Ivona, Princess of Burgundia by DIARY Witold Gombrowicz

SPECIAL THANKS

The William Penn Foundation Wyncote Foundation Samuel S. Fels Foundation The Charlotte Cushman Foundation Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Allen Kuharski Lehigh University Department of Theatre Ken Berman Earl Wilcox Jennifer Jansen J.T. Christensen at Studio:Christensen Catering by Miles Dylan Clements at XChange Brandon Shockley Jennifer Green at HyLo Boutiques Robynn Dumont/Capital Business Services, Inc. Lou Seitchik and Kanani Titchen Gail Furman Bill Brock Liam Brock Stephen Schmidt, Brad Schmidt, Dakota Schmidt Mattea Schmidt and Danielle Miller Peter DeFeo Bob and Pat Schmidt Jessica Doheny/Walnut Street Theatre Johanna Austin - AustinArt Photography - austinart.org

The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium P. O. Box 63872 Philadelphia, PA 19147

www.IdiopathicRidiculopathyConsortium.org September, 2012 Welcome! Many thanks to the kingdom that made Ivona possible:

I became hooked on studying non-verbal communication in college, Prince/Princess fascinated with the many ways we speak volumes about what we feel and ($1000.00 and above) think without uttering a word. As I envisioned staging this play it Wyncote Foundation resonated in an age when we suffer from no shortage of exchange of The Samuel S. Fels Fund words, opinions and discussion about everything imaginable, anytime of The Philadelphia Cultural Fund day, across continents, with strangers. Which got me thinking about The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, through Pennsylvania Partners in the whether, in our world today, we have become less adept at reading the Arts (PPA), administered by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance with subtle signals both verbal and unspoken that allow us to connect on a additional support from PECO. deeper level? Where and how does a person fit in to the modern social Charlotte Cushman CharitableFoundation Doris Duke Charitable Foundation equation when their style, their entry into a face-to-face exchange is not Ken Berman so overt, so rapid, so recognizable? FirstTrust Financial, Alan T. Sherman, CEO

Earl Wilcox I howled at the discomfort Ivona causes the Kingdom as they grapple to interpret her silences --her inability (or her choice) to not follow the Duke/Duchess prescribed path. Silence is a powerful exchange that challenges people to ($500.00 - $999.99) sit with themselves and the confusion of interpreting the moment. It Catering by Miles • J.T. Christensen • Jennifer Jansen Lou Seitchik & Kanani Titchen feels like our patience with putting up with that which we don’t understand has become less and less as we have the ability to tunnel Marquis/Marquess technologically deeper to connect with like-minded people whose story (250.00 - $499.99) we understand, with whom we don’t risk feeling awkward. Maybe we Dylan Clements at XChange • Robynn Dumont don’t want to be uncomfortable, despite what we might learn about our Jennifer Green at HyLo Boutiques • Brandon Shockley • Beverly Stover intolerance of others and the aspects of ourselves we deny until they are Count/Countess mirrored back to us. ($100.00 - $249.99) Marsha Bailey • Fred Barfoot • Norman and Carolyn Ellman There are many levels on which Ivona can be understood -- whatever the Jeanne George • Paul LeVine • Bob and Nancy Megley nugget of truth you derive, we encourage you to pick sides, root for your Steven Peitzman • Robert J. Wallner • Askold Zagars & Marie Feehan favorite character both verbally and silently and treat it as an all-out sporting event, with a winning and losing team. You decide who is on Baron/Baroness what team and send them support both verbal and silently as the play ($50.00 - $99.99) progresses. Groans, cheers and commentary are welcome -- you won’t Noel Carroll & Sally Banes • John D'Alonzo • Patricia Durante Barbara Grabias • Stan Heleva & Michelle Pauls • Pat and Allyson Lewis throw the actors (think Rocky Horror). You help us create the live Michael Lynch • Rose O'Brien & Jim Devine theater experience, and have as much a stake in how that picture is Kirsten Quinn & Ari Benjamin Bank • Christopher and Jennifer Rule painted as the actors. So laugh, boo or groan as the spirit moves you. Mark and Joan Sacharoff • Bob and Pat Schmidt • Keith Shively

