Program - Tabard Theatre
Transcription
Program - Tabard Theatre
Presents FAREWELL, FITZGERALD March 7 - 23, 2014 Theatre on San Pedro Square 29 N. San Pedro Street • Downtown San Jose Welcome / Author’s Note I From Cathy Spielberger Cassetta, Producing Artistic Director n keeping with our season of “twists and turns,” we are thrilled and proud to welcome back to Tabard Kurt Gravenhorst in his powerful star-turn as F. Scott Fitzgerald in Farewell, Fitzgerald. W From Kurt Gravenhorst, Author hen F. Scott Fitzgerald’s alcohol-ravaged heart finally gave out at the age of 44, he was an unemployed Hollywood screenwriter living in obscurity with columnist Sheilah Graham, desperately trying to complete The Last Tycoon, the novel he hoped would restore his forgotten place in American literature. His last royalty check from Scribners for his six novels that were still in print — including The Great Gatsby, Tender Is the Night, and This Side of Paradise — was for $13.13. The New York Times obituary, alluding to the title of a collection of his short stories, wrote that Fitzgerald’s life epitomized “all the sad young men” of his generation. When Fitzgerald died in Hollywood in 1940, he was dismissed as a failed writer who never fulfilled the literary promise of his youth. No one then could anticipate that he would later be recognized and revered as one of America’s greatest writers. The mysterious process that somehow renders genius from a life of anguish and torment has always fascinated me. I have always been drawn to writers who struggle with their own maladjustment to life, and how this struggle becomes the engine that drives their own fiction. Perhaps more than any other American author, Fitzgerald’s life is inseparable from his work — he seems to have stepped right out of one of his own stories: an emblem of the Jazz Age, the Roaring Twenties, the Lost Generation, wandering through the dark side of the American Dream. But Fitzgerald was far more than just a chronicler of his age. He once wrote, “Genius is the ability to put into effect what is in your mind,” and to accomplish this, Fitzgerald was not afraid to dig into the darkness of his own character. This, I believe, is why his work transcends the limits of time. With incomparable tenderness, his work has touched some dark place of loss and anguish that is in us all. And I think, perhaps, we all, like Fitzgerald, believe in “the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us.” As a writer, I want to explore this connection between anguish and art in the life of F. Scott Fitzgerald, but my own words always fail me. As an actor, however, I feel I have a much better chance of conveying his mystery of genius if I can embody it and let Fitzgerald tell his own story in his own words so that it will be true. Perhaps genius is something than can only be perceived and felt, and not ever wholly understood. But if I let Fitzgerald tell his own story, I think then I will have a better chance of communicating the incommunicable heart and soul of this American literary icon. Experience the magic. Tabard. The Tabard Theatre Company Presents FAREWELL, FITZGERALD Starring Kurt Gravenhorst as F. Scott Fitzgerald Written by Kurt Gravenhorst Original music composed and performed by Jeremy Harris Originally directed by Brian Conroy © 2012, 2014 Kurt Gravenhorst Theatre is more than a show. Tabard. Production Staff Meet the Artists Producer Cathy Spielberger Cassetta Technical Director / Stage Manager Andrew Marshall Technical Consultant Joe Cassetta Program Layout Barbara Reynolds Pre-Show Musicians Piano: Gary Dugan, Bob Sunshine, Bob Visini, Christopher Wemp Bass: Terry Shoup Sincere and grateful appreciation to... all our season subscribers, donors, sponsors, and community partners who helped make this season possible. Kurt extends his thanks to the people who contributed their time, effort, and invaluable insight to the development of his show: Brian Conroy, Annette Stenger, Lori Basuino, Carol George, Doug Baird, and Cathy Cassetta and The Tabard Theatre Company. You are invited to stay for an informal Question & Answer session with Kurt following the performance. A portion of Tabard’s concession proceeds from this production will be donated to The Tabard Theatre Company is a proud and active member of: The Tabard Theatre Company is grateful for the support provided, in part, by the Farrington Historical Foundation, a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San Jose, and a Regional Arts Fund grant from Silicon Valley Creates. Making memories. Tabard. Kurt Gravenhorst (F. Scott Fitzgerald) returns for an encore performance of his third production with The Tabard Theatre Company, Farewell, Fitzgerald, following appearances in It’s a Wonderful Life, The Gifts of the Magi and the award-winning Trying. Other recent Bay Area performances include My Antonia and Red Clay (TheatreWorks), The Kentucky Cycle (Willows Theatre), Santos & Santos (Teatro Vision), and A Moon for the Misbegotten (Pear Theatre). A recipient of a Dean Goodman Award, Kurt also has performed for the Exit, Dragon, and City Lights theatre companies. Cathy Spielberger Cassetta (Producer) is a theatre/television veteran and entrepreneur who created/produced/co-hosted the weekly TV program Theatre This Week in the 1990s before founding Tabard in 2001. For Tabard she’s directed Scapin, Dames at Sea, The Gifts of the Magi, The Dog Sitters, Sabrina Fair, A Taffeta Wedding, It’s a Wonderful Life, Crossing Delancey, Babes in Hollywood, and the award-winning production of Trying; she created and co-wrote More Than Petticoats; and she both directed and wrote Stompin’ at the Savoy, Bandstand Beat, and The Duke, The Count, and Me as well as the upcoming Love, Laughter and Linguine. Joe Cassetta (Technical Consultant) continues to lead Tabard’s technical team, which he has done since the company was founded in 2001. With a B.S. in mechanical engineering and an M.B.A. from Santa Clara University, Joe’s steady and skilled leadership has led to Tabard’s increased ability to explore and expand what we do technically. Jeremy Harris (Composer, Pianist) has composed and performed background music and featured solos for other Tabard shows, including It’s a Wonderful Life and Trying. He also wrote the music and lyrics for The Elves and The Shoemaker. Born and raised on the East Coast, Jeremy graduated from the Indiana University School of Music, served as pianist and arranger in the U.S. Air Force Band, and worked in the theater for many years in New York City. Andrew Marshall (Technical Director, Stage Manager) returns to Tabard after stage-managing 1776 and The Elves and the Shoemaker. He was previously a theatre student at Ohlone College, where he directed two plays and wrote and directed a short film. Most recently, he was a technician at California’s Great America where he built mazes and did the show Blades of Horror for Halloween Haunt. Outside of theatre, Andrew is a video game developer. Experience infinite possibilities. Tabard. Fitzgerald’s Works Friends of Tabard F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1896 - 1940 Husband of Zelda Father of Frances “Scottie” Lover of Sheilah Novels This Side of Paradise (1920) The Beautiful and Damned (1922) The Great Gatsby (1925) Tender Is the Night (1934) The Last Tycoon (published posthumously 1941) Short story collections Flappers and Philosophers (1920) Tales of the Jazz Age (1922) All the Sad Young Men (1926) Taps at Reveille (1935) Afternoon of an Author (1957) Babylon Revisited and Other Stories (1960) The Pat Hobby Stories (1962) The Basil and Josephine Stories (1973) The Price Was High: Fifty Uncollected Stories (1979) The Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald (1989) Notable short stories “Bernice Bobs Her Hair” (1920) “Head and Shoulders” (1920) “The Ice Palace” (1920) “The Offshore Pirate” (1920) “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (1921) “The Diamond as Big as the Ritz” (1922) “Winter Dreams” (1922) “The Baby Party” (1925) “The Freshest Boy” (1928) “The Bridal Party” (1930) “A New Leaf” (1931) “Babylon Revisited” (1931) “Crazy Sunday” (1932) Other notable works The Vegetable, or From President to Postman (play 1923) The Crack-Up (collection of essays, notebook excerpts, and letters 1945) Engaging theatre. Tabard. Bring your imagination; we’ll do the rest. Tabard. Friends of Tabard Friends of Tabard Partnering through Season Subscriptions Valerie Abid Joan Abrams Susan Adams Stephen & Karen Adkins Julie Akina Agnes “Marie” Alexander Mike Alvarado John & Harriett Arnold Elaine Auman Nancy Jo Banko Joanne & Ken Barczi Donna Barkley & Steve Lagna Paul & Carole Barrish Joan Bartmess Lori Bartmess Beverly Bassett Mark Baushke Todd & Sherry Bevis Ann Bolhorst Clell & Jan Bontrager Doti Boon Pat Bortle Frank & Karen Bower Karen Bowers Dulcey Branch Clara Brock Kathy Bullock CAFN8RX Bob & Nan Caldwell Laura Carlsen Barbara Carney Larry Carothers Karen & Jerry Carter Case Remodeling Cecilia Cavacas Phyllis Chai Charles E. Mollett, III Accountancy Corp. Charlie’s Cheesecake Works Joy Cicisly Sandy Clark Vic & Bev Clifford Brenda Corral Teri Cosentino Kathleen Crowe Cyber Press Dave Daviar Declaration Services, Inc. 