backstory Your guide to timeline productions

CHICAGO PREMIERE

BY J.T. ROGERS directed by Nick Bowling

yesterday’s stories. today’s topics. From Artistic Director PJ Powers a message

We’ve been in conversation Gifts, at its core, is an ever since. intensely human play. It zeroes in on the role of As our mutual admiration the individual—ordinary for one another’s work men in extraordinary Dear Friends, continued to grow, J.T. circumstances who, mentioned that he I couldn’t be more excited decision after decision, was starting to write to bring J.T. Rogers’ Blood shape history. and Gifts to Chicago a play about the CIA’s to conclude TimeLine involvement in Afghanistan Even with a cast of 14, the Theatre’s 16th season. during the early 1980s. I striking thing about this said, “As soon as you’ve got play is how much of it is The road to bring this a first draft, send it to me!” two-person scenes. It’s dynamic play to our stage And he did. two guys in a room talking, started more than five contemplating decisions So we’ve had the privilege years ago—before J.T. had most of us cannot imagine. of watching Blood and even begun work on the Navigating barriers of Gifts evolve over the last script. Having read his play language, culture, history, few years, cheering for the The Overwhelming, which religion and custom, their’s play’s deserved acclaim is about the 1994 genocide is a fragile dance of trust after its premiere at in Rwanda, TimeLine’s earned and trust lost. London’s National Theatre Company Members With the full knowledge as well as its heralded were blown away by the that there are no good run at New York’s Lincoln intelligence, depth and decisions, these men seek Center. And we’ve been scope of his writing. His just to make the least grateful that through it is a fresh, dramatic voice bad one, all the while all, J.T. kept talking with us that is global in perspective, pondering the world they’ll about premiering the play probing, and clearly leave for their children. fascinated with examining in Chicago at TimeLine. Under the ever-inspiring history in a way that Today we are proud to see leadership of our Associate provokes thought, emotion that wish fulfilled. and discussion. We felt that Artistic Director Nick While epic in scope— we’d found a kindred spirit. Bowling and his stellar spanning 1981 through design team and cast, On the night I first met 1991—and ripe with TimeLine’s production of him in 2008, it became historical and political Blood and Gifts has been abundantly clear that context, Blood and crafted for our intimate his interests and theater sensibilities were so in sync with TimeLine’s mission We invite you to explore the that I told him, “even if it takes years, we’d love to theater—open drawers, read files, find a project to work on scour for facts and insight. with you.” With the full knowledge that there are no good decisions, these men seek just to make the least bad one, all the while pondering the world they’ll leave for their children. space to bring you as close We invite you to fearlessly being so enthusiastically to the story as possible, explore your surroundings— involved. And second to immersing you in the perhaps in ways that you Steve Coll, author of Ghost tangled web of covert might normally feel too Wars: The Secret History of operations. timid to try on the set of a the CIA, Afghanistan and play. Open drawers, read Bin Laden, from the Soviet While inside the theater, files, scour for facts and Invasion to September 10, we invite you to be curious. insight, and bravely enter 2001, for his generosity and And to see where that the clandestine world of for sharing his expertise. curiosity takes you! this play. Blood and Gifts gives us Director Nick Bowling (from left), The amount of research much to dissect, discuss production manager John Kearns, that J.T. conducted as and debate, and we are scenic designer Collette Pollard and he wrote this story is so thrilled to give this props designer Julia Eberhardt review the model of Pollard’s uniquely staggering, and we’ve tried play a platform for that immersive—and explorable—set to share as many resources conversation in Chicago. during a break at an early rehearsal with you as possible. All After so many years in the of Blood and Gifts. so you can dig deeper, making, we can’t wait to not just via what you may get you talking about it. find inside the theater, I thank you for continuing but also in this Backstory to travel with TimeLine to publication and online at new places, as we explore timelinetheatre.com, where eras, cultures and parts of our dramaturg Joshua the globe that we haven’t Altman has assembled a before. And I thank J.T. for wealth of information. his belief in our company TimeLine’s production through the years. We of Blood and Gifts owes a hope that you’ll hear more special debt to many, but to from him here in the future. two men in particular. First Best, to J.T., for sharing so much insight with the cast and production team and for J.T. Rogers and Blood and Gifts the playwright

