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*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States The Scenic, Costume, Lighting and Sound Designers are members of United Scenic Artists Union Center REP is a member of Theatre Bay Area and Theatre Communications Group (TCG), The National Organization for the American Theatre CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY Michael Butler, Artistic Director Scott Denison, Managing Director Season Partner Foundation Sponsor Season Sponsor Margaret Lesher Theatre January 24 - February 22, 2020 Lesher Center for the Arts Scenic Designer RICHARD OLMSTED Cast KATRINA LAUREN McGRAW* Costume Designer ULISES ALCALA Directed by DARRYL V. JONES Music Directed by KENNETH LITTLE "The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith" had its world premiere at Penguin Rep Theatre (Joe Brancato, Artistic Director, and Andrew Horn, Executive Director) "The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith" was produced Off Braodway at St. Luke's Theatre by Penguin Rep Tehatre & Edmund Gaynes in association with Lizanne & Don Mitchell Lighting Designer KURT LANDISMAN Stage Manager TAIT MELODY ADAMS* Sound Designer CLIFF CARUTHERS By ANGELO PARRA Conceived and Originally Directed by JOE BRANCATO Musical Arrangements by MICHE BRADEN Props Designer ALYSSA TRYON RIC ALEXANDER RODERICK BREWSTER WILSON BROOKS KENNETH LITTLE

CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY Devil's Music... · 2020-01-16 · Playhouse) BJ in Smokey Joe's Cafe (Town Hall Theatre Co.) Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors ... two saxophones simultaneously

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Page 1: CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY Devil's Music... · 2020-01-16 · Playhouse) BJ in Smokey Joe's Cafe (Town Hall Theatre Co.) Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors ... two saxophones simultaneously

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United StatesThe Scenic, Costume, Lighting and Sound Designers are members of United Scenic Artists Union

Center REP is a member of Theatre Bay Area and Theatre Communications Group (TCG), The National Organization for the American Theatre

CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY Michael Butler, Artistic Director Scott Denison, Managing Director

Season Partner Foundation Sponsor Season Sponsor

Margaret Lesher TheatreJanuary 24 - February 22, 2020

Lesher Center for the Arts

Scenic DesignerRICHARD OLMSTED

Cast

KATRINA LAUREN McGRAW*

Costume DesignerULISES ALCALA

Directed by DARRYL V. JONESMusic Directed by KENNETH LITTLE

"The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith" had its world premiere at Penguin Rep Theatre(Joe Brancato, Artistic Director, and Andrew Horn, Executive Director)

"The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith" was produced Off Braodway at St. Luke's Theatreby Penguin Rep Tehatre & Edmund Gaynes in association with Lizanne & Don Mitchell

Lighting DesignerKURT LANDISMAN

Stage ManagerTAIT MELODY ADAMS*

Sound DesignerCLIFF CARUTHERS

ByANGELO PARRA

Conceived and Originally Directed byJOE BRANCATO

Musical Arrangements byMICHE BRADEN

Props DesignerALYSSA TRYON

RIC ALEXANDER RODERICK BREWSTER WILSON BROOKS KENNETH LITTLE

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DIRECTOR'S NOTES

I initially had some concerns about telling the story of an African American woman whose life seemed to mirror the negative stereotypes of African American behavior that were created during slavery and went viral with the advent of black face minstrelsy shows in the mid 1800's. These shows which continued well into the twentieth century, often depicted African Americans as violent and crude with a proclivity for alcohol and other vices. While much of Bessie Smith's life may seem to mimic these stereotypes, the stimulus for much of her behavior and indeed the lives of most African Americans at this time, was the crippling oppression under which they lived.

In the mid eighteen-nineties, less than thirty years after the Thirteenth Amendment had officially abolished slavery in the United States, slavery in a different form was still a reality for most African Americans. This new form of slavery found African Americans in the Jim Crow south, still working on plantations as sharecroppers where little had changed. In the north, most jobs they could find were as domestics or some other form of servitude. Forced abject poverty was a way of life for African Americans and that was the world in which Bessie Smith was born.

