OUR SPONSORS ABOUT CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY

Chevron (Season Sponsor) has been the Center REP is the resident, professional JOIN CENTER REP IN leading corporate sponsor of Center REP theatre company of the Lesher Center for the CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY and the Lesher Center for the Arts for the Arts. Our season consists of six productions DECEMBER FOR Michael Butler, Artistic Director Scott Denison, Managing Director past twelve years. In fact, Chevron has been a year – a variety of musicals, dramas and a partner of the LCA since the beginning, comedies, both classic and contemporary, A CHRISTMAS CAROL providing funding for capital improvements, that continually strive to reach new levels of event sponsorships and more. Chevron artistic excellence and professional standards.. generously supports every Center REP show “THE Christmas Carol to see in the Bay Area.” throughout the season, and is the primary Our mission is to celebrate the power of the -Contra Costa Times sponsor for events including the Chevron human imagination by producing emotionally Family Theatre Festival in July. Chevron engaging, intellectually involving, and visually Dancing has proven itself not just as a generous astonishing live theatre, and through Outreach supporter, but also a valued friend of the arts. and Education programs, to enrich and advance the cultural life of the communities Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA) we serve. (Season Partner) is both the primary essons fundraising organization of the Lesher What does it mean to be a producing L Center for the Arts (LCA) and the City of theatre? We hire the finest professional Walnut Creek’s appointed curator for the directors, actors and designers to create our LCA’s audience outreach. DRAA’s role in the productions at Center REP. These are not By Mark St. Germain community is all about building partnerships touring productions – they’re conceived and 6 – 16 by with the focused goal of enhancing artistic developed here, the sets and costumes are december Charles Dickens quality at the LCA and providing opportunities built in our shops, and the actors rehearse in adapted by Cynthia Caywood & Richard L. James for everyone to enjoy the arts. Through our rehearsal hall. Whether the production directed by Scott Denison partnerships with the LCA and its producers, is a Bay Area premiere or a Shakespearean The Resident Professional Season Partner Season Sponsor Scenic & Lighting Designer Costume Designer Sound & Projections Designer Theatre Company of the Lesher Center for the Arts individual donors, corporate and foundation classic, each is devised to be a one of a kind, Michael Butler ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Scott Denison MANAGING DIRECTOR Kent Dorsey Brooke Jennings Teddy Hulsker sponsors and the City of Walnut Creek, artistic creation that will be a unique theatre www.CenterREP.org

Carol16_poster.indd 1 9/17/2018 9:26:33 AM DRAA plays a vital role in advancing the experience for our audience. www.C enterREP.org arts for the betterment of the community. Choreographer Stage Manager Please visit us online at www.draa.org. What does it mean to be a professional Jennifer Perry Sara Sparks* theatre? It means that all our artists and Center REPertory Company Lesher Foundation (Foundation Sponsor) As artisans are career theatre-practitioners. Michael Butler Artistic Director Scott Denison Managing Director the namesake family for the Lesher Center The actors in this production are members for the Arts, the Lesher Foundation has of Actors’ Equity Association; our directors Production Manager Costume Staff provided funding to Center REP and the and designers are members of professional Jeff Collister Miranda Lenore Technical Director Stephanie Weldon Cast Lesher Center since the Center opened in unions. All do theatre because it is their Joshua Lipps Props Manager 1990. Their support has had a profound profession and their passion. . Master Electrician Roger Anderson Del Medoff Marketing impact on the quality of Center REP’s Carpenters Marketing Associate Craig Marker* Sharon Rietkerk* productions and has greatly enhanced the We are very proud to have the opportunity Kevin Bennett Morgan Mitchell Trevor Frey Education experience for Center REP’s audiences. to produce professional theatre for our Arian Grimsrud Education Directors Grant-making decisions are based on the community in the beautiful theatres here at Gabriel Johnson Jeff Draper Brennan Shreves Kerri Shawn vision of Dean and Margaret Lesher who felt the Lesher Center for the Arts. Thank you for Asst. Stage Manager Casting Director quality education, diverse art programs, and your support. Joe Coe Jennifer Perry Directed by Joy Carlin Production Assistants Asst. to the Managing healthy children and families are the building Desiree Alcocer Director Miranda Ketchum Gail Pfeifer blocks of a strong and vibrant community. World Premiere, August 13, 2014 at Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield, MA Costume Shop Manager Program/Webmaster Bethany Deal Linda Nomura Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director Wardrobe Supervisor Alea Gonzales DANCING LESSONS premiered in August 2014 at Barrignton Stage Company (Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director) in Pittsfield, MA. It was directed by Julianne Boyd: THANK YOU TO: the choreography was by Christine O'Grady; the set design was by James J. Fenton; the costume design was by Sara Jean Tosetti; the lighting design was by Mary Louise Geiger; the projection design was by Andrew Bauer; the sound design was by Will Pickens; the production stage manager was Renee Lutz.

