OUR SPONSORS ABOUT CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY UP NEXT FROM CENTER REP Chevron (Season Sponsor) has been the Center REP is the resident, professional theatre leading corporate sponsor of Center REP and company of the Lesher Center for the Arts. Our CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY the Lesher Center for the Arts for the past nine season consists of six productions a year – a variety years. In fact, Chevron has been a partner of of musicals, dramas and comedies, both classic Michael Butler, Artistic Director Scott Denison, Managing Director the LCA since the beginning, providing funding and contemporary, that continually strive to reach for capital improvements, event sponsorships new levels of artistic excellence and professional presentspresents and more. Chevron generously supports every standards. Center REP show throughout the season, and is the primary sponsor for events including Our mission is to celebrate the power of the human imagination by producing emotionally engaging, the Chevron Family Theatre Festival in July. intellectually involving, and visually astonishing Chevron has proven itself not just as a generous live theatre, and through Outreach and Education supporter, but also a valued friend of the arts. programs, to enrich and advance the cultural life of the communities we serve. Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA) (Season Partner) is both the primary fundraising What does it mean to be a producing theatre? organization of the Lesher Center for the Arts (LCA) We hire the finest professional directors, actors and and the City of Walnut Creek’s appointed curator designers to create our productions at Center REP. for the LCA’s audience outreach. DRAA’s role in These are not touring productions – they’re conceived the community is all about building partnerships and developed here, the sets and costumes are built with the focused goal of enhancing artistic in our shops, and the actors rehearse in our rehearsal quality at the LCA and providing opportunities for hall. Whether the production is a Bay Area premiere everyone to enjoy the arts. Through partnerships or a Shakespearean classic, each is devised to be a with the LCA and its producers, individual one of a kind, artistic creation that will be a unique donors, corporate and foundation sponsors and theatre experience for our audience. By the City of Walnut Creek, DRAA plays a vital role in advancing the arts for the betterment of the What does it mean to be a professional theatre? Christopher Durang community. Please visit us online at www.draa.org. It means that all our artists and artisans are career theatre-practitioners. The actors in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association; our Lesher Foundation (Foundation Sponsor) Since directors and designers are members of professional Scenic Designer Costume Designer Lighting Designer 1994, the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation unions. All do theatre because it is their profession Andrea Bechert Heidi Leigh Hanson Kurt Landisman has awarded grants totaling more than $40 and their passion. million and reaching citizens in all parts of Contra Sound Designer Stage Manager Props Master Costa County. True to the original wishes of Dean We are very proud to have the opportunity to and Margaret Lesher, the Foundation continues produce professional theatre for our community in Matt Stines Nicole S. Langley* Roger Anderson to build on the strengths of the community by the beautiful theatres here at the Lesher Center for supporting organizations and programs that the Arts. Thank you for your support! provide help and support to people in need; Cast enhance and enrich the lives of all citizens; and promote a healthy and exciting future for the Rob August Anne Hallinan Sarah Matthes community. Established in 1989, the Foundation received its principal assets from Dean Lesher’s Center REPertory Company Jackson Davis* Jamie Jones* Marcia Pizzo* estate in 1993 and 1995. In 1997, an additional Managing Director - Scott Denison endowment from Dean Lesher’s estate followed Artistic Director - Michael Butler the death of Margaret Lesher. A significant Directed by Mark Anderson Phillips and final