The View Upstairs Is Supported in Part by a Grant from the Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation

and Bruce W. Zisterer in association with Christine Boylan & Eric Heisserer, LaToya Morgan, and Jack Morrissey present

The Viewby Max VernonUpStairs with (in alphabetical order) Jake Anthony, Darren Bluestone*, Benai Boyd*, Matthew Hancock*, Pip Lilly, Rehyan Rivera, Joey Ruggiero, Chala Savino*, Pat Towne*, and Travis York* Scenic Designer Lighting Designer Costume Designer Alex Calle Martha Carter Michael Mullen Props Designer Sound Designer Wig Designer Michael O’Hara Eric Snodgrass Byron Batista Fight Director Casting Director Matt Orduña Jami Rudofsky Graphic Designer Lizzy Ross/Lizzy Ross Graphic Design & Christopher Maikish Marketing/PR Production Stage Manager David Elzer/DEMAND PR Rebecca Schoenberg Associate Producers Mark Giberson, David Tran, Tommy Vergason and Alan Wethern Producers Andrew Carlberg and Jay Marcus Music Director Jake Anthony Choreographer and Assistant Director Cate Caplin Director Michael A. Shepperd *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. This production is presented under the auspices of the Actors’ Equity Los Angeles Membership Company Rule. The View UpStairs is supported in part by a grant from the Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation

The View UpStairs is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. Originally developed and produced for the stage by Invisible Wall Productions, Inc. The View UpStairs was developed in part at Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. Developed and originally produced in Chicago by Pride Films and Plays, David Zak, Executive Director 2 A MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MICHAEL C. KRICFALUSI

Thank you all for The largest responsibility I have coming to see this though has to be fiscal. Monies for the performance of The arts is at an incredible low right now View UpStairs. We are and California falls at the bottom of all so excited to have this states in what it gives to the arts. The show to open our 35th bulk of what does get given out goes season. After a suc- to the larger theatres, museums and cessful run Off-Broadway, this West other cultural organizations so there’s Coast premiere is a privilege for us to not much left of what wasn’t much present to you. This show represents a to begin with for theatres of Celebra- historical moment in time yet events tion’s size. This is why I reach out to like this still happen today. Consider all of you to encourage you to donate for a moment what happened recently today, tomorrow and to consider at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. planned giving for the future. Ticket Given what’s going on today with so sales are never enough to cover all many feeling it’s ok to go after certain our costs. Some of you may like to groups, we must remain aware and help “produce” a show we do and see vigilant to stop people from attacking your name on our marketing materi- not only us but the other groups in als, press releases, etc. for an individ- the same world. This show aside, we ual production. Some of you may only hope you come to see all our produc- be able to support us by purchasing tions, readings and other events we that ticket. Whatever it is you can do, put on. These are as much labors of please know that all of us at Celebra- love on our part as they are entertain- tion applaud you and thank you for ing, informative or even educating to being part of our family. you our audience. One of our major goals here at Cel- My major responsibilities here at ebration is to make sure our patrons, Celebration include overseeing our actors, designers, crew etc. are treated incredible creative/management with respect and given an enjoyable team of Michael Matthews, Michael place to create and watch what goes A. Shepperd, Michael O’Hara, and up at our theatre. For you our patrons the talented and devoted managers that begins with your visit to our web- and company members that report to site, purchasing a ticket, walking both them. Another is to be a representa- into and out of our theatre. tive for Celebration in our theatrical community, our audience community If this is your first or fiftieth time here, and our corporate/public grantors/sup- welcome and we hope you enjoy the porters. I also look forward to what we show. If you have any questions or want to do as a theatre company and want to know how you can support how outside organizations or people us further, my email address is kric@ can impact us. celebrationtheatre.com and I look forward to hearing from you.

3 CAST (Alphabetical) JAKE ANTHONY Buddy DARREN BLUESTONE* Patrick BENAI BOYD* Henri MATTHEW HANCOCK* Wes PIP LILLY Willie REHYAN RIVERA Freddy JOEY RUGGIERO Dale CHALA SAVINO* Inez PAT TOWNE* Richard TRAVIS YORK* Cop SWINGS LYLE COLBY MACKSTON*, PARNELL DAMONE MARCANO*, BRITTNEY S. WHEELER* *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. BAND JAKE ANTHONY Piano/Music Director JOHANNA CHASE Bass NICOLE MARCUS Drums MAX WAGNER Guitars SONG LIST Some Kind of Paradise Buddy and Cast #householdname Wes Lost or Found? Buddy, WIllie, Freddy, and Henri What I Did Today Patrick Are You Listening, God? Cast World Outside These Walls Henri and Cast Completely Overdone Inez and Freddy The Future is Great!!! Wes Waltz (Endless Night) Patrick Sex on Legs Freddy and Cast Better Than Silence Dale Most Important Thing Inez Crazy Notion Wes and Patrick Theme Song Willie and Cast The View UpStairs Wes PRODUCTION INFO PLACE - The UpStairs Lounge, a gay bar in New Orleans, LA TIME - Present Day and 1973

The production runs 90 minutes with no intermission.

