WEST VALLEY LIGHT OPERA PRESENTS Our 40th Season:2004-2005 Performing at the SARATOGA CIVIC THEATER 13777 FRUITVALE AVE. in SARATOGA Nov.-Dec. 2004 Welcome to West Valley Light Opera Association's First Production of its 40th Season If you enjoy the community theater productions you have seen in this theater tell your friends and pick up the fliers/brochures/cards in the lobby. There are holders on the walls by the side entrance for both West Valley Light Opera and Saratoga Drama Group which contain information on upcoming productions, cards to place your name on their mailing lists and order forms for tickets to their future productions. Please feel free to take them and use them for future reference. It is only through your support that we are able to bring you such "professional" productions at such a reasonable price. Thank you for your continued support. LAST CHANCE TO SUBSCRIBE FOR THE NEW SEASON: 2004-2005 We invite you to become a subscriber to our upcoming season with a Special Offer! If you purchased an individual ticket to this production, we offer you the op- portunity to turn in your ticket stub for a credit on a subscription for our 2004-2005 season. To take advantage of this offer, obtain a blue Subscription Form from the lobby, complete the form, attach your ticket stub which shows the performance date and assigned seat and remit it with a stamped, self-addressed envelope along with your check or credit card number for the balance of the subscription. Send them to WVLO at the address shown on the Subscription Form. We will then process this form, assign your seats for the remaining productions of "Smokey Joe's Cafe" and "Flower Drum Song" and mail your tickets. Don't miss this chance to enjoy the rest of our 40th season]! Offer good only until December 4, 2004!! IN MEMORIAM Frederick Hassett: 1920-2004 Fred was a great character actor throughout his theatrical career in the Bay Area and appeared in some of our productions, including "Hello, Doily!", "I Do! I Do!", and "Annie". He appeared in movies with Who'opi Goldberg and several other famous film stars. Fred loved to perform in the mysteries written by his wife, Katie, for their business, Mystery By Design. He will be missed by all in our theatrical community. Music and Lyrics by Roger Miller Book by William Hauptman Adapted from the novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain Starring Robert Summers as Jim and Daniel Wood as Huckleberry Finn And Featuring Gary Beytin, Les Dale, Karin Hughes, Matthew Tipton and Laura Toby Director: Becky W Brownson Music & Vocal Director: Diane "Mom" Reynolds Choreographer: Michael MacLaren Producer: Elizabeth Dale • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Gala Opening: Saturday, November 6 . 8:00 PM • • • Fridays: Nov. 12, 19,26, Dec. 3 . 8:00 PM • • Saturdays: Nov. 13,20,27, Dee. 4 . 8:00 PM • • Saturday Matinee: Nov. 20 . 2:30 PM • • • • Sunday Matinees: Nov. 7, 14,21,28 . 2:30 PM • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • "Big River" is presented through special arrangement with Rodgers & Hammerstein Theatre Library, 1065 Avenue of the Americas, Sre. 2400, New York, NY 10018 Visit our web site: www.wvlo.org e-mail: [email protected] 24-Hour Voice Mail: (408) 268-3777 A Note From The Director ''All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn." -Ernest Hemingway, from Green Hills of Africa (1935) When my son was only nine or ten years old, he came home from school one day and told me of a friend who had been suspended from school for using the "N" word. After discussing the situation with him, I realized that he didn't even know what the word meant, or why it was bad. He had no sense of perspective on Ameri- can race relations. He knew that slavery had existed, and he knew about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the fight for civil rights, but he didn't really understand. How could a society that supports a democratic government, and liberty and justice for all, also support the buying and selling of human beings and determine that one man is superior to another by the color of his skin? To a nine-year old, it is baffling. I had to remember that when I was his age, I was equally baffled. I watched the race riots of the 60's on our black and white Tv. I listened to King's speech on the radio. I grieved with the nation when he died. And I learned with the rest of the nation, that the "N" word must forever be driven from our vocabulary and from our hearts. I knew I had to help my children gain perspective and understand. What better way is there to gain historical perspective than through the lit- erature of the time, and what better way to begin than with "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"? The book was written by Mark Twain only a short time after the Civil War. First published in 1884, it painted a portrait of America as it had been before the war, and would never be again. Although the story almost overflows with wit and humor, Twain never shies away from the moral issues of the time. He gives us Huck, who is youthful, coarse, and barely literate, yet who somehow manages again and again, to make the right moral