lobal in perspective, to the countries he writes earned an Olivier Award Goverarching in scope, about to spend time with its nomination in 2009. Rogers’ J.T. Rogers’ plays fearlessly people and, often, survivors contribution featured tackle some of the most of a particular conflict. This a series of interactions complex issues of modern breadth of knowledge between a CIA operative world politics and human infuses his work with and an Afghan warlord in rights. authenticity and multiple the 1980s. A playwright and student points of view. He developed the script of history, his writing Blood and Gifts began into a full-length play, is characterized by a in 2009 as a 20-minute which had its world steadfast dedication piece for the Tricycle premiere at London’s to research. In order to Theatre’s The Great Game: National Theatre in 2010. develop a comprehensive Afghanistan, in which 12 Blood and Gifts went on understanding of relevant one-act plays pertaining to play Lincoln Center history and context, he to Afghanistan’s past and Theater’s off-Broadway reads voraciously and present were performed in Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater interviews an array of repertory. He and the other the following year. That experts. He also travels playwrights of this festival production was nominated

Special Events and Resources the conversation

TimeLine looks forward Company Member Study Guide Discussion to engaging our audience A study guide is available in conversations inspired Our Company Members at timelinetheatre.com. shape the artistic vision by our productions. We Blog and more! hope you will participate and choose programming Find behind-the-scenes in the array of additional for TimeLine. On Sunday, insight and conversation on resources and online June 23, join them for a our blog, Behind the ‘Line, communities available: free post-show discussion. via timelinetheatre.com. Sunday Scholars Post-Show Discussions Sunday, June 9 is Sun- On Wednesdays, May 15 day Scholars, a one-hour and 29 and June 19 and 26; post-show panel discussion Thursdays, May 23 and For the latest, “like” us on featuring experts talking 30 and June 6 and 13; and Facebook (TimeLine The- about the play’s themes Sundays June 2 and July 7, atre), follow us on Twitter and issues. Admission is moderated by a TimeLine (@timelinetheatre) and visit free. Visit timelinetheatre. Company member and our YouTube channel (you- com for panelists and more. featuring cast and produc- tube.com/timelinetheatre). tion staff.

TIMELINE: A History of Events in “I had to start learning ... so that I could tell Afghanistan stories that dig under the surface of people 1973 Mohammad Daoud and cultures that seem deeply foreign ... Khan leads a bloodless coup and overthrows his cousin and find the connections between us.” Zahir Shah. He installs himself as President and declares for a Lucille Lortel Award native non-Westerner. This Afghanistan a republic. He and named one of The New relationship is at the heart accepts aid from the Soviets. York Times top 10 plays of Rogers’ work. 1978 Soviet-backed conspira- of 2011. Last summer it tors in the Afghan army kill Rogers is not only President Daoud. Nur Moham- was staged at the La Jolla consumed by wanderlust, mad Taraki, a founding mem- Playhouse in California. but by a determination ber of the communist People’s TimeLine’s production is the to expand the purview Democratic Party of Afghani- stan, becomes President. play’s Midwest premiere. of drama in order to Rogers’ other best-known better reflect a shrinking 1979 The exiled religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini play, The Overwhelming, world. One of his most returns to Iran. The Islamic also premiered at London’s characteristic qualities as Republic of Iran is declared National Theatre. In both a playwright is his ability months later.

plays, a primary male to shine light on faraway President Jimmy Carter character ventures to a issues and force audiences authorizes the CIA to spend third-world country for to question just how distant $500,000 on propaganda, work. Inevitably, each play’s they really are. In his Laura radio equipment and medical supplies for Afghan rebels. To major historical conflict Pels Keynote Address to disguise its involvement, the catalyzes the clash between the 2008 A.R.T./New York CIA uses intermediaries to dis- a visiting American and a Theatre Conference, Rogers tribute equipment in Pakistan.

