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CAST OF CHARACTERS

TROY KOTSUR*...... PETER Paul Crewes Rachel Fine Artistic Director Managing Director *, TYRONE GIORDANO...... JERRY AND AMBER ZION*...... ANN JAKE EBERLE*...... VOICE OF PETER JEFF ALAN-LEE*...... VOICE OF JERRY PAIGE LINDSEY WHITE*...... VOICE OF ANN

*Indicates a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of David J. Kurs Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the . Artistic Director Production of ACT ONE: HOMELIFE ACT TWO: Peter and Ann’s living room; Central Park, . ’S New York City, East Side, Seventies. Sunday. Later that same day.

AT HOME AT THE ZOO ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION STAFF

STARRING COSTUME AND PROPERTIES REHEARSAL STAGE Jeff Alan-Lee, Jack Eberle, Tyrone Giordano, Russell Harvard, Troy Kotsur, WARDROBE SUPERVISOR SUPERVISOR INTERPRETER COMBAT Paige Lindsey White, Amber Zion Deborah Hartwell Courtney Dusenberry Alek Lev Steve Rankin

SCENIC & COSTUME DESIGN LIGHTING DESIGN SOUND DESIGN Karyl Newman Julien V. Elstob Tom Jones DEAF WEST THEATRE LEADERSHIP

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR David J. Kurs DEAF WEST THEATRE'S 2016-2017 productions and FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Ed Waterstreet programming are also made possible, in part, by PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR generous grants and contributions from the following: Jennifer Brienen* Kiley Gilchriest Sandra Mae Frank BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Nancy Popovich VICE PRESIDENT Mark Freund ASL MASTER ASSISTANT ASL MASTERS SECRETARY Erin Moss TREASURER Scott Plantinga Linda Bove Jessica Frank, Justin Jackerson Ed Waterstreet, Mel Carter, Shelley Cohen, Keri Kelsey, Jeffrey Lenham.

DIRECTED BY PRESIDENT EMERITI Sidney R. Craig, Stephen Schultz Annenberg Foundation, Broadcast Music, Inc., Coy Middlebrook ADVISORY BOARD Friars Charitable Foundation, Mark Freund and Trice Linda Bove, Carol Doran, Kalen Feeney, Bruce Grakal, Koopman, Greater Community Foundation of Greater Laura Hite, Joan Johnson, Liz Lin, Memphis, Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, MARCH 7 - 26, 2017 Kenneth Mikos, Victoria Morris, Carol Padden, Richie Convo Relay, Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation, Shubert Foundation, Walt Disney Imagineering. Lovelace Studio Theater Olson, Sarah Quigley, Carolyn Sargent

Running Time: 2 hours including one 15-minute intermission. The Role of ASL Masters The production is made possible by the generous support of Meeghan and Michael Nemeroff. The American Sign Language (ASL) Master facilitates the adaptation and translation process from written English to “At Home at the Zoo (Zoo Story)” is presented by special arrangement with American Sign Language. This process requires careful attention to preserve the integrity of ASL while adhering to SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. the script as written. In addition to executing the translation, the ASL Master must see that it appropriately reflects the actor and the character portrayed. The ASL Master then works with each actor to ensure that the playwright’s Edward Albee’s AT HOME AT THE ZOO was produced under the title PETER AND JERRY by Second Stage intentions, tone, rhythm, poetry, idiomatic expressions, and humor are all reflected in each actor’s signing. Theatre, New York, 2007, Carole Rothman, Artistic Director The positions of Assistant ASL Masters and Assistant Director on this production were made possible by donations to HOME LIFE was commissioned and PETER AND JERRY was originally produced by Hartford Stage. the Ed Waterstreet and Linda Bove Artists’ Initiative. For more information, www.deafwest.org

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P5 About the Artists About the Artists