THANK YOU TO THE STAFF OF THE Deanne Detmers, CITY COUNCIL DANCING LESSONS is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York LESHER CENTER FOR THE ARTS Behavior Intervention for Autism Justin Wedel, Mayor Rich Carlston Production Services Audience Services Margaret Lesher Theatre Loella Haskew Coordinator Coordinator Stewart Johnston October 19 - November 17, 2018 Toni Kilcoyne Courtney Egg Cindy Silva Technical Staff Ticket Office Staff Johnston Medical Supply Inc Lesher Center for the Arts Steve Pino Jeremiah Vierling Kevin Wilk Alex Bull Rami Kim ARTS COMMISSION Season Season Partner Foundation Sponsor Chris Currie Robert Nolan Kerri Shawn Jane Emanuel, Chair CITY MANAGER Sponsor Hanna Johnson Larry Acosta Glynnis Cowdery, Lexie Oswald Bailey Ferris Dan Buckshi Garrick Schuster Jennifer Haga Robert Reich Vice Chair Josh Stouffer Brandon Lawrence Iasmine Klauber DIRECTOR, Arts + Rec *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States Josh Yarnell Shannon Taylor Ann Merideth The Scenic and Lighting Designer is a member of United Scenic Artists Union Steve Young Usher Coordinator Massimo’s Ristorante Kevin Safine The Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society Pat Mitchell Anita Sagástegui Center REP is a member of Theatre Bay Area and Theatre Communications Group (TCG), The National Organization for the American Theatre CAST PROFILES MARK ST. GERMAIN (Playwright) Mark St. KENT DORSEY (Scenic & Lighting Designer) the Bay Area Theater Critics Circle in 2018. MICHAEL BUTLER (Artistic Director) This Germain's play Freud’s Last Session ran for two has designed over thirty world premieres for His installations and performances have been is Michael’s thirteenth season as Artistic Senga Quinn ...... Sharon Rietkerk* CRAIG MARKER* (Ever years Off-Broadway, and enjoyed successful Theatre, Opera and Dance and created over seen and felt in San Francisco, Oakland, Berlin, Director of Center REP, where his directing Ever Montgomery ...... Craig Marker* Montgomery) returns to international productions in Argentina, 300 designs nationwide and internationally New York, Detroit, and LA. Recent original credits include The Liar, Women in Jeopardy, Center REP having starred Sweden, Australia and Denmark. His play including scenery and/or lighting on 98 creations include the installation Spoken- Baskerville, ‘Art,’ Anything Goes, Clybourne in productions of The Liar, Becoming Dr. Ruth also ran Off-Broadway and productions for San Diego’s Old Globe Word-Disco-Karaoke, Klanghaus Forever Park, Real Housewives of Walnut Creek, and TIME AND PLACE Marriage of Figaro, Mousetrap, has been produced at theatres throughout the Theatre. His New York theater productions Seminar and Barn Owl which was created in To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as the Shellie and Arms and the Man, Clybourne country. Mark’s other plays include Camping include Alligator Tales, About Time, The collaboration with playwright Evan Johnson. BATCC Award-winning productions of Around The Present Park, and Deathtrap. Recent credits include with Henry and Tom (Lucille Lortel and Outer Cocktail Hour, Yankee Dawg You Die, Suds, the World in 80 Days, A Midsummer Night’s Another Antigone and Silence. He has worked JENNIFER PERRY (Choreographer) has been Dream, Enchanted April, and Witness For The An apartment in New York City his roles as King Henry VIII and James I in Critics Circle Awards), Ears On a Beatle, The Anne Boleyn and Nick Bright in Invisible Hand God Committee, The Best of Enemies and as both lighting and/or scenic designer for teaching Ballet and Theatre classes for over Prosecution. His directing work has also been at Marin Theatre Company, and Frederick Out of Gas on Lover’s Leap. Mark wrote such notable directors as Jerry Zaks, Jack 25 years. She was lucky to have studied and