*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United StatesThe Director of this production is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society

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

Directed by Michael ButlerMusical Direction and Choreography by Molly Bell

Season Partner Foundation Sponsor Season Sponsor

Knight Stage 3 TheatreApril 17 - May 11, 2014

Lesher Center for the Arts

presentsthe World Premiere of

Scenic DesignerMichael Butler

Costume DesignerMichael A. Berg

Cast

Molly Bell*Riette Burdick*

Lynda Di VitoJason Hoover

Sound DesignerLyle BarrereProps MasterJasen Jeffrey

Lighting DesignerJohn Earls

Video DesignersMolly Bell

Jasen Jeffrey Stage ManagerJasen Jeffrey*

Book, Music and Lyrics by Molly Bell

Additional Music, Arrangements and Orchestrations by Dolores Duran-Cefalu

Danelle MedeirosLizzie O’Hara

Commissioned by: The Diablo Regional Arts Association, Peggy White, Executive Directorand

Center REPertory Company, Michael Butler, Artistic Director and Scott Denison, Managing Director

world premieres, playing some bright and ambitious blondes, and some not-so-bright blondes! She’s enjoyed leading roles in Grease, The Grapes of Wrath, Annie, The Secret Garden, River’s End, Merrily We Roll Along, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to name a few. missmollybell.com

Riette Burdick* (Beezus) is thrilled to be here at Center REP and to be a part of this new adventure of RHWC! Theatre credits include, the 1st National Tour of Crazy for You (Irene), the International tour of Fame-The Musical (Miss Bell) and Becoming Britney (Mama) with Molly Bell at the New York Fringe Festival. Regionally she has performed at TheatreWorks in Merrily We Roll Along (Gussie), And The World Goes Round (Woman 2), and the New Works production of The Great Wall, as well as several productions at AMTSJ including, Damn Yankees ( Lola ), Victor/Victoria ( Norma ) and A Chorus Line (Sheila). Riette trained at PCPA Theatrefest in Santa Maria, CA. and ACT’s MFA program. Her voice can be heard as DJ Marybeth Maybell on the video game Grand Theft Auto San Andreas.

Lynda DiVito (Lulu) is thrilled to be back at Center REP in Housewives! Other Center REP shows include Clybourne Park, Lucky Stiff, Status Update, Rumors, Boeing Boeing, She Loves Me and All Shook Up. Regional credits include Hairspray at CCMT, Legally Blonde at DTC, Full Monty at AMTSJ. International and NYC credits include CATS/Jellylorum, Off Broadway Sheba, the Musical, Oliver at Papermill Playhouse. Lynda was the lead singer for one of Amsterdam’s hottest dance bands, JamSquare and was the opening act for the “Weather Girls” in Koln, Germany. Lynda holds a degree in Theatre from SFSU. Many thanks to Michael Butler and the Center REP family. For L&H&N, the loves of my life.

Danelle Medeiros (Babette) studied musical theater at AMDA LA and currently resides in Silicon Valley. This is her second time working with Molly having first been in Becoming Britney in 2012. She was nominated for a SFBATCC award for Best Actress for the role of Jackie in the new musical Rent Boy Ave. in 2009. She has performed all over the Bay Area with companies such as Cabrillo Stage, the former AMTSJ, City Lights Theater,

Marquee Productions, and Palo Alto Players. Past credits include Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde, Mimi in Rent, Rusty in Footloose, and Audrey in Little Shop. She is also an instructor for Creative Habit Academy and loves working with children. She hopes to keep pursuing her dream of being on stage wherever that may lead.

Jason Hoover (The Man) is honored to be working with the talented group at Center REP. Selected credits include: Disney’s Toy Story the Musical, Tales of the City, Assassins, The Full Monty, CARRIE the Musical, and Evita. Jason is the Artistic Director for Ray of Light Theatre in San Francisco. Upcoming shows include Triassic Parq and Yeast Nation. As always, Jason would like to thank his partents for their support and the Nolan’s for their couch. For more information: www.JHoov.com.

Lizzie O’Hara (Penny) is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, but has spent the past two years living, working, and performing in New York City. Recent theatre credits include Val in the Cabrillo Stage run of A Chorus Line, Penga in Abandon Entertainment’s touring musical Freaky Pets Live!, Woman 2 in Becoming Britney at the Retro Dome, Erato and Kira U/S in Guggenheim Entertainment’s West Coast Premiere of Xanadu, and Marie in Pear Avenue Theatre’s production of Ctrl + Alt + Delete. She also regularly performs with her band Sky-Pony, a Brooklyn-based band which the Wall Street Journal describes as “1960s girl group on crack—tight, fierce, hilarious and out of their minds.” www.sky-pony.com

CAST

Joanne .....................................................Molly Bell*Beezus ............................................ Riette Burdick*Lulu .......................................................Lynda DiVitoThe Man ............................................ Jason Hoover Babette ...........................................Danelle Medeiros Penny .................................................. Lizzie O’Hara

TIME and PLACE

2014, Walnut Creek

There will be one intermission.

SONG LIST

Act One

Hail Mary Nancy Grace ........................ the WivesMeet the Wives ....................................... the WivesAmazing .........................................................JoanneQVC Jingle ........................................................... BudBabylishish Jingle .........................................PennyElegant Enemas Jingle .............................. BeezusStrap it On! ................ Joanne, Babette and BudAmazing (Reprise) ......................................JoanneYou Can Keep Your Diamonds .....................LuluBitch of the Ball ........................................... Beezus

Act Two

Meet the Wives (Reprise One) ........... the WivesChin Up ......Penny, Babette, Joanne & the WivesThe Lap Dance ........................instrumental onlyI Forgive You ....................... Joanne and BabetteMeet the Wives (Reprise 2 in Morocco) .................................................................................. the WivesWelcome to Morocco ........ Man and the WivesAmazing (Finale) ...................................................allMeet the Wives (Finale) ..................................... all

CAST BIOGRAPHIES

Molly Bell* (Joanne) was first seen at Center REP in A Marvelous Party and last year in the title role of Timothy Near’s production of Sweet Charity as well as Center REP’s Off Center production of Becoming Britney in which she starred as Britney Spears. She originated the roles of Amelia in Andrew Lippa’s A Little Princess, Clara in David Bryan’s (Bon Jovi) Memphis, and Susan in Steven Schwartz’s Snapshots. Molly starred opposite Neil Patrick Harris in The Roundabout Theater Company’s workshop production of Party Come Here. Molly started her professional career as Shelley in Batboy: The Musical and has gone on to a career of kooky sidekicks, awesome

THANK YOU TO OUR OPENING NIGHT DINNER SPONSORS:

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine BarOi-C Bowl

Scott’s Seafood Grill and Restaurant

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Dolores Duran-CefaluBecky Bell

Kurt KuckeinRuss Bell

The Diablo Regional Arts AssociationJami Davis

Lisa TaggertRenaissance ClubSport Walnut Creek

CREATIVE TEAM

Molly Bell* (Joanne/Author/Composer/Lyricist/Choreographer) Molly’s first musical, Becoming Britney, which she conceived of and co-wrote premiered at The International Fringe Festival in New York for which she won best actress and went on to have it’s West Coast Premiere as a part of Center REP’s Off Center program in 2012 and The Retrodome Theater in San Jose. Real Housewives of Walnut Creek The Musical was commissioned by Center REP spring of 2013 and here we are! Molly is currently working on another musical currently titled Ten Minutes in collaboration with her brothers Russ and Scott Bell who head up the country band The Bell Brothers. As a creative entrepreneur, Molly works with large and small businesses as a creative consultant for Netflix, Fleet Feet Sports, PWC, Ebay and others. She has created original music for a giant flash-mob for Ebay’s Earth Day event, has written and produced the opening number at Pricewaterhouse Coopers’ “Olympics”, and for the past three years has been the producer and choreographer for the “Netflix New Hire Company Show” at their headquarters in Los Gatos. Ten years ago Molly founded Charitable Fabulosity/Divas For Life, a popular bay area concert series that raises money for individuals and families battling cancer. Molly is the owner of Creative Habit Academy which places performing arts classes and teachers in after school programs and runs her own private voice and acting studio for adults. Molly is the choreographer for Voices In Harmony, the San Jose based barbershop mens choir and is the director for Great America’s “On Broadway” revue. As part of the fitness industry Molly has been teaching dance for the last decade at Bay Club, Sports Club NYC, Equinox NYC and California, Uforia Studios, and Reach Fitness. She is married to the very patient Kurt Kuckein and they have two children Ryder (age 7) and Rylie (19 months). Molly is indeed a real housewife and loving it! missmollybell.com