bequest from Mr. Lesher’s estate Production Services Marketing was received in 2003. As a family foundation, Production Services Marketing Director support for the Contra Costa community will Coordinator Gabe Marin be carried on by the next generation of family Toni Kilcoyne Marketing Assistant Technical Staff Ariel Brewer Originally produced on Broadway by: members. Grant-making decisions are based Steve Pino Casting Director Joey Parnes, Larry Hirschhorn, Joan Raffe/Jhett Tolentino, Martin Platt & David Elliot, Pat Flicker Addiss, Catherine Adler, John O’Boyle, on the vision of Dean and Margaret Lesher who John Earls Jennifer Perry Joshua Goodman, Jamie deRoy/Richard Winkler, Cricket Hooper, Jiranek/Michael Palitz, Mark S. Golub & David S. Golub, felt quality education, diverse art programs, and Michael Arlen Production Radio Mouse Entertainment, Shadowcatcher Entertainment, Mary Cossette/Barbara Manocherian, Megan Savage/Meredith Lynsey Schade, healthy children and families are the building Chris Currie Production Manager Hugh Hysell/Richard Jordan, Cheryl Wiesenfeld/Ron Simons, S.D. Wagner, John Johnson blocks of a strong and vibrant community. Kieren McEntee Jeff Collister in association with McCarter Theatre Center and Lincoln Center Theater The Leshers defined the “spirit of giving” as Garrick Schuster Technical Stephen Spleiss Technical Director “investing in the community and its people.” Josh Stouffer Joshua Lipps Originally commissioned and produced by McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton, N.J. By providing financial support and direction in Audience Services Master Electrician Emily Mann, Artistic Director; Timothy J. Shields, Managing Director; Mara Isaacs, Producting Director; these critical areas, the Dean & Margaret Lesher Audience Svcs Coordinator Del Medoff and produced by Lincoln Center Theater, New York City under the direction of Andre Bishop and Bernard Gersten in 2013 Foundation is investing every day, every week Courtney Egg Carpenters and every year in the health and well-being of Ticket Office Staff Sean Bryan VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York this county that Dean and Margaret so loved. Jeremiah Vierling Gabriel Johnson Rami Kim Caleb Salmon SPECIAL THANKS TO: Robert Nolan Dressers Janice Campbell Margaret Lesher Theatre Vaughn Edward Ksenia Antonoff Al Reller October 23 - November 21, 2015 Jennifer Haga Edie Olson Kiersten Jones Assistant Carpet compliments of ACT Props Department. Lesher Center for the Arts Trevor Owen Stage Manager Ashley Rossi Joe Coe Usher Coordinator Make-out Coach CITY COUNCIL Season Season Partner Foundation Sponsor Pat Mitchell Kit Wilder Bob Simmons, Mayor Sponsor Costumes Administration Rich Carlston Loella Haskew Bethany Deal Asst. to Managing Director Cindy Silva THANK YOU TO OUR Kat Pruyn Gail Pfeifer ARTS COMMISSION Justin Wedel Education Program Glynnis Cowdery, Chair CITY MANAGER OPENING NIGHT DINNER SPONSORS: Polly Bradbury, Ken Nordhoff Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States Education Directors Linda Nomura Vice Chair DIRECTOR The Scenic and Lighting Designers are members of United Scenic Artists Union Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Jeff Draper Joe Bologna Arts, Recreation Scott’s Seafood Grill and Restaurant Kerri Shawn Jane Emanuel and Community Services Center REP is a member of Theatre Bay Area and Theatre Communications Group (TCG), The National Organization for the American Theatre Anita Sagastegui .HYLQ6D¿QH CAST (in order of appearance) ANNE HALLINAN (Cassandra) MARCIA PIZZO* (Masha) is Andrews at the Manhattan Theatre Club. And ANDREA BECHERT (Scenic Designer) has NICOLE S. LANGLEY* (Stage Manager) is pleased is delighted to be performing delighted to be performing he played a singing Congressman in the Encores designed over 300 productions across the to return to Center REPertory for Vanya and Sonia Vanya ...... Jackson Davis* at Center REP for the at Center REP for the very presentation of Call Me Madam with Tyne Daly at country, including Cowgirls, Don’t Dress for Dinner, and Masha and Spike. After receiving a BA from Sonia ...... Jamie Jones* first time. Most recently first time. She was last seen City Center. In movies, he has appeared in The