1. Theme Music: Frederic Chopins THOUGHTS at NIGHT Nocturne In
E Flat Major; Op.9, No.2
2. Circle of LifeTheatre presents The Elephant Man Circle of
Life Theatres The Elephant Man, directed by Allison Bergman, runs
Friday, May 1st - May 17th at Brava Theaters Second Stage, San
Francisco. Tickets may be purchased here: In this heartbreaking and
dramatic account of the real- life Joseph John Merrick, a
Victorian-age sideshow freak, is living with a mysterious,
terrifyingly disfiguring disease and is assumed to be profoundly
intellectually disabled, ignorant, uneducated, and emotionless.
When, by a stroke of good luck, he ends up in the care of a London
doctors hospital, Merrick is revealed to be a highly intelligent,
acutely sensitive soul, capable of the most sweetly eloquent and
artistic expression, and whose dreams are more truthful and real
than anyone elses waking state. Not only does our professional cast
of actors and artists include a brilliant,
Carnegie-Mellon-MFA-educated director and three incredibly talented
Actors Equity Association actors in leading roles, but the rate of
disability among actors in this cast and crew nears 50%. Also,
Philip Watt, the AEA actor in the title role of Merrick, is a 2014
Theatre Bay Area Titan award- winner and also has served on the
Performers with Disabilities Caucus at Screen Actors Guild.
www.CircleofLifeTheatre.Org
3. The Director of The Elephant Man, ALLISON BERGMAN For more
than two decades, Allison Bergman has been directing plays and
musicals throughout the country, including many premiere
productions and developmental workshops in New York and Los
Angeles. Recent directing credits include productions of SEMINAR,
ARCADIA, THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, DADDYS DYIN, THERE GOES THE BRIDE,
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, THE ARABIAN NIGHTS, LITTLE WOMEN, DANCING
AT LUGHNASA, URINETOWN, THE SUNSHINE BOYS, WMKS: WHERE MUSIC KILLS
SORROW and SPIDERS WEB. Other directing credits include A WONDERFUL
LIFE, BARNUM, DRIVING MISS DAISY, LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO, BEAU
JEST, COME BACK LITTLE SHEBA (7 Drama-Logue Awards), FORGET
HEROSTRATUS!, ORPHEUS, ANGRY HOUSEWIVES, SWEENEY TODD, and THE ROAR
OF THE GREASEPAINT...(3 Drama-Logue Awards). Ms. Bergman directed
the original productions of THE MIRACLE MUFFIN, UNCLE SAM'S
UMBRELLA,THE FIRST BEDROOM, TURTLE TEARS, FOREVER THE OLDEST, MYTH
OF PLASTIC MOON, and INSOMNIA. With long-time creative partner
Holly Addy, she conceived and staged the musical revues I FEEL A
SONG COMIN' ON and SHE WRITES THE SONGS, as well as the Ms. Bergman
is the former Artistic Director of Broadway On Sunset and
co-founder of The West Coast Musical Theatre Conference. She served
on the SDC Los Angeles Advisory Board and the selection committee
for the Piedmont Laureate Playwright. She is a recipient of Women
In Theatres prestigious Outstanding Woman In Theatre Award, a
Drama-Logue Award for Directing, and a nomination for an Artistic
Director Award by the Valley Theatre League. She holds an MFA in
directing from Carnegie Mellon University where she was named the
Steven Bochco Scholar, and a BFA in theatre studies/directing from
Boston University. She also studied acting, dance and voice at L.A.
City College Theatre Academy, American National Academy of
Performing Arts, and The Southern California Conservatory of Music.
