SEGERSTROM STAGE / NOVEMBER 26 THROUGH DECEMBER 24, 2005

David Emmes Martin Benson PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR presents CHARLES DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL adapted by JERRY PATCH

SCENIC DESIGN COSTUME DESIGN LIGHTING DESIGN Thomas Buderwitz Dwight Richard Odle Donna and Tom Ruzika

MUSIC ARRANGEMENT/COMPOSER SOUND DESIGN VOCAL DIRECTOR CHOREOGRAPHER Dennis McCarthy Drew Dalzell Dennis Castellano Linda Kostalik

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR PRODUCTION MANAGER STAGE MANAGER David Leavenworth Erin Nelson*

DIRECTED BY JOHN-DAVID KELLER

Paul, Daranne and Courtney Folino Bank of America HONORARY PRODUCERS CORPORATE PRODUCER

A Christmas Carol • P1 CAST OF CHARACTERS (In order of appearance)

LENA, a vendor of second-hand goods ...... *Madison Dunaway JOE, a cider salesman and a receiver of stolen goods ...... *Art Koustik TOY LADY ...... *Hisa Takakuwa PUPPETEER ...... Joshua Campbell UNDERTAKER ...... *Travis Vaden CHIMNEY SWEEP ...... *Timothy Landfield ELIZABETH SHELLEY ...... Sara Bashor THOMAS SHELLEY, a vendor of second-hand goods ...... Michael Irish OLIVER SHELLEY ...... Zach Martin, ▲Matt Cardoza EBENEZER SCROOGE, a grasping covetous old man ...... *Hal Landon Jr. RICH WOMAN ...... *Jennifer Parsons GIRL ABOUT TOWN ...... Rachel Teague, ▲Lauren Buangan TEEN GIRL ABOUT TOWN ...... Cheryl Robinson, ▲Mandy Shold CONSTABLE ...... Cyrus Alexander BOB CRATCHIT, clerk to Scrooge ...... *Daniel Blinkoff FRED, nephew to Ebenezer ...... *Howard Shangraw SOLICITORS ...... *Richard Doyle, *Martha McFarland WREATH SELLER ...... Cyrus Alexander JACOB MARLEY’S GHOST, a spectre of Ebenezer’s former partner in business ...... *Don Took THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PAST, a phantom showing things past ...... *Richard Doyle EBENEZER AS A BOY ...... Zach Martin, ▲Matt Cardoza FAN, the sister of Ebenezer ...... Sara Bashor MRS. FEZZIWIG ...... *Martha McFarland MR. FEZZIWIG, a kind hearted, jovial old merchant ...... *John-David Keller JACOB MARLEY AS A YOUNG MAN ...... Cyrus Alexander EBENEZER AS A YOUNG MAN ...... *Travis Vaden BELLE, an old sweetheart of Ebenezer ...... *Madison Dunaway THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT, a spirit of a kind, earthy and generous nature ...... *Timothy Landfield “TINY” TIM CRATCHIT ...... Edward Swanson, ▲Elisabeth Smith MRS. CRATCHIT ...... *Jennifer Parsons BELINDA CRATCHIT ...... Alexandra Mullin, ▲Alexandra McCue PETER CRATCHIT ...... Chas Hume, ▲Will Peterson MARTHA CRATCHIT ...... Megan Blanco, ▲Chloe Mercado MR. TOPPER, a bachelor ...... Joshua Campbell PURSUED MAIDEN ...... Sara Bashor SALLY, the wife of Fred ...... *Hisa Takakuwa THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS YET-TO-COME, an apparition showing the shadows of things which may yet happen ...... *Don Took WANT ...... Rachel Teague, ▲Lauren Buangan IGNORANCE ...... Zach Martin, ▲Matt Cardoza GENTLEMEN ON THE STREET ...... *Richard Doyle, *John-David Keller, *Howard Shangraw THE SCAVENGERS ...... *Martha McFarland, *Hisa Takakuwa, *Madison Dunaway BOY ON THE STREET ...... Akshay Sharma, ▲Joel Wagner POULTERER ...... Cyrus Alexander

Please Note: Children’s roles are double cast. Actors with ▲ appear Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon. Others appear in balance of performances.

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

P2 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • A Christmas Carol SETTING 19th Century London

LENGTH Approximately two hours, including one 15-minute intermission

PRODUCTION STAFF Assistant Stage Manager ...... *Chrissy Church Casting Director ...... Joanne DeNaut Stage Management Intern ...... Kris Kelley Deck Crew ...... Chris Deckner, Jeff Ham, Robert Harrison, Bobby Weeks Follow Spot Operators ...... Julie Farris, Deanna Keefe Child Wrangler ...... Lisa Ackerman Dresser ...... Stacey Nezda Costume Shop Assistants ...... Lauren Jess Brown, Bronwen Burton, Catherine Esera, Peg Oquist, Amanda Seymour Costume Design Assistant ...... Merilee Ford

Cellular phones, beepers and watch alarms should be turned off or set to non-audible mode during the performance. Please refrain from unwrapping candy or making other noises that may disturb surrounding patrons.

The use of cameras and recorders in the theatre is prohibited. Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the theatre.

