Playhouse on the Square Playhouse on the Square Presents presents I Am My Own Wife By Doug Wright Circuit Playhouse, Inc. Super Sponsor: Dr. Thomas Ratliff I AM MY Starring Michael Gravois The Production Staff Production Manager/Technical Director...........................................................Phillip Hughen OWN WIFE Stage Manager...................................................................................................Tessa Verner Scenic Designer...............................................................................................Phillip Hughen Lighting Designer..............................................................................................Justin Gibson Costume Designer....................................................................................Lindsay Schmeling Sound Designer...........................................................................................Jason Eschhofen By Doug Wright Properties Designer.................................................................................................Jinqiu He Videographer and Editor.................................................................................Pedro De Silva Directed by Dave Landis Assistant Directed and Dramaturgy by Robert E. Williams II February 19 - 28, 2021 Directed by Dave Landis I Am My Own Wife is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York I Am My Own Wife was originally produced on Broadway by Delphi Productions and David Richenthal. Playwrights Horizon, Inc., New York City, produced the World Premiere Off-Broadway in 2003. Starring Michael Gravois This play was written with support from Playwrights Horizon, made possible in part by funds granted to the author through a program sponsored by Amblin Entertainment, Inc. A workshop of the play was presented by La Jolla Playhouse; Des McAnuff, Artistic Director, Terrence Dwyer, Managing Director. Circuit Playhouse, Inc. Super Sponsor: Developed in part with the support of the Sundance Theatre Laboratory. Dr. Thomas Ratliff A workshop was also presented by the About Face Theatre (Eric Rosen, Artistic Director) in association with the Museum of Contemporary Art. February 19 - 28, 2021 Copyright 2020. This Video recording was produced by special arrangement The right to participate in all activities of Playhouse on the Square and The Circuit Playhouse, including (but not limited to) classes, meetings, with Dramatists Play Service and Doug Wright. auditions, and performances, shall not be abridged because of race, national origin, sex, religion, sexual preference, or physical handicap. All rights reserved. This performance is authorized for non-commercial use only. With the joint support of the Tennessee Arts Commission, the National Endowment of the Arts, and ArtsMemphis, Playhouse on the Square is also a member of the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC), American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE), WARNING: Federal law provides severe civil and criminal penalties for the unauthorized re- Educational Theatre Association, and the Tennessee Theatre Association. production, distribution or exhibition of coywrighted motion pictures, Audio and Videotapes Playhouse on the Square is a professional theatre working under Equity Guest Artist Contracts. or Audio and Videodiscs. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and may constitute a felony with a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine. About the Playwright, Doug Wright__________________________________ Who’s Who on the Production Team__________________________ Doug Wright wrote the book for the Broadway production of The Little Mermaid. In 2006, he received Tony and Drama Desk nominations for his book for the Broadway musical Grey Gardens. In 2004, he Dave Landis (he/him) (Director) After earning a BFA in Theatre from Drake University as well as an was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, a Tony Award for Best Play, the Drama Desk Award, a GLAAD Media MFA in Acting from the University of Texas at Austin, Dave moved to Memphis nearly 30 years ago to Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, a Drama League Award, and a Lucille Lortel Award for his play I join the Playhouse on the Square family. As a long-time Resident Company Member and Associate Am My Own Wife. Earlier in his career, Mr. Wright won an Obie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Director, Dave has had the privilege and honor of directing Michael Gravois in such shows as Gross Playwriting and the Kesselring Award for Best New American Play from the National Arts Club for his Indecency; Love! Valour! Compassion!; Ragtime; Take Me Out; Rabbit Hole; Compleat Female Stage play Quills. He went on to write the screenplay adaptation, making his motion picture debut. The film