Bessie carried the experience of this type of second-class existence into her life and music. But she also brought to her music a celebration of the spirit to overcome whatever life throws at you. Blues music is not all sad. It can be joyful and sorrowful, naughty and nice. It is a release of pent up feelings and emotions. There is no question that Bessie's life and music reveal the pain and rage of her oppression. But it also shines a light on her indomitable spirit and zest for life. Bessie lived her life fully on her own terms and never sold out who she was to become more acceptable to the social mores of white or black culture. She channeled her emotions into her music and never allowed herself to become a victim. While her life ended tragically, it was not because she was defeated.

Bessie Smith paved the way for future African American female artists to do the same. She showed others how to survive by embracing their blackness, bodies, sexuality and independence. Mahalia Jackson, Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Oprah, Beyonce, Queen Latifah, Janelle Monae and the current heir apparent Lizzo, can all thank Bessie for paving the way.

Darryl V. Jones, Director

CAST

Bessie Smith ................ Katrina Lauren McGraw*Pickle, the Piano Player ................. Kenneth Little Saxophonist ....................................Ric AlexanderBassist .....................................Roderick BrewsterDrummer........................................Wilson Brooks

TIME AND PLACE

Monday, October 4, 1937 and the Saturday night, nine days earlier.

Memphis, Tennessee, in a "buffet flat."

SONG LISTPickle's Soliloquy

Bad Mood Blues by Miche Braden & Joe Brancato

There'll Be a Hot Time in Old Town Tonight by Theodore August Metz with lyrics by Joe Hayden

Hot Time REPRISE

Dirty No-Gooders Blues by Bessie Smith

Blame It On The Blues by Ma Rainey

Baby Doll/ Sugar in My Bowl by Bessie Smith (Baby Doll)

Clarence Williams & Tim Brynn (Sugar in my Bowl)

Downhearted Blues by Alberta Hunter & Lovie Austin

Devil's Dance

St. Louis Blues by WC Handy

Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Doby Porter Grainger, Everett Robbins

After You've Gone by Henry Creamer & Turner Layton

I Ain't Got Nobody by R. Graham & Spencer Williams

Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out by Jimmy Cox

Down and Out REPRISE

Welcome to The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, a celebration of the great African American singer renowned as “the Empress of the Blues.”

This isn’t the first time Center REP has brought you a musical about

a great singer or musician. I love theatre that is about musicians, the making of music, and great songs. Blues, jazz, country-western and rock ‘n roll are uniquely American art forms that have been inspiring us, challenging us and defining us for generations now. Great songs speak to who we are, and later when we listen back, they are a lightening-sharp reminder of who we were, and later still, they reach forward across generations and tell us how far we’ve come. Bessie Smith said, “The greatest blues singer in the world will never stop singing.” A song is living history that goes straight to the heart. At Center REP, you’ve seen celebratory portraits of Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie, Noel Coward, Fats Waller and the Million Dollar Quartet – Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. That is some lineup! To which we now add Bessie Smith, the one and only Empress of the Blues. Welcome!

Artistic Director

PROFILES

KATRINA LAUREN McGRAW* (Bessie Smith) is a San Francisco native who graduated from the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts. Some past credits include Donna in Mamma Mia (Berkeley Playhouse) Marie in Fiorello! (42nd St. Moon) Bird Woman/ Miss. Andrew in Mary Poppins (SF Playhouse) Ms. Myers/Alexandra Daniels in Freaky Friday (Center REP) Ms. Shields in A Christmas Story (SF Playhouse) Armelia in Ain't Misbehavin' (42nd St. Moon) Sour Kangaroo in Seussical (Bay Area Musicals) She Loves Me (San Francisco Playhouse) BJ in Smokey Joe's Cafe (Town Hall Theatre Co.) Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors (Ray of Light Theater) Dragon in Shrek (Berkeley Playhouse) Kate in Zanna, Don’t! (NCTC), Dynaminte in Hairspray (Woodminster Theater and PCPA Theaterfest) Motermouth Mabel in Hairspray (Allenberry Playhouse) Abuela Clauda in In The Heights (Cohos Music Hall), Trixy/Phantom in The Rocky Horror Show (Merchants Hall and A.C.T's Strand Theater) Dionne in Hair (Bay Area Musicals). Follow her on Instagram @kramgram

KENNETH LITTLE (Pickle / Music Director) has been playing music in the Bay Area for over 40 years. He was trained privately at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in the genre of classical music. It was there where he studied the art of playing piano and theory. His formitive years began when he was a teenager playing for New Providence Baptist Church. It was at church where he learned to play gospel music. He was first introduced to musical theater under the direction of Dr. Rhonnie Washington at San Francisco State University. His big break came when introduced to the founder of Lorraine Hansbury Theater by Arvis Strickling-Jones to the late Stanley Williams. He was the musical director for numerous productions of Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity. He also served as musical director for five productions of A Soulful Christmas which is the theater's current holiday production. Their first production of this play was under the direction of Darryl V. Jones. Ken also engages in musical production and has his own mobile musical studio. “I am humbled to have been blessed with the gift of music.” “For me, this journey never ends. It’s a marathon not a sprint.”

