Alex Logemann (Deck Manager) is celebrating OUR SPONSORS estate in 1993 and 1995. In 1997, an additional his 41st show backstage with Center REP. Alex has endowment from Dean Lesher’s estate followed been backstage for ten seasons and is beyond Chevron (Season Sponsor) has been the the death of Margaret Lesher. A significant pleased to be involved with such an amazing leading corporate sponsor of Center REP and and final bequest from Mr. Lesher’s estate CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY group. Alex has also worked backstage for Contra the Lesher Center for the Arts for the past nine was received in 2003. As a family foundation, Michael Butler, Artistic Director Scott Denison, Managing Director Costa Musical Theatre and with Diablo Theatre years. In fact, Chevron has been a partner of support for the Contra Costa community will the LCA since the beginning, providing funding be carried on by the next generation of family Company. Alex is a proud member of the Fantasy for capital improvements, event sponsorships members. Grant-making decisions are based presents Forum Actors Ensemble. He is very thankful for our and more. Chevron generously supports every on the vision of Dean and Margaret Lesher who community and the fun it provides. “Opportunity Center REP show throughout the season, and felt quality education, diverse art programs, and is missed by most people because it is dressed in is the primary sponsor for events including healthy children and families are the building overalls and looks like work.” -Thomas Edison the Chevron Family Theatre Festival in July. blocks of a strong and vibrant community. Chevron has proven itself not just as a generous The Leshers defined the “spirit of giving” as Scott Denison (Managing Director) has been a supporter, but also a valued friend of the arts. “investing in the community and its people.” leader in the Arts for 40 years for Walnut Creek and By providing financial support and direction in the surrounding communities. Under Denison’s Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA) these critical areas, the Dean & Margaret Lesher guidance for the last 23 years as General Manager (Season Partner) is both the primary fundraising Foundation is investing every day, every week for the Lesher Center for the Arts, he oversees organization of the Lesher Center for the Arts (LCA) and every year in the health and well-being of over 850 public events each year. He coordinates and the City of Walnut Creek’s appointed curator this county that Dean and Margaret so loved. performing arts activities with over 85 producers for the LCA’s audience outreach. DRAA’s role in the community is all about building partnerships ABOUT CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY and producing organizations. He is also the with the focused goal of enhancing artistic Managing Director of the Center REPertory quality at the LCA and providing opportunities for Center REP is the resident, professional theatre Company producing 7 professional productions everyone to enjoy the arts. Through partnerships company of the Lesher Center for the Arts. Our each season; and is the director and co-founder with the LCA and its producers, individual season consists of seven productions a year – a of Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble, an adult donors, corporate and foundation sponsors and variety of musicals, dramas and comedies, both family performing arts company which presents the City of Walnut Creek, DRAA plays a vital role classic and contemporary, that continually strive By programs for the young and Young at Heart. in advancing the arts for the betterment of the to reach new levels of artistic excellence and Scott directed CCMT’s hits Disney’s Beauty and community. Please visit us online at www.draa.org. professional standards. the Beast, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Bruce Norris Hairspray, and for the past 13 seasons Center Lesher Foundation (Foundation Sponsor) Since Our mission is to celebrate the power of the REP’s A Christmas Carol. Denison has directed over 1994, the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation human imagination by producing emotionally 150 productions including REP’s The Lady with has awarded grants totaling more than $40 engaging, intellectually involving, and visually million and reaching citizens in all parts of Contra astonishing live theatre, and through Outreach Scenic Designer Lighting Designer Costume Designer All the Answers starring Kerri Shawn. This spring, Costa County. True to the original wishes of Dean and Education programs, to enrich and advance he will direct Les Misérables. In 1979 he created and Margaret Lesher, the Foundation continues the cultural life of the communities we serve. J. B. Wilson Kurt Landisman Elizabeth Poindexter the Shellie Awards, which annually honors to build on the strengths of the community by Sound Designer Stage Manager Props Manager outstanding performing arts achievement in supporting organizations and programs that What does it mean to be a producing theatre? Contra Costa county. In 2007 he created the provide help and support to people in need; We hire the finest professional directors, actors Lyle Barrere David A. Young* Madison Genovese Chevron Family Theatre Festival bringing adult enhance and enrich the lives of all citizens; and and designers to create our productions at nationally acclaimed performances together for promote a healthy and exciting future for the Center REP. These are not touring productions – Wigs Dramaturgy one day performing to over 7,000 guests of all community. Established in 1989, the Foundation they’re conceived and developed here, the sets Judy Disbrow Timothy Near ages. received its principal assets from Dean Lesher’s and costumes are built in our shops, and the actors rehearse in our rehearsal hall. Whether CITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS WHITE FLIGHT TO THE OUTER SUBURBS (1950s-70s)the production is a Bay Area premiere or a Cast A History of Racial Division in Chicago Between 1950 and 1956 alone, nearly 300,000 Shakespearean classic, each is devised to be a one white Chicagoans moved to the outer suburbs. of a kind, artistic creation that will be a unique EARLY IMMIGRATION (1840s-1910s) theatre experience for our audience. EXPRESSWAYS AND THE CAR CULTURE (1950s-60s) Velina Brown* Richard Howard* Timothy Redmond Chicago in the 19th century was a city of immigrants - Germans, Poles and Ukrainians to Chicago’s expressway boom came at the expense What does it mean to be a professional Lynda DiVito Craig Marker* Adrian N. Roberts* the northwest, Italians to the west, Jews and of its once-extensive streetcar system, which was theatre? It means that all our artists and artisans Kendra Lee Oberhauser* Czechs to the southwest, and Irish to the south. completely dismantled in the ‘50s, reducing the are career theatre-practitioners. Many of the mobility of inner-city residents. actors in this production are members of Actors’ THE BUNGALOW BELT (1910-30) HIGH-RISE HOUSING PROJECTS (1950s-90s) Equity Association; many of our directors and Developers built some 100,000 bungalows in a The city bulldozed some 50,000 housing units- designers are members of professional unions. semicircle surrounding the downtown core and home to 200,000 people -between 1950 and All do theatre because it is their profession and Directed by Michael Butler formed early immigrant neighborhoods. 1961. Many African Americans, were funneled their passion. into newly built high-rise housing projects. Few CLYBOURNE PARK was produced on Broadway by Jujamcyn Theaters at The Walter Kerr Theatre, 2012. THE GREAT MIGRATION (1900-40) businesses or community spaces were built to We are very proud to have the opportunity to Chicago’s African American population grew serve the new high-rises, and conditions soon produce professional theatre for our community from 20,000 in 1900 to nearly 300,000 in 1940. became inhospitable. in the beautiful theatres here at the Lesher Center Playwrights Horizons, Inc., New York City, produced the World Premiere of CLYBOURNE PARK Off-Broadway in 2010. for the Arts. Thank you for your support! RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS (1926-48) THE DECLINE OF THE INNER CITY (1970s-90s) Margaret Lesher Theatre Legally binding contracts were signed Chicago had lost a portion of its residential and January 31 - March 1, 2014 by homeowners and landlords in white commercial tax base to the suburbs, and the CITY COUNCIL Lesher Center for the Arts city’s government struggled to fund its school Kristina Lawson, Mayor neighborhoods who agreed not to rent or sell to Bob Simmons, Mayor Pro-Tem blacks; they were most popular in the Bungalow system and social programs. In 1987, the federal Loella Haskew Season Season Partner Foundation Sponsor government named Chicago’s schools the worst Belt. Cindy Silva Sponsor in the country. Justin Wedel