Dolores Duran-Cefalu (Composer/Arranger) was Center REP’s music director for All Shook Up (Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Nomination and Shellie Award). She was music director/keyboardist for San Jose Repertory Theater’s A Minister’s Wife, The Snow Queen, Next to Normal, Spring Awakening (BATCC Nomination), The Marvelous Wonderettes, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Last Spring, she was musical director for Stuck Elevator at American Conservatory Theater San Francisco. Recently, she music directed Foothill Music Theater’s Little Shop of Horrors and Guys and Dolls at Broadway By The Bay, along with director Molly Bell! Recently, Dolores played keyboards for the Mamma Mia! national tour. She plays in numerous touring shows in San Francisco, including The Book Of Mormon,

Shrek, Wicked, Dreamgirls, and In the Heights. Ms. Duran-Cefalu is the music director at California’s Great America. Upcoming projects include the tour Wicked in Fresno, California; and music directing San Jose Rep’s The 12. She has written music for two original holiday shows, enjoys being a soccer mom and studies animation on the side.

Michael Butler (Director/Artistic Director) This is Michael’s eighth season as Artistic Director of Center REP, where his directing credits include Clybourne Park, Don’t Dress for Dinner, The Underpants, A Number, Dracula, Boeing-Boeing and To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as the Shellie and BATCC Award-winning productions of Around the World in 80 Days, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The Marriage of Figaro, How the Other Half Loves, 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 and off, in regional theatres, film and television, as well as REP’s productions of The Mousetrap, Noises Off and Rumors. He is a published songwriter and the co-writer and composer of numerous music-theatre pieces, which he has directed and performed 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.

John Earls (Lighting Designer) On Broadway Gala (DRAA); Spring Awakening, The Lady with All the Answers, A Christmas Carol (Off Center/Center REP) Sunset Boulevard, Oklahoma!, 42nd Street-Shellie Award, Cinderella- Shellie Award (CCMT); Lesher Speaker Series-Newsmakers; Chevron Family Theatre Festival; ARF Stars to the Rescue; The Shellie Awards; Rocky Horror Show, Let’s Go To The Movies (Town Hall). Thanks to the ACME Theatre Company.

Michael A. Berg (Costume Designer) has been a member of the Bay Area theatre scene for nearly 30 years. He has directed, designed sets and costumes, stage managed and acted for numerous theatre companies in the greater Bay Area. He first worked at Center REP way back in 1981 when we were still Walnut Creek Civic Arts! He is seen yearly in A Christmas Carol and has designed costumes for several productions over the past years for Center REP. He has worked for Mountain Play, Marin Shakespeare, Theatre Rhino, Shakespeare at the Beach, Ross Valley Players and Guerilla Shakespeare. He is

very happy to call Center REP his home ....and...he loves his job!

Lyle Barrere (Sound Designer) is thrilled to be returning to Center REP! Beginning his theatre career in the 5th grade, Lyle has worked almost 200 shows for many professional companies in the Bay Area and Los Angeles as a producer, director, sound or lighting designer, and stage manager. His sound design for South Pacific (2003, Willows Theatre Company) was nominated for a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award and his design of The Solid Gold Cadillac (2004, Willows Theatre Company) was nominated for a Shellie Award. A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, with a degree in Physics, he enjoys hiking and scuba diving when not in the theatre. He was awarded the Eagle Scout Award from BSA Troop 204. Lyle is the Founding Artistic Director of the HOOLIGAN Theatre Company, which provides theatre experiences to college students of all majors. www.LyleBarrere.com

Jasen Jeffrey* (Stage Manager) is very excited to help bring The Real Housewives of Walnut Creek to life with Off-Center. Stage Management credits include: Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World, Evita, Oliver, A Chorus Line, to name a few. Directing credits include the OMG! Production of Thrill Me!; CCMT’s productions of RENT, Little Shop Of Horrors, and Disney’s Tarzan. Jasen is a proud member of the Fantasy Forum Actors’ Ensemble. He sends love to his most beautiful girls: Alicia, Jeannette, and Lily!

