SAN FRANCISCO’S PREMIER NONPROFIT THEATER COMPANY

MAY–JUN 2019 SEASON 53, ISSUE 9 Engaging and eclectic in the East Bay. Oakland is the gateway to the East Bay with a little bit of everything to offer, and St. Paul’s Towers gives you easy access to it all. An artistic, activist, and intellectual Life Plan Community, St. Paul’s Towers is known for convenient services, welcome comforts and security for the future.

With classes, exhibits, lectures, restaurants, shops and public transportation within walking distance, St. Paul’s Towers is urban community living at its best.

Get to know us and learn more about moving to St. Paul’s Towers. For information, or to schedule a visit, call 510.891.8542.

100 Bay Place, Oakland, CA 94610 www.covia.org/st-pauls-towers

A not-for-profit community owned and operated by Covia. License No. 011400627 COA# 327 Engaging and eclectic My legacy. My partner. in the East Bay. You have dreams. Goals you want to achieve during your lifetime and a legacy you want to leave Oakland is the gateway to the East Bay with a little bit of everything to offer, behind. The Private Bank can help. Our highly specialized and experienced wealth strategists can help you navigate the complexities of estate planning and deliver the customized solutions you and St. Paul’s Towers gives you easy access to it all. An artistic, activist, and need to ensure your wealth is transferred according to your wishes. intellectual Life Plan Community, St. Paul’s Towers is known for convenient services, welcome comforts and security for the future. Take the first step in ensuring the preservation of your wealth for your lifetime and future generations. With classes, exhibits, lectures, restaurants, shops and public transportation To learn more, please visit unionbank.com/theprivatebank or contact: within walking distance, St. Paul’s Towers is urban community living at its best. Vartan Shahijanian Private Wealth Advisor Get to know us and learn more about moving to St. Paul’s Towers. For [email protected] information, or to schedule a visit, call 510.891.8542. 415-705-7258

100 Bay Place, Oakland, CA 94610 Wills, trusts, foundations, and wealth planning strategies have legal, tax, accounting, and other implications. Clients should consult a legal or tax advisor. www.covia.org/st-pauls-towers ©2019 MUFG Union Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Union Bank is a registered trademark and brand name of MUFG Union Bank, N.A. A not-for-profit community owned and operated by Covia. License No. 011400627 COA# 327

Untitled-2 1 12/17/18 4:39 PM May 2019 Volume 17, No. 9 RENT THE GEARY Paul Heppner President Visit act-sf.org/rentals FORRETTE ASHLEY BY PHOTO Mike Hathaway or contact Amy Dalba Senior Vice President at [email protected]. Kajsa Puckett Vice President, Sales & Marketing

Genay Genereux Accounting & Office Manager

Production MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM Susan Peterson WORLD PREMIERE Vice President, Production Jennifer Sugden Assistant Production Manager

Ana Alvira, Stevie VanBronkhorst If I Production Artists and Graphic Designers Sales Marilyn Kallins, Terri Reed Were San Francisco/Bay Area Account Executives Devin Bannon, Brieanna Hansen, Amelia Heppner, Ann Manning Seattle Area Account Executives You Carol Yip A new opera in two acts Sales Coordinator by composer Jake Heggie Marketing Shaun Swick and librettist Gene Scheer Senior Designer & Digital Lead

Ciara Caya Thursday, August 1, 7:30 pm Marketing Coordinator Saturday, August 3, 2:00 pm Sunday, August 4, 2:00 pm Encore Media Group Tuesday, August 6, 7:30 pm 425 North 85th Street Seattle, WA 98103 p 800.308.2898 | 206.443.0445 f 206.443.1246 [email protected] Herbst Theatre www.encoremediagroup.com 401 Van Ness Avenue, Encore Arts Programs and Encore Stages are published monthly San Francisco by Encore Media Group to serve musical and theatrical events in the Puget Sound and San Francisco Bay Areas. All rights reserved. ©2019 Encore Media Group. Reproduction without Tickets on sale now. written permission is prohibited. Visit merola.org/ifiwereyou or call (415) 864-3330.

4 ACT-SF.ORG American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco’s Tony attracts students from around the world, while the San Award–winning nonprofit theater, nurtures the art of live Francisco Semester offers a unique study-abroad opportunity theater through dynamic productions, intensive actor for undergraduates. Other programs include Studio A.C.T.— training, and ongoing community engagement. We embrace our expansive course of theater study for adults—and the our responsibility to refresh, renew, and reinvent our rich Professional Development Training Program, which offers theatrical traditions, while exploring new artistic forms actor training for companies seeking to elevate employees’ and communities. Founded by William Ball, a pioneer of the business performance skills. Our alumni often grace our regional theater movement, A.C.T. opened in San Francisco in mainstage and perform around the Bay Area, as well as on 1967. We have since performed more than 400 productions to stages and screens nationwide. more than seven million people. A.C.T. brings the benefits of theater-based arts education to Hailed as the “perfect playhouse,” the beautiful Geary Theater more than 20,000 Bay Area students and educators each year. has been our home since the beginning. When the 1989 Loma Among our Education & Community Programs are the Young Prieta earthquake ripped the roof apart, San Franciscans Conservatory (students ages 8–19), our Fellowship Program raised a record-breaking $30 million to rebuild the theater. for emerging theater professionals, and our ACTsmart school The Geary reopened in 1996 with The Tempest, directed by and community programs, including the Student Matinee Carey Perloff, who took over as A.C.T.’s third artistic director (SMAT) program that has brought hundreds of thousands in 1992 after the retirement of Edward Hastings. of young people to A.C.T. performances since 1968. We also Perloff’s tenure was marked by translations of classical provide touring Will on Wheels Shakespeare productions, works; cross-disciplinary performances and international teaching-artist residencies, in-school workshops, and collaborations; and theater made by, for, and about the Bay study materials to Bay Area schools and community- Area. Exploring powerful stories by celebrated artists and based organizations. introducing audiences to extraordinary emerging voices in With the appointments of Artistic Director Pam MacKinnon American theater continues under A.C.T.’s current artistic and Executive Director Jennifer Bielstein, our continuing director, Pam MacKinnon. commitment to the development of new work and new A.C.T.’s 50-year-old Conservatory, led by Melissa Smith, artists, and our increased presence in the Central Market is at the center of our work. Our three-year, fully accredited neighborhood with The Strand and The Costume Shop Master of Fine Arts Program is at the forefront of America’s theaters, A.C.T. plays a leadership role in securing the future actor training programs. Our Summer Training Congress of theater for San Francisco and the nation.

American Conservatory Theater Board of Trustees (As of April 2019) The Board of Directors David Riemer Jennifer Bielstein Rusty Rueff of the M.F.A. Program Chair Ralph A. Clark Abby Sadin Schnair Lesley Ann Clement Lori Halverson Schryer Abby Sadin Schnair Kay Yun Jerome L. Dodson Jeff Spears Chair President Olympia Dukakis Patrick S. Thompson Patrick S. Thompson Kirke M. Hasson Jesse Lee Eller Joaquin Torres Vice Chair Immediate Past Chair Rod Ferguson Jeffrey W. Ubben Frannie Fleishhacker Jay Yamada Nancy Livingston Ken Fulk Nola Yee Norman Abramson Chair Emerita Patti Hart Sara Barnes Celeste Ford Dianne Hoge Emeritus Advisory Board Carlotta Dathe Vice Chair Jo S. Hurley Barbara Bass Bakar Frannie Fleishhacker Alan Jones Rena Bransten Dianne Hoge Priscilla Geeslin David L. Jones Jack Cortis Vice Chair Jascha Kaykas-Wolff Joan Danforth Christopher Hollenbeck Robina Riccitiello James H. Levy Dagmar Dolby Luba Kipnis Vice Chair Heather Stallings Little William Draper III Linda Kurtz Janet V. Lustgarten John Goldman Jennifer Lindsay Steven L. Swig Pam MacKinnon Kaatri Grigg Toni Ratner Miller Vice Chair Jamie Martin James Haire Mary Ann Munro Rodman Marymor Kent Harvey Linda Jo Fitz Joseph Ratner Treasurer Katherine McGee Sue Yung Li Jeffrey S. Minick Christine Mattison Toni Rembe Adriana López Vermut Marcy S. Nathan Joan McGrath Lori Halverson Schryer Secretary Michael P. Nguyen-Hormel Deedee McMurtry Anne Shonk Gerine Ongkeko Mary S. Metz Melissa Smith Toni Rembe Cherie Sorokin Michael Richter Barry Lawson Williams Sally Rosenblatt Carlie Wilmans

American Conservatory Theater was founded in 1965 by William Ball. Edward Hastings, Artistic Director 1986–92. Carey Perloff,Artistic Director 1992–2018. 415.749.2228 5 B How are rules made? Join us for Z Who gets to make them? And who gets to break them? Rules of play Y A.C.T.’S 19/20 SEASON A 8

The most unforgettable TOP GIRLS dinner party you’ll BY CARYL CHURCHILL DIRECTED BY TAMILLA WOODARD ever attend

SEP 19–OCT 13 THE GEARY THEATER

TESTMATCH Scorching world premiere BY KATE ATTWELL about the rules of play on DIRECTED BY PAM MACKINNON and off the field

OCT 24–DEC 8 THE STRAND THEATER

A CHRISTMAS CAROL BY CHARLES DICKENS ADAPTED BY CAREY PERLOFF AND PAUL WALSH MUSIC BY KARL LUNDEBERG CHOREOGRAPHY BY VAL CANIPAROLI DIRECTED BY PETER J. KUO The Bay Area’s favorite holiday tradition BASED ON THE ORIGINAL DIRECTION BY CAREY PERLOFF NOV 29–DEC 29 THE GEARY THEATER

WAKEY, WAKEY BY WILL ENO What if you had just a few DIRECTED BY ANNE KAUFFMAN more minutes left to live? STARRING TWO-TIME EMMY AWARD WINNER TONY HALE

JAN 23–FEB 16 THE GEARY THEATER

@ACTSanFrancisco B How are rules made? Join us for Z Who gets to make them? And who gets to break them? Rules of play Y A.C.T.’S 19/20 SEASON A 8

Scalpel-sharp dark GLORIA comedy from MacArthur BY BRANDEN JACOBS-JENKINS “Genius” winner Branden DIRECTED BY ERIC TING Jacobs-Jenkins

FEB 13–APR 12 THE STRAND THEATER

TONI STONE BY LYDIA R. DIAMOND The extraordinary true DIRECTED BY PAM MACKINNON story of a trail-blazing CHOREOGRAPHED BY Bay Area athlete CAMILLE A. BROWN A COPRODUCTION WITH ARENA STAGE

MAR 5–29 THE GEARY THEATER

RICHARD O’BRIEN’S Here we go, San Francisco, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW “Let’s do the Time Warp BOOK, MUSIC, AND LYRICS BY RICHARD O’BRIEN DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY again!” SAM PINKLETON

APR 23–MAY 17 THE GEARY THEATER

POOR YELLA REDNECKS: The next chapter in VIETGONE PART 2 Qui Nguyen’s rollicking BY QUI NGUYEN Vietgone trilogy DIRECTED BY JAIME CASTAÑEDA

JUN 4–28 THE GEARY THEATER

LEARN MORE AT ACT-SF.ORG/JOIN A.C.T.’S 19/20 SEASON DON’T JUST SIT THERE . . . “A sharply intelligent, poetically daring play” —Los Angeles Times

“One of the most resonant theatrical set pieces of the past 50 years” —The New York Times At A.C.T.’s free InterACT events, mingle with cast members, join interactive workshops with theater artists, and meet fellow theatergoers at hosted Pope Joan, who disguised herself as a celebrations in our lounges. Join us for Top Girls and InterACT with us! man to attain the papacy. Lady Nijo, an

imperial courtesan-turned-nun. Dull Gret, BIKE TO THE THEATER NIGHT SEP 19, 6:30 PM who spearheaded a conquest through Take advantage of secure bike parking, hell. Patient Griselda, the obedient wife in low-priced tickets, and our preshow mixer, presented in partnership with the Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Isabella Bird, a San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. spirited 19th-century world traveler. These PROLOGUE SEP 24, 5:00 PM five legendary women toast Marlene, the Go deeper with a fascinating preshow discussion with a member of the director of Top Girls employment agency— Top Girls artistic team.

who has just earned a promotion over a man. THEATER ON THE COUCH* SEP 27, 8 PM In partnership with Kaiser Permanente, In 1980s London, Marlene is all about this postshow discussion explores the minds, motivation, and behavior of the finding opportunities for clients to advance. characters. But what if the client lacks experience? AUDIENCE EXCHANGE* OCT 1, 7 PM; OCT 6, 2 PM; OCT 9, 2 PM What if she has a husband? Or worse, a Join us for an exciting Q&A with the cast child? These driven women must grapple following the show. OUT WITH A.C.T. with the cruel choices they’re forced to OCT 2, 7:30 PM make to thrive in a capitalist society. Mix and mingle at this hosted LGBTQ+ party.

WENTE VINEYARDS WINE SERIES Under the direction of Tamilla Woodard, OCT 8, 6:30 PM Meet fellow theatergoers at this hosted the keen wit of this Obie Award–winning wine-tasting event. play is sure to resonate in The Geary. A PLAYTIME OCT 12, 12:00 PM finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, Get hands-on with theater at this Top Girls is a feminist classic, a timeless interactive preshow workshop. and timely work of genius from one of *Events take place immediately following the performance. Britain’s greatest living playwrights.

SUBSCRIBE FOR SEATS

To learn more about our InterACT events, visit act-sf.org/interact.

ACT-SF.ORG/TOPGIRLS | 415.749.2228 PRESENTS THEATER TOURS 2019 THE OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

Explore charming Ashland at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, plus an optional vineyard tour!

July 16–21, 2019

DUBLIN THEATER TOUR

Uncover the performing arts of Ireland and the Dublin Theatre Festival, plus a tour of Ireland’s glorious West!

Sep 23–30, 2019

LONDON THEATER TOUR

Journey to the original theater town, London— plus an exclusive tour of Highclere Castle, the home of Downton Abbey!

Oct 1–7, 2019

ALL THEATER TOURS ARE LED BY A.C.T. ARTISTIC STAFF AND INCLUDE: • Tickets to world-class productions • Receptions and cocktail hours • Luxury accommodations • Complimentary breakfast each morning in our hotel • Discussions with guest artists • Sightseeing excursions and walking tours • Welcome and farewell dinners • Travel companions who love theater

For more information, visit act-sf.org/theatertours or contact Caitlin A. Quinn at [email protected] or 415.439.2436. PHOTO BY ELSPETH SWEATMAN BY PHOTO

WHAT’S INSIDE Director Frank Galati and the cast of A.C.T.’s 2019 production of Rhinoceros.