Marissa Suarez • Stephen and Johnne Tint • Judith Wooldridge A huge thanks from the cast and myself to Allen Kuharski for the many hours he contributed guiding us through the historic and dramaturgic Knight/Knightess intricacies of Ivona. (Up to $49.99) J. S. Adelman • Janet Barker • Donna Barksdale • Paula Bedwell Thanks for spending your evening with us, and will you tell a friend about Pat and Stacey Bishop • Oleg Brovender • Joan O. Cahan • Donald Carter the IRC? John and Alberta Chiaravalloti • Jesse Delaney • Jeanette Hartunian Candra Kennedy • Moe and Sandy Lebo • Brett Mapp • Antonio Merenda Jane Moore • Lee Pucklis • James Rapport Marc Scheiner & Jonathan Hamm • Lois Shestack Tina Brock Will and Jessica Stanforth • Joel and Barbara Stewart Producing Artistic Director Michael R. Treat • Michael Zuckerman

Ivona, Princess of Burgundia by DIARY Witold Gombrowicz

by Translated from Polish by Witold Catherine Robins and Krystyna Griffith-Jones Gombrowicz King………….…………………..………..Robb Hutter Queen……………………………...…Susan Giddings Lord Chamberlain..…………………..Lou Seitchik Prince Phillip………………………...David Stanger Simon……………………….………….John D’Alonzo Available for Cyprian……………………………....……….Greg Day purchase in Courtier…………..………..………...…...Liam Brock the lobby Beggar…………………………………….Bob Schmidt Isobel……………………………...... Emily Kleimo Ivona Hopit…………………………….Heather Cole First Aunt…………….…………………Michael Dura Second Aunt………………………...….Tomas Dura Checkers………………………………..Michael Dura First Lady……………..………..………….Tina Brock Second Lady……………………….....Emily Kleimo First Gentleman………………………Bob Schmidt Second Gentleman……………..…...... Greg Day Innocent……………………………….….Tomas Dura Chancellor………………………………...... Greg Day Marshal…………………………………….Liam Brock Supreme Judge…………………….….Bob Schmidt From Jacqueline Goldfinger, the writer of the terrible girls, comes Raw Stitch, a pub play for the enthusiastically inebriated Directed by Tina Brock and sexually active. Seven spanking new comic monologues including "Miss Coitus Interruptus," "Double Slut Gene," and Costume Design by Erica Hoelscher "Hector Has Herpes (a Sing-A-Long STD PSA)." A PBR, Lighting Design by Maria Shaplin condoms and dental dams included with the price of admission. Scenic Design by Lisi Stoessel

Directed by David O'Connor. Dramaturgical Consultant: Allen Kuharski Featuring Amanda Schoonover, Rachel Camp, Corinna Burns, Jennifer MacMillian, Sarah Schol, Megan Slater and Miriam Produced by arrangement with Rita Gombrowicz White.

More info: www.rawstitch.com. Playing time is approximately 100 minutes; there will be no intermission.

Ivona, Princess of Burgundia

Technical Director The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium Rajiv Shah presents

Production Manager Bob Schmidt

Sound Design Tina Brock Paradise Stage Manager/Light and Sound Operator Mary Rossiter

Assistant Stage Manager/Light and Sound Operator Park Mark Williams

Assistant Costumer Jessica Barksdale by

Scenic Painter Charles Mee Brooke Murray

Set Construction/Painting Bill Brock, Liam Brock, Tina Brock, Brooke Murray, Bob Schmidt, Rajiv Shah & Lisi Stoessel

Photography Johanna Austin February 2013 (AustinArt Photography – www.austinart.org)

This production is made possible in part by generous grants from: Wyncote Foundation The Samuel S. Fels Fund The Philadelphia Cultural Fund The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, through Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA), administered by the Greater Philadelphia

