“Blue, Blue, “Wild women never worry, Paul Crewes Rachel Fine I got a tale to tell you I’m blue. Wild women don’t have Artistic Director Managing Director Somethin’ comes over me, no .” PRESENTS and I’m blue about you.” -Ida Cox - On “If I had saved my money “A man is a two face, When I was young A worrisome thing and doin’ well, Blues in Who’ll leave you to sing I wouldn't be here singin’ The Blues in the night.” In this cheap hotel. the Night -Harold Arlen & I got the four walls, BY CREATOR AND DIRECTOR Johnny Mercer And one dirty window blues.” SHELDON EPPS -Willard Robinson Blues In The Night uses the great blues and songs of ORIGINAL VOCAL ARRANGEMENTS ORCHESTRATIONS AND ADDITIONAL TIME: The late 1930’s. the 1920’s and 30’s to explore AND MUSICAL DIRECTION BY VOCAL ARRANGEMENTS BY PLACE: A cheap hotel in . the lives of three women and a saloon singer in a cheap hotel during the course of a long, CHAPMAN ROBERTS SY JOHNSON CAST OF CHARACTERS memory-filled evening. The songs have been specifically STARRING YVETTE CASON...... THE LADY FROM THE ROAD chosen to accomplish several Yvette Cason, Bryce Charles, Chester Gregory, Paulette Ivory BRYCE CHARLES...... THE GIRL WITH THE DATE things, but their most important CHESTER GREGORY...... THE MAN IN THE SALOON function is to celebrate a great SCENIC DESIGN COSTUME DESIGN LIGHTING DESIGN PAULETTE IVORY...... THE WOMAN OF THE WORLD period and style of American music and to explore the John Iacovelli Dana Rebecca Woods Jared A. Sayeg Female Standby: Amber Liekhus influences and the roots of the The Standby never substitute for players unless a specific announcement for the jazz idiom as they grew from SOUND DESIGN HAIR & WIG DESIGN ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR appearance is made at the time of the performance. blues music. It was once said, “Blues is to jazz what yeast Cricket S. Myers Danielle Richter Jeffrey Polk is to bread.” And so in this THE BAND celebration, the blues melodies CASTING BY of Bessie Smith, Jimmy Cox, Telsey + CONDUCTOR/PIANIST Lanny Hartley Alberta Hunter and others are Ryan Bernard Tymensky, CSA BASS Kevin O’Neal mixed and contrasted with the songs of Harold Arlen, Andy REEDS Randall Willis, Louis Van Taylor Razaf, Johnny Mercer and other PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER PERCUSSION Lance Lee legends of the jazz world to Art Brickman Tara Sitser TRUMPET Fernando Pullum paint the full spectrum of this great musical form. MUSIC DIRECTOR WARNING: THIS PRODUCTION USES A THEATRICAL HAZE EFFECT The blues is the music of Abdul Hamid Royal AND HERBAL CIGARETTES. strength. These songs give the characters a means of survival. CONCEIVED AND DIRECTED BY It is the very glory of this music that has caused the blues itself *The actors in this production appear to be an ever stronger and courtesy of Actors Equity Association. SHELDON EPPS exciting survivor in the world’s APRIL 27 - MAY 20, 2018 musical life. The Designers at this Theatre Lovelace Studio Theater are Represented by United Scenic Artists • Local USA 829 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Running Time: 2 hours and 25 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P5 About the Artists

Program

YVETTE CASON (The Lady (Carbonell Award, Helen Hayes Award nom). Other Portland Stage, San Jose Rep, Rep, ACT ONE ACT TWO from the Road) recently theatre credits: Fela (Broadway, National Theater Walnut Street Theatre, La Mirada Theatre, appeared in A Miracle on 34th UK and world tour;NAACP nom), Purlie (NAACP Philadelphia Theatre Company. Iacovelli designed “Blue Blues” “Wild Women Don’t Have The Blues” Jam Session (“Wild Women Don’t Street at the Pasadena nom), Ragtime, Blues in the Night (US & ), A the world premiere of Wole Soyinka’s adaptation of by Bessie Smith; used by permission of by Ida Cox; used by permission of Northern Have The Blues”) Playhouse. Her performance as Woman of No Importance (Royal Shakespeare Co.), Oedipus at Colonus for The Cultural Olympiad in Frank Music Corp. Music Company by Ida Cox; used by permission of Katie and Mahalia