Production Program

Dear Friends,
Sheldon Epps
Artistic Director
Elizabeth Doran
Executive Director
It is hard to believe, but we have actually
come to the end of our 2013–2014
Season. I am enormously proud of the
work on our stage over the past several
months, and I am grateful for the words
of praise from so many different sources
in reaction to this season’s productions.
I could not be happier to close this fine
season with Stoneface, an homage to the
great Buster Keaton.
I am so pleased about having this play
on our stage for a number of reasons.
Certainly the central character deserves this spotlight of attention—
as does the gifted and versatile actor French Stewart who is more
than capable of filling some very hard-to-fill shoes.
In addition, I am thrilled to help “grow” a worthy project that
was born here in Los Angeles at a smaller but well-respected
theatre company called Sacred Fools. We have had the pleasure
of collaborations such as this with Cornerstone Theatre Company,
Deaf West Theatre, and Ebony Repertory Theatre. And I hope that
we will have more of these good associations in the future, as they
represent the strength, mutual respect, admiration, and collegial
spirit that exist in our undeniably rich and varied theatre town. The
veracity of that statement is much discussed and often challenged.
Never by me, as the enormous vitality of theatre in Los Angeles is on
display at theatres of every size performing a remarkably eclectic and
diverse body of work, week after week and year after year. It is for
me a great source of pride and a real cause for celebration. I thank
our director, our playwright, this lovely cast, and all of the artists
involved for giving us the pleasure of helping them further refine the
work that was started at Sacred Fools. It is a pleasure to provide that
opportunity for such a worthy project.
The conclusion of a satisfying and rewarding season is also a reason
for celebration. But it must be a quick one, as we are already
planning and implementing the season to come. I look forward to
next season with great anticipation. With the six productions of
the 2014–2015 Season, we will have the opportunity to tell “The
Best Stories in Town” and to entertain and stimulate you with a
number of theatrical styles. We will also be telling other stories in
our HOTHOUSE new play development program and developing new
stories through Mi Historia, Mi Moda!, our James Irvine Foundationsupported initiative. I believe that great storytelling is very much at
the heart and soul of great theatre. My deepest hope is that you will
be here to participate in the creation of these stories throughout
the new year (hopefully as a subscriber...hint, hint). In truth, your
participation is essential to making both the story and the event
come to life. As always, I look forward to creating each and every
one of these theatrical events with YOU, and I am grateful for our
collaboration.
Sincerely,
Sheldon Epps
Artistic Director of The Pasadena Playhouse
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P1
Elizabeth Doran
Executive Director
Sheldon Epps
Artistic Director
In Association with
Stoneface Productions Inc.
Presents
By
Vanessa Claire Stewart
Starring
French Stewart
as Buster Keaton
with
Jake Broder Tegan Ashton Cohan Conor Duffy Joe Fria Ryan Johnson
Scott Leggett Guy Picot Rena Strober Pat Towne
and
Daisy Eagan as Mae Scriven
Scenic Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Joel Daavid
Jessica Olson
Jeremy Pivnick
Cricket S. Myers
Projection Designers
Wig Designer
Original Music By
Production Stage Manager
Ben Rock and
Anthony Backman
Jessica Mills
Ryan Johnson
Susie Walsh
Fight Director
General Manager/
Production Manager
Technical Director
Company Manager
Brad Enlow
Kristen Hammack
Mike Mahaffey
Joe Witt
Directed By
Jaime Robledo
Originally produced by Sacred Fools Theater Company
OPENING NIGHT June 8, 2014
P2 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
“Weather changes”
The weather changed for Buster Keaton during a life of ups and downs
befitting a Hollywood legend. Born Joseph Frank Keaton, he began his
career literally being tossed across the stage as a child for the amusement
of audiences. His ability to endure the knocks, take the pain, and come
back for more would be his calling card throughout his life. With the
guidance of Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, he helped invent the language of
comedic cinema and became an icon on par with his rivals Charlie Chaplin
and Harold Lloyd.
Although Keaton’s characters were never as instantly recognizable as
Chaplin’s Little Tramp or Lloyd’s man with the straw hat who hung from
a clock, Keaton surpassed Chaplin and Lloyd in sheer inventiveness and
technical brilliance. Not only was he one of the great actors of the silent
film era, he also was one of its greatest directors. His stoic persona blended together with unrivaled
filmic stunts to create a body of work unlike anything that anyone had ever seen. And then the weather
changed. His demons caught up with him and he became a shadow of his former self. He disappeared
from the scene for a time until eventually audiences rediscovered his genius, as the weather changed
again. This is what Stoneface is about: the rise and fall and rise of the man behind the celluloid image.
The weather changed, too, for me and those involved with this production. Initially a birthday present
written by Vanessa Claire Stewart for her husband French Stewart, a lifelong Buster Keaton fan, the
script found its way into my life. I was given the gift of being entrusted with something special to both
of them and was allowed to create Keaton’s world with only the boundary of a budget. What’s more, I
got to bring my friends along on the journey. A small theatre in East Hollywood that I call home, Sacred
Fools Theater Company, was the birthplace of Stoneface. It thrived there and built an audience unlike
anything that a 99-seat theatre could ever hope for. Then Sheldon Epps at The Pasadena Playhouse said
yes. “The little show that could” made it big in a way that small theatre in this town rarely does. Epps
took a chance on us, the weather changed, and here we are.
I would be remiss in using my allotted page space without thanking some truly important people: Epps,
Elizabeth Doran, and everyone at The Pasadena Playhouse; French and Vanessa Claire Stewart (the
heart and soul of Stoneface); Padraic Duffy and my Sacred Fools family; all the crew and understudies
from the original Stoneface production, especially the lovely Erin Parks and Heatherlynn Gonzalez; ma
and pops; and most of all, the man and myth of Buster Keaton.
Sincerely,
Jaime Robledo
Director
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P3
Clockwise from left: Guy Picot, Conor Duffy, Pat Towne, Scott Leggett, Joe Fria, Jake Broder, Ryan Johnson, Tegan
Ashton Cohan, French Stewart, Daisy Eagan (standing), and Rena Strober.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
BUSTER KEATON ……………………………………………………..............…………..… French Stewart*
THE PIANIST ……………………………………………………………..…..…….............….. Ryan Johnson
ROSCOE “FATTY” ARBUCKLE ………………………………………………...............….. Scott Leggett*
JOSEPH SCHENCK/ENSEMBLE………………………………………………...............…… Jake Broder*
NORMA TALMADGE/ELEANOR KEATON/ENSEMBLE…………………….......….. Rena Strober*
NATALIE TALMADGE/ENSEMBLE…………………………………………..……. Tegan Ashton Cohan*
YOUNG BUSTER KEATON/FIGHT CAPTAIN…………………………..........................…... Joe Fria*
MAE SCRIVEN/ENSEMBLE………………………………………………........................... Daisy Eagan*
LOUIS B. MAYER/ENSEMBLE…………………………………………….......................…… Pat Towne*
EDWARD SEDGWICK/GEORGE JESSEL/ENSEMBLE…………………….........……… Conor Duffy*
CHARLIE CHAPLIN ………………………………………………………….….........................… Guy Picot*
*Appearing through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.
