the pdf
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the pdf
a world premiere production boston, ma // september 2014 stanford calderwood pavilion at the boston center for the arts ABOUT THE PLAY Synopsis. Desperate to cure his epilepsy, a young man underwent an experimental neurosurgery in 1953 — shockingly, the procedure destroyed his brain's ability to form new memories. Now known as Patient HM, he became widely studied, and his fascinating case serves as inspiration for The Forgetting Curve, a new play told in a non-linear style through the lens of fictional neuroscientist, Dr. Laura Nebbens. She has studied HM for several decades, and on the eve of accepting a prestigious award, struggles to reconcile all she has sacrificed to leave the legacy of her life's work. Both she and HM have made significant contributions to the scientific community, and the human race — but at what cost? History. Originally developed at Emerging Artists Theater in New York, THE FORGETTING CURVE was further refined at the Continuum Writer’s Group at The Player’s Club, and The Oracles Writing Group. The play was a semifinalist in the Eugene O’Neill National Writers Conference, and most recently enjoyed a staged reading at SoHo Playhouse in New York City for a select audience of industry guests. Producers Carl White (Gore Vidal’s The Best Man), Neil Danoff (Spring Awakening), and Tom Polum (The Toxic Avenger), spoke on a panel with the play’s director and lead producer, Kimberly Loren Eaton, about the future life of the project. All four agreed that Boston would be an ideal location for a premiere production before transferring to New York. Peak inside the script… “ It’s just a loss of memory. Not reality. ” Playwright. Vanda, an Edward Albee Fellow and Lambda National Literary Award Finalist, was profiled in the Dramatist Guild’s Magazine article, 50 (playwrights) To Watch. Original Works published her play, VILE AFFECTIONS, in 2008 after five standing room only performances at the international New York Fringe Festival. Another play, WHY’D YA MAKE ME WEAR THIS, JOE?, won first place in Celebration Theater’s Best LGBT Play Contest. Fun Fact: Iconic playwright Edward Albee reads several plays from all the finalists before Edward Albee Fellows are named. Above is a letter he penned in support of Vanda. ABOUT THE PRODUCTION When. September 2014 Where. Wimberly Stage Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts 527 Tremont St // Boston, MA The Calderwood Pavilion is Boston’s premiere theatre venue, located in the city’s posh South End neighborhood, convenient to hotels, transit, parking and award winning restaurants. ABOUT THE PRODUCERS Kimberly Loren Eaton, Theatrum Mundi Productions Kimberly Loren Eaton is the Principal and Founder of Theatrum Mundi Productions, a New York City company which provides theatrical producing, directing, and general management services, and most recently served as an above-the-title producer on The Velocity of Autumn, on Broadway, starring Estelle Parsons (TONY Nomination, Best Actress in a Play) and two-time TONY winner Stephen Spinella. During her tenure as the Artistic and Managing Director of the Off-Broadway Marjorie S. Dean Little Theater, Kimberly oversaw the $2 million capital renovation of the historic space, re-branded it, developed an audience, and had the theater operating at a profit within two years. She curated compelling productions, including Freud’s Last Session, which received an Off-Broadway Alliance Award, a Jeff Award, and was honored by the Library for the Performing Arts. Selected directing credits include: Closer, Once on This Island, The Music Man, Guys and Dolls, Private Lives, and Jack London: Sex, Love and Revolution. She is a member of the League of Professional Theatre Women, serves on the Board of two non-profit organizations, and also works as a non-profit Consultant. She received her formal education at Queens College, Hofstra University, and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Bridge Repertory Theater of Boston Bridge Repertory Theater of Boston has just completed its inaugural season, which included a large-scale co-production, a world premiere, a musical, and an award-winning contemporary drama. In just one season, Bridge Rep earned eight nominations from the Independent Reviewers of New England, including Best Play and Best Director, and has been featured in all of greater Boston’s major media outlets, including the Boston Globe and WGBH. With a mission to “connect actors to audiences, artists to artists, and the theatre to our city,” Bridge Rep has already built a strong reputation for staging intimate productions rooted in top-notch acting. Producing Artistic Director, Olivia D’Ambrosio www.bridgerepofboston.com “…thoughtful, eclectic choices of material have quickly and deservedly put Bridge Rep’s name on the Boston theater map in bold letters.” - Broadway World Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company, NYC Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) incorporated non-profit organization committed to working with a diverse network of artists, and to giving back to the community it serves. In September of 2013, Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company partnered with Bridge Rep of Boston to produce The Libertine, by Stephen Jeffreys – a collaboration that garnered a prestigious Elliot Norton nomination for Best Production of a Play. Producing Artistic Director, Joseph W. Rodriguez w w w . p l a y h o u Introducing s e c r ea aF resh t u New r e Tsheatre . o rCompany g “The Libertine is must-see debauchery.” - The Boston Globe Press Pack 2011 PLAYHOUSE CREATURES THEATRE COMPANY Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company [email protected] www.PlayHouseCreatures.org Cole Burden, Producer Cole is honored to work with Theatrum Mundi, Bridge Rep, Playhouse Creatures, and Alan Swanke. He is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory and has called New York City home for the past eight years. In New York, he has been primarily an actor and currently studies at HB Studio under the guidance of Austin Pendleton. His passion has always been for developing new plays and musicals and has worked at City Center ENCORES!, The Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Planet Connections Theatre Festival, and Two River Theatre Company. Cole was on tour with the 25th Anniversary production of Les