seen at San Jose Rep, Cleveland Playhouse, O’Brien, Ellis Rabb, Oskar Eustis, Adrian Hall, trained with her grandmother, Lareen Fender Seattle Rep, Laguna Playhouse, ACT in Seattle, NOTES FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Fellows in Noises Off at San Francisco the Tammy Wynette Musical Stand By Your Playhouse. Mr. Marker has performed for Man, which began at the Ryman Theater in John Hirsch, John Tillinger, Brian Bedford, at The Ballet School Performing Arts. Directing Marin Theatre Company, Aurora Theatre Edward Payson Call, John Rando, Tony Credits Include: Billy Elliot, Gypsy (Shellie Company, San Jose Stage, Shakespeare Santa Welcome to the West Coast Premiere California Shakespeare Theater, San Jose Nashville. With composer Charles Strouse he Taccone, Richard E.T. White, Timothy Near Award), Joseph and the Amazing.., A Chorus Cruz, and The Juilliard School, of which he is a of Dancing Lessons, playwright Mark St. Repertory Theatre, Portland Center Stage, La co-wrote the book for his adaption of Dreiser’s and Sharon Ott. He also has designed for Line (BATCCA), OKLAHOMA! (Shellie Award), graduate. As an actor, Michael has worked on Germain’s heartfelt, hilarious and unique Jolla Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, "American Tragedy." With composer Randy most of the major resident theater companies 42nd Street, and Guys and Dolls all for Contra Broadway (Macbeth with Glenda Jackson and spin on the romantic comedy. I’m a big fan American Conservatory Theatre, The San Courts Mark has written the perennial musical including the Kennedy Center, The Ahmanson, Costa Musical Theatre. Red Hot and Cole for Christopher Plummer and Two Shakespearean of rom-coms. I’m always surprised that Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Aurora The Gifts of the Magi as well as Johnny Pye and American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Role Players Ensemble. Choreography Credits Actors), Off Broadway (Roundabout, The more playwrights don’t work in this genre. Theatre Company, TheatreWorks, Shotgun the Foolkiller (AT&T Award Grant) and Jack’s Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, include: Billy Elliot, Gypsy, The Music Man Public Theatre), in regional theatres (The In the best of movie rom-coms, characters Players, Barbican Theatre (UK), Birmingham Holiday (Playwrights Horizons). Television the Geffen Playhouse, Seattle Repertory (Shellie Award,) Les Miserables (CCMT), 25th Guthrie, Arena Stage, Long Wharf), film and are very verbal; they talk alot (think of all Repertory Theatre (UK), Edinburgh Fringe work includes Writer/Creative Consultant for Theater, South Coast Repertory, Oregon Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Sweet television, as well as in REP’s productions of the great conversations between Sally and Festival (UK), and the Cyprus International "The Cosby Show" and Dick Wolf’s "Crime Shakespeare Festival, and the Los Angeles Charity, and Xanadu (Shellie Award) - all Mirandolina!, The Mousetrap, Noises Off and Harry) and plays depend on dialogue for Festival of Greek Drama. Mr. Marker is a and Punishment." He co-wrote director Theatre Center. Kent's opera work includes for Center REP, Joseph and the Amazing... Rumors. He is a published songwriter and the almost everything. It seems like an obvious graduate of Cal State East Bay’s theatre Carroll Ballard’s film "Duma" and produced Scenery, Projection and Lighting Design for (Shellie Award), Hairspray (BATCCA, Shellie co-writer and composer of numerous music- match. Many of literature’s greatest hits are program and is a proud member of Actors’ and directed the documentary "My Dog, An the World Premier of The Conquistador (San Award), A Chorus Line (BATCCA), Cinderella theatre pieces, which have been produced in rom-coms. Jane Austen and Shakespeare