Dear Playhouse Friends - The Pasadena Playhouse

Dear Playhouse Friends,
Sheldon Epps
Artistic Director
Elizabeth Doran
Executive Director
I can think of few better ways to start a new
year in the theatre than by producing the
World Premiere of an American play. When the
subject matter of that play is the timely issue of
how information from an often overwhelming
24-hour news cycle is interpreted and shaped,
all before we consume it, then my excitement
over this prospect is even more keen. It is quite
thrilling for us here at The Pasadena Playhouse
to share this excitement with you through
our production of Above the Fold by Bernard
Weinraub.
This play came to me from Steven Robman, a longtime colleague and muchrespected director in our field. I was immediately taken with Bernie’s insightful
and honest depiction of the world of journalism. Given Bernie’s career as a
reporter, I knew that this elucidation of getting a story on the front page and
“above the fold” was coming from an insider’s perspective. I was fascinated and
sometimes appalled by much of what I read and knew immediately that this
could be the stuff of good theatre.
We developed the script further in our HOTHOUSE new play development
program, and shortly after a reading, we made a swift decision that it would be
a part of the current season. Steve and Bernie have continued to work on the
material, and their collaboration has been enhanced through the talents of a
gifted cast and a fine design team.
I am tremendously grateful to all involved for their contributions in bringing this
World Premiere to life on the stage of The Playhouse. Developing, nurturing,
and ultimately producing new material is both a privilege and a responsibility
for a theatre such as ours. This premiere production is an important step in the
play’s ongoing development, and your participation as an audience is key in that
process.
It seems that life here at The Playhouse has been full of excitement this
season. That of course includes the well-received and much-enjoyed work in
our subscription season, which now continues with the birth of this new play.
But recently I was also tremendously moved as we continued our new holiday
tradition of Panto at The Playhouse, which brought new audiences in droves to
our beautiful house, and introduced so many young people to the thrill of live
theatre—many of them for the first time. What a joy it was to watch those bright
and eager faces light up with the magic (both literal and figurative) that took
place before those shining eyes. Moments like those make our hard work well
worth it and bring special meaning to a life in the theatre.
And extraordinary moments happen here on El Molino Avenue over and over
again, as our generous artists share their gifts with us and as you in our audience
give yourselves to the magic that we work hard to create. Our collaboration is
quite remarkable...and I thank you for that once again.
Sincerely,
Sheldon Epps
Artistic Director of The Pasadena Playhouse
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P1
Sheldon Epps
Artistic Director
Elizabeth Doran
Executive Director
Presents
By
Bernard Weinraub
Starring
Taraji P. Henson
Arye Gross
Kristy Johnson
Kristopher Higgins
Mark Hildreth
Joe Massingill
Seamus Mulcahy
Scenic Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Jeffery P. Eisenmann
Dana Rebecca Woods
Adam Blumenthal
Cricket S. Myers
Projection Designer
Wig and Hair Designer
Casting Directors
Production Stage Manager
Jason H. Thompson
Carol F. Doran
Deborah Aquila, CSA
Tricia Wood, CSA
Mary Michele Miner
General Manager/Production Manager
Technical Director
Company Manager
Joe Witt
Brad Enlow
Kristen Hammack
Directed by
Steven Robman
OPENING NIGHT February 5, 2014
P2 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
I’m a news junkie; perhaps you are, too. I get downright antsy if I haven’t
poured over the front page of a good newspaper at the start of each day.
Once, during a summer in the Catskill Mountains, in the bygone era before
Internet access and national editions of major newspapers, I had been willing
(read: compelled) to drive 20 or 30 miles each day to find a copy of The New
York Times. It was simple: I needed to have fair and accurate stuff on my plate
with my breakfast, and a good newspaper seemed like the right source—the
unadorned facts laid out with taste and precision, the proper way to size up the
day.
I wasn’t completely innocent. I knew that various news organizations had
“points of view,” ordinarily expressed on their editorial pages, maybe even
occasionally creeping into their news coverage. But when I read Bernard
Weinraub’s Above the Fold, I was a bit shaken. Moving through the story of the
play, it became very clear that I had been ridiculously naïve.
Not only do most news organizations have agendas, whether they are publicly expressed or not, but the
reporters themselves simply can’t escape their own biases and idiosyncrasies, not to mention the skewed
judgments generated by their supercharged ambition.
Nobody has to lie or even fudge the facts to wrinkle the truth; the simple choice of an adjective or the
placement of a quote can inadvertently (I’m giving the benefit of the doubt here) do the wrinkling. And now,
in the digital era, there are innumerable other cooks serving up the news for you to digest every minute of the
day.
So, after you watch Above the Fold, hang onto the story when you sit down tomorrow with your iPad or your
cell phone or, God forbid, a newspaper, and add a grain of salt to your breakfast.
Sincerely,
Steven Robman
Director
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P3
CAST OF CHARACTERS
JANE ........................................................................................................ Taraji P. Henson
MARVIN .......................................................................................................... Arye Gross
VICTOR ................................................................................................ Kristopher Higgins
LORNE ........................................................................................................ Mark Hildreth
MONIQUE ................................................................................................. Kristy Johnson
BOBBY ........................................................................................................ Joe Massingill
ERIC ....................................................................................................... Seamus Mulcahy
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.
This Theatre operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association,
the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
TIME
The present
PLACE
A university town in the South
Above the Fold will be performed with
one 15-minute intermission.
P4 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
Op-ED
with
Executive Director
Elizabeth Doran
Truth. The job of any good journalist is to uncover it and objectively report on it
in such a way that we understand it and its context.
Is truth objective or relative? This debate goes back thousands of years. Plato
expressed that truth is objective, but very difficult to perceive except by
“philosopher-kings.” I’m with the great playwright Sophocles. He accepted truth
might be relative but did not simply throw his hands up in the face of subjectivity.
Instead he pursued meaning in the uniquely collective art form of theatre.
Ironically, many of us accept that truth may be relative, yet complain that mass
media is not objective. We manage this contradiction by limiting our exposure
to the media—reading the headlines in five minutes as we check our email each
day, listening earnestly to public radio on the way to work, or watching fretfully
before bed as we attempt to connect with our world before releasing ourselves to our dreams. The truth, we
hope, can escape opinion if delivered in fewer than 60 characters or seconds.
But as our play tonight explores, we know that truth in media is a mix of what is true, what is assumed, what is
attention grabbing, and what can sell advertising. Yet we still fixate on the media. I believe we continue to plug
in and receive news stories from various sources because “truth” is not exactly what we are looking for. We are
looking for something else.
After the Sandy Hook tragedy last year, I remember being in a daze, trolling the Internet for something,
anything, to help me unload my grief and help me understand. I found this statement in, of all places, The
Onion: “no, no, no, no, no,” followed by a monologue expressing pure grief, anger, and pain—all the feelings I
was having—written in objective “newspaper” fashion. Somehow, this normally tongue-in-cheek newspaper, a
jumping-off platform for comedy writers and comedians, went to the core of what I think we really want from
the media: meaning that is felt in the body more than it is understood in the mind. Specifically, meaning rooted
in empathy.
How many times do you listen to the news while you sit alone in your car, then sigh audibly, shake your head,
or even cry because of what you are processing? This is a beautiful and hopeful expression of empathy. As
Sophocles understood, in theatre, we experience such empathy directly and together. Further, we enter
into discussion through theatre, and hash out meaning through dialogue. One of the only things that can
defend against the vagaries of subjectivity, and that draws meaning from seeming chaos, is deep and engaged
discussion entered into from a spirit of empathy.
