Greenwood Little Theatre Presents

Directed by Bobby VanDevender June 25-28, 2015

Six Degrees of Separation is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare

Cast (in order of appearance) Louisa (Ouisa) Kittredge ...... CONNIE BLACK J. Flanders (Flan) Kittredge ...... EDDIE AMELUNG Paul "Poitier"...... JUSTIN ROBINSON Geoffrey ...... PAUL BROWN The Hustler ...... DREW BRASWELL Kitty ...... PAM POWERS Larkin ...... CHAM TROTTER Detective ...... O'CHAUNTICE SPANN Talbot (Tess) Kittredge...... ALICIA DALLAS Woodrow (Woody) Kittredge...... MARVIN HALEY Ben ...... FORREST HODGE Dr. Fine ...... BUDDY HENDRICKS Doug Fine ...... CAMERON GRIFFIN Doorman ...... RAY SMITHEE Trent Conway ...... WILL PERKINS Rick ...... WILL PERKINS Elizabeth ...... MARY-HOLLY FLEMING

Setting: New York City, 1990.

THERE WILL BE ONE FIFTEEN-MINUTE INTERMISSION. Please enjoy a drink in the lobby during intermission.

Parental Advisory: Adult Content and Situations

Flash photography and video recording is prohibited. Please do not use electronic devices during the show. Production Crew

Director ...... BOBBY VANDEVENDER Stage Manager ...... KATELYN ROBERTS Lighting Director ...... CAMERON ABEL Sound Director ...... TOM WELDON Publicity Logo; Set ...... WILL PERKINS Set Construction ...... SETH WHEATLEY, CAMERON ABEL, TOM WELDON, RANDY STAGNER Sound Recording ...... MATTHEW MOORE Costumes...... CONNIE SEBRO, MAVIS COSPER Photography ...... HANK LAMB, LINDA PERKINS Program; Publicity ...... ALICIA DALLAS, CAMERON ABEL Membership/Ticketing ...... JIMBO PALMER, FORREST HODGE, BECKY PALMER

We are the face of the South and there’s Pam Powers always a smile on it! Cindy Walker ABR, CRS, GRI 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Realtor 601-831-4505 AND INTEGRITY 662-466-2991

www.BeInTheSouth.com DAVID HAMPTON (1964 - 2003)

John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation is loosely based on the story of David Hampton, who arrived in Manhattan as a teenager in 1981 and gained entry into exclusive nightclub Studio 54 by claiming to be "David Poitier", the son of actor Sidney Poitier. Impressed with the success of his own ruse and by the air of celebrity it afforded him, Hampton soon began sleeping in the apartments of several promi- nent Manhattanites (including actress Melanie Griffith and designer Calvin Klein) by introducing himself as "David Poitier" and claiming that he was a friend of their children or that his "father" Sidney Poitier was scheduled to arrive in town the following day. He also cadged free meals in New York restaurants, claiming that he had been mugged and that his "father" Sidney Poitier would pick-up his tab. Eventually, several individuals who had been duped by Hampton had him arrested and charged with burglary for entering their homes under false pretenses. Writ- er John Guare became aware of the story after an article about Hampton's subterfuge appeared in the New York Times. When Six Degrees of Separa- tion opened in the Lincoln Center Theater, Hampton, when not filing lawsuits against the author for "stealing" his fictional identity, could occasionally be found in the Lincoln Center's ticket line, pretending to patrons that he was the actor portraying "Paul Poitier" in the play and that he was running late and needed a "few extra dollars" for dinner before the performance. David Hamp- ton died in 2003 in a New York hospital from complications caused by AIDS.

About the Director Bobby VanDevender is a native of Kemper County but has been a Greenwood resident for many years, and is a partner in the CPA firm of Fred T. Neely & Co. A longtime favorite GLT actor and director, Bobby ran the lights for Into the Woods and was last seen in Vintage Hitchcock. He has also appeared in South Pacific, Rumors (1992), Noises Off, Jesus Christ Superstar and I Hate Hamlet. Bobby's attention to detail and passion for directing has produced the fabulous GLT classics Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and A Streetcar Named Desire. Bobby is a past president of GLT and has served as our longtime treasurer for multiple seasons. His favorite role was as Tom Wingfield inThe Glass Menagerie. Eddie Amelung (Flan) is one of GLT’s oldest active members, having been involved since 1967 in over 60 productions. A Greenwood native and pharmacist/manager of Greenwood Downtown Drugs, Eddie is also a past president of GLT and a former and current Board member. Favorite directing experiences at GLT include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Glass Menagerie and Godspell. Top acting experiences include Noises Off, leading roles in The King and I and My Fair Lady for Indianola’s MDAA.