choices, and to uphold the virtues of freedom, justice and friendship. He gives us Jim, whose desperate flight for freedom is fueled by his paternal instincts, and is almost foiled by his loyalty, kindness, and innate nobility. Together, as these unlikely companions flee down the mighty Mississippi, they meet a myriad of fascinating characters and cope with a variety of conflicts, but with every mile their friendship grows. So it was with great pleasure that I accepted the opportunity to explore this story, by directing "Big River", not only because of its lively wit, its wonderful characters and its rollicking music, but because of the journey. It has been wonder- ful to explore Twain's book and its predecessor "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" in preparation for this staging. Staging it has been, in Jim's words, "considerable trouble and considerable joy". Becky W Brownson 2 CAST OF CHARACTERS Huckleberry Finn Daniel Wood Jim Robert Summers Widow Douglas Laura Toby Miss Watson, Tart Valerie Ann Bubb Judge Thatcher, Harvey Wilkes, Silas Phelps Dan Zulevic Tom Sawyer David Jackson Ben Rodgers, Hank Steven Mclellan Jo Harper, Tart Liana Madison Dick, Andy, Young Fool Paul Buszkiewicz Simon Ethan Fang Pap Finn, Councelor Robinson Gary Beytin Strange Woman, Sally Phelps, Church Lady Lesley Anne Ruzon Alice, Slave Soloist. Tracy Camp Duke, Mark Twain, Doctor Les Dale King, Teacher Matthew Tipton Mary Jane Wilkes, Church Lady Karin Hughes Betsy, Alice's Daughter, Slave Niki Aquino Cindy, Alice's Daughter, Slave Nisha Oza Susan Wilkes, Church Lady, Tart Megan Gravenstein Joanna Wilkes, School Girl, Daughter. Caitlin Springs Sheriff Bell, Minister, Lafe Tony Zambito School Girl Nicole Zambito Hillbillies Gary Beytin, Ethan Fang, Karin Hughes, Laura Toby, David Jackson, Nicole Zambito Mourners, Pall Bearers/Overseers Valerie Ann Bubb, Paul Buszkiewicz, Ethan Fang, David Jackson, Liana Madison, Steven Mclellan, Lesley Anne Ruzon, Laura Toby, Nicole Zambito, Tony Zambito Hired Hands, First & Second Men, Movers ..... Paul Buszkiewicz, David Jackson, Steven Mclellan, Tony Zambito Understudies Understudy for Huck and Tom Paul Buszkiewicz Understudy for Pap Finn Matthew Tipton 3 ORCHESTRA Conductor: Diane "Mom" Reynolds Trumpet: Yuval Oren Trombone: Dan Singletary, Don Brownson Reeds/Flute: Marty McHan Guitar: Nathan Kavanaugh Bass: Joel Wilson Percussion: Dori Shimer, Jeff Baker Piano: "Mom" Reynolds ON STAGE Fiddler: Priscilla LaRocca Guitar/Banjo: Tony Lacy-Peterson Harmonica: David Heller Not all musicians will play at all performances. WINNERS OF THE 2003-2004 ERMA AWARDS Best Show Edward Hand & Nancy Kwong, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" Best Actor Paul Buszkiewicz, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" Best Actress Megan Tipton, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" Best Supporting Actor Michael MacLaren, "Hello, Dolly" Best Supporting Actress Donna Rapa-Olsen, ''A Chorus Line" Best Character Actor Tony Feenan, "Hello, Dolly" Best Character Actress Geri Carlson Sauls, ''A Chorus Line" The annual Jean Hutchins Outstanding Service Award for the 2003-2004 Season was presented to Edmond Kwong for his photography and creative lobby designs. Special Outstanding Service Awards were presented to Alice Ray for her backstage assistance with changing costumes and props; to John Palmer for his participation in the technical aspects and to Marty McHan for his 20+ years as a musician in our production orchestras . .,---- COl\tfING TO THIS THEATER ----1 I SDG I I "South Pacific"-Jan.!Feb., 2005 Tickets (408) 264-3110 I I I I ~O I I "Smokey Joe's Cafe"-Mar.!Apr., 2005 Tickets (408) 268-3777 J •..... _--------------------------- 4 SYNOPSIS OF SCENES AND MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT I Scene 1: St. Petersburg, Missouri "Do Ya wanna Go To Heaven?" Company Scene 2: Injun Joe's Cave "The Boys" Tom and the Gang "Waitin' For The Light To Shine" Huck Scene 3: Huck's Bedroom Scene 4: Pap's Cabin/St. Petersburg "Guument" Pap Scene 5: St. Petersburg "Hand For The Hog" Tom "1,Huckleberry, Me" Huck Scene 6: Jackson Island/Strange Womans' Cabin/River "Muddy water" Jim and Huck Scene 7: River "The Crossing" Slaves "River In The Rain" Huck and Jim Scene 8: Riverbank "When The Sun Goes Down In the South" Duke, King, Huck and Jim -Intermission- ACTn Scene 1: River Scene 2: Bricktown "The Royal Nonesuch" Duke and Company Scene 3: Riverbank "Worlds Apart" Jim and Huck Scene 4: Hillboro Ferry Slip "Arkansas" Young Fool Scene 5: Wilkes Home "How Blest We Are" Betsy and Company "You Ought To Be Here With Me" Mary Jane, Susan and Johanna Scene 6: Wilkes Home/Cemetery "Leavins Not The Only Way To Go" Huck, Mary Jane and Jim Scene 7: Wilkes Home/Cemetery Scene 8: Riverbank and River "waitin' For The Light To Shine" (Reprise) Jim and Slaves Scene 9: Phelps Farm/Doctor's Office Scene 10: Riverbank "River In The Rain" (Reprise) Huck and Jim "Muddy Water" (Reprise) Company 5 PRODUCTION STAFF Producer Elizabeth Dale Director Becky W Brownson Music/Vocal Director Diane "Mom" Reynolds Choreographer Michael MacLaren Dance Captain Karin Hughes Production Design Stephen C.