in Shout Baby It’s You, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, and The Hot Greece and the world premiere of a full-length Northern Music Company “Four Walls (And One Dirty Sister Shout at Pasadena Mikado. TV/film credits include: “Criminal Minds,” dance based on the Warner Bros. classic film “Lover Man” Playhouse earned her an LA Ovation nomination. “The Young and the Restless,” “Numb3rs,” at the Great Hall of the People in Window) Blues” by Jimmy Davis; Jimmy Sherman and “Blues In The Night” In addition, Yvette portrayed Lillie Ann in Barbecue “Girlfriends,” “Strong Medicine,” “Doctors,” Beijing. Film: Production Designer on Ruby in by Willard Robinson; used by permission of Roger “Ram” Ramirez; used by permission By Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer; used Paradise The Jewel Music Publishing Co., Inc. of MCA Music Publishing by permission of Warner Bros., Inc. at the Geffen Playhouse (NAACP Theatre Award). “Eastenders” and “Lords of Dogtown.” Paulette also starring Ashley Judd in her film debut. Art Other credits include: A Night With Janis Joplin, Ella opened “The Royal Variety Show” in London and Director on Honey, I Shrunk the Kids! TV Production “I’ve got A Date With A Dream” “Willow Weep For Me” “Dirty No-Gooder’s Blues” The Musical, , Play On! (Ovation Award), performed at Kensington Palace at the request of Design: “Beckett Directs Beckett: Endgame” with by Mack Gordon and Henry Revel; used by by Ann Ronell; used by permission of the by Bessie Smith; used by permission of Once On This Island, Ain’t Misbehavin’, St. Louis Prince Charles. Also, Paulette wrote and starred in The San Quentin Drama Workshop, “The Old Settler” permission of SBK/Feist Catalog, Inc. Bourne Company Frank Music Corp. Woman, Into the Woods and Sisterella (NAACP the short film In Destiny’s Hands, as well as the starring Phylicia Rashad & , “The Gin Theatre Award). Film: A Wrinkle In Time, Dreamgirls web series “My Life Lesson.” @PauletteIvory Game” starring Mary Tyler Moore & Dick Van Dyke, “New Orleans Hop Stop Blues” “Kitchen Man” “When A Woman Loves A Man/ and Middle of Nowhere. She has toured with “Ed” on NBC, “Babylon 5”, “Resurrection Blvd.”, by George W. Thomas; used by permission by Andy Razaf and Wesley Wilson; used by Am I Blue?“ Whitney Houston, , David Foster and SHELDON EPPS (Conceived By & Director) was “Lincoln Heights”. He is on the Design Faculty, of Jerry Vogel Music Co., Inc. permission of MCA Publishing by Johnny Mercer, Gordon Jenkins and Babyface. Education: Berklee College of Music. honored to be Artistic Director of the renowned Department of Theatre & Dance, UC Davis and is a Bernard Hanighen “Stompin At The Savoy” Pasadena Playhouse for twenty years (1997-2017). visiting professor at the Shanghai Drama Academy. “When Your Lover Has Gone” by Grand Clarke and Harry Akst; used by BRYCE CHARLES by Benny Goodman, And Razaf, Edgar by E.A. Swan; used by permission of (The Girl Before beginning his tenure at the Playhouse he permission of Chappell & Co.; used by with a Date) is thrilled to make served as Associate Artistic Director of the Old DANA REBECCA WOODS (Costume Designer) Sampson and Cick Webb; used by Warner Bros., Inc. permission of Warner Bros., Inc. permission of SBK Robbins Catalogue, Inc. her Wallis debut with Blues in Globe Theatre for four years. He was also a is happy to be collaborating once again with and RYTVOC, Inc. “Take It Right Back” “Rough and Ready Man” the Night. She holds her BFA in co-founder of the Off , The Sheldon Epps and proud to be part of the design By H. Grey by Alberta Hunter; used by permission of from AMDA Production Company. Currently he continues to team assembled for Blues in the Night. Her design “Taking A Chance On Love” Alberta Hunter Music Co. College and Conservatory. serve Pasadena Playhouse as Artistic Director work includes Blues in the Night at San Francisco’s by Vernon Duke, John LaTouche and Ted National Tour: The Book of Emeritus. Mr. Epps has directed both plays and Post Street Theater; In the Red and Brown Water at Fetter; used by permission by SBK Miller “Reckless Blues” Mormon. TV: “Encore!” (ABC), “Fuller House” musicals at many of the country’s major theatres UC Santa Barbara; Shout Sister Shout, Stop Kiss, Catalogue, Inc. by Bessie Smith; used by permission of (Netflix), “Black-ish” (ABC). including the Roundabout, Manhattan Theatre Above The Fold, Fences, and others for The Pasadena Frank Music Corp. Jitney Fences “It Makes My Love Come Down” Club, the Guthrie, Playwrights Horizons, Seattle Playhouse; and at South Coast CHESTER GREGORY (The Repertory Theatre, , and the Goodman Repertory. Her film and television designs include by Bessie Smith; used by permission of “Wasted Life Blues” Man in the Saloon) is thrilled to Theatre and Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars in Go For Sisters for John Sayles and “Watch Over Me” Frank Music Corp. by Bessie Smith; used by permission of be making his Wallis debut in Houston. He conceived the highly acclaimed for Fox Television. Dana taught at the University of Frank Music Corp. “Lush Life” Blues In the Night. Broadway musicals Play On! and Blues In the Night, which Central Florida and is a member of USA Local 829; by Billy Strayhorn; used by permission of “Baby Doll” credits include: Motown the both received Tony Award nominations. He directed Costume Designers Guild Local; and Motion Picture Temp Music, Inc. by Bessie Smith; used by permission of Musical (), productions of both of those shows on Broadway, Costumers. She is also IATSE Delegate to the Los Frank Music Corp. (Seaweed), Sister Act (Eddie), in London, and at theatres throughout the world. Angeles County Federation of Labor. When not “I’m Just A Lucky So-and-So” Tarzan (Terk), and Cry-Baby (Dupree). National tour: He also co-directed the Broadway production of designing productions or involved with labor by and Mack David; used “Nobody Knows You When You’re Motown (Berry Gordy), Sister Act (Eddie), Dreamgirls Baby It’s You!, which had its world premiere at The activities, Dana creates teaching artist curriculum for by permission by T.B. Harms Company, Down And Out” (James “Thunder” Early), and the title role in The Pasadena Playhouse. He also has had a busy career after school programs. a Polygram International Music by Jimmy Cox; used by permission of Jackie Wilson Story. Regional: August Wilson’s as a television director helming episodes of shows Publishing Company and Famous Music MCA Publishing Fences and Two Trains Running at the Goodman such as "Frasier," "Friends," "Everybody Loves JARED A. SAYEG (Lighting Design) is a four- Publishing Company Theatre and Kansas City Rep, respectively. Raymond," "Girlfriends" and many others. Mr. time Ovation Award Nominee and winner of the “Take Me For A Buggy Ride” “I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues” Television: Performances on “The Daily Show,” “The Epps received the James Irvine Foundation Ovation, StageRaw & Garland Award as well as a by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler; used by by Leola and Wesley Wilson; used by View,” and The . Chester is the recipient Leadership Award for his efforts and recipient of the LADDC Kinetic Lighting Award. He permission of Warner Bros., Inc. permission of Frank Music Corp. of numerous accolades including Chicago’s Jeff accomplishments at the Pasadena Playhouse. recently provided the lighting design for the world Jackie Unveiled “Four Walls” (Reprise) Award, the NAACP Theatre Award, and the key to the Under his leadership the Playhouse has earned premiere of at The Wallis. His designs used by permission of The Jewel Music city of his hometown of Gary, Indiana, as well as an distinction for productions of artistic excellence, have been seen throughout the U.S., Broadway, Off- Publishing Co., Inc. honorary Doctorate Degree from Columbia College critical and box office success, and highly praised Broadway, West-End, Canada, Spain, Edinburgh & Las Chicago. He’s currently producing his one-man theatrical diversity. Vegas. National Tours include Blithe Spirit starring show, The Eve of Jackie Wilson, and has just , The Who’s