TIME
Between 1921 and 1952
PLACE
Various locations around Hollywood, California
Stoneface will be performed with
one 15-minute intermission.
P4 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
with
Op-ED
Executive Director
Elizabeth Doran
Welcome to a great night of theatre!
Our production of Stoneface represents some important core
values for me:
1. This play is artist centered. It did not come from a producer
seeking a profit—it came from one artist seeking to realize the
dream of another, a beautiful gift between two artists and their
ensemble. I believe that shows that come from the heart have
the deepest impact.
2. This play is homegrown. It was developed in the 99-seat
theatre community of Los Angeles with the wonderful Sacred
Fools Theater Company. By bringing Stoneface to the Mainstage
of a large regional theatre, we fuel a healthy artistic ecosystem,
allowing artists to strut their stuff, providing them a living wage,
and exposing their work to others who may take the show ever
further. The process provides a long chain of value to these
artists, our city, and us.
Smart minds across our field have grappled with the health of
the artistic ecosystem since the economy collapsed. Creating
vibrant, daring theatrical work is a tough business, but the
recent financial pressures have been monumental. To make
ends meet, many artists have had to seek multiple outside
jobs or leave the arts entirely. While larger institutions were
damaged by income losses, many smaller theatres were
marginalized or forced out of business. How important it is to
larger theatres to have a pipeline of artists and artistry, and how
damaging the past few years have been.
At The Playhouse, we tend to our artistic ecosystem and
pipeline in many ways: through new play development
programs, partnerships with theatre companies of all sizes, free
access to our Mainstage shows for young emerging artists, and
other projects. Through our newest project, Mi Historia, Mi
Moda!, we engage Latinos in the arts and go deep into the San
Gabriel Valley to create art with our audiences.
Your friends at
Fox Rothschild
are proud
to support
The
Pasadena
Playhouse
and all of the
great work
it does
on stage and
in the community
Thank you for being a part of The Pasadena Playhouse, the
State Theatre of California. Enjoy the artistry and return soon!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Doran
Executive Director of The Pasadena Playhouse
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P5
WHO’S WHO
FRENCH STEWART
(Buster Keaton) For
the past 25 years,
French has been
a presence in Los
Angeles theatre
as a member of
the legendary Cast
Theatre (Zombie Attack, Pot Mom) as
well as a current member of Sacred
Fools Theater Company. Recent stage
credits include Mathew Modine Saves
the Alpacas at the Geffen Playhouse,
Watson: The Last Great Tale of the
Legendary Sherlock Holmes at Sacred
Fools, and the critically acclaimed
Voice Lessons (with Laurie Metcalf)
Off-Broadway at Theatre Row. French
is best known for his work on the
classic TV series “3rd Rock from
the Sun.” Recent credits include
“Community,” “Psych,” “Bones,” “The
Closer,” “Castle,” “Pushing Daisies,”
“Private Practice,” and the new CBS
hit comedy “Mom.”
DAISY EAGAN
(Mae Scriven/
Ensemble) Daisy
Eagan’s theatre
credits include
The Secret Garden
(Tony Award),
Les Misérables,
James Joyce’s The Dead, The Wild
Party (LA Weekly Theater Award),
On the Mountain, A View from the
Bridge, and Be Aggressive. TV and
film credits include “The Mentalist,”
“Without a Trace,” “Ghost Whisperer,”
“Numb3rs,” “The Unit,” “The It
Factor,” “Losing Isaiah” (Paramount
Pictures), “Ripe” (Trimark Pictures),
“Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding” (Greenwich
Street Films), and “Judgment” (HBO).
She has written and performed three
one-woman shows, including One for
My Baby. More info at daisyeagan.com.
Her performance is dedicated to Kurt,
who is her Buster Keaton, and her son
Monty.
JAKE BRODER
(Joseph Schenck/
Ensemble) Training:
Guildhall School of
Music & Drama,
London. Wrote Louis
& Keely: Live at the
Sahara with Vanessa
Claire Stewart and played Louis;
production directed by Jeremy Adridge,
then Taylor Hackford (Sacred Fools
Theater Company, Matrix Theatre,
and Geffen Playhouse). Awards:
P6 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
Won best actor in a musical from LA
Weekly, Los Angeles Drama Critics
Circle, Garland, and Ovation. West End:
Amadeus (The Old Vic), When Harry
Met Sally (Theatre Royal Haymarket),
and The Complete Works of William
Shakespeare (abridged) (Criterion
Theatre). Broadway: Amadeus (Music
Box Theatre). Off-Broadway: His Royal
Hipness Lord Buckley. Television: HBO’s
“Silicon Valley” (recurring) and “How
I Met Your Mother.” Film: “Bad Milo,”
Kevin Spacey’s “Beyond the Sea,” and
“The Chicago 8.”
TEGAN ASHTON
COHAN
(Natalie Talmadge/
Ensemble) Tegan
has been reviewed
in Variety as “the
highlight of the
production” for
her work in the U.S. premiere of The
Mysteries. She earned an LA Weekly
Theater Award nomination for Best
Female Comedic Performance as
Ophelia in Hamlet Shut Up. Tegan
originated the role of Natalie
Talmadge in Stoneface at Sacred Fools
Theater Company. Her latest feature
“Odd Brodsky” recently premiered
at the Mill Valley Film Festival and
is now “on the circuit.” She received
her degree in Theatre from Wellesley
College and studied at the National
Theater Institute, Shakespeare &
Company, The Second City, and The
Sanford Meisner Center.
CONOR DUFFY
(Edward Sedgwick/
George Jessel/
Ensemble) Conor is
pleased to make his
Pasadena Playhouse
debut with this
production after
originating his role at Sacred Fools
Theater Company in Hollywood. Other
theatre credits include The Taming of
the Shrew at the Orpheum Theatre
and Tell the bees at Sacred Fools.
