Historic Arcade Theatre • Fort Myers River District Robert Cacioppo, Producing Artistic Director PRESENTS

THE DEVIL’S MUSIC THE LIFE & BLUES OF BESSIE SMITH BY ANGELO PARRA SPONSORED BY THE FRED & JEAN ALLEGRETTI FOUNDATION STARRING MICHE BRADEN* with AARON GRAVES • JIM HANKINS • KEITH LOFTIS

CONCEPT, MUSICAL STAGING & DIRECTION BY JOE BRANCATO** MUSICAL DIRECTION & ARRANGEMENTS BY MICHE BRADEN* SET DESIGNER LIGHTING DESIGNER BRUCE R. BAILEY STAGE MANAGER TODD O. WREN*** COSTUME DESIGNER AMY L. MASSARI* SOUND DESIGNER PATRICIA E. DOHERTY*** KATE SMITH

THE DEVIL’S MUSIC: THE LIFE AND BLUES OF BESSIE SMITH had its world premiere at Penguin Rep Theatre (Joe Brancato, Artistic Director, and Andrew Horn, Executive Director) in Stony Point, New York. 2010-11 GRAND SEASON SPONSORS

Arthur Zupko • John & Marjorie Madden • Cheryl & David Copham Gholi & Georgia Darehshori • City of Fort Myers Public Art Committee This entire season sponsored in part by in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. Florida Repertory Theatre is a fully professional non-profit LOA/LORT Theatre company on contract with the Actors’ Equity Association that proudly employs members of the national theatrical labor unions. *Member of Actors’ Equity Association. **Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. ***Member of United Scenic Artists. THETHE CASTCAST Bessie Smith ...... Miche Braden* Pickle/Bass ...... Jim Hankins* ...... Aaron Graves* Saxophone ...... Keith Loftis*

TIME & PLACE Monday, October 4, 1937 and the Saturday night, nine days earlier.

Memphis, Tennessee, in a “buffet flat,” one of many private establishments around the country where Blacks could gather after hours for food, drink, gambling, lodging, entertainment, and amusement of all kinds! It provided a refuge and respite from white segregation.

The Devil’s Music is performed without an intermission.

The video and/or audio recording of this performance by any means whatsoever is strictly prohibited.

PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTES The daughter of a preacher, Bessie Smith overcame Southern poverty to become the greatest and most influential classic Blues singer of the 1920s, earning the honorific “Empress of the Blues.” Her turbulent life encompassed a tragic childhood, a flamboyant lifestyle and stormy marriage, and a fickle public that eventually turned its back on the Blues in favor of Swing. Despite all this, Bessie, an immensely talented but hard-drinking, lusty, and volatile woman, was almost single-handedly responsible for thrusting African-American-Southern Blues into mainstream music. Among the songs she made famous are “I Ain’t Got Nobody,” “St. Louis Blues,” “Baby Doll,” “Gimme a Pigfoot,” and “Tain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I Do.” Though the record industry was still in its early years, Bessie made over 160 recordings and, at the height of her popularity, she sold more recordings than anyone other than Caruso and Al Jolson. Over the decades, stars like Ethel Waters, Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holiday, and Janis Joplin have acknowledged their debt to Bessie’s groundbreaking work. In 1980, Bessie Smith was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame and, in 1989, into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith is the darling offspring of a collaboration between Penguin Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Joe Brancato, the incomparable jazz and blues star Miche Braden, and the playwright. Enjoy!

*The Actors & Stage Manager employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) was founded in 1913 as the first of the American Actor unions. Equity’s mission is to advance, promote and foster the art of theatre as an essential component of our society. Today, Equity represents more than 40,000 actors, singers, dancers and stage managers working in hundreds of theatres across the United States. Equity members are dedicated to working in the theatre as a profession, upholding the highest artistic standards. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions and provides a wide range of benefits including health and pension plans for its members. Through its agreement with Equity, this theatre has committed to the fair treatment of the actors and stage managers employed in this production. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. For more information, visit www.actorsequity.org.

