T h e C h I C A G O P r e m I e r e June 14 – July 17, 2011 Directed by Steve Scott GLOBAL THEATRE FOR A GLOBAL CITY Presented in association with The historic Chicago Temple Building 77 West Washington Street, Chicago www.srtp.org Yellow Face is presented by special TABle Of arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, CONTENTS Inc., New York. Originally produced by the Center Theatre Group, Michael Ritchie, Artistic Director; 3 Cast List and Production Team Charles Dillingham, Managing Director; and The Public Theatre, Oskar Eustis, Director; 4 Cast Bios Mara Manus, Executive Director. 6 Production Bios Yellow Face was first developed at the Lark Play Development Center, New York City, and later was developed in collaboration 10 Dramaturgical Notes with the Stanford Institute for Creativity in by Neal Ryan Shaw the Arts, Stanford University. The Center Theatre Group production of Yellow Face 12 Artistic Ruminations was presented in association with East/ by Jamil Khoury West Players. “Shall We Dance?” 14 Letter from the Founders Music by Richard Rodgers by Malik Gillani and Jamil Khoury Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II This selection is used by special arrangement 15 About Silk Road Theatre Project with The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, www.rnh.com. 16 Company Members and Board of Directors Recording of Dong Folk Songs: People and Nature in Harmony used by permission of Joanna C. Lee and Ken Smith. 17 Sponsor Acknowledgments and Special Thanks The music of the Dong people has been documented in recordings and video footage 18 Supporting Donations by the Western China Cultural Ecology Research Workshop (workshop.ffmm.com), 20 Neighborhood Partners a Hong Kong-based, non-government, non-profit organization dedicated to cultural preservation and socioeconomic development in the region. Its initial recording, Dong Folk Songs: People and Nature in Harmony, was honored in China’s 2003 Ministry of Culture Media Awards and has been broadcast both in Europe and North America. More recently, the Workshop has garnered Travel & Leisure magazine’s 2008 Global Vision Award. 2 Cast PrODuCTIOn LIST TEAM Joseph Anthony Foronda* | HYH Producers | Malik Gillani and Jamil Khoury David Rhee* | DHH Director | Steve Scott** Lydia Berger | Jane, Ensemble Production Stage Manager | Donald E. Claxon* Tanya McBride | Leah Anne Cho, Ensemble Technical Director and Production Manager | Jason Pikscher Christopher Meister | Stuart, Ensemble Scenic Designer | Tom Burch, U.S.A.*** Christopher Popio | NWOAOC, Announcer Lighting Designer | Sarah Hughey Clayton Stamper | Marcus Ghee Costume Designer | Matt Guither Holly Bittinger | Understudy for Jane, Ensemble Sound Designer | Peter J. Storms Gordon Chow | Understudy for HYH, Prop Designer | Jesse Gaffney Ensemble Dramaturg | Neal Ryan Shaw Kevin Barry Crowley | Understudy for Marcus Ghee, Stuart, Ensemble Casting Coordinator | Becca Knights Jillian Jocson | Understudy for Leah Anne Assistant Director | Danny Bernardo Cho, Ensemble Assistant Stage Manager | Kathryn Eckert Erik Kaiko | Understudy for DHH, Ensemble Wardrobe Supervisor | Page Domikaitis Box Office Manager Anothai| Kaewkaen House Manager| Corey Pond Program Editor | Sarah Ibis * Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers. ** The Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union. *** Denotes member of United Scenic Artists, the union of professional designers, artists, and craftspeople. 3 cast bIOS Joseph Anthony Lydia Berger (Jane, En- Foronda (HYH) ap- semble) was previously seen peared in Silk Road Theatre in Silk Road Theatre Project’s Project’s Durango. Other In the Crossing. Chicago Chicago credits include credits include Love’s Labour’s Pacific Overtures at Chicago Lost and Dancing at Lughnasa Shakespeare Theater, The at the Oak Park Festival The- King & I and Miss Saigon at atre, Arms and the Man and Drury Lane Oakbrook, The Romance of Magno The Philanderer at ShawChicago, A Midsummer Rubio at Victory Gardens Theatre, and Frog and Night’s Dream at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s Toad at Chicago Children’s Theatre. Broadway Short Shakespeare, and Pride and Prejudice at the and London credits include Pacific Overtures Northlight Theatre. She has also worked with First (2004 revival,) Miss Saigon, Shogun: The Musical, Folio, Montana Shakespeare, and Artists’ En- and Pacific Overtures at the Donmar Warehouse. semble Theater where she will be seen inCollected Regional credits include Flower Drum Song, Les Stories next spring. Thanks to Jamil, Steve, Malik, Miserables, and The Fantasticks. Love to family, DHH, Christian, and Paonessa Talent! teachers, and friends. David Rhee (DHH) Tanya McBride (Leah New York credits include Anne Cho, Ensemble) is Twelfth Night, Sweet Charity, proud to be working with and the original Broadway Silk Road Theatre Project! production of Thoroughly Chicago credits include Modern Millie. Chicago punkplay at Pavement credits include Kafka on Group, The Fantasticks at the the Shore, Pacifc Overtures, Porchlight Music Theatre, M. Butterfly, and Miss Saigon. Regional credits Mr. Fluxus at The Neo-Futurists,Mirror of the include Thoroughly Modern Millie, Macbeth, The Invisible World at The Goodman Theatre,The Velveteen Rabbit, The Inspector General, Richard Rivals at Polarity Ensemble, as well as productions III, and Around the World in 80 Days. Television with First Folio Theatre, Adventure Stage Chicago, and Film credits include NBC’s Law and Order, Caffeine Theatre, Collaboraction, and Chicago 2003 Tony Awards, The View, and Dak-Ho and Dramatists. McBride received her MFA in Acting Zehra. Thanks to New Trier High School and and New Works Creation from The Ohio State Visceral Dance Center for helping me through University. Special thanks to Gray Talent Group the last year. For my father. for their support! 4 Christopher Meister filmboth/and . His artistry has taken him to other (Stuart, Ensemble) is thrilled great stages, including the Chicago Shakespeare to be making his Silk Road Theatre, Roundabout Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Theatre Project debut. Re- Little Colonel Playhouse, and Joe’s Pub. Stamper cent credits include Grace- received his BFA from Roosevelt University. Big land at the Profiles theatre, Love to Jamil, Malik, Steve, David, Sam, Sandy, Under Construction at The Mom, Dad, and Jay. “The face we choose to show Artistic Home, Death of a the world reveals who we really are.” Salesman with the Hypocrites, and Franz Kafka’s The Castle with Right Brain Theatre. He has played at Sundance, Slamdance, Hamptons, and the Holly Bittinger (Under- HBO Comedy Arts Festival. Other screen credits study for Jane, Ensemble) is include The Dilemma, The Life of David Gale, Ten, excited to be working with The Newton Boys, and The Return of Joe Rich. This Silk Road Theatre Project for winter, Chris can bee seen in The Chicago Code, the first time. Chicago credits Heaven is Hell, and being a dad. All my love to include Liv Hayden in Won- Eviecakes. ders Never Cease at Provision Theater and Jill inEquus at Redtwist Theatre. She is currently enrolled in Christopher Popio The Second City Conservatory. Bittinger earned (NWOAOC, Announcer) her BFA in Acting from Emerson College. Many has acted on many Chicago thanks to her family for their unwavering support. stages, most recently with TUTA Theatre inThe Wed- ding and Uncle Vanya. Other Gordon Chow favorites credits include The (Understudy for HYH, Exonerated at Serendipity Ensemble) returns to Silk Theatre,Hizzoner at Prop Theatre,The Fourth Road Theatre Project where Sister at Trap Door Theatre,Sons of Liberty at he understudied in Durango Breadline Theatre,Sylvia at Buffalo Theatre and Golden Child. He was Ensemble, and The Sand Castle at Theatre Seven. last seen on stage performing He has also appeared in numerous national and in Jade Heart with Chicago regional commercials, films, and television shows. Dramatists. Chow has also worked with Lifeline Originally from New Jersey, Popio is also a writer Theatre, Prop Theatre, Griffin Theatre, and and photographer. Much love to the wolverine. Defiant Theatre. Clayton Stamper (Marcus Kevin Barry Crowley Ghee, Ensemble) is thrilled (Understudy for Marcus to return to Silk Road Ghee, Stuart, Ensemble) is Theatre Project forYellow delighted to be working with Face. Previous SRTP credits Silk Road Theatre Project for include The DNA Trail and the first time. He has been Talib, as well as SRTP’s seen at The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Shake- 5 (CASTbios continued) PrODuCTIOn TeAm speare Theater, Goodman Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre, The House Theatre, Route bIOS 66 Theatre Company, and most recently with Filament Theatre Ensemble, and others. He is represented by Shirley Hamilton Inc., and would like to thank his lovely fiancée Leslie for romance! Jillian Jocson (Under- Malik Gillani study for Leah Anne Cho, (Producer) is Founding Ensemble) is thrilled to Executive Director of Silk become a part of the Silk Road Theatre Project. He Road Theatre Project fam- is thrilled to be advancing ily! Credits include Miss both the rich cultural Saigon at the Drury Lane legacy of the Silk Road in Oakbrook, Aladdin at and greater visibility for the Chicago Shakespeare Silk Road artists. Gillani nurtured Silk Road Theatre, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at Theatre Project from its embryonic stage into a The Gift Theater,Kama Sutra: The Musical at celebrated theatre company, integrating business the Royal George Theatre,The Golden Mickeys acumen and fiscal responsibility within an for Disney Cruise Line, and The King and ,I A artistic mission. He established SRTP’s arts Wonderful Life, and Phantom at the Porchlight integrated education program, which has been Music Theater. Much love to her family and heralded as one of the finest elementary school friends for their continued support! arts education programs in the Chicago Public Schools system. Gillani is the recipient of the IBM Business and Technology Leadership Erik Kaiko (Un- Award and was honored by Changing Worlds derstudy for DHH, for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts.