The Pasadena Playhouse, West Coast Premiere
Transcription
The Pasadena Playhouse, West Coast Premiere
Leslie Uggams. Photo by Stacie Isabella Turk, Ribbonhead. January 2009 PASADENA PLAYHOUSE W From the Artistic Director Sheldon Epps. Photo by Bill Youngblood. Dear Friends, W elcome to the first production of our 2009 Season and the continuation of our celebration of Women: The Heart and Soul of Theatre on our stage. It is a great pleasure to kick off this new year with Stormy Weather, celebrating the life and career of Lena Horne, certainly one of the most dazzling, iconic and indeed history making women in American entertainment history. People often ask how a particular project actually ends up as part of our season. In this case, this exciting show has been making its way to the stage of the Playhouse for many years. I remember having lunch with Sharleen Cooper Cohen, the writer of the musical, almost a decade ago. She told me of her plans to develop a stage show with Lena Horne at its center. I found this to be an incredibly attractive, though challenging idea. Before meeting Sharleen that day, I walked around the corner to a wonderful used book store and found an old paperback copy of a book I’d read years before about Miss Horne. I offered Sharleen the book along with my encouragement and support. Over many years I kept track of her progress as the show developed; I saw some readings and workshops, and continued to talk with her about the material. One of my major concerns was always “the WHO.” Who would be attracted to the (daunting) task of bringing the great lady to life on the stage? When Sharleen shared with me the seismic news that another great lady, Leslie Uggams, was committed to bringing her dynamic and brilliant artistry to the role, the question of “the Who” was answered in a way that gave me both excitement and great anticipation. I am fortunate to have shared a long professional history with Leslie and to have worked with her several times. She is indeed one of the great singing actresses of the American musical theatre. The combination of Lena and Leslie was overwhelmingly attractive, and we began to make plans to bring this story to the stage of the Playhouse. I was also thrilled to learn that Michael Bush would be the director of the show, and would become Sharleen’s partner as she continued to develop the material. Our audition process led us to cast Nikki Crawford to play the role of Lena in her younger years. Nikki is another of my favorite leading ladies and we have been fortunate to have her on the stage of the Playhouse many times. Her addition to the cast, along with the rest of the talented acting company, supported by the work of a dazzling design team all make for the promise of a stunning evening of musical theatre. I am so very happy that this long road has led us to the delightful reality of opening this season with Stormy Weather. As we all know, these are challenging times in our society. This of course makes for even greater challenges for arts organizations. I believe that one can respond to these challenges through either fear and panic, or confidence and determination. Here at the Playhouse, we are quite boldly taking the latter road. We will continue to marshal our strength, our resources, our artistry and our passion for the theatre in every way that we can to deliver the best of our art form on our stage. Our ability to do this will take concerted effort from all of us who believe strongly in both the need for and the tremendous value of the arts in our society. I thank you for joining me in this wonderfully noble mission. With your ongoing help I know that we will keep our theatre strong, vital, alive and thriving, and that we will sustain the artistic leadership that has allowed the Playhouse to shine brightly once again. January 21 - March 1, 2009 Stormy Weather By Sharleen Cooper Cohen Choreography by Randy Skinner Directed by Michael Bush March 20 - April 19, 2009 MAURITIUS By Theresa Rebeck Directed by Jessica Kubzansky May 22 - June 28, 2009 The Little Foxes By Lillian Hellman Directed by Dámaso Rodriguez September 4 - October 11, 2009 THE NIGHT IS A CHILD By Charles Randolph-Wright Directed by Sheldon Epps Plus Two Surprise Productions Sincerely, 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101-2023 BOX OFFICE: (626) 356-7529 www.pasadenaplayhouse.org Performances MAGAZINE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE Pasadena Playhouse Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director Ken Novice, Interim Managing Director Tom Ware, Producing Director Produced by special arrangement with Stewart F. Lane, Bonnie Comley and Armica Productions proudly presents Leslie Uggams as Lena Horne in Conceived and Written by Sharleen Cooper Cohen Suggested by the biography Lena Horne, Entertainer published by Chelsea House. Also Starring Nikki Crawford Phillip Attmore Jordan Barbour Yvette Cason Cleavant Derricks Wilkie Ferguson Ashley Greene Bruce Katzman Chéri McKenzie Kevyn Morrow Jeffrey Rockwell Robert Torti Toni Trucks Diane Vincent and Dee Hoty Scenic Design James Noone Costume Design Martin Pakledinaz Lighting Design Paul Gallo Wig and Hair Design Carol F. Doran Principal wigs and hair by Paul Huntley Orchestrations by Gordon Goodwin Press representative Patty Onagan Dance Arrangements by Randy Skinner Casting Michael Donovan, C.S.A. Liz Lewis, C.S.A. Sound Design Lewis Mead conductor Linda Twine Assistant Director Lisa Dozier production stage manager Lurie Horns Pfeffer Associate choreographer Jeremy Benton assistant stage manager Lea Chazin Music Direction by Linda Twine Choreography by Randy Skinner Directed By Michael Bush January 21 - March 1, 2009 Stormy Weather is produced by arrangement with Stormy Weather Musical, LLC. World premiere of Stormy Weather was produced at the Prince Music Theater, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Original New York Workshop presented by Amas Musical Theater, Donna Trinkoff, Producing Director. PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE Cast CAST OF CHARACTERS Lena Horne.......................................................................................................................................*Leslie Uggams With (in alphabetical order) Jivin’ Jones/Louis Jones.........................................................................................................*Phillip Attmore Teddy Jones.................................................................................................................................. *Jordan Barbour Edna Horne rodriguez/Ruby/Church Lady...................................................................... *Yvette Cason Young Lena.....................................................................................................................................*Nikki Crawford Teddy Horne, Sr..................................................................................................................... *Cleavant Derricks Aiken Bones/Medgar Evers/Avon Long/Building super......................................*Wilkie Ferguson Young Gail (matinee performances only)...................................................................... Ashley Greene Kay Thompson.......................................................................................................................................... *Dee Hoty L.B. Mayer/Perry Como/Barney josephson/american man/ Photographer/Production assistant.............................................................................*Bruce Katzman Young Gail (Evening Performances only)....................................................................Chéri McKenzie Billy Strayhorn............................................................................................................................*Kevyn Morrow Arthur freed/owney madden/gary cooper/director/ lennie’s friend/british man/drunk...............................................................................*Jeffrey Rockwell Lennie Hayton..................................................................................................................................... *Robert Torti Gail Jones Lumet/amanda gerrard/french woman/wardrobe lady...................*Toni Trucks loreen hall/hostess/wardrobe lady/american woman/ production assistant/waitress..........................................................................................*Diane Vincent setting Early 1980s Lena Horne’s New York apartment and various times and places in her mind. There will be one fifteen (15) minute intermission. Season Sponsor Made possible in part by the Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission and the City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division. Natural Herb Cough Drops provided to the cast courtesy of Ricola U.S.A., Inc. Pasadena Playhouse is a proud member of Theatre Communications Group, LA Stage Alliance, the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and the Pasadena Arts Council. *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union for Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Performances MAGAZINE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE The Music Musical Numbers (Musical numbers and the order in which they appear are subject to change.) Act One “Love”........................................................................................................................................................................Lena “That Old Feeling”...............................................................................................................Lena, Lennie Hayton “As Long as I Live”.......................................................................................................... Young Lena, Avon Long “Deed I Do”...............................................................................................................................................Young Lena “Let Me Sing and I’m Happy”...................................Billy Strayhorn, Lennie, Ted Horne, Teddy Jones “Stardust”...................................................................................................................................................Teddy, Lena “There’ll Be Some Changes Made”.....................................................................................Lena, Young Lena “You Let Me