Recent television credits include
“Growing Up Fisher,” “How to Live
with Your Parents,” and “Arrested
Development.” He also appeared in
the film “From a Place of Darkness”
playing opposite John Savage. Conor
is a graduate of the University of
Washington School of Drama.
JOE FRIA
(Young Buster
Keaton/Fight
Captain) Smaller
Theatre: Zoo District
Theatre, Sacred Fools
Theater Company,
The MET Theatre,
Orphean Circus, Evidence Room, The
Theatre @ Boston Court, and Circle X
Theatre Co. Awards: Laura Comstock’s
Bag-Punching Dog (LA Weekly Theater
Award – Best Comedic Performance),
Heart of a Dog (LA Weekly Theater
Award nomination – Best Leading
Male Performance), and Watson: The
Last Great Tale of Sherlock Holmes
(Ovation Award nomination – Best
Leading Male Performance). Larger
Theatre: South Coast Repertory,
Center Theatre Group, Geffen
Playhouse, Los Angeles Philharmonic,
and International City Theatre. TV:
“Gilmore Girls,” “Baby Bob,” “Off
Centre,” “Legends,” and “Community.”
Film: “Scorched” (Woody Harrelson),
“Guido” (Gary Busey), and the lead in
the just-completed independent film
“Speedwagon.”
RYAN JOHNSON
(The Pianist) Ryan
Johnson won an
Ovation Award for
his work during
the premiere run
of Stoneface. He
has written original
music for Sacred Fools Theater
Company productions, including
Watson: The Last Great Tale of the
Legendary Sherlock Holmes, Watson
and the Dark Art of Harry Houdini,
and Neverwhere. He acted as music
director for Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s
hitRECord Fall Formal at the Orpheum
Theatre and for Forbidden Zone: Live
in the 6th Dimension at Sacred Fools.
As a rock keyboardist, he has played in
four countries, countless bars, and two
weddings. He is currently recording
with his band Überband and writing
an original musical with Stoneface
playwright Vanessa Claire Stewart.
SCOTT LEGGETT
(Roscoe “Fatty”
Arbuckle) is
thrilled to make his
Pasadena Playhouse
debut and to work
once again with the
clan of Stoneface.
Scott is a member of Sacred Fools
Theater Company, where he played
WHO’S WHO
the titular character in Watson: The
Last Great Tale of the Legendary
Sherlock Holmes as well as its sequel
Watson and the Dark Art of Harry
Houdini, in addition to working on
numerous other productions. He
attended Penn State University
and has appeared in several films,
commercials, and TV shows. Scott
is also an accomplished director,
having staged last year’s hugely
successful adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s
Neverwhere at Sacred Fools.
GUY PICOT
(Charlie Chaplin)
Guy played Chaplin
in the awardwinning production
of Stoneface at
Sacred Fools Theater
Company, where he
also understudied in Neverwhere and
directed his own seasonal play The
Christmas Present. Before relocating
to Los Angeles, he played Lillas Pastia
in Jonathan Miller’s production of
“Carmen” at English National Opera
and appeared in Julius Caesar at the
Barbican Theatre. Other notable
theatre includes a British tour of A
Midsummer Night’s Dream as Oberon
and a European tour of The Rocky
Horror Show as Eddie/Dr. Scott. For
British TV, he has written episodes of
the primetime network shows “Bad
Girls” and “Footballers’ Wives.”
RENA STROBER
(Norma Talmadge/
Eleanor Keaton/
Ensemble)
Broadway: Les
Misérables (Cosette).
Off-Broadway:
White’s Lies (with
Betty Buckley) and Spaghetti &
Matzo Balls!, her one-woman show.
National Tour: Tzeitel in Fiddler
on the Roof, opposite Topol and
Harvey Fierstein. Outer Critics Circle
Award for her portrayal of Tonya
in Zhivago (La Jolla Playhouse). Los
Angeles Theatre: Heathers: The
Musical and When You’re in Love, The
Whole World is Jewish (directed by
Jason Alexander). TV/Film: “Liv and
Maddie,” “Law & Order,” and “Waiting
in the Wings: The Musical Movie.”
Voice on numerous Disney and
Nickelodeon cartoons, video games,
and audiobooks. Proud member of
the Friars Club in New York and a
national anthem singer for NASA.
www.renastrober.com
PAT TOWNE
(Louis B. Mayer/
Ensemble) For
nearly 20 years,
Pat has been an
award-winning
director, actor, and
producer of Los
Angeles theatrical works. Recently
he directed Eugène Ionesco’s Exit the
King and Exorcistic: The Rock Musical
Parody Experiment (Hollywood Fringe
Festival Best Musical). Pat directed
and performed in Frank Zappa’s
“Joe’s Garage,” Sketches from The
National Lampoon, and Gorey Stories
(Ovation Award for Best Musical);
starred in Hoboken to Hollywood (LA
Weekly Theater Award for Musical of
the Year); and was a member of the
sketch comedy group Margot’s Bush
(LA Weekly Theater Award for Best
Sketch Comedy). Television credits
include “Mad Men,” “Boston Legal,”
“Desperate Housewives,” “Las Vegas,”
“Gilmore Girls,” and more.
VANESSA CLAIRE STEWART
(Playwright) Before penning Stoneface
originally for Sacred Fools Theater
Company, Vanessa co-wrote and
starred as Keely Smith at the Geffen
Playhouse in Louis & Keely: Live at the
Sahara (best musical awards: Ovation,
Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle,
Garland, and LA Weekly). In addition,
she wrote and starred in the feature
film “Chase the Slut” (Edinburgh
International Film Festival) and was
a contributor to the film anthology
“Girls Girls Girls” (San Diego Film
Festival and LA Femme International
Film Festival). Currently, Vanessa
is writing an original musical with
Stoneface composer Ryan Johnson
about the crimes of serial killer H. H.
Holmes. Vanessa would like to thank
The Pasadena Playhouse and Sheldon
Epps for the opportunity and her
husband French for being the perfect
muse.
JAIME ROBLEDO (Director) Proud
member of Sacred Fools Theater
Company, birthplace of Stoneface.
Also at Sacred Fools: writer and
director of Watson: The Last Great
Tale of the Legendary Sherlock Holmes
and sequel Watson and the Dark
Art of Harry Houdini, and director of
West Coast premieres of Do Androids
Dream of Electric Sheep? (eight LA
Weekly Theater Award nominations),
Melanie Marnich’s Tallgrass Gothic,
and Jennifer Haley’s Neighborhood 3:
Requisition of Doom. Other credits:
Hearts Like Fists at Theatre of NOTE,
Kong: A Goddamn Thirty-Foot Gorilla
at SkyPilot Theatre Company, and
Magnum Opus Theatre Presents:
Le Phoenix Vert. Next Sacred Fools
venture: West Coast premiere of
Natsu Onoda Power’s Astro Boy and
the God of Comics. Saturn Award
winner and five-time LA Weekly
Theater Award winner.
www.jrobledo.com
JOEL DAAVID (Scenic Designer)
has become an award-winning
set designer since attending
the American Film Institute
Conservatory for cinematography.
