CAST OF CHARACTERS NEIL BLEDSOE...... PHILIP Paul Crewes Rachel Fine Artistic Director Managing Director AUGUSTUS PREW...... OLIVER JESSICA COLLINS...... SYLVIA MATTHEW WILKAS...... THE MAN / PETER / THE DOCTOR PRESENTS THE ACTION TAKES PLACE IN LONDON IN THE YEARS 1958 AND 2008.

BY Q & A with Wallis Artist-in-Residence

FEATURING Neal Bledsoe, Jessica Collins, Augustus Prew, Matthew Wilkas Q: LET’S TALK PROCESS. HOW play — the stage manager, dialect create a safe space where they can DO YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO coach, everyone — and discuss what’s reach their greatest potential. On the DIRECT A PARTICULAR PLAY? relatable and what’s foreign, and how other hand, I like the theater to be a A: Sometimes it’s something I’ve read the design might express that. We all dangerous space — because there’s and felt a connection, or had an idea SCENIC DESIGN COSTUME DESIGN LIGHTING DESIGN SOUND DESIGN have to be 100% clear about what’s the possibility that anything could about how to make it a clear visual or happening in the story. For , happen. I love being scared by actors. Michael Arden Danae Iris McQueen Travis Hagenbuch Joshua D. Reid aural experience for an audience. And I wanted the design to be quite simple, sometimes I’ve seen a production and so the actors and I can truly build Q: AND THEN WE GET TO TECH... wanted to look at it through a new the piece in the room, as opposed to A: Yes, and then we get to tech and lens. It varies from project to project. having set pieces pre-designed before I’m telling them where to stand rehearsals. With this play, I’m relying and to make sure they are in their ASSOCIATE SCENIC DESIGN PROPERTIES SUPERVISOR COSTUME SUPERVISOR Q: AND THE PRIDE? on the human element to carry us. light. [Laughs.] In the beginning, at Chris Soley Jeffrey Maloney Deborah Hartwell A: I first saw a production in London least, it has to come from them. a few years back directed by Jamie Q: WHICH BRINGS US TO CASTING... Lloyd. The material resonated with A: That’s the most important piece: Q: TO BORROW FROM PAUL VALERY, me as a gay man; I connected to finding actors who understand DO YOU BELIEVE PRODUCTIONS the experiences in the play on a the story and are able to convey ARE FINISHED OR ABANDONED? personal, emotional level. I felt it the emotional lives of the A: Definitely never finished. was a story that hadn’t been told Everything is a first draft. There’s CASTING DIRECTOR PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER characters without judgement. before and about an aspect of gay always more to question, define, Eric Souliere Nikki Hyde life that isn’t widely discussed. Q: WHAT’S YOUR challenge. The is a living, REHEARSAL PROCESS? breathing, ever-changing thing. Q: AND THE NEXT STEP? A: We start at a table, reading the A: With The Pride, I called friends play ad nauseam. We ask, “Why do we Q: FINALLY, ANY OPENING to come over to my living room. We say what we say? What’s happening NIGHT RITUALS? DIRECTED BY read the play a couple of times, in the air between the lines?” And A: I like to gather with my cast talking it through. I even read a from that I start adding props, small and crew onstage and ask them to Michael Arden role, playing different parts each pieces of furniture. The blocking take the play into their care, and time. I wanted to speak the words comes organically from the text. to continue questioning, exploring myself. I wasn’t thinking about and challenging themselves and JUNE 8 - JULY 9, 2017 the play physically, but about the Q: SO DEFINITELY AN ACTOR- the audiences. Then I have a stiff Lovelace Studio Theater emotional life of the characters. BASED APPROACH... cocktail and hope for the best. A: In theater, the actor has to carry Running time: 2 hours and 20 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission Q: AND THEN YOU ASSEMBLE the show each night for the audience. - William Nedved. YOUR DESIGN TEAM? My job is to build the playground, Interview has been edited and condensed. Artistic Directors: Robert LuPone and Bernard Telsey | Associate Artistic Director: William Cantler A: Yes, and they are as much and make sure the story is being Executive Director: Blake West directors as I am. We also read the told in a clear way. All I can do is The Pride is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P5 About the Artists About the Artists

NEAL BLEDSOE (Philip) is starring roles in “The Time of Your Life,” “Silent the in August 2011 to excellent TRAVIS HAGENBUCH (Lighting Designer) is an DEBORAH HARTWELL (Costume Supervisor) is Manager) is thrilled to be returning for her third an actor and writer. On stage, he Witness,” “MI-5,” “The Bill,” “The Village” and reviews. In June 2013 his fourth play, Bracken Moor, Emmy Award-winning Lighting Designer whose work a Seattle native and currently resides in West Hollywood. show at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the originated the role of The Count “Spooks,” and the television movie “Marigold.” On was produced by Shared Experience at the Tricycle spans the worlds of theatre, television and live She is the owner and founder of Pink Trunk Designs. Performing Arts having worked on The Revisionist in Stephen Wadsworth’s The the big screen, Prew made his debut in the hit Theatre in London, and was directed by Polly Teale. In events. Recent projects include the Academy Awards With over 20 years of experience she has reveled in and The City of Conversation. Some recent credits Figaro Plays at the McCarter movie About a Boy. His additional fi lm credits May 2016 Alexi’s newest play Sunset at the Villa Thalia (Co-Designer, ABC) and Merrily We Roll Along at The creating for many mediums which include theatre, include Debbie Allen's Freeze Frame and Good Grief Theater and worked with Jeremy include High-Rise, Kick-Ass 2, Copperhead, Charlie opened at the in a production Wallis. Travis has served as Co-Designer or Lighting various live stage productions, all forms of dance and (Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theater). She Irons, Joan Allen and Jack St. Cloud, The Secret of Moonacre, Animals, Hated, directed by Simon Godwin and starring Ben Miles and Director on many of the world’s leading live events, ballet, music videos and feature fi lms. She has also received a B.A in English and Drama from the O’Brien on Broadway in Impressionism. On the small The Kid and Sophie & Sheba. Augustus Prew began Elizabeth McGovern. Alexi’s plays have been produced including the Vancouver Olympics Opening and designed pieces for the Walt Disney Company, NBC, University of California, Irvine. Nidia is profoundly screen, some of his credits include The Man in the his career in entertainment when he nabbed a in many countries, including Australia, Germany, Closing Ceremonies, The Grammy Awards, "Peter Universal Studios and MTV. Personal favorites include happy that she can work and learn amongst all the High Castle, The Last Tycoon, The Mysteries of Laura, coveted spot with the prestigious YoungBlood Sweden, , Japan, South Korea and Belgium. Pan Live!," "Grease Live!," The Baku European work with Jason Robert Brown on artists she has come across. Smash, Ironside, Timeless, Code Black, Ugly Theatre Company in England, which counts British Alexi wrote the feature fi lm Woman in Gold directed by Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies, The 13! (ACT Theatre, Seattle) the world premiere of God Betty, and many more. On the big screen, he can be actors Carey Mulligan and Imogen Poots as its and starring and Ryan Academy Awards, The , The Kennedy Lives in Glass (Paul Robeson Theater, Keith THE WALLIS The mission of The Wallis is to be a seen in the studio fi lms Revolutionary Road and Sex alumni. Prew currently resides in Los Angeles. Reynolds, with BBC Films and Origin Pictures. It was Center Honors, three Democratic National Thompson, composer), SCI-Fest LA, Pacifi c Northwest vital cultural hub that uses unique arts events and and the City 2, and has won several awards for his the highest earning independent fi lm of 2015. Conventions, and two Super Bowl Halftime Shows. Ballet out-reach programs and Marilyn! The Musical. education programming to entertain, enlighten and work in the independent features Junction and West MATTHEW WILKAS (The Other stage designs include the inaugural season of Current fi lm projects include, 5th Passenger, Junkie, inspire children and adults in our community and End. He is also a sports journalist and his latest Man/Peter/The Doctor) is a New MICHAEL ARDEN (Director & Scenic Designer) At The San Francisco Symphony’s “Soundbox” series, Renegades, Tenant Noctus and Muse of Fire. For the across the nation. series, The Delicate Moron, which chronicles his York City-based actor and writer. The Wallis: Deaf West’s Spring Awakening (Ovation For The Record: Tarantino and John Hughes (Ad Astra past four seasons she has enjoyed working on attempt to play pro football for Gene Simmons and “New York is Dead,” the series Award) and Merrily We Roll Along. Elsewhere: Spring Live), The Brat Pack (Norwegian Cruise Line), Spring numerous productions at The Wallis. Paul Stanley’s Arena League football team, the LA he wrote and stars in will be Awakening (Outer Critics Circle Award, Tony Award Awakening (Deaf West 2014), and La Ronde (Forest Additional Staff KISS, can be seen now on Sports Illustrated’s MMQB. premiering this April at the Nom. Best Direction, Best Revival), (Bay of Arden). CCM grad. Travisld.com ERIC SOULIERE (Casting Director) is a proud He is a proud graduate of UNCSA’s school of drama. TriBeCa Film Festival. On Street Theater), LA Ronde (The Forest of Arden Theatre member of the Casting Society of America and ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Broadway he appeared in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Collective) and the upcoming Broadway revival of JOSHUA D. REID (Sound Design) is an American Teamsters Local 399. As an associate at Ulrich Nidia Kimberly Flores JESSICA COLLINS (Sylvia) Dark where he played the role of Flash Thompson opening this December at Circle designer based in . Broadway Associate Dawson Kritzer Casting from 2006-2014, he worked ASSISTANT DIRECTOR is a Juilliard trained actress who and then Peter Parker/Spider-man. He is also the in the Square. Michael has performed on and off Sound Design credit selections include Falsettos, on such TV shows as “Nip/Tuck” (FX) and “American Lara Hillier recently starred in King Lear star of the award-winning indie fi lm hit Gayby. Broadway in numerous productions and has American Psycho, Act One, The Snow Geese, I’ll Eat Horror Story” (FX). In 2014, he started his own opposite John Lithgow at The Matthew has acted at The Williamstown Theatre appeared in fi lm and on television. He is Artist-in- You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers, The Other Place, casting company with partner Sara Isaacson. They DIALECT COACH Public Theater in NYC. Festival, The Huntington Theatre Company, The Residence at The Wallis and is a Presidential Scholar House of Blue Leaves, and Rain: A Tribute to the have cast such TV shows as "The Mentalist" (CBS), Giles Cooper Previously, Jessica appeared in Berkshire Theatre Festival, The Rattlestick Playwrights in the Arts. Training: The Juilliard School of Drama. Beatles. Off-Broadway & Regional Sound Design "State of Affairs" (NBC), "Famous in Love" (Freeform), Bandstand, Passion, Soul Doctor, the Academy Award-nominated Theater and The Sundance Theatre Institute, under Michael is a proud gay man and is thrilled to bring credits include "The Arrangement" (E!), "Midnight " (NBC) and The actors and stage Zero Dark Thirty and was seen in a season-long arc on the direction of Michael Greif, Anna D. Shapiro, Will Alexi Kaye Campbell’s beautiful play to audiences in Dogfi ght, Carrie & over 110 additional regional & "Scream" (MTV). Eric is grateful to Coy, Laura and managers employed in this JJ Abrams’ NBC series “Revolution.” In 2010, Collins Frears, Carolyn Cantor, Mark Brokaw, Nicholas his hometown of Los Angeles. This production is international productions. ReidSoundDesign.com everyone at The Wallis for this opportunity. Thank production are members of starred in the AMC series “Rubicon” and ABC’s “The Martin and Trip Cullman. His television credits dedicated to the LGBTQ heroes, victims and allies of you to Bailey Koch for her assistance. Thank you to Actors’ Equity Association, Nine.” Other television credits include “House,” “Blue include guest appearances on “Looking,” “Ugly our past and to those of our future. Thank you for CHRIS SOLEY (Associate Scenic Designer) was Eric Dawson and Liz Dean for their mentorship; Mom the union of professional Bloods,” “Law and Order: LA,” “,” Betty,” “Hope and Faith,” “,” “As the helping us live more honest lives. It will be alright. born on the west coast and raised on the east coast. and Dad for their never-ending support. Biggest actors and stage managers in the . “CSI,” “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” and “Ghost World Turns” and “Law and Order.” He also Chris has worked all over the world, from Broadway thank you of all to Michael Arden for including him Whisperer.” Collins made her feature debut in the appeared in Chris Rock's fi lm Top Five. Look for him DANAE IRIS MCQUEEN (Costume Design) is a to China in a career spanning 20 years. “When this in this beautiful production. 2009 fi lm Loss of a Teardrop Diamond opposite Bryce staring alongside Laila Robbins in the soon to be costume designer and artisan based in Los Angeles. theatre thing gets you all tense and bent out of Dallas Howard and Ellen Burstyn. She made her released horror fi lm Island Zero. Previously at The Wallis, she was Costume Design shape, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and NIKKI HYDE (Production Stage Manager) is a Broadway debut in the 2009 production of Les Associate to on Merrily We Roll Along remember that we make pretend for a living. It’s theatre and opera stage manager. She returns to The The Designers at this Theatre Liaisons Dangereuses and starred in the world ALEXI KAYE CAMPBELL (Playwright) Alexi’s (dir. Michael Arden). Your Old Man (dir. Tim H), a supposed to be fun, and it beats the hell out of an Wallis this season after working on A Coffi n in Egypt are Represented by premiere of Manic Flight Reaction at Playwrights fi rst play The Pride premiered at the Royal Court short fi lm she designed, was screened at LA Shorts offi ce job.” Chris is also the Technical Director at the in 2014. Recent credits include The Tales of United Scenic Artists • Local USA 829 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Horizons, as well as We Live Here for Manhattan Theatre Upstairs in November 2008 for which he Fest, the Buffer Festival, and released on YouTube Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Hoffmann and The Abduction from the Seraglio (LA Theatre Club and A Month in the Country at the was awarded the Critic’s Circle Prize for Most (youtube.com/timh). Other recent costume designs Chris’ hobbies include getting things from the top Opera), Party People, Public Works' Williamstown Theatre Festival. Promising Playwright and the include world premieres of Deborah Stein’s Movers + shelf for people and also hiding things on the top and The Odyssey (Public Theater), Fidelio (Cincinnati for Best New Play. The production was also awarded Shakers (Stein|Holum Projects & UCSD), Johnna shelf from people. Opera), Madama Butterfl y ( Opera), Lost AUGUSTUS PREW (Oliver) the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Adams' Gidion’s Knot, Kyle Bradstreet’s From Prague Girls (MCC), California: The Tempest (Cornerstone is currently appearing in a an affi liate theatre. The Pride then transferred to (Contemporary American Theater Festival), and Jonah JEFFREY MALONEY (Properties Supervisor) is Theater Company), Alice in Wonderland (Los Angeles recurring role in the limited America and was produced at MCC Theatre in New Bokaer’s Eclipse (BAM) and Occupant (Fabric very excited to be back at The Wallis to work on this Philharmonic) and Salome (Opera San Antonio). She event series “Prison Break.” He York in January 2010 directed by Joe Mantello. In Workshop and Museum). She had the immense production. He was previously the Prop Supervisor has also worked for Pasadena Playhouse, Center also recently starred as the title June 2011 a revival of The Pride was produced at pleasure of assisting costume designer Ann Closs- on Merrily We Roll Along at The Wallis, and worked Theatre Group, Houston Grand Opera, New York character in Jason Katims’ CBS the Crucible Theatre in Sheffi eld, directed by Richard Farley on the world premiere musical Up Here on Enter Laughing the Musical, Into the Woods, Brief Musical Theatre Festival, Merola Opera Program, series medical drama “Pure Wilson. In Autumn 2013 another revival of The (Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, dir. Alex Encounter and Parfumerie. Locally he was the Prop New Dramatists, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Genius.” Prew gained attention from American Pride, directed by Jamie Lloyd, enjoyed a successful Timbers) at the . Danae proudly Master at the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles and Opera Grand television audiences when he starred as Prince run in the West End of London before embarking on received her MFA in Costume Design from the for two years, and has freelanced around LA as well, Rapids. She is a graduate of the University of Alfonso in the Showtime series “The Borgias.” His a national tour. His second play, Apologia opened at University of California, San Diego. including at The Broad, The Geffen and the LA Opera. Southern California and an ensemble member of additional U.S. television credits include guest the in the summer of 2009, directed danaeirismcqueen.com For two summers he worked in the prop department Cornerstone Theater Company. starring roles in the series “NCIS,” “Major Crimes” by . Apologia was short- listed for The at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Currently he is and the mini-series “Klondike.” Prew’s fi rst television John Whiting Award and nominated for Best Play at a Window Display Designer at Disneyland Resort. NIDIA KIMBERLY FLORES (Assistant Stage role was in the British series “24Seven.” His the Writers Guild Awards 2009. Alexi’s third play The Much love to my Alma Mater, Penn State! additional British television credits include guest- Faith Machine directed by Jamie Lloyd, premiered at

P6 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P7