Media Partner Official Airline Media Partner

A Christmas Carol •SOUTH COAST REPERTORY P3 How We Keep Christmas

BY JERRY PATCH of the period clothing each year. Tom and Donna Ruzi- ka, who did the lighting design for the first production, his year’s revival of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas are doing the 26th. Our senior technician, Jon Carol is SCR’s 26th staging of the play. With each Lagerquist, has done technical direction since 1985. Trenewal it has become more of a tradition both And though the sound design has changed, ele- for this theatre and for Orange County. And, as with ments of the first one, a glorious collection of music of any tradition, it changes and it stays the same. the season beautifully woven through the production by Since we began, Hal Landon Jr. has played Stephen Shaffer, remain. A terrific sound designer who Ebenezer Scrooge, and John-David Keller has been our years ago died suddenly and young, Steve lingers in director. SCR founding members Richard Doyle, Art music and memory for those of us who knew him. Koustik, Martha McFarland and Don Took have reprised While so many of the original contributors and ele- their parts in virtually every season. ments have stayed, the show has advanced from our first John Ellington, who played Bob Cratchit for nearly 1980 production into a genuine treasure. The artists in- 20 years, is now the Rev. Dr. John Ellington, pastor of volved and their performances have grown as they built Los Alamitos Congregational Church. David Whalen re- distinguished careers in the theatre. Each year they placed him for several seasons, returned east with his search for a better way, a search enriched by years of family and took up the role of Bob at Hartford Stage. craft and invention. It’s a great story we’re telling, one Daniel Blinkoff, a protean actor in recent SCR shows, is we don’t take lightly. our current Cratchit. We’ve been a family. We’ve added and subtracted Noreen Hennessey, Marilyn Fox, and Devon Ray- from our core—like any family—for 26 years. We gather mond all spent years in their turns as Mrs. Cratchit. This annually in November to do our work—better than year Jennifer Parsons, a long-term member of SCR’s cre- we’ve ever done it, we hope. New folks are made kin ative family, returns for her second run in the role. by our veterans; the veterans are invigorated by the The actors in the younger roles have changed newcomers. By December we’ve recreated our clan more frequently because they outgrow them (save for (and our show) anew. our ageless Fred: Howard Shangraw). And the children But we’re not complete until joined by our greater change every year, but they almost always come from family: our audiences. There are a few people who SCR’s Young Conservatory program, which supplies im- have seen the show every year since 1980. And second- portant new generations to our ever-evolving family. and third-generation offspring of those first audiences Cliff Faulkner’s original design has been augment- have now taken up the tradition. SCR’s A Christmas ed and rejuvenated annually—this year, for example, Fred will entertain his guests in a new home—but the Ebenezer Scrooge (Hal Landon Jr.) is visited by his essential spirit of it remains. Original costumer Dwight nephew Fred (Howard Shangraw), left. Scrooge is visited by the Spirit of Christmas Past (Richard Doyle), center and Richard Odle oversees the redesigning or enhancement Marley’s ghost (Don Took), right.

P4 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • A Christmas Carol Other Voices at Christmas “Avarice and happiness never saw “I believe in Michelangelo, Velasquez, each other, how then should they be- and Rembrandt: in the might of de- come acquainted?” sign, the mystery of color, the re- – Benjamin Franklin, demption of all things by beauty ev- Poor Richard’s Almanac, 1734 erlasting and the message of Art that has made these hands blessed.” “Remorse is memory awake.” – George Bernard Shaw – Emily Dickenson, Bob Cratchit (Daniel Blinkoff) and Poems, Pt. I, No.69 Tiny Tim (Mason Acevedo) collect gifts, above. Below, Joe (Art “Create in me a clean heart, O God: Koustik) and Lena (Madison Dun- “Why should I sorrow for what was and renew a right spirit within me.” away) barter for stolen goods. pain? A cherished grief is an iron – Psalms 51:10 chain.” Carol has endured here because it – Stephen Vincent Benet, brings families together. We are re- King David “Dickens was a mythologist rather minded to celebrate the season and than a novelist; he was the last of the to consider together Ebenezer “I dreamt the past was never past mythologists, and perhaps the great- Scrooge’s redemption, and how, to redeeming; est. He did not always manage to some degree, each year it should be But whether this was false or honest make his characters men, but he al- our own. dreaming ways managed, at the least, to make Human mortality pervades A I beg death’s pardon now. And them gods.” Christmas Carol. The deaths of Mar- mourn the dead.” – G.K. Chesterson 1906 ley and Fan, the Ghosts, and the – Richard Wilbur, The Pardon possible passing of Tiny Tim further darken the suffering of the poor and “The people that walked in darkness Malcolm Kushner relates the story of the Cratchits’ lean Christmas. These have seen a great light: They that a man who chaired the charity com- are the shadows to be dispelled by dwell in the land of the shadow of mittee of his local hospital. He re- the light of love and the season’s death, upon them hath the light viewed all the fund-raising records, spirit in Dickens’ classic. shined.” – Isaiah, 9:2 and he discovered that the richest The value of love, life and person in town had never made a do- family is heightened by the fact that “At Christmas I no more desire a rose nation. So he went to visit him. He they don’t last forever. It is the Than wish a snow in May’s said, “Our records show that you’re equation Scrooge comes to know, new-fangled mirth; the richest person in town, but you’ve and one our family appreciates again But like each thing that in season never contributed to the hospital.” each year. grows.” And the rich man said, “Do your – Shakespeare, records also show that my widowed Love’s Labour’s Lost mother was left absolutely destitute? Do they show that my brother is to- “Dickens is a terrible writer. In the tally disabled? Do they show that my original, Scrooge was mean and sister was abandoned with four stingy, but you never know why. young children?” By now the chair- We’re giving him a mother and father, person felt really ashamed. He said, an unhappy childhood, a whole “Well no, our records don’t show background which will motivate that.” And the rich man said, “Well, I him.” don’t do anything for them, so why – President of Screen Gems, 1968 should I do anything for you?”

A Christmas Carol •SOUTH COAST REPERTORY P5 A Miser’s Miser h! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which Ono steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didn’t thaw it one degree at Christmas. External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. Foul weather didn’t know where to have him. The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. They often “Came down” hand- somely, and Scrooge never did. Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with glad- some looks, “My dear Scrooge, how are you? When will you come to see me?” No beggars implored him to bestow a tri- fle, no children asked him what it was o’clock, no man or John-David Keller, Martha McFarland and Hal Landon Jr. woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge. Even the blindmen’s dogs appeared to know him; and when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; and then would wag their tails as though they said, “No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!” But what did Scrooge care! It was the very thing he liked. To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance, was what the knowing ones call “nuts” to Scrooge. – Excerpted from A Christmas Carol

P6 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • A Christmas Carol Who was Charles Dickens? He was a sympathizer with the poor, the suffering and 1837, with the birth of his first son, Charles Jr., came the oppressed; and by his death, one of England’s great- Oliver Twist. In 1838, with the arrival of Mary, est writers is lost to the world. Nicholas Nickleby was begun. In 1843, just prior to the Inscription on Dickens’ tombstone at Poet’s Corner, birth of Francis Jeffrey, A Christmas Carol was created. Westminster Abbey The first of his Christmas books, A Christmas Carol quickly became a fa- he eldest son of John vorite of the people. It would be and Elizabeth Dickens, followed by The Chimes, TCharles Huffman Dick- Dombey and Son and Christ- ens was born in Landport mas Stories. (now part of Shortly after the Portsmouth), England, publication of A February 7, 1812. In Christmas Carol, 1824, he was given Dickens moved his his first position in family from their business in the London home to employ of War- settle, briefly, in ren’s Blacking Genoa, Italy, Factory, and later moved Chatham. For on to Switzer- six months, the land and Paris. young Dickens During these adhered labels years away to containers of from London, blacking, and his best known perhaps un- works included knowingly, col- Cricket on the lected material Hearth, The Bat- for what would tle of Life and the become world fa- first installments of mous portrayals of David Copperfield. Victorian England’s Once again working class. back in England, At 15, he entered Dickens would spend the professions, taking a his later years creating position as clerk at Ellis and some of his most interna- Blackmore, attorneys. In be- tionally acclaimed works. tween his clerking and evening These include Bleak House shorthand lessons, he wooed his first (1859), A Tale of Two Cities (1859) love, Maria Beadnell, a flirtatious young and Great Expectations (1861). In 1870, lady whose deep impressions on Dickens would be re- the first installment of The Mystery of Edwin Drood was flected in Little Dorrit, written nearly 30 years after published, and the author made his last public appear- their courtship. Forsaking Miss Beadnell, in 1836 he ance. He died in his home at Gad’s Hill Place on June met and married Catherine Hogarth, who would bear 9, 1870. him ten children, and began the publication of The Pickwick Papers. Engraving of Charles Dickens from A Portrait Gallery of With the birth year of nearly each of his children Eminent Men and Women of Europe and America, with Bi- came the writing or publication of a major work. In ographies, by Evert A. Duykinck.

