................................... AIYANA SMASH Mimi Marquez ............................................................................................... AIYANA SMASH Maureen Johnson .................................................................................................LYNDIE MOE Maureen Johnson .................................................................................................LYNDIE MOE Mark’s Mom and others ...........................................................................MAKENZIE RIVERA Mark’s Mom and others ...........................................................................MAKENZIE RIVERA Christmas Caroler, Mr. Jefferson, Pastor and others .........................................JAHIR L. HIPPS Christmas Caroler, Mr. Jefferson, Pastor and others .........................................JAHIR L. HIPPS Mrs. Jefferson, Woman with Bags and others.................................... ELIZABETH ADABALE Mrs. Jefferson, Woman with Bags and others.................................... ELIZABETH ADABALE Gordon, The Man, Mr. Grey and others...................................... .STEPHEN ROCHET LOPEZ Gordon, The Man, Mr. Grey and others...................................... .STEPHEN ROCHET LOPEZ Steve, Man with Squeegee, a Waiter and others ........................................... JAMES SCHOPPE Steve, Man with Squeegee, a Waiter and others ........................................... JAMES SCHOPPE Paul and others ....................................................................................... MATHEW BAUTISTA Paul and others ....................................................................................... MATHEW BAUTISTA Alexi Darling, Roger’s Mom and others.......................................................................YZ JASA Alexi Darling, Roger’s Mom and others.......................................................................YZ JASA UNDERSTUDIES UNDERSTUDIES Swings and understudies never substitute for listed performers Swings and understudies never substitute for listed performers unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the appearance. unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the appearance.

for Roger— JAHIR L. HIPPS, TOMMY KAISER, STEPHEN ROCHET LOPEZ for Roger— JAHIR L. HIPPS, TOMMY KAISER, STEPHEN ROCHET LOPEZ for Mark—TOMMY KAISER, STEPHEN ROCHET LOPEZ, for Mark—TOMMY KAISER, STEPHEN ROCHET LOPEZ, CHRISTOPHER MONTALVO CHRISTOPHER MONTALVO for Tom Collins—JARRED BEDGOOD, JAYLON CRUMP, JAHIR L. HIPPS for Tom Collins—JARRED BEDGOOD, JAYLON CRUMP, JAHIR L. HIPPS for Benny—JAYLON CRUMP, THOMAS PURVIS for Benny—JAYLON CRUMP, THOMAS PURVIS for Joanne—ELIZABETH ADABALE, YZ JASA, CARLINA PARKER for Joanne—ELIZABETH ADABALE, YZ JASA, CARLINA PARKER for Angel—MATHEW BAUTISTA, JAMES SCHOPPE for Angel—MATHEW BAUTISTA, JAMES SCHOPPE for Mimi—CARLINA PARKER, ANALISE RIOS for Mimi—CARLINA PARKER, ANALISE RIOS for Maureen—ANALISE RIOS, MAKENZIE RIVERA for Maureen—ANALISE RIOS, MAKENZIE RIVERA SWINGS SWINGS JAYLON CRUMP, TOMMY KAISER, CHRISTOPHER MONTALVO, JAYLON CRUMP, TOMMY KAISER, CHRISTOPHER MONTALVO, CARLINA PARKER, THOMAS PURVIS, ANALISE RIOS CARLINA PARKER, THOMAS PURVIS, ANALISE RIOS DANCE CAPTAIN DANCE CAPTAIN JAMES SCHOPPE JAMES SCHOPPE

ASSISTANT DANCE CAPTAIN ASSISTANT DANCE CAPTAIN CARLINA PARKER CARLINA PARKER

ORCHESTRA ORCHESTRA Conductor/Keyboards—MATTHEW DEMARIA Conductor/Keyboards—MATTHEW DEMARIA Associate Music Director/Keys 2/Guitar 2—BEN COVELLO Associate Music Director/Keys 2/Guitar 2—BEN COVELLO Guitar—DAVID MALACHOWSKI Guitar—DAVID MALACHOWSKI Bass—JORDAN RICHARDS Bass—JORDAN RICHARDS Drums—JEFF SNIDER Drums—JEFF SNIDER Stand By Musician—PAUL O’KEEFE Stand By Musician—PAUL O’KEEFE

4 4

The photographing or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device or The photographing or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device or such photographing or sound recording inside this theater, without the written permission of the such photographing or sound recording inside this theater, without the written permission of the management, is prohibited by law. Violators may be punished by ejection and violations may management, is prohibited by law. Violators may be punished by ejection and violations may render the offender liable for money damages. render the offender liable for money damages.

CAST

ELIZABETH JEREMY ADABALE ABRAM

MATHEW ELIZABETH BAUTISTA ADABALE

JARRED MATHEW BEDGOOD BAUTISTA

JAYLON JARRED CRUMP BEDGOOD

COLEMAN COLEMAN CUMMINGS CUMMINGS

RAYLA RAYLA GARSKE GARSKE

SHAFIQ SHAFIQ HICKS HICKS

JAHIR JAHIR L. L. HIPPS HIPPS

YZ YZ JASA JASA

TOMMY TOMMY KAISER KAISER

JAVON JAVON KING KING

STEPHEN STEPHEN ROCHET ROCHET LOPEZ LOPEZ

LYNDIE LYNDIE MOE MOE

CHRISTOPHER CHRISTOPHER MONTALVO MONTALVO

CARLINA CARLINA PARKER PARKER

THOMAS THOMAS PURVIS PURVIS

ANALISE ANALISE RIOS RIOS

MAKENZIE MAKENZIE RIVERA RIVERA

AIYANA AIYANA SMASH SMASH

JAMES JAMES SCHOPPE SCHOPPE

J.T. J.T. WOOD WOOD

MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT ONE

“Tune Up/Voice Mail #1” ......................................... Mark, Roger, Mrs. Cohen, Collins, Benny “Rent” ................................................................................................................... The Company “You Okay Honey?” .............................................................................................Angel, Collins “One Song Glory” .............................................................................................................. Roger “Light My Candle” ..................................................................................................Roger, Mimi “Voice Mail #2” .......................................................................................Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson “Today 4 U” ....................................................................................................................... Angel “You’ll See” ........................................................................Benny, Mark, Collins, Roger, Angel “Tango: Maureen” .................................................................................................. Mark, Joanne “Life Support”................................................................................ Paul, Gordon, The Company “Out Tonight” ...................................................................................................................... Mimi “Another Day” ................................................................................ Roger, Mimi, The Company “Will I?” ................................................................................................................ The Company “On the Street” ...................................................................................................... The Company “Santa Fe” .......................................................................................... Collins and The Company “I’ll Cover You” ....................................................................................................Angel, Collins “We’re Okay”.................................................................................................................... Joanne “Christmas Bells”.................................................................................................. The Company “Over the Moon”............................................................................................................ Maureen “La Vie Bohème/I Should Tell You” ..................................................................... The Company ACT TWO