Of course we should demand our news sources embrace objectivity, but we also need forums to process the
inevitably nonobjective, even subjective, results. The media is a part of that discussion, but so is theatre, the
uniquely collective opportunity to celebrate, question, critique, and delight in our world. The production of this
play is one of many examples of The Pasadena Playhouse living up to its noble role as just such a forum.
Please continue to support our theatre, the State Theatre of California, in any way you can, especially as you
already have supported us by coming to our shows and keeping the entertainment, artistry, empathy, and
discussions alive.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Doran
Executive Director of The Pasadena Playhouse
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P5
WHO’S WHO
TARAJI P. HENSON
(Jane) Academy Award
nominee for Best
Supporting Actress
opposite Brad Pitt in
“The Curious Case of
Benjamin Button.”
Emmy Award nominee
for Best Actress for “Taken From Me: The
Tiffany Rubin Story.” Starred as Detective
Carter in CBS’ hit “Person of Interest.” Other
feature film roles in “Baby Boy,” “Hustle &
Flow,” “Think Like a Man,” “Larry Crowne,”
“The Karate Kid,” “Date Night,” “I Can Do
Bad All by Myself,” “Talk to Me,” “Smokin’
Aces,” “Not Easily Broken,” “Hurricane
Season,” “The Family That Preys,” “Four
Brothers,” and “Something New.” New York
theatre: August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come
and Gone. Starring roles in upcoming 2014
feature films: “From the Rough,” “Think Like
a Man Two,” and “No Good Deed.” B.F.A. in
Theatre Arts from Howard University.
ARYE GROSS (Marvin)
Broadway: Brooklyn Boy
(Manhattan Theatre
Club/South Coast
Repertory). Regional:
Room Service (The
Pasadena Playhouse),
Coney Island Christmas
(Geffen Playhouse), The Winchester
House (The Theatre @ Boston Court), The
Square (Mark Taper Forum/Asian Theatre
Workshop), and M. Butterfly (East West
Players). Mr. Gross created the role of
Golden Buffalo in the World Premiere of
the Bright Sheng/David Henry Hwang opera
“The Silver River” at the Santa Fe Chamber
Music Festival. Film and TV credits include
“For the Boys,” “A Midnight Clear,” “Minority
Report,” “Big Eden,” “The Practice,” “Ellen,”
“Friends,” “Six Feet Under,” “The Riches,”
the soon-to-be-released independent
feature “Commencement,” and the
recurring role of Sidney Perlmutter, M.E., on
ABC’s “Castle.”
KRISTOPHER HIGGINS
(Victor) Making his
theatrical debut,
Kristopher Higgins will
soon be seen opposite
Reese Witherspoon
and Colin Firth in “The
Devil’s Knot,” directed
by Atom Egoyan. His other credits include
“The Watch,” “In Time,” “The Secret Life of
the American Teenager,” “The Hard Times
of RJ Berger,” and the upcoming “Warrior
Road.”
P6 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
MARK HILDRETH
(Lorne) Mr. Hildreth
hails from Vancouver,
Canada, and now
lives and works in Los
Angeles. His 30 years of
professional experience
include Showtime’s “The
Tudors,” ABC’s “V,” and Disney’s “Pirates
of the Caribbean: At World’s End.” He has
appeared on stage as Hamlet and Richard III
and won a Jessie Richardson Theatre Award
for Best Actor in George Bernard Shaw’s
Candida. Mr. Hildreth can soon be seen in
ABC’s new drama “Resurrection.” He thanks
the amazing production team including
casting director Deborah Aquila, as well
as his mum and dad who came all the way
from Canada to see their little boy perform.
KRISTY JOHNSON
(Monique) Kristy
Johnson is thrilled to
return to The Pasadena
Playhouse. Theatre:
Intimate Apparel (The
Pasadena Playhouse),
Jitney (The Pasadena
Playhouse), Jitney (South Coast Repertory),
The Good Negro (u/s, Goodman Theatre),
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Court Theatre), A
Song for Coretta (Eclipse Theatre Company,
Joseph Jefferson Award nominee: Actress in
a Supporting Role – Play), It’s a Wonderful
Life (American Theater Company), and I Am
Who I Am: The Story of Teddy Pendergrass
(Black Ensemble Theater). Film: “Battle
of the Year.” Television: “Hart of Dixie,”
“General Hospital,” and “House.” Kristy is
a graduate of Harvard University and The
University of Chicago Law School.
www.kristyjohnsonactress.com
JOE MASSINGILL
(Bobby) Joe is thrilled to
be in his first production
at The Pasadena
Playhouse and to be
a part of this exciting
new play. Joe is from
Newnan, Georgia. In
2008, he graduated from Valdosta State
University with a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts and
shortly after moved to Los Angeles. Joe is
also an aspiring playwright and musician.
Stage credits: Hamlet, Sunday in the Park
with George, Auto-Da-Fé, and The Modern
American Romance Not Often Seen. Film
and TV credits: “When the Game Stands
Tall,” “Trouble with the Curve,” “Epic,” “A
Good Day to Die Hard,” “Hart of Dixie,” and
“Glee.”
SEAMUS MULCAHY
(Eric) Born in Okinawa,
Japan. Recently seen in
La Mirada Theatre for
the Performing Art’s
production of Rabbit
Hole. Off-Broadway
credit: Our Town,
directed by David Cromer. Regional credits:
Tovarich, King Lear, Henry V, A Midsummer
Night’s Dream (The Shakespeare Theatre
of New Jersey); Romeo and Juliet (Yale
Repertory Theatre); “Master Harold”… and
the boys (Delaware Theatre Company); The
Diary of Anne Frank (Paper Mill Playhouse);
and Light Up the Sky (Chautauqua Theatre
Company). Film credits: “One Fall” and
“Killing Lincoln” (with Tom Hanks). M.F.A.
from the Yale School of Drama.
www.seamusmulcahy.com
STEVEN ROBMAN (Director) recently
staged Sebastian Barry’s The Steward of
Christendom at the Mark Taper Forum
and Kathy Graf’s The Snake Can at the
Odyssey Theatre Ensemble. Off-Broadway:
Wendy Wasserstein’s Uncommon Women
and Others and Isn’t It Romantic, Ron
Hutchinson’s Says I, Says He (Phoenix
Theatre), Gardner McKay’s Sea Marks
(Manhattan Theatre Club), and Alan Knee’s
Santa Anita ’42 and Mr. Knee’s adaptation
of The Minister’s Black Veil (Playwright’s
Horizons). He has also staged plays at
the Goodman Theatre, Actors Theatre of
Louisville, the Guthrie Theatre, Baltimore’s
Center Stage, Yale Repertory Theatre, the
Long Wharf Theatre, and Arena Stage.
For television: “Law & Order,” “The O.C.,”
“Boston Public,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Lone Star,”
“Ghost Whisperer,” “Medium,” “Northern
Exposure,” “Party of Five,” “Melrose Place,”
“Strong Medicine,” and numerous movies of
the week.
BERNARD WEINRAUB (Playwright) grew
up in New York City and began working at
The New York Times as a copy boy in the
mid-1960’s. Weinraub became a reporter
and worked in New York, Vietnam, London,
India, and Washington, D.C. where he
mostly covered the Defense Department
and politics. This included reporting on the
campaigns of such candidates as Walter F.
Mondale, Bob Dole, and Ronald Reagan.