Cultural Alliance with additional support from PECO. Charlotte Cushman Foundation www.IdiopathicRidiculopathyConsortium.org Doris Duke Charitable Foundation FirstTrust Financial, Alan T. Sherman, CEO

MUSIC WHO’S WHO Checkers’ Pre Show Music Play List

The Royal Scam/Steely Dan CAST Slippery People/The Talking Heads Heroes/David Bowie Liam Brock (Courtier, Marshal) is the director's son. [His mother, Blind/The Talking Heads the director, adds: Liam is an 12th Grader who eats a lot, sleeps a lot, Hypnotized/Bob Welch enjoys computer games and has a vivid imagination. He’s an all-around Your Most Valuable Possession/Ben Folds Five swell person. He recently played Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman Bodhisattva/Steely Dan and Felix Unger in The Odd Couple].

People Are Strange/The Doors Heather Cole (Ivona) is excited to be a part of IRC's kingdom! A Regrets/ Ben Folds Five graduate of Temple University and Headlong Performance Institute (Fall Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic/The Police 10), she is a teaching artist with Philadelphia Theatre Company, as well Turandot - Act 3 - Nessum Dorma/Three Tenors as a local choreographer. Upcoming projects include choreography for 3 And She Was/Talking Heads Wishes with B. Someday Productions, Plays and Players' Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, and Simpatico's Lysistrata. Heather looks forward to continuing her season with IRC's next production, Paradise Park. Thank Incidental Music you Tina, cast and crew. Much love to Z.

Dracula John D'Alonzo (Simon) is very honored to be working with the IRC by Phillip Glass again! Previous productions include The Gnadiges Fraulein, The performed by Madwoman of Chaillot, The Arsonists, two Raw Onions and Marriage. The Kronos Quartet Next up in February, John will be back with the IRC in Paradise Park by Charles Mee. John would like to thank Tina, the cast, crew, friends, Die Konzerte fur 3 und 4 Cembali family and You for supporting the Arts! by Johann Sebastian Bach nd performed by Gregory Winston Day (Cyprian, 2 Gentleman, Chancellor) is an actor, playwright and stage director originally from Sugar Land, Trevor Pinnock, Kenneth Gilbert,Lars, Texas. He holds a BA in English, Drama and Philosophy from Saint Ulrik Mortensen & Nicholas Kraemer Joseph's University ('09). He has worked professionally with the Main Street Theater in Houston, Texas, The Kitchen Theater Company in Ithaca, NY, And-Entertainment (NYC) and currently with the Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium in Philadelphia. Original works as a The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium playwright include Deep Dark Hollow and Are You Dead Yet, Darling? Board of Directors produced as part of the Bridal Salon Reading Series at Painted Bride Art Gallery in 2008. In 2011, his one act Trickster debuted at the Free Gail Furman - President Library of Philadelphia as part of the One Book/One City program. On Tina Brock - Vice President the production side, Greg has worked as Stage Manager with the IRC's Susan Feagin - Secretary The Arsonists and Marriage, as well as a Production Coordinator with Alyson Filippone, CPA - Treasurer the New York City Musical Theatre Festival in 2011. Fun Facts: Greg is a Lee Pucklis member of the Ho Chunk American Indian Nation of Wisconsin, has Susan Satkowski, Esq. webbed feet, and is a proud, tye-dyed Grateful Dead-Head. Love and Bob Schmidt thanks to my sweet Mary.