Down”............................................................................................................ Lena, Kay Thompson “Lush Life”................................................................................................................................................................. Billy “Life’s Full of Consequence”.................................................................................Young Lena, Bones, Jones “From This Moment On”...................................................................................................................................Lena “Just One of Those Things”...................................................................................Young Lena, Bones, Jones “How Deep is the Ocean”...................................................................................................Billy, Kay, Company “Come Rain or Come Shine”...........................................................................................................................Lena Reprise: “Come Rain or Come Shine”........................................................................................................... Billy “The Lady is a Tramp”.........................................................................................Lena, Young Lena, Company Act two Entr’acte........................................................................................................................................................ Orchestra “Push De Button”.......................................................................................................Young Lena, Bones, Jones “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man”..................................................................................................Lena, Young Lena “Dream Along with Me/Too Close for Comfort”......................................................................Perry Como “Lover, Come Back to Me”................................................................................................................................. Billy “Honeysuckle Rose”.............................................................................................................................................Lena “This Little Light of Mine”.................................................................................Lena, Young Lena, Company “Yesterday, When I Was Young”.....................................................................................................................Lena “Love Me or Leave Me”........................................................................................................................Young Lena “When You’re Smilin’”...................................................................................... Gail Lumet, Amy Lumet, Lena “Stormy Weather”................................................................................................................................................Lena Orchestra Linda Twine.........................................................................................................................Conductor/Piano Gordon Peeke.......................................................................................................................................... Drums Hilliard Wilson.............................................................................................................................................. Bass Gary Solt.................................................................................................................................................... Guitar Don Fornero......................................................................................................................................... Trumpet Charlie Morillas................................................................................................................................Trombone Rusty Higgins.................................................................................................................................Woodwind 1 Rick Keller......................................................................................................................................Woodwind 2 Tom Griep........................................................................................................................................Synthesizer Michael Larsen......................................................................................................Rehearsal Accompanist Lea Chazin...........................................................................................................................Music Contractor John Fenge............................................................................................................................... Music Copying PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE From the Director I Lena, Leslie And the audacity of hope I I am in my mid fifties and was born and raised in the South... North Carolina to be exact. And I came of age during the 1960’s at a time when I felt the world promised real “change.” I’ll leave it to the true historians to argue just how much that promise has been realized. But that time did instill in me the courage to pursue my own personal dream of a “life in the theatre.” And it all started in our upstairs TV room where I discovered the movies and stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age. And yes, musicals were, and still are, my favorite. And it was during this time that I found Lena Horne. It was also during this time that I discovered Broadway as I was lucky enough to have parents who took me to the theatre and who bought me original cast albums. And one Christmas, because I had become a real fan of Lena, I was given the album to Jamaica. And my favorite song on the album was “Push De Button.” If you don’t know it, you will, as it opens Act 2 of our show. Stormy Weather Director Michael Bush. t’s impossible not to draw the parallels. As we begin performances of Stormy Weather here in Pasadena, our first African American President is moving into the White House. Many movies and plays have used the term “here is a story for our time,” but I am struck by just how true this is, right now, for our musical about the life of Lena Horne. It may be stretching the truth to say that Obama would not be where he is today if it wasn’t for Lena, but it sure seems true from my point of view. Jump ahead a few years to when I was old enough to buy my own records and I was first in line to buy the cast album to Hallelujah, Baby starring… Leslie Uggams. Now my mother will tell you that I had to own EVERY original cast album ever made, and she would be right, but I will tell you that Hallelujah, Baby was, and still is, one of my absolute favorites. The show tells the story of the civil rights movement in America from the beginning of the 20th Century to the 1960’s, and it was originally written to star Lena Horne! Quelle Surprise!! But I also knew that My Fair Lady was written to star Mary Martin, and not Julie Andrews….and that’s show biz. But I certainly thought it was a fascinating intersection of two of my favorite performers. And I dreamed of one day getting to know them. So yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. Now, almost 40 years later, as Obama becomes President, I find myself at the helm of another of their intersections as the director of Stormy Weather, the true and inspiring story of an American cultural icon, played by another American cultural icon. And it is a true “event” in the theatre as the story is not only a part of American history, but it also provides us the opportunity to witness history as Lena “passes the torch” to Leslie. Both of these women have been trailblazers for other African American artists and for our country in general, by proving that dreams, despite prejudice, can become reality. It also tells a very human story that I think reflects us all. Of the many things age has taught me, one of the most profound is that life throws you curves. We all have our own personal “storms” to get through... and if we are lucky and strong, and surrounded by love, we make it back into the light. This is true of Lena, this is true of me and it is true for our country. So while our story is about one of Hollywood’s brightest stars, it is also a story about hope and the realization of the American Dream that exists for all of us. And isn’t that the truth of what’s happening right now? Michael Bush Michael Bush’s in-depth biography can be found on page 11 of this program. Performances MAGAZINE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE E From the Playwright Surviving The Storm verybody’s life goes through times of stormy weather. I’ve certainly had my share. And that’s what drew me to the life of Lena Horne. Six of my seven published novels dealt with characters facing terrible tragedies, difficult circumstances and overwhelming odds. Yet somehow they found the courage, determination and tenacity to overcome their situations as I did in my own life. And most of them even triumphed! It wasn’t easy writing about heart-wrenching events, just as it wasn’t easy living through them. That’s why, when I saw a PBS documentary on Lena Horne in 1996, it spoke to my soul. When I learned what she had gone through, and not just the trials and indignities suffered by a black woman in those difficult years, but her own personal drama, I knew I had to write about her. I’m so thankful that I did, though I had no idea when I began how long the odyssey would take. I fought to bring her story to an audience for 13 years. Yet, it was so worthwhile, I never gave up. And now my dream has come true. Lena’s amazing career spanned four decades. She was the first black performer to be embraced by both worlds. Her courage, her talent and her strength of character broke through barriers and paved the way for so many others. She guarded her private life fiercely and in public, she was always a lady. While beloved by fans of all races, there’s an entire generation who doesn’t know her, or what she did for them. They need to know. Stormy Weather is not a typical biography. It’s about an extraordinary woman faced with such a terrible crisis in her life that it’s brought her to despair, unable to go on. And only by reliving certain incidents of her life, recognizing her enormous triumphs and forgiving herself for her terrible mistakes, can she find her own inner core of strength. On her journey, we laugh with her, cry with her, share her magnificent music and the moments of her incredible life. Any one of us might find ourselves at sometime in our lives experiencing great despair, fearing, like Lena, that there is no way out. And that’s why Lena Horne’s story resonated with me. It examines the way we all have to deal with what life gives us and, in her particular case, find the strength to go on. Every life story is unique - hers, even more so. It definitely inspired me. I hope it inspires you. If you want to continue this conversation, please write to me at www.sharleencoopercohen.com/blog.html. I want to hear from you. Sharleen Cooper Cohen Sharleen Cooper Cohen’s in-depth biography can be found on page 11 of this program. PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE Stormy Weather writer Sharleen Cooper Cohen. E PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE Historical Background Lena Horne Taking America by Storm Images appearing in this program are used for the sole purposes of criticism, comment, teaching or scholarship and are not for commercial purposes under Title 17 of the United States Code 107. By Jessica Smith a climate defined by volatile race 1942 AMERICA was relations. Overseas, African Americans fought in segregated units in WWII, while on the homefront, segregation would thrive for over a decade. It was this same year that 25 year-old Lena Horne joined MGM and became the first African American to sign a longterm studio contract; she also became the highest paid black actor of that time. Never one to be discouraged by obstacles, Lena Horne quickly became an American icon, not only as a performer, but also as a political figure that stood for change. While put on a pedestal by Hollywood as a goddess of the stage and silver screen, she was down on the front lines fighting the battle of racism that plagued mid-twentieth century America. Between releasing 17 films and appearing on Broadway several times, she participated in the March on Washington and performed at rallies throughout the country for the National Council for Negro Women. Her unparalleled accomplishments as an entertainer, coupled with her commitment to civil rights, blazed a trail for many who followed. DID YOU KNOW... • At age 16, Lena was a dancer in the chorus of Harlem’s famous Cotton Club. • MGM studios appointed Max Factor himself to create a make-up for Lena that would make her look darker; it was called “Light Egyptian.” • In 1947, Lena was blacklisted for her support of the Hollywood Independent Citizens Committee, the Joint Anti-Fascist Committee and W.E.B. DuBois and Paul Robeson’s Council on African Affairs. • Lena and her husband Lennie Hayton kept their marriage a secret for 3 years (interracial marriage was illegal when they became engaged). • Lena’s father, her husband and her son Teddy all died within 12 months of each other. • Lena is a descendant of John C. Calhoun, the 7th Vice President of the United States. • Lena is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Performances MAGAZINE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE Leslie Uggams (Lena Horne) Pasadena Playhouse: Blue! Tony and Emmy Award-winning Leslie Uggams recently starred in First Breeze of Summer at the acclaimed Off-Broadway Signature Theater, for which she received the Audelco Award for leading actress for her portrayal of Gremmar Edwards. Uggams’ Broadway appearances have included starring alongside James Earl Jones in On Golden Pond and co-starring in the Broadway hit Thoroughly Modern Millie. In 2001, her Broadway portrayal of Ruby in August Wilson’s King Hedley II was nominated for a Tony Award, and followed two other Audelco Awardwinning, critically acclaimed, OffBroadway performances: The Old Settler and Keb Mo’s blues musical Thunder Knocking on the Door. Earlier this year, Uggams co-starred in the soon-to-be-released independent film Toe to Toe. At the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, 9 year-old Uggams opened for such legends as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington Mitch Miller, head of recordings for Columbia Records, was so impressed by her vocal talents that he signed her to a recording contract and then made her a regular on “Sing Along With Mitch.” As such, Leslie Uggams became the first AfricanAmerican performer to be regularly featured on a weekly, national primetime television series. Concurrent with her musical composition and theory studies at the Juilliard School, Leslie released the first of 10 albums she was to record for Columbia Records, including her first hit single, “Morgan.” In 1970, she had her own musical variety television series on CBS-TV, “The Leslie Uggams Show,” and signed a new recording contract with Atlantic Records. In 1972, she made her dramatic film debut opposite Charlton Heston in the MGM film Skyjacked, followed by Black Girl, the acclaimed film directed by Ossie Davis. However, it was Leslie’s portrayal of Kizzy in the most watched dramatic show in TV history, Alex Haley’s Roots, that won her worldwide recognition as a dramatic actress – including the Critics Choice PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE Who’s Who Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1978, an Emmy nomination for Best Leading Actress and a coveted Golden Globe Nomination from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. When not performing in the theatre, Leslie can be found touring the country with her acclaimed concerts. She has appeared with The Cincinnati Pops, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, The Washington Symphony Orchestra and The Rhode Island Symphony, to name a few. Most recently, Leslie received rave reviews for her new CD “On My Way to You – The Songs of Marilyn and Alan Bergman.” Best Supporting Actress nomination), Leonard Bernstein’s Mass at the Hollywood Bowl, The Great American Song Book at the Mark Taper Forum (opposite Michael Feinstein), Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmerelda), My Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra at La Mirada Theatre and her one-woman show at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. Television: Numb3rs, Malcolm in the Middle, The District, Dream On, Lush Life. Film: Retiring Tatiana, Duck, Contradictions of the Heart, and most recently, Applause for Miss E. Nikki also starred in the PBS Great Performances broadcast of Play On!. DEE HOTY (Kay Thompson) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Broadway: Footloose (Tony Award nomination), The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public (Tony Award nomination), The Will Rogers Follies (Tony Award nomination), Mamma Mia!, City of Angels, Me and My Girl, Big River, The Five O’Clock Girl, Shakespeare’s Cabaret. Los Angeles: Dr. Doolittle (opposite Tommy Tune), Mamma Mia! (Donna). National Tours: Barnum (opposite Stacy Keach). Favorite OffBroadway and regional roles include Kay Thompson in Stormy Weather at Prince Music Theater (Barrymore Award), Follies at the Paper Mill Playhouse, and creating roles in Lanford Wilson’s Book of Days and Arthur Laurents’ Two Lives. Recent television and film credits include The Understudy, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Currently: workshop productions of Dangerous Beauty and Elf: the Musical. A native of Cleveland, Ohio; joined AEA in 1976; graduate of Otterbein College. PHILLIP ATTMORE (Jivin’ Jones/Louis Jones/Dance Captain) Pasadena Playhouse: RAY CHARLES LIVE! – A New Musical. Broadway: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, On the Twentieth Century (Actor’s Fund), Debbie Allen’s Beehive on Broadway (New York City workshop). Regional/ Tours: Fosse (world tour); 42nd Street (Moscow); Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (San Francisco/Los Angeles). Cabaret/Solo Performance: Phillip Attmore: Moments Musicaux (Paris, France). Film/TV: Sam Shepard’s Silent Tongue, Bold and the Beautiful, Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, Judging Amy, Sisters, So You Think You Can Dance (Las Vegas ’08 Finalist). Phillip is ecstatic to be performing with such an amazing cast! He would like to thank his family and friends for their prayers and support. “Thank you, God, for giving me so many opportunities to live out my life to it’s full potential!” NIKKI CRAWFORD (Young Lena) Pasadena Playhouse: A Class Act (Felicia), As Bees In Honey Drown, Play On! (Lady Viv). Regional: Spamalot (The Lady of the Lake) at the Wynn (Las Vegas Company), Play On! (Lady Viv) at Arena Stage (Helen Hayes Award JORDAN BARBOUR (Teddy Jones) Pasadena Playhouse debut. New York: Dance Dance Revolution at Les Freres (Corbusier), Our Country’s Good at Folding Chair Classical Theatre, Measure for Measure, The Three Sisters, The Varsity Show. Regional: Cold Hard Cash, Big Money, On PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE Who’s Who the Razzle, Wing It!, Party Come Here at Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Shipment at Wexner Center, Yellowman, Yeast Nation, Hair, Hamlet, Topdog/Underdog at Perseverance Theatre, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Children of Eden at Westmont Theatre Company. Jordan has performed in workshops at The Public Theatre, The Kennedy Center and Playwrights Horizons, and has sung with the Juilliard Choral Union at Carnegie Hall and New York State Theatre. Training: vocal performance with David Clatworthy at The Juilliard School, Williamstown apprenticeship, B.A. in American Studies at Columbia University. Jordan is honored to be working with the amazing cast and creative team of Stormy Weather. Big thanks to Liz Lewis, Michael Donovan and my agents at Bret Adams. Much love to family and friends for all their endless support. YVETTE CASON (Edna Horne Rodriguez/ Ruby/Church Lady) Pasadena Playhouse: RAY CHARLES LIVE! – A New Musical, Play on! (Ovation Award), Sisterella (NAACP Theatre Award). Broadway: Play On!, Dreamgirls. Regional: Once Upon This Island, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Into the Woods, Ain’t Misbehavin, And the World Goes Round, St. Louis Woman, Thunder Knocking on the Door, Stevie Wants to Play the Blues, Williamstown Theatre Festival, San Jose Repertory Theatre, New York City Center, Sacramento Music Circus, CLO South Bay, La Mirada Theatre. Television: The Bold And The Beautiful, Hannah Montana, Notes from the Underbelly, ER, Alias, Boston Public, Judging Amy, The Parkers, The District, King of Queens. Film: Dreamgirls (with Beyonce and Jamie Foxx). Education: Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA). Yvette wishes to thank her family, friends and her agent for their continuous love and support. CLEAVANT DERRICKS (Teddy Jones, Sr.) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Broadway: Dreamgirls (James Thunder Early; Tony Award, Best Featured Actor in a Musical), Big Deal (Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations), Brooklyn, But Never Jam Today, Your Arms Too Short to Box with God. National Tours: The Full Monty (NAACP Theatre Award). Regional: Like Jazz at the Mark Taper Forum (opposite Patti Austin and Lillias White), Damn Yankees at Reprise!, Pest Control at the NoHo Arts Center. Film: Moscow on the Hudson (with Robin Williams), Slugger’s Wife, Offbeat, Carnival of Soul, World Traveler (with Julianne Moore and Billy Crudup), the soon-to-be released Rome and Jewel. Television: Sliders, Cold Case, Wedding Bells, The Bernie Mac Show, The Practice, Touched By an Angel, Roseanne, Moonlighting, LA Law, Spencer for Hire, Charmed. Cleavant began his career writing Southern Gospel music in Nashville. Along with his father (a Baptist minister and gospel composer), Cleavant wrote a gospel album, “Satisfaction Gauranteed,” which was nominated for a Grammy Award. WILKIE FERGUSON (Aiken Bones/ Medgar Evers/Avon Long/Building Super) Pasadena Playhouse: RAY CHARLES LIVE! – A New Musical (Young Ray), SISTER ACT the Musical. Tours: Hairspray (Seaweed; first national tour). Regional: Hairspray (Seaweed); South Pacific at the Hollywood Bowl (with Reba McEntire); Miss Saigon (John); Dreamgirls; Smokey Joe’s Café, Flora the Red Menace at Reprise!. Numerous television appearances and voiceovers. Education: New World School of the Arts, Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA), Eastman School of Music (Classical Piano Performance major). In addition to Wilkie’s many theatrical credits, he has also served on the faculty of the Boys’ Choir of Harlem as Assistant Director, Piano Accompanist and Music Theory Instructor. ASHLEY GREENE (Young Gail at matinee performances) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Theatre: Annie the Musical (Molly) at the Valencia Park Performing Arts Magnet, How to Eat Like a Child (Paula) at the Young Stars Theatre. Film: To Wander in Pandemonium (Bobbi; 2009), Learning to Fly, God Fly,The War Machine. Ashley, at the young age of three, emphatically declared, “I want to be a star!” Since that bold statement she has committed herself to act as a seasoned professional. She is honored to perform in Stormy Weather with such an extraordinary group of actors at the historical Pasadena Playhouse. She is represented by Young Performers Management, Diverse Talent Group and BMG Models. BRUCE KATZMAN (L.B. Mayer/Perry Como/Barney Josephson/American Man/Photographer/ Production Assistant) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Broadway: Cabaret at the Roundabout Theatre Company (Tony Award), premiere season of Tony Randall’s National Actors Theatre. New York: Richard III (with Denzel Washington), Othello (with Raul Julia and Christopher Walken) at New York Shakespeare Festival; Sylvia (with Sarah Jessica Parker) at the Manhattan Theatre Club; numerous Off-Off-Broadway stages. Los Angeles: The Talking Cure at the Mark Taper Forum, Saturday Night at Grossinger’s at Theatre West, Looking for Normal at the Secret Rose (Theatre NEO), Charlotte: A Life or Theatre? at the MET Theatre, The Last Schwartz at the Zephyr. Television and Film: Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Desperate Housewives, Gridiron Gang and many others. Katzman directed critically acclaimed productions of King Lear (2003) and Uncle Vanya (2002) for the MET Theatre in Hollywood. A teacher of acting and current faculty member of the Stella Adler Studio-LA, Bruce has conducted workshops on the plays of Anton Chekhov in England, Denmark Performances MAGAZINE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE and Argentina, and in universities and acting conservatories across the United States. Education: M.F.A from Yale School of Drama. CHéRI McKENZIE (Young Gail at evening performances) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Regional: Visions of Sugarplums (world premiere); Orphans! (Molly); Cinderella, The Nutcracker at the Alex Theatre (Glendale); Pinocchio at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium; Feeling Good with the Music of Leslie Bricusse, The Year Was 1914, Let Us Entertain You with the Music of Jules Styne at the Assistance League Playhouse (Hollywood). Chéri loves studying acting, dancing and singing in addition to playing basketball and being a 4th grader at Don Benito Fundamental in Pasadena where she’s a Girl Scout. She thanks her family, teachers and friends for helping her make this dream come true. Enjoy the show! KEVYN MORROW (Billy Strayhorn) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Broadway: original casts of The Scarlet Pimpernel, Dream, Smokey Joe’s Café, Dreamgirls, A Chorus Line, Leader of the Pack, Anything Goes (revival). London: 125th Street (Georgie Blues; world premiere), Ragtime (Coalhouse Walker Jr.; 2004 Olivier Award nominee, Best Actor in a Musical). Off-Broadway: Radio Golf (Harmond Wilks), The Pajama Game (Sid), The Three Musketeers (Aramis), Five Guys Named Moe, Thunder Knocking on the Door, Blue (Blue), Our Town, Stone My Heart, Tambourines to Glory (Buddy Lomax; 2005 Helen Hayes Award nominee, Best Actor). Film: Dark Light, The Trade, Stayin’ Alive. Television: Hope and Faith (recurring), Ed (recurring), Coach, Murphy Brown, L.A. Law, One Life to Live, Kidsworld (Host). JEFFREY ROCKWELL (Arthur Freed/ Owney Madden/Gary Cooper/ Director/British Man/Drunk/ 10 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE Who’s Who Announcer VoiceOvers) Pasadena Playhouse debut. National Tours: City of Angels (Stone), Elton John’s Aida (Zoser). Regional: City of Angels at LA’s Schubert Theatre (Stone); Beauty and the Beast (Beast), South Pacific (Emile) at Sierra Repertory Theatre; Twice Upon a Time at CLO of South Bay Cities (Fingers); My Fair Lady at San Diego Starlight Theatre (Henry Higgins); Musical of Musicals – the Musical (Jidder, world premiere) at Laguna Playhouse and The Colony Theatre; Showboat at Fullerton CLO (Gaylord Ravenal). Jeffrey has provided music and lyrics for musical adaptations of Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine and Francois Truffaut’s The Last Metro, the latter produced at Musical Theatre Works in New York and both produced at the Colony Theatre in Los Angeles. Jeffrey is delighted to be onstage for the first time at the Pasadena Playhouse where his parents met and courted as students. Love and thanks to JD. ROBERT TORTI (Lennie Hayton) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Broadway: Starlight Express (Greaseball, Tony Award nomination); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Pharaoh) as well as the film version opposite Donny Osmond and Sir Richard Attenborough. International credits include Smokey Joe’s Café and Reefer Madness. Film: That Thing You Do (directed by Tom Hanks), Who’s your Daddy?, Reefer Madness, She’s the Man, The Game Plan, Race to Witch Mountain (opposite Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson). Television: The Drew Carey Show, Vinny and Bobby (opposite Matt Le Blanc), Generations (Poland’s Actor of the Year Award), Family Passions. Currently Bob can be seen on the Disney Channel’s The Suite Life of Zach and Cody in the recurring role as the boy’s father, Kurt. Bob is married to the lovely DeLee Lively and father to Zach, Faith and Chloe; without the four of them, life would be a bore. [www. roberttorti.com] TONI TRUCKS (Gail Jones Lumet/ Amanda Gerrard/ French Woman/ Wardrobe Lady) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Regional: Kiss Me, Kate (Lois/ Bianca) at Sacramento Music Circus; Two Gentleman of Verona (Julia) at Baltimore Center Stage; Children Of Eden at the Ford’s Theatre; West Side Story (Anita) at Music Theatre of Wichita; Oklahoma! (Ado Annie) at the University of Michigan. Film: Music and Lyrics, Dreamgirls. Television: ‘Till Death; Veronica Mars; All of Us (recurring). Toni is thrilled to be making her Pasadena Playhouse debut with the cast of Stormy Weather. A graduate of the University of Michigan’s Musical Theatre program, Toni now resides in Los Angeles. She is best known for her role as “Terri” in the Showtime series Barbershop. Toni will next appear alongside Brittney Murphy and Meatloaf in the feature film Confessions from Philly. DIANE VINCENT (Loreen Hall/ Hostess/Wardrobe Lady/American Woman/Production Assistant/Waitress) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Regional: Guys & Dolls (Adelaide, DramaLogue Award); Singin’ In The Rain (Lina Lamont, Drama-Logue Award); Thoroughly Modern Millie (Mrs. Meers); Gypsy (Tessie); Best Little Whorehouse (Doatsie Mae); Some Like It Hot (Sugar); Cinderella (Portia); No, No Nanette (Flora); Pal Joey (Gladys); How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Hedy), The Sound of Music, The Music Man (Ethel Toffelmier) at the Hollywood Bowl; On Your Toes, Fiorello!, On the 20th Century, Kismet at Reprise!. Vincent was a featured cast member in From The Top starring Carol Burnett. Vincent’s first Equity role was Bonnie in Anything Goes and that remains her favorite production to date. Not only did it star the fabulous Ms. PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE Who’s Who Uggams, but it’s the show where Vincent met her future husband, the multi-talented Sam Kriger. Since 1995 Vincent has been licensed and authorized by CBS Worldwide and Desilu, Too, LLC to portray “Lucy Ricardo” at Universal Studios Hollywood and throughout the world. SHARLEEN COOPER COHEN (Playwright) Pasadena Playhouse debut. In addition to being the writer and creator of Stormy Weather, Cooper Cohen is the best-selling author of seven internationally-published novels. She also wrote the book and lyrics for the original Off-Broadway musical, Sheba, for which she also served as the Associate Producer. Other producing credits include the world premiere of Stormy Weather at the Prince Music Theater in February 2007, the Broadway musical Street Corner Symphony, London’s West End production of Jerry Herman’s The Best Of Times, Cookin’ At The Cookery at Arkansas Repertory, the Off-Broadway productions of Duet and Bingo, and a workshop of Blackout (Book by Sharleen Cooper Cohen, Music and Lyrics by Debra Barsha). Sharleen received an Honorable Mention in the Writers’ Digest Writing Competition for both Sheba (2004) and Stormy Weather (2007). Upcoming projects include producing Da Ponte (Book and Lyrics by Neil Cohen, Music by Roger Neill); working as lead producer and co-author with Douglas Day Stewart on a musical version of his original screenplay An Officer and A Gentleman (Music and Lyrics by Kenneth Hirsch and Robin Lerner); and writing an original screenplay, Paying Natasha. Sharleen wishes to thank Grahame Pratt, Donna Trinkoff, Billie Allen, Tamara Tunie, Stewart Lane, Michael Bush, Sheldon Epps, Marjorie Samoff, Allison Bergman and Victoria Pero. MICHAEL BUSH (Director) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Bush is the former Director of Artistic Production for the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City. He was associated with MTC for over 25 years and helped artistically guide more than 150 new plays and musicals, including the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning Proof and Doubt, and the Tony Awardwinning Love! Valour! Compassion!. At MTC he most recently directed Based on A Totally True Story. He was instrumental in the rebirth of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s Cabaret & Performance Conference and has served as its Artistic Director since 2005. Under his guidance, the conference developed Title of Show and The Story of My Life, both of which are being produced on Broadway this season. Recent directing credits: Murderers for The Philadelphia Theatre Company, City Theatre (Pittsburgh) and the Emelin Theatre (New York); Pure Heaven: a Party with Kay Thompson at the Emelin Theatre; The Story of My Life at Toronto’s CanStage. He also directed the world premiere of Stormy Weather for The Prince Music Theatre (Philadelphia) in 2007. Bush directed the New York Music Theater Festival (NYMF) productions of The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde (2005), and Grammy Award-winning songwriter Marcus Hummon’s musicals Warrior (2006), and The Piper (2007). For the 2008 NYMF Festival he directed the Richard Rodgers Award-winning new musical To Paint the Earth. During his tenure as Producing Artistic Director at Charlotte Repertory Theatre (Charlotte, NC; 2002-2004), he presented Hilary Swank in The Miracle Worker, Penny Fuller in The Glass Menagerie, and directed the 20th Anniversary production of Pump Boys and Dinettes. He also Directed and co-wrote the book for the musical Let Me Sing which was co-produced by George Street Playhouse in New Jersey and Charlotte Repertory Theatre. RANDY SKINNER (Choreographer/ Dance Arrangements) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Broadway: 42nd Street (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Astaire nominations), State Fair (Outer Critics nomination), Ain’t Broadway Grand (Tony, Outer Critics nominations), After the Night and the Music at Manhattan Theatre Club/Biltmore, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Broadway and numerous cities); Do Re Mi; Of Thee I Sing; Face the Music; No, No Nanette for City Center Encores; Broadway: Three Generations at the Kennedy Center, An American In Paris at The Alley Theatre. Off-Broadway: Lone Star Love (Lucille Lortel nomination). Regional: Happy Days, Hello Dolly (with Nell Carter), Pal Joey (with Dixie Carter and Elaine Stritch), Strike Up the Band (with Tom Bosley). Television: The 2001 Tony Award Telecast (opening number). Randy has received the LA Drama Critics, LA Dramalogue, Bay Area Critics, Connecticut Critics and Cleveland Times Theatre Awards. LINDA TWINE (Music Director/ Conductor) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Broadway: The Color Purple, Caroline or Change, A Year with Frog and Toad, The Wild Party, Jelly’s Last Jam, Big River, Bring Back Birdie. In 1996, Twine founded the New York Harlem Singers, a gospel group that has since gone on to win many accolades and tour internationally. Twine has also had the privilege of working with Lena Horne, serving as Assistant Conductor of the concert series Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music. JAMES NOONE (Scenic Design) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Broadway: Come Back Little Sheba, A Bronx Tale, Hot Feet, Match, Urban Cowboy, Judgment at Nuremberg, A Class Act, The Rainmaker, Night Must Fall, Getting and Spending, The Sunshine Boys, Jekyll & Hyde, The Gin Game, Inherit the Wind. Regional: The Corn is Green at Huntington Theatre and Williamstown Theatre; Third at Philadelphia Theatre Company; Anthony and Cleopatra, Julius Caesar at Shakespeare Theatre Company; The Mystery of Irma Vep at Arena Stage. Other credits include numerous national tours, regional theatre productions and revues in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. James has also designed Sweeny Todd and Candide for the New York Philharmonic, both filmed for PBS. MARTIN PAKLEDINAZ (Costume Design) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Broadway: Applause, Gypsy (starring Patti Lupone, directed by Arthur Laurents) at Encores!; Is He Dead?; Grease; The Pirate Queen; The Pajama Game; The Trip to Bountiful; Performances MAGAZINE 11 PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE Thoroughly Modern Millie; Wonderful Town; Kiss Me, Kate; Golden Child; The Wild Party (Lippa); The Diary of Anne Frank; The Life and many others. Opera: Iphigenie en Tauride for the Metropolitan Opera. Recent dance credits include Mark Morris’ Mozart Dances at Mostly Mozart Festival, and Christopher Wheeldon’s The Nightingale and The Rose for New York City Ballet. Awards: Two Tony Awards, Drama Desk Award, Obie Award, Lucille Lortel Award, among others. Pakledinaz is next working on Mark Morris’ Romeo and Juliet, On Motifs of Shakespeare for the Mark Morris Dance Group. PAUL GALLO (Lighting Design) Pasadena Playhouse debut. This fall Gallo will design his 50th Broadway show with the revival of Pal Joey at Sudio 54. In his 28 years on Broadway his designs for musicals include Never Gonna Dance, Man of LaMancha, Dreamgirls, 42nd Street, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Civil War, On The Town, The Sound Of Music, Triumph Of Love, Titanic, Big, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Smokey Joe’s Café, Guys And Dolls, Crazy For You, City of Angels, Anything Goes, Smile, The Mystery Of Edwin Drood and Tintypes. He has also designed many award-winning plays on Broadway which include November, A Bronx Tale, Mauritius, Losing Louie, Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, Three Days of Rain, The Crucible, 45 Seconds From Broadway, The Man Who Came To Dinner, Epic Proportions, Skylight, The Tempest, I Hate Hamlet, Six Degrees of Separation, Lend Me A Tenor, Spoils of War, The Comedy Of Errors, The Front Page, The House of Blue Leaves, Heartbreak House, Beyond Therapy, Come Back To The Five And Dime Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean, Grown Ups, Kingdoms, Candida, The Little Foxes, John Gabriel Borkman and Passione. Gallo is the recipient of eight Tony nominations, ten Drama Desk nominations (including one Drama Desk award), six Outer Critics Awards, two Obie Awards and the 1986 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Lighting Design. He is a graduate of Ithaca College and the Yale School of Drama. And after all that, his proudest achievement 12 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE Who’s Who is being married to his beautiful wife Jody for 21 years and his two wonderful children, Francesca and Nicholas. LEWIS MEAD (Sound Design) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Broadway: Tom Sawyer, The King and I, Urinetown, Wonderful Town. Tours: A Chorus Line, Dreamgirls and Julie Andrew’s new musical The Gift of Music. Mead is the founder and owner of Autograph A2D, a distribution company with offices in New York and London that distributes Digico D5T products and Ljudesign Scandinavia Loud Speakers. Mead is also a founder and owner of Syntonic Design Group, a designer and supplier of audio rentals and sales for theatrical and corporate theater. Paul Huntley (Principal Wig and Hair Design) Pasadena Playhouse debut. Huntley, London born, is a Special Tony Award winner. Current and upcoming Broadway shows include Hairspray, Grease, Gypsy, Young Frankenstein and 9 to 5. Film work includes Fast Track; Doris (Ralph Fiennes); Balls of Fury, Hairspray (Christopher Walken); Enchanted (Susan Sarandon); Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (Abigail Breslin); The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnuassus (Christopher Plummer); W (Ellen Burstyn); Cirque du Freak (Willem Dafoe). CAROL F. DORAN (Wig and Hair Design) Pasadena Playhouse: Mask, Matter of Honor, Sister Act the Musical (Wig Design), Vincent in Brixton, Do I Hear a Waltz? (Wig Design). Carol has designed and built wigs for more than 40 shows for Center Theatre Group, which includes The Mark Taper Forum, The Ahmanson Theatre and The Kirk Douglas Theatre. Carol has designed for many theatres throughout the U.S. in cities that include New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Chicago and San Diego, and has worked internationally in London and South Africa. Broadway credits include: Big River (as well as the national tour), King Hedley II, Seven Guitars. Television credits include: Comanche Moon, One Tree Hill, Grey’s Anatomy, Close to Home, House, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Six Feet Under, Miss Evers’ Boys, Murphy Brown. Film credits include: Charlie Wilson’s War, Borat, Spider-Man 3, Mission Impossible III, Miami Vice, For Your Consideration, Friday Night Lights, The Alamo, Bad Santa, Adaptation, Windtalkers, Bandits, Monster’s Ball, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Family Man, The Man Who Wasn’t There, Gods and Monsters, and many more. GORDON GOODWIN (Orchestrations) Even for a successful composer and arranger in Hollywood, Gordon’s numbers are impressive: a 2006 Grammy Award for his Instrumental Arrangement of Incredits from the Pixar film The Incredibles, three Emmy Awards, and eleven Grammy nominations. Gordon has built a larger-than-life reputation for his composing, arranging and playing skills—keyboards and woodwinds— throughout the music industry. Ray Charles, Christina Aguilera, Johnny Mathis, Toni Braxton, John Williams, Natalie Cole, David Foster, Sarah Vaughn, Mel Torme, Brian McKnight and Quincy Jones are just a few of the artists for whom he has written, recorded and performed. Gordon has conducted world-renowned symphony orchestras in Atlanta, Dallas, Utah, Seattle, Toronto and London. Gordon’s cinematic scoring and orchestration craft can be heard on such films as Get Smart, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Glory Road, National Treasure, The Incredibles, Remember The Titans, Armageddon, Bad Boys II, The Majestic, Con Air, Gone in 60 Seconds, Enemy of the State, Star Trek Nemesis, and even the classic cult film Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. Gordon is the leader of the Big Phat Band, which has gained international acclaim as one of the most exciting new big bands today. MICHAEL DONOVAN (Casting) Pasadena Playhouse: 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 PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE Who’s Who The Musical, Fences, The Marriage Musicals, Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, It’s A Wonderful Life, Open Window. Michael is a 3time recipient of the C.S.A. Artios award for Outstanding Casting. Other current and upcoming theatre projects include Man of La Mancha at Reprise!, The Three Penny Opera at International City Theatre (Long Beach), Tartuffe at The Theatre @ Boston Court, Divorce! The Musical at the Hudson Theatre and the national tour of Walking with Dinosaurs. Recent projects include The All Night Strut at International City Theatre, Great Expectations at the Odyssey Theatre, Desperate Writers at Edgemar Center for the Performing Arts and Gulls at The Theatre @ Boston Court. Credits include shows produced at the Hollywood Bowl, Arkansas Repertory, Cleveland Playhouse, Arizona Theatre Company, the Alliance Theatre (Atlanta), Post St. Theatre (San Francisco), Ensemble Theatre of Santa Barbara, Shakespeare Festival/ L.A., the Falcon Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse and Laguna Playhouse. Tours include Aida, Beauty and the Beast and Buddy. TV credits include the Emmy-nominated The Flight that Fought Back, as well as the upcoming new series The Lost Tapes. Numerous films and over 1,200 commercials. PATTY ONAGAN (Press Representative) currently represents Pasadena Playhouse, Valley Musical Theatre at the El Portal Main Stage, The Syzygy Theatre Group, The Actorhood, Camelot Artists Productions and others. Past Los Angeles credits include Canon Theatricals; Geffen Playhouse; Elephant Theatre Company; Songs My Mother Taught Me (with Lorna Luft); Pussycat Dolls (with Carmen Electra); Maybe Baby, It’s You (with Tori Spelling); Waiting for Godot (with Mark Ruffalo); Talking Heads (with Annette Bening); Hedwig and the Angry Inch (produced by David Bowie); Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (with Uta Hagen and David Hyde Pierce); Bash (with Calista Flockhart and Paul Rudd); Bill Graham Presents (with Ron Silver); The Only Game in Town (with Wayne Brady); Love & Other Social Issues (Malcolm-Jamal Warner); City Kid; bare; Jesus’ Kid Brother; among others. On Broadway she launched Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aida, A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden and various productions at Circle in the Square starring George C. Scott, Al Pacino, Nathan Lane, among others. Patty has been a guest speaker on theatre at CalArts and Emerson University. LURIE HORNS PFEFFER (Production Stage Manager) Pasadena Playhouse: Ray Charles Live!, Play On! Biloxi Blues, The Blue Room. An Equity member since 1994, Pfeffer is proud to return again to Pasadena Playhouse to work with longtime friend and colleague Sheldon Epps. She was also thrilled to production stage-manage Ray Charles Live! just last year. Lurie was recently the production stage manager for the Tony Award-winning Broadway run and U.S. and Australian tours of Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays. Before beginning her theatre career, she trained at Balanchine’s School of American Ballet and danced and taught with several professional ballet companies. She has stage managed over 50 shows at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre (where she was the original stage manager of Sheldon Epps’ Play On!, which she then took to Broadway), Pasadena Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, Shakespeare Theatre Company, and many other regional theatres and dance companies. LEA CHAZIN (Assistant Stage Manager) Stormy Weather is Lea’s 43rd show at Pasadena Playhouse as a Stage Manager. In addition to the Playhouse, Lea stage manages at other theatres in the Los Angeles area, most recently Sylvia (with Cathy Rigby) at La Mirada Center for the Performing Arts and Sunday in the Park with George at Reprise!. She has done corporate industrial shows and Forever Plaid on board the Crystal Serenity cruise ship. She holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre Dance from US International University. PRINCE MUSIC THEATER, Philadelphia, PA (Original Producing Venue) A leading center for artistic excellence, innovation and the cultivation of young talent, the Prince offers more than 400 performances annually of main stage musical theater, cabaret and film. Since 1984, the Prince has produced 88 world premieres, far more than any theater in Philadelphia, and has sent 80 productions to theaters in New York and worldwide. As one of the city’s busiest cultural destinations, the Prince welcomes a highly diverse audience of more than 100,000 patrons annually, and sponsors the largest arts education program in Philadelphia’s middle schools. The mission of the Prince Music Theater is to nurture and develop the unique American art form of music theater of the highest caliber over a wide aesthetic range – including opera, music drama, musical comedy and experimental work. Above all, the Prince is dedicated to artists of our time seeking to break new ground, while also celebrating the legacy of the creative mavericks and pioneers who have forged the American musical theater. SHELDON EPPS (Artistic Director) is in his 11th year of leadership at the renowned Pasadena Playhouse. He conceived and directed the Duke Ellington musical Play On!, which received three Tony Award nominations, and was produced at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, where it received four Jefferson Awards including Best Musical. The Pasadena Playhouse production was filmed by PBS for broadcast as part of the “Great Performances” series. He also conceived and directed the highly acclaimed musical revue, Blues in the Night. The Broadway production was nominated for a Tony Award as Best Musical of the Year, and the London production, which he also directed, was nominated for two Laurence Olivier Awards and ran for over a year on the West End before being broadcast in Europe by Thames Television. He recently directed the 25th Anniversary production of Blues In The Night in San Francisco, where it received rave reviews and several Bay Area Theatre Critics Awards. Mr. Epps was a co-founder of the offBroadway theater, The Production Performances MAGAZINE 13 PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE Company, where he staged the world premiere of Scenes and Revelations, which he also directed on Broadway at the Circle In The Square Theatre. Mr. Epps has directed plays and musicals for many of the country’s major theatres including the Guthrie, the Old Globe Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, Crossroads Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Arizona Theatre Company and Coconut Grove Playhouse. He directed the world premiere of Blue at Arena Stage Theatre, which was also produced off-Broadway by the Roundabout Theatre. Following its hugely successful production at the Pasadena Playhouse, Blue was produced across the country on a six month national tour. For television he has directed episodes of Frasier; Friends; The George Lopez Show; Everybody Loves Raymond; Hannah Montana; Evening Shade; Sister, Sister and many others, as well as several pilots. For five seasons he was also producer/director for the hit series “Girlfriends.” In recognition of his work in television, he was invited to be the Pankey Chair/Filmmaker in Residence at Chapman University. He is currently a member of the Executive Board of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. Mr. Epps is a two-time recipient of the Theatre Communications Group/Pew Charitable Trust National Theatre Artists Residency Grant, which supported his four-year tenure at the Old Globe Theatre as Associate Artistic Director. Mr. Epps was pleased to join the Pasadena Playhouse as Artistic Director in 1997. His directing credits at the Playhouse include the record breaking production of Fences (starring Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett), As Bees In Honey Drown, Blue, Play On!, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Old Settler, The Real Thing, On Borrowed Time, Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting, Blues in the Night, Purlie (a co-production with the Goodman Theatre), and the world premiere of the musical RAY CHARLES LIVE! Under his 14 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE Who’s Who leadership, Pasadena Playhouse has once again become one of the premiere theatres in the country, and has established a reputation for outstanding productions distinguishing themselves in their artistic excellence and theatrical diversity. Last year he received the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award for his efforts and accomplishments during his decade long tenure at the Playhouse. He was the first leader of a performing arts organization to receive this prestigious honor. Ken Novice (Interim Managing Director) has served as Director of External Affairs at Pasadena Playhouse, State Theatre of California since 2002. Previously he was Director of Marketing and Public Relations for San Diego’s Tony Award-winning Old Globe Theatre, developing marketing and public relations programs for such shows as Jack O’Brien’s acclaimed revival of Damn Yankees, the Tony Award-nominated musical The Full Monty, Henry IV (starring John