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. 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!

OUR SPONSORS

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

SCOTT DENISON (Managing Director) has been the General Manager for the Lesher Center for the Arts since it opened 26 years ago and has worked for the Arts in this area for over 43 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 19 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 38 years. Scott and 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 program for the young and Young at Heart.

CITY COUNCILRich Carlston, Mayor

Loella HaskewCindy Silva

Justin WedelKevin Wilk

ACTING CITY MANAGERFran Robustelli

DIRECTOR Arts + Rec

Kevin Safine

ARTS COMMISSIONPolly Bradbury, Chair

Anita Sagástegui, Vice Chair

Joe Bologna Glynnis Cowdery

Jane Emanuel

Center REPertory Company

Audience ServicesCoordinator

Courtney EggTicket Office StaffJeremiah Vierling

Rami KimRobert Nolan

Cheyenne ClarkeVaughn EdwardJave HernandezKiersten Jones

Alyssa MontanyShannon Taylor

Usher CoordinatorPat Mitchell

Production ServicesCoordinator

Toni KilcoyneTechnical Staff

Steve PinoJohn IarlaAlex Bull

Chris CurrieToria Gibson

Hanna JohnsonIan Roth

Garrick SchusterStephen Spleiss

Josh StoufferJosh Yarnell

Casting DirectorJennifer Perry

MarketingMarketing Assistant

Ariel Brewer

EducationEducation Directors

Jeff DraperKerri Shawn Production

Production ManagerJeff Collister

TechnicalCostumes

Bethany DealWardrobe Supervisor

Alea Gonzales Technical Director

Joshua LippsMaster Electrician

Del MedoffCarpentersElyse Fink

Gabriel JohnsonCaleb Salmon

Brennan ShrevesAsst. Stage Manager

Joe CoeProps Manager

Roger AndersonProduction Assistants

Miranda KetchumCasey Leugemors

Ethan WilliamsAdministration

Asst. to the Managing Director

Gail PfeiferProgram

Linda Nomura

Michael Butler Artistic DirectorScott Denison Managing Director

THANK YOU TO:Massimo’s Ristorante

Waters Moving and StorageAssociated Services-Alta Water

THANK YOU TO OUR OPENING NIGHT DINNER SPONSORS:

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine BarScott’s Seafood Grill and Restaurant

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

The Scenic, Lighting and Sound Designers are members of United Scenic Artists UnionCenter 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

Choreographed by Jennifer Perry

Season Partner Foundation Sponsor Season Sponsor

Margaret Lesher TheatreJanuary 27 - February 25, 2017

Lesher Center for the Arts

presents

Scenic DesignerRichard Olmsted

Costume DesignerBethany Deal

Cast

Sarah BrazierEric Carlson

Lighting DesignerDavid LeonardSound Designer

Jeff MockusStage Manager

Fredric H. Orner*

Lynda DiVito*Jamie Jones*

Originally produced by Geva Theatre Center, Rochester, New YorkMark Cuddy, Artistic Director

Tom Parrish, Executive DirectorThe play was originally developed by the Arden Theatre Company.

Jason Kuykendall *Elisabeth Nunziato *

By Wendy MacLeod

Directed by Michael Butler

CAST (in order of appearance)

Mary .........................................Lynda DiVito*Jo ...............................................Jamie Jones*Liz ...................................Elisabeth Nunziato*Jackson/Kirk ...................... Jason Kuykendall*Amanda .....................................Sarah BrazierTrenner ........................................Eric Carlson

TIME and PLACE

Mary’s Kitchen, a Police Station, a Ski Shop in Salt Lake City

and a Campsite at Carmel Canyon, Utah

Present DayThere will be one intermission.

CAST BIOGRAPHIES

SARAH BRAZIER (Amanda) is a recent transplant to the Bay Area having most recently worked as a drama teacher at St. Mary's Hall in San Antonio, Texas where she directed and assistant directed several student productions including The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Barbecuing Hamlet. She is both a nationally recognized and award winning Speech & Debate coach and former competitor. Sarah has worked in theaters in Iowa, Ohio, and Kentucky. Past credits include A Christmas Carol and The Crucible (The Repertory Theater of Iowa) Jumah Cola Time to Drink (The Corporate Surrealists of America), The Importance of Being Earnest, and Romeo & Juliet (Weathervane Playhouse). While in Texas she most recently starred in the award winning indie short film "Louisa" (Alexia Salingaros Films).

ERIC CARLSON (Trenner) is thrilled to be making his debut at Center REP. He earned his B.A. from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television. Recent performances include Jean-Michel in La Cage Aux Folles (Woodminster), Lt. Cable in South Pacific (PCRT), and Man 1 in the Johnny Cash musical Ring of Fire (Altarena Playhouse). He would like to thank his family and friends for their support, and special thanks to Harmony for bringing joy and a thirst for adventure into my life.

