SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE
By Susan Kim Adapted from the novel by Amy Tan
Directed by Tim Dang
There will be one 15-minute intermission
The Long Wharf Theatre (New Haven, CT) and the Shanghai People’s Art Theater co-produced the World Premiere of THE JOY LUCK CLUB in Shanghai in 1993. The U.S. Premiere was produced by the Long Wharf Theatre in 1997. The New York Premiere was produced by the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre in 1999.
Season Underwriters
Ward & Louise Calaway
Maggi & David Gordon
The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. No food or beverages (other than water) are permitted in the seating areas. Please turn off all electronic devices.
FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
I am a first-generation American. My parents moved from Europe to the U.S. just days before I was born. Growing up, I spoke French at home and English out in the world. There were many things I never learned about being an American from my parents, because they never learned them. As a child, I always felt a little less American than my friends.
As I matured, that sense of otherness faded. Even my parents eventually became more American than French. I remember hearing my aunts tell my mother how “American” she’d become when we would visit them in France! I still feel drawn to the traditions and customs that my parents raised me with and there is still that little part of me which will always be French. SMP’s mission is to illuminate the American experience – ALL Americans. I am so proud that we are reviving The Joy Luck Club. If you are an immigrant or the child of immigrants or even from a family that has held tightly to its ethnic roots, I think you will find your family’s experience in this play. As I have attended rehearsals, I have been struck by how universal a story this is. Yes, the immigrant theme is front and center, but the play is about so much more – the relationship of children to their parents; the fear of forgetting your family’s stories; the discovery that your parents were/are people too – with their own stories and foibles and heartaches. This adaptation weaves the many stories beautifully and our director, Tim Dang, has taken such care with this play and its many story lines. We are so lucky that Tim has chosen to work with us – this is his second play at SMP having directed Nothing is the Same for our TYA program last year. We believe that this may be the first fully ethnically Chinese production of The Joy Luck Club ever mounted in the U.S. Working with this cast has been such a pleasure – and I know that they are very proud to be telling this story. Along with Tim and the cast, we have assembled a truly first- rate group of designers and artisans to help us realize this play, many of them working at SMP for the first time. Finally, I have to thank all the members of the “Joy Luck Club” who have made this production possible with their donations and underwriting. This show, with its size and demands, would not have been possible were it not for them. Many of them told me how important they felt it was that we were telling this story at this time. I couldn’t agree more.
Christian Lebano FROM THE DIRECTOR
In the game of mahjong, the player sitting in the east position always goes first. East is where all things begin. East is where the sun rises. East is where the wind comes from. Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club utilizes the patterns of play in mahjong for the structure of her best- selling novel interweaving 16 stories between four Chinese mothers with their four American daughters.
The classic movie is a sweeping and epic journey that spans eight decades, three generations, and two continents. Here, the stage production by Susan Kim based on Tan’s novel, brings these stories to life by directly engaging the audience on a personal level of sharing evoking powerful emotions with a welcome degree of universality. All of us have experienced such feelings over a parent or a child.
There are two major themes in this play. The first is the difficulty of preserving one’s heritage and culture when one immigrates to another country. As the vast majority of us are immigrants or children of immigrants to the United States, there is the challenge of honoring and appreciating traditions from previous generations in addition to learning and accepting new traditions.
The second theme is defining our authentic selves. All the daughters appear well educated and completely Americanized but there is still something incomplete or unfulfilled that causes them to search for what is missing. By the end of the play, the daughters have found a part of their mother’s spirit in themselves that realizes a strength and validation to moving forward.
There are many symbols and metaphors in this production to deepen your experience of the play. The play, in many ways, is a memory play, a series of flashbacks, photos, and stories handed down from one generation to another that glide effortlessly through time periods and locations. Our set design evokes a picture frame of snapshots, with doors that open leading to opportunities or doors that shut out the hopes and dreams. Many Chinese came to San Francisco because they heard the streets were paved with gold, hence a golden path through the set. Our costume design has pulled together a color palette where mother and daughter share similar patterns and color. Each mother/daughter is specifically defined by an instrument and melodic composition defining their character’s emotional tone. And lighting guides us into the many worlds of The Joy Luck Club be it the real world, a fantasy world, or the spirit world.
Tim Dang
CAST (in alphabetical order)
Canning Woo, Lau Po, Moon Lady, Wu Tsing, ensemble ...... Christopher Chen* Lindo Jong, ensemble ...... Lee Chen Tin Jong, Master Archer, Harold, ensemble...... Victor Chi* Huang Tai Tai, Amah, Mother of An-Mei, Chwun Yu Wang, ensemble ...... Debbie Fan Rose Hsu Jordan, Opera Actor, ensemble ...... April Lam Lena St. Clair, Servants, ensemble ...... Katharine Chen Lerner* Waverly Jong, Aunt of An-Mei, ensemble ...... Christine Liao Suyuan Woo, ensemble ...... Sharline Liu Ying-Ying St. Clair, Second Wife, ensemble ...... Peggy Lu* Jing Mei Woo, Tyan-Yu, Fifth Wife, ensemble ...... Nancy Ma Drunk Man, Chess player, Rich, Ted, ensemble ...... Robert O’Hare An-Mei Hsu, ensemble ...... Grace Shen* Yan Chang, Matchmaker, Chwun Hwa Yu, ensemble ...... Gloria Tsai *Member Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
How to Support the Playhouse Without Writing Us a Check!
You must renew yearly – in September – please do. Sign up your Ralphs’ Rewards Card and up to 4% of your grocery bill will be donated to Sierra Madre Playhouse.
1. Visit Ralphs.com and sign-in or register for a Ralphs’ online account. 2. Click the My Account button and select Account Settings. 3. Scroll to Community Rewards and search for Sierra Madre Playhouse or enter our group number 83942 4. Select us under Organization Name. Click Save!
And that’s all there is to it!
We thank the following for their contributions to this production:
Center for Living Independence for Multi-Handicapped Blind (CLIMB) for so generously donating rehearsal space.