Collected Stories, and Amy’s View at Center REP. San Francisco State, she completed a two year Cassandra ...... Anne Hallinan seen as Anna in Carol as Nell in The Country House Secret of My Success, Mr. North, The Butcher’s Wife, Companies designed for include TheatreWorks, program at Long Wharf Theatre in Connecticut. Housesitter, and The Cowboy Way, among others. Colorado Shakespeare Festival, American Musical Following her internship, she worked at theatres Masha ...... Marcia Pizzo* Lashof’s Disclosure (Those at TheatreWorks where she He has a B.A. from Harvard College, and an M.F.A. Theatre of San Jose, The Magic Theatre, The across the country including San Jose Stage, Spike ...... Rob August Women), she has worked also appeared in the West in Playwriting from Yale School of Drama. In 1995 Cleveland Playhouse, The Starlight Theatre, Opera San Jose Repertory Theatre, Marin Shakespeare Nina ...... Sarah Matthes at Shotgun Players, Cutting Coast premier of The Pitman he won the prestigious three-year Lila Wallace San Jose, and Marin Theatre Company. Numerous Company, The Willows Theatre Company, The Ball, Berkeley Rep, Boxcar Painters. Other Bay Area Readers Digest Writers Award; as part of his grant, awards include a Denver Ovation Award and Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, and Kentucky TIME and PLACE Theatre, Stanford Repertory credits include Round and he ran a writing workshop for adult children of three Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards. Her Repertory Theatre. Theatre is a collaborative Theater, El Teatro Campesino, TheatreFIRST, and Round the Garden, Rock’n’Roll, and A Mother with alcoholics. In 2000 he won the Sidney Kingsley designs have been included in the 2005 World process and she would like to thank her family, Set in the present Bay Area Children’s Theater, among others, and Olympia Dukakis at A.C.T; Restoration Comedy, Two Playwriting Award. Grove Press publishes several Design Expo and 1996 Prague Quadrennial. She friends, and all patrons of the theatre for joining is a former company member of Woman’s Will Gentlemen of Verona, The Merchant of Venice, King of his plays. Smith and Kraus recently published has taught at or been a guest designer at several that collaboration by supporting the arts. and the San Francisco Mime Troupe. Favorite Lear, and The Tempest at California Shakespeare two new collections: Christopher Durang: 27 universities including Ohio University, Stanford A lovely farmhouse in Bucks County roles include Ma in Torch Song Trilogy (Shellie Theater; The Happy Ones at the Magic Theatre; Short Plays and Christopher Durang: Complete University, University of Michigan, University MICHAEL BUTLER (Artistic Director) This is Michael’s tenth season as Artistic Director of Nominee, theatre Q) here at the Lesher Center for Wilder Times and Eccentricities of a Nightingale at Full-Length Plays (1975-1995). Grove has recently of Miami, Butler University, and University of Center REP, where his directing credits include the Arts, Helene Nadler (Pride and Joy), and Rena published Betty’s Summer Vacation. Since 1994 Wisconsin. Andrea is a member of United Scenic the Aurora Theatre Company; the World Premier Anything Goes, Clybourne Park, Real Housewives and Rose (Arab-Israeli Cookbook). On-camera, of First Day of School at SF Playhouse; The Women he has been co-chair with Marsha Norman of Artists, local 829. There will be one intermission. the Playwriting Program at the Juilliard School in of Walnut Creek, Don’t Dress for Dinner, The she has appeared in four independent features, at Marin Theatre Company; Mary Stuart at Pacific Manhattan. HEIDI LEIGH HANSON (Costume Designer is) a Underpants, A Number, Dracula, Boeing-Boeing including the award-winning “White Rabbit,” and CAST BIOGRAPHIES Repertory Theater; Enter the Guardsman at the costume designer in and around the San Francisco and To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as the Shellie several shorts, including “The Ten Plagues,” now Jewell Theatre; An Ideal Husband, Romeo and MARK ANDERSON PHILLIPS (Director) is Bay Area. Her most recent projects include Top and BATCC Award-winning productions of Around ROB AUGUST (Spike) completed on the festival circuit. A member of