Weinraub moved to Los Angeles around
1990 to cover the movie business for The
New York Times and left in 2005 to write
plays. Weinraub’s first play, The Accomplices,
was produced by The New Group in New
York and was nominated for a Drama Desk
Award in the Best Play category. It was also
WHO’S WHO
produced at The Fountain Theatre in Los
Angeles. Above the Fold is his second play.
JEFFERY P. EISENMANN (Scenic Designer)
is the resident designer of Teatr Pokoleniy
in St. Petersburg, Russia, with productions
performed at festivals in Russia, Germany,
and Switzerland. He has designed for
companies such as Elephant Theatre
Company, Pacific Resident Theatre, Odyssey
Theatre Ensemble, and Not Man Apart
(Los Angeles); Opera Theater of Pittsburgh;
Spoleto Festival USA (Charleston, South
Carolina); California Repertory Company
and The Garage Theater (Long Beach);
Rutgers University; Columbia University;
and The Alternate Theater and Abingdon
Theatre Company (New York). His designs
have exhibited in London, St. Petersburg,
and Prague (Prague Quadrennial in 2003).
Jeffery is Head of Design at California State
Polytechnic University, Pomona.
DANA REBECCA WOODS (Costume
Designer) returns to The Pasadena
Playhouse to collaborate with the wonderful
creative team and cast of the production
Above the Fold. Designs for The Playhouse
include Fences, Flying West, The Importance
of Being Earnest, The Waverly Gallery, The
Good Doctor, and Crowns. Other design
work includes Jitney and Fences at South
Coast Repertory, Blues in the Night at San
Francisco’s Post Street Theater, The Train
Driver, the miniseries “Watch Over Me,”
the documentary “From Wharf Rats to Lord
of the Docks,” and the feature film “Go For
Sisters,” directed by John Sayles, in addition
to costume designs for many other Los
Angeles area productions.
ADAM BLUMENTHAL (Lighting Designer)
Currently in New York: Nothing to Hide,
directed by Neil Patrick Harris (Signature
Theatre Company). Previously with
director Steven Robman: The Snake Can
(Odyssey Theatre Ensemble). Select Los
Angeles credits: Nothing to Hide (Geffen
Playhouse), It’s Magic! (Kodak Theatre),
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living
in Paris (The Colony Theatre), and Tea,
With Music (East West Players). World
Premiere: Dick Sherman (composer/lyricist
for “Mary Poppins”) and Milt Larsen’s
Pazzazz! The Musical (Granada Theatre).
Various productions at The Matrix Theatre
Company, the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble,
and the Playwrights’ Arena at the Los
Angeles Theatre Center. New York credits
include productions at St. Ann’s Warehouse,
Joe’s Pub, The Kitchen, the Theatre at St.
Clements, the Players Theatre, Theatre Row,
and the Axis Theatre.
CRICKET S. MYERS (Sound Designer) On
Broadway, Cricket earned a Tony Award
nomination and a Drama Desk Award for her
design of Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo.
She has also designed regionally at La Jolla
Playhouse, the Ahmanson Theatre, the Mark
Taper Forum, Berkeley Repertory Theatre,
Arena Stage, South Coast Repertory, the Kirk
Douglas Theatre, The Pasadena Playhouse,
the Shrine Auditorium, and the Geffen
Playhouse. She has won a Los Angeles
Drama Critics Circle Award and a Garland
Award and has earned 16 LA Stage Alliance
Ovation Award nominations.
www.cricketsmyers.com
JASON H. THOMPSON (Projection
Designer) New York: Baby It’s You!
(Broadhurst Theatre), Remember Me
(Parsons Dance Company, Joyce Theatre),
and This Beautiful City (The Civilians,
Vineyard Theater). International/Regional:
Citizen Twain (National Tour, written and
directed by Val Kilmer), Bad Apples (Circle
X Theatre Co.), No Good Deed (Furious
Theatre Company), Palm Beach (La Jolla
Playhouse), The Night is a Child (The
Pasadena Playhouse, directed by Sheldon
Epps), By the Waters of Babylon and
The God of Hell (Geffen Playhouse), and
Aerosmith’s Route of All Evil tour (opening
video montage). Other Los Angeles: The
History (and Mystery) of the Universe
(Rubicon Theatre Company), The Sequence
(The Theatre @ Boston Court), and Durango
(East West Players). Mr. Thompson is the
Associate Projection Designer for Jersey
Boys (Broadway and Worldwide). Jason has
taught classes at UCLA and the California
Institute of the Arts. Training: M.F.A. in
Design from the University of California, San
Diego
CAROL F. DORAN (Wig and Hair Designer)
The Pasadena Playhouse: Baby It’s You!,
Stormy Weather, Mask, Do I Hear a Waltz?,
The Lady With All the Answers, A Matter
of Honor, Vincent in Brixton, and Sister
Act, the Musical. Los Angeles: Over 50
productions for Center Theatre Group (Mark
Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theatre, and Kirk
Douglas Theatre), and productions at Geffen
Playhouse and Deaf West Theatre. Regional:
South Coast Repertory, La Jolla Playhouse,
Goodman Theatre (Chicago), Actors Theatre
of Louisville, and Asolo Repertory Theatre
(Sarasota). Broadway: Big River, King
Hedley II, and Seven Guitars. Television:
“House,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Angel,” “Buffy
the Vampire Slayer,” “Six Feet Under,”
and others. Feature Films (over 80 total):
“Thor,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Country
Strong,” “The Blind Side,” “Eagle Eye,”
“Borat,” “Mission: Impossible III,” “For Your
Consideration,” and “Gods and Monsters.”
DEBORAH AQUILA, CSA (Casting Director)
A Casting Director for over 30 years,
Deborah Aquila has cast over 150 films
independently and as SVP of Features
Casting for Paramount Pictures. Credits
include “Sex, Lies, and Videotape,” “The
Shawshank Redemption,” “The Gift,”
“Mission: Impossible II,” “Double Jeopardy,”
“What Women Want,” “Devil’s Knot,” “Jack
Ryan: Shadow Recruit,” the TNT series
“Mob City,” “Dexter,” and “The Shield.” The
Casting Society of America has recognized
Deborah 14 times. She won Artios Awards
for Outstanding Achievement in Casting
for the features “Red” and “My Week With
Marilyn,” and actress Michelle Williams
received an Oscar nomination for “My Week
With Marilyn.” In 2003, the Hollywood Film
Festival awarded Deborah a Hollywood
Film Award for Outstanding Achievement in
Casting.
TRICIA WOOD, CSA (Casting Director)
Tricia Wood started her casting career as an
intern in the Features Casting department
at Paramount Pictures, working for her
mentor and then-SVP of Features Casting
Deborah Aquila. During the next three years,
Tricia continued her casting education in
the Features Casting department, moving
up from Casting Assistant to Casting
Associate. After a brief period of working
in production, Tricia reunited with Deborah
Aquila in 1999 as an independent casting
team. Born and raised in Oklahoma, Tricia
is a member of the Seneca-Cayuga and
Cherokee Indian tribes of Oklahoma. She
studied Architecture at Oklahoma State
University before moving to Los Angeles to
pursue a career in film.