“Seasons of Love”................................................................................................. The Company “Happy New Year/Voice Mail #3” ..................................Mimi, Roger, Mark, Maureen, Joanne, Collins, Angel, Mrs. Cohen, Alexi Darling, Benny “Take Me or Leave Me”....................................................................................Maureen, Joanne “Without You” ..........................................................................................................Roger, Mimi “Voice Mail #4” ..................................................................................................... Alexi Darling “Contact”............................................................................................................... The Company “I’ll Cover You” (Reprise) ....................................................................... Collins, The Company “Halloween” .........................................................................................................................Mark “Goodbye, Love” ...................................Mark, Mimi, Roger, Maureen, Joanne, Collins, Benny “What You Own” ............................................................... Pastor, Mark, Collins, Benny, Roger “Voice Mail #5” .................................. Roger’s mom, Mimi’s mom, Mr. Jefferson, Mrs. Cohen “Your Eyes/Finale” ....................................................................................Roger, The Company Film by Daniel Brodie “White Christmas” used by arrangement with the Irving Berlin Music Company; “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, used by permission of Casa David and New Hidden Valley Music. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells, used by permission of Edwin H. Morris & Company, a division of MPL Communications Inc. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” written by Johnny Marks, used by permission of St. Nicholas Music Inc.

WHO’S WHO in the CAST ELIZABETH ADABALE (Ensemble, Mrs. Jefferson, “Seasons of Love” Soloist, u/s Joanne) is thrilled to get back on the road with Rent! She’s a Nigerian-American Los Angeles native now based in NYC. National tours: The Color Purple. OffBroadway: Revelation. Regional favorites: Sister Act, Smokey Joe’s Café, Little Shop of Horrors. Thanks to God, family, Todd and Gayle. elizabethadabale.com and @lizadabale.

with a Bachelor of Music from Baldwin Wallace University. He is excited to debut in his first national tour!! He would like to thank his mother, grandmother and all his teachers along the way for their guidance and support, especially Weiss, Mr. Wheatley and Dr. Uniatowski.

MATHEW BAUTISTA (Ensemble, Paul, u/s Angel) is so excited to be joining the Rent fam! Recent shows include Mamma Mia!, On Your Feet! and Holiday Inn. Instagram: matbautista.

YZ JASA (Ensemble, Alexi Darling, u/s Joanne) (they/them) is a Filipinx New York-based actor. Select credits: A Chorus Line (China premiere), Wig Out! (Helen Hayes nom.), Henry VI (Drama Desk nom.). Isn’t it incredible that we all made it here? Love to Mom, Pop, Paolo, Angelo and Sterling. B.F.A., NSB, NYU/Tisch. GBM Talent. @yzjasa.

JARRED BEDGOOD (Benjamin Coffin III, u/s Tom Collins) is thrilled to be rejoining this amazing cast and show. He was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wis. Some credits include: Memphis (Gator), The Book of Mormon (On-Stage Swing, Australia), Sister Act (TJ, Asia tour), HTGSC (Palm Springs Who) and Wu-Tang: An American Saga on Hulu (Luther Simmons). @Jar95red.

TOMMY KAISER (Swing, u/s Mark, u/s Roger) National tour debut! Recent credits: Winner of BroadwayWorld’s “Next on Stage” S2, featured artist on In Pieces: A New Musical (Highlights) album, Footloose (Ren), Newsies (Finch). Thank you to Work Light Productions for the opportunity. Love and gratitude to Meg for pushing me through this process! Instagram: @tommykaiser_.

JAYLON CRUMP (Swing, u/s Tom Collins, u/s Benny) is so thrilled to be making his national tour debut and joining the Rent family! Favorite credits include Ain’t Misbehavin’ (André), Rent (Tom Collins), Hairspray (Seaweed), and Dreamgirls (Jimmy Early). Jaylon would like to thank everyone who has supported him for their endless love. @crumpjaylon.

JAVON KING (Angel Schunard) is so ecstatic to be back on stage and returning to Rent as Angel! He was born and raised in N.J. but now resides in the East Village, NYC. Previous credits include Rent (20th Anniversary Tour), Newsies and Once on This Island. Stay safe and enjoy the show! IG: javond_king.

COLEMAN CUMMINGS (Roger Davis) is elated to be back on the road with the 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour of Rent! Regional credits include Next to Normal (Gabe), Heathers: The Musical (Goth) and Mamma Mia! (Ensemble). He would love to thank his amazing family and friends for all their endless love and support. @colemanscummings. RAYLA GARSKE (Joanne Jefferson) is thrilled to be back with Rent but this time as Joanne. Now that intermission is over she is excited to get back to what she loves. B.F.A., AMDA College. Credits include Rent (Mrs. Jefferson), PVPA’s Hairspray (Dynamite). Film: Playing with Beethoven (Diana). Sending love to KMR, family and friends. @raylagarske. SHAFIQ HICKS (Tom Collins) is grateful to return to Rent. Hicks has sung with many artists, including Aretha Franklin, Andrea Bocelli and Estelle. Theater credits include Songs for A New World (MAN 2), The Wiz (Lion) and Pippin (Charles). Gratitude to the cast, crew, teachers, coaches, family and friends for all the support. @thereal_shafiq. JAHIR L. HIPPS (Ensemble, Mr. Jefferson, u/s Roger, u/s Tom Collins) recently graduated 7

STEPHEN ROCHET LOPEZ (Ensemble, Gordon, u/s Mark, u/s Roger). National tour: Rent 20th Anniversary Tour (Year 4), Rock of Ages 10th Anniversary Tour. Regional favorites: Nine, Into the Woods, Sister Act, Joseph…Technicolor Dreamcoat. B.F.A., UCF. All the love to Caira, Wojcik Seay and the Rent team! Instagram: @stephenrochet. LYNDIE MOE (Maureen Johnson) is so thankful for another opportunity to share this story of love with her Rent family. She played the role for two years (2017–2019) in the 20th Anniversary Tour and is delighted to step into Maureen’s (incredible) shoes again. Rest in peace Maboppa, these shows are for you. CHRISTOPHER MONTALVO (Swing, u/s Mark) graduated from Sharyland High School in 2012 and UT Austin (B.A.) in 2017. Previous credits include Luke in The Lightning Thief nat’l tour (Theatreworks) and Playlist Singer for CCL. His short film debut (Hard, dir. Christian Jacob Ramon) has been accepted into numerous film festivals around the world. CARLINA PARKER (Swing, u/s Mimi, u/s Joanne, Assistant Dance Captain). A graduate of Belmont University, Carlina is delighted to join