4 PRODUCTION TEAM MAX VERNON Writer MICHAEL A. SHEPPERD Director CATE CAPLIN Choreographer and Assistant Director JAKE ANTHONY Music Director MATT ORDUÑA Fight Director REBECCA SCHOENBERG Production Stage Manager JILLIAN MAYO Assistant Stage Manager ALEX CALLE Scenic Designer MARTHA CARTER Lighting Designer MICHAEL MULLEN Costume Designer ERIC SNOGRASS Sound Designer MICHAEL O’HARA Properties Designer/Managing Director/Executive Producer BYRON BATISTA Wig Designer REI YAMAMOTO Assistant Scenic Designer BRUCE W. ZISTERER Executive Producer CHRISTINE BOYLAN & ERIC HEISSERER Executive Producer LATOYA MORGAN Executive Producer JACK MORRISSEY Executive Producer MICHAEL C. KRICFALUSI Executive Director/Executive Producer MICHAEL MATTHEWS Co-Artistic Director/Executive Producer ANDREW CARLBERG Producer JAY MARCUS Producer/Producing Director MARK GIBERSON Associate Producer DAVID TRAN Associate Producer TOMMY VERGASON Associate Producer ALAN WETHERN Associate Producer JAMI RUDOFSKY Casting Director BRITTNEY S. WHEELER Casting Associate DAVID ELZER/DEMAND PR Marketing/PR/Publicist LIZZY ROSS/LIZZY ROSS GRAPHIC DESIGN Graphic Designer CHRISTOPHER MAIKISH Graphic Designer MATTHEW BRIAN DENMAN Production Photographer DARREN BLUESTONE* Dance Captain REYHAN RIVERA Dance Captain CHALA SAVINO Fight Captain

The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production or distributing recordings on any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited.

CELEBRATION SOCIAL MEDIA

Share your Celebration experience on social media with #ViewLA. 5 A NOTE FROM DIRECTOR MICHAEL A. SHEPPERD Sometimes looking at our history can be not so pleasant, especially when it still so closely resembles the world we live in today.

1973. A man purposely starts a fire in a queer nightclub in New Orleans killing 33 people.

2016. A man purposely starts shooting in a queer nightclub in Orlando killing 49 people .

In choosing The View UpStairs as the opener of our “Be Who You Are, No Matter What - a season of living out loud” at Celebration, we are taking a stand. We are saying that we will continue to look at our history for inspiration and use it as a guide to create change, but we will not let society repeat it.

We hope to continue to entertain, inspire, and empower with innovative productions that celebrate the LGBTQ community.

We are your community theatre.

SPECIAL THANKS Celebration would like to thank the following for their contributions to the production: Our Subscribers, Membership Holders and patrons; Our Company Members; Our Board of Directors; Jon Imparato, Patricia, Cody and Mike at the LGBT Center; Jason Weiss; Theatre of Arts; Jay Donohue and Joy Rinaldi; Aaron Lyons; Andrew McGarity; Archer Altstaetter; Micky’s West Hollywood; Denise Grayson; Mary Reitz; Don Wise; Adam Eramian; East/West Players; Matt Richter; Joshua Finkel

6 A NOTE FROM THE LAVENDER EFFECT® The View UpStairs provides a Stairs lessons are both universal and glimpse into the diverse person- timeless. alities that patronized the UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans. The audi- The 40-year time gap between Wes ence is transported back to 1973 and the locals is amplified when with the main character Wes, a a cop enters the bar and begins 20-something fashion designer who to harass its patrons. This was a purchased the historic building. A common scene in bars across the colorful cast of characters from the country in the 1970s. Do patrons past enrich his understanding of life, keep their heads down to survive or love, and community. rise in rebellion? These are the same questions we are asking ourselves The 1970s was a decade when any in 2017. suggestion of homosexual activity was illegal. Like many other cit- The View UpStairs honors the ies, the only safe spaces for queer vibrant lives of the 32 people that people were gay bars. Ironically, perished in the historic June 24th, this French Quarter bar also dou- 1973 arson fire, as well as the June bled as a home for the young local 12th, 2016 Orlando nightclub Metropolitan Community Church, shooting that took 50 lives. Please Founded by Reverend Troy Perry of join me in thanking Celebration for Los Angeles. The ancestral char- bringing Max Vernon’s Musical to acters ask some of the same ques- Los Angeles and helping to elevate tions that we ponder today. Do we awareness of LGBTQ+ History and merely fight for ourselves or for the Cultural Heritage. benefit of society? What happens to our unique qualities if we assimilate - Andy Sacher, Founding Director into the world outside the walls of for THE LAVENDER EFFECT® a bar.

The bar patrons share their per- sonal stories of trauma with Wes, and how they each endured and survived. Many of The View Up-

7 CAST BIOS (Alphabetical Order) JAKE ANTHONY (Buddy/Music Director) Jake works as a vocal coach, composer, and music director in the LA area. Some of the favorites among his LA theater work include Little Women, Splendora and Songs from an Unmade Bed (at Celebration Theatre), Into the Woods, The Mystery of Ed- win Drood and The Baker’s Wife. As a composer, Jake has written three musicals: Now and Then a Hero, New York Society for the Suppression of Vice, and Wanting Miss Julie, which received its world-premiere in a production at the Loft Ensemble in Downtown LA in 2016.

DARREN BLUESTONE (Patrick) New York: Avenue Q (Princeton/Rod 10th Anniversary Cast), Pride and Prejudice (NYMF), Cinderella (Pre-Broadway). TV: Transparent, Jane the Virgin, and Liv and Maddie. New Mexico born and Carnegie Mellon grad. Excited to be joining Celebration! @ DarrenBluestone

BENAI BOYD (Henri) Benai is truly honored and humbled to be joining the Celebration family. Having a solid 18-year background in classical training, she has been blessed to grace stages all over the world. Currently working for the last 2 years to create Disney’s Frozen, Live at the Hyperion, the first live adaptation of the multi-billion-dollar production of the Disney’s hit animated film Frozen as well as her recurring role as Gary Coleman in HBO’s Emmy Award nominated show Big Little Lies.

MATTHEW HANCOCK (Wes) Matthew was last seen in the U.S. premiere of Trans Scripts, Part 1:The Women at The American Repertory Theatre. LA Theatre credits include Frederick Douglass/Kid 1 in Honky (Rogue Ma- chine Theatre), Carson in Hit The Wall (Los Angeles LBGT Center), Anthony in I and You (Fountain Theatre), Oshoosi in The Brothers Size (The Fountain Theatre). Recurring on Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here and Youtube Series Giants. BFA from Adelphi University. LADCC winner, Stage Raw winner, Ovation nominee, and NAACP Theatre Award nominee.

