FLORIDA REPERTORY THEATRE 2015-2016 SEASON ARTSTAGE STUDIO THEATRE • FORT MYERS RIVER DISTRICT ROBERT CACIOPPO, PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR PRESENTS Featuring the Lyrics of JOHNNY MERCER Music by JEROME KERN, HENRY MANCINI, DUKE ELLINGTON, HAROLD ARLEN, & More Conceived, Written and Directed by ROBERT CACIOPPO SPONSORED BY THE GALLOWAY FAMILY OF DEALERSHIPS AND MADELEINE TAENI STARRING JOE BIGELOW* • DAVID EDWARDS* • JULIE KAVANAGH* • JAMES DAVID LARSON* MICAHEL McASSEY* • SOARA-JOYE ROSS* DIRECTED BY ensemble member ROBERT CACIOPPO** MUSIC DIRECTOR CHOREOGRAPHER SET DESIGNER MICHAEL McASSEY ARTHUR D’ALESSIO TIM BILLMAN LIGHTING DESIGNER COSTUME DESIGNER SOUND DESIGNER TODD O. WREN*** DINA PEREZ*** JOHN KISELICA ensemble member PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER ASST. STAGE MANAGER AMY L. MASSARI* GRACIE DOD ensemble member 2015-16 GRAND SEASON SPONSORS Anonymous • The Fred & Jean Allegretti Foundation • Naomi Bloom & Ron Wallace Bruce & Janet Bunch • Gholi & Georgia Darehshori • Ed & Ellie Fox • Dr. & Mrs. Mark & Lynne Gorovoy John & Marjorie Madden • Sue & Jack Rogers • Arthur Zupko This entire season sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. Florida Repertory Theatre is a fully professional non-profit LOA/LORT Theatre company on contract with the Actors’ Equity Association that proudly employs members of the national theatrical labor unions. *Member of Actors’ Equity Association. **Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. ***Member of United Scenic Artists. CAST JOE BIGELOW* DAVID EDWARDS* JULIE KAVANAGH* JAMES DAVID LARSON* MICHAEL MCASSEY* SOARA-JOYE ROSS* Bartender: Kyle Ashe Wilkinson/Ryan Gallerani TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS: A SALUTE TO JOHNNY MERCER will be performed with one 15-minute intermission. The video and/or audio recording of this performance by any means whatsoever is strictly prohibited. Swings: Caroline Clay • Kyle Ashe Wilkinson Wardrobe: Camille Lerner Lighting & Sound Board Operator: Rachael Smith ABOUT JOHNNY MERCER JOHNNY MERCER’S main claim to immortality is his incredible songwriting output, penning the lyrics or music and lyrics to roughly 1,500 songs. Marked by a sophisticated, occasionally whimsical mastery of language and rhymes, many of Mercer’s songs have become standards regularly covered by jazz artists. Yet he was also a successful singer, with a relaxed, Southern-accented, jazzy, rhythmically agile delivery that resulted in several major hits in the 1940s. At first, he was torn between acting and songwriting, but having failed to land a part in Garrick Gaities in 1930, he ended up writing his first hit, “Out of Breath, Scared to Death of You,” for the show. His first charted songwriting hit was Ted Lewis’ 1933 recording of “Lazybones.” By 1938, he was recording duets with Bing Crosby for Decca and the following year, he was on Benny Goodman’s Camel Cavalcade radio program as a featured singer. In 1942, he, Glenn Wallichs, and Buddy DeSylva founded Capitol Records, which would eventually become an industry behemoth, and Mercer reeled off a string of hits for his label, including “Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe,” “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive,” “Candy,” and “Personality.” “Atchison” is an especially good example of his flip, catchy, vocal style. While running Capitol, Mercer the talent scout attracted the likes of Nat King Cole, Stan Kenton, Jo Stafford, Peggy Lee, and Margaret Whiting to the label, where they had their greatest successes. Among Mercer’s most durable lyrics -- a highly abbreviated list -- are those for “One for My Baby (And One More for the Road),” “Blues in the Night,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “My Shining Hour,” and “Early Autumn,” and his many collaborators have included Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington, Jerome Kern, Gordon Jenkins, and Harry Warren. He also contributed to the scores of seven Broadway musicals and films. Following an album with Bobby Darin and collaborations with Henry Mancini in the early ‘60s, Mercer’s career slowed down under the onslaught of rock & roll, but time has since reconfirmed his status as an American popular music giant. †Member of Florida Repertory Theatre’s Ensemble of Theatre Artists. See page 23 for the entire ensemble. The Actors & Stage Manager * employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity ** *** Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. DRAMATURGICAL NOTES JOHNNY ACADEMY AWARD NOMS & WINS Jeepers Creepers, 1938 MERCER’S I’d Know You Anywhere, 1940 LEGACY Love Of My Life, 1940 Even if you’re not Blues In The Night, 1941 aware of it, you’re Dearly Beloved, 1943 probably already My Shining Hour, 1943 familiar with the The Old Black Magic, 1943 music of Johnny Mercer. His songs, with Accentuate The Positive, 1946 their wide range of musical styles, have On The Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe, been heard by millions of people all over 1946 the world on recordings, radio, films, In The Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, 1951 television programs and Broadway shows Something’s Gotta Give, 1955 over the past century. The Facts of Life, 1960 Moon Rover, 1961 Throughout his acclaimed career, Johnny: Days of Wine and Roses, 1962 • Wrote over 1,400 songs Charade, 1963 • Wrote songs for 100 motion pictures. The Sweetheart Tree, 1965 • Won four “Best Song” Academy Awards Whistling Away The Dark, 1970 and was nominated 18 times. Life Is What You Make It, 1971 • Wrote 23 theatrical productions, including Johnny St. Louis Woman and Li’l Abner. Mercer and Henry • Was a top radio personality and Mancini at recording artist. the 1962 • Was the co-founder and President of Oscars Capitol Records. • Nurtured the talent of artists like Margaret Whiting, Jo Stafford, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, and Nat “King” Cole. • Established the Songwriters Hall of Fame with Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. TIMELINE OF EVENTS 1909- Born in Savannah, Georgia, November 18 Late 1920s- Moves to New York City to become CAPITOL RECORDS an actor In 1942, the major record labels (Decca, RCA 1930- Writes first song, “Out of Breath” for and Columbia) were all located on the East Garrick Gaieties Coast and there wasn’t a label of note on the 1931- Marries actress/dancer, Ginger Meehan West Coast. One day, Johnny Mercer and the 1933- Has first hit, “Lazybones” owner of Glenn Wallichs’ Music City store were 1938- With Richard Whiting, writes “Hooray for discussing their displeasure with the current Hollywood” for the film Hollywood Hotel. 1939- state of the recording industry. Johnny felt Co-founds Capitol Records and serves as first president that recording artists were seldom presented 1953- Begins hosting his own show for the at their best, and Glenn voiced his frustration CBS radio network: the Johnny Mercer Show, with the out-dated distribution methods. As broadcast nightly five days a week. a result, Johnny and Glenn reached out to 1962- Back River in Savannah is renamed Buddy DeSylva, songwriter and producer at “Moon River” Paramount Pictures, for financial backing, and 1971- Eighteenth Academy Award nomination with $25,000 a record label was born. for “Life Is What You Make It” written with Marvin Hamlisch 1976- SOURCES: Dies July 25 after complications from The Johnny Mercer Foundation / AllMusic.com brain surgery. CREATIVE TEAM JOE BIGELOW* graduated Indianapolis/Baltimore Symphony Orchestras. Proud from the University-of- CCM grad and AEA Member! Special thanks to Bob Minnesota/Guthrie-Theater and everyone at Florida Rep! Love to DGRW, Mom, B.F.A. Actor Training Dad, and Honey! Program. Previous regional credits include: The Guthrie JAMES DAVID LARSON* Theater (A Midsummer was recently seen in Night’s Dream, My Fair Roundabout Theatre Lady, Roman Holiday, Company’s acclaimed revival H.M.S. Pinafore), New York City Center (CTFD of Into the Woods. And 29th Anniversary Gala), Luna Stage (Thrill Me: The recently seen in the area in Leopold and Loeb Story), Hope Summer Repertory Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Theatre (All Shook Up, Romeo and Juliet, The Light in Luck Be a Lady. National the Piazza), and Black Dirt Theater (Arsenic and Tours / Off-Broadway: Old Lace). Spamalot, The Buddy Holly Story, Atomic, and Bunnicula. New York: TV’s I’d Kill For You episode DAVID EDWARDS* 305 which airs March 12, 2016 on ID: Investigation Broadway: By Jeeves, The Discovery, Julius Caesar (Smith Street Stage,) Pope! Rothschilds. National An Epic Musical (NYMF, 2015,) Gary Goldfarb: Master Escapist (NYMF, 2013,) Are You There, Zeus? Tour: The Producers. Off- It’s Me Electra (Planet Connections Theatre Festivity,) Broadway: last El Gallo in and a national Burlington Coat Factory commercial. the record-breaking run Regional: Oregon Cabaret Theatre (The 25th Annual of The Fantasticks, Room Putnam County Spelling Bee), Smithtown Performing Service, That’s Life, The Arts Center (My Way), Millbrook Playhouse (The Disputation, What’s a Nice Buddy Holly Story, Annie, The 25th Annual Putnam Country Like You…? Zion, Company, What’s That County Spelling Bee, The Odd Couple), Oregon Stage Smell?: The Music of Jacob Sterling, Ionescopade. Works (Little Women, Tales of Fannie Keenan: Better Regional: Man of La Mancha (Quixote), La Cage aux Known as Dora Hand), Mock’s Crest Productions Folles (Albin), Camelot (Arthur), Laughter on the (Ruddigore). www.JamesDavidLarson.com 23rd Floor (Max Prince) The Foreigner (Froggy), A Little Night Music (Fredrik), Irma Vep, Little Me (Star MICHAEL McASSEY* is Ledger Award – Best Musical Actor), Ragtime, 1776, excited to be back at Florida A Few Good Men, and The Cripple of Inishmaan at Rep after appearing in last such theatres as The Ordway, Eugene O’Neill Center, season’s Fascinatin’ Gershwin. Westchester Broadway, Old Globe, Bristol Riverside He made his Broadway Theatre, Portland Stage, Geva, Gateway Playhouse, debut in the ill-fated musical Florida Studio, Orlando Shakespeare and Syracuse Late Night Comic. In New Stage. Film & TV: Belly, The Fantasticks: Try to York he’s worked on and Remember, Meshuggah-Nuns TV Special, The Good Off-Broadway (A Hard Wife.