WHO’S WHO in the CAST Rent for the second year. Past credits include the Mamma Mia! Farewell Tour (Ensemble), Mamma Mia! at Broadway Sacramento (Lisa), Rock of Ages 10th Anniversary Tour (Young Groupie), Joseph... Dreamcoat (Narrator) and a Seize the Show cast member. Instagram: @carlina_parker. THOMAS PURVIS (Swing, u/s Benny). Tour: Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You Tour. Regional: Choir Boy (Speakeasy Stage Company). 2021 graduate of The Boston Conservatory at Berklee (B.F.A. in musical theater). To Mom, family, and friends: Thanks for rocking with me ’til the wheels fall off. ANALISE RIOS (Swing, u/s Mimi, u/s Maureen) was most recently a production cast vocalist on Celebrity Cruises. Additional credits: Party Worth Crashing (Off-Broadway). NY Theater Festival: Suicidal Life Coach, The Green. Regional: In the Heights (Nina), Addams Family (Wednesday). Analise is a proud New Yorker from the Bronx. Thank YOU for being here and staying safe! @_animalise. MAKENZIE RIVERA (Ensemble, Mrs. Cohen, u/s Maureen) is so excited to be making her official national tour debut! Some of her recent regional credits include The Glass Menagerie (Laura), Grease (Frenchy) and Footloose (Ariel). Love and thanks to my family, Dolly, Truch, and to those who always believed in me! @mak.rivera. JAMES SCHOPPE (Ensemble, Steve, u/s Angel, Assistant Choreographer, Dance Captain) is beyond grateful to be back with Rent for his third year sharing the love. Regional: Diner (Signature Theatre), Mamma Mia! (Virginia Musical Theatre), A Chorus Line (Palace Theatre). B.F.A. in musical theater, Shenandoah Conservatory. Thanks to family, Gregg Baker Management, Work Light Productions, and the Creative Team for their support and encouragement. ScorpioPower ;-) @JASchoppe. AIYANA SMASH (Mimi Marquez) is a 22-year old singer/songwriter and certified health coach. She graduated from the Institute for American Musical Theater in 2019 and made her debut playing Mimi in the 20th Anniversary Tour of Rent. Aiyana is excited to return for the 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour. @aiyanasmash. J.T. WOOD (Mark Cohen) grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. He pursued theater at Otterbein University. After college, J.T. joined the Asia/national tour of Rent as a Swing covering Angel and Collins. Recently he performed for Disney Cruise Line aboard the Disney Dream. Love to his family and friends!

JONATHAN LARSON (Book, Music, Lyrics) received the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Rent. Rent received four 1996 Tony Awards (including Best Musical and two to Mr. Larson— Best Book of a Musical and Best Score of a Musical); six Drama Desk Awards (including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Music and Best Lyrics); Best Musical Awards from the New York Drama Critics Circle and the Outer Critics Circle (Off-Broadway); and three Obie Awards (including Outstanding Book, Music and Lyrics). Previously, he received the Richard Rodgers Award, the Richard Rodgers Development Grant, the Stephen Sondheim Award and The Gilman & Gonzales-Falla Theatre Foundation’s Commendation Award. Earlier work includes Superbia; tick, tick... BOOM!; the score of J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation; and selections of Sitting on the Edge of the Future. He also wrote music for Sesame Street, and the children’s book-cassettes An American Tail and Land Before Time, as well as for Rolling Stone magazine publisher Jann Wenner. He conceived, directed and wrote four original songs for Away We Go!, a children’s video. Rent had its world premiere on February 13, 1996, at New York Theatre Workshop and opened at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre on April 29, 1996. Mr. Larson died unexpectedly of an undiagnosed aortic aneurysm, believed to be caused by Marfan Syndrome, on January 25, 1996. It was 10 days before his 36th birthday. His semi-autobiographical musical, tick, tick... BOOM! (which he wrote previous to Rent), had a successful run Off-Broadway at the Jane Street Theatre. MICHAEL GREIF (Original Broadway Director) received his fourth Tony nomination and a Helen Hayes Award for his work on Dear Evan Hansen. Other Broadway credits: Rent, Grey Gardens, Next to Normal, Never Gonna Dance, If/Then, War Paint. Recent work includes Make Believe (2nd Stage, New York Times Best of 2019); Man in the Ring (Huntington Stage, Norton Award for Best Production); Our Lady of Kibeho and Angels in America (Lortel Award for Best Revival, NY’s Signature Theatre); The Low Road, The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide… (The Public Theater). He has received Obie Awards for Rent (New York Theatre Workshop), Machinal and Dogeaters (Public Theater); directed Shakespeare at the Delacorte Theater, and premieres, musicals and revivals at many Off-Broadway and regional theaters, including 10 seasons at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and La Jolla Playhouse, where he was artistic director in the late ’90s. EVAN ENSIGN (Director). As director: Going Ape! (London), Wrong Songs for Christmas 8