8 CAST BIOS (cont’d) PIP LILLY (Willie) This writer and actor is single and a Scor- pio. Former member of The Second City National Touring Company. He appeared on Frank TV (TBS), viral video hit Gay Hunt, and the feature film, Butch Camp. He co-wrote and co-starred in the comedy web series Failing Upwards. Stage credits include Showboat, Joe’s Garage, Schoolhouse Rock Live! and Women Behind Bars. Follow Pip on twitter @piplilly and on Facebook at facebook.com/OfficialPipLilly/

LYLE COLBY MACKSTON (Swing) Lyle Colby Mackston: excited to be a part of The View UpStairs. Currently playing Prince Hans in Frozen at Disneyland, past theater credits include: Merrily We Roll Along (Wallis) CARRIE: The Killer Musical Experience, Rock of Ages (Franz), Spelling Bee (Papermill), The Last Ship (Reading), Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark (Reading/Workshops) among others. Lyle has also been seen on CBS, NBC, The History Channel, Comedy Central & Nickelodeon. Thanks to Family, Pace University & the TVU Cast/ Creative Team. For Pa. @LyleCMackston

PARNELL DAMONE MARCANO (Swing) Parnell Damone Marcano has been performing professionally since age 19, when he was hired as a performer at Elitch Gardens Amuse- ment Park in Denver. Since those humble beginnings, he has done lots of theatre! Including: Naked Boys Singing, Fucking Men, and Bootycandy, here at Celebration. Other productions include: Dreamgirls, Evita, Ragtime, and original cast of Off-Broadway’s The Babies. Film roles include: Tyrone Jones, The Light, Nova, and Furst. Several commercials and print ads. He has toured all over the world, singing with Motown legends, Mary Wilson and Thelma Houston. Parnell is most recognized now for his role on OWN’s hit television show, Greenleaf, where he has a recurring role as choir director, “Carlton Cruise”. Parnell wishes to thank his agents at Across The Board Talent for believing in him. Zephra Agency for getting him tons of exposure! And most importantly, his family, especially his husband, Michael, for always being his biggest fan!

REHYAN RIVERA (Freddy) Rehyan is beyond ecstatic to make his Celebration debut, especially in such an amazing piece. He was born and raised in Puerto Rico and is a graduate of AMDA New York. He recently had his choreo- graphic debut with Legally Blonde at the Cupcake Theater. Previous favorite roles include Usnavi, La Cienega, Marius and Tarzan. 9 CAST BIOS (cont’d) JOEY RUGGIERO (Dale) Joey feels grateful to debut with Celebration. In addition to screen credits, recent stage credits include Scott Billings in S/He & Me, Jesus in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, and Roger in Rent. Joey extends a thank you namely to his parents and brother, Alex, Joanne, and Billy.

CHALA SAVINO (Inez) Chala is thrilled to put her vocal chords to work in the West Coast Premiere of The View Upstairs. Her TV/Film credits include Barbershop The Final Cut (Mariela Cruz), Soy Nero (Hillary) and El Bully (Serena). Regional Credits include In the Heights (Daniela), Cinder- ella (Charlotte), and The Real Housekeepers of Studio City (Rosario). This year, Chala studied with Lisa Sunstendt of PRETTY FUNNY WOMEN and has been performing stand up at The Comedy Store and other venues in LA. Chala would like to thank Orel De La Mota, Hansel Ramirez, and Rachae Thomas for being Angels in her LA journey. Check out her website at www.chalasavino.com. Twit- ter/Instagram @chalasavino

PAT TOWNE (Richard) Pat is an award winning actor and director and was last seen in Die Mommie Die! by Charles Busch. As Other credits include: Skullduggery: The Musi- cal Prequel to Hamlet (Sacred Fools) and the award winning production of Stoneface: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Buster Keaton (Sacred Fools and Pasadena Playhouse) He has also performed at the Geffen, starred in the musical Hoboken to Hollywood (LA Weekly Award, Musical of the Year), and worked for other theater companies in LA such as Independent Shakespeare, Open Fist, and was a founding member of Zoo District. He also directed and appeared in Frank Zappa’s Joe’s Garage; SKETCHES from The National Lampoon; Gorey Stories (Ovation Award, Best Musical), and directed Exorcistic: The Rock Musical Parody Experiment (Best Musical and Best of Fest, Hollywood Fringe Festival).

10 CAST BIOS (cont’d) BRITTNEY S. WHEELER (Swing/Casting Associate) Brittney is beyond excited to be back on stage at her theatre home after 5 years of playing elsewhere! Previous Credits: Failure: A Love Story (Kirk Douglas Theatre, Center Theatre Group), The Color Purple (Celebration Theatre, Ovation Award Winner), Side Show (Conejo Players), Parade (Panic! Prod.), Failure: A Love Story (Couerage Theatre Co, Ovation Award Nominee), All Shook Up! (Morgan-Wixson), Ragtime (Norris CFTA), bare: a pop opera (SVCAC), RENT (ECC & BTS) and In the Next Room (Santa Paula Theatre Ctr). BA in Theatre Arts from Concordia Uni- versity, Irvine. Casting Associate/company Member of Celebration Theatre. Lots of love and thanks to her parents, the cast for being so welcoming and the entire TVU production team for believing in her talent, especially Michael A. Shepperd. Proud member of AEA.

TRAVIS YORK (Cop) Travis is from TX. He has worked with Soho Rep,13P, Actors Theatre of Louisville, NYTW, PS122, The Woodshed Collective, Theatre of NOTE, and Salvage Vanguard, among others. TV/Film: Not enough. He works with rescue pit bulls in his spare time.

