Ruby Theatre at THE COMPLEX

Rubidor Productions presents the World Premiere of

Written by Matt Chait Directed by Elina de Santos

Starring Amy-Helene Carlson, Dennis Renard, Matt Chait and Bruce Katzman

Amy-Helene Carlson Dennis Renard Matt Chait Bruce Katzman

Casting Director Set Design Michael Donovan, CSA Todd Faux Casting Associate Lighting Design Richie Ferris, CSA Leigh Allen Publicity Costume Design Lucy Pollak Michael Mullen General Manager Sound Design Matthew Herrmann Ross Chait Production Stage Manager Tempest Rockbell

All actors appear courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST AMY-HELENE CARLSON (Melinda Brown- atre (2013); as Jacob and Jack in Jacob And stein) Amy-Helene Carlson is a graduate of Jack at the Zephyr (2012); Gottfried in Way the William Esper Studio in New York City To Heaven Circle and LA Weekly). Broadway and a regular contributor for theater compa- credits include the Tony Award-winning re- ny Naked Angels. You can catch her on the vival of Cabaret and the premiere season of new series, All Hail Beth. Huge thanks to Tony Randall’s National Actors Theater. Bruce Matt and Elina. appeared in Central Park with the NY Shake- speare Festival in productions of Richard III DENNIS RENARD (Howard Blair) Dennis (w/Denzel Washington) and Othello (w/Raul Renard was born and raised in Mississippi Julia and Christopher Walken). Off-Broadway before moving to Chicago for high school. he was in Sylvia (Sarah Jessica Parker) for the There he studied acting at the Goodman The- Manhattan Theatre Club and he appeared on atre and then moved to the West coast to fur- many off-off-Broadway stages. LA audiences ther his training at UCLA’s undergrad theater might have also seen Bruce at The Pasadena program. He made his professional theater Playhouse (Stormy Weather); The Mark Ta- debut last year in 12 Angry Men at the Lagu- per Forum (The Talking Cure); NoHo Arts na Playhouse. He then went on to play Leroi (That Perfect Moment); in Saturday Night At Jones in a workshop production of Beatniks: Grossinger’s for Theatre West; in Charlotte: the Musical and recently finished the world A Life Or Theatre at the MET Theatre in Hol- premiere run of Baby Eyes by Donald Jol- lywood. He has appeared on more than 30 ly, produced by Playwrights Arena. TV/Film prime-time TV shows, including Black-ish, The credits: Mississippi Requiem, Lifetime’s Sin- Mindy Project, Agent Carter, Criminal Minds, ister Minister, San Andreas: Mega Quake, Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, Castle and others. and Humor Me: Season 1. @dennisrenardii Bruce directed critically acclaimed produc- MATT CHAIT (Bertram Cates) I have been tions of King Lear (2003) and Uncle Vanya fortunate to have spent the great majority (2002) at the MET Theatre. An acting teacher of my life in theatre. I attended the Neigh- and coach, he has taught workshops on the borhood Playhouse, studied with some great plays of Anton Chekhov in Oxford, England, in teachers, worked in theater in New York, Denmark, and in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He LA and all over the country, and have owned is a 1988 graduate of Yale School of Drama. and operated The Complex for twenty-seven ELINA DE SANTOS (Director) Elina de San- years, retiring last January. I taught acting tos is co-artistic director of Rogue Machine at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Theatre. She has directed world premieres UCLA and I had my own acting studio for of Hostage by Michelle Kohlos Brooks, Fam- over twenty years. I am very grateful that you ily Riots by Gideon Jeph Wabvuta, In the are here and that I get to do this show that Valley of the Shadow by Katherine Cortez, has been a dream of mine for a long time and Dirty Filthy Love Story by Rob Mersola, Nice to work with such a remarkable director as Things by Vince Melocchi, Razorback by Elina de Santos and such a wonderful cast. John Pollono, Church & State by Jason Odell When I created the Complex I named this Williams, Yard Sale Signs by Jennie Webb theater the Ruby theater in honor of my fa- and The Sexual Life of Savages by Ian Mc- ther, Reuben; and the theatre across the way Donald; the American premiere of Daytona the Dorie Theater in honor of my mother, by Oliver Cotton; West Coast premieres of Dorothy. So if it seems like I’m quite at home Smart Love by Brian Letscher (upcoming in here, it’s because I am home. Welcome! 2019 at PRT), Bhutan by Daisy Foote, Falling Oh, yes. I do have to beg forgiveness from by Deanna Jent, Nicolas Wright’s Vincent in my family. Whenever I do a project that is this Brixton (Pasadena Playhouse) and New Jeru- personal to me, I get so wrapped up in it that I salem by David Ives; and L.A. premieres of am sort of a husband and father ‘in absentia.’ Stop Kiss by Diana Son (co-director, Matthew Sorry, Angela, Ross and Lily, but I’ll be Elkins), David Mamet’s Speed the Plow and back soon. Love, Matt Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance. A small BRUCE KATZMAN (Joshua Brownstein)LA sampling of other directing credits includes stage appearances: Snow Geese at the Inde- Broken Glass, All My Sons and Death of a pendent Shakespeare Company Studio (2017); Salesman by Arthur Miller; Awake & Sing! (in Flowers for Algernon at the Deaf West The- 1994-95 and again in 2015-16 at the Odyssey, as well as at the Berkshire Theatre Festival of. This play, A Misunderstanding, is an at- and Pittsburgh Public Theatre) and Rocket to tempt to present many of the same ideas but the Moon by Clifford Odets; Tennessee Wil- in a more relational context. The play is just liams’ Orpheus Descending (LADCC Award as much about relationships and how these for direction), A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, different ways of looking at the world effect Orphans by Lyle Kessler (OC Weekly Award these relationships as it is about the ideas. for best production), and Romeo & Juliet: I thank you for coming and sincerely Circus Verona (Deaf West Theatre). Elina is hope that you enjoy the show. the recipient of the Milton Katselas Award for TEMPEST ROCKBELL (Stage Manager) career achievement in direction from the Los Tempest Rockbell graduated from Chap- Angeles Drama Critic’s Circle man University with a B.A. in Theatre. Stage MATT CHAIT (Author) When I was touring Management: (Chance Theater) Gutting, The in a show many years ago, my girlfriend back Orange Garden; (Wilderness) The Day Shall in New York told me over the phone that she Declare It; (Segerstrom Center for the Arts) was doing ‘exercises that made you high.’ I Aziz Ansari, Into the Woods 20th Anniversa- had never heard of such a thing. I hadn’t ex- ry Reunion, Candlelight Gala 2014; (OK Mo- perimented much with drugs, but ‘exercises zart Festival) Main Stage 2010-11, OKC Stage that made you high’ sounded really intriguing. 2012, Stage B 2009; (Chapman University) If They were called ‘yoga’ and I resolved that I All the Sky Were Paper, Hamlet, A Night of would try a yoga class as soon as I returned Noh- Theater, A Servant of Two Masters. For to New York. The classes that I found were inquiries contact [email protected] under the guidance of someone called Swami TODD FAUX (set design) Todd is a theater Satchidananda. And, yes, they did make me educator and designer, a grad student, and high, in a very lucid and relaxed way, in fact a current teaching associate for the Theatre so relaxed that I barely recognized myself. & Dance Dept. at Cal State Fullerton, where This experience began a spiritual journey he had the pleasure to design for director, for me that lasted eight years. At the end of Elina de Santos. As Manager of Entertain- that time I had a way of looking at the world ment Design at Knott’s Berry Farm, Todd and myself that I was quite content with. designed 18 seasons of Halloween Haunt and Much later on I got married and had Knott’s Merry Farm Christmases, including children, and I found myself, because of Elvira’s Ghost Stories Spookactular, and the mother’s groups and play groups and school award-winning Snoopy’s America on Ice. He volunteer groups, meeting people that I has also created scenery for shows as diverse wouldn’t ordinarily have come into contact as Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, Madame with. It turned out that a number of these Butterfly, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Sweeney people were scientists, and they would say Todd, and The Importance of Being Ernest. things about the world, in casual conversa- tion, that I thought were completely wrong. LEIGH ALLEN (Lighting Designer) is a recip- When I tried to interject, it just didn’t work. ient of the Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle They were momentarily bewildered by my Award for Career Achievement. Accolades remarks, in fact speechless, and then con- include: Ovation, Best Production for Dying tinued their conversations pretending that City and Killer Joe; Ovation, Best Production my interruption just hadn’t happened. of a Musical for When Jazz had the Blues; When blogs appeared, I thought that LADCC award, Production for One Night in would be an ideal way for me to express Miami; Garland Award for Lighting Design, myself; where I would be able to explain a Cousin Bette; LA Weekly Lighting Design whole argument rather than a one line re- Award for Treefall; BroadwayWorld Santa joinder. I began the blog “beyondevolution- Barbara Regional Lighting Design Award for istheregodafterdawkins.blogspot.com” eleven Mary Poppins; GLAAD Award for Like A Dog years ago. And in this process I learned a on Linoleum; Macy Award for The Secret whole lot more about science, especially bi- Garden; and LADCC and LA Weekly Awards ology and physics. Then I had the idea of for Johnny Got His Gun. She has also toured writing a play that would combine my life with Masters of Illusion, Live!; Vox Lumiere long passion for theatre with this passion and designed numerous shows for Regent for explaining science from