Chance Theater proudly presents Anne of Green Gables Book by Joseph Robinette Music and Lyrics by Evelyn D. Swensson Directed by Casey Long* Associate Director Travis K. Donnelly Musical Direction by Bill Strongin* Scenic and Lighting Design by Masako Tobaru* Costume Design by Erika C. Miller* Production Stage Manager Bebe Herrera Dialect Coach Bailey Castle Asst to Associate Director Michael DH Phillips Cast: Anne Shirley .............................................................Angela Griswold Marilla Cuthbert ........................................................Marina Coffee Matthew Cuthbert .....................................................Corky Loupe Diana Barry ...............................................................Nicole Schlitt* Gilbert Blythe ............................................................Xavier J. Watson Josie Pye ..................................................................Emma Nossal Priscilla Andrews ......................................................Maddie Bourgeois Charlie Sloane ..........................................................Brian Wiegel Moody MacPherson ..................................................Will Anderson Minnie May Barry ......................................................Abby Lutes Woman 1 ..................................................................Sherry Domerego* Woman 2 ..................................................................Rachel Oliveros Catalano Man 1 ........................................................................Brandon Kallen Man 2 ........................................................................James Gittelson Stationmaster ...........................................................Alan Corcoran Time: The turn of the 20th Century Places: Act 1 - The Town of Avonlea Act 2 - The Town of Avonlea and Queens Academy Running Time: 2 hours 10 minutes with intermission. * Chance Resident Artist 2015 Season v 1 MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT ONE Where and Why -- Rachel, Marilla Green Gables -- Anne Jesus Loves Me/Have You Heard -- Sunday School Students The Pledge/Amazing Grace -- Anne, Diana, Students Kindred Spirits -- Anne, Diana School Days -- Students Farewell -- Anne, Diana Anne of Green Gables -- Gilbert God’s in His Heaven -- Anne, Diana, Company ACT TWO Deck the Halls -- Company Kindred Spirits (reprise) -- Anne, Diana, Aunt Josephine I Dare You -- Gilbert, Charlie, Moody, Josie, Prissy, Anne, Diana, Minnie May The Charlottetown Rag -- Miss Stacy, Professor Engerrand, Students Pomp and Circumstance March -- Students Shall We Gather at the River -- Company My Little Girl -- Marilla MUSICIAN Piano Alan Corcoran Additional Production Credits Booth Operator Bebe Herrera Master Carpenter Teodora Ramos* Casting Associate Crystal Phillips Load-In Crew Michelle Brescia, Josh Cardenas, Jeff Hellebrand*, Kayla Pajarito, Elena Lucia Perez, Marc Sanford*, Yui Suzuki, Jessica Terris, Heather Young Costume Crew Terry Burns, Breana Chew, Theresa Corcoran, Mary Kay Fyda-Mar, Barbara Phillips, Sarah Figoten Wilson Production Photographer Doug Catiller, True Image Studio Special Thanks Frome Enterprises, The City of Anaheim, Mary Kay Fyda-Mar, Alan Corcoran, CSUF Theatre & Dance Department and Costume Shop, Laguna Beach High School and Angela Irish, UC Irvine Costume Shop, Donna Fritsche at Long Beach Playhouse, Pat Cavins at Chapman University and, of course, Jim Book. ANNE OF GREEN GABLES is produced by special arrangement with DRAMATIC PUBLISHING, Woodstock, Illinois. The video and/or audio recording of this performance by any means whatsoever are strictly prohibited. * Chance Resident Artist A genius for getting into trouble The birth and legacy of a red-haired orphan... Anne of Green Gables, written by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery, was first published in 1908. Originally written as a work of fiction for readers of all ages, it has recently been considered a work of children’s literature. The first in a series of eight books featuring Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables is Montgomery’s most famous work. Montgomery found her inspiration for the book in a newspaper article describing a couple that having been adapted into a popular mini-series was mistakenly sent an orphan girl instead of a featuring Megan Follows and Richard Farnsworth, boy, yet decided to keep her. Having grown up made into several different stage adaptations, a in Prince Edward Island, Montgomery used her television series, and a Japanese anime cartoon. early childhood as a background for the story and the setting of the book. A photograph of Evelyn Anne Shirley’s feminine yet independent spirit has Nesbit, clipped from an American magazine and given generations of girls a strong female role pasted on the wall above Montgomery’s