BAND BIOS JOHANNA CHASE (Bass) Johanna Chase is a singer/songwriter and multi- instrumentalist. Contributing underscoring to the Ovation Award winning Laramie Project: 10 Years Later and Hit the Wall. Her voice can be heard in Carlos Santana’s new biopic Dolores. Her records and tour schedule can be found at johannachase.com.

NICOLE MARCUS (Drums) Nicole is a drummer, singer/songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. She graduated with honors from the pres- tigious University of Miami School of Music. She is proud to have played drums in the International Tour of the Broadway musical, Hair. Check out her debut album online! More info. at nicolemarcusmusic.com.

MAX WAGNER (Guitars) Max Wagner is a Los Angeles-based freelance guitarist, bassist, banjoist, and mandolinist. His extensive theater credits most recently include After Hours Theatre Company’s splendid (LA Times) production of Dogfight, Odyssey Theatre Ensemble’s Jacques Brel…, and Celebration’s multiple Ovation Award-winning The Boy From Oz. Follow Max online at: maxwagnerguitar.com and www.facebook.com/MaxWag- nerMusic. Instagram/Twitter: @MaxWagnerMusic

11 PRODUCTION BIOS MAX VERNON (Writer) Max Vernon is a composer/lyricist, playwright, performer, and brooch enthusiast. Described by the New Yorker as “equal parts bohemia and Broadway,” Max is a recipient of the Jonathan Larson Grant, New York Stage and Film’s Founders Award, New York Foundation of the Arts Fellowship, and the JFund Award from the Jerome Foundation. He has been a Dramatist Guild Theatre Fellow, and an artist in residence at Rhinebeck Writer’s Retreat and the Johnny Mercer Writers Colony. His musical, The View UpStairs, ran 105 performances Off-Broadway and was nominated for 2 Lortel Awards, 3 Drama Desk Awards, and an Off-Broad- way Alliance Award for Best New Musical. It will have 5 new productions around the world in 2017-2018; original cast recording on Broadway Records. His next musical, KPOP, will have its Off-Broadway premiere at Ars Nova in the fall. www.maxvernon.com

MICHAEL A. SHEPPERD (Director/Co-Artistic Director) Michael is the Co-Artistic Director of Los Angeles’ award-winning Celebration (CT). Di- recting credits include: The Boy From Oz (Ovation Award, LADCC Award, Best Director), The Next Fairy Tale, [title of show], A Gay Christmas Carol, GaGa Gardens, The Max Factor Factor. Michael is a Resident Director for The Blank Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival and numerous others. Act- ing roles include Fences (Troy; Ovation, LADCC Nominations), Bootycan- dy (LADCC nom, Ovation, Stage Raw Win), The Color Purple (Mister; Ova- tion Award), Steel (Ovation Award), Master Harold and the Boys ( NAACP theatre nom), Intimate Apparel (NAACP Award), Choir Boy (NAACP nom) and Shout Sister Shout, at Pasadena Playhouse. Broadway/Regional credits include: Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan, Little Shop of Horrors, Caroline, or Change, Whipping Man. TV: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Soul Man, Hot In Cleveland, Wizards of Waverly Place, Monk, Criminal Minds, NCIS.

CATE CAPLIN (Assistant Director/Choreographer) Cate has produced, directed and choreographed over 200 productions and her work has been seen on television, in films, music videos, commercials and in theatrical venues world wide from the Paris Opera House to the Broadway Stage. She is a 34 times regional and international Theatrical Ballroom Champion and wrote and directed her first feature film, Mating Dance which won an Accolade Award and can be found on Amazon.com. Cate has been the recipient of a Garland Award, a Women In Theatre Red Carpet Award, multiple LA Stage Alliance Ovation, Eddon and Scenie Awards and was the recipient of an Award of Excellence from the LA Film Commission for her work as a Writer, Director, Choreographer and Producer.

12 PRODUCTION BIOS (cont’d) MATT ORDUNA (Fight Director) Matt is very excited to be working with Celebration Theatre: Theatrical roles include: Abioseh - Les Blancs, Bilal - Bars & Measures (Stage Raw Nominee, LADCC Nominee - lead Performance in a play) Gabriel – Fences (Ovation Nominee- Featured Performance), Teresias - Oedipus El Rey, Duncan - Macbeth, Albert/Kevin - Clybourne Park, Flip - Stick Fly, Orpheus - Polaroid Stories, Seth - Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Guiderius - Cymbeline, Jim - Big River, Lon- gaville - Love’s Labors Lost, Judas - Jesus Christ Superstar, Pozzo - Waiting for Godot. FILM/Television: I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (Sundance Grand Jury Award Winner) Grace of Jake, Baby Steps, Tony & Leo, NCIS-LA, NCIS, Ironside, Pretty Little Liars, The Fosters, Switched at Birth, Days of Our Lives, Sons of Anarchy, Mob City, Family Tools and Le- git. He is very excited to be working with this wonderful cast and crew and is grateful to Shep for this opportunity to collaborate with these talented artists. EDUCATION: MFA 2001 - University of Washington Professional Actor Training Program.

REBECCA SCHOENBERG (Production Stage Manager) Rebecca couldn’t be happier to be working with Celebration on this production with this wonderful cast and crew. She previously stage managed Hit the Wall and Search for Signs for the LA LGBT Center. Other recent productions include A Gulag Mouse and Behavior of Broadus, both for Sacred Fools theatre, of which she is also a member. She thanks you for your attendance, and hopes you enjoy the show!

JILLIAN MAYO (Assistant Stage Manager) Jillian Mayo is proud to add The View UpStairs to her production resume; since moving to Los Angeles from the Boston area in 2013, she has ASM’d for Peter Pan: The Boy Who Hated Mothers, The Homosexuals, Sons of the Prophet, and The Boy from Oz. Congratulations to the cast & crew!