Goodman), as well as Sheldon Epp’s Tony-nominated hit Play On!, among many others. His credits also include marketing and public relations for the Tony Awardwinning Denver Center Theater Company and New York’s Circle Repertory Company. As Director of Programming for YouthStream Media Networks he developed national marketing and public relations programs for most of Hollywood’s major motion picture studios. Novice also serves as Head of the Theatre Management M.F.A/ M.B.A. program at California State University, Long Beach and has been a guest lecturer at San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego. He holds a B.A. from Pennsylvania State University and an M.B.A. from San Diego State University. TOM WARE (Producing Director) joined the Playhouse staff in 1988. Tom served as Production Manager and Director of Production prior to being named Producing Director in 1999. He has held the position of Production Manager for productions at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the Orange County Center for the Performing Arts in the Los Angeles area. On Broadway, he has served as Technical Director for Rupert Holmes’ Solitary Confinement and as Production Supervisor for Jonathan Tolins’ Twilight of the Golds. For the PBS Great Performances series he served as Production Manger for Merry Christmas, George Bailey and as Producing Director for Play On!. He has served as Producer for Crystal Cruises and as Associate Producer for both the European Tour of Larry Hart’s Sisterella and the Japanese production of A Class Act. A member of Actor’s Equity Association, Tom has served as Production Stage Manager on over 50 productions throughout Southern California and Las Vegas. Through his production company, Production Solutions, he has provided entertainment technical support services for corporate clients ranging from HarleyDavidson to General Motors and Audi Motorcars and for musical artists ranging from Joan Baez to Stevie Wonder to Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. ssdc The Director is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Inc., an independent national labor union. 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. PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE Music Credits “As Long As I Live” Music by Harold Arlen and Lyrics by Ted Koehler Published by Bug Music, Inc./Ted Koehler Music Company (ASCAP), S.A. Music Co. (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. (ARKO Music Corp.) “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” Music by Jerome Kern and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Published by Universal Polygram International (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. “Come Rain or Come Shine” Music by Harold Harlen and Lyrics by Johnny Mercer Published by The Johnny Mercer Foundation (ASCAP) and S.A. Music Co. (ASCAP). All Rights on Behalf of The Johnny Mercer Foundation administered by WB Music Corp. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. (A-M Music Corp.) “’Deed I Do” Music by Fred Rose and Lyrics by Walter Hirsh Published by Windswept Holdings LLC/Quartet Music Inc. (ASCAP), Carlin America, Inc./Range Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. (Herald Square Music) “Dream Along With Me” Written by Carl Sigman Published by Music Sales Corporation (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. (Major Songs) “From This Moment On” Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter Published by Chappell & Co., Inc. (ASCAP) courtesy of The Cole Porter Estate All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. (Chappell/Buxton Hill ACC) “Honeysuckle Rose” Music by Thomas “Fats” Waller and Lyrics by Andy Razaf Published by Chapell & Co., Inc. (ASCAP) and Razaf Music (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. (Santly Bros. And Chappell & Co./ InterSong Music) “Hooray For Hollywood” Music by Richard A. Whiting and Lyrics by Johnny Mercer Published by WB Music Corporation All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. “How Deep Is The Ocean” Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin Published by Williamson Music Co./Irving Berlin Music Company (ASCAP) by special arrangement with the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. “Just One Of Those Things” Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter Published by WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) courtesy of The Cole Porter Estate All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. “The Lady Is A Tramp” Music by Richard Rodgers and Lyrics by Lorenz Hart Published by Chappell & Co. and Williamson Music, Inc. (ASCAP) by special arrangement with The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. “Let Me Sing and I’m Happy” Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin Published by Williamson Msic Co./Irving Berlin Music Company (ASCAP) by special arrangement with The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. “Life’s Full of Consequence” Music by Harold Arlen and Lyrics by E.Y. “Yip” Harburg Published by EMI April Music, Inc./EMI Feist Catalogue, Inc. (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. “Love Me Or Leave Me” Music by Walter Donaldson and Lyrics by Gush Kahn Published by Gilbert Keyes Music Co. (ASCAP)/ WB Music Corp., Donaldson Publishing Co. (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. (Dreyer Music Co.) “Lover Come Back to Me” Music by Sigmund Romberg and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Published by WB Music Corp./Bambalina Music Publishing Co. by special arrangement with Williamson Music. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. “Lush Life” Music and Lyrics by Billy Strayhorn Published by Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company, Inc. (ASCAP)/Music of 1091 (ASCAP)/ Billy Strayhorn Songs (ASCAP). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. (Tempo Music, Inc.) “Push De Button” Music by Harold Arlen and Lyrics by E. Y. “Yip” Harburg Published by Glocca Morra Music (ASCAP)/ Next Decade Entertainment, Inc., MPL Music Publishing/Harwin Music Corporation (ASCAP). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. (BMG Music) “Stardust” Music by Hoagy Carmichael and Lyrics by Mitchell Parish Published by EMI Mills Music Inc. (ASCAP), Songs of Peer Ltd. (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. (Hoagy Publishing Company) “Stormy Weather” Music by Harold Arlen and Lyrics by Ted Koehler Published by S.A. Music Co. (ASCAP), Bug Music, Inc./Ted Koehler Music Company (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. (Mills Music, renowed by ARKO Music Corp.All rights administered by Fred Ahlert Music (on behalf of Ted Koehler Music) and SA Music (on behalf of Harold Arlen Music). “That Old Feeling” Music and Lyrics by Sammy Fain and Lew Brown Published by WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) and Fain Music Co. (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. (EMI Feist Catalog, Inc.) “There’ll Be Some Changes Made” Music by Benton Overstreet and Lyrics by Billy Higgins Published by Carlin America, Inc./Edward B. Marks Music Company (BMI) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. “Too Close For Comfort” Music and Lyrics by Jerry Bock and Larry Holofcener Published by The Songwriter’s Guild/Abilene Music, Inc. (ASCAP), Windswept Holdings, LLC/Quartet Music, Inc. (ASCAP)/Trio Music Company (BMI), Carlin America, Inc./Range Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP), Jerry Bock Enterprises (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. “Twenty Four Hours A Day” Music by James F. Hanley and Lyrics by Arthur Swanstrom Published by WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. (HARMS, Inc.) “We’ll Be Together Again” Music by Joseph Meyer and Lyrics by Frankie Laine Published by Music Sales Corp./Cares Music Company (ASCAP), Terry Fischer Music Co. (ASCAP). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. (Fischer Carey Music Cares Music (renewed)) “When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)” Music and Lyrics by Mark Fisher, Joe Goodwin & Larry Shay Published by EMI Mills Music Inc. (ASCAP), The Songwriter’s Guild/Music by Shay (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. “Yesterday, When I Was Young” Music by Charles Aznavour and Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer Published by The Richmond Organization/ Hampshire House Publishing Corp. (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. “You Let Me Down” Music by Harry Warren and Lyrics by Al Dubin Published by WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. Performances MAGAZINE 15 PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE Pasadena Playhouse Staff Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director Ken Novice, Interim Managing Director Tom Ware, Producing Director ARTISTIC Associate Artistic Director................................................. Dámaso Rodriguez Director of Education ....................................... Alexis Chamow Casting Director....................................Michael Donovan, C.S.A. Casting Associate.............................................Peter Matyas, C.S.A. Artists in Residence ...................... Furious Theatre Company, Directors Lab West Literary Intern............................................................................ Liz Eldridge PRODUCTION Production Manager ...................................... Dan Healey Technical Director ................................................. Gary Wissmann Production Audio Supervisor ........................ Eric Thompson Production Master Electrician ................................................. Mark “Fluffy” Anderson Production Properties Manager .................................................................... Shannon Dedman Production Wardrobe Supervisor ................................................................. Carol Ann Sparks Resident Assistant Costume Designer.......................................................Ashley Rhodes Production Stage Technician ................................ Matt Petosa Company Manager ..........................................Courtney A. Harper Assistant to the producing director ................................................Jackie Kopcsak Marketing & Communications Associate Communications Director ............................................ Jonathan Josephson Direct Sales Manager ...................................................... Steve Kang Graphic Designer ................................................................... Eric Pargac Communications Associate .................................... Jessica Smith Marketing Associate ............................................................ Paul Millet Audience Development Coordinator ................................................................. Gay Iris Parker Press Representative ............. Patty Onagan Entertainment Press Assistant .............................................................................. Anita Lee Marketing Assistant .......................................................... Soo-Jin Lee Patron Services Manager .................................... Shawn Hunter Patron Services Assistant Managers ...................... Theresa Babcock, Brandon Massey Senior Patron Services Associate .........................Amos Cass Patron Services Associates..........................................Jamie Criss, Melissa Cruz, Monique Fisher, Caroline Havens, Elizabeth Lewis, Jewel Moore, Melynda Smith Hospitality Manager .................................................. Carrie LaFerle Hospitality Associate ..................................................... Ashley Mee House Managers ...................................... Lenore Bond Almanzar, Sue Haynie-Horn, Richard Leaman, Patrick J. Oliva Sales Representatives...............................................Yesenia Barrios, Ashley Blumstein, Kathleen Bragg, Amy Carmichael, Travis Elconin, Ruth Feinberg, Tere Joyce, Florence Lang, Jerry Lomack, Kiri Stevens, Susan Von Tress, Diane Ward Group Sales .......................................................................... SoCal Groups New Generations Interim Docent Coordinator ...................................................... Lisa Rudin Community Relations ................................................. Peggy Ebright Archives ................................................................................ Penn Genthner Production Photographer ............................... Craig Schwartz Marketing Intern ..................................................... Marni Brewster DEVELOPMENT Director of Development ............................... Brad Price Leadership Gifts Manager ....................Patti Johns Eisenberg Grants Manager .......................................................... Penn Genthner Special Events Manager ................................................... Lisa Rudin Development Associate ....................................... Rosa Navarrete Special Projects ............................................................. Patrick Garcia ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE Associate Managing Director......................................................................Vivienne Dipeolu Controller.........................................................................Jeanne Connell Accounting Manager............................................Michael Prichard Operations Manager........................................................Doug Newell Finance Associate.........................................................Kris Hernandez Exec. Assistant & Board Liaison.............................................................Jerusha Schmalzel About this program... This program is published by the Performances Magazine and the center pages are created by Pasadena Playhouse. Editor/Designer............................................Eric Pargac Layout/Copy Editor..................................Jessica Smith Production Liaison.................................Jackie Kopcsak © 2008 Pasadena Playhouse 16 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE STAFF FOR Stormy Weather Associate Producer...................................................Penny Whitaker General Management....................................ARUBA Productions Ken Denison with Bill Castellino, Samantha Schuster, Eddie Williams General Press Rep......................................Bonneau/Bryan-Brown Additional New York Casting.........................................................................Mark Simon, C.S.A. Assistant Set Designer ..................Jeremy Barnett Assistant Associate Costume Designer .....................................Sara Tosetti Assistant Costume Designers ...............................Courtney McClain, Sarita Fellows Nikki Crawford’s Costumes ......................Euro Costume, Inc. Costumes By ......................................................Carelli Costumes, Inc. Associate Lighting Designers ................................ Craig Stelzenmuller, Paul Toben Assistant Lighting Designer .......................................Dan Jenkins Assistant Sound Designer .............................Geoffrey Fishburn Scenic Artists ..............................Clea Carlson, Johnny LeBlanc Carpenters ........................................................................Carl Burmeister, Jonas Dickson, William Jorres, Joel Schlesinger, Anthony Stanley, Robert Stubbe Electricians............................. Amy Brownewell, Meghan Hong, Justin Kief, Frank Mohler, Jen Skinner, Dan Tuttle Audio Crew.................Devon Ausman, Eddie Carbajal, Becca Kessin, Ken Nichols, Ryan Wells Automation Supervisor.............................................................. Al Kane Moving Light Programmer...................................... Jason Badger Deck Crew.................................. Michael Arnold, Jose Rodriguez, Michael Turner Spot Operators....................................................................... Jen Skinner, Richard Realivasquez, Moria MacDonald Deck Audio.................................................................................. Sean Kozma Dressers................................................................................. Marie Growden Wig Crew.................................................................................... April Metcalf Interim Stage Manager ....................................................Rebecca Goldstein-Glaze Production Intern ....................................................Maura Fitzgerald Production Assistant .........................................................Eliana Lane SERVICES Legal Counsel ............................................... Matthew Brown, Esq.; Lorne Brown, Esq.; Brown and Associates LLP; Gary DaSilva, Esq.; DaSilva & DaSilva FRIENDS OF THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE President .................................................................................. Bridget Furiga Vice President ............................................. Lenore Bond Almanzar Recording Secretary ................................................ Sharon Zaslaw Corresponding Secretary ......................................JayneThomas Treasurer ....................................................................................... Nola Widin Board of Directors...................................Valerie Cantrell, Nancy Ashcraft, Evelyn Brown, Bruce Bumble, Bonnie Davis, Helen Fareshetian, Doug Hodgden, Sue Haynie-Horn, Lillias Krezel, Yvonne Lai Patti LaMarr, Richard Leaman, Patrick Oliva, Betty Parnell, Carol Lou Schilling PASADENA PLAYHOUSE ALUMNI & ASSOCIATES President...........................................................................................Pete Parkin 1st Vice President.........................................................Anne C. La Rose 2nd Vice President.............................................................Leo Matranga Administrator........................................................................Jaclyn Palmer Recording Secretary.....................................................Neva Wallace Corresponding Secretary............................................Marje Cates Treasurer................................................................................Valerie Amidon Board of Directors................Ross Eastty, Anne Lahey, John McElveney, Bob Mead, RJ Muehlhausen, Jack Scott allies in Arts Teaching artists CheRae Adams, Jessica Bard, Nick Cernoch, Tara Cook, Kimberly Dilts, Tre Garrett, Joan McConacha, Kiera Zoubek Special Thanks Peter Ballinger, Rebecca Goldstein-Glaze, Carolyn Kostopoulos, Buryl Red, Samantha Schuster, Steven Smith GENERAL INFORMATION Theatrical smoke and haze effects may be used in this production. Smoking is not permitted inside the theatre or in the lobby. The use of cameras or recording devices is strictly prohibited. Violators will be immediately escorted out of the theatre without refund. All latecomers will be seated at the House Manager’s discretion. Management reserves the right to refuse admission and to make any alteration in the cast which may be rendered necessary by illness or other unavoidable causes. The sound of pagers, beepers and cellular telephones that unexpectedly ring during a performance can be very distracting to other patrons and to performers onstage. PLEASE SET YOUR DEVICE TO MUTE BEFORE THE SHOW BEGINS. Children: Because young children can be distracting to patrons nearby, this theatre does not normally admit children under six years of age. Each patron, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Lost & Found: (626) 737-2819 Emergency telephone number during a performance: (626) 737-2861. Please leave your row and seat number with those who may need to reach you. Assisted Listening Devices: A limited number of these devices are available (first-come, first-serve) free of charge in the lobby. Ask an usher when entering the theatre and we will assist you. Personal Hearing Aids: Please remember to turn off your hearing aid when using an in-house assisted listening device. Personal hearing aids used during the performance should be set at a level that does not distract other patrons. For information on tours, please call Penn Genthner at (626) 737‑2865. PASADENA PLAYHOUSE LEADING THE WAY IN LA THEATRE 39 South El Molino Avenue Pasadena, CA 91101 Ticketing / Customer Service: (626) 356-7529 Ticketing Office Fax: (626) 792-6142 Administration: (626) 792-8672 Administration Fax: (626) 792-7343 Group Sales: (800) 398-7021 Ticketing Office Hours 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. 7 days a week Closed holidays Note: On performance evenings, the ticketing office is open until showtime. www.pasadenaplayhouse.org