A Christmas Carol •SOUTH COAST REPERTORY P7 DANIEL BLINKOFF RICHARD DOYLE MADISON DUNAWAY Bob Cratchit Solicitor/Spirit/Gentleman Lena/Belle/Scavenger Artist Biographies

*DANIEL BLINKOFF (Bob Cratchit) re- sons.” Mr. Blinkoff received his MFA Drama Critics Circle Award nomina- turns for a third year in A Christmas from the Yale School of Drama and is tion. He won an LADCC Award for Carol. He appeared at SCR previous- a founding member of Yale Cabaret his role in Sally Nemeth’s Holy Days ly in Pinocchio, The Intelligent De- Blue in . and was nominated for his role as sign of Jenny Chow, Major Barbara Reverend Hale in The Crucible. (Robby Award nomination – Best *RICHARD DOYLE (Solicitor/Spirit of “Cheers” fans will remember him as Supporting Actor), The School for Christmas Past/Gentleman) is an SCR Woody’s snooty father-in-law Walter Wives and Nostalgia. Other theatre Founding Artist. He appeared earlier Gaines. Other film and television credits include The Imaginary In- this season in Born Yesterday and credits include Air Force One, “NYPD valid and A Kiss for Cinderella at The The Caucasian Chalk Circle, last sea- Blue,” “Sisters,” movies of the week, Cleveland Play House, A Christmas son in Habeas Corpus and as Eddie “The Practice” and guest star appear- Carol at McCarter Theatre, Are We in A View from the Bridge; and the ances on “The Pretender” and “The There Yet? at Williamstown Theatre previous season in Intimate Ex- Lot.” He is a voice-over actor in ani- Festival, Stepping Out with Mr. changes, The Last Night of Ballyhoo mation, CD ROMS, television, radio Markham at Ensemble Studio Theatre and A Christmas Carol. Additional commercials and documentaries, in- in New York, The Summer in Gossen- appearances include the world pre- cluding the Emmy-winning series The sass (Maria Irene Fornes, director) at mieres of The Beard of Avon, On the Living Edens and Impressions of Cali- Theatre Row, Dinosaur Dreams and Jump (Robby Award), But Not for Me, fornia. He also narrates the Green The Last 60 of 99 at New York Stage BAFO, The Interrogation of Nathan and Green “Art-in-Architecture” docu- and Film, The Beaux Strategem and Hale, She Stoops to Folly, Wit, Hospi- mentary. Mr. Doyle currently plays Twelfth Night at Yale Repertory The- tality Suite and Highest Standard of the villain Enoch on Cartoon Net- atre, as well as the title role in Lean- Living. Other credits include Rela- work’s Benten. der Stillwell at Stage Left (Joseph Jef- tively Speaking, Proof, Major Bar- ferson Award – Best Ensemble) and bara, Much Ado about Nothing, A *MADISON DUNAWAY (Lena/ Flesh and Blood at Chicago’s Baili- Delicate Balance, Of Mice and Men, Belle/Scavenger) returns to SCR to wick Theatre (Joseph Jefferson Nomi- Ah, Wilderness!, What the Butler Saw, join the delightful cast of A Christmas nation – Best Actor). His film and Pygmalion, Six Degrees of Separation, Carol for a second year. She made television credits include Rockabye, Arms and the Man, The Cherry Or- her debut on the Segerstrom Stage as With Honors, Wally’s Walk, Crossing chard, Waiting for Godot, Our Coun- young Abigail in the premiere of the Bridge, “Charmed,” “NYPD Blue,” try’s Good and Intimate Exchanges, Amy Freed’s Safe in Hell. Her the- “Law and Order” and “Missing Per- for which he earned a Los Angeles atre credits include Annelle in Steel

P8 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • A Christmas Carol JOHN-DAVID KELLER ART KOUSTIK TIMOTHY LANDFIELD Mr. Fezziwig/Gentleman Joe/Ensemble Spirit of Christmas Present