outlined his goals: A bitter rivalry develops between President Taraki and Playwright J.T. Rogers pictured “I had to start learning outside Lincoln Center Theater, Columbia University-educated where Blood and Gifts received its more—much more—so party comrade Hafizullah U.S. premiere. that I could tell stories that Amin. Amin ousts Taraki, dig under the surface of has him killed and assumes leadership. people and cultures that seem deeply foreign—even In an attempt to remove Amin scary—to me and find the just a few months later, the KGB plants rumors that he connections between us. To is working for the CIA. After try and understand what Amin holds a meeting with those connections mean.” American diplomats, the KGB fears the rumors they planted Rogers’ plays have been are true.

staged across the United The KGB sends military States and in Canada, troops to Kabul to assassinate Germany, Israel and the Amin and replace him with United Kingdom. Babrak Karmal. Afghanistan the country

oughly the size of RTexas, Afghanistan is a landlocked nation primarily made up of rugged mountains and plains. The Hindu Kush, whose parent mountain range is the Himalayas, stretches nearly 500 miles to divide Afghanistan’s northern provinces from the rest One of six natural lakes protected as part of Afghanistan’s first national park, Band-e-Amir. (Alex Dehgan/Wildlife Conservation Society) of the country. Natural dams along the peaks features a road and railroad northward through the of this mountain range that weave through barren, Khyber Pass from British create the Band-e-Amir, broken hills. It is one of India in the 19th Century. In which was established the most historically and the last 10 years, NATO has as Afghanistan’s first strategically significant used the pass to transport national park in 2009. passes of the region: supplies to troops fighting These interconnecting Alexander the Great Afghan insurgents. lakes are famous for their maneuvered his army extraordinary deep blue During the 4th and 5th through the Khyber toward color. centuries, when the the plains of India in 327 Bamiyan province of The renowned Khyber BCE; Darius I of Persia central Afghanistan was a Pass connects Peshawar, conquered the area around center for Buddhism, two Pakistan with Jalalabad, Kabul and moved his army gigantic statues of standing Afghanistan and, ultimately, south through the pass in Buddha were carved out with Kabul. This impressive the 5th century; the British of the land, embellishing transnational pass now made their first advance the living rock of a steep Physical map of Afghanistan. mountain. Standing 175 and 120 feet tall respectively, these monuments were finished with plaster, painted and decorated. For thousands of years these statues made Bamiyan an internationally significant archeological site. In 2001, supreme Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar deemed the Bamiyan Buddhas un-Islamic symbols of idolatry—and 1979 Iranian students demanding the extradition of the overthrown Shah storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on March 2, explosives more—began in 1839, when and take more than 60 Ameri- and antiaircraft weapons British and Indian troops cans hostage. destroyed the sculptures marched north to protect A religious zealot leads an beyond repair. against a Russian invasion. attack on the Great Mosque in Mecca. Incited by Ayatollah The landscapes and people In 1893, in an effort to create a clear buffer state Khomeini’s accusations that of Afghanistan have been the Americans are behind this plagued by violence for between Russia and violent act, Pakistani students thousands of years. The British India, the British storm the U.S. Embassy in land is fruitful, enduring, drew the Durand Line Islamabad and burn it to the ground. between British India and Afghanistan. This imposed By Christmas Eve, there boundary essentially split are 80,000 Soviet troops in Afghanistan. the vast and powerful Pashtun people in two; it 1980 The U.S. changes its policy toward Pakistan and still marks the southern the CIA begins working with border of Afghanistan, President Muhammad Zia-ul- abutting Pakistan. Haq and the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence), supplying the Even after the conclusion rebel groups with $30 million. Khyber Pass. of the Great Game, as the Annual Soviet aid to the Af- filled with natural beauty. Tsarist Russian Empire ghan government is $1 billion. But history weighs on became the Soviet Union, 1981 President Ronald Reagan Afghanistan, and its iconic its communist republics takes office in January. The features feel more like the remained focused on American hostages in Iran are symbols and landmarks of a Afghanistan. After decades released within moments of his inauguration. war-torn nation. of investment in a Marxist Afghan government, the Reagan re-authorizes Carter’s Much of the turmoil in top-secret presidential funding Soviet Union sent troops Afghanistan’s history stems to clandestinely ship weapons to Afghanistan in 1979. This to the mujahedin. from geography. In what decision to invade remains is now known as the Great The CIA’s Afghan program one of the great mysteries budget reaches $30 million. Game, Britain and Russia of the Cold War. It is jockeyed for control of The CIA secretly purchases commonly theorized that hundreds of thousands of Central Asia during the the Soviet Union wanted .303 Lee Enfield rifles. They 19th and 20th centuries. are shipped into Pakistan and Both empires believed delivered to the Afghan rebels Bamiyan Buddha statue. the locus of power lay in through the ISI. this land, one that was not 1982 The Soviet Union ap- particularly cohesive in its points Mohammad Najibullah ethnic make-up, but rather chief of the KhAD, the secret police force and primary secu- dominated by the strength rity and intelligence agency of of various tribes. the Afghan government. The first Anglo-Afghan war—there would be two the agencies