MARY MICHELE MINER (Production
Stage Manager) is pleased to be at The
Pasadena Playhouse. Local credits: The Gift,
Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly
Ivins, Superior Donuts, Nightmare Alley,
Wrecks, Wishful Drinking, and By the Way,
Meet Vera Stark (Geffen Playhouse); Stuff
Happens, Like Jazz, Flower Drum Song,
The Dinner Party, and Putting It Together,
among others (Mark Taper Forum); Romeo
and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
Measure for Measure, The Heiress, and
Candide (Ahmanson Theatre). Regional
theatres: Arena Stage, La Jolla Playhouse,
Magic Theatre, Kennedy Center, Guthrie
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P7
WHO’S WHO
Theater, McCarter Theatre, Steppenwolf
Theatre Company, The Public Theater, and
Circle Repertory Theatre. PSM both on and
off Broadway. Has toured the United States
and Japan. Proud member of Actors’ Equity
Association. She and husband Paul Perri
have two children, Giacomo and Justine.
SUSIE WALSH (Stage Manager) In Los
Angeles, Susie has stage managed over 100
shows at theatres such as the Mark Taper
Forum, the Ahmanson Theatre, the Geffen
Playhouse, and the Los Angeles Theatre
Center, as well as The Pasadena Playhouse.
Her favorite productions are Leap of Faith,
Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s
Dream, Measure for Measure, The Heiress,
Flower Drum Song, Living Out, Stuff
Happens, Arcadia, The Drowsy Chaperone,
and Parade. In New York, Susie stage
managed Putting It Together with Carol
Burnett.
JOE WITT (General Manager/Production
Manager) is in his third season at The
Pasadena Playhouse. Other credits include
Eric Idle’s An Evening Without Monty
Python (Los Angeles and New York), Mr.
Idle’s What About Dick?, and the original
production of Baby It’s You! (before it
moved to The Pasadena Playhouse, then
Broadway). He managed the stage of
the music/stand-up venue Largo at the
Coronet, working with artists such as Eddie
Izzard, Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt,
Louis C.K., Fred Armison, Fionna Apple,
Jackson Browne, and Aimee Mann. He
helped develop Will Farrell’s Broadway
debut in You’re Welcome, America. A
Final Night with George W. Bush, and was
involved with the incredibly puppeteered
Stuffed & Unstrung with the Jim Henson
Company (Los Angeles and New York).
Stage Management credits include George
Gershwin Alone (Broadway) and the
original New York productions of Hedwig
and the Angry Inch, Four Guys Named
José, Stonewall Jackson’s House, and
Blown Sideways Through Life. Los Angeles
credits include The Pee-wee Herman Show
Live, The Vagina Monologues, Culture
Clash’s Zorro in Hell, Mask (The Pasadena
Playhouse), Lydia (Mark Taper Forum),
Much Ado About Nothing (featuring Lyle
Lovett and Helen Hunt), and the original
Los Angeles production of the OffBroadway hit Jewtopia.
BRAD ENLOW (Technical Director) hails
from Cleveland, Ohio, which is where
he began his career in technical theatre.
His experience has taken him across the
P8 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
country to theatres throughout. He worked
as the TD for the University of the Pacific
for six years and was the TD at several
other theatre and opera companies before
moving to Los Angeles three years ago.
In Los Angeles, he became the TD for
several small companies, including Reprise!
Broadway’s Best. He has been here at the
historic Pasadena Playhouse since January
2012 and is excited to return for his second
full season. He wishes his family well and
hopes you enjoy the show.
KRISTEN HAMMACK (Company Manager)
is in her fourth season at The Pasadena
Playhouse. Kristen holds her bachelor’s
degree in Theatre Arts from California
State University, San Bernardino, and has
stage managed in Hollywood and Los
Angeles. Credits include RENT: Downtown
L.A. (Over the Moon Productions), Room
Service (Open Fist Theatre Company),
The Limitations of Genetic Technology
(Theatre of NOTE), The Position (Asylum
Lab), and Phenomenon of Decline (Son of
Semele). Other productions include The
Woman in Black, Expressions, Scapin, The
Wiz, and Barefoot in the Park. In memory
of William R. Hammack Sr., who worked
for The Pasadena Playhouse for 15 years
(1944–1959). To The Dash!
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 co-founder 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 Roundabout Theatre
Company, Manhattan Theatre Club,
Guthrie Theatre, Playwrights Horizons,
Seattle Repertory Theatre, Arena Stage,
and 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 has served
as a member of the Executive Board
of the Society of Stage Directors and
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. He also Co-Directed
the Broadway production of Baby It’s You!,
which premiered at The Playhouse.
SEEMA SUEKO (Associate Artistic Director)
joined The Pasadena Playhouse staff in
January as Associate Artistic Director. For
the past nine years, she served as the
Executive Artistic Director of Mo`olelo
Performing Arts Company, a communityfocused, socially conscious Equity theatre
company she cofounded in San Diego. In
addition to directing at Mo`olelo, Seema
developed Mo`olelo’s greening initiative
and consensus organizing methodologies.
She led the company to its selection as
the inaugural Resident Theatre Company
at La Jolla Playhouse and to awards from
the American Theatre Wing, the National
Endowment for the Arts, Actors’ Equity
Association, and the N.A.A.C.P. San Diego
Branch, among others. Other directing
and acting credits include The Old Globe,
Yale Repertory Theatre, 5th Avenue
Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, San
Diego Repertory Theatre, and Native
Voices at The Autry, among others.
She was the recipient of the inaugural
Leadership U[niversity] grant from Theatre
Communications Group/The Andrew W.
Mellon Foundation, which took her to
Arena Stage in 2013 as a Visiting Artistic
Associate in mentorship with Molly
Smith. She holds an M.A. in International
Relations from the University of Chicago.
ELIZABETH DORAN (Executive Director)
hails from Patchogue, New York, where
she began her career in theatre as a writer
and performer. After earning her B.A. in
theatre arts at SUNY Fredonia, she became
interested in building and sustaining
great theatre companies. She earned her
M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship and Strategy
at Rensselaer in Troy, New York. She has
served as Director of Finance and Planning
for La Jolla Playhouse, was Managing
Director for Capital Repertory Theatre (a
LORT regional theatre in Albany, New York),
and most recently was Managing Director
of Los Angeles’ own The Actor’s Gang.
She and her husband, Kwinn Doran, a
college professor and historian, have made
themselves at home in South Pasadena
with their two young sons, Giacomo and
Ely, and welcomed a third child, Calypso.
Your friends at Fox Rothschild
are proud to support
The Pasadena Playhouse and
all of the great work it does on
stage and in our community.
www.foxrothschild.com | @foxrothschild
Attorney Advertising
One Colorado Old Pasadena congratulates The Pasadena Playhouse.
One Colorado Old Pasadena
onecolorado.com
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P9
Dear Playhouse Friends,
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sheila Grether-Marion
Chair of the Board
David DiCristofaro
Vice-Chair of the Board
C. Anthony Phillips
Treasurer
Linda Boyd Griffey
Secretary
Lenore Bond Almanzar
Valerie Amidon
Sheri Ball
Darrell G. Brooke
Elizabeth Doran
Peggy Ebright
Sheldon Epps
George A. Henning
Teena Hostovich
Brad King
Darrell D. Miller
Michael A. Persaud
Abel Ramirez
Bingo Roncelli
Lilah Stangeland
Corky Hale Stoller
Mike Stoller
Martha Williamson
A MESSAGE FROM
SHEILA GRETHER-MARION,
CHAIR OF THE BOARD:
I am pleased to list the following
people who have been elected
by the Board of Directors to our
Emeritus Board, in recognition of
their extraordinary service
as past members of our
Board of ­Directors, and in many
cases for their continued
commitment and service to
The Pasadena ­Playhouse.