ALEX CALLE (Scenic Designer) Alex takes a unique approach to directing, producing, and design, utilizing his background in theatre to above all, tell a story. A graduate of the California Institute of the Arts, he has worked on Film, Television, Theater, Themed Entertainment, and Public Art Installa- tions all over the world. As a theatrical set designer, he has designed for a number of renowned regional theatre companies, including The California Shakespeare Theatre, The Eugene O’Neill Theatre Company, The Cuillo Theatre, Florida Stage, and The Colony Theatre. He also has served as a resident designer for LA’s Invertigo Dance Theatre since their 2008 season.

13 PRODUCTION BIOS (cont’d) MARTHA CARTER (Lighting Designer) Martha Carter is a lighting designer based out of Los Angeles, California. She received her MFA in Lighting Design from the University of California at Irvine and enjoys collaborat- ing and working with ensemble companies to create new work that incites positive change within communities. Some of her recent credits include: Good Kids, Dog Sees God and Intimate Apparel at Chapman University, Romeo and Juliet at Great River Shakespeare Festival, Evita, and Peter Pan in Panama City, Panama; as well as After the Revolution, The Legend(s) of Sleepy Hollow, and A Chorus Line at The Chance Theater.

MICHAEL MULLEN (Costume Designer) Michael is very happy and excited to be working on The View UpStairs with Celebration! He has costumed such shows as The Boy from Oz (Ovation Award, Robby Award, Broadway World Los Angeles Award, Ticketholder Award, Stage Raw nomination), Dreamgirls (Ovation Award, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, NAACP Theatre Award, LA Weekly Theatre Award, Broadway World Los Angeles Award), Fugue (Ovation nomination, Broadway World Los Angeles nomination), Sweeney Todd (Stage Raw nomination), Ameri- can Idiot (Ticketholder Award), When Stars Align (Broadway World Los Angeles nomination), Moon Over Buffalo (Broadway World Los Angeles nomination), God’s Gypsy (Broadway World Los Angeles nomination), and Dorian’s Descent (Broadway World Los Angeles nomination). He has received such Stage SceneLA Awards as 2015-2016 Costume Designer Of The Year, 2014-2015 Costume Designer Extraordinaire, 2013-2014 Cos- tume Design of The Year (Individual Production) for Dorian’s Descent, and 2012-2013 Costume Designer of The Year. He would like to thank everyone involved with this show for being amazing, his friends and family, and you for your support! XOXO :)

ERIC SNODGRASS (Sound Designer) A multiple-award winning designer, including a 2016 LA Drama Critics Circle Award for Celebration’s production of The Boy from Oz, Eric is very happy to be back at Celebration working with his longtime friend Michael Shepperd. He is humbled to have the chance to contribute to this wonderful creative endeavor.

MICHAEL O’HARA (Props Designer/Managing Director/Executive Pro- ducer) Michael is once again happy to be working at Celebration where he has done prop work since 2005. Besides Celebration his prop work has appeared at Coeurage, East West, Theatre of NOTE, the Blank, the Road Theatre, among others. He has several upcoming shows (Road Theatre, IAMA Theatre, Theatre of NOTE, Skylight Theatre, and Coeurage) and he anticipates having a website ready to launch in the coming year. Michael has also worked in other capacities in theatre both onstage and behind the scenes. He also serves as Managing Director of Celebration. 14 PRODUCTION BIOS (cont’d) BYRON BATISTA (Wig Designer) Hair (Hollywood Bowl) Hairspray (Hol- lywood Bowl, Moonlight Amphitheatre, First National Tour, MTW), Chi- cago (Hollywood Bowl), Les Miserables (Hollywood Bowl), I Love Lucy, Live! (Greenway Court), Jekyll and Hyde (Sturgis Center), Baby, It’s You, Stormy Weather (Pasadena Playhouse), Radio Girl, James and the Giant Peach (Goodspeed Musicals), Hello, Dolly!, Cabaret, Cinderella, Fiddler on the Roof, Breaking Up is Hard to Do, The Producers (Ogunquit Play- house), Sweeney Todd (El Camino College). Red Hot Patriot with Kathleen Turner, Born to Rock with Jake Simpson, Men of Broadway with Brandon Victor Dixon, Ace Young, David Burnham and Frenchie Davis.

REI YAMAMOTO (Assistant Scenic Designer) Rei Yamamoto received his B.A in Theater from Nihon University College of Art in Japan. He recently was the scenic designer for She Loves Me, Little Shop of Horrors, and Camp Rock (Panic! Productions). Also he works for Entertainment Design Corporation where he is the art director for theme parks, attractions and live shows around the world.

BRUCE W. ZISTERER (Executive Producer) Bruce’s production credits include The Boy From Oz, which took home six Ovation awards including Best Production of a Musical in Intimate Theatre; The Color Purple, The Musical, six Ovation awards including Best Production of a Musical in In- timate Theatre; the world premiere of Pinafore! at Celebration (LA Weekly Award, Musical of the Year, Garland Award, Best Production), Cool My Tongue; Gaveston, Favourite of the King; Judy at the Stonewall Inn; Altar Boyz; and the West Coast/LA Premieres of Autumn Canticle and The Homosexuals. Bruce is the recipient of the 2016 LADCC for Distinguished Achievement for Production. This is his tenth collaboration with Celebra- tion. Bruce has a new Chrysanthemum cultivar named after him called “Zisterer’s Ovation”. It is exotic burgandy in color. Thank you for supporting Celebration and live theatre!

CHRISTINE BOYLAN & ERIC HEISSERER (Executive Producer) Boylan is a television writer-producer, director and playwright. TV: Constantine, Once Upon A Time, Castle, Off The Map, Leverage. Currently a co-executive producer on a Marvel series. Theatre: Every Third Thought, The Kid. Heisserer is a screenwriter-director and Academy Award nominee for his screenplay, Arrival, which won the Writers Guild of America award. Film: Lights Out, Hours (writer/director), Final Destination 5, The Thing, A Night- mare on Elm Street.