Magnolias, Agnes in Agnes of God years, and this year will direct Eure- cible, Prelude to a Kiss, Glengarry (LADCC winner for Lead Actress, ka!, which will begin touring in Jan- Glen Ross, Galileo, The Foreigner, Ovation Award Nomination - Lead uary 2006. Among his other SCR di- Rum and Coke, The Show-Off, Saint Actress, Robby Award Nomination - recting credits are Godspell, Jacques Joan, Playboy of the Western World, Lead Actress), Helen in Machinal, Brel, In Fashion, The Real Inspector The Seagull, Coming Attractions, Juliet in Measure for Measure, Erin in Hound (SCR’s first Equity show), Peg American Buffalo, The Elephant the world premiere of Robert O’ My Heart and Tomfoolery, to name Man, Anything Goes, Time Was, Time Vaughn’s Praying for Rain (Denver a few. He has also acted in over 100 of Your Life, Comedians, Rubbers, Critic’s Circle Award Nomination - plays at SCR. He has been the con- That Championship Season and The Best Production), Laura in The Glass cert host for the fifth grade concerts Last Meeting of the Knights of the Menagerie, Deirdre in I Hate Hamlet, for the Orange County Philharmonic White Magnolia and most annual Phoebe in As You Like It, Margaret in Society for 19 years. He has per- productions of A Christmas Carol. Little Women, Janie in Quilters, formed with the National Symphony Outside SCR, he has been in Any- Gladys in By the Skin of Our Teeth, Orchestra and the Sydney Philhar- thing Goes, Chapter Two, Guys and and Beatrice in Much Ado about monic. He was part of the Sundance Dolls, Brigadoon, numerous commer- Nothing. Current film and television Playwrights Festival for ten years. He cials, and film and television such as credits include Princess Diaries 2, tries to stay busy. He is currently La Bamba, “Valerie,” “Hill Street One Minute Soap Operas, Think working towards a cure for ennui. Blues,” “Moonlighting,” “Golden Again, Flowers, Carry On, August, Girls,” “Dallas” and “The Young and Heart of the Possible, and The Drum- *ART KOUSTIK (Joe/Ensemble) is an the Restless.” “With my wife Peggy, I mer. SCR Founding Artist who has ap- am at last a happy man. As the years peared in scores of productions, in- go by I am more aware how impor- *JOHN-DAVID KELLER (Mr. Fezzi- cluding Much Ado about Nothing, tant faith, family and friends are. wig/Gentleman) is a member of SCR’s The Hollow Lands, Of Mice and Men, ‘God bless us, everyone.’” resident acting company. He has Tartuffe, Ah, Wilderness! and Pyg- been with the company since 1973 malion. He also appeared in BAFO, *TIMOTHY LANDFIELD (Spirit of working as both an actor and direc- Six Degrees of Separation, She Stoops Christmas Present) is delighted to re- tor. Most recently he directed SCR’s to Folly, The Taming of the Shrew, turn to SCR, where he was previously Theatre for Young Audiences Series The Cherry Orchard, The Misan- seen in Pinocchio, The Clean House, productions of Pinocchio and The thrope, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Norman Conquests: Round and Emperor’s New Clothes and acted in Loot, Lettice & Lovage, The Man Who Round the Garden and Hay Fever. The Wind in the Willows. Later this Came to Dinner, The Miser, Shadow- He recently appeared in A Midsum- year he will direct The Adventures of lands and Hospitality Suite. His mer Night’s Dream at the Hollywood Pør Quinly. He has directed A other appearances include The Bowl with the LA Philharmonic, The Christmas Carol for its entire 26-year Philadelphia Story, Twelfth Night, A Miser at A Noise Within and in the history. He has directed SCR’s Edu- Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Chorus Broadway revivals of Company and cational Touring Productions for 32 of Disapproval, Hard Times, The Cru- The Sound of Music. He also ap-

A Christmas Carol •SOUTH COAST REPERTORY P9 HAL LANDON JR. MARTHA MCFARLAND JENNIFER PARSONS Ebenezer Scrooge Mrs. Fezziwig/Solicitor Mrs. Cratchit

peared opposite his Hay Fever co-star Frankie Married—and Afterwards, as Montfleury and Mother Marquèrite Kandis Chappell in The Guardsman The School for Wives, Much Ado de Jèsus in Cyrano de Bergerac at the Huntington Theatre in Boston. about Nothing, Entertaining Mr. (where, for the first time in her ca- Mr. Landfield appeared on Broadway Sloane, The Hollow Lands, True West, reer, she played a man), as the Host in Rumors, Arsenic and Old Lace, Play Strindberg, Tartuffe and Ah, in Two Gentlemen of Verona, as Mrs. Wild Honey, The Crucifer of Blood Wilderness! Other credits include Baines in Major Barbara, Georgette and Tartuffe. Off-Broadway, he was Arcadia, Our Town, Sidney Bechet in The School for Wives, Ursula in in the original production of Sister Killed a Man, BAFO, Six Degrees of Much Ado about Nothing, Mom in Mary Ignatius and The Actor’s Night- Separation, An Ideal Husband, A True West, Alice in Play Strindberg mare as well as the musical Charlotte Mess of Plays by Chris Durang, The and reprised her role as Norah in Ah, Sweet. Television and film credits in- Things You Don’t Know, Faith Wilderness! Other roles at SCR in- clude “Six Feet Under,” “Without a Healer, Ghost in the Machine, Green clude appearances in Our Town, Trace,” “Monk,” “Frasier,” “Boston Icebergs, Morning’s at Seven, Danc- Pygmalion, Private Lives, An Ideal Public,” “C.S.I.,” “Family Law” and ing at Lughnasa, The Miser, Our Husband, as Dr. Charlotte Wallace in “Law and Order” and The Cooler with Country’s Good and Waiting for Beyond Therapy and as part of the William H. Macy and Alec Baldwin. Godot. He created the role of Drama-Logue Award-winning ensem- Mr. Landfield has played major roles Ebenezer Scrooge in SCR’s A Christ- bles of Tomfoolery and Side by Side in regional theatres across the coun- mas Carol, and has performed it in by Sondheim. She also appeared as try including Phileas Fogg in 80 Days all 26 annual productions. He ap- Pope Joan and Louise in both the at in San Diego. peared in Leander Stillwell at the SCR and Westwood Playhouse en- He is on the faculty at The American Mark Taper Forum and in Henry V at gagements of Top Girls. She has ap- Academy of Dramatic Arts in Holly- The Old Globe in San Diego. Other peared in 20 of the 26 productions of wood. While in Africa filming Dis- resident theatre roles include Salieri A Christmas Carol, having missed the ney’s Cheetah, Mr. Landfield met his in Amadeus, Malvolio in Twelfth first year when she was on a U.S. wife, actress Breon Gorman. They Night and Gordon Miller in Room tour with James Mason in A Partridge have two angels, Miranda and Bian- Service. Among his film credits are in a Pear Tree. Ms. McFarland is also ca. Trespass, Pacific Heights, Almost an a director, having staged Sly Fox and Angel, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Ad- The Foreigner at the Laguna Play- *HAL LANDON JR. (Ebenezer venture and Playing by Heart. house, Top Girls at UCI and the Scrooge) is an SCR Founding Artist world premiere of City with the Cir- who recently appeared in Born Yes- *MARTHA McFARLAND (Mrs. Fezzi- cle X Company in Los Angeles. She terday, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, wig/Solicitor) is an SCR Founding is a teacher with the SCR Theatre A View from the Bridge, Habeas Cor- Artist who served as the theatre’s Conservatory’s Professional Intensive pus, Cyrano de Bergerac, Safe in Hell, Casting Director for 11 years. Most Program and privately in the L.A./Or- Antigone, The Drawer Boy (LADCC recently she appeared in the ensem- ange County area. Ms. McFarland is Award nomination), Two Gentlemen ble of The Caucasian Chalk Circle, as also a popular voice-over artist, a of Verona, Major Barbara, Getting Mrs. Lipari in A View from the Bridge, published poet and the Southern Cal-