CHAIR EMERITI
David M. Davis,
Michele Dedeaux Engemann,
Albert Lowe, Kerry McCluggage,
Margaret Sedenquist
BOARD MEMBERS EMERITI
Kathy Arntzen Roat, Carol Burnett,
Ralph Hirschmann, Frank Kleeman,
Dennis Lowe, Tad Lowrey,
Rao Makineni, Lyn Spector,
Elliot Stahler, Greg Stone,
Leslie Tolan, James Watterson
IN MEMORIAM
David Angell, Theodore Fitch Behr,
Betty Ann Koen Brooks,
Roger Stangeland
P10 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had the chance to experience our incredible
holiday production of Aladdin and His Winter Wish featuring legendary dancer and
singer extraordinaire Ben Vereen. It was such an honor and delight to have Mr. Vereen
grace our stage with his “magical” feet.
As we begin 2014, I am eager to start working on our fundraising initiatives for the
new year, including our annual gala. This year’s gala titled “Step Up to The Playhouse”
is inspired by the wonderful choreographers we have had the pleasure to collaborate
with over the years, including Debbie Allen (Twist: An American Musical), Spencer
Liff (A Snow White Christmas and Aladdin and His Winter Wish), Benoit-Swan Pouffer
(Dangerous Beauty), Randy Skinner (Stormy Weather), and Kenneth Roberson (Ray
Charles Live!), to name some.
We’re also excited to have our gala return to The Playhouse stage for the first time in
three years, as we transform our beautiful auditorium into a magnificent ballroom.
You’ll not want to miss this spectacular event, so please mark your calendar to be a
part of our gala on Saturday, April 26, 2014!
I hope that you will join me this year and “step up” your support for The Pasadena
Playhouse.
Warm Wishes,
Sheila Grether-Marion
The Pasadena Playhouse Board of Directors Chair
Pictured (L-R) from the 2013 “An Affair to Remember”
Premiere Gala, Sheila Grether-Marion joined by former board
chairs Kerry McCluggage and Michele Dedeaux Engemann.
Dear Playhouse Friends,
Happy 2014! This past year, you witnessed One
Night With Janis Joplin making the leap from your
Playhouse directly to Broadway. You honored the
music of our Board member Mike Stoller in Smokey
Joe’s Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller.
2013-2014 DONOR
BENEFITS
Visionary’s
Circle ($100,000+)
• Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? A special guest
will attend a private event in your home.
• And all benefits listed below.
Executive Director’s Circle ($75,000–$99,999)
• Access to the Green Room for a private event.
• And all benefits listed below.
Artistic Director’s Circle ($50,000–$74,999)
• Piece of memorabilia from a production.
• And all benefits listed below.
We also start the countdown to our Centennial. In
2017, The Pasadena Playhouse will be 100 years old.
The Board and Staff are planning to ensure the vitality of the State Theatre of California
for at least another century. We think you’ll like what we are putting together.
Director’s Circle ($25,000–$49,999)
• Signed production poster.
• Invitation to an exclusive event celebrating the
release of the new season.
• And all benefits listed below.
Your contribution is an essential part of this celebration. We don’t hit 100 without you.
Sincerely,
Designer’s Circle ($10,000–$24,999)
• Invitation to a unique event hosted by the
Board of Directors.
• Parking pass for every Mainstage production
in the 2013–2014 Season.
• And all benefits listed below.
Playwright’s Circle ($5,000–$9,999)
• Invitations to select events throughout the season.
• And all benefits listed below.
Performer’s Circle ($2,500–$4,999)
• Invitations for two people to every Pasadena
Playhouse Opening Night.
• And all benefits listed below.
Friend ($250–$499)
• Recognition in the program.
• And the benefit listed below.
Contributor ($1–$249)
• Recognition on the website.
Darrell Brooke
Development and Outreach & Education Chair, Board of Directors
WAYS TO GIVE
Stage Manager’s Circle ($1,000–$2,499)
• Personal VIP ticketing and subscription services.
• Season-long admission to the Makineni Library
(aka the VIP Lounge), which offers complimentary
snacks and beverages before the show and during
intermission at every Mainstage performance.
• And all benefits listed below.
Supporter ($500–$999)
• Treats in your seat throughout the season.
• And all benefits listed below.
This year, we begin with Above the Fold, a World
Premiere featuring Academy Award nominee
Taraji P. Henson. Originally a staged reading in
our HOTHOUSE program, this play gives you an
opportunity to see an experimental project now in
full bloom.
CASH, CHECK, CREDIT CARD GIFT, OR ONLINE DONATION
The easiest, most direct way to support The Playhouse.
SECURITIES
A gift of appreciated stock or other securities allows you to make a tax deduction
for the full fair-market value without realizing capital gain.
MATCHING GIFTS
Your employer may match your donation to The Pasadena Playhouse, thereby
doubling or even tripling its impact.
HONORARY OR MEMORIAL GIFTS
Gifts may be given in honor or memory of a friend, family member, Playhouse staff
member, or anyone you choose.
For more information, please contact
the Development Office at 626-737-2852.
For Donor Benefits, please contact the
Development Office at 626-737-2852.
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 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 Harriet L. Freeman
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 other gift opportunities, please contact the Development Office at 626-737-2852.
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P11
THANK YOU!
Visionary’s Circle
($100,000+)
Estate of Harriet L. Freeman
Wells Fargo Bank
Executive Director’s Circle
($75,000–$99,999)
Sheila Grether-Marion and Mark Marion
Terri and Jerry Kohl
Rotary Club of Pasadena
Betty Sandford
Art and Liz Silveri
Elliot and Danielle Stahler
Cindy Vail and Greg Stone
Judy and Robert Waller
Performer’s Circle
($2,500–$4,999)
Designer’s Circle
($10,000–$24,999)
Milo W. Bekins Foundation
Darrell G. Brooke
Ann and Paul Demartini
Patti and Jim Dolan
Michele and Roger Engemann
Sheldon Epps
Friends of The Pasadena Playhouse
Gesner-Johnson Foundation
Jay and Linda Griffey
Henry L. Guenther Foundation
Teena Hostovich
Sumi and Bill Hughes
Lindemann Foundation
Gayle and Tad Lowrey
The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris
Foundation
Northern Trust
Ann Peppers Foundation
Barbara and Tony Phillips
Anne Taubman and David Boyle
Jinny and Scott Wilcott
Cynthia Bennett and Ed de Beixedon
Chris and Kelbe Bensinger
Lesley Brander
Z. Clark Branson
Bill and Mary Lea Carroll
George L. Cassat
Cindy Chen Harris
Peggy Ebright
Henri and Donna Ford
Ed and Connie Foster
Fox Rothschild LLP
Rose Ann Hall
Tracy and Richard Hirrel
Paulie Jenkins
Hon. John J. Kennedy and Lena L.
Kennedy
Lauren and Matt Krieger
Linden Optometry, a P.C.