His career accomplishments include
cinematography for film work as well
as stage directing and design. Joel’s
most notable awards: Ovation, LA
Weekly, N.A.A.C.P., and Los Angeles
Drama Critics Circle. He directed
and designed the award-winning
production of The Miracle Worker
at the Matrix Theatre Company and
the Edgemar Center for the Arts and
the new production of Tennessee
Williams’ Baby Doll at the Lillian
Theatre. Joel directed and designed
the award-winning production of
Frankenstein for Theatre Tallahassee
and will begin negotiations to bring it
to Los Angeles. www.jdaavid.com
JESSICA OLSON (Costume Designer)
Los Angeles theatre costume design
credits include Musical Theatre West,
South Coast Repertory, The Antaeus
Company, Circle X Theatre Co., Sacred
Fools Theater Company, East West
Players, Chalk Repertory Theatre,
Musical Theatre Guild, and Edgemar
Center for the Arts. Nominations: LA
Weekly Theater Award for Peace in
Our Time (The Antaeus Company)
and Ovation Award for Stoneface
(Sacred Fools Theater Company).
Film: “Delivery: The Beast Within”
and “A Girl, A Guy, A Space Helmet.”
TV: “Will to Live” (TV One) and “Riff
Rockit.” Costume Shop Foreman
and Assistant Costumer at the
Oklahoma City University Ann Lacy
School of American Dance and Arts
Management. B.F.A. in costume
design from the University of North
Carolina School of the Arts.
JEREMY PIVNICK (Lighting
Designer) New York: Desperate
Writers (Union Square Theatre), The
Marvelous Wonderettes (Westside
Theatre), Good Bobby (59E59
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P7
WHO’S WHO
Theatre), Corpus Christi (Rattlestick
Playwrights Theatre), and Moscow
(Connelly Theatre). Regional: The
Pasadena Playhouse, The Laguna
Playhouse, Northlight Theatre
(Chicago), San Jose Repertory
Theatre, South Coast Repertory,
Capital Repertory Theatre, and
Theatre Aspen. International: Corpus
Christi (Edinburgh and Dublin). Los
Angeles: Over 300 productions
with companies like The Theatre
@ Boston Court, East West Players,
Rubicon Theatre Company, Falcon
Theatre, International City Theatre,
Echo Theatre Company, and many
others. Awards: four Los Angeles
Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, four
Backstage West Garland Awards,
two Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle
Awards, and the Los Angeles Drama
Critics Circle Angstrom Award for
Career Achievement.
www.jeremypivnick.com
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: La Jolla
Playhouse, Ahmanson Theatre, Mark
Taper Forum, Berkeley Repertory
Theatre, Arena Stage, South Coast
Repertory, Kirk Douglas Theatre,
The Pasadena Playhouse, Shrine
Auditorium, and Geffen Playhouse.
She has won a Los Angeles Drama
Critics Circle Award and a Garland
Award and has earned 16 Los
Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award
nominations.
www.cricketsmyers.com
BEN ROCK (Projection Designer)
Ben is a filmmaker with online,
commercial, television, theatre,
and feature film directing credits.
His theatre directing credits include
Bertolt Brecht’s Baal and Shakespeare’s
Richard III. Along with partner-in-crime
Anthony Backman, Ben co-created
the projections for award-winning
shows, including A Kind of Love Story,
the blockbuster Stoneface (which won
awards from the Los Angeles Drama
Critics Circle as well as LA Weekly), and
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
(which won an LA Weekly award for
projection design). Check out his
website at www.benrockonline.com,
read his blog at
www.neptunesalad.wordpress.com,
or follow him on Twitter at
@Neptunesalad!
P8 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
ANTHONY BACKMAN (Projection
Designer) rejoins Stoneface with his
esteemed creative partner Ben Rock
and is pleased to be a part of this
exciting revision for this beautiful
new Pasadena canvas. After winning
the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle
and LA Weekly awards for original
production design for Stoneface,
Anthony and Ben continued the
winning streak in 2014 with the LA
Weekly award for best projection for
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
at Sacred Fools Theater Company.
Other production credits include
editor for the award-winning feature
film “A Girl, A Guy, A Space Helmet.”
Anthony would like to thank French,
Vanessa, and Jaime for bringing him
along for the ride. More info:
www.AnthonyBackman.com
JESSICA MILLS (Wig Designer) is
delighted to be joining The Pasadena
Playhouse for Stoneface. She holds
a B.F.A. in Wig and Makeup Design
from the University of North Carolina
School of the Arts. Jessica has worked
on various stage, film, and opera
projects, including those at The
Antaeus Company (The Malcontent),
Nashville Opera, Spoleto Festival USA
(Monkey: Journey to the West and
“Louise”), LA Opera (“Lohengrin”),
and Disney Cruise Lines. Most recently
she worked on “The Consul” at Opera
Santa Barbara and she designed for
Plan B Entertainment productions of
RENT and Les Misérables.
SUSIE WALSH (Production 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.
HETHYR “RED” VERHOEF (Stage
Manager) Hethyr has always been
entranced by the power of art and
all the elements it takes to create
it. Over the years, she has worked
on numerous productions as lead
flyman/rigger, deck crew, and stage
manager. Hethyr recently returned
from the Regional Tour of One Night
with Janis Joplin and is thrilled to be
back at her mother theatre. “Para
mí sólo recorrer los caminos que
tienen corazón.” Proud Actors’ Equity
Association member, Local 33.
MIKE MAHAFFEY (Fight Director)
is proud to be making his Pasadena
Playhouse debut with Stoneface.
Select Los Angeles credits: The Trip
Back Down (Whitefire Theatre); Taste,
Live! From the Last Night of My Life,
and The Mother Ship (Sacred Fools
Theater Company); The Assassination
of Leon Trotsky: A Comedy and Romeo
& Juliet: Circus Verona (Odyssey
Theatre Ensemble); Macbeth (Long
Beach Playhouse); and Short Eyes
(Urban Theatre Movement). Other
credits: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
(The English Theatre Frankfurt),
“Carmen” (San Diego Opera), and
originated the fights for Wayne
Rawley’s Money & Run series of plays.
