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CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY OF WALNUT CREEK Michael Butler, Artistic Director Scott Denison, Managing Director presents By Pamela Gien Directed by Michael Evan Haney Starring Shannon Koob Scenic Designer Lighting Designer Costume Designer Narelle Sissons James Sale Elizabeth Eisloeffel Sound Designer Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Chuck Hatcher Briana J. Fahey Joe Coe First produced at A Contemporary Theatre, Seattle Gordon Edelstein, Artistic Director Original New York stage production presented by Matt Salinger Use of the music and lyrics of “Ballad of the Sourthern Suburbs” a.k.a. “Ag Pleez Deddy” (Copyright © 1962, Jeremy Taylor) courtesy of Jeremy Taylor and Gallo (Africa) Ltd. This production of The Syringa Tree was originally produced by The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Margaret Lesher Theatre January 28 - February 27, 2010 Lesher Center for the Arts Season Partner Season Media Sponsor Season Sponsor The Actor and Stage Manager employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States The Scenic Designer, Lighting Designer and Sound Designer are members of United Scenic Artists Union The Director of this production is a member of the Society of Stage Directors Center REP is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), The National Organization for the American Theatre and Theatre Bay Area CAST DIRECTOR’S NOTES A TIMELINE OF APARTHEID Shannon Koob .....................Elizabeth, et. al. Apartheid is an Afrikaner word that means 1652 The Dutch create a colony in Africa at “apartness.” However, it was much more than a word. the Cape of Good Hope. TIME and PLACE ...1963 - Present, South Africa It was the rule of law in South Africa for almost fifty years. It was similar to “segregation” in the United 1806 The British defeat the Dutch, the CAST OF CHARACTERS Xhosa and other African peoples. States. The South African government passed laws to The Grace Family: keep the races (Black, Colored and White) separate. It 1880 The first of the two Anglo-Boer wars Elizabeth Grace: a white South African girl. was ruthless in its enforcement. begins. Eugenie Grace: Elizabeth’s mother. 1902 The British win the second of the Dr. Isaac Grace: Elizabeth’s father, a local doctor The Syringa Tree is the story of a young white South Anglo-Boer wars. for blacks and whites. African girl growing up in 1963 at the very height 1910 The Union of South Africa is formed. John Grace: Elizabeth’s younger brother. of Apartheid. Through her innocent eyes we see the Grandpa George: Eugenie’s father. society of South Africa. We meet her parents and 1912 The South African Native National Granny Elizabeth: Eugenie’s mother. grandparents. We meet the black “nanny,” Salamina Congress (later named the African and her daughter Moliseng. We glimpse her white National congress or ANC) is formed The Grace Family Servants: to fight discrimination. Salamina: the black servant who looks after Elizabeth. Afrikaan neighbors and the black men and women Moliseng: Salamina’s daughter. who are “allowed” to be in the “White Only” section 1913 Afrikaners (Dutch settlers) form the Iris: the black servant who looks after John. of Johannesburg to serve them. We follow events National Party to preserve their identity Isaac: the black gardener for the Grace family. from 1963 through the student riots of 1976 to the under British rule. Peter Mombadi: the black driver for the Grace family. first democratic elections in April of 1994. The author, 1948 The National Party comes to power Pietros: another black servant. Pamela Gien, shaped this story, based on her real life and institutes a policy of apartheid. experiences. Next door to the Grace Family: Loeska: a young Afrikaans girl around Elizabeth’s age. 1960 ANC and other activist groups are Those are some of the facts of the play. Dominee: (the Afrikaan word for minister), Loeska’s banned following the Sharpeville father. massacre. The play, however, is about the love between two Zephyr: their gardener. families—one Black and one White—the sacrifices 1976 Riots break out in the Soweto uprising Other Characters: they make for each other and how the horrible facts of and black townships across the Dubike: Salamina’s cousin. apartheid affect their lives. country. Matron Lanning: works at Baragwanath, a hospital. 