Gonzaga University Theatre & Dance Presents Feb. 22, 23, 28, March 1, 2 @ 7:30 p m March 3 @ 2:00 pm This production is rated PG13 Director's Notes This play took my translation imagination captive for the first time in 2008, when my mentor pulled a well-loved but little-known stack of plays out of a box in his office in Oxford. This is not the first Golden Age play I have translated, but it is my favorite. Although this play draws laughter with its portrayal of the performance of gendered behavior, of sewing and sword fighting, Marcelo's story about the man who went blind in one eye after wearing an eye patch for only one month is really the heart of The Force of Habit. The Spanish title, Lafuerza de la costumbre, reinforces the importance of 'custom,' of 'habit.' As one of my brilliant actors reminded me, the play is not 'the force of gender,' but of 'habit.' The challenge of the play is how to bring its 17th century values and portrayal of the 'nature vs. nurture' debate in a way that respects the play's heritage while being honest about who we are as 21st century interpreters of the work. I have not tried to 'adapt' or change the play to reflect my own views, but instead I have opted to let Castro's play sound out in all its patriarchal glory. I hope you will join us after the performance for a post-show discussion to consider what it means to stage this unique, lovely, challenging and controversial work for an audience of today. We will have a team of respondents ready to answer questions about the nature of the play, its 17th century context, and the issues of gender and attraction that the play explores. We hope you can join us for a 20-minute discussion after the play. Setting Zaragoza, Spain, 17th Century There will be a 15 minute intermission ki« Cast Hipolita Erin Fitzgerald Pedro Connor Brenes Felix Patrick Ostrander Costanza Devin Devine Luis Taylor Pedroza Leonor Tabitha Lovell Otavio Andrew Garcia Marcelo Neil Carlson Galvan Ben Yee Ines Morgan Marum Fencing Master/ Bailiff Jarrod Ver Steeg Tutor/Sergeant-at-arms Brian Kosciesza Actors9 Biographies Erin Fitzgerald (Hipolita) is a junior from Temecula, CA, double majoring in theatre arts and international relations. Her previous GU credits include; The Golden Age of Radio (Lois/Lily Secretary), A Chorus Line (Bebe), You Can't Take It With You (Rheba), A Christmas Carol (Belle/Fan/Martha), The Three Musketeers (Sabine), The Monkey's Paw (Sammy), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged (Erin), Miss Julie (Kristin) and The Bald Soprano (Mary). Connor Brenes (Pedro) is a senior from San Francisco, CA, majoring in theatre arts and psychology. He recently directed The Golden Age of Radio. His previous GU credits include You Can't Take It with You (Grandpa), The Three Musketeers (Cardinal Richelieu) and A Streetcar Named Desire (Mitch). Patrick Ostrander (Felix) is a junior from Redmond, WA and is majoring in accounting and minoring in mathematics and theatre arts. His previous GU credits include: A Chorus Line, You Can't Take It With You, A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley, The Three Musketeers, A Streetcar Named Desire, Chicago, and Romeo and Juliet. evin Devine (Costanza) is a junior from Spokane, WA, majoring in creative writing and theatre. Her previous GU credits include: The Laramie Project (Ensemble), 12 Angry Jurors (Juror 12), Three Musketeers (Chorus), and others. She is a member of GUTS, as well as The Blue Door Theatre. Taylor Pedroza (Luis) is a senior from Mount Vernon, WA, majoring in theatre arts. His previous GU credits include: The Three Musketeers (d'Artagnan), Romeo and Juliet (Romeo), Lysistrata (Chorus). Tabitha Lovell (Leonor) is a sophomore from Auburn, WA, majoring in economics and psychology with a minor in music. Her previous GU credits include: A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley (caroler, Belinda Cratchet, do-gooder). Andrew Garcia (Otavio) is a senior from Clackamas, OR, majoring in theatre arts with an emphasis in performance. His previous GU credits include: Golden Age of Radio (Voice Actor), You Can't Take it With You (Tony Kirby), A Streetcar Named Desire (Stanley Kowalski), Romeo and Juliet (Benvolio) and Lysistrata (Commissioner). Neil Carlson (Marcelo) is a senior from Broadview, MT, majoring in broadcasting with minors in theatre arts and journalism. His previous GU credits include: A Chorus Line (Zach), and You Can't Take it With You (Donald). Ben Yee (Galvan) is a sophomore from Woodinville, WA, majoring in psychology with a minor in business. His previous GU credits include: Death, The Burial Ground, and The Laramie Project as well as various one act scenes. Ben has also performed as a member of the sketch comedy group, The Boone Street Hooligans. Morgan Marum (Ines) is a freshman from Phoenix, AZ, majoring in public relations with minors in Spanish and theater. Her previous GU credits include: A Chorus Line (Star). Jarrod Ver Steeg (Fencing Master/Bailiff) is a sophomore from West Richland, WA, majoring