Film/TV: “Resident Evil:
Degeneration,” “Chronicles of Narnia,”
“The Gold Retrievers,” and “Last Stand
of the 300.” Mike is recognized as a
Certified Teacher and Fight Director
(one of just 50 nationwide) with the
Society of American Fight Directors.
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 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
WHO’S WHO
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.
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.
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 community-focused, 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.
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 Peewee 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.
CONNECT WITH US:
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PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P9
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Sheila Grether-Marion
Chair
David DiCristofaro
Acting Chair
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
Amy LoCascio
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
Dear Fellow Theatre Supporters,
As a leader in American theatre, The Pasadena
Playhouse is known for launching new works
and nurturing artists in addition to serving
and growing diverse audiences. Several new
initiatives will have a meaningful impact in our
community.
GREENHOUSE at The Playhouse is a mentorship
program created in partnership with the
University of Southern California School of
Dramatic Arts. Students earning their Master of
Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing develop new plays
and benefit from this “living lab” process.
Mi Historia, Mi Moda! seeks to increase Latino participation in the arts by
encouraging individuals to share their stories. This effort is part of the Wells
Fargo Theatrical Diversity Project, which promotes diverse and inclusive
programming. We are proud to be receiving support from the prestigious
James Irvine Foundation and Theatre Communications Group for this
initiative.
Seats and Carpet renovation will begin in August. Our historical venue
deserves attention and this long-overdue improvement is for your comfort
and enjoyment. We will have the BEST SEATS to enjoy the BEST STORIES IN
TOWN during our 2014–2015 Season.
GIVE the gift of theatre to your community TODAY! Our fiscal year ends
on August 31, 2014, and your tax-deductible gift—in any amount—will
support outstanding artistry and innovation on stage, as well as audience
development and additional facility improvements.
Thank you for your commitment to our beloved theatre.
Sincerely,
David DiCristofaro
The Pasadena Playhouse Board of Directors, Acting Chair
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.
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.
Take the Lead
Highlights from The Pasadena Playhouse’s annual Premiere Gala honoring the Lythgoe Family,
in celebration of dance and choreography
May 4, 2014
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.
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.
Alecia Davis and Honoree Simon Lythgoe, Honoree Bonnie Lythgoe, Acting
Chair of the Board David DiCristofaro, Honoree Kris Lythgoe, Gala Chair Teena
Hostovich, Honoree Nigel Lythgoe, Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps,
Playhouse Executive Director Elizabeth Doran, and Honoree Becky Lythgoe
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.
Gala Chair Teena Hostovich and Michele Engemann with the
“living” red carpet.
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.
Steve and Sindee Riboli, Brenda and Bill Galloway, and Shannon J. Miller
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.
Friend ($250–$499)
• Recognition in the program.
• And the benefit listed below.
To everyone’s delight, a flash mob parted the crowd with their
dance moves.
Councilmember John J. Kennedy, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Gala Chair Teena
Hostovich, Darrell Brooke, Rapheal Henderson, and Jacque Robinson
Contributor ($1–$249)
• Recognition on the website.
Maureen Tyson, Gala Chair Teena Hostovich, Michelle Tyson,
and Lena Kennedy
For Donor Benefits, please contact the
Development Office at 626-737-2852.
WAYS TO GIVE
CASH, CHECK, AND CREDIT CARD GIFTS
Gary Dahle, Thomas Castaneda, Richard von Ernst, Ann Voyer and Craig Martin,
and Derek Whitefield
The Pasadena Playhouse
600 Playhouse Alley, Suite 300
Pasadena, CA 91101
ONLINE DONATION
Visit
www.pasadenaplayhouse.org
to make gift.
For more information or to make a gift by phone,
please contact the Development Office at
626-737-2852.
Ben Vereen serenaded the crowd and encouraged everyone to support the arts.
Performers kept guests on the edge of their seats in a theatre-turned-nightclub.
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P11
THANK YOU!
Visionary’s Circle
($100,000+)
Estate of Harriet L. Freeman
James Irvine Foundation
Wells Fargo Bank
Executive Director’s Circle
($75,000–$99,999)
Sheila Grether-Marion and Mark
Marion
Artistic Director’s Circle
($50,000–$74,999)
Avery and Andrew Barth
Teena Hostovich and Doug
Martinet
Terri and Jerry Kohl
Los Angeles County Arts
Commission
The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
S. Mark Taper Foundation
Director’s Circle
($25,000–$49,999)
Darrell G. Brooke
Marilyn and Don Conlan
The Green Foundation
Herbalife
Julie and Don Hopf
Dottie and Bob King
Gayle and Tad Lowrey
Nelson M. Millsberg
Pacific Global Investment
Management Company
Pasadena Community Foundation
Bingo and Gino Roncelli
The Shubert Foundation
Lilah Stangeland
Theatre Communications Group
U.S. Bank
Frank Williams
Designer’s Circle
($10,000–$24,999)
Milo W. Bekins Foundation
Chubb Group of Insurance
Companies
Ms. Jane Curruthers
Patti and Jim Dolan
Michele and Roger Engemann
Sheldon Epps
Friends of The Pasadena
Playhouse
Brenda and Bill Galloway
Gesner-Johnson Foundation
Jay and Linda Griffey
Henry L. Guenther Foundation
Lindemann Foundation
Shannon J. and Darrell D. Miller
The Kenneth T. and Eileen L.
Norris Foundation
Northern Trust
Ann Peppers Foundation
Barbara and Tony Phillips
Marion R. Riley
Anne Taubman and David Boyle
Jinny and Scott Wilcott
Playwright’s Circle
($5,000–$9,999)
Chantal and Steve Bennett
Diane and Fred Blum
John and Tamara Brown
Dorothy Falcinella
Carl and Lori Grether
Rose Ann Hall
P12 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
Marcia L. Hoffman
Sumi and Bill Hughes
Sally and Bill Hurt
Kathleen Johnson
Steven and Helen Kerstein
Pam and Brad King
Harvey and Ellen Knell
Lauren and Matt Krieger
Michael Mackness
Merrill Lynch
Thomas N. Neff
Gaylord Nichols
Deidra Norman Schumann
Elizabeth Pankey
Herbert and Marilyn Piken
Kay and Bob Rehme
Terrance and Rita Roberts
Rotary Club of Pasadena
Betty Sandford
Art and Liz Silveri
Southern California Gas Company
Elliot and Danielle Stahler
Maureen Tyson and Family
Cindy Vail and Greg Stone
Judy and Robert Waller
Performer’s Circle
($2,500–$4,999)
Jon Anderson and Martha
Williamson
JoJeanne and Dann Angeloff
Cynthia Bennett and Ed de
Beixedon
Chris and Kelbe Bensinger
Meta and Jay Berger
Z. Clark Branson
Break-Away Tours
Bill and Mary Lea Carroll
George L. Cassat
Cindy Chen Harris
Craig Colbath and Ann Voyer
Peggy Ebright
El Portal Restaurant
Henri and Donna Ford
Ed and Connie Foster
Fox Rothschild LLP
Tracy and Richard Hirrel
Elizabeth Levitt Hirsch
Hon. John J. Kennedy and Lena L.
