SCOTT DENISON (Managing Director) has OUR SPONSORS ABOUT CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY been the General Manager for the Lesher CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY Center for the Arts since it opened 26 years Chevron (Season Sponsor) has been the Center REP is the resident, professional theatre ago and has worked for the Arts in this area leading corporate sponsor of Center REP and company of the Lesher Center for the Arts. Our Michael Butler, Artistic Director Scott Denison, Managing Director for over 43 years. Scott has directed over 150 the Lesher Center for the Arts for the past ten season consists of six productions a year – a productions, including The Wizard of Oz, the years. In fact, Chevron has been a partner of variety of musicals, dramas and comedies, both presents the LCA since the beginning, providing funding musical hit Cinderella, Disney’s Beauty and classic and contemporary, that continually strive for capital improvements, event sponsorships the Beast, Hairspray, The Music Man, Les to reach new levels of artistic excellence and and more. Chevron generously supports every professional standards. Misérables and for the past 19 seasons Center Center REP show throughout the season, and REP’s A Christmas Carol as well as all Fantasy is the primary sponsor for events including Our mission is to celebrate the power of the Forum productions since 1970. He created the Chevron Family Theatre Festival in July. human imagination by producing emotionally and produces the annual Shellie Awards now Chevron has proven itself not just as a generous engaging, intellectually involving, and visually supporter, but also a valued friend of the arts. celebrating 38 years. Scott and has also designed astonishing live theatre, and through Outreach lights for over 250 productions, including the and Education programs, to enrich and advance Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA) national touring production of Sylvia. Under the cultural life of the communities we serve. Denison’s guidance the Lesher Center for the (Season Partner) is both the primary fundraising Arts presents over 850 public events each organization of the Lesher Center for the Arts (LCA) and the City of Walnut Creek’s appointed What does it mean to be a producing theatre? year. He coordinates performing arts activities curator for the LCA’s audience outreach. We hire the finest professional directors, actors with over 100 producers and producing DRAA’s role in the community is all about and designers to create our productions at organizations. Scott created the Chevron Family building partnerships with the focused goal Center REP. These are not touring productions – Theatre Festival which hosts over 7,000 guests of enhancing artistic quality at the LCA and they’re conceived and developed here, the sets each year. He is also the Managing Director providing opportunities for everyone to enjoy and costumes are built in our shops, and the of the Center REPertory Company producing the arts. Through partnerships with the LCA actors rehearse in our rehearsal hall. Whether professional productions each season; and is and its producers, individual donors, corporate the production is a Bay Area premiere or a By Wendy MacLeod the director and co-founder of Fantasy Forum and foundation sponsors and the City of Walnut Shakespearean classic, each is devised to be Actors Ensemble, an adult family performing Creek, DRAA plays a vital role in advancing a one of a kind, artistic creation that will be a arts company which presents program for the the arts for the betterment of the community. unique theatre experience for our audience. Scenic Designer Lighting Designer young and Young at Heart. Please visit us online at www.draa.org. Richard Olmsted David Leonard What does it mean to be a professional Lesher Foundation (Foundation Sponsor) Since theatre? It means that all our artists and Costume Designer Stage Manager Sound Designer THANK YOU TO OUR 1994, the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation OPENING NIGHT DINNER SPONSORS: artisans are career theatre-practitioners. The Bethany Deal Fredric H. Orner* Jeff Mockus Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar has awarded grants totaling more than $40 actors in this production are members of Actors’ Scott’s Seafood Grill and Restaurant million and reaching citizens in all parts of Contra Equity Association; our directors and designers Costa County. True to the original wishes of Dean are members of professional unions. All do and Margaret Lesher, the Foundation continues theatre because it is their profession and their Center REPertory Company to build on the strengths of the community by passion. Michael Butler Artistic Director supporting organizations and programs that Cast