Anniversary SEASON

The ACTORS COMPANY THEATRE Summer Newsletter 2007/2008 Vol. 15 No.1 tactSummer 2007/08 COMPANY NEWS continued from page 6 TACTics ings and workshops with The Lark ExxonMobil. When not in front of a microphone tact TheACTORSCOMPANY THEATRE and branched out into casting. In or on stage, Francesca is busy coordinating the TheACTORS COMPANY THEATRE th addition to casting for TACT this Screen Actors Guild Foundation’s BookPals pro- Scott Alan Evans, Cynthia Harris & Simon Jones NewsletterTACTICS is published twice yearly Co-Artistic Directors year (The Sea, Rain, Dandy Dick), gram at her daughter’s school, PS/IS 187, where COMPANY Administrative Offices she cast the upcoming Fringe she is also a proud member of the School Sean Arbuckle, Mary Bacon, Jamie Bennett, Eve Bianco, What the critics said of Festival show, Days and Nights Page 121, Lines Leadership Team. This summer Francesca will Nora Chester, Cynthia Darlow, Francesca Di Mauro, 900 , Suite 905 11 and 12, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for be in Florida, starring in her reality show, Rest Kyle Fabel, Richard Ferrone, Rachel Fowler, 15our 2006/07 Season: , NY 10003 Mile Square Theatre, her theatre company in and Relaxation by My Mother’s Pool. Delphi Harrington, Kelly Hutchinson, Larry Keith, Hoboken (www.milesquaretheatre.org). She Jack Koenig, Darrie Lawrence, Ron McClary, T. 212 645-TACT appeared in Low and Away, an original ten Larry Keith can be seen this sum- Greg McFadden, James Murtaugh, Margaret Nichols, th mer at the Bay Street Theatre in John Plumpis, James Prendergast, Gregory Salata, achingly beautiful minute play for MST’s annual benefit, 7 The New York Times F. 212 462-2678 Inning Stretch, on June 16th at the Debaun Sag Harbor, NY in Charles Bush’s Scott Schafer, David Staller, Jenn Thompson, Ashley West, Lynn Wright E: [email protected] Auditorium. The rest of the summer will be The Lady in Question. “It’s definite- ly worth the trip out,” he states. ADJUNCT COMPANY spent getting ready for Baby Girl to arrive! Daryl Bornstein, Dawn Dunlop, Jonathan Faiman, www.TACTnyc.org On June 28th, Cynthia Darlow Ron McClary had big news: he’s Mary Louise Geiger, David Macdonald, Colin McGrath, Marcus Paus, Yuzuru Sadashige, John Slover, opened in Old Acquaintance, by off to do Mamma Mia! at Mandalay brilliant Jonathan Smith, David Toser Time Out New York John Van Druten, for the Bay in Las Vegas for six months. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Roundabout at the American He’ll be performing from July 30 15th ANNIVERSARY SEASON! Stephen Lindenmuth, Chairman, Airlines Theatre on 42nd Street. until January 28, 2008. “This,” he informs us, “will leave little time for me to make Darya Geetter, President The show runs through August19th (with a pos- Holly Etlin, Treasurer sible extension to September 2nd). She a baby, much less find a wife, I fear. However, John Adams, George Bunn, Scott Alan Evans, thoroughly The Eccentricities of a Nightingale recently received an Earphones Award from I’ll keep you posted.” Linda Greenberg, Warren Handelman, Cynthia Harris, AudioFile Magazine for her recording of Richard Ferrone Simon Jones, Gail Levenstein, Susan Mindel, recently per- Elaine Wolbrom enchanting TACT’s Mainstage Offerings Sufficient Grace, and will be recording another formed in the Samuel French New Theatermania.com Murder She Wrote mystery for the BBC in July. GENERAL MANAGER t’s our Fifteenth Anniversary Season and what better th Play Festival finals and he’s been Cathy Bencivenga 25 , where, once again this season, TACT will be in busy recording books - two recent way to do justice to this milestone year then with a residence. Francesca Di Mauro recently EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR season that revolves around DRAMATIC JUSTICE? ones: Invisible Prey by John Scott Alan Evans I recorded the first of a new set of But first, our Salon Series of concert play readings Sandford (NY Times best seller) and The Good Plays that center on the law, trials, ethics and justice of Italian language learning CD-ROMs DEVELOPMENT MANAGER  all kinds will form the backbone of our season this year. kicks off in September with another salacious offering Guy by Dean Koontz. Erin Carney for Rosetta Stone, the English ver- Our Mainstage season kicks off with a gripping tale of – this one with a French twist. A Shot in the Dark by sion of Pane Amaro (Bitter Bread), PRESS REPRESENTATIVE Finally, Eve Bianco has no news, but she want- Joseph Trentacosta, Springer Associates PR illicit love and murder in the Catholic Church. A hit from Marcel Archard, adapted by Harry Kurnitz, boasts a documentary about the Italian immigration ed everyone to know that. a superlative 1976 (and selected as Best Play of the year by Burns intrigue, deception, violence and, well, laughs! Since experience, and voiceovers for IBM and TACT is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and a member of the Mantel), The Runner Stumbles, by Milan Stitt, is the it’s French, of course, there’s a mistress, too. Julie Alliance of Resident Theatres /New York production story of a country priest and a young nun and a differ- Harris starred in the original Broadway production as ent kind of love that-dare-not-speak-its-name. It’s the gamine mistress with William Shatner playing an Time Out New York based on a true story from the turn of the last century ambitious young prosecutor. Harold Clurman helmed and is written by a writer who may not be a household the proceedings which was a hit for the 1961 season. name, but is a true man of the theatre. Contemporary critics have heralded Marcel Achard a Born in , Mr. Stitt is a playwright, director, pro- successor to such lauded French writers as Marivaux

poignant ducer and professor. A graduate of the University of and De Musset. His work, which first gained populari- Curtain Up and the Yale School of Drama, Mr. Stitt was a ty in the 20’s and 30’s, followed two paths. His boule-

long-time member of the for vard plays were sentimental and somewhat dreamlike

whom he wrote, directed and served as dramaturge, as – many of them garnered their titles from popular well as founded its play development program and songs of the day – and made him a lot of money. His