15 PRODUCTION BIOS (cont’d) LATOYA MORGAN (Executive Producer) LaToya Morgan is a graduate of the American Film Institute Conservatory and her work spans the spectrum of film, television, plays, and comic books. Currently, she is Co-Executive Producer on the hit martial arts drama Into the Badlands and recently inked a two-year overall deal with AMC to write and develop new series for the network.

JACK MORRISSEY (Executive Producer) Jack Morrissey has been part- nered with Academy Award-winning film writer and director Bill Condon for over twenty years. He has been a producer on Condon’s recent films, including Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans and Josh Gad; Mr. Holmes, with Ian McKellen as the Great Detective and Laura Linney as his housekeeper; and The Fifth Estate starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange. Their next effort will be The Bride of Frankenstein for Universal Pictures - opening on Valentine’s Day, 2019.

MICHAEL C. KRICFALUSI (Executive Director/Executive Producer) Mi- chael has been with Celebration for over 8 years now, 4 as Managing Di- rector and the last 4 years as Executive Director. He has acted in, directed, produced or distributed numerous projects for the stage as well as film and television. Memorable productions include the multi-Ovation award winning productions of The Boy From Oz, The Color Purple - The Musi- cal, Take Me Out, The Daddy Machine and WEHO at Celebration. He has appeared onstage in The Mikvah Monologues at the Wadsworth Theatre, L.A. as well as Twelve Angry Men, Three Sisters and Blood Wedding in L.A. and The Trial Off-Broadway. His favorite TV moment was having his own stunt double on The Young and The Restless (to make sure he didn’t drop Jeanne Cooper while carrying her down a pile rocks) though he is most remembered from television for having sat behind Wendie Malick, Jane Leeves and Valerie Bertinelli in the pilot for Hot In Cleveland. Special thanks to everyone who has helped keep Celebration Theatre alive. Love to his children Michael and Alexandra.

16 PRODUCTION BIOS (cont’d) MICHAEL MATTHEWS (Co-Artistic Director/Executive Producer) Michael completes the other half of Co-Artistic Director, shared with his “work husband”, Michael Shepperd. Besides cleaning the bathrooms, vacuuming the seats, taking out the trash, and serving countless cocktails, he also directs a few shows for Celebration Theatre. Celebration highlights include: Dream Boy (LA Premiere), Bootycandy (LA Premiere, LADCC Nomination, Pro- duction), Wolves (West Coast Premiere), Justin Love (LADCC Award, Best Musical), The Color Purple, The Musical (Ovation and LA Weekly Awards Best Director and Best Production, Musical), What’s Wrong With Angry? (Ovation Nominations Best Director and Best Production,Play), Take Me Out! (Ovation Nomination Best Director, NAACP Award Best Director), The Women of Brewster Place, the Musical (Ovation Nomination Best Director, NAACP Award Best Director, Ovation Award Best Production, Musical; West Coast Premiere), Stupid Kids (LA Premiere), Beautiful Thing (Ovation Nominations, Best Director and Best Production, Play), The Bacchae (Ovation Nominations, Best Director and Best Production, Play). Michael is the recipient of the 2015 LADCC Award for Career Achieve- ment in Direction.

ANDREW CARLBERG (Producer) Named by Variety alongside Mindy Kal- ing, Ryan Coogler and Beau Willimon as one of “Hollywood’s New Lead- ers,” Andrew Carlberg is an award-winning feature film, television, new media, Broadway and Los Angeles stage producer. His extensive credits include, but aren’t limited to, ABC’s Castle, DirecTV’s Full Circle, Broad- way’s Romeo and Juliet and Side Show, the Neil LaBute penned feature films Some Girl(s) and Dirty Weekend, and Celebration Theatre’s Ovation Award winning productions of The Color Purple: The Musical and The Boy from Oz.

JAY MARCUS (Producer/Producing Director) Jay is thrilled to be co-lead producing the west coast premiere of The View UpStairs! Jay also produced (along with Tom Detrinis and Nathan Frizzell), Celebration’s hit summer comedies So Long Boulder City and Tilda Swinton Answers An Ad On Craigslist. He also associate produced last spring’s Die, Mommie, Die! Currently, Jay is the VP of film/tv development at director George Tillman, Jr. and producer Bob Teitel’s production company, State Street Pictures. The company is currently in production on a feature adaptation of the #1 New York Times Young Adult Bestseller, The Hate U Give. Thanks to Shep for this opportunity, Andrew for being a great collaborator, the Celebration company for volunteering countless hours of bartending, box office staff- ing, wall painting, and everything in between. And to this incredible cast and creative team for all their tireless work on this show.

17 PRODUCTION BIOS (cont’d) MARK GIBERSON (Associate Producer) Mark is a former journalist and PR executive. He serves on the board of directors of The Barn Studio of Art, is past president of the Flying Samaritans of Southern California and is the founder of No Boundaries Art Workshops®. He has associate produced every show since he joined Celebration; Bootycandy, Dream Boy, The Boy From Oz, Charm, Die, Mommie, Die! and now The View UpStairs.

DAVID TRAN (Associate Producer) The View UpStairs is David’s first venture into associate producing for Celebration. His production experience stems from years working as an actor, as well as, behind the scenes on various projects as a wardrobe stylist and production assistant. David is thrilled to be a part of this creative journey working alongside his fellow CT company members and this talented cast & crew! xo

TOMMY VERGASON (Associate Producer) Tommy is thrilled to celebrate two years as a Celebration Theatre company member, and he is especially proud to return as an Associate Producer on The View UpStairs. Big thanks to Celebration for giving him the opportunity to be a part of this beautiful and important work.