THE DEVIL’S MUSIC THETHE CREATIVECREATIVE TEAMTEAM

MICHE BRADEN (Bessie Smith) is a singer, actor, musician, songwriter, arranger, and musical director. She is a product of the rich musical heritage of her hometown, , Michigan. In Detroit she was an Artist in Residence with the Detroit Council of the Arts, the founder & former lead singer of Straight Ahead (women’s jazz band) & was a protegé of musicians Thomas “Beans” Bowles, Earl Van Dyke (leader of ), & Jazz Master Composer Harold McKinney. As an actor, Miche has appeared in & served as Musical Director/Arranger in The People’s Temple, Gee’s Bend, The Bluest Eye, Mahalia: A Gospel Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, Hot Snow: The Story of Valaida Snow, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom & The Devil’s Music: The Life & Blues of Bessie Smith. Her collaboration with director Joe Brancato (Cobb) & playwright Angelo Parra for this show has garnered rave reviews everywhere it is performed. It placed third in THE DAILY NEWS Top Ten Off Broadway shows for 2001. She was nominated for the coveted Carbonell Award in Florida & the Connecticut Critics Award for these performances. She originated the character of Duchess DeLovely in the original cast of HATS: The Red Hat Society Musical, which had its World Premiere at the Denver Civic Theater Fall 2006.

AARON GRAVES (Piano) was raised in Reidsville, NC. He eventually moved to Washington, D.C. at the age of sixteen to play bass guitar with Richard Smallwood and attended The Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts. After touring with various artists like Richard Smallwood, Myrna Summers, The Voices Supreme, and Henry Davis, Aaron entered Howard University and received a Special Talent Scholarship. After two years he transferred to the University of the District of Columbia to study with Jazz Master Calvin Jones. While studying at UDC Aaron was awarded a National Endowment of the Arts grant and studied with Jazz Masters Kenny Barron, Barry Harris and Stanley Cowell. Aaron has been blessed to perform and/or record with greats such as: , Dakota Staton, Houston Person, Ernie Andrews, Marlena Shaw, Cassandra Wilson, Greg Osby, Bill Lee, Grady Tate, Frank Foster, Grover Washington, Jr., Earl May, The Blackbyrds, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, The Boys Choir of Harlem, Jann Parker, , Kevin Mahogany, Barbara Montgomery, and many others. Selected television credits include: award-winning documentary “Eyes on the Prize with Sweet Honey and the Rock,” “The Bill Cosby Show,” “The Lou Rawls Show,” “Conjurers: Women in Jazz with Cassandra Wilson,” and the theme for the Carol Randolph Show. He performed on the soundtrack for the movie Ashes and Embers and was the conductor on Broadway for Truly Blessed, about the life of Mahalia Jackson. Aaron was also conductor for Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill with Criss Calloway in Edinburgh, Scotland, and for Essentially Ellington at The Prince Theatre, Philadelphia, PA. He has also performed with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

JIM HANKINS (Pickle/Bass) an original Devil’s Music cast member, is originally from Detroit where he lived in a neighborhood that was loaded with talented musicians and singers. His high school buddies included Alto Sax master Charles McPherson, Trombonist George Bohanon, Drummer Roy Brooks, Pianist Kirk Lightsey, and two of Motown’s Temptations, Melvin Franklin and Richard Street, as well as the iconic Little Willie John. Jim started his musical career as a trombone player, but at the age of 18 he switched to bass. Jim has performed and/or recorded with Jazz/Blues /R&B luminaries including Lou Rawls, Betty Carter, Donald Byrd, Arthur Prysock, and Sonny Stitt, besides being a studio musician at the iconic Motown Records. Jim now resides in New Jersey and performs regularly in the NY/NJ/PA region when not on tour.

THE DEVIL’S MUSIC KEITH LOFTIS (Saxophone) has been described as one of the most dynamic jazz saxophonists of today. Keith was born in Dallas, TX where he began his study of jazz and classical music as a child. He is a graduate of the nationally recognized Booker T. Washington High School of the Visual and Performing Arts in Dallas, with fellow classmate and two- time Grammy Award winner, Roy Hargrove. Keith received his B.A. in music from the New School for Social Research in NYC, and his Masters in Composition/ Film Scoring from New York University. Over the course of his career, Keith has performed with several jazz legends, such as Benny Carter, Cedar Walton, Nancy Wilson, Frank Foster, Alvin Batiste, and Ray Charles, to name a few. Keith has traveled extensively around the globe performing regularly throughout Europe, Asia, and parts of the Mid-East. He currently performs with legendary jazz drummer, Michael Carvin, the Roy Hargrove Big Band and the Frank Foster Loud Minority Big Band. Keith has also performed at VH-1’s “Fashion Rocks” with Mary J. Blige and Usher, and VH-1’s “Storyteller’s,” again with Mary J. Blige. Keith also performs with regularly at New York’s renowned hotel the Carlyle. In addition to performing live, Keith also works on film projects to broaden his film- scoring portfolio. He has performed music in the motion picture “Three Can Play That Game” starring Vivica A. Fox, and in the independent film, “Black Out” starring Jeff Wright and Melvin Van Peebles. Keith and his wife, actress Brigitte Barnett-Loftis, reside in Brooklyn, NY.