RIC ALEXANDER (Saxophonist) If you’ve caught Ric Alexander on tour in the last year with Tony Toni Toné, you’ll recognize him playing two saxophones simultaneously in a smooth and melodic style that captivates audiences wherever he performs. Ric is also recognized as an advocate for prostate cancer awareness in communities across the country. With the support of Director of Urban Health mentors like Michael Shaw and the Prostate Health Education Network (www.prostatehealthed.org), Ric is destined to spread

THANK YOU TO:Massimo’s Ristorante

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Tale at Santa Cruz Shakespeare, The Good Person of Szechwan at the California Shakespeare Festival, Oedipus, el Rey at Magic Theatre, Sweat at American Conservatory Theatre, White at Shotgun Players, The Abduction from the Seraglio at Opera San Jose, The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Don Pasquale at the San Francisco Opera Center. Upcoming productions: The Cake at The Rep St. Louis and Bernhardt/Hamlet at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Mr. Alcala is a professor of design at California State University, East Bay.

KURT LANDISMAN (Lighting Designer) Local audiences will be familiar with his work through past productions designed for Center REP including The Diary of Anne Frank, Communicating Doors, Mamma Mia!, Disney's Freaky Friday, Altar Boyz, Mirandolina, Deathtrap, Life Could Be a Dream, Ella, the Musical, Sweet Charity, and Xanadu. His designs have been seen throughout the Bay Area at many theaters including San Francisco Opera, ACT, Berkeley Rep, San Jose Rep, Theatreworks, California Shakespeare Festival, The Magic Theatre, and Marin Theatre Company. Locally his work has garnered 19 Bay Area Critics Circle Awards, 5 LA Dramalogue Awards and 5 Shellie Awards. Nationally, his work has been seen at many regional opera & ballet companies, including the Los Angeles Opera, Minnesota Opera, Virginia Opera, Tulsa Opera, and Ballet Arizona. His designs have also been presented off-Broadway, represented at Circle Rep, and the Douglas Fairbanks Theatres. Other designs internationally include world premieres of plays by Sam Shepard in Japan, and Singapore, as well as the San Francisco Opera in Shanghai, China, and the Moscow Circus in Tokyo, Japan. kurtlandisman.com

CLIFF CARUTHERS (Sound Designer) has created soundscapes and music for over 200 productions, including Communicating Doors, Red Speedo, The Liar, Altar Boyz, Sisters Matsumoto, Dracula, and Ella: The Musical for Center REP. Recent work includes American Night, The Tempest, and The Seagull for California Shakespeare Theater; Elektra, The Homecoming, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, and Race for American Conservatory Theater; Crime and Punishment and TRAGEDY: a tragedy for Berkeley Repertory Theatre; Gross Indecency and The Diary of Anne Frank for Kansas City Repertory Theatre; Troilus and Cressida for Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Ubu Roi, Pelleas and Melisande, and A Dreamplay for The Cutting Ball Theater; The Happy Ones for Magic Theatre; The Loudest Man on Earth, The Clean House and Outside Mullingar for TheatreWorks; We Are Proud To Present, Death of a Salesman, and Venus in Fur for San Jose Stage Company, Julius Caesar for The Acting Company; Happy Days for The Guthrie Theater; Circle Mirror Transformation, and 9 Circles for Marin Theatre Company, and Bug, and Dead Man's Cell Phone for San Francisco Playhouse Mr. Caruthers is also co-curator and technical director of the San Francisco Tape Music Festival and has performed his electronic music compositions internationally. His music for the IOS app "Earth: A Primer" was featured at the GDC's Experimental Gameplay Workshop in 2015.

