The Beard of Avon by VIA MEDIA / BAYSTAGES

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT AND THE PLAY Amy Freed was born in 1958 and teaches acting and play writing at Stanford University. Her plays include The Psychic Life of Savages (at the Pear in 2005), the Ibsen-inspired The Monster-Builder (seen last year at Berkeley’s Aurora Theatre), and Freedomland, a finalist for the 1998 Pulitzer Prize. Most of Freed’s plays are inspired by prominent figures, and The Beard of Avon, written in 2001 for South Coast Repertory and mounted in San Francisco at A.C.T. in 2002, is no exception.

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Shakespeare is the central figure of this comic romp, but its imaginative core is the attribution of the plays credited to him. According to James Shapiro’s 2010 Contested Will, the movement to question Shakespeare’s authorship began in 1805 but heated up in the 1990s, partly fueled by the Internet. In the 1800s the foremost rival candidate had been the scholar, philosopher, and jurist Sir Francis Bacon, but as more was discovered about Bacon’s life, Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, replaced him although more than 60 candidates have been proposed. De Vere was elegant and cultured, but he was also a spendthrift, seducer, quarreler, and killer (though acquitted of murder). Today’s Oxfordians, as de Vere’s supporters are called, include the distinguished British actors Sir Derek Jacoby, Vanessa Redgrave and Mark Rylance, all of whom acted in the 2011 film Anonymous, a historically inaccurate Oxfordian melodrama. All three also argue de Vere’s case in Last Will and Testament, a 2012 documentary. Other proposed authors include the court figures Sir Francis Walsingham, diplomat and spymaster; Lord Burleigh, Oxford’s former guardian and later his father-in-law; and Queen Elizabeth herself - who are all included in Freed’s play. Reasons to doubt Shakespeare’s authorship hinge on the question of whether a man from a provincial village and without a university education or royal connections could have written plays about noble or royal characters who engage in high-powered pursuits and speak in beautiful verse. The plots of the plays we associate with Shakespeare, however, do not come from the author’s life - whoever the author may be. All are taken from history, myth, legend - even from published fiction and earlier plays (including what is now called the Ur-Hamlet, the lost ancestor of the play we have). The plays’ genius lies in their poetic language and complex psychology, not in their story lines.

is offering a 10% discount on your meal to any Pear Theatre patrons who say the secret password: WAFFLES. You will also want to try their special cocktail in honor of the show.

(650) 254-1120 cucinaventi.com 1390 Pear Avenue Mountain View

The more fully one knows the works attributed to Shakespeare, the funnier The Beard of Avon becomes, for it is full of allusions to the plays - Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, Twelfth Night (or, What You Will), As You Like It, The Comedy of Errors - and to the sonnets, notably the one beginning “Two loves I have, of comfort and despair.” Much of the humor comes from hearing versions of famous Shakespearean lines in an imagined unpoetic, “first-draft” state. The anachronistic inclusion of contemporary theatrical language and practice (similar to what Tom Stoppard used in Shakespeare in Love) is also funny. Yet despite its farcical events, Freed’s answer to the authorship question reflects, though in an exaggerated way, what many scholars do indeed believe now, four centuries after Shakespeare’s death (the 400th anniversary of which will occur this April 23, coinciding with the next-to-last performance of this production). What that answer is, the play must tell. - Susan Petit

PEAR T HE AT RE pres e n t s

The Beard of Avon by Amy Freed

SETTING: Stratford, Essex and London. The 1590s.

CAST

[ IN APPROXIMATE ORDER OF APPEARANCE ]

Old Colin...............................................................Nicolae Muntean William Shakspere (later “Shakespeare”)........................ Dante Belletti Anne Hathaway, his wife.................................................Caitlin Papp Henry Condel, theater manager..................... Evan Kokkila Schumaker John Heminge, theater manager...............................Nicolae Muntean Richard Burbage, leading man.........................................Brian Flegel Geoffrey Dunderbread, boy actor.....................................Jason Pollak Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford................................Michael Champlin Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton.............................. Jeremy Ryan Walter Fitch, playwright...............................Evan Kokkila Schumacher. Queen Elizabeth...........................................................Doll Piccotto Sir Francis Bacon........................................Evan Kokkila Schumacher Lady Lettice.................................................................Jason Pollak Lord Walsingham...........................................................Brian Flegel Lord Burleigh.........................................................Nicolae Muntean Earl of Derby.............................................................. Jeremy Ryan Beautiful Singer...........................................................Jason Pollak

PRODUCTION TEAM

Producer.................................................................. Diane Tasca Director.....................................................Karen Altree Piemme Stage Manager..................................................... Marissa Stough Production Manager..................................................Patricia Tyler Scenic Designer......................................................Paulino Deleal Lighting Designer..................................................... Ben Hemmen Costume Designer......................................................... Trish Files Sound Designer.......................................................Caroline Clark Properties Designer.............................................Miranda Whipple Set Construction...........................................................Janny Coté Publicity Directors................. Stephanie Crowley, Jeanie K. Smith Program Consultant......................................................Susan Petit Website Management....................................................Ray Renati

1110 La Avenida Street Mountain View, CA 94043 650.254.1148 info@thepear.org thepear.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Beverly Altschuler Sharmon Hilfinger Dan Nitzan Ray Renati Diane Tasca

STEERING COMMITTEE Beverly Altschuler Paul Braverman Robyn Ginsburg Braverman Caroline Clark Elizabeth Kruse Craig Sharmon Hilfinger Troy Johnson James Kopp Ann Kuchins Dan Nitzan Ray Renati Jeanie K. Smith Diane Tasca Patricia Tyler

SPECIAL THANKS: We would like to thank Palo Alto Players, City Lights Theater Company, Peninsula Youth Theatre, Silicon Valley Shakespeare, Los Altos Youth Theatre, Gunn High School Theatre, West Bay Opera, Renegade Theatre Experiment, Archbishop Mitty High School and Patti Bristow for their assistance with this production. Performed by arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

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Performances:

April 8 to 24, 2016 Pear Theatre, 1110 La Avenida Street, Mountain View, CA 94043

The performance runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. There will be one intermission.

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Please turn off your cell phones. Videotaping or other recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

2016.04 • BAYSTAGES.COM

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BELLETTI

CHAMPLIN

FLEGEL

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES DANTE BELLETTI ( W i l l i a m Shakspere) is an actor and theatre maker from Orange County, California. Recent Bay Area credits include Peer Gynt (The Exit), Glengarry Glen Ross (Stanford University) and Cowardy Custard (Stanford Repertory Theatre). Next up, you can catch him in Dante & Audrey & Franny & Zooey, a devised piece premiering at Stanford. Dante has a degree in theatre and performance studies from Stanford University and has trained at A.C.T. and with SITI Company.

MICHAEL CHAMPLIN (Edward de Vere) is thrilled to be performing in his first show at the new Pear! Michael has worked extensively throughout the Bay Area. As an actor and director he has been part of more than a dozen shows at the Pear. He proudly calls the space formerly on Pear Avenue, now housed on La Avenida, his theatrical home. As always, he sends his love and thanks for all their support to his beautiful, talented wife, Katie, and to his boys, Jack and Henry.

BRIAN FLEGEL (Richard Burbage, Lord Walsingham) is back in the Bay Area after the hustle and bustle of New York, where he had been seen playing many a Shakespearean role. Locally Brian has worked with the Playwrights’ Center of San Francisco as well as SJ Real shows at San Jose Rep. He has acted with Dragon Productions in 2

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Rx and Smash, and in Superheroes with Wily West Productions. He was seen at the Pear in last season’s House & Garden and Arcadia. Recently, he appeared in Death of a Salesman at Palo Alto Players. He is very excited to be in the new Pear's The Beard of Avon. Much love to the cast and production. It's been too much fun.