Tommy with Alice Ripley, released two albums. ChesterGregory.com JOHN IACOVELLI (Scenic Design) received an Queen of Spades starring Placido Domingo (Madrid) Emmy Award for “Peter Pan” starring Cathy Rigby and Rolling with Laughter at Her Majesty’s Theatre PAULETTE IVORY (The on A&E and a LA Drama Critics Circle for Lifetime (West-End). Broadway: The Illusionists (Neil Simon & Woman of the World) is one of Achievement in Scenic Design. Other Broadway: National Tour) Bravo Bernstein, Gotham Glory London’s acclaimed performers. The Twilight of The Golds, National Tour: Camelot. (Carnegie Hall) and was on the design teams for: BLUES IN THE NIGHT After originating the role of Regional: over 300 productions at theatres PRIMO, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Woman in White is presented through special arangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All Nala in The Lion King in the including: The Mark Taper Forum, Geffen and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Regional: authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. West End, she was cast in the Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, GeVa, Pasadena Center Theatre Group, Pasadena Playhouse, South title role of Aida in the US Playhouse, The Globe, Berkeley Rep, Magic, Dallas Coast Repertory, Sacramento Music Circus, www.MTIShows.com national tour of Elton John and Disney's Aida Theatre Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, International City Theatre, Reprise, Ensemble Theatre

P6 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P7 About the Artists About the Program

Company, Cabrillo Music Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, ABDUL HAMID ROYAL(Music Director) (more than 40 shows since 2004) and an active Los Angeles theater luminary Sheldon Epps sat Virginia Stage Company, The Colony, Shakespeare received the Ovation Award; Los Angeles Drama member of Actors’ Equity (1982) and the Stage down with The Wallis Post to discuss his break-out Theatre of & CLO of South Bay. Jared is Critics Circle Award and SAGE Award as Best Music Managers’ Association (1983). Q & A with Principal Designer for the USA International Ballet Direction for The Gospel at Colonus. He received the hit Blues in the Night, which is being revived later Competitions held every four years. Jared became NAACP Image Award for the Tony-nominated TARA SITSER (Assistant Stage Manager) Tara's the youngest member of the United Scenic Artists- Broadway musical 5 Guys Named Moe, and the twenty year career as a performer in musical theater this month in the Lovelace Studio Theater. Local 829 and serves as a trustee to the executive NAACP Image Award and Stage Scene LA Award for led to her first contract as a Stage Manager while Q: Q: board. Jaslighting.com Outstanding Musical Direction on the Los Angeles working at the Huntington Hartford Theater in 1983 What was the genesis How are you approaching this production of Recorded in Hollywood. Broadway/ on an original musical starring . For the SHELDON of Blues in the Night? new production in the Lovelace? CRICKET S. MYERS (Sound Design) On International/National: Music Director: Five Guys past 5 years she has been the resident stage EPPS:The show started way back in EPPS: On the theatrical side, I’m Broadway, Cricket earned a Tony Nomination and a Named Moe, Twist, , Ain’t manager for the Pacific Festival Ballet Company at the my Off-Off Broadway theater days. I intrigued by returning the show Bengal Tiger at Misbehavin’, Jelly’s Last Jam, The Wiz, Truly Blessed, Drama Desk Award for her design of Kavli Theater overseeing several original ballets each worked for the production company to its roots in a smaller space. I the Baghdad Zoo. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Sound of Music, Fiddler Nutcracker Ballet Her designs Off Broadway include year as well as their annual (2012- at Playhouse 46 in the late ‘70’s.One love intimate theater experiences, The Marvelous Wonderettes on the Roof, Betsy Brown, Concerts for the Earth, I Only Have the 16 month run of 2017). Other production credits include of our ideas was to do late night when the cast and the audience (Westside Arts, Upstairs). She has also designed Colors of Christmas, Smokey Joe’s Café, The Life. Eyes For You at the Montalban Theater (2016), the EPPS cabaret shows on the weekend that are really sharing the same room regionally at the Geffen Playhouse, The Mark Taper Composer/Arranger: Five Guys Named Moe, Truly Jerry Herman Awards at the Pantages Theater (2013- reflected whatever play we were doing together. Although I’ve done this Forum (including Bent, with Moises Kaufman), La Blessed, Body and Soul, Twist, Cole Porter Festival, 2015), Les Miserables for the Anchorage Concert at the time. In the spring of 1980, show many times, it’s always new Jolla Playhouse, South Coast Rep, The Kirk Douglas Colors of Christmas. Recording Artists: Natalie Cole, Assoc. (2014), Actor’s Fund Musical Mondays (2011- we were doing a play about a blind and different with each cast. Theater, Pasadena Playhouse, Berkeley Rep, and Peabo Bryson, Melissa Manchester, , Al 2013) starring Betty Buckley, Frank Wildhorn, Joanne jazz musician on the mainstage. I Arena Stage. Other selected L.A. theaters include The Jarreau, The Pointer Sisters, , Ashford & Worley and , two Thalian’s Galas had the thought of doing something Q: And you have a great cast at The Rubicon, Ghost Road Theater Company, The Ricardo Simpson, Martha Wash, , Jeffrey (2011 and 2014) and numerous productions for the Wallis: Yvette Cason, Bryce Charles, I Only Have Eyes for You about jazz. In my research, I came Montalban Theater ( ), and Osborne, Maurice Hines, , Patti Austin, Musical Theater Guild at the Alex, Scherr Forum and Paulette Ivory and Chester Gregory. The Celebration Theater. Cricket has earned 20 Grover Washington Jr., Masashi Sada, Patti LaBelle, Moss Theaters. upon a quote in which Ovation Nominations, as well as winning The League Christina Aguilera, Jason Mraz, Stevie Wonder, David she said, “Blues is to jazz what EPPS: We have a tremendous cast, of Professional Theater Woman's Ruth Morley Award Foster, Doc Powell, The LA Philharmonic, Ty Herndon, THE WALLIS (Producer) is located within the yeast is to bread.” I then became many of whom I’ve worked with and The Kinetic Award for Outstanding Achievement Freddie Waites, Brenda Russell, and Phil Collins. historic Beverly Hills Post Office, an award-winning excited about exploring the influence before and know their strengths. in Theatrical Design, an LADCC and a Garland Award architectural gem designed by Ralph C. Frewelling in the blues had on jazz writers, and I’ve never wanted to tell any actor, in Los Angeles.cricketsmyers.com TELSEY + COMPANY (Casting) Broadway/ the Italian Renaissance Revival style with WPA project Blues in the Night was born. “This is how so-and-so did this Tours: SpongeBob SquarePants, Once on This Island, murals by Charles Kessler, which was in operation Q: What did that early before,” even though I’ve worked DANIELLE RICHTER (Hair & Wig Design) is The Parisian Woman, M. Butterfly, Anastasia, Charlie from 1934 to 1998. The campus that once delivered production look like? with many great actors in the blessed and thrilled to be working on her third and the Chocolate Factory, Hello, Dolly!, Come from the mail, now delivers the performing arts. Since roles. It’s always about creating the show with The Wallis. Previous productions at Away, Waitress, Hamilton, Kinky Boots, Wicked, On opening its doors in October 2013, The Wallis has EPPS: The show was always a revue, show anew with the four people. The Wallis have been and The City Your Feet!, Something Rotten!, The King and I, An produced or presented more than 150 dance, music not a book musical. But I never of Conversation. Other Los Angeles design credits American in Paris. Off-Broadway: Sweeney Todd, and theater programs that are local, national and wanted singers just standing at a Q: How do you feel Blues in the include the LA Phil, A Noise Within and Valley Atlantic, Classic Stage, MCC, St. Ann’s Warehouse, international in scope. The Wallis campus includes microphone in a club. We always Night speaks to audiences in 2018? Performing Arts Center. Regionally she has Second Stage. Regional: Alley Theatre, Deaf West the 150-seat Lovelace Studio Theater, the 500-seat had four actors who performed from EPPS: It’s always been a show about worked with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Hartford Stage, La Jolla Bram Goldsmith Theater, the Promenade Terrace a sense of character. The songs Seattle Repertory Theatre and the Milwaukee Playhouse, McCarter Theatre, Stage and (featuring Dance Sundays with Debbie Allen and female empowerment. Many people were chosen to not only entertain think the blues is about lying down on Repertory Theatre. Film, , Pasadena Playhouse, Friends, and other free public programming) and and explore the music, but to reveal Williamstown Theatre Festival. Film: Miss Sloane, GRoW @ The Wallis: A Space for Arts Education and the bed and complaining about how specific characters in a particular JEFFREY POLK (Associate Director) is honored to Into the Woods, Margin Call, Rachel Getting Married, outreach classrooms. Under the leadership of Artistic badly you feel, but it’s really about place and time. That specificity was work with The Spectacular Sheldon Epps who Across the Universe, Camp, Pieces of April. TV: “This Is Director Paul Crewes and Managing Director Rachel survival and fighting back. The show recognized in an early review from conceived and created this fabulous show and also Us,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” “House of Cards,” “Rise,” Fine, The Wallis remains a vital community and itself is chiefly authored by women, The New York Times, and the show was the amazing Abdul Hamid Royal’s musical direction “I’m Dying Up Here,” “One Day at a Time,” “Graves,” cultural hub for the city of Beverly Hills. and serves as a showcase for lyricists produced on Broadway, where it was on this exciting production and this stellar family/ “Atypical,” commercials. telseyandco.com such as Bessie Smith, Ida Cox and team here at The Wallis. Credits: Aint’ Misbehavin (La ADDITIONAL STAFF Tony-nominated for Best Musical. Ann Ronell. A number of things have Dreamgirls Porgy & Bess ART BRICKMAN COSTUME SUPERVISOR Mirada); (T.U.T.S); (ETC Santa (Production Stage Manager) Q: Blues was then produced all transpired in our culture since Paul Kiss Me, Kate aseball Swing; Gene Kelly, the Legacy. Barbara); (Pasadena Playhouse). Polk The Wallis: B Deborah Hartwell over the country, with tours that and I first discussed this revival, and Smokey Joe’s Café Hit Song! Sister Act PROPERTIES SUPERVISOR directed and choreographed at Other theatres: (El Portal); starred Della Reese and Eartha it’s an opportune time to hear from Pasadena Playhouse and the El Portal, and (Cabrillo); I Only Have Eyes For You (Ricardo Carissa Huizenga Kitt. There was also an acclaimed these women and their stories. choreographed the production at La Mirada. He has Montalban); White Christmas (SDMT); South Pacific LIGHTING PROGRAMMER London production. That’s where been the Guest Director with The Young Americans and Les Miserables (MTW); Les Miserables and My Bo Tindell Wallis Artistic Director Paul Crewes Outreach World Tours for the past 5 years. A grateful Fair Lady (Anchorage, AK); How the Grinch Stole MUSIC COPYIST first experienced your work. thank you, Sheldon. Thank you Mother, Sister, Family, Christmas and The Lion King (Pantages); Les Juan A. Matos friends and Philip. Member of SDC. Miserables (Hollywood Bowl) and numerous MUSIC CONTRACTOR EPPS: Yes, there was a West End #nothingbutloveforeveryone benefits for The Actors’ Fund of America. Art is proud Dan Savant production in 1987 at the Donmar to be “Roadie” for John Zipperer and the Current SCENERY CONSTRUCTION Warehouse, which then moved to Band, the Resident PSM for Musical Theatre Guild Sets To Go the Piccadilly Theatre for nearly a ADDITIONAL LIGHTING EQUIPMENT year. And I’ve just found out that it PRG Lighting will be revived in London next year.

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