Kennedy
Mrs. Delilah Lanoix
Sally Jean Lash
Linden Optometry, a P.C.
Shelly and Dennis Lowe
Steve Madison
Greta and Peter Mandell
Diane and Craig Martin
Vicki and Kerry McCluggage
Liz and David McFadzean
Susan McGuirl and Bob
Musselman
Stephanie and Greg McLemore
Lary and Mary Anne Mielke
Christine Marie Ofiesh
Charles Pankow
Pasadena Playhouse Alumni &
Associates
Greg and Louise Probert
Dick and Sally Roberts
Jennifer Gayle Rogers
Paul and Cynthia Roye/The
Capital Group Companies
SAPA
Judy and Bill Shupper
SPARC
Mindy and Gene Stein
Stellar Prosthetics & Orthotics/
Karin and Sean Stellar
Ashana and Tom Thorman
Martha Tolles
Harold Wheeler and Hattie
Winston Wheeler
Stage Manager’s Circle
($1,000–$2,499)
Sara and George Abdo
Selwyn Aronson
Aline and Danny Bakewell Sr.
Matthew Berry
Robert Bozzani
Lesley Brander
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
Barbara and Wes Coleman
Carol Ann Collins
Gary Dahle and Derek Whitefield
April Danz and Kelly Johnson
Ann and Paul DeMartini
Mr. and Mrs. Leo Dencik
Fernando Diaz and Gary Petrisak
David DiCristofaro
Darrell Done
Downstream Exchange Company
Angus Duncan Trust
Eleven Twenty Seven Foundation
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
Marlene and Jeff Goldfarb
Kelly and Lou Gonda
Arlene and Robert Harder
Dr. Stephen Henry and Rudy
O’Claray
Carolyn “Cece” Horne
John and Barbara House
Reginald Hudlin
Jane Jelenko
Paulie Jenkins
Donna and Lou Jones
Marilyn Jones and Mitchell
Kaplan
Marcia and Gordon Kanofsky
Thresa Katz
Lenny and David Kelton
John and Nancy Killen
Bernard and Shirley Kinsey
Willette and Manu Klausner
Patti La Marr
Helen Lambros
Jennifer and Michael LaRocco
Janet and David Lazier
Lily Lee and Tom Chang
Ms. Donna Leonhard
Anthony and Amy Locascio
Melba MacNeil
Edith P. Mehlinger
Jessie Milano
Ceil and Mort Mortimer
Gordon and DeEtte Mountford
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Nafie
Michael Naples
Irwin Persaud
Michael Persaud
Gina and James Pickens Jr.
Gloria and Don Pitzer
Hilde and Irving Rosenbluth
San Marino Rotary Charities
Sossi and Norman Sarafian
Barbara Sinclair
Singpoli Group
Rabbi Lynn Brody Slome and Mr.
Ansel Slome
Phillip Sotel
Amy and Charles Stephens
Susan Stevens
Susan Sullivan
Laney and Tom Techentin
Janet Thomasser
Charla and Richard Tindall
Roslyn Towler
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 Wolveck
William H. Wright Jr.
Supporter
($500–$999)
Jacqueline and Clarence Avant
Rita Baker
Kathryn and Michael Balale
Mrs. Katherine Ballard
Monty Basile
Laura and Jason Berns
Barrett and Carol Bingaman
John and Annette Brende
John Casani
Diana J. Cliff
Suzanne and Walter
Cochran-Bond
Renate and Mel Cohen
William Cunningham
Nadine and Tony Danz
Dorothy and William Davila
Charles Dillingham and Susan
Clines
Mr. Michael Farrand
Richard Gilman
Gabriel Halperin
Courtney Harper and Family
J. P. and Diane Harris
Ellen and Michael Hatch
Sue Haynie-Horn
Mary Heartfield
Christopher Hillseth
Susan Hoffman
The HWL Family Foundation
Leigh Jackson
Helga Johnstone
Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Kaplan
Richard Kaplan
Janet and Mark Labberton
Patricia Lyons
Colleen McAuley
Roger C. Memos
Susan and Allan Mohrman
Cheryl and Judd Morris
Larry and Donna Moulton
Linda Moy
Kenneth and Richel Nash
Janice Ohta
Carol and Mark Olson
Jane Thurber Paine and Garrett
Paine
Bill and Mary Payne
Lucile and John Penido
Lucy Pliskin
Lyn and John Pohlmann
Jack Pollock
Jane Prickett Luthard
Debby and Bill Richards
Susan and Ed Richmond
Janis Salin
Jean Scott and Kent Keller
Alvan and Barbara Shane
Jefrey Sheldon
Joel and Jil Sheldon
Dorothy Shepherd
Bernadette and Russell Sherman
Stuart Simon
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey M. Smith
Lew and Vicki Snow
Gail and David Snyder
Richard Sun
Philip Swan
Polly and Stender Sweeney
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Taylor
Betsey Tyler
Martin Pierce Udell
Vroman’s Bookstore
Dr. Nancy Warner
James and Mary Weidner
Nita Whitaker LaFontaine
Betty Whitehead
Jeph Willis
Ralyn and Nate Wolfstein
Harvey and Sharon Zaslaw
Rosa Zee
David and Julia Zuckerman
Friend
($250–$499)
Joan and Andreas Aebi
Mr. and Mrs. Arden Albee
Richard Basch
Frank and V. Kristine Bellino
C. W. Bennett
Susan Bleecker
Claire and Bill Bogaard
Paula Brand
William Brownlie
Esthere Brutsch
Lori Buckley
Jacqueline and Arthur Burdorf
Richard Burke
Grace E. Carter
Renatta Cooper
Daryl Curtis
Stewart Dater
Tony Dinardo
Michele Dressback
Kay and Larry Driscoll
Carol Elkind
Richard and Nancy Esbenshade
Mr. Kevin Fichtner
Judy Fisher
Robert Fuller
Robert Galvan
Kevin George
Dan Gilbert and Kate Rogers
Harry Gilbert
Sue and William Gordon
Beryl and Graham Gosling
Susan Groshen
Ms. Robin Hirabayashi
Mr. and Mrs. John Hosier
Gary Hunter
GIFT-IN-KIND
DONATIONS
William Huston
Marie Ida
Mr. and Mrs. George Inadomi
Erica Jamieson
Liz Jewkes
Dr. Gloria Johnson
Rosa Johnson
Ruth and Jeremy Jones
Theresa Katz
Mr. Paul Kent
Dr. Edward Klein
Dr. Phyllis Klein
Trana and Ronald Labowe
Sherry and Al Lapides
Janeen and David Lee
Jo Ann Lee
Sandy Leonardis
Donna, Hyman, and Jebb Levy
Ronald Lewis
Linda Liddell
Mr. Clark Linstone
Laura Luna
Kris and Becky Lythgoe
Graeme Magruder
Roger and Thyra Mairs
Joyce McGilvray
Delise Menik
Ralph Miles
Fritz and Angie Miller
Marsha S. Miller
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Moak
Ms. Jodi Montgomery
Mr. and Mrs. Millard Murphy
Dr. Ejike and Mrs. Victoria Ndefo
Lisa Nelson
Edward Parker
Anthony Parrille
Andrea and Jeffrey Pomerance
Robert Postawko
Cheryl Resnik
Christopher Rhea
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Rich
Phil Ross
Mr. Ric Ross
Mark P. Saltzman
William Sargent
William Schreiber
Mr. and Mrs. John H. Scott
Marcia Scully
David Seaman
Barbara Selarz
Raymond Shelton
Rosemary Simmons
Grant and Liz Smith
Sue Spence
Brett Stangeland
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
Hattie Winston
Joan Wojslaw Oppenheimer
James Yessian
All donors listed gave at least $250
since May 1, 2013.