NICOLAE MUNTEAN (Old Colin, John Heminge, Lord Burleigh) is thrilled to be back at the new Pear after having both opened and closed the old Pear. He was last seen there in Arcadia (Jellaby and Noakes) and House & Garden (Warn Coucher). Other recent appearances include Miracle on 34th Street (Kris Kringle) with Tabard Theatre Company, Smash (Lumpkin) with Dragon Productions, a n d The Assembly Women (Blepyros) at Foothill College. A founding member and graduate of the former Foothill Theatre Conservatory, Nic is a 25-year veteran of the local theatre scene. He would like to thank Diane Tasca and all involved for their hard work in keeping the Pear a vital force in local theatre and for welcoming him into the fold.

CAITLIN LAWRENCE PAPP (Anne Hathaway) is so excited to be in her first show here at the Pear. Previous roles include Beatrice in Much Ado about Nothing (Festival Theatre Ensemble), Lana Sherwood in It’s

a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Broadway By the Bay) and Anna Friedman in Truce: A Christmas Wish from the Great War (City Lights Theater Company). She would like to dedicate her performance to her loving family and friends for their continued love and support.

DOLL PICCOTTO (Queen Elizabeth) is thrilled to return to the new Pear Theatre after appearing in The Tempest as Caliban. A selfdescribed Shakespeare nerd, Doll has performed in over 30 Shakespearean productions in California and Texas and also serves as dramaturg for the Silicon Valley Shakespeare. Her favorite roles include Lady Macbeth for the Silicon Valley Shakespeare and The Chorus (Henry V) and Gwendolyn (The Importance of Being Earnest) with Diane Tasca at Northside Theatre Company. She is indeed thrilled to be playing one of the most fascinating historical characters of all time, with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

JA S O N P O L L A K ( G e o f f r e y

Dunderbread, Lady Lettice, Beautiful Singer) is thrilled to be performing in his second show with the Pear, the first being last season's Arcadia. He is a junior at Palo Alto High School. Recent performance credits including Macduff in Macbeth, Polyphemus/ Tieresias in The Odyssey, Underling in The Drowsy Chaperone (Paly

MUNTEAN

PAPP

PICCOTTO

Theater), Giles Ralston in The Mousetrap, Edward in Dancing with the Unknown and Prince Charming in The Princess Program (GIFT). Don't miss him as Ran Sweeney in Heathers: The Musical on May 5 and 6 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts!

KAREN ALTREE PIEMME (Director)

The Walls of Jericho, the first play in the new Pear. Other directing credits include Kimberly Akimbo (Pear Theatre) and Dustin Lance Black's 8: The Play and The Vagina Monologues (The Empty Space). Acting credits include Pear Slices 2014, Pygmalion and Super Villain! (Pear Theatre) and Heidi in [title of show], Holly in Next Fall and Prudence in Beyond Therapy at The Empty Space in Bakersfield.

JEREMY RYAN (Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Derby) is thrilled to return to the Pear after previously appearing as Jake Mace in House & Garden. Other roles include Terry in Handle with Care (City Lights Theater Company), James in U.S. Drag (Dragon Productions), Sebastian in Twelfth Night (Silicon Valley Shakespeare) and Biff Loman in Death of a Salesman (Broadway West). Jeremy is a company member at Play On Words San Jose and a graduate of the Foothill Theatre Conservatory.