Scott Denison (Managing Director) has been a leader in the Arts for 40 years for Walnut Creek and the surrounding communities. Under Denison’s guidance for the last 23 years as General Manager for the Lesher Center for the Arts, he oversees over 850 public events each year. He coordinates performing arts activities with over 85 producers and producing organizations. He is also the Managing Director of the Center REPertory Company producing 7 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. Scott directed CCMT’s hits Les Misérables, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Hairspray, and for the past 13 seasons Center REP’s A Christmas Carol. Denison has directed over 150 productions including REP’s The Lady with All the Answers starring Kerri Shawn. In 1979 he created the Shellie Awards, which annually honors outstanding performing arts achievement in Contra Costa county. In 2007 he created the Chevron Family Theatre Festival bringing adult nationally acclaimed performances together for one day performing to over 7,000 guests of all ages.

OUR SPONSORS

Chevron (Season Sponsor) has been the leading corporate sponsor of Center REP and the Lesher Center for the Arts for the past nine 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.

ARTS COMMISSIONJoe Bologna, Chair

Jane Emanuel, Vice ChairPolly Bradbury

Glynnis CowderyAnita Sagastegui

CITY COUNCILKristina Lawson, Mayor

Bob Simmons, Mayor Pro-Tem Loella Haskew

Cindy SilvaJustin Wedel

CITY MANAGERKen Nordhoff

DIRECTOR Arts, Recreation and Community Services

Kevin Safine

Lesher Foundation (Foundation Sponsor) Since 1994, the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $40 million and reaching citizens in all parts of Contra Costa County. True to the original wishes of Dean and Margaret Lesher, the Foundation continues to build on the strengths of the community by supporting organizations and programs that provide help and support to people in need; enhance and enrich the lives of all citizens; and promote a healthy and exciting future for the community. Established in 1989, the Foundation received its principal assets from Dean Lesher’s estate in 1993 and 1995. In 1997, an additional endowment from Dean Lesher’s estate followed the death of Margaret Lesher. A significant and final bequest from Mr. Lesher’s estate was received in 2003. As a family foundation, support for the Contra Costa community will be carried on by the next generation of family members. 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. The Leshers defined the “spirit of giving” as “investing in the community and its people.” By providing financial support and direction in these critical areas, the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation is investing every day, every week and every year in the health and well-being of this county that Dean and Margaret so loved.

Production ServicesProduction Services

CoordinatorToni KilcoyneTechnical Staff

Steve Pino John Earls

Michael ArlenChris Currie

Kieren McEnteeGarrick SchusterStephen Spleiss

Josh Stouffer Administration

Asst. to Managing Director

Gail PfeiferProgram

Linda NomuraAudience Services

Audience Svcs Coordinator

Courtney EggTicket Office Staff

Jeremiah Vierling Robert NolanAndrea ToneyJulia Berghe

Jennifer HagaKiersten Jones

Karla KopfhammerBritt Lauer

Caleb Neeper

Managing Director - Scott DenisonArtistic Director - Michael Butler

Usher CoordinatorKevin Challand

ProductionProduction Manager

Jeff CollisterTechnical

Technical DirectorJoshua Lipps

CarpentersMatthew HougeyGabriel Johnson

Noah LangeChris Swartzell

Assistant Stage ManagerKathryn Butler Casting DirectorJennifer Perry

EducationEducation Directors

Jeff DraperKerri Shawn

MarketingMarketing Director

Gabe MarinMarketing Associate

Ariel BrewerCostumes

Costume ManagerMax Hilsabeck

Assistant CostumerMichael A. Berg

Center REPertory Company

THANK YOU TO:Massimo’s Ristorante

Waters Moving and StorageAssociated Services-Alta Water

ABOUT CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY

Center REP is the resident, professional theatre company of the Lesher Center for the Arts. Our season consists of seven 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; many of 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!