Theatre Bay Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra, Taming of the Shrew, an actor and director who has been working Girls at Shotgun Players, Peter Pan at the Mountain the World in 80 Days, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The the apprenticeship program at Area, she can be seen in the web series NEXT As You Like It, Macbeth, Cyrano de Bergerac, and professionally in the Bay Area and regionally for Play, Mount Misery at The Cutting Ball, and Fetch Marriage of Figaro, How the Other Half Loves, A Capital Stage in Sacramento, (www.nextthewebseries.com) For more, go to The Servant of Two Masters at Marin Shakespeare over 20 years. Directing credits include Dr. Jekyll Clay, Make Man at Marin Theatre Company. In Midsummer Night’s Dream, Enchanted April, and Witness For The Prosecution. His directing work where he was seen as a www.annehallinan.com Many thanks to Mark, Company, and many musicals for the Mountain and Mr. Hyde and What the Butler Saw at City Lights 2014 Heidi was nominated for a Theatre Bay Area has also been seen at San Jose Rep, Cleveland Velociraptor in ENRON, Jennifer, and Michael at Center REP, Richard Seyd, Play including The King And I, Oklahoma!, My Theater Company, Sleuth (2014 Shellie Award Award for her design of Shotgun Player’s 2014 Playhouse, Seattle Rep, Laguna Playhouse, puppeteering Denise the and, always and forever, Ringo. Fair Lady, Anything Goes, and Annie. Marcia is a - Best Direction) and The 39 Steps (2013 Shellie Production of Coast of Utopia: Salvage. Heidi holds Award - Best Direction) at Center REP, Othello an MFA in costume and set design from the Yale ACT in Seattle, Marin Theatre Company, Aurora goldfish inMistakes Were graduate of the A.C.T. Advanced Training Program. JAMIE JONES* (Sonia) is at Calaveras Repertory Theater, Little Women School of Drama, and a BA cum laude in theatre Theatre Company, San Jose Stage, Shakespeare Made, and creating a Santa Cruz, and The Juilliard School, of which he thrilled to return to Center at California Theatre Center, and The King and I, from California State University Long Beach. For live soundscape for It’s a is a graduate. As an actor, Michael has worked REP after playing Gertrude PRODUCTION TEAM Cinderella, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor a full list for Heidi’s designs please visit: www. Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Dreamcoat at Childrens Musical Theatre, San heidileigh.com on Broadway and off, in regional theatres, film Play. Rob returned to CapStage as a professional in The Underpants, directed and television, as well as REP’s productions of CHRISTOPHER DURANG (Playwright) is a Jose. As an actor, Mark has appeared recently wrestler in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity by Michael Butler. Recent in Fallen Angels at TheatreWorks, Mirandolina! at KURT LANDISMAN (Lighting Designer) Local Mirandolina!, The Mousetrap, Noises Off and Bay Area credits include playwright whose plays include A History of the Rumors. He is a published songwriter and the co- and Count Vronsky in Anna Karenina. Most American Film (Tony nomination, Best Book of a Center REP, As You Like It and The Merry Wives of audiences will be familiar with his work through recently, he appeared in A Streetcar Named Desire Beth in Mud Blue Sky at Windsor at Santa Cruz Shakespeare, Taylor Mac’s past productions designed for Center REP writer and composer of numerous music-theatre Aurora Theatre Company Musical, 1978), The Actor’s Nightmare, Sister Mary pieces, which he has directed and performed in with the Eugene O’Neill Festival in Danville, Ignatius Explains It All For You (Obie award; off- Hir at The Magic Theatre, Aaron Loeb’s Ideation including Anything Goes, Mirandolina, Deathtrap, California as Stanley Kowalski. Rob is reprising and Penelope Easter in The at SF Playhouse, Dr. Faustus and The Big Meal at Life Could Be a Dream, Ella, the Musical, Sweet NY, LA, and at festivals in India and Morocco. In Bway run 1981-83), Beyond Therapy (on Broadway his career as a performer he has also danced with the role of Spike, seen the first time at Pacific Totalitarians at Z Space. in 1982, with Dianne Wiest and John Lithgow), San Jose Rep., Waiting for Godot at Marin Theatre