Scott Denison Managing Director provide help and support to people in need; We are very proud to have the opportunity to enhance and enrich the lives of all citizens; and produce professional theatre for our community promote a healthy and exciting future for the Sarah Brazier Lynda DiVito* Jason Kuykendall * in the beautiful theatres here at the Lesher Audience Services Education community. Established in 1989, the Foundation Center for the Arts. Thank you for your support! Eric Carlson Jamie Jones* Elisabeth Nunziato * Coordinator Education Directors received its principal assets from Dean Lesher’s Courtney Egg Jeff Draper Ticket Office Staff Kerri Shawn estate in 1993 and 1995. In 1997, an additional Jeremiah Vierling Production endowment from Dean Lesher’s estate followed Rami Kim Production Manager CITY COUNCIL Jeff Collister the death of Margaret Lesher. A significant Rich Carlston, Mayor Robert Nolan Loella Haskew Directed by Michael Butler Cheyenne Clarke Technical and final bequest from Mr. Lesher’s estate Cindy Silva Vaughn Edward Costumes was received in 2003. As a family foundation, Justin Wedel Jave Hernandez Bethany Deal Kevin Wilk support for the Contra Costa community will ARTS COMMISSION Choreographed by Jennifer Perry Kiersten Jones Wardrobe Supervisor Polly Bradbury, Chair ACTING CITY MANAGER Alyssa Montany Alea Gonzales be carried on by the next generation of family Anita Sagástegui, Fran Robustelli Shannon Taylor Technical Director Vice Chair members. Grant-making decisions are based Joe Bologna DIRECTOR Usher Coordinator Joshua Lipps Glynnis Cowdery Originally produced by Geva Theatre Center, Rochester, New York Master Electrician on the vision of Dean and Margaret Lesher who Arts + Rec Pat Mitchell Jane Emanuel Kevin Safine Mark Cuddy, Artistic Director Production Services Del Medoff felt quality education, diverse art programs, and Coordinator Carpenters Tom Parrish, Executive Director Toni Kilcoyne Elyse Fink healthy children and families are the building The play was originally developed by the Arden Theatre Company. Technical Staff Gabriel Johnson blocks of a strong and vibrant community. Steve Pino Caleb Salmon The Leshers defined the “spirit of giving” as John Iarla Brennan Shreves Margaret Lesher Theatre Alex Bull Asst. Stage Manager “investing in the community and its people.” January 27 - February 25, 2017 Chris Currie Joe Coe By providing financial support and direction in Toria Gibson Props Manager these critical areas, the Dean & Margaret Lesher Lesher Center for the Arts Hanna Johnson Roger Anderson Ian Roth Production Assistants Foundation is investing every day, every week Season Season Partner Foundation Sponsor Garrick Schuster Miranda Ketchum and every year in the health and well-being of Stephen Spleiss Casey Leugemors Sponsor Josh Stouffer Ethan Williams this county that Dean and Margaret so loved. Josh Yarnell Administration Casting Director Asst. to the Managing Jennifer Perry Director THANK YOU TO: Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States Marketing Gail Pfeifer Massimo’s Ristorante The Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society Marketing Assistant Program Waters Moving and Storage The Scenic, Lighting and Sound Designers are members of United Scenic Artists Union Ariel Brewer Linda Nomura Associated Services-Alta Water Center REP is a member of Theatre Bay Area and Theatre Communications Group (TCG), The National Organization for the American Theatre CAST (in order of appearance) ERIC CARLSON (Trenner) is thrilled to JASON KUYKENDALL* (Jackson/Sgt. PRODUCTION TEAM his career as a performer he has also danced BETHANY DEAL (Costume Designer) Is excited be making his debut at Center REP. He Kirk Sponsüllar) is excited to return to with the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, to be working with such a fabulous bunch! She Mary .........................................Lynda DiVito* earned his B.A. from UCLA’s School of Center REP after performing in last year’s WENDY MacLEOD (Playwright) Her play portrayed the villainous Pierre LeChance on has her MFA in Costume Design/Hair & Make- The House of Yes became an award-winning “The Guiding Light”, and played guitar and Up design from Utah State University. She also Jo ...............................................Jamie Jones* Theater, Film, and Television. Recent production of Born Yesterday (Paul). Miramax film starring Parker Posey, and was harmonica in many rock, blues, and country has attended CSU Long Beach and has her Liz ...................................Elisabeth Nunziato* performances include Jean-Michel in Jason resides in Sacramento where he is Jackson/Kirk ...................... Jason Kuykendall* produced by many theaters including The western bands at all the notable dives in NYC. Cosmetology License.