to conquer Afghanistan Perhaps the future Afghanistan has come to and push south through British Prime Minister be known as the Graveyard Pakistan in order to claim was speaking to of Empires. Indeed, the the warm-water port of something singular about Soviet Union dissolved Karachi, a vital anchorage Afghanistan’s diverse only two years after leaving for global trade. In the end, population: the power of Afghanistan. But the rolling as with many great empires tribal law rivals the power plains and steep mountains past, the Soviet Union of national law. also bury those native withdrew from Afghanistan Several major ethnic to the land, the people with billions of dollars groups exist within Afghan- who have persisted in the lost and more than 15,000 istan’s boundary lines. They face of a long history of soldiers to bury. speak different languages, occupation. During the A young Winston Churchill, ascribe to different belief Soviet invasion alone, travelling through systems and belong to dif- between one and 1.25 Afghanistan, once reported ferent sects of Islam. All of million Afghans were killed, in The Daily Telegraph these cultures exist outside nearly 9 percent of the that the Pashtuns have Afghanistan’s borders as population. “produced a code of honour well, a geographic incon- It is with this history, so strange and inconsistent gruity that contributes to these losses sustained, that it is incomprehensible the nation’s complexity. that Afghanistan continues to any logical mind.” to endure.

Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley. CIA, ISI, KGB, MI6 and more

1982 Torture and executions the agencies are routinely carried out in Afghanistan in an effort to penetrate mujahedin groups. United States: CIA security agency for the More than one million civilians he Central Intelligence Soviet Union. At one point flee Afghanistan and take TAgency is responsible the world’s largest foreign refuge in Pakistan. for providing national intelligence service, the 1984 The U.S. Congress ap- security intelligence to KGB was actively involved proves an increase in the CIA’s senior U.S. policy makers. in Soviet-Afghan policies Afghan program budget, now totaling $200 million annually. Led by William Casey and nurtured communist leadership throughout Reagan negotiates a deal with from 1981-1987, officers of the Saudi royal family: For the agency’s clandestine the country. It was led by every American dollar spent, services operated its foreign Yuri Andropov until 1982, Saudi Arabia will match that stations. During this period, when he became General amount. Combined annual aid reaches $400 million. the Islamabad Station Secretary. Chief was responsible for Large numbers of RPG-7s, Great Britain: MI6 mortars and heavy machine the covert action program he Secret Intelligence guns begin flowing into Af- in support of the Afghan ghanistan, via Pakistan. Service is the foreign resistance to the Soviet- T section of the Secret The Soviet Union’s total supported government. spending on the Afghan War Service Bureau in Great reaches $12 billion.

