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Home , Dessa Rose (musical), Lucky Stiff, Lynn Ahrens, Something for the Boys, Stephen Flaherty, The Glorious Ones

CENTER REPERTORY OF WALNUT CREEK Michael Butler, Artistic Director Scott Denison, Managing Director presents

Book and Lyrics by Music by Based on “The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo” By Michael Butterworth First Produced by , Inc. Off-Broadway in 1988 Scenic Designer Costume Designer Lighting Designer Kelly Tighe Christine Crook Kurt Landisman Sound Designer Stage Manager Prop Master Lew Mead Wesley Apfel* Megan Lush Assoc. Sound Designer Dialect Coach Lyle Barrere Cynthia Bassham Cast Tielle Baker Taylor Jones Benjamin Pither* Evan Boomer Marcus Klinger Joel Roster Lynda DiVito Dani Marcus* Colin Thomson* Keith Pinto* Directed and Choreographed by Robert Barry Fleming Musical Direction by Brandon Adams is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New Yrok, NY 10019 Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MTIShows.com Margaret Lesher Theatre August 31 - October 7, 2012 Lesher Center for the Arts Season Season Partner Season Media Sponsor Foundation Sponsor Sponsor

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States The Lighting Designer is a member of United Scenic Artists Union Center REP is a member of Theatre Bay Area and Theatre Communications Group (TCG), The National Organization for the American Theatre CAST holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from California State and Becoming Britney (K-Fed/Justin Timberlake) at the CREATIVE TEAM Brandon Adams (Musical Director) is thrilled to Lyle Barrere (Associate Sound Designer) is thrilled Unviersity, East Bay, and is a proud member of International Fringe Festival in NYC, Center REP and be working on this production of Lucky Stiff. He to be returning to Center REP! Beginning his theatre Woman #1...... Tielle Baker Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble. He hopes you The Retro Dome. Pinto is co-founder of the SF based Lynn Ahrens (Book and Lyrics) is a lyricist, librettist has MD’ed three Bay Area premiers: Jason Robert career in the 5th grade, Lyle has worked almost 200 Man #2...... Evan Boomer enjoy drop dead hilarity of Lucky Stiff! hip hop crew Felonious which creates original music and author. She is the recipient of the Tony Award, Brown’s Last Five Years at Playhouse West, David shows for many professional companies in the Bay Rita La Porta...... Lynda DiVito and theater. With Felonious Pinto choreographed and the Emmy, London’s Olivier Award, Drama Desk, Henry Hwang’s revised version of Flower Drum Song Area and Los Angeles as a producer, director, sound or Woman #2...... Taylor Jones Lynda DiVito (Rita La Porta) is appeared in Stateless: A Hip Hop Vaudeville (The Pinto) Outer Critics Circle Award and a Gold Record. She at Woodminster Summer Musicals, and Musical of lighting designer, and stage manager. His sound design Man #1...... Marcus Klinger thrilled to return to Center REP at Jewish Theater SF, Angry Black White Boy (Guy) at has been nominated for two , two Musicals, the Musical! (BATTC award) at Center REP. for (2003, Willows Theatre Company) was this season in Lucky Stiff. Other Intersection for the Arts SF and Beatbox: A Raparetta Golden Globes, three Grammys and four Emmys. For Favorite credits include: Funny Girl, Girl Crazy, Me and nominated for a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award Annabel Glick...... Dani Marcus* Broadway, she wrote lyrics for , My Favorite and his design of The Solid Gold Cadillac (2004, Willows Harry Witherspoon...... Keith Pinto* Center REP credits include; Claire (Zack) at the NYC Hip Hop Theater Festival. Felonious My Girl, Too Many Girls, and Something for the Boys. has recorded numerous albums and performed shows Year, :The Dancer’s Life, and both book and Recently, he has worked on Xanadu at Center REP and Theatre Company) was nominated for a Shellie Award. A Vincent Di Ruzzio...... Benjamin Pither* in Rumors, Bertha in Boeing Boeing, graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, with