ONSTAGE NOW A.C.T. TODAY

13 LETTER FROM THE ARTISTIC 27 A THEATER FAMILY EDITOR SIMON HODGSON AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS How Three Generations Came to Share A.C.T. ASSOCIATE EDITOR 16 “WHAT’S THE USE OF EXISTING? By Simon Hodgson ELSPETH SWEATMAN TO EXIST.” The Life and Work of Eugène Ionesco 28 BREATHE, TRUST, LEAP CONTRIBUTORS JENNIFER BIELSTEIN By Annie Sears Fostering the Next Generation of PAM MACKINNON Teaching Artists ANNIE SEARS 18 RESEARCH AND RHINOS By Elspeth Sweatman An Interview with Director Frank Galati By Simon Hodgson VOLUNTEER! A.C.T. volunteers provide an invaluable service with their time, enthusiasm, and love of theater. Opportunities include helping out in our performing arts library and ushering in our theaters.

act-sf.org/volunteer

TAKE A CLASS WITH A.C.T.’S CONSERVATORY PROGRAMS

LEARNLearn MORE more AT at ACT-SF.ORG/CONSERVATORY act-sf.org/conservatory.

415.749.2228 11 WHAT’S AS MUCH FUN AS SEEING PEOPLE TURN INTO RHINOCEROSES ON THE A.C.T. STAGE?

Seeing real-life rhinoceroses at the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens! The Zoo is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, and is proud to commemorate nine decades of fulfilling SFZOO.ORG its mission to connect people with wildlife, inspire caring for nature, and advance conservation action.

Rhinos have been an integral part of the Zoo since Stonewall, an Eastern Black Rhino, arrived in 1956. Thirty- four rhinos have called the Zoo home since then, and today, you can see 24-year-old, 6,000-pound Asian one-horned rhino Gauhati play with his massive soccer ball or 11-year-old African black rhino Boone enjoy his daily enrichment treats.

Enjoy Rhinoceros at A.C.T.’s SF Zoo Day on June 9, and stop by our lobby display to learn why rhino skin folds into “plates,” why poachers hunt them under the mistaken belief that rhino horns have medical powers, and what you can do to help save this magnificent and highly endangered animal. Then come to the Zoo and see our real-life ambassador rhinos for yourself!

A.C.T. SUBSCRIBERS RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT ON ZOO MEMBERSHIPS USING THE CODE ACTSFZ10. FROM THE ARTISTIC AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

Welcome to A.C.T. and Ionesco’s Rhinoceros! Dear Friends,

At A.C.T., we always try to put our plays into a context that It’s been a great season, full of thought-provoking and not only goes through time, but is also immediate, local, and entertaining theater. Sweat time-traveled between 2000 and about the Bay Area. Preparing for The Great Leap involved 2008 to show us a community under pressure. Men on Boats the actors and artistic team spending a Saturday morning in took us down the Grand Canyon on a rip-roaring adventure. the bleachers at the Chinese New Year basketball jamboree We remounted A Christmas Carol to sold-out family at Betty Ong Rec Center. And for Rhinoceros, after learning audiences. In Edward Albee’s Seascape, we met two couples— of the rhino in residence in the city, it meant a trip to the San human and lizard—on the edge of transition. This spring we Francisco Zoo & Gardens. presented Her Portmanteau and The Great Leap—stories of The short version of our marketing department’s field mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and the collision trip to the Sunset was “We went to the zoo and met a of culture and generations. And last month, we presented rhino”—a little break from emails and meetings. But the Vanity Fair, about a young woman fighting for a seat at the reality was thrilling. Everyone got the opportunity to hand- table. Now we share the mastery of Ionesco, Galati, and this feed Gauhati, a greater one-horned rhinoceros (aka Indian incredible company with you. rhinoceros) weighing in at an estimated 6,000 pounds—it’s While we are looking forward to being together again for hard to know exactly, as you don’t ask a rhino how much it Top Girls in September, there is so much going on at A.C.T. weighs, and the zoo doesn’t own scales large enough. this summer. There is our Summer Training Congress—an Some of our brave team gave Gauhati a stroke or a scratch. immersive, intensive program for serious adult actors—and To some, his hard skin felt like bark, to others like a truck our Young Conservatory (YC) for young people aged 8–19. tire. His hide has several shades—originally, we discovered, Between these two programs, our studios are flooded with his color was battleship gray, but because he rolls in the nearly 500 additional participants! Some YC actors will also dirt, there are shades of tan and brown. Our A.C.T. crew also be rehearsing Into the Woods, coming to The Strand August spotted (as in Ionesco’s play) a few green patches where 8–17. Director (and A.C.T. associate producer) Ken Savage’s Gauhati had debrided his hide—rubbed away or softened his concept places the show in a library during story time, using callouses—against a wall painted green, with the paint now young actors (ages 8–10) as narrators. shared between wall and rhino. Finally, as our school year wraps up, we’re sending our Although this is a 24-year-old rhinoceros in an M.F.A. Program class of 2019 out into the world. It’s a tenet enclosure—not stampeding through a street or in a hole in of A.C.T.’s mission that our actor-training programs should the Geary Theater’s stage—I ask you to imagine, just as many create citizen artists—individuals who share a passion for of you did when confronted with Edward Albee’s talking theater, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a deep commitment to lizards in Seascape. Edward certainly was influenced by and society. This class has shown how deeply they care for each caught the contagion of Ionesco’s brand of surrealism. other and how fiercely committed they are to making the All theater is a “What if?” suspension of disbelief. Here world a better place, and we couldn’t be more proud of them. we go! Let Frank Galati and this amazing cast take you into a world at once recognizable and not. Like a trip to the zoo.

Enjoy Rhinoceros! Jennifer Bielstein, Executive Director

Pam MacKinnon, Artistic Director Your gift supports the high quality of work on our stages and brings stories to life for our community. A SNAPSHOT OF THE SEASON

f M oniso Udofia’s BD Wong and Lauren Yee Her Portmanteau in conversation 150 new props decorated our stages, including a 75 local and 20 nationally renowned actors suitcase full of photographs in Her Portmanteau brought 8 playwrights’ stories to life

Edward Albee’s Seascape Student Matinee Program It took 900 hours to hand-stitch the lizard costumes which appeared in Edward Albee’s Seascape 5,000 free or low-cost tickets were given to students through our Student Matinee Program

Donate before the end of our fiscal year on June 30 and your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar by members of our Board of Trustees.

DONATE TODAY! ONLINE: act-sf.org/support EMAIL: [email protected] PHONE: 415.439.2353 PAM JENNIFER MACKINNON BIELSTEIN Artistic Director Executive Director

CAST (in alphabetical order)

Berenger Gene Daisy PRESENTS DAVID BREITBARTH MATT DECARO RONA FIGUEROA

Mrs. Boeuf Marcel Mr. Papillon TRISH MULHOLLAND GÖRAN NORQUIST DANNY SCHEIE by Collette Mr. Dudard Mr. Botard EUGÈNE IONESCO LAUREN SPENCER TEDDY SPENCER JOMAR TAGATAC Translated by DEREK PROUSE Directed by TOWNSPEOPLE FRANK GALATI MILLIE BROOKS, DAN HIATT, TRISH MULHOLLAND, GÖRAN NORQUIST, DANNY SCHEIE, LAUREN SPENCER, TEDDY SPENCER, JOMAR TAGATAC

UNDERSTUDIES

THIS PRODUCTION MADE Mrs. Boeuf, Collette Berenger, Marcel, Mr. Papillon Mr. Dudard, Mr. Botard POSSIBLE BY MILLIE BROOKS DAN HIATT GÖRAN NORQUIST

Season Presenter Daisy Gene KENNETH AND GISELE MILLER LAUREN SPENCER JOMAR TAGATAC Executive Producer CHRISTOPHER AND LESLIE JOHNSON STAGE MANAGEMENT Producers ELSA AND NEIL PERING Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Stage Management Fellow LORI HALVERSON SCHRYER ELISA GUTHERTZ MAGGIE MANZANO BRIANNA GRABOWSKI Associate Producers MARILEE K. GARDNER MARY AND GENE METZ BARBARA PHILLIPS CREATIVE TEAM PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN LLP Scenic and Costume Designer Lighting Designer ROBERT PERDZIOLA CHRIS LUNDAHL

Sound Designer and Original Music Vocal Coach Movement Coach OFFICIAL HOTEL PARTNER JOSEPH CERQUA CHRISTINE ADAIRE DANYON DAVIS

Dramaturg Casting Director JOY MEADS JANET FOSTER, CSA

A.C.T.’s production of Rhinoceros is the recipient of a National Endowment for the A.C.T. PRODUCING TEAM Arts grant.

Associate Artistic Director General Manager Director of Production ANDY CHAN DONALD LOUISA BALCH MARTIN BARRON

Based on the production directed by Frank Galati at Asolo Repertory Theatre.

Rhinoceros is presented by special The actors and stage managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

15 “WHAT’S THE USE OF EXISTING? TO EXIST.” THE LIFE AND WORK OF EUGÈNE IONESCO BY ANNIE SEARS

French Romanian playwright Eugène twenty thousand performances later, to popular politics—especially fascism, Ionesco (1909–94) stumbled upon over two million audience members which Ionesco found detestable. playwriting by accident. While teaching have enjoyed the resonance of this himself English, he was struck by record-breaking Le Spectacle Ionesco. Having lived through both world wars, the stiff simplicity of the textbook’s Ionesco witnessed tremendous shifts in sample dialogue. A woman informs Ionesco sought to demonstrate that political ideologies, the spread of deep- her husband that the floor is below “the unusual can spring only from the seated hate, and the murder of millions. them and the ceiling is above them, dullest and most ordinary daily routine The playwright blamed the rise of that there are seven days in a week— and from our everyday prose, when Nazism on “professional intellectuals” true statements, but explanations pursued beyond their limits.” He did such as professors, writers, and no one would need in real life. so not only through onstage aural philosophers who, he argued, weren’t chaos, but also through spatial clutter, intellectuals at all because they didn’t In his first play, The Bald Soprano using scenic elements to represent truly think; they merely regurgitated (1950), characters begin with lines his characters’ inner lives. In The predominant systems of thought. pulled directly from this textbook, Chairs (1952), a couple drags more and Recognizing that Rhinoceros was but their language disintegrates more chairs onstage to accommodate an attack on them, theater critics into clichés and non sequiturs, then a growing crowd of invisible guests. were unkind, but audiences loved it. incomplete sentences, and eventually Coffee cups multiply inVictims of Duty Rhinoceros was the first of Ionesco’s mere syllables. Ionesco believed that if (1953), a corpse swells until it overtakes works to be produced in America, and it audiences saw their habitual patterns the stage in Amédée, or How to Get Rid is now held alongside The Bald Soprano of conversation demonstrated and of It (1954), and in The New Tenant (playing at Cutting Ball Theater June then dismantled onstage, they’d be (1955), movers help a man fill his new 5–16) as one of the best of his 28 plays. compelled to consider the absurdity apartment with so much furniture of their own existence—partly why that they’re barricaded from the doors. Like many postwar writers and he is credited with inspiring the In many of Ionesco’s works, objects thinkers, Ionesco’s experiences made it genre of Theater of the Absurd. take up the space that words cannot. difficult to believe in human goodness or to see sense in living. For Ionesco, Critics were baffled by the play’s Ionesco repeated not only techniques, the realization that life is purposeless disregard of traditional plot structure; but also a character. Berenger, the warrants two possible responses: there was no cause-and-effect protagonist of Rhinoceros (1959), anguish or euphoria. We can allow progression, no conflict arcing to appears in three other Ionesco plays: ourselves to be overcome by a sense a climax and falling to a satisfying The Killer (1959), Exit the King (1962), of emptiness, or we can feel relieved resolution. “But when audiences found and A Stroll in the Air (1965). In of the pressure to create meaning, it very funny, critics decided it must each, Berenger stubbornly refuses to instead marveling at the universe, be serious theater,” said Ionesco. In conform to society, but finds himself however absurd it may be. “What 1957, The Bald Soprano was remounted questioning whether resistance is the possible reaction is there left,” said alongside Ionesco’s second play, best choice. Berenger is an everyman Ionesco, “when everything has ceased The Lesson (1951), at Théâtre de la character, someone who tries to form to matter, but to laugh at it all?” n Huchette in Paris, where the double his own opinions without falling prey bill is still running today. More than RIGHT Playwright Eugène Ionesco in 1993.

16 ACT-SF.ORG PHOTO BY GORUPDEBESANEZ. COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS. COMMONS. WIKIMEDIA COURTESY GORUPDEBESANEZ. BY PHOTO ONSTAGE NOW

415.749.2228 17 BY SIMONHODGSON AN INTERVIEWWITHDIRECTOR FRANKGALATI RESEARCH ANDRHINOS 18 18 worked. and he lived which in context biographical the Iknow so studied, really Ihave those illuminating; much more are memoirs and letters, journal, private own murky. Ionesco’s but it’s alittle available, is Ionesco about For Rhinoceros research. love to Ido So years. professor for many and academic an I was research? of alot do to likes who director of kind the you Are Ionesco’s Eugène more about classic. learn to him 1776 musical of the production his since time first for the Geary The to return to prepared Galati As Rhinoceros where he directed Theatre, Repertory Asolo with artist associate an he is Florida, Sarasota, in based shows winning Tony the Award– smashes—including Broadway years), and for 40 University Northwestern at taught has (he teaching Theater, university Goodman the and Company Theatre Steppenwolf at stints spanned has career His administrator. theater and actor, director, awriter, as career a 60-year with storytellers, one of is America’s great Galati Frank ONSTAGE NOW Ragtime The Grapes of Wrath Grapes The and , the biographical route biographical , the , we sat down with with down , we sat . Now . threat. It’s about propaganda and what propaganda does does propaganda what and It’s propaganda about threat. surreal and frightening, absurd, an and individuality between negotiating is Berenger,audience the Like Rhinoceros does How Rhinoceros to led that idea of the kernel the was acontagion like communities through moving terror that Observing were criminal. they were complicit, they went along, they shut, mouths their kept they That admired—acquiesced. he loved and that people women—smart men and intellectual that believe one one. He by couldn’t Nazis who became 1930s the in France and Romania in of friends acircle had girlfriend his how he and about writes Ionesco essays, his Hitler. In Adolf] leader [German and of fascism shadow encroaching of the backdrop the against playwriting—all and culture and language French exploring who is essayist and philosopher, thinker, playwright, Romanian ayoung about We’re humongous. is talking background historical The history? the about How resonate in our own time? own our in resonate . ACT-SF.ORG

