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. Recordings: cast albums Bittersuite, Kings, and Time to Be Single, Sex Tips solo album David Edwards Giving Voice (available for Modern Girls, In Gay Company & more) and at from ITunes and Amazon). He is also an award- Lincoln Center. He recently co-starred as Herbie in winning director, and directed The Seafarer this Gypsy (with Tony nominee Sally Mayes), Sondheim’s season at Florida Rep. Putting it Together, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, and www.davidedwardsonline.com. as Max Bialystock in three different companies of Mel Brooks’ The Producers. In Chicago, Michael starred JULIE KAVANAGH* is in the hit comedy Shear Madness, co-starred as Banjo thrilled to make her Florida in The Man Who Came to Dinner (with Andre de Rep Debut! National Shields) and as Guy Proclo in Terrence McNally’s The Tour: La Cage Aux Folles. Ritz (with Transparent’s Alexandra Billings). Soap Favorite Regional: The fans may remember Michael as blind pianist-singer Drowsy Chaperone (Janet George Baldwin on CBS-TV’s Guiding Light. He Van De Graff, The Cape appeared with Barbara Cook and Patti LuPone in Playhouse), 42nd Street Paris and toured with Ms. LuPone in her nightclub (Peggy Sawyer, Weston act, The Argentina Turner Revue. An accomplished Playhouse, Merry Go Round, Forestburgh), La Cage conductor & music director (including the shows Aux Folles (Anne, Sacramento Music Circus), Avenue here at Florida Rep), Michael divides his time Q (Kate Monster/Lucy, Theatre Aspen),Annie between onstage and off including conducting the (StarToBe, The Maltz Jupiter Theatre), The Little Broadway National Tours of Avenue Q and Titanic: the Musical. Proud member of Actor’s Equity since Mermaid (Dallas Summer Musicals/TUTS), and 1977 and SAG/AFTRA since 1981. Hairspray, In Concert! (Penny Pingleton) with the www.michaelmcassey.com CREATIVE TEAM SOARA-JOYE ROSS* is a also sings as a guest entertainer for various cruise native New Yorker and a lines and events with Entertainment Central Agency, graduate from The American and has worked as a stunt performer/tuba player Musical & Dramatic for RWS & Associates. BFA Musical Theater/dance Academy and J. Beckson minor from University of Central Florida. Studios in NYC. This Type 1 Divabetic and classically TIM BILLMAN (Set Designer) joined the Florida trained songbird, just Rep family in 2014 as the Technical Director and starred in a world premiere has recently become the Production Manager. musical The First Noel at the Apollo Theater to sold Tim’s scenic design credits include productions for out houses every night. She recently starred in the Blowing Rock Stage Company (NC), Temple Theatre off Broadway musical comedy Disenchanted, as The (NC), Ensemble Stage (NC), Riverside Theatre Princess who Kissed the Frog, and the Gershwin’s (FL), Gardner-Webb University (NC), and the Porgy and Bess National Tour. New York highlights Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival. He has served include: Les Miserablés & Dance of the Vampires on as the Technical Director for the Hayes Center of Broadway, Jerry Springer: The Opera (Carnegie Hall), Performing Arts, Blowing Rock Stage Company, Dessa Rose (Lincoln Center), Single Black Female Troy State University at Montgomery and Riverside (The Duke & Playwrights Horizons), and Cross Theatre. In 2009, Tim was a founding member of That River (2009 NYMF, Award for Outstanding Ensemble Stage, a professional theatre in Blowing Individual Performance). Soara-Joye has multiple Rock, NC, now in its seventh season. Tim also spent regional theatre & touring credits, played the time supervising rigging installation and upgrades Handi-World cashier in feature film, Garden State, for theatres all across North and South America and and in 2013, This Is My Life, Gotta Fly! marked her is a charter member of the Mormish Council. He solo cabaret debut at The Laurie Beechman Theater resides in Fort Myers with his wife Jamie and three in New York. “Much love & gratitude to my mom, children: Brooklyn, Jack, and Bridget. family, friends, my agent Renée & Father God.” www. soara-joye.com ARTHUR D’ALESSIO (Choreographer) is thrilled to be a part of this exciting production. He has worked as RYAN GALLERANI a dancer, actor, and choreographer in the theatre for (Bartender) got his start with the past 36 years. Mr. D’Alessio has done numerous theatre in high school and productions at Florida Repertory Theatre (Company, has been doing it ever since. Dream, Fascinatin’ Gershwin, I Love You, You’re He’s from Greensboro, North Perfect… Now Change, Red, White and Berlin, and A Carolina and graduated Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) and last year with a B.A. in at The Old Schoolhouse Theatre on Sanibel Island Performing Arts from (Take Me To Broadway, Godspell, and The Richard Marshall University. Some Rodgers Songbook). Also on Sanibel: The Pirate of his roles include Hero in A Funny Thing Happened Playhouse (Two By Two and Cole!). On the east coast on the Way to the Forum, Tranio in The Taming of the Mr. D’Alessio choreographed Fascinatin’ Gershwin Shrew, Ernst in Cabaret and Jim/Tom in Clybourne for Florida Stage in Manalapan. Other regional and Park. He spent the summer of 2014 working at New York credits include Bye, Bye Birdie, Grease, the Greenbrier Valley Theatre in Lewisburg, West Anything Goes, Hello Dolly!, Cabaret, You’re A Good Virginia where he acted in such shows as Man of La Man Charlie Brown, Funny Girl, Annie Get Your Gun, Mancha, Lucky Stiff and Stuart Little. He is having a Annie, Peter Pan, Guys And Dolls…just to name great time at Florida Repertory Theatre and is excited a few! to see what the rest of the season has in store for him. GRACIE DOD (Asst. Stage Manager) is a recent KYLE ASHE WILKINSON graduate from Samford University with a Bachelor (Bartender) is thrilled to of Arts in Theatre and a concentration in stage be one of Florida Rep’s