Dear Friends - The Pasadena Playhouse

Artwork by Monica Stewart
THE pasadena playhouse
2011-2012 Season
November 2011
Artistic Director
Stephen Eich
Executive Director
Dear Friends,
Sheldon Epps. Photo by Bill Youngblood.
Sheldon Epps
Welcome to The Pasadena Playhouse and our
production of Pearl Cleage’s beautiful play
BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY. The need
for a shift in our season programming pushed
me to read once again a play that I have long
admired (we had a great experience several seasons ago with this fine writer’s play
called FLYIN’ WEST). I remembered BLUES... fondly for its wonderful characters,
the evocative atmosphere of Harlem in the 1930’s, and the rich language that is
so lyrical, distinctive, and in its own way quite musical. All of those things were a
wonderful reminder of why this play has always been “gentle on my mind” as one to
bring to The Playhouse stage. But what struck me in a way that I had not expected
was the deep timeliness of the work. I was literally shaken that a story that is so
deeply entrenched in its own time period also had such shocking contemporary
resonance. Not only in the economic realities that the characters face as they
battle the effects of the Great Depression, but also in the political overtones and
lifestyle arguments that take place among this fascinating world of characters. It was
almost as if Pearl had sat down to write this play just last weekend! Those factors
combined made the play leap forward as the right one to fill this slot in our 2011-12
Season. I hope that all of you will find those same resonances as moving as I did as you watch
our production, brought to life by my talented, passionate, and dedicated cast, a
tremendous group of designers and all of the craftsman who have worked so hard
to successfully transport you on a journey that takes you back in time, even as the
play addresses issues that we face right now, and will grapple with tomorrow. How
fascinating that our work in the theatre can do just that. Great plays quite
frequently tell great stories. And even though the characters and their particular
joys and sorrows may be separated from us by many years, we may find ourselves
standing right next to them. In conversation with them we pose questions and
hopefully find answers about our own lives. That is part of the magic of the theatre.
It is also entirely apt that the run of this play should coincide with the annual
celebration of our Wells Fargo Theatrical Diversity Project. Diversity, in so many
different forms, has been at the heart of the mission of this theatre for many
years. It is our genuine dedication to that concept, both onstage and off, that has
generated such a vast variety of theatrical styles on our stage, helped us to develop
fledgling artists and new audiences, and pushed us to truly reflect the many colors
of contemporary society on our stages, in the courtyard, our administrative offices,
our production shops, and in every area of the theatre. Our true dedication
to this vitally important part of our mission has been justly celebrated and
rewarded. Indeed, The Playhouse is often commended as a model of the ways in
which an arts organization can achieve these goals. I join with all of the members
of the Diversity Committee (headed by Board Member Darrell Miller) and the
supporters of the Diversity Project in celebrating our continued success and our
ongoing dedication to this valuable and rewarding endeavor.
Certainly the boldly eclectic nature of the work that we do here at The Playhouse
is also inspired by those same aims. The rest of the current season will excitingly
continue to celebrate that thrilling theatrical variety, with our productions of ART,
THE HEIRESS, and the world premiere of the musical SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE. I
hope that you will join us for all of these diverse adventures and help us by inviting
others to join you. Believe me, the true excitement of those journeys can only truly
begin when YOU are here!
Sincerely,
Sheldon Epps
Artistic Director
PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P1
Sheldon Epps
Stephen Eich
Artistic Director
Executive Director
Cast
(cast in order of appearance)
presents
Written by
Pearl Cleage
Angel Allen..........................................................................................................ROBIN GIVENS*
Guy Jacobs................................................................................................. KEVIN T. CARROLL*
Leland Cunningham............................................................ROBERT RAY MANNING, JR.*
Delia Patterson........................................................................................ TESSA THOMPSON*
Sam Thomas...........................................................................................KADEEM HARDISON*
starring
Robin Givens
Kevin T. Carroll
Scenic Design by
Casting by
Kadeem Hardison Robert Ray Manning, Jr. Tessa Thompson
Costume and Wig Design by John Iacovelli Lighting Design by
Karen Perry
Michael Donovan, CSA
*Appearing through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.
Jared A. Sayeg
Associate Producer
Sound Design by
Marc Anthony Thompson
Company Manager
Dee Dee Irwin
Press Representative
LoraBeth Barr
Time
Harlem, New York City
Patty Onagan
Place
Production Manager
Joe Witt
Production Supervisor
Production Stage Manager
Alex Britton
Hethyr Verhoef
Assistant Stage Manager
The Summer of 1930
Jessica Aguilar
Directed by
Sheldon Epps
Blues for an Alabama Sky will be performed with one fifteen-minute intermission.
Commissioned by and World Premiered at
ALLIANCE THEATRE COMPANY
Atlanta, Georgia
Kenny Leon
Artistic Director
Edith Love
Managing Director
With support from the Lila Wallace Reader's Digest Fund's
Resident Theatre Institute.
Blues for an Alabama Sky is presented in special arrangement with Dramatist Play Service, Inc., New York
Opening Night November 6, 2011
P2 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe •
the pasadena playhouse
PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P3
who’s who
Robin Givens
(Angel Allen) landed
her break-through role
as Darlene Merriman
on the hit ABC series
“Head of the Class”
(1986-1991). During that
time she co-starred with Oprah Winfrey
in the miniseries “The Women of Brewster
Place” (1989). Givens then starred in several
back-to-back movies including a critically
acclaimed starring role in A Rage In Harlem
(1991) with Forest Whitaker, Danny Glover
& Gregory Hines under the direction of
Bill Duke; Boomerang opposite Eddie
Murphy in 1992; Foreign Student (1992);
Blankman with Damon Wayans and David
Alan Grier (1994); She was listed among
Empire Magazine’s “100 Sexiest Stars in
Film History” in 1995. More recently Givens
returned to films working with Tyler Perry
on his The Family That Preys Together
(1998) with Kathy Bates and the TBS series
“Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” as well as
a recurring role on USA Network’s “Burn
Notice.” Last season, Givens starred in
recurring guest star role on the hit series
“Chuck” as well as guest star roles on the
CW’s “Nikita,” Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva”
and BET’s “Reed Between the Lines” with
Malcolm Jamal Warner. Then she starred in
the Fox pilot series “Tagged” in 2011. She
has worked extensively on stage including
a successful stint on Broadway in the
leading role of Roxie Hart in the Broadway
production of Chicago (2006) and has
performed in the Off-Broadway production
of The Vagina Monologues (2006). In
2007 she published her first book Grace
Will Lead Me Home. She is Co-Chair of
“Women Who Care.”
Kevin T. Carroll
(Guy Jacobs) has
appeared on Broadway
in such parts as Belize
in Angels in America
by Tony Kushner; 45
Seconds from Broadway
as Solomon Mantutu by Neil Simon; Davey
Battle in Richard Greenberg’s Take Me Out;
and The Voice in Bring in da Noise, Bring in
Da Funk directed by George C. Wolfe. Off
Broadway, Kevin T. Carroll was awarded
the Obie Award for Sustained Excellence.
Some of the roles in recent years he
originated or played include Cephus from
the Signature Theatre Company’s revival
P4 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe of Home by Samm-Art Williams; Canewell
in the Signature Theatre’s production
of Seven Guitars by August Wilson and
Miles in The Public Theatre’s production
of Satelites written specifically for him
by Diana Son and also starring Sandra
Oh. Kevin has had a strong presence in
film including the cult classic Paid in Full
as Calvin, and Being John Malkovich,
with John Malkovich, The Object of
My Affection as Jennifer Aniston’s love
interest, The Secret Lives of Dentists,
The Notorious Bettie Page, directed
Mary Harron, Always Outnumbered with
Laurence Fishburne and Cicely Tyson,
Jesus’s Son with Billy Crudup and Pipe
Dream directed by John Walsh with Mary
Louise Parker. On television, Kevin has
appeared on such programs as “Law and
Order Criminal Intent,” “Law and Order
SVU,” “Detroit 187,” “Strong Medicine,”
“Numb3rs,” “ER” and a host more.
ROBERT RAY
MANNING, JR. (Leland
Cunningham) received
his MFA in acting
from the University
of Washington. A few
television and film
credits include: “Southland,” “South of
Nowhere,” “The Unit,” “Criminal Minds,”
“N.C.I.S.” and “Frogtown.” He received a
2008 NAACP Theatre Award Nomination
in the Best Lead Actor Category for
Pasadena Playhouse’s production of
Defiance and a 2010 Nomination for Battle
Hymn in the Best Supporting Category.
Robert is represented by The Gage
Group. For more information, please visit
robertmanningjr.com.
TESSA THOMPSON
(Delia) is a Los Angeles
Native. She made her
professional debut on
stage playing Juliet in
Romeo and Juliet (The
Theatre at Boston
Court) for which she received an NAACP
Image Award nomination. After appearing
in numerous other productions locally, she
then appeared in the American premiere
of David Grieg’s, Pyrenees, opposite
Frances Conroy and Tom Irwin, for Center
Theatre Group at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.
On Television she has appeared as a series
regular on “Veronica Mars” & “Hidden
Palms” and has had recurring roles on
“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Heroes,” “Private
Practice,” “Off the Map” and “Detroit 187.”
Other TV: “Life,” “Mental,” “Cold Case.” In
film, she starred in the multi-award winning
drama Mississippi Damned, for which she
was awarded a Grand Jury prize for Best
Actress. She most recently starred in the
film adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s For
Colored Girls (Who Have Considered
Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf) starring
opposite Thandie Newton and Whoppie
Goldberg. She can be seen this season
playing an FBI agent on TNTs “Rizzoli and
Isles.” She is a proud member of
celebrated classical theater company
Antaeus and sings in the indie-soul band
Caught a Ghost.
KADEEM HARDISON
(Sam Thomas) is best
known for his role as
Dwayne Wayne on “A
Different World.” Other
guest stars include
“House,” “Ghost
Whisperer,” “Cold Case,” “My Name is
Earl,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “Living
Single” and “Girlfriends.” His film work
includes Made of Honor, Ricochet, Biker
Boyz, The Sixth Man, Renaissance Man,
Vampire in Brooklyn and White Men Can’t
Jump. He is happy to be returning to The
Pasadena Playhouse, having previously
worked with Sheldon Epps on Fences.
Pearl Cleage (Playwright) is an Atlantabased writer whose works include four
novels, “What Looks Like Crazy on an
Ordinary Day” (Avon Books, 1997); “I
Wish I Had a Red Dress” (Morrow/Avon,
2001); “Some Things I Never Thought I’d
Do” (Ballantine/One World, 2003); and
“Babylon Sisters” (Ballantine/One World,
2005). She is also the author of a dozen
plays, including Flyin’ West and Blues For
An Alabama Sky, essays, including “Mad at
Miles” and “Good Brother Blues,” “Vibe,”
“Rap Pages,” and many other publications.
Her first novel was an Oprah Book Club
pick in October of 1998 and appeared on
“The New York Times” best-seller list for
nine weeks. Her second novel has been a
national book club favorite and appeared
on the “Essence” list of bestselling fiction
for 2001. Her third novel, “Some Things I
Never Thought I’d Do,” was published in
September 2003 and was the choice of
the “Good Morning America” Book Club
in 2004. Her theatrical works include
Bourbon At The Border, a full-length
drama, commissioned and premiered at
the Alliance Theatre in 1997 under the
direction of frequent Cleage collaborator
and Alliance Artistic Director Kenny Leon.
Their previous collaborations include
Blues For An Alabama Sky, commissioned
and premiered at the Alliance Theater in
1995, and Flyin’ West, commissioned and
premiered in 1992. An anthology of her
plays, Flyin’ West and Other Plays, was
published by Theatre Communications
Group in October 1999. Blues returned
to Atlanta as part of the 1996 Cultural
Olympiad in conjunction with the 1996
Olympic Games. Since opening at the
Alliance Theatre under the direction of
Leon, Flyin’ West has had more than a
dozen productions across the country,
including The Kennedy Center in
Washington, and a 2005 production by
Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company.
Cleage’s collection of essays, “Deals with
the Devil and Other Reasons to Riot,” was
published by Ballantine/One World in
1993. “Mad at Miles: A Blackwoman’s Guide
to Truth” was published by The Cleage
Group in 1991. She is a former columnist
for “The Atlanta Tribune,” and her work
has appeared in numerous anthologies,
including “Double Stitch,” “Black Drama in
America,” “New Plays from the Women’s
Project,” and “Contemporary Plays by
Women of Color.” Pearl is the mother of
one daughter, Deignan, the grandmother
of Michael and Chloe, and the wife of
writer Zaron W. Burnett, Jr., with whom she
frequently collaborates.
John Iacovelli (Scenic Design) has
designed at The Pasadena Playhouse for
twenty years including The Importance of
Being Earnest directed by Sheldon Epps
and the production of The Twilight of The
Golds, that went on to Broadway Other
Broadway: National Tour: Camelot, Emmy
Award for Peter Pan Staring Cathy Rigby
(on A&E.) Regional: over 200 productions
at theatres including: The Mark Taper
Forum, Geffen Playhouse, South Coast
Repertory, The Globe, Berkeley Rep,
Magic, Dallas Theatre Center, Oregon
Shakespeare Festival, Portland Stage, San
Jose Rep, San Diego Rep, Walnut Street
Theatre, La Mirada Theatre, Philadelphia
Theatre Company. Film: Production
Designer on Ruby in Paradise starring
Ashley Judd in her film debut. Art Director
on Honey, I Shrunk the Kids! TV Production
Design: Beckett Directs Beckett: Endgame
with The San Quentin Drama Workshop,
The Old Settler starring Philycia Rashad &
Debbie Allen, The Gin Game staring Mary
Tyler Moore & Dick Van Dyke, two seasons
of Ed on NBC, five Seasons of Babylon
5, three seasons of Resurrection Blvd.,
four seasons of Lincoln Heights. Awards:
LA Drama Critics Circle for Lifetime
Achievement in Scenic Design. He is on the
Design Faculty, Department of Theatre &
Dance, UC Davis. Website portfolio: www.
iacovelli.com
Karen Perry (Costume and Wig Design)
Current costume designs include: John
Grisham’s A Time To Kill at Arena Stage
(dir: Ethan McSweeney); Regina Taylor’s
Trinity River Trilogy at DTC and Goodman
Theatre (dir: Ethan McSweeny); Walter
Mosely’s Fall of Heaven at Cinnplayhouse
in the Park (dir: Tony Nominated Marion
McClinton); Tarell McCraney’s Brother/
Sister Trilogy at The Public Theatre (dir:
Pulitzer Nominated Tina Landua and
Robert O’Hara); Emily Mann’s McCarter
Theatre’s 20th Anniversary Having Our
Say; Daniel Beaty’s Resurrection at Arena
Stage (dir: Oz Scott). Recent awards
include: Lucille Lortel and Audelco Award
for Brother/Sister Trilogy, NY Signature
Theatre’s NEC First Breeze of Summer,
Seven Guitars and A Craig Noel Award for
Outstanding Costume Design for August
Wilson’s Two Trains Running at The Old
Globe Theatre (dir: Seret Scott). Karen
spend over 13 years collaborating with
Gregory Hines on projects including: Films
Bleeding Heart and The Tic Code, CBS’s
“The Gregory Hines Show” and Showtime’s
original film Bojangles: The Bill ‘Bojangle’
Robinson Story.
Jared A. Sayeg (Lighting Design) The
Pasadena Playhouse: Associate Designer/
South Street; Designer/ Intimate Opera’s
Amahl and the Night Visitors. Broadway:
Designer: Bravo Bernstein, Gotham
Glory/ Carnegie Hall; Assistant Designer
PRIMO, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The
Woman in White and Radio City Christmas
Spectacular. Off-Broadway: Humble
Boy, FAME, Nobody Don’t Like Yogi, and
Ministry of Progress. Regional: International
City Theatre, 3D Theatricals, The El Portal,
Laguna Playhouse, Colony Theatre (On
Golden Pond, Educating Rita, Trying/
Ovation Nomination), Shakespeare Theatre
of New Jersey, LA Opera, Civic Light
Opera of South Bay, and Reprise Theatre
Company (Cabaret, Kiss Me Kate/Ovation
Nomination, GIGI, They’re Playing Our
Song, Forum), The Who’s Tommy starring
Alice Ripley. International: Queen of
Spades with Placido Domingo, Rolling with
Laughter/Her Majesty’s Theatre, London.
Other design affiliations: 2011 NBA All
Star Game, 2010 USA International Ballet
Competition, 2009 Neil Diamond world
tour and in 2008 had the honor of lighting
Pope Benedict XVI for the Papal Rally
in NYC. His architectural designs include
restaurants, exhibits and the Long Beach
Aquarium of the Pacific. Jared became the
youngest member of United Scenic ArtistsLocal 829 and serves as a trustee to the
executive board. www.jaslighting.com
Marc Anthony Thompson (Sound Design)
is a reluctant singer and indolent songwriter;
an autodidactic musician, composer, sound
designer and occasional filmmaker. He has
collaborated with a wide range of genre
defying citizens from Phillip Glass and Spike
Lee to Marc Ribot and The Roots. With his
internationally based nucleus – Chocolate
Genius Incorporated – Mr. Thompson has
released 4 discs of songs centered on the
themes of Life, Death and The Quest for
the Perfect Postprandial.
Michael Donovan, CSA (Casting) Pasadena
Playhouse: South Street, Camelot, Baby
It’s You, The Night Is A Child, Crowns, The
Little Foxes, Mauritius, Stormy Weather,
The Lady With All The Answers, Looped,
Of Mice And Men, Mask: A New Musical,
Orson’s Shadow, RAY CHARLES LIVE!- A
New Musical, Matter Of Honor, Can-Can,
The Constant Wife, Cuttin’ Up, Defiance,
SISTER ACT- The Musical, Fences, The
Marriage Musicals, Sherlock Holmes: The
Final Adventure, It’s A Wonderful Life,
and Open Window. Michael just received
his 6th Casting Society of America
Artios award. Credits includes shows
produced at the Hollywood Bowl, La Jolla
Playhouse, Reprise Theatre Company,
the Kirk Douglas Theatre, Shakespeare
Festival/L.A., International City Theatre,
Laguna Playhouse, Ensemble Theatre of
Santa Barbara, Ebony Repertory Theatre,
the Falcon Theatre, the Colony Theatre,
Arizona Theatre Company, Arkansas
Rep, Cleveland Playhouse, and Kentucky
Shakespeare Festival. Tours include Aida,
Beauty and the Beast, Buddy and the
currently-touring Peter Pan. TV credits
PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P5
include the upcoming series Got Home
Alive. Numerous films and over 1,200
commercials.
PATTY ONAGAN (Press Representative)
currently represents The Pasadena
Playhouse; American Pop Anthology;
Syzygy Theatre and others. Past clients:
Canon Theatricals; Geffen Playhouse;
Stella Adler Theatre; Elephant Theatre;
Pussycat Dolls (Christina Applegate);
Waiting for Godot (Mark Ruffalo); Talking
Heads (Annette Bening); Hedwig and the
Angry Inch (produced by David Bowie);
Six Dance Lessons... (Uta Hagen); bash
(Calista Flockhart); Divorce, The Musical;
City Kid; bare; Groovaloo; among others.
On Broadway she launched: Disney’s
Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aida,
A Christmas Carol and productions at
Broadway’s Circle In The Square starring
George C. Scott, Al Pacino, Nathan Lane,
among others. Patty has been a guest
speaker on theater at CalArts and Emerson
University.
JOE WITT (Production Manager) The
Pasadena Playhouse: South Street, Twist
and Dangerous Beauty. Broadway: Eric
Idle’s An Evening Without Monty Python,
George Gershwin Alone. Off- Broadway:
Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Stuffed and
Unstrung, Stonewall Jackson’s House, Dael
Orlandersmith’s Monster and The Gimmick,
Blown Sideways Through Life, and the Lucile
Loretel Awards. Los Angeles: The Pee-Wee
Herman Show Live, Lydia (Mark Taper
Forum), Mask (The Pasadena Playhouse),
Will Ferrell’s You’re Welcome America (Pre-
Broadway Development), Much Ado About
Nothing (Kirk Douglas Theatre), The Vagina
Monologues, Culture Clash’s Zorro in Hell!
Eddie Lzzard, Sandra Tsing Loh’s Sugar Plum
Fairy and Mother on Fire, Eric Idles What
about Dick? and Jewtopia. Joe is a proud
member of Actors Equity.
ALEX BRITTON (Production Supervisor) has
served as a Technical Director for over
twenty years on the east and west coasts.
His set designs and builder credits include
Regina Opera, NY, Marriage of Figaro,
Carmen, Don Pasquale, Hansel and Gretel,
Otello, Cavelleria Rusticana; American
Opera Project, Inc., NY, Falstaff, Don
Giovanni; Chelsea Opera, NY, Amahl and
the Night Visitors, Cavelleria Rusticana; El
Dorado Opera, North Hollywood, Pagliacci,
Hansel and Gretel, Don Giovanni; Lyric
Opera of Los Angeles, Un Giorno di Regno,
Bastien und Bastienne, Die Feen, Center
Stage Opera, Northridge, California,
Marriage of Figaro, Tosca, Faust, Lucia
di Lammermoor, Once Upon An Opera,
a children’s opera company in Valencia,
California, The Three Piggy Opera, Red
Riding Hood, Kid Who Cried Wolf, and
The Emperor’s New Clothes. He served as
Master Carpenter and Production Manager
on the West Coast premiere of Dangerous
Beauty.
HETHYR (RED) VERHOEF (Production Stage
Manager) Hethyr’s theatre credits include:
A Night at Sardi’s Alzheimer’s Benefit. Tea
at Five at the Rubicon. For The Pasadena
Playhouse her credits include The Night is a
Child, The Little Foxes, Mauritius, The Lady
With All the Answers, Looped, Of Mice and
Men, Orson’s Shadow, A Matter of Honor,
The Constant Wife, Defiance, Fences, Tea
At Five. Her work has been seen the Mark
Taper Forum in Parade, the Main Street
Theatre Company, on A Year with Frog
and Toad, Cinderella, The Gingerbread
Man, and for Reprise Theatre Co. A Funny
Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
and They’re Playing Our Song. Hethyr
has worked in theatre for many years on
numerous productions as lead flyman and
deck lead. Some of her favorites are Mask,
Sisterella, Sister Act, Ray Charles Live, The
Importance of Being Ernest, The Old Settler,
Doubt, Purlie, and many, many more. Kisses
to Isara Naya.
Jessica Aguilar (Assistant Stage Manager)
is excited to be doing her first production
at The Pasadena Playhouse. She is a bay
area native and has worked throughout
California. In Los Angeles: Pasadena
Civic: The Real Love; LATC: The Vault:
Unlocked; Devil’s Advocate, Dementia;
CTG: Workshops for Ken Roht’s Nutcracker,
Amazingland; Geffen Playhouse: Power
on Earth Tour, By the Waters of Babylon;
Reprise Theater Company: Once On This
Island. In the Bay Area: Marin Theatre
Company: Tiny Alice, In the Red and Brown
Water, Happy Now?, boom!; Wells Fargo
Center: 5 seasons of The Nutcracker;
Actor’s Basement: A Midsummer Night’s
Dream. In San Diego: Cygnet Theater: Fully
Committed, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Ms
Aguilar is a graduate of UCLA and she is a
pound member of AEA.
