sign in sign up
<<
Home , Dan Castellaneta, Deb Lacusta, Ed Asner filmography, Ellen (season 3), Ellen (season 4)

Falcon Theatre presents a Laugh Then Think, Inc. production of

Written by and Starring * Directed by Stefan Novinski Featuring JD Cullum* Gail Matthius* Phil Proctor* * Music Supervisor David O Scenic Designer Costume Designer Stephen Gifford Kate Bergh

Lighting Designer Sound Designer Jean-Yves Tessier Drew Dalzell

Props Master Stage Manager Mallory Birkrem Leia Crawford*

Production Supervisor Lee Costello

* Member of Actor’s Equity Cast (in alphabetical order) Oscar Levant Dan Castellaneta* Charlie, Harpo JD Cullum* June Levant, Barbara Deb Lacusta Shirley, Fanny Brice, Oscar’s Mother Gail Matthius* Sidney, Butler, Oscar’s Father Phil Proctor* Dr. Greenleigh, Jack Paar, George Gershwin Jonathan Stark*

Pianist David O HarPist Jillian Risigari-Gai

Understudies (in alphabetical order) Sidney, Butler, Oscar’s Father, Dr. Greenleigh, Jonathan Arkin* Jack Paar, George Gershwin Oscar Levant, Charlie, Harpo Jeff Blumberg June Levant, Barbara, Shirley, Fanny Brice, Oscar’s Mother Heather L. Tyler Additional Production Staff tecHnical Director Mike Jespersen assistant stage Manager Marissa Putnick assistant Director Heidi Hostetler ProDuction assistant Trevor Alkazian MakeuP consultant Katie Custer Dance consultant Richard Parman FigHt consultant Mark Ostrander scenic construction Red Colegrove scenic artist Orlando de la Paz sounD oPerator Claudio Radocchia The action of the play moves freely between these three time periods: The Jack Paar Show -- 1962 Mt. Sinai psych ward -- 1956 Harpo’s rented mansion -- 1935 There will be one 10-minute intermission. The video and/or audio recording of this performance by any means whatsoever are strictly prohibited.

* Member of Actor’s Equity This theatre operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers. The Director of For Piano and Harpo is a members of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

The Set and Costume Designers of For Piano and Harpo are represented by United Scenic Artists - Local USA 829 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Cast Dan Castellaneta (Playwright & ‘Oscar Levant’) An Emmy- winning actor and writer for and The Show, Dan’s plays include: A Purple Dawn, Sons of Mothers, The Banana Tree and Empire Burlesque (both with Deb Lacusta). He co-founded the improv scenario group Instant Theater, , and the Improv Co-Op in LA. Acting credits: Second City/Chicago, The Underpants (Geffen Theater), Twist Your Dickens and Nighthawks (Kirk Douglas Theater), Moonlight and Magnolias (Old Globe), The Alchemist (Classic Stage/NYC), American Splendor (Theater/Theater/LA), and his one-man show Where Did Vincent Van Gogh? (LA, NYC, Chicago, Edinburgh Theatre Festival, Aspen HBO Comedy Festival). TV: The Office, , , Entourage, Reno 911, Monk, , NYPD Blue, , Stargate SG1. Film: Super 8, The Client, The Pursuit of Happyness, War of the Roses, Nothing in Common, My Giant, Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Showtime), Charlie’s Angels: Behind the Camera as ‘.’ AEA, SAG-AFTRA, ASCAP, Dramatists Guild.

JD Cullum (‘Charlie’/‘Harpo’) A veteran of Southern stages (and freeways), JD has starred in plays at the Mark Taper Forum, Geffen Playhouse, Kirk Douglas Theatre,and the Pasadena Playhouse. A recipient of multiple Garland Awards and LA Drama Critics Circle Awards for his work, JD’s recent appearances include: All the Way (South Coast Repertory), Hedda Gabler and Cloud 9 (Antaeus Theatre Company). On camera: Aquarius, Code Black, Bones, The Newsroom, The Lone Ranger, and Mad Men.

