MICHAEL BUTLER (Artistic Director) This is SCOTT DENISON (Managing Director) has Lesher Foundation (Foundation Sponsor) Since Michael’s eleventh season as Artistic Director been the General Manager for the Lesher 1994, the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation of Center REP, where his directing credits Center for the Arts since it opened 26 years has awarded grants totaling more than $40 million include Women in Jeopardy, Baskerville, ago and has worked for the Arts in this area and reaching citizens in all parts of Contra Costa CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY ‘Art,’ Anything Goes, Clybourne Park, Real for over 43 years. Scott has directed over County. True to the original wishes of Dean and Michael Butler, Artistic Director Scott Denison, Managing Director Housewives of Walnut Creek, and To Kill 150 productions, including The Wizard of Oz, Margaret Lesher, the Foundation continues to build a Mockingbird Cinderella Disney’s Beauty on the strengths of the community by supporting , as well as the Shellie and the musical hit , organizations and programs that provide help presents BATCC Award-winning productions of Around and the Beast, Hairspray, The Music Man, and support to people in need; enhance and the World in 80 Days, A Midsummer Night’s Les Misérables and for the past 19 seasons enrich the lives of all citizens; and promote a Dream, Enchanted April, and Witness For The Center REP’s A Christmas Carol as well as healthy and exciting future for the community. Prosecution. His directing work has also been all Fantasy Forum productions since 1970. Established in 1989, the Foundation received its seen at San Jose Rep, Cleveland Playhouse, He created and produces the annual Shellie principal assets from Dean Lesher’s estate in 1993 Seattle Rep, Laguna Playhouse, ACT in Seattle, Awards now celebrating 39 years. Scott has and 1995. In 1997, an additional endowment Marin Theatre Company, Aurora Theatre also designed lights for over 250 productions, from Dean Lesher’s estate followed the death of Company, San Jose Stage, Shakespeare Santa including the national touring production of Margaret Lesher. A significant and final bequest Cruz, and The Juilliard School, of which he is a Sylvia. Under Denison’s guidance the Lesher from Mr. Lesher’s estate was received in 2003. As graduate. As an actor, Michael has worked on Center for the Arts presents over 850 public a family foundation, support for the Contra Costa Macbeth community will be carried on by the next generation Broadway ( with Glenda Jackson and events each year. He coordinates performing of family members. Grant-making decisions are Christopher Plummer and Two Shakespearean arts activities with over 100 producers and based on the vision of Dean and Margaret Lesher Actors), Off Broadway (Roundabout, The producing organizations. Scott created the who felt quality education, diverse art programs, Public Theatre), in regional theatres (The Chevron Family Theatre Festival which hosts and healthy children and families are the building Guthrie, Arena Stage, Long Wharf), film and over 7,000 guests each year. He is also the blocks of a strong and vibrant community. television, as well as in REP’s productions of Managing Director of the Center REPertory The Leshers defined the “spirit of giving” as Mirandolina!, The Mousetrap, Noises Off and Company producing professional productions “investing in the community and its people.” Rumors. He is a published songwriter and the each season and is the director and co- By providing financial support and direction in co-writer and composer of numerous music- founder of Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble, these critical areas, the Dean & Margaret Lesher theatre pieces, which have been produced in an adult family performing arts company Foundation is investing every day, every week By Philip Kan Gotanda NY, LA, and at festivals in India and Morocco. In which presents programs for the young and and every year in the health and well-being of this county that Dean and Margaret so loved. his career as a performer he has also danced Young at