Connie Black (Ouisa) has been gracing the GLT stage for 30 years with her musical and dramatic talents. An Inverness native, Connie is an elementary music teacher at Pillow Academy and past president of GLT. She was last seen on our stage in Into the Woods and had leading roles in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, A Streetcar Named Desire, Man of La Mancha, and Noises Off for GLT, and The King and I and The Sound of Music for Indianola’s MDAA. Connie and husband Mickey recently celebrated the wedding of their daughter, Molly.

Drew Braswell (Hustler) couldn’t be more excited to appear in his first GLT production... with his clothes off. You might have seen him as The Jock in The Delta Players’ Columbinus (also with his clothes off) or as “Mr. Martin” in The Delta Players’ final production,The Bald Soprano. He would like to thank the cast and crew of Six Degrees for being so welcoming so late in the production. Favorite roles include “Colonel Melcott” in Black Comedy, “Eddie/Dr. Scott” in The Rocky Horror Show, and “Actor #1” in A Tuna Christmas.

Paul Brown (Geoffrey) is a Greenwood native and an RN Clinical Liaison for AMG Specialty Hospital and choirmaster at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Greenwood. After graduation from Ole Miss, Paul performed opera with the Baltimore Lyric, Peabody Opera and Opera Vivente. Since returning to his hometown, Paul has amassed impressive GLT credits including acting in Noises Off, music direction for Into the Woods and directing I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.

Alicia Dallas (Tess) was born in Crowley, LA but has lived in Greenwood for 25 years. A freelance Web designer, Alicia is the chairperson of GLT’s Website committee and is an active Board member. Acting work at GLT includes unforgettable roles in The Buddy Holly Story, Moon Over Buffalo, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, but her favorite GLT experience was directing last season’s popular farce, Rumors, and she says she “loved being a director!” Alicia is married to David Dallas and is the mother of two boys. Mary-Holly Fleming (Elizabeth) has danced her way through a couple of GLT productions, but we are pleased to welcome her in her first speaking role! Mary-Holly was a dancer for sixteen years, which is how she became involved with GLT in the first place. Her talents were expertly displayed in her first production, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, followed a couple of years later by the equally amazing Smokey Joe’s Café. Mary-Holly is a native of Greenwood and is a student at Ole Miss, pursuing a degree in biology.

Cameron Griffin( Doug) is a native and current resident of Cleveland, MS where he’s been active in the theater since 2008. For GLT, Cameron had a memorable debut in 2012’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? His most recent performance was in last season’s Rumors, where his comic timing and priceless facial expressions quickly made him an audience favorite! His “favorite role ever” was El-Fayoumy in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot for the Delta Players at DSU in 2011. Cameron is employed as a graphic designer.

Marvin Haley (Woody) is a Greenwood native and a salesman at Service Auto Parts. He first appeared in 2009’s No Time for Sergeants, but he’s also done some backstage and set work for GLT. Marvin is a self-taught but accomplished guitarist, and he’s performed around the area with the same group of guys for several years; most recently this band was known as GUNSMOKE. Marvin has also performed with Nashville recording artist Odiss Kohn, and he plays for local singer Kathleen Lott.

Buddy Hendricks (Dr. Fine) is a retired school psychologist who is now the co-owner of Turnrow Gallery in Greenwood. He is a native of Inverness and has been very active at Indianola’s MDAA theatre and at GLT, both as an actor and director. He was last seen at GLT as the Narrator for Into the Woods, but also gave wonderful performances in Godspell and Little Shop of Horrors, both at GLT and at MDAA. Buddy has also directed several shows, including Nunsense, Annie, Guys and Dolls (with Anne Roberts) and Life With Father.

Forrest Hodge (Ben) first appeared in 2013’sA Christmas Carol and played the role of Justin in our last production, The Fox on the Fairway. He was the stage manager for Rumors and he directed the hit comedy, The Butler Did It. Forrest is poised to direct another play for GLT next season and is GLT’s current vice-president. Forrest is a Greenwood native and is the programming coordinator for the Greenwood Public Library. Will Perkins (Trent Conway, Rick) has been active at GLT since 1999. He has appeared in many GLT productions, including Oliver, Once Upon a Mattress, Mama Won’t Fly, Rumors, Vintage Hitchcock, and Into the Woods. Will’s creativity not only shows in his acting, but on the set as well - he has designed and decorated the sets of many recent productions, and was the creator of our “Kandinsky” painting for the Six Degrees set! A Greenwood native, Will divides his time between his hometown and Savannah, GA.