P10 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • A Christmas Carol HOWARD SHANGRAW HISA TAKAKUWA DON TOOK Fred/Gentleman Toy Lady/Sally/Scavenger Marley/Spirit of Christmas Yet-To-Come ifornia Casting Director with the Ore- *HOWARD SHANGRAW (Fred/Gen- *HISA TAKAKUWA (Toy Lady/ gon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. tleman) returns to his role as Fred in Sally/Scavenger) returns for the 14th A Christmas Carol. He was seen in time in A Christmas Carol. Ms. *JENNIFER PARSONS (Mrs. Cratchit) the Mark Taper Forum’s production of Takakuwa also appeared at SCR in returns for a second year in A Christ- Arcadia and Travels with My Aunt at The Man Who Came to Dinner and 13 mas Carol. She most recently ap- the Laguna Playhouse. His SCR cred- Educational Touring Productions in- peared at SCR in Bunnicula and its include Mrs. Gorf, Mr. Gorf, Miss cluding The Pride of Weedpatch both the Pacific Playwrights Festival Vallosh, Mr. Pickle, Ms. Zarves and of Camp, Bad Water Blues, Face2Face, reading and Segerstrom Stage pro- course the Cow in Sideways Stories My Mom’s Dad and Indian Summer. duction of Getting Frankie Married— from Wayside School; Algernon in The Other acting credits include Masha in and Afterwards. She also appeared Importance of Being Earnest; Russell The Seagull, Agnes in The School for in Cyrano de Bergerac, Our Town, in Loose Ends; Lonnie in Coming At- Wives and Emily in Our Town at A She Stoops to Folly, The Importance of tractions; and as young Ebenezer in A Noise Within; Hero in Much Ado Being Earnest and Buried Child. Christmas Carol, a role he created in about Nothing at the Grove Shake- Other stage credits include How I 1980. He also appeared in SCR’s A speare Festival; the Playwright’s Lab Learned to Drive at San Diego Reper- Mess of Plays by Chris Durang, Wild at the Sundance Institute; the inaugu- tory and Talley’s Folly at ICT in Long Oats, The Contractor, The Time of ral season of the Sundance Children’s Beach. In New York she appeared Your Life and The Sorrows of Freder- Theatre; and Romeo and Juliet at the on Broadway and Off-Broadway in ick. He will also be remembered for Indiana Repertory Theatre. Ms. Quilters, Steel Magnolias, Smoke on his performances as Mick Conner in Takakuwa is a Resident Artist at the the Mountain, Native Speech and Un- Comedians, Androgyno in Volpone classical theatre company A Noise changing Love. Other regional the- and Lonnie Roy McNeil in The Last Within. She is also a director, having atre credits span from the Mark Meeting of the Knights of the White directed SCR’s Junior Players produc- Taper Forum, Denver Center, Magnolia. Mr. Shangraw played tion of The Trials of Alice in Wonder- Kennedy Center, Chicago’s Royal Madame Nash in the Mark Taper land. Other recent productions in- George to The Abbey (Ireland). Forum’s Romance Language, C.A. clude Twelfth Night and Henry V at Among her most current television Rolander in the Odyssey Theatre’s In Actors Co-op in Hollywood. She is appearances are guest star roles on the Matter of J. Robert Oppenheimer, currently serving as the Director of “The OC,” “Judging Amy,” “JAG,” Aubrey Piper in the Gem Theatre’s SCR’s Theatre Conservatory. She “The West Wing,” “For the People,” production of The Show-Off and Nor- holds a BA from Smith College and “Philly” (recurring), “NYPD Blue,” man in The Dresser at Santa Barbara’s an MFA from the California Institute “The X-Files” and “The Jersey” (re- Garvin Theatre. His television ap- of the Arts. curring). Film credits include Drag- pearances include “Frasier,” “Chicken onfly, Never Been Kissed and Self Soup for the Soul” and “Star Trek: *DON TOOK (Marley/Spirit of Christ- Medicated. She is also a company Deep Space Nine.” He is currently mas Yet-to-Come) is an SCR Founding member at Theatre 40 where she has Head of Acting Studies at Idyllwild Artist who recently appeared in Cyra- done a whole mess of plays. Arts Academy in Idyllwild, California. no de Bergerac, Safe in Hell, Two

A Christmas Carol •SOUTH COAST REPERTORY P11 and the Boys. He played in Twelfth for McCoy Rigby Entertainment at the Night and Most Happy Fella at Actors La Mirada Theatre, Jack Fletcher’s Co-op and worked with Cornerstone productions of A Midsummer Night’s Theater on Reflecting Back. He is a Dream for the PCPA Theaterfest and graduate of the American Academy of the Westwood Playhouse, Sunday in Dramatic Arts and SCR’s Professional the Park with George for the West Conservatory. Coast Ensemble, Dinah Was! for the International City Theatre and a PLAYWRIGHT, DIRECTOR dozen productions for A Noise With- & DESIGNERS in. Regional credits include designs for The Grove Shakespeare Festival, JERRY PATCH (Adapter) was affiliated San Diego Repertory, Portland Reper- with South Coast Repertory from tory, Denver Center Theatre Compa- 1967-2005. He served as dramaturg ny, Arizona Theatre Company, Acting on nearly 150 new plays seen and de- Company of Riverside (FL) and Chica- veloped at SCR, including the world go’s Apollo Theatre. Mr. Buderwitz’s

