AN ENSEMBLE THEATRE PRODUCTION AT THE CONCOURSE THEATRE 25 FEBRUARY – 13 MARCH 2016 SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS by Richard Alfieri PRESENTED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS by Richard Alfieri DIRECTOR SANDRA BATES ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ELIZABETH GORDON CREW CAST DESIGNER ASSISTANT LILY HARRISON GRAHAM MACLEAN STAGE MANAGER NANCYE HAYES LORI PIQUEMAL LIGHTING MICHAEL MINETTI DESIGNER WARDROBE TODD MCKENNEY TRUDY DALGLEISH COORDINATOR MARGARET GILL CHOREOGRAPHER JOHN O’CONNELL MAKEUP PEGGY CARTER STAGE MANAGER DIALECT DANIEL OLIVER CONSULTANT NICK CURNOW RUNNING TIME: 2 HOURS 5 MINUTES INCLUDING INTERVAL THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDING OF THIS PRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION RECORDINGS ON ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: WWW.SAMUELFRENCH.COM/WHITEPAPER SANDRA BATES RICHARD ALFIERI – PLAYWRIGHT Richard Alfieri was born in Florida, the New York Film and Television Festival and a graduated from Yale University, Writers Guild Award nomination for his screenplay and began his professional career for the film A FRIENDSHIP IN VIENNA. He received in New York. He wrote the feature a Writers Guild Award for the Hallmark Hall of Fame film ECHOES and the novel RICARDO - DIARY film HARVEST OF FIRE. He also received a Writers OF A MATINEE IDOL, which he adapted into the Guild Award and an Emmy nomination for his work screenplay MOONLIGHT BLONDE. He produced the on Norman Lear’s ABC special I LOVE LIBERTY. His feature film RESCUE ME and executive-produced play REVOLUTIONS premiered at the Barter Theater the NBC film FALSE WITNESS. He wrote the film on Broadway in 2013. Mr. Alfieri’s play SIX DANCE adaptation of Robert James Waller’s novel PUERTO LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS opened on Broadway at the VALLARTA SQUEEZE. His play THE SISTERS, Belasco Theater and is also published by Samuel suggested by Chekhov’s THREE SISTERS, premiered French. The play premiered in Los Angeles and has in Los Angeles at the Pasadena Playhouse and is since opened around the world with productions published by Samuel French. Mr. Alfieri adapted in London, Berlin, Sydney, Madrid, Vienna, Tel Aviv, the play for feature-film production, and the film Tokyo, Helsinki, Budapest, Amsterdam, Miami, premiered as an Official Selection at both the Prague, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Munich, Melbourne, Tribeca and Hollywood Film Festivals. THE SISTERS Jerusalem, Istanbul, Athens, Rio de Janeiro, Seoul, subsequently won the Santa Fe Film Festival’s and other cities. Mr. Alfieri adapted SIX DANCE Milagro Award for Best American Independent LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS for feature-film. Film. Mr. Alfieri was awarded the Grand Prize at SANDRA BATES – DIRECTOR Sandra was appointed Governing WEEKS was awarded the 2006 Glugs Theatre Award and Artistic Director of Ensemble for Best Production and the 2007 Helpmann Award Theatre in 1986, a position she for Best Regional Touring Production. Sandra was held for 30 years. Sandra retired made a Member in the Order of Australia in 2001 as Artistic Director in January this year. She has for her services to theatre and the arts. She was directed more than one hundred productions for awarded the Variety Club Heart Award for Theatre in Ensemble Theatre. Sandra’s recent directing credits 2002. in 2004 she was awarded the Hayes Gordon include THE GOOD DOCTOR, MOTHERS AND SONS, Memorial Glugs Theatre Award for Outstanding David Williamson’s THE JACK MANNING TRILOGY, Contribution to Theatre. In 2005 Sandra was PROOF, RAPTURE,BLISTER,BURN, HAPPINESS, presented with the SBW Foundation Achievement BOMBSHELLS, WHEN DAD MARRIED FURY, THE Award for services to theatre by The Glugs. In ACT, FOUR FLAT WHITES IN ITALY, RHINESTONE 2007 Sandra was presented with the Lifetime REX AND MISS MONICA and RAIN MAN. Sandra’s Achievement Award by the Sydney Theatre Critics. 2006 production of SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS by Richard Alfieri 3 ELIZABETH GORDON – ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Liz is honoured to be working with TRAVELLING NORTH, DUET FOR ONE and THE Sandra Bates as she directs her BLACK PRINCE and her acting credits include last play before retiring. Other NIGHTMARE, THE CHALK GARDEN, FLORENCE plays with Sandra: MOTHERS AND NIGHTINGALE, DEATHTRAP (Community Theatre) SONS, THE SHOE-HORN SONATA, FACE TO FACE, and YOU NEVER CAN TELL and a number of plays A CONVERSATION, CHARITABLE INTENT, FOUR for children (Marian Street Theatre). She studied FLAT WHITES IN ITALY and LET THE SUNSHINE. acting at the Marian Street School and has attended Liz has directed WRONG TURN AT LUNGFISH, a course in directing at NIDA. NANCYE HAYES – LILY HARRISON Nancye Hayes AM is one FUNNY GIRL (The Production Co.), MURDERERS and of Australia’s favourite SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS (Ensemble), theatrical actresses. She is an A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC and MY FAIR LADY (Opera accomplished