Contributions received after April 30,
2014, will be acknowledged in the
next program.
SUMMER 2014
SEATS AND CARPET WILL BE REPLACED!
Our thanks to the following individuals
and companies that donated gifts-in-kind
to The Pasadena Playhouse since May 1,
2013.
Any gifts-in-kind received after April 30,
2014, 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
Teena Hostovich and Doug Martinet
Lena L. Kennedy
Patti La Marr
little junebugs
Maison Akira
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Printefex
Debby Prohias
David Rambo and Ted Heyck
redwhite+bluezz
Paul and Cynthia Roye
Robert and Carol Shapiro
Stone Brewing Co.
TechFirmation LLC
It’s time to restore The Pasadena Playhouse to its original grandeur.
Having new seats will make your theatre experience even more enjoyable.
Please take a moment to visit our “sample chair” in the lobby. Join fellow
patrons as they participate in this Seats and Carpet Campaign. There is a
collection box in the lobby. Act now!
The following foundations have helped us launch this Seats and Carpet
Campaign: S. Mark Taper Foundation, Gesner-Johnson Foundation, Henry
L. Guenther Foundation, and the Pasadena Community Foundation. We
applaud their commitment to The Pasadena Playhouse.
If you wish to make a contribution:
• VISIT our website at www.pasadenaplayhouse.org
• MAIL a check to The Pasadena Playhouse, 600 Playhouse Alley,
Suite 300, Pasadena, CA 91101
• CALL Christine Franke at 626-737-2852 to donate by phone
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P13
SURROUNDING STONEFACE
While you’re at The Pasadena Playhouse enjoying Stoneface, surround your experience
with these activities:
In the Georgia T. McClay
Friendship Center
Enjoy an interactive installation from Los Angeles-based
theatrical, interior, and event designer Tifanie McQueen,
which includes:
“Be a Buster”
Take your photo in a Buster Keaton
signature porkpie hat.
“Pulley Table Contraption”
Try your hand at the dinner scene
from “The Scarecrow.”
“Perfect Birthday Gift”
The playwright of Stoneface, Vanessa Claire Stewart, wrote
this play as a birthday present for her husband French
Stewart. Tell us your perfect birthday gift ideas.
TALKBACK TUESDAY at The
Playhouse is a post-show
series in which a panel of
community experts and
esteemed guests discuss
and explore selected
themes of the show with
the audience.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Keaton Family Stories
Immediately following the 8:00 p.m. performance
Enjoy a Q&A with Harry “Jingles” Keaton Jr., the nephew
of Buster Keaton, as he shares stories from the vault of
this exalted Hollywood family. Moderated by Jenelle Riley.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Collaborations Across Los Angeles Theatres
Immediately following the 8:00 p.m. performance
Stoneface premiered at Sacred Fools Theater Company
in 2012 and is being “scaled up” and transferred for this
production at The Pasadena Playhouse. How do plays
make this journey? How do theatres across Los Angeles
collaborate? LA Weekly’s Steven Leigh Morris moderates
this panel, which includes Stoneface writer and producer
Vanessa Claire Stewart, Playhouse Artistic Director
Sheldon Epps, and others.
Post-Show at The Playhouse gives our audience the opportunity
to interact with the cast. Join us for a Post-Show chat with
the Stoneface actors following the 7:00 p.m. performance on
Sunday, June 15, 2014!
HOTHOUSE is the signature new play development program at The Pasadena Playhouse.
Launched in 2005, the program provides playwrights and the community with a living
lab where new scripts are rehearsed, read aloud, revised, rehearsed, and read again.
Co-creation through our consensus organizing methodology; experimentation with
and exploration of text, music, and movement; and artistic bravery are embraced and
encouraged through our process. Many plays that started out as HOTHOUSE at The
Playhouse readings have since gone on to our Mainstage, as well as other regional
theatres, the West End, and Broadway. Such plays include Sister Act, The Musical, which
was nominated for multiple Tony Awards, and Above the Fold, which was on our Mainstage
earlier this season. For more information or to support the development of new plays,
contact [email protected].
Up next in the HOTHOUSE:
BREAKING THROUGH
Book by Kirsten Guenther
Music and Lyrics by Cliff Downs and Katie Kahanovitz
Breaking Through is the inspirational story of a young singer/songwriter following her dreams and
aspirations amidst the treacherous waters of the music industry.
P14 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
PASADENA PLAYHOUSE ALUMNI & ASSOCIATES
The Pasadena Playhouse Alumni & Associates is proud of our scholarship program for theatre
students. Thanks to a generous endowment from alumnus Henry Sumid, the PPA&A has bestowed
college scholarships with an aggregate value of $155,000.