Pakistan: ISI Britain, responsible for 2,000 Soviet spetsnaz (special he Directorate overseas intelligence purpose forces) are deployed Tof Inter-Services collection. MI6 both to Afghanistan. Intelligence is Pakistan’s ran its own operations 1985 The CIA’s Afghan premiere intelligence in Afghanistan and program budget increases to $250 million. service. Between 1980 collaborated with the CIA and 1987, Akhtar Abdur on others. National Security Decision Directive 166 is issued. It Rahman served as the Afghanistan: allows the CIA to increase director-general of the ISI, The Mujahedin funds allocated toward the a division of the Pakistani CIA’s covert operation and eaning “holy military. Akhtar and the to supply mujahedin with warriors,” this was ISI worked closely with the M weapons that can be used to assassinate Soviet officers. the name given to the CIA to funnel weapons and Afghan resistance against Foreign fighters, mostly from supplies into Afghanistan. the invading Soviets. The nearby Arab nations, come to Pakistan and Afghanistan to Soviet Union: KGB group comprised many fight alongside the mujahedin. different factions, each he Komitet At a summit in Geneva, TGosudarstvennoy associated with an ethnic Mikhail Gorbachev, the Bezopasnosti (in English, identity. They fought the Soviet Union’s new General the Committee for State guerilla war on the ground Secretary, tells Reagan that he intends to withdraw Security) was the foreign with weapons and aid provided by the U.S. and Soviet troops from Afghani- intelligence and domestic stan within four years. other foreign nations. 1986 American-made Stinger 1990 Fearing the Stingers will camps. Ground forces enter the weapons are distributed. be used for terrorism, the CIA country 12 days later. U.S.-trained ISI officers teach launches a highly classified 2002 The North Atlantic mujahedin how to operate program to buy the weapons Treaty Organization (NATO) these heat-seeking anti-aircraft back at a rate of $80,000 to takes formal control of Kabul’s missile launchers. $150,000 per missile. peace force. The Soviets install secret police 1991 The U.S. and the Soviets 2004 In the first democratic chief Mohammad Najibullah as pledge to stop funding the mu- election ever held in Afghani- Afghanistan’s president. jahedin and Najibullah’s Afghan stan, Hamid Karzai is declared government, respectively. 1987 U.S. spending on covert the winner and assumes the action in Afghanistan increases On Christmas Day, Soviet presidency. to $470 million. President Mikhail Gorbachev 2005 U.S. President George resigns. The Soviet Union dis- 1988 The Geneva Accords, W. Bush and Karzai announce a solves the next day. which set out the terms of military partnership in the “war Soviet withdrawal, are signed CIA authority to conduct against international terror.” by Afghanistan’s communist-led covert action in Afghanistan 2006 NATO forces take con- regime, Pakistan, the U.S. and ends and funding of the Afghan trol of security in Afghanistan. the Soviet Union. The agree- program is shut down. ment permits the U.S. to con- 1992 Najibullah’s government 2008 President Bush sends tinue to support the mujahedin is toppled. A brutal civil war an extra 4,500 troops into Afghanistan. and the Soviets to fund their over Kabul ensues. allies in the Afghan govern- As civilian deaths climb, more 1996 The Taliban, an Islamic ment. The mujahedin, however, than 200 foreign troops perish fundamentalist political move- are not party to the Geneva in Afghanistan during the dead- ment, seize power in Kabul. Accords and refuse to accept liest year for the U.S. the terms of the agreement. They enforce a strict version of Islamic law that bans women 2009 NATO countries increase Twelve thousand Soviet troops from the workplace and en- troops in Afghanistan—the U.S. begin withdrawing from Jalala- sends an additional 17,000. forces punishments including bad and other bases through- stoning to death. President Barack Obama takes out Afghanistan. Najibullah is killed by the Tali- office and introduces a new Pakistan’s President Muham- ban. His body is hung in central strategy in Afghanistan. The mad Zia-ul-Haq, ISI Director- Kabul. United States sends 4,000 General Akhtar Abdur Rahman troops to support and train the 1997 The Taliban gain control and Arnold Raphel, American Afghan army. ambassador to Pakistan, of two thirds of Afghanistan In December, President Obama die in a plane crash. The cause and are recognized as announces the deployment is unknown. legitimate rulers by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. of 30,000 more troops in 1989 The Soviets launch Afghanistan, bringing the total Operation Typhoon to beat 2001 On September 9, the to 100,000. back the mujahedin and leader of the opposition to the 2011 President Karzai visits remove the last of their troops Taliban, Ahmed Shah Massoud, is assassinated. Russia. It is the first state visit from Afghanistan. by an Afghan leader since the On September 11, the Islamist As rival mujahedin groups Soviet invasion. battle to take Kabul following terrorist group Al-Qaeda uses 2012 The United States’ SEAL Soviet withdrawal, the U.S. hijacked passenger planes to Team Six kills Al-Qaeda leader Embassy there is closed for attack the World Trade Center Osama bin Laden during a raid security purposes. in New York and the Pentagon of his compound in Pakistan. in Washington, D.C. On November 9, the Berlin At the NATO Summit held Wall comes down. Operation Enduring Freedom begins. The U.S. and Great Brit- in Chicago, a plan is endorsed The U.S. Congress cuts funding ain launch a bombing campaign to withdraw foreign combat of the CIA’s Afghan program to against Afghanistan in an effort troops from Afghanistan $280 million. to destroy terrorist training by 2014. Playwright J.T. Rogers the interview