in biology with a minor in theater. t His previous GU credits include: The Three Musketeers. Brian Kosciesza (Tutor/Sergeant-at-arms) is a senior from Belgrade, MT, majoring in broadcasting. His previous GU credits include: Death and The Laramie Project. Production Crew ^—— Stage Manager Kelly McKenzie Assistant Stage Managers Madison Bush Carl Jacobson Costume Construction Kelly McKenzie Devon Lilley, Sofia Dien Hair and Makeup Assistant Jordyn Hudson Shop Steward Justin Schmidt Set Construction Eric Larson Anthony Armstrong, Neil Carlson, Sierra Fallau, Davy Nguyen, Liliana Ramos, Brittany Dortch Props Master Trevor Longbottom Swords Master Taylor Pedroza Sound Designer/Operator Matt Friedman Light Board Operator Forrest Potter Marketing Assistant Lindsey Caver House Manager Celina Oh Box Office Manager Liz Kiefer Artistic staff Director Kathleen Jeffs Scenic Designers Anthony Armstrong Devin Devine, Maria Mondloch, Garick Sherburn Design Advisor/Scenic Painter Deanna Zibello Costume Designer Summer Berry Marketing Coordinator Summer Berry Movement and Fight Choreographer Sara Romersberger Sound Design Matt Friedman Lighting Design Anthony Armstrong Artistic Biographies Kathleen Jeffs (Director) has been directing the theatre program at Gonzaga since Fall 2012. Before coming to Gonzaga, Kathleen was based in the UK at the University of Oxford. Kathleen's doctoral research took place within the context of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Spanish Golden Age Season in 2004-05, for which she served as literal translator and script consultant. Using both classroom and studio-based methods, she has taught for the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Sussex. Highlights from her past theatre work include bringing a series of one-act plays to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, directing Tom Stoppard's Arcadia in a college garden, and co-producing a one-woman show about yoga at Theatre 503 in London. Deanna L. Zibello (Design Advisor and Scenic Painter) is a lecturer in the theater and dance program, teaching courses in design and stagecraft. Previously at GU, she designed sets for The Three Musketeers, A Streetcar Named Desire, You Can't Take It With You, and A Chorus Line. She has also designed lighting for You Can't Take it With You and various pieces in the Spring Dance Concert and the Student Choreography Concert over the last two years. Outside of GU, Deanna has a freelance career as an award- winning scenic designer, where her favorite productions include Ana in el Tropico with Miracle Theater Group (Portland), MilkMilkLemonade with Impact Theater (Berkeley), Cancer: The Musical with Washington Ensemble Theater (Seattle), Artifacts of Consequence with the Satori Group (Seattle), and Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train with Azeotrope (Seattle). Summer Berry (Costume Designer and Marketing Coordinator) received her degree from WSU in design and theatre. She has been costuming for Gonzaga since 2000. Some of her credits include A Chorus Line, You Can't Take it With You, The Three Musketeers, A Street Car Named Desire, Chicago, Romeo and Juliet, Pride and Prejudice, Weaving Our Sisters' Voices, My Three Angels, Dead Man Walking. She has designed in Boston, MA, Corvallis, OR, Fargo, ND, Pullman, WA and Dallas, TX. Summer is also the Advisory Chair for FACSE for the Spokane School District where she has coordinated continuing education opportunities for teachers and worked on developing the Fashion in Business conference for high schools students the past 6 years. She also is a guest lecturer in high schools across the state on the role of fashion, design and career opportunities. Sara Romersberger (Movement and Fight Choreographer) is Associate Professor at Southern Methodist University, holds an MA in dance from University of Illinois and a Certificate Ecole Internationale De Theatre Jacques Lecoq, Paris, France. She has choreographed fights, dances and created physical comedy for numerous musicals, dramas (15 Shakespeare plays), operas as well as devised, directed, choreographed, and performed her own brand of movement theatre off-Broadway in New York at The Mint Theatre and Primary Stages. She taught nationally and internationally with production credits including two operas, at Teatro de la Zarzuela, Madrid and at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, Spain. She presently is working on her book, Wise Enough to Play The Fool: Playing the Clowns of Shakespeare. Justin Schmidt (Shop Steward, Master Carpenter, and Master Electrician) graduated from Santa Clara University in 1992 with a BA in technical theatre and design. He was the resident lighting designer for ARt with favorite shows being The Shape of Things and Humble Boy, starring Patty Duke. He is currently the resident designer at Interplayers where he lit The Miracle Worker, this time directed by Patty Duke. From 1998-2005 he was the Technical Director for Spokane Opera, building many of the sets for their productions.