the message of early detection testing worldwide. Ric has shared the stage with various well known artists such as Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, Rick Braun, Jeff Lorber, Chris Botti, Jonathan Butler, Dave Koz, Will Downing, Confunkshun, Lenny Williams, Regina Belle, The Clark Sisters, The Winans, Rance Allen, Shirley Ceasar, the late Edwin and Walter Hawkins, Ledisi, Goapele, Sheila E., Larry Graham, Raphael Saadiq, New Edition, Smokie Norful, and the list goes on. He won the 2013 “Best Male Jazz Artist” award from The Bay Area Music Association of America, and also took top honors in the inaugural Dave Koz Cruise Smooth Idol contest. Last December, Ric performed six sold out shows at Yoshi’s with Tony Toni Toné that included Raphael Saadiq. Ric was specially invited to perform at the Essence Festival with Jody Watley in New Orleans, and opened for Bobby Caldwell at the Sundays in the Redwoods Concert Series in Oakland.

RODERICK BREWSTER (Bassist), an accomplished bass player, has been playing bass for 27 years professionally, and began playing guitar, bass guitar and other instruments at the age of 3. His professional career began in church, then when he moved from his home in Alabama to California, at 20 yrs old, his musical career began to flourish. He has played in several bands and music groups, and is the music director for Heart Language, a 13 piece band here in the Bay Area. Roderick has played for many different well known names such as Lawrence Matthews, Suga T, Freda Mitchell, John Patterson, David Byrd, and many others. Roderick has played in on stage performances such as Four Colored Guys, and just finished the Christmas Musical Stage play "A Soulful Christmas."

WILSON BROOKS (Drummer) Wilson’s interest in becoming a drummer began at an early age, while he attended church with his family in Richmond, California. By age 11, he was playing professionally with a group that he formed and developed. At the age of 13, Wilson attended the East Bay Center for Performing Arts, and eventually was accepted into the Young Musician’s Program which was held at UC Berkeley, California. He continued his study of music throughout high school, playing in various bands and marching band, where he was trained in all genres of music. After graduating high school, Wilson continued working with Professor William Bell, who was his musical instructor at UC Berkeley. The Jazz band was given the opportunity to work with artists that included Jimmy Witherspoon, Lady Bianca, Kennedy Burrell, and other great musicians. Wilson has also had the opportunity to work with the Gospel Hummingbirds. His thirteen year tenure with the Hummingbirds afforded him the opportunity to share the stage with artists that included Stanley Clark, B.B. King, and Dr. John. He was able to visit and tour Colorado, Oregon, Arizona, Australia, and New Mexico. Currently,

Wilson is the drummer, vocalist, and songwriter for Beaufunk, and is the band leader for a trio group, JazSynergy.

ANGELO PARRA (Playwright) is an award-winning playwright, playwriting instructor, literary manager of Penguin Rep Theater, and the author of the acclaimed, The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, named among the “Top-Ten Off-Broadway Experiences” (NY Daily News) and nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award and Helen Hayes Award, among others. He's also the author of "Playwriting for Dummies." Parra’s honors include two NY Foundation for the Arts Fellowships – Scriptwriting, and the 1998 Chicano/Latino Literary Award (UC Irvine). In 2000, he was named a Tennessee Williams Scholar at the prestigious Sewanee Writers Conference. Parra is the founder/director of the Main Street Playwrights workshop in Tarrytown, and is a Performing Arts/English adjunct at SUNY Rockland.

DARRYL V. JONES (Director/Associate Music Director) is Professor of Theatre at Cal State East Bay. He recently directed and co-choreographed the LHT production of Kill Move Paradise in collaboration with Shotgun Players. For Aurora Theatre Co. he has directed Detroit '67 and he directed and co-choreographed their BACC Award winning production of The Royale. Other directing credits include: Off Broadway/National Tour We Are Your Sisters (AUDELCO Award Outstanding Production), A View From The Bridge (Theatre Lobby Award Outstanding Direction) and Spunk (Helen Hayes Award Nominee), The Minneola Twins (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Co.) and The Brothers Size (Theatre Rhino). Jones was Directing Associate at Arena Stage where he choreographed Candide and Dance of Death. He is an active member of Actors Equity Association and a 2017 TBA Award nominee for outstanding supporting actor in the musical Priscilla. He has performed with theatre companies such as Arena Stage, The Old Globe, and Ford’s Theatre. Jones holds a Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance from The Catholic University of America, and an MFA in Directing from Boston University.