Nathan Wang, Paul Scranton, and Estelle Campbell for hosting House Parties to raise funds for this production.
Chapman University, School of Theater, Costume Department for generously loaning several of the costumes used in this production. The Only Place in Town for providing our delicious coffee. Dave Kalmus and Axiom Printing for his good-humor and patience with our last-minute requests.
Adrienne Bass for her help monitoring auditions.
Elaine Marshall for always being willing to jump in and volunteer for any special needs.
Kurt Kanazawa, Lito Villareal and Mina Choi for their beautiful performances at our first house party. Geoff Gallegos & friends for performing at out third house party. Mrs. Tommy Lee for the loan of the Chinese lute. Marvin Tong for the loan of the Polaroid Camera. Terence Tsang and Lorraine Tong, for advising, sourcing, and loaning many props
The Volunteers of the Sierra Madre Playhouse for contributing their time and talents as ushers, marketers, assistants at public programs and so many other tasks that help the Playhouse.
With heartfelt congratulations to the Sierra Madre Playhouse, Director Tim Dang, the creative team and cast of The Joy Luck Club.
- Nick and Irene Sim
PRODUCTION TEAM
Director...... Tim Dang Producers ...... Estelle Campbell, Christian Lebano
Set & Projection Designer ...... Yee Eun Nam Costume Designer ...... Jojo Siu Asst. Costume Designer ...... Barbara Phillips Resident Lighting Designer...... Derek Jones Sound Designer & Co-Composer ...... Nathan Wang Co-Composer & Asst. Sound Designer...... Cora Chung Properties Master ...... Berri Tsang Hair and Make-up Designer ...... Diahann McCrary Movement Coach ...... Tom Tsai
Stage Manager ...... Jeanne Marie Valleroy Assistant Stage Manager ...... KC Read-Fisher Dresser/Wardrobe Master ...... Jen Gies
Production Manager ...... Owen Lewis Technical Director ...... Todd McCraw Set Builder ...... Grove Scenery, Red Colgrove Scenic Artist ...... Orlando de la Paz Sound Assistant ...... Sara Smith Carpenters ...... David Campfield, Benjamino Cruz, John Dimitri, Jonathon Lay Electricians ...... David Campfield, Jimin Kang Evie Nootenboom, Chris Rivera Musicians: GuZheng ...... Su She Erhu ...... Xiaobo Li Dizi ...... Shuqiang Li Pipa ...... Liyun Wang Cello ...... Cora Chung
Lobby Co-Curators ...... Christa Backstrom, Diane Siegel
Program ...... Christian Lebano Production Photography ...... Gina Long Poster & Graphic Design ...... Christopher Komuro Video Production Services...... Transcendental Media, Patrick Shen Publicist ...... Phil Sokoloff
AUTHORS
Susan Kim (Playwright) Her plays include The Arrangement, Where It Came From, Open Spaces, and the book to the children’s musical Merlin's Apprentice (with Stephen Cole and Matthew Ward). Her one-acts include Memento Mori, Pandora, Dreamtime for Alice, Rapid Eye Movement, Seventh Word Four Syllables, and Death and The Maiden. Her one act Guts was produced as an independent film, which aired on PBS. A prolific television writer, Ms. Kim has been nominated five times for the Emmy and four times for the Writers Guild award for best writing in the children’s category. She won a WGA award in 1996 for Best Documentary for PBS' Paving the Way. Other documentaries include AMC’s Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust and the three-part PBS series The Meaning of Food. Her non-fiction book Flow, cowritten w/Elissa Stein, was published by St. Martin’s Press in 2009. She also cowrote two graphic novels, Germantown and The Fielding Course, with Laurence Klavan. Susan Kim lives in New York City.
Amy Tan (Author) Her first short story was published when she was thirty-four, and three years later, she published her first book, a collection of short stories called The Joy Luck Club, which spent forty weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. Amy's other novels are The Kitchen God's Wife, The Hundred Secret Senses, The Bonesetter's Daughter, and Saving Fish from Drowning, all New York Times best-sellers and recipient of various awards. She is also the author of a memoir, The Opposite of Fate, two children's books, The Moon Lady and Sagwa and The Chinese Siamese Cat, as well as numerous articles for magazines. Her work has been translated into thirty-five languages. Amy was co-producer and co- screenwriter with Ron Bass for the film adaptation of The Joy Luck Club, directed by Wayne Wang. The screenplay was nominated for best adaptation by the British Film Academy and the Writers Guild. Amy Tan has been nominated for the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the International Orange Prize, and has won many awards including the Commonwealth Gold Award. Amy Tan has served as lead rhythm “dominatrix,” backup singer, and second tambourine with the literary garage band, the Rock Bottom Remainders, whose members included Stephen King, Dave Barry, and Scott Turow. Their yearly gigs have raised over a million dollars for literacy programs. Amy lives with her husband in California and New York.
CAST
Christopher Chen* Lee Chen Victor Chi* Debbie Fan
April Lam Katharine Chen Christine Liao Sharline Liu Lerner*
Peggy Lu* Nancy Ma Robert O’Hare Grace Shen*
*Member Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
Gloria Tsai
CAST BIOGRAPHIES Christopher Chen* (Canning Woo, Moon Lady, ensemble) makes his SMP debut and is pleased to be working with the legendary Tim Dang for the very first time. Chris is from Cleveland, Ohio and studied Theater at Northwestern University in Chicago. SoCal area stage productions include: Joseph...Dreamcoat (Baker), A Christmas Carol (Marley), The Full Monty (Reg), and Merrily We Roll Along (Joe). Chris has had guest roles on Criminal Minds, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Mindy Project, Atypical, Abby’s, Superstore, Grace and Frankie, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Modern Family. Commercially, he’s that Geico Bowler/Salsa Dancer and DirecTV Glass Door Collider Guy. His performances and humble career are dedicated to his Chinese immigrant parents. christopherchen.com
Lee Chen (Lindo, ensemble) is thrilled to be back on stage with this production. Growing up in China, she was a child performer in Chairman Mao’s Propaganda Performing Troupe. She came to America to pursue an M.A. in Education. While teaching in Chicago, she accidently got cast in her first American play The Primary English Class. Other theatre and dance productions include: M. Butterfly, The Great Gatsby, Madame Mao’s Memories, And the Soul Shall Dance, The Waiting Room, and her one-woman show Life Flies. TV: Veep, Good Trouble, NCIS: Los Angeles, Arrested Development, Disney’s Girl Meets World, Southland, and many independent films including Justice for Vincent. She also danced in Eminem’s video Venom. Lee thanks her husband and sons for their love and support.