JEFF ALAN-LEE (Voice of the critically-acclaimed Cyrano at the Fountain PAIGE LINDSEY WHITE the Gold Medal in Drama from the American history and happenings around Giant Rock in Playwrights Conference, Reprise Theatre Company, Jerry) is so happy to be Theatre in Los Angeles and at the Studio (Voice of Ann) Stage: Eliza Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters in 1980. In Landers, CA for museum exhibition. As part of and the Disneyland Resort. Recently, she worked at re-creating Zoo, with Coy and Theatre in Washington, D.C. He currently gets his Doolittle in Pygmalion 1996 he received the Kennedy Center Honors and ongoing research into the Llano del Rio colony she Thinkwell Group as a Design Manager and taught the gang from Deaf West artistic jollies as an ensemble member with dog & (Pasadena Playhouse); Macon the National Medal of Arts. In 2005, he was awarded produced experimental art and interpretive Stage Management I for the USC School of Dramatic more. Recent credits: The pony dc, which devises theatre with audience Hill in Abundance (South Coast a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement. exhibitions at the site in 2013 and 2014 as Arts. Jennifer is a member of Actors' Equity Suitcase (The Echo Theater integration in mind. Rep); Brooke Wyeth in Other Hinterculture.com with Craftswoman House. She Association and IATSE 504. She graduated with a BFA Company), the L.A. hit, Desert Cities (Arizona Theatre COY MIDDLEBROOK (Director) re-visits his leads a project mapping illegal dumping and in Stage Management from the University of Assassins, Reset, Detective Partner Hero Villian, and RUSSELL HARVARD Company & Indiana Rep); Catherine in Rapture direction of Deaf West Theatre’s render of Edward implemented an application to share debris locations Southern California. Exit the King. Favorite roles include: Auto Da Fe (also (Jerry, performances March Blister Burn (San Diego Rep); Trying (Ovation Albee’s The Zoo Story and this time around in a as a material resource -- Blightsites and is the in Edinburgh and Ireland), Frankie and Johnny in 7-15) A veteran of the stage, Nomination), Ghost-Writer, and The Heir Apparent co-production with The Wallis and with Albee’s co-founder and director of Dehsart. Exhibitions SANDRA MAE FRANK (Assistant Director) is a The Claire De Lune, Hello and Goodbye, and The Russell most recently starred in (International City Theatre); The Children and R II prequel At Home. Directing credits include Little include installations and performances at REDCAT, trained stage and film actress who recently closed Boys Next Door. Early credits: Huck and Jim Open Circle Theatre’s (Theatre @ Boston Court); Walking the Tightrope (LA Shop of Horrors (Ford’s Theatre) the world premiere NASA’s JPL and Santa Monica's GLOW festival. She is her debut in Deaf West’s Spring (directed by Broadway legend, Joshua Logan), groundbreaking The Who’s Drama Critics' Circle Award Lead Performance of Nobody’s Perfect (The Kennedy Center), the NY the 2016-2017 Archibald Hanna Beinecke Research Awakening. She studies music to do more musicals Snoopy (with Andrea McArdle), Losing It (directed by Tommy and Huntington Theatre Winner, Ovation Nomination, 24TH ST Theatre), Ivo premieres of Tennessee Williams’ Spring Storm Fellow at Yale where she received her MFA. and continue her training in stunts for action films. Andy Cadiff), and many regional and stock theater Company’s I Was Most Alive With You written and Van Hove’s A View From the Bridge (Ahmanson & (Lobo Theatre) and Lee Blessing’s The Roads That As an actress stems from her deep desire to raise the credits throughout the country. Film and TV directed by Craig Lucas.. Russell also performed in Kennedy Center, u/s); Fallen Angels (Ensemble Lead Here (Epic Repertory), Orphans (Lobo Theatre), JULIEN V. ELSTOB (Lighting Design) is a multi- standards within the communication and includes As the World Turns, Could It Be A Miracle, the critically acclaimed Deaf West Broadway revival Theatre Santa Barbara); Wounded (Los Angeles Wooden Nickels and Race Music (The Actors Studio), disciplinary designer; his lighting and video work entertainment industries, she has become an No Big Deal (with Kevin Dillon) and The Beniker of Spring Awakening. In 2012, he made his off- Theatre Ensemble); Mutual Philanthropy (Ensemble Into The Woods, Wizard of Oz, JC Superstar, HAIR spans Theater, Dance, Corporate, and Concert. He Advocate for ZVRS to #Bridging2Worlds by Gang (starring with Andrew McArthy). Jeff is a NYU Broadway debut in the play Tribes, earning a Theatre Studio Theatre LA). International Tour: Trial of the (CCLO) and the Los Angeles sci-fi musical, It Came studied under Joan Arhelger at San Francisco State collaborating both worlds through arts - Deaf and graduate, former NY and LA Lee Strasberg faculty World award, and receiving nominations for Drama Catonsville Nine (The Actors’ Gang). TV: Shameless, From Beyond (LA Ovation Award nom for Best New University. He is also the Lighting Supervisor at the hearing. Theatre credits includes Spring Awakening member and the founder and artistic director of The League Outer Critics and awards. He is Hampton DeVille, Days of Our Lives, The Flipside Musical). He directed Baseball Swing and The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. on Broadway (Deaf West Theatre) and Fiddler on the Young Actor’s Studio, which is the foremost acting most recognized for his work as HW Ailman in the www.paigelindseywhite.com Trumpet of the Swan for The Wallis’ inaugural Outside of the Wallis, his work has been seen at B Roof (Lyric Theatre). Film credits includes Sound of training program for young actors in Los Angeles. 