TRAVIS VADEN premieres of Abundance, Freedom- current and recent television designs Undertaker/Young Ebenezer land, Golden Child, Intimate Apparel, include: “Sunday Morning Shootout” Search and Destroy and Wit. His dra- for AMC; “Fight Science” for National matic writing has been produced at Geographic; “Spying on Myself” for Gentlemen of Verona, The School for SCR and other theatres, and on televi- A&E; and “Mr. Show,” “Def Comedy Wives, The Beard of Avon, Much Ado sion. He was project director of Jam,” “Sketch Pad” and “HBO Come- About Nothing and The Countess. In SCR’s Pacific Playwrights Festival from dy Hour” for HBO. previous seasons, he was seen in The its inception in 1998 through 2005, Hollow Lands, The Philanderer, Play and for seven years was Artistic Di- DWIGHT RICHARD ODLE (Costume Strindberg, Tartuffe, Ah, Wilderness!, rector of the theatre program of the Design) has dressed SCR’s A Christ- Pygmalion, Our Town, Arcadia, Sundance Institute. He was Professor mas Carol annually since 1980. BAFO (for which he won a Drama- of Theatre and Film at Long Beach Over 21 seasons at SCR, working in Logue Award), She Stoops to Folly, City College and taught at UCI, both scenery and costumes, he de- Three Viewings, A Streetcar Named UCSD, CSULB and other institutions. signed nearly 90 productions includ- Desire, The Misanthrope and Ptero- He is consulting dramaturg for the ing many Young Conservatory and dactyls. He also appeared in the Roundabout Theatre Company in Educational Touring Productions. world premiere of Hospitality Suite New York, and now serves as Resi- Currently in his eleventh season as and the revival of The Philadelphia dent Artistic Director of The Old resident scenic and costume designer Story. Mr. Took is proud to be an Globe in San Diego. for the Laguna Playhouse, he most re- SCR Founding Artist with 40 years of cently designed Bad Dates and the experience in a wide variety of roles. *JOHN-DAVID KELLER (Director) See American premiere of Bernard Far- He enjoyed playing the role of Greg biography on page P9. rell’s Many Happy Returns. Over 100 in a record-breaking run of A.R. Gur- other production credits at the Play- ney’s Sylvia at the Laguna Playhouse. THOMAS BUDERWITZ (Scenic Design) house include the world premieres of Recent television credits include ap- previously designed Proof, A Delicate Who’s Hot, Who’s Not and Mr. Shaw pearances on “ER” “American Balance and But Not for Me at SCR. Goes to Hollywood and the American Dreams,” “Arrested Development”; His recent stage designs include Pera premieres of Moving On, Stella By and he recently had a recurring role Palas for the Theatre @ Boston Court Starlight, Kevin’s Bed, Lovers at Ver- as the evil Agent Grey in the ABC spy and the Anteaus Company, Private sailles and What the Night is For. His series, “Alias.” Lives for the Pasadena Playhouse, The West Coast premieres include Tues- Turn of the Screw and Tuesdays with days With Morrie (as a co-production *TRAVIS VADEN (Undertaker/Young Morrie for the Rubicon Theatre and with San Jose Repertory), The Spitfire Ebenezer) appeared at SCR earlier this Sleuth for the Falcon Theatre. Other Grill, The Shape of Things, The Secret season in Bunnicula and previously notable designs include Ladies of the Order, The Last Five Years and Table- in Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Cir- Camellias and Toys in the Attic for top. His costumes for the West Coast cle and A Christmas Carol (as Young The Colony Theatre, Under The Blue premieres of I Love You, You’re Per- Marley) and in the Educational Tour- Sky for the Geffen Playhouse, Death fect, Now Change and The Last Ses- ing Productions Birdman! and The of a Salesman for the Interact The- sion transferred to extended runs in Pride of Weedpatch Camp. He has atre, Titanic for Civic Light Opera of Los Angeles. Regionally, Mr. Odle appeared at International City Theatre South Bay Cities, Camping with has designed for the Geffen and in My Boy Jack and Master Harold Henry & Tom and Swingtime Canteen Pasadena Playhouses, Ballet Pacifica,

P12 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • A Christmas Carol ENSEMBLE CYRUS ALEXANDER Theater credits in- the Weston Playhouse; and A Soldier’s (Constable/Wreath clude Caligula and Play at the Las Vegas Little Theatre. Seller/Young Jacob The Little Peasant at Marley/Poulterer) the Williamstown MICHAEL IRISH made his SCR debut Theatre Festival; (Thomas Shelley) earlier this season in Sylvia, Hidden in made his SCR debut The Caucasian Chalk this Picture and earlier this season in Circle after having re- Calire at the Rubicon The Caucasian cently completed Theatre Company; Chalk Circle after SCR’s Professional Intensive Program. Much Ado about Nothing at the Ojai having recently Theatre credits include The Merchant of Shakespeare Festival; and Cabaret at the completed SCR’s Venice at the Santa Monica Playhouse, Camarillo Community Theatre. Professional Inten- Understand Misunderstandings at the sive Program. Theatre credits include Scene Dock Theatre, Richard Roma at the JOSHUA CAMPBELL Cabaret, Fig: R.O., The Diary of Anne American Academy of Dramatic Arts and (Puppeteer/Mr. Top- Frank, The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, His Honor at the 24th Street Theatre. He per) made his SCR It’s A Wonderful Life, Company, Hang Up recently finished filming a festival-bound debut earlier this and Oedipus at Colonus at The Chance independent called Chum. Other film season in The Cau- Theater, where he is a proud company credits include the independent film casian Chalk Circle member; Poona The F***dog and Other Through Time and the student films Anxi- after having recently Plays for Children at the Rude Guerrilla ety, Wrong Door and Walk Through. He completed SCR’s Theater; The Philadelphia Story, Follies is also owner of T.H.I.N.K. Productions Professional Inten- and Gypsy at No Square Theater; Gretel & and founder of Nameless Theatre Compa- sive Program. Theatre credits include The Hansel, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Cori- ny which recently staged his play, Shadow Box and Slow Dance on the olanus and Cinderella at Shakespeare Instinct. Killing Ground at Theatre 138; Harvey Santa Cruz; Dancing at Lughnasa, Noises and Barnum at the Fred C. Adams The- Off and Our Town at the Artists Theatre; SARA BASHOR (Elizabeth Shelley/ atre; Hair at the Clark County Community Damn Yankees, Twelfth Night and A Mid- Fan/Pursued Maiden) is making her SCR Theatre; Ceremonies in Dark Old Men, summer Night’s Dream at Park Avenue debut after having recently completed Zooman and the Sign and The Amen Cor- Players; and Working and White as Snow, SCR’s Professional Intensive Program. ner at the Charleston Playhouse; Echoes at Red as Blood at Laguna Playhouse.

Students in South Coast Repertory’s Young Conservatory provide SHOLD, CHLOE MERCADO, ALEXANDRA MCCUE, ELISABETH SMITH and MATT all the young characters in A Christmas Carol. Two teams alter- CARDOZA. Team two, above, clockwise from left are MEGAN BLAN- nate performances. Beginning the week are, above, clockwise CO, CHERYL ROBINSON, ZACH MARTIN, AKSHAY SHARMA, CHAS HUME, from left, JOEL WAGNER, LAUREN BUANGAN, WILL PETERSON, MANDY ALEXANDRA MULLIN, EDWARD SWANSON and RACHEL TEAGUE.