ANGELO PARRA (Playwright) has has production credits in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and at Florida Stage, The Hartford Stage, George Street Playhouse, and Cape (Cod) Playhouse, among others. His works include the prize-winning plays, Journey of the Heart and Song of the Coquí. Among his awards are: two NY Foundation for the Arts Fellowships (one for The Devil’s Music); the Chicano-Latino Literary Award, University of California; an “American Dream” prize, Repertorio Español, NYC; the Jewel Box Theatre, Mixed Blood Theatre, and David James Ellis national play awards; and an Arts International grant (funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, The U.S. Information Agency, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Pew Charitable Trusts). He was Tennessee Williams Scholar at the 2000 Sewanee Writers’ Conference (University of the South), and his screenplay of Journey of the Heart was a finalist at the 2002 Sundance Institute Feature Film Program. In 2001, the New York Daily News named The Devil’s Music one of the “Top-Ten Off-Broadway Experiences.” Angelo is a member of The Dramatists Guild and member emeritus of the BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, and teaches playwriting at SUNY Rockland Community College (New York). Lastly, Angelo is busy at work writing Playwriting for Dummies, which will hit the bookstores this summer. The playwright dedicates this production to his parents, Edith and Angelo, for their lifelong love and support.

JOE BRANCATO (Director) Off-Broadway: Freed by Charles Smith (Audelco Ward nominee), Tryst (Outer Critics nomination for best Play), Cobb (Drama Desk winner), produced by Kevin Spacey and later co-produced by Mr. Spacey and Garry Marshall at the Falcon Theatre in Los Angeles; From Door to Door, Jeff Solomon’s Santa Claus is Coming Out, One Shot One Kill; Primary Stages: Two and a Half Jews, My Italy Story, Ricky Ian Gordon’s The Matter of Minutes, Escape from Happiness (starring Marsha Mason), The Big Swing, (starring Madeline Kahn, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Marisa Tomei),and Dr. Valentine’s Waltz (starring John Turturro and Laura Linney); Naked Angels: Hold the Wedding, produced by Joseph Papp. Regional: George Street Playhouse, Seattle Rep, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Houston’s Alley Theatre, (Sylvia, Stones in His Pockets, Mere Mortals, Tryst), The Hartford Stage Company, Westport Playhouse, Capital Rep, Merrimack Rep, Boston’s New Rep, Hartford Theatreworks, The Cape Playhouse, Passage Theatre of Trenton and Florida Stage. Joe has staged premiere works by writers such as Arthur Laurents, Ronald Harwood, Wannen Leight, William Mastrosimone, Angelo Parra, Staci Swedeen, Tom Dudzick, and Richard Vetere. Playwright: Drop Dead Perfect and Mae West at Club El Fey (book). Other: Cabaret performances for internationally acclaimed jazz violinist Regina Carter, Robert Klein, Miche Braden, Lainie Kazan, and Jane Olivor, among others. Founder and Artistic Director of the Penguin Rep Theatre in Stony Point, Rockland County NY now in its 33rd season where he and Executive

THE DEVIL’S MUSIC Director Andrew Horn commissioned the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Alan Knee which is the basis for the Oscar nominated film Finding Neverland, starring Johnny Depp. He is the two-time recipient of the Rockland County Executive Award for outstanding contribution to the arts.

BRUCE R. BAILEY (Set Designer) has designed numerous production at the Rep, including Alone Together, Almost Maine, A Christmas Survival Guide, Greetings and My Three Angels for Florida Rep. His other sojourns to Florida include over twenty designs for the Pirate Playhouse in a five year association with the Cacioppos, his favorite production being The Hasty Heart. Bruce has designed in venues throughout the southeast, including Flat Rock Playhouse in Flat Rock, NC where he now resides as technical director. Bruce’s greatest credits are his three beautiful, yet slightly disturbed, daughters, Sydney, Katie and Molly.

PATRICIA E. DOHERTY (Costume Designer) Off Broadway: 59E59th Theatres (Freed, The Housewives of Mannheim); Abingdon Theatre (The Goldman Project). Regional: Seven Angels (The Devil’s Music); Penguin Rep (Around the World in 80 Days, Mrs. Mannerly, Freed, Woman In Black, Women Who Steal, The Goldman Project, Tour de Farce, The Pavilion); Engeman Theatre (Little Women –The Musical); Blossom Music Festival (Man of La Mancha, Inherit The Wind); Cleveland Play House (Boy Meets Girl, The Diary of Anne Frank, Romeo and Juliet, Only Kidding!); Alley Theatre (The Miracle Worker, The Immigrant); Playwrights Theatre, Riverside Theatre, Ensemble Theatre Santa Barbara. New Jersey Rep resident designer (musical premieres: Little Hours, Bookends, Immortal Interlude). TV/New Media: “Unsolved Mysteries,” Pennsylvania Public Television, AT&T Tech Channel.