2008 Oscar nominated film (Dir. season and joined as Artistic Associate that following Street Theatre, Guerrilla Rep, and ODC Theater. Fear, Soul to Keep and Freeform's Switched at Birth. ). Russell was a series regular AMBER ZION (Ann) is a summer. Associate Directing includes: Deaf West When not behind the tech table, Julien loves Thrilled to be part of Albee’s world and truly know JAKE EBERLE (Voice of on the multiple Emmy and Golden Globe professional actor with Theatre’s 2004 Tony Award Honored (LA, collecting records and eating ramen. what it would be like to think about it, to truly live. Peter) is overjoyed to be nominated on FX. He also starred as Matt experience both on stage and DC, Tokyo, Broadway, US Tour), Bonnie and Clyde sandramaefrank.com working at the Wallis. Jake’s Hammill, the first deaf wrestler to win a National screen, and has the ability to (Broadway, La Jolla Playhouse, Asolo Rep), Brooklyn TOM JONES (Sound Design) doesn’t sing but recent acting work was with Collegiate Wrestling Championship, in The give unparalleled life to a The Musical (Broadway), Bells Are Ringing believes it isn’t unusual - has been the Audio/Video DEAF WEST THEATRE COMPANY, INC., acclaimed company, Theater Hammer. Russell has recurred on ABC Family’s diverse range of characters. She (Broadway), Disney’s High School Musical On Stage Supervisor for the Wallis since its opening in 2013, (DWT) was founded in 1991 to improve and Movement Bazaar at Boston Switched at Birth and has had Guest Star roles on has always had a passion for (US/Australia/UK). He is co-creator and director of and is happy to be designing his 5th show for the enrich the cultural lives of deaf and hard of hearing Court in The Treatment and at Odd Mom Out, Fringe and CSI:NY. acting since the age of 5. Her passion led her to New the world premiere of Summer Of Love for Wallis, including the Inaugural Gala event in 2013. individuals who live in the Los Angeles area. 24th St. Theater in Model Behavior. In addition, he York, where she made her professional debut off Germany’s Freilichtspiele where Summer Of Love is Some past favorite shows he has had the pleasure of Recognized as the premier sign language theater in produced and wrote a series of short films for a TROY KOTSUR (Peter) has Broadway in Shakespeare's, The Tempest. Amber the most successful show in its 100 year history with working on include, Trumpet of the Swan (Wallis), In the United States, DWT consistently sets the project called Match with Colaborator.com. Most of been acting and directing on TV, moved to Los Angeles to continue pursuing her over 80,000 people having attended so far. Coy is a the Heights (San Diego Repertory Theatre), Federal standard of innovation for inclusive theatrical his recent time has been spent in the voiceover film and stage for over 20 years. acting career. Her talent quickly landed a guest member of the Actors Studio. MFA in Directing from Jazz Project (SDRep), The Who’s Tommy (SDRep), experiences of the highest quality for deaf and world where you may have heard him in Deaf since birth, he was raised starring role on CBS's CSI:NY in the episode "Silent New School University. The Three Penny Opera (SDRep), boom (SDRep), hearing audiences. DWT productions feature deaf commercials for clients like Boeing, Norfolk in Mesa, AZ. His television guest Night" on network TV. She also was in national Superior Donuts (SDRep), In the Next Room or the and hearing actors working together to present Southern Railroad, Joseph A. Bank amongst many starring roles include Criminal commercials for Kay Jeweler's Christmas campaign. LINDA BOVE (ASL Master) ASL Master theater Vibrator Play (SDRep), and The Listener (Moxie Theatre). stories in a seamless ballet of movement, with both others. In animation, his voice is heard on shows Minds, Scrubs, CSI: NY, and Sue Amber continued performing in theatre with Deaf credits include: Spring Awakening (Broadway), American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English. like Voltron for Dreamworks or Sinbad for Netflix. Thomas Fb-Eye in a recurring role that became a fan West Theatre, gaining much acclaim for her role as American Buffalo, , Big River (Broadway), A KELSEY GILCHRIEST (Assistant Stage DWT's groundbreaking adaptation of Big River: The For the past 25 years, he’s also had a career in post favorite. In film, he has had notable supporting Lea in Wendy Kesselman's, My Sister in the House. Streetcar Named Desire (Ovation Award, New Manager) fell in love with Deaf West in 2014 when Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was first performed production as a sound editor/designer for film and roles in The Number 23 alongside Jim Carrey, She also had great success on stage in adaptation of Translation) and , Hallmark/ her alma mater, James Madison University, funded at DWT's intimate 99-seat theater, then in TV. A big thanks to my wife and kids for helping me Universal Signes, and Father’s Day Breakfast. Last The Adventures of Pinocchio as Pinocchio. Amber has CBS (Television). Acting credits include: Stage: her trip to Los Angeles to conduct research on co-production with CTG at the Mark Taper Forum carve out time to be a part of this amazing Wallis/ year Troy starred in Wild Prairie Rose, which has continued to hone her craft in independent films. Children of A Lesser God, The Dybbuk, Our Town, inclusive theatre. Since then she has received her BA before moving to Broadway's American Airlines Deaf West production. been selected by several major festivals. As a Volpone, Candide, Gilagmesh, Woyzeck, Open in Theatre with a focus in Deaf theatre. Kelsey was Theater at the the Roundabout where it earned two director, he recently completed No Ordinary Hero, EDWARD ALBEE (Playwright) was born on Window, , House of Bernarda Alba, St. Joan; thrilled to make her professional debut at the Wallis Tony nominations and a Tony Honor for Excellence. TYRONE GIORDANO (Jerry, starring and Deanne Bray, and is March 12, 1928, and began writing plays 30 years Film & TV appearances include: Children Of A Lesser for Merrily We Roll Along and is honored to be It went on to tour nationally, including performances performances March 16-26) is attached to direct upcoming indie film, Deaf Ghost. later. His plays include The Zoo Story (1958), The God, Follow That Bird, Happy Days, Search For returning for At Home at the Zoo. Love and thanks to at the Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C., and best known for his work on Troy’s stage credits include a successful Tony Award Death Of Bessie Smith (1959), (1959), Tomorrow (recurring) Sesame Street (30-year series Stephen, Ben, Mom, Dad, and Zach for their internationally at the Tokyo’s Aoyama Theatre. In stage and screen, both as an winning run of Big River on Broadway. He has also The American Dream (1960), Who's Afraid Of Virginia regular). Published Books & Video: Sesame Street’s steadfast support and inspiration, and to the Wallis 2014-15, DWT's adaptation of Spring Awakening actor and ASL translator. Tyrone performed at the Mark Taper Forum, and in 2015 LA Woolf? (1961-62, Tony Award), (1964), A Sign Language Fun, Sign Language Abc, Sign-Me-A- and Deaf West for the chance of a lifetime. was performed at Inner City Arts and at the Wallis led the 2004 Tony-honored Deaf Drama Critics Circle Award Nominee Spring Delicate Balance (1966, Pulitzer Prize; 1996, Tony Story. Ms. Bove is a Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI). Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts before it West Theatre musical, Big River, Awakening, and many other major productions. Award), (1971), (1974, Pulitzer JENNIFER BRIENEN (Production Stage moved to the Theatre on Broadway, as Huckleberry Finn in all four incarnations of the Prize), Listening (1975), Counting The Ways (1975), KARYL NEWMAN (Scenic & Costume Designer) Manager) is thrilled to be at The Wallis and to garnering three Tony nominations and performing production, earning a nomination for the 2004 The Lady From Dubuque (1977-78), The Man Who is a desert dwelling artist, designer and cultural partner with Deaf West Theatre again. Center Theatre on the broadcast of the . for Outstanding Actor in a Had Three Arms (1981), (1982), worker engaging with places to reveal stories Group (Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Musical. He also shared the title role of Pippin with (1986-87), (1991, through video, photography, sound and installation. Kirk Douglas Theatre): Pippin, This Beautiful City, Of THE WALLIS The mission of The Wallis is to be a the Wallis’s current artist-in-residence, Michael Pulitzer Prize), Fragments (1993), The Play About The Embracing eco-scenography, she endeavors to reuse Equal Measure, Sleeping Beauty Wakes, 13. Geffen vital cultural hub that uses unique arts events and Arden, at the Mark Taper Forum. Television and Baby (1997), The Goat Or, Who Is Sylvia? (2000, materials to create sets and costumes, seen Playhouse: Stage Kiss, The Escort, , Thurgood, education programming to entertain, enlighten and film: The Family Stone, A Lot Like Love, The Next 2002 Tony Award), (2001), At Home At The supporting regional productions nationwide, on Nightmare Alley, Female of the Species, Matthew inspire children and adults in our community and Three Days, and CSI. ASL translation work includes Zoo: (Act 1, Homelife. Act 2, The Zoo Story.) (2004), Broadway and at the Royal National Theatre in Modine Saves the Alpacas, Farragut North. Other across the nation. And Me, Myself & I (2008). Mr. Albee was awarded London. Currently she is building a timeline of theater work includes MainStreet Theatre, Ojai