Victor Chi* (Tin Jong, Master Archer, Harold, ensemble) is making his SMP debut. He has performed with Inner-City Arts, Company of Angeles, hereandnow (Los Angeles), MACLA (San Jose), The Young Vic (London), and American Repertory Theater (Boston). His film TV credits include appearances in Blackhat, MARVEL: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Speechless, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Bold & The Beautiful, and the sitcom REL. He is a graduate of the UC Riverside where he owes much gratitude to his mentor Eric Barr. Follow Victor on social media with handle @VictorSChi to see him attend various video game and comic conventions, trying food around town, and giving the illusion of #FitLife.
Debbie Fan (Amah, Mother of An-Mei, ensemble) was born and raised in Utah to parents who were immigrants. The Joy Luck Club is a story that she related to when it first came out and is thrilled to be a part of SMP’s production. Thank you to Tim and Christian for the opportunity to work with so many Chinese artists. Debbie lives in Los Angeles with her husband, three dogs and cat and in her spare time you can find her volunteering
CAST BIOGRAPHIES with the South LA Animal Shelter and Downtown Dog Rescue. Recent credits include a recurring role on General Hospital, Seal Team, and the popular teen web-series Zoe Valentine. Website: debbiefan.com
April Lam (Rose, Opera Actor, ensemble) was born from first- generation Chinese-Americans and she is eager to share experiences from her and her family’s history to tell this compelling story. An alumna of AMDA with a BFA in Musical Theatre, Lam is making her SMP debut as “Rose.” She won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for Love Is Blind, and has been featured in numerous commercials (FedEx, Sea World San Diego, and Ford). She's also performed in riveting musical stories, such as Miss Saigon, In the Heights, and The King and I. She'd like to thank our Heavenly Father, her parents, Shaheen Vaaz, Tim Dang, Christian Lebano, Estelle Campbell and The Bridge Church. Enjoy the show! @april.lam | www.aprillam.com
Katharine Chen Lerner (Lena, Servants, ensemble) is thrilled to be a part of The Joy Luck Club and work with this amazing cast! Theater: The Launch Prize (Bridge Rep), Ms. Oriental (Glicker-Milstein Theater), Ghost Girl (Workshop Theater). Workshops/Readings: Ars Nova (Rattlestick Theater), The Lark, (Ma-Yi Theater Company, Tectonic Theater Project). Film/TV: Adam Ruins Everything (TruTV), Baker's Dozen (Amazon Prime), Projecting (Seriously TV), Younger (TV Land). Training: Maggie Flanigan Studio, Marymount Manhattan College, UCB Theatre. www.katharinelerner.com
Christine Liao (Waverly, Aunt of An-Mei, ensemble) started Chinese folk dance and ballet classes at 3 years old when she discovered her love for storytelling through movement. She has since performed at various venues sharing Chinese culture and stories throughout Los Angeles and San Francisco. She was a part of a theater troupe in college and after graduating, took classes at East West Players with Dom Magwili, which culminated with her playing Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. She has since worked in various short films, independent features and web videos. Christine feels so honored to be a part of The Joy Luck Club and is thrilled to work alongside such a talented cast and crew. She is also thankful for her parents’ and brother’s support in her life journey.
Sharline Liu (Suyuan, ensemble) thanks you for supporting live theater at SMP! She most recently performed in the Hawaii premiere of Allegiance, after initially appearing in the Broadway show’s 2018 Los Angeles premiere with George Takei. She’s grateful to work again with
CAST BIOGRAPHIES director Tim Dang (East West Players’ record-breaking La Cage Aux Folles). Career highlights: Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes; leads in Sweet Charity, The Wiz, Grease, Flower Drum Song; U.S. Dept. of Defense tour in Europe/Persian Gulf entertaining U.S./U.N. troops; and cheering professionally for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. “Thank you, Mom, for your lifelong generosity and sacrifices to give your children and grandchildren better lives. I’m here because of you.” www.SharlineLiu.com
Peggy Lu (Ying-Ying, Second Wife, ensemble) began her professional acting career in New York. Fluent in both Mandarin Chinese and Texan, Peggy has built a solid reputation in the industry for her unique combination of contemporary American & fresh off the boat. She has appeared in numerous film, television and theatre productions, most recently in Marvel’s Venom, Netflix’s Always Be My Maybe and NCIS: Los Angeles, among others. Peggy is also a hospice pharmacist, a DIY enthusiast, and a proud daughter of immigrant parents who paved the path for Peggy to achieve her American Dream; she is dedicating every performance to her loving devoted parents. Additionally, she is immensely grateful for this extraordinary artistic journey working with Christian Lebano, Tim Dang, the cast and crew of The Joy Luck Club.
Nancy Ma (Jing Mei, Tyan-Yu, ensemble) is an actress and writer from Chinatown New York. She recently premiered her solo show, Home, directed by Geoffrey Rivas, at The Los Angeles Theatre Company. She is also the creator and co-host of the podcast, Hustle in Color, a platform that highlights women of color in the entertainment industry. Credits include The Affair (Showtime) and Tabloid (Investigation Discovery). BA, Williams College. And, her Chinese name means jade aroma!