A Christmas Carol •SOUTH COAST REPERTORY P13 Burbank’s Colony Theatre, eleven al City Theatre. Her award-winning such as “The Barbara Mandrell productions for McCoy Rigby Enter- work has also been seen in Bogota, Show.” He then became an orches- tainment and scenery for the Fuller- Colombia and Barcelona, Spain. She trator for film composer Alex North ton Civic Light Opera. He has a long is the Production Manager for the and began composing for episodic association with the Orange County Pomona College Department of The- television. Over the years he has Performing Arts Center as a produc- atre & Dance and is on the Board of written music for numerous televi- er/designer/lecturer. Mr. Odle also Directors for the United States Insti- sion films and many series including has an extensive list of industrial tute of Theatre Technology (USITT). “V,” the long-running “MacGyver,” clients including Disney, Universal In his 33 seasons with SCR, Mr. Ruzi- “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose,” “Star Trek: Studios, Princess Cruises, two ka has created award-winning light- The Next Generation,” “Deep Space World’s Fairs, and theme parks in ing designs for over 85 productions. Nine” and “Voyager,” “Twilight Seoul and Barcelona. For six years, His lighting designs have been seen Zone,” “Dynasty,” “Love Boat,” “Col- he was the resident designer for on Broadway, in national tours, at bys,” “Hotel,” “Birdland” and “Hous- Robert Redford’s Sundance Theatre major regional theatres, and for many ton Knights.” Mr. McCarthy has also in Utah and proudly served as art di- national and international dance and written music for “Star Trek: Enter- rector for Pope John-Paul’s 1987 opera companies. His entertainment prise” “Project Greenlight,” “Daw- Mass in Dodge Stadium. He holds lighting can be seen at theme parks son’s Creek” and the movies-of-the- an MFA degree from Yale School of in six different countries and his ar- week Daddy, Kaleidoscope, Care Drama and has been a professor of chitectural lighting can be seen in and Handling of Roses, V the Final design at Stanford University, Cal prestigious hotels, casinos, restau- Battle, Hidden in Silence, Armed and State Fullerton and UC Irvine. Mr. rants, retail centers, and performing Innocent, Overkill, A Texas Tragedy Odle has been honored for a Life- arts centers across the nation and in and Having Our Say. He has won time Achievement in Scenic Design Europe and Asia. Mr. Ruzika has re- two Emmy Awards for his work on by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Cir- ceived numerous awards for his con- “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and cle. tributions to the art and craft of light- composed the music for the series’ ing design. He is a member of the first feature, Generations. He is a 12- DONNA & TOM RUZIKA (Lighting Drama faculty in the graduate light- time winner of ASCAP’s Most Per- Design) celebrate their 26th year of ing design program at the University formed Composer Award. He is a illuminating A Christmas Carol, their of California, Irvine. Southern California native, the father 33rd year of marriage together, and of three and proud grandfather of their 1st year of being separately DENNIS McCARTHY (Musical Ar- eight beautiful grandchildren. nominated for an Ovation Award. rangement) returns to SCR where he They have collaborated on a number previously composed music for DREW DALZELL (Sound Design) is of SCR productions including Be- Dumb Show, Getting Frankie Mar- happy to be back at SCR having pre- yond the Fringe and Coming Attrac- ried—and Afterwards, The Beard of viously designed Bunnicula, The tions. Ms. Ruzika has designed many Avon, Much Ado about Nothing and Hoboken Chicken Emergency, Inti- productions for SCR’s Young Conser- Of Mice and Men. He has been writ- mate Exchanges and Sideways Stories vatory Players and several produc- ing music for television for more from Wayside School. His recent de- tions on SCR’s Second Stage. She than 20 years. His career began as a sign work includes The Laramie Pro- just completed her 8th season with conductor/arranger for Glen Camp- ject at the Laguna Playhouse; Julia the Utah Shakespearean Festival. bell, whose concert tours took him to Sweeney’s Letting Go of God, Fen She also has designed for the Alaba- every state in the nation and over- (Garland Award), The Mound ma Shakespeare Festival, Laguna seas. Once based back in Los Ange- Builders, The Cosmonaut’s Last Mes- Playhouse, Fullerton Civic Light les, he worked as musical director on sage to a Woman He Once Loved in Opera and Long Beach’s Internation- several television variety productions the Former Soviet Union and As I Lay

P14 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • A Christmas Carol Dying (Ovation nomination) at Open and The Robby Award for Best Musi- nerstone Theater commissioned her Fist; Songs for a New World (Ovation cal Direction. solo play Salvadorian Moon/African nomination) and Tick, Tick... Boom Sky as part of their citywide Festival at Rubicon Theatre; and Side Show LINDA KOSTALIK (Choreographer) is of Faith. Ms. Woolery directed Rick (Ovation nomination), Grand Hotel, a newly retired Professor from the Coca’s The Day I Flipped Off Jimmy The Laramie Project, Indoor/Outdoor, Theatre Arts and Dance Department Carter for SCR’s Hispanic Playwrights Fuddy Meers, Around the World in at Cal State Los Angeles and has Project, Amor Eterno for the opening 80 Days and The Grand Tour with worked extensively with the award- of the Ricardo Montalban Theatre, as The Colony Theatre. The Strasberg winning Los Angeles County High well as Lisa Loomer’s Living Out and Theatre, The Eclectic Company The- School of the Arts as choreographer Annie Weisman’s A Totally Meaning- atre, the Sacred Fools Theater, The for the Musical Theatre Ensemble. ful Ritual for the Mark Taper Forum. Evidence Room, and The Echo The- Her career as dancer, choreographer, She is an active member of the Vir- ater Company are just a few of the and educator spanned 40 years. She ginia Avenue Project and playwright many other theatres where his de- continues to choreograph produc- in residence for Hollygrove Chil- signs have been heard. His work tions for professional theatres such as dren’s Home in Los Angeles. Ms. has also been heard at theme parks SCR, Playwrights Horizon, The Good- Woolery is also a proud Member of owned by Disney, Universal Studios man Theatre, the International City the Lincoln Theatre Center’s Directors and Paramount. He won the 1998 Theatre and others. “Professor K” has Lab West, former Director of SCR’s USITT Clear Com Sound Achieve- directed Grammy nominee Bobby Theatre Conservatory and the new ment Award and holds an MFA in Rodriguez in “A Latin Jazz Christmas Associate Artistic Director at Corner- Sound Design from CCM at the Uni- Show” and is currently working on a stone Theater Company. versity of Cincinnati. new musical review The Tribute with Crissy Guerrero and Dave Foley. *ERIN NELSON (Stage Manager) is DENNIS CASTELLANO (Vocal Direc- She continues to work in videogra- thrilled to be putting her UCSD MFA tor) has musically directed the past phy and design. As always, it is a to good use in her third season at SCR productions of A Christmas pleasure to be back with the SCR South Coast Repertory. SCR credits Carol, Happy End, Sunday in the family. Happy Holidays! include The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Park with George and A Chorus of A View from the Bridge and the The- Disapproval. He serves as the Head LAURIE WOOLERY (Assistant atre for Young Audiences produc- of the Music Theatre Program at UCI Director) is an actor, director and tions of Bunnicula, The Little Prince, and during the summer, he musically playwright who has worked at SCR, The Hoboken Chicken Emergency, directs for the Music Circus in Sacra- Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles The- The Wind in the Willows, Sideways mento (Ragtime and Crazy For You, atre Center, Cornerstone Theater, Stories from Wayside School and The most recently) and the Music Theatre Deaf West Theatre, fofo Theatre, Emperor’s New Clothes. Previous of Wichita (Me & My Girl and A Cho- Highways Performance Space, A credits include La Jolla Playhouse, rus Line). Other credits include My Noise Within, Sundance Playwrights The Old Globe, Idaho Shakespeare Fair Lady, The Unsinkable Molly Lab as well as the Sundance Chil- Festival, National Playwrights Confer- Brown, Guys & Dolls and Annie Get dren’s Theatre. As a director and ence and Theatre IV. Your Gun for McCoy Rigby Entertain- playwright, Ms. Woolery has created ment; The King and I for Musical and collaborated on many new *CHRISSY CHURCH (Assistant Stage Theatre West; and Enter the Guards- works at SCR including club/under- Manager) was lucky enough to be a man at the Laguna Playhouse. His world, Bliss, California Scenarios, part of the 25th Anniversary produc- musical direction has been cited by The Snow Teen, The Hundred Dress- tion of A Christmas Carol here last the Los Angeles Times; he has re- es, Orphan Train: The Lost Children, year and is very pleased to be return- ceived nine Drama-Logue Awards 1212 and The Beloved Dearly. Cor- ing to SCR for another run. Previous

