May 18, 2020 Grad-Zoom-ation #A #OnlyIntermission #A Ask Anna #A Bookshelf #A No Day But Today #A At Your Streaming Service #A What We’re Cooking #A News and Updates #A Celebrate! #A Bonus Track #A
Grad-Zoom-ation!
Yesterday, the Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre community gathered virtually to celebrate the Class of 2020—74 actors, directors, dramaturgs, designers, playwrights, stage managers, technical design and production managers, theater managers, and technical interns— with hundreds of their friends and family Zooming in from around the world. This issue of The Prompter raises a glass to all who are graduating this spring: here at Yale and across Connecticut.
#OnlyIntermission
Created by playwright Paula Vogel (former Faculty) and director Rebecca Taichman (‘00), Indecent was co-commissioned by and had its world premiere at Yale Rep in 2015 ahead of its debut on Broadway in 2017. Indecent won the hearts of audiences and critics alike, as well as two Tony Awards, and became one of the most-produced plays across the country in recent years. At its heart, the play demonstrates the resiliency of the human spirit in the face of unfathomable obstacles. History tells us, in times of turmoil, art not only endures—it thrives. And so will we.
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Ask Anna: Happy Trails The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings like grocery stores and pharmacies, but why? Anna Glover, Director of Theater Safety and Occupational Health, offers some suggestions to those who are facing an upcoming trip or move. If you have to travel and you have a choice, choose your mode of transportation carefully. Driving is better than public transport for social distancing, but remember that you are at risk each time you stop. Pack food to take with you so that you only need to stop for gas and the restroom. Always wear a mask in public. Wash your hands well, and carry hand sanitizer in case soap and water are not available. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth and keep 6 feet of physical distance from others. Remember that you need to check what state and local travel restrictions are currently in place. Different states have stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders, mandated quarantines upon arrival, or even state border closures. Finally, do not travel if you are sick!
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Bookshelf Suggestions from Three of Yale Cabaret’s 2019–20 Leadership Team Suggested by:
how resilient we want to be. Hanh
Zachry J. Bailey (’20)
doesn’t encourage people to
The Heart of the Buddha’s
become Buddhists or adopt a new
Teaching: Transforming Suffering
religion, but instead shares how
into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
he learned to transform suffering
by Thich Nhat Hanh
into joy through mindfulness.
In a world of
Suggested by:
manufactured
Jaime F. Totti (’20, SOM ’20)
cynicism and
The Art of Gathering
tribulation, it’s
by Priya Parker
often too easy to forgo joy
This is a guide
and happiness;
for anyone
however, the
who wants to
reality is that joy is abundantly
host any sort
available in the present moment.
of gathering—
You have to be willing to see it
from a gala to
and welcome it. Now more than
a conference,
ever we have an opportunity
a business meeting or a dinner
to reflect on who we are in this
party. She focuses on the reasons
world, how we occupy space and
why we gather, and reminds us
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that if we’re bringing people
is distinctly Chinese, using the
together, the intention behind
Cultural Revolution as a backdrop
that gathering is the most
as well as Chinese politics of
important element, and should
isolationism coming into play.
guide all of the choices we make
The novel asks what it would
as we plan the event. It’s been a
take for multiple generations
major touchstone of my work as
of the world’s nations to unite
the manager of the Cabaret, as
against a single force. It’s a
we wanted our space to feel like a
thought-provoking meditation
home for everyone who joined us
on humanity as the scope of time
there this year.
zooms out that will definitely put your day-to-day problems into
Suggested by:
perspective.
Brandon E. Burton (’20) The Three-Body Problem
#ICYMI: James Bundy thanks the
by Cixin Liu
Cab 52 team for their tremendous work, and introduces the artists If you like Game
and managers who will take the
of Thrones, Haruki
reigns of Cab 53!
Murakami, or Star Trek, this is a speculative science fiction book and the first part of a trilogy. The story
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At Your Streaming Service Yale On Screen Yale has played a part in countless movies and television shows (we see you, Gilmore Girls!), but few have been given permission to film on campus. Here are a few. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (yup, that is our beloved University Theatre), available to rent; Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, streaming on Netflix; Mona Lisa Smile - available to rent. #ExtraCredit: Markie Gray (‘20), Associate Director of Marketing, has impeccable taste. One of her favorite movies last year was the criminally overlooked Booksmart, in which Beanie Feldstein’s character gets Above, clockwise from top: America Ferrera and Tom Wisdom in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2; Shia LeBeouf and Harrison Ford ride through Old Campus in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; Julia Roberts and Dominic West at Yale University Art Gallery in Mona Lisa Smile.
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into…YALE! Streaming on Hulu.
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No Day But Today Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School was among the New Haven public schools who planned to bring their students to the morning matinee performances of A Raisin in the Sun in April as part of Yale Rep’s annual WILL POWER! education program. Some of those students had also been in final rehearsals for the Co-Op production of Jonathan Larson’s Rent, prior to the state’s stay-at-home orders. Here’s a look at some of the spectacular performances they didn’t get to share with an audience—until now! Special shout out to graduating seniors Tomas Echeverria as Tom Collins, Ruth Green as Joanne, and Jose Resto as Roger.