Robert O’Hare (Rich, Ted, ensemble) is delighted and incredibly thankful to be returning to the Sierra Madre Playhouse to help tell this beautiful story after appearing in last spring’s Stuart Little. He was born and raised to be a football player in San Antonio, TX, but always had the itch to pursue the arts. After earning a BFA from the University of Oklahoma he moved out to Los Angeles where he has been working ever since. Favorite credits include: Selridge (Biloxi Blues), Master Ford (The Merry Wives of Windsor), and The Cowboy (Señor Plummer’s Final Fiesta). Robtheartist.com | @rob_ohare
CAST BIOGRAPHIES Grace Shen* (An-Mei, ensemble) is honored to be making her debut at SMP in The Joy Luck Club. Having played five other roles in the touring company, this mother/daughter story holds a special place in Grace’s heart. Favorite theatre credits include: Two Rooms, The Big Funk, South Pacific, Brigadoon, Gigi, The King and I, Hello, Dolly!, Miss Saigon and The Full Monty. Favorite Film/TV credits: Grey’s Anatomy, The Young and the Restless, MacGyver, All About Nina, Love Shot (Amazon), A Stone- Cold Christmas (Amazon), Swimming (2019 LAAPFF), Monday (NBCU & HBO Award Winning Short Film, 2017 LAAPFF), The Disappointment Tour (2016 LAAPFF), Flat Echo and Blood Light. Grace thanks Tim Dang, Christian Lebano and the cast and crew for this amazing experience. To my family, friends and husband Charles, thank you for your undying love and support. www.graceshen.com @graceshen54
Gloria Tsai (Matchmaker, Chwun Yu, ensemble) is a Taiwanese- American actress, voiceover artist and performer new to the Los Angeles area. Growing up in Houston, Gloria caught the acting bug when she was cast as the lead in a class play at 8 years old. She studied theater/acting as well as dance and music throughout school and went on to graduate from the University of Texas at Austin. In early 2015, Gloria made the bold decision to leave a corporate career and pursue her childhood dreams. After building her acting resume the last 4 years in Austin, TX and becoming SAG eligible, she decided to further her acting career by making the big move to Los Angeles. Learn more about Gloria by visiting www.GloriaTsai.com. PRODUCTION TEAM BIOGRAPHIES
Tim Dang (Director) is thrilled to be returning to SMP with The Joy Luck Club. He is the recipient of the Society of Directors and Choreographers’ Zelda Fichandler Award for transforming the regional theatre arts landscape through theatre. He is an LA County Arts Commissioner appointed by Supervisor Hilda Solis and is Co-Chair of the Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative (CEII) through the LA County Department of Arts and Culture. Tim is an adjunct lecturer teaching directing at the USC School of Dramatic Arts. He is Producing Artistic Director Emeritus of East West Players (EWP), having run the longest-running professional theatre of color in the United States for 23 years through 2016.Tim has produced and directed over 100 plays and musicals at EWP, and other venues such as L.A. Theatre Works, Pan-Asian Repertory (NY), Geva Theater Center (NY), Perseverance Theatre (AK), MainStreet Theatre Company, and Singapore Repertory Theatre.
PRODUCTION TEAM BIOGRAPHIES Christa Backstrom (Lobby Co-Curator) BA, Theater Arts, Pepperdine University. For SMP: Educational Programming Coordinator; Production Dramaturg, Little Women. Ms. Backstrom previously worked as a high school English and theater teacher in the Hacienda La Puente and Culver City school districts. She lives in Sierra Madre with her husband and children.
Cora (Yi-Huan) Chung (Co-Composer & Asst. Sound Designer) is a composer and cellist from Taiwan. She started her classical music training at age four. As a cellist, she has performed with a number of professional orchestras in Asia, such as Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra (KSO) and Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO). As a composer, her music has been performed and recorded at the Sound of Silent Film Festival in Chicago and 20th Century Fox Studios in 2019. She has received government scholarships for studying abroad from the Ministry of Education in Taiwan, and recently graduated from Columbia College in Chicago majoring in Music Composition for the Screen. She completed an internship at 5 Cat Studios with award-winning film composer John Powell in June, and has now resides in Los Angeles.
Orlando de la Paz (Scenic Painter) has been a Scenic Painter in the Los Angeles area for several years His recent work: The Producers at Celebration Theater; Caucasian Chalk Circle at Antaeus Theatre; and Shrek, the Musical for 3D Theatricals. Orlando is currently the scenic charge for Sets to Go in Santa Clarita, CA. Orlando also Co-produced triumphant, sold-out engagements of I Wanna Be Evil: The Eartha Kitt Story for the Hollywood Fringe Festival and is currently producing Little House on the Prairie, the Musical for the Colony Theatre. Orlando graduated from Otis College of Art and Design and is currently studying at the New Musical Institute in North Hollywood as a bookwriter and lyricist for musicals under the guidance and supervision of SMP Advisory Council member John Sparks.
Jen Gies (Properties Master / Dresser) did a ton of tech theater as a Northwestern undergrad. She has previously worked at SMP as Props Master/ASM (Dames at Sea), Props Master (Tuesdays with Morrie), Production Manager (The Glass Menagerie) and ASM (A Little House Christmas, Bee-luther-hatchee). These days, her creative energy is being channeled into researching and writing a screenplay with Rami Malek in mind for one of its lead roles.