a spiritual per- and Princess cruise-lines, School of Rock for spective. My first attempt was a play called multiple theme parks, and corporate retreats Disinherit The Wind, which I am very proud for Hampton Inn. She has had the privilege of working with local theatre companies such as has also cast numerous films, TV series and Musical Theatre West, South Bay Civic Light commercials. Michael, who also teaches at Opera, The Old Globe, Pasadena Playhouse, UCLA, serves on the Boards for both the Rogue Machine Theatre, Pacific Resident Foundation for New American Musicals, and Theatre, and Anteaus Theatre Company, Camp Bravo. among many others. Currently Leigh teaches LUCY POLLAK (Public Relations) Lucy Pol- full time at Santa Monica College. lak has been providing publicity services to MICHAEL MULLEN (Costume Design) is a the Los Angeles arts community for the past costume designer and actor. Among his the- 27 years for companies including 24th Street atrical design credits are: Dreamgirls (Ova- Theatre, Antaeus Theatre Company, The tion Award, Los Angeles Drama Critics Cir- Echo Theater Company, Fountain Theatre, cle Award, N.A.A.C.P. Theatre Award, L.A. International City Theatre, L.A. Theatre Weekly Theatre Award, Broadway World Works, Latino Theater Company at the LATC, Award), The Boy From Oz (Ovation Award, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Od- Ticketholder Award, Robby Award, Broad- yssey Theatre Ensemble, Padua Playwrights, way World Award, Stage Raw nomination), Theatre Planners, Will Geer’s Theatricum Siamese Sex Show (Ovation Award), Fugue Botanicum; numerous independent theater (Ovation nomination), When Jazz Had The and dance productions; and large events and Blues (Ovation and N.A.A.C.P. nominations), festivals such as the annual L.A. County Hol- Burners (Ovation nomination), Cabaret (Ova- iday Celebration at The Music Center. From tion nomination), Year Of The Rooster (Ova- 1981 to 1990, she was production manager/ tion nomination), Fixed (Stage Raw nomina- staff producer at the Odyssey Theatre, where tion), Sweeney Todd (Stage Raw nomination), she co-produced over 100 productions with and American Idiot (Ticketholder Award). He artistic director Ron Sossi. For the 1993 Los has received several StageSceneLA Awards Angeles Festival, she line produced Reza Ab- for “Costume Designer Of The Year” as well doh’s controversial Quotations From A Ru- as “Costume Designer Extraordinaire”. He ined City. She is the recipient of a Los An- would like to thank his family, friends, and geles Drama Critic’s Circle Award (Master everyone involved with this show for being Class), an LA Weekly Award (Mary Barnes), awesome! :) four Drama-Logue Awards (Mary Barnes, Id- ioglossia, Accidental Death of An Anarchist, ROSS CHAIT (sound design) Ross Wallace It’s A Girl!), and a Women in Theatre Recog- Chait is a composer, sound designer, teacher, nition Award. She has served on the boards writer and drummer based in Los Angeles. of directors of the Los Angeles Theatre Alli- When he’s not creating sound effects and ed- ance (now L.A. Stage Alliance), Women in iting music for A Misunderstanding, he can be Theatre and P.A.T.H. (Performing Arts The- found writing music for theater and film, for atre for the Handicapped). his band Total Heat, teaching music lessons or touring / recording as a drummer for hire. MATTHEW HERRMANN (General Man- ager) hails from southern Indiana, which MICHAEL DONOVAN (casting director) Mi- explains his height. A graduate of the Sa- chael is the recipient of 7 Artios awards pre- vannah College of Art and Design and the sented by the Casting Society of America for Groundlings, Matt was a driving force behind Outstanding Achievement in casting. He has the recent Hollywood productions of I Only cast shows produced at the Hollywood Bowl, Have Eyes For You and Prairie-oke!. He is the Ahmanson Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, the creator of the punk rock stage show Tom the Kirk Douglas Theatre, Walt Disney Con- and Barry 2 nights only. He has also direct- cert Hall, Laguna Playhouse, International ed over 35 productions for the famed French City Theatre, the El Portal Theatre, La Jolla Woods Festival of the Performing Arts. A Playhouse, the Getty Villa, the Ricardo Mon- proud member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA, talban Theatre, the Falcon Theatre, the Col- Matt is a strong believer in the power of the- ony Theatre, the Theatre @ Boston Court, ater to help build confidence, community, Valley Performing Arts Center, the 24th St. respect and responsibility in the youth of to- Theatre, San Francisco Symphony, Arizona day. Upcoming productions include Peaches Theatre Company, Arkansas Rep, Kentucky Christ’s new parody Mean Gays starring Kim Shakespeare Festival, Indiana Rep, Totem Chi, Willam and LaGanja Estranja in March Pole Playhouse, and the Alliance Theatre – and the RuPaul’s Drag Race season 11 tour, as well as several national tours. Michael later this year.