Charity, The 39 Steps, Old Wicked Songs and Regional: A.C.T., B Street Theatre Company, Company, Clybourne Park at Repertory Theatre Xanadu. His designs have been seen throughout the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, portrayed Repertory Theater in Carmel. Baby with the Bathwater (Playwrights Horizons, the villainous Pierre LeChance on “The Guiding Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Capital Stage, 1983), The Marriage of Bette and Boo (Public of St. Louis, and A Christmas Carol, at Center REP. the Bay Area at many theaters including San California Musical Theatre, Center REPertory Other REP appearances include, Rumors (2012 Francisco Opera, ACT, Berkeley Rep, San Jose Rep, Light”, and played guitar and harmonica in many JACKSON DAVIS* (Vanya) Theatre, 1985; Obie award, Dramatists Guild Hull rock, blues, and country western bands at all the Company, Encore Theatre Company, Marin Warriner Award), Laughing Wild (Playwrights Shellie Award - Best Actor), Noises Off, and Witness Theatreworks, California Shakespeare Festival, is pleased to be back with for the Prosecution. His work at other theatres The Magic Theatre, and Marin Theatre Company. notable dives in NYC. Center REP, having last Theatre Company, Sacramento Theatre Company Horizons, 1987), Durang/Durang (an evening of six and the Utah Shakespeare Festival. New York: The plays at Manhattan Theatre Club, 1994, including includes roles with TheatreWorks, Berkeley Locally his work has garnered 16 Bay Area Critics performed in its production Repertory Theatre, ACT Theatre of Seattle, San Circle Awards, 5 LA Dramalogue Awards and 5 SCOTT DENISON (Managing Director) has been a Connelly Theatre, Theatre at St. Clements and the Tennessee Williams’ parody, For Whom the of She Loves Me. His Bay Area Jose Repertory Theatre, The Magic Theatre, Shellie Awards. Nationally, his work has been leader in the arts for 40 years for Walnut Creek and the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab at HERE space. Southern Belle Tolls), Sex and Longing (Lincoln the surrounding communities. For the last 24 years performances include roles Center Theatre production at the Cort Theatre, Aurora Theatre, The SF Playhouse, California seen at many regional opera & ballet companies, in classical plays, comedies, Television: “Law & Order” and the mini-series Shakespeare Theatre, San Francisco Shakespeare including the Los Angeles Opera, Minnesota he has been the General Manager of the Lesher “Gone But Not Forgotten.” Jamie is a member 1996, starring Sigourney Weaver), and Betty’s Center and oversees over 850 public events each dramas, and musicals. In Summer Vacation (Playwrights Horizons, 1999; Festival, Arizona Theatre Company, and Word for Opera, Virginia Opera, Tulsa Opera, and Ballet April he worked with the of the B Street Theatre Acting Company. She Word. Mark has appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Arizona. His designs have also been presented year. He coordinates performing arts activities with Obie award). His most recent works are Mrs. Bob over 85 producers and producing organizations. He Paul Dresher Ensemble’s holds an M.F.A. from the American Conservatory Festival (Joan Rivers - a work in progress by a life in off-Broadway, represented at Circle Rep, and Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge, which premiered is also the Managing Director of Center REPertory world premier of the musical Max Understood. Theatre and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity progress) and the New York International Fringe the Douglas Fairbanks Theatres. Other designs at City Theatre in Pittsburgh in 2002. And the Company producing 6 professional productions In March 2013 he performed in Berkeley at the Association. musical Adrift in Macao, with music by Peter Festival (Abraham Lincoln’s Big Gay Dance Party, internationally include world premieres of plays which won Best of Fringe). He is the recipient by Sam Shepard in Japan, and Singapore, as well each season; and is the director and co-founder of Ashby Stage in the 2013 world premiere of The Melnick and book and lyrics by Durang, which SARAH MATTHES (Nina) of three Bay Area Drama Critics’ Circle awards for as the San Francisco Opera in