SHELDON EPPS
(Artistic Director) has
been Artistic Director
of the renowned
Pasadena Playhouse
since 1997. Before
beginning his tenure
at The Playhouse he served as Associate
Artistic Director of the Old Globe
Theatre for four years. He was also a cofounder of the Off Broadway theatre,
The Production Company. Mr. Epps has
directed both plays and musicals at many
of the country’s major theatres including
the Roundabout, Manhattan Theatre Club,
the Guthrie, Playwrights Horizons, Seattle
Repertory Theatre, Arena Stage, and the
Goodman Theatre. He conceived the highly
acclaimed musicals Play On! and Blues In
the Night, which both received Tony Award
nominations. He directed productions
of both of those shows on Broadway, in
London, and at theatres throughout the
world. Mr. Epps also has had a busy career
as a television director helming episodes
of shows such as “Frasier,” “Friends,”
“Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Girlfriends”
and many others. For more than a decade,
he served as a member of the Executive
Board of the Society of Stage Directors and
Sheldon Epps
Artistic Director
Choreographers. Mr. Epps received the
James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award
for his efforts and accomplishments at The
Pasadena Playhouse. Under his leadership
The Playhouse has earned distinction for
productions of artistic excellence, critical
and box office success, and highly praised
theatrical diversity. Recently he CoDirected the Broadway production of Baby
It’s You!, which premiered at The Pasadena
Playhouse.
STEPHEN EICH
(Executive Director) is
a producer, manager,
teacher, and director
with over 31 years of
experience in both
commercial and nonprofit professional theatre. From 1979 to
1995, he was the Managing Director of
Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company
where he produced over 125 productions
including the 1990 Tony Award-winning Best
Play, The Grapes of Wrath. While there he
oversaw the emergence of an internationally
recognized award-winning theater, built a
new $9.5 million home for the company and
secured the theater’s administrative future.
He produced Steve Martin’s award-winning
Stephen Eich
Picasso at the Lapin Agile at Steppenwolf
before taking it to Los Angeles’ Westwood
Playhouse, then to New York, Chicago, San
Francisco and England. Mr. Eich was coproducer of Paul Simon’s Broadway musical
The Capeman, and produced two concerts
at Carnegie Hall in New York featuring the
national voices of Puerto Rico. From 20002008 Mr. Eich was the Managing Director
of The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. In
2009, he produced the world premiere of
Mark Roberts’ critically-acclaimed Rantoul
and Die at the Lillian Theatre in Hollywood
and in April 2011 co-produced the Chicago
premiere with American Blues Theater.
Mr. Eich received a Master of Fine Arts
degree in Directing from the University
of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science
in Theater Education from Illinois State
University.
UP NEXTy Whitford
adle
Br
Executive Director
GIVE THE GIFT OF THEATRE
This Holiday Season!
Perfect for yourself or a loved one.
3-SHOW PACKAGE
Purchase a 3-show package to see our 2011-2012 remaining shows and SAVE!
NOOR
congratulates
The Pasadena Playhouse
for their opening of
BLUES FOR
AN ALABAMA SKY
Pasadena Weekly Reader’s Poll Award
Best Live Theatre VenuE
The Heiress
An American Classic
by Ruth and Augustus Goetz
April 24 - May 20, 2012
A World Premiere
Book by Jeff Arch
Score by Michelle Citrin, Michael Garin & Josh Nelson
Directed by Joel Zwick
June 12 - July 15, 2012
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P6 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe Sleepless in Seattle – The musical
The West Wing
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Broadway’s Boeing-Boeing
ART
The International Tony Award-winning
Smash Hit
by Yasmina Reza
Starring Bradley Whitford
Directed by David Lee
January 24 - February 19, 2012
When Serge drops a small fortune on a
controversial painting, the sparks (and
words) begin to fly as he and his friends
experience the dire consequences of
adhering to one’s taste in art.
www.pasadenaplayhouse.org
PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P7
2011 Wells Fargo Theatrical Diversity Project Honoring
David Dicristofaro
Pasadena resident David DiCristofaro is president of
Wells Fargo’s Greater San Gabriel Valley Bank and
oversees more than 1,000 team members at nearly
60 banking stores across the San Gabriel Valley. As a
financial services executive for more than 20 years,
David has utilized his financial background to benefit
numerous nonprofit organizations throughout his
distinguished career.
David is a strong supporter of the arts and especially of
The Pasadena Playhouse. As treasurer of The Pasadena
Playhouse board, David has played an instrumental
role in helping guide The Playhouse through the recent
economic downturn. With nearly a decade of service
as a Playhouse board member, he is particularly proud
of his work to help build and sustain the Wells Fargo
Theatrical Diversity Project, which has supported the
high quality diverse programming on The Pasadena
Playhouse stage and continues to expose children of
diverse socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds to the
arts and the magic of theater.
David is also passionate about the local community. In addition to leading Wells Fargo’s businesses in the
San Gabriel Valley he is committed to leading the company’s philanthropy and community outreach efforts
in the market. Under his leadership, the company gave more than $1 million to San Gabriel Valley schools
and nonprofits in 2010. David is also looking for ways to help organizations in the community especially
the arts, education and social services. He enjoys finding ways to bring these together as he did when
he arranged for 200 children in the Compton Schools to see the sold-out performances of Fences and
Ray Charles Live. David also recently partnered with Hathaway-Sycamores to provide three youths the
chance of a lifetime to ride on the Wells Fargo stagecoach during the 2011 New Year’s Day Tournament of
Roses Parade. Another example of his commitment to helping our community was his recent work with the
Pasadena Police Activity League to provide backpacks for students going back to school.
David’s introduction to community service began at an early age. During his adolescence, he earned the
Boy Scouts of America’s National Heroism Award and later worked his way through the ranks to become an
Eagle Scout. Born and raised in New York, David learned the value of hard work and service while growing
up with five siblings and helping with his family’s small business.
The Wells Fargo Theatrical
Diversity Project
The Diversity Project was created in 2005 to support Artistic Director Sheldon Epps’ vision to build a legacy of artistic and theatrical
diversity at The Pasadena Playhouse. This initiative will ensure eclectic and dynamic productions that might not otherwise be
possible within the given resources of the theatre.
Theatrical Diversity
Project members
Darrell D. Miller*
Committee Chair
Lesley Brander*
Darrell Brown/US Bank
Barbara & Wes Coleman
Tena Clark
Iris Rainer Dart
Laura Diaz
David DiCristofaro*
Faye* & Robert Davidson
Edwina & David Dedlow
Alyce Easton
Donna & Henri Ford
Brenda* & Bill Galloway
Ann & Robert Hamilton
Felicia D. Henderson
Teena Hostovich
Lena L. Kennedy*
Greta Mandell*
Shannon & Darrell Miller*
Jennifer Parker-Stanton
Michaela Pereira
Rita & Terrence Roberts
Cynthia & Paul Roye
Deborah Sanchez
Callie Steele
Beverly White & Xavier Higgs
Carolyn R. Williams
Sheldon Epps* Artistic Director
* Diversity Committee Member
Finally, on behalf of the Diversity Committee and the Theatrical Diversity Project,
thank you to our audience members for your support and patronage of The
Playhouse.
- Darrell D. Miller,
Chair of the Diversity Committee
Diversity Event Patrons
David has since served on the boards of the Sacramento Ballet and Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach,
and currently serves as a Vice Chair on the board of the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles and
Treasurer on the Board of The Pasadena Playhouse.
$5,000
Anonymous
Darrell Brown/U.S. Bank
St. Paul & Kathryn Epps
Brenda & Bill Galloway
Ann & Robert Hamilton
Shannon & Darrell Miller
We are proud to honor David DiCristofaro.
$3,000
Wells Fargo Bank
$2,500
Lesley Brander
P8 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe As Chairman of the Diversity Committee, it is my
honor and privilege to lead the diversity efforts at
The Playhouse on behalf of the Board of Directors
and to work with members of the Theatrical Diversity
Project to raise funds for The Playhouse’s outreach
and education programs during this year’s annual
fundraiser event in connection with the opening
of Blues for an Alabama Sky.