PHOTO BY JUAN DAVILA PHOTOS BY ELSPETH SWEATMAN

OPPOSITE Director Frank Galati. THIS PAGE, LEFT A.C.T. Interim Director of Education & Community Programs Susie Falk and actor Jomar Tagatac. RIGHT Actors, creative team, and A.C.T. staff members at the first rehearsal for A.C.T.’s 2019 production ofRhinoceros . to create enclaves of power. I want to be careful, because is different, each instrument is different. But there’s it isn’t useful to say that this is a critique of our present no doubt that a theater’s physical properties—the situation in this country. The play does not take sides—it dimensions, the sightlines, the angle of the auditorium revels in ambiguity and irony. Logic is whiplashed back to the stage, the wood and the stone, the seats, even the and forth with such alacrity that you’re dizzy. In the last lighting before the play starts—all of this contributes to scene, Daisy says, “People are changing into rhinoceroses. how a theater holds the story. Many years ago, when I My cousin is a rhinoceros. Even celebrities, like Brigitte was in college at Northwestern, my roommate was actor Bardot.” You can’t frame the paradigm as: Here are the red Ray Burke, who was at A.C.T. when [A.C.T.’s first artistic hats, and there are the blue hats. It’s not that simple. The director] Bill Ball was here. I’ve seen shows here since goal is to balance those elements in giving equal weight to 1968. So I’m very much looking forward to getting back both sides and achieving a gradual awareness on the part in that golden circle. It’s round, it’s golden, and it hums. of the audience. Directing in The Geary is like playing a Stradivarius. n

Of all the animals that Ionesco might have chosen, why rhinos? With Edward Albee’s Seascape and the lizards, it’s a season of mud-loving creatures at A.C.T. [Chuckles] I suppose Ionesco chose the rhinoceros because it’s an absolutely strange, odd animal. Who knows what cunning lies behind those big eyes? They’re armored, they’re grotesque, they’re fascinating. In the cast, we’ve Want to know more about Rhinoceros? done some research—African and Asian rhinos, two Words on Plays is full of interviews and original horns, one horn—and we’ve all become obsessed. articles that give you a behind-the-scenes look. Proceeds from sales of Words on Plays benefit What do you remember about working in The Geary A.C.T.’s education programs. Theater with 1776? Available at the box office and lobby, at the bars, A theater is like a guitar or a Stradivarius violin. Actors and online at act-sf.org/wordsonplays. have to learn to play those instruments. Each house

415.749.2228 19 READY FOR THE NEXT LEVEL OF ACTOR TRAINING? A.C.T. Conservatory—growing the artist in every actor.

2-WEEK SHAKESPEARE INTENSIVE APPLY BY JULY 5 CLASSES RUN JULY 15–26

Surrounded by other creative and ambitious actors, you’ll hone your skills speaking and physicalizing classical texts through this 2-week Shakespeare Intensive taught by some of the best theater artists in the business.

SPRING SEMESTER 2020 APPLY BY NOVEMBER 29 CLASSES BEGIN JANUARY 27

Immerse yourself in the eclectic San Francisco community for 15 weeks of internationally recognized professional actor training. You’ll expand your understanding of theater as you define yourself as an artist.

APPLY BY JANUARY 10 PHOTOS BY ALESSANDRA MELLO AND RYAN MONTGOMERY AUDITIONS IN NEW YORK WILL BE IN JANUARY 2020 AUDITIONS IN CHICAGO AND SAN FRANCISCO WILL BE IN FEBRUARY 2020

Through this rigorous three-year training program with world-renowned professionals, you’ll not only study and perform your craft, but also grow as a citizen artist committed to engaging your community through socially aware and transformative theater. WHO'S WHO IN RHINOCEROS

DAVID Award nomination) at TimeLine starred and co-starred in Elementary, BREITBARTH Theatre Company; Treasure Island The Mysteries of Laura, Gossip Girl, (Berenger), at Lookingglass Theatre Company Royal Pains, Eye Candy, and she played a 23-year associate and Berkeley Repertory Theatre; Lian in the filmDragonheart: A New artist at Asolo and Romance (directed by Pam Beginning. Repertory Theatre MacKinnon), The Play About the in Sarasota, Baby (directed by MacKinnon), TRISH Florida, has The White Snake, and Wonderful MULHOLLAND , performed in more than 80 Town at Goodman Theatre. DeCaro (Mrs. Boeuf) productions there, most recently as has appeared across the country in a graduate of Torvald in A Doll’s House, Part 2 and plays at Manhattan Theatre Club, Australia’s the Reverend Samuel Parris in The Lincoln Center Theater, McCarter National Theatre Crucible. Past Asolo credits include Theatre Center, the Guthrie Theater, Drama School, was Rhinoceros; The Little Foxes; Both and Steppenwolf Theatre Company, a top-rated radio Your Houses; The Grapes of Wrath; as well as international festivals in host in Melbourne, Australia, and Glengarry Glen Ross; Clybourne Park; Toronto, Dublin, and Wuzhen, China. hosted radio shows in Italy and Twelve Angry Men; God of Carnage; Film and television credits include France before settling in Berkeley and returning to theater. She has appeared The Kentucky Cycle, Parts I & II; The U.S. Marshals, How Is This the World, on stages around the Bay Area, most Life and Adventures of Nicholas The Wise Kids, Prison Break, Curb recently as Miss Prism in Nickleby, Parts I and II; The Your Enthusiasm, The Office, House, The Immigrant; Hobson’s Choice; the world and many others. Importance of Being Earnest at Aurora premieres of Men of Tortuga and Theatre Company. Other favorite roles Perfect Mendacity; Once in a Lifetime; RONA include Mother Courage in Mother A Flea in Her Ear; and at least 60 FIGUEROA Courage and Her Children, the Nurse others. He spent a year on the road (Daisy), a long- in Romeo and Juliet, and Woman in with the first national tour of Spring time resident of the West Coast premiere of Edward Awakening and has appeared off New York City, Albee’s The Play About the Baby, all Broadway, in Los Angeles, and at originally hails with Berkeley’s Shotgun Players, numerous regional theaters around from San Mateo. where she is a company member. She the country. Breitbarth is a 2013 Ten Rhinoceros marks has written for television and stage, Chimneys Foundation Lunt-Fontanne her A.C.T. debut. Broadway credits and is currently working on her own Fellow. He is delighted to be making include Kim in the original production solo show. his A.C.T. debut. of Miss Saigon, Éponine in the original production of Les Misérables, GÖRAN MATT DECARO Carla understudy in the revival of NORQUIST is so (Gene) has Nine, and standby for Yoko in Lennon (Marcel) excited to be previously been The Musical (which opened at SHN’s seen at A.C.T. in Orpheum Theatre). Off-Broadway sharing this show— Dark Rapture, credits include Daisy Avila in his first after graduating with A Streetcar Named Dogeaters and Yelena/Waffles/Mrs. V his M.F.A. from Desire, Machinal, in Minor Character: Six Translations A.C.T.—with such an unbelievable and American of Uncle Vanya at the Same Time (The team. Norquist recently understudied Buffalo. Recent credits include Public Theater), and Adelfa in The Leslie in Edward Albee’s and The Great Society, The Little Foxes, Female Heart (Theater Row). Regional Seascape played Dick Wilkins in Shakespeare in Love, Rhinoceros, credits include Lady Thiang in The A Christmas , both on the Geary stage. The Crucible, and Sweat at Asolo King and I (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Carol Regionally, you might have seen him Repertory Theatre. Recent Chicago Wife in Wild Goose Dreams (La Jolla at Summer Repertory Theatre as credits include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Playhouse), and Luciana in The Boys Dan/Russ in and (Joseph Jefferson Award) at Drury from Syracuse (Baltimore Center Clybourne Park Lane Theatre; The Audience (Jeff Stage). On television, she has guest- Amos Hart in Chicago, or in A.C.T.’s

The actors and stage managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. 415.749.2228 21 as the artistic director), as well as Public Theater, Dallas Theater Center, South Coast Repertory, Arena Stage, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Folger Folger Theatre, The Old Globe, Yale Theatre, TheatreWorks, Center Proud to Repertory Theatre, Trinity Repertory REPertory Company, Capital Stage Company, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Company, Sacramento Theatre Support Actors Theatre of Louisville, A Noise Company, Jewel Theatre Company, Within, Two River Theater, Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, A.C.T. Merrimack Repertory Theatre, and Texas Shakespeare Festival, Arabian Pasadena Playhouse. He holds a PhD Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare and a professorship from UC Berkeley Napa Valley, Theater at Monmouth, and UC Santa Cruz, respectively, and Undermain Theatre, and Summer is the recipient of multiple San Repertory Theatre Festival. Spencer’s

Personal attention Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics on-camera work includes Workaholics Circle Awards as leading actor, (Comedy Central) and Steve Jobs thoughtful litigation supporting actor, and director. (Universal Pictures). He holds an MFA final resolution in acting from Southern Methodist

FAMILY LAW FAMILY LAUREN Our goal is to preserve our University and is a company member client’s dignity and humanity. SPENCER with the Arabian Shakespeare Festival (Collette) returns and PlayGround. to A.C.T. after performing in Men JOMAR FA M I LYLAW G R OUP, P. C . on Boats and King TAGATAC Charles III. (Mr. Botard) 575 Market Street, Suite 4000 Spencer has also most recently San Francisco, CA 94105 415.834.1120 worked with Kansas City Repertory appeared as Bob www.sflg.com Theatre (Pride and Prejudice); Campo Cratchit in A.C.T.’s Santo (Candlestick and H.O.M.E.: Christmas Carol. Hookers on Mars Eventually); Berkeley Other A.C.T. credits Repertory Theatre (Party People); include Playwright and various other Young Conservatory production of Marin Theatre Company (Anne characters in Vietgone, Fortinbras Urinetown: The Musical as Caldwell B. Boleyn and Miss Bennet: Christmas at in Hamlet, and Fortunado/Mata in Cladwell. Norquist would like to Pemberley); Crowded Fire Theater Monstress. His recent Bay Area credits dedicate this run to his fellow Stray (Good Goods, The Late Wedding, include Actor 1 in King of the Yees and Cats of 2019. I love you all, and I am so Blackademics, and Mechanics of Love); Daniel in You Mean to Do Me Harm proud of each of you. San Francisco Shakespeare Festival (San Francisco Playhouse); Quang in DANNY SCHEIE (Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Vietgone (Capital Stage Company); (Mr. Papillon) Night’s Dream); Shotgun Players (The Duke of York in The War of the Roses, has, in 13 seasons Rover); and Just Theater (A Maze), Somebody in Everybody, Jacques in As at California among others. You Like It, and Clarín in Life Is a Shakespeare Dream (California Shakespeare TEDDY Theater, played Theater); and Doctor/Smuggler/Well SPENCER Richard III, Puck, Inhabitants in You For Me For You (Mr. Dudard) Bottom, Feste, (Crowded Fire Theater). Other credits is excited to return Mercutio, and Dogberry. At Berkeley include Samurai in Rashomon (Ubuntu to A.C.T., where he Repertory Theatre, he has appeared in Theater Project); Lin Bo in Caught was last seen as world premieres by Amy Freed, Daniel (Shotgun Players); Jesus in India, Every Rosencrantz in Handler, Dan LeFranc, and Charles Five Minutes, The Happy Ones, and Hamlet. A Bay Area Mee. He has also played principal Dogeaters (Magic Theatre); and Rights native, Spencer has performed roles locally at Theatre Rhinoceros, of Passage (New Conservatory Theatre throughout the world as a member of TheatreWorks, Aurora Theatre Center). Tagatac has been in the Reduced Shakespeare Company. Company, Marin Theatre Company, workshops at Oregon Shakespeare Regionally, he has worked with The Z Space, the former Shakespeare New Victory Theater, Pittsburgh Santa Cruz (including three seasons

The actors and stage managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. 22 ACT-SF.ORG Festival and TheatreWorks. He earned Theatre Company); The Way of the for directing, and three for writing. a BA in theater from San Diego State World and Mary Stuart (Huntington In 2011, he directed Shakespeare’s University and an M.F.A. from A.C.T. Theatre Company); The Two Merry Wives of Windsor at the Gentlemen of Verona and Dirty Blonde Stratford Festival. He won two Tony MILLIE BROOKS (Arizona Theatre Company); and Awards in 1998 for directing and (Understudy) Picasso at the Lapin Agile at Ford’s adapting The Grapes of Wrath and was is a local actor here Theatre. nominated for a Tony for directing in the Bay Area, but the musical Ragtime. He has staged she’s a corn-fed, FRANK GALATI (Director) is operas for Chicago Opera Theater, Midwestern gal at a member of Steppenwolf Theatre Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco heart. After spending Company. He has received nine Opera, and The Metropolitan Opera her college career in Joseph Jefferson Awards for his work in New York. Galati directed 1776 Chicago, Brooks moved to San Francisco in Chicago theater: one for acting, five here at A.C.T. in 2013. He is now an to live a creative life in a tech world. Past credits include Marla in Good. Better. Best. Bested. (The Custom Made Theatre Co), Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday and Congregant in The Christians (San Francisco Playhouse), Peddler in A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings (Chicago Playworks), and Tiffany in The Shakespeare Bug (PlayGround and Killing My Lobster). Brooks can also be seen in episode eight of 13 Reasons Why on Netflix. She is thrilled to be part of this production of Rhinoceros and would like to thank A.C.T. for this opportunity. milliebrooks.com

DAN HIATT (Understudy) has appeared at A.C.T. in Vanity Fair, Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3), The Birthday Party, Hamlet, Love and Information, Round and Round the Garden, The Rivals, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Ah, Wilderness!, and many others. His Bay Area credits include Joe Turner’s Come and Gone and Dinner with Friends 1,000 abused and neglected (Berkeley Repertory Theatre); As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, children are in San Francisco Man and Superman, and The Life foster care. and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (California Shakespeare Theater); A Flea in Her Ear and This Wonderful Life (San Jose Repertory Theatre); These are OUR kids. Anne Boleyn (Marin Theatre Company); The 39 Steps (TheatreWorks); and Breakfast with Mugabe (Aurora Theatre HelpFosterChildren.com Company). Other regional work includes King Charles III (Shakespeare

415.749.2228 23 associate artist at Asolo Repertory was inducted into the American Boston Opera. In Europe, he has Theatre in Sarasota, Florida, where Academy of Arts and Sciences. designed for Garsington Opera and this production of Rhinoceros Galati is a professor emeritus in the Opéra de Monte-Carlo. In Japan, originated. Next season, he will department of performance studies he has designed for the Hyogo direct the new musical Knoxville, a at Northwestern University. Performing Arts Center and the Saito collaboration with Ragtime creators Kinen Festival Matsumoto. For ballet, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, ROBERT PERDZIOLA (Scenic his designs include sets and costumes premiering at Asolo in 2020. In and Costume Designer) has for American Ballet Theatre (ABT), 1989, Galati was nominated for an designed sets and costumes in the Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and Academy Award for his screenplay United States for The Metropolitan Finnish National Ballet. In 2018, he (with Lawrence Kasdan) of The Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San created sets and costumes for ABT’s Accidental Tourist, and in 2000, he Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Harlequinade. His theater work is Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and often seen at Asolo Repertory Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, and Signature Theatre Company. Currently, Perdziola is working on designs for Grand Hotel (Signature), The Seasons (ABT), and Giselle (Bolshoi Ballet). @#robertperdziola

CHRIS LUNDAHL (Lighting Designer) is a Bay Area lighting designer. His recent design credits include Kings at Shotgun Players, The Gentleman Caller at New Conservatory Theatre Center, and Transfers at Crowded Fire Theater. Additional design credits include Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Rock of Ages, and Titanic: The Musical at Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre; The Ballad of Baby Doe and Turandot at Opera Fort Collins; and Hamlet, Drums in the Night, and A Lie of the Mind at UC San Diego. May 10 – November 10, 2019 Lundahl also served as assistant A multilayered exhibition about the people, lighting designer for A.C.T.’s 2017–18 plants, and animals that have created a home and 2018–19 seasons, and served as on the Filoli estate. projection designer for A.C.T.’s 2018 production of Vietgone. Lundahl American Women: holds an MFA in lighting design from Birds of Im/Migration UC San Diego and a BA in theater Join artist Sara Friedlander in a journey of design and technology from the immigrant women and birds of migration. University of Northern Colorado. Nests: Patterns from Nature Experience an exhibition inspired by the JOSEPH CERQUA, USAA plants and animals of Filoli, by artist (Sound Designer and Original Use code RHINO19 W. Gary Smith. Music) is thrilled to be making his and get $2.00 OFF A.C.T. debut. Most recently, Cerqua Admission! People of Filoli worked on the American premiere May 28 - Nov 10, 2019 Learn stories from the people who of Things I Know to Be True at Restrictions apply. worked and lived at Filoli. Milwaukee Repertory Theater. He has composed/designed sound for [email protected] | (650) 364-8300 | www.filoli.org more than 300 productions nationally 86 Cañada Rd., Woodside, CA. and internationally. Original music

24 ACT-SF.ORG and sound design credits include gender-diverse individuals so they productions with Steppenwolf can modify their voice to more fully Theatre Company, Goodman express their gender identity. Theatre, American Players Theatre, DANYON DAVIS (Movement ALL A.C.T. Milwaukee Rep, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Alliance Theatre, the Mark Coach) is the head of movement Taper Forum, Deaf West Theatre, at A.C.T. He formerly served as the SHOWS ARE Northlight Theatre, Cleveland Play head of movement at Stella Adler House, Clarence Brown Theatre, Studio of Acting, and he’s also Forward Theater, Kansas City a former faculty member at the BARTABLE Repertory Theatre, Berkshire Neighborhood Playhouse, Circle Theatre Group, and Actors Theatre in the Square Theatre School, and of Louisville. National tours include HB Studio’s Hagen Core Training Side Man, American Buffalo, How I program. Davis assisted Moni Yakim, Learned to Drive, The Laramie Project, founding faculty member and head Broken Glass, and Master Class. of movement at the Juilliard Drama Cerqua is the producing director/ Division, for many years. He also composer in residence for the Cerqua performed, taught, and directed with Rivera Dance Theatre and the creative the Guthrie Theater. He is a former director and producer for Columbia collaborator with the SITI Company College’s music department. Future and a former associate with Bill T. projects include concerts with Jones. Davis has coached individuals Cerqua Rivera and original music and taught group workshops in a and sound designs for American variety of settings, including school Players and Forward Theater. programs, correctional facilities, Middlebury College, the 52nd Street CHRISTINE ADAIRE (Vocal Project, and The Public Theater. THE GEARY Coach) is head of voice at A.C.T. She is a Designated Master Linklater JOY MEADS (Dramaturg), a Powell Street Voice Teacher, trained by the world- native of Oakland, comes to A.C.T. renowned voice teacher Kristin from Center Theatre Group, where Linklater. She has worked as an actor, she served as literary manager/ voice coach, and director in many artistic engagement strategist. Her American regional theaters, including CTG dramaturgy credits include The Old Globe, Milwaukee Repertory Archduke by Rajiv Joseph, Good Grief Theatre, the Guthrie Theater, Chicago by Ngozi Anyanwu, Appropriate by Shakespeare, Goodman Theatre, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Forever by Lyric Opera, Oregon Shakespeare Dael Orlandersmith, Marjorie Prime Festival, Steppenwolf Theatre by Jordan Harrison (2015 Pulitzer Company, Court Theatre, American Prize finalist),A Parallelogram by Players Theatre, Theatre for a Bruce Norris, The Royale by Marco New Audience (NYC), Santa Cruz Ramirez, Radiate by Daniel Alexander Shakespeare, La Jolla Playhouse, Jones, and SLEEP by Naomi Iizuka and Shakespeare & Company. Adaire (a co-commission with Ripe Time, has taught at DePaul University, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and National Theatre School of Canada, Yale Repertory Theatre). Previously, THE STRAND University of Massachusetts– Meads was literary manager at Amherst, University of Wisconsin– Steppenwolf Theatre Company Civic Center Milwaukee, and Roosevelt University. and associate artistic director at She’s taught workshops in Shanghai, California Shakespeare Theater. Barcelona, London, Australia, and She has also developed plays with New Zealand. Her current area of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, research and writing is transgender New York Theatre Workshop, voice. She works with transgender/

415.749.2228 25 Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Denver the Lintel, Arcadia, The Normal Area–based nonprofit dedicated to Center for the Performing Arts, the Heart, The Scottsboro Boys, Clybourne providing transformational trek Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Ojai Park, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, experiences to young adults in need Playwrights Conference, Portland The Rainmaker, A Number, and of support with life direction. Center Stage, South Coast Repertory, Eve Ensler’s The Good Body, among and Campo Santo, among others. Meads others. She has also stage-managed ADDITIONAL CREDITS is a proud co-founder of The Kilroys. The Mystery of Irma Vep, Suddenly Karina Fox, Assistant Director Last Summer, Rhinoceros, Big Love, JANET FOSTER, CSA (Casting) Dave Maier, Fight Director Collected Stories, and Cloud Tectonics Thomas Bowersox, has cast for A.C.T. for seven seasons, (Berkeley Repertory Theatre); The including The Great Leap, Her Lighting Design Associate Good Body (Broadway); Big Love Noah Usher, Production Assistant Portmanteau, Edward Albee’s (Brooklyn Academy of Music); and The Seascape, Men on Boats, Sweat, Vagina Monologues (Alcazar Theatre). Hamlet, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Hard Problem, King Charles III, MAGGIE MANZANO (Assistant John, Arcadia, Stuck Elevator, The Stage Manager) is making her Orphan of Zhao, Napoli!, and Endgame debut at The Geary, but she is no and Play. On Broadway, she cast The stranger to A.C.T. The most recent Light in the Piazza (Artios Award Manzano sighting was at A.C.T.’s nomination), Lennon, Ma Rainey’s Strand Theater with Men on Boats Black Bottom, and Taking Sides (co- (assistant stage manager). Since cast). Off-Broadway credits include graduating from San Francisco True Love, Floyd Collins, A Cheever State University, she has worked Evening, The Monogamist, and Later as a freelance stage manager, event Life. Regionally, she has worked at manager, and educator for the past Intiman Theatre, Seattle Repertory six years. Other credits include Theatre, California Shakespeare Urinetown: The Musical (A.C.T. Young Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Conservatory), The Last Days of Judas Yale Repertory Theatre, Goodman Iscariot (A.C.T. M.F.A. Program), Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre and brownsville song (b-side for Company, The Old Globe, and tray) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia American Repertory Theater. Film, Woolf? (Shotgun Players). She would television, and radio credits include like to thank all stage managers Cosby, Tracey Takes On New York, from A.C.T. and beyond who have The Deal, Advice from a Caterpillar, supported her growth up to this point. PHOTOGRAPHS AND RECORDINGS The Day That Lehman Died (Peabody, SONY, and Wincott awards), and CHRISTOPHER AND LESLIE Audience members may take photos JOHNSON (Executive in the theater before and after the “T” Is for Tom (Tom Stoppard radio performance and during intermission. Producers) were both born and plays, WNYC and WQXR). She also If you post photos on social media or raised in the Bay Area and have been elsewhere, you must credit the cast LifeAfter, a GE Theater podcast. production’s designers by including supporting A.C.T. since 2002. They the following names: ELISA GUTHERTZ (Stage were executive producers on Hamlet, Robert Perdziola (Scenic and Costume Designer), Manager) has been a Bay Area stage The Hard Problem, The Realistic Instagram: @#robertperdziola manager for over 25 years. Her most Joneses, A Little Night Music, Napoli!, Chris Lundahl (Lighting Designer), recent A.C.T. credits are Edward Rock ’n’ Roll, Round and Round the Instagram: @lundahldesigns Joseph Cerqua (Sound Designer Albee’s Seascape and Sweat. She Garden, Blackbird, and Curse of and Original Music) stage-managed A Thousand Splendid the Starving Class. Directors of the Please note: Photos are strictly Suns at A.C.T., The Old Globe, and Hurlbut-Johnson Fund, the Johnsons prohibited during the performance. Photos of the stage are not permitted if Theatre Calgary. Her numerous other support many Bay Area organizations an actor is present. Video recording is productions for A.C.T. include A Night and endowed the Hurlbut-Johnson not permitted in the theater at any time. with Janis Joplin, The Realistic Joneses, Chair in Diabetes Research at UCSF. @ACTSanFrancisco #ACTRhino

Monstress, Love and Information, Leslie Johnson is the cofounder and Testament, Major Barbara, Underneath president of Epic Transitions, a Bay

The actors and stage managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. 26 ACT-SF.ORG A.C.T. TODAY PHOTO BY DREW ALTIZER

A THEATER FAMILY LEFT TO RIGHT Joseph Ratner, Toni Ratner Miller, Donald Miller, and Julie Ratner at A.C.T.’s 50th Anniversary gala in 2017. HOW THREE GENERATIONS CAME TO SHARE A.C.T. BY SIMON HODGSON

From their earliest memories of growing up in Chicago, in the Young Conservatory, while Miller’s daughter Justine theater was part of life for Toni Ratner Miller and her brother studied acting and ballet as a child. She’s now a reporter for Joe Ratner. “My parents really loved musical theater,” says News 12 in New York, where she joined her mom and dad, Miller. “There were always Broadway show soundtracks Donald, to see a show during A.C.T.’s Broadway theater tour playing in our house . . . West Side Story, Damn Yankees.” in 2018. And to add one more generation, Justine and Ellie’s “And don’t forget Kismet and Kiss Me, Kate!” adds Ratner. grandmother, Joyce, is an enthusiastic attendee at A.C.T. events, including our education fundraiser A Dickens of a A.C.T. is a major part of both Miller and Ratner’s lives, Holiday last December (“She was thrilled,” says Ratner). with involvement spanning monthly visits to The Geary and The Strand, attendance at galas and special For all the Ratners, theater is critical. “There are a lot of events, subscriptions to Words on Plays, participation thought-provoking things in theater, about the human in A.C.T. theater tours, and executive-producing A.C.T. condition, about our society, about other cultures represented shows including The Realistic Joneses (2016), A Walk in performances,” says Ratner. “There’s a lot you can on the Moon (2018), and Her Portmanteau (2019). learn.” Equally, Miller points to the value in A.C.T.’s theater arts education in schools. “That’s really important,” she More recently, brother and sister have joined our M.F.A. says, “because it opens up new worlds for these students. It Program Board of Trustees. “The Conservatory has made a shows them what they can do. It can change their lives.” n big difference in the lives of many people,” says Ratner. One of Miller’s favorite parts of being a trustee is hosting an M.F.A. actor. “When you see these students in their first-year creative movement project, you see their potential,” she says, “and as you For more information about membership benefits and how you can become the producer continue to watch, it’s wonderful to see them grow. You realize of an A.C.T. production, visit act-sf.org/support how much they learn over three years. They’re all so talented!” or contact Donor Relations and Membership Manager Hillary Bray at 415.439.2353 or Miller and Ratner have extended their love of theater to their [email protected]. own children. Ratner’s middle daughter, Ellie, takes classes

415.749.2228 27 PHOTOS BY JASMIN HOO

A.C.T. TODAY BREATHE, TRUST, LEAP

FOSTERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF Program actor Kim Hollkamp (class of 2020). “It helps me TEACHING ARTISTS hone my craft and connect with other artists, regardless of age. I intend to be an actor and teaching artist for my BY ELSPETH SWEATMAN entire career.”

At the beginning of A.C.T.’s school year, Conservatory “A.C.T.’s Citizen Artist training prepares us to look beyond Director Melissa Smith tells each new Master of what we perceive to be normal. It helps us to question our Fine Arts class, “At A.C.T., we don’t just develop the privilege and reflect on how to be aware of that privilege artist; we develop the human being.” And that training when working with artists from all sorts of backgrounds,” begins immediately, through classes in movement and says M.F.A. actor LeRoy S. Graham III (class of 2020). “It voice, productions large and small, and teaching artist is important to understand how to enter a room and work apprenticeships in A.C.T.’s Young Conservatory and with a person who may be carrying around some sort of Education & Community Programs summer residencies. trauma. Citizen Artist training helps prepare us for that. It After three years, every student leaves with the tools to be has helped me become more comfortable in my approach to powerful artists, storytellers, teachers, advocates, tackling sensitive topics in a number of different settings.” and individuals. Many students continue to develop their teaching artist A vital part of A.C.T.’s teaching artist training is the skills over the summer by teaching in Young Conservatory Citizen Artist program, where students learn about and high school residency programs. “In my first summer cultural competency, pedagogy, and using their skills to teaching for A.C.T.’s Education & Community Programs, we collaborate with diverse communities and effect social had a Boys & Girls Club student who would come to class change. In the first two years of the M.F.A. Program, and never say a word,” says third-year actor Caleb Lewis students visit a Downtown High School class for three (class of 2019). “Slowly, she came out of her shell, joining hours a semester to hone these skills. “Teaching makes the theater games and participating more and more. After me a better artist and a better human,” says M.F.A. our penultimate class, the director of the arts programs said, 28 ACT-SF.ORG ‘I’m absolutely amazed. I’ve never seen her talk so much.’ To see someone transform, open up, and let more of her light shine because of theater was amazing.”

Graham had a similar experience working with students from Downtown High School. “I was working with a student on monologues that she and her classmates had created on the theme of war. The first time she did the monologue, it lacked a bit of energy, but once we started to dig into the circumstances of her character, she started to own the monologue. Her voice started to fill the room. It was a great moment to see a student work to achieve a goal.”

“A.C.T.’s Citizen Artist program showed me that if you put faith in people and trust that they will bring themselves completely to the work, then it will be spectacular,” says M.F.A. alum Alexa Erbach (class of 2017), who is currently an actor and teaching artist in Chicago. “Working with SAFEhouse Arts and La Colectiva de Mujeres were some of my most beautiful experiences at A.C.T. They showed me that if you believe in other people, they’re going to believe in themselves.” n

Help future generations discover the power of theater. To learn more about supporting arts education at A.C.T., visit act-sf.org/support. To learn more about A.C.T.’s Master of Fine Arts Program, visit act-sf.org/mfa.

OPPOSITE PAGE M.F.A. Program actor Micah Peoples (class of 2019) chatting with a Downtown High School student. THIS PAGE M.F.A. Program actors work with Downtown High School students.

415.749.2228 29 FRANNIE FLEISHHACKER, CO-CHAIR • ROBINA RICCITIELLO, CO-CHAIR We are privileged to recognize Producers Circle members’ generosity during the April 1, 2018 to April 1, 2019, period. For information about Producers Circle membership, please contact Tiffany Redmon at 415.439.2482 or [email protected].

† A Dickens of a Holiday event sponsor/lead supporter wLead Gala supporter * Leadership Circle Member  Spring Fling! supporters ** Deceased

Season Presenters

JEROME L. AND JAMES C. HORMEL AND TONI REMBE AND JEFF AND LAURIE UBBENw THAO N. DODSON† MICHAEL P. NGUYEN-HORMELw ARTHUR ROCKw Jeff is a founder of ValueAct Capital Jerry is president of Parnassus James, the first openly gay US Past chair of A.C.T.’s Board of and a director of 21st Century Fox Investments and serves on the boards ambassador, founded the James C. Trustees, Toni is a retired partner at Inc. and Willis Towers Watson PLC. of San Francisco Opera and A.C.T. Thao Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center at the Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. He serves on the boards of Duke and Jerry have established scholarships San Francisco Public Library (SFPL). Arthur was one of America’s first University, Northwestern University, for music education at the San Francisco Michael works alongside James on their venture capitalists. Along with other and the E. O. Wilson Biodiversity Symphony, undergraduate education at charitable giving foundation, and has community endeavors, they are Foundation. Laurie founded San UC Berkeley, and high school education served on the SFPL Commission for cofounders of the Arthur and Toni Francisco’s Bird School of Music. for 125 girls in Vietnam. two terms. A trustee of A.C.T., Michael Rembe Rock Center for Corporate is profoundly passionate about the arts Governance at Stanford Law School. KAY YUN AND ANDRE PRISCILLA AND and humanities. NEUMANN-LORECK†w   KEITH GEESLIN†w ROBINA RICCITIELLO†w President of A.C.T.’s Board of Trustees, Priscilla is a vice chair of A.C.T.’s FRED M. LEVIN AND NANCY Robina is communications director for Kay is a partner at private equity fund Board of Trustees and Development LIVINGSTON, THE SHENSON the Million Person Project, a company Health Evolution Partners. She is a Committee chair. She is vice president FOUNDATIONw that helps people identify their core trustee of Parnassus Funds and a board of the SF Symphony, Grace Cathedral, Nancy is the Chair Emerita of A.C.T.’s values to tell their personal story. She member of San Francisco University and past chair of NARAL Pro-Choice Board of Trustees. She serves on the is involved with the UCLA Depression High School. Andre, the founder of On America’s Foundation Board. boards at the College of Fine Arts at Grand Challenge, an effort to cure Tap Consulting, has held executive roles A principal of Francisco Partners, Boston University and the National depression by the end of this century, in startups and Fortune 500 companies. Keith is president of SF Opera’s board Council for the American Theatre. and with NARAL Pro-Choice America. of trustees and a board member of Fred serves on the boards of the San Episcopal Community Services. Francisco Symphony, the Asian Art MARY AND STEVEN SWIGw Museum, and the SF Film Society. Steven has served on A.C.T.’s board since 1986 and is cofounder of Presidio KENNETH AND Graduate School. Mary is on the GISELE MILLER Women’s Leadership Board of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. They serve on the boards of the Solar Electric Light Fund and the Americans for Cures Foundation.

Company Sponsors Executive Producers Marcy and Paul Nathan Daniel E. Cohn and Lynn Brinton Barbara Ravizza and John S. Osterweis The New Ark Fund Mrs. Barbara Bakar Gerine Ongkeko and Jorge del Calvo Sara Eisner Richter and Michael Richter◆ Concepción and Irwin Federman Lesley Ann Clement and Bill Draper Sally and Toby Rosenblatt◆ Cheryl Grant Karl Lukaszewicz◆ Mr. Rodney Ferguson and Sakana Foundation Marcia and Jim Levy† Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund◆ Ms. Kathleen Egan◆ †  Abby and Gene Schnair◆ Don and Judy McCubbin Frannie Fleishhacker Linda Jo Fitz◆† Lori Halverson Schryer◆† Mr. and Mrs. J. A. McQuown Kevin and Celeste Ford Mr. and Mrs. Gordon P. Getty   Matthew and Lisa Sonsini Mary and Gene Metz◆ Kirke and Nancy Sawyer Hasson◆ The Milledge and Patti Hart Family Barbara and Stephan Vermut Rich Rava and Elisa Neipp Jeri Lynn and Jeffrey W. Johnson Dianne and Ron Hoge◆† Jack and Susy Wadsworth◆ Norman and Janet Pease Mr. and Mrs. Robert McGrath Jo S. Hurley◆† Nola Yee Elsa and Neil Pering Burt** and Deedee McMurtry Christopher and Leslie Johnson  Merrill Randol David and Carla Riemer◆† John Little and Heather Stallings Little Kathleen Scutchfield Patti and Rusty Rueff◆ Janet V. Lustgarten Producers Anne and Michelle Shonk◆ Aaron Vermut and Adriana The Marymor Family Fund Paul Asente and Ron Jenks Cherie Sorokin López Vermut◆† Nion McEvoy and Leslie Berriman◆ Clay Foundation - West Emmett and Marion Stanton Donald J. and Toni Ratner Miller◆† Lloyd and Janet Cluff

Associate Producers Anonymous Carol Dollinger Sy Kaufman and Kerstin Edgerton Rick and Cindy Simons Paul Angelo Marilee K. Gardner Jascha and Rebecca Kaykas-Wolff † Dr. Martin and Elizabeth Terplan Sara and Wm. Anderson Barnes Fund Dr. and Mrs. Richard E. Geist Luba Kipnis and David Russel◆ Mrs. Katherine G. Wallin and Dr. Barbara L. Bessey Arnie and Shelly Glassberg Linda Kurtz◆ Mr. Homer Wallin◆ Linda K. Brewer Glasser Family Fund Ken Lamb Diane B. Wilsey Linda Joanne Brown Dr. Allan P. Gold and Mr. Alan C. Ferrara Mr. and Mrs. John P. Levin Beverly and Loring Wyllie Gayle and Steve Brugler Marcia and John Goldman Milton Mosk and Thomas Foutch Carlotta and Robert Dathe◆† Stephen and Diane Heiman Mr. and Mrs. Tom Perkins James and Julia Davidson Hilton San Francisco † Barbara Phillips Richard Davis-Lowell and Bill Lowell Betty Hoener Joseph E. and Julie Ratner◆†

30 ACT-SF.ORG DIANNE HOGE, CO-CHAIR • NOLA YEE, CO-CHAIR

We are privileged to recognize these members’ generosity during the April 1, 2018 to April, 2019, period. For information about Directors Circle membership, please contact Tiffany Redmon at 415.439.2482 or [email protected].

† A Dickens of a Holiday event sponsor/lead supporter wLead Gala supporter  Spring Fling! supporters

Scott and Janis Sachtjen Mr. Robert Feyer and Ms. Marsha Cohen Ms. Mary D. Niemiller Benefactors George and Camilla Smith Mr. and Mrs. Patrick F. Flannery Ms. Lisa Nolan Norman Abramson in honor of Lee and Carolyn Snowberg Mr. and Mrs. Richard Fowler Barbara O’Connor David V. Beery The Somekh Family Foundation Dr. and Mrs. Fred N. Fritsch Ms. Mary Jo O’Drain Susan and Ralph G. Coan, Jr. Laura Spivy† Lynda Fu Emilie and Douglas Ogden Philip and Judy Erdberg Diana L. Starcher Mrs. Susan Fuller Margo and Roy Ogus Tom Frankel Vera and Harold Stein John L. Garfinkle Don and Sally O’Neal Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Gallagher Roselyne C. Swig◆ William Garland and Michael Mooney Janet and Clyde Ostler Mr. Joel Krauska and Ms. Patricia Fox John and Sandra Thompson◆ Mr. Michael R. Genesereth Peter Pastreich and Jamie Whittington Sue Yung Li and Dale K. Ikeda Mrs. Helena Troy Wasp Susan and Dennis Gilardi Mr. and Mrs. William Pitcher Marmor Foundation/Drs Michael and Ms. Allie Weissman Dr. A. Goldschlager Gordon Radley Jane Marmor Katherine Welch Barbara Grasseschi and Tony Crabb Jeff and Karen Richardson Jeffrey and Elizabeth Minick Barbara and Chris Westover Marcia and Geoffrey Green Gary and Joyce Rifkind Terry and Jan Opdendyk Mr. and Mrs. Bruce White Mark and Renee Greenstein Rick and Anne Riley Dr. James Robinson and Mr. Bill Gregory* Mr. Orrin W. Robinson, III Ms. Kathy Kohrman Raymond and Gale L. Grinsell Gary Rubenstein and Nancy Matthews Matt and Yvonne Rogers Directors Naren and Vinita Gupta Ms. Dace Rutland Mr. Laurence L. Spitters Anonymous (3) James Haire and Timothy Cole Betty and Jack Schafer Patrick S. Thompson◆ Mr. Howard J. Adams Mr. and Mrs. Richard Halliday Kent and Nancy Clancy Kenneth and Sharon Wilson Martha and Michael Adler Bruce and Betty Alberts Vera and David Hartford Mr. and Mrs. John Shankel Lynn Altshuler and Stanley D. Herzstein Ms. Kendra Hartnett and Robert Santilli Mr. James Shay and Mr. Steven Correll Playwrights Sharon L. Anderson Lenore Heffernan Te Smith and Dennis Cress Anonymous (4) Ms. Kay Auciello* Mrs. Deirdre Henderson Mr. Richard Spaete Ray and Jackie Apple Jeanne and William Barulich Ms. Marcia Hooper Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Spears The Tournesol Project Mr. Michael Bassi and Ms. Christy Styer Bannus and Cecily Hudson Steven and Chris Spencer Paul Blake Donna L. Beres and Terry Dahl Rob Hulteng Vibeke Strand, MD and Jack Loftis, PhD Roger and Helen Bohl David and Rosalind Bloom Robert Humphrey & Diane Amend Richard and Michele Stratton Christopher and Debora Booth Mr. Mitchell Bolen and Robert and Riki Intner Mr. Jay Streets◆ Ed Brakeman Mr. John Christner Harold and Lyn Isbell Dawna Stroeh Richard DeNatale and Craig Latker Brenda and Roger Borovoy Franklin Jackson & Maloos Anvarian Mr. M. H. Suelzle William H. Donner Foundation Benjamin Bratt and Talisa Soto Anne Jamieson Susan Terris Anne and Gerald Down Susan Breyer Ms. Carolyn Jayne Ms. Patricia Tomlinson and Nancy and Jerry Falk Mrs. Libi Cape Phil and Edina Jennison Mr. Bennet Weintraub Sue and Ed Fish Steven and Karin Chase Stephanie and Owen Jensen Nancy Thompson and Andy Kerr Vicki and David Fleishhacker Teresa Clark and Martin Lay Ms. Pamela L. Kershner John R. Upton Jr. and Sameer Gandhi and Monica Lopez Mr. and Mrs. David Crane Ms. Nancy L. Kittle Janet Sassoon-Upton Bruce Golden Ms. Karen T. Crommie Mr. R. Samuel Klatchko Arnie and Gail Wagner Kaatri and Doug Grigg Joan T. Dea and Lionel F. Conacher Harold L. Wyman Foundation Mr. and Mrs. James Wagstaffe Kenneth Hitz Madeline and Myrkle Deaton Sue Kubly Joy and Ellis Wallenberg, Alan and Cricket Jones◆† Robert and Judith DeFranco Thomas and Barbara Lasinski Milton Meyer Foundation Paola and Richard Kulp Ingrid M. Deiwiks Harriet Lawrie Ms. Margaret Warton and Jennifer S. Lindsay Ms. Roberta Denning Mr. Michael Levy and Mr. Steve Benting Melanie and Peter Maier - Mrs. Julie D. Dickson Mr. Michael Golden Ms. Carol Watts John Brockway Huntington Art and JoAnne Dlott Ms. Helen S. Lewis Irv Weissman and Family Foundation Bonnie and Rick Dlott Ms. Gayla Lorthridge Ms. Beth Weissman Christine and Stan Mattison Ms. Kathleen Dumas Dr. Steven Lovejoy and Marie and Daniel Welch Mr. and Mrs. Roger Miles Robert Ellis Dr. Thane Kreiner Andrew and Billie Wiesenthal Tim Mott and Pegan Brooke Barb and Gary Erickson Richard N. Hill and Nancy Lundeen Mr. and Mrs. Roy B. Woolsey Mr. Daniel Murphy Charles and Susan Fadley John B. McCallister Mr. and Mrs. Roger Wu Paula and John Murphy Joseph Fanone Elisabeth and Daniel McKinnon John Riccitiello Mr. Alexander L. Fetter and Mr. Byron R. Meyer Susan Roos Ms. Lynn Bunim Ms. Nancy Michel Mr. and Mrs. Merrill E. Newman

Did you know? • Ticket sales cover 40% of the costs to bring bold theatrical productions of artistic excellence to the Bay Area. • A.C.T. is one of the largest providers of arts education in the region, reaching over 20,000 young people each year. • Many Bay Area students experience their first live performance through A.C.T.’s diverse community outreach efforts. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation when you renew your subscription or call 415.439.2353 to donate over the phone.

415.749.2228 31 We are privileged to recognize Friends of A.C.T. members’ generosity during the April 1, 2018 to April, 2019, period. Space limitations prevent us from listing all those who have generously supported the Annual Fund. For information about Friends of A.C.T. membership, please contact Hillary Bray at 415.439.2353 or [email protected].

†A Dickens of a Holiday event sponsor/lead supporter wLead Gala supporter * Leadership Circle Member  Spring Fling! supporters ** Deceased

Maris Meyerson◆ Marilyn and George Bray Ms. Diane Rudden Patrons Trudy and Gary Moore Ms. Angela Brunton Laura Jo Ruffin Anonymous (3) Thomas and Lydia Moran Jaime Caban and Rob Mitchell Ms. Monica Salusky and Mr. and Mrs. Harold P. Anderson Sharon and Jeffrey Morris Ms. Jean Cardoza Mr. John Sutherland Mr. Paul Anderson John and Betsy Munz Michael Charlson and Susan Austin* Elizabeth Salzer Ms. Patricia Wilde Anderson Jane and Bill Neilson Craig E. Claussen Louise Adler Sampson Mr. David N. Barnard Bill Newmeyer, in memory of Mr. Copley E. Crosby Mr. James J. Scillian Dr. Fowler A. Biggs Nancy Newmeyer James Cuthbertson Mr. Jim Sciuto Fred and Nancy Bjork Bruce Noble and Diane Elder Ms. Kathleen Damron Mr. Jon Shantz Mr. John Blankenship and Melodee and Lee Nobmann Ms. Kirsty Ellis Jacqueline Smith Ms. Linda Carter Ms. Susan O’Brien Marilynne Elverson Kristine Soorian and Bryce Ikeda Peter Blume Mrs. Margaret O’Drain Mrs. Samuel Engel Jeffrey Stern, M.D. Ben and Noel Bouck Shelly Osborne Mr. Albert M. Everitt Margaret Stewart and Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Butcher Janine Paver and Eric Brown Dr. Marcus Feldman and Severin Borenstein Denis Carrade and Jeanne Fadelli Caitlin A. Quinn and Peter C. Garenani Mrs. S. Shirley Feldman Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Strickberger Cecily Cassel & Larry Cassel Ms. Diane Raile Karen and Stuart Gansky Mr. John E. Sweeney and Todd Charles in memory of Mrs. Maria Elena Ratinoff Frederick and Leslie Gaylord Ms. Lana Basso Robert E. Scheid Ms. Danielle Rebischung David and Betty Gibson Ms. Kim Szelog Drs. James and Linda Clever Maryalice Reinmuller Kathleen Goldman Jane and Jay Taber* Rebecca Coleman Mr. and Mrs. John A. Reitan David B. Goldstein and Julia Vetromile Catherine Tait Mr. Edward Conger Albert and Roxanne Richards Fund Dr. and Mrs. Gabriel Gregoratos Marvin Tanigawa Jean and Mike Couch Barbara and Saul Rockman Mr. Harry Hamlin and Ms. Lisa Rinna Ian and Olga Thomson Credo Resturant Marguerite Romanello Ms. Margaret Handelman Pasha and Laney Thornton Mr. and Mrs. Ricky J. Curotto Deborah Romer and William Tucker Dr. James and Suzette Hessler Michael and Shirley Traynor Ira and Jerry Dearing Ms. Mary Ellen Rossi Ginger and Bill Hedden Leon Van Steen Peggy Dennis Michele and John Ruskin Ms. Rebecca Helme Mr. and Mrs. Ron Vitt William Dewey Ms. Karen Scussel and Mr. Curt Riffle Susana Hernandez Anita Watkins Ron Dickel Andrew and Marva Seidl Ms. Sandra Hess Mr. Richard West Maria Donat Ms. Ruth A. Short Adrienne Hirt and Jeffrey Rodman Mr. Robert Weston Ms. Winn Ellis and Mr. David Mahoney Dr. Elliot and Mrs. Kathy Shubin Judy Hoeschler Judie and Howard Wexler Susan English and Michael Kalkstein Ms. Patricia Sims Allan and Rebecca Jergesen Tim M. Whalen Leif and Sharon Erickson Mr. Earl G. Singer Mrs. Zeeva Kardos Mr. Laird Williamson Cary and Helen FitzGerald Mr. Mark Small Dan and Gloria Kearney Fund Mr. Steven Winkel M. Daniel and Carla Flamm Richard and Jerry Smallwood Dr. and Mrs. David Kessler Susan Wojcicki Elizabeth and Paul Fraley Candrah Smith Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Klotter Marilyn and Irvin Yalom Ms. Susan Free Ms. Valerie Sopher Mrs. Judith T. Leahy Alan and Susan Fritz Dr. Gary Stein and Jana Stein Julius Leiman-Carbia Lisa Fung† Joe Tally and Dan Strauss Barry and Ellen Levine Leadership Circle Donors Ms. Nonie Greene and Mr. Todd Werby◆ Robert Tufts Thomas Lange and Spencer Lockson Ms. Ann M. Griffiths Under $750 Steven and Jacqueline Tulsky Ms. Evelyn Lockton Bill and Nancy Grove Gail Block* Mr. Douglass J. Warner Harold and Diane Lunde Ms. Margaret J. Grover Ms. Denise Brosseau* Mr. David S. Wood and Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm MacNaughton Mr. Kim Harris and Bennet Marks Mr. Thomas R. Chambers* Ms. Kathleen Garrison Mr. and Mrs. William Manheim Kathy Hart* Ceil Cirillo* Jacqueline L. Young◆ Helen M. Marcus, in memory of Mr. John F. Heil Mr. and Mrs. Roger Hassett* Mr. and Mrs. Philip Zimbardo David Williamson Leni and Doug Herst Nelda Kilguss* Marsha Mason Greg Holland and Tracy Brown Ms. Sally Lopez* Robert McCleskey Richard and Cheryl Jacobs Sustainers Mr. Ronald Steininger* Carol McCutcheon-Aguilar and Jeffrey and Loretta Kaskey Anonymous (3) Richard Votava* † Luis Aguilar Michael Kim Susan Adamson and George Westfall Linda McPharlin and Nick Nichols George and Janet King Mr. and Mrs. James Michael Allen Sue and Ken Merrill◆ Harold and Leslie Kruth Robert Anderson Ms. Jane E. Miller Jennifer Langan Ms. Gwynn August Joseph C. Najpaver and Deana Logan Mrs. Gary Letson Donna and Dan Aykroyd Ms. Berna Neumiller Dr. Lois Levine Mundie Mr. William Barnard Jeanne Newman Julia Lobel Ms. Linda J. Barron Ms. Joanna Officier and Mr. Ralph Tiegel Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Logan Mr. Daniel R. Bedford Mr. Lester Olmstead-Rose Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Long Monique and Avner Ben-Dor Sandi and Mark Randall Jeff and Susanne Lyons Mr. Igor R. Blake Jillian C. Robinson Mr. and Mrs. Bruce A. Mann Mr. Noel Blos Karen and Bruce Rohde Karen and John McGuinn John Boland and James Carroll Mr. L. Kyle Rowley Dr. Margaret R. McLean Mr. Roland E. Brandel

For a full list of member benefits or to make a donation, visit act-sf.org/memberships or contact A.C.T.’s Development Department at 415.439.2353.

32 ACT-SF.ORG For more information about Prospero Society JO S. HURLEY, CHAIR membership, please contact A.C.T. gratefully acknowledges the Prospero Society members listed below, Tiffany Redmon, who have made an investment in the future of A.C.T. by providing for the theater in their estate plans. Deputy Director of

**Deceased Development Providing a Legacy for A.C.T. 415.439.2482 [email protected]. Gifts Designated to A.C.T. Marilee K. Gardner John G. McGehee Ms. Marla M. Walcott Anonymous (2) Michele Garside, PhD Dr. Margaret R. McLean Mrs. Katherine G. Wallin and Mr. Anthony Alfidi Dr. Allan P. Gold and Mr. Alan C. Ferrara Burt** and Deedee McMurtry Mr. Homer Wallin Judith and David Anderson Dr. A. Goldschlager Mary and Gene Metz Paul Weintraub and Raymond Szczesny Ms. Kay Auciello Ruth Goldstine and David Weber J. Sanford Miller Ms. Beth Weissman Nancy Axelrod Ms. Carol A. Goodman and Milton Mosk and Thomas Foutch Tim M. Whalen Ms. Mary Lou Baird Mr. Anthony Gane Pennie Needham Barry Williams and Lalita Tademy Mr. Eugene Barcone Ms. JeNeal Granieri and Alfred F. McDonnell Mr. Dante Noto Kay Yun and Andre Neumann-Loreck Teveia Rose Barnes and Alan Sankin Mr. Bill Gregory Shelly Osborne Robert H. Beadle James Haire and Timothy Cole Ms. Patricia Patton Gifts Received by A.C.T. Ms. Susan B. Beer Mr. and Mrs. Richard Halliday Elsa and Neil Pering The Estate of Barbara Beard David V. Beery** and Norman Abramson Ms. Terilyn Hanko Barbara Phillips The Estate of John Bissinger Leo and J. Michael Berry-Lawhorn Richard H. Harding Robert and Marcia Popper The Estate of Ronald Casassa Dr. Barbara L. Bessey Kent Harvey Kellie Raines The Estate of Rosemary Cozzo Mr. Arthur Bredenbeck and Betty Hoener Bert and Anne Raphael The Estate of Nancy Croley Mr. Michael Kilpatrick James C. Hormel and Mrs. Maria Elena Ratinoff The Estate of Leonie Darwin Linda K. Brewer Michael P. Nguyen-Hormel John and Karen Kopac Reis The Estate of Mary Jane Detwiler Ms. Agnes Chen Brown Dr. and Mrs. Richard W. Horrigan Toni Rembe and Arthur Rock The Estate of Olga Diora Martin and Geri Brownstein Jo S. Hurley Mary L. Renner The Estate of Mortimer Fleishhacker Gayle and Steve Brugler Alex Ingersoll and Martin Tannenbaum Ellen Richard The Estate of Mary Gamburg Christine Bunn and William Risseeuw Mr. Barry Johnson Jillian C. Robinson The Estate of Rudolf Glauser Mr. Bruce Carlton Ms. Robin Johnson and Ms. Dottie Lofstrom Susan Roos The Estate of Phillip E. Goddard Florence Cepeda and Earl Frick Carol and Paul Kameny Ms. Andrea Rouah The Estate of Mrs. Lester G. Hamilton Ms. Paula Champagne and Dr. and Mrs. Stewart Karlinsky Dr. David Rovno The Estate of Sue Hamister Mr. David Watson Nelda Kilguss Ms. Pamela Royse The Estate of Howard R. Hollinger Steven and Karin Chase Heather M. Kitchen Mr. and Mrs. Paul Sandberg The Estate of William S. Howe, Jr. Lesley Ann Clement and Karl Lukaszewicz Jonathan Kitchen and Nina Hatvany Brian Savard and Andrew Smith The Estate of Ines R. Lewandowitz Lloyd and Janet Cluff Catherine Kuss and Danilo Purlia Sonja Schmid The Estate of Thomas H. Maryanski Mr. James L. Coran and Stephanie Hencir Lamey and Patrick Lamey Mr. Harold E. Segelstad The Estate of Michael L. Mellor Mr. Walter A. Nelson-Rees Mr. Philip C. Lang Dr. F. Stanley Seifried The Estate of Bruce Tyson Mitchell Patricia Corrigan Mindy Lechman Ms. Ruth A. Short The Estate of Gail Oakley Jack and Susan Cortis Ms. Marcia Leonhardt Dr. Elliot and Mrs. Kathy Shubin The Estate of Dennis Edward Parker Ms. Joan Danforth Fred M. Levin and Nancy Livingston, Cherie Sorokin The Estate of Rose Penn Richard Davis-Lowell and Bill Lowell The Shenson Foundation Ruth and Alan L.** Stein The Estate of Shepard P. Pollack Mrs. Carl Degler Marcia and Jim Levy Bert and LeAnne Steinberg The Estate of Margaret Purvine Sharon Dickson Jennifer S. Lindsay Jasmine Stirling The Estate of Gerald B. Rosenstein Jerome L. and Thao N. Dodson Ms. Paulette Long Mr. John E. Sweeney and Ms. Lana Basso The Estate of Charles Sassoon Bill Draper Dr. Steven Lovejoy and Dr. Thane Kreiner Jane and Jay Taber The Estate of Olivia Thebus Drs. Peter and Ludmila Eggleton Mr. and Mrs. Jim Magill Marilyn E. Taghon The Estate of Ayn and Brian Thorne Linda Jo Fitz Melanie and Peter Maier, John Brockway Marvin Tanigawa The Estate of Sylvia Coe Tolk Frannie Fleishhacker Huntington Foundation Nancy Thompson and Andy Kerr The Estate of Elizabeth Wallace Kevin and Celeste Ford Mr. Jeffrey P. Malloy Mr. Dayton E. Torrence The Estate of Frances Webb Mr. and Mrs. Richard Fowler The Kenneth and Muriel Marks Living Trust Michael E. Tully The Estate of William R. Weir Alan and Susan Fritz Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Marron Herman Victor The Estate of William Zoller Mr. and Mrs. Russell Fudge John B. McCallister Ms. Nadine Walas

The following members of the A.C.T. community made gifts in memory and in honor of friends, Memorial & Tribute Gifts colleagues, and family members of $100 or more during the April 1, 2018 to April 1, 2019, period.

Susan Medak and Gregory S. Murphy In Honor of Jennifer Bielstein Ms. Agnes Chen Brown In Memory of Robert Elliott Brown Edythe Chan In Honor of Andy Donald Carol and Don Hardesty In Memory of Bart Cannon Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fischer In Honor of Marilee Gardner Maria Donat In Memory of Peter Donat Dr. Sandra L. Lillie In Honor of Dakota Lillie Mr. David J. Pasta In Memory of Gloria J. A. Guth Anne Jamieson In Honor of Nancy Livingston and Fred Levin Susan L. Kaplan In Memory of Richard M. Kaplan Bill Draper In Honor of Carey Perloff Richard and Victoria Larson In Memory of Dennis Powers Kristina Veaco In Honor of Carey Perloff Philip Huff In Memory of Mrs. Barbara Rosenblum Jacqueline L. Young In Honor of Carey Perloff and Linda Jo Fitz Wendy, David, Marisa, and Jared Robinow In Memory of Barbara Rosenblum Jaime Caban and Rob Mitchell In Honor of Mark Peters Rosenblum - Silverman - Sutton, SF Inc. In Memory of Mrs. Barbara Rosenblum The Kellners & The Bunises In Honor of David A. Riemer Barbara C. Ross In Memory of Barbara Rosenblum Peter Blume In Honor of Hannah Roth-Evans Susan Terris In Memory of Barbara Rosenblum and Alan Stein Joan W. Sadler Trust In Honor of the Joan Sadler Award Ms. Carol Tessler In Memory of Barbara Rosenblum Eric and Susan Nitzberg In Honor of Craig Slaight Alan P. Winston In Memory of Deborah Rush Mr. and Mrs. Sandy Dean In Honor of Adriana Vermut Richard Gibson and Paul Porcher In Memory of Robert Simpson Judy and Robert Aptekar In Memory of Alan Stein Ms. Jamie Ney In Memory of Ann Adams Sally-Ann and Ervin Epstein, Jr. In Memory of Alan Stein Anonymous In Memory of Ruth Asawa Dan and Gloria Kearney Fund In Memory of Alan Stein Michael Kim In Memory of Youngmee Baik Susan and John Weiss In Memory of Alan Stein Marilee K. Gardner In Memory of Winnie Biocini, Joey Chait, Ms. Joy Eaton In Memory of Todd Wees Joe Greenbach, and Roland Lampert Helen M. Marcus In Memory of David J. Williamson

415.749.2228 33 Corporate Membership Program

As the Bay Area’s leading theater, A.C.T. provides unique partnership opportunities to the business sector, including visibility before an affluent and influential audience, entrée to creative and dynamic spaces for client entertaining and business meetings, and exceptional artistic insiders’ experiences like backstage tours, meet-and-greets with artists, and so much more. Member companies support the artistic mission of A.C.T., including A.C.T.’s investment in helping to develop the next generation of the Bay Area’s creative and empathetic workforce through our vibrant artist training and education and community outreach programs serving over 20,000 young people each year. For more information, please contact Caitlin A. Quinn at [email protected] or 415.439.2436.

Business Leadership Council PRESENTING PRODUCING PARTNERS Nancy Livingston, Co-Chair PARTNERS ($15,000–$24,999) A.C.T. Chair Emerita ($25,000–$49,999) Theatre Forward OFFICIAL HOTEL PARTNER Jamie Martin, Co-Chair VP, Business Finance, PG&E

Lesley Clement, Clement & Associates Patrick Devlin, Freedom Financial EXECUTIVE PARTNERS DIRECTING PARTNERS Network ($50,000 +) ($10,000–$14,999) Jerome L. Dodson, Parnassus Investments Farella Braun & Martel Celeste Ford, Stellar Solutions JP Morgan Chase & Co. Kirke M. Hasson, Pillsbury Winthrop Perkins Coie LLP Shaw Pittman LLP Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Jascha Kaykas-Wolff,Mozilla Pittman LLP Janet V. Lustgarten, Kx Systems, Inc. Jeffrey Minick,Bank of America David Riemer, UC Berkeley Steven L. Swig, Presidio World College STAGE PARTNERS Patrick S. Thompson, Perkins Coie LLP ($5,000–$9,999) Jeffrey W. Ubben,ValueAct Capital Kay Yun, Health Evolution Partners RBC Wealth Management Schoenberg Family Law Group

Foundations and Government Agencies The following foundations and government agencies provide vital support for A.C.T. For more information, please contact Director of Grants and Foundation Relations Nicole Chalas at 415.439.2337 or [email protected].

$100,000 and above $50,000–$99,999 $25,000–$49,999 $10,000–$24,999 $5,000–$9,999 Department of Children, The Edgerton Foundation Anonymous California Arts Council Anonymous Youth & Their Families National Endowment for Walter and Elise Haas Fund Davis/Dauray Family Fund The Bill Graham Memorial Doris Duke Charitable the Arts The Kimball Foundation The Stanley S. Langendorf Foundation Foundation The Bernard Osher MAP Fund Foundation Edna M. Reichmuth The William Randolph Hearst Foundation The Harold & Mimi Laird Norton Family Educational Fund of Foundations Steinberg Charitable Trust Foundation The San Francisco The William and Flora The Virginia B. Toulmin The Kenneth Rainin Foundation Hewlett Foundation Foundation Foundation Jewels of Charity, Inc. Marin Community Foundation Koret Foundation San Francisco Arts San Francisco Grants Commission for the Arts The Sato Foundation The Shubert Foundation The Zellerbach Family Foundation

34 ACT-SF.ORG Theatre Forward Current Funders List as of May 2019

Theatre Forward advances the American theater and its communities by providing funding and other resources to the country’s leading nonprofit theatres. Theatre Forward and its theaters are most grateful to the following funders:

$50,000+ $15,000–$24,999 KLDiscovery Nancy Hancock Griffith* Libshap Realty Corporation Bank of America• American Express Evelyn Mack Truitt* Joyce & Gregory Hurst• Louise Moriarty & Pamela Farr & Buford Alexander• Bloomberg Philanthropies Maurer Family Foundation◆ Mary Kitchen & Jon Orszag* Patrick Stack* BNY Mellon The Estée Lauder Lisa Orberg◆ Anthony & Diane Lembke* Frank & Bonnie Orlowski* Citi• Companies Inc. Presidio Robin and Bob Paulson Robert A. Rosenbaum* The Schloss Family Foundation◆• Bruce R. & Tracey Ewing• Patti & Rusty Rueff Foundation• Charitable Fund Daryl & Steven James S. & Lynne P. Turley*• EY RBC Wealth Management Thomas C. Quick• Roth Foundation ◆ Wells Fargo◆ Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. Raja Sengupta Susan Sanderson* David & Amy Schwartz* Pfizer, Inc. S&P Global Donna & Jack Sennott* Stephanie Scott* Jonathan Maurer & $25,000–$49,999 Willkie Farr & Gallagher John Thomopoulos• Elliott Sernel & Larry Falconio* The Augustine Foundation◆ Gretchen Shugart• Isabelle Winkles• Ubiñas Family Charitable Trust George S. Smith, Jr.* Steven & Joy Bunson• Daniel A. Simkowitz & Terrence P. Yanni Ten Chimneys Foundation Cognizant Mari Nakachi• Michael A. Wall* Dorsey & Whitney LLP Southwest Airlines◆† $5,000–$9,999 AudienceView† Vicki & Carl Zeiger* Goldman, Sachs & Co. TD Charitable Foundation◆ $2,500–$4,999 Joe Baio & Anne Griffin* Sheri and Les Biller Foundation MetLife UBS DLR Christopher Campbell Morgan Stanley *National Society Membership $10,000–$14,999 Dramatists Play Service, Inc. Nicole Clay Irwin & Rosalyn Engleman Mary Beth Winslow & Bill Darby* †Includes in-kind support Aetna Alan & Jennifer Freedman*◆ Dewitt Stern Mitchell J. Auslander• ◆ Educating through Theatre Support John Gore Organization Christ Economos* DELL •Advancing Strong Theatre Support Floyd Green Lucy Fato & Matt Detmer* Paula A. Dominick Roe Green* Steven & Donna Gartner* Fischer Jordan LLC For a complete list of funders visit, Richard K. Greene• theatreforward.org.

Gifts in Kind A.C.T. thanks the following donors for their generous contributions of goods and services.

Hafner Vineyard ad sheet

ACORN Winery The Marker Hotel HAFNER VINEYARD CyberTools for Libraries Piedmont Piano Company Joe Tally and Dan Strauss Premium Port Wines, Inc. www.hafnervineyard.com Kryolan Professional Make-up

HAFNER VINEYARD www.hafnervineyard.com Corporations Matching Annual Fund Gifts As A.C.T. is both a cultural and an educational institution, many employers will match individual employee contributions to the theater. The following corporate matching gift programs honor their employees’ support of A.C.T., multiplying the impact of those contributions.

Acxiom Corporation BlackRock GE Foundation Macy’s, Inc. The Clorox Company Adobe Systems Inc. Charles Schwab Google Merrill Lynch & Co. Foundation Apple, Inc. Chevron Hewlett-Packard Foundation, Inc. The James Irvine Foundation Applied Materials Chubb & Son IBM International Foundation Northwestern Mutual The Morrison & Foerster AT&T Foundation Dell Direct Giving Campaign JPMorgan Chase Foundation Foundation Bank of America Dodge & Cox Johnson & Johnson Family Pacific Gas and Electric TPG Capital, L.P. Bank of America Foundation Ericsson, Inc. of Companies Arthur Rock Verizon Bank of New York Mellon Federated Department Stores Levi Strauss Foundation Salesforce Visa International Community Partnership The Gap Lockheed Martin Corporation State Farm Companies John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Foundation

415.749.2228 35 A.C.T. STAFF

PAM MACKINNON JENNIFER BIELSTEIN MELISSA SMITH Artistic Director Executive Director Conservatory Director

Artistic Director Emerita The Strand: Front of House M.F.A. Program Core Faculty Carey Perloff Sarah Jacquez, Head Sound David Whitman, House Manager and Volunteer Christine Adaire, Head of Voice Usher Coordinator Danyon Davis, Head of Movement Producing Director Emeritus ADMINISTRATION Megan Murray, Genevieve Pabon, Peter J. Kuo, Collaboration Building Tuesday Ray, House Managers James Haire Coralyn Bond, Executive Assistant and Joy Meads, Character and Text Board Liaison Oliver Sutton, Security Lisa Anne Porter, Head of Text and Dialects ARTISTIC Mads Leigh-Faire, Front Desk Associate Ramsey Abouremeleh, Monica Amitin, Jack Sharrar, PhD, Theater History Shannon Amitin, Forrest Choy, Bernadette Andy Chan Donald, Associate Artistic Director Melissa Smith, Head of Acting, Fons, Nailah Harper-Malveaux, Anthony Human Resources Conservatory Director Janet Foster, Director of Casting and Hernandez, Caleb Lewis, Svetlana Karasyova, Artistic Associate Amanda Williams, Human Resources Director Susan Monson, Haley Nielsen, Trever Joy Meads, Director of Dramaturgy Amanda Roccuzzo, Pearson, Scott Phillips, Pete Pickens, Miki M.F.A. Program Adjunct Faculty and New Works Human Resources Generalist Richmond, Travis Rowland, Tracey Sylvester, Milissa Carey, Singing, Director Allie Moss, Literary Manager and Cevie Toure, Robyn Williams, Bartenders Andy Chan Donald, Arts Leadership Artistic Associate General Management Julie Douglas, Improv Ken Savage, Associate Producer Louisa Balch, General Manager Susan Allen, Rodney Anderson, Branden Lauren English, The Actor’s Work Bowman, Serena Broussard, Danica Burt, Ariana Johnson, Kayla Minton Kaufman, Amy Dalba, Associate General Manager Daniel Feyer, Accompanist Jose Camello, Barbara Casey, Wendy Chang, Artistic Fellows Sabra Jaffe, Company Manager Niyjale Cummings, Kathy Dere, John Doll, Janet Foster, Audition Christina M. Sturken, Assistant Larry Emms, Doris Flamm, Claire Gerndt, Liz Anthony Fusco, Acting Associate Artists Company Manager Githuka, Carol Grace, Blue Kesler, Ryszard Jasmin Hoo, Citizen Artistry Marco Barricelli, Olympia Dukakis, Anthony Emma Penny, General/Company Koprowski, Sharon Lee, Sadie Li, David Fusco, Giles Havergal, Bill Irwin, Steven Mark Jackson, Performance Making Management Fellow Linger, Joe MacDonald, Maria Markoff, Val Anthony Jones, Andrew Polk, Tom Stoppard, Darryl Jones, Acting, Director Mason, Sam Mesinger, Edvida Moore, Kathy Gregory Wallace, Timberlake Wertenbaker W. D. Keith, On-Camera Acting Finance Napoleone, Mary O’Connell, Brandie Pilapil, Rob Fore, Chief Financial Officer Mark Saladino, Steve Salzman, Walter Philip Charles MacKenzie, On-Camera Acting Coaches Sharon Boyce, Accounting Manager Schoonmaker, Michael Sousa, Melissa Stern, Heidi Marshall, On-Camera Acting Christine Adaire, Lisa Anne Porter, May Chin, Matt Jones, Ryan Jones, Dale Whitmill, Lorraine Williams, June Yee, Seana McKenna, Acting Voice and Text Finance Associates Ushers Danielle O’Dea, Combat Danyon Davis, Movement Caymichael Patten, On-Camera Acting Dave Maier, Danielle O’Dea, Fights Information Technology The Strand Cafe Kari Prindl, Alexander Technique Daniel Feyer, Music Thomas Morgan, Director Rafael Monge, Cafe Manager Stacey Printz, Dance Joone Pajar, Network Administrator Kenneth Bronson, LaRina Hazel, Baristas Tiffany Redmon, Fundraising PRODUCTION Gabriel Romero, Latin Social Dance Martin Barron, Director of Production Operations EDUCATION & COMMUNITY Lindsay Saier, Stage Makeup Robert Hand, Production Manager Eric Brizee, Operations and Facilities Manager PROGRAMS Virginia Scott, Clowning Jack Horton, Production Manager Jeffrey Warren, Assistant Facilities Manager Susie Falk, Interim Director of Education & Elyse Shafarman, Alexander Technique Marlena Schwartz, Leopoldo Benavente, Matt Stewart-Cohn, Community Programs Lee Shawn, Singing Assistant Production Manager Facilities Crew Members Vincent Amelio, School & Community Programs Lisa Townsend, Director, Choreographer Chris Lundahl, Design and Production Associate Curtis Carr, Jr., Sol Maclan, Jesse Nightchase, Operations Manager Stephanie Wilborn, Citizen Artistry Michelle Symons, Security Stephanie Wilborn, Jaime Morales, Geary Cleaning Foreman Conservatory Production Manager Community Programs Manager Studio A.C.T. Jamal Alsaidi, Jeaneth Alvarado, Lidia Jarrett Holley, School Programs Associate Sean Key-Ketter, Mark Jackson, Program Director Conservatory Technical Director Godinez, Geary Cleaning Crew Elizabeth Halperin, Student Matinees Sophia Nguyen, Young Conservatory & Studio Conservatory Miranda Erin Campbell, Hannah Clague, ACTsmart A.C.T. Associate Production and Stage Management Coordinator Development Residencies Coordinator Liz Anderson, On-Camera Acting, Improv Caitlin A. Quinn, Director of Development Heidi Carlsen, Acting, Voice, Movement Stage Management Tiffany Redmon, Deputy Director of YOUNG CONSERVATORY Julie Douglas, Acting, Clown Elisa Guthertz, Head Stage Manager Development Jill MacLean, Craig Slaight Director of Dani Bae, Samantha Greene, Elisa Guthertz, Nicole Chalas, Director of Grants and the Young Conservatory Francie Epsen-Devlin, Musical Theater Christina Hogan, Leslie M. Radin, Foundation Relations Sophia Nguyen, Young Conservatory Paul Finocchiaro, Acting Cristine Anne Reynolds, Stage Managers Jody Price, Director of Special Events & Studio A.C.T. Associate Margo Hall, Acting Cheryle Honerlah, Maggie Manzano, Hillary Bray, Donor Relations and Rahel Zeleke, Young Conservatory Assistant W. D. Keith, Acting Chris Waters, Hannah Woodward, Membership Manager Andy Alabran, Acting, Voice Drew Khalouf, Speech, Shakespeare Assistant Stage Managers Renée Gholikely, Development Research and Cristina Anselmo, Acting, On-Camera Kari Prindl, Alexander Technique Amanda Marshall, Production Assistant Prospect Manager Enrico Banson, Musical Theater Mark Rafael, Acting Brianna Grabowski, Miranda Ramos, Stephanie Swide, Development Operations Denise Blase, Musical Theater Katie Rubin, Stand-Up Comedy, Acting Noah Usher, Stage Management Fellows Manager Kimberly Braun, Musical Theater Patrick Russell, Acting, Clown Emily Remsen, Special Events Associate Nancy Gold, Physical Character, Acting Naomi Sanchez, Musical Theater Prop Shop Taylor Steinbeck, Development Assistant Dan Griffith, Movement Michael Gene Sullivan, Playwriting Abo Greenwald, Supervisor Ashley Mareira, Development Fellow Michael Mohammed, Musical Theater Caitlyn Tella, Movement Costume Shop Marketing & Public Relations Andrew Mondello, Musical Theater Laura Wayth, Acting, Musical Theater Jessie Amoroso, Costume Director Joan Rosenberg, Director of Marketing and Thaddeus Pinkston, Accompanist Professional Development Callie Floor, Rentals Manager Communications Salim Razawi, Acting Liz Anderson, Fontana Butterfield, Mark Keely Weiman, Build Manager/Draper Syche Phillips, Associate Director of Marketing Corinna Rezzelle, Musical Theater Rafael, Katie Rubin, Patrick Russell, Simone Finney, Digital Content Manager Vivian Sam, Musical Theater, Dance Jef Valentine, Inventory Manager Radhika Rao Maria Montoya, Head Stitcher Simon Hodgson, Publications Manager Lauren Spencer, Acting Kelly Koehn, Accessories & Crafts Artisan Kevin Kopjak/Charles Zukow Associates, Trish Tillman, Acting Conservatory Accompanists Chanterelle Grover, First Hand Public Relations Counsel Valerie Weak, Acting Lynden James Bair, Daniel Feyer, Christopher Victoria Mortimer, Costume Administrator Matt Mullin, Senior Graphic Designer Krista Wigle, Musical Theater Hewitt, Louis Lagalante, Paul McCurdy, NJ Bice, Kinsey Thomas, Costume Fellows Dani Karonis, Graphic Designer Thaddeus Pinkston, Naomi Sanchez Beryl Baker, Digital Content Associate CONSERVATORY Wig Shop Elspeth Sweatman, Publications Associate Peter J. Kuo, Associate Conservatory Director Library Staff Lindsay Saier, Wig Master Samantha Wong, Conservatory Christopher Herold, Director of Summer Joseph Tally, Head Librarian Sara Leonard, Wigs Supervisor Marketing Associate Training Congress G. David Anderson, Theresa Bell, Laurie Lyre Alston, Wigs Fellow Miranda Ashland, Marketing Assistant Jack Sharrar, PhD, Director of Academic Affairs Bernstein, Helen Jean Bowie, Bruce Carlton, Barbara Cohrssen, William Goldstein, Pat Aaron Higareda, Marketing Fellow Jerry Lopez, Director of Financial Aid Annie Sears, Publications Fellow Hunter, Connie Ikert, Ashok Katdare, Martha STAGE STAFF Charlotte Brockman, Conservatory Manager Kessler, Nelda Kilguss, Barbara Kornstein, Audrey Walker, Graphic Design Fellow Koy Smith, Conservatory Associate, Patricia O’Connell, Maida Paxton, Connie The Geary: Academic Programs Pelkey, Christine Peterson, Dana Rees, Roger Miguel Ongpin, Head Carpenter Ticket Services Matt Jones, Bursar/Payroll Administrator Silver, Whitney Spaner, Jane Taber, Aileen Suzanna Bailey, Head Sound Ian Fullmer, Director of Ticket Services Thong, Susan Torres, Joyce Weisman, Jean Amy Domjan, Head Electrician Mark C. Peters, Subscriptions Manager Wilcox, Marie Wood, Library Volunteers Candace Drucelle Shankel, Head of Props David Engelmann, Head Treasurer Accreditation Colin Wade, Flyman Elizabeth Halperin, Leontyne Mbele-Mbong, Assistant Head Treasurers A.C.T. is accredited by the Accrediting Mary Montijo, Wardrobe Supervisor Anthony Miller, Group Sales Commission for Senior Colleges and Diane Cornelius, Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor Scott Tignor, Subscriptions Coordinator Universities of the Western Association of Loren Lewis, Joe Nelson, Stage Door Monitors Schools and Colleges (WASC), 985 Atlantic Andy Alabran, Liam Blaney, Richard Claar, Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, Peter Davey, Alex Mechanic, Treasurers 510.748.9001, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.

36 ACT-SF.ORG A.C.T. PROFILES

PAM MACKINNON (Artistic Director) Bruce Norris’s Clybourne Park (Obie Award for Excellence in is celebrating her inaugural season as Direction, Tony and Lucille Lortel nominations). After five A.C.T.’s fourth artistic director. She is a years as board chair of Clubbed Thumb, a downtown New Tony, Drama Desk, and Obie Award– York theater company dedicated to new American plays, she winning director, having directed sits on its advisory board. She is an artistic associate of the upwards of 70 productions around the Roundabout Theatre Company, a Usual Suspect of New York country, off-Broadway, and on Theatre Workshop, and an alumna of the Drama League, Broadway. Her Broadway credits Women’s Project, and Lincoln Center Theater’s Directors’ include Beau Willimon’s The Parisian Woman (with Uma Labs. She is also the executive board president of the Stage Thurman), Amelie: A New Musical, David Mamet’s China Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC). She grew up in Doll (with Al Pacino), Wendy Wasserstein’s The Heidi Toronto, Canada, and Buffalo, New York, acted through her Chronicles (with Elisabeth Moss), Edward Albee’s A Delicate teens, but majored in economics and political science at the Balance (with Glenn Close and John Lithgow), Edward University of Toronto and briefly pursued a PhD in political Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Tony Award, Drama science at UC San Diego, before returning to her true Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle nomination), and passion: theater.

JENNIFER BIELSTEIN (Executive Northlight Theatre, and Lincoln Park Zoo, and served on Director) joins A.C.T. with more than 25 the boards of the League of Chicago Theatres, the Arts years of theater management and Cultural Attractions Council, and other civic boards. experience. She serves on the board of She has received the Center for Nonprofit Excellence’s Theatre Forward and is president of Pyramid Award of Excellence in Leadership, and has been the League of Resident Theatres recognized in Louisville’s Business First’s 40 Under 40. (LORT)—an organization that In 2017, Bielstein was named by Twin Cities Business as represents 75 theaters nationwide— a Person to Know, and, in 2018, Minnesota Business having previously served as LORT’s vice president; chair of magazine named her as a Real Power 50 member. its Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee; secretary; Bielstein is a graduate of University of North Carolina at and on multiple union negotiating teams. Before relocating Chapel Hill, attended Stanford’s Graduate School of to the Bay Area, Bielstein was the managing director of the Business Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders in the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, managing director of Arts, and earned an MBA from Bellarmine University, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and executive director of where she received the MBA Faculty Merit Award and Writers Theatre in Chicago. She has also worked for was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the honor society Steppenwolf Theatre Company, About Face Theatre, for business programs.

MELISSA SMITH (Conservatory leadership of the Conservatory, Smith was the director of Director, Head of Acting) has served as the Program in Theater and Dance at Princeton University. Conservatory director and head of She has taught acting classes to students of all ages in acting in the Master of Fine Arts various colleges, high schools, and studios around the Program at A.C.T. since 1995. During continental United States, at the Mid-Pacific Institute in that time, she has overseen the Hawaii, New York University’s La Pietra campus in expansion of the M.F.A. Program from Florence, and the Teatro di Pisa in San Miniato, Italy. She is a two- to a three-year course of study featured in Acting Teachers of America: A Vital Tradition. and the further integration of the M.F.A. Program faculty Also a professional actor, she has performed regionally at and student body with A.C.T.’s artistic wing, while also the Hangar Theatre, A.C.T., the California Shakespeare teaching and directing in the M.F.A. Program, Summer Festival, and Berkeley Repertory Theatre; in New York at Training Congress, and Studio A.C.T. In 2013, she launched Primary Stages and Soho Rep.; and in England at the the San Francisco Semester, a semester-long intensive that Barbican Centre in London and Birmingham Repertory deepens students’ acting. In 2016, she was honored by Theatre. Smith holds a BA from Yale College and an MFA in Theatre Bay Area as one of 40 individuals who have acting from Yale School of Drama. changed the face of Bay Area theater. Prior to assuming

415.749.2228 37 F.Y. I .

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES REFRESHMENTS AFFILIATIONS Full bar service, sweets, and savory items are A.C.T.’s administrative and conservatory A.C.T. is a constituent of Theatre available one hour before the performance in offices are located at 30 Grant Avenue, San Communications Group, the national Fred’s Columbia Room on the lower level and Francisco, CA 94108, 415.834.3200. On the organization for the nonprofit professional the Sky Bar on the third level. You can avoid web: act-sf.org. theater. A.C.T. is a member of Theatre Bay the long lines at intermission by preordering Area, the Union Square Association, the San food and beverages in the lower- and third- Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and the level bars. Bar drinks are now permitted in BOX OFFICE INFORMATION San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau. the theater. A.C.T. BOX OFFICE Visit us at 405 Geary Street at Mason, next to CELL PHONES A.C.T. operates under an agreement the theater, one block west of Union Square; If you carry a pager, beeper, cell phone, or between the League of Resident Theatres or at 1127 Market Street at 7th Street, watch with an alarm, please make sure that and Actors’ Equity Association, the union of across from the UN Plaza. Walk-up hours it is set to the “off” position while you are professional actors and stage managers in are Tuesday–Sunday (noon–curtain) on in the theater. Text messaging during the the United States. performance days, and Monday–Friday performance is very disruptive and not allowed. (noon–6 p.m.) and Saturday–Sunday The Director is a member of the STAGE (noon–4 p.m.) on nonperformance days. PERFUMES DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS (For Strand Box Office walk-up hours, please The chemicals found in perfumes, colognes, SOCIETY, a national theatrical labor union. visit act-sf.org.) Phone hours are Tuesday– and scented aftershave lotions, even in Sunday (10 a.m.–curtain) on performance small amounts, can cause severe physical The scenic, costume, lighting, and sound days, and Monday–Friday (10 a.m.–6 p.m.) reactions in some individuals. As a courtesy to designers in LORT theaters are represented and Saturday–Sunday (10 a.m.–4 p.m.) on fellow patrons, please avoid the use of these by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of nonperformance days. Call 415.749.2228 and products when you attend the theater. the IATSE. use American Express, Visa, or MasterCard; or fax your ticket request with credit card EMERGENCY TELEPHONE The scenic shop, prop shop, and stage crew information to 415.749.2291. Tickets are also Leave your seat location with those who are represented by Local 16 of the IATSE. available 24 hours a day on our website at may need to reach you and have them call act-sf.org. All sales are final, and there are no 415.439.2317 in an emergency. A.C.T. is supported in part by an award from refunds. Only current ticket subscribers and the National Endowment for the Arts. LATECOMERS those who purchase ticket insurance enjoy Performances begin promptly, and late ticket exchange privileges. Packages are seating is at the house manager’s discretion. A.C.T. is supported in part by a grant from available by calling 415.749.2250. A.C.T. gift Latecomers may have to watch the Grants for the Arts. certificates can be purchased in any amount performance on a video monitor in the lobby online, by phone or fax, or in person. until intermission. Latecomers and those who SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION DISCOUNTS leave the theater during the performance may GEARY THEATER EXITS Full-time students, educators, and be seated in alternate seats (especially if they administrators save up to 50% off season were in the first few rows) and can take their subscriptions with valid ID. Visit act-sf.org/ assigned seats at intermission. educate for details. Seniors (65+) save $40 on LISTENING SYSTEMS 8 plays, $35 on 7 plays, $30 on 6 plays, $25 Headsets designed to provide clear, amplified on 5 plays, and $20 on 4 plays. ORCHESTRA sound anywhere in the auditorium are SINGLE TICKET DISCOUNTS available free of charge in the lobby before Beginning two hours before curtain, a limited performances. Please turn off your hearing aid number of discounted tickets are available to when using an A.C.T. headset, as it will react to seniors (65+), educators, administrators, and the sound system and make a disruptive noise. full-time students. For matinee performances, RESTROOMS all seats are just $20 for seniors (65+). Valid Gender diversity is welcome at A.C.T. We ID required—limit one ticket per ID. Not valid invite audiences to use the restroom that for Premiere Orchestra seating. All rush best fits your gender identity or expression. If tickets are subject to availability. preferred, a single-user restroom can be found GROUP DISCOUNTS on the 5th floor. Groups of 15 or more save up to 35%! Wheelchair Seating is located For more information, call Anthony Miller in Fred’s Columbia Room on the at 415.439.2424. lower lobby level, the Balcony MEZZANINE Lobby, and the Garret on the AT THE THEATER uppermost lobby level. A.C.T.’s Geary Theater is located at 415 Geary Street. The lobby opens one hour before A.C.T. is pleased to announce that an Automatic curtain. Bar service and refreshments are External Defibrillator (AED) is now available available one hour before curtain. The theater in the house management closet in the lobby opens 30 minutes before curtain. of The Geary.

ABOUT OUR PLAYS LOST AND FOUND Copies of Words on Plays, A.C.T.’s in-depth If you’ve misplaced an item while you’re performance guide, are on sale in the main still at the theater, please look for it at our lobby, at the theater bars, at the box office, merchandise stand in the lobby. Any items and online at act-sf.org/wordsonplays. found by ushers or other patrons will be taken there. If you’ve already left the theater, please call 415.439.2471 and we’ll be happy to check BALCONY our lost and found for you. Please be prepared with the date you attended the performance and your seat location.

38 ACT-SF.ORG PHOTOS BY MARK KITAOKA AND TRACY MARTIN AND TRACY MARK KITAOKA BY PHOTOS REAL THEATER CLASSES FOR REAL PEOPLE

Register today for our summer sessions! SESSION 1: Jun 10–Jul 12 SESSION 2: Jul 15–Aug 16 ACT-SF.ORG/STUDIO A.C.T.’s Young Conservatory presents

Are you certain what you wish is what you want?

Into the Woods Book by James Lapine Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Directed by Ken Savage

AUG 8–17 A.C.T.’s Strand Theater

FOR TICTS ISIT ACT-SF.ORG/CSOS