Heart. Scenic Designer Costume Designer Lighting Designer with the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, ABOUT CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY portrayed the villainous Pierre LeChance on OUR SPONSORS Andrea Bechert Maggi Yule Kurt Landisman “The Guiding Light," and played guitar and Center REP is the resident, professional theatre harmonica in many rock, blues, and country Chevron (Season Sponsor) has been the company of the Lesher Center for the Arts. Our Sound Designer Dialect Coach Wig Designer western bands at all the notable dives in NYC. leading corporate sponsor of Center REP and season consists of six productions a year – a variety Cliff Caruthers Lynne Soffer Amy Bobeda the Lesher Center for the Arts for the past ten of musicals, dramas and comedies, both classic Center REPertory Company years. In fact, Chevron has been a partner of and contemporary, that continually strive to reach Stage Manager the LCA since the beginning, providing funding new levels of artistic excellence and professional Michael Butler Artistic Director for capital improvements, event sponsorships standards. Leslie M. Radin* Scott Denison Managing Director and more. Chevron generously supports every Center REP show throughout the season, and Our mission is to celebrate the power of the human is the primary sponsor for events including imagination by producing emotionally engaging, Production Manager Casting Director the Chevron Family Theatre Festival in July. intellectually involving, and visually astonishing Cast Jeff Collister Jennifer Perry Chevron has proven itself not just as a generous live theatre, and through Outreach and Education Technical Director Costume Shop Manager Tasi Alabastro Carina Lastimosa Colin Thomson* Joshua Lipps Bethany Deal supporter, but also a valued friend of the arts. programs, to enrich and advance the cultural life of Master Electrician Wardrobe Supervisor the communities we serve. Keiko Shimosato Carreiro* Melissa Locsin* Ogie Zulueta* Del Medoff Alea Gonzales Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA) Carpenters Costume Staff (Season Partner) is both the primary fundraising What does it mean to be a producing theatre? Gabriel Johnson Lily Chhan Alexander M. Lydon Caleb Salmon Michelle Kincaid organization of the Lesher Center for the Arts (LCA) We hire the finest professional directors, actors Brennan Shreves Dresser and the City of Walnut Creek’s appointed curator and designers to create our productions at Asst. Stage Manager Leona Schrader-Dee for the LCA’s audience outreach. DRAA’s role in Center REP. These are not touring productions – Joe Coe Asst. to the Managing the community is all about building partnerships they’re conceived and developed here, the sets Props Manager Director Roger Anderson Gail Pfeifer with the focused goal of enhancing artistic and costumes are built in our shops, and the Marketing Assistant Program/Webmaster quality at the LCA and providing opportunities for actors rehearse in our rehearsal hall. Whether Ariel Brewer Linda Nomura everyone to enjoy the arts. Through partnerships the production is a Bay Area premiere or a Directed by Mina Morita Production Assistants Education with the LCA and its producers, individual donors, Shakespearean classic, each is devised to be a one Miranda Ketchum Education Directors Casey Leugemors Jeff Draper corporate and foundation sponsors and the of a kind, artistic creation that will be a unique Kerri Shawn City of Walnut Creek, DRAA plays a vital role in theatre experience for our audience. advancing the arts for the betterment of the Margaret Lesher Theatre THANK YOU TO THE STAFF OF THE community. Please visit us online at www.draa.org. What does it mean to be a professional theatre? LESHER CENTER FOR THE ARTS It means that all our artists and artisans are March 31 - April 29, 2017 Lesher Center for the Arts Production Services Audience Services career theatre-practitioners. Many of the actors Coordinator Coordinator in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Toni Kilcoyne Courtney Egg Association; our directors and designers are Technical Staff Ticket Office Staff members of professional unions. All do theatre Steve Pino Jeremiah Vierling CITY COUNCIL because it is their profession and their passion. Season Season Partner Foundation Sponsor John Iarla Rami Kim Rich Carlston, Mayor Alex Bull Robert Nolan Loella Haskew Sponsor Chris Currie Cheyenne Clarke Cindy Silva We are very proud to have the opportunity to Hanna Johnson Vaughn Edward Justin Wedel Kevin Wilk produce professional theatre for our community in Ian Roth Jave Hernandez ARTS COMMISSION the beautiful theatres here at the Lesher Center for Garrick Schuster Kiersten Jones Polly Bradbury, Chair INTERIM CITY MANAGER Anita Sagástegui, Fran Robustelli the Arts. Thank you for your support! Stephen Spleiss Alyssa Montany Vice Chair Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States Josh Stouffer Shannon Taylor Joe Bologna DIRECTOR The Scenic, Lighting and Sound Designers are members of United Scenic Artists Union Josh Yarnell Usher Coordinator Glynnis Cowdery Arts + Rec Center REP is a member of Theatre Bay Area and Theatre Communications Group (TCG), The National Organization for the American Theatre Pat Mitchell Jane Emanuel Kevin Safine CAST (in order of appearance) KEIKO SHIMOSATO CARREIRO* (Grace) COLIN THOMSON* (Mr. Hersham) last PRODUCTION TEAM awards include three Bay Area Theatre Critics for The Cutting Ball Theater; The Happy Ones has been a principal actor, designer and appeared at Center REP in Born Yesterday. Circle awards, a Denver Ovation Award, for Magic Theatre; The Loudest Man on Earth, PHILIP KAN GOTANDA (Playwright) Over and her designs have been included in the The Clean House and Outside Mullingar for Grace ...... Keiko Shimosato Carreiro* director for the Tony Award-winning San Previous Center REP productions include Francisco Mime Troupe from 1987 to the Anything Goes (as Moonface Martin), the last three decades, playwright Philip 2005 World Design Expo and 1996 Prague TheatreWorks; We Are Proud To Present, Rose ...... Carina Lastimosa Kan Gotanda has been a major influence in Quadrennial. She is currently teaching design Death of a Salesman, and Venus in Fur for Chiz ...... Melissa Locsin* present. She arrived in San Francisco with Mirandolina!…, Deathtrap, Sweet Charity, the Horse Drawn, Caravan Stage Company Lucky Stiff, All in the Timing, and The Voice the broadening of our definition of theater at San José State University, and has taught at San Jose Stage Company, Julius Caesar for The Hideo ...... Ogie Zulueta* Happy Days of Canada. Since then, Ms. Carreiro has of the Prairie. Other local performances in America. Through his plays and advocacy, several other universities across the country. Acting Company; for The Guthrie Bola ...... Tasi Alabastro he has been instrumental in bringing stories Ms. Bechert is a member of United Scenic Theater; Circle Mirror Transformation, and 9 performed and designed for many Bay Area include Noises Off and Mountain Days with of Asians in the United States to mainstream Artists Local 829. Circles for Marin Theatre Company, and Bug, Henry Sakai ...... Alexander M. Lydon Theater companies including Berkeley Rep, the Willows. He has appeared at American Mr. Hersham ...... Colin Thomson* Aurora Theater Company, S.F. Shakespeare American theater as well as to Europe and Dead Man's Cell Phone for San Francisco Conservatory Theater in 1776 (directed by MAGGI YULE (Costume Designer) is happy in the Parks, The Asian American Theater and Asia. Mr. Gotanda holds a law degree Playhouse Mr. Caruthers is also co-curator Frank Galati) and in Happy End, as well as to be working with Mina Morita again, and Company, African American Shakespeare from Hastings College of Law and studied and technical director of the San Francisco the show’s original English cast album. He excited to be working at Center REP, for the Company, Crowded Fire and Custom Made pottery in Japan with the late Hiroshi Seto. Tape Music Festival and has performed his recently performed at TheatreWorks in first time. Local credits include costume Theater as well as the San Francisco Mime Mr. Gotanda is a respected independent electronic music compositions internationally. readings of Something Wicked This Way design for Bay Area Children’s Theatre, Troupe. She directed City for Sale and Gotta filmmaker; his film, "Life Tastes Good," was His music for the IOS app "Earth: A Primer" Comes by Neil Bartram and Brian Hill. Film Aurora Theatre, Shotgun Players, Crowded Getta Life for the Mime Troupe, and Cowboy presented at the Sundance Film Festival. was featured at the GDC's Experimental and television work include "Blue Jasmine" Fire, Town Hall Theatre, Theatre First and versus Samurai for the Asian American Mr. Gotanda, alongside Michael Sasaki, had Gameplay Workshop in 2015. Tasi Keiko Shimosato Carina and NBC’s "Trauma." He has performed Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Her costume Theater Company. Directing is something a chinglish version of "My Boyfriend’s Back" Alabastro Carreiro* Lastimosa with San Jose Repertory Theatre, San Jose design for Where the Mountain Meets the LESLIE M. RADIN* (Stage Manager) is she would like to get back into, as well as with Joan Chen singing lead on the Hong Stage Company, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Moon was nominated for a TBA award and very pleased to be back at Center REP playwriting. I am so deeply grateful to be Kong pop charts before it was banned. Mr. San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, P.C.P.A. Gotanda is the recipient of a Guggenheim as Pygmalion and Sly Fox were nominated for after previously working on Sweet Charity bringing to life this beautiful world that Philip Shellie awards. Originally from New York, and Rumors. She has worked at American Kan Gotanda has created. It has made me dig Theaterfest, Idaho Shakespeare Festival and well as other honors and awards. He resides American Musical Theatre of San Jose. Career at Gotanda Art Plant in the Berkeley Hills with she designed for theatre, film, television and Conservatory Theater, Aurora Theatre deep again into what it means to me to be a industrial shows with companies including Company, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Japanese American, and the daughter of first favorites include Dirty Blonde with Portland his writer-producer wife, Diane Takei, and Center Stage, A Christmas Carol with A.C.T., their famously ill-behaved dog, Toulouse. HBO, Scholastic Productions, Laurel EFX California Shakespeare Theater, and Santa generation immigrants. Now more than ever Television and Columbia Pictures. Maggi is Cruz Shakespeare. She has traveled with Melissa Alexander M. Colin I feel the need to reexamine the lessons and Company with Marin Theatre Company, All MINA MORITA (Director) is the Artistic currently the Costume Director at Berkeley Berkeley Rep productions to the Hong Kong Locsin* Lydon Thomson* experiences of my elders. My Sons with TheatreWorks, P.C.P.A.’s Yours, Anne and Center REP’s All Shook Up. He has Director of Crowded Fire Theater, a Repertory Theatre. Arts Festival and the New Victory Theater CARINA LASTIMOSA (Rose) is thrilled to be been a member of Actors’ Equity Association critically acclaimed, intrepid, female-led in New York. Leslie is also the production company dedicated to developing a fierce KURT LANDISMAN (Lighting Designer) coordinator for the Aurora. Her favorite past working with Center REP for the first time! for 20 years. Local audiences will be familiar with his work SF/Bay Area credits include: A Dreamplay contemporary theater canon that reflects the productions include Aubergine, Wittenberg, through past productions designed for Center In the Next Room (or the vibrator play), (Cutting Ball Theater), Dogeaters (Magic OGIE ZULUETA* (Hideo) SF/Bay Area Theatres: plurality of our world. Previously, she served REP including Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Passing Strange, and The Lieutenant of Theatre), Peter Pan and Hairspray (Berkeley Magic Theatre – Dogeaters; A.C.T. - Monstress as the Artistic Associate at Berkeley Repertory Theatre—and a founding member of its Mystery, Anything Goes, Mirandolina, Inishmore. Ogie Playhouse), The Day The Crayons Quit (Bay (The Strand Theatre), After The War, The New Deathtrap, Life Could Be a Dream, Ella, the Zulueta* Area Children's Theatre), The Desk Set (No Americans (First Look Workshop); Crowded Ground Floor program; as Board President of Shotgun Players; as a 2014 Lincoln Center Musical, Sweet Charity, The 39 Steps, Old LYNNE SOFFER (Dialect Coach) has coached Nude Men), A Merry Forking Christmas Fire Theater – 100 Flowers Project, The Late Director’s Lab participant; as a founding Wicked Songs and Xanadu. His designs have over 250 theater productions at A.C.T., Berkeley (PianoFight), Slaughterhouse-Five and Top Wedding Lu Shen, the ; Ferocious Lotus – member of Bay Area Children's Theatre; and been seen throughout the Bay Area at many Rep, Magic Theatre, Marin Theater Company, TIME and PLACE Girls (Custom Made Theatre Co.), Marat/ Mad; Playwrights Foundation – Bay Area theaters including San Francisco Opera, ACT, Theatreworks, Cal Shakes, San Jose Rep and Sade (Thrillpeddlers), world premieres of The as a panel member with the Zellerbach Family Playwrights Festival. Other Regional Theatre: Foundation. Berkeley Rep, San Jose Rep, Theatreworks, SF Opera among others including nine for 1945, late Fall into Winter Crazed (Central Works) and A Kind of Sad Love La Jolla Playhouse – Bay and the Spectacles California Shakespeare Festival, The Magic Center Rep. Her regional credits include the Stockton, California Story (Bindlestiff Studio) and as a performer/ of Doom; South Coast Rep. – Caucasian Chalk Theatre, and Marin Theatre Company. Locally Old Globe, Dallas Theater Center, Arizona There will be one intermission. educator for Kaiser’s Educational Theatre. Mina has directed and developed plays at Circle, Dogeaters (Pacific Playwrights Festival); several Bay Area theaters including Berkeley his work has garnered 19 Bay Area Critics Theatre Company, the Arena Stage, Seattle Rep www.carinalastimosa.com Mark Taper Forum – Architecture of Loss, Circle Awards, 5 LA Dramalogue Awards and and the world premier of The Laramie Project CAST BIOGRAPHIES Rep's "Ground Floor" & "Fireworks Festival," MELISSA LOCSIN* (Chiz) is an actor, singer, L.A. Stories - 900 miles from Iraq; Antaeus Shotgun Players, Magic Theatre's "Virgin 5 Shellie Awards. Nationally, his work has at the Denver Center. Her film and television Theatre Company/Boston Court – Pera Palas; Play Festival," ACT's "Strand Reading Series been seen at many regional opera & ballet credits include “Fruitvale,” “Metro,” “Duets,” TASI ALABASTRO (Bola) is all kinds of tickled and teaching artist. She was last seen in Monstress Singapore Rep. – Hamlet; East West Players – & MFA program," UC Berkeley's "Zellerbach companies, including the Los Angeles Opera, “The Land of Milk and Honey” and “America’s to be sharing his Center REP debut with with American Conservatory Theater and Margaret of Anjou with Those The Tempest; Cornerstone Theatre Company/ Playhouse," Aurora Theatre's "Global Age Minnesota Opera, Virginia Opera, Tulsa Opera, Most Wanted.” Soffer works frequently as a such a fine ensemble of artists! In addition and Ballet Arizona. His designs have also been professional actor and acting teacher and is the Women Productions. Melissa has performed East West Players - As Vishnu Dreams; Project," Just Theatre, Ferocious Lotus, to stage and film, Tasi is also a filmmaker, presented off-Broadway, represented at Circle recipient of the 2011 Actors’ Equity Lucy Jordan with Red Ladder Theatre Company, San Playwrights’ Arena – Sleepwalk, Gumsimao; and Playwrights Foundation. In 2014, Mina content creator on YouTube, and broadcaster Rep, and the Douglas Fairbanks Theatres. Humanitarian Award. Jose Rep on Tour, San Jose Stage, Ferocious Nevada Shakespeare in The Park – Othello; won the Theatre Bay Area (TBA) Award for on Twitch. He was most recently seen as The Romeo and Juliet Outstanding Direction of a Musical and in Other designs internationally include world Lotus, St. Louis Black Repertory Company, Deaf West – ; East L.A. AMY BOBEDA (Wig Designer) is thrilled for Mayor in Epic Immersive’s Matthew Briar and 2016 was recognized as a TBA 40@40 for her premieres of plays by Sam Shepard in Japan, and St. Louis Shakespeare. She teaches at Classic Theatre - Midsummer Night’s Dream; her first show at Center REP. Her Bay Area the Age of Resurrection, an immersive play. He impact on Bay Area Theater. In 2015, Mina and Singapore, as well as the San Francisco Bay Area Acting Studio in San Jose, and is a Sledgehammer Theatre – Three Sisters; wig credits include Shotgun Players, Aurora also recently shared the story of Orestes with was honored to share her story on TEDx, Opera in Shanghai, China, and the Moscow proud member of the Multicultural Artists Theatre Nada – The Battles of Coxinga, SoHo Theatre, Marin Theatre, Broadway by the Bay, audiences in Dragon Theatre’s production of and this year, she was chosen as one of the Circus in Tokyo, Japan. kurtlandisman.com Leadership Institute. You can catch her in Rep. – Malibu. Film & T.V.: "Day Without A Mountain Play, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Town The Libation Bearers. Mr. Alabastro is a proud YBCA100, for "asking questions and making the recent award-winning indie feature films, Mexican," "Pink as the Day She was Born," Hall Theatre, UC Berkeley, Bay Area Children’s member of the Red Ladder Theatre Company provocations that will shape the future of CLIFF CARUTHERS (Sound Designer) has "Remember Me" and "East Side Sushi." www. "How to Make your First Billion & Save the Theatre, Cal Shakes and Berkeley Rep. Other and is currently working with inmates in culture." created soundscapes and music for over 200 melissalocsin.com World," "My Bad Dad," "One West Waikiki," credits include Roundhouse Theatre and Salinas Valley State Prison as part of the productions, including Dracula, and Ella: The "First Years," "2 Guys and a Girl," "L.A. Heat," Yale Rep. She is both the Associate Costume ALEXANDER M. LYDON (Henry Sakai) is ANDREA BECHERT (Scenic Designer) has Musical for Center REP. Recent work includes Arts-in-Corrections program; The program "Models Inc." Member of Ferocious Lotus Director and Hair and Makeup Supervisor at happy to be making his Center REP debut. Past designed over 300 productions across the American Night, The Tempest, and The Seagull re-engages participants with their creativity Theatre Company. https://sites.google.com/ Berkeley Rep, where she enjoys buying actors credits include It Can't Happen Here (Berkeley country, including Vanya & Sonia & Masha for California Shakespeare Theater; Elektra, and imagination through carefully selected site/ogiezulueta/home expensive socks and giving dramaturgically Rep), Untitled Cambodian Pop Play (Berkeley & Spike, Cowgirls, Don’t Dress for Dinner, The Homecoming, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, theatre and improv activities. For more info accurate haircuts. A graduate of UC Santa Rep Ground Floor), King of the Yees (Ashland Collected Stories, and Amy’s View at Center and Race for American Conservatory Theater; on the program, and updates, please visit Cruz and Alameda Beauty College, she also New Plays Festival), The Four Immigrants: An REP. Companies designed for include Crime and Punishment and TRAGEDY: a http://www.tasialabastro.com. spends her time managing social media and American Musical Manga TheatreWorks, Colorado Shakespeare tragedy for Berkeley Repertory Theatre; (TheatreWorks, designing costumes for Bay Area Children’s workshop), The Rover (Shotgun Players), Festival, American Musical Theatre of San Gross Indecency and The Diary of Anne Frank THANK YOU TO: THANK YOU TO OUR Troilus and Theatre, cutting and coloring the hair of Bay Massimo’s Ristorante Where the Mountain Meets the Moon OPENING NIGHT DINNER SPONSORS: Jose, The Magic Theatre, The Cleveland for Kansas City Repertory Theatre; Area artists, and cultivating an Instagram Waters Moving and Storage (Bay Area Children's Theatre), 410[Gone] Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Playhouse, The Starlight Theatre, Opera Cressida for Oregon Shakespeare Festival;Ubu Roi Pelleas and Melisande A Dreamplay account of nature photography. Associated Services-Alta Water (Crowded Fire Theatre). Scott’s Seafood Grill and Restaurant San Jose, and Marin Theatre Company. Her , , and