The great Maya Angelou has been noted as saying
that “We all should know that diversity makes for a
rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in
value no matter what their color.” Through our programs and fundraising events, the
Diversity Committee has been working to weave an exquisitely magnificent tapestry
for The Playhouse and the surrounding community, and together we will continue
to cultivate talent and champion efforts that will ensure our tapestry only grows in
depth and radiance.
Our endeavors have been made possible through the generous support of Wells
Fargo Bank and the unwavering dedication of several individuals within our
theater community, one of whom—at the top of the list—is our Diversity Award
recipient, David DiCristofaro. Wells Fargo maintains a pivotal partnership with The
Playhouse through its support of the Theatrical Diversity Project, and David, a
liaison to Wells Fargo, is a passionate Pasadena Playhouse Board Member with an
impressive record of service and commitment to improving the long-term success and
strength of The Playhouse through its outreach and education programs. Congratulations, David, on receiving this year’s Diversity Award, and a standing
ovation to the members of the Diversity Committee and Project as well as The
Playhouse staff—in particular Sheldon Epps, Stephen Eich, Patti Eisenberg, Jennifer
Berger and Elizabeth Lewis—for their outstanding work and assistance with organizing
the Diversity Committee.
$2,000
Lena L. Kennedy
$1,000
Barbara & Wes Coleman
Faye & Robert Davidson
Jean De Silvestri
Teena Hostovich
Stacey & Charles King
Mattie & Michael Lawson
Greta Mandell
Susan McGuirl &
Robert Musselman
Jennifer Parker-Stanton & Sanders Stanton
Bingo & Gino Roncelli
Carolyn R. Williams/
Southern California Gas
Rodney S. Shepard
Elliot & Danielle Stahler
Gloria & Accie Mitchell
Lilah Stangeland
$500
Marlene &
Nolan Charbonnet
Edwina & David Dedlow
Gerri & Larry Edsen
As of October 11, 2011
$250
Mary Latimore
Floraline I. Stevens
PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P9
Board of Directors
Michele Dedeaux Engemann
Chair of the Board
Sheila Grether-Marion
Vice-Chair of the Board
David DiCristofaro
Treasurer
Linda Boyd Griffey
Secretary
Valerie Amidon
Stephen Bennett
William Carroll
Peggy Ebright
Stephen Eich
Sheldon Epps
Bridget Furiga
Brad King
Darrell Miller
Bingo Roncelli
Lilah Stangeland
Corky Hale Stoller
Mike Stoller
Scott Wilcott
Martha Williamson
Emeritus Board Members
David M. Davis
Ralph Hirschmann
Frank Kleeman
Albert Lowe
Dennis Lowe
Kerry McCluggage
Greg Stone
Dear Playhouse Friends,
Dear Friends,
Beautifully set in 1930’s Harlem, our second show of
the season, Blues for an Alabama Sky, is a magnificent
story filled with personalities and passion, fresh on
the heels of the Harlem renaissance, now dealing with
the harsh reality and poverty of the Great Depression.
This vivid and powerful work at a pivotal moment
in our history has the extreme pleasure of being in
the skilled hands of our very own Artistic Director,
Sheldon Epps, as director. This is a true opportunity
and treat for us all to share together in celebration of
Sheldon’s fifteenth season with The Playhouse.
This is the season of Thanksgiving, and
we have so very much for which all of us
at The Pasadena Playhouse are thankful.
First of all, we are thankful for YOU.
If you are sitting in your seat, waiting for
the curtain to go up once again on the
legendary stage that is set before you,
then it is thanks to everyone who has
supported this theatre with their gifts of time, money, and faith.
If you have bought a ticket to any one of the remarkable productions this
year, you have helped to bring up the curtain and we thank you.
If you have purchased a season subscription, you have given us your
confidence and sent us a message that you will be here, in your seat, next
month and next year and that inspires us to work even harder to bring you
great theatre experiences when you come again. For that act of faith, we
are so grateful.
In addition, with Blues, we have the opportunity to honor and celebrate an
individual whose dedication, leadership and support coupled with his company’s
commitment have been instrumental in the growth and resurgence of The Playhouse
and its allegiance to the mission of artistic and theatrical diversity: Playhouse
Board member David DiCristofaro of Wells Fargo, this year’s Theatrical Diversity
Project’s honoree. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I extend my heartfelt
congratulations to David and his exemplary accomplishments.
As you can see, we have much to celebrate and so much for which to be grateful.
As we head into the last months of the year and all the joy that the holiday season
brings, I look to you and to our remarkable community of friends and fans to give
tremendous thanks and appreciation for your generosity in bringing great art to our
stage - and offstage with our outreach and education programs. We thank you for
being a partner in supporting this valuable resource and theatre we treasure – The
Pasadena Playhouse.
If you have generously made a donation to The Pasadena Playhouse, you
have invested in our future and in the future of Pasadena itself. And we
humbly thank you.
If you are considering a donation of any size to support the work of The
Playhouse - the Outreach and Education Program, the new plays of the
HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse, the productions on the Mainstage and
the groundbreaking work of the Carrie Hamilton Theatre, we thank you
in advance for your gift and the message that comes with it - that you
understand the power of the theatre to lift us beyond the seats, beyond the
stage, beyond even our own imaginations to a place where our minds are
challenged, our hearts are healed, and our spirits are lifted.
In this season of giving and cherishing what you hold dear, we thank you for
continuing to think of The Pasadena Playhouse in your year end plans.
*
In celebration,
For the privilege of sharing those transforming experiences with you, we
thank you and wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings.
Sincerely,
Michele Dedeaux Engemann
Pasadena Playhouse Board of Directors Chair
Martha Williamson
Board Member and Chair, Development Committee
*
GIFT-IN-KIND DONATIONS
Our thanks to the following individuals and companies who donated gifts-in-kind to The Playhouse since September 1, 2011.
Any gifts-in-kind received after October 11, 2011 will be acknowledged in the next program.
Jon Andersen and Martha Williamson
Elements Kitchen
Bridget and Bob Furiga
Glass Bee Partners Hospitality Consulting
Doris Kao, Steve Bickel and Bluelounge Design
P10 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe O’Melveny & Myers
little junebugs
Wells Fargo Bank
wild Up
Support The Playhouse
We believe in the powerful voice of
the theater but magic is expensive.
Please consider a tax deductible
donation to The Pasadena Playhouse.
You can make a donation online at
www.pasadenaplayhouse.org.
Through the Vroman’s Gives Back Program,
Vroman’s Bookstore has donated over
$558,564.56 to twenty-one Pasadena-area
organizations, including The Pasadena
Playhouse. Support The Pasadena Playhouse
with your Vroman’s purchases by signing up to become a member online
(www.vromansbookstore.com) or in-store. Every time you make a
purchase, simply let the cashier know you are a member, and a portion of
the proceeds will be donated annually. This service is 100% free to you
with no card to carry (all information is protected).
PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P11
THANK YOU! We salute the individuals and institutions that have made
extraordinary gifts to The Pasadena Playhouse.
Lilah
Stangeland
The Pasadena Playhouse, Board of Directors
Chair, The Gilmor Brown Society
Executive Director’s Circle -- $100,000 - $1,000,000+
Anonymous(3); Avery and Andrew Barth; Connie and Ed Foster; Wells Fargo Bank
Artistic Director’s Circle -- $25,000 - $99,999
Jon Andersen and Martha Williamson; Chantal and Steve Bennett; Mary Lea and Bill Carroll; Michele and Roger Engemann; The Green Foundation; Sheila Grether-Marion
and Mark Marion; Julie and Don Hopf; Pam and Brad King; Mattel, Inc.; The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation; Bingo and Gino Roncelli; Lilah Stangeland; Jinny and Scott Wilcott;
Frank Williams
Director’s Circle – $10,000 - $24,999
Anonymous (3); Marilyn and Don Conlan; Dorothy Collins Brown Charitable Foundation; Sheldon Epps and Monette Magrath; Linda and Jay Griffey; Ann and Robert Hamilton;
Jerry Katell; Helen and Steven Kerstein; Gayle and Tad Lowrey; Shannon and Darrell Miller; Betty Sandford; Laney and Tom Techentin; U.S. Bank
Playwright’s Circle – $5,000 - $9,999
Anonymous(2); Marty and Bruce Coffey; Patti and Jim Dolan; Gail and Jim Ellis; St. Paul and Kathryn Epps; Brenda and Bill Galloway; Ellen and Harvey Knell; Lindemann
Foundation; Diane and Craig Martin; Milo W. Bekins Foundation; Gaylord Nichols; Skip and Si Ober; Pacific Global Investment Management Company; Marilyn and Herbert
Piken; Kay and Bob Rehme; Sidney Stern Memorial Trust; Anne Taubman and David Boyle; Judy and Robert Waller; W.M. Keck Foundation
Performer’s Circle – $2,500 - $4,999
Nancee Bacigalupi-Darling and Frederick Darling; Bea and Paul Bennett; Cynthia Bennett and Ed de Beixedon; Meta and Jay Berger; Diane and Fred Blum; Lesley Brander;
Betty Ann and Frank Brooks; Lynn and Carl Cooper; Sharleen Cooper Cohen and Martin Cohen; Jean De Silvestri; David DiCristofaro; Gerald Fishbein and Millicent Reynolds;
Donna and Henri Ford; Don Foster and Erin Quigley; Fox Rothschild, LLP; Tom Hatten; Marcia L. Hoffman; Teena Hostovich; Lena L. Kennedy; Greta and Peter Mandell; Liz
and David McFadzean; Stephanie and Greg McLemore - WebMagic; Edith Mehlinger; Sarah and Eric Miller; Sharon and Sam Muir; Christine Ofiesh; Barbara and Tony Phillips;
Marty Salvin; Deidra Schumann; Danielle and Elliot Stahler; Cheri and Bill Steinkellner; Alyce and Warren Williamson
Stage Manager’s Circle – $1,000 - $2,499
Harry Abrams; Anonymous; Anonymous, in memory of Edward N. Glad, O.B.E.; AT&T; Kittie Ballard; Monty Bernstein/Easy Parking Service; Claire and Bill Bogaard; Joan and
Jack Bonholtzer; Brick’s Lissy Lantz, in honor of Edward N. Glad; Karen and Tim Chrisman; Hilary and Richard Clark; Dottie and Joe Clougherty; Terry and Anthony Clougherty;
Barbara and Wes Coleman; Carol Ann Collins; Gary Dahle and Derek Whitefield; Faye and Robert Davidson; Peggy Ebright; Dorothy Falcinella; Friends of The Pasadena
Playhouse; Bridget and Bob Furiga; Audrea Golding; D.G. Gumpertz; Rose Ann Hall; Paul Theodore Hammond; Arlene and Robert Harder; Susan Hauk; Felicia Henderson;
George Henning; Tracy and Richard Hirrel; Preston Hopson; Carolyn “Cece” Horne; Sumi and Bill Hughes; Sally and Bill Hurt; Maggie Jagels; Anne and Charles Johnson; Donna
and Lou Jones; Richard Kaplan; Stacey and Charles King; Marcia and Gordon Kanofsky; Helen Lambros; Mattie and Michael Lawson; Elizabeth Levitt Hirsch; Shelly and Dennis
Lowe; Melba Macneil; Steve Madison; Christine Madsen and Steven Perry; Judy and Donald Matthews; Joyce McGilvray; Susan McGuirl and Robert Musselman; Shahrezad and
Malcolm McNeil; Lani and Jesse Moore; Cheryl and Judd Morris; Ceil and Mort Mortimer; Mark Ogden; David Partridge; Gloria and Don Pitzer; Jane Prickett Luthard; Anette
and Edward Pumphrey; Mark Rocha; John Rodriguez; Thomas Safran; The Seaver Institute: Sempra Gas Company/Carolyn Williams; Dominique Shelton; Rodney S. Shepard;
Bernadette and Russell Sherman; Judy and Bill Shupper; Phillip Sotel; Stellar Prosthetics Orthotics; Amy and Charles Stephens; Greg Stone and Cindy Vail; June Thurber Paine
and Garrett Paine; Betsey and Sid Tyler; Jim Ukropina; Desiree and Blair Underwood; Carolyn and Robert Volk; Richard von Ernst and Thomas Castaneda; Maritia and Tom
Walper; Carolyn West; Nita Whitaker LaFontaine; Molly and Ralph Wolveck; William H. Wright, Jr.
Supporter – $500 - $999
Esther Ames; Meghan and Monte Baier; Michael Balale; Neil Bauman; The Beggs/Lau Family; Stacy and Michael Berger; Barrett and Carol Bingaman; John Brende; John
Casani; Craig Colbath and Ann Voyer; Meredith and Peter Coors; Cy Coleman Theatricals; D. Bello Associates; Dorothy and William Davila; Edwina and David Dedlow; Harry
Double; Ken Frankel; Patrick Garcia and Eric Baker; Beth Gertmenian; Zelda Gilbert; Richard Gilman; Margie and Paul Grossman; Cherie and Mark Harris; Diane and James
Harris; Michael Hatch; Virginia Hawkins; Sue Haynie-Horn; Stephen Henry; Liz and Herbert Hezlep; Susan Hoffman; Marie Ida; Gail and Bob Israel; Patti Johns Eisenberg; Helga
Johnstone; Nancy and John Killen; Bernard Kinsey; Charlotte and Frank Kleeman; Donald Kottler; Sherry and Al Lapides; Sally Jean Lash; Diane Lau; Coco Lorenzo and Bryan
Beasley; Maria Low Way and George Way; Pamela and J.C. Massar; Roger Memos; William Meurer and Elina Katsioula-Beall; Charles Miller; Robert W. Miller; Wendi and Bill
Moffly; Susan and Allan Mohrman; Morris & Berger; Robert Nafie; Sharon and Robert Novell; Mimi O’Brien; The Estate of Charles B. Pierce; John Plimpton; Marianna and
Charles Plott; Jack Pollock; Linda and John Poore; Ed Richmond; Gary Roeber; Fran Scoble; Jean Scott and Kent Keller; Janis and Stuart Simon; Gail and David Snyder; Vivien
Stanley Foran and William Foran; Lisa Sugimoto; Martin Udell; Mary and William Urquhart; Lonee Urtuzuastegui; Jeannie Vaughn; Sheran and David Voigt; Vroman’s Bookstore;
Michael Westmore; J. Patrick Whaley and Lynda Jenner; Richard Yadley
Friend – $250 - $499
Joan Aebi; Arden Albee; Anonymous; Robert Banning; Pat Beauchamp; Ruth Berger; Paula Brand; Crickette Brown Glad and Paul Glad, in memory of Ned Glad; Creative
Capacity Fund’s Next Gen Arts Professional Development Program; Leigh Chapman; Marlene and Nolan Charbonnet; Suzanne and Walter Cochran-Bond; Renate and Mel
Cohen; Linda and Charles Collier; Darlene Crooks; Pat Cuneo; Tony Dinardo; Eugene Dryden; Mark Esensten; Alan Eskot; Mary Ann and Thomas Fell; Maye Fukumoto; Lisa and
Rob Gallo; Anita Glasco; Beryl and Graham Gosling; Susan Groshen; John Hales; James Hayes; Ann Hayes Higginbotham; Robin Hirabayashi; Jayme Hirashiki and Jimmy Morris;
Richard Hoffing; Boyd Horne; Marguerite Hougasian; Rosemary and David Hubbell; Gary Hunter; Colin Hurren; George Inadomi; Lance Ito and Margaret York; Elisabeth Johns;
Keith Kato; Ruth and Jeremy Jones; Albert Katz; Pam and John King; Mary Latimore; Sandy Leonardis; Clark Linstone; Tegra and Marc Little; Lucas Public Affairs, in memory
of Edward N. Glad; Michael Mackness; Marilyn McCoo Davis and William Davis, Jr.; Michelle Moore; Elly and Jim Morgan; Claudia Myles; Kenneth Nash; Richard Nathan; June
Nelson; Kimberly Nicholas; Debbie and Gregg Oppenheimer; The Pasadena Playhouse Alumni & Associates; Ellen and Doug Patton; Harold Ray; Ron Redcay; Debby and Bill
Richards; Meg and David Sameth; William Sargent; John Scott; Carol and Robert Shapiro; Phyllis Silberman; Rosemary Simmons; Floraline Stevens; Jane Stiglitz; Donald Strand;
Walt Sumner; Frank Taylor; John Taylor; Janet Thomasser; Eileen T’Kaye and David Bischoff; Sandra Tofflemire; Emmett Tompkins; Janet and Robert Tranquada; Timothy Vient;
Jim Watterson and George Martin; Nathan Wolfstein
Roger, Lilah’s late husband, joined
The Pasadena Playhouse Board of
Directors in 1996. Formerly CEO of
The Vons Companies, Inc., he and Lilah
became involved with The Playhouse
in recognition of it as a community
landmark and valuable institution that
they felt was well deserved of their help
and financial support.