writing model, while offering a taste of another, milder desk, served as the model for the beloved orphan, time in history. This humble story has not left Anne Shirley. the hands of children (young and old) because it reminds us that imagination is not something to The popularity of Anne’s story has not lessened suppress, but to celebrate and pass on to future in the century since it was first put to paper, generations. Evelyn D. Swensson Joseph Robinette has conducted over 80 productions. As Director is the author of 51 published plays and musicals, of Opera Delaware’s Family Theater, she has including The Fabulous Fable Factory, written with commissioned and conducted many new works composer Thomas Tierney, and Charlotte’s Web, including The Boy Who Grew Too Fast by two of the most widely produced children’s plays Gian Carlo Menotti, A Wrinkle in Time by Libby in the United States. He has also dramatized the Larsen, and The Phantom Tollbooth by Harnick/ authorized stage versions of The Lion, the Witch Black/Juster. Her career as a composer began and the Wardrobe, The Paper Chase, and A Rose in 1993 with The Enormous Egg for which she for Emily. The recipient of numerous playwrighting wrote the play, lyrics and music, followed by awards, Robinette was presented the 1976 three with Joseph Robinette: The Adventures Charlotte Chorpenning Cup, given annually by of Beatrix Potter, The Jungle Book, and Anne the Children’s Theatre Association of America of Green Gables. Other collaborations include: to “an outstanding writer of children’s plays who The Wind in the Willows (music by John Rutter), has achieved national recognition.” In 2004, he The Homecoming, Redwall , All Through the received the American Association for Theatre and Night (Mary Higgins Clark), Trumpet of the Swan, Education’s best play award for his adaptation and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. of Sarah, Plain and Tall, and in 2006, he was Frankweiler (Konigsburg). awarded the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America Medallion. 2015 Season v 3 Artist Biographies Angela Griswold (Anne) is so congratulations to Larry and Sophie Cripe for this unbelievably excited to (finally!) wonderful stage that he gets to play and live on. be joining the Chance Theater Nicole Schlitt (Diana) is a proud family. She has performed/starred resident artist of the Chance and is in straight plays and musicals excited to be returning to the stage. across Orange County. Regional: She holds a BA in Theater Arts: Little Sally (Urinetown, The Barn Stage Company). Acting and Directing from Concordia Some other favorite past credits include Wendla University, Irvine. She is thrilled to (Spring Awakening), Kate Monster (Avenue Q), Elle put these skills to use again to bring joy and laughter Woods (Legally Blonde the Musical), and Hermia (A to the Chance audience. Some of her favorite roles Midsummer Night’s “Gay” Dream). She can also be include The Drowsy Chaperone (Drowsy), Till We found on Youtube in projects with MyDamnChannel, Have Faces (Young Orual), and The Cover of Life DailyYou, and PeggleBlast (from EA Games). She (Tood). Nicole would like to thank Chance Theater gives all her love and thanks to her amazing family, for giving her the opportunity to perform again as friends, this incredible cast, and Octobers. well as thanks to her family, friends, mentors and her Marina Coffee (Marilla) is delighted to wonderful husband for all of their love and support. again join the talented folks at Chance Xavier J. Watson (Gilbert) is Theater in this charming retelling of delightfully returning to the Chance the beloved classic Anne of Green after playing Seaweed J. Stubbs Gables. She was also seen as this past summer in Hairspray! He Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret, Pam graduated with honors from the in The Boy in the Bathroom, and multiple characters American Academy of Dramatic Arts, in the Chance’s “staged radio” outreach production of receiving the Charles Jehlinger Award for Excellence Murder by the Book, conceived and written by Chance in Acting, the institution’s highest honor. He then actor Beach Vickers. Marina has performed leading received a full scholarship to attend South Coast and featured roles in plays and musicals around Repertory’s world-renowned Acting Intensive Program. southern California, including productions at Laguna Professional credits include the world premiere of High Playhouse, Alternative Repertory Theater, Long School Musical 2: On Stage (Fox Theatre Atlanta), Beach Playhouse, Breath of Fire Theater, Camino A Christmas Carol (South Coast Repertory) and Real Playhouse, and South Coast Repertory. She has When Stars Align (The Odyssey Theatre). Aside from had piles of fun appearing in nine staged readings, singing and dancing, Xavier is also an accomplished