In tandem with her professional directing career, Ms. Bergman is
committed to arts education. She is the co-author of ACTING THE
SONG, Performance Skills for Musical Theatre, (Allworth Press,
2008) used by many musical theatre training programs as a text book
and a teachers guide. She has appeared as a guest speaker at
several educational theatre conferences, served on the selection
committee for The Young Playwrights Institute in New York, and the
Capital Awards in Raleigh. She recently held the position of
Assistant Director of Theatre and Head of Performance at North
Carolina State University, where she taught acting and directing,
chaired the curriculum committee and directed University Theatre
productions each season. childrens opera OPERAMANIA. Both revues
were produced in Los Angeles, and the opera aired on educational TV
networks nationwide. She has directed numerous developmental
workshops of musicals, including THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE, STORMY
WEATHER, PABLO, MATES, and THE LITTLE WITCH OF WICHITA. She has
also provided dramaturgy for many more, including GENERATION ME, IN
THE HANDS OF THE RAVEN, BEACHES, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, DUKE
AND THE DUCHESS, JOSEPHINE, BLACKOUT, SHEBA, and ANCIENT CITY for
which she later became the librettist. She has recently joined the
Bay Areas Ragged Wing Ensemble as a visiting artist, and will be
directing her first feature-length film in Los Angeles over the
summer.
4. The Elephant Man Cast *PHILIP WATT as JOHN MERRICK *JESSICA
BATES as MRS. KENDAL ALISON WHISMORE as NURSE SANDWICH *CHRISTIAN
HAINES as FREDERICK TREVES MARK SHEPARD as CARR GOMM MEGAN LUIS as
PRINCESS ALEXANDRA / PINHEAD KATHARINE OTIS as COUNTESS / PINHEAD
MEIRA PERELSTEIN as DUCHESS /PINHEAD RORY KEANE as LORD JOHN /
SNORK / CONDUCTOR SCOTT RAGLE as BELGIAN POLICEMAN KYLE GOLDMAN as
LONDON POLICEMAN BEAU BROWN as WILL / PINHEAD MANAGER JEFF TRESCOTT
as ROSS / BISHOP WALTHAM HOW *MEMBERS of ACTORS EQUITY
ASSOCIATION
5. Composer of Original Underscoring, PAUL GODWIN Paul Godwin
is an award-winning composer and music educator with thirty years
experience. Paul authored the score for Tony Kushner's "Homebody/
Kabul" in its West Coast Premiere at Berkeley Repertory Theatre
and, for his work, won the Bay Area Critics Circle Award for Best
Composer. Paul is the Musical Director and Composer for Coastal
Theatre Conservatory at Coastal Repertory Theatre, Half Moon Bay,
CA. For CTC he composed and co-authored the book for "Alice in
Wanderland," a 21st century, techno-inspired reinterpretation of
Lewis Carroll's classic. The play debuted in May, 2014. In 1999, he
was Music Director and Producer for "DJ Christ Superstar" a
millennial remix performance of Andrew Lloyd Weber's rock opera,
performed one time only at Burning Man. He appeared in Forbes
Magazine with regard to this show. Paul has recorded and toured for
over 20 years with Venezuelan electronic musician Miguel Noya as
Dogon. Wired Magazine called them "the best of progressive
ambient." Paul is the recipient of the Cannes Gold Lion for his
1991 IKEA commercial campaign, and he has composed the scores for
films such as the Sundance premieres "The Tribe" by Tiffany Slain
and the feature "Road Scholar" featuring poet/commentator Andre
Codrescu. Paul was the founder and lead singer of the
nationally-acclaimed rock and roll band "The Sippy Cups" and holds
a Bachelor of Arts in Music Production & Engineering from
Berklee College of Music, Boston.
6. Scenic & Projection Designer, AMEE EVANS GODWIN
Beginning as a painter and filmmaker in New York, Amee Evans Godwin
has several decades of experience working in media. A former
director/producer of award-winning video documentaries, she has
recently designed scenic projections for Coastal Theatre
Conservatory's original production of Alice in Wanderland and
Coastal Repertory's I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Working
at the intersection of technology, creativity, and learning, she is
currently the Director of Innovation at ISKME, an education
research and technology non-profit in Half Moon Bay, CA. She is
part of a team engaged in the development of programs that support
cross-disciplinary teaching, learning, and knowledge sharing.
Before joining ISKME, Amee was the Program Director at the Sanchez
Art Center, leading arts education programs, and was awarded a
Fellowship in the Arts Leadership for the Future program for
emerging non- profit leaders. Prior to this, she worked for several
years as a consultant in interactive media for Silicon Valley tech
firms. Amee earned a Masters Degree from New York University in
Interactive Telecommunications at Tisch School of the Arts, and a
B.A. at the University of Buffalo, Center for Media Study, majoring
in media study and art, and a minor in physics. She studied Scenic
Design at the Polakov Studio of Stage Design in NYC.