Deb Lacusta (‘June Levant’/‘Barbara’) Deb is a writer/ actor/improvisor. Acting: Immediate Theater, Spolin Players, Second City Alumni Jam, Deb & Dan’s Show. Playwriting: Old Man in a Big Car, Empire Burlesque (Broad Stage/Edye, in development American Blues Theater), The Banana Tree, Earthers and Lock Up the Grass (Organic Theater/Chicago, Theatre 6470), The August and The Statue (Bailiwick Theater/ Chicago). She co-founded the improv scenario group Instant Theater, and Improv Co-Op. TV/Film writing: The Simpsons, Tracey Ullman Show, and she wrote, directed, and starred in her film Starring Marlon Brando. Her performance art has been exhibited in museums and galleries here and abroad. Gail Matthius (‘Shirley’/‘Fanny Brice’/‘Oscar’s Mother’) Gail’s many television credits include: Saturday Night Live, Laugh Trax, and Assaulted Nuts. Currently she plays ‘Officer Peg Pendergrasp’ on Sundance/AMC’s Hap and Leonard. She voiced ‘Martha Generic’ on Bobby’s World, receiving an Annie nomination. Other cartoon credits: Tiny Toons, , The Snorks, Cat/Dog, The Tick, Bump in the Night, and Ren & Stimpy. She has performed with The Spolin Players for 30 years. Regional theater: El Grande de Coca Cola, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Always Patsy Cline, Little Women, Baby, A Man of No Importance, Violet. Proud member of AEA/SAG/AFTRA.

Phil Proctor (‘Sidney’/‘Butler’/‘Oscar’s Father’) 15 years with Antaeus; 50 years with Firesign Theatre (thrice-Grammy- nominated, Library of Congress inductee.) Appeared On-and- Off-Broadway, Russia, Canada, at the Falcon in The Psychic, and in countless films, video-games, TV and radio shows. He’s won Theatre World, LA Weekly, LA Free Press, and Drama Critics’ awards. Voiceovers: scores of Disney/Pixar films, the ‘Drunken French Monkey’ in Dr. Dolittle, and ‘Howard’ in Emmy-winning Rugrats, honored on the . He and Samuel Joseph co-authored God Help Us, starring and his psychic life story Where’s My Fortune Cookie, with Brad Schreiber, will be available soon. planetproctor.com

Jonathan Stark (‘Dr. Greenleigh’/‘Jack Paar’/‘George Gershwin’) has been seen in the films Fright Night, Project X, and House II. Television work includes Cheers, Bob, Tales from the Crypt, and . In 1991, he began writing for television on such series as Cheers, Bob, Drew Carey, and Ellen for which he won an Emmy and a George Foster Peabody Award for his work on Ellen DeGeneres’s groundbreaking coming out episode. In 2001, he co-created the hit sitcom According to Jim. He can currently be seen improvising all over town with The Groundling’s GAS Show, Immediate Theater, Instaplay, and the Trans4merZ.

David O (Music Supervisor/Pianist) is a music-theatre artist who specializes in contemporary music for the stage and concert hall. Compositions include the Ovation Award-winning score for Ubu Roi (A Noise Within), and the choral piece “A Map of ” (LA Master Chorale). Musical Direction: American Idiot (La Mirada Theater), 13 (Mark Taper Forum), The Wild Party and See What I Wanna See (The Blank Theatre). Film scores include “Bronies: the Completely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony.” David was the 2013 recipient of the LADCC Joel Hirschhorn Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre.

Jillian Risigari-Gai (Harpist) is a proud native Southern Californian. Jillian started her harp career at the age of three and has been going strong ever since. She holds a MFA from California Institute of the Arts as well as a BM from CSU-Long Beach. She has held principal positions for the Hollywood Fringe Festival, 3D Theatricals, The Industry Opera Company, Long Beach Ballet Company, Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, Opera San Luis Obispo, and San Luis Obispo Symphony. She has also performed with Grammy Award winning and nominated artists, and recorded multiple television tracks for HBO at Capitol Records.