WHO’S WHO in the CAST (National Theatre, London), Avenue Q (U.K. tours and Bogota, Colombia), Wrong Songs for Summer (London), You Won’t Succeed on Broadway... (London), Rent (Montreal, nine U.S. tours and Far East tour), Just a Housewife (U.K. tour), Jonathan Larson at the Library of Congress (Washington, D.C.). Other New York theater: Dead On Revival, Womyn in Three, Out of the Reach of Children and Simone at Town Hall. As associate director: 9 to 5: The Musical (London and U.K. tour), Avenue Q (Broadway, Las Vegas, London and U.S. tours), Rent (Broadway and U.S. tours), Les Misérables (U.S. tour), Elf The Musical (London and U.K. tour) and Shrek The Musical (Broadway and U.S. tour). As resident director: The Phantom of the Opera (London, U.K. and U.S. tours), White Christmas (London) and Strangers on a Train (London). Other work on Broadway includes Chicago, Exit the King, Annie Get Your Gun, Barbara Cook Sings Mostly Sondheim, and workshops of The Book of Mormon as well as Julie Andrews: The Gift of Music at the O2 (London). Film and television includes The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers (Fox Television) and Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool, among others. MARLIES YEARBY (Choreography) is the Tony-nominated and Drama League Awardwinning choreographer of Rent. Her work was licensed for the film adaptation. She is a recipient of the New York Dance Performance Bessie Award, nominations for the Helen Hayes Award and Joe A. Callaway Award, and two Aurelio nominations. Theater commissions include the American Music Theatre Festival Auburn Repertory, the Washington Shakespeare Theatre, Next Festival and Penumbra Theatre. Ms. Yearby was the founder/artistic director of Movin’ Spirits Dance Theater and toured with the company both nationally and internationally. Company commissions include Lincoln Center, American Dance Festival, Harlem Stages, Kansas Lied Center for the Performing Arts, Jacob’s Pillow and American Festival of Theatre and Dance in France. Ms. Yearby directed and choreographed with Aku Kadoga for Jessica Care Moore’s techno choreopoem Salt City. Ms. Yearby also dramaturged the script. Currently, Ms. Yearby is writing her newest project, Seed Awakening on the Eve of Blue, and is working with her longtime collaborators, Cooper Moore, composer, and Talvin Wilks as dramaturg; together they dig into the crisis of Real Food. TIM WEIL (Additional Arrangements). As musical director, Broadway: Jonathan Larson’s Rent, Tom Stoppard’s Jumpers, Jeanine Tesori’s Shrek The Musical; Off-Broadway: Patti Griffin’s Ten Million Miles, Stephen Schwartz’s The Baker’s 9

Wife; Regional: South Pacific (Guthrie Theater, dir. Joe Haj). As composer, Broadway: Sally Marr and Her Escorts, starring Joan Rivers; Off-Broadway: Susan Lori Parks’ F***ing A. As arranger/orchestrator, Broadway: Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grill, starring Audra MacDonald (also for HBO), Rent, Shrek The Musical. Film: Todd Graff’s Camp, Chris Columbus’ Rent, The Mark Pease Experience starring Ben Stiller and Anna Kendrick. Also, Tim has served on the board of the Jonathan Larson Foundation, which provides grants for upcoming composers and lyricists. DAVE PEPIN (Music Supervisor) is a NYCbased music director, conductor and keyboardist. Currently, he is the keyboard 1/assistant conductor at Wicked on Broadway. As music director: Bring It On. Other Broadway credits: The Addams Family, Kinky Boots and Shrek. Deepest thanks to Tim and Evan for inviting me back to the Rent family. This, and everything, for Erin, Grace and Annabelle. PAUL CLAY (Set Design) is an award-winning artist and designer. Projects include scenic design for Rent (Broadway, NYTW, tour). Recent projects include In Water I’m Weightless (National Theatre Wales; the Southbank Centre, London), Commedia (Dutch National Opera, Amsterdam), Forgetful Snow (The Kitchen, NYC). Clay has also worked with Mabou Mines, La MaMa, David Dorfman (at BAM) and many more in the N.Y. theater and dance community. He has received the MEN Theatre Awards Best Design, Municipal Arts Society Times Square Spectacular Award, DramaLogue Award, NEA/TCG Fellowship and the Bessie Award, among others. MATTHEW MARAFFI (Touring Set Adaptation) is proud to return to Rent for the 25th anniversary. As a member of IATSE Local 829 and Local 74, he has worked on projects large and small around the world. Some projects include Ring of Fire, La Bohème, Buried Child, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Side Man. In the film industry he is noted for his production design for π (Pi), (1998 Sundance Directors Award). He has been the director of operations at Global Scenic Services since fall 2007, while continuing his passion for live entertainment as the production manager for the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra. Outside work, he enjoys fishing with his three sons, Luke, Will and Mark, and serves as a board member for the South West District of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association. ANGELA WENDT (Costume Design) is an international costume designer based in New York and Munich. She designs for theater, musicals, dance, music videos, TV and film. Angela is the original

WHO’S WHO in the CAST costume designer of the groundbreaking musical Rent, for which she received numerous awards; FLEXN, the revolutionary dance piece at the Park Avenue Armory, directed by Peter Sellers; the North American premiere of The Count of Monte Christo, directed by Marcia Milgrim Dodge, at Pioneer Theater in SLC; Up in the Air, directed by Amon Myamoto, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; The Underpants, by Steve Martin at Classic Stage Company in N.Y.; Julius Cesar, directed by Barry Edelstein, at Shakespeare in the Park, Public Theater; the world premiere of The Recluse by Tennessee Williams at Soho Rep, N.Y.; the world premiere of the opera The Flowering Tree by John Adams, directed by Peter Sellars, in Vienna. Film: Most recent feature Return to Montauk, directed by Volker Schlöndorff, starring Stellan Skaarsgard; Me and Kaminski, directed by Wolfgang Becker; Hannah Arendt, by Margaretta von Trotta. Music videos: excerpt: C&C Music Factory, LL Cool J, Aretha Franklin, Inner City, Right Said Fred, Nina Hagen. Angela has been an adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design and Pace University. JONATHAN SPENCER (Lighting Design) is a New York City and Colorado-based lighting and scenic designer working principally for Broadway, touring, regional and Off-Broadway productions. Having collaborated on more than 125 productions and counting, designs include the current Rent—25th Anniversary Farewell Tour; Priscilla, Queen of the Desert first national tour; Who’s Holiday!—Off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre; Carrie Mae Weems’ Grace Notes: Reflections for Now at the John F. Kennedy Center, Yale Repertory and Spoleto Festival USA; and You Are Mine Own directed by Atom Egoyan for Spoleto USA. Jonathan teaches lighting design at the University of Colorado Boulder and for the Southern Oregon University’s Masters of Theater Studies programs. Member USA 829. JSpencerDesign.com. KEITH CAGGIANO (Sound Design). Select credits: Holiday Inn—The New Irving Berlin Musical, The Radio City Spring Spectacular, Himself and Nora, Disenchanted, Bare. Tours: Jesus Christ Superstar, Cabaret, Rent, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Anything Goes. Regional: The Most Beautiful Room in New York, Austen’s Pride, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Little Shop of Horrors, Guys and Dolls. Keith also designs and engineers live events and consults on professional sound system installations. He is a graduate of Duquesne University. STEVE SKINNER (Arrangements) worked with Jonathan Larson as arranger and recording producer for 12 years. He received the 1996 Drama Desk Award for Best Arrangements for Rent.