During rehearsals for Blood and Gifts, TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers (PJP) talked with playwright J.T. Rogers (JTR) about his genesis as a playwright, the extensive research that informed the writing of Blood and Gifts, and the lamentable lack of plays with a global perspective premiering on American stages. Read on:

(PJP) You started in the your upbringing prompted theater as an actor. When you to look and think did you shift to playwriting? beyond your homeland? (JTR) I started writing (JTR) My father was a short plays when I was in political scientist who acting school at the North taught South East Asian J.T. Rogers (Photo by Rebecca Ashley) Carolina School of the Arts. studies. Because of his field I’d write them; my friends work, I lived for two years through the Western media and I would put them up; when I was young in rural and completely confused people would come. Malaysia and Indonesia, by the incoherence of Midway through my which utterly marked my what was being reported, training I realized that I life and point of view as a which we now know was had made an internal shift person. Being the “other,” mostly egregiously wrong. whereby I now identified as the foreigner, as well as And I was ashamed. Here a playwright first. becoming fascinated about I was, thinking I was other lands and people, set knowledgeable about the (PJP) You and TimeLine are me on a course. kindred spirits, with our world and its four corners, shared interest in exploring (PJP) Your last two plays and I couldn’t have found history. Have you always —The Overwhelming and Rwanda on a map. been a history buff? Blood and Gifts—certainly So I started reading, to just fall into this global mindset. (JTR) Yes. I’m only now learn what and why and Let’s start with The how … and slowly I crossed realizing how much so as I Overwhelming, a play about watch my 10-year-old son a line and found that I had the genocide in Rwanda. gone from reading with my become obsessed with How did it come to be? history and mythology and general-interest eyes to legends—through his eyes (JTR) When the Rwanda reading with my dramatist’s re-remembering how much genocide occurred in 1994, eyes. But I had no idea how I loved these same subjects I was gripped by the to write about it and was when I was ten. horrible images coming terrified at the prospect. (PJP) Michael Billington, the British theater critic for The “I lived for two years when I was Guardian, called you “that young in rural Malaysia and rare creature: an American dramatist who writes about Indonesia, which utterly marked my global issues.” What about life and point of view as a person.” “There is an audience, hungry and waiting, for American political plays in America.”