7. Costume Designer CALLIE FLOOR Having earned her BFA at
University of Utah, followed by a Higher Diploma from Slade School
of Fine Art University College London, Callie Floor has worked as a
professional costume designer in the Bay Area for three decades,
formally beginning with California Revels as Artistic
Associate/Resident Designer in 1989; she continues her design work
to this day as Resident Costume Designer with that musical theatre
company, which celebrates the health of the human spirit through
Music Theatre. In 1991, she became, and still is, the manager of
A.C.T./American Conservatory Theatres expansive archive of costumes
and costume rentals. An expert in every period of costume, she also
has worked in costuming with the San Francisco Shakespeare
Festival, American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Repertory
Theatre, CMC and Design, Marin Theatre Company, The San Francisco
Mime Troupe, West Bay Opera, Zaccho Dance Theatre, Theatre of
Yugen, The Magic Theatre, and the Aurora Theatre. Upcoming projects
include Choir Boy for Marin Theatre Co. and Sense and Sensibility
for Livermore Shakespeare. This production of The Elephant Man
marks the beginning of Callies new adventure with Circle of
LifeTheatre.
8. San Franciscos Circle of Life Theatre may be the worlds only
theatre company intentionally casting and reasonably accommodating
actors, singers, dancers, directors, and theatre professionals of
all kinds with any type of disability: sensory, physical
emotional/psychological, cerebral/neurological, developmental, and
those living with any disease. These performers interact
harmoniously and seamlessly on the same stage at the same time with
performers who have no disabilities at all. Circle of Life Theatre
breaks down barriers and opens minds by revealing to the able world
that, when reasonably and effectively accommodated, an artist with
a disability can deliver moving, authentic performances at least as
well as any other actor, and in surprising ways! With the ultimate,
uncompromising goal of producing consistently excellent live
theatre, Circle of Life offers to audience members, artists, staff,
and volunteers alike a harmonious, respectful, dignified place
where the seeds of creativity may take root, unfurl, and inspire.
Disability is a characteristic, but it does not define the entire
identity of an actor (or a person), nor is it a reason for
automatically disqualifying an actor from a role. However, neither
is it cause for casting an actor when someone else is better for
the part. In other words, at Circle of Life Theatre, the playing
field is leveled, so the best actor wins the role, regardless of
ability/disability status. Mission Statement
www.CircleofLifeTheatre.org San Francisco 415.385.5055
[email protected]
9. Circle of LifeTheatres 501(c )3-Non-Profit Status Courtesy
of NYC Fiscal Sponsor Fractured Atlas EIN #11-3451703 In March,
2014, Fractured Atlas, a well-established and highly respected New
York City fiscal sponsor of tens of thousands of arts
organizations, granted Circle of Life Theatres application for
non-profit sponsorship. Fractured Atlas is located at 248 W. 35th
Street 10th Floor, New York, New York, 10001; the company may be
reached by telephone at 212.277.8020. The Fractured Atlas
non-profit IRS EIN # is 11-3451703, which may be viewed on the
companys most recently filed IRS form 990, found on the About Us
page of the FracturedAtlas website: All donations made to Circle of
LifeTheatre are tax-deductible as allowed by law!
www.fracturedatlas.org.
10. Show Dates,Tickets, Discounts & Disability
Accommodations 8 PM SHOWS - - - THURS, APR 30 (PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN
PREVIEW & FINAL DRESS REHEARSAL) - FRI, MAY 1 - OPENING NIGHT!