Season! served as its Executive Director. His has written exten- lesser-known works, however, showed interesting as good as sively for television and, in 1996, was nominated for an innovative techniques and highly original themes. After

International Emmy for his teleplay, Long Shadows for WWII, Marcel continued to enjoy success. In fact, his

American Playhouse. The film version of his screen- most popular works came in 1957 – a comedy entitled Our 15th Anniversary 15th Our 15 theater gets play for The Runner Stumbles was directed by Stanley Patate (Spud) – and again in 1960, with his comic mys- Stage and Cinema.com Kramer and starred Dick VanDyke, Kathleen Quinlan, tery L’idote (The Idiot) on which A Shot in the Dark is , Ray Bolger and . His based. Harry Kurnitz’s playwriting career includes sev-

other plays include Labor Day and Back to the Races. eral Broadway productions, including Once More, With Feeling in 1958, which featured Joseph Cotton, Arlene th The Runner Stumbles will be directed by TACT Artistic Frances and Walter Mathiau, who received a Tony Director, Scott Alan Evans, at the Beckett Theatre at simply exquisite th Award Nomination for his work. He followed that up The New York Times Theatre Row from October 27 through November with his adaptation of A Shot in the Dark. Kurnitz went

15th SEASON continues on page 2

SEASON Anniversary tact

1. takt; 2. taet, n. Summer News 2007/08 News Summer dedicated to presenting

infrequently-seen plays of literary merit with an

900 Broadway Suite 905 New York, NY 10003 NY York, New 905 Suite Broadway 900 emphasis on creating theatre from its essence:

COMPANY THEATRE COMPANY The S S R R O O T T C C A A the text and the actor’s ability to bring it to life. act

t Our 2007/08 season is

Permit No. 70 No. Permit Infrequently-seen: adj. phrase. unproduced in a first-class made possible with public Woodbridge, VA Woodbridge, production in NYC within the last 15 years. funds from the New York

Literary merit: n. laudable language of particular interest, State Council on the Arts, a

D D I I A A P P uniqueness; or representative of a specific period or era. State agency and is sup-

ported in part by public U.S. Postage U.S. With original incidental musical scores commissioned exclusive- funds from the New York

ly for our production through a unique partnership with City Department of Cultural NON-PROFIT ORG. NON-PROFIT The School of Music. Affairs Anniversary Anniversary SEASON SEASON a lovely sensitive production that leaves one The Actors Company Theatre’s production is just deeply moved... about everything one could want in theater Wolf Entertainment New York Theatre Wire th Summer Newsletter Summer Newsletter th 15 2007/2008 2007/2008 15 TheACTORS COMPANY THEATRE 15th SEASON continued from page 1 Mainstage Season Salon Series at Theatre Row at the TACTStudio on to receive a Tony Award nomination himself for 410 West 42nd St. NYC 900 Broadway, NYC his book to the musical, The Girl Who Came to A SHOT IN THE DARK Early Bird Subscription Supper (1963), written with none other than Sir Noel Coward. THE By Marcel Archard, adapted by Harry Kurnitz Each Early Bird Subscription includes two full productions at Theatre Anniversary Sept. 29 - October 1 SEASON A Shot in the Dark, was made into a film in 1964 by RUNNER Row and your choice of any four of our Salon readings. TheACTORS COMPANY THEATRE 2007/08 Blake Edwards, which starred Peter Sellers and MY THREE ANGELS Elke Sommer, but as The New York Times reports STUMBLES By Sam & Bella Spewack in its review of the film, “… the title and the issue of Dec. 8 - 10 th Early Bird Subscription a maid in a French family… are the only tangible by Milan Stitt WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION Six plays total, all for just $99! ties to its nominal source.” Directed by Scott Alan Evans 15YOU GET 2 Full Productions at THEATRE ROW By Agatha Christie Looking ahead to the Spring, we’re thrilled to be Oct. 27 - Nov. 24 Jan. 12 - 14 Plus any 4 of our 5 Salon Readings at the TACT Studio - 6 presenting the rarely seen The Eccentricities of a Plays total! Nightingale by Tennessee Williams. This will be The ANDERSONVILLE TRIAL Please cut out form and mail to TACT at 900 Broadway, Suite 905, New York NY 10003 TACT’s first encounter with Mr. Williams and we’re THE By Saul Levitt In addition to discounted tickets and priority honored to have been granted special permission Feb. 9 - 11 seating, subscibers enjoy the following 1. Name by the Williams estate to present this fascinating ECCENTRICITIES benefits: play. Eccentricities will be directed by TACT com- DOCK BRIEF pany member, Jenn Thompson in the Clurman OF A NIGHTINGALE By John Mortimer  EXCHANGE YOUR TICKETS: Subscribers are assigned a per- Theatre at Theatre Row from April 26th through by Tennessee Williams with IF MEN PLAYED CARDS AS WOMEN DO formance according to the day of preference. Only subscribers Mailing Address May 24th. By George S. Kaufman may exchange their tickets to a different performance date. Directed by Jenn Thompson March 8 - 10 Mainstage tickets held at the box office may be changed up to 24 For more information about the season look for our City State Zip seasonal brochure coming to your mailboxes at the April 26 - May 24 hours in advance by calling the TACT office. Tickets in hand must be returned to the TACT office (by mail or in person), no less than end of the summer. Day Phone Evening Phone ONE WEEK before your scheduled performance with your name and the change you are making. New tickets will be waiting at the Theatre Row box office. Exchanges may not be made after a per- Email Has your contact info changed recently? Yes No Ackerman’s new play Loons. She did her final two formance has been missed. Subject to availability of new date. appearances on Rescue Me (FX Network), finally 2. CHOOSE YOUR SHOWS AND PREFFERED DAYS getting killed off - “It was cancer that done me in.” Sun M T W Th F Sat Sat  BUY ADDITIONAL TICKETS. Avoid pricey service charges by pur- MAIN STAGE: AT THEATRE ROW 3:00 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 2:00 8:00 COMPANY NEWS For the Thalia Book Club at Symphony Space she Show No appeared with authors Jennifer Egan, Siri Hustvedt chasing additional single tickets through the TACT office. PLEASE SELECT Oct/Nov.Runner Stumbles “Well, where the heck is everyone? Why haven’t I heard from so-and-so?” the day of the week you Fret no more, inquisitive TACTicians, for here’s the company news: and Margot Livesey, reading from Jane Eyre in their would like to attend. Apr./May Eccentricities series of intimate conversations among writers and  REPRINT LOST TICKETS. The Theatre Row Box Office can reprint Sat Sun Mon Compiled by Jamie Bennett readers. She returned to Symphony Space on June your lost or forgotten ticket on the day of the show at no cost. SALON: at TACT Studio 7:30pm 2:00pm 7:30pm 16th to help celebrate Bloomsday, where many Better yet, have your tickets held for you at the Theatre Row Box PLEASE Sept. Shot in the Dark he Company and Broad of Directors of TACT upstate for the rest of the summer. If anyone is other TACT members were also reading the entire SELECT are pleased to announce two new members coming to Glimmerglass, please give her a call! Office and don't worry about them! Dec. My Three Angels text of Ulysees. The renovation of the house on the 4 Salon of the Board: Warren Handleman and Elaine Jan. Witness Prosecution T Simon Jones has just finished a 11th Street is officially over, and any workmen spot- performances Wolbrom. Warren comes to us through TACT  CHANGE YOUR SALON DAY. To change your salon reservation, ted there are just too tired to leave, as is Cynthia. you would like Feb. member James Murtaugh and is a former member month-long run of Phallacy at The call the TACT Office no less than 24 hours prior to your scheduled Andersonville Trial to attend. of the EST Board of Directors. A patron of the arts, Cherry Lane Theatre. The play was Speaking of Bloomsday…Delphi performance. New dates are subject to availability. }May Dock Brief & If Men.. Warren has many interests including antique cars. written by the internationally respect- Harrington also appeared at Symphony Elaine and her husband Irving have been TACT ed chemist, Professor Carl Djerassi, Space for the event again this year and 3. HOW MANY SUBSCRIPTIONS? Number Price Total supporters for several years now. A former inventor of the Birth-Control Pill. The play con- also graced the doings at the annual Indicate the number of subscriptions you would like to purchase. @$99 Geriatric Social Worker, Elanie volunteers at the cerned an academic dispute that centered on a benefit for the Mint Theatre. She is most Here's what everyone should know… certain appendage on an early Roman bronze stat- Jewish Brail Library and at the Jewish Museum is looking forward to traveling to Paris and Istanbul for For additional Salon Reservations please add $15 each widely involved in the arts – Jacob’s Pillow and ue. Reviews were similarly divided about the play three weeks with her beloved husband, Norman, MAINSTAGE at THEATRE ROW. Theatre Row is located at 410 Carnegie Hall and now TACT. But then theatre has (“Djerassi should keep his day job”, NY Post; “An leaving near the end of July. What with The Hairy Ape West 42 Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues. By train: The Processing Fee $4.50 been in her blood since she was a girl. She is a elegant comedy of academic manners”, The New (Irish Rep), Cymbeline (N.J. Shakes), and The Sea A/C/E to , 42nd Street & 8th Ave OR the 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, Yorker) but were unanimous about Simon’s per- Suggested Tax Deductible Contribution $50.00 proud graduate of the Performing Arts High School. (TACT) this season, she has earned a vacation! N, R, Q, W, and S to 42nd Street & 7th Ave. By bus: The M11 to formance (“excellent”, NY Times; “Without a flaw”, Ashley West just finished playing Broadwayworld.com - Who? Never mind!)He hasAlso doing his share of globetrotting is Board mem- 42nd Street or the M42 to 9th Avenue. TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED Leontine in the Olney Theatre Center’s also won a 2007 Audie for The Hitchhikers’s Guide ber John Adams. He’s taking advantage of his 4. PAYMENT METHOD production of 13 Rue De L’Amour and in to the Galaxy - The Quintessential Phase. (Says he: wife’s sabbatical leave to travel, and by the end of PURCHASING TICKETS. Single tickets are $20 plus a $1.25 facil- Check enclosed, payable to TACT MasterCard Visa American Express July she’s heading down to Sarasota’s “No money, no tchochke, alas”). Go Simon! the year will have visited England, Egypt, France, ity fee. Purchase online 24/7 at www.ticketcentral.com, by phone Florida Studio Theatre to play Izzy in the Greece, Italy, Jordan, Malta and Turkey. His new at 212-279-4200 (12 noon - 8pm daily) or in person at the Theatre Cynthia Harris has been very busy: Pulitzer Prize winning drama Rabbit Hole. grandson is also receiving his fair share of attention. Row Box Office (12noon - 8pm daily). Phone and internet orders Card Number Expiration Date Verification Code This past winter, she narrated two (MC/Visa Only) Mary Louise Geiger (M.L.) is just back from lighting series on Wide Angle for Channel 13. Board member Linda Greenberg and her husband carry a service charge of $3 per ticket, there are no service charges Merry Widow with Susan Graham and Luisa She also appeared with Marion Fred round out the travel section with the announce- for tickets purchased in person. Subscribers may call the TACT Signature Billing Zip Code Fernanda at LA Opera. The latter starred Placido Seldes at Food For Thought, reading ment of their trip to a friend’s “small” castle on the office. (required) Domingo, so “things were pretty glam.” Now she’s the Tennessee Williams one act play The Lady of coast of Scotland in September. Is a small castle 5. TICKETS AND SEATING off to ACT in Seattle to design Victor Pappas’ pro- Larkspur Lotion. Then there’s been time for help- equal to two very large homes? TACT SALON SERIES. The Salon Series takes place in the TACT HOLD my mainstage tickets at the Theatre Row Please contact me regarding disability duction of Stuff Happens, and then to Idaho ing playwrights hear their new plays being read so Box Office (recommended). and/or special seating needs (be sure to Greg McFadden, after an outstanding Studio at 900 Broadway, Suite 905. Reservation only, subject to include your phone number or email address Shakespeare Festival to light Drew Barr’s produc- they can continue to develop them. At TACT’s MAIL my ticket to me. turn as Hatch in TACT’s production of availability. For reservations call the TACT office. Non-subscription above). tion of Arsenic and Old Lace (AaOL at a Studio space there was a reading of Carrie The Sea, went straight into the world seats are a $20 suggested donation. Attending with other subscribers? Let us know with whom you would like to sit and we’ll do Shakespeare Festival? There must be something Robbins’ new play, and next, at The Cherry Lane premiere production of Badge - a new everything possible to accomodate you: in the potatoes). Afterwards, she’ll be collapsing Theatre, a reading for the producers of Rob

COMPANY NEWS continues on page 6 TheACTORS COMPANY THEATRE ***IF you have already renewed with our NIGHT OWL form, THANK YOU!*** Anniversary Anniversary SEASON SEASON

th NEW FEATURE Summer Newsletter Summer Newsletter TheACTORS COMPANY THEATRE th We’re asking company members to name their favorite five roles with TACT. We couldn’t 2007/2008 2007/2008 15 think of a better place to start then with Founding Member and Co-Artistic Director... SAVE THE15 COMPANY NEWS continued from page 2 play by Matthew Schneck at the Rattlestick The Eccentricities of Playwrights Theatre, directed by TACT’s own Jenn DATE! Cynthia Harris Thompson. It opened June 18, and included the work of several other TACT folk. Greg will also be filming a ECCENTRICITIES scene in the new film by Charlie Kaufman called TACT’s 15th Anniversay MY FAVE 5 Synecdoche, New York. (Says Greg: “That’s the TACT’S Spring Production name of the film, by the way - a play on words from Gala rom the Countess Aurelia in Schenectady, New York. It’s not a typo. It’s just ome plays take Interestingly, a film version of the play, starring moment I was Jean Giraudoux’s THE weird.”)Those of you familiar with little known literary time to make Blythe Danner and Frank Langella, made it’s The Hudson Theatre (New York’s premiere event space) Fasked, “what MADWOMAN OF devices might get the joke, but the rest of us don’t. Stheir mark. broadcast debut in the summer of 1976 on PBS are my five favorite CHAILLOT. A true After directing Badge (see above), Jenn Thompson will Tennessee Williams' just four months before the Broadway production. The Eccentricities of a roles played with eccentric in appear- be tackling The Foreigner for Connecticut’s River Rep When its Broadway premiere finally came in Monday, March 3 Nightingale is certainly TACT?” my mind ance, word, thought, Theatre Company. For more information visit November, 1976, it was deemed inadequately cast has been racing and deed. Determined www.riverrep.com. one. The story of the play's evolution and and lasted just three weeks. The play has been over the last fifteen to save Paris (during the 2008 Meanwhile, Mary Bacon is an acting Williams feelings produced only rarely since. years of being with German occupation), Countess Auriela in The machine: after playing Miss Yates in The about it are fascinat- the company. It she epitomizes what it Madwoman of Chaillot Madras House at the Mint through ing theatre history, but made me realize means to take the road March, then playing Kate in Taming of good dramaturgy 2006/07 what an extraordi- less traveled and have the courage to be your the Shrew for Richard Hamburger’s final alone does not a good As Fanny Farrelly in Watch on the nary experience own person. production as artistic director of the Dallas Theatre play make. No, Rhine this has been for me. Season Center, and then working on Conversations with Eccentricities has more than just a good backsto- The Countess in YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU I don’t believe there are many actors in this coun- Shakespeare at Symphony Space, she headed out to ry. It stands the test of time and, we feel, belongs try who have gotten to play over 30 roles with the by George Kaufmann and Moss Hart. How fabu- the New Works Festival in Steamboat Springs for a in the cannon of Williams’ most important works. lous to be in a zany American comedy full of hope Round-Up same company and, at the same time, appear in Dan O’Brien play for the rest of June. Finally, she’ll be Which is why we are including this brilliant play in theatre productions and in other medium outside and optimism; not appear till the last act; play a doing Bald Soprano at Shakespeare Theatre of New our 15th Anniversary Season. Audiences Carried Away byTHE SEA down-at-the-heels Russian noblewoman with Jersey this July & August, directed by Matthew Arbor. the group. I’ve had the opportunity to explore The play is itself a reworking of another work, by Simon Jones many different characters in a variety of outstand- some of the funniest lines of the play; get laughs But before that, she’ll be joining TACT for its special and walk off stage having had a really great time presentation of Light Up the Sky in . Summer and Smoke, which opened on Broadway ing plays, without the constraints of “type cast- he 2006/07 Season was TACT's "Year of the and being certain the audience has had one too. When it rains, it pours. in October of 1948, following The Glass Menagerie ing” or star status that exists in the strictly com- and running concurrently with A Streetcar Named Great Leap Forward." We'd had thirteen previous A real mercial theatre. TACT has also been the impetus After over five years and nearly 1900 Desire. Given the extraordinary success of those seasons of working together as a repertory com- upper! T for me to read all sorts of theatrical literature to shows John Plumpis gave his final per- other plays, Summer and Smoke was overshad- pany (something precious few theatre companies can find those plays “just right” for the company to Marjorie in formance as Timon in the national com- owed and the Broadway production was an The boast). We needed to know whether all of our accu- act and for our audiences to enjoy. It has been, HOME by pany of The Lion King on May 20th. A underwhelming venture. mulated experience would enable us to balance between continuing in the style for which we're best and I hope will continue to be, one hell of a mar- David week later, he began rehearsals for the 2007 Colorado Shakespeare Festival, where he will Begun in 1945, the seed of Summer and Smoke known - the well-executed concert performances - velous, thrilling ride. Storey. A play Truffaldino in Goldoni’s The Servant of Two can be found in two of Williams’ stories, "Oriflame" and staging fully mounted productions. Our objective frightened, and "The Yellow Bird." Variously titled The Chart of SEA Now, the question at hand... a really tough one as Masters, Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and by Edward Bond was to enlarge TACT's horizons and announce our I get attached to every role I play. The magic of broken various Romans in Julius Caesar. The Festival plays Anatomy and The Water is Cool, by 1946 Williams existence to a wider theatre-going audience, while at was "switching back and forth between two long acting for me is to be another person, in another down in Boulder through August 18. Upon his arrival in the same time fulfilling our original mission. It was a lower class plays, the one about the sisters started in Chicago reality, and yet at the same time, to bring myself Colorado, John met up with Scott Alan Evans and his with Company Members: Jamie Bennett, Nora sizable challenge - but we can now look back on the and the one about a spinster begun in New York." English family, enjoying the sights and sounds of Memorial Chester, Richard Ferrone, Delphi Harrington, Season with a sense of justified triumph. to the given circumstances. I suspect what The one about the sisters would eventually be woman in Day in Boulder. Saving the best for last, John is Greg McFadden, Gregory Salata, and Guest makes these FAVE FIVE I’ve chosen is that they titled A Streetcar Named Desire. The other play Our two full productions - HOME and THE SEA an institu- thrilled to be marrying Celia Smith in Columbus, Ohio Artists: Lauren Bloom, Ruth Eglsaer, Timothy were either fun to play, or a great challenge, or would become Summer and Smoke. received some of the best notices of the season from they allowed an escape from the “external” me, at tion for the at the historic Southern Theatre on October 8. The McCracken, Christopher McCutchen, Allen E. all sources. The effect on the box office was electrify- couple met while John was on tour, and they plan to the same time, reflecting some aspect of what I mentally ill Dissatisfied with the original script and disappoint- Read, Caroline Tamas ing. (Even at a mere $20 a ticket, theatre-goers need, return to NYC at the end of October. Congratulations, truly am. Actually, I’m not sure it’s all that ration- - unattrac- ed with the Broadway production, which ran just a PSM Mel McCue ASM Robbie Rescigno it seems, to be told by the newspaper of record that tive in John and Celia! few months, Williams busily rewrote the script, AD Marc Weitz GM Cathy Bencivenga their money is not going to be wasted!) It was sad that al a choice. Marjorie in HOME appear- Speaking of Scott Alan Evans, he and his family did retaining the same characters and locale. It was PR Joe Trentacosta Marketing Sol Lieberman in both cases, budgetary restraints prevented us from In any event, here are my FAVE FIVE - in no order ance, unable to communicate her fears, with little his hope to substitute the now titled The Springer Associates PR extending our runs - but then we fulfilled the old enjoy a beautiful Memorial Day weekend in Colorado Props John P. Sundling Dialects Deborah Hecht of preference: or no hope for any kind of future outside the four Eccentricities of a Nightingale for Summer and theatrical caution: "Always leave 'em wanting more." visiting his sister, Brooke and her family. After a very Sound Daryl Bornstein Music by Joseph Trapanese walls and grounds of the home. I feel for her. A busy year with his work for the American Musicals Smoke in the London premiere in 1951, but when Fanny Farrely in Lillian Hellman’s WATCH ON he arrived with the revision, the production was Sets Narelle Sissons Costumes David Toser At the same time, we gave our faithful subscribers a downer, perhaps, but so interesting to explore. Project, directing Home and The Sea, and completing larger menu of delights than usual, presenting a series THE RHINE. A comfortable, innocent Washington the TACT season of Salon Series presentations, it was too far advanced to accommodate the change. Lighting Mary Louise Geiger & Lucrezia Briceno matriarch, forced to Madame Ste. Pe in WALTZ OF THE TORE- Season Round-Up continues on page 4 a wonderful respite. Now, it’s on to next season! In his forward to the published script, Williams Directed by Scott Alan Evans face the realities of ADORS by Jean Anouilh: the hypochondriac har- James Prendergast has a co-starring role in wrote "I think The Eccentricities of a Nightingale is the impending war in ridan of a wife to a General who lusts for a young a substantially different play from Summer and America and the hor- woman. No holds barred anger and nothing to the feature film of the play The Changeling, which just completed a successful run at Smoke, and I prefer it. It is less conventional and an inspired rors already taking love about her, yet I found her fascinating to play. melodramatic." place in Europe. Two Boots Pioneer Theatre in . Coming up: a trip to Munich to work She’s naïve, she’s So that makes one American, one English He expressed the hope that the publication of the and on some corporate theatre projects for GE. brave, she is foolish, woman, two Frenchwomen and one Russian… play would lead to a production on Broadway that and she loves her and always with the pleasure of my fellow TACT Rachel Fowler appeared as Carol in Man and Boy in would confirm his conviction that this "radically impressive different version of the play" was a superior script, family – and eventual- actors, and the joy of Scott directing. I feel so the Salon Series, and recently played Mafawny in The but his hope went unfulfilled for over a decade. In theatrical ly grows up. very, very lucky, and I’m so glad you asked that Sea with TACT. As she’s expecting her first child Sept question. 1st, she described the work as “challenging”; most of fact, Eccentricities was not produced at all until Madame Ste. Pe in Waltz of the her stage time was spent pretending to be Cerberus, 1964. experience. Toreadors watchdog of hell! She has become involved in read- New Theater Corps

COMPANY NEWS continues on page 8 TheACTORS COMPANY THEATRE [The Sea:] a charming, moving and extreme- ly well- acted. A first rate production. ACTORS exquisite performances Theatermania.com The COMPANY THEATRE The New York Times Thank you to our 2006/2007Season C o n t r i b u t o r s The following list represents TACT’s honored contributors from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. We gratefully recognize their Season Round-Up continued from page 3 support which is so vital to our success and take great pride in these generous people who have given at the levels listed below. of no less than six concert performances, introducing (or reintroducing) a truly catholic range of classic plays all deserving of revival, and most unlike- G R A N T S B E R N H A R D T Sue & Bob Morris Bernice & Waldo Pagani  Patty Kettle 2006/07 Patti & Donald Pearlstein Suzanne & Ronn Kistler ly, for economic reasons, to be seen in any other form than ours. The Axe-Houghton Foundation ($500 TO $749) Fredi Pomerance Wendy & Steven Podos Lisa Knobel The Degenstein Charitable Christy & Michael Apfelbaum LaVonne Poteet We all - our valiant company, our indispensable and fondly regarded sub-  Richard Pollak Helga Krawany Guest Foundation Holly Kulka & Kevin Atteson Aurelia Reinhardt-Gebauer scribers and supporters, our steadfast Board - can justifiably pause, just for Joel Black Lana & Jack Rosenfeld David Rice Michi Kroop The Friars Charitable Charlotte Rosenblatt Peggy Kuo Robin Lynn & Larry Blumberg Margery Rubin Artists Foundation Raven & Marvin Rudnitsky Trudy Lampert Nora Chester Wendy & Nick Rubinstein IBM Corporation Mary Russin Ellen Lapson The talented men and women Leonia Sagasta JPMorganChase Regrant Fund, Nancy & Sam Craig Tetsubumi Sayama Judy & Bob Lebda who guested with us this That [THE SEA] captures that ebb and flow with such Theodore Sayers a project of A.R.T./New York Georgia & Michael de Havenon Charles Schader Helene P. Levine season are: grace, wit, excitement, heart and intelligence is a tribute The Leon Levy Foundation Barbara & Bill Evans Joan Schlank Ruth L. Schaefer & Dorothy & Robert Lewis New York State Council on the Arts Alvin Friedman-Kien Anne & Mark Selna Morton R. Brown Albert Lindauer Fernando Arroyo Composer Warren Spector  to … the company who should be applauded for setting New York City Dept. of Cultural Affairs Sandy & George Garfunkel Eileen Klein & Elliott Schuman Michael Lonergan Drew Barr Director Mary Louise Geiger Jane Susskind-Narins Charlene & Rich Schwarzkopf Marilyn & Jay Lubell Off-Broadway Angels Molly Battles Actor sail with this challenging, satisfying drama. Michael Tuch Foundation Jean Gennaro Mary & Phillip Van Orman Mina Seeman Eleanor Lupino UBS Karen Falk & Michael Goldman Selma L. Wiener Spencer Sherman Ilene Marquardt Andrea Beukema PSM Time Out New York  The Ungar Family Foundation Barbara & Clifford Grodd Laura Stein & Eugene Wolsk Ann Skinner Pamela & Paul Mauger Lauren Bloom Actor Jane Osgood & Ted Hilles Judith & Stanley Zabar Judith Squire Gregg Mayer Rob Breckenridge Actor K E A N E Kirk Hollingsworth Frank Steindler Elizabeth & James McClure LUNT/FONTANNE Duane Storms Kevin McMullen Lucrezia Briceno Lighting Designer ($10,000 AND UP) Juliette & Mark Janssens a second, to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. We should also ($100 TO $249) Madeleine Sugimoto Robin Merlo MAN AND BOY. Top: The cast of Man And Boy. Anita Jaffe Pamela Jarvis & Anthony Davis John Brant Actor tip our hats in salutation for the astonishing efforts of Scott Alan Evans and Nancy & Charles Ashcroft Sharon Kern & Dan Taub Peter Moore Above left: Thom Christopher. Above right: Joe Delafield and Rachel Fowler. Stephen Lindenmuth Mildred & Paul John Nicola Victoria Buck Actor Martha Babcock Laura That & Linda McCarthy Lilia Morris Cathy Bencivenga. Between them they managed to achieve what other the- Jane & Howard Kramer Thom Christopher Actor Deirdre & Lawrence Bader Helen Tucker & Lenna Mulka O L I V I E R Kay & Roger Lyons atre companies, not much larger than ours, employ a staff of ten and up to Emory Bass The Gramercy Park Foundation Eric Mulkowsky Larry Conroy Actor ($5,000 TO $9,999) accomplish, often with less success. Marie & James Marlas Marcy Benstock Marilyn Ungar Paul Napper & Tony Rao Jane & George Bunn Joe Delafield Actor Cordelia & Carl Menges Joyce & Louis Betz Irene & Norman Vale Roy Newkirk Holly Etlin & Ron Sussman Curzon Dobell Actor We have a solid foundation for our new season, and it's going to be anoth- Sandra Mintz Joan Boening Harold Varmus Arlene & Jeffrey Nichols er banner year: our Fifteenth. See you there! Linda & Frederic Greenberg Carol Mitchell Rose-Marie Boller Jessie B. Walker Catherine Nickel Ruth Eglsaer Actor Susan Weis Mindel & Patricia & Peter Nadosy Douglas Broadwater Margaret Nyhus Steve French Actor Dr. Joel S. Mindel Nancy Newcomb & John Hargraves Beatrice Broadwater G I S H Margaret Parkes Matt Fraley Actor Nancy Wender & Steven Rand Katherin Betts & Sandford Brown Suzan & Martin Pegler Michael Nolan (UP TO $99) Todd Gearhart Actor Our 2006/07 Salon Series concluded with three Phyllis Brugnolotti Sylvia & Harold Richman James Price Donna & Alan Altschuler D U S E Martha Wheeler Burke Melissa & James Rinzler Helen Green Actor Ann & John Pyne Fran Amicone more extraordinarily relevant plays from the past. ($2,500 TO $4,999) Timothy Cage Phyllis & Earl Roberts TACT Nancy Rizzo Andrea Barbieri Michael Halling Actor Laurie & John Adams Phyllis & Joseph Caroff Charles Rodin Elizabeth & Robert Rodgers Rhoda & Martin Barr Syche Hamilton PSM FYI: Here’s the 411... Diane Brandt & Martin Lewis Philiip Cedar Joan Rosner Susan & Frederic Rubinstein Roy Bavaro & Stephen Joseph Kay Chester Philip Rubin Deborah Hecht Dialect Coach Gina & Warren Handelman Suki & Ruth Schorer Elizabeth Bergman Salon Zara Cohan Jo-Ann & Gregory Salata Sasha Higgins Actor Cynthia Harris Arlene & Stewart Semaya Lynn Blair David Cohen & Pauk Bernabeo The Scholl Family Foundation Christine Millen & William Pinzler Susan Bloom Stephen Hollis Director Robert Silver Carolyn & David Cohen Marian Seldes Louise & David Schraa Betty Bowers Sung J. Hong Composer Series David Smith Edward Connor Ilene Shifrin by Terence Rattigan Don Brennan Michael Thomas Brenda Cronin Alice Simone Jerry Jerger Actor C O R N E L L Joy & Michael Brown Directed by DREW BARR Lis & Richard Waterman Carolyn Curran Frank Skillern ($1,500 TO $2,499) Anthea Buchanan Amir Khosrowpour Composer and Joanne & David Wilson Elaine & Jacques de Spoelberch Fanny Steinhauser MAN Music by FERNANDO ARROYO Eve Bianco Elinor Ceresney Inhyun Kim Composer Lore Degenstein Sandy Stern Darya Geetter Linda & Paul Wolfowitz Linda Chen Stage Manager LARA E. TERRELL Clare Detko Maureen Stewart Robert Lagevin Musician Deonne & Robert Gronlund Susan Stevenson & Pam Chen & Amy Chester Cory & Bob Donnalley Margaret & John Stewart Irma-Estel Laguerre Actor Frances & Matthew Harris Richard Woodward Elaine & Robert Cohen BOY John Dunda Susan Stone & Tom Gavin Joan & Richard Yett Douglas Cohen Judith Leclair Musician with Company Members JAMIE BENNETT, RACHEL FOWLER, Priscilla & Ronald Hoffman Suzan & Fred Ehrman Cora Tangney  Cynthia Zeger Larry Conroy Mimi Lien Set Designer Constance Poster Suzanne Engel Jenn Thompson JAMES MURTAUGH, JAMES PRENDERGAST, LYNN WRIGHT and Michael Ross Karen Dahle & Sue Hessel 2007 Patty Erlich Gabriella Thurston Eileen Little Actor B A R R Y M O R E Patricia Dash Guest Artists JOE DELAFIELD, THOM CHRISTOPHER Nathan Silverstein Brooke A. Evans & Karla & Edward Toledano Mel McCue ASM/PSM ($250 TO $499)  Nina DaVinci-Nichols Jane Ungar February Ann & Leon Stone Michael O’Neill RAIN. Top left: Michael Halling, Matt Fraley, Craig Peugh. Top right: Gregory Salata as Rev. Davidson. Christopher Deatherage Tim McCracken Actor Susan Talbot Lorraine Abraham Lia Faiman Brent Whitman Above left: Margaret Nichols as Sadie Thompson. Above right: Irma-Estel LaGuerre. Margaret & John Detko Dee & Marshall Arisman Linda Ferber Robert N. Williams Christopher McCutchen Actor Lynn Wright & Scott Gordon Sophie & Richard DeVore Mary & Robert Ascheim Alma & Stephen Flesch Edwin Wilson Tuck Milligan Actor Penny Domow by John Colton & Douglas Black Margaret Flynn Nina Wolsk  B O O T H Helen Dondy Andreea Mincic Set Designer Sheldon Fogelman William B. Young Clemence Randolph ($1,000 TO $1, 499) Rhoda & Gerald Blumberg Julia Douglass & Martin Kihn Liz Morton Actor Sally Forbes Iris & Jack Zevin Ann & Joel Berson Rona & Marc Cherno Eleanor H. Driscoll Directed by JENN THOMPSON  Rusty Fox Aurora Zinder Mark Nuccio Musician Janet Cohn & Mike Slosberg Ralph Colin, Jr. Regina Elbirt Susan & Evan Friedman RAIN Music by INYHUN KIM Denise Coultas Carolyn G. D’Amboise H. Read Evans Zoe Perry Actor Marianne & Tim Goodell  First time contributor Jennie & Richard DeScherer Lynne & Barry Day Dr. Claire M. Fagin Craig Peugh Actor Stage Manager DAWN DUNLOP Laurie Gottlieb  New to 06/07 List Barbara G. Fleischman Patty Dugan Lisa Fischetti Margaret & Keith Gould  Increased Contribution Erik Ralske Musician Susan & Arthur Greene Diana Erbsen Beth & Richard Flusser with Company Members FRANCESCA Di MAURO, MARGARET Adele Greene Jared Ranere Asst. Director 2007 Larry Keith Marcella Frank John Freimann David Greisen Allen Read Actor March Lydia & Benjamin Kukoff Anne Fribourg We make every effort to NICHOLS, JAMES PRENDERGAST, GREGORY SALATA and Guest Artists Liza Gennaro & Scott Alan Evans Russel Hamilton Jean Gerson-Greer Robbie Rescigno ASM Maria-Luisa & Larry Loeb Jane & Charles Goldman The Barbara Hogenson Agency maintain the accuracy of our MATT FRALEY, IRMA-ESTEL LaGUERRE, MICHAEL HALLING, JERRY Andrew Goldman Chase Mishkin Emily & Bill Gottlieb Betty & Michael Howard contributor lists. Mary Rho Musician Elinor P. Goldsmith Sandra & Gary Sojka  Nancy & Robert Grasing Elizabeth & Edgar Howard JERGER, CRAIG PEUGH, OWEN THOMPSON, VALERIE WRIGHT Geraldine Goodman We apologize for any mis- Rien Schlecht Wardrobe Francis Williams Colin Harley Mary-Beth Hughes Rhoda & Eliot Gordon Joan Shepard Actor Elaine & Irving Wolbrom Delphi & Norman Harrington Ruth Jody spelled or omitted names. Joyce Gordon Peter Judd Please contact the office Narelle Sissons Set Designer Mary Jane & David Harris Irving Grad Anne Kaufman-Schneider Dana Smith-Croll Actor H A Y E S Constance & John Hartnett Stephen S. Gurian regarding any error so that Bette & Joseph Kessler ($750 TO $999) Laurence Herman Elizabeth Hack corrections and updates John Sundling Props Master by Arthur Wing Pinero Paula Krongard Carol & Geoffrey Chinn Jack Koenig Rose & Cyrille Halkin Sherry Sylar Musician DANDY Wendy Lehman can be made. Directed by STEPHEN HOLLIS Annette DeLara & William Darrie Lawrence Judie Heap Judith & Edwin Leonard Caroline Tamas Actor Cobbs Kent E. Lawson  Diana Henley Music by AMIR KHOSROWPOUR Judith Leynse Heartfelt Lisa & Clemente Cohen Lianne Lazetera & Ruth Hockstein Lara Terrell PSM Cathy & Jeff Martin Stage Manager ANDREA BEUKEMA Jaime Handelman Sandy Schlesinger Marvin Hoffman thanks, too, Owen Thompson Actor Eve & Sidney Mayer DICK Cameron F. MacRae III Marion Levy Judith Hozore Joseph Trapanese Composer Peter Mayer to all our season with Company Members EVE BIANCO, RICHARD FERRONE, RON Karen & Gerald Morganstern Ginny Louloudes Anne Hughes

May John McGuire Christopher Totten Actor 2007 Andrea & Jay Indyck James Murtaugh The Lynford Family Charitable Trust Leslie M. McKinley subscribers! McCLARY, JAMES MURTAUGH, SCOTT SCHAFER and Guest Artists Dana Ivey Marc Weitz Asst. Director Alexa & Eric Shea Leola & Robert Macdonald Brenda & Randy Morgan Helen Jacobs Craig Wichman Actor JOHN BRANT, NICOLA VICTORIA BUCK, STEVE FRENCH, SASHA Janet C. Weis Susan & John Mathias Betty Necarsulmer Sally Kandle David Maurrasse Reginald Norris Valerie Wright Actor HIGGINS, DANA SMITH-CROLL, CRAIG WROE DANDY DICK. Top: Sasha Higgins, Nicola Victoria Buck, Dana Smith-Croll, Scott Schafer and Beverly Katzman James Murtaugh. Above left: Eve Bianco. Above right: Scott Schafer. James McLaren Veronican & John Olivieri Craig Wroe Actor