LYNDA DiVITO* (Mary) is so grateful to back on stage at Center REP with this amazing cast. Other Center REP credits include; Tenderly, The Rosemary Clooney Musical, Anything Goes, Mirandolina, Deathtrap, The Real Housewives of Walnut Creek, Clybourne Park, Lucky Stiff, Status Update, Rumors, Boeing Boeing, She Loves Me & All Shook Up. Mama Rose in Gypsy & Hairspray at CCMT, Legally Blonde at DTC, Full Monty at AMTSJ. International and NYC credits include; CATS/Jellylorum, Off Bway; Sheba, the Musical, Oliver at Papermill Playhouse. Lynda toured internationally and was the lead singer for one of Amsterdam's hottest dance bands, JamSquare. She is the recipient of 3 Shellie Awards and Bay Area Critics Circle Award. Lynda holds a degree in theatre from SFSU. For L&H&N, the loves of my life.

JAMIE JONES* (Jo) is thrilled to return to Center REP where she was last seen in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Recent credits include August: Osage County at Capital Stage and Nice Work If You Can Get It at California Musical Theatre in Sacramento. Other theatres include: A.C.T., Aurora Theatre Company, B Street Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Encore Theatre Company, Marin Theatre Company, STC, Utah Shakespeare Festival and Z Space. New York: The Connelly Theatre, Theatre at St. Clements and the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab at HERE. Television: “Law & Order” and the mini-series “Gone But Not Forgotten.” Jamie is a member of the B Street Theatre Acting Company. She holds an M.F.A. from the American Conservatory Theatre and is a proud member of AEA.

JASON KUYKENDALL* (Jackson/Sgt. Kirk Sponsüllar) is excited to return to Center REP after performing in last year’s production of Born Yesterday (Paul). Jason resides in Sacramento where he is a proud member of the B Street Theatre’s Acting Company. There he has performed in over 45 productions including The Big Bang, The Steps, The Nibroc Trilogy, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Explorers Club, Clever Little Lies, and many more. Favorite regional credits include A Long Days Journey Into Night (Edmund) and the world premiere of Lanford Wilson’s translation of Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts (Oswald) with Arizona Theatre Company, Of Mice and Men (Lenny) and The Importance of Being Earnest (Ernest) with Sacramento Theatre Company, The Elephant Man (Treves), and The Country House with Theatre works, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Brick) with St. Louis Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, and Phoenix Theatre, and Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Valmont) and Ideation (Brock) at Capitol Stage. Mr. Kuykendall also produces, directs and edits for the camera. Visit NKMedia.biz for his feature film, documentary, commercial work and more.

ELISABETH NUNZIATO* (Liz) is thrilled to be joining Center REP for the first time this season. Her recent theater credits include The Realistic Jones’s, The Curious Case of the Watson Intelligence, Mud Blue Sky, the immersive 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche and the world premieres A Masterpiece of Comic Timing and Chessman. She directed the feature film “Stolen Moments” now streaming at Amazon.com and co-produced the comedy series pilot “Carpool”. She is a founding company member of The B Street Theatre and Creative Partner at NK Media. For movie trailer and other projects, visit nkmedia.biz.

SarahBrazier

EricCarlson

LyndaDiVito*

ElisabethNunziato*

JamieJones*

JasonKuykendall*

Next Up from Center REP:March 31 - April 29

By Patrick Gan KotandaDirected by Mina Morita

PRODUCTION TEAM

WENDY MacLEOD (Playwright) Her play The House of Yes became an award-winning Miramax film starring Parker Posey, and was produced by many theaters including The Magic Theater, Soho Rep, The Washington Shakespeare Company, The Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin, and The Gate Theater in London. Her other works for the stage include Sin and Schoolgirl Figure, both of which premiered at The Goodman, Juvenilia and The Water Children, both of which premiered at Playwrights Horizons, and Things Being What They Are, which premiered at Seattle Repertory Theatre, had an extended run at Steppenwolf in Chicago and was produced by The Road Theatre in LA. She was the first writer selected for The Writer’s Room residency at the Arden Theater in Philadelphia, where she wrote Women in Jeopardy! which was selected for The Kilroys’ List and premiered at GEVA. The Ballad of Bonnie Prince Chucky was recently done at ACT’s Young Conservatory in San Francisco. Her prose has appeared in The New York Times, McSweeney’s, Salon, POETRY magazine, and on NPR’s “All Things Considered.” A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, she is the James E. Michael Playwright-in-Residence at Kenyon College and the Artistic Director of the Kenyon Playwrights Conference. Her plays are available through Dramatists Play Service and at Playscripts.com

MICHAEL BUTLER (Director /Artistic Director) This is Michael’s eleventh season as Artistic Director of Center REP, where his directing credits include 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.