Melba Macneil
Steve Madison
Greta and Peter Mandell
Diane and Craig Martin
Vicki and Kerry McCluggage
Liz and David McFadzean
Susan McGuirl and Bob Musselman
Edith P. Mehlinger
Christine Marie Ofiesh
Charles Pankow
Pasadena Playhouse Alumni
& Associates
Herbert and Marilyn Piken
Greg and Louise Probert
Dick and Sally Roberts
Terrence and Rita Roberts
Paul and Cynthia Roye/The Capital
Group Companies
Thomas Safran
SAPA
Judy and Bill Shupper
Southern California Gas Company
Stellar Prosthetics & Orthotics/Karin and
Sean Stellar
Laney and Tom Techentin
Ashana and Tom Thorman
Playwright’s Circle
($5,000–$9,999)
Stage Manager’s Circle
($1,000–$2,499)
Artistic Director’s Circle
($50,000–$74,999)
Avery and Andrew Barth
The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
Director’s Circle
($25,000–$49,999)
Marilyn and Don Conlan
The Green Foundation
Julie and Don Hopf
Dottie and Bob King
Nelson M. Millsberg
Pacific Global Investment Management
Company
Bingo and Gino Roncelli
The Shubert Foundation
Lilah Stangeland
U.S. Bank
Frank Williams
Jon Andersen and Martha Williamson
Chantal and Steve Bennett
Meta and Jay Berger
Diane and Fred Blum
El Portal Restaurant
Dorothy Falcinella
Brenda and Bill Galloway
Carl and Lori Grether
Marcia L. Hoffman
Kathleen Johnson
Steven and Helen Kerstein
Pam and Brad King
Harvey and Ellen Knell Foundation
Michael Mackness
Merrill Lynch
Shannon and Darrell D. Miller
Gaylord Nichols
Deidra Norman Schumann
Elizabeth Pankey
Kay and Bob Rehme
P12 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
Sara and George Abdo
JoJeanne and Dann Angeloff
Aline and Danny Bakewell Sr.
Richard and Shelley Bayer
Matthew Berry
Sue and Richard Biggar
Robert Bozzani
Darrell Brown
James and Deborah Burrows Foundation
Jim and Marty Childs
Karen and Tim Chrisman
Dottie Clougherty
Adam and Janette Cochran
Martin L. Cohen, M.D., and Sharleen
Cooper Cohen
Craig Colbath and Ann Voyer
Barbara and Wes Coleman
Carol Ann Collins
Corky and Marilyn Conzonire
Ginny and John Cushman
Gary Dahle and Derek Whitefield
April Danz and Kelly Johnson
David DiCristofaro
Darrell Done
Downstream Exchange Company
Angus Duncan Trust
Gail and Jim Ellis
William F. Foran, M.D., and Vivien F.
Stanley Foran
The Forman Family Fund
Helen Franke
Jim Franke
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Furrey
Susan and Gary Gerstenslager
Fariba Ghaffari
Richard Gilman
Marlene and Jeff Goldfarb
Kelly Gonda
Arlene and Robert Harder
Dr. Stephen Henry and Rudy O’Claray
John and Barbara House
Donna and Lou Jones
Marcia and Gordon Kanofsky
Thresa Katz
Kelton Fund Inc./David and Lenny Kelton
John and Nancy Killen
Bernard and Shirley Kinsey
Willette and Manu Klausner
Patti La Marr
Helen Lambros
Jennifer and Michael LaRocco
Sally Jean Lash
Janet and David Lazier
Lily Lee and Tom Chang
Ms. Donna Leonhard
Anthony and Amy Locascio
Shelly and Dennis Lowe
Jessie Milano
Cheryl and Judd Morris
Ceil and Mort Mortimer
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Nafie
Michael Naples
June Thurber Paine and Garrett Paine
Gina and James Pickens Jr.
Gloria and Don Pitzer
Cynthia and Paul Roye
Sossi and Norman Sarafian
Margaret H. Sedenquist
Alvan and Barbara Shane
Singpoli Group
Phillip Sotel
SPARC
Amy and Charles Stephens
Susan Sullivan
Janet Thomasser
Charla and Richard Tindall
Martha Tolles
Roslyn Towler
Sid and Betsey Tyler
Mary and William Urquhart
Michele Vice-Maslin
Sheran and David Voigt
Richard von Ernst and Thomas
Castaneda
J. Patrick Whaley and Lynda L. Jenner
Molly and Ralph Wolveck
William H. Wright Jr.
Supporter
($500–$999)
Jacqueline and Clarence Avant
Kathryn and Michael Balale
Mrs. Katherine Ballard
Monty Basile
Jennifer and John Berger
Laura and Jason Berns
Elizabeth Besch
Barrett and Carol Bingaman
John and Annette Brende
John Casani
Catherine “Tink” Cheney and Barry
Jones
Suzanne and Walter Cochran-Bond
Renate and Mel Cohen
Nadine and Tony Danz
Dorothy and William Davila
Mr. and Mrs. Leo Dencik
Fernando Diaz and Gary Petrisak
Charles Dillingham and Susan Clines
Mr. Michael Farrand
Christine and Mike Franke
Gabriel Halperin
Courtney Harper and Family
J. P. and Diane Harris
Ellen and Michael Hatch
Sue Haynie-Horn
Mary Heartfield
Mary Ann Heidsman
Christopher Hillseth
Susan Hoffman
June and Gareth Hughes
Leigh Jackson
Helga Johnstone
Marilyn Jones and Mitchell Kaplan
Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Kaplan
Richard Kaplan
Frank and Charlotte Kleeman
Mr. Clark Linstone
Patricia Lyons
Millicent Martin-Alexander and Marc
Alexander
Colleen McAuley
Roger C. Memos
Fritz and Angie Miller
Susan and Allan Mohrman
Larry and Donna Moulton
Kenneth and Richel Nash
Janice Ohta
Carol and Mark Olson
John Pasquin and JoBeth Williams
Bill and Mary Payne
Lucile and John Penido
Lyn and John Pohlmann
Jack Pollock
Jane Prickett Luthard
Redhill Group Inc.
Debby and Bill Richards
Susan and Ed Richmond
Janis Salin
Jean Scott and Kent Keller
Jefrey Sheldon
Joel and Jil Sheldon
Dorothy Shepherd
Bernadette and Russell Sherman
Ellen Simon
Stuart Simon
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey M. Smith
Lew and Vicki Snow
Gail and David Snyder
Richard Sun
Philip Swan
Polly and Stender Sweeney
Frank Taylor
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Taylor
Martin Pierce Udell
Carolyn and Robert Volk
Vroman’s Bookstore
James and Mary Weidner
Nita Whitaker LaFontaine
Betty Whitehead
Jeph Willis
Ralyn and Nate Wolfstein
Rosa Zee
David and Julia Zuckerman
Kevin George
Beth Gertmenian
Friend
($250–$499)
Chris Gonzalez and Cristina Perez
S. Stanley Gordon and Joseph Henry
Sue and William Gordon
Beryl and Graham Gosling
Susan Groshen
Sylvia Hernandez
Ms. Robin Hirabayashi
Gary Hunter
William Huston
Marie Ida
Mr. Farley Iman
Mr. and Mrs. George Inadomi
Erica Jamieson
Liz Jewkes
Dr. Gloria Johnson
Larry L. Johnson
Mr. Paul Kent
Dr. Edward Klein
Dr. Phyllis Klein
Trana and Ronald Labowe
Sherry and Al Lapides
Penelope and Steven Ledbetter
Janeen and David Lee
Sandy Leonardis
Elizabeth Levitt Hirsch
Donna, Hyman, and Jebb Levy
Ronald Lewis
Linda Liddell
Kenneth Lin
Laura Luna
Joan and Andreas Aebi
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Banning
Richard Basch
Frank and V. Kristine Bellino
C. W. Bennett
Claire and Bill Bogaard
Paula Brand
William Brownlie
Esthere Brutsch
Lori Buckley
Jacqueline and Arthur Burdorf
Richard Burke
Dr. Grace E. Carter
Renatta Cooper
George Prothro Coulter
Daryl Curtis
Stewart Dater
D. Bello Associates
Tony Dinardo
Michele Dressback
Kay and Larry Driscoll
Carol Elkind
Richard and Nancy Esbenshade
Mr. Kevin Fichtner
Mr. Christopher and Mrs. Natalia Fierro
Judy Fisher
Robert Fuller
Robert Galvan
GIFT-IN-KIND
DONATIONS
Our thanks to the following
individuals and companies
that donated gifts-in-kind to
The Pasadena Playhouse since
December 15, 2012.