Broadway: Doonesbury (keyboards and assistant conductor). Recording/arranging for Bette Midler, Taylor Dayne, Billy Mann, Chaka Khan, Bebe and Cece Winans, and Michael Crawford. BILLY ARONSON (Original Concept and Additional Lyrics). His plays have been honored with publication in Best American Short Plays ’92–’93 and are frequently performed at Ensemble Studio Theatre. His lyric writing includes the libretto for an opera being developed by American Opera Projects, and first draft lyrics for Santa Fe and I Should Tell You. His new play, The Art Room, will premiere at Washington, D.C.’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre this spring. His true love is Lisa Vogel. LYNN M. THOMSON (Dramaturg) is a dramaturg, director and teacher. She brought nearly 20 years of new play dramaturgical experience to her months of work with Jonathan Larson on the script of Rent. She was associate artistic director for the Philadelphia Theatre Company, where she created and administered a new play festival. She was dramaturg at Circle Repertory Company. She has directed more than 100 productions of both new plays and revivals at regional and New York theaters, and many more workshops and readings of new plays. She is currently head of the M.F.A. program in dramaturgy at Brooklyn College. OWEN JOHNSTON (Associate Choreographer). Other credits include Allegiance: A New Musical, Rent, The King and I, Miss Saigon, Shōgun: The Musical, 42nd Street, Tap with Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis, Jr. Thank you Marlies for your trust and love. GABRIELLE NORRIS (Production Stage Manager) is honored to return to the Rent family. Favorite credits: Rent 20th Anniversary Tour (Work Light Productions), Burn the Floor, Million Dollar Quartet, Blue Man Group and Cirque Dreams (NCL). Oodles of love to her supportive family, indescribable book club, her brilliant fiancé, Jeremy, and their fur-daughter, Zuri. PEDRO HERNÁNDEZ (Assistant Stage Manager/ Associate Covid Safety Manager) is thrilled to be joining the company of Rent! Past credits include Rocktopia (Broadway PA), Emojiland (OffBroadway PA, Sub Run Crew), David Dobrik’s Views Tour (PA), Encanto El Musical (Workshop PSM) and more. Endless thanks to Mami, Papi, Jose, Nani, Tati, Krystal and Gian! GABBY GALVAN (2nd Assistant Stage Manager/ Co-Covid Safety Manager) is thrilled to join Rent for their first tour! They graduated with a B.F.A. in stage management from The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University. Some of their past credits 10

WHO’S WHO in the CAST include Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Mystery of Irma Vep), Union Avenue Opera (Candide and La Bohème). KERRICK DOUGHERTY (Company Manager) is once again excited to be sharing the story of Rent. He is a graduate of The University of Oklahoma. Kerrick’s management experience includes Rent 20th Anniversary Tour (CM), Motown: The Musical (ACM), Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (CSM) and Paddington Saves Christmas (UPM). This is for my love at 5A. MATTHEW DeMARIA (Conductor/Keyboards) (he/him) is thrilled to be back with Rent. Most recently, Matt premiered his original musical, Vincent, based on Vincent Van Gogh (concept album available on all streaming services). Last year he released his first EP, Hype is a New Drug, and premiered Glass Town, written by Miriam Pultro. Other credits: Come From Away. @mysterywhiteboy41. mattdemariamusic.com. ALLIED GLOBAL MARKETING (Tour Marketing & Press) is an integrated marketing agency working with the world’s largest entertainment, sports, consumer, and lifestyle brands, including 75+ Broadway shows over two decades. Current tours: Ain’t Too Proud, Charlie/Chocolate Factory, Hadestown, Mean Girls, The Play That Goes Wrong, Pretty Woman, Rent, and Tootsie. WOJCIK | SEAY CASTING (Casting Director). Owners Scott Wojcik and Gayle Seay cast in all mediums with Holly Buczek and Courtney Hammond. Tours: Jesus Christ Superstar, An Officer and A Gentleman, Something Rotten!, Kinky Boots, Dreamgirls (Korea), Rock of Ages, Motown: The Musical, Jekyll & Hyde (Korea), West Side Story (Tokyo), Nice Work…, Flashdance, Joseph… Dreamcoat and A Chorus Line. Off-Broadway: Othello: The Remix, Church & State, The Portal, Tennessee Williams’ The Two Character Play, Handle With Care, Triassic Parq and more. In development: SuperYou, Austen’s Pride. Regional: Riverside Theatre, Fla.; Arvada Center, Colo.; Engeman Theater, N.Y.; Theatre Raleigh, N.C.; Stages St. Louis, Mo.; Theatre Aspen, Colo.; Tuacahn PAC, Utah. wscasting.com. @WScasting. THE BOOKING GROUP (Tour Direction). Since its inception in 1996, The Booking Group has represented 26 Tony Award-winning Best Musicals and Plays. Current touring productions include Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, The Book of Mormon, To Kill a Mockingbird, Mean Girls, My Fair Lady, Pretty Woman, Tootsie, Anastasia, Chicago, Escape to Margaritaville, Fiddler on the Roof, Freestyle Love Supreme, Hairspray, Rent: The 25th Anniversary Tour, The Play That Goes Wrong 11

and Waitress. Future productions include 1776, MJ, Six, Tina and West Side Story. WORK LIGHT PRODUCTIONS (Producer) is dedicated to creating and producing live entertainment. Formed in 2005 for purposes of developing new work for young audiences, WLP has since grown into a producing, investing, general management and technical supervision company with offices in Summit, N.J. and Charleston, S.C. WLP regularly employs more than 200 actors, musicians, managers and technical crews on productions throughout the world. Broadway investments: Ain’t Too Proud, Jagged Little Pill, Mrs. Doubtfire, Waitress and Hamilton. Current and upcoming touring productions: Ain’t Too Proud, An Officer and A Gentleman, and the Olivier Award-winning production of Jesus Christ Superstar in North America, Australia and the U.K. Producing Clue, a new comedy based on the Paramount movie, throughout the U.K. Produced Julie Andrews: The Gift of Music at The Hollywood Bowl and London’s O2 Arena. Other recent touring productions include Motown, Mamma Mia!, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Bandstand, Something Rotten!, R&H’s Cinderella, the Tony Award-winners American Idiot, In the Heights and Avenue Q. WLP is led by founding partners Stephen Gabriel and Nancy Gabriel. worklightproductions.com. PORT CITY TECHNICAL (Production Management) is a production management company based in Charleston, S.C. Also referred to as “Work Light South,” PCT was initially started in 1993 as Technical Theater Solutions by Rhys Williams. TTS worked with WLP on many shows, including American Idiot, Nice Work If You Can Get It, In the Heights and Avenue Q. Since the conception of PCT, tours with WLP have included Mamma Mia!, Vocalosity, Motown: The Musical, R&H’s Cinderella, Something Rotten!, Bandstand, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and the pre-Broadway Ain’t Too Proud: The Temptations Musical. Current and upcoming tours include Ain’t Too Proud, An Officer and A Gentleman, Rent and Jesus Christ Superstar. STAFF FOR RENT ORIGINAL LIGHTING DESIGN BY BLAKE BURBA WORK LIGHT PRODUCTIONS PRODUCER Stephen Gabriel Nancy Gabriel