RICHARD OLMSTED (Scenic Designer) Previous designs for Center REP: Communicating Doors, Women in Jeopardy!, Rocket Man and On Borrowed Time. Other designs include productions for Aurora Theatre Co. (Detroit ’67, the world premiere of Eureka Day, The Royale, Master Harold…and the Boys, and Temple). Olmsted has also designed for theatres including California Shakespeare Theatre, Marin Theatre Co., Berkeley Rep and Magic Theatre. Upcoming work includes Joe Orton’s Loot, opening in April at Aurora. He teaches stage design and technology at Cal State East Bay. Please visit: www.olmstedscenic.com

ULISES ALCALA (Costume Designer) has designed costumes at various companies around the Bay Area for the last 15 years. Recent engagements: Bull in a China Shop at Aurora Theatre The Winter’s

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Center REPertory Company

Production ManagerJeff Collister

Technical DirectorJoshua Lipps

Master ElectricianDel MedoffCarpenters

Kevin BennettTrevor Frey

Arian GrimsrudGabriel JohnsonBrennan Shreves

Asst. Stage ManagerJoe Coe

Asst. Lighting DesignerEmma Satchell

Deck CrewMiranda Ketchum Followspot Operator

Kira Daugherty

Marketing AssociateTatiana Kelly

Costume Shop ManagerMichelle Kincaid

Wardrobe SupervisorKiara Montgomery

DraperAlea Gonzales

SticherLinda Scotting

Education DirectorsJeff Draper

Kerri Shawn Casting DirectorJennifer Perry

Asst. to the Managing Director

Gail PfeiferProgram/Webmaster

Linda Nomura

Michael Butler Artistic DirectorScott Denison Managing Director

MICHAEL BUTLER (Artistic Director) This is Michael’s thirteenth season as Artistic Director of Center REP, where his directing credits include Native Gardens, The Liar, Women in Jeopardy, Baskerville, ‘Art,’ Anything Goes, Clybourne Park, Real Housewives of Walnut Creek, and To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as the Shellie and BATCC Award-winning productions of Around the World in 80 Days, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Enchanted April, and Witness For The Prosecution. His directing work has also been seen at San Jose Rep, Cleveland Playhouse, Seattle Rep, Laguna Playhouse, ACT in Seattle, Marin Theatre Company, Aurora Theatre Company, San Jose Stage, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and The Juilliard School, of which he is a graduate. As an actor, Michael has worked on Broadway (Macbeth with Glenda Jackson and Christopher Plummer and Two Shakespearean Actors), Off Broadway (Roundabout, The Public Theatre), in regional theatres (The Guthrie, Arena Stage, Long Wharf), film and television, as well as in REP’s productions of Mirandolina!, The Mousetrap, Noises Off and Rumors. He is a published songwriter and the co-writer and composer of numerous music-theatre pieces, which have been produced in NY, LA, and at festivals in India and Morocco. In his career as a performer he has also danced with the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, portrayed the villainous Pierre LeChance on “The Guiding Light," and played guitar and harmonica in many rock, blues, and country western bands at all the notable dives in NYC.

SCOTT DENISON (Managing Director) has been the General Manager for the Lesher Center for the Arts since it opened 28 years ago and has worked for the Arts in this area for over 45 years. Scott has directed over 150 productions, including The Wizard of Oz, the musical hit Cinderella, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Hairspray, The Music Man, Les Misérables and for the past 20 seasons Center REP’s A Christmas Carol as well as all Fantasy Forum productions since 1970. He created and produces the annual Shellie Awards now celebrating 40 years. Scott has also designed lights for over 250 productions, including the national touring production of Sylvia. Under Denison’s guidance the Lesher Center for the Arts presents over 850 public events each year. He coordinates performing arts activities with over 100 producers and producing organizations. Scott created the Chevron Family Theatre Festival which hosts over 7,000 guests each year. He is also the Managing Director of the Center REPertory Company producing professional productions each season and is the director and co-founder of Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble, an adult family performing arts company which presents programs for the young and Young at Heart.

OUR SPONSORS

Chevron (Season Sponsor) has been the leading corporate sponsor of Center REP and the Lesher Center for the Arts for the past twelve years. In fact, Chevron has been a partner of the LCA since the beginning, providing funding for capital improvements, event sponsorships and more. Chevron generously supports every Center REP show throughout the season, and is the primary sponsor for events including the Chevron Family Theatre Festival in July. Chevron has proven itself not just as a generous supporter, but also a valued friend of the arts.

Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA) (Season Partner) is both the primary fundraising organization of the Lesher Center for the Arts (LCA) and the City of Walnut Creek’s appointed curator for the LCA’s audience outreach. DRAA’s role in the community is all about building partnerships with the focused goal of enhancing artistic quality at the LCA and providing opportunities for everyone to enjoy the arts. Through partnerships with the LCA and its producers, individual donors, corporate and foundation sponsors and the City of Walnut Creek, DRAA plays a vital role in advancing the arts for the betterment of the community. Please visit us online at www.draa.org.

Lesher Foundation (Foundation Sponsor) As the namesake family for the Lesher Center for the Arts, the Lesher Foundation has provided funding to Center REP and the Lesher Center since the Center opened in 1990. Their support has had a profound impact on the quality of Center REP’s productions and has greatly enhanced the experience for Center REP’s audiences. Grant-making decisions are based on the vision of Dean and Margaret Lesher who felt quality education, diverse art programs, and healthy children and families are the building blocks of a strong and vibrant community.

ABOUT CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY

Center REP is the resident, professional theatre company of the Lesher Center for the Arts. Our season consists of six productions a year – a variety of musicals, dramas and comedies, both classic and contemporary, that continually strive to reach new levels of artistic excellence and professional standards.

Our mission is to celebrate the power of the human imagination by producing emotionally engaging, intellectually involving, and visually astonishing live theatre, and through Outreach and Education programs, to enrich and advance the cultural life of the communities we serve.

What does it mean to be a producing theatre? We hire the finest professional directors, actors and designers to create our productions at Center REP. These are not touring productions – they’re conceived and developed here, the sets and costumes are built in our shops, and the actors rehearse in our rehearsal hall. Whether the production is a Bay Area premiere or a Shakespearean classic, each is devised to be a one of a kind, artistic creation that will be a unique theatre experience for our audience.

What does it mean to be a professional theatre? It means that all our artists and artisans are career theatre-practitioners. Many of the actors in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association; our directors and designers are members of professional unions. All do theatre because it is their profession and their passion.

We are very proud to have the opportunity to produce professional theatre for our community in the beautiful theatres here at the Lesher Center for the Arts. Thank you for your support.

Audience ServicesCoordinator

Courtney EggTicket Office StaffJeremiah Vierling

Rami KimRobert NolanBailey Ferris

Brandon LawrenceHali Loyd

Shannon TaylorUsher Coordinator

Pat MitchellCommunity Engagement

Alex Moore

Production ServicesCoordinator

Toni KilcoyneTechnical Staff

Steve PinoAlex Bull

Chris CurrieJohn Owens

Garrick SchusterJosh StoufferJosh YarnellSteve Young

SecurityNick DowdBen Garcia

Johnny Silveira

TAIT MELODY ADAMS* (Stage Manager) is very pleased to be making her debut at Center REPertory Company. Other recent credits include: Everything is Illuminated at Aurora Theatre Company, White Noise and The Good Book at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and PICTURE Bayview Hunter’s Point with Zaccho Dance Theatre. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theater & Performance Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology.

ALYSSA TRYON (Properties Designer) is the resident Properties Designer for Center REPertory Company. Her most recent work could be seen in The Santa Experience (The Lesher Center), Native Gardens (Center REP), and The Wickhams: Christmas At Pemberly (CLTC). Past credits include: Shrek The Musical (BAMC), The Drowsy Chaperone (BAMC), The Wiz (BAMC), We Are The Tigers (Off Broadway: Theatre 80), Lewiston/ Clarkston (Off Broadway: Rattlestick Playwrights Theater), The Marymount Manhattan College 2018-2019 Season, and The Santa Fe Opera 2018 Season. She obtained her Bachelors Degree in Theatrical Design from Marymount Manhattan College. Thank you to all of my family and friends for always supporting me along this amazing journey! www.AlyssaTryon.com

THANK YOU TO THE STAFF OF THE LESHER CENTER FOR THE ARTS

ARTS COMMISSIONGlynnis Cowdery, Chair

Ann Merideth, Vice Chair

Jane EmanuelIasmine KlauberAnita Sagástegui

CITY COUNCILLoella Haskew, Mayor

Matt FrancoisCindy Silva

Justin WedelKevin Wilk

CITY MANAGERDan Buckshi

DIRECTOR, Arts + RecKevin Safine