P6 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P7 About the Program DIRECT FROM BROADWAY!

“Utterly transfixing! “This production from

KURS: In the late 1990s, our while bringing across the true You will never forget the genre-bending Founding Artistic Director Ed intent of the author. For some The Encounter. Complicite company Waterstreet began the process reason, Albee is one of the ” is one of the most fully of staging Who’s Afraid of playwrights in the canon whose immersive theater Virginia Woolf? The idea was work translates easily. - Time Out New York to cast , who pieces ever created.” originated the role of Sarah MIDDLEBROOK: Albee then Norman in Children of a Lesser returned to Zoo Story with a - God. Ed asked for the rights, prequel called Homelife. Ed and Albee responded with a Waterstreet and Albee were “ ” “ ” lovely handwritten note. He in conversation about Deaf was enthralled that a company West having the Los Angeles - The Financial Times - The Daily Mail like Deaf West was making one premiere of the combined work, of his works accessible to the with me directing. There was deaf community, and he went even talk of Albee coming out “ ” “ ” into detail about how the work for the rehearsal process and - The Sunday Times - The Independant could be done in American Sign then... the financial bubble Language (ASL). Alas, the project burst and the production never came to fruition. But the was pushed. So, when The “ ” “ ” relationship had been set. Wallis and Deaf West were discussing how to follow up - The Sunday Herald - The Herald ALBEE & MIDDLEBROOK: Ed Waterstreet our co-production of Spring and I had been talking for Awakening, we returned to Zoo DEAF WEST quite a while about what play I Story and its prequel Homelife. “ ” “ ” should direct for Deaf West. We returned to Albee and staged KURS: The initial production - The Daily Telegraph - The Scotsman THEATRE Zoo Story in 2007. I was excited of Zoo Story in 2007 was so to collaborate with actors Troy extraordinary that I think we all COMPLICITE / We sat down with Deaf Kostur and Tyrone Giordano on wanted more. And now that Albee SIMON MCBURNEY something that was not driven has passed, our production has West Theatre’s Artistic by music but by drama. It was a made me want to honor his art Director David Kurs & very demanding and invigorating and legacy even more. THE rehearsal process translating Wallis Artistic Associate Albee’s language into ASL and MIDDLEBROOK: It’s so exciting Coy Middlebrook, who excavating the great and to have this double-bill to access pain of the play. Albee at the very beginning and directs our co-production at the very end of his writing of Edward Albee’s At KURS: The relationship life. All the more remarkable is between English and ASL is that it’s through the character ENCOUNTER Home at the Zoo, about complicated. That is, ASL isn’t of Peter, someone who is being INSPIRED BY THE NOVEL AMAZON BEAMING BY PETRU POPESCU the origins of Deaf West code for English. It operates forced to reassess his place at on completely separate home and in the world. CONCIEVED, DIRECTED Theatre’s association parameters, and for that reason AND PERFORMED BY SIMON MCBURNEY with the great American Deaf West has historically been very selective in choosing @ THE WALLIS playwright, who died in adaptations. That is, we look at September 2016. the text carefully to see if there is the potential to translate the APRIL 6 - 16, 2017 work with clarity and precision CONNECT WITH US: 310.746.4000 | TheWallis.org/Encounter P8 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P9