GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE Nureyev’s Eyes Study #13 ©Jamie Wyeth Board of Trustees Chairman: James N. Heston* President: Dr. Penelope Lattimer* First Vice President: Lucy Hughes* Second Vice President: Janice Stolar* Treasurer: David Fasanella* Secretary: Sharon Karmazin* Ronald Bleich Dr. Ben Sifuentes-Jauregui David Capodanno Frances C. Stromsland, Ed.D. Kenneth M. Fisher David Saint* William R. Hagaman, Jr. Jocelyn Schwartzman Norman Politziner Lora Tremayne Kelly Ryman* Stephen M. Vajtay W. Burton “Tripp” Salisbury Alan W. Voorhees *Denotes Members of the Executive Committee Trustees Emeritus Robert L. Bramson Cody P. Eckert Clarence E. Lockett Al D’Augusta Peter Goldberg Anthony L. Marchetta George Wolansky, Jr. Honorary Board of Trustees Thomas H. Kean Eric Krebs Honorary Memoriam Maurice Aaron∆ Arthur Laurents∆ Dr. Edward Bloustein∆ Richard Sellars∆ Dora Center∆∆ Barbara Voorhees∆∆ Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.∆ Edward K. Zuckerman∆ Milton Goldman∆ Adelaide M. Zagoren John Hila ∆∆ – Denotes Trustee Emeritus ∆ – Denotes Honorary Trustee From the Resident Artistic Director Earlier this season we presented Joe DiPietro’s powerful The Second Mrs. Wilson, a real life historical drama about two very fascinating and complicated people: Edith Galt Wilson and her husband, President Woodrow Wilson. The very enthusiastic response to that play was a testament to our audience’s desire Michael Mastro for new plays, the presentation of which is Resident Artistic Director a significant part of George Street’s mission. You’ll understand, then, how excited we are to be following up that production with our current offering, Nureyev’s Eyes. David Rush’s beautiful play is also about two very real people. However, the world in which his characters – international ballet star Rudolph Nureyev and painter Jamie Wyeth – find themselves is as far from the White House as you can get. This story of two great artists who struggle to find the truth in themselves and in their work, and who fight the good fight to see that work realized, makes for a fascinating story. The passion, talent, humor and artistic commitment at play between these two singular men over the course of their 18 year friendship ignite many a creative fire for each of them. Enjoy! Michael Mastro Resident Artistic Director SAVE THE Date: SUNday, May 22, 2016 George Street Playhouse Annual Gala Benefit Join us as we honor the actors fund and their president and CEO, Joseph P. Bennicasa with the thomas h. keans arts advocacy award Black Tie Dinner • Silent Auction Star-Studded Cabaret The Heldrich • Livingston Avenue • New Brunswick (event begins at 5:00) for further information contact Steve Barry at 732-846-2895 x144 • [email protected] Past Gala Stars have included: Bernadette Peters, Tyne Daly and Constantine Maroulis. GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE David Saint, Artistic Director Michael Mastro, Resident Artistic Director Kelly Ryman, Managing Director Presents Nureyev’s Eyes By David Rush Scenic Design by Alexis Distler Costume Design by Esther Arroyo Lighting Design by Christopher J. Bailey Sound Design/Original Music Composition by Scott Killian Production Stage Manager Thomas Clewell* Production Manager Christopher J. Bailey Casting by McCorkle Casting Choreography by Charlie Williams Dialect Coach Stephen Gabis Directed by Michael Mastro Nureyev’s Eyes is produced in association with Delaware Theatre Company, Bud Martin Executive Director; Melissa Zimmerman, Managing Director. The world premiere of Nureyev’s Eyes was presented at American Stage Theatre, St. Petersburg, Fla., October 15-26, 2014. Stephanie Gularte, Producing Artistic Director; Tom Block, General Manager. February 2 - 21, 2016 In accordance with Actors’ Equity Association regulations, we remind you that all electronic devices, including pagers, cellular phones and watches must be turned off during the performance. This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/ Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. George Street Playhouse is a constituent of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and a member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance. The theatre operates under an agreement between LORT and Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States, and is a member of the New Brunswick Cultural Center. CAST in order of appearance Jaime Wyeth William Connell* Rudolf Nureyev Bill Dawes* *- denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association. Setting: Various locations, including a backstage dressing room, an upscale New York apartment, an office, a painter’s studio and a place outdoors at Wyeth’s house. Nureyev’s Eyes runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission. The actors and stage managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. The director is a member of The Stage The stage technicians of Directors and Choreographers Society, Inc., George Street Playhouse an independent national labor union. are proud members of IATSE Local 21. The Scenic, Costume, Lighting and Sound Designers in LORT theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE. The George Street Playhouse playbill is published five times a year by George Street Playhouse, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation. Please send advertising inquiries to George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, attn: Playbill Advertising. Rich in history with roots dating back to 1974, George Street Playhouse is a New Brunswick treasure, providing Broadway-quality shows for audiences of all ages and transformative learning experiences for students. WithumSmith+Brown applauds George Street Playhouse for enriching the lives of so many through the arts —putting our community in a position of strength. Bill Hagaman, CPA, Managing Partner, CEO 732.828.1614 • [email protected] compaNY bios. William Connell He has received Illinois Arts Council grants (Jamie Wyeth) New and was a writer in residence at the Inge York: A View from the Center in 2010. His books, A Student Guide Bridge (2010 Broadway to Play Analysis and Building Your Play, revival); The Coast of are used by many colleges and universities. Utopia (Lincoln Center); Michael Mastro Alphabetical Order (Keen (Director/Resident Artistic Director) With Company). Regional: Nureyev’s Eyes, George Street Playhouse’s One Man, Two Guvnors (Berkeley Rep, Resident Artistic Director helms his third South Coast Rep, Pioneer Theatre); Hamlet mainstage production here, after previously (Aspen Music Festival); The Hour of Feeling directing The Fabulous Lipitones in 2014 (Humana Festival); The Winslow Boy and and The Subject Was Roses with Stephanie The Mousetrap (Rep Theatre of St. Louis), Zimbalist in 2011. He also directed a The 39 Steps (Pennsylvania Shakespeare celebrity play reading of Matt Hoverman’s Festival); Bell, Book and Candle (San Thrillsville with a cast featuring Edie Falco, Francisco Playhouse); and The Importance of Richard Kind and Grant Shaud at GSP in Being Earnest (Gulfshore Playhouse), among late 2015. As an actor, he has appeared on others. Film & TV: Billions, The Blacklist, The stage at George Street in such productions Good Wife, Manhattan Love Story, Smash, as The Sunshine Boys, The Pillowman, The Not Fade Away, Gossip Girl, Law & Order Fox on the Fairway and Inspecting Carol. and Guiding Light. Last season, he directed Ingmar Bergman’s Bill Dawes Nora at Delaware Theatre Company and (Rudolf Nureyev) Three- he appeared in Ayckbourn’s The Things time Broadway veteran, We Do For Love at the Westport Country most recently appearing Playhouse. In recent years, he has helmed as Mickey Mantle in several NYC celebrity play readings to Bronx Bombers. He has benefit various nonprofits, including SAY.org, appeared in a dozen off- Opening Act, and his NYC theatre company, Broadway productions, Naked Angels. He served as associate and many more at esteemed regional director of the recent first national tour theatres like Williamstown, Ford’s Theatre of West Side Story, helmed by GSP Artistic and Dallas Theatre Center. Television Director David Saint, and has directed many credits include Law & Order, Criminal new American one-acts for several NYC Minds, Damages, The Following, Royal theatre companies. As an actor, he works Pains, Sex and the City, and many more. regularly on and off Broadway, regionally, As a comic, Bill has performed all over and in film and TV, where he is currently the world, including tours of Iraq and recurring on Law & Order: SVU. Member: Afghanistan with the USO, and has videos Actors Equity, SAG-AFTRA, SDC, Naked at http://www.laughfactory.com/BillDawes Angels, The Actors Center. and on YouTube. Charlie Williams David Rush (Choreographer) As Choreographer: (Playwright) has written plays produced Conan O’Brien Bingo (2015 Comicon), at such theaters as American Stage, Stage All Shook Up (Director/Choreographer), Left, Mark Taper Forum, GeVa Theater, and S’wonderful, David Burtka’s 54Below Manhattan Theater Club, among others. (directed by Neil Patrick Harris), and His work has won or placed in national White Collar (USA). Resident Movement contests and has earned a variety of awards, Associate: Hedwig and the Angry Inch including several Chicago Jeffs, a Los Angeles (Broadway). Associate Choreographer: Drama Logue and two Midwest Emmys. How to Succeed in Business Without Unlike the great performances you’ve enjoyed at the George