Pam Powers (Kitty) is a native of Yazoo City but has lived in Greenwood and Vicksburg. She has been back in Greenwood with husband Mo since 2007. Retired from the U.S. Corps of Engineers as a computer programmer and hydrologist, Pam is realtor/owner of Powers Properties. She had a memorable role in 2012’s Dixie Swim Club, co-directed Vintage Hitchcock, a Live Radio Play with Eddie Amelung in 2013, and serves on the GLT Board.

Justin B. Robinson (Paul) returns to the GLT stage after a seven year absence in his most important role to date, which also happens to be his first leading role. The Itta Bena native has participated in eight GLT productions, the first being You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and including Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Dearly Departed. We saw him last in 2008’s Jesus Christ Superstar and Beauty and the Beast. Justin says, “I am a lover of life and the arts with an attachment to nothing, but an appreciation for everything.”

Ray Smithee (Eddie the Doorman), an accomplished musician, is a native of Poplar Bluff, Missouri but has lived in Greenwood for 10 years and is the director of music/organist at First Presbyterian Church. He is also the director of The Greenwood Chorale. Ray had a small role as the announcer in our last production, Fox on the Fairway, and assisted on keyboard with Into the Woods. His wry sense of humor serves him well in his role as the Kittredge’s doorman in Six Degrees, and we welcome him back to our stage!

O’Chauntice Spann (detective, policewoman) finally returns to the GLT stage after her debut in the 5th grade as an orphan child and pickpocket in the 2000 production of Oliver! At MVSU, O’Chauntice participated in Reader’s Theater, A Slice of Life, under the direction of Barbara Baymon, who also cast her as “Sister Experience” in a church comedy/drama. O’Chauntice is a Greenwood native who works as a cashier at Wal-Mart. She says, “It is my dream to one day have a leading role in a Broadway production.” Cham Trotter (Larkin) is an attorney from Belzoni who has served as president of both GLT and the Mississippi Bar Association. Cham has been involved with Delta theatres - directing, acting, and singing - for more than 30 years, including performances in Greenwood, Indianola, and Greenville. Among his outstanding performances are roles in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Forever Plaid, and Same Time Next Year (with Connie Black). Cham has also directed and performed in several well-received Broadway reviews.

MAX99 and DELTA 96.9 are proud supporters of Greenwood Little Theatre. For advertising your business, call Lorna Boyd at 662-379-0199

Gold Sponsors John & Marsha Lucas, III Silver Sponsors Bob & Steele Hardeman Bobby VanDevender Saints Meredith & Margeret Allen Mike Peeples Eddie Amelung Jess & Sally Pinkston The Greenwood Ygondine Sturdivant Commonwealth Viking Range, LLC Heartland Catfish Co. WADE, Inc. Angels All-Delta Pest Control Guy & Charlot Ray Taylor Powell, Wilson & Anita Batman John Richard Hartford P.A. Mickey & Connie Black Jim & Pam Robbins Mike & Glenda Upchurch Donnie & Patty Brock Hank & Anne Roberts Dexter & Dorothy Clark Insurance Agency Eleanor Shuler Walcott Melisa Fincher John Smith Dr. Thomas Weldon & Andy & Angela Rob Spiller Family Hammons Kenneth & Linda Stokes Seth & Sandi Wheatley Frank & Jinny Hurdle Polly & Derwood Strain Randy & Marilyn White Jim & Becky Palmer David & Amy Taylor Mr. & Mrs. W.M. Whittington Charles & Pam Powers Chris Thompson Officers for the 2014-15 Season

President Sandi Wheatley President-Elect Cameron Abel Vice-President Forrest Hodge Secretary Claudia White Treasurer Bobby VanDevender Immediate Past-President Patrice Peacock President Emeritus W.M. Whittington, Jr.

Board of Governors, Class of 2015 Andy Hammons Angela Hammons Alicia Dallas Mavis Cosper John Rose

Board of Governors, Class of 2016 Eddie Amelung Pam Powers John Lucas, III Connie Sebro Linda Stokes

Board of Governors, Class of 2017 Paul Brown Jim Palmer Lorna Boyd Chris Thompson Tom Weldon

Greenwood Little Theatre, since 1956 P O Box 246 | Greenwood, MS 38935-0246 www.greenwoodlittletheatre.com | 662-947-1075