JENNIFER PERRY (Choreographer) has been teaching Ballet and Theatre classes for over 25 years. She was lucky to have studied and trained with her grandmother, Lareen Fender at The Ballet School Performing Arts. Choreography Credits include: Gypsy, The Music Man (Shellie Award) Les Misérables (CCMT), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Sweet Charity (Center REP), Xanadu (Center REP, Shellie Award), Joseph and the Amazing. (CCMT, Shellie Award), Hairspray (CCMT, BATCCA and Shellie Award), A Chorus Line (CCMT, BATCCA), Cinderella (CCMT, Shellie Award Winner) Disney's Beauty and The Beast, Annie, Sound of Music, Titanic the Musical and many other original pieces. Directing Credits Include: Gypsy (Shellie Award), Joseph and the Amazing.., A Chorus Line (BATCCA), OKLAHOMA! (Shellie Award), 42nd Street, and Guys and Dolls all for Contra Costa Musical Theatre. Red Hot and Cole for Role Players Ensemble. Jennifer is a proud member of Fantasy Forum Actor's Ensemble www.fantasyforum.org and is thrilled to be going into her 22nd year of teaching for Center REP's Young REP Acting Training Program, where she serves as co-director of the Musical Theatre Program. Jennifer is the Casting Director for Center REPertory Company. Jennifer is the owner and director of Lareen Fender's The Ballet School Performing Arts which is home to the Performing Arts Studio. www.theballetschool.org #LiveJoyCreateHope

RICHARD OLMSTED (Scenic Designer) is pleased to return to Center REP where he designed sets for On Borrowed Time and Rocket Man. He designed Bus Stop for Marin Theatre Co. and Knock, Knock at Aurora Theatre Co., both directed by Michael Butler. Recent work includes Master Harold…and the Boys directed by Timothy Near at Aurora, where he also designed Fifth of July, A Bright New Boise, and A Delicate Balance. Richard has designed for theatres around the Bay Area including Cal Shakes, Thick Description, Shotgun Players, Traveling Jewish Theatre, Magic Theatre and Berkeley Rep. He teaches stage design at Cal State East Bay, and lives with his wife and daughter in Oakland.

BETHANY DEAL (Costume Designer) Is excited to be working with such a fabulous bunch! She has her MFA in Costume Design/Hair & Make-Up design from Utah State University. She also has attended CSU Long Beach and has her Cosmetology License. She began designing costumes for school productions, and local theater productions in 2008 including Mr. Marmalade, Legally Blonde the Musical, Talk Radio, Steel Magnolias, Blues in the Night and Beehive!: the 60’s Musical. She most recently designed the costumes for The Fantasticks with OMG Productions. Other collaborations include CMT- Music Circus, Sierra Repertory Theatre, Town Hall Theater, and Marin Shakespeare Company. In addition to the stage, Ms. Deal has also had the opportunity to work in film and television including Costume Designer for “Not Your Year” currently in the festival circuit. She did costumes for Salt Lake 48 Hour Film Project Winners in 2013.

DAVID LEONARD (Lighting Designer) celebrates a return to Center REP after a dozen year absence from the Bay Area. Formerly the Managing Director of Solano College Theatre, David returns home after working in lighting design for a decade in New York theatre, Las Vegas, and his most bizarre job to date: a royal wedding in Abu Dhabi.

JEFF MOCKUS (Sound Designer) has designed sound for Center REP’s A Christmas Carol, Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical, Life Could Be a Dream, Old Wicked Songs, Xanadu, Marvelous Party, Cabaret, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Musical of Musicals: The Musical!, Hank Williams Lost Highway, Around the World In 80 Days, and The Marriage of Figaro. Among his recent work are TheatreWorks’ Crimes of the Heart, Daddy Long Legs, Cyrano, Tokyo Fish Story, and Emma. Mr. Mockus served as San Jose Repertory Theatre’s Resident Sound Designer on over 70 productions. He has credits with Utah Shakespearean Festival, American Conservatory Theater, California Shakespeare Theatre, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

FREDRIC H. ORNER* (Stage Manager) Broadway: Private Lives, If You Ever Leave Me, …I’m Going With You, The Capeman, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, City of Angels, Mule Bone, Sunday in the Park with George (Original Cast), Our Country’s Good. National Tours: Cats, City of Angels, Laughter on the 23rd Floor. Off-Broadway: PublicTheater, Playwrights Horizons, Second Stage, The Syringa Tree. Elsewhere: Pittsburgh Public Theater; MUNY (St. Louis), American Repertory Theater, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Long Wharf Theatre, Hartford Stage, McCarter Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Roundabout Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Pasadena Playhouse, ACT (Seattle), Theatreworks (Palo Alto, CA), Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He also has stage managed tours in the UK, Ireland and Canada.

Holy H it !"PERFECT MUSICAL" THEATERMANIA.COM

"HILARIOUS!" NEW YORK POST

hilarious spoof about a heavenly guy-group

May 26 -July 1

Book by Kevin Del AguilaDirected byKeith Pinto