actor, dancer, Australia). Nancye Hayes has made a significant singer, choreographer and director. She began contribution as a theatre director. Her credits her career with J.C. Williamson Theatres Ltd as a include THE BOY FROM OZ, SWEET CHARITY, chorus member in MY FAIR LADY. She went on to GYPSY (The Production Co.), CRAZY FOR YOU and star in many major musical productions including THE WORLD GOES ROUND (Western Australian SWEET CHARITY, CHICAGO, SWEENEY TODD, GUYS Academy of Performing Arts), AUSTRALIA’S & DOLLS and 42ND STREET. Most recently she LEADING LADIES CONCERT (Brisbane Festival), THE has performed JERRY’S GIRLS (The Production WIZARD OF OZ (GFO/SEL/Macks Entertainment), Company), SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM (Manilla NOEL & GERTIE (Christine Dunstan Productions). Street Productions) Ruth in PIRATES OF PENZANCE Nancye has received Lifetime Achievement Awards (Harvest Rain), Lady Bracknell in THE IMPORTANCE from The Green Room, The Sydney Theatre and The OF BEING EARNEST (State Theatre Company SA), Helpmanns. In 2014 The Hayes Theatre Company in and BEYOND DESIRE (Neil Rutherford Productions/ Potts Point was established and named in honour Hayes Theatre Co), Miss Hannigan in the Australian of her distinguished career. Its focus is to present Tour of ANNIE (The Gordon Frost Organisation) small scale music theatre, new work from Australia GREY GARDENS, FOLLIES, OKLAHOMA,MUSIC MAN, and overseas, and cabaret. TODD MCKENNEY – MICHAEL MINETTI Inspiring, provocative, compelling mother’s dancing school in Perth, training in jazz, tap, and generous are just a few acrobatics and ballroom dancing. He has represented words that describe the critically Australia in ballroom and Latin American dancing, acclaimed and award-winning winning many international dance titles. Amongst performer, actor and host – Todd McKenney. A his Australian awards for performance in musical household name in Australia, Todd’s versatile career theatre are two ‘Mo Awards’, the ‘Variety Club Heart has spanned three decades and shows no sign of Award’, the ‘Glug Award’, the ‘Green Room Award’, slowing down. Already known as Australia’s leading two ‘Australian Dance Awards’ and a ‘Helpmann man of song and dance musicals, since 1994 he’s Award’. He was cast in his first professional musical, also been the ‘colourful’ and often controversial Andrew Lloyd Webber’s SONG AND DANCE, in 1983. judge on the Channel 7 hit series ‘Dancing With the From here Todd’s career has followed a very neat Stars’. Todd began dancing at the age of three at his trajectory with lead roles in CATS, 42ND STREET, WEST SIDE STORY, CRAZY FOR YOU, BORN Network Seven’s THE MORNING SHOW with Kylie YESTERDAY, CAMELOT, PIRATES OF PENZANCE, Gillies and has been a guest judge on AUSTRALIA’S CABARET, STRICTLY BALLROOM, LA CAGE AUX GOT TALENT. For the past 8 years Todd has been FOLLES, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, ANYTHING GOES, THE studying ‘Auslan’ sign language and has worked BOY FROM OZ, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, within the deaf community all around Australia. He ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD for Opera Australia also works with The Children’s Tumour Foundation to and more recently ANNIE the Musical, a return raise awareness and much needed financial support performance of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES in the lead for people living with Neurofibromatosis. http://www. role of Albin, Teen Angel in GREASE and ANYTHING ctf.org.au Todd has also launched Todd McKenney’s GOES. It was landing the prized role of Peter Allen in Centre Stage Tours where he hosts ‘dinner and a the Australian hit production THE BOY FROM OZ that show’ Todd style. Check this out at: www.toddstours. confirmed his star status on stage. THE BOY FROM com.au. Keep up to date with Todd’s one man show OZ performed over 1000 shows nationally and is one which tours regularly around Australia at: www. of the longest running and most successful musical toddmckenney.com.au Todd had the delight of productions in Australian history. Todd is currently a becoming a father in 2007 and his daughter Charlotte regular on Sydney radio station 2UE 954 with Stuart is the light of his life. In 2015 Todd joined Georgie Bocking. Todd fills in regularly for Larry Emdur on Parker as patron of Ensemble Theatre. GRAHAM MACLEAN – DESIGNER Graham Maclean’s long career of South Australia, SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX in theatre design has taken him WEEKS with Nancye Hayes and Todd McKenney all over Australia, New Zealand, for Ensemble Theatre and THE SHOE- HORN USA, Vienna and Indonesia. SONATA for CDP. For Ensemble Theatre he designed Graham designed the hugely successful PIRATES productions of THE GOOD DOCTOR, PROOF, OF PENZANCE for Simon Gallagher and was twice RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN, LAST OF THE RED nominated for the Victorian Green Room Award HOT LOVERS, ANIMALS OUT OF PAPER, NINETY, for HMS PINAFORE, an award he won for the sets BROOKLYN BOY, LET THE SUNSHINE, ABIGAIL’S and costumes for THE MIKADO.