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Home , 1985 Pulitzer Prize, 50 Song Memoir, Alfred Uhry, A Strange Loop, Baghdaddy, Charlie Rosen (musician)

A Strange Loop

/ Who we are

Our vision We believe in theater as the most human and immediate medium to tell the stories of our time, and affirm the primacy and centrality of the to the form. Our writers We support each playwright’s full creative development and nurture their unique voice, resulting in a heterogeneous mix of as many styles as there are artists. Our productions We share the stories of today by the writers of tomorrow. These intrepid, diverse artists develop plays and musicals that are relevant, intelligent, and boundary-pushing. Our plays reflect the world around us through stories that can only be told on stage. Our audience Much like our work, the 60,000 people who join us each year are curious and adventurous. is committed to engaging and developing audiences to sustain the future of American theater. That’s why we offer affordably priced tickets to every performance to young people and others, and provide engaging content — both onsite and online — to delight and inspire new play lovers in NYC, around the country, and throughout the world. Our process We meet the individual needs of each writer in order to develop their work further. Our New Works Lab produces readings and workshops to cultivate our artists’ new projects. Through our robust commissioning program and open script submission policy, we identify and cultivate the most exciting American talent and help bring their unique vision to life. Our downtown programs …reflect and deepen our mission in numerous ways, including the innovative curriculum at our Theater School, mutually beneficial collaborations with our Resident Companies, and welcoming myriad arts and education not-for-profits that operate their programs in our studios. Our conviction We are a home for the American writer. It is expressed in our very name: we are Playwrights.

Playwrights Horizons – where theater begins

Our name is written many different ways by those who shape it most directly: our playwrights. This version of the logo was written by Michael R. Jackson, using his unique hand to imprint our name. For more information, visit phnyc.org/about. From the Artistic Director

The Strange Loop phenomenon occurs whenever, by moving upwards (or downwards)

through levels of some hierarchical system, we DeZon Zack by Photo unexpectedly find ourselves right back where we started. Citing W. E. B. Du Bois, Michael upholds Douglas Hofstadter, Gödel, Escher, Bach that racism creates its own strange loop of “Double Consciousness that continually It is a peculiar sensation, this double- reflects back the otherization of the “I.”’ At consciousness, this sense of always looking one point, after Usher withstands a harsh at one’s self through the eyes of others, of insult aimed at his physique, he responds measuring one’s soul by the tape of a world that he has no time to feel; he will write a that looks on in amused contempt and pity. song instead. The force and authenticity of W.E.B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk the character’s (and the author’s) musical talent proves an invaluable tool for his I only wanted more than I knew. survival. Liz Phair, “Strange Loop” But can it help him change? Welcome to The term “strange loop” was coined by the paradox of theater. A play or a musical cognitive scientist Douglas Hofstadter. has a double-consciousness, doesn’t it? On the most immediate level, Michael R. Much like Du Bois’s articulation of this Jackson introduces the term to describe concept, such works have the point of his musical’s referentiality. It is a musical view of the writer and the reflective gaze about a black, queer musical theater writer of the audience. The theater is a specific named Usher who is writing a musical about art form that represents the dramatic a black, queer musical theater writer named action of human beings changing. And Usher…et cetera. But the aptness of the title in the best plays and musicals, this only starts there; the number of strange transformation becomes transfiguration. loops that Usher seeks to circumnavigate We change, but the play ends, we start is manifold. The opening number, which over, but are we starting from scratch? introduces our dry protagonist in his day One of Michael’s artistic heroes, Liz Phair, job as an usher for , sets brought an exemplary ferocious candor us up to expect a show-biz satire. But and vulnerability to her breakout , Michael wastes no time in broadening his Exile in Guyville. Michael pays tribute to scope. Usher gets his name not just from her influence in the play when Usher tries his job — we also discern that he is taking to source his “inner white girl” to inspire us on a journey, one into his own identity resilience and truth. And the final lyric and a larger subculture of queer African of that album’s concluding track, not Americans. We glean that, like so many coincidentally also called “Strange Loop,” others, Usher has moved to to says, “I only wanted more than I knew.” escape a narrow-minded, homophobic It is a loop because the thing she wants upbringing, but he cannot leave behind is the thing she doesn’t have. She thirsts the depths of self-loathing that have been for knowledge, and if she attains it, she is instilled in him. We recognize all too well back at square one, wanting more. This is the strange loop of family dynamics that he the strange loop of being human. The song can’t seem to escape. fades out, we sing it to ourselves, we put it back on tomorrow, et cetera. That is the But moving to the big city to pursue shape of change. his creative dreams just thrusts him into another strange loop, the equally demeaning prejudices in gay culture, either from fitness fascists or outright racists. Tim Sanford Artistic Director From the Playwright: Michael R. Jackson

My name is Michael Jackson. That means my entire life has been overshadowed by the notoriety and infamy of a now-dead pop star. When I’m meeting someone for the first time, my uniquely famous name strips me of an identity that is solely my own.

In the last year, I have been mistaken for or identified as playwright-director Robert DeZon Zack by Photo O’Hara to my face no less than six times. It’s is not formally become a running gag where I am constantly autobiographical but I did begin writing correcting theater people with “actually, it as a monologue in my early 20s when I I’m not Robert.” But before anyone jumps experienced myself as nothing more than a to any conclusions, some of these people mass of undesirable, fat, black queerness. were black so it’s more complicated than a I was functionally miserable, relentlessly racist white person thinking “they all look self-critical, and very lonely. It was like I the same.” But in either case, my seeming was on the outside of my body looking in resemblance to another black man strips me and on the inside of my body scratching to of an identity that is solely my own. get out. Self-hatred is a strange loop, too.

Over the last few years, I have been When I think back on these “dark café meditating on the tendency of theater critics days,” I imagine two killer lines from to compare black playwrights’ plays to each poems by Emily Dickinson and Nikki other without making a substantive case for Giovanni in a kind of vaudeville act in their comparisons. In most instances, these my head that starts with Emily warmly comparisons will present themselves in the introducing herself to Nikki with, “I’m form of critics anointing one black writer’s Nobody! Who are you?” And then Nikki work as the gold standard while other black clapping back at her with, “I ain’t shit. You writers find themselves cast as lesser or failed must be lower than that to care.” In my satellites orbiting around them depending on estimation, this negative feedback loop how successful or unsuccessful the critics perfectly describes where we find Usher, decide their plays are. I raise this issue not to the protagonist of A Strange Loop with his scold anyone but to grapple in good faith with famous name that’s also the name of the the extent to which the stories, questions, occupation he’s working while he, like and obsessions black writers have might truly me, tries to pen a musical with a plot that appear to be the same to this largely white requires us to ask ourselves questions gaze, stripping black writers of identities that like “Who is Usher? And who am/what is ‘I’? are solely our own. Whose gaze do I honor? Does it matter? Do I matter? Do black “I’s” matter? Am I their W.E.B. DuBois coined the term “double negro? Am I not their negro? Or am I Michael consciousness” to describe the uniquely Jackson? And if I am, do I finally get to claim African-American experience of “always an identity that is solely my own? Who is looking at one’s self through the eyes of Usher? And who am/what is ‘I’? Whose gaze others, of measuring one’s soul by the tape of do I honor? Does it matter? Do I matter? Do a world that looks on in amused contempt and black “I’s” matter? Am I their negro? Am I pity.” But what is a “self” anyway? Cognitive not their negro? Or am I Michael Jackson? scientist Douglas Hofstadter coined the term And if I am, do I finally get to claim an identity “strange loop” to theorize the self as merely a that is solely my own? Who is Usher? And who collection of meaningless symbols mirroring am/what is ‘I’? Whose gaze do I honor? Does back on their own essences in repetition until it matter? Do I matter? Do black “I’s” matter? death. He further theorized that a human Am I their negro? Am I not their negro? Or am being is the organism with the greatest I Michael Jackson? And if I am, do I finally get capacity to perceive itself perceiving itself to claim an identity that is solely my own? perceiving itself, ad infinitum.

Artistic Director Managing Director General Manager Tim Sanford Leslie Marcus Carol Fishman in association with Page 73 Productions

Producing Artistic Director Managing Director Michael Walkup Amanda Feldman

presents the world premiere of A Strange Loop

Book, Music, and Lyrics by Michael R. Jackson

Featuring Antwayn Hopper James Jackson, Jr. L Morgan Lee John-Michael Lyles John-Andrew Morrison Larry Owens Jason Veasey

Scenic Design Costume Design Lighting Design Sound Design Hair and Wig Design Arnulfo Maldonado Montana Levi Blanco Jen Schriever Alex Hawthorn Cookie Jordan

Orchestrations Music Director Vocal Music Coordinator Rona Siddiqui Michael R. Jackson Tomoko Akaboshi

Production Stage Manager Press Representative Casting Erin Gioia Albrecht Blake Zidell Alaine Alldaffer, CSA & Associates Musical Theater Director of Marketing Producing Associate Page 73 Director of Development Kyle Sircus Kent Nicholson Rebecca Yaggy

Associate Artistic Director Adam Greenfield

Choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly

Directed by Stephen Brackett

Originally Developed at Musical Factory This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Laurents/Hatcher Foundation A Strange Loop is supported in part by the Frank Young Fund for New Musicals, a program of National Alliance for , with funding from The Alhadeff Charitable Foundation — www.namt.org Cast

Usher LARRY OWENS Thought 1 L MORGAN LEE Thought 2 JAMES JACKSON, JR. Thought 3 JOHN-MICHAEL LYLES Thought 4 JOHN-ANDREW MORRISON Thought 5 JASON VEASEY Thought 6 ANTWAYN HOPPER

Production Stage Manager ERIN GIOIA ALBRECHT Assistant Stage Manager JOHN C. MOORE

Setting

Here and Now

Music Conductor/Keyboard 1: Rona Siddiqui Drums/Percussion: Elena Bonomo, Bass: Ian Jesse, Guitar/Keyboard 2: Beth Callen, Reeds: Chris Reza

Music Preparation and Original Arrangements by Adam Wiggins.

A Strange Loop will be performed without an intermission.

A Strange Loop is dedicated in loving memory to Darius Marcel Smith (September 13, 1982 – February 25, 2019) and “all those black gay boys I knew who chose to go on back to the Lord.”

About the Artists

ANTWAYN HOPPER (Thought 6). been blocked on Twitter by Kirstie Alley. This Playwrights debut. Broadway: Hair. Off- one’s for Mom. TheJamesJacksonJr.com Broadway: The Loophole (The Public), A Civil War Christmas (NYTW), This Ain’t No Disco L MORGAN LEE (Thought 1). Playwrights (NYS&F), Showboat (Carnegie Hall). Select debut. L Morgan has been seen Off- Regional: Nick’s Flamingo Grill (Alliance), Broadway, on tour, and in concerts in Camino Real (Goodman), The Brothers Size the US and abroad. Some of her favorite (Old Globe), Jesus Christ Superstar (Lyric credits include Defiant, Majestic, and Opera House). Film: Girl Most Likely. TV: “The Beautiful; Cercle Hermaphroditos; Ludo’s Knick,” “Blacklist,” “Royal Pains,” “Z: The Broken Bride; Francois and the Rebels; Jesus Beginning Of Everything,” “Girl Most Likely,” Christ Superstar; ; Weird Romance. “Shades of Blue,” “A Gifted Man.” Training: Film: A Black Girl’s Manifesto, Waystation in Carnegie Mellon. the Stars. Concert: “Our Lady J: Gospel for the Godless” (London, Berlin, NYC). JAMES JACKSON, JR. (Thought 2). #translivesmatter Instagram: @lmorganlee Playwrights debut. Off-Broadway/Solo:The Black-Ups (Joe’s Pub, Feinstein’s/54 Below, JOHN-MICHAEL LYLES (Thought 3). Green Room 42, DROM, The Duplex, A.R.T.’s Playwrights debut. Off-Broadway:This Ain’t Club Oberon, Lyric Theatre LA), Radio City No Disco (Atlantic); , Christmas Spectacular. Select Regional: (Barrow Street); Brooklynite (Vineyard); Jasper Dreamgirls (Massasoit, DASH Award), in Deadland (Prospect). City Center Encores: Showboat (NSMT), Henri Gabler (Exigent), , 1776. Regional: The Art of Falling The Wild Party (SpeakEasy). National Tour: (Second City/Hubbard Street), Choir Boy Whistle Down the Wind. Most recently, he’s (Guthrie). TV: “The Other Two,” “ PD,” “Modern Love,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” alum of the Johnny Mercer Writers Colony, “The OA.” Film: Blind. Recordings: Jasper in the Uncharted Writers Group, Deadland, The Man in the Ceiling. BFA: Pace and was a Sundance Theater Institute University. john-michaellyles.com and Fellow. He has received a 2019 Instagram: @jmlyles1 Whiting Award, a 2017 Grant, a 2017 Emerging Artist JOHN-ANDREW MORRISON (Thought 4). Award, a 2017 ASCAP Foundation Harold Playwrights debut. Off-Broadway: Classical Adamson Award, a 2016/2017 Dramatist Theater of Harlem, CSC, La MaMa, Joe’s Guild fellowship, and was the 2017 Pub, Ars Nova, MC of The Greenwich Village Williamstown Theatre Festival Playwright- Follies for several years at MTS. Regional: In-Residence. He has commissions from Hartford Stage, Baltimore Center Stage, Grove Entertainment & Barbara Whitman Cincinnati Playhouse, , Productions and LCT3. Twitter: @thelivingmj A.R.T., SpeakEasy. International: Boy Steals Instagram: @thelivingmichaeljackson Train (Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Fringe thelivingmichaeljackson.com First Award, London Stage Award). Film: How to Make Movies at Home. TV: “West STEPHEN BRACKETT (Director). 40s.” BA: Brandeis University, MFA: UCSD. Playwrights debut. Page 73: Ultimate Beauty johnandrewmorrison.com Bible. Broadway: (Lyceum Theater). Off-Broadway:Be More Chill LARRY OWENS (Usher). Playwrights (Signature and Two River Theaters), The debut. Hailing from East Baltimore, Larry Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical intercepted with A Strange Loop at the (Theaterworks USA/National Tour), Musical Theatre Factory under the artistic Buyer & Cellar (Rattlestick and Barrow direction of Shakina Nayfack. He is grateful Street Theaters/National Tour/London’s to Michael, Stephen, this cast, Page 73, Menier Chocolate Factory), The Mad Ones and Playwrights Horizons for this work. (Prospect Theater), Wringer (NYCCT), Education: The School at Steppenwolf. Carnival Kids (Lesser America), The Social media: @larryowenslive. Thank Correspondent (Rattlestick), After (Partial you Anna at WME and Olivia at 3Arts. Comfort), The Material World (Dixon Place), Performance dedicated to Arnisha. Be A Good Little Widow (Ars Nova), and The Tenant (Woodshed Collective). Regional: JASON VEASEY (Thought 5). Playwrights Significant Other (Geffen Playhouse),I debut. Broadway: The Lion King. National Now Pronounce (Humana Festival), Le Tour: The Lion King. Off-Broadway:The Switch (About Face), The Great Pretender Loophole (The Public), For the Last Time (TheatreWorks Silicon Valley). Upcoming: (Theater Row), Pork Kidneys to Soothe The Fall Springs at Barrington Stage. Soul. Regional: Smart People (Denver Center), Broadway Bounty Hunter (Barrington Stage), RAJA FEATHER KELLY (Choreographer). I Now Pronounce (Humana Festival). Can’t Playwrights: If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be believe this is finally happening! Thanks to a Muhfucka. Off-Broadway:Funnyhouse DVSV, as always. And lastly to Michael and of a Negro, The Death of The Last Black Stephen. #translivesmatter Instagram/ Man…, Everybody (Signature); , Twitter: @veaseyville The Chronicles of Cardigan and Khente (Soho Rep.); The House That Will Not Stand, MICHAEL R. JACKSON (Book, Music, Lyrics, Hurricane Diane (NYTW); Fireflies (Atlantic); and Vocal Arrangements). Playwrights debut. The Good Swimmer (BAM). Regional: Michael R. Jackson holds a BFA and MFA Lempicka (Williamstown). Awards: New in playwriting and Musical Theatre Writing York Live Arts 2019/20 Randjelovi/Stryker from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. As a Resident Commissioned Artist, Breakout songwriter, he has seen his work performed Award from SDCF, Dance Magazine’s everywhere from Joe’s Pub to NAMT. He Harkness Promise Award (2018), Solange wrote book, music, and lyrics for the MacArthur Award for New Choreography musical White Girl In Danger. He also wrote (2016), Princess Grace Award (2017, lyrics and book for the musical adaptation 2018). Raja is the artistic director of New of the 2007 horror filmTeeth with composer Brooklyn Theatre, and founder of the and co-bookwriter Anna K. Jacobs. He is an feath3r theory, which merged in 2018. ARNULFO MALDONADO (Scenic Design). Light and Theater, Portland Center Stage. Playwrights: I Was Most Alive with You, Podcasts: Naked Radio for Naked Angels. Dance Nation, Iowa, Men On Boats. Page 73: Film: Go Tell Your Fathers. alexhawthorn. Catch as Catch Can, Judy, Grounded. Other com, Instagram: @ AFHawthorn Off-Broadway:Charm, School Girls... (MCC); Sugar In Our Wounds (Lortel nomination) COOKIE JORDAN (Hair and Wig Design). and India Pale Ale (MTC); Usual Girls, Bobbie Playwrights: If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Clearly (Roundabout); Caught (PlayCo); The Muhfucka, Familiar. Broadway: Choir Boy, Rolling Stone, Bull in a China Shop (Lincoln on This Island, Sunday in the Park with Center). Regional: Indecent (Guthrie), An George, Eclipsed, Side Show. Off-Broadway: Octoroon (Berkeley Rep). International Mlima’s Tale (The Public); Jesus Hopped the A Tour: : 50 Song Memoir. Train, In the Blood, The Death of the Last Black Princess Grace Fabergé Theater Award, Man in the Whole Entire World (Signature); Henry Hewes Design Award nominee. Is God Is (Soho Rep); Kid Victory (Vineyard arnulfomaldonado.com Theatre). TV: Emmy-nominated for makeup design for NBC, “ Live.” MONTANA LEVI BLANCO (Costume Design). Playwrights debut. Page 73: Orange Julius. CHARLIE ROSEN (). Off-Broadway:Ain’t No Mo’ (The Public); Composer, performer, arranger, Fairview, Is God Is (Soho Rep.); Daddy (New orchestrator, music director, and Group/Vineyard); Fabulation, In the Blood, producer. Broadway: Be More Chill (Music The Death of the Last Black Man... (Signature); Sup./Orchestrations), Moulin Rouge The House That Will Not Stand, Red Speedo, (Addl. Orchestrations), Nat Turner (NYTW); Pipeline, Ghost Light, War (Orchestrations), American Psycho (Assoc (Lincoln Center); He Brought Her Heart Back MD/Keys), The Visit (Guitar/Zither), In a Box (TFANA); Eddie & Dave (Atlantic); Honeymoon in Vegas (Orchestrations), Last Match (Roundabout); O, Earth (Foundry). Cyrano De Bergerac (Original Music), One Drama Desk and . Oberlin Man Two Guv’nors (Music Director). Off College, , and the Yale Broadway/Regional/TV/Other: The Boston School of Drama. montanaleviblanco.com Pops (Arranger), Broadway Bounty Hunter (Music Sup./Orch.), Miss You Like Hell JEN SCHRIEVER (Lighting Design). (Orchestrations), The Black Suits, “High Playwrights debut. Page 73: Today Is My Maintenance” (Addl. Music), “Maya and Birthday. Broadway: What the Constitution Marty” (MD/Composer), “The Presidents Means to Me, The Lifespan of a Fact, Eclipsed, Show” (Original Music). charlierosen.com Ghetto Klown. Other Off-Broadway: @CRosenMusic Superhero (Second Stage); What the Constitution Means to Me (NYTW); Thom RONA SIDDIQUI (Music Director). Pain..., Night is a Room (Signature); Collective Composer/lyricist, music director, Rage, School Girls… (MCC); Usual Girls, orchestrator. Playwrights: If Pretty Hurts Ugly Bobbie Clearly, On The Exhale (Roundabout); Must Be a Muhfucka, Bella. Off-Broadway: Dan Cody’s Yacht, In the Body of the World Who’s Your Baghdaddy? Or How I Started the (MTC); (); War. Original musicals: Salaam Medina: Opera: Die Fledermaus (Metropolitan Opera); Tales of a Halfghan, One Good Day, The Tin, The Pearl Fishers (English National Opera, Treasure in NYC. : Broadway London). jenschriever.com Backwards, Gay Mens Chorus, Broadway Records. Awards: ASCAP Foundation Mary ALEX HAWTHORN (Sound Design). Rodgers/Lorenz Hart Award and the ASCAP Playwrights: Fly By Night. Other Off- Foundation/Max Dreyfus Scholarship. Broadway: Ordinary Days (Keen Company); ronasiddiqui.com The Mad Ones (Prospect Theater); Civilians; TRE; NAATCO; Associate Artist TOMOKO AKABOSHI (Music Coordinator). with Theater Mitu: REMNANT, Hamlet/ Playwrights: Bella (viola/fiddle). Tomoko UR-Hamlet, Juárez, Medea, DR.C, Hair, has worked with a wide range of artists . Regional: Baltimore and organizations such as Alan Silvestri, Centerstage, Engeman Theater, Geffen Alicia Keys, Coldplay, Boston Symphony Playhouse, KC Rep, Ordway, People’s Orchestra, Google, and Disney. Theater: Concert Master for Amazing Grace, Sweeney PLAYWRIGHTS HORIZONS is dedicated Todd, and Spring Awakening (Tokyo). to cultivating the most important American Substitute work: Matilda, Miss Saigon, playwrights, , and lyricists, My Fair Lady, SpongeBob. Her versatility as well as developing and producing extends to playing jazz at the White House, their bold new plays and musicals. Tim orchestras at Carnegie Hall, pop on TV. Sanford became Artistic Director in 1996 Tomoko coordinates and supervises full and Leslie Marcus has been Managing orchestral recordings for film, animation, Director since 1993. Under their decades and video games across four continents. of leadership, Playwrights builds upon its diverse and renowned body of work, SAMANTHA SHOFFNER (Properties counting 400 writers among its artistic Supervisor). Playwrights: If Pretty Hurts Ugly roster. In addition to its onstage work Must Be a Muhfucka, Familiar. Broadway: each season, Playwrights’ singular Children of a Lesser God, The Price, Noises Off, commitment to nurturing American , China Doll, Living on Love (Associate). theater artists guides all of the institution’s Select Off-Broadway:BLKS (MCC), Merrily We multifaceted initiatives: our acclaimed Roll Along (Roundabout), Is God Is, Kid Victory, New Works Lab, a robust commissioning Ride the Cyclone, Songbird, Seawife. Corporate: program, an innovative curriculum at Google, Samsung, Grammys, Emmys, its Theater School, and more. Robert H&M, Macy’s Windows. Production Design: Moss founded Playwrights in 1971 and Excedrin, NBC’s “Cold Cuts,” “True Love,” cemented the mission that continues to Disney’s Frozen, Marvel “THWIP!”, “Boys in guide the institution today. André Bishop the Street.” Citytech Professor, Props & served as Artistic Director from 1981- Paint. smartsetsbysam.com. 1992. Don Scardino succeeded him and served until 1996. Over its 48-year history, LIZ CAPLAN (Vocal Coach). Broadway/ Playwrights has been recognized with tours: Ain’t Too Proud, King Kong, Frozen, numerous awards and honors, including SpongeBob, , Miss Saigon, six Pulitzer Prizes, 13 , and 39 Oh Hello, Hedwig, Once, The Book of Mormon, Obie Awards. Aladdin, Side Show, American Idiot, Motown, Rock of Ages, 13, . Film: PAGE 73 PRODUCTIONS is now in its Shame, Les Misérables, The Greatest Showman 21st year introducing the most talented (Supervising Vocal Producer), Pixar’s Coco, early-career playwrights to New York The Lego Movie 2 with Tiffany Haddish. TV: audiences by producing their professional “The Get Down” (Netflix); NBC’s “The Wiz,” debuts in the city. Past premieres include “Peter Pan Live”; “The Colbert Show”; Tony the Off-Broadway debuts of Quiara Alegría Awards, . lizcaplan.com Hudes (2012 ); Samuel D. Hunter (2015 MacArthur “Genius” Grant); ERIN GIOIA ALBRECHT (Production Clare Barron (2015 Obie Award); Heidi Stage Manager). Playwrights: Dance Nation, Schreck (What the Constitution Means Mankind, Bella, A Life, Men on Boats, The to Me on Broadway); and many more. Christians. Broadway: Bullets Over Broadway, Page 73 also serves over a dozen early- Matilda, Bronx Bombers, Hands on a Hardbody. career playwrights through annual new Recent Off-Broadway:India Pale Ale (MTC); play development programs: the Page The Light, Charm, Punk Rock, The Village 73 Playwriting Fellowship, Interstate 73 Bike, The Third Story (MCC); Red Speedo writers group, and Summer Residency. (NYTW). Other theaters: The Old Globe, La Earlier this season, Page 73 produced Jolla Playhouse, The Public, Ars Nova, WP the world premiere of Mia Chung’s Catch Theater, TACT. MFA: UC San Diego. as Catch Can that received 5 stars and inclusion in the “Top 10” list of 2018 JOHN C. MOORE (Assistant Stage Manager). theatre from Time Out New York. Their Playwrights: Miles for Mary, Log Cabin, A season is also fostering the work of C.A. Life, Antlia Pneumetica, Marjorie Prime, The Johnson and Sanaz Toossi through the Christians. Other Off-Broadway:Mrs. Murray’s prestigious Page 73 Playwriting Fellowship, Menagerie, Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of now in its 16th year of singling out the Future, KPOP (Ars Nova); Sundown, Yellow exceptional talent. Moon (Ars Nova/WP Theater). “Playwrights Horizons, a mainstay of Off Broadway, possesses one of the most distinguished histories among New York’s producers of new work. The discovered or supported by Playwrights Horizons is practically a Who’s Who of contemporary drama.” & Sunday in the Park with George 1985 Pulitzer Prize PULITZER PRIZE WINNERS Baker The Flick 2013 Obie Award Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Bruce Norris 2012 Tony Award 2004 Tony Award Stephen Sondheim I Was Most Alive with You & James Lapine Sunday in the Park Adam Bock Anne Washburn with George A Life Mr. Burns, a post-electric play ASmall Fire , Scott Robert O’Hara Frankel, & 1989 Tony Award Bootycandy 2015 Obie Award Amy Herzog Jordan Harrison The Great God Pan Log Cabin After the Revolution NOTABLE PRODUCTIONS Marjorie Prime Samuel D. Hunter Craig Lucas 2015 Pulitzer finalist The Whale I Was Most Alive with You Maple and Vine 2013 Lortel Award Clare Barron Danai Gurira Dance Nation Familiar Lisa D’Amour finalist Taylor Mac 2017 Susan Smith Hir finalist Blackburn Prize 2013 Obie Award Heidi Schreck Max Posner Grand Concourse Kirsten Greenidge The Treasurer Madeleine George Milk Like Sugar Dan LeFranc 2012 Obie Award The (curious case of the) Rancho Viejo Watson Intelligence Gina Gionfriddo The Big Meal finalist Rapture, Blister, Burn finalist Lucas Hnath The Christians Danai Gurira 2016 Obie Award Familiar 2016 Outer Critics Circle Award 2016 Drama Desk’s 2015 Kesselring Prize Sam Norkin Award

Bathsheba Doran “Where would the American theater Kin be without Playwrights Horizons?” Circle Mirror Transformation Times 2010 Obie Award Melissa James Gibson Jon Robin Baitz This Lobby Hero The Substance of Fire Doug Wright, , Kirsten Childs & & Michael Korie Bella: An American Tall Tale 2017 Audelco Award 1996 Obie Award and 2006 OCC Award The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Lortel Award Her Chameleon Skin A.R. Gurney 2000 Obie Award Fabulation The Dining Room 2005 Obie Award Later Life The Butterfly Collections David Greenspan Scott McPherson Go Back to Where You Are Marvin’s Room She Stoops to Comedy 1992 OCC Award finalist 2003 Obie Award Stephen Sondheim Betty’s Summer Vacation Richard Nelson & 1999 Obie Award & Shaun Davey Sister Mary Ignatius ’s The Dead 1991 Explains It All For You 2000 Tony Award, Lortel 1982 Obie Award Award, and Drama Critics’ & Circle Award Once on This Island & Brian Crawley Richard Nelson Violet Goodnight Children 1997 Obie Award, Lortel Award, Everywhere and Drama Critics’ Circle 1981 OCC Award Award by Gerry Goodstein Gerry Goodstein by Sunday… Sunday…

Clare Barron Dance Nation 2019 Pulitzer Prize finalist Adam Bock 2017 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize A Life All photos by Joan Marcus except except Joan Marcus by All photos Playwrights Horizons Staff OPENING NIGHT: JUNE 17, 2019

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR...... TIM SANFORD M.E.W. Commissions MANAGING DIRECTOR...... LESLIE MARCUS Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie GENERAL MANAGER...... CAROL FISHMAN Stacey Mindich Productions Commission ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC Jenny Giering, Adam Gwon, and Karen Hartman DIRECTOR...... ADAM GREENFIELD RESIDENT THEATER COMPANIES Associate General Manager...... Jenna Ready Clubbed Thumb, Musical Theatre Factory, Company Manager...... Caroline Aquino SPACE on Ryder Farm Administrative Assistant...... Carmen A. Quiñones General Management Intern...... Ana Paredes PRODUCTION MANAGER...... JAY JANICKI Technical Director...... T. Sampson ARTISTIC Assistant Production Manager...... Andrea Wiethorn Literary Manager...... Lizzie Stern Audio Supervisor...... Dylan Carrow Artistic Programs Manager...... Karl Baker Olson Lighting Supervisor...... Carson Gross Dramaturg...... Ashley Chang Assistant Technical Director...... Stuart Parman Musical Theater Master Carpenter...... Jeffrey Padgett Producing Associate...... Kent Nicholson Costume Shop Manager...... Emilee McVey-Lee Guest Curator...... Emily Johnson Building Manager...... Gustavo Naranjo Literary Coordinator...... Kimberly Golding Operations Associate...... Michael Lenox Literary Fellow...... Divinia Shorter New York Community Trust Van Lier Musical Theater Fellow...... Emily Penick Directing Fellow...... Maya Davis Special Forces Unit...... Milo Cramer, Kevin Dorff, Robert Moss Directing Fellow...... Will Detlefsen Kimberly Golding, Sam Myers, Melissa Ng Stage Management Fellows.....Madolyn R. Friedman, POP Talk Docents...... Gamal El Sawah, Lissette Velez-Cross Christopher Moncayo-Torres, Alison Rooney, New York Community Trust Van Lier Melinda Sekela, Steven Strauss, Emily Welty Costumes Fellow...... Tyler Arnold CASTING DIRECTOR...... ALAINE ALLDAFFER DIRECTOR OF Associate Casting Director...... Lisa Donadio DEVELOPMENT...... BENJAMIN WEISMAN Con Edison Casting Fellow...... Gail Quintos Associate Director, Institutional Giving and Campaign...... Susan Ferziger Commissioned Artists Individual Giving Manager...... Eva Rosa Doris Duke Charitable Foundation/ Individual Giving and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Commissions Special Events Associate...... Sean Hefferon Clare Barron, Greg Keller, Amy Herzog, Lucas Institutional Giving and Hnath, Ike Holter, Julia Jordan Campaign Associate...... Holly Neugass Harold and Mimi Steinberg Commissions Development Operations Associate....Leena Hakkinen Kate Attwell, Christopher Chen, Erin Courtney, Jessica Goldberg, Kirsten Greenidge, Samuel CONTROLLER...... LINDA IBUZOR D. Hunter, Taylor Mac, Chris Miller and Nathan DIRECTOR OF Tysen, Bruce Norris, Tori Sampson, HUMAN RESOURCES...... SUZEN E. BRIA Kate and Seymour Weingarten Commissions Accounting Manager...... Mallory Aubry Kate Cortesi, Sarah DeLappe, Bathsheba Doran, Business Manager...... Carol Thomas Emily Feldman, Eric John Meyer, Marco Ramirez Business Associate...... Libby Zambrano Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Commission Receptionist...... Emily Witham Bergen County Academies Intern...... Katelyn Bang Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Program for DIRECTOR OF MARKETING...... KYLE SIRCUS Commissioning Women in the Performing Arts Assistant Director of Marketing...... Rochelle Torres Danai Gurira, Aleshea Harris Digital Content Producer...... Alison Koch Kenyon Playwrights Conference Commission Communications Associate...... Billy McEntee Sam Marks Graphic Design Associate...... Gerda Mostonaite Amal Commission Marketing Coordinator...... Danielle Zarbin Mona Mansour Digital Media Fellow...... Iman Childs Jody Falco and Jeffrey Steinman Commissions Marketing Fellow...... Clare Lockhart for Emerging Playwrights Will Arbery, Jaclyn Backhaus, Alexander GENERAL PRESS REPRESENTATIVE...... Borinsky, Milo Cramer, Jeremy O. Harris, Blake Zidell & Associates Hansol Jung, Jiehae Park, Korde Arrington Tuttle Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Musicals in Partnership Initiative Commissions Keith Glover and Josh Schmidt, Todd Almond and Lear deBessonet TICKET CENTRAL STAFF STAFF FOR A STRANGE LOOP Director of Ticket Services...... Craig Melzer Company Manager...... Caroline Aquino Ticket Services Manager...... Katasha Nelson Production Stage Manager...... Erin Gioia Albrecht Client Support Representative...... Bruce Barton Assistant Stage Manager...... John C. Moore Box Office Associates...... Jon Anditti, Kwamë Berry, Directing Fellow...... Maya Davis Emily Bubeck, Will Carey, Joseph Fernandez, Stage Management Fellow...... Madolyn R. Friedman Jr., Jesse Friedman, Melanie Gardner, Meg Audience Development Hrinkevich, Emma Hughes, Ashley Antonia Lopez, Consultant...... Ianne Fields Stewart Zoe Maldonado, Eva Schelbaum, Elizabeth Audience Outreach...... ChiChi Anyanwu Scopel, Ryan Shea, Nikki Vega, Jenna Zhu Associate Choreographer...... Candace Taylor Dance Captain...... Jason Veasey PLAYWRIGHTS DOWNTOWN Vocal Coach...... Liz Caplan PLAYWRIGHTS HORIZONS THEATER SCHOOL Synth Programmer...... Andrew Barrett Interim Head of Faculty Associate Set Designer...... Lawrence Moten and Curriculum...... Fritz Ertl Assistant Set Designer...... Corey Umlauf Production Supervisor...... Daniel Spitaliere Paint Charge...... Kristen Fechtel Production Coordinator...... Kyle Gates Painters...... Craig Horning Administrative Coordinator...... Emma Timothee Props Supervisor...... Samantha Shoffner Assistant Props Supervisor...... Gabrielle Giacomo PROGRAM HEADS Advanced Acting Training...... DJ Mendel Carpenters...... Charles Mosely, Dulfy Trinidad, Advanced Projects...... Andrew Scoville Granville , Ian McLaughlin, Thomas Culhane, Movement...... nicHi douglas Molly Siskin, Mike Welles, Taylor Riordan, Playwriting...... Max Rueben Nicholas Trimper Primary Acting...... Jed Schultz Assistant Costume Designer...... Sarafina Bush Voice and Speech...... Doug Paulson Wardrobe Supervisor...... Rachel Skowron Wardrobe Assistant...... Tyler Arnold PLAYWRIGHTS REHEARSAL STUDIOS Assistant Lighting Designer...... Judy Kagel Assistant Studio Managers...... James Wyrwicz, Lighting Programmer...... Ben Fichthorn Susan Bowyer, Lauren Contard, Gabriella Light Board Operator...... MJ Kanai Hernandez-Ramirez, Kevin Kong, Javen Nelson, Electricians...... Andrew Carey, Desi McCoy-Fischer, Jacob Nurick, Ryann Weir, Renee Yeong Victoria Miller, Jennifer Reddish Assistant Sound Designer...... Mike Deyo SPECIAL SERVICES Audio Supervisor...... Mark Van Hare Legal Counsel...... Farber Law, LLC; A1/Mixer...... Kevin Novinsky Andrew Farber, Esq; Laura Peterson A2 ...... Cass Piraino Accountants...... Lutz & Carr/Shari Ferrara Audio Crew...... AJ Kay, David Kunz, Stephen Dee, Insurance...... Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. James Macdonald, Becca Stoll, Jaechelle of New York, Inc./AliceFay Prine Johnson, Matt Hubbs Architect...... Mitchell Kurtz Architect, PC Artwork Design...... Jeff Rogers Telephone Services...... RingCentral, Transbeam House Management...... Emily Witham, Computer Systems...... Lansend/Ashwin Pai Kimberly Chatterjee, Kedian Keohan, Website Design...... Blenderbox Rachael Murray, Emily Verla Closed Captioning...... GalaPro Audio Description...... Michael T. Mooney Digital Advertising...... Allied Global Marketing AUTHOR’S THANKS Telemarketing...... SMART, Shakina Nayfack, MTF, Michael Kerker, Barbara Strategic Marketing for the Arts Whitman, Michael Walkup, P73, Tim Sanford, Kent Nicholson, the PH staff, Derek Zasky, Branden The actors and stage managers employed Jacobs-Jenkins, Raja Feather Kelly, Jamaal Clark- in this production are members of Turpin, Elijah Caldwell, GMTWP, UCross Foundation, actors’ equity association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in Jeremy Stoller, Natasha Sinha, Stephen Brackett, the . My Jackson Family, Kirsten Childs, Robert O’Hara The Director is a member of the Stage SPECIAL FUNDING Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the Department of Cultural United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829 is the union representing scenic, costume, Affairs in partnership with the City Council. lighting, sound and projection designers in Live Performance. CREDITS Scenery built by Playwrights Horizons Scene Shop, The musicians employed in this production are members of the Associated Musicians Automation provided by Creative Conners, Lighting of greater New York, Local 802 of the Equipment Provided by PRG, Audio Equipment American Federation of Musicians. provided by Masque Sound WARNING: The photographing or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device for such photographing or sound recording inside this theater, without the written permission of the management, is prohibited by law. Violators may be punished by ejection and SPECIAL THANKS violations may render the offender liable for money damages. FIRE NOTICE: The exit indicated by a red light and sign nearest to the seat you occupy is the shortest route to the street. In the event Barbara Whitman, West Bank Cafe of fire or other emergency please do not run – WALK TO THAT EXIT. Thoughtless persons annoy patrons and endanger the safety of others by lighting matches or smoking in prohibited areas during the performances and intermissions. This violates a city ordinance and is punishable by law. FIRE COMMISSIONER Playwrights Horizons is a writer’s theater dedicated to the support and Playwrights development of contemporary American playwrights, composers and Horizons lyricists, and to the production of their new work. The theater off ers career-long advocacy and artistic and technical resources to artists. As Family of an audience member, you are an important part of our mission and of Donors our proud 48-year tradition. We would like to thank all of the individuals and institutions in both the public and private sectors whose donations help to sustain our annual programs and productions. For more information about making a donation, visit phnyc.org/give.

Board of Trustees

Judith O. Rubin Mikael Salovaara Jide J. Zeitlin Chairman Vice Chairman Vice Chairman Private Investor President, The Keffi Group, Ltd.

Erin Laber Jill Crovitz Treasurer Secretary Partner Principal, Crovitz Consulting PricewaterhouseCoopers

Larry Aidem Eric M. Gural Pauline Oudin Managing Partner Co-CEO Managing Director and Partner Reverb Advisors GFP Real Estate Gradient

Mark Birkhead David A. Handler Michael Patsalos-Fox Managing Director Partner Board Member and Director JPMorgan Chase Centerview Partners LLC Vidyo

André Bishop Robert W. Jones Tim Sanford Artistic Director Co-Founder Artistic Director Lincoln Center Theater Antares Technologies Playwrights Horizons

David L. Caplan Christopher R. Lawrence Marisa Sechrest Partner and General Counsel Managing Director and Producer/Theatrical Consultant Atairos Group Deputy Chairman, Altair Entertainment Investment Banking Bryce L. Friedman Lazard, Ltd Dana M. Seshens Partner Partner Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP Alex Halpern Levy Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP President Ethan Geto A.H. Levy & Co. Scott Slobodnyak Principal Vice President, Markets Group Geto & de Milly, Inc. Leslie Marcus BNY Mellon Managing Director Sam Gonzalez Playwrights Horizons Rachel Wilder Director of Operations, Pfi zer Medical Robert Moss Bruce Nathan Wilpon Pfi zer, Inc. Founder Partner Playwrights Horizons Sterling Equities Fell Gray Vinnie O’Toole EVP, Chief Operating O cer and Chief Financial O cer Horizon Media Institutional supporters of Playwrights Horizons receive many benefi ts, Institutional such as complimentary tickets, discounts for their employees, and Support public recognition. For more information about how your company can support Playwrights Horizons, please Susan Ferziger, Associate Director, Institutional Giving and Campaign, at [email protected] or 212 564 1235 ×3142.

$25,000+ The Hyde and Watson $2,500–$4,999 Foundation Bloomberg Carl Jacobs Foundation The BWF Foundation Inc. Jerome Foundation Jujamycn Theaters First Republic Bank Citi Kenyon College Jim Henson Foundation The Roy Cockrum Foundation The Ralph & Ricky Lauren Family Paradigm Talent Agency Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP Foundation, Inc. Peikoff Mahan Law Offi ce Disney Theatrical Productions The Joshua Mailman Foundation Ropes & Gray The Fan Fox and Leslie R. National Alliance for Musical Sweet Hospitality Group Samuels Foundation, Inc. Theatre’s National Fund for Theatre Development Fund Ford Foundation New Musicals WME Howard Gilman Foundation Laura Pels International Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Foundation for Theater $500–$2,499 J.L. Greene Arts Access Fund PricewaterhouseCoopers Actors’ Equity Foundation in the New York Community Rosenthal Family Foundation/ Chez Josephine Trust Nancy Stephens & The Betsy and Alan Cohn The Marc Haas Foundation Rick Rosenthal Foundation, Inc. The Laurents/Hatcher S&P Global Creative Artists Agency Foundation Santander The Diamonstein-Spielvogel The Blanche and Irving Laurie Adolph and Ruth Schnurmacher Foundation Foundation Foundation, Inc. Fidelity Charitable Gi�t Fund The Andrew W. Mellon Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP Jane Harmon Associates Foundation Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & ICM The New York Community Trust Flom LLP Levin Capital Strategies, LP Van Lier Fellowships SPIA Foundation Foundation The Richenthal Foundation Spingold Foundation Dorothy Loudon Foundation/ The Scherman Foundation - Seth Sprague Educational & Lionel Larner Katharine S. and Axel G. Charitable Foundation Lutz & Carr, CPA’s LLP Rosin Fund The Dorothy Strelsin Mikkeller The SHS Foundation Foundation, Inc. National Alliance for Musical The Shubert Foundation Travelers Theatre’s Innovation & Stavros Niarchos Foundation Exploration Grant The Harold and Mimi Steinberg $5,000–$9,999 Polk & Company Charitable Trust The Theodore H. Barth Q Mixers Stone Productions, Inc. Foundation, Inc. Rodgers and Hammerstein Taconic Capital Partners L.P. The Carter Fund Foundation Tiger Baron Foundation Joseph & Joan Cullman The Rolfe Company, Inc. Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Foundation for the Arts Sills Cummis & Gross P.C. The Einhorn Family Foundation Sulzberger Foundation/Marian $10,000–$24,999 Green Curtain Productions Heiskell Giving Fund 21st Century ILGWU Bertha & Isaac Liberman United Talent Agency Heritage Fund Foundation West Bank Cafe Bloomberg Philanthropies The Liman Foundation William Grant & Sons The Book of Mormon The Lawrence E. Madison Yotel CBS Corporation Charitable Lead Unitrust Charina Foundation, Inc. Morgan Stanley Con Edison The Pritzker Pucker Family Frederic R. Coudert Foundation Foundation The Durst Organization May & Samuel Rudin EY Family Foundation, Inc. Playwrights Horizons is a GFP Real Estate, LLC The Evelyn Sharp Foundation recipient of support from The HBO James L. Simon Charitable Fund Leading National Horizon Media The Geraldine Stutz Trust Program, a joint initiative of John and Robyn Horn The Tobin Theatre Arts Fund the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew Foundation, Inc. The Winston Foundation W. Mellon Foundation. Government Support (Support for 2018/19 Season)

National Endowment for the Arts New York State Council on the Arts New York City Department of Cultural Aff airs with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo New York City Department of Cultural Aff airs and the New York State Legislature CreateNYC Disability Forward Fund New York State Council on the Arts Regional New York City Council at the request of Economic Development Council Speaker Corey Johnson New York State Offi ce of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation at the request of Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried

Artistic Director’s Circle

The Playwrights Horizons Artistic Director’s Circle includes our most dedicated individual donors who have committed to gifts of $10,000 or more each year for a three-year period. The Artistic Director’s Circle joins with the Playwrights Horizons Board of Trustees in supporting the vision of Artistic Director Tim Sanford. Members of the Artistic Director’s Circle are considered loyal partners in developing and producing new plays by some of the most adventurous and talented artists working in theater today. For more information about the personalized benefi ts and access available for the Artistic Director’s Circle, please contact Benjamin Weisman, Associate Director, Individual Giving, at [email protected] or 212 564 1235 ×3145.

Anonymous Judith H. Krupp Mr. & Mrs. George Spelvin Mark & Lillian Banchik Jarrett & Maritess Lilien Nancy & Roger L. Strong, Jr. Svante Bergström Rosalee A. & Bruce Lovett Seymour & Kathleen Weingarten J. Kerry Clayton & Paige Royer Stephen & Carolyn McCandless Cathy & Stephen Weinroth Evan Ho man & Eugene Paceleo Dorinda J. Oliver Bruce Horten & Aaron Lieber Barbara Raho

Individual Support

Individual supporters of Playwrights Horizons receive exclusive benefi ts ranging from complimentary tickets to intimate dinners and cocktail parties with artists, staff , and Board members. For more information about how you can support Playwrights Horizons, please contact Benjamin Weisman, Associate Director, Individual Giving, at [email protected] or 212 564 1235 ×3145.

$25,000+ Dana Seshens & Mr. Mark T. Gallogly & Anonymous (3) Robert Kresberg Ms. Elizabeth B. Strickler Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Bruce Nathan Wilpon James Gleick & Cynthia Crossen Sam Gonzalez Svante Bergström $10,000–$24,999 Fell & Charles Gray David Caplan & Karen Wagner Claire & Larry Aidem Evan Ho man & Eugene Paceleo J. Kerry Clayton & Paige Royer Roger Altman & Jurate Kazickas Bruce Horten & Aaron Lieber Angela M. Crossman & Mark & Lillian Banchik Robert W. Jones Bryce L. Friedman Anne L. Bernstein Stefanie & Robert Kane Jill & Chuck Crovitz Mark Birkhead Judith H. Krupp Eric & Nancy Gural Ann L. & Lawrence B. Jarrett & Maritess Lilien David Handler & Doug Pawliuk Buttenwieser Rosalee A. & Bruce Lovett Christopher R. Lawrence Joan B. Cohen Reuben & Arlene Mark Vinnie & Loretta O’Toole Robyn & Tony Coles Stephen & Carolyn McCandless Michael & Juliet Patsalos-Fox Thea Duell & Peter Cook Richard & Ronay Menschel David Richenthal Jody Falco & Je rey Steinman Rosemary Newman Judith O. & Robert E. Rubin Friedman Family Foundation Dorinda J. Oliver Beth & Mikael Salovaara Barbara Raho Don & Carol Randel James & Emily Levin Leslie Hendrix & Dan Sa n Chien Cho Liu Joseph Adam Smith Thomas Schumacher Allan & Anita Lubarsky Barry Ho man & Jane Weiss Marisa Sechrest Anne Parker Mills & Lara S. Hrafnkelsdottir Mr. & Mrs. George Spelvin James Hanbury Stephen & Sherry Jacobs Nancy & Roger L. Strong, Jr. Niclas Nagler & Stephen H. Ja e & Jane Gilbert Seymour & Kathleen Weingarten David Alberto Alvarez Philip M. Jelley, Jr. Francis H. Williams Devdutt & Asha Nayak Caytha & Michael Jentis Dorinda & Mark Winkelman Tina Novogratz The Joelson Foundation Kathleen O’Grady Roselle & Brian Kaltner $5,000–$9,999 John Orberg Bruce Kaplan & Janet Yaseen Anonymous (2) Nancy Roistacher & David I. Karabell & Paula A. Moss John W. Bernstein Wayne P. Merkelson Amy L. Katz & Irving Scher Birna Anna Bjornsdottir & Gretchen & Jamie Rubin Helen Kauder & Barry Nalebu Peter Niculescu Robert L. Seigel Randall Kender Timothy & Andrea Collins Scott Slobodnyak & Owen Ben J. Koenig Rob Cordell Sweeney Liz & George Krupp Carol & Tom Creel Susan & Charles Tribbitt John Kuehn & Elaine Crowley Jill Dolan & Stacy Wolf Emily & Daniel Kurilo Cheryl & Blair E ron $1,800–$2,999 Robb Lady Scott & Diane Emery Anonymous Lee Laimbeer Laurie Goldberger & Vincent Al eri & Kerstin Larsen Lehrer-Seller Family Leslie Kogod Nancy Ashen Vicki Gold Levi Tara & Cli ord Harris Andrew D. Austin & Martin Maleksa Maxine Isaacs Michael R. Sonberg Jill H. Matichak Erin Laber Ann & Steven Berzin Nina B. Matis Alex Halpern Levy Peter & Sarah Beshar Leni & Peter May Lili Lynton & Michael Ryan Robert Brenner Scott McDonald Tom & Musa Mayer Maggie & Don Buchwald Raymond J. McGuire Amy B. McIntosh & Je rey Toobin Joseph Buckley & Nancy Oyer Jonathan Minko Dr. Robert A. Press Helaine & Paul Cantor Robert & Guna Mundheim Fiona Howe Rudin Lisa & Dick Cashin The Murphy Family Foundation Christine & Mary K Conwell Alfred T. & Jan Ogden Stephen Schwarzman Kim & Stan Corfman Lisa Orberg Joanne & Daniel C. Smith Ellie & Edgar M. Cullman, Jr. Ellen Ozur & Stuart Brown Sue & Edgar Wachenheim III Robert W. Davenport Susan & Richard Pasternak Cathy & Stephen Weinroth The Cory & Bob Donnalley Frank H. & Patti S. Penski Charitable FDN Perakis Family $3,000–$4,999 Suzan & Fred Ehrman Richard & Lisa Perry Anonymous Jane M. & Howard D. Epstein Leslie & Eileen Quick Elaine S. Bernstein John R. Ettinger & Linda A. Christine & Stephen Rhodes André Bishop Simpson Mrs. Mark Rosso & John & Jill G. Bishop Richard Feiner & Annette Stover Ms. Larissa Kruesi Allison M. Blinken Caryl & Kenneth Field Carolyn Ruby & William Maiese Ruth & Robi Blumenstein Eleanor Fink, Esq. Libby & Jimmy Ryan Christopher Byrne & Ellen Hardy Sandra Fischer Pamela Saunders-Albin Patrick Callinan & Daniel Rosales Tony & Jane Ford-Hutchinson Karen & Charles Schader Jonathan L. Cohen Leonard R. Freifelder & Stephanie C. Scott Scott M. Delman Anne E. Easterling-Freifelder Naomi O. Seligman & Christopher & Michelle DeLong Robert A. Gender Ernest Von Simpson Nancy & Bob Downey The Malcolm Gibbs Nadine Shaoul & Glenn & Eva Dubin Foundation, Inc. Mark Schonberger Myron & Amy Eagle Mary Goldberg Eileen Silvers & Hazel & Russel Fershleiser Terina Gol nos & Robert Lisi Richard Bronstein Natalie Fishman Stephen & Halley Green Janet & Mike Slosberg Renee & Sy Flug Eileen & George K. Greene Barbara & Cheryl Small Dr. Gail Furman Dr. Rob & Audrey Green eld Patricia Brown Specter James W. & Virginia M. Giddens The Stewart & Constance Emerson & Erica Spry Sue Hessel & Karen Dahle Green eld Foundation Stagedoor Manor Cristy Hill & Richard Mizer Guerrerio Family Foundation Alec Stais & Elissa Burke Roberta A. Jones Jane Hartley & Ralph Schlosstein Trevor Stewart Rory & David Jones Wendy Hashmall Erica & Steven Tishman Lewis & Ellen Kaden Tom Healy & Fred P. Hochberg David & Deborah Trainer Frederick & Seen Landman Kris & Kathy Heinzelman Lisa Van Curen Lee & Cynthia Vance Mulé Family Foundation Karen & Christopher Kyle Suellen Ward & Cara Naiman Jonathan LaPook & Kate Lear John Copenhaver Pauline & Nicolas Oudin Craig Lucas Edward & Barbara Weikert F. Richard Pappas Jane Macan Sue Ann Weinberg Liz & Je Peek The Honorable & Mrs. Earle Mack Harris Allan Weinstein Carl & Zelie Pforzheimer Robert D. & Jean Markley David F. Wertheimer David Hyde Pierce Robert H. Moss Lynne Whitman & Dan Solender Bruno & Mary Ann Quinson Jim & Terri Muren The Wilder Family The MaryAnn and Gordon Rich Patti Murin Gloria Zeche Family Charitable Fund New OZ Productions Beth A. Rogers & Je rey Katz Edward P. Osborne $1,000-$1,799 Janet B. & Marvin S. Rosen Michael & Gabrielle Palitz Anonymous Robert H. Sinclair Angela M. Rodell Gretchen Adkins Mr. & Mrs. Peter J. Solomon William Rosen Sari Anthony Irina Tafel Carole & Malcolm Schwartz Helayne Baron Deborah & Kenneth Whitmore Susanna R. Bergtold Anna & Anthony Wild Susan Margules Steinhardt & William & Lori Bernstein John Steinhardt Susan M. Borozan $500-$999 Jolyon F. Stern, Dewitt Stern/ Linda & Arthur Carter Lynn Ahrens & Neil Costa Risk Strategies Amanda & Warren Chiu Foundation Fund Hilda Wenig Mariana Elder Ilene & Richard Barth Dan Satter White David Freedlander Mr. Peter Bernstein & Mrs. Amy Burton Zwick Dennis Furbush Bernstein Roy L. Furman Kathleen Budge Ethan Geto Vivian Cardia Nancy & Ross Gillman Sarah Collier Mary G. Gurney Mary J. Davis Ray Hägg John A. Dobler Christina Hargrove & Scott Crum Max Ember Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Healey Patricia Gannon-Lovier & Nancy Heller & Holly Gewandter Lester Lovier David N. Herskovits Sharon Ganz Arthur Hoey & Kathleen Ferrell Randy Goldstein Lainie Kaye & Brett Kaplan Armando Gonzalez Michael & Jamie Kessel Daniel Gonzalez Beeneet Kothari Sang Lee Je Grinspoon & Jon Foley Mr. John A. Levin Carol Avery Haber Diane E. Liton Bob Hall Marlene Marko & Loren Skeist Lisa Handerker & Irwin Abraham Ricardo Mestres Jo Kurth Jagoda Lowell & Sandra Mintz Robert J. Katz

Legacy Circle

Playwrights Horizons gratefully acknowledges those who have chosen to become a member of our Legacy Circle by including a Charitable Bequest for Playwrights Horizons in their estate plans through wills, retirement accounts, life insurance ownerships, and real estate. Members of this group receive invitations to exclusive events and insider information on organizational goals and plans. To learn more, or to join, please contact Associate Director, Individual Giving, Benjamin Weisman at 212 564 1235 ×3145.

Anne L. Bernstein Barbara Kreisberg Carole Schwartz Joan B. Cohen Stuart Kreisberg Mal Schwartz Liz Fallon Culp Leslie Marcus George Spelvin Howard Epstein Dorinda J. Oliver Georgina Spelvin Jane Epstein Linda Rothstein The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation Susan Ferziger Judith O. Rubin Benjamin Weisman Jill Garland Robert E. Rubin Rachel Wilder Sam Gonzalez Mikael Salovaara Generation PH Generation PH is a community of theatergoers ages 45 and under who attend Playwrights Horizons productions; mingle with artists, artistic staff , and our Board of Trustees at exclusive parties and receptions; and see theater in a new way by talking to writers about the development of their plays. Plus, a portion of each membership is a tax-deductible contribution that directly supports these amazing artists and their new work. For more information about joining Generation PH, contact Eva Rosa, Individual Giving Manager, at [email protected], or call 212 564 1235 ×3144.

LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE Betsy Fippinger Gladys Santiago Pauline Oudin, Co-Chair Deborah Grant Carlo Steinman Scott Slobodnyak, Co-Chair Cari Hauck Aleksandra Szczepanowska Katrina McCann Carol Walport Steve Nowicki Robert Walport Elana Propis Jason Wu Nicholas P. Russo

BEST FRIEND ($1,500+) DEVOTED FRIEND ($600– Sara Luz Estela Richard Berg $1,499) Sandra Garner Lauren Ehrhardt Aude & Thibault Adrien Jen Hoguet Betsy & Andrew Fippinger Nicole & Franco J. Azzopardi, Jr. Philip A. Johnson Deborah Grant & Serge Tanjga John Bishop & Diana Sciortino Taena Kim Cari Hauck Michael James Contini Anita Kishore Trevor S. Kokal & Emily Erstling Monique Longoria & Naoki Sasamoto Camille Fletcher Matthew Franklin Dillon & Brenda Lorda Cynthia Flowers Camille Nivero Katrina McCann Nelson A. Isava Hernandez Cate Nivero Melinda McLellan Travis James Erica Rotstein Alex Mitow & James Miille Christina Koza Erika Stallings Steve Nowicki Catherine Lynch Briel Steinberg Pauline & Nicolas Oudin Michael Melamedo Michael Trivelli Elana Propis Courtney Mitchell Yemelí Ciara Villegas Veronica Relea Catherine Mulligan Emily Walport Nicholas P. Russo Anne G. Myers Jennifer & Benjamin Whit eld Gladys Santiago Marc Pickard Matt Schneider & Priyanka Garg Malcolm Salovaara NEW FRIEND ($200–$399) Shaka Shervington & Cochleen & Jonathan Sands Je rey Ferrera Justine Whittaker Andrea Stefanescu Scott Slobodnyak Martin Woodard Carlo Steinman Aleksandra Szczepanowska & GOOD FRIEND ($400–$599) Gordon Shearer Nicole Aiken Carol & Robert Walport Attienette Azille Jason Wu Eugene Brodach

Matching Gifts

Many companies have matching gift programs that enable our donors to double their donations. Playwrights Horizons thanks these companies for matching the gifts of their employees and supporting our theater. For more information about matching gifts, please contact Susan Ferziger, Associate Director, Institutional Giving and Campaign, at [email protected] or 212 564 1235 x3142.

American International Group, Inc. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Assured Guaranty Leon Levy Foundation Bank of America Merck The Bank of New York Mellon Meredith Corporation Foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York New York Community Trust Deutsche Bank Americas Pfi zer, Inc. The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation S&P Global Fortress Investment Group LLC Lists complete as of April 24, 2019 Promising playwrights need support and Page 73 delivers.

Recent Page 73 Premieres 2006 Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue by Quiara Alegría Hudes 2007 1001 by Jason Grote 2009 Sixty Miles to Silver Lake by Dan LeFranc co-production with Soho Rep Creature by Heidi Schreck co-production with New Georges 2010 Jack’s Precious Moment by Samuel D. Hunter Heidi Schreck Creature Edgewise by Eliza Clark 2011 Lidless by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig “…the chance to discover what’s 2013 Sleeping Rough by Kara Manning effective and what isn’t in a 2014 Grounded by George Brant young playwright’s work is, after When January Feels like Summer all, why Page 73 devotes itself to by Cori Thomas ‘developing the most talented co-production with Ensemble Studio Theatre early-career voices.’” You Got Older by Clare Barron The New York Times 2015 Judy by Max Posner 2016 Kentucky by Leah Nanako Winkler The right professional resources co-production with Ensemble Studio Theatre are vital for playwrights early Ultimate Beauty Bible by Caroline V. McGraw in their careers. Page 73’s productions and playwright 2017 Orange Julius by Basil Kreimendahl co-production with development programs launch Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre careers by generating momentum Today Is My Birthday that enables talented playwrights by Susan Soon He Stanton to make a major impact on the 2018 Catch as Catch Can by Mia Chung American Theatre. Each Page 73 production is a playwright’s Off- Broadway premiere.

Quiara Alegría Hudes Clare Barron Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue You Got Older finalist Three Obie Awards Page 73 playwrights have gone on to win the Pulitzer Prize, the MacArthur “Genius” Grant, the Guggenheim Fellowship, as well as Tony nominations and Obie, Lortel, and Drama Desk Awards.

Max Posner Susan Soon He Stanton Judy Today Is My Birthday

Earlier This Season at Page 73 “Page 73 is devoted to giving rising playwrights their first New York productions – its alumni include Samuel D. Hunter, Quiara Alegría Hudes, Heidi Schreck, Clare Barron and Max Posner – and with [Mia] Chung it has struck gold again. Catch as Catch Can is what Off Broadway theater can be at its best.”

Time Out New York Hunter Canning. and Monique Carboni. Photo of Photo of Today Is My Birthday Creature by Jim Paldassare. Photo of by Jeremy Daniel. Photo of You Got Older by Jenny Anderson. Photo of Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue Catch as Catch Can by by Mia Chung Judy

Catch as Catch Can Page 73’s mission is to produce and develop the work of early- career playwrights who have yet to receive a professional production in New York City. We produce Off-Broadway premieres which represent that career milestone for each playwright and host an annual slate of development programs: the Page 73 Playwriting Fellowship, Interstate 73 Writers Group, and Summer Residency. page73.org

Page 73 Board of Directors

Amanda Woods, President Allison Blinken, Vice President Emily C. Feinstein, Secretary Asher Richelli, Treasurer

Jake Beinecke • John B. Beinecke • Joshua Buhler • Carson Gleberman • Dr. Qusai Hammouri Liz Jones • Jennifer Kranz • Dan LeFranc • Martha Mortenson • Braden Rhetts • Pamela Ryckman Jean Kim Smart • Jeremy T. Smith • Cori Thomas Honorary Board Members: Jonathan Couchman, Daniel Shiffman

Page 73 Staff

Michael Walkup Amanda Feldman Rebecca Yaggy Producing Artistic Director Managing Director Director of Development

Artistic Associate — Ashley Chang Development Associate — Chloe Knight Founding Directors — Liz Jones and Asher Richelli

Page 73 Donors

Partners ($25,000+) Gaily & John Beinecke Amanda Woods & Eric The Andrew W. Mellon Dr. Rachel Rucker Schmidt & Wasserstrom Foundation Dr. Jason Schmidt Abigail Ford Winkel Henry and Lucy Moses Fund Pamela Ryckman Advocates ($1,500—$4,999) Emma A. Sheafer Charitable Jeremy T. Smith The John Golden Fund Trust Jody Falco & Jeffrey Steinman Jerome Robbins Foundation Howard Gilman Foundation Producers ($5,000—$9,999) McGraw-Hill Education New York City Department of Axe-Houghton Foundation Off-Broadway Angels Cultural Affairs Tiger Baron Foundation Prospect Hill Foundation The Morris and Alma Schapiro Bloomberg Philanthropies The Dorothy Streslin Fund DuBose and Dorothy Heyward Foundation The Susan V. Bershad Memorial Fund Clea Lewis & Peter Ackerman Charitable Fund The Rudin Foundation Allegaert Berger & Vogel LLP Carson & Joseph Gleberman Venturous Theater Fund of Frances Beinecke & Paul Leaders ($10,000—$24,999) The Tides Foundation Elston National Endowment for the Anonymous Donor David S. Brown Arts Allison Blinken Kimberly Sogioka & Joshua New York State Council on James Fotheringham Buhler the Arts Mary Lee & David Jones Beth Cogan & Michael Goldman Sachs Gives at the Leslie Larson & Don Katz Fascitelli Recommendation of Hannah Joan Lonergan & John Merrow Emily Feinstein & Eric Olney and Richard Ramsden Martha Mortenson Dr. Qusai Hammouri The Shubert Foundation Maxine Sleeper Jane Martin & Stuart Katz The Harold and Mimi Jean Kim Smart & Nick Smart The Lucille Lortel Foundation Steinberg Charitable Trust Asher Richelli & Daniel Swee Chad Kilbourne Federico Mennella Kristen D’Arcy Christine Millen Goldman, Sachs & Co. Anne Reynolds & Rob DeButts Lisa Miller Matching Gift Program Maggie & Don Buchwald Leah Kalotay & Ron Nemec Greenberg Traurig, LLP Robert Dorf Rajeev Patel Braden Rhetts & Christian Valerie Valtz Edis Hillary Schafer Mundigo Janice Poplack & Michael Karin & Tom Schall Mimi Lee & Todd Triller Epstein Barbara & Paul Schwarz Lisa Van Curen & John Dorothy S. Franks Carlo Steinman Lombardi Kara & Josh Freedman Anne Sundberg Jennifer Kranz & Andrew Lauren Gabbe & Richard Susan Reider & Robert Wilson Greene Wasserstrom Jennifer Haley Andrea & Thomas G. Mendell Sustainers ($500—$1,499) Anonymous Donor Ruth Hendel Tracy Chutorian Semler Anonymous Donation in Helen & Edward Hintz Edward Trach Honor of Jean Smart David & Rory Jones Kate & Art Trotman Susan Abbott Nina Adams & Moreson Kenneth Usdin Amy Lieberman Kaplan Daphne Uviller & Sacha Cynthia Antonucci Michael Koester Spector Patty Bacon Isobel Konecky Ali Velshi Nora & Brian Barry Wendie H. & Bud A. Kroll Patricia & Charles Walkup Jane Bergère Liz Lasdon Liz Hull & Greg Wasserstrom André Bishop Carolyn Lee A. Tappan Wilder Eric Braverman Anki Leeds WME Lisa & Phil Bryson Dan LeFranc Marvin Wolf Catherine Mathis & Bob Melanie McKnight Pamela L L Woods Burchell Anthony McMahon Allison Caporaso Renee Petrofes & Gerald Zeena Meurer & Jon Cohen McNamara Kathie Chang & Paul Choi

Contributors to the Campaign for Page 73

Gifts of $250,000 Gifts of $5,000—$9,999 Dr. Qusai Hammouri Carson & Joseph Gleberman Kimberly Sogioka & Joshua David & Rory Jones Buhler Karen Kolbert Gifts of $100,000—$249,999 Howard Gilman Foundation Dale Cendali & Francis Chad Kilbourne Gaily & John Beinecke Fitzpatrick Elizabeth Cooke & Reynold Liz Jones & David Kausch Levy Gifts of $50,000 - $99,999 Dan LeFranc Kenneth Lin The Ambrose Monell Lisa Van Curen & John Thomas G. & Andrea Mendell Foundation Lombardi Doreen Oliver Anonymous Donor Emily Feinstein & Eric Olney Ruth Perlman Mary Lee & David Jones, in Carol Ostrow Pamela Ryckman honor of Founding Director Rachel Rucker-Schmidt & Jean & Nick Smart Liz Jones Jason Schmidt Jonathan Busky & Galen Gifts of $10,000—$49,999 Jeremy T. Smith Sherwin Anonymous Donor Jill Swartz Daphne Uviller & Sacha Gavin Berger Patricia & Charles Walkup Spector Allison Blinken Jennifer Kranz & Andrew Cori Thomas Maggie & Don Buchwald Wilson Pamela L L Woods Steve Billick & D. Bruce Yolton Don Katz & Leslie Larson Gifts up to $4,999 Martha Mortenson Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Joseph Persky Foundation Asher Richelli & Daniel Swee Anonymous Donor Maxine G. Sleeper Michael Fascitelli & Beth Amanda Woods & Eric Cogan Wasserstrom Richard & Lauren Greene “Playwrights Horizons is among the most adventurous theaters Off Broadway.” The New York Times

Wives Unknown Soldier Written by Jaclyn Backhaus Book and Lyrics by Daniel Goldstein Directed by Margot Bordelon Music and Lyrics by Michael Friedman Directed by Trip Cullman Jody Falco and Jeffrey Steinman Emerging Playwright Commission New York premiere World premiere Starts February 2020 Starts August 2019 Selling Kabul Heroes of the Written by Sylvia Khoury Fourth Turning Directed by Tyne Rafaeli New York premiere Written by Will Arbery Produced in association with Directed by Danya Taymor Williamstown Theatre Festival World premiere Starts March 2020 Starts September 2019 A Boy’s Company The Thin Place Presents: “Tell Me If Written by Lucas Hnath I’m Hurting You” Directed by Written by Jeremy O. Harris New York premiere Jody Falco and Jeffrey Steinman Starts November 2019 Emerging Playwright Commission World premiere Starts May 2020

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