AMY L. MASSARI (Stage Manager) is delighted to be a member of the Florida Rep family as resident production stage manager. The Devil’s Music is Amy’s fifth production at the Rep, having previously stage managed this season’s productions of August: Osage County, Sylvia and Noises Off, and last season’s Relatively Speaking. Amy would like to thank the brilliant artistic and technical staff here at Florida Rep for all their hard work, and for welcoming her into this wonderful family. Before moving to Florida she spent the past two seasons as the Resident Production Stage Manager for the Bristol Riverside Theatre in Bristol, PA. Amy has been a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association for over twenty years. It has been her privilege to work in some of the countries finest regional theatres: the Alley Theatre (Houston, TX), the Dallas Theatre Center, (Dallas, TX), Stage-West (Springfield, MA), The Pioneer Memorial Theatre, (Salt Lake City, UT), The Colorado Shakespeare Festival, (Boulder, CO), and Queen’s Theatre in the Park, (Queens, NYC, NY) for the twentieth anniversary production of Maltby and Shire’s Closer Than Ever. Amy is happily married to her husband of fourteen years, Michael. Michael is a supportive partner, a gifted artist and a wonderful father to their two children, Jesse Cheyenne and Caleb Dakota.

KATE SMITH (Sound Designer) is happy to return for her second season at Florida Rep. She is a native of Pennsylvania and a graduate from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Kate has worked in many aspects of theater. She most recently served as the Sound and Lighting Designer for FL Rep’s production of The Santaland Diaries. Sound Design credits include Noises Off and Gaslight this season, and last season’s smash hits Boeing Boeing, Trying, and You Can’t Take It With You. Lighting design credits include; Picnic (2009 KC/ACTF Region II Barbizon Award in Lighting Design for IUP) and last year’s Santaland Diaries for Florida Rep. Kate has also worked for Brevard Music Center, NC as Master Electrician, and spent last summer as the light board operator at Flat Rock Playhouse, NC.

TODD O. WREN (Lighting Designer) is delighted to participate in Florida Rep’s continued growth. A special thanks goes to Robert for his commitment to the arts and to you, the audience, for your support. Todd’s theatrical credits include: Good Speed Musicals, Arkansas Repertory, Barter Theatre, Tennessee Repertory, John F. Kennedy Center, Coconut Grove Playhouse, Charlotte Repertory, North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, Downtown Cabaret Theatre, Town and Gown Theatre, Casa Manana and Flatrock Playhouse. Todd is a member of United Scenic Artists, New York Local #829.

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2010-20112010-2011 DONORSDONORS && PLEDGESPLEDGES addedadded asas ofof AprilApril 15,15, 20112011

Director’s Circle $2,500+ Director’s Friend cont. Howard Wheeler Fred MacAthrey Eileen Fisher, Inc. Todd McGee Wanda McLean Theatre Lover $500+ Willie McNickle Misty & John Cooper Thomas Mehalic Abbey Gilchrist Deborah Meisenberg Elaine Perino Executive Friend $250+ Dennis Petersen Dolores Clarke Bentley Pierce Dan Good Mary Reichle Steve Israel Nils Richter Megan Marquardt Barry & Marryann Ritko Angela Schivinski Jake Sedmack Tom & Jill Valesky Pat Stewart Theresa Wiemer Tom Swim Alan & Katherine Tucker Director’s Friend $100+ Joseph Verez Michael Anderson Fran Walenta Marie Ardizzone Marsha Walleck William Atkinson Debbie Micenberg Glenda & David Barkalow Ronald Bourbonnais Friend $50+ Pat Burke Ruth Aikens G Cacioppo Leonisa Ardizzone Tom Germino Jean Dewalt Bruce Gottschalk Jennifer McLean Sharon Jones Angela Nichols Tim Jones Matthew Przybylo William Jones Andrea Rabel Lamotte Kathleen Aimee Scharff James Keller Gary Schellhaas Jeff Kelley Wolfgang Vogel Catherine Krause

Please join us in recognizing and thanking our most recent donors for the 2010-2011 Season. We appreciate your generosity!

THE DEVIL’S MUSIC