PRODUCTION TEAM BIOGRAPHIES
Derek Jones (Resident Lighting Designer) For SMP: Bee-luther- hatchee, The Marvelous Wonderettes, A Christmas Story (2017, 2018), Nothing Is the Same, The Immigrant, Pump Boys and Dinettes, The Gin Game, Tuesdays with Morrie, Stuart Little, and Dames at Sea. In LA, he has been a lighting designer at REDCAT, Rockwell Table and Stage, Playwrights' Arena, and Mixed eMotion Theatrix. Highlights outside of LA include New York Fashion Week, Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center, and the Virginia Opera. Derek has an MFA in Lighting Design from Indiana University and a BA in Theatre and a BS in Physics from The George Washington University. He is the lighting design professor at Glendale College, Long Beach City College, and Los Angeles City College as well as an associate designer at Stories Illuminated Entertainment. www.derekjonesdesignarts.com
Owen Lewis (Production Manager) A graduate of Arizona State University in Drama, Owen has worked in all aspects of production on hundreds of projects, including as tour manager for the Martha Graham Dance Company and Todd Rundgren, and as technical support on Broadway with Bob Fosse’s Chicago and Tom O’Horgan’s Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. He studied acting with Uta Hagen in New York City and Ron Sossi in Los Angeles, performing off-Broadway and at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Recently retired as production manager for UCLA’s Center for the Performing Arts in Royce Hall, Owen joined SMP to manage the 2017 production of A Christmas Story and is pleased to serve as Resident Production Manager and Associate Artist for the Playhouse.
Todd McCraw (Technical Director) moved here from NYC where he spent 28 years working in all aspects of theater tech, in nearly every theater in NYC. He is head rigger for Fly-By-Night Dance Theater. He rigs for many other silk acts, trapeze acts & other theatrical productions. Todd spent four years in Big Apple Circus, assisting world-famous horse trainer & performer Katja Schumann. Todd brings to LA his production company Sounds Like Art Inc. SLA supports live music, festivals, & corporate events. Regular clients: World Music Institute, Irish Arts Center, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, & Korean Arts. As SMP’s Technical Director, Todd is responsible for all aspects of the technical demands for each show. This is his thirteenth production at SMP since The Glass Menagerie.
PRODUCTION TEAM BIOGRAPHIES Diahann McCrary (Wig and Makeup Designer) is thrilled to be working on this amazing show. Recent clients include HBO, The CW, Netflix, L'Oreal Paris Hair, NBC/Universal, Hulu, Warner Brothers Records, SONY Music, MTV VMAs, Pepsi, Pharell Williams for Adidas, and Amazon Prime. Theatrical credits: The Tempest (Orange County Shakespeare), Spring Awakening (The Little Theatre, Pasadena), The Jungle Book (Don Powell Theatre, San Diego). She studied makeup at San Diego State University under Peter Herman of the San Diego Opera; then moved to Los Angeles and has been working steadily in TV, film, commercial, music video, and print ever since. Thank you to Mom and Dad and Jojo; and my friends who are my family and my family who are my everything. @Diahann____
Barbara Phillips (Asst. Costume Designer) Recent costume work includes: She Kills Monsters and Vinegar Tom at Chapman University College of Performing Arts. Jane Austen’s Emma; Little Women; The Who’s Tommy; She Loves Me; Secret Garden; Jerry Springer, the Opera; and Anne of Green Gables at Chance Theater.
KC Read-Fisher (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited and grateful to be back again for another fabulous production at the SMP! Originally from New Jersey, she has a BA in Theatre and a BA in Media Studies from Scripps College. Her past Stage Managing credits include Stuart Little (SMP) She Kills Monsters (CSArts), Normal (The Vagrancy), In The Works (Pomona College), and has Assistant Stage Managed Dames at Sea (SMP) and Good People (Chance Theater). She would like to thank her friends, family and dog, Sadie, for their humor and unconditional support. Much love to Mom and Dad.
Diane Siegel (Lobby Co-Curator) I am a confessed Amy Tan fan girl! I loved the book, saw the movie and am delighted that this story is coming to the Sierra Madre Playhouse! This is Diane’s 24th lobby design for SMP: Battledrum, 6 Rms Riv Vu, A Walk in the Woods, The Odd Couple, Einstein/Putting it Together, Always…Patsy Cline, A Christmas Memory, Deathtrap, Charlotte’s Web, The Glass Menagerie, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, A Little House Christmas, Bee-luther- hatchee, Belle of Amherst/Wrinkle in Time, The Marvelous Wonderettes, A Christmas Story, Nothing is the Same, The Immigrant, Pump Boys and Dinettes, The Gin Game, 2018’s A Christmas Story, Tuesdays with Morrie/Stuart Little and Dames at Sea.
PRODUCTION TEAM BIOGRAPHIES Jojo Siu (Costume Designer) hails from Philadelphia and has been working as a costume educator and designer for film, opera, theatre and dance with the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, the Santa Fe Opera, South Coast Repertory, Chapman University, OC Shakespeare Festival, Maui Academy of Performing Arts, and Singapore Repertory Theatre, among others. As a Chinese designer, she is a huge advocate for diversity within theatre and is so thrilled to see her cultural heritage and history represented on stage. Her repertoire includes: The Trial of Dedan Kimathi, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Vinegar Tom, Othello, Twelfth Night, The Importance of Being Earnest, Eurydice, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Waiting for Godot, Blood Wedding, Into the Woods, Evita, and Spring Awakening. Last, but not least, soli deo Gloria.
Sara Smith (Sound Assistant) recently graduated from Santa Monica College in June with an associate degree in Technical Theatre. She was involved in three shows at Santa Monica College. Projection Designer for Smokey Joe’s Café, Lighting Designer for Shakespeare in Love and ASM for Bonnie And Clyde. The Joy Luck Club is her first professional show. Sara thanks Nathan Wang and Cora Chung for giving her the opportunity to work on this project.
Tom Tsai (Movement Coach) is a choreographer and dancer from Taipei, Taiwan and currently based out of Los Angeles. He has had the privilege of performing his solo works in iconic international venues including Judson Church in New York, Sadler’s Wells in London, Theater Rotterdam Schouwburg in Rotterdam, and Esplanade Theatres in Singapore. He previously competed with Instant Noodles Crew, and has worked with LA-based choreographers Laurie Cameron, Lindsey Lollie, Suchi Branfman, and John Pennington. Tom is on dance faculty at Pomona College and has been a guest artist at high schools across Southeast Asia. Tom has choreographed for MainStreet Theatre’s productions of Frederick and The Emperor’s Nightingale, and for The Odyssey Project, a collaboration between UC Santa Barbara’s Theatre Department and the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility.