- SAT, MAY 2 - THURS, MAY 7 - FRI, MAY 8 - THURS, MAY 14 - FRI, MAY
15 - SAT, MAY 16 EARLY EVENING SHOWS - SUN, MAY 3 @ 6 PM - SUN, MAY
10 @ 7 PM - SUN, MAY 17 @ 6 PM MATINEES - SAT, MAY 2 @ 2 PM - SUN,
MAY 3 @ 2 PM - SAT, MAY 16 @ 4 PM - SUN, MAY 17 @ 2 PM *TICKETS
*DISCOUNTS $10 OFF ANY TICKET! ** PERSON with DISABILTY SENIOR
CITIZEN STUDENT TBA MEMBER GROUPS of 10 (Call 415.385.5055) OPENING
NIGHT! *VIP - $65 REG - $45 EVENING SHOW *VIP - $55 REG - $45
MATINEE *VIP - $35 REG- $25 *VIP: For not much more than the price
of a regular ticket, VIP patrons enjoy
first-choice-preferred-seating; a complimentary, pre-show glass of
red or white wine (or beverage); another glass of wine or beverage
(personally delivered to seat during intermission!); autographed
THE ELEPHANT MAN poster; and invitations to private,
extra-theatrical events throughout the year. VIPs will be entered
automatically in drawings for special prizes, including a pair of
season tickets at every show a $1,000 value! Only VIPs will be
invited to walk our photographed red-carpet before every show, and
only opening- night VIPs will be invited to an upscale cocktail
party with cast after the show. ** DISABILITIES of all types
cheerfully accommodated with just a few days notice. Kindly allow
us to custom-tailor our service to you by calling call
415.385.5055.
11. Next Up for Circle of LifeTheatre: BIG RIVER Producing
Artistic Director Fritz Lambandrake directs AEA actor-singer
Douglas Giorgis in Roger Millers Tony-Award-winning, huge-cast
musical, based on Mark Twains classic, yet controversial The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with Music Direct0r Paul Godwin. In
this quintessentially American tale, a white, runaway juvenile
delinquent and an African-American runaway slave travel down the
Mississippi River together, become unlikely best friends, and
discover that human hearts love and ache just the same, no matter
how different people may appear to be on the outside. starring AEA
ACTOR-SINGER DOUGLAS GIORGIS as HUCK With racial antagonism in the
U.S. at a fifty-year high, what better to sing about than the
equality of the soul, no matter the color of the skin? Can a
fictional, musical folk tale spark conversation between races
today, when it is needed more than ever? Perhaps the ultimate
disability is ones inability to see the beautiful humanity in
another.
12. HELP CIRCLE of LIFETHEATRE byVOLUNTEERING! How would you
like to see our shows completely free of charge? Volunteer in one
of many ways, and you may! An ambitious, uniquely inclusive,
mixed-ability, professional-performing-arts mission like ours
doesnt produce itself! It takes careful planning, time, energy,
resources, and the collaboration and good will of literally scores
of talented professionals and volunteers like you! You can help in
so many ways! If you have any special skills, talent, or just time
on your hands, we could use your help with: Ushering/Fr0nt of
House/Hosting, Assisting guests with disabilities, Concessions and
merchandise sales, Working backstage as a stagehand, props
assistant, as a dresser, or in costume-maintenance, Working the
ticket booth/will-call, Advance poster distribution, Social media
blogging, Marketing support, Assisting the producer, as needed. To
find out more about how you may help, Call 415.385.5055 or write to
us at [email protected].
13. YOU CAN HELP OUR MISSIONTHRIVE! Sometimes a volunteer also
enjoys making a gift of another kind. And sometimes not. On the
other hand, many times a donors only wish is to underwrite some or
all of our budget, breathing life into our art, while leaving
volunteerism to others. Wed like you to know that, whichever type
of help you care to offer, well be happy to have you. Its people
like you who literally enable us to make our nonprofitCircle of
Life world go round. 415.385.5055
[email protected] If you would like to offer a
gift and underwrite any part, or all, of the production budgets for
either The Elephant Man or Big River, then, by all means, please
DO! We would be enormously grateful to you. Please also consider
bec0ming one of only a handful of select board members, either or
without responsibilities, other than your financial support. As a
more active board member, you could be intimately involved in the
fulfillment of the artistry and inclusivity of our mission all year
long. We would appreciate your gift, and wed enjoy knowing you
personally even more! We also happily accept checks, money orders,
willed bequests, and in-kind donations. For such gifts, please
reach Founder & ProducingArtistic Director Fritz Lambandrake.
THANKYOU! NonprofitCircle of LifeTheatre accepts gifts via all
major credit cards here:
http://www.fracturedatlas.org/site/fiscal/profile?id=9992