Equity Association. For the latest news and Unconditional Love Story," with Richard Gere, Diego Opera) productions for Chicago Opera (Shellie Award Winner), Disney's Beauty and NY, LA, and at festivals in India and Morocco. excelled at them (all that antagonistic verbal info go to craig-marker.com. A special tribute Glenn Close, Edward Albee and others. Mark Theatre, Palm Beach Opera, Opera San Jose The Beast, Annie, Sound of Music, Titanic In his career as a performer he has also danced foreplay between Lizzie and Darcy in Pride & is offered to his mother, Linda Marker. also wrote the award-winning children’s book and Virginia Opera. He is excited to return to the Musical and many other original pieces. with the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, Prejudice, all that romantic mayhem between “Three Cups." Mark is an Associate Artist of Center REP. www.KentDorseyDesigns.com Favorite roles include: Cassie (A Chorus Line), portrayed the villainous Pierre LeChance on the lovers in Midsummer Night’s Dream) and SHARON RIETKERK* (Senga the Barrington Stage Company, a recipient of Frenchy (Grease), Bonnie Jean (Brigadoon), “The Guiding Light," and played guitar and Henry Fielding’s Tom Jones, one of the earliest Quinn) has been seen at Center the William Inge Festival’s New Voices Award, BROOKE JENNINGS (Costume Designer) is Louise (Carousel), Mary Warren (Crucible), harmonica in many rock, blues, and country novels in English, is basically a big, rowdy rom- REP in The Liar, Billie Dawn and a member of the Dramatists Guild and the an award-winning costume designer and Jennie Mae (Diviners), Ghost of Christmas western bands at all the notable dives in NYC. com, although an especially bawdy one. in Born Yesterday (Theatre Writer’s Guild East. He is an alumnus of New teaching artist whose work has been seen in Past (A Christmas Carol, Shellie Nominee,) Bay Area Award), Rumors, Dramatists. SCOTT DENISON (Managing Director) has more than 50 productions across the Bay Area. Suzy Hendrix (Wait Until Dark) and Bonnie And yet, on stage, rom-coms are few, and far and Xanadu. Other regional been the General Manager for the Lesher Her other recent credits include You Mean To (Anything Goes, Shellie Award). Jennifer is between. credits: Elinor Dashwood in JOY CARLIN (Director) was an Center for the Arts since it opened 28 years Do Me Harm, Entomologist’s Love Story, The a proud member of Fantasy Forum Actor's the world premiere of Jane Austen's Sense actor, director and teacher at ago and has worked for the Arts in this area Effect, Barbecue, Colossal, The Nether (San Ensemble www.fantasyforum.org and is Whether a film, novel or a play, what all rom- and Sensibility at Chicago Shakespeare A.C.T. since 1969. She served for over 45 years. Scott has directed over Francisco Playhouse); Iron Shoes (Shotgun thrilled to be going into her 24th year of coms have in common are insurmountable and the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego as its Associate Artistic Director 150 productions, including The Wizard of Oz, Players, asst. designer), Caesar Maximus, teaching for Center REP's Young REP Acting odds between the protagonists. Lizzie and (Noel Craig Award nomination); Roxanne from 1987 - 1992. From 1981- the musical hit Cinderella, Disney’s Beauty Roman Women, Ondine (We Players), Phèdre Training Program, where she serves as co- Darcy appear to hate each other. Harry and in Cyrano, Triangle (Bay Area Critics Award) 1984 she was an Actor and and the Beast, Hairspray, The Music Man, (Cutting Ball Theater), A Lie of the Mind, Bad director of the Musical Theatre Program. Sally can’t agree on anything. Dancing Lessons’ Emma, Marry Me A Little (Theater Bay Area Resident Director at the Berkeley Les Misérables and for the past 20 seasons Jews (Magic Theatre, asst. designer), #bros, Jennifer