Miserables, and has enjoyed playing the roles of Warner in Legally Blonde at the Marriott Lincolnshire, Joe/Jerry in Grey Gardens at the Philadelphia Theatre Company, and Che in Evita at Mason Street Warehouse. His TV/FILM credits include: Beautiful Creatures for Warner Bros, The Real Housewives of New York for Bravo, 30 Rock, One Life to Life, and As The World Turns. Aside from acting and developing new works in NYC, he co-manages GET SERVICES, a private concierge service to artists within the entertainment industry. He has had the pleasure of working alongside, and learning from, Tony Goldwyn, Zach Braff, Patrick Wilson, William H. Macey, and Felicity Huffman. Having two Grandparents that were affected by Alzheimer’s disease, Cole is very passionate about The Forgetting Curve. He is most excited to help bring this story to Boston audiences! Alan Swanke, Producer Most recently, Alan co-produced a presentation of the new musical Wild and Willful Women as part of annual TRU Voices Reading Series. Other theater projects include managing the marketing efforts for the New York International Fringe Festival production of Jack London: Sex, Love and Revolution, The Midtown International Theatre Festival production of Teach Me to Cry, and the Rock Tonic Theatrical Concert Series presented by The Show Goes On Productions. Outside of theatre Alan spent 6 years in brand management with MillerCoors. During this time he led many high profile marketing campaigns. Alan holds a Bachelor’s degree in economics from St. Norbert College and a Master’s degree in applied economics from Marquette University. ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM Key Creatives Ann Talman, playing Dr. Nebbens Ann made her Broadway debut as a young actor playing opposite Elizabeth Taylor in The Little Foxes. She has since made her career on Broadway, at our country’s finest regional theatres, and in London’s West End. Her enormous experience and natural warmth make her a great fit to take on the role of Dr. Laura Nebbens. Dale Place, playing Old HM A long-time, IRNE-nominated, Boston-based actor, Dale is well known to local audiences, and also has significant New York credits at the Public/Shakespeare in the Park and Lincoln Center. He brings a depth and an age that are both crucial to the final scene of the play, and we are lucky to have him. Shura Baryshnikov, Movement Designer The Forgetting Curve blurs time and place, lending itself to unique movement composition. Shura is a Providence-based modern dancer and choreographer with extensive background in Viewpoints and other forms. The daughter of Mikhail Baryshnikov and Jessica Lange, Shura is no stranger to movement and physical theatre – indeed, she is a key part of Curve. Complete Creative Team Kimberly Loren Eaton ... Director Shura Baryshnikov ... Movement Design Bevin Kelly … Musical Composition & Sound Design Meganne George ... Costume Design Julia Noulin-Mérat ... Scenic Design Annie Wiegand ... Lighting Design Eamonn Farrell ... Projection Design Esme Allen & John Tracey ... Props Masters CAST Ann Talman* ... Dr. Nebbens Dale Place* ... Oldest HM Conor William Wright ... Youngest HM Joleen Wilkinson* ... Mom Thomas Kee* ... Pop / Middle HM Laura Darrell* ... Laura Nebbens Lillian Kelly ... The Girl Next Door Jasmine Rush ... Claire Alexander Platt* ... Dr. Tilden / Dr. Scutter / Dr. Clark Fun Fact: Our Youngest HM looks an awful lot like the real life HM, don’t you think? MANAGEMENT Cassie M. Seinuk* ... Production Stage Manager Niko Companies ... General Managers John Tracey ... Assistant Stage Manager Erach Screwvala / Screwvala LLC ... Legal Laura Sullivan / DRIVE PR + Consulting ….. Public Relations *Member, Actors’ Equity Association, the union for professional actors and stage managers in the United States. ABOUT THE CREATIVE VISION The Forgetting Curve will be an intimately staged, three-quarter round production rooted in top-notch acting and evocative design. A large, ensemble style cast will combine with exciting production elements – including projection design, movement design and original music composition. Actors will weave through an installation style unit set consisting primarily of picture frames – some empty, some illuminated momentarily with a flash of light, some doubling as projection surfaces – creating a stunning, unexpected visual representation of memory and the mind. In this setting, the story’s narrator and protagonist – fictional neuroscientist, Dr. Laura Nebbens – will encounter and attempt to reconcile three different worlds: her present reality, her surreal past, and a constructed imagining of Patient HM’s boyhood. Each world will have a distinct and discrete stylization. From the audience, it may seem the play is set inside Dr. Nebbens’ mind. Indeed, the intimacy and immediacy of the actors and the production elements will allow for a visceral sense of participation in Nebbens’ experience of memory, space and time. At left, a research image from the PInterest board of Director/Producer Kimberly Loren Eaton. BRINGING CURVE TO LIFE Up to $1000 $1000 - $2500 $2500 - $5000 $5000 - $10,000 $10,000+ A S P RT O IST N SO R D E SP S O IGN N SO PE R SP R O FO N R SO M R AN D PR ON I V OR A TE PA RT PA Y TI IR C K OF ET S S PO IGN ST ED ER T D AX ED U C TI O GIVING TIERS & BENEFITS N LI P ST O LAY ING N L I BI I N N LL E & C E creating a memory leaving a legacy At the ARTIST SPONSOR level, your gift goes directly toward compensating one of our artists. Your name will appear next to your sponsored artist’s name in all printed materials, including playbills and posters. At the DESIGN SPONSOR level, your gift goes directly toward the realization of our costume, scenic, sound, lighting, props and projection design elements, and your name will appear in a special listing in playbills and online. At the PERFORMANCE SPONSOR level, you will be billed and announced live as the generous supporter of a specific performance during the run of the show. Thank you for your generous support. FOR MORE INFORMATION please contact us Kimberly Loren Eaton Principal & Founder, Theatrum Mundi Productions [email protected] Olivia D’Ambrosio Producing Artistic Director, Bridge Repertory Theater of Boston [email protected] Joseph W. Rodriguez Producing Artistic Director, Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company [email protected] Cole Burden Producer [email protected] Alan Swanke Producer [email protected]