SECOND GREAT MIGRATION (1940s-60s) GENTRIFICATION (1990s to PRESENT) CITY MANAGER Chicago’s black population nearly tripled from Rising gas prices and lengthy commutes have Ken Nordhoff ARTS COMMISSION 278,000 to 813,000, placing even greater strain Joe Bologna, Chair *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States made suburban life seem less desirable to many DIRECTOR on the already crowded housing market. Jane Emanuel, Vice Chair The Director of this production is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society Chicagoans over the past tow decades, and since Arts, Recreation and Polly Bradbury The Scenic and Lighting Designers are members of United Scenic Artists Union the 1990s suburban whites have begun to move Community Services Glynnis Cowdery Center REP is a member of Theatre Bay Area and Theatre Communications Group (TCG), The National Organization for the American Theatre back to the inner city. Kevin Safine Carol Fowler CAST (in order of appearance) Richard Howard* (Russ/ Timothy Redmond (Jim/Tom/ CREATIVE TEAM Kurt Landisman (Lighting Designer) Local Lyle Barrere (Sound Designer) is thrilled to be Dan) has been a Company Kenneth) is making his Center audiences will be familiar with his work through returning to Center REP! Beginning his theatre Bev/Kathy ...... Lynda DiVito Member at the Oregon REP debut. He most recently Bruce Norris (Playwright) is the author of past productions designed for Center REP career in the 5th grade, Lyle has worked almost Russ/Dan ...... Richard Howard* Shakespeare Festival for the appeared in Strangers, Babies Clybourne Park, which won the Tony Award including Ella, the Musical, Sweet Charity, The 39 200 shows for many professional companies Francine/Lena ...... Velina Brown* last 26 years where he has (Roy) at Shotgun Players. for Best Play in 2012, the Olivier and Evening Steps, Old Wicked Songs, Xanadu, Arms and the in the Bay Area and Los Angeles as a producer, , , , director, sound or lighting designer, and stage Jim/Tom/Kenneth ...... Timothy Redmond played such leading roles as Regionally he has worked Standard Awards (London) for Best Play, 2011, Man, Blues in the Night Dracula She Loves Me and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, 2011. Other plays Noises Off, All Shook Up, Cabaret, Ain’t Misbehavin’, manager. His sound design for South Pacific (2003, Albert/Kevin ...... Adrian N. Roberts* Romeo, Hamlet, Richard II, with South Coast Rep and include The Infidel (2000),Purple Heart (2002), We Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), A Midsummer Willows Theatre Company) was nominated for Karl/Steve ...... Craig Marker* Relentless Theatre Company. Pericles, Henry IV, Angelo in Measure for Measure, All Went Down to Amsterdam (2003), The Pain and Night’s Dream, The Mousetrap, How the Other Half a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award and his Betsy/Lindsey ...... Kendra Lee Oberhauser* Shannon in The Night of the Iguana, Walter Griffin In the Bay Area he has worked with Berkeley the Itch (2004) and The Unmentionables (2006), Loves, Around the World in 80 Days, and Fugitive design of The Solid Gold Cadillac (2004, Willows in UP, roles in The Servant of Two Masters, Throne Rep, Boxcar Theatre, Golden Thread Productions, and A Parallelogram (2010), all of which had their Kind. His designs have been seen throughout Theatre Company) was nominated for a Shellie of Blood, Room Service, Noises Off, Pentecost, Impact Theatre, New Conservatory Theatre, premieres at Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago. Two the Bay Area at many theaters including San Award. A graduate of the University of California, TIME and PLACE Arcadia, The Three Musketeers and others. He has Playwrights Foundation, Porchlight Theatre, plays, titled The Low Road and Domesticated, Francisco Opera, ACT, Berkeley Rep, San Jose Rep, Los Angeles, with a degree in Physics, he enjoys appeared On Broadway in Execution of Justice, Off The San Francisco Playhouse, Second Wind respectively, had 2013 premieres at the Royal Theatreworks, California Shakespeare Festival, hiking and scuba diving when not in the theatre. Act One: 1959; Act Two: 2009 Broadway in Ten by Tennessee, regionally at Arena Productions, Shakespeare Napa Valley, Shotgun Court Theatre, London and at Lincoln Center The Magic Theatre, and Marin Theatre Company. He was awarded the Eagle Scout Award from BSA North Chicago Stage, The Arizona Theatre and several seasons as Players, Sonoma County Rep, TheatreWorks, and Theatre, New York. His work has also been seen Locally his work has garnered 16 Bay Area Critics Troop 204. Lyle is the Founding Artistic Director of a company member at the Guthrie Theatre. He Town Hall Theatre. Thanks, as always, to his wife at Playwrights Horizons (New York), Lookingglass Circle Awards, 5 LA Dramalogue Awards and 5 the HOOLIGAN Theatre Company, which provides There will be one intermission. was seen most recently at Berkeley Rep in Mary Amber for her endless support. Theatre (Chicago), Philadelphia Theatre Company, Shellie Awards. Nationally, his work has been theatre experiences to college students of all Zimmerman’s The White Snake and will follow that Woolly Mammoth Theatre (Washington, D.C.) seen at many regional opera & ballet companies, majors. www.LyleBarrere.com Staatstheater Mainz (Germany) and the Galway including the Los Angeles Opera, Minnesota CAST BIOGRAPHIES production to The Goodman Theatre in Chicago Adrian N. Roberts* (Albert/ Festival (Ireland), among others. He is the recipient Opera, Virginia Opera, Tulsa Opera, and Ballet Madison Genovese (Props Manager) is a recent in the Spring. He studied at The Juilliard School Kevin) is thrilled to be working of the Steinberg Playwright Award (2009), and Arizona. His designs have also been presented graduate of the University of Puget Sound with Velina Brown* (Francine/ with friend Michael Butler, and is so happy to be at Center REP. He was last the Whiting Foundation Prize for Drama (2006) off-Broadway, represented at Circle Rep, and a Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance. She has done Lena) is pleased to make working with him on this brilliant play. seen as Martin Luther King as well as two Joseph Jefferson Awards (Chicago) the Douglas Fairbanks Theatres. Other designs props and set dressing for several shows with her Center REP debut with Jr. in The Mountaintop at for Best New Work. As an actor he can be seen in internationally include world premieres of plays ACLO, and is very excited to be working with the such a wonderful cast in Craig Marker* (Karl/ TheaterWorks. Other Bay Area the films A Civil Action and The Sixth Sense, and the by Sam Shepard in Japan, and Singapore, as well wonderful cast and crew of Clybourne Park. Special this important play. She is Steve) returns to Center credits include Commander recent All Good Things. He lives in New York. as the San Francisco Opera in Shanghai, China, thanks to Michael, Jeff, and Josh for welcoming me an award winning actress, REP having performed in Osembenga i n Ruined at Berkeley Rep, Claudius/ and the Moscow Circus in Tokyo, Japan. into the Center REP family. singer/songwriter, and productions of Arms and Ghost in Hamlet at California Shakespeare, Linc Michael Butler (Director/Artistic Director) This co artistic director of the the Man, The Mousetrap, in Buffaloed at San Jose Stage, Daniel Jamison is Michael’s eighth season as Artistic Director of Elizabeth Poindexter (Costume Designer) is very Judy Disbrow (Wig Designer) and her company San Francisco Mime Troupe. You may have also and The Marriage of Figaro. in First Person Shooter at SF Playhouse, other Center REP, where his directing credits include excited to be working again with Center REPertory Theatrical Hairgoods have provided wigs for seen her at the American Conservatory Theatre, Regionally, Mr. Marker has regional credits include Ken in The Playboy of the Don’t Dress for Dinner, The Underpants, A Number, Company. Previous design credits with Center theatrical productions for over 30 years. She has REP include Doubt and The Mousetrap. Betty’s worked with companies throughout the United Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Magic Theatre, performed for Portland Center Stage, La Jolla West Indies at Lincoln Center NY, three seasons at Dracula, Boeing-Boeing and To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as the Shellie and BATCC Award-winning professional career has been divided between States including Diablo Theatre Company, CCMT, Theatre Rhino, TheatreWorks, Shotgun Players, Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, American the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and many other productions of Around the World in 80 Days, her two great loves, teaching and designing. She La Jolla Playhouse, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, SF Playhouse, Symmetry Theatre, The Lorraine Conservatory Theatre, San Jose Repertory