Berrie Tsang (Properties Coordinator & Production Assistant) is excited to make her professional theater debut with this production. In addition to coordinating props for the first time, she also coordinates SMP’s marketing, promotion, outreach, and whatever else is needed at the moment. A UCLA alum with a love for the arts (music, dance, visual and acting) since she was young, she graduated with a BA in
PRODUCTION TEAM BIOGRAPHIES Geography/Environmental Studies with plans to go into the environmental field, but fate brought her to SMP. She is grateful that SMP has given an amateur like her the opportunity to wear many hats and be brought back to the arts in this way. She hopes that her personal understanding of the arts and Chinese culture brings life to SMP’s The Joy Luck Club. Enjoy the show!
Jeanne Marie Valleroy (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working at SMP. She has been working as a stage manager and tech in Los Angeles area for over 10 years. Some of her favorite productions have been Lion King Kids (Gray Studios), The Radiant (The Other Space), I Carry Your Heart (Bootleg Theater), Solve It Squad Returns (Tin Can Brothers), Mañana Comes (The Fountain Theater), Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (Long Beach Playhouse). She would like to thank her mom, friends and family for all their support in pursuing her dreams. Another thanks to Christian, Tim and the amazing cast of Joy Luck Club for making this a wonderful production to be a part of. Thank you for supporting live theater.
Nathan Wang (Sound Designer and Co-composer) composes for film, TV, video games, musical theater, opera and the concert stage. He has scored over 300 films and TV shows. His credits include projects for Steven Spielberg, Disney, Dreamworks, Sony and Jackie Chan. His compositions have been performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Shanghai Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, and Chicago Symphony. Mr. Wang received two Emmy Awards: Reefer Madness, Showtime 2005; Pancho Barnes, PBS 2011. He received a 1993 Singapore Grammy for Faye Wong’s hit song Wo Yuan Yi (I’m Willing). In 1999 Mr. Wang teamed with Amy Tan and composed an orchestral score for her children’s book The Chinese Siamese Cat, which premiered at the Hollywood Bowl and was later performed by the San Francisco Symphony. He is very happy to be paired up with Director Tim Dang, with whom he’s had a long working relationship, and is thrilled to be doing another Amy Tan piece!
THE SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE
Artistic Director ...... Christian Lebano Managing Director ...... Estelle Campbell Operations Director ...... Ward Calaway Production Manager ...... Owen Lewis Technical Director ...... Todd McCraw Digital Marketing Director ...... Vanessa Silberman Box Office Manager ...... Mary Baville Volunteer Coordinator, Lobby and Special Events Curator ...... Diane Siegel Associate Artist - AKT Youth Workshop...... Alison Eliel Kalmus Educational Programming Coordinator ...... Christa Backstrom Off the Page Readings Coordinator ...... Roxanne Barker Off the Screen Movies Coordinator ...... Rich Procter Accountant ...... Louise Calaway Publicist ...... Philip Sokoloff
Organizational Consultant ...... Tim Dang
Board Members ...... David Gordon (President) Louise Calaway (Treasurer), Estelle Campbell, Frank Costello Christian Lebano, Rich Procter, Vanessa Silberman, Sarah Spector
Advisory Board ...... Tim Dang, Susanna Guzman, Lynda Jenner Georgie Kajer, Alison Eliel Kalmus, Liza Kerrigan, John Sparks
The Unexpected Portrait – 626.372.7539 – GinaLong.Smugmug.com 2019 SMP Season
October 17 – November 3 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott adapted and directed by Artistic Director, Christian Lebano
A co-production between SMP and California School for the Arts- San Gabriel Valley. The classic story of the March sisters which has inspired women and girls for 150 years.
“Even contemporary girls who can't imagine wearing silk dresses or being too ladylike to run will identify with the March sisters' strong bonds and earnest efforts to overcome their faults.” – Common Sense Media
December 6 – December 29 Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some!) by Michael Carleton, Jim FitzGerald, and John K. Alvarez with original music by Will Knapp directed by Patrick Towne
An outrageous holiday romp for the whole family (except those who still believe in Santa!)
“Takes the audience on a high energy romp through a variety of Christmas traditions, holiday classics and songs. It's incredible and difficult to describe, so get your tickets to experience it for yourself!” – Broadway World
Look for our 2020 Season Announcement in September!
