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The IRC’s Mission is to bring classic absurdist theatre to an international audience in the Philadelphia region. These rarely-produced, renowned plays explore and illuminate the human purpose and meaning, promoting reflection about the human condition in a contemporary world. Our dedicated group of artists invites you to explore with us these questions and share the word with friends; since 2006, a loyal IRC audience has been built largely through word of mouth. PRODUCTIONS 2019 Dream Girl by Elmer Rice Betty’s Summer Vacation by Christopher Durang Come Back, Little Sheba by William Inge 2018 Time Remembered (Leocadia) by Jean Anouilh The Eccentricities of a Nightingale by Tennessee Williams 2017 The Enchanted by Jean Giraudoux Into the Absurd: Reading of The Witnesses by Tadeusz Różewicz Into the Absurd: Reading of A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur by Tennessee Williams The Bald Soprano by Eugène Ionesco 2016 The Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol Into the Absurd: Reading of The American Dream by Edward Albee Into the Absurd: Readings of The Radio Plays of Beckett and Pinter The Chairs by Eugène Ionesco 2015 Misalliance by George Bernard Shaw Exit the King by Eugène Ionesco All in the Timing by David Ives 2014 Ondine by Jean Giraudoux Rhinoceros by Eugène Ionesco A Streetcar Named Durang by Christopher Durang 2013 Paradise Park by Charles L. Mee The Castle by Franz Kafka 2012 Marriage: An Utterly Improbable Occurrence by Nikolai Gogol Ivona, Princess of Burgundia by Witold Gombrowicz 2011 The Empire Builders by Boris Vian The Arsonists (The Firebugs) by Max Frisch 2010 The Gnädiges Fraulien by Tennessee Williams The Madwoman of Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux 2009 The Lesson by Eugène Ionesco The Chairs by Eugène Ionesco 2008 Oh! For the Love of Love!: Durang, Beckett & Ionesco A Streetcar Named Durang: The Parodies of Christopher Durang 2007 Victims of Duty by Eugène Ionesco Four of a Kind: Pinter, Durang, Beckett & Ionesco 2006 Three One Acts: Albee, Beckett & Ionesco June 2019 Over 70% of our funding from our $100K annual budget comes Welcome! from audience and individual supporters. Every penny of your donation is placed in service of these adventures, which you clearly A colleague first introduced me to Betty’s Summer Vacation 10 see expressed on this stage – the set, costumes and lighting and the years ago. At that time, four years into the IRC’s existence, we were characters and crew working within this small theater budget to busy mining the European absurdist writers and developing our make this happen. Your contributions have a huge impact on this aesthetic, so Betty was placed on our short list. Over the three tiny theater company and over the years have enabled us to expand years since the election, when it felt like the world changed our programming as the region’s purveyors of absurdist style. So overnight, we have been searching for plays that illustrate the thank you. We tip our handmade hats to you. exasperation, the sense of annihilation, the discontent and the overall exhaustion we have come to know. Betty’s place on the short list quickly jumped to the top spot. Since its inception in 2006, the IRC has tested, explored and fashioned a way of working -- a unique business model as quirky as the artistic statement is. Captured beautifully in the film Phantom Tina Brock Thread, I was reminded of the beauty of the labor-intensive hand Producing Artistic Director crafted process -- cutting and sewing to specifics, adding feathers, The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy sequins and flourishes, simplifying, cutting and trimming as the creation progresses. Working over a longer period allows the needed breathing room, providing a luxury of time necessary to explore the aspects that bring us joy, and the breath that renders SPECIAL THANKS the whole process meaningful and instructive. The return on investment is the joy of working and growing with spirited artists -- Victor Keen and Jeanne Ruddy performers, designers and audience who appreciate that Greg Campbell handcrafted feel of the work that comes from many hours devoted Erica Hoelscher to a labor of love. There simply isn’t enough money in the world Robin Rodriguez that can sustain that experience or feeling, and that alone makes it Peggy Mecham all worthwhile. I am indebted to the designers and performers on Marcia Ferguson this show who certainly gave this production tenfold more in sweat Kyle Amick and Kathyrn McCumber, Walnut Street Theatre equity than the paychecks they earned. Christopher Durang: thank Ben Doranz you for your many years of creating plays about our absurd Avista Custom Theatrical Services existence that feature delicious highly-charged characters we all Gerald Kolpan - The Philo Project recognize and love to see in a room