Michael Dura (First Aunt, Checkers) has been actively involved in theatre, film, music and dance for over twenty five years. He received his BA degree in Music at La Salle University in 1975 and went on to study Some ads work, but others irk. voice with Regina Zona, Joyce M. DiDonato, Thomas Scurto-Davis, and Some brands delight, while others bite. finally Enrico Di Giuseppe. Theatrically he has performed with such Smart distribution? Don’t be absurd! companies as The Vagabond Acting Troupe, Big Mess Theatre, Iron Age Most sales channels are filled with turds. Theatre, and The Brick Playhouse. Philadelphians got to know him for his annual portrayal of Edgar Allen Poe with the Philadelphia Orchestra in its Halloween Concert at the Kimmel Center. He is also Too often what should be a poetic strategy is known for playing Dick Deadeye in the Savoy Company's last production merely prosaic. of H.M.S Pinafore at the Academy of Music, and also Pish-Tush in it's recent production of The Mikado. He has performed operatically for such companies as Delaware Valley Opera, Amici Opera, Blue Planet Opera, and the West Chester Opera Society. Previous performances with the IRC include his shared performance with his brother, Tomas, in Samuel Beckett's Ohio Impromptu, The Street Singer in The Madwoman of Chaillot, The Neighbor in The Empire Builders, Firefighter Flynn Coleman in The Arsonist and, most recently as Aleksei Dmitrievich Starikov in Nikolai Gogol’s Marriage.

Tomas Dura (Second Aunt, Innocent) has toured Europe, Canada and the U.S. and has appeared in film, video and television. He is best known as a flamenco dancer in addition to being an actor, musician and fire eater. He worked with the great flamenco dancer, Jose Greco, for 8 years, frequently serving as assistant during Mr. Greco's last years. He dances in the movie, Cafe, starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, and has worked in the films Smoke and Mirrors (director K. Hardy), Loneliness (director M. Zubarev) and About Angels (Zubarev). In 2007 Tomas performed solo with the Philadelphia Orchestra to a sold out house at the Kimmel Center in his own choreography of the Spanish Dance from Swan Lake. Tomas has collaborated with artists like Flameno Ole, Kei Takei's Moving Earth and the Wilma Theater. He is the director and lead male dancer of Fiesta Flamenco Dancers and is choreographer in residence with the Amici Opera Co. He has received numerous grants from the Pa Council Plannerzone helps businesses see things from a customer’s on the Arts and the 5 County Arts Fund. He has also received perspective. For over 20 years, our unique approach to market commissions from the Community Education Center & NY performances research has helped our clients make more informed decisions about at the Joyce Soho through the New Dance Alliance. He teaches flamenco dance classes in grade schools, high schools, colleges and public marketing, products and distribution. community centers. Tomas has previously appeared with IRC in Ohio Direct clients include: Impromptu, The Madwoman of Chaillot, The Empire Builders, The Arsonists and Marriage. 3M, Aflac, Ameriprise, Nestlé, and Proctor & Gamble.

Are you as curious as we are? Email [email protected] Interested in getting in on the absurdity? Help us out by becoming a volunteer. Plannerzone is proud to sponsor the Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium Contact us at: [email protected]

Susan Giddings (Queen Margaret) is delighted to be working with Maria Shaplin (Lighting Design) is a Philadelphia-based lighting the IRC for the first time, especially on this great play and with such a designer with a commitment to new, experimental work. She is a ridiculously fun group of people! Credits include New City Stage member and resident lighting designer for The Riot Group and co- (Terrorism), REV Theatre (Carthaginians), Theatre Horizon (The founder and resident production designer for Applied Mechanics. She is Credeaux Canvas), Flashpoint Theatre (boom), Iron Age Theatre (A lucky to work with many great companies in Philly and New York, such Skull in Connemara and The Cripple of Inishmaan), Amaryllis Theatre as New Paradise Laboratories, The Berzerker Residents, Swim Pony (Rock Doves), HATG Theatre (Wit), and South Camden Theatre (Last Performing Arts, Lucidity Suitcase Intercontinental, Juniata College and Rites). Directing credits include Brilliant Traces, The Old Flashpoint Theatre Company to name just a few. Maria has a BA from Neighborhood, I Hate Hamlet and The Woman in Black. Thank you Hampshire College and MFA from Temple University. Tina!