Beauty; A Tuna Christmas; Scapin; 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; The Musical Comedy was named Best Picture by the National Board of Review and nominated for three Academy Awards. Murders of 1940; The Drowsy Chaperone; Tuna Does Vegas; Good People; The Hot l Baltimore; The His screenplay was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, and received the Paul Selvin Award from the Writers Guild of America. For director Rob Marshall, Doug penned the television special “Tony Other Place; The Country House; King Charles III; Perfect Arrangement; and Tuck Everlasting. He is Bennett: An American Classic,” which received seven Emmy Awards. His stage work has been pro- deeply proud to add I Am My Own Wife to this distinguished history of theatrical collaborations. duced in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, London, Stockholm, Bucharest, Krakow, Dublin, Budapest, Brasov, and Viterbo, among other cities. His titles include The Stonewater Robert E. Williams II (they/them) (Assistant Director/Dramaturg) is an Associate Company Member Rapture, Interrogating the Nude, Watbanaland, Buzzsaw Berkeley, and Unwrap Your Candy. For ca- working in the Front of House / Administration department. They are a recent graduate of Marymount reer achievement, Mr. Wright was recently cited with an award from the American Academy of Arts Manhattan College (Class of 2020, Summa Cum Laude) with a BA in Theatre History & Performance and Letters and the Tolerance Prize from the KulturForum Europa. He is a member of the Dramatists Texts. Robert is also an alum of the TEDxBroadway’s Young Professionals Program, Class of 2020. Guild, the Writers Guild of America, East, the Screen Actors Guild and the Society of Stage Directors Past directing works include Playhouse on the Square’s Associate Company Workshop Production of and Choreographers. Directing credits include Kiki and Herb: Pardon Our Appearance in Washington, Tradition: A Devised Piece and self-produced virtual cabaret ANARCHY americana. They are thrilled to DC, Philadelphia, and London. Acting credits include the films “Little Manhattan” and “Two Lovers.” work on a production with Playhouse on the Square legends Dave Landis and Michael Gravois. Robert Currently, Doug serves on the board of the New York Theater Workshop. He lives in New York with his dedicates their work on this production to their grandfather, Ray Skinner. partner, singer/songwriter David Clement. Tessa Verner (she/her) (Stage Manager) is excited for her second season at Playhouse on the Square as part of the Associate Company. She graduated from Angelo State University with her de- About Actor, Michael Gravois________________________________ gree in Theatre with an emphasis in Stage Management. Her recent Playhouse Stage Management Michael Gravois (he/him) — (Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, et al.) I Am My Own Wife was Michael’s credits include Ain’t Misbehavin’; The Twelve Dates of Christmas; and On Golden Pond. Tessa would first show as a Resident Company Member at Playhouse on the Square in 2006, and he feels beyond like to thank her family and friends for their continued love and support. lucky to revisit this beautiful script fifteen years later, in this unique way, during this unique time. He sends a big thank you to Playhouse for giving him this gift, and he feels privileged to be back in the Pedro da Silva (he/him) (Videography & Editing) is an Associate Company Member working in the rehearsal hall with this amazing creative team. Other “multiple-role shows” he’s performed in at Play- Stage Management Department, as well as assisting with the streaming aspect of this season’s pro- house include The Laramie Project; A Tuna Christmas; Tuna Does Vegas; Red, White, and Tuna; Love! ductions. Pedro is a recent graduate from Trevecca University, Nashville; receiving a BA in Dramatic Valour! Compassion!; Peter and the Starcatcher; Clybourne Park; and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love Arts and a BS in Media Arts & Studies. His favorite Stage Management credits include Little Women, and Murder. He is a mosaic artist who looks forward to the upcoming Art Auction at Playhouse on Dancing at Lughnasa, and The Secret Garden. Pedro would like to thank his loving family and friends the Square. And he runs an on-line store for educators for which he develops creative curriculum for elementary school teachers, called GravoisFare, on the Teachers Pay Teachers website. “Tear down for their unwavering support, and every patron for supporting the arts during these difficult times. your walls. Live your true life. Accept others with their nicks and cuts and stains.” Jason Eschhofen (he/him) (Sound Designer) is the Resident Sound Designer for Playhouse on the Square. Originally from Bryan, Ohio, he came to Memphis