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Tabard. www.declarationservices.com Partnering through Community Partnerships Time well spent. Tabard. Friends of Tabard The Tabard Theatre Company 2013–2014 Season Partnering through Donations and Grants John & Harriett Arnold Paul & Carole Barrish Mark Baushke Kathy Bullock Louis Caputo Joe Colletti Brenda Corral Vicky Deggs & Howard Taub Debra DeMartini Minette Diamond & Myron Tygar Muriel Dickinson Betty DiVita Christine Driedger Elaine Elkin Carol Emmons Phyllis Faxon Joanne & Harlan Felt Jerry & Susie Ferguson Richard Flynn & Julie Oates Miriam Frazier Julie Freeman Carol George Amy Griffith Naomi Grubb & Steven Linhoff Greg & Bunny Hacker Katie Hassett Kathy Higgins Norma Hughes Jerry & Jan Keifer Sam & Pam Khadder with thanks to Bill & Betty Gott Jim & Ann Kilty Robert & Clare Landry Carol Lanoie John & MaryAnn Lemons Nicole Letellier Susan Lister & Robert Zeiher Andrew & Christy Lowd Michael & Peggy McNutt Bob & Karol Meeks Michelle Neuhaus Ed & Carol Neumann Betty Newton Janet Paterson Jill Peter Roger & Myrna Pettengill Nancy Peyton Joe Reickard Bob & Lois Rew Tim Reynolds Terry Riley & Julie Freeman Beverly Rose Larry & Linda Saltman San Jose Woman’s Club Bob & Winnie Schlossareck Joe & Carol Silveria Edmund & Barbara Soohoo Jack & Sally Stallard Marvin & Ina Tanner Paul & Mary Tripp Joan Wagner Loretta Welch Judy West Ernie & Linda WestbyGibson Larry & Dottie White Marilyn Wiese Wong Family Brian & Linda York Jerry & Kay Young Mel Zucker “The Duke” Kickstarter Donors Steve Adkins Richard Adoradio Simeon Aronson Don Balistreri Joanne Barczi Patrick Barrett Carla Bottenfield Pat Burleigh Joyce Davis Valerie Doyle Victoria Deggs Richard Flynn Claudia French Susannah Greenwood Valerie Gordon Kristy Hughes Michael Johnson Edith Pollock Kerr Carol Knouf Larry Lagier Judy Lawrence Dirk Leatherman Alice Ledford Nicole Letellier Jon Manuel Sherry Martin Diana Morabito Karl Mosgofian Betty Newton Jan Paterson Denise Reynolds Karin Rumstedt Jonathan Sharp Diana Skokan Laurel G. 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We apologize for any omissions due to our print deadline. Special thanks to: Farrington Historical Foundation for providing the funds needed to replace all of our drapes and curtains. Be a part of it. Tabard. Executive Director Nick Nichols Producing Artistic Director Cathy Spielberger Cassetta Operations Director John DiLoreto Associate Artistic Directors Doug Baird, Susannah Greenwood, Diane Milo Director of Engagement Irene Trapp Social Media Advisor Ruby Stone (StoneMediaConsulting.com) TOSPS Guest Company / Non-profit Liaison Jeanie Burgess Education Artistic Director Jennifer Packard Technical Director Joe Cassetta Lighting Consultant Nick Nichols Head Audio Engineer John DiLoreto Costume Designer / Box Office Manager Marilyn Watts TOSPS Concessions Manager Lynne Rice TOSPS Mixologist Josh Salans Web Master, Graphic Artist Betty Gott Tabard Logo Don Barnes (cellarideas.com) TOSPS Logo Mike English Tabard Website Gott Design? (gottdesign.net) Tabard Buttons Harley Goes Board of Directors President Joe Cassetta Vice President Rich Hemmerling TreasurerKeith Thomas SecretaryPatricia Burleigh Recording SecretaryMarj Mancuso Members Karen A. Lapinski, Robert Lewis, Leslie Stepanek, Kathy Sutherland Board Member Emeritus Cathy Spielberger Cassetta, Founder Advisory Board Ed Correia, Mike Haimson, Jonathan Jackel, Jim Kabel, Butch Kruse, Jason Minsky, Lorrie Wernick Tabard Audience Advisory Panel (TAAP) Sherry Bevis, Joanne Johnson Felt, Alma Guillot, Harley & Esther Goes, Clare Landry, Marcia Lawson, Nicole Letellier, Betty Newton, Suzanne Rostamizadeh, Bob & Winnie Schlossareck, Barbara & Ed Soohoo, Jack & Sally Stallard, Grace Vaccaro, Bob & Anne Welker Explore new horizons. Tabard. ‘tab’ard: \’tab- erd also -ärd\ n: 1. An ancient London inn featured in Chaucer’s C anterbury Tales, from which pilgrims began their journey to Canterbury Cathedral and at which the innkeeper offered a free meal to the best storyteller. 2. A tunic worn by a knight over his armor and e mblazoned with his sovereign’s arms. 3. The name appropriated by numerous contemporary collegiate literary fraternities. 4. A dynamic and imaginative theatre company in Silicon Valley, CA e Administrative Office: 5663 Chambertin Drive San Jose, CA 95118 408-979-0231 [email protected] www.tabardtheatre.org A 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation Executive Director: Nick Nichols Producing Artistic Director: Cathy Spielberger Cassetta Our Mission Statement: The Tabard Theatre Company is committed to making a difference in the community through the arts by providing professional-quality theatre experiences such as productions and workshops that are appropriate and affordable for audiences of all ages. Tabard focuses on new works or works not commonly produced. Especially engaged with altruism and philanthropy, Tabard reaches out to the under-served, such as the blind/visually impaired and children in low-income areas, and donates a portion of each production’s concession proceeds to a designated local charity.