Lisi Stoessel (Scenic Design) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist Robb Hutter (King Ignatius) joins the zany IRC family after working in scenic design, puppetry, and movement performance. Lisi performing in a string of shows in the region. Favorite roles include seeks out collaborative projects that combine visual and performative Harry in The Prisoner of Second Avenue at the Montgomery Theatre, media to create immersive theatrical experiences that challenge Don Luis in the Quintessence Theatre’s Don Juan, Otto Frank in The traditional definitions. She has designed for many east coast theatre Diary of Anne Frank at the Ritz Theatre, Ebenezer Scrooge in the companies, including locals Swim Pony Performing Arts, The Berserker musical A Christmas Carol at Steel River Playhouse and the doctor in the Residents, Pig Iron Theatre Company, Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, Mauckingbird production of Never The Sinner. New York City credits Johnny Showcase, and Inis Nua Theatre Company. Last year Lisi won a include Edward II and The Jew of Malta with the American Shakespeare non-equity Jeff Award in Artistic Specialization for her robot design for Repertory. Robb hails from Canada and received his MFA in Acting from Sideshow Theatre Company's Heddatron. She also recently received a Toronto’s York University. The two other roles he merrily plays is grant from the CuDC to participate in Artistic Blind Dates for DC’s 2012 Artistic Director of Philly Senior Stage, bringing entertainment and Source Festival. Lisi is an Artistic Associate of Chicago’s Sideshow theatre education to senior adults in retirement communities and proud Theatre Company and a member of DC’s Forum Theatre Ensemble. She daddy of his teenage daughter, Anya. Thanks, Tina, for including me in has studied puppetry and performance at the Academy of Performing the fun and frolic of this production! Arts in Prague and holds her MFA in Scene Design from the University of Virginia. This is Lisi’s Lucky Number 3 IRC set design! Emily Kleimo (Isobel, Second Lady) Credits include: Jolene/Ensemble, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with The Ritz Theatre Mark Williams (Assistant Stage Manager, Lights and Sound Company, The Little Nun, House of Blue Leaves with Isis Productions, Operator) is a Theatre major from Gloucester County College, and is Alexi Darling/Ensemble, RENT with 11th Hour Theatre Company and honored to be working in the Walnut for the first time. He would like to Ensemble, Bluebird with EgoPo. Thank you to Tina, the cast and crew thank his mentors over the years, such as Patricia Mangano from the for all of their hard work! Love and gratitude to Ms. Holly and JKK. Do Broadway Theatre of Pitman, Rose Gruber from Gloucester County what you love! College, and Mary Rossiter with whom he has been working with since his time at West Deptford High School. Lou Seitchik (Lord Chamberlain) is new to Philadelphia. In San Diego, he did a bunch of plays, including ones by Chekhov, Shakespeare, Mamet, Nicky Silver and Donald Margulies.