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What We’re Cooking Let’s All Drink to Them! Ellen Lange, Senior Administrative Assistant to the Acting Department, and party host extraordinaire, offers some celebratory cocktail recipes (with and without alcohol) as well as some savory nibbles.
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What We’re Cooking
The Spring Spritz Fill a wine glass with ice. Add 2 oz. Aperol, 2 oz. sparkling wine, and 1 oz. grapefruit juice. Top off with a splash of soda water and garnish with 1/2 slice of grapefruit
1/8 tsp garlic powder 1/4 tsp cayenne (start with this, add more if you like!) 1 tsp salt (omit salt if using salted butter) 1/2 tp. black pepper
and a sprig of mint!
2 cups all-purpose flour
Got a pitcher?: a bottle of
use all the water)
bubbles, 1 1/2 C juice, 1C sparking water; grapefruit and mint for garnish. Day Drinking?: Fill a nice glass with ice. Add 3oz each ruby red grapefruit juice and ginger beer (not ginger ale), stir gently. Garnish with grapefruit and mint
2–4 tbs cold water (you may not
Beat together softened butter and cheese with an electric mixer, scraping sides of the bowl several times, until combined. Add the Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper; mix thoroughly.
for extra Zoom points.
Add the flour 1/4 cup at a time
Adapted from Epicurious.com, April 2016.
at slow speed. When the mix is crumbly, add water by tablespoon
Cheese Crackers
and continue mixing until a smooth dough forms. Wrap the
8 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
dough in plastic wrap and chill for
14 oz sharp cheddar, grated
30 minutes.
2 oz grated parmesan 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
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Preheat the oven to 350º and divide dough into three balls. THE PROMPTER May 18, 2020
pepper flakes, cayenne pepper; Roll one ball on a lightly floured
1/4 t turmeric powder and ground
surface until it is 1/8 inch thick.
ginger; and 1/8t ground cloves.
Cut the dough into squares or use a small cookie cutter. Place the crackers close together on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Continue to roll and cut the, or rewrap and freeze.
Spread nuts on a parchmentcovered baking sheet and roast at 250Âş for at least 45 minutes, turning nuts a couple of times, until golden brown. Bake another 5-10 minutes for toastier nuts. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, if
Bake crackers for 12 to 15 minutes,
desired, and allow to cool at least
until golden brown. Remove pans
10 minutes for maximum crunch.
from oven and allow crackers to cool to room temperature before serving.
Adapted from a recipe by Jenni of Whip&Wander.com.
Store the crackers in an airtight container for 6-10 days.
Roasted Nuts Whip 2 egg whites until frothy, then mix in 4 cups of untoasted whole mixed nuts of your choice. With a slotted spoon, transfer nuts to another bowl (or drain in a colander), then stir in ÂźC of honey; 1T sea salt; 1t ground cumin; 1/2t each cinnamon, red #A
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News and Updates Doctor, Doctor Yale University President Peter Salovey conferred honorary Doctoral degrees to Ming Cho Lee, former Chair of Design, and Paula Vogel, former Chair of Playwriting. “Ming Cho Lee, you have set the world on stage, and your influence circles the globe. Your classroom is legendary: with insight and humility, you inspired thousands of Yale students to create new vistas of art and meaning,” said Salovey while conferring a Doctorate of Fine Arts to Ming Cho Lee, The Donald M. Oenslager Professor in the Practice Emeritus. As he conferred a Doctorate of Letters to Paula Vogel, Salovey said, “While waltzing or driving, dying or loving, your characters connect with audiences and bring urgent issues out of the shadows. A devoted teacher, you foster the future of theater, helping young playwrights find their voices and refine their craft.”
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Celebrate!
Bonus Track
Enjoy Yale’s Class Week and Commencement activities virtually at Yale2020.yale.edu! Download and print a Yale School of Drama 2020 Pennant to wave! Search for #ysd2020 in Instagram and Facebook to add some celebratory flair to your
Based on the 1934 play of the
photos!
same name by George S. Kaufman
School of Drama Students
We Roll Along, with book by
Inspire New Voices in Theater, Co-founded by Madeline Charne (’20), the playwriting program inspired 26 high school students to write plays this year.
and Moss Hart, the musical Merrily George Furth and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, played 44 previews and just 16 regular performances on Broadway in 1981. Reviewing the show for The New York Times, Frank Rich wrote, “Mr. Sondheim has given this evening a half-dozen songs that are crushing and beautiful— that soar and linger and hurt. But the show that contains them is a shambles.” Theater people love an underdog, which may be why this
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Bonus Track this heartbreaker of a musical
Prompter Staff
has had countless productions
Role
since then here in the U.S. and
name
abroad. Here’s Colin Donnell, Lin-Manual Miranda, and Celia Keenan-Bolger delivering the final number in a 2012 concert version produced by City Center Encores! What a time to be alive.
Role Name Special Thanks Ellen Lange, Jaime Totti, Brandon E. Burton, Zachry Baily
To offer feedback on this issue, or to make editorial, book, streaming movie/television, music, or recipe suggestions for future issues, please send an email to yalerep@yale.edu. yalerep.org drama.yale.edu yalerep@yale.edu
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