Mainstage Playbill

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. THE COTTAGE by Sandy Rustin CAST Beau...... Greg Balla* Clarke...... Drew Hirshfield* Marjorie...... Tracie Lane* Richard...... Casey Predovic* Sylvia...... Hanley Smith* Dierdre...... Anna Stefanic*

Scenic Designer Costume Designer Andrea Bechert Abby Parker Lighting Designer Sound Designer Thom Beaulieu Thom Korp

Stage Manager Roy Johns*

Directed by Jason Cannon

Season Underwriters Patricia Kordis, Dennis & Graci McGillicuddy, Patrick & Mary Mulva, Anne H.S. Nethercott

Setting | A quaint, family–owned cottage in the English Countryside, about 90 minutes outside of London.

* Denotes member Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the . ARTIST PROFILES GREG BALLA (Beau) Off CASEY PREDOVIC (Richard) Broadway: Straight, Blue Man Off-Broadway: Orwell In Group, You Can’t Kiss a Movie. America (59E59); Lost and Regional credits include: Miss Found (Lucille Lortel); The Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley Man Who Had All the Luck, The (Pioneer Theatre Co.); Only Magistrate (TACT). NYC: All Fall a Kingdom w/ Betty Buckley Down (NYMF), Violent Child (John Drew Theatre at Guild (EST), Happy’s Funeral, Sybil’s Hall); Ether Dome (La Jolla, Hartford, Huntington); Last Show, Dawn, workshop – The Land Where the Into the Woods; By The Way, Meet Vera Stark (Lyric King is a Child (La MaMa). Regional: Our Town, Letting Stage Co.); Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (Bad Go (Northern Stage); Just Like Us ( Center); Habit Prod.); and Ragtime (Fiddlehead Theatre Co). The Foreigner (Repertory Theatre STL); Adventures Mr. Balla is a graduate of Fordham University Lincoln of Tom Sawyer (Hartford Stage); Fly (ASF); Theory Center. imGregBalla.com. IG:imGregBalla. of Everything (Lake George), Monomoy Theatre DREW HIRSHFIELD (Clarke) 13 seasons. TV: Blue Bloods, Elementary, Person of FST: Cherry Docs, Hand to Interest, Good Wife. BFA, UNCSA. God. Regional credits include HANLEY SMITH (Sylvia) is plays at Magic Theater, thrilled to be making her Huntington Theatre Company, FST debut! Credits include: Geva Theatre Center, The Last Five Years (Syracuse Premiere Stages, American Stage, directed by Jason Conservatory Theater, New Alexander); In the Next Harmony Theatre, Alley Theatre, Shakespeare Santa Room (Gulfshore Playhouse); Cruz, among others. New York credits include new Venus In Fur and Les Mis (The plays with Ensemble Studio Theatre, Collaboration Fulton); Major Barbara (Portland Center Stage); Town, New York Stage & Film, 59E59 Theaters. She Loves Me (Gretna Theatre); and The Glass Broadway National Tour: The Lion King. He teaches Menagerie (Pioneer Theatre). Hanley is also a proud acting at New York Film Academy. He earned his MFA member of the folk trio, A Band Called Honalee. from American Conservatory Theater. hanleysmith.com. @backstagehanley. TRACIE LANE (Marjorie) ANNA STEFANIC (Dierdre) is Juilliard: Pelagiya in Queens, thrilled to be back at FST after Marlene in Top Girls, Dorine performing in Guitar Girls in Tartuffe. Shakespeare: Joan earlier this year! Other favorite la Pucelle in Henry VI Part 1 credits include Once (Mad Cow (Utah Shakespeare Festival); Theatre), I And You (Kitchen Olivia in Twelfth Night Theatre Company), In Praise (Tennessee Shakespeare Co.); Of Elephants (Ancram Opera Rosalind in As You Like It, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, House), The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini (Speakeasy Helena in All’s Well That Ends Well, Portia in Merchant Dollhouse), we are destroyed (New York Theatre of Venice (American Shakespeare Center); Lady Workshop reading), Beneath The Gavel (54 Below), Macbeth in Macbeth, Viola in Twelfth Night ( A Marriage Contract (Metropolitan Playhouse). Her Shakespeare Festival). Regional: Mrs. Givings original singer-songwriter album “Warrior” and in In the Next Room (Stages Repertory Theatre); poetry collection “Flytrap” can both be found online. Yelena in Uncle Vanya (Classical Theatre Company). IG:tracielane48. ARTIST PROFILES JASON CANNON (Director) is an Associate Artist several Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards (most at FST, where his responsibilities include directing, recently for Fun Home), a Denver Ovation Award, teaching, New Play Development, and the Acting and international Falstaff Award nomination, and Apprentice Program. Shows directed at FST include: many others. Andrea teaches design for Theatre Marvelous Wonderettes, Hand to God, A Gentleman’s & Film at San Jose State University and is a proud Guide to Love and Murder, Snow White, Peter Pan, member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829. A Beary Big Adventure & Other Winning Plays, ABBY PARKER (Costume Designer) returns to Other People’s Money, The Boy Who Liked Pulling Sarasota for her second show, after designing Rich Hair, Constellations, How to Use a Knife, Once, The Girl back in 2017. She calls her home and Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Robin Hood, has designed for many theaters there, including Doublewide, Burt & Me, The Dragon vs. the Hiccups, Actor’s Express, Horizon, Georgia Ensemble, Dad’s Gidion’s Knot, Stalking the Bogeyman, Million Garage, Synchronicity, Serenbe Playhouse, and Dollar Quartet, The Velveteen Rabbit, Relativity, My Aurora. She also creates custom ballet costumes Name is Asher Lev, and Butler (which earned Best and works as a costume technician for the Atlanta Director nominations from the Sarasota Herald- Ballet, where she is Company Shoe Manager. Tribune and Creative Loafing). His performance as THOM BEAULIEU (Lighting Designer) is an award- “Ever Montgomery” in Dancing Lessons garnered winning lighting and sound designer. His work “Best Actor of 2015” awards from both Sarasota has been experienced throughout the eastern US Magazine and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is including The Marvelous Wonderettes, Wednesday’s a seven-time Kevin Kline Award nominee (and Child, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night- one-time winner for Outstanding Leading Actor). Time, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, He appears regularly with FST Improv. Proud Unchained Melodies, Always...Patsy Cline, Honor member SDC, AEA, SAG-AFTRA. jasoncannon.biz Killing, Once, Blue Suede Shoes, Mack the Knife: The ROY JOHNS (Stage Manager) is pleased to be back Bobby Darin Songbook, Native Gardens, and Burt & for another season at FST. He has had an exciting Me (Florida Studio Theatre); The Waltz, The Man Who and varied career both on stage and behind the Shot Liberty Valence, Carrie: the Musical, and The Lord scenes from Tokyo Disneyland to the White House. of the Flies (The Winnipesaukee Playhouse); A Chorus Past credits at FST include: Ethel Waters: His Eye Line, Floyd Collins, Sweet Charity, and Singin’ in the is on the Sparrow, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Rain (Aurora Theatre). He holds a BFA in Drama from Wednesday’s Child, The Curious Incident of the Dog Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama, and a in the Night-Time, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and MS in Physics. Murder, Other People’s Mondey, Murder For Two; THOM KORP (Sound Designer) As FST’s Sound Always...Patsy Cline; Honor Killing; Native Gardens; Supervisor, Thom does more than wrangle rogue Once; Doublewide; The Absolute Brightness of microphones. Sound design credits include: Ethel Leonard Pelkey; Burt & Me; Rich Girl; brownsville Waters: His Eye is on the Sparrow, The Marvelous song (b-side for tray); Million Dollar Quartet; Wonderettes, Wednesday’s Child, The Curious Incident The God of Isaac; The Roommate; The Fabulous of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Wonder Years: The Lipitones; Alabama Story; Outside Mullingar; One Music of the Baby Boomers, Straight White Men, Man, Two Guvnors; The Hound of the Baskervilles; Guitar Girls, Unchained Melodies, A Gentleman’s Chapatti; Hairspray; and Taking Shakespeare. Guide to Love and Murder, Once, A Chorus Line, ANDREA BECHERT (Scenic Designer) has Spamalot, Native Gardens, How to Use a Knife, The designed over 350 productions and numerous Columnist, Talley’s Folley, and The West Side Waltz. world premieres across the country. Her designs Mixing Credits: Next to Normal, Smokey Joe’s Café, have been included in the World Design Expo The World Goes Round, Tango: Buenos Aires, and We and Prague Quadrennial exhibit. Awards include Will Rock You. EXECUTIVE STAFF RICHARD HOPKINS is the Producing Artistic Florida Studio Theatre, and as such, is the Chief Director of Florida Studio Theatre. Mr. Hopkins has Operations Officer. Mrs. Hopkins is responsible for fostered the development of FST’s Mainstage and oversight of FST’s Administration, including the Cabaret productions. His many directing Mainstage Business Office, Development, Marketing, Box credits include: The Curious Incident of the Dog in Office, Front of House, Restaurant, Budgeting, and the Night-Time, Honor Killing, Inspired Lunacy, The maintaining the overall quality of FST’s internal Best of Enemies, Next to Normal, Race, Ruined, The management. Mrs. Hopkins serves on the Board of 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Boleros Directors for the League of Resident Theatres and for for the Disenchanted, Permanent Collection, and the Theatre Communications Group. She is the former Metamorphoses, among numerous other plays. President of the National New Play Network. Mrs. Mr. Hopkins led the development of FST’s Cabaret Hopkins has been actively involved in development productions of Guitar Girls, Mack the Knife: The Bobby of FST’s Cabaret productions since her arrival in 1998. Darin Songbook, Older Than Dirt, Piano Men, and In addition to being Lead Developer for Unchained The Prima Donnettes. Mr. Hopkins also serves as the Melodies and The Wonder Years: The Music of the Chief Executive Officer of Florida Studio Theatre. This Baby Boomers this season, she was also part of the includes overseeing the creation and implementation development team for Guitar Girls. Previously, she of all FST programming, including Mainstage, Cabaret, was the Lead Developer on Blue Suede Shoes; Gypsies, Stage III, New Play Development, Education, and Tramps, and Thieves; Yesterday; American Pie; and Touring. Since his arrival at FST in 1980, Mr. Hopkins Poems, Prayers, and Promises. She has been the head has guided the theatre from a small touring company writer on all fiveLaughing Matters shows. Some to a nationally-recognized regional theatre, which of her favorite shows she helped develop include: impacts over 215,000 adults and children annually. Mack the Knife: The Bobby Darin Songbook; The Prima He created the New Play Development Program, Donnettes; That’s Life; The Wanderers; My One and the Cabaret Series, FST’s award-winning WRITE A Only Gershwin; Hot and Cole; The British Invasion; PLAY Program, and he has directed the design and The Flip Side; and Outlaws and Angels. In addition, renovation of all FST’s theatres. Mr. Hopkins is the she is the founder and producer of FST Improv and recipient of numerous awards including the Arts the Sarasota Improv Festival. In 2012, the Arts & Leadership Award from the Sarasota Arts Council, Cultural Alliance awarded Mrs. Hopkins the Cultural the Richard G. Fallon Award for Artistic Excellence Champion Award in recognition of her many years from the Florida Professional Theatres Association, of accomplishment and growth with Florida Studio and the 2012 Cultural Champion Award from the Arts Theatre. In 2016, Mrs. Hopkins was awarded the and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County. In 2016, Mr. Luminaire Award, honoring excellence in creativity, Hopkins was awarded the Luminaire Award honoring philanthropy, advocacy, and all elements that are excellence in creativity, philanthropy, advocacy, and keys to future growth of the arts in Sarasota. all elements that are keys to future growth of the Arts in Sarasota. In 2017, Mr. Hopkins was awarded the Florida Theatre Conference Lifetime Achievement Award for contributing to the rich cultural fabric of SPECIAL THANKS the Sarasota community and the state of Florida, and his dedication to developing future artists, educators, to Audrey Bernardin for her work on and advocates. the wigs for this production. REBECCA HOPKINS serves as Managing Director for SEASON UNDERWRITERS

PATRICIA KORDIS When my friends ask “Are community that we knew we wanted to be a you bored with nothing to do?” I say, “The part of this venture. We are delighted to be theatrical community is thriving like nobody’s among the Underwriters for the 2018-2019 business!” Sarasota has embraced all forms season and look forward to many new and of exciting artistic culture, and Florida Studio different offerings in the years ahead. Theatre is leading the pack. I am so happy to ANNE H.S. NETHERCOTT (1926 - 2019) be a part of this movement. Jump in – the When asked to define giving, Anne said: “My water’s fine! mother used to say the best way to find you DENNIS & GRACI MCGILLICUDDY FST is to lose yourself, by focusing on the needs of is important to us because we believe so others rather than on oneself.” So giving has strongly in the transformative power of the always been an important family value, which arts. For close to 30 years now, we have been in childhood was reinforced by the community so fortunate to experience first-hand how experience of surviving The Depression. Anne that transformative power works its magic in was proud to be a supporter of FST, establishing the hands of an organization that is not only an endowed fund for Underwriting. experienced and dedicated, but so highly skilled in their craft. The values of the theater and its leadership, as reflected in its mission PLANNED GIVING and as manifested in its work, whether it be on the Mainstage, in the Cabaret, in its MAKES A DIFFERENCE Education and community outreach programs The theatre relies on the support and thoughtful – these are values that we so strongly believe planning of donors to guarantee success and in. As a consequence, it is a privilege for us to sustainability of the forthcoming seasons. be a part of, and be supportive of this great Planned giving will ensure the programs you love theatre. and value will endure for future generations. PATRICK & MARY MULVA We discovered If your future plans include a gift to FST, let us know. Contact Melody Mora-Shihadeh FST upon moving to Sarasota this past July at 941-366-9017 ext. 326 , or by email at mmora- and were so impressed with the role it plays [email protected] in providing diverse quality theatre to the Recognizes our Gold Circle Underwriters for their commitment to the Art of FST, establishing an endowed fund to support cherished programs for life. We encourage you to take photos of the set and share to social media! We just ask that you please recognize the scenic designer: @FloridaStudioTheatre #TheCottage #AndreaBechert FST FORUMS

SANDY RUSTIN (Playwright) is an actress and with director Casey Hushion, slated to begin award-winning playwright. Her comedy, The a National Tour in November 2019. She is Cottage, was recently presented by Manhattan also working with Mills Entertainment, STX Theatre Club with Jason Alexander directing, Entertainment, and a Tony-nominated director and is in development for an upcoming to develop a live Bad Moms musical, loosely commercial production in New York. Sandy based on the popular films. In addition, Sandy is currently developing a stage version of the is writing the book & lyrics for and Mills cult-hit film Clue for the Araca Group, Worklight Entertainment for a live American Girl musical Productions, and Lively McCabe Entertainment, that will launch a National Tour this December. Spotlight on Sir Noël Peirce Coward - The Master by Jenna Tonsor

While writing The Cottage, playwright Sandy Rustin was inspired by the work of Sir Noël Peirce Coward, one of the most influential drawing room playwrights of the 20th century, having written more than 50 plays over the span of 60 years alone. You might recognize the titles Hay Fever, Private Lives, and Design for Living, just to name a few. With delightful dialogue and silly circumstances, characters who act upon whims and emotions, and constant confusion and missed connections, it’s easy to see the legacy of Coward’s comedies in Rustin’s contemporary works. Coward was a jack of all trades in the arts and was someone who desired a life in the theatre no matter which path he took. He started as a child actor and eventually made it to the big screen. His most notable role was Captain D in the British drama In Which We Serve, where he wrote, co- directed, and starred. This role earned him an Oscar nomination and critical acclaim. Coward became so well known for being multi-talented that Lord Mountbatten complimented him, saying, “There are probably greater painters than Noël, greater novelists than Noël, greater librettists, greater composers of music, greater singers, greater dancers, greater comedians, greater tragedians, greater stage producers, greater film directors, greater cabaret artists, greater TV stars. If there are, they are 14 different people. Only one man combined all 14 different labels – The Master.” Coward’s influence spread to the next generations. As an actress, Sandy Rustin performed in Coward’s play Hay Fever and instantly fell in love with his comedic stylings, which poked fun at the upper and middle English classes of early 20th century. Now a playwright herself, Rustin’s The Cottage pays homage to Coward’s signature style, bringing his drawing room comedy elements into the 21st century by writing female characters into roles of strength and power, while still carrying on the Noël Coward legacy of quick wit. FST COMPANY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES EDUCATION & TOURS President...... Dennis McGillicuddy Director of Children’s Theatre...... Caroline Kaiser Vice-President...... Richard Hopkins Director of Education...... Christine Hopkins Secretary/Treasurer...... Jennifer Michell Education Administrator...... Pamela Smith Trustee...... Gaele Barthold Teaching Artist/YPF Coordinator...... Adam Ratner Trustee...... Georgia Court Education Group Sales Assoc...... Hannah Bagnall Trustee...... Patricia Courtois Teaching Artist...... Denee Lortz Trustee...... Jeff Hotchkiss Teaching Artist...... Katelyn McKelley Trustee...... Robert Israeloff Trustee...... Barbara Lupoff COMMUNITY RESOURCE GROUP Trustee...... Patrick Mulva Jan Coleman Patricia Kordis Trustee...... Chief Judge Charles E. Williams Larry Coleman Marie Kropp Shirley Fein Susan Landau EXECUTIVE STAFF Maddy Freshwater Frank Malickson Producing Artistic Director...... Richard Hopkins Carol Gilbert Matty Matheson Managing Director...... Rebecca Hopkins Sy Goldblatt Graci McGillicuddy Jim Goldman Ina Schnell ARTISTIC STAFF Sandy Goldman Alan Schottenstein Associate Director At-Large...... Kate Alexander Robert Grady Lois Schottenstein Casting/Hiring Coordinator...... Alexa Doggett Wendy Grady Lois Stulberg Casting/Hiring Associate...... James Ashford Bonny Israeloff Charlie Ann Syprett Resident Pianist...... Jim Prosser Valerie Joels Martin Taffel Associate Artist...... Jason Cannon Associate Artist...... Catherine Randazzo AUDIENCE ENRICHMENT GROUP Director of Improvisation...... Will Luera Hon. Larry L. Eger Ina Schnell Assistant to the Artistic Director...... Doris Iemolo Trevor Harvey Commissioner Willie Literary Associate...... Meg Gilbert The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Charles Shaw Gilbert King Howard Tevlowitz PRODUCTION STAFF Michéle D. Redwine Chief Judge Charles E.Williams Production Manager...... Bruce Price Dr. Eddy Regnier Rose Chapman Assistant Production Manager...... Louis Vetter Mainstage Stage Manager...... Roy Johns OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE Technical Director...... Mike Schwent House Counsel...... John Patterson Costume Shop Manager...... Adrienne Webber Facility Custodian...... Carlos De Oliveira Sound Supervisor...... Thom Korp ...... Confidence Cleaning Company Props/Paint Supervisor...... Kristine Kreutzer Caretaker...... Doctor Nik Lead Carpenter...... Marco Acosta ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF General Manager...... Jill Zakrzewski PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM Director of IT...... Clarke Weigle Acting Apprentice...... Samantha Dempsey Business Manager...... Carmen Gonzalez Acting Apprentice...... Anna Lee Hawkins Associate Business Manager...... Orville Cordero Acting Apprentice...... Drew Norris Business Office Associate...... Reanna Bourque Acting Apprentice...... Will Stapleton Acting/Improv Fellow...... Anna Weatherwax Business Office Associate...... David Wallace Artistic Intern...... Miguel Maldonado Asst. to the Managing Dir...... Phyllis Silverman Company Management Intern...... Chelsea Whittemore Facilities Manager...... Joseph Goepfrich Costume Intern...... Chelsea Bannan Facilities Technician...... Mark Quackenbush Development Intern...... Camryn MacIver Company Manager...... Luke Johnson Education Fellow...... Austin Howeth Director of Marketing...... Becca Jennings Education Intern...... Bea Kelly Public Relations Associate...... Lydia Baxter Education Intern...... Savanah Knechel Digital Marketing Associate...... Emily Blazek Education Intern...... Grant Lackey Marketing Assistant...... Sarah Haley Education Intern...... Emma Patten Marketing Assistant...... Justin Jones Education Intern...... Kiley Teixeira Director of Indiv. Giving...... Melody Mora-Shihadeh Education Intern...... Kate Walsh Development Associate...... Samus Haddad General Management Intern...... JT Priar Development Associate...... Melanie Slusar Lighting Intern...... Justen Zhang Development Associate...... Kathryn Whalen Literary Intern...... Michael Nichols Patron Services Manager...... Kelsey Wehde Wilson Literary Intern...... Jenna Tonsor Box Office Manager...... Ryan Simpson Literary Intern...... Hannah Zwerner Asst. Box Office Manager...... Gigi Delpero Marketing Intern...... Alyssa Parrish Asst. Box Office Manager...... Noah Scheibmeir Playwriting Fellow...... Sarah Durham Events Coordinator...... Matthew Quick Production Intern...... Thomasa Hagney Restaurant Manager...... Tom Curry Scenic Production Intern...... Joshua Williams Restaurant Manager...... Kraster Sound & Stage Management Intern...... David Sabbagh Restaurant Manager...... Josh Rodoski Stage Management Intern...... Tanner Lias Asst. Restaurant Manager...... Kristy Plum Stage Management Intern...... Emily Mick Receptionist/ Volunteer Coord...... Joan O’Dowd Stage Management Intern...... Shira Lebovich 941.366.9000 | floridastudiotheatre.org