She Loves Me and Mayor Mathilda with Black Eyed Peas, De La Soul, LL Cool J, The Roots, lyrics for , and A Christmas Oh, Kay! at . The Dead Body of Anthony Hendon.... Joel Roster Carol (Madison Square Garden). Off-Broadway: a degree in Physics, he enjoys hiking and scuba diving Luigi Gaudi...... Colin Thomson* in All Shook Up. Other Bay Area and Erykah Badu. www.feloniouslive.com Lyrics for A Man of Importance and book and lyrics Kelly Tighe (Scenic Designer) Off Broadway:The when not in the theatre. He was awarded the Eagle Scout credits include; Paulette in Legally Blonde at DTC, Velma Award from BSA Troop 204. Lyle is the Founding Artistic Benjamin Pither* (Vincent Di for and The Glorious One (all produced by Fantasticks, Almost Heaven, HEAT WAVE: the Jack in at CCMT The Full Monty at AMTSJ, In this Theater), and Lucky Stiff (Playwrights Director of the HOOLIGAN Theatre Company, which TIME and PLACE House at Playhouse West. NYC Off Bway/ International/ Ruzzio) returns to Center REP, Cole Project (world premiere, Dir Chet Walker), provides theatre experiences to college students of all having appeared in All Shook Up Horizons). Feature film: Lyrics for (Twentieth Blanche Survives Katrina In A Fema Trailer Named regional credits include; /Jellylorum. Off Broadway Century Fox), Camp, After the Storm and others. majors. www.LyleBarrere.com Sheba/Leah. Oliver at Papermill Playhouse. Fiddler on (Dennis) for which he received Desire, The Time of Mendel’s Trouble. Vegas: Triumph Time: Present Television: Mainstay songwriter and singer for the at the Las Vegas Hilton. National tours: Cats, Movin’ Place: East Grinstead and various locations in the Roof at Riverside Theatre. Lynda toured throughout Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Wesley Apfel* (Stage Manager) returns to Center REP and Shellie Award nominations. renowned animated series, Schoolhouse Rock; musical Out, Shear Madness, Almost Heaven, Mooseltoe. England, New Jersey, and Monte Carlo. in Europe in various different shows and was the lead teleplay, A Christmas Carol (Hallmark Entertainment/ after working on Xanadu earlier this year. Recently: Night singer for JamSquare, one of Holland’s premiere dance He most recently performed at Regional: Dreamgirls, My Way, , The Full Monty, Over Erzinga (Golden Thread), A Christmas Carol (STC), Berkeley Playhouse in both Lucky Duck (Drake) NBC); she has created, written and produced many Jesus Christ Superstar (Gateway Playhouse); Beauty/ bands. Lynda is a recipient of the BATCC award and network shows for young audiences. Publishing: Her Once in a Million Moons (42nd Street Moon). Other Shellie Award. For L&H&N. and Seussical (Horton) for which he also received Beast, Grease, , The Who’s Tommy, (Contra favorite credits include: The Boys From Syracuse, The THE SONGS short stories and essays have appeared nationally and Costa ); , Kiss Me Kate, Joseph/ Graduate, Festen (Broadway); Mother Courage and Her a BATCC nomination. Other recent credits include have been nominated for Best American Essays and Taylor Jones (Woman #2) is so Rags (Saul) at Willows and Strike Up the Band Dreamcoat (Ohio’s Carousel Dinner Theater); West Children (with Meryl Streep); On the Town, 1776, Kiss Me Act I the Pushcart Anthology. She serves on the Dramatists Side Story, The Scarlet Pimpernel (Diablo Light Opera Kate (Paper Mill Playhouse); Art, See Rock City and Other grateful to be a part of such a (McNally) at 42nd Street Moon. Favorite theatrical Guild Council of America and co-chairs the Dramatists roles include Bobby Strong in (Altarena Co.); Around the World In 80 Days, The Pavilion, Destinations (Barrington Stage); Carousel (Carnegie Hall); Something Funny’s Going On...... Company wonderful cast! She has been Guild Fellows Program for emerging writers. 2008 acting in the Walnut Creek Playhouse), Ethan in Based on a Totally True Story Picasso at the Lapin Agile, A Christmas Carol (Center the original NY productions of Gutenberg the Musical!, Mr. Witherspoon’s Friday Night...... Harry, marked her twenty-fifth year of collaboration with Repertory Co.). Mr. Tighe served as resident Scenic Bat Boy, The Musical of Musicals, Little Fish, Cycling Past area for the past two years and (New Conservatory Theatre Center), Gordon in A composer Stephen Flaherty...... Landlady, Boarders loving every second of it! She New Brain(Custom Made Theatre Company), Larry designer for Michigan’s Cherry County Playhouse, the Matterhorn, and The Thing About Men. Production Rita’s Confession...... Rita, Vinnie has appeared in CCMT’s in Mr. Marmalade (Custom Made), and Aguecheeck and Center REP in the San Francisco Bay Area. Supervisor and five years as Stage Manager for the SPF Good to Be Alive...... Harry, Luigi, Stephen Flaherty (Music) writes music for theater, Television: Sunday Night Woah! (starring Mo Rocca) Summer Play Festival. (Mimi), Little Shop of Horrors (Crystal), Center REP’s in Twelfth Night at California Shakespeare Theatre film, recordings and the concert stage. He is perhaps ...... Women, Waiter, Man on Train Smokey Joe’s Café (Brenda), DTCs Legally Blonde (understudy, performed). Numerous film/web- for Animal Planet, several spots for Verizon, Kit Lucky...... Harry best known as the composer of the Broadway Kat, Disney, and the Oxygen network. Awards and Megan Lush (Prop Master) “All the world’s a stage, and (Pilar). Most recently she was seen as Wendla in spot/commercial credits and proud recipient of musicals Ragtime (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics I am here to make it look good.” Megan Lush works as Dogs Versus You...... Annabel, Harry Off Center’s production of Spring Awakening. She Theatre Bay Area’s TITAN Award. Benjamin earned recognitions: Northern California’s “Shellie”, Drama- The Phone Call...... Vinnie Circle Awards, two Grammy nominations), Seussical Logue, and the S.F. Bay Area’s Critic’s Circle. a production artist all over the Bay Area. She has been would like to send lots of love to her family and his BA in Theatre Arts from Brandeis University (Grammy and Drama Desk nominations), Once on involved in the fabulous world of theatre for over 10 Monte Carlo...... Emcee friends and thank them for all their support. with Highest Honors. Speaking French...... Dominque, Harry, Chorus This Island (Tony nomination, Olivier Award for Christine Crook (Costume Designer) has years and film for 3. She is in LOVE with art in every form, London’s Best Musical) and also contributed music designed costumes for theatre, dance, and opera and it is her mission to learn how to do it all. Her recent Times Like This...... Annabel Marcus Klinger (Man #1) is Joel Roster (The Dead Body to Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life (original songs) and projects include doing props for Annie and Willy Wonka Monte Carlo (Reprise)...... Emcee of Anthony Hendon) is deeply in the Bay Area with companies like the Aurora humbled and grateful to be making Neil Simon’s Proposals (incidental music). He has also Theatre, Shotgun Players, Marin Theatre Company, at the Berkeley Playhouse, True West and Little Shop of Fancy Meeting You Here...... Rita his Center REP debut, and couldn’t honored to take part in this, his written four musicals which have been produced at Horrors at the Boxcar Theatre. She makes it her business Good to Be Alive...... Harry, Luigi, Two Ladies, first musical with Center REP. Ensemble Parallèle, Magic Theatre, Boxcar Theatre, wish for a better cast or creative Lincoln Center Theatre: (Outer Critics San Francisco Playhouse, UC Berkeley, and Just to bring visions to life. “There are no small parts, only ...... Gambler, Croupier team. Although he performed Over the last eight years, REP Circle and Drama Desk nominations), Dessa Rose small dreams, and the world of theatre is no place for audiences have seen him as Theater. She has an MFA in costume design from small dreams!” locally as a child, his true journey (Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations), the University of California, San Diego and is the Act II began the day he became a proud several characters in A Christmas A Man of No Importance (Outer Critics Circle Award recipient of a 2011 SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Cynthia Bassham (Dialect Coach) is pleased to be member of Fantasy Forum Actor’s Ensemble, where 7 Carol, as well as A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Snug), for Best Musical, Drama Desk nomination) and My Circle Award. Something Funny’s Going On (Reprise)...... Company seasons of magic spells, pirate ships, and lost princesses and he’ll be appearing in Center REP’s next show- Favorite Year. Other theater scores include Lucky Stiff returning to Center REP where she previously coached Him, Them, It, Her?...... Company taught him how to find his heart on-stage. He holds a -Status Update. A recipient of two Shellie Awards and Loving Repeating: A Musical of How the Other Half Loves and Noises Off. Other Nice...... Annabel, Harry Kurt Landisman (Lighting Designer) Local productions and theatres include Pride and Prejudice Shellie Award for his performance as Max Bialystock in (Best Supporting Actor In A Musical, South Pacific, (Chicago’s Jefferson Award for Best New Musical). audiences will be familiar with his work through Harry’s Nightmare...... Company (DTC), and most recently, a BATTC Award CCMT; Best Actor in a Play, Someone Who’ll Watch and Well (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Ridiculous Film credits include Anastasia (Academy Award past productions designed for Center REP Fraud, Hamlet and The Real Thing (South Coast A Woman in My Bathroom...... Harry for the portrayal of Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, directed Over Me, DAE) and several more nominations, Mr. nominations for Best Score and Best Song, two including Xanadu, Arms and the Man, Blues in the Nice (Reprise)...... Rita Roster has appeared with Ray of Light Theatre, Repertory), Blue Shade (Transversal Theatre Company), by Scott Denison (CCMT). He is finishing his first play, Golden Globe nominations and a gold record for its Night, Dracula, She Loves Me, Noises Off, All Shook Stones in His Pockets (Sixth Street Playhouse), Escape Confession #2...... Tony, Rita, Harry, Annabel “Tonight. Johnny’s Guest, ” and wishes Town Hall Theatre, Diablo Actors Ensemble, SHN, soundtrack), (original score and Up, , Ain’t Misbehavin’, Musical of Musicals and many others over his last twelve years as an from Happiness, The Bacchae, West Side Story, Measure Good to Be Alive...... Company to thank Kerri, Joe, and especially his wife Katie for songs) and the documentary After The Storm. Concert (The Musical!), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The for Measure, Uncle Vanya, Midsummer Night’s Dream, making this life possible. actor and director in the Bay Area. He currently work includes commissions from the Boston Pops, Mousetrap, How the Other Half Loves, Around the , Urinetown, Fetes de la Nuit, Sunday in the serves as the Director of Education for Town Hall Carnegie Hall and the Guggenheim Museum. “The World in 80 Days, and Fugitive Kind. His designs Park with George, Music Man, Under Milk Wood, Our Town, CAST BIOGRAPHIES Dani Marcus* (Annabel Glick) is Theatre in Lafayette, where he will be directing Ahrens and Flaherty Songbook,” a print anthology, is have been seen throughout the Bay Area at Kiss Me Kate, and many other productions (University of so pleased to be returning to the the Bay Area premiere of Aaron Sorkin’s The available through Alfred Music. His songs have been many theaters including San Francisco Opera, California, Irvine). Cynthia teaches at UC Irvine as well Tielle Baker (Woman #1) has Center REP stage where she was Farnsworth Invention, opening in February 2013. recorded by , Johnny Mathis, Richard Marx and ACT, Berkeley Rep, San Jose Rep, Theatreworks, as a variety of institutions in the Bay Area. She received been singing and dancing on last seen as June/Juney-Fay/Junita/ He resides in Lafayette with his fiance Virginia, and Donna Lewis, Renee Fleming and Bryn Terfel, Donny California Shakespeare Festival, The Magic Theatre, her MFA from American Conservatory Theater and is a stage for the past 24 years. Juny in The Musical of Musicals wishes to dedicate this show to his grandmother, Osmond, Thalia and Deana Carter, among others. and Marin Theatre Company. Locally his work proud member of VASTA (Voice and Speech Trainers Tielle has hit high notes in the Musical! She created the role who would’ve loved it. Mr. Flaherty serves on the Dramatists Guild Council, has garnered 16 Bay Area Critics Circle Awards, Association). The Kennedy Center, Carnegie of Harriet Smith in Jane Austen’s where he co-chairs the Dramatists Guild Fellows 5 LA Dramalogue Awards and 4 Shellie Awards. Hall, and in International Music Emma at TheatreWorks, and has continued on with Colin Thomson* (Luigi Gaudi) Program for emerging writers with Lynn Ahrens, his Nationally, his work has been seen at many regional Joe Coe (Assistant Stage Manager) This is Joe’s fifth Festivals in Italy and Germany. the show to several regional theatres including the was last seen at Center Rep in longtime writing partner. opera & ballet companies, including the Los season with Center REP and he couldn’t be happier to She graduated from the University of the Pacific 2011 award-winning production at The Old Globe. the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Angeles Opera, Minnesota Opera, Virginia Opera, be a part of such an amazing team of professionals and with a Bachelor in Music. Her favorite roles Other regional credits include: The 25th Annual Putnam Award and Shellie Award winning Robert Barry Fleming (Director/Choreographer) Tulsa Opera, and Ballet Arizona. His designs have friends! Joe has had the pleasure of working with such include Hope Cladwell (San Jose Stage), Rapunzel County Spelling Bee with San Jose Rep; Beggar’s Holiday production of All Shook Up. Previous Center REP directing and choreographic credits also been presented off-Broadway, represented at companies as Berkeley Repertory Theatre, American (TheatreWorks) and Grace Farrell (Diablo Theatre with Marin Theatre Company (Bay Area Theatre Critics local performances include All in the include Ain’t Misbehavin’ (2010 Shellie Award for Circle Rep, and the Douglas Fairbanks Theatres. Conservatory Theatre, Summer Repertory Theatre, Co). When not on stage she works with young Circle Award); and San Francisco’s long running Beach Timing and The Voice of the Prairie Best Direction of a Musical), All Shook Up (2010 San Other designs internationally include world Suicide Kings touring production of In Spite of Everything, performers as a Vocal Instructor, Music Director, Blanket Babylon. Dani’s credits include: with Center Rep, as well as Noises Off and Mountain Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for Boston Conservatory, SpeakEasy Stage Company, and premieres of plays by Sam Shepard in Japan, and Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre. Joe would like to thank all of and Dance Teacher with Music Box Theatre Co. Drama Desk nominated The Pirates of Penzance with Days with Willows Theatre Company. He most recently Best Direction of a Musical), She Loves Me (2011 San Singapore, as well as the San Francisco Opera in made his Symmetry Theatre debut in Emilie: La Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award and his colleagues here at the LCA for a great season and for She finds teaching rewarding and enjoys helping The National Yiddish Theatre; River’s End in the New Shanghai, China, and the Moscow Circus in Tokyo, making it such a joy to work here! others find their own voice. www.tiellebaker.com York Musical Theatre Festival; and Civil War Voices in Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight. He may 2011 Shellie Award for Best Direction of a Musical), Japan. be best known for his appearance on NBC’s Trauma. Blues in the Night, and Smokey Joe’s Café. Other the 2010 Midtown International Theatre Festival. She Alex Logemann (Deck Manager) is celebrating his Evan Boomer (Man #2) is thrilled would like to express her love and gratitude to her Colin has performed with American Conservatory directing/choreography credits Lydia Diamond’s Lew Mead (Sound Designer) Broadway Credits Stick Fly (Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company), The 34th show backstage with Center REP. Alex has been to be back with Center REP for this mom, Tijuana Sprecher and her mentor, Jon Call. Theater, TheatreWorks, San Francisco Shakespeare include: Tom Sawyer, The King and I, Urinetown and backstage for ten seasons and is beyond pleased to production of Lucky Stiff! Recent Festival, San Jose Repertory Theatre, San Jose Stage Little Dog Laughed (The Diversionary Theatre), Erik Wonderful Town. Touring credits include A Chorus be involved with such an amazing group. Alex has also credits with Center REP include: Keith Pinto* (Harry Witherspoon) Company, AMT of San Jose, Symphony Silicon Valley, Ehn’s The Saint Plays (including the world premiere of Line, Dreamgirls and recently Julie Andrew’s new crewed shows for Contra Costa Musical Theatre and with Terpiscore- Xanadu, Hanschen graduated from the Pacific Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Idaho Shakespeare Festvial Assent/Irish Love Ray) at The University of San Diego’s musical The Gift of Music. Founder and owner of Diablo Theatre Company. Alex is a proud member of the - Spring Awakening (Off Center), Conservatory of the Performing and others. Career favorites include Dirty Blonde Theatre Arts and Performance Studies Department Autograph A2D a distribution company located in Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble. He is very thankful for Young Scrooge- A Christmas Arts. He toured Europe and North with Portland Center Stage and Company with Marin where Robert was Chair and a tenured Associate New York with offices in London. Autograph A2D our community and the fun it provides. “Teamwork is Carol, The Waiter - She Loves Me. Other recent America with Fame the Musical. Theatre Company. He has been a proud member of Professor. Robert recently was the Assistant Director distributes Digico Theater products and Ljudesign the ability to work together toward a common vision. credits include: Peter Pinkerton - Pinkalicious, He appeared in the world premier Actors’ Equity Association for over 15 years. More at for The Music Man at the Arena Stage in Washington, Scandinavia Loud Speakers. The ability to direct individual accomplishment toward the Musical (Bay Area Children’s Theater), The of Fly By Night (Joey Storms) at colinthomson.com. D.C. as the recipient of the Society of Directors organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows Customer - Little Shop of Horrors and Al DeLuca - Theatreworks as well as Scapin (Gendarme) at A.C.T. and Choreographers Foundation’s Charles Abbott common people to attain uncommon results.” Andrew (Contra Costa Musical Theatre). He God’s Ear (G.I.Joe/Flight Attendant) at Shotgun Players Fellowship. Carnegie Michael Butler (Artistic Director) This is Michael’s Scott Denison (Managing Director) has been a OUR SPONSORS seventh season as Artistic Director of Center REP, leader in the Arts for 37 years for Walnut Creek and where his directing credits include A Number, Chevron (Season Sponsor) has been the leading the surrounding communities. Under Denison’s corporate sponsor of Center REP and the Lesher Center Dracula, Boeing-Boeing and To Kill a Mockingbird, guidance for the last 21 years as General Manager for for the Arts for the past years. In fact, Chevron has as well as the Shellie and BATCC Award-winning the Lesher Center for the Arts, he oversees over 850 been a partner of the LCA since the beginning, providing productions of Around the World in 80 Days, Picasso at public events each year. He coordinates performing funding for capital improvements, event sponsorships the Lapin Agile, The Marriage of Figaro, How the Other arts activities with over 85 producers and producing and more. Chevron generously supports every Center Half Loves, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Enchanted REP show throughout the season, and is the primary organizations. He is also the Managing Director sponsor for events including the Chevron Family Theatre April, and Witness For The Prosecution. His directing of the Center REPertory Company producing 8 Festival in July. Chevron has proven itself not just as a work has also been seen at San Jose Rep, Cleveland professional productions each season; and is the generous supporter, but also a valued friend of the arts. Playhouse, Seattle Rep, Laguna Playhouse, ACT in director and co-founder of Fantasy Forum Actors Seattle, Marin Theatre Company, Aurora Theatre Ensemble, an adult family performing arts company Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA) (Season Company, San Jose Stage, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Partner) is both the primary fundraising organization which presents programs for the young and Young of the Lesher Center for the Arts (LCA) and the City of and The Juilliard School, of which he is a graduate. As at Heart. Scott directed CCMT’s hits Disney’s Beauty Walnut Creek’s appointed curator for the LCA’s audience an actor, Michael has worked on Broadway and off, in and the Beast and Rogers and Hammerstein’s outreach. DRAA’s role in the community is all about regional theatres, film and television, as well as REP’s building partnerships with the focused goal of enhancing productions of The Mousetrap, Noises Off and Rumors. Cinderella, Hairspray, and for the past 13 seasons artistic quality at the LCA and providing opportunities for He is a published songwriter and the co-writer and Center REP’s A Christmas Carol. Denison has directed everyone to enjoy the arts. Through partnerships with the composer of numerous music-theatre pieces, which over 150 productions including most recently REP’s LCA and its producers, individual donors, corporate and The Lady with all the Answers starring Kerri Shawn. In foundation sponsors and the City of Walnut Creek, DRAA he has directed and performed in NY, LA, and at plays a vital role in advancing the arts for the betterment festivals in India and Morocco. In his career as a 1979 he created the Shellie Awards, which annually of the community. Please visit us online at www.draa.org. performer he has also danced with the Erick Hawkins honors outstanding performing arts achievement Dance Company, portrayed the villainous Pierre in Contra Costa County. In 2007 he created the Contra Costa Times (Season Media Sponsor) In the LeChance on The Guiding Light, and played guitar Chevron Family Theatre Festival bringing adult East Bay, the largest newspaper of the Bay Area News nationally acclaimed performances together for Group is the Contra Costa Times and its sister editions, and harmonica in many rock, blues, and country the West County Times, Valley Times, San Ramon Valley western bands at all the notable dives in NYC. one day performing to over 7,000 guests of all ages. Times and East County Times. The Times, was judged the best newspaper in its circulation category in the state five times in a six-year period by the California THANK YOU TO OUR Newspaper Publishers Association. In 2005, it won the THE CREW prestigious national Freedom of Information Award OPENING NIGHT DINNER SPONSORS: from Associated Press Managing Editors. And, in 2007, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Deck Crew it was honored by the California Newspaper Publishers Breanna Mack Association for its leadership on public records. Oi-C Bowl Rosalind Neisinger Scott’s Seafood Grill and Restaurant Judson Rogers Lesher Foundation (Foundation Sponsor) Since 1994, the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation has awarded grants Grant Strain totaling more than $40 million and reaching citizens in all Dressers parts of Contra Costa County. True to the original wishes Center REPertory Company Claire McMahon of Dean and Margaret Lesher, the Foundation continues Sarah Mendez to build on the strengths of the community by supporting organizations and programs that provide help and support Managing Director - Scott Denison Follow Spot Operators to people in need; enhance and enrich the lives of all Artistic Director - Michael Butler John Valentine citizens; and promote a healthy and exciting future for the Dane Young community. Established in 1989, the Foundation received Dance Captain its principal assets from Dean Lesher’s estate in 1993 and Production Services Marketing 1995. In 1997, an additional endowment from Dean Keith Pinto Lesher’s estate followed the death of Margaret Lesher. A Production Svcs Marketing Director significant and final bequest from Mr. Lesher’s estate was Coordinator Gabe Marin received in 2003. As a family foundation, support for the Contra Costa community will be carried on by the next Toni Kilcoyne Marketing Assistant THE BAND generation of family members. Grant-making decisions Technical Staff Ariel Ford are based on the vision of Dean and Margaret Lesher who felt quality education, diverse art programs, and healthy Steve Pino Education Woodwinds.....Tim Devine or Steven Logoteta children and families are the building blocks of a strong John Earls Education Directors and vibrant community. The Leshers defined the “spirit of Trombone...... Chris Vincenti giving” as “investing in the community and its people.” By Michael Arlen Jeff Draper Bass...... Danny Min or Aaron Shaul providing financial support and direction in these critical Devon Ausman Kerri Shawn areas, the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation is investing Keyboard...... Brandon Adams every day, every week and every year in the health and Chris Currie Casting Director Percussion...... Erika Johnson well-being of this county that Dean and Margaret so loved. Mitch Kell Jennifer Perry ABOUT CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY Garrick Schuster Production Stephen Spleiss Production Manager Center REP is the resident, professional theatre company CITY COUNCIL of the Lesher Center for the Arts. Our season consists of Josh Stouffer Jeff Collister Bob Simmons, Mayor eight productions a year – a variety of musicals, dramas Audience Services Technical Kristina Lawson and comedies, both classic and contemporary, that Kish Rajan continually strive to reach new levels of artistic excellence Audience Svcs Technical Director Cindy Silva and professional standards. Coordinator Joshua Lipps Gary Skrel Our mission is to celebrate the power of the human Courtney Egg Master Electrician CITY MANAGER ARTS COMMISSION imagination by producing emotionally engaging, Ken Nordhoff Carol Fowler, Chair intellectually involving, and visually astonishing live Ticket Office Staff Ray Oppenheimer DIRECTOR Joe Bologna, Vice Chair theatre, and through Outreach and Education programs, Jeremiah Vierling Carpenters Arts, Recreation and Polly Bradbury to enrich and advance the cultural life of the communities Community Services Glynnis Cowdery we serve. Caitlin Downing Daniel Casini Barry Gordon Jane Emanuel Hillary Pearsall Jordan Scott What does it mean to be a producing theatre? We hire the finest professional directors, actors and designers to Kiersten Jones Cameron Swartzell create our productions at Center REP. These are not touring productions – they’re conceived and developed here, the Karla Kopfhammer Chris Swartzell sets and costumes are built in our shops, and the actors Britt Lauer Assistant rehearse in our rehearsal hall. Whether the production is a Bay Area premiere or a Shakespearean classic, each is Sadé Robinson Stage Manager devised to be a one of a kind, artistic creation that will be a Andrea Toney Joe Coe unique theatre experience for our audience. Usher Coordinator Deck Manager What does it mean to be a professional theatre? It Jason Pedroza Alex Logemann means that all our artists and artisans are career theatre- ADDITIONAL THANKS TO: practitioners. Many of the actors in this production are Costumes Administration Massimo’s Ristorante members of Actors’ Equity Association; many of our Costume Manager Asst. to Managing Walnut Creek Baking Company directors and designers are members of professional unions. All do theatre because it is their profession and Michael A. Berg Director Waters Moving and Storage Associated Services-Alta Water their . Assistant Costumers Gail Pfeifer Shannon and Mike Demers We are very proud to have the opportunity to produce Max Hilsabeck Program Hyatt Summerfield Suites professional theatre for our community in the beautiful Matthew O’Connor Linda Nomura Contra Costa Musical Theatre theatres here at the Lesher Center for the Arts. Thank you for your support!