Understudies Jonathan Arkin (‘Sidney’/‘Butler’/‘Oscar’s Father’/‘Dr. Greenleigh’/‘Jack Paar’/‘George Gershwin’) New York native Jonathan Arkin is a veteran of hundreds of stage productions spanning the continental U.S. (and in Israel, where he starred in a TV show about a befuddled space alien named ‘Otus’). In addition to graduating from Columbia University, USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and the Annenberg Graduate School of Journalism, Jonathan has studied with Uta Hagen, Herbert Berghof, Victor Garber, and with the Groundlings in LA. He has also worked as a mime, a DJ, a gogo dancer, and currently teaches the fine arts to kids at LAUSD and to teachers at the University of San Diego.

Jeff Blumberg (‘Oscar Levant’/‘Charlie’/‘Harpo’) has been performing in LA for over 20 years, and is known most notably for his roles as ‘James Wicker’ in It’s Only A Play, ‘Ernie’ in Rumors, ‘Joel’ in Beau Jest, and multiple roles in Flight: The Rise & Fall of Charles Lindbergh. He has also originated roles in several world premieres, including Love and Other Allergies, A Very Merry Happy Kosher Christmas, and The Mermaid Wars. On TV, Jeff has appeared in numerous national commercials, but diehard fans of The Drew Carey Show will remember him best as the last ‘Johnson’ ever fired by Nigel Wick.

FOLLOW & LIKE Falcon Theatre @Falcon_Theatr@FalconTheatree @Falcon_Theatre Heather L. Tyler (‘June Levant’/‘Barbara’/‘Shirley’/‘Fanny Brice’/‘Oscar’s Mother’) After studying theater at Rhodes, a dedication to new and bold work led Heather to Chicago’s vibrant theatre scene where favorite credits include: The Threepenny Opera with the Hypocrites at Steppenwolf, and critically acclaimed Dirty Diamonds at The Factory Theater. In L.A., she has played with Rogue Machine in A Bright New Boise and Wish I had a Sylvia Plath (u.s.), and with Sacred Fools in A Gulag Mouse. She recently directed the Los Angeles premiere of Porno Dido as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Film/TV credits include Johnny Frank Garrett’s Last Word premiering at SXSW and The Bridge (FX). Production Dan Castellaneta (Playwright & ‘Oscar Levant’) See Cast Bios

Stefan Novinski (Director) spent a decade directing in southern California before becoming a professor of Drama at the University of Dallas. He has worked at multiple Tony-award winning theatres, including La Jolla Playhouse, Kirk Douglas Theatre, and South Coast Rep. At SCR, he directed eight shows including the world premiere musical An Italian Straw Hat, and a critically acclaimed production of A Little Night Music starring Stephanie Zimbalist. Other national credits: J.O.B. the Hip-Hopera for the New York Musical Theatre Festival (LA Drama Critics Circle nominations for Best

   written by Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor directed by Jerry Kernion From the high-brow to the low, this fast-paced Enjoy the show... ride covers comedy through the ages, from Aristophanes to Shakespeare, Moliere to and bring this program to Priscilla’s for Vaudeville, Charlie Chaplin to The Daily Buy one beverage Show. Find answers to the age-old questions, “Whoʼs on fi rst?” and “Why did the chicken and get one free!* cross the road?” MAR 22 - APR 23 4150 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake On Sale Feb 22 (818) 843-5707 *of equal or lesser value, 818-955-8101 expires 03/12/17 FalconTheatre.com Direction and Best Musical); The Map Maker’s Sorrow for Summer Play Festival, NYC; Wreckage for New Dramatists; The Golden Apple at Lyric Stage; Macbeth and Richard III for Shakespeare Dallas, and The Aliens for PlaySite Theatre. He has directed a number of shows for Disney, including the premiere of Toy Story the Musical, working closely with John Lasseter. He holds an MFA in Directing from the University of California, San Diego. stefannovinski.com

David O (Music Supervisor/Pianist) See Cast Bios

Stephen Gifford (Scenic Designer) Stephen’s design work has been featured at numerous theatres in the LA area including: Ensemble Theatre Company Santa Barbara, La Mirada Performing Arts Center/McCoy Rigby, 3D Theatricals, The Colony Theatre, Falcon Theatre, A Noise Within, The Theatre @ Boston Court, Antaeus Theatre Company, International City Theatre, Celebration Theatre, and many more. He has garnered many awards and nominations for his work, including six Ovation Award nominations, and was awarded The Bob Z Award for career achievement in set design by the LADCC. More info can be found at stephengifforddesign.com

Kate Bergh (Costume Designer) Recent credits: Casa Valentina (Ovation Nomination), Sleepless in Seattle, Under My Skin, Art, Amahl and the Night Visitors (Pasadena Playhouse); Hopscotch, the Mobile Opera (The Industry, with Anne Closs Farley); Broadway Bound (Odyssey Theatre); Side Show, Shrek the Musical, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, I’m Still Getting My Act Together (Laguna Playhouse); Woyceck, Metamorphoses, A Little Night Music (Ensemble Theatre); Cabaret (Backstage Garland Award ), Gigi, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Fantastics, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Reprise Theatre); Next Fall, and Yes, Prime Minister (The Geffen Playhouse); and Prisoner of Second Avenue at the El Portal.

Jean-Yves Tessier (Lighting Designer) is a primate with a single opposable thumb. He hails from the cold reaches of Canada and once had a sexy French accent. He has since lost it. If found please take good care of it. Selected credits include: Cirque Join us after the show for... Talkback Thursdays Feb 16 & 23, and Mar 2 Patrons are invited to participate in an informal Q & A session with members of the show Musica: Crescendo at the Hollywood Bowl. 3D Theatricals: Ragtime (2015 Ovation Award Nominee), Sideshow, Parade (2013 Ovation Award Nominee). Crystal Cruises: Maestro. McCoy-Rigby Entertainment: Ring of Fire (2012 Ovation Award Nominee), Boeing Boeing. A Noise Within: Antigone, Arcadia. DOMA: American Idiot, Young Frankenstein (2015 Ovation Award Nominee).

Drew Dalzell (Sound Designer) Drew is happy to be designing at the Falcon again, having previously designed A or B?. Drew’s other work includes Wicked Lit! 2012, 2013 (Ovation Nomination), 2014 (Ovation Award), and 2015 (Ovation Nomination) with Unbound Productions; Songs for a New World (Ovation Award), and Tick...Tick... Boom! with The Rubicon Theatre; and A Little Night Music and Man from Nebraska for South Coast Repertory. Drew owns Diablo Sound, Inc., a design and rental company with clients and projects around the world. He teaches at CalArts, UCLA, and UCI.

Mallory Birkrem (Prop Master) is ecstatic to be a part of her first show at the Falcon. After earning a degree in Stage Properties from UNC School of the Arts in Winston- Salem, NC, she worked in NYC and Sacramento, before landing in LA. She would like to thank her family for the continued love and support.

Leia Crawford (Stage Manager) Regional: Judgment at Nuremberg, and Dracula (LATW Tour); Boy, Jane Eyre, and American Buffalo (LATW); Massoud:

Buy your Falcon Theatre tickets ONLINE! www.FalconTheatre.com The Lion of Panjshir, and Neva (CTG); Murder for Two, Switzerland, The Gospel According to...,The Pianist of Willesden Lane, Play Dead, and Ruined (Geffen); Future Thinking, The Whale, The Motherf*cker with the Hat, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Little Night Music, and An Italian Straw Hat (SCR). Dance: Four Seasons, (LACDC10), and Youth (LACDC). Other credits: Ojai Playwrights Conference, Story Pirates, Antaeus, Shakespeare Center LA, and Redcat. Film: Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse. Youtube: Princess Rap Battles 4, 5, 6.

Marissa Putnick (Assistant Stage Manager) Regional: Judgment at Nuremberg (LATW Tour); Sex with Strangers (Geffen); Destiny of Desire, The Purple Lights of Joppa, , James and the Giant Peach, A Christmas Carol, and Fast Company (SCR); The Liar, and As You Like It (Santa Cruz Shakespeare); Tom Jones, The Mandrake, Double Bind, and A Year with Frog and Toad (Shakespeare Santa Cruz); Much Ado About Nothing, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, and Hamlet Blood in the Brain (California Shakespeare Theater). Other credits: DED! (Bootleg Theater); How to Succeed in Business (Without Really Trying), The Real Thing, and Arms and the Man (Long Beach Playhouse).

Heidi Hostetler (Assistant Director) is so grateful to be a part of this production of For Piano and Harpo. She’s worked on shows all over town in all sorts of capacities - one of her favorites is photographer. Check her out at heidimarie-photography.com

Trevor Alkazian (Production Assistant) This is Trevor’s first professional show as a PA, yet he isn’t a stranger to the stage both on and off. Past credits include: ASM work for Theatre Planners, AD and ASM work for two and half years at Pierce College, and a collective ten plus years being an actor. Trevor would like to take this time to thank Dan Castellaneta and the company of For Piano and Harpo, for giving him this opportunity to be part of an amazing show!!!

Laugh Then Think, Inc. Recent projects: Old Man in a Big Car, directed by Dan Castellaneta and starring Paul Dooley (Fanatic Salon Theater, Los Angeles). Empire Burlesque (workshop), Broad Theater/Edye Stage (Disney/ASCAP Musical Workshop, hosted by Stephen Schwartz, currently in development with the American Blues Theater/Chicago). The Banana Tree, Bloomington Playwrights Project, Bloomington, Indiana (Telluride Playwrights Festival, Adirondack Theater Festival). And of course, For Piano and Harpo, at the Falcon Theatre.

For Piano and Harpo is represented by Bruce Miller, Washington Square Films, www.wsfilms.com REMEMBERING OUR FOUNDER GARRY MARSHALL 1934-2016 Garry Marshall loved it when old friends stopped by to visit him at his office on Riverside Drive. So when Dan Castellaneta and Deb Lacusta came to visit last year to discuss presenting their play at the Falcon, Garry could not have been happier.

When Garry made his 1985 movie Nothing Dan & Garry; August 30, 1985 in Common starring Jackie Gleason and Tom The set of NOTHING IN COMMON Hanks, he filled the cast with some of Chicago's most talented young people including Dan Castellaneta. Garry once said that players he worked with on that film were the most skilled improvisational actors he had ever seen. Not only that, but they worked in shorthand as a group, something Garry incorporated into his own process in the movies following. They had the ability to think on their feet while making the movie funnier, holding their own against comic genius’s Jackie and Tom. It is with great joy and excitement that we present Dan Castellaneta's play, For Piano and Harpo, along with the Laugh Then Think production company.

We thank you all for continuing to join us this season for what has turned out to be a season of Garry’s favorites. We honor our founder with each and every play this year.

With gratitude, The Falcon / Henderson Family FALCON THEATRE STAFF PRODUCER Kathleen Marshall LaGambina PRODUCER Sherry Greczmiel TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Mike Jespersen MARKETING/PR DIRECTOR Sasha A Venola ACCOUNTING Cathy Berry EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR Heather Hall BOX OFFICE MANAGER Gordon Vandenberg BOX OFFICE Amanda Smith Karah Britton HOUSE MANAGER/PRODUCTION ASST. Joe Farley

GARRY K. MARSHALL Founder of The Falcon Theatre

Special thanks: Paul and Carol Sills, Viola Spolin, Jeffrey Sweet, Bruce Miller, Steve Younger, Dr. Peter Gruenberg, Dr. David Wellisch, Sarah LaSaulle, Meagen Fay and Bill Gunther, Adrian LaTourelle, John Apicella, Rob Lazebnik, John Collier, Mark Hixenbaugh, Anthony Materazzi, Anthony Thurston, Jan DeWitt, A Red Orchid Theatre, Antaeus Theatre Company, The Improv Co-op, 20th Century Fox Television, and the many talented actors who have done past readings of For Piano and Harpo.

Stay In the Know with the Falcon! Visit www.FalconTheatre.com to join our email list, or sign up in the lobby! Plus, check out behind-the-scenes articles & interviews on our blog, The Greenroom Diaries available at www.FalconTheatre.com/blog