In 2001, in addition to a generous multiyear gift to general theatre operations,
Roger and Lilah shared with The
Playhouse their pledge of a charitable
remainder trust to be designated
for the establishment of a
general endowment fund for The
Playhouse at a future date.
Roger and Lilah’s generous
commitment to the financial and
artistic vision of The Pasadena
Playhouse through their bequest
is an example of exemplary
leadership that will enable
expanded artistic programming
as well as protect and preserve
the theatre’s legacy into
perpetuity.
In his lifetime, Roger believed in
exerting efforts to help causes
that he felt needed to continue; charities,
institutions, and organizations of value
that might not otherwise survive.
Roger followed, as does Lilah, the
philosophy that by giving and fulfilling
one big obligation, their support could
make a difference to an institution.
Four such organizations met their
philosophical requirements: the church
where the childhood sweethearts
married; St. John’s Military Academy in
Wisconsin, Roger’s college prep school;
Methodist Hospital of Arcadia; and The
Pasadena Playhouse.
Roger passed away in 2004
and his bride, Lilah, continues
his legacy of leadership and
generosity at The Pasadena
Playhouse, serving on the Board
of Directors and providing
inspiration to us all.
The Playhouse is tremendously
grateful to Lilah and Roger
Stangeland for their financial
commitment, both in present
and in future, and for their
thoughtful guardianship of The
Playhouse’s legacy by including
us in their estate planning.
"Both Roger and Lilah Stangeland have been tremendously supportive and indeed great inspirations
to me during my entire tenure here at The Playhouse. Roger's wise advise, good counsel, and
encouragement were all more valuable than I can possibly say in my early years here. His belief and
support certainly helped me to make choices that were ambitious, challenging, and in the end vitally
helpful to The Playhouse. They both firmly established a pattern of generosity, belief in the value of
endowment, and long term giving that have been inspiring to others and incredibly valuable to the
current and future fiscal health of the theatre."
– Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director
The Gilmor Brown Society
The Gilmor Brown Society, dedicated to a legacy of live theatre and thus named after The Playhouse founder, was established
to recognize, honor and thank those individuals for provisions they have made through thoughtful estate planning to further the
mission of The Pasadena Playhouse:
Ellen Bailey
Estate of Evelyn Bray
Marjorie Cates
Estate of Angus Duncan
Estate of Shirley Filiatrault
Estate of Ada Gory
Sheila Grether-Marion
Adele Morse
Shirli Nielsen
Estate of Charles Pierce
Estate of Constance Ropolo
Lyn Spector
Lilah and Roger* Stangeland
Estate of Bill Watters
Jim Watterson
* Deceased
If you have included The Playhouse in your estate plans and your name is not currently listed, please notify the Development
Office so we may acknowledge you for your support and add your name to the Gilmor Brown Society.
For further information or questions about other gift opportunities, please contact Jennifer Berger, Director of Development at
626.921.1164 or by email at [email protected]
All donors listed gave $250 since September 1, 2010. Contributions received after October 11, 2011 will be acknowledged in the next program.
P12 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P13
Outreach & Education
South Street kicked off a great season for The Pasadena Playhouse outreach and education programs and events.
Many thanks to Kathleen K. Johnson, Richard Addrisi, Roger Castellano, Michael Borth, Harrison White, Andy
Scott Harris, Ali Spuck, Stefan Raulston, Laura Hill, LoraBeth Barr, and the entire cast and crew of South Street for
their generous volunteering of time! Didn’t get to an outreach and education event during South Street? We have
more coming at you for every production during the 2011-2012 season! Attend one or more of the events below
during Blues for an Alabama Sky and watch the arts grow before your very eyes.
UPCOMING EVENTS
during Blues for an Alabama Sky
Wednesday, November 2nd 6:30pm
PRE-SHOW at The Playhouse featuring
Artistic Director and Director of Blues for
an Alabama Sky Sheldon Epps, Executive
Director Stephen Eich and others from the
Blues creative and design team.
Wednesday, November 9th 6:30pm
HOTSEAT at The Playhouse featuring “the
ladies of Blues,” Robin Givens and Tessa
Thompson. Join us for a fun and elegant
evening of conversation.
Wednesday, November 16th 6:30pm
HOTSEAT at The Playhouse featuring
Pasadena Playhouse favorite from Fences
and cast member of Blues, Kadeem
Hardison.
Saturday, November 12th 4pm
FUNHOUSE at The Playhouse with
community partners little junebugs,
Elements Kitchen, and wild Up. Please visit
the box office in person or call by phone
626-356-7529 to get tickets as there are a
limited amount of tickets available for this
specific event!
Sunday, November 20th after the 2pm
show on the Mainstage
POST-SHOW at The Playhouse featuring
cast and crew of Blues for an Alabama Sky
Saturday, May 12th
The 2nd Annual High School Theatre Festival
on the Mainstage.
Pasadena Playhouse Alumni & Associates
Did you know The Pasadena Playhouse once founded and managed an accredited college of theatre arts?
The Pasadena Playhouse opened at the present site in 1925, and the school of the theatre officially
opened with 24 students, in 1928. It became an accredited college of theatre arts in 1936, awarding both
Bachelor and Master of Theatre Arts degrees to those with sufficient undergraduate credits. Associate of Theatre Arts
certificates were also awarded. The Alumni Association was founded in 1953 and continues to be actively involved with The
Playhouse. South Street producer Kathleen Johnson is an alumna of The Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts.
Welcome home Kathleen! www.ppa-a.org
THE AMBASSADORS OF THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE
THE AMBASSADORS OF THE PASADENA
PLAYHOUSE…is a group formed two years
ago charged with the mission of promoting The
Playhouse to garner new supporters and to steward
current supporters.
The Ambassadors also seek to attract new people
wanting to be more involved with The Playhouse at
large.
The Ambassadors act as hosts in the Makineni
Library both before the shows and during
intermissions to Playhouse donors, potential
donors, invited guests and special parties.
Long time Board member and Playhouse champion,
Peggy Ebright, has put together a great group
of Playhouse devotees of Ambassadors who are
enjoying the interaction and adventures of helping
others enjoy and embrace our beautiful theatre.
For information in joining the Ambassadors
or for any other questions, please email us at
[email protected].