five management. While studying at Samford, she stage acting interns this year, managed many shows including Macbeth, The appearing in Becky’s New Car Wizard of Oz, and Moon Over Buffalo. Over the past (Chris) and Too Marvelous two summers, Gracie has worked with The Berkshire For Words: A Salute to Theatre Group in Massachusetts where she worked Johnny Mercer. By day, he on shows such as Mary Poppins, Cedars, Seussical, and his fellow interns are and A Hatful of Rain. She also stage managed Shrek touring local schools, performing A Year With Frog and The Little Mermaid in her hometown at Suwanee and Toad (Snail, Man Bird, Father Frog, Lizard) and Academy of the Arts. Gracie would like to thank her The Red Badge of Courage (Jim). Other professional friends, family, and her new and amazing Florida theatre credits: Tarzan (Ensemble), Joseph... Rep family. Dreamcoat (Asher), and All Shook Up (Dean). He CREATIVE TEAM

JOHN KISELICA (Sound Designer) is a graduate of TODD O. WREN***† (Lighting Designer) is delighted West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Fine to participate in Florida Rep’s continued growth as Arts Degree in Lighting and Sound Design. He an ensemble member. A special thanks goes to you, recently worked on the national tour, Buddy: The the audience, for your support. Todd’s theatrical Buddy Holly Musical as the Master Electrician after credits include: Goodspeed Musicals, Cleveland a contract with Royal Caribbean International as Playhouse, People’s Light and Opera Company, a Stage Technician. Commercial theatrical work The Royal Manitoba Theatre Center, Merrimack includes installing Prodigy Hoists, an automated Repertory, Barter Theatre, Tennessee Repertory, rigging system from Electronic Theatre Controls. John F. Kennedy Center, Coconut Grove Playhouse, John spends his summers in Lynchburg, VA as the Charlotte Repertory, North Carolina Shakespeare resident Sound & Lighting Designer with Endstation Festival, Town and Gown Theatre, Casa Manana, and Theatre Company. He is extremely excited to be back Flat Rock Playhouse. Todd is a member of United at Florida Rep for his second season Scenic Artists, New York Local #829.

AMY MASSARI*†(Production Stage Manager) is ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA) pleased to be returning for her seventh season as was founded in 1913 as the first of the Florida Rep’s resident stage manager and ensemble American Actor unions. Equity’s mission member. Amy has been a proud member of Actor’s is to advance, promote and foster the art Equity Association for the past 26 years, working of theatre as an essential component of our society. in some of the country’s finest regional theatres: the Today, Equity represents more than 40,000 actors, Alley Theatre (Houston, TX), the Dallas Theatre singers, dancers and stage managers working in Center (Dallas, TX), Stage-West (Springfield, MA), hundreds of theatres across the United States. Equity the Pioneer Memorial (Salt Lake City, UT), and members are dedicated to working in the theatre as a the Colorado Shakespeare Festival (Boulder, CO). profession, upholding the highest artistic standards. Among her favorite Florida Rep productions are Split Equity negotiates wages and working conditions and In Three, The Fantasticks, Lend Me a Tenor, August: provides a wide range of benefits including health Osage County, Sylvia, and God of Carnage. Amy has and pension plans for its members. Through its been happily married to her husband of 19 years, agreement with Equity, this theatre has committed to Michael. Michael is a terrific partner and father to the fair treatment of the actors and stage managers their children Jesse Cheyenne and Caleb Dakota. employed in this production. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an DINA PEREZ*** (Costume Designer) international organization of performing arts unions. is a freelance For more information, visit www.actorsequity.org. costume designer in the greater New York City area, as well as regionally throughout the United FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL THEATRES States. This year she is also Visiting Costume Faculty ASSOCIATION (FPTA) is a statewide at University of North Carolina School of the organization of professional theatre Arts. Recently, she received the Robert L.B. Tobin companies and theatre professionals Director-Designer Showcase grant sponsored by interested in the development and promotion of OPERA America, for her team’s project proposal professional theatre throughout Florida. Florida for The Cradle Will Rock. Costume design credits Repertory Theatre is a proud FPTA member theatre. include: Triassic Parq: The Musical (Off-Broadway), Around the World in 80 Days (Florida Repertory THE NATIONAL NEW PLAY Theatre), The Foreigner and The Comedy of Errors NETWORK is the country’s alliance (Texas Shakespeare Festival), The Bikinis (Broadway of nonprofit theaters that champions Rose Theatre Company), These Shining Lives (Curtain the development, production, and continued Call Theatre), Cosi fan tutte (A.J. Fletcher Opera life of new plays. The NNPN strives to pioneer, Institute), and Super Claudio Bros. (Best Musical DC implement, and disseminate ideas and programs that Fringe ’10). In 2011, she received the A.J. Fletcher revolutionize the way theaters collaborate to support Opera Institute Fellowship in Costume Design, and new plays and playwrights. Florida Repertory her designs for Il Mondo della Luna were included Theatre is proud to be an Associate Member of the in the Prague Quadrennial USA Student Exhibit. National New Play Network. Special thank you to Murdock for constant love and support! Florida Repertory Theatre is a member of THEATRE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP (TCG), the national organization for the SPECIAL THANKS American Theatre. Additional vocal arrangements by Josh D. Smith Flowers Donated by Ruth Messmer Florist Haley Ondrejka and Dillion Everett