David Stanger (Prince Phillip) feels great to be back with the IRC, Erica Hoelscher (Costume/Wig Design and Construction) is having performed as Kochkaryov in Marriage. Elsewhere in very pleased to be joining the IRC for a second production. Erica has Philadelphia: How to Disappear Completely... and Identity Crisis with designed costumes for the Colleague’s Theatre Company, NYC, the Luna Theater Company, A Christmas Carol at the Walnut Street Shadowland Theatre, Ellenville, NY, Media Theatre, Media, PA, Theater, Crumble (Lay Me Down Justin Timberlake), U.S. Drag, and Shakespeare in Clark Park, Plays and Players Theatre, Arden Theatre autobahn with Flashpoint Theater Company, and Waiting for Godot, Company, and the Red Square Theatre Company, Philadelphia, and The Blood Guilty and Much Ado About Nothing with the Amaryllis Theater Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Center Valley. Current and recent Company. He is the voice of 'The Old Smoothie' with The Hear Again projects include Urinetown at Lehigh University, The Merry Wives of Radio Project. Thanks to Tina and this wonderful cast and crew. For Windsor for Shakespeare in Clark Park, and Hairspray at Media Kristen. Theatre. Erica has been on the faculty at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA since 1995, teaching courses in theatrical design, theatre Tina Brock (Director; Producing Artistic Director, IRC) is one history, costume history and stage makeup. of the founding members of the IRC. Directing projects include Nikolai Gogol’s Marriage: An Utterly Improbable Occurrence in Two Acts; Max Brooke Murray (Scenic Painter) This production marks Brooke’s Frisch’s The Arsonists, Boris Vian’s The Empire Builders, Jean first show at IRC. Based out of Southern New Jersey, Brooke is a Giraudoux's The Madwoman of Chaillot, Eugène Ionesco's The Chairs, freelance painter who works frequently in Philadelphia. Recent credits The Lesson, Frenzy for Two or More, Foursome, The Leader and include The Arden Theatre Company’s Women in Jep, Tulipomania, Victims of Duty; Samuel Beckett's Ohio Impromptu, Catastrophe, and Robin Hood and Clybourne Park. Other recent productions include Come and Go; Edward Albee's The Sandbox; Harold Pinter’s Trouble in Twelfth Night and Titus Andronicus at The Philadelphia Shakespeare the Works; Christopher Durang’s Wanda’s Visit, For Whom the Southern Theatre, and Hairspray at Burlington County College. Belle Tolls, Desire Desire Desire, A Stye of the Eye and The Actor’s Nightmare, and Tennessee Williams' The Gnädiges Fraulein. As an Mary Rossiter (Stage Manager, Lights and Sound Operator) is actress, theater credits include Philadelphia Theater Company, Act II currently the Technical Director of Luna Theater Company. She is Playhouse, Luna Theater, Azuka Theater, Theatre Exile, Arden Theater excited to be joining the Idiopathic Ridicuopathy Consortium for their Company. Tina studied Journalism and Dance at University of production of Ivona, Princess of Burgundia. Aside from Luna and IRC, Maryland; Speech Communication at West Chester University and Mary works as the resident set designer, master carpenter, and stage Psychology at Rutgers University. Over the past fifteen years she has also manager for West Deptford Center Stage Players in New Jersey. Mary worked as a freelance producer and writer, including associate producer has wholeheartedly enjoyed the time she has spent with this talented credits on the NPR radio series A Chef's Table with Jim Coleman, and in group of folks and thanks all of them for being great company! the development, public information and fundraising departments at PBS affiliate WHYY-TV12. Many thanks to the spirited talents in this Rajiv Shah (Technical Director) is a graduate of Temple University. cast and crew -- our friends and colleagues who have given countless His commitment to theater began at a young age with summers shared hours to help the IRC grow; to the absurdly talented designers who between Spoleto Festival USA, Charleston, SC and Summer Stage, Upper brought Ivona to life, and to the IRC board of directors for all you do. Darby, PA. From 2002 to 2009 he toured as Production Manager for The This play is for Liam, who has grown up on a steady IRC diet, taking in Gershwin's Opera, Porgy & Bess in England, Ireland, Scotland, Portugal, more absurdism than any 17 year old should have to. It is a pleasure Poland, Russia, Greece, Estonia, Latvia, Trinidad, Australia, New Zealand, sharing the stage with you all! Mexico, Canada, and the USA, Head carpenter with the national tour of Martha Graham Dance Company, Avenue Q, and Barbie Live in Fairytopia. Raj's love of Philadelphia and carpentry has empowered him to CREW freelance as a technical director since early 2010, creating scenery for the Lantern Theater, Inis Nua Theatre Company, The Berserker Residents, Jessica Barksdale (Assistant Costume Designer) is happy to be Amyrillis, and Burlington County College, and most recently the Idiopathic working with the IRC again after previously assisting with costumes for Ridiculopathy Consortium. Arts is a rough road in a recession but I'll swing Marriage. She has also done costume work for Shakespeare in Clark the hammer if you buy the seat. Park, Plays & Players, and The Media Theatre, where she is currently the Wardrobe Assistant. She graduated from Vassar College in 2011 with a degree in English. She would like to thank Erica for all of her guidance.

Bob Schmidt (Beggar, 1st Gentleman, Supreme Judge) is a founding member of the IRC and has appeared in many productions since the company's founding in 2006: Alistair Beaton’s translation of Max Frisch’s The Arsonists, Boris Vian’s The Empire Builders, Jean Giraudoux’s The Madwoman of Chaillot, Eugène Ionesco's The Chairs, Victims of Duty, The Leader, and Foursome; Christopher Durang's The Actor's Nightmare, Wanda's Visit, Samuel Beckett's Catastrophe, and numerous Raw Onions. Many thanks to Tina for making all of this possible, an awesome cast and dedicated crew. Thank you for supporting The IRC! Witold Gombrowicz and Ivona, Princess of Burgundia Gombrowicz’s novel Possessed, as part of the international by Allen Kuharski Gombrowicz centennial year in 2004. The Philadelphia Live Arts Festival presented Several Witty Observations by Polish Witold Gombrowicz (1904-1969) made his literary debut in pre- choreographer and dancer Leszek Bzdyl (inspired by the World War II Poland with the publications of a collection of short playwright’s Diary) and in 2009 hosted a major Polish production stories (Memoir from Adolescence; 1933; later re-titled Bacacay), of Gombrowicz’s last play Operetta directed by Michał Zadara, the a novel (Ferdydurke; 1937), and a play (Ivona, Princess of largest production invited to date in the history of the festival. For Burgundia; 1938). The play was ignored by the Polish theater at the 2011 Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Mark Kennedy created the time, and with the outbreak of World War II and Checkers, a solo performance piece freely inspired by one of the Gombrowicz’s fateful departure from Poland for Argentina in supporting characters in Ivona. IRC’s production of Ivona, 1939, the text was not performed until 1957, when due to Princess of Burgundia will be one of four planned in the U.S. in communist censorship it enjoyed its only professional Polish stage 2012-13. production during the playwright’s lifetime.

Gombrowicz returned to Europe in 1963, and enjoyed a belated period of celebrity as a playwright and novelist in Western Europe. After Ivona’s sensational success at Théâtre Odéon in Paris in 1965, it went on to become Gombrowicz’s most performed play and best-known text abroad. When the ban on the performance of his works was lifted in Poland in the 1970s, Gombrowicz’s plays were already established as contemporary classics in Western Europe, alongside those of Beckett, Ionesco and Genet. In Poland, Ivona quickly entered the national repertory. Over time, it has become the most-performed Polish play around the world, with productions in at least forty countries. It has also served as the libretto for four contemporary operas (the most recent in 2009), in addition to inspiring works as varied as Jerzy Kosiński’s 1971 novel Being There and John Waters’s 1990 film Cry Baby. A new wave of international interest in his writing began with the end of communism in Poland and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. An international theater festival devoted to his works was established in Poland in 1993 and today he is required reading for all Polish Witold Marian Gombrowicz high school students. (August 4, 1904 in Małoszyce, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Congress Poland, Russian Empire – July 24, 1969 in Vence, near Nice, France) Philadelphia has a significant history of performing Gombrowicz’s was a Polish novelist and dramatist. His works are characterized by work. Swarthmore College’s Department of Theater has twice deep psychological analysis, a certain sense of paradox and an absurd, produced the play (in 1998 and 2012) and hosted the launch of the anti-nationalist flavor. In 1937 he published his first novel, English-language stage version of Gombrowicz’s novel Ferdydurke Ferdydurke, which presented many of his usual themes: the problems of immaturity and youth, the creation of identity in interactions with by Teatr Provisorium & Kompania Teatr of Lublin in 2000. The others, and an ironic, critical examination of class roles in Polish East Coast professional premiere of Ivona, Princess of Burgundia society and culture. He gained fame only during the last years of his took place at Theatre Exile in Philadelphia in 2002. Pig Iron life, but is now considered one of the foremost figures of Polish Theatre Company in collaboration with playwright Adriano literature. Shaplin produced Hell Meets Henry Halfway, freely adapted from Witold Gombrowicz and Ivona, Princess of Burgundia Gombrowicz’s novel Possessed, as part of the international by Allen Kuharski Gombrowicz centennial year in 2004. The Philadelphia Live Arts Festival presented Several Witty Observations by Polish Witold Gombrowicz (1904-1969) made his literary debut in pre- choreographer and dancer Leszek Bzdyl (inspired by the World War II Poland with the publications of a collection of short playwright’s Diary) and in 2009 hosted a major Polish production stories (Memoir from Adolescence; 1933; later re-titled Bacacay), of Gombrowicz’s last play Operetta directed by Michał Zadara, the a novel (Ferdydurke; 1937), and a play (Ivona, Princess of largest production invited to date in the history of the festival. For Burgundia; 1938). The play was ignored by the Polish theater at the 2011 Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Mark Kennedy created the time, and with the outbreak of World War II and Checkers, a solo performance piece freely inspired by one of the Gombrowicz’s fateful departure from Poland for Argentina in supporting characters in Ivona. IRC’s production of Ivona, 1939, the text was not performed until 1957, when due to Princess of Burgundia will be one of four planned in the U.S. in communist censorship it enjoyed its only professional Polish stage 2012-13. production during the playwright’s lifetime.

Impassioned Impassioned Embraces Embraces (For the Holidays) (For the Holidays) by by John Pielmeier John Pielmeier

NOVEMBER 2012 NOVEMBER 2012

Impassioned Impassioned Embraces Embraces (For the Holidays) (For the Holidays)

(short pieces from the sublime to the (short pieces from the sublime to the ridiculous about love and a ridiculous about love and a profession/passion we can’t let go of) profession/passion we can’t let go of)

Featuring: Featuring: John D'Alonzo John D'Alonzo Colleen Hughes Colleen Hughes James Kiesel James Kiesel Emily Kleimo Emily Kleimo Lou Seitchik Lou Seitchik Sarah Schol Sarah Schol David Stanger David Stanger Tina Brock Tina Brock

Sunday, November 4, 18 & 25 Sunday, November 4, 18 & 25 Wednesday, November 7, 14, 21 & 28 Wednesday, November 7, 14, 21 & 28

7:30 PM 7:30 PM

L’Etage Cabaret L’Etage Cabaret 6th & Bainbridge Streets 6th & Bainbridge Streets www.IdiopathicRidiculopathyConsortium.org www.IdiopathicRidiculopathyConsortium.org

MUSIC WHO’S WHO Checkers’ Pre Show Music Play List

Ivona, Princess of Burgundia

Technical Director The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium Rajiv Shah presents

Production Manager Bob Schmidt

Sound Design Tina Brock Paradise Stage Manager/Light and Sound Operator Mary Rossiter

Assistant Stage Manager/Light and Sound Operator Park Mark Williams

Assistant Costumer Jessica Barksdale by

Scenic Painter Charles Mee Brooke Murray

Set Construction/Painting Bill Brock, Liam Brock, Tina Brock, Brooke Murray, Bob Schmidt, Rajiv Shah & Lisi Stoessel

Photography Johanna Austin February 2013 (AustinArt Photography – www.austinart.org)

Cultural Alliance with additional support from PECO. Charlotte Cushman Foundation www.IdiopathicRidiculopathyConsortium.org Doris Duke Charitable Foundation FirstTrust Financial, Alan T. Sherman, CEO

Ivona, Princess of Burgundia by DIARY Witold Gombrowicz

More info: www.rawstitch.com. Playing time is approximately 100 minutes; there will be no intermission. September, 2012 Welcome! Many thanks to the kingdom that made Ivona possible:

SPECIAL THANKS

The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium P. O. Box 63872 Philadelphia, PA 19147