ALAN WETHERN (Associate Producer) Alan is proud to associate produce at Celebration, after failing out of virtually every other job known to man. Producing both “train wreck” reality tv and indie films alike, much of Al- an’s portfolio can be seen “late-night, after hours” on dishnetwork. An avid theatre goer, he enjoys staying active, volunteering, and finding time for spontaneous road trips. The Oklahoma native is a graduate of OCU’s MBA program, as well as The Los Angeles Film School immersion program, and can best be described as the “Worlds worst cook,” a self-ascribed title.

JAMI RUDOFSKY (Casting Director) Jami is a proud member and Resident Casting Director of Celebration. Casting for 99-Seat Theatre is challenging in a town focused on Television and Film but it is also the most gratify- ing and nourishing work Jami does. Thank you to every single actor in this town who auditions for 99-Seat theatre. Thank you to my Celebration Family for continuing to give me the honor of casting great shows. Jami’s Casting Credits can be found by googling her. #ilove99

DAVID ELZER/DEMAND PR (Marketing/PR/Publicity) David Elzer/DE- MAND PR represents Cabrillo Music Theatre, Celebration Theatre, Circle X Theatre Company, Independent Shakespeare Co., Laguna Playhouse, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, Ojai Playwrights Conference, Road Theatre Company, Rubicon Theatre Company, Theatre of NOTE and VS. Theatre Company. He loves working with the very talented Celebration team and thanks you for supporting Celebration and L.A. theater! 18 PRODUCTION SPONSORS

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19 PRODUCTION SPONSORS

1154 N. Highland Ave. Evening hours - Mon-Thurs 5pm - 12am Friday 5pm - 2am Saturday 7pm - 2am Happy Hour - Mon-Fri 5pm - 8pm

In partnership with the In partnership with Japanese American Cultural & In partnership with the The Robey Theatre Company Community Center (JACCC) Los Angeles LGBT Center YOHEN ALLEGIANCE AS WE BABBLE ON

STARRING DANNY GLOVER STARRING GEORGE TAKEI

October 26 - February 21 - May 31 - June 24, 2018* November 19, 2017* April 1, 2018* *Venue is the David Henry *Venue is the David Henry *Venue is the Aratani Theatre Hwang Theater Hwang Theater In partnership with In partnership with Rogue Artists Ensemble Center Theatre Group OUR BIGGEST KAIDAN PROJECT SOFT POWER WALLS GROW THIN SEASON YET SUBSCRIBE TODAY! (213) 625-7000 eastwestplayers.org East West Players’ 52nd season, THE COMPANY WE KEEP, features exciting co-productions and BY DAVID HENRY HWANG partnerships!

October 5 - May 3 - June 10, 2018* EAST WEST PLAYERS November 5, 2017* *Venue is the Ahmanson Theatre. 120 Judge John Aiso Street *Venue is a secret Mid-City warehouse May 8-12, 2018 are the available Los Angeles, CA 90012 revealed after ticket purchase dates for subscribers 20 CELEBRATION INFORMATION

Brunch with a Celebrity and Support LGBTQ Theatre!

“Celebrating Brunch” is a fun, quarterly event series that includes catered brunch, a sponsored bar, and the chance to hear first-hand from the artists we love.

With generous underwriting from Micky's West Hollywood, all net proceeds directly support Celebration programming.

September 17: Jane Lynch & Kate Flannery/2018 Dates and Stars are TBA.

Subscribe to email at CelebrationTheatre.com for invites!