All events take place in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre and are free
and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
HOTHOUSE at the Playhouse was
started in 2005 and since then, has
grown into an artistic home where
playwrights utilized the resources
and support of The Pasadena
Playhouse. Each HOTHOUSE at
TURNAROUND our second HOTHOUSE
The Playhouse project is tailored
of the season was received with great watch plays grow. to the playwrights’ needs so that it
acclaim from all those who were able to
aids the writer to grow in whatever
see it. We can’t wait to see where it goes next!
way he or she needs. HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse
also houses the development of reinvention of classic
Congratulations to author Matt Pelfrey, Furious Theatre works. HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse is vital to the
Company, and HOTHOUSE project NOgoodDEED continued success of The Playhouse and theatre as
which will be showing at Ford Theatre this January an art form in the sense of developing new work and
and February as part of their [Inside] the Ford Winter nurturing the artists who spend the time to create it.
Season.
Please RSVP to [email protected]
to be put on our email alert list and check the website
Keep a look out for more brand new work coming your for updated information on HOTHOUSE projects. Join
way soon!
us and watch plays grow.
Our first HOTHOUSE reading of the
season, Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical,
went off brilliantly and will be featured on
our Mainstage next summer. Contact the
box office for more information on tickets.
Kim Ruppert and Stacey Castillo,
Playhouse Hospitality Team
Peggy Ebright,
Ambassadors Chair
The Friends of The Pasadena Playhouse
The Friends have been the volunteer support of The Playhouse since 1979. We donate an average of 30,000 hours per year
ushering, providing cast and crew meals, selling Playhouse themed merchandise and doing office help, special projects, fund
raising, Playhouse tours and archiving the history of The Playhouse. We are self-run by our 22 member Board and publish
“Offstage”, our own newsletter, six times a year. For more information on how to become a Friend, please check our website
at www.friendsofthepasadenaplayhouse.org.
Please contact Outreach and Education Coordinator Courtney Harper at
[email protected] or 626.204.7388 for more information.
P14 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe PErFORMANCEs MAGAZINE P15
LEGAL COUNSEL
Pamela M. Golinski, Esq. Beigelman, Feiner & Feldman P.C.
PATRON SERVICES
Patron Services Manager....................Lemuel H. Thornton III
Subscription Services Manager.............. Frank Ensenberger
Patron Services Asst. Managers..........Kimberly A. Mendez,
Louis Doug Jacobs
Hospitality Manager........................................Kimberly Ruppert
Hospitality Associate............................................Stacey Castillo
Senior Patron Services Associate............. Whitney LaBarge,
Patron Services Associates......... Kenia Brown, Colin Burton,
Elias Feghali, Rafael Goldstein, Ben Lambert, Lauren Lees,
Carmen Mitchell, Krista Taylor, Shelby Page, Holly Walker
House Managers.......................................Lenore Bond Almanzar,
Sue Haynie-Horn, Richard Leaman, Patrick J. Oliva
PRODUCTION
Production Manger........................................................... Joe Witt
Production Supervisor.............................................. Alex Britton
Associate Production Manager................Kristen Hammack
Associate Producer................................................Dee Dee Irwin
Crew Chief....................................................................... Matt Petosa
Electrician..................................................................Chris Osborne
Sound Engineer........................................................ Eric Thompson
Wardrobe...............................................................Leslie Rehm Hunt
The actors and stage managers employed in this
production are members of actors’ equity association, the union of professional actors and
stage managers in the United States.
T
NI
SCE C A
O
ISTS
RT
IA
•L
P16 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINe SPECIAL THANKS TO
Monica Stewart for the use of her original artwork
“Enchanting Keys.” To view Monica Stewart Collections
go to MonicaStewart.com.
S
Friends of THE Pasadena Playhouse
Executive Board
President ..................................................................... Bridget Furiga
Vice-President...................................................... Lenore Almanzar
Treasurer............................................................................ Nola Widin
Recording Secretary............................................. Sharon Zaslaw
Corresponding Secretary ..................................Jayne Thomas
General Board
Eugenia Amodei, Nancy Ashcraft, Ellen Bailey, Evey
Brown, Bonnie Davis, Bob DeWees, Helen Fareshetian,
Sue Haynie-Horn, Doug Hodgdon, Gloria Klaparda,
Yvonne Lai, Patti LaMarr, Richard Leaman,
Beverly Meissner, Shirley Miller,
Patrick Oliva, Betty Parnell
BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY
production staff
Company Manager...........................................LoraBeth Barr
Associate Casting Director..............Peter Matyas, CSA
Production Stage Manager......................Hethyr Verhoef
Assistant Stage Manager.............................Jessica Aguilar
Assistant Scenic Designer.............................Nick Santiago
Assistant Costume Designer................... Martine Granby
Costumer.................................................................. Karen Perry
Shop Foreman...............................................Mark Maldonado
Crew Chief...............................................................Matt Petosa
Props Master...............................................Shannon Dedman
Flymen........................................................................ Mike Askew
Master Electrician ...................................... Chris Osborne
Light Board Operator.....................................Eric Svaleson
Production Sound Engineer.....................Eric Thompson
Lead Scenic Painter..................................... Johnny LaBlanc
Scenic Artists...........Mia Campagna, Megan Maldonado
Welder......................................................................David Mauer
Wardrobe Supervisor/Dresser...........Leslie Rehm Hunt
Wig Supervisor...................................................Raenae Kuaea
Dressers..............................................................Marie Growden
Production Supervisor’s Assistant....... Mavis Cordero,
Rich Dominguez
Production Assistants.............................................Eja Wong
Production Intern................Elyse Griffin, David Mancini
Head Flymen.......................................................... Mike Askews
Lead House Rigger..................................................Tim Moore
Master Carpenter.............................................Maisuharu Isa
Carpenters......................................................Kuramoto Takuji,
Richard E. Dominguez III, Ryan Godbout, Jonas
Dickson, Christopher R. Maldonado, Tamara Chinen,
Joel Schlesinger, Julian Taylor, Yuri Santizo,
Joe Sanchez, Tjo Doan,
David Singleton, David Hemphill
UNITED
DEVELOPMENT
Development Director ...................................... Jennifer Berger
Individual Giving &
Major Gifts Director..........................................Patti Johns Eisenberg
Outreach & Education Coordinator............Courtney Harper
Development Associate................................................Beth Lewis
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Marketing & Communications Director............Patty Onagan
Public Relations Director....................................................Joel Hile
Marketing & Communications Assistant...... Jewel E. Moore
Subscriptions Manager..................................... Jonathan White
Subscriptions Assistant.........................................................Emily Lacy
Group Sales Associate.......................................Susan von Tress
Broadcast Advertising....... Nancy’s Media Buys, Nancy Pank
Graphic Design................................................................ Eric Pargac
Photography.......................................................................... Jim Cox
Telemarketing............................................................Theater Direct
BLUES FOR AN
ALABAMA SKY
SPONSORS
Lenore Almanzar, Ellen Bailey, Ross Eastty,
Bridget Furiga, John McElveney, Jaclyn Palmer,
Pete Parkin, Jack Scott
29
•
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Controller....................................................... Stephanie Surabian
Executive Assistant.................................................LoraBeth Barr
Administrative Assistant......................... Whitney Fortmueller
Finance Assistant.................................................................Chris Lu
Union Liaison.............................................................. Angela Sidlow
Accounting Consultant.......................... Mary Ann Heidsman
IT Consulting Firm...................................................TechFirmation
A
Stephen Eich
Executive Director
I
Artistic Director
E
Sheldon Epps
THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE
ALUMNI & ASSOCIATES
Executive Board
President............................................................ Valerie Amidon
1st Vice-President................................................Anne LaRose
2nd Vice-President............................................ Kim O’Rourke
Administrator.......................................Robert Muehlhausen
Recording Secretary.......................................Neva Wallace
Corresponding Secretary ..............................Marje Cates
Treasurer......................................................................Eric Johns
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CA
8
L USA
The Designers at this Theatre
are Represented by
United Scenic Artists • Local USA 829
of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes
warninG: The photographic or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device for such photographing
or sound recording inside the theatre, without written permission of the management, is prohibited by law. Violators may be
punished by ejection and violations may render the offender
liable for money damages.
Save the Date
GALA
Saturday, May 19, 2012