EVAN KOKKILA SCHUMACHER (Henry Condel, Walter Fitch, Sir Francis Bacon) is so happy to be back at the Pear! Previously, he appeared as John Reynolds in A King's Legacy. Other favorite roles include Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey, The Nasty Interesting Man in Eurydice and Robert Lambert in BoeingBoeing (Palo Alto Players), Guy in Some Girl(s), Sir Charles in Smash, Richard and Ed in Rx and David Gavin in After Ashley (Dragon Productions) and the Cop in Middletown (Los Altos Stage). Evan is also a member of the Pear Playwrights Guild. His one-act play Not All That Glimmers Is Gold debuts next month in Pear Slices 2016.

is a director, actor, dramaturg, workshop facilitator and acting instructor, specializing in socialjustice theatre and community access to the arts. She is the director of the Red Ladder Theatre Company, a nationally acclaimed company that empowers marginalized populations in the community. She spent 21 years with San Jose Rep, where she was the director of outreach and resident dramaturg. She has directed productions for both youth and adults and she has conducted classes and workshops both locally and around the world for nearly 30 years. She serves as associate director for 2nd Stages at Dragon Productions and is the artistic associate for Playwrights Foundation, where she produces the annual Bay Area Playwrights Festival. She teaches in the Department of Television, Radio, Film and Theatre at San Jose State, and she serves on the Theatre Services Committee (the advisory council) for Theatre Bay Area. Piemme is the recipient of the 2011 Champion of Arts Education award, given by the mayor, city of San Jose and the San Jose Arts Commission, and in 2012 she was named one of The 35 Faces of Theatre Bay Area. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.

CAROLINE CLARK (Sound Designer) is a lifelong thespian, joining the Pear steering committee last year. She was pleased to direct

PAULINO DELEAL (Set Designer) has been making theatre for over fifteen years in Silicon Valley. His recent works are Beauty and the Beast at Mitty High School, Man of La Mancha at Los Altos Stage Company and Eugene Onegin at West Bay Opera.

TRISH FILES (Costume Designer) has designed costumes for several local theatre companies including Los Altos Stage Company and Calaveras Rep. One of her favorite costume projects was Northanger Abbey at the Pear. Trish is artistic director of Los Altos Youth Theatre, where she has costumed more than 70 plays.

BEN HEMMEN (Lighting Designer) returns to the Pear to light a show rather than stage manage (as he did for The Walls of Jericho). His most recent work was lighting a show for Los Altos Youth Theatre. Next he will stage manage Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Palo Alto Players. He is also looking into a new day job as a verification engineer. ben@hemmen.com 2016.04 • BAYSTAGES.COM

POLLAK

RYAN

SCHUMACHER

M A R I S S A STO U G H ( S t a g e

versions). She also has worked two seasons at California’s Great America on shows such as Aerial Ice Extreme! and On Broadway! Marissa was fortunate enough to do her senior internship at San Jose Rep on The Snow Queen. She looks forward to stage managing many more shows around the Bay Area.

props for the Pear's production of Arcadia as well as for productions of West Side Story, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Elephant Man at City Lights Theater Company. In 2014, she graduated from Cal State University, Fullerton, with a degree in theatre arts. Her stage management background has served her well on such shows as A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Diary of Anne Frank and Hair.

Manager) is excited to come back to the Pear for this production, having just stage managed The Mountaintop. She was also stage manager for last season’s Betrayal. She is a recent alumna of San Jose State’s theatre department and has worked on Emma, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Grapes of Wrath (both theatre and opera

MIRANDA WHIPPLE ( P r o p s Designer) recently designed

All images and/or content provided by Pear Theatre staff, contractors and/or creative artists unless otherwise credited. Opinions expressed by contractors, contributors and/or creative artists do not necessarily reflect the views of Pear Theatre or VIA MEDIA. Photo credits are included as provided.