We have an exciting and diverse season in the works of wonderful plays supported by our new film series, our play readings, and a new music series. The Marquee Circle* The Sierra Madre Playhouse thanks the following members of the Marquee Circle for their generous contributions in support of our work. Season Underwriters Ward & Louise Calaway David & Maggi Gordon Angels ($5,000 and higher) Estelle Campbell Frank & Cindy Costello Christian Lebano Producers ($2,500 - $4,999) Anonymous x2 Sarah Spector Chang Huan Hsueh Ying Jianhui (Jimmy) & Laura Lin & the Kudos Ying Jun Education Center
Backers ($1,000 - $2,499) Caplin Foundation Paul Scranton Maria & Kai Chorng Vanessa Silberman & Ellen & Harvey Knell Joseph Widman Kathy McCormick Nicholas Sim & Louise Neiby Chia-Ying Liu-Sim Promoters ($500 - $999) Brian & Delna Abernathy Jason Ma William Anawalt Carole & Donald Roback Wendy Chang Rodney & Joan Spears Tim Dang & Darrel Cummings Glenda & Greg Vanni Mindy & Jim Halls Karen Wong & Scott Lee Millicent & Sidney Kanazawa Robbie & David Zeidberg Martie & Bob Kawahara
Patrons ($250 - $499) Jeanne Adams Martha Denzel Rachelle Arizmendi Nancy Dorn Doris Arima Marlene Enmark Albert Aubin Ken Fong Gina Calvelli & Lorri Jean Jane & Robert Guentert John Cappocia Suzanne & Lawrence Haller Ilse & William Cassell Georgie Kajer Mary Dang Liza Kerrigan Maureen Daniels Karen Hsueh & Patrick Shen Sally Lew Grace Shen Jessica Lim Diane & Jerry Siegel Rose Chan & Warren Loui Bob & Sue Spears Jeanne Sakata & Tim Patterson Marilyn Tokuda & Daniel Perrett Emmanuelle Remy & Gay Yuen Thomas Riley Fans ($100 - $249) Chris Adams Jeff Levy Shirley & Ken Anhalt Carol & Richard Libby Rick & Shirley Arthur Marian Ontai Lima Barbara Barbarics Sharline Liu Roxanne Barker John & Jenny C. Louie J&P Barron Family Trust Peggy Lu Adrienne Bass Daniel Mayeda & Susan Rosales Sue Beall M & Bonner Meundell Evelyn Blackburn Geoffrey Middlebrook Gerald B. Carlton Stacy & Stuart Miller Jean & Ron Coleman John Montgomerie Julia Ann Collins Irene & Shinji Nakagawa Margaret Cooney Kelsey O’Keeffe Melinda Cummings Anne M. Ontai Joan Crow Mary & Bill Payne Marilyn Diaz Wanda Pila Barbara Ehrlich David Rambo Michael & Maggie Ellis James Reynolds Susan Gallagher Grace Shiba George & Barbara Garcia Peter & Jane Shimamoto Sheila Gebhardt Sierra Madre Woman’s Club Ruth Goldstein Beth Smith John Gong Kenneth Masao Takemoto Michael Hegeman Randall Tamura Amy Hill Joan Tenedine Karen Huie Pearl Tyree Gary Izumi Gedde Watanabe & John Brace Dorothy Keane Paul Wong, Tomm Wells & Buddy Sheila Lamson Jane Zamanzadeh Stefanie Lau
Foundations, Grants, & Underwriters City of Sierra Madre | Los Angeles County Arts Commission California Arts Council | Rotary Club of Sierra Madre Sierra Madre Civic Club | Sierra Madre Community Fdtn. Tournament of Roses Foundation *The gifts listed above were received between August 1, 2018 and July 31, 2019.
Your gift is deeply appreciated by all of us here at SMP, to report a misspelling or omission, please contact [email protected].
Monthly Reading Series Selected Mondays @ 7pm at SMP
August 26 A Thousand Clowns By Herb Gardner Directed by Cate Caplin This Broadway comedy produced one of the theatre's most beloved roles: unconventional Murray Burns, uncle to precocious nephew, Nick. Tired of writing cheap gags for "Chipper the Chipmunk", a children's television show, Murray finds himself unemployed with plenty of free time. Lectured by his conventional brother Arnold and hounded by "the system", Murray is paid a visit by bickering, uptight social workers, Sandra and Albert, and finds himself solving their problems as well as most of his own.
“Filled with laughter and warmth and sweetness and inspired daffiness. One of the quintessential New York comedies." - New York Daily News
September 23 Yellow Face By David Henry Hwang Directed by Drew Barr The lines between truth and fiction blur with hilarious and moving results in David Henry Hwang's unreliable memoir play. Asian-American playwright DHH, fresh off his Tony Award win, leads a protest against the casting of Jonathan Pryce as the Eurasian pimp in the original Broadway production of Miss Saigon, condemning the practice as "yellowface." His position comes back to haunt him when he mistakes a Caucasian actor for mixed-race, and casts him in the lead Asian role of his own Broadway- bound comedy. Meanwhile, DHH's father, an immigrant who loves the American Dream, finds himself ensnared in the late-1990's anti-Chinese paranoia that also leads to the "Donorgate" scandal. This new racist witch hunt forces DHH to confront the complex and ever-changing role that "face" plays in American life today.
"One of the Year's Ten Best. This farcical faux documentary investigates racial and cultural authenticity in a play that knows when irony must give way to sincerity, and vice versa." —LA Times.
Little Women: Greet them again or for the first time By Fran Syverson
The eighth movie version of Little Women will hit the big screen on Christmas Day, 2019. Devotees of the iconic story won’t have to wait until then to see it, however – they can come to the Playhouse from October 17 through November 3 to enjoy a live stage version!
Louisa May Alcott’s story won the hearts of American girls (and some very famous men – Teddy Roosevelt was a big fan of the book) 150 years ago, when the first part was published in 1868. An immediate success, it has become a classic which has made an indelible impression on countless readers – how many among you fancied yourself a “Jo”?
Now, Little Women comes to us in a new adaptation by Artistic Director Christian Lebano who will also direct the play. The Playhouse will collaborate with the California School of the Arts – SGV to mount this production. SMP will provide three Playhouse favorites for the adults: Andrea Stradling, Roxanne Barker, and Alison Kalmus and the performing arts high school will provide the students to portray the March girls, John Brooke, Laurie, and Kate Vaughn. This will be a remarkable opportunity for the younger actors as they work at a professional theater with professional actors in the adult roles.
The play will be a challenge for the young cast, says Lebano, as they grapple with the modes and mores of the period. They’ll have to learn the etiquette and comportment of the day – not to mention the language! And they will all have to deal with the clothing of the time – no jeans and t-shirts but petticoats for the girls and waistcoats for the boys!
Alcott wrote an unusual book for the period. Girls had never before been depicted as independent and empowered. Their parents (only Marmee appears in this version) encouraged and supported them in their quest for fulfillment – tomboy Jo’s writing, Beth’s love for music, Amy’s art, and Meg’s yearning for a domestic life. And, also unusually, it was written in a contemporary vernacular – just as people spoke at that time.
Christian promises that there will be budding romances to spice it up for those who dreamt of their own Lauries and Brookes! He has assured me that he has kept all of the iconic moments of the book. I’m sure memories will come rushing back when audiences get reacquainted with the “little women” of their youth. We’ll save a seat for you.
Little Women opens October 17 and plays through November 3 – tickets are on sale now at SierraMadrePlayhouse.org or 626.355.4318.