Any gifts-in-kind received after
December 15, 2013, will be
acknowledged in the next program.
Lenore Almanzar
Bittersweet Treats
Claire Trevor School of the Arts at
the University of California, Irvine
Ross Clark
Easy Parking Service
Donna and Henri Ford
Fox Rothschild LLP
Friends of The Pasadena Playhouse
Brenda and Bill Galloway
Ann and Robert Hamilton
Patti La Marr
little junebugs
Maison Akira
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Printefex
David Rambo and Ted Heyck
redwhite&bluezz
Paul and Cynthia Roye
Robert and Carol Shapiro
Stone Brewing Co.
TechFirmation LLC
Dan Gilbert and Kate Rogers
Kris and Becky Lythgoe
Joan Madsen
Graeme Magruder
Ralph and Linda Malmquist
Joyce McGilvray
Mario L. Mejia
Marsha S. Miller
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Moak
Mr. and Mrs. Millard Murphy
Edward Parker
Anthony Parrille
Lucy Pliskin
Andrea and Jeffrey Pomerance
Robert Postawko
Cheryl Resnik
Steven Robman and Kathy Baker
Ruby and Gerald Rose
Phil Ross
Mark P. Saltzman
Loretta Savery
Ms. Diana G. and Mr. William Schreiber
Mr. and Mrs. John H. Scott
Marcia Scully
David Seaman
Barbara Selarz
Raymond Shelton
Mrs. Phylis Silberman
Rosemary Simmons
Robert Simon
Sue Spence
Brett Stangeland
Lael Staricka
Dottie and Walt Sumner
Eileen T’Kaye and David Bischoff
Janet and Robert Tranquada
Ron Vogel
Amy Wakeland
Ms. Teresa Wallette
Gary Wente
Edgar and Peggy Whitmore
Cortez Wilks
Leilani and Larry Wilmore
Hattie Winston
Joan Wojslaw Oppenheimer
James Yessian
Harvey and Sharon Zaslaw
All donors listed gave at least $250 since
December 15, 2012.
Contributions received after December
15, 2013, will be acknowledged in the
next program.
HELPS US CELEBRATE ELLEN BAILEY’S 90TH BIRTHDAY!
Friends, Alumni, Staff, and Board members recently gathered on the Courtyard to
surprise Ellen Bailey on her 90th birthday. It was a true success! The large turnout
reflected an outpouring of love for Ellen and a sincere appreciation for her volunteer
work.
Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps and Playhouse Executive Director Elizabeth
Happy Birthday,
Doran thanked Ellen for her love and dedication to The Playhouse. They announced
Ellen Bailey!
that Ellen’s brother, Nelson M. Millsberg, made a significant donation to the theatre in
honor of her birthday. Everyone was pleased to hear that the Archives Department will be named in her
honor.
Ellen has held many, many roles at The Playhouse. She was a student (then teacher and director) at the
Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts. She also founded the Friends of The Pasadena Playhouse, a
key volunteer organization. Currently, Ellen is The Playhouse’s “Archivist Extraordinaire,” establishing and
maintaining the archives and leading a team of volunteers to keep the theatre’s history alive. Ellen is also
active with the Pasadena Playhouse Alumni & Associates as a member of the Board of Directors. And in her
free time, Ellen leads Playhouse Backstage Tours, sharing The Playhouse’s backstage secrets with delighted
visitors.
The excitement continues! Please join us in honoring Ellen by making a donation to The Playhouse.
Nelson took the lead role by making a $25,000 contribution to help name the Archives Department.
We are calling on you, our ensemble, to participate as well.
Together, we can match his gift.
Please mail checks to:
The Pasadena Playhouse
600 Playhouse Alley
Suite 300
Pasadena, CA 91101
Ellen Bailey and
Playhouse Artistic
Director Sheldon Epps.
For more information,
contact Major Gifts Officer Christine Franke
at 626-737-2852.
The Courtyard celebration.
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P13
OUTREACH, EDUCATION & AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT
TALKBACK TUESDAY at The Playhouse is an exciting new series where a panel of
community members and esteemed guests discuss and explore the themes of
the show with the audience. Each week features a new panel with a new theme.
Immediately after the 8:00 p.m. performance of Above the Fold:
February 11
February 18
TALKBACK
TUESDAY
panels during
Twelve Angry
Men
(L to R): Sheldon Epps (Director, Playhouse Artistic Director),
LaRita Shelby (Moderator), Jason George (Juror Eight, Chair of
the SAG-AFTRA Diversity Advisory Committee), Curtis Silvers
(Western Regional Director of the United Negro College Fund),
Melinda J. Murray (Attorney, President of the John M. Langston
Bar Association), Barry Pearl (Juror Seven), and Robert Picardo
(Juror Four).
Wednesday, January 29,
7:00–7:30 p.m.
Join us prior to the Wednesday
performance for a very special
Above the Fold event.
(L to R): Steven Leigh Morris (Theatre critic at LA Weekly), Ellis E.
Williams (Juror Six), Daniel Mayeda (Board member for East West
Players, Co-Chair of the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition),
Jason George (Juror Eight, Chair of the SAG-AFTRA Diversity
Advisory Committee), Dr. Jorge Huerta (Chancellor’s Associates’
Professor of Theatre Emeritus at the University of California, San
Diego), Jacques C. Smith (Juror Five), Barry Pearl (Juror Seven),
and Sheldon Epps (Director, Playhouse Artistic Director).
Wednesday, February 12,
7:00–7:30 p.m.
Come watch as an Above the Fold special
guest is put on the HOTSEAT.
Sunday, February 16,
after the 2:00 p.m. showing
of Above the Fold
Join us for a talk-back, question-andanswer session with members of
Above the Fold.
For more information, please contact
Community Organizer Stacey Castillo at [email protected].
The Pasadena Playhouse’s Outreach, Education & Audience Engagement programs and events are supported in part by the Wells Fargo
Theatrical Diversity Project and by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.
P14 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
PASADENA PLAYHOUSE ALUMNI & ASSOCIATES
Some people may be surprised to discover that there had once been an accredited college associated with The
Pasadena Playhouse. Many more might be amazed to know that even though the Pasadena Playhouse College of
Theatre Arts closed in 1969, the Pasadena Playhouse Alumni & Associates is still a vital organization with nearly 300
members around the world. PPA&A publishes a quarterly newsletter to help our members stay in touch with their
classmates and keep up to date with the events at The Playhouse.
PPA&A is most proud of our scholarship program for theatre students with financial needs. Thanks to a generous
endowment from alumnus Henry Sumid (’40), PPA&A has bestowed college scholarships over the last seven years with an aggregate
value of $155,000.00.
Please visit www.sumidscholarship.com for more information on our scholarship program for theatre students.
www.ppa-a.org
AMBASSADORS OF THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE
Playhouse regulars will no doubt recognize Patti La Marr, our Ambassador Extraordinaire. Her outgoing personality
and enthusiasm for our theatre radiates to all. During each production, she volunteers many evenings in the Makineni
Library and charms our donors and guests. As a member of the Friends, she created Playhouse mugs, which are sold
from the patio cart, as well as guest book pages for our Library visitors to sign and offer comments.