Shanghai, China, Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble, an adult family Fourth Messenger. He performed with American premiered at New York Stage and Film in summer performing arts company which presents programs is thrilled to be making her best performance by a male in a leading role. On and the Moscow Circus in Tokyo, Japan. Conservatory Theater in its world premiere of 2002, and is under option for off-Broadway 2003- for the young and Young at Heart. Scott directed Center REP debut. She is a 04. Durang is also a performer, and acted with E. television, he has appeared on the CBS series, the musical, Hans Christian Andersen, and on its “Nash Bridges.” He plays Gideon T. Flummox in the MATT STINES (Sound Designer) makes noises for CCMT’s hits The Music Man, Les Misérables, Disney’s production of the Brecht/Weill musical, Happy End, recent Bay Area transplant Katherine Kerr in the N.Y. premiere of Laughing Beauty and the Beast, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Wild, and with Jean Smart in the L.A. production. children’s video project, “Flummox and Friends” plays and teaches such activity at San Francisco including performing on the first English language from the East Coast, and (flummoxandfriends.com). Film work includes, State. He is a company member for Shotgun Cinderella, Hairspray, and for the past 16 seasons made her professional He shared in an acting ensemble Obie for Center REP’s A Christmas Carol. Denison has directed recording of the score. He has performed the solo The Marriage of Bette and Boo; and with John “This is Macbeth” and “This is Hamlet” with Players and co-founder of KLANGHAUS. please piece An Illiad at Pacific Repertory in Carmel and debut recently as Jess in Reinventing the Wheel Productions, “Something learn more mattstines.wordpress.com. over 150 productions including REP’s The Lady with Hookman (Encore Theater). Augustine and Sherry Anderson has performed All the Answers starring Kerri Shawn. In 1979 he San Jose Stage Company. He has appeared with his crackpot cabaret Chris Durang and Dawne at Better” with Blu Fly Productions, and “Joan Rivers TheatreWorks, most recently in 33 Variations, The A graduate of Yale, her - A Piece of Work” with Break Thru Films. www. ROGER ANDERSON (Props Master) comes to created the Shellie Awards, which annually honors the Criterion Center, Caroline’s Comedy Club, outstanding performing arts achievement in Contra Pitman Painters and Big River, and as The Baker favorite previous roles markandersonphillips.com Center REP after 14 years at Seattle’s Village Theatre. Williamstown Summer Cabaret, and the Triad, Costa county. In 2007 he created the Chevron Family in Into The Woods, for which he received a Bay include Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Izzy in Rabbit winning a 1996 Bistro Award. In the early 80s, he There he propped world premieres of Million Dollar THANK YOU TO: Theatre Festival bringing adult nationally acclaimed Hole, Singer/Mother in Caucasian Chalk Circle, and Sigourney Weaver co-wrote and performed in Quartet, The Ark, and It Shoulda Been You. Roger’s Area Theater Critics Award. He has worked with Massimo’s Ristorante performances together for one day performing to Fastrada in Pippin, and Chorus in Iphigenia at Aulis their acclaimed Brecht-Weill parody, Das Lusitania Prop wizardry has been seen at Intiman Theatre, San Jose Repertory Theater, Aurora Theatre, The Waters Moving and Storage Milwaukee Rep, GeVa Theatre, and Syracuse Stage. over 7,000 guests of all ages. Magic, San Francisco Playhouse, Z Space, Marin (all Yale Dramatic Association). A published poet, Songspiel, and were both nominated for Drama her work can be found in print in The Bad Version, Desk awards for Best Performer in a Musical. In Associated Services-Alta Water He is excited to be making the East Bay home! Theatre Company, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, Theatreworks Prop Department PlayGround, and as Falstaff inThe Merry Wives of Prodigal, and The Feminist Utopia Project. She is 1993 he sang in the five person off-Broadway Sondheim revue, Putting It Together, with Julie Berkeley Rep Props Department Windsor at Livermore Shakespeare Festival. an Artistic Associate of Encore Theatre Company.