GENERAL MANAGEMENT Anièle Fortin, General Manager Courtney King, Associate General Manager Kevin Greene David Moore Carolyn Smith Andrew Tebo Noelle Hedgcock TECHNICAL SUPERVISION PORT CITY TECHNICAL Rhys Williams, Vice President of Production Mackenzie Foster, Director of Production Operations Hunter Storie, Assistant Production Manager Tom Klonowski Ryan George Tiffany West PRODUCTION TEAM Assistant Choreographer ................ James Schoppe Film Designer......................................Daniel Brodie Projection Consultant ......................... Bruno Ingram Assistant Costume Designers ......... Miriam Kelleher, Caity Mulkearns Costume Assistant .............................. Eve Guttman Assistant Lighting Designer.................Bentley Heydt Lighting Programmer .........................Dustin Adams Hair and Makeup Design Associate ... Yulitzin Alvarez Production Wardrobe............................ Tiffany West Assistant Production Wardrobe ............... Tyler Guse Production Carpenter ...............William Shane Lowry Production Electrician..................... Matthew Peddie Production Audio....................... Timothy K. Schmidt Production Hair .............................Haley Richardson Production Assistant ..........................Adonia Hosier Creative Services ................ Allied Global Marketing/ Mark DeSalvo WOJCIK|SEAY CASTING Scott Wojcik and Gayle Seay Holly Buczek (CSA), Courtney Hammond Nick Ferrao TOUR MARKETING & PRESS ALLIED GLOBAL MARKETING Andrew Damer Jennifer Gallagher Scott Praefke Hayden Anderson Jessica Cary Amenkha Sembenu

Dance Captain ............................... James Schoppe Head Carpenter ........................................ Will Klein Assistant Carpenter..............................Sam Vettrus Head Electrician .................................Kathleen Cole Assistant Electrician ....................... Randall Baptiste Swing Technician..............................Chad Fenimore Head Audio ........................................ Em Gustason Assistant Audio .......................... Brian Wilson Rudell Head Props .................................Amy Laemmerhirt Head Wardrobe ...................................... Tyler Guse Head Hair and Makeup ..................... Yulitzin Alvarez Production Photography .....................Carol Rosegg General Management Consultant ........... John Corker Legal Counsel ...................Levine Plotkin Menin, LLP Loren Plotkin, Hailey Ferber Accounting WithumSmith+Brown/Robert Fried, CPA; Karen Kowigos, CPA; Anthony Moore, CPA Controller .........................................Galbraith & Co Kenny Noth and Jill Johnson Merchandising ................................ Creative Goods Merchandise Supervisor ............... Cynteria Osborne Covid Testing .......................... Capstone Healthcare Insurance .. Maury, Donnelly and Parr, Bob Middleton Banking ......................................... Signature Bank/ Tomas Kasulka, Margaret Monigan Payroll ............................... PEOPLE/Frances Meeks Travel Agent ......................................... Road Rebel Trucking and Hauling ..........................Janco Limited TOUR BOOKING AGENCY THE BOOKING GROUP Meredith Blair Rich Rundle Brian Brooks tbgtours.broadway CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Sound Equipment by Masque Sound® Lighting Equipment by Christie Lites Matter Gen – DanceRX Backstage and Front of the House Employees are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (or I.A.T.S.E.).

Company Manager ...................... Kerrick Dougherty Assistant Company Manager/ Co-Covid Safety Manager ........ Ryan Duncan-Ayala Production Stage Manager .............. Gabrielle Norris Assistant Stage Manager/ Associate Covid Safety Manager .. Pedro Hernández 2nd Assistant Stage Manager/ Co-Covid Safety Manager ................Gabby Galvan 12

presents

MANUAL CINEMA FRANKENSTEIN

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022 | 7:30 P.M. Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Sponsored by

HARRISON ESTATE LAW

FRANKENSTEIN A Manual Cinema Production Adapted from the novel by Mary Shelley Production Staff and Creative Team Concept by Drew Dir Devised by Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace, and Julia Miller Original Music by Ben Kauffman and Kyle Vegter Storyboards by Drew Dir Music and Sound Design by Ben Kauffman and Kyle Vegter Shadow Puppet Design by Drew Dir with Lizi Breit Projections and Scenic Design by Rasean Davonte Johnson Costume and Wig Design by Mieka van der Ploeg Lighting Design by Claire Chrzan 3D Creature Puppet Design by Lizi Breit Prop Design by Lara Musard Video Mixing and Live Sound Effects: Kyle Vegter Sound Engineer: Mike Usrey Lighting Director: David Goodman-Edberg Company Manager: Shelby Sparkle

CAST Puppeteers Sarah Fornace (Victor Frankenstein, Mary Shelley) Kara Davidson (The Creature, Elizabeth Frankenstein) Leah Casey (Percy Shelley, Vocals) Sara Sawicki (Lord Byron) Myra Su (Puppeteer)

Musicians Peter Ferry (percussion) Jason Gresl (clarinets and aux percussion) Lia Kohl (cello, aux percussion, vocals) Robin Meiksins (flutes, aux percussion, piano) ——————————— For all North, Central, and South American booking enquiries please contact: Laura Colby, Director, dlsie Management laurac@elsieman.org TEL: +1 718 797 4577 www.elsieman.org Exclusive Asian Touring representation: Broadway Asia Company info@broadwayasia.com TEL:+1 212 203 9986 www.broadwayasia.com

MANUAL CINEMA COMPANY Manual Cinema is an Emmy Award winning performance collective, design studio, and film/video production company founded in 2010 by Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace, Ben Kauffman, Julia Miller, and Kyle Vegter. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive stories for stage and screen. Using vintage overhead projectors, multiple screens, puppets, actors, live feed cameras, multi-channel sound design, and a live music ensemble, Manual Cinema transforms the experience of attending the cinema and imbues it with liveness, ingenuity, and theatricality. The company was awarded an Emmy in 2017 for The Forger, a video created for The New York Times and named Chicago Artists of the Year in 2018 by the Chicago Tribune. Their shadow puppet animations are featured in the film remake of Candyman, directed by Nia DaCosta and produced by Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions which premiered August 27, 2021.