Be a part of a vibrant center of the arts at the beloved SMP. You can usher, inform people about our plays and programs, or interact with people at creative outreach events. We need people with all kinds of interests and skills.
Come “Play” with us!
More information at our website or email Diane at [email protected]
SMP is recruiting new members to its board. If you are interested, please contact David Gordon at [email protected]
BOARD of DIRECTORS Louise Calaway, Treasurer Louise – and her husband Ward - have been involved with the Playhouse for many years. They are excited by its recent productions (while keeping a close eye on their costs!). She lives in Sierra Madre.
Estelle Campbell, Managing Director Estelle is a former interior designer and an architectural project manager when she joined the board of the Sierra Madre Playhouse in 2010. She has been the MD since 2013. She lives in Pasadena in an artist complex she developed from obsolete warehouses.
Frank Costello Frank is a Senior Partner in the Los Angeles office of law firm Holland & Knight LLC and a longtime fan of the Playhouse. He lives in La Cañada with his wife Cindy.
David Gordon, President David is a former art museum director and consultant who discovered the Playhouse and became an enthusiast. He lives in Sierra Madre.
Christian Lebano, Artistic Director Christian has been AD since 2014 and joined the Board in 2012. He has produced, directed or acted in over 35 shows and 30 readings at the Playhouse. He and his family live in Eagle Rock. He thinks of Sierra Madre as his second home.
Rich Procter Rich is an award-winning writer with BRC Imagination Arts, creators of museum experiences and corporate welcome centers. He has been a Disney Imagineer, a Groundling (improv), and a writer/producer for the Discovery Channel. He is a film buff among other polymathic interests. He lives in Sierra Madre.
Vanessa Silberman, Digital Marketing Director Vanessa is senior director of communications and strategic initiatives at The Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation. She grew up with a love of performance and live theater. She lives in Sierra Madre.
Sarah Spector Sarah is a CPA and runs Spector Wellman, an accounting/consulting firm supporting small- to mid-sized businesses. Sarah has loved the theater since childhood. She lives in Studio City with her husband, dog, 3 turtles, and a lizard.
COUNCIL of ADVISORS Tim Dang, originally from Hawaii, was Producing Artistic Director of East West Players, the longest running professional theatre of color in the U.S., for 23 years until 2016. He is an adjunct professor for the USC School of Dramatic Arts. Tim directed Nothing is the Same for SMP’s Field Trip Series in 2018 and will direct The Joy Luck Club later this year.
Suzanna Guzmán is a celebrated mezzo soprano who has appeared as a principal artist with international orchestras and opera houses since 1985, most recently in the War of the Worlds with the LA Phil. A TV and radio host, she is currently in the inaugural artist roster of “The Company” with Yuval Sharon’s experimental opera theater, The Industry. She is a passionate advocate of arts education. She lives in Sierra Madre.
Lynda Jenner, a former school teacher, went on to get a degree in television production; her shows won a Peabody, an Emmy and New York Television award. She was Director of Community Programs at the Los Angeles Music Center. Along the way she sang professionally for many years. She now brings the leaders of local arts organizations together for their mutual benefit. She lives in Pasadena.
Georgie Kajer is an architect with a background and interest in historic restoration, historic preservation issues and regional design. Kajer Architects, based in La Cañada, specializes in residential renovation and new construction. She welcomes the resurgence of the Playhouse. She lives in Pasadena.
Alison Eliel Kalmus left corporate marketing to become an educator. She developed the AKT Youth Academy at SMP in 2000. As a director, producer and performer, she has toured nationally and internationally in theater and opera. A fourth-generation Pasadenan, she has an avid interest in Craftsmen Architecture, especially that of her uncles, the Heineman Bros.
Liza Kerrigan did her architectural studies in the East, graduating from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design with a Master’s in Architecture. In 1998, she started her own residential design firm, Blue Studio. Recently it received the Pasadena Historic Preservation Award for Residential Rehabilitation. She lives in Sierra Madre.
John Sparks written works include Babes in Barns, Hans Brinker and Wanting Miss Julie. Artistic Director, Theatre Building Chicago, 1999- 2009, Founding Director, New Musicals Inc (Los Angeles) 1979 – present. John’s workshops in LA and Chicago have nurtured writers of musicals for 39 years, including Tony Award winning Mark Hollmann (Urinetown).
The Joy Luck Club* Film Series Selected Wednesdays @ 7pm at SMP
September 4: Forever, Chinatown Produced and Directed by James Q. Chan
Forever, Chinatown is a story of unknown, self-taught 81-year-old artist Frank Wong who has spent the past four decades recreating his fading memories by building romantic, extraordinarily detailed miniature models of the San Francisco Chinatown rooms of his youth.
This film takes the journey of one individual and maps it to a rapidly changing urban neighborhood from 1940s to present day. A meditation on memory, community, and preserving one’s own legacy, Frank‘s three-dimensional miniature dioramas become rare portals into a historic neighborhood and a window to the artist’s filtered and romanticized memories and emotional struggles.
September 11: Tyrus Directed by Pamela Tom Produced by American Masters
People worldwide have seent the Disney animated classic Bambi and been deeply moved by it, but few can tell you the name of the artist behind the film. Even fewer are aware of this pioneering artist’s impact on american art and popular culture. Until his deat at the age of 106, Tyrus Wong was America’s oldest living Chinese-American artist and one of the last remaining artists from the golden age of Disney animation
September 18: Forbidden City, USA Directed by Arthur Dong Produced by Deep Focus Productions
Part That’s Entertainment and part PBS, Forbidden City, U.S.A. captures this little-known chapter of entertainment history and takes it center stage, featuring a cast of original nightclub performers. “The Chinese Sinatra”, “the Chinese Sophie Tucker”, and the “Chinese Sally Rand” are just some of the spirited personalities that strut their stuff and share triumphant and often side-splitting tales of adventures in the cabarets of yesteryear.
*Films subject to change