Please visit www.sumidscholarship.com for more information.
In 1940, Henry Sumid graduated from the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts. He then worked professionally as
a graphic artist. After retiring, he took up sculpting in his Los Angeles studio, where he also gave lessons in drawing and
watercolor.
Upon his death, the PPA&A received a large bequest from Mr. Sumid to create a scholarship for students of the arts. He had
so enjoyed his years at The Pasadena Playhouse that he wanted others to have similar experiences, and he recognized that
financial assistance is vital to education.
AMBASSADORS OF THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE
The beautiful Pasadena Playhouse has an amazing history, which adds so much to
the magic of the theatre. And the Ambassadors want to share that history with as
many guests as possible. They have had a busy season greeting a record number of
people, hosting lots of exciting parties, and fostering good relationships with Playhouse
supporters.
And just where is the perfect place to share the stories of The Playhouse? Why, up in the
lovely Makineni Library, of course! Overlooking the busy patio and tastefully decorated
with books and paintings, the Library is truly a special place for Playhouse guests to
socialize and partake of delicious refreshments.
FRIENDS OF THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE
The Friends have been the volunteer support of The Pasadena Playhouse since 1979. A self-run
organization with a 22-member Board, this busy group volunteers over 30,000 hours each year.
Activities include ushering, providing cast and crew meals, guiding tours, working in the Archives,
selling merchandise during the shows, helping in the office, leading special projects, and spearheading some
fundraising events. In addition, they hold several social events and organize trips to other theatres. The Friends
publish their newsletter “Offstage” six times a year.
To join this active and fun-loving organization or for more information,
please visit our website at www.friendsofthepasadenaplayhouse.org.
BACKSTAGE TOURS
“Thank you again for the lovely tour of The Pasadena Playhouse! I so appreciate your
taking the time and energy to take the kids ‘behind the scenes’ of your professional and
beautiful theatre.” – Delighted Parent after a recent tour with elementary school children
and their parents
Your group will love a rewarding, informative, and fun Backstage Tour.
For more information or to book a tour,
email [email protected] or call 626-921-1162.
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P15
Sheldon Epps
Artistic Director
Elizabeth Doran
Executive Director
ARTISTIC
Associate Artistic Director ...................................... Seema Sueko
Community Organizers ............ Alison De La Cruz, Peter J. Harris,
Nijeul X. Porter, Victor Vazquez
Education Programs Consultant ........................ Alexis Chamow
Stoneface Teaching Artists ........ Daniel Chacon, Anastasia Coon,
Tim Fannon, Deepti Gupta, Kate Jopson,
Joan McConacha, Robert Paterno
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Director of Finance................................................ Meredith Min
Controller .............................................................. Anna Panoian
Accounting Consultant............................... Mary Ann Heidsman
Union Liaison .......................................................... Angela Sidlow
Executive Assistant...................................... Whitney Fortmueller
IT Consulting Firm................................................. TechFirmation
DEVELOPMENT
Director of Institutional Advancement .......................... Jan Saiget
Major Gifts Officer ................................................ Christine Franke
Special Events Coordinator ............................... Julia Fitzgibbons
MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS & SALES
Marketing, Communications & Sales Director......... Patty Onagan
Marketing & Promotions Manager ................... Jonathan White
Subscriptions Manager ................................. Frank Ensenberger
Group Sales Associate ......................................... Susan Von Tress
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 Coordinator/Copyeditor ...................... Nicole Fanning
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, Adam Cotton,
Rafael Goldstein, Sara Kea, Brandon Massey,
Nathaniel Peterson, Jacob Randall, Colby Salmon,
Tyler Ware, Bonnie Williams
House Managers...................................... Lenore Bond Almanzar,
Sue Haynie-Horn, Patrick J. Oliva,
Steven M. West
FRIENDS OF THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE
Executive Board
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
PASADENA PLAYHOUSE ALUMNI & ASSOCIATES
Executive Board
President............................................................... Valerie Amidon
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
STONEFACE PRODUCTION STAFF
Production Stage Manager ...................................... Susie Walsh
Stage Manager .......................................... Hethyr “Red” Verhoef
Company Manager............................................ Kristen Hammack
Consulting Producer ........................................... Brian W. Wallis
Production Assistants............................... Jenny Brum, Emily Joe
Assistant Costume Designer ................................ Monique Ayala
Assistant Lighting Designer .................................. Meghan Hong
Movement/Dance Consultant .......................... Natasha Norman
Deck Supervisor ........................................................ Matt Petosa
Deck Crew .................................................................... Chris Cook
Deck Electrician/Projections ................................. David Patrick
Rail .................................................. Gabe Holguin, Sean Lewellyn
Lead Scenic Artist.................................................. Johnny LeBlanc
Scenic Artist............................................................. Krista Perkins
Props Master .................................................... Shannon Dedman
Props Assistant ............................................. Devin Lennon-Davey
Master Electrician ................................................ Chris Osborne
Moving Light Programmer ................................... Rich Peterson
Light Board Operator ........................................ Mark Dougherty
Lead Rigger.................................................................. Tim Moore
Riggers ............................................ Gabe Holguin, Sean Lewellyn
Production Sound Engineer................................ Eric Thompson
A2 ........................................................................... Joey Cleveland
Wardrobe Supervisor ......................................... Marie Growden
Dresser .................................................................. Jana Morimoto
Wig Supervisor ...................................................... Raenae Kuaea
Master Carpenter................................................... Isa Mitsuharu
Shop Foreman.......................................................... Gabe Holguin
Carpenters ......................................... Joey Cleveland, Chris Cook,
Takuji “Clutch” Kuramoto,
Sean Lewellyn, Joel Schlessinger,
Ryan Shull
LEGAL COUNSEL
Pamela M. Golinski, Esq. Beigelman, Feiner & Feldman P.C.
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P16 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
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.
S
GENERAL MANAGEMENT/PRODUCTION
General Manager/Production Manager....................... Joe Witt
Associate General Manager............................. Brandon Dobbins
Technical Director ..................................................... Brad Enlow
Company Manager............................................ Kristen Hammack
Associate Company Manager................................. Stacey Castillo
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
STONEFACE
SPONSORS
CA
8
L USA
The Designers at this Theatre
are Represented by
United Scenic Artists • Local USA 829
of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes
WARNING: The photographic or sound recording of any ­performance or
the possession of any device for such p­ hotographic 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.
PLANNING
A GROUP EVENT?
If you have a group
of 8 or more, enjoy
extra savings!
Contact:
Susan Von Tress
Group Sales
626.921.1161
[email protected]