WORLD PREMIERE the MONGOOSE WRITTEN by Will Arbery DIRECTED by Michael Thomas-Visgar PRODUCER Donald Russell
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WORLD PREMIERE THE MONGOOSE WRITTEN BY Will Arbery DIRECTED BY Michael Thomas-Visgar PRODUCER Donald Russell ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Ken Korpi SCENIC DESIGN Chad Dellinger LIGHTING DESIGN Derrick McDaniel SOUND DESIGN Joseph “Sloe” Slawinski COMPOSER Daniel Sugimoto COSTUME DESIGN Michele Young STAGE MANAGER Maurie Gonzalez PUBLICIST David Elzer ONLINE MARKETING Corryn Cummins The Mongoose was an official selection of the Road Theatre Company’s Summer Playwrights Festival 6, July 2015. Scott Alan Smith, Festival Director. This project is supported in part by grants from The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. The Road Theatre Company is a subsidiary of The Other Side of the Hill Productions, Inc., a 501-C3 Non-Profit Corp. head_a1 A NOTE FROM THE ARTISTICHEAD_A2 DIRECTORS DearRoadPatrons Welcome to the wild and wooly world of new playwright Will Arbery and his wholly original world premiere of The Mongoose. From Broken Fences’ changing Chicago neighborhood, Mr. Arbery moves us to Dallas, Texas where we meet a highly dysfunctional family in the midst of their own internal and external changes, with each character looking for signs of how to live better and move forward. A big hit in 2015’s Summer Playwrights Festival, The Mongoose strad-dles a reality rocked by absurdism and painful truth with a style that veers from intensely comic to dark and menacing. This one-of-a-kind, take-no-prisoners play showcases a new vibrant and original voice in the American theatre, and the Road is pleased to introduce you to Will Arbery and to your own journey with the mysterious “Jeff.” The play is directed by the talented young resident director, Michael Thomas-Visgar, and what a tale he and his cast have to tell. The Mongoose and Broken Fences represent the Road at its most daring mission, to bring you the best new works and most original voices in the American theatre. We welcome you to the Road’s winter repertory. And don’t forget to donate to the anniversary “Thrive in 25” campaign to allow us to continue to bring you the finest new entertain-ment. We are grateful for your support. Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director Sam Anderson, Artistic Director AWARDS & ACCOLADES 2015 Bitter Lemons: One of the Top 10 Seasons of the Year L.A Times Critic’s Choice - The Other Place by Sharr White NoHo Fringe Festival -Best Stage Play (Drama) – Homefree by Lisa Loomer Huffington Post Top 10 L.A. Theatre Productions - The Other Place by Sharr White L.A Weekly “GO!” Homefree by Lisa Loomer The Other Place by Sharr White Stage Raw Top 10 The English Bride by Lucile Lichtblau Things Being What They Are by Wendy MacLeod Stage Scene L.A. Scenie Awards One of L.A.’s Top 8 Intimate Theatres Outstanding Drama (Intimate Theatre) – The Other Place by Sharr White Outstanding Comedy (Intimate Theatre) – Mud Blue Sky by Marisa Wegrzyn Direction of a Drama (Intimate Theatre) -Andre Barron, The Other Place Direction of a Comedy (Intimate Theatre) - Mary Lou Belli, Mud Blue Sky Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Drama (Intimate Theatre) Taylor Gilbert, The Other Place Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Comedy (Intimate Theatre) Carlyle King, Mud Blue Sky Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role - Drama (Intimate Theatre) Sam Anderson, The Other Place Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role - Drama (Intimate Theatre) Danielle Stephens,The Other Place Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role - Comedy (Intimate Theatre) Amy Tolsky, Mud Blue Sky Star-marking Performance in a Play - Alex Smith in Mud Blue Sky SAGE Award Best Performance in a Drama – Taylor Gilbert, The Other Place Broadway World Nominations Best Direction of a Play (Local) – Andre Barron, The Other Place Best Lead Female Performance in a Play (Local)–Taylor Gilbert, The Other Place Robby Award Nominations Nan Martin Award, Best Drama - The Other Place by Sharr White Michael Devereaux Award for Best Playwriting - Sharr White, The Other Place Martin Benson Award, Best Director of a Drama - Andre Barron, The Other Place Best Actress in a Drama - Taylor Gilbert, The Other Place Best Supporting Actor in a Drama - Sam Anderson, The Other Place Ticketholder Awards Best Production of 2015 - The Other Place, directed by Andre Barron, the COMPANY Kimberly Alexander Keelia Flinn Elizabeth Knowelden Kevin Shipp Sam Anderson Arielle Fodor Shelby Kocee Danvir Singh Steve Apostolina Mia Fraboni Jennifer Laks Alex Smith Chelsea Averil Kris Frost Morgan Lauff Jacob Smith Deana Barone Laura Gardner Jeff LeBeau Scott Alan Smith Andre Barron Monique Gelineau Barret Lewis Elizabeth Southard Al Bernstein Taylor Gilbert David Lorell Amy Stoch Verity Branco Michelle Gillette Andrew Manardo Hannah Mae Sturges DeJean Brown Carole Goldman Yani Marin Ben Theobald Courtney Buchan Zeljka “Z” Gortinski David B. Marling Amy Tolsky Crash Buist John Gowans Erica Mathlin Joey Vahedi Cody Bushee Cynthia Gravinese Chuck McCollum Gwen Van Dam Jennice Butler Lina Green Matthew McCollum Kieren van den Blink Anna Carini Don Grigware Kevin McCorkle Michael Thomas-Visgar Janet Chamberlain Chet Grissom TJ McNeill Geoffrey Wade Lisa Cirrincione Kyle Hall Jonathan Medina Miles Warner Brian M. Cole Helen Harwell Stephanie Michels Allan Wasserman Joshua Wolf Coleman Ann Hearn Tiffany Moon Lila Waters Hallie Cooper Patricia Herd Deidre Moore Deverill Weekes Mark Costello Richard Herd Zachary Mooren Bryna Weiss John Cragen Liz Herron Paris Mulkey Jessica Wierzba Todd Curran Stephen Tyler Howell Desma Murphy Tiffany Wolff Meagan Daine Richard Hoyt-Miller Tom Musgrave Blake Young-Fountain Philip D’Amore Ann Hu Lisa Nathans Bettina Zacar Kathy Bell Denton Kara Hume Lockne O’Brien Ken Zavayna Tony DeCarlo Kate Huffman Justin Okin Bernie Zilinskas Susan Diol Suzanne Hunt Laurie Okin Corey Dorris Barry Jenner Patrick Rieger Whitney Dylan Carl J. Johnson Coronado Romero Mark Elias Darryl Johnson Donald Russell Stephanie Erb Donna Simone Johnson Elizabeth Sampson Dirk Etchison Scott Key June Sanders Adam Farabee Ivy Khan Julia Sanford Aaron Fentress Carlyle King Judith Scarpone Gina Ferranti Nora King Hilary Schwartz Jennifer Finch Melissa Kite Dean Scofield Tom Fiscella Tom Knickerbocker Albie Selznick Taylor Gilbert, Artistic Director/Founder ARTISTIC STAFF Sam Anderson, Artistic Director Scott Alan Smith, Associate Artistic Director Meagan Daine, Managing Director Darryl Johnson & Kevin Shipp, Technical Directors ARTISTIC BOARD Chet Grissom CORPORATE BOARD Carlyle King Steven L. Boortz, Esq Marian Lawrence Ian Bryce Heather Moses Donna Simone Johnson Cara Eisenberg Stuart Spence Kevin Shipp Taylor Gilbert Judith Vida-Spence Ann Hearn about the ARTISTIC DIRECTORS Taylor Gilbert (Founder/ Artistic Director) Taylor recently played Juliana Smithton in the acclaimed pro- duction The Other Place by Sharr White at The Road. She is celebrating her 26th season as Founder and Artistic Director of The Road Theatre Company. Producing cred- its include more than 60 critically acclaimed productions for The Road Theatre Company. Directing credits include the award-winning In The Name of the People, Mooncalf, My Last Confession, The Chisholm Trail Went through Here and Slumber Party. As Co-Director (with Ken Sawyer): Hitler’s Head, Homefires. Awards: As a Producer, over 130 regional theatre awards, including: the Margaret Harford Award for Sustained Excellence in Theatre, the 2002 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award (Best Production of a Small Play) for The Woman in Black and 2010 Certificate of Commendation from the City of Los Angeles for contributing 20 years of award-winning theatre to the community. For complete list visit: www.RoadTheatre.org. Sam Anderson (Artistic Director) Sam is the artis- tic director of The Road Theatre Company, a position he shares with founder Taylor Gilbert. Road Theatre Acting credits include: The Other Place, The Bird and Mr.Banks (Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Award – Best Actor), Napoli Millionaria(Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award – Best Actor) and Madagascar. Rogue Machine: Blackbird (Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Award – Best Actor, LA Weekly Award - Best Duo Performance). Road direct- ing credits include Clete Keith’s The Different Shades of Hugh, Theresa Rebeck’s The Water’s Edge, Stacy Sims’ As White As O, and Shove by Mark Eisman (LA Weekly Directing Nomination.) Film & Television audiences know him from 35 years of performances, including his recent recurring turn as the evil Lee Paxton on Justified, Bernard on Lost, Dr. Kaysen on E.R. (SAG Award, Best Ensenble), Holland Manners on Angel and the films Water for Elephants, Forrest Gump, La Bamba, Frankie Go Boom, Breaking the Girls and the recently release horror thriller from Fox, Devil’s Due. Upcoming Sam stars in Modern Love and the A&E pilot, Damien due in 2016. Sam holds an MA in American Lit/ Creative Writing, as well as his theatre degrees. He teaches a professional acting class combining scene study, improv, monologues and audition tech- nique. He is also a graduate of The Grantsmanship Institute and studied Horticulture at Descanso Gardens. He is most proud of his 22-year old twin theatre graduates, Elizabeth and Ben. CORPORATE BOARD Steven L. Boortz, Esq Marian Lawrence Ian Bryce Heather Moses Cara Eisenberg Stuart Spence Taylor Gilbert Judith Vida-Spence MISSION STATEMENT • Develop New Work for the Stage that is relevant and entertaining while fostering emerging artists, introducing new voices and innovative ideas to the world of theatre. • Establish a broader audience base and deepen their commitment to theatre by presenting main-stage productions, outreach programs, post- show talk-back sessions and offering free weekly Road Signs Reading Series events. • Allow our stages and performance areas to serve as a physical space in which to imagine, create, refine and produce work not only for The Road Theatre but to also share with our creative colleagues to foster a creative, Understudies supportive arts community.