Don’t miss our Celebrating New Works reading series, Tuesdays throughout the year at West Hollywood City Council Chambers and the Lex Theatre. Presented with the generous support of the City of West Hollywood. Interested in having an ad in our program? Our rates are reasonable and your ad runs for the entire length of a production or season, depending on what you wish. Program Ad Rates (Per Production Rates) FOR PROFIT NOT FOR PROFIT Full Page (8” T x 5” W) - $250 Full Page (8” T x 5” W) - $125 ½ Page Horizontal (4” T x 5” W) - $130 ½ Page Horizontal (4” T x 5” W) - $65 ½ Page Vertical (8” T x 2.5” W) - $130 ½ Page Vertical (8” T x 2.5” W) - $65 ¼ Page Vertical (4” T x 2.5” W) - $70 ¼ Page Vertical (4” T x 2.5” W) - $35 Fine print: Ad must be camera-ready. Ad will print in B & W. All ads must be received by deadline specified by Celebration Theatre. Any late advertising received may result in ad not appearing in the printed program. Advertiser bears all responsibility for any problems caused by ads received beyond the specified deadline. Contact us for our season rates. For more info contact [email protected] 21 MISSION: We entertain, inspire, and empower with innovative productions that celebrate the LGBTQ community. VISION: To be a recognized leader of award winning content while becoming catalysts of change in the world around us. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cameron Faber (President) Jeremy Mann Todd Milliner (Vice-President) Michael Matthews Nicholas Caprio Michael A. Shepperd Michael C. Kricfalusi Stephen Soucy ADVISORY BOARD Denise Grayson Byron Reed David Tarlow Larry Dean Harris Mary Reitz Don Wise MAIN COMPANY Erinn Anova Parnell Damone Marcano, Company Mario Burrell Manager Marcedes Clanton Jay Marcus, Producing Director Tom DeTrinis, Alternative Programming Michael Matthews, Co-Artistic Director Director Tracey McAvoy, Webmaster Josette DiCarlo Allison “Alli” Miller Chrisanne Eastwood Daniel Montgomery Rebecca Eisenberg Michael O’Hara, Managing Director Michael Ferman Victoria Ortiz Nathan Frizzell, Literary Director Christopher Pearson Todd Gaebe Gavin Rees Mark Giberson Shanta’ Marie Robinson Michael Taylor Gray Jami Rudofsky Brad Griffith Brooke Seguin Marti Hale Christopher Sepulveda Charls Sedgwick Hall Michael A. Shepperd, Co-Artistic Director Mat Hayes Michael Shutt Richard Hefner Amy Stoddard Sarah Hinchcliff Stasha Surdyke Matt Howard Julia Teweles Clint Keller Gina Torrecilla Samantha Kern David Tran Michael C. Kricfalusi, Executive Director Tommy Vergason Jeffrey Landman Isabella Way Amir Levi Jason Weiss Constance Jewell Lopez Brittney S. Wheeler Christopher Maikish, Development Director ASSOCIATE COMPANY (partial) Jake Anthony Matthew Hancock Rehyan Rivera Alexandra Billings Julanne Chidi Hill Joey Ruggiero Darren Bluestone Khristina Johnson Chala Savino Benai Boyd Katie Kitani Tamika Simpkins Joe Calarco Kelly Lester Jon Tartaglia Andrew Carter Pip Lilly Michael Grant Terry Tamara Davis June Carryl Lomena Pat Towne Drew Droege Matthew Scott Montgomery Kirsten Vangsness Frances Fisher Nicole Parker Lindsay Wray Hutch Foster Jessica Pennington Quinn Grace Yoo Reamy Hall Bobby Quinn Rice Travis York Plus over 500 additional Associate Company Members who consider Celebration home. 22 LEGACY CIRCLE Dion Antic Martin Massman & Chris McKinney Burton Breznick Todd Milliner & Michael Matthews Martin D. Burley & Bobby Meza Scott Monson & Brian Hogan Nicholas Caprio Dennis Nollette Greg Copeland John L. Rarick & Piotr Izdebski Frederick Dechow Timothy Regler Arthur Dennis & Fred Madjar Larry Reitzer & Matt Funes Jay Paul Deratany Calvin Remsberg David Elzer Michael A. Shepperd & Hutch Foster Cameron Faber Showtime Television Larry Dean Harris Ted Skidmore Elizabeth L. & Mark K. Kogan James E. Smith Tom Jacobson & Ramone Munoz William Stoddard Michael C. Kricfalusi David Tarlow Jeffrey Lambert Billy Tauzin Erick H. Long Thomas E. Warren Jane Lynch Bruce W. Zisterer The Legacy Circle is made up of patrons who donated and gave over $1,000 each. The Legacy Circle was closed in 2010 but we recognize and honor those donors who helped Celebration Theatre in the past. Legacy Circle donors names will always be part of our donor recognition program GRANTS AND SPONSORS Celebration is grateful for the generous financial and in-kind support of its community allies, both past and ongoing.

23 DONORS (September 1, 2016-August 31, 2017) If your name is omitted or listed incorrectly, please contact [email protected]. Benefactors ($5000-up) Partners ($250-$499) Anonymous Anonymous Christine Boylan & Eric Heisserer Tod & Craig Beckett-Frank Bill Condon & Jack Morrissey Gregory Hines Michael Kricfalusi Robert McCoard Todd Milliner & Michael Matthews LaToya Morgan Friends ($100-$249) Bruce W. Zisterer Anonymous Tony Arn Patrons ($1000-$4999) Kathy Busick Anonymous Micheal Carbonaro Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation Scott Genkinger Nicholas Caprio Kelley Jake Cameron Faber Jason Roy Liebman Erick Long Stephen Soucy J Lyons Jack Moore Fellows ($500-$999) Michael Napoli Anonymous Dennis Nollette Gordon Lemke & Brian Rogers Howard Sherman Chris Meyer & Gary Holm SSGLC Project Rainbow Associates ($10-$99) Alberto Goma David Olsen Jessica Abrams Benjamin Goodman Marcus Paulsen Amy Rodrigo Guardado Artemis Pebdani Adrian Anchondo Handsome Hannah Pilkes Anonymous Brian Harris Kimberley Pinola Craig Appelbaum Shannon Harris Russell Poe Brett Ashy David Hendryx Joshua Posner Sarah Bauer William Hernandez Logan Prather Jimmy Bennett Justin Hewelt Charles Prince Jasmine Bermudez Brian Hill Alicia Roche Joshua Bevier Michael Hill Bert Royal Nick Bolton Martijn Hostetler Anna Sanders Dana Booton Leanna Huebner Matthew Sanders Brooks Boutwell Bob Iannaccone Allen Schmitt Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman Preston Johnson Sean Seckar Josh Bradford Trenton Kerpsack Karen Semler Phil Briggs Phyllis Katz David Senft Laurence Burgess Amy Kidd Katie Sharer Victoria Cartolano Paige King W. R. Sheriff Jordan Cerf Sam Kite Scott Shilstone Damien Clark Ross Klein Susan Smith Kristin Confer Liz Lachman Warren Smith Madeline Connors Sam Lambert David Snow Richard Conway Claudia Lonow Aaron Solis Anthony Cookson Lori Lyons Michael Solomon William Cooper Robert Main Frank Stahl Stephanie Courtney Marco Martinez William Swann Richard Cruz Mason McCulley Kwee Hong Tai Cynthia Jean McDowell Michael Teta Joel Davis Zack McGhee Jaquay Thomas Cheryl Decuir Wendi Mclendon Sarah Thyre Edward Ellison Brett Mendenhall Lawrence Tracy Helga Ernudottir Robert Merrick Valentina Michael Farmer Steven Miller James Van Houton Andrew Fillmore Sarah Minchin Alex Vaughan David Fitzgerald Katrina Mohn Paul Velten Gregory Franklin Nana Mun Nadyja Von Ebers Stephen Fry Janine Nabers William George Gallo Michael Nardelli Rodney Wilson Jennifer Garcia Joy Nash Christine Woods Melanie Gasmen Earl Nelson Jeffrey Wylie Craig Gladstone Thomas Nelson Linda Young Felipe Nieto 24