BIOGRAPHIES Puppeteers LEAH CASEY (Percy Shelley, Vocals) is a Chicago-based actress, writer, and dancer with a love for fictional podcasts. Some of her previous credits include Frankenstein with Manual Cinema, For Colored Girls at Court Theatre, and Romeo and Juliet with Teatro Vista. When not onstage, she can be found working with the cast of Project STELLAR, a science fiction podcast about a group of crazy kids who have close encounters of the awesome kind. KARA DAVIDSON (The Creature, Elizabeth Frankenstein) is a performer, playwright, puppeteer, and teaching artist currently pursuing her MFA in playwriting and screenwriting at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She has been performing with Manual Cinema since 2015, and previous touring shows with the company include Ada/Ava, Lula del Ray, The Electric Stage, Pop Up Magazine, and End of TV, and she was an additional puppeteer for the 2021 feature film Candyman. Kara volunteers as a teaching facilitator with the Chicago-based A.B.L.E. Ensemble, which creates theatre and film projects for, with, and by individuals with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a performer she has worked with Lookingglass Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The House Theatre of Chicago, The Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Nebraska Repertory Theatre, among others. Her video game credits as a motion capture performer include Injustice 2 (Supergirl), Mortal Kombat 11 (Sonya Blade), Call of Duty, and Black Ops: Cold War. She is also the co-founder and director of a monthly virtual workshop called The Lab which aids in developing new works-in-progress by artists working in any artistic discipline (www.thelab.blog). SARAH FORNACE (Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, MC Co-Artistic Director) is a director, puppeteer, choreographer, and narrative designer based in Chicago. She is a co-Artistic Director of Manual Cinema. Outside of Manual

Cinema, Sarah has worked as a performer or choreographer with Redmoon Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Court Theatre, Steppenwolf Garage, and Blair Thomas and Co. Most recently, Sarah wrote the story mode for the video game Rivals of Aether. In 2017, she directed and edited the first episode of the web series The Doula is IN. In 2016, she directed and devised an "animotion" production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet with Rokoko Studios for HamletScen at Kromborg Castle in Elsinore, Denmark.

SARA SAWICKI (Lord Byron) tours internationally with Manual Cinema, credits include: Frankenstein (Lord Byron); Lula Del Ray (Lula’s Mother); Mementos Mori (Lady); Ada/Ava (Aba). Sara is a company member with Sojourn Theatre, most recently appearing in their newest touring piece, Don’t Go. Other ongoing and past projects include work with: NetherRealm Studios (cinematic performance capture); Actors Gymnasium (Youth Circus co-director and writer); one step at a time like this in collaboration with Chicago Shakespeare Theater (performer).

MYRA SU (Puppeteer) is a puppeteer based in Chicago. Her primary medium is in paper, including experimentations with crankie, shadow, video, and animation. Most recently, she made a short puppet film, Goodnight Shadow, under lockdown conditions with support from a Handmade Puppet Dreams 2020 Quarantine Film Micro-Commission grant. The film was recently screened at the 2022 London International Mime Festival. In addition to her independent work, she has worked with Manual Cinema since 2013 as a puppet builder and touring puppeteer. She also teaches puppetry workshops and co-curates a quarterly puppet slam, Nasty, Brutish & Short. For more: myrasu.com

Musicians PETER FERRY (Percussion), called “the ingenious percussionist Peter Ferry,” (Chicago Sun-Times) and “an artist of vision” (Democrat and Chronicle), is a young American percussion soloist and artistic collaborator. Following his concerto debut at age 18, Ferry has championed the works of living composers, including Michael Daugherty who has praised Ferry as “one of the most promising and committed soloists of his generation.” A TEDx speaker, Ferry has collaborated with choreographer Nick Pupillo at Chicago’s Harris Theater and abroad at the European Museum of Modern Glass where he was nominated for the Coburg Prize. An alumnus of the Eastman School of Music, Ferry graduated with the first ever John Beck Percussion Scholarship, an Arts Leadership Program certificate, and the prestigious Performer’s Certificate recognizing outstanding performing ability.

JASON GRESL (Clarinets) From playing bass clarinet while upside-down in front of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra to an impromptu performance of Mozart’s clarinet quintet just after almost drowning in the Panama Canal, woodwind specialist Jason Gresl spends his days diving from one artistic adventure into another. Recently, Jason has been dividing his time in two directions. On one side, he explores music with his multidisciplinary concert series, The Muses’ Workshop, his duo, Claricello, and through new music

commissions. On the other, he plays for musicals (most recently: Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, The Book of Mormon, and In The Heights). Jason teaches at Andrews University, Saint Mary’s College, and Indiana University South Bend. In his spare time, Jason attempts to learn feats of wonder with playing cards and enjoys cooking Thai and Indian cuisines.

LIA KOHL (Cello, Vocals) is a cellist, composer, and multidisciplinary artist based in Chicago. She creates and performs music and multimedia performance that incorporates sound, video, movement, theatre, and sculptural objects. She has presented work and performed at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the Walker Art Center, Chicago Symphony Center, and Eckhart Park Pool, and held residencies at Mana Contemporary Chicago, High Concept Labs, dfbrl8r Performance Art Gallery, Mills College, and Stanford University. She is a curator and ensemble member with poly-disciplinary performance ensemble Mocrep. As an improviser and collaborator, she has participated in cultural exchanges in Mexico, France, Germany, Denmark, China, and the UK. She has toured on four continents. Frequent collaborators include ZRL (Ryan Packard and Zachary Good), Katinka Kleijn, Macie Stewart, Jasmine Mendoza, and Corey Smith. She has played with Makaya McCraven, Whitney, OHMME, and Circuit des Yeux. She tours regularly with Manual Cinema and helps create 60 Songs in 60 Minutes, a monthly show with the Neo-Futurists. ROBIN MEIKSINS (Flutes, Piano) is a freelance contemporary flutist focused on collaboration with living composers. Chicago-based, she uses the Internet and online media to support and create collaboration. In 2017, Robin completed her first year-long collaborative project, 365 Days of Flute. Each day featured a different work; each video was recorded and posted the same day. In 2018, Robin launched the 52 Weeks of Flute Project. Each week features a different living composer to workshop a submitted work, culminating in a performance on YouTube. Robin has premiered more than 100 works and has performed at SPLICE Institute, the SEAMUS national conference, and Oh My Ears New Music Festival 2018. She was a guest artist at the University of Illinois for their first annual “24-Hour Compose-a-thon.” Robin holds a master’s degree from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music where she studied with Kate Lukas and Thomas Robertello.