We are looking forward to Above the Fold, an exciting World Premiere that had its birth in our own HOTHOUSE reading series in the
Carrie Hamilton Theatre. Enjoy being a first audience for a very topical piece of theatre.
Contact Peggy Ebright at [email protected] to learn more about the Ambassadors.
FRIENDS OF THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE
2013 was a particularly productive year for the Friends. In addition to the annual monetary pledge, the Friends made a difference by
purchasing necessary items for The Playhouse staff. Gifts included a new refrigerator for Concessions, new carpet for the Box Office, a
new camera for Playhouse events, and refurbished Listening Devices to enhance your visit.
The Friends will kick off a drive for new seats in the theatre. During 2014, all money collected in the lobby donation box will go toward
this cause. So the next time you are at the theatre, please drop a little money in the box. It will all go toward much-needed new seats
and will definitely add to your comfort at The Playhouse.
Please visit our website at www.friendsofthepasadenaplayhouse.org for more information on how to become a Friend.
BACKSTAGE TOURS
Did You Know?
•
•
•
The Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts produced many prestigious and famous artists in the
theatre world.
The first TV training station in the Southern California area was at The Pasadena Playhouse.
At one time, The Playhouse library housed the second largest theatrical library in the country.
The Pasadena Playhouse has a fascinating past. Book a Backstage Tour to learn more about our beautiful and historic theatre and see
what goes on behind the curtain!
For more information or to book a tour, email [email protected] or call 626-921-1162.
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P15
FRIENDS OF THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE
Executive Board
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Accounting Associate................................... Anna Panoian
Accounting Consultant..................... Mary Ann Heidsman
Union Liaison . ............................................. Angela Sidlow
Executive Assistant............................Whitney Fortmueller
IT Consulting Firm....................................... TechFirmation
DEVELOPMENT
Major Gifts Officer . .................................... Christine Franke
Special Events Coordinator . ................... Julia Fitzgibbons
MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS & SALES
Marketing & Communications Director.........Patty Onagan
Subscriptions Manager............................ Jonathan White
Subscriptions Services Manager . ....... Frank Ensenberger
Group Sales Associate . ............................ Susan Von Tress
Marketing Assistant/Copyeditor............... Nicole Fanning
Marketing & Communications
Assistant . ...................................................Kareem Cervantes
Press Representative................. Davidson & Choy Publicity,
Tim Choy, Peter Goldman
Production/Subscription
Graphic Designer . ............................ Halogen Design Lab
Broadcast Advertising . ...................... Nancy’s Media Buys,
Nancy Pank
Program Design..................................... Kareem Cervantes
Production Photography....................................... Jim Cox
Telemarketing.............................................. Theatre Direct
Patron Services Manager................. Louis Douglas Jacobs
Front of House Manager.................................. Ben Torres
Patron Services Assistant Managers............ Elias Feghali,
Whitney LaBarge,
Shelby Page
Patron Services Associates......... Joshua Ball, David S. Blair,
Rafael Goldstein, Sara Kea,
Randy Wade Kelley, Colby Salmon,
Bonnie Williams
House Managers............................ Lenore Bond Almanzar,
Sue Haynie-Horn, Patrick J. Oliva
LEGAL COUNSEL
Pamela M. Golinski, Esq. Beigelman, Feiner & Feldman P.C.
1st Vice-President......................................... Anne La Rose
Administrator........................................ R. J. Muehlhausen
Corresponding Secretary ..................... Charlyn d’Anconia
Interim Recording Secretary........................... Marje Cates
Treasurer............................................................. Eric Johns
Board of Directors.... Lenore Bond Almanzar, Ellen Bailey,
Ross Clark, Jaclyn Palmer
Emeritus - Past Presidents.............. Ross Eastty, Jim Kent,
John McElveney, Pete Parkin
ABOVE THE FOLD PRODUCTION STAFF
Production Stage Manager . ............ Mary Michele Miner
Stage Manager ................................................ Susie Walsh
Assistant to the Director ......................... Tanya Goldberg
Company Manager.................................. Kristen Hammack
Casting Assistant..............................................Lisa Zagoria
Production Assistants............T. J. Kearney, Daniel Trostler
Assistant Scenic Designer ............................. Staci Walters
Assistant Lighting Designer........................... Tony Shayne
Assistant Costume Designer . ................Ghislaine Harding
Deck Head/Rail/Crew chief . .......................... Matt Petosa
Deck/Video . ........................................................ J. T. Burge
Rail ............................................................... Sean Lewellyn
Scenic Artist............................................... Johnny LeBlanc
Props Master . ....................................... Shannon Dedman
Master Electrician . .................................... Chris Osborne
Light Board Operator ............................. Mark Dougherty
Rigger .............................................................. Mike Askew
Production Sound Engineer...................... Eric Thompson
Wardrobe Supervisor ............................... Marie Growden
Wig Supervisor . .......................................... Raenae Kuaea
Master Carpenter......................................... Isa Mitsuharu
Carpenters . ............................ Joey Cleveland, Chris Cook,
Jonas Dickson, Gabe Holguin,
Takuji “Clutch” Kuramoto, Sean Lewellyn,
The Actors and Stage Managers employed in
Joel Schlessinger, Ryan Shull
this production are members of Actors’ Equity
­Association, the Union of Professional Actors and
Stage Managers in the United States.
T
IA
NI
SCE C A
•L
O
ISTS
RT
P16 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
President.....................................................Valerie Amidon
S
GENERAL MANAGEMENT/PRODUCTION
General Manager/Production Manager............. Joe Witt
Associate General Manager................... Brandon Dobbins
Technical Director ........................................... Brad Enlow
Company Manager.................................. Kristen Hammack
Master Electrician . .................................... Chris Osborne
Props Master . ....................................... Shannon Dedman
Sound Engineer . ........................................ Eric Thompson
Crew Chief....................................................... Matt Petosa
Wardrobe Supervisor .............................. Marie Growden
Facilities/Maintenance Manager .......... Mark Maldonado
Facilities/Maintenance........................................ Sal Fariaz,
Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Danilo Ramos
ABOVE THE
FOLD
SPONSORS
PASADENA PLAYHOUSE ALUMNI & ASSOCIATES
Executive Board
29
•
ARTISTIC
Associate Artistic Director ........................... Seema Sueko
Community Organizers......... Kenia Brown, Stacey Castillo,
.
Lemuel H. Thornton III
A
Executive Director
UNITED
Elizabeth Doran
I
Artistic Director
E
Sheldon Epps
President........................................ Lenore Bond Almanzar
1st Vice-President.................................... Sue Haynie-Horn
2nd Vice-President...................................... Nancy Ashcraft
Treasurer........................................................... Yvonne Lai
Recording Secretary.................................... Sharon Zaslaw
General Board.................... Eugenia Amodei, Doris Arima,
Ellen Bailey, Mary Basile, Virginia Browning,
Bonnie Davis, Bob DeWees, Jerri Faust,
Patti La Marr, Beverly Meissner, Shirley Miller,
Patrick J. Oliva, Frances Olson, Betty Parnell,
Beverly Simone, Jayne Thomas, Grace Woo
CA
8
L USA
The Designers at this Theatre
are Represented by
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United Scenic Artists • Local USA 829
of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes
WARNING: The photographic or sound recording of any
p­ erformance or the possession of any device for such ­photographic
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.
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