1983 The United Democratic Front is Sergeant Potgieter: a policeman. I cannot think of a more important time for this play to created to oppose apartheid. Father Montford: a priest. be seen. As we endure this time of fear and war we are 1986 Talks begin between Afrikaners and Mrs. Biggs: Salamina’s employer after the Graces. made very aware of the differences between people in the ANC. the world. In The Syringa Tree, one actress embodies CAST BIOGRAPHIES 1990 President F.W. de Klerk legalizes anti- twenty eight very different people. (Our actress apartheid groups and releases Nelson Shannon Koob (Elizabeth, etal) Shannon Koob, constantly amazes me with her talent Mandela from prison. is delighted to be making her and depth of feeling.) We see all this varied humanity Center REPertory Company pouring forth from a single human being. It shows 1994 South Africa holds its first democratic debut in this production of The us that we all have a common human experience. elections. Syringa Tree. Shannon has Through the wondering eyes of Elizabeth we see the performed this one-woman Source: A Guide to Facing the Truth with Bill Moyers, world unfiltered by politics and societal structures and show at Vienna’s English Facing History and ourselves, Public Affairs Television, we can begin to understand how “racism” is taught Theatre (Continental European Premiere), the Inc. and learned and the terrible toll it takes on the souls English Theatre of Frankfurt, Two River Theater of our children. Company, the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, and COSTUME NOTES the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, where she won In rehearsal, we have strived to tell this story with the 2003 Cincinnati Entertainment Award for Best How do you dress an actress who plays 24 characters simplicity and truth. The innocence of Elizabeth Actress, and Ensemble Theatre Company in Santa during the performance? Those characters are reminds us of what is really important in this Barbara. Her other international credits include both male and female, black and white, little girls, tumultuous time—the love between people no matter the European premiere of Doubt and Crimes of the pregnant women and elderly men who people a 40- Heart. Shannon’s New York credits include the their differences and the positive actions we can take year time period. world premieres of New House Under Construction, as individuals against what seems like impossible The obvious conclusion is that she needs to wear The Bridge in Scarsdale and Jeff Baron’s What odds. “Apartheid” is pronounced apart-hate. The something as neutral as possible to cover her broad Goes Around. Her other regional credits include Syringa Tree stands as a testament of togetherness— range of movement through the cast of characters. You Never Can Tell (Yale Repertory Theatre); love. It is a play of hope made into reality. Yet I wanted her costume to be interesting to Picnic, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest, Bus Stop, look at, comforable, flattering and in the world of The Importance of Being Ernest, Pierre (World “The sun will continue to shine on the South African Elizabeth Grace. Premiere) and Christmas Carol (Denver Center people as we build this non-racial, nonsexist and Theater Company); Karla (Long Wharf Theater); democratic country, instilling in all a shared sense of I knew she needed a dress. Michael requested Doubt (Pioneer Theatre Company), Taming of the nationhood and human solidarity.” something that was “twirly.” When I found the blue Shrew (Shakespeare in Santa Fe); and Lobby Hero - President Thabo Mbeki in his New Year Message hand batik fabric I knew I had a great beginning. The (Lizard Head Theater Company). On television, color and pattern spoke to me of sky and water and Shannon has appeared on “Law & Order: Criminal Michael Evan Haney memory. It then occurred to me that wearing capri Intent”, “Law & Order: SVU”, “The Sopranos” Director pants and a T-shirt under a jumper would be a good and “Guiding Light”, as well as in a number of solution to covering her wide range of movement in commercials. She holds an MFA from the National addition to supporting her male characters. Theater Conservatory in Denver, Colorado and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. Love Elizabeth Eisloeffel and thanks to Aaron. Costume Designer CREATIVE TEAM Aunt, Wayside Theatre; King of Dominoes, Passage of Vienna, Portland Center Stage, Alley Theater, Theatre Company; Scotland Road, Pacific Resident Pennsylvania Center Stage, Seattle Repertory, Pamela Gien (Playwright) As both writer and Theatre, Drama-Logue Award for direction; and Studio Arena, Intiman Theater, Merrimack original performer of The Syringa Tree, won As the Wind Rocks the Wagon (a one-woman show Repertory, St. Louis Repertory, Alliance Theater, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo written and performed by his wife Amy Warner). Crossroads Theater, The Hartman, Alley Theater, Performance, the Outer Critics Circle Award He was also the Artistic Director of Allenberry Alaska Repertory, Sarasota Ballet, & Colorado for Outstanding Solo Performance, a Drama Playhouse in Pennsylvania where he directed Ballet. Mr. Sale is also senior designer and partner League Honor, a nomination for the John more than thirty plays including Bus Stop, Shirley at JAMES SALE LIGHTING, INC., a firm that Gassner Playwriting Award and the Obie for both Valentine, Love Letters with Shirley Jones, Crimes specializes in high-end residential and commercial Performance and Best Play 2001.

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