DEVELOPMENTAL READING

Ripperology by Neva Marie

Swirling fog. A woman's scream. Death by knife. Or death by poison? A Victorian thriller, Ripperology is a fictionalized history of Jack the Ripper. Set in the 1860s London, using actual court transcripts, it tells the story of James Maybrick, who died of arsenic poisoning. Did his wife administer the fatal dose, knowing her husband was an arsenic addict - and the Ripper? Was she jealous of his relationship with their servant? Did she want to run off with her own lover? Or did Maybrick take the fatal dose himself? Ripperology sets about to answer these questions. Neva Marie is a founding member of Pear Theatre and the Pear Playwrights Guild. Her work has appeared in Colonel Partridge’s Pear Oil Radio Hour and in numerous Pear Slices productions. Neva is currently working on Hey Shakespeare! From Page to Stage in 20 Days, a book based on her experiences teaching Shakespeare to middle-schoolers. She is also collaborating with Garrick Davis, a music artist, on a show soon to be seen at Dragon Theatre and the Marsh in San Francisco. APRIL 10, 2016 • 7:00 P.M. • SUGGESTED DONATION: $10.00 4

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DONORS Our deep and heartfelt thanks go to everyone who has contributed so generously to Pear Theatre over the years. The list of those who donated to the Pear Avenue Theatre between 2002 and 2015 is posted on our website. Going forward, Pear Theatre programs will acknowledge donations made since June, 2015.

ROOTS [$1,000+]

Carol + Ray Bacchetti • Norman Beamer + Diane Tasca Rhoda Bergen • Rosalee + Bob Clarke • Kathleen Hall + Leslie Murdock Ann Kuchins • Silicon Valley Community Foundation Donors’ Circle David Simon + Lynn Gordon Simon • Scott Solomon • Joseph Sturkey Dr. Thomasyne Lightfoote Wilson BRANCHES [$500+] Paul + Robyn Braverman • Darryl + Carolyn Compton • Marian + David Cortesi Charlotte Dickson • Joanne Engelhardt • Sharmon Hilfinger + Luis Trabb Pardo Henry + Marcia Lawson • Susan Petit • Frances Rushing • Jan + Don Schmidek Edna + Dan Shochat • Mary Lou Torre + Rich Hagen PEARS [$250+] Connie Allen + Doug Greig • Susan Barkan • Martin + Crownie Billik • Cynthia Bitner Louis Caputo • Jeremy Carl • Constance Crawford • Patricia + John Davis • JoEllen Ellis Ken + Carol Emmons • Thomas Ferry • Kurt Gravenhorst • Eunice Haas • Jenny Hopkinson Patricia Irish • Yvonne Lenbergs • Pattie Levinson • Alex Meyers • Shauna Mika Roberta Morris + Phil Buchsbaum • Pear Writers Guild • Vic Prosak • Hope Raymond Elaine Rossignol • Vivan Schatz • Dana St. George • Peter + Juthica Stangl • Joyce Tenover Mike Wilber + Dianne Ellsworth BLOSSOMS [$25+] Robin Booth • Linda Brandewie • Patrick Brennan • Helena Clarkson• Gertrud Cory Anne Wellner DeVeer • Pearl + Bernard Director • Marilyn Edwardson • Dianne Gribschaw Max Gutmann • Leah Halper • Eleanor Hansen • Baba Nicole Herrick • Susan Jackson • Earl Karn Georgia + Raymond Marotta • Elyce Melmon • Brenda Miller • Elaine Moise • Albert Moon Carole Mullowney • John Musgrave • Ross Peter Nelson • Elizabeth Owen • Peter + Natalie Panfili Denise Prosser • Douglas + Joanne Rees • Toby Reitman • William + Sherrean Rundberg Norma Schleunes • Chalmers Smith • Marketa Spiro • Laura Stefanski • Marilyn Walter • Gayle Wiener

THANK YOU!

NEXT UP AT THE PEAR: MAY 13 - 29, 2016

Pear Slices 2016 A beloved Pear tradition, Pear Slices has been showcasing fresh new short plays by members of the Pear Playwrights Guild since 2004. And this year, to celebrate the Pear’s move to our beautiful new space, Pear Slices will be bigger and better than ever, offering two different programs to choose from. Each program will present seven fresh and juicy plays, so there’s even more variety to spice up your life! 2016.04 • BAYSTAGES.COM

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