is the Casting Director for Center playwright has crafted a unique impediment Award), Little Women, The Secret Garden Rep and served as its Interim Artistic Director Center REP’s A Christmas Carol as well as Every 28 Hours (FaultLine Theater). Brooke is REPertory Company. Jennifer is the owner to romance (which I won’t spoil for you here) (TheatreWorks Silicon Valley); Candida in A from 1983-1984. She most recently acted in all Fantasy Forum productions since 1970. the 2015 recipient of the Theatre Bay Area’s and director of Lareen Fender's The Ballet but it’s one that provides a fascinating, multi- Minister’s Wife (San Jose Repertory Theater); Marin Theatre Company’s Marjorie Prime and He created and produces the annual Shellie Best Costume Design award for We Players’ School Performing Arts which is home to the layered look at the challenges of human How the Other Half Loves, The Illusion, and The Beauty Queen of Leenane and directs at Awards now celebrating 40 years. Scott has Ondine at Sutro. She has received several Performing Arts Studio. www.theballetschool. interaction. Gunmetal Blues (North Coast Repertory most Bay Area Theatres, most recently G.B. also designed lights for over 250 productions, nominations from Bay Area Theatre Critics org #LiveJoyCreateHope Theater, San Diego); Triangle (Lyric Theatre Shaw’s Widowers' Houses at Aurora Theatre. including the national touring production of Circle. Why do I love rom-coms? Rom-coms give of Oklahoma). Ms. Rietkerk performed in Sylvia. Under Denison’s guidance the Lesher SARA SPARKS* (Stage Manager) was last us hope that even in what seems like our concert with the San Francisco Symphony Center for the Arts presents over 850 public TEDDY HULSKER (Sound & Projections seen at Center REP as the Stage Manager for hopelessly complicated lives, there’s reason in its SoundBox series with her husband, events each year. He coordinates performing Designer) is a San Francisco Bay Area born Shirley Valentine. She has worked all around for optimism. Change may be possible. Love Principal Trombone Timothy Higgins. Rietkerk arts activities with over 100 producers and and based multidisciplinary theater artist, the Bay, including TheatreWorks, California may find us. We don’t have to end up alone. plays Jane Fairfax in the new film of "Emma" producing organizations. Scott created the designer and program director of the artist Shakespeare Theater, Shotgun Players, We might be understood after all. And what available at StreamingMusicals.com. She has Chevron Family Theatre Festival which hosts ensemble Klanghaus. Recent design credits Aurora Theatre Company, 42nd Street Moon, begin as dancing lessons may become lessons also performed in concert with the Grammy- over 7,000 guests each year. He is also the include Sunday in the Park With George at San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, San Jose in the dance of life. nominated Bay Brass, South Coast, and Managing Director of the Center REPertory the San Francisco Playhouse, Eureka Day at Stage Company, Pear Theatre, Palo Alto Bear Valley Symphonies, Feinstein's, and at Company producing professional productions Aurora Theater, and In Case of Moon Disaster Players, Silicon Valley Shakespeare, Eugenie the Park at Wrigley Field in Chicago. www. each season and is the director and co- with Mugwumpin. He received the Landisman Chan Theater Projects and RE:ACT. She is sharonrietkerk.com founder of Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble, Fellowship for Emerging Designer in 2012 and also a lighting designer, recently designing an adult family performing arts company was awarded Best Sound Design for his work Uncanny Valley, Major Barbara, and Uncle which presents programs for the young and on Warplay with theater company NCTC by Vanya at Pear Theatre. Young at Heart.