Romeo & Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing SHAKESPEARE SET FREE Thank you for climbing up the hill to the Griffith Park Old Zoo speare Co. with your friends, and your sense of community that for tonight’s performance! Your presence means the world to us, sustains us and drives us to find ways to serve you better. We also and we look forward to saying hello to as many of you as possible. owe a debt of gratitude to the City of Los Angeles. This program (This was easier a few years ago, when there weren’t quite so has been championed by Councilmembers Tom LaBonge and many of you on a Saturday night. Still, we’ll try!) Mitch O’Farrell, both of whom realize the importance of arts in the life of Angelenos. We also benefit from the strong partner- It’s hard for us to believe that we are entering our twelfth year of free ship of the Department of Recreation and Parks, and there are Shakespeare performances in Los Angeles city parks. What started plans underway to create an environmentally-friendly perma- off as a way for a group of classical actors to present the plays they so nent stage at this location, and to make the site more accessible loved has grown into something that is beginning to seem like a Los for all members of our community. Angeles tradition, and we couldn’t be more grateful. And while we are deeply grateful for the support of the City and Along the way, we’ve learned a thing or two. One of them is that no of major funders, the largest source of our needed revenue still matter how hot the afternoon, it gets pretty chilly in the park after comes from the small (and large) donations made by supporters sundown...so always bring a sweater, even if you don’t think you’ll such as yourself. It truly remains a grassroots organization, and need it. Another is that Los Angeles audiences are pretty much we couldn’t be happier about that. the most raucous, energized group of people imaginable and here in the park you often impact the play in surprising and wonder- Because of you, about 50,000 Angelenos will attend perfor- ful ways. And of course we’ve learned that swordfights really get mances of Romeo & Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing this coyotes going. summer, along with workshops, pre-show performances by local artists, and other special events. And because the Festival is free, We’ve also grown as an organization. We’ve expanded our work everyone is able to come, bring their family and friends, and join to include not just the summer season, but also a full season in the conversation. Together, we are changing who has access to our indoor space, the Independent Studio. There, we develop the performing arts in Los Angeles. Ultimately, the most gratify- new works and re-imagine classical plays. We also take our work ing thing of all is that the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival into the community: onto train platforms (thanks to Metro), to brings our entire community together to share in the wonder museums, to shopping centers, and to schools. that is live theater. Our largest impact continues to be the Griffith Park Free Shake- Thank you for being here tonight. We’re proud to be your theater speare Festival. You are our essential partner in this work. It is company. your contributions, your desire to share Independent Shake- Council District Four The Griff ith Park Free Shakespeare Festival is produced in association with the Department of Recreation & Parks, City of Los Angeles; and supported in part by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles; the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; and an award through the National Endowment for the Arts...And by people like you! Cover photos by Mike Ditz. “ONE OF THE TOP TEN REASONS FOR THEATER LOVERS TO LEAVE NEW YORK.” — TIME Written by ROLIN JONES Songs by BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG Directed by JACKSON GAY Ready, steady, go! There is much ado about everything when the Quartos come to town. These four lads from Liverpool arrive to wow and woo the ladies of London, but in true fashion, true love makes fools of them all. Grammy Award winning Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong, Pulitzer Prize finalist Rolin Jones and acclaimed director Jackson Gay riff on Shakespeare’s randy tale — with a serious backbeat. WEST COAST PREMIERE BEGINS SEPTEMBER 8 #PAPERBULLETS GEFFENPLAYHOUSE.COM | 310.208.5454 The Company The Prince’s Household ESCALUS, Prince of Verona ....................................................................................................................................................................Joseph Culliton* COUNT PARIS, a kinsman to the Prince ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Vladimir Noel MERCUTIO, a kinsman to the Prince ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� André Martin* The Capulet Household LORD CAPULET .......................................................................................................................................................................................Sean Pritchett* LADY CAPULET ............................................................................................................................................................................................ Aisha Kabia* JULIET, their daughter......................................................................................................................................................................................Erika Soto TYBALT, their nephew ......................................................................................................................................................................... Evan Lewis Smith NURSE to Juliet ..............................................................................................................................................................................Bernadette Sullivan* PETER, a servant ..........................................................................................................................................................................................Xavi Moreno The Montague Household LORD MONTAGUE ......................................................................................................................................................................................Faqir Hassan ROMEO, his son ................................................................................................................................................................................................Nikhil Pai BENVOLIO, his niece ............................................................................................................................................................................Mary Goodchild* Citizens of Verona & Mantua FRIAR LAURENCE ...................................................................................................................................................................................David Melville* FRIAR JOHN ............................................................................................................................................................................................. Thomas Ehas* AN APOTHECARY ................................................................................................................................................................................ William Elsman* THE CHORUS ..........................................................................................................................................................................................Ashley Nguyen WATCHMEN, SERVANTS and CITIZENS....................................................................................William Elsman*, Jack Lancaster and Ashey Nguyen The Band THE LIVELY HELENAS ........................................................................... William Elsman*, Jack Lancaster and Ashley Nguyen, with David Melville* PLAYWRIGHT ................................................................................................................................................................................William Shakespeare DIRECTOR ............................................................................................................................................................................................. Melissa Chalsma COSTUME DESIGNER .......................................................................................................................................................................Houri Mahserejian SCENIC DESIGNER ....................................................................................................................................................................................Caitlin Lainoff SONGS & SCORE ....................................................................................... David Melville & Ashley Nguyen with William Elsman & Jack Lancaster PROP MASTER...................................................................................................................................................................................................Eric Babb LIGHTING DESIGN ...............................................................................................................................................................................Bosco