together. Brandi Burgess and The Bearded Ladies/Beard Cave Mark your calendars for Fringe 2019 in September, when we present William Inge’s Come Back, Little Sheba at the evocative Bethany Mission Gallery. Continuing in 2020, we’ll interpret works by Caryl Churchill, Enda Walsh and Tennessee Williams as we explore the absurdity lurking beneath and on the surface of our everyday lives, exploring how ridiculous, beautiful and intertwined our relationships are in an anxiety-ridden world. (continued on inside back cover) CONTRIBUTORS Water Wings Betty’s Summer Vacation $1.00 - $49.99 by Oleg Brovender Gianna-Lozzi Wolf Christopher Durang Timothy P. Carey William Mulherin Donald Carter Lee Saldinger Directed by Sandra Chaff Lois Shestack Tina Brock Joy Gorson Jamie Shuster Jimmy Guckin Diane Zilka Jeanette Hartunian Michael Zuckerman Scenic Design Dirk Durossette E Ashley Izard Costume Design Millie Hiibel The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium Lighting Design Board of Directors Joshua L. Schulman Tina Brock Norman Ellman Sound Design Melissa Feliciani Adrianno Shaplin Erica Hoelscher Stage Manager/Board Operator Bob Schmidt Madison Caudullo Artistic Advisory Board Andrew J. Carroll Set Construction Marcia Ferguson Stage Rats, LLC: Peggy Mecham Technical Director Amanda Schoonover Tom Fusco Advisory Committee Set Construction/Scenic Painting Ben Doranz Andrew Robinson & Jessica Rottkamp Susan Feagin (Ex Officio) Gail Furman Properties Greg Nanni Tina Brock & Mark Williams Robin Rodriguez Ways and Means Coordinator Larry Wilkins (Ex Officio) Bob Schmidt Photoshop Magic Bill Brock Photography PO Box 63872 Johanna Austin / AustinArt.org Philadelphia, PA 19147 www.IdiopathicRidiculopathyConsortium.org Betty’s Summer Vacation is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. CONTRIBUTORS Betty’s Summer Vacation by Life Bouy $100.00 - $249.99 Christopher Durang Eliud Alvarado Rodriguez Michael Lynch Mary Ashley Peggy Mecham Herman and Madeline Axelrod Bill and Vikki Monaghan Cast of Characters Harry F. Bambrick Jane Moore Betty……………………………..…........................................Kirsten Quinn Robert and Donna Castle James Perretta Trudy…………………………………………………………Amanda Schoonover * John and Alberta Chiaravalloti James Pritchett & Frances White Keith…………………………………………………………………Anthony Crosby John and Theresa D'Alonzo Kathleen Quinn Mrs. Seizmagraff…….……………………………………….……..…Tina Brock Elizabeth Denton Philip Reeves Buck………………………..…………………………………….………..Chris Fluck Donald & Geraldine Duclow Christopher and Jennifer Rule Neil and Mercedez Durkin Carla Sarett Mr. Vanislaw……..……………………………………………………….Bill Rahill James Frazier Anita Schmukler Voice One.……………………………………………………………Josh Hitchens Gail Furman Gary Swisher Voice Two…..………………………………………………………Kassy Bradford Andrew and Myrna Gentsch Albert Them & Jane Rutledge Voice Three…………………………………………………..………Carlos Forbes Michael Golden & Shelley Green Stephen and Mrs. Johnne Tint Mary L. Goldman & Debbie Weiner Robert J. Wallner Running time is approximately 85 minutes, Anna Goldstein David and Renee Weisband with no intermission. Margaret Harris David Wierz Roberta Kangilaski Colin Wolfe and Debbie Aguruso Marta Kiesling Ekaterina Zalenskaya Betty’s Summer Vacation is made possible, in part, by generous support Michael and Barbara Lefkoe Susan Zawislak from Wyncote Foundation; The Philadelphia Cultural Fund; The Charlotte Cushman Foundation; The Virginia Brown Martin Fund of The Philadelphia Life Jacket Foundation; The Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts program of the $50.00 - $99.99 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, funded by the Commonwealth of Charles & Donna Barksdale Fred Jackes & Judy Adamson Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, with support also provided by PECO and administered regionally by the Greater Philadelphia Nancy Berenson Justine Kalas Reeves Cultural Alliance; Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, and by the Alan and Ronnie Bronstein Fred & Carol Kueppers generosity of you, our loyal and growing audience -- over 70% of our annual Cynthia D'Ambrosio & John Ianacone Denise La Marra & Mark Wilhelm budget is generated through ticket sales and individual donations. Thomas and Deborah Davis Joan Lapayowker Jesse Delaney Moe and Sandy Lebo Marcia Ferguson Ruth Levikoff Restrooms are located on this floor, Mary Frantz Nadine Lomakin at the end of the hallway. Gertrude D. Furman Margaret Lonzetta Stephen Geraci Brett Mapp and Morgan Hugo Roseann Gill Bob and Nancy Megley The IRC is a proud participant in the Barrymore Awards for Robert Gorchov Antonio Merenda Excellence in Theatre, a program of Theatre Philadelphia Julia Baylor Harton Kirsten Quinn & Ari Bank www.theatrephiladelphia.org Jean R. Haskell Ismail & Sara Rabinovic Thomas and Maureen Herninko Nanette Steffenhagen
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