Soon thereafter the Salt looking for my “in” to the different play I’m writing. Lake Acting Company in story. The more I read When I wanted to talk to Utah asked me to apply about Stingers and spies someone who was actually with them for an NEA/TCG the more I thought, “Here involved in the Stinger Playwrights in Residence is where to begin.” program at the CIA, I called fellowship. I looked at who (PJP) You got access to Stephen and he put me had won the award in years some heavy hitters while in touch with Jack Devine, past. They were so very researching—Jack Devine, who was gracious and more much hitting above my the former number two than forthcoming with weight. So I thought, well, I man at the CIA, and Steve anecdotes. He fact checked have to sound impressive Coll, author of Ghost Wars, me up to my eyeballs, which so I’ll write that I will create among others. How do you was wonderful. “my Rwanda play” if they go about gaining not only (PJP) I’ve heard you say to choose me. And they did. access but, perhaps more the Blood and Gifts cast, And then I had to get to importantly, trust? “Trust no one in this play.” work. Without deadlines Can you elaborate? there is no art. (JTR) One of the things I treasure most about being (JTR) This is a hard play, (PJP) And then Blood and a playwright and writing in the sense that when Gifts. How did you zero in out into the world is all it works it pushes back— on the early 1980s as your the fascinating people I hard—against the American starting point? continue to meet. ethos that everyone (JTR) I was approached I called my friend Lawrence speaking to you is honest by the Tricycle Theatre in Wright who, like Steve Coll, and true unless you know London about being the writes for The New Yorker, otherwise. We are lucky one American playwright and asked if he would write people indeed that that is among a dozen dramatists Steve and say, basically, our default position. who were all going to create I’m not an idiot and would For most of the world, it’s a short play set against he please write back if I the opposite, whether this key moments in Afghan- emailed. Steve ended up ethos is born out of recent Western conflicts. meeting me and answering traumas (Rwanda, say) I was given a few options endless questions. His help or a longer, sometimes and immediately chose the and insights were invaluable. jaundiced national history Soviet-Afghan war of the I had recently used contacts (much of Europe, say). This 1980s because I remember at the National Theatre to is a play firmly rooted in the as a child being very introduce me to the British latter worldview. interested in it. From there journalist Stephen Grey (PJP) How many of the I read a number of books, when I was researching a characters were inspired by specific people, and how do Three months later, it is political—in the sense you make decisions about [National Theatre Artistic of simply being outward who you fictionalize? Director] Nicholas Hytner looking and engaging ideas (JTR) One character is called me at home and and peoples that are not just based on a real person, asked if I’d come to London about American-only stories. albeit filtered through my to meet the next day. I said Much of this is simply a ideas and sensibility, in a I had a temp job, so could theatrical cultural difference. way I’ve not written before. I come next week? I did. But I am interested in the Everyone else is mine: And we went into rehearsal fact that in New York, we events and ideas I read six months later. It was, don’t want to acknowledge may be what they fight to truly, the moment when this difference. I was the death about, but their everything changed for me. recently interviewed by a voices are spun out of my (PJP) In 2009 you wrote New York Times reporter imagination. a provocative piece in who asked me if, now that (PJP) I can’t tell you how Britain’s The Independent the cycle of political plays I many people have asked about some differences was part of in London had me if you’re British. How between London and New come to the U.S., I wanted does a guy from Brooklyn York theatre and how the to revisit my argument. find himself having his plays daring of London theatres But those plays simply premiered on a London to tackle big, messy, “visited” as part of a stage normally reserved for political dramas was not world tour. That’s hardly names like Alan Bennett nearly as common in the commissioning and and Tom Stoppard? United States. Now that presenting American you’ve had very successful, political plays in America— (JTR) My relationship high-profile productions in with the National Theatre for which there is an New York and elsewhere, audience, hungry and started when in a fit of has your opinion changed? hubris I said to my agent waiting, by the way. about the just-finished The (JTR) No. I love a great All to say, it does make me Overwhelming, “Will you deal of the theater I see in feel like a bit of a theatrical send this to the National?” New York, but very little of platypus: not really “like them” or “like us.” Though Production photo from the 2010 world premiere of J.T. Rogers’ Blood and I’m damn happy to get Gifts at London’s National Theatre. (Photo by Richard Hubert Smith) produced wherever. (PJP) What’s next for you? (JTR) New play for Lincoln Center, new play for the National, not much sleep. This is an edited version of our interview with J.T. Rogers. To read the complete text, visit timelinetheatre.com. Step Into Time: 1799 backstage