Staff and Creative Team LIZI BREIT (Puppet Designer) Lizi Breit is an interdisciplinary artist based in Chicago. She has worked with Manual Cinema as a performer, designer, animator, and director since 2011. CLAIRE CHRZAN (Lighting Designer) is excited to collaborate with Manual Cinema again after previously designing No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks and The End of TV. Other credits include; Evening at the Talk House, The Mutilated and The Room (A Red Orchid); The? Unicorn? Hour?, Saturn Returns (The Neo-Futurists); The Distance, We’re Gonna Die (Haven Theatre); Caught (Sideshow Theatre Company); After Miss Julie, The Night Season (Strawdog Theatre Company); Peerless (First Floor Theater); Pinocchio (Neverbird at Chicago Children's Theatre); Love and Human Remains,

Good Person of Szechwan (Cor Theatre); The Terrible (The New Colony); The Guardians, Uncle Bob (Mary-Arrchie); The Hero’s Journey, Best Beloved: The Just So Stories, The Pied Piper (Forks and Hope Ensemble). Claire also works as a production stage manager for various companies including Hubbard Street’s HS2, The Joffrey Ballet’s Joffrey Academy, and Alonzo King LINES ballet. Clairechrzandesigns.com

DREW DIR (Director, Puppet Designer, MC Co-Artistic Director) is a writer, director, and puppet designer. Previously, he served as the Resident Dramaturg of Court Theatre and a lecturer in theater and performance studies at the University of Chicago. He holds a master’s degree in text and performance studies from King’s College London and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. DAVID GOODMAN-EDBERG (Lighting Director) is a Chicago-based lighting designer working in the realms of dance, theatrical, and architectural design. He has designed and toured with such companies as Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Eisenhower Dance Detroit, Visceral Dance Chicago, and Water Street Dance Milwaukee, and lit works set on companies such as Chicago Repertory Ballet, Chicago Tap Theater, Joel Hall Dancers, and Thodos Dance Chicago. Theatrically, he has designed with puppet and object oriented companies such as Rough House and Cabinet of Curiosity, as well as with such companies as Adventure Stage, Akvavit Theatre, Factory Theater, The Gift Theater, Organic Theater, Red Tape Theater, The Syndicate, and Trap Door Theatre. Architecturally, he has lit pieces at the art space 6018|North and worked as an assistant/associate designer for projects at various Universal Studios theme parks (in Beijing, Hollywood, Orlando, and Osaka), Disney Shanghai, and several Margaritaville restaurants. dglxdesign.com

RASEAN DAVONTE JOHNSON (Projections and Scenic Design) is delighted to be working with Manual Cinema to which previous projects include Lula Del Ray and Fjords. A Chicago-based video artist and theatrical designer, he has had the opportunity to work with institutions such as Steppenwolf Theatre, The Hypocrites, Yale Repertory Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, Geva Theatre Center, Berkshire Theatre Group, Alliance Theatre, the Ningbo Song and Dance Company, and B-Floor Theatre. MFA, Yale School of Drama. raseandavontejohnson.com. BEN KAUFFMAN (Composer, Sound Designer, MC Co-Artistic Director) is a composer, director, interactive media artist and co-Artistic Director of Manual Cinema. His film and interactive work has been shown at The Jay Pritzker Pavilion (Chicago), The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (Chicago), and CUNY’s Baruch College (NYC). He has lectured and given workshops at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York University, and Parsons School of Design. His past composer/sound designer credits with Manual Cinema include Ada/Ava, The End of TV, and the New York Times documentary, The Forger. He holds a master’s degree from New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP).

JULIA VANARSDALE MILLER (Co-Deviser, Original Creature/Elizabeth, MC Co-Artistic Director) is a director, puppeteer, and puppet designer. With Manual

Cinema she has directed Mementos Mori and The End of TV, as well as created original roles in Frankenstein (The Creature/Elizabeth), Ada/Ava (Ada), Lula del Ray (Lula’s Mother), The Magic City (Helen), and Hansel und Gretel (Hansel). In Chicago, she has worked as a performer and puppeteer with Redmoon Theatre and Blair Thomas and Co. She spent several years training in devised theatre, clown and mask with Double Edge Theatre, Carlos García Estevez, and at the Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy.

LARA MUSARD (Prop Designer) Ms. Musard serves as the prop manager at Court Theatre in Chicago where Manual Cinema’s Frankenstein first premiered in October of 2018. For this project, she worked with Mr. Dir to design and create the majority of the two and three dimensional pieces seen in the Victor Frankenstein portion of the storytelling. Having propped nearly 60 shows at Court Theatre over a twelve-year period, Manual Cinema’s Frankenstein was by far the most unique. She is grateful for the experience of working in this medium and proud to have been part of the team. MIKE USREY (Sound Engineer) “That may be the most important thing to understand about humans. It is the unknown that defines our existence. We are constantly searching, not just for answers to our questions, but for new questions. We are explorers. We explore our lives day by day, and we explore the galaxy trying to expand the boundaries of our knowledge. And that is why I am here: not to conquer you with weapons or ideas, but to coexist and learn.” — Benjamin Lafayette Sisko.

MIEKA VAN DER PLOEG (Costume Designer) has designed costumes for many Chicago theaters, including Lookingglass Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Hypocrites, About Face, Chicago Children’s Theatre, About Face Theatre, The House Theatre, Next Theatre, Griffin Theatre, The Building Stage, Albany Park Theater Project, Dog and Pony Theatre, and Manual Cinema. She is proud to be an artistic associate at About Face Theatre. She has received two Jeff Award nominations for Golden Boy (Griffin Theater) and Mr. Burns (codesigned with Mara Blumenfeld, Theater Wit). KYLE VEGTER (Live SFX and Video, Composer, Sound Designer, MC CoArtistic Director) is a composer, producer, sound designer, and managing artistic director of Manual Cinema. As a composer of concert music he’s been commissioned by such groups as The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s MusicNOW series, The Pacific Northwest Ballet, and TIGUE. His music and sound design for theater and film has been performed worldwide and commissioned by The New York Times, NPR’s Invisibilia, Topic (First Look Media), the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, StoryCorps, The Art Institute of Chicago, The Poetry Foundation, Hubbard Street Dance, the O, Miami Poetry Festival, and others. His past composer/sound designer credits with Manual Cinema include Lula Del Ray, Ada/Ava, Fjords, Mementos Mori, The End of TV, and various other performance and video projects. He has been an artist in residence at High Concept Laboratories, and co-founded Chicago’s only contemporary classical music cassette label, Parlour Tapes+.

presents

BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022 | 7:30 P.M. Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts