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Home , Alastair Sim, Alex North, A Christmas Carol (play), Bob Cratchit, Charles Dickens, Ebbie

SEGERSTROM STAGE / NOVEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 24, 2006

David Emmes Martin Benson PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR presents ’ A CAROL adapted by JERRY PATCH

Thomas Buderwitz Dwight Richard Odle Donna and Tom Ruzika SCENIC DESIGN COSTUME DESIGN LIGHTING DESIGN

Dennis McCarthy Drew Dalzell Dennis Castellano Linda Kostalik MUSIC ARRANGEMENT/COMPOSER SOUND DESIGN VOCAL DIRECTOR CHOREOGRAPHER

Hisa Takakuwa David Leavenworth Erin Nelson* ASSISTANT DIRECTOR PRODUCTION MANAGER STAGE MANAGER

DIRECTED BY JOHN-DAVID KELLER

Julianne and George Argyros HONORARY PRODUCERS

A • SOUTH COAST REPERTORY P1 CAST OF CHARACTERS (In order of appearance)

LENA, a vendor of second-hand goods ...... *Jennifer Chu JOE, a cider salesman and a receiver of stolen goods ...... *Art Koustik TOY LADY ...... *Ann Marie Lee PUPPETEER ...... Isaac Nippert UNDERTAKER ...... *Christian Barillas CHIMNEY SWEEP ...... *Timothy Landfield ELIZABETH SHELLEY ...... Courtney DeCosky THOMAS SHELLEY, a vendor of second-hand goods ...... Andy Garza OLIVER SHELLEY ...... Mason Acevedo, ▲Ryan Gates EBENEZER , a grasping covetous old man ...... *Hal Landon Jr. RICH WOMAN ...... *Jennifer Parsons GIRL ABOUT TOWN ...... Elizabeth Wilson, ▲Demie Santone TEEN GIRL ABOUT TOWN ...... Christi Muncey, ▲Courtney Kato CONSTABLE ...... Dillon Tucker , clerk to Scrooge ...... *Daniel Blinkoff FRED, nephew to Ebenezer ...... *Howard Shangraw SOLICITORS ...... *Richard Doyle, *Martha McFarland WREATH SELLER ...... Dillon Tucker ’S , a spectre of Ebenezer’s former partner in business ...... *Don Took THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PAST, a phantom showing things past ...... *Richard Doyle EBENEZER AS A BOY ...... Mason Acevedo, ▲Ryan Gates FAN, the sister of Ebenezer ...... Courtney DeCosky MRS. FEZZIWIG ...... *Martha McFarland MR. FEZZIWIG, a kind hearted, jovial old merchant ...... *John-David Keller JACOB MARLEY AS A YOUNG MAN ...... Dillon Tucker EBENEZER AS A YOUNG MAN ...... *Christian Barillas BELLE, an old sweetheart of Ebenezer ...... *Jennifer Chu THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT, a spirit of a kind, earthy and generous nature ...... *Timothy Landfield “TINY” TIM CRATCHIT ...... Omead Moini, ▲Christopher Rybus MRS. CRATCHIT ...... *Jennifer Parsons BELINDA CRATCHIT ...... Covi Brannan, ▲Hannah Sullivan PETER CRATCHIT ...... Matthew Pancoe, ▲Alex Paul MARTHA CRATCHIT ...... Sanaz Toossi, ▲Megan Lambert MR. TOPPER, a bachelor ...... Isaac Nippert PURSUED MAIDEN ...... *Jennifer Chu SALLY, the wife of Fred ...... *Ann Marie Lee THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS YET-TO-COME, an apparition showing the shadows of things which may yet happen ...... *Don Took WANT ...... Elizabeth Wilson, ▲Demie Santone IGNORANCE ...... Mason Acevedo, ▲Ryan Gates GENTLEMEN ON THE STREET ...... *Richard Doyle, *John-David Keller, *Howard Shangraw THE SCAVENGERS ...... *Martha McFarland, *Ann Marie Lee, *Jennifer Chu BOY ON THE STREET ...... Brendan Kreditor, ▲Phillip Jarrell POULTERER ...... Dillon Tucker

Please Note: Children’s roles are double cast. Actors with ▲ appear Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon. Others appear in balance of performances.

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

P2 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • SETTING

LENGTH Approximately two hours, including one 15-minute intermission

PRODUCTION STAFF Assistant Stage Manager ...... *Chrissy Church Casting Director ...... Joanne DeNaut Stage Management Intern ...... Kristin Calhoun Deck Crew ...... EJ Brown, Brian Coil, Jeff Ham, Robert Harrison Follow Spot Operators ...... Nina Evans, Courtney Sprague Child Wrangler ...... Lisa Ackerman Dresser ...... Stacey Nezda Costume Shop Assistants ...... Merilee Ford, Bich Vu Additional Costume Staff ...... Bronwen Burton, Catherine Esera, Stacey Nezda Mai Nguyen, Peggy Oquist

Cellular phones, beepers and watch alarms should be turned off or set to non-audible mode during the performance. Please refrain from unwrapping candy or making other noises that may disturb surrounding patrons.

The use of cameras and recorders in the theatre is prohibited. Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the theatre.

Media Partner Official Airline

A Christmas Carol •SOUTH COAST REPERTORY P3 HowBY JERRY PATCH We Keep Christmas his year’s revival of Charles Dickens’ A our ageless Fred: Howard Shangraw). And the children Christmas Carol is SCR’s 27th staging of change every year, but they almost always come from the play. With each renewal it has be- SCR’s Young Conservatory program, which supplies im- come more of a tradition both for this portant new generations to our ever-evolving family. theatre and for Orange County. And, as Cliff Faulkner’s original design has been augmented with any tradition, it changes and it stays and rejuvenated annually, but the essential spirit of it re- theT same. mains. Original costumer Dwight Richard Odle oversees Since we began, Hal Landon Jr. has played Ebenez- the redesigning or enhancement of the period clothing er Scrooge, and John-David Keller has been our director. each year. Tom and Donna Ruzika, who did the lighting SCR founding members Richard Doyle, Art Koustik, design for the first production, are doing the 27th. Our Martha McFarland and Don Took have reprised their senior technician, Jon Lagerquist, has done technical di- parts in virtually every season. rection since 1985. John Ellington, who played Bob Cratchit for nearly And though the sound design has changed, ele- 20 years, is now the Rev. Dr. John Ellington, pastor of ments of the first one, a glorious collection of music of Los Alamitos Congregational Church. David Whalen the season beautifully woven through the production by Stephen Shaffer, remain. A terrific sound designer who years ago died suddenly and young, Steve lingers in music and memory for those of us who knew him. While so many of the original contributors and elements have stayed, the show has advanced from our first 1980 production into a gen- uine treasure. The artists involved and their performances have grown as they built distinguished careers in the theatre. Each year they search for a better way,

replaced him for several seasons, returned east with his family and took the role of Bob at Hartford Stage Company. Daniel Blinkoff, a protean actor in recent SCR shows, is our current Cratchit. Noreen Hennessey, Marilyn Fox, and Devon Ray- mond all spent years in their turns as Mrs. Cratchit. This year Jennifer Parsons, a long-term member of SCR’s cre- ative family, returns for her third run in the role. The actors in the younger roles have changed more frequently because they outgrow them (save for

P4 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • A Christmas Carol Other Voices at Christmas There are several filmed ’s Christmas versions of A Christmas Carol (1988) Carol — have you seen The Muppet Christmas them all? Carol (1992), starring Scrooge (1935), starring Sir (1995), the first ver- sion to imagine Scrooge A Christmas Carol (1938), as a woman, starring starring A Christmas Carol (1954), a Ebenezer (1997), a Canadi- TV movie, starring an, western-themed a search enriched by years of craft and invention. adaptation, starring Jack It’s a great story we’re telling, one we don’t take Scrooge (1970), a musical Palance lightly. film adaptation, starring A Diva’s Christmas Carol We’ve been a family. We’ve added and sub- and Alec (2000), starring Vanessa tracted from our core — like any family — for 27 Guinness Williams years. We gather annually in November to do our A Christmas Carol (1971), A Sesame Street Christmas work — better than we’ve ever done it, we hope. an Oscar-winning short Carol (2006), featuring New folks are made kin by our veterans; the veter- film, with Alastair Sim Oscar the Grouch, of ans are invigorated by the newcomers. By Decem- A Christmas Carol (1984), a course, as Scrooge ber we’ve recreated our clan (and our show) anew. TV movie, starring But we’re not complete until joined by our George C. Scott Other Dickens Christmas greater family: our . There are a few A Christmas Carol (1999), a stories: people who have seen the show every year since TV movie, starring 1980. And second-and third-generation offspring A Christmas Carol was a of those first audiences have now taken up the tra- bestseller when it was - dition. SCR’s A Christmas Carol has endured here Not quite enough Ebenezer lished in 1843, and it creat- because it brings families together. We are remind- for you? What about these ed an insatiable demand in ed to celebrate the season and to consider together adaptations? the public for more Christ- ’s redemption, and how, to some mas stories. Dickens degree, each year it should be our own. Mister Magoo’s Christmas obliged by writing one Human mortality pervades A Christmas Carol. Carol (1962) Christmas a year The deaths of Marley and Fan, the , and the ’s Christmas for four years, they were: possible passing of Tiny Tim further darken the suf- Carol (1978) fering of the poor and the Cratchits’ lean Christmas. The Stingiest Man in Town These are the shadows to be dispelled by the light (1979), animated, with The Cricket on the Hearth of love and the season’s spirit in Dickens’ classic. the voices of Walter The value of love, life and family is height- Matthau and Tom The Haunted Man ened by the fact that they don’t last forever. It is Bosley the equation Scrooge comes to know, and one our An American Christmas If you are interested in family appreciates again each year. Carol (1979), starring reading any of these works or more on Charles Dick- Bugs Bunny’s Christmas ens, try these websites: Facing page, Ebenezer Scrooge (Hal Landon Jr.) sur- Carol (1979) rounded by (clockwise from left) The Spirit of Christ- Mickey’s Christmas Carol www.literature.org/Works/ mas Yet to Come, The Spirit of Christmas Past Charles-Dickens (Richard Doyle), Marley’s Ghost (Don Took) and the (1983), starring Scrooge Spirit of Christmas Present (Timothy Landfield). McDuck http://charlesdickenspage. Below, Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig (Art Koustik and (1988), starring com Martha McFarland. Above Scrooge (Landon) is visit- ed by his nephew Fred (Howard Shangraw).

A Christmas Carol •SOUTH COAST REPERTORY P5 A ’s Miser h! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled Ohis cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his , and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didn’t thaw it one degree at Christmas. External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. Foul weather didn’t know where to have him. The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. They often “came down” handsomely, and Scrooge never did. Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, “My dear Scrooge, how are you? When will you come to see me?” No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o’clock, no man or John-David Keller, Martha McFarland and Hal Landon Jr. woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge. Even the blind men’s dogs appeared to know him; and when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; and then would wag their tails as though they said, “No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!” But what did Scrooge care! It was the very thing he liked. To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance, was what the knowing ones call “nuts” to Scrooge. – Excerpt from A Christmas Carol

P6 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • A Christmas Carol The Ghost of London’s Past rime Minister Lord (1779-1848) became the heroes of Dickens’ stories. did not care for Charles Dickens (1812- Melbourne’s efforts were successful, at least to a 1870). By the mid 1800s, Dickens had point. At first the Queen turned a seemingly blind eye to achieved widespread fame with the publi- the rampant pollution, severe sanitation problems and in- cations of The Papers, Oliver surmountable poverty that plagued her urban subjects. Twist and The Life and Adventures of Tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and finally, the dreaded PNicholas Nickleby. Lord Melbourne advised cholera epidemic would ravage the streets of against reading the work the destitute and the opulent alike. Al- of Her Majesty’s famous subject, due to though Queen Victoria would contin- the fact that Dickens’ books were ue to have her sights set on trade full of “unpleasant subjects” such and commerce and Lord Mel- as prostitutes, pickpockets, mur- bourne would resign his duties derers and houses of ill repute. twice, the workers of London Dickens’ vivid London was a attempted to solve the great- place from which the good est issue of their day. To- Prime Minister wished to ward the end of the 1850’s shield his Queen. English engineers finally Imagine yourself in brought forth a water filter- London in Charles Dickens’ ing system that would end time. Nearly two million the cholera epidemic. Al- Londoners, rich and poor though the extreme indi- alike, spill into the gence of London’s common streets among the manure man would continue for left by literally thousands of years, even after Queen Vic- horse-drawn carriages. Smoke toria’s death, the age would be swarms out of chimney pots and remembered as a time of soot coats all that it falls upon. In progress. parts of the city, raw sewage pours The Victorian Age was in from the gutters into the Thames — many ways a time of profound sadness your main water supply. If you were a and deprivation for ordinary people. But common laborer, your average weekly wage it was also a time of discovery and expectation. was 3 shillings, 9 pence — that’s approximately four dol- It was a time that infuriated and inspired its people. lars. With a loaf of bread costing about 2 pence a day While royalty guarded trade agreements and sought to and rent for the year costing 25 pounds (about $47 USD), expand their empires, everyday Londoners were search- you are still extraordinarily poor, however, this was a ing for everyday chances and small kindnesses. That luckier existence than the very destitute who would re- was Charles Dickens’ London. ceive aid in the form of employment in a . Dickens made sure the voices of the unfortunate From this dank and vile reality came countless Ro- were heard in his work, along with huge doses of good mantic literary offerings, including Dickens’ A Christmas humor and myriad evocations of the joys of home and Carol. His account of mean old Ebenezer Scrooge hearth. He continues to do the same for us today. In all changing his ways became essential reading during of his stories, we remember that there are those less for- Christmas time in London, and indeed, throughout the tunate than ourselves. We remember that there are those world. Romanticism revolted against aristocratic, social, willing to change. Most importantly, we remember that and political norms, stressing in their place the awe ex- there is hope. After all, Dickens observed that “It is a perienced in nature. Dickens’ work denounced the mov- fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while ing forward of industry and lauded those unfortunate there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing souls who fell victims to it. Those ‘unpleasant subjects’ in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and that Prime Minister Melbourne was so quick to cover up good-humour.”

A Christmas Carol •SOUTH COAST REPERTORY P7 CHRISTIAN BARILLAS DANIEL BLINKOFF JENNIFER CHU Undertaker/Young Ebenezer Bob Cratchit Lena/Belle/Pursued Maiden/Scavenger

Artist

*CHRISTIAN BARILLAS (Undertaker/ ligent Design of Jenny Chow, Major credits include Rockabye, With Young Ebenezer) is making his SCR Barbara, The School for Wives, Nos- Honors, Crossing the Bridge, Dan- debut. Theatre credits include talgia and Pinocchio. Other Los delion, “Close to Home” (recur- Sonia Flew at Laguna Playhouse Angeles theatre credits include ring), “Charmed,” “NYPD Blue,” (West Coast premiere), Corner- Pera Palas at The Theatre @ “Law & Order” and “Missing Per- stone’s at Pasadena Court, A Distant Shore at the Kirk sons.” Mr. Blinkoff is a member of Playhouse, Center Theatre Group’s Douglas Theatre and Road at Yale The Antaeus Company in LA as A Very Old Man with Enormous Cabaret Blue. Regionally he has well as The Actors Center in New Wings at the Theatre, appeared in The Imaginary Invalid York. Mr. Blinkoff received his A Midsummer Night’s Dream and and A Kiss for Cinderella at The MFA from the Yale School of at Theatricum Botanicum Cleveland Play House, Are We Drama. and Vieux Carré at Ivy Substation. There Yet? and The Seagull at the Film credits include The Appoint- Williamstown Theatre Festival, *JENNIFER CHU (Lena/Belle/Pur- ment, Sabotage, La Cena and ’Til Stepping Out with Mr. Markham at sued Maiden/Scavenger) previously Parole Do Us Part. On television he The Ensemble Studio Theatre, The appeared at SCR in the NewSCRipts has appeared in “The Playbook” for Summer in Gossensass at Theatre reading of Happy Valley and the Spike TV. He attended the Univer- Row (directed by Maria Irene TYA production of The Stinky sity of North Carolina, and received Fornes), Dreams and The Cheese Man and Other Fairly his MFA from University of Califor- Last 60 of 99 at New York Stage Stupid Tales — adapted by SCR’s nia, Los Angeles. Actors’ Equity and Film, The Beaux Strategem and own John Glore. Other theatre in- member. at Yale Repertory cludes: Nuevo California - world Theatre, Leander Stillwell at Stage premiere (San Diego Repertory), *DANIEL BLINKOFF (Bob Cratchit) Left Theatre (Joseph Jefferson Cita- The Triumph of Isabella (Geffen is happy to be returning to SCR as tion) and Flesh and Blood at Chica- Playhouse), (Sierra Bob Cratchit for his 4th consecutive go’s Bailiwick Repertory Theatre Repertory), Medea (The Theatre @ year. He has previously appeared (Joseph Jefferson nomination-Best Boston Court), Gretty Good Time at SCR in Nothing Sacred, The Intel- Actor). His film and television (Falcon Theatre), Model Citizen

P8 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • A Christmas Carol RICHARD DOYLE JOHN-DAVID KELLER ART KOUSTIK Solicitor/Spirit/Gentleman Mr. Fezziwig/Gentleman Joe/Ensemble

(National Repertory Theatre), The The of Avon, On the Jump, 1973 working as both an actor and Merchant of Venice (LAWS @ the But Not for Me, BAFO, The Interro- director. Most recently he directed Ivy Substation), Conquest of the gation of Nathan Hale, She Stoops SCR’s Theatre for Young Audiences South Pole (Odyssey Theatre), A to Folly, Wit, Hospitality Suite and productions of The Adventures of Little Night Music (Edison Theatre - Highest Standard of Living. Other Pør Quinly, Pinocchio and The Em- St. Louis, MO). Film and television credits include Relatively Speaking, peror’s New Clothes and acted in includes Heartland (TNT), “E-Ring” Proof, Major Barbara, Much Ado Bach at Leipzig and The Wind in (NBC), “Six Feet Under” (HBO), about Nothing, A Delicate Balance, the Willows. He has directed A “The Late, Late Show with Craig Of Mice and Men, Ah, Wilderness! Christmas Carol for its entire 27- Kilborn” (CBS), The Astronaut and Intimate Exchanges, for which year history. He has directed SCR’s Farmer (Warner Bros.), The Termi- he earned a Los Angeles Drama Educational Touring Productions nal (Dreamworks), The Shift (LA Critics Circle Award nomination. for 32 years, and this year will di- Film Festival), Beyond the Ring He won an LADCC Award for his rect Bad Water Blues, which begins (Smartworks Prod.) and The Gene role in Sally Nemeth’s Holy Days touring in January 2007. Among Generation (Middlelink Inc). Origi- and was nominated for his role as his other SCR directing credits are nally from Boston, Ms. Chu re- Reverend Hale in The Crucible. Godspell, Jacques Brel is Alive and ceived her MFA in acting from “Cheers” fans will remember him as Well and Living in Paris, In Fash- UCLA and made her directorial Woody’s snooty father-in-law Wal- ion, The Real Inspector Hound debut at the NoHo play festival in ter Gaines. He has many other film (SCR’s first Equity show), Peg O’ My Los Angeles. She’s currently work- and television credits. As a voice- Heart and Tomfoolery, to name a ing on her first full-length play. actor, Mr. Doyle has become a fa- few. He has also acted in over 100 Wishing everyone a wonderful hol- miliar voice in commercial adver- plays at SCR. He has been the con- iday season! tisements, CD-Rom games, docu- cert host for the fifth grade concerts mentaries and animated series. He for the Orange County Philharmon- *RICHARD DOYLE (Solicitor/Spirit of can be heard on two series for the ic Society for 19 years. He has per- Christmas Past/Gentleman) is an Cartoon Network, “Ben Ten” and formed with the National Sympho- SCR Founding Artist. He appeared the soon to be seen “Wolverine.” ny Orchestra and the Sydney Phil- earlier this season as Nikolai in Visit the new Lincoln Library in harmonic. He was part of - Nothing Sacred; last season in The Springfield, IL and Mr. Doyle is dance Playwrights Festival for ten Adventures of Pør Quinly, A Christ- your holographic host in the Union years. He tries to stay busy. He is mas Carol, Born Yesterday and The Theatre. currently working towards a cure Caucasian Chalk Circle; and previ- for ennui. ously in Habeas Corpus, as Eddie *JOHN-DAVID KELLER (Mr. Fezzi- in A View from the Bridge, Intimate wig/Gentleman) is a member of *ART KOUSTIK (Joe/Ensemble) is an Exchanges, The Last Night of Bally- SCR’s resident acting company. He SCR Founding Artist who has ap- hoo and the world premieres of has been with the company since peared in scores of productions, in-

A Christmas Carol •SOUTH COAST REPERTORY P9 TIMOTHY LANDFIELD HAL LANDON JR. ANN MARIE LEE Spirit of Christmas Present Ebenezer Scrooge Toy Lady/Sally/Scavenger

cluding Much Ado about Nothing, and friends are. ‘God bless us, ev- of Dramatic Arts in Hollywood. The Hollow Lands, Of Mice and eryone.’” While in Africa filming Disney’s Men, Tartuffe and Ah, Wilderness! Cheetah, Mr. Landfield met his He also appeared in BAFO, Six De- *TIMOTHY LANDFIELD (Spirit of wife, actress Breon Gorman. They grees of Separation, She Stoops to Christmas Present) is delighted to have two angels, Miranda and Folly, The Taming of the Shrew, The return to SCR, where he was previ- Bianca. Misanthrope, A Streetcar Named ously seen in Bach at Leipzig, Desire, Loot, Lettice & Lovage, The Pinocchio, The Clean House, The *HAL LANDON JR. (Ebenezer Man Who Came to Dinner, The Norman Conquests: Round and Scrooge) is an SCR Founding Artist Miser, Shadowlands and Hospitality Round the Garden and Hay Fever. who recently appeared in Nothing Suite. His other appearances in- He recently appeared in A Midsum- Sacred, Man from Nebraska, Born clude Twelfth Night, A Midsummer mer Night’s Dream at the Holly- Yesterday, The Caucasian Chalk Night’s Dream, , The wood Bowl with the LA Philhar- Circle, A View from the Bridge, Crucible, Prelude to a Kiss, Glen- monic, The Miser at A Noise Within Habeas Corpus, Cyrano de Berger- garry Glen Ross, Galileo, The For- and in the Broadway revivals of ac, Safe in Hell, Antigone, The eigner, Rum and Coke, The Show- Company and The Sound of Music. Drawer Boy (LADCC Award nomi- Off, Saint Joan, Playboy of the Mr. Landfield appeared on Broad- nation), Two Gentlemen of Verona, Western World, Coming Attractions, way in Rumors, Arsenic and Old Major Barbara, Getting Frankie American Buffalo, The Elephant Lace, Wild Honey, The Crucifer of Married— and Afterwards and The Man, Time Was, The Time of Your Blood and Tartuffe. Off-Broadway, School for Wives. Other credits in- Life, Comedians, Rubbers, That he was in the original production clude Arcadia, Our Town, Sidney Championship Season, The Last of Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It Bechet Killed a Man, BAFO, Six De- Meeting of the Knights of the White All for You and The Actor’s Night- grees of Separation, An Ideal Hus- Magnolia and most annual produc- mare, as well as the musical Char- band, A Mess of Plays by Chris Du- tions of A Christmas Carol. Out- lotte Sweet. Mr. Landfield has rang, The Things You Don’t Know, side SCR, he has been in Anything played major roles in regional the- Faith Healer, Ghost in the Machine, Goes, Chapter Two, Guys and Dolls, atres across the country including Green Icebergs, Morning’s at Seven, Brigadoon, numerous commercials, Phileas Fogg in 80 Days at La Jolla Dancing at Lughnasa, The Miser, and film and television such as La Playhouse. Television and film Our Country’s Good and Waiting Bamba, “Valerie,” “Hill Street credits include “Bones,” “Six Feet for Godot. He created the role of Blues,” “Moonlighting,” “The Gold- Under,” “Without a Trace,” “Monk,” Ebenezer Scrooge in SCR’s A en Girls,” “Dallas” and “The Young “Frasier,” “Boston Public,” “CSI,” Christmas Carol, and has per- and the Restless.” “With my wife “Family Law,” “Law & Order” and formed it in all 26 annual produc- Peggy, I am at last a happy man. The Cooler with William H. Macy tions. He appeared in Leander As the years go by I am more and Alec Baldwin. He is on the Stillwell at the Mark Taper Forum aware how important faith, family faculty at The American Academy and in Henry V at The Old Globe

P10 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • A Christmas Carol MARTHA MCFARLAND JENNIFER PARSONS HOWARD SHANGRAW Mrs. Fezziwig/Solicitor Mrs. Cratchit Fred/Gentleman

in San Diego. Other resident the- Intent,” “ER,” “Providence,” “Titus,” teacher with the SCR Theatre Con- atre roles include Salieri in HBO’s Breast Men, “Any Day servatory’s Professional Intensive Amadeus, Malvolio in Twelfth Night Now,” “Picket Fences,” “Search and Program and has taught at UCI, and Gordon Miller in Room Service. Rescue,” “Coach,” “Holding the PCPA and guest lectured up and Among his film credits are Trespass, Baby,” “Brotherly Love,” “Doctor down the west coast. Ms. McFar- Pacific Heights, Almost an Angel, Doctor” and “L.A. Law” (recurring). land is also a popular voice-over Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure Radio Plays include Hollywood The- artist and published poet. and Playing by Heart. atre of the Ear and NPR’s Beyond 2000. Audio books narrator: *JENNIFER PARSONS (Mrs. *ANN MARIE LEE (Toy Lady/Sally/ Books-On-Tape, Blackstone, and Cratchit) returns for a third year in Scavenger) appeared previously at Lakeshore Learning. BA in Drama, A Christmas Carol. She most re- SCR in the Theatre for Young Audi- Catholic University, Washington, cently appeared at SCR in James ences production of Pinocchio. D.C.; Performance/Teaching Ful- and the Giant Peach. She also ap- She is a long time resident artist at bright in American Drama to peared in Bunnicula, Cyrano de LA’s classical theatre company, A Poland. Bergerac, Getting Frankie Mar- Noise Within, where some of her ried—and Afterwards, Our Town, representative roles have included *MARTHA McFARLAND (Mrs. Fezzi- She Stoops to Folly, The Importance Rosalind (As You Like It), Anne wig/Solicitor) is an SCR Founding of Being Earnest and Buried Child. (Man and Superman), Varya (The Artist and has appeared in over 80 Other stage credits include How I Cherry Orchard), Laura (The Glass SCR productions. Among her fa- Learned to Drive at San Diego Menagerie), Estella (Great Expecta- vorites are Much Ado about Noth- Repertory and Talley’s Folly at In- tions) and Arundel (Hay ing, Play Strindberg, Beyond Thera- ternational City Theatre in Long Fever). National tours include py, Top Girls and Side by Side by Beach. In New York she appeared Peter Pan and ...Patent Leather Sondheim. She was SCR’s casting on Broadway and Off-Broadway in Shoes, among others. Off Broad- director for 11 years and is the Quilters, Steel Magnolias, Smoke on way and regional credits include Southern California Casting Director the Mountain, Native Speech and Sondheim - A Celebration At with the Oregon Shakespeare Festi- Unchanging Love. Other regional Carnegie Hall, Hermia in A Mid- val in Ashland. Ms. McFarland is theatre credits span from the Mark summer Night’s Dream with the LA also a director, having staged Sly Taper Forum, Denver Center, Philharmonic at the Hollywood Fox and The Foreigner at Laguna Kennedy Center, Chicago’s Royal Bowl (Esa-Pekka Salonen, conduc- Playhouse, Top Girls at UCI, the George to The Abbey (Ireland). As tor), and the West Coast premiere world premiere of City with Circle a company member at Theatre 40 of And the Winner Is at Laguna X Company in Los Angeles, and she has performed leading roles in Playhouse. Film and television in- she recently directed Leave it to Holy Days, Heartbreak House, Little cludes “The Nine,” “Nip/Tuck,” “7th Jane, ’s first musical at Murders, A Midsummer Night’s Heaven,” “Law & Order: Criminal Idyllwild Arts Academy. She is a Dream, The Yiddish Trojan

A Christmas Carol •SOUTH COAST REPERTORY P11 The Dresser at Santa Barbara’s dent Artistic Director of The Old Garvin Theatre. His television ap- Globe in San Diego. pearances include “Frasier,” “Chick- en Soup for the ” and “Star *JOHN-DAVID KELLER (Director) Trek: Deep Space Nine.” He is See on page P9. currently Chair of Theatre at Idyll- wild Arts Academy in Idyllwild, THOMAS BUDERWITZ (Scenic De- California. sign) previously designed Bach at Leipzig, Proof, A Delicate Balance *DON TOOK (Marley/Spirit of and But Not for Me for SCR. He is Christmas Yet-to-Come) is a found- currently designing Pig Farm for ing member of South Coast Reper- SCR in January and The Pursuit of tory which he started over 40 years Happiness and The Ice Breaker both ago with college roommate Martin for the Laguna Playhouse in 2007. Benson, David Emmes and several Mr. Buderwitz’ design of Pera Palas other San Francisco State Drama (The Theatre @ Boston Court/The DON TOOK Department alumni. This intrepid Antaeus Company) won the 2006 Marley/Spirit of Christmas Yet-To-Come group started out with $50 and a LA Drama Critics Circle Award, Los set for Tartuffe that was carried Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation around in David Emmes’ station Award, LA Weekly Award and the Women, Chapter 2 and many oth- wagon. Over the last four decades, Backstage West Garland Award for ers. Among her most current tele- Mr. Took has performed over 100 best set design. Regional/LA de- vision appearances are guest star roles at SCR and has seen the the- signs include productions for roles on “Boston Legal,” “The OC,” atre become one of the top theatres Pasadena Playhouse, Geffen Play- “Judging Amy,” “JAG,” “The West in the United States and a vital cor- house, PCPA Theatrefest, Denver Wing,” “For the People,” “Philly” nerstone of the Orange County Center Theatre Company, Arizona (recurring), “NYPD Blue,” “The X- artistic community. He is proud to Theatre Company, San Diego Files” and “The Jersey” (recurring). be a part of this 27th edition of A Repertory, Portland Repertory, Act- Film credits include Dragonfly, Christmas Carol. Happy Holidays! ing Company of Riverside (FL), Ru- Never Been Kissed, BoxBoarders! bicon Theatre, The Theatre @ and Self Medicated. PLAYWRIGHT, DIRECTOR Boston Court, International City & DESIGNERS Theatre, West Coast Ensemble, The *HOWARD SHANGRAW (Fred/ Colony Theatre Company, A Noise Gentleman) returns to his role as JERRY PATCH (Adapter) was affiliat- Within, Falcon Theatre, Odyssey Fred in A Christmas Carol. He was ed with South Coast Repertory from Theatre, Ricardo Montalban The- seen in Mark Taper Forum’s pro- 1967-2005. He served as dramaturg ater, 24th Street Theatre, LA Phil- ductions of Arcadia and Romance on nearly 150 new plays seen and harmonic/Disney Concert Hall, Language, and Travels with My developed at SCR, including the Civic Light Opera of South Bay, Aunt at Laguna Playhouse. His world premieres of Abundance, Court Theatre, Coast Playhouse, In- SCR credits include roles in Side- Freedomland, Golden Child, Inti- terAct Theatre Company, Pacific ways Stories from Wayside School, mate Apparel, Search and Destroy Resident Theatre, Music Theatre of The Importance of Being Earnest, and Wit. His dramatic writing has Santa Barbara, McCoy-Rigby/La Mi- Loose Ends, Coming Attractions and been produced at SCR and other rada Theatre, Apollo Theater as young Ebenezer in A Christmas theatres, and on television. He was (Chicago), Queens Playhouse and Carol, a role he created in 1980. project director of SCR’s Pacific the Helen Hayes Center in New He also appeared in SCR’s A Mess Playwrights Festival from its incep- York. He received the 2005 L.A. of Plays by Chris Durang, Wild tion in 1998 through 2005, and for Drama Critics Circle Career Oats, The Contractor, The Time of seven years was Artistic Director of Achievement Award for Scenic De- Your Life, The Sorrows of Frederick, the theatre program of Sundance sign. Mr. Buderwitz’ television de- Comedians and The Last Meeting of Institute. He was Professor of The- signs include AMC’s “Sunday Morn- the Knights of the White Magnolia. atre and Film at Long Beach City ing Shootout”; National Geograph- Mr. Shangraw played C.A. Rolander College and taught at UCI, UCSD, ic’s “Fight Science”; “Mr. Show,” in Odyssey Theatre’s In the Matter CSULB and other institutions. He is “Def Comedy Jam,” “HBO Comedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Aubrey consulting dramaturg for the Hour” and “Sketch Pad” for HBO; Piper in Gem Theatre’s production Roundabout Theatre Company in “Battlebots” for Comedy Central; of The Show-Off and Norman in New York, and now serves as Resi- and specials and series for ABC,

P12 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • A Christmas Carol ENSEMBLE COURTNEY the same energy on stage and in logues, Marley’s Ghost, Frozen Dog, DeCOSKY front of the camera as I do when I Scenescapes and The Holiday (Elizabeth Shelley play music.” In the summer of 2006 Princess Show at Rogue Theatrics; /Fan) is making he completed SCR’s Professional In- Bus Stop at the Curtain Players; her SCR debut tensive Program and he is now Murder in Green Meadows at Wor- after having re- making his SCR debut. He has thington Theatre; and Marley’s cently completed been acting for only three years, Christmas with Jeff Goode Enter- SCR’s Professional however his heart and spirit as an tainment. His film credits include Intensive Program. Her theatre on-stage performer is quite sea- Ricky is Famous and The Kiss. credits include Oliver, The Miracle soned from his musical performance Worker and Green Gables at Colum- experience. His theatre credits in- DILLON TUCKER bus Children’s Theatre; Murder in clude Lone Star, View of the Dome, (Constable/ Green Meadows at Worthington The- Tragedy of Othello and Private Lives. Wreath atre; A Piece of My Heart at Ware- His film credits include Contrast, Seller/Young Jacob house Theatre; Marley’s Christmas Out of Sight and LAURA as well as Marley/Poulterer) with Jeff Goode and other short films and television is making his SCR Barefoot in the Park, Independence, commercials. debut after having Marley’s Ghost and The Holiday recently complet- Princess Show at Rogue Theatrics, in ISAAC NIPPERT ed SCR’s Professional Intensive Pro- which she is a founding member. (Puppeteer/Mr. gram. He graduated this last spring Her film credits include Ricky is Fa- Topper) made his from the American Academy of Dra- mous, The Atheist and The Kiss. SCR debut earlier matic Arts with the Charles Jehlinger this season in Award for Acting and is currently a ANDY GARZA Nothing Sacred member of their company. At (Thomas Shelley). after having re- AADA he performed in Dear After playing in cently completed Friends, Dinner with Friends, rock bands for fif- SCR’s Professional Intensive Pro- Chekov in Yalta, MacBeth and One teen years, Andy gram. He is one of three founding Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Other Garza decided to members of Rogue Theatrics, a the- shows include The Laramie Project pursue his life- atrical production company. The- and Tartuffe at Saddleback College long dream of be- atre credits include Barefoot in the and Troilus and Cressida at the Lon- coming a professional actor. “I feel Park, The Eight: Reindeer Mono- don Academy of Performing Arts.

Students in South Coast Repertory’s Young Conservatory CHRISTOPHER RYBUS, RYAN GATES, ALEX PAUL and DEMIE SAN- provide all the young characters in A Christmas Carol. TONE. Team two, above, clockwise from left are CHRISTI Two teams alternate performances. Beginning the MUNCEY, SANAZ TOOSSI, BRENDAN KREDITOR, ELIZABETH WIL- week are, above, clockwise from left, PHILLIP JARRELL, SON, OMEAD MOINI, MASON ACEVEDO, COVI BRANNAN and MEGAN LAMBERT, COURTNEY KATO, HANNAH SULLIVAN, MATTHEW PANCOE.

A CBS, NBC, PBS, MTV, ESPN, Fox, productions including Beyond the to every state in the nation and Disney, USA, UPN, VH1, PAX, A&E Fringe and Coming Attractions. overseas. Once based back in Los and Discovery. Ms. Ruzika has designed many pro- Angeles, he worked as musical di- ductions for SCR’s Young Conserva- rector on several television variety DWIGHT RICHARD ODLE (Costume tory Players and several produc- productions such as “The Barbara Design) has dressed SCR’s A Christ- tions on SCR’s Second Stage. She Mandrell Show.” He worked with mas Carol annually since 1980. has designed for Utah Shakespeare- Nelson Riddle and Marty Paich and Over 21 seasons at SCR, in both an Festival, Alabama Shakespeare then became an orchestrator for scenery and costumes, he designed Festival, Laguna Playhouse, Fuller- film composer Alex North and nearly 90 productions. In 11 sea- ton Civic Light Opera, Pasadena began composing for film and tele- sons as the Laguna Playhouse resi- Playhouse and Long Beach’s Inter- vision. Over the years he has writ- dent scenic and costume designer, national City Theatre. Her award- ten music for over 2,000 films, TV he earned over 100 other produc- winning work has also been seen movies and series episodes includ- tion credits staging two world, six in Bogota, Colombia and ing “V,” the long-running “Mac- American and a dozen West Coast Barcelona, Spain. Ms. Ruzkia is Gyver,” “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose,” premieres. Mr. Odle has designed Production Manager and lecturer “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” for San Jose Repertory Theatre, the for the Pomona College Depart- “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Geffen and Pasadena Playhouses, ment of Theatre & Dance and is on Trek: Voyager,” “Star Trek: Enter- Coronet and Colony Theatres, Bal- the Board of Directors for the Unit- prise,” “The Twilight Zone,” “Dy- let Pacifica, 12 productions for ed States Institute of Theatre Tech- nasty,” “The Love Boat,” “The Col- McCoy Rigby Entertainment and nology (USITT). In his 34 seasons bys,” “Hotel,” “Birdland” and seven musicals for the Fullerton with SCR, Mr. Ruzika has created “Houston Knights.” Mr. McCarthy Civic Light Opera. His 20-year as- award-winning lighting designs for has also written music for “Project sociation with the Orange County over 85 productions. His lighting Greenlight,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “Re- Performing Arts Center is as a pro- designs have been seen on Broad- lated” and the television movies ducer/designer/ lecturer. Currently way, in national tours, at major re- Daddy, Kaleidoscope, Care and he is designing the first live stage gional theatres, and for many na- Handling of Roses, V: The Final presentation of the blockbuster Dis- tional and international dance and Battle, Hidden in Silence, Armed ney Channel movie, High School opera companies. His entertain- and Innocent, Overkill, A Texas Musical, to open in January. Other ment lighting can be seen at theme Tragedy and Having Our Say. He design clients include Disney Re- parks in six different countries and has won two Emmy Awards for his sorts, Universal Studios, Princess his architectural lighting can be work on “Star Trek” and composed Cruises, two World’s Fairs, and seen in prestigious hotels, casinos, the music for the series’ first fea- theme parks in Seoul and restaurants, retail centers and per- ture, Generations. He is a 12-time Barcelona. A six-year resident de- forming arts centers across the na- winner of ASCAP’s Most Performed signer for ’s Sun- tion and in Europe and Asia. Mr. Composer Award. He is a South- dance Theatre in Utah, Mr. Odle Ruzika has received numerous ern California native, the father of served as art director for the late awards for his contributions to the three and proud grandfather of Pope John-Paul’s 1987 Mass in art and craft of lighting design. He eight beautiful grandchildren. Stadium. He holds an Yale is a member of the Drama faculty School of Drama MFA degree and in the graduate lighting design pro- DREW DALZELL (Sound Design) is has been a professor of design at gram at the University of California, happy to be back at SCR having Stanford University, Cal State Fuller- Irvine. previously designed A Christmas ton and UC Irvine. This spring, Mr. Carol, Bunnicula, The Hoboken Odle received a distinguished Cul- DENNIS McCARTHY (Musical Ar- Chicken Emergency, Intimate Ex- tural Legacy award from Arts Or- rangement/Composer) returns to changes and Sideways Stories from ange County, and he has been hon- SCR where he previously com- Wayside School. His recent design ored for a Lifetime Achievement in posed music for Dumb Show, Get- work includes The Laramie Project Scenic Design by the Los Angeles ting Frankie Married—and After- at Laguna Playhouse; Julia Drama Critics Circle. wards, The Beard of Avon, Much Sweeney’s Letting Go of God, Fen Ado about Nothing and Of Mice (Garland Award), The Mound DONNA & TOM RUZIKA (Lighting and Men. He has been writing Builders, The Cosmonaut’s Last Design) celebrate their 27th year of music for television for more than Message to a Woman He Once illuminating A Christmas Carol and 20 years. His career began as a Loved in the Former Soviet Union 34 years of marriage. They have conductor/arranger for Glen Camp- and As I Lay Dying (Ovation nomi- collaborated on a number of SCR bell, whose concert tours took him nation) at Open Fist; Songs for a

P14 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • A Christmas Carol New World (Ovation nomination) School of the Arts as choreographer and Tick, Tick...Boom at Rubicon for the Ensemble. JULIANNE AND GEORGE ARGY- Theatre and Side Show (Ovation Her career as dancer, choreogra- ROS (Honorary Producers). The nomination), Grand Hotel, The pher, and educator spanned 40 Argyros family loves SCR. In Laramie Project, Indoor/Outdoor, years. She continues to choreo- fact, their $5 million gift to The Fuddy Meers, Around the World in graph productions for professional Next Stage Campaign named the 80 Days and The with theatres such as SCR, Playwrights Julianne Argyros Stage. They The Colony Theatre Company. The Horizons, The Goodman Theatre, also love A Christmas Carol, as Lee Strasberg Theatre, Eclectic International City Theatre and oth- demonstrated by their underwrit- Company Theatre, The Sacred ers. “Professor K” has directed ing of this season’s production. Fools Theater, Evidence Room and Grammy nominee Bobby Rodriguez Julianne and George Argyros The Echo Theater Company are just in “A Latin Jazz Christmas Show” have been significant supporters a few of the many other theatres and is currently working on the of South Coast Repertory and where his designs have been heard. musical review The Tribute with major contributors to all of the His work has also been heard at Crissy Guerrero and Dave Foley. theatre’s expansion campaigns theme parks owned by Disney, She continues to work in videogra- since the early days on Newport Universal Studios and Paramount. phy and design. As always, it is a Boulevard. “I grew up aware of He won the 1998 USITT Clear Com pleasure to be back with the SCR the wonderful role theatre can Sound Achievement Award and family. Happy Holidays! play in a child’s life,” Julianne holds an MFA in Sound Design said. “I believe it’s important from CCM at the University of *HISA TAKAKUWA (Assistant Di- that we do not lose that sense of Cincinnati. rector) having appeared as an actor magic in our lives.” She and her in A Christmas Carol for 14 sea- husband keep that magic alive DENNIS CASTELLANO (Vocal Direc- sons, now takes on the new role of as Honorary Producers of A tor) has musically directed the past Assistant Director. Having com- Christmas Carol’s 27th annual SCR productions of A Christmas pleted her professional training as production. Carol, Happy End, Sunday in the an actor, Ms. Takakuwa appeared Park with George and A Chorus of at SCR in The Man Who Came to Repertory Theatre. A passionate Disapproval. He serves as the Dinner and 13 Educational Touring educator, Ms. Takakuwa is current- Head of the Music Theatre Program Productions including the original ly the Director of SCR’s Theatre at UCI and during the summer, he production of Bad Water Blues. Conservatory. She holds a BA from musically directs for the Sacramen- Other acting credits include 15 sea- Smith College and an MFA from the to Music Circus (Ragtime and sons as a resident artist with the California Institute of the Arts. Crazy For You, most recently) and classical repertory company A the Music Theatre of Wichita (Me & Noise Within, playing such roles as *ERIN NELSON (Stage Manager) is My Girl and A Chorus Line). Other Masha in The Seagull, Maria in delighted to be part of A Christmas credits include My Fair Lady, The Twelfth Night and Emily in Our Carol for her third year. Other Unsinkable Molly Brown, Guys and Town, and work at Indiana Reper- SCR credits include Bach at Leipzig, Dolls and Get Your Gun for tory Theatre, the Sundance Insti- The Studio, The Caucasian Chalk McCoy Rigby Entertainment; The tute’s Children’s Theatre and Play- Circle, A View from the Bridge and King and I and Thoroughly Modern wright’s Lab and the Grove Shake- Theatre for Young Audiences pro- Millie for Musical Theatre West and speare Festival. She is also an ac- ductions of The Stinky Cheese Man, Li’l Abner for the Musical Theatre tive director, having directed SCR’s The Adventures of Pør Quinly, Bun- Guild. His musical direction has Junior Players in Crow and Weasel nicula, The Little Prince, The Hobo- been cited by the Los Angeles and The Trials of Alice in Wonder- ken Chicken Emergency, The Wind Times; he has received nine land, the Teen Players in Scouting in the Willows, Sideways Stories Drama-Logue Awards and The Reality and the Summer Players in from Wayside School and The Em- Robby Award for Best Musical Di- East of the Sun and West of the peror’s New Clothes. Previous cred- rection. Moon. Other recent productions its include La Jolla Playhouse, The include Twelfth Night, Shooting Old Globe, Idaho Shakespeare Fes- LINDA KOSTALIK (Choreographer) Stars and Henry V at Actors Co-op tival, National Playwrights Confer- is a retired Professor from the The- in Hollywood. She also served as ence and Theatre IV. atre Arts and Dance Department at Assistant Director to Art Manke on Cal State Los Angeles and has SCR’s production of The Wind in *CHRISSY CHURCH (Assistant Stage worked extensively with the award- the Willows and to Libby Appel on Manager) is excited to be re-joining winning Los Angeles County High A Raisin in the Sun at the Indiana Scrooge and friends for her third

A Christmas Carol •SOUTH COAST REPERTORY P15 year as a member of the Christmas Importance of Being Earnest by the Western World, Arthur Miller’s Carol family. She would like to , Ayckbourn’s Woman The Crucible, Sally Nemeth’s Holy thank the wonderful crew, whose in Mind and You Never Can Tell by Days and Wit. He also directed the hard work makes this show possi- , which he film version of Holy Days using the ble. She would also like to take restaged for the Singapore Festival original SCR cast. Along with this opportunity to congratulate of Arts. He has served as a theatre Emmes, he accepted SCR’s 1988 crew member Rob Harrison, our panelist and onsite evaluator for Tony Award for Outstanding Resi- backstage anchor, who is celebrat- the National Endowment for the dent Professional Theatre and won ing his 10th anniversary with SCR’s Arts, on the Executive Committee the 1995 Theatre LA Ovation Award A Christmas Carol. Ms. Church’s of the League of Resident Theatres, for Lifetime Achievement. Mr. Ben- previous credits at SCR include the and as a panelist for the California son received his BA in Theatre world premieres of Mr. Mar- Arts Council. After attending Or- from San Francisco State University. malade, Getting Frankie Married— ange Coast College, he received his and Afterwards, Making It and Nos- BA and MA from San Francisco PAULA TOMEI (Managing Director) talgia, productions of The Real State University, and his PhD in is responsible for the overall ad- Thing, Hitchcock Blonde, A Christ- theatre and film from USC. ministration of South Coast Reper- mas Carol, Born Yesterday, Pinoc- tory and has been Managing Direc- chio, The Little Prince, Intimate Ex- MARTIN BENSON (Artistic Direc- tor since 1994. A member of the changes, La Posada Mágica, Anna tor), co-founder of SCR with his SCR staff since 1979, she has served in the Tropics and Proof and the Pa- colleague David Emmes, has direct- in a number of administrative ca- cific Playwrights Festival workshop ed nearly one third of the plays pacities including Subscriptions of Tough Titty. produced here. He has distin- Manager, Business Manager and guished himself in the staging of General Manager. She served on DAVID EMMES (Producing Artistic contemporary work, including the board of Theatre Communica- Director) is co-founder of SCR. He William Nicholson’s The Retreat tions Group (TCG), the service or- has received numerous awards for from Moscow, the world premiere ganization for theatre, from 1998- productions he has directed during of Horton Foote’s Getting Frankie 2006 and was its President for four his SCR career, including a Los An- Married—and Afterwards and the years. She has also served as Trea- geles Drama Critics Circle Award critically acclaimed California pre- surer of TCG, Vice President of the for the direction of George Bernard miere of Nicholson’s Shadow-lands. League of Resident Theatres Shaw’s The Philanderer. He direct- He has won accolades for his direc- (LORT) and has been a member of ed the world premieres of Amy tion of five major works by George the LORT Negotiating Committee Freed’s Safe in Hell, The Beard of Bernard Shaw, including the Los for industry-wide union agree- Avon and Freedomland, Thomas Angeles Drama Critics Circle ments. In addition, she represents Babe’s Great Day in the Morning, (LADCC) Award-winners Major SCR at national conferences of TCG Keith Reddin’s Rum and Coke and Barbara, Misalliance and Heart- and LORT; is a theatre panelist for But Not for Me and Neal Bell’s Cold break House. Among his numerous the National Endowment for the Sweat; the American premieres of world premieres is Margaret Arts and the California Arts Council Terry Johnson’s Unsuitable for Edson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Wit, (CAC), and site visitor for the CAC; Adults and Joe Penhall’s Dumb which he also directed at Seattle served on the Advisory Committee Show; the West Coast premieres of Repertory Theatre and the Alley for the Arts Administration Certifi- C.P. Taylor’s Good and Harry Kon- Theatre in Houston. He has direct- cate Program at the University of doleon’s Christmas on Mars; and ed American classics including Ah, California, Irvine; and has been a the Southland premiere of Top Girls Wilderness!, A Streetcar Named De- guest lecturer in the graduate (at SCR and the Westwood Play- sire, A Delicate Balance and A school of business at Stanford and house). Other productions include View from the Bridge. Mr. Benson the University of California, Irvine. the West Coast premieres of Three has received the LADCC Distin- She graduated from the University Viewings by , The guished Achievement in Directing of California, Irvine with a degree Secret Rapture by David Hare and awards an unparalleled seven times in Economics and pursued an addi- New by Richard Nelson; for the three Shaw productions, tional course of study in theatre and Arcadia by Tom Stoppard, The John Millington Synge’s Playboy of and dance.

The Actors and Stage Managers em- The Scenic, Costume, Lighting and The Director is a member of the So- ployed in this production are mem- Sound Designers in LORT theatres ciety of Stage Directors and Chore- bers of Actors’ Equity Association, the are represented by United Scenic ographers, Inc., an independent na- Union of Professional Actors and Artists Local USA-829, IATSE. tional labor union. Stage Managers in the United States.

P16 SOUTH COAST REPERTORY • A Christmas Carol