n Friday, March 15, lieve, as Beethoven did, that O2013, more than 200 art can—and must—spark supporters gathered in the thought and emotion. gilded grand ballroom of TimeLine’s family and the Hotel InterContinental friends came out to show on Michigan Avenue to their support and celebrate celebrate and support Time- this exciting year. The Line’s mission of exploring elegant evening began history at our annual gala with cocktails and a silent benefit,Step Into Time. The auction offering one-of-a- event raised more than kind experiences, artwork, $130,000 in net income to sports memorabilia, pam- support TimeLine’s mission pering packages and more. and programming. Guests enjoyed a delicious This year, guests stepped gourmet dinner and two back to 1799. It was the feature videos followed beginning of Romanticism: by entertainment custom- an electrifying new age that made for the event featur- celebrated the individual, ing George Lepauw (lead the emotional and the pianist from 33 Variations, free expression of artists. International Beethoven Above, from top and left: Board Underscoring this tremen- Project founder, and Chi- Member Debra Siegel, Artistic Direc- dous era of change and cago Tribune 2012 Chicagoan tor PJ Powers and Board President Cindy Giacchetti; Dawn Gray, Rae possibility was Ludwig van of the Year for classical Gray and Board Secretary Rick Gray; Beethoven’s music (brought music) and Cassie Slater an elegantly set table in the Hotel to life in TimeLine’s ac- (TimeLine’s award-winning InterContinental Grand Ballroom. claimed production 33 Varia- Fiorello! and past winner of Opposite, from top and left: Sofia Medvedev, Bernard Ewigman and tions)—the perfect inspira- New York Music Theater PJ Powers; Managing Director Eliza- tion for our most important Festival’s Next Broadway beth Auman, Stephanie Pendexter party of the year. Sensation Competition). and Marcia Pendexter; Shelley Powers, Lori Kleinerman, Bruce One of history’s most Such a successful event Beatus and Kassie Davis; Mary Feay, Bruce and Joyce Chelberg, and Bruce revolutionary minds, could not have been pos- Feay; singer Cassie Slater; Board Beethoven’s relentless sible without the leadership Member Matthew Reilein, Step Into curiosity pushed his work of the Step Into Time Com- Time Committee Member Elizabeth Whitehorn, Board Member and Step to new places—creating mittee, chaired by Jennifer Into Time Co-Chair Jennifer Moeller, innovative music that made Moeller and John Sirek, and and Alex Moeller; pianist George you think and feel. TimeLine the generous support of Lepauw; Step Into Time Co-Chair John Sirek and Colleen Loughlin on seizes Beethoven’s bold- TimeLine’s Board of Direc- the dance floor; and the team of ness as encouragement to tors, donors and gala guests. Board Members, Committee Mem- be endlessly inventive, to Thank you to all who helped bers, Company Members, staff and volunteers who helped to make Step remain undaunted by inevi- make Step Into Time: 1799 a Into Time: 1799 a huge success! table challenges, and to be- night to remember! Step Into Time: 1799 BACKSTORY: THE CREDITS Dramaturgy & Historical Research by Joshua Altman Written by Joshua Altman, PJ Powers, Lydia Swift and Lara Goetsch Edited by Kerri Hunt and Lara Goetsch Photography by Lara Goetsch Graphic Design by Lara Goetsch Blood and Gifts Photo Illustration by Ryan Robinson Backstory is published four times each season. Pictured on front cover (from left): Actors Terry Hamilton and Timothy Edward Kane; director Nick Bowling; actor Anish Jethmalani; actor Raymond Fox; a map of Afghanistan posted on the rehearsal room wall; actor David Parkes; and actor Behzad Dabu.

Our Mission: TimeLine Theatre presents stories inspired by history that connect with today’s social and political issues. Our collaborative artistic team produces provocative theatre and educational programs that engage, entertain and enlighten. 2013-2014 Season coming soon

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2013-2014SEASON [TimeLine] is known for taking care of its patrons. It is a theater that audiences trust. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune Flexibility. Convenience. Price. How it works n Reserve tickets to performances of your choice n Easy reservation process online or by phone n Exchange privileges n Use your admissions in any combination

What you get n Tickets before they sell out — subscribers receive priority access to TimeLine productions and events n Discounts on additional tickets n Backstory, our magazine with historical background, artist interviews and more, provided in advance of each production n Special offers from our dining and shopping partners in Lakeview East n Exclusive news and invitations to special events with TimeLine artists

TimeLine takes care to choose interesting plays, then mounts them with a combination of panache and physical dynamism that I find altogether irresistible. — Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal

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