A Christmas Carol •SOUTH COAST REPERTORY P15 credits at SCR include the world pre- the Singapore Festival of Arts. His tinguished Achievement in Directing mieres of Mr. Marmalade, Getting producing responsibilities involve the awards an unparalleled seven times Frankie Married—and Afterwards, overall coordination of SCR’s pro- for the three Shaw productions, John Making It and Nostalgia and produc- grams and projects. He has served as Millington Synge’s Playboy of the tions of Born Yesterday, Pinocchio, a theatre panelist and onsite evaluator Western World, Arthur Miller’s The The Little Prince, Intimate Exchanges, for the National Endowment for the Crucible, Sally Nemeth’s Holy Days La Posada Mágica, Anna in the Trop- Arts, on the Executive Committee of and Wit. He also directed the film ics and Proof. She has also had the the League of Resident Theatres, and version of Holy Days using the origi- pleasure of working on Clutter: The as a panelist for the California Arts nal SCR cast. Along with Emmes, he True Story of the Collyer Brothers Council. After attending Orange accepted SCR’s 1988 Tony Award for (world premiere) at The Colony The- Coast College, he received his BA Outstanding Resident Professional atre; La Perichole and Seven Small and MA from San Francisco State Uni- Theatre and won the 1995 Theatre LA Operas at Long Beach Opera; The versity, and his PhD in theatre and Ovation Award for Lifetime Achieve- Spitfire Grill at Laguna Playhouse; film from USC. ment. Mr. Benson received his BA in and The King and I, Chicago, Ragtime Theatre from San Francisco State Uni- and She Loves Me at Maine State MARTIN BENSON (Artistic Director), versity. Music Theatre. She would like to co-founder of SCR with his colleague take this opportunity to thank the David Emmes, has directed nearly PAULA TOMEI (Managing Director) is ACC crew for all of their dedication one third of the plays produced here. responsible for the overall administra- and hard work. This show couldn’t He has distinguished himself in the tion of South Coast Repertory and has be done without them! staging of contemporary work, in- been Managing Director since 1994. cluding William Nicholson’s The Re- A member of the SCR staff since 1979, DAVID EMMES (Producing Artistic treat from Moscow, Horton Foote’s she has served in a number of admin- Director) is co-founder of SCR. He The Carpetbagger’s Children and the istrative capacities including Subscrip- has received numerous awards for world premiere of Getting Frankie tions Manager, Business Manager and productions he has directed during Married—and Afterwards, the critical- General Manager. She is the immedi- his SCR career, including a Los Ange- ly acclaimed California premiere of ate past President of the Theatre les Drama Critics Circle Award for the Nicholson’s Shadowlands, the South- Communications Group (TCG), the direction of George Bernard Shaw’s ern California premiere of Michael national service organization for the The Philanderer. He directed the Healey’s The Drawer Boy; and the professional not-for-profit theater and world premieres of Amy Freed’s Safe West Coast premieres of Peter serves as a member of the Board. In in Hell, The Beard of Avon and Free- Hedges’ Good As New and Martin Mc- addition, she has served as Treasurer domland, Thomas Babe’s Great Day Donagh’s The Lonesome West. He has of TCG, Vice President of the League in the Morning, Keith Reddin’s Rum won accolades for his direction of of Resident Theatres (LORT) and has and Coke and But Not for Me and five major works by George Bernard been a member of the LORT Negoti- Neal Bell’s Cold Sweat; the American Shaw, including the Los Angeles ating Committee for industry-wide premiere of Terry Johnson’s Unsuit- Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) Award- union agreements. She represents able for Adults; the West Coast pre- winners Major Barbara, Misalliance SCR at national conferences of TCG mieres of C.P. Taylor’s Good and and Heartbreak House. Among the and LORT; is a theatre panelist and Harry Kondoleon’s Christmas on numerous world premieres he has di- site visitor for the National Endow- Mars; and the Southland premiere of rected are Tom Strelich’s BAFO and ment for the Arts and the California Top Girls (at SCR and the Westwood Margaret Edson’s Pulitzer Prize-win- Arts Council; served on the Advisory Playhouse). Other productions in- ning Wit, which he also directed at Committee for the Arts Administration clude the West Coast premieres of Seattle Repertory Theatre and the Certificate Program at the University Three Viewings by Jeffrey Hatcher, Alley Theatre in Houston. He has di- of California, Irvine; and has been a The Secret Rapture by David Hare and rected American classics including guest lecturer in the graduate school New England by Richard Nelson; and Ah, Wilderness!, A Streetcar Named of business at Stanford and U.C. Arcadia by Tom Stoppard, The Im- Desire, A Delicate Balance and A Irvine. She graduated from the Uni- portance of Being Earnest by Oscar View from the Bridge. Mr. Benson versity of California, Irvine with a de- Wilde, Ayckbourn’s Woman in Mind has been honored with the Drama- gree in Economics and pursued an and You Never Can Tell by George Logue Award for his direction of 21 additional course of study in theatre Bernard Shaw, which he restaged for productions and received LADCC Dis- and dance.

The Actors and Stage Managers em- The Scenic, Costume, Lighting and The Director is a member of the So- ployed in this production are mem- Sound Designers in LORT theatres ciety of Stage Directors and Chore- bers of Actors’ Equity Association, the are represented by United Scenic ographers, Inc., an independent na- Union of Professional Actors and Artists Local USA-829, IATSE. tional labor union. Stage Managers in the United States.

P16 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • A Christmas Carol