Theatre, regional credits. Mr Roberts has appeared on Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The Marriage of Figaro, retired from San Jose State University, Department San Francisco Opera, Portland Opera, Florida Grand Hansberry Theatre and The Denver Theatre Aurora Theatre Company, California Shakespeare television in such shows as Scrubs, Criminal Minds, How the Other Half Loves, A Midsummer Night’s of TV, Radio, Film, and Theatre in 2009 where she Opera, as well as many others. Center among many others. She has appeared Theater, TheatreWorks, San Francisco Shakespeare Brothers & Sisters, Trauma, and the Sci-Fi television Dream, Enchanted April, and Witness For The taught costume and makeup for theatre and on television shows such as Final Witness, Party Festival , and SF Playhouse. His Bay Area credits movie Vampires Out For Blood. Mr Roberts is a Prosecution. His directing work has also been seen film for 27 years. While at SJSU she designed Timothy Near (Dramaturgy) most recently of Five, Nash Bridges and Trauma and in films such have included playing Iago in Othello, Jim in graduate of ACT’s MFA program. at San Jose Rep, Cleveland Playhouse, Seattle costumes and makeup for over 180 productions - directed Falling Apart…Together at the New as Bee Season, Maladaptive, One Way to Valhalla Glass Menagerie, and Trigorin in Seagull at Marin Rep, Laguna Playhouse, ACT in Seattle, Marin including classical and modern theatre repertoire, Works Now Festival at the Public Theatre in New and Milk. You can read Velina’s monthly advice Theatre Company; Henry in Henry V at San Theatre Company, Aurora Theatre Company, musical theatre, jazz and modern dance. Betty York. She has directed at theatres throughout column in Theatre Bay Area Magazine and on Francisco Shakespeare Festival; and the title Center REPertory Company San Jose Stage, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and The is well known in the San Francisco Bay Area as the U.S. including Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, TBA’s website named after her coaching practice role in Macbeth at Shotgun Players. Mr. Marker Managing Director - Scott Denison Juilliard School, of which he is a graduate. As an a professional costume designer and makeup Arizona Theatre Company, Portland Center Stage, for actors called The Business of Show Biz. For originated the role of Daniel Reeves in Bill Cain’s Artistic Director - Michael Butler actor, Michael has worked on Broadway and off, artist. Her credits include costume design work California Shakespeare Festival, Guthrie Theatre, more info please visit www.velinabrown.com Award-Winning play, 9 Circles, at Marin Theatre in regional theatres, film and television, as well for Opera San Jose, American Musical Theatre of Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Union Square Production Services Marketing as REP’s productions of The Mousetrap, Noises San Jose, San Jose Repertory Theatre, California Theatre in NYC, Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, La Here’s to honoring history and community. Company. Production Services Marketing Director Coordinator Gabe Marin Off and Rumors. He is a published songwriter Shakespeare Festival, Western Stage Company Jolla Playhouse, Ford’s Theatre in D.C., Mark Taper and the co-writer and composer of numerous (Salinas, CA), Utah Opera (Salt Lake City), The Forum and Tiffany Theatres in L.A., Berkeley Rep, Lynda DiVito (Bev/Kathy) is Toni Kilcoyne Marketing Assistant Kendra Lee Oberhauser* Technical Staff Ariel Brewer music-theatre pieces, which he has directed and Alley Theatre (Houston, TX). Betty’s numerous A Contemporary Theatre and The Intiman Theatre thrilled to be back at Center (Betsy/Lindsey) is delighted Steve Pino Production performed in NY, LA, and at festivals in India and credits as a makeup artist include San Francisco in Seattle, Dance Mission in S.F. , Opera San Jose, REP in Clybourne Park. Other to return to the Center REP John Earls Production Manager Michael Arlen Jeff Collister Morocco. In his career as a performer he has also Opera, San Francisco Ballet, Mark Morris Dance The New York Shakespeare Festival and Center Center REP shows include: stage where she was last Chris Currie Technical danced with the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, Company (Brooklyn, NY), Opera San Jose, and REP. From 1987 to 2009, Near was Artistic Director Lucky Stiff, Status Update, seen in Arms and the Man Kieren McEntee Technical Director portrayed the villainous Pierre LeChance on The American Musical Theatre of San Jose. She is a of San Jose Repertory Theatre. She is the recipient Rumors, Boeing Boeing, She (Louka), Dracula (Mina Garrick Schuster Joshua Lipps Guiding Light, and played guitar and harmonica member of the International Alliance of Theatrical of the Woman of Achievement Award in the Arts Stephen Spleiss Master Electrician Loves Me and All Shook Up. Murray), Noises Off(Poppy) Josh Stouffer Del Medoff in many rock, blues, and country western bands Stage Employees, Motion Picture Technicians and given by the San Jose Mercury News/Women’s Regional credits include, and The Women (various). Recent credits include: Audience Services Carpenters at all the notable dives in NYC. Allied Crafts of the United States and Canada- Fund and also received the Janet Gray Hays Award Hairspray at CCMT, Legally Blonde at DTC, Full QED with Indra’s Net, A Doll’s House at the Willows Audience Svcs Coordinator Matthew Hougey Makeup Artists and Hair Sytlists-Local 706. Betty for Women in Leadership. Courtney Egg Gabriel Johnson Monty at AMTSJ. International and NYC credits Theatre, Down to This at Sleepwalkers Theatre, J. B. Wilson (Scenic Designer) ) returns to Center is a founding member of the Bay Area Costumers Ticket Office Staff Jordan Scott Alliance and an active member of the Costume David A. Young* (Stage Manager) is pleased to include; CATS/Jellylorum, Off Bway; Sheba, the Reduction in Force and Blastosphere at Central Jeremiah Vierling Chris Swartzell REP for Clybourne Park, which is his second collaboration with director Michael Butler. Earlier Commission of the United States Institute for make his Center REP debut with this production of Musical. Oliver at Papermill Playhouse. Lynda was Works, Twelfth Night at Town Hall Theatre, The Robert Nolan Assistant Andrea Toney Stage Manager this season Wilson designed the set for Ella, the Theatre Technology. Clybourne Park. Dave has been the principal Stage the lead singer for one of Amsterdam’s hottest Norman Conquests trilogy at Shotgun Players Jennifer Haga Joe Coe musical. His first design for REP wasWitness for Manager for San Francisco’s Word for Word for dance bands, JamSquare and was the opening and See How We Are at Impact Theatre. She Kiersten Jones Deck Manager the Prosecution (2009) although in 2004 his set many years, running their mainstage productions act for the ‘Weather Girls’ in Koln, Germany. Lynda has also worked at Berkeley Rep, SF Playhouse, Karla Kopfhammer Alex Logemann Britt Lauer Dresser for the Marin Theatre Company / Center REP co- and leading their annual tours to France. Recent holds a degree in theatre from SFSU. Many thanks TheatreFIRST, Precarious Theatre, Playhouse West Usher Coordinator Edie Olson production of Fugitive Kind played the Lesher Word for Word credits include last summer’s In to Michael Butler and the Center REP family. Look and others. Kevin Challand Production Assistants Theatre, while his Theatreworks set for Ragtime Friendship: Stories by Zona Gale and last winter’s for Lynda in Center REP’s upcoming show, The Costumes Cameron Burrill Costume Manager Cameron Lang was adapted for the Hofmann stage. Wilson has You Know When The Men Are Gone. He has stage Real Housewives of Walnut Creek. For L&H&N, the THANK YOU TO: Max Hilsabeck Bryan Marks designed extensively in both national and Bay managed many memorable productions in loves of my life. Antoine Hunter for ASL consultation Assistant Costumer Yelyzaveta Tashkevych Area venues, and is grateful to have been honored the San Francisco Bay Area with Marin Theater Michael A. Berg Administration Teddy & Rick Tabor with many awards for his work. He is a graduate Company, The Magic Theater, California Casting Director Asst. to Managing Director Shakespeare Festival and others since the mid- THANK YOU TO OUR OPENING NIGHT DINNER SPONSORS: Taura Busson Jennifer Perry Gail Pfeifer of Carnegie Mellon University, a member of 1980’s, and has also done work in Colorado, New Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Massimo’s Ristorante Education Program United Scenic Artists Local 829, and a Professor of Education Directors Linda Nomura Theatre Arts at San Francisco State. Examples of Oi-C Bowl Waters Moving and Storage Mexico and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Jeff Draper his past work can be seen at jbwilson.com. Scott’s Seafood Grill and Restaurant Associated Services-Alta Water Kerri Shawn