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RCC THEARE presents

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Cast List (in order of appearance) Anise...... Rey Alexis Joseph...... Khari Butler II Fanny Farrelly...... Kelsey Sue Klocksieben David Farrelly...... Dakota Daigle Marth de Brancovis...... Annamarie Davis Teck de Brancovis...... Byron Clark Sara Muller...... Camerina Roman Joshua Muller...... Nicholas Diaz Bodo Muller...... Jesse Nganga Babette Muller...... Cristal Corona Kurt Muller...... Justin Starr

Director Chance Dean

Stage Manager ASM/Property Master Jordyn Neiblas Sidney Paulido

Set Designer Lighting Designer Technical Director Todd Faux Jason Graham Raymond Couture

Original Music composed by Rey Alexis

Watch on the Rhine is presented by special arrangment with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York

OPENING NIGHT MAY 14, 2021 AVAILABLE MAY 15 & 16 WITH BROADWAY ON DEMAND THE PLAY

An Anti-Fascist German engineer, his American-born wife, rising Nazi threat. In the sanctuary of American soil, an and their three children, return to the United States in unscrupulous Nazi sympathizer discovers their secret and 1940 after engaging in underground resistance to the threatens to expose their identity to the German embassy.

THE TITLE

The play’s title comes from a German patriotic poem and death, his poem was set to music by Karl Wilhelm (1815- anthem written in the mid-19th century: Max 1873). It was particularly popular in Germany during the Schneckenburger (1819-1849) wrote the poem Die Wacht First World War and may be most familiar to American am Rhein [The Watch on the Rhine] during the Rhine crisis audiences who have seen the film Casablanca. Through of 1840, when France renewed its claim to the Rhine River 1945, the song continued its popularity in Germany, as France’s natural border. Germany feared that France was rivaling the “Deutschlandlied” as the de facto national planning to annex the left bank of the Rhine. It called for anthem. In World War II, the song’s title was also used as rivalries between various German kingdoms and the codename for the German offensive in 1944 known principalities to be set aside and for Germans to establish today as the Battle of the Bulge. a unified state. In 1854, five years after Schneckenburger’s (source: germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org)

THE PLAYWRIGHT

Lillian Hellman (1905-1984) was born in New Orleans, La., university in Bonn, Germany. While there she was recruited to Max Hellman and Julian Newhouse Hellman, who were by a Nazi student group and briefly considered joining, both descendants of German Jews. She grew up in New mistakenly thinking it was a socialist organization. When York City after her family relocated when she was 6 years she discovered the true nature of the group, she promptly old. After studying at New York University and Colombia left Germany. This experience later influenced her writing University, in 1929 she decided to finish her studies at the of Watch on the Rhine.

NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR

“Here I stand. I can do no other.” – Martin Luther insurrection on the U.S. Capital on January 6th, the themes Watch on the Rhine first appeared on Broadway in 1941, of this play are still as relevant as ever. It is a reminder that eight months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. when a trouble we think is far away actually comes home to Lillian Hellman wrote the play as a call to the American roost, we can no longer pretend we don’t know what’s public to stop polite political conversation and take social going on. We must pay attention, we must get engaged, action in the fight against fascism. In the midst of the we must know where we stand. current political and cultural climate, and the recent

3 THE COMPANY

Justin Starr (Kurt Muller) this is his Nicholas Diaz (Joshua Muller) this is his second production at RCC. His previous second production with Riverside City credits include, One Flew Over the College. However, it is also his first in Cuckoo’s Nest and 21 Wagons Full of person production. Nicholas is a theatre Cotton. He enjoys spending time with his art major and loves watching pro loved ones, going on hikes and bike wrestling, reading autobiographies, and rides and watching movies. doing theatre work. Some of his favorite shows to watch is The Sopranos, Cobra Kai, and Family Guy.

Camerina Roman (Sara Muller) is excited to be a part of her second RCC production Jesse Nganga (Bodo Muller) has always Watch on the Rhine as Sara. Camerina felt a deep love for the arts but most has always loved acting and is grateful to especially acting and theatre. With all the be a part of a wonderful show and work wonderful opportunities before him, with a hard-working cast. Jesse is grateful to be a part of an amazing, hardworking team.

Kelsey Sue Klocksieben (Fanny Farrelly) is grateful to be back on stage with such Cristal Corona (Babette Muller) is a an impactful story during present times. second-year student at Riverside City Past credits include Blood at the Root College. She is grateful to be playing the (RCC, Asha), Spring Awakening (RCC, role of Babette Muller in “Watch on the Thea) The Wolves (RCC, #7), Tarzan: The Rhine”. This is the first production she has Musical (Performance Riverside, been a part of at RCC and she is very Ensemble), and Sister Act: The Musical (Performance excited to be joining this awesome cast. Riverside, Ensemble).

Khari Butler II, (Kh-u-ree) (Joseph) this Byron Clark (Teck De Brancovis) is 20 is his third year at Riverside City College. years old and is finishing his second year He is a theatre and film/television major. at Riverside City College. His hobbies He loves the acting classes here at RCC include theater, film, and gaming. Watch and has met amazing people left and on The Rhine is Byron’s first production at right. It is greatly an honor to be in this RCC. production of Watch on the Rhine.

Annamarie Davis (Marthe De Brancovis) Rey Alexis (Anise) is happy to be part of is a Theatre Major at Riverside City this show with this wonderful cast. This is College. This is her first show at RCC and Rey’s second show here at RCC, with his very excited to be a part of this cast. She first beingA Man’s World as Gaskell. He’s would like to thank all her friends and recently been working on his Music family for supporting her in all her compositions and his favorite shows he’s endeavors. done in the past including Avenue Q, Sweeney Todd, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He wants to thank everyone in the cast for being caring and of course Dakota Daigle (David Farrelly) is thrilled careful. He is very grateful for having the opportunity to to be part of this production of Watch on write music for this show as well. Thanking the ones who the Rhine. Some of his favorite past have helped him along the way, he definitely wants to thank credits include Moritz in Spring the director for everything he has done. For being there for Awakening and Johnny in American Idiot. him when no one was there. Please stay safe and well and He would like to thank the cast and may we hopefully smile together. production team, and he hopes you will enjoy the show!

4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The RCC Theatre Production Staff would like to thank the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees for its enthusiastic support!

Tracey Vackar, President Mary Figueroa, Vice President Bill Hedrick, Secretary Jose Alcala, Member Virginia Blumenthal, Member Jose Velasquez, Student Trustee

RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS Dean, Fine and Performing Arts...... John Adkins Fine and Performing Arts, Theatre Chair ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Jodi Julian Fine and Performing Arts, Art Chair...... Rhonda Taube, Jeff Soto Fine and Performing Arts, Dance Chair...... Rita Chenoweth Fine and Performing Arts, Music Chair ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Kevin Mayse Instructional Department Specialist �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Joey Smith Administrative Assistant...... Irene Reyes Webmaster/Scenic Specialist...... Jason Graham Production Coordinator...... Raymond Couture Theatre Box Office Coordinator...... Jennifer Lawson

PROMOTION Watch on the Rhine promotional material was created by the Riverside Community College District External Relations and Strategic Communication Department Graphic Designers...... Deb Ferguson, Kris LoVerso

RCCD ADMINISTRATION Wolde-Ab Isaac, Ph.D., Chancellor Gregory Anderson, Ed.D., President, Riverside City College Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs, Riverside City College John Adkins, Dean, Fine and Performing Arts Kristine DiMemmo, Interim Vice President, Planning and Development Chip West, Vice President of Finance FeRita Carter, Vice President of Student Services

SPECIAL THANKS TO FeRita Carter, Kristine DiMemmo, John Goolsby & Godfather Films, Scott Hernandez, Jodi Julian, John Adkins, Broadway on Demand, Dramatist Play Services, Joey Smith, Dorie Couture, Kris LoVerso, The Theatre Company, Cypress College, Raul Vidal, Marcela Alberti, Che Galvan, The students of THE 41 Associated Students of Riverside City College,

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