The World Premiere Production Concept & Book by Florian Klein Music by Lyrics by Thomas Zaufke Erik Ransom Directed by Michael Bello+ Choreography by Jim Cooney Music Director Gregory Nabours Orchestrations Matt Aument STARRING Taubert Nadalini Nathan Mohebbi Bettis Richardson* Karole Foreman* Michael Scott Harris* Carson Robinette Garrett Marshall* Christopher Robert Smith Ryan Kanfer Davey Miller Producer & General Manager Racquel Lehrman, Theatre Planners Co-Producer & Casting Director Scenic Designer Costume Designer Lighting Designer Michael Donovan, CSA Pete Hickok Angela Wendt Martha Carter Sound Designer Projection Designer Electronic Music Designer Property Designer Alex Mackyol Yee Eun Nam Ethan Deppe Michael Allen Angel Press Representative Casting Associate Graphic Designer Mona Elyafi, ILDK Media Richie Ferris, CSA Kiff Scholl, AFK Design Assistant General Manager Wardrobe Supervisor Assistant Stage Manager Misha Riley, Theatre Planners Patrice Johnson Brian G. Robrecht Production Stage Manager Danny Crisp* *Appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association +The Director is a member of SDC, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society ShootingStar_Program3.indd 1 5/14/19 4:06 PM CAST TAUBERT NADALINI………………………....……………….……………………………………Taylor Trent NATHAN MOHEBBI………………...………..…...………….……………………………………..Jesse Apollo BETTIS RICHARDSON*..............................................................…………………………Tiger Black KAROLE FOREMAN*........................................................................………………………mr. Sue MICHAEL SCOTT HARRIS*....................................................…………………………..James Grant CARSON ROBINETTE…………………...………..……….………………………………………..JR Andrews GARRETT MARSHALL*...................................................………………………….......Butch O’Neal CHRISTOPHER ROBERT SMITH……....….……………………………………...Martin Lords, Ensemble RYAN KANFER………………….…..………..………………………………….….Go-Go Dancer, Ensemble DAVEY MILLER……………...…………………………………………...The Fan, Go-Go Dancer, Ensemble SETTING Hollywood, CA / New York, NY and other locations in between. The Present. SHOOTING STAR WILL BE PERFORMED WITH ONE 15-MINUTE INTERMISSION The use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs, with or without flash, is strictly prohibited. Please turn off all electronic devices such as cell phones and watches. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. ShootingStar_Program3.indd 2 5/14/19 4:06 PM MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT I “Hollywood/Reach the Stars”........................................................……………………...Company “Undressed”.................................................................................…………………….........Taylor “Here to Have Sex”................................................................……………………...James, Taylor “Party Like a Porn Star”......................................................……………………...................Tiger “I’ll Keep My Clothes On”..............................................……..........………………….Jesse, Taylor “This Is the Real Me”.....................................................….....................…………………...Jesse “All the Lovers”..........................................................................………………………...Taylor, JR “Act I Finale”................................................................................……………………..Company ACT II “Shooting Star”.............................................................................…………………….Company “Those Golden Days”.........................................................................…………………….James “I’ll Keep My Clothes On” (Reprise)......................................………………………….Jesse, Taylor “Porn Will Never Leave You”........................................………………………….mr. Sue, Company “My Heart Is Open to You”...........................................................……………………….....Taylor “He Was My Friend”......................................................................………………………..mr. Sue “Finale”...............................................………………………….………………………………Company THE BAND Keyboard 1/Music Director — GREGORY NABOURS Keyboard 2 — DOUG PECK Guitar — JUSTIN SMITH Bass — JON CORNELL Drums — GIANLUCA PALMIERI ShootingStar_Program3.indd 3 5/14/19 4:06 PM A NOTE FROM THE PLAYWRIGHT SHOOTING STAR started out as a crazy idea - born in 2012, when I also gave birth to my porn persona, Hans Berlin. Porn was never anything I had planned. I just fell into it, like my alter ego Taylor. Fascinated by this new world I had found, I suddenly felt the urge to write about it. And what better medium to do so than a musical? Over the years, I built myself an amazing team. I found Thomas and Erik, whose beautiful music and lyrics make SHOOTING STAR as great as it deserves to be. Thank you so much for believing in my dream. Thanks to my wonderful director Michael Bello, to Jim, Greg, Michael Donovan, Richie, Danny, Misha, the entire cast, the musicians, designers, house staff, and to anyone else I missed. Also, behind every great man is a great woman (or two): Racquel, my warrior queen, and Angela, who stuck with me since the idea was just a dream (I’m so thrilled to have you as my costume designer!). Thanks to all the investors (especially Charles Leslie, who gave us our very first check); this production of SHOOTNG STAR would not have been possible without your trust and confidence. The list of everyone who believed and supported me along the way is long: Stephan, Bettina, Alexa, Lindsay, Jensen, John, my angel David de Bjaouix, to name just a few. Kevin Clarke was the first to encourage me to put my writing in front of an audience – Danke schön! Last but not least – SHOOTING STAR is dedicated to two incredible people who are no longer with us – Michael Liberatore and Robbyne Kaamil – and also to my parents who love me, unconditionally, exactly the way I am. —Florian Klein A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR “A musical set in the world of gay porn…” When I first heard that sentence, nearly two years ago, a million questions came to mind, as I’m sure they did for you. Will it be a campy parody, a sexy late night event, or an edgier look into the darker sides of the industry? We are all filled with preconceived notions about the porn industry. Nearly, if not all of us, have consumed pornography at some point but have we ever stopped to think about the people behind the camera? After meeting Florian Klein, the book writer and creator of SHOOTING STAR, all of those questions immediately dissolved from my mind. Instantly Florian’s love of musical theater was apparent and infectious and I quickly came to share his dream of creating a musical comedy that forges its own path through a world rarely explored in mainstream stories. As we have developed this piece, and I’ve become more immersed in the porn community, it has opened my eyes to the more human sides of the industry. Whether in an office building, a rehearsal room, or porn set everyone has hopes, everyone has dreams, and we are all searching for a family to belong to. At its core SHOOTING STAR is a show about all of those things. Taylor, our protagonist, is a young man who takes a big leap to follow his dreams, goes on a journey to find himself, and in doing so discovers an unlikely family who loves him for exactly who he is and not who he wants to be. Hopefully you will all see a bit of yourself in Taylor - I know I do - and that you leave with a new appreciation for your own chosen family. I speak for the entire creative team when I say that we are so thrilled to be sharing this show with Los Angeles audiences. Thank you so much for being here and I hope you enjoy SHOOTING STAR! —Michael Bello ShootingStar_Program3.indd 4 5/14/19 4:06 PM THE CAST Karole Foreman* Michael Scott Harris* Ryan Kanfer Garrett Marshall* Davey Miller Nathan Mohebbi Taubert Nadalini Bettis Richardson* Carson Robinette Christopher Robert Smtih ShootingStar_Program3.indd 5 5/14/19 4:06 PM CAST BIOS KAROLE FOREMAN* (mr. Sue) Theatre: A Little Night Music (San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Nomination), Stupid Fucking Bird (Cygnet Theatre); Haunted House Party (Getty Villa); Porgy & Bess, Sweeney Todd, Intimate Apparel (Ensemble Theatre Company), Fences (NAACP Nomination) (PCPA & ICT), Wedding Band (Stage Raw Nomination)(Antaeus), Next to Normal (OC Weekly Award) (Cal Rep), Difficulty of Crossing A Field & Queenie Pie (Long Beach Opera), Caroline or Change (PCPA), Parade, Jelly’s Last Jam (Suzi Bass Award) (Mark Taper & Alliance Theatre, Atlanta), and Mama Mia! (Vegas). Karole worked with the L.A.Women’s Shakespeare Co., Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and in numerous regional theaters across the country. TV: “Good Trouble,” “NCIS,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “HTGAWM,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Rebel,” “GLOW,” “Kingdom,” “Training Day,” “Young & the Restless,” “Stitchers,” “Jane the Virgin,” “Adam Ruins Everything,” “Switched at Birth,” “Rizzoli & Isles,” “Murder in the First,” “Pretty Little Liars,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Bones,” “Medium,” “Law & Order,” “Bold and the Beautiful.” Film: I’ll Be Next Door for Christmas, 42, Rebirth, and Buddy Solitaire. www.karoleforeman.com MICHAEL SCOTT HARRIS* (James Grant) Michael